Month: March 2014 (Page 5 of 6)
Your very own Wanda Petunia to love…
Wanda Petunia and her friend, Beefy Parisian Pig.
© 2014 Amy Williams
PopCult Toybox fans may remember a few months ago when I told you about a crowdsourcing project to raise funds for a sewing collective to manufacture plush dolls based on Wanda Petunia, the porcine creation of Amy Williams.
Well, the project was successful, the collective has begun their work and the first plush Wanda Petunia dolls, hand-made, lovingly crafted by women who are being paid a fair wage, and cute as a button, are now available.
Wanda is being made in a “fair-trade” manner, where the workers are local and are not being exploited. Soon you will be able to find Wanda in stores in Charleston, Columbus, Louisville, Charlotte and New York, but right now you can order your very own Wanda Petunia plush doll directly from Amy’s website.
A PopCult Note:
The toy content here at PopCult will probably ramp up a bit over the next couple of weeks. Your faithful correspondent is heading to JoeLanta and The Great Atlanta Toy Convention this weekend. You can expect lots of video, photos, gushing and surprises as I try to cram as much of this weekend into this blog to share with you. If all goes according to plan, you will start seeing our coverage from Atlanta as early as Friday.
This Sunday, Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School marks three years in Charleston with a themed show based on Cowboy Bebop and starring The Laser Beams, Pepper Fandango, Cat Schrodinger and Leo Tuxedo. Above you see my take on the topic (click to enlarge), submitted early because I will not be able to attend. Since Dr. Sketchy’s is returning from a long winter’s recess, let’s remind you what exactly it is.
Artists of all skill levels are invited to draw, paint or photograph the models of Dr. Sketchy’s. This is life drawing for the masses, with the models calling the shots. This month’s session happens Sunday, March 16 at Uncork and Create (1031 Quarrier St across the street from the Quarrier Diner) in Charleston, WV. This is an eighteen and up event to which you may bring your own bottle, if you are of age, and also bring your own art supplies. Admission is $10 at the door. Artists of any skill level from the novice to the pro are invited to come create in this relaxed environment.
In honor of his recent work with Miley Cyrus, this week we’re going to look at a few hidden gems from the career of wildcat animator and creator of Ren & Stimpy, our pal, John Kricfalusi. Sit back and enjoy, but beware…some of the cartoons beyond the jump may not be safe for work.
First up is his psychotic take on The Jetsons.
How about a classic John K/Ralph Balshi episode of Mighty Mouse before the jump?
From March, 2009, Radio Free Charleston 63 is “Bauhaus Shirt.” This was yet another music-packed episode, featuring new tunes from Stephen Beckner, The Buttonflies, and returning for a second week in a row Tofujitsu. We also have a five-second appearance from WVU Mountaineer Football’s all-time leading scorer, Pat McAfee (before he played in the Super Bowl for the Indianapolis Colts) and by popular demand, the return of vintage beer commercial animation.
Host segments were shot in an undisclosed location in the hills surrounding Charleston. There are reports that this undisclosed location bears an uncanny resemblance to the deck behind Sean Richardson and Karen Allen’s house, but we are sworn to secrecy. Also, it was raining that day.
This episode picks up my major SNAFU from the previous week, where I ran the wrong song by Tofujitsu. This episode really does have “Clap On, Clap Off” in it, and we milked the situation for some humor. Original production notes are here.
The PopCulteer
March 7, 2014
Next week your PopCulteer is going on a big road trip, so this week we’re going to clear the decks and drop in a whole bunch of short, random items.
Joelanta
The main part of the aforementioned road trip sees us heading to Atlanta where for the second year in a row, I will be one of the many guests at the Joelanta convention, a gathering for fans of the original GI Joe, who turns fifty this year. I made a pretty big deal out of it last year, when I got to attend for the first time. New for 2014 is the simultaneous Great Atlanta Toy Convention, which will be happening at the same time and location March 15 & 16 at Marriott Century City right off Interstate 85 in Atlanta.
The PopCult Bookshelf
SHOWCASE PRESENTS:STRANGE ADVENTURES VOL 2
Original comics edited by Julius Schwartz. Written and drawn by various creators.
DC Comics
ISBN-13: 9781401238469
$19.99
This is the second volume of SHOWCASE PRESENTS: STRANGE ADVENTURES, and like its predecessor, it’s a treasure trove of late-1950s Science Fiction short comics, edited by Julie Schwartz and written and drawn by some of the top creators of the time.
Writers include veterans of the pulp sci-fi scene who became legends in the comic book world: Gardner Fox (Justice League of America, Batman); John Broome (The Flash, Green Lantern); Otto Binder (the original Captain Marvel, Superman); Edmond Hamilton (Legion of Superheroes). Artwork is provided by Schwartz’s stable of regulars, artists like Carmine Infantino (The Flash); Gil Kane (Green Lantern), Sid Greene, Jerry Grandenetti, and many others.
This week the RFC MINI SHOW brings you a group so new that we actually recorded them the first time they performed together in public. Lovejoy and The Killjoys is Chris Lovejoy on guitar and vocals, Matt Spade on mandolin and vocals and Stan Bumgardner playing fiddle. I just met Chris and Matt briefly at Third Eye Cabaret last week, while Stan has appeared on RFC in the past with Elektro Biscuit and The Poor Taters, but I haven’t had the chance to get to know him well yet.
Of course, Radio Free Charleston is all about making new friends and seeking out new music, and it doesn’t get much newer than Lovejoy amd The Killjoys. They had their second show last Saturday at Taylor Books (with Washboard Dave sitting in) and I would be surprised if they don’t become a fixture on the local scene. Their music is of Appalachia, with a ton of extra ingredients mixed in. We’ll keep you posted on their future appearances.
Next week get ready for another full length episode of Radio Free Charleston with music from Project Biscotti, Dina Hornbaker, Jordan Searles and some other fine folks, plus animation from Jake Fertig.
Super System Special Forces Figure
Corpsman
by Pattiz
Under $25
This week, we’re going to bring you a detailed review of the first new budget-sensitive twelve inch military figure offered up in some time. Last year, Cotswold Collectibles offered up six figures in a new line billed as Super System. Among the six figures were SWAT, ACU, ACU2, SDU, Corpsman, and Wounded Soldier. The nice thing about these figures is that they were not budget busters like Dragon or Hot Toys, but were priced a little over twenty dollars and were a good entry point for younger collectors.
I finally got my hands on one of these, the Corpsman, and can offer up my opinion.
We have a budding film industry of sorts here in West Virginia, and in the coming weeks you have four chances to throw some weight, money and support behind their efforts.
First up, we have director Eamon Hardiman and his Razor Sharp crew, who are almost finished with “Pig Girl,” their continuation of the Porkchop saga. They’re trying to raise funds for post production and expenses for touring the festival and convention circuit with it. To help finance these endeavors they are re-releasing a limited edition shirt from their epic thriller, “Zombie Babies.”
Comments