Sci-fi Nostalgia | scyfilove

Shigeru Komatsuzaki science fiction images are breathtakingly exciting

xxnapoleonsolo

– July 6, 2010Posted in: Featured posts, Sci-fi Nostalgia, Sci-fi coolness

YOU may not have heard of Shigeru Komatsuzaki, but I bet you have seen his work.

The artist, who died in 2001, had his beautiful illustrations adorning endless books, magazines and model kit boxes.

He had a real affinity with the works of Gerry Anderson, as the images below show, but his other work was just as brilliant as the collection of images below show. Proper visionary stuff, with the added bonus of cool Japanese lettering.

For a full gallery, click here to visit Pink Tentacle. Kudos to them for bringing him to my attention.

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Tags: Gerry Anderson, science fiction artwork, Shigeru Komatsuzaki, Thunderbirds, UFO

Remembering Star Wars annual number one – scyfilove nostalgia

xxnapoleonsolo

– June 26, 2010Posted in: Featured posts, Sci-fi Nostalgia, Star Wars

A SPELL of tidying my house was not entirely wasted time this weekend, as I rediscovered a part of my childhood sitting on my son’s bookshelf – my copy of Star Wars Annual number one.

Published in 1978 (I was six) by a company called Brown & Watson and presented – for some reason – by the great Stan Lee, it is a comic book adaptation of the first film, give or take a few scenes and dialogue … erm polishes. (I don’t remember Han saying ‘hold on tight kiddies’ as the Falcon escaped from the Death Star)

There’s also a making of article and profiles of the stars, packed with information such as Mark Hamill making a film called Stingray after Star Wars (nope, me neither) and Harrison Ford being a name ‘that’s likely to crop up fairly frequently from now on.’

Anyway, here is a collection of images showing the front cover and some memorable artwork from the book. I think the x-wings one is my favourite. What about you?

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Tags: Comic book, Death Star, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, science fiction, Star Wars, Star Wars annual number one, Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

Happy 60th birthday Dan Dare – plus vote for who could be Dan Dare on TV

xxnapoleonsolo

– April 14, 2010Posted in: General Sci-Fi, Sci-fi Nostalgia

SIX decades ago today, Britain’s hero of the spaceways Daniel Macgregor Dare was born on the pages of Eagle comic.

But the victor of a thousand battles against the dastardly Mekon could have been a flying padre instead of an interstellar pilot.

That was the initial idea of Southport vicar The Reverend Marcus Morris back in 1950, before science fiction took over and allowed recently qualified artist Frank Hampson to draw what quickly became a legend, as well as massively influential on British science fiction from that point on.

I am not overly familiar with Dare, only reading a few Eagles when I was young, so for the full story on the great man, click here to read an article in the Liverpool Daily Post by Mark Gorton (who also made a great film about Dan too, narrated by Tom Baker).

If you’re in the Southport area, there is also an exhibition of Dan Dare memorabilia at Southport College.

Finally, given the success of Doctor Who, how about a Dan Dare TV show – but who would play Dan? Vote on my suggestions or add your own.