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Reviews from the 86th Floor: Barry Reese Reviews Captain Action Winter Special # 1

  • News
  • February 11, 2011


Captain Action Winter Special
Moonstone Books
Written by Beau Smith, Matthew Baugh, Joe Gentile and Tony Lee
Art by Eduardo Barreto, Reno Maniquis and Giovanni Carlini

I must confess up front that I know little about Captain Action. I am familiar with the toy though I’ve never actually seen one in person and I did read the Captain Action # 0 that came out a few years back. That’s the extent of my Captain Action knowledge so I went into this issue not really sure how well I’d be able to follow the action.

The cover proudly proclaims that in this issue Captain Action meets the Green Hornet — and that titanic team-up does occur, though it’s in the form of a prose story and not a comic tale. The story is by Matthew Baugh and hits most of the right notes. I appreciate that Moonstone is trying to mix prose and comics but I sometimes think that they’re not clear enough in the solicitations or covers about what you’re actually getting when you buy a book. I assumed this would be a comic book tale and was looking forward to seeing the heroes illustrated together. I did enjoy the story, however.

The opening comic strip in the issue is by Smith and Barreto — and it lives up to both creator’s past works. Beau Smith always delivers action-oriented tales and Barreto has long been one of my favorite underrated artists. There’s nothing earth-shakingly new in this story and parts of it (the ending, in particular) seemed very much out of a James Bond story, which I suppose was the intent.

The Lady Action tale follows that one. I have to say that I chuckle every time I say Lady Action. “There’s nothing I like better than some Lady Action!” This story is entitled “The Spy Who Snowballed Me” and that made laugh, too. The art is really nice and I enjoyed the story a good bit. I’m curious about having more Lady Action in the future. Hah! Sorry, I couldn’t resist.

The final comic story is an Action Boy tale — it shows how little I know about the Captain Action universe because I didn’t know there was an Action Boy. The story follows the trend of the first two, putting the hero into a wintry setting and proceeding to tell an action-oriented story. The art was nice but seemed a little too sketchy for my tastes.

Overall, I enjoyed the issue enough to check out upcoming releases. I’m especially interested in Honey West getting some Lady Action in that team-up they teased in the ads!

I give 3.5 out of 5 stars.

‘Spider-Man’ Producer: Turn Off Your Mouth

‘Spider-Man’ Producer: Turn Off Your Mouth

  • News
  • February 10, 2011
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 22: The scene outside...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

As I’ve stated before, I have serious issues with what I’ve heard about Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark as well as what people I know and trust have said about it. My previous article was based primarily on news reports as well as a Wikipedia entry for the musical. Some have taken me to task for what they assumed was my perspective—which they assumed was based on the staggering cost of this musical and hearsay—and while I said otherwise in the comments, the issue still stands as one of note in recent reviews. I will say this again: I genuinely don’t care how much it costs. If it can be done well for any amount, it’s money well spent.

However, recent comments that Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark producer Michael Cohl allegedly made in an interview with Entertainment Weeklylead me to question Mr. Cohl’s understanding of what has happened, both under his watch as a producer and as a witness to the torrential waves of negative press. Is it bad form to review and judge a work before it is finished? Yes. Anything I have ever read about this has been under the explicit understanding that it is still in previews. Issues have been raised about just how unfinished it is, given when it’s supposed to open. Issues have been raised about how many people have been seriously injured, as well as in-performance delays that occurred due to technical difficulties. Yet these were all prefaced by the fact that it is still in previews and not judged as a final product.

(more…)

Health Care Reform To Be Explained in Comic Book

  • News
  • February 9, 2011

According to a contemptuously written article from the Associated Press, Jonathan Gruber, an economic adviser to President Obama, will be scripting a comic book that explains and advocates for health care reform.
The article goes on to say that Health Care Reform: What It Is, Why It’s Necessary, How it Works was pitched to Gruber by Macmillan imprint Hill & Wang, which plans to publish the book this fall.

The AP reporter, one Steve LeBlanc, makes haste to reassure people that despite the “pulpy panache” of comic books and their usual association with “superheroes in tights,” the use of the format for a serious subject isn’t “as unusual as it sounds.” And then there’s the usual allusion to Maus. Yes, it’s very nice that Maus won the Pulitzer in 1992, but surely we can bring up more recent examples. Hello, Persepolis? Epileptic? The oeuvre of Joe Sacco? Spiegelman’s later work, In the Shadow of No Towers? World War 3 Illustrated?

To his credit, Le Blanc does mention that that the 9/11 Commission report was also adapted graphically, but he somehow misses that it
was also published by Hill & Wang, which one would think would be an important point.

Breaking down this complex subject in this way sounds like a good idea to me, although how riveting it will be remains to be seen. I just wish that news like this could be reported straight, instead of through a fog of incredulity. It reminds me of that flood of trendy fiber arts articles from 10 years ago that all began “Knitting…it’s not just for grandmothers anymore!”

Review: ‘Down Terrace’

You have to admire filmmakers who scrape together the money to produce a feature film with a unique point of view. The films go largely unnoticed, play on the festival circuit and if lucky, land a cable or home video deal, widening the exposure. As a result, some interesting gems surface but it’s always hit or miss.

That phrase also applies to Ben Wheatley’s [[[Down Terrace]]], a film shot over eight days in 2009 and recently released on DVD by Magnolia Home Entertainment. Wheatley is a Brit who cut his teeth on second unit, advertising and webisodes, all of which was a good training ground. When he finally managed his first feature, he received good notices, even winning the Next Wave prize at Fantastic Fest in Austin and Best UK Feature at London’s Raindance.

This is a claustrophobic crime drama that has been described as a low budget version of [[[The Sopranos]]] but this is smaller, darker, and grimmer. Starring Wheatley’s frequent collaborators, Robert and Robin Hill as a father and son, they are small-time criminals who just were acquitted of a crime. Both want revenge against the rat who sold them out and that forms the story’s spine, but it’s a thin spine since we’re distracted by other familial complications.

This is a working class crime family drama told in chapters named after the days of the week. The dialogue is sparse and feels largely improvised as bickering betrays character while the film’s low budget leads to consistent audio issues. You’d think it would have worked better considering the majority of this mostly engaging film is set in the cramped Brighton house. The characters come and go, and largely feel real while at the same time also feel not fully thought out.

William and Karl, father and son, seek the snitch while mom Maggie (Julia Deakin) seems to while away the day, smoking and staring. She’s the least interesting one in the mix but also the one who might have the most interesting things to say. Instead, she’s mute while William rages and summons Pringle (Michael Smiley) to take out the suspected squealer. Once the violence begins, it gets pretty relentless, and beyond the realism the rest of the film nicely captures. More true to the sorry state of their lives is Karl’s partner, Valda (Kerry Peacock), who turns up, announcing she’s pregnant, adding to the tension.

Overall, there’s more to like than not in this production and its entertainment is not in the violence but in the emotions these misfits wear on their sleeves. Wheatley is someone to watch as he grows in confidence as a director.

The movie looks fine on DVD and it comes sans extras.

Hancock Tips His Hat to Two Types of Investigators!!!

  • News
  • February 9, 2011

TIPPIN’ HANCOCK’S HAT-Pulp Reviews by Tommy Hancock

RAVENWOOD, STEPSON OF MYSTERY VOL. 1
Frank Schildiner, BC Bell,  Bill Gladman, Bobby Nash
Published by Airship 27 Productions/Cornerstone Book Publishers
http://www.gopulp.info/
248 pages

Airship 27 Productions and Cornerstone Book Publishers have made a name for themselves in modern pulp publishing.  Turning out quality product, pulling together top talent, and giving writers and artists a platform to ply their trades are all accomplishments of this Airship/Cornerstone partnership.  One other thing, though that they stand out as a leader for is revitalizing forgotten and obscure pulp characters in new stories for a modern audience.

With RAVENWOOD, STEPSON OF MYSTERY, Airship and Cornerstone have done that once again.

An occult investigator and supernatural crime fighter, Ravenwood had a handful of appearances in the heyday of the pulps.  Although the stories were of interest to some, they regrettably were pedestrian for the most part and didn’t really stand out.  These four new stories, however, not only stand out, but shine as the way this character should be written.

Raised by The Nameless One in Tibet, Ravenwood grew up to be the best at dealing with magical and supernatural crimes.  Losing his parents at an early age, Ravenwood benefitted from a pledge The Nameless One made to take care of him.  The stories in this volume are set in the 1930s and find Ravenwood, extremely wealthy, ensconced in a penthouse, The Nameless One there with him as well as Sterling, Ravenwood’s trusted butler.  From the position of entrepeneur, lackadaisical playboy, criminologist, or intense supernatural crimefighter, Ravenwood rights wrongs using his own intuition, magical knowledge and abilities, and an usual convenient helping hand from his ‘stepfather.’

Each author took hold of this obscure character and made him their own.   The interpretations here have the basic concepts in common, but each writer sees Ravenwood the man in a different light, giving the reader four enjoyable tales that spotlight four different pulp tomes, our hero cast in four different traditional pulp lights.  Combine this with the fantastic book design and the simplistic, yet evocative interior art and RAVENWOOD, STEPSON OF MYSTERY is a more than suitable reestablishment of a character who never should have vanished from pulp consciousness to begin with.

FOUR OUT FIVE TIPS OF THE HAT-Reread potential of this volume, particularly the first and last stories, is extremely high.  Definitely one to own.

THE WHO IS JOHNNY DOLLAR MATTER?
by John C. Abbott
published by BearManor Media
http://www.bearmanormedia.com/
3 Volumes

Pulp is on a comeback, we all know that.  One aspect of pulp that is still waiting to be fully realized, but is finally gaining notice is Audio Pulp.  Not only are new groups and companies stepping up to the plate to dramatize classic and new pulp tales, but there’s a whole collection of Pulp audio that has existed since and even before the heyday of the newsstand pulps-Radio shows.   And one of the best examples of pulp radio, which thankfully has over 700 of its over 800 episodes in existence and available, is YOURS TRULY, JOHNNY DOLLAR.

Johnny Dollar, ‘the fabulous freelance insurance investigator with an action packed expense account’, came to the airwaves in 1949 and ushered out radio drama when it finally left the air in 1962.  In that time frame, eight actors, including Dick Powell, Gerald Mohr, Edmund O’Brien, and Bob Bailey, portrayed this sometimes hard boiled, sometimes cynically sensitive, always two fisted and determined insurance investigator week in and week out.  YOURS TRULY JOHNNY DOLLAR is truly an epic example of old time radio and audio pulp.

John C. Abbott has given this fantastic show its due by producing one of the most epic, complete reference materials ever seen on any one topic.   Not only does Abbott include extremely detailed descriptions rife with bits of trivia and comment of every Dollar episode, he also provides a biography of Johnny.  Written as if Johnny Dollar could have been a real person, Abbott puts the many aspects of Dollar’s life into a concise, well written outline of his life, including his birth, where he went to school, how he became an investigator, and so much more.  And this is not a dry read in any way at all.  Abbott brings an obvious love for the DOLLAR material to the table and fortunately for the reader leaves that love all over the page.

FIVE OUT FIVE TIPS OF THE HAT-Truly, this book could be the model for anyone if they want to know how to do the best reference book possible.  Add that to the excellence of the subject Abbott covered and THE WHO IS JOHNNY DOLLAR MATTER ranks as a new classic in my reference library.

A BOOK A DAY LOOKS AT CINEMATIC LEGEND

A BOOK A DAY LOOKS AT CINEMATIC LEGEND

  • News
  • February 9, 2011

HaroldLloydcover.jpg

 
Magic in a Pair of Horn-Rimmed Glasses
Voted “Best Book of 2009” by Classic Images magazine!

You know the films. You know the characters. You may even know the man behind the glasses. But do you really know the events and happenings that most changed Harold Lloyd? That define him? The turning points in his life and career?

From birth to death, Harold Lloyd grew and evolved because of the things that were happening around him,, and he was always aware of the importance of these events. These are the turning points that fashioned the magic . . . the coin flip that got him to California . . . meeting a fellow extra at Universal by the name of Hal Roach . . . creating his revolutionary Glass Character . . . a death-defying bomb accident . . . patenting his legendary thrill comedies . . . building his Greenacres . . . making a too-quick leap into sound . . . taking perpetual control of his films . . . deciding to raise his granddaughter . . . leaving two film compilations for posterity . . . not allowing his films to be aired on early television . . . winning his Oscar.

Friends, family, and Harold Lloyd himself, together with author Annette D’Agostino Lloyd, tell the story that gives us a clear picture of this comedy legend.

YESTERYEAR Interior Art Revealed for upcoming Pro Se Novel!!

  • News
  • February 8, 2011

Tommy Hancock, Editor in Chief of Pro Se Productions and author of his first novel, which is also Pro Se’s first foray into novels, YESTERYEAR, announces today that the interior artist for the novel will be Peter Cooper. 

Cooper, an artist who has worked for Pro Se recently as well as others for both comics and book covers, is an excellent largely self trained artist continually pushing to improve his craft.  Hancock said, “These four examples of what Pete can do are the best work I’ve seen him do in the almost ten years I’ve known him.  The book will contain probably 15 illustrations, these four included, spotlighting the Heroes and Villains of YESTERYEAR’s first era of Heroes, basicallyfrom 1929-1955.   There will be a mixture of styles as well as genres, including comedy, pulp, and straight super hero and Pete adjusts extremely well to the demands put upon an artist to make such transitions.  The love he has for his craft comes through in his work, especially in these images.”

With the help of Cooper’s interior art, the cover art by Jay Piscopo, and the fantastic design skills of Sean Ali, Hancock endeavors to tell a satisfying complex tale with YESTERYEAR.  Focused around a manuscript that has been missing for over fifty years before it finally reappeared, this novel will not only detail the chase and mystery surrounding the newly recovered artifact, but it will also dissect this particular universe’s first era of Heroes and Villains, looking at both the public perception as well as the shadowy truth behind that concept.  This novel is on track to be available from Pro Se Productions in the next 4-6 weeks.  For more information, contact Hancock at proseproductions@earthlink.net or check out Pro Se’s new blog site, http://www.pulpmachine.blogspot.com/.

Nathan Fillion Takes to the Skies in ‘Green Lantern: Emerald Knights’

Nathan Fillion Takes to the Skies in ‘Green Lantern: Emerald Knights’

  • News
  • February 8, 2011

BURBANK, CA, (February 8, 2011) – Primetime television stars Nathan Fillion (Castle) and Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men) lead a diverse array of performers as the voices behind Green Lantern: Emerald Knights, the
next entry in the popular, ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original Movies. Building up to the release of the highly anticipated live action film, Green Lantern, in theatres June 17, Green Lantern: Emerald Knights arrives on Blu-Ray™, DVD, On Demand and for Download June 7 from Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros.
Animation.

Fillion provides the voice of the animated film’s central character Hal Jordan, the human Green Lantern assigned to Sector 2814 (which includes Earth). Fillion has starred in several primetime television series including Desperate Housewives, Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He has also developed a popular
cult following as a pair of Joss Whedon’s heroic captains: Capt. Mal Reynolds in the space-western series Firefly and follow-up film, Serenity; and Captain Hammer in Whedon’s internet sensation Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog.  Fillion returns to the DC Universe after his successful turn as Steve Trevor in the animated film Wonder Woman, and has performed voice work on Justice League, Robot Chicken, The Venture Bros., and several Halo video games.

Moss gives voice to Arisia, a young recruit forced into her first mission on just her third day as a Green Lantern. Prior to starring as the ever-evolving Peggy Olson in AMC’s ground-breaking series Mad Men, Moss was featured on The West Wing, Invasion and Picket Fences. Moss has been active in voiceovers for animation with previous roles in
Steven Spielberg Presents Animaniacs, Freakazoid! and It’s Spring Training, Charlie Brown!.

The voice cast for the animated Green Lantern: Emerald Knights also features actor/spoken word artist Henry Rollins (Sons of Anarchy,  The Henry Rollins Show) as Kilowog, Jason Isaacs (the Harry Potter films) as Sinestro, legendary professional wrestler “Rowdy” Roddy Piper (They Live) as Bolphunga, Arnold Vosloo (The Mummy) as Abin Sur, Kelly Hu (The Vampire Diaries) as Laira and Wade Williams (Prison Break) as Deegan. Radio Hall of Fame commentator/talk show host Michael Jackson voices the esteemed Guardian, Ganthet.

Bruce Timm is executive producer of Green Lantern: Emerald Knights. Directors are Lauren Montgomery, Jay Oliva and Christopher Berkeley.The full-length animated Green Lantern: Emerald Knights complements the Warner Bros. theatrical release of the highly anticipated live-action major motion picture Green Lantern,Green Lantern: Emerald Knights will be distributed by Warner Home Video as a Blu-Ray™ Combo Pack and 2-Disc Special Edition DVD, as well as single disc DVD. The film will also be available On Demand and for Download.

You can help save Comics Archives in Detroit!

You can help save Comics Archives in Detroit!

  • News
  • February 8, 2011

The word came over Twitter: “Unless we raise $3,100 by tonight, like some cheesy 80’s flick, it looks like Comics Archives will be closing its doors.”

Comics Archives apparently has fallen behind in paying Diamond for new comics, and needs to scrape together funds quickly. They had been in discussions to sell off some of their inventory to another store, but the buyer back out.

So now they’re under the gun. The store closes at 8 PM tonight… unless you can help.

Comics Archives
25650 Plymouth Road
Redford, MI 48239-2027
(313) 937-8860

A quick call to the store confirms that they will take orders over the phone, if need be.

C’mon, people. We can do this.

Here’s what the place looks like, if you want to head on over:

UPDATE: Nope. Too little, too late.

Review: ‘Doctor Who the Movie’

When I tweeted that I was watching [[[Doctor Who the Movie]]], it provoked a spirited debate over the film’s merits. Apparently, the Paul McGann incarnation of the Doctor is beloved by many but far from all. Truth be told, I am a latecomer to the cult of The Doctor, arriving during the new series of adventures. I certainly know the history and previous incarnations but had never developed a taste for it. So, coming to his American telefilm from 1996 after the current era, gives me an unqiue perspective.

When Fox ordered the pilot film for a hoped-for series, they received the official blessing of the BBC plus the cameo participation of Sylvester McCoy, who was the previous incarnation when the series was finally canceled in 1989.

As discovered on the very detailed documentary accompanying the movie, the film took years to finally get made. And here’s the problem. While everyone involved dearly loved Doctor Who, notably Producer Philip Segal, and all desperately wanted to make a new series, no one seemed to possess a clear idea or vision of what it should be. Without that spark of creativity, the resulting film felt like Doctor Who, even looked like Doctor Who, but lacked the crackling fun and off-kilter storytelling that had been the series’ hallmark dating back to the beginning.

Additionally, the film had to stop and explain everything given that Doctor Who was new to the vast majority of Americans. As a result, the pacing has to adapt not only for American commercial breaks but stop to explain everything from the concept of a Time Lord to what a TARDIS can do. In many ways, the movie is a primer to the Doctor as he gains a companion, regenerates, fights The Master, and saves Earth from utter destruction. While not quite a cookie-cutter approach, it feels that way in watching the movie. Fox seemed to cool on the concept, dumping it on May 14, 1996, too late for pilot season and the DOA ratings didn’t help.

You can decide for yourself now that BBC Video has this week released Doctor Who the Movie in a two-disc Special Edition DVD. Disc one is the film, uncut, and with special features while the second disc is filled with features for the true Whovian. (more…)

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