Pulverizing Hand Power!

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Headquarters, New York, 1964

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Classical LPs I've Listened to Recently, July 27, 2020

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Magazines I've Read Recently, July 26, 2020

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Roundtable Restaurant, New York, 1964

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Big Bub Ad for "I Don't Mind"

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The Blue Spruce Inn, Long Island, 1964

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The Art of Cookery, Lafayette, New York, 1964

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Comics I've Read Recently, July 22, 2020

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Recently Read: The Digest Enthusiast, Volume 12

Out of the chaotic pandemic comes another gloriously full-color and information-packed volume of The Digest Enthusiast. This edition sports a beautifully painted cover by Tony Gleeson, originally intended in the '70s for Amazing Stories Magazine. 

Among the other goodies you'll find in this packed issue: plentiful news on new digests and publications about digests, an interview with Tony Gleeson, an in-depth look at the '50s Fotocrime magazine, a history of PulpFest's annual publication, The Pulpster, an overview of the early 20th-century Photoplay series, short stories (disclaimer: I illustrated one), and much more. Even the ads are worth seeking out! This is essential reading for those interested in the history of digest and related genre magazines.

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Al Cooper's Restaurant, New York, 1964

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Recently Read: Naruto, Vol. 11: Impassioned Efforts

Naruto Vol. 11, "Impassioned Efforts", slows the pace a bit to allow for more humor, intrigue and characterization. A new trainer, Jiraya (and not the one Kakashi Hataki assigned) takes over the instruction of Naruto, helping him tap into his latent Nine-tails powers. Meanwhile, the Villages Hidden in Sand and Hidden in the Sound conspire to destroy Konohagakure Village, with some fatal, irrevocable results. Gaara's origin story is told and he's even more of a cold, psychotic killer than we suspected. Hinata and Naruto's relationship develops and the last Chunin Selection Finals are about to commence. The 175 pages are packed with ever more suspenseful subplots and complicated ties between individuals, provinces, enemies and alliances. Top notch cartooning!

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Lindy's Restaurant, New York, 1964

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Recently Read: Popeye: the 60th Anniversary, Edited by Mike Higgs

This book is an oddly edited but very entertaining collection and overview of the Popeye comic strip. Even the name of the book is in question. Online copies are described as "Popeye: the 60th Anniversary", but nowhere is that written on the cover or copyright page (it looks to be just called "Popeye"). It seems to have been originally published in the '80s, but the copyright page only states, "This edition published 1995". It appears to have been a British book but, again, the copyright page gives no indication of that. I'd love to know the history behind this strange publication.

The meat of the book is reprints of creator E.C. Segar's work (the color panels not particularly well scanned). One of the greatest cartoonists of the 20th century, Segar's work is impeccably timed, hilarious, whimsical and sharply satirical. The collection also presents work by later Popeye writers and artists Bela Zaboly, "Doc" Winner, Bud Sagendorf and Bobby London. The essayists include Bill Blackbeard, who compares Segar to Dickens and Smollett, Denis Gifford on Popeye comic book history (including little-known British Popeye comics never printed in the states), and Glenn Mitchell on Popeye on film.

This collection has, arguably, been superseded by later collections, but as a sampler of Segar's work, it still does the trick.

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Hyde Park Restaurant, New York, 1964

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1992 Ad for Bob Marley's Songs of Freedom Box Set

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Paddy's Clam House, New York, 1964

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Magazines I've Read Recently, July 1, 2020

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