#cape watch

[queenfishie]

My take on @spellbook-gayboy ‘s Christina Cabello, I fell in love with their little “Cape-Watch” posts and their reporter so I wanted to draw her!

[livecloakreaction]

Just An Old Man With An Shield: Exclusive Interview With The First American Superhero by Christina Cabello

If you were to ask a person on the street to name a famous superhero, they’d likely answer with a member of the Guardians or Capes Incorporated, or perhaps a solo hero like Pangaea, Shrapnel or Demigod. But it’s also likely that a good chunk of them would answer with one man in particular: Frontline.

And for good reason, too. The man is often referred to as ‘the Tom Hanks of the superhero community’, in terms of both glowing reputation and paternal charm. Time Magazine chose him as Super Person Of The Year not once, not twice, but three times (1945, 1972 and 1990). His statue stands tall to greet visitors to the Museum Of American Superheroes, sculpted from pure copper and draped in the American flag. His career is only second in length to the Immortal, starting on the blasted fields of The Second World War and ending with his apparent death in 1994. However, he was recently discovered to be alive, undergoing months of physical and psychological rehabilitation before making his grand return against members of the Order. Needless to say, he’s quite the public figure. 

Which is why we were surprised to have him reach out to us at the Cape-Watch headquarters in Seattle, asking for me in particular due to a ‘glowing reference from the kid’, who he later identified as Invincible, who the more avid readers might remember from my opinion piece made last month. So, as any reporter with a nose for good stories would, I caught a plane over to the Pentagon, got directed to a clean and well-lit interview room, and met with him. What follows below is the recorded contents of my interview with him, minus questions not authorised for public release by government officials overseeing the interview:

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Well, sir, before we get into the questions, is there you’d like to tell the audience?: Well, I guess I’d say it’s good to be back! I’ve been away for a long time, and I’m keen to get back into the old heroism business!

Okay, first question! Now this one is pretty loaded, but how would describe your first few months in the modern world?: I actually spent the first couple of weeks in a coma. Once I was up, it was non-stop physiotherapy and psych evaluations and just making sure my body wouldn’t fall apart outside of the infirmary. Hell, by the time the news broke that I was alive, I was already cleared for field duty!

Speaking of field duty, I hear you’ve been recently rooming with the Guardians Of The Globe. What are you thoughts on the new lineup?: Oh, they’re great! Of course, I’ve known Immortal since ‘42 and Samson since he was about 14, but the new ones are just as great! That Rex kid’s got a real firecracker personality but he’s also really mellow when he needs to be, Kate really helped me with getting used to all the modern things, and Rae apparently has a collection of these old superhero shows that I never got the chance to watch the first time around. And of course, Monster Girl holds her own in the sparring matches, and Robot’s got a brain on him I haven’t seen before!

What would you consider to be the strangest thing you’ve encountered thus far in the modern world?: Definitely Bluetooth! Still bugs me how you can wear headphones with no wires and play music like they’re still there!

Moving on, have you met many of the hero teams that popped up since you disappeared? Any thoughts on them?: I’ve met Capes Incorporated! My issues with the idea of corporate superheroes aside, they’re an alright bunch. Apparently, the lady with the boxing gloves was a big fan of mine growing up! Aside from them, I did have the misfortune of meeting Fight Force. Whoever trained them needs to hang up the cape!

Any plans now that you’re back?: You know what? I’m gonna get a burger. Seems basic, I know, but what can I say? Oh, with a hotdog and soda, too! If we’re being serious, though, I would like to see a movie or go to a carnival, if those still exist. Do we- do we still have carnivals?

Is there anything, or anyone, you miss from before you disappeared?: Well, I lost my Sony Walkman when I went, so there’s that! As for people... I miss a lot of people: my pals from the Army, Soprano, Pa- I mean the original Red Rush, umm... (AN: at this point, Frontline goes quiet for a few moments while staring at the floor and quietly sniffling), and the kids in the Teen Team, my Teen Team. You can- you can include that in the article, don’t mind me. Just an... old man missing what he had, is all.

Alright. Moving on, how would you describe your experience as a member of superhero teams?: Uh, mostly positive, in my experience! As you know, I was on the Defenders Of The Free World during the war, which was basically just like my old unit. There was a year, year and a half break after that, then we formed the Guardians in ‘47. I was on-and-off with them ‘til I made Breakthrough in the 80s. After that broke up, I got saddled with the Teen Team, and that lasted pretty much up until I disappeared. 

Now, I understand if this question’s too difficult, but...: Ah. I won’t... insult you by pretending that it didn’t hurt. Fact is, I knew most of them. Hell, I trained two of them! It hurt like hell, but... guess I’m also glad that Samson and Immortal were still there to help me through it. They really were my rock through that. 

And final question, do you have any plans re your hero career? Are you planning to go solo for now, or maybe join a team?: Well, I might do a bit of solo work, but I’m definitely gonna join a team. Maybe the Guardians, maybe something else. If I’m being honest, part of me’s been wanting to make my own team. I’ll get back to you on that when I clear it with the higher-ups!

And that’s all the questions I have for today! Any last comments for the readers?: Uh, mostly that you’ll hopefully be seeing more of me very soon. And, God willing, I might have a team of my own, or at least a spot on one!

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Sifting through previous interviews dated before his disappearance, I saw that he still had the same calm charisma from decades before. Only a couple of times did his composure even begin to waver, and that was due to the emotional distress of events completely outside of his control. Apart from those moments, he always kept up a veneer of warmth and kindness, always making me feel at ease over the course of my questioning. What wasn’t described in the transcript was the look he gave me: a half-smile, like the kind your favourite elderly relative would give you, accentuated by the subtle crow’s feet around his cool brown eyes. He seemed proud of me, and yet had only known me for a few minutes. 

What didn’t match the earlier interviews, however, was one element in particular: despite the aura of kindness surrounding him, underneath it lay a sort of quiet sadness, only noticeable in the few moments he showed vulnerability. Perhaps his absence has begun to weigh on him, or maybe the revelation of how many were lost in that time has only just begun to hit him with full force. 

But whatever side of himself Frontline chose to show in that interview, the truth remains the same: he’s back, and hopefully here to stay this time around.

[capelesscrusader]

As writer Jason Aaron and artist Russell Dauterman wrap up the three-year run of Jane Foster as Thor with their arc “The Death of the Mighty Thor”, Marvel is spotlighting the popular iteration of the God of Thunder with a series of variant covers showcasing key moments from her tenure.

Jane Foster took over the mantle of Thor following Thor Odinson becoming unworthy to possess the enchanted hammer Mjolnir during Jason Aaron’s tenure as the driving creative force of all things Asgardian. Initially her true identity was kept a mystery from readers, though it was eventually revealed that this female version of Thor was Foster, who in her mortal guise was battling an aggressive form of cancer. The Mighty Thor took on one challenge after another, and though initially somewhat controversial among fans, soon boasted a devoted following in her acclaimed title. As her time draws to a close, readers are wondering if her end will come facing the threat of Mangog, dealing with the War of the Realms, or will Foster eventually succumb to the cancer that she is unable to treat properly owing to her role as the God of Thunder?

The Mighty Thor variant cover series will spread across ten titles, and boast art from top level creators such as Leinil Yu, Esad Ribic, Olivier Coipel, Humberto Ramos, Nick Bradshaw, Dale Keown and Russell Dauterman.

  Check out a few of the covers coming this March from Marvel Comics:

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ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE:

Celebrate The Life of a Hero with MIGHTY THOR VARIANT COVERS! Featuring art from Esad Ribic, Leinil Yu, and more!

  New York, NY—January 8, 2018—The Mighty Thor’s heroic end is coming! THE DEATH OF THE MIGHTY THOR ramps up for an epic finale, and as the final chapters of the Asgardian saga unfold, Marvel is proud to announce its MIGHTY THOR VARIANT COVER PROGRAM. Showcasing different key moments celebrating Jane Foster’s run as Thor, the covers feature art by industry superstars such as Leinil Yu, Esad Ribic, Olivier Coipel, Humberto Ramos and Russell Dauterman.

Look for Marvel’s Mighty Thor variant covers on these select titles:

  AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #797 by Clayton Crain

AVENGERS #683 by Humberto Ramos

BLACK PANTHER #171 by Nick Bradshaw

DAREDEVIL #600 by Leinil Yu

DOCTOR STRANGE: DAMNATION #2 by Ema Lupacchino

INFINITY COUNTDOWN #1 by Russell Dauterman

INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #598 by Dale Keown

MIGHTY THOR #705 by Esad Ribic

NEW MUTANTS #1 by Chris Stevens

OLD MAN HAWKEYE #3 by Olivier Coipel

  Don’t miss your chance to collect all 10 variant covers, coming to comic shops this March!

  CAPE WATCH: Marvel to Celebrate The Mighty Thor with March’s Variant Covers! As writer Jason Aaron and artist Russell Dauterman wrap up the three-year run of Jane Foster as Thor with their arc "The Death of the Mighty Thor", …

[barometers-are-cool-blog]

Barometers

[barometers-are-cool-blog]

Barometer – Pronunciation: [b u rom´ u t u r] – a barometer is an instrument for measuring atmospheric pressure. Temperature, moisture, wind velocity, and barometric pressure are all variables that define weather as the state of atmosphere at a given time and place. The barometer is an instrument for measuring atmospheric pressure, used especially in weather forecasting, pressure falls when it is about to rain and rises when the weather is dry. Because atmospheric pressure changes with distance above or below sea level, a barometer can also be used to measure altitude. An aneroid barometer indicates pressure on a dial using a needle that is mechanically linked to a partially evacuated chamber, which responds to pressure changes. The barometer works by balancing the weight of mercury in the glass tube against the atmospheric pressure just like a set of scales. If the weight of mercury is less than the atmospheric pressure, the mercury level in the glass tube rises. If the weight of mercury is more than the atmospheric pressure, the mercury level falls. Please continue to view Cape Watch\’s fine collection of barometers below:

Barometers For Sale At Cape Watch

[cape-watch-makers-blog]

Cape Watch - The Carriage Clock

THE HISTORY OF THE CARRIAGE CLOCK

A carriage clock is a small, spring-driven clock, designed for travelling, developed in France, where they were also known as "Officers' Clocks".

The case, usually plain or gilt-brass, is four-sided with a carrying grip and often set with glass or more rarely enamel or porcelain panels. A primary feature of carriage clocks is the platform escapement, sometimes visible through a glazed opening on the top of the case. Carriage clocks use a balance and balance spring for timekeeping and replaced the larger pendulum bracket clock.

Cape Watch recently posted a very interesting article (Cape Watch - A Walk Down DIY Memory Lane)

The blog talks about the reconstruction of the popular carriage clock. 

“ One of the more popular items to construct at home were the carriage clocks. These clocks were invented by Abraham-Louis Breguet to be used by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1812. Here at Cape Watch, many of us have seen these old rectangular clocks in our grandparents’ homes. This is due to the fact that they were later used as a traditional retirement gift from the employer to long serving employees. “

Very informative an extremely accurate and all tools required can be purchased at The Cape Watch Online Store. 

Cape Watch also describes the manner in which to go about constructing the clock or any other project for that matter:

“While it may seem to be slightly challenging in the beginning, we found the construction process a lot easier when we followed these tips prior to starting any DIY project:

Prepare all the parts in advance,

Ensure all your equipment is in working order,

Follow the tutorial,

Be creative with the decoration but don’t tweak the inner mechanics,

Have fun!”