Monday, March 24, 2014

Creatures on the Loose #17 - Gullivar Jones on Mars, Part 2.

SATURDAY, 22 MARCH 2014

Creatures on the Loose #17 - Gullivar Jones on Mars, Part 2.

Creatures on the Loose #17, Gullivar Jones, Mars
Last time,the Robinson-oh wait,sorry-wrong blog- we saw how newly-discharged Earth soldier Gullivar Jones came to be on Mars, doing the John Carter thing.

This week, it's time to see what progress he makes now he's got there.

And it has to be said, he doesn't make a lot.Roy Thomas tries to mixmaster elements of Arnold,Burroughs and Howard-Robert E.Howard-not Clint Howard.

Having been dumped, unconscious, on a funeral barge as it makes its way down a Martian river, Gullivar recovers just in time to fight some giant caterpillars and then get captured by some spider-bat-men who then proceed to offer him and a captive pterodactyl man up as a snack for their giant god Phra.
Pha is Roys tribute to another Edwin Lester Arnold book-Pha the Phoneacian.Another book,people Eddie Burroughs read,because it's an ageless guy like John Carter.

According to Wikipedia, the reason Gullivar Jones never caught on like John Carter did was because, in the original book, he was a bit of a failure, losing fights, left, right and centre while getting pushed around by events rather then pushing them around.

Creatures on the Loose #17, Gullivar Jones

And you can certainly see signs of it here. He starts off unconscious,thinks he see's Heru-the Princess of this Mars,but transforms into a big bug- then gets bitten by a giant caterpillar then loses consciousness.Ok,John Carter might do,but he'd make by kicking ass later on.Gullivar Jones then loses a fight with the spider-bat-men and then finishes off by being offered up as a takeaway to Pha-the regular monster type,you see in Creatures on the Loose
. He might have super-strength while he's on Mars and have combat training but he does come across as a man in severe need of a good rescuing.See,maybe Gullivar Jones should had Lu Pov join him.I want Gullivar Jones-I really do,but he more of big boob,than hero.And when Peter Parker screws up,Spider-Man often triumphs.If Conan screws up,it's to let triumph later on.Remember Ralph Hinkley?In the Greatest American Hero,he never got the hang of flying and then lost the manual to the suite.You have a hero screw up,but sometime,you have to let win a few battles,other the audiance,go forget him-I'll switch over the other guy.Luke Skywalker screws up allot in Star Wars-gets his ass kicked in a bar fight,but he win the bigger space battles.He loses a hand to Darth Vader,but thats only to see wise up understand his father was bigger screw up- and time to do right thing-listen to Yoda and Obi-Wan for the big event next-knocking out Jabba,rescueing Han Solo and the take out the Empire-something his pop Anakin Skywalker caused to come about so Vader can do what should done twenty some years before-throw that old Pervert Empiror out a window.Gullivar Jones-then to do something similar.

Creatures on the Loose #17, Gullivar Jones

On the plus side, it's all non-stop drama and, as before, Gil Kane's art is excellent, making the strip memorable and worth reading for that alone. We also get a suitably cliff-hanging ending with what looks like the sort of monster Marvel loved to throw at us at every opportunity in the late 1950s and early 1960s. So, at least it seems we have reason to look forward to next issue.


Sunday, March 23, 2014

Creatures on the Loose #16 - Gullivar Jones on Mars.

SATURDAY, 15 MARCH 2014

Creatures on the Loose #16 - Gullivar Jones on Mars.

The Princess of Mars and John Carter the first draft,written that less successful Edgar Rice Burroughs-Edwin Lester Arnold 
Creatures on the Loose #16, Gullivar Jones, Warrior of Mars
It always seemed to me that there was one obvious drawback to getting super-powers.

Which was that, to get them, you first had to actually do something.

For instance, you had to steal a rocket ship and fly it through cosmic rays. Or you had to build a gamma bomb and then let it explode at you. Or you had to attend a science show and let spiders bite you.

If you wanted lots of powers, you had to do all these things and take refuge from aliens, in a cave, whilst banging a stick against a wall.

Reader, you know by now that banging a stick against a wall is beneath the dignity of a man of my quality, no matter how strong it might make me.

You can imagine, therefore, just how impressed I was, as a child, with Gullivar Jones.

After all, he managed to get his super-powers just by walking down the street.

Creatures on the Loose #16, Gullivar Jones meets his destiny
Admittedly, he then got sent to Mars - which is a bit of a downside - and had to fight big red lobster men but he did at least get to snog a princess, so it wasn't all bad news.

Some first came across Gullivar Jones in the pages of Marvel UK's Planet of the Apes, a mag that seems to be getting a zillion and one mentions round here lately.I rediscovered him,by way of bargain basement comic junk sales.

And I was impressed at once.Sort of

Not only did it have the lazy person's guide to getting super-powers but it was drawn by Gil Kane in a genre I always felt suited him best.

But of course, those tales were just reprints. Gullivar Jones made his real Marvel Comics debut in Creatures on the Loose #16 and what happens in that issue is that Jones, having just quit the army, is leaving the officers' club for the last time, when a man -Lu Pov on a flying disc descends from the heavens, declares Jones is going to be a saviour and sends him back through time to Mars to fight evil wherever he finds it.Lu Pov,is Roy Thomas trying to upgrade the material and pay tribute a ERB fan.In the original tale,the character is a nobody,who fall into the street,dropping his magic Martian carget as he drops dead.It's unfortunate,Lu Pov,isn't used as Gullivar Jones Martian Guide,than the old guy,who brings the heroes magic device and then drops dead.

Creatures on the Loose #16, Gullivar Jones

You will of course be aware this is remarkably similar to John Lennon's claim that the Fab Four got their name when a man descended on a flaming pie and told them to call themselves the Beatles. Whether it's the same man in both cases, I'm not at all sure.

To be honest, anyone with any sense, upon arriving against his will on Mars, would promptly burst into tears and be too busy sobbing to do anything.After his hair turns white and clothes gets shredded on his trip backward in time to Mars,Gullivar Jones come across a titanic city,with a vast tent community arround it.

But Gullivar Jones isn't just any man.Jones,unlike novel version,dosen't time jumping across deep space and flying over the Martian lanscape.

He's an interfering busybody.Problem is,he isn't heroic as John Carter.Gullivar Jones,here unlike in the book,cuts right into the action,jumps off his magic carpet and save Martian yellow skinned Princess Hero from her idiot brother and the red skinned Hither Barbarians.

Creatures on the Loose #16, Gullivar Jones and Princess Heru
And so, the instant he arrives, he leaps into action to rescue the aforementioned princess from the aforementioned lobster men Hither People and then gets to road-test her tonsils before she's snatched by pterodactyl people and he's left, out cold, on a funeral barge and heading towards his doom.Heru is no Dejah Thoris.Neither novel,comic strip or book version.And certainly,she isn't Lynne Collins,who'd bust a few heads,before getting kidnapped.

This of course all makes Jones sound like a rip-off of John Carter but the magic of Wikipedia tells me he was originally created by Edwin Lester Arnold in 1905 and therefore predates Carter by a good seven years. The fact that Carter's had a string of books and a movie made about him, and Jones hasn't, only goes to show there's no justice in the world.Yeah,right Wikipenishia.Time to step off your blow hard,Sheldon Cooper arrogance,let somebody else sit your favorite seat and move over.

In terms of characterisation, in this issue, we get to learn next to nothing about Jones, and even less about the Princess, so it's all a bit shallow - and, to be honest, feels more DC in that regard than Marvel. But it's beautifully drawn and zips along. And, most of all, with its strange alien world to explore, it holds out the promise of more action, adventure and bizarreness to come in the very next issue.

Does it produce that bizarreness?
Well,no-planetary romances,wthether John Carter or Dune are always fantastic.The only good or bad thing is,in the telling.

We'll have to find out next weekend when I take a look at that very next issue.

And, if Brian Blessed isn't in it as a hawk man, I shall very disappointed with them.While you wait,just imagine this -My Dinner with Brian Blessed and Ronald Long.-Admirel Zarhk of Lost in Space.
Brian-What?FLASH.
Ronald-No,MISTER SKIDNOSE-NOT FLASH

 The fact that Carter's had a string of books and a movie made about him, and Jones hasn't, only goes to show there's no justice in the world.
What?Sorry,ERB might be perfect,by he was way better a writer Edwin Lester.Arnold.The thing flopped,unfortunately.Arnold makes a few dum mistakes and Gullivar Jones is fall guy because of them.I like Gullivar Jones,don't me wrong,but the story does end on a bad note.Suddenly,Jones gets back his previously unmentioned girlfreind.Least,the comic tried to make for allot of dum mistakes.If Burroughs did read this book-the novel,not the comic ofcourse and said he could write,success of John Carter proves right and fanboy pro whats his name wrong

Thursday, December 26, 2013

John Carter of Mars-John Coleman Burroughs-1941

John Carter of Mars-John Coleman Burroughs-1941


Okay, okay....here's the real thing! The art here, derivative of Alex Raymond and Hal Foster, is apparently by ERB's son, John Coleman Burroughs who also did the John Carter newspaper strip and illustrated his father's later books. 





Tuesday, September 24, 2013

BOB ANDERSON 'Behind the mask of Darth Vader' (Castilian version)

BOB ANDERSON 'Behind the mask of Darth Vader' (Castilian version)





Per catalĂ  click 

"-I never chose the sword, I think it was the sword that chose me" - 
                                                                                                                         , Bob Anderson. 

Introduction
The purpose of this article is simple. The recent death on January 1, 2012 the fencing master "Bob Anderson" caused decide to write ahead of schedule and well remember such a distinguished "gentleman" who above all will be remembered for his role as Darth Vader in the scenes fencing of Star Wars and being fencing master of many Hollywood actors.
 
His name is Robert James Gilbert Anderson, known as "Bob" Anderson. English, born September 15, 1922 in Gosport, Hampshire County. Dead on January 1, 2012 in the county of West Sussex in England at age 89. He served the army in World War 2, has been Olympic fencer later English coach fencing, military instructor and choreographer fencing and fencing master scenic.

The "Coventry"
Life Sports
Bob Anderson, saber fencer, but also of foil and epee fencing began in the Royal Navy during his service for the Mediterranean during WW2, in fact, began to learn fencing aboard it "Coventry "(which would be sunk off the coast of Africa).Anderson said that fencing became very popular on board because you could in a relatively small space. Finished the war, in 1948 joined the English team saber and foil becoming champions of England in all three weapons. In the 1950 World Fencing retired saber competition with thumb injury at the end of August and would not take a chance like that again. Also participating in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics.



After the stage of competitive fencer but still within the sport fencing world, Bob Anderson became coach of the British National Fencing School, replacing that until then had been the national coach (and the same Anderson) Roger French Crosnier, when he returned to France. For 20 years, he taught fencing around England, many of them, for beginners, combining the sport with his future film career. 

As coach of the English won a major European competition saber prepared their students in six Olympics, and had a role in one of the best times of the British fencing. During the decade between 1960 and 1970 he was also chairman of the British National Academy of Fencing. They also created the British Association of Coaches. Explain that English coaches at that time did not have any update to improve their knowledge. And they wanted to solve this problem with 'the British Association of Coaches. " He was repeatedly in Ottawa, working with the Canadian Fencing Association as coach. Members of the Canadian federation remember how excited the kids English to know that the gentleman had been Darth Vader and also for its great education. Advances in Canadian fencing saber especially in recent years is due in part to Bob Anderson developed a system where coaches and bringing innovations Canadian fencing.



Lifetime movie

The race in the movie world of Bob Anderson started the same year as Helsink games i. - "I was for it s free games 10 days, and received a call from the Elstree Studios to make a movie with Errol Flynn. They wanted experts in fencing and I had 10 days to meet Flynn "- says Anderson. What made ​​him the Hollywood fencing master was not made ​​to work with Flynn, many others had done before, but during the trial, Bob Anderson accidentally struck the famous actor, earning the nickname "The Man that wounded Errol Flynn ".
Remember Anderson: - "We were on board a boat in 'Master of Ballantrae' and touched her leg and blood started coming out! Everyone was terrified, I was convinced to get fired, luckily Errol Flynn realized that was an accident. "- Actually worked with Errol Flynn in more films like" The Dark Avenger "and which also still having accidents like the same Flynn nearly severed a finger to Christopher Lee in the same shooting. After this film, he was hired for several Italian productions pirates sequences. - "I made a choreographer and double, should double every character who had to deal with Errol Flynn. Sometimes for so many characters that I once had to kill myself because I played both actors that are supposed to fight against each other "-.
Was consolidated in Hollywood when he chose the same Stanley Kubrick in 1974 as Fencing Master "Barry Lyndon". It is also at this time that also get the fencing master by the "Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford" for 8 years. Bob Anderson talks about the work of choreographer fencing film is a work under pressure. Commented that they [the directors and producers] choose actors whooften have no idea of fencing. As in the case of Lyndon Barrry starring Ryan O'Neal who was a student of Anderson, the actor who still developed a good sense of the sword because he is a great athlete. sometimes the problem was emerging a  hero had no knowledge fencing but had to play an expert fighter and the opponent was going in reverse, ie, the actor who faced the protagonist represents who knew less fencing but was usually much more experienced specialist, it was hard to look less good actually one was. Sometimes using a double for the protagonist. But in the case of Ryan O'Neal was not necessary for him or for his opponent where both were good enough to make the scene. 

In 1977 George Lucas hires Anderson as a consultant for his first film fencing
galactic starting their special relationship with Galaxies Trilogy. In 1980, Anderson and with almost 60 years returned to work for the galactic saga to "Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi" and Fencing Master as well actor playing the evil Darth Vader. During filming, he and his collaborator, Leon Hill, they encountered several problems, the first was that carbon swords were very delicate and could not hold the heavy blows that gave David Prowse (the a ctor who played Darth Vader). There was an additional loss of vision forcing hull be an expert fencer for use as required, and finally, the most important problem was that the same Prowse had difficulty properly execute the movements taught him. Prowse worked with got nothing but good enough for what we wanted.

Eventually George Lucas Anderson agreed that it was put on the armor of Darth Vader in the fight scenes, but the latter was kept secret and therefore does not include the name of Robert Anderson to credit. So Anderson was forced to perform fitness for the role he should play, put on his suit and replaced Prowse Darth Vader in the fight scenes. Laugh Bob Anderson in an interview - "It's the first time I do wrong and won" - referring to the final scene of Empire Strikes Back. Moreover, Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) was very good and we trained the same Anderson. Mark Hamill would not double, as they had a double who was also learning fencing to make the scene and be better Hamill needed no buckled.Moreover, the fencing master veteran also appears during Empire Strikes doing extra role in the ice planet scene.
 


In an interview in 1983 in the magazine "Starlog Magazine", Mark Hamill said: - "Bob Anderson is the one who actually did Vader in the fight scenes. Was supposed to be a secret, but I finally told George that this does not could continue, 'Bob' worked very hard as to not book him any recognition.'s ridiculous to preserve the myth that the character interpreted by one person. "-. Interestingly, it was the same Bob Anderson Darth Vader dress who starred in one of the most famous scenes in history: The moment Darth Vader pronounced "I am your father." As far as on the hardness of the scenes mentioned Mark Hamill, Bob Anderson commented that it was the room where it was very hot scene not to disperse the vapor. In the 5 days I worked with Mark Hamill in that scene lost 5 kg. As a final curiosity, to say that the phrase is his lightsabers mentioned about Alec Guinness (Ben Kenobi) in the first installment of the trilogy - "An elegant weapon of times more  
civilized "-.



He made ​​the choreography of the "Princess Bride" in 1988. At the time, Anderson began to believe that his style was outdated and that what was wanted was realism, but the "Princess Bride" was perhaps the last game of the classic Hollywood screen. He conceived the combat of the Princess Bride as a tribute to fencing hollywoodianas adventure films coming to an end and gave way to a new fencing film. Anecdotally, saying he had to scold the players on several occasions for not fighting off the scenes for fun. Yet in subsequent interviews said he particularly enjoyed the scenes of the "Princess Bride", with great reviews from the scene of Mandy Patinkin (Inigo Montoya) and Cary Elwes. ApSimon Canadian federation says the "Princess Bride" was the favorite choreography own Bob Anderson. In 1991 Anderson is officially retired but still working on many projects still living between the United States and England, for example 1996 the "Mask of
Zorro ". From the experiences of this film with actors, remembers Bob Anderson in the book of Richard Cohen, who to work with Catherine Zeta Jones being a dancer helped a lot, Anthony Hopkins, it seems he really liked fencing and many the wanted scenes repeat 4 or 5 times more. But the most praise was made ​​by Antonio Banderas who qualified talent for fencing. 
During 2000, was interviewed by writer and fencer Richard Cohen on the set of one of the films in the Bond series that cooperate. And he told of how he worked the scenes: - "Normally suddenly upon a basic number as head comes to giving much importance to the rhythm of the assault. Most important thing is choreographed combat change of pace from the leaves. If all motion while it gets boring, so you have to take actions large and slow, then fast and fluid change it. " - The following year, the New York Times explained it: "It's incredibly inventive and refuses to treat the actors as stars. Lot of them complain about the intensity of training, but those who have worked with him they prefer." In fact he said that to properly prepare an actor needed to work with him day and night  
for at least 6 months.
Anderson had to be creative force and be limited to actions more "practical" was not enough for the dramatic stage. - "Response and counter-response, this was the way to make a sequence, as in a dance sequence. Also have to look at the film set and see what is possible in terms of space and accessories. At first everything is created, Once you have some ideas of the director you have to use your knowledge of fencing to create a fight scene that is not only what the director wants, but also make it exciting and represents a good portrayal of the characters.
 

Between 2001 and 2003 he returned to work in another great trilogy: The Lord of the Rings. Again, the players were delighted with it: Viggo Mortensen qualified him authentic 'British gentleman' and was an experience working with him, as also explained he and the other actors like Liv Tyler who was very demanding work . Unfortunately upon returning from New Zealand had a problem shooting with cancer. However, this did not stop working, and now, in 2006 returned to the cinema with Alatriste.
On his death in 2012 and with 89 years, Bob Anderson has never ceased to contribute their knowledge to cinema until the last times. Recently had worked in the new film The Hobbit directed by Peter Jackson and that brings us back to the mythical world of Lord of the Rings by Tolkien. Robert Anderson has worked in the film industry for more than 30 years and more than 60 dedicated entirely to the art of the sword. He has worked with many actors and movies, the ones mentioned above can add: Stewart Granger in Scaramouche, to Roger Moore for "Moonraker", Sean Connery in "Highlander", Richard Gere in "First Knight", Alec Guinness by "Star Wars" , Pierce Brosnan in "Die Another Day" and also Charlie Sheen, Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom among others. Both athletes and actors remember him being friendly, gentlemanly, polite, but also strict and demanding perfectionist who worked. In an interview on "The Globe" confessed that the reason to continue working in films even after his alleged withdrawal was to help people who watched the films to choose a sport like fencing and cinema has been the best advertising fencing may have had. Apparently, it has fully achieved.




He stated: - "Teaching and training actors has been whether companies a fun part of my life. And it has been a pleasure "- 

most prominent Filmography
Star Wars - Return of the Jedi 1983 

Star Wars - The Empire Strikes Back 1980
The Master of Ballantrae 1953
Alatriste 2006
The Legend of Zorro 2005
The Lord of the Rings - Trilogy 2001-2002-2003
Die Another Day 2002
The Mask of the Zorro 1,998
First Knight 1995
The Three Musketeers 1993
By the Sword 1991
The Princess Bride 1987
Barry Lyndon 1975
Highlander 1986 



The videos of the interviews


Video from when I worked with the Federation of Canadian

Warriors of the Third Age (Part 1 of the documentary of the filming of the Lord of the Rings which appears Robert Anderson)

Excerpt from the documentary "Reclaiming the Blade" which featured an interview with Robert Anderson

Excerpt from the documentary "Die Another Day Behind the Scenes" which speaks of the fencing scene and there is an interview with Bob Anderson
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Monday, September 23, 2013

The Moon Maid by Frank Frazetta

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2013


The Moon Maid by Frank Frazetta

The Moon Maid

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Moon Maid
The Moon Maid.jpg
Dust jacket from the first edition of The Moon Maid.
AuthorEdgar Rice Burroughs
Cover artistJ. Allen St. John
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
GenreFantasy novel, Lost world
PublisherA. C. McClurg
Publication date6 February 1926
Media typePrint (Hardback)
Pages412 pp
ISBNNA
The Moon Maid is an Edgar Rice Burroughs Lost World novel. It was written in three parts, Part 1 was begun in June 1922 under the title The Moon Maid, Part 2 was begun in 1919 under the title Under the Red Flag, later retitledThe Moon Men, Part 3 was titled the The Red Hawk. As evident from its name, Under the Red Flag was originally set in contemporary Soviet Russia, with the Bolsheviks as villains; as this was not popular with the publishers, Burroughs transferred it to a science-fictional setting, with the evil Communist-like "Kalkars" taking over the Moon (in the first part) and then the Earth (in the second part, with the help of a renegade Earthman) and being finally overthrown in the third part.
The book version was first published by A. C. McClurg on 1926-02-06, under the title The Moon Maid, though it was shortened from the serial. The three Parts have been published in varying combinations and under varying titles since 1926.

Copyright[edit source | editbeta]

The copyright for this story has expired in Australia, and thus now resides in the public domain there. The text is available via Project Gutenberg Australia.

Literary significance and reception[edit source | editbeta]

The book is well regarded, and described by one critic, Richard A. Lupoff, as the best of Edgar Rice Burrough's non-series "scientific romances". He describes the book as conveying a remarkable sense of wonder. He goes on to say that the extrapolation of society, including the feudal and nomadic societies of the conquered earth, display new facets of Burrough's skill as a writer.[1] P. Schuyler Miller wrote that "Most readers agree that 'The Moon Maid' was Burroughs's best book and best science fiction."[2]
Funny,it wasn't mine.The moon people-honsey people,i just didn't get.

Footnotes[edit source | editbeta]

  1. Jump up^ Richard A. Lupoff (1965). Master of Adventure: The Worlds of Edgar Rice Burroughs. Canaveral Press.
  2. Jump up^ "The Reference Library," Analog, April 1970, p. 170.

External links[edit source | editbeta]







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