Marga the Panther Woman in "Ivory City" (Fox; 1940)

Marga the Panther Woman stars in “Ivory City” from Science Comics #4 (May 1940); originally published by Fox and illustrated by Emil Gershwin. This story marks the first appearance (and death) of the villain Ishta. The Catacombs gratefully acknowledges "The Digital Comic Museum", as the source of this classic comic story. Note: The copyright for this issue, its contents and artwork belongs to the original publisher and/or creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes. Enjoy!

Catacombs Chillers Presents: "Death Ship" (Star Publ.; 1954)

The Walking Dead premiered to record setting ratings on AMC for its third season opener last weekend, and since I’m really glad to have it back on the tube, Sunday seems like a good day to present another of this years “Catacombs Chillers” courtesy of Ghostly Weird Stories #122 (Mar.1954); originally published by Star Publications. “Death Ship” is written and illustrated by Jay Disbrow. The Catacombs gratefully acknowledges "The Digital Comic Museum", as the source of this classic comic story. Note: The copyright for this issue, its contents and artwork belongs to the original publisher and/or creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes. Enjoy!

"Gal" Friday! Christina Iannelli

 Christina Iannelli is a former NBA courtside dancer/cheerleader (Sixers & Nets) who’s become the new face of “Second Button”, a company that offers custom men’s shirts. When not lifting spirits courtside, she managed a few appearances on  ’SNL’ and ’30 Rock’, scored photo shoots for Esquire, Maxim and Playboy, and was featured in music videos for Timbaland and Chris Cornell. Now, knowing all that jazz is really nothing but a bunch of sauce; just focus on these eye-popping pictures, and go surf the web for more. You’re welcome!

Update: AZ Powergirl [WINNER]!

Sorry for the delay in announcing the name of the person chosen to receive a copy of the AZ Powergirl promo book (signed by her own buxom self) from this years Baltimore Comic-Con. The name that was actually drawn on October 15, 2012 happened to be known personally by me, so this fine individual declined receiving the book with one stipulation, that he be allowed to choose the winner. Thanks to his patriotic photo in uniform standing in front of the Stars & Stripes, Gary Carroll got the nod. Congratulations, Gary! Shoot me your mailing address and the book will be on its merry way before you know it! I extend my appreciation all of the nice folks who tossed their name into the hat. Better luck next time!

2012 Halloween Film Festival: Underworld: Awakening (2012)

Underworld: Awakening is the fourth installment in the Underworld film series, with Kate Beckinsale reprising her role as Selene, a vampire known as a “Death Dealer.” The film series depicts a secret war that has raged for generations between vampires and Lycans (an ancient species of werewolf). Awakening picks up nine days after events in Underworld: Evolution, passing over the third film which was a prequel story for the entire series (minus Beckinsale).  Following a neat intro using news broadcasts detailing how humans have initiated "The Purge", a global military action to exterminate Vampires and Lycans, Selene races to join her lover, the lycan-vampire hybrid Michael Corvin (actor Scott Speedman digitally imposed over a stand-in) at the docks. She arrives just in time to see armed forces shoot Michael, who falls overboard. Selene dives in and just as she reaches him, an ultraviolet light bomb tossed into the sea, explodes between them.

Twelve years later, in 2015, human governments have concluded their campaigns against the vampires and lycans. They have annihilated 95% of the vampire race and believe the lycans to be extinct. Selene is freed from cryogenic suspension and escapes from the medical corporation, Antigen which is trying to make an antidote for the virus that creates vampires and lycans. Selene has strange visions that she believes are linked to Michael. The visions lead her to a building where she discovers a young girl, Eve (India Eisley) who is revealed to be the hybrid that she had been sensing, and the genetic daughter of both Selene and Michael created by Antigen. David, a fellow vampire intervenes after Eve has been injured by the rabid lycans (not as extinct as expected) and is not healing, and he takes her and Selene to his coven. Unfortunately David's father, Thomas, does not welcome them, blaming Selene for provoking the destruction of the vampires. Thomas tells her that Michael died twelve years ago. A vampire woman offers her blood to the wounded Eve, who appears unaware of the effects of drinking it. With Selene's encouragement, she accepts the gift and quickly heals. Almost immediately lycans attack in large numbers, and numerous vampires are slaughtered, dealing a huge blow to the coven as they assume that humans and lycans are now working together. Selene battles a "super lycan", whose body was changed by injections containing Eve's genetic material. After Selene is knocked unconscious during the fight, Eve is turned over to the lycans by Thomas (Charles Dance) in exchange for their departure. Using her ultra-rarefied immortal blood (given to her by Alexander Corvinus in Evolution) to heal the mortally wounded David, Selene tells Thomas that hiding isn’t existing, and she heads out to recover her daughter.

The film was co-directed by Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein from a screenplay partially written by former director Len Wiseman and others, including J. Michael Straczynski. Underworld: Awakening continues the legacy of the earlier films, all of which are basically fun escapist fantasies that allows viewers to simply turn their brains off and have a rollicking good time. All of these movies have made decent money, despite mixed critical reactions, and this film is currently the highest grossing entry of the entire series (which is great since the ending allows for a continuation) and if nothing else it is well worth catching the sexy and always impressive Kate Beckinsale as she issues righteous ass-kicking to hordes of lycans. Recommended!

Jungle Jo in "Valley of the Demon Monsters" (Star; 1952)

Jungle Jo returns in an adventure from Blue Bolt Weird Tales #116 (Dec.1952); reprinted by Star Publications, but originally published as "Forbidden Valley" in Jungle Jo #2 (July 1950) which had been issued by Fox. No story credits exist for the writer or artists behind "Valley of the Demon Monsters" and with that title it’s just got to be dinosaurs, right? Jo might be a lame excuse for a Cold War jungle lord, but this is easily the best looking of his stories that have appeared here. The Catacombs gratefully acknowledges "The Digital Comic Museum", as the source of this classic comic story. Note: The copyright for this issue, its contents and artwork belongs to the original publisher and/or creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes. Enjoy!

Fantomah in "The Cliffs of Doom" (Fiction House; 1943)

Former "Mystery Woman of the Jungle" Fantomah, ditches her original super-powered fright-masked guise and stars in her later "Daughter of the Pharaohs" role in a previously untitled golden age tale that I've labeled "The Cliffs of Doom" from Jungle Comics #48 (Dec.1943); originally published by Fiction House and written by ["W.B. Hovious"] and illustrated by George Appel. 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 belongs to the original publisher and/or creators, and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes. Enjoy!

Torga in "Bride of the Devil-Beast" (Star; 1953)

A new character debuts here in the Catacombs in todays bonus weekend thriller. Torga stars in "Bride of the Devil-Beas​t" from Terrors of the Jungle #7 (Dec.1953); originally released by Star Publications, written and illustrated by the great Jay Disbrow. The Catacombs gratefully acknowledges "The Digital Comic Museum", as the source of this classic comic story. Note: The copyright for this issue, its contents and artwork belongs to the original publisher and/or creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes. Enjoy!

"Gal" Friday! Melanie Iglesias

Click me!

In 2010, Melanie Iglesias beat out 7,000 other girls to win Maxim magazine's annual "Hometown Hotties" competition and was declared one of the world's most beautiful models. She went on to appear on the cover of Maxim, and was listed in their "Hot 100" last year. No less an authority than Esquire also named Iglesias as one of five "Women You Will Be Familiar With in 2012." That being the case, and since I've already promised a full month of beautiful brunettes, I thought that I had better slip her into the Catacombs as this week’s official “gal” Friday. The only other factoid that I’ve uncovered about the delicious Melanie is that she had been dating one of the botards - an academically-challenged individual of sub-marginal intelligence – on the MTV show “Jersey Shore”, but as to which member of this former celebrity "power" couple was truly the least intelligent, I will leave up to your imagination.

Tales of the Mystery Master: "The Web" (Croydon; 1944)

Here is a fun “Thursday Thriller” for you courtesy of Variety Comics #1 (1944); originally published by Croydon. There are no creator credits listed for this story entitled “The Web”, but as a guess only, I sort of see some similarities in the art on this tale to this issues cover illustrator, Marvin Stein. The horror host, The Mystery Master was introduced here, but he did not return until the series third and final issue. The Catacombs gratefully acknowledges "The Digital Comic Museum", as the source of this classic comic story. Note: The copyright for this issue, its contents and artwork belongs to the original publisher and/or creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes. Enjoy!

In Memorium: Alex Karras

Alex “The Mad Duck” Karras passed away today at the age of seventy-seven. He had been suffering from dementia, heart disease and kidney failure. Karras played professional football for the Detroit Lions in the National Football League from 1958–1970; he was suspended during the entire 1963 season for personal gambling infractions. With the Lions, Karras was one of the NFL's most feared defensive tackles throughout the 1960s, a player who hounded quarterbacks and bulled past opposing linemen. After retiring, he became an actor known for his role as the thuggish Mongo in the 1974 comedy film Blazing Saddles, and for starring in the popular ABC sitcom Webster (1983–87) alongside his wife Susan Clark, as the title character's adoptive father. His other noted films include FM, When Time Ran Out, Victor Victoria, Porky’s and Against All Odds. He also appeared in many TV series such as Daniel Boone, Love American Style, The Odd Couple, McMillan & Wife, M*A*S*H and Centennial (mini-series). Karras unfortunate health situation was eerily similar to my own fathers current predicament, so the Catacombs extends its sincerest condolences to his family, friends and fans.

Marga the Panther Woman in "The Return of Uchunko" (Fox; 1940)

"The Return of Uchunko" from Science Comics #3 (Apr. 1940); originally published by Fox and illustrated by Emil Gershwin, features Marga the Panther Woman. Mining this recent online source allows me to post stories that I did not previously have access to, and since Marga is a former Catacombs regular; that is a nice plus. I do admit that this tale irks the hell out of me. You’ll notice that Marga takes a back seat in this adventure to her boyfriend Ted Grant (no relation to the similarly named DC hero, Wildcat) and Ted even gets to utter the final punchline. Me, I would have preferred that Ted die a violent in-story death. The Catacombs gratefully acknowledges "The Digital Comic Museum", as the source of this classic comic story. Note: The copyright for this issue, its contents and artwork belongs to the original publisher and/or the creators and is reproduced here solely for entertainment purposes. Enjoy!