Throwback Jam of the Week: 8/30/21

  Throw on your gold chains and head to the barber for a fresh cut as we take you back to the 80's! Without further ado, here is the 20 Years Before 2000 THROWBACK JAM OF THE WEEK!

Artist: The System
Song: Don't Disturb This Groove
Album: Don't Disturb This Groove (1987)
Peak Billboard Hot 100 Position: 4
Bonus Fun Fact: This song hit #1 on the Billboard R&B Singles Chart and was sampled by Tupac on his song "Lost Souls" which was part of the Gang Related movie soundtrack in 1997.

Cracking Open Some 1991 FLEER

Recently my kids have become more interested in the NBA due to the fact that we watched a lot of the playoffs this year. I grew up in NJ and I am a Nets fan. This year they made it to game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, which is the furthest they've made it since they went to back to back NBA Finals in the early 2000's. Needless to say, there were more games on the TV than in years past. I wanted to do something for the kids to help their budding interest in the sport, so I went to a local card store to pick them up some packs of cards. The prices on the new stuff was outrageous!

But, I was able to get a box of 1991 FLEER for about $20. I brought it home and the kids were excited. We are a busy family, so we had to wait a few days to bust some packs and when we did I was transported back to when I was 10 years old looking for cards of Drazen Petrovic, Derrick Coleman and my favorite Net...Chris Morris! As we began the opening, I told the kids to be on the lookout for the randomly inserted "ProVisions" cards. These were a big deal back in the day and we got 4 of the 6 cards in the set. We only missed out on Magic Johnson and Charles Barkley. I also told them to keep their eyes peeled for Michael Jordan cards. Of course they know Michael from Space Jam, but I kept giving them nuggets of info on him and the other players we were unwrapping as the day went on. 

We got some good stuff in this box. A few NJ Nets cards, some Hall of Famers and of course Michael "Air" Jordan. Here is a look at the MJ cards we now have in the collection.

In addition to the 1991 FLEER box, I picked up a pack of 1989 NBA Hoops. That was the last pack we opened and lo and behold, there was a Jordan in the pack!

I love the look of the cards and like I said earlier, it was a nice blast of nostalgia and I had a blast opening packs with my kids. I may have to go back to the card shop soon and pick up a few more boxes. The was a Donruss box from the 90's that may be fun and if we're lucky maybe we can score some Bo Jackson cards!

Comic Book Pick 8/25/21

    The comic book I am most excited to read this week is...
DARKHAWK #1

(W) Kyle Higgins (A) Juanan Ramirez (CA) Iban Coello
Who is the ALL-NEW DARKHAWK?
Connor Young is a seventeen-year-old star basketball player with the world ahead of him, until a surprising medical diagnosis changes everything. But what happens when a mysterious amulet finds him and gives him powers beyond belief? What will he do with these new abilities? Get in on the ground floor as KYLE HIGGINS (RISE OF ULTRAMAN, Radiant Black) and JUANAN RAM REZ (WEB OF VENOM) start a new era.
SRP: $4.99
Synopsis Provided By: PreviewsWorld.com 

Throwback Jam of the Week: 8/23/21

 Throw on your colorful leather jacket and head to get some wings in Buffalo, NY as we take you back to the 80's! Without further ado, here is the 20 Years Before 2000 THROWBACK JAM OF THE WEEK!

Artist: Joe Public

Song: Live and Learn

Album: Joe Public (1992)

Peak Billboard Hot 100 Position: 4

Bonus Fun Fact: This song was ranked as #16 on Complex.com's list of the 25 best "New Jack" songs of all time. Joe Public served as the backup band to Boyz II Men, Shanice and Kriss Kross. They were also the hosts of the 90's VHS release "NBA JAMS MUSIC VIDEO".

Classic Playmates Ninja Turtles

 

Back in 1988 I was 7 years old and had my first experience with what would become one of my all-time favorite cartoons, toys & comics...the TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES! That's right, my first exposure to the TMNT was via the Playmates Toys action figures. Myself and my older brother were drug along on another boring shopping trip to Kmart with my Mom. It seemed like those trips with her to the local stores like Ames and Shelby's in Newton, NJ took forever, but at least when we went out there was always the possibility that we would get a new toy based on behaviors. If we were good, didn't fight and kept from complaining, the chances of getting a toy were doubled. Also, Kmart was our favorite because it meant that there was also the chance we could grab lunch at the Kmart Cafe! Remember them? I loved their bacon cheeseburgers and hot dogs!!!

Anyway, on this one trip to Kmart, my brother and I bolted to the toy section as usual, but this time there was something new on the pegs that really caught our eye and piqued our imagination. They were green, they were ninjas and they had AWESOME weapons! I grabbed a Donatello and my brother picked Raphael and we ran to my Mom. We hoped she would let us get these toys and after some persuading, she did!

A few trips later, Kmart had all of their Ninja Turtles toys on sale and my Mom in a moment of weakness bought us almost the entire first wave of figures. This time I got Leonardo, Rocksteady & a Foot Soldier and my brother was able to add Michelangelo, Shredder, Splinter and Bebop! He got one extra figure, I guess he was the favorite son. Below is a photo of those very Ninja Turtle toys! I still have them today and they hold a special place in my heart & collection almost 33 years later!

Now our collection was growing and we would bring our action figures over to our friends house and have epic battles of good versus evil in the backyard. A short time later we were introduced to the cartoon at a friends house and I was hooked for life!

These figures and characters were a huge part of my childhood and I was super excited to see that Playmates was returning these original figures to Walmart shelves this year. Yes, Playmates has re-released these figures multiple times, but for some reason they never did it with the original backer card art. Luckily for me, I was able to fairly easily acquire a full set of the four Turtles and a Party Wagon after only about 5 or 6 visits. I know to some people it may seem silly, but having these figures in my hands again really brings me a lot of joy. The same joy I had as a 7 year old who held this wild looking, purple clad Ninja Turtle in his hands all those years ago. Here are some shots of those Turtles.

Thanks for taking this journey back in time with me. I hope you enjoyed it and it brought back some great memories from your childhood. TURTLE POWER!

Comic Book Pick 8/18/21

   The comic book I am most excited to read this week is...
KANG THE CONQUERER #1 OF 5

(W) Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing (A) Carlos Magno (CA) Mike Del Mundo
THE ORIGIN OF KANG!
The man called Kang the Conqueror has been a pharaoh, a villain, a warlord of the space ways and even, on rare occasions, a hero. Across all timelines, one fact seemed absolute: Time means nothing to Kang the Conqueror. But the truth is more complex. Kang is caught in an endless cycle of creation and destruction dictated by time and previously unseen by any but the Conqueror himself. A cycle that could finally explain the enigma that is Kang. And a cycle that begins and ends with an old and broken Kang sending his younger self down a dark path...
SRP: $4.99
Synopsis Provided By: PreviewsWorld.com 

Throwback Jam of the Week: 8/16/21

  Throw on your dopest hat and head to the planet of Brooklyn as we take you back to the 80's! Without further ado, here is the 20 Years Before 2000 THROWBACK JAM OF THE WEEK!

Artist: MC Lyte
Song: Lyte As A Rock
Album: Lyte As A Rock (1988)
Peak Billboard Hot 100 Position: N/A
Bonus Fun Fact: This song features a sample from the song "Solid" by Ashford & Simpson and is included on the soundtrack to the 2000 movie "Love & Basketball".

Tomorrow is FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2021!

Saturday, August 14th is Free Comic Book Day! You can go to your local comic shop and choose from a variety of great comics from publishers like Marvel, DC, Darkhorse and more! If you want more info or need to know what shops are participating, check out the Free Comic Book Day website. Every year I take my kids out and make this day an event. It's something we look forward to every year. Here are my top five comics for the 2021 FCBD:

STRAY DOGS
(W) Tony Fleecs (A) Brad Simpson, Tone Rodriguez (CA) Tony Fleecs (A/CA) Trish Forstner
For FREE COMIC BOOK DAY, a special expanded edition of the hit IMAGE series, STRAY DOGS!
Meet Sophie, a dog who can't remember what happened. She doesn't know how she ended up in this house. She doesn't recognize any of these other dogs. She knows something terrible happened, but she just...can't...recall...WAIT! Where's her lady? This FCBD edition also features a BRAND NEW prologue, "That Doggie in the Window" the unnerving story of the very first dog to ever come to the Master's house.

MARVEL SPIDER-MAN VENOM FCBD 2021 #1
(W) Al Ewing, Ram V. (A) Bryan Hitch
Free Comic Book Day is the perfect chance to dive deep into the Marvel Universe with new stories and exciting adventures alongside some of Marvel's most acclaimed creators - and this year, Marvel is bringing you the biggest and boldest stories yet!
Starring Spider-Man and Venom!
Exclusive Original Material

SMURFS TALES
(W) Peyo (A/CA) Peyo
The Smurfs are back! To celebrate the new animated TV series premiering on Nickelodeon Fall 2021, Papercutz is releasing a new series of graphic novels entitled THE SMURFS TALES. This new series is three times bigger than the previous SMURFS Papercutz graphic novel series, and what that means is a lot more Smurfs plus other beloved creations by Peyo such as Johan and Peewit, the young page and the court jester; and Benny Breakiron, the super-powered little boy. Join Papa Smurf, Smurfette, Brainy Smurf, Hefty Smurf, and so many smurfy others for fun and adventure in the comics that inspired the cartoons, toys, and Nickelodeon series. But be careful, Gargamel, Azrael, and trouble never seem to be too far behind!

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 30TH ANNIVERSARY
(W) Gale Galligan (A) Thomas Rothlisberger (CA) Tracy Yardley
Celebrating 30 years of the world's fastest hedgehog! There's no telling how Sonic will react when he sees the results of Amy Rose's new hobby-she's been making tell-all comics about her adventures with Sonic, Miles "Tails" Prower, and their friends! New York Times bestselling author Gale Galligan (The Baby-Sitters Club graphic novels) spills the beans! Plus, fun extras to catch readers up on Sonic's ongoing adventures, on the road to issue 50! Sonics 30th anniversary celebration will be a huge priority for IDW and Sega this year!

SUICIDE SQUAD FCBD SPECIAL EDITION

Just in time for The Suicide Squad movie written and directed by James Gunn, releasing in theaters and HBO Max on August 6th, with this incredible special edition that features the world’s deadliest villains. Discover more about the breakout character from Task Force X in an original Suicide Squad: King Shark story written by New York Times bestselling author Tim Seeley (Nightwing) and illustrated by award-winning artist Scott Kolins (The Flash). This 32-page issue also includes a preview of the sensational Suicide Squad: Get Joker! limited series by writer Brian Azzarello (Batman: Damned) and artist Alex Maleev (Checkmate). An incarcerated and angry Red Hood receives a chance at freedom from Amanda Waller. All the former Boy Wonder needs to do to gain his freedom is lead the Suicide Squad on a mission to terminate The Joker. Paired up with Harley Quinn and Gotham City killers such as Firefly and Killer Croc, he doesn’t care if any of them come back alive, as long as The Joker dies!

Comic Book Pick 8/11/21

   The comic book I am most excited to read this week is...
BATMAN '89 #1

(W) Sam Hamm (A) Joe Quinones
Step back into the Gotham of Tim Burton’s seminal classic Batman movies! Batman ’89 brings in screenwriter Sam Hamm (Batman, Batman Returns) and artist Joe Quinones (Dial H for Hero) to pull on a number of threads left dangling by the prolific director. Gotham becomes torn in two as citizens dressed as Batman and The Joker duke it out in the streets. As D.A. Harvey Dent tries to keep the city together, he targets the one problem tearing it apart: BATMAN! And he’ll get Bruce Wayne’s help in taking down the Dark Knight!
SRP: $3.99
Synopsis Provided By: DCcomics.com

Throwback Jam of the Week: 8/9/21

  Throw on your Fanny Pack and head to Get Your Booty on the Floor Tonight as we take you back to the 80's! Without further ado, here is the 20 Years Before 2000 THROWBACK JAM OF THE WEEK!

Artist: Technotronic
Song: Pump Up The Jam
Album: Pump Up The Jam: The Album (1989)
Peak Billboard Hot 100 Position: 2
Bonus Fun Fact: In the video for this song rapper Ya Kid K was replaced by model Felly Kilingi who lip syncs Ya Kid K's vocals! This song was listed as one of the "1,001 Songs You Must hear Before You Die" by Robert Dimery in 2010.

2021 Summer Vacation Recap!

 
Months later and COVID is still throwing us some curve balls, but that didn't stop my wife from scheduling us a pretty cool vacation! We took the kids to South Dakota for a week and to my wife's credit, she scheduled a lot of outdoor activities to cut down on our chances of infection. We all had a great time and made some memories with the kids that will hopefully last a life time.

We marveled at the giant statues at Dinosaur Park...

We enjoyed a relaxing evening at Storybook Island...

We took in the views at Mount Rushmore...

Observed some freaky animals at Reptile Gardens...

Had a blast playing mini golf at Pirates Cove (BTW, I won)...

And saw some bears at Bear Country USA!
We also visited Cosmos Mystery Area which was crazy! All these places were fantastic and offered a lot for us to do, but when I go out of state for vacations, work retreats or any kind of road trip, I need to visit the local comic & card shops! Luckily Rapid City had 2 comic shops and a card shop all within a block of each other. I looked through all the long boxes and dug through bins at each shop while my family patiently looked on. I gotta say, I am very pleased with my finds. Here are a few of the comic purchase standouts:

I was able to add a few more Marvel STAR comics to my collection, got a few Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, picked up a Bob Burden autograph for cheap and finally nabbed the first appearance of Spider-Ham for $4! I'd say that's a productive day!!

At the card shop, I picked up a few packs of 1990 Topps Traded for 99 cents each. Got a few decent rookie cards and as a lifelong Mets fan, I love that I got a Todd Hundley!

Also, was able to scrounge up a few new Bo Jackson cards for the collection. I'm sure you will see these at "The More You Bo" soon! What a fantastic trip it really was, now it's back to the real world which includes work, house chores and other adult hurdles. Can't wait for next summer's vacation, the countdown has already started!

Comic Book Pick 8/4/21

  The comic book I am most excited to read this week is...
EXTREME CARNAGE: LASHER #1

(W) Clay McLeod Chapman (A) Chris Mooneyham (CA) Skan
WITNESS THE BIRTH OF A NEW SYMBIOTE!
Four issues into the Carnage event of the summer and the bodies just keep piling up - including some of the Venomaniacs the Mighty Marveldom know and love! But now is not a time to mourn for fallen heroes (or their symbiotes). CARNAGE is on the loose, and he's building an army...
SRP: $3.99
Synopsis Provided By: PreviewsWorld.com 

Throwback Jam of the Week: 8/2/21

 Throw on your Day Glow Shirt and head to Family Band Rehearsal as we take you back to the 80's! Without further ado, here is the 20 Years Before 2000 THROWBACK JAM OF THE WEEK!

Artist: The Jets
Song: Crush On You
Album: The Jets (1986)
Peak Billboard Hot 100 Position: 3
Bonus Fun Fact: This band from the country of Tonga was comprised entirely of family members from the Wolfgramm family! They had 5 top 10 singles and performed the theme song to the Disney Afternoon cartoon "Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers"! Their popularity also led to an endorsement deal with Kool-Aid!