Author: Glenn Hauman

Roger Avary arrested for manslaughter and DUI

  • News
  • January 14, 2008

This just in from AP:

Oscar-winning screenwriter Roger Avary has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and driving under the influence after a Ventura County car crash that killed a man and injured Avary’s wife, authorities said.

Avary, 42, was the driver in the single-car collision shortly after midnight Sunday in Ojai, said Capt. Ross Bonfiglio of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.

Killed in the accident was Andreas Zini, 34, a resident of Italy who was apparently visiting the couple. Firefighters cut Zini from the car with Jaws of Life, and he died several hours later at Ventura County Medical Center.

Avary’s wife Gretchen, 40, was ejected from the car and found in the road by deputies, Bonfiglio said. She was hospitalized in stable condition.

Avary was booked but later released on $50,000 bail, Bonfiglio said. He did not know whether Avary has hired an attorney.

Avary won an Academy Award along with Quentin Tarantino for writing "Pulp Fiction," and was also a co-writer of the recent epic "Beowulf." He and his wife live in Ojai, a popular artists’ colony and tourist destination 14 miles north of Ventura.

We’ll post more as we hear about it.

UPDATE: Neil Gaiman writes:

I just read the news about Roger Avary, and am mostly posting this because people have already started writing to let me know about it, and to stop that turning into a flood. (I still can’t access Blogger except via a sort of email work-around right now.)

 

According to the news reports (and I have no other information), Roger crashed his car yesterday. His wife Gretchen was thrown out of the car and is in hospital with serious injuries, and the passenger, an Italian friend of Roger’s called Andreas Zini, was killed. Roger has been arrested for suspicion of manslaughter and DUI, and released on bail.

 

And I’m worried about all of them. Worried about Gretchen and their kids, worried about the family of their poor friend, and worried about Roger (who, it’s probably worth mentioning, I’ve known well for over a decade, and who barely drinks).

R.I.P., Vampira, 1921-2008

  • News
  • January 14, 2008

Boing Boing points us to the passing of Maila Nurmi, famous for her portrayal of the original horror movie hostess Vampira, on this past Thursday. Miss Nurmi was 86.

We raise a glass of O+ in her memory.

The Dark Primary Knight

  • Uncategorized
  • January 10, 2008

How do you get comic book fans interested in the political process? By framing it in terms they understand… using Batman villians.

(Not responsible for any votes cast as a result of watching this video. I believe in Harvey Dent.)

Jon Sable Freelance, stop-animated

  • News
  • January 9, 2008

As the publishers of Jon Sable Freelance, and as your one stop shop for all sorts of pop-culturey goodness — well, we’re the only ones who would even think of showing this to you.

So until the next Friday installment, this may tide you over. Or not. Or — well, it’s a bit bizarre. Actually, it’s a lot bizarre. But somebody was going to link to it, and it might as well be us.

Actually, if Grell is ever late with pages, I’m hiring the woman who did this instead. You’ve been warned, Mike.

Marv Wolfman wins National Jewish Book Award

  • News
  • January 9, 2008

This just in from Marv Wolfman:

I don’t know too many details or the specific category as I just got the phone call but my book, Homeland: The Illustrated History of the State of Israel has just won the National Jewish Book Award. This is supposed to be the most prestigious of all the Jewish organizations.  Once I learn more I’ll put it up on my website, but as I just got the call I thought I’d share it.

Homeland has previously won the Moonbeam Children’s Book Award for  non-fiction, the USAbooknews.com adult award for history/politics and  last week received a Notable Book for teenagers by the Sydney Taylor  Book Award for the Association of Jewish Libraries. That means the comic-based book, actually inspired by my old History of the DC  Universe book, has won non-comics acclaim for kids, teens and adults. As I say I don’t yet know the category for the National Jewish Book award but in that world this is the big one.

Homeland is drawn by Mario Ruiz and published by Nachshon Press.

Mazel tov, bubby.

Happy 35th birthday, Schoolhouse Rock!

  • News
  • January 6, 2008

my-hero-zero-2074741On a Saturday in 1973 at about 8:56 in the morning, right after Super Friends on ABC, kids were introduced to a new hero, Zero.

This was the first appearance of Multiplication Rock, brought to you by Nabisco ("You’ll find quality in our corner"). It was the beginning of Schoolhouse Rock, which taught millions of kids across the country multiplication, grammar, history, science, and finances.

So let’s all take a few minutes and watch the video for the first song written for the project, and give thanks for all those lessons learned– it’s okay to sing along, you know how it goes:

I Am Legend… 2?

  • News
  • January 4, 2008

Oh good grief. According to ShockTilYouDrop.com:

An inside source, who wishes to remain anonymous, tells ShockTillYouDrop.com author Richard Matheson has signed off on sequel rights for the smash hit I Am Legend. Matheson wrote the original 1954 novel upon which Francis Lawrence’s film is based.

Just what we need– I Am Legend Of Curly’s Gold.

Hat tip: Lisa Sullivan.

The GOP Primary Field as Buffy the Vampire Slayer villians

  • News
  • January 3, 2008

On the day of the Iowa caucuses, we bring you this post from Neil Sinhababu: The GOP Primary Field as Buffy Villains.

Note Rudy Guiliani as Angelus:

A genuine threat to destroy the world, with a string of broken hearts behind him. 

We’d add: Seems to only shine when the end of the world is nigh. Spends most of his time trying to disavow past actions. Intimately connected with evil law firm which may eventually bring him down.

Happy 40th birthday, tribbles!

  • News
  • December 29, 2007

On this day in 1967 — well, actually, on Stardate 4523.3, but you get the idea — Cyrano Jones sold Lt. Uhuru an adorable little fur ball of the species polygeminus grex that quickly began to multiply like a rabbit on steroids. The creatures found their way into every nook and cranny of Deep Space Station K-7 and the visiting Enterprise, endangering the crew and their mission in the premiere of "The Trouble With Tribbles."

Of course, the concept was revisited in 1996’s Deep Space Nine episode, "Trials and Tribble-lations". Here’s a brief comparison between the two episodes:

And remember, when you’re up to your ass in tribbles, your initial assignment was to poison the grain.

A Tribble is expected to have a cameo in the upcoming Star Trek prequel movie.

Happy 84th birthday, television!

  • News
  • December 29, 2007

Geez, this is the week for medium birthdays, isn’t it?

On this day in 1923, Russian scientist Vladimir Zworykin, working for Westinghouse, filed the patent on his "television system," laying the groundwork for the one of the most powerful cultural forces of the late 20th-century.

Didn’t you always suspect television was a Russian plot?

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