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Conan The Barbarian (1982) Movie Review

  • News
  • November 26, 2011
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1982
Universal Pictures
Directed by John Milius
Produced by Buzz Feitshans and Raffaella De Laurentiis
Written by John Milius and Oliver Stone
Based on the character/stories created and written by Robert E. Howard
I knew that director John Milius and his screenplay co-writer Oliver Stone got the character of Conan five minutes into the movie.  During the opening credits we see Conan’s father (William Smith) forging a mighty sword.  He then takes the young Conan (Jorge Sanz) to the top of a mountain.  He explains how The Riddle of Steel was stolen from Crom, the god of Cimmeria and that Conan must learn The Riddle of Steel for himself because as his dad succinctly sums up: “For no one in the world can you trust.  Not men, not women, not beasts.  But this-“ and he holds up the gleaming sword.  “-this you can trust.”
It’s not long after this that Conan’s parents, along with all the other adults in his village are slaughtered by the servants of Thulsa Doom (James Earl Jones) a powerful sorcerer who is also the leader of a cult that worships the snake god Set.  Conan, along with other children are taken as slaves and chained to The Wheel of Pain, a gigantic mill which they push night and day, through weather fair and foul.  It’s torturous work but it has its benefits.  The young Conan grows up into Arnold Schwarzenegger as pushing that damn thing has built up muscles of Herculean proportions.  He’s bought by The Hyborian Age’s version of a fight promoter and wins fame as a gladiator.  He’s freed by his master and after meeting up with the master thief and archer Subotai (Gerry Lopez) takes up a career as a thief himself.
It’s during their attempt to infiltrate The Tower of The Serpent and steal The Eye of The Serpent that Conan meets swordswoman and thief Valeria (Sandahl Bergman) who will become the great love of his life.  It’s their successful and daring theft that brings them to the attention of King Osric (Max von Sydow) who hires the trio to rescue his daughter from The Cult of Set.  While Valeria and Subotai see this as a chance for a really big payday, Conan has his sights on taking the head of Thulsa Doom.
Now, you can say whatever you want about CONAN THE BARBARIAN but it won’t faze me because if nothing else, John Milius and Oliver Stone respected Robert E. Howard’s enough that they obviously not only read his stories but incorporated elements of some of those stories into the movie including what is probably the most famous scene in any Conan story; his crucifixion and his killing of a vulture pecking at his flesh with nothing but his bare teeth. 
This movie, along with “The Terminator” launched Arnold Schwarzenegger’s career and it’s easy to see why.  Schwarzenegger at that time looked like he was designed by Frank Frazetta and he inhabits the role as well as Sean Connery did with James Bond or Michael Keaton did with Batman.  For those who claim that Schwarzenegger can’t act, I point out a terrific scene where Conan, Valeria and Subotai plan their assault on Doom’s stronghold.  While Bergman and Lopez have all the dialog, Schwarzenegger says far more than they do in the way he’s sharpening his sword.  And even though Schwarzenegger gets a lot of mocking for his dialog and accent in this movie, I like it.  I mean, the guy does sound like a barbarian from pre-history.   In fact, I like it that 90% of the characters have accents in this movie as they do sound as if they come from another age rather than modern day Californians playing dress up.
The supporting cast is outstanding.  James Earl Jones infuses Thulsa Doom with enormous presence and a true sense of not being entirely human.  His henchmen, played by Sven-Ole Thorson and Ben Davison are suitably impressive.   Bergman and Lopez back up Schwarzenegger well and create their own characters in some really wonderful intimate moments such as the one where Subotai tells the wizard Akiro (Mako) that since Conan, as a Cimmerian will not cry to show grief, Subotai must do it for him.  Mako contributes comedy relief without being buffoonish or degrading his own character.  But that’s to be expected because Mako is epic in everything he does.
And speaking of epic, the musical score by Basil Poledouris has become respected as one of the finest musical scores ever and rightly so.  A large part of the enjoyment of watching CONAN THE BARBARIAN comes from the sheer power of the score.  Poledouris also has done the scores for “Quigley Down Under” and “Lonesome Dove” that are easily as epic as the one for this movie.
So should you see CONAN THE BARBARIAN? No doubt you already have.  It’s one of those movies that everybody and their mother has seen, it seems.  Even chicks who normally shun this type of movie like it was the Ebola virus have seen CONAN THE BARBARIAN.  It’s violent, it’s raw, it’s sexy, and it’s fun.   There’s an excellent reason why CONAN THE BARBARIAN is rightly regarded as a classic.  It truly is inspired by the spirit of Robert E. Howard in a way that the recent remake never even comes close to.  If you’ve seen it, what the hell…watch it again.  And if you haven’t, I envy you discovering it for the first time.  Enjoy.
129 minutes
Rated R

Review: ‘The Muppets’

  • News
  • November 26, 2011

muppets_group_master_v5flat_r-300x229-4252206There has been a tremendous amount of talk in our world about reboots, successful or not, and I just got back from experiencing the year’s single best relaunch of a tired property. Deb, Kate, her guy Mike, and I saw The Muppets and pretty much smiled all the way through, guffawing with pleasantly regularity and wiping away a tear every now and then.

Ladies and gentlemen, please pay attention, because this is how it’s done.

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MARC ALAN FISHMAN: Don’t Quit Your Day Job

  • Uncategorized
  • November 26, 2011

Hello all! Welcome back to my little corner of the Internet. A place I’d like to think you’ve come to like. See what I’ve been doing with the place? I got the wet bar over there in the corner, next to the classic 1996 arcade machine Alien Vs. Predator. I put in those stadium style leather recliners in front of the 60” HD with Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii, in case you want to go faux-bowling. What’s that you said? You want to enjoy some tunage? Let me turn up the 5.1 surround sound, and blast a little Guster. We’ll take it all the way back to Goldfly. Mmmm, yeah, that’s the stuff.

OK, now that you’re all comfy and cozy, let’s chat a little, shall we? I want to address something that’s been nagging me now for a few months. It seems a few people in the industry working today, are pulling double duty. It’s grinding my gears just a bit. Ironic, I know, because I myself am both an artist and a writer. For me to spend the next few paragraphs bitching and moaning seems trite, doesn’t it? Well, that’s the funny thing kiddos. After you made yourselves comfortable, I went and sealed the room. The TV is unplugged, and the wet bar is going back into the closet. You’re stuck here with me, and you’re going to let me get this off my chest. Bwa ha ha ha ha ha ha. Ahem.

Let me start first with Tony Daniels. Most people know him as the consummate artist of Grant Morrison’s run on Batman a few years back. Daniels’ graceful and detailed figures come from that classic Image background, but over the years he’s added a moody elegance to his work. Such that when he made way to DC, he fit in instantaneously. I’d concur most critics enjoyed his work on the Batman R.I.P. series, and as such, his star was set to shine very bright. Under Morrison’s pen, he was subdued. His pages held back where they needed too… and when they were let loose, the dramatic moments elevated the book to something special. And with that success, he was given the reigns to the post-R.I.P. run, Battle for the Cowl. And more than just the reigns to the art, mind you. He took up both the Writer and Artist chairs for this one. It was, in a few words, a complete mess. Issue after issue Daniels packed his pages with beautifully overdrawn characters in an underdeveloped story. Knowing nothing of the back-room politics of DC, left me wondering how the hand of the editorial staff planted firmly up Tony’s rear felt. Perhaps they got a deal on his page rates? Why spend $150 a page on pencils, and $100 on script, when you can pay one guy $200? I don’t have any clue if that’s close, but, man is it ever a hunch.

And here we stand, years later after everyone thoroughly agreed “Battle” was a train wreck… with Daniels once again doing double duty on “Detective Comics.” What’s the definition of insanity again? Detective Comics has been a lesson in “Too-Much-Titude” if there ever was such a thing. Pages are drenched in details. Figures contort in amazingly moving, completely impossible ways. Gadgets fling and zzzzooom from Batman’s utility belt. And the villains are soaked in macabre costumes, and grimaces. But the story? Incoherent. violent, and dumb. Without a dedicated writer to constrain him, Daniels is producing little more than a highlight reel. The rub is though, he’s already in the big leagues. All this posturing will get him what? Another Batman book?

And Tony’s not alone. Long before he was mounting the double duty cannon, there was – and still is – the God-Damned-Frank Miller. When Frank’s not dropping a giant turd on the Occupy Wall Streeters, he’s peddling his book Batman Super Guy Vs. Mohammad. Holy Terror has been critically shat on… hard. What hurt here of course is the fact that Frank’s art is a personal love of mine. His mastery of simplicity mixed with an amazingly deft hand in page layout and composition is such that I’ve never not loved his art. Sin City? A masterpiece in noir. It’s when Frank turns that majestic hand to the rusty old typewriter in his dank basement that I shudder. It seems that he’s awash in nothing but profanity– in substance, and style. Every story he seems to write is the same. Shallow, angry, and drenched in “noir speak.” Sin City was good, seriously. But to rehash it, in theme, in tone, and in production every time thereafter? It rubs the sheen right off the apple.

We get it, Frank. You like crime. Prostitutes. Guns. Profanity. You hate brown skinned people. Hippies. Comic book fans. Without a guide through the muck, Miller’s overselling his anger. Want to do a book about Batman fighting terrorists? Give it to Brubaker, and I’d have no doubt there’s be gold on them there pages. In Frank’s complete control, we get books in near self-parody.

I could list a few other wrartists here, but I think my point is becoming pretty clear. The beauty of comics comes with the collaboration. When all you have to deal with is just the words, or just the art, it forces you to focus on the nuance of the final product. Forced with the task of doing both? It becomes a very rough mountain to climb. The best books in my collection – the ones I hand out willingly to those uninitiated with the medium, – are always ones where the team creates a work where the ends are much better than the means. On its own, Alan Moore’s script for The Watchmen is breathtaking (if a bit maddening). Dave Gibbons’ artwork for the series turned heads with its skillful pacing and solid figure work. Put together? The book is as perfect a thing as I could ever hope to produce with some Unshaven Lad someday. Left to their own devices though, a one man show skates thin ice trying to maintain both substantially hard roles.

Let’s bring this around, back to the irony at hand, before we end this li’l tirade. For those out there who’ve read an Unshaven Comic, there’s little doubt that this article would seem like the pot bitching at the kettle for being black. I myself have donned the solo credit in our last issue (well, for half the issue…). Am I so bold as to suggest I somehow surpassed Tony Daniels or Frank Miller? Hell no. I happily admit that I think my art stinks. I don’t have the skill or talent to compose a page the way those men do.

And hell, I’m a nobody. If I can’t take a little leap of faith in myself and try to tackle both roles in a book, what am I doing trying to break into the industry? Where Tony and Frank have already made it, and proven they have the skills to pay the bills… I’m still slinging logos and catalogs to feed my family. Until DC comes calling, offering me a role in the big leagues, I’m swinging for the fences, showing the scouts that I can pitch and bat if I have to. Just don’t ask me to do both at the same time.

OK, the door’s unlocked. The wet bar is back online. Who needs their drink freshened up? I’m sorry to have kept you so long. Don’t think of this as a rant though. Consider it an open forum. Do you think playing double duty leads to a lack of quality on one side of the page or the other? Speak, and be heard, my citizens of Fishtopia!

SUNDAY: John Ostrander

Meet the Avengers

  • News
  • November 25, 2011

In case you missed it, here are the character specific one-sheets to tease next spring’s Avengers movie. And sandwiched in-between are the official details.

Genre:                         Action-adventure
Rating:                         TBD
U.S. Release date:       May 4, 2012

Running time:

Cast:                            Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgård and Samuel L. Jackson

Director:                       Joss Whedon

Producer:                     Kevin Feige

Executive Producers:   Alan Fine, Stan Lee, Jon Favreau, Patricia Whitcher, Louis D’Esposito

Screenplay by:                        Joss Whedon

Marvel Studios presents Marvel’s The Avengers—the Super Hero team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins.

Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Samuel L. Jackson, and directed by Joss Whedon, Marvel’s The Avengers is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series The Avengers, first published in 1963 and a comics institution ever since. Prepare yourself for an exciting eventmovie, packed with action and spectacular special effects, when Marvel’s The Avengers assemble in summer 2012.

In Marvel’s The Avengers, superheroes team up to pull the world back from the brink of disaster when an unexpected enemy threatens global security.

New Babel Books Opens New eStore

  • Uncategorized
  • November 25, 2011

Press Release:

New Babel opens their eStore at http://www.newbabelbooks.com/estore.

Awesome books at awesome prices!
All without battling the mall mobs!

New Babel welcomes Black Friday with an eStore! Debuting on the virtual shelves are Sara M. Harvey’s romantic tale, Seven Times a Woman, in the new release line-up alongside Ian T. Healy’s superhero novel, Just Cause. For more superhero pathos, check out Frank Fradella’s new release of Swan Song, the first full-length novel in the award-winning iHero Universe.

The highly-anticipated zombie book, The Apocalypse of Enoch by Shane Moore will also be available for pre-order at a price so low you’ll think the zombies ate our brains.

We’ll also have Frank Fradella’s The Power Within and Sean Taylor’s Show Me a Hero, two iHero omnibuses, and Elizabeth Donald’s short story collection, Setting Suns.

And here’s the best part — from now through Monday, November 28, 2011 plug in the code “NBB-Black” at checkout and they’ll get 25% off everything in the store (except shipping). This sale also includes the already low-priced ebooks.

The coupon expires on Monday, so poke your audience with something hot and sharp and get them moving!

Visit the New Babel eStore at http://www.newbabelbooks.com/estore.

FORTIER TAKES ON THE MERKABAH RIDER A SECOND TIME!

  • News
  • November 25, 2011

ALL PULP REVIEWS by Ron Fortier
MERKABAH RIDER
The Mensch With No Name
By Edward M. Erdelac
Damanation Books, LLC
218 pages
Perhaps the most popular sub-genre in the resurgence of new pulp fiction is that of the weird western. It seems everywhere one turns these days; another publisher is coming out with another anthology which combines the cowboy classic setting with all manner of bizarre and horrible trappings.  None is more effective and original than Edward M. Erdelac’s Merkabh Rider series.  In his first book, “Tales of a High Plains Drifter” we were introduced to the Rider, last of an order of Jewish mystics searching a demon infested west on the trail of his teacher, who betrayed and massacred the order known as the Sons of Essenes.  In this second volume, the Rider’s travails continue through four new adventures.
In “The Infernal Napoleon”, the Rider finds himself in an out of the way watering hole used by freight haulers.  Here, in this desolate way station he’s set upon by a vengeance seeking demonic dwarf who controls a satanic canon and is willing to destroy dozens of innocent lives to achieve his ends.  But in all things, there is a balance and the aid of a young Samson-like strongman may tilt the odds in the Rider’s favor.  The action is fast and brutal and sets the tone for the entire book.
Next is “The Damned Dingus.” During a train robbery by a group of dim witted varmints, the Rider’s unique Volcanic pistol is stolen. With the aid of the famous gunfighter, Doc Holiday, and an experienced deputy marshal, the Rider travels to an abandoned mine in the high country and encounters the savage menace of an invisible monster capable of ripping men and horses to pieces.  What is it the creature is protecting and what is its connection to his old teacher’s twisted plans?
Leaving Arizona, the Rider learns he has been labeled a wanted outlaw with a bounty on his head.  Fleeing into New Mexico, he encounters a band of Apaches battling an age old horror that dwells beneath the earth.  Here Erdelac takes a page from H. P. Lovecrafts’ canon in using the evil Old Ones from beyond the stars as the threat and only the Rider and his arcane skills can free the territory of the vile and corrupted She-Demon in the episode called appropriately, “The Outlaw Gods.” Before it is finished, the Rider will have led an army of Spanish ghosts in an epic battle across the astral plane.
Finally, still assailed by Queen Lilith’s invisible sprites that are draining away his life essence, the Rider is found by Kabede; a Merkabah Rider from a secret Ethiopian sect of the Sons of Essenes.  Kabede convinces the Rider that the answers to Adon’s diabolical plan, the meaning behind the so called Hour of Incursion, can only be answered by the Prince of Hell, Satan and they must travel to Hell in astral form.  Erdelac’s depiction of the various levels of Gehena are as evocative as Milton’s own “Paradise Lost” and deftly combine Judeo/Christian tradition with other prehistoric myths.  In the end, he weaves a complicated but amazing tapestry of mankind’s ongoing quest to explain the meaning of creation and the eternal conflict between faith and hopelessness.  By the end of this final chapter, the Rider and his new companion have set into motion actions which will either lead to their defeat at the hands of Adon and his minions, or a miraculous victory against the forces of alien damnation.  Calling this finale a cliffhanger is a major understatement.
“MERKABAH RIDER – The Mensch With No Name” is a terrific continuation of an exciting saga this reviewer imagines will culminate in a third and final volume.  This is easily some of the finest western/horror/action writing on the market today and comes highly recommended.  The Merkabah Rider is truly a pulp hero like no other.

The Point Radio: LOONEY TUNES Looking Better Than Ever

Tis’ the season for getting cool stuff, and there is little cooler than the new LOONEY TUNES CLASSIC Collection on Blu Ray DVD. We talk to the men who put the whole thing together, plus more with NIKITA‘s Maggie Q on how she keeps order on the seat of the hit CW show.

 

The Point Radio is on the air right now – 24 hours a day of pop culture fun for FREE. GO HERE and LISTEN FREE on any computer or mobile device– and please check us out on Facebook right here & toss us a “like” or follow us on Twitter @ThePointRadio.

NEW DOC AUDIO BOOK, MORE PULP BOOK GOODNESS, HARRY LIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS! ALL AT RADIO ARCHIVES!

  • News
  • November 25, 2011
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November 25, 2011

The Treasure Chest overflows at Christmastime! It’s busting at the seams with DVDs! Radio Archives has put all of our DVDs in the chest and priced at a 50% discount! Just in time for the Holidays!
 
Dig deep into our Treasure Chest Today! Many of these great DVDs will sell out quickly at this tremendous discount! When they’re gone, they’re gone! Thrill to vintage movies starring classic Hollywood stars! Enjoy classic Television Programs! Give the gift of memories of yesteryear this Holiday Season!
 
 
We have two very special items in the Treasure Chest waiting for you!
 
‘A Classic Christmas’ with Ed Sullivan on DVD for only 99 cents and the Famous Guest Stars two hour CD set for only Ten Cents. There’s enough of these two products for everyone to enjoy them this Holiday Season.
 
Merry Christmas from Radio Archives!
 
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NEW Radio Set: The Lives of Harry Lime, Volume 4
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Zither music. A gun shot. And a haunting baritone voice. “That was the shot that killed Harry Lime. He died in a sewer beneath Vienna, as those of you know who saw the movie “The Third Man”. Yes, that was the end of Harry Lime – but it was not the beginning. Harry Lime had many lives – and I can recount all of them. How do I know? Very simple: because my name is Harry Lime.” This opening, considered one of the classic introductions of old time radio, along with the exquisite talent of Orson Welles makes The Lives of Harry Lime one of the richest, most intriguing programs ever produced in Radio’s heyday.
 
Orson Welles played Harry Lime in the 1949 film The Third Man and in The Lives of Harry Lime. Welles had a unique and distinctive talent for radio; he had learned a great deal about dramatic production during his time as “The Shadow” in the 1930s and while creating and starring in “The Mercury Theatre on the Air” and “The Campbell Playhouse” and he brought many of radio’s production techniques to his films.
 
The character of Harry Lime is a somewhat difficult one to describe. Lime is a rogue, a scoundrel, and an opportunist – an amoral character whose main interest in life is making money and living well, no matter what underhanded activity is required. A criminal? Yes. A thief? Most certainly. And, of course, a man who is not to be trusted under any circumstances. But, for all of this, Harry Lime is a fascinating character that listeners have always found undeniably attractive – an anti-hero whose life, in some ways, bears a close resemblance to that of Welles himself, who was not above a bit of chicanery or performing a disappearing act to avoid responsibility. Harry is, above all, a survivor – and, to his credit, he has a habit of taking advantage of those who would readily be taking advantage of him if they had the chance.
 
In this final volume from Radio Archives, all of the nuances in the programs can be heard in sparkling high fidelity sound – an important consideration for a program chock full of plot details, overlapping conversations, and multi-layered sound patterns. The Lives of Harry Lime, Volume 4 is the perfect closing chapter for a classic program that deserves exactly what it gave listeners-the best of everything. The five hour collection is $14.98 for the Audio CD version and $9.98 for the Digital Download version!
 
by Tommy Hancock
 

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Christmas is a time of many things. A time of remembering. A joyous celebration for children. And most definitely a time of tradition. Radio Archives brings you a timeless tale that is fondly remembered, speaks to children of all ages, and is a part of Christmas tradition in families all over the world. Looking for a Christmas adventure to enjoy with your family? Then look no further than Radio Archives’ The Complete Cinnamon Bear.
 
A 26 episode adventure that originally played six nights a week between Thanksgiving and Christmas, The Cinnamon Bear relates the adventures of Judy and Jimmy, The Barton Twins, in Maybeland, a world they discover while hunting for decorations in their attic. On a hunt for the silver star to top their tree, the twins meet Paddy O’Cinnamon, the ‘Cinnamon Bear’. With shoe-button eyes and a growl that would make any bear envious, Paddy guides Judy and Jimmy through the fantastical realm of Maybeland in pursuit of their silver star. Along the way they confront the Crazy Quilt Dragon who has stolen the star as well as characters like Fe Fo The Giant, Captain Tin Top, Mr. Presto, and of course Santa Claus himself.
 
The Cinnamon Bear appeals to listeners of all ages. For some it will spark nostalgia of a simpler time, for others it carries hints of tales and stories they read as children, and for all, The Cinnamon Bear is an excellent example of what can be done with a good story in an audio format. Some of the best voices of the period participated in this program and that, combined with the wonderful musical score and the sparkling audio quality to which its been restored makes The Cinnamon Bear a must have. It’s available now for $20.98 on Audio CDs and $13.98 as a digital download.
 

 
And if you’re already a Cinnamon Bear fan and looking for great serials to add to your Christmastime collection, then Radio Archives has two other fantastic shows to offer! Jump Jump and the Ice Queen follows the adventures of an orphan named Tim determined to find Santa and make sure that he visits the orphanage. Lost in the woods, Tim encounters a three inch tall elf named Jump Jump, very appropriate indeed. The two set out on a quest to find Santa and save Christmas! Also available is Jonathan Thomas and His Christmas on the Moon. Elves on a moonbeam enter six year old Jonathan’s room, causing his teddy bear Guz to give chase. Jonathan follows right up the moonbeam after them and straight into a mission to save Santa Claus, held captive in the land of Squeebobble. Teaming up with the Man in the Moon and others, Jonathan races through one wild land after another trying to rescue Santa and save Christmas! Each collection is $17.98 on Audio CDs and $11.98 as a digital download.
 
Christmas is also of course a time of giving! Here’s a handful of Audio gems that would make great presents for your favorite audio fan!
 

Thrill to ten fantastic hours of the hard boiled adventures of ‘America’s fabulous freelance insurance investigator,” in Yours Truly Johnny Dollar, Volume 1 for $29.98 on Audio CDs and $19.98 for digital download!
 
Enjoy quality family entertainment and a slice of small town life with Dr. Christian only $17.98 on Audio CDs and $11.98 for digital download!
 
Cheer for a classic Comic strip character as he fights his way to success in and out of the boxing ring! Pick up Joe Palooka on CD for $14.98 or as a digital download for $9.98!
 
Ride into Yesteryear with one of the West’s best known heroes-It’s O’Henry’s frontier Robin Hood in The Cisco Kid, Volume 1! On CD for $29.98 and Digital download for $19.98!
 
Blast off this Holiday Season with classic Sci Fi Camp! Listen to great galactic adventures on The Planet Man, Volume 1, on CD for $29.98 and Digital download for $19.98!
 
Pack all these great Audio classics and more onto your sleigh this Christmas from Radio Archives!
 
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The Jade Ogre Is Doc Savage’s Epic Adventure
 
Will Murray’s monumental Doc Savage adventure The Jade Ogre is now available in a 12-hour audiobook from RadioArchives.com.
 
Based on an outline by Lester Dent, The Jade Ogre tells the story of one of Doc Savage’s most exciting and exotic adventures. Accompanied by his five aides, his cousin Pat Savage, and a cast of unique characters, Doc races to unlock the secret of the Jade Ogre, a fantastic Oriental villain who unleashes death in the form of disembodied flying arms, capable of disintegrating its victims in a flash of fire. But the lethal flying arms are merely the cover for a more deadly menace – the mysterious Jade Fever, which strikes down its victims with a deadly virus that turns its victims green as jade.
 
“In this tale of mistaken identity, Oriental mysticism, and high adventure, Doc faces one of his most formidable and mysterious foes,” says Producer/Director Roger Rittner. “More than 11 hours in length, this tale never flags in excitement, mystery, and thrills.”
 
As Will Murray says in his liner notes, “The Jade Ogre is my greatest pulp epic – a wild quest into the darkest heart of Asia to track a malevolent monster.”
 
Narrated by Michael McConnohie – whose previous Doc Savage audiobook, Python Isle, was an instant hit with listeners – Michael essays every role in the story with unerring vocal impressions that give life to Murray’s distinctive characters.
 
In addition to the 36-chapter story, the 12-CD set includes two bonus audio features: a continuation of Will Murray’s discussion of the creation of Doc Savage, and his memory of creating The Jade Ogre from Lester Dent’s notes, plus how Pat Savage has contributed to the Doc Savage canon.
 
Listen to a sample of The Jade Ogre. The Jade Ogre is available now from RadioArchives.com at $37.98 for the deluxe 12-CD set, or $25.98 for instant digital download.
 
 

Listeners are enthusiastic about Prince of the Red Looters, the first audiobook from RadioArchives.com featuring the pulp hero, The Spider.
 
Bobb Lynes writes:
“Listening to The Spider on audio is as close as you can get to the movie serial version … and you don’t have to use your eyes! Your production is as good as the serials, but with pulp ‘blood n’ guts’ thrown in.”
 
Eric Troup writes:
“The narration is perfect for the over-the-top style of The Spider. Nick Santa Maria sweeps you along in an adrenaline-filled, nonstop wave of action and suspense that simply does not let up until the end of the book. Robin Riker’s performance complements the narrative well.
 
“The sound effects made the production even more immersive, making me feel like I was watching a narrated movie. And the music! It put the final touch on my ‘movie-going’ experience. It sounded for all the world as if the sound were bouncing off the back wall of a theater. By the third chapter, I was popping popcorn and grabbing myself a soda, with my earbuds jammed into my ears all the while.
 
“This story has it all – sword fights, escapes, insurmountable odds, nail-biting suspense, unexpected twists, a superb villain, and so much more. This is an audiobook – as well as a great Spider story – that you simply can’t afford to miss!”
 
Prince of the Red Looters is available in an 6-CD deluxe set at just $19.98, or as a digital download at just $14.98.
 

 
Fans are flocking to RadioArchives.com to tune into to the audio tales of Doc Savage!

The full-cast NPR series The Adventures of Doc Savage continues to garner accolades from Doc fans as well as those just discovering the greatest adventure hero of the 1930s. With a full cast of voice actors, and special scripting by Roger Rittner and Will Murray, The Adventures of Doc Savage is non-stop action in 13 exciting installments.

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In Python Isle, Doc Savage and his iron comrades race to untangle a weird puzzle so deep that the only clues can be found in the Bible! Written by Will Murray and produced and directed by Roger Rittner, Python Isle features dramatic narration by Michael McConnohie, cover art by Joe DeVito, and more!
 
A super-criminal emerges in White Eyes, the second Doc Savage audiobook from RadioArchives.com! From his skyscraper headquarters high above the streets of New York City to the sugarcane fields of Cuba, Doc Savage races to crush gangland’s latest uncrowned king! White Eyes features dramatic narration by Richard Epcar, cover art by Joe DeVito, plus fantastic extras!
 
 
Need a unique gift for the Adventure fan in your life? Looking for that surprise for that special someone who loves tales of Heroes and Villains? Want to put a bow on the best Mystery, Horror, Sci Fi Pulp available? Then you’re in the right place. The Pulp Book Store is your Christmas Connection for fantastic Classic and New Pulp books and other products!
 


Girasol Collectables Inc. is one of the world’s largest reprinters of classic 1920s through 1940s pulp fiction. There are more than 300 different issues available in their Pulp Replica line, plus their quarterly Spider Pulp Doubles trade paperbacks, in addition to several thousand pages of classic material in various hardcover collections available under their imprint. The primary goal is to produce high quality facsimile page reproductions, scanned directly from the original pages, with no editing or reset text. The Pulp Replica series is assembled pulp-style, on off-white paper, offering not only a complete reprint of the full magazine, but a sense of the original format as well. While other reprints often call themselves replicas, the Girasol line is the only one assembled pulp-style, the others are trade paperback format. The wraparound covers and spine are carefully retouched to be as close to ‘new’ as possible. The only thing missing is the flaking paper and the smell! They are also one of the few pulp reprint publishers who adhere rigidly to their self-imposed schedules, providing regular output consistently.
 
Girasol began as an offshoot of the pulp collection of brothers Leigh and Neil Mechem. Pulp collectors since the late 1970s, the Mechems decided to expand into buying and selling original pulps on a wider basis in the late 1990s, incorporating the company in 2003. The name is taken from one of their favorite characters, the Shadow, who wears a ring with a Girasol gem; the stone is a type of fire-opal, which changes hue in different lights, and is an identifying feature of the character. The Replica line began in the late 1990s with occasional offerings, which soon went to a twice-a-month schedule, then to three-a-month, which it continues today. Leigh and Neil are involved in all aspects of producing the Replicas, which involve considerable digital work, as well as hand-assembly of the final product. The original concept, which is still their mandate, is to offer high quality facsimile versions of classic issues that are otherwise unaffordable or unobtainable to many collectors, and to continue the spirit of the classic magazines into current times.
 
One of the great things about the vintage material is the understanding writers and artists had of the nature of the heroic; while there are certainly followers of flawed and anti- heroes, the pulps offer excitement and adventure with inspiring, clear-cut characters who follow their chosen path admirably. Pulp cover art also continues to be impactful and dynamic, in spite of the changes in styles and mediums over the years. Current pop culture devotees are appreciating not only the place the original magazines hold historically, but also their influence on comic books and movies. With their emphasis on short format, fast-paced, exciting reading, the pulps are ideal for readers looking for immediate thrills.
 
Among the Mechem brothers’ personal favorites is the Spider, and they have been particularly excited to tackle bringing this great hero to new audiences through the Pulp Replica line, as well as the Spider Doubles trade paperbacks series. The Replicas offer the originals in chronological order, from #1 on up, with 12 new issues each year. January 2012 will see the start of 1940, with issue #76. The Mechems are looking forward to having the complete run of 118 original issues available in Replica form in a few short years’ time. No other major pulp character has ever been completely reprinted in a facsimile edition. The brothers are also especially pleased to have made available the early years of Weird Tales magazine, which was a major influence on horror and weird fantasy as it is today; the 1923, 1924 and 1925 issues are all but impossible to obtain in original form.
 
Girasol Collectables has been concentrating in recent years mostly on maintaining top quality reprints for fans of not only the original pulp material, but the format and style of the physical magazines themselves. Leigh and Neil hope that the Replicas will not only provide existing collectors and enthusiasts with items for their collections, but will also introduce newcomers to a better understanding of these vintage classics via a convenient but faithful reprint medium.
 
 
Sanctum Press unleashes two new Reprint Volumes of Pulp’s Greatest Heroes into the Pulp Book Store!
 
DOC SAVAGE Volume 53!
The Man of Bronze battles the supernatural in classic pulp thrillers by Lester Dent writing as “Kenneth Robeson.” First, Doc Savage follows his stolen dirigible to a magic island and discovers the lost city of Ost, in an expanded novel with never-before-published text from Lester Dent’s original manuscript. Then, Renny Renwick awakens in the body of a fugitive gangster after encountering a strange impish man. What is the bizarre connection between the One-Eyed Mystic, a stolen military secret and a Nazi plot? This classic pulp reprint features the original color pulp covers by Robert G. Harris and Modest Stein, Paul Orban’s classic interior illustrations and historical commentary by Will Murray, writer of eight Doc Savage novels.
 
THE SHADOW Volume 55!
The Shadow’s true identity takes center stage in two classic pulp novels that inspired the classic 1940 Shadow movie serial. First, explorer Kent Allard is invited to join The Green Hoods, a hooded secret society whose true purpose is an enigma. Then, airplanes carrying wealthy passengers disappear over the Rockies, setting The Shadow on the trail of the criminal mastermind called Silver Skull. PLUS “Prelude to Terror,” a 1939 radio classic. This instant collector’s item showcases both classic pulp covers by George Rozen, the original interior illustrations by Edd Cartier and commentary by popular-culture historians Ed Hulse and Will Murray.
 
Knightraven Studios brings Epic Pulps to the Book Store
 
Radio Archives is proud to welcome Knightraven Studios and Wayne Reinagel to the Pulp Book Store!
 
Pulp Heroes – More Than Mortal
Pulp Heroes – Khan Dynasty
Modern Marvels – Viktoriana
 
ms020-200-5048941
 
artsippo-4657328Review of “The Murder Master” from Doc Savage, Volume 15

By Dr. Art Sippo

ds15-250-3618907

The Red Spider is an authentic lost Doc Savage novel that had not been printed in any magazine. It was rediscovered by Will Murray in the late 1970s among Lester Dent’s papers. The original title was “In Hell, Madonna” which was a quote from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, Scene Five: “I think his soul is in Hell, madonna.”
 
It is 1949, and the world is buzzing with this question: “Do the Russians have the atomic bomb?” Doc Savage is sent on a secret mission to the heart of the Soviet Union to discover the answer. He is flown in by a supersonic aircraft and does a high altitude parachute jump into the heart of Mother Russia. Monk Mayfair and Ham Brooks are already there under deep cover. The plan is to infiltrate the heart of the Kremlin and discover the truth.
 
Doc and his aides must make their way through hostile territory where the secret police hold the populace in thrall and everyone is considered a spy until proven innocent. The Bronze man battles with both his wits and fists to carry out his mission.
 
During this adventure he meets a host of intriguing characters: Zardnov, the Russian spymaster, Seryi Mitroff, a beautiful female Russian agent whom Doc Savage starts to fall for, the mysterious Frunzoff who holds all of Russia’s secrets and Josef Stalin, the mad dictator of the Soviet Union whom Doc Savage confronts face to face. This is a cold war spy novel that presaged the work of Ian Fleming, John le Carre, and Len Deighton. Don’t miss it! Available now for $12.95 from Radio Archives!
 
Comments From Our Customers!
 
Fred Bacon:
Great quality and great programs. At 76 I have many fine memories of what is called Old Time Radio. I heard my dad tell my mom, years ago…”I know he has that radio on under his blankets”
 
Jim Gaudet:
Now that you are carrying the Altus books, among others, I plan to make a series of very large orders. Let me offer my congratulations on your audio productions! They are terrific. Also, congratulations on your expanded line of pulp reprints! I was requesting this back at the start of this year, and apparently I am not the only one doing so. I have been buying Shadow, Doc Savage, and Spider reprints from you for about a year now, and look forward to enjoying your expanded selection. Many thanks! And Happy Thanksgiving!
 
If you’d like to share a comment with us or if you have a question or a suggestion send an email to Service@RadioArchives.com. We’d love to hear from you!
 
The products you’ve read about in this newsletter are just a small fraction of what you’ll find waiting for you at RadioArchives.com. Whether it’s the sparkling audio fidelity of our classic radio collections, the excitement of our new line of audiobooks, or the timeless novels of the pulp heroes, you’ll find hundreds of intriguing items at RadioArchives.com.
 
If you no longer wish to receive our newsletter, or if this newsletter has been sent to you in error, please reply to this e-mail with the subject line UNSUBSCRIBE and your name will immediately be removed from our mailing list.
 

Crazy Sexy Geeks: Tim Gunn VS Green Lantern! Part 1 & 2

  • News
  • November 25, 2011

On sidewalk broad and runway long,
The bias cut is bold and strong;
Let those who worship haute couture
Beware my label! It’s Di … er…

—John M. Ford

Fashion authority Tim Gunn re-unites with Crazy Sexy Geeks! This episode, he looks at the Green Lantern with hosts Jennifer Ewing and Alan Kistler, superhero historian & Agent of STYLE columnist for Newsarama.com (@SizzlerKistler)! Be sure to listen to the weekly Crazy Sexy Geeks podcast (featuring Alan and Jill Pantozzi, @TheNerdyBird) on iTunes and at CrazySexyGeeks.libsyn.com

Part 1:

Part 2:

MARTHA THOMASES: Black Friday Is Not A Superhero

  • Uncategorized
  • November 25, 2011

Today is Black Friday, the day when it is our patriotic duty as Americans to go into a spending frenzy. For all our talk about family values, we think it is more important to forgo the conviviality of the Thanksgiving table so that we can stand in line to buy things.

Originally I had thought to write a column full of gift suggestions for those of you who want to introduce your family and friends to the joys of graphic storytelling. There are terrific books for a variety or ages and tastes and interests. I have my favorites, but I don’t know the people on your list, so my recommendations may not apply. That’s what the comments section is for.

Instead, I want to talk about you, Constant Reader. You and your needs.

Some people like to shop. Some people like to shop in crowded chain stores, the kind you find in your local mall. I am not one of those people. I don’t like walking around with a list of names, trying to figure out what to get. I’d rather sit at home, and imagine people getting things for me.

Here are some things you, as a fan of comics, might not yet know you want. Feel free to print this up and leave it where your loved ones can find it.

For example, do you know that your love for the combination of words and images on paper makes you a connoisseur of fine art? This book showcases the career of Barbara Kruger, one of the most influential (and entertaining) of late twentieth century feminist artists. This book provokes me and makes me feel exalted, all at the same time. Would that all gifts were so accomplished.

Do you think you have the most embarrassing family in the world? Would you like to be shown otherwise? If so, I can’t recommend enough My Favorite Year, a fictional account of what it must have felt like to be Mel Brooks working as a writer for Sid Caesar. I love everything about this movie, including Bill Macy and, especially, Joseph Bologna.

You know how everyone says the best holiday gift is peace on earth? If you say this and you mean it, you should let everyone know you want this calendar from the War Resisters League. Bold graphics, good politics, and amusing history trivia make this a great deal for an even more great cause.

You’re welcome.

SATURDAY: Marc Alan Fishman

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