GIF GIFTS

Just a bit of a time/space filler today.
Regardless, these are still some real goodies to share with everyone.


No long ramble this time. I'll just show you a few things I found online while I should be doing more important stuff.

Animated gifs of some of my favorite characters!

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DOCTOR STRANGE!

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MAN-THING!

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ROM : SPACEKNIGHT!

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SHUMA GORATH!

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SCARLET WITCH!

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aaaand... 

LOBO the DUCK!

 

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OK, LOBO the DUCK is really nobody's favorite, but seeing as he's part of the Amalgam Universe and is a mash-up between LOBO and HOWARD the DUCK, I'd say he's pretty damn awesome.
Plus, just LOOK at him! Sweet!

These are all animated gifs, sometimes called "sprites", many of which were created by talented gamers and coders for use in what is known as "M.U.G.E.N." (or just MUGEN), which is a freeware version of typical 2-D sidescrolling fighting style video games.

Many of these sprites are 100% original works, while most are based off of some form of template - either a generic template or based on figures already created and adjusted to look more like the new character desired.

For instance, Doctor Strange up top is based on a Magneto template with some adaptations and tweaks here and there (Spider-Man hand, for instance).


The popularity of the CAPCOM style fighting game seems to be what started this trend, especially the MARVEL vs CAPCOM games (as I blogged about once earlier [HERE]).


Allow me to give some props to the coders who made these.


I TRULY wish I could acknowledge the ROM animator, but I found that one a few years back and can't seem to locate it online any more to find the creator's name.


From what I can tell, here are the creators of the others:

Dr Strange by SPOOKY77 - info on his process [HERE]
Man-Thing by "ledernieraztlan"
Shuma Gorath by "sludge" - more of it [HERE] (registration required)
Scarlet Witch by "Warecus" and "ZVitor"
Lobo Duck by "sic-1"

Anyway, it's fairly easy to find things like this online.
I've found a bunch of posed and moves of Shuma Gorath, BlackHeart and Dr Doom from the actual Marvel vs Capcom games, but since those are probably copyrighted intellectual properties of big corporate entities - I'm not posting them here.

Enjoy the gif(t)s!

LABOR DAY - Ain't Nothing WONG About It.

Today, here in America, is LABOR DAY.
A day created to give hard-working people an official day off.

Yet, not only are real flesh and blood people hard-working, but also those of the 4-color variety.
None more so than Dr. Strange's loyal "man-servant" (although, due to a more P.C. age, that was dropped and now they're no longer "master" and "servant" but friends and colleagues).

Problem is, even though I looked for awhile to FIND a panel where Wong is told to take time off (I found a few), NONE of those issues showed him actually DOING SO.
(well, I found a couple - sorta - of Wong kicking back, maybe playing video games with the Ancient One *, but only in such alternative universe issues. None that I could find while doing a relatively quick -yet thorough - search in the "616" universe.)

So, here's a little cut-and-paste play having Doc give Wong the day off.

OK... hold on right there.
Here Dr. Strange has basically given Wong a free pass to go and "have fun" with Sara Wolfe (Doc's then business secretary) but Wong won't go.**
Wong, I gotta ask... what the hell, man?!
Go. Take the day off. ENJOY yourself.
I know I would.

Well, that's fine. A reasonable argument.
I respect that you're such a hard and dedicated worker.
However, Doc doesn't want you to serve him today.
If it's not too much to ask, could you help me out around here a little?

Awesome. Thanks.
Green Tea, please... and maybe some of those dry cookies... the little green bean cakes I love so much?

Yeah, THOSE are the ones... thanks.

Green Bean cookies from Taiwan.

Mmmmmmmm... my favorite! ***

Thank you, Wong.

But, y'know, cut out that "Master" stuff.

It's not really appropriate.

...kind of creeps me out a little.

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I apologize for this silly bit of bloggery.
Initially, I was just going to post ONE pic of WONG and say "Have a nice Labor Day", but then found that I couldn't find one of him just relaxing, which started this whole mess.
Then, by the time I got really involved with it, it was very late at night and my brain was making no sense at all, so that's why we have this.

Anyway, this entire post was originally inspired by THIS pic:

Taken from the 1980 Marvel calendar - from the page for September as seen here:

And blogged about in an extensive post [HERE].

So. Now I've got to go get some stuff done around here.
I don't get the day off this year. And even if I had a job to be off FROM, it wouldn't get me out of house work.

Enjoy the day people!

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* - footnote # 1

The issue in question is an "All ages" story (blogged about [HERE]) where Strange's aged mentor is seen "kickin' it" in the Sanctum and learning to play the X-Box with a young, hip, ponytailed friend; "Jason Wong".


Obviously, it's meant to be WONG, but it was too far removed from the "real" Wong to be of any use to me here.

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** - footnote # 2

Well, to be fair, the real reason that Wong won't go out on a date with Sara is that he was already "engaged" to another - via a pre-arranged marriage as that storyline was unfolding.
Imei Chang, Wong's former betrothed, is long dead now, so Wong should REALLY go call Sara and hook up.

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*** - footnote # 3
No. Really. Those are my favorite cookies, but can only be scored from Taiwan (or maybe an Asian marketplace).
My best friend lives there now and every year or so he sends me some.
I wish there were a way to order them direct.
Mmmmmm....

MYSTIC GARB : DR. STRANGE APPAREL - Supplemental Entry #2

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Welcome once again, as we go back to the very roots of this blog's original purpose and showcase some more swag in my Sanctum Sanctorum Comix collection.

With "Back-to-School" season upon us, I'll be showcasing some hip, cool gear (kids don't say "hip" or "cool" or call clothes "gear" anymore, old man) to keep the kidz (or spell things with a "z" either, you geezer) looking "groovy" (ugh - I am old. "whatev").

This time we are revisiting - and ADDING to - a series of posts from October of 2009, wherein I catalogued my extensive collection of Doctor Strange (and related 6-Dimensions characters) apparel!
(HATS! T-SHIRTS! TIES! SKIVVIES!...yes, really... I showed you my "underwear". Don't get excited. I wasn't wearing them) .

Today, I've 6 new (and not so new) T-shirts to add to the series.

With the backlog of stuff I've been doing around here, these shirts have been coming one in every few months or so, and I waited until I had enough of them to showcase.

So let's go!

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Previous parts of this series:
MYSTIC GARB : DR. STRANGE APPAREL

- part 1 : CAPS and TIES
- part 2 : SOLO APPEARANCE T-SHIRTS
- part 3 : TEAM-UP APPEARANCE T-SHIRTS
- part 4 : THE "OTHERS" / "6-DIMENSIONS" T-SHIRTS

- part 5 : "THE END" of GARMENTS

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Today's installment adds to several of the previous entries - and they will be added to those pages as well as being featured here.

THREE of these new garments are to be included in the
- part 3 : TEAM-UP APPEARANCE T-SHIRTS installment.

TWO of these shirts belong in the
- part 4 : THE "OTHERS" / "6-DIMENSIONS" T-SHIRTS heading.

And ONE is a totally bizarre and insanely rare addition to the
- part 2 : SOLO APPEARANCE T-SHIRTS post.

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First up - the three "TEAM-UP" entries:

Each of these three new shirts are from MAD ENGINE (one of many Marvel license-holders these days) and feature mass groupings of Marvel comics' Super-Heroes - including DR STRANGE.

The first, from 2007 is a reproduction of the 2-cover diptych image from 2007's New Avengers v1 # 27 (1:100 variant) and Mighty Avengers # 1 (1:100 variant).

Art by Leinil Yu

Image detail showing Doctor Strange - behind Wolverine.

(How wrong is it that ONLY Wolverine is in color.
Not even Spider-Man.
Although, Spidey is in his black costume so maybe he IS in color...).

Here are the original comic covers.

The full image would also be used as a full-color poster - allowing everyone and not just Wolverine to be given the limelight.

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Also from Mad Engine in 2007 is this image by John Romita Jr., taken from the cover to WORLD WAR HULK : Prologue.


What? Can't see Doc? Check out one of the bodies at Hulk's feet.
Here's a close-up (highlight circle added by me).

Momma say; "Knock Doc Out!"
or should that be; "Mamma say; "Doc, You Out!"

This was the cover to the issue in question.


However, in typical "not-easy-being-a-Dr.Strange-fan" fashion, the UPC code box covered Strange on the cover.
Luckily, there was a promotional poster and card for this event - that didn't obscure the good Doctor.

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Next up from 2008, again from Mad Engine is this cover image to New Avengers v1 # 42.

Can't see Doctor Strange? Look down to the bottom left of the image
(bottom right of the shirt).
See that EAR and bit of the side of his head?

(Yes. I got it even with such a small bit of an appearance. Such is the power of the magic monkey on my back. Quiet you. Don't judge me.)

While Strange is shown even less on the actual comic cover of New Avengers v1 # 42 (although for a promotional ad, he was more plainly visible) I knew it was him - because as this cover image should look familiar to old-school Avengers fans, it is the "Skrullification" of the cover to Avengers v1 # 221.

ROM was replaced with Jocasta in the modern version.
*SPOILER* Hawkeye and She-Hulk are the winners.

So, to recap, if you put Dr. Strange's left ear on a shirt, I will obviously buy one.

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Next up - the two"6-Dimensions/Others" entries:

From licensee, JUNK FOOD this shirt, released in 2009 is a reprinting of the cover to the old "Bring On The Bad Guys" book, released by Fireside publications waaaay back in 1976 and featuring some amazing artwork by John Romita (senior).


Featuring DORMAMMU, MEPHISTO and DR. DOOM (and even LOKI) this was a must have for my collection.

I'm not evil, I just dress that way.

The original publication cover is here in all its kick-ass glory.

Someone needs to get this whole thing tattooed on their back.
Not me though. I'm just sayin'. Someone needs to.

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This next one, from COMIC IMAGES in 1993 is one of the freakiest, most garish shirts in my collection (and that includes my Hawaiian-themed shirts)! Honestly, it was tough talking myself into buying this one. However, the fact that there's a Dr. Strange logo on it (bottom center) was the writing on the wall... or in this case, shirt. It was a "fait accompli".

Looks like it was made out of kiddie bed-sheets.

Let's move on. The less said about this one, the better.

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Finally - the one "SOLO appearance" entry:

Last, but certainly not least is this nearly one-of-a-kind shirt from
MARVEL CHARACTERS (in-house) - 1996

I say "nearly-one-of-a-kind" because, as you'll soon understand, there were probably several of these made, but not many (if any) others are around today.

It was printed "in-house" at Marvel (or at least directly FOR Marvel, perhaps by one of their licensees, like Comic Images) for the express purpose of being the OFFICIAL shirt worn at the Marvel company PICNIC in 1996!

Wait!? What the heck is THAT?!?
OK. That's a tongue-in-cheek version of "EGO - the Living Planet" on the front depicted as "Ego - The Living PICNIC". Check it out.

Although, THIS is what EGO really looks like.

But that's not WHY it's in my collection. Oh, Heavens, No.
I have it because what is on the BACK of the shirt is this image...

"By the Salaminous Buns of Poupon!"

DOCTOR STRANGE conjuring forth some eats while wearing a Bar-B-Que bib!

"I want a hamburger... no, cheeseburger. I want a hot dog..."

The artwork for this shirt is obviously done specifically FOR this occasion by artist KELLEY JONES. His style is unmistakable.
It is odd that Jones would have drawn this since, by 1996 he was almost exclusively working for DC, only drawing a few Ultraverse and Marvel / Malibu crossovers as well as a few Marvel covers here and there.

What is also odd is that Strange is shown in his traditional garb (bib, notwithstanding) instead of the "new romantic" look he had at the time, as evidenced by the t-shirts released at that time (as previously seen in - Part 2 - of this series).

Stranger yet is that by summer of 1996 Doctor Strange's title had just been canceled!
Here was a character without a home, so to speak, so, I guess it made sense for him to be hanging out in Central Park grubbing food from Marvel bullpenners.

This has to be one of, if not THE rarest shirts in my collection.
(Thanks to fellow Dr. Strange uber-fan Howard Hallis for directing me towards it and letting me swoop in for the acquisition.)
While I think the rarest garment in my collection is still the never-released Dr. Strange baseball cap (found in part 1 of this series), and I do have some other very rare shirts (shown elsewhere in this series), this shirt has got to be within an insane ratio of being impossible-to-find.

But, my job is to find something that beats it.
Or at the very least, has Doc's earlobe on it.

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If these shirts interested you, then don't forget to check out the IMMENSE collection of many more which I featured in this series:

Previous parts of this series:
MYSTIC GARB : DR. STRANGE APPAREL

- part 1 : CAPS and TIES
- part 2 : SOLO APPEARANCE T-SHIRTS
- part 3 : TEAM-UP APPEARANCE T-SHIRTS

- part 4 : THE "OTHERS" / "6-DIMENSIONS" T-SHIRTS

- part 5 : "THE END" of GARMENTS

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"Tamam Shud!"
~P~

ANGELS on Earth. -or- BEHOLD... METATRON!

THINGS that MUST be SAID.

I have had the pleasure of being a recipient of some recent good - becoming acquainted - via the internet - with someone who brought forth pure, kind light to my small corner of dim reality and showed me that sometimes, good does happen to good people - because of good people.

Reader, (and online presence) SUSANNAH had felt my grief several months back, when, after my job downsizing, I lamented my loss of laptops with which to post content on my blogs. I have tower machines, and had been trying to keep up a pace of blogging, but due to my life situation; looking for jobs, taking care of things around the house, packing for a relocation, most of my "free" blogging hours were late at night, tapping away on laptops - since my towers are hard to access while the household sleeps.

Susannah perhaps saw, in me, a good enough person with a worthwhile enough message, ( - hey, some of my posts are positive and spiritually uplifting - when I'm not bashing Bendis' latest handling of Dr. Strange ... or maybe she prefers it WHEN I'm doing that,) dealing with a fan-site of Doctor Strange, a character usually favored by those with a more, spiritual, mystical nature (as well as the Man-Thing, an empathic, tortured soul, and ROM - an ultimate do-gooder and hero), and saw that perhaps such a blog and blogger might be aided by an act of kindness.

More likely still, she was - in herself - a good person with ample kindness to share.

Such a good-natured soul, she stated that she really did not desire/require any public mention or acknowledgment, now or ever. It was "no big thing" to her.
However, what she thought of as "no big thing" was, to me a gesture of pure goodness.

After a few emails, where we shared some thoughts on the deeper meanings of things, Susannah sent me a huge box - filled with technological delight.

BEHOLD... METATRON!

"Dude... you're getting a DELL!"

Susannah awed me with this complete blogger's dream.
She gave me an AWESOME package of things that she said she was no longer using and that they would be better served by me than languishing in a closet or being sold off.

I want her to know that even if the system wasn't as wicked cool as it is, even if it were a broken down clunker - it would still be an amazing and most appreciated act of kindness.

However, it isn't a clunker at all.
A Dell Inspiron 6000, 1.86 GHz Centrino, with multiple USB ports and DVD-RW drive.
It's hefty! Weighing about 7 lbs, so I don't have to handle it with kid gloves.
And she included a flat USB-powered fan that can be placed underneath (my lap thanks her even more for that - ouchie! Hot! Hot! Hot!).

With a dedicated graphics card, It has a 75GB HD, 2GB of RAM and a wireless modem in it.
The 15.1" WXGA screen is hi-res (1920 x 1024) so it's good for doing Photoshop and Illustrator work and watching DVDs (which, I will admit to doing).

Even though I spent most of my time over the past several years on MACs, this Dell PC's OS is WinXP Pro SP3, which is a close enough approximation to Mac's OSX that I fell seamlessly into it.

But that wasn't all!
Aside from the machine that was loaded with software, she also included an 600GB External HD - jam packed with goodies, AND wireless mice and wireless USB adaptor.
That, (and some swell comic-themed books) all inside a beautiful carry bag.

To perhaps better illuminate her more 'spiritual' nature, I should note that she named the system; Metatron.

For those who are unaware, Metatron has been referred to as one of the (if not "the") highest of the Seraphim (and, not merely the "Shields of the..." kind); the highest choir of Angels, and is the scribe and message-bearer of Heaven under God.
(For comic-book fans, see the Kevin Smith movie; DOGMA. Alan Rickman plays Metatron - for some laughs.)

She told me that I could rename it, but why would I?
That is its name and I honor that.
(I also don't rename pets if I take in one that already has a name. I may give added nick-names, but you are who you are. Not who I want you to be.)

Sadly, due to my packing up the house the past few months, I hadn't had a chance to use Metatron as much as I'd have wished.

I'm still intent on wrapping up my remaining reviews, and showcasing more swag from my SANCTUM collection (which, truthfully was the main reason for my starting this blog), but since things are mostly packed up in boxes (from a relocation that was aborted - after I already moved half of our house to the new place - ugh - more on that craziness later), I've been doing little hit-and-run posts here and there for the past month or so.

Still, before I could even start to get back in the swing of things, I had to give thanks where thanks are most honestly deserved.
I needed to give this glowing post to honor a "fan"/ friend/ kind (kindred) soul who has gone way above and beyond the call.
I should not fail to also give thanks to Susannah's husband, who - when she said that she'd be giving this stuff away said "OK" and even packed it up to be shipped out to me.

And, they are not alone.
I often get notes, comments and emails expressing good thoughts and kind wishes - from all corners of the web. There are good people out there, often drowned out by the snark and grousing.

But I wanted - NEEDED - to give thanks to those who helped me out for no other reason than that they are awesome.

Thank you.

"Tamam Shud!"
~P~

Long Live The KING

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Today is the birthday of comics legend (heck, ART and STORYTELLING legend);

JACK "KING" KIRBY!

Kirby either created, co-created or drew nearly every comic character / property that existed at Marvel and DC to the point of his passing in 1994.

Oddly enough, while he DID draw Doctor Strange in a few issues and spots here and there...

Fantastic Four # 27

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Journey Into Mystery # 108

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...and the occasional cover blurb for Strange Tales...

I particularly like his very heroic and traditionally ruggedly drawn rendition of Doc for the cover of Strange Tales 126.
 Seeing the Dark Dimension decked out with almost art-deco buildings blows my mind.
And Doc's little orange ankle boots just WORK for me.

...and also designing the little corner box drawing of Doc that would appear on many covers (wherein as he would often do, draw Doc's cloak as more of a poncho or robe so his hands could emerge from within the deep folds)...

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...while also tossing Doc into a few other group shot images here and there (one odd entry being an old 1966 issue of Esquire magazine when the publication ran a story on college kids reading Marvel comics)...

(I have the issue and while I did steal borrow these scans from the web, I'll post about this issue in time - with nice full-size images.)

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...I think the only time he drew Doc on a full cover was...

Strange Tales # 130

I absolutely LOVE old comic covers that have that mottled coloring style.

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Strange Tales # 130 was also distinctive as it was the very FIRST time that Doctor Strange got the full cover! (and with a Beatles reference as well! Awesome)!

The Doc portion of the cover reprinted for Strange Tales # 183


Sadly, Kirby never drew Man-Thing that I can recall.
How freaky-cool would THAT have been!
And a Kirby-drawn ROM: Spaceknight would have been the absolute BEST thing to happen in the history of EVER... but alas, that did not happen.

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I met Jack Kirby at a convention when I was a comic artist - this would have been 1991 I believe.
He was walking the con with his wife Roz, and as I spied him approaching my table in the 'artist's alley' I flustered a bit as to what to do to show this man my appreciation for all that he had done.
I quickly grabbed a hand-colored copy of a drawing of Captain America that I had done, and vaulted over my table to go and meet this iconic industry giant.

I tried to gently shake his hand, but his wife, Roz said he was under strict orders by his doctor, not to do so. Understanding this, I then gave him the illustration of the comic character that HE had created - and bestowed upon the world - as a gesture of my thanks and admiration.
I embarrassingly asked for an autograph, but his wife explained that he was under strict orders to rest his hands and that if I gave my name and info, he would mail one to me at a later date.
I happily did so, saying that autograph or no, this was indeed an honor that I would never forget.

Well, I never did receive the signature, and within a few years he was gone*.

I was working at a comic shoppe / antiquarian bookstore as Creative Director (and Sales Associate) when I heard the news of his passing.
Needless to say the entire mood of the store changed.
It shifted from fans bickering about whose favorite character could beat whom and what comics were out that day to a 'brotherhood' sharing tales and remembrances of the best and most favorite Kirby works.

That was the power of Jack Kirby's work.
He could unite the multitudes of discordant thoughts, views and arguments into a shared vision of what was GOOD about this hobby / industry / lifestyle.

The King is dead, but his works live on.
Long live the King!

 * I should footnote this partial anecdote with this link to a fantastic telling of how, 20 years after this meeting, the "ghost" of Jack Kirby "appeared" on my TV, and showed me that he did, in fact, keep and showcase my art gift. The piece has been seen in several documentaries of his life, Stan Lee's life, and the history of Marvel.

That tale, the artwork, and video/film proof, can be found HERE.

"Tamam Shud!"
~P~