Hey hey! Here’s a quick link to check out a fun conversation I had with Max, from the Weird Warriors Podcast (with his partner in crime, Rich!)! We talked some cool DC 1970s horror (ok, technically 1969) with this number one issue. It’s available on the DC app to check out and read along! Thanks for checking in!
Click the link below for the episode!
After slacking off a bit, here is the latest episode of the show! I sat down with Pete Doree (Stan and Jack), and talked about an annual supernatural horror event that happened in the U.K. back in the 1970s. The BBC put out these very good made for TV films that had some really strong acting and they were based off of short stories by the likes of M.R. James and Charles Dickens! Enjoy!
Happy New Year! Another year has passed, and looking back, it was a rough one, but we did it! Personally, I achieved some goals that I’m proud of, especially in reference to my podcast. I released 26 episodes, and the first didn’t even drop until April! After how much difficulty I had getting going (and some procrastinating), it was rewarding seeing all the interaction and fun comments from listeners, but even more fun was talking to my awesome guests! They were all, in their own right, spectacular, and fun to podcast with, and look forward to talking to them all again in 2022, plus a few more new guests as well!
Speaking of guests, I absolutely had to end the year talking with my podcasting partner supreme, Herman Louw! Herm and I have spent countless hours recording, planning, scheming, reading, and trying to bring listeners some fun content, to help them get through their day. Honestly, I couldn’t have had this much fun with anyone else. Thanks, Herm!
Now, onto the episode. We started plotting this conversation almost a year in advance, but came down to the wire to record, simply because of how busy we were, plus it being the holiday season. But, here we are, and in this one we’ll shout out our top 5 Universal classic horror films, in honor of 2021 being the 90th anniversary of Dracula and Frankenstein, the films that started it all (of course there were other horror films before, but these two were enormous hits that paved the way)! We both have an affection for this studio, its actors/actresses, and production folks as well! So get ready, cuz here come the monsters!
Ho Ho Ho! It’s Christmas time and this is my first ever holiday special! I knew for quite some time I was going to talk about this very fun comic, and this episode had to have a special guest to match the book. Well, welcome to the show, Martin Gray! He’s a blogger and frequent guest on many podcasts out there. His blog, Too Dangerous for a Girl, is awesome and definitely deserves your attention! Mart and I had a blast talking about these six stories, so give us a listen and Merry Christmas!
Hey there! Yes, it’s been quite a while since there has been a blog post. Why you ask? Well, it has just gotten near impossible for me to continue blogging on a regular basis, so I’ve decided to forge ahead by utilizing this spot to update (weekly at least) all of my podcasting efforts, plus the occasional blog post covering something that just won’t fit on a podcast.
So, with that being said, here is the latest podcast episode featured on Magazines and Monsters!
I sat down with two awesome friends to discuss the 1981 fantasy/adventure film, Excalibur, by John Boorman! Starring Helen Mirren (Morgana), Nigel Terry (Arthur), Nicol Williamson (Merlin), Liam Neeson (Gawain), and Sir Patrick Stewart (Leondegrance)!
My two guests (and me!) are huge fans of this film, and gushed over it at length (my longest episode to date, I believe)! Karen (Planet 8 Podcast, Bronze Age Babies blog), and Herm are always a joy to talk to, and definitely will make more appearances going forward on the show! Definitely follow them nonsocial media!
I love EC comics, and honestly, who doesn’t? These reprints from the 1980s and 1990s are the perfect way to get introduced to these excellent comics from the Golden Age. Of course, EC is mostly known for their horror books, but don’t sleep on their crime, war, or science fiction books! This reprint covers Weird Science 22 and Weird Fantasy 13 (from 1953 and 1950, respectively).
This book has eight stories in it, and each one of them has a legendary creative team behind it. This is not much of a surprise for anyone that knows the quality of material that EC Comics put out, though. Just look at the magnificent cover by Wally Wood
The first story is called “A New Beginning” and it is glorious. It shows a man and a woman that are taking turns using some kind of machine that if not operated correctly, will blow up! A time travel machine, and art by Al Williamson (story by Al Feldstein, colors by Marie Severin, and letters by Jim Wroten) is enough to sell it to me!
“The Headhunters” is up next, and we see. doctor that has a machine that can cure insanity! Written by Al Feldstein and art by George Evans, colors by Marie Severin, and letters by Jim Wroten.
Thirdly, “My World” brings dinosaurs, rocket ships, aliens, and everything else your imagination can conjure! Brought to you by Feldstein, Severin, Woten, and Wally Wood (art)!
The following story, “Outcast of the Stars,” is an adaptation of a story by Ray Bradbury! We see a man that owns a junkyard with visions of one day traveling to Mars! Art by Joe Orlando (the rest of the creative team as before)!
Next is “Am I Man or Machine?” This story is about a man that suddenly appears…two years after his death! Script and art by Al Feldstein (colors and letters the same as before).
“Only Time Will Tell” is a crazy story that involves a scientist thats on the brink of inventing a device that may doom mankind. A strange visitor warns him that he might want to change his mind. Art by Harry Harrison and Wally Wood!
The next to last story is called “Men of Tomorrow.” Some explorers find a lost civilization only to possibly have it go up in smoke! Art by Jack Kamen!
“Trip into the Unknown” is the final tale in this book. The story shows a Professor Oppenheim, as he boards a rocket and heads into the vastness of outer space! What will he and the crew find on another world? Art by Harvey Kurtzman!
To close out August, and Jack Kirby Month, I decided to grab a random book from my Kirby box. I think this was the first Fourth World book I bought back a few years ago before I decided to grab trades. I always loved the character of Orion, mostly because of the Justice League animated series. He seems like a B.A. with a good heart, and at times, we do need people like him. No nonsense, get it done kind of people. Sounds a bit like Kirby himself, no? My copy of this book is in less than awesome shape, but it’s complete and the cover is a great action shot (art by Jack Kirby and Mike Royer).
The issue begins with a prelude, as some baddies watch a cocoon like object glowing. They remark that it is the great Mantis himself, and how with him as a leader, how can they fail? Mantis then emerges from the cocoon, and tells his minions to “prepare for the great destiny that awaits them!” We then get a Forager appearance, followed by some ominous words from my personal favorite New God, Orion!
Huge battle scenes, foolish politicians, Lightray, and all the Kirby madness you can handle await inside this comic! Written and pencilled by Jack “King” Kirby, inks and letters by Mike Royer, and colors by Anthony Tollin!
If you hadn’t already heard, August has been deemed Jack Kirby Month. Who decided this, you ask? The powers that be, also known as a bunch of hooligans I know on Twitter. So, with this revelation, I decided to jump to some Kirby material for the last two weeks of the blog in August. This magazine is a more recent acquisition of mine, but it was on my radar for a long time. Honestly, pretty much everything Kirby did is on my radar, and rightly so, as the man was a genius. The awesome cover, though, is more Neal Adams than Kirby (layouts), as Neal and the DC braintrust decided to change the cover a bit (according to Mark Evanier, who was employed there at the time, and editor of the book).
The first thriller in this magazine sized book is called “The President Must Die!” This story deals with a person that has a premonition that the President will fall to some trouble on a trip! Written and pencilled by Jack Kirby, inks by Vince Coletta, and letters by John Costanza.
Next up is, “The Calder House!” This is a classic haunted house tale, and the visuals are out of this world! Spirits, monsters, they’re all here! Once again written and pencilled by Jack Kirby, inks by Vince Colletta, and letters by John Costanza.
There’s a three page story, and the photo art style is something to behold. Once again, the King doing something innovative (I’m assuming this is Kirby). “Children of the Flaming Wheel” is cool!
“The Screaming Woman” follows, and it is another masterpiece. In this one we see a mysterious woman, reincarnation, and witch burnings! Again, the same creative team of Kirby, Colletta, and Costanza.
The last full story is “Amazing Predictions.” This is one for the ages, as we see historical figures (Nostradamus, Mao, Napoleon, and even Adolph Hitler!), make bold predictions of the future! Again, Kirby, Colletta, and Costanza!
The book ends with a humorous story by the one and only Sergio Aragonés!
For some Strange reason, I felt compelled to return to another crazy sci-fi comic from DC. With a title like this one, who can really argue the validity of its awesomeness? This book has three crazy stories in it, and after reading them, you might just wonder what the heck it was that you just read! Just look at this crazy cover by Carmine Infantino and George Roussos!
The first story (“The Guardian Eye“), stars a character that I don’t know very well, but was a recurring one. The Enchantress, a witch apparently, must face off against a huge, demonic creature! At first, she’s incredibly afraid, but she quickly figures out its secret! Written by Zany Bob Haney, with art by Howard Purcell!
Next up is “The Lair of the Dragonfly!” This reprint from the 1950s (House of Secrets 19, 1959) is all kinds of crazy, but fun as well. I mean, cmon, it’s a fire breathing, giant dragonfly. The science and logic in this one are off the charts in the wild category, but again, fun story. Written by Ed Herron, with art by Bernard Baily.
And finally, “The Man with the Comet Head!” This one is pretty simple. A man at an observatory is watching a meteor, but it suddenly heads right for the telescope and hits it while the man is watching! He emerges with his head in flames. The day is saved by science! Yay! Written by Otto Binder, with art by Jack Sparling!
Again, this is the crazy, fun times you have with these books. Sometimes they have a message to them, other times, just craziness. Get out there and buy some DC sci-fi!
Continuing my look at Superman, this specific comic is a newer acquisition for me, and one I’ve just finally got around to reading. Not only was I impressed with the artwork, but the story was fun as well. A landmark issue, and a whole lot of fun. Now that’s what an anniversary should be about, right? This book has a fantastic cover by Ross Andru (pencils), Dick Giordano (inks), and Tatjana Wood (colors).
Our story begins with Superman arriving at the ceremony to open up the Superman Pavilion at the Metropolis World’s Fair. All of Superman’s supporting characters are here- Perry White, Jimmy Olsen, Steve Lombard, Lana Lang, and of course, Lois Lane. Mayor Harkness introduces the Man of Steel, and then he cuts the ribbon (a piece of steel he melts with his heat vision), then we’re introduced to the man who owns the pavilion, Robert Arngrim. We can see Superman gets a strange feeling about him.
Once everyone is inside, the memorabilia is receiving oohs and ahhhs from the crowd. Arngrim then asks Superman about his super memory, and he reveals that because of repeated exposure to Kryptonite, he’s having trouble recalling information from his past. Arngrim then points out that the pavilion has his mind prober ray machine, and asks Superman to give a demonstration. He acquiesces, although a bit reluctantly. We then see behind the scenes that there is another man, working in conjunction with Arngrim, to use this device to destroy Superman!
I’m sure ninety nine percent of the people that read my blog know this story and the villains behind this one, but just in case, I’ll leave that out of my post.
This is a really good story by Marty Pasko (writer). He really “gets” Superman and his personality down quite well. The artwork…what can I say other than it’s amazing. Curt Swan (pencils) is my favorite Superman artist of all time. I really enjoy his work with this character, and wish I owned more of it. Frank Chiaramonte (inks) does a fine job adding his touch as well. Adrienne Roy (colors) and Gaspar Saladino (letters) round out the creative team on this must have book!
Magazines and Monsters! 