Sunday, November 29, 2020

GODPSEED, DAVE PROWSE...


You were the man in Darth Vader's attire, but your sturdy frame suited other towering roles, as well. 

In fact, you portrayed the Frankenstein Monster in "Casino Royale '67" and twice for Hammer Studios in "Horror of Frankenstein" and "Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell". In addition, you muscled your way into Hammer's "Vampire Circus" and costarred in Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange".

On the sidelines, you were the guiding Green Cross Code Man to Britain's youths, and to bodybuilder enthusiasts, an everlasting icon. You even trained Christopher Reeve to get in tip-top shape as the Man of Steel. 

Above all, you were loyal and grateful to your fans, Mr. Prowse: a mighty big man with a mighty big heart.  

Friday, November 27, 2020

FAREWELL, DARIA NICOLODI...

You were a macabre maestro before and behind the scenes, working with your love, Dario Argento, and your daughter, Asia, as well as the legendary Mario and Lamberto Bava, unfurling a terrifying tapestry of the bizarre and disturbing. 

As such, your tremulous contributions will never fade from cinema buffs' collective consciousness: "Tenebrae"; "Deep Red"; "Inferno"; "Suspiria"; "The Mother of Tears"; "Opera"; "Delirium"; "Phenomena" ("Creepers"); "Shock"; "Scarlet Diva"; and "The Devil's Daughter". 

May you find peace in the Great Beyond, Ms. Nicolodi, while those of us on terrestrial turf continue to enjoy and exalt your grand and ghoulish giallo. 

Thursday, November 26, 2020

WHO'S WHO IN NEW PULP: A GREAT GIFT

Looking for a dandy gift this holiday season for those who dig pulp fiction? Well, there's a terrific edition available that more than fills the bill: "Who's Who in New Pulp: A Comprehensive Guide to the Writers, Artists and Publishers in the New Pulp Movement". 

"Who's Who in New Pulp" is published by Airship 27 Productions and features 222 juicy entries, including one on yours truly. Like Michael Weldon's "Psychotronic Encyclopedia of Film", "Who's Who in New Pulp" is designed to give readers hours of enjoyment, as it celebrates those who cater to this specialized form of hard-hitting and imaginative fiction. 

All proceeds from "Who's Who in New Pulp" go to the St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital: a most worthy and compassionate cause.

Order copies of this great-gift idea at 

https://www.amazon.com/Whos-Who-New-Pulp-Fortier/dp/1946183830/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=who%27s+who+in+new+pulp&qid=1606345244&sr=8-1

Monday, November 23, 2020

SO LONG, KAY MORLEY...

"Youth Aflame" was your JD claim to fame, but as much as it set you high on the cult-film perch, you were active in other engaging entries, including matinee westerns.  

"Code of the Saddle"; "Outlaw Brand"; "Trails End"; and "Six Gun Serenade" were such swell, six-shooter gems. However, "Up in Arms"; "Sealed Cargo"; "Secret Beyond the Door"; "Letter from an Unknown Woman"; and "Princess and the Pirate" only added to your regal resume, not to mention a nifty, guest-starring role on "Adventures of Superman". 

You were also as glamorous as they came: a heartthrob for many a discerning eye, including mine. 

There's no doubt you left us much to appreciate, Ms. Morley: the good, the bad and the beautiful, all rolled up into one delightful package. Thanks for all the sweet memories, my spirited lady. Godspeed!

Saturday, November 21, 2020

AIRSHIP 27 PODCAST (NOV '20): READY FOR LIFTOFF!!!

November's Airship 27 Podcast is all set for listening/viewing, for which New Pulp fans will be most grateful.

In this episode, Ron Fortier and Rob Davis cover R.A. Jones' spectacular crossover, "Alice in Neverland". Jones combines the styles of James Barrie and Lewis Carroll to bring this spellbinding sequel to life, which is accompanied Ted Hammond's enchanting cover and Gary Kato's lovely interiors. The guys' enthusiasm over this entry is quite understandable. It truly is that remarkable. (See Nov 15th, "bizarrechats" review.)

In addition, Ron and Rob discuss my contribution to Mark Justice's Dead Sheriff saga: "Purity". This fourth volume in the series just hit print last week and is adorned by Michael Youngblood raucous cover and Rob Davis' gritty illustrations. (I'll tell you, folks, I'm mighty proud to be part of this one and therefore, Justice's influential legacy.)

Ron and Rob also touch upon such promised releases as "All-American Sport Stories, Vol 2"; "The Masked Rider, Vol 3"; "Jezebel Johnston, Vol 7"; "The Three Musketeers, Vol 1"; "The Dead Sheriff, Vol 5"; the Brother Bones live-action series; plus share new opening/closing jokes, guaranteed to tickle the funny bone.  

Join the New Pulp elation at 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkiVY18wPiU&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR3Lvpa-7iMGOqGPS-cgYX8L3vwuOoAnnF4pCF0Wf26kfEbtW70RzkSwGxs

FEMFORCE #190: BUXOM (HER)OICS (GAL)ORE!!!


AC's Femforce #190 is now in circulation, churning buxom (her)oics (gal)ore, and (whoa!) how 'bout that She-Catty, Jekyll-vs-Hyde cover by Eric Coile and Bill Black!!!


The action picks up from #189, with sadism running high in a feisty sequel called "Crimson Triumphant!". In this instance, the super-evil/super-sexy Alizarin Crimson has captured catatonic control of our heroines via her Dream Shroud, and to accompany the surreal scenario, Stormy Tempest finds herself caged and displayed by her old nemesis, Space Hag, while Stardust embarks on another trippy trek for another perplexing plunge. The culminating combination is sure to shake, rattle and roll readers to the erotic, trilogy extreme.


Exquisite, color panels and steamy storytelling fuel the ingredients, with interior contributions by Coile; Black; Jeff Austin; Andrew Haunt; Bobby Ragland; Josh Rodriguez; Dan Cutali; and Mark and Stephanie Heikie. 

Pick up a copy of Femforce #190 at your local comic shop and/or favorite online source. (I nailed mine at Steve's Comic Relief on Quakerbridge Road, Lawrenceville, NJ: an ideal spot to complete one's collectible cravings.)

https://www.facebook.com/CRLawrenceville/

Tuesday, November 17, 2020

MARK JUSTICE'S THE DEAD SHERIFF, VOL 4: PURITY COMETH!!!


Howdy, partners! My Airship 27/New Pulp novel, "Mark Justice's the Dead Sheriff, Vol 4: Purity" is now available for purchase. It sports a gritty cover by Michael Youngblood and ornate interiors by Rob Davis. 


For my contribution to Justice's saga, I pulled from "High Plains Drifter", "The Wild Bunch", "Friendly Persuasion" and (I realized in enlightened afterthought) "Wall/Guns for San Sebastian". There are also traces of Sam Raimi, George A. Romero and John Russo's works woven into the plot, plus a salient, Tolkien/"Lord of the Rings" undercurrent to fortify my weird western's fight-or-perish motif.


I trust Vol 4 will please; and as an extra grabber, take a gander at the below Davis illustration spotlighting two of my tale's fearsome foes, Palmer Perdifious and Crabby MacIntosh.  Pretty gosh-darn foreboding, eh?

Order "Mark Justice's The Dead Sheriff, Vol 4: Purity" (in paperback or via Kindle) at 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1946183946/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=mark+justice%27s+the+dead+sheriff&qid=1605619089&sr=8-1

PIN-UP TIME: KIM CATTRALL AS VALERIS

 

Sunday, November 15, 2020

R.A. JONES' ALICE IN NEVERLAND: A CROSSOVER FOR THE AGES

R. A. Jones has just delivered one of the jolliest, literary crossovers imaginable: "Alice in Neverland". Not only does Jones blend the narrative styles of James Barrie and Lewis Carroll in this vivacious Airship 27 submission, he also distinguishes his sequel with poignancy, danger and identifiable depth. 

For the sake of this clever, literary merger, Peter Pan and Alice Liddell (now the former's adored Lost Girl) must join forces to find a hidden treasure, so that dear Tinkerbell might be set free from a revived and evermore embittered Captain Hook and his crocodile-loving companion, Sangramore, Queen of Diamonds. 

Along the spry adventurers' riddling journey, readers are treated to other established and original characters, including Tiger Lilly; the Cheshire Cat; the diminutive Seela; Blackie the wolf; scraggly cannibals; an emoting Yeti; a colossal, living skeleton; the charismatic, elixir-peddling Doctor Philogenias and his fanciful horse, Footloose; to name but a few.  

Though its eccentric personas and scenarios grant Jones' story plenty of pep, what truly makes the author's crossover so extra-special is its ability to work on several levels, with additives to engage boys and girls, old and young. Matters of responsibility and liberation, as well as life and death are discussed throughout, setting this fine yarn leagues beyond the hollow fluff one might otherwise find among today's "young reader" selections. 

To adorn Jones' deft text, "Alice in Neverland" includes adorable illustrations by Gary Kato and a soaring cover by Ted Hammond.

I recommend "Alice in Neverland" to the highest degree: a destined classic that cannot help but please.

Order a copy today via paperback and/or Kindle at

https://www.amazon.com/Alice-Neverland-R-Jones-ebook/dp/B08N3B4KKC/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=alice+in+neverland&qid=1605395590&sr=8-1