Here's Toki (Fist of the North Star) merged with Santa Claus eating pancakes. Because if anything could sum up 2024, why not this?
So hope the New Year treats us a bit kinder than this hellhole of the year did, although Lord knows I doubt it. Everybody be cool and I'll see you in the New Year.
Art by Michael McElwee
Here we see the Scarlet Witch taking on the Seeker Thundercracker as Brawn, Overdrive, and Sunstreaker race to help.
Art by Frank Salinas
And so we end Chapter 5. La Santa has beaten all the regional champs, only King Slender is left. How will the fight go? Tune in next year!
By Frank Salinas
Nearing the end of the series. Can our heroine make the pin?
By Dana Ortega
Slight reworking of the mostly comic relief character Madame Razz. I envisioned her more as a 'mysterious woman of the woods type'
By Brian Christy Burke
Given the year we've had, I figured something nice to hopefully balance something out; and who better than that right jolly old elf himself, Santa Claus?
Merry Christmas to all and may the day bring you peace and happiness.
Yup, this was it. First piece of art I ever got at a convention. Don't regret one thing about it, aside from not talking to Eric Powell earlier in his career.
Just a simple Christmas gift from me to whoever still hanging around this place. I appreciate it, truly.
By Johnny Segura
The Most Disgusting Man in the WWF VS the Aged Master.
By Brian Burke
Arguably the main hero of the series, seen here with the Dagger. Seriously, Haunted Castle, Vampire Killer, first two Castlevania games... Simon's been around a bit.
Art by Siamse Fros
Basically, what if certain Marvel characters got reworked into monsters. In this case, what if the Hulk was more akin to Mr. Hyde, I mean more than normal.
This time we look at the fiery archer. She had bit of a backstory, with dead parents and a missing brother.
Art by R. Youre (I think?)
Art by LV.23 Studios
From Openeye Studios
Just a silly idea. Here we see a halfling rogue trying to get his mitts on a 1968 Superbee
Art by Johnny Segura
Here we see Mike Shaw's lesser known characters taking on Lee from Fighting Street.
Comics That Never Were
You take one Marvel character and have them meet a character published overseas. In this case, we have Rom: Spaceknight meeting Spanish antiheroine Sangre
Haven't seen much on her, but I liked the visual.
Art by Eddie Price
Here we see Golden Age hero Fiery Mask taking on Runamuck, while Spitfire and Streetwise rush to get help.
Art by Frank Salinas, script by me
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So we're kicking off the December Art Jam this year and yup, this year will be Sunday through Saturday, 31 pinups/comics and misc.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Land of the Dead (2005), dir. George A. Romero, Atmosphere Entertainment MM/Romero-Gruenwald Productions/Wild Bunch S.A. Rangerkim
Spider (2002), dir. David Cronenberg, Catherine Bailey, Ltd/Grosvenor Park Productions/Davis Park
As Devil's Night comes to a close and the day of All Hallow's draws ever closer, we take a look at a film more than a few called Cronenberg's transitional film.
The Mangler (1995), dir. Tobe Hooper, Allied Film/Distant Horizon
Ah, Mr. Hooper. Was there ever a director with such an uneven filmography? Surely having him adapt a Stephen King short story would be a good thing, right?
Shocker (1989), dir. Wes Craven, Alive Films
Wes Craven would end the 80's on either a darn silly note or a vastly underrated one.
Body Bags (1993), dir. John Carpenter/Tobe Hooper, 187 Corp./Showtime Networks
Got a twofer this time out, as both John Carpenter and Tobe Hooper worked on this anthology. I was tempted to have this for both men's entries this year but we'll have this under Carpenter as he did the lion's share of the work.
Explorers (1985), dir. Joe Dante, Paramount Pictures
Last year we looked at Joe Dante's last full length feature but before we close the book on him, I thought it only fair to look at some of his other offers that we overlooked throughout the years. Explorers was such a film, and it might have been a vision of things to come regarding his career.
House of Usher (1960), dir. Roger Corman, Alta Vista Productions
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I considered not reviewing this, mostly due to Dr. Gangrene's brilliant look back at Vincent Price's career covered everything with such detail I doubted I could do better; then again I do love me some Vincent Price, so why not?
I Saw What You Did (1965), dir. William Castle, Universal Pictures
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William Castle's career continued well into the 60's more or less unchanged. He did manage to snag the use of Joan Crawford for a few days, so that's something.
Spellbound (1945), dir. Alfred Hitchcock, Selznick International Pictures/Vanguard Films
Moving into our directors' section, this time we kick off with not only Alfred Hitchcock but also Salvador Dali.
The Beast with Five Fingers (1946), dir. Robert Florey, Warner Bros. Pictures
So we end our lookback with Peter Lorre's last film for Warner Bros. and arguably the last A picture of the 1940s.
Arsenic and Old Lace (1944), dir. Frank Capra, Warner Bros.
At this point, Lorre was now a full character actor. Granted, the character was usually a twitchy weirdo but every so often he would play something different.
The Boogie Man will Get You (1942), dir. Lew Landers, Columbia Pictures
Jumping ahead a few years, and Lorre was trying to shake his horror persona. He was still getting big pictures but they tended to be small parts. Working with Boris Karloff probably didn't help shake the horror image either.
Crack-Up (1936), dir. Malcolm St. Clair, 20th Century Fox
Lorre's career was holding steady, 1936 saw him playing the lead in the Mr. Moto series but here he started to work for Fox.
Mad Love (1935), dir. Karl Freund, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
After M, Peter Lorre fled Germany for the safer climes of Hollywood. When a sound remake of the Hands of Orlac was announced, more than a few felt that film cinched this role for Lorre.
M (1935), dir. Fritz Lang, Nero-Film, A.G.
Thirteen Women (1932), dir. George Archainbaud, RKO Radio Pictures
So we end our lookback at slashers with that what a few folks have called the very first one, or at least the earliest film I think of with the old 'wronged person gets some revenge'.
Maniac Cop 2 (1990), dir. William Lustig, Fadd Enterprises/Medusa Pictures/the Movie House Sales Company/Overseas Film Group
When we last saw the Maniac Cop, Matt Cordell (Robert Z'Dar) murdered the cops who sent him up the river. He also got a pipe shoved his chest but from the last shot of the film he clearly got over it.
Halloween Kills (2021), dir. David Gordon Green, Miramax/Blumhouse Productions/Trancas International Films/Rough House Pictures
It is often mentioned that some sequels can surpass the original. It's rare to see a sequel that seems determined to ruin the previous.
Countess Dracula (1971), dir. Peter Sasdy, Hammer Film Productions
We'll be ending our look at Hammer with this one. They made quite a few about Dracula, why not one about Countess Elizabeth Bathory?
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