Sunday, February 06, 2011
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
The Hundred Monsters Game
Mizuki Shigeru's Yokai Hyaku Monogatari (Hundred Monsters) was, like much of his manga work, based on folk stories and traditions involving ghosts, spirits and monsters. Here is a sugoroku ---a paper board-game---depicting less than a hundred weird creatures from Japanese lore. This example may possibly be pre-War as the title across the top reads right to left "Hyaku Monogatari Bakemono." Along with the spider demon, rokuro-kubi and lantern ghost there is also a demon teakettle, a cracked pot and a walking phallus!
Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai (百物語怪談会 -- A Gathering of One Hundred Supernatural Tales) was a popular game during the Edo period. To play the game, one hundred candles were lit in a room at twilight. The players gathered around taking turns telling kaidan (weird tales). After each tale a single candle was extinguished and the room slowly grew darker and darker. The process was believed to summon a supernatural entity.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
More Kaiju Rarities
I tend to accumulate lots of images--from the internet, as well as from print--at a steady rate. This weekend I spent some time arranging my "catch" files and found some pieces that I now no longer remember the source for. If anyone has more info on these--or better yet, copies at a higher resolution--please email me and I'll post them in future updates.
The caption I wrote on this merely says Kaiju Shibuya. The monsters are Drako II and RedKing; the female models are, alas, unknown. The photo looks like it may have been from a magazine spread circa 1966. I'd love to see the rest of this shoot!
This just in! Our San Francisco correspondent August Ragone writes:
"The first photo is sourced from a photo spread, "Monsters & Dates: Ultra Gals", in the April 1967 edition of "Monthly Heibon" (Heibonsha Limited). The girl holding hands with Red King is famous actress-model-singer, Linda Yamamoto (best known to tokusatsu fans as one of the Rider Girls from the original KAMEN RIDER series. Holding Drako's hand is Tomoko Kei, another popular singer-actress-model. Both of these girls are happa."
I'd say the Ultra Dates are not only happa--they're happenin'!
Many thanks, August!
The (partial) kaiju suit shown above is Ghostler from the Captain Ultra series. Eagle-eyed affiliate August Ragone identifies the crew as employees of Ekisu Productions, all of whom worked at Toho under Eiji Tsuburaya; the man standing behind the monster is company chief Masao Yagi.
Above is the contents page from a 1955 copy of Vue magazine courtesy of Brad Warner. Brad believes, and I would agree, that this is very likely the first publication in English about the King of the Monsters! Notice that the monster's name is given as "Gojira"--the name "Godzilla" would not come into common usage for another year when Joseph E. Levine bought the rights to bring the film to the U.S. Hey, Brad! Do you still have copies of this mag? I never got one...
The caption I wrote on this merely says Kaiju Shibuya. The monsters are Drako II and RedKing; the female models are, alas, unknown. The photo looks like it may have been from a magazine spread circa 1966. I'd love to see the rest of this shoot!
This just in! Our San Francisco correspondent August Ragone writes:
"The first photo is sourced from a photo spread, "Monsters & Dates: Ultra Gals", in the April 1967 edition of "Monthly Heibon" (Heibonsha Limited). The girl holding hands with Red King is famous actress-model-singer, Linda Yamamoto (best known to tokusatsu fans as one of the Rider Girls from the original KAMEN RIDER series. Holding Drako's hand is Tomoko Kei, another popular singer-actress-model. Both of these girls are happa."
I'd say the Ultra Dates are not only happa--they're happenin'!
Many thanks, August!
The (partial) kaiju suit shown above is Ghostler from the Captain Ultra series. Eagle-eyed affiliate August Ragone identifies the crew as employees of Ekisu Productions, all of whom worked at Toho under Eiji Tsuburaya; the man standing behind the monster is company chief Masao Yagi.
Above is the contents page from a 1955 copy of Vue magazine courtesy of Brad Warner. Brad believes, and I would agree, that this is very likely the first publication in English about the King of the Monsters! Notice that the monster's name is given as "Gojira"--the name "Godzilla" would not come into common usage for another year when Joseph E. Levine bought the rights to bring the film to the U.S. Hey, Brad! Do you still have copies of this mag? I never got one...
Sunday, August 01, 2010
Mystery Kaiju
Who can identify the mystery kaiju in this old menko card and the name of the film they appeared in?
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Langorias Reborn
Couldn't resist developing this a bit further. Some of the other Kaiju Comrades pieces are scheduled for upgrades too.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Sunday, March 07, 2010
Kaiju Comrades 2
Mark Nagata presents Kaiju Comrades 2 at Design Festa Gallery, East Room #303 Tokyo, Japan from March 12—14, 2010. The opening is only a week away and all my work is finally winging its way over to Harajuku. I'll be sitting this out in Chicago unfortunately. Check out the full lineup of artists and a promo video here and here.
Thanks to Mr. Miyamoto and of course Mr. Nagata for making this all possible! I welcome your feedback on the designs-- I'm ready to start sculpting prototypes of the pieces that generate the most interest.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Instant Toy Karma's Gonna Get You!
Coming up in just a few weeks is Toy Karma 2 • Art Inspired by Classic Japanese Toys —— and, thanks to the new trend in alphabetization, I'm at the head of the list! Thanks to Mark Nagata for making me a returning Toy Karmanaut!
Handing the mic to Mr. Kirby Kerr here:
What is Toy Karma? Well, in our case, it’s an art exhibit featuring artists expressing their love for classic Japanese toys. But it’s so much more than that. As Mark Nagata, founder of Max Toy Company and curator of this exhibit explains on his blog, it’s the idea that if you’re honest in your dealings that one toy that you’ve always dreamed of getting will eventually come to you. For many serious toy collectors it’s a guideline, a mantra and yes, even a lifestyle. This exhibit pays homage to the mysterious force and power that toys have over us.
Toy Karma, the exhibit, is held every other year at Rotofugi Gallery, Chicago. The first Toy Karma exhibit was held in September 2007. Toy Karma 2 (aka TKII) will be held at Rotofugi Gallery September 5-20, 2009. We hope you can join us!
Toy Karma 2
Rotofugi Gallery
1955 W Chicago Ave • Chicago, IL
Opening Saturday, September 5 • 7pm-10pm
Music by dep
Exhibit continues through September 20
http://www.toykarma.rotofugi.com/
Alex again...
Here are the preview jpegs of my pieces.
"Tura Satana in Violent Planet" will be available in two editions: the "Classic" design with blue-green sky and a psychedelic, or "Hawaiian" edition featuring heavy doses of yellow, pink and orange. (Sorry, no Glow in Dark available. Maybe next time...) The prints are 13" x 19" giclees on Ultra Premium Matte 100% cotton rag stock. There will be only 25 signed and numbered copies of each edition —— don't miss this! And don't make me use so many exclamation marks!!!
Hope to see you there!
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Ultra ジグソーパズル
These jigsaw puzzles were the very first Ultraman items in my
collection--I've had them since 1969. They came in little boxes
marked "20 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle." No manufacturer name or other
information, just a simple "Made in Japan" notice on the bottom.
I believe the art was very likely originally intended for menko
cards--possibly the larger variety as they are quite detailed.
Something that viewing these images on a monitor can't convey is
that they are 5 color prints--all have metallic gold borders
and pictorial areas. I've collected many more Ultraman pieces
since then and yet these remain some of my most treasured pieces.
O-tanoshimi ni.
Ultraman tai Kaiju Gabora
I have a small sized menko with the same image that I found
around the same time. Though the monsters were the main
attraction for me back in '69 (it was some years before I'd
learn the word "kaiju") I became fascinated by the humanoid
figure. Who was that glowing-eyed being with the mysterious grin?
Bemlar • Gavadon O-abare!!
Hassha! Baltan • Antlar o Taose!!
Ultraman tai Kaiju Gyango
Magma Taishi • Kaiju Aron • Kaiju Gappa (Mama Gappa!)
Batman and Robin! Kairyu Daikessen!
For most American fans, this final card is the mind-blower of
the set. Batman's costume colors are definitely "off-model" and
Robin has a pistol! I didn't realize that the helmeted shooters
were Ultraman's Science Patrol team members until I became
more steeped in Ultra Lore.
collection--I've had them since 1969. They came in little boxes
marked "20 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle." No manufacturer name or other
information, just a simple "Made in Japan" notice on the bottom.
I believe the art was very likely originally intended for menko
cards--possibly the larger variety as they are quite detailed.
Something that viewing these images on a monitor can't convey is
that they are 5 color prints--all have metallic gold borders
and pictorial areas. I've collected many more Ultraman pieces
since then and yet these remain some of my most treasured pieces.
O-tanoshimi ni.
Ultraman tai Kaiju Gabora
I have a small sized menko with the same image that I found
around the same time. Though the monsters were the main
attraction for me back in '69 (it was some years before I'd
learn the word "kaiju") I became fascinated by the humanoid
figure. Who was that glowing-eyed being with the mysterious grin?
Bemlar • Gavadon O-abare!!
Hassha! Baltan • Antlar o Taose!!
Ultraman tai Kaiju Gyango
Magma Taishi • Kaiju Aron • Kaiju Gappa (Mama Gappa!)
Batman and Robin! Kairyu Daikessen!
For most American fans, this final card is the mind-blower of
the set. Batman's costume colors are definitely "off-model" and
Robin has a pistol! I didn't realize that the helmeted shooters
were Ultraman's Science Patrol team members until I became
more steeped in Ultra Lore.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Defender of Democracy vs Kaiju Kong
I suppose it's appropriate in this election week that my friend Mark Nagata posted a new painting on his Toy Karma blog of Founding Father George Washington combatting the evil Eyezon. I was not hitherto aware of this battle from the dawn of our democracy! How many know that nearly 200 years later there was another great confrontation between an icon of Truth, Justice and the American Way and a malevolent creature from the unknown? Witness now the clash of titans when Lady Liberty battled the Mammoth Kong!
Mammoth Kong rises from the sea!
Population in terror! Mammoth Kong attacks!
Here come the jets--and Lady Liberty!
Lady Liberty! Defeat Mammoth Kong!
Mammoth Kong rises from the sea!
Population in terror! Mammoth Kong attacks!
Here come the jets--and Lady Liberty!
Lady Liberty! Defeat Mammoth Kong!
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
The Lost Films of Tura Satana
As I've written previously, I've been invited to show in "Tura! Tura! Tura!" a group happening celebrating the legendary screen icon, Tura Satana! Exhibit curated by Mitch O'Connell, Beth Cisco and Casey Sass, the opening is Thursday, October 30th from 7 to 11pm at the Tattoo Factory Gallery, 4443 N. Broadway in Chicago.
Just completed are two rare Japanese posters from Tura's lost and, up to now, unknown films from the late 1960s!
Tura reprises her role as exotic, tassell-twirling Suzette Wong in a sequel to "Irma La Douce" directed by Billy Wilder —— "The World of Suzette Wong." Filmed in Parisian and Far East locations, this time Suzette's penchant for gambling and gamblers brings her afoul of the law and the local Yakuza-gumi in Japan's port city of Kobe. Havoc ensues when the sizzling Suzette catches the eye of the Big Boss (Shin Kishida) in a riotous dice-rolling rumble!
While filming on the Daiei Studio sets during "Suzette," Tura was introduced to studio chief Masaichi Nagata. An enterprising connoisseur of international cinema, Mr. Nagata praised Tura on her then-recent US blockbuster, "Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kil!" Over many cups of green tea, a plan was made. Teamed with director Kenji Misumi (Zatoichi series, Nemuri Kyoshiro series, DaiMajin series), Tura would power up her dynamic Varla character for a voyage to another world! Shooting under the working title "Varla's Outer Space Adventure" (Varla no Uchuu Dai Boken) began in July of 1968. As work progressed the title was changed to "Violent Planet" and tested Tura's endurance to the summer heat and on-set pyrotechnics. A climactic battle with Varla wielding only a shoto (short sword) against twin Guillon monsters was planned and possibly filmed. Unfortunately no footage has survived and we can only yearn for this lost jewel through the film's poster art.
Astromonster Fine Arts is the exclusive publisher of these rare treasures from the mod world of '60s cinema. Write to astromonster(at)sbcglobal(dot)net for details and ordering info.
Just completed are two rare Japanese posters from Tura's lost and, up to now, unknown films from the late 1960s!
Tura reprises her role as exotic, tassell-twirling Suzette Wong in a sequel to "Irma La Douce" directed by Billy Wilder —— "The World of Suzette Wong." Filmed in Parisian and Far East locations, this time Suzette's penchant for gambling and gamblers brings her afoul of the law and the local Yakuza-gumi in Japan's port city of Kobe. Havoc ensues when the sizzling Suzette catches the eye of the Big Boss (Shin Kishida) in a riotous dice-rolling rumble!
While filming on the Daiei Studio sets during "Suzette," Tura was introduced to studio chief Masaichi Nagata. An enterprising connoisseur of international cinema, Mr. Nagata praised Tura on her then-recent US blockbuster, "Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kil!" Over many cups of green tea, a plan was made. Teamed with director Kenji Misumi (Zatoichi series, Nemuri Kyoshiro series, DaiMajin series), Tura would power up her dynamic Varla character for a voyage to another world! Shooting under the working title "Varla's Outer Space Adventure" (Varla no Uchuu Dai Boken) began in July of 1968. As work progressed the title was changed to "Violent Planet" and tested Tura's endurance to the summer heat and on-set pyrotechnics. A climactic battle with Varla wielding only a shoto (short sword) against twin Guillon monsters was planned and possibly filmed. Unfortunately no footage has survived and we can only yearn for this lost jewel through the film's poster art.
Astromonster Fine Arts is the exclusive publisher of these rare treasures from the mod world of '60s cinema. Write to astromonster(at)sbcglobal(dot)net for details and ordering info.
Friday, October 03, 2008
SUPERDOGunderdog Video!
The Chicago Tribune website has an interview with me, Tony Akins, Gene Ha and Jeff Zwirek, that lovable cast of rogues otherwise known as The SUPERDOGunderdog Show. Go to Comics as Art for the video!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Ten Minutes of Terror!
Can you take it?
WildClaw Theatre is putting on Deathscribe: Ten Minutes of Terror Radio Play Festival at the Music Box Theater on October 6th. Join us for an evening of short horror stories done radio style with live foley and music by some of the best actors and directors in Chicago.
Tony Akins is on the jury at Deathscribe to help select the Best of Festival entry.
Event: Deathscribe
Date: Monday, Oct. 6 at 8PM
Place: The Music Box Theater, 3733 N. Southport, Chicago
Cost: $15 in advance, go to the WildClaw website
WildClaw Theatre is putting on Deathscribe: Ten Minutes of Terror Radio Play Festival at the Music Box Theater on October 6th. Join us for an evening of short horror stories done radio style with live foley and music by some of the best actors and directors in Chicago.
Tony Akins is on the jury at Deathscribe to help select the Best of Festival entry.
Event: Deathscribe
Date: Monday, Oct. 6 at 8PM
Place: The Music Box Theater, 3733 N. Southport, Chicago
Cost: $15 in advance, go to the WildClaw website
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