The Top Paranormal Stories Of 2012

10. Spirits Of Death In A Sea Of Trees - Japan's Suicide Forest

Aokigahara (青木ヶ原), also known as the Sea of Trees (樹海) or Jukai, is a 14 square mile forest that lies at the base of Mount Fuji in Japan. Due to the wind-blocking density of the trees and an absence of wildlife, the forest is known for being exceptionally quiet and for the thickness of its trees. It is a twisting network of woody vines, and has a dangerous unevenness of the forest floor. It is rocky, cold, and littered with over 200 underground caves you could fall into accidentally. The forest is full of paradox and contrast. Its historic association with demons in Japanese mythology has long made it a popular place for suicides.

Japan has more than 30,000 suicides a year for over 14 years— one of the highest rates among industrialized nations. On average, someone in Japan dies by his own hand every 15 minutes, usually a man. The Aokigahara Forest is the most common place to commit suicide in Japan, and it is widely thought to be the second most likely site in the world, after the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
The reasons are complex.

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9. Project U.F.O.

'Project U.F.O.' features two U.S. Air Force investigators charged with investigating UFO sightings. The first season starred William Jordan (as "Maj. Jake Gatlin") and Caskey Swaim (as "Staff Sgt. Harry Fitz"). Jordan was a rather nondescript leading man, while Swaim (who had never had any significant acting experience before landing the role) added diversity as a Southerner with a pronounced accent. In season two, Jordan was replaced by Edward Winter (as "Capt. Ben Ryan"). Aldine King ("Libby") was another regular. Dr. Joyce Brothers appeared in two episodes.

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8. PROOF! There are giant creatures living at the edge of our civilization.

The Mysterious Monsters (1976) was one of the first theatrical releases produced by Sunn Classic Pictures. It was narrated by actor Peter Graves. The film investigated not only the possibility of Bigfoot's existence but also of the Loch Ness Monster and the Yeti (the Abominable Snowman). It featured dramatic reenactments of various reported Bigfoot sightings. The film showed one witness being given a lie detector test, another being placed under hypnosis. The Mysterious Monsters was the first movie to feature the home movie taken by Roger Patterson in 1967 reported to show a Bigfoot. Anthropologist Grover Krantz was interviewed and said he believed the film to be authentic. Famed Bigfoot hunter Peter Byrne was also featured and gave insights on the hunt. In discussing the Loch Ness Monster, the film showed a 1934 photograph that was said to be of the creature. In 1994, however, this photo was proven to be a hoax.

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7. The Mysterious Movies And Legends Of Dead Man's Point

Leaving Victorville and driving toward the town of Apple Valley, the desert becomes more desolate and more sinister. Dead Man’s Point is the site of two famous massacres. The first was the massacre of Catholic missionaries by Cahuilla Indians and the second, a massacre of Cahuilla Indians by white settlers. The mysterious and imposing rock formations are said to be haunted by the ghosts of these massacres and I can personally tell you that there is definitely strange and mysterious aura surrounding them. It was here that Arnold staged another scene for “It Came from Outer Space” (the police barricade), as well as the fantastic optical illusion from his 1955 film “Tarantula.” The first time we see the monstrous beast (“Crawling terror 100 feet high!”), it is crawling over the rocks at Dead Man’s Point. “Tarantula” was one of the few films in the “nature runs amok” sub-genre that did not seem to place the blame for its monstrosity on nuclear experimentation. I imagine that the forbidding, desolate desert setting (not far from military test grounds) made many viewers feel that the film was a warning about the unfathomable dangers of our entering the atomic age.

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6. In Search Of ...

'Lost civilizations, extraterrestrials, myths and monsters, missing persons, magic and witchcraft, unexplained phenomena. "In Search Of..." cameras are traveling the world, seeking out these great mysteries. This program was the result of the work of scientists, researchers and a group of highly-skilled technicians.' - Leonard Nimoy

In Search of... is a documentary television series that was broadcast weekly from 1976 to 1982 devoted to mysteries and phenomena. It was created after three successful one-hour TV documentaries, In Search of Ancient Astronauts in 1973 (based on the book Chariots of the Gods? by Erich von Däniken), and In Search of Ancient Mysteries and The Outer Space Connection (both of which were written into popular paperbacks by series-creator Alan Landsburg) in 1975. All three feature narration by Rod Serling, who was the initial choice to host the series. After the death of Serling, Leonard Nimoy was chosen to be the host of the spin-off series.

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5. Roswell UFO Crash: 65th Anniversary

On July 8, 1947, a crash in Roswell, N.M., was the spark that started UFO fever burning in the U.S. And for some, that passion is just as intense today as when they first learned that a crash in the desert had been labeled a UFO -- and quickly re-labeled a weather balloon by government officials.

"It was not a damn weather balloon -- it was what it was billed when people first reported it," Chase Brandon, a 35-year CIA veteran, told the Huffington Post.

His comments came on July 8, 2012 -- 65 years after the Roswell Daily Record newspaper ran a front page article claiming “RAAF Captures Flying Saucer On Ranch in Roswell Region.” "It was a craft that clearly did not come from this planet, it crashed and I don't doubt for a second that the use of the word 'remains' and 'cadavers' was exactly what people were talking about."

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4. A Brief History Of Bigfoot In Southern California

‘Huge, scary, aggressive, fast, and threatening’. These terms are used to describe several Bigfoot-like creatures said to inhabit the desert regions of southern California. These mysterious giant apes go by many different names, The Borrego Sandman, The Speedway Monster, Zoobies, Devils, and the Yucca Man.

It may come to the surprise of those who follow stories about Bigfoot and other mysterious creatures that the first report of these creatures by European settlers did not come from the East Coast, Midwest, or even the Pacific Northwest. It actually came from southern California. In 1769, Spanish priests founded the first mission in San Diego. Local Gabrieleno Indians told the padres about "harry devils" that lived nearby. In fact according to written accounts, the Indians lived in fear of these large, foul-smelling, "wild-men" and refused to anywhere near their reported home called "towis puki" (camp of the devil) on the southern bank of the Santa Ana River. The area of "Deadmans Hole" near Holcomb Village, just west of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park was a water stop on the old Stagecoach lines during the mid to late 1800s, and is the reported site of several alleged murders blamed on Bigfoot. In 1876, one the passengers who ventured out of the safety of the coach while it's horses stopped to take a drink reported seeing a large, naked, hairy "thing" watching him from behind some scruff. After that, several people met their demise at the site, either strangled or beaten to death by an unknown person or thing. They blamed the monster of course, regardless of the fact if it actually killed them or not.

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3. Classic UFO Reports Too Compelling To Ignore

June 24, 1947 Mount Rainier, Washington

The modern age of UFO's is born when a pilot named Kenneth Arnold spotted a formation of strange aircraft over Mount Rainier, Washington while searching for a downed U.S. Marine Corps C-46 transport airplane. In an official report that was published around the globe Arnold described the craft as being 'saucer shaped' and hence forth the term 'flying saucer' became a staple of modern pop culture. The fact that Arnold was an experienced flyer and WWII combat pilot added credibility to the sighting.

January 7, 1948 Godman Air Force Base, Kentucky

After the tower crew at Godman Air Force Base in western Kentucky had spotted an unidentified aircraft between 250 and 300 feet in diameter souring above them at a fantastic speed a squadron of Air National Guard P-51 Mustangs under the command of Captain Thomas Mantell were called upon to give chase and identify.

Whether spooked or running low on fuel themselves, two of the fighters broke off the chase leaving Mantell as the lone pursuer of the object. At 3:15 pm the Air Force Captain radioed back to Godman that he was going to try and move in closer to the UFO to get a better look at it.

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2. Bigfoot In So Cal: The Return Of The Speedway Monster!

Back in 2010 I posted a couple of articles about the infamous "Speedway Monster" that at one time used to prowl around the rural communities at the base of the San Bernardino Mountains just a mere 30-minute drive from downtown Los Angeles. The creature in question got it's signature name from a plethora of sightings that occurred between the 1950s and early 1970s at the Mickey Thompson's Fontana International Dragway where literally hundreds of race fans witnessed it roaming nearby fields and rummaging through trash cans. After the raceway closed in 1972 sightings of the "Speedway Monster" continued through the early 1990s when the suburban areas of Fontana and Rialto grew by leaps and bounds into the sprawling residential and shopping mecca it is today. As most cryptid hunters know, Bigfoot doesn't like malls so for good reasons the monster has moved on.

Or so it seemed....

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1. Classic Tales Of Cryptozoology: Does The Creature Really Walk Among Us?

For centuries people from all corners of the globe have claimed to have seen all kinds of creatures ranging from dinosaurs to werewolves and if you are inclined to believe so, a real life "Gill-Man".

Way back in the summer of 1972 two young men claimed that they were chased from the beach at Thetis Lake, British Columbia, Canada by the "Creature From The Black Lagoon" or at least something that looked very much like it.

Was it a case of mistaken identity or overactive imaginations run wild after an afternoon of watching monster movies?

At the time the local police believed the two youths and began a search for the monster. Four days later the story seemed to be validated when two fishermen spotted the monster on the opposite side of the lake. Of course the search didn't turn up any man-fish at the time yet reports of the aptly named "Thetis Lake Monster" continued on for two more decades.

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Something's going on - my Spider-sense is tingling!

It's Spidey trivia time!

Two episodes of the Spider-Man animated series (1967-1970) ("Phantom from the Depths of Time" and "Revolt in the Fifth Dimension") heavily recycle animation from episodes "From Menace to Menace" and "Dimentia Five" of the earlier series Rocket Robin Hood by simply substituting Spider-Man for Rocket Robin Hood on the animated cels.

The Human Fly Twins ("The Spider and the Fly" and "Trick or Treachery") are named "Stan" and "Lee".

In the opening title sequence of the show, Spider-Man is shown, "in the chill of night", looking out of a window at a jewelry store. The store's sign displays the words "FINE JEWLERY". When Spider-Man swings down and kicks the door open, the sign has become "FINE JEWELRY".

In "The Origin of Spider-Man," one of the bikers calls Peter a "four-eyed fouler" even though he does not wear glasses throughout the entire series.



The 1967 'Spider-Man' series displayed the web-slinging crime-fighter for the first time outside the comic book. Peter Parker, an ordinary college student, is bitten by a radioactive spider and soon finds he has the spider's ability to climb across buildings and swing across streets. After his Uncle Ben is murdered by a thief he surprised, Peter assumes the identity of Spider-Man to go after the low-lifes who plague Manhattan's streets. For 3 years, he battled with such villains as Dr. Octopus, the Green Goblin, the Kingpin, Mysterio, the Radiation Specialist, Clive, and the Rhino - always putting an end to their criminal ambitions. Written by Derek O'Cain

All Info From IMDB

Gerry Anderson, R.I.P.

by Armand Vaquer

The creator of television shows Supercar, Fireball XL5, Thunderbirds, Space: 1999 and others has died. 

The Los Angeles Times reports:

Gerry Anderson, the British creator of the TV series “Thunderbirds” renowned for his original and influential use of marionettes on TV, has died following a lengthy battle with mixed dementia. He was 83. 

Anderson’s adult son Jamie made the announcement, according to the Associated Press. He said that his father died peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday at a nursing home in Oxfordshire, England.

Above, Fireball XL5 on launcher.

Anderson was known for his marionette puppetry technique that used ultra-thin wires.  I first saw this in the Supercar series in the early 1960s and then in Fireball XL5 (Anderson's then-wife Sylvia was the voice of Venus in the series), which was one of my favorite shows when it aired locally in 1963.

 

 About six years ago, I attended a retrospective on Anderson's career at the American Cinemateque that was held at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood.  A number of his shows, including Fireball XL5, were shown.  Although I hadn't seen the show since its run, all of its themes and characters were very familiar to me as if they were seen just days before. I now have a complete box set of Fireball XL5 episodes.

 For the full story, go here.

Christmas Time In Monsterland

A quick look at my Facebook timeline this morning produced a wonderful collection of Christmas images from some of the top names in the monster movie genre. Who says that creatures from the dark side can't share in holiday cheer?

Above in a great Creature from the Black Lagoon holiday image posted by Universal Horror Films

This classic Batman cover (# 33) was shared by the nationally syndicated horror host Mr Lobo.

Author and Japanese monster maven August Ragone shared this gem. I want Godzilla to pass out gifts at my house!

This is how Famous Monsters of Filmland wished all it's fans merry Christmas!

Horror actress Sarah French sure is in the holiday spirit!!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good aaaaaarrrrrrrggghhhhh

The Top Ten Most Popular Stories Of 2012!

10. Dynamite Baby, Grindhouse Dynamite!

Grindhouse is an American term for a theater that mainly shows exploitation films. Named after the defunct burlesque theaters located on 42nd Street in New York City where 'bump n' grind' or striptease was featured.

Grindhouse films characteristically contain large amounts of sex, violence or bizarre subject matter. One genre of film featured were "roughies" or sexploitation, a mix of sex, violence and sadism. Quality varied, but low budget production values and poor print quality were common. Critical opinions varied regarding typical grindhouse fare, but many films acquired cult following and critical praise. Double, triple, and "all night" bills on a single admission charge often encouraged patrons to spend a long time in the theater. The environment was faithfully captured at the time by the magazine ‘Sleazoid Express’.

By the 1980s, home video and cable threatened to make grindhouse obsolete. By the end of the decade, these theaters had vanished from Los Angeles's Broadway and Hollywood Boulevard, New York City's Times Square and San Francisco's Market Street. By the mid-1990s, these particular theaters had all but disappeared from the United States and very few are in existence today.

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9. Work, work, work. Work, work, work. Work, work, work. Hello boys, have a good night's rest, I missed you.

Born in 1940, Robyn Hilton entered acting late in life. She spent much of her early 20s attempting to start a professional modeling career. However, she soon realized that her breasts were her best feature. She began posing topless under several aliases, for several small fly-by-night publications, many of which went out of business after just two or three issues. She also worked in many "nudie-cutie" films, which exploited her impressively busty physique, and she spent almost all of her time in front of the camera topless or completely nude.

She also did professional modeling under her own name. Finally, she was discovered by Mel Brooks, who cast her in her first legitimate feature, Blazing Saddles (1974). She believed that role would jump-start her career, but unfortunately it didn't. The "legitimate" offers weren't coming in and the lure of the adult film industry became too great. She returned to nude modeling and began to explore the growing porn film industry. She would do bit parts in television and films, hoping that she could make it as a legitimate actress. However, it wasn't meant to be. She retired from the adult film industry in the spring of 1977, after completing six feature-length porn films and roughly two dozen shorts.

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8. Classic Tales Of Cryptozoology: Does The Creature Really Walk Among Us?

For centuries people from all corners of the globe have claimed to have seen all kinds of creatures ranging from dinosaurs to werewolves and if you are inclined to believe so, a real life "Gill-Man".

Way back in the summer of 1972 two young men claimed that they were chased from the beach at Thetis Lake, British Columbia, Canada by the "Creature From The Black Lagoon" or at least something that looked very much like it.

Was it a case of mistaken identity or overactive imaginations run wild after an afternoon of watching monster movies?

At the time the local police believed the two youths and began a search for the monster. Four days later the story seemed to be validated when two fishermen spotted the monster on the opposite side of the lake. Of course the search didn't turn up any man-fish at the time yet reports of the aptly named "Thetis Lake Monster" continued on for two more decades.

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7.Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection Blu Ray

For the first time ever, eight of the most iconic cinematic masterpieces of the horror genre are available together on Blu-rayTM as Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection debuts on October 2, 2012 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Digitally restored from high resolution film elements in perfect high-definition picture and perfect high-definition sound for the first time ever, Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection brings together the very best of Universal’s legendary monsters—imaginative and technically groundbreaking tales of terror that launched a uniquely American movie genre. This definitive collection features eight films on Blu-rayTM, a collectible 48-page book featuring behind-the-scenes photographs, original posters, correspondence and much more. Each iconic film is accompanied by an array of bonus features that tell the fascinating story of its creation and history, including behind-the-scenes documentaries, filmmaker commentaries, interviews, storyboards, photo galleries, and trailers. Especially appealing for fans are a never-before-seen featurette about the restoration of Dracula and the first ever offering of Creature from the Black Lagoon in its restored Blu-rayTM 3D version.

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6. Iconic Hollywood Studio To Be Demolished Unless Fans Step In!

Does it seem feasible that the city of West Hollywood would condone the demolition of a historical landmark?

The idea that a city that normally prides itself on the preservation of of historic structures would turn a blind eye when a developer plans to bulldoze a complex that houses one of Hollywood's earliest and most acclaimed studios seems on the outside to be preposterous, but that is exactly what is about to happen.

At the heart of a growing controversy in the land where dreams are created as fast as they are destroyed is the famed Pickford-Fairbanks Studios where such movies as Some Like It Hot, The Thief of Bagdad, Guys and Dolls, and even select scenes from Star Wars (Episode 4: A New Hope) were filmed.

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5. Betty Brosmer: The Sexy Girl You Probably Have Never Heard Of

Today while I was looking for a photo of Andy Griffith as Lonesome Rhodes in A Face In The Crowd I found an image I could hardly take my eyes off of. Who is this? I wondered. The photo was labeled "Betty Brosmer" which of course sent me on a quest to find out who exactly Betty Brosmer is.

I quickly discovered that I was embarrassingly ignorant on the subject due to the fact that Brosmer was one of the most famous glamour models and sex symbols of the 1950s.

Check out these credits:

Betty's classic beauty put her on over 300 magazine covers and books.
Betty had the greatest hourglass figure of all time: 38-18-36 (inches).
She was in thousands of magazine spreads.
Her face appeared on full-page ads in Life, Time, Fortune, Look, Saturday Evening Post and other leading magazines of her day.
She won over 50 beauty contests before the age of 20.
Betty, the ultimate Calendar Girl, appeared on hundreds of calendars.
She was on numerous music album covers;
On billboards in Times Square and billboards across the country;
On life-size cutouts in retail stores selling Kodak film, Thom McAn shoes and other products.

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Enjoy This Sneak Preview!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

You'll shoot your eye out, kid.

Read This Article

What James Bond Did For Japan

by Armand Vaquer

Above, Akiko Wakabayashi and Sean Connery at the sumo stadium in "You Only Live Twice."  Photo: United Artists.

In 1967, James Bond 007 (in the form of Sean Connery) had a mission to stop the hijacking of U.S. and U.S.S.R. space capsules by S.P.E.C.T.R.E. to prevent a war between the two nations.  That mission took him to Japan.  The movie was You Only Live Twice.

As this year is the fiftieth anniversary of the James Bond movies, the Japan Times took a look at what Bond did for Japan in "The Gentleman In The Tux and What He Did For Japan."

Along with Connery, Toho actresses Akiko Wakabayashi and Mie Hama were featured as Japanese agents Aki and Kissy Suzuki respectively.

The article starts out with:

In 1967, James Bond made his official Japan debut in "You Only Live Twice": The gentleman spy came to Tokyo and Fukuoka, saw some sumo, consorted with ninja and got intimate with two homegrown Bond girls. Directed by Lewis Gilbert, "You Only Live Twice" goes down in Japan's collective memory as the one and only time 007 made it to these shores.

The movie version of You Only Live Twice is quite different from Ian Fleming's novel, although both are centered in Japan.

On working with Connery, Wakabayashi said in my interview with her, "James Bond in the movie is a ladies' man, but Sean-san is a warm-hearted honest man. He has a clear vision as an actor. He can be stubborn from time to time, but he is a real man with a bit of old-fashioned taste."

One bit of trivia:  the location used for Osato Chemicals in Tokyo was the New Otani Hotel.

To read the full article, go here.

Adventures on the Planet of the Apes #9 October 1976 "The Warhead Messiah"

Image & Info Courtesy Of My Comic Shop.com

In the early 1970s Marvel Comics produced a great series of horror and movie inspired comic books after the Comics Code (which had put a strangle hold on comic book violence and graphic images) had become more liberal. A perfect example of how the industry had once again returned to it's macabre roots was well illustrated by Alfredo Alcala and Nick Caputo with their stunning cover to 'Adventures on the Planet of the Apes (1975) #9'. Though the scene depicted neither appeared in the comic or in the movie it was inspired by (Beneath the Planet of the Apes) the image of both Brent and Nova standing amongst a sea of skeletons while a gorilla soldier prepares to shoot them stood out as one of the best of the bunch.

The truly dark vision for the sequel to 'Planet of the Apes' didn't stop at the cover. The story and art work contained within by Doug Moench and Alfredo Alcala paints a truly macabre scene that makes you wish that the duo had in some way been involved in the production of the movie. Rarely did the comic book adaptation ever best the original feature but in this case it really, really did.

Synopsis:

Attempting to flee the ape city, Brent and Nova are captured by gorillas. Ursus orders they be used for target practice, but Zira helps them escape. They hide in a cave which Brent soon discovers is the ruins of the Queensboro Plaza station of the New York City Subway, making him realize that he has travelled through time to Earth's post-apocalyptic future. After following a humming sound deeper into the underground tunnels, Brent begins to hear voices telling him to kill Nova. Entering the remains of St. Patrick's Cathedral, he finds a population of telepathic humans who worship an ancient nuclear bomb.

Brent and Nova are captured and telepathically interrogated, and Brent reveals the apes are marching on the Forbidden Zone. The telepaths attempt to repel the apes by projecting illusions of fire and other horrors, as they had done to Taylor and Nova. Dr. Zaius sees through the illusions, however, and leads the ape army to the ruined city. With the apes closing in, the telepaths plan to detonate their "Divine Bomb" as a last resort. They hold a religious ceremony, at the height of which they remove their masks to reveal that they have been grotesquely mutated by centuries of exposure to nuclear fallout.

"The Warhead Messiah"

Script: Doug Moench
Pencils: Alfredo Alcala
Inks: Alfredo Alcala
Colors: George Roussos

Price Guide Value: 2.0 = $2 to 9.2 = $20

Search for more Planet of the Apes comic books at My Comic Shop.com.

Fantasy Figure Gallery Dragon Maiden 1:6 Scale Statue

Fantasy Figure Gallery Dragon Maiden 1:6 Scale Statue:

Price: $249.99

This item has features and themes that are for adults only. Ages 18 and up. Recommended for mature collectors.
Boris Vallejo's sexy Dragon Maiden as an amazing 1:6 scale statue!
Resin statue stands 13 1/2-inches tall.
Limited edition of 500 pieces!

Drawing upon the dragon maiden themes of fairy tales and legends, it's Boris Vallejo's Fantasy Figure Gallery Dragon Maiden 1:6 Scale Statue! A striking 13 1/2-inch tall resin statue with cast-off, removable clothing, Dragon Maiden was sculpted by Eric Sosa and Shin Tanabe. Confidently poised with her dagger at her side, she needs neither saint nor hero to save her. Includes an art card, certificate of authenticity, and display base. Limited edition of 500 pieces.

Age: 18+
Size: 13 1/2-inches tall

Wonder Woman New 52 ArtFX Statue

Wonder Woman New 52 ArtFX Statue:

Price: $39.99

Kotobukiya's line of DC Comics "New 52" ARTFX+ Statues continues, capturing the new looks and costumes of heroes in the Justice League. Joining the previously announced Superman, Green Lantern, Flash, Aquaman, and Batman is the Amazonian warrior WONDER WOMAN! Born of Zeus and Hippolyta, Diana was a princess on the paradise island of Themyscira before venturing out into the wider world of humanity. Her first major appearance (in the relaunched New 52 continuity) was the great battle against Darkseid's Parademons in which she teamed up with other heroes to form the Justice League.The magnificent Wonder Woman stands poised with a warrior's strength and a god's grace. Always ready for battle, Diana wears her iconic costume as reinterpreted by Jim Lee in the New 52. Along with her stars and stripes bodice she rocks full pants and tall boots. Wonder Woman's left hand is balled into a fist at her waist, always near the short sword at her back, while her right hand rests over her Lasso of Truth. Of course, no Wonder Woman would be complete without her bracelets and tiara! The Amazon princess features intricate sculpted details in her unique outfit from the stars and eagle design on her top to the subtle armor and paneling on her pants and the creases in her boots. Diana's face captures the character's austere beauty and fierce determination.Standing 7 ½ inches tall (in the ARTFX+ 1/10th scale), Wonder Woman was sculpted by master artist Atelier Bamboo. She has magnets in her feet for perfect stability on her included display base (with Justice League logo), and naturally she'll look great on your shelf next to the rest of her powerful allies. Stay tuned for the final member of the team coming soon, Cyborg!

Fantastic Four #91 October 1969 "The Thing Enslaved!"

Image & Info Courtesy Of My Comic Shop.com

On the planet Kral, a world whose culture is mirrored by the legendary 1930's mobster Machine Gun Martin who was captured and brought to the planet, Boss Barker makes a bet with his opponent Lippy Louie that his acquisition of the Thing will be able to defeat his best fighter, the Mekkan known as Torgo.

While the Fantastic Four on Earth begin searching for their friend Ben, Ben himself is delivered into slavery at the hands of Boss Barker. Along the way Ben learns that the Skrull's of this planet adopted 1930's humanoid forms, inspired by Martin, and captured beings from other worlds to fight in their gladiator pits. After a few failed escape attempts, Ben is informed that he will have to fight Torgo. When meeting Torgo, Thing learns that the justification of the Mekkan's life will be the death of the Thing.

While back on Earth, Reed's deductions as to what happened to Ben, brings him to the conclusion that he was likely kidnapped by the Skrulls. - Marvel Comics

Story:

"The Thing Enslaved"

Script: Stan Lee
Pencils: Jack Kirby
Inks: Joe Sinnott
Letters: Sam Rosen

Price Guide Value: 2.0 = $6 to 9.2 = $85

Search for more Fantastic Four comic books at My Comic Shop.com. This site has several copies of Fantastic Four #91 in stock in varying grades.

Legendary Pictures' Godzilla News

by Armand Vaquer

A little tidbit of news on the Legendary Pictures/Warner Bros. production of Godzilla has been posted over at Comic Book Movie.com.

The movie is currently in pre-production and will be approached in a more realistic fashion.

An excerpt of an interview with producer Dan Lin in Collider provided some news:

"We’re planning to film in March. We are in deep pre-production. Gareth [Edwards] has really mapped out his vision for the movie, you saw the teaser, but Gareth—thanks to [Legendary CEO] Thomas Tull’s help—he took over a whole stage on the Warner Brothers lot and not only showed the teaser you saw, he had some models built of Godzilla, he had art decorated all over the soundstage, he had pre-vis of some of the big action sequences in the movie."

Noted G-fan Stan Hyde ought to be ecstatic as Lin indicates the movie may be filmed in his backyard:

"Most likely it's filming in Vancouver."

Their vision of Godzilla will be: What would happen if Godzilla came into our world today? 

The theatrical target date is set for March 16, 2014.

Read more at http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/BatFreak/news/?a=71552#5Dxzou7cWqcbFw4e.99

Haruo Nakajima's 84th Birthday Coming Up

by Armand Vaquer

Above, Haruo Nakajima in 2008.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Haruo "Mr. Godzilla" will be turning 84 this coming January 1.  He was born on January 1, 1929 in Yamagata, Japan.

 As has been a tradition for the past several years, fans wanting to extend their birthday greetings to Mr. Nakajima can post them here in the comments.  I will begin to forward them to his daughter Sonoe on January 1.

Mr. Nakajima will be a special guest at the Mad Monster Party convention this coming March 22-24, 2013 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

If you want to have your birthday greetings sent to Mr. Nakajima, post them here.

Please Teacher Hatsuho Kazami Super Jumbo Statue

Please Teacher Hatsuho Kazami Super Jumbo Statue:

Price: $539.99

This item has features and themes that are for adults only. Ages 18 and up. Recommended for mature collectors.
Please Teacher's Hatsuho Kazami in sexy lingerie!
Hatsuho Kazami statue stands 26 1/3-inches tall.
Features removable, cast-off clothing!

From the anime series Please Teacher, it's Hatsuho in statue form with the Please Teacher Hatsuho Kazami Super Jumbo Statue! Standing about 26 1/3-inches tall, the resin Hatsuho Statue comes with a laser beam gun, ice cream cone, and removable, cast-off fabric underwear. Her plastic purple hair really makes Hatsuho stand out! Sculpted by Ryusuke, the Please Teacher Hatsuho Kazami Super Jumbo Statue makes for one beautiful display piece.

Daydream Collection Homeroom Teacher Mari Manga Statue

Daydream Collection Homeroom Teacher Mari Manga Statue:

Price: $169.99

This item has features and themes that are for adults only. Ages 18 and up. Recommended for mature collectors.

Mari is one homeroom teacher you wish you had!
This statue definitely demands your attention!
Mari comes to you in a tight black dress and black fishnet stockings.
A special school-desk display base is included.

School is in session and Mari demands your attention, class! Kaitendoh 's Daydream Collection was created by Kaitendoh's innovative team materializing their true daydreams. This time in Volume 2, their fantasy takes you to those good old school days... only better. Mari is one homeroom teacher you wish you had! She comes to you in a tight black dress and black fishnet stockings, with a special school-desk display base. This is the 1:6 scale PVC Homeroom Teacher Mari Manga Image Version that captures her light and angelic bishoujo look. Paying attention to her shouldn't be a problem.

Age: 18+
Size: 1:6 scale

"Pacific Rim" Official Trailer

Legendary Pictures has released their "official trailer" for Guillermo Del Toro's Pacific Rim.  In it, we get a better look at the kaiju and the monster-fighting giant robots (Jaegers).

My God!!! What Is It???!

The answer is carpet, straw and vacuum cleaner hoses.

The monster that appears in the cult classic 'The Creeping Terror' is one of the worst to ever appear on the silver screen, rivaled only by Roger Corman's Cookie Monster in 'Creature from the Haunted Sea', Phil Tucker's gorilla with a space helmet in 'Robot Monster', and Fred F Sears' puppet buzzard in 'The Giant Claw.' With a head covered in old vacuum cleaner hoses, a body covered in carpet samples and a mouth that looks mysteriously like a vagina 'The Creeping Terror' is quite a sight to behold. According to reports, however this was not what was supposed to appear in the film at all. Only a few days before shooting was to begin, the original monster was stolen. Pressed for time and out of money, director Vic Savage and his crew hastily threw together the infamous "pile of carpets" monster that appears in the film.

That however was not the only problem that plagued the production of this cinema dud. During post production the producer lost the original soundtrack. Unable to get all of the cast back together for dubbing, they were forced to record a narration and use surviving alternate takes to replace it. It shouldn't have come as much of a surprise that most of the cast wouldn't have wanted to come back in for dubbing due mostly to the fact that many of them (naive Hollywood hopefuls desperate to get into a film) had been duped into paying the producers for parts in the film.

Indeed 'The Creeping Terror' is a mess of cardboard spaceship sets with controls labeled in English, victims having to climb into the monster costume to be eaten, and a story that is all over the place.

The only good point in the movie comes shortly after the monster arrives at the dance hall where women in tight pants shake their booties, a woman who is trying to flee is thrown down by a man who grabs her arm. Her dress and brassiere are torn away, briefly revealing her breasts. The woman looks surprised, covers her chest and hides behind a man for the remainder of the shot.

That two seconds of boobies was about the only thing worth seeing in the whole film!

On that point not many people have ever seen 'The Creeping Terror' due to the fact that there is no evidence that the film ever appeared in theaters and moreover there is no evidence that the film ever appeared on television prior to 1976. In fact the movie may never have reached the public's attention had it not been featured on an episode of 'Mystery Science Theater 3000.'

Narrator: 'Despite Brett's inquiries about what Martin had seen in the spacecraft, he avoided specific details for fear of disturbing her more than she was. If the truth were known, Martin was more than a little disturbed himself.'

After seeing a giant vagina wrapped in carpet who wouldn't be a little shaken right?

That's great, it starts with an earthquake, birds and snakes, an aeroplane

Well it looks like the end of everything is a mere fourteen days away ... or so the Mayans have predicted. To be honest I really hadn't been too worried about the fact that a calender that was created in 3372 BC couldn't go on for infinity. I mean really the thing had to run out of space right?

Today however, I think there may be something to this doomsday mumbo jumbo after all. First off look at the date, '12-21-12' it's a series of numbers that repeats. Isn't that odd? Secondly the prime minister of Australia, Julia Gillard, recently went on television in the land down under and stated the end was indeed near.

Julia Gillard is a pretty and intelligent woman who seems to be on the ball about things, after all she was elected by the people of Australia, the same people who brought us INXS, 'Mad Max' and Yahoo Serious. So you know she's not just another political nut job.

According to Gillard to end could come from any number of sources, “Whether the final blow comes from flesh-eating zombies, demonic hill beasts or from the total triumph of K-Pop…”

Don't laugh bath salts are turning upstanding citizens into flesh eating monsters, hill beasts are everywhere and undoubtedly K-Pop will be the end of us all. No, Julia is really onto something here!

Well I'm off to quit my job and party down for the next two weeks. Here is the video that changed my mind about ancient Mayan wisdom and the end of the once great planet Earth:

Star Trek Into Darkness - Official Teaser (HD)

Is it sad that the only new movies I give a crap about are this one, 'Godzilla 3D' and the next 'Planet of the Apes?'

Actually, is it also sad that my taste in movies hasn't changed even one bit since I was ten years old? It's like living in 1977 all over again ... oh well.

Here is the info:

In Summer 2013, pioneering director J.J. Abrams will deliver an explosive action thriller that takes Star Trek Into Darkness. When the crew of the Enterprise is called back home, they find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization has detonated the fleet and everything it stands for, leaving our world in a state of crisis. With a personal score to settle, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction. As our heroes are propelled into an epic chess game of life and death, love will be challenged, friendships will be torn apart, and sacrifices must be made for the only family Kirk has left: his crew.

Official Site: http://www.StarTrekMovie.com

The Bloody Rage of Bigfoot - The Book Based on the Film

You saw it on the big screen in stunning 3-D, now read the story that started it all!

Yes indeed horror movie junkies James Baack's unique take on Sasquatch cinema is now available in book form on Amazon Kindle!

If for some reason you are not familiar with this one let me summarize it for you. A serial killer in a pig mask, a maniacal clown, a pair of sexy witches who are into the rough stuff and ... of course ... Bigfoot come together in a roller-coaster of a tale of occult, mystery and cryptozoology.

Got your attention didn't it?

Here is a brief synopsis:

Bigfoot Horror master, Eric S. Brown, returns with an adaptation of Great Lake Films' The Bloody Rage of Bigfoot. Like a 1970s Marvel horror comic, The Bloody Rage of Bigfoot blends action and horror as two witches and the world's leading Sasquatch expert seek vengeance and attempt to stop the legendary monster's latest killing spree.

Once you read 'The Bloody Rage of Bigfoot' you will never think of Bigfoot the same way again!



Never mind the fact that my name is in the credits ...

Flintstones- Fred Flintstone - Hanna-Barbera Action Figure

Flintstones Fred Flintstone Hanna-Barbera Action Figure:

Price: $14.99

Some of the greatest and most memorable cartoon characters ever created come to life with this delightful line of Hanna-Barbera History Collection action figures. From the classic Hanna-Barbera cartoon The Flintstones, comes the Fred Flintstone Action Figure. This incredibly well-detailed 3 3/4-inch action figure of Bedrock's own patriarch looks fantastic on display at home or in the office. Start your Hanna-Barbera collection now!

Cinema Insomnia and Neoflux Productions are proud to present the 'Brine Chimps' Animation Jam.

Premiering in 2001, Cinema Insomnia ( www.cinemainsomnia.com ) is a nationally syndicated late-night tv show. The show features B-Movies, Sci-Fi, and cult fare--presented by the enigmatic and satirical horror host, Mr. Lobo ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Lobo ).  In a Sea-Monkey spoof, Mr. Lobo will have mail-order pets called brine chimps. Each episode, he will be checking in on his microscopic menagerie and you are invited to animate their antics!

The 'Brine Chimps' Animation Jam is being created in cooperation with Mike Schneider and Neoflux Productions ( Night of the Living Dead: Reanimated ) and will premiere on Zom-Bee TV ( one of the fastest growing and highest rated new channels on Roku ). Zom-Bee TV can also be viewed on GoogleTV, iPads, iPhones, and other mobile devices via www.zom-bee.com .

Animators are invited to create short ( 10-30 second ) animated skits featuring these Brine-Chimps and their seaciety. Open to all forms of animation ( including but not limited to puppets, stop motion, and flash ) and all tones, animators may take their skits in any direction they choose. Mr. Lobo will be looking in on his pets periodically through the season ( setting up/ cutting to the various animated segments ).

Formatting is 720 x 480 (16:9 Aspect Ratio), 30 Frames Per Second, Uncompressed MOV. Completed clips are submitted via wetransfer.com to shenlon@hotmail.com + mrlobo@cinemainsomnia.com .

Animators retain full rights to their clips, will be accredited on the show, listed on IMDB, and will receive a prize pack of CI swag ( including a DVD of the episode featuring their clips. ) Our ‘favorite’ clip will also receive a Roku Streaming Video Player courtesy of Zom-Bee.

Full details, sample model sheets, and other resources are available through our facebook group:http://www.facebook.com/groups/202137683254933

The deadline for completed clips is March 13th, 2013.

Batman Arkham City Catwoman Play Arts Kai Action Figure

Batman Arkham City Catwoman Play Arts Kai Action Figure:

Price: $59.99

This Catwoman Action Figure comes to life with stunning poseability!
Derived from the smash-hit video game Batman: Arkham City.
Selina Kyle features an interchangeable head and hands!
Includes whip and goggles accessories.

Derived from the smash-hit video game Batman: Arkham City, the Catwoman Play Arts Kai Action Figure sports over 26 points of articulation, making this exquisite plastic action figure come to life with stunning poseability! Selina Kyle stands approximately 8 3/4-inches in her displayable window box, and she includes an interchangeable head and hands, as well as her whip and goggles accessories. With unsurpassed quality in the paint application and detailed texture that only Square-Enix products can bring, this Catwoman Action Figure is a fantastic addition to any Batman collection!

Wonder Woman Bishoujo Statue

Wonder Woman Bishoujo Statue:

Price: $54.99

The prettiest member of DC's "Trinity" - Wonder Woman!
This Wonder Woman Statue is a force to be reckoned with!
The muscular and buxom Princess Diana holds her magical Lasso of Truth.
An exclusive Amazonian base includes her spears, shield, cape, and helmet.
No bishoujo collection is complete without her!

Beauty, brains, and brawn. Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of DC Comics, the DC Comics Bishoujo Collection (combining DC's superheroines and villains with traditional Japanese stylings) continues with the prettiest member of DC's "Trinity" - Wonder Woman! Wonder Woman is truly a force to be reckoned with as the ever-dynamic Amazon stands surrounded by her full panoply of weapons and equipment, ready to face any threat. Dressed in her iconic and colorful costume, the muscular and buxom Wonder Woman shows plenty of skin and looks sexier than ever! Diana holds her magical Lasso of Truth in both hands, ready to capture you and force you to tell her all your secrets. As with her compatriots, Wonder Woman has an incredible bishoujo-styled face that's framed perfectly by her flowing long black hair and tiara. Wonder Woman is constructed of high-quality plastic and stands just over 9-inches tall (in the magnificent 1:7 scale) atop an exclusive Amazonian base, complete with her spears, shield, cape, and helmet. No bishoujo collection is complete without her!

Since her comic book debut in 1941, Princess Diana has been an icon of female power, intelligence, and grace. Arriving in "man's world" from the Amazonian island home of Themyscira, Diana donned a red, white, and blue costume to protect the world as Wonder Woman. The timeless character appears now for the first time in the Japanese bishoujo (pretty girl) style, inspired by Japan's renowned illustrator Shunya Yamashita.