Torment of the “Top 10”
I was asked by the film review site SoReelFlix last month to contribute a Top 10 ninja films list. After a month of notes I had about 30 bare essential films and realized an outright Top 10 wasn’t going to … Continued
Shame on you, kung-fu kangaroos!
Remember during the home video explosion how many low-end kung-fu movies got cheap new package art and “ninja”-centric re-titles? I got burned so many times at the video store by this, fuming when the 70’s ‘chop-sockey’ playing on my VHS … Continued
Dragon Force Ninja
One small… small… step above the generic 80’s rack figure would be this line of Remco and Norris Kommando compatible figures from the Lanard company. Dragon Force Ninja Dragonmaster figures came in at least three colors — black, white and red … Continued
A 1962 point of view
I’ve had this old beater copy of Zen Combat — Jay Gluck‘s ground-breaking 1962 treatise on Japanese martial arts – for years but never got around to cracking open its aging pages until recently. Finding a full chapter on ninja, written … Continued
Let’s go shopping!
Did you get cash or coal in your stocking Tuesday morning? Well, if it was cash, and it’s burning a hole in your pocket, then here’s some choice items on eBay right now: Ruby Spears animation cell of the Ninja … Continued
Have a safe and happy holiday season!
And for those of you who get anything sharp and pointy from Santa, don’t put your eye out…
Norris ninja knock-off
This 5″ generic figure, re-cast from something in the Chuck Norris Karate Kommandos scale, is nothing to write home about, however the card it came on… …is absolutely off the chain! Love this illo and the savagely 80’s green star … Continued
Even more hand-colored CASTLE OF OWLS stills
I just can’t stop rescuing these from dealers in Thailand… And why not? I love hand-tinted antique photos, and these are from my favorite ninja film ever (and the one I’ve written about the most on this site, too). Some … Continued
80s capsule vending machine trinkets
They line the fronts of department stores, supermarkets and pharmacies to this day. Capsule-dispensing machines can cost upward of $2.00 nowadays for their near-worthless plastic junk, illustrated hologram stickers and granite-like gobstoppers half the size of a kid’s head, but during … Continued
HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Collegeville Ninja Costume – 1986
Felt obligated to get a quick Halloween post in this year in the midst of all the book stuff going down at FPU. This Collegeville kids vinyl costume is from 1986, with art based on the classic ninja dart board. … Continued