PSEUDOSCIENCE: A CAUTIONARY TALE

Can I pull you away from the Sunday comics for just a few minutes? Thank you.

Let me begin by saying I don't think I have to tell you that news feeds and social media are literally teeming these days with clickbait concerning UFO's, cryptids, skinwalkers and any other number of paranormal topics. Such as it is, the news landscape is also rife with so-called "new" archaeological discoveries that defy time and logic, as well as stories about astronomy, chemistry, health and other popular subjects that just lack common sense. "The sky's the limit" it's been said, and as a result, if we take these tales at face value, we'll believe just about anything that's spoon fed to us. Today, we call it "misinformation", but personally I believe it's a simple case of crappy -- and very irresponsible -- journalism.

A prescient science-journalist by the name of Watson Davis published an article in a 1950 issue of SCIENCE NEWS LETTER entitled, "Stories That Should Be Handled With Care". In it he listed a number of subjects prone to pseudoscientific claims and cautioned other journalists to thoroughly research these topics before writing about them, as well as adding, if it seems dubious it probably is. Wise words to not only write to, but to live by.

That of course, is not to say that some things that sound outrageous or at least implausible at first can't end up being fact, which has happened countless times throughout history. In his book “Profiles of the Future: An Inquiry into the Limits of the Possible” (1962), respected science-fiction author Arthur C. Clarke wrote what were to become known as his "Three Laws" regarding science and technology:

1. When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong.
2. The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.
3. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

Just try disagreeing with someone who "knows" that they've seen a UFO and you'll know what I mean. I was convinced I saw one once, too, but it turned out to be a trick of light, and only after taking time to find out what had actually caused the phenomenon. I also sometimes wonder if pseudoscience is the same area of the brain where political thought resides!

But, I digress; back to the article. Written by Kendrick Frasier, esteemed editor of SKEPTICAL INQUIRER for 44-plus years until his passing in 2022, he comments on Davis' important message by writing:

"The list really does include many, if not most, of the subjects that have typically resulted in sensationalized claims that seldom stand up to scientific scrutiny. This list isn't arbitrary. It was created by top science editors' long experience with such stories and seeing how tabloids [no internet back then, folks!] and other popular publications that care little for scientific accuracy or scientific responsibility handle them."

To find out which topics are on this list, and more reason to take what's served up to you using a big BS filter, take a look at the article below from the current SKEPTICAL INQUIRER (March/April 2024).

So, the next time you read or see something that sounds too outrageous to be true, don't simply count on a single source like FactCheck -- take the time to verify with multiple recognized and reliable sources. And no, as much fun as I have listening to it, COAST2COAST radio and THE NATIONAL ENQUIRER should not be considered "recognized", as the first usually presents the stories to be left entirely up to the listener's discretion (a major reason why paranormal claims go viral), and the second -- well, do I really have to explain that one? But then, according to Clarke, if it walks and talks like a duck it just might end up eventually being one.

Recommended further reading:

• Why People Believe Weird Things by Michael Shermer
• How Mumbo Jumbo Conquered the World by Francis Ween
• The Rough Guide to Unexplained Phenomena, Bob Rickard & John Mitchell, eds.

DOC SAVAGE VS . . . UNIVERSAL MONSTERS?

Judging by the page hits and comments on my last posts, I figured readers wouldn't mind another dose of Doc. This time, the theme is "What If?". The topic has been seen in everything from history to comic books and is an entertaining way to see the possibilities of what might have happened under different circumstances.

Compiled by an inspired and talented Keith "Kez" Wilson, he has faithfully recreated a library of Doc Savage fantasy covers that are quite convincing, right down to the cover design and the text font.

Below are a few of my favorites, especially the ones where Doc battles the Universal Monsters. "The King of Skull Island" and "Claw of Death" with the wonderfully gawd-awful flying thing from 1957's THE GIANT CLAW are also favorites.

For the complete collection of Doc Savage fantasy covers go HERE.

For more Doc Savage at WOM, go HERE.

COMING . . . A NEW MONSTER MAG!

Who says print monster magazines are a thing of the past? The folks at TwoMorrows Publishing are unleashing a new magazine, CRYPTOLOGY with the first issue due this October. According to their website, three more are planned through the beginning of 2025. The editor is horror comics' Crown Prince, Peter Normanton, who dazzled us some years ago with his indie-published FROM THE TOMB.

 À la EC Comics, et al, The Cryptologist will guide us through each issue, and according to the provided information, it will be a mix of articles about retro monster movies and comics, which sounds quite alright to me.

If any of you are lucky enough to know about this outfit and the quality -- no. the highest quality publications about comics and pop culture, you know this will be as good as it gets.

Other recommended titles from TwoMorrows: ALTER EGO, BACK ISSUE, COMIC BOOK ARTIST, and JACK KIRBY COLLECTOR.

CRYPTOLOGY pre-order information is HERE.

Now, excuse me while I go do a happy dance.

“Greetings, creep culturists! For my debut issue, I, the Cryptologist (with the help of From The Tomb editor Peter Normanton), have exhumed the worst Horror Comics excesses of the 1950s, Killer “B” movies to die for, and the creepiest, kookiest toys that crossed your boney little fingers as a child! But wait... do you dare enter the House of Usher, or choose sides in the skirmish between the Addams Family and The Munsters?! Can you stand to gaze at Warren magazine frontispieces by this issue’s cover artist Bernie Wrightson, or spend some Hammer Time with that studio’s most frightening films? And if Atlas pre-code covers or terrifying science-fiction are more than you can take, stay away! All this, and more, is lurching toward you in TwoMorrows Publishing’s latest, and most decrepit, magazine—just for retro horror fans, and featuring my henchmen Will Murray, Mark Voger, Barry Forshaw, Tim Leese, Pete von Sholly, and Steve and Michael Kronenberg!”

"Heh-heh-heh, it’s me again—the Cryptologist—and my ghastly little band have cooked up a few more grisly morsels to terrorize you with! Amongst them is Roger Hill’s conversation with diabolical Don Heck, along with a complete 1950s story by that fabled horror comics artist! For something even more gruesome, Steven Kronenberg slices up his favorite severed hand films! Barry Forshaw brings back the otherworldly horrors of Hammer’s Quatermass, while Tim Leese spends more Hammer Time on that studio’s output. Then, Richard Hand resurrects spooky old radio shows, while editor Peter Normanton prepares a viewing of horror-inspired covers from the Shadow’s own 1940s comic book! We’ll cover another Killer “B” movie classic, along with more pre-Code comic books, and Pete Von Sholly gives his twisted take on cartoon horror. So peer into the dark side with TwoMorrows Publishing’s latest terror—scribed just for retro horror fans!"

“I, the Cryptologist, am back with editor Peter Normanton and my horrible little troop of ne’er do wells, to inflict the dread of Mars Attacks upon you—the banned cards, model kits, and despicable comics, along with a few words from the film’s deranged storyboard artist Pete von Sholly! The chilling poster art of Reynold Brown gets brought up from my vault by Steve Kronenberg, along with a host of terrifying puppets from film, and more pre-Code comic books Dr. Wertham would prefer you forget! Plus, Tim Leese spends more Hammer Time on that studio’s films, we run from another Killer “B” movie (1959’s The Manster), and Justin Marriot flips through obscure ’70s fear-filled paperbacks. It’s more retro-horror to satiate your sinister side!”

“I, the Cryptologist, throw open my putrid sanctuary, as acclaimed illustrator Alex Ross regales us with the gory lowdown on his Universal Monsters paintings. Tim Leese and Hammer Time then take us face-to-face with that studio’s classic film “Brides of Dracula.” Mark Voger puts the horrors of 3-D movies of the 1950s into focus, and editor Peter Normanton literally brings that era’s 3-D comic books to life with a mini-history, and complete 3-D story reprint! From there, we embark on a journey to discover the early origins of blood-curdling slasher movies, as a prelude to the macabre pre-Code artwork of Atlas’s Bill Everett and ACG’s 3-D maestro Harry Lazarus. Another Killer “B” movie awaits (courtesy of Steve Kronenberg), as does cartoon creepiness by Pete Von Sholly. It’s a crypt full of the macabre, prepared especially for retro horror fans!””

THE HOUSE OF HAMMER NO. 7 (PART 2)