In honor of the passing of G+ this month, here are a few things I posted during our brief time together. Inspired by the email I received from Google to grab anything I wanted before it got deleted.
Anybody?
I wasn’t planning on getting into The Umbrella Academy, especially after reading a meh review or two. Then my daughter (and a couple of friends with tastes similar to mine) watched it and said it was worth a look.
And it is! I’m three episodes in and really digging it. I have heard the season finale is divisive, however.
When it rains, it pours.
From the minds of Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá, The Umbrella Academy is the story of a super-dysfunctional family of superheroes who have eight days to get it together and save the world.
What If Superman Was An Asshole?
This is getting a lot of buzz over at Birth.Movies.Death. …
What if a child from another world crash-landed on Earth, but instead of becoming a hero to mankind, he proved to be something far more sinister? With Brightburn, the visionary filmmaker of Guardians of the Galaxy and Slither presents a startling, subversive take on a radical new genre: superhero horror.
May 24!
Roger The Dogman Mask
Holy shit, how cool would this be?
Trick or Treat Studios and Warner Brothers are proud to present the officially licensed The Shining Roger the Dogman Mask.
Based on hundreds of images of the actual screen used mask, this is the ultimate replica of the Rodger the Dogman in the Stanley Kubrick classic, The Shining.
Sculpted by Megan Many, every detail of Rodger the Dogman can be seen in this incredible mask.
$59.99! Cheap! Get yours here!
Rolex Submariner Up Close
I’ll never buy a Rolex Submariner either, but not for the reason he describes.
For comparison, here’s the one I did buy …
Vintage Star Wars Toy Auction … What
Check it out, you magnificent bastards!
A massive treasure trove of vintage Star Wars and pop culture toys and collectible ephemera are going on auction at the end of this month, and the folks at Prop Store bring a few of the rarities to our studio. We learn about prototype mockups, international figures, and even retail display pieces that would be the prize pieces for toy collectors.
All those toys you lost or destroyed that are now worth thousands of dollars? Look for ’em here.
Knights In Satan’s Service
A friend texted me late Saturday morning with two extra tickets to the KISS show at the FedEx Forum. Uh … yes, please!
Way back in 1977, 8-year-old me wanted to see them at the Midsouth Coliseum (on December 9, to be exact), but my mom waited too late to get tickets. The only seats left were behind the stage. *sad trombone*
My next shot was at The Pyramid on April 25, 2000, with Ace and Peter returning from exile for the band’s first farewell tour. A friend told me not to worry, he knew somebody who could get us free tickets. Predictably, no tickets – free or otherwise – were forthcoming, and the show sold out. *sad trombone*
Anyway, this show was a lot of fun! Here’s the set list.
Detroit Rock City
Shout It Out Loud
Deuce
Say Yeah
Heaven’s on Fire
War Machine
Lick It Up (with “Won’t Get Fooled Again” snippet)
Calling Dr. Love
100,000 Years (with drum solo)
God of Thunder (with bass solo)
Cold Gin (with guitar solo)
Psycho Circus
I Love It Loud
Let Me Go, Rock ‘N’ Roll
Love Gun (Paul on stage over crowd)
I Was Made for Lovin’ You (Paul on stage over crowd)
Black Diamond
Encore:
Beth (Eric Singer on piano)
Do You Love Me
Rock and Roll All Nite (Tommy and Gene over crowd)
My Moebius Obsession
Besides creating a shitload of brain-melting comics, Moebius (Jean Giraud) contributed storyboards and concept designs to numerous science fiction and fantasy films, including Alien, Tron, The Fifth Element and The Abyss. I’ve been on a big Moebius kick lately, and I’ve settled on “The Long Tomorrow” to share with you bastards.
According to the man himself …
I drew “The Long Tomorrow” in 1975, while I worked with Alexandro Jodorowsky on a film adaption of “Dune.” Originally Douglas Trumbull was to do the special effects, but that was not to be so Jodorowsky hired Dan O’Bannon to replace him. Dan came to Paris. Bearded, dressed in a wild style, the typical Californian post-hippie. His real work would begin at the time of shooting, on the models, on the hardware props. As we were still in the stage of preparations and concepts, there was almost nothing to do and he was bored stiff. To kill time, he drew. Dan is best known as a script writer, but is an excellent cartoonist. If he had wished, he could have been a professional graphic artist. One day, he showed me what he was drawing. It was the story board of “The Long Tomorrow.” A classic police story, but situated in the future. I was enthusiastic. When Europeans try this kind of parody, it is never entirely satisfactory, the French are too French, the Italians are too Italian … so, under my nose was a pastiche that was more original than the originals. A believer in parody, Dan continued that tradition. As the story was very strong, I immediately asked if he would allow me to play around graphically, with complete freedom, without conventional pyrotechnics, to refocus on the floating point of view. Pete Club’s costume, for example, was almost ridiculous, far from the traditional raincoat of Bogart. It was the same for most of the visual elements. I scrupulously followed Dan’s story. One day I wish we could publish our two versions side by side. As the strip has pleased everyone, I asked Dan about a sequel, but it did not get his attention, so was simply an adventure I never designed.
This story heavily influenced everyone from writer William Gibson (Neuromancer) to Ridley Scott (Blade Runner) to George Lucas (Empire Strikes Back). If the launchpad sentinel looks familiar to Star Wars fans, it’s because Lucas lifted its design in toto for the probe droid. O’Bannon did a ton of stuff later on, but is perhaps best-known for writing Alien and directing Return of the Living Dead.
Every Day Is Clash Day
Day late, dollar short. Happy belated International Clash Day!
This is anti-racist, and anti-fear. This is pro-solidarity, pro-unity, and pro-inclusion. This is a public service announcement with GUITARS.
This is International Clash Day 2019, and all day long, all across the globe, we’re celebrating music as a tool for social consciousness, a band that made it sound so damn good, and an iconic record that still changes lives 40 years later.
Check out the other great posters on the dang ol’ site.
The Dude … Returns?
Well, probably not. In fact, this is likely just a teaser for a Super Bowl ad, or possibly a Lebowski spinoff starring John Turturro (Going Places) expected later this year. So …
But! If you’ve always wanted a sweater like The Dude’s, you’ll be happy to learn that Pendleton is making them again! The ORIGINAL WESTERLEY has finally returned, and it’ll only set you back $239.00.
