Kurt Röschl (1923-1986) was an Austrian graphic artist and painter who illustrated various science-fiction stories in the 1950s. There’s not much information about him online, but it seems he illustrated quite a lot of books for Erich Dolezal (1902-1990), another Austrian. Continue reading “The Art of Kurt Röschl”
Norman Bel Geddes was an American industrial designer and futurist who had a major influence on the streamlined Art Deco design of the 1930s and 40s.
Few of Geddes’ designs came to fruition. A notable exception was the General Motors Pavilion at the 1939 New York World’s Fair, also known as Futurama.
One of his unrealized designs was “Airliner Number 4,” a nine-deck amphibian airliner that he sketched in 1929. Continue reading “Norman Bel Geddes’ Fantastical Airliner”
MCM Com Con has built up quite a lot of fame with its conventions in the United Kingdom, in particular the one in London. They are now expanding to mainland Europe and slowly building up that same reputation here. If the first edition of MCM Comic Con Belgium is anything to go by, they’re on the right track. Continue reading “MCM Comic Con Belgium”
Dr DOA is the latest installment in Simon R. Green’s Secret History series. Once again, we find Eddie Drood and Molly Metcalf on a mission that seems hopeless.
Of course, that doesn’t stop our intrepid heroes from fighting the good fight, beating clues out of bad people and doing what they can to guarantee the outcome of the story. Continue reading “Dr DOA”
Originally, this convention appeared on the Belgian convention schedule last summer, as a small but fun day. This year, with the name changed to Comic Con Gent (Gent spelled the Dutch way), they came back seemingly out of the blue, bigger (literally) and stronger than the year before. Continue reading “Starcom/Comic Con Gent”
Guy Ritchie — maker of the two recent steampunky Sherlock Holmes movies starring Robert Downey, Jr. — gives us a great spy-fi comedy adventure this summer that dieselpunk fans ought to be interested in.
Although the The Man from U.N.C.L.E., based on the 1960s television series of the same name, takes place in the post-dieselpunk era, it contains many of the genre’s tropes and themes: spies, unrepentant Nazis in a plot against the two superpowers, missing nuclear weapons, speedboats, helicopters, industrial decors reminiscent of Thunderbirds and dashing Space Age costumes. Continue reading “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.”
This amazing book of illustrations isn’t just a must-have for fans of the Disney parks, but also for those who love beautiful retro and vintage posters. That’s exactly what the many advertisements in Disney parks are famous for.
It’s a great way to get acquainted with beautiful art of parks you’ve never visited and get reacquainted with those you have. Continue reading “Poster Art of the Disney Parks”
Big Hero 6 may seem like the umptieth Disney movie, especially the umptieth digitally animated one. Considering it’s by the team of Frozen, people may expect something along those lines. Nothing could be further from the truth. Big Hero 6 is one of the best things released by Disney since well, quite a while.
This Marvel/Disney collaboration is proof that both companies should work together more often. The film is not only a magnificent feat when it comes to animation, but also has the same kind of imaginative storytelling and feel of adventure that Marvel movies have become famous for in the last decade. Continue reading “Big Hero 6”
Simon R. Green returns with his latest, and seventh, installment in the Secret History series. One of the quintessential three in the same major plotline and setting (the other two being Ghost Finders and the Nightside).
Just like in many other books, characters from other settings play a part in this one. I shan’t divulge who exactly, as that would be spoilers. But I will tell you that Nightside fans won’t be disappointed. Continue reading “Property of a Lady Faire”
The past edition was a major anniversary for FACTS as the convention was celebrating it’s 20th anniversary. Their website and on site brochure promised a lot of fun, ranging from workshops to lectures, meet and greet with famous people from movie and art industry, a cosplay competition, gaming area, etc, …
In short: plenty of things to see and do and if you had spare cash to in your wallet: a wide variety of vendors to spend said money. Continue reading “FACTS”
