Retro Spins: The Jets - Magic

Stepping right over their 1986 album, Christmas With The Jets, my return visit to the group is their 1987 album, Magic. Having not really gotten into their 1985 self titles album, I wasn't honestly expecting much from this particular record.

Well, as they say, when you have zero expectations, it's difficult to be disappointed.

It starts okay with the track, I Do You, but then immediately fumbles the ball with The Only Dance - A bland and boring ballad. I was fully prepared to check out at this point with the mindset that things weren't going to get any better from there.

Fortunately, this actually didn't happen. In fact, I heard a song I didn't even remember from the 80's, Make It Real, and added it to my shuffle mix. Not only had I forgotten about the song, but had no clue it was from The Jets. This then happened again when the song Rocket 2 U started playing, and then it happened a third time with Cross My Broken Heart. What the heck!?!? What's been going on in my life that I've been missing out on hearing these songs again?

When it was all said and done, I came away with three tracks for my shuffle from this album. Considering I expected to sit here bored through the whole thing, I'll take that with a smile. I may even go ahead and try to get their 1989 album, Believe, to see what's going on with it.

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Magic Magnetic Superman City (Remco)

Magic Magnetic Superman City
Remco
1966

If last week's Magic Magnetic Gotham City was out of your price range at $2000.00, then I'm afraid this week's Magic Magnetic Superman City isn't going to be much better. It's unfortunately just as rare and just as expensive.

Remco's Magnetic Superman City, much like the Gotham City playset, featured a magnetic Metropolis "map" which you could place cardboard buildings, such as the Hotel Metropolis and Daily Planet. To interact with it, the set included cardboard figures. These were, Clark Kent, Superman, Lois Lane, a robot, Strongman and a few cars. Once again, a plastic wand was included to move all the pieces around on their magnetic stands.

Admittedly, it's not as exciting as the Batman set, which seemed to include way more pieces than this particular one. Still, if you were a fan of Superman at this time, it's a pretty neat set. 

Not too many of these have been seen out in the wild, so unfortunately, chances are rather slim that you'll come across one. Like the aforementioned Gotham City set, these are Holy Grails for Superman and DC Comic collectors.

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Magic Magnetic Gotham City (Remco)

Magic Magnetic Gotham City
Remco
1966

These days, they just don't make play mats like they used to. Vintage ones have so much going on in terms of style, fun and play interaction. Be it a vinyl mat for the 4077, those generic, but always fun, city streets, or a magnetic Gotham City.

For the latter, you'd have to look to the 1966 Remco Magic Magnetic Gotham City. The set consisted of a magnetic Gotham City "map", which you could place cardboard buildings, a bat cave and various punch out characters. The set even contained vehicles, such as, planes and cars - One of which, was of course, was the Batmobile - All of which were set up on magnetic bases.

As for the characters, these featured the likes of Batman, Robin, Catwoman, The Penguin and The Joker. With them, you could create hours of fun as the stories in your head unfolded on the mat before you. Basic design, but hours of potential fun.

Unfortunately, this set is by no means easy to come by these days. They're very few and far between. A complete set can easily set you back close to two thousand dollars. It's by no means for the average collector.

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