The Toy Box

Comics Corner: The Amazing Spider-Man 270

Title: The Amazing Spider-Man
Issue Number: 270
Release Date: November 1985

Highlights

First appearance of Mr. Ercoli, and Mr. Cameron
Firelord retrieves his staff from the river, and emerges from the waters angrier than ever
The Avengers get a distress call that Firelord is on the rampage
Firelord catches up to Spider-Man, and the battle begins again
Spider-Man sees some workers prepping to blow a building, and lures Firelord inside, escaping just as the place blows, and crumbles to the ground
When that doesn't stop Firelord, Spider-Man lures him to a gas station where he blows up an entire row of abandoned housing
When that still doesn't stop Firelord, Spider-Man has had enough, and simply goes on the attack, beating the God into unconsciousness before being stopped by the Avengers
Though he's won the battle, the wreckage in its wake is astronomical
If action is what you want, action is what you get, nonstop, page after page

Low Points

None

Oddities

None

Rating (based on a 1 through 5 Stans grading system)

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Retro Spins: Van Halen - Diver Down

When you're an established band, you owe it to your fans to bring to each album 100%. So, when you've released four successful albums back-to-back, in my book you have no business then phoning it in to release what essentially equates to a cover album. It's lazy. It's a cash grab. It's disrespectful to your fans. But here we are, 1982's Diver Down, and Van Halen is doing just that.

Though a hiatus was initially planned, Roth and Eddie agreed to record a remake of Roy Orbison's (Oh) Pretty Woman. Unexpectedly, the song flew up the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number twelve. It's success prompted Warner Bros. to push and eventually persuade the band to return to the studio, where Diver Down was slapped together in just two weeks.

Diver Down would chart better than the previously released, Fair Warning. However, by this point in time, both lead singer and guitarist were constantly clashing over musical styles, and the band's overall direction. During this time, Eddie would also set to work on the soundtrack for the 1984 film, The Wild Life. This experimentation period of drum machines and synthesizers would ultimately be what shaped the direction for what would become their next studio album, and final with David, MCMLXXXIV, AKA 1984.

But we're getting too far ahead. First, we have to pump the brakes and wade through the cover laden mess that is, Diver Down. Plus, I've already done a Retro Spin on the aforementioned mega album.

As a whole, this album doesn't work for me. I said it above, and I stand by it. It's lazy. It's a cash grab. It's disrespectful to your fans.

Yes, the instrumentation of it all is sold. The gravely vocals of Roth come through, and as a whole it hits every note, no pun intended, that is Van Halen's signature style. However, it doesn't offer anything necessarily new. Songs like (Oh) Pretty Woman, and Dancing In The Streets, don't necessarily need to be reenvisioned. Let alone by David Lee Roth, Eddie and Alex Van Halen, and Michael Anthony. Especially, when the latter is quite frankly abysmal. It's pretty bad when the David Bowie and Mick Jagger produce single are a better version.

I will give a slight nod of approval to (Oh) Pretty Woman, and mainly because it was the standout single that made me buy the album. I also didn't realize, until today, that there was an interlude that preceded the song. Combined with it, it's pretty okay. A cash grab, nonetheless, but okay.

Again, I will attest that I really like Van Halen when that quirky Lee Roth style comes through, and it doesn't any greater than with the unique, Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now), and even sillier Happy Trails. They're both so out of place on the album but bring with them so much charm that you just have to love them.

My next stop on the Van Halen train is the first to feature "new" singer, Sammy Hagar. Like I said above, I've already played through MCMLXXXIV. I definitely prefer the David Lee Roth era of the band, so it'll be interesting to dive into this one.

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Comics Corner: The Amazing Spider-Man 269

Title: The Amazing Spider-Man
Issue Number: 269
Release Date: October 1985

Highlights

First appearance of Tony's Pizza
Reference is made to Dazzler The Movie: A Marvel Graphic Novel, and Secret Wars II
Aunt May asks Peter to go back to school
At Aunt May's house, the news talks about the terror of mutants, and this broadcast continues on the television at Tony's Pizza
Firelord arrives at Tony's Pizza, intent on getting himself a pie, but ends up starting to destroy the place when the owner says his ovens aren't heated up yet because he's still serving breakfast
A construction worker witnesses the carnage, and gathers some fellow workers to help stop the mutant
As Peter leaves his Aunt's home, she asks him to think about their conversation (about returning to school)
Nathan meets up with Peter, and starts reading him the riot act about how badly he treats his Aunt, to which Peter tells him that he's out of line
A shadowy figure follows Peter Parker, happy he's found him at last, but who is he?
Reference is made to Secret Wars II, and Fantastic Four 278
Back at the pizza parlor, the workers blast Firelord with a water hose, which sends him into a rage
Spider-Man relieves Firelord of his staff, which only angers the God more, and then throws it into the river

Firelord dives in after it

Spider-Man makes his way towards the Baxter Building, seeking out the Fantastic Four, only to remember when he gets there that the building was recently demolished, and he has no clue where they are
Spider-Man considers changing into his Peter Parker clothes, and letting Firelord be someone else's problem, but after seeing a photo of him, his aunt, and uncle, he decides to fight, or die, as Spider-Man, lest others be harmed by Firelord

Low Points

Martha and Sophie are doting over Peter, and Nathan thinks to himself that they shouldn't because he doesn't deserve it because how he treats his Aunt is disgraceful

I guess he means by giving them his already limited money
Always helping
Peter than offers his own seat to someone else, saying he's going to go help his aunt in the kitchen

Nathan should shut up

Oddities

None

Rating (based on a 1 through 5 Stans grading system)

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Retro Spins: Van Halen - Fair Warning

Amsterdam natives Eddie and Alex Van Halen moved to Pasadena, California with their family in 1962. It was after this move that Eddie began learning classical music by ear on the piano and started playing music with his brother. While Eddie would play the drums, and Alex the guitar, while working to pay for his drums, brother Alex would secretly be getting proficient with them. The two would ultimately switch rolls, with Eddie taking up the strings, and Alex taking the sticks.

They'd for their first group, Broken Combs in 1964, gaining popularity around their local area by playing parties, and school functions. From there, they'd see multiple name changes, starting with Trojan Rubber Co., then Genesis. However, when they learned there was already a band by that name, they switched to Mammoth. Eddie was featured on both vocals and guitars, his brother on drums, and friend, Mark Stone on bass.

While they rented a sound-system from local, David Lee Roth, who was also in a band, they felt it would help them save money by inviting the singer to join them. At first, the styles of Roth and Eddie clashed, but ultimately the change allowed the guitarist to focus more on song composition. They'd adopt the name, Van Halen in 1973. Continuing to play at local clubs, festivals, backyard events, and anywhere else they could book, the band often found themselves drawing attention from the authorities over noise complaints. Despite this, they tenaciously self-promoted themselves, which in turn garnered them a solid following of fans.

By 1974, Stone was unsure about his future in rock music. As a result, he was replaced by Michael Anthony Sobolewski after an all-night jam session with the band. It was also around this time that the band booked themselves a long-term gig at the Sunset Strip club Gazzarri's.

Radio DJ, Rodney Bingenheimer, would catch a show of Van Halen, and being so impressed would contact Gene Simmons of Kiss, convincing him to come see the band. Also taken aback by their show, Simmons would bring the band into the studio, and produce a twenty-nine-track demo, entitled Zero. While the Kiss bassist wanted to see them go further, his hands were tied when his manager informed him that Van Halen had no chance of making it.

Van Morrison's band leader guitarist, Doug Messenger knew that producer Ted Templeton was looking for a guitar hero act, and remembering Van Halen, pointed him towards the band. Warner Bros. executive Mo Ostin and producer Ted Templeman would go see Van Halen perform at the Starwood in Hollywood, providing them a letter of intent written on a napkin.

The band was to meet the two at a diner the following day to sign a contract, but on the way there, would have issues with their vehicle breaking down. Rather than risk meeting the meeting, the boys would literally run the rest of the way, arriving just a bit later than expected. From there, they released their debut, and for more on that, check out yesterday's post, where I already covered a bit on both it and their follow-up.

As for today, we come to 1981's Fair Warning.

For its release, Eddie desired a darker and more complex songs. While this clashed with Roth's more pop style, he, and producer Templeton, acquiesced to the change.

Upon its release, Fair Warning stumbled, proving to be less popular than prior albums. However, it would eventually reach a platinum status. It's biggest selling point would be the single, Unchained. Unfortunately, unlike prior singles, it would fail to hit the Billboard Hot 100.

Playing through it, that staple Van Halen sound is there. Heavy rock, with great guitar work from Eddie as his fingers flame across the strings. You definitely get what you expect, and mind you, that's the good with the bad.

The bad being that again there are minimal hits here. A good album. Sure. But songs I want to hear over and over again? No.

Like my previous listening session of Women And Children First, I bought this album for one track, and well, here we are again. That's really all I'm getting from it - The aforementioned single.

Mind you, again, it's not a bad alum. It's just not one that has songs on it that I need to personally hear again. I wouldn't hate it if I did, but I'm also not going to actively look to do so.

Van Halen followed up Fair Warning with what I will forever call their biggest misstep, 1982's Diver Down. I'll get into more on that tomorrow, but let's just say I don't respect the band for what they did. Cliffhanger ending!

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