RetroFan #36 is another strong issue

I gave the mag some mild criticism last time out, but I did renew my print subscription, and, let me tell you, folks, that's putting my money where my mouth is because that is no small investment. Issue 36 with cover gal Stefanie Powers is a solid issue that gives me my money's worth.

The mag is always going to rely on a mixture of repurposed material, but this issue is better about not overdirecting readers to other sources.  The Powers feature draws from a 2011 interview Mark Voger did with the actress, which could be a disappointment considering she is around and doing press now. However, Voger blends that material with other info to create a fine piece. I enjoy his capsule descriptions of 10 prominent Girl from UNCLE episodes, a sidebar that adds entertainment and value to the profile of Powers.

Scott Saavedra's section on TV catchphrases is one of the lighter pieces in the mag, for sure (And the publication itself is not exactly Foreign Affairs), but his entertaining layout/design enhances it, and his text adds enough tidbits to make the story a plus.

RetroFan goes outside its usual lineup to provide an article on Battle of the Planets. Contributor Jason Hoifus lays out the convoluted history of the show in entertaining fashion and with a compelling angle: He focuses on the involvement of multiple creators involved with Hanna Barbera.

Rick Goldschmidt, leading Rankin Bass historian, offers a Christmas piece each year, and this time it examines Santa Claus Is Coming to Town. This one does reference a lot of the author's other works, but he provides a lot of information, does some myth busting, and gives a fine overview of the beloved special just in time for Christmas (Hey, just because you are reading this after the holiday doesn't mean I didn't read it before the holiday).

Now let's get to my favorite stories in issue 36. Will Murray talks about two "one-season TV wonders," Coronet Blue and T.H.E. Cat. Much like last issue's The Name of the Game profile, this story takes a lesser-known topic and tells me things I didn't know. Excellent work, and I want to see more of this kind of thing in the magazine, much as we love seeing stuff about the old favorites.

One standout of each issue is the illustrations, and this article is a great example. Numerous cool pics accompany Murray's text. We see comic book covers, 1960s merch, publicity photos, and an excerpt from a vintage TV Guide. You're always gonna get interesting visuals in a TwoMorrows publication.

While I am talking interesting visuals, Andy Mangels' fantastic and comprehensive (as can be) look at advertising of Saturday morning network programming continues in #36 with ads from 1975-1977. Some of these I have seen or have elsewhere, but seeing them all in one spot is a delight and a great way to consider the history of Saturday morning TV. I only wish they gave the feature more pages and made every ad a full-page reproduction!

Finally, I want to highlight two features relevant to recent episodes of the podcast. A "Retro Sports" piece covers the career of Chuck Connors, who was nominated for a Batty for Outstanding Male Actor due to his work in The Rifleman (And note that the episode we discussed did win a Batty in Season 11). Scott Shaw! takes on SCTV, which is a huge subject, but he does it justice and adds some personal memories of working with castmembers on various projects.

It's great reading again from RetroFan, with the usual visual appeal. This issue is highly recommended!