SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1979
Not only is Jim Steranko a comic book legend (his sixties S.H.I.E.L.D strips deserved their rare - for the UK - colour outing in CAPTAIN BRITAIN weekly although why his classic cover from Nick Fury Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D adorns the cover of FUTURE TENSE 1 is anyone's guess) but he has also published a number of works on geek media... including Marvel's FOOM (which I'll get to someday) and MEDIASCENE.
I must admit I was only vaguely aware of this tabloid seventies fanzine (launched as COMIXSCENE in late 1972, morphed into MEDIASCENE after its seventh issue and rebooted again - as PREVUE in 1980) until recently. Copies just don't seem to surface very often. Then, I stumbled across a dealer with multiple back issues and - on an (expensive) whim I decided to buy all the issues in his collection that prominently featured geek media productions I have a soft spot for. I wasn't disappointed.
Since then, I've been perplexed as to how to present them here. Their size means there's no way my A4 scanner will cope with them. The solution presented itself recently: a scanning app for my iPad. I don't think the results are 100% satisfying but - for now - it's the best solution I could devise.
I'll be posting more issues from time-to-time as I think their contents - and particularly their often stunning (and seldom seen) covers - are well worth a look.
This issue, from late 1979, heavily features THE BLACK HOLE and would have been on-sale just before the film hit movie theatres. It's a film I really enjoyed at the time on the big screen (I left the cinema positively dizzy after the climax) and, watching it again recently, I was still struck by (generally) how good it was. Sure, the plot is not great, the science highly dubious and the characterisation pretty thin but (apart from some rouge wire work) it looks and sounds amazing (I recently acquired a copy of John Barry's highly memorable score) with some really original production design (which - apart from the robots - successfully avoids the aesthetics of the STAR WARS universe so readily embraced by its rivals). I just wish Disney (who are still talking - in vague terms - of a remake) would pull their finger out and release a bells-and-whistles BR release that really raids the archives for the definitive screen experience.
This was big news in the school playground at the time so I was surprised - decades later - to discover it was only considered marginally successful, hence: no sequel. I think I read a quote somewhere (Tomart?) from the then-boss of toy maker MEGO who - as I recall - said sales of the tie-in toys were a disaster. If it makes him feel better, I had V.I.N.CENT, Maximilian and the Sentry Robot (who's internal elastic band snapped... requiring some parental maintenance). I'm sure I would have also owned B.O.B, S.T.A.R (nothing says "future" like robots with acronyms as names) and 'Humanoid' if the second wave of figures had reached the UK. I'm not sure - however I would have begged for Earnest Borgnine: the action figure.
many thanks for this....i've rarely come across any scans of this mag online...The Black Hole is one of my all time favourites..it left a lasting childhood impression upon me with its doom laden john barry score and super freaky ending...will we ever see its like again.?...i doubt it...this was a true once in a lifetime gem. I dont suppose you have the mediascene issues on alien, buck rogers and the martian chronicles ( another favourite of mine)..?
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It IS a great film, isn't it? One of those defining childhood movies. Did you collected the bubble gum cards? They were key playground currency at the time (along with the blue-border STAR WARS, SUPERMAN THE MOVIE, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA and assorted sticker sets). I also had (and - subsequently - bought again) the movie novelisation and a - long since lost - pop-up book based on the film.
DeleteI had the vaguest of vague memories of seeing THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES on the BBC when it first aired and being distinctly underwhelmed. At that time, I equated all SF to be strictly action/ adventure and found it dull and talky. Fortunately, in recent years I decided to take a punt on the DVD (I was expecting it to be the truncated theatrical edit and was pleasantly surprised to find it was the full TV version) and really enjoyed it.
So... when I was hunting through the stack of MEDIASCENE issues I did INDEED buy the MC issue. And the ALIEN one. And BUCK. And BATTLESTAR. And a particularly striking WONDER WOMAN TV cover.
I'm relatively pleased with how well these have scanned (you can read them!) so - over time - I'll add some of the other issues. I have one more already scanned (sadly not one of the ones you are seeking) and I'll do more as time allows.
Thanks for stopping by!
The Martian Chronicles was first aired in August 1980 ( I think ) and you were right to be underwhelmed - my father was so disappointed that he moaned and whined through the whole thing !
DeleteI never saw those cards.the only stuff i have is the novel and annual and a few figures....the martian chronicles also left a lasting impression and it has aged very well...i look forward to your future posts on mediascene
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