“The Watchmen Chapter 1 & II” Teaser Trailer is Here!
The Watchmen Chapter 1 & II Teaser Trailer is Here!
Check out the Official Teaser Trailer for Watchmen Chapters 1 & 2 starring Adam Driver!
Creepy Archives Volume 8 is Coming! Featuring Tom Sutton, Steve Skeates, Wally Wood, T. Casey Brennan, Ernie Colón & More!
Creepy Archives Volume 8 is set to drop on September 24, 2024. It collects Creepy issues 37–41. Here’s some of what to expect…
Now available in a value-priced paperback edition, Creepy Archives Volume 8 features the best in gruesomely gore-geous tales of horror, fantasy, and science fiction from a capable cadre of celebrated storytellers including Tom Sutton, Steve Skeates, Wally Wood, T. Casey Brennan, Ernie Colón, and many more.
Also featured is a foreword by longtime Creepy scribe Nicola Cuti and a story starring none other than Uncle Creepy himself! Take a break from the mausoleum, hang up your mourning coat, and bury yourself in Creepy Archives!
“Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome” by Tony Stella!
Tony Stella calls his Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome painting, Aunty and the Raggedy Man. I call it impressive.
“Mayor of Kingstown”: Season 2 (2023) starring Jeremy Renner / Z-View
Mayor of Kingstown: Season 2 (2023)
Created by: Taylor Sheridan, Hugh Dillon
Director: Stephen Kay (Eps. 1-3, 7-10); Tasha Smith (Eps. 3-4); Guy Ferland (Ep. 5-6)
Teleplay: Dave Erickson and Taylor Sheridan (Ep. 1); Taylor Sheridan (Ep. 2); Keli Goff (Ep. 3); Evan Ball (Ep. 4); Leon Hendrix III (Ep. 5); Christian Donovan (Ep. 6); Regina Corrado (Ep. 7); Hugh Dillon & Stephen Kay (Ep. 8); Christian Donovan & James Arcega Tinsley (Ep. 9); Regina Corrado & Dave Erickson (Ep. 10)
Stars: Jeremy Renner, Dianne Wiest, Hugh D illon, Tobi Bamtefa, Taylor Handley, Emma Laird, Derek Webster, Hamish Allan-Headley, Aidan Gillen, Michael Beach, Nichole Galicia, Necar Zadegan, Lane Garrison, Gena Shaw, Frank Licari, Dylan Kenin, George Tchortov, Sandrine Holt, Gratiela Brancusi, Matt Gerald, Nona Parker Johnson, Sandra Holt, Dom Kegel, Jimmy Star and Kenny Johnson.
Tagline: You can’t bury the past.
The Plot…
The prison riot is over but the ramifications will be long-lasting. The major gangs are without leadership. Gangs, like the universe, hate a void. Power struggles in the prison spill over into gang wars in the streets. Mike comes up with a plan to return to status quo, but there will be a cost. Since the riot, no one trusts anyone. To complicate matters, Iris is missing and Milo may be alive.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Mayor of Kingstown continues to be well written, well directed, well acted with production values that rival those of feature films.
Jeremy Renner is perfect as the no-nonsense Mike McClusky. Other standouts in the acting department include Dianne Wiest, Hugh Dillon, Emma Laird, Nichole Galicia, Tobi Bamtefa and Hamish Allan-Headley. Actually, I should probably list every supporting actor/actress because they are all perfectly cast.
The surprises, twists and ever building tension make each episode must-see tv. I look forward to season 3 and beyond.
Mayor of Kingstown: Season 2 (2023) rates 5 of 5 stars.
Creepy Archives Volume 7 is Coming! Featuring Frank Frazetta, Tom Sutton, Nicola Cuti, Syd Shores, Ernie Colón, Richard Corben, Ken Kelly & More!
Creepy Archives Volume 7 is set to release on July 23, 2024. It collects Creepy issues 33–36. Here’s some of what to expect…
Now available in a value-priced paperback edition, Creepy Archives Volume 7 features the finest in fiendish fiction from a skilled swarm of comics luminaries, including Tom Sutton, Nicola Cuti, Syd Shores, Ernie Colón, and the inaugural Creepy contributions by industry legends Richard Corben and Ken Kelly!
Also presents a lengthy interview with master illustrator Frank Frazetta. After a hard day at the boneyard, take a nice bloodbath, pour yourself a glass of hemlock, and curl up with Creepy Archives!
Sly Stallone as Rocky by Adam Brooks!
Here’s Adam Brooks’ riff of Sly Stallone as Rocky! It looks like Brooks went in with colors and hardly any (if any?) under drawing. Awesome. Definitely captured Sly as Rocky.
You can see more of Brooks’ art here.
“Tomorrow is Another Day” (1951) starring Ruth Roman & Steve Cochran / Z-View
Tomorrow is Another Day (1951)
Director: Felix E. Feist
Screenplay: Art Cohn, Guy Endore, story by Guy Endore
Stars: Ruth Roman, Steve Cochran, Lurene Tuttle, Hugh Sanders, Ray Teal, Morris Ankrum, John Kellogg, Walter Sande, Philip Carey and Lee Patrick.
Tagline: They take their lives in their hands… when they take each other in their arms!
The Plot…
Bill Clark (Cochran) was thirteen when he murdered his abusive father. That was 18 years ago. Clark is now 31 and just released from prison. Although a man, Clark still has the naivety of a child. Clark quickly learns that life as an ex-con won’t be easy.
When Clark meets a dance hall girl named Cathy (Roman), straight away he’s attracted to her. Cathy rejects his offers of dinner, saying that she prefers gifts. When Cathy gets off work, Clark is waiting. He gives her a beautiful watch. After a night on the town, Cathy invites Clark up to her apartment.
Almost immediately after they enter, George Conover (Sanders), Cathy’s “boyfriend” busts in. Conover pulls a gun and orders Clark to leave. Clark goes for the gun and in the struggle the gun is dropped and Clark is knocked unconscious. Cathy grabs the gun and instinctively shoots George when he lunges for her. George staggers out and into a taxi headed for the hospital.
Clark comes to. Cathy asks him what he remembers, which is everything leading up to the struggle for the gun. Cathy leads Clark to believe that he was the one who shot New York Detective George Conover. When they learn that Conover has died from his wounds and the police have launched an investigation, Cathy and Clark decide to take off.
If they’re caught Cathy will let Clark take the rap. And if they make a clean getaway, she can always dump him. Funny how the best made plans…
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Both John Garfield and Burt Lancaster were considered for the role of Bill Clark.
Tomorrow is Another Day has the set-up to be a classic noir film. Bill Clark was an abused kid who did time in prison but wants to now lead a good life. He meets up with a beautiful woman that he’s drawn to, but she takes advantage of the relationship. When she murders another lover, she lets Bill think that he did the crime. They go on the run. Everything lining up to be an excellent noir. Then in the last couple of scenes we get an ending that makes everything “sunshine and roses” (as Rocky Balboa would say). Still, Tomorrow is Another Day isn’t a bad film, just one that falls short of being really good.
Tomorrow is Another Day (1951) rates 3 of 5 stars.
“The Godfather” Alt Poster by Paul Mann!
Paul Mann makes an alt poster for The Godfather that you cannot refuse.
Blacking Out by by Chip Mosher, Peter Krause, Giulia Brusco & Ed Dukeshire is Coming!
Blacking Out by by Chip Mosher (writer), Peter Krause (pencils/inks), Giulia Brusco (colors), Ed Dukeshire (letters) is going to hit all the sweet spots for lovers of crime fiction, mysteries and graphic novels. Here’s the goods…
Bad people doing bad things in a tale of fire and murder in Southern California.
A disgraced ex-cop, Conrad, seeks redemption by unraveling an unsolved murder during Southern California’s fire season. Conrad follows a lone clue—a discarded crucifix—to unravel the death of Karen Littleton, whose body was found amid a blaze that scorched 10,000 acres. The search leads him to clash with the victim’s father and prime suspect, Robert Littleton, as well as hostile former colleagues on the local police force. All the while, Conrad combats his consuming alcoholism and fading faculties.
Will his “questionable” methods net him a murderer, or will the grizzled detective be brought to his knees by heartbreak and addiction? Find out, in this all-new edition of Blacking Out, a scorching crime noir comic set in a small town in the dry California desert.
From the minds of comics industry veteran and writer Chip Mosher (Left On Mission) and legendary artist Peter Krause (The Power of Shazam!, Irredeemable) with colors by the amazing Giulia Brusco (Scalped, Django Unchained), and letterers from Ed Dukeshire (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Basilisk)
Blacking Out hits on October 1, 2024.
“Godzilla Minus One” (2023) / Z-View
Godzilla Minus One (2023)
Director: Takashi Yamazaki
Screenplay: Takashi Yamazaki
Stars: Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe.
Tagline: Postwar Japan. From zero to minus.
The Plot…
1945. World War II is nearing the end. Kōichi Shikishima, a Japanese kamikazi pilot lands his plane on Odo island for repairs. There is nothing wrong with his plane. The truth is that Kōichi was afraid to finish his mission. That night a giant prehistoric-looking creature comes ashore. It attacks the Japanese stronghold. Try as they might, the creature is impervious to anything the soldiers can do. Kōichi is too afraid to help. The next morning he is one of the only two to survive Godzilla’s attack.
The war ends. Kōichi returns home to Tokyo. He discovers his parents were both killed in a bombing. Kōichi meets a homeless woman with an orphaned child. He brings them to his home. As time goes by they become more of a family, but Kōichi still feels like a coward.
Reports of Godzilla attacking ships becomes more frequent. The government fears Godzilla will come on land and wipeout entire cities. Nothing has been able to stop the giant creature. Then the worst is reported, Godzilla is heading inland.
Will Kōichi get a chance to redeem himself and save his country? What do you think?
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The title, Godzilla Minus One, refers to Japan being taken “down to zero” after World War II. Godzilla’s attacks on the country take it even lower. This minus one.
After seeing the trailer and the great reviews for Godzilla Minus One I was excited to see the film. The scenes of Godzilla’s attacks and the destruction caused by the monster are the best in any Godzilla film ever. This is where Godzilla Minus One shines. I wanted more of that. It almost felt like I was watching a more adult film during Godzilla’s attacks and a movie aimed at kids with the Kōichi subplot.
Godzilla Minus One (2023) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Marv by Adam Gorham!
Marv from Frank Miller’s Sin City is one of my all-time favorite characters. I love seeing artists do their “take” on the big lug. Today we have Marv by Adam Gorham.
“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” (2024) / Z-View
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024)
Director: Wes Ball
Screenplay: Josh Friedman, based on characters by Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver premise from PLANET OF THE APES by Pierre Boulle
Stars: Owen Teague, Freya Allan, Kevin Durand, Peter Macon, Travis Jeffery, Neil Sandilands, Karin Konoval and William H. Macy.
Tagline: No One Can Stop the Reign
The Plot…
The planet has been ruled by apes for generations. Most apes live in small peaceful communities. Humans have lost the ability to speak. They survive in nomadic groups… not even organized enough to be called tribes.
One ape, Proximus Caesar has proclaimed himself king. Proximus sends his warrior apes out to capture both apes and humans to be used as his slaves. When Noa, a young ape, returns home one afternoon, he finds his village destroyed. Proximus’ apes have killed or captured everyone.
Noa sets out to find and free his family. Along the way he is joined by a wise orangutan named Raka and a human they name Nova. What they don’t know is Nova hides a secret.
Their journey takes them to Proximus Caesar’s kingdom. They learn that Proximus is close to breaking into an ancient human facility. If he’s not stopped, Proximus will gain power to make him unbeatable. But what chance do Noa, Raka and Nova have against a kingdom of apes?
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
I’ve been a fan of The Planet of the Apes franchise since the original was released in 1968. There have been highs and lows, but I’m always along for the ride.
Quite a bit of time is used to set up Noa’s community life. I wish we could have gotten to Proximus Caesar’s kingdom sooner and spent more time there. I didn’t particularly care for Nova’s secret. It was kind of obvious and then when the reveal came there wasn’t much time to explore the ramifications. I guess THAT sets up the next sequel.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.
When Death Came for Frank Miller by Anthony Breznican for Vanity Fair!
Anthony Breznican at Vanity Fair recently sat down with Frank Miller for an no-holds-barred interview. Miller, the comics genius behind Sin City, Dark Knight Returns, Batman Year One, 300, Ronin, and so much more openly discussed his addiction, recovery as well as upcoming projects. This interview, When Death Came for Frank Miller is not to be missed.
Congratulations to Frank Miller for his health comeback. The Sin City western is music to my ears.
“Assassins” (1995) directed by Richard Donner, starring Sylvester Stallone, Antonio Banderas & Julianne Moore / Z-View
Assassins (1995)
Director: Richard Donner
Screenplay: Lilly Wachowski (as Andy Wachowski) & Lana Wachowski (as Larry Wachowski) and Brian Helgeland from a story by Lilly & Lana Wachoswski
Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Antonio Banderas, Julianne Moore, Anatoli Davydov, Muse Watson, Steve Kahan, Kelly Rowan, Reed Diamond, Kai Wulff and Stephen Liska.
Tagline: In the shadows of life, In the business of death, One man found a reason to live…
The Plot…
Robert Rath (Stallone) is a hitman ready to retire. Working as an assassin has taken a toll even though Rath has a moral code. He refuses to murder women, children and men undeserving to die.
Miguel Bain (Banderas) is an assassin who loves his job… he wants to be the best hitman in the world. Bain considers Rath number one… for now.
As Rath prepares to take out a mark, he is shocked when Bain assassinates his target. The two exchange gunfire until the police arrive. Rath realizes that Bain is determined to kill him. He also learns that Bain’s other target is a woman known as Electra (Moore). Rath plans to save Electra and eliminate Bain.
Of course Bain has other plans…
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The Wachowski’s sold their Assassins screenplay to Joel Silver at the same time he bought their screenplay for The Matrix (for one million dollars each). Silver wanted Richard Donner to direct and offered him ten million dollars. Donner refused unless the screenplay’s violence was toned down and Rath was made more sympathetic. Silver brought in Brian (L.A. Confidential) Helgeland to adjust the script.
The Wachowski’s didn’t like the changes and asked for their names to be removed from the credits. The request was denied by the Writers Guild Association.
Donner praised Stallone and Banderas for their performances: “I thought Stallone did one of the best jobs he’s ever done. He totally underplayed, he was quiet, he found the character and he went with it. I thought Antonio Banderas was wonderful.”
Electra’s cat is the same feline that appeared with Stallone in The Specialist.
I am a huge fan of the opening scene when Rath is walking an assassin deep into a swamp to execute him. Their dialogue tells us all we need to know about Rath and his business.
Kudos to Banderas for his manic performance as the hitman who wants to be the best.
I’d always hoped that Richard Donner and Sly Stallone would work together.
Assassins (1995) rates 4 of 5 stars.
Dan Brereton Presents “The Creature from the Black Lagoon” Meets Marilyn Monroe!
Dan Brereton presents The Creature from the Black Lagoon Meets Marilyn Monroe!
