The Curator's Column

07-11-08

2008-07-11T21:22:08Z

TEM #1: In the Special Edition gallery at Geppi’s Entertainment Museum, we’re stepping “Out of the Box” and allowing visitors both young and old to get hands-on with pop culture by giving everyone an up-close look at the characters that are popular right now with toys that you can actually touch and play with. Those toys you see in the stores today and all those TV shows and movies you’re watching now are going to be the subject of museum exhibitions themselves before we know it...so why not get a head start on the process? It won’t be as easy to play with them when they’re locked behind glass! “Out of the Box” runs until December 2008.

And talking of current toys, this year’s crop of big blockbuster films has certainly offered its share of contributions to collectible culture through characters like Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, Indiana Jones, Speed Racer, Wall-E, and many more. True, some will overstay their welcome in discount bins and aisles, but some have already been perennial favorites over the years and are just now enjoying a resurgence due to a reinvention or reintroduction. I can remember buying some of the first Indiana Jones action figures and play sets from Kenner way back in the early ‘80s, most of which are now turning up on eBay with impressive prices, especially if you kept them on the cards and in the boxes (and to think I actually wanted to play with my Well of Souls play set, what was I thinking?)

Now you’ll find the whip-wielding archaeologist once again hanging on hooks in your local Target or Walmart with characters from the history of the Jones saga, and one day I’m sure there will be people bemoaning the fact that they dared to play out scenes from The Crystal Skull rather than keep the packaging intact. But that’s life in pop culture. At least those who purchase their very own Iron Man mask and accessories or, my pick of the season so far, oversized cloth Hulk hands with built-in sound effects (they look even cooler than the plastic ones released a couple years ago) can make use of them with less guilt, since they are absolutely intended to be worn and enjoyed rather than just shoved away into a dark corner of the closet. But if you really want to, maybe you should buy two sets, that comes to four Hulk hands by the way, I used a calculator for that one.

* * *

07-04-08

2008-07-09T14:52:12Z

ITEM #1: On July 4, our thoughts naturally turn to the history of our country, and here at Geppi’s Entertainment Museum it’s the perfect place to see Independence Day through a different lens.

For one thing, right at the start of our tour you come face to face with the work of one of America’s great statesmen and thinkers, Benjamin Franklin. His famous “Join or Die” snake cartoon from 1754 (recently featured prominently in the opening sequence of HBO’s John Adams series), while related to the French and Indian War, not to the War of American Independence, it is not only considered one of the first political cartoons, but it’s a superb example of a scientist and philosopher turning to the art of cartooning to make a socio-political point. Let’s put it this way; it’s not exactly The Far Side.

If there’s one thing you learn here at GEM, it’s how important the World War II era was and still is to the shaping of our nation’s cultural identity, and it was just as transformative, probably more so, to the literary art form of comics themselves, which is still considered one of the two unique American art forms along with jazz music. During WWII, the comic book industry became the juggernaut that defined itself for decades to come and established so many of the characters that are still with us today, from Superman and Batman to Captain America and the Human Torch.

Ah, Captain America. Skinny Steve Rogers submits himself for a top secret government experiment to create a “Super Soldier” and instead becomes the Sentinel of Liberty and the embodiment of our nation’s greatest hopes and ideals. This is the ultimate American fairy tale, and ever since Cap was introduced in 1941 by co-creators Joe Simon and Jack Kirby he’s been at the forefront of the Marvel Universe, its moral center, and its American conscience.

Perhaps the most important aspect of the character is that Captain America has always striven to represent our aspirations as a nation regardless of other factors; when the law or the current administration have clashed with what he believed our country should be, Cap has often defied his government, shed his mantle or gone underground. In every case, Cap has invariably been right.

The character recently died in a controversial story, but rest assured Ol’ Wing-Head will surely return. What’s important is that on a day like today, we take a page from Cap’s book and think about the history of our country, celebrating the heroes both real and fictional that helped to shape us. Happy Fourth of July!

ITEM #2: In the Special Edition gallery at Geppi’s Entertainment Museum, we’re stepping “Out of the Box” and allowing visitors both young and old to get hands on with pop culture by giving everyone an up close look at the characters that are popular right now with toys that you can actually touch and play with. Those toys you see in the stores today and all those TV shows and movies you’re watching now are going to be the subject of museum exhibitions themselves before we know it...so why not get a head start on the process? It won’t be as easy to play with them when they’re locked behind glass! “Out of the Box” runs until December 2008.

* * *

06-27-08

2008-06-27T17:25:15Z

ITEM #1: Withdrawal. For some it’s all about an addiction to a prescription drug, or maybe worse, but for pop culture enthusiasts, it usually means one thing: their favorite TV show is going away for the summer, or maybe worse. And so it is with me and Doctor Who.

The resurrection and revitalization of Who by Russell T. Davies and his production team has been nothing short of an epic fairy tale of success and worldwide acclaim, with an ever increasing pop culture profile outside the U.K. and a near bulletproof reputation from within it. But now we face a turning point in this great saga, and for many of us that are such devoted fans, 2009 will be the biggest test we’ve faced since the wilderness years of the 1990s. Not much of one, true, but a bit.

Davies and much of the current team will be gone by the end of 2009, moving on to other projects and leaving Doctor Who in the hands of incoming producer, and Hugo award winning writer of episodes like “The Girl in the Fireplace” and “Blink," Steven Moffat. The two-part Series 4 finale airing this Saturday and next Saturday in the U.K., and soon to be seen in the U.S. on the Sci-Fi Channel, is a massive farewell to four years of RTD’s Who, with big surprises, guest stars galore, and the fate of the entire universe at stake. But for 2009 there will be no regular 13-episode series; instead, following this year’s Christmas special, four specials will bridge the gap between Davies’ era and Moffat’s, which kicks off in 2010 with a full 13-episode Series 5.

So it’s not like Doctor Who is going away in 2009, but there will be less of it. And now the questions begin: What will happen in RTD’s final specials? What does Moffat have in store? What will change? What will stay the same? And most importantly, what will star David Tennant, the most powerful presence at the helm of the show since Tom Baker in the 1970s, do when 2010 rolls around? He’s contracted for the ’09 specials, but will they be his swansong? And how can anyone replace the man that has come to embody everything that has made this new series so exciting and magnetic?

That the future of Doctor Who is in safe hands is in no real doubt. That the future is a long and healthy one is not in much doubt. But what shape that future will take, ah, that’s where the doubt comes in, and rest assured fandom will spend the next year and more debating that endlessly until the first episode of Moffat’s Who airs.

There are worse ways to pass the time.

* * *

06-20-08

2008-06-23T20:53:16Z

ITEM #1: For those of you wondering where my review of The Incredible Hulk is, sorry but I haven’t seen it yet. Maybe I’ll get to it later this week. It’s been a big blockbuster movie season, and sometimes you just run out of energy after watching metallic marauders, speeding racecars, and adventuring archaeologists. Buzz is certainly high on this latest Marvel adaptation, so I’m interested in giving it a chance, and the notion that this, together with the recent Iron Man, will finally start building to a more inclusive Marvel cinematic universe is very exciting. We still have Captain America, Thor, Ant Man (yes possibly!) and the big Avengers team-up to look forward to, and things are looking good so far. So when you go to theaters this summer, just tell the ticket person to “make mine Marvel!” If they don’t ask security to escort you out, you’ll be doing your bit to spread good vibes. Or buy a pair of those neat cloth Hulk hands with the sound effects built in and wear them to the counter when you go to buy your popcorn and soda. You won’t be able to hold anything, but the staff will admire your dedication to the character and his legacy. Trust me.

ITEM #2: Obituary time again. Stan Winston, one of those people that I consider a primary architect of my childhood with creature design and effects credits on everything from The Terminator and Predator to Aliens and Jurassic Park, died this past weekend at the age of 62. As much as men like Winston were themselves inspired by pioneers like Willis O’Brien and Ray Harryhausen, Winston himself inspired successive generations with his fanciful creations. He expertly instilled equal measures of wonder and terror in the minds of countless kids that grew up with his movies, and I’m one of them. He will be missed.

ITEM #3: In the Special Edition gallery at Geppi’s Entertainment Museum, we’re stepping “Out of the Box” and allowing visitors both young and old to get hands-on with pop culture by giving everyone an up-close look at the characters that are popular right now with toys that you can actually touch and play with. Those toys you see in the stores today and all those TV shows and movies you’re watching now are going to be the subject of museum exhibitions themselves before we know it...so why not get a head start on the process? It won’t be as easy to play with them when they’re locked behind glass! “Out of the Box” runs until December 2008.

* * *

06-13-08

2008-06-14T15:23:48Z

This weekend is the debut of a new exhibition here at GEM! Beginning Saturday, June 14, 2008, Geppi’s Entertainment Museum will devote its Special Edition gallery to a unique and exciting presentation of tomorrow’s pop culture…today! We’re stepping “Out of the Box” and allowing visitors both young and old to get hands-on with pop culture by giving everyone an up close look at the characters that are popular right now with toys that you can actually touch and play with.

While it may sound strange to shift from a retrospective to something so up to date, it’s worth remembering the bigger picture. The mission of our museum demands that we not only take a look at what toys and characters shaped American pop culture and entertainment in the past but which ones are defining our present and future. After all, those toys you see in the stores today and all those TV shows and movies you’re watching now are going to be the subject of museum exhibitions themselves before we know it, so why not get a head start on the process? It won’t be as easy to play with them when they’re locked behind glass!

Our own Executive Vice President, Melissa Geppi-Bowersox, has this to say about “Out of the Box”, “We’re very excited about this new exhibit. This is a chance for parents to bring their children to the museum and not only have a fun time playing with toys but to get a chance to see how it all fits into the big picture of pop culture in our country.”

As an added incentive, GEM is offering a special coupon discount to readers of Scoop. Print out the coupon for $2 off admission to the museum for up to 4 people. The coupon is valid from June 14, 2008, to July 31, 2008.

“Out of the Box” will run until December 2008, and in addition to the toys and the opportunity to build and play right here at the museum, we’ll also be featuring giveaways, face painting, costumed characters, and much more. You can find out more by calling us at (410) 625-7060, e-mailing us at info@geppismuseum.com, or visiting the museum website at www.geppismuseum.com.

Next time, back to rambling for me!

* * *

06-06-08

2008-06-09T14:22:09Z

I’m usually rambling about something or other, but this time I’m going to focus on our next Special Edition exhibition here at Geppi’s Entertainment Museum. As anyone that follows this column knows, our recently concluded Special Edition exhibition was “Scrooged!” A tribute to the works of Carl Barks (1901-2000) as well as the life and times of Uncle Scrooge McDuck, the exhibit celebrated the legacy of the “Good Duck Artist” through a unique exhibition of original oil paintings, artwork and other memorabilia, including the complete original artwork for the comic story, “North of the Yukon.”

But that’s over now. So what’s next?

This breathless question has been repeated countless times over the last several weeks. Well, wonder no more. Beginning Saturday, June 14, 2008, we’re stepping “Out of the Box” and allowing visitors both young and old to get hands-on with pop culture by giving everyone an up close look at the characters that are popular right now with toys that you can actually touch and play with. It’s the future of pop culture today!

While it may sound strange to shift from a retrospective to something so up-to-date, it’s worth remembering the bigger picture. The mission of our museum demands that we not only take a look at what toys and characters shaped American pop culture and entertainment in the past, but which ones are defining our present and future. After all, those toys you see in the stores today and all those TV shows and movies you’re watching now are going to be the subject of museum exhibitions themselves before we know it, so why not get a head start on the process? It won’t be as easy to play with them when they’re locked behind glass!

Our “Out of the Box” exhibition will run until December 2008, and in addition to the toys and the opportunity to build and play right here at the museum, we’ll also be featuring giveaways, face painting, costumed characters, and much more. You can find out more by calling us at (410) 625-7060, e-mailing us at info@geppismuseum.com, or visiting the museum website at www.geppismuseum.com.

Next time, back to rambling for me!

* * *

05-30-08

2008-05-30T17:41:39Z

ITEM #1: I’m back from Marcon in Ohio and just wanted to say what a great convention it was and how grateful I am to everyone there for making me feel welcome. Naturally I got sick as soon as I came home, but that’s what cons generally do to you, well, to me anyway, but a cold is a small price to pay for promoting the museum, chatting about comics and Doctor Who and pop culture in general, and just having a nice time with fellow fans. Ah, the things I do for the cause of nostalgia and collecting.

Marcon also weathered a sad turn of events when their scheduled Guest of Honor, author Robert Aspirin, died at home unexpectedly just before the weekend began. While there was a lot of other programming and other guests as well, the con had a somber tinge but managed to recover nevertheless. Perhaps the sharing of interests and the warmth of a close-knit fan community had something to do with it.

ITEM #2: OK, so Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. I had been planning to write a full review of this, but after reading about forty million others on the web and seeing everyone say a lot of the same things I would say, I just don’t see the point in going into too much detail. Suffice to say, the lesson here is that where childhood heroes and favorite films are concerned, you can’t go home again…at least not entirely.

I’ve seen it twice so far. The first time I was disappointed by everything everyone else is disappointed about: the weak story, the over-reliance on CGI despite Spielberg’s insistence that they wouldn’t do that, the (for me anyway) shift in underlying ideology (I won’t spoil anything but the previous three films had a religious underpinning in the artifacts sought, while this one…doesn’t…quite), the under-use of Karen Allen. I just felt that over all it didn't work, and frankly I felt sad afterwards, having seen another childhood icon dragged out to lesser effect and tainting the memory of better times and adventures.

However, I went to see it again. I wanted to see if things would be different now that I was ready for everything in the film that I didn’t particularly like. Could I find a way to appreciate the movie that it is and not the movie that I wished it was? Well, without even trying to make an effort, I saw the twinkle in Ford's eye this time, focused on the sweet byplay between him and Allen when she was used to good effect, and appreciated the dynamic between the two of them and Shia LeBoeuf's Mutt. And this time even the worst parts of the movie that felt wrong - the refrigerator, the concluding revelations – well, none of them bothered me that much.

I smiled, I had fun, and I left the theater happier. I think the first viewing was important to shake off all those years of ingrained, even unconscious, expectations about the long-delayed return of Indiana Jones. The Indy in Crystal Skull is undeniably older but he’s still in there somewhere, and his progression is logical and even endearing. Nothing will ever beat Raiders of the Lost Ark, nothing could or should, but Crystal Skull at least fits alongside the previous sequels and almost makes me hope they give it at least one more shot…

…so they can fulfill just a few of those ingrained and unconscious expectations. Hey, a man can dream.

ITEM #3: There’s just one day left for…

Our current "Special Edition" exhibition: Scrooged! is a tribute to the works of Carl Barks (1901-2000) as well as the life and times of Uncle Scrooge McDuck, celebrating the legacy of the “Good Duck Artist” through a unique exhibition of original oil paintings, artwork and other memorabilia, including the complete original artwork for the comic story, “North of the Yukon.” The exhibition is open Until May 31, so time is running out.

…And what happens after the Cark Barks exhibition? It’s a little something called “Out of the Box,” and more details on that will be forthcoming very soon!

* * *

05-23-08

2008-05-24T20:38:04Z

ITEM #1: I’m heading to Marcon in Ohio this weekend so let’s keep this brief. I will soon be seeing the long-awaited fourth Indiana Jones movie, but based on everything I’ve seen so far as well as the plethora of pre-release reviews that range from “OK, but not what we hoped for” to “Terrible and definitely not what we hoped for,” my expectations are quite low. So rest assured, George Lucas, I won’t be arriving at the theater expecting to see a truly great film that not only pays tribute to my childhood hero but pushes him in all-new directions for the 21st Century. And why would I expect to see that anyway? It’s not like you’re supposed to be a great fantasy film-maker or anything, right? Oh wait…

Sigh. In the meantime, let me just pass along the wonderful news that Steven Moffat, two-time (possibly three-time soon) Hugo award winner for his work on some of the best new Doctor Who episodes in the brilliant series, will now succeed Russell T. Davies as the show’s executive producer when Series 5 debuts in 2010. Following the currently airing Series 4, the show will downshift into a series of specials for 2009, allowing some transition time between the RTD (as he’s known in fan circles) era and the Golden Age of Moffat (as I’m now officially labeling it).

There couldn’t be a better human being on Earth to steward this series into the future and it’s a joy to know that the man behind “The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances,” “The Girl in the Fireplace,” “Blink,” and this year’s not-yet-aired (but probably great) “Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead” will be the man shaping the entire saga from Series 5 on. As the Fifth Doctor says in last year’s Children in Need special Doctor Who scene, “Time Crash,” scripted by Moffat himself, “To days to come.”

Hear, hear! Let’s all raise a glass to Steven Moffat. We promise we won’t blink.

And one last warning! There’s only one week left for you to enjoy our current "Special Edition" exhibition: Scrooged!, the tribute to the works of Carl Barks (1901-2000) as well as the life and times of Uncle Scrooge McDuck, celebrating the legacy of the “Good Duck Artist” through a unique exhibition of original oil paintings, artwork, and other memorabilia, including the complete original artwork for the comic story, “North of the Yukon.” The exhibition is open Until May 31, so time is running out.

…And what happens after the Cark Barks exhibition? It’s a little something called “Out of the Box,” and more details on that will be forthcoming very soon!

* * *

05-16-08

2008-05-16T19:17:18Z

ITEM #1: Looks like it’s going to be movie review time around here for a while as we’re getting knee-deep in the ol’ summer blockbuster season...and it’s only mid-May. Last time I talked about the superb Iron Man, and this week I turn my attention to that plucky young racer as he guns his car around the track.

I can't really say Speed Racer is the worst movie I've ever seen, because everyone in it did a competent if not very nice job acting the material they were given (more on that in a minute). And I went really hoping to like it, especially since a good friend came back atypically enthused about what a visual and emotional treat it was. But it wasn't to be. Knitted together by clichéd after-school special dialogue, this was an almost painful uber-colored attack on my retinas.

However, I think this film does accomplish what it was intended to do: offer a dazzling kinetic kaleidoscope visual experience while adapting as much as possible of the Speed Racer mythos and distinctive style of anime to live action. The performances are all solid across the board, and the movie manages to adapt the source material with utter sincerity, devoid of the irony and self-aware humor that often skews these modern reinterpretations of comic and cartoon characters. If you can plug into the aesthetic at work here, you might just love it.

Unfortunately I didn’t. By the time I watched my millionth high-contrast, primary-colored, Tron-car inhabited race with actors still all too obviously sitting in green screen seats and stepping so far off the reality map that cars can bounce around like balloons and beehives become weapons of sabotage mid-race, I just wanted to give up. I also thought there was some imbalance in the storytelling; the language and themes of corporate corruption seemed pitched too high for a young audience, and for an adult the whole thing felt like a headache in the making.

For me the most telling moment was late in the film when Speed gets a chance to compete in the climactic Grand Prix. I actually thought to myself, “Oh my God, there’s still another race sequence coming.” By the end, all I could think of were the closing lines of the Speed Racer theme song: “He’s jammin’ down the pedal like he’s never coming back.” Based on the box office performance of this movie, that looks like a safe bet. But adventure, or DVD cult status, might be waiting just ahead, so go, Speed Racer, go! Please.

* * *

05-09-08

2008-05-15T18:12:23Z

Warning! This contains spoilers about the Iron Man movie.

ITEM #1: First, let me get the negative stuff out of the way, because I have too many positive things I want to say about this past week’s Iron Man film debut (did I mention that it was brilliant yet? Well, I’ll get to that).

The mainstream media just never gets it. In advance of the opening of Iron Man, countless newspapers ran a story in which it was proclaimed that – shock, horror! – you’re about to see a very different kind of superhero in this new film. He’s not squeaky clean, he’s not a boy scout. He has personal problems! Why, he has human flaws! How about that, what an amazing new innovation in comic hero storytelling! One that’s only been around for…oh, I don’t know…60-70 years or so? Even if you only date the notion of superheroes with real-world issues to the debut of Marvel, we’re talking 47 years of history.

But never mind all these pea-brained reporters with a pop culture memory like a gnat. Let’s get to the invincible charm of Iron Man, which by extension brings us to Robert Downey Jr. I’ve always liked this guy; he’s managed to make the burnt-out, drugged and drunken persona work so well for him in just about everything, and now he gets to play the one superhero he was born to play: Tony Stark, the alcohol-swilling millionaire playboy that Fate decrees must see the error of his excessive ways. It’s like Stan Lee et al sat around in 1963 and said, “So let’s see. What kind of superhero can we create for Robert Downey Jr. to play in 45 years?” With every tossed-off line of dialogue he cements himself as one of the most likable and charismatic leading heroes in comic film history.

But to heap praise on Downey is to ignore the fact that the rest of the casting is also solid. Jeff Bridges as Obadiah Stane – you’ve never seen him quite like this – manages to make what could have been a very flat, one-note part into something with subtlety and even likeability. By the time you get to the pivotal moment in which Stane rips Tony’s heart out (not speaking metaphorically), the chill factor is that much higher because he’s not just another villain but a man with logical motivation and even some sympathy.

Gwyneth Paltrow is one of those actresses that have always mystified me as to the source of her apparently boundless popularity given what seems very limited talent. And yet here, with Downey to play off, Paltrow is superb as Pepper Potts, the aide-de-camp/smoldering love interest. She doesn’t have all that much to do, but what she does, she handles well. And her scenes with Downey have just the right romantic edge.

A few other honorable mentions: Paul Bettany as the voice of JARVIS, Stark’s computer (Avengers fans will smile at this), and…

...Samuel L. Jackson himself as Nick Fury, director of the newly renamed S.H.I.E.L.D. (the acronym stands for something different than it did in the old days, and it makes perfect sense), and bearer of the exceptionally exciting fan-pleasing news that Stark is invited to join the “Avenger Initiative.” Mark your movie-going calendars for July 2011, folks, but before that we’ll be seeing another Iron Man outing and big screen appearances by a Thunder God and a Star-Spangled Super Soldier.

This is also the first superhero film I can remember that managed to achieve such a level of real-world ambiance. Apart from the very predictable ending with the obligatory metal monsters smashing away at each other (thankfully kept to a minimum), this is at turns a character-driven piece, a corporate-political thriller, and a heavily gadget-laden movie that feels a bit fanciful but never so much that it doesn’t convince you that this could all be happening…assuming, of course, that you had a genius billionaire like Stark to devise all this cutting-edge technology.

One thing that did occur to me during the film, however, is the interesting ideology at work in the story. On one hand, you have a former arms developer that sees the light and now wants to devote himself to humanitarian causes, protecting those he once put in harm’s way. The basic thumbnail is that greedy corporate weapons builders are evil.

But once Stark builds his Iron Man armor, his first order of business is to head back to his former prison in Afghanistan, torch all the Stark technology the terrorists have on hand, and mete out a bit of justice, or revenge, on a few of these vicious outlaws. In one telling sequence, he literally torches people along with rockets and guns, and even deliberately leaves one of the villains to the obviously enraged villagers that he was terrorizing. So although Stark is now preaching peace, he clearly still thinks violent death-dealing is an acceptable part of the process, as is weapons-building. I guess it all just depends on who’s doing the dying, and whether he himself is the one wearing and using the weapons.

But never mind that – go see Iron Man. And get ready for a future filled with Avenging films.

ITEM #2: An item about the passing of an often overlooked pioneer: Bebe Barron.

But the one thing no one ever seems to connect is that not only is the Forbidden Planet soundtrack so groundbreaking and eerie, but it’s the rare occurrence of an ambient score that also directly serves and illuminates the plot. Late in the film, when Dr. Morbius plays a snippet of Krell music, we hear the same tonalities we’ve been hearing throughout the entire movie. It’s not just accompanying sound, it is literally the long lost voice of the Krell soul, the music they made, and without realizing it, we’ve been listening to it all along. That gives the entire film an elegiac quality that is just mesmerizing.

More next week!

* * *

05-02-08

2008-05-04T16:00:43Z

Over at www.empireonline.com they’re taking web visitors through a roll call of Indiana Jones merchandise past and present. It’s always fun to see some of your childhood reflected back at you, which is the whole point of Geppi’s Entertainment Museum, after all! But, here amid the genuine 1980s toys tied to the first three Indy films are some very odd pieces of contemporary merchandise. And I mean odd.

The Kenner action figures were great, including the mail-away Belloq, although mine has lost a few of the white spots from his robe these days, and the felt hat on the 12” Indiana Jones never looked quite right. But where was I when LJN put out those Temple of Doom action figures? A Mola Ram on my desk would be pretty cool right about now.

The weird part about this gallery of merchandise, though, is that they skip a lot of the other stuff available back then, including some very interesting tie-in books, in favor of increasingly bizarre misshapen Japanese dolls that only vaguely resemble our hero and his extended cast of cohorts. And then of course there’s one of my personal pet peeves – pop culture character toys in which one character is dressed or designed to look like an entirely unrelated character. Like all those Mr. Potato Heads coming out now in the shape of Darth Vader or Spider-Man, or the Kermit the Frog action figure showcased here in Indy’s trademark garb. Sheesh.

The gallery redeems itself, however, by ending on the superb new LEGO sets based on the classic and new Indy films. LEGO: you just can’t go wrong with it.

But those Indiana Jones One Coin figures from Japan...brr, creepy. Except the Marion one though; just look at the cute little monkey!

Our current "Special Edition" exhibition: Scrooged! is a tribute to the works of Carl Barks (1901-2000) as well as the life and times of Uncle Scrooge McDuck. Then after the Cark Barks exhibition, let’s just say that here at Geppi’s Entertainment Museum, we’re all about thinking “out of the box.” It’s an interactive, up-to-date approach to celebrating pop culture, and we think it’s going to be fun for young and old alike. So stay tuned!

* * *

04-25-08

2008-04-25T18:16:41Z

It’s hard to believe it’s been almost an entire week since we were set up at the 2008 New York Comic Con, but here we are returned safe and sound in Baltimore and thinking back on the excitement and fun of a great east coast pop culture show.

The NYCC hasn’t been a part of the comic convention season for all that long, but in its short lifespan it has quickly established itself as one of the most vital and successful gatherings in the world of comics and pop culture collecting. Everyone from comic book legends like Stan Lee, Jerry Robinson, and Neal Adams to Hollywood stars and creators like Selma Blair, Chris Carter, and Ron “Hellboy” Perlman himself, as well as a parade of fans, dressed in costume and in street clothes, filled the Jacob Javits Center from April 18-20, 2008.

A good time was had by all, and Geppi’s Entertainment Museum set up to greet visitors with an array of comics and toys taken from our collection. Passersby had a chance to see, in person, copies of Action Comics #1, Detective Comics #27, Tales of Suspense #39, Incredible Hulk #181, and many more, as well as toys featuring Betty Boop, Charlie Brown, the entire Disneyland gang, and Popeye among others.

We also premiered our new guide to pop culture collecting for kids, featuring the first-ever official public appearance of our new museum mascots, “Gem,” “Meg,” and “Pup Culture!” So all in all, I’d have to say it was a great weekend; I even got to meet a life-sized Ugly Doll, and you can’t say that every day.

Thanks to all who visited us on the floor, and we’ll see you all again next year!

Our current "Special Edition" exhibition: Scrooged! is a tribute to the works of Carl Barks (1901-2000) as well as the life and times of Uncle Scrooge McDuck, celebrating the legacy of the “Good Duck Artist” through a unique exhibition of original oil paintings, artwork and other memorabilia, including the complete original artwork for the comic story, “North of the Yukon.” The exhibition is open through the end of May, so you have time, but we certainly don’t want you to miss it.

…And what happens after the Cark Barks exhibition? Well let’s just say that here at Geppi’s Entertainment Museum, we’re all about thinking “out of the box.” It’s an interactive, up-to-date approach to celebrating pop culture, and we think it’s going to be fun for young and old alike. So stay tuned!

* * *

04-11-08

2008-04-16T15:44:11Z

And we’re back to dying celebrities again. Sigh.

Charlton Heston was always considered a larger-than-life figure, and certainly for me (and countless other kids that grew up in the 1970s), he was a towering heroic icon looming large throughout my childhood. Whether he was leading a circus or an exodus, battling diseased mutants or talking apes, commanding a doomed expedition against the Apache or discovering the horrific truth behind a soy-based food product in the near future, Heston was a true Hollywood Star of the first order. To me, he was Moses, Taylor, Neville all rolled into one, along with so many more characters, all of them swaggering with testosterone-fueled bravado into one crisis after another. He didn’t always emerge the victor, but he was always “Chuck Heston,” and no one could take that away from him.

As far as his real-world political beliefs and affiliations, they were mere background noise. The real Heston, as far as I was concerned, was always the one on screen. In later years, it was fun to hear him look back with fondness on the roles that had made him such a celebrated figure. How many fans heard him recount his oft-repeated tale of behind-the-scenes conversations on the set of Ben Hur (“Relax, Chuck, I guarantee you’re going to win the race”) and it was gratifying that Heston was always elegant about every role he played. It didn’t matter whether it was a Biblical epic directed by DeMille or a sci-fi movie alongside man-sized monkeys, Heston spoke with honesty and respect about his work and carried himself with dignity at all times.

Dignity; I think that’s the word I associate most with Heston. All of his characters are either the embodiment of dignity, in search of it, or desperate to maintain it in the face of insurmountable obstacles. It was that devotion to personal dignity that also dictated the way in which Heston handled the last years of his life. When he knew that he had Alzheimer’s disease, he recorded a video tape farewell to the world and his many fans while he still had all of his faculties; one last gesture of dignity in a life dedicated to that ideal.

I’ll really miss Charlton Heston, although I know he’ll always be waiting on those DVDs and in endless TV repeats. At this time of year I usually sit down for my annual look at The Ten Commandments, but this year it’ll mean just a little bit more. I hope he’s found his destiny.

Our current "Special Edition exhibition: Scrooged! is a tribute to the works of Carl Barks (1901-2000) as well as the life and times of Uncle Scrooge McDuck, celebrating the legacy of the “Good Duck Artist” through a unique exhibition of original oil paintings, artwork and other memorabilia, including the complete original artwork for the comic story, “North of the Yukon.” The exhibition is open through the end of May, so you have time, but we certainly don’t want you to miss it.

* * *

04-04-08

2008-04-04T17:32:17Z

Doctor Who returns to UK television screens this weekend with the first episode of Series 4, “Partners in Crime.” Although the early buzz on this premiere suggests we may be heading into slightly embarrassing territory with the threat of tiny, Chiclet-like “fat cell creatures” called the Adipose, the buzz on the entire series in general suggests that we’re heading into an epic adventure. Best to steel yourself for a lackluster debut and then barrel straight ahead into the good stuff. And Rose is back.

It’s safe to say nothing occupies my spare time quite as much as Doctor Who. Nothing. Really. Oh sure, I’ll tell you about other shows I watch, movies I’ve seen, books I’m reading or writing, places I’m going. But really, it’s Doctor Who. All the time. Waking or sleeping (and that’s a reference, believe it or not, and Who fans will indeed get it). So now that a new series is upon us, things are all bright and sunny and happy again. I can’t even remember what it was like when we all slogged through the Dark Days, when Doctor Who was absent from TV screens for 16 years and we had to regale youngsters with tales of the Doctor and the monsters and the great and amazing adventures and oh, did you kids miss something. But it’s all on VHS and DVD, so here are a few to get you started. And some reference books. And comics. And a few hundred novels. And…

Now there’s a new show to handle all that indoctrination for us, and we can sit back and revel in the majesty of new Who secure in the knowledge that it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere again anytime soon. In fact, odds are I’ll be doing this same column for many March/Aprils to come, and that’s just fine with me. If you’re the least bit curious about The Single Greatest Thing Ever Invented in the History of Ever™, then you might want to start over at the official website, www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho. Or, if you want to really dive in and find out what Who fandom is all about – and brace yourself, I mean it – then check out the largest online community dedicated to the show, www.doctorwhoforum.com.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some work to do, and it’s tough to concentrate on that, write a column, and think about what’s coming up on Doctor Who all at once. Something’s gotta give.

Our current "Special Edition" exhibition: Scrooged! is a tribute to the works of Carl Barks (1901-2000) as well as the life and times of Uncle Scrooge McDuck, celebrating the legacy of the “Good Duck Artist” through a unique exhibition of original oil paintings, artwork and other memorabilia, including the complete original artwork for the comic story, “North of the Yukon.” The exhibition is open through the end of May, so you have time, but we certainly don’t want you to miss it.

* * *

03-28-08

2008-03-28T18:28:04Z

ITEM #1: Your Intrepid Curatorial Columnist Resorts to a Shameful Column-Filling Tactic and Writes a Quick Top Ten List Because He Was Too Busy to Think of Anything Else

This Week’s List: Five Pop Culture Moments to Look Forward to in 2008 (in no particular order)

1) Iron Man – Marvel’s film adaptations haven’t been completely stellar lately after such a great run in the early part of the decade, so this debut of a second-string character (that’s charitable, he’s probably third-string) looks very promising. The effects look good, the suit looks great, and Robert Downey Jr. as a very full-of-himself Tony Stark may just be a stroke of casting genius.

2) Indiana Jones Returns – I never thought I’d really ever see The Man in the Hat ride back into action, but here he comes, in his mid-60s and looking as good as ever. Granted, the plot sounds like it assembles all the most embarrassing elements leaked over the years in countless rejected script drafts, but who knows, this may just pull victory out of The Hat and win us all over. At least it gives Harrison Ford one more chance to be our old childhood hero; we sure won’t be seeing Han Solo on screen ever again (there you go, George and Harrison, prove me wrong).

3) Doctor Who Series 4 – Haven’t you gotten that whole part yet about how big a fan of Doctor Who I am? This year, the massive international success materializes in April for another 13-episode run of epic science fantasy adventure. There are rumored returns galore from the entire three-year history of the new series – and plenty of nods to the old – including Sontarans, Daleks, Ood, and possibly even a Rose by one name or another. Time to glue myself to the television set.

4) American Television Back in Triumph? – Any pop culture aficionado should be intrigued by what the television landscape will look like in the fall of 2008. Following the writers’ strike and the disruption of so many fan favorite series, what will TV do to win back viewers and reassure them that their most cherished stories and characters will continue? Or are we seeing just another chapter in the tale of the end of traditional network scheduled television? To coin a cliché, time will tell.

5) Star Trek – Okay, so this is really coming in 2009 now, but since photos are already leaking, you can bet a huge promotional push will still occupy much of this year as one of science fiction’s venerable franchises tries to reinvent itself for a new millennium and have the best of both worlds: new fans and satisfied old ones. Can J.J. Abrams manage this amazing magic trick? As a recovering Trekkie (whew, thank you Doctor Who), I’m mildly curious. I just hope this doesn’t inspire me to rebuy all those old Trek novels I just gave away.

Our current "Special Edition" exhibition: Scrooged! is a tribute to the works of Carl Barks (1901-2000) as well as the life and times of Uncle Scrooge McDuck, celebrating the legacy of the “Good Duck Artist” through a unique exhibition of original oil paintings, artwork and other memorabilia, including the complete original artwork for the comic story, “North of the Yukon.” The exhibition is open through the end of May, so you have time, but we certainly don’t want you to miss it.

* * *

03-21-08

2008-03-22T15:10:11Z

ITEM #1: Here we are again. This is starting to get a bit eerie and depressing. In the last two installments of this column, I talked about two sad losses in the world of pop culture. Now unfortunately, it’s time to talk about a third.

Arthur C. Clarke died on March 19, 2008 at the age of 90. Clarke was often credited as one of the “Big Three” architects of modern science fiction along with Robert A. Heinlein (1907-1988) and Isaac Asimov (1920-1992). The last of that rarified club to leave this Earth, he saw many of the things they wrote and dreamed come true, like advanced communications and orbiting space stations, while others like ongoing space exploration and alien contact have not quite materialized just yet. But through his eyes, we saw a world of human endeavor that celebrated everything we could accomplish while carrying our legacy into the stars.

In addition to coming up with the idea of geostationary communications satellites, a massive contribution to science and society for which Clarke received not one dime because he didn’t patent the idea, he also devised three laws: the most famous of which is that “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” He wrote Childhood’s End and Rendezvous with Rama, just two of the many novels and short stories and non-fiction books he produced over the course of a long career. His most visible and popular contribution to the collective consciousness may be 2001: A Space Odyssey, the film version of his short story “The Sentinel” for which he wrote the screenplay with film maker Stanley Kubrick, thus adding to the pop culture lexicon the indelible image of the towering black Monolith.

Perhaps now Clarke has answers for so many of the big questions he shared with us over the years; maybe now he knows what the Monolith really is. But we still wait for answers, and without one of our very best questioning minds to help us find them.

…And literally as I’m finishing writing this column, I’ve heard that Shakespearean actor Paul Scofield, best known from his Oscar-winning role as Sir Thomas More in A Man for All Seasons, has died at the age of 86. I’m reminded now of my favorite line from Shakespeare, spoken by Claudius in Hamlet: “When sorrows come, they come not single spies but in battalions.”

Next week, back to fun, I promise.

Our current "Special edition" exhibition: Scrooged! is a tribute to the works of Carl Barks (1901-2000) as well as the life and times of Uncle Scrooge McDuck, celebrating the legacy of the “Good Duck Artist” through a unique exhibition of original oil paintings, artwork and other memorabilia, including the complete original artwork for the comic story, “North of the Yukon.” The exhibition is open through the end of May, so you have time, but we certainly don’t want you to miss it.

* * *

03-14-08

2008-03-14T17:22:01Z

ITEM #1: Too often when you write these kinds of ongoing pop culture columns (or blogs or whatever), you fall into certain traps. There’s the “Top Ten List,” the “Movie Review,” the “Repurposed Article,” and so on. This is not to say these traps are always a horrible thing, but sometimes it can feel a bit repetitive. And of all these typical column topics, one of the worst to see popping up time after time is “The Obituary.” But here we are again.

Last week I talked about the passing of Dungeons & Dragons co-creator Gary Gygax. This week, sadly, I’m here to talk about Dave Stevens, creator of The Rocketeer and one of the finest comic illustrators of his generation. He may not have been the most prolific creator in the industry, and his long battle with leukemia also curtailed a lot of his work and public appearance schedule, but the contributions he did make to pop culture are indelible and appreciated.

In addition to his work on the charmingly retro Rocketeer (which culminated in a not-altogether-bad film adaptation from Disney), Stevens almost single-handedly revived interest in the reclusive Bettie Page, a controversial figure renowned for her racy modeling and transformed by Stevens’ artwork into a sort of quintessential female fantasy figure. Stevens even struck up a friendship with Page, who was able to enjoy a resurgence in fame thanks to her surrogate comic book persona appearing in the pages of The Rocketeer (the character was based on Page but often used modeling reference from Stevens’ wife at the time, 1980s “Scream Queen” Brinke Stevens).

Dave Stevens was not only an elegant, accomplished artist but instrumental in the early days of the San Diego Comic-Con scene. Whether or not Stevens will be remembered through his pulp-inspired artwork or his gracious convention appearances or his often overlooked storyboard contributions to classic cartoon fare like Super Friends, the important thing is…he will be remembered.

Our current "Special Edition" exhibition: Scrooged! is a tribute to the works of Carl Barks (1901-2000) as well as the life and times of Uncle Scrooge McDuck, celebrating the legacy of the “Good Duck Artist” through a unique exhibition of original oil paintings, artwork and other memorabilia, including the complete original artwork for the comic story, “North of the Yukon.” The exhibition is open through the end of May, so you have time, but we certainly don’t want you to miss it.

* * *

03-07-08

2008-03-07T16:11:41Z

As I’ve been saying at the end of just about every installment of this column for a little while now, Uncle Scrooge is here! GEM is proud to present its latest Special Edition exhibition, a tribute to the works of Carl Barks (1901-2000) as well as the life and times of Uncle Scrooge McDuck. Scrooged! celebrates the legacy of the "Good Duck Artist" through a unique exhibition of original oil paintings, artwork and other memorabilia, including the complete original artwork for the comic story, "North of the Yukon." The exhibition is open until April, so you have time, but by all means don’t miss it!

In the latest issue of the GEM newsletter, I also take some time to provide a bit of a historic overview of one of Barks’ beloved comic book creations, "Donald Duck Finds Pirate Gold," featured in Four Color Comics #9 (October 1942). There’s a bit more detail in the newsletter, but I thought I’d share that background with you here as well.

At the time, the Disney team had worked on developing a cartoon featuring Mickey, Donald and Goofy as the owners of a tavern that happen into a hunt for the treasure of Henry Morgan. Storyboards and gags were produced, but ultimately the realities of World War II and the shift in the studio’s production priorities toward military training movies spelled a premature end to this pirate adventure.

Oskar LeBeck, an editor with Whitman, happened upon the cartoon material and resurrected the idea for a comic story. Writer Bob Karp stepped in, as did illustrators Carl Barks and Jack Hannah, who split the artistic duties for the now duck-centric version.

While the version of "Pirate Gold" seen in Four Color is the most memorable for collectors, there are still other versions of the story. It was reprinted in abridged form as a Better Little Book titled Donald Duck and Ghost Morgan’s Treasure, it was rewritten for a Cheerios giveaway comic book, and then it reappeared in Four Color #227 but with the Seven Dwarfs instead of the duck family.

Two other versions turned up in Walt Disney’s Peter Pan Treasure Chest #1 (January 1953) – this time titled "Captain Hook and the Buried Treasure" and featuring art by Dick Moores – and in Woody Woodpecker #76 (1963) of all places. But it’s the classic original with its whimsical artwork and adventure that still captures the imagination of fans eager to set sail on the high seas. It’s also just one of thousands of stories reflected in the collection we have on display at the museum. But I can only cover one at a time.

* * *

02-29-08

2008-03-04T15:24:55Z

ITEM #1: Every once in a while, something happens that just underscores how exciting the world of collecting can be. There’s always the potential for new discoveries, new connections, and even a new chapter in history being written. And sometimes, you get a call out of the blue that leads to a fascinating encounter with the past.

I received a phone call from an antiquarian bookstore in Pennsylvania called The Title Page. They were (and still are) in the process of handling the possible purchase of a rare comic book for which they had very little information, and they contacted me for background details. It was a small, very old illustrated book, still in very nice shape but of course yellowed and partially worn. The title? The Adventures of Mr. Obadiah Oldbuck.

That’s right, a copy of one of the rarest Victorian Age comics had just turned up out of nowhere, emerging from the history-laden hills of Pennsylvania and arriving on the desk of a very pleasant book shop. Registrar Andy Hershberger and I took a little trip to view the book and it turned out to be a copy of the 1849 Wilson & Co. reprint of Obadiah listed in The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide. While it may be missing a back cover page, we were thrilled just to see it and take part in uncovering another small slice of comic book history. The book itself is still owned by a private collector but if and when it emerges into the larger collecting world, we hope that perhaps we’d have a chance to showcase it at GEM.

The story of comic book collecting is filled with these kinds of stories. No matter how much we think has already been discovered and documented, it’s amazing how much more there is yet to find; history awaits us hidden in countless attics and basements, in old libraries and municipal buildings, and in far unlikelier places. Sometimes it happens through careful research, sometimes it happens by accident. But every time it does happen, a little more light is shed on the vast scope of that pop culture universe. And it’s always a joy to be a part of it.

Our current “Special Edition” exhibition: Scrooged! is a tribute to the works of Carl Barks (1901-2000) as well as the life and times of Uncle Scrooge McDuck, celebrating the legacy of the “Good Duck Artist” through a unique exhibition of original oil paintings, artwork and other memorabilia, including the complete original artwork for the comic story, “North of the Yukon.” The exhibition is open through the end of May, so you have time, but we certainly don’t want you to miss it.

* * *

02-23-08

2008-02-23T16:49:00Z

ITEM #1: I’m back from my annual sojourn to L.A., where I appear every year at the Gallifrey One convention (www.gallifreyone.com). This is without doubt the best fan gathering I ever attend, and with each year that passes, it just gets better and better.

Gallifrey One is devoted to Doctor Who, that 45-year-old U.K. science fiction classic that has once again become a brilliant, vital pop culture phenomenon thanks to a wildly successful 2005 relaunch that has so far resulted in three new series of episodes (with a fourth on the way in a month or so, remember, in the U.K. they refer to a television “season” as a “series”), two spin-off series (Torchwood has an edgier, more mature slant while The Sarah Jane Adventures is for the young and the young at heart) and a mountain of merchandise that ranges from comics and books and toys to napkins and towels and auto air fresheners (it’s shaped like a TARDIS police box…but what does a TARDIS smell like?).

With the U.S. airing of the new series of Doctor Who on the Sci-Fi Channel and particularly the explosive debut of Torchwood on BBC America, all of us in Who fandom knew it was only a matter of time before our ranks grew, but this year’s Gallifrey One really demonstrated what might happen before this decade is out. Last year’s Gally, as it’s often known, had over 800 attendees; this year, 1080 people showed up to celebrate the Time Lord’s adventures, and the influx of enthusiastic new fans made for a very energetic and satisfying weekend.

It was also heartening to see so many families and children in attendance. Not only are older fans introducing their kids to the show and the convention experience, but young fans who found the show on their own are also turning up to take part. The result is a very warm family atmosphere, something that always made the Gallifrey experience unique in comparison to the average comic book or sci-fi convention and has only become stronger in recent years.

As the Who community grows, I’m also seeing more crossover with other categories of fandom then there has been in the past, especially in areas like comics. For example: Gary Russell, script editor for Who and Torchwood, is a long-time fan of American comics (especially Marvel) and has now achieved a personal dream of writing for them. Naturally, what better way to begin than with a U.S. published Doctor Who comic book series? IDW is publishing Russell’s four-color take on the Time Lord in addition to a second title featuring reprints of classic Who strips from the Tom Baker era, recolored and looking more vibrant than ever.

The U.K. debut of Doctor Who Series four arrives in just a few weeks, and fans are counting the days...not just to the return of new Who, but to the next Gallifrey One convention happening in just a little under a year’s time. I for one can’t wait!

Our current “Special Edition” exhibition: Scrooged! is a tribute to the works of Carl Barks (1901-2000) as well as the life and times of Uncle Scrooge McDuck, celebrating the legacy of the “Good Duck Artist” through a unique exhibition of original oil paintings, artwork and other memorabilia, including the complete original artwork for the comic story, “North of the Yukon.” The exhibition is open through the end of May, so you have time, but we certainly don’t want you to miss it.

* * *

02-15-08

2008-02-17T16:24:15Z

ITEM #1: As I’ve been saying at the end of just about every installment of this column for a little while now (and notice this is now at the beginning of this week’s column, just one of those dramatic change-ups I like to pull on you to make sure everyone is paying attention), Uncle Scrooge is here! He’s also brought quite a few friends and some family with him too, and they’re all part of our latest Special Edition exhibition.

Scrooged! is a tribute to the works of Carl Barks (1901-2000) as well as the life and times of Uncle Scrooge McDuck, celebrating the legacy of the “Good Duck Artist” through a unique exhibition of original oil paintings, artwork and other memorabilia, including the complete original artwork for the comic story, “North of the Yukon.” The exhibition is open through the end of May, so you have time, but we certainly don’t want you to miss it.

ITEM #2: Collectors are born, not made. It’s in the genes. Sometimes it may be difficult to pinpoint when you start acting on that deep-seated hard wiring, you kept the teddy bear instead of throwing it out, you saved that comic after reading it because it was a “limited edition”, but whenever it started, it wasn’t just behavior you learned, it was like a switch was thrown in your brain. You can’t turn it off either.

For me, I remember one of the books that made me want to be a collector. I already was one somewhere in there, but this book helped to kick-start the process. I read it a million times, stared at every picture, reread every word, and tried just about everything it told kids to do. I gathered rocks, I made puppets with socks and paper, I made buttons and bottle cap mobiles, picked up shells, examined stamps, drew maps, went through my pockets for coins, and built a top hat out of construction paper.

I even took fingerprints and became so enamored with detective work that we launched several competing detective agencies at school. We spent more time hiring and firing each other than doing any actual “detective work,” but that’s how it goes in grade school business.

The book that inspired all these collecting passions? Charlie Brown’s Super Book of Things to Do and Collect. It was first published in 1975 and it was my guide to the amazing world of building a collection, “how to start it, what to do with it, and where to keep it.”

I’m currently putting together a similar introduction to collecting for GEM, and that book is foremost in my mind. We may not all have a doghouse that’s bigger on the inside like Snoopy’s, but from one generation to the next, kids always enjoy collecting. And since it’s genetic, we need to make sure they get the information they need to get the most out of it.

So does anyone need any fingerprinting done?

* * *

01-31-08

2008-01-31T18:37:30Z

As I’ve been saying at the end of just about every installment of this column for a little while now (and notice this is now at the beginning of this week’s column, just one of those dramatic change-ups I like to pull on you to make sure everyone is paying attention), Uncle Scrooge is here! He’s also brought quite a few friends and some family with him too, and they’re all part of our latest Special Edition exhibition.

Scrooged! is a tribute to the works of Carl Barks (1901-2000) as well as the life and times of Uncle Scrooge McDuck, celebrating the legacy of the “Good Duck Artist” through a unique exhibition of original oil paintings, artwork and other memorabilia, including the complete original artwork for the comic story, “North of the Yukon.” The exhibition is open through the end of May, so you have time, but we certainly don’t want you to miss it.

One person who took the hint is comics journalist and scholar Michael Rhode (comicsdc.blogspot.com), who had reviewed the entire museum in the recent Fall 2007 issue of the International Journal of Comic Art (Vol. 9, No. 2). He was back about a week ago with some friends to check out the Barks exhibition and see what else has changed at GEM. Accompanying Rhode were several friends including the creator of the Cul De Sac comic strip, Richard Thompson. The resulting tour and conversation, in which I was accompanied by our Registrar, Andy Hershberger, touched on topics as far-ranging as vintage cartoons and John Waters films.

Be sure to check out Mike’s blog, which is a treasure trove of comics-related news and information. He also has a book available at Lulu.com titled Film & TV Adaptations of Comics 2007. It’s a great resource for all of you journalists writing endless articles about the history of comics in cinema. You know who you are.

And keep an eye out for a review of the Barks exhibition from Rhode, which will appear in a forthcoming issue of the International Journal of Comic Art.

Soon I’ll have more information about a special event taking place at GEM to celebrate the Barks exhibit, possibly including one or two very cool surprises for fans of all things ducky. Stay tuned!

* * *

01-25-08

2008-01-25T17:16:28Z

ITEM #1: Last week I wrote one of those jaded, superior fanboy rants about Cloverfield and how, although I had yet to see the film, it might be worth lowering expectations before seeing it. One part of my column went thusly:

“It’s a giant monster movie a la Godzilla, say the film makers, but this is different. This isn’t a movie told from an omniscient point of view; it’s a gritty roller coaster ride of a nightmare assembled from handheld video tape footage shot by the poor victims of an urban tragedy. It’s fresh, bold…um, oh yeah, ‘new’ and ‘groundbreaking.’ And boy, didn’t that web campaign stir everyone up.”

And:

“Enjoy Cloverfield tonight, but remember that it isn’t the second coming of a grand new era in fantasy film making like all the horror pundits claim. It isn’t even an original idea.”

Now I stand by those statements a week later, but I don’t stand by the attitude which suffuses them. Too often in the ol’ pop culture industry, we can get all wrapped up in cynicism and we forget that sometimes, even when the hype is a bit much, the final product may still be good anyway.

And Cloverfield is good.

It's not the groundbreaking new approach to cinema it's been hyped as after all, the whole Blair Witch conceit goes back much further than most people credit, and it’s not the second coming of a grand new era in fantasy film making. No, it’s not; but it is well done. This movie delivers on precisely what Abrams and Co. promised: to put you on the ground in a giant monster movie and experience what it might be like to be in the middle of a horrific attack by a nightmarish monster without the benefit of knowing what's happening or with the comfort of a military or scientific base around you. When you get a glimpse of the creature in the first couple acts, it's unsettling and frightening and it feels pretty damn real.

Abrams said he wanted to make an “American Godzilla,” our equivalent of the creature that in 1954 embodied Japan’s fear of and experience with atomic power. Clovie, as he’s becoming known, certainly does symbolize America’s uncertainty and fear in a post-9/11 world. You never know where he came from, what he is, what will happen later; it’s all a mystery and hits out of nowhere. And his first attack on a building plays out (deliberately) in a visual re-creation of familiar 9/11 footage. But if we’re being accurate, he’s not an “American Godzilla” so much as another take on Godzilla’s American progenitor, The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms.

The characters, except for one startling arrival late in the film of a recognizable character actor face as one of the military commanders (a moment that briefly threw me out of the movie), are played by unknowns, which is essential to ‘keeping it real.’ Yes, the conceit of keeping the camera going is, like Blair Witch and others, a bit strained late in the film when you'd think someone would drop it and run, but it never felt quite as forced as it might have.

As for Clovie himself, he’s one of the most effective, disturbing creature designs I've ever seen. I won't elaborate right now, but the thing sticks with you. It’s creepy and skin-crawling, and if this movie does one thing, I think it will bury the bad taste of the 1998 Godzilla and prove to film makers, as The Host has also done, that a terrifying and effective giant monster movie can still be made for modern audiences without irony or humor.

The movie is a kinetic ride and worth seeing, endless logical plot holes notwithstanding, but it’s also tragic and pathetic and heart-rending. And although the deliberately shaky camera work didn’t make me dizzy or nauseous, it’s apparently affecting a lot of moviegoers that way. So be warned.

ITEM #2: As I’ve been saying at the end of just about every installment of this column for a little while now, Uncle Scrooge is here! GEM is proud to present its latest Special Edition exhibition, a tribute to the works of Carl Barks (1901-2000) as well as the life and times of Uncle Scrooge McDuck. Scrooged! celebrates the legacy of the “Good Duck Artist” through a unique exhibition of original oil paintings, artwork and other memorabilia, including the complete original artwork for the comic story, “North of the Yukon.” The exhibition is open until April, so you have time, but by all means don’t miss it!

01-19-08

2008-01-21T19:13:53Z

ITEM #1: The long-awaited and cleverly hyped giant monster movie, Cloverfield, opens today. Thanks to a well-orchestrated Internet campaign, lots of people are going to see it. According to some preliminary reviews from preview screenings, some of them may even enjoy it. But the real lesson here is one we’ve been learning over and over again in the modern age of instantaneously advertised pop culture: the hype is usually disproportionate to the final product.

In 1999, when the Internet was a lot younger and we were (just perhaps) still reeling from the possibilities of coordinating media efforts via the web and traditional formats, a low-budget horror movie with a neat hook stormed into theaters and became a pop culture phenomenon. But it didn’t really happen in theaters, it happened on the ‘net, where a creepy website supposedly offering a glimpse into a tragic true story built audiences up for a roller coaster ride of a nightmare. The film itself would be assembled from handheld video tape footage shot by the poor victims of a woodland tragedy; we wouldn’t just be seeing a Hollywood-crafted fantasy, we were told. We would be seeing what happened from the point of view of the participants. It was a fresh, bold approach to storytelling…that had of course been done before many times, but when you advertise something as “new” and “groundbreaking,” people tend to believe you.

I’m talking about The Blair Witch Project, and thanks to the web hype, the film became such a financial and cultural success that its influence can be felt to this day.

Flash forward. It’s nine years later, and here comes Cloverfield. It’s a giant monster movie a la Godzilla, say the film makers, but this is different. This isn’t a movie told from an omniscient point of view; it’s a gritty roller coaster ride of a nightmare assembled from handheld video tape footage shot by the poor victims of an urban tragedy. It’s fresh, bold…um, oh yeah, “new” and “groundbreaking.” And boy, didn’t that web campaign stir everyone up.

Sounds familiar, I know. Meanwhile, over in zombieland, undead guru George Romero has completed his much-hyped new film, Diary of the Dead, but this time it’s different. This time it’s about a group of film makers in the woods caught in the middle of the zombie apocalypse. It’s a gritty roller coaster ride of a nightmare assembled from…

Yeah. You can even just cut and paste from the Blair Witch paragraph because it’s also set in the woods.

Enjoy Cloverfield tonight, but remember that it isn’t the second coming of a grand new era in fantasy film making like all the horror pundits claim. It isn’t even an original idea. But it is a great example of how history, especially in entertainment, has a habit of repeating itself. You can see that demonstrated right here at Geppi’s Entertainment Museum too.

See what I did there?

ITEM #2: As I’ve been saying at the end of just about every installment of this column for a little while now, Uncle Scrooge is here! GEM is proud to present its latest Special Edition exhibition, a tribute to the works of Carl Barks (1901-2000) as well as the life and times of Uncle Scrooge McDuck. Scrooged! celebrates the legacy of the “Good Duck Artist” through a unique exhibition of original oil paintings, artwork and other memorabilia, including the complete original artwork for the comic story, “North of the Yukon.” The exhibition is open until April, so you have time, but by all means don’t miss it!

* * *

01-11-08

2008-01-12T16:04:27Z

As I’ve been saying at the end of just about every installment of this column for a little while now, Uncle Scrooge is here! GEM is proud to present its latest Special Edition exhibition, a tribute to the works of Carl Barks (1901-2000) as well as the life and times of Uncle Scrooge McDuck. Scrooged! celebrates the legacy of the “Good Duck Artist” through a unique exhibition of original oil paintings, artwork and other memorabilia, including the complete original artwork for the comic story, “North of the Yukon.” The exhibition is open until April, so you have time, but by all means don’t miss it!

In the latest issue of the GEM newsletter, I also take some time to provide a bit of a historic overview of one of Barks’ beloved comic book creations, “Donald Duck Finds Pirate Gold,” featured in Four Color Comics #9 (October 1942). There’s a bit more detail in the newsletter, but I thought I’d share that background with you here as well.

At the time, the Disney team had worked on developing a cartoon featuring Mickey, Donald, and Goofy as the owners of a tavern that happen into a hunt for the treasure of Henry Morgan. Storyboards and gags were produced, but ultimately the realities of World War II and the shift in the studio’s production priorities toward military training movies spelled a premature end to this pirate adventure.

Oskar LeBeck, an editor with Whitman, happened upon the cartoon material and resurrected the idea for a comic story. Writer Bob Karp stepped in, as did illustrators Carl Barks and Jack Hannah, who split the artistic duties for the now duck-centric version.

While the version of “Pirate Gold” seen in Four Color is the most memorable for collectors, there are still other versions of the story. It was reprinted in abridged form as a Better Little Book titled Donald Duck and Ghost Morgan’s Treasure, it was rewritten for a Cheerios giveaway comic book, and then it reappeared in Four Color #227 but with the Seven Dwarfs instead of the duck family.

Two other versions turned up in Walt Disney’s Peter Pan Treasure Chest #1 (January 1953) – this time titled “Captain Hook and the Buried Treasure” and featuring art by Dick Moores – and in Woody Woodpecker #76 (1963) of all places. But it’s the classic original with its whimsical artwork and adventure that still captures the imagination of fans eager to set sail on the high seas. It’s also just one of thousands of stories reflected in the collection we have on display at the museum. But I can only cover one at a time.

* * *