Month: December 2012 (Page 2 of 3)

The view from our balcony.

So last week I went on a bit of a vacation, a rare occurance. My Melanie and I made our way to Snowshoe Mountain Resort for a couple of nights of not skiing. We did enjoy the sights and sounds of the moun-tains. And I decided to bring you a dozen digital paintings based on my impressions of my first visit to that part of our state.  Since there are so many images, don’t bother clicking them to enlarge. They’re stuck at one size.

Another reason for these images being here today is that I was tied up finishing Radio Free Charleston 176, which you will see later Monday, and didn’t make it to Dr. Sketchy’s last night . RFC 176 is our big Christmas show, and Wednesday we’ll have the final installment of our PopCult Gift Guide, but for now, check out my vacation paiintings.

The Village. Cue Prisoner jokes…

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The PopCulteer
December 14, 2012 

You didn’t think I was gonna skip the good Captain in my gift guide, did you?

Longtime readers of PopCult know that I’m a huge fan of the 1960s classic action figure, Captain Action. His gimmick was, that with costumes and rubber masks (each sold separately), he could turn into other heroes, like Superman, spider-man, Batman, Captain America and more.

Earlier this year I raved about a new revival of the Captain from Round 2 Corp. and Forever Fun, with an all-new head and body sculpt, and a license to produce outfits based on Silver Age Marvel Comics characters.

A new batch of Captain Action products has hit stores just in time for Christmas, and we’re going to rip into these presents early to tell you about them.

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Tody we take note of two non-Hatfields & McCoys books from Woodland Press.

Hills of Fire
Bare-Knuckle Yarns of Appalachia
Editor Frank Larnerd
ISBN: 978-0-9852640-4-8

The rugged mountains of Appalachia have always been a place where a man, if he was tough enough, could carve out a place for himself. The land is bountiful and composed of vast forests, racing rivers, and dizzying peaks. The region is also known for its courageous victors, monstrous villains, and tales of incredible adventure.

When a dozen of today’s hottest authors get together for an Appalachian tribute to the great pulp writers of the past, they deliver up a volatile mix of unpredictable adventure. Square-jawed heroes, desperate outlaws, dangerous women, hellfire roadsters, and aliens from another world are ready to set the hills on fire!

Story contributors include: Thomas Pluck, Jesse Knifley, Jessie Grayson, Steve Rasnic Tem, Josh Reynolds, Amber Keller, Jason Stuart, Steve Vernon, Paula Stiles, Patrick MacAdoo, Michael Knost, and Jamie Lackey.

Fed From the Blade
Tales and Poems from the Mountains
Edited By Cat Pleska and Michael Knost
ISBN: 978-0-9852640-5-5

Woodland Press presents its latest anthology, Fed From the Blade: Tales and Poems from the Mountains.The submissions for this volume came from twenty-eight exceptional Mountain State writers and poets. The result is a delightful compilation of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. It truly represents the variety and diversity of our state’s writers. Despite the different genres being showcased in this collection, the editors have shaped a cohesive, flowing book.

The writings in this anthology possess the emotional response that resonates from our mountain attitude — so appropriate to the fabulous, toad-squashed, two-handled, frying-pan shaped state that is West Virginia.
Most of us appreciate good family stories, so enjoy the narratives of loss and reconnection, struggle and triumph. No matter the tale, we find ourselves reflected in these characters, all who were fed from the blade.

Both of these great books can be found at local bookstores, or you can order them directly from Woodland Press, where they’ve been offering special deals all week.

In the spirit of The Charleston Gazette’s “Shop Local” initiative, today we’re going to mention one dozen local businesses where you can find great Christmas gifts or purchase gift certificates so you can keep all that money in the community while slapping a smile upside the holiday face of your loved ones.

First up, we have Dutch Streetwear and Skate Shop, the transmogrified reincartnation of The Salvage Yard. At their new location on D Street in South Charleston, Dutch has expanded beyond their original Kar Kulture appearal, accessories, and jewelry scope and is now also a full service skateboard shop, even dabbling in vintage bicycles. Stop in for a unique gift or a cool looking gift certificate.

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A couple of weeks ago, Dunbar Lanes reopened and is planting its flag as the coolest bowling alley in the area. With a fully operational grill and ongoing renovations, Dunbar Lanes is a great way to socialize, keep fit, and have fun at the same time. Today, PopCult suggests the gift of bowling.

For New Year’s Eve, you can attend a special bowling bash. For $74.99 per lane, up to six people can bowl. That price includes shoes, soda, appetizers, popcorn, party favors, and a balloon drop at midnight. The grill will be open. It sounds like a great departure from the typical New Year’s Eve party. Reservations are required, and must be paid in full by December 26.

Or, if you want a gift that can be used anytime, Gift Certificates and t-shirts (as seen in RFC 175) can be purchased at the bowling alley and make a great Christmas gift. Dunbar Lanes is located at 1212 Ohio Avenue in Dunbar, just around the corner from the Dunbar Library. Call (304) 768-2191 for more information.

And just so we don’t play favorites, you can probably buy gift certificates for other area bowling alleys, too. We’ve just got Dunbar Lanes on the brain. Bowling is a great way to have some fun.

The most fun you can have in an alley

This year, interest was rekindled in the legendary feud between the Hatfields and McCoys with the History Channel miniseries. The Hatfield-McCoy feud was the reality TV of its day, captivating a nation with a fascination that has lasted over a hundred years. Today in the gift guide we’ll point you toward Woodland Press, the publishers of three books by homegrown authors who have chronicled the feud. These books can be found at most local bookstores.

The Devil’s Son: Cap Hatfield and the End of the Hatfield and McCoy Feud
by Anne Black Gray
ISBN: 978-0-9852640-0-0

This new book from Woodland Press breathes new life into the famous story of the fueding Hatfields and McCoys. Viewers of the mini-series think they know who the players were, why they fought, why they died, but they only know only the legend—now you can experience the real feud.

The Devil’s Son is a vast historical epic that breathes life into the individuals and families on either side of the Tug River. At the center of the tale is Cap Hatfield, son of Devil Anse, the seminal figure in the feud. While the battle rages, Cap wrestles with coming of age in the shadow of the Devil.

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So last Thursday afternoon I had some rare downtime. And I wasted it. I was going to take a nap, but I started doodling on the computer, and the next thing you know, I had thirty seconds of animation. Since I didn’t do a Sunday Evening Video last night, I’ll make up for it by showing you the clip, which grew out of the above artwork, which you can click to enlarge. Enjoy, and sorry about the music.

The PopCulteer
December 7, 2012 

I know I did graphic novels yesterday when we focused on Vertigo, but there’s more to the world of comics than moody immortals and muck-monsters. Today, we’re going to look at a wide variety of collected comic books and graphic novels. These can be ordered through almost any bookstore and some comic book shops, or you can find them at the usual online retailers. Whenever possible, we’ll provide a link so you can order directly from the publisher or creator.

Billy Tucci’s A Child Is Born
Apostle Arts (ISBN-13: 978-0983835240)

Billy Tucci is a comic book artist primarily known for his work on action series, such as his original creation “Shi,” the Samurai Babe and his work for DC Comics on “Sgt. Rock.” With this project, he decided to apply his artistic talents to a subject of great importance to him. Billy Tucci’s A Child Is Born is a beautifully illustrated re-telling of the story of the Nativity. It’s clear that this is a labor of love by a man expressing his deeply felt, sincere faith.

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The comics world was saddened this week to learn that Karen Berger, the most influential comic book editor of the past thirty years, will step down from DC Comics’ Vertigo imprint, which she created twenty years ago, next March. We’re sure that some other publisher will snap up the woman who oversaw some of the best-selling graphic novels in history, but in today’s gift guide we’re going to recommend some of incredible comic book and graphic novel series that she was instrumental in bringing to light. They do make great gifts.

These book can all be ordered quickly from local bookstores and comic book shops, or from the usual online retailers.

Sandman

Sandman: The Complete Series

Neil Gaiman’s definitive Vertigo title, a mainstay of the New York Times best-seller list, invented a new mythology about the denizens of the supernatural plane, and their very human interactions with one another and with mere mortals. His unique style and vision could not have been executed without Berger pleading his case and convincing DC Comics that there was a market for intelligent graphic fantasy.

There are several ways you can purchase Gaiman’s epic run on Sandman. The entire series cn be found in a slipcased collection of softcover editions, which is probably the easiest way to read them, comfortably. This set has a list price of two-hundred bucks, but can be found heavily-discounted as cheap as $119.

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