Best of vintage ninja COMICS for Comic-Con week…
It is yet again ComiCon week down in San Diego. Yet while the nerd-world’s attention is hyper-focused on the breaking news and goings-on of the convention, its core reason for existence — the comic book industry — is increasingly irrelevant, … Continued
On our 9th Birthday, here’s 9 gifts WE gave the world
Nine years ago this weekend, this site’s first posts went live. We typically celebrate the anniversary of our launch by reposting our first feature — press stills from Akai Kageboshi — but we decided to change things up this year. … Continued
Turnbull calls BULL!
Stephen Turnbull, noted author of ninja books from a military history perspective, riddles his former work with shuriken in the remarkable new NINJA: UNMASKING THE MYTH.
SASUKE on the fence
I hope you’ve all pre-ordered Dr. Stephen Turnbull’s Ninja: Unmasking the Myth (available May 3rd). I’m about finished my review copy and am working on both a review and with luck an interview with the good doctor himself. In the meantime, … Continued
I can finally enjoy THE MASTER
Back in 1984, at least for this teenage ninja-maniac, four words began a turning point for the ninja craze: “Hi, I’m Max Keller.” Timothy Van Patten‘s intro to each episode of The Master has since become iconic for me. His … Continued
R.I.P. WAKA…
We’re saddened by the news of the passing of Wakako Kawagoshi-Fisher, who was a collaborator and model for both From Parts Unknown and the predecessor to this site Ninja80. Condolences to the Fishers and her family in Japan, we’ve lost … Continued
THE LAST NINJA is the last piece of the puzzle…
What’s part Die Hard, part Kung-Fu, part Batman and obscure as hell for no logical reason? It is the 1983 made-for-TV predecessor to The Master, arguably one of if not the best 80’s American ninja craze films made, but virtually un-recognized, … Continued
Talking MAGIC SERPENT on “Nerd Lunch”
I take any chance I can get to turn folks on to the ninja / kaiju genre-bender Magic Serpent (Kairyu Daikessen, aka Dragon Showdown and many other retitles), so when the invite came from Paxton and Jeeg to co-chair the … Continued
Kagemaru Tattoos
The rarest antiques are the things that are the most disposable when produced, and its hard to think of anything (outside of ice cream bars maybe) with a shorter shelf life than a sheet of temporary tattoos for kids. Somehow … Continued
Sugoroku “boards”
Hot damn are paper “Sugoroku” game board sheets just the coolest! The 300 year old board game akin to Chutes and Ladders (“Snakes and Ladders” for you Europeans), is aimed at adults and children alike, is a New Year’s tradition in … Continued