In this new age where print magazines are a dying breed and before the
Internet finally wins out, I wish to celebrate some of the magazines
that started me on the path of Asian Pop Culture fandom.
Growing up as a kid in the 70’s and 80’s, Horror and Sci Fi magazines
where everywhere and easy to purchase at any grocery store’s magazine
area. However, magazines about Asian movies were rare and required
extra brainwork to locate and obtain in that bygone era with no
Internet.
The first magazine that really got me hooked in Samurai cinema and all
things Japanese and Chinese was given to me as a gift. My stepfather
was a Food Broker who sold Italian foods to different Italian
restaurants and cafes throughout Florida. He even sold mozzarella
cheese to Castellano’s, an Italian Market on Henderson Blvd in South
Tampa. Through my stepfather I met one of his business partners, a
Korean who I remember as Mr. Kim. Kim owned and operated the Red Apple
restaurant on Dale Mabry just past the Publix on Neptune. The Red Apple
was a popular place for breakfast and family lunches and dinners back in
the 80’s. Anyway, Kim gave me a couple of Bruce Lee magazines and one
magazine that really made an impact on me.
I spent an entire Saturday afternoon reading Inside Kung-Fu Presents:
Martial Arts Movies the first issue published in 1980. The world of
Asian entertainment was led out with that reliable roadmap. I read the
whole issue from cover to cover and learned about Chanbara, a type of
Samurai film that is action-oriented and leaves serious subject matters
to the jidai eki (period films.) Chanbara refers to the sound of two
swords clashing together. As a result Chanbara films are a lot of fun
to watch and include the old Zatoichi series from the 60’s. Another
article talked about Chuck Norris and his, (at that time) upcoming role
in The Octagon where Norris battles against the Ninja in modern day
American. The highlight of that issue was the cover story on Jackie
Chan and his quest to become Bruce Lee’s successor. Another article
interviewed Enter the Dragon producer Fred Weintraub, who was heavily
marketing his new product, Jackie Chan, throughout the interview.
That magazine led me to Inside Kung-Fu and Ric Meyers’ Martial Arts in
Movies column. Horror magazines had Chas Balun and Forrest J. Ackerman
but Asian movies didn’t have that distinct voice and style until Ric
Meyers came along.
Meyers started out working on comic books and was talked into going to
see a Jackie Chan movie playing at the local cinema across the street,
by Larry Hama and Linda Sampson. Immediately he began studying Asian
movies and went on to write books and columns. He has interviewed most
of the famous Hong Kong stars out there and he influenced me with his
dedication to Asian Cult films.
Inside Kung-Fu had only one maybe two articles on movies per issue and
that was OK until Damon Foster created Oriental Cinema that was entirely
devoted to Asian Pop Culture. I can still remember laughing out loud to
this example of Foster’s wit when I read, “more fat cells than a Star
Trek Convention.” Besides, Hong Kong action, there was Ultraman,
Ultraseven, and the Kaman Riders from tokusatsu or special effects TV,
Godzilla coverage, and the occasional look at anime. I noticed that
Asian entertainment mentioned in magazines started out with martial arts
movies using real people to gradually changing over to animation and
being artificial.
In the 90’s, several short-lived magazines were devoted to Hong Kong
action cinema like Hong Kong Film Connection that always featured great
writers and articles. Magazines like Hong Kong Film Connection seemed
to come and go and would just vanish without a trace. One day I would
be picking up the latest issue at Merlin’s Comics near USF, (now gone),
and the next month the magazine would just vanish. In the age of the
Internet, the fans can continue longer.
When I started learning Japanese in college, I found Mangajin that
taught basic Japanese language skills through comics. On one side was
the original Japanese text and on the other a quality English
translation with detailed notes to make sure the reader got the jokes.
I fondly remember one issue with an article on Japanese movies. As much
as I liked all the action found in Samurai and Ninja movies, sometimes
it is nice to watch a drama or comedy or something that the Japanese
actually enjoy. The main article was called "Japan Goes to the Movies"
and gave me a short and concise look that was well written.
For the anime and manga fan there was Animerica that was entirely
devoted to just that, unlike all the live-action entertainment written
about Oriental Cinema. My main problem with Animerica was that there
were lots of sell ads trying to get you to go out and buy expensive
videotapes. However, the articles, comics, and reviews were generally
good for the mid-90’s.
My favorite anime/manga magazine from that era was definitely
Protoculture Addicts that had fewer ads and better writers. Some of the
articles included character reference guides, episode guides, Jpop CD
reviews, and excellent videotape reviews that easily beat out all the
other anime magazines written in English. A big plus for me was all the
attention to Robotech that would appear every so often.
There is only one magazine that has managed to extend its shelf life
beyond a couple of issues and that honor goes to Giant Robot. All types
of Asian entertainment from movies, TV, music are included, as well as
cool places to see in Asia, Asian foods, reviews of drinks, fashion, and
anything you could possibly want to know about Asian. Publisher Eric
Nakamura has beaten the odds and offered a fun magazine that is not
afraid to cover everything from cool toys to cutting-edge artists to
sex, and even social problems like drug-trafficking in Southeast Asian
and the all the dead bodies discussed by one journalist vacationing in
Cambodia. Giant Robot features such a wide range of topics that I never
get bored with each new issue.
That is all for Asian Pop Culture magazines that I have enjoyed
throughout the years. I decided to concentrate on those magazines
published in English and will write another article on Japanese
magazines sometime in the future.
Part of me does not want to see print go away. I would still rather hole up at home
with something in my hands with beautiful glossy pictures and engaging text to read
on any given Saturday afternoon.
"The Asian Aperture" is ©2010 by Jason Fetters. Webpage design and all graphics herein (except where otherwise noted) are creations of Nolan B. Canova. All contents of Nolan's Pop Culture Review are ©2010 by Nolan B. Canova.
