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21 Jul 2009

ZOKU SHINOBI NO MONO press stills (part 2)

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 1 - Film and TV | 0

The Shinobi no Mono films not only revolutionized the way ninjutsu was portrayed in film, they changed the very notion of ninja characters. Raizo Ichikawa was the perfect victim protagonist – the lone man struggling to survive in a world that … Continued

Raizo Ichikawa, Shinobi no Mono
20 Jul 2009

ZOKU SHINOBI NO MONO press stills (part 1)

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 1 - Film and TV | 2

These sepia-toned (and aging poorly) 8×10’s are from either a theatrical lobby promo kit or a studio press kit contemporary to the 1963 theatrical release of ninja blockbuster Zoku Shinobi no Mono (Return of the Band of Assassins, ). Raizo … Continued

Raizo Ichikawa, Shinobi no Mono
17 Jul 2009

My icon explained…

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 3 - Toys and Merch | 2

Couple folk have asked about my icon on Twitter or Facebook. It’s an image of where my worlds of ninja fandom, pro wrestling mark and obseesive toy collector meet – a Japanese capsule figure of ninja-themed 80’s pro-wrestler The Great … Continued

pro wrestlers
16 Jul 2009

First print ad for this site…

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 5 - Art and Advertising | 0

Many thanks to longtime friend and co-conspirator Rafael Navarro for giving us the back inside cover to the new Sonambulo Lives! comic, which makes it’s debut at this year’s ComiCon International in San Diego.

kurozukin
15 Jul 2009

YATSUHA in “Samurai Champloo”

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 1 - Film and TV | 0

Samurai Champloo is now available as a lower-priced box set, so I’ll re-purpose an old Ninja80 post here. I was a huge mark for Cowboy BeBop, but the creative team’s follow-up series failed to make the same impact with me… until … Continued

Samurai Champloo
13 Jul 2009

FUJIMARU book-n-record (PART 2)

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 4 - Collectibles | 0

The adventure continues… Fujimaru had a rather large friend from above his whole life – a giant eagle. It was all part of a well-balanced mix of genuine historical weaponry and credible martial arts with superhero-like powers and outright magic. … Continued

Fujimaru, Shirato Sanpei
11 Jul 2009

SAVITAR – best ninja figure of the 80’s?

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 3 - Toys and Merch | 0

For the most part, 80’s ninja figures released in the U.S. resembled the cheesy straight-to-video movie costuming or equally lame ninja suits sold in the back of Soldier of Fortune magazine. Re-mold a He-Man in black pajamas, paint the head … Continued

10 Jul 2009

FUJIMARU book-n-record (PART 1)

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 4 - Collectibles | 0

Growing up in the pre-home video era often meant the only way to relive your favorite movie or TV property was the now extinct book-n-record. I positively wore out my GI Joe, Frankenstein and Planet of the Apes comic book / … Continued

Fujimaru, Shirato Sanpei
6 Jul 2009

Dear various network suits…

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 5 - Art and Advertising | 0

…please greenlight this now! NOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWW!!!! FWAK!’s Dead Ringo developmental project

DEAD RINGO
30 Jun 2009

Airborne combat in LEGEND OF KAMUI

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 2 - Books and Manga | 1

With the movie pending, I’m re-reading and re-loving Shirato Sanpei‘s second run of Kamui manga. The godfather of ninja comics debuted the character in 1964, then re-imagined the property as a more grown up and severe manga in the 80’s. Kamui … Continued

kamui, Shirato Sanpei

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Welcome to VINTAGE NINJA — dedicated to old ninja movies from Japan’s 60s boom to the 80s American exploitation craze and beyond, with a ton of vintage toys, comics, and sharp pointy stuff thrown in for good measure.

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50+ Japanese ninja movies reviewed

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