ZABLO'S ZONE

Zablo's Zone: New Digs

2009-01-01T10:29:00.002-05:00

Hey ZONErs, I've moved! Please join me at CraigZablo.com. If you liked swinging by here, then I think you'll really love it there... and don't forget to change your bookmarks!

Hancock

2008-12-31T15:34:00.003-05:00

The Overview: Hancock [Will Smith] is a super hero with a bad attitude. Of course you’d probably be a bit grumpy if you didn’t have any friends or relatives, didn’t know anything about your past, didn’t know how you got your powers and felt unappreciated for your good deeds. All of that changes when Hancock meets Ray [Jason Bateman] and his wife, Mary [Charlize Theron]. To say more would be to say too much.

The Good: Will Smith, isn't he always? Jason Bateman. The story had some interesting plot twists -- some which you can see coming and others that surprise.

The Bad: The advertising for “Hancock” -- I had no desire to see this when it was at theaters, but heard some good things later from those who’d seen it on dvd. There is much more to this movie than the trailers would have you believe!

The Ugly: What happens to the two guys in prison who push Hancock just a bit too far. Yeech!

The Summary: “Hancock” isn’t a great film, but it’s much better than I thought it would be and there‘s a lot worse ways to spend an hour and a half.

Traditions

2008-12-30T23:59:00.002-05:00

I love traditions. The family get-togethers on Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. Watching fireworks on the Fourth of July. Bears games in the fall. Trips to see family members in the summer. One of my oldest traditions is watching the ball drop on New Year's Eve.

That tradition started many years ago when I was a youngster. I was spending the night with my grandparents -- my Nanny and Happa as I called them. We ended up watching Guy Lombardo's orchestra [well, I mostly listened and played with my action figures]. Everything stopped as midnight and the New Year approached. We all watched the ball drop with the countdown to the New Year. That began a tradition that continues to this day.

In the early 70's, I started watching Dick Clark's Rocking New Year's Eve. I thought it was cool to see all the hot bands of the day kicking out their latest jams... and then the cut to Times Square in New York to watch the ball drop with the countdown to the New Year. As the years passed Dick Clark continued to host his Rocking New Year's Eve show. I grew up... finished high school... went to college... got married and Dick Clark was still bringing in the New Year from Times Square. I got a job teaching.... we had kids.. and Dick Clark continued to Rock in the New Year. When the boys were younger we would have their cousins for a sleepover on New Year's Eve. We'd make a day of it and then as the night settled in 'd set off fireworks. We'd watch some good tv [Twilight Zone Marathon] or movies and then it'd be time for Dick Clark to take us to Times Square for the drop of the ball.

My kids are grown now and it's been a few years since we've had the sleepovers with the cousins. But all over us, no matter where we are still tune in to check out the ball dropping in Times Square. Dick Clark suffered a stroke in 2004, and turned the main hosting job over to others -- the first year it was Regis Philbin and since then Ryan Seacrest. The stroke left Dick Clark with limited use of his right arm and some trouble speaking and yet he still appears on the show. You have to admire that. I guess Dick Clark loves traditions too.

Underdogs Have Their Day

2008-12-29T17:02:00.003-05:00

If you have three minutes to spare, the video called "Underdogs Have Their Day" has some great photos and clips from the post fight interviews from UFC 92.

UFC 92 Results

2008-12-28T19:33:00.004-05:00

Last night's UFC 92 had a few surprises.

Quentin "Rampage" Jackson (28-7) vs Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva (32-8). Because Rampage had met Silva twice before and lost both times, I thought that the third time would likely end with another win for Silva. Boy, was I wrong, Rampage won via a devastating KO in the first round. Rampage is back and although you might think that he'd want a shot at getting his title again, he's said that he'd rather get the chance to avenge his loss to Forrest Griffin. Now that's a fighter talking!

Antonio "Big Nog" Nogueira (31-4-1) vs Frank Mir (11-3). Mir had less experience and did not sound confident in pre-fight interviews. That, coupled with the fact that Big Nog gets stronger as a fight goes on [and Mir isn't known for his conditioning] led me to belive that Big Nog would probably come out the winner. Boy, was I wrong again. Not only did Mir dominate the first round, he continued to dominate in the second and knocked Big Nog out before the 2 minute mark. Mir KO'd a man who had never been knocked out before and he made it look fairly easy.

Forrest Griffin (16-4) vs "Sugar" Rashad Evans (16-0-1). I picked Griffin to win, but was worried that Evans would once again find a way earn the victory. He did. Griffin had a great fight plan which kept the fight off the mat, and Evans at bay with solid leg kicks. Griffin won both rounds one and two and appeared to be on his way to winning the third as well. That's when Evans was able to catch Griffin's leg and land a hard shot which put Griffin down. Evans followed up with repeated head strikes until the ref was forced to call it.

So congratulations to Rampage, Mir and Evans.

Mr. Brooks: A Killer Good Time

2008-12-27T12:20:00.004-05:00

The Overview: Mr. Brooks [Kevin Costner] has just been named Portland’s Man of the Year. He is a rich, successful business man with a beautiful wife and a lovely college aged daughter. Life would be perfect if he wasn’t overcome with urges to kill. You see, Mr. Brooks is a serial killer. After his last double-murder, his first in two years, the demon in him is loose again. But Mr. Brooks’ days may be numbered. He’s being blackmailed by a man [Dane Cook] who accidentally stumbled on to the truth and there’s that determined police detective [Demi Moore] hot on his trail.

The Good: The cast. The story. I especially enjoyed all the subplots. Dane Cook trying to control the situation in which he is out of his league. Demi Moore and the escaped killer after her. Mr. Brooks’ daughter’s terrible secret that was slowly unfolding. The way that Mr. Brooks was torn between his urge to kill and the knowledge that it was terribly, terribly wrong. The plot twists. How everything wraps up. And Mr. Brooks’ relationship with Marshall [William Hurt].

The Bad: What happens to those who fall into the path of Mr. Brooks.

The Ugly: The dreams of a serial killer.

The Summary: “Mr. Brooks" is definitely worth a look -- you'll have a killer good time.

Dead Celebrities Live

2008-12-26T15:07:00.003-05:00

Have you seen the new ad that John Lennon did for charity? Yeah, you read that right. The new ad. Yes, I know that John Lennon was killed over 28 years ago. But through the wonders of modern technology here is John urging us to give a child a laptop.

I have mixed feelings about this type of thing. On one hand I love the possibilities the technology gives us. Think about how cool it would be to see Sly Stallone, young Marlon Brando, Humphrey Bogart and Lee Marvin acting alongside each other. The possibilities are endless.

On the other hand, we'll probably end up with more of this and this.

UFC 92 Preview

2008-12-26T14:05:00.004-05:00

Tomorrow night's card for UFC 92 is stacked. Three fights headline the card and they should all prove to be interesting, competitive fights.

Quentin "Rampage" Jackson (28-7) takes on Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva (32-8). Jackson is the former light heavyweight champ, with the emphasis is on former. It's still fresh in most folks' minds about Jackson's erratic behavior following the loss of his title. Many are saying that the shake-ups that followed Jackson's run-ins with the law led to good things. He started training seriously, he got rid of those around him who were not the best influences and will come into this fight a changed man. He will need to be. Rampage has met Silva twice before and lost both times. I like Rampage, but plan to give the nod to Silva.

Antonio "Big Nog" Nogueira (31-4-1) matches up against Frank Mir (11-3). Again, I like both fighters. Mir has less experience. Plus, if you've heard him speaking about Big Nog in interviews, you know that Mir is concerned with the fact that Big Nog gets stronger as the fight goes on... and Mir isn't known for his conditioning. I think that Big Nog has the advantage going in and unless Mir makes something happen fast, it could be a long night in the octogon with Nogueira coming out a winner.

Forrest Griffin (16-4) puts his title on the line when he squares off against "Sugar" Rashad Evans (16-0-1). Both of these guys are former winners of The Ultimate Fighter show tourneys. Although Griffin is a slight favorite, mainly due to his popularity, Evans is the more technical fighter due to his extensive college wrestling career. I'm leaning towards Griffin finding a way to win, but am concerned that Evans has ALWAYS been able to do just that.

Free Look at "The Goon"

2008-12-26T12:23:00.003-05:00

I 've been following Eric Powell's "The Goon" since his self-publishing days. Although it's been eight years and Eric has moved into the big leagues with Dark Horse publishing "The Goon," it's as good as ever. And I'm not the only one who feels that way. This year Eric picked up two Eisner Awards [Best Painter and Best Humor Writer/Artist].

f you're already a Goon fan, then you know what I'm talking about. If you're not a fan, then you should check out CBR.com's preview of "The Goon #31." Who knows, maybe you'll become one.

Eartha Kitt - RIP

2008-12-25T20:48:00.003-05:00

Eartha Kitt, the multi-talented, singer, actress and author has died at the age of 81 from colon cancer. Her career spanned sixty years and made her an international star.

Born to poor parents [a mother of African-American/Cherokee heritage and a white father] in 1927, Eartha was sent to live with relatives when her mother's new husband refused to have a mixed child in the house. Eartha's big break came in 1946 when she auditioned and won a spot as a dancer with the Dunham dance group. This in turn led to work on Broadway and later a Paris nightclub where she was spotted by Orson Welles who called her the "most exciting woman in the world" and cast her in his Paris stage production of "Faust."

From there her career really took off with a recording contract [Eartha could sing in several languages] and songs such as "I Want to be Evil" and the classic "Santa, Baby." At a time when women of color were often seen on television as maids and secretaries, Ms. Kitt had a reoccurring role as the sexy Catwoman on the popular tv series Batman.

In 1968, her career in the US came to a screeching halt. Ms. Kitt, along with several other important ladies of the time had been invited to a luncheon at the White House hosted by President Johnson's wife. They were there to discuss youth crime. Ms. Kitt brought up the Viet Nam war and the unrest it was causing among young people, and Mrs. Johnson took offense. The incident made the papers and suddenly Ms. Kitt found herself blacklisted. So she went overseas where she continued to perform until her return to Broadway in 1974. Jimmy Carter invited her back to the White House in 1978. In 2006, President Bush had her back once again, this time to light the National Christmas tree. Ms. Kitt never retired. She is one of the few entertainers to earn nominations for Emmy, [she won two and was nominated for three], Grammy [nominated twice] and Tony [nominatied twice] awards.

Ms. Kitt leaves behind a daughter and two grandchildren. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family, friends and fans.

Talented Christmas Greetings

2008-12-25T08:39:00.004-05:00

Believe it or not, no one is up in our house yet, but me. The kids, the wife, the dogs -- everyone is still fast asleep. That's okay though. I'm enjoying the quiet before the storm of Christmas morning.

There are so many things I love about Christmas. One of them is when folks make their own Christmas cards. The one at the top of this piece is by the uber-talented Dave Johnson. It's just one of the many posted over at Newsarama.com. Oh, and be sure and check out this really cool one by Rick Burchett and Chris Mills.

Oh-oh. Sounds like everyone is starting to wake up. Have a great day!

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T00:00:00.001-05:00

Happy Celebration!

2008-12-24T10:43:00.004-05:00

It's Christmas Eve. That means tonight we'll have the traditional gathering of the Zablo clan. Despite what you may have heard, when we all get together for Christmas Eve it's pretty traditional. There will be plenty of presents for the kids, tons of laughs, good food and hopefully the creation of one or two great memories. And while nephew Bartle-Doo Corbett and Uncle Brent may have to be reined in a few times, it should be a fun night with no one going to jail or the hospital.

Here's hoping that whatever you celebrate is the best ever... and no matter what you believe, Santa still swings by.

[And a tip o' the Santa cap to Eric Powell who created the art used in today's header - Craig]

Jim Ivey Packs 2 Kinds of Heat

2008-12-23T12:46:00.004-05:00

Yesterday John Beatty, his bride, Bella, and I drove over to Orlando to spend a little quality time with our ole buddy, Jim Ivey. The three hour marathon breakfast session included so many discussion tangents and laughs that it would be impossible to recount them all.

I will share one story though. Jim is 83 years old and he still gets up and goes on a daily early morning walk. On one of these trips as he was enjoying a hot cup of coffee and smoking one of his famous cigars a man jumped out at him from behind some bushes. Jim loudly announced: "Stay back! I'm armed!" and the man jumped back and went the other way. Knowing that Jim owns a handgun, I asked it he was carrying it. His reply, "No, but I was armed. I had a hot cup of coffee in one hand and a lit cigar in the other!"

And knowing Jim he'd have used them!

Fast & Furious Again

2008-12-23T07:11:00.005-05:00

MTV Movies scored a first look at the new "Fast & Furious" poster. This is not to be confused with a new poster for the original "Fast & Furious" movie, but instead a new poster for a new movie of the same name. It's actually the fourth in the series... but has the same name as the original.

Confused?

Let's hope that movie-goers aren't because the new "Fast & Furious" looks like it will be as much fun as the original. You can check out a larger photo of the poster here.

Angel of Death Trailer

2008-12-22T18:20:00.005-05:00

We've been talking about Ed Brubaker's "Angel of Death" for a while. The trailer is now available on line. Before you go check it out, let me say that it has a lot of violence, at least one shocking/gross scene and comes off like a movie that you'd see in a drive-in. If like me, you're okay with that, then click here.

Robert Mulligan - RIP

2008-12-22T05:42:00.003-05:00

Robert Mulligan, 83, the Oscar nominated director of "To Kill a Mockingbird," died at his Connecticut home Friday from heart disease. Although the classic "To Kill a Mockingbird" is his best known effort, Mr. Mulligan's credits include films such as "Love with a Proper Stranger," "Up the Down Staircase," "Summer of 42," "Same Time Next Year," and "Bloodbrothers." Known as an actor's director, Mr. Mulligan repeatedly worked with some of the biggest stars in Hollywood including Gregory Peck, Steve McQueen, Tony Curtis, and others.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and fans.

A Little Elfin' Fun!

2008-12-20T15:54:00.003-05:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Here's a little elfin' fun!

"Knowing" A Little

2008-12-19T17:47:00.004-05:00

A new trailer for "Knowing" is now available. You can see it at the official movie website or here on Youtube. It looks kind of interesting. I'll post more when I know more.

Oh, Oh, Oh! Ho, Ho, Ho!

2008-12-17T17:28:00.003-05:00

You all remember my buddy, Jim Ivey, right? Yeah, he's the 83 year old political cartoonist - former owner of The Cartoon Museum in Florida - co-founder of OrlandoCon - author - teacher - card player - and all around good guy.

I received my Christmas card from Jim today and it's a tri-fold job that he created. The first two folds are show above. Click here to see the reveal. Not only do I hope I have as much wit and energy as Jim when I'm 83, I wish that I did now.

Francesco's Sweet Deal!

2008-12-16T18:17:00.005-05:00

I recently discovered that Francesco Francavilla was offering a free quick sketch with every sketchbook purchased from his blog. Since I'd been a fan of his work for a while, I decided that the time was right to take advantage of the deal. I checked to make sure that he was down for a Stallone piece [he was] and then Paypalled him some of my hard earned smack-a-toons for a copy of Chiaroscuro Volume I and a Stallone quick sketch.

Francesco quickly contacted me to say that he'd received the order and that he'd be sending it out by the end of the week. About midway into the next week a securely wrapped package arrived. [Francesco must have heard about my mail carrier!] I opened it to find the sketchbook and Francesco's take on Sly as Freddy in Cop Land. I sat down and checked out the book which is chock full of sketches -- everything from Batman to Zorro to Sin City to Judge Dredd, the Fantastic Four, Hellboy and so much more!

Talk about a great deal -- the sketchbook and original piece of art for twenty-three bucks including postage! I plan to go back for the second sketchbook, Schermoscuro Volume 1 after the first of the year. Check out Francesco's web site and you may want in on the deal yourself.

PS -- I plan to post Francesco's Cop Land piece this weekend.

Wolverine Trailer

2008-12-15T18:48:00.006-05:00

The trailer for "Wolverine" is now on-line and can be seen in all it's glory here. I have to admit, that it doesn't look half bad.

The Crow is Reinvented

2008-12-15T18:16:00.005-05:00

Variety has announced that "Stephen Norrington has signed on to write and direct a reinvention of “The Crow,” based on the comic created by James O’Barr." Norrington is best known as the director of "Blade" [which most folks liked and I didn't care for] and "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" [which was almost universally panned, and I enjoyed].

Since I'm a fan of the original comic by J. O'Barr, I'm happy to see the character return to the big screen. Let's hope that this "reinvention" is more like "League" than "Blade."

The Eternal Prison

2008-12-14T13:51:00.005-05:00

The last time I mentioned Jeff Somers here at the ZONE, it was in praise of his second Avery Cates novel, The Digital Plague. I know it's hard to believe, but I enjoyed The Digital Plague just a bit better than The Electric Church [which I loved].

Over at his blog, Jeff recently posted the Jae Lee cover to the third book in the series, The Eternal Prison. If you haven't yet read the first two Avery Cates novels, now is the time to jump on board. The third one doesn't come out until next year and that would give you plenty of time to catch up.

You could also hang out at Jeff's blog where he regularly posts and interacts with fans. [I guess you could hang out there even if you didn't read his books, but if Jeff found out he'd probably send his winged monkeys after you. So if you choose to do that, you do so at your own peril. You have been warned!]

Reasoner's Review - Batman Vampire

2008-12-14T08:25:00.001-05:00

Author James Reasoner really enjoyed the Batman: Vampire compilation. [Of course what's not to love when it's written by Doug Moench with art by Kelly Jones and John Beatty?] Here are a few quotes from the review:

This is classic Batman with a horror spin... Doug Moench was one of my favorite comics writers... His scripts on these three Batman stories are excellent, with plenty of action and angst... the artwork in this collection by Kelley Jones reminds me a little of Gulacy’s work, as well as Berni Wrightson’s... I’m glad I was able to catch up to these three stories all in one book, and if you’re a Batman and/or horror fan, I think you’ll enjoy them, too.

You can check out Reasoner's full review here and the Batman: Vampire compilation here.

Zablo's Kingdom

2008-12-14T06:21:00.003-05:00

Disney World is a magical park. They say it's the happiest place on earth. Soon it will be even more fun! [Thanks and a tip of my mouse ears to Mark Evanier!]

Randy Couture is Expendable

2008-12-13T16:11:00.004-05:00

Ain't It Cool News has reported that Randy Couture, former UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champion, has joined Sly, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren and Forrest Whittaker in "The Expendables." Filming starts in February and you can read the whole piece here. - Craig

Bettie Page - RIP

2008-12-12T15:39:00.006-05:00

Bettie Page, the legendary 1950's pin-up model has passed away at the age of 85. Ms. Page who quit modeling at the height of her popularity and disappeared from public view [although not our imagination] went on to become a pop culture icon inspiring generations of fans. Fans like Mark Evanier, Christopher Mills, Rafael Kayanan, Steve Thompson, Ivan Shreve have all written remembrances, but they need not worry... Bettie Page will live forever.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to her friends and fans.

Robert Prosky - RIP

2008-12-11T17:45:00.006-05:00

I just read over at Ivan Shreve's site that character actor, Robert Prosky, has died at the age of 77. Mr. Prosky was a star of the stage, television and movies.

I first saw Mr. Prosky in "Thief" [his feature film debut] with James Caan. Mr. Prosky owned every scene he was in. Mr. Prosky worked continouously alternating roles in films, television and stage. He made every thing he was in just a bit, and sometimes a lot better. [And that includes "Eye See You" with Sylvester Stallone.]

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Prosky's family, friends and fans.

Dead Irons Lives

2008-12-11T16:55:00.004-05:00

Back in October of this year I posted a piece about "Dead Irons" the genre bending mini-series about werewolves, vampires and bounty hunters in the old west. Today Newsarama posted a look at some of cover artist Jae Lee's character sketches and more. I especially liked when "Dead Irons" artist Jason Alexander said:

"This is seriously the darkest book I've ever worked on... it's so well thought out, it really feels like a classic Sergio Leone' film, with werewolves and vampires.

You can check out the full post here.

"Killer of Demons"

2008-12-11T16:33:00.004-05:00

If you're a fan of "Frailty" or "Shaun of the Dead" then you might want to check out the three issue mini-series "Killer of Demons" by Chris Yost [writer] and Scott Wegener [artist]. Yost summarizes the series by saying:

Dave Sloan, who wakes up to see that there are actual literal demons from hell among us,” he told CBR, “and a heavenly cherub angel is telling him to kill them all. Which he does, with swords, axes, guns and even a pen. But Dave starts to realize that things aren't necessarily as they seem.

I think the series looks like fun and plan to order it. CBR.com has a preview of the first issue and a brief interview with Yost and Wergner. Check it out and maybe you'll want to give it a chance too.

No Longer Incognito

2008-12-10T17:41:00.003-05:00

If you're a fan of Ed Brubaker and/or Sean Phillips then here's something worth checking out -- CBR.com has an extensive first look at the premiere issue of INCOGNITO. Before you click over, know that this is for mature audiences!

Clint Made My Day!

2008-12-09T20:30:00.004-05:00

Despite earlier reports that announced he was ready to, Clint Eastwood said in an interview yesterday that he's NOT ready to quit acting. Talk about "Make My Day"! I hope that the time never comes that Clint decides it's time to stop acting or directing.

Big Beatty's Bailout

2008-12-09T16:11:00.004-05:00

We've been hearing a lot of talk about bailouts lately. [Lord knows I could use one. Bet you could too.] Barack Obama is proposing a bailout. So is President Bush. The problem with both of their proposals is that politics gets in the way, slows things down and gums up the works.

That's why I'm happy to say that the third fellow pictured above is proposing a different kind of bailout. His name is John Beatty and he's proposing a Christmas Bailout that is guranteed to help those the bailout is for [namely John and his family] PLUS it offers something back to those doing the bailing [Namely a sweet comission at a really decent price AS WELL AS a free sketchbook should your piece be included]. You can read the full details here.

Man, if only our country's economic woes could be solved so quickly and with everyone coming out a winnah!

Fringe's Watcher

2008-12-08T16:47:00.005-05:00

If you've been enjoying "Fringe" [even half as much as me] you're going to love this. If you haven't yet checked out the show, then by all means take a look at the video. It might peak your interest enough that you give it a try.

Welcome to the Jungle

2008-12-07T13:39:00.003-05:00

I don't know anything about the new A&E show Manhunters: Fugitive Task Force other than I really like the poster promoting it. The poster is better than most created for today's feature films. In fact, if the show is as good as the poster it'll be worth viewing. I think I'll tune in and see. [In other words the poster did it's job.]

Nazi Zombie Action

2008-12-06T15:36:00.004-05:00

Harry over at Ain't It Cool News posted a link to a trailer for "Dead Snow" -- a zombie movie that was screened at the 09 Sundance Film Festival. Knowing how much ZONErs love horror movies, and the zombie genre, I thought a link here would be appropriate... but first a few words... there's violence [zombies eating, killing and being killed] and strong [subtitled] language -- this is not appropriate for younger readers. As I watched the trailer with the Nazi zombies I kept thinking, "Boy, do they need Hellboy to show up!"

With that said, if you're age appropriate and want to see some Nazi zombie action, then click here.

Forrest J Ackerman - RIP

2008-12-05T16:40:00.003-05:00

Forrest J Ackerman has died at the age of 92. Probably best known as the founding editor of Famous Monsters of Filmland, Ackerman made his living as a literary agent, magazine editor and occasional actor.

I grew up loving monster movies and of course Famous Monsters of Filmland. Although it was chock full of movie stills, interviews with the folks behind those movies, and more -- it wasn't until I was in my late teens/early twenties that I discovered that nearly all of those things that I enjoyed about the magazine came from Forrest Ackerman. His collection of memorabiliai ncluded many original movie props, autographs, over 50,000 books and much, much more. He kept it all in his house. Fans were often invited in to hear classic anecdotes as they toured. Sadly, in his later years Mr. Ackerman was forced to sell off his collection piece by piece.

Mr. Ackerman is said to have discovered Ray Bradbury and to have coined the term "sci-fi." And while both of those are "definite claims to fame" -- I don't think that my childhood would have been as fun without Mr. Ackerman's influence on Famous Monsters of Filmland.

My thoughts and prayers go out to his fans around the world.

Not the Worst

2008-12-05T16:16:00.004-05:00

O.J. Simpson was sentenced today to at least 15 years in prison.

All I really have to say about that is, what kind of person must you be if you're convicted of a dozen felonies, including armed robbery, kidnapping, burglary, conspiracy and assault and those aren't the worst crimes you've ever been charged with?

Marlow: Soul of Darkness

2008-12-03T16:33:00.003-05:00

The Pitch: A hardcase with a secret leads a small group of mercenaries onto an island full of zombies in order to rescue a scientist.

The Good: The concept. The Marlow character and his associates. The art by Mathew Reynolds shows a lot of promise with inspired panels/poses. Running some of the original proposal pages [by a different artist] was cool.

The Bad: The lack of backgrounds -- at times it works, but as the story progressed I missed them and wanted more than just gray-scale figures, etc. The fact that Marlow almost always has a cigar in his mouth became a bit much.

The Ugly: The logo needs to be reworked. The shop owner where I bought Marlow said he had no idea what the title was when he first looked at the cover. The price tag of $4.95 felt a bit high.

The Summary: Marlow was created by Aaron Thomas Nelson and Dario Carrassco Jr. The first issue is 46 black and white pages with a color cover, written by Aaron Thomas Nelson art by Mathew Reynolds. I enjoyed the first issue and feel like Nelson and Reynolds could have a hit on their hands if they stick with it. Check out this preview and see what you think.

Bill Black Takes It Off

2008-12-02T18:00:00.004-05:00

He's never done it before, and he may never do it again... but....

My buddy, Bill Black is having a 50% off sale on all dvds in his catalog ordered through his on-line store. If you like old-time movie serials, tv detectives, old westerns and more, then click here and start shopping!

Looking for Leverage

2008-12-01T18:57:00.006-05:00

I'm not much of a Timothy Hutton fan, but I have to say that "Leverage" looks like it may be pretty good. I plan to check it out when it premieres next Sunday on TNT. Anyone else going to give it a shot?

Time for a Joke

2008-11-30T15:01:00.002-05:00

There was a long, long line of spirits at the gate waiting to get into heaven. Not all these spirits could fit into heaven, so the ones who died the worst death would be allowed in.

The first man in line started telling his story, "Well, Peter, you see, I knew that my wife was cheating on me so I decided to come home early from work one day to catch them in action. I got home and searched all over but I couldn't find him. Then when I walked out onto the balcony, there he was dangling off the darn thing by his fingertips. So I ran and got a hammer then started beating his fingers with it and he fell. Well, the fall didn't kill him, because he landed in a bush so I picked up the refrigerator and threw it on him. Although that killed him, the strain gave me a heart attack, and here I am."

The next man came up and started his story. "St. Peter, I always work out on my balcony on the 14th floor of my apartment building. I was on my bike one day and I fell off when it flipped. I sailed over the rail and I thought "Please God spare my life" and he did. I caught on to a balcony below me. I was even happier when a man discovered me hanging there. But all of a sudden he started beating my hands with a hammer so I fell again. But the dear Lord saved me again when I landed in a bush. But I'm here now because the guy threw his refrigerator on top of me."

It was now the third guy's turn to start his story. "Well, Peter, just picture this. I'm hiding butt naked in this married chick's refrigerator....."

"Z" and Wild Bill

2008-11-29T14:24:00.004-05:00

I love getting mail from my buddy, Jim Ivey. He doesn't use a computer so it's snail mail only. The great thing is, that Jim always includes a doodle or two. His most recent letter contained caricatures of me and Bill Black. Jim used photos from his 83rd birthday bash for reference. You read that right, Jim's 83 and still full of "prunes and macaroons" as he often says.

I not only hope I have as much energy as Jim when I'm 83, I wish I had it now.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T07:44:00.005-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope that this is one the best Thanksgiving Days ever for each and everyone of us. Remember to count your blessings, eat too much turkey, ignore that family member who irritates you, make big plans, eat too much pie, doze in front of the tube, have a bit more turkey, and remember to watch a bit of the parade!

"The Shield" Final Thoughts

2008-11-26T08:16:00.005-05:00

The series finale to "The Shield" was a fitting ending to one of the best crime/cop shows ever on television. Although it would have been impossible to live up to everyone's expectations, the series did manage to go out as it came in... with an episode to surpise, shock and keep you thinking long after the end credits rolled.

Let's end this post with an "interview" with "Shield" creator Shawn Ryan held after he watched the series finale with a half dozen critics. It's fun reading and provides a lot of insight into what made "The Shield" so great. [Hats off to Alan Sepinwall of The Star/Ledger for putting it together.]

When Computers Go Hinky

2008-11-25T21:41:00.007-05:00

I've spent the better part of the afternoon and evening dealing with computer problems. Ugh! I ended up having to shut down the computer and reboot it back to it's original settings. Of course that meant I then had to re-load drivers for my scanner, re-set up my e-mail, re-load programs, and deal with all of the other nonsense that must be dealt with when computers go hinky. Double ugh!!

At least I have "The Shield" to look forward to in less than 15 minutes. If it's good as it should be, my computer problems will be a faded memory.

Hoping for Breathtaking!

2008-11-24T20:03:00.005-05:00

We're just a little over 24 hours away from the final episode of "The Shield." Although a few critics have seen how the show wraps up, nobody is giving away anything. I'm glad. I can't wait to take it all in and see who lives and who dies.

Gillian Flynn, TV Critic for Entertainment Weekly, saw the finale and concluded her write-up for the November 28th issue by saying:

"When the end comes, it's breathtaking -- and what's even more stunning is, after you've catalogued all of Mackey's unforgivable sins, you'll still find yourself rooting for him..."

If the finale is even half as good as the premiere episode, we're in for a great hour and a half of television... and if it turns out to be as Flynn says, "breathtaking," even better.

Bruce Lee Ping Pong

2008-11-24T19:49:00.003-05:00

Because Bruce Lee is so dearly loved here at the ZONE, I give you, "If Bruce Lee Played Ping Pong."

Beatty's Artist Proof

2008-11-23T12:55:00.004-05:00

My buddy, John Beatty, has posted nine of his “Artist Proof” Marvel Masterpieces Sketch Cards on E-Bay. He's listed them at the extremely low and affordable $9.99 starting bid. If you've ever thought about getting something from Big Beatty, now could be the time!

A Life Stranger Than Star Wars

2008-11-23T12:31:00.004-05:00

I'm not a huge Star Wars or Carrie Fisher fan, but after reading about her today at Victor Gishler's site and then again at Bill Crider's joint, I decided to follow Bill's link to Carrie Fisher's piece. Even if you're not a Star Wars / Carrie Fisher fan, the article is worth a read and if you are a fan, you'll like it that much more.

Pop-Up Help Needed!

2008-11-23T07:27:00.006-05:00

I've been plagued by the pop-up pictured above. I can not get rid of it. I've tried Ad-Aware, Spybot, CA Security, but nothing works. I've done research and can't find anything out there that will get rid of it. Any ZONErs who can pass along something that will work would be greatly appreciated!

Ledger for Your Consideration

2008-11-23T06:57:00.004-05:00

Warner Bros. has started their push to get Heath Ledger a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination. Who can argue with that?

"We've Got To Go Back, Kate!"

2008-11-22T11:59:00.003-05:00

We've seen the new poster advertising the return of "Lost." Now we can see the new trailer.

"The Wrestler"

2008-11-21T17:21:00.006-05:00

Advance word on "The Wrestler" has been so good, it's scary. After seeing this trailer, I'd have to say that the hype is well deserved.

Lost: Destiny Calls

2008-11-20T15:56:00.004-05:00

ABC created the poster above to promote the fifth season of "Lost" which premieres in January. You can see a Milky Way-sized version of it here.

The Shield: Predictions Please!

2008-11-19T17:35:00.006-05:00

Next Tuesday, FX will air the final episode of "The Shield." I'm proud to say that I've been a fan of the show since episode one of the first season. I'm equally proud to say that I've turned on several friends and family members it as well. If you're a fan of the show, I'd love to hear how you think it will end. There's been a lot of speculation among devotees of the show. Some of the more interesting predictions include:

Mackey will get away clean. [I really don't see this happening.]
Mackey will die. [I tend to think not.] He will be killed by Ronnie. [Wouldn't that be a twist? Mackey killed Terry Crawley because he was going to "rat out" the Strike Team and that's exactly what Mackey did to Ronnie.] He will be killed by Dutch. [I'm not convinced Dutch will live -- see below.] He will be killed by Shane. [Nah.] He will be killed by Mora. [Nah.] He will be killed by Corrine or Cassidy. [I just don't see it.] He will be killed by Armenians. [That could happen if they discover that Mackey sold them out to the Feds.]
Dutch will be killed by the serial killer kid. [Boy, they sure are foreshadowing it. It would be shocking to see Dutch as he lays dying come to the realization that the kid had outsmarted him. I like Dutch though and hope that he doesn't kick the bucket.]
Shane will be killed by Mackey. [Possible and at one point I really wanted to see that... not so much now though.] He will be killed by Ronnie. [Very possible.] He will turn himself in for a deal to spare Mara. [Another possibility.]
Claudette will die. [If watching Mackey get immunity didn't kill her, I don't think that she'll just drop dead now -- but you never know.] Claudette will lose it and kill Mackey. [Boy, that would go against everything she has stood for since the show started... so I don't think so.]
Ronnie will go to jail because of Mackey's confession. [Possible.] Ronnie will run. [More likely -- and then he may be caught and go to jail or be killed.]
Cassidy will be captured and raped/tortured or killed when the Aremenians find out that Mackey double-crossed them. [Boy, wouldn't that be a twist? Mackey becomes the cause of his daughter's ruined life. THAT would be worse than prison.]
Corrine will be killed by Mackey when he learns that she ratted him out and in turn he ratted out Ronnie to save her from a non-existent charge. [I don't see Mackey killing any of his family members.]

I think that Mackey will survive but be forced to live with the fact that the events that he put into motion caused him to lose his job and his family. There's an outside shot that Mackey will die, but I hope that he goes out with some dignity if it happens. I think things look grim for Shane and his family. Mora may survive, but I think Shane is going to die. Ronnie will have to run to survive and I'm not convinced he'll make it. Dutch may be in a serial killer's crosshairs and it would be shocking for him to become a victim. I hope he is smarter than that. Claudette has been the moral compass of the show, but I've got a bad feeling in regard to her character. I think we may discover that Shane killed the female cop in order to get away. Dani should end up alright. Same for Billings and Julian. I'm not so sure about Aceveda.

So let's hear your predictions! Then we'll come back next week and see who came closest to getting it right.

24 and More

2008-11-19T16:52:00.003-05:00

IMPAwards.com has posted up a bunch of new posters for "24," "24: Redemption," "The Spirit" and a bunch of other tv shows and movies. You can see a bigger version of the poster above and many others by clicking here.

My Choice for "The Prince"

2008-11-17T17:10:00.005-05:00

Over at Chud.com there's a post about a movie that John ["Escape from New York"] Carpenter is trying to put together. It's called "The Prince" and is a crime drama written by Jeremy Passmore. Here's how Passmore describes it:

"It's a bit of a departure. It's definitely more of a very character based crime movie. I don't know what's going on with it right now, but the premise is that this guy was the most [badass] gangster of all time in Las Vegas, and he's left the life and created this whole new world. His wife died but he's raising his kid. He's living in the middle of nowhere and he's this very religious, trying to live a straight life guy. His daughter is now going to school at UCLA and she disappears, and he goes looking for her. The trail leads to Vegas and he has to go get her, and the entire city kind of comes down on top of him."

I don't know about you, but I know who I'd suggest for the title role.

The Greatest?

2008-11-16T09:11:00.006-05:00

One of the greatest fights of all-time was the third match between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali. Dubbed the "Thrilla in Manila" it was the rubber match between two of the best fighters to ever step into the ring. Ali won the battle, but at a great cost. The fight took such a toil on them that both Frazier and Ali never wanted to watch it again.

Now, thirty plus years later, film maker John Dower uses that epic battle as the framework for his documentary "Thriller in Manila." Not only does Dower take a close look at the fight, he takes the controversial stance that Ali's dark side has been glossed over by time and that Joe Frazier was slighted due to the charisma of Ali. Dower uses new interviews with Frazier [who watches the Manila fight for the first time] interspliced with old newsreel footage and interviews to paint a picture of Ali that isn't pretty.

You can read more about the documentary here.

Lesnar Wins Title

2008-11-16T01:07:00.005-05:00

I just got home from watching UFC 91. It was a fun night with most fights turning out as predicted. Kenny Florian won by rear naked choke in the first round over Joe Stevenson. The fight that everyone was waiting for was, of course, Brock Lesnar vs Randy Couture for the Heavyweight title. Couture was the fan favorite although Vegas odds preferred Lesnar.

I expected Lesnar to bum rush Couture from the opening bell. I was wrong. Lesnar displayed great respect for Couture and tried to stand with him. When Lesnar did take Couture down, he wasn't able to hold him there. The round ended with Lesnar ahead, but Couture seemed to be gaining momentum. The second round saw more of the same when suddenly Couture went down from a short shot to the temple. Lesnar followed him to the ground and began raining hammerfists. Although Couture wasn't out, he clearly wasn't able to stop the barrage and the ref stepped in to stop it. Lesnar showed more class in this victory than his last. He thanked the fans, Randy Couture and the man upstairs. It'll be interesting to see what lies in the future for both of these fighters.

I Can't Wait

2008-11-15T10:10:00.003-05:00

Less than twelve hours to the start of UFC 91 and I can't wait. Predictions?

Killshot

2008-11-15T08:15:00.002-05:00

IMPAwrds.com scored a look at two posters for "Killshot" which stars Diane Lane, Mickey Rourke and is based on Elmore Leonard's best selling novel. The posters are okay -- but I'm expecting the movie to be a lot better.

Daytona Con!

2008-11-14T23:28:00.003-05:00

This Sunday [November 16th] from 10am to 5pm at the Holiday Inn & Suites my buddy Steve Meyers is putting on a small comic book convention. Admission and parking are free. John Beatty will be there sketching. That alone is worth the price of admission. There will be other guests and several vendors on hand. Heck, I might even get to swing by for a bit. If you're in the area, you should too! Click here for full details.

Gischler Speaks!

2008-11-13T17:33:00.003-05:00

If you took my advice and picked up a copy of Go-Go Girls of the Apocalypse, then you'll probably enjoy this interview with its author, Victor Gischler. If you haven't read the book yet, then check out the interview and maybe you'll want to.

The Night Gallery

2008-11-12T09:35:00.000-05:00

Say the name Rod Serling and most folks will come back with "The Twilight Zone." And rightly so. "The Twilight Zone" was a classic sci-fi series that still holds up fifty years later. Although not as well known, Rod Serling's "The Night Gallery" was his follow-up series which premiered on NBC five years after the cancellation of "The Twilight Zone."

The conceit of "The Night Gallery" was that Serling would come out and talk about a painting on display in the "Night Gallery" and the teleplay, either an original story [many by Serling himself] or an adaptation of HP Lovecraft, Richard Matheson or another sci-fi or horror writer would follow. The paintings always related to the story that followed. It was a cool idea and I loved the show when it originally aired. [Keep in mind this was the early 70's and I would have been 11 or 12.]

I've been watching episodes on RTN lately and I hate to say it, but many don't hold up near as well as older episodes of "The Twilight Zone." Part of the problem could be that "The Night Gallery" episodes in syndication are often cut or expanded to meet the half hour time slot.

I recently discovered this site dedicated to "Rod Serling's Night Gallery." It's chock full of information about the series with everything from episode guides, to misconceptions about the series to a gallery of paintings used in each episode. If you have any interest in Rod Serling or "The Night Gallery" you should check out the site. It's even more fun than some of the episodes it covers!

One of Six

2008-11-11T14:41:00.004-05:00

Warner Bros., in a very smart marketing ploy, has posted six new character posters for "Watchmen" on six different sites. ComingSoon.net has smaller versions and links to each right here.

Couture vs Lesnar

2008-11-11T11:42:00.004-05:00

This Saturday at 10pm UFC 91 will air on pay-per-view with one of the most highly anticipated mixed martial arts fights of all time. Randy Couture puts his heavyweight title on the line against Brock Lesnar. Both men are accomplished athletes with extensive wrestling skills. Couture is the more experienced octagon fighter, but he will give away over a decade and about 50 pounds. Lesnar is younger, faster, bigger and stronger, but doesn't have anywhere near the experience of Couture.

This is a tough one to call. I'd love to see Couture pull out a win -- it would be the capper to a great career. Although, if Couture beats Lesnar, he'd probably come back for at least another fight or two. Couture has a nearly perfect win streak every time he has gone into a fight as an underdog -- and he is the dog in this fight. Most folks just don't see how Couture can overcome Lesnar's size, strength and punches from fists the size of cinder blocks. Of course if everyone could see how Couture was going to win, he wouldn't be the underdog.

I look forward to reading Raf's predictions for the fight. As for me, I'm going to pull for Couture.

Veterans Day

2008-11-11T10:52:00.002-05:00

Kirk and Spock

2008-11-10T18:50:00.005-05:00

Slashfilm.com is on a roll. They have posted much larger versions of the "Star Trek" character posters above here.

"The Wrestler"

2008-11-10T18:43:00.005-05:00

Slashfilm.com scored the first look at the new poster for "The Wrestler." I am really looking forward to this movie and hope that it lives up to the hype. You can see a bigger version of the poster here.

Cool Watchman Character Poster

2008-11-09T05:37:00.004-05:00

Yahoo! Movies scored the first look at this very cool Watchman character poster of Rorschach. You can see an even bigger version of it there. Thanks to JoBlo.com for the tip!

Tales of the Starlight Drive-In

2008-11-08T17:06:00.003-05:00

It's no secret that I love drive-in theaters... and comic books. So does Mike San Giacomo. Mike is a writer who took his passion for drive-ins and comics and created a pretty cool concept for a graphic novel. Mike wrote "26 illustrated stories and six text stories set in a drive-in theater." The stories take place over a 53-year period. Each story had to accomplish three things:

It had to be able to stand alone, make perfect sense even if nothing else was read.
Each stand-alone story must still advance the overarching storyline of the graphic novel as a whole.
Each story had to somehow relate to the movie that is playing at the drive-in at the time.

How cool an idea is that? Very cool, I say!

Here's a link to the website for Tales of the Starlight Drive-In. Here are links to Newsarama's three part series [Part One; Part Two; Part III] covering Mike's trips to historic drive-ins to promote his graphic novel. And here's a link in case you want to order a copy of Tales of the Starlight Drive-In for yourself!

"Expendables" Teaser

2008-11-07T16:02:00.003-05:00

ComingSoon.net scored a first look at "The Expendables" teaser poster currently on display at the American Film Market convention. You can see a Godzilla-sized version here.

Sly is Expendable

2008-11-06T18:28:00.003-05:00

Great news! Sly Stallone is set to write, direct and star along side Jason Statham in "The Expendables" for Nu Image/Millennium Films [the same company that released the latest Rambo movie].

Jet Li is in final negotiations to join the cast. "The Expendables" begins filming in February and follows a team of mercenaries hired to overthrow a South American dictator. You can read the full report here.

"...Of the Dead"

2008-11-06T17:34:00.005-05:00

DreadCentral.com scored the first look at the poster for George Romero's latest zombie-fest titled "... of the Dead." I kind of like the title considering that we've had "Night of the Living Dead," "Dawn of the Dead," "Day of the Dead," "Land of the Dead," "Diary of the Dead" and even a return to some of the earlier titles. Yeah, "... Of the Dead" works just fine.

You can see a King Kong sized version of the poster and a synopsis of the movie by clicking here.

More Days of Night

2008-11-06T17:13:00.004-05:00

A sequel to 30 Days of Night is gearing up with Ghost House Pictures. While this is good news, the really good news is that Steve Niles, who co-created the graphic novel [with artist Ben Templesmith] and co-wrote the first film is back on board. You can read more about the project here.

Cooke Talks Parker

2008-11-05T16:54:00.004-05:00

Darwyn Cooke recently talked with CBR.com about his work on the upcoming comic adaptations of Richard Stark's Parker novels. It's great to hear how closely Stark and Cooke are working and how much Cooke loves the project. You can see and hear the interview here.

RIP - Michael Crichton

2008-11-05T16:22:00.003-05:00

Michael Crichton died yesterday at the age of 66 from cancer. I was totally shocked to read the news since I had no idea that Mr. Crichton had been ill.

Most folks know Michael Crichton as the author of the best selling novel, Jurassic Park, which became the blockbuster movie of the same name. Many of Mr. Crichton's novels were turned into movies: "The Andromeda Strain," "The Great Train Robbery," "Congo," "The 13th Warrior," and many others made the transition from the written page to the silver screen.

Mr. Crichton wrote the screenplay and directed "Westworld" and was the creator of the long-running and award-winning TV series E.R.? Michael Crichton was a man of many talents, but his greatest was his ability to create impossible stories and fuse in just enough science to make them seem possible. I've read almost all of the books written under his own name and have enjoyed every one. I still have a couple sitting in my "To Be Read" Bookcase. I think, perhaps, when it is time to start a new novel, I'll pull one down.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Michael Crichton's family, friends and fans.

Worth a Look

2008-11-04T16:07:00.003-05:00

Most ZONErs will want to check out the current issue [11.07.08] of Entertainment Weekly [which is on newstands now]. Not only does it cover 54 films that will be coming out this fall, but there is also extended coverage of Daniel Craig in "Quantum of Solace" as well as an eight page profile of Mickey Rourke. Any of these features is worth the price of admission, but all three together is a bargain.

Dead Goombas

2008-11-03T17:33:00.007-05:00

Here at the ZONE we love a good zombie tale. We are also partial to excellent crime stories. So... you just know we're going to have to check out Dead Goombas by J. Torres and Andy B. [even if it is a comedy]. You can get a preview by clicking here.

Vote Smart

2008-11-01T22:14:00.004-04:00

I got up early today and headed down with the family to take part in early voting. Although it was the longest line I've ever stood in for anything, the time went by amazingly fast since we were regularly moving forward. I'm always surprised at the number of people on hand to pass out flyers and information about candidates and positions. If you haven't made up your mind by the time you're in line to vote, you probably should have done a bit more homework. Still, these last minute efforts must pay off since there are always folks on hand to make them. I ended up voting for three Democrats and two Republicans. I guess that fits my Independent profile.

I'm glad that I voted early. Now I can sit back and enjoy watching how the election plays out. Like John Beatty, I seldom post about politics or religion on the ZONE. There are enough political sites on the net and I'd rather spend my time at discussing movies, novels, tv, comics, and art. But before I close out this political post, let me encourage each of you who can vote in this election to do so. Vote for the candidates that you think will do the best job -- and don't be afraid to cross party lines. Do your research and then vote smart.

We now return to our regularly scheduled blogging.

You Make the Call

2008-10-31T16:39:00.004-04:00

Neatorama.com is a site I check daily. They always have fun and interesting stuff like the photo above. Was is it vandalism or just clever marketing? You make the call!

On Set with the Angel of Death

2008-10-29T17:45:00.002-04:00

We first heard about Ed Brubaker's "Angel of Death" back in July. CBR.com has a set report plus photos [like the one above with Zoe Bell and Ed Brubaker between takes]. You can check it out here.

Can You Survive the Outbreak?

2008-10-28T06:00:00.000-04:00

Knowing many ZONErs are fans of the zombie genre, I just had to link to the interactive movie called The Outbreak. Not only is it surprisingly well done, but there is a way to actually survive. It took me more than a couple of tries, but I enjoyed the time spent playing If you decide to give it a go, be advised that there is profanity and gore. It is a zombie movie after all. Click here to get started.

In the Chapel of Mignola

2008-10-27T17:32:00.003-04:00

It's a special time when Hellboy creator, Mike Mignola, returns to write AND draw his creation. The stars and planets must have lined correctly because this week Mignola returns to do just that in the Hellboy one shot “In the Chapel of Moloch.” You can see some preview art and learn more about it here.

I Am Wrestling

2008-10-26T06:13:00.001-04:00

This Olympic Sport Quiz says that I am most like wrestling. I like that. I was a wrestler in high school so it makes sense. As to the last line, "anyone who steps into the ring with me should watch out..." watch out... that I don't pass out. It's been a long time since high school.

Who's the Smart One?

2008-10-25T05:52:00.001-04:00

I wasn't surprised that I did well on this US History quiz. It was one of my favorite subjects in school. Still is. I wouldn't have done nearly as well with geography. The funny thing is, and maybe it's not so funny... the last line in the picture above says to "show some foreigners how smart Americans can be" -- but quite often immigrants to the US know more about our country than those born here since the immigrants have to pass a test to get citizenship.

Nice New Posters

2008-10-24T10:33:00.003-04:00

IMPAwards.com just posted up several nice new posters. Three French character posters for "Quantum of Solace," the Clint Eastwood "Gran Torino" poster, and a creepy "The Burrowers" poster are included in the group. You can see all of them here.

Previewing the Punisher

2008-10-24T10:12:00.003-04:00

I know that many ZONErs are Punisher fans. If you fall into that category, then you'll probably want to check out Newsarama's exclusive six page preview of Punisher: Frank Castle #66. It's written by one of my favorite new authors, Duane Swierczynski with art by Michael Lacombe. Fan favorite, Dave Johnson, provides the cover.

Declaring My Independence

2008-10-24T08:33:00.002-04:00

I was really interested in the results of this poll. I've been a registered Independent since I was old enough to vote. Over the years, I've pulled the switch for Republicans and Democrats depending on the person running. I've voted for liberal and conservative causes depending on the issue. My opinions on some issues have changed over the years, due to research and perhaps maturity. So I wondered how the poll would turn out... had I become more liberal or conservative? Seems that although some things have changed, I'm still pretty independent. I like that.

Ain't It Gran?

2008-10-23T18:24:00.005-04:00

Two movie posters in two days that I really like. That could be a record. What's not to dig about the Clint Eastwood's "Gran Torino" poster? You know, at one time "Gran Torino" was rumored to be a new "Dirty Harry" movie. Although it ain't, it still should be worth a view. Especially if it's as good as the poster.

I Should Be Allowed to Vote

2008-10-23T07:37:00.000-04:00

I'm glad that I passed the test to be allowed to vote. Wouldn't it be great if everyone who was of age to vote, was informed on the issues and then did?

Justice is Coming

2008-10-22T16:26:00.003-04:00

Are you diggin' the "Watchmen" poster as much as I am? It's the first poster in a looong time that I really like. What say you?

Mr. Zablo Day

2008-10-22T15:31:00.003-04:00

As many ZONErs are aware, I'm a high school assistant principal. Years ago, I decided that I would simplify my life by wearing dark pants, a white dress shirt and a tie [usually colorful] to work daily. By doing that I didn't have to worry about matching colors. or when I wore that shirt last, etc. Dark pants, a white dress shirt and a tie became my uniform of sorts.

Today when I went to work I discovered that MANY of our teachers, administrators, guidance counselors, office specialists and students were dressed like me. In honor of my 50th birthday, it was "Dress as Mr. Zablo Day." At lunch many of those, but unfortunately not all, who participated got together for a picture. It was a fun day -- how could it not be when you get birthday cards, gifts, baked goods and people dressing up like you? -- and a birthday I'll never forget.

I am a Dog

2008-10-22T07:23:00.000-04:00

After yesterday's Cat Quiz, I decided to see what kind of dog I'm most like. It turns out to be a Bullmastiff. That's the kind of dog that Rocky had. Of course that made me smile. Then I read the personality traits and pretty much had to agree.

Jack Lord Ain't Got Nothin' on Me!

2008-10-22T05:50:00.000-04:00

Today's my birthday. It's a milestone. My 50th. The Big Five-Oh.

Normally, I would write something like I don't feel fifty years old [I don't], or that you're only as old as you feel [a cliche that I believe] or that age is just a number [another cliche], but I don't think I'll resort to that today.

Instead I think I'll just show some maturity and say, "Hey!! Where are my presents???"

The Shield: "Parricide"

2008-10-21T14:00:00.004-04:00

As the final season of The Shield heads to a conclusion, I find my self wondering how it will all end. Whatever happens, the main characters aren't walking away happy. Two of the characters in the photo above, from the first episode of season one, are already dead. Mackey's family is falling apart, his job and pension hang by a thread and his best friend has become his worst enemy.

Another Strike Force Team member could die in tonight's episode which Capone over at Ain't It Cool News calls the best and most gripping installment yet. And that's saying a lot. Maybe too much in fact. And for once I refused to read Capone's invisatext spoiler warning on how the episode ends.

I am a Cat

2008-10-21T07:15:00.003-04:00

Although I'm much more of a "dog lover" this quiz says I have the personality of a cat. Funny thing is, they may be right.

Fast Clicker

2008-10-20T16:22:00.003-04:00

Think you have quick reflexes? You can test them out here. You can see my score above. They say it's pretty good... so my reflexes must still be fast... that or my RoadRunner has a great connection today.