MR. LOBO'S CINEMA INSOMNIA: CREATURE OF DESTRUCTION (AKA SEA-GAH!) ON TWITCH

For this Saturday's Mr. Lobo's Cinema Insomnia Twitch presentation (March 8, 10pm), viewers will be served (thanks to director/producer Aaron M. Lane) a restored/reconstructed installment of what was once believed lost. It's the 2003, Cinema Insomnia episode of director/producer Larry Buchanan's misunderstood remake of Edward L. Cahn's AIP classic, The She-Creature, known to one and all as Creature of Destruction (re-labeled for this special, Cinema Insomnia revival as Sea-Gah!)

Creature of Destruction (adapted for Buchannan by his consistent collaborator, Enrique Touceda) is, in fact, a 16mm, direct-to-syndicated-television effort, which many absorbed as children on local, UHF stations. Like its cerebral, AIP foundation, Creature of Destruction uses reincarnation as its springboard, with a beautiful, young woman hypnotized by a celebrity lecturer to recall her past life as a prehistoric demon. (To heighten the entertainment value, a dandy, Batman, song-and-dance number from Scotty McKay and his bandmates surfaces, inserting energetic conviviality to the unfolding terror.) 

Among the film's stars, Creature of Destruction features horror/sci-fi veteran Les Tremayne as the unscrupulous mesmerist, Dr. John Basso, and as his fetching subject, Pat Delaney's doomed Doreena, with a sturdy, supporting appearance from voice actor Aron Kincaid as the dashing Captain Ted Dell. "Byron Lord" portrays the summoned specimen, a skinny, green, ping-pong-eyed entity. (FYI: The costume was re-used a couple years later in Buchanan's original effort, It's Alive!, not to be confused with Larry Cohen's mutant-baby opus, and prior to such, the ping-pong eyes cameoed in Buchanan's Curse of the Swamp Creature.) 

Mr. Lobo and an alcoholic Miss Mittens perk up the soggy content with hypnosis tidbits; a cool, "Criswell Predicts" salute; an appetizing, ESP snack-bar tutorial; a Reel 7 Girl death; correlating commercials; and a stunning string of trailers from comparable, exploitation productions. The culmination is certain to make one smile and above all, keep one nice and focused to ensure that one doesn't regress into one's creepy, bygone days. 

Mr. Lobo's Cinema Insomnia's Creature of Destruction (Sea-Gah!) is a dreamy, unconventional romp that mustn't be missed, and it can be re-experienced this Saturday night. Be sure to tune in!

FOR THE FUN OF IT:

 

COLLECTIBLE TIME: RODAN (THE FLYING MONSTER) POSTER & LOBBY CARDS

As Bizarrechats readers are aware, my confidant, Mel, contributes to my movie memorabilia, particularly poster and lobby-card reproductions. Lo and behold, she's done it again, with three more submissions, taken from one of my lifelong favorites, Toho/Ishiro Honda's Rodan (represented in this post per lovely, "stock" images).  

The first item is a staggering, 24" x 36" one-sheet that was made for the U.S./King Brothers' August 1957, theatrical release. The titular, flying behemoth was actually a duo in this introductory story, and for this poster reproduction, is emblemized as a green dragon, accompanied by three panel inserts, which capture scenes from the production. 

The next submission is a 11" x 14" card sporting a shaded Rodan soaring over the Saikai Bridge, with an ominous, green-clouded sky to offset the creature's flight. 

The third is another 11" x 14" card and depicts the creature emerging from the water in a shot that can only instill fear, as planes soar from behind.

I'm grateful for any Rodan commemorations, whether presented as a mammoth duo or for the longer stretch, a single, Godzilla ally. In fact, I grew rather disgruntled in recent years when Rodan took a sorrowful back seat to other kaiju. (For the record, I prefer Rodan over the Mothra, and consider the flying reptile's teaming with Godzilla against the dastardly Ghidorah in Invasion of the Astro Monster/Monster Zero to be one of Toho's finest hours.) 

Well, to say the least, these reproductions rekindle the good old days for me, when the sight of this wondrous, mutant monstrosity drew a top spotlight. Because of such, I give generous Mel my sincerest thanks for acknowledging one of cinema's greatest, colossal characterizations. 

PINUP TIME: ISABELLE ADJANI IS ANNA, POSSESSED!

 

THE PERSONA #3: SILVER SKIN, IN THE WORKS

My third, Persona novel, Silver Skin, is in the works at Airship 27 Productions. 

For this exploit, Michael Mansford and his betrothed, Stacey Standish, travel to Brazil, only to crash in the rain forest, where weird, gruesome events unfold. 

A silver-skinned extraterrestrial is behind the mayhem, and with Mansford's mystical powers hampered, the situation only worsens. 

Silver Skin is being illustrated by the talented Aiden Belcher, son of revered artist, Mike W. Belcher. I've been told that the younger Belcher is achieving remarkable results with his assignment. 

I know it's been a spell since the second, Persona novel, Green-fleshed Fiends, manifested, but I believe the wait will be well worth it. If I may be so bold, Silver Skin is hands down the best of the saga.

TERRIFIC TEAM-UP IMAGE: 2 FACES OF JEKYLL

 

SILVERLINE'S BEYOND THE STARS #4: AN INNER WORLD OPENS

Silverline's Beyond the Stars #4 is in intergalactic flight, thanks to writer Ron Fortier, artist Andrea Bormida and letterer Mike W. Belcher. To sweeten this chapter's advent, it arrives in a trio of collectible, variant covers by the dynamic roster of Rob Davis, Thomas Floriante, Mickey Clausen, Barb Kaalberg and Jose Fuentes. 

In the previous, Beyond the Stars installments, readers were introduced to a group of resourceful, space warriors, dispatched to stop a mysterious anomaly that consumes all in its path. To quell the cosmic consumption, the warriors must locate the lost, Er-Keety colony. The Er-Keety (as foreseen by the great mystic, Modena Elkea) can set all things right, but establishing the essential encounter will prove an arduous venture. 

For Issue #4 ("The Tentacles of Doom!"), we meet the intrepid Commander Haniel Smada, who encounters the dreaded, "black cloud," while the courageous N'Atelle forms a symbiotic link with the cyborg ship, Gnik-tu, to penetrate an idyllic, inner realm that holds the first in a series of essential, vessel batteries.   

Fortier's pacing prompts pure excitement, as does Bormida's sweeping artwork. Also, what's impressive about Beyond the Stars is how it references favorable, space operas of the past, featuring characters and scenarios that are bold yet consistently human-based. The result is satisfying on every level and enough to get one hungry for the next installment. (For the record, two more issues are in development.) 

Beyond the Stars #4's prime release is to be announced, but the wait will only make its emergence all the more special. For certain, Bizarrechats will share updates as soon as they're available. 

FOR THE FUN OF IT:

 

LARRY JOHNSON'S DREAM DIARY #3: WHERE THE SURREAL GETS REAL

I've come to realize that artist/writer Larry Johnson is the ultimate when it comes to building worlds both sweet and offbeat, envisioned as they are by luxuriant artwork (rendered via captivating, technicolor and monochrome shades) and phantasmagorical storytelling.  

Johnson's latest, the 48-page Dream Diary #3, seals the deal, with scenarios that could have sprung straight from one's nightly slumber, building relatable narratives, but with peculiar angles that bud with bold, organic abandon.  

Johnson stars in these (mis)adventures, with each reverie dated, as he launches us on a full-throttle, Twilight Zone-meets-The Far Side plunge with "The Green Potato Chip" (where a smidgeon of poison ivy insinuates calamity); "The Obelisk" (a play upon The Monolith Monsters, but in this case, the ascent is more awe-inspiring than disruptive); "The Tattooed Model" (a Bradbury-ish situation set at the artist's hub); "The Living Doll" (a wee figure comes to life with sadistic results); "Nuclear Disaster" (The Day After hits down the forlorn road); "The Office Engineer" (a battery-operated mishap disrupts the work flow); "The Cave Locomotive" (bulky machinery dominates a sequestered colony); "Bad Trip" (a carefree sojourn is rocked by an explosive, hospital elevator); "Off the Record" (a strange, vinyl disc spins a haunting conundrum); "Cat Poop" (a tarp and a cat lead to a mucky outcome); "The Indignant Men's Club" (stuffed-shirt verbosity falls to rage); and the clever "Biker Gang" (in which recruitment is based not on brawling or derring-do, but an essay composition). 

Johnson's affability defines his exploits, making his stories for common people who dare to see the world through an uncommon lens. Johnson tells us that there's wonderment (sometimes strange, sometimes serene) in every nook and cranny. We just need to open our eyes to recognize it. 

Dream Diary #3 deserves to be in your library, so be smart and send $8.00 to Mr. Johnson (per Paypal at LewBrown1@verizon.net) to make it so.   

WISE WORDS:

 

REMIND MAGAZINE (MARCH '25): A RAT PACK CELEBRATION

ReMind (March 2025) dishes a major treat for Rat Pack fans, with a front-to-back, toast-of-the-town for the legendary performers. 

Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford are all on hand, raising their glasses in welcome, along with guest-starring icons Jerry Lewis, Marilyn Monroe, Donna Reed, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Mia Farrow, Jimmy Durante, Shirley MacLaine, May Britt and Ava Gardner. 

Biographical articles on each of the gang is served, giving it a warm (and rather hip), comprehensive feel, with a peek at the men's movies, a rundown of their cool lingo, as well as heaps of nostalgic trivia and rare photos that place them front and center. (As a nice bonus to the Rat Pack flavoring, there's a sentimental assessment of the California Alligator Farm, as well as lists of the pop-cultural events that distinguish 1959, from Billboard tunes to toy releases.)

ReMind is so much fun, and more issues are coming. The best way not to miss one is to subscribe at

https://www.remindmagazine.com/

In the meantime, the ReMind, Rat Pack tribute is in full circulation, so either order a copy or make the local rounds to nab one before they're all gone.