You can only save one of these "Coming of Age" films
Nostalgia Nation Weekly Round-up!
Nostalgia Nation is a weekly (okay, sometimes bi-weekly) newsletter written by John Toma (aka. That 80s Dude), the author of Nostalgia Nation: The Definitive Chronicle of Growing Up Gen X. If you’re into internet culture, pop-culture then and now, physical media, retro collecting, and fun, humorous trips down memory lane, consider supporting this publication!
🧙♂️ ONLY ONE MUST SURVIVE
If you could save one of these “Coming of Age” flicks from total annihilation, which one gets the honor? Choose wisely…
🎥 Drop your vote in the poll below. And yes, I know this is painful. That’s the point.
TRUTH SERUM
HERE’S WHAT I’M UP TO
I started reading comics on my iPad, which is something I’ve held back from doing for a very long time. You see, I have this problem embracing tech like this too quickly. Don’t get me wrong, I love the convenience, but I’m also still in love with turning pages. But here’s the thing, picking up older books I may have missed is a total bummer because resellers ask for astronomical prices on many books that are 10+ years old. Prices I’m not willing to pay. Therefore, I’ve accepted that I need to get on with the times and enjoy the books digitally if I have to.
Ok, so what am I reading? Well, I was looking for a graphic novel style book since I don’t really have a ton of time to invest in a novel, and I’ve been wanting to read this book everyone’s been telling me about for years. Blacksad!
Blacksad is a noir-style graphic novel series set in a gritty, anthropomorphic 1950s America. It follows John Blacksad, a hardboiled private detective who happens to be a black cat, as he investigates crimes involving corruption, racism, political intrigue, and personal betrayal. The stories are mature, moody, and cinematic, like classic film noir with an animal twist. Think The Maltese Falcon meets Animal Farm with lush, hand-painted art.
It’s a page turner for sure!
Have you read Blacksad?
Do you read comics or books in general on a Kindle or iPad?
A RAD POST
LET’S REWIND (This week in history)
🎶 1981 — That’s Incredible! Featured a Young Tiger Woods
The hit ABC series aired an episode with 5-year-old Tiger Woods showing off his golf skills.
📺 That’s Incredible! is often considered one of the first reality TV shows.
📺 1981 — Dallas Season 4 Finale Aired on CBS
Episode title: “Ewing-Gate” — wrapping up a season full of oil, betrayal, and Ewing-sized drama.
📺 1982 — A Flock of Seagulls Released Their Debut Album
Hit single: “I Ran (So Far Away)”
📈 Peaked at #10 on the Billboard charts.
💡 Fun Fact: The band’s futuristic look became as iconic as their synth-heavy sound.
🎬 1983 — Valley Girl Premiered in Theaters
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Deborah Foreman, Elizabeth Daily
💡 Fun Fact: Nicolas Cage had a major crush on Deborah Foreman and even wrote her a poem titled American Girl—she still has it!
📺 1983 — Final Episode of CHiPs Aired
Total: 6 seasons, 139 episodes | Starring: Larry Wilcox and Erik Estrada
💡 Fun Fact: Wilcox left the show after clashing with Estrada, who also butted heads with his replacement, Tom Reilly.
📺 1983 — V Aired on NBC
The 2-night sci-fi miniseries became an '80s TV landmark with its alien invasion and Cold War metaphors. It was awesome and we talked about it all week in school!
🏈 1986 — Bo Jackson Drafted #1 Overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
🏆 1985 Heisman Trophy Winner
⚾️ Refused to sign with Tampa due to a dispute; instead played baseball for the Kansas City Royals before joining the NFL’s Los Angeles Raiders in 1987.
💡 Fun Fact: Bo remains the only athlete to be an All-Star in both the NFL and MLB.
🎬 1987 — Creepshow 2 Hit Theaters
Starring: George Kennedy, Dorothy Lamour, and Tom Savini
💡 Fun Fact: Based on stories by Stephen King, with a screenplay by George A. Romero.
🎬 1987 — American Ninja 2: The Confrontation Released
Starring: Michael Dudikoff and Steve James
💥 1980s martial arts cult classic, full of ninjas!
🎂 Birthdays This Week
1933 — Willie Nelson (Singer) | Abbott, TX
1954 — Jerry Seinfeld (Comedian) | Brooklyn, NY
1957 — Daniel Day-Lewis (Actor, My Left Foot) | London, England
1958 — Michelle Pfeiffer (Actress, Scarface, Grease 2) | Santa Ana, CA
1970 — Andre Agassi (Tennis Champion) | Las Vegas, NV
1970 — Uma Thurman (Actress, Johnny Be Good, Pulp Fiction) | Boston, MA
QUICK HITS
→ Entertainment / Media
Yale University is adding a course on Bad Bunny that will use the artist’s music to explore his cultural impact and what it reveals about the Puerto Rican diaspora. This is another reason why no one takes Ivy league schools seriously anymore.
→ Internet / Tech / Social Media
Meta Is Turning Its Ray-Bans Into a Surveillance Machine for AI
Popular social media app bans Kanye West just minutes after he joins
→ Cool Stuff
If you love hats like I do, this is the hat cage you want to keep them clean!
→ Health & Wellness from That 80s Dude
I often get asked which protein powder I use and recommend. Here’s the one I use. If you’re wondering why… I used to own a CrossFit Gym and Fitness company.
→ Creator Buzz
Creator Money is Growing 5X Faster Than Hollywood's. Here's How to Get Yours
→ Coming Soon
I can’t wait to see this one!
P.S. The Nostalgia Nation Roundup is usually just for patrons (where I communicate directly to my closest friends in nostalgia), but I’ve opened up the weekly roundups for now so everyone can enjoy them and get a hit. It does take time to put together each week, so in the near future, it’ll return to being a patron-only feature. Thanks for reading and for supporting the time, care, and caffeine that fuels this newsletter.
Here’s a little nudge — use this link for 20% off Forever patron subscription.
I’m Breakfast Club age, but I have to go with Napoleon Dynamite. Such an outstanding film. The unreality of it allows it to get closer to the truth.
"The Breakfast Club" hands down, no contest.