The Little Conqueror, the Little General, and their parents just got back from screening Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. Those already having the pleasure, or planning to go see the picture, will appreciate much of the look and feel of it far more after learning about two cultural artifacts.
The first is the pulp Air Wonder Stories, published (rather briefly) in the early 1930s by Hugo Gernsback, who coined the word “scientifiction” for what would soon be referred to with a shorter term. The very first issue contains a cover image that Sky Captain fans will immediately recognize:
The second source of inspiration for filmmaker Kerry Conran is a series of Superman animated shorts produced by Max and David Fleischer. One in particular is clearly the template for the early minutes of Sky Captain, including an attack on New York City by flying mechanical monsters.
