Archive for the ‘Book Reviews’ Category

Dark Horse’s Creepy, issue number three sports the slogan “48 page is of demonic dread”.  So it seems pretty obvious that they’re going to keep getting creative on the subtitle on every issue.  It’s just a pity they don’t Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome back kiddies.

For this month’s column.  I’ve decided to try a little change of pace.  I thought it might be a good idea,  Instead of whining about Dark Horse’s Creepy, to  talk about something else.  But be not afraid for the next entry will be about Creepy.  Unless it’s about the new Lenore; I haven’t decided yet.

Today’s episode is about the latest issue of Fangoria.  How I could have written this blog for more than two years… three years?  I don’t even know how long I’ve been writing this blog, but it’s a long time.  It’s almost incomprehensible that I have never thought of reviewing Fangoria before.  Well I’m here to fix all that this very day.  So here goes.

The issue that I have right now is number 301.  First, in the off-chance that you never heard of it,  Fangoria is a magazine published monthly about horror stuff.  Similar to this blog, except in magazine form.(And they tend not to ever use the word “fuck” in the magazine).

They review, horror movies, and have interviews with directors, writers and other people involved in the horror genre.  There’s a lovely article in the current issue about the movie “Bereavement.”  This includes an interview with the director/producer/editor/music guy(all one guy).

I only really mention this because my daughter and I recently went to a preview showing of this very film.  It was mostly for the press and to get people to write reviews about it.  So coming up very soon on this very blog, you’re going to be hearing (reading) my review of this film.

But back to  Fangoria.  If you’ve never seen it I would recommend that you rush out and buy whatever issue is currently available wherever you are.  This particular issue, which is the March 2011 issue has an interview with Richard Matheson.  And illustrates yet another glaring omission from this blog.  I worship, Richard Matheson openly as a personal god, and I can’t believe that I’ve never mentioned him before on this blog.  If you haven’t read them.  You must.  But this post isn’t about him; I’ll do a separate one about him.

The point is, the magazine is always good and often exceptional.  I absolutely recommend you get it.  I would tell you where to get it but I don’t need to if you live anywhere near a Barnes & Noble or Borders or Waldenbooks or any other bookstore with a newsstand. It should be there.  In fact, I recently saw it in Wegmans, which is a grocery store chain.

But I digress…

Other things in the magazine include profiles of people from the genre authors, filmmakers and directors.  Even actors sometimes.  This month’s issue has an interview with Linnea Quigley (who many of you may remember as running around naked in many horror films, her most legendary performance being the tombstone-top dance in “Return of the Living Dead.”  Which also reminds me that I’ve never written about Dan O’Bannon.  I must do that too.(he Directed ROTLD)

Yes, I understand this entry is a bit rambling and you may come away from it with nothing more than the concept that there is a magazine called Fangoria and I recommend it.  If you do, then I have succeeded.  I can be proud of myself and eat my dog biscuit with a clear conscience.  It’s been sitting on my nose all day.

So long for this month, kiddies.

PS-The picture is not the issue I am reviewing, but was chosen as generally representational of the magazine.  (and because I was too lazy to scan the one I have)

Welcome back kiddies. Can you remember all the way back to the second or third article in this series, where I told you that when I got to the second last story. You have to remind me about something? Well this is it. This is the second last story. It’s also my second last article. The Horse at this point has been reduced almost to the point of a puddle. But I do have to get the last couple whacks in.

Then, I can finally get on to some more very interesting comic books that I found recently. The story I’m talking about today, is titled Loathsome Lore “Faustian deals”. It basically is a rambling narrative, which speculates about certain celebrities having been in league with the devil.

It’s interesting comic books stuff. The story is credited as “Haufner, Braun, and Gore. And the art is by Hilary Barta. As I said in a previous article, much of the writing in this particular piece seems to have been lifted from a 1974 issue of Hustler magazine. (That was the one in which they had the article, about Anton Szandor LaVey).

Now I have to complain about an editorial decision made in the magazine. As I said before, I had never heard of Robert Johnson before the story Hell Hound Blues. I naturally thought it was just made up for the story. That story was the second story in the magazine, Faustian deals was the second last. But in it it referenced the deal that Robert Johnson made with the devil.

I believe these two stories should have been switched in position, for two reasons. The first is that it would’ve allowed Loathsome Lore to introduce the concept of Robert Johnson’s deal with the devil before it was used in a story.

The second and possibly more important reason to switch these two stories is that Hell Hound Blues is the best story in the magazine. It should have been second last. Well, actually, it should’ve been last. But second last still would’ve been better.

As for the writing of this particular tale. It seems interesting enough. It is not however a story. I like it. But it really is not a story. The artwork is its saving grace and is unquestionably the best artwork in the entire magazine (not including the frontispiece by Bernie Wrightson).

Hallelujah! Although I’m not quite finished with this horse, yet. I feel are renewed vigor. I’m into the home stretch. There is only one more story to talk about and that one’s going to be pretty easy, because it’s a reprint. Yes kiddies, they didn’t even bother closing with something new.

The tale in question, Daddy And The Pie will have to wait for the next post. Only then will I be able to inflict the final whack.

Be careful driving home, and remember – time is nature’s way of keeping everything from happening at once.