Loyd's BONUS video-clip(s)!!--- # 43!!--- 'The Hornet's COOL ride'!

 

Once again here in the teensy-weensy corner of the web, known as my little bloggy-thingy-thang--- I'm touching back on a subject I've went on and on about, at pretty good length--- before! (Hey--- MY blog, MY rules folks!) Of course--- I'm referring to that WAY-cool 1966 TV-version of  'The Green Hornet'!

THIS time, though, I want to focus on what's gradually became one of my ALL-TIME favorite 'hero-cars'--- outside of a certain 'Bat-themed' vehicle, of course--- 'The Black Beauty'! This TRUE one-of-a-kind, WAY ahead-of-it's-time vehicle, based on a (then brand-new) '66 Chrysler Imperial--- was customized by one of the GREATS in the custom car world. The also 'one-of-a-kind' Mr. Dean Jeffries. Sadly, Mr. Jeffries left us-- back in 2013.

Just HOW 'one-of-a-kind' was Mr. Jeffries? just take few moments to stare at the image below, of one of his other famous pieces of  'rolling-V-8-engine-powered-ART-WORK'-- 'The Mantaray'! Would you believe this thing was built in 1963???----AND---the body was built from HAND-hammered sheets of ALUMINUM!!---

Now that we've all done our share of DROOLING over the above image, let's pull our focus back to 'the Black Beauty', shall we? (Easy as it would be for me to go on and on about Mr. Jeffries and his other famous custom cars! BUT-- there's PLENTY of other sources on the 'net you can look up for all of that! Sources WAY more knowledgeable than the 'ol Loydster!)

Like MANY another time, I of course stumbled across the 2-part video below, on that 'treasure-trove-of-CRUNCHY-GEEKY-GOODNESS'--- Youtube!-- It's from a number of years back, but it's STILL an interesting, deep-dive-- into this TRULY unique custom ride! PLUS-- it even has a pretty NEAT interview with Mr. Jeffries himself--- who, like MANY of the guys who built these kinds of amazing-automotive-art back in the day, was a MASTER of low-key understatement!----

AND--- speaking of that green-garbed-crime-fighter--- I recently finished-up reading the collected edition of a comic series, that I've been wanting to snag since it was first released, in 2015! 'Batman '66 meets The Green Hornet'! The 'sequel' to the two-part 'Batman' episode from (DUH!) 1966 of course!---

Needless to say, being a fan of BOTH of these characters / shows---- I was NOT disappointed! The creators OBVIOUSLY love these 'crime-fighting-crusaders' as much as the 'ol Loydster! Writer Kevin Smith, as well as artist Ty Templeton-- had me hearing the voices of the actors, while reading this adventure! That says it ALL right there!

 OF COURSE-- the beautiful, painted covers by Alex Ross (reprinted along with the rest of the collected storyline in this trade paperback) also make this one worth having a spot of HONOR in the 'Loydster-super-hero-library'! If you DIG the 'Hornet and 'The Bat', like yours truly--- I HIGHLY recommend you grab yourself a copy!

This post is dedicated to the LEGENDARY Mr. Neal Adams, who passed away on April 28th. Along with other GREATS, like Marshall Rogers and (the somewhat UNDERRATED) Irv Novick, as well as his oft-times inker Dick Giordano--- Mr. Adams was a MAJOR reason why the 'bronze-age' Batman, became MY batman! Not to mention, he was a pioneer and out-right 'crusader' for 'creator's rights' in the comics profession! Rest well, my childhood hero!