MegaCon: "I'm Not Wearing a @#$%# Costume!"

Here's part one of my MegaCon report...

I arrived at the show early... early enough to be #2 in line. My good buddy, John Higashi had already claimed the #1 spot. We spent the time until the show opened looking at art, talking to other collectors as they arrived, playing "war" [at one point I had Higashi down to just two cards and he came back to take the lead... finally I begged for mercy and a stop to the madness].

When the show opened Higashi and I made a bee-line to Adam Hughes's table. Allison was trying to bring order to chaos. There was something like 22 dealers already in line before the doors opened. Higashi and I made the list as #1 and #2 for the "fan list." We visited with Allison for a bit and then Higashi was off and I was in his wake... but before I scooted, I was able to set up a commission with Phil Noto!

Our next stop was Josh Middleton's table. Josh does great work, but it just wasn't in the budget this time. Someday... I hope!

I then headed over to John Beatty and Alberto Ruiz's table. We were laughing and cutting up when James Howell walked by. I asked James if he wanted to take a walk around artist's alley. He said, "Sure."

So here we are strolling through artist's alley. Talking to artists, checking out the folks in costumes, greeting other collector's and just having a fun morning.

All of a sudden a guy steps in front of James and swings up his camera. James brings up his arms in a "What the heck are you doing gesture." The guy lowers his camera and points at James. The guy then brings his camera up for a picture.

I'm looking at both of them wondering what the deal is when James suddenly yells, "I'm not in a @$%*%! costume." Then it dawns on me. The guy thinks that James has come to the show dressed as Kevin Matchstick from Mage.

I bust out laughing which makes James turn a darker shade of red. James looks at me and says something to the effect of "He thought I was in a costume." I'm fighting back the tears as I point to him and answer, "You are!"

Dennis Weaver and a Different Kind of Three

What's that saying about deaths of famous people happening in "threes? Today, I'd like to discuss a different kind of three.

It was announced today that Dennis Weaver passed away on Friday. Weaver, was by any definition a celebrity. He has over 100 credits listed on his filmography. Weaver was an actor, director, composer and more.

My fondest memories of Dennis Weaver always involve my grandfather. We'd watch Gunsmoke [Weaver played Chester the deputy who always seemed to be yelling "Mr. Dillon, Mr. Dillon!"] and later McLoud [the country cop who ended up in New York City]. My grandfather and I really enjoyed Dennis Weaver in any role. So wouldn't you know it, we watched the world premiere of "Duel" [directed by Steven Spielberg]. I can remember, during commercials, my grandpa and I talking about how exciting the movie was.

Of course Weaver was known for many other roles. He starred in the Gentle Ben tv series, had a role in Orson Welles' classic "Touch of Evil," memorable guest appearances on all kinds of classic shows and headlined dozens of other movies. Still it is those three roles that I cherish most. It's obvious why.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Dennis Weaver's family, friends, and fans.

Don Knotts & Darren McGavin: RIP

Pictured above are Darren McGavin and Don Knotts who appeared together in Disney's No Deposit, No Return. As many of you have already heard, both recently passed away within a day of each other.

Don Knotts, best known as the bumbling but loveable Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith show, died on Friday from pulmonary and respiratory complications. Knotts appeared in more than 25 films and seven tv series but it was his role as Barney Fife that brought him the most awards [five Emmys] and fan recognition. Looking at Mr. Knotts' filmnography, it's obvious that he would have had a successful career even without the role of Barney Fife [over 50 years in the business, movies, tv, etc.], but the world would have been a bit sadder place.

Darren McGavin, 83, passed away on Saturday from natural causes. Although Mr. McGavin had a long, successful career in movies and on television; there were two roles that standout for me. The first was as newspaper reporter, Carl Kolchak who discovered a real vampire in modern day LA in the made for tv movie "Kolchak: The Night Stalker." [Although I was never a fan of the series that the movie spawned...] The second role was that of Ralphie's dad in the classic "A Christmas Story."

My thoughts and prayers go out to the families, friends and fans of both Mr. McGavin and Mr. Knotts.

Frank Miller: In His Own Words

The other day I linked to an article that discussed Frank Miller's upcoming graphic novel, Batman: Holy Terror!

Miller's novel is getting a lot of press and it doesn't even have a publication date yet. Of course the subject matter [Batman takes on al Qaeda] is pretty controversial.

If you want to see what Miller actually said about Batman: Holy Terror!, his work on Sin City, Daredevil and more, then click HERE for a transcript of an interview posted at Newsarama by Charles Brownstein.

Wolverine: Cool Again?

Wolverine used to be one of my favorite comic characters.

Of course that was back in the day. At that time, he was the mysterious little guy with the beserker rage. Chris Claremont or Frank Miller were penning his stories and John Byrne & Terry Austin or Miller & Joe Rubinstein were providing the art. Yeah, like I said, it was years ago.

Still the latest issue of Previews had two covers featuring Wolverine that were pretty cool. The first, the cover to Wolverine: Origins #1 is by Joe Quesada. The second, the cover to Wolverine #41 is by C.P. Smith.

I haven't read a great Wolverine story in years. Maybe one of these issues will break that bad-luck string.

AH, Everyone Wants Something

Yesterday, my buddy, John Higashi and I got together over lunch to discuss our "strategy" for next weekend's MegaCon.

For those of you who don't know, John Higashi is considered the "master" in the art of getting commissions from artists. Don't believe me, then take a look at John's personal collection.

Unbelieveable, huh?

We're both hoping to get on Adam Hughes' sketch list. If you're not familiar with Adam Hughes' art, here's a link to his site. Check it out and I'll be here when you get back.

Wow! You were gone quite a while. I can't blame you though because Adam is such an amazing artist. Now you can see why everyone - including John Higashi and me -- hope to get something from him next weekend.

I'll be sure and let you know how it turns out.

Zeck, The Punisher and a Grafitti-Filled Wall

I came across this cool Mike Zeck Punisher piece the other day. It was first used as a pin-up in an issue of Marvel Fanfare and then later turned into a poster.

When Mike decided to do a pin-up of the Punisher with a huge gun against a grafitti-filled wall he was left the the problem of what to use for the graffiti. He decided to fill it using the names of friends. In some cases the friends were "couples." As a joke he listed "Zablo and Sly" because of my admiration for Sylvester Stallone.

If my memory serves me correctly he poster was made about about 15 years ago. [Yep, years before the StalloneZone was created!] Unfortunately some of the folks listed on the poster have passed on. And in many cases the couples have split up.

Last I heard though, Zablo + Sly were still going strong.

Two Millers on Me

I know that many of you ZONErs [like me] are big fans of Frank Miller.

If that's the case, then check out THIS ARTICLE to find out about Miller's Batman: Holy Terror! graphic novel which pits Batman against al Qaeda!

You can also click HERE to check out Newsarama's coverage of a Sin City screening with Frank Miller.

No Tone

I was looking over the guest list for this year's MegaCon and was sad to see that Tone Rodriguez wasn't listed.

Tone's not only a talented artist, but is an absolute blast to talk to. He's got a great sense of humor, enjoys meeting [and messing with] the fans... and of course draws a mean sketch. Here's an example, and another and yet another from last year's sketchbook.

Batman Works

If push came to shove and I had to name my all time favorite comic character, it'd be Batman.

Maybe it's because he's grounded in reality. Well, as much reality as you can get in the super hero genre. Batman doesn't have super powers. Anyone with the same determination, will power and, ahem, bank account could become Batman.

Another reason that I like Batman so much is that there are so many takes on the character that work. Think about it...

Adam West's tv Batman was camp.

Denny O'Neil and Neal Adams' Batman was the world's greatest detective.

Steve Englehart and Marshall Rogers [along with Terry Austin] explored the struggle for balance between Bruce Wayne and Batman.

Frank Miller brought us the Dark Knight as Dirty Harry.

Doug Moench, Kelly Jones and John Beatty looked at the horror/supernatural aspect of Batman's universe.

I could go on and on but the point that I want to make is that each of these takes is different, but they all work.

Currently Matt Wagner is doing a riff on Batman in a six issue mini series called Batman and the Monster Men. It's a story of Batman's first encounter with super villians.

And you guessed it, it works.

Raf's Blog

My buddy, Rafael Kayanan has started his own blog. Raf's a really talented individual. He's a highly skilled martial artist who trains celebrities and works as a technical advisor in the film industry. Raf's also an accomplished artist who has illustrated for comic books, film, games and tv.

And now Raf has started his own blog. It's going to be on my daily read list. Check it out and you may find it on yours as well!

A Really Big Mega Convention

If you're anywhere near Orlando, Florida from February 24th - 26th, you may want to check out the MegaCon convention.

In addition to George Perez, who is the Guest of Honor, there are going to be a ton of comic book artists and movie / tv celebs on hand to sketch and sign autographs. Of course there will be a ton of dealers selling the latest comics, dvds, graphic novels and who knows what else.

I'll be there looking to pick up a few more Stallone sketches. Big John Beatty will be there as a guest [sharing a table with the incredibly talented Alberto Ruiz]. If you can make it, swing by Big Beatty's table and at least say, "Hi."

It's Not Your Dad's Running Scared

Up until a few minutes ago I don't think I'd ever even heard of Running Scared. No,. it's not that old Billy Crystal movie, this "Running Scared." is being released on February 24th and stars Paul Walker.

It's not that I'm a big Paul Walker fan [although I did like him in The Fast and the Furious].

It's not that I'm a big Wayne Kramer fan [although The Cooler did get very good reviews].

What it is, is... I thought the trailer looked pretty interesting and the website even better. Let's hope that the movie doesn't let us down.

Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Roy Rogers...

My buddy, "Wild" Bill Black is a writer, penciler, inker, editor, publisher, chief cook and bottlewasher for AC Comics, an independent comic company that he created over 20 years ago. Bill has been favorably compared to Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Roy Rogers -- and that's just the comparisons that Bill uses when talking about himself!

Okay, okay... all kidding aside. Bill has been running AC Comics [the company that he really created] for over 20 years, but now he's bringing his comic creations to the silver screen... or at least your tv screen... if you have a dvd player.

Click HERE to read all about it.

I guess now Bill will add Roger Corman to his list of comparisons!

Grizzly Man: Questions...

Last night I watched a riveting documentary called "Grizzly Man" which is running on the Discovery Channel. For thirteen years, Timothy Treadwell spent his summers living among Alaskan grizzly bears. Treadwell went in armed with just a camera and no backup. The footage that he captured is amazing. What's even more amazing is that quite often Treadwell was within feet of the bears as the rested, fought, and ate. On more than one occassion Treadwell would reach out and touch them.

As I said, the footage was riveting. Knowing Treadwell's story takes it up another notch. You see, he and his girlfriend were killed [and eaten] by a grizzly. The documentary makes this clear from the very start. It also lets you know that the deaths were recorded [audio] but that you would not hear the sounds in the documentary. [You do see Werner Herzog, the man who created the documentary listening to them -- and that is quite enough for your imagination will do the rest.]

Treadwell's story is compelling and Herzog doesn't sugar coat the man. Treadwell had issues, and definitely was a bit off center, but he lived and died doing what he loved. And that is where the controversary begins...

Should he been allowed to follow his dream? Was he violating the law? Was he helping or hurting the animals that he so dearly loved?

I'd love to hear reactions from anyone who has seen the film. "Grizzly Man" rates a B+.

RIP Al Lewis aka Grandpa Munster

Al Lewis [born Alexander Meister ], who was best known as Grandpa Munster, died yesterday at the age of 95.

I can remember watching Lewis on "Car 54, Where Are You?" and later "The Munsters" when I was very young. Lewis seemed old then... but as the years passed he didn't seem to age. Another benefit of growing older was that with each passing year Lewis seemed to get more and more popular. He was always a LIVELY guest where ever he appeared.

Lewis is survived by his wife, three children, four grandchilden and generations of fans. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone of them.

Who is Keyser Soze?

The February 10, 2006 issue of Entertainment Weekly is a special double-sized issue which looks at the Academy Awards. That's not why I'm suggesting that you check it out though. The reason that I think that you might want to pick it up is for the article that tells the story behind the making of "The Usual Suspects."

Chris Nashawaty's excellent article takes us back to the very origins of the screenplay and then sheds light on the process that brought it two Academy Awards. Part of the fun is Nashawaty provides us with little tidbits that fans of the movie will love. [Did you know that Keyser Soze's name was based on a real person? That Christopher Walken, Tommy Lee Jones, Jeff Bridges, Charlie Sheen, James Spader, Al Pacino and Johnny Cash [Johnny Cash!] turned down role offers?]

Reading Nashawaty's piece not only reminded me how much I enjoyed "The Usual Suspects" but makes me want to pull it off the shelf and watch it again. "The Usual Suspects" rates an A+.

A Hamner Trifecta

Today's comic book cover features the work of one of my favorite comic artists, Cully Hamner.

Probably best known for his excellent work on the Batman miniseries Tenses, my personal favorite Hamner artwork can be found in the Red miniseries that he did with writer Warren Ellis.

I absolutely loved Red... so much so, that I'm going to give you a look at the covers for each of the three issues [ 1, 2, 3].

Don't Go Swimming...

Don't go swimming if you don't want to get wet.

It never fails to amaze me when people know that if they take a particular course of action that the end result is going to displease them, and yet they take that course of action. Shouldn't that be the definition of insanity?

If people from the Jerry Springer show call and invite you on as a guest, the ONLY logical response should be "No."

Everyone who has ever seen even one episode of Springer knows that guests aren't going to be treated as guests and more than likely are going to be repeatedly insulted and even physically attacked. EVERYONE KNOWS THIS... and yet, Springer continues to find people who are willing to show up and learn [along with millions of strangers] some personal secret that is guaranteed to shock, hurt and embarrass them.

"Yeah Craig," you say, "but the people who appear on Springer are uneducated folks who don't know better." Ok then, what about the folks who go on the Dr. Phil show, or any of the "reality" court shows. They know that they're going to come off looking foolish, but still they line up to be guests.

I guess they want to get wet.

Blue Belle Scores Two

While thinking about some of my favorite comic book covers yesterday, my mind switched gears and began to ponder about some of the covers to novels that I also love.

The first one that came to mind was the art on the hardcover to Andrew Vachss' Blue Belle. The jacket design is by Carol Devine Carson and the photograph is by William King.

This was the first Andrew Vachss novel that I ever read and of course he quickly became one of my favorite authors. I don't know what it is about the cover that I love so much. Maybe it's the noir-mystery vibe that it gives off. My guess is the cover would still be a favorite even if the novel wasn't.

Splash That Left No No Doubt

Christopher Mills is currently posting some of his favorite comic book covers on his forum. Never let it be said that I don't know a cool idea when I see it. I'm going to adapt Chris's idea a bit so that I can bring in interior art like the cool Paul Gulacy splash page to Master of Kung Fu #29.

I was already a fan of Doug Moench's work on Master of Kung Fu, but when Paul Gulacy came on board it was obvious that something magical was taking shape. Paul had pencilled several issues before #29 rolled around, but with that issue Paul was also able to do his own inks.

Now there was no doubt that this was a series to watch.

How 'Bout Some Free Cell?

Remember last week when I was telling you about how cool Stephen King's new novel, Cell, sounded? [If not click you can click HERE.]

Anyway, if you think that Cell is something that you MAY like, then you might want to pick up the current issue of Entertainment Weekly [the 2006 Preview issue]. It features the first two chapters of Cell with some cool illustrations by Tomer Hanuka.

My guess is if you're interested enough to read this far, you're going to love the novel.

Despite the Weird Hairpiece and Mustache

I'm a huge Bruce Willis fan. Same goes for director, Richard Donner. Let's not leave out actor, David Morse, who I think is one of the most under-rated actors in Hollywood.

So, yeah, I'm real excited about "16 Blocks" which will feature this trio working together to bring us thrills and chills.

Don't believe me?

Then check out the one sheet poster and the trailer.

Now, what do you say?

Yeah, you're right. Bruce Willis does look kind of weird with that hairpiece and mustache. Still, I'll bet the movie rocks.

Some Things Defy Explanation

Some things defy explanation. Some things need no explanation.

Check out this video HERE or HERE and you tell me. Peace out!

RIP Shelley Winters

Academy Award-winning actress Shelley Winters, who appeared in over 125 movies during her career, died today at the age of 85.

I'm not the biggest Shelley Winters fan in the world, but I did admire her ability to morph throughout her career so that she could continue to act well into her 70s.

Before making it in movies, Winters worked as a chorus girl and on the stage. When Winters first came to Hollywood she roomed with another future star by the name of Marilyn Monroe. Although Winters started out as another blonde bombshell, her best roles and recognition came when she worked as a supporting actress.

Not content to just act, Winters also wrote two popular biographies in which she talked about her intimate affairs with many of Hollywood's leading men, including Sean Connery, Errol Flynn, William Holden and Burt Lancaster [among others]. Shelley was a playa before the term was invented.

My two favorite Shelley Winters roles occured in movies that were made 17 years apart.

In "Night of the Hunter" Shelley played Willa Harper who falls victim to the wonderfully evil preacher, Harry Powell [Robert Mitchum in perhaps his greatest performance]. The scene of Winters dead and strapped in a car at the bottom of a lake... with her hair floating in the currents is one of the most haunting images ever. In 1972, Winters was no longer the young wife, now she was the aging overweight wife, Belle Rosen, whose ultimate sacrifice [she dies of a heart attack after a long underwater swim to save Gene Hackman] allows others to survive. Looking back now, I find it somewhat strange that she dies in both of my favorite roles and ends up underwater.

Shelley Winters died today. She leaves behind many wonderful family members, friends, fans and movie roles.

Chuck Norris is a Bad Man

Chuck Norris is a real life tough guy. Of course, he also plays one in movies and on tv. Here are a few facts that show just how tough Chuck is:

* Chuck Norris ordered a Big Mac at Burger King, and got one.

* Chuck Norris is currently suing NBC, claiming Law and Order are trademarked names for his left and right legs.

* Chuck Norris can touch MC Hammer.

If you want to see more Chuck Norris facts, then click HERE.

Stephen King and Zombies

Civilization doesn't end with a bang or a whimper. It ends with a call on your cell phone.

So begins the book description for Stephen King's latest novel, Cell, which will be released later this month.

I first talked up Cell last August. At that time I posted:

King describes Cell as "a violent piece of work, which comes complete with zombies set in motion by bad cell phone signals that destroy the human brain. Like cheap whiskey, it's very nasty and extremely satisfying." Stephen King and zombies! Count me in.

This is the first Stephen King book that I've been excited about in years. I can't wait to read this bad boy.

Stephen King and zombies. Why that's a combo right up there with M&Ms and peanuts.

The Sleaze-Filled Saga

I like M&Ms. I like peanuts. I really like M&Ms with peanuts. I like peanut butter and I like chocolate... but I really like Reese's Cups. See a pattern?

Ok... now try this...

I like Quentin Tarantino movies and I like Robert Rodriguez's movies... but I really loved From Dusk Til Dawn.

Here's another...

I like movies and I like books about movies... so I really loved Rebel without a Crew by Robert Rodriguez.

So what does all this have to do with today's post?

Well... Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez are joining forces to create a movie called "Grind House." The cool thing is that "Grind House" will actually be divided into two separate movies [like a double feature that you could have seen at the drive-in, back when they had drive-ins]. Tarantino's will be called "Death Proof" and Rodriguez's "Planet Terror." They're even going to make some fake coming attractions trailers for the complete "drive-in" experience.

So how could this get any better, you ask [and I'm glad that you did]. Tarantino and Rodriguez are going to team to create a 250 page hardcover titled GRIND HOUSE:
THE SLEAZE-FILLED SAGA OF AN EXPLOITATION DOUBLE FEATURE that will be filled with cast and crew interviews, hundreds of full-color photographs, never-before-seen conceptual art and an in-depth history of the grindhouse genre by the directors themselves.

So we've got the movie and the book... now if someone will just remember the candy!

Conscience is a Killer

The Shield returns for its fifth [5th!] season, this Tuesday at 10pm on FX. And I can't wait. The tag line for The Shield this season is "Conscience is a killer."

While The Shield isn't for everyone, it's definitely my cup of tea. It has characters that you care about [and not always in a good way], stories that have twists, and actors [and writers] that are at the top of their game.

Emmy award-winning actor, Forrest Whitaker joins the cast this season as a tough internal affiars agent out to bring down Mackey [Michael Chiklis].

You just know that the screen will sizzle when Chiklis and Whitaker collide. [Anyone remember the great acting in True Romance when Dennis Hopper verbally jousted with Christopher Walken? My guess is that Chiklis and Whitaker will take it to that level.]

The offficial Shield web site has been updated. Check it out and then tune in on Tuesday at 10. You won't be disappointed.

Rafael Kayanan and Lord of the Rings

I first met Rafael Kayanan somewhere around thirty years ago. He was a young aspiring artist. But even then he had the talent and you just knew that this kid was going to make it.

And boy, did he make it!

Raf's had quite an interesting career so far. He's worked for most major comic publishers, served as a fight trainer on George Clooney's "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind;" did the storyboards, served as a trainer, technical advisor and fight choreographer on "The Hunted" starring Tommy Lee Jones and Benicio del Toro; worked on developmental art for the upcoming "Princess of Mars" movie... and so much more. You can see what I mean by clicking HERE.

I recently touched base with Raf and found out he'd just completed art on 250 Lord of the Rings collector cards which will be out in February. He sent me a scan and permission to share it -- so click HERE to see the larger version.

I don't know about you, but I think that someday this kid may go places.

The Best Comics to Movie Adaptation Ever

Frank Miller's Sin City is the best comics to movie adaptation ever.

Sure, arguments can be made for Superman [the first with Christopher Reeve and directed by Richard Donner], the original Crow movie [with Brandon Lee] and even this year's Batman Begins. But for my money, Sin City is the cream of the crop as far as getting to the screen what was on the comic page.

That may change next year when Warner Brother's releases 300. Interestingly enough, 300, like Sin City is based on a graphic novel by Frank Miller. What's also interesting is that Zack Snyder, 300's director, will make extensive use of the same "green screen" techniques employed by Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller when they brought Sin City to life for the big screen.

Zack Snyder really impressed me with his work on the Dawn of the Dead remake. Not only did he have the stones to take on the job of updating Romero's cult classic, but he succeeded!

Check out the official 300 web site and you'll see that Snyder is a huge fan of Frank Miller's work. I believe that Snyder will bring the same sense of respect and ability to 300 that he brought to Dawn of the Dead. And if that's the case, we'll not only get a great movie experience but also possibly the best comics to movie adaptation ever.

Which Kong is King

Peter Jackson's King Kong is a worthy successor to the original King Kong.

The original King Kong is considered a classic. It inspired generations of film makers and paved the way for a new genre of movie which spawned countless imitations in film and other entertainment media. Consider all of the King Kong riffs that you've seen in tv, comics, novels, etc. Yeah, the original King Kong is the gold standard.

Peter Jackson's King Kong is going to be dismissed by some pureists who won't consider anything but the original King Kong to be the best. For many film buffs,the original King Kong is THE movie that made them love film.

The original King Kong touched them in a way that no other film ever did before and when they watch it they recapture that feeling. They're taken back to a time and a place that was special. No matter how good Peter Jackson's King Kong is, it won't be able to rekindle those feelings and will therefore fall short. Heck, I'd feel the same way about any Rocky movie that wasn't made by Sly Stallone.

Ok, so how good is Peter Jackson's take on the big ape?

That I can answer. It's absolutely great. Easily one of my two favorite movies of the year.

First of all, my hat is off to Peter Jackson. King Kong has been the film that he's wanted to tackle since before he became a filmmaker. Everything that he'd done before Kong was just to prepare him for Kong.

Everything about the movie is near perfect. Loved the cast. The special effects were flawless. The music and editing were as well. The screenplay, while based on the original King Kong screenplay, kicked up the action and took me to a place that was familiar but much, much more dangerous. All aspects of the production combined to create a movie-going experience that was truly an experience.

Before I go on, let me say that if you haven't seen the movie, you may want to stop reading since I'm going to discuss aspects that contain SPOILERS...

... Still here... ok then...

Some folks have complained that the first hour is too slow. I went in thinking that this might be the case, but for me, it wasn't. I enjoyed the character development.

I loved the look of the island. The natives were realistic and frightening. Come to think of it, even the island looked frightening! And you've gotta love the way the native got onto the ship!

And then the appearance of Kong. Man, he looks so real. And I'm not just talking about his physical appearance. He moves like a giant ape should [note I said should, not does]. His fur gets matted and stuff gets in it.

I think it's cool that Kong's scarred and older looking. He's a warrior on an island that demands you fight to survive. His battle with not one, but three tyranesarous rex [at the same time] was nothing short of amazing. All the while he's fighting them, he's protecting Ann... even as he throws punches, climbs, dodges and falls. He's not called "King" Kong without reason.

But there's more to King Kong than just the baddest mo on the island. Kong is the last of his kind and his loneliness is apparent. I also love it that Kong is intelligent. He has a sense of humor and enjoys the beauty of a sunrise. If you haven't seen the movie, then my last sentence probably has you scratching your head. If you've seen the movie then you know it will break your heart before the movie's end.

I love the search for Ann in New York... the frantic, wild search for just the right women and then how everything slows down and nothing else in the world matters once you find her. The escape with Ann is exciting and then the interlude on the ice. Beautiful. Unexpected and so sweet. It was at this point that I could feel the tears forming. Because the interlude wouldn't last.

Kong's climb up the Empire State building still had one more surprise. If you saw the movie, you know what I mean. Kong places Ann in a place of safety and sits next to her. He looks out at the horizon and sees a sunrise and "tells" Ann it's beautiful. Now the tears were flowing...

... because here came the planes. And you know the rest.

So is Peter Jackson's King Kong better than the original King Kong?

Who's to say? Comparing the original King Kong to Peter Jackson's King Kong is like comparing an athlete from 1933 to one from today. Odds are that today's athlete is bigger and faster but does that make him better? Does it really matter?

I guess that's why sports leagues create their own Halls of Fame. Different athletes from different time periods can be honored and there is room for all who deserve a spot.

Peter Jackson's King Kong deserves a spot next to the original King Kong. Let others then argue which Kong is King.

As for me, I'll spend my time watching them both!

The Original "King Kong" rates an A+. Peter Jackson's King Kong rates an A+.

John Spencer - RIP

A few minutes ago it was announced that John Spencer has died of a heart attack.

Most of you that recognize the name probably know Mr. Spencer from his work on
the West Wing where he played Leo McGarry.

Others may know him from his roles in LA Law, Cop Land, Black Rain, The Rock, Ravenous or one of the many other roles that he played in his career.

I always, always enjoyed it when John Spencer was on the screen. Even, like in Cop Land when he was playing a bad guy, I liked him. I wasn't alone in my admiration for Mr. Spencer's acting. You can tell that from the many awards that he won over the course of his career.

Mr. Spencer was just 59 years old. He was still appearing on the West Wing where his character had been chosen to run for Vice President [under the likely winner]. Even with the potential of this being the last year for West Wing, John Spencer, and his fans should have had many more years to enjoy his acting.

Sadly that is not to be. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and fans.

Another Can't Miss Blockbuster

The DaVinci Code was on the best seller list for years. Even people who didn't normally read books picked it up... and most loved it. The buzz was huge. Except for Jaws and Harry Potter, I can't think of any other novels that instantly became a part of popular culture like The DaVinci Code.

Next summer The DaVinci Code will make the transition to the big screen. My guess is that the movie will also be a blockbuster. Ron Howard's directiing it and Tom Hanks is the lead.

How can it go wrong?

If the trailer is any indication, it can't.

Tom Cruise, Ving Rhames and Me

Mission Impossible III is coming.

Tom Cruise is back.

Ving Rhames is back.

After seeing the teaser trailer, so am I.

Richard Pryor - RIP

As you've probably already heard, Richard Pryor died yesterday. He'd turned 65 a little over a week ago, but had suffered with multiple sclerosis for years. The disease made Richard seem older and robbed him [and us] of years that he could have been performing.

In the coming days you will hear testimony from comics, celebrities and others about Richard Pryor. Most will proclaim him to be one of the greatest comedians of all time. They'd be right, but Richard Pryor was much more than just a guy who told jokes.

Richard was a former soldier [two years in the army]. He was a great stand-up comedian. His comedy albums are classics. Pryor worked in television as an actor and writer [even starring in a short-lived series that was ahead of it's time]. He also appeared in nearly 40 feature films, several of which he wrote, produced and/or directed.

Pryor's comedy was raw. Sure, the language was quite often foul, but that's not what I mean when I say his comedy was raw. Pryor's comedy wasn't superficial. He didn't just relate funny stories. Pryor's comedy crossed age barriers, color differences, and made you think even as you were laughing till the tears came. That's because Richard's comedy was founded in truth. He talked about racism, drug addiction, sex, male -female relations, and more.

Sure, he made us laugh... but equally important, he made us think.

The funniest movie that I ever saw was Richard Pryor Live. I saw it in a crowded theater in 1979. If you haven't seen it, you should. It's a concert movie. Richard Pryor, a microphone and a crowded ampitheater. I never laughed so hard in my life.

Truly.

I laughed to tears and beyond. My sides were truly hurting by the time the movie was over. And I wanted to hear more. I talked about the movie for days. Telling others that they should go and sharing laughs with people who'd seen it. Heck, it's 26 years later and I'm still recommending it.

I'm sad to hear that Richard Pryor is no longer with us. I'm just as sad that he had to suffer so long from multiple sclerosis.

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

Sgt. Rock, Jew Gangster and Rocky Balboa

Joe Kubert is a legend. And deservedly so. At 79, Joe is still turning out not just great drawings but great comics!

His recently published graphic novel, Jew Gangster, is getting great reviews and soon we'll see Joe's return to one of his signature characters, Sgt. Rock, when the six issue mini-series, Sgt. Rock: The Prophet hits stands. You can get a sneak peak at both by clicking HERE.

I had the good fortune to meet Joe Kubert in the early 80's. He was Guest of Honor at one of Jim Ivey's OrlandoCons. Joe was there to pick up his Ignatz award. At the time Joe was also promoting a series that he was to write and draw for DC called The Redeemer. Sad to say it never appeared.

Another thing that Joe worked on that never appeared is, interestingly enough, a proposal for a Rocky Balboa newspaper strip. Joe told me that he was approached to work on a daily newspaper strip and that he had in fact worked up character sheets, some daily samples, etc. Sadly the strip was never picked up.

You can imagine how excited I was to hear that JOE KUBERT had drawn Rocky Balboa. I asked Mr. Kubert if the art was available for sale, but it wasn't. I then asked if I could buy Xeroxes but again, Mr. Kubert politely declined. Man, you just know that those pieces look great... maybe someday we'll get the chance to see them in a treasury of Joe's work...

At any rate, we can pick up Jew Gangster now and still have Sgt. Rock: The Prophet to look forward to.