Episode 32: A Blast from Creatures Con!

Commander Larry and Chief Engineer Bob made the visit to Creatures Con again this year and we have some great interviews to share (Recon Officer Karen was stuck in the satellite with a bad case of Venusian flu). 

Michael McCreery, proprietor of Mantiques in Fremont, California, shares with the boys his unique collectible, the Mecha-Creech! This modern day chimera is truly something to behold. Check the Sensor Sweep below to learn about this fantastic beast. And if you're ever in Fremont, stop at Mantiques at 37671 Niles Boulevard - you won't believe all the cool stuff there!

Returning guest C. Andrew Nelson, know to us for playing Darth Vader in many video games and other Lucas projects,  tells us about his latest project, Theme Parkology! If you have an interest in Disneyland and other theme parks, you'll want to hear about this new series that will explore the origins of various parks and their attractions. You can find Andrew at http://candrewnelson.com/, and you can see his amazing video fish tank at Aquatasy.

The multi-talented Strephon Taylor discusses the efforts to bring Creepy Koffee Movie Time to Amazon Prime, as well as the many documentaries he has produced over the years, including his recent one, I Believe in Halloween, and Jack Pierce, Maker of Monsters. You can find Strephon's movies at Novemberfire.com.

Our last guest was the man, the myth, the legend, the great John Stanley! John is well known in the Bay Area as the second host of Creature Features, the show started by Bob Wilkins which inspired so many people. John was a film critic for the San Francisco Chronicle for over 30 years, and besides hosting Creature Features, he has authored a number of books, including the notable Creature Features film guides. John is always a pleasure to talk to and he graciously spoke with us about his many projects, past and present. You can see John's work at http://creaturesatlarge.com/ and http://stanleybooks.net/catchall.htm.

Our Sensor Sweep this week is by Commander Larry and features the amazing Mecha-Creech. This vinyl figure is part Creature from the Black Lagoon, part Godzilla, and a crazed montage of skateboarding, heavy metal, and other references! Truly a wonder of the modern day.

Thanks again to our friends Lord Blood-Rah and Tom Wyrsch for putting on Creatures-Con and for having us once again! We had a blast! We're already looking forward to next year!

We hope you got a good taste of Creatures Con. Please share your thoughts, here, or at our other listening posts:

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Episode 9: Darth Vader Conquers Planet 8

Darth Vader...the Dark Lord of the Sith. One of the greatest villains in cinema history. From his fearsome look to his commanding voice to his dangerous mastery of the dark side, everything about him screams 'ultimate bad guy.' He's been impressing audiences since his first appearance in Star Wars in 1977 and now generations of fans have grown up with him through movies, animated shows, games, books, and toys. Join your Planet 8 crew as we discuss this legend - our earliest memories of Vader, favorite moments, and other thoughts.

Then, join us as we talk to... Darth Vader! Of course, fans know that David Prowse played Vader in the original trilogy (and James Earl Jones has provided the iconic voice of the character). But Prowse has not been the only actor to portray Vader. At Creatures Con in San Ramon, California, we had the good fortune to interview C. Andrew Nelson. Nelson has had an extensive career in the motion picture industry, beginning in visual effects with LucasArts and ILM. It was there that he was tapped to play Darth Vader! Nelson has played Vader in games, commercials, TV shows, and in the Special Edition. We got to talk to him about what it was like putting on that costume, and the many amazing experiences he has had! He's a fantastic storyteller. You can find out more about him at his site: http://candrewnelson.com/

Larry, C.Andrew Nelson (applying Force choke), Karen (on ipad), and Bob

For our Sensor Sweep, Karen looks at Marvel's Darth Vader comic series. She recommends the first 25 issues, by Kieron Gillen and Salvador Larroca, which picks up with Vader right after the destruction of the Death Star (the first one!). It's a great glimpse into the personality of the Dark Lord. These comics have been collected into trade paperbacks and can be found in stores, libraries, or at Amazon or sellers like In-Stock Trades.

That's all for this time! We hope you enjoy the show. Please share your thoughts in the comments section, or head over to Twitter or Facebook: 

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Thanks for Listening!