Talking 60s Shinobi
Tony Stella is an astounding painter whose brush work beckons to a previous era of movie poster glory. He’s also a must-genre film buff with a decades-ling passion for 1960s ninja films, and there’s a genuine exuberance in every word … Continued
Revelations on the silent-era ninja boom from an unlikely source
We’ve recently been blessed with the book Carnal Curses, Disfigured Dreams by Japanese cinema researcher Kigami Jigoku Kobayashi, and it inadvertently provided some jaw-dropping insight into the depth and breadth of ninja movies going back to the 1910s and how … Continued
Life stories of the Cannon-eers
As we enter a second month of shutdowns and quarantines (if we live in one of the smart spots of the world, that is) one’s ‘to-be-read’ book stack is probably dwindling. So it’s a great time to check out the … Continued
“Only a ninja can kill a ninja” and COVID19 is a virus, so…
If you’re reading this, COVID-19… the ‘Rona… has affected your life. You’re cooped up inside. You’re not changing clothes as often as you should, but who cares. You’re exhausting your to-be-read stacks and streaming queues. Frantically cleaning up the background … Continued
Shintaro in color
The Samurai was Japan’s first major ninja export to the English-speaking world, bringing the adventures of invincible sword-slinging detective Shintaro and his shinobi-sidekick Tonbei the Mist to millions of fervent fans in Australia in the mid-1960s and generations of followers … Continued
Some 1985 Ninja Apparel
Some of the most concise and enduring memories of those of us who lived through the 1980s ninja craze are mail order ads. By the middle of the decade, mail order ninja suits, weapons, posters and books nearly crowded the … Continued
Happy Holidays, and plans for the new year…
Hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season. Look for more from VN in one way or another in 2020. I’ve been absent on the new post front for a few months with real life in the way, but … Continued
The Earliest Hatsumi
Few realize multi-media ambassador and curator of modern ninjutsu Masaaki Hatsumi’s first exposure in the Western world came in a 1961 issue of a pulp fiction rag…
The VN Timeline: HOW NINJA CONQUERED THE WORLD
An exhaustive timeline of the 1980s ninja craze, from its prehistory in the 60s-70s to its premature fizzle by the 90s.
Early Western ninja in JUDO MASTER
Comic books never get enough credit for being the vanguards of entertainment movements, and their contributions are almost always overlooked in comparison to the big, break-through movie or TV show. But comics do two huge things that really lay the … Continued