Happy Birthday to the Dark Hearted EDGAR ALLAN POE

It may be cold in most places, but today we can open our black little hearts to remember the birthday of a true horror icon, Edgar Allan Poe. On January 19, 1809 the one and only literary author was born and from there he became a legend in the written word.

With a movie coming in 2012, and his works continually being made into short subjects, he is going to be around much longer than his death in 1849.

So in memory of a legend a Black Hearted Happy Birthday to the one and only Edgar Allan Poe

Courtesy of WIKIPEDIA (for more visit Wikipedia:
Born Edgar Poe, January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American author, poet, editor and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is considered the inventor of the detective fiction genre. He is further credited with contributing to the emerging genre of science fiction. He was the first well-known American writer to try to earn a living through writing alone, resulting in a financially difficult life and career.

He was born as Edgar Poe in Boston, Massachusetts; he was orphaned young when his mother died shortly after his father abandoned the family. Poe was taken in by John and Frances Allan, of Richmond, Virginia, but they never formally adopted him. He attended the University of Virginia for one semester but left due to lack of money. After enlisting in the Army and later failing as an officer’s cadet at West Point, Poe parted ways with the Allans. His publishing career began humbly, with an anonymous collection of poems, Tamerlane and Other Poems (1827), credited only to “a Bostonian”.

Poe switched his focus to prose and spent the next several years working for literary journals and periodicals, becoming known for his own style of literary criticism. His work forced him to move among several cities, including Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City. In Baltimore in 1835, he married Virginia Clemm, his 13-year-old cousin. In January 1845 Poe published his poem, “The Raven”, to instant success. His wife died of tuberculosis two years after its publication. He began planning to produce his own journal, The Penn (later renamed The Stylus), though he died before it could be produced. On October 7, 1849, at age 40, Poe died in Baltimore; the cause of his death is unknown and has been variously attributed to alcohol, brain congestion, cholera, drugs, heart disease, rabies, suicide, tuberculosis, and other agents.

Poe and his works influenced literature in the United States and around the world, as well as in specialized fields, such as cosmology and cryptography. Poe and his work appear throughout popular culture in literature, music, films, and television. A number of his homes are dedicated museums today.

Grimm Fairy Tales – The Ugly Duckling

by: RFR Casket Crew Denise

When a young unattractive teen is tormented by her high school peers she makes a deal with Belinda and seeks out her own form of revenge. Now, ten years later, the once ugly duckling turned swan is living a successful life as a top model. However, on the night of her high school reunion, she’ll find that the deal she made many years ago is about to come to bite her.

He couldn’t have her as his own, so he killed her. In fact he killed many of ‘her’. Over and over and over, the swan killer has struck and he cannot be stopped. Events were set in motion years ago by Belinda, and now the psycho she helped create is loose and on the prowl. While stalking a new beautiful woman from afar, we learn of his past which will lead up to his next victim’s murder. She must die and he knows that he cannot stop himself – but maybe something else can.

Those wacky people over at Grimm Fairy Tales have taken the much beloved children’s story The Ugly Duckling and twisted it for our entertainment. Actually they took the beloved story and have broken it into two parts. The first part, in issue 28, is a twist of The Ugly Duckling. The second part, The Swan is retold in issue 36. Put these two together and you have one grand twisted tale of revenge, murder and psychos – what more can a  Deadite wish for.

If you’ve never picked up a Grimm Fairy Tale, I implore you to do so. The thing I like about this series is how a innocent child’s tale can be twisted and folded and bent and come out the other side completely the same yet completely different. These books reminds me of a paper version of The Twilight Zone or Tales from the Darkside which are quite entertaining to watch. And like those TV shows, Grimm Fairy Tales continue to be quite entertaining to read.

Monstermatt’s Bad Monster Jokes Vol. 1: Gets Release Date

Book publisher Pill Hill Press, is pleased to announce an official scheduled release for “Monstermatt’s Bad Monster Jokes Vol.1″, written by Monstermatt Patterson, illustrated by Kyle Kaczmarczyk, with an introduction by Joe Moe and an afterword by Pat Tantalo, for their non-fiction imprint, WestNeb Books.

WestNebBooks acquired the book from it’s previous publisher, during a brief and successful run,with both critics and readers alike. Some changes have been made to the book, including some added content.

“Monstermatt’s Bad Monster Jokes Vol.1″ is a self described collection of over 400 badjokes, rancid rhymes, putrid puns and sophomoric song parodies, with illustrations, focused on horror films, monsters, sci-fi, superheroes and some popculture for good measure.

According to Pill Hill Press and WestNeb Books editor Jessy Marie Roberts, September 21st, 2011 is the scheduled release for Volume 1. Just in time for Halloween! Volumes 2 and 3 are currently being written with no release dates yet for the follow up editions.

Monstermatt has written over one thousand bad monsterjokes and this first volume gives you a sizeable introduction to the humor that resides within. The marriage of the jokes to Kyle Kaczmarczyk’s insightful illustrations are what has fans waiting for more!

What can readers expect?
Bad jokes like:

Does the 666 on Damien Thorne’s scalp mean he’s the Devil?

No, it’s his “Credit Score”!

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Why was The Wolfman mad at his H.M.O.?

They wouldn’t pay for his “flea dip”!

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Where does H.P.Lovecraft like to shop?

Bed, Bath & “From Beyond”!

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What coffee drink does The Phantom of the Opera like?

La lalalalalala, latte!

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Sophomoric song parody lyrics like:

“My Zombie Valentine”
“Intestines”
“Monsters in the Night”

And many, many more…

According to duo the book is acting as an introduction to the horror genre for newcomers while entertaining those already familiar with it. Jokes and illustrations about Frankenstein and Dracula to jokes about “The Manitou” and “Basket Case” even “The Human Centipede” are turning many a newcomer into a horror buff. The duo has heard feedback from readers that watched “Dead Snow” and some other notable films due to the book.

The jokes and song parodies have been used on horror podcasts like:

RueMorgue Radio
Screamwave Podcast
Rotting Flesh Radio
Tomb TV with Tomb Dragomir

And more. This has helped to build a growing following of Maniacs(fans).

As the Emcee of Buffalo MonsterFest 2010, Monstermatt got a chance to field test his brand of humor-a mixture of Mad Magazine/Famous Monsters/Benny Hill/Borscht Belt Comedy finding that what produced groans from the audience felt delicious to him!

With Kaczmarczyk at the drawing pad, illustrating sight gags he knew they had something “ghoul” going on that could entertain, enlighten and grow on the reader.

Some notable names from the horror genre weigh in on the book:

“I wrote this blurb so Matt would stop the Pun-ishment.”

-Rodrigo Gudino, Rue Morgue Magazine

——

“I tried very hard to find anything remotely amusing or anything that might induce at least a chuckle from this ‘Joke Book’ but was unsuccessful. In fact it actually ‘scared’ me how corny it is and that is hard to do to me! At least you have the guts. Congrats!”

-Tony Moran, The Original Michael Myers (Halloween,1979)

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“You can open any page of this book, read one line and feel intense pain throughout your entire body. I’m in awe.”

-Joe Bob Briggs, Drive-In Critic & Host of MonsterVision

——

Here’s what the Monsters themselves are saying about the book.

“Monstermatt’s jokes are Good! Bad Good! –Frankenstein’s Monster

“Monstermatt’s jokes are a pain in the neck”! –Dracula

Kyle Kaczmarczyk’s illustrations had me howling!! –The Wolfman

“As soon as we opened the book, we knew we’d have a double headache”! –The Thing with Two Heads

Critics also had something to say about the book:

“I laughed, I groaned, I shook my head in disbelief! I highly recommend this book!” – The Monster Librarian

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“The book is purely enjoyable.” – Sonar 4 Landing Dock Reviews.

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The book will be available at major online book retailers. For more information and updates, or to keep up with Kyle, Monstermatt and PillHillPress, follow them on Twitter at:

www.Twitter.com/zombieinkcomics
www.Twitter.com/1monstermatt
www.Twitter.com/pillhillpress

Witch – A Graphic Novel Review

by: RFR Casket Crew Denise

A teenage girl discovers she’s a witch and the voice in her head is her “familiar”, a large black cat…sort of. Our heroine is unaware that she comes from a long line of witches hunted almost to extinctions. With the aid of her familiar and a mysterious young man, she must find other witches before the witch hunters find her.

Witch is written by Travis Fickett and Terry Matalas and Tony Shasteen was the artist. The book was published by Kickstart

I really enjoyed the story in Witch. It deals with a young girl who is probably entering her teens (13-16 years old) when she starts hearing a voice in her head. Worse yet, the voice is telling her not only telling her to do things but to release her. When she unknowingly releasing the voice, it turns out to be a cat-like demon named Ridley.

Kylie is so freaked out by Ridley that she goes to the police to confess to a incident the night before when some baddies tried to attack Kylie. Ridley was right there to protect Kylie from harm. Of course the police don’t believe Kylie’s story and basically turn her way.

Kylie is finally approached by Aaron, another outcast, who turns out to be a witch like her. And he has he’s own familar, Lucy. Together the two begin to explore their powers along with their familars. But there’s another danger out there in the world unknown to Kylie – Witch Hunters.

Witch Hunters have existed almost as long as witches and there sole purpose is to hunt down and kill witches. They’ve almost succeeded. But it isn’t long before the hunters after after Kylie and Aaron.

As I said, I like the story of Witch and I also like the how the use of familars are used. I’ve know about familars for some time. There are other witch stories that makes reference to familars. Even the movie Golden Compass makes reference to familars. So familars have been around before Witch but I think it was a nice touch to incorporate them into the plot. I also like how the familars are drawn. They are demon-like creatures and thus gives the reason for the witch hunters. They’re not hunting the humans but they are hunting their demon familars.

Bottom line, Witch is really a story about coming to age, understanding who you are and being comfortable in your own skin.

The Strain by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan

by: RFR Casket Crew Denise

A Boeing 777 arrives at JFK and is on its way across the tarmac when it suddenly stops dead. All window shades are pulled down. All lights are out. All communication channels have gone quite. Crews on the ground are lost for answers, but an alert goes out to the CDC. Dr. Eph Goodweather, head of their Canary project, a rapid response team that investigates biological threats, gets the call and boards the plane. What he finds make his blood run cold. In a pawnshop in Spanish Harlem, a former professor and survivor of the Holocaust named Abraham Setrakian knows something is happening. And he knows the time has come, that a war is brewing. So begins a battle of mammoth proportions as the vampiric virus that has infected New York begins to spills out into the streets. Eph, who is joined by Setrakian and a motely crew of fighters, must now find a way to stop the contagion and save his city – a city that includes his wife and son – before it is too late.

The Strain was written by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan. This is the first in a triology story.

The Strain is not your typical vampire story. Think of it more as a vampire story mixed with a little bit of alien technology mixed into the fray. You could also consider it a little bit of a whodunnit or crime drama. It’s certainly an interesting mix.

The story starts with an airplane that has gone “silent.” We quickly are introduced to Dr. Eph Goodweather and Nora. These two work in the CDC, in a special branch where Dr. Eph is the team leader. As these two try to put the pieces together, we get a glimpse into the life of Abraham Setrakian. A holocaust survivor with a mysterious past.

When these three eventually team up, we start to get a distinct visual of these new vampires. They are ones that eventually are turned by a simple bite. While this is the tradional vampire lore with exception – their tongues.

These vampires tongues are really a separate organ itself. It almost operates separately from the body. Maybe it’s the tongue that is large and in charge.

Eventually the story climaxes with the ultimate battle between mortals and vampires, good verus evil. Is there a clear victory. Well…you just have to read it for yourself.

For more on the book visit them at: www.TheStrainTrilogy.com

Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files: Fool Moon #1 (Horror Comic Review)

by: RFR Casket Crew Denise

Harry Dresden’s life is a mess. His top client (and close friend) Lt. Karrin Murphy, no longer trusts him, Chicago’s underworld and the cops alike think he’s mobster Johnny Marcone’s supernatural enforcer. And the enigmatic White Council continues to view him with suspicion. If all that weren’t enough, a pack of werewolves have unleashed a wave of terror on the Windy City. But as is always the case when it comes to the creatures of the Nevernever, there’s far more going on than meets the eye. Before it’s all over, Harry will find himself caught between friends, enemies, and arcane forces bent on his destruction. Is it any wonder he can’t find a date?

This first issue of the Dresden Files is well drawn and both writer and artist do an excellent job bringing the characters to life.

I’ve been a fan of Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files book for about two years. Jim has a way of telling a gritty crime noir with just the right amount of supernatural happening for it to be entertaining and engaging. The comic’s first issue was right on par with the books.

Whether reading or listening to Jim Butcher’s books, it was always apparent that Lt. Murphy was a small seemingly delicate woman while Harry Dresden was extremely tall. While the chemistry was crystal clear in the books, it is visually stunning to see it drawn in a comic, and once again it is apparently clearly illustrated that these two have something between them.

While vampires have had their fifteen minutes of fame in past years and zombies are all the rage this year, I personally like a goood old fashion werewolf story. After reading the first issue of Fool Moon, I want more.

Dark tales from the four corners – Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King

“I believe there is another man inside every man, a stranger…” writes Wilfred Leland James i the early pages of the riveting confession that makes up “1922″, the first tale from Stephen King in Full Dark, No Stars. For James, that stranger is awakened when his wife, Arlette, proposes selling of the family homestead and moving to Omaha, setting in motion a gruesome train of murder and  the maybe a side of madness.

In “Big Driver”, a cozy-mystery writer named Tess encounters the stranger along a back road in Massachusetts when she takes a shortcut home after a book-club engagement. Violated and left for dead, Tess plots revenge that will bring her face-to-face with another stranger – the one inside.

“Fair Extension” is probably the shortest and most fun. Making a deal with the devil not saves Dave Streeter from a fatal cancer but provides rich recompense for a lifetime of resentment.

When her husband of more than 20 years is away on one of his business trips, Darcy Anderson looks for batteries in the garage. Her toe knocks up against a box under a worktable and she discovers the stranger inside her husband. It’s a horrifying discovery, rendered with bristling intensity, and definitely ends a good marriage.

I probably don’t have to reiterate how big a fan I am of  Stephen King’s work, but for those who haven’t heard – it’s HUGE!

Stephen King delivers another great collection of stories of the macob.  Not truly horror, these stories push the boundaries of mankind. Just how far would you go if…

Stephen King’s Full Dark, No Stars is worth reading even if the title is a little odd.

by: RFR Casket Crew Denise

Legend of Bloody Mary

A Captivating Tale – Gerald’s Game by Stephen King

by: RFR Casket Crew Denise

On a warm October day, Jessie Burlingame lies in the bedroom of her secluded lake home, listening to the far off sounds of the country; the cry of a loon, the growl of a chain saw, the bark of a lonesome dog. Nearer, she hears the banging of the screen door, left unlatched in the autumn breeze; nearer still, the click of the key locking the second pair of handcuffs that chain her to the bed.

Gerald Burlingame, her husband of 17 years, looms over her, grin on his face, gleam in his eye, lust in his heart. This is Gerald’s favorite game – a little kinky, perhaps, but all in good fun. And then quite suddenly, the fun is over. Gerald’s heart fails him in the heat of passion, leaving Jessie hideously trapped and dreadfully alone.

As darkness gathers in the room that is now Jessie’s whole world, she must face not only the terror of never escaping, but the most excruciating truths about her life; the murky secrets that brought her here in the first place.

Stephen King delivers another wonderful masterpiece of suspense and terror. This time is not only in the physical world but in the emotional scarred memories of Jessie Burlingame.

This macob tale starts slowly just like a roller coaster ascending the first hill. But just like a roller coaster, once we reach the top, well…it’s all downhill and one hell of a ride.

I think what makes this story more enjoyable is the connections or references made to other stories. Maybe it’s because I’m such a Stephen King “nerd”, but these references not only put a smile on my face, but at least one of the references is actually used in another book. This I find not only fascinating but brillant.

Stephen King doesn’t always give us a happy ending, and sometimes it’s not the ending we expect, but if you like rooting for the underdog, give Gerald’s Game a read.

Until next time, Deadites, keeping those book lights burning bright.

American Vampire: Issue 7

by: RFR Casket Crew Denise

It’s been quite some time since we lasted visited this series. I think it might have been October or November since we’ve talked about American Vampire. But now, I’ll be trying to play catch up not only with American Vampire but also iZombie. And before I forget, if anybody out there has any suggestions for a new horror book (comic or graphic), give me a shout. But for now, let’s get down to business.

I was going to add a recap from issue 6 but alas, I couldn’t not find my review. It might be a good idea to go back, but since we’re already here, let’s move.



So at the beginning of issue 7, we see the big confrontation between Chief McCogan and Jim Smoke (aka Skinner Sweet).

Old Jim Smoke (Sweet), is one cool cucumber, but he does like to taunt. This taunting is just a little much for Special Agent Felicia Book (remember Sheriff Book from issue one? Yep, they’re related.) So once again, we see the lawmen (Book) and Jim Smoke (Sweet) are running in the same circles (sort of).

“I read in the newspaper the other day that people on the coast are starting to call Las Vegas Sin City. All this legalization was suppose to be temporary. The gambling, the prostitution. To make a little extra money off the dam workers…help get the city through the dark times…looking out at the city now, though…it’s hard to imagine any of it going away – EVER,” Chief McCogan thinks as he settles into his pregnant wife’s back.

Meanwhile on the other side of town, Felicia Book is still at work on the case…knowing much more than she’s willing to admit. But then again, playing a FBI agent can really take its toll. But the night reveals her secrets and Skinner Sweet steps out of the shadows in Felicia’s room….just paying her a little late night visit to remind her of the pact that was made between Skinner and the Vassals. Who are they? I’m sure we’ll learn…eventually.

When trying to solve a crime, Chief McCogan doesn’t pull any punches. To try to find the suspect, the chief confronts his business partners who consider themselves above the ordinary man until they see their murdered partner. It crumbles their pedestal just a bit…makes them a little more cooperative…or just a little more dead.

So if the Books are still lawmen, Skinner is still a criminal, where is Pearl Jones? We’ll just have to wait to get the answer to that question.

So until next time…Sit Back, Relax and Rot Away…