dragon drawn by my son

I am proud of my son and all he does.

Children are God's greatest gift.

'Nuff said

two zine books reviewed

Psychotronic Video was and is one of my favorite magazines. Created by Michael Weldon I loved the magazine from the very first issue I bought at New England Comics to the final issue ever printed (and all the back issues purchased along the way). Within the pages of this great magazine were reviews of the strangest, sleaziest, gory-ist and weirdest movies, anything and everything from Faster Pussycat Kill Kill to Freaks, from the tamest movies to Valley of the Dolls, articles on Ed Gein (the inspiration for Psycho) and Nosferatu, you name it. I have an almost complete collection (as well as the Pschotronic Encyclopedia) and wish the magazine were still being published. Every issue was read from cover to cover but I also took special note of the fanzines page, reviews of hand-made and self-published magazines distributed to their creators' friends, families and any other glutton for punishment. Sending in my little one dollar bill (and sometimes it only cost a sase) I was treated to the strangest and most wonderful creations with only one "dog" in the bunch. Film Threat (about films), Hungover Gourmet (about food) and Snackbar Confidential (a cut-and-paste stream of thought zine using old ads) were the best of the bunch with Snackbar still being published; I'm unclear about Film Threat and Hungover Gourmet recently went internet only.

Two books I recently borrowed from the local library focus on the subject of fanzines and both are pretty good. Zine Scene is a good introduction to the subject and is also a "how-to" for those who wish to self-publish. Factsheet Five Zine Reader is the logical extension of Zine Scene, focusing on selected writings from all kinds of zines. Those who have thought of sampling zines would do well to get both altho my vote is for the latter but then again I have already been a collector. Also Zine Reader is divided into different subjects (music, food, et al) making it easier to find interesting articles. Because these books are overviews of various zines subject matter ranges from the tame to PG-13/R as do some of the graphics.

Some of the zines mentioned in the books have ceased publication or graduated to the internet. As mentioned above Hungover Gourmet has become internet-only (e-zine) and I am unsure of the publishing schedule for Snackbar Confidential altho Lance Laurie (the publisher/creator) has a blogspot, which if you look at the big picture would lead one to assume the blog is a fanzine or e-zine itself. Fanzines are always published on an erratic schedule (Film Threat and Snackbar are published when the creator has time)

If you are interested Zine Reader includes addresses and/or URLs in the appendix. Warning: Altho these are great over-views to the subject the books are outdated with Reader being published in 1997. I will be checking some of these addresses in the coming weeks and publish my findings.

Meanwhile I am still following these blogs and sites:

the fabulous fifties http://allthingsger.blogspot.com/

monster magazine world http://monstermagazineworld.blogspot.com/

snackbar confidential http://snackbar-confidential.blogspot.com/

roadside online http://www.roadsideonline.com/

roadside america http://www.roadsideamerica.com/

for more information on Psychotronic Video magazine:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychotronic_Video

my reading list

Recently I reserved items at my local library. To date I have 26 items checked out with 4-6 items still on reserve.

Altho I never really read Gasoline Alley as a child I had read about its history in various publications. Since the strip had already been running some 40-plus years by the time I was born, the characters were already middle-age or senior citizens as they aged "normally" during the run of the strip. I recently read the original strips in a collections titles "Walt and Skeezix". As many sources as well as the introduction states the strip originally started with more of a male-based audience and an automobile (then still a young industry) subject matter. To appeal to a more female demographic the main character (Walt) awoke to the door bell Valentines' Day morning 1921 to find a baby on his door step. So started what has become one of my favorite collections as well as an enjoyable read for Bakelady. The strips reprinted are from 1921-1922, complete, and read as a continuing story, almost like a soap opera. Toward the end of the collection one becomes suspicious Walt has met up with the natural mother of Skeezix, a possible red herring but has put into place Walt's actions to actually adopt Skeezix as his son. Now I have to search for the next volume!

Another book I have read is DC's House of Mystery, a collection of the 1970's comic in the same vein as Marve's "Essential's" series. Altho the comic pales in comparison to EC's horror line (and to be fair not many can hold a candle to such a high standard) there are some great stories; one such offering is "The Burning" (issue #206, cover reprinted above right), one of my favorites growing up as my brother owned this particular issue. Filled with the usual twists and turns it's still a fun read even after 35 years.

I have, however, found that with age comes changes in taste. I borrowed three National Lampoon collections, two of which I could not get through. Is it the humor I have outgrown or the fact I no longer have to hide them under my bed? Also one of the collections had pages removed, such are the problems with library property. One of the collections "The National Lampoon Sunday newspaper Parody" is still a fun read and is even funnier now that I'm a "grown-up".

Ahh, where's Bat Boy when you need him?

For more information on Gasoline Alley:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasoline_Alley

For more information on House of Mystery:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_mystery

also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hogan's_Alley_(magazine) and http://www.cagle.com/author/hogan/

Hogan's Alley is a great magazine for the comic historian or anyone remotely interested in old strips. I get it by subscription and well worth the wait

keeping my new year resolution some-what

i have resisted blogging about this but here goes: i have made it 186 hours without a cigarette.

the first two days were ok because i didn't really smoke week-ends. sunday and monday were sheer hell then wednesday i was a maniac. by thursday 4 hours into my work shift i realized i was feeling better and friday i hardly thought of it.

the extra energy i have (or the sheer boredom of not knowing what to do without a butt) has come in handy with doing things around the house (and the silent "finally" from bakelady makes it worth while too). i have finally started (or re-started) my rec room and the many chores i have been promising but not keeping.

and the money i'm looking at gaining? i don't want to think about it.

but i will not be one to call the kettle black and i know it's just as easy to start again - just read my old blogs.

last record was 3 months. i'll keep you posted.

now onto the diet.......