Author: Glenn Hauman

Lead paint found in Marvel toys

  • News
  • October 11, 2007

curiousgeorge-8894088They’re finding it in everything, including Cub Scout badges, so why should Marvel be exempt? Via ICv2: Reuters is reporting that the non-profit Center for Environmental Health has detected levels of lead 10 times the legally allowed limit in a Curious George doll manufactured by Marvel (the old ToyBiz operation) and sold at Toys ‘R Us. Within hours of the announcement of the discovery of the lead-tainted toy, Marvel halted shipments of its Curious George toys from China and is pulling various samples from the factory for rush lead testing.

Marvel has not yet recalled the toys, but is working with CEH to determine the extent of the problem.

Happy 32nd birthday, Saturday Night Live!

  • News
  • October 11, 2007

Thirty-two years ago, at 11:30 PM Eastern Time, the National Broadcasting Company aired this live:

…and with that, a revolution was born. NBC’s Saturday Night premiered with George Carlin as the host, Janis Ian and Billy Preston as musical guests, Jim Henson’s Muppets, and Not Ready For Prime Time Players Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, George Coe (remember him?), Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman, Michael O’Donoghue, and Gilda Radner. A few years later, it would be renamed to what we know it as today, Saturday Night Live.

Del Close, subject of last Friday’s Munden’s Bar story, was acting coach and rehearsal director of SNL in 1981 and 1982.

Happy birthday, Pac-Man!

  • News
  • October 10, 2007

On this day in 1979, a ravenous beast was released in Japan, devouring all that got in its way. No, not Godzilla: Pac-Man. It rapidly crossed the ocean to the US (a year later to the day, ironically) spawning multiple sequels, an animated Saturday morning show, and a top 40 single called "Pac-Man Fever" that I’m exceptionally embarassed to say that I owned.

Like all 80s culture, of course, it probably means that there’s going to be a big screen movie…

annarexia1-4706914

Unrealistic body types ain’t just for superheroines

  • News
  • October 10, 2007

annarexia1-4706914If you worry about the unwholesome imagery and unhealthy body types being portrayed in comics — corsetted Wonder Woman, bare belly Supergirl, fishnet clad Zatanna and Black Canary, leather wearing Storm, and so on — and are worried that it could provoke problems when people try to squeeze into outfits like that for Halloween this year, just know: it could be worse.

There’s this number to our right, which the seller labels as “Anna Rexia.” And yes, those are tape measures for a belt and choker.

Guess she won’t be having much candy… or she’ll be throwing it up right afterwards.

Strongbad teaches you to make webcomics

  • News
  • October 9, 2007

strongbadwebcomics-1848644It’s not enough that Strongbad can type with boxing gloves on, apparently he can draw too. Or cut and paste, like so many others do. But we do admire his closing argument: Why can’t you just make a comic? Everyone knows that putting "web" in front of words just makes them crappier…

A day that still lives in infamy…

  • News
  • October 9, 2007

images-9269317Fifty years ago today, Walter O’Malley announced that the Dodgers were moving from Brooklyn, New York to Los Angeles, California.

Not that we know people who are BITTER about that sort of thing, oh no. But just ask any Brooklyn Dodgers fan this question: You’re in a room with Hitler, Stalin and Walter O’Malley and you have a gun with two bullets: Who do you shoot? And of course the Dodger fans would say, "You shoot O’Malley twice."

Steven Massarsky: 1948-2007

  • News
  • October 7, 2007

Steven J. Massarsky, an attorney and businessman best known for co-founding Valiant Comics with Jim Shooter, died October 5, 2007 at 12:26 p.m. in Manhattan from complications related to cancer.

In 1989, Massarsky co-founded Voyager Communications Inc. (Valiant Comics), which grew into the third largest comic book publisher in the U.S. The company was sold to Acclaim Entertainment, Inc. where Massarsky remained as President and Publisher of the Acclaim Comics division until their bankruptcy. Prior to that, operated an entertainment law practice. His clientele included Nintendo, The Wailers, Cabbage Patch Dolls, the Psychedelic Furs, Collins Management, Aerosmith,

Tom Chapin

and

Willie Mays

.

The response to Massarsky’s passing has been mixed. One industry pro said that thanks to a royalty agreement he signed with Massarsky, "I got the biggest damn check I’ve ever seen. Paid off all back debts and made a sizable downpayment on the home I am now in — which would never have happened otherwise. Because of the deal Massarsky made with me." On the other hand, other industry pros said Massarsky never paid them for work performed and that he "was such an asshole he was kicked out of rock ‘n’ roll by Aerosmith while they were still on drugs."

For a detailed, although obviously biased, look at Massarsky’s time with Valiant, see this interview with Jim Shooter.

25 years of Cats

  • News
  • October 7, 2007

Twenty five years ago today, the musical Cats debuted at the WinterGarden theater on Broadway. Featuring music by Andrew Lloyd-Webber, the show drew its lyrics from T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. The show ran for 7,485 performances over nearly 18 years, breaking the record for longest-running Broadway musical in 1997. The show closed almost seven years ago, and sadly, they still can’t get the cat smell out of the theater.

Halo 3 vs. Spider-Man 3?

  • News
  • October 4, 2007

spiderslip-4275673Nikki Finke points to Keith Boesky‘s comparison by the numbers of the release of Halo 3 (the video game) to Spider-Man 3 (the movie). Pretty impressive at first glance…

Even though the media trumpeted how the launch of Halo 3 was the largest single day financial event in entertainment history, the articles fail to address how much larger. The retail vs. box office numbers show revenue for first day sales of Halo was about 13% higher than Spider-Man 3, this year’s biggest movie opening weekend. This is pretty cool. However, when you compare the bottom lines, it is beyond pretty cool. It is really f’ing cool and cannot even be touched by the movie business. When you consider the nearly 50% audience growth over Halo 2 despite a nearly 50% smaller installed console base, it is even more incredible.

…BUT: Boesky’s numbers don’t count the millions of extra coin generated by Spider-Man 3 tie in products, including, for example, video games. And I really doubt anybody is going to be making Halo slippers any time soon. Without the licensing money, it’s a very incomplete picture.

George Takei’s heavenly body

  • Uncategorized
  • October 3, 2007

AP reports that an asteroid between Mars and Jupiter has been renamed 7307 Takei in honor of George Takei. "I am now a heavenly body," Takei, 70, said Tuesday, laughing. "I found out about it yesterday. … I was blown away. It came out of the clear, blue sky — just like an asteroid."

George is best known for his role as Hikaru Sulu in the original Star Trek series and movies, and most recently in the Star Trek: New Voyages episode "World Enough And Time". There’s also his recurring role in Heroes and appearances on the Howard Stern show. And, of course, he’s known for his heavenly body. (Hat tip: Lisa Sullivan.)

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