Pop Focus: 40 years of "Jaws"

"Jaws" scared the bejeezus out of everyone when it hit the screens in the summer of 1975. But it did more than that -- the film launched an era of summer blockbusters that was to include the "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones" series, "E.T." and every other seasonal hit right up to the present with Marvel's "Avengers" films.

"Jaws" had, and introduced, all the necessary elements of the mega-hit: An iconic poster (derived from the cover art of Peter Benchley's best-selling book); the soundtrack (by John Williams, naturally); the catch phrase ("we're going to need a bigger boat"), the parodies and the merchandise.

I had a "Jaws" t-shirt in 1975, when I was in the third grade and spent hours drawing sharks. But I didn't see the movie until several years later. I was too young and my parents, wisely, wouldn't take me, despite my pleas. I had to make do with my t-shirt and the Mad Magazine parody. I think I may have read the novel, too, but can't remember.

I had a chance to see "Jaws" again, for the first time, just recently on the big screen in our local community movie theater, and it was a blast.

The film holds up remarkably well. It's funny, swift-moving and genuinely scary, despite having taken on camp elements over the years. We know what's going to happen. We know the shark is a robot. Yet we still tense up and jump and we still laugh at Robert Shaw's over-the-topic antics as Quint, and are sad to see him eaten.

So, here's a look back at the film, its marketing and mania. May it bring you back to the summer of '75, as well.







































Comic Book Art: Jack Kirby Fantastic Four cartoon series "Blastaar the Living Bomb Burst" storyboards 1978

Via Heritage Auctions:






Pop Culture Roundup: Steve Ditko; Bugs Bunny and Scooby Doo; Herbie meets the Beetles

An 8-year-old comics fan who sent a letter to legendary Spider-Man co-creator received a reply from the reclusive artist.

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New series featuring Bugs Bunny and Scooby-Doo are set for the revitalized Boomerang channel.
“Be Cool Scooby-Doo,” featuring the classic Mystery Inc. lineup, will premiere later his year, along with “Wabbit — A Looney Toons Production.” 
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Via Slay, Monstrobot: Herbie meets "The Beetles."


Fab Friday: Vintage Beatles pics

See more fab posts at the Glass Onion Beatles Journal.







Coming Up: "Tintin: Herge's Masterpiece"

Out Sept. 29, 2015.

The definitive monograph on the art of Tintin. Since he first appeared in Hergé’s weekly cartoon strip in Le Petit Vingtième in Brussels in 1929, Tintin has become one of the most celebrated characters in the comic world. With more than 200 million copies of the famous twenty-four “albums” sold worldwide, Hergé’s iconic hero has exploded genres and expectations, bringing readers of all ages to his stories for their unique mixture of artistry, history, and adventure. 
Drawing on the archives of the Hergé Museum in Brussels, this book looks at the evolution of Hergé’s artwork, from the simplicity of the early newspaper strips to the sophisticated graphic work of the later books. An avid art collector, Hergé was inspired by Old Masters but infatuated with graphic design and modern art, from the Constructivist work he studied in his youth to the Lichtensteins and Mirós he would travel to see in his maturity.  
Written by the Belgian art critic Pierre Sterckx—and translated by the British expert on Tintin, Michael Farr—this is the definitive book on the art of Tintin. With rarely seen pencil sketches, character drawings, and watercolors alongside original artwork from the finished stories, the book illuminates Tintin’s progress from whimsical caricature to profound icon and reveals Hergé’s parallel development from cartoonist to artist.

Coming Up: "King of the Comics: One Hundred Years of King Features Syndicate"

Out Oct. 29, 2015
Krazy Kat! Popeye! Flash Gordon! Beetle Bailey! Blondie! Prince Valiant! Hagar the Horrible! Barney Google and Snuffy Smith! Baby Blues! Mutt & Jeff! Zits! Juliet Jones! Buz Sawyer! Steve Canyon! Bizarro! Hi & Lois! Maggie & Jiggs! Johnny Hazard! There are simply too many to list because King Features has had a more illustrious and long-lasting history than any newspaper syndicate, even as it continues to lead the way into the digital age and beyond. This book is a centennial birthday bash hosted by Dean Mullaney, Bruce Canwell, and Brian Walker, with contributions by Brendan Burford, Lucy Shelton Caswell, Jared Gardner, Ron Goulart, Jeffrey Lindenblatt, Carl Linich, Paul Tumey, and Germund von Wowern. More than just comics, it's a celebration of the profound impact that King Features has had on popular culture!
 

New Entertainment Weekly cover features Batman V. Superman (plus Wonder Woman)




Vintage pic: King Kong


Rolling Stones' Sticky Fingers live performance on iTunes

From the press release:

A special, one-off concert by the Rolling Stones last month, performing their classic album Sticky Fingers live at the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles, is now available on Apple Music for a limited period. 
The Rolling Stones kicked off their US Zip Code tour this summer with a special performance of Sticky Fingers, in its entirety at the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles. Sticky Fingers Live is now available to download on iTunes and features the band – Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts – performing to a packed, intimate 1,200 capacity audience.
Opening with 'Sway', before ripping through incredible performances of 'Dead Flowers', 'Wild Horses', 'Sister Morphine', 'You Gotta Move', 'Bitch' and 'Brown Sugar', the one-off concert was dubbed the hottest ticket of the year and also featured the Stones regular band of back-up musicians Lisa Fischer (Vocals), Bernard Fowler (Vocals), Darryl Jones (Bass) and Chuck Leavell (Keyboards). This concert marked the first time the band performed Sticky Fingers in its entirety.
Sticky Fingers Live has been mixed by the Award-winning Producer Bob Clearmountain. 
STICKY FINGERS LIVE - TRACK LISTING: 
  1. Sway
  2. Dead Flowers
  3. Wild Horses
  4. Sister Morphine
  5. You Gotta Move
  6. Bitch
  7. Can't You Hear Me Knocking 
  8. I Got The Blues
  9. Moonlight Mile
  10. Brown Sugar 
STICKY FINGERS LIVE IS AVAILABLE TO STREAM AT APPLE MUSIC AND TO DOWNLOAD ON iTUNES

Vintage Justice League of America tattoo gum