I’ve actually got a nice little backlog of articles, but as way of excuse, a couple of the articles I’m hawking to paying outlets. One is in the can. Three more are toying on the lip. But here is one entry, that I actually conceived of a while back for a New Years resolution style presentation, but it was a delay getting the feedback from one of the presenters… He knows who he is! But, I’m being facetious, ultimately other things just kept bumping it, but now some of the Web’s coolest personalities consent to answer my questions and present you a pretty damn amazing selection of their favorites. Without further ado, read and be awed!!! Modest aren’t I? In this posting David W of the magazine and blog BADAZZ MOFO, and filmmaker of the extremely well received short BLACK SANTA’S REVENGE is at bat. HT: what are your 5 favorite movies that most people haven’t seen? David W of BADAZZ MOFO: In terms of blaxploitation, my five favorite films that haven’t really been seen, or at least haven’t been seen as much as they deserve to be seen, the top one would be Melinda. This is hands down one of the best films of both the genre and the era, but it’s never even had a release on home video. (This is me, HT, interrupting. David and I have pretty different tastes in movies [How do you not love the Poitier/Cosby Trilogy?!] , but I picked up Melinda on his recommendation. The first few minutes, I have to tell you… wasn’t impressed. But I stuck with it and it just kept getting better, and better, and better… it’s absolutely fantastic! WoW! The flick has everything, and at its heart is about a self-centered man, who learns to care deeply for something other than himself, and what happens when that is taken away. I don’t subscribe to the term blaxploitation, think it is a dismissive term for what was an empowering time/movement, but however you want to label MELINDA… it’s great! Okay, back to David’s list:) David W of BADAZZ MOFO:My list of favorite “seldom seen” classics of the blaxploitation era looks something like this (in no particular order). 1. Melinda – Calvin Lockhart and Rosalind Cash, both at their finest. 2. Together Brothers – Barry White’s score is enough to make this movie a classic, but it also happens to be a very well put together thriller that holds up to repeated viewings. It has yet to get a legitimate release on home video, but it’s turned up on cable recently. 3. The Spook Who Sat By the Door – This is not only my favorite blaxploitation film, but one of my favorite movies, period. It finally got a release on DVD, but most people have never even heard of it. 4. The Landlord – The directorial debut of Hal Ashby isn’t quite blaxploitation, but it comes close, and it is one of the greatest movies of the 1970s. People know Ashby mostly for films like Harold & Maude or Shampoo, but this is really his best, most provocative film. 5. Gordon’s War – This is just balls-out great blaxploitation, with Paul Winfield leading an ensemble cast of ex-Green Berets who decide to clean up the streets. I can’t help but think if this starred Charles Bronson, it would be modern classic. HT: Good list there David. I’ve seen 3 of the 5 you list, and plan on seeing THE LANDLORD and TOGETHER BROTHERS in the next couple weeks. But yeah the 3 I’ve seen are definitely great films. Okay onto the next question, what are five great books that most people haven’t read? David W of BADAZZ MOFO: I feel like I’m something of a populist reader. I’m trying to think of books I’ve read that no one else has read that were great, but that combination is difficult to come up with. I have a ton of pulp novels from the blaxploitation era, but most of them aren’t that good, or that memorable. The one exception is Roland Jefferson’s The School on 103rd Street , which I think is an incredible political thriller with a great blaxploitation vibe. Jefferson ’s book reminds me of the novel The Spook Who Sat By the Door, also an all-time favorite, which I guess deserves a place on this list. 1. The School on 103rd Street – Roland Jefferson’s paranoid thriller involves the discovery of underground concentration camps in black communities throughout the United States . 2. The Spook Who Sat By the Door – Great movie, even better book. The first black agent in the CIA leaves the agency to start a guerilla war against the United States . 3. Donald Goines’ Kenyatta series – I’m sure plenty of people have read master crime novelist Goines series Crime Partners, Death List, Kenyatta’s Escape and Kenyatta’s Last Stand, but all four are required reading for fans of urban action thrillers. Honestly, I’m not sure if Goines wrote the last book in the series, which came out shortly after he was murdered. The writing style is a bit different, but it, just like the other three, is a gritty, action-packed bit of pulp fiction. 4. Joseph Nazel’s Iceman series – Nazel cranked out seven Iceman books, chronicling the adventures of a badass killer. Honestly, I can’t remember anything about any of the books, other than the fact that they were better than other series from that era, with the exception of maybe Marc Olden’s Black Samurai series. 5. If I’m So Famous, How Come Nobody’s Ever Heard of Me? – This has no place on this list, as it’s the autobiography of B-movie actress Jewel Shepard, but I love this book. Shepard is brutally honest about her life and her career, and this book has stuck with me over the years. HT: Wow, he schooled me! As I like to think I’m on the cutting edge of the best books and films out there, but some of this list has flown under my Nubian Noir detector. Only ones on this list I’ve read are Goines KENYATTA’S LAST HIT, and also the phenomenal Marc Olden BLACK SAMURAI series (took me forever to collect, but well worth it!). Speaking of Marc Olden I also highly recommend his absolutely brilliant and ahead of its time (in its construction) POE MUST DIE (I have a review in the works). But yeah, definitely intend to get all these books. This is real literature, not the poorly packaged hood stereotypes that passes for Black literature today. And moving onto # 5 definitely interested, David did a great interview with Jewel Shepard in his essential, if short lived magazine, BADAZZ MOFO! I highly recommend pestering David for issues while supplies last! Tell him HT sent ya! Okay David, I see you’re getting sleepy so let’s wrap up this BEST OF LIST by providing your five favorite songs or albums that most people haven’t heard. David W of BADAZZ MOFO: They are… 1. Street Justice by The Rake – An epic, ten-minute rap song about a guy who’s family is attacked by thugs. When the punks go free, he tracks them down and kills them. Fucking brilliant. “You gotta meet the punks on the battle front/You gotta beat the punks/Street Justice!” 2. Spider-Man – From the bizarre, mid-1970s Album Spider-Man: Rock Reflections of a Superhero. Both the song and the album are incredibly cheesy, but I still listen to it like I was eight years-old. 3. Thunder and Lightening by Thin Lizzy – Makes me want to go out and kick someone’s ass. 4. Daddy’s Little Girl by Khaleel – The most depressing song after Cat’s in the Cradle. 5. Big Dumb Sex by Soundgarden – From the Louder Than Love album, which came out before anyone knew who the were. HT: Wow. From Spider-man to SoundGarden, talk about eclectic. . Great lists David, I intend to pick up all the above. Thanks for taking the time to put up with my nagging and provide these. And we’ll have to do this again. And in closing readers, you can find more from David W at his site WWW.BADAZZMOFO.COM. And he also has a BADAZZ MOFO book on the horizon, so that’s one you should keep an eye out for. Okay we have a few more of these lists, as soon as I hunt them up. So keep an eye on this site for move. And if you dug this, drop an email or leave a comment. That’s all folks!

Hola Glad you stumbled in here! In this pretty snazzy section you’ll uncover things I love, things I like, and things I find intriguing, all available here for sale. I hope to make this page a one-stop shop for people looking for interesting items on a daily basis. And the idea is to update this page daily, YES I SAID DAILY, with new items! So after this week I’ll probably move this page to the list over there on your right. So while the blog proper, will not be updated every day, this specific page will be. But you’ll need to probably bookmark it, just so you can check it easily on a daily basis. To keep me honest if I miss a single day and you point it out to me via email (“heroictimes at safe dash mail dot net” or by leaving a comment on this post), along with a suggestion for an item I should have posted that day, you win a free comic! Yes a free surprise comic of my choice! Also the person who buys the most items through this page, in any given month wins the prize of the month. This month’s prize is a copy of the acclaimed, and Out of Print film noir book called THE BIG BOOK OF NOIR. A fantastic book edited by Ed Gorman, and packed with interviews, anecdotes, reviews, opinion, gossip on all things noir, from book to film to comics. (Since I’m posting this in the middle of December, we’ll call January 15th, the end of this month, for contest purposes.) So onto todays items for sale: If you see an item you’d like to try, please use the following links to buy the items as they help me generate revenue. So it’s a win-win situation. You get great items and I generate pennies to help keep this blog going and growing. Thanks and Tendras un gran fin de semana.

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David Lapham- is one of those writers whose reputation, for me at least, is made on the strength of one book.

That book is STRAY BULLETS #1. I remember that issue, when it came out, nearly two decades ago if I’m not mistaken, and I remember being completely blown away by it.

No one had seen anything like that first issue. It predated SIN CITY, PREACHER, everything.

It was a dark, bottomless scream… with no end. With no end. And it changed the face of comics.

No one will admit to it. But overnight, everyone knew the bar had been raised.

Twenty years ago STRAY BULLETS #1 was the most powerful gutshot the comics world had ever seen. Unfortunately the 20+ issues of STRAY BULLETS that followed that opening, never equaled it, never came close.

And the medium in the 20 years since, has grown beyond STRAY BULLETS. And the medium is the better for it.

But that first issue of STRAY BULLETS remains a favorite, and its creator Dave Lapham, on the strength of that issue, remains a name I’m always ready to support.

That long winded intro brings us to the just released TPB of Dave Laphams, YOUNG LIARS. I’ve heard some good word of mouth about this series, and at $7.99 for six issues worth of material that’s a fantastic deal and one I’ll be picking up. Try a copy for yourself here!

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Next recommendation:

A book that has not been far from my corner table and I whole heartedly recommend is:

SIGHT UNSEEN- by Robert Tinnell and Bo Hampton, is an Original Graphic Novel published by IMAGE COMICS. It’s slightly an odd choice for a holiday stocking stuffer, but if someone likes horror movies (specifically ghost stories) and Graphic Novels, you’ll have a hard time trying to find a better combination of the two, to give them as a present.

Horror movies, the adrenalin inducing scenes/scares that compose them… are very medium specific. They depend on pacing, and sound, and sudden motions… so it’s not something that translates into the static medium of slims (comics/graphic novels).

To generate a sense of momentum, and pacing, and unease, and perhaps even horror… is perhaps the hardest thing to do in comics.

Most horror comics, are about horrible contexts, but the book itself has no horror in it. It either leans toward the campy or tongue in cheek, ala EC comics, or just the wonderfully rendered image, ala the Warren books, and this is because making something that elicits feelings of trepidation out of words and static pictures, takes a unique melding of the craft. A unique marriage of the words and the images.

WALKING DEAD to its credit has done it. And SIGHT UNSEEN to its credit, is equally effective.

SIGHT UNSEEN might just be the most effective example, of Graphic Novel as a book of horror.

Robert Tinnel crafts a truly engaging, and compelling narrative, married to absolutely effective visuals… visuals that almost… move, by the great Bo Hampton.

It’s a fantastic ghost story that I will not go into details about, except to say… I keep looking for another Graphic novel half as good, and as effective… and have yet to find one.

Pick up the hardcover if it is available, this graphic novel deserves the hardcover treatment. It’s one you’ll want a copy to give as a present, and a copy to keep for yourself. Order your copies here before it sells out. You’ll thank me later. .

You can fit what I know about Tori Amos on the head of a pin, but I know a good value when I hear it, and Tori Amos’ COMIC BOOK TATTOO clearly qualifies. A wealth of talent, and a fantastic price point makes this book one that has been selling out all over the place. Pick up your copy here.

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I’m a real big fan of interactive books. I got hooked when I was a kid, on the “choose your own adventure type ” books. Books where depending on what you want to do, you jump to a particular page and read your ending of choice.

Just a great book for a kid, pre-video games. And I think even in our 21st century CGI, video-game obsessed society; it is still a good present.

So anyhow, huge fan of interactive books. So when I saw new publishing company, QUIRK had started putting out Interactive Mystery books starring iconic characters, I had to order them, and I think they’ll make a great present for adults and kids alike.

The titles are Dracula’s Heir HC (2008 Interactive Mystery) available here, and Batman Murder at Wayne Manor HC (2008 Interactive Book) available here! So go pick em up, and tell them Heroic Times sent ya! .

Rex Libris Vol I- A book about a 2000 year old, Alien and Demon fighting, Librarian. What’s not to love? . Amusing, fun, and with a nice intro by Dave Sim. Collects the first half dozen issues. Click here to get it on sale!

Books For Kids of all ages!

AMELIA RULES- I picked an issue of this comic up for free, along with free versions of SIMPSONS, SCOTT PILGRIM and OWLY and a few other kid friendly comics; and while all those books are good, AMELIA RULES clearly stood out from the pack.

It was just such a fun, endearing book. So much so that I decided to pick up the AMELIA RULES: WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY? trade. I have to say, that book will make you happy. It hits the Charlie Brown note of telling stories of a pack of neighborhood kids, but is its own animal, by including the misadventures of the adults as well.

It is a bittersweet, at times biting satire, but always heartwarming chronicle of a young bunch of friends, and their wonder years.

There are three trades currently and the fourth is on the way. Jimmy Gownley has yet to place a foot wrong, and if you’re looking for a great read for kids, as well as layered humor that will also make adults laugh out loud for different reasons then these are the books you want to buy. Highly Recommended!

(Example of that layered storytelling: In the Ninja Battle story of WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY, there’s a line shouted by the character REGGIE as he tries to hold onto his presidency. It’s a line that kids will laugh at because it’s just a funny line, but politically savvy adults will laugh out loud at, because it satirizes a recent political reality. That is unbelievably difficult to do, write a multi-leveled work, that can be many things to many people. But Gownley in AMELIA RULES pulls it off.)Click here to buy Amelia Rules! Your funny bone will thank you!

K-CHRONICLES-by Keith Knight. And speaking of satire. I had the great pleasure of meeting the author and artist of the K-CRONICLES, Keith Knight at a recent con, and purchasing two of his books from him. The books are Just funny, fantastic, insightful looks at the world, from a most unique 20something protagonist.

From making a living as a Michael Jackson impersonator to the finer points of Frat parties and beer bongs to that oddest of things called Californication (where people from California, want people from other states to stay the heck away) it’s just a great strip, to touch base with often.

Cartoons and cartoonists like this give me hope for the future of the medium. And thankfully there is now a thick compilation of all the previous slim K-CHRONICLE volumes. THIS IS A MUST HAVE! Because it might go out of print, then the used prices will shoot up, and you’ll be kicking yourself you didn’t buy it when you had the chance.
So highly recommended the complete K-CHRONICLES.Click here to buy THE COMPLETE K-CHRONICLES! 500 pages of goodness!

And finally wrapping up this installment, please support the following auctions. You can find all the following items pictured below and more being auctioned off here!

Here it is. Sure sign of the apocalypse… a blogger recommending other bloggers and related pop-culture sites. But seriously my bookmarks tend to get very bloated over time, so this exercise is more than anything to help me define what sites I should keep, and that I need to visit more routinely. And if in addition to that stated purpose; this overview also comes as handy and helpful guide to one of you reading this… then so much the better. Okay onto it: SECRET DEAD BLOG- I have only read one thing by writer Duane Swierczynski, and that was his MOON KNIGHT annual of a year or so ago. What I read impressed me, and as his blog shows he has impeccable taste in all things pulp and horror, I try to remember to peek in on his site occasionally. Good stuff. Of his books, I think I’ll give his WHEEL MAN, THE CRIMES OF DR. WATSON INTERACTIVE BOOK, and MURDER AT WAYNE MANOR INTERACTIVE BOOK a try (I was a fan of those choose your own adventure books as a kid. So these sound like they would make good presents for nieces and nephews. I’ll have to read them and confirm they are age appropriate). But with a stack of books that includes 4 Chester Himes books, 12 Cornell Woolrich, 3 Charlie Huston, 1 Walter Mosley and my usual mountainous stack of comics and magazines…it may be a bit before I get to WHEEL MAN. We’ll see. THRILLING DETECTIVE- This site covering all things noirish, hard boiled, and pulp-fiction inspired has for about ten years been a regular member of my bookmark lists. It is just a staggering and valuable resource for all mystery fans out there, whether your particular poison be radio, movies, tv, comics or dare I say it… novels. And with their extensive link section it really is your one stop shop for anything mystery related. Highly Recommended! Hard-Boiled Forum recommendationsThis is actually an old Bulletin Board thread, but has some really nifty recommendations for Hard-Boiled books and films. I’ve tried a sizable # of the recommendations. Woolrich TimelineI consider Cornell Woolrich to be one of the most phenomenal writers of the 20th century, his writing style transcends what he writes about, or transforms it… so that acts of murder or the mundane become instead, in his words, dizzying moments of grace, or alien acts of birth. He is the pragmatist as romantic, and thankfully his output (writing under 3 different names) was nothing short of staggering. And he was one of the few writers who was as good at the novel as he was with the short story, which gives me quite a body of work to sample. I find this page very helpful in determining the chronology of Woolrich, and therefore the next Woolrich story to go hunting for. SAVAGE CRITIC Blog- You know when I’m looking for comic reviews, I’m not looking for long, spoiler filled dissections. Keep it short, keep it simple, tell me if the book was bad, good, or great; and a general idea why. This site run by Uber-Retailer Brian Hibbs, does just that. Arguably the best review site on the web, easily the most navigable. No Flash, No Javascript… just getting to the point. Paula Woods is a reviewer/editor turned acclaimed mystery writer. A few years ago (wait… has it really been 13 years?!), Paula Woods put together one of my favorite anthologies in 1995’s SPOOKS,SPIES, AND PRIVATE EYES: BLACK MYSTERY, CRIME, AND SUSPENSE FICTION OF THE 20TH CENTURY. Along with Harlan Ellison’s DANGEROUS VISIONS it’s one of the best anthologies I’ve come across, and long overdue. Long out of print it’s a title I always pick up copies of, when I come across them, usually to hand out as gifts. Both historically relevant, as well as plain intriguing you might find it an equally compelling gift for the Mystery Lover in your life. Highly Recommended! Fascinating article on the surge in Black Mystery writers. Interesting Writers conference happening next year And let me just wrap this surprisingly time consuming post up, with a recommendation on what I’m reading right now. I’m 59 pages into Charlie Huston’s first novel CAUGHT STEALING. In a word… phenomenal. Terse, effective, almost stream of consciousness in how information is presented, 1st person narrative, that toys with time and perspective, to gripping effect. So far CAUGHT STEALING is a home-run. that completely works. Okay that’s all for now. More later!

Well It’s been a while since I’ve done an UNDER THE RADAR, so I buckled down and spent All Night composing the following. If you guys find UNDER THE RADAR useful, this is issue #6 by the way, please donate via paypal. Funds to keep it going, and to make it bigger and better are definitely appreciated. And please leave comments and feedback. Email address for that is heroictimes at safemail dot net. If you have books you want us to review please email to get mailing address. Thanks! Now into the Mix! I’m skipping Marvel and DC, nothing from those companies grabbing me this month. And quite frankly I prefer not dealing with their obtrusive ads, and event overload. So onto comics that are interesting me. All the below are in this Month’s Diamond Previews and need to be ordered by 29 Sept 08 for a November 2008 Delivery! You can order through your local retailer, on-line, or by Emailing me direct. The convenient thing about UNDER THE RADAR is that it also works pretty great as a reminder list of items to pick up later. So even if you don’t preorder (shame on you) you can take this list into your store come November, and pick up the items you want. Okay onto the picks!!!! IMAGE

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$3.50 MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS #14
story MICHAEL ALLRED & DARWYN COOKE art MICHAEL ALLRED & DARYWN COOKE cover MICHAEL ALLRED Scientific breakthroughs have brought about the return of Frank “Madman” Einstein’s girlfriend, Josephine Lombard, and Adam “Metal Man” Balm. But some miracles come with a cost. What will be the consequences and who will have to pay? WARNING: When you read this issue, prepare to have your brain do a flip in your skull! NOVEMBER 19 * 32 PAGES * FC * $3.50 — I’ve only picked up one issue of this series, but I definitely liked what I saw. I think this is a good jumping on point for lapsed and new readers like myself.

WALKING DEAD OMNIBUS HC VOL 2
story ROBERT KIRKMAN art & cover CHARLIE ADLARD & CLIFF RATHBURN This deluxe hardcover features the next 24 issues of the hit series along with the covers for the issues all in one massive, oversized slip-cased volume. Perfect for long time fans, new readers and anyone needing a heavy object with which to fend off the walking dead. Strictly limited to a print run of 3000. Collects THE WALKING DEAD #24-48 NOVEMBER 26 * 560 PAGES * BW * $100.00 S&N LTD ED $150.00 WARNING: MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES (preview artwork is available)- WHAT???!!! Kirkman again! I just went on about how the post 2 years run on WALKING DEAD wasn’t doing it for me, and checking out the trades from the library for free to see if it gets better… blah blah blah. But here’s the thing, you don’t lose with the OMNIBUS. I buy the thing for $60, I hate it, I can turn around in a couple months and sell it for a profit. MWAHAHAHA! And if it turns out it did get better, then I keep it. Either way win/win.

DARK HORSE

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The only thing that really grabbed my attention were the NEXUS archives. but at $50 for 6 issues they are WAY too expensive. Guys you’re not reprinting rare EC comics or Creepy Magazines. You can typically pick up the whole series on auction sites, usually over 80 issues for less than the price of 2 of these archives (or 12 issues of reading material). Yeah, beyond the Star Wars stuff, that has pretty bad art, I don’t know what DARK HORSE is doing these days.

INDEPENDENT

$18.95 ALANS WAR GN from :01 FIRST SECOND BOOKS

by Emmanuel Guibert, with Alan Cope When Alan Cope was eighteen, he joined the army and went off to fight in World War II. Like every American, he felt a patriotic fervor burning in him after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor. But he had little idea what he was getting into by enlisting. This graphic memoir tells the story of his life during wartime, of his journey from his home on the west coast to basic training in Kentucky to leave in New York City, to the battlefields of France, to the terrors of the Bulge and General Patton’s drive on Germany and Prague. Told with poignant intimacy and matchless artistry, Alan’s War was born from a friendship between Alan and the graphic novel creator Emmanuel Guibert, who created a deeply personal and moving graphic novel from the stories Alan told him of his wartime experiences. An award-winner when it was serialized in Guibert’s native France, this moving story of an American’s experiences during the Second World War now finds its audience in his homeland. SC, 7×10, 336pgs, B&W SRP: $18.95- I’m a fan of war books, while being no fan of war, if that makes any sense. From CHARLY’S WAR to NAM to VIETNAM JOURNAL to BLAZING COMBAT (to be republished this year, YAY!) I think the war book when done well is an invaluable portrait of our folly and our fervor. And at the price this is an excellent deal.

$17.95 BOURBON ISLAND 1730 GN from :01 BOOKS
by Lewis Trondheim and Appollo Raphael Pommeroy arrives in the West Indies with his ornithology professor in the year 1730. They’re supposed to be in search of the almost-extinct dodo, but Raphael quickly becomes entranced with the piratical inhabitants of Bourbon Island, becoming obsessed with their vision of a world where all people are free and equal, regardless of their skin color. Drama unfolds on the island as the inhabitants race to find the pirate treasure secretly cached there – and reveal their inner selves in doing so! Bourbon Island 1730 is the latest book by International Horror Award winner Lewis Trondheim. (C: 0-1-2) SC, 6×8.5, 288pgs, B&W SRP: $17.95- Wow, yet another great sounding title from this company. What a bad month to be broke.

GLAMOURPUSS #4 from AARDVARK VANAHEIM
by Dave Sim What else would you expect from “The High Fashion Comic Book That’s So Six Months Ago” just before Christmas but “The First Annual Swimsuit (and Really Good Advice) Issue”? All your favorite swimming attire from H&M to Malia Mills, OMO Norma Kamali to DSquared2 (as well as “what to do with two half-empty bottles of nail polish” and “the best way to hairspray”). The Alex Raymond section of the book revisits “RIP Kirby 1949-1952″ when Raymond was the only cartoonist in the photorealism school he created. And if the shuffling undead are so popular, why shouldn’t Fashion Zombies grace the cover of a special variant edition of glamourpuss #4? REGULAR – 24pgs, B&W SRP: $3.00 ZOMBIE VARIANT – 24pgs, B&W SRP: $15.00 (preview artwork is available)- I really enjoyed the first issue of this series so I’m in. But I have to say Dave Sim cracks me up with the Variant Cover. He’s like if you morons really are stupid enough to buy a book because of a zombie cover I’ll give you one… and make you morons pay for it too. That’s the way to do it Dave. And if you are stupid enough to buy a book because it has a zombie cover, I have a mortgage you can pay as well. I’ll draw a little zombie pic on the note if it will help. .

$3.99 JAZZ COOL BIRTH ONE-SHOT by AAZURN PUBLISHING
by Gary Scott Beatty It’s a jazz club murder mystery, with art based on 1950s album cover design! From the martini crowd at the uptown piano bars to the whiskey cats at downtown’s Skylarks, piano man Dean Fontessa had thought he’d seen it all. But when he agrees to beat chops with the local pounders about a nixed out gabriel, he finds the jazz crowd takes care of its own, dig? A Xeric Foundation grant winner, now in full-color! MATURE THEMES 24pgs, FC SRP: $3.99- The premise intrigues me

TERRY MOORES ECHO #8 by ABSTRACT STUDIOS
by Terry Moore Julie isn’t the only one with remnants of the atomic armor she wears. There is another, much darker soul, who lusts for the power the armor brings. The Dark One is determined to find Julie and claim her share of the armor. To do that, he will have to kill her! 24pgs, B&W SRP: $3.50 (preview artwork is available)- I wasn’t on the bandwagon for STRANGERS IN PARADISE and by the time I tried, it seemed pretty impenetrable to me. So I want to give this series a try.

$14.95 PHANTOM DETECTIVE JUN 1935 REPLICA ED from ADVENTURE HOUSE
The Phantom Detective, part-super-hero, part-super-detective, takes on a new case. “Notes of Doom,” by Robert Wallace, follows the Phantom on the breath-taking trail of a ghastly series of sinister crimes perpetrated by a super-criminal who holds promissory notes for the lives of his victims! (Adventure House) (C: 0-1-2) SC, 7×10, 128pgs, B&W SRP: $14.95- Not quite sure what this is, but curiosity is piqued

OBAMA / MCCAIN THE COMIC BOOK from ANTARCTIC PRESS
by Joeming Dunn, Rod Espinosa & Chris Allen The 2008 presidential election promises to be one of the most historically significant in decades. Around the world, millions are looking to the election, wondering what direction the will country take. Will the policies of the past decade continue, or will America set a new course? The candidates are celebrities, and what are the stories behind its candidates? Antarctic Press brings readers the stories of the two candidates with these new comic book biographies. Obama: The Comic Book gives readers the story of Barack Obama, a person whose very presence on the ballot marks significant change. Written by Eisner nominee and Ignatz winner Rod Espinosa, this unauthorized biography presents a clear view of the life of this controversial candidate – the good and the bad – with a hard look at the issues surrounding him and what his candidacy means for the country. McCain: The Comic Book brings you the story of John McCain, the Vietnam veteran leading the Republican bid for the highest office in the land. Written by Joeming Dunn, M.D., this biography delves into all the dark times and daring exploits of this candidate’s past and asks just what he stands for. Can a former POW survive the presidential battlefield? Both biographies are illustrated by Chris Allen (illustrator of Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver biographies for ABDO Publishing), and with these books readers can become educated about the candidates and the issues facing the country. MCCAIN – 32pgs, B&W SRP: $3.99 OBAMA – 32pgs, B&W SRP: $3.99 (preview artwork is available)- interesting curiosity from this company that usually has very little of interest to me

$2.95 GAUZE #1 from ARCANA STUDIOS
by Gerrin Tramis & Dave Hamann Elizabeth Morgan has been on the run from a serial killer for the past two years. Under the protection of the police, Elizabeth relocated to New York City to await the killer’s apprehension. But after the murder of a young girl and her parents on the outskirts of Nashville, Elizabeth must once again leave everything behind and seek safety in a new life! 32pgs, FC SRP: $2.95- Could be me, but the cover and the premise sounds worth a look

DOKTOR SLEEPLESS #12
by Warren Ellis & Ivan Rodriguez Doktor Sleepless, by all accounts of the Heavenside media, is an all-powerful and angry god who can turn off the electricity at will, has brought angels to earth, and is remaking the city in his own image. But as each new story whips the rumors of the mad Doktor to terrifying proportions, the more frightening truth is that he may be beginning to believe his own press! Warren Ellis’ satirical-political science fiction novel continues its on-going run! The issue is available with a regular cover by series artist Ivan Rodriguez, or wraparound cover by Raulo Caceres, and also a rare Future Warning Sign cover. MATURE THEMES REGULAR – 32pgs, FC SRP: $3.99 WRAPAROUND – 32pgs, FC SRP: $3.99- Bendis and Kirkman and Millar to the contrary, the most important and prolific comic writer of the last decade is Warren Ellis. His pop comic treatise and manifesto have challenged the medium (If you haven’t read COME IN ALONE, you’re missing what I think is the best wake-up call, rant, and love-letter to the medium of comics that you’ll ever come across), and his talent, and imagination, and business acumen and daring… have changed it. His standalone works and contained runs, his pop comics, painted the way. From CRECY to AGENTS OF HATE to HELLBLAZER (his run on this title has not been equaled) to AUTHORITY to PLANETARY to OCEAN to GLOBAL FREQUENCY to TRANSMETROPOLITAN to name a few. And he continues to show us, cajole us, tantalize us, with this idea of a medium that can and should offer more… than your father’s superheroes. So I’m really happy to pick up the work he’s doing at Avatar. He pretty much single handedly made that company into more than T&A for the comic book set. (not that there’s anything wrong with that )

$3.99 VINCENT PRICE PRESENTS #3 from BLUEWATER PRODUCTIONS
by Chad Helder & Rey Armenteros African-American physicist Andrew Routledge takes a plane flight in a blizzard to attend a world-class conference on quantum mechanics. Fate has other plans when his plane crashes in a nightmarish world where the snow never stops and a menacing evil curse, buried deep within the darkest chapters of American history, rises again! Andrew’s only hope to escape is a strange whistle that he must figure out how to use before the snow stops forever and the apocalyptic Shadow Man appears on the horizon – signaling the doom of all! SC, 32pgs, FC SRP: $3.99- I think this is the same company that did PISTOL FIST, another intriguing sounding series.

$3.99 FARSCAPE #1 CVR A from BOOM STUDIOS
by Rockne O’Bannon, Keith R.A. DeCandido & Tommy Patterson Television’s science fiction masterpiece Farscape returns! Farscape creator Rockne O’Bannon teams up with Farscape novelist Keith R.A. DeCandido (House of Cards) to continue his creation in comic book form right where the Peacekeeper Wars left off! Find out what’s in store for John Crichton, Aeryn Sun, Rygel, Chiana, and the rest of the Moya crew! Do the comics tie into Sci-Fi Channel’s upcoming webisodes? You know it, ‘Scapers! Don’t frelling miss this! Available with covers from Joe Corroney, Dennis Calero, and a photo cover from the series. CORRONEY COVER – SC, 24pgs, FC SRP: $3.99

GIANT MONSTER TP
by Steve Niles & Nat Jones Giant Monster is the ultimate giant monster story, from the writer-creator of the smash-hit 30 Days of Night. Astronaut Don Maggert’s first solo manned space flight has him disappear inTo the grip of an intergalactic horror. Upon his return to Earth, he’s been transformed into something that will throw the entire planet into peril! Featuring oversized Kaiju action and giant monster throwdowns! Featuring an illustrated introduction by Bernie Wrightson and Bill Sienkiewicz. (SEP073459) SC, 128pgs, FC SRP: $14.99 (preview artwork is available)

$2.95 TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #53 from BROADSWORD COMICS
by Jim Balent “Loose Lips.” Each year, many people donate their body parts to others after they are dead. But what if the ghosts of the dead change their minds and want them back? Skeleton Man and Crypt Chick must stop the ungrateful dead as the spirits try to retrieve their donated parts from the living! MATURE THEMES 32pgs, FC SRP: $2.95- I like Jim Balent’s TAROT. In a world where people have no problem using sex to sell everything from cars to torture and hate, people have a problem with Balent using his sexy good girl art to sell a Pollyannesque, Newage, Adult fairy tale. You know what, I say good for Balent. His comics are easy on the eyes, and yes they do have a “I like me, and you should like you” message, and I think that’s great. His work is as valid as grown men reading about dudes in skin tight costumes, wearing their underwear on the outside of their pants spending their nights looking for other freaks to wrestle. So yeah, I think TAROT is a lot less deluded than most Marvel or DC superhero comics, and is a lot more fun. Recommended.

RASL TP VOL 1 DRIFT from CARTOON BOOKS
by Jeff Smith Cartoon Books proudly presents Jeff Smith’s new adventure series – RASL – a stark, sci-fi series about a dimension-jumping art thief, a man unplugged from the world who races through space and time searching for his next big score – and trying to escape his past. In this first of three graphic novels, Rasl faces an assassin’s bullet and stumbles across a mystery that not only threatens to expose his own illicit activities, but could also uncover one of the world’s most dangerous and sought after secrets! Contains mature content. (C: 0-1-2) MATURE THEMES SC, 9×12, 112pgs, B&W SRP: $13.00– This is a must have. Man!! Why are there so many good books out!

$2.25 (save $0.74) SPARKS #5 (OF 6) from CATASTROPHIC COMICS
by Christopher Folino & JM Ringuet From Catastrophic Comics. William Katt’s critically acclaimed superhero noir thriller gets closer to its dark finale. Karma, fate and vengeance all demand full payment from masked vigilante Ian Sparks in this shocking penultimate issue! Scheduled to ship 10/29/08. (808) MATURE THEMES SC, 32pgs, FC (5 of 6) SRP: $2.99
$2.25 (save $0.74) SPARKS #6 (OF 6)
by Christopher Folino & JM Ringuet William Katt’s critically acclaimed superhuman noir thriller comes to its explosive conclusion as the thrilling finale reveals the extent of Ian Sparks’ true powers! MATURE THEMES SC, 32pgs, FC (6 of 6) SRP: $2.99– If jumping on late like me, get these two issues, and pick up the back issues at any comic store. I heard these guys interviewed on the podcast COMIC GEEKSPEAK and so now I’m following up on my mental note to pick this series up

$34.95 RUSE OMNIBUS TP VOL 1 from CHECKER BOOK PUBLISHING GROUP
by Mark Waid & Butch Guice As the world’s greatest detective, Simon Archard long ago lost interest in crimes that present to him absolutely no challenge – but when a sudden spate of extraordinary homicides and impossible events threatens the gas-lit streets of Partington, only Archard and his partner Emma Bishop can separate the guilty from the innocent! This edition collects issues #1-17 of the Eisner and Harvey nominated series which served as the flagship title for the innovative comic book company, Crossgen. (C: 0-1-2) SC, 7×10, 500pgs, FC SRP: $34.95- -The complete series? Count me in!

$16.99 UNTOUCHABLES TP
by Joe Pruett & John Kissee Twenty years after the fall of Capone and the rise to fame of Ness comes a new group of Treasury agents code-named The Untouchables. Prohibition now includes not only liquor, but tobacco and firearms. Gun fights, car chases, gangsters, nightclubs and sexy dames galore can be found throughout this hard-boiled, alternate take on the days of the mob and the officers who hunted them. Collects The Untouchables #1-4 and The Crimewave one shot. (JUL061685) SC, 7×10, 160pgs, B&W SRP: $16.99

$22.99 BLAZING COMBAT HC from FANTAGRAPHICS
By Archie Goodwin, etc. $22.99 Hardcover Graphic Novels 200 pages, black-and-white, 8″ x 10″ * Superb reproduction from the original printer’s film negatives* Deluxe, hardcover edition* Breathtaking art from several acknowledged masters of the form* Candid, revealing interviews with Blazing Combat publisher James Warren and writer/editor Archie Goodwin. Blazing Combat was an American war-comics magazine published by Warren Publishing from 1965 to 1966. Written and edited by Archie Goodwin, with artwork by such industry notables as Gene Colan, Frank Frazetta, John Severin, Alex Toth, Al Williamson, Russ Heath, Reed Crandall, and Wally Wood, it featured war stories in both contemporary and period settings, unified by a humanistic theme of the personal costs of war, rather than by traditional men’s adventure motifs. As one letter writer in the third issue put it, “Do you seriously expect to make money with a war magazine that publishes nothing but anti-war stories?”While most stories took place during World War II, they ranged in settings from the 18th century to the present-day. Some dealt with historical figures, such as Revolutionary War general Benedict Arnold and his pre-traitorous victory at the Battle of Saratoga, while “Foragers” focused on a fictitious soldier in General William T. Sherman’s devastating March to the Sea during the American Civil War. “Holding Action”, set on the last day of the Korean War, ended with a gung-ho young soldier, unwilling to quit, being escorted over his protests into a medical vehicle. What proved to be the most controversial were stories set during the contemporary Vietnam War, particularly the classic short “Landscape”, which follows the thoughts of a Vietnamese peasant rice-farmer devoid of ideology, who nonetheless pays the ultimate price simply for living where he does. While writer Goodwin evenhandedly portrays the North Vietnamese Army brutal summary executions of village officials, and a well-meaning U.S. Army fatally bludgeoning its way through the village in a counterattack, the story caused key distributors to stop selling the title.- I mentioned this title earlier. Probably this is my buy of the month. It’s a must have.

$3.99 LEGION OF THE SUPERNATURAL #2 from IDW
Rick Remender (w) * Bret Blevins (a & c) When our heroes fail us… we will turn to our monsters! In a dank laboratory, amid the alien ruins on the moon, Frankenstein’s monster has been bitten by a cursed undead. His plea to Dracula is ignored, their rivalry continues. The Mummy Cleopatra has murdered humanities heroes. The Bog Creature moves towards his own plans for saving Earth by eliminating humanity. The vampire world has run dry of victuals. The lord of the vampires has amassed his forces and Tokyo is destroyed over and over. FC * 32 pages * $3.99– I tried to ignore that premise (because I’ve been working on this list for hours, and am getting really tired ), but I can’t, sounds too good

$3.99 LOST & FOUND
Beau Smith (w) * Gary Kwapisz (a & c) The Bermuda Triangle, the Arctic Vortex, Stonehedge, and The Devil’s Triangle have always been rumored to be mysterious portals to destinations unknown. Not anymore – they all lead to a scientific “Dead Letter Department” created by a global group of ancient scientists that didn’t worship Gods, they worshiped science. Together they created a massive petri dish in time where they could study everything these portal snares brought them, and then they disappeared. Only, they forgot to turn it off. And now the lab has acquired a nuclear bomb, a development that has a displaced WWI fighter pilot and his astronaut partner racing to stop a pre-Nazi occultist from using the bomb to remake the world in his image. Writer Beau Smith and artist Gary Kwapisz present a rip-roarin’ one-shot tale of cowboys, dinosaurs, Indians, Nazis, Zulu Warriors, pirates, cavemen, rebel and Yankee soldiers and even a sea monster, all within 22 action-packed pages! FC * 32 pages * $3.99 Damn! They had me at Zulu Warriors! It’s okay, I’ll just sell my kidney to pay for all these comics!

Seriously, if you’re a comic company depending on Diamond Previews to give you business, and you’re not one of the big four, I would strongly suggest changing your name to something that begins before “J”, and preferably before “D”. Because I’m a meticulous SOB, and by the time I reach “I” I’m exhausted with looking. So if you’re a small company and your name begins with “G” or after, you just might be out of luck.

Okay onto the “J”s and later:

$4.99 PSYCHOTIC REACTION ONE SHOT from MOONSTONE
by Justin Gray, Thorsten Ebert & Mark Deering Sadly in March of 2008, Psychotic Reaction’s talented artist Thorsten Ebert was involved in a terrible accident on his way to work and is currently in the hospital in a coma. This is his first fully illustrated and published comic book work. Justin Gray, Marc Deering, Paul Mounts, and Moonstone publisher Joe Gentile have agreed to donate the proceeds from the sale of this book exclusively to Thorsten Ebert. Michael has the best job in the world. Not only does he get paid to play video games, but he also gets to test new games before they hit the open market. When the entertainment giant, Brain Thrust, approaches him with an offer to test a cerebral chip that enables a person to play video games in which they smell, taste and perhaps even feel things by transmitting data directly into the human brain, it is an offer he can’t refuse. But when the line between reality and the game begin to blur and people start dying, Michael finds himself at the center of a terrifying conspiracy! Psychotic Reaction is a horror tale in the tradition of Philip K. Dick, written by Jonah Hex’s Justin Gray! By purchasing Psychotic Reaction you can help a young man realize his dream of becoming a published comic book illustrator, and it is our hope that our friend Thorsten will make a complete recovery and resume the bright career he has ahead of him! MATURE THEMES 48pgs, B&W SRP: $4.99

$16.95 SEX LIES AND PRIVATE EYES
by Various When it comes to sex, lies often follow & in the dark heart of the city, death can be the ultimate payback! A landmark collection of all-new original noir short stories with the theme of “sex for sale.” Written by some of today’s top crime writers, Sex, Lies and Private Eyes features a stunning cast of legendary characters from the best mysteries of the past and present: Alo Nudger, Fred Carver, Blackshirt, Candy Matson Domino Lady, Kolchak, Lai Wan, Jack Hagee PI, Johnny Dollar, Mr. Keen, Pat Novak, Sherlock Holmes, The Silencers, The Maze Agency, Toby Peters, Truxton Lewis, and more! With stories by Max Allan Collins, Loren D. Estleman, Stuart M. Kaminksy, Mike W. Barr, Mike Bullock, Barbara Collins, Steven Grant, CJ Henderson, David Tischman, and more, this is one noir ride you won’t want to miss! RES. from Previews Vol. XVIII #6 (JUN084124) SC, 6×9, 288pgs, B&W SRP: $16.95– MOONSTONE isn’t a company that’s on many peoples radar, but their pulp sensibilities interest me

$11.95 KING OF NEKROPOLIS GN from OPTIMUM WOUND COMICS
by Danijel Zezelj Ras Casal is a private detective, haunted by demons and old memories, addicted to drugs and on the verge of complete madness. Casal is hired by Professor Noah to find an old colleague, Theobald Hall, a brilliant computer scientist who has disappeared under mysterious circumstances. The hunt to find Theobald begins as does a long and terrible descent into personal hells for Ras. His journey into the heart of Nekropolis becomes his last chance at redemption! (C: 0-1-0) SC, 7×10, 104pgs, B&W SRP: $11.95- I’m a fan of the artist

$2.25 (save $0.74) CITY OF DUST #2 A CVR LANGLEY
by Steve Niles & Zid The discovery of a child’s storybook puts Khrome at the center of a citywide crackdown on imagination crimes. While detective Khrome bears the weight of suspicion, another grizzly murder is committed and a secret truth is revealed, a truth that will shatter the fragile peace of this estranged society! CLINT LANGLEY COVER – 28pgs, FC SRP: $2.99 ALEX RUIZ COVER – 28pgs, FC SRP: $2.99 LUCIO PARRILLO COVER – 28pgs, FC SRP: $2.99 IFS COVER – 28pgs, FC SRP: $2.99- The Langley cover is my preferred one, followed closely by Ruiz

$24.95 CLEBURNE GN from RAMPART PRESS
by Justin Murphy, Al Milgrom & J. Brown During the American Civil War, as Union armies marched deep into Confederate territory, Confederate General Patrick Cleburne advanced a plan to enlist slaves to fight for the South. According to Cleburne’s proposal, every African American who served the Confederacy as a soldier would receive freedom upon enlistment. This was a revolutionary concept for its era, and by making his proposal, it sent Cleburne’s life spiraling down a perilous road. Set during the critical year of 1864, and culminating in the bloody Battle of Franklin, Cleburne is a tale of unbeatable courage in the face of racism, conspiracy and war. SC, 208pgs, FC SRP: $24.95 Yet ANOTHER Intriguing sounding book due in November!

Okay, I made it all the way down to Zenascope Entertainment and that’s it for my comics highlights. Thank goodness!

Wait. I still have to do the books and magazine sections! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Just joking. I hunt for these things so you don’t have to. .

BOOKS

$9.95 ALAN MOORE EXIT INTERVIEW SC from BILL BAKER
By Bill Baker This is an intimate portrait of the artist and his work, detailing both what he’s accomplished and what it’s cost him to remain true to himself and his art. This three-plus hour interview begins with Moore’s dissection of his commercial comics career. The conversation then the turns to the state of the art and business before touching on Lost Girls, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and Jerusalem, his novel-in-progress. SC, 6 x 8, 96pgs, B&W SRP: $9.95

$39.95 REYNOLD BROWN LIFE IN PICTURES HC from ILLUSTRATION MAGAZINE
by David A. Hornung Perhaps best known for his work in the film industry, Reynold Brown was the artist behind such seminal movie posters as Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, I Was A Teenage Werewolf, Ben Hur, Spartacus, and many more. This fantastic volume profiles all facets of Brown’s work, from his early days with North American Aviation during World War II, to his work as a paperback and magazine illustrator in New York City, to his prolific career as one of Hollywood’s finest movie poster artists. Illustrated in full-color with hundreds of images reproduced from the original paintings and drawings, this landmark volume on one of America’s greatest illustrators is not to be missed. (5269/0-9820041-2-5) (C: 0-1-2) HC, 9×11, 208pgs, FC SRP: $39.95

$16.00 PITCHFORK 500 SC
by Scott Plagenhoef & Ryan Schreiber The past thirty years have seen musical genres splinter, creating a world of new sounds and hybrids. During the past five years alone, the advent of mp3 players, Napster, and digital downloads has subdivided even albums themselves. We’ve entered a period in which individual songs are more popular than full albums, where a single mp3 can turn a band into tomorrow’s next big thing. The Pitchfork 500 includes lively, insightful reviews of the 500 most important songs released between January 1977 and December 2006. Beginning with the birth of punk and independent music, it will document the post-boomer era of music that has spanned from such acts as Nirvana, The Clash, Radiohead, and U2, along with hip hop, indie, pop, metal, electronic, and experimental music. Equal parts serious music criticism and pop culture candy, this is the essential music guide of our time, one that considers the changing nature of the modern music landscape, while bringing the changes of the past three decades into focus. (248/1-416-56202-8) (C: 0-1-2) SC, 8×9, 224pgs, B&W SRP: $16.00

JUST AFTER SUNSET COLLECTORS SET
One Printing Only! This Collector’s Set will only be available while supplies last! His first collection in six years, Stephen King delivers his strongest, most broadly appealing stories ever in Just After Sunset. One of the longer stories in this book, the never-before-published “N” recently broke ground when it was adapted as a graphic digital entertainment and brought to vibrant life through a series of 25 video episodes. Introduced by the author, those episodes are presented on the exclusive DVD included in this Collector’s Set and available nowhere else. A trailer for the video episodes, and a special “Behind the Scenes” segment complete the DVD available only in this special edition of the book. (248/1-4391-1530-3) (C: 0-1-2) HC, 6×9, 384pgs, B&W SRP: $37.50

$59.99 100 ALL TIME FAVORITE MOVIES HC from TASCHEN
by Dr. Jurgen Muller From horror to romance, noir to slapstick, adventure to tragedy, epic to musical, western to new wave, all film genres are represented in this wide-ranging and devilishly fun compendium. Metropolis? Check. Modern Times? Yep. Citizen Kane, The Seven Samurai? Of course. A Clockwork Orange? You bet. Plus The Godfather, Annie Hall, Blue Velvet, Pulp Fiction – and so many more cinematic gems. Think of this collection as a celebration of contrasts, an homage to the seventh art, a gathering of greats, and a nostalgic romp through celluloid history. Chronological entries each include a synopsis, cast/crew listings, technical information, actor/director bios, trivia, and list of awards, as well as film stills, production photos, and the original poster for each film. (8075/3-8365-0860-5) (C: 0-1-2) HC, 9.4×12, 800pgs, PC SRP: $59.99

$70.00 STANLEY KUBRICK ARCHIVES HC from TASCHEN
by Alison Castle Finally available again, in a special anniversary edition! The first book to explore Stanley Kubrick’s archives and the most comprehensive study of the filmmaker to date is divided into 2 parts. In 1968, when Stanley Kubrick was asked to comment on the metaphysical significance of 2001: A Space Odyssey, he replied: “It’s not a message I ever intended to convey in words. 2001 is a nonverbal experience…. I tried to create a visual experience.” The philosophy behind Part 1 borrows from this line of thinking: from the opening sequence of Killer’s Kiss to the final frames of Eyes Wide Shut, Kubrick’s complete films will be presented chronologically and wordlessly via frame enlargements. A completely nonverbal experience. Then, divided into chapters chronologically by film, Part 2 brings to life the creative process of Kubrick’s filmmaking by presenting a remarkable collection of material from his archives, including photographs, props, posters, artwork, set designs, sketches, correspondence, documents, screenplays, drafts, notes, and shooting schedules. Accompanying the visual material are essays by noted Kubrick scholars, articles written by and about Kubrick, and a selection of Kubrick’s best interviews. The Stanley Kubrick Archives also comes with a 70-minute audio CD that presents a 1966 interview with Kubrick conducted by Jeremy Bernstein. (8075/3-8365-0889-3) (C: 0-1-2) HC, 12.9×9.6, 544pgs, PC SRP: $70.00

$49.95 WINSTON EFFECT HC PX SGN LTD VAR CVR ED from TITAN BOOKS
by Jody Duncan; foreword by James Cameron A PREVIEWS Exclusive! Stan Winston and his team are the special effects experts behind The Terminator, Aliens, Predator, Jurassic Park, Edward Scissorhands, and many more effects-laden genre classics! Featuring hundreds of unseen photographs and pre-production concept art and sketches, The Winston Effect, this first-ever book revealing the secrets of the Stan Winston Studio, is now offered in this deluxe, interview-packed hardcover edition, signed by Stan Winston and featuring a variant sculpture cover. A must-have for every collector! (893/1-84576-365-3) HC, 10×12, 336pgs, FC SRP: $49.95

MODERN MASTERS SC VOL 20 KYLE BAKER from TWOMORROWS
by Eric Nolan-Weathington Kyle Baker may well be the funniest man in comics. With books like The Cowboy Wally Show, Why I Hate Saturn, Plastic Man, and The Bakers on his resume, along with four (OF his eight) Eisner Awards in the “Best Writer/Artist Humor” category, it’s hard to argue against him. But he does serious, too – and you can’t get much more serious than Nat Turner. He is the all-around cartoonist – he can write, pencil, ink, and color with the best of them. His work has appeared in such diverse publications as The New York Times, Esquire, Rolling Stone, and MAD. Without question, Kyle Baker is a Modern Master, and this book presents a career-spanning interview and discussion of his creative process, plus plenty of rare and unseen art, including an 8-page color section, and a gallery of commissioned work! (C: 0-1-1) SC, 120pgs, PC SRP: $14.95

MAGAZINES

BACK ISSUE #31
Back Issue salutes the comics and animation career of the late, great, and groundbreaking writer Steve Gerber, beginning with an in-depth look at his most famous creation, Howard the Duck. Plus, “Gerber’s Gruesomes” (Marvel horror series such as Man-Thing), Omega the Unknown, “Gerber in the Marvel Universe” (offbeat superhero work, from Defenders to Foolkiller), Crazy! Magazine, Metal Men, Mister Miracle, and the animated television favorite Thundarr the Barbarian. An all-star lineup of comics and cartoon creators pay tribute to Steve Gerber, with art by and commentary from Frank Brunner, Rich Buckler, Gene Colan, Michael Golden, Stan Lee, Paul Levitz, Pablo Marcos, Val Mayerik, Jim Mooney, Martin Pasko, Mike Ploog, Dave Simons, Roger Slifer, Walt Simonson, Ron Wilson, and many, many others. And Howard the Duck turns barbarian in a cover painting by Frank Brunner! (Twomorrows Publishing) (C: 0-1-2) Magazine, 100pgs, B&W SRP: $6.95

$5.99 COMICS NOW #4
Comics Now! welcomes you with another serving of pulse-pounding features! Celebrate the 10th anniversary of Marvel Knights with a retrospective tracing the idea’s origin and development. Delve into why the market is witnessing a (successful) revival of heroes and villains from the Golden Age of Comics. Plus the conclusion of our two-part Hellblazer analysis! Throw in your favorite columns and comic strips for a fall feast to remember, courtesy of Comics Now! (Ape Entertainment) (C: 0-1-2) Magazine, 96pgs, FC SRP: $5.99

$9.99 SFX #176
SFX is the biggest, brightest and boldest science fiction magazine in the world, filled to the brim with everything you ever wanted to know about sci-fi, fantasy, and horror. Well-known for its irreverent-but-fond attitude towards the genres, SFX is Britain’s best-selling sci-fi and fantasy magazine! Explore the depths of some of the greatest minds in literary sci-fi and comicdom and read reviews of all the latest films, DVDs, and books. (Future Publishing) (C: 0-1-2) NOTE: Not available in the U.K. (May Purchase from U.K. Vendor) Magazine, FC SRP: $9.99

HEAVY METAL JAN 2009 #120
Heavy Metal, the world’s foremost adult illustrated fantasy magazine, returns with an all-new issue that features stories and artwork that is out of this world! (C: 0-1-2) MATURE THEMES Magazine, 8×11, 150pgs, FC SRP: $6.95

$12.00 ZINE YEARBOOK #9
by Various An annual anthology of small press writing and artwork, Zine Yearbook collects excerpts from zines and mini-comics printed in a given year with circulations under 5,000 copies. There are thousands of small press, independent zines in publication today, and Zine Yearbook seeks both to document these efforts and provide well-deserved visibility and recognition to people who make the zine world the vibrant community that it is. Instead of categorizing or analyzing this movement, this series allows you to decide for yourself by providing excerpts from current publications. 240pgs, B&W SRP: $12.00

SUPER SPIES AND SECRET AGENTS #1
Ths is the first issue of the new British fanzine dedicated to the shadowy world of movie and TV Spies and Secret Agents! And although Super-Spies & Secret Agents devotes its attention to the classics of the genre – James Bond, The Prisoner, The Avengers, Man from UNCLE, Wild Wild West, Get Smart – the latest and greatest entries in the field – Chuck, Burn Notice, She Spies, and 24 – get their due as well! If you love spies and secret agents, then this is the mag for you! (Sequential Media) (C: 0-1-2) 48pgs, B&W SRP: $7.99- Great Cover

FANGORIA #279
Two of horror’s most famous figures – one from the classic era, the other a modern fright favorite – get makeovers in 2009, and Fangoria is the place to read about them! The new Friday the 13th film explores masked marauder Jason Voorhees’ origins and sets him loose on a fresh cast of young stars led by Jared Padalecki and Danielle Panabaker. Who will survive Jason’s new rampage? Then, Benicio Del Toro howls as Universal resurrects one of its all-time favorite monsters in a brand new feature, The Wolf Man! Del Toro is the cursed Lawrence Talbot, Oscar-winner Anthony Hopkins is his father and Emily Blunt is the heroine in the film, directed by Joe Johnston and featuring makeup FX by Rick Baker. Plus, this issue boasts all the latest horror news, TV updates, gossip and DVD, video game and book reviews that you can only find in Fangoria! (Starlog Group Inc) (C: 0-1-2) Magazine, FC SRP: $8.99-A new wolfman movie? About time! Hopefully it’s as good as the original

STARLOG #372
The films and DVDs of this winter take center stage in the latest issue of Starlog! Take a visit to the set of the remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still, go behind the scenes of James Bond’s latest mission in Quantum of Solace, talk to director David Yates about his work on Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, experience F. Scott Fitzgerald’s charming fantasy The Curious Case of Benjamin Button with actor Brad Pitt and director David Fincher, and take a trip onto the set of the highly-anticipated Watchmen. Plus, Starlog salutes Superman on film with interviews with John Newton, Helen Slater, and Marc McClure! (Starlog Group Inc) (C: 0-1-2) Magazine, FC SRP: $7.99

VIDEO WATCHDOG #146
Video Watchdog is the original, ultimate monthly review of horror, sci-fi and cult films on DVD, with serious, in-depth reviews and articles on domestic and import releases by the best writers in the field! You can read a lot of guesswork on the Internet, but the facts aren’t “in” until you read them in Video Watchdog! (Video Watchdog) (C: 0-1-2) Magazine, 6×9, 80pgs, FC SRP: $8.95

HOUSE THAT HAMMER BUILT #23
The House That Hammer Built is the premiere magazine about Hammer Studios and the library of horror films they produced during film’s horror renaissance. Hazel Court, Hammer’s first scream queen and cult horror actress, died earlier this year, and we offer a special tribute to the actree. Also, the retrospective of Hammer’s legendary set designer, Bernard Robinson, continues as the films he worked on in 1965 – Dracula: Prince of Darkness, Rasputin the Mad Monk, The Plague of Zombies, and The Reptile – are all discussed. Each page is packed with rare photos, making this magazine perfect for cinephiles! (Wayne Kinsey) (C: 0-1-2) Magazine, 52pgs, B&W SRP: $14.00

DVDs

EDGAR ALLEN POE COLL DVD VOL 1 ANNABEL LEE & OTHER TALES OF MYSTERY
From Microcinema International! The first volume in The Edgar Allan Poe Collection contains some excellent adaptaions of Poe’s work including George Higham’s award-winning, stop-motion animation short film inspired by the poem Annabel Lee. Annabel Lee is quintessential Poe – a haunted soul, a lost love, and the nocturnal grave-quest. The epic quality of this Orphic adventure includes expressionist visions of a lone figure on a journey through a nightmarish landscape in order to be re-united with his lost love… but first he must overcome the wrath of the “Envious Angels” that ruined his world. Scheduled to ship in November 2008. (C: 0-1-3) DVD SRP: $19.95

HP LOVECRAFT COLL DVD VOL 5
From Microcinema International! This DVD collecting celluloid adaptations of H. P. Lovecraft’s horror works features The Thing on the Doorstep, a unique story about an unfortunate marriage between a precocious scholar (Edward Derby) and a young heiress (Asenath Waite) who has mysterious hypnotic powers. Also included are the short films Maria’s Hubris by Patrick Weber and the animated short film From Beyond by Michael Granberry, an interview with director John Carpenter regarding Lovecraft, and openers from the H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival. Scheduled to ship in November 2008. (C: 0-1-3) DVD SRP: $19.95

CREATOR CHRONICLES JOE JUSKO DVD VOL 1 S/N ED
by Joe Jusko, Robin Dale & Renee Witterstaetter Joe Jusko, the renowned comics and fantasy painter, sits down to talk about his prolific 30 year career in illustration. Then, for the first and only time on camera, Joe gives an exclusive tutorial as he paints an entire piece from start to finish, sharing his entire process with the viewer, making The Creator Chronicles: Joe Jusko an absolute master class in fantasy art painting! (C: 0-1-2) DVD SRP: $29.95

WHAT AM I READING TODAY?

THE FAMISHED ROAD by Ben Okri. Just completed the first chapter, lyric and beautiful. Magical realism at its finest.

SHE’S GONE by Kwame Dawes. The story of Kingston Reggae Rockers and their walks on shifting ground. Starting off very strong.

THE HARRY FANNIN DETECTIVE NOVELS: EPITAPH FOR A TRAMP AND EPITAPH FOR A DEADBEAT by David Markson. A great first chapter doesn’t guarantee a great book, but more often than not it’s a pretty good indictaor. And this books offers a great first chapter.

H.P. LOVECRAFT THE TOMB AND OTHER TALES- Anthology of Lovecraft stories, the title story THE TOMB I found pretty underwhelming.

WHAT AM I WATCHING?

I’ve purchased the complete BBC JECKYL series, after viewing two of the episodes. I’ve bought the original BBC Pal DVDs, and not the shorter American edited version that was shown on BBC America,

The show from what I’ve see is Brilliant. Brilliant enough that I’m paying more to get the PAL DVDs.

Have also bought seasons 1 and 2 of LOST, so I can finally see what all the hype is about.

On the rental front I recently tried 2 movies, one called BUGS and one called HEADSPACE, both covered in all kinds of lofty reviews, and both failing to live up to them. With BUGS being the more disappointing of the two.

I am now an Amazon Associate. Yay, Boo, Hiss! .

I was spending so much money with those guys, and recommending so much stuff, and getting them sales anyhow, that this seemed to make sense… in a nonsensical way of course. Continue doing what I was doing for free, while now also be able to get a few pennies to support this site, the surfing, the purchasing, and all the cool reviewing and time wasting that goes into it. .

So periodically I’ll recommend you stuff I enjoyed, and think you’ll enjoy also. And if you agree, you can purchase the item through my handy dandy links and help keep this site/blog going. Thanks in advance.

Anyhow enough yapping, onto the recommending.

Sidney Poitier has been for me a long time idol. A star, in the least sappy meaning of that word. And a man, in the clearest definition of that word. I’ve enjoyed his films, one which I highly recommend is BROTHER JOHN. It’s best not knowing too much about this film, just let it carry you along, and you’ll find at the end, something endearing and hopeful and continually watchable.

Brother John

Following up on that purchase, I had bought his Audio Book THE MEASURE OF A MAN, ostensibly to give it to my Dad for a present. But once in my hands, I couldn’t resist. I listened to the tapes, and I found them… about so much more than you would expect, told with so much self effacing honesty, and so much willingness to reflect not on a singular life, but lives plural.

It’s a heady voyage Mr. Poitier takes you on, not just on his arc, his beginning and his peering at his end, but he touches on larger beginnings, and larger ends. On humanity, on God, on nature, on stars, and astronomy, and damnation and evil that may not belong to a single man… but all men.

But don’t let me mislead you, this is not a negative, wallowing, self absorbed, boring work; it is brilliant, touching, often wickedly funny, with anecdotes from a lifetime of classic movies, reflections on writers and directors, wives and mistresses, friends and foes. But above all it’s about looking up at the stars… and beginning to learn… the measure of a man.

And I love books, I love the tactile immediacy of reading, of being the chronometer of how fast or how slow the story goes, but get the audio book. Because Poitier’s voice takes you on a trip, his wisdom takes you on a trip, that the words alone cannot clearly emulate. A really, really essential purchase. My only caveat being that it’s not available on CD. But hey, the cassette will do for now.

Measure of a Man

Thanks for looking and leave some comments/feedback if you get a sec.

I’ve been really pretty darn productive going into this new year. Which is really very unusual for me.

I’m usually a very reliable procrastinator. But despite myself, I’ve been oddly effective at following through with things and getting things done, in the last week or two.

Hmmm…. don’t quite know how I feel about that yet. I’m the last of the really effective, and fun procrastinators… a slacker if you will, or hippie if you prefer…

I despair for a world where I give up slacking. Hmmmm…. troubling times, troubling times.

Well enough of me mourning for my slacking, time to be about the ABCs. “Always Be Closing!” Yeah I like Mamet movies too. Seemingly no end to my failings.

Blog moved… check.
ComicSpace page…. check
Domain Registration…. check.
Refinance… check.
Remodeling House…. check.
Sneakily killing former enemies…. check.
Page of art a day… check.
Repair Business…. check.
Working Out regularly…. check.
Prostitutes…. priceless.

God where was I…. yeah, so being very effective in this new year. I promised a local artist, I’d give her the script to a kids book we’re going to work on. Going to shoot for 32 to 48 pages, and get a good chunk of it storyboarded tonight.

Considering I have to be at work relatively early, I’m going to quickly update this blog, update my Comicspace page, post a bunch of auctions, post some ads for local web designers and artists, make a note to renew my prepaid legal membership, send off some resumes, and… work on the kids book… and make time to read a couple books.

I’m starting to feel being productive is way overrated.

Book of the Day: AAAIIIEEE!!! – A collection of horror stories by sometimes publisher Jeffrey Thomas, I couldn’t find too much on this book prior to purchasing it. A couple Amazon reviews that were repeated endlessly throughout the web, but no real 3rd party reviews. But being suitably a collecting fool when it comes to certain books, I took a chance that this book was more than just a vanity project, and had some real merit. Two stories in and I’m suitably convinced… Jeffrey Thomas, knows his way around horror. I’ll give a full review when done, but so far… it’s pretty darn good.

Movie of the Day: BAKENEKO: A VENGEFUL SPIRIT- An odd mixing of samurai film and ghost story, an inexplicably popular genre in Japan in the 1960s, this flick is one of the best examples of the genre I’ve seen. With really top notch sword play, an engaging storyline, and some effective horror/visuals. Suitably atmospheric and sinister. And never has a man putting his hands on a woman’s sleeve ever cost more. . You’ll know what I’m talking about when you see it. Recommended.

Comic of the Day: Didn’t read any today. Yes I know… sacrilege, but from my back issue bin I’ll recommend Rick Veitch’s MAXIMORTAL.

To my mind Rick Veitch has never been given the credit he deserves. People talk about Miller’s this or Moore’s that, and those accolades are deserved, but let’s not look over Veitch’s sizeable and scintillating body of work from SWAMP THING to RAREBIT FIENDS to BRAT PACK to what I consider not only his best work, but one of comics best works… THE MAXIMORTAL.

Veitch self published this title a decade ago, and a better dissection and examination, both satire and very serious ode to the comics medium… you will not find. I stack it up there with Moore’s WATCHMEN and FROM HELL, and Mckean’s CAGES. It is that great of a book, with wonderful literary odes and allusions done years before Moore’s LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN. Veitch’s finest hour, a book that deserves to be sought out and read often. It is one of my personal favorites, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Well boy, I spent way more time on that then I wanted to . Gotta run. Please enjoy and I’ll see you next update.

So without further ado:

If you’ve stumbled across this handy dandy blog, it means more than likely you’re a pop culture junkie like myself with more than a passing interest in books and cinema, and aren’t totally adverse to the idea of getting together with a bunch of like minded people and sharing these interests. Yapping a bit on fav music and comics and movies and writers and artists, etc.

Here I’ll try and keep you quickly and concisely informed about some stuff I’ve stumbled over and have loved, liked, or simply believe deserves a larger audience. Some of you are people I know, and I’m using this blog as a way of keeping you conveniently informed without sending out a trillion emails.

And while the gist of this will revolve around pop culture, it will take little segues depending on what’s going on in mi vida loca, my crazy life. Baltimore local here, so a little of this will revolve around this odd port city. Will revolve around landmarks and people; an odd place of power this city is, full of brilliance and banality, beauty and barbarism.

First a little about me, 30 going on 98, pop culture guy, employed for a major metropolitain newspaper, and in my spare time defend truth,justice and the a… wait that’s that other guy.

But yeah me average dude. Employed here, freelance writer on the side with two pro gigs to my resume( pro as in I actually got paid for the stuff, not pro as they were big time) and a lot of self published and free stuff printed. Looking to do a lot more of that stuff, and actually buckle down and try and submit a piece someplace every week.

(So some of you getting this have volunteered to help me get a new freelance mag/ fanzine off the ground. So really big on that. Those of you serious, let’s get started asap. We meet at my place every Sunday, early, and just start slapping stuff on the page. And either sell it mailorder, or via ebay, or force atomic books to carry it. Think of it as Entertainment Weekly meets Heavy Metal meets Mother Jones. Need writers, artists, photographers, etc. No pay, no glory, outrageous deadlines and fun. Spread the word!)

HOMICIDE was Great, or How I learned to kill my TV

Not a huge TV guy here, most stuff on tv is just…. not good. Last decent TV I watched was like Homicide, lst year NYPD Blue (the year with Carruso, rest of the years were… crap), Babylon 5, Farscape, and generally TCM.

But now, in the last six months I turn on my TV maybe once a week. And the killer part is I paid a paycheck or eight for the darn TV, and basically it’s just a very huge paperweight.
(With the exception to that being… I recently caught a show on AMC I think, called HUSTLE. A brit show, it was very good)

HYENAS whup Sin City

All that said I love movies, DVDs. Dig everything from classics to crime to horror to foreign. Let me rephrase, I love good movies. Which means I HATED Sin City (saw it on the big screen like everybody else, what a waste of money). And I dug the Frank Miller books, but like everything Tarrantino and Rodriguez have done recently, the darn thing had no soul. For more on Sin City, a better analysis and why it’s more programming than movie, go here: www.imdb.com/title/tt0401792/usercomments-1000

If you want to see a good movie, and don’t mind subtitles check out the late, great Mambety’s wickedly biting satire HYENAS. Great flick out of Senegal.

WHO KNOWS WHAT EVIL LURKS

But really I’m not even watching movies, unless I have company over. When in the house by myself,or writing or reading, I’m listing to music or OTR.

OTR? Oh yeah, let me explain. Recently got turned onto Old time radio. What they call the theater of the mind. Radio programs ranging from the 1930s to the 2000s. Stuff like The Shadow and Suspense. Currently listening to a program from nearly 70 years ago called Mysterious Traveler, man that’s some good stuff.

Endlessly listenable.

HATH CHARMS to soothe

As far as the music stuff. Very eclectic here, but some names that rise to the top: Terry Callier (if you have not listened to his African Violet you are missing one of the great songs of all time), Rage against the Machine, Public Enemy, Seal, Bob Dylan, Coltrane, Lenny Kravitz, Solomon Burke, Traci Chapman, Green Day, Everlast, Bob Marley, Awadagin Pratt (great classical pianist),Johnny Cash ( based on one song, his Man in Black),and lots and lots of regional guys the best being Jahiti and Talaam Acey.

Nothing like a screaming crowd

Dig live events. Concerts, plays, openmics, sporting events. I really don’t get into watching sports on tv, with the exception of boxing or mixed martial arts. Some great venues for live music are: 8 by 10 club, Notre Maison, Xando, and An Die Muzik.

Comics Smomics

Comicbook fan from the good old days, before it was cool to like comics. Nowadays every movie is comic based, every hack movie or tv writer or director… wants to write a comic. It’s sickening. That said I still dig the occasional comic book. I’d recommend picking up anything by Kyle Baker, his Nat Turner is getting great buzz),and John Ridley (a true Renaissanse man, director, screenwriter, novelist, writes brilliant pulp fiction in the hard angles of Himes and Thompson) is now doing a comic. But seriously it is good to see comics being seen as a valid form of entertainment for adults. Something other countries have long known.

Pulp Fiction or Literature that Rocks

Currently reading so many books. Ones I’ve finished and highly recommend? Marc Olden’s brilliant, absolutely brilliant, BLACK SAMURAI series from the 70s. Far better than the lackluster, related to the book in name only, Jim Kelly film from the 70s.

Have finished 2 of the eight books in the series, Book 5 The Warlock, and Book 1 Black Samurai. This is a series highly deserving of seeking out. If you’re a fan of other Action books such as THE DESTROYER, MACK BOLAN, etc. you will love Black Samurai. Currently on Book # 3 The Golden Kill. Great stuff.

Marc Olden has done some well known, mainstream novels, and police procedurals since, but nothing comes close to the the kick, fun, pathos, and shear brilliance of his work in this 70s series.

Have just started David Anthony Durham’s PRIDE OF CARTHAGE. The story of Hannibal of Carthage, Hannibal the Great… who took the war to Rome. Just knocked out the first 30 pages, and the language, the descriptions… just lovely, lovely stuff. It puts you there, in an odd removed age, of masterless men.

So that’s a little about me, and the type of things you can be turned onto in these pages. Upcoming entries will bring you info on best podcasts, favorite spoken word artists, my trip to harlem, my first Hot Air Balloon Ride, Spain in summer… during the dying of the light, tales of my ongoing unfinished projects, and interviews with writers and creators I admire.

Have guests coming over so we’ll cut this entry off here.

Want to dedicate this podcast to the great Gordon Parks who recently passed away. The absolute definition of a Renaissance man, writer, director, photographer, painter, poet, cowboy.

May you rest in everlasting peace, but may your energy continue, may it go forth and fill and uplift and inspire a new generation.

If you don’t know the name Gordon Parks, please take the time to learn it (I’ll cover him in more detail in upcoming entries). He has left great, immense shoes to fill, and the world is the poorer for his passing.

Thanks for checking out my site, and talk to you soon.