On this day in 1895, the Lumiere Brothers opened the world’s first movie theater at Paris. Their opening night feature is a collection of 46-second shorts, including the riveting verite masterpiece ‘Workers Leaving the Lumiere Factory.’
Gene Shalit raves, calling it one of the best films of the year.
Are you tired of the Christmas spirit? Clifford Meth and Rufus Dayglo’s Snaked is guaranteed to wash all that away.
In one of the more audacious acts of counter-programming in comics, IDW is releasing Snaked today, in the skip-ship days between December holidays. And Snaked is about as far from Christmas treacle as you can get.
If you’re already a Meth addict, you probably suspected no less. Clifford Meth is a man who does benefits for Bill Loebs and Dave Cockrum– but as a storyteller, he would take Harlan Ellison calling him bugfuck and use it as a cover pullquote. Clifford’s stories have often been dark and mean and nasty and this is no exception. His story hints at, in no particular order, violence, politics, mayhem, cannibalism, September 11, the Bush Administration, the Clinton legacy, and prison rape. Rufus Dayglo’s art reminds one of collages compiled from lunatics’ sketches with crayons drawn on newspaper clippings of murder and corruption trials.
Like I said, the feel-good story of the season.
I wouldn’t recommend this book if you’re trying to smile after a few days with the in-laws*– Snaked is a brutal piece of work. But if you’re looking to dispense with plastered on holiday smiles, this book is the comics equivalent of listening to speed metal to get Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer out of your head. And that’s a good thing.
* Unless you’re hoping your in-laws meets the sort of fate that happens to some of the characters. And if so, I don’t want to know about it.
A new generation is about to meet the famous Simon Templar. James Purefoy, best known for playing Mark Antony in Rome and getting let go from palying V in V For Vendetta, is set to play Simon Templar in the forthcoming TV series of The Saint.
No fewer than 10 actors have portrayed the character, including the legendary George Sanders and former Maverick / future James Bond Roger Moore. Another nine actors played him on radio, including Vincent Price.
William J. Macdonald (Witchblade, Rome) is prepping a two-hour pilot for a European shoot. Shooting in Berlin and Australia begins in April.
Burl Barer, Edgar Award winning author of The Saint: A Complete History, is also on board. Barer, authorized by the Estate of Leslie Charteris to write new Saint novels and short stories, will novelize the movie length pilot and future episodes for a new generation of Saint fans.
Happy birthday to Stan the Man!
Sure, you know about his comics. You even know about his movies. But you probably don’t know the work he does with the less fortunate. Here’s a photo of him from San Diego this year, where he’s giving a big smile and a hug to a double amputee in lieu of shaking hands–
Oh, wait. That’s ComicMix’s Brian Alvey. I just took a lousy photo.
Anyway, here’s to you, Stan! May you continue to strike fear into the hearts of evil doers everywhere!
Excelsior from all of us true believers!
If you have thoughts or suggestions about what you’d like to see on ComicMix starting in 2008, leave them here. You may think of something very cool that we haven’t thought of yet, because, you know, we’ve been kind of busy.
We can’t promise that we’ll use any of your suggestions (I can’t even promise I’ll use my own suggestions), but we are interested in knowing what you guys would like to see more or, or less of, or added. Daily strips? Back issues? Baseless rumors? Previews? Reviews? Doctor Who news? Timing? Sliming? An end to rhyming?
Please let us know. We think of this as not just our site, but your site too– which means if something isn’t right, it’s your fault for not telling us.
On this day in 1932, the 5,933-seat Radio City Music Hall, a joint effort by John D Rockelfeller, Samuel "Roxy" Rothafel and the Radio Corporation of America, opened in New York City. Rothefal’s dance troupe the Roxyettes change their name to the Rockettes and star in the premiere extravaganza.
It’s winter time, and so I should close these windows, it’s chilly out there:
John Scalzi reprints Chris Roberson‘s thesis on why Mark Gruenwald is the true father of modern superheroes comics.
Steven Bove’s Rock Opera histories.
We’ve been saying that comic books will destroy you— and now we have separate confirmation from Valerie D’Orazio.
Finally, we close out the holiday season with The Adventures of Batman and Robin… and Jesus… at the San Diego Comic Con.
Man, the Hulk really has to watch out for those niacin overdoses.
On the other hand, it would explain why he’s so irritable…
On this day in 1949, Dick Tracy married his sweetie of 18 years, Tess Trueheart. Here’s to the lovebirds.
Read more Simone and Ajax Christmas adventures:
2000
2003
2005
2007
and A Christmas Calamity!
Oh, and don’t forget the ongoing Adventures of Simone and Ajax all here on ComicMix.
(And no, we’re not running a GrimJack installment today– for some reason, we just didn’t think that the Grinner looks good in a Santa suit. But we do have a Munden’s Bar story with the birthday boy, if you’d like.)
Columns / Glenn Hauman / News
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