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Retro Pop Culture A to Z -Book Review
Retro video game book review
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| Title: | Retro Pop Culture A to Z: From Atari 2600 to Zombie Films |
| Author: | Brett Weiss |
| Publisher: | CreateSpace Independent Publishing |
| Platform: | Book |
| Release Date: | 2013 |
| ISBN #: | 1495234800 |
| Rating: | 4.0 out of 5 |
| ESRB Rating: | N/A |
Rating: 
Whether you have an avid passion for Atari, monster movies, comic books, classic TV shows or science fiction... Brett Weiss has you covered in his 2013 book, Retro Pop Culture A to Z: From Atari 2600 to Zombie Films. It's a compilation (and grand expansion) of articles he's written for a variety of publications. Combined it's a wonderful look at things you remember fondly, things you suddenly recall and glorious things you once owned.
I had a glow-in-the-dark model of the Creature Form the Black Lagoon. I marveled at Kiss mixing their own blood into the ink for their first comic book series. I still own the Atari 2600 I bought when I was twelve - my 9-year-old son and I still play it regularly.
Holy shit! Check this out...
If you've ever stayed up all night trying to beat Super Mario Bros., dressed up as a member of KISS on Halloween, watched Thundarr the Barbarian while eating a bowl of sugary cereal, set a VCR to record your favorite show, wiled away an entire day reading a stack of old comics, or listened to Elvis or the Rolling Stones on a turntable or 8-track tape player, Retro Pop Culture A to Z is for you. If you haven't done any of these things, no problem-feel free to dive right in and discover why your parents (or grandparents) are always talking about "the good old days."
If you've ever stayed up all night trying to beat Super Mario Bros., dressed up as a member of KISS on Halloween, watched Thundarr the Barbarian while eating a bowl of sugary cereal, set a VCR to record your favorite show, wiled away an entire day reading a stack of old comics, or listened to Elvis or the Rolling Stones on a turntable or 8-track tape player, Retro Pop Culture A to Z is for you. If you haven't done any of these things, no problem-feel free to dive right in and discover why your parents (or grandparents) are always talking about "the good old days."
Weiss has created a wildly fun book that can be read cover-to-cover or picked through as your childhood comes rushing back to you. I'd forgotten how much I loved Land of the Lost even though Sleestaks scared the hell out of me. I remember the day that a Scholastic shipment arrived at my school with an Evel Kenievel biography and Bigfoot book.
Then I realized I'd completely forgotten about Dynamite Magazine, published by the Scholastic Book Club. The 70s were full of good times.
For Gamers, you'll find chapters on the Atari 2600, the golden age of arcades, Mattel's Intellivision, the NES, pinball, the Sega Master System, and a chapter about Yar's Revenge. And there's also a chapter on the rock band Kiss and the movie Jaws. Yep, it's got it all!
Retro Pop Culture A to Z: From Atari 2600 to Zombie Films really has something for everyone and most of you will find each chapter outlines some part of your life. This book brought back so many memories and fun stories. Along with the memories is a lot of great detail. This isn't a picture-book of memory lane. While each chapter has images, the second level of remembering all these great pop culture items, is the detail Weiss provides.
For me it was a reminder of many things from my past and a great primer on details I never knew. Prince, the rockstar, starred in his own comic book - Prince: Alter Ego?? Wow!
Final Judgement:
Retro Pop Culture A to Z: From Atari 2600 to Zombie Films
is an easy to read book that highlights a myriad of wonders from retro pop culture. Each chapter offeres a lot of great detail as well. You can read it from beginning to end or flip through and rediscover things that made you smile decades ago. They'll make you smile today too ;)« Return to retro video game book reviews
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