Author: Craig Zablo

“Yes, Timmy, There is a Santa Claus!” by John Beatty & Craig Zablo

Posted on by

Merry Christmas!

Several years ago John Beatty and I teamed up to create “Yes, Timmy, There is a Santa Claus!”  John pencilled, inked and colored what I wrote.  The story was published in a charity Christmas comic by Tim Gordon.  

Every couple of years I like to repost the story.  What you see below is the result of our efforts.  I hope that you enjoy them.

“Uncontained” (2025) written, directed by and starring Morley Nelson / Z-View

Posted on by

Uncontained (2025)

Director: Morley Nelson

Screenplay: Morley Nelson

Stars: Morley Nelson, Peter O’Meara, Brett Zimmerman.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

When a zombie-like apocalypse began, most people sought shelter from the spread of the virus.  Now, several years later, even the most remote havens are in danger.

Dan, a former soldier, lives in the wilderness.  He is capable and feels safer on his own, never staying in one place for long.  Then Dan comes across a remote home.  He discovers two children, a boy and his sister living there.  There mother ventured out and never returned.  Dan knows the children cannot survive on their own.

Reluctantly, Dan becomes their caregiver unaware that danger is closing in.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

Morley Nelson, a former police officer, wrote, produced, directed and played the lead in Uncontained.

Don’t go in expecting a typical low-budget zombie gore fest.  Uncontained is more of a character study with an unexpected twist. I give Nelson props for having the guts to make a slower placed zombie flick.

I’ll be interested to see if Morley Nelson continues to write, direct and star in his own productions or if he’ll get an opportunity in Hollywood.

Uncontained (2025) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“The Beauty” starring Evan Peters, Ashton Kutcher and Rebecca Hall – The Poster and Teaser are Here!

Posted on by

This looks like fun.  Check out the poster and teaser for The Beauty starring Evan Peters, Ashton Kutcher and Rebecca Hall.

Deal me in.

Drop. Dead. Gorgeous. FX’s The Beauty. Premieres January 21 on FX | Hulu

In FX’s The Beauty, when international supermodels begin dying in gruesome and mysterious ways, FBI Agents “Cooper Madsen” (Evan Peters) and “Jordan Bennett” (Rebecca Hall) uncover a conspiracy that threatens the future of humanity. The investigation leads them directly into the crosshairs of “The Corporation” (Ashton Kutcher), who will stop at nothing to protect his trillion-dollar empire.

“Rocky” Legacy by Leo Leibelman!

Posted on by

Leo Leibelman is a freelance artist who has provided art for comics, trading cards, novels, instructional materials, film storyboards and more.  Leo Leibelman takes commissions.

Hope you dig his Rocky painting as much as I do.

“It ain’t about how hard you can hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward.” – Rocky Balboa

WISDOM CORNER by David Heska Wanbli Weiden

Posted on by

WISDOM CORNER by David Heska Wanbli Weiden is set to premiere on July 7, 2026.  The novel is Weiden’s follow-up to WINTER COUNTS, which I loved.  Here’s the lowdown…

From the award-winning author of WINTER COUNTS comes a new thriller about life — and death—on the Rosebud Indian Reservation.

Virgil Wounded Horse is desperately trying to escape his past as a hired vigilante on the Rosebud Indian Reservation. But when a legendary figure from the reservation is murdered, he’s forced to return to the job. Making matters more complicated, threats are coming from the Pine Ridge 705 — a street gang from a neighboring reservation who want to expand their reach into Rosebud — and Mitch Gagnon, a shady politician who will stop at nothing to gain more power.

With a heated tribal council election looming, as well as new revelations regarding past injustices at the local Native boarding school, the stakes grow even higher. Will Virgil find the justice he’s seeking before it’s too late?

David Heska Wanbli Weiden, whose writing “melds the gritty realism of Dashiell Hammett with the lyricism of Tommy Orange” (O, The Oprah Magazine),once again brings us a tour de force of crime fiction—and an expansive look at Native American life in a shifting world.

WISDOM CORNER Hardcover

WISDOM CORNER  Kindle

Syfy’s Twilight Zone 2025/2026 New Year’s Marathon Schedule is Up!

Posted on by

Twilight Zone fans are in for a treat.  This year the Syfy Channel is running a Twilight Zone Christmas Marathon and then less than a week later, an even longer Twilight Zone New Year’s Marathon!

The New Year’s Marathon starts at 5am on December 31st with the last episode starting at 6:30am on December 2nd.

The Twilight Zone Marathons have been one of our family traditions for decades.  Sometimes we binge watch. Other times we just check in on favorite episodes. Please allow me to suggest some favorite Twilight Zone episodes…

Wednesday, December 31, 2025
5:ooam – Come Wander with Me  (Kicks off the marathon)
7:30pm – It’s a Good Life
9:30pm – Nick of Time
11:00pm – The Midnight Sun

Thursday, January 1, 2026
3:30am – The Howling Man
6:30pm – Time Enough At Last
7:o0pm – The Monsters are Due on Maple Street
7:30pm – To Serve Man
8:00pm – The Invaders
8:30pm – Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up?
9:00pm – Nightmare at 20,000 Feet
9:30pm – The Eye of the Beholder

Friday, January 2, 2026
3:00am – The Shelter
3:30am – The Grave

“The Strip” (1951) starring Mickey Rooney and Sally Forrest / Z-View

Posted on by

The Strip (1951)

Director: László Kardos

Screenplay: Allen Rivkin

Stars: Mickey Rooney, Sally Forrest, William Demarest, James Craig, Louis Armstrong, Tom Powers, Vic Damone, Monica Lewis, Don Anderson  and Tommy Rettig.

Tagline: Torchy romance tingling with mystery and throbbing with the rhythm of Dixieland along the glamorous avenue of night clubs!

The Plot…

When Stanley Maxton is released from a long hospital stay due to injuries sustained in the Korean War, he heads for LA..  He dreams of becoming a successful drummer and owning his own club some day.

A chance encounter earns Stanley a high-paying job working for mobster Sonny Johnston. In no time Stanley has money, a fine car and flashy clothes.  Then he meets Jane Tafford.  She’s a nightclub dancer who dreams of becoming a movie star.  Stanley falls hard.

So hard, he quits working for Sonny and takes a lower paying job as a drummer at the club where Jane is a dancer.  But it’s no go.  Jane is only interested in becoming a star and a nightclub drummer can’t help her with that.

Stanley takes Jane to meet Sonny.  Stanley figures Sonny’s mob connections can get Jane an audition.  Problem is, even though he’s married, Sonny falls for Jane.  This puts Stanley and Sonny at odds.

So when a woman is murdered, and evidence points to Stanley, he knows who set him up.  Time is running out to prove his innocence.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

The Strip earned one 1952 Academy Award nomination…

  • Nominee for Best Music, Original Song – For “A Kiss to Build a Dream On” – Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby, Oscar Hammerstein II

The Strip is as much (if not more) a musical than a crime noir. The film features songs performed by Vic Damone, Monica Lewis, Jack Teagarden, and Louis Armstrong, floor show routines by Sally Forrest as well as drum solos by Mickey Rooney.

The film features an unexpected dark (for a musical featuring Mickey Rooney) twist.

Louie Armstrong, Vic Damone and Monica Lewis play themselves.

The Strip (1951) rates 3 of 5 stars.