Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
If you’re a fan of Ed Brubaker and/or Sean Phillips then here’s something worth checking out — CBR.com has an extensive first look at the premiere issue of INCOGNITO. Before you click over, know that this is for mature audiences!
Despite earlier reports that announced he was ready to, Clint Eastwood 
We’ve been hearing a lot of talk about bailouts lately. [Lord knows I could use one. Bet you could too.] Barack Obama is proposing a bailout. So is President Bush. The problem with both of their proposals is that politics gets in the way, slows things down and gums up the works.
That’s why I’m happy to say that the third fellow pictured above is proposing a different kind of bailout. His name is John Beatty and he’s proposing a Christmas Bailout that is guranteed to help those the bailout is for [namely John and his family] PLUS it offers something back to those doing the bailing [Namely a sweet comission at a really decent price AS WELL AS a free sketchbook should your piece be included]. You can read the full details here.
Man, if only our country’s economic woes could be solved so quickly and with everyone coming out a winnah!
I don’t know anything about the new A&E show Manhunters: Fugitive Task Force other than I really like the poster promoting it. The poster is better than most created for today’s feature films. In fact, if the show is as good as the poster it’ll be worth viewing. I think I’ll tune in and see. [In other words the poster did it’s job.]
Harry over at Ain’t It Cool News posted a link to a trailer for “Dead Snow” — a zombie movie that was screened at the 09 Sundance Film Festival. Knowing how much ZONErs love horror movies, and the zombie genre, I thought a link here would be appropriate… but first a few words… there’s violence [zombies eating, killing and being killed] and strong [subtitled] language — this is not appropriate for younger readers. As I watched the trailer with the Nazi zombies I kept thinking, “Boy, do they need Hellboy to show up!”
With that said, if you’re age appropriate and want to see some Nazi zombie action, then click here.
Forrest J Ackerman has died at the age of 92. Probably best known as the founding editor of Famous Monsters of Filmland, Ackerman made his living as a literary agent, magazine editor and occasional actor.I grew up loving monster movies and of course Famous Monsters of Filmland. Although it was chock full of movie stills, interviews with the folks behind those movies, and more — it wasn’t until I was in my late teens/early twenties that I discovered that nearly all of those things that I enjoyed about the magazine came from Forrest Ackerman. His collection of memorabiliai ncluded many original movie props, autographs, over 50,000 books and much, much more. He kept it all in his house. Fans were often invited in to hear classic anecdotes as they toured. Sadly, in his later years Mr. Ackerman was forced to sell off his collection piece by piece.
Mr. Ackerman is said to have discovered Ray Bradbury and to have coined the term “sci-fi.” And while both of those are “definite claims to fame” — I don’t think that my childhood would have been as fun without Mr. Ackerman’s influence on Famous Monsters of Filmland.
My thoughts and prayers go out to his fans around the world.
O.J. Simpson was sentenced today to at least 15 years in prison.
All I really have to say about that is, what kind of person must you be if you’re convicted of a dozen felonies, including
armed robbery, kidnapping, burglary, conspiracy and assault and those aren’t the worst crimes you’ve ever been charged with?
The Pitch: A hardcase with a secret leads a small group of mercenaries onto an island full of zombies in order to rescue a scientist.The Good: The concept. The Marlow character and his associates. The art by Mathew Reynolds shows a lot of promise with inspired panels/poses. Running some of the original proposal pages [by a different artist] was cool.
The Bad: The lack of backgrounds — at times it works, but as the story progressed I missed them and wanted more than just gray-scale figures, etc. The fact that Marlow almost always has a cigar in his mouth became a bit much.
The Ugly: The logo needs to be reworked. The shop owner where I bought Marlow said he had no idea what the title was when he first looked at the cover. The price tag of $4.95 felt a bit high.
The Summary: Marlow was created by Aaron Thomas Nelson and Dario Carrassco Jr. The first issue is 46 black and white pages with a color cover, written by Aaron Thomas Nelson art by Mathew Reynolds. I enjoyed the first issue and feel like Nelson and Reynolds could have a hit on their hands if they stick with it.
Rating:
He’s never done it before, and he may never do it again… but….My buddy, Bill Black is having a 50% off sale on all dvds in his catalog ordered through his on-line store. If you like old-time movie serials, tv detectives, old westerns and more, then head over and start shopping!
I’m not much of a Timothy Hutton fan, but I have to say that “Leverage” looks like it may be pretty good. I plan to check it out when it premieres next Sunday on TNT. Anyone else going to give it a shot?
There was a long, long line of spirits at the gate waiting to get into heaven. Not all these spirits could fit into heaven, so the ones who died the worst death would be allowed in.
The first man in line started telling his story, “Well, Peter, you see, I knew that my wife was cheating on me so I decided to come home early from work one day to catch them in action. I got home and searched all over but I couldn’t find him. Then when I walked out onto the balcony, there he was dangling off the darn thing by his fingertips. So I ran and got a hammer then started beating his fingers with it and he fell. Well, the fall didn’t kill him, because he landed in a bush so I picked up the refrigerator and threw it on him. Although that killed him, the strain gave me a heart attack, and here I am.”
The next man came up and started his story. “St. Peter, I always work out on my balcony on the 14th floor of my apartment building. I was on my bike one day and I fell off when it flipped. I sailed over the rail and I thought “Please God spare my life” and he did. I caught on to a balcony below me. I was even happier when a man discovered me hanging there. But all of a sudden he started beating my hands with a hammer so I fell again. But the dear Lord saved me again when I landed in a bush. But I’m here now because the guy threw his refrigerator on top of me.”
It was now the third guy’s turn to start his story. “Well, Peter, just picture this. I’m hiding butt naked in this married chick’s refrigerator…..”
I love getting mail from my buddy, Jim Ivey. He doesn’t use a computer so it’s snail mail only. The great thing is, that Jim always includes a doodle or two. His most recent letter contained caricatures of me and Bill Black. Jim used photos from his 83rd birthday bash for reference. You read that right, Jim’s 83 and still full of “prunes and macaroons” as he often says.
I not only hope I have as much energy as Jim when I’m 83, I wish I had it now.
Happy Thanksgiving!
I hope that this is one the best Thanksgiving Days ever for each and everyone of us. Remember to count your blessings, eat too much turkey, ignore that family member who irritates you, make big plans, eat too much pie, doze in front of the tube, have a bit more turkey, and remember to watch a bit of the parade!
