Vintage Comics - Black Magic, Issue #2: I've Seen You Before, Yesterday You Died (Pg. 27 - End)

This first story in the final portion of this Black Magic issue reminds me of a Hammer Mummy movie, with its tendency to give innocent characters the darker fates that they don't quite deserve. It's fantastic, actually. One of my favorites I've shared so far. The second is oddly reminiscent of an old radio show I can't quite recall the name of, with the singular reminder that one can never truly escape or prevent their fates (or the grisly future of another.)

Vintage Comics - Black Magic, Issue #2: The Cloak, Out of Your Mind (Pg. 18 - 26)

I get the impression this first story might have been influenced by a disgruntled tailor with a fussy customer. People, for the last time, if you turn around and find a store or building that you knew wasn't there the last time you looked--and there's an eery fog surrounding it, complete with appropriately perched blackbirds and wind chimes--do not go in, and do not buy anything. Or at least don't accept packages from mysterious gentlemen with sinister smiles.

Vintage Comics - Beware, Issue. 15: The Crystal of Time, Your Number is Up (Cover - 14)

First, apologies for the lack of color correction. I just got a new version of Photoshop elements, and like every edition before - - it's completely different from the last one I used, and every function is yet another learning process. On the bright side, the podcast may be getting a new logo when I figure this silly thing out. Anyway, onto the comic...BEWARE, ISSUE 15! Yet another vintage comic where the writers forgot they didn't need to describe every detail. Very much like the narration of a radio show, this may be a fun interactive little comic if you could get someone to read the dialog aloud.

The first story is more sci-fi romance than horror, which somehow seems to bring to mind Army of Darkness. I wonder if Sam Raimi was a fan? The second, a twisting tale of greed and numbers - - that actually cuts off before it gets really good. Ah well, the last frame is cartoonishly charming.

Book of the Week: Pet Sematary, by Stephen King

It goes without saying that Pet Sematary (the movie) really did have some of the most chilling moments in 90s horror. This is a recommendation for the book, however, which I think may be one of the few I've read that was practically identical to the film in all the right ways. Except for the soldier scene, which I would've loved to see in the film, but that's a whole different kettle of fish I might get into later.

It's very short, a simple but fun read, and probably one of the less--how should I put it? Colorful? Vulgar? It's one of Stephen King's less foul-mouthed works from the time. I don't often walk down the King road these days, but Pet Sematary will always hold a place in my heart, with its incredibly dark themes, and the basic idea that there is no true return from death. No matter what. Doctor Frankenstein couldn't seem to accept that, and neither does Doctor Louis Creed. Both of them learned the hard way. A beautifully grim lesson to anyone who decides to dabble with the forces of life and death.

Horror Flick of the Week: 'Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990)'

I feel like maybe a lot of people would disagree about this, but honestly...I enjoyed this movie a lot more than Creepshow. Don't get me wrong, Creepshow is awesome, and the framing structure with the animations were pretty freaking cool. Yet...as a kid...Creepshow didn't put me through the roller coaster ride of emotions this movie did. Each story really does have its own awesome appeal, the cast is great, the writers are awesome...

https://youtu.be/R9lVoUKk-8Y

The fact that the framing story to this is a Hansel and Gretel-esque tale with a witch preparing to cook a little boy to serve at her supper party makes this an absolutely delicious watch for the Halloween season, and I think it does the series it's associated more than justice (in fact, it's actually considered a spiritual successor to Creepshow, too.) I can't praise this movie enough. For the love of god, if you haven't seen it yet, watch it this year as soon as humanly possible.

Drive-in Trailers: Bad Moon, Surprising?

I love werewolves. You love werewolves. We all love werewolves. Anybody who says they don't are either evil incarnate, or dirty little liars. Whether that mysteriously re-occurring midnight shadow is just in our minds or a much more serious issue, lycanthropy is without a doubt one of the most disturbing...yet enjoyable...horror devices out there. In fact, there are so many...this is very likely to be one of multiple future entries featuring these delightfully hairy monsters.

On a side-note, I'd definitely advise against visiting London on the full moon. Just in case...

Vintage Comics: Midnight, Issue #2: The Promise, Fortune or Fate pt. 1, The Gateway to Yesterday (Cover - Pg. 13 )

It's a breath of fresh air to see a story about a man who DOESN'T want to kill his wife in a horror comic, once in awhile. But it stops short of horror...I mean really short. As in: okay a photographic miracle, but why on earth is that scary? Oh well. That's the charm in vintage comics, they're hit and miss. The beginning of 'Fortune or Fate' is also surprisingly progressive. Elephant hunting out-of-season wrong? MADNESS! ...And why is it all bombshells from the 1940s and 50s end up looking like Egyptian princesses?