Friday comics, Saturday Morning Horror

[yendi]

I read The Shazam Archives Vol. 2 last night before bed. I cannot begin to tell you how much I love C.C. Beck's art. I truly think he's the best of the Golden Age artists. This volume is particularly amazing, as half is illustrated by Beck, the other half by an up-and-coming kid named Jack Kirby (working with Captain America partner Joe Simon on the stories). And yes, Beck is better (although by the time the Silver Age rolled around, Kirby was the Master). I'm not a huge fan of many Golden Age artists, but Beck was a genius. The stories are also nifty. One thing that I'd like to see Geoff Johns work with is the idea that Billy Batson was never really comfortable giving up his body, and would switch back to human form whenever possible (although one reason for that is, presumably, to increase the risk). Now, he seems to spend way too much time as The Big Red Cheese.

Today's film was Die, Monster, Die!, which is that rarest of film experiences: an enjoyable Lovecraft adaptation. It takes "The Colour out of Space," moves it to England for no good reason, and still makes for a fun movie. Boris Karloff makes any movie worthwhile, of course. This movie also had a moderate influence on one of the shorts in Creepshow. Good fun stuff, although with the same baggage as almost any older horror flick. Surprisingly, it was on Encore: Mystery, instead of one of the channels that I'd associate with true horror.

I then flipped over to the Sci-Fi Channel, where
The Screaming Skull was playing. This was not nearly as good a movie. In fact, without the MST3K guys, it's pretty much unwatchable. That said, as always, Mike and company can take a bad film, and make it all worthwhile.

Now, I'm off to Dim Sum with anexstacy and thebaronofmspg. mmm, food.

Comments

[aussie-nyc.livejournal.com]

Are you suggesting that Re-Animator is not enjoyable?

[unwilly.livejournal.com]

Hehee, up and comer Jack Kirby.

On the Kirby subject I saw one of the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle tv toons, and it was an adaptation of the Kirby themed comic. The team of artists for the toon did a pretty good job imitating Kirby's style.

Two days later I found the comic version that the toon was based on. The art was even better and the story really resonated with homage.

Dang, now I have to go read some Captain America and New Gods.

Un

[yendi]

Oh, it's enjoyable. I'd just suggest that, names of major characters (and movie itself) aside, it's about as far from a Lovecraft adaptation as Howard's End.

[yendi]

What issue of the comic is that? Is it from the new TMNT series, or the classic Eastman/Laird?

New Gods just ruled. Back before John Byrne got ahold of it, that is.

[aussie-nyc.livejournal.com]

Point taken. Worst offender in that regard? Freejack. Based on Infinity Inc, apparently. I think someone read it, described the story to their 6 year old kid, who told someone else at school about it, who told her mum during a rather noisy and stressful dinner party, and a drunk guest overhead half that conversation and made notes on a napkin. With a crayon.

[yendi]

Well, Forrest Gump and The Mask also make good cases as horrible offenders. I think Total Recall takes the cake, though, retaining almost nothing from "We Can Remember it For You Wholesale," while still producing a fun movie.

Re:

[unwilly.livejournal.com]

1986, Donatello 1-shot, Eastman and Laird.

The whole issue is dedicated to Kirby and includes a petition asking Marvel to retunr Kirby's original art work back to him.

UN

[digitaldevil.livejournal.com]

Captain Marvel will always be one of my favorite superheros. When I was younger I was always hoping that I would be chosen to carry the mantle of the 7 Gods and become Cap. Hell, these days I still hope that will happen. *grin*