BW’s Morning Article Link: Christmas Commercial Classics

Matt of Dinosaur Dracula brings you some obscure but classic (no, I don’t know how that works either) Christmas commercials. Do you remember any of these? Tell him in his comments and share your own memories.

Sing Me A Christmas Story: Santa Baby

Unless you have a morning DJ that still plays them or a station that still plays 50s music from the likes of the Big Bopper the only time you’ll hear a novelty song these days on the radio is at Christmas. I think that shows what sad sacks we’re becoming as a species, but that’s an article for another time. Christmas novelty songs celebrate that fun side of Christmas, unless it’s one of those songs that trashes Christmas traditions. As much as I love Weird Al, and even find “Christmas At Ground Zero” amusing, I really could do without “The Night Santa Went Crazy”. I’m not sure what that tells you about my tastes.

One of the popular ones is “Santa Baby”. Written by a senator’s daughter interestingly enough, the song is about a golddigger hoping to either get some expensive goodies from Santa by seducing a centuries-old man or a woman trying to get some stuff from her boyfriend, including possibly a wedding ring. If we’re still on the former, Santa’s spoken for toots. The song has been covered from Madonna (who for some odd reason tried to do a Betty Boop impersonation) to RuPaul (who also has this voice in the background, also RuPaul, that’s intentionally nasty). However, if I didn’t use the original version from the late Eartha Kitt I’m sure I’d be yelled at.

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“Yesterday’s” Comic> Iron Man Annual 1999

Man, I thought we were done with weeping angels.

Iron Man Annual ’99

Marvel Comics (1999)

“Power Tools”

PLOT: Kurt Busiek & Joe Casey (writer)

PENCILER: Terry Shoemaker

INKERS: BobLaRosa & Terry Shoemaker

COLORIST: Christie Scheele

LETTERING: Comicraft

EDITOR: Bobbie Chase

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BW’s Morning Video Link: Godzilla, King Of The Monsters Versus 1985

As part of SFDebris’ review of Godzilla 1985, which is also posted in this link, Chuck also goes into the history of the first movie’s US alteration, Godzilla, King Of The Monsters. In the video, he shows were the first one actually succeeded quite well, while 1985 did the same thing in theory but completely botched the whole thing. He also briefly goes into why Godzilla 1985 (or The Return Of Godzilla) rebooted the series, not condemning the focus to kids per se but highlighting the flaws that came with it.

Also, he takes a shot at Godzooki because it’s harder for me to find someone else who DOESN’T hate the little guy. I know like one other person.

Chapter By Chapter: Tom Clancy’s Op-Center chapters 13-16

Chapter by Chapter features me reading one chapter of the selected book at the time and reviewing it as if I were reviewing an episode of a TV show or an issue of a comic. There will be spoilers if you haven’t read to the point I have, and if you’ve read further I ask that you don’t spoil anything further into the book. Think of it as a read-along book club.

We’re back to multiple chapters in this book. I’m not sure when or if there will be another full-length chapter but I’m prepared for that. At any rate, the bombing happened, but now it’s time to deal with the aftermath and find the guilty party. We have four chapters again in which to move the story along.

  • Chapter 13: Tuesday, 5:25 AM, Quantico Marine Corps Air Station, VA: Four full-ish pages, because the top of the first page has the title, but I’ll take it
  • Chapter 14: Tuesday, 7:30 PM, Seoul: six pages, which is close
  • Chapter 15: Tuesday, 5:55 AM, Washington, DC: three pages, but given the spacing reads like two
  • Chapter 16: Tuesday, 8:00 PM, the Sea Of Japan: three pages

So I’m guessing we’ll be checking in with our bad guys. I wonder how old Eyepatch is doing?

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“Yesterday’s” Comic> JLA: Year One #8

J’onn’s career as a dance instructor isn’t going well.

JLA: Year One #8

DC Comics (August 1998)

“Loose Ends”

WRITERS: Mark Waid & Brian Augustyn

PENCILER: Barry Kitson

INKER: Michael Bair

COLORIST: Pat Garrahy

SEPARATIONS: Heroic Age

LETTERER: Ken Lopez

EDITOR: Peter Tomasi

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BW’s Morning Article Link: The “Creator” Of Manga

Jackson Arn of Artsy writes about Kawanabe Kyōsai, the 15th-century artist whose work he claims is partly responsible for Japanese comics (aka manga).