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AWESOME-tober-fest 2012: Finishing up The Astounding Wolf-Man

Posted in comic books, Halloween, holiday, monsters, werewolf, werewolves, Wolf Man with tags AWESOME-tober-fest, AWESOME-tober-fest 2012, Cavalcade Comics, comic books, Halloween, holiday, werewolf, werewolves, Wolf Man on October 30, 2012 by Paxton

Since this final week of AWESOME-tober-fest is a short week, I’m straying from the movie maniac theme and doing updates to previous Halloween reviews. Yesterday I reviewed the final book in The Strain trilogy which I had previously reviewed the first two books last year. Today, I’m going to talk about the comic series The Astounding Wolf-Man.

Two years ago for AWESOME-tober-fest 2010, I reviewed the first 18 issues of the comic that were collected in Volumes 1-3 of the trade paperbacks. The final fourth volume collecting issues 19-25 had yet to be released. However, I acquired the final collection earlier this year and read the concluding story.

The last and concluding story arc was called Legacy. It’s a five-parter that takes place in issues #21-25. So much happens in this concluding story. Seriously, it’s packed with a lot of action. We see the main character reunited with his daughter, we see the end game of the Elder Wolf’s plans and we see the final confrontation between Wolf-Man and Zachariah (which is awesome, btw).

astoundingwolf-man21 astoundingwolf-man22 astoundingwolf-man23

In short, I loved this series. So many great characters written so well. Kirkman really does a great job with so many characters to juggle. It was actually this series that led me to Kirkman and had me checking out his other work like Invincible, The Walking Dead and Marvel Zombies. But that’s only half of the whole. Jason Howard’s amazingly dynamic art really sells it. I love the dynamics of Howard’s action and how he designs the look and feel of the universe. Plus, his 2 page action spreads are breathtaking. It really adds a lot of character to the story.

Speaking of characters, several of them are standouts. Gary Hampton/Astounding Wolf-Man is great. Zecariah the vampire is also a great villain. The Elder Wolf is BAD ASS. And in this final run of issues, we really see some good character work with Mecha-Maid. I really enjoyed her character and I want to see more of her. You can see her in the second comic cover above. Btw, that scene on the cover never happens. But it’s a great cover, nonetheless.

Anyway, like I said, I want to see more of these Astounding Wolf-Man characters. I think he and Mecha Maid may pop up from time to time in Kirkman’s Invincible, but I want to see more. This series was just too much fun not to continue. However, like I said, as of today, issue #25 was the final issue.

Also, check out the blog Countdown to Halloween for more Halloween-y, bloggy AWESOMEness.

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AWESOME-tober-fest 2012: A review of the 2003 Texas Chainsaw Massacre reboot

Posted in Halloween, holiday, Leatherface, movies, pop culture, Texas Chainsaw Massacre with tags AWESOME-tober-fest, AWESOME-tober-fest 2012, Halloween, holiday, Leatherface, movies, pop culture, reviews, Texas Chainsaw Massacre on October 26, 2012 by Paxton

In 2003, Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes released a “reboot” of the 70s classic horror movie, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

The movie was co-produced by Tobe Hooper, the director of the original movie. It was directed by Marcus Nispel and starred Jessica Biel, Eric Balfour and Erica Leerhsen.

I’ve heard mostly good things about this reboot. However Rotten Tomatoes gives it less than 40%. I re-watched it recently for this review and I still say I enjoy it. I thought the set design and the tone of the film were perfect. Everything seemed grungy and dirty. The Chainsaw family were fairly creepy and scary. The house they lived in was horrifying. I just loved the “look and feel” of this movie.

As for the cast, they were okay. Easily the standouts were Jessica Biel as Erin and R Lee Ermey as Sheriff Hoyt. But Mike Vogel as Morgan was good as well. Not only did Biel look pretty hot in her midriff showing top, but she actually believably played her character. And Ermey was wickedly dark and funny as the sheriff. The scene in which he wraps up a dead body’s head in cellophane in the back of the van is amazing. As is his interrogation of the character Morgan in the van about said dead girl. It’s intense as hell and totally envelops you in the scene. Really well done.

Leatherface

Other things I liked about this movie, they got John Larroquette to return to do the bookend voice overs. I thought that was a nice touch. He delivered the prologue and epilogue very nicely. I enjoyed Leatherface. He was only a small part of the movie, but he was pretty good. Not the star of the show, but he wasn’t really the star of the original either. I like that you see some of the underbelly of the house. You can see where they store some of the “meat” as well as you can watch Leatherface prep a victim for skinning.

One thing I didn’t like? In one scene you get a glimpse of Harry Knowles’ head on Leatherface’s workbench. Not a big deal if you don’t know who he is, but if you do, it sticks out like a sore thumb and completely brings you out of the movie. Terrible choice by the filmakers. TERRIBLE.

Otherwise, I enjoyed this remake. I thought they modernized parts of the movie while still keeping a nice look and feel. It’s definitely a modern version of the 70s “look and feel”, but I enjoyed it. To be honest, I’m not the biggest fan of the original 70s Texas Chainsaw Massacre films, so it’s probably no surprise that I was willing to accept this movie as it is.

Give it a shot, if you are open minded about it, I think you’ll like it.

Also, check out the blog Countdown to Halloween for more Halloween-y, bloggy AWESOMEness.

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AWESOME-tober-fest 2012: Freddy vs Jason vs Ash comic books (2003)

Posted in Friday the 13th, Jason Vorhees, Leatherface, movies, pop culture, Texas Chainsaw Massacre with tags AWESOME-tober-fest, AWESOME-tober-fest 2012, Evil Dead, Freddy Krueger, Friday the 13th, Halloween, holiday, Jason Voorhees, Leatherface, movies, Nightmare on Elm Street, pop culture on October 22, 2012 by Paxton

In 2007, Dynamite Comics and Wildstorm Entertainment combined forces to publish the horror comic crossover Freddy vs Jason vs Ash.

The epic crossover was a 6 issue limited series written by James Kuhoric and Jeff Katz and drawn by Jason Craig. The awesome puzzle cover above for issue #1 was actually drawn by J Scott Campbell and Eric Powell. You can click it to see it bigger on Flickr.

This series was based on a script treatment written by Jeff Katz. The story served as a sequel to Freddy vs Jason as well as the Evil Dead series. However, I think the licensing for Ash fell through and the studios decided to go another way. So the story never went any further. However, Katz kept his treatment alive and actively campaigned to get it made into a comic book.

Will and Lori, from Freddy vs Jason, return to Crystal Lake to get closure and finish off Jason once and for all. However, Jason kills them. We learn that Freddy is trapped inside Jason’s mind and is using the image of Jason’s mother to convince him to find the Necronomicon and deliver it to Freddy. Freddy plans to use it to escape into the real world. Meanwhile, Ash is transferred to the Forest Green (formerly Crystal Lake) S-Mart and identifies the recent spate of disappearances and murders as the work of Deadites. Ash gathers the teenage crew of the S-Mart to confront Jason and a newly formed and fully powered Freddy. A bloodletting ensues. There’s even a scene in which Freddy resurrects all of Jason’s previous victims in order to stop him when he turns on Freddy. Pretty cool stuff.

I could see this being a worthy entry into the franchises. Again, this seems to be Freddy’s story in which Jason and Ash make appearances. I like how it was handled and it would have been fun to see this on the big screen. And the artwork was really good as well.

In 2009, Jeff Katz and James Kuhoric returned to write a sequel called Freddy vs Jason vs Ash: Nightmare Warriors.

The government resurrects Jason and Freddy looking to harness their supernatural abilities and the power of the Necronomicon to create an army of demonic soldiers. However, as you’d expect, the government can’t control them and they get loose. Ash forms a team to fight the monsters, known informally as the Nightmare Warriors. It includes former franchise characters Tommy Jarvis who appeared in Friday the 13th Parts 4-6 and Tina Shepard who appeared in part 7 and has telekinetic powers. Again, the story is fun and a definite horror fanboy’s dream. Lots of killing and HUGE epic fights. There’s also some subplots talking about how the original Freddy used the Necronomicon to become the dream being he is now. Very cool stuff. I highly recommend it.

Also, check out the blog Countdown to Halloween for more Halloween-y, bloggy AWESOMEness.

AWESOME-tober-fest 2012: A review of Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)

Posted in Halloween, holiday, movies, pop culture, reviews with tags AWESOME-tober-fest, AWESOME-tober-fest 2012, Freddy Krueger, Halloween, holiday, movies, Nightmare on Elm Street, pop culture, reviews on October 19, 2012 by Paxton

Platinum Dunes had a minor success with their Texas Chainsaw Massacre reboot in 2003. 2009’s Friday the 13th reboot also actually made some money. So, in 2010, New Line and Platinum Dunes decided to reboot the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise.

I am a fan of Freddy Krueger as well as the slasher movies of the 80s. However, if I had to pick, I was more of a Jason guy myself. But I enjoyed the Nightmare movies, especially the first one and the third one. I was intrigued by this reboot, I enjoyed the Friday the 13th reboot by New Line/Platinum Dunes in 2009 and I loved the idea of Jackie Earle Haley as Freddy, so I was anxious to see how well they pulled this off.

Unlike the Friday the 13th reboot, I had not watched this movie beforehand, it was my first viewing. I was intrigued by the idea of Jackie Haley playing Freddy and I really liked the look of Freddy from the trailer. I didn’t go into it with HIGH expectations, per say, but I was optimistic.

Check out the trailer:

I think the best thing about the movie is the “look and feel”. It was definitely grittier and more dark than the later Nightmare movies. I also liked Haley as Freddy. His mannerisms and his look were very well realized. I even thought Haley was slightly more menacing than the original Freddy, well at least the version from the later movies. The wise-cracking jokester killer. All in all, I enjoyed it. It sort of fell apart at the end, mainly because I think the teens in the movie weren’t very interesting. I didn’t really like anybody. Rooney Mara was okay if a bit understated as Nancy. Katie Cassidy did pretty good, but I think I just got bored with the teens by the end. I like the way Freddy is “dispatched” in the final battle and how the final stinger shot is sort of an homage to the final shot in the original Nightmare movie.

I liked it, but I didn’t love it. However, that being said, I would watch another Jackie Haley as Freddy Nightmare movie. I think the potential is there to have a really good sequel. Especially if they follow along the story lines of Nightmare 3: Dream Warriors.

And they have to reunite Dokken for the soundtrack. That is a must.

Also, check out the blog Countdown to Halloween for more Halloween-y, bloggy AWESOMEness.

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AWESOME-tober-fest 2012: Marvel Comics’ A Nightmare on Elm Street magazine (1989)

Posted in A Nightmare on Elm Street, comic books, Freddy Krueger, magazine, movies, pop culture with tags AWESOME-tober-fest, AWESOME-tober-fest 2012, comic books, Freddy Krueger, Halloween, holiday, magazines, Marvel Comics, Nightmare on Elm Street on October 18, 2012 by Paxton

In 1989 Marvel comics released the magazine Freddy Krueger’s A Nightmare on Elm Street.

The magazine had gorgeously painted covers by Joe Jusko. The interior art was in black and white and done by Rich Buckler and Tony DeZuniga. Tony DeZuniga also worked on the awesome MGM’s Marvelous Wizard of Oz magazine I’ve talked about before for my Oz series. The interior stories were written by Steve Gerber. The magazines were published around the release of Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child. At the time, comics were coming under fire for being too violent and Nightmare 5 was getting protests in LA for this very reason. This general backlash caused Marvel to decide to cancel the magazine after issue #2. Marvel wasn’t receiving pressure from anyone and the magazine actually sold fairly well, Marvel just wanted to avoid any problems so they quietly folded the magazine.

It’s a shame the magazine was canceled. The story was pretty interesting. The first issue even has a few pages devoted to its own version of Freddy’s origin involving Amanda Krueger’s entrapment, beating and rape within the walls of a mental hospital. The art is pretty good too, especially in the first issue. The second half of the second issue, though, the art becomes a little uneven and a little inconsistent. Sometimes it’s nicely inked and sometimes it looks like pencil drawings. A little weird.

Check out two samples of the art. On the left is a nicely inked page from early in the issue and on the right is a page that looks more “pencil-like” with very little inking. You can click the images to see them BIGGER.

It goes on like that for the last 10 pages or so. Sometimes only one panel on the page will have the “pencil” look. I guess they knew the mag was being canceled and just rushed it out. Which makes sense since the second issue of this magazine is extremely hard to find.

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