Category: Horror

The Crow Pestilence # 1 / Z-View

Posted on by

The Crow: Pestilence #1 is published by IDW.

Writer: Frank Bill

Artist: Drew Moss

Colorist: Oliver Lee Arce

Cover Shown: James O’Barr

Juarez, Mexico. A young boxer, Salvador, refuses to take a fall, but has no problem taking a vicious drug gang’s pay-off. When they take their lethal revenge on the Salvador and his family, he returns as THE CROW, in search of vengeance…and forgiveness.

 

.

The Good

  • J. O’Barr‘s cover.
  • This is Frank [Donneybrook] Bill‘s first job as a comic book writer!
  • I’m a Drew Moss fan and am happy to see his art on this series.
  • This incarnation of The Crow has an iconic back story and cool look.

The Bad:

  • Some people will be put off by the violence and profanity.
  • The story jumps between the present and the past and sometimes it wasn’t quickly clear where we were in the timeline.
  • Because of the [many] Crow incarnations some may find the story too formulaic.  I have faith that Bill Frank is going to put a unique spin on things as we progress through the tale.
  • Naming all the bad guys with “dog names” – Raw Dog, Flash Dog, Mange Hound and War Hound.

The Ugly:

  • What happens to Salvador when he crosses the guys who paid him to take a dive.
  • What happens to the guys who paid Salvador to take a dive when he comes back as the Crow.

The Crow: Pestilence #1  is a comic for mature audiences due to violence and language.  

Rating: 3 out of 5

“Insidious: Chapter 2” / Z-View

Posted on by

The Pitch: ”Hey, lnsidious was a hit, let’s make another!”

“Let’s do it!”

The Tagline:  “It will take what you love the most!”

The Overview:   *** Beware –  spoilers are found below ***

Renai, Josh Lambert and their three young children survived the first film although it left Elsie Rainer dead.  While the police investigate her mysterious murder, the family moves into Josh’s childhood home with Grandma.

It isn’t long before Josh is acting weird and the strange sounds and happenings begin again.

The Good

  • Leigh Whannell [screenwriter], James Wan [director] along with original cast members Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, and Barbara Hershey pick up right where they left off in the original.
  • If you liked Insidious, you’ll enjoy Insidious 2.
  • There are enough scares and creepy moments to satisfy fans.
  • When figures that shouldn’t be there are silently seen in the background.
  • The ending!

The Bad:

  • The use of humor feels more slapstick in this one.
  • The Black Bride Killer is creepy.
  • The Black Bride Killer’s mom is even scarier!

The Ugly:

  • Did I mention The Black Bride Killer?

Rating: 3 out of 5

Z-View: “Insidious”

Posted on by

The Pitch: ”Hey, let’s make a really scary haunted house, possessed kid movie without the gore!

“Let’s do it!”

The Tagline:  “It’s not the house that’s haunted!”

The Overview:   *** Beware –  spoilers are found below ***

Renai and Josh Lambert recently moved into a new home with their three young children. Strange noises and happenings begin to occur and their son, Dalton falls into a coma. Doctors at the hospital can find no reason for the coma. Months later Dalton (still in a coma) is moved back home.  When the supernatural events begin to intensify Renai and Josh move the family to a new house.

Almost immediately the strange happenings begin in the new home.  A psychic team is called in and it becomes clear that the house isn’t haunted… Dalton is!

The Good

  • Leigh [Saw] Whannell has created a story that puts a twist on the classic haunted house tale.  There are plenty of creepy moments and a few great scares!
  • Director James [Saw] Wan knows how to scare an audience!
  • Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, and Barbara Hershey do an excellent job as a normal family trying to figure out what is going on.
  • The fact that the family doesn’t wait too long before moving from what they perceive to be a haunted house.
  • There is just the right touch of comedy when the two paranormal researchers show up in the second half of the movie.
  • The ending!

The Bad:

  • How you’d feel moving away from a haunted house only to have the supernatural events continue to intensify in your new home.
  • The second half of the movie isn’t as scary, but is still a lot of fun!

The Ugly:

  • Traveling to the other side.
  • How you sound when you scream out loud at some of the scary parts.

Rating: 4 out of 5

10 Serial Killers That are Still on the Run

Posted on by

Listverse posted a piece called 10 More Evil Serial Killers That are Still on the Run.

I thought the Vending Machine Killer was creepy…

At least 10 people were killed by the strange series of murders… The killer poisoned dozens of bottles of juice and soda and hid them in vending machines… dispensing chute(s). When someone bought a drink they would end up with two bottles and accept the unexpected drink as a stroke of luck. After a few mouthfuls, nausea would set in. After a day or two, breathing would stop. On top of the 10 dead, at least 35 people were poisoned but survived. Media coverage of the crimes was accused of inspiring copycats, one of whom left poisoned milk in schools…

Then I read about the Daytona Beach Killer.  An uncaught serial killer in my hometown trumps an uncaught serial killer anywhere else.

Jonathan Maberry and his Action/Horror Novels

Posted on by

If you’re not a fan of Jonathan Maberry, it just means you haven’t read any of his action/horror novels.

The Big Thrill has a nice interview with Jonathan Maberry.  My guess is if you’re already a Maberry fan, you’ll really enjoy it.  If you’re not a fan, there’s a good chance that once you read the interview, you will be.

Z-View: Saviors #3

Posted on by

 

The Saviors is an on-going series created by James Robinson & J. Bone published by Image.

Writer: James Robinson

Artist: J. Bone

 

Tomas Ramirez is now in the small Mexican coastal town of La Calma, where other new freedom fighters allies intend to test a device to end the threat of the aliens forever. But the aliens have a counterattack plan of their own, so this certainly will be the Day of the Dead.

 

 

The Good

  • James Robinson provides back story without it feeling like exposition or talking heads.
  • J. Bone creates characters that look like individuals.  I am really diggin’ his art on this.
  • A Spanish speaking alien?  Absolutely!

The Bad:

  • The aliens are everywhere!

The Ugly:

  • Poor, poor Tony.

Saviors #3  is a comic for mature audiences due to violence.  If you’re a fan of 1950’s movies like “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” and the 1960’s tv series “The Invaders”  then Saviors #3 is for you.  

Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Mike Mignola & Hellboy: 20 Years and Going Strong!

Posted on by

Recognize the character above?

That’s the first drawing Mike Mignola ever did of his wildly popular Hellboy character.  It’s pretty nuts to see how that initial drawing morphed into the beloved Hellboy character that went on to serve as the cornerstone of a comic universe, and has been adapted into live-action and animated movies.

What is even crazier is to realize that Hellboy (as we came to know him) has been around for 20 years!  CBR.com recently talked with Mike Mignolia about his and Hellboy’s journey from initial sketch to comic icon.

Celebrity Encounters at MegaCon 2014

Posted on by

This Friday and Saturday I spent time at MegaCon with my buddy John Beatty.  While I was at the show hanging with Big John, my wife, Doralya was relaxing at the hotel.

On Friday afternoon Doralya sent me a text that Steven Yeun (who plays Glen on The Walking Dead) was staying in our hotel and she saw him getting into a limo.  I could tell from her text and the number of exclamation points that she was excited to see a celebrity up-close.

At dinner that night Doralya told me of an encounter that she had with Bryan Johnson, one of the stars of Comic Book Men.  Doralya was sitting outside reading when Bryan Johnson walked by.

They made eye-contact and Doralya said, “I know you! I watch you on tv every week!”  Bryan smiled and replied, “You do?”  He was probably surprised since my wife doesn’t look like someone who would watch Comic Book Men.

A few minutes later Bryan walked back through the area and made a point to say, “Good-bye” to Doralya.

I teased Doralya a bit that the only thing she could think to say was, “I know you” to a complete stranger.  We laughed and headed back to the hotel.

Doralya was standing in front of me as the elevator doors opened and I heard her say in a surprised voice, “Well, hello!”  I heard a voice say, “Hello.”  It was Ming Chen of Comic Book Men.  As he left the elevator we made eye contact…

… and the only thing I could think to say was, “Well, hello.”  Ming replied, “Hello” as he continued to wherever he was going.

As we got on the elevator I expected Doralya to return the teasing I gave her.  At least her comment to a celebrity was original.  All I could think to say was to repeat what Doralya had said.  She didn’t tease me though.  I guess she understood that I wasn’t as used to celebrity encounters as she was.