R.I.P. Sheldon Moldoff

Known primarily as Bob Kane's chief ghost toward the end of Kane's association with DC as an "artist," Moldoff also was one of the earliest artists on the Golden Age Hawkman, The Black Pirate and EC's Moon Girl. By some accounts, he's the one who said to Bill Gaines, "Say, why don't we try a horror comic book?"

The Official Barf Book

April Fool's day is fast approaching. If you're one of those who purchases gag gifts for April Fool's Day, might I suggest THE OFFICIAL BARF BOOK. Quite frankly, it was all I could do not to gag just going though it...and I WROTE IT!

Well, not exactly. THE OFFICIAL BARF BOOK is Craig Yoe's follow-up to his astonishingly successful OFFICIAL FART BOOK of a couple years back. This time, Craig recruited a bunch of folks to help put together. I'm credited in a dozen chapters. Also involved were my lovely wife Rene, former DC writer/editor Jack C. Harris, illustrators Vince Musacchia and Greg Oakes, fellow I.T.C.H. member David B. and a host of others.

Greg Oakes did the art for my biggest contribution, ROCK AND ROLL HEAVIN', an irreverent section on rock stars who...well...choked to death on vomit.

From the publisher:

A clever, insightful, and GROSS compendium of everything from sayings about barf- historical anecdotes, and cartoons to rancid rhymes, factoids, great moments in barf culture, up-chuckles, and buckets more! Whether you’re spewing to Ralph on the porcelain telephone or waiting for relief from a stomach tsunami, this book makes for an awesome gag gift. Random Moments: Vomit walks into the bar, crying. The bartender asks, “What’s the matter?” Vomit says, “Sorry to be so sentimental, but this is where I was brought up.” A little guy gets on a plane and sits next to the window. A few minutes later, a big, heavy, strong mean-looking, hulking guy plops down in the seat next to him and immediately falls asleep. The little guy starts to feel a little airsick, but he's afraid to wake the big guy up to ask if he can go to the bathroom. He knows he can't climb over him, and so the little guy is sitting there, looking at the big guy, trying to decide what to do. Suddenly, the plane hits an air pocket and an uncontrollable wave of nausea passes through the little guy. He can't hold it in any longer and he pukes all over the big guy's chest. About five minutes later the big guy wakes up, looks down, and sees the vomit all over him. "So," says the little guy, "are you feeling better now?" Barf Trivia: There’s no such thing as Rat Puke! Rats can’t vomit.

All in all, THE OFFICIAL BARF BOOK is a surprisingly educational book filled with historical tidbits and trivia, but also with enough gross limericks, cartoons and illustrations to turn even the strongest stomachs. I dare you to try reading it without at least coming close to adding your own chapter. "Urp!"


Did I mention it comes with free plastic thor-up attached to the cover? Talk about a major selling point! Oh and if you think THIS one was bad, wait until you see what next year's follow-up is going to be!

Bronze Age Sub-Mariner Splash Page Saturday # 53

Wow, does that look wet or what? After all those early splashes that seem to look dry as a bone, Subby's papa sure took him back to the water. A little wordy here and I'm not at all thrilled with the pink sky and the eye-scorching yellow. That said, I love the perspective and that overall ocean feel!One can almost smell the salt water.

Unfortunately, this was already the beginning of the end for Everett. He was unable to finish this story for health reasons. Halfway through this issue's wonderfully drawn tale, we get a reprint. Although the artist's work remains impeccable over the next few issues, we do start to see some Romita touch-ups and then other artists brought in to "assist" Everett. Sigh...

3-D Ad

Found this too late to go in Craig Yoe's AMAZING 3-D book from last Summer.

"Quicker Kitty, Stab, Stab"

Rylee Jean comes from a double show-biz background but I'm not going to tell you what those connections are. You can probably figure it out for yourself if you click the link below but I want her work to stand on its own. She's done some impressive work at a young age both in front of and behind the camera with several of her short films on VIMEO.

This one's actually just a trailer for a trailer but it rocks! It's a grindhouse spoof (as if you couldn't tell by the name.) 39 seconds of HOT SEXY LADIES let it load, set that HD goodness to fullscreen, and pump up da volume! She wrote on Facebook: Help me try and get 1000 views in one day! the softest kitties have the sharpest claws! Check out the Chita Chacha Cats!

 http://vimeo.com/35440683

R.I.P. Davy Jones

Wow. Wasn't expecting THIS news!

Nanny and the Professor

 

I've been watching a lot of episodes of NANNY & THE PROFESSOR lately, recorded way back when the FX network was actually a fun place to hang out. A favorite series back in 1970, it had a likable cast and a lovely theme song. Essentially it was a belated TV version of MARY POPPINS starring English actress Juliet Mills (daughter of Sir John sister of Hayley and former CARRY ON star) and handsome Richard Long (former co-star of the Ma and Pa Kettle movies and THE BIG VALLEY). Rounding out the cast were three personable kids and a big sheepdog named Waldo.

  

This Viewmaster reel was one of only two I ever bought (since I can't see 3-D), the other predictably being BATMAN. NANNY & THE PROFESSOR was never a huge hit but was marketed extensively during the three seasons it was on. There were comic books, a series of novels, colorforms, paper dolls and even two later spin-off animated cartoons that reunited the cast.

   

The Dell comic books below were some of the last in a long line of licensed TV series comics from the by-then fading rapidly company. 

The novel tie-ins were written by prolific hack writer --in the true sense of the word--William Johnston who also did a fun DICK TRACY novel around that same time. 

The SATURDAY SUPERSTAR MOVIE was an experimental Kids show offering longer-form cartoons, sometimes based on older TV series (including THT GIRL and THE BRADY BUNCH). NANNY & THE PROFESSOR got two animated outings.

Phoebe Figallily arrived at the Everett household with a perplexing mix of ESP and seeming magic that was never completely acknowledged or spelled out, even to the viewers. The family quickly fell in love with her, presumably even the Professor although that was only in subtext. OOver the course of the series, we met eccentric relatives and old friends but nothing was ever explained. In fact, the actual plots sometimes left much to be desired, even for a silly sitcom. 

Juliet Mills, now on Facebook, continued her career, appearing soon after NANNY in a nude scene in Billy Wilder's AVANTI with Jack Lemmon. She resurfaced on the soap PASSIONS many years later as a real witch. Richard Long, a very wooden actor but always a welcome presence,  sadly succumbed to heart disease just a short time after the series and the cartoons. Even more tragic was the fate of Trent Lehman, the younger son on the show, who hanged himself just ten years later. David Doremus, Trent's older TV brother, had a recurring role on THE WALTONS for a while but ultimately left show business. Kim Richards, one of the cutest TV child stars ever, went on to star in both of Disney's popular WITCH MOUNTAIN movies and later in a shocking scene in John Carpenter's original cult classic ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13. After years out of the spotlight, her private issues have sadly become very, very public recently as one of the most troubled of the REAL HOUSEWIVES OF BEVERLY HILLS.