Mars Attacks The Cinema!

It's hard for me to believe it's been twenty-seven years since Tim Burton showed us how those pesky Martians might attack. 1996 seems so far away now, and given the changes in the modern world since then, even somewhat quaint. But Tim Burton was reaching even further back in time, to 1962 when Topps Cards delivered the delirious Mars Attacks bubble gum card set. In fact his movie Mars Attacks should have been delivered to audiences in glorious black and white, but that was never going to happen. (It would be fun for Burton to release a version in B&W.) 

The movie has its tongue firmly embedded in its cheek as it follows (mostly) the plot line detailed in the epic card set. Martians see Earth, come to Earth and proceed to conquer it with a ghastly array of weapons and methods. Some of these methods involve giant walking machines (H.G.Wells anyone?), flaming cows disintigrated soldiers, and hilarious saucer attacks on the monuments of Washinton DC, and other important sights around the aghast world. 

Mankind is at a loss to deal with the aliens, seeking at first to befriend them, but then realizing the true magnitude of the threat slow to deliver. Truth told, that doesn't sound like us, we'd likely do the opposite. The chittering aliens disintegrate folks to their little alien heart's content before their fatal weakness is uncovered by our doughty hero, a young mostly hapless chap who is warm but not terribly bright. 

A highlight of this show is Jim Brown who portrays an out of work boxer working in Las Vegas and who through thick and thin battles to save his family. Jack Nicholson holds down two roles, one as president of the United States and another as a Las Vegas wheeler dealer. The movie boasts a star-studded cast, and they do decent work. Tom Jones makes his movie acting debut in this one for instance to good effect. Pierce Brosnan is dandy as is a frenzied Rod Steiger as the one general who wants to attack the dang aliens. Lisa Marie is unforgettable as an alien assassin. 

The movie if anything is a little too absurdist too much of the time. I'd have liked to see among the humor a bit more real threat, but that's a small concern. Mars Attacks is an entertaining movie. But it should've been in B&W. 

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Mars Attacks Again!

A charming book from Abrams is titled simply Mars Attacks. It's a fiftieth anniversary reflection on the notorious collectible cards which have truly invaded the popular imagination. The cards designed by Bob Powell and painted by Norm Saunders were the brainchild of Len Brown and Woody Gelman. Brown writes an informative introduction about how the card set came to be. It turns out a number of the specific images have particular sources.

But the most famous and arguably important influence can be seen below. The very first card puts the Martians front and center, their massive brainy heads leering menacingly out of their protective transparent helmets. The saucers are ready and waiting as the invading force boards for Earth. 

The look of the Martians was obviously a great concern to the Topps people who wanted something a little bit scarier than the classic Green Man from Mars, but also something which while lurid wasn't so over the top that it would ignite community outrage. History shows they failed on that final count, but nonetheless in the effort to thread that needle they drew upon the talented Wally Wood to solve the problem.

It turns out Wood had drawn aliens with just the right blend of weird and ick when he illustrated this cover for Weird Science #16 for the legendary EC Comics. This iconic cover fronts a story titled  "Down to Earth" also drawn by Wood. Below is a wonderful original page from that most influential story.

The "Martians" are right there to behold. The guys at Topps had their inspiration, a monstrous gibbering head atop an oddly human form. It was a hit.

Let the invasion begin. More on how that went tomorrow. 

NOTE: This is a Dojo Revised Classic Post. 

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Mars Attacks - The Invasion Begins!

A charming book from Abrams is titled simply Mars Attacks. It's a fiftieth anniversary reflection on the notorious collectible cards which have truly invaded the popular imagination. The cards designed by Bob Powell and painted by Norm Saunders were the brainchild of Len Brown and Woody Gelman. Brown writes an informative introduction about how the card set came to be. It turns out a number of the specific images have particular sources.

But the most famous and arguably important influence can be seen below. The very first card puts the Martians front and center, their massive brainy heads leering menacingly out of their protective transparent helmets. The saucers are ready and waiting as the invading force boards for Earth. 

The look of the Martians was obviously a great concern to the Topps people who wanted something a little bit scarier than the classic Green Man from Mars, but also something which while lurid wasn't so over the top that it would ignite community outrage. History shows they failed on that final count, but nonetheless in the effort to thread that needle they drew upon the talented Wally Wood to solve the problem.

It turns out Wood had drawn aliens with just the right blend of weird and ick when he illustrated this cover for Weird Science #16 for the legendary EC Comics. This iconic cover fronts a story titled  "Down to Earth" also drawn by Wood. Below is a wonderful original page from that most influential story.

The "Martians" are right there to behold. The guys at Topps had their inspiration, a monsterous gibbering head atop an oddly human form. It was a hit.

Let the invasion begin.

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