Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales: Blades of Freedom (Family Comic Friday)

Nathan Hale makes a long awaited return to my reading list. Both the author and the 18th century historical figure! There's been 3 new releases since I last read and reviewed a volume of Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales. Despite frequent checks, my local library never seemed to have them. Hopefully it was because kids kept checking them out as the reason for the lack of availability and not because my library is slowly trying to phase these graphic novels out of circulation.

Blades of Freedom is perhaps the most complex complex volume in series since the World War I chronicle titled Treaties, Trenches, Mud and Blood. It's not because of triggering subject matter of slavery. Instead, the story of how America came to make the Louisiana Purchase from France was not a simple pathway of going from point A to Point B. Instead, we have to go way, way back to before the time of the American Revolution when both French and Spanish explorers claimed the region of the Midwest for their prospective nations. Then the region changes hands a few times.

Soon the story tightens up to focus on France's colonization of Saint Domingue as well as the rebellions in France. On the French colony, the black slaves forced to produce the valuable commodities of sugar and coffee are beginning to shake off the yolk of oppression. In France, a young soldier by the name of Napoleon is rising through the ranks of the French army thanks to how he's been handling the peasant uprisings. Add in the role of the mosquito in the spread of yellow fever, wars with England and Spain, the fusion of African gods with Catholicism into a religion called 'Voodue' and the creation of poisons from native plants in the Caribbean, all resulting in the largest and most deadly slave revolt to result in freedom and you have a myriad of reasons both for why France had to sell the Louisiana territory to the United States and how the nation of Haiti came to be.

There's a lot more to it, of course. But unlike Major Impossible which tells of John Wesley Powell's expedition of the Colorado River or the siege of the Alamo in Alamo All-Stars, this story isn't so linear or cut and dry. This is definitely an aspect of the Louisiana Purchase that they don't teach in high school. This book sure had a slow start that I wasn't sure where it was, what with the introduction of the talking mosquito. But that second half went by super fast and was mega exciting!

I have a feeling this isn't the last time we'll see the likes of Ol' Bonaparte. I wouldn't have a problem with that. Not at all.

Glad to be back in touch with such a fantastic series! It continues to tell the darker sides of world history. But with depictions of war, the wasting effects of yellow fever and lots of man's inhumanity against man, this is an intense read not for all ages. Amazon recommends it for ages 9-12. I'd up it to ages 12-15.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Santas From Around The World: France- Papa Noel (Advent 2020, Day 24)

After a brief visit to Italy, we head directly Southwest to France. When it comes to Santas from around the world, Pere Noel/Papa Noel is the one I think of the most. (Well, besides the obvious, of course.) Maybe it's because in the third grade I was Pere Noel for that year's holiday program at my school.

There's really only a few subtle differences between Papa Noel and Santa Claus. Both wear red. But Noel's outfit is topped off with a red robe. Instead of reindeer, Pere Noel's WAGON is led by a donkey named Gui- which means mistletoe in French. 

Instead of cookies, the children of France leave out carrots and oats for Gui to snack on while Papa Noel distributes his presents. The children put the donkey nums in their shoe. So most gifts given by Papa Noel are small; things such as candy, fruit and coin money. If you were really good, Papa will also bring you a small tree for your household to decorate!

I did think it was notable to mention Louisiana's Santa. With Cajun country being influenced highly by French culture, the people of the bayou are also visited by Pere Noel. But instead of a wagon lead by a donkey, when this Santa heads to the Pelican State, he rides a sleek boat pulled by 8 massive alligators!

There are tons of cookie recipes from culinary heavy France. But I don't think I could truly cover cookies from around the world without sharing with you a recipe of that countries most iconic cookies- macarons!

Enjoy!

1977: A Madman Turns 40: 2017- Day 15

Consume mass quantities, people as we celebrate another 40th anniversary today. It's on this date in history that the Coneheads debuted on Saturday Night Live!

(L-R) Curtin, Aykroyd, and Newman as
the Coneheads, 1977.

  Over a 3-year period, Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, and Laraine Newman would portray the Coneheads; an alien trio with large conical bald heads, trying to integrate into society while posing as a French immigrant family. Aykroyd, who created the idea of the Coneheads, was Beldar, the patriarch, was an instructor as a driving academy. played the matriarch Prymatt and Newman was their daughter Connie.

Image from the very first Conehead sketch.
January 15, 1977
Steve Martin (center) played a census taker.

 During the run of the Coneheads, the aliens learned new earth cultures, such as trick-or-treating, going to the movies, and were even contestants on the Family Feud. They managed to turn the canival ring toss into a form of foreplay. But what the Coneheads were most known for was the consumption of mass quantities.

    The Coneheads would drink an entire six-pack at one time. When learning to smoke, they lit the entire pack of menthols on fire. Liquid paper, wood shavings, and shaving cream were destined to become the Coneheads next snack.

Character study of Aykroyd's Beldar Character,
from the 1983 animated special.

  In 1979, Dan Aykroyd and buddy John Belushi left SNL. The Coneheads went with the comedian. But that wasn’t the end of the Coneheads. In 1983, Rankin Bass produced an animated special about the Coneheads in hopes of becoming a full series. Though it featured the voice talents of the original actors and now considered a cult classic, the cartoon Coneheads never made it past the pilot.

Official trailer to the 1994 live-action film.

The Coneheads returned again, this time is the 90s as a feature length film. Newcomer Michelle Burke replaced Laraine Newman in the of role of Connie. A Marvel comic about the family's exploits after the events of the film was also released. Both were bombs. But the 2015 commercial where Beldar and Prymatt converse with Jake from Planet State Farm was a critical success and a very memorable Super Bowl ad at that. (Laraine Newman would return to the role of Connie later that year as the Coneheads take Jake to France.)

   

Cover to the first issue of the
short-lived 1994 Marvel comic.

Finally, I have to admit, my wife got it right! A few years ago, she made me the really awesome shirt which lists all kinds of great things that were introduced in 1977 (including a certain Madman.) She had Coneheads on the list. I never told her, but I thought she was wrong and that they came about way earlier, like in 1975 when the show debuted.

   
  Here’s your credit, Pumpkin!