chrisbaker1337
@chrisbaker1337.bsky.social
180 followers 610 following 52 posts
Writer and editor in the Bay Area https://linktr.ee/popculturalprecursors
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chrisbaker1337.bsky.social
The travel writer who first introduced zombies to pop culture was also a cannibal who wrote about the smell, taste, and texture of human flesh with the relish of a restaurant critic. Read about his twisted life and legacy at the link below or in bio. www.popculturalprecursors.com/p/the-father...
1933 photo of William Seabrook by Carl Van Vechten. Black and White portrait of William Seabrook with his hand on some sort of death visage, presumably an African or Caribbean artifact. The image is annotated with the text: “Writer. Adventurer. Cannibal. ‘The aroma was wholly pleasant. It had no weird, startling,  or unholy special flavor—it was mild, good meat.’—William Seabrook, the man who introduced zombies to America (and ate human flesh)”
chrisbaker1337.bsky.social
The travel writer who first introduced zombies to pop culture was also a cannibal who wrote about the smell, taste, and texture of human flesh with the relish of a restaurant critic. Read about his twisted life and legacy at the link below or in bio. www.popculturalprecursors.com/p/the-father...
1933 photo of William Seabrook by Carl Van Vechten. Black and White portrait of William Seabrook with his hand on some sort of death visage, presumably an African or Caribbean artifact. The image is annotated with the text: “Writer. Adventurer. Cannibal. ‘The aroma was wholly pleasant. It had no weird, startling,  or unholy special flavor—it was mild, good meat.’—William Seabrook, the man who introduced zombies to America (and ate human flesh)”
chrisbaker1337.bsky.social
I have a piece in the Deadland Press Kozy Krampus cosmic Christmas horror anthology, which is out now. Pick it up and check out my story “‘The I Night I Defeated the Demon of Winter’ from Chapter XLVIII of the autobiography of Sir Gottfried von Berlichingen”

www.underlandpress.com/kozy-krampus/
chrisbaker1337.bsky.social
Thanks! Yes I think I'll post it in some form, and I believe it was recorded
chrisbaker1337.bsky.social
My latest article pinpoints the original inspiration of all superheroes who got their powers from radiation, from the Hulk to the Fantastic 4: a bizarre thought experiment that ran in a 1953 mag. Read the unbelievable history at the link below or in bio.
www.popculturalprecursors.com/p/the-origin...
The opening illustration of the article “How Nuclear Radiation Can Change Our Race” that appeared in the December 1953 issue of Mechanix Illustrated. We see the jagged ruins of a human building in front of futuristic high-rises off in the distance. A group of feral, disheveled humans in ragged tattered clothing are being attacked by two superior mutant men. The mutant men are elongated, with giant swollen hairless heads. They wear futuristic garb that exposes their arms and legs, and one of them wields a laser rifle. He is in the process of blasting one hapless human man in the chest with a powerful burst of laser blasts. The headline for the article is written atop the image, and we see the dek and the byline: “An atomic war could produce an entirely new species of man. Would he be friend—or foe? By O. O. Binder”
chrisbaker1337.bsky.social
That would explain why the Minion in the background is reacting so violently…
Reposted by chrisbaker1337
3lobedmag.com
72% of our funding goal with only 45 hours left. We need your support now to publish another year of stories that are strange terrifying numinous inspiring queer heartening subversive unexpected intrepid. kck.st/4mIkEm1
A parade of strange creatures, along with the 3LBE icon and cover artwork.
chrisbaker1337.bsky.social
I saw this coin-op E.T. at the annual Bell Plastics open house event in Hayward, CA. (They collect all kinds of weird and wonderful artifacts.) I was immensely bummed that it wasn’t plugged in and functional, as I couldn’t quite wrap my head around how a kid would “ride” this. Does anyone know?
Photo: Coin-operated E.T. that you ride, like the little coin-op horsies and rockets that you used to see outside of grocery stores. There is a yellow bollard behind it that’s kitted out to look like a Minion.
chrisbaker1337.bsky.social
130 years ago, comics were violent & crude, celebrating unassimilated immigrants & disrespecting every form of authority. They created pop culture as we know it, according to historian Peter Maresca. Read more & see some of the works he's unearthed here:
www.popculturalprecursors.com/p/how-newspa...
How newspaper comics created pop culture
A Q&A with Peter Maresca about the chaos and brilliance of 130 year-old Sunday funnies
www.popculturalprecursors.com
chrisbaker1337.bsky.social
This game dev came up with the perfect solution to the philosophical dilemma: Gotta Squish 'Em All. bsky.app/profile/byda...
bydandans.bsky.social
#TheTrolleySolution is almost here!
(Really Really Close)

Here’s a sneak peek of the super serious philosophical gameplay you can expect.

Wishlist now on Steam!
store.steampowered.com/app/3219410/...

#screenshotsaturaday
chrisbaker1337.bsky.social
1901 comic imagines a future where zeppelins clog the skies. Click the link to see more amazing old illustrations and read about Society Is Nix: Gleeful Anarchy at the Dawn of the American Comic Strip 1895-1915, available from @fantagraphics.bsky.social. www.popculturalprecursors.com/p/how-newspa...
Eddie Eksergian’s 1901 comic in the St. Louis Star envisions a future where zeppelins clog our skies. We see over a dozen people traveling with aerial balloons, including a cop, a dog, a massive Astorbuilt Private Airline for the wealthy, and a floating bar called Milky-Way tavern.
chrisbaker1337.bsky.social
An inventor tunnels to the realm of the elastic men. This 1910 comic is one of many amazing works unearthed in Society Is Nix: Gleeful Anarchy at the Dawn of the American Comic Strip 1895-1915, available from @fantagraphics.bsky.social. See more here: www.popculturalprecursors.com/p/how-newspa...
Panel from “Old Opie Dildock’s Stories” newspaper comic from April 17, 1910. The inventor Opie Dildock has reached a subterranean realm in his earth boring machine the Germanicholad. He peers out the window of his machine, puffing on a cigar, and ogles the strange stretchy race of colorful elastic people he sees there. Panel from “Old Opie Dildock’s Stories” newspaper comic from April 17, 1910. A cutaway reveals inventor Opie Dildock inside of his earth boring machine the Germanicholad, sitting at a writing desk, while the gyroscope in the compartment beneath him spins furiously. The caption reads: “The germanicholad was working beautifully. The gyroscope underneath the pivotal deck preserved the machine's balance absolutely, and I devoted much time to writing as we neared the center of the earth.” Panel from “Old Opie Dildock’s Stories” newspaper comic from April 17, 1910. Opie Dildock has befriended an elastic person. The caption reads: “Elongated Chico I called him, for he was long of body and limb. Talking with him, I forgot to calculate distance, and suddenly we shot through the outer crust of the earth at the south pole. Chico, assisted by the laws of gravitation, came to my rescue by hooking his feet in the earth. holding the machine in his hands and stretching about four miles before he could check our flight. He then dragged us back to earth and helped me climb a sheer wall of ice.” In these panels from “Old Opie Dildock’s Stories” newspaper comic from April 17, 1910. The inventor befriends one of the elastic men and gives him a cigar, which makes the creature melt. Caption reads, “Then I sat down on the pole, playfully called Chico the most flexible person I ever had met and gave him one of my favorite cigars. His puffing was ludicrous as well as fatal, for as he smoked, the fumes of the tobacco melted him and he flowed over the ice and was no more. Faithful servitor! Because of him I never have told the world the story of my discovery. On the spot where he had smoked I planted a huge cigar. Then sadly I wended my way homeward.”
Reposted by chrisbaker1337
atmcashpoint.bsky.social
Han never shot "first".

He shot solo. ;)
chrisbaker1337.bsky.social
We debate whether #Han or #Greedo shot first. Swiss artist Martin Panchaud diagrams the crime scene, leaving no doubt. It's part of his complete infographic remake of #StarWars: ANH. I write about Panchaud's unique aesthetic & his new book in this article chrisbaker1337.substack.com/p/from-above...
Illustration of Star Wars cantina scene rendered in pictogram form. We see dots representing Han Solo and Greed in an Infographic-style overhead view. Text emerges from each dot in a series of images.

GREEDO: [produces DT-12 Heavy Blaster Pistol]

HAN: !?!

GREEDO: Going somewhere, Solo? 

HAN: Yes, Greedo. As a matter of fact, I was just going to see your boss. Tell Jabba that I've got his money. Illustration of Star Wars cantina scene rendered in pictogram form. We see dots representing Han Solo and Greed in an Infographic-style overhead view. Text emerges from each dot in a series of images. Unbeknownst to Greedo, a DL-44 Blaster is strapped under the table.

GREEDO: It's too late. You should have paid him when you had the chance. Jabba's put a price on your head, so large that every bounty hunter in the galaxy will be looking for you. I'm lucky I found you first. 

HAN: Yeah, but this time I got the money. 

GREEDO: If you give it to me, I might forget I found you. 

Unbeknownst to Greedo, Han unhooks the clasp of the blaster holder under the table.

HAN: I don't have it with me. Tell Jabba... 

GREEDO: Jabba's through with you. He has no time for smugglers who drop their shipments at the first sign of an Imperial cruiser. 

HAN: Even I get boarded sometimes. Do you think I had a choice? 

GREEDO: You can tell that to Jabba. He may only take your ship. Illustration of Star Wars cantina scene rendered in pictogram form. We see dots representing Han Solo and Greed in an Infographic-style overhead view. Text emerges from each dot in a series of images. Unbeknownst to Greedo, Han is unholstering a DL-44 Blaster strapped under the table.

HAN: Over my dead body. 

GREEDO: That's the idea. I've been looking forward to killing you for a long time. Illustration of Star Wars cantina scene rendered in pictogram form. We see dots representing Han Solo and Greed in an Infographic-style overhead view. Text emerges from each dot in a series of images. Unbeknownst to Greedo,

HAN Yes, I'll bet you have. 

Suddenly Han produces his blaster and fires a glowing red blast of energy at the alien’s dot, which disappears in a blinding flash of light. Steam and smoke rise from the shredded green half-circle representing Greedo.
chrisbaker1337.bsky.social
We need a prequel trilogy that overexplains the chthonic midichlorians that power this franchise…
chrisbaker1337.bsky.social
Martin Panchaud’s award-winning “From Above: An (Info)Graphic Novel,” the most minimalist comic ever made, was just released in the US. I wrote an article about this utterly unique work, as well as Panchaud’s abstract adaptation of Star Wars: A New Hope.
chrisbaker1337.substack.com/p/from-above...
From Above: An (Info)Graphic Novel
Dyslexic illustrator crafts the most minimalist comicbook ever made
chrisbaker1337.substack.com
chrisbaker1337.bsky.social
Working on a newsletter piece about that prog-rock Spiderman album with the Stan Lee narration...why did people act like the Julie Taymor Broadway production was the first spiderman musical when that stone masterpiece exists?
chrisbaker1337.bsky.social
One could also write a scholarly treatise on Marvel Power Records, the series that let you play a radio drama style vinyl record while you read the accompanying comic book, and its profound impact on hip hop medium.com/cuepoint/the...
The Avengers’ Age of Analog: The Power Records Story
In the 1970s, heroes came alive through vinyl adventures that would later be sampled by hip-hop greats
medium.com
chrisbaker1337.bsky.social
I was too young to read and would frantically try to drag my mom over to the TV to tell me what Spidey's thought balloons said. youtu.be/tM22mzqWUec?...
Electric Company - Spiderman meets the Spoiler
YouTube video by ICULOOKNATMEQT
youtu.be
chrisbaker1337.bsky.social
I'm going to make my own version of Troy Hurtubise's bear-proof suit, but it will be covered in Merlins and Simons and Speak & Spells

ALSO—if Midjourney ever tried to create box art as good as the original 1979 Atari Video Chess, it would lose as well.
box art for the 1979 video game Atari Video Chess features a painting of a dude and several chess pieces and some computer-y mosaics. I'm not doing it justice, but it's an absolute banger
chrisbaker1337.bsky.social
Oh no? This Electrolux Jubilee Deluxe says different.
Packaging for a bulky  1970s vacuum cleaner features a woman washing floors and mopping. 

Easy Cleaning the
ELECTROLUX
way
ELECTROLUX® JUBILEE DELUXE VACUUM CLEANER
For powerful, quieter Super Cleaning with Automatic Efficiency
ELECTROLUX® DELUXE
3-BRUSH FLOOR POLISHER
& CARPET BEAUTIFIER
Shampoos rugs, scrubs, waxes, polishes floors easier, faster, better