Alien: Romulus #1 Review!

Alien: Romulus #1 is a comic book prequel to the film which covers the characters hinted at with the intro of the asteroid with xenomorph! The beginning of Alien: Romulus had the ship, Echo Probe, to retrieve a fragment from the wreckage of the Nostromo. It is taken into the ship and watched over by masked, voiceless personnel. This gives more about the unseen characters and fills in their story and what happened until discovered by Rain and Andy in the film. There is a brief preface by director, Fede Alvarez, about how his dreams was to a comic book and also an Alien film. He provides the story along with co-writer, Rodd Sayagues. 

So this comic is an official part of the Alien: Romulus canon and essential to the Alien universe. I hope it would be part of a bonus feature for Blu Ray or home release. It is written by Zac Thompson, the author of Into the Unbeing, the horror comic, and the artist is Daniel Picciotto. The other work by Picciotto includes the comic limited series, Danny Ketch: Ghost Rider. The cover by Leinil Francis Yu has a dripping red background with the hissing head of the Xenomorph and its claws! We see the fragment taken into the ship’s cargo hold. This is at the Zeta Reticuli system near moon LV-426. The moon was named Acheron by later colonists and the world that led to the Alien infestation. The asteroid is hled in a reserach lab on the Renaissance Station and examined by a team in space suits. Picciotto's artwork resembles the dark pencils of Ghost Rider artist, Javier Saltares. 

We find that this is Science Officer Rook (who resembles Ian Holm) holding up a flashlight and stating that it is made of a “secreted resin”, a cocoon. Mattos wearing glasses asks Rook about the risk and with approval begins cutting free the cocoon, self preservation for the Alien in the vacuum of space? The automated laser cuts into the cocoon. We are told that it “oozes rotten energy” from a woman with an eye patch, Hyla. She observes it on the upper floor overlooking the bay with a bearded man, Adrian. We see the xenomorph curled insectoid in the cocoon. Hyla pulls out her pulse rifle, but is held back by Adrian. He says it is dead and is confident in Rook. At the Remus Lab, Mattos remarks that the xenomorph killed seven crew members, the Nostromo crew in Alien (1979). Rook corrects him that is six victims, with one survivor, Ripley! Great hint at the original! 

Mattos is eager to weaponize the xenomorph and Rook says that is a human reaction like nuclear fusion and sarin gas. This moves from Mattos over the xenomorph to a closeup of Rook. He says Synths could exterminate humankind if is needed! A Terminator solution. Of course Synthetics are programmed not to harm humans. He turns to work on a computer discussing the “Nostromo event” and remarking about the xenomorph’s rapid evolution. Also its tissue regeneration and ability to “survive almost any environment.” We move from Rook reaching for a surgical laser to a worm’s eye view from the xenomorph of him. He notes the dream of the “founding father”, Peter Weyland. The founder and CEO of Weyland-Yutani was played by Guy Pearce in Alien: Covenant (2017). I do like how Alien: Romulus ties all of the Alien threads together. 

He says the dream was eternal life, which Rook calls, “Prometheus fire”, closeup of the laser cutting into the green, burning blood of the xenomorph. Mattos is startled by the Alien arm whipping to the side! Rook explains that it was a muscle spasm. He adds that the control rig it is in keeps the temperature at subzero. Hopefully to keep it in stasis. Hyla and Adrian are posted as guards outside of the lab. She doubts that the xenomorph is dead, Adrian asks what it is doing, and Hyla says it is playing dead, a tactic she learned from the Colonial Marines. This was the military seen in Aliens (1986). She points to her eyepatch and then tells Adrian about her deployment to LV-147. She is blasting bugs, multiple legged, spider-like with tails, with her pulse rifle. Hyla has killed three of the bugs, leans to examine one, and it leaps at her slashing her eye! It is fascinating to see another world and also the xenomorph, bugs, that Pvt. Hudson was mentioning as a "bug hunt" in Aliens.

Adrian says she never told that story. Hyla states that the rock is a threat to everyone. He backs her up. Hyla's plan is to wait when the lab is empty and send it into space. I think the loss of Hyla's eye, these two who see the Alien as dangerous, makes them sympathetic. The scenario of Rook surviving in the film kinda sets the station's fate, but still my heart was racing when they deal with the xenomorph. We get "Days later" at the lab where Rook records that they have taken the Alien's DNA and found that it is made up of human and extraterrestrial that he dubs the XX121 Xenomorph. He examines a fleshy box which Rook reports as its basic form. They have also made the "parasitoid" second stage that seed the host, yeek! Closeup of the Facehugger as he says it has the accelerant that quickly grows the creature. Rook has formed a compound which is the ticking clock for this story. Mattos wants the parastoids for the bio-weapons division. 

Rook has formed a compound which is the ticking clock for this story. Mattos wants the parastoids for the bio-weapons division. Rook says he needs all of them to find the secret of immortality. Mattos storms away. This all the set up for the film. Hyla and Adrian see them and share a brief kiss. Then, Huyla tells Adrian to de-rig the cocoon to strap it on the station's defense rockets. He starts to do so with the xenomorph hanging above him. Hyla rushes over to take an axe to open the cryochamber. It hisses open. In shadow, Hyla sees the chamber that is synthesizing the parasites! She swings the axe to shatter the chamber holding fluid. Adrian turns to see what is happening and then Hyla hears his scream! She rushes over to see the empty rock with Adrian slumnped over it. She finds his peeled face and then opens fire with her pulse rifle! Rook is stunned. He explained that it wakened when they tried to take it from the control rig. 

Rook checkes on Compound Z01 and tells the Romulus lab to start trials. Closeup of fluid extracted from a Facehugger, injected nto a rat, then, it is crushed! Rook says the xenomorph needs to be killed in case it stops his research. Hyla is ready with her pulse rifle. In a way, I like the team up of Rook and Hyla, but can't trust Rook. He gives Hyla a tracker and says that it will likely protect its young! In the Remus lab, Mattos is impressed that the xenomorph could clean failed colonies! Just a total unfeeling, cruel person. He says to a colleague that it is easier to wipe out colonist, plausible deniability, than extract them. Then, he hears a guttral sound in a dark chamber! Then, we get a full page spread of the Alien hissing while it grabs a researcher's and two others scream! Mattos starts running and seals the door for his collegues. The xenomorph sees the encased Facehuggers and with its tail swipes them free. Hyla is the last chance of the Renaissance Station to stop the Alien and we know the dark fate from Alien: Romulus!  

Five+ Control Rigs out of Five!  

#AlienRomulus, #FedeAlvarez, #RoddSayagues, #ZacThompson, #DanielPicciotto, #LeinilFrancisYu, #Hyla, #Adrian, #ScienceOfficerRook, #Mattos, #PeterWeyland 

Comic Creators Block Party!

Today was the Revenge Of presents Comic Creators Block Party with Patton and Jordan! Comic cons, including the ones I have attended this year, are expensive. Admission, which takes out a part of what you can spend, then there are exclusives that you could buy, and creator signatures. Add in any food and drink costs, transportation, and possible photo ops. Besides the cost, there may be some flyers and a booklet. I do remember when I had full bag of freebies of posters, comics, and bookets at Comic Con. Then, unloaded it at the parking garage, and then went back to refill it again! Those days may be long gone, but there is something new with the Comic Creators Block Party now in its second year that puts to shame mega cons. 

Comic Creators Block Party, author’s photo. 

This was at the Revenge Of store which has comics, graphic novels, and pinball! It had a great selection of back issues so much so that it is worth a return visit. I really wanted to try the Godzilla and John Wick pinball machines. The Golden Apple Store had a raffle for signed items. Past the store was a gate to let in the patio area. There was no admission, just a queue that formed to get in, then open to walk ins until the end of the day. 

Also note that there was a security guard at the gate and at the back area of the store. The covering was needed later when it started sprinkling towards the end of the day. This split into two tables with an upper area for tables that leads into the store. Past the fence was Hot Tongue pizza which was baking the pizzas and most of the guests picked up slices! There were signing blocks, A-D, from 11-12 with a half hour between signers. Then, an hour for each signing block. 

Patton Oswalt, Jordan Blum, and Heath Corson, the Minor Threats team!, photo by the author. 

Also note with the music playing and the dull roar of talking in the enclosed area that it can get overwhelming. I took a few breaks to give my ears and feet a rest! Brian Michael Bendis was so popular, I think he signed until 4 p.m.! Also popular was Mark Waid and David Dastchalchian. The signers with stamina, though, were the presenters, Patton Oswalt and Jordan Blum, who lasted the day! Also author, Jody Houser! At one of the tables to the right, had the exclusive for Revenge Of, a Francesco Francavilla cover for the horror comic, The Exorcism at 1600 Penn, by Hannah Rose May who was one of the signers. 

There were trade paperbacks of Minor Threats including Vol. 2: The Fastest Way Down before its release. The co-creators of Minor Threats, Oswalt and Blum, at the next table. Oswalt is a comedian, the best IMHO, currently on his Effervescent tour. Blum created the stop motion animated show, M.O.D.O.K., voiced by Oswalt. Also at the table was Heath Corson who joins Oswalt and Blum on The Brood. It is in the world of Minor Threats and they offered free posters of the comic set to be released on December 11th. Minor Threats is going to be a live action show on Netflix. 

Pornsak Pichetshote, writer of The Manchurian!, author’s photo.  

J. Holtham had The Horizon Experiment comic for free that samples the different stories found in the one-shots. The creators take marginalized protagonists into a twist like The Manchurian, a Chinese spy like James Bond, by Pornsak Pichetshote. He was there to sign and also had a copies of The Manchurian. The line was formed outside of the gate for Bendis. A surprise for Signing Block B was seeing Thomas Krajewski and Jennifer Muro, the writers for the graphic novel and comic series, Primer. 

Ashley Rayburn is a teen girl whos e body paints can used for super powers. A popular superhero for young readers, she has entered the DC universe with her new series, Primer: Clashing Colors. I think young readers sustain the comic book industry so give the comic to them! The next block had Geoff Johns and also, writer, Maytal Achut. The store had copies of her latest comic set in the Hyde Street section of Ghost Machine, Devour. The surprise was Brian Lynch, he is the writer of Illumination animated films, Minions (2015) and The Secret Life of Pets (2016). Free posters for both films! 

David Dastmalchian!, signing DC Horror Presents, photo by the author. 

The last block featured David Dastmalchian, he stars in The Life of Chuck based on the 2020 Stephen King novella. The store offered copies of his comics; Count Crowley and Knights vs. Samurai. Also, DC Horror and Headless Horseman with writer, Leah Kilpatrick, who was also signing. Dastmalchian was in last year’s horror film, Late Night with the Devil (2023). I was impressed that he played Wojchek in The Last Voyage of the Demeter (2023). Kilpatrick stars in this year’s crime comedy, Best Man Dead Man. Hannah Rose May was a few tables down from them. She played the Synth Woman in the sci fi show, Altered Carbon. 

She previously wrote the limited series, Rogues Gallery (2022). The surprise was seeing writer, Rodney Barnes, who adapted the Ahsoka series into comic form. The only downside for the event is that there were attendees who brought cases of comics to get signed, just to sell, which results in long lines. It should be maxium ten or something. This could be just for the creators with lines. There was a number of comic creators who fans had a chance to chat and get comics signed at Comic Creators Block Party. Comics were a big part of the event, but there were some filmmakers there too! 

#ComicCreatorsBlockParty, #RevengeOf, #MinorThreats, #PattonOswalt, #JordanBlum, #TheBrood, #HeathCorson, #JHoltham, #TheHorizonExperiment, #TheManchurian, #PornsakPichetshote, #ThomasKrajewski, #JenniferMuro, #Primer, #PrimerClashingColors, #GeoffJohns, #Devour, #MaytalAchut, #BrianLynch, #Minions, #DavidDastmalchian, #LastVoyageOfTheDemeter, #CountCrowley, #KnightsVsSamurai, #HeadlessHorsemanm #LeahKilpatrick, #HannahRoseMay, #TheExorcismAt1600Penn, #AlteredCarbon, #RodneyBarnes, #Ahsoka

Tribute to Greg Hildebrandt

Greg Hildebrandt has died and his artwork leaves an eternal vision of fantasy and science fiction. The artist with his twin brother, Tim, formed the Brothers Hildebrandt that painted the iconic Star Wars (1977) poster. The image was used on many t-shirts and other merch. It was symbolic to me of Star Wars, fantastic, lush colors that gave me an early idea that people made art. Greg Hildebrandt and his brother contributed to magazines like Heavy Metal and album covers for Trans Siberian Orchestra and others. 

The brothers produced artwork for Lord of the Rings calendars starting in 1976 to 1978. In 1977, they illustrated the Sword Of Shannara novel by Terry Brooks. This is one of the first books I read so was really pivotal in my interest in fantasy. It was finally in 2016 that the fantasy vision was put on film with the series, The Shannara Chronicles. The Brothers Hildebrandt worked with Jerry Nichols on an illustrated novel, Urshurak (1979), which had all of their fantasy and sci fi concepts merged into an incredible world. 

Also in 1979, The Art of the Brothers Hildebrandt was published. Then, the brothers painted the poster for Clash of the Titans (1981), the last Ray Harryhausen film, another important figure for me, it had the vibrancy of the Star Wars poster. Greg Hildebrandt worked on his own, producing a Mary Stewart’s Merlin calendar in 1984. He later painted in 2004 the book cover for the Merlin Trilogy collecting Mary Stewart’s novels. The first novel was adapted into a BBC film, Merlin of the Crystal Cave (1991).

In 1984, Hildebrandt began illustrating a series of books; Greg Hildebrandt’s Favorite Fairy Tales, and some of the other novels were Dracula (1985), Wizard of Oz (1985), Robin Hood (1989), and Alice in Wonderland (1990). From Tolkien To Oz: The Art Of Greg Hildebrandt was published in 1986. In 1990, Hildebrandt painted a series of calendars, American Beauties, in the pin up style. Greg and Tim Hildebrandt returned to paint a series of trading cards for Star Wars: Shadows Of The Empire adapting the novel, comics, and video game! 

The trading cards, Marvel Masterpieces Series III (1994), was illustrated by Greg and Tim Hildenbrandt. Also in 1994, Tim and Greg painted the cover and a story in the independent comic, Xenya #1. The brothers had painted the cover for Spider-Man 2099 Special #1 (1995). In 1996, Greg and Tim Hildebrandt painted the graphic novel, X-Men 2099: Oasis! The book, Star Wars: The Art of the Brothers Hildebrandt was published. (1997). The New Adventures of Terry and the Pirates (1999) comics featured artwork by Greg and Tim Hildebrandt. Their paintings were found in over 150 Magic: The Gathering cards. In 2006, Tim Hildebrandt died. 

Hildebrand illustrated the covers for the Marvel Illustrated: Treasure Island (2007) comics. Greg and Tim Hildebrandt: The Tolkien Years was published in 2001. The variant cover of Captain Phasma #2 (2017) was painted by Greg Hildebrandt. In 2019, he painted for the first time, Star Trek with the cover of the conic, Star Trek: Year Five #1. He painted a variant cover for Marvel Comics #1000. Hildebrandt contributed to the 2022 benefit comic anthology, Comics For Ukraine. He posted on Facebook, "OREO just announced their new Star Wars cookies with my art on the packaging!” There is an upcoming documentary on Greg Hildebrandt. The artwork of Greg Hildebrandt gives us the beauty of fantasy and other worlds that allows everyone to dream their own worlds. 

#GregHildebrandt, #TimHildebrandt, #BrothersHildebrant, #StarWars, #LordOfTheRings, #SwordOfShannara, #TerryBrooks, #TheShannaraChronicles, #Urshurak, #JerryNichols, #TheArtOfTheBrothersHIldebrandt, #ClashOfTheTitans, #RayHarryhausen, #MaryStewart, #MerlinOfTheCrystalCave, #GregHildebrandtsFavoriteFairyTales, #Dracula, #WizardOfOz, 

#RobinHood, #AliceInWonderland, #FromTolkienToOzTheArtOfGregHildebrandt

#MarvelMasterpiecesSeriesIII, #Xenya, #AmericanBeauties, #StarWarsShadowsOfTheEmpire, #MarvelMasterpiecesSeriesIIII, #SpiderMan2099Special, #XMen2099Oasis, #StarWarsTheArtOfTheBrothersHildebrandt, #MagicTheGathering, #MarvelIllustratedTreasureIsland, #GregAndTimHIldebrandtTheTolkienYears, #CaptainPhasma, #StarTrekYearFive, #MarvelComics, #ComicsForUkraine. 

Strolling Around the (Theme) Park One Day: Knott’s Spooky Farm!

Halloween was the last day for Knott’s Spooky Farm. Knott’s Scary Farm is about to wind down with the last day on November 2nd. The day time was for Knott’s Spooky Farm. Scary Farm began at 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. I really walked around Ghost Town and Calico Park, so didn’t get to Camp Snoopy. The best part for families is the trick or treat bags given out at the park entrance. Not a separate paid event, part of regular admission. Nice lines for the trick or treat Treat Fair stands with some kids dressed up, it is for ages 11 and under, but I did see  a few teenagers too. This was all around Ghost Town. My usual stop is at the Livery Stable which has been transformed to the Creepy Critters Corral. Unfortunately, horse and donkey were missing, but it was interesting to walk through the stable. 

Inside The Creepy Critters Corral!, the cases are to the left, Knotts Scary Farm, author’s photo. 

There were the aquarium tanks and cages for reptiles, the Creepy Critters of Calico. A bearded dragon clung to the side of its cage. I stared at the glass tank of the hognose snake. A handler had a yellow bull snake for guests to touch or hold. The animals are all part of the Southern California Herpetology Assocation and Rescue. At the Calico Stage was Snoopy’s Spooktacular Costume Party.  A fun show. This had music, the Halloween classics, by Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies. The hosts bring on the Peanuts Gang with their Halloween costumes! Lucy dressed as a witch. Linus with Frankenstein head and grey clothes is the best! It is always great to see Snoopy with cape and mask. Everyone in costume, young and old, join the circle around the stage. Great interactivity and showing off of costumes. 

Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies plus Snoopy and Peppermint Patty as The Mummy dancing and signing to "Monster Mash"!, Snoopy’s Spooktacular Costume Party, photo by the author.  

Employees carry around banners leading the circle around the stage. Guests had fun wearing costumes. I even saw a giant chicken velociraptor size! It has been some time since I saw a chicken walking around the park. I always like checking on the Spooky Farm themed artwork at The Factory Store. A few tributes to Elvira including a stained glass piece, “Mistress of the Dark and Light” by Daniel Miller. I liked a book art piece, “Dark Lullaby” by Jeff Lee, with dark fairy tale illustrations and story! I missed the Bob Barker Marionette Theater. The ride re-theming included the Timber Moutnain Log Ride turned into the Halloween Hootenanny. Also, the Calico Candy Mine Ride. Still, it is always fun to walk around the Halloween theming, skeletons here and there, plus seeing the Creepy Critters and Snoopy’s Costume Party! I enjoy just walking around the park during Knotts Spooky Farm or any occasion! 

#KnottsBerryFarm, #KnottsSpookyFarm, #KnottsScaryFarm, #GhostTown, #CalicoPark, #CreepyCrittersOfCalico, #BeardedDragon, #HognoseSnake, #BullSnake, #SouthernCaliforiaHerpetologyAssociationAndRescue, #CalicoStage, #SnoopysSpooktacuarCostumeParty, #KrazyKirkAndTheHillbillies, #TheFactoryStore, #Elvira, #MistressOfTheDarkAndLight, #DanielMiller, #DarkLullaby, #JeffLee,  #HalloweenHootenanny, #CalicoCandyMineRide. 

Agatha All Along, “Death’s Hand in Mine”, Review!

Agatha All Along has Agatha and Billy facing the next trial which focuses on Lilia, her story is winding around moments through the entire series! Re:cap - “Familiar by Thy Side”; After the revealation of The Teen as the son of Wanda Maximoff, he has trapped Agatha into the Road, and also did the same with Lilia and Jen. The episode opens on William Kaplan’s bar mitzvah at thirteen, he sees Lilia working as a fortune teller, and she gives him the sigil! Reports come in about the Anomaly in Westview and everyone is sent home. His family gets into a car accident that leads to his death, still he wakens calling out Tommy’s name. Three years later, the curren time, William goes with his boyfriend, Eddie, to meet with a contact who turns out to be Ralph Boehner! William researches Agatha and then we see his perspective as William breaks into her house. We find when the sigil hid his words that he was saying his name was William Kaplan and then Billy Maximoff! 

Agatha is about to pull herself out of the muck of The Witches’ Road, Billy crushes the sigil, and she wonders about how he got his new body. Billy says he doesn’t need Agatha now. Agatha goes over what Billy wants from The Road, not his mother, and not “robo-papa”, funny! Then, she brings up his twin brother, “Toby”! Billy has sensed Tommy and says he doesn’t trust her. The uneasy partnership continues to the next trial. Agatha says the last one there is a nice person. Billy whispers, “I’m not that nice.” The seventh episode is directed by Jac Schaeffer, the show’s creator who returns after directing the first two episodes. The writers are Gia King, she wrote for the comedy series, The Breakdown, and Cameron Squires, who also wrote the third episode. The "Death's Hand in Mine" lyric and title make me believe the last episode will be "Mother, Maiden, Crone"; the phases that we find Agatha going through? The dissolve from Billy on The Road opens to a closeup of Lilia’s distorted gasping. She is falling in a pink dress like Glinda the Good Witch. A resolution of what happened to Lilia and now her trial! 

Billy and Agatha and walking the Road and he asks her where’s Rio, but she brushes that question away. Then, Billy asks her if Wanda is dead, she has seen the body. In front of them is a castle perched on a mountainside, classic horror setting! They enter the gate and are transformed, Agatha into the Wicked Witch of the West from Wizard of Oz, complete with green skin, and Billy is now Maleficent! She points out a circular table where Billy finds Tarot cards. An hourglass spins to drop the sand for their timer. He draws the “horse drawn-“, Agatha cuts him off to tell him that it is The Chariot which is on the card!, Billy says it represents movement. It actually means victory over a conflict through will power. He sets the card down and a sword plunges down! Different suits of Tarot cards involve swords with different meanings. The Ace of Swords is quick action. Billy looks upwards to see a roof of hanging swords!  

Billy’s next card is the Seven of Swords, he says, correctly that it is about deception. It is reversed, he sets it down, and another sword falls! Agatha takes the cards and a sword falls when she pulls one. Then, she drops card after card with the swords falling around them, Billy looks up and dodges a sword striking his chair! Agatha says they should keep drawing cards, but all of the six places are taken. The rings of the table starts to turn and the ceiling with the swords starts to drop! Billy says he wishes Lilia was there. We see Lilia’s eyes and face muddied by The Road. She tells Jen that she was falling. They are in some underground passage with bright yellow roots. Jen said she told her to find shelving. Also, that the son of the Scarlet Witch took them off The Road! Lilia is shocked and then realizes that she had told Jen. Jen brings up that she is being “wispy.” This flashes back to the fourth episode where Lilia asked Alice if she was “wispy or kooky.” 

Lilia says, “Try to save Agatha” which shifts to her saying this to Agatha at her house. We finally get where Lilia’s outburst originated. This brings her to an elderly woman (Laura Boccaletti) who asks is seen. Boccaletti is in the thriller, Painter (2020). Lilia is a young girl in a yellow dress, a return for the actress from the third episode, who speaks to her teacher. It moves to Maestra who says Lilia is “visiting.” This turns back to Lilia in her present form. She asks and her Maestra says it is her first lesson. This episode is an interesting weaving of time, characters, and story that must have been fun for Schaeffer to direct. Maestra asks again and Lilia focuses on the bowl of tea leaves. On the Road again, Lilia gasps, Jen says she hasn’t heard the Salem Seven since the subway station? Lilia tells her “time is an illusion” and she had grown up out of sequence, a mix up, Merlin in Once and Future King lived life backwards. Lilia admist her gaps are becoming worse. Heartbreaking, this feels like a supernatural version, the disorientation of Alzheimer’s. Then, she screams and finds herself in the Glinda the Good Witch dress. 

Agatha is on top of her and says she stopped her from getting impaled by a sword! Lilia pushes Agatha off her. Billy tries to check on Lilia, but she pushes him against the wall. Watching them is Jen with long, grey dreadlocks and black robe like 1937’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarf’s Evil Queen as a witch. He tries to apologize to Lilia about his power and it comes out fragmented. Billy says he could have used his power to save Alice and Lilia realizes that he is reading her mind! She remembers his bar mitzvah. Jen takes Lilia to the side and says she is not mad at Billy. Lilia tells Billy that she was reading his fortune. He asks if she cast the sigil and Lilia says she knew who he was and needed time. More swords plunge down! Lilia wonders what she did wrong. She moves back to the fourth episode saying she hated it the first time. She screams and then is back in her kitchen with Billy and Agatha. She panics and repeats stop over and over. Then, Lilia finds herself back with her Maestra. 

Lilia says her first coven didn’t work out as well as this one, she says she is better as a fraud, Maestra says she still has fear. She wants control, Maestra says her task is “to see”, this moves from the sun to the light falling in the tunnel. She is walking with Jen and says she knows the next trial. Jen says it is Tarot because Lilia told her. She looks down and finds the spellbook of Billy! Jen says Lilia told her the episodes happened when she was young. Lilia tells her that they stopped when she ignored them. She says all she saw was death! An acting feat for LuPone, crazy, frightened, all in different moments and characters, throughout the show!, I hope she gets award recognition for this challenging role. They hear Billy and Agatha’s muffled voices. Also, around a corner, Agatha sees shelves! In front of them is Agatha and Billy when the table ring starts to turn. The ceiling drops, Lilia and Jen drop out of the bookshelf, and Agatha points out the ceiling with swords.

Ignoring the ceiling, Lilia concentrates on the table with the Tarot cards, and says, “My tasks is to see.” Lilia asks who is the quarant, the subject of the reading, and Billy says he is the quarant. She has Billy shuffle and cut the cards. They argue about the question and Billy finally asks if he is William or Billy. The ceiling stops. Lilia explains the card spaces of the “Safe Passage” spread. She calls Billy, Teen, and he is the Traveler, then the reason for his quest, and then lastly his destination. This is the first time that we see Lilia focused, professional. He choses the Magician card, Billy has potential, Lilia sets down the card and a sword falls! The next card is the reason, The Sun, Billy brightens at the reunion mentioned by Lilia. Another sword falls which disturbs Agatha, but it is not failure, it is the completion of the Tarot. Lilia asks for the Path Behind card, a sword is about to fall, and Lilia says, “Get off me!” There are flashes from several moments! 

She is back with her Maestra who confronts her about the reason she is on the Witches’ Road. Lilia admits she didn’t want to go, then that she wanted her power back, and Maestra counters that her power never left. Then, Lilia admits she doesn’t want to be a “forgotten woman.” There is some real emotion here, I always like the teacher figure like Yoda, trying to set right the apprentice. Also, great acting by Boccaletti. Lilia asks about her worth, she says their coven died by fever, and she saw it. Maestra says, “Death comes for us all.” There are tears in Lilia’s eyes. Lilia says she was falling and Maestra asks what she will do with her time before dying. Lilia covered in mud wakes up Jen and updates her on what happened. She is excited in a storehouse that is also a cave that she has the gaps filling in. One path leads to a room. Lilia hears the Salem Seven and they go to hide! The robed figures pass and Lilia points out the tunnel with the yellow roots, like the Yellow Brick Road? She wants to take it to help Billy and Agatha with the divination test.

Lilia asks Jen to join her, she looks to the comfort of the room, and then heads down the tunnel. She says to herself, “I know what I did wrong.” Lilia gathers the cards and says she is the Traveler. She says, “I am -“, this goes back to her younger self who says, “the Queen of Cups.” A meaning of a caring person who helps others on their path. Maestra happily says she can now see. She sets down the card and the ceiling spins. Agatha notes that no swords have dropped. Lilia takes out the next card, her quest’s purpose, and it is the Three of Pentacles. She sees the Three Star Rental eviction notice. Lilia says it is “singular voices waiting to harmonize.” She says she needed them, her coven. Next card, the past, the Knight of Wands, and she sees Alice using her power. The ceiling closes down shutting out the light from openings. The future, The High Priestess card is drawn, and she sees Jennifer. Power, but not able to use it. This is an impressive episode weaving Tarot cards, narrative across the episodes and characters, and showcasing Lilia Calderu who has been fascinating! 

Five+ Lockets out of Five! 

#AgathaAllAlong, #DeathsHandInMine, #JacSchaeffer, #GiaKing, #CameronSquires, #KathrynHahn, #JoeLocke, #PattiLuPone, #ShasheerZamata, #ChloeCamp, #LauraBoccaletti  

Re:tro Re:view - The Wolfman (1941)!

The beast side of man unleashed, early body horror, and an ancient curse are all found in The Wolfman (1941)! The werewolf is a fascinating creature of horror and the populization of it was in the Universal Monsters classic! Of course, there were legends of werewolves, lycanthorpes. It was basically transformations from man to wolf and not the wolfman creature. The first werewolf on film was also from Universal Studios, Werewolf of London (1935). Currently streaming on Peacock. It had the wolfman form, makeup would probably be easier than a transformation into wolf, and easier to use an actor than an actual wolf. Werewolf of London had Henry Hull transform via Jack Pierce’s makeup effects. It had fangs, pointed ears, and furry eyebrows. Pierce was able to fulfill his werewolf vision in The Wolfman. 

The first film led to a classic, An American Werewolf in London (1981). It was groundbreaking with Rick Baker’s effects, which won him the first Academy Award for Best Makeup, it is the best transformation on film! Also director, John Landis, combined horror and comedy which made the genre popular. Baker returned to win another Academy Award for the remake The Wolfman (2010) One of the best werewolf shows was Wolf Lake (2001) which was created by John Leekley who also created the best vampire series, Kindred: The Embraced. Next year, January 17th, Leigh Whannell co-writes and directs Wolf Man. It looks to focus on a family and uncontrollable violence from a father as a werewolf. 

The cinematic werewolf really hit screens with the 1941 film directed by George Waggner. He also directed the horror film, Man-Made Monster (1941) that was the debut of Lon Chaney, Jr. The movie is written by Curt Siodmak who also co-wrote, The Invisible Man Returns (1940). It is streaming on Amazon Prime. From a bookshelf, a mysterious person takes out a book to open to page on “Lycnathorpy (Werewolfism).” The definition notes that it is a “diease of the mind”, but that a legend says a person could take on “physical charactersitics” of the animal. Then, goes on to tell about a village by Talbot Castle. A man, Larry Talbot (Lon Chaney, Jr.) and his driver (Eric Wilton) are going through the village and see the castle, “obviously a model.” Chaney is the son of The Man of a Thousand Faces, Lon Chaney, who starred in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923). I think he had a distinguished performance as Lennie in the John Steinbeck adaptation, Of Mice and Men (1939). He also starred in Son of Dracula (1943) as Count Dracula. 

They drive up to the castle and Larry is greeted by his father, Sir John Talbot (Claude Rains). The actor also played Dr. Jack Griffin, the lead in the Invisible Man (1933). He is also known for playing Senator Joseph Payne in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) and Captain Louis Renault in Casablanca (1942). Rains brings an authenticity to the role with a British accent, most of the cast has American accents. His father mentions that the castle hasn’t changed in 300 years. He introduces Larry to Paul Montford (Ralph Bellamy), the chief constable. Paul excuses himself and Larry points out the portrait of his brother, John, above the fireplace. Sir John says that it took John’s hunting accident to have Larry to return to the castle. They shake hands and Sir John notes Larry has been away 18 years. Workers bring in a wooden case which one says is parts for a telescope. 

They head to the attic which has been made into an observatory. We see the same library of books from the opening, above it is the giant telescope, and windows that show the village and mountains. Larry adjusts the telescope. Sir John looks through the telescope to see a car and a bicyclist in the village. He is impressed at Larry’s work who says he worked on the Mount Wilson observatory in Los Angeles. Larry looks through the telescope, he scans across the village which does look like European Street at Universal Studios Hollywood. He finds a beautiful woman in the window. This is Gwen Conliffe (Evelyn Ankers). He’s a Peeping Tom! Ankers played Elsa Frankenstein in the Ghost of Frankenstein (1942). She is checking on her dress suit when Larry sees that she is in the room above Charles Conliffe Antiques. 

Larry walks into the store and welcomed by Gwen. He says he is looking for earrings and she takes out a box of earrings for him. Larry says he is looking for gold, half-moon shaped earrings. She says they don’t have any and he says it is on a dressing table in her room. Kinda creepy meet cute, but there is a gosh everyman quality to Lon Chaney, Jr. He decides to buy a cane and she asks how did he know about the earrings. Larry says he’s psychic when there is a beautiful woman. Now starting off a relationship with a lie or joke? The time really makes it that this is just a meet cute. He finds a cane that has on its end a wolf. Gwen explains that the tip is a wolf made of silver with a pentagram, the sign of the werewolf! He jokes at the legend. She tells about the poem, “Even a man who is pure in heart/And says his prayers by Night/May become a wolf/When the wolfsbane blooms/And the autumn moon is bright.” Gwen says the pentagram shows up on the palm of the werewolf's next victim. Some cool werewolf lore injected into their conversation. 

He says he will tell how he saw her on a walk at night. She refuses and then walks outside to see the arrival of fortune tellers on horse and wagon. Larry asks his father about werewolves. Rains’ delivery of the poem just has the right hint of the sinister. Sir John brings up Gwen’s name and wants his son to know all of the villagers since he will be in charge of the estate. A foggy night, Gwen leaves the shop waiting expectantly and Larry walks up to her. She introduces him to Jenny Williams (Fay Helm) who also wants her fortune read. Jenny and Gwen laugh walking with Larry. It is a spooky night with the fog and Jenny points out the bush with the wolfsbane. She picks out a few even though the wolfsbane is poisonous to the touch! The camp of the Romani, gypsies is now a slur, Jenny speaks to a Romani man. He is played by Bela Lugosi, Dracula himself!, and his character’s name is Bela.  

Gwen walks with Larry into the thick fog and admits he used a telescope to watch her.  I really like the fog and the trees, in England, the fog can get thick you couldn’t see in front of you. She says she is engaged, but Larry doesn't give up. Jenny wants to know when she will be married. Bela moves the wolfsbane aside, weary, and then takes her right hand. He says the right hand which shows the future and sees a pentacle! Bela sends her away. I really like Lugosi's performance even as a cameo. In a tent is the elderly woman, Maleva (Maria Ouspenskaya) who watches a restless horse. The actress also appeared as the character in Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943). Jenny runs and then hears a wolf howl! Larry and Gwen hear the howl and then Jenny screams! Larry runs to help with his cane. He sees the wolf and pulls it off Jenny’s body. Larry begins to struggle with it and the wolf bites him. He starts striking it with the cane, repeatedly beating it off camera. Larry staggers away.

Gwen finds Larry who has fallen and she calls for help as a wagon rolls in with Maleva. She asks what happened and Gwen says a wolf bit him. Maleva says they should take him back home. Sir John and Captain Montford are chatting about Larry when he is brought in by Gwen. Maleva steps away and Gwen tells them about the wolf bite. Then,the butler, Kendall (Leyland Hodson) reports that Jenny was killed! Captain Montford leaves with Kendall to see the murder scene. Doctor Lloyd (Warren William) has examined the body and reports her throat was bitten. A reporter, Twiddle (Forrester Harvey) nervously takes notes. He is also the other actor with an English accent. A dog and its owner, Frank Andrews (Patric Knowles), find another body, Bela! Dr. Lloyd says he was killed by “heavy blows.” Montford points out Bela’s bare feet. Frank finds the wolf’s head cane. In the morning, Larry wakes up, Sir John, Captain Montford, and Dr. Lloyd enter, and Montford asks if Larry owns the cane. 

He says he killed the wolf with the cane and is told that the body of Bela was found next to the cane. Larry says that the wolf bit him, he shows Dr. Lloyd, but there is no mark! The others leave Sir John and Larry who rushes over to see the cane. Later, Sir John explains that Bela and Larry went to help Jenny. He says in the confusion, Larry killed Bela, and that the wolf tore his coat which led Larry to thinking it bit him. Montford says he won’t question Larry. Night, two women, see the casket of Bela and Larry, whom they call “the man that killed him.” The coffin is taken to a room at a cemetary. Larry wants to see the body, but hears voices. It is Maleva. He doesn’t want a Romani celebration and she says it is a custom. Maleva says words of condolence over Bela’s coffin as Larry watches. He seems to have a problem looking at women who are in private. Larry is grief stricken, almost angry, at Bela in his coffin. 

Gwen’s father, Charles (J.M. Kerrigan) is trying to reassure his daughter, but she is still traumatized seeing Jenny’s face. Mrs. Williams (Doris Lloyd), Jenny’s mother, blames Gwen for her daughter’s death. Larry enters the store as Mrs. Williams says she knows what Gwen was doing when Jenny died. He angrily slams the door and confronts Mrs. Williams and her friends. They all leave as Larry holds the wolf head cane! Larry apologizes to Charles and asks her permission to see Gwen in the parlor. Now, he acts like a gentleman. Larry also apologizes to Gwen especially with the argument of the ladies. Frank Andrews enters the store with his dog who barks at Larry. He takes away his dog and Gwen explains that Frank, her fiancee, is the estate gamekeeper. Larry awkwardly leaves and Frank says he was staring at his cane. He warns Gwen about Larry and says there is something tragic about him. At the celebration for Bela, there is music with violinists and a woman dancer, Frank has taken Gwen there. 

He sees Larry and takes her to say hello to him. At a shooting game, Larry has a rifle, shoots, while Sir John and Montford watch him. Larry pauses at a wolf target. Frank shoots it. Maleva sees Larr ,  tells him to go inside her tent, and says that the wolf was Bela! She says a werewolf can only be killed with silver. Maleva gives him a charm, necklace with the pentagram. He is about to leave when she says whoever is bitten by werewolf becomes a werewolf. Maleva says he has to have the charm over his heart. Montford watches as Maleva spreads word around the camp. The celebration ends and Larry runs into Gwen who had an argument with Frank. He tells her that he is a werewolf and gives her the charm! Larry kisses her and then sees the Romani break camp and she leaves. Good closeup as we see Larry’s conflicted face as he holds a tree branch. This leads to psychedelic swirl of images of Larry’s eyes, Maleva’s face, and Bela. Then, the transformation which must be early body horror. Besides the cool, wavy hair and beard, he has a bestial, furred face and fangs. Brilliant work by Jack Arnold! The Wolf Man has Larry’s kinda romance with Gwen, the bizarre transformation, and the savagery the werewolf! 

Four Charms out of Five! 

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