Throw on your Oversized Clock and head to Strong Island as we take you back! Without further ado, here is the 20 Years Before 2000 THROWBACK JAM OF THE WEEK...
Artist: Public Enemy
Song: Shut 'Em Down
Album: Apocalypse 91...The Enemy Strikes Black (1991)
Peak Billboard Hot 100 Position: N/A
Bonus Fun Fact: This song was originally written as a way to fight back against major corporations profiting off the black community and not giving anything back in return. A version of this song was eventually used in a NIKE ad in 2018.
Well, here we go again! Staying with my Mom at my childhood home for a few weeks brought back a ton of memories and nostalgia, but looking through all the totes of stuff I own that have been stored in her attic really kicked those feelings into high gear. Today I will share a few of these items I have saved for decades with you. First is this partially full can of The Real Ghostbusters ECTO-PLAZM! This can came with our Firehouse playset and was super sticky. It would stick to our figures and be a real pain in the butt to clean off after we slimed them through the grate on the roof. I can't quite remember why the wrapper is so torn up, but let me tell you, old ECTO-PLAZM smells horrible!
Batman Returns: McDonalds Fry Box
Yes, I collected McDonalds French Fry boxes back in the day. I still have a bunch of unused Dream Team ones somewhere. This one was used and after the delicious fries were eaten, it was added to my ever growing early 90s Batman collection. I loved this movie and would save anything and everything that had the caped crusader or his foes on it. Not sure where the rest of this stuff went, but at least I still have this box to remind me of the Bat-Mania of 1992.
Ninja Turtles Fair Prize
This cheap but AWESOME prize came from the New Jersey State Fair in the early 90s. Sure it's a cheap piece of particle board with a paper frame, but it's got an AMAZING picture of my favorite boys in green, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on it and I earned it by popping a bunch of balloons with darts. Such an wonderful award for such an astounding achievement.
Ghostbusters II: Slime Time Button
I loved this button! I used to pin it to any hat that I had. Most notably my hot pink surfing Ninja Turtles hat and my checkered Simpsons Bartman cap. It's a fashion statement that can mix with any licensed character clothing item.
Farley's Ninja Turtles Fruit Snacks Package
Holy CRAP! I am so glad that I kept this. We had fruit snacks in our lunches almost every day. Super Mario, Zelda, Shark Bites and even Michael Jordan, but nothing could top the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Sure, they still make TMNT themed fruit snacks today, but they just don't seem to taste as good as they did back when I was 11 years old!
Kellogg's C-3PO's Cereal box
I really don't remember ever eating this cereal as a kid, but I am glad to own this sweet piece of Star Wars memorabilia. I used to work at a mom & pop toy store in Ledgewood, NJ on Route 10 and one day the owners purchased a large Star Wars collection. They picked out the items they wanted to keep for sale and then let me scrounge through and pick out what I wanted from the left overs. I grabbed a parachuting Darth Vader, a Darth Vader eraser, Star Wars PEZ display with dispensers and this box of C-3PO's.
Sealed Commodore 64 Games
Never owned a Commodore 64, but once again I was given these sealed games from a former employer. I used to work for Clear Channel Radio and we had to clean out old offices before we moved into our new building. We found some cool old stuff that I am sure were supposed to be used for giveaway prizes at some point. These games were among those items. Since I love retro video games, they gave these to me as a gift.
I hope you enjoyed taking a look back at some items from my Mom's attic and I hope you are all staying safe and well. Check back next week for part 2! There may be more Turtles items, Freddy Krueger and Keith Hernandez!
This week the comic book I am most excited to read is...
TMNT ONGOING #104
The Turtles confront Old Hob and challenge his vision of a Mutant Town under his control and the startling secret of his new enforcers is revealed! It's a pivotal moment for the Mutanimals, Mutant Town, and all mutantdom!
(W) Tom Waltz, Kevin Eastman, Sophie Campbell (A/CA) Sophie Campbell
Throw on your Star Trek shades and head to the Wild, Wild West as we take you back! Without further ado, here is the 20 Years Before 2000 THROWBACK JAM OF THE WEEK...
Artist: Kool Moe Dee
Song: Wild, Wild West
Album: How Ya Like Me Now (1988)
Peak Billboard Hot 100 Position: 62
Bonus Fun Fact: The video for this song was filmed at Wild West City in Stanhope, NJ! This song was sampled by Will Smith for his 1999 song of the same name, "Wild, Wild West".
Myself and my wife got word from our school district on Monday that school will be closed for the next 2 weeks due to the Coronavirus. We have been brainstorming ideas on how to keep these kids busy and free from bickering and fighting. One idea I had was to immerse and educate the kids on some of the great movies from decades past. I searched through our options of streaming services, VHS tapes, DVDs & Blu-ray disks and so far this is what I have come up with.
The Karate Kid: Part III (1989)
Yes, I know this is probably the most hated of all the Karate Kid movies, but we have watched the first 2 so it only makes sense to finish the original trilogy. I'm sure my kids will love Daniel's slow turn to the dark side and the crazy overacting of Thomas Ian Griffith as Terry Silver.
Batman (1989)
My family just recently wrapped up watching all of the Spider-Man movies including the original trilogy, Amazing Spider-Man movies, Homecoming and Far From Home. It only makes sense to now move on to a marathon of Batman movies starting with the classic 1989 film starring Michael Keaton & Jack Nicholson.
The NeverEnding Story (1984)
My kids are just starting to become interested in movies that are not animated and that opens them up to all sorts of possibilities. I really believe they will enjoy the action and adventure in this movie. I know I did when I was their age.
Willow (1988)
Once again, like the NeverEnding Story this movie is filled with fun, adventure and action. Last week my kids and wife watched "The Lord of the Rings" and they really liked it. I think this movie will have the same effect on them, plus it's been a while since I have seen it and I can't wait to revisit the world of Willow Ufgood!
The Black Cauldron (1985)
I have never seen this movie! This is something I wish to rectify while we have the time at home. From what I have seen in the trailers, I may be more excited to watch this than the kids!
Well, those are the movies on the list for now. I am sure it will expand as we continue this lockdown from school. If you have any suggestions for a father of three kids under 10 years old, please shoot me a message or make a comment below. In the meantime, enjoy some movies and stay healthy!
This week the comic book I am most excited to read is...
X-RAY ROBOT #1 (OF 4)
Max is a family man seeking a more interesting life. While conducting a new experiment at work, the fabric of his reality is torn before his eyes, and a robotic figure appears, claiming to be his 277-year-old self. The robot is able to "X-Ray" multiple dimensions and battles a nihilistic entity from another dimension who wants to take all life to its "Pre-Big Bang" status. Max and the robot embark on an interdimensional roadtrip through past and future to take down the "Nihilist" and save the universe!
o Mike Allred's new bizarre superhero character X-Ray Robot!
"One of the best cartoonists in all of comics has done it again! X-Ray Robot is another Allred homerun!!" -Brian Michael Bendis
"Michael Allred kicks so much ass I can barely stand it. X-Ray Robot is the work of a master!" -Rob Thomas creator of Veronica Mars
Throw on your bandana and head to the beach in Rio as we take you back! Without further ado, here is the 20 Years Before 2000 THROWBACK JAM OF THE WEEK...
Artist: Ja Rule
Song: Holla! Holla!
Album: Venni Vetti Vicci (1999)
Peak Billboard Hot 100 Position: 35
Bonus Fun Fact: This song was Ja Rule's debut single off his first album. This was the final song written for his album Venni Vetti Vicci. The video for this song was produced by Hype Williams and Irv Gotti.
I grew up in New Jersey and lived my first 26 years of life there, so needless to say, when the movie Clerks by Kevin Smith came out I was a fan! It's always great to see people from the Garden State make a name for themselves. It was also cool to find out that Smith had a comic shop located in Red Bank, NJ.
I collect comics and Jay & Silent Bob's Secret Stash became a destination for me. While on my first trip to the Stash I picked up this "Tales From Clerks II" comic that was signed by Kevin Smith. It was around $10 and I was glad to add it to my collection.
The next time I made a trip to Red Bank, you guessed it, we stopped into the Stash again. This time Walt Flanagan, who you may know for his role as the offended customer in Clerks or from Comic Book Men on AMC, was the cashier for the day.
I asked him to sign a copy of his and Bryan Johnson's comic "War of The Undead" and he posed for a picture with me in the shop. He was a very nice guy and was welcoming when we made those requests. Man, I need to get back there soon!
The final comic on this list is a copy of Clerks The Comic Book from Oni Press. Can you see a theme here? I have the most attachment to this comic and I'll tell you why...Kevin Smith and producer Scott Mosier had come to town on their Smodcast Tour. The station I work for had the opportunity to interview Smith and Mosier after the show and guess who got to conduct said interview? Yup, I got to interview these two after the show on their tour bus.
I must have spent at least an hour on their bus just chatting with the guys about what was next and a little bit about comics. We had spent so much time talking, that the theater had closed their doors for the night. I made a remark about missing out on getting a Zombie Kevin figure from the merch booth on my way out. One call and 2 minutes later Kevin had gotten me a Zombie Kev figure and this comic that he and Scott Mosier autographed for me on the spot. This was an experience I will never forget and the guys were awesome! I've interviewed some other celebrities since then, but this was by far the coolest. If you ever get the chance to see him live, I highly suggest you take that opportunity. Thanks Mr. Smith!
This week the comic book I am most excited to read is...
STEALTH #1 (OF 6)
SERIES PREMIERE! For decades, Stealth has waged war on crime in Detroit, but now he's taken his pursuit of justice too far. Only reporter Tony Barber knows that behind Stealth's reckless behavior is an older man battling Alzheimer's-his father. A father unwilling to accept that he's no longer the hero this city needs... with enemies all too eager to force his retirement. Created by ROBERT KIRKMAN and MARC SILVESTRI, STEALTH is an action-packed series, perfect for readers who enjoy Black Panther and Iron Man.
(W) Mike Costa (A) Nate Bellegarde, Tamra Bonvillain (CA) Jason Howard
Throw on your thick rimmed glasses and head to the house at 3am as we take you back! Without further ado, here is the 20 Years Before 2000 THROWBACK JAM OF THE WEEK...
Artist: The KLF
Song: 3 AM Eternal
Album: Live at the S.S.L. (1991)
Peak Billboard Hot 100 Position: 5
Bonus Fun Fact: This song has been remixed numerous times and has been featured on many of the KLF's releases. In 1992 The KLF and the punk band Extreme Noise Terror performed this song during the BRIT Awards. Shortly after this performance the band retired.
A recent obsession of mine has been collecting old wax & foil packs of trading cards from the 80s & 90s. Sure, I have a ton of these non-sport cards from when I was a kid, but the artwork and design of the packaging is something I missed. When you would buy one of these packs you would tear it open and throw away the wrapper. Never giving it a second thought. Seeing these again brings back memories of feeling the slick paper in your hands, seeing the simple artwork and the smell of bubble gum. Let's dive into a few of these packs that I have on display...AGAIN!
Batman Forever Movie Photo Stickers (Topps, 1995)
Despite the appearance of the now infamous "Bat-Nipples", I always had a liking for the movie Batman Forever. I think Val Kilmer did a decent job as the Dark Knight and the addition of Robin was pretty cool. Jim Carrey was at his peak as a comedic actor, but the casting of Tommy Lee Jones as Two-Face always bothered me. After seeing Billy Dee Williams as Harvey Dent in the 1989 Batman movie, I wanted to see his take on the evil villain. Unfortunately Billy Dee was passed over in favor of Jones. Anyway, these sticker books were pretty commonplace back in the day for any hit movie, but these stickers were not the small Panini versions, these were full card sized stickers! Only something this big could hold in all of the action from the film that was Batman Forever.
Street Fighter: The Movie (Upper Deck, 1995)
Once again this is a movie that was hated by almost everyone who saw it, but I liked it. This movie brought my favorite video game characters to the big screen and the soundtrack was pretty bangin' too! What other album would have a duet between MC Hammer and Deion Sanders? This set produced by Upper Deck consisted of 90 base cards and had some randomly inserted F/X & LE cards. I have never seen these, but I know just like Raul Julia's award worthy performance as Bison, they were probably magnificent.
Star Wars: Journey To The Force Awakens (Topps, 2015)
I absolutely love this set of cards from Topps! I bought a couple boxes of these cards so me and my kids could open the packs in the hopes of completing a full set. I believe we opened 3 boxes and didn't get a full set of 110 cards, but we had a lot of fun while trying. This set from Topps also had some cool subsets & bonus cards including cloth stickers, silhouette foils & patch cards. Collecting this set was a cool way to teach my kids about the movies that led up to The Force Awakens.
X-Files Season Two (Topps, 1996)
My Dad was a huge X-Files fan and in turn I saw almost every episode of the show. I enjoyed it, but the later seasons when Mulder disappeared were not very good and my interest waned. These trading cards from Topps feature stills from some of the classic early episodes along with art cards from the Topps produced comic books. This set had a total of 72 cards and featured some pretty inserts with their Etched Foil & Hologram chase cards.
This week the comic book I am most excited to read is...
FLASH #750
Beginning: "The Flash Age"! The story we've been building toward since issue #50 comes to a head! While a supercharged Speed Force wreaks havoc on Barry Allen's life, a new threat appears on the horizon in the form of the deadly Paradox. Destined to destroy the Flash's legacy, Paradox sends his herald, Godspeed, to trap the Flash family! Plus, in this special anniversary issue: tales from across the generations of super-speedsters by an all-star lineup of writers and artists!
(W) Joshua Williamson, Geoff Johns, Michael Moreci, Marv Wolfman, Francis Manapul, Others (A) Rafa Sandoval, Jordi Tarragona, Scott Kolins, Stephen Segovia, David Marquez, Bryan Hitch, Francis Manapul, Riley Rossmo, Others (CA) Nick Derington
Throw on your gold chain and head to Mount Vernon, NY as we take you back! Without further ado, here is the 20 Years Before 2000 THROWBACK JAM OF THE WEEK...
Artist: DMX
Song: Party Up (Up In Here)
Album: And Then There Was X (2000)
Peak Billboard Hot 100 Position: 27
Bonus Fun Fact: This song has been featured in numerous movie including "How High" and "Ghostbusters". It has also been featured in video games like "Def Jam Vendetta" and "Tiger Woods PGA Golf Tour 2004".
