Phantom Ladies!

For no particular reason other than I like to look at them, here are some Phantom Lady covers! For legal reasons, AC Comics calls her "Blue Bulleteer", but she's the Phantom Lady.

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Darkman - The Trilogy!

When Sam Raimi couldn't get the rights to bring The Shadow to the big screen, he created his own shadowy crimefighter and dubbed him "Darkman". If any movie got me to fall in love with the particular style of a filmmaker it was Darkman.

Darkman appealed to me from the get-go, coming out in the same summer as Warren Beaty's Dick Tracy was barnstorming the country. I often think of these two movies together, two films about tough crimefighters with distinctive and unusual approaches to movie storytelling, and it's always the gritty Darkman that wins the contest. Beaty's movie is fun and full of vibrant colors and some delicious characters but its self-awareness is too on the nose, while Raimi keeps Darkman's roots blended well enough that they don't stand out immediately. Later you think of it, but not while you're watching it.


For the two people who might not know, I'll just say that Darkman is scientist Peyton Westlake, a guy who discovers a liquid skin compound that proves to be light sensitive, a miracle for modern medicine moments before he and his partner are supposedly slain by mob boss Robert Durant in a move to retrieve a memo Westlake's girlfriend and lawyer had left at his place. But Westlake doesn't die though it seems to be the case. Instead he has his nervous system destroyed by doctors to save him from intense agony which in turn seems to give him immense strength when anger overwhelms him. He has lost his identity and the burns to his face and hands in particular make it impossible he thinks to return to the life he once had. Using his skin compound to create lifelike masks of limited duration, Darkman fights Durant's thugs and attempts to bring down the criminal enterprise that killed his friend, threatens his girl, and destroyed his life.

That's a pretty nifty premise. And eventhough Darkman is a "superhero" origin tale, it works as a crackerjack adventure too. Raimi's storytelling is top-notch and both efficient and effective. Darkman has a great cast, with Liam Neeson as Westlake/Darkman, Francis McDormand as his girlfriend, and Larry Drake leading the way as the outrageous villain Robert Durant.


The movie was successful and produced two sequels, both straight-to-video affairs. The first was titled Darkman: The Return of Robert Durant and revives the main baddie from the first movie for another go around with a property deal and the constant struggle between idealism and the demands of the ordinary world. The movie's action is not as specific as the first film, both for budgetary reasons I suspect and because Raimi only produces this one and doesn't direct. It's a diverting film, echoing much of what happened in the first one as many sequels are wont to do.

Arnold Vosloo is Darkman this time and he does a pretty decent job in his pre-Mummy days. Larry Drake is back as Durant and dominates the screen with this over-the-top baddie. This movie feels too much a need to cleave to the original and that hampers what can happen. The movie in many ways attempts to recreate the first one beat for beat but with fewer dollars. It's not a smart way to go I think ever.


The second sequel is titled Darkman: Die Darkman Die and progresses the story quite a bit. Jeff Fahey is delightfully vile as the new baddie named Rooker, but this time we see the villain's family who apparently are largely unaware of his crimes. He is confronted by Westlake again played by Vosloo and this time a permanent solution to Darkman's problem is dangled in front of the viewer. What will out hero choose, a life in the shadows dedicated to fighting evil or will he take a chance to live his life fully as Westlake. It's not a bad story really, though it breaks don a bit in the end, there is surprising complexity in this actioner. Whatever its failings at least they tried some new things. Again Raimi is merely the producer.

I don't know if I want more Darkman movies or not. If Raimi were to direct, I'd say for sure. But with other hands, the special nature of the hero is lost a bit. Darkman is a very tortured superhero, and in the original his battle is so visceral that you feel his agony more than a bit thanks to Neeson's dang good acting. He gives us a Westlake who is truly on the edge of madness. In later installments this aspect is diminished quite a bit, to the detriment of the overall impact of the stories.


But if you've by some chance never seen the Darkman movies, but all means give them a look. The tilogy can be had for pretty small money. The original just might be the best superhero movie of the last twenty years.

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Sheena Queen Of The Bargains!

What a bargain. At the local Half-Price Bookstore, I found a copy of the second volume of Devil's Due Sheena Queen of the Jungle reprints. The first volume was pretty interesting with some really cool stories and some intriguing layout designs between stories. The material is in color and on pretty nice paper. The second volume also has a Sky Girl story by Matt Baker included.


So needless to say that when I found the second volume for a mere five bucks I snatched it up. If you can get to the new Half-Price Books in Florence Kentucky, they had several more of these on the racks.

And while I'm talking Sheena, here for no particularly good reason is a micro-gallery of the lovelies who have played the role on television and movies.


Irish McCalla

Tanya Roberts

Gena Lee Nolan

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Beware The Jabberwocky!

Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!”

He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought—
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.

And as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! and through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.

“And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”
He chortled in his joy.

’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

by Lewis Carrol


I at long last got to see Terry Gilliam's first movie Jabberwocky. This not-a-Monty Python-movie-despite-having-three-Pythons-in-the-cast movie is very much like the more famous and more successful Monty Python and the Holy Grail. There is much in the looks of these two movies that makes you identify them together immediately. Both are medieval satires that point out the rigors of life in such grim times as well as point up snafus in modern culture.

According to the commentary, Gilliam and Michael Palin who played the hero Dennis Cooper wanted this to be more a straightforward movie, with a more rigorous narrative structure than a Python film. They do accomplish that early in the movie, but halfway through the thing becomes a very broad Pythonesque farce which actually undermines the work in the early parts to establish a bit of affinity for the characters.

There are good performances here, and some stellar scenery and atmosphere. But the movie drags more than a bit before we finally at long last get to see the Jabberwocky in the movies' somewhat underwhelming battle royal finale. Doubtless I'd have been more impressed in the 70's, but even allowing for suitmation adjustments, I found it a wee bit awkward, though admittedly clever.


The movie's problem is a classic one, it's neither fish nor fowl, and that confusion makes a muddle of what it can ultimately accomplish. When those involved want to claim this is not a Python film, I understand why they'd say that, but the sensibility is certainly the same and anyone just going to the theater would certainly assume it. Not embracing that reality is why this movie ultimately is unimpressive. And I think Gilliam and Palin realize that now.

As I was watching the movie I noticed the crumbling condition of the kingdom, brought down by corruption and malaise, and I noted it reminded of The Gormenghast novels. Gilliam makes note of that similarity in the commentary, and it makes wish that he'd tackle that literary ediface; he's the perfect director for Mervyn Peake's epic story.

The Jabberwocky poem does weave through the movie and we do get all the lines, but the connection thematically is pretty vague if it exists at all. Like a weak Python movie, this is a film with some funny set pieces, but which doesn't cohere enought to be much more. I've waited decades to see this, and I have to say I'm rather disappointed.

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Frankenstein Goes West!

Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter is almost exactly the kind of movie you'd expect it to be. Directed by William "One Shot" Beaudine, this movie blends horror with the wild west and gets something which is actually neither. But it is delightfully bad.

The plot is pretty straightforward. Jesse James is not dead as reports suggest but along with a giant lug named Hank is trolling the west looking for a score. He's contacted by the decimated Wild Bunch to rob a payroll delivery, but betrayal ruins the plan and gets Hank shot. Looking for medical help, Jesse and Hank meet up with some locals who direct them to a dangerous estate occupied by the granddaughter of Frankenstein, who along with her milksop brother are killing off the locals to make a monster of their very own. (The say they came to the west for the lightning, but which after the first scene they never use again.)A girl named Juanita leads Jesse and Hank to the place and falls in love with Jesse but not before he falls into the clutches of the Frankensteins. A sheriff along with a former Wild Buncher are scouting for Jesse but are put off by Juanita. Hank is eventually transformed into a "monster" by having his brain removed and another synthetic one stitched in. I'll leave it at that.


One of the biggest weaknesses in the movie is that Hank doesn't become a monster until the last quarter of the movie, leaving lots of room in the flick for talk and wandering around. It's not that nothing happens, but often things happen at a leisurely pace. And when there is action, it's a burst of activity and then the calm returns. There is one sole Indian who attacks for no apparent reason, but is dispatched quickly enough. His companions show up from another movie and ride through but don't interact with the cast of this film.

Another problem is the day shooting. That's dandy for a western, but there's no attempt to set up any horror feel by having much if any night scenes, though a few do seem to happen at dusk.

The acting is famously bad in this one, with the chick playing Juanita being especially awkward. Otherwise the cast is fairly competent if hammy or disinterested or both. Most of them are delivering cliches and that seems fine with the director and everyone involved.


This is a diverting popcorner if you're not too attentive, but that's the most that can be hoped for.


Now I need to get hold of a copy of this movie's notorious mate Billy the Kid Versus Dracula. I've seen that John Carradine "classic", but I don't have a copy. These movies need to be together, it's karma.

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I Won A Major Award!

No! Not that one unfortunately.

This blog, nearing its one year anniversary, has been nominated for an award. Thanks muchly Joe.

There are rules to this Kreativ Blogger Award thing, which is as far as I can tell, part kudo and part chain letter, but all fun.

Here they are:

1. You must thank the person who has given you the award.

Thanks again Joe Bloke!

2. Copy the award logo and place it on your blog.



3. Link the person who has nominated you for the award.

See above.

4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.

1. I adore the first season of the Andy Griffith show.
2. I drink more Coca-Cola than is really good for anyone.
3. I own all the versions of Jack Kirby's Fourth World saga.
4. I don't text.
5. I admire my mom and dad more each day I live.
6. I cannot finish a Stephen King novel.
7. I own enough books right now to probably keep me reading the rest of my life.

5. Nominate 7 other Kreativ Bloggers.

The Groovy Age of Horror - A really smart blog about horror movies and much much more.
Hero Goggles - A blogger who is firm in his convictions about what makes good comics.
Chain Letters For Disturbed Children - A blog dedicated to some of the best fanzines.
DC Comics 40 Years Ago - A great way to revisit vintage comics, each one a golden memory.
Charlton Vs. Mighty MLJ - One of the strangest and strangely entertaining blogs.
Shades of Gray - Dedicated to a great artist, one who gets too little attention.
Atomic Pulp & Other Meltdowns - The blog that got me to try this whole deal out. Thanks Chris.

6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.

See above.

7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs to let them know they have been nominated.

I will make it so.

This is a lot of fun, and great way to spread the word about some neat blogs.

I want to take a moment to thank everyone who follows and/or takes a few minutes to read my ramblings. This blog has proven to be a real refuge this past year, with some real economic stresses having developed, and I hope to keep it rolling for the foreseeable future. I'll have a bit more to say when the official anniversary rolls around in a few days. Some special things are planned.

Until then, as always...

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Free Comic Book Day!

Free Comic Book Day?

I didn't know they were in captivity!

(Hah! I crack myself up.)

It's that time of year again when the kiddies invade the comic book shops across America to get their annual doses of free comics literature.

I love this idea, it really gives comics a high profile for one day a year. I know that retailers have various opinions and I see some of those criticisms, but driving potential business into the stores cannot be all bad.


I've waited this week to pick up my stuff so I can partake of some of the festivities. There are two shops in my immediate area and both do Free Comic Book Day pretty well. There's not much in the way of freebies, I'm looking for, maybe the John Stanley reprint, and The Library of American Comics.


I miss the Gemstone Disney freebie; those have been the highlights for me, and to the credit of Free Comic Book Day really motivated me to follow Gemstone's lush Disney packages more closely. So I can say flatly that FCBD changed my buying habits, and generated more business for the stores.


For my money, I hope to catch a few discounts and maybe some Charlton back issues. But to honest, the recession has forced my local stores to be pretty aggressive with their pricing for most of the year, so I don't expect big changes. The bargains have been there right along this past year, and I only wish I had more disposable income to gather up my share.


But it should be fun, or at least interesting. I hope you have a good FCBD yourself!

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