Retro Fan #28 September/October 2023 (magazine review).
The latest issue of ‘Retro Fan’ begins with another exploration of Beatlemania’s impact on the United States, highlighting the assortment of albums and merchandise associated with the phenomenon. Although briefly mentioned, the article could benefit from a deeper investigation into the numerous cover versions of Beatles songs produced during this period.
A viewing on UK digital Channel 65 revealed a surprising number of covers that meticulously replicated the original music and lyrics without alteration. This reflects a notable difference in how Beatlemania was commercialized in the US compared to the UK, with the former seemingly producing more merchandise and trivial items.
Will Murray’s article takes a look at Hercules, starting with the Italian films featuring the late Steve Reeves and subsequently other muscular actors in the titular role. The piece predominantly focuses on the animated version of Hercules, whose appearance notably mirrors that of a certain Man of Steel. This incarnation of the demi-god Hercules relies on a ring from Zeus for his strength on Earth, with his adventures compressed into five-minute episodes.
Michael Jacot shares his fascination with the TV Guide Fall Specials in his piece. These specials provided in-depth coverage of the autumn debuts of various sitcoms, westerns, crime dramas, and science fiction series. The list of shows mentioned in the article also indicates which of these programs made it to UK audiences and which did not.
For readers unfamiliar with actress Trina Parks, she played Thumper in the 1971 James Bond film ‘Diamonds Are Forever’. Although her career launched from this role, I must confess I haven’t seen any of her subsequent works, though there are a couple listed that might pique my interest if offered at a more reasonable price.
Scott Saavedra’s piece, titled ‘The Life And Legend Of The Frito Bandito’, initially seems to focus on a snack company’s Mexican mascot. However, it delves deeper, examining the depiction of Mexicans in media and advertising, addressing racial stereotypes, and providing valuable insights into these representations.
Andy Mangels continues his examination of the animated ‘Superfriends’ series, noting the addition of more regional characters to the team in 1979-80, despite a reduction in the number of episodes. This transition was followed by the adaptation of the series into a comic book, completing a sort of creative cycle.
I was previously unfamiliar with the term “Nehru jacket”, despite having seen it worn by iconic bands like the Beatles and the Monkees. Michael Eury’s article sheds light on this design by Pierre Cardin.
Scott Shaw! details the career of Jean Romer (also known as Lisa Clark), or Moona Lisa, the horror queen who graced American TV screens with scripts of her own creation, filling time slots around shorter horror films. UK audiences might find this particularly intriguing due to the absence of a comparable figure in British television. For those who think they haven’t seen Romer or her sister Laura, they might recognize the pair from their childhood roles in Hitchcock’s 1942 film ‘Saboteur’.
Closing the issue, Fred Grandinetti provides readers with a tour of his Popeye collection, sharing how it served as a comfort to him during instances of bullying in his school years.
Overall, this issue of ‘Retro Fan’ offers an abundance of reading material and a nostalgic journey, even featuring content readers may not have previously encountered.
GF Willmetts
September 2023
(pub: TwoMorrows Publishing. 82 page magazine. Price: $10.95. (US). ISSN: 2576-7224. Direct from them, you can get it for $ (US))
check out website: www.TwoMorrows.com and https://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=98_152&products_id=1705
