Justified / Walking Dead: Bring ‘Em Home

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If you’re a fan of Justified, then you may be interested in a the great bargain that Amazon is offering on Season One.  The complete first season on blu-ray is only 21.99 [56% off the retail price] and the regular dvd for the complete first season is just 19.99.

While we’re on the subject of excellent tv shows which are coming to dvd, let’s not forget that The Walking Dead: Season 1 dvd drops on March 8th.  Since season 2 won’t start until the fall, there’s a strong possibility that “Dead Heads” are going to want to pick up this one to ease their wait.

Who is Jake Ellis?

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I don’t read many comic books these days, but one I am really looking forward to is, Who is Jake Ellis.  Written by Nathan Edmondson and with art by Tonci Zonjic, this comic series looks to be not only a change of pace, but a lot of fun. Here’s how Josh Wigler at CBR.com describes, Who is Jake Ellis?…

  • “The story centers on Jon Moore, a highly sought-after espionage expert working in the European underground. Unknown to his clients — to anyone, for that matter — is the fact that he’s assisted by Jake Ellis, a seemingly all-knowing entity that nobody can see. Nobody, that is, except for Jon himself. The high-octane comic book series spans five issues and multiple European locations, providing fans with a reading experience that sits comfortably alongside the tensest thrillers the spy genre has to offer.”

And speaking of CBR.com, they are running the first eight pages of issue one with commentary by Nathan Edmondson and Tonci Zonjic.  Who is Jake Ellis? #1 is available at comic shops now.

Before the Lights Go Out

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If you’re looking forward to the premiere of Lights Out, the new series on FX that premieres on January 11th, then you’ll probably want to check out the trailer below.  If you haven’t heard about Lights Out, give it a look and see if the show might be something you’d like.  Since you read this blog, there’s a good chance it will.

Rob Smith’s Santa Stallone

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I’ve known Rob Smith Jr. for over 30 years. In addition to being a talented artist, Rob is one of the most passionate, committed and dedicated people I’ve ever met. Rob absolutely loves the state of Florida, nature, art, politics, reading and more. Rob’s enthusiasm is contagious and he is always on the go. Another thing I admire about Rob is he doesn’t just talk about his passions, he gets actively involved.

Rob and I met up for breakfast with another old friend [Jim Ivey] earlier this week. As we were eating, talking and doing a lot of laughing, Rob whipped up his take on Sly as Santa. After our breakfast, Rob headed out to another meeting about preserving an old Florida school and then to an evening meeting with the Florida Trail Association. Whew!

You can check out Rob’s site and learn about more of his passions!

A Quick Look Back…

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As we head into a new year, I always take a moment or two to look back.  Since today is the first day of 2011…   The top photo is of me taken during the middle of a tough game.  I was a sophomore at Mainland High School and played defensive tackle.

This photo is of me and Mike Singletary.  The Chicago Bears have always been my favorite pro football team.  Mike Singletary is one of my all-time favorite players [and he would have been even if he wasn’t a Chicago Bear].  Singletary was never the biggest player on the field, but he always played with the most heart.  I got a chance to meet Mike back in 1993 or 1994.  He had been brought in as an inspirational speaker and I was lucky enough to get some face to face time with him afterward.  Funny, but my hair doesn’t look as gray in that photo…

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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We’re less than three hours away from 2011.  Wow.  It’s going to take some time to get used to writing THAT.  2011.  For a person my age [and I ain’t ancient], it’s weird to think that we’re living in the future that we read about and saw on movies and tv as kids growing up in the 60’s and 70’s.

Think about it.  Escape from New York would have taken place nearly 14 years ago.  The Space Odyssey that we took in 2001 would be a decade old.  Where are the hovercraft, flying cars, trips to Mars, and all the cool stuff we thought would be part of our world in 2011?

Okay.  So we don’t have some most of the fantastic stuff that we thought the future would bring.  That’s okay though.  If we’re lucky we have our friends, family and our health.  If we have those three things all the other junk will fall into place.  Who knows, maybe we’ll get jetpacks for Christmas in 2012.

Enjoy New Years Eve.  May 2011 bring you all that you desire, or at least “the three things” we all really need.

The Greatest Pro Wrestlers of All Time

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Recently UGO listed their choices for The Greatest Professional Wrestlers of All Time.  Using just their list, here is my top ten:

  1. Hulk Hogan – Without a doubt one of the worst “wrestlers” to make the list, but also without a doubt one of the most popular of all time.  Hogan at the top of his game could sell out any arena no matter who he was wrestling.  Everyone knew who Hulk Hogan was and he was one of the first wrestlers to successfully move into movies.
  2. Ric Flair – The “jet-flying, limo-riding, kiss-stealing, dirtiest player in the game.”  Flair wrestled for so long, for so many organizations and always at the top of the card that he became a fan favorite despite his bad guy image.
  3. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin – came in and changed the face of wrestling at a time when it was fading.  Austin had “tried” other personas with limited success, but his no-nonsense, take no guff from the boss attitude struck a chord with fans.  Austin has made the transition to movies.
  4. Bruno Sammartino – one of the most popular wrestlers of all time.  Because of his popularity, Bruno held the title for over ten years in two runs [something unheard of in the last few decades] and at one time held the record [perhaps still does?] for selling out Madison Square Garden.
  5. Dusty Rhodes – After a run in the midwest as part of a “bad guy” tag team, Dusty came south and became a literal Superstar.
  6. Mick Foley – has had more wrestling personas than most, but it’s Mick Foley the fans love.  His “hell in the cell” match with the Undertaker made him a legend.
  7. The Undertaker – Biker or Spawn of Hell?  “It doesn’t matter!” said in the best Rock voice.  The fans love him.
  8. The Rock – had the Rock stuck with wrestling he’d be higher on the list.  Actually I’m glad he didn’t since I dig most of his movies.
  9. Andre the Giant – a living legend.  Fans came to see Andre.  It didn’t matter who or how many wrestlers he was wrestling.
  10. Superstar Billy Graham – Paved the way for Hulk Hogan and all the musclebound, roided wrestlers of the 80’s and on…

UGO’s list is very limited.  Where was Dick the Bruiser [my personal choice for #1], Mil Mascaras, Blackjack Mulligan, Wilbur Snyder, and so many others.  And yes. Andy, I did see Moose Cholak wrestle many times, but he wouldn’t have made my top 50.  Sorry Moose.

Howard Chaykin: Marked Man

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Yesterday I suggested that we get ready for the relaunch of Dark Horse Presents.  Dark Horse announced that the first issue would feature work from Frank Miller [Xerxes, the prequel to 300] and Paul Chadwick [Concrete].   Today CBR.com has a preview page [two panels shown above] for Marked Man — a story that Chaykin will write and draw.

Miller, Chadwick, and Chaykin — I can’t wait to get Dark Horse Presents in my mitts.

Get Ready for Dark Horse Presents

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Every so often I’ll post about Dark Horse Presents #1.  That’s the first comic put out by Dark Horse.  It was an anthology comic and over the years featured work from Frank Miller, Harlan Ellison, Matt Wagner, Mike Mignola, Eric Powell, Chris Warner, and many, many other talented folks.

Usually when I post about Dark Horse Presents, it’s to say it’s time to see a new Black Cross series by Chris Warner or at least a compilation of the stories in a nice trade edition.  And although I’d love to see the return of Chris Warner’s Black Cross, the focus of this post is something else…

Dark Horse is bringing back the anthology comic Dark Horse Presents!  The first issue will feature work from Frank Miller [Xerxes, the prequel to 300] and Paul Chadwick [Concrete].  Dark Horse Presents will definitely be worth a look and CBR.com has a preview of the covers for issue one.

Falling Skies, Raising Expectations

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Have you seen this trailer for Falling Skies?  So, what’d you think?  Although I’m not sold from just seeing the preview, I do like the concept…

… FALLING SKIES opens in the chaotic aftermath of an alien attack that has left most of the world completely incapacitated. In the six months since the initial invasion, the few survivors have banded together outside major cities to begin the difficult task of fighting back. Each day is a test of survival as citizen soldiers work to protect the people in their care while also engaging in an insurgency campaign against the occupying alien force…

… and the people involved…

FALLING SKIES is executive-produced by Steven Spielberg, along with DreamWorks Television heads Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank, Graham Yost (Justified, The Pacific) and screenwriter Robert Rodat. Rodat, who earned an Oscar® nomination for his screenplay for Saving Private Ryan, wrote the pilot from an idea he co-conceived with Spielberg. Mark Verheiden (Heroes, Battlestar Galactica) and Greg Beeman (Heroes, Smallville) are co-executive producers. The pilot was directed by Carl Franklin (One False Move, Out of Time)…

The series stars: Noah Wyle, Moon Bloodgood, Drew Roy, and Colin Cunningham.