Following up on my previous post, and after yet another disappointing Academy Award season, I’m going to give you an award that IS worth your time. THE HEROIC TIMES 1st Annual Welles Awards! Nifty title huh. I wanted to create an award show for this new generation of audio shows, podcasts and streaming radio. And while I toyed with a few people to name it after who had extraordinary voices, the great Paul Robeson, Paul Frees… I settled on naming it Welles after Orson Welles. Listening to Welles’ SHADOW episodes pretty much single-handedly got me hooked on audio dramas and Old Time Radio, and thereby New Time Audio Dramas and Podcasts. So without further ado, let’s give out…. THE WELLES AWARDS! 1st Category is Top Ten Podcasts of 2008, I won’t bore you with the hundreds of nominees I went through to compile this list (and this section is strictly for podcasts that are hosted, and or referential/review based in nature, be that movies, music, books, whatever. If you have a podcast, but it’s basically just an audio drama, it will be in the audio drama category. There’s some bleed over but that’s basically the division). So let’s get to the ones who made the Podcast list, these are in no particular order, but suffice to say if you see them below the shows were the best most entertaining podcasts I came across in 2008 (notice that “I” if you don’t see your podcast, it doesn’t mean I don’t love you, maybe I just didn’t come across you in 2008— how’s that for being a politician ). The best of the best ( And keep an eye out for next installment Top Ten Audio Dramas of 2008, and yes, you’ll find THE RED PANDA there): 1. COMICBOOK GEEK SPEAK- This US, Pennsylvania based show with nearly 600 episodes is one of the oldest, one of the longest lasting, and one of the most popular podcast shows and for good reason. For current fans of comics, lapsed fans, and curious newcomers this show is like hanging out with good acquaintances and is just a great way to stay in the loop on a hobby that needs all the inroads it can get. And again this show admirably illustrates the ability of the passionate amateur to be more in touch with the medium then the so-called professionals. In an age when the major comic companies are losing readers in droves due to bad will and poor public relations skills (particularly at a time when they should be taking advantage of the current Hollywood spotlight), this podcast has probably done more to introduce new and lapsed readers back to comics than all the corporate ’suits’ and gimmicks and stunts combined. 2. FREQUENCY OF FEAR- I’m cheating a little with this one as I became aware of this Arizona, US based variety horror/anthology/comic/music show in 2009. But I’ve listened to its 2008 episodes and they are great. It is really tailored to fans of old time radio and those old horror records, but if that’s you, you’ll love this show.- http://frequencyoffear.com 3. GEEK SYNDICATE- I became aware of these guys at the end of 2007, and have been a fan ever since. A two-man British podcast covering all things pop-culture, David and the Nuge providing one of the most enjoyable and informative shows of 2008. Their Buzz Aldrin episode being the funniest podcast of 08. http://www.geeksyndicate.co.uk/ 4. MONDO MOVIE- With 86 episodes and counting this 2 man British podcast covering all things of genre, cult, horror cinema is eagerly awaited every week or so. Shows are top notch entertaining, and informative too. – http://www.mondomovie.com/ 5. HORROR ETC- http://www.horroretc.com/index.html- The Canadians toss their hat in the ring, with this always entertaining two man podcast, covering horror films from classics to current hits. 6. COMIC BOOK OUTSIDERS- A brother podcast to GEEK SYNDICATE, this 2-man Brit show (do you see a trend here) is right up there with GS, but concentrates on under the radar, and Independent comics. Definitely Recommended- http://comicbookoutsiders.libsyn.com/ 7. B-MOVIE CAST- True to its title, this podcast covers classic B-movies, with a leaning toward horror, scifi, cult flicks. Well produced, it includes news, DVD releases, and the main course which is usually a pretty thorough interview of one or two B movies. Recommended! – http://bmoviecast.com/ 8. ISR- Indie Spinner Rack had a strong 08 with great Ted McKeever, Jeff Smith, Jeff Lemire interviews and great Indie Comic Reviews. (And peek back in 2007 for their Steve Bissette and Alan Moore Interviews. Two of the best interviews you’ll come across.) 9. THE LOST PICTURE SHOW- This Two-Man Brit Podcast (Nooooooo! Not another one! ) each episode explores a, if not lost, definitely under the radar film. But unlike other podcasts the films selected belong to no specific genre. They go from comedy to classics to cult. -http://thelostpictureshow.com/ And last but definitely not least 10. This slot is a tie between CRANKCAST and COMIC BOOK SAVANT , both shows that are very off the cuff, and can range far afield of comics but in very engaging and in very different ways. SAVANT particularly, as a one man show I find it to be… in places almost a meditation on life, and the living of it. I think all of us hope, that we can meet our… time in Gethsemane with grace. And here is one man who consistently amazes me with his ability to do that. You can find these podcasts at http://crankcast.net/ and http://www.comicbooksavant.com/cbs/index.cfm respectively. Well that’s it folks, the HEROIC TIMES WELLES AWARD Podcast winners for 2008!! Jolly Good Show (that’s my brit speak. Yeah I’ll keep working on it)! And here’s wishing all those podcasts a great 2009! And if you haven’t already received your really hokey award just keep bugging me till you get it. Next installment, best Audio dramas of 2009!

A picture of how the Academy Award losers really feel!

Honorable mentions:

WATCHING THE DIRECTORS- A wife and husband duo each show tackle a different legendary director. A great show, that unfortunately came to an end in 2008, however you can for now still sample their old shows online here… http://watchingthedirectors.com/

BATTLESHIP PRETENSION- Well produced show, with two friends giving their views on films and filmmakers. The reviews are hit and miss with me, but the shows are well produced. http://www.battleshippretension.com/homepage.php

RADIO FREETOWN- A streaming audio show, that covers classic African music of the 70s. It’s a must listen. Unfortunately went on hiatus in February, but old shows for now are still up. http://www.wfmu.org/playlists/RF

And now shameless advertising time! If you like this blog, ladies and gents do Papa Heroic Times a favor, and support this blog by going to

this link

and buying a whole bunch of stuff. Any funds you spend make it possible to keep these internet doors open as it were, and would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

I’ve been listening to ADVENTURES BY MORSE today. It is an oft cited series from the golden age of radio, that took me a while to finally sample. But I have to say, it earns its praise. ADVENTURES BY MORSE, was the brain child of writer/director/producer Carlton E. Morse and a followup to his earlier and much lauded I LOVE A MYSTERY serial. ADVENTURES BY MORSE being a fun, exciting, thrill a minute serial, that regales the listener with the adventures of Capt. Bart Friday, a private investigator who travels the globe, unraveling the world’s greatest mysteries. The series has been defined as a high adventure serial, and you would be hard pressed to disagree with that. This was written between 1944 and 1945, and is not just more exciting and worldly and informative and erudite, than most anything produced today (movies, tv, etc) it’s also far less formulaic. It has all the trappings of the formulaic, but Carlton E. Morse’s writing and situations and share inventiveness, sets these shows apart. And thankfully all 52 episodes (as well as 2 audition episodes) are still around to wow, and impress, and entertain… a new generation. You can pick these up a couple of places online, but be aware some of the episodes on Archive.Org are missing parts of the cliffhanger endings. Most notably in THE COBRA KING STRIKES storyline. Thankfully Radio Lovers.com has complete episodes. Now onto reviews of the first 3 storylines: THE CITY OF THE DEAD- The first 10 part serial is THE CITY OF THE DEAD, and introduces us to a great cast of characters, and a deep intriguing mystery, of a bell that rings where no bell is, a shrieking thing, a weeping man, and bodies that don’t stay buried. The show is too convoluted for its own good, you need a scorecard to make sense of the wrap up episode, but the awkwardness of the conclusion and some logic issues aside, the build up is fantastic. I couldn’t stop listening. An addictive, fun, and at times spooky serial. Great serial, well performed. Introduces Elliott Lewis as Captain Bart Friday. B+/A-. A COFFIN FOR THE LADY- Is a little more conventional mystery, as compared to the fantastic and ghoulish elements of THE CITY OF DEAD, but the 3 part A COFFIN FOR THE LADY is gripping, and entertaining in its own right. It’s the little things that Morse does so right, the weight he gives to people’s injuries, or the ‘you are there’ richness of his storytelling. I’ve seen and listened to so many shows about people getting tied up, but none has expressed it as the near crippling experience that Morse does in these few episodes. A lot of times in entertainment, there is no weight to the perils. Someone is stabbed in one episode, and is climbing mountains in the next, not so with Morse, he’s ever aware, ever making you aware, of the strains of flesh, and the demands of nature, which gives his plots a gravity, and his characters a reality, they would otherwise lack. A great little serial. B+. THE COBRA KING STRIKES- Returns to the ten episode format, and it’s a doozy. A new actor plays Captain Friday, David Ellis, but he does it effectively. Took me a couple episodes to get into his leaner, less gruff interpretation of Capt Friday, but his take quickly becomes perfect for this camaraderie rich storyline. And the sizable cast is fully realized and fleshed out, in this tale of a Cambodian odyssey to uncover the remnants of a once and perhaps future Asian empire. Captain Friday is onboard to put down any such uprising. While the Captain is the agent of suppression, there’s enough differing perspectives here to make the episode surprisingly rich, and surprisingly elaborate. This is the one that archive.org has butchered copies of, but it’s worth getting the full episode, as this one is every bit as engaging as THE CITY OF DEAD, and does it one better by having a great final episode. A recommended listen. A-. Well that’s our review for this installment. Head over to RadioLovers and Archive to check these shows out for yourself. And tell them HT sent you!

I frigging love Old Time Radio. And one of the best shows from the 40s and 50s, is Himan Brown’s mystery/horror opus INNER SANCTUM! It is only through the most deranged of animals… collectors, that these shows have survived to awe and thrill a new generation.

Do yourself a favor and pick up some CDs. Or better yet swing by this absolutely great site that I stumbled across called OTR NETWORK. All you’ll need is Real Player to listen to some of the most enjoyable audio dramas of yesteryear. Old Time Radio is so good, and there is so much of it out there, that I very rarely turn on my TV anymore. Great Stuff, the best of it is more involving and more entertaining than anything on the boob tube.

The site is:

http://otr.net/?p=isan

The guys at that site should be applauded for making these shows easily accessible to a new generation. Probably a good one to start with is “A CORPSE FOR HALLOWEEN” from 1949. It’s a solid B+. Listen to a few and see which ones you love, and drop me a line with your favs.

But be careful, with great stars from Richard WidMark to Boris Karloff to Peter Lorre, this series is very habit forming! The crack of the audio world. .Highly Recommended!

Email me and will be happy to send you my OTR review list, of must listen shows.

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Okay onto some great reviews of items old and items new:

SUPERMAN VS MUHAMMAD ALI

First up, something I didn’t catch and should have when it came out SUPERMAN VS MUHAMMAD ALI. This DC Wonderfully over-sized treasury from the 70s was something I had no interest in, because I assumed it would be hokey. However upon hearing a recent, 2006 Neal Adams interview, where he points to this work as one of his favorites, I sought out a cheaply priced reading copy, and I have to tell… you Mr. Adams is right.

His artwork is stunning, and the story is actually not only good 70s style fun, but compelling and touching to boot. Plus the amount of work Neal put into this Treasury is amazing, as is the ability to play… spot the celebrity. . Brilliant, brilliant artist at the height of his powers. And the story does Muhammad Ali right.

I didn’t see a writer credited (or artist, but Neal’s style is unmistakable) but I’m making a guess that it’s Denny O’ Neil. Great Stuff that I’m so impressed with, that I’m going to spring for a higher quality copy. Strongly Recommended.

KING SIZE BIG GUY AND RUSTY THE BOY ROBOT
Second I received the KING SIZE BIG GUY AND RUSTY THE BOY ROBOT way oversized treasury edition badly folded into my mailbox (bad packing job by the shipper, no backing board to keep it from being mangled in transit). But that aside, it was still in relatively good shape.

King Size

This is the second KING SIZE work that Dark Horse has produced, which basically takes a story by Frank Miller and Art by Geof Darrow and blows it up full size, sans color and word balloons so all you get hit with is pure Geof Darrow artwork… and the result is mind blowing. The level of detail in every single page is phenomenal! I think you can say Darrow is the most brilliantly detailed artist in the medium, without much chance of getting corrected.

It’s visually an amazing book to flip through, and Darrow is the only artist I know of who gets this lavish presentation/treatment and his work deserves it. You can repeatedly look through this book, and find new detail to focus in on each time. A simply astonishing level of work. Strongly, strongly recommended.

SHOWCASE PRESENTS JONAH HEX
I was never a fan of western comics in general or Jonah Hex in particular. I stumbled across a couple of issues of his 1980s series, and wasn’t too keen on it. Seem Bland with a capitol B.

But recent raves regarding the new series, as well as praise for his early 70s stories, made me interested in picking up the 500 page Jonah Hex Showcase from DC.

Showcase Hex

With the first story by John Albano and Dezuniga under my belt, I’m glad I did pick this book up. Inside I stumble onto an excitingly scripted, masterfully drawn tale, that is surprisingly mature and effective, and reads like it could have been scripted today, for an adult audience, rather than 30 years ago for a largely juvenile audience. It is a testament to these creators that they weren’t talking down to their audience.

John Albano, a creator I am not familiar with, in skant pages hooks me, on the character, the concept, and the ability of westerns to work. And Dezuniga, could be working today, drafting pages detailed and rich, and cinematic. 50 pages in and I’m absolutely blown away by Albano’s very mature scripts, and Dezuniga’s sublime line work. My conclusion? Run, do not walk, to get your copy today. Strongly Recommended! B+/A

SHOWCASE PRESENTS HOUSE OF MYSTERYShowcase Mystery
As other reviewers have stated the stories in HOUSE OF MYSTERY are nothing to write home about. Put finer they are generally mediocre ghost/supernatural tinged stories.But the saving grace of this collection is the absolutely gorgeous art by such masters of the medium as Berni Wrightson, Al Williamson, Neal Adams, Alex Toth.

The chance to see the penciled work of these geniuses is worth the price of the book, and worth dealing with for the most part, uninspired stories. The art makes this volume a keeper. B.

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And on the magazine front, had the chance to check out issue #7 of a magazine called BADAZZ MOFO.

There are a few things I like: comics, music, big breasted women, Black new-wave films (dismissively termed blaxploitation), martial arts,and music… and this mag manages to combine them all.

The Brain Child of editor/publisher David Walker, the magazine from cover to cover kept me pretty darn entertained. The reviews, even when I don’t agree with them, are entertainingly done. It’s a fun well laid out, very much tongue-in-cheek mag, complete with its own comic strip FUNKY TOWN, an interview with Will Eisner, and great contributions by Jim Mahfood, Rusty Beach, Paul Guinan, Eric Kilkenny, and David Walker.

All in all a smile-inducing read, and I’m definitely on-board for more issues. Strongly recommended. Hop over to the Editor’s website at http://www.badazzmofo.com/ and tell him I sent ya. And buy some product so he can afford to put out issue #8.

I’m addicted now. Must… have…. more… BADAZZMOFO! .

p.s. speaking of supporting: if you find these reviews helpful, and are interested in buying any of the products listed, please use my handy, dandy links. That way you get a great item, and you also help support this site, and get more great reviews.

Okay enough yapping, onto more reviews:

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JEREMIAH JOHNSON-Jeremiah Johnson is one of my favorite films. Robert Redford’s most personal and textured work, it is a violent film that is not about violence, and a death laden film, that is not about death.

Jeremiah Johnson

Still and soft and textured, it’s a beautiful film about the moments of a singular life.

His Mentor: “You’ve come far.”

Jeremiah: “It feels like far.”

His Mentor: “Was it worth the trouble?”
By this time, the mountain-man life has cost Jeremiah the life of his wife, his adopted son, and a 20 year blood feud with Indians; where he has had to fight countless battles, wears countless scars, and has killed countless men.

Jeremiah: “What trouble?”

An eloquent, brilliant, truly existential film. About a man who becomes perhaps the spirit of vengeance, and then becomes more.

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• MASTER OF KUNG FU REVIEWS: THE MOENCH/GULACY YEARS
• ******************
• Favorite CDs and Musicians
• Grant Morrison: A Life in HyperTime
• The Films of Tsui Hark
• Must read Novels!
• 100 Favorite GRAPHIC NOVELS!
• ESSENTIAL Art/Photography Books
• Reviews: CRECY, JLA, BLACK MANE, ZERO KILLER, BAD PLANET
• LOBSTER GIRL Review! Must Read!
• 2007 Philadelphia Black Age of Comics Convention/Nifty Reviews!
• EC Comics CRIME SUSPENSTORIES Reviews
• SUPERMAN VS MUHAMMAD ALI, KING SIZE BIG GUY AND RUSTY THE BOY ROBOT and JERIMIAH JOHNSON Review
• Rick Veith’s MAXIMORTAL! Must Read!
• Christopher Priest’s THE CREW! Best Ever!
• Today’s Postings ie THE NEW STUFF

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.