Fighting Fantasy Quest Pack (1984)

Fighting Fantasy Quest Pack (1984)

The FFQP was a handy companion for players of the role-playing Fighting Fantasy gamebooks developed by Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone in 1982, published by Puffin Books.

Masters of the Universe Calendar (1986)

MotU Calendar (1986)

Images from the MotU calendar for 1986, in association with Lay's potato chips. Why 1986? No reason other than it's the only one for which I have scans. Without further ado...

HeroQuest (1989)

Nothing I could say would be as good as The Bard of Bardic Broadcasts said it.

Check it out. (Link opens in a New Tab.)

ABANDONED POST: Masters of the Universe: Revelation (2021)

MotU: Revelation (2021)

Dirs. Adam Conarroe / Patrick Stannard | Episodes: 5, approx 25 mins each.

When the news broke that a new Masters of the Universe animated series was on the way, I was intrigued. When it emerged that it wasn't another 'fashionable' reboot, but a direct continuation of the original Filmation 1980s He-Man and the MotU television series, I was genuinely taken aback.

But then I learned it was a Netflix series being overseen by Kevin Smith, so I adjusted expectations accordingly; i.e., I feared the absolute worst. I've not liked Smith's film work and have mixed feelings about his comic work, which tends to be mostly drivel with one or two really great scenes in each issue, at best.

Even though Smith didn't write all of the episodes alone, the new MotU is much the same - mostly drivel with a single great scene in each one. And like the previous Netflix animated series that I watched, Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045, it's only half a story.

ABANDONED POST: The Sandman (2022)

The Sandman (2022)

Dirs. Various | 10 episodes, approx 45 mins each + 01 'bonus' episode [1]

I've often thought that if Sandman were to be adapted for the screen, then it'd work best as animation; having now watched the live action version, my feelings on that haven't changed.

All responses to the series that I've read thus far have been positive and complimentary. That isn't surprising, in today's world, but I felt it was almost as shit as every other Netflix Original Series that I've tried to watch over the years.

I've covered the original TPBs briefly on The 7th and Last. A number of significant changes and additions were made in the live action series, but generally it adapts the first two TPBs, namely Volume I: Preludes and Nocturnes (1991) and Volume II: The Doll's House (1991).

Of course, if reading doesn't appeal to you and you enjoy (or can tolerate) modern filmmaking techniques, then maybe you'll feel differently. I certainly seem to be in the minority this time.

Textless Film Posters: Part Three

Textless Film Posters: Part One

Masters of the Universe: Golden Books: Soft Covers (1983-86)

MotU: Golden Books: Super Adventure Book
Soft Cover Editions (1983-86)

Author(s): Various | Illustrator(s): various | Page Count: ???

Most of what I know about the Masters of the Universe: Golden Books publications was learned from a Vaults of Grayskull page, which is also where the majority of the images used in this post were obtained, so all credit to the folks there for what's presented here. If seeing the covers collected on a blog is of interest to you, too, then proceed below the cut:

Masters of the Universe: Minicomic Covers: TNA of He-Man (1989)

Masters of the Universe: Minicomic Covers:

The New Adventures of He-Man (1989)

Masters of the Universe: Minicomic Covers: She-Ra (1984-86)

Masters of the Universe: Minicomic Covers:

She-Ra: Princess of Power (1984-86)

Masters of the Universe: Minicomic Covers Series Six (1987)

Masters of the Universe: Minicomic Covers:

He-Man Series Six (1987)

Masters of the Universe: Minicomic Covers Series Five (1986)

Masters of the Universe: Minicomic Covers:

He-Man Series Five (1986)

Masters of the Universe: Minicomic Covers Series Four (1985)

Masters of the Universe: Minicomic Covers:

He-Man Series Four (1985)

Masters of the Universe: Minicomic Covers Series Three (1984)

Masters of the Universe: Minicomic Covers:

He-Man Series Three (1984)

Masters of the Universe: Minicomic Covers Series Two (1983)

Masters of the Universe: Minicomic Covers:

He-Man Series Two (1983)

Masters of the Universe: Minicomic Covers Series One (1982)

Masters of the Universe: Minicomic Covers:
He-Man Series One (1982)

The Unwritten: Collected Covers (2010-15)

The Unwritten: Collected Covers (2010-15)

Related to the The Unwritten posts on The 7th and Last.

The Unwritten was a comic book series created by British author Mike Carey and American artist Peter Gross. It ran for 71 issues in total, with an additional standalone comic book prequel titled Tommy Taylor and the Ship That Sank Twice (2013). I've featured all of its TPB editions on the main blog, with each edition's respective cover arts closing the posts, but I like the idea of having them all together in one place. All 72 works are by Japanese illustrator Yuko Shimizu.

Manowar Comics (Mockups)

Manowar Comics - FAKE

I’ve been mulling over just how good a Manowar comic book could be. Besides questing for the Crown and Ring it could have Eric and Joey discussing the merits of a wet sword. And there could be a regular Grandfather's Story Time section at the back, like how Alan Moore adds additional world-building with Watchmen and TLoEG.

The comic itself would have to be printed on parchment and held together with staples made from the recycled chains of pleasure slaves. It's good for the environment.

It would be required practice to read it in the tones of Orson Welles, preferably by the light from the north star when winter skies are grey, or, if it's cloudy in England, with a few black candles - but not the supermarket kind whose melt pool smells like a mix of lard and soot.

Decades later it could be re-drawn by older hands and issued with a cover that has Roman Numerals added. But it wouldn't be as good. Most folks would read it only once and then shelve it, preferring the original and best version - in fact, let's call the original printing the only one worth its salt. The past glories endure while the new fads fade.

Until it happens, until the warriors' pleasures are eternally inked, coloured + lettered, I'll settle for some homemade mock-ups using existing official art. There's a few more below the cut.