FROM THE MAILBAG

For me, part of the initial appeal of blogging was a hope to encounter like-minded folks, but I had no inkling that these kindred spirits would go as far as sending me actual, real world parcels of goodies. In past months a number of stray trinkets, songs, novelties, artworks, and of course, skeletons have found a home here among my secret fun stuff. I thought I'd share these "care packages" with everyone (all the images enlarge when you click 'em), and acknowledge their generous senders.

The first one came from Todd, the mayor of Neatocoolville. I came across his Flickr page and blog last summer and I was shocked by the many forgotten relics of my childhood that I saw. Given the time I've spent remembering stuff, the unearthing of 'new' lost memories is a rare and welcome treat. Todd makes his living dealing within the happy halls of flea markets and junk shops, which is where I assume he stumbled upon the following items (which reminded him of my ramblings). I was delighted to receive this collection of past products, all of which were once available thorough the mail order catalogs of yesteryear. (The skeleton actually arrived separately in conjunction with the legendary Skeleton Countdown)...


Now I'm able to squirt 275 different people before having to refill (great for long vacations) and my complexion has never been better. Thanks Todd.

Another package of goodness came just in time for Halloween. John Rozum is a man who has found himself in control of the destinies of many of our favorite pop culture icons, from Scooby- Doo to Mulder and Scully to Batman; which is to say he writes comic books. He also blogs it up regularly. John shares my passion for amassing forgotten musical gems and therefore sent me two excellently eerie, hand-picked Halloween mixes that were later followed by a Christmas collection. The CDs were well guarded by a team of stretchy skeletons (that narrowly missed countdown time).

He read my mind and included the theme to PBS show Mystery! If you'd like it too, I've uploaded it here (do a 'save as'). Thanks again John!

You may recall good ol' "Skeleton #8." Well, he arrived among a slew of other prizes that were bestowed by Devlin Thompson, an artist, designer, comic shop owner, and mad scientist who carouses in the same dreamland where my heart vacations. Devlin accumulates, recreates, and originates vintage-inspired treasures and has such a fondness for the subject matter that it's tough to distinguish the old from the new. Take a look at the smorgasbord of experiments, leftovers, repros, fliers, calling cards, and pure art that he sent...

Note the spot-on reproduction of the mini Shogun Warriors coloring book. Every page is present and the pages feel like the very pulp we colored on as kids. You can also see his recreation of the skeleton key chain header card that originally went with Skeleton #19.
I envy Devlin's technical means and know-how which allows him to unleash his creations into the third dimension. Check out these pinback buttons he made...


And I thought this "fun mask" was something I'd seen in my non-sports card price guide until I noticed his personal logo in the bottom corner (he rescued the abandoned Fisher-Price logo, and another of his logos is a take on Marvin Glass's)...

Also included was this flip-book of Jack Davis monsters beautifully reprinted on a ribbon-like substance that is completely foreign to a web-dwelling guy like me...


The coolest piece is this great original comic strip called The Dweam of the Wabbit Fiend which is presented as though it were torn from an ancient publication, folded, and sealed in a mysterious envelope. Thus, the nicely executed bit of sequential art becomes part of a larger physical experience (When I first opened it I felt like it was something I had discovered in my grandpa's chest of drawers).

Then a few months later, I get blasted with more booty! Even the stamps have immense aesthetic value...


There's a great Christmas tag...

a "telephone doodle"...


...a fantasy monster candy box, the unintentionally hilarious Hulk card at the top of this post, a countdown-worthy skeleton, a custom made dime store toy, et-glorious-cetera. The meat of this array (brilliantly packaged in an old Laverne and Shirley puzzle; the pieces serve as packing material) is a CD's worth of Dylan covers from the 1965-71. Everyone from Johnny Cash to the Chipmunks are spewing Bob D.
Someday you'll be able to see Devlin's stuff online at www.spook-town.com but in the meantime I hope you enjoyed the preview. Great job Devlin. I can't wait to see the stuff you're still hiding!