Happy Holidays! Sorry I haven’t been here to update in a while – 2016 can piss off, what a horrible year. On the bright side, here are a few Thunderbirds interviews I did last year that have finally been released. Hope you enjoy them. Be sure to visit http://fanmoguls.com/ and let them know you
I’m shaken to hear this, and still processing it. Darwyn Cook has passed away, and I’m having a hard time facing a world in which his pen will never again burst forth with smiling characters being heroic.
It’s been my hope since I first saw his work that he would eventually become the Editor In Chief at DC Comics (he even has the initials for it!) and steer the company back towards some sort of relevancy with readers rather than heaping out fan service to a dying crowd of collectors. The only DC books I’ve bought over the last fifteen years have been Darwyn’s, in fact.
The company has tried over and over to revitalize their line without success because they haven’t the guts to cut loose the tiny crowd of hardcore buyers of their product and try to appeal to a larger crowd. With Darwin in charge, I had hoped the sky over Metropolis, Star City, Gotham, and the rest of the DCverse might be filled again with unambivalent heroes flying towards conflict with unambivalent villains or the forces of nature.
I don’t need to identify with a protagonist in a comic book because he’s as screwed up inside as me, I want him (or her) to be an example that I can try to emulate to make myself better. This is how heroic storytelling has worked for thousands of years, and nobody at DC seemed to understand that as well as Darwyn Cooke.
I wish him peace and offer my thanks.
Oh Captain, my Captain. My tribute to the chameleon king.
My upcoming book, Zombies: The Ultimate Visual History (insight Editions, Oct. 4, 2016) is now available for pre-order on Amazon! Here’s the publisher’s description and specs:
Zombies: The Ultimate Visual History is the indispensable visual tour of all things undead. Filled to the brim with hundreds of photographs, movie posters, and pieces of art, as well as quotes from zombie filmmakers, actors, makeup artists, writers, musicians, and visual artists, Zombies: The Ultimate Visual History constructs a graphic narrative from the origin of the archetype through to today’s current obsession with zombies. A treasure trove featuring removable ephemera and sidebars on how zombies have impacted popular culture, the book not only grants an extensive overview of zombie cinema and television, but also all related media, from video games and comics to toys and collectibles.
I can tell you that I’ve personally selected more than 750 images for the book, and the designer may well add many more. Most in full color, many in gorgeous black and white (like the one above!). This will be the most complete visual volume on the history of zombies ever published.
Please pre-order it so the publisher will be impressed with my marketing efforts, and then share this post with all your friends! I’ll owe you a solid.
My retrospective feature article on Filmation’s GROOVIE GOOLIES is in (and on the cover!) of the new issue of Horror Hound Magazine, #56. You love it if you’re a fan, it covers the series from conception to current day, highlighting all the cool merchandise. Many thanks to Andy Mangels and Jack Mendelssohn for their help in preparing the article and finding images.
Do not attempt to adjust your media player! I recently appeared on the Earth Station One podcast to talk about one of my favorite television shows of all time, The Outer Limits. I was joined by ESO host Mike Gordon and artist and bon vivant Mark Maddox. Hope you enjoy our discussion!
I spoke with The Phantom Troublemaker at the Needless Things Podcast about the upcoming (this week!) Dragon Con Charity Blood Drive. Give it a listen, won’t you?
http://www.needlessthingssite.com/2015/08/needless-things-podcast-71-dragon-con.html?m=1
If you’re going to be at Dragon Con in Atlanta this Labor Day weekend, please consider donating blood to their charity blood drive! I was able to work with Life South Community Blood Centers and Lugosi Enterprises to make Bela Lugosi the official mascot this year, which is very exciting! In addition to designing the banners you’ll see all around the convention (example below), I was able to tap illustrator Kerry Gammill for some great t-shirt art! The only way to get the shirt is to donate! Hope to see many of you there with your arms out! 😉
Sorry for the lack of updates for so long! I was having problems with WordPress, but they seem to be resolved now. I’ll be more diligent about posting, truly!
Here’s my schedule for Dragon Con, happening in downtown Atlanta over Labor Day weekend. I hope to see you there!
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Title: Inside the Actor’s Gaffe with Julian Glover
Description: An hour of chatting with Julian Glover on his life, career, experience on Doctor Who and legacy.
Time: Fri 10:00 am Location: Grand Ballroom West – Hilton (Length: 1 Hour)
(Tentative Panelists: Julian Glover, Anthony Taylor)
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Title: Sir Christopher Lee: A Tribute
Description: Sir Christopher Lee passed away earlier this year, but not before leaving us a wealth of memorably chilling performances
Time: Fri 11:30 am Location: Peachtree 1-2 – Westin (Length: 1 Hour)
(Tentative Panelists: Jonathan Maberry, Corvis Nocturnum, Anthony Taylor, Catherine M Scully, Daniel Griffith)
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Title: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
Description: Alternate History Track & BritTrack joint to discuss Susanna Clarke’s novel and it’s magical BBC One Television incarnation.
Time: Fri 04:00 pm Location: Macon – Sheraton (Length: 1 Hour)
(Tentative Panelists: Anthony Taylor, Davey Beauchamp)
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Title: Exploitation!
Description: A discussion about the wild world of exploitation, cult, and midnight movies!
Time: Fri 10:00 pm Location: Peachtree 1-2 – Westin (Length: 1 Hour)
(Tentative Panelists: Daniel Griffith, Mike Malloy, Anthony Taylor, L. Andrew Cooper)
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Title: 50th Anniversary of The Wild Wild West
Description: James West and Artemis Gordon celebrate their Golden Anniversary at the Secret Service. This fan panel celebrates it’s heyday.
Time: Sat 11:30 am Location: Augusta 1-2 – Westin (Length: 1 Hour)
(Tentative Panelists: Thomas Willeford, Anthony Taylor)
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Title: The Man, The Myth, The Legend: Christopher Lee in Memoriam
Description: A celebratory chat on the institution, life, and career that was Sir Christopher Frank Carandini Lee.
Time: Sat 01:00 pm Location: Macon – Sheraton (Length: 1 Hour)
(Tentative Panelists: Anthony Taylor, Louis John Robinson)
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Title: Bond, James Bond, 007
Description: The new film “Spectre” & BBC One’s “Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond” miniseries.
Time: Sun 05:30 pm Location: Macon – Sheraton (Length: 1 Hour)
(Tentative Panelists: Anthony Taylor, Louis John Robinson)
More video from the Robocop Panel at Dragon Con 2014!
