You weren't an actor by profession, but you gave the original "Night of the Living Dead" one of its most significant performances--and even got to play a ghoulish zombie along the line.
As the newsroom reporter, you made John Russo's words credible, and through such, placed George A. Romero's cataclysmic vision on a whole other level. (I still remember how late-night Channel 7/WABC from New York would slap a disclaimer over your footage, declaring it fictional, so as not to cause another "War of the Worlds" stir.)
You were also responsible for the edifying series, "Sands of Time", where you enlightened listeners with people and events that impacted their lives.
Thanks for sending a hardy tingle down our spines, Mr. Craig--and for making us believe enough in ourselves to influence the ways of the world. God bless, kind sir...
You ultimately evaded the spotlight, choosing a quiet, unassuming life instead, but the precious mark you left on "The Munsters" is still savored among your adoring fans.
As the first Marilyn, you charmed awestruck guest stars and many an avid viewer with your beauty, sophistication and gentle tolerance.
Few can claim to have gained such mythic stature, Ms. Owen, but you attained just that. Now, with Fred Gwynne, Al Lewis and Yvonne De Carlo, you occupy a new residence, beyond the pearly gates.
You were rough, tough and ideal for the roles you embraced.
Among westerns, you were one the most diligent, costarring with Hugh O'Brien as Shotgun Gibbs on "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp", but you also found your way into "Bonanza"; "Have Gun - Will Travel"; "Hec Ramsey"; "Branded"; "Rawhide"; "High Chapparal"; "Kung Fu"; "The Quest"; "The Big Valley"; "Bearcats!"; "Frontier Doctor"; "The Virginian"; "Cimarron Strip"; "Death Valley Days"; "Wagon Train"; and "Gunsmoke". On the big screen, there was "Death of a Gunfighter"; "Gunpoint"; "The Gun Hawk"; "Gunsight Ridge"; "Firecreek"; "Yuma"; and "Western Ho the Wagons!"
In other forms of gritty and joyful adventure, you occupied "Daniel Boone"; "The A-Team"; "Starsky and Hutch"; "T.J. Hooker"; "The Fall Guy", "It Takes a Thief"; "The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo"; and among science-fiction and the offbeat, "The Incredible Hulk"; "Fantasy Island", "Knight Rider"; "Logan's Run"; "Planet of the Apes"; "The X-Files", "Millennium" and the big-screen, cult favorite, "Battle Beyond the Stars".
However, for a large, fandom base, you'll remain most relished for two, classic "Star Trek" episodes, "The Omega Glory" and "Dagger of the Mind", for which you gave two of your most potent portrayals.
And yet to others, you'll be forever cherished for your steely, silent, mirrored-goggled persona in the exceptional "Cool Hand Luke".
No matter what the part, no matter what the context, you always emerged a formidable force, Mr. Woodward: an actor worthy of constant recognition ... the highest respect.
As freezin' Feb ends, Airship 27's engines spew promising warmth in a new podcast.
Captain Ron Fortier and Chief Engineer Rob Davis keep listeners in sync with their spankin' new and upcoming releases, referencing supersleuths Marty Quade, Sherlock Holmes and the luscious Domino Lady.
In addition, the fellas grant a glimpse into this year's Pulp Factory Awards and make a passionate plea for illustrators to join Airship 27's ranks to complete the company's many titles. (It's a worthwhile cause, my artistic friends. Don't be shy...)
Partake the New Pulp cheer at ...
http://zone4podcast.com/airship-27-podcast-48/?fbclid=IwAR0Y-U29S3Iq_vHaZBKeiFdIsuKpDONgVB69wh7jYOc5GxS-8X5O_gHGQvQ
BTW: The guys have released a promotional poster that their loyal airmen and readers can share. If this one doesn't draw attention, what will?
Lloyd Smith knows there's nothing quite like a quality creature clash to get the senses spiked.
For The Unbeatable Brick #4, our adroit author pits the rubbery, red Brick against a fiery, Pacific Ocean denizen called Volcanus, in what becomes the crusader's most cataclysmic conflict to date. Heck, if you think Brick had it tough with that darn mechanical menace, Colossus, you ain't seen nothin' yet.
In fact, this particular Lucky Comics/Surprising Universe adventure rivals the best Aquaman, Depthon and Sub-Mariner sojourns, with Donnie Page delivering the outstanding, splashy artwork, in which our fantastic F.L.A.G.G. teammate tosses every ounce of strength against the angry "Mountain that Walked like a Man".
This strapping nailbiter can be purchased at ... https://www.drivethrucomics.com/product/267405/Unbeatable-Brick-4a?manufacturers_id=7565&fbclid=IwAR3QBKhAc6CAV1MJEdLlPAguc058abiI513Qqobhdr93QOOXpyOQbNspl5c.
And while the chance is at hand, why not seize The Unbeatable Brick #1-3? Brick is without question one of the hottest, most fascinating, malleable protagonists to come down the pike in quite some time. His latest adventure is only the tip of the exciting iceberg in what's bound to be a super-long spree. Be wise and get in on all the unbeatable fun!!!
It was your beauty that captivated most of us...and then your hypnotic talents: an actress of varied virtues, capped by the immense means to seduce.
Your nimble glamour empowered a slew of fantastic films, including "Attack of the Moors"; "Atlas/Maciste Against the Cyclops"; "Sheba and the Gladiator"; "Goliath and the Barbarians"; "Son of Samson";"The Huns"; "Morgan the Pirate"; "The Pirate and the Slave Girl"; "Terror of the Red Mask"; "Night of the Serpent"; "Run, Man, Run"; "Tunis Top Secret"; and "Valley of the Doomed". You even gave us a glorious cameo in the male-dominated "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly".
The angels now have a new member among their ranks, Ms. Alonso, but your celestial spirit will continue to make this world a better (and more beautiful) place.
All we're chilled by your portrait of real-life monster, Adolf Hitler in "Der Untergang", aka "Downfall" (and guffawed at those unusual, YouTube parodies), but your varied personas defined so many productions, including those of fantasy and fierce thrills.
There's "Nosferatu '79" (where I discovered you); "The Boys from Brazil" (the greatest clone movie ever made); "The Manchurian Candidate '04"; "The House that Jack Built"; "Unknown"; "Messer im Kopf", aka "Knife in the Head"; "Remember"; "Ripley's Game"; "The American Friend" (as fine an example of pulpish noir as one will absorb); "Wings of Desire"; and "Faraway, So Close!". On stage, you made yet another respected mark as the titular lead in Goethe's soul-selling "Faust".
You brought empathy, madness and joy to the characters you were given, often becoming the focus, by making them your own.
The world needs more actors like you, Herr Ganz. At least Heaven now houses another of the best.
Edgar Allan Poe's weird wonders await in Main Enterprises' *PPFSZT! #45 (Spring '19), along with other devilish delights, including the haunting, Mike Ammerman/Rick Williams, cowpoke Ghost Rider cover above and the menacing Scott McClung "Mole People" insert below...
Without question, the illustrated contributions are beyond plentiful in this 36-page, powerhouse edition (featuring fearsome "Gallery" nods to "The Raven"; "The Tell-Tale Heart"; "The Black Cat"; "The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar"; "Ligeia"; "The Murders in the Rue Morgue"; "The Pit and the Pendulum"; "The Premature Burial"..."The Fall of the House of Usher"), all brought to lurid life by Tom Doyle; Jamie Chase; Anthony C. Gray; Roland Austin; Jack Bertram; Kevin Dale Duncan; Sam Gafford; Carl Taylor; Troy Boyle; John Lambert; Rick Williams; and Steve Shipley, who supplies a lovely, "looking back in fear" cover gal.
Their excellent entries are joined by Rob Imes' adaptation of "The Cask of Amontillado": a vim, visual spin on the acrimonious classic. (Troy Boyle's "Gallery" depiction gives the fierce retelling added, eerie enhancement.)
In addition, folks can feast upon Mike Maloney's initial installment for "In Service of Amon-Ra", a novella which flaunts fabulous illustrations by John Lambert. The story is built to please connoisseurs of musty, mystical myths: a spine-tingling, eternal adventure that'll leave readers yearning for more.
To further the ghoulish glee, there's Bob Powell's captivating, comic-book yarn, "The Museum", which combines the macabre mood of "Mystery of the Wax Museum"/"House of Wax" with pure, Poe-ish peril: pitch-perfect for this issue.
Main Enterprises never fails to deliver the cream of the crop in thematic and eclectic compilations. This particular labor of love is satisfying on all levels and extra-special since it's built by amiable aficionados like you and me.
Purchase a hard copy of *PPFSZT! #45 by sending $7.00 via Paypal to jmain44@aol.com; for a PDF, the sum is $1. Either Paypal option is good until 2/23/19.
This is a fun-filled, thriller-chiller issue that every imagi-fan must possess.
As Kevin Paul Shaw Broden sketches away on my Airship 27 Productions novel, "The Persona, Vol 2: The Green-Fleshed Fiends" (shortened from "Enter the Green-Fleshed Fiends"), I decided to share (if only to clinch my readers' interest) another test-run sample of his wondrous work.
It's an amalgam of the sequel's seductive competitor to virtuous Stacey Standish: a raven-haired beauty of eccentric and mystical means named Melody Montorto.
I won't reveal any more on the character here, except to say that I believe folks will be drawn by her, as much as I'm drawn to Broden's beautiful queue. (I also believe the above could act as a blueprint for some cute, cut-out dolls, if ever my novel went the big-time, merchandising route.)
For those still smitten with the stunning Standish, fear not, for she's still the apple of Michael Mansford's transcendent eye. (Say, isn't that a photo of sweet Stacey below? Nah, too sultry and yet...)
As always, stay tuned for more details. Little by little, "The Persona Vol 2" is reaching fruition.
Particular folks have insisted that I reflect on "Gotham'"s goodbye only after the final credits roll. (Yeah, believe it or not, it seems some do perceive my prelude entries and linking tidbits ho-hum, and if you're one, be sure to skip that "Doom Patrol" nugget I planted earlier this month.)
With reluctance, I listened...decided to abide by their crybaby commands, and yet I now realize there's no way I can wait. I must offer at least a few thoughts on what's developing and where I'd like the concepts to go. (Keep in mind, folks, I've no aversion to constructive critique, but please don't dismiss me as some overeager, publicity patsy. Compose and design your own bloody posts for your own bloody blogs if you believe the sharing process should go this way or that... Whoops--guess my indignant Dark Knight rose. Okay, let me snuff my Bat-fuse and spread some basic views...)
"Gotham'"s progression of Bruce Wayne into Batman is stilted, sometimes rushed (or relegated too much to the gang-infested streets this season), which may even out, worsen or (fingers crossed) click depending on the rumored time skip. If the latter occurs, it may convey how five seasons were never enough to hit a credible, character-mounted mark, or maybe the nuts-and-bolts evolution should have commenced sooner, though without all the let's-disrespect-Alfred stuff. That "kinship" contention continues to torment me...
I'm definitely happy that the villains remain engaging, but was there any chance they'd ever go dull? Nevertheless, I want more exposition on their actions and "identities". In particular, an answer to whether Jeremiah is the genuine Joker would be nice, not to mention clarifying that hazy, Harley Quinn allusion.
And speaking of (un)questionable concerns, how far along will Ed's riddling, triggered insanity roll, not to mention Lee's? Will catty Selina get a grip on a whip, now that Tabitha has faded? If what Barbara says is true, have we discovered Batgirl's conception? Above all, when will Oswald reign unconditionally as the city's unanimous, criminal guru. (I guess he's filled that bill for the most part, officially and unofficially, but his prestige has also tripped on several snags. It's one thing if his rough road is paved per Jim Gordon and Harvey Bullock, but from lower-echelon goons? Nah, I don't think so.)
Speaking of the off-kilter, there's still no sign of Bane in the way we've come to expect, but we know the brawny persona is now on the creepy cusp of fruition. (He certainly has the purgation plan installed.) Shane West possesses the obvious ability to retool Eduardo Dorrance into the power-pushed, physically pumped intellect. (I wonder, too, if Bane's teddy bear, Osito, might finally figure into the live-action equation. What an intriguing, talked-about prop that could be, but I suppose it's foolish to anticipate its inclusion in the remaining span allotted, and if it were intended, it would have appeared already.)
On the other hand, I've been a trifle queasy regarding those eccentrics who should (per long-term DC mythology) come after Wayne's adolescence. The juggling of these standard slots is too jarring for an old-timer like me. (To boot, poor Professor Pyg never got his chance to mature. What a ripoff...) If certain adversaries had to be stationed within the series, richer results should have followed. (The most troubling example--Harvey Dent. Where, oh where did he go?)
Other than that, I'm still using a wait-and-see stance for the show's adios. I'll do a another post later down the line, perhaps when the series dims. I only hope that the pessimistic sojourn hits an optimistic note. Batman is (or in this case, will be) Gotham's savior. The big confirmation must be delivered with resounding impact.
