Dell Giant: Christmas in Disneyland #1

Instead of gifts from Santa, a little boy and girl ask Santa to take them on a magical trip to Disneyland in this 1957 Dell Giant. 

Santa obliges, telling the children an assortment of stories based on the various lands and rides throughout the park. The Carl Barks classic 'The Black Pearls of Tabu Yama' starts things off with Uncle Scrooge and his nephews marooned on a deserted island at Christmas. Chip n' Dale must rescue Jiminy Cricket from the clutches of Br'er Bear, who forces the wise insect to teach him how to become Santa Claus. Mickey and Goofy attempt to deliver a payload of gold to a group of miners before Christmas Eve. The L'il Bad Wolf thinks his papa is making him a snow blowing machine to help him in his snow shoveling business. And in the surprise of all surprises, Peter Pan and Tinkerbell attempt to rescue Santa Claus who has been kidnapped by the dastardly Captain Hook!

I was extremely excited about that Peter Pan story. The 1953 Disney classic plays into the story of how my wife and I met. I had no idea about the existence of this story. It was such a great read and I loved seeing the Tick-Tock Crocodile fly after getting sprinkled with pixie dust.

There were also several arts and crafts activities and a fun and games section in the back. Considering that this issue is nearly 70 years old and only 1 of those pages was torn out, probably by some child who had zero idea how collectible old comics would one day be, I consider myself very lucky. I paid less than $10 for this issue and if that page hadn't been missing, the book would probably have been priced out of my price range. 

On my wish list of Christmas comic books, I've got issue #38 of Gold Key's Walt Disney Comics Digest. The front invites readers to enjoy 'Christmas at Disneyland'. I have a feeling that the contents of this special are reprinted in that digest edition. I'm still keeping that book on my wish list. However, as I now own this book, in 99.% entirety, obtaining the Gold Key book is on the back burner for now.

Sure, this was a big ol' commercial for Disneyland which had opened less than 2 years prior in California. But the whole thing was jammed packed Christmas fun starring many of my favorite Disney characters and it's a treasured addition to my Christmas comic book collection!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

The 25 Baubles of Pop Culture! Advent 2022 Day 13

Disney is the next pop culture franchise that the random generator spit out at me. But there's just so much stuff out there that I am going to have to narrow my focus. For this post, I will share an ornament from the year I was born, an ornament based on my wife's favorite Disney film, another based on my favorite character, one from my favorite Disney movie and a DIY one. 

Born in 1977, I was surprised that there were several ornaments to choose from. I chose this satin ball deal from Hallmark because it looked the most like something I remember hanging from one of my grandparents tree. Mickey graces the front in between likenesses of Donald and Goofy. On the back it says 'Merry Christmas 1977' with images of Donald and Mickey. Though the Mickey on the back looks more like Mickey's nephew Morty.

My wife's favorite Disney film is Peter Pan. The 1953 animated feature is tied in to how we meet and it's played a huge part in our life together ever since. Again, there were tons to choose from and it was a tough choice. In the end, I went with this bauble from Disney Store Japan. It has Peter with Tinkerbell and his shadow standing inside a hidden Mickey that looks a lot like a snow globe, which is another favorite of my bride's. The top of the ornament has a Peter Pan hat and a green satin ribbon that completes the piece to a T.

My favorite Disney picture is Alice in Wonderland. The 1951 film is just so zany and oddball and that is something I feel that represents me very well. For my selection I chose this 2011 exclusive Cast Member bauble. Such an ornament was given only to employees of the various Disney parks and can be very collectible. I love the antique finish of the filigree that surrounds the image. I also love having the Mad Hatter and March Hare in a festive scene with Alice as the Mad Tea Party is my favorite scene of the book and movie. I just hate that the porcelain image has begun to yellow over the years. This is a sign that the owner of this ornament was a smoker and it lessens the value of this really cool piece.

My favorite Disney character is hands down- Uncle Scrooge. Many might not know this but Scrooge McDuck is actually a Christmas character in origin. His first appearance was in a 1947 story created by Carl Barks titled 'Christmas at Bear Mountain.' Over the years, McDuck would scour the world searching for rare and value treasure before finally living up to his namesake starring in the role of Ebeneezer Scrooge in 1983's Mickey's Christmas Carol. 

Being such a massive fan of that animated short, I'm picking this 1983-ish PVC ornament of Scrooge in his role as Ebeneezer yelling at whomever had that gall to hang a wreath on the door of his counting house. I know I didn't have this ornament. But I seem to recall owning this 2.5 inch figurine. I wouldn't be surprised is some company took a whole bunch of these plastic pieces, drilled a hole through them and sold them as make shift ornaments to make a few bucks. Or maybe one of my cousins had one. Either way, I remember this and I love it!

From the DIY Dept, it didn't take me very long to find my favorite ornament idea to share. I took one look at this trio and just thought it was brilliant. You take 3 clear glass/plastic ornaments, stencil on faces of Winnie the Pooh, Piglet and Tigger, fill with appropriately colored yarn or feathers and voila! Instant trip to the 100 Acre Woods!

Walt Disney's Adventures of Tinkerbell (Dell 4-Color Comics #896)

Last month I reviewed a holiday collection called Walt Disney's Christmas Classics. The book was published by IDW. It reprinted an annual holiday comic strip that ran in newspapers for almost 50 years. 

In these festive tales characters such as Peter Pan and Tinkerbell would share adventures with Cinderella's pet mice. Or maybe Bambi and Sleeping Beauty would team together to save Santa from the Beagle Boys.

I thought that these crossovers were the only ones of their kind. But I found that to not be the case in this 1958 issue of Dell 4-Color Comics #896 (Walt Disney's Adventures of Tinkerbell). 

I bought this book as a part of my wife's Tinkerbell and Peter Pan Collection. A gift for her, I got to read it first before it went into her permanent collection display case. I had seen copies of this book for upwards of $100. Yet while in Chicago, I got a very good deal for a fraction of that cost. 

The book begins with a clever plot device. Normally, Tinkerbell doesn't speak words as you and I do. She communicates with tiny tinkles and jingles of her wings. But to have a comic book in which the main character doesn't speak was pretty unheard of in the 1950s. So, the writers of this book came up with a smart idea to have Tink get a yearly 'fairy wish' and for this year's wish, she gets to speak English with all her friends. 

There are four stories in this comic. The first takes place in Neverland with Peter Pan stealing the bell from Captain Hook's ship. In return, Hook kidnaps Peter's bell- I.E. Tink! A cute story- it felt like a retelling of the 1953 Peter Pan movie only there aren't any of the Darling children.

Tinkerbell then goes off to visit some of her friends and this is where the crossovers come in. First, she teaches the Wicked Witch to be nice to the Seven Dwarfs. Then Tinkerbell goes to visit Dumbo's circus where a new lion attraction has gotten the flying elephant into a terrible tizzy. Lastly, Tink travels to Italy where she assists Pinocchio and Geppetto in finding some beautiful flowers for a special festival.

On the back cover there's an activity in which children could cut out a picture of Tinkerbell, make a few folds, add glue, string, a stick and some flour and make a pixie dust kite. I have a feeling a lot of these books ended up with the back cover being destroyed, thus why pristine copies are so expensive. 

There's a sequel book to this comic. It of course in on my list to find for my bride. It's just about as expensive as this book is. But that volume is actually harder to find as I have never seen one for sale except online. I wonder what activity kiddos were expected to make out of those issues.

Worth Consuming if not for anything else that it's charming as hell, a fun crossover comic and classic 1950s Disney through and through.

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Disney's Christmas Classics (Family Comic Friday)

I want to apologize beforehand. I had promised, since Thanksgiving, that I would be reviewing all-new holiday specials until Christmas. However, my region of the country got hit with what we consider a major snowstorm. As a result, my LCS didn't get in their new books due for the week. So no Archie Christmas Spectacular #1 this week's Family Comic Friday! Sorry!

Wait! Don't Go!!! I still have a round of holiday cheer to provide for this week's edition of FCF! Last week I was touring Chicago when I found a really cool comic book store with an amazing Christmas comic display. I am a huge collector of holiday books and just couldn't resist rifling through it.

Boy, am I glad that I did! One of the book's in the window has been on my holiday comic wish list for some time and since I'm without my planned title for the week, I am excited to share this one with you instead!

Disney's Christmas Classics
Written by Frank Reilly, Floyd Norman, Various
Illustrated by Floyd Gottfredson, Manuel Gonzales, Various
Published by IDW Publishing
SRP: $39.99

Comic history is full of amazing crossovers. Superman Vs. Spider-Man. Batman and Captain America vs The Joker and the Red Skull. Peter Pan, Tinkerbell and the Seven Dwarfs saving Santa from the clutches of Captain Hook and Maleficent! Don't remember that last one? Don't worry, not many do. But for one glorious December in 1960, Disney fans of all ages were treated to the most epic of crossovers in their daily news.

Such holiday crossovers would continue until 1987. Pinocchio, Sleeping Beauty, Dumbo and many more of your favorite Disney characters would save Christmas or Santa (or both!) on an annual basis from villains such as Prince John, The Beagle Boys and Cinderella's wicked stepmother. Never mind that Robin Hood took place in the Middle Ages. Forget that Merlin and his owl Archimedes was from the Sixth century. If there was a need for rescuing during the holidays, the space-time continuum was no match for Walt Disney.

This 2017 collection also features a 90s revival strip that was also Christmas themed. While these stories featured newer properties like The Lion King and Pocahontas, the crossover element is missing. In my opinion, that little bit of holiday magic was absent as well.

Fans should also not expect to see Mickey, Donald or Goofy in any of these stories. Since Disney already produced a couple of comic strips with the more popular characters in them, it was decided that the Christmas Classics annual would feature stars of some Disney's most beloved animated features. The Beagle Boys and Professor Von Drake are as close to the Duckburg outer limits as you are going to get in this book.

I know that the $39.99 cover price might seem steep. But if you look on Amazon, you can find this treasury for a fraction of the cost. The black and white images might be off-putting to some young readers. But that's how they originally have been published. Plus, IDW did an amazing job restoring these works to their original greatness. 

With 27 crossover Christmas classics comprised in this book, this could act as an annual Advent tradition. Fans both young and old could start December 1st reading the first 3 tales. Then from December 2nd to 25th, enjoy a story a day. You could keep the holidays alive with a 90s Disney story per day up until New Years! There's literally something for everyone in this book. 

The stories are a little uneven. But that's due to having to be written for a daily newspaper strip. Still, this is a classic that should become a timeless tradition in your future holiday enjoyment!

Disney's Christmas Classics debuted in print in November, 2017. It can be purchased in hardcover, both new and used, on Amazon and other online book retailers.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Peter Panzerfaust, Volume 4: The Hunt

   

  The World War II twist on the Peter Pan legend continues with Peter's team in disarray. After Hook's ambush in volume 3, some teammates have disappeared, some retired, and some died. Why I can't even tell you where the Darling family wandered off to. Even worse- Peter's been captured by the Nazis!!!

   The focus of this volume is on Tiger Lily and her husband Julien. Lily's father died in the assault. So, it's up to the young woman to avenge his death by rounding up and disbursing with Hook's men in a most violent fashion. As revenge turns into dogged obsession, a rift in the relationship between husband and wife forms. Will Tiger Lily end up losing more than her father in this second war to end all wars?

   This fantastic series by Image just keeps surprising me. There're so many similarities to the Pan legend. Yet, Panzerfaust is not a modern war rehash of everything I know, seen, and read about Peter and his Lost Boys. 

   The last two volumes ended in such a way that I would've been okay if that was the end to Peter's story. That's not the case here. No, I didn't hate this book. It's just that this chapter doesn't have a satisfying enough conclusion for me to say 'It can end here!" Unfortunately, I can't find any evidence of when volume 5 will drop and I just can't wait to know what happens next.

    I may have to buy some back issues...

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Peter Panzerfaust, Volume 3: Cry of the Wolf

    The World War II retelling of the legend of Peter Pan continues with Peter and his team of resistance fighters continuing to bring the fight to the Nazis in occupied France. The notorious Hook has supposedly been vanquished but when the Braves intercept a communique with a familiar signature, Peter is in more danger than believed imaginable. Could there be a traitor in the Lost Boys midst?

    I was more than happy with the ending to volume 2. Though I knew that Peter's story wasn't over, if that was how co-creators Kurtis J. Wiebe and Tyler Jenkins chose to end the series, I would have been satisfied with it. I was a little uncertain as to if I thought to continue the story of Panzerfaust was a wise choice. But with by the end of this volume, I not only was glad that Peter's tale progressed,  I began to long for it to not stop. Thankfully, at least 2 more volumes of this compelling series are waiting for me to find them.

    The art is still pretty rough. But it's gritty and fanciful at the same time. With the spoils of war unfolding the way they do in this book in so many unexpected ways, it actually fits in with the subject matter perfectly.

    A must read for fans of fantasy reboots, Peter Pan, or just darn good war tales.


    Worth Consuming.

    Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Peter Panzerfaust Volume 2: Hooked

 

The legend of Peter Panzerfaust continues with another Lost Boy recounting how Peter and the Boys tried to save one of their own after being captured by the Nazis in volume 1. We also meet the Darling family and discover how they ended up never “growing up.” Also, the Indians are accounted for as a band of gypsies fighting against Nazi occupation but being in disguise as American Indians in order to prevent Hitler from taking it out of the Gypsy population for their numerous defeats at the hands of the Lost Boys.  We also have an epic battle between Peter and a certain enemy captain with only one hand.

This volume was as good, if not better than the first. I really couldn’t put it down and I seriously believe I finished reading this is one night! It was that good. The uplifting ending in which Wendy is reunited with the Darling family dog, Nana is inspiring. Thankfully, the legend of Peter Panzerfaust is far from over!

Worth Consuming.

Rating 10 out of 10 stars.

Peter Panzerfaust Volume 1: The Great Escape.

As a huge fan of Peter Pan for various reasons and it was highly recommended by somebody I respect at one of my favorite comic shops, I found Peter at the library and I snatched it up! It’s got a lot of the magical charm of Fables, mixed in with the horrors of World War II and it stars Peter Pan! This book is awesome.

It all appears in flashback as a biographer recounts how the legend of Peter Panzerfaust really happened from the lost boys who fought against the Nazi occupation of France. Nobody is surrendering here folks. Tying in the Lost Boys, the Nazi adversary destined to become Capt. Hook, and finding a brilliant way to tie in pixie dust without being girly, this is one of the most original and yet classic series to come along in a while.

I devoured this book. I could not put it down and I was so glad that I also managed to check out volume 2 at the same time as I got my hands in this book.

Worth Consuming.