REVIEW: Magnificence on the PLANET OF THE APES
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A BIRTHDAY SALUTE to the first live-action screen Man of Steel, in groovy little moving pictures… — UPDATED 10/8/26: It’s the late Kirk Alyn’s birthday! Perfect time to reprint this piece from Oct. 8, 2023! Swell! — Dan — By WALT GROGAN The late Kirk Alyn was born 116 years ago — 116! — on Oct. 8, 1910! Alyn was a working actor best known for originating the role of Superman and Clark Kent in the Columbia big-screen serials Superman (1948) and Atom Man vs. Superman (1950). He made his first movie appearance in the 1930 film, Fast and Loose in an uncredited role and over the next 18 years made many more uncredited appearances. He also took the starring role of Chris Calvert in another serial, 1949’s Radar Patrol vs. Spy King from Republic. In 1952, he played Quality Comics’ hero Blackhawk in another 12-part serial from Columbia. But wasn’t done with Superman. He returned to the big screen later in life to play Lois Lane’s father, alongside Noel Neill who played her mother, in 1978’s Superman: The Movie. (Neill, of course, played Lois in both of Alyn’s Superman serials and on George Reeves’ Adventures of Superman TV show). Like Reeves, Alyn’s Clark Kent was no milksop, especially since the Daily Planet reporter had to do much of the leg work before finally, and triumphantly, becoming Superman in each chapter. One of the joys of watching these serials is anxiously waiting for Clark to turn into Superman and back again, and the 1948 Superman doesn’t disappoint on this score. While the Planet storeroom was essentially Superman’s changing room in the later episodes of the serial many of the early episodes featured Superman changing in broad daylight (with one notable exception), often ducking into some bushes or behind a car. For anyone who has seen the Adventures of Captain Marvel serial, which preceded Superman by six years, you’ll remember the effective use of a mannequin/dummy for the Big Red Cheese’s flying scenes. The Superman serial took a different tack by freeze-framing Alyn and switching to an animated Superman for the flying scenes as well as for some special effects. The cost-conscious move worked. With that in mind, we present GIF-MANIA! 13 TIMES KIRK ALYN CHANGED INTO SUPERMAN AND BACK AGAIN: — Ducking behind a tree! — Behind a parked...
Coming in 2027… Marvel in 2027 will be offering new editions reprinting the entire line of its original 1970s-’80s Star Wars comics, to celebrate the film’s 50th anniversary and the earliest expansion of its universe. The books — including a deluxe edition collecting the foundational first six issues, as well as three omnibi — feature a litany of top-flight creators, such as Roy Thomas, Howard Chaykin, Archie Goodwin, Carmine Infantino, Walt Simonson, Louise Simonson, Chris Claremont, Ann Nocenti, Sal Buscema, and many more. Dig the online retailer descriptions: STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE 50TH ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION Roy Thomas, Howard Chaykin The original comic adaptation of the greatest space-fantasy film of all! Weeks before George Lucas’ first Star Wars film hit theatres, Marvel gave fans their first look at Luke Skywalker, boldly asking: “Will he save the galaxy, or destroy it?” You may know the answer, but that doesn’t spoil the fun of seeing A New Hope like never before — including scenes that never made the silver screen! When the Empire takes Princess Leia prisoner, Luke, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Han Solo, Chewbacca, C-3PO and R2-D2 ride to the rescue and take on Darth Vader in his awesome Death Star. It’s six against a galaxy — one that’s far, far away and a long time ago! May the Force be with you, in the mighty Marvel manner! COLLECTING: Star Wars (1977) #1-6 Hardcover 128 pages $29.99 Sale Date: Apr 27, 2027 — STAR WARS: THE ORIGINAL MARVEL YEARS OMNIBUS VOL. 1 HOWARD CHAYKIN COVER (NEW PRINTING) The original Star Wars comic book returns! As the phenomenon dawned in 1977, Marvel Comics published the very first Star Wars comic-book series. Now, the House of Ideas is re-presenting those original adventures in its wampa-sized Omnibus format! It’s the return of the Jedi to Marvel in an opening volume that begins with A New Hope and ends with The Empire Strikes Back. In between, the rebels face a wealth of new perils — from space pirate Crimson Jack to the bounty hunter Beilert Valance, as well as a surprisingly svelte Jabba the Hut (one “t”). Luke goes back to Tatooine, Leia battles alone, Han and Chewie play the deadly Big Game, and Darth Vader hunts for answers! With all your old favorites and plenty of fresh faces — hello, Jaxxon! — there’s no...
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