Toms Heroes: Hostess Comic Book Ads
This is a large collection of ads for Hostess treats featuring super heroes (and some other classic comic book characters) overcoming various threats and obstacles through the power of sugary sweets. These are amazing.
Even more amazing is that some of the villains created for these ads have become canon.
Polygon: Batman: The Animated Series owes half its charm to one unsung composer
Shirley Walker was the first American woman to be the sole composer on a major studio release. And in a profession dominated by men, she often found work assisting other film composers with her skills as a conductor and orchestrator. She was a frequent contributor to John Carpenter’s films, and often collaborated with Hans Zimmer and Danny Elfman, on A League of Their Own, Scrooged, Dick Tracy and, of course, 1989’s Batman.
But it was her work on another Elfman project, 1990’s The Flash TV show, that brought her to the attention of Batman: The Animated Series’ co-creator Bruce Timm. Still, she was initially reluctant to come on to the production.
My introduction to Shirley Walker was through Batman. I’m glad to see her getting the credit she deserves. I’m also always partial to composers who can orchestrate and conduct their own works.
Polygon: Superman’s most amazing special effect didn’t require computers or a green screen
The amazing part of this performance is how clearly you can see Christopher Reeve shift his body from Clark Kent to Superman. His voice changes a bit, sure, but it’s all there in the body language. It’s a powerful, physical performance that doesn’t require a change into the costume or any of the special effects that went into the flying scene.
It’s amazing to see this change in isolation. Christopher Reeves appears to physically shrink the moment he withdraws back into the identity of Clark Kent. A later scene that shows the opposite transition is just as striking.
I’m one of the few who actually likes Man of Steel, and I enjoy Henry Cavill’s portrayal of Superman, but this is something he’s missing. He just doesn’t sell Clark Kent the way Christopher Reeves could.
Simply Robert 