Re:tro Re:view - The Science of Superman!

Superman is part science fiction and comic book fantasy, an enduring icon, but thre is some science in the character found in The Science of Superman (2002)!  It is a book by Mark Wolverton that truly merges real science with the fiction of Superman comics. Wolverton is a science writer and his latest book is Nuclear Weapons (2022). It is edited by Roger Stern, Superman scribe and author of The Death and Life of Superman: A Novel (1993), also recommended! 

There is a doctumentary, The Science of Superman (2006), that was produced at the time of Superman Returns (2006). It currently streams on YouTube. The documentary features comics writers, Mark Waid and Denny O’Neil, and also Wolverton. There is also a young readers book, Superman Science (2017), by Agnieszka Biskup and Tammy Enz. Plus, Batman Science (2014). I think this book should be required reading for anyone writing about Superman in comics, film, and television. Wolverton mentions in his introduction about childhood speculating about Superman’s powers.  

There was in Action Comics #1 (1938) by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, a "scientific explanation" of Clark Kent's powers. Current science has led him to consider “Superman as a fascinating and scientifically plausible biological phenomenon than as a simply a fictional being…” I think over the years, it has just varied how Superman’s powers work, specifically how invulnerable is Superman and how can he fly? Wolverton is in depth in covering all of Superman's powers, how could the full catalog of powers from the comics, work? He is respectful of the comics and science. It is paired with illustrations by John Byrne from his Man of Steel (1986) limited series. 

The author speculates how humans could have his powers! I’ve read a few superhero science books, but just became lost in complex math, formulae, and scientific principles. Wolverton is very readable to the regular comics fan and reader to get introduced to fascinating science; astronomy, geology, chemistry, physics, and biology. There is also some important scientists and their discoveries. It begins with Krypton, there are some basic facts about the planet from the comics; it orbits the red dwarf star, Rao, and is around fifty light years from Earth. Wolverton begins discussing stars using our star, Sol, as an example. He mentions the temperatures of stars that is classified by letters. 

This is remembered by astronomy students with the mnemonic device, “Oh, Be A Fine Girl, Kiss Me.” Wolverton notes the hottest is O, blue-white, and coolest M, red. This also leads to the life cycle of stars. He notes that red dwarf stars are the most common type of stars that are found. Then, there is an explanation of Habitable Zones, in Star Trek terms, M-class planets. Wolverton explains that Krypton may have a heavy atmosphere to make it suitable for life. The scientific parts mesh well with the ficitional settings and characters. Then, Wolverton brings up evolution through biology, and of course the biological differences of Kryptonians. I also find it fascinating for any writer who wants a basis for sci fi world building. 

The second chapter covers Superman growing up on Earth. Wolverton covers radiation and the electromagnetic spectrum. He then brings up a concept of Kryptonians having dense skin, could heal celluar damage, and have a strong “bioelectric field”, all protections from Krypton’s sun! This is just a clever rationalization of a fictional problem. Plus, it is also the basis for Superman’s powers! Kryptonians would essentially be “living solar cells”! They would be able to nourished by sunlight and wouldn’t be forced to compete for food. This in turn would allow them to create an advanced civilization! 

I love the puzzle pieces that assemble for an interesting sci-fi world and people. So over time, Clark could adjust to Earth’s gravity and his powers like in Smallville. This would mean new Kryptonians like Zod would not have the same level of power as Superman who has lived his life on Earth. My favorite books are the ones where I can learn at the same time that I’m fascinated by the subject matter. Wolverton treats Superman as depicted in the comics, not at a certain level of power, or medium. The Science of Superman is informative, creative in Wolverton’s ideas on Superman, and a brilliant primer for science and scientists! 

 

Five+ Bio-electric Fields out of Five! 

#TheScienceOfSuperman, #MarkWolverton, #RogerStern, #TheDeathAndLifeOfSuperman, #SupermanReturns, #MarkWaid, #DennyONeil, #SupermanScience, #AgnieszkaBiskup, #TammyEnz, #ManOfSteel, #JohnByrne  

Double Feature: The Marvels and Scott Pilgrim vs the World!

Yesterday, Veteran’s Day, was an occasion to catch two movies, one at the El Capitan and the other at the newly opened Egyptian Theatre! The theater honored one veteran who is featured on the marquee and announced before a screening! The Marvels is currently showing at the El Capitan. There were two exclusive items, canteens with the symbols of each of The Marvels, $27 and a collectible popcorn tin, I think it was ten dollars more. The lobby also featured screen used costumes in cases. At the start of the displays was Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and his brown jacket and eyepatch. Next, the colorful costume of Ms. Marvel (Imani Vellani) also had the bangle. The iconic uniform of Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) features the starburst symbol.  The black and white uniform of Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) was next to her. Lastly, there was the costume of Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton), the Universal Weapon was with her. She did not have the bangle! 

The costumes of The Marvels at the El Capitan Theatre, author’s photo. 

The Egyptian Theatre was undergoing a restoration and reopend on November 9th with The Killer that also had a Q&A with director, David Fincher. It has been a Hollywood feature since 1922. American Cinematheque presents film festivals like Beyond Fest there since 1998. Netflix bought the theater in 2020 and has released a short film, Temple of Film: 100 Years of the Egyptian Theatre. The night featured a members only screening of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010) which had a Q&A with director, Edgar Wright, creator of the graphic novels, Bryan Lee O’Malley. It was moderated by The Daniels, Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, Academy Award winning best directors for Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022). 

Cosplayer Oliver as Scott Pilgrim wins the night!, photo by the author. 

The later screening would have an introduction by Wright and O’Malley. One of the best films, Scott Pilgrim, stars Michael Cera and Mary Elizabeth Winstead. It also happens to have Brie Larson, from The Marvels, in the cast! The best part of standing in a queue of a beloved movie is the chance to chat with film fans. In this case, I was able to talk about American Cinematheque and movies with members Matt Farren and Gillian Am. An interesting conversation with some great advice on film events and comments about films! Also in the line, there was a great cosplayer, Oliver, dressed as Scott Pilgrim. He mentioned that he also cosplays at conventions. Before the screening, O’Malley and Wright were introduced, and then a surprise was The Daniels stayed for the introduction! 

Bryan Lee O’Malley, Daniel Scheinert, Daniel Kwan, and Edgar Wright before the screening, Egyptian Theatre, author’s photo.

Kwan and Scheinert said their contribution to the movie was “We bought tickets and DVDs”, funny! Wright started the introduction saying, “The Egyptian is back baby!” He said the Dolby Atmos was different from the 10th anniversay screening of the film. Wright mentioned that he was in L.A. to help promote the animated series, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, which debuts on Netflix on November 17th, this Friday! He mentioned that the applause of audiences in Toronto and the earlier screening. Wright said the film would be replayed until the audience cheered for Toronto until it would be heard at the Mann’s theater! He also mentioned at the end of the film a “sneaky peek of the anime”, which was the final trailer. There is still love for Scott Pilgrim vs the World with the return of the cast for the series. Also important is the audiences who return to watch the film! An incredible night of movies, The Marvels and Scott Pilgim vs the World, events, filmmakers, and also fans! 

#TheMarvels, #ElCapitanTheater, #BrieLarson, #ImanVellani, #TeyonahParris, #ZaweAshton, #ScottPilgrimVsTheWorld, #EgyptianTheater, #MichaelCera, #MaryElizabethWinstead, #BryanLeeOMalley, #EdgarWright, #ScottPilgrimTakesOff, #TheDaniels, #DanielKwan, #DanielScheinert 

The Marvels Review!

The Marvels is fun with a trio of female super heroes that are the perfect balance, just the right amount of character, humor, and action! The MCU was tangled with unresolved sub-plots, characters, and lacking the entertainment of its earlier films, but the joy from Phase One has returned with The Marvels! The film is directed and co-written by Nia DaCosta who also did the same with horror sequel, Candyman (2021). The screenplay is also by Megan McDonnell, who also wrote WandaVision, and Elissa Karasik, writer for the first season of Loki. 

It begins with a burning planet, ships, Accuser warships, leave the planet following a capital ship that looks like a spike. They warp to a barren planet. This is the introduction of Dar-Benn played by Zawe Ashton. The actress played Oona in 2021 episodes of The Handmaid’s Tale. The character of Dar-Benn was male in his first appearance in Silver Surfer #53 (1991). She is a Kree superior, an alien race introduced in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014). They resembles humans and also bluish skin members that are also part of the Kree. 

She shatters a stone object with the long warhammer, the Universal Weapon, that was used by Ronan the Accuser. He was the villain from Guardians of the Galaxy (2014). Dar-Benn is a formidable villain, but her motivation and arc make her an interesting Marvel villain. Dar-Benn  clears it to uncover a bracelet-like object like the bangle from the Ms. Marvel series. She attaches it to her left wrist and sends out a purple beam into the sky. This sets off her plan, which may risk her life, and draws in The Marvels. Dar-Benn asks her advisor, Ty-Rone (Daniel Ings) about the other band since they were known to be a pair of weapons. 

This shifts to Jersey City, New Jersey where we find Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) in her room. Vellani of course was the star of the Ms. Marvel series. Kamala narrating her adventures notes her hard light powers. This creates pink-ish/purple crystal disks, shields, or domes. She is draws her animated adventures, a style like her show, teaming up with her idol, Captain Marvel. The call of her mother to do her school work snaps Kamala back. She is of course the young hero that has to find her place next to Captain Marvel. Kamala brings the energy of a teen with the geekiness of a comic book fan. 

In her ship, Hoopty (some of the names are unclear like the villain), Carol Danvers played by Brie Larson, is reviewing her memories through a Kree device. This year, Larson stars in the mini-series, Lessons in Chemistry, and made a cameo in the finale, “No Normal” (2022) of Ms. Marvel. This basically recaps the events of Captain Marvel (2019) just to refresh your memory or in case you missed it. I suspect that audiences can go cold into this movie without seeing the rest of the MCU. She sees an explosion of a building that wakes her from the device. She takes a call from Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). The role of Fury was also reprised by Jackson in Secret Invasion. 

Carol is also taking care of Goose, the Flerken looks like a cat, but can send out tentacles to take in people and objects! He is based in the S.A.B.E.R. space station orbiting the Earth.  S.A.B.E.R. (Strategic Aerospace Biophysics and Exolinguistic Response) was introduced in WandaVision. They have a light rapport and Fury next says that there is a surge in jump points. He wants her to check out a planet, MB-418. Outside the space station is Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) who pierced the Hex barier in WandaVision and gained her powers. This was in the episode, “We Interrupt This Program” (2021). Parris also played Brianna Cartwright in Candyman. 

She is checking the station along with S.A.B.E.R. agents, Talia (Leila Farzad) and Dag (Abraham Popoola) making repairs with her powers. On the ringed planet, Tarnax IV, Dar-Benn meets with  Emperor Dro'ge (Gary Lewis), the leader of the remaining Skrull colony. The Skrulls are green, shapeshifting aliens that debuted in Fantastic Four #2 (1967). Dar-Benn is there to make a treaty to move the Skrulls before the air from Tarnax IV is taken! Captain Marvel has reached MB-418, the same planet that we saw with Dar-Benn finding the band. Monica’s transmission with Fury is cut off and Captain Marvel hears her mention Aunt Carol. 

Monica has to deal with Carol whom she hasn’t seen since she was eight and left on her own with the death of her mother, Maria (Lashana Lynch). Carol sees the hexagon of the jump point that hasn't closed. She sees the shattered column at Dar-Benn’s dig site and uncovers the gold image of the bangle. Monica reaches out to the energy of the jump point. We see the screen split between Carol, Monica, and Kamala in the Captain Marvel symbol shape, clever. The split screen is a comic book device, but I like the use of it in this movie. Fury tries to get in contact with Monica, but instead Kamala is drifting outside of the station window in Monica’s spacesuit! 

Captain Marvel find herself in Kamala’s closet; the last scene we saw in Ms. Marvel. She runs down the stairs and sees Kamala’s family; mother, Muneeba (Zenobia Shroff), father, Yusuf (Mohan Kapur), and older brother, Aamir (Saagar Shaikh). The actors rprise their roles from Ms. Marvel, but the film keeps the show’s characters to this trio. Kree soldiers, allied to Dar-Benn, start attacking with staves, Muneeba slams a lamp into one! Then, Yusuf falls so Muneeba protects him from the point of a Kree spear! It is stopped by Captain Marvel who throws the soldier through the roof!  The fight continues, but Kamala is suddenly shifted into her house! 

Kamala is able to flip around a soldier and use her powers. I wonder if Kamala had combat training, but actually Captain Marvel uses the same sliding move so she may have picked up fighting ability from her entanglement with the others. The intercutting of characters in the middle of the action is brilliant. Monica battles Kree soldiers on MB-418 who are hunting the Annihilator. 

Captain Marvel swaps with Ms Marvel fighting Kree warriors at Kamala’s house and also the S.A.B.E.R. station. The Kree are hunting the Annihilator, a term for Captain Marvel, for Dar-Benn. The mystery of Captain Marvel as the Annihilator ties into her arc. 

Also the motivation of Dar-Benn who is on a mission for her people. This connects with the shape-shifting Skrulls (who don't shape shift here) that were introduced in Captain Marvel and also featured in Secret Invasion. There is a later character played by Park Seo-Joon from Parasite (2019). There is an important mid-credit scene, but no end credit scene. Carol, Monica, and Kamala are perfect as a trio of heroes that have to team up! The Marvels brings the fun of Phase One MCU, a theme of family and redemption, and Flerken! 

Five Quantum Bands out of Five! 

#TheMarvels, #NiaDaCosta, #MeganMcDonnell, #ElissaKarasik, #BrieLarson, #TeynoahParris, #ImanVellani, #SamuelLJackson, #ZenobiaShroff, #MohanKapur, #SaagarShaikh, #ZaweAshton, #GaryLewis, #ParkSeoJoon, #LashanaLynch 

Power Girl #2 Review!

Power Girl #2 explores some of the mysteries of the alien Amalak, a Kryptonian virus, and balancing her life as reporter and roommate! Re:cap - Power Girl #1; Power Girl’s new identity, Dr. Paige Stetler, attends a charity event on a yacht with her fellow hero, Lilith Clay, who has mental powers of her own. She meets Axel Gruff who works for a mysterious organization. The party is interrupted by Amalak who is searching for alien auction items. There is a battle between Amalak and Power Girl, also Lilith as Omen, helps evacuate civilians. Amalak manages to escape,and Power Girl detects a bomb. 

In an impressive large panel, she shatters several levels to reach it and in another large panel, astral-punches it to the Mariana Trench, the deepest place on Earth! This is a new power that she gained during the Lazarus Planet event. They return to their apartment, great closeups of Paige and Lillith’s faces looking at Superman holding Streaky the Super Cat! He flies with Power Girl and explains that the bomb at the Mariana Trench increased tensions with the Atlanteans. Superman tells her that there has been deaths in the Tropics from a Kryptonian virus! He wants her to stay at the Fortress of Solitude in Bermuda. 

He says S.T.A.R. Labs has found that the virus came from her Krypton in Earth-Two! “Work Trip” is by Leah Williams and Eduardo Pansica. The regular cover by Gary Frank has Power Girl and Amalak about to trade punches over beach goers! Amalak’s ship is in space when one of his crew tells him about Noa, a Karnan buyer. Amalak says that the Karnans are extinct, but agrees to a sale of the artifacts that they took from the charity. He checks the strange, orange item that had a reaction to Paige. In closeups, we see the thing has sliced into Amalak! Blood splatters around his tensed clawed hand.

He falls to his knees and there is a death rattle! Gruesome. He gives a scream that brings other members of his crew. Still, they find Amalak standing and he says that it is not his blood. He orders a return to Earth and we see the pedestal no longer has the object. At the Daily Planet, Paige walks with Mariposa Lujah, an intern who is also attending Metropolis University. She mentions that she gave Alexel Gust her number. Paige’s thoughts revealed that she had heat visioned his business card. She asks about Mariposa’s thesis, but she nervously walks away. Love the supporting cast! She returns to say that the boss wanted to see her. 

She meets with Lois Lane, editor-in-chief and of course wife to Superman. Lois tells Paige to go easy on Mariposa because she looks up her. She expected Power Girl to have left and Paige says that she has finish her investigation on the virus, but can’t contact the coroner. Lois tells her that she will have to see him in person. She says that the Fortress of Solitude can be a base of operations for her. Before she leaves, Lois notes that her column is due in the morning. At her desk, Paige gets a text from Omen about making cupcakes. She thinks about her column about machine learning, we get the beginnings of it, as Paige works into the night. 

A series of panels shows the recent events where the symbioship that took her to Earth had trapped her. The ship’s artificial intelligence put in false memories of Kara Zor-L growing up on Krypton. Then, pursued her so she is very familiar with the dangers of A.I. We see Paige’s worried face at her computer in red color. Paige finishes getting a text from Axel. He is checking up on her having lost her in the battle. Paige passes protestors of aliens on the street. Axel’s next text is again an attempt to recruit her, but she still wonders about his employer.  She makes a call to Axel, we see him in closeup while she gets a hot dog from a vendor. 

Then, we see he is a secret agent having passed a grid of lasers and taking out a guard with a tranquilizer dart. I do like that he uses a non-lethal weapon to take out enemies. Finding alien technology? In the Supergirl tv series, Kara worked for the Department of Extra-Normal Operations (DEO). Paige jokes that she doesn’t want to use her powers for evil. Then, we see Axel looking at an artifact as he finishes the call. She returns to her apartment, great look to the angry Streaky who crushes the last cupcake! Paige crashes on the couch as Lilith plays OviPositor Simulator. Then, she goes to pack for her mission, we see Streaky on her suitcase as he is smacked by her bra, funny! 

Lillith shows her concern and in the background, Streaky blasts the bra with heat vision, too funny!

Paige drops her suitcase at the Fortress of Solitude and thinks that she wanted to keep the mission secret from Lilith to protct her. Kelex introduces himself; the hovering robot has a scanner head and coil arms. The Bahamas Fortress is still icy. He shows her the animal sanctuary which has a lion creature that Kelex says is at the end of his life, the last Kryptonian lion. Kelex leaves and Paige looks at the angry beast that soon lies down with its two tails. 

At night, she arrives at the island in the Tropics, lashed by a storm. She goes to the house of the coroner, but gets the door slammed in her face. The houses’s roof is blown off and Power Girl lifts it up, dramatically backlit by lighting. Then, sets it down on the house sealing it with supe breath. Power Girl knocks again to ask about the Kryptonian disease. It is almost a Terminator-like order of Amalak who rips up a palm tree which Power Girl shatters with a punch. Amalak roars in a computer-like voice! The return of the symbioship?, was the artifact a surviving part of it synthesizing the disease?  Power Girl #2 has some great character moments, action, a bit of horror and Super sections! 

Five Eyeglasses out of Five! 

#PowerGirl, #WorkTrip, #LeahWilliams, #EduardoPansica, #PaigeStetler, #LilithClay, #Omen, #MariposaLujah, #AxelGust, #Kelex, #Amalak

 

Captain America #2 Review!

 Captain America #2 continues the re-launched title with J. Michael Straczynski guiding Cap’s story dipping into his past while a threat grows in his present! Re:cap Captain America #1: Cap takes ownership and repairs on the apartment building connected to his family. Exhausted after an adventure in the Negative Zone with the Fantastic Four, Cap gets a warning to stop a bank robber. He is warned by Seung Kim, an out of work repairman whom he hires to work on the building. In the past, Steve Rogers is given a place from a tip by his friend, Arnie. Two years from Cap’s time, wealthy weapons dealer, Travis Lane searched for Asmoday, one of the Lords of Chaos. It corrupts him and in Bangkok, Thailand, the possessed Lane hires Arianna Walters from Advanced Idea Mechanics (A.I.M.).  

The young Steve is in the park saving his money for a place to stay when he hears about a rally giving out free food and drinks. He gets a sandwich and then in a splash page sees a rally for the German American Bund that also has the Nazi flag! “Taking A.I.M.” features the writing of Straczynski and the art of Jesus Saiz. It sports a cover by Saiz with Cap and Spider-Man leaping across the New York skyline. It picks up from the end of the first issue at the rally, “New York, 1938.” Steve Rogers knows about the hate he has heard over the years. We see in the clouds, the faces of Steve and Cap, below we see the speaker and his uniformed members of the German American Bund. Steve interrupts him mentioning the war crimes. The speaker, smiling, says that it is all propoganda. He says the concentration camps are really work camps. 

Steve speaking out gets the attention of two, uniformed bullies. One mentions that he should go back to his mothe. Steve rolls up his sleeve and then we see an elderly man sitting on a bench. Steve walks past him, bloodied and bruised, pointing out the bullies who are unharmed. Is it Asmoday in diffeent forms checking on Steve?  On a dock of a private island, a contractor is speaking to Travis Lane and Arianna Walters. He has set up labs, computers, and facilities to support a “small army.” He just needs the last payment and Lane says it is in his acount. The man is headed back in a small boat that explodes! In the past, Mr. Antonelli shows Steve the place to rent, a supply closet. Still, it has heating and is cheap so Steve takes it. One of the tennant, Tiffany, tries to ask Mr. Antonelli to fix the toilet, but he walks away.

Steve is left with Tiffany and mentions that he can repair the toilet. He mentions that he is sixteen. Back in the current apartment, Seung Kim brings up the standards his father had working in North Korea and then escaped. Seung says his father taught him to “work with a pure heart” and appreciate beauty. I do like the “Day in the Life” moments with Steve at the apartment, there isn’t superhero action, but there is dramatic scenes. They are interrupted by Spider-Man. Straczynski had an impressive run on Amazing Spider-Man starting with issue #30 (2001). Steve says he has a problem with the eyes of spiders!, funny joke! Spidey is there to ask for help from Cap and Steve bings up that he has a movie date with Sharon Carter. In a series of panels Cap and Spidey wait for the meeting of the Sinister Six. Spider-Man gets a call from Black Cat and finds that Captain America left him. 

At the unknown island base, there are a number of data entry workers, one is a middle-aged man who is concerned about the data; magical symbols and texts on necromancy, the death magic! He thinks they look like shadow equations. This triggers something in him and the man steps off the edge of the building! There is a pinkish possibly a purplish hue on all of the workers. A power of the Lords of Chaos or something like the Purple Man? A parade of the German American Bund walks through crowds angry at them. One them is Steve who sees the two bullies. Inside is the meeting of the host, Rolf, and two well known men; Baron Zemo and Baron Strucker. Zemo is a long time foe of Cap introduced I Avengers #4 (1964) Strucker first appeared in Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos (1964). Strucker mentions the incident that led to Hitler’s rise to power. 

He wants to do something simliar to incident, innocents killed to create sympathy, and not oppose the war. Rolf brings up a place to start the chaos; Madison Square Garden! A sinister meeting of super villains. Rolf may be another form of Asmoday? The mystery of this evil force is like a magician’s trick. I sense that Asmoday might bring in a cameo of Doctor Strange; another character whom Straczynski wrote in the 2004-2005 Strange limited series. Possibly a team up of the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, and Doctor Strange? The appearance of the villain reminds me of the Twilight Zone episode, one of my favorites, “The Howling Man” (1960). Mr. Antonelli meets with Steve at his new room and notes his immigration story like Seung Kim. He knew Steve’s father and gives Steve his father’s medals. Later, Steve’s attention is taken with a cry for help. Two Jewish men are confronted by the German American Bund men. This includes the two bullies, but Steve’s defiance has also inspired others. In the present, the danger of Captain America to the villains is made clear. Captain America #2 is a challenging story covering Steve Rogers and a danger that he encountered in his past!

Five Shields out of Five!  

#CaptainAmerica, #TakingAIM, #JMichaelStraczynski, #JesusSaiz, #SteveRogers, #SeungKim, #MrAntonelli, #TravisLane, #Arianna Walters, #BaronZemo, #BaronStrucker 

 

Re:tro Re:view - Dracula The Return: Cult of the White Worm #1!

Dracula has returned from destruction many times on film, but Dracula The Return: Cult of the White Worm #1 is the “authentic continuation” of Bram Stoker’s novel! “Chapter One” of Cult of the White Worm is by Dacre Stoker, the great grandnephew of Bram Stoker, and Chris McAuley. He co-wrote with Stoker the graphic novel, The Virgin’s Embrace, adapting a Stoker story for the Stokerverse. This is a multimedia universe of stories from novels, comic books, audio books, and more! They are joined by artist, Chris Geary, the creator of Kora: The Complete Adventures #1 (2019). 

The cover by Shane Chebsey has the head of the savage looking Dracula, a white triangle on his brow, soaked in blood with a background of darkness and skeletal remains! This is an adult title in content from Scratch Comics. It begins with the gun battle at the end of Dracula with the hunters, Jonathan Harker, Arthur Holmwood, Quincey Morris, and John Seward against the gypsies protecting Dracula! The crimson sky with the setting sun is great work by colorist Matt Soffe. Geary’s artwork has simple lines, reminiscent of Mark Wheatley’s pencils, but great detail of faces especially dying gypsies! 

Dracula’s coffin is broken open, we see his greyish face shocked and vulnerable. Revenge is taken for Lucy Westerna and also Jonathan strikes for Mina cutting Dracula’s throat! He says, “You will never touch her again.” Dracula turns to glare at Jonathan. Then, he falls and begins to burn. A gruesome death with one eyeball rolling around as his face melts into a skull and then collapses in dust. Quincey, his face bloodied, and his torso mangled, asks if it is over. They are joined by Mina and Abraham Van Helsing. The scar from the sacramental wafer burned into Mina’s brow by Van Helsing fades. Her blue eyes return and Van Helsing reassures them that they are safe. We see the survivors in silhouette walking away. 

A splash page shows the small post and note dedicated to Quincey and his knife in his grave as the others leave. Somber. As they leave, a closeup of the dust of Dracula, gathered up by mysterious hands! We see the spirit of Dracula descend into a cavernous hell with gloomy spirits below him. He is taken into tentacles belonging to elder gods. Very Cthulhu Mythos. We see the bodies impaled by spears and Dracula on his throne. He has commmuned with those elder gods that gave him power. In a splash page, we see a closeup of Dracula holding a globe as he struggles in whip-like tongues capturing him from some gaping mouth. Large shapes with eye-like shapes extend out the eldritch beast, the White Worm. 

The Lair of the White Worm (1911) is a novel written by Stoker. A 1988 film adaptation was made by Ken Russell. A bust of Dracula is in front of the cultists as a ceremony is performed. A gypsy brings a cup of blood. There is the smiling face of what looks like Renfield, very Richard Corben in style. In massive panels the White Worm speaks to Dracula and says he failed the “Great Game.” He was helped by a woman, Mina, under his power and still lost. We see hands reach out of the coils of the beast. Then, a demonic woman with four arms bursts from it! The demon woman sees Mina throw out stakes from a train. Dracula, called “Little Dragon”, asks what he can give to them. 

The cup is offered to Renfield and he pours out the dust while the crowd revels in the ceremony. The gypsy asks Renfield in his robe about the sacrifice and then realizes he is the sacrifice! He tries to say he is from the “line of Dracul”, but in a splash page, his throat is cut with a hand scythe! Dracula is seen by the elder god, a blooby face and wings. It says Dracula will eliminate their enemies and bring them to the dimensional plane. The White Worm says he has to give what is left of his mercy. The combination of the White Worm story with a touch of H.P. Lovecraft and Dracula is weird in the pulp tradition! Dracula the Return: Cult of the White Worm #1 has a dark ceremony that will bring Dracula back to take revenge on his enemies! 

Five Stakes out of Five! 

#DraculaTheReturn, #CultOfTheWhiteWorm, #DacreStoker, #ChrisMcAuley, #ChrisGeary, #MattSoffe, #JonathanHarker, #MinaMurray, #AbrahamVanHelsing, #ArthurHolmwood, #QuinceyMorris, #JohnSeward, #Renfield, #TheLairOfTheWhiteWorm, #KenRussell 

Who are the Brides of Dracula?!

Dracula has been explored with his story tied to an inspiration, Vlad the Impaler, but what is left out is when and why he made his brides vampires! First, we have to go back to Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel. The brides are described by Stoker in Jonathan Harker’s journal, 16 May, as “three young women, ladies by their dress and manner.” It is thought they are nobles, possibly of Dracula’s court. Two of them seem to be from Transylvania, “Two were dark, and had high aquiline noses, like the Count, and great, dark piercing eyes.” The leader, allowed by the others to take the blood of Jonathan, is told, “yours is the right to begin.” She is described by Jonathan pretending to sleep, “The other was fair, as fair can be, with great wavy masses of golden hair and eyes like pale sapphires.” 

The leader appears to be of a different origin than the others, they all speak English, and there are Romanian blonde-haired women. It could be they were from the Transylvanian Saxons that supported Vlad the Impaler. Possibly, she is from neighboring Moldavia which was visited by Vlad. She is defiant to Dracula when he reminds them that he has forbidden them from taking Jonathan’s blood. She says, “You yourself never loved; you never love!” It seems like the leader is saying this like a rejected lover. Which may be why Dracula leaves them at the castle to go to Whitby, England. Later, we find their fate with Van Helsing in his memorandum. He recounts finding their graves and takes their heads turning their bodies to dust. This may be that the brides are actually decades old. 

Still, who are these vampire women? In “Dracula’s Guest” part of the short story collection, Dracula’s Guest and Other Weird Stories (1914). An Englishman who is thought to be Jonathan Harker heads to Transylvania from Munich. He finds a tomb of Countess Dolingen of Gratz who “sought and found death”, in 1801. Lightning destroys the tomb. The novel was published in 1897 so it is possible that the brides are almost a hundred years old! Vlad the Impaler died around 1476 to 1477. He had an unknown first wife. His second wife was Justina Szilágyi, princess consort of Wallachia. It is interesting because we have two women, Lucy Westenra, and of course Mina Murray. 

Still, three wives?, one of the supposed inspirations for Dracula is Elizabeth Báthory, the Hungarian Countess. She said to be a serial killer, called the Blood Countess, who died in 1614. She featured in Dracula The Un-dead (2009), set in 1911, by Dacre Stoker, the great-grandnephew of Bram Stoker. Possibly all noblewomen. In film, Dracula (1931), the actresses, no dialogue are; Geraldine Dvorak, Cornelia Thaw, and Dorothy Tree. Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) had the brides played by Monica Bellucci, Michaela Bercu, and Florina Kendrick. The Brides of Dracula (1960) is a Hammer Film that has Baron Meinster (David Peel) who has turned into a vampire by Dracula. Marianne Danielle (Yvonne Monlaur) is a French schoolteacher who finds herself in the castle. 

The baron kills his mother, Baroness Meinster (Martita Hunt), and then the servant, Greta (Freda Jackson), making them both into vampires. They are confronted by Doctor Van Helsing (Peter Cushing). One of the most developed parts for Dracula’s brides is in Van Helsing (2004). It’s basically Robert E. Howard’s Solomon Kane facing the Universal Monsters. In 1887, Gabriel Van Helsing (Hugh Jackman) heads to a Transylvanian village to confront Verona (Silvia Colloca), Marishka (Josie Maran), and Aleera (Elena Anaya). 

The best exploration of Dracula's brides is from novelist, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, and her series, Sisters of the Night. The first book is The Angry Angel (1998) which features Kelene, daughter of a merchant. A noblewoman, Fenice Zuchar, is the subject of the second book, The Soul of an Angel (1999). Still, the trilogy is incomplete and it would be great to read about the last bride. In 2020, there was a series entitled The Brides that was cancelled. It was to star Gina Torres who would play Cleo Phillips, the leader of the women. The writer/executive producer was Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. He created the Riverdale series. 

I wonder if this show will transform into another form like a television movie. The other stars were Erin Richards, Goran Visnjic, and Katherine Reis. The series was contemporary and did feature Dracula, it would be more fascinating going to the classic setting. Delving back into the origin of Dracula’s brides is interesting. Why he married them as a vampire, over love he had in life?, or to hide his vampire nature? Did he make the leader a vampire and then found the other two women? The story of Dracula’s brides has potential for horror, romance, jealousy, in their dark origins! 

 #BridesOfDracula, #BramStoker, #JonathanHarker, #VladTheImpaler, #DraculasGuest, #CountessDolingen, #JustinaSzilagyi, #ElizabethBathory, #DraculaTheUndead, #DacreStoker, #GeraldineDvorak, CorneliaThaw, #DorothyTree, #BramStokersDracula, #MonicaBellucci, #MichaelaBercu, #FlorinaKendrick, #TheBridesOfDracula, #BaronMeinster, #DavidPeel, #MarianneDanielle 

#YvonneMonlaur, #BaronessMeinster, #MartitaHunt, #Greta, #FredaJackson, #DoctorVanHelsing, #PeterCushing, #VanHelsing, #GabrielVanHelsing, #HughJackman, #Verona, #SilviaColloca, #Marishka, #JosieMaran, #Aleera, #ElenaAnaya, #ChelseaQuinnYarbro, #SistersOfTheNight, #TheAngryAngel, #Kelene, #TheSoulOfAnAngel, #FeniceZuchar, #TheBrides, #RobertoAguirreSacasa, #GinaTorres, #ErinRichards, #GoranVisnjic, #KatherineReis  

Re:tro Re:view - Conan the Barbarian #2!

Conan the Barbarian #2 has the pursuit of an undead army by Conan and his Pict ally, Brissa! The second issue has a cover by Alan Quah which has Conan, scarred with countless wounds, and carrying an axe before fire in the background. “Homelands!” Is the second part of “Bound in Black Stone”! The writing is by Jim Zub and with art by Rob De La Torre. Conan is on his way to return to his homeland, Cimmeria, and ends up in the village, Hauler’s Roam. The village falls under the attack of the undead Army of the Lost. The people were warned by the Pict woman, Brissa. They escape the massacre and Conan want to find refuge in Cimmeria, but Brissa says it is already too late! A splash page starts of the story with Conan and Brissa of the Gurian Tribe. They are taking cove underneath the shadow of two fallen trees. An impressive beginning! 

They have returned the next day to see the village in ruins. A single, turbaned warrior remains and the thralls tear him apart! The violence is not explicit, but is in the style of Conan creator, Robert E. Howad. The thralls have skeleton faces, hair, and bluish skin. The bodies are piled up by the Army of the Lost. It is explained that Brissa saw a simliar scene at her village three weeks ago. The bodies are tied up to be taken away. It must be to be turned into undead by some necromantic master! The corpses are dragged north up a road by the undead Picts. Brissa and Conan leave the cover of the forest to pursue the Army of the Lost. They pursue into the sunset and we see gaping mouths of the undead. Brissa wants to attack them in the night, but Conan says they should track them back to their master. 

The Army of the Lost continues until they are dark figures in the setting sun. Brissa says they are already dead, but Conan says he knows male and female Cimmerians when they are on defense. Conan shows her the sword that he had found in Conan the Cimmerian #0 from Free Comics Day. Brissa sees that it is an ancient Pict weapon and wants it back! He resists her and their argument attracts the attention of a Pict thrall. Conan sees Brissa’s shocked expression. The Pict thrall snarls at him, a touch of EC horror comics!, Conan cuts through his mid-section! Then, he slices upwards ripping apart its entrails, gruesome! This is the imag for De La Torre’s variant cover. Brissa awkwardly thanks Conan and they continue on in silence. It is two days later with the Army of the Lost still dragging the corpses now through snowy Cimmerian hills. 

Conan tracks them through familiar terrain, leading Brissa through a watery ravine, the undead Picts stop to stare at the moon. This gives time for Brissa and Conan to rest. Conan redresses Brissa’s dirty bandages. She tells him about her people who turned away from tribal wars. The wars corrupted the other Picts. Brissa says she feels safe with Conan and takes off her fur coat! They spend the night together. Conan was very passionate in the Howard stories. Brissa also is in the warrior women tradition like Valeria of the Red Brotherhood. Still, they don’t disturb the undead who continue dragging the bodies at first light. Conan is kissing Brissa and they share some pillow where she says Conan is a wanderer. They get dressed and Brissa says that the gods have left the Picts. Conan cares nothing about his god, Crom, and instead Cimmerians are on their own. 

They trek through the snows following the Army of the Lost. There is another village destroyed like Hauler’s Roam. Conan vows revenge for them. He tells Brissa that the undead are headed to a “gathering place.” Conan says that Brissa should warn the Aquilonian capital, Tanrantia, but she says they won’t trust a Pict. His plan is to raise Cimmerian clans to fight the Army of the Lost. Conan and Brissa move through the village with more bodies. The undead are standing around waiting for their orders. An unearthly light appears from the sky and the Army of the Lost raise their weapons and cry in salute. Conan tries to cover his ears as well as Brissa from the sound. 

This brings a vision shown in an epic two page spread! People turned into reptillian creatures, there were Serpent Men who were introduced in the King Kull story, “The Shadow Kingdom” (1929) or Man-Serpents in Conan’s time. This might have some connection to the Stygian god Set. This could be a continuing villain, the wizard, Thoth-amon who Conan finds his symbol in “The God in the Bowl” (1952). We see at either side of Brissa and Conan, rows of people who hurtle themselves off cliffs into what looks like the jaws a skull! Conan has to face former Cimmerians he fought next to and now are part of the Army of the Lost! A strange, bittersweet return home for Conan! There is more savage action in Conan The Barbarian #2 with more clues about the undead army!   

Five Swords out of Five! 

#ConanTheBarbarian, #Homeland, #BoundInBlackStone, #JimZub, #RobDLaTorre, #Brissa, #Conan, #ArmyOfTheLost, #Cimmeria

Re:tro Re:view - Destroy All Monsters!

Today, Godzilla Day, November 3rd, the is no better film to watch than the ultimate Shōwa G-Film, Destroy All Monsters! It is directed and co-written by Ishirō Honda, he directed and co-wrote the first Godzilla (1954), Rodan (1956), The Mysterians (1957) with Moguera, Mothra (1961), then returned to G-Films with King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962), Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964), Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964), Frankenstein vs. Baragon (1965), Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965), The War of the Gargantuas (1966), this movie, and ending the Shōwa era with Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975). 

Eight G-Films, seven other kaiju movies, five sci-fi films, and one tokusatsu superhero movie! The screenplay is by Honda and Takeshi Kimura, who also worked on King Kong Escapes (1967) with Honda. Destroy All Monsters streams on Max. The film begins with a quiet flute, a gong, then a setting sun as we get the score by Akira Ifukube kicking in with a brass blast as the title rolls up! score. Then, we get a closeup of the U.N.S.C. sign; U.N. Science Committee Space Port 2. This moves past a wall to show the space port. The narrator explains that at the end of the 20th century, the UNSC has set up a moon base. 

We see the launch pad in the distance as a helicopter takes off. All miniatures which look great. The narrator says that launches take off daily from Iwo Jima. We see the ship, Moonlight SY-3, at the gantry. The countdown begins, then we see the Moonlight’s rockets and the gantry is pulled back. In outer space, we see the cockpit, a rude closeup of the ship with insert of the set. Then, we hear the “Title Credits” song which is a lively march as we see the spaceship monitored by radar stations as it heads into space. Another narrator picks up the story on an aquaculture project by the UNSC near the Bonin Islands. 

The miniature moves to footage of fish that is near Monsterland island! A helicopter is sent to monitor the island. I like this group more than Monarch in the Monsterverse films. Then, we see Godzilla give out his greeting roar performed by Harou Nakajima. He was the suit actor for the first film and also played Godzilla in Son of Godzilla and King Kong in King Kong Escapes! Kong really is the only kaiju missing from the movie.Then, we see Rodan, the suit actor was Teruoshi Nigaki, bobbing around with his wings spread.  He gives out his screech. A quick pan down to Anguirus (Hiroshi Sekita), the spiky back kaiju.  

Next, we see the larva Mothra plow through the forest and standing around is Gorosaurus (also Sekita) who debuted in King Kong Escapes, he looks like a greenish Allosaurus. Mothra heads out to the beach, Godzilla also goes out to catch some waves, but the narrator says that a containment system is activated for the individual kaiju. A yellow, circular structure sends out reddish sprays. Mothra is driven back, giant moth repellent! Several sea structures send out white sprays at Godzilla’s presence. He roars and turns tail, returning to the island. Rodan takes flight as the narrator explains about the magnetic shield that contains him. 

We see some dolphins that Rodan swoops down on when he is repelled by the shield. The helicopter starts its descent, a hatch opens to an underground tunnel, very James Bond. The narrator notes that it is the command center. On a screen is Minya who is again performed by Little Man Machan, a professional wrestler! Also, there is Manda, the giant snake-like sea dragon from Atragon (1963). Entering the center is Kyoko Manabe (Yukiko Kobayashi). The actress appeard as Android Girl Zero One in a 1967 episode of Ultraseven and also in Space Amoeba (1970). She is greeted by Dr. Otani (Yoshio Tsuchiya) who looks over a model of the island. 

Tsuchiya first worked with Honda on The Mysterians as the Mysterian Leader and also starred in Son of Godzilla. Kyoko gets an off-planet call and goes to a booth that has a round screen. There she sees Captain Katsuo Yamabe (Akira Kubo). Honda first worked with Kubo on Gorath (1962) and he also starred in Son of Godzilla (1967) as reporter, Goro Maki. He is calling from the moon base and tries to ask about Dr. Yoshida when the call is cut off! This worries the base personnel. At Monsterland, the UNSC base has an alarm, the power was shut off. Then, when it is restored, Kyoko points out yellowish gas slipping past the door! 

For some reason, Dr. Otani has the idea to open the door sending the gas to cover everyone! It is also vented into the room! The rest of the island also has the yellow gas affecting Godzilla, Rodan, and Anguirus! Godzilla collapses and Rodan falls on top of Anguirus! In Tokyo, Dr. Yoshida (Jun Tazaki) is monitoring the situation via satellite. Tazaki also starred in Gorath and among his other G-films is Ebirah, Horror of the Deep (1966). Still, the transmission is jammed! Dr. Stevenson (Andrew Hughes) thinks it is sabotage. Hughes played a reporter in King Kong Escapes. Finally, the technicians get a clear image and it is of the devastated Monsterland that has a mountain that shatters into rubble! 

The next signal is an emergency broadcast from the Moscow Broadcasting System. There is a report of Rodan flying over the Ivan the Great Bell Tower tearing it apart! Next, reporting from Paris, as Gorosaurus borrows through the ground and destroys the Arc de Triomphe! A reporter covers the world wide destruction including Mothra in Beijing, Manda attacking London, and Baragon also in Paris. He adds that Godzilla just appeared in New York and uses his atomic breath to destroy the UN building! Reporters are crowding the UNSC to ask how the Kaiju escaped Monsterland and Dr. Stevenson tries to tell them that they are open about the situation. 

Dr. Yoshida is asked why Tokyo was spared, but he doesn’t have any answers. At the moonbase, Moonlight SY-3 launches, and Katsuo detects a flying, black object! They attempt to pursue it, but are recalled back to base. It can only be aliens behind the plot to control the kaiju! In this case, it is the Kilaaks, female aliens in silver capes and swim caps! Their queen is played by Kyôko Ai. Godzilla, Rodan, and Mothra have to take on the Kilaaks, but must first team up to defeat Ghidorah! Destroy All Monsters is a highlight of the Showa era and G-Films, Monster Island, a kaiju showcase, and sci fi flying saucers, aliens that happen to wear silver swimsuits, and even a rocketship! 

Five Fire Dragons out of Five! 

#GodzillaDay, #DestroyAllMonsters, #IshiroHonda, #TakeshiKimura, #AkiraIfukube, #AkiraKubo, #YukikoKobayashi, #JunTazaki, #YoshioTsuschiya, #Monsterland, #Godzilla, #HaruoNakajima, #Rodan, #TeruoAragaki, #Anguirus, #HiroshiSekita, #LittleManMachan