CRUSADER

«We’re marching, we’re marching to a land far from home

No one can say who’ll return

For Christendom’s sake, we’ll take our revenge

On the pagans from out the east

We Christians are coming, with swords held on high

Unite by faith and the cause

The Saracen heathen will soon taste our steel

Our standards will rise ’cross the land»

 

 

 

 

Scene no 94: Mounted Templar Knights (Timpo plastic figures) gallop in front of the gate of Jerusalem (Elastolin toys) and among the large bushes (Elastolin toys).

The lyrics: From the song Crusader, by the NWOBHM band SAXON.

WORLD CUP 2026 FINAL

 

SPAIN meet ARGENTINA in New York Jersey on 19 July.

 

 

 

 

Scene no 93: The black-clad referee (Starlux toy figure) stands between the two teams and prepares for the final game (Subbuteo table football toys, Terrace Set C 142, Crowd Figures C 168,  Match Balls C 127,  Lightweight version teams of Argentina 457 and Spain 63791).

The announcement: From FIFA World Cup 2026 final: All you need to know.

UNDEVELOPED SPIRIT

 

 «…We leave Africa, not to mention it again. For it is not historical part of the World; it has no movement or development to exhibit... What we properly understand by Africa, is the Unhistorical, Undeveloped Spirit, still involved in the conditions of mere nature, and which had to be presented here only as on the threshold of the World’s History.»

 

Scene no 92: African warriors (Cherilea Toys) dance in front of the Vodun shrine (Unknown manufacturer), where they communicate with their ancestors and deities.

The text: From The Philosophy of History, by Georg Hegel.

SKY-RIDER OF THE SPACEWAYS!

«Issue No. 4,

wherein the gleaming alien journeys to Asgard to battle Thor,

represents yet another apex of Marvel art – for a second issue in a row.»

 

 

 

 

Scene no 91: The mighty Thor (Diamond Select Toys, Marvel Premiere Collection, Resin statue no 561 of 3000) against the Silver Surfer (TOY BIZ, Marvel Legends Action Figure, Series V, 39 points of articulation). Recreation of the famous cover of comic book THE SILVER SURFER No. 4 (Pencils, John Buscema; inks, Sal Buscema; February 1969).

The text: From The Marvel Age of Comics 1961-1978, by Roy Thomas.

ROBERT E. LEE

«A nation which 

does not remember what it was yesterday

does not know where it is today.»

 

 

 

 

Scene no 90: The overall commander of the Confederate States Army (COMANSI toys, Legendary personages of The Wild West, hand painted figurines, ref. 19500) and the General Lee 1969 Dodge Charger car from the television series The Dukes of Hazzard (NOREV toys, Charger, 1:43 Metal).

The quote: Famous statement of Robert E. Lee.

RAGING SEA

 

«The Ocean has its silent caves,

Deep, quiet, an alone;

Though there be fury on the waves,

Beneath them there is none.

The awful spirits of the deep

Hold their communion there;

And there are those for whom we weep,

The young, the bright, the fair.»

Scene no 89: Warships (Unknown manufacturer, wooden small models) that are sailing in a raging sea (IMAI plastic models, Operation Sail). 

The verses: The first two stanzas from the poem The Ocean, by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

MEIFUMADO

 

«Our lives are indestructible.

Immortal!

Though waves break and blood flies, never shrink.

Though my body falls, never quail.

 Though my eyes shut, my lips close…

Do not fear.

  In that world of rebirth,

I’m still your Father.

In that world and all worlds,

You are my Son!

We are Father and Child!

Forever!»

 

  

 

 

Scene no 88: Itto Ogami and son Daigoro (Improvized models and scenery by an unknown artist) abandoned the way of men to walk the demon path to hell. Always surrounded by enemies (Aoshima Japan History Miniature Model Series).

The text: From the twenty-eighth and final volume of the epic LONE WOLF AND CUB by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima.