Review Explanation

Here's a little breakdown of my review writing process, dear reader.

When I review something I'm going to relate it to my life, if I can. If this is an issue for you, well, then that's reason number one not to read my blog.

My ratings scale is five point. It's the Pentagram of Righteousness!

1 = Horrible. It no longer exists for me.
2 = Not great. There's really no reason why anyone should be excited over this.
3 = Fine. I can't go nuts over it, but I won't say it's crap.
4 = Fantastic. I could go on about how neat this is and probably will.
5 = Perfect. Why are you reading this post when you should instead be committing your time to this thing!

The Bliss of Spring and Dynamite Comics' The Shadow

Ah, Spring. It's wondrous power has taken hold of me. All I want during this season, as its cool breezes waft in through the open windows of my home, is to find a good read and a comfy blanket. No matter how good the read, though, a nap tends to follow. 

Recently, before succumbing to unconscious bliss I decided to read the first issue of Dynamite Comics' The Shadow, penned by Garth Ennis, featuring the artwork of Aaron Campbell with a variety of cover art by several big names in the comic book industry (my cover of choice featured the work of Alex Ross). I'm very much a fan of The Shadow and have been for a long time. I grew up listening to audio cassettes of the old radio episodes and had several family members who knew and would often dramatically recite the familiar line (especially after the Baldwin film from the 90s), "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!"

This new version, not the first comic to feature the classic hero, sets up what is sure to be an exciting and exceptional arc. Set in the period of old WWII, the book opens on an account of the savagery of the Japanese towards the Chinese, and in the flashback/exposition the Asian ties to Lamont Cranston/The Shadow are somewhat laid out. From there Ennis goes on to bring us into Cranston's life after some Shadow action on the docks of his city home.

Ennis didn't stray far this issue from the original form of the character, like Kevin Smith chose to do with Green Hornet. He even kept characters like Margot Lane, who apparently is more than just a mere gal Friday to our hero. Regarding Ms. Lane, I'm certain that in my youthful ignorance I failed to see that Lane and Cranston were more than chums. This world and its characters are given a sort of form through the respectable artwork of Campbell. He depicts a Shadow who fits perfectly alongside the character my mind's eye beheld throughout my childhood.

This issue was a great introduction/reintroduction to the world of the master of minds, the wielder of nickel-plated twin .45s, the man with knowledge of the evil of men's minds. I very much look forward to reading this series, and I hope that Ennis and Campbell continue to remain faithful to the world of this beloved crime fighter. The Shadow #1 shall be given four stars out of five. Now to pass out for a while as Spring again wafts in through a nearby window.

Zine...the product of my nerdy life

Science-fiction, fantasy, and horror have all had a tremendous impact on my life. From my early youth up till now I've delighted in the escape and dream-enriching content they provide. I've spent time writing about space and monsters, drawing creatures and warriors, and planning films which would feature a smashing combination of all of the above. I love these genres with all my heart.

I've spent quite some time honing my skills in illustration and writing, and I've had the fortune of meeting some incredibly talented individuals who share many of my interests. Considering all of this and my feelings for my favourite genres I've decided to go against the weak advice of a pseudo-savy comic book guy and declare my intent to publish a zine. My first attempt at self-publishing resulted in a comic book that should have been called a zine. I chose to go with the former description after the poor advice given by previously mentioned comic book guy. Now that I have a focus, some experience, and a great stable of talented friendlies I'm going to make a go of it for really reals!

The zine I'm planning will feature artwork from many talented fellow fans of horror, sci-fi, and fantasy in both single illustration and comic form. It will also feature fiction and non-fiction which will tell tales from and give critiques of the above listed genres. As of now there is not a title for this project, but I'm working out the themes and details as I go along.

To be perfectly honest, while this is a typical fanboy project I find that I can in no better way honour those things which I so greatly love. Self-publishing is as fantastic as it is powerful. I hope that the efforts put forth by all involved will combine to show the love held for the genres I've mentioned and also inform and entertain our readers. Hopefully you'll be amongst that group of folks who will page through our collection of the best we talented few can possibly offer in tribute to our beloved fantasy, science-fiction, and horror.

Stay tuned, friends. There's some quality stuff coming your way!

-J. Sample, humbly signing off!

Writing group meeting and discovery through anthology

This previous Sunday, March 25, my wife, a couple friends, and I gathered at a local coffee joint to read around-the-circle pieces of our own composition. It was a delightful time in which peer editing took place, deep and not so deep conversations were had, and some were moved to express genuine surprise at the work of others.

I hope to maintain this group and grow it into a local publishing opportunity for those who might never be able to move beyond just filling notebooks that will only be stored away or who have Gigabytes of writing they'll never show to anyone. It's a great chance for people to develop their work and get serious about sharing their craft. Maybe one day you'll be reading these words on an official publishing website. Only the future and the Shadow know.

In other news I've come upon a fantastic anthology of Zombie tales. Assembled by editor Otto Penzler Zombies! Zombies! Zombies! is a fascinating collection of tales of undeath both old and new, fiction and supposedly non-fiction. There are stories from authors such as H.P. Lovecraft, Robert E. Howards, Stephen King, Harlan Ellison, Chet Williamson, August Derleth, and many more. Even though the suspense in most of the stories relies on knowledge you already posses, they are zombies of a sort, the stories keep the reader wondering just what kind of undead they are going to encounter.

One story from the collection is "The Cairnwell Horror" by Chet Williamson, and it is one that truly stood out for me. It is the tale of a young, arrogant heir to an old Scottish title who must travel to his ancestral castle to take up the previously mentioned title and learn of a family secret only known to the male heirs and only told to them on their twenty-first birthdays. In this well-written piece of fiction the reader will find shock, horror, and incredible tragedy. Find it and read it!

So far I'm about a quarter of the way through the 800+ page collection. Based on what I've read so far I'd highly recommend it, but I can not accurately rate it as of now. Locate a copy and join me in reading tales of those dead who still walk!

Peter Jackson's King Kong

It took me a while but I finally committed to sitting down and watching Peter Jackson's 2005 remake of the classic monster film King Kong. It wasn't that I was purposely avoiding the flick, it just happened to hit theaters during a lull in my film-going. After finally seeing it, though, I can honestly say that it's too bad I missed the chance to catch this epic while it was on the big screen.

King Kong is a legend. That goes without saying. The icon that is this majestic, gigantic gorilla caught the public's attention way back in 1933 and entered my life during my early childhood (the late 80s, early 90s). It was the 1970s remake where I first met him, though, while I was sitting in front of the television along with my family one holiday afternoon. It was another in an unofficial tradition of monsters movies during the holidays. Back then we watched everything from the Creature of the Black Lagoon to Godzilla while a turkey roasted or gift wrapping crinkled.

Kong, unlike the other movie creatures, went straight for my heart. He was an innocent animal doing what instinct demanded. It wasn't his fault that he was massive or that human beings were (and still are) flawed, selfish creatures. He lived his life free amongst the other wonders of his jungle island home. Men, as they are wont to do, trespassed in his domain and denied him the simple things he, an animal, wanted.

Peter Jackson's version of the story is especially fantastic for creating a Kong with the most pure and bestial of wants and desires. We see a creature (brought to life through the skilful motion-captured performance of Andy Serkis) that is just that. From his stance to his physicality to his behavior, Jackson's Kong is a pure animal. The performance and rendering of Kong is so magical and so convincing that my wife and I were brought to tears as we watched the poor beast's life get torn apart by greedy, destructive men. This component of the film above all others made me a fan of this version.

Other wonderful things exist within the movie which are obviously the products of the brilliant imagination of Jackson, the contributions of his fellow writers, the astounding Weta Workshop, and the dedicated acting of the cast. The film feels like the original Kong if modern film-making technology was made available to the old-time producers. It has action, excitement, adventure, mystery, and so much heart. I was constantly reminded of pulp adventure tales for their period feel and all-out wonder, Indiana Jones because of the rough and tough fellows who journeyed across the wilds of Skull Island, Lovecraft because of the nature of the mysterious, fog-shrouded Skull Island and the base and savage people who worshipped an unnatural, bestial god, and everything I felt about that big old gorilla way back when but only more so. I can't imagine a better remake of a classic than this film.

Out of five I'm giving it four. Check it out, especially if you're like me and are behind on the good stuff.

Post-vacation reflections

Waking every day knowing that the time you have till your head once again hits the pillow is yours to command is a beautiful thing. It's unfortunate then that most of us live in an ugly reality which consists of a lack of almost all control, overwhelming depression, and utter despair. The only beauty, if we can find the time or heart to seek it out, lies in the aesthetics of objects and ideas which satellite around our internal realities.

My wife and I spent the last week away from our jobs celebrating the blessed anniversary of her birth. We experienced the beauty I mentioned in the above first line every morning. The beauty we realized inside ourselves seemed to harmonize with the beauty of those things which surrounded us. Breathing felt easier. Happiness seemed to approach us without being sought out or imagined. If we let ourselves spend time forgetting what awaited us after the break we could almost taste true freedom.

Thinking about this as I dropped my wife off at work this morning sent a javelin of sorrow through my heart, whose guard was still down from the joy of off-time. It was like I released my wife into the hands of slavers who would later come to take me. This got me thinking, though. What really separates the feeling of airy freedom from the shackled misery of a nine-to-five work schedule? Is it just the sale of time from our lives to a cold, inhuman company, or is it that we poorly manage the free time which surrounds our sold time, blinding ourselves to a freedom that could potentially be present every day?

Even as I write this I realize how much more time is required to truly give these questions proper thought. Back to reflecting and reasoning. The human brain chugs on. May freedom find us again soon regardless of what my reflections reveal.

Hell Yeah...superheroes and the world of super-tomorrow

I've been fooling around on the Mike Allred message board for a few years now. Through it I've had the fortunate of meeting some incredible comic folks, taken part in some shameful internet debates, and helped deliver the virtual baby of an Australian author of one hundred one-page stories. (the baby thing isn't true but the rest is, unfortunately) It was one of those incredible comic folks who contributed to a certain eye-catching comic released this last week.

Teaming up with wonder-scribe Joe Keatinge, Andre Szymanowicz provided the nifty artwork for a new kind of superhero series, Hell Yeah. The title has the same attention-grabbing quality as the hit book Kick Ass (a hit in sales but certainly not in quality content, says only me apparently), but unlike Millar and Romita's bloody work it isn't a book about mega-violence and intense adult content. Hell Yeah features superheroes, yes, but these aren't your average vigilantes who adventure night after night to save mankind or to fuck shit up. Taking over the world in a manner similar to the Canamits from the Twilight Zone episode "To Serve Man," the heroes, who first came on the scene to save a seemingly ordinary soldier during the Gulf War, have made it possible for everyone to prosper and have neat powers. The whole world over has apparently become super in only twenty years time. Of course by the book's end the reader realizes that as nice as this might seem there is of course something very wrong.

This book would appeal to fans of stories which deal with hero-worlds where everyone has some incredible ability but something is horribly wrong in the higher echelons of society. It's not a new idea, but the story has potential to go off in one of a number of surprising directions. At this time, with only one issue available, it is of course too soon to tell. I'll definitely be picking up issue two.

The artwork is highly stylized, which is something I love to see in any comic. The medium needs more artists like Andre who embrace the story and deliver it to the reader through THEIR pencil, pen, and/or brush. There's no phoning it in or attempting to borrow the look of some other comic book artist. Mr. Szymanowicz holds up his end wonderfully from the first page to the last. The only issue I have is with whoever set the artwork for print. There are pages where you can see pixels on the edges of Andre's line work. Sloppy job, Image editors!

I'll admit that the story is not my cup of tea, but I believe that there is a huge audience for this kind of book. They need to know about it, and they need to support it. Hell, there's even a page featuring Jonathan Ross! Out of five I'm giving this book a four. Good job, Mssrs. Keatinge and Szymanowicz.