[Updated] Black Cat vs. 3-D Man at Byrnerobotics!!!

I've been a fan of comic book writer/artist John Byrne for too many years to count. After years of indecision over what character to have the chief draw for me, last weekend I posted a thread on his forum, allowing the other board members to choose my commission subject.

Today is the last day to cast a vote, and I thought you might get a kick out of seeing how the second run-off vote played out. It came down to a narrow split between the Black Cat and 3-D Man.

The original list of choices that I posted included: Count Nefaria, Daredevil, Doc Samson, Galactus, Gladiator of the Shi'ar, Human Torch, Sabretooth and the Watcher.

Here is a link to the website and then just look for the thread labeled, "Choose My Commission Subject" in the Forum.

[Updated]: Black Cat emerged as the overall winning pick by a mere two votes.

"Gal" Friday! Dorismar

Argentine model, actress, television host, and singer, Dora Noemí Kerchen, is better known by her stage name, Dorismar.

She was a hostess on the Univisión Network television show Caliente from 2000 to 2006. As a result, she appeared on the cover of Playboy, representing The Sexy Ladies of Latin TV, in March 2003. Sadly, Dorismar and her husband/manager Alejandro Schiff were deported from the United States to Argentina as illegal aliens in 2006. Dorismar contested the deportation in an interesting way, claiming that her "physical attributes" placed her in the category of "alien of extraordinary ability", which she hoped would allow her to seek a special O-1 visa, permitting her residency in the U.S. based upon her "talents".

Although ultimately unsuccessful in her petition, I can't say that I disagreed with her argument. Too bad the INS boys didn't check with me first. I think that we could have made an exception in her case (not so much with her husband).

The Lone Ranger rides again!

I recently asked Sergio Cariello, artist of The Lone Ranger series from Dynamite Entertainment (written by Brett Matthews), to duplicate one of his recent commissions of the Ranger for me.

Today Sergio emailed me a scan of the finished drawing and I just couldn't be happier with it. He really managed to capture the original image that I wanted, and in my humble opinion, he even kicked it up a notch.

Since I've gotta wait on the U.S. Postal service to delivery it to me, I'm posting that image here for you folks to enjoy along with me.

"Hi-ho, Silver, away."

The Phantom's Ward, Rex in "The Captive King" (Indrajal Comics;1975)

In March 1964, the publisher of The Times of India, Bennet, Coleman & Co., launched a new monthly comic book series called Indrajal Comics. The first 32 issues featured Lee Falk's The Phantom stories, but thereafter, the title alternated between various King Features characters, including Mandrake, Flash Gordon, and Buz Sawyer.

This story is from Indrajal Comics #239 ["The Solar Power Station"] (Oct. 1975) stars The Phantom's young ward, Rex and his friend Tomm. I couldn't locate information on who the strips creators were. By the way, the famous "Ghost Who Walks" makes a cameo appearance in the last couple of panels.

The Catacombs is grateful to Don "Zu-Gogo" Falkos for providing the scans for this story. Note: The copyright for this issue, its contents and artwork belong to the original publisher and/or the creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes.

Enjoy!

Rulah Jungle Goddess Meets "The Panther Queen" (Fox;1948)

Rulah Jungle Goddess stars in a classic golden age tale from All Top Comics #9 (Jan.1948); originally published by Fox Feature Syndicate, Inc. Don't hold it against me, but I'm not sure if "Damond" was somebody other than Jack Kamen or Matt Baker, so the art credit on this gem is uncertain.

The Catacombs is grateful to Don "Zu-Gogo" Falkos for providing the scans for this story. Note: The copyright for this issue, its contents and artwork belong to the original publishers and/or the creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes.

Enjoy!

Retro-View: Eerie #6 (Warren Publ.;1966)

Eerie #6 was originally released by Warren Publishing in November 1966 and this fine early issue continued to offer "New Terror in the Creepy Tradition"!" The cover is by the great Gray Morrow.

This issue almost succeeds in being entirely written by Archie Goodwin. Goodwin scripted six out of the seven stories contained within, and he was aided by some of the best illustrators that Warren had to offer.

In "Cave of the Druids" by Archie Goodwin & Reed Crandall, Roman Legionnaire, Marcus Severus is drawn into danger by the siren call of a sultry druidess, and narrowly avoids sacrificial death by turning the tables on her by his own strength of will.

After such a terrific start, we are treated to a tale by Goodwin & Steve Ditko, in which jeweller Lester Darrow finds himself accosted on the street by a seedy bag-man who wants to unload a fabulous gem, but Darrow quickly discovers that a price must be paid by anyone who stares too long into the "Deep Ruby".

Next up is "Running Scared" by Goodwin & Sam Citron (who is billed as “Mark Ricton”) in one of those buried alive derivatives that are so common in the horror genre.

Goodwin & Angelo Torres gets things back on track nicely when an unfortunate officer of the British Crown unleashes "The Curse of Kali"; which details a surprising twist on vampirism by tales end.

"Trial by Fire" is the lone story not written by Goodwin and although credited as "Jay Taycee", the full duties are provided by EC Comics veteran, Johnny Craig. Judge Alfred Harker seems to suddenly cast spells against his will, and his wife knows more about these manifestations than she is letting on, but which of the two will pay for this sin?

As this issue winds to its inevitable conclusion, readers are presented a neat riff on Frankenstein, "Point of View" by Goodwin & Rocco Mastroserio and your host, Uncle Eerie closes out Eerie #6 with "The Changeling" by Goodwin & Gene Colan. Rachel Meredith is having trouble getting used to the people at her new job as Governess for Donald Hazeltine, but she is really unhappy when she finally meets young Donald's real mother.

It's hard to beat these old Warren black & white mags for pure entertainment value, and there really isn't anything even close to what these books had to offer on the stands these days. My suggestion is to exercise a bit of patience and regularly troll eBay for affordable copies.

At the Movies: Kick-Ass

Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson) is a typical high school kid who stumbles through life somewhat under the radar. As a comic book fan with few friends, he lives alone with his father and suffers the normal travails that most geeks can easily relate to.

Having no pressing reason to do so, one day he makes the inspired decision to become Kick-Ass, a superhero with no powers, and he quickly discovers that he may have bitten off more than he can chew. Based on the Marvel Comics series written by Mark Millar and illustrated by John Romita, Jr., this ultra-violent movie pulls no punches and is all the better for having stuck to its creative guns.

The reviews are full of commentary about the full-volume dialogue coming from the mouth of young actor Chloë Grace Moretz (11 years old during filming), and the language involved may actually shock some movie-goers. Blood, gore and ample violence abound throughout, but continuing the trend of comics-to-film adaptations that really do work, “Kick-Ass” proves that this kind of material when taken seriously does lead to an outstanding movie-going experience.

Nicolas Cage makes one of his best film appearances in some time as “Big Daddy”, a former cop who, in his quest to bring down an evil drug lord Frank D'Amico (Mark Strong), has trained his eleven-year-old daughter to be the ruthless vigilante Hit-Girl (Chloë Moretz; who wonderfully steals the movie). Add in very well-chosen young supporting actors Clark Duke (Hot Tub Time Machine), Evan Peters, Lyndsy Fonseca and Christopher Mintz-Plasse as the last of the costumed “heroes”, The Red Mist, and it all adds up to one excellent film.

Yeah, Kick-Ass is courting controversy for its casual use of profanity and violence, but if you are a comic book fan, you’ve simply got to see this movie. Recommended!!!

"Gal" Friday! Anne Hathaway

I thought long and hard over which lovely lady to feature for this weeks "Gal" Friday post, since I also wanted to at least tie into my "Go Ape Shit Week" theme, and then I hit upon a great choice who pleasantly went "ape shit" in a way that we can all appreciate here in the Catacombs.

In 2001, Anne Hathaway made a big screen splash as Mia Thermopolis in the Disney family comedy The Princess Diaries, and over the next three years she continued to star in family films, reprising her role for its sequel, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement and also appearing as the titular character in Ella Enchanted (both in 2004).

In a surprise move, Hathaway was featured in several nude and sexual scenes in Havoc and Brokeback Mountain (both 2005). Although the content of these two films was radically different from her previous films, Hathaway denied that these were attempts to be seen as a more mature actress, citing her belief that doing nudity in certain movies is merely a part of what her chosen form of art demands of her; and because of that belief she does not consider appearing nude in appropriate films to be morally objectionable. Anne Hathaway is my hero!

She has subsequently co-starred with Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada (2006) and she appeared in Becoming Jane (2007) as author Jane Austen. She earned widespread critical acclaim for her lead role in the 2008 film Rachel Getting Married, for which she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress and followed that up with Get Smart. So far in 2010, she has starred in box office hits Valentine's Day and Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland.

Probably no other actress makes sweet & sexy look so easy than Anne Hathaway.

Jo-Jo, Congo King in "Terror of the Lost Maidens" (Fox;1949)

"Go Ape Shit Week" concludes with a tale that has been reprinted several times. Originally seeing publication in Fox Comics series, Jo-Jo Congo King #24 (Feb. 1949) as "The Garden of Lost Maidens", today's story has also appeared in Jungle Drums (Bell Features, 1949 series) #18 (where the first panel was also used as the cover for that issue), in Spook (Star Publications [1949-1954], 1953 series) #29 (where it was retitled: "Spook of the Congo") and finally in Startling Terror Tales (Star Publications [1949-1954], 1953 series) #13 (where it was retitled: "Terror of the Lost Maidens"). The art is attributed to an unidentified member of the Eisner/Iger Shop by the Grand Comics Database.

The Catacombs is grateful to Don "Zu-Gogo" Falkos for providing the scans for this story. Note: The copyright for this issue, its contents and artwork belong to the original publisher and/or the creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes. Enjoy!

Fantomah vs. "The Super-Gorillas!" (Fiction House;1940)

"Go Ape Shit Week" continues with today's classic golden age tale from Jungle Comics #4 (Apr. 1940); originally published by Fiction House. Fantomah, Mystery Woman of the Jungle, stops a mad scientist (called simply "The Doctor" and his cohort, Mac) who have taken control of the gorillas in the jungle by turning them into super-gorillas. This story was reprinted as "You Shall Die by Your Own Evil Creations", by Fantagraphics in 2009.

Although the story is signed as "Barclay Flagg", the actual writer/artist/letterer is Fletcher Hanks. The Catacombs is grateful to Don "Zu-Gogo" Falkos for providing the scans for this story. Note: The copyright for this issue, its contents and artwork belong to the original publisher and/or the creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes.

Enjoy!

Jan of the Jungle in "Kaang's Peril!" (Fiction House;1948)

In the great Indian wilderness, Jan the Jungle Boy encounters many dangers and sometimes he gets a bit testy. He learns a lesson about loyalty to his ape friend, Kaang, in this tale from Rangers Comics #44 (Dec. 1948), originally published by Fiction House.

The story is signed "Coleman Hart", but the excellent art is by Enrico Bagnoli. "Go Ape Shit Week" continues in the Catacombs today and the Catacombs is grateful to Don "Zu-Gogo" Falkos for providing the scans for this story. Note: The copyright for this issue, its contents and artwork belong to the original publisher and/or the creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes.

Enjoy!

PS: I'm a bit bummed today! They blew up Ilana (Zuleikha Robinson) on "LOST" last night and I am gonna miss seeing her spectacular rack bobbling around on mystery island.

White Princess of the Jungle in "King of the Gorillas!" (Avon; 1952)

Yesterday I had a moment of dawning horror, when I realized that I hadn't followed through with my plans for another go round of "Go Ape Shit Week". Blame it on all of the cool comics, original art and stuff that I've been archiving into the actual Catacombs lately. Alas, but better late than never.

Tarinda, White Princess of the Jungle had a short run series with Avon in the 1950's. "King of the Gorillas!" is taken from White Princess of the Jungle #5 (Nov. 1952; the last issue of the series). The nice artwork is by the team of Gene Fawcette & Vince Alascia. The cover is tossed in to appease your wrath.

The Catacombs is grateful to Don "Zu-Gogo" Falkos for providing the scans for this story. Note: The copyright for this issue, its contents and artwork belong to the original publisher and/or the creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes.

Enjoy!