John Romita Sr., R.I.P.

Sad to hear of the passing of Marvel artist John Romita Sr. at age 93. His son, John Jr., made the announcement.

I was not a Marvel fan during his run on Spider-Man, but I did pick up a copy of Amazing Spider-Man #43 in 1966, featuring the third appearance of Rhino. This was my first exposure to Romita's work. Unfortunately, although I got a good price for it, I sold the issue back in the 1980s.

His cover on that issue was an eye-catcher for me, especially the texturing of the coloring work.  

Tokyo Cheapo's "Top 10 Cheap and Free Things To Do In Harajuku"

Above, JR Harajuku Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tokyo is a city comprised of wards of differing character and Harajuku is one such area of the city that visitors should take a look-see.

Harajuku is a pop-culture hub and is noted for youth culture fashions.

Above, an interesting sign at the entrance to a shopping mall in Harajuku. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tokyo Cheapo has an article on "Top 10 Cheap and Free Things To Do In Harajuku".

They begin it with:

When I first moved to Tokyo, I was living on US$9.02* a day while renting half a room in the cheapest-of-cheap share houses. I didn’t care though—this is one of those special few cosmopolitan cities where you can experience the best of it for free, if you know where to look. With that in mind, I’ve compiled a list of low-cost and free things to do in Harajuku—pop culture hub and stomping ground of Tokyo’s most fashionable trendsetters.

Above, Spider-Man scales a Harajuku building. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here.

Ten Free Things In Harajuku

Above, Harajuku Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Harajuku section of Tokyo hasn't appeared in any kaiju eiga movies (as far as I know), but it is still a fun place to browse around in.

If you happen to find yourself in Tokyo with nothing to do or running low on cash, Tokyo Cheapo has a list of ten things to see and do in Harajuku that are free or cost very little.

Above, Spider-Man climbing the side of a Harajuku building. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

They begin with:

When I first moved to Tokyo, I was living on ¥1,000 a day while renting half a room in the cheapest-of-cheap share houses. I didn’t care though—this is one of those special few cosmopolitan cities where you can experience the best of it for free, if you know where to look. With that in mind, I’ve compiled a list of low-cost and free things to do in Harajuku—pop culture hub and stomping ground of Tokyo’s most fashionable trendsetters.

To read more, go here. 

Marvel Super-Heroes Exhibition To Open In Tokyo

Above, Spider-Man "scales" a Harajuku building. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan has its own super-heroes in anime and manga, so it is somewhat surprising that some American comic book characters are popular in Japan. However, I did see Spider-Man "scaling" the side of a building in Harajuku a few years ago.

For Japanese fans of Marvel super-heroes, a special exhibit is opening in two days at Mori Tower in Roppongi Hills.

According to JapanTravel:

Japan’s complex anime culture may seem intimidating, but never fear: Japan is obsessed with Captain America and Spiderman, too! The first exhibition dedicated to Marvel Comics opens at the Mori Tower from April 7 to June 25. 

Building on the success of recent blockbusters like Deadpool, Captain America: Civil War, and Doctor Strange, “Marvel: Age of Heroes” will feature over 200 props, costumes, and other paraphernalia from the company’s most popular franchises. The exhibition also provides a glimpse at the storied history of Marvel Comics, which dates from 1939.

Above, Mori Tower in Roppongi Hills. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

10 Fun Free Things In Harajuku

Above, Spider-Man scales the side of a Harajuku building. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If one happens to be in Tokyo but is a little short on cash, there are ways to doing things for free in the city.

Tokyo Cheapo has compiled a list of 10 free things to do while in the Harajuku section of Tokyo.

They begin with:

When I first moved to Tokyo, I was living on 1,000 yen a day while renting half a room in the cheapest-of-cheap share houses. I didn’t care though—this is one of those special few cosmopolitan cities where you can experience the best of it for free, if you know where to look. With that in mind, I’ve compiled a list of 10 fun free things to do in Harajuku—pop culture hub and stomping ground of Tokyo’s most fashionable trendsetters.

To read more, go here. 

More Comikaze Expo Photos

Above, Envy Model Management's Constance Nunes promoting the movie
Muck at Comikaze Expo. She appears in the movie. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I set out to the Los Angeles Convention Center for Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo yesterday afternoon, the plan was to hang around there after our Godzilla/Gamera panel for a couple of hours and then head directly to work in Toluca Lake.

It was a good thing that I did so as it began to rain at around 8:45 PM tonight. Had I not gone directly to work, I would have had to go back home to Tarzana, change clothes and then head to Toluca Lake in rainy driving conditions. So, it worked out pretty well and we sure can use the rain!

I have some more photographs of Comikaze from yesterday. As I mentioned previously, the convention continues through Sunday.

Here they are:

Above, a view of the main exhibition hall. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Godzilla toys for sale. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, plenty of posters for sale. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, two displays of Spider-Man at the Marvel super-heroes display. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the Incredible Hulk at the display of Marvel super-heroes. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, plenty of stuff to see. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Keeping The Other Half Happy In Japan

Above, Harajuku can be reached via the  JR Yamanote Line. Just exit at Harajuku Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A number of kaiju fans wanting or planning a visit to Japan to see those landmarks and locations used in their favorite movies are likely to have wives or girlfriends. And, they may be joining their spouse or boyfriend in Japan.

If a wife or girlfriend isn't particularly interested in kaiju, tagging along to those landmarks and locations may get a bit old to her after a while. So, how do you keep her happy so you can continue on your location treks in harmony?

Above, the Harajuku Zenmall has quite a number of small shops to peruse in. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Here's an idea, take her on shopping sprees (provided you have the cash that you've had the foresight to budget in before leaving home) in-between your kaiju location and landmark treks. Let's face it, guys, shopping is in their DNA.

Harajuku would be an ideal place for a shopping excursion to keep her happy.

Modern Tokyo Times has an article on Harajuku and nearby Omotesando, and it begins with:

Harajuku is internationally famous because of fashion and the electrifying buzz of the main street which connects Harajuku and Omotesando. Trendy youngsters flock to the Takeshita-dori and this is what makes Tokyo fashion so special because the main street is so different and this applies to style, age group and the ambient feel. However, the distance between both places is so short and this is why Tokyo fashion is so special. 

Harajuku and the area adjacent is not only focused on fashion because the Meiji Jingu shrine is the most opulent and sophisticated in Tokyo.  This stunning shrine is very symbolic and rich in grandeur and you have a lovely garden and many walkways in this spacious area. Also, it is a living shrine but because of the open nature of Shintoism you don’t have the overtly pious nature of Buddhism, Christianity and Islam.

Above, Spider-Man scales the side of a Harajuku building. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Harajuku alone is an interesting place to visit, even to guys who aren't even remotely interested in clothes shopping. Who knows? You might even get to see Spider-Man there!

To read the full article, go here.

First International Comic Festa To Include Foreign Comic Creators

Above, Spider-Man scales a Harajuku building.  His parent company is participating in the Int. Comic Festa.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If you are a comic book creator (artist, writer, publisher, etc.) and have a "yen" to visit Japan, here's your opportunity to visit the land of Godzilla!

The Asahi Shimbun reported:

The executive committee of the first International Comic Festa revealed details of the Nov. 18 event in Tokyo, including speeches by internationally acclaimed artists. 

The event, which will be held at Tokyo's Big Sight convention center, will bring together comic books from Europe, East Asia and North America, including "bande dessinee" (BD) comics for French and Belgian readers. It will be the first event of its kind in Japan. 

Four major BD publishers from France and Belgium will join the event, as well as the largest U.S. comic publisher, Marvel Entertainment LLC. In addition, Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions Co. and other Japanese publishers of translated comic books will participate.

As the above indicated, this is the first International Comic Festa (short for festival) to be held in Tokyo, Japan.

Above, the Godzilla statue at Toho Studios.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Besides having a good excuse to visit Japan, comic book creators just might be able to write off the trip on their tax returns (I was able to write off much of my 2010 trip to Japan as the Tokyo portion of it was promoting The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan).

Maybe is your chance to visit the Land of Godzilla and get a tax write-off to boot!

To read the full article, go here.

Peter Parker Dies

CBS-New York is reporting that Marvel Comics is killing off Peter Parker:

New Yorkers take their fictional heroes seriously, so it may come as a shock to some that Peter Parker, the Queens native whose destiny was forever altered by a radioactive/genetically altered spider, has been killed off in the “Ultimates” imprint of Marvel Comics. The Ultimate series is different from Marvel’s standard line, in which Peter Parker is still happily toiling away as everybody’s favorite hard-luck hero.

No, in the Ultimates series, Peter Parker gets killed at the hands of his nemesis the Green Goblin.

A new Spider-Man will take his place.

To read the full story, go here.