Yes, it's named after the donkey in Winnie-the-Pooh. The drink was created by Toby Maloney who describes Eeyore as "the most bitter character in literature." My recipe - from David Lebovitz - combines Campari, dry vermouth, gin, Cynar, Frenet-Branca, orange bitters and orange twist. That's a lot of bitter ingredients for one drink!
I would be interested to drink this one side-by-side with a Negroni (see here). I'm not sure they're all that different in terms of flavor - the Eeyore essentially being a Negroni with more stuff in it (though switching out the sweet vermouth for dry). My guess is the Eeyore might have some extra citrus hints but the Campari dominates both intensely bitter drinks. At least to my mind, a drink involving three ingredients wins out over a similar one involving six, especially when two of the extras - the Cynar and the Frenet-Branca - are definitely on the more exotic side and thus less dynamic for use in other cocktails.
Squid on the Vine
Another wine class this week. Last week, it was whites. This week, reds...
Arnot-Roberts, El Dorado Gamay Noir 2018
Medium color, hits of yellow
Aroma: delicate side of medium; raspberries, jammy, vanilla, bubblegum
Drier than it smells
Medium+ acidity
Medium tannin
My rating: 8.2
Château Haut-Segottes, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Red Brdeaux Blend 2016
Deeper in color
Medium aroma: more earthy, wet leaves
Dry
Medium acidity
Medium+ tannin
My rating: 8.0
Benevelli Piero, Langhe Nebbiolo 2018
Delicate aroma: raspberry, strawberry, raisins, olive
Dry
High tannin
High acidityMy rating: 8.0
Another red, not part of the class... Lezaun, Navarra Red Blend 2018
High tannin
My Rating: 8.0
Even though I've just begun the series, I can already tell I'm going to have a lot to say about Silver Surfer. As observer and self-appointed Earth protector, the character is well-positioned to express much of the social commentary that was prevalent in the late 1960s. Stan Lee and his team were clearly not fans of United States foreign policy at the time, injecting the story with the typical anti-Vietnam rhetoric: battling for nameless causes, imposing values on other cultures, resorting to violence as the answer to all problems, etc. The Surfer is frustrated by humankind's more barbaric tendencies and tries to help, though usually is perceived as the source of the very threats he's trying to combat.
As I wrote a couple weeks ago (read here), I see similarities between the messaging of the Silver Surfer story and that of Star Trek: a greater openness in confronting the other, a need for moral maturity across society, etc. While the links may be coincidental, I did wonder about the connections between the two. Interestingly, DC published a crossover comic with both at one point - I found a cover but no publication date. Doug Jones, who played both the Silver Surfer in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer and Saru in Star Trek: Discovery sees important parallels between the two characters. Read here.
For me, the Surfer is a more appealing hero than the Fantastic Four or even Spider-Man. He wants to help but also to learn. His powers exceed that of 99% of Marvel superheroes yet he doesn't have the Reed Richards arrogance of always best understanding how to use them for the greater good. Godlike though he is, his back story is quite humanizing.
I'm looking forward to a fun ride.
My Recent Reads
Fantastic Four #59
Originally Published February 1, 1967
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
The Inhumans finally break free, not just of the negative zone but of the entire barrier between them and the human world. It took Black Bolt's voice to do the job. He is usually silent, you see. Never mind that he destroyed the entire city in the process.
After the Silver Surfer, Black Bolt may be my favorite new character from this stretch.
The original band of six we met at the outset has been sent off by the Council of Elders to enter the world of the humans - an unexplained narrative contrivance, though I suppose you've gotta move the story forward somehow.
Meanwhile, Dr. Doom continues to flaunt his Silver Surfer powers, wreaking havoc and terror around the globe. This story is a cautionary tale about what could happen when the wrong person is granted far too much power. If only we ever heeded such warnings...
Fantastic Four #60
March 1, 1967
Lee/Kirby
The finale of the Dr. Doom Steals Silver Surfer's Powers story.
Doom is defeated on the last page, foiled by measures set in place by Galactus to keep the Silver Surfer from ever leaving Earth. It's not an especially satisfying ending - a little too quick, frankly. Also, in my heart, I wanted Silver Surfer himself to be the one to save the day. Alas, it's not his series.
The Inhumans make their first contact with humans. It doesn't go well.
It's time to move on from Fantastic Four. As I've written before, I doubt I'll return to this particular quartet of heroes. However, I'll definitely be back for the Inhumans! Meanwhile, we move on to Silver Surfer.
Silver Surfer #1
August 1, 1968
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Gene Colan
The Silver Surfer Origin Story
Name: Norrin Radd
Home World: Zenn-La (a mash-up of Zen and Shangri-la?)
True Love: Shalla Bal, for whom he is doomed to pine
How he became Silver Surfer: When Galactus attacked the peaceful and prosperous Zenn-La, the already restless Norrin Radd offered himself up to be the invader's herald in exchange for sparing the planet.
Silver Surfer #2
October 1, 1968 (note: bi-monthly series; makes sense with double-length issues)
Lee/Colan
We get to see an extensive cast of Asgardians: Volstagg, Fandral, Hogun, Sif, Heimdall, Balder and Odin.
This story had a lot of promise. I'd love to see the series return to
it but I don't know if it does. I'm certainly up for more Asgard
adventures anyway.
Our friends meet Dr. Ira Graves (W. Morgan Sheppard), a famous cyberneticist, as he approaches death. Graves and Data quickly bond, the scientist claiming to be the android's de facto grandfather as Graves taught Noonien Soong, Data's creator, everything he knew. As his final living act, Graves manages to transfer his own consciousness to Data. Unfortunately, Graves's massive ego is not a good pairing with Data's superhuman physical capacities. Disaster ensues (a little Of Mice and Men-ish, actually). Executive producer Gene Roddenberry's health was very much in decline by 1989 and one wonders if the prevalence of aging and death stories was not entirely unrelated, not to mention concerns about the survival of one's legacy.
This episode is an eye-roller for me. Both Lore and Graves-possessed Data inspire over-acting tendencies in Brent Spiner. Nonetheless, there is decent Data development. His rights as a sentient being are challenged and Geordi is identified for the first time as his best friend.
The Graves role was initially intended for Patrick McGoohan, star of the 1967 British classic series The Prisoner. "The Schizoid Man" was also the title of a Prisoner episode.
Music Notes
I can never resist a Wizard of Oz reference. Both pre- and post-possession, Graves whistles "If I Only Had a Heart," presumably to tease Data:
William Morgan Sheppard was born August 24, 1932 in London. Like Patrick Stewart, he was an alumnus of the Royal Shakespeare Company, logging 12 years of service. On Broadway, he appeared in Marat/Sade and Sherlock Holmes. He had four Trek appearances in total, including two of the movies.
Sheppard's son, Mark Sheppard, is a megastar of geeky television: a principal on Supernatural plus recurring roles on Doctor Who, Battlestar Galactica, Leverage and Firefly. Father and son appeared together in "The Impossible Astronaut", the first episode of Doctor Who's Series Six.
W. Morgan Sheppard died January 6, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. He was 86 hears old.
I got my stinger recipe from my good friend and fellow blogger, Nancy Mock. Here's the article she wrote on the drink for Taste of Home. It's a great piece, including a history of the drink and several pop culture references.
The cocktail combines brandy and white creme de menthe. The result is quite minty, indeed. Had me pondering thin mint cocktail possibilities. There are such recipes online, of course, though I'd want to experiment on my own, probably using creme de cacao for the chocolate. I don't know if we'll be having stingers again but it's always fun to play around with new flavor ideas.
Squid on the Vine
Our favorite wine shop is doing online classes. This week's featured wines...
Chevalier Muscadet Clos de la Butte 2018 Pale in color Medium aroma - tart peach Dry My rating: 82 Failla Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2017 Darker, more gold in color Delicate aroma - ripe pear Dry My rating: 81
Stein Weihwasser Riesling Feinherb 2018 Light in color, though more gold than the Muscadet Pineapple nose Sweeter My rating: 83 All three wines were more acidic than I would generally go for. Our instructor really likes high acid wines. Not so sure I do. It was less of a problem, though, with the Riesling. As she pointed out herself, the sweetness and the acid set each other off nicely.
Jack Kirby was born Jacob Kurtzburg in New York City, August 28, 1917. He started working in comics in the 1930s and, over the course of his career, spent meaningful creative time with both Marvel and DC. He will always be best remembered for his work during Marvel's Silver Age, claiming co-creator status for Captain America, Fantastic Four, Thor, Avengers, Hulk, Iron Man, Black Panther, X-Men and Silver Surfer among many, many others. Make no mistake he, more than Stan Lee, was the creative force behind the pop cultural powerhouse that would eventually spawn the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He generated the look, fleshed out the characters and developed the worlds they roam. As discussed previously (read here), he played a much larger storytelling role than cover credits would have one believe. If only he'd lived long enough to make cameos in the movies...
Kirby was also drafted into the Army during World War II, landing on Omaha Beach two months after D-Day. When his commanding officer learned of Kirby's artistic talents, he assigned him as an advance scout to draw reconnaissance maps and pictures. During his tour, he suffered frostbite and nearly had his legs amputated. For his service, he received the Combat Infantry Badge, a European/African/Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and a Bronze Star.
Jack Kirby died of heart failure in 1994.
A few thoughts about the FF, too, before the week's issue notes: while character development was the initial hook for this series, I feel that long term, world-building was the greater strength. In this #31-60 stretch I've explored, the FF visited the Skrull world, the Inhumans' sanctuary and Wakanda, all for the first time. All three have provided rich narrative possibilities for Marvel in the decades since. In #48, the Silver Surfer was introduced and he has proven a more interesting character than any of the Fantastic Four themselves. His first solo series is where I'll be heading next.
My Recent Reads
Fantastic Four #54
Originally Published September 1, 1966
Writer: Stan Lee
Author: Jack Kirby
There is no true villain in this issue. That's noteworthy in itself.
The story opens with a baseball game in Wakanda. The FF, particularly Reed Richards, can't resist using their powers - poor sportsmanship.
The Black Panther enlists a world-famous pianist to play Grieg's Piano Concerto for his guests. It's one of my favorite pieces. Read here.
Another interesting change from what I've seen with the series up to this point: the beginning of two split, multi-issue threads: one for Johnny Storm and Wyatt Wingfoot as Johnny seeks a way to get back to Crystal of the Inhumans and another for the others returning to New York.
Johnny and Wyatt meet Prester John, also known as The Wanderer.
Fantastic Four #55
October 1, 1966
Lee/Kirby
The Silver Surfer returns. Thing picks a fight with him, jealous over Alicia's apparent interest in him. Thing fails to understand that her feelings for the Silver Surfer are not romantic in nature.
Finally reaching the Himalayas (I could have sworn the Inhumans were in the Andes but I guess not), Johnny and Wyatt encounter Lockjaw, the Inhumans' faithful, dimension-jumping hound.
Fantastic Four #56
November 1, 1966
Lee/Kirby
Villain: Klaw, attacking the three FF members in New York in an effort to draw out the Black Panther.
Johnny and Wyatt follow Lockjaw through several dimensional jumps. Wyatt is trying to train the dog to lead them to the Inhumans, something he's clearly been trained previously not to do.
Fantastic Four Annual #4
November 1, 1966
Lee/Kirby
The Enterprise provides transport to Riva (Howie Seago), a deaf ambassador, to peace talks on a planet which has been feuding for centuries. Riva has a Greek chorus which accompanies him and translates his thoughts. It's an Id-Ego-Superego arrangement as the three members represent different realms of communication. It's very Freud, of course, but also very Trek. Id-Ego-Superego = Bones-Kirk-Spock.
Seago, a deaf actor, approached the producers with the story idea which had initially come from his wife, a huge Trekkie. The narrative crisis comes when Riva's chorus is killed. The writers initially intended for Riva to learn to speak when that occurred but Seago nixed the idea. Instead, in a last-minute rewrite, Data quickly learns sign language in order to translate for Riva.
I must say, it's a little surprising that the ship's universal translator couldn't sort out sign language. Maybe in the next upgrade.
The morality play is a little heavy-handed but the story is different and therefore interesting. Plus, there's good development for both Picard and Troi. Picard is at his composed and forceful best when Riva falls apart over the loss of his chorus. Troi gets a brief romance with Riva - it would seem few among the Enterprise's visitors can resist hitting on her.
Howie Seago was born December 5, 1953 in Tacoma, Washington. He was born deaf, his father's side of the family having a history of hearing impairment. Most of his acting work has been on stage, beginning with the National Theatre of the Deaf, which he joined in college. He was the first deaf actor to perform with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, featuring in such productions as Hamlet, Into the Woods and The Music Man. In the latter, he played Marcellus Washburn, my own part in high school.
Social distancing has not stopped our whiskey battles! Fortunately, our favorite liquor is still doing curbside service. Bulleit rye was on sale last month and Jim Beam Pre-Prohibition is on sale this month. It's time for a rumble.
The tale of the tape going in: at full-price, JB is $5 cheaper than the Bulleit. Both are 90 proof.
On the Rocks Test
The Jim Beam was redder in color, fruitier in flavor with a chocolate aftertaste.
I found the Bulleit more flavorful. Spicy banana was the best description I could think of.
My wife preferred the Jim Beam. I preferred the Bulleit. Call this round a tie.
Manhattan Test
The Bulleit was smokier, the JB fruitier once again. Our individual preferences were the same as before though my wife could imagine enjoying the Bulleit occasionally. Both were quite nice.
Call this round a tie, too.
We skipped the Highball Test this time, figuring it wasn't going to be the make-or-break anyway.
Overall Winner: Jim Beam Pre-Prohibition
All else being equal, $5 is $5. We drink most of our whiskey via Manhattans so my wife's preference is probably a tie-breaker as well. That said, I wouldn't mind having a bottle of the Bulleit around for the occasional sipping, something I'm more likely to do than she is anyway. It's certainly worth waiting until it's on sale.
Hoping to pit Jim Beam against George Dickel next. That one goes on sale in May!
Squid on the Vine
Borell Diehl, Müller-Thurgau 2018
A German white
Bland to star, like a light cider
Opens up bigger.
A little bitter
Bubblegum finish
My Rating: 8.2
