Happy Birthday Jack Kirby!

Happy Birthday to the King of Comics! The best way to celebrate Jack Kirby’s birthday is to buy comics! There are currently facsimile edition, reprints that copy the style of the original comics, of Fantastic Four. This covers Fantastic Four #1, #4 the introduction of Sub-Mariner to the FF, #5 first appearance of Doctor Doom, and #48, “The Coming of Galactus!”There is also trade paperbacks, omnibus’, and maybe find that rare back issue! Also, watch (again) Fantastic Four: First Steps! To understand how comic books, superhero comics, the work and its appeal, you have to understand Jack Kirby. His extreme poses and action exploding out of the panels are the language of superhero comic books today. 

Jack Kirby’s U.S. Army uniform, Jack Kirby: Heroes and Humanity, Skirball Cultural Center, author’s photo. 

The King of Comics, started as an in-betweener at the Fleischer Studios working in animation. Then, he started work at the Eisner & Iger studio creating artwork working in many genres for Wild Boy Magazine. Kirby moved to Fox Feature Syndicate working with writer Joe Simon on the Blue Beetle comic strip. The duo worked together on Captain Marvel Adventures #1 (1941) for Fawcett Comics. They joined Timely Comics, which later became Marvel Comics, and created Captain America Comics #1 (1941). It sold out and became an iconic character for Timely/Marvel. Captain America was the subject of a movie serial in 1944, some movies in 1979 and  a film in 1990. 

Cap entered the MCU played by Chris Evans in Captain America: The First Avenger (2011).The Simon and Kirby duo created romance comics with Young Romance #1 (1947). Kirby then worked for DC creating the Challengers of the Unknown, a quartet of explorers who survive a jet crash to investigate strange dangers in Showcase #6 (1957). In Challengers of the Unknown #3 (1958), written and drawn by Kirby, the group gets super powers including projecting flame and invisibility. He worked with Stan Lee introducing monsters like Groot in Tales to Astonish #13 (1960). The tree-creature was featured in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 (2023). What launched the Marvel Age of Comics in the Silver Age was Fantastic Four #1 (1961). Jack Kirby and Stan Lee even cameo trying to crash the wedding of Sue Storm and Reed Richards in Fantastic Four Annual #3 (1965)! 

Last year, Fantastic Four: First Steps, opened in theaters. It featured Marvel’s First Family, Silver Surfer, and Galactus besides many other cameos! The film is a love letter to Jack Kirby and his work. The creative duo turned a monster into a hero with The Incredible Hulk #1 (1962) who was in the She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022) series. Then, Thor first appeared in Journey into Mystery #83 (1962). The God of Thunder's latest solo film is Thor: Love and Thunder (2022). Lee and Kirby co-created Ant-Man in Tales to Astonish #35 (1962) with Larry Leiber. Also, the Wasp in Tales to Astonish #44 (1963) with Ernie Hart. Their latest film is Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023). Next, the team co-created Iron Man in Tales of Suspense #39 (1963). 2008's Iron Man started the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

Lee and Kirby brought the heroes together in The Avengers #1 (1963). The blockbuster, Avengers: Endgame, featured the characters, and this year will have Avengers: Doomsday! They also created Black Panther in Fantastic Four #52 (1966).  The character was featured in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022). The Lee and Kirby duo created the X-Men and villain Magneto in X-Men #1 (1963). Professor Xavier, leader of the X-Men, had a cameo in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. When Kirby went to DC Comics, he created the Fourth World drawing and writing New Gods #1 (1971) and also their nemesis Darkseid, who Kirby introduced in Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #134 (1970). Darkseid appeared in Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021).

Jack Kirby returned to Marvel and wrote and drew Captain America with issue #193 (1976). He also crafted Captain America #200 (1976) which was the also Bicentennial of America! Kirby created The Eternals in The Eternals #1 (1976). Their film was out in 2021. Kirby worked in animation reuniting with Stan Lee on The New Fantastic Four (1978) series. One of the most clever comics Kirby wrote and illustrated What If? #11 (1978) which had Stan Lee as Mr. Fantastic, Flo Steinberg as Invisible Girl, Sol Brodsky as Human Torch, and the character that was mirror to Kirby, The Thing. 

Kirby had some creative titles with Pacific Comics starting with Captain Victory and the Galactic Rangers #1 (1981). The work of Kirby is found in issues of Jack Kirby Quarterly. Jack Kirby was pioneering in comic books, animation, he created film concept art that was used by the CIA seen in Argo (2012). On May 11th, the block of Essex Street renamed a corner Yancy Stree/Jack Kirby Way. Yancy Street was the home of Ben Grimm, The Thing! A plaque dedicated to Jack Kirby was dedicated today at Avengers Campus, Disney's California Adventure. He died in 1994, but his legacy will always be remembered by fans and audience members who love comic books on the screen, his art in museums, street corners, and theme parks! Happy Birthday Jack Kirby! 

#JackKirby, #JoeSimon, #CaptainMarvelAdventures, #CaptainAmericaComics, #CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger, #YoungRomance, #ChallengersOfTheUnknown, #Groot, #TalesToAstonish 

#GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol3, #FantasticFour, #FantasticFourFirstSteps, #DoctorStrangeInTheMultiverseOfMadness, #IncredibleHulk, #SheHulkAttorneyAtLaw, #Thor, #JourneyIntoMystery, #ThorLoveAndThunder, #AntMan, #Wasp 

#AntManAndTheWaspQuantumania, #TalesOfSuspense, #TheAvengers, #AvengersEndgame, #BlackPantherWakandaForever, #XMen, #FourthWorld, #NewGods, #Darkseid, #SupermansPalJimmyOlsen, #TheEternals, #TheNewFantasticFour, #WhatIf, #CaptainVictoryAndTheGalacticRangers, #JackKirbyQuarterly, #YancyStreet, #JackKirbyWay, #AvengersCampus, #DisneysCaliforniaAdventure. 

Propstore Petersen Auction Preview!

 Day 1 of the Propstore Petersen Auction is today, but last night was the preview. Check out their awesome auction items at: https://propstore.com/. The auction house for memorabilia was founded in 1988. The auction is a four day event from August 26 to the 29th. The tickets were free and the event took place at the Petersen Automotive Museum. I had looked around the museum in 2021 for 'Bond in Motion', an impressive exhibit and museum, https://geektruth.blogspot.com/2021/10/bond-in-motion-at-petersen-automotive.html. 

This event took place at the penthouse which had a fantastic view of the surrounding hills, city, and also the Academy Museum next door. Exiting the elevator, there was the costume of Black Adam (2022). Past the sign-in table, on a shelf was the “Cast-Autographed Ibanez Artcore AS73 Guitar from Back to the Future (1985). It’s estimate was $5,000-10,000! It actually felt like the memorabilia that I saw at Celebrity Authentics at CityWalk which also had a cast signed guitar, but likely not screen used. I saw a few Planet Hollywood items. These items were not listed in the Entertainment and Memorabilia Live Auction catalog so may be part of the regular Propstore auctions.

Mighty Joe Young stop-motion puppet, Propstore Petersen Auction Preview, author’s photo. 

Against a Propstore background was a photo op with the “Life-Size Light-Up Sideshow Collectibles Iron Man Mark III Figure Replica.” A short summary about the item in on the placard. Inside was the screen used “Light-Up Iron Man Mark 46 Upper Body Armor” from Captain America: Civil War (2016). Next to it was Brandon’s Routh’s complete Superman costume from Superman Returns (2006). There are details on the placard of the item itself including, “a blue texturized one-piece milliskin jumpsuit.” 

Next to it was Christopher Reeve’s “Screen and Photo-Matched Tunic and Replica Boots” from Superman III (1983)/Superman IV: The Quest For Peace (1987). Another iconic character, Spock, with a season three costume from Star Trek: The Original Series. Like a few costumes, this one is missing boots so it looks like Spock is on duty barefoot! A prop of the "Midgrade" Starfleet Type-2 Phaser was also on display. Next to it must be the highlight of this collection, the stop-motion puppet from Mighty Joe Young (1949). 

It has most of the "original latex skin and fur covering", plus the armature is still there discovered by X-ray scans! it is really the expression of Mighty Joe Young's face that gives it life, almost a sadness, like stop bothering me, I saw something like this with a gorilla at the National Zoo where school kids were banging on the window. I hope this piece of cinema history ends up in a public museum like the Academy Museum. Lot 190 was the "Screen-Matched Opening Scene Mosquito in Amber Fossil" from Jurassic Park (1993). The first time this prop was at a public auction. There was also next to the prop, a Dinosaur Handler Costume from the same movie. From Saturday Night Fever (1977) was the White Dancing Suit worn by John Travolta. 

Leeloo’s Multi-Pass prop from The Fifth Element (1997), photo by the author. 

Standing at the corner was the Frank the Rabbit suit from Donnie Darko (2001). So a note about the auction items, the room could only contain so many costumes and prop item so some are featured in the catalog. The Donnie Darko costume is bizarre, but nothing like the freaky Cat in the Hat costume from Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat (2003). There were two glass cases, continuing from the far side of the room and one in the middle. So the far side cabinet had a number of items including the Batarang from The Batman (2022), a highlight must be "Screen-Matched Light-Up Multi Pass" from The Fifth Element (1997) used by Leeloo (Milla Jovovich), and really liked the headdress and the amethyst-like necklace worn by Meg Foster in Masters of the Universe (1987). 

The catalog also listed Michael Keaton's Batsuit from Batman Returns (1992) and Val Kilmer's Complete Sonar Batsuit from Batman Forever (1995). At the top shelf of the cabinet was the Sankara Stone prop from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984). Also a Xenomorph Warrior Head from Aliens (1986). Mid-shelf, also from the Planet Hollywood Collection was "State Prison Mugshot Slate" used by Laudnry Leonard in The Shwshank Redemption (1994). Plus the Monster Book of Monsters from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) and the Golden Snith prop from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001). At the end was a Joe Johnston Death Star storyboard from "Vader's P.O.V" of an X-Wing from Star Wars (1977). On the bottom shelf, I couldn't see the plaque well, but it had "Framed Set of Six Tarot Cards" used by Solitaire (Jane Seymour) in the James Bond film, Live and Let Die (1973). 

From the far wall cabinet, there was Blade Runner (1982) poster concept artwork by John Alvin. Also, a flight suit worn by Tom Cruise in a promotional photo for Top Gun (1986). Another costume was the screen used Nostromo jacket worn by Tom Skerritt in Alien (1979), A photo of the back of the jacket with Nostromo was in the catalog. I was impressed by the prop of the bow used by Robin Hood (Cary Elwes) in Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993), "Tight! tights!" Behind it was the room to video the auction. I also liked seeing the vest of The Kurgan (Clancy Brown) from Highlander (1986).One of the sci fi films, pre-Star Wars was Silent Running (1972) which featured Bruce Dern's astronaut, Freeman Lowell. His jump suit was displayed for auction. Another favorite costume, the "Waistcoat and Poet Shirt with Brooch" worn by Sarah (Jennifer Connelly) in Labyrinth (1986). 

Lone Ranger Hat worn by Clayton Moore at personal appearances, author’s photo.

There were so many highlights including from the Val Kilmer Collection, Doc Holliday's Inverness Coat from Tombstone (1993). Lot 304 was the boxing shorts of Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) from Rocky II 1979). A costume from Predator (1987) had Arnold Scharzenegger's vest, shirt, and belt. Wait!, his character's name was Alan "Dutch" Schaefer? Costumes from Pulp Fiction (1994) included Uma Thurman's white shirt and black pants, and the Interrogation Suit worn by Samuel L. Jackson. 

There was a large painted cover by Drew Struzan of Indiana Jones and the Sky Pirates (1993). At another cabinet was the Lament Configuration Box from Hellraiser (1987). In a box was the "Promotional Mechanical Dragon Eggs" from Game of Thrones. On the upper shelf was teh headband worn by Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) in Karate Kid (1984). I also liked on the bottom shelf the animatronic puppet of Billina the Chicken from Return to Oz (1985). 

The center cabinet had from the Dick Smith Collection, his Personal Makeup Kit, he is a makeup legend. Next to it was the "Miniature Bronze Bust" of Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) from The Godfather (1972). Yet another highlight for me was the "Personal Appearance Lone Ranger Costume Hat" worn by Clayton Moore. This is from the Dawn Moore Collection and she was a special guest of the auction. 

I was able to talk to her about one of my favorite, all time heroes, the Lone Ranger. She mentioned that she has the original silver bullets from her father's holster! You can find her personal Instagram page about marketing and going around California at: mooreabout. Next to the hat was the "Distressed Wilson Volleyball" from Cast Away (2000). Then on the other side of the cabinet was the "Hero Morlock Mask" from The Time Machine (1960). The Morlock has a shaggy wig, but again the face sculpt, he has sad eyes, almost distorted wrinkles like the masks of the Twilight Zone episode with the masks, they look strange, but sad.  It was also displayed with the Stunt Axe used by Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) in The Shining (1960). 

The Inverness Coat worn by Doc Holliday (Val Kilmer) in Tombstone (1993), photo by the author. 

Below it was the "SFX Bloodletting Knife" used by Wendy Torrance (Shelley Duvall) also from that film. In the display case with the Mask of Loki worn by Stanley Ipkiss (Jim Carrey) in The Mask (1994). A gruesome prop was "Early Palmer-Thing Face-Splitting Mask" from The Thing (1982). There was a damaged Terminator replica from Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991) and also the "Light-Up T-800 Endoskeleton Skull" from the attraction T2-3D: Battle Across Time (1996).  

I consider the last film of the trilogy since it involved Jim Cameron, Stan Winston, and the leads from Terminator 2. Plus, a cybernetic T-888 arm from Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. The "Wooden SFX Hoverboard" prop used by Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) from Back to the Future Part II (1989)/Back to the Future Part III (1990). Another BttF prop was OUATIME license plate from Back to the Future (1985). In the catalog, there was the prop Bracelets of Submission worn by Wonder Woman (Lynda Carter) in the first season of Wonder Woman. The Propstore Petersen Auction has an extensive collection of costumes and props from classic cinema to favorite films and tv shows!  

#PropstorePetersenAucionPreview, #Propstore, #PetersenAutomotiveMuseum, #BlackAdam, #BackToTheFuture, #PlanetHollywood, #CaptainAmericaCivilWar, #SupermanReturns, #BrandonRouth, #SupermanIII, ##SupermanIVTheQuestForPeace, 

#BladeRunner, #JohnAlvin, #TopGun, #TomCruise, #DickSmith, #TheGodfather, #MarlonBrando, #TheLoneRanger, #ClaytonMoore, #DwanMoore, #CastAway, #TheTimeMachine, #TheShining, #JackNicholson, #ShelleyDuvall, #TheMask, #jimCarrey, #TheThing, 

#Terminator2JudgementDay, #T23DBattleAcrossTime, #TerminatorTheSarahConnorChronicles, #BackToTheFuturePartII, #BackToTheFuturePartIII, #WonderWoman, #LyndaCarter  

The Chinese American Museum and Academy Museum!

Today was Free Museum Day and I spent the day at two museums! Free Museum Day is on the second Tuesday of every month. Please take advantage of going to great museumes like the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and the first Thursday at the Huntington Library! I highly recommend the Chinese American Museum and this is the first time (and not the last) that I’ve been to the museum! It is located at 425 North Los Angeles Street which is across from Union Station. The grand opening was on December 18, 2003. It is the historic Garnier Building, the oldest Chinese building in Southern California and the former part of Chinatown before it was moved. Check out: https://camla.org/. 

“Anna May Wong” by Rachel O’Donnell at the Chinese American Museum, author's photo.

It has a red brick courtyard and just turn to the left to open the door into a local treasure. I took the recommendation of taking the elevator to the second floor. This had the current exhibition, The Icon: Anna May Wong, it runs until August 30th so there is still time! I think I first realized Anna May Wong’s groundbreaking work from the PBS documentary series, Asian Americans, recommended! She is dubbed “The first Asian American Movie Star”, posters of her films are on the walls, including her crime film, Dangerous to Know (1938). I think she transcended the stereotypical roles. In Daughter of the Dragon (1931) that had the yellow face Fu Manchu, but also starred Sessue Hayakawa, Hollywood’s first sex symbol! 

We first see her, stunning, in her Princess Ling Moy outfit, and she says in perfect English, Wong was born in Los Angeles!, “Thank you Mr. Wentworth.” Then, lapses into broken English for wealthy guests. The films of Anna May Wong play on the side wall and the facing wall has a incredible painting of her by Rachel O’Donnell. There are also a cookbook and example of her writing. Her theatrical programs, 2009 stamp, and even Barbie doll! Movie actress, she starred in the first Asian television show, theater actress, fashion icon, writer, a phenomenon like the actress we will get to later. The museum had works of poetry and an art exhibition, Seasons in Cosmos: Works by Diana Shulu Wong. I highly recommend the museum for this art exhibit alone. I could see how Wong’s work had a touch Impressionism. 

Twelve Seasons Table by Diana Shulu Wong, photo by the author. 

I would stand back and just soak into the yellows of her summer painting and just let the images wash over me, several panels like snapshots of a season. Love the Twelve Seasons Table with the twelve months and twenty-four solar terms with the yin and yang symbol. I missed some of the first floor so I will definitely return. There was a firehouse next to the museum. Impressive engines and a photo of Blackie, the last fire horse (1902-1939). The Academy Museum was busy on Free Museum Day. More info, especially with The Horror Show exhibition that fills the entire fourth floor, stars on September 26th!, here: https://www.academymuseum.org/ The museum was busy, and one of the highlights was Studio Ghibli’s Ponyo. It began on February 14th of this year and runs to March 21st of next year. Again, this is reason enough to go and don’t wait until the last day, just go and have fun! 

I attended the Hayao Miyazki exhibit at the museum and at that time, no pictures were allowed, for Ponyo, please don’t take flash pictures. I asked and a museum worker told me that the artwork is in the collection of the museum. One of the text pieces, “Bringing The Movie to Life” explained the difference between hand-drawn to computer animation. Miyazaki said, hand-drawn art “gives the audience room for imagination.” Computer animation uses “perfectly uniform images.” There are numerous Studio Ghibli artists, “each displaying subtle differences” with Miyazki as director checking consistency with character and form. Disney returns to hand drawn animation with Gatto in 2027. I highly recommend Hayao Miyazaki’s book, Starting Point, 1979-1996 (2014) which goes from where do artists get their ideas and form them into stories and into a medium, in this case film.

Ponyo’s world, art board by Noboru Yoshida, Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, author’s photo. 

There are long art boards by Noboru Yoshida on display in what looks like submarine portals. Across from it is a big photo op and activity where you can slide Ponyo across the waves. In the next room was a video of voice actors and following that long revised key animation drawings, it’s great to see sketches, detailed characters, character action and the flow of the film in these drawings. In the middle is a Studio Ghibli animation drawing desk, this was the one thing that I wanted to take a pic of with the Hayao Miyazaki exhibit. Though that exhibit had some tiny goat statues around the desk. There was a photo of Miyazaki with a exploding word balloon, “Get rid of straight lines. Use gently warped lines that allow the possiblity of magic to exist, liberating us from the curse of perspective drawing. A world where even the horizon swells, dips, and sways.” At that room there are Japanese theatrical release posters for the movies. 

Plus, a green pipe photo op! Another section had several galleries including the Bong Joon Ho exhibit. In the Identiy section are make-up and costumes. Here’s the trick with the central display, The costumes are set on a short black platform. It set off alarms, beep beep beep, almost constantly! Guests have to stand about a foot away from the platform or set off the alarms. There is not rope cordoning off that area. The museum worker had to keep reminding visitors about being careful. The end of the platform was the costumes of Elphaba with her broom and the sparkly costume of Glinda from Wicked (2024). You have to see Glinda’s dress in person to see the sparkly. Against the wall was a glass display of costumes including the costume of Jean Hagen as Lina Lamont in Singin’ in the Rain (1952), a favorite musical. 

Marilyn Monroe’s White Subway Dress, Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon exhibit, photo by the author. 

On the third floor was another highlight, Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon. The exhibit started on May 31st and runs to February 28th next year. This exhibit is extensive with a hallway and five rooms. The hallway is filled with her movie posters. Many visitors point out things like experts, but there are close-up tours with museum experts. A hallway has displays of Marilyn’s dresses, on the right, her dress from her brief cameo in the Marx Brothers comedy, Love Happy (1949). On the other side, is Marilyn’s gold dress from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953). There were two side galleries, one for the white subway dress from The Seven Year Itch (1955) with the marketing of that image. 

There is also  Marilyn Monroe’s pink dress from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) which had design sketches and an unused costume after the release of her nude photos. The back wall has a hallway with her pin-up, personal, movie photos. Also, the calendars with her nude photos and Playboy magazine. The costume hallway also turns to a make-up display and then personal items like her 1942 University High School yearbook as Norma Jean Baker. The opposite wall has displays of her coats, hats, and dresses that she wore for appearances sometimes using the same outfit several times. Two Hollywood icons with Anna May Wong and Marilyn Monroe in one day! Free Museum Day allows visitors to experience many local museums. The Chinese American Museum had many artworks and history of L.A. and the Academy Museum's displays the best of movies with costumes and props! 

#FreeMuseumDay, #LosAngelesCountyMuseumOfArt, #HuntingtonLibrary, #ChineseAmericanMuseum, #GarnierBuilding. #TheIconAnnaMayWong, #DangerousToKnow, 3DaughterOfTheDragon, #RachelODonnell,#SeasonsInCosmosWorksByDianaShuluWong

#TwelveSeasonsTable, #AcademyMuseumOfMotionPictures, #StudioGhiblisPonyo, #HayaoMiyazaki, #NoboruYoshida, #BongJoonHo, #Wicked, #SinginInTheRain, #MarilynMonroeHollywoodIcon, #LoveHappy, #GentlemenPreferBlondes, #TheSevenYearItch

Six: The Musical Live! Review!

Six The Musical, the pop rock musical, ends in theaters tomorrow. The audience was not as big as Hadestown, but still about six moviegoers, six, ha! Anyway, it is about the SIX wives of Henry VIII, stepping out of history books and onto a pop stage. The story of Henry VIII has been seen in the historical series, The Tudors (2007-2010). A number of great actresses played the SIX with Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Henry VIII. There is also The Other Boleyn Girl (2008) adapting the Phillipa Gregory book. Natalie Portman played Anne Boleyn and her sister, Mary, was portrayed by Scarlett Johansson. Eric Bana played the king. 

There is a featurette before the film, it focuses on the creators, music, book, and lyrics by Toby Marlow, they/them actress for tv and some film, she filled in for a sick castmember in the role of Catherine Parr, and Lucy Moss who directed a London production of Legally Blonde The Musical. The SIX actresses are filmed talking about production at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2017 and also Hampton Court Palace, the home of Henry VIII. It premiered on the West End at the Arts Theatre in 2019. 

The 2019 Broadway production won two Tonys; one for Best Score for Moss and Marlow and Best Costume which went to Gabriella Slade. They are dressed in flashy outfits, part Vegas, part Spice Girls, and a hint of the English Renaissance. Oh, Kirsten Maldonado from Pentatonix just finished her Broadway run as Anne Boleyn. The West End cast are filmed for the movie. It is directed by Liz Clare who also directed Six: The Fully Animated Musical (2020). It basically a single stage, ringed tiers with the all female band, the Ladies in Waiting, at the top.

 There is rows of lights in the back like a pop stage, but no change of scenary. This is just the actresses singing for the entire show. The queens are introduced in the opening number, "Ex-Wives." with their signature phrases. There is Catherine of Aragon (Jarneia Richard-Noel), Divorced!, she probably has the most period-like outfit, black and gold, with a spiked crown. Anne Boleyn (Millie O'Connell), Beheaded!, a flashy, green dress made of patches with tiny buns held by spikes and a B necklace. Jane Seymour (Natalie Paris), Died!, she wears a dress that has black sleeves and skirt with a white mid-section. These are the wives I know about in history. 

Next, also Divorced!, Anna of Cleves (Alexia McIntosh), wearing a dress made of red and black bands and also black shorts. Her crown looks like a spiked headband. She is rejected because of her looks! Katherine Howard (Aimie Atkinson) is also Beheaded!, she has a black and pink outfit with a spiked band for her pink ponytail and a K necklace. Lastly, Survived!, is Catherine Parr (Maiya Quansah-Breed), half of her hair is parted by a spiked clip, she has a blue outfit with poofy sleeves and dark blue and black leggins. The color and style is good to separate the different queens. 

Catherine of Aragon starts off with her annulment to the king, living with another woman, puts up with his son from another woman, so she sings, "No Way." Anne Boleyn is sent from France and living with his wife, she's "Sorry, but not sorry' in the song, "Don't Lose Ur Head"! There are different song styles; a ballad by Jane Seymour about her love for Henry VIII and it switches to EDM with puffs and sunglasses in Germany with "House of Holbein" for Anna of Cloves. This is empowering for women and girls, great!, but really not for anyone else. 

The musical doesn't offer much insight into why Henry VIII moves to wife to wife except that he wants a royal heir and just isn't interested in one relationship. Also very little history, funny asides to the queens, but all of the history has to come in with the audience. Probably not for the musical, but I think a shadowy portrait of Henry VIII should hang in the back until the queens find their independence and take it down. There is a reprise of each queens' songs at the end. A pop concert, dancing and singing, it must be an exhausting show. I don't think of any song, but the intro will stay with me. Six The Musical Live! brings the power of the stage and singers to the big screen! 

Four Crowns out of Five! 

#SixTheMusicalLive, #LizClare, #TobyMarlow, #LucyMoss, #GabriellaSlade, #JarneiaRichardNoel, #MillieOConnell, #NatalieParis, #AlexiaMcIntosh, #AimieAtkinson, #MaiyaQuansahBreed, #LadiesInWaiting 

Marvel Snap Review!

The latest mobile game, Marvel Snap, is the latest, addictive card battle game! It debuted in October 18, 2022, developed by Second Dinner, and published by Skystone Games. You can download the game on your cellphone. There is a how to play start and then it gets into the twelve card deck. Each card has an Energy value, so it runs from 1 to 6 (it may be higher!). Your Energy is in a blue circle on the bottom of your screen. Energy goes up by 1 every turn. The other part of the card is Power. I haven’t seen many cards destroyed so just tough them out. There are three hexagon Locations that affect your cards. They are revealed one turn at a time. So you play the cards at the Locations depending on your Energy. 

There is up to four cards that can be played at a Location. You have a Cosmic Cube in ranked battles which is at the top of the screen. You can tap Snap to double the rankings. If the battle goes against you, there is Retreat which minimizes your cube loss. I’ve seen Players fight to the bitter end. Play goes until the Final Round, 6, with a possible Victory, winning at least 2 Locations, or Defeat. You can of course buy Season Passes which has exclusive cards, Boosters and Credits. Cards can be upgraded; Common, Uncommon, Rare (I think this is Animated), and Legendary (probably more). I think this is just a look to your cards and has no game effect. After the battle, there is the Collection Level, which gives you Credits, Boosters, and cards. 

So here we go, like Magic: The Gathering and other card games, build a strong deck. Don’t rely on powerful characters like The Thing 4 Energy, 7 Power, my favorite, or Hulk, the weakest since he costs so much 6 with 14 Power, and Odin is 6 Energy! I haven’t seen anyone win with Hulk, Odin has abilities that change up the battle, but too expensive. Instead, you need to take the Locations as fast as possible and then build up Power with cards. So instead you need to start small and here’s my favorite, Squirrel Girl! She has a 1 cost so first turn and a Power of 2, but her Reveal (the first time you play it) ability is to put a 1 Power Squirrel on every Location! The Central Park Location has the ability, “Add a Squirrel to each location.” Squirrel Power! 

Still, the Squirrels are weak at 1 Power, this is where another handy card comes into play. Ka-Zar is 4 Energy, 6 Power and his ability is give any 1-Cost cards +1 Power! Buff Squirrels! This is a great combo if the cards come out right. It was used against me and I lost! The other mainstay card in my deck is Punisher, 3 Energy, 3 Power, he gets +1 Power for every enemy in the Locaion. It looks like he sends out a rocket. I also like Nightcrawler,  1, 3, another first turn favorite, he can move to another Location once, Bamf! The last low cost card that I like is Misty Knight, 1/3 she’s good to have around since there are Locations that block high Power or cards with abilities. This means if a Location would destroy him, Kurt can Bamf! Away or reinforce another Location. 

Next a medium cost card, Medusa 2/2, if she is placed in a middle Location, she gets +3 Power, sometimes, I have to drop here elsewhere to reinforce a Location. A power card that I like is Iron Man, 5/0 with the ability of doubling total Power. So it is either Thing or Iron Man as my power hitters. The x-factor card that I really like, Morph, 3/0, he has the Reveal ability of becoming a copy of an opponent’s card, I had him copy Thing or even the Hulk. A medium cost, but could become a power card! I tried other cards and they just haven’t worked out. You don’t play your favorite heroes, you play the most strategic cards. Locations are tricky, some destroy cards after a certain turn, others give Power, and there are Locations that reduce Power. 

So you need to play cards in those tough Locations to hold it, the Squirrels are perfect there, I’ve also seen Rocks to lump in your deck, but again Ka-Zar powers up them into boulders! The trick is not to go all in on the first Location, drop a Squirrel Girl or other low cost hero, move your 1 Energy card to the other Locations if one is too risky. Nightcrawler is the best to Bamf! out of there. I've seen Players fight for one Location and miss out on the others. Castle Zemo is the worst, if you play a second card, it moves to the opponent’s side! I had a Star Lord, 2/2 there and he switched sides, but my opponent played a Punisher there so I took that Location! The variant covers for Marvel titles has the Marvel Snap Swimsuit variants. They are by inHyuk Lee. 

For action figures, there is a Marvel Legends 3-Pack, of Rogue, Sauron, and Shanna the She-Devil, $89.99. Expensive and I think sold-out. I like games you can pick up, the tutorial moves fast directing you to play cards. It is fun, addictive really, with most of the games Victories for me, one Retreat, and several Defeats. I noticed late night playing is not good, too many Players with cards that don't exist so they must have been bought or from Players since the beginning. I'm not a fan of Pay for Play, but haven't run into that roadblock yet, Players spending endless amounts to win games. I hope the game makes it to collective card games and/or as an arcade game like Marvel Contest of Champions. Marvel Snap offers some strategic, fun, and addictive game play on your cellphone!  

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