Monsterism #55

Monster: It/Wendigo
Movie: The Last Winter

My brother and I sat down for a bit of a fright fest by picking up The Last Winter, starring Hellboy's Ron Perlman and a slew of unknown actors. I'd seen this advertised in some comics recently and decided to pick it up when I saw it at the video store. This is a first because usually I don't trust horror movies advertised in comics -- usually they're straight to video/dvd stinkers. This was something different. This I wasn't expecting. It plays its horror card in a fashion somewhat similar to Alien if you were to mash it with something like Amityville Horror. You know something is wrong, something unnatural, but you don't know what until the shit really hits the fan, and even then, you don't quite know what. There are overtones of Native American/Alaskan folklore and mythology, which I always love, and when you see the monster (I'm not even sure if that's the right word) it really is very well done and very cool when it happens. The only problem I had was with what happens to Ron Perlman's character at the end. I didn't think it was necessary and it detracts somewhat from the mystique of the film and the creature/creatures therein.

Tales #50 Preview

The preview for Tales of the TMNT #50 just went live on the Ninja Turtles website, so hopefully that means it'll hit shelves in the next couple of weeks. It's a bigger than average issue, with a fantastic back-up by Ryan Brown, who came up with much of the direction for this story.

Check that out right HERE.

In other news, Tyrant Earth FINALLY has an artist attached and I could not be happier! His name is David Vazquez. If you hit up DeviantArt and check out 1ithium you'll find some more dinosaurs! Very excited, this means I now have two of my own books on the go, both of which I've been planning for a long time. Dinosaurs seem to be something of a bugbear for artists, along the same lines as the devil (right Ross?), and I'm glad that after looking for so long, someone this awesome has stepped up to the plate! Kind of reminds me of Humberto Ramos, or Chris Bachalo.

TMNT Stage Show

I just finished working on a TMNT live show for the Royal Melbourne Show later next month. It's one of those mall-style, pantomime sorts of shows where the kids get involved. Kids stuff really, but it should be interesting to see how it turns out. I was told that the 4kids crew were recording the voice overs, which is cool. Hopefully the show prices aren't complete rips...

You Know How I Know?

http://ykhik.podbean.com/

Go here! This is the WIP blog/podcast centre for the radio show I participate in. None of my stuff is up there yet, but these reviewers are infinitely better than me anyway, so go, listen, comment, enjoy!

Monsterism #54

Been kinda deflated today. Tried to get back into the routine of things since the Skrulls started revealing themselves, but it just hasn't been working. Hopefully soon...

Anyway, here's some fun:

MONSTER: The Sandworm
MOVIE: Beetlejuice

Beetlejuice was one of those movies I watched almost as religiously as Ghostbusters and the Dark Crystal when I was a kid, and I was mainly hanging out for the neat visual effects that go hand in hand with Tim Burton movies of this ilk. The Sandworms always got me. I loved them. They showed up fleetingly, but those moments were worth more than the entire film back then. Nowawadays I realise how completely fucking hilarious Michael Keaton is in that role and how much I wish they had've made that sequel back in '98...

Monsterism #53

MONSTER: The Jabberwock
MOVIE: Jabberwocky

Another Gilliam favourite of mine -- actually, it probably is my favourite (outside of the Python films). It certainly isn't for everyone, but I've been watching this time and time again since I was little, as my favourite literary monster has always been the Jabberwock. This is a fantastic interpretation of the poem, starring my favourite Python actor Michael Palin. The monster is shoddy and horrendous in terms of sophisticated and believable special effects, but in the context of the film, it just works so well.

Skinwalkers update

I just saw the layouts for the first 19 pages of Skinwalkers and I'm really, really excited! Dario has the whole thing nailed. I've been in a bit of a funk because of what I mentioned in the previous post, but at the moment I'm forty-something pages in, and just starting the second chapter. With any luck, I'll have another burst on it in the next couple of days.

I've also nearly finished the script for next September's Tales of the TMNT, and started work on November's. Can you say "Stocktronics"?

I've also started mapping out the relaunch of Darren Close's KILLEROO, which is an Australian independent comic book, and something of an icon in terms of Aussie comic book content, so I'm very pleased to be working on that. I'll be posting very soon with a Moo Mesa update too! ;-)

Oh, if anyone is interested, click HERE for a look at Dario's online portfolio!

Skrulls...

You know what I hate? When things go bad and start to get better, you think you can start getting things back on track, but then suddenly those things take a very sudden and drastic turn for the worst and you end up being put out again in the worst way possible. I mentioned earlier that something bad had happened very recently which I likened to Marvel's Secret Invasion crossover event. Well, right now, it's like the Skrulls are winning.

Monsterism #52

Monster: Space Vampire
Movie: LifeForce

A couple of days ago I told you about the movie LifeForce, and the horrible special effects it somehow gets away with. This is the true form of the space vampires. It's so horrible I can't help but love it, like something out of an Amazing Fantasy magazine or one of those other pulp sci-fi/horror anthologies from the 50's. The transformation is simply amazing -- flash of light and a puff of smoke to conceal a horrible smashcut replacement of the actor playing the human form.

Scumbags

I'm actually glad this turned out to be fake, but these guys are still dickheads.

Click HERE.

Prelims -- Casey and April

Good morning, evening, afternoon or day, wherever you may be. Just thought some of the TMNT fans out there might like to see these. They are in no way, shape, or form finals, I just wanted to see what Paul made of Casey and April as I was writing the Hun script. The final, comic book versions could be similar or they could be completely different, but I thought both were really cool either way.

Monsterism #51

Monster: The Gingerbread Man
Movie: The Brothers Grimm

I'm a lover of just about everything Terry Gilliam, and have a huge amount of respect for him as a film maker and story teller. He and Spielberg were my (and actually still are) biggest inspirations when I was in film school. The Brothers Grimm is an odd, but fantastic little movie and a bit of a weird little monster in itself: a Gilliam studio flick. He really managed to capture the subtle horror that often accompanies all the old fairy tales, and this sequence referenced above really is rather disturbing. So, for Tokka and Greg, this is pretty close to what I've been bringing up in my sickness... sans arms, legs and facial features (although there was that one last night...).

Monsterism #50

Here's something to make up for the lack of monsterism yesterday.

Monster: Undead Guy
Movie: Lifeforce

What you see above is one of the most hilarious, though undoubtedly sophisticated puppet special effects ever put to film. It tries so hard to look real, it truly does, but in doing that, it fails on so many levels and looks ridiculous. This is from a movie called Lifeforce, which is basically a vampire movie smashed together with Alien. It's terrible, but awesome in its own awful way. It's one of those typical 80's Horror pieces that you dig up in the video store with those terrible 80's style video boxes (usually a black or blue clamshell with the sharp extra bit to the cover) where they all use exactly the same fonts and layouts for the blurbs on the back and show like two or three screenshots with thin white borders or two pieces of promo art for another couple of awful 80's horror flicks released by the same company. They tend to rip other movies off in major ways too.
Anyway, this LifeForce movie stars Steve Railsback (you read right), who was the cult favourite Duane Barry in the X-files two-parter "Duane Barry" and "Ascension" (which is pretty much what kicks the major conspiracy pushing the X-files narrative into high gear), and a rather eerily attractive woman who plays the main space vampire and never wears any clothes. I remember seeing this when I was much younger and finding it somewhat hilarious that there's a full frontal nude shot of her (I was at the age where nudity in movies was funnier than it was arousing... I do believe that this was the first time I saw a vagina on film too). Long story short, the film is insane, worth watching to relive what made 80's horror flicks so special -- no name actors who go on to become cult icons, needless gore and a good balance of surprisingly good and lovably atrocious special effects (wait until you see the woman made of blood, or the vampire man reveal his true form)!

Monsterism #49

Monster: Abe Sapien
Movie: Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Thanks to my good mate Jarrod, I was able to attend a special preview screening of Hellboy II last week. I'd actually been meaning to post on this when I saw it, but time got away from me and other things came up (see post below). Anyway, it was FANTASTIC! I enjoyed it more than the first, and particularly enjoyed Abe, who was performed entirely by Doug Jones this time around. For those unaware, Doug was the physical actor behind Abe in the first movie, but was voiced by David Hyde Pierce (of Frasier). Doug seems to cop a bum rap when it comes to these movies he's in. He was really, really good as the Silver Surfer, and his voice (which can be heard in the trailer) is EXACTLY how I hear the Surfer when I read him, but no, Fox went and got Larry "I am eternally Morpheus" Fishburne to redo the voice.
Anyway, while I'm sure people will go back and forth on it for a while yet, I think Doug did a better job here, as the performance felt far more natural (probably because it was natural) and really allowed the dude to shine. Abe is a character I love too, and I think his transition to film has been perfect, as has everyone else in the Hellboy mythology.
The scene (or sequence more accurately) the above shot is taken from is fucking hilarious too!

Deep and Meaningful in the Nerdiest Way Possible(?)

Something very sudden came up two days ago that has hit home in a pretty hard way. I still don't quite know what to make of it. Without going into any details, and without naming names for the sake of reputation(s), basically things have all gone very Secret Invasion. A Skrull has revealed itself and all of a sudden, everything is making sense. It's like reading each new issue of the New Avengers, seeing where the Skrulls were fucking around with things throughout the past few years. In a home that has quickly become something of a domestic nightmare, I am the new 3D-Man. I am SUCH a nerd.

More as it becomes apparent/appropriate.

#50 Update

Paul just shot me an email... the art for Tales of the TMNT #50 is finished! Now it goes to Eric Talbot who will put all the finishing touches to the book... Can't wait!

In other news, I think I may have contracted some sort of alien virus. Yesterday I was coughing some kind of blackish, viscous substance, that trend continues today with some bizarre form of bloody slime gestating inside my nose. I am convinced, based on these anomalies that I have contracted a virus of extraterrestrial origins. Or I have a chest infection. Either way, both are as bad as each other.

Peace!

Is It Wrong...?

I was just at the gym for the past couple of hours and noticed that every TV in there was playing the Olympics. It didn't bother me, because I just put some music on and run, or bike, or whatever, but it got me thinking, I really couldn't give a rat's arse about these Olympics. Past years I've been kind of excited, but this time around I just really couldn't care less. I know the thrill of watching these sorts of things and can totally understand and respect it, but it was just something that dawned on me before.

Oh well... how about ssssoooommmmeee......

MONSTERISM (#48)!!

Movie: Willow
Monster: Boarhound

Willow is one of those movies that seared itself into my childhood. I'm actually surprised I watched it as much as I did, given how long it was! I always loved it when the Boarhounds appeared. They used to frighten me a little because of how alarmingly fast they were and how generally hideous they were too, but I couldn't get enough of them.

Monsterism #47

Movie: The Passion of the Christ
Monster: Wall Demon

So I watched the Passion of the Christ again a few weeks ago, and had been meaning to post this along with some others earlier, but time and other things got in the way. I'm not sure how many out there saw this, or what they thought of it. I went and saw it at the movies with a friend's church group (I went to a Lutheran high school), which was an interesting experience. To me, this was a horror movie. Yeah, I kind of understand where Mel Gibson was going with it, but if you ask me, this film would not be at all out of place in the horror film section of your local blockbuster. Gorehounds would love this movie, and fans of The Exorcist might get a kick out of it too. Something that took me by surprise very early in the piece was the appearance of this demon. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect from this film, outside of some blood and the retelling of Christ's crucifixion. When this thing suddenly appeared, all my expectations of this film went out the window and I realised I was watching something I was totally unprepared for. I liked what I saw. I know it's a divisive movie, but I liked it. I wouldn't watch it over and over and certainly wouldn't own it though.
Tidbit: A friend of mine went and saw this and was born again. No shit. The power of Christ compelled him...

Shadi

Almost Done...

The art for Tales #50 is almost finished, I think Paul only has a couple more pages to go and it's print time baby!
Above is probably my favourite panel. It's just such a creepy image!

Monsterism #46

Movie: STARSHIP TROOPERS
Monster: The Brain Bug

This movie had everything. Crazy amounts of violence, social commentary, solid characters, tits, giant alien bugs and more crazy violence. I think everyone was a little grossed out by the Brain Bug, with its suggestive mouth/orifice and brainsucker capabilities. It was also fat, veiny and slimy. But it looked very cool and deserves a place amongst the monsterisms.

Monsterism #45

Movie: Rosemary's Baby
Monster: Rosemary's Baby

I've seen this movie too many times to count. It's amazingly old, but amazingly effective too. This final scene is probably one of my all time favourite moments of any movie. The sheer horror in Mia Farrow's eyes is so utterly convincing that the fact you don't ever even see the baby is irrelevant. If someone can be THAT frightened, you know that something is horrifyingly wrong.

Skinwalkers

KILLEROO on Friday

Meeting with Darren Close, creator of the Aussie indie comic book Killeroo on Friday! Can't wait!

Abigail Barton

Currently Listening to...

Religion

Uh-oh! World's biggest can of worms!!

Maybe...

I just had an interesting thought. Christianity was a faith that was spread across the world right? Through word of mouth, the gospels, scriptures, travelers, preachers, etc.
It's possible that this could have happened with any other form of religion. Can you imagine the world today if something like the Navajo beliefs were the dominant religion?

It's late. I'm thinking in tangents and zig-zags. I'll have forgot I thought of this in ten minutes, and then I'll be constantly reminded each time I log in here.

Navajo Word for Cursed?

If anyone knows or can find out, please let me know!

Guess Who's Comin' to Town?

I'm sure someone worked this out, but Tales #56 will see the introduction of a new character to the Mirage Universe... Actually, a reintroduction of sorts...



His name is Hunter Mason.


...



Hunter Mason.

TMNT 25

Everyone should get behind this. We NEED this as I think you will agree that it is LONG overdue. 'Nuff said!

Creator Owned!

I'm very excited to report that my first creator owned effort has finally taken off! Posted are very rough designs for key characters in a yet to be titled Western horror book. The extremely talented Italian artist Dario Folliero (dfolliero.blogspot.com) sent me these this a couple of hours ago after receiving the first part of the script earlier today. I'm really excited about this! My current immediate projects are now The Return of the COWBoys of Moo Mesa, this, and Tyrant Earth, which also looks like it will have an attached artist very soon!

More as it comes! Fingers crossed everyone!

Tales #56

Peter Laird emailed me regarding the follow-up to last years Tales of the TMNT #36. The turtles once again take the backseat for April and Casey in this one, with a big new villain taking centre stage. A few tweaks needed to be made with a couple of bits of dialogue and some grammar (mine is rather poor if I get on a roll and just have to get ideas out as they come), along with a couple of slightly confusing panel descriptions. I can tell you now, this will be a brutal book. Casey will be pushed to his limits, and not just physically either.

Just came back from another extremely satisfying session of Dungeons and Dragons too! Love it! Such a nerd!

I also just realised: Tales #36's sequel happens exactly twenty issues later!