See the first post about Japanese kamishibai (paper theatre) in the 1930s and the previous post about WWII kamishibai for more information and commentary about the origins and context of these images.
A postwar ‘Golden Bat’ serial. Nazo, the Emperor of the Universe, is apparently an overweight heterochromial cat with a black bag over his head. Sort of like a cross between David Bowie, the Baader Meinhof gang, and Bagpuss. Actually this sounds fabulous, but who knew? The expression of Nazo’s captive says it all: OH REALLY?
‘Mystery Train’, late 1940s or early 1950s. Mystery Train? I’ll say. Why did somebody in a man-sized glove costume just get on? Quick, put your bag down so he doesn’t sit next to you.
Too late! … oh of course, the Tokyo public transportation system is a paradise for the chikan (train pervert). And he’s also a robot or mechanical man of some kind who goes around “disguised” as a glove. Does this make sense to anybody? Anybody? The rest of the story seems to suggest that the girl is possibly hallucinating. No shit. I’ll have what she’s having.
By the early 1960s the purveyors of kamishibai were desperately trying to compete with the appeal of television. Sakura Goro created Rōn Renja in 1962, and of course this character had nothing to do with the Lone Ranger at all, no, absolutely not, preposterous.
Batoman! A late attempt at a swinging, with-it kamishibai, bootlegged from the 1966-1968 TV series with Adam West and Burt Ward. I think the modern day oppressively, boringly grim and gritty Batman would benefit from a bit of scarlet lippy, a saucy androgyne smirk and a white eyebrow pencil like this Japanese knock off.
Robin and Batman look like a pair of middle-aged cosplaying lesbians here. So good. Camo pattern curtains?
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Reblogged this on Alistair Gentry.
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