No, that’s not Gwen Stacy’s new band name – this Week Before Halloween sees new Diamond Select Toys items shipping to comic shops, including our highly anticipated Spider-Gwen statue and two new Nightmare Before Christmas dolls!

Read on for more details, then reserve yours at your local comic shop, or order from your favorite online retailer!

Marvel Premier Collection Spider-Gwen Resin Statue

A Diamond Select Toys release! Gwen Stacy, the Spider-Woman of Earth-65, is taking the Marvel Universe by storm, whether she’s fighting alongside other spider-heroes against the Inheritors, or playing with the Mary Janes in a battle of the bands! This 12-inch scale statue of the unmasked “Spider-Gwen” shows her alighting on a pillar, preparing to shoot a webline while balanced on one foot. Sculpted by Clayburn Moore, this resin statue is limited to an edition of 3,000 pieces, and comes packaged with a certificate of authenticity in a full-color window box.  (Item #APR162612, SRP: $150.00)

Nightmare Before Christmas Collection Dolls

A Diamond Select Toys release! Expand your Halloween Town doll display with three new releases in the Nightmare Before Christmas Collection! Ranging in height from 9 to 12”, these detailed, articulated dolls each feature real fabric costumes and look as if they just stepped off of the big screen. The Mayor of Halloween Town measures 12 inches tall (with hat), has a rotating head to display both of his facial expressions, and comes with an interchangeable megaphone-holding hand. Sally’s creator Dr. Finkelstein measures approximately 9 inches tall, sits in a wheelchair with rolling wheels, and has an opening head and removable brains! The Mayor and Dr. Finkelstein are packaged in full-color window boxes. The perfect gifts for any Halloween lover!

• Dr. Finkelstein Collection Doll (Item #APR162622, SRP: $49.99)
• Mayor Collection Doll (Item #APR162623, SRP: $49.99)

Also Shipping:

Gotham TV Select 7” Action Figures Series 3 Asst.

A Diamond Select Toys release! Prepare to feel the wrath of the villains! Bruce Wayne joins the Gotham Select action figure line just in time to be menaced by the combined villainy of notorious enforcer Mr. Zsasz and Jim Gordon’s ex-fiancee, the murderous Arkham inmate Barbara Kean! Bruce comes with a bookcase form Wayne Manor, while Zsasz comes with an alleyway diorama with dumpster and Barbara comes with the entrance to Arkham Asylum! Each 7-inch scale action figure features up to 16 points of articulation, and comes packaged in display-ready Select figure packaging with spine artwork for easy shelf reference. Sculpted by Gentle Giant! (Item #MAY162396, SRP: $24.99/ea)

Marvel Deadpool Deluxe Glue Model Kit

A Diamond Select Toys release! It’s time to make your own Merc, with the first official do-it-yourself model kit of Deadpool! Standing approximately 8 inches tall, this detailed sculpture of Deadpool depicts him standing on a battlefield littered with unexploded bombs, and includes an alternate head so you can display him masked or unmasked. The plastic parts come unpainted — you paint and assemble them yourself with glue, so you decide how the final piece will look! Comes packaged in a full-color box; paint and glue not included. Sculpted by Paul Harding! (Item #JUN162393, $34.99)

Marvel Gallery Deadpool PVC Figure

A Diamond Select Toys release! The Merc With a Mouth is now a Merc of Art! Joining the Marvel Gallery line of figures, Deadpool leaps from an explosion, wielding twin katanas, to become the latest dynamic display piece to spring out of the Gallery series! Cast in PVC plastic with high-quality paint applications, Deadpool joins Lady Deadpool, Captain Marvel, Thor, and Ant-Man in the 9-inch scale figure line, and is in scale to all Gallery and Femme Fatales figures. Packaged in a full-color window box. Sculpted by Jean St. Jean! (Item #JUN162394, SRP: $45.00)

Find a comic shop at comicshoplocator.com!

• The Bob Hope Chevy Show — Original Air Date: October 21, 1956
• A Bob Hope Comedy Special — Original Air Date: September 27, 1963
• A Bob Hope Comedy Special — Original Air Date: December 15, 1965
• Chrysler Presents A Bob Hope Comedy Special — Original Air Date: October 19, 1966
• Chrysler Presents A Bob Hope Comedy Special — Original Air Date: February 15, 1967
• The Bob Hope Christmas Special — Original Air Date: January 18, 1968
• Highlights of a Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television — Original Air Date: October 24, 1975
• Joys (A Comedy Whodunit) — Original Air Date: March 5, 1976
• Bob Hope’s World of Comedy — Original Air Date: October 29, 1976
• Texaco Presents The Bob Hope All-Star Christmas Comedy Special — Original Air Date: December 19, 1977
• The Hilarious Unrehearsed Antics of the Stars — Original Air Date: September 28, 1984
• Bob Hope: The First 90 Years — Original Air Date: May 14, 1993
• Bob Hope…Laughing with the Presidents — Original Air Date: November 23, 1996 

And we’re giving away 3 copies!

To enter, please send an email with the subject header “HOPE MEMORIES” to geekcontest @ gmail dot com and answer the following:

How many ‘Road’ movies did Bob Hope film with Bing Crosby?

Please include your name and address (U.S. Residents only. You must be 18 years old).

Only one entry per person and a winner will be chosen at random.

Contest ends at 11:59 PM EST on November 13th, 2016.

Free Comic Book Day actually comes twice a year, and tomorrow, October 29th, the day wraps itself in gauze and dabs black makeup around it’s eyes.

That’s right, Halloween Comic Fest 2016 is here, at your participating LCS. Be sure to find grab bags of goodies, some Smarties and other healthy tricks at your local comic book store and as always, buy something, even a little thing to help out the store. Lots of stores have their own costume contests and more. Be sure to check with your store to see if they are participating or if they may have something else fun in store for the whole family!

And remember, kids, just like the speed limit, obey your store’s limits for free comics. If you are in an urban area riddled with comic shops this may be your opportunity to hit up more than your regular shop to be able to ‘collect ’em all’!

We’ve made some selections of Halloween Comic Fest 2016 books, labeled in creepy categories that have never seen the light of day, until now! Perhaps they were meant to be hidden forever! Klaatu Barada Nikto!

BEST COMIC FOR THE WALKING DEAD FAN
Afterlife with Archie Season 2 (Archie Comics
)

ZOMG! I can’t believe BLANK got BLANKED with a BLANK on this week’s The Walking Dead!

Almost as much as I can’t believe Archie has been publishing a daring ZombieVerse Riverdale comic from artist Francesco Francavilla and writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. Zombie Jughead. That is all!

BEST COMIC FOR THOSE MEDDLING KIDS
Scooby Apocalypse and Hanna Barbera Preview Edition (DC Comics)

DC is doing a strange thing, and the strangest of strange is having Jim Lee redesign Shaggy with a hipster, pour-over coffee, mixologist curly mustache. The reimagining of the original Scooby Gang (thanks, Buffy)! isn’t half bad. And while you are at it, go ahead and buy an issue of The Flintstones. It’s just messed up (in a good way).

BEST COMIC FOR GOOD GIRLS AND BOYS
DC Super Hero Girls #1 (DC Comics)

It’s not quite making a list and checking it twice time yet, but it may be time to think about holidays and plotting a path toward righteousness. DC Super Hero Girls teaches lessons about teamwork and is a lot of fun!

FOR THE BRONIES
My Little Pony The Haunted Dungeon (IDW Publishing)

Shining Armor and Twilight are led to King Sombra’s dungeon…of Doom! Be sure to add this to your completionist My Little Pony collection, you freaks (kidding, we love MLP)!

FOR YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-FAN
Spidey #1  (Marvel Comics)

Our third modern movie Spider-Man, Tom Holland, delighted audiences with his ‘metal arm’ quips and genuine youthfulness in Captain America: Civil War this year. Robbie Thompson and Nick Bradshaw (no those aren’t Peter Parker’s friends)! are the creative team for this high-school version of Spider-Man that is super fun! Perfect for you or your aunt, no matter how young she looks!

FOR PEOPLE THAT SCREAM “AW YEAH” ALL THE TIME
Peach and Isle of Monsters Mini Comic (Aw Yeah Comics
)

Franco (Itty Bitty Hellboy, Tiny Titans) and Agnes Garbowska (My Little Pony) team up for Aw Yeah’s offering this year, a neat little tale about a girl with a big secret! Aw yeah, monster secret identity!

FOR THOSE THAT READ A COMIC ONCE, AND IT WAS AWFUL
Grumpy Cat Halloween Mini Comic (Dynamite)

Grumpy Cat and Pokey go on a Halloween adventure on a bet. Will Grumpy Cat have to endure a humiliating Halloween costume? You’ll have to read it to believe!

FOR THOSE WITH CHAINSAW HANDS
Evil Dead 2 – Dead By Dawn #1 (Space Goat
)

This Certified Groovy™ comic starring Ash has everything you want, undead monsters, a cabin in the woods, and even a trip to hell. Put on your best blue shirt and get ready to party!

FOR THOSE STILL PLAYING POKEMON GO
Pokemon XY Pocket Comics (Viz Media
)

Collect ’em all. Be sure to read this comic on the sidewalk while staring down and not looking where you are going.

There are more titles, of course. Pick and choose your favorite and have a fun and safe Halloween from Forces of Geek!

After several months of a veritable Netflix feast, November appears to be a bit of a famine, with slim pickings all the way around…except for the Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life! Rory! Lorelai! Luke! Emily! Kurt! Oh, how I’ve missed you. Hell, even you Logan. Sort of. Whatever.

If you are not a Gilmore fan, then it will be some slim pickings around Turkey Day. While the original schedule is still growing strong, there is very little of anything else. Nothing but a handful of straight to Netflix pics, a few key horror pics, a smattering of World War II docs and a saving grace from the 2013 Disney deal. The rest is filler.

Sorry, folks. But looks like Hulu wins this round.

NOVEMBER  1

The African Queen (1951)

Oscar-winning drama starring Golden Age heavyweights Katherine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart as a Bible-thumping missionary forced to endure the antics of a drunk, slightly crude riverboat captain as her offers her safe passage on his vessell.

Alfie (2004)

Jude Law steps into the role Michael Caine made famous, but will slightly less appeal.

Bob the Builder: White Christmas (2008)

Bob and the Can-Do Crew save Christmas.

Candyman 2: Farewell to the Flesh (1995)

Fans of the urban legend learn his origin story which includes love, torture, good old Southern hospitality (1800s style) and of course, bees.

The Confessions of Thomas Quick (2016)

Documentary on Sweden’s most notorious serial killer, Sture Bergwall, who hunted in the ‘90s and is thought to be responsible with over 30 murders.

Cujo (1983)

In the Stephen King classic, a giant Saint Bernard with rabies traps a mother and her son in a beat-up grocery go-getter with a bum engine.

The Doors (1991)

Val Kilmer steps inside the skin of the Lizard King in this Oliver Stone portrait of the ‘60s band.

The Heartbreak Kid (2007)

Ben Stiller plays a man who can’t commit to a single woman, but when he finally mans up and marries, he finds out too late he picked the wrong gal.

Jetsons: The Movie (1990)

The family of the future from the ‘60s made a movie in the ‘90s.

Did everyone know about this? Why am I just now finding out about this?

King’s Faith (2013)

Teen attempts to turn a new leaf only to find out that his past won’t let him move on.

Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You (2016)

Documentary that takes a deep dive into the career of legendary TV producer.

Pervert Park (2014)

Documentary on Florida Justice Transitions trailer park, home to over 100 sex offenders attempting to work their way back into normal society.

Ravenous (1999)

Mediocre cannibal movie starring Guy Pearce, Robert Carlyle, Jeffrey Jones and David Arquette.

Stephen King’s Thinner (1996)

If movies have taught me anything, it’s don’t mess with gypsies.  In this movie, a lawyer’s curse turns him into Slenderman.

Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990)

Fun little horror anthology featuring mummies, hit men and struggling artists. A campy little classic

Thomas & Friends: A Very Thomas Christmas (2012)

Thomas & Friends: Holiday Express (2012)

Thomas & Friends: Merry Winter Wish (2010)

Thomas & Friends: The Christmas Engines (2014)

Thomas & Friends: Ultimate Christmas (2009)

Small children and drunk adults who pass out in front of the TV and lost the remote control three hours ago learn about the magic of Christmas.

NOVEMBER  2

Dough (2015)

A Jewish baker and his Muslim assistant find massive success when they start adding marijuana to their wares.

Food Choices (2014)

A documentary about the crap food you are currently eating while reading this list.

Meet the Blacks (2016)

A parody of The Purge that you never saw coming. Or wanted.

NOVEMBER  4

The Crown  (Season 1, Netflix Original Series)

“This drama follows the political rivalries and romance of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign and the events that shaped the second half of the 20th century.”

Dana Carvey: Straight White Male, 60 (Netflix Original)

“Emmy-winning comedian Dana Carvey blends pitch-perfect takes on big personalities with so-true-it-hurts stories from his life as a dad of millennials.”

The Ivory Game (Netflix Original)

“Filmmakers infiltrate the corrupt global network of ivory trafficking, exposing poachers and dealers as African elephants edge closer to extinction.”

Just Friends (2005)

Remember when Ryan Reynolds wasn’t Deadpool?

Those were dark times, my friends.

World of Winx  (Season 1, Netflix Original Series)

“The reality show “WOW!” engages the Winx in their mission, starting an undercover, worldly journey in order to make talented kids’ dreams come true.”

NOVEMBER  9

Danger Mouse (Season 2, Netflix Original Series)

“The world’s greatest super-spy returns to save the world with the help of hapless hamster Penfold and a collection of state-of-the-art gadgetry.”

NOVEMBER  11

All Hail King Julien (Season 4, Netflix Original Series)

“In this Emmy winner for Outstanding Children’s Animated Program, Madagascar booty-shaker King Julien takes on the jungle’s craziest adventures.”

Tales by Light  (Season 1, Netflix Original Series)

“This series follows in the footsteps of five adventurous photographers as they travel around the world for their craft. Shot in 15 countries over the course of one year, Tales by Light is an insight into what it takes to capture images that tell powerful stories.”

True Memoirs of an International Assassin (Netflix Original)

“After his publisher markets his crime novel as a memoir, a novice author (Kevin James) finds himself forcibly recruited into a deadly political plot in Venezuela.”

Under the Sun (2015)

Documentary on the North Korean propaganda machine that attempts to make its deteriorating world look like a paradise to outsiders.

NOVEMBER  12

Take Me to the River (2015)

A gay teen is accused of abusing in little cousin while attending a family reunion in Nebraska.

NOVEMBER  13

Chalk It Up (2016)

Apparently, the Bring It On franchise ran out of steam, so they moved on to gymnastics.

NOVEMBER  14

Carter High (2015)

Based on a true story that isn’t Friday Night Lights, a Texas team sets its sights on the championship.

NOVEMBER  15

Dieter Nuhr: Nuhr in Berlin (Netflix Original)

The German comedian from @Midnight gets his own special.

Men Go to Battle (2015)

Brothers struggle to hold together their family legacy as they take opposing sides in Civil War.

The Missing Ingredient: What is the Recipe for Success? (2015)

What makes one restaurant a hit and another a flop? A look into the restaurant biz with a study of an eatery that borrowed the aesthetics of a one-iconic restaurant to help boost its business.

NOVEMBER  16

Burn After Reading (2008)

The Coen brothers’ dark comedy that proves even the Coen brothers can’t always be on the ball.

Jackass 3.5: The Unrated Movie (2011)

Johnny Knoxville proves yet again that if you get hit in the testicles enough times, Hollywood will eventually make you a star.

Paddington (2014)

The adorable little bear in a raincoat gets the live action treatment.

NOVEMBER 17

Lovesick  (aka Scrotal Recall) (Season 2, Netflix Original Series)

“In his quest for true love, Dylan found chlamydia. Joined by friends Evie and Luke, he relives past encounters as he notifies all his former partners.”

NOVEMBER  18

The Battle of Midway (1942)

John Ford’s documentary on the naval battle to take a strategic location in the Pacific Theater during WWII.

Beat Bugs (Season 2, Netflix Original Series)

“With songs made famous by the Beatles, five friendly bugs learn big lessons about the world around them — all from the safety of their own backyard.”

Colin Quinn: The New York Story (Netflix Original)

“The SNL veteran performs his off-Broadway show about the history of New York and the people who shape its personality. Directed by Jerry Seinfeld.”

Divines (2016, Netflix Original)

“A shrewd teenager and her wisecracking best friend plan to get rich or die trying by following in the footsteps of a flashy female drug dealer.”

Prelude to War (1942)

Part one of Why We Fight, a WWII propaganda film created by Disney, directed by Frank Capra and narrated by John Huston to help convince soldiers to fight for America. Watch it. You need this history lesson.

San Pietro (1945)

John Huston’s documentary on the World War II battle in Italy in which over 1,000 American soldier fought and died.

Sour Grapes (2016)

The docu behind a con artist who swindled millions from a wine scheme.

Thunderbolt (1947)

James Stewart narrates this WWII doc about the aerial attack against Axis powers in Operation Strangle.

Tunisian Victory (1944)

Doc on the Allied Forces attack on German in North Africa.

Undercover: How to Operate Behind Enemy Lines (1943)

John Ford’s look into the spying with the first pic to ever offer a how-to.

Why We Fight: The Battle of Russia (1943)

Another chapter in the Frank Capra propaganda series, this time focusing on the Battle of Stalingrad and the history of Russian and American relations.

NOVEMBER  22

Mercy (2016, Netflix Original)

“Two brothers clash with their half-siblings when a visit home to see their dying mother surfaces old secrets and becomes a fight for survival.”

NOVEMBER  23

Penguins: Spy in the Huddle

Cameras follow nature’s poshest birdies around for a year.

NOVEMBER   25

3% (Season 1, Netflix Original)

“In a post-apocalyptic world cruelly divided between progress and devastation, you only get one chance to improve your lot — and only 3% will succeed.”

Boyhood (2014)

Richard Linklater’s coming-of-age drama that follows Mason Evans, Jr. as he ages from six to 18.

Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life (Netflix Original)

“Three generations of Gilmore women grapple with change and the complicated bonds of family during one year in Stars Hollow.”

Michael Che Matters (Netflix Original)

The SNL Weekend Update co-anchor and former Daily Show correspondent brings down the house with his laid-back comedic style, live from Brooklyn.

NOVEMBER  29

Silver Skies (2016)

Old people prove they are not dead yet as they fight off a big, bad landlord. Hijinx ensue.

Think Batteries Not Included sans the adorable aliens…

NOVEMBER  30

Ghost Team (2016)

Amateur ghost hunters head out to a creepy farm. Scares ensue.

I Dream Too Much (2016)

Coming-of-age drama chick flick about a college grad forced to take care of Diane Ladd. Exec produced by Richard Linklater, but still just meh.

The Jungle Book (2016)

The Disney deal that just keeps on giving. The live action remake of the classic toon is a highly-entertaining piece of moviemaking.

Level Up (2016)

Have you seen The Transporter? So have the writers, director and producers of this film.

Traded (2016)

Western about a gunslinger who goes on the search for his runaway teenage daughter.

Called a “sharp-tongued and smart observational comedy” (Russ Fischer, The Playlist) and “a modern twist on The Big Chill” (Michael Roffman, Consequence of Sound) the exceptionally entertaining comedy-drama THE INTERVENTION, makes its DVD debut on November 29, 2016 from Paramount Home Media Distribution.

First time feature director Clea DuVall writes, directs and stars in the film, which “skillfully examines four relationships in various stages with a charming mix of humor and pathos” (Matt Goldberg, Collider).  THE INTERVENTION features an outstanding ensemble cast including Melanie Lynskey, Natasha Lyonne, Vincent Piazza, Jason Ritter, Ben Schwartz, Alia Shawkat and Cobie Smulders.

Four couples plan to reunite for a “marriage intervention” disguised as a fun-filled weekend at a lakeside vacation home. In an attempt to push Ruby (Smulders) and her husband Peter (Piazza) toward divorce, Annie (Lynskey) and her fiancé Matt (Ritter) have gathered family and friends to address their failing marriage.  Ruby’s sister Jessie (DuVall), her girlfriend Sarah (Lyonne), old buddy Jack (Schwartz), and “baby-stranger” Lola (Shawkat) engage in various games while trying to maintain the illusion of a fun weekend together. As it all falls apart, close quarters bring longstanding issues to the surface.   As each couple reels from these revelations, they reach out to each other in unexpected ways, struggling to express their devotion and conceding that things may never be perfect.  New bonds form and old wounds heal as all see the result when the best of intentions comes out in the most awkward fashion.

THE INTERVENTION DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16×9 TVs with English 5.1 Dolby Digital and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital and English, French and Spanish subtitles.  The DVD includes a “Fade Out” music video by Tegan and Sara, as well as a blooper reel.

It’s still the Halloween season, so lets look at some horror related unaired pilots from TV past.

The Munsters and The Addams Family were a famous dueling series of “creepy families” on mid 60’s television. We all remember these and it always comes down to you are either an “Addams Family person” or a “Munster person”… there is very little crossover. Personally I loved both as on the surface both shows were similar but were honestly quite different in actual practice.

To my knowledge there is no Addams Family unaired pilot but there is one for The Munsters and you might be surprised at just how different this show originally was.

Not so much of a pilot as more of (their word) a “Pitch Episode”. Clocking in at just under 14 minutes this one is shocking to any Munsters fan. For one it’s shot in color whereas the series proper was in black and white. There is no Lily Munster… she is Phoebe Munster here and NOT played by Yvonne DeCarlo. Here Not-Lily is Joan Marshall (from the “Court Martial” episode of classic Trek). No Butch Patrick as Eddie but instead it’s “Happy” Derman playing Eddie as a kind of feral child who snorts.

The make-ups and costumes are similar to what we would see in the series but different enough to make them noticeable (being in color is also really hard to get used to).

The plot of this “Pitch Episode” would be recycled into what would become the second episode of the series so it was remade for the public to see.

Everyone knows The Munsters but how many of you remember that they had a 3 season series in the late 80’s?

The Munsters Today ran for 3 full seasons in first run syndication from 1988 to 1991. Starring John Schuck (the Klingon Ambassador from Star Treks 4-6), Lee Meriwether (one of the Catwomen from Batman), Howard Morton (Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman), Jason Marsden (Voice actor in just about every cartoon since the 90’s) and newcomer Hilary Van Dyke.

Van Dyke was not the original Marilyn Munster though.

In the unaired pilot for The Munsters Today (another “Pitch Episode” that only runs 15 minutes long) Marilyn Munster was played by Mary Ellen Dunbar (voice actor for the American versions of many Asian films in the 90’s). Dunbar actually looks like the Marilyn from the original series quite a bit but I have to say Van Dyke is clearly more of what the show needed. Her 80’s attitude was very much needed here.

For The Munsters Today the plot was thus… in 1966 (the year the original series went off the air, not counting the TV movies) the family tries out Grandpa’s sleeping machine. They set it for 5 minutes as a test but Spot (the pet Dragon) causes a stir and it get turned to “Forever”.

22 years later (1988) some sleazy home developers are scoping out the house on 1313 Mockingbird Lane and wake the family up. Still thinking it’s 1966 they go about their lives (so to speak) taking in the wonders of the 80’s with a 60’s outlook.

All in all it was not a bad show, typical of a syndicated sitcom from this era. I happened to watch this series first run every afternoon and I loved it.

In 2012 the normally reliable Bryan Fuller decided to shit all over the very ideal of The Munsters.

Mockingbird Lane was a dark cynical and insulting “update” of The Munsters where everyone was mean, angry and an asshole. This was abominable.

Aired once on Halloween and vanished to the pit of hell where it belongs.

Did you know there was a The Sixth Sense TV series?

Yup, in 1972. Nothing to do with the movie you thought of (damn co-opted name).

The Sixth Sense ran for 2 seasons and followed Gary Collins as he looked to catalog supernatural phenomena (mainly psychic phenomena).

Created by Anthony Lawrence (a writer for every single TV series of the 60’s and 70’s) as a way to cash in the latest of the 70’s trends of supernatural hooey.

Harlan Ellison was even a story editor on this show! John Newland and Richard Donner directed episodes of The Sixth Sense.

All said it was a pretty damn solid show for it’s time. The episodes are slow by today’s standards but I will get into that in a bit.

Having a decent budget for the time and featuring some pretty large guest stars such as Joan Crawford (who did not do TV often so this was a real coup), Patty Duke, Cloris Leachman, Lee Majors, William Shatner and even John Saxon, The Sixth Sense was sadly ignored by the public and was cancelled after 2 short seasons.

You did get to see the show though, kind of.

See when Night Gallery was being sold into syndication in the mid 70’s they found they didn’t have enough episodes. Over 3 seasons Night Gallery only had 43 episodes (28 hour long ones and 15 half hour ones) so they decided to cut the hour long episodes into half hours to pad out the episode number (Night Gallery having multiple stories per episode made this somewhat easier although some stories needed to be cut down or padded out to fit the half hour format). Even doing this they were still short on episodes.

Well Universal also owned The Sixth Sense and since that was shot on the Universal backlot where most of Night Gallery had been shot and in fact The Sixth Sense shared many crew members in common with Night Gallery so why not pair these up?

So the hour long The Sixth Sense episodes were cut to fit into a half hour, Rod Serling was hired to create new Night Gallery intros to each of these (which he once stated was for, his words, “an obscene amount of money”) and they were run as episodes of Night Gallery in syndication.

This is why if you grew up watching Night Gallery in the late 70’s through the late 90’s it seemed like Gary Collins starred in every other Night Gallery episode. Honestly though as much as I enjoy 70’s horror television most The Sixth Sense episodes were kind of padded so they actually run better as half hour shows. At least to me.

That is a long way to go to bring up the TV movie Sweet, Sweet Rachel.

This 1971 telefilm was a kind of pilot for The Sixth Sense.

The same creative team, the same plot and set up… just with a different set of characters.

Alex Dreier played Dr. Lucas Darrow whereas Gary Collins would play Dr. Michael Rhodes in the series.

They have the same background, the same style and are essentially the same character.

Stephanie Powers’ husband was killed while in a trance it’s thought someone with ESP did it.

Dr. Lucas Darrow is tasked with either proving or disproving this. Powers starts to have visions and yeah, it gets really 70’s horror TV.

The movie was a success and Lawrence decided to make it into a TV series which birthed The Sixth Sense.

No clue as to why Dreier was recast but really Collins has more screen presence and it might have been a change for the better.

Welcome back to Graphic Breakdown!

Today we look toward Dark Horse Comics and one from a newer publisher, Z2 Comics, for some of the most amazing comics coming to the stands.

Bait: Off Color Stories For You To Color

Written by Chuck Palahniuk
Illustrated by Various
Published by Dark Horse Comics

A passenger on the Titanic who finds a surgical solution to the obstacle of “women and children first”. A Hollywood star whose fading brand faces a viral (and scatological) internet campaign. An animal psychic who coaxes a statement from a fish that witnessed a political assassination. Increasingly terrible birthday gifts that place a girl at the center of an extinction-level event.

These are the stories Chuck Palahniuk put into this book. They are all short stories with illustrations by the likes of Lee Bermejo, Joelle Jones and others. The trick here is that you the reader can color the illustrations and you would be a collaborator on this.

The conceit is a blast. Ingenious, in fact. The stories are dark but done well. Palahniuk loves to push the boundaries of his writing to try inventive things. Here it’s no different. My favorite is the Hollywood star storyline.

It was brutal to read. In fact, all the stories here are. But, color away while reading it. See what happens.

Palahniuk likes to involve his readers, and maybe even have them be co-conspirators. I loved this book. It’s smart in a new way that deserves to be recognized. Congratulations once again to Palahniuk for showing us a new way to do things…and to make us involved.

RATING: A

The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story Expanded Edition TPB

Written by Vivek J. Tiwary
Illustrated by Andrew Robinson and Kyle Baker
Published by Dark Horse Comics

This book was an unexpected WOW.

I am blown away by it. It’s one of the best releases of the year for sure. Pick this up. I’m rereading it again this weekend.

Here’s the description of the book: “The Fifth Beatle is the untold true story of Brian Epstein, the visionary manager who discovered and guided the Beatles—from their gigs in a tiny cellar in Liverpool to unprecedented international stardom. Yet more than merely the story of “The Man Who Made The Beatles,” The Fifth Beatle is an uplifting, tragic, and ultimately inspirational human story about the struggle to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds.”

Brian Epstein was homosexual when it was a felony to be so in the United Kingdom, Jewish at a time of anti-Semitism, and from Liverpool when it was considered just a dingy port town. He helped spread the Beatles’ message of love to the entire world, yet died painfully lonely at the young age of thirty-two, consumed by staggering ambition and the endless struggles that came with it.

This is one of the most emotional stories I have read in years. Tiwary as a writer is a genius. Pure genius. The art is something special too. Thank you to Dark Horse Comics for making this available. This is tops.

Buy it and read it. And then thank me.

RATING: A+

Ether #1 and #2
Written by Matt Kindt
Illustrated David Rubin
Published by Dark Horse Comics

Matt Kindt is a comic book genius.

Everything he does, I sit up and pay attention.

This book has Kindt blending science and magic and it works in a way only Kindt can make work.

Ether follows the adventures of Boone Dias, a science-minded interdimensional explorer from Earth, as he tries to reconcile the existence of magic with his own scientific reality.

Boone is a regular visitor to the Ether, a supernatural realm with magical residents.

The Ether’s residents trust Boone to solve their toughest crimes by combining his background in science with the Ether’s magic.

The writing is sharp and the art blew me away. David Rubin is killer, I love his artwork. It’s beautiful and these two work wonderfully in tandem to make another big hit from Dark Horse. This was awesome.

RATING:A

Grave Lillies #1

Written by Cullen Bunn
Illustrated by George Kambadais
Published by Z2 Comics

This was an utter delight. I’m not normally a fan of Bunn’s work but this was a blast. The art was pretty awesome too.

This goes to show yet again that there is a lot going on in comics beyond the Big Two.

In the aftermath of a mysterious explosion that tears through a major metropolitan area, five stasis tubes are discovered.

The coffin-like containers are empty, but each is branded with a woman’s name. These women have wandered away from the disaster without a scratch – and with no memory of who they are.

They discover that they each possess a remarkable ability.

The ability to charm the masses, the power to control plant life, the gift of healing, supernatural senses, and unbelievable physical strength. They’ll need these powers, too, because they are pursued by sinister agencies that want to apprehend them before they learn the shocking truth of their origins and the destiny that awaits them.

This book is unique and unbelievably cool.

Pick it up and read it. It was unexpected, and I had a great time and now crave more.

RATING: A

BONUS FEATURES on BLU-RAY and DVD

• Deleted Scenes: Spend more time with The Commune in these deleted improv scenes from the film.
• The Creative Team: Interviews with Mike Birbiglia, the cast, and producer Miranda Bailey take you behind the scenes of the creative process of Don’t Think Twice.
• Don’t Think Twice: The Art of Improv: Love of improv is at the heart of the film. In this featurette, explore the philosophy that inspired the world and comedy found within Mike Birbiglia’s film.
• The Commune: Has anybody had a particularly hard day? Delve into the minds of the cast and characters of Don’t Think Twice‘s beloved improv troupe – The Commune.

Welcome back to Graphic Breakdown and it’s Wednesday and thank god it’s here!

Let’s forget all our troubles, forget about Negan on The Walking Dead, and let’s talk comic books instead, shall we?

Batgirl #4

Written by Hope Larson
Illustrated by Rafael Albuquerque
Published by DC Comics

Hope Larson’s first arc as writer on this title rages on.

It’s a halfway decent debut. I think however I would be bored with it however if it wasn’t for the spectacular art by Albuquerque.

Albuquerque is at the top of his game. The art flows so beautifully that it’s actually better than the story demands.

Even a simple conversation is so well drafted you can’t help but gorge your eyes on each and every panel.

But you take the art away, and it doesn’t seem all that important or special…which is a shame. Maybe the next arc will kick up the story higher. We shall see.

Still, this isn’t a bad overall read. One wishes it was just a little more special. Maybe the next arc it will be.

RATING: B-

Batman Beyond # 1

Written by Dan Jurgens
Illustrated by Bernard Chang
Published by DC Comics

Well, we are back in the world of Batman Beyond and Terry McGinnis and I’m having a blast there.

The future is bright and wacky in this title. It’s so crazy, you can’t help but love it.
The Joker (or a future version of the Joker) is terrorizing Gotham with his army.

But is it the real Joker? Inspired by the possible return of their role model, the Jokerz have taken over an entire section of Gotham City and are determined to wreak havoc in the still-rebuilding city.

While Batman battles chaos on the streets, his friend Dana is at the mercy of the new leader of the now-unified gang.

The writing is off the wall and the art is pretty decent.

The last page made me smile for sure. If they can link this to the Rebirth line, it could be fairly cool. A good issue….keep them coming.

RATING: B

Deathstroke #5

Written by Christopher Priest
Illustrated by Joe Bennett
Published by DC Comics

This was awesome! Priest knocks it out of the park again with this issue, arguably his best thus far. Funny, dark and thrilling, this book soars every month and then some. It’s only getting better.

The issue has Batman with Deathstroke’s daughter facing off and also Damian (Robin) facing off against Deathstroke. And it’s a battle of wits that actually feels smart. Man, there are some zingers in this book that made me jump in my seat.

Congratulations to Christopher Priest for writing the most vital book on the stands. Priest actually puts most other writers to shame with how fully formed his scripts are.
The art was awesome too.

This is a book I’ll reread once I get through the first 12 issues.

It’s that good. This is the top book DC has going for it now. Awesome beyond words.

RATING: A+

Detective Comics #943

Written by James Tynion IV
Illustrated by Alvaro Martinez
Published by DC Comics

This was a solid book. I’ll tell you though: when someone besides Eddy Barrows does the art I’m less than impressed.

Still, Martinez and his artwork aren’t half bad…but Barrow’s makes me sit up.

This is part one of “The Victim Syndicate” storyline.

Batman can’t save everyone—innocent people sometimes fall in the war against evil that he’s declared in Gotham. But what happens when those victims start to fight back…and they don’t only blame the criminals who shattered their lives?

Batman’s never faced an enemy like this, and his team may find themselves questioning everything they know about what heroes do.

A solid story and solid artwork. Not bad overall.

If this was Barrows doing the art? It would have been amazing. Still, a pretty decent read.

RATING: B

Suicide Squad #5

Written by Rob Williams
Illustrated by Jim Lee and Stephen Byrne
Published by DC Comics

I actually disliked both stories in this issue. Usually I at least like the backup. Here, both stories fall flat.

The first story arc on this title was very underwritten.

Williams responded by overwriting this issue. If he got paid by the word in fact, he might be a millionaire.

It’s funny, you want to care about these characters yet you can’t. You don’t even come close.

Jim Lee delivers the most stiff looking art since the beginning of his career.

It’s got about as much energy in it as me after working 16 hours. I know he can do better. So it greatly disappoints me.

Byrne does ok on art in the backup yet this issue is just overwrought. I hope this turns around. Everyone involved can do better.

RATING: D

The Flash #9

Written by Joshua Williamson
Illustrated by Jorge Corona.
Published by DC Comics

This book was a disappointment for one specific reason. The story is very good. The issue has amazing story beats in fact.

But that art is wayyyyy too cartoony. It’s the same problem I’m having with Green Arrow….and it’s hurting the book. I should say that previous issues had some really great art.

Corona’s art took me out of the experience. I wish it didn’t because it’s an otherwise good tale.

Wally West meets Wally West (One Earth meets the other) and it’s pretty cool. It could have been an A. Heck, they even talk about the events in Rebirth that we know are leading to the Watchmen. It’s a good story.

But comics are a medium of writing and art working together.

Here, they do not. Still, every title deserves an issue off now and again. It’ll get better, I know it.

RATING: B

Frostbite # 2

Written by Joshua Williamson
Illustrated by Jason Shawn Alexander
Published by DC Comics

This is a title where the art and story work in tandem fantastically…and it’s also written by Joshua Williamson! And it’s great! They work so well in harmony you can’t take your eyes off it.

The start of their journey did not go exactly as planned, but Keaton made a deal to get Vic to Alcatraz safely, and nothing will dissuade her from carrying out her contract. With their main transport knocked out, and roving gangs looking to block their path, Keaton and crew are going to have to get clever if they’re going to stay alive.

This is Vertigo’s biggest hit in a while. It works and you can’t wait to read all the issues when it’s finished to know exactly what this team had in store all along. A great read and I look forward to picking up each issue and just loving it.

RATING: A

Teen Titans #1

Written by Benjamin Percy
Illustrated by Jonboy Meyers
Published by DC Comics

Apparently Benjamin Percy can only write comics with artwork that is illustrated like it’s animation.

And it sadly takes me right out of it. I understand these are comics and we should accept different styles but I can’t get past this and Green Arrow and the artwork.

These are the Teen Titans led by the Damian Wayne Robin.

Now that Damian has “summoned” the Teen Titans, the tyrannical teen reveals his master plan!

But a great evil from Damian’s past is lurking around the corner, ready to strike at the team’s newest leader and destroy the new Teen Titans before they even begin!

This is not a bad story.

The art just plummeted it for me. I hear Meyers left due to creative differences. Maybe that’s for the best.

RATING: C

Teen Titans # 4

Written by Dan Abnett
Illustrated by Brett Booth
Published by DC Comics

On the flip side is this fantastic title.

Man, the energy is fast and furious on this one.

Brett Booth infused this issue with passion and heart. And it’s literally just one big battle scene…but it’s got so much in it.

The Return of Wally West rages on as the Titans fight Abra Kadabra!

Abnett writes a fun enough story. But Booth takes the issue and makes it a total funhouse. It’s a blast from start to finish.

This is the Titans book for me.

Fast. Enjoyable. Emotional.

And a general great time.

RATING: A-

Doctor Fate #17

Written by Paul Levitz
Illustrated by Brendan McCarthy.
Published by DC Comics

I said it before and I’ll say it again: I have no idea what the hell Doctor Fate is really about; but I loved this issue.

Levitz is a classic, formidable writer who has always been consistently good over the years.

The real reason to pick this up though is his collaboration with Brendan McCarthy.

McCarthy is one of the all time greats. You can’t ask for a better artist on this tire. He actually fits with the strange story on this. I loved it.

I still had no idea what the hell was going on, but that’s more on me. It’s a visually dynamic comic book with a good story.

And sometimes that’s enough.

RATING: B+

And the rest…

Future Quest #6
Written by Jeff Parker
Illustrated by Evan Shaner, Ron Randall, Craig Rousseau
Published by DC Comics
The only real fun comic book coming out of the Hanna Barbera line from DC. Parker writes a good story and the art is good. Pick it up.
RATING: B+

Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #7
Written by Robert Venditti 
Illustrated by Rafa Sandoval
Published by DC Comics
This book is running on fumes. Please do something with this. The characters are being wasted.
RATING: C-

Six Pack and Dog Welder #3
Written by Garth Ennis
Illustrated by Russ Braun
Published by DC Comics
This is turning into great fun. Ennis has lost some of his luster of the years but this still works enough. It’s a good time.
RATING: B

Deadpool: Drawing the Merc with a Mouth celebrates over twenty years of Deadpool comic art, showcasing iconic covers, stunning panels, and other amazing art from the Marvel Comics archives.

Originally created by Rob Liefeld and Fabian Nicieza as a minor villain for a spin-off X-Men comic, Deadpool has since gone on to become a cult phenomenon, headlining several ongoing comic book series and causing irreverent mayhem throughout the Marvel Comics universe. For the first time, Deadpool: Drawing the Merc with a Mouth tells the full story of the character’s creation and evolution through interviews with the artists and writers who made him what he is today, including Fabian Nicieza, Mark Waid, Joe Kelly, and Reilly Brown. Filled with stunning art that showcases Deadpool’s off-the-wall comics career, from his origins in the pages of The New Mutants to his outlandish adventures with the Deadpool Corps and his team-ups with Marvel Comics A-listers such as Spider-Man and Wolverine, this book is a visually striking journey into Wade Wilson’s bizarre world.

Featuring an exclusive cover by legendary Deadpool artist Reilly Brown and a selection of art that’s more mouthwatering than a bucket of chimichangas, Deadpool: Drawing the Merc with a Mouth is an essential addition to the collections of comic book fans everywhere.

This deluxe book also comes with an exclusive print of the Reilly Brown cover art, and arrived on shelves this week.

For more details visit insighteditions.com

Packed with exclusive production art and behind-the-scenes photography, The Art and Making of The Flash is the ultimate resource for fans of the superhero speedster. Find out what goes into making the heroes and villains of this smash hit Warner Bros. show, get in-depth interviews with the cast and crew, and explore a treasure trove of weapons and gadgets.

And we’re giving away two copies!

To enter, please send an email with the subject header “FLASHPOINT” to geekcontest @ gmail dot com and answer the following:

John Wesley Shipp, who portrays Henry Allen on The Flash, portrayed this character in the 1990 television incarnation?

Please include your name and address (U.S. Residents only. You must be 18 years old).

Only one entry per person and a winner will be chosen at random.

Contest ends at 11:59 PM EST on November 13th, 2016.

Lit Quiz
Take this quiz and find out which independent bookstores best sums up you.

Not Dead Yet
A look at some behind the scenes work as Phil Collin’s plugs his new autobiography, Not Dead Yet.

King Cocktails
13 awesome cocktails inspired by Stephen King novels. Enough said.

Speculative Asia
Some great science fiction that features Asia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

A Cosmere Deal
Bestselling fantasy author Brandon Sanderson has signed an epic and awesome potential multi-movie deal with his Cosmere universe that involved many of his fantasy series.

Strike Comes to the TV Screen
HBO has agreed on a deal with J. K. Rowling to adapt her Cormoran Strike novels published under her pseudonym Robert Galbraith.

A Sextet of Frights
Six truly terrifying horror novels that you might want to check out this Halloween or anytime you like.

Terranauts
An adaptation is in the works of T. C. Boyle’s speculative novel called The Terranauts.

Gerald’s Game
An adaptation of Stephen King’s novel Gerald’s Game is in the works for Netflix.

Amazon Bookstore
A sneak peak at Amazon’s new bookstore opening soon in Oregon.

Bookless Bronx
The Bronx’s Barnes & Noble is closing, rendering is bookstoreless.

Independent pop culture trading card company The Drawn Word launches a Kickstarter for a live-action retro card set of Mike Allred’s G-Men From Hell, complete with a preview card for the upcoming Madman 25! commemorative card set.

When designing 2015’s Madman Comin’ Atcha 3D trading card set, Christopher Irving of The Drawn Word produced an experimental photo trading card set using Allred’s early characters, Dean Crept and Mike Mattress.

“We had a few slots to fill in our print run,” Irving reveals. “And I wanted to produce a retro set that begged the question ‘What if there were a 1960s G-Men film?’ I gathered local film friends of mine and we staged ‘movie stills’ from Hell for Monsters, an original story I came up with for this project. Only three of the cards were printed and this gives us a chance to make the ‘full’ set.”

The 13-card set jumps around in numbering and, when read in total, forms the basis of a story that pits the undead gumshoes against everything from dinosaurs, monsters, she-devils, cavegirls, and astroapes. Along for the ride is a younger version of Dr. Flem—because time travel also plays a part in the story. Assisting Irving is director Eric Miller (Flem), actor Dietrich Teschner (Mattress), and Richmond-based burlesque performers Zhora Nova and Em Claire.

“Christopher Irving was one of the first folks to ever enthusiastically support my work, and has since become a great friend,” Michael Allred (Madman, Silver Surfer, iZombie) says. “Brimming with talent and imagination, it’s been great fun to let him cut loose on this project with some of my earliest creations!”

Available in a limited run of 100 with the G-Men cards is a #0 card from the upcoming Madman 25! set. Details are few, except that Madman 25! will document Madman’s 25-year career in just as many cards—but with an unrevealed spin.

G-Men from Hell runs from Halloween day until November 21^st with a goal of $666. Madman 25! launches on April 1^st for a May to June release.

To support this Kickstarter, Click HERE!

I spend a lot of time these days, most often very, very late at night or very, very early in the morning on the couch in front of the TV thanks to a certain seven-week old child now dominating our lives. Whether it’s while feeding or soothing the boy, I’m always on the lookout for fun viewing and while there is a lot out there in the streaming world via Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and so on… my favorite standby is YouTube.

I’m always a bit surprised what I end up finding there. I’ll say to myself… “Hey… remember that show? I wonder…” and there it is on YouTube. I can’t always speak to the legitimate rights to anything being broadcast on YouTube–particularly old television shows that are not in the public domain–but YouTube, despite cracking down here and there, still has a kind of “old internet Wild West” feel to it at times.

Dungeons & Dragons

Back in the early 80s, Dungeons & Dragons was still a hugely geeky pastime that hadn’t really caught on with popular culture, so it was fairly surprising to see CBS broadcast an animated television series based on the nerdiest of all games of the time. It was a co-production of TSR with Marvel Productions, with animation by Toei Animation.

In short, it’s the story of a bunch of young teenagers (and a precocious tween) who find themselves magically transported to a fantasy world where they are meeting by a mysterious character who calls himself the Dungeon Master. They are each given a magical item which is associated with a D&D character class and must face various challenges and foes as they search for a way to get home. There were a lot of references to the game itself, but was accessible to any young viewer and, perhaps, some older viewers) who were not familiar with D&D.

The show lasted three seasons for a total of 27 episodes (plus one unproduced episode meant to set up a fourth season that never happened). The animation was pretty typical of the early 80s, i.e., not great, but the writing was surprisingly decent and viewing the episodes holds up well.

It’s a fun show for kids and adults who played D&D as kids, and they’re all on YouTube. You can find the first episode here:

The New Red Green Show

I love this show. I used to watch it regularly on my local PBS stations, and have a bunch on DVD. These days, however, I don’t play many disks. I don’t think I even have a DVD or Blu-ray player hooked up to anything. I was very pleased, however, to see there are a lot of episodes of this show readily available on YouTube, and seemingly with the permission of the rights holders.

So what is it?

The New Red Green Show (or more simply, The Red Green Show) is a Canadian television series that ran from 1991 to 2006 and starred Steve Smith as the titular “Red” Green who plays the host of the show and the head of the Possum Lodge, the main setting of the show. It’s pretty much a middle-aged guy show–jokes and skits about car repair, fishing, boating, wives, etc., but I know a number of women who also enjoy and watch the show on a regular basis. It’s not the most diverse of casts, so I hope if the show is ever revived that it becomes a bit more reflective of Canada’s population.

All that aside, it’s a fun, goofy little show that doesn’t take itself too seriously while often pretending to take itself seriously. It’s folksy, it’s charming, and it skewers things that are folksy, charming and “masculine”. The characters are great from explosives enthusiast Edgar K. B. “Kaboom!” Montrose (played by Academy Award nominee Graham Greene) to pathological liar Hap Shaughnessy (Gordon Pinsent) to notorious cheapskate Dalton Humphrey (Bob Bainborough). Assisting “Red” Green in his hosting duties is his nerdy nephew Harold played by Patrick McKenna.

There’s a reason the show has been a staple of public television for so long. The YouTube offerings display a link to redgreen.com where one can keep up on touring dates and buy merchandise.

It’s hard to say where to get started. You can start pretty much anywhere and enjoy the show. Take this episode from 1996, “Good Government”:

Boston Common

Ever wonder whatever happened to that show you liked “way back when” that just kind of up and disappeared? I have. Not every old TV show made it to a DVD set along the way. You’d be surprised what survives now that we’re in the digital age. Nothing is ever really lost. Case in point… Boston Common.

This was a fairly typical, by-the-numbers sitcom that ran for two seasons from 1996 to 1997. It starred stand-up comedian Anthony Clark who later went on to star in Yes, Dear for six seasons. In Boston Common, he plays Boyd Pritchett, a laid-back, friendly, and pleasant West Virginian man in his 20s who, after driving his younger sister Wyleen to a small liberal arts college in downtown Boston, gets a crush on a professor there and decides to stay.

There wasn’t anything really remarkable about the series, but I kind of dug the theme of the country mouse moving to one of the least friendly cities in the country. (Don’t get me wrong, I love Boston. Boston rocks. I was born in Boston… but it’s not exactly Happy Town.)

Anyway, I was made to remember this show recently and, sure enough, found both seasons sitting on YouTube. It was very much a product of its time, but it was still entertaining. There were some decent guest stars to keep an eye open for. That got me through a couple of nights with the baby.

You can catch the first episode here:

The Smurfs

//Who doesn’t like these little blue fellows? Nobody, that’s who.

While I didn’t have much interest in the recent Smurf movies, I do occasionally revel in some nostalgia with the old Saturday morning cartoons. If you’ve been living on Mars or something for the past 35 years or so, the Smurfs are little blue people, about three apples high, who live in an agrarian collective in which their names dictate their place in society. It was very popular during the Reagan years. They are often harassed by an evil wizard with poor impulse control.

Even today it’s a charming little show. It’s great for kids. It’s still fun for adults. I was pleasantly surprised to find quite a number of episodes available on YouTube despite two fairly successful recent movies.

Here’s the episode “Jokey’s Medicine”. (Fun fact: Jokey Smurf was voiced by June Foray who also did such memorable voices as Rocky the Flying Squirrel and Granny from the Warner Bros. cartoons.)

New Wave Theatre

Who remembers Night Flight on the USA network in the early 80s?

Only my older readers, likely. Just the same, this is a fun show for music buffs from any generation. It was a locally produced LA show that was broadcast on UHF before moving to Night Flight and was hosted by Pete Ivers. It showcased a lot of new punk and new wave acts and was what introduced many people to bands such as Fear, the Circle Jerks, the Unknowns, the Waitresses, X, the Dead Kennedys, and others.

It was kind of a hit-or-miss experience as each band came on. Some went on to greatness, others disappeared into obscurity, but it provided a rather interesting and unique view into the LA music scene of the time.

It was shot as a live event and host Ivers is kind of charming, but awkward in his playing at being some kind of hip rebel. Sometimes it’s a bit cringe-worthy, as are some of the little skits and bumpers shown between music acts, but it’s still an interesting show and worth checking out (at least for a few episodes).

The 80s had a lot of lame, but underground there was some fun stuff happening.

The image and sound quality are far from the best. Remember, this was a low-budget UHF show filmed with live video. The YouTube versions probably came from a multi-generation VHS tape. Still, we’re glad to see it online and available. As for my seven-week baby, it’s the start of his musical education.

Here is the second episode which includes an appearance by Bad Religion:

There’s a lot more, of course. Old Dead End Kids movies, Charlie Chan and Sherlock Holmes movies, episodes of all three incarnations of Connections with James Burke, classic episodes of In Search Of starring Leonard Nimoy, and more. If you find yourself sitting up to all hours of the night and morning with a young child, or a flu, or the DTs, give some YouTubing a shot. Think of that obscure show you used to like and see if you can’t find it ready to stream.

Cheers!

Given the fact that Netflix in November is the streaming version of a meal on Southwest Airlines, let’s take a look at the mean, green streaming alternative, Hulu.

In the last year, Hulu has decided to take on Netflix in the movies arena, which means more happy customers as the great system of capitalism works its magic to benefit the many. In this case, it seems many of Netflix’s features are making the jump over to Hulu, as well as a few top notch titles to pique the interest of any cinefile.

Fan of Jame Bond? Hulu has you covered. What about Rocky? Not only does Hulu now have all the classic Balboa, but also Creed, so you can see for yourself exactly how Stallone was robbed on an Oscar.

In addition to movies, Hulu will also carries a large catalog of you favorite shows…unless you love iZombie, in which case you are screwed. (Sorry. It still stings. I’m bitter about that one.)

New seasons for NOVEMBER includes The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills season six, Uncle Grandpa season one, Almost Royal season two and Top Chef season 13, so name a few.

Check out the full list below:

NOVEMBER 1

• Addams Family Values (1993)
• The Addams Family (1991)
• Barbershop (2002)
• Be Cool (2005)
• Bratz: the Movie (2007)
• Charlie’s Angels (2000)
• Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle (2003)
• The Conversation (1974)
• Count Yorga, Vampire (1970)
• Courage Mountain (1990)
• The Cutting Edge (1992)
• Dances with Wolves (1990)
• Death at a Funeral (2007)
• Deterrence (2000)
• Diamonds are Forever (1971)
• Die Another Day (2002)
• Dr. No (1963)
• Election (1999)
• Enter the Ninja (1981)
• Fargo (1996)
• Fatal Attraction (1987)
• For Your Eyes Only (1981)
• From Russia with Love (1964)
• Get Shorty (1995)
• Goldeneye (1995)
• Goldfinger (1964)
• Good Advice (2002)
• Good Will Hunting (1997)
• Happily N’Ever After (2007)
• Happily N’Ever After: Snow White (2009)
• Hoosiers (1986)
• License to Kill (1989)
• The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane (1976)
• Live and Let Die (1973)
• The Living Daylights (1987)
• Lucky Romance (Season 1) (Viki)
• Mad Max (1979)
• Major League (1989)
• Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
• The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
• Mermaids (1990)
• Mission: Impossible (1996)
• Moonraker (1979)
• On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)
• Punch Drunk Love (2002)
• Rescue Dawn (2006)
• Rocky (1976)
• Rocky II (1979)
• Rocky III (1982)
• Rocky IV (1985)
• Rocky V (1990)
• Rollerball (1975)
• Rollerball (2002)
• Rounders (1998)
• Saved (2004)
• Shadows and Fog (1992)
• Showgirls (1995)
• Spaceballs (1987)
• The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
• Terms of Endearment (1983)
• Top Chef (Season 13) (Bravo)
• Thunderball (1965)
• Up in the Air (2009)

NOVEMBER 6

• The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (Season  6) (Bravo)

NOVEMBER 7

• Neon Joe (Season  1) (Adult Swim)
• The Haunting in Connecticut (2009)

NOVEMBER 8

• Almost Royal (Season  2) (BBC)

NOVEMBER 11

• The Damned (2014)

NOVEMBER 13

• Animal Fight Night (Season 4 premiere) (National Geographic)

NOVEMBER 15

• Scott & Bailey (Season  5) (BBC)

NOVEMBER 17

• Patton Oswalt: Tragedy Plus Comedy Equals Time (2013)

NOVEMBER 18

• Miles from Tomorrowland (Season  1) (Disney)

NOVEMBER 19

• Creed (2015)

NOVEMBER 24

• Uncle Grandpa (Season  1) (Cartoon Network)
• Love and Honor (2013)
• Welcome to the Punch (2013)

NOVEMBER 25

• War Story (2014)

And here is what is leaving Hulu by the end of the month:

NOVEMBER 31

• Alice (1999)
• American Psycho (2000)
• American Psycho 2 (2002)
• Bananas (1971)
• The Blair Witch Project (1999)
• Bowling for Columbine (2002)
• Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004)
• Class (1983)
• The Dogs of War (1981)
• Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex (1972)
• The Falcon and the Snowman (1985)
• From Dusk till Dawn (1996)
• Lost and Delirious (2001)
• Love and Death (1975)
• Married to the Mob (1988)
• A Midsummer Night’s Sex Comedy (1982)
• The Messengers (2007)
• North Dallas Forty (1979)
• Scary Movie 2 (2001)
• Scary Movie 3 (2003)
• Spanish Judges (2001)
• Stage Beauty (2004)
• Stigmata (1999)
• Throw Momma from the Train (1987)
• Troll (1986)
• Troll 2 (1991)
• Under Fire (1983)

Disclosure: We received a VIZIO M50-D1 SmartCast Home Theater Display from VIZIO for free, however the opinions expressed are our own.

One of the challenges I’ve had reviewing Blu-rays over the last few years is that up until now I’ve been watching them on a small digital tv that sits on my desk while I work.  It isn’t that I didn’t want to upgrade, but with technology changing so rapidly it’s been an ongoing decision that I wrestled with.  When Vizio offered me the opportunity to check out their M50-D21 unit in exchange for a review, I jumped at the chance; the decision was made for me.

To say that I’m pleased with the unit would be an understatement.  The M-Series is not only incredibly easy to set up, but also features a large variety of fantastic features.

The tv itself required little in terms of physical set-up; just screwing in the included legs.  Despite the size of the set, it surprisingly weighs approximately 31 pounds.

Setting up the television was a bit more involved.  The power cord could be longer and the inputs could be spaced a little better.  The set also ships with a small Android tablet (complete with a wireless Qi charging stand) that can be used as a remote/casting device.  Once signed into my Google account, the set updated the firmware on the set.  You can also use a very basic remote that’s included or your phone to control the tv.  To be honest, I haven’t used the tablet much at all; utilizing the basic remote for much of the basic functions.  The tablet is pretty handy for using the second screen experience that’s becoming more popular with certain television series.

One of the few disappointments is setting up several of the apps required for streaming (which is what the tablet’s primary use is for).  Amazon Prime streaming, for instance, isn’t even an option as a native app, but fans of Google’s Chromecast will be happy to see that it’s platform is built into the M50-D21 unit where it can cast hundreds of options (including Amazon Video easily).  I purchased an Amazon Fire stick and have found that it’s the perfect addition to use the majority of my streaming programming (Amazon, Netflix, HBO Go, Vudu) and works flawlessly with the M50-D1.

The back of the set includes four HDMI ports (mine are loaded with the cable box, Blu-ray player, Fire stick and have one empty one which could easily be used for a gaming console).

Unfortunately, if you plan to use an external antenna to watch local over-the-air broadcast TV, a TV tuner is required

The picture quality is where the set truly shines.  The resolution is 4K Ultra HD – 3840×2160 which means you get a lot of detail on the screen. The picture quality is outstanding.The HDR technology expands the contrast and color range of the pixels on the display for a  sharp, crisp picture and deep blacks.  The set features a full array LED backlight with up to 64 Active LED Zones that automatically adjust light levels.  There are several pre-set display options and the tablet allows more detailed and advanced controls allowing you to set the image exactly to your taste.

The biggest disappointment in the set is the sound quality.  The volume is often hollow and has an overall lack of dynamic range.  A sound bar is my next purchase which I think will push this set to the next level.

Overall, the Vizio M-Series offers an impressive unit at an excellent price (most big box retailers are have the set in the $600 range) and is an fantastic choice for the centerpiece of your own home theater.  A better inclusion of documentation might help (as solutions to the dimness might very well be very basic), but that’s a minor quibble compared to this otherwise superior display.

For more details, visit vizio.com

Dark Horse Comics invites you to celebrate Halloween with a preview of the upcoming original graphic novel, Hellboy: Into the Silent Sea, co-written by legendary Hellboy creator Mike Mignola, co-written and illustrated by Eisner Award winning artist Gary Gianni and colored by award winning colorist Dave Stewart.

“The biblical Jonah was vomited up by a whale, but Hellboy might not be as lucky,” said Gary Gianni. “A superstitious crew and a figure in black will make sure there’s no escaping the silent sea.”

Following the events of the classic story “The Island”, Hellboy sets sail from the wreckage of a deserted island only to cross paths with a ghost ship. Taken captive by the phantom crew that plans to sell him to the circus, Hellboy is dragged along by a captain who will stop at nothing in pursuit of a powerful sea creature.

Hellboy: Into the Silent Sea is the third Hellboy original graphic novel, following the classics, Hellboy: House of the Living Dead by Mignola, Richard Corben and Stewart (2011) and Hellboy: The Midnight Circus by Mignola, Duncan Fegredo and Stewart. It will be published in the spring of 2017.

Gary Gianni has previously collaborated with iconic writers including George R. R. Martin, Harlan Ellison, Ray Bradbury and Michael Chabon and teamed up with Michael Kaluta to work on the classic pulp hero, The Shadow. Gianni is best known the creator of the Monstermen series, which appeared as a back-up feature in Hellboy. He also illustrated Prince Valiant, the syndicated newspaper comic strip, for 8 years. Gianni will illustrate Hellboy: Into the Silent Sea, with colors by Dave Stewart; Mignola will provide a cover, with colors by Stewart.

From the mind and creator Robert Kirkman (“The Walking Dead”) comes “Outcast” Season One coming to Digital HD today, making it a perfect Halloween treat!

“Outcast,” based on the Skybound / Image comic title by creator Robert Kirkman and artist Paul Azaceta, follows Kyle Barnes (Patrick Fugit), a young man who has been plagued by demonic possession all his life. Now, with the help of Reverend Anderson (Philip Glenister), a country preacher with personal demons of his own, Kyle embarks on a journey to find answers to obtain a normal life he has never known. But what Kyle discovers could change his fate — and the fate of the world — forever.

“Outcast” is produced by Fox International Studios for Cinemax in the United States and Fox Network groups outside of the United States.

Special Features

• Comic Book Origins, featuring Robert Kirkman – Robert Kirkman (creator of “Outcast” and “The Walking Dead”) discusses the show’s comic book origins and the story centered around a young man who has been plagued by demonic possession all his life.

Inscribed on the Temple of Apollo at Delphi is the aphorism: “Know Thyself.” It’s ancient advice, but by no means outdated or irrelevant.

If you are a comic book artist, chances are you have had experience with multiple skill sets: penciling, inking, coloring, etc. It’s good to have multiple skill sets in the comic book industry. But it’s also good—dare I say, crucial—to have an idea of what you are best at.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW YOURSELF AS AN ARTIST

Here’s the theoretical story of a talented young artist with a portfolio online, says he can do it all: from pencils to lettering. A “package deal.” Super-cheap, and super-fast. Imagine that. Getting an entire finished page of comic art done, including color, for the metaphorical “pennies on the dollar.” What a deal.

But it’s not a deal. It’s not a deal for the talented young artist. It’s not a deal for the person who hires him. Because the artist never pinpointed what he was best at. Instead, he lumped it all in for a bargain-rate package.

You can’t blame said theoretical artist for what he did. Lord knows in the current marketplace rates across the board have been “dropped” considerably (a complex topic for another day). People are looking for “deals.”

But the theoretical client wasn’t interested in assembly-line work. What he or she was most interested in was telling his or her story in the best way possible.

Our talented young artist had some really nice styling with his pencils, and an ink line that, with enough time allotted, was heavenly. Certainly, he required a little more time than the super-fast “assembly line” pace he established for himself.

And his colors needed a lot of work. They tended to “blot out” his delicate linework. Coloring, at least at the current stage of skill he was at, was not his forte. He had a couple of decentish examples of his colors in his portfolio, but couldn’t maintain that quality on a regular basis.

This young man needed to “know himself” as an artist. He needed to gauge what he was best at. He needed to understand how to put his best foot forward. And he needed to understand how long it took for him to do his best work.

In the end of this example, the client wasn’t able to use this artist’s work. The artist was paid in full for the work he did, and let go.

But had this artist understood his strengths, this might have been a completely different story.

WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS AS AN ARTIST?

If you are a comic artist, figure out what you are most talented at. Ask your friends and fans for their opinion on this subject. Go to portfolio reviews and reap the valuable knowledge editors have to provide.

Maybe your pencils are so slick and gorgeous they make angels sing. But your inks? Not quite there yet; they “flatten” your pencils. You don’t want that type of “flattened” art with mediocre inks in your portfolio—it’s death! You have to either work harder to develop your inks…or perhaps even accept that inking is not quite your main talent. And then cultivate some buddies who are master inkers, and whose ink lines look fabulous over your pencils.

Conversely, maybe the skill you are most praised for is inking. And maybe you are not keen so much on the construction and composition of sequential art pages, but just love the rendering part with your virtuoso ink line. Then…maybe you’d make it better in the business as an inker.

Some artists are “naturals” at blending color with their art—true “all in one” packages. And some aren’t. And that’s OK. You don’t have to be #1 at everything. The key is to find out what you are truly good at, and capitalize on that.

THE #1 THING THAT WILL QUICKLY KILL YOUR CAREER AS A COMIC ARTIST

I can already anticipate a counter-argument here: that in today’s comic job market, potential publishers and clients want the cheapest, fastest talent options possible. That they’re not keen on “wasting money” on inkers anymore. That raw, bulk content is “king.” Nobody has any time for this rarified “artsy-fartsy” attitude anymore.

And I will counter that counter-argument with this nugget of wisdom for you:

NOTHING WILL KILL YOUR CAREER FAST ENOUGH THAN HAVING A RUSHED, MEDIOCRE VERSION OF YOUR ART IN PRINT.

As much as you might think that doing the “assembly line”-grade level of work is good in the sense that you received some sort of paying comic work—maybe even for one of the top companies—if a sub-standard version of your art gets published with your name on it, it can really hurt your career.

One more quick theoretical example: the young, “green” artist who gets his or her “big break” doing a Marvel or DC book. Unless that artist has a really good editor invested in the time it is going to take to cultivate and refine the art—and the adequate amount of time to render said art—this could turn out less than ideal. The reader who picks up said comic, not knowing anything about the history of the artist or the conditions under which he or she has worked, may just write it off as “substandard.” And I’ve seen this happen to artists. Numerous times. It’s very frustrating. Sometimes it’s heartbreaking.

And so, to sum up: Know Thyself. Put thy best foot forward. Make friends with other artists whose own strengths compliment yours. And understand that being published, in-and-of-itself, is not the “highest level” you can achieve as a comic artist.

That Highest Level is the one you set up for yourself.

Princeton Architectural Press has a unique series of notebooks and pencils known as the Grids & Guides series.  They recently released their latest additions to the line.

Grids & Guides: Gray – A Notebook for Visual Thinkers

Like its black and red predecessors, this deluxe, cloth-covered Grids and Guides notebook offers 160 pages of varied graph paper (including some new grid designs) interspersed with engaging charts and infographics, this time in full color—from the human circulatory system to the geologic time scale. This is the perfect notebook to carry everywhere, for your sketches, plans, dreams, lists, and data.

Grids & Guides Pencils Twelve Pencils for Visual Thinkers

A sophisticated new pencil collection from the popular Grids includes 12 Single-Sided, Hexagonal Sharpened Pencils: 6 Black Graphite, 6 Blue Color; Includes Straight-Edge Ruler With Die-Cuts.

And we’re giving away 3 sets!

To enter, please send an email with the subject header “GRIDS AND GUIDES” to geekcontest @ gmail dot com and answer the following:

Which artist famously said, “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes”?

Please include your name and address (U.S. Residents only. You must be 18 years old).

Only one entry per person and a winner will be chosen at random.

Contest ends at 11:59 PM EST on November 13th, 2016.