Saturday, July 16, 2011

Retro: Kimmer

Retro: Kimmer

Link to Retro: Kimmer

BRIXTON KEY IN PERSON AUG 4 SAN FRANCISCO

Posted: 16 Jul 2011 12:27 PM PDT

Official Charlie Six Website

I recently chatted with author Brixton Key over the phone as he lives in Downtown San Francisco. Brix is a good friend of my old friend Keith Rendel. What a unique guy Brix is... Brix is an incredible storyteller and I enjoyed listening to him talk about his life in Rock n Roll and his family in England...

Brixton graciously sent me a copy of "Charlie Six" to read and I love it! His book came in my mail a few days ago and I am half way through it now. This book is totally retro cool... It has everything Kimmer loves! Rock n Roll, Mobsters, Parties, London Crime, Fashion and more...



Heads up all the people in the San Francisco Bay area...

Thursday August 4, 2011 at 6PM Brixton will be reading aloud from Charlie Six at Jack Kerouac Alley (map). Following the reading will be a reception (that I wish I could attend!!!) at Specs sorry 21+ only

Jack Kerouac Alley
257 Columbus
between Vesuvio and City Lights
(between Jack Kerouac Aly & Saroyan Pl)
San Francisco, CA 94133
Neighborhood: North Beach/Telegraph Hill


[New post] Captain America: Gulag (or how to make me love Bucky more then kill him)

Captain America: Gulag (or how to make me love Bucky more then kill him)

dailypop | July 16, 2011 at 7:30 am | Tags: captain america bucky, marvel comics | Categories: Captain America | URL: http://wp.me/p4kUt-2QH

'Gulag'
By Ed Brubaker, Chris Samnee, Butch Guice, Mike Deodato Jr. and Stefano Gaudiano
Issues 616-619

After an extensive trial, James Buchanan 'Bucky' Barnes is found guilty of murder and shipped off to a Russian gulag. Any attempt to escape or to rescue Bucky would result in an international incident. Steve Rogers, newly returned to life, cannot lift a finger to help his friend. Inside the prison walls Bucky discovers that he has many enemies from his past to keep him company. Due to the nature of his revivals and submersions as the Winter Soldier, he cannot remember much of his past, but that will hardly keep him safe when his enemies come calling and the KGB decide to unravel the complicated memory barriers protecting a cherished secret through violence.

From the outside, Brubaker's run on Captain America must look pretty strange. They bring back the Red Skull, then kill him. They bring back Bucky then kill Steve Rogers only to bring Rogers back and then kill Bucky. However, summarizing these issues thusly would be a great disservice to the monthly comic book and the many talented creators behind it. As a teenager, I had never liked Captain America and instead gravitated toward the anti-heroes such as Wolverine. It wasn't until I read Jim Krueger's Earth X that I became aware of how fantastic Captain America is as a character and how indefatigable he is as an icon of hope and defiance.

When Rogers died, Bucky reluctantly took up the mantle of his mentor. He had only just been brought back into existence himself thanks to the cosmic cube. It was the cube's influence (through Steve Rogers' wish) that twisted reality and allowed Bucky to survive the explosion that took his life. However, Barnes was found by the Russians and transformed into the perfect killing machine. Barnes was the ideal assassin, able to perform his duty then return to suspended animation until he was needed again. However, his programming deteriorated over time and he began to remember his old life. It hardly helped matters to realize that he had been perverted into an assassin, but eventually he returned to a semblance of his old self.

In recent years he has made an attempt to fill the sizable shoes of Rogers as Captain America, aware that one day his past would come back to haunt him. That moment arrived sooner than anyone anticipated and Barnes begins this story doing penance in a gulag where he is expected to live out the rest of his life or die in the arena against brutal opposing forces. How brutal? His first sparring partner is the aptly named Ursa Major, a giant Russian bear.

Gulag is another stroke in Brubaker's masterpiece. It combines heart-wrenching drama following Bucky's struggle in prison with espionage and intrigue as the Black Widow and Sharon Carter attempt to unravel the truth behind his murder conviction. The art chores are split between several incredibly talented teams, making each chapter distinctively gorgeous in its own right. Deodato's scenes involving the slinky lady spies is juxtaposed by Guice's stylish and grim prison scenes while Samnee's portions starring Steve Rogers
give the reader a taste of what's to come when the monthly title is reborn with him as regular artist.

Bucky survives the bout with Ursa Major only to face still more formidable foes while in between old enemies make attempts on his life. The penance kick is soon forgotten as Barnes realizes he has no choice but to break out. He can't understand what is being done to him, if the warden is expecting to kill him or make money off of the matches, but it hardly matters. If he wants to live, he has to escape. It soon transpires that within Bucky's head is some incredibly valuable information concerning a Soviet Super Soldier program. By placing Barnes in such violent situations, the KGB hopes to break down his memory blocks to access the information.

It's somewhat tragic that 'Gulag' is the finest story starring Barnes as it is also his last. It's also unfortunate as the events jar noticeably with the hero's final appearance in Fear Itself. I have read online that this may be explained later, but as it stands, the story is marred by this inexplicable detail. The artwork and layout is simply breathtaking and evokes the fine artistry of Jim Steranko back in the day. It's a shame that the character of Bucky Barnes had to be killed off to make way for a rebirth of Steve Rogers as Captain America, but if it had to happen I cannot imagine a better send off than 'Gulag.' Stylish and professional in artistry and story, it is a modern classic.

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Latest articles from Retro To Go

Latest articles from Retro To Go


eBay watch: 1950s mini sideboard and coffee table

Posted: 15 Jul 2011 09:07 AM PDT

Dan1

Rather than just the one item, we're featuring two, as the 1950s mini sideboard and coffee table featured here are both cut from a similar cloth and both from the same seller.

Starting with the mini sideboards, it is described as a 1950s Danish design with rosewood veneer, two overhanging side, two compartments (one with a bottom hinged door), four angled legs and brass adjustable 'pods'. Condition is described as 'very good' and the bid price right now is £9.

See over the page for a picture of the coffee table, which is a stylish midcentury piece with tripod-style legs, brass feet and a 'faux wood' top. Condition is down as 'excellent' and the price is also £9 right now.

1950s mini sideboard on the eBay website


1950s coffee table on the eBay website

Dan2

The Perfectly Dressed Gentleman book by Robert O'Byrne and Lord Dunsby

Posted: 15 Jul 2011 08:47 AM PDT

Dressed

Available or pre-order now (and ideal to add your Christmas list) is The Perfectly Dressed Gentleman book by Robert O'Byrne and Lord Dunsby, which is published by CICO Books.

The book itself is much as it sounds, described as an 'indispensable guide through the modern sartorial maze', with practical advice on what to wear on every occasion, from workplace to wedding or from home to holiday. There's even advice on how to post a good suit, how to tie a tie (or bow tie) and ideas on accessories.

All of that is backed up with some stylish, retro-styled illustrations from Lord Dunsby (who actually did the banner for Retro To Go, amongst other projects), to show off the styles and the looks. If you want a copy, it's printed in hardback from 13th October, with pre-sales being taken now for £8.99.

Find out more at the Amazon website

Leila striped dress with belt

Posted: 15 Jul 2011 08:02 AM PDT

Dress

It may by 2011 but this Leila striped dress with belt will bring some 1950s style into your wardrobe.

It's such a pretty dress and we love it. The colours go well with anything and are perfect for a posh picnic in the park, a day out boating or any other similar sunny outdoor activities that require you to dress up. Equally if it rains all day you can wear this on an indoor occasion and be sure to get lots of dress envy.

It's £44.95 from Leila and if you're sick of the high street - this is one shop you need to visit.

1950s velvet flower applique handbag

Posted: 15 Jul 2011 07:52 AM PDT

Bag Step back in time with this 1950s velvet flower applique handbag.

This 1950s velvet handbag is beautifully decorated with a floral applique, micro-beaded trim and grosgrain bow. The colour will suit almost anything and it's something you will keep for years. It's a very rare find and using it you will be passing on history. Just think of all the glamorous women from the 1950s who treasured such bags.

It is fully lined and measures 10 1/2 x 11 x 3 inches. As it's so rare it comes with quite a price tag and will set you back £125 online.

Plex Cuckoo Clock

Posted: 15 Jul 2011 07:39 AM PDT

Plex_white01 
The Plex Cuckoo Clock combines modern minimalism with the traditional cuckoo clock.

The clock has a lacquered finish, in a huge array of colours, although my choice would be this white version that is reminiscent of 1960s space-age design. The cuckoo clock mechanism includes a light meter to ensure that the cuckoo only comes out during day, so you won't be woken up by it at night.

Buy it from Bouf for £165.

Rich Brilliant Willing Lights for Urban Outfitters

Posted: 15 Jul 2011 07:25 AM PDT

Richbrilliantwilling 
Rich Brilliant Willing isn't a name I was familiar with, although they are apparently a hot name in the world of modern design. The lights they have created exclusively for Urban Outfitters certainly justify the hype.

There is a table lamp or a wall sconce, which both have a bright coloured base with a wood pedestal. They are made from existing components that have been appropriated into a new use, and pleasingly for us, the end product has a midcentury aesthetic.

The lights cost $89 each from Urban Outfitters.

Whitby mug from Mini Moderns

Posted: 15 Jul 2011 01:44 AM PDT

Whitby mugIf you found yourself lusting over Mini Moderns' 1950s-inspired Whitby wallpaper but not able to run to the cost of a roll, they've launched a few options featuring this stylish design that are more purse friendly, such as this Whitby mug.

Featuring a detail of the distinctive seacape design, this mug is only available in one shade - the lido colour, which also matches one of the wallpaper colourways. The mug offers a taster for their full range of Whitby porcelain which is meant to be coming soon to their shop - we'll let you know when it does. Real enthusiasts can meanwhile invest in either or all of a cushion, canvas bag or a tea towel that also features the design. 

The mug costs £8. 

Buy it online

Pipe light by House Doctor DK

Posted: 15 Jul 2011 01:43 AM PDT

Pipe light
If you liked the industrial look of the reclaimed tap light we featured a few months back, here's another piece of lighting that uses the same idea: the pipe light by House Doctor DK

It's not obvious from the website but this looks like a new piece of product to me, rather than a re-use of old materials. Nevertheless, the light is sure to make a striking statement in any room. It's made from metal and available in black, white, red, or the eye-catching yellow option pictured. 

The light costs £68.

Buy it from Bodie and Fou 

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