Tags: Halloween, Picture of the day
Every Day is Halloween-The Postmarks
Halloween-Dream Syndicate (live, direct dl)
This is it. The last thing to see before you watch The Walking Dead tomorrow night on AMC. The 1994 Michele Soavi film is kind of like Buffy The Vampire Slayer for zombies. Rupert Everett stars as a cemetery groundskeeper who makes sure that the dead stay on his side of the gate. It has comedic elements, but it’s also a love story and a great action-horror flick. If The Walking Dead is as good as this movie, we’re in for a treat tomorrow night!
I thought this was pretty cool . . .
A Dexter motion comic illustrated by two of the greatest comic artists of the past 30 years, Bill Sienkiewicz (“Elektra” and “Moon Knight”) and David Mack (who, along with Brian Michael Bendis, reinvigorated “Daredevi”), with voicework by Dexter himself, Michael C. Hall. It will be available on Showtime on Demand.
Here’s a taste, which links to other episodes:
Tags: Comic books
Continuing my salute to my second-favorite B-Movie genre (nothing tops women’s prison movies, of course) and the ramp up to the Halloween-night debut of AMC’s The Walking Dead T.V. adaptation of one of the greatest comic books of all time, I thought I’d go this time with one that influenced Adelard’s amazing black and white art for the comic series: Thriller. Directed by horror/comic genius John Landis with make-up by Tom Savini’s folks (who did Dawn of the Dead), the rotting-but-still-on-the-bone look was perfected in this video, and I can’t help but think that Adelard is a fan.
First off, before I even talk about the horror graphic novel Harbor Moon (from Arcana Comics) I want to get a couple business items out of the way: (1) If you send me a link to an on-line comic, I’m unlikely to read it. It’s the same with music submissions: I’m simply too busy and too mobile to review material on an internet connection. (2) If you send me a .pdf of your comic book, I’m more likely to read it, but the odds are still stacked against you. (3) If you send me a hardcopy, I will definitely check it out and, if I like it, I’ll review it.
Especially if it’s as beautiful as Harbor Moon.
Now, it might sound strange to call a comic book that features monsters “beautiful” but Pawel Sambor‘s shadowy panels are at the same time colorful and too dark–murky and bright. It reminds me quite a bit of Bill Templesmith, or Bill Sienkiewicz’s work on Elektra. And yes, that is high praise. This work is worth buying on the art alone.
Story-wise, it’s a horror book with a familiar foe that is able to infiltrate ordinary townsfolk. Yeah, that narrows it down to vampires or werewolves, pretty much, and I’m not going to give away which. Readers probably won’t find the story challenging, but that’s not really what we look for in a horror work, is it? We look for writing that allows the art to tell the story, mostly, and we look for build-up. Suspense. Enough lack of clarity that we feel disarmed while we go, and that’s certainly here. Some of the characterizations could use a little tightening up, but that’s the kind of thing we’d expect to 
come with experience, and this is Ryan Colucci’s first foray into comic books. Based on Harbor Moon, I’m more than willing to give him the opportunity to grow.
Just look at the page to the left, and you’ll get a good feel for the book. Artistic horror. The panel layouts are often interesting and unconventional, and because this is a true graphic novel (and not a compilation of single issues), we are treated to ample splash pages and spreads, and we get a story that is willing to breathe and take the time it needs to develop.
It’s official release date is in February 2011 (preorder at Amazon here or from the authors here).
And while I’m here, I want to give recognition to Arcana Studios. They’re doing some very interesting under-the-radar work there, with “100 Girls” (about, yes, 100 girls, who were bred with special powers); “The Matriarch” (about a single-mom superhero); their undercover cop book “The Fix” (which I haven’t read, but have looked at it and it looks terrific); and a host of other various titles that have tremendous breadth and depth. They’re out of Canada, and if your local comic book store doesn’t carry their titles, ask for them.
A small, independent film about a world in which humans actually won the battle against the living dead, and turned them into domesticated pets. I love this movie. You need to see it. Here’s the trailer:
Remember that indie gospelish/folking/rockish band, the Felice Brothers? No? Well, you can be forgiven–the band wasn’t around nearly long enough. But Simone Felice rose as part of Duke & The King (along with Robert Chicken Burke),whose 2009 debut, “Nothing Gold Can Stay,” was awesome. Their sophmore release, is even rootsier and more soulful. I mean, the 1970s ballads “Shakey” harmonizes about how the Jackson 5 grew up too fast, so shake your country ass. It sounds a lot sweeter when they sing it, trust me. The album also features by former Funkadelic member Nowell “The Deacon” Haskins and Simi Stone. And I’m liking it more every time I listen.
Thanks to Sean for tempting me to take a chance on these guys–from the great Falls Church CD Cellar.
Tags: Indie
Tags: Video of the day
Fast reviews of last week’s comics!
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Tags: Comic books, Daredevil, Filthy Muties, Grant Morrison Sucks, Spider-Man, The Caped Crusader
