ROCK BAKER'S SHE'S THE TOPS!

Rock Baker has outdone himself again, with an adorable adventure that mixes aspects of his popular Cartoon Cuties with interstellar romance in C.B. International Publication's latest release, She's the Tops!

Baker's concept (accompanied by Bert Delcoate's lettering and Michael Jensen's production design) centers on a presumed lost-in-space astronaut named Cliff Agar who lands on a planet called Arren, populated by anthropomorphic dinosaurs. Arren has been influenced by America's old radio and television transmissions, so that its saurian population speaks English and mimics identifiable, suburban routines. (Think along the lines of Joe Dante's Explorers, Star Trek's "A Piece of the Action" and Tales from the Darkside's "Distant Signals," where alien inhabitants are more in sync with American popular culture than not.) 

After having consumed an inebriating beverage, the intrepid Cliff awakens to find himself married to Flora, a beautiful, pink "triceratops," who loves him with all her heart, and it doesn't take him long to reciprocate the affection. However, there are obstacles to overcome, such as Flora's sharp horns, and then there's the matter of taking her to Earth. Will she be accepted on our big, blue world? Ah, the answer is all part of the poignant fun, but for the sake of a hardy hint, it does lead to a blastoff of curvaceous, galactic intrigue. 

The coupling of Cliff and Flora may strike some as peculiar, but for me, it references those passionate moments when James T. Kirk and William Riker had trysts with extraterrestrial females. Baker enhances the concept, giving it an endearing, sitcom charm, which references Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie, where regular guys and supernatural gals engage in veritable relationships, though good ol' Cliff seems much more in sync with his situation than Darrin Stephens or Tony Nelson ever were with theirs.

Baker's artwork makes the ebullience jive, and his images are as enchanting here as they are in Cartoon Cuties. In this respect, he establishes a smooth stream of classic, Dell stylings with unmistakable, pinup panache. The result is new-fangled yet nostalgic, innocent yet provocative. 

If you appreciate starry-eyed, throwback storytelling, as well as romantic, interplanetary exploits, She's the Tops! can't be beat. Give it a try. The odds favor it'll rocket you into utter, orbital bliss.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HFYLH9WD?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title 

WISE WORDS:

 

R.I.P. ROGER MCKENZIE

 

As a super-deft writer, you shaded Daredevil in ways that had not been envisioned, bringing pulp-fueled terror to The Man Without Fear. 

You also composed exceptional exploits for Captain America, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Ghost Rider, Marvel Fanfare, What If? and Battlestar Galactica,  in addition to United Feature Syndicate's Starhawks, Pacific Comics' Sun Runners and DC's sexy Cinnamon.  

Many readers will recall your horror fables best, as featured in such high-profile compendiums as Warren Publishing's Eerie, Creepy and Vampirella, as well as DC's Weird War Tales & Weird Western Tales. 

Charlton Neo, Eclipse, Sirius, Comico and Amazing Comics also benefitted from your scripts, as did the daring Pied Pier Comics, which you founded with Mark L. Hamlin. 

Your vivid yarns uplifted readers and in heightened ways they'll never forget. For that, Mr. McKenzie, your name will sustain its fame, destined to be held in the highest regard for derring-do seekers present and yet to come.  

PINUP TIME: LINDA HARRISON IS NOVA

 

TERMINATOR 2: IT'S JUDGMENT DAY ONCE MORE, VIA FATHOM EVENTS

One of the greatest sequels ever made returns to theaters for one night only (August 28), to celebrate its 35th-anniversary release in 4K, RealD 3D, thanks to Fathom Events (in conjunction with StudioCanal and Rialto Pictures). 

James Cameron's Terminator 2: Judgment Day was an earth-shaking smash in 1991, and its thunderous impact has never faded. Its spellbinding effects are a huge part of why it endures, and its plot swings things in a unique direction from the original, as a heroic cyborg protects young John Connor from a liquefied, shape-shifting entity that wants the boy dead. 

T2's cast emboldens the explosive thrills, with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong, Robert Patrick and Joe Morton in the top slots. The performers create a palpable, emotional intensity throughout, which reinforces their engulfing escapade. 

It'll sure be great to catch this mega-blockbuster again on the big screen. Opportunities like this don't come often, so why not seize Judgment Day and enjoy it in the way it was meant to be seen--big, bold and sprawling!

Check your local listings for theaters and showtimes.

PINUP TIME: LINDA HARRISON

I SAW MUTINY (2026)

Jason Statham movies deliver the goods and are a breath of fresh air among the suffocating, "sensitive" dreck Hollywood peddles, which isn't all that sensitive, considering its bigoted views and anti-virile pledges. 

The latest Statham entry, Mutiny, coproduced by its star, directed by Jean-Francois (Plane) Richet and written by J.P. Davis and Lindsay Michel, features the successful, action hero as Cole Reed, a security officer/bodyguard for a compassionate entrepreneur named Taren, played by Jason Wong, who's murdered in Reed's presence, with Reed framed for the deed. 

The resolute Reed sets forth to clear his name, which leads him to a cargo ship and a human-trafficking ring (all set for Reed's "mutinous" reveal). This heinous criminality, which reflects a monstrous practice that continues to plague our real-life, modern world, is administered by Roland Moller's Captain Marko Madsen, a coldhearted son of a bitch, who one will relish hating.

The plot captures aspects of Statham's The Beekeeper and A Working Man, but it also grazes The Fugitive and Warning Shot (an underrated 1960s melodrama that stars the star of the original, Fugitive series, David Janssen). As much as Reed is required to beat up the bad guys, he must also peel away layers to unveil why his friend was killed (and sometimes those details come more by accident than plan). Moreover, he must help those who've been captured, which is truly the ultimate point of the story. (This angle could have been--should have been--the official slant of Daredevil Born Again: Season 2.) I suppose the approach makes Mutiny a semi murder-mystery with a righteous cause, albeit of the high-adrenalin, Die Hard/Under Siege sort. 

Though Statham and Moller rule the roost at opposite ends, the rest of the cast, including the aforementioned Wong, gives worthy support and includes Annabelle (Malignant/The Mummy 2017) Wallis, Chaniel Kular, Adrian Lester, Steven Blades and Arnas Fedaravicius. Their foundation is a commendable one, but not enough to eclipse Statham/Reed's recompensing thunder. 

One might argue that the cause and effect of Reed's exploit isn't as important as its execution, which is tight and fight-oriented, with fists and bullets flying at a steady rate. It has the right, formidable verve to please its intended, male audience: something that certain sensitive factions will denounce, but trust me, this one fills the principled bill, just as a John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, Charles Bronson, Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger or Chuck Norris movie would back in the day (and still would). 

I hope Mutiny does well, and the odds favor such, considering Statham's popularity and this movie's revealing message. It would be great to see more such examples, delivered by Statham or others of comparable fortitude. Lord knows we need this type of entertainment in this insufferable, socio-political, age of sympathy-for-the-devil pretension.✊