Doug Handler

The Smoking Man (Part 7)

2012-01-19T19:02:00.000-08:00

As his new skull began to form, a circular object slammed into his forehead.

The Smoking Man (Part 6)

2012-01-18T17:04:00.000-08:00

His eyes remained in place, recording everything that transpired. Pulled flesh quivered and bubbled, changing from it's familiar green to white and down to a boiling red. It then pulsated between crimson and violet. The man who didn't know who he was felt the little identity he had gurgle up and fade away.

The Smoking Man (Part 5)

2012-01-17T15:08:00.001-08:00

His skin was untwined from his frame like scattered yarn. His mouth locked in a scream that no one could hear.

The Smoking Man (Part 4)

2012-01-16T19:03:00.001-08:00

White lightening arced and cut through the night's sky. Flesh ripped and marrow crackled. It was too late for defense . .

The Smoking Man (Part 3)

2012-01-15T19:40:00.001-08:00

He would recall memories, but they were dull and faded. The cold tonight was numbing, even for his electrified dead skin. This didn't help as things were about to change.

The Smoking Man (Part 2)

2012-01-14T10:24:00.000-08:00

This wanderer was having trouble remembering who he was, or had been. He knew he was a man made from the parts of other men. His scars would sting sometimes when it was very cold out. But, it was frigid where he was born so he was used to the winter. Every now and then though he needed to bundle up.

The Smoking Man (Part 1)

2012-01-13T03:30:00.000-08:00

Tin-Tin

2012-01-12T18:44:00.001-08:00

I haven't seen the Tin-Tin movie. The work of his creator, Herge, as well as The Smurfs Peyo and Asterix's Albert Uderzo have been an influence on me, though in a very subliminal way.

Tony Smurf (don't call him "Peppa") Finale

2012-01-11T17:45:00.000-08:00

Tony Smurf (don't call him "Peppa") Part 2

2012-01-04T19:59:00.000-08:00

Tony Smurf (don't call him "Peppa") Part 1

2012-01-03T16:34:00.002-08:00

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T06:37:00.000-08:00

Starbucks Christmas Cookie

2011-12-25T18:22:00.000-08:00

Finally, here's a study of a Christmas cookie bought at the East Northport Starbucks located on Larkfield road. Merry Christmas to all & to all a good night . . .

2008 Christmas Card

2011-12-25T18:18:00.001-08:00

And, here's the final card of my original run: a 1950's plastic snowman ornament. These little guys were sold in department stores for a few cents. Anybody who can guess what the background is wins my eternal admiration. I do have a strong buzz right now . .

2007 Christmas Card

2011-12-25T18:10:00.000-08:00

Here's the 2007 card: a photo of a 1950s pipe cleaner/composite-faced Kris Kringle.

2004 Christmas Card

2011-12-25T17:58:00.000-08:00

This was the first card I made in a series that ran from '04 to '08. After numerous complaints from people over no cards during the last three years, there 'll be a new one in 2012.

Merry Christmas 2011!

2011-12-25T17:50:00.000-08:00

Have just stuffed my face with two awesome helpings of roladen & dumplings. I'm also currently riding a sweet champagne buzz - - real good, folks. Merry Christmas!

Remember John

2011-12-07T18:45:00.000-08:00

"I don't regret the past. I'm just trying to live for this moment.".

- John Lennon

Remember George.

2011-11-29T09:28:00.000-08:00

"All things must pass.

All things must pass away."

- George Harrison

Kaiju Cohorts Plunge into Some Pie . .

2011-11-24T15:03:00.000-08:00

Finally, Jet Jaguar and Megalon enjoy digging into some pie. Sweet potato pie is delicious, but I prefer apple. Yeah, I know sweet potato pie doesn't have crust, but it's my drawing. Happy Thanksgiving!

Godzilla Goes Ga-Ga For Cranberries . .

2011-11-24T14:59:00.000-08:00

Godzilla loves them cranberries and the assorted sauces they make . .

Mighty Joe Young Gets Mushy For Mashed Potatoes . .

2011-11-24T14:51:00.000-08:00

Son of Kong Samples Some Stuffing . .

2011-11-24T14:48:00.000-08:00

King Kong Loves Turkey!

2011-11-24T14:43:00.000-08:00

Many folks have Thanksgiving memories of parades & football. For me however, apart from shoveling turkey down my gullet, giant monster movies stand out in my mind as a staple of many childhood turkey days. Local Tri-state TV station Channel 9 usually kicked off the festivities right after the Macy's Parade with a showing of King Kong. After that massive simian affair, two more films followed in rapid succession: the lame Son of Kong and the great Mighty Joe Young. If you were really lucky, Channel 9 would then launch into a marathon of Godzilla films featuring favorites like Godzilla vs. Megalon and Godzilla vs. The Cosmic Monster (aka Godzilla vs. The Bionic Monster aka Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla.). Some years you'd get stuck with lame crap though and end up watching a Buck Rogers marathon. The high-point of those were space-hottie Erin Grey and the little robot that said "Bitty-Bitty-Bitty" all the time. Now, let's see what some of our favorite monsters of yore are enjoying as the 2011 holiday season begins . .

. . Nevermind.

2011-09-24T13:20:00.000-07:00

. . and ended up changing the world.

. . Whatever . .

2011-09-24T13:14:00.000-07:00

With the help of his two friends, he channeled his anger . .

Oh, well . .

2011-09-24T13:09:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time, a poor young boy who was obsessed with his own death, grew up.

Don't Look for it, Taylor!

2011-08-03T07:25:00.000-07:00

Considered one of his signature roles, Charlton Heston portrayed astronaut George Taylor. Disgusted, bitter, and sick of people, Taylor willingly leaves Earth. His ambition is to find something greater than what he left. But, you should be careful what you wish for . . .

The Stanley Journal Square Double Bill

2011-08-01T21:44:00.000-07:00

More ads from 1968, this time for the Stanley Journal Square in Jersey City. They had ample parking there and don't forget to catch the double bill of Planet of the Apes & The Further Perils of Laurel & Hardy. Huh?!

Dr. Zaius Wants You!

2011-08-01T20:37:00.000-07:00

A sampling of newspaper ads from the initial release of the first film . . .

Arthur P. Jacobs

2011-08-01T18:42:00.000-07:00

Searching for a film concept that evoked the same reaction & thrills as RKO's King Kong, agent/producer Arthur P. Jacobs found it in Pierre Boulle's novel, Les Planete des Singes. Jacobs worked methodically for years in order to get the film made, but repeatedly met with failure. He was told again & again by studio executives that no audience would take a film about talking apes seriously. However, due to his tenacity, Jacobs got his film made. As a result, he not only transformed the genre of science fiction, but revolutionized the business of film merchandising, taking both to a whole new level . . .

Rest in Peace, Amy Winehouse

2011-07-24T19:07:00.000-07:00

A tremendous loss of an incredible talent. At a time when so many are producing bland & flimsy music, she stood head & shoulders above the crowd. This is a terrible waste of someone with a great gift.

Master Splinter, Part Three

2011-07-14T20:56:00.000-07:00

I also studied several old japanese watercolors and ink drawings of samurai. I wanted to capture the unique appearance of the warrior's robes in motion as well as the intense look their eyes held. This worked with Van Cleef's appearance. But, I didn't want to take it too seriously and lose the entertainment element of the original Turtles property . . .

Master Splinter, Part Two

2011-07-14T20:13:00.000-07:00

Like I said, I didn't want Splinter looking like man's best friend, as he is so often portrayed. A "take no shit" attitude is what I wanted, the kind of character who would look at you once and you'd crap yourself. Recently, I re-watched the Sabata film trilogy and I knew exactly how my Splinter should look. Lee Van Cleef was an american actor who had a fair amount of success playing small but important film roles. Prior to the mid-'60s, he was best known for playing the villain in High Noon and his brief role as the sharpshooter in The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms. However, a car accident nearly ended his career. Not in a literal way, but while Van Cleef took time off to recuperate, Hollywood forgot him and acting jobs dried up. His time as an actor seemed almost over when he received an offer to appear in the Clint Eastwood classic, A Few Dollars More. Van Cleef's interpretation of Colonial Mortimer led to what is regarded as his best known role, that of Angel Eyes in The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. These two films revived and relaunched Van Cleef's career. He went on to start in numerous films over the next 25 years; his Spaghetti Westerns are some of the best. The Sabata films, of which he started in two (Yul Brynner took over for the second one) are a weird mix of action-laden, violence-driven western and a large dose of the outrageous. Think 1960s Adam West Batman, though the Sabata films are not played for laughs. When Van Cleef "kills" someone, they stay dead. He was known for his "snake eyes" appearance and his sharp, knife-like nose fit perfectly with the look of a rat . . .

Master Splinter

2011-07-14T19:16:00.000-07:00

Self-published in 1984 by the struggling comics team of Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is the greatest success story in the history of independent comics. The first issue (a parody of '80s X-men and Frank Miller's groundbreaking Ronin and Daredevil) went into multiple reprints practically overnight. An almost immediate rags-to-riches story, the New England creative duo of Eastman and Laird went from obscurity to overseeing a merchandising and media juggernaut.

I focused on Splinter as the subject of this piece. A mutated rat, created by the same "ooze" that evolved the Turtles, Splinter was well versed in the art of ninjitsu. I looked at many artistic interpretations of the character before I started on this drawing. Most of them, I found, made the ninja master look too dog-like in the design of his face. Often resembling a terrier, I wanted to avoid this. Rats are tenacious and when provoked, extremely viscious. So, while the character is noble and wise, I also wanted to show his "don't fuck with me" nature that is often exsemplified by rats . . .

The Oath

2011-06-27T21:56:00.000-07:00

In brightest day,

In blackest night,

No evil shall escape my sight.

Let those who worship evil's might,

Beware my power,

Green Lantern's light.

Holy cow, I can't believe it! All the way from Asgard, it's The Mighty. .

2011-05-06T16:39:00.000-07:00

Hold it! Wait a minute! That's not Thor! . .

Osama bin Bye-Bye

2011-05-02T20:29:00.001-07:00

Later tough guy. . .

What do you mean there's no Easter Bunny!?! (Part Four)

2011-04-23T16:06:00.003-07:00

I think I was about ten or eleven when the news came out: there was no Easter Bunny. He didn't break into the house to leave chocolate and Star Wars figures. Those weren't his foot prints: that was my Dad. When I fell asleep, he'd take some cotton balls, cover them in baby powder, and made a slew of "bunny tracks" on the hardwood floors.
I was completely devastated.

What do you mean there's no Easter Bunny!?! (Part Three)

2011-04-23T16:06:00.001-07:00

..yeah, you keep laughin'!...

What do you mean there's no Easter Bunny!?! (Part Two)

2011-04-23T16:02:00.000-07:00

Look at that! Huh?! Look at That! Proof-positive the Easter Bunny exists. He hops in the side door, leaving his tracks (and more importantly some candy and gifts) along the way before he goes to the next house. Look at the pictures again, tough guy!...

What do you mean there's no Easter Bunny!?!

2011-04-23T16:01:00.000-07:00

I always knew there was no Santa Claus. What I mean by that is, I knew no fat guy was squeezing himself down the world's chimney's on December 24th. Every Christmas Eve I was told by my parents that a certain room in the house was forbidden to enter: usually it was there bedroom. For two hours you'd hear nothing but the sounds of torn paper, boxes being "rolled" on the floor, scissors cutting, and tape being dispensed. The cookies left out for Santa happened to be the same my father liked. You get the picture. I was wise. But I was still stunned Christmas morning. There was always an avalanche of gifts under the tree. That's not to say I don't believe in the spirit of St. Nick now. It can grab hold and open the heart of the stingiest miser every yuletide season.

But, it was a different story with the Easter Bunny. There was no way that guy wasn't real. What's that? You think that's funny? Take a look at the proof smart guy!...

We will return after these messages...

2011-04-23T15:59:00.000-07:00

Total Recall #41: Does Someone Have a Boo-Boo?

2011-04-18T19:57:00.000-07:00

Quaid spins a rapid 180 to his left and finds another creep about to strike. A speedy chop to the goon's mouth sends a ribbon of blood flowing through the air..

Total Recall #40: Stay Down!

2011-04-11T22:38:00.000-07:00

As Harry screams in torment, one of his cronies launches into another attack. Quaid whirls quickly, squarely smashing the thug in his solar plexus. .

Total Recall #39: Trouble for Harry

2011-04-11T21:47:00.000-07:00

A swift blow to Harry's chest sends him reeling in pain. Quaid kicks the gun from his hand as Harry winces in agony. .

Total Recall #38: A Quick Kick to the Teeth.

2011-04-02T12:47:00.000-07:00

Molars go flying as Doug goes berzerk on Harry's henchmen. . .

Total Recall #37: A Change in Attitude.

2011-04-01T16:10:00.001-07:00

Quaid's demeanor rapidly changes from meek to merciless as he growls and throws off his assailants. . .

Recall Recap

2011-04-01T16:09:00.001-07:00

When we last saw Douglas Quaid, he was in the lower level of a subway station about to be killed by his friend Harry. .

"Harry, you're making a big mistake!", pleads Quaid. "You got me mixed up with zom-body else!".

But, Harry isn't listening. .

It's back!

2011-04-01T16:08:00.000-07:00

After quite some time, Total Recall is back! For those of you who have already joined the ride, I hope these new drawings don't disappoint. For anyone wanting to start from the beginning, this tribute began with the June 30th 2010 post on this blog. And now . .

Happy St. Patrick's Day from "Little" Jackie Wright!

2011-03-16T11:52:00.000-07:00

Despite the fact he retired in 1983 and passed away in 1989, Belfast's own "Little" Jackie Wright continues to bring laughter to those who view his comedic antics. Forever known as "the little bald guy from The Benny Hill Show", Jackie was a diminutive Irish comedian & entertainer. However, big laughs were always a guarantee when he appeared on Hill's show. He was regularly slapped on the top of his head by Hill which got an immediate riotous response from the audience. Wright was also a music hall performer and singer. Hill put these skills to good use in an extremely funny way especially during the 1970s. Spoofing pop stars of the day, Wright often appeared as glam-rockers, mod and punk performers, and sometimes even female singers. The end results of these skits have to be seen to be fully appreciated. Born in 1905, he entered the world of television late in his life, beginning in his sixties, but his partnership with Hill continues to this day through re-runs and home video.

Liverpool.

2011-02-07T09:36:00.002-08:00

Unknowingly, they launched the most successful, non-violent revolution in World history.

from..

2011-02-07T09:36:00.001-08:00

. . forever changing the course of music and culture.

Lads..

2011-02-07T09:35:00.002-08:00

. . took their first trip to America, . . .

Four..

2011-02-07T09:35:00.001-08:00

On February 7, 1964, four friends from post-war England. . .

Remember John

2010-12-08T20:10:00.000-08:00

The world would be a better place if he was still with us. Let's remember all the good he brought, and continues to bring, to everyone.

Stop Laughing & Start Your Engines part 2

2010-12-07T20:57:00.000-08:00

Stop Laughing & Start Your Engines. .

2010-12-07T20:56:00.000-08:00

The Amityville Horror: Severed Pig's Head

2010-10-31T19:57:00.001-07:00

The Amityville Horror: The House

2010-10-31T19:52:00.000-07:00

The Amityville Horror: William Defeo Jr.

2010-10-31T19:49:00.001-07:00

Thank you, Mr. Toast

2010-10-31T19:45:00.001-07:00

Phantom of the Paradise

2010-10-31T19:41:00.001-07:00

The maimed and framed, beaten and mutilated Phantom of the Paradise as portrayed by William Finley. This 1974 film by Brian DePalma is not only a send-up of the Glam Rock era, but also a tribute to movies such as The Phantom of the Opera and The Picture of Dorian Gray. Having bombed upon its initial release, it still managed to garner both Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations. This movie has gone on to become a cult hit, with multiple IMAX revivals in the Nineties and a figure by Medicom Toys in the last ten. A fun film and worth checking out.

I reememburr . . doin' The TIIMEE WARRP!!

2010-10-31T19:37:00.000-07:00

Richard O'Brien in his self-created role of Riff Raff from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The greatest cult movie ever made, it began as a small film playing in a few theaters and then exploded into a worldwide hit. It has the distinction of having the longest run of any film ever released. 20th Century Fox has made it available to movie houses continually since its initial release in 1975.

Rubber Monster Masks!

2010-10-31T19:35:00.001-07:00

. . and here's the original ad as it appeared in the pages of Forrest J. Ackerman's Famous Monsters of Filmland.

Famous Monsters Vampire Girl

2010-10-31T19:31:00.000-07:00

Rubber monster masks make everyone shudder in fright! My take on the famous Vampire Girl mask featured for years in the back pages of Warren horror mags. One of thirteen, these masks, made of "extra heavy latex rubber", ranged in price from $1.49 to a whopping $2.25! Other masks in this classic line-up include: Bandaged Head, Screaming Skull, Shock Monster, and The Ghoul. Just add .50 for postage & handling & send to:

Captain Company FM-97

P.O. Box 430

Murray Hill Station

New York, NY 10016

Wait! Don't bother! That company is long since deceased. . . or is it?

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

2010-10-31T19:27:00.001-07:00

One of Chaney's most powerful performances was in 1923's The Hunchback of Notre Dame, based on the novel by Victor Hugo. His portrayal of the misshapen Quasimodo is his best known work, next to The Phantom of the Opera. A historical piece with minor horror elements, it is definitely worth seeing. If you do, make sure it's accompanied by music. I had owned a copy with no soundtrack at all. No matter how good a silent film is, they are tough to sit through when completely devoid of sound.

Laugh, Clown, Laugh

2010-10-31T19:22:00.001-07:00

""Even though your heart is breaking: laugh, clown, laugh.". Lon Chaney as Tito in the 1928 silent classic, Laugh, Clown, Laugh. A story which involves a complex love triangle, it had two endings filmed; one happy, one sad. The upbeat ending and other scenes have been lost to time, but the film exists with much of its content intact.

A Blind Bargain

2010-10-31T19:18:00.000-07:00

One of Chaney's lost films is 1922's A Blind Bargain in which he plays two roles. One, that of Dr. Lamb, a twisted New York physician, and the other as the doctor's bestial servant (pictured above). In the film, Lamb makes a pact with a desperate young writer who has an ailing mother. The doctor agrees to cure the elderly woman and get her son's work published on one condition. After the operation and book's publication, the young man must submit himself to Lamb's bizarre genetic experiments. This plot line has been used countless times throughout fiction in the twentieth century, but this was the first filmed example of it.
Missing films become "lost" usually due to carelessness or accident. In the case of A Blind Bargain, the only known print was destroyed in a studio fire in the late Sixties. That blaze also destroyed the most sought-after (and notoriously missing) movie in Hollywood history: 1927's London After Midnight. Also starring Chaney, it is considered the first American Vampire movie.

Man of a Thousand Faces

2010-10-31T19:15:00.001-07:00

Lon Chaney, the first great Horror film star and a pioneer in the use of film-related make-ups. Known as "The Man of a Thousand Faces", Chaney created his own appliances for his films and kept their origins a closely guarded secret. His speciality was bizarre and gruesome characters, so much so that a popular joke about him was often told during his fame. If someone saw a spider and went to step on it, another person in the room would call out, "Don't kill it, it may be Lon Chaney!". One of the few silent film stars to still be known today, the bulk of Chaney's movies had no audio. The advent of sound in pictures spelt out the doom of many actors and actresses in Hollywood. They may have looked good, but they didn't sound good. But, Chaney was also a great vocal mimic, and in his one "talkie" he showed he would have had continued success in film. That one picture was a remake of an earlier film of his, The Unholy Three (I recommend seeing it). If he had lived, Chaney would've had a long career (movies, radio, television, cartoons), but this was ended when he died of cancer in 1930.

13th Century Werewolf

2010-10-31T19:12:00.001-07:00

Drawing based on a depiction of a werewolf featured in a beastiary manuscript from the thirteenth century. More drawings and "fun facts" about werewolves can be found in my February blog postings of this year.

Beware the sign of the Pentagram

2010-10-31T19:08:00.001-07:00

A symbol of the Devil - - to be avoided at all costs. This drawing based on an old woodcut featured in the World Book encyclopedia.

Woodland Spook

2010-10-31T19:05:00.001-07:00

A ghost, or spectre, haunting the local woods. I've never seen a ghost but I certainly don't think we have all the answers on what happens after you die. Some of my friends have seen occurrences that they can't explain. Others have participated in contacting or recording "supernatural activity". There are numerous spots on Long Island that are reputed to be haunted. Raynum Hall in Oyster Bay is supposedly inhabited by the ghost of a young women from Revolutionary days. The true life inspiration for the movie Poltergeist happened out east and the Home Depot parking lot in East Northport, at the corner of Jericho Turnpike and Larkfield road, has an actual cemetery at its center. Apparently that whole area (including Home Depot, Walgreens, Modell's, and Old Navy) is resting upon a much larger burial ground. Two of my friends who were members of a "ghost hunters" group have audio and video recordings of unexplained events that occurred there.

Watch Out!

2010-10-31T18:59:00.000-07:00

There's nothing so unnerving as walking through the woods at night and seeing a pair of glowing eyes staring back at you. . .

Witch's Familar

2010-10-31T17:30:00.000-07:00

Dennison Witch

2010-10-31T17:26:00.001-07:00

It's time for the Goolies Getogether!

2010-10-30T08:59:00.001-07:00

Come on now, sing out . .

2010-10-30T07:58:00.001-07:00

Everybody shout . .

2010-10-30T07:52:00.001-07:00

Mr. Hyde (1920)

2010-10-28T19:49:00.000-07:00

The great John Barrymore as Mr. Hyde in the silent 1920 version. Though without sound, this version is equal to the 1932 adaption for horror and shock. Barrymore's performance is powerful. Truly grotesque make-up magnifies that performance as Hyde becomes increasingly repulsive with each appearance. Watch for the scene where he doffs his hat as he leaves the opium den. Some silent films have lost their punch over time, but this picture can still terrify at 90 years of age. The murder of Sir George Carew towards the movie's end is especially chilling.

Mr. Hyde (1932)

2010-10-28T17:45:00.001-07:00

One of the best filmed versions of Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde was released in 1932. The title roles were played by actor Frederick March. March won the Academy award for Best Actor for his portrayal, the first (and one of the few) for a horror movie. One downside of taking the role was the often painful application of the Mr. Hyde make-up. After filming was completed, March spent an extended stay at a hospital, as the facial distorting appliances he wore almost permanently disfigured him.

King of the Vampires

2010-10-27T20:29:00.001-07:00

I had definitely planned to do more vampire-related postings on this project. Perhaps the 2011 version will be more fully realized. I finally appreciated Lugosi's performance in Dracula this year. I bought a copy of the late Ninties reissue of the film (which has now become the standard) back in January. It has an all new soundtrack written by Philip Glass and performed by the Kronos Quartet; the music is sombre and frightening. Dwight Frye's demented performance as Renfield is another reason to see the film; a classic that made the entire film genre of Horror possible in America.
In terms of the direction our society is currently moving in, there are many people "feeding" off of others. So, vampires and Dracula in particular, have begun to appeal to me. That's one of the purposes of the horror film: to help us deal with the negative and menacing.

Vincent Price in The Bat

2010-10-27T20:25:00.001-07:00

Price took over the mantle of "Master of Horror" with the passing of Boris Karloff, but he had been playing such roles for many years before-hand. Both men are featured in Roger Corman's horror-comedy The Raven, which is worth checking out. This drawing is based on Price's appearance in The Bat, where he played opposite Agnes Moorehead (later featured on the TV show, Bewitched). The film was a remake of the silent movie, The Bat Whispers, which Bob Kane and Bill Finger cited as a strong influence on their character, Batman . . .

Lon Chaney Jr. & The Full Moon

2010-10-27T20:21:00.001-07:00

The younger Chaney who left his mark on marquees and in the hearts and minds of countless fans. Based on a photo from one of his many outings as the crazed lycanthrope. . .

The Reptile

2010-10-27T20:17:00.001-07:00

A 1966 film concerning strange goings-on in a small english village where a beautiful girl is turned into a killer snake-woman. Hey, I don't write this shit, I just draw it . .

Kenner's Bionic Bigfoot

2010-10-27T18:38:00.000-07:00

Made at the height of The Six Million Dollar Man's popularity, this large toy was based on the Sasquatch robot featured in the Lee Major's television program. Played by Andre the Giant and, I believe later, Ted Cassidy (Lurch from The Addams Family), this action figure proved to be popular more than once. A few years after its initial release, the figure was modified with a new sculpt and sold as a Chewbacca toy.

Milton Bradley's Bigfoot

2010-10-27T18:33:00.000-07:00

An integral playing piece to a 1977 Bigfoot boardgame, this drawing of a Sasquatch toy is a little more hostile-looking than it's inspiration . .

Mezco Bigfoot

2010-10-27T18:26:00.000-07:00

Released in 2003 after a delay of two or three years, Mezco Toy's Bigfoot figure was well-sculpted. Part of a three figure set (originally four; The Loch Ness Monster wasn't released) which was entitled Cryptozoology, these toys lacked the larger scale of Mezco's vinyl figures. A larger, vinyl version probably would have made a bigger impact with collectors and the general public as well. . .

Batson's Burn Scar & Wound Effect

2010-10-27T17:35:00.001-07:00

Yes folks, don't pay those other brands of scar and damaged tissue make-ups any mind. When you think "scarred-for-life", there's only one brand you should remember: Batson's! Yes, Batson's! No other brand gives you the comfort and security you'll feel when displaying faux disfigurement. Mmmmm, for THE FINEST in Burn Scar & Wound effects, it's Batson's!! And now, back to our program . .

Leaf's Vampire Bubble Gum

2010-10-27T17:30:00.001-07:00

Ah! It's that time of year again! Time to put on your masks, wear your fangs, and go out and cause some property damage! Yes, can't you just see it? Toilet paper hanging from the trees! The neighbor's car riddled with eggs! Your mailbox filled with shaving cream! Huh? Wha? What year is it?

Anyway, now's the time of year to pop down to your local supermarket, and don't forget to bring those pennies! 'Cause Leaf's Vampire Bubble Gum is back! Oooo, Vampire Bubble Gum! So red. So bloody. So nocturnal . . and only a penny. A penny?!??

Monster Inside the Box

2010-10-27T17:24:00.000-07:00

There it sits, the MYSTERIOUS BLACK METAL BOX - - quiet, sinister and waiting. You throw the switch to "ON". Immediately there is a terrific grinding of power as THE BOX starts jumping as if it contained a hidden MONSTER. Then the lid slowly rises . . . and from inside THE BOX emerges a frightening, eerie GREEN HAND. The GREEN HAND grabs the switch, pushes it to "OFF" and quickly disappears back into THE BOX. The lid slams shut - - and all is silent again! Once seen, this is never forgotten. The most haunting, maddening object you've ever witnessed!! Buy one now!

Oozing Orb

2010-10-27T17:20:00.000-07:00

Imagineering's Oozing Orb! A realistic eyeball that drips blood! A real horror shocker for all you budding Quasimodos! A terrifying, awful effect. Put this blood oozing eye over your own and scare everyone in sight. Easy to apply. You wear it like a monocle. And it has a small hole in the center so you can see out. The effect is so terrible, no one will want to see in! Wear one and be awful! Wear two and be absolutely hideous!! Wear three . . . Three??? Create a stomach turning monster-from-Mars. Wear two over your eyes. Stick one on your forehead. Bad enough? Then turn out the light! They glow! Blah! Ugh! You might even try four! Hideous, non-toxic Oozing Orb! . . from Imagineering! (Text courtesy of Warren Publishing Company).

Squeaking Freak Teeth

2010-10-27T17:16:00.001-07:00

What's that sound?? It's a funny, squeaking sound! Great Caesar's Ghost, it's Squeaking Freak Teeth from Imagineering! Yes, Squeaking Freak Teeth. Just in time for all you ghouls and goblins to scare-up a good ol' fright this Halloween. Want to spook the neighborhood? Get Squeaking Freak Teeth! Break it off with your significant other? Get Squeaking Freak Teeth!! Give your dentist a coronary? Get Squeaking Freak Teeth!!! Yes, you'll be a whistling nightmare this All Hallows Eve with Squeaking Freak Teeth!!!! - - from Imagineering!

The Creature Walks Among Us

2010-10-27T17:10:00.001-07:00

The third, and currently, final entry in the Creature from the Black Lagoon series was 1956's The Creature Walks Among Us. In this thrill-a-rama, the Creature is mortally wounded and, in order to save his life, scientists surgically alter him to become a land mammal. Disaster ensues as the Gillman runs amok, desperately trying to return to the sea that spawned him. There has been talk over the past thirty years in Hollywood about doing a remake or an entire new series of Creature films. It would be a solid move as the "Creech" is one of Universal's most popular monsters. And now, a few words from our sponsors . .

Outer Limits Alien

2010-10-27T17:02:00.000-07:00

The Sixties had some of the best television programs ever made. The fact that people still watch shows from this far-off era is proof of that. In addition, original and new merchandising based on Sixties TV continues to be collectible, even in these lousy economic times. One of these great shows was the original Outer Limits, created by Leslie Stevens and Joseph Stefano (the latter being the screenwriter of Psycho). Though many of its story lines had Cold War overtones, this program is still frightening and unnervingly suspenseful. If you haven't seen it, I recommend watching it, or even buying it, on DVD.

Journey Into Unknown Worlds #21

2010-10-19T19:22:00.000-07:00

Here's a better study: it's from a panel of the tale, "The Most Hated Man in the World". Featured in issue 21 of Journey Into Unknown Worlds, the story was delineated by Joe Sinnott, best known as an inker for Marvel Comics. A solid draftsman, Sinnott always shined, especially when working with fellow comics legends Jack Kirby and John Byrne during their runs on Fantastic Four. "The Most Hated Man in the World" is a story of alien invasion and in this scene, the attacking "little green men" have just detonated some of America's mightiest weapons before they could be launched . .

Ghastly Graham Returns from the Grave . .

2010-10-19T19:05:00.000-07:00

Another aspect of this project that wasn't fully realized was a focus on Pre-Code horror comics. Pre-Code refers to the days before the institution of the Comics Code, which was a censorship body of the comics industry. The 1950s were filled with gory and often brutal horror comics directed at kids, young adults, and the college set. Many of these comics were particularly grotesque and can still, even today, make one want to hurl. Though I feel many of these books were truly horrifying, they are shock-fully entertaining. The formation of the Comics Code killed the horror genre for about ten years, nearly destroyed its main target, EC comics, and came close to obliterating comic books altogether. Fortunately that didn't happen. If you're a comics fan, you know the name of EC, and its publisher, William Gaines, very well. For those not in the know, you still are familiar with the stories they published as many of them were adapted for television on HBO's Tales from the Crypt in the 1990s. One of EC's best known artists was "Ghastly" Graham Ingels, an illustrator whose work was often described by the term, "wet horror". His corpses, madmen, witches, and ghouls all looked as if they had sprung from moldy, damp graves. My interpretation of the hand of one of Ingels resurrected undead does not do him justice. Check out his work online . . . it'll give you the heebie-jeebies.

We all have one of these . . .

2010-10-19T13:41:00.001-07:00

We all have one of these. Some people keep them full. Others keep them empty. . .

Dennison Door Hanger

2010-10-19T13:37:00.001-07:00

Quick sketch based on an old "door hanger" decoration from the Dennison company.

Frankenstardust Inspiration

2010-10-18T21:39:00.001-07:00

. . . and here are the two photos that made the previous drawing possible . . .