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Adele Blanc-Sec Sees Her UK Premiere Date

March 19th, 2011

Luc Besson’s The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec is slowly making its way to this country. An English-language movie poster appeared in the UK ahead of the movie’s April 22nd release. So can a U.S. premiere be far behind? If anything, it’ll be a case of a “limited release”, hitting the major metropolitan areas like New York and L.A. Or, if a distributor is smart, he or she will pick up this movie in time for a special summer premiere in San Diego… Here’s the poster:

Still not sold? Check out the movie trailer; it is in French with English subtitles, but don’t let that frighten you.

Adele Blanc-Sec was created by French cartoonist Jacques Tardi. His heroine’s exploits often played against a backdrop of an early 20th century Paris rife with occults, supernatural events, and dark political maneuverings.

Volume 1 of the adventures of Adele Blanc Sec entitled The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec Vol. 1: Pterror Over Paris and The Eiffel Tower Demon is available from Fantagraphics Books or check your local comic store.

Tags: Adele Blanc Sec, Fantagraphics, Jacques Tardi, Luc Besson
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BBC America Announces Air Date for New Season of Doctor Who

March 15th, 2011

BBC America announced that the new series of Doctor Who will kick off Saturday April 23. Part one of the new season finds the Doctor (Matt Smith), Amy (Karen Gillan) and Rory (Arthur Darvil) landing in Utah in 1969 after answering a summons from the mysterious River Song (Alex Kingston). Action and adventure lead the time travelers right to the Oval Office, where rumor has it they will meet Trick Dick himself, Richard Nixon. Below is the official BBC America promo banner:

While titles and synopses are still under wraps, here’s what we know about the first part of the 6th season:

Episode 3

Written by Steve Thompson who penned the second episode of Steven Moffat’s popular Sherlock.

Episode 4

Here it is kids, the episode written by Neil Gaiman. The Doctor meets someone who, according to Gaiman “might turn out to be an old acquaintance with a new face.”

Episodes 5 and 6

Tentatively titled “The Rebel Flesh” and “Gangers” and written by Matthew Graham.

Episode 7

Steven Moffat writes the mid-season cliffhanger. No details have been revealed, but rest assured, with Moffat, expect some trippy timey-wimey craziness.

And in case anyone missed it, here’s the official season six trailer:

Tags: Alex Kingston, Arthur Darvill, BBC America, Doctor Who season six, Karen Gillan, Matt Smith, Neil Gaiman, River Song, Steven Moffat
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Google News Fail: Prestigious Suicides

January 20th, 2011

Does Google check to see if these things make any sense?

So apparently, this is the “prestigious honor” afforded visiting foreign dignitaries.

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British Video Dump

December 12th, 2010

Let’s drop a few videos of the British-TV variety today. First, people complain that Americans don’t know Doctor Who. Craig Ferguson of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson set out to introduce U.S. television audiences to the good Doctor via this short musical number:

Douglas Adams is probably best known for creating The Hitch Hikers’s Guide to the Galaxy. In 1987, Adams published Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, the first book in what was to have been a three-book series. The third book, The Salmon of Doubt was never completed due to Adam’s death. Dirk Gently, however, lives on in BBC Four’s adaptation of Holistic Detective Agency starring Stephen Mangan as Dirk Gently. Trailer time:

In only a couple of weeks, the Doctor Who Christmas special airs with Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, Arthur Darvill and guest starring Michael Gambon and singer Katherine Jenkins. BBC America will also step up their game by broadcasting the episode on Christmas day. No delay! Here’s a preview:

Tags: BBC Four, Craig Ferguson, Dirk Gently, Doctor Who Christmas Special, Douglas Adams, Karen Gillan, Matt Smith
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AMC and The Walking Dead Invade New York

October 26th, 2010

AMC is unleashing its new series The Walking Dead this Sunday and to generate a little buzz, the network turned the undead loose onto unsuspecting commuters making their way to work on 7th Avenue outside New York City’s Penn Station. Honestly, I first thought I was witnessing a bum fight. But this was cool too.

The Walking Dead is based on the Image comic created by writer Robert Kirkman and artist Tony Moore chronicling the adventures of a band of people as they try to survive a zombie apocalypse. The comic has been continuously published since it debuted in 2003. Tony Moore illustrated the first seven issues and then was replaced by artist Charlie Adlard. Adlard continues to draw the series to this day. AMC’s The Walking Dead premieres Sunday October 31 at 10PM. Click over to AMC TV for schedule details. For more on the ongoing Image Comics series, please visit Image Comics.

Tags: AMC television series, Charlie Adlard, Image Comics, Robert Kirkman, The Walking Dead, Tony Moore
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IDW Publishing Launches Doctor Who #1 in January

October 23rd, 2010

At New York Comic Con, I was lucky enough to meet Blair Shedd, Kelly Yates and Matthew Dow Smith, three of IDW Publishing’s Doctor Who artists. Each was very proud of their work and excited to talk all things Timelord, dropping hints and revealing artwork for IDW Publishing’s new Doctor Who series which launches in January with Matt Smith’s 11th Doctor as well as starting again with a new number one. Now IDW Publishing has released solicitation information for the comic, including artwork:

Doctor Who #1

Written by Tony Lee, art by Andrew Currie, covers by Tommy Lee Edwards, photo.

The Eleventh Doctor era starts here! When the TARDIS becomes infected with holographic spam, the Doctor, Amy, and Rory are forced to land on an alien world, but it’s been targeted for invasion by intergalactic mercenaries! Don’t miss the first adventures of the new Doctor and his companions in the latest volume of this critically acclaimed series!

32 pages, $3.99, in stores on Jan. 12.

Here’s a beautiful preview of Kelly Yates’ variant cover:

Fans of Matthew Dow Smith’s artwork, take note: the artist debuts with issue six. If you can’t wait that long, don’t fear. Smith’s art can be seen in Tony Lee’s final 10th Doctor story “Final Sacrifice”. Here’s IDW Publishing’s solictation:

DOCTOR WHO, VOL. 3: FINAL SACRIFICE

Written by Tony Lee, art and cover by Matthew Dow Smith.

He’s had a great run, but this collection contains IDW’s final 10th Doctor story! On a war-ravaged alien world, the Doctor fights to save a friend from the nefarious Advocate, while avoiding a planet-wide civil war and a space-and-time misplaced paranormal investigators. Everything leads to this point — but who will die?

Includes ongoing issues #13 and 16, and the special Doctor Who Annual, which features stories from Davis & Yates, Lee & Smith, and Al Davison, too!

144 pages, $19.99, in stores on Jan. 12.

January is going to be an exciting time for fans of Doctor Who comics. Special thanks to Comics Continnum for the images. Check IDW Publishing for more Doctor Who comic news.

Tags: Blair Shedd, David Tennant, IDW Publishing Doctor Who, Kelly Yates, Matt Smith, Mtthew Dow Smith, Tony Lee
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New York Comic Con — The Photos

October 12th, 2010

Ouch! New York Comic Con has come to close for 2010 and what a great weekend it was! There was definitely a Doctor Who theme this year as I met three of the artists on IDW Publishing’s Doctor Who comics and one shots: Kelly Yates, whose art has appeared in “the Forgotten”, “Autopia” and the 2010 Doctor Who Annual; Blair Shedd, illustrator of “Don’t Step on the Grass” and Matthew Dow Smith, currently illustrating Tony Lee’s story arc concluding the adventures of David Tennant’s 10th Doctor. All three gentlemen were extremely pleasant, expressing their love for all things Doctor Who, especially the fan enthusiasm toward the IDW Publishing series. I even got to see one of the variant wraparound covers for the new series when it gets relaunched with Matt Smith’s 11th Doctor. If you are a fan of the Doctor Who comics and any of these fine artists, then please go to your nearest comic store and purchase each issue. Let IDW Publishing know that there is indeed fan support for the comic based on the quirky British sci-fi series about an alien who travels around in a Police Public Call Box.

You’ll be helping support people like this man: the great Matthew Dow Smith, current (and future!) Doctor Who artist, posing here after having just signed my comic.

I Meet a Doctor Who Companion

Continuing with the Who theme, I also got to meet actress Daphne Ashbrook, the incredibly talented an gorgeous actress who portrayed Dr. Grace Holloway in the 1996 Fox TV Doctor Who movie. She appeared in New York courtesy of Big Finish Audio, producers of the fantastic audio adventures of the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th Doctors. You can see her here in the 1996 Fox promo for the “television event of the year”:

Ms. Ashbrook has had a distinguished television career, but she will probably be best remembered for her work on Doctor Who. Funny how that that works out. Anyway, here I am, fortunate enough to have met the lovely and talented Daphne Ashbrook:

The Rest of the New York Comic Con Photos

Despite my predictions of cool weather hampering costumes, people showed up dressed to kill. And yes, there was a slave Leia.

Wrapping Up New York Comic Con

This was my third NYCC and by far it was the most fun. We put a lot of time in Artist’s Alley this year which, in case you missed it, was actually its own room. This was a stroke of genius on behalf of the organizers and it provided a great environment to interact with the artists, who in previous years were relegated to one corner of the exhibition floor. Take note San Diego! It was interesting that this year, we avoided (consciously or not) most of the media events, focusing instead on the artists, the back issue bins and retailers. Not sure if we were in a retro state of mind, but it was a blast pouring through old action figures and movie posters. Here’s to 2011!

Tags: Big Finish Audio, Blair Shedd, Daphne Asbrook, David Tennant, Doctor Who, IDW Publishing, Kelly Yates, Lion O, Matt Smith, Mtthew Dow Smith, New York Comic Con, Slave Leia, The Mighty Monarch
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The Saturday Hangover — 10/02/2010

October 2nd, 2010

It’s October and that means that Halloween is just a few weeks away! There’s so many things to do and see this month, I hardly know where to begin. Well maybe at the beginning, so here it goes.

Visit the Witch’s Dungeon

Fans of the the classic Universal monster movies have reason to be excited this month as the Witch’s Dungeon opens its doors each weekend in October. The museum, located in Bristol, CT, features life-sized scenes based on those classic Universal movies. Frankenstein’s monster, Dracula, the Wolf Man, and a host of other famous monsters inhabit the museum which is guaranteed to send chills down the spine of even the most hardcore horror fan. The Witch’s Dungeon is also celebrating the release of their DVD, The Aurora Monsters, a documentary of the history of the Aurora model craze that gripped many young monster fans in the 1960′s. Featuring interviews with many of the original Aurora artists and sculptors — including James Bama, the Aurora Model kits cover artist — the DVD explores why the plastic models were so popular with kids and illustrates how they inspired many of today’s make-up artists and film makers. Check out The Witch’s Dungeon web site for more information on the DVD and their museum.

Hammer Horror Lives on Turner Classic Movies

Continuing the Halloween-theme, Turner Classic Movies is broadcasting a month-long tribute to Hammer Films, the small British film studio that reinvigorated the horror genre when they released The Horror of Dracula starring two little-known actors: Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. The film was so wildly successful, it spawned several sequels and allowed the studio to recreate other classic horror icons including the Mummy, Frankenstein and the Wolf Man. It’s hard to pin down what made these movies so successful, but the combination of sultry females in low-cut dresses, copious amounts of blood (for the time), rich, beautiful sets, and theater-quality actors all brought sophistication and sexiness to the genre. These movies have remained popular through the decades and it’s fantastic to see TCM bringing them back for a new generation of fans to discover. The TCM Web site has the full schedule of movies running through October.

New York Comic Con Lands Next Weekend

Next weekend, New York Comic Con comes to the Jacob Javits Center promising more costumes, comics and pop culture than you can shake a lightsaber at. This year, the con is joining forces with the New York Anime Fest so it will be interesting to see how the two groups come together. If San Diego is any indication, it’s going to be a party! This is our third year attending and I can’t wait for the festivities. Of the things I am looking forward to most, the American debut of Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss’s Sherlock on Friday night (probably the closest we’ll get to a Doctor Who event this year) and the Jackson Public/Doc Hammer autograph signing Saturday from 11am – 12pm in room 1c01 are at the top of the list. Will the cooler fall weather mean less slave Leia’s?

Who Remembers Devil Girl From Mars?

Patricia Laffan starred in the 1954 flick Devil Girl from Mars as the leather-clad Nyah, an alien who comes to Earth on a mission to collect men for breeding stock. She comes armed with a ray gun and the worst giant robot of all time.

Laffan projects an icy sexiness as Nyah, stalking around the moors searching for victims. Unfortunately, the bad acting from the humans and cheap special effects really work against her. Still it’s a shame that this movie is not more well known, except among bad-movie watchers and people who attend comic conventions.

Tags: Christopher Lee, Devil Girl From Mars, Hammer Films, Mark Gatiss, New York Comic Con, Patricia Laffan, Peter Cushing, Sherlock tv series, Steven Moffat, Turner Classic Movies, Witch's Dungeon
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The Friday Mix — 09/24/10

September 24th, 2010

We’re back, at least temporarily. I have a legit job now, so my free time is a little scarce. If things settle down, I’ll return to a more consistent schedule, but in the meantime:

Fun in New York Subways

The evening commute can seem like hell — especially if you have to brave the tunnels of the 42nd St. Port Authority hub — but fortunately there are scenes like this that bring a smile to one’s face and make the trip a little easier.

Doctor Who News

Did anyone read Steven Moffat’s quotes over at io9.com today? Sounds like the Doctor and his companions are in for some crazy times next year when Series Six broadcasts. Here’s a brief glimpse:

So what can I tell you about next series? The startling truth about Idris’ new soul – even the Doctor doesn’t believe her! The frankly appalling revelation concerning the one person in the universe the Doctor trusts the most? Would you like to peek inside a cupboard that will chill your blood, or meet a workforce that will haunt your dreams? Have you ever wondered about Apollo Ten and a half? And have you already guessed that River Song is…

For real? In case you didn’t know the series is going to be split into two halves with the first part taking place in the spring with a cliffhanger finale and then the remaining six episodes broadcast in the fall. To read the rest of Steven Moffat’s mysterious predictions, click over to io9.com right now!

Best Find at the Brimfield Flea Market

A couple of weeks ago, Greg and I went to the Brimfield Flea Market, the largest outdoor flea market and antiques roadshow in Western Massachusetts. If you need 19th century machine equipment or prosthetic legs, chances are you can find them at the Brimfield Flea Market. This was my favorite find and if I had the money and the space, I would have bought it on the spot:

C’mon! She has green skin and a hook hand!

The Eastern States Exposition Means Eating ‘Till You Puke!

This weekend we’ll be in Massachusetts for the Eastern States Exposition, commonly referred to as “The Big E”. And as the headline suggests, it’s time to eat until sickness hits. Look for us around the food tents scarfing burgers, cheesesteak sandwiches, fried things, and all the foods on sticks we can get our hands on. And maybe beer. The annual New England event runs September 17 through October 3rd in West Springfield, MA. Sure we go for the food, but we also go to see the giant pig.

Tags: Brimfield Flea Market, Doctor Who, Eastern States Exposition, New York City Subway, Steven Moffat, The Big E
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The Lost Skeleton Returns Again! Now Out on DVD!

August 18th, 2010

The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra was a spot on homage to the low-budget, American International-style pictures of the 50′s and 60′s. It revelled in showing off the cheap special effects and questionable acting of the performers that were the hallmarks of many of those old movies. Remember the gorilla with the diving helmet whose mode of comunication was a bubble machine? Yeah, we’re talking that level of sophistication. Except on purpose. The plot, such as it was, concerned a scientist (Larry Blamire) and his wife (Fay Masterson) who trek to the isolated mountains (famed B-movie location Bronson Canyon) to find a recently crashed meteor that may contain that rarest of elements “atmosphereum”. Along the way, they encounter bickering aliens (Andrew Parks and Susan McConnell) — think the pair from Plan 9 from Outer Space — a hideous creature that is so obviously a man in a suit, a possessed scientist (Brian Howe), and a horrific skeleton that is clearly animated with ropes. Everything about the film was intentional, from the wooden acting and cheap special effects to the “always watch the skies” moralizing, in an attempt to recreate the authentic look of a B-movie. The film achieved a limited theatrical release and garnered a devoted cult following before being released on DVD in 2004.

The Lost Skeleton Returns Again!

Well, the cast and crew obviously had so much fun the first time, they decided to reunite for The Lost Skeleton Returns Again! This time Dr. Paul Armstrong, the scientist from the first film, has been missing in the jungle for two years and now his wife and the twin brother of the possessed scientist from the first movie embark on an expedition to retrieve the lost scientist and recover a rare mineral Jerranium 90. Racing against a rival expedition, our protagonists soon encounter some very familiar, bickering aliens, a lost tribe, horrible monsters, and the lovely Animala. Rowr, indeed! And as indicated by the title, the mysterious skull, all that remains of the lost skeleton of Cadavra, returns to take possession of another hapless soul. Enjoy these two trailers:

No word on whether this flick will be coming to NYC, but it is out on DVD and can purchased through Amazon. For more Lost Skeleton info, including more trailers and photos, visit The Lost Skeleton Returns Again!, the movie’s official web site.

Tags: Larry Blamire, The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra, The Lost Skeleton Returns Again
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