gotta have just one more . . . . .
Monday, March 31, 2025
Rod Stewart & Jeff Beck - I Ain't Superstitious
In the mood for some Jeff Beck guitar histrionics - - take me back to 1969,
please! Ok, then I'll settle for this clip from 2009.
Sunday, March 30, 2025
MY WEEK IN COMICS - March 30, 2025
#207-#208 = OUT OF ALCATRAZ #1 by Christopher Cantwell and Tyler Crook (Oni Press, March 2025) It’s a fascinating story in American history how the only three inmates to ever escape from the Alcatraz prison (June 11,1962) were never found. The FBI and investigators concluded that their raft didn’t survive the freezing, turgid waters of San Francisco Bay and neither did the inmates. The case was finally closed in 1979.
Cantwell and Crook pick up the story immediately following the escape and their struggles on the raft. Cantwell suggests that only two inmates eventually made it to shore: Frank Morris and Clarence Anglin. Clarence’s brother, John, fell off the raft and was presumed drowned.
Cantwell apparently did his homework on the inmates, as his portrayal of them here seems authentic. Credit his storytelling abilities and Crook’s illustrative details to make OUT OF ALCATRAZ a compelling story. The little details and extras in the panels help capture the period of time in which this occurred.
Cantwell’s dialogue is crisp and reflects opinions and social norms of the early 1960’s. So much so that Oni felt compelled to add a content warning on the credits page. The only thing I spotted in Issue #1 was the slight bias of a gas station attendant towards a black female, who is instrumental in helping Frank and Clarence complete their escape.
Without giving too much of the story away, the plan is to transport the inmates to British Columbia. In exchange for that assistance, they are expected to work as farm laborers for several years.(Seems like a new kind of prison sentence). As you might expect, the two inmates make errors and revert to some criminal behavior as the issue ends.
FOUR STARS so far. I have high hopes for this one.
#209-#213 = WEST IF SUNDOWN #1-#5 of 10 by Tim Seeley & Aaron Campbell with art by Jim Terry (Vault Comics, April-August 2022) Synopsis from the Goodreads website . . . . .
From Dusk Till Dawn and American Vampire meet The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen in this terrifying tale of the Old West, survival, blood, and monsters.
A beautiful vampire must flee monster slayers in New York City and reclaim the ancestral soil that restores her undead flesh. But the world has changed since she was reborn in the New Mexico desert, and now, Constance Der Abend and her loyal assistant Dooley , must adapt to life in the rough frontier town of Sangre De Moro, where all sorts of monsters have settled.
West of Sundown – where Hammer Horror and literary monsters stake their claim in old New Mexico.
A Western tale of survival starring a cast of literary horrors from the diabolical minds of Tim Seeley (Hack/Slash, Vampire: The Masquerade, Money Shot), Aaron Campbell (Hellblazer, Infidel), and Jim Terry (Vampirella, Come Home, Indio)!
For fans of Westworld , Red Dead Redemption , American Vampire , The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Hammer Horror films, Universal monsters, and Preacher !
OMG, that’s a boatload of comparisons. Makes it seem like this is just a big copycat mishmash of a bunch of things. Sure, it does use familiar tropes and posits characters/monsters that are different takes on Universal monsters (Frankenstein, the Invisible Man, etc) and Hammer films (female Dracula, Wolfman).
But, this is worthy for the story and presentation. This also adds some newer characters like a religious, creature-worshipping cult leader, a sheriff who’d rather be a dime-novel writer, and puts a new spin on the usual Renfield-like vampire companion.
It’s a weird western for sure, but an engaging drama. Although, at times the plethora of characters and situations can make it a bit confusing, I also love the covers that pay respect to classic Hammer Films movie posters.
Here’s some more comparisons: This reminded me of spaghetti westerns, Dark Shadows soap opera, and the Penny Dreadful horror/drama television series from 2014.
The dynamic art by Jim Terry is perfectly suited to the weird western genre and Triona Farrell does a bang-up job on colors.
This contains the first story arc. FOUR STARS.
#214-#218 = WEST OF SUNDOWN #6-#10 by Tim Seeley & Aaron Campbell with art by Jim Terry (Vault Comics) Synopsis of Volume 2, from the Goodreads website . . . . .
The New Mexico town of Sangre De Moro has accepted its strange new beautiful vampire Constance Der Abend, her thrall, Frankenstein's monster, and the would-be mad scientist, Griffin. But a new threat has come for the evil-saturated soil of the Dr. Moreau and his strange companions.
This didn't entertain me as much as Volume One did, but as far as satisfying my weird western cravings this mix of new versions of classic movie monsters (from Universal and Hammer Films) within a wild and strange New Mexico town (with it's own apparent history) left me satisfied.
A complex mix of characters (a vampire, a Frankenstein monster, a banshee, a bear-like version of a werewolf, zombies, non-men, a spin on the Invisible Man, and Doctor Moreau) in a convoluted storyline that keeps you going in spite of the confusion, perhaps because it's just so weird and the art is compelling.
It's hard to determine who the main character is here, and which of these varying challenges/problems is the main conflict. Every single character has depth, as well as their own set of secrets, motivations/purpose, and conflict.
Despite that the story flows to an actual conclusion. The path to a sequel and perhaps a new setting (London) is laid out in the final pages, but I'm content enough with these ten issues.
THREE AND ONE-QUARTER STARS.
#219 = LET THIS ONE BE A DEVIL #1 by James Tynion IV & Steve Foxe with art by Piotr Kowalski (Dark Horse Comics, February 2025) The publisher’s synopsis:
In the early 1900s, Henry Naughton returns home to the family farm in the swampy Pine Barrens of southern New Jersey. One night, he encounters a strange predator stalking the woods. This sends the young scholar on a research project that uncovers the legend of Mother Leeds and the terrible birth of the Jersey Devil in 1735. James Tynion IV and Steve Foxe along with Piotr Kowalski bring the Jersey Devil to life in a supernatural tale of horror that peels back unknown layers of history and reveals local monsters and universal terrors.
To label this as historical fiction, as some have, is a little misleading as there’s no solid, irrefutable evidence for the existence of the Jersey Devil. This is folk lore, and local Jersey legend brough to life by the skillful pen of Tynion and Foxe. Tynion has by now a deserved reputation for crafting creepy, suspenseful horror tales. Add this to the list. What impressed me even more than the story was the incredibly detailed art by Piotr Kowalski. You need to see this for yourself. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#220 = BLADE FORGER #1 by Inaki Miranda & Roy Miranda with art by Inaki Miranda (Mad Cave Studios, March 2025) I’m a fan of any art by Inaki Miranda. When he partners with his brother for creator-owned original projects - - - it gets even better.
If you liked the imagery in WE LIVE (2021) and WE LIVE: AGE OF THE PALLADIONS (2022, both from AfterShock Comics) then you’ll appreciate the wildly creative scenes in BLADE FORGER. Also, check out GODZILLA: HERE THERE BE DRAGONS (2023) and GODZILLA, HERE THERE BE DRAGONS II: SONS OF GIANTS (2024, both from IDW Publishing) for more visual thrills from Inaki Miranda. Also, when he pairs with Eva De La Cruz on colors - as he does here on BLADE FORGER - the visuals just explode. Cover A is a tri-fold depiction of the world and I suggest you get that one.
While I loved the art here, I need to give the storyline a little more time. There’s just too much compressed into the debut issue to get a good feel for where this is going. It also doesn’t help that the main character, Owada, ages about fifty years in the first issue, making it hard to become attached and empathize with him. I have a feeling the rest of the series will center around his young daughter.
Here’s the premise of BLADE FORGER: To prevent all-out war for a newly discovered high-powered energy source the lands negotiated the Blade Forgers Treaty, which establishes a central government led by a neutral emperor. Every five years the Blade Forgers of mystical swords fight for the chance to become the new emperor. Owada has held down the job for decades, but is weakening. Definitely worth a look, if you can find a copy. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#221 = DARK PYRAMID #1 by Paul Tobin and PJ Holden (Mad Cave Studios, March 2025) Monstrous creatures (or creature) in the remote cold slopes of Mt. Denali in South-Central Alaska; a accidentally uncovered ancient temple; a bevy of social media/you tube followers perhaps attracted to this site by sinister forces. There’s something weird about the authorities in this town.
Very cool set-up in the first issue; and we also get a brief glimpse of the monster and the threat it represents. I’d be inclined to easily dismiss this as another run-of-the-mill monster mini-series were it not for the involvement of Paul Tobin. He’s earned a reputation for taking traditional horror tropes and crafting them into something that feels fresh. There’s already enough going on in Issue #1 to make me wonder where this is going. THREE AND ONE-QUARTER STARS.
#222-#225 = THE INCREDIBLE HERCULES #134, 135, 136, 137 by Fred Van Lente & Greg Pak with art by Reilly Brown (134,136) and Rodney Buchemi (135,137) - -(Marvel Comics, November-December 2009) Rotating artists made this a twice-a-month book for a little while, providing double delights. Funny and imaginative, poking fun at superhero tropes as well as the crazy titles Marvel used to use on their stories, role-playing games, adolescence and other handy topics.
Issue #134:
THE REPLACEMENT THOR continues as Hercules descends to Svartalfheim to save the day from a new threat among the Dark Elves. But everything changes when the wicked Elven Queen turns out to be as lovely as she is lethal!
Issue #135: A parody of role-playing games and very funny. Adolescent versions of Van Lente and Pak play a table-top dice-rolling role-play game, and one of them is a cheater.
AMADEUS CHO is MASTER MIND EXCELLO! Heroically parachuting behind enemy lines! Bravely rescuing beautiful secret agents imprisoned inside the death traps of a mad Nazi genius! And discovering for the first time what the real nature of his powers are as his secret origin continues -- at last the truth can be revealed here!
Issue #136: A twisted re-telling of the classic 1960’s first fight between Thor and Hercules, told from Herc’s point-of-view of course.
The face-off Herc fans have been clamoring for since his series began is here at last! God of Strength versus God of Thunder! Adamantine mace versus uru hammer! Olympian versus Asgardian! Incredible versus Mighty! That's right -- HERCULES battles THOR! The Odinson discovers the Lion of Olympus has been impersonating him and he's out to prove nothing beats the original! Then, in #137, the epic Secret Origin of Amadeus Cho concludes! He learns his connection with the original MASTER MIND EXCELLO and the identity of who really killed his parents! And once Amadeus knows this, will he look to reunite with Hercules... or destroy him?
Issue #137: As advertised above, a spotlight issue on Amadeus Cho and it’s a good one. Also, what is Peter Parker doing here?
THREE STARS OVERALL.
Child of Panoptes - DOWN
Music of 2025, #18: CHILD OF PANOPTES - - - this song has a Deep
Purple vibe
Saturday, March 29, 2025
Friday, March 28, 2025
REACHER Season 3 - Official Trailer | Prime Video
REACHER SEASON THREE on Amazon Prime: This series keeps getting
better, a deft blend of action, drama, and a little humor. Reacher is a bad ass with
a heart, but he won't tolerate bad people or nonesense. Might be my
favorite season so far, and I hope there are more. FOUR STARS.
SYNOPSIS: Based on Lee Child's novel Persuader, Reacher hurtles into the dark heart of a vast criminal enterprise when trying to rescue an undercover DEA informant whose time is running out. There, he finds a world of secrecy and violence and confronts some unfinished business from his own past.
Monday, March 24, 2025
DC High Volume: Batman | Official Trailer | DC
Sneak Peek: THE GODDAMN TRAGEDY, historical fiction
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