I would like to think that the film Popcorn is as good as I remember it when I saw it in ’91 when it was first released, but sadly this is a film, that for me, has aged very badly. Popcorn is about a group of students who put together a revival for old school gimmick films (B-movies in the vein of William Castle) and a serial killer who can mimic any one he wants in order to kill everyone at the revival event.
Jill Schoelen leads a cast on up and coming young actors (at the time at least) in a horror comedy with real bite. When I original saw the film I was young and the novelty of the film was not lost on me. I likened the film to the old Castle and Universal monster films. It was never a scary film, just a film that you could laugh at and have a good time.
Now the novelty is gone and the film can’t hold water under real scrutiny. I wish it did. I’m a huge fan of Schoelen from her days in such films as The Stepfather, Cutting Class, The Phantom of The Opera, and When a Stranger Calls Back, to name a few. The film is entertaining for a few laughs but that’s about it.
CITY GARDEN - "The Old Woman & The Park"
On the set of the short film "A Gift"
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Film Review: C.H.U.D. (1984)
‘80s horror films don’t get much better than the decay of humanity on display in this toxic waste film C.H.U.D. otherwise known as “cannibalistic humanoid underground dwellers.” When Captain Bosch’s (Christopher Curry) wife goes missing he decides to take the ravings of The Reverend Shepherd (Daniel Stern) seriously. He’s been trying to get someone to investigate the disappearance of several street people over the last few weeks. As Bosch and Shepherd dig deeper their paths cross with photographer George Cooper (John Heard) who has been documenting the lives of the city’s homeless and destitute.
What the three soon discover is that some of the city’s homeless people have been exposed to toxic waste being illegally dumped under the city. This toxic waste has turned these people into mutated cannibals who survive by eating other people. Now they must expose the truth before they become the next victims of the C.H.U.D.
Although slightly dated C.H.U.D. is nevertheless an entertaining and fun film. The special effects still hold up and despite the plot with several holes it’s a decent film about the harmful effects of illegal toxic waste dumping.
When I was a kid I maybe saw this film a hundred times because instead of being scared I always thought the monsters were really cool looking. I’m a monster geek at heart and this holds a spot in my “guilty pleasure” collection as it should in any self respecting horror fan who grew up with this film.
What the three soon discover is that some of the city’s homeless people have been exposed to toxic waste being illegally dumped under the city. This toxic waste has turned these people into mutated cannibals who survive by eating other people. Now they must expose the truth before they become the next victims of the C.H.U.D.
Although slightly dated C.H.U.D. is nevertheless an entertaining and fun film. The special effects still hold up and despite the plot with several holes it’s a decent film about the harmful effects of illegal toxic waste dumping.
When I was a kid I maybe saw this film a hundred times because instead of being scared I always thought the monsters were really cool looking. I’m a monster geek at heart and this holds a spot in my “guilty pleasure” collection as it should in any self respecting horror fan who grew up with this film.
Film Review: ALLIGATOR (1980)
The ‘80s were a great time for horror films as animals became man’s worst enemy from Cujo and Cat’s Eye to The Fly and Of Unknown Origin and Alligator belongs right up there with them. Lucky for us Alligator is a competently written film about the harmful effects of genetic manipulation (a popular theme of the ‘80s).
In this film Robert Forster plays a detective on the case of several missing limbs that pop up in the city’s water system. When he is attacked in the city sewer system by a large alligator he must convince the mayor that there is an mutated and abnormally large alligator roaming under the city streets killing whomever gets in its way.
One of the great things about this film is actor Forster who always takes the situation seriously and never plays it for laughs (which is how many of the films of this genre do today). There is humor to be had in this film but it is not at the expense of the film itself which is a testament to the great writing from John Sayles (who would go on to write such unforgettable films as Passion Fish, Men With Guns, Limbo, Matewan, and Eight Men Out not to mention the original Piranha and The Howling).
Because there is no CGI in the film the special effects for the alligator also hold up extremely well (and the fact that they used a real alligator in many scenes). Today a CGI alligator would be used and the film would not have nearly the same impact. Alligator may be a film of the ‘80s but it’s certainly better than many films of the ‘00s.
In this film Robert Forster plays a detective on the case of several missing limbs that pop up in the city’s water system. When he is attacked in the city sewer system by a large alligator he must convince the mayor that there is an mutated and abnormally large alligator roaming under the city streets killing whomever gets in its way.
One of the great things about this film is actor Forster who always takes the situation seriously and never plays it for laughs (which is how many of the films of this genre do today). There is humor to be had in this film but it is not at the expense of the film itself which is a testament to the great writing from John Sayles (who would go on to write such unforgettable films as Passion Fish, Men With Guns, Limbo, Matewan, and Eight Men Out not to mention the original Piranha and The Howling).
Because there is no CGI in the film the special effects for the alligator also hold up extremely well (and the fact that they used a real alligator in many scenes). Today a CGI alligator would be used and the film would not have nearly the same impact. Alligator may be a film of the ‘80s but it’s certainly better than many films of the ‘00s.
Graphic Novel Review: WORLD WITHOUT A SUPERMAN
I wasn’t a fan of the whole Death of Superman storyline/graphic novel but I’m pushing myself to get through the whole trilogy just to say that I’ve finally read the monumentally successful series. World Without A superman is the second part in the trilogy and focuses on the aftermath of the death of Superman at the hands of the alien Doomsday. Whereas the Death of Superman was very simple and pedestrian the writers behind the aftermath of Superman’s death decided to take great care in presenting the emotional turmoil of all the main characters of the Superman Universe at its worse. From Lois Lane’s breakdown from loosing Superman/Clark Kent her fiancé to the Kent’s (the parents of Clark Kent) having to deal with the death of their son and the fact that they can’t tell the world that Superman was, in fact, their son.
The story also delves into a secret government agenda to clone Superman and the breakdown of Lex Luther who is conflicted because he wasn’t the one that killed Superman. Unlike the Death of Superman, this storyline (which was original called “Funeral For A Friend”) is the story of letting go and saying goodbye and it does a great job in presenting an expect tell of the aftermath of the death of one of the world’s greatest superheroes.
Although I am not a Superman fan there is no denying the impact that the character has not only in the DC Universe but on the comic book industry as a whole. The story crosses over all four of the Superman titles and even though it is one story they are trying to tell each individual issue has its own story to tell as well (unlike the Death of Superman which seemed to be one story that couldn’t be enjoyed on an individual issue basis).
This series ends on a great note as the inevitable is finally revealed – That Superman may not, in fact, be dead! Although we all knew this was coming this storyline does a great job in presenting the possibly that Superman may, in fact, be dead.
The story also delves into a secret government agenda to clone Superman and the breakdown of Lex Luther who is conflicted because he wasn’t the one that killed Superman. Unlike the Death of Superman, this storyline (which was original called “Funeral For A Friend”) is the story of letting go and saying goodbye and it does a great job in presenting an expect tell of the aftermath of the death of one of the world’s greatest superheroes.
Although I am not a Superman fan there is no denying the impact that the character has not only in the DC Universe but on the comic book industry as a whole. The story crosses over all four of the Superman titles and even though it is one story they are trying to tell each individual issue has its own story to tell as well (unlike the Death of Superman which seemed to be one story that couldn’t be enjoyed on an individual issue basis).
This series ends on a great note as the inevitable is finally revealed – That Superman may not, in fact, be dead! Although we all knew this was coming this storyline does a great job in presenting the possibly that Superman may, in fact, be dead.
Graphic Novel Review: SHUTTER ISLAND by Christian de Metter
Having anticipation for the upcoming film release of Dennis Lehane’s novel SHUTTER ISLAND, I was excited that there was a graphic novel adaptation. I was even more excited that this adaptation was not based on the film (like a tie-in would be) but was based on Lehane’s novel and that graphic novel by Christian de Metter was listed as 2009 Official Selection at the annual Angouleme BD Festival (the Cannes of the comic world), which meant that this graphic novel wasn’t going to suck.
I am happy to say that de Metter has effortlessly adapted Lehane’s incredible novel. I could tell you the whole story but being a Lehane story discovering the mystery is half the one. Shutter Island is a mental facility that tries to cure and/or maintain some of the most violent and dangerous people suffering from mental illness. When one of these patients go missing two federal marshals are sent to investigate. These two marshals get more than they bargained for when they are stranded on the island during a storm and they begin to realize that there is more going on at the facility than meets the eye. The story then becomes a mystery of trying to discover how one of the patients escaped and to find the identity of another patient who doesn’t seem to exist.
Lehane’s story is great and it’s very interesting seeing how de Metter adapts it to the comic book medium. Although not truly a black and white comic the book maintains its noir elements by having all the colors muted and dulled down to simple grey tones. The few splashes of color are relegated to flashbacks which are a nice touch. This is one of the true highlights of the year and one that should be read before seeing the film (but after reading the original novel).
I am happy to say that de Metter has effortlessly adapted Lehane’s incredible novel. I could tell you the whole story but being a Lehane story discovering the mystery is half the one. Shutter Island is a mental facility that tries to cure and/or maintain some of the most violent and dangerous people suffering from mental illness. When one of these patients go missing two federal marshals are sent to investigate. These two marshals get more than they bargained for when they are stranded on the island during a storm and they begin to realize that there is more going on at the facility than meets the eye. The story then becomes a mystery of trying to discover how one of the patients escaped and to find the identity of another patient who doesn’t seem to exist.
Lehane’s story is great and it’s very interesting seeing how de Metter adapts it to the comic book medium. Although not truly a black and white comic the book maintains its noir elements by having all the colors muted and dulled down to simple grey tones. The few splashes of color are relegated to flashbacks which are a nice touch. This is one of the true highlights of the year and one that should be read before seeing the film (but after reading the original novel).
Film Review: THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON
I’m probably going to get a lot of hate mail for this review but I’m doing it anyways. I love werewolf films and despite the fact that I hated the werewolves in this film, I don’t think that THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON was as bad as everyone wants it to be (and there are a lot of people that want it to be). When I did my review of the first film TWILIGHT I didn’t think that the film was all that bad and its sequel which is vastly more entertaining isn’t that bad either.
After reading and hearing many opinions on the new film I’m still left with the same opinion I had on the first film – This is not a film for horror fans. I can’t say this enough. The TWILIGHT novels which were geared heavily towards the female audience has been adapted to films heavily geared towards the female audience; therefore all you horror fans looking for blood and guts and action need to check yourselves at the door. It’s not like the advertisements for the film didn’t warn you (nor the fact that the novels are love stories for the young and female crowd). The movies, which have become more like date movies, are the equivalent of two people going out and watching SLEEPLESS IN SEATLE or THE WEDDING DATE, just with vampires and werewolves. This is no secret.
Whereas the first film was about two people falling in love, NEW MOON is about the break up and how it affects one of the two in the couple who refuses to allow herself to let go and heal. Despite everything about the “sparkly” vampires and the so-called “juvenile” dialogue the film works because it never forgets who its target audience is which are people who experience a breakup and most learn how to deal with it however which way they can. Bella (Kristen Stewart) deals with the breakup of her true love Edward (Robert Pattinson) in a very destructive manner and it is Jacob (Taylor Lautner) who is there to pick up the pieces and try to help Bella cope. This then leads into the love triangle between the three and the conflict between humans and werewolves and vampires (which is all just great food coloring to what otherwise is just a typical love story).
I can find all types of faults with the film (the giant werewolves for one) but these faults do not diminish the impact of what the story, essentially, is trying to say which is breaking up with the one you love is hell and we (as humans, werewolves or vampires) do a lot of stupid things in order to cope. I could go out there and watch WHEN IN ROME, IT’S COMPLICATED, LEAP YEAR, DEAR JOHN, or COUPLES RETREAT, among many others, but why should I when I can get the same thing here only with vampires and werewolves?
After reading and hearing many opinions on the new film I’m still left with the same opinion I had on the first film – This is not a film for horror fans. I can’t say this enough. The TWILIGHT novels which were geared heavily towards the female audience has been adapted to films heavily geared towards the female audience; therefore all you horror fans looking for blood and guts and action need to check yourselves at the door. It’s not like the advertisements for the film didn’t warn you (nor the fact that the novels are love stories for the young and female crowd). The movies, which have become more like date movies, are the equivalent of two people going out and watching SLEEPLESS IN SEATLE or THE WEDDING DATE, just with vampires and werewolves. This is no secret.
Whereas the first film was about two people falling in love, NEW MOON is about the break up and how it affects one of the two in the couple who refuses to allow herself to let go and heal. Despite everything about the “sparkly” vampires and the so-called “juvenile” dialogue the film works because it never forgets who its target audience is which are people who experience a breakup and most learn how to deal with it however which way they can. Bella (Kristen Stewart) deals with the breakup of her true love Edward (Robert Pattinson) in a very destructive manner and it is Jacob (Taylor Lautner) who is there to pick up the pieces and try to help Bella cope. This then leads into the love triangle between the three and the conflict between humans and werewolves and vampires (which is all just great food coloring to what otherwise is just a typical love story).
I can find all types of faults with the film (the giant werewolves for one) but these faults do not diminish the impact of what the story, essentially, is trying to say which is breaking up with the one you love is hell and we (as humans, werewolves or vampires) do a lot of stupid things in order to cope. I could go out there and watch WHEN IN ROME, IT’S COMPLICATED, LEAP YEAR, DEAR JOHN, or COUPLES RETREAT, among many others, but why should I when I can get the same thing here only with vampires and werewolves?
Film Review: DAYBREAKERS
Being a huge fan of the Spierig Brothers’ previous film UNDEAD, I couldn’t wait to see what they had in store for the vampire genre. In their previous film they rewrote everything we know about the zombie genre and turned it on its head and I had faith that they were going to do the same thing for the vampire genre (a genre I personally loathe). I was not disappointed!
In their new film DAYBREAKERS a plague has turned most of the populace into vampires and those who have not been turned hide in fear of becoming a victim of blood farming by a nefarious corporation run by Charles Bromley (Sam Neil). Edward Dalton (Ethan Hawke) who loathes his existence as a vampire works for Bromley trying to find a synthetic blood substitute because the human population is almost extinct and the corporation’s current blood supply will not last them more than a month. Just when Edward believes that there is no more hope for their kind in steps Elvis (Willem Dafoe) who was once a vampire but through happenstance has discovered a cure for vampirism and a hope for humanity. With Edward’s help Elvis and what’s left of the human resistance hope to cultivate this cure before time runs out and all of humanity is extinct.
Like UNDEAD, DAYBREAKERS is not only a horror film but an action film as well. The Spierig Bros. have outdone themselves this time as this film is a huge step up from their zombie film in terms not only of production values but the caliber of actors and action. DAYBREAKERS is a grandiose film in terms of low budget futuristic films and they don’t skimp out on the horror either (what their fans really want to see) as there is plenty of the red stuff to go around. Everyone is on their “A” game in this film
Now, I’ll be the first to admit that I was a little skeptical about the film. The last futuristic vampire film was the abysmal ULTRAVIOLET so you can probably guess why I was apprehensive about this film despite the high caliber talent on display, but the Speirig Bros. present such a fully realized world with DAYBREAKERS that you can’t help but take notice. It’s a shame that this film sat on the studio shelf for a couple years before finally being released (perhaps because of the popularity of vampires after the two TWILIGHT films) but it was well worth the wait as this film is truly a definition of good things to come not only for the Speirig Bros. but for the vampire genre as well.
In their new film DAYBREAKERS a plague has turned most of the populace into vampires and those who have not been turned hide in fear of becoming a victim of blood farming by a nefarious corporation run by Charles Bromley (Sam Neil). Edward Dalton (Ethan Hawke) who loathes his existence as a vampire works for Bromley trying to find a synthetic blood substitute because the human population is almost extinct and the corporation’s current blood supply will not last them more than a month. Just when Edward believes that there is no more hope for their kind in steps Elvis (Willem Dafoe) who was once a vampire but through happenstance has discovered a cure for vampirism and a hope for humanity. With Edward’s help Elvis and what’s left of the human resistance hope to cultivate this cure before time runs out and all of humanity is extinct.
Like UNDEAD, DAYBREAKERS is not only a horror film but an action film as well. The Spierig Bros. have outdone themselves this time as this film is a huge step up from their zombie film in terms not only of production values but the caliber of actors and action. DAYBREAKERS is a grandiose film in terms of low budget futuristic films and they don’t skimp out on the horror either (what their fans really want to see) as there is plenty of the red stuff to go around. Everyone is on their “A” game in this film
Now, I’ll be the first to admit that I was a little skeptical about the film. The last futuristic vampire film was the abysmal ULTRAVIOLET so you can probably guess why I was apprehensive about this film despite the high caliber talent on display, but the Speirig Bros. present such a fully realized world with DAYBREAKERS that you can’t help but take notice. It’s a shame that this film sat on the studio shelf for a couple years before finally being released (perhaps because of the popularity of vampires after the two TWILIGHT films) but it was well worth the wait as this film is truly a definition of good things to come not only for the Speirig Bros. but for the vampire genre as well.
Film Review: LEGION
It’s been a while since I’ve written a film review but I decided to start back up with a review on the film LEGION because there have been so many differing opinions on the film. Being a film with heavy undertones of religious iconography there are those that love the film and those who hate it. I happen to like the film but the other two people who were with me when I screened the film hated it. One of them even wanted to walk out on the film.
The film concerns a group of diner patrons and employees who get stranded at a diner in the middle of nowhere in what appears to be a sign of a religious apocalypse. All of these people are from different backgrounds but what they all have in common is that they all have a past that leaves them with regret. Well, they’ll need to overcome this regret if they will be able to survive the night as the diner is assaulted by possessed humans (who are weak in spirit and faith) who have only one goal – to kill the woman and unborn child of a waitress at the diner whose child holds the key to saving all of humanity. To aid this waitress in her survival is the fallen angel Michael who has forsaken the rule of God in order to not only save the woman and her unborn child but all of humanity in the process. Unlike the similarly themed THE PROPHESY, LEGION is a balls to the wall action film which also takes liberties with many quieter moments in the film that go a long way in delivering a theme about people who all live with some regret in their lives. This regret is the crux of the film as each character is put through the ultimate tests of overcoming that regret in order to save not only their own souls but humanity as well.
It would have been real easy for the film to simply have been an action-horror film that killed each of the characters for no other reason other than to have a huge body count but screenwriters Peter Schink and Scott Stewart go a long way in presenting realistic characters that want to atone for their pasts. The character Kyle (Tyrese Gibson) is a man just trying to be a good father but has spent his entire life living the lie of a gangster. His only goal is to be a good father but the mistakes of his past continue to haunt him. He sacrifices his life to save a child in danger of a rouge gang that have just killed the child’s father. Percy (Charles S. Dutton) sacrifices himself to save the life of one of the other diner patrons (a stranger before that very day) and Audrey (Willa Holland) who was the “bad girl” of her previous school finds it within herself to protect and save the life of a child who may hold the key to the future of humanity. Sacrifice and regret can be no stronger than in waitress Charlie (Adrianne Palicki) who wanted an abortion but now wants to give her child up for adoption. She wants nothing to do with the child but through the course of the story she must face up to her fears and believe that there is a purpose for her and it lies within the future of her child. I could go into further details about each of the characters in the film and how their fates lie together (or apart as it seems with some of the characters) but just know that the writers were not trying to only craft a commercial thrill ride but something with more substance.
Although slightly heavy handed with the religious undertones, the film still manages to pack a punch for those willing to go for the ride. For those who are simply looking for an action-horror film this may not be 100% for them as the film does not hide its religious intent and those looking for simply a religious film than this might have too much action and horror elements. Either way, like THE PROPHESY (which many thought was too dark or too funny for a faith-based film), this film has split audiences.
The film concerns a group of diner patrons and employees who get stranded at a diner in the middle of nowhere in what appears to be a sign of a religious apocalypse. All of these people are from different backgrounds but what they all have in common is that they all have a past that leaves them with regret. Well, they’ll need to overcome this regret if they will be able to survive the night as the diner is assaulted by possessed humans (who are weak in spirit and faith) who have only one goal – to kill the woman and unborn child of a waitress at the diner whose child holds the key to saving all of humanity. To aid this waitress in her survival is the fallen angel Michael who has forsaken the rule of God in order to not only save the woman and her unborn child but all of humanity in the process. Unlike the similarly themed THE PROPHESY, LEGION is a balls to the wall action film which also takes liberties with many quieter moments in the film that go a long way in delivering a theme about people who all live with some regret in their lives. This regret is the crux of the film as each character is put through the ultimate tests of overcoming that regret in order to save not only their own souls but humanity as well.
It would have been real easy for the film to simply have been an action-horror film that killed each of the characters for no other reason other than to have a huge body count but screenwriters Peter Schink and Scott Stewart go a long way in presenting realistic characters that want to atone for their pasts. The character Kyle (Tyrese Gibson) is a man just trying to be a good father but has spent his entire life living the lie of a gangster. His only goal is to be a good father but the mistakes of his past continue to haunt him. He sacrifices his life to save a child in danger of a rouge gang that have just killed the child’s father. Percy (Charles S. Dutton) sacrifices himself to save the life of one of the other diner patrons (a stranger before that very day) and Audrey (Willa Holland) who was the “bad girl” of her previous school finds it within herself to protect and save the life of a child who may hold the key to the future of humanity. Sacrifice and regret can be no stronger than in waitress Charlie (Adrianne Palicki) who wanted an abortion but now wants to give her child up for adoption. She wants nothing to do with the child but through the course of the story she must face up to her fears and believe that there is a purpose for her and it lies within the future of her child. I could go into further details about each of the characters in the film and how their fates lie together (or apart as it seems with some of the characters) but just know that the writers were not trying to only craft a commercial thrill ride but something with more substance.
Although slightly heavy handed with the religious undertones, the film still manages to pack a punch for those willing to go for the ride. For those who are simply looking for an action-horror film this may not be 100% for them as the film does not hide its religious intent and those looking for simply a religious film than this might have too much action and horror elements. Either way, like THE PROPHESY (which many thought was too dark or too funny for a faith-based film), this film has split audiences.
Comic Book Review: ALIENS (2009) #1-4 (Dark Horse Comics)
I don’t do too many reviews of individual comic book reviews opting instead to wait until they are collected into graphic novel form so that I can review the story as well as all the supplemental items that publishers put with the graphic novel version to entice fans to fork out more money. Well, with this all new ALIENS series I just couldn’t wait.
Having been a Dark Horse Comics fan from the very beginning (from the meager begins of the first Dark Horse Presents series to the very first black & white ALIENS limited series) I’ve come to expect new and bold things from this publisher who for the most part do not cater to the popular crowd. They were the ones behind the first ALIENS and Predator series as well as The Mask, Concrete, Barb Wire, and many, many more . The ALIENS series has been gone for many years due to over saturation in the market and dwindling value in the stories being told. After a while I began to think that the stories were all a little too similar to one another.
I was very happy to hear that they were revamping the series (thanks in part to the popularity of the two Alien Vs. Predator movies) and writer John Arcudi would be behind it (he’s also doing the new Predator series as well). Arcudi has been in the business a long time and he knows what he’s doing.
This new story concerns a group of scientists who make their way to Chione, an inhabited mining planet that has just recently unveiled the existence of alien structures of which the scientists are sent there to study and analyze. Everything seems to be going perfectly well until the mining inhabitants open fire on the scientists killing them all. It appears that the inhabitants of the planet live in fear that outsiders will come an steal their precious alien artifacts away. This uncontrollable fear is being caused by the alien artifacts themselves which puts all that come near into a euphoric state like an addictive drug driving them all into semi-madness. This madness leaves the Chione inhabitants susceptible to the alien infestation which was kept hidden until the alien structure was unearthed.
Unknown to the mining inhabitants of Chione there was a survivor of the group of scientists and the only reason he survived is because he’s a synthetic organism. This survivor David Sereda now finds himself tasks with trying to answer a distress signal on the planet before he is able to leave it. Sereda now finds himself pitted against homicidal inhabitants, an alien infestation, and the fact that some of his programming was damaged when he was originally gunned down by the natives.
Arcudi bases a lot of what follows in this series from the first two films in the series. The miners come across an alien structure that houses the embryos of the alien xenomorphs, which create an uncontrollable infestation. What Arcudi does well is present us with a sympathetic synthetic that may or may not have programming issues. Artwork is principally by Zach Howard whose work I’m not familiar with but does an excellent job with this new series. Another great asset to the series is Wes Dzioba’s colors which just make the whole series come alive like few of the other ALIEN series before. If this is a sign of new things to come for future series than I’m all for it.
Having been a Dark Horse Comics fan from the very beginning (from the meager begins of the first Dark Horse Presents series to the very first black & white ALIENS limited series) I’ve come to expect new and bold things from this publisher who for the most part do not cater to the popular crowd. They were the ones behind the first ALIENS and Predator series as well as The Mask, Concrete, Barb Wire, and many, many more . The ALIENS series has been gone for many years due to over saturation in the market and dwindling value in the stories being told. After a while I began to think that the stories were all a little too similar to one another.
I was very happy to hear that they were revamping the series (thanks in part to the popularity of the two Alien Vs. Predator movies) and writer John Arcudi would be behind it (he’s also doing the new Predator series as well). Arcudi has been in the business a long time and he knows what he’s doing.
This new story concerns a group of scientists who make their way to Chione, an inhabited mining planet that has just recently unveiled the existence of alien structures of which the scientists are sent there to study and analyze. Everything seems to be going perfectly well until the mining inhabitants open fire on the scientists killing them all. It appears that the inhabitants of the planet live in fear that outsiders will come an steal their precious alien artifacts away. This uncontrollable fear is being caused by the alien artifacts themselves which puts all that come near into a euphoric state like an addictive drug driving them all into semi-madness. This madness leaves the Chione inhabitants susceptible to the alien infestation which was kept hidden until the alien structure was unearthed.
Unknown to the mining inhabitants of Chione there was a survivor of the group of scientists and the only reason he survived is because he’s a synthetic organism. This survivor David Sereda now finds himself tasks with trying to answer a distress signal on the planet before he is able to leave it. Sereda now finds himself pitted against homicidal inhabitants, an alien infestation, and the fact that some of his programming was damaged when he was originally gunned down by the natives.
Arcudi bases a lot of what follows in this series from the first two films in the series. The miners come across an alien structure that houses the embryos of the alien xenomorphs, which create an uncontrollable infestation. What Arcudi does well is present us with a sympathetic synthetic that may or may not have programming issues. Artwork is principally by Zach Howard whose work I’m not familiar with but does an excellent job with this new series. Another great asset to the series is Wes Dzioba’s colors which just make the whole series come alive like few of the other ALIEN series before. If this is a sign of new things to come for future series than I’m all for it.
GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW: THE ZOMBIE SURVIVAL GUIDE: RECORDED ATTACKS by Max Brooks
Max Brooks took the horror world by storm with his breakout novel The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead. This novel was a “how to” on surviving a zombie apocalypse (should there ever be one). It was hugely popular not only with horror enthusiasts but with mainstream audiences as well prompting the release of his next novel World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, which documented all the historical encounters that mankind has had with the living dead. What made this second novel so popular was the fact that Brooks adopted the style of having all the stories being recounted by survivors and witnesses of a zombie outbreak.
Now we come to the newest addition to the ever growing zombie world that Brooks has created with the graphic novel The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks. This graphic novel goes through history documenting stories that may have been “in reality” zombie attacks. Stories range from 60,000 B.C. to the present day and stretch from Central Africa to Siberia to Japan and to the United States. Like in World War Z, Brooks takes the time to cover a lot of ground even in the short span of this graphic novel.
Illustrated by Ibraim Roberson the stories recounted in the graphic novel are lush and so realistic that they pop right off the page. The black & white artwork is reminiscent of an old newsreel and evokes the dread of film director George A. Romero’s original 1968 Night of the Living Dead. Little to no dialogue is spoken between the characters depicted in the stories as Brooks maintains the feeling of his previous novel by evoking the “oral” tradition of storytelling. It is as if we are being told these stories from a first hand account and Robinson’s artwork brings those oral stories to glorious life.
This is a fine achievement in both storytelling and illustration and a great compliment to Brooks’ other two works. If you’re a fan of his other novels (or just a zombie fan at heart) then you’ll love what he’s done here in the comic book medium.
Now we come to the newest addition to the ever growing zombie world that Brooks has created with the graphic novel The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks. This graphic novel goes through history documenting stories that may have been “in reality” zombie attacks. Stories range from 60,000 B.C. to the present day and stretch from Central Africa to Siberia to Japan and to the United States. Like in World War Z, Brooks takes the time to cover a lot of ground even in the short span of this graphic novel.
Illustrated by Ibraim Roberson the stories recounted in the graphic novel are lush and so realistic that they pop right off the page. The black & white artwork is reminiscent of an old newsreel and evokes the dread of film director George A. Romero’s original 1968 Night of the Living Dead. Little to no dialogue is spoken between the characters depicted in the stories as Brooks maintains the feeling of his previous novel by evoking the “oral” tradition of storytelling. It is as if we are being told these stories from a first hand account and Robinson’s artwork brings those oral stories to glorious life.
This is a fine achievement in both storytelling and illustration and a great compliment to Brooks’ other two works. If you’re a fan of his other novels (or just a zombie fan at heart) then you’ll love what he’s done here in the comic book medium.
GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW: TERMINATOR: THE BURNING EARTH
TERMINATOR: THE BURNING EARTH marked two milestones in comic book history. First, it was the first comic book series that extended the story first created by director James Cameron and his films THE TERMINATOR and TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY and second, it marked the debut of famed comic book artist Alex Rose, who would go on to do phenomenal MARVELS and KINGDOM COME series (among others).
Written by Ron Fortier with painted art by Ross THE BURNING EARTH was a post apocalyptic story about the last days of the residence with John Conner doing battle with his remaining band of soldiers against the sentient Skynet who plans on killing every living thing on Earth with nuclear bombs.
One of the great things about Ross’ artwork is that even though the main color pallet is blues and grey, he manages to create a style that doesn’t muddle the look of the scenes but give them a deeper and darker meaning as if the reader was thrust into a horror film of impending danger and destruction. No one is safe in this world of man verses machines, not even the conflicted leader of Conner who is just trying to hold on to what humanity he has left in this never ending war.
Although not the best of the Terminator series (Dark Horse Comics would later get the license to continue the franchise), it is still definitely one of the darkest of the series and since it was the first it has a lot of advantages over the others. This is also a great series for people who want to see some of Ross’ earliest work and where his current style came from (Ross was 19 when he did this series and only one year out of art school).
Written by Ron Fortier with painted art by Ross THE BURNING EARTH was a post apocalyptic story about the last days of the residence with John Conner doing battle with his remaining band of soldiers against the sentient Skynet who plans on killing every living thing on Earth with nuclear bombs.
One of the great things about Ross’ artwork is that even though the main color pallet is blues and grey, he manages to create a style that doesn’t muddle the look of the scenes but give them a deeper and darker meaning as if the reader was thrust into a horror film of impending danger and destruction. No one is safe in this world of man verses machines, not even the conflicted leader of Conner who is just trying to hold on to what humanity he has left in this never ending war.
Although not the best of the Terminator series (Dark Horse Comics would later get the license to continue the franchise), it is still definitely one of the darkest of the series and since it was the first it has a lot of advantages over the others. This is also a great series for people who want to see some of Ross’ earliest work and where his current style came from (Ross was 19 when he did this series and only one year out of art school).
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