Space:1999 article from Starlog #2

From issue #2 of Starlog, from November 1976 when that awesome mag was in its infancy, comes this article on "Space:1999," looking back on the problems of the first season, and what was planned for the second. Bringing on Fred Frieburger as producer may have at first seemed like a great choice to punch up the action and drama, having the third season of "Star Trek" on his resume; but they should have noted that he was more responsible than anyone else for that show's drastic decline in intelligence during the third year.

First, a great cover painting...

(Click on images to enlarge; you may have to click again when it opens to view full-size.)

From the same issue, a short writeup on Space actor Nick Tate, as he talks at a convention about the changes coming in the new season.

And, here is the back cover of the issue, advertising the soundtrack for the series.

It's still hard for me to believe that we have passed the year that the show was set in, by 13 years now. Back in the mid-70's it seemed so futuristic and far off! And we still have no moonbase.

As a bonus, here is an article from the prior issue of Starlog, #1, that also talks about the upcoming changes from an earier perspective.

Batman OnStar Magazine Ad

Below is an awesome painting of Batman that was an ad in a May 2000 magazine for the OnStar automobile emergency service. The suit is screen-accurate, based on the one from Batman Forever. I just don't make the connection between pushing a button on your dash to call for help and "becoming Batman." They also did a series of TV commercials that were very memorable (and better than "Batman and Robin"). You can view a compilation of all of them on this Youtube video.

(Click on images to enlarge; you may have to click
on it again once it opens to view it full-size.)

"Criminals, beware... I'll squeeze your gonads until they burst like rotten figs!"

Below is the cardboard box top for the plastic figures of Batman and the Joker that held candy, that came out in 1989. I ate the candy and saved the toys; it would been too weird to do it the other way around.

Is it wise to accept pill-shaped candy from Jack Nicholson's Joker?

1991 "The Flash" Comics Scene article

"The Flash" was, in my opinion, one of the better live-action superhero series to ever be on television. Much inspiration from the 1989 "Batman" film was evident, from the costume with the sculpted musculature, to the retro-noirish sets, to the music (the rousing and bombastic theme was composed by Batman's Danny Elfman). Below is a cover story from issue #18 of the Comics Scene magazine, (from the same publishers as Starlog) published in April of 1991, on the Scarlet Speedster as played by John Wesley Shipp.

(Click on images to enlarge; you may have to click again once it loads to view full-size.)

Below, a couple of TV Guide ads for episodes of the show, along with an "Editor's Choice" clipping.

1974 Battle For The Planet Of The Apes article

Battle For The Planet Of The Apes was the last in the film series, and the lowest in quality, before the TV series began, which seemed to take place not too far in the future from what we saw in this movie. This article on it is scanned from issue # 108 of Famous Monsters, which was published in July of 1974. This is about where I came into my awareness of the Apes phenomenon, having somehow missed it up til then; don't ask me how. But I made up for in rabid interest what I lacked in prior awareness, and my fervor for it burned in intensity second only to my love for Star Trek.

(Click on the images to enlarge; once the image
loads, you may have to click it again to view full-size.)

Below, as a bonus, is an ad page featuring the model kits for the Apes, as well as other interesting items.