MYSTERY TANK BOX ART

 

I saw this old toy tank recently on the bay. I think its Greek.

Isn't that Klaus Kinski on the box lid?

Looks like a film poster. Any ideas readers?

THE EXTRAORDINARY ALLAN QUATERMAIN: FROM THE BIG BOX

 I have in my rather large Big Box VHS video collection a film called Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold from 1985, which I have yet to watch.

However, I've always been intrigued by this obscure Victorian super gent, a lost hero from another age and much older than the Golden age of comics and the likes of Namor and Batman!

Here's a potted history.

Quatermain first appeared in the 1885 blockbuster novel King Solomon's Mines by H. Rider Haggard, he of the later SHE.

An eon later Quatermain turned up in Alan Moore and Co's 1999 graphic comics The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen along with assorted meta-beings like The Invisible Man and Mina.

Moore's League was itself inspired by an earlier 1960 Jack Hawkins film, itself based on a 1958 novel called The League of Gentlemen by John Boland. Check out those balaclavas!

Coming right up to date, Quatermain next graced the screen in the form of Sean Connery in the oft-panned film The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen from 2003. Described as dieselpunk, I quite enjoyed this mash-up of monsters, Captains and mavericks. 

Connery-Quatermain is the obvious leader of this Victorian Avengers and I particularly enjoyed seeing obscure supernatural characters like Mina the Vampire and Dorian Gray in a modern flick.

I may have to watch it again now I've written this!

There's naturally more to say about the Gentlemen extraordinaire and Allan Quatermain but for now I'm taking a drive to Royston Vasey and may never be seen again!

Do you like Quatermain and the League?

WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?

 

To infinity and beyond!

THE OTHER S.W.O.R.D BADGE!

 This is from Marvel's TV series Wandavision!

I wonder what this S.W.O.R.D is?

Anyone watched it?

DIECAST COLLECTOR MAGAZINE: OCTOBER ISSUE

The October issue of Diecast Collector is out in the UK and our frequent contributor Paul Adams from NZ has an article in there about the Mattel Dream Car. Well done Paul!

Here's the October cover, Hot Wheels and all.

https://pocketmags.com/diecast-collector-magazine#thumb

DARK MASTERS: DARK SHADOWS VIEW-MASTERS

Having browsed Ebay UK for anything vintage dark Shadows, as a test of what's out there in Britain, I can say there's not much. There's lots of modern stuff but little old material. Obviously there's tons in the US.

What there was on Ebay UK were two old View Master reels. So the TV show made it to a View Master level of fame? Wow!

If you like View Masters you can the Dark Shadows in all their glory in 2D on the Viewmaster3d blog http://viewmaster3d.blogspot.com/2010/04/dark-shadows-1968.html

DARK SHADOWS FANZINES

As a follow-up to my last post here's a further bite of Barnabas and co. being such a mammoth TV series, I had a hunch dark Shadows would have a massive fanzine presence and I was right.

Going way back to the late 1970's the number of 'zines is quite staggering and add to that conventions its a true TV phenomenon like the X-Files or dare I say Dr.Who and Thunderbirds!

Anyways for those with darkening shadows here's a list I found online of the many Dark Shadows fanzines from way back when to the present day. There's a neat cover gallery too. Has anyone got any of these?

https://fanlore.org/wiki/Category:Dark_Shadows_Zines

DARK SHADOWS UNDER MY EYES!

I was reading a book in my toilet library called TV Horror [thanks Wotan] and was amazed by something I read. 

The 1960's American monsters soap opera series called Dark Shadows ran to over 1200 - that's Twelve Hundred plus -  episodes! That's just incredible!

If I watched one a day it would take me several years to get through them all! I'd have dark shadows round my eyes!

I've been aware of dark Shadows collectables, toys and games for years. I used to collect the old paperback novels.

But I'd no idea it was such a TV behemoth. Dr. Who has only aired 862 episodes [so far]!

Apparently the 1960's American audience was primarily middle-aged women at home and young schoolkids, who rushed home to watch it's late afternoon slot.

Despite knowing about its merchandise I've certainly never seen this huge TV series. Have you readers?