If this is "Intestinal Horror" then I Want Some More!

NIGHT LIGHT by Chris Burgoyne (2010 / 269 pp. / tp)

A bunch of soldiers rape and massacre the locals of a small town in Indonesia. But their party abruptly ends when the soldiers quickly get picked off...leaving the final soldier to face a strange old woman and some kind of large insect on his own.

Flash forward to Dallas, Texas. Aiming to satisfy his faithful clientel, Sims (the owner of an adult video store called 'Night Light') not only sells the latest in adult videos and novelties, but also keeps a back room area dedicated to the more unusual titles. When a package arrives from Indonesia, he opens it to discover an unmarked video which contains footage of the above mentioned soldier rapes, as well as their graphic slaughter.

But the box also contains something else.

On the same night Sims opens this package, aging adult film star Tassie is on hand to sign her DVDs, and a couple of college girls trying to get into a sorority show up on a dare. Without warning, a trio of demons (led by a baby-eating floating-head, entrail-dragging witch) emerge from Sims' imported package and attack, first by possessing one of the college girls, then by going after the staff ans regulars. It seems no one can even get close to these things without becoming the vitcim of mind control.

Burgoyne's NIGHT LIGHT is a fine example of how a self-published novel can be done the right way: besides the pro-level prose, his trio of creepy creatures causing havock in a clasutrophobic setting works quite well, and most of his characters are memorable, including one guy who is immune to the demons for quite a clever reason, and the aforementioned porn star who the reader will truly care for as her back story is revealed among the ensuing chaos.

With buckets of gore, much suspense, and a satisfying conclusion, NIGHT LIGHT is a solid horror novel that should have little trouble finding its audience.

Curry's Fine Look at the Godfather of Gore

A TASTE OF BLOOD: THE FILMS OF HERSCHELL GORDON LEWIS by Christopher Wayne Curry (1999 Creation Books / 256 pp. / tp)

Back in 1983, I bought a book titled THE AMAZING HERSCHELL GORDON LEWIS AND HIS WORLD OF EXPLOITATION FILMS by Daniel Krogh and John McCarty. And like a true sophomoric moron (I was actually in the 10th grade at the time), I couldn't resist--after several months of reading and re-reading it--cutting out the bloody, rare pictures to hang on my bedroom wall. YES, to this day I want to kill myself, but if the urge to own this book again ever over-takes me I can always order another one on amazon for under 25 bucks. MAN, the world did suck before the advent of household scanners...

Enter author Christopher Wayne Curry, who in his introduction, who, unable to locate a copy of Daniel Krogh's book, ended up writing his own (he actually had contact with Krogh and even HE had given out his last extra copy). I'm assuming this was before Curry heard of online booksellers?--who knows?

Either way, Curry's A TASTE OF BLOOD: THE FILMS OF HERSCHELL GORDON LEWIS is a fine read for fans of the director who may not be able to find a copy of Krogh's 1983 treatment (although, again, I just saw 4 affordable copies on amazon!). While Curry's reviews and tid bits of Lewis' films aren't as in-depth as Krogh's, there's still plenty to be leanred by new comers, and what makes this title worth the moolah for those who read Kroghs book are the extras: There are six lengthy interviews with Lewis, producer David Friedman, actors Bill Rogers, Mal Arnold, and Hedda Lubin---plus one with author/filmmaker Daniel Krogh.

Creation Book's extra-heavy paperstock makes the book feel like a doorstop, although the color picture reproductions on the cover and 8-page middle section are quite lousy (which, in a weird way, is fitting when compared to the quality of Lewis' films). This is easily a must-have for gorehounds and fans of classic exploitation cinema.

(Cover of Daniel Krogh's 1983 underground classic that inspired Curry's book)

Comic Geek Update #4

(The continuing chronicles of a re-born comic reader...)

CONAN THE CIMMERIAN's 24th issue (and next-to-last with this amazing, current team of writers and artists) finds Conan once again becoming head of the band of pirates, only this time one unruly member manages to knock Conan out...thankfully his female companion locates him and helps hack him free just as statute-creatures come to life and waste the swashbucklers. Conan and his girl are about to get off the ill-fated isle when the cover creature (see above) jumps out to stop them...next month's 25th issue will end THE CIMMERIAN's 2-year run, but 2 new series will start soon after (CONAN: ROAD OF KINGS and a re-launch of KING CONAN). With Dark Horse Comics, fans can expect nothing but the best treatment for our Crom-fearing friend.

Meanwhile, DC's bi-weekly zombie superhero series BRIGHTEST DAY delivers a great, personal tale of Martian Manhunter (why he isn't the focus of the cover is anyone's guess, as the Firestorm saga only takes up a few pages). A wicked cliffhanger of an ending ensures BRIGHTEST DAY geeks will be back in 2 weeks without fail. While DC has countless other titles under the BRIGHTEST DAY banner, I've been forcing myself (for financial reasons) to stick with the main one, and so far I haven't been disappointed.

New Column up at CINEMA KNIFE FIGHT

JUST how badly can someone rip off Romero's 1979 classic DAWN OF THE DEAD? Read my latest column to find out: http://cinemaknifefight.com/2010/10/28/suburban-grindhouse-memories-night-of-the-zombies/

GARY NUMAN rocks NYC

When I heard GARY NUMAN (a.k.a. My all-time Favorite Artist) was returning to NYC to do a 30th anniversary tour for his classic album THE PLEASURE PRINCIPAL, I wasted no time getting V.I.P. tickets.

After a seemingly endless wait since learning about this tour, we arrived at the venue (The Best Buy Theater in Times Square) and were escorted to the sound board area where we watched the band do a sound check and perform 3 songs. Afterwards, about 24 other V.I.P. ticket holders were escorted to a private room where we were given tour t-shirts, a DVD, and a laminate guest pass. A few minutes later Gary walked into the room and spent a good 10-15 minutes talking and taking pictures with EACH person in the room (he told me his family may be moving to California soon). That a singer would take this much time for his fans right before a big gig is beyond cool.

After this surreal experience, we were let into the theater a few mins before the "regular" crowd, so my wife, daughter and myself were right in the first row. Opening band BOOM BOOM SATELLITES from Tokyo, Japan did a great set of techno/metal originals, and cult faves RASPUTINA did an interesting (albeit a bit long) set of cello-fueled tunes.

NUMAN's set opened with the instumental RANDOM, then they went into the entire PLEASURE PRINCIPAL album, barely missing a note. The only thing missed from the album was the use of the clap-trap, a digital percussion instrument used to create the famous "robo-smash" sound heard in most of the songs on this album, although the drummer did substitute the splash cymbal for it during CARS, M.E. and CONVERSATION. One of the 3 keyboardists also had a sound similar to it, but there's still no substitute for the clap-trap.

After the 1979 classics, Numan slid his keyboards out of the way and dove into his recent goth-metal originals such as HALO, JAGGED, and the show-stopper, HAUNTED. They also did the classics I DIE: YOU DIE and an amazing version of DOWN IN THE PARK. The 2 encores were ARE FRIENDS ELECTRIC? and A PRAYER FOR THE UNBORN, a track I was never too crazy about until seeing Numan's latest band just KILL it live.

Besides meeting the man himself, hearing CONVERSATION and ENGINEERS performed live was a dream come true for me; I was also surprised that ENGINEERS sounded just like the album, considering its strange marching drum beat and obscure background sounds.

Hopefully Gary will play the states more often if and when he moves here.

Me with Gary Numan @ the Best Buy Theater, NYC, 10-23-10

For a boatload of pics taken at the show, visit my facebook album: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=295105&id=636878627&l=549b29b396

Now THIS is a sequel...sort-of

First thing's first: If you didn't like PARANORMAL ACTIVITY, chances are you're not going to like the sequel. I've been amazed at how many horror fans hated it, causing me to state in my review, "I think people forgot how to use their imaginations."

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 2 actually takes place around the same time of Katie and Micah's ordeal in the first film (hence it acts as a prequel and a sequel). The story centers around Katie's sister, who is just home with a new baby boy. Along with her husband, step daughter, nanny, newborn son, and their pet German Shepherd, they become targets of the violent demon from part one, and a little more background is given as to what's making this thing tick.

There's plenty of jumps, scares, and spookiness going on (much in broad daylight, too), and I like how the film blends in perfectly with part one. I don't know if I would have enjoyed it as much had I not seen part one first, so if you haven't seen either I strongly recommend starting with the original (and if you're already a fan, I'm happy to say the ending is a PERFECT, totally unexpected creep-out).

While it's true that this can be looked at as more of the same as what came before it, it's also true that PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 2 brings the goosebumps like few other sequels before it have.

CD's Special BENTLEY LITTLE Issue

Despite it's dated book reviews (including a look at Bentley Little's "new" novel--although a newer one has come out since), CEMETERY DANCE Issue #64 delivers the goods in a big way for you Bentley Little fans.

For Bentley fans who might have been disappointed with his latest novel, THE DISAPPEARANCE, there's 2 brand new shorts here that show the master back on track: 'The Wheel' is typical old-school Little, which is always welcome, while 'We' is an eerie, weird yarn that will satisfy the author's fans to no end. David B. Silva provides a fantastic interview (featuring a very rare picture of Little at one of his few book signings), while Mark Sieber's 'The Indispensable Bentley Little' gives new readers a fine place to start when choosing a Little novel. Steve Vernon provides an impressive list of Little's published short stories, while Kealan Patrick Burke gives a detailed review of Little's 2009 novel, HIS FATHER'S SON.

Other fiction includes excerpts from King's BLOCKADE BILLY and Brian James Freeman's THE PAINTED DARKNESS. More short fiction comes from Brian Knight, Shaun Jeffrey, Simon Strantzas, and the wonderfully spooky 'The Long Black Coat' by Benjamin Percy.

Although this is a Bentley Little special, my favorite story is the third (and final) installment of Douglas Clegg's novella 'The Innocents at the Museum of Antiquities.' I've waited (what seemed like) forever for this tale to conclude, and it was well worth the wait. Clegg writes with an elegance and style that's second to none, yet still manages to bring on the chills in this gothic, heart-breaking love story.

PLUS there's the usual, informative columns from Bev Vincent, Thomas F. Monteleone, Ed Gorman, and Michael Marano (plus several more) as well as several other articles.

Hopefully CEMETERY DANCE will be released on a more steady schedule, but for fiction this good we shouldn't complain!

Hardcore Horror & Bizarro Collide...

THE PLACE IN BETWEEN by Reverend Steven Rage (2010 LegumeMan Books / 229 pp. / tp)

The three stories presented here are tied to an apocalyptic underground community known as The Harbor (two take place post, while the title tale goes down before all hell breaks loose).

In 'Blood and Bubblegum,' we're introduced to some seriously strange characters who are involved in an ever-growing organic narcotics trade, including protagonist Juan and a fecal-demon that lives in his rectum. This is by far the weirdest entry here, and features a fresh look at vampirism.

'The Place In Between,' shows that a revenge story can be done in a fresh manner: Del's wife Luci is having an affair with her drug supplier, Sancho. Sancho and Luci eventually manage to get custody of the invalid Del, and Sancho uses this as payback time from their navy days (apparently Del had done something to ruin Sancho's career). The story becomes an extreme torture tale, one that made me wince a few times...but Del manages to turn the tables via a Faust-ish deal with a demon. Rage also gives another fresh spin here on ghosts, making this a perfect blend of hardcore horror and bizarro goodness.

In the final piece, 'Bad Notion, Traveling Potion,' we return to The Harbor and learn more about The Good Doctor (responsible for creating drugs and mutants) and his created servant, the scene-stealing hybrid man/chimp, Tugmunkee. This one was a bit of a chore to follow, but in the end Rage brings it all together. While some people in the bizarro community frown upon stories centered around drug use, this one works as the "tripping" scenes are just a side-note to the real weirdness.

THE PLACE IN BETWEEN is gross, disgusting, funny, horrific, and disturbing, yet at the same time it's quite entertaining. Rage writes with his conscience thrown out the window (that is, if he had one to begin with), yet unlike some more extreme stuff I've read, he actually knows how to WRITE a story around the grue. I'm keeping my eye on this guy as he truly lives up to his last name.

Comic Geek Update #3

(The continuing chronicles of a re-born comic reader...)

Dark Horse Comics strikes hard with the premiere issue of METALOCALYPSE: DETHKLOK, based on the popular Adult Swim animated series. We find everyone's favorite death metal band about to unleash their own line of frozen dinners...and some serious hilarity ensues. If this series keeps the humor level this high it's sure to be a big hit.

DC's ongoing zombie series BRIGHTEST DAY continues with another dark segment in the Aquaman/Black Manta war, and the newly resurrected Deathstorm manages to obtain the White Lantern which he uses to bring back a small army of zombie villains thought to have been banished. The struggle between Deathstorm and Firestorm seems to be headed to a conclusion that should be similar to the classic Marvel title, "What if Dark Phoenix had Lived." We'll see.

VERTIGO's retro-looking series i,ZOMBIE continues to be one of the more entertaining titles on the market. In issues 4 and 5, an ancient Egyptian prince/mummy named Amon begins to teach everyone's favorite zombie girl, Gwen, what she has become (and gives her lessons on the origins of various creatures). Meanwhile, the monster hunters manage to get vampire girl Claire (although there's a strange error in issues 4 and 5: in issue 4 she's spiked with a silver knife, yet they bury her in issue 5 with a wooden stake in her heart. Go figure!). Regardless, these two issues read quick and lead nicely into issue 6, which features the origin of Gwen's friend Scott (who's also a "were-terrier."). Scott tells the story of how his grandfather raised him following the death of his parents; when he gets older and leaves home and is bit by a dying terrier, only to have the dog's spirit enter his body and cause him to change into a were-terrier once a month during the full moon. Flashes to issues 4 and 5 are cleverly spliced in-between the narrative. What becomes of Scott's grandfather leaves room for lots of fun possibilities. Michael Allred's artwork is simple but clean, reminiscent of 50s and 60s comics (issue 6 is even printed on retro-styled paper). Lovin' this series to (un)death...

Smart, Funny . . . and Weird

NEW WORLD MONKEYS (2009 Three Rivers Press / 292 pp. / tp)

After reading about this in a 2009 issue of Writer's Digest magazine, I was lured in by the quirky premise: but thanks to my heavy reading schedule, I missed the original hardcover release. The trade edition came out this past September, and I'm glad I finally had the chance to check out Mauro's highly-praised debut novel.

Duncan and Lily have been married 5 years. Already on the verge of separation, Lily decides to spend the summer at an inherited Victorian home in the small upstate town of Osterhagen in order to work on her dissertation. Duncan--recently put in charge of a make-him or break-him ad campaign--plans to visit on the weekends but remain in the city during the week to get the job done.

The tale takes a strange turn right from the get-go when our couple run over a wild boar on their ride upstate. Stuck under the front of their Saab, Lily puts the boar out of its misery with a tire iron when Duncan hesitates to do so. They place the animal in a nearby ditch, and shortly after settling in the new home they learn the boar was actually the town's mascot...and that it has a jealous owner.

While Duncan puts together a controversial ad campaign in the city (he attempts to sell blue jeans using a Vietnam theme and two porn-looking asian models), Lily begins her studies at the Osterhagen library, only to be distracted by a peeping Tom named Lloyd. Fascinated by his techniques, she actually befriends him and begins to join him on excursions. The relationship between these two is the highlight of the novel.

Duncan's growing paranoia about his wife deepens when he attempts to start a gardening project in their new backyard, only to unearth human bones they learn belonged to Lily's great grandfather's nanny: the couple become obsessed with pieceing together the skeleton as well as the story behind it: all the while they're trying to keep their secret of killing the boar under cover, the boar's owner's annoying poodle starts to show up in their back yard, digging around their bone find. Eventually, Duncan takes care of the poodle in an attempt to make up for his mishandling of the boar situation.

With some serious small-town tension that brings several classic horror stories to mind, nearly endless dark and sarcastic humor, and three of the richest characters I've had the pleasure of reading in many moons, NEW WORLD MONKEYS is a love story that's anything but sappy; Mauro cleverly uses odd relationships, unusual situations, and rich symbolism (as well as Lily's past) to study a couple on an uncertain course. The final chapter is a surreal, beautiful end note that had me longing for more.

Even if literary novels aren't your thing, NEW WORLD MONKEYS is a best bet if you're seeking something truly out of the ordinary. I'll most certainly be reading this one again.

(Cover of the 2009 hardcover edition)

A HUNT You Don't Want to Miss

WOLF HUNT by Jeff Strand (2010 Dark Regions Press / 252 pp. / hc)

Despite me not being a big werewolf fan, there's been plenty of good werewolf novels around lately. Jeff Strand's latest is no exception.

George and Lou, two low-level gangsters, are hired to deliver some guy named Ivan from Miami to Tampa to a crime lord. Ivan also happens to be caged. The thugs have been told to be careful because their captive is a werewolf. Naturally, Ivan manages to escape, and what follows is one of Strand's goriest (and, surprisingly, funniest) stories to date (especially if you have a sick sense of humor like me).

What makes WOLF HUNT different from other werewolf novels (at least the several I've read) is Ivan: even before he turns into a wolf (which he can do at will), he's one tough, sarcastic cookie who makes even George and Lou look like two wussies. Getting to know him a bit before his transformation prepares the reader's mind: if this guy is THIS hardcore as a human, just wait till he turns into a monster. And MAN does this SOB get busy in the splatter department...

WOLF HUNT's dialogue is quite funny (just check out chapter three's discussion between New York and Florida animals as well as a few of Ivan's rants) and the use of explosives toward the finale added some classic slapstick to the (nearly) non-stop action (the mention of a "classic Centipede machine" being destroyed almost made me wet my drawers).

Even with all this humor, the scenes of Ivan (in werewolf form) attacking get quite intense and there's several instances where the thrills work quite well.

Cemetery Dance Magazine said (several years ago) that "No author working today comes close to Jeff Strand's perfect mix of comedy and terror." With a large stack of books now under his belt, his latest, WOLF HUNT, continues to make that statement ring true. It's surely one of his all-around best, and the stage is even set for a sequel...

(If you still can't get enough Strand/wolfness after reading this, seek out his hysterical 2006 White Noise Press chapbook titled 'Werewolf Porno/Sex Potion #147.')

DOCTOR HOLOCAUST: A Revisit to My Favorite Euro-Trash Film

When my family bought our first VCR, it was 1983 and I was a high school sophomore. The first two films I had rented were BLOOD FEAST (1963), and DOCTOR BUTCHER, M.D. (1979), that was released to DVD a few years ago under the title ZOMBIE HOLOCAUST. I remember asking the owner of my local video rental store, "What's the grossest horror film you have?" Without hesitation, he pulled DOCTOR BUTCHER off the shelf and handed it to me. Suffice it to say, he wasn't kidding. The blood flows like a broken dam in this Euro-sleaze-fest that had my brother and I glued to the screen for repeated viewings.

The aforementioned DVD release (from Shreik Show in 2002) quickly sold out, but I managed to find a copy at this past September's HORRORFIND convention in Pennsylvania. Having not watched for at least 20 years, I recently got around to popping the disc in.

The only thing that bothers me is the "new" beginning; in the DOCTOR BUTCHER version (which was the official American cut of the film), the opening title sequence featured an eerie graveyard scene that was taken from an unreleased film titled TALES THAT'LL TEAR YOUR HEART OUT (google it---it's an interesting story). The music was also quite spooky, and the boring opening credits on the new ZOMBIE HOLOCAUST edition just don't cut it in my opinion. But then again, this is how it was seen throughout the rest of the world.

Shriek Show's DVD is very well done, and includes (as extras) an extensive stills and poster gallery and an unintentionally humorous interview with FX man Marizio Trani, where he admits to never even seeing the finished film!, and also scenes from the film used for the American release.

Watching it again after all these years was a real trip; the sheer brutality of the gore scenes border on the absurd, the Doctor's low-tech lab (that's actually the inside of a large shed on an island) had me cracking up, and the English overdubbing is as pitiful as any Godzilla film. I believe every horror fan (especially zombie completists) should see this at least once; it's another fine example of why 1979 was such a great year for horror films.

If you've never seen it, DOCTOR BUTCHER (or ZOMBIE HOLOCAUST) is basically a Third World Cannibal film, only instead of just "tribal jungle cannibals" you get doctor-created mutant zombies running all over the place, PLUS one of the easiest-to-look-at leading ladies ever to grace a Euro horror film (the lovely Alexandra Delli Colli) who spends most of the final 20 minutes buck naked.

Also: DOCTOR BUTCHER contains THE greatest use of an outboard motor in cinematic history.

ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK!

Despite this cheap eye-gouge effect, it's still kind-of hard to watch.

What happens when a zombie gets too close to an outboard motor

The beautiful Alexandra Delli Colli as Lori Ridgeway

Star Ian McCulloch would return a year later in Lucio Fulci's ZOMBIE, but DOCTOR BUTCHER's where the real action's at

Donald O'Brien as DOCTOR BUTCHER. Piss him off and he has no problem removing your scalp (or your vocal chords)

The DVD cover for SHRIEK SHOW's 2002 release

The classic PARAGON VHS case cover, circa 1983

McCulloch protecting Colli with outboard motor

Star Ian McCulloch with me and my buddy Chris at the CHILLER THEATRE expo, Parsippany, NJ. 4/2009

A Nice, Quick Thriller...

VERMILION DRIFT by William Kent Krueger (2010 Atria Books / 305 pp. / hc)

This is the 10th novel from Krueger featuring private investigator Cork O'Connor (a former sheriff), but the first I've read. I'm always weary coming into a series late, but thankfully Krueger gives much back info on O'Connor and for the most part I didn't feel lost for a second.

Still recovering from the murder of his wife, O'Connor is hired to look into threats being made against a mine that the government is planning to store nuclear waste in (the mine is named Vermilion Drift). While checking the mine out, he discovers 6 dead bodies; 5 turn out to have been dead for over 40 years, but one is the body of a woman he had also been hired to locate. The plot thickens when it's discovered two of the corpses have bullets in their heads that came from a gun O'Connor had inherited from his father.

VERMILLION DRIFT is a decent thriller, and a very good mystery. There's plenty of twists and several times the story went where I least expected it. Add a plus for a couple of very suspenseful scenes, as well as a well done ending. Krueger's prose is quick and clean, and also a bit more literary than much of what's found in your standard mainstream thriller.

BLACK STATIC No. 18: Another Keeper

The 18th issue of the UK's BLACK STATIC magazine continues to be one of the best horror fiction magazines on the market (it's been showing up at American Barnes & Noble stores lately, so now you have NO excuse not to check it out).

After another great film column from Stephen Volk, as well as a continuation of Christopher Fowler's 2nd installment of a short story competition (the second set of winning 10 shorts are printed, too), we dive head-first into this issue's 5 fiction pieces, and as usual there isn't a sour one in the bunch. Nina Allan's opening aquatic offering ORINOCO will make you look at angelfish in a whole new way, Carole Johnstone's BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE gives a nice look at one woman's paranoia, and Simon Kurt Unsworth's A MAN OF ICE AND SORROW is one of the creepiest snowman-themed stories I've read in quite a while. Nicholas Royle's THE OBSCURE BIRD is a standard yet very well told tale of a woman who discovers why her husband's been acting so weird at night, and Mercurio D. Rivera's TU SUFRIMIENTO SHALL PROTECT US deals with a man trying to understand the annoying sounds that continue to disturb his apartment, complete with an unexpected conclusion.

Then comes the review sections, which I always turn to first. Peter Tennant delivers yet another fantastic interview, this time with author Adam Nevill, then gives us another batch of in-depth book reviews, including Ellen Datlow's LOVECRAFT UNBOUND and one I'm now looking forward to titled DECAY INEVITABLE by Conrad A. Williams. The DVD reviews take up 7 pages and cover most recent releases.

All this, and one wickedly disturbing cover, too. Seriously...why aren't you reading this yet? Info at http://ttapress.com/

Comic Geek Update # 2

(The continuing chronicles of a re-born comic reader...)

I've been seeing this title for years at my local comics joint, but had only read one issue over the years. I couldn't resist picking up this reprint of the first issue (from 2003), especially since Dark Horse Comics released it for just a buck.

I can now see why artist & writer Eric Powell has won awards and much praise for this series. After a brief origin (Goon's an orphan being raised in a circus by his aunt, until a mobster kills her, setting our hero on his life path), we're off on Goon's first adventure, which features zombies, grave diggers, gangsters, creepy mongoloid brothers, a hobo jungle (!), and a few other strange characters, all wrapped around a nice retro-looking design.

Big mistake here (financially): I'm surely going to be looking for some GOON back issues or collections. This is addictive, top notch story telling that's very hard to put down.

DC Comic's bi-weekly post-zombie series BRIGHTEST DAY hits a magical mark with the 10th issue. There's been just WAY to much going on here to recap in a respectable length, so do a little googling if you're interested.

This time, Firestorm learns that he and Ronald, when together, have the ability to agitate the actual spark that created the original Big Bang and just may be able to trigger another one (remember folks, this is only a comic---don't panic!). Somehow the scientist working with Firestorm has managed to capture that spark and is studying it.

Meanwhile, Aqualad learns his parents aren't who he thought they were, and a genuinely creepy meeting with Black Manta and Siren goes down almost like a horror story; Aquaman shows up in the nick of time, meanwhile Firestorm turns back into the creature he had become in the DARKEST NIGHT series. Issue 11 can't come fast enough.

BRIGHTEST DAY is a fine example of why this 42-year old man is still a comics geek.

I have NO IDEA whatever happened to the 2nd issue of DYNAMITE Comic's adaptation of THE WARRIORS, but I was glad to track down the 3rd issue (and yeah---that cover is KILLER!).

If you're not a fan of the film, you probably won't care for this as it's a scene-by-scene adaptation. If you ARE a fan of the film, you'd better be a HUGE fan because there's nothing new here. Hence, unless you LOVE your Warriors, you're not missing anything. MY main gripe with the series is how dark the artwork is. There has to be another way to capture the look of night time without making the reader go blind in the process.

Until next time...

One of the BEST of 2010

PRETTY LITTLE DEAD THINGS by Gary McMahon (2010 Angry Robot / 312 pp. / tp)

Thomas Usher is the survivor of a car accident that claimed the lives of his wife and daughter. Now it's fifteen years later, and since the accident he's been given the ability to see and receive subtle messages from the dead. In constant grief and attempting to understand his supernatural abilities, Thomas is called to investigate the disappearance of a gangster's daughter...and it leads him on a dark adventure through multiple realities (or "levels") that lead to one gut-wrenching, heart-breaking, intense finale.

McMahon's ghosts are half human/half spirit beings looking to make their way through the afterlife; Thomas Usher is known as an "Usher" as he guides certain souls on their path. In PRETTY LITTLE DEAD THINGS, he also comes face to face with a being that could be a spirit, or a demon, or one that has yet to be discovered, and it's a being whose unpredictability makes this novel nearly impossible to out down.

A strong cast (including Usher's tattooist go-to buddy and his law connection, Detective Inspector Tebbit) makes this novel shine, while a new, complicated relationship between Usher and his one-time mistress named Ellen ads even more depth to an already deep tale. One scene, dealing with a paranormal con-artist, is a highlight of Usher's investigation.

The entire tone of this novel managed to get under my skin; it's constantly dark with nearly every scene filled with dread and impending doom. McMahon's atmopshere is fantastic, thanks to his partially-poetic (and well-timed) prose. While there's a few scenes of well-placed (and graphic) violence, it doesn't distract from the dark fantasy feel (and in fact manages to increase it).

PRETTY LITTLE DEAD THINGS is one of those novels that you don't want to end. You want to follow Usher on his journey, and hopefully he'll be back to help guide more spirits on their way. This one's a keeper and easily one of my favorite horror novels of 2010.

(NOTE: This book will be available in the US and Canada in January, 2011. It will be released in the UK and Australia in November, 2010).