WITH ETERNAL RESPECT AND GRATITUDE: MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DAY 2021

RIP, PETER MARK RICHMAN...

You were always one of the most familiar faces on film, Mr. Richman, and for good reason. Your appearances were numerous and of distinct quality. 

On television, you were featured on Cain's Hundred (as the eponymous lead); The Outer Limits (the original series); The Twilight Zone (original and latest); Alfred Hitchcock Presents (original); The Invaders (original); Swamp Thing (original); Wonder Woman; The Bionic Woman (original); Electra Woman and Dyna Girl; Knight Rider (original); Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea; Galactica 1980; Star Trek: the Next Generation; PSI Factor; The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; The Fugitive (original); Combat!; The Wild Wild West; Bonanza; Rawhide; Daniel Boone; The Silent Force; Get Christie Love!; The Fall Guy; Longstreet; Matlock; McCloud; Mannix; Hawaii Five O; Dynasty; Three's Company; and in the voice-over realm, Batman: the Animated Series '94; Superman: the Animated Series '99; Spider-man: the Animated Series '97; and for Defenders of the Earth, bestowing the Phantom with the perfect, virile pitch. 

On the big screen, you were no stranger, either, covering such engaging titles as Agent for H.A.R.M.; Dark Intruder; Judgment Day; The Naked Gun 2 1/2: the Smell of Fear; The Murder Men; The Crimebusters; Mysteria; Friendly Persuasion; After the Wizard; and Friday the 13th, Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan. 

 

You gave a lot, and what you gave will be appreciated long after you and your grateful fans cross paths in the Blissful Beyond.  

SUPERBABES #5: AN ESSENTIAL HOMAGE

AC's Femforce's Superbabes #5 explodes with righteous action, presented within our current, COVID climate. 

To acknowledge present events, this stunning, all-color issue is headlined by Mark and Stephanie Heike's cover tribute to essential workers, with the mighty Ms. Victory taking appreciative center stage.

Issue #5 also contains sensational, interior artwork by Dave Matsuoka, Andrew Hawnt, Bobby Ragland, Jeff Austin, Daniel De La Cruz and Josh Rodriguez. 

The Heike's excellent storytelling propels the luscious imagery all the further, as alien invaders leave our mind-seized Fems trapped within Proxima's evil grasp. Meanwhile, She-Cat and Nightveil travel their own torrid paths, with the former engaging in a mad melee and the latter facing a fierce, tentacled terror. The thrilling threefold can't help but leave readers panting for more. 

Pick up Superbabes #5 at your neighborhood comic shop or favorite, online station. (I got mine at trusty Steve's Comic Relief on Quakerbridge Road, Lawrenceville, NJ.  Pay a visit. You'll be glad you did.)

GOODBYE, JULIE STRAIN...

Oh, what a sweet, gorgeous amazon you were, Ms. Strain: the apple of so many a lustful eye. You never minded the ogling, though. In fact, you encouraged and promoted it, making you one of the most irreverent and respected pin-up icons of all time. 

And your iconic status prevailed even beyond the pages of Penthouse and related Girlie magazines, with a dizzying stack of films that includes "Delta Delta Die"; "Out for Justice"; "Double Impact"; "Kuffs"; "Azira: Blood from the Sand"; "Night Rhythms"; "Big Sister 2000"; "Heavy Metal 2000"; "Battlequeen 2020"; "Love Bites"; "The Bare Wench Project" (entire franchise); "Witchcraft IV"; "Mirror Images"; "The Rowdy Girls"; "The Independent"; "Beverly Hills Cop III"; "Rock n' Roll Cops 2"; "Psycho Cop Returns"; "The Unnamable II"; "Tales from the Crapper"; "Horror Tales 666"; ".com for Murder"; "Wild Angel"; "Barbarellas"; "Teasers"; "Bleed"; "Bikini Hotel"; "Zombiegeddon": "No Pain, No Gain": "Sex Court"; "How to Make a Monster '01"; "Planet of the Exotic Ape" (aka, "Babes in Kong Land"); "God Squad!"; "Thirteen Erotic Ghosts"; "Sorceress"; "Sorceress II: the Temptress"; "Infernal Soldiers"; "Red Line"; "Day of the Warrior"; "Takin it Off Out West"; "Naked Gun: the Final Insult"; "Victim of Desire"; "Guns of Chupacabra"; "Fit to Kill"; "Return to Savage Beach"; "The Dallas Connection"; and my personal fave, "Enemy Gold" (that scene in the woods with the sword--oh me, oh my). 

Your fans wished you to portray Wonder Woman, Vampirella and Bettie Page in full-length features. Though those prospects didn't come to be, you were still generous enough to grant a gamut of luscious homages in the form of photos and action figures. 

Beyond any doubt, you were the real-deal McCoy, Ms. Strain, whose love-of-life legacy will continue to enthrall, keeping your legend eternal within a band of devoted hearts.

PIN-UP TIME: GAL GADOT IS WONDER WOMAN

An Alternate Reality: Deadpool Enters Disney's MCU

Fans have wondered when (and if ever) Deadpool 3 (or a related X-Force movie) might surface. Some have presumed the proposed sequel would wallow in pre-production hell, in the measly manner Alien and Planet of the Apes sequels/prequels have gone through Disney. However, at long last, Deadpool 3 has been confirmed a go, and hold onto your seats, it's gonna be part of Disney's Marvel Cinematic Universe, no less. (I wonder if Deadpool 2's trampling of Solo had any influence on this decision. I mean, why not water where the monetary flowers bloom, right?)

This confirmation sprinkles more credibility onto the notion that Old Logan/Wolverine will be featured in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, even if it's still up in the air whether Hugh Jackman will reprise his role. 

Nevertheless, if Ryan Reynolds is to star in and oversee Deadpool 3, one can only infer that negotiations have already commenced to secure Jackman in full, mutant mode. This could also lead to a reunion between the X-Men champions at some point, since Deadpool and Wolverine did spar in the latter's first, eponymous film, albeit with a far different angle than most had desired or anticipated. 

Another thing to consider is that Logan hit theaters R-rated, and of course, the Deadpool movies boast the same designation (except for that wraparound edition of Part 2 that was made to appease the timid). Will the razor-sharp, Fox approach to superheroes seep into Disney's bracketing? According to reports and promises, Deadpool 3 will be as rude and crude as its predecessors. If so, perhaps the same will go for any new X-Men additives, no matter the character variants or circumstances.

It was only a matter of time before the X-Men met the Avengers on the big screen. With parallel-universe confrontations creeping into both Marvel and DC live-action productions, the Deadpool/X-Men visitations seem not only logical, but shrewd.

But let's sure as hell hope the new brew doesn't ultimately go "woke" in the way of Star Wars. There's a tremendous opportunity here to achieve greatness if the mixing and matching bounces right. We sure don't need any dewdrop agenda to castrate it. 

TERRIFIC TEAM-UP IMAGE: BATMAN/WONDER WOMAN (BRAVE AND THE BOLD)