LARRY JOHNSON'S THE COMPLETE LEW BROWN, VOL 2

As stated in my The Complete Lew Brown, Vol 1 review (see May post), I believe the titular character is artist/writer Larry Johnson's "everyman" alter ego, and Johnson has used this surrogate in several exploits, including his noted anthology, Tales of Fantasy, and his superhero novel, The Hand. 

Within Johnson's engaging tapestry, Brown is an affable reporter who, for all intent, enters Twilight Zone-ish sectors, on occasion rendered with Kolchak/X-Files spins. For the 220-pg (black-and-white) The Complete Lew Brown, Vol 2, these elements emerge as a series of ornate, comic-book adventures and a set of captivating short stories.

The comics feature an allegiance between alien races (one with a doll-like semblance and the other adorned by antennae) to conquer Earth; Brown's acquaintance, Madame Boogala, and her pact with a thieving genie; a woman who's eager to paint Brown's portrait, though with a Dorian Gray twist; Brown's astral-projection trip with the charismatic Concordus, Chief of Spirit Magic; Boogala's influence on Brown's rare, dance-partner statues and the subsequent sector where a monster plant thrives; Boogala hurling Brown back into the arms of his old girlfriend, Marie (but is she the gal he knew and loved?); Brown's visit to a haunted tower, teeming of anxious artists; Brown's admission into eerie, "Seeing Eye" therapy; the return of Marie, though now exposed as something beyond human; a crystal ball harboring a spidery specimen that pulls people into its dimension; and Brown's quest for an artist named Thaddeus Cromwell, in what becomes a crafty homage to H.P. Lovecraft's "Pickman's Model."  

The short stories embellish the comics, with "Escape Too" centering on Brown's trip to a welcoming yet mind-bending inn, capped by a Boogala surprise, and "The Aurorans" (first featured in Fantastic Tales), where Brown goes the extra mile to extract his brother, Freddy, from an ethereal cult. 

In addition to Freddy and Boogala, the volume includes Boogala's obedient son, Goomar, Brown's eccentric neighbors, Joe and Francine Carbone, and therapist Dr. Charles Young, who acts as a soothing springboard and host for several of the enclosed conundrums. In addition, Crow's Curios (a hub similar to Friday the 13th: The Series' Curious Goods) weaves its way throughout, as does its proprietor, Alistair Crowe, who clinches Brown's revisits and as such, his encounters with the unknown. 

On the surface, Johnson/Brown's exploits are breezy, but beneath, they nurture foreboding nuggets. Our hero's reactions to those nuggets are what makes the concept click. Brown is far from being Doctor Strange or Doctor Fate, but his humble designation makes him more identifiable (and all the braver for it) as he overcomes the absurdities he's dealt. Like so many of us, he faces obstacles that wish to thwart him, and like so many of us, he does his utmost to derail them, even as Johnson brackets the situations with phantasmagoric trimmings. 

I like The Complete Lew Brown, Vol 2 as much as Vol 1, so in my estimation, Johnson has achieved what few have done: dispatched a sequel that matches the original. On this basis, it doesn't matter whether one starts with Vol 2 or Vol 1. Both Lew Brown volumes deliver oodles of relatable wonderment.  

One can order The Complete Lew Brown, Vol 2 at

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H4NW6435?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

and Vol 1 at 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GXTLP6HM?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title   

PINUP TIME: INGER STEVENS IS JANA

 

FAREWELL, SAM NEILL

The Jurassic franchise became your identified brand and banner, but as broad and potent as the series is (and as iconic as your Alan Grant will remain), you shined beyond it. 

 

My favorite of your roles is Damien Thorn in The Omen III: The Final Conflict. Your slick, commanding demeanor was so right for the cloaked Antichrist. 

Then there's your best all-around performance in the abstract, horror picture, Possession, where your wide, emotional swings complemented Isabelle Adjani's to a frightful and unshakable tee. 

You were also great in Peaky Blinders; And Then There Were None; The Hunt for Red October; Hunt for the Wilderpeople; The Hunter; Attack Force Z; Event Horizon, In the Mouth of Madness; Merlin; Dead Calm; Snow White: A Tale of Terror; Bicentennial Man; The Portable Door; Thor: Ragnarok and Thor: Love and Thunder (in cool, "Odin" cameos); Scary Girl; Daisy Quokka: World's Scariest Animal; Peter Rabbit; Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway; The Fox; Perfect Strangers; My Brilliant Career; The Piano; Bring Him to Me; Restoration; Zookeeper; Sirens; Death in Brunswick; The Umbrella Woman; The Jungle Book 1994; Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole; The Dragon Pearl; The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box; Enigma; Evil Angels; Landfall; Sleeping Dogs; Dirty Deeds; Under the Mountain; Irresistible; Yes; The Journalist, A Long Way Down; Just Out of Reach; Backtrack; Blackbird; Palm Beach; The Blood of Others; Robbery Under Arms; Gallipoli 2005; The Commuter; Little Fish; Plenty; Ride Like a Girl; The Country Girls; Sweet Country; Far From A Country: Pope John Paul II; For Love Alone; La revolution francaise; Wimbledon; Angel; Dean Spanley; Shadow of China; Rams; The Assassin Club; Leap of (Question of) Faith; and Molokai: The Story of Father Damien. (You'll also grace the upcoming Monsterverse epic, Godzilla x Kong: Supernova.) 

You were, in essence, ubiquitous, which is an admirable position for an actor, and one that makes your passing hard to accept, Mr. Neill. Nevertheless, your vast body of work will always keep us entertained, proving time and again that, when it comes to your prestigious profession, it's obvious why you stood out from the pack.

WISE WORDS:

 

COLLECTIBLE TIME: HALLMARK MILLY ALCOCK SUPERGIRL & KRYPTO KEEPSAKE ORNAMENTS

 

Even though Craig Gillespie's Supergirl has fizzled at the box office (and in the process, caused quite an impassioned rift between DC camps), collectibles on the movie were produced in high hopes of its release, including two Hallmark Keepsake ornaments. 

One, of course, represents Milly Alcock's Kara Zor-El, sculpted with delicate grace by Iman Zadrozny. In this instance, our celebrated, Argo City citizen is seen ascending, with fists pressed to her hips. Her cape carries significant, streamlined detail, in particular from the back.

Supergirl measures 3.5" x 4.25" x 2.25" and is accentuated by her iconic costume. As such, the classic, color scheme has no choice but to grab one's attention.

In addition to Supergirl, there's Krypto, sculpted to the super-cute tee by Gregor Benedetti. The figure measures 1.5" x 2.5" x 3.5" and shows our rambunctious canine in his red cape and bearing an inquisitive (one-ear-up) expression.

Both pieces are companions to Hallmark's 2025 David Corenswet, Superman ornament, seen below.

For devoted, DC/Superman/Super-Family collectors, the trio should hold sentimental significance, despite Supergirl's underperformance. For those who wish to obtain the set, all three are available online, with Supergirl having entered release for Hallmark's July 2026 premiere and Krypto available for preorder for Hallmark's October, grand-finale spree.

Visit the main Hallmark site or your neighborhood, Hallmark Gold Crown shop to learn more.

https://www.hallmark.com/ornaments/keepsake-ornaments/

FOR THE FUN OF IT:

 

SO LONG, RANDOLPH MANTOOTH

You became pop-cultural royalty in the 1970s, thanks to your portrayal of firefighter John Cage (partner and pal of Kevin Tighe's Roy DeSoto) on Jack Webb/Robert A. Cinader's Emergency!

Emergency! wasn't only a primetime hit; it made its way into Saturday-morning animation as Emergency +4, where it secured yet another level of fandom, supported by comics, action figures, lunch boxes, puzzles and games. 

Though Emergency! may be your main claim to fame, you covered an impressive stretch of melodramatic ground, having guest starred on Webb's Sierra and Adam 12; Go!; Charlie's Angels; Walker, Texas Ranger; Fantasy Island; China Beach; Promised Land; MacGyver; Baywatch; Dallas; L.A. Law; ER; JAG; Under Cover; Criminal Minds; Ghost Whisperer; The Fall Guy; Diagnosis: Murder; Murder, She Wrote; Sons of Anarchy; Schoolbreak Special; and in two miniseries, Taylor Caldwell's Testimony of Two Men and John Jake's The Seekers (as the lead, Abraham Kent). You can also be found in the movies Fire Serpent; White Cobra Express; Scream of the Bikini; Bold Native; Agent Red; Killer Holiday; Before the Storm; and He Was a Quiet Man. 

The soap-opera scene also benefitted from your talents, as you covered General Hospital, One Life to Live, Loving, The City and As the World Turns. 

Although these accomplishments are impressive, those on the inside appreciated your continued involvement in promoting the virtues of firefighting and paramedic practices, where you shined the light on the exemplary services that such professionals bring. 

When all is said and done, you were the epitome of a stand-up guy, Mr. Mantooth, one with substantial skill and a perpetual propensity to do good. That stands for something that few can boast of, but you dealt it all with humble dignity and endless, selfless care.