Pop Journal: Pop '66; Star Wars; Carl Wilson

It's been a while since I've expounded here on what I've been reading, watching, hearing, etc. But now that it's a new year, I hope to do such updates once a week or so.

Update: A new addition to the PCS family of blogs

Lately, much of my blogging time has been spent creating and scheduling posts for a new Pop Culture Safari spinoff site, Pop '66. It's basically this site as it might've appeared 50 years ago - if the Internet existed.

The posts are presented pretty much in real-time. So, for example, I may post on a particular movie or record on the same day, or during the same week, as when it first appeared. I've also been posting videos of primetime TV shows at the exact time when they first aired, 50 years ago (Eastern Standard Time).

Yes, I understand this is nuts. But it's interesting to think that we can, in some ways, replicate the past now that nearly everything is online. Getting the timing right has been tricky, but I'm relying on various books and websites to help. And I'm fudging a little bit, too, here and there. It's not like I'm obsessed or anything.

Anyway, it's been fun and educational. I hope it is for you, too. Along with a focus on movies, music, comics, books and TV, there also will be lots of vintage and other imagery from that seminal year. If you like PCS, I think you'll like Pop '66, too. At the very least, you can look at it and speculate whether I'll be completely bonkers by the end of this year.

My other blog, The Glass Onion Beatles Journal, is still running strong, too.



Review: Star Wars, of course

Like the rest of the world, I saw "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" over the holidays. My snide remark coming out was that it was "a remake of the first Star Wars film, but with better acting." In talking with family and friends, that assessment has pretty much held. But at the same time, I, and many I've visited with, really liked it.

It's my sense, and the sense of other first generation fans I've been talking to, that the script was so committed to replicating the spirit of the original trilogy that it ended up using the first film's plot:  Rebels blow up planet-sized weapon of mass destruction.

There are all sorts of other too-close parallels. In this new movie: Rey is Luke, the novice Jedi from a desert planet. Han Solo is Ben Kenobi, her protector and mentor. Poe is Han. Kylo Ren is Darth Vader. Maz Kanata is Yoda. Snoke is the Emperor. And BB-8 is R2D2. And the acting is considerably better.

But, even so, it was a blast. I left leaving the theater feeling happy and despite. And this is despite bowing to my kids' desire to see it in Imax and in 3-D, two gimmicks bound to make a movie worse.

The new characters, and the actors who played them, were my favorite thing about "The Force Awakens." Daisy Ridley as Rey and John Boyega as Finn were fresh, energetic and charismatic. I want to see a lot more of both characters and suspect that I will. And now that we've all paid homage to original movie, maybe they can do something new next time around.


Review: Overlooked little brother

I'm all for Carl Wilson getting his due. Not only did he sing that glorious lead vocal on "God Only Knows," he also helped guide the Beach Boys through several great LPs during Brother Brian's post-Smile incapacitation.

And, as Kent Crowley's "Long Promised Road: Carl Wilson, Soul of the Beach Boys" details, Carl did a lot of other stuff, besides.

Crowley's aim is to give Carl his full due, and he discusses how it was the youngest Wilson's early interest in electric guitar that helped move Brian from piano and Four Freshman-focused ballads into guitar-driven rock'n'roll. After Brian quit touring, it was also Carl who took over as the Beach Boys' de facto leader and musical director on the road.

There are plenty of quotes from associated and past touring band members who offer nothing but praise of Carl's musical abilities, singing and all-around nice guyness.

My only critique of the book is a lack of focus. Rather than zero in on Carl, Crowley charts the entire history of the Beach Boys. He tends to downplay Brian's influence in an effort to play up Carl's but also gets distracted by other developments in the music of the times and often spends several pages without mentioning any Wilsons at all, not even Dennis.

Crowley might've come closer to his goal had he started by focusing in on those post-Smile albums and the enormous pressure placed on Carl to take the lead when Brian so obviously couldn't - and then flashback to show how all of this came about.

That said, the book serves a valuable purpose by giving this great musician a little more of the attention he deserves.



Daredevil season 2 trailer


Pop Artifact: Captain America Super-Flex toy


Upcoming Marvel Comics collections: Machine Man, Master of Kung Fu, Squadron Supreme and more

Click the links to pre-order discounted items from Amazon.


Machine Man by Kirby & Ditko: The Complete Collection
A military machine with a soul, a thinking computer in the form of a man, X-51 is the Machine Man! Abel Stack gave a government-created robot a human face, nurturing the man inside the machine and calling him son. But Stack's death left that son, Aaron, alone and running for his life. The military wants to strip him apart, mankind doesn't understand him - but in exploits crafted by two of the medium's greatest talents, he'll still redefine humanity. Few comic books were lucky enough to be graced by the work of Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko.
COLLECTING: MACHINE MAN (1978) 1-19; INCREDIBLE HULK (1968) 235-237

Thor Epic Collection: Runequest
Thor confronts a menagerie of foes, from Storm Giants and the Crusader to Graviton and the Lord of Darkness himself, Dracula! The battle for Asgard -the battle for life itself - is set when Loki and the war-god Tyr steal the Golden Apples of Immortality and unleash the Midgard Serpent. Thor, Sif and the Warriors Three must face a world-destroying menace and prevail...or age and die like mortal men!
COLLECTING: VOL. 12; THOR (1966) 320-336, ANNUAL (1966) 11; BIZARRE ADVENTURES (1981) 32

Spider-Man by Todd McFarlane Omnibus
Todd McFarlane became a superstar illustrating the Amazing Spider-Man, but he changed the industry forever with his next project: the "adjectiveless" solo title SPIDER-MAN! Taking on both writing and art duties, McFarlane ushered Peter Parker into a gritty new era - and it began with Torment! When blood washes the Big Apple's streets, the webslinger heads into the sewers to stop the homicidal rampage of the Lizard. But what is driving his old friend and foe? Plus, in the ultimate Nineties team-up, Spidey joins X-Force to battle the unstoppable Juggernaut!
COLLECTING: SPIDER-MAN (1990) 1-14, 16; X-FORCE (1991) 4 SPIDER-MAN/DEADPOOL 1-6

Daredevil Epic Collection: The Man Without Fear
Born to a past-his-prime prizefighter, Matt Murdock's luck always ran a step behind his good intentions. When a daring act to save a man's life blinds young Murdock, he finds that the same accident has enhanced his remaining senses to superhuman levels! He becomes Daredevil, a gritty hero born from murder but tempered with the desire to protect the downtrodden.
COLLECTING: VOL. 1; DAREDEVIL (1964) 1-21

Avengers by John Byrne Omnibus
Earth's Mightiest Heroes by one of comics' biggest names! John Byrne transforms the West Coast Avengers, as the dismantling of the Vision sets the android's bewitching wife Wanda down a path that is far darker than scarlet! On the East Coast, Byrne steers the Avengers through attack by the Lava Men and into the Negative Zone in search of the Eternals! Then along comes a spider as a friendly neighborhood wallcrawler joins the Assemblers on a journey to the stars!
COLLECTING: WEST COAST AVENGERS (1985) 42-46; AVENGERS WEST COAST 47-62, ANNUAL 4; AVENGERS (1963) 305-318, ANNUAL 18

Incredible Hulk Epic Collection: Man or Monster?
Dr. Robert Bruce Banner may look like a mild-mannered scientist, but after being caught in a gamma bomb explosion, he became the unstoppable engine of destruction known as the Hulk! Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's atomic update on the Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde paradigm mixed the might of giant monsters with Cold War intrigue and added a heavy dose of psychological drama. Decades later, it's a formula that still has readers clamoring for more!
COLLECTING: VOL. 1; INCREDIBLE HULK (1962) 1-6; FANTASTIC FOUR (1961) 12, 25-26; AVENGERS (1963) 1-3, 5; AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1963) 14; TALES TO ASTONISH (1959) 59; JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY (1952) 112


Shang-Chi: Master of Kung-Fu Omnibus Vol. 1
One of the most groundbreaking Marvel Comics of all is collected for the first time! Born to be the world's most fearsome fighter, Shang-Chi's life takes a major turn when he discovers the truth about his father - the villainous Fu Manchu! So begins the epic story of the Master of Kung Fu! On a quest to end the reign of his pernicious patriarch, Shang-Chi pits his deadly hands and furious feet against incredible foes like Tiger-Claw, Razor-Fist, the mysterious Midnight - and even the macabre Man-Thing! But will his mastery of martial arts be enough in a throwdown with the Amazing Spider-Man?
Written by STEVE ENGLEHART, GERRY CONWAY, DOUG MOENCH, LEN WEIN & ROGER STERN
Penciled by JIM STARLIN, PAUL GULACY, AL MILGROM, KEITH POLLARD, JOHN BUSCEMA, SAL BUSCEMA, ROSS ANDRU & MORE
COLLECTING: SPECIAL MARVEL EDITION #15-16, MASTER OF KUNG FU (1974) #17-37, GIANT-SIZE MASTER OF KUNG FU #1-4, GIANT-SIZE SPIDER-MAN #2, and Material from IRON MAN ANNUAL #4

Squadron Supreme Classic Omnibus
Get the full story of Marvel's most superior superteam! They're the mightiest heroes of their dimension, but what happens when the Squadron Supreme encounter the Serpent Crown...and the Avengers? Then, in one of the most celebrated miniseries of all time, the Squadron expand their ranks - and take control of their United States in a bid to create utopia!
COLLECTING: AVENGERS 69-70, 85-86, 141-144, 147-149; THOR 280; DEFENDERS 112-114; SQUADRON SUPREME 1-12; CAPTAIN AMERICA 314; SQUADRON SUPREME: DEATH OF A UNIVERSE; QUASAR 13-16, 51-52; AVENGERS 5-6; AND MORE!

Stan Lee: Marvel Treasury Edition Slipcase
Face Front, True Believers, and treasure this super-sized celebration of the incredible career of Stan Lee! More than 70 years of stories, featuring dozens of Lee's beloved co-creations - including Spider-Man, Iron Man, the Hulk, the Avengers, Daredevil and Nick Fury - all in his signature, senses-shattering style! These astonishing tales of suspense, horror, fantasy, romance, comedy, cowboys, super heroics and more prove beyond doubt that Stan is "The Man!" Excelsior!
COLLECTING: INCREDIBLE HULK 1; AVENGERS 1, 15-16; X-MEN 4-5; SGT. FURY 8; FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL 2-3; DAREDEVIL 7, 47; CAPTAIN AMERICA 109; THOR 146-152, 179-181; AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 96-98, 365, 634-645; SAVAGE SHE-HULK 1; SILVER SURFER: PARABLE 1-2; CAPTAIN AMERICA COMICS 3, 16; AMAZING FANTASY 15; TALES TO ASTONISH 35; TALES OF SUSPENSE 39; STRANGE TALES 135; SILVER SURFER 3; AND MORE