Exploitation Retrospect Issues 52 and 53 Still Available

Interested in checking out back issues of ER? The following issues are still available via Amazon as well as directly from us. See below for descriptions and links.

Exploitation Retrospect #53: 30th Anniversary Issue 

The Journal of Junk Culture and Fringe Media returns with a super-sized 30th anniversary issue clocking in at 130 pages. 

• This time out the ER Crew looks at the world of horror anthology films with a special review section featuring SLAUGHTER TALES (2012), TORTURE GARDEN (1967), THE UNCANNY (1977), TOMB OF TERROR (2004), HOLIDAYS (2016), GRIM PRAIRIE TALES (1990), ASYLUM (1972), THE BURNING MOON (1992), CRADLE OF FEAR (2007), SCREAMS OF A WINTER NIGHT (1979) and many more. Plus, we look inside the world of 21st century anthology flicks with filmmaker Scarlet Fry. 
• We remember THE DESTROYER co-creator Warren Murphy with an interview by The Paperback Fanatic and examine the legacy of Don Pendleton's Mack Bolan (THE EXECUTIONER) and other men's action heroes via reviews, articles and an interview with author Mike Newton. 
• Obscure horror gets its due thanks to an interview with Gary Wallace (star of video store oddity THE JAR) while Evan Romero waxes nostalgic about Joe D'Amato's PORNO HOLOCAUST and breaks down the films of Jorg Buttgereit. 
• Longing for the sights, sounds and smells of old movie theaters? Take a trip through Kris Gilpin's theatrical scrapbook while Chris Poggiali examines the history of hot pants cinema. 
• And what would an issue of Exploitation Retrospect be without a bulging review section? Join Douglas Waltz, Mitch Lovell, John Grace, Devin Kelly, David Zuzelo, Jim Ivers, Evan Romero, Eric Miller, Neil Vokes, Robert Segedy, Mike Hauss and Dan Taylor as they dive deep into a video vortex of horror, action, exploitation and sleaze.

Available via Amazon or contact us for Venmo info.

Exploitation Retrospect #52

The journal of junk culture and fringe media returns with an action-packed 64-page issue featuring a Remo Williams-inspired cover from award-winning illustrator Neil Vokes plus more content than we've ever packed in our pages.

• WET FINGERS, FOGGED DONGS & SAPPHIC SLAPFIGHTS: A Penetrating Poke at Nikkatsu Erotic Films by David Zuzelo. 
• Jonathan Plombon examines the world of on-demand pseudo-snuff in A CAMCORDER, SOME CHLOROFORM, THE STORY OF WAVE PRODUCTIONS, AND AN UNDERGROUND CULTURE OF DEATH-FETISH FILMS. 
• CRIMINAL DECAPITATION OF A CAN'T LOSE CONCEPT: Chuck Francisco gets in the bunker and looks at the history of Nazi Zombie cinema. 
• LANCASTER-PLOITATION: Midnight Movie Cowboy John Grace tackles two of the big screen bully's polar opposite works from the 1970s. 
• BLOOD, BRAWLS & BULLETS: Live Hard as the ER Crew dives into the manly world of men's adventure novels and action cinema complete with an appreciation of the one, the only, The Destroyer by author CE Martin.
• Plus, a heaping helping of horror, sci-fi and sleaze film reviews as only ER can!

Available via Amazon or contact us for Venmo info.

Mack Bolan, The Executioner #276: LEVIATHAN (2001)

When ER cover artist Neil Vokes and I started kicking around cover concepts for issue 53 we tried zeroing in on something that would tie together the issue's dual themes of Bolan and anthology flicks. From the initial phrase “Bolan vs monsters mashup” we ended up going a Lovecraftian route (“tentacles and gooey creepy stuff”) because it seemed like a great way to link the two and, in my own fateful words, “No, [Bolan’s] never done anything like that…” 

Fast forward a few moths and it comes to my attention that, well, I’m not quite right. In fact, The Executioner battled cult beasties from the dark depths in LEVIATHAN (2001), not to be confused with the Peter Weller film of the same name (itself part of the brief underwater horror craze of the late 1980s). 

After a search at the nearby Bolan-laden thrift store proved fruitless I hit Amazon, paid a whopping penny and waited for the 267th installment of the series to hit my mailbox. 

Set on an abandoned oil platform turned nation state pledged to make high-quality drugs, LEVIATHAN spins a Lovecraftian-inspired action yarn as Bolan, feisty special agent Mallory Harmon and Miskatonic University’s twitchy nano-technology expert Donovan (Don’t Call Me Herbert) West must infiltrate the CIA-funded nation/ghost platform in the seas off Bermuda to cut off the drug operations and get to the bottom of the recent attacks from the ocean’s dark, briny depths. 

Toss in a nebulous CIA revenge plot against Bolan and a bevy of Bermuda-based cult members and you’d think LEVIATHAN would add up to one of those off-beat Executioners (a la PRISON CODE and NIGHT KILL) that I love. Eh, not so much. In fact, Gerald Montgomery’s sluggish outing is probably the first Executioner adventure I’ve read that I’d recommend to completists and the curious only. 

LEVIATHAN’s problems are legion: the revenge plotline never gels; Bolan’s half-assed plan quickly falls apart and he’s easily bested by the rogue Company man running security (a guy in a Hawaiian shirt and Birkenstocks no less!); the 220-pager is padded with a pointless appearance from Bolan’s PI brother; and, Montgomery spends far too much time describing everything in exhausting detail from the various levels of the oil platform (which eventually gets needlessly confusing) to the van transporting Harmon and West to Stony Man. 

On the plus side, Harmon’s escape from the clutches of a clan of inbred Southerners is right out of a low-budget, straight-to-video serial killer movie and the author name-checks classics like THE HOWLING and JAWS. Unfortunately, all the references and pantie-clad shootouts did was make me wish I was watching (or reading) something of their ilk. Hell, I’d have settled for a re-watch of the mini-series based on Peter Benchley’s THE BEAST (also referenced) starring a pre-CSI William Petersen as “Whip Dalton” (one of my all-time favorite character names). 

What should have been a breezy read for the Halloween season turned into a dull chore. – Dan Taylor

Dan Taylor is the editor/publisher of Exploitation Retrospect and he wishes everybody a happy, spooky and healthy Halloween! A version of this review first appeared in our super-sized anniversary issue still available at Amazon and direct from the publisher.

The Executioner #276: LEVIATHAN is available from Amazon.

Exploitation Retrospect Returns with 130 Page 30th Anniversary Issue!

The Journal of Junk Culture and Fringe Media returns with a super-sized 30th anniversary issue clocking in at 130 pages! 

This time out the ER Crew looks at the world of horror anthology films with a special review section featuring SLAUGHTER TALES (2012), TORTURE GARDEN (1967), THE UNCANNY (1977), TOMB OF TERROR (2004), HOLIDAYS (2016), GRIM PRAIRIE TALES (1990), ASYLUM (1972), THE BURNING MOON (1992), CRADLE OF FEAR (2007), SCREAMS OF A WINTER NIGHT (1979) and many more. Plus, we look inside the world of 21st century anthology flicks with filmmaker Scarlet Fry.

We remember THE DESTROYER co-creator Warren Murphy with an interview by The Paperback Fanatic and examine the legacy of Don Pendleton's Mack Bolan (THE EXECUTIONER) and other men's action heroes via reviews, articles and an interview with author Mike Newton.

Obscure horror gets its due thanks to an interview with Gary Wallace (star of video store oddity THE JAR) while Evan Romero waxes nostalgic about Joe D'Amato's PORNO HOLOCAUST and breaks down the films of Jorg Buttgereit.

Longing for the sights, sounds and smells of old movie theaters? Take a trip through Kris Gilpin's theatrical scrapbook while Chris Poggiali examines the history of hot pants cinema.

And what would an issue of Exploitation Retrospect be without a bulging review section? Join Douglas Waltz, Mitch Lovell, John Grace, Devin Kelly, David Zuzelo, Jim Ivers, Evan Romero, Eric Miller, Neil Vokes, Robert Segedy, Mike Hauss and Dan Taylor as they dive deep into a video vortex of horror, action, exploitation and sleaze.

The new issue is currently available from CreateSpace as well as Amazon.

If you prefer to order direct from the publisher, please visit the ER website.

Exploitation Retrospect 52 Now Available!

Just a quick note on a Friday afternoon to let you know that Exploitation Retrospect #52 is officially available for purchase!

I didn't want to promote it too much till I saw an actual printed copy and made sure I wasn't yanking it from Amazon due to some horrific oversight (though my wife did mention that because I cut my editorial I neglected to thank her in the issue... doh!).

My initial copy arrived last night and despite some nit-picky stuff like a too small gutter margin and some cropping issues with the pages I'm very pleased with how the issue turned out.

Contents include:

• David Zuzelo's penetrating look at Nikkatsu erotic cinema
• John Grace on Hollywood bully Burt Lancaster
• Jonathan Plombon's examination of WAVE  Productions, death fetish films and the cult of pseudo-snuff
• Chuck Francisco on those naughty Nazi Zombies
• A beefy review section featuring manly action flicks and men's action novels – in particular Remo Williams aka The Destroyer – with many contributions from Mitch Lovell
• Plus, tons of reviews on the best and worst in horror, sci-fi and sleazery from Douglas Waltz, John Grace, David Zuzelo, Chuck Francisco, yours truly and many more

It's all wrapped up in a beautiful glossy cover featuring exclusive artwork from Rondo Award-winning illustrator Neil Vokes with colors by Matt Webb.

You can order from CreateSpace, Amazon or directly from ER HQ.

And stay tuned for a new look – and new content – coming to the website soon!

ER 52 Sneak Peek and a Glimpse of What's Coming

Front & Back Wrap of ER #52!

Whew! That's pretty much all I can say.

Well, actually, I'm going to say some more.

At this moment the inside pages of Exploitation Retrospect #52 (?!) have been uploaded to CreateSpace and all we're waiting for is approval for the cover wrap (shown at right featuring artwork by Neil Vokes and colors by Matt Moore alongside a bevy of men's action novels from my shelves).

Once that happens the new issue will be available for sale through CreateSpace.com with other outlets like Amazon.com and Amazon.uk following suit.

I say that like I know what I'm talking about. This is actually our first on-demand publishing venture. ER #51 – still available directly from us – was an actual print project using small run, web-based publishers and it was pretty successful. We got great response to a zine that had been mothballed for over 13 years and to date there have been three press runs.

But I'm intrigued by the whole "on demand" printing concept, especially in light of how pals Tim Paxton and Brian Harris have embraced it for their Kronos Publications line featuring Weng's Chop and Monster!.

While the former has grown in size with each installment – the just-released Weng's Chop #6 weighs in at a whopping 200+ pages and is quite deserving of the "mega-zine" title – Paxton's revived Monster! has turned up with (infuriating) regularity since he announced its return. And while I'm not foolhardy enough to suggest that ER will return in anything resembling regularity, if this venture works out I'd guess that we'll be darkening your doorstep on a more regular basis than once every couple years.

And re-launching the print version of our sister publication The Hungover Gourmet, as well.

But enough about future plans. Let's talk about now! ER #52 is 64 pages (plus cover) of junk culture and fringe media glory complete with: David Zuzelo on Nikkatsu Erotic Cinema; Chuck Francisco examining the history of Nazi Zombie Cinema; Jonathan Plombon's explorations of WAVE Productions and the cult of death fetish films; a heaping helping of men's action (in both print and film); John Grace on Burt Lancaster: Big Screen Bully; and, reviews of the best (and worst) in sci-fi, horror and trashy sinema courtesy of a bulging review section.

Big thanks to all our contributors but special thanks to Neil Vokes and Matt Webb for the awesome cover art and to the man I affectionately call "Damn You!" David Zuzelo who pushed me over that last hump, told me it was okay to cut some stuff to get to print and sent down some of his Relentless HorrorDad Enthusiasm to help see the project across the finish line.

Men Of Action... Assemble! Bolan and Remo to Battle for Big Screen Bragging Rights?

You can have your superhero movies... this was a great week to be a card-carrying Man Of Action.

First came the announcement that the grandaddy of the men's action novel – Mack Bolan aka The Executioner – was in development (again) for the silver screen. Bolan has been a property of interest in Hollywood pretty much since Don Pendleton debuted the character in 1969's WAR ON THE MAFIA.

Still chugging along thanks to a dozen or so new titles each year, Bolan has drawn the attention of everyone from Steve McQueen and Sly Stallone to Burt Reynolds, Clint Eastwood and even Groot himself, Vin Diesel (that one I can't see). I even have several copies of 70s-era Bolan paperbacks with a flag on the cover trumpeting its imminent arrival as a "major film series".

Alas, the film series we all wanted never materialized – I'd still love to see a young, lean Burt Reynolds in the role – and I think fans had long given up hope of ever seeing Bolan on the big screen. Then news arrived that AVATAR sequel screenwriter Shane Salerno had obtained rights to the long-running series from the Pendleton estate and was pitching a gritty, action-oriented (though PG-13) trilogy showcasing the man who basically wrote the book for The Punisher.

While the news was met with enthusiasm by myself and fellow men's action lovers/Bolan fans, I think that we all were taking a cautious, wait-and-see approach given the series' lengthy flirtations with the silver screen.

And BAM! Like Bolan taking out a warehouse of oily thugs with a trusty rocket launcher we got word that not only had the trilogy found a studio with some background in the Men of Action market – Warner Bros. – but that the project had secured A-list talent in front of and behind the camera. Warner has locked up director Todd Phillips and – thanks to GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY – red hot Bradley Cooper as the lynchpins for what could be an action franchise to rival the Bonds and Bournes of the cinematic world.

Admittedly, I've grown to love Bolan – which wasn't easy after my first attempt at the character via the clunky TENNESSEE SMASH – so I'm thrilled to see him coming to a multiplex near me, in 2017-ish. (Which should coincide nicely with ER 53 featuring... MACK BOLAN!) But my initial thought upon hearing the news of A-list talent being attached to the character was the hope that maybe, just maybe, a blockbuster Bolan flick would result in Hollywood getting off their collective ass and making the movie I really wanted... a new Remo Williams/The Destroyer flick!

I've made no secret of my love for both Remo Williams (the book character) and the film REMO WILLIAMS: THE ADVENTURE BEGINS. In fact, our new issue – out soon! – features cover boys Remo and Chiun imagined by award-winning illustrator Neil Vokes. And if any series lends itself to our turbulent times with its blend of action, sci-fi, martial arts, politics, bromance and satire it's The Destroyer.

So color me shocked when I pulled up Facebook on my phone this afternoon as I sat on the beach and saw ER scribe John Grace crow "this is even better news than the Mack Bolan movie". Even as I shaded the phone with my hand and squinted through my sea-spray-coated specs I knew exactly what he was talking about – a new Destroyer flick was in the works!

But it wasn't just the news that Sony was planning a new Remo big-screen adaptation that got my brain going, it was the news that longtime Destroyer fan Shane Black was attached to direct a script co-written by series author James Mullaney (he co-authored #88: THE ULTIMATE DEATH and went on to author novels #111 through #131 as well as several installments of THE NEW DESTROYER series).

Though both projects are in the early stages of development – no casting has been announced for either project besides Cooper as Bolan – and it will be a few years before we see either on the big screen, this was a good week to be a fan of The Men of Action!

After 13 Year Hiatus (!) ER #51 is Available for Pre-Order

As part of the Revenge of Print project being spearheaded by the likes of Quimby's Bookstore and Atomic Books, we've dusted off the old scanner, hauled out the long-reach stapler and got the gang back together for another issue.

ER #51 is curently at the printer and will be available for shipment in mid-October 2012.

The digest-sized 56-page issue features a full-color cover and an action-packed lineup of articles, features and reviews including:

• AN ANGEL FOR SATAN: The Gothic Eurohorrors of Barbara Steele by Bryan Senn, author of A YEAR OF FEAR, SIXTIES SHOCKERS and GOLDEN HORRORS to name a few.
• BETWEEN SHEETS AND ROPES: Pro Wrestling and Its Scandalized Sibling Pornography – an ER Exclusive by Jonathan Plombon
• NOSFERATU IN VENICE: An Appreciation by Rondo Award-winning illustrator Neil Vokes complete with original artwork
• Kami McInness' look at Ozploitation entitled A SIX PACK, STINKY FINGER AND THE LONG DRIVE HOME
• David Zuzelo on Bruno Mattei's THE JAIL
• Plus video, zine and comic reviews!

Ordering is easy – just use the button below to place an order on-line or send $5 cash ONLY (no checks or money orders, please!) and your shipping address to: Dan Taylor, PO Box 5531, Lutherville, MD 21094-5531.

ER #51 Cover Design!

I'm still in the process of formatting articles and finalizing what reviews are going to be included, but here's a sneak preview of the upcoming ER #51 cover. As you can see we have a great Barbara Steele Gothic Eurohorrors feature from Bryan Senn as well as the one and only David Zuzelo on Bruno Mattei's THE JAIL, Neil Vokes on NOSFERATU IN VENICE, Kami McInnes on Ozploitation and Jonathan Plombon's exclusive look at the porn and wrestling connection. The final page count for the issue is going to be 56 pages with a $4 cover price ($5 for mail order). Complete details on pre-ordering will be posted soon.

Kinski Fragrance Available for Those Lacking Feral Sensusality

I've watched a lot of Klaus Kinski movies in my day. And never once did I see him on screen and think to myself, "I wonder what Klaus Kinski smells like?". 

Thinking about it now I assume his natural "musk" was a mix of cigarettes, rich food, hair product, expensive soap, old books and money.

Luckily, this is a problem we no longer have to ponder thanks to the Kinski Estate. Produced under license to mark the 20th anniversary of his death in 1991, the fragrance KINSKI is available from the Harvey Nichols website for 86£ (that's about $137 at the current exchange rate).

Described as "richly decadent" with "heady" and "oceanic" notes (inspired by Kinski's love of the sea), the fragrance also mirrors his "almost feral sensuality".

Whatever it smells like I must admit that the packaging is great.

For more on the fragrance and other Kinski sightings check out the great Du dumme Sau! blog. 

(Thanks to Neil Vokes and Holger Haase for the tips!)

31 Days of Fright!: FLESH & BLOOD Delivers an Epic Hammer-Inspired Monster Mash

A few years ago I sat down and watched Hammer's late 60s/early 70s run of Frankenstein films and found myself transfixed by just how great the series was. While the company's influential and fun Dracula flicks eventually felt dated, gimmicky and repetitive, their Frankenstein cycle continually reinvented itself and – in my mind – reached its pinnacle with FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED (1969). Not just the best of an excellent series, DESTROYED is a fine example of just how smart, scary and great a horror film can be.

Though the good doctor still had some life in him, I was disappointed by how the series ended with DESTROYED's follow up, FRANKENSTEIN AND THE MONSTER FROM HELL (1974). Peter Cushing's creator didn't go out with a bang but a whimper, still stuck in the asylum at film's end, though steadfast in his desire to keep on experimenting.

In a few years John Carpenter's HALLOWEEN (1978) would change the horror film landscape radically and though often cut from similar cloth, the hulking, revenge-driven monsters of the Frankenstein flicks would find themselves taking a backseat to their slasher film brethren.

Fast forward to 2011 and I may finally be getting my wish to see the ol' Baron go out on a high note. This time, though, his sequel isn't coming to the big screen but drenched in four-color fear courtesy of the new comic series FLESH & BLOOD.

Written by Robert Tinnell and illustrated by Neil Vokes, FLESH & BLOOD: Book One (available from recently-minted horror comic publisher Monsterverse) is like the fevered monster mash that many a Hammer-watcher craved. While Universal never missed an opportunity to pit their box-office baddies against one another, Hammer steadfastly kept their mummies, vampires, wolfmen and reanimated monsters on their own separate cinematic paths. And while that vision made for focused (if a smidge rigid) silver screen outings, FLESH & BLOOD shows just how much action-packed horror fun was to be had by letting loose with these characters.

Not to spoil much of the joy to be had in the opening installment's fast and furious pages but let's just say that there's a plan to spring the good Baron and his new cellmate to help thwart a vampire scourge, multiple attacks by various beasties and monsters, and some swashbuckling that brought to mind what may be my favorite Hammer film of them all, CAPTAIN KRONOS: VAMPIRE HUNTER (1974).

Tinnell's story draws upon everything from monster lore to Hammer history (and I'd probably pick up even more of the references and sly nods were I better versed in both areas... damn you feeble brain!) while Vokes' panels seamlessly segue between sinister forces attacking pitchfork-wielding villagers, blood-soaked mayhem, two-fisted action and some of the most eye-poppingly eye-popping she-creatures to ever seduce a damsel.

As if this tale of mortals and monsters battling for our very existence wasn't enough, FLESH & BLOOD: Book One comes packed with an introduction from VIDEO WATCHDOG publisher Tim Lucas, a historical perspective on vampire cinema by Bruce Hallenback, an art gallery featuring work by Vokes, Adrian Salmon and Mike Oeming and even the first part of a Quatermass-esque tale called OPERATION SATAN (from Tinnell and artist Bob Hall). Whew!

Like previous collaborations with each other and others (THE BLACK FOREST, THE WICKED WEST, FACELESS, SIGHT UNSEEN, PARLIAMENT OF JUSTICE, THE LIVING AND THE DEAD), Tinnell and Vokes have delivered another blast of prose and graphics with pages that drip with their enthusiasm and love for all things horror. Not merely an homage to the days when the House of Hammer ruled the genre, FLESH & BLOOD is a fitting continuation of the sagas we never wanted to see end.

FLESH & BLOOD: Book One is available at Amazon.

We receive a small commission for purchases made through this blog. Thanks for your support!

Five O'Clock Shadow of the Bat

Was out doing some painting with Chatty Boy this afternoon. She decided that I should do a picture of Batman. (I passed on adding Robin, "you know him... he's his mate".) I don't think my pals Neil Vokes and Adrian Salmon have anything to fear.

Belated Birthday Wishes to The Klaus

Somehow I think Klaus would actually be happier that I forgot to mention his birthday yesterday. He never seems like the guy who would be up for warm and fuzzy birthday wishes.

Anyway, the irascible Eurotrash star would have been 84 years angry yesterday and like Beavis & Butt-head oh how I wish that Klaus had stuck around long enough to experience the internet, blogs and reality tv.

If you've got a lot of time on your hands and want to practice your German translation skills, here's a 1961 cover story on K2 from Der Spiegel.

If you're just looking for some great images of our man here's a link (NSFW) to some scans from Cine Girl.

Thanks to Holger Haase and Neil Vokes for the links.

31 DAYS OF FRIGHT: Let No Good Deed Go Unpunished

I've long been a fan of the graphic novels from writers Todd Livingston and Robert Tinnell. The pair, in tandem with illustrator Neil Vokes, created the magnificent and Rondo Award-winning THE BLACK FOREST and its sequel, plus a pair of old west horror volumes aptly titled THE WICKED WEST. (In the name of full disclosure I must admit that Livingston, Tinnell and Vokes are all pals of mine.) On his own, Tinnell wrote the charming FEAST OF THE SEVEN FISHES (a departure from his horror work but no less entertaining) and SIGHT UNSEEN, a tale of Lovecraftian horror that oozes the writer/director's love of classic horror and Eurotrash from every page.

Their 2005 collaboration with illustrator Micah Farritor THE LIVING AND THE DEAD was recently nabbed by director Brad Anderson (SESSION 9, THE MACHINIST) for a big screen adaptation and the news made me re-visit this page-turning tale of gothic mystery and monsters, both literal and figurative.

Drawing its inspiration from the reel horrors of the Universal and Hammer horror films of old and the real tales of the Theatre du Grand Guignol, THE LIVING AND THE DEAD is a horrific tale filled with dual identities, murder, mayhem, sadism, incest, lust and much more.

The noble and generous Dr. Hans Schmidt – who bears more than a passing resemblance to Herbert West as portrayed by Jeffrey Combs by way of Peter Cushing – runs a clinic in a small mill town. His happy existence with his wife and son is shattered when his cousin Bettina arrives on the scene and begs Hans to tend to her dying son Julian. His hand forced by a mother's blind devotion to her dying son, Hans dredges up some of his old black magic and restores Julian to health.

As is frequently the case with such resurrections the results are a mixed bag – at best – and filled with complicated side effects. Schmidt must decide whether he wants to risk it all to protect his family (and perhaps humanity) and seek aide from an unlikely ally.

To say much more about the story's twist and turns would ruin what is a page-turner of the highest order. Savvy readers might be able to see what's coming but Tinnell and Livingston pack the story with enough clever bits to keep even the most jaded horror fan intrigued and Farritor's sepia-toned panels are the perfect companion to this devilish tale.

CONAN Gets a Director and I Don't Mean O'Brien

Okay Conan fans. Is this one of those devil you know is better than the devil you don't situations? Rumored CONAN director Brett Ratner is apparently out of the director's chair and has been replaced by Marcus Nispel who helmed the recent TEXAS CHAINSAW and FRIDAY THE 13TH reboots.

I wasn't particularly impressed with his TCM remake and the combination of my frenzied (at the time) schedule and the less-than-stellar word-of-mouth kept me away from theaters when F13 was showing, though I will be checking it out when it hits DVD next week.

In the right hands I think a sword-and-sandal epic like CONAN could be a super fun time at the movies but I'm just wondering if this is the right cat for the gig.

However, as good buddy Neil Vokes pointed out to me elsewhere, Nispel did direct the Vikings vs. Indians flick PATHFINDER and "he's got the cinematic grit and brutality thing going for him".

The Bat Hits Keep Coming

As I sit here drinking coffee from my Batman logo mug I'm warmed by the notion that this will most certainly be a Bat-tastic year. The hype over Christopher Nolan's THE DARK KNIGHT is starting to kick into high gear and that can only mean more and more cool Batgear and Bat-abilia is in the offing.

A quick roundup of online sources brings us a handful of Bat-links, including: a cool promo package for TDK apparently received by "singer" John Mayer; this wild black & white comic supposing what would happen if Batman finally lost it; more Batart from Neil Vokes; and, though she's not in TDK, some sexy Batgirl artwork.

That's All Vokes!

You never know who is gonna show up with a blog these days. The latest I've added to my reading list is THAT'S ALL VOKES! from good pal and comic book illustrator Neil Vokes. I've mentioned Neil's work here before, and you might know him from such graphic novels as THE BLACK FOREST and its sequel, both installments of THE WICKED WEST, and PARLIAMENT OF JUSTICE not to mention everything from stories featuring Batman, Spider-Man and Tarzan, not to mention the occasional piece of art featuring a certain iconic film star.

Now you can stay up-to-date with what's on Neil's mind as he blogs away about life and his work as a comic artist. I'm envious of the ability to draw and Neil's incredibly wide range is evident throughout some of the material he has already posted on the blog. I'm drooling over some of the stuff he's done on commission and not just because he features my two favorite superhero comic characters... ever. Neil has a wonderfully unique (to me at least) style and it really shines in pieces like this one featuring Batman battling The Scarecrow or checkout this dreaded Rogues Gallery of classic Daredevil villains!

But it's not all comic art and chatter about his current and upcoming projects (a re-teaming with BLACK FOREST/WICKED WEST co-author Bob Tinnell perhaps?). Neil infuses the blog with a healthy dose of his personality and life tales (just read the post about his life growing up with his brother and their recent reunion!) and I can tell you from personal experience that what you're getting on the blog is very much Neil.... so check it out!

LITTLE SHOPPE Named to Scoop's "Best of 2007"

I'm always thrilled to see fanzines get some love thrown their way, and I'm especially pleased when some accolades go to people like Dick Klemensen and his amazing, long-running LITTLE SHOPPE OF HORRORS.

Check out Scoop's "best of 2007" list and you'll see the most recent issue of LITTLE SHOPPE at #9. I'm probably a little biased since good pals Adrian Salmon and Neil Vokes provided artwork for the issue (and get mentioned in the write-up), but I'm continually in awe of both the quality of the work and Klemensen's commitment to his vision.

I've encountered Dick off and on through the years at various conventions – especially FANEX here in Maryland – and he has never been anything less than a charming, enthusiastic, friendly and encouraging member of the zine community.

Bravo to Dick and all of the fine people who contribute to the magazine's continued success!

More Horror and Monster Mag Auctions!

Blink and you'll miss our latest batch of vintage horror magazines and fanzines from the 60s through the 90s. You can go to my eBay page and see the complete list but I'll run down some of the highlights...

• Very good copies of CASTLE OF FRANKENSTEIN #1 and COF #2.
• WONDERAMA #1 from Forrest Ackerman and Greg Theakston.
• PURE IMAGES #4 with an exhaustive history of FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND and Warren Publications.
• CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT #3 with Guy Smith short fiction and art by Rondo Award winning illustrator Neil Vokes.
  

I'd be remiss if I failed to mention the excellent, near mint copy of MONSTERSCENE #2 featuring Lon Chaney/LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT cover artwork signed by legendary horror and fantasy illustrator Basil Gogos. (Shown in the photo with this entry.)

Features in this 48 page glossy mag include ROBOT VS. AZTEC MUMMY, career overview and interview with Ghoulardi, Disney's Haunted Mansion and Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, SUBSPECIES, Oriental Monsters, reviews, monster music and more.

Bidding on all the magazines – including this one – start at just 99 cents with most publications featuring Buy It Now price for you anxious boys and ghouls.

Today is FROM BEYOND Day (And Much More)

For years Stuart Gordon's FROM BEYOND has been at the tip-top of my DVD Wish List. As of today that spot is now occupied by Fred Dekker's amazing NIGHT OF THE CREEPS.

Yep, the long wait is over and the uncut, unrated director's cut becomes available today. But watch your wallet when you go to the video store. Not only is FROM BEYOND being released but other genre titles hitting store shelves today include THE BURNING (uncut slasher flick with effects by Tom Savini), WITCHFINDER GENERAL (creepy 70s witch-ploitation with Vincent Price), FOOD OF THE GODS (nature run amok-ploitation), TALES FROM THE CRYPT/VAULT OF HORROR (double feature disc), CHOSEN SURVIVORS/THE EARTH DIES SCREAMING (double feature disc).

9/14/07 Update – FROM BEYOND and THE BURNING arrived in my mailbox yesterday. Over at the Bava Book Blog they've been posting pix of readers – including our pal Neil Vokes – posing with the long-awaited volume. Maybe I should take video of me hugging my FB DVD with sheer joy and taking the protective wrapper off! I'm already planning a Stuart Gordon double feature for this weekend. Can. Not. Wait.

The ETP Crew Meets Udo!

Standing from left to right: David Zuzelo (TOMB IT MAY CONCERN), Yours Truly, Bryan Senn (author of A YEAR OF FEAR among others), Neil Vokes (comic artist, THE BLACK FOREST, THE WICKED WEST and more), Udo Kier, John Grace (horror fan, power pop buff), Bob Sargent (ETP head honcho, editor/publisher VIDEOOZE). In front from left to right: Bruce (sorry, but I didn't catch his last name), Curt Purcell (GROOVY AGE OF HORROR), Bruce Holecheck (DVD featurettes for XTRO, DON'T ANSWER THE PHONE).

One of the highlights of my recent weekend with the boys from The Eurotrash Paradise was our Sunday afternoon meeting with Eurotrash star Udo Kier. We were waiting in line to get a picture with him when Udo left the autograph area and announced that he had to get back to Europe. He apologized to all in line waiting to see him and hustled off.

Dejected, we stepped out of line and started down the hall until Bryan Senn (author of the newly released A YEAR OF FEAR) hustled after Kier, found him in the hotel bar, and asked if he'd be kind enough to take a photo with us before he left.

Luckily, Kier said "Yes, yes" and posed for a couple group snapshots as a burly horror fan slowly lifted the top of his girlfriend who was taking the photo for us.