Marv and Nancy by Francis Portela!
Marv from Frank Miller’s Sin City is one of my all-time favorite characters. I love seeing artists do their “take” on the big lug. Today we have a Marv and Nancy by Francis Portela.
Author: Craig Zablo
“WWE: Unreal” – Season 2 (2026) / Z-View
WWE: Unreal – Season 2 (2026)
Director: (Eps. 1-5) Terrell Riley, Steve Trout
Stars: John Cena, Michael Coulthard (Michael Cole), Aoife Cusack (Lyra Valkyria), Walter Hahn (GUNTHER), Paul Levesque (‘Triple H’), Colby Lopez (Seth Rollins), Pat McAfee, Stephanie McMahon, Bruce Prichard, Rebecca Quin (Becky Lynch), Demi Bennett (Rhea Ripley), Mark Calaway (The Undertaker), Shane Helms, Paul Heyman, Brian James (Road Dogg).
Tagline: It’s More Real Than You Think
The Plot…
WWE Unreal gives fans unprecedented access behind-the-scenes at how professional wrestling works. Cameras are allowed into the writers’ room as the executives on the creative team prepare for the WWE next big events.
This season…
- Seth Rollins agrees to a SummerSlam storyline that will fool even friends and family.
- Becky Lynch works to get in shape for her WrestleMania comeback.
- Pat McAfee works to move from behind the mic to in the ring competitor.
- R-Truth is fired (for real) but his fans have a different plan.
- Naomi agrees and works towards moving from babyface to heel.
- Anything that can go wrong does with Becky Lynch and Lyra Valkyria’s match.
- John Cena competes in his last SummerSlam.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
When I was a kid everyone involved in professional wrestling worked to make sure that it was thought of as “real”. Then in 1989, Vince McMahon announced professional wrestling wasn’t a legitimate sport, but instead was sports entertainment. The bumps and injuries are real, but the match outcomes are predetermined. Pro wrestling fans didn’t care.
I haven’t watched pro wrestling in years, but I was interested in the behind-the-scenes access. I wasn’t disappointed. In fact, WWE Unreal got me interested in watching again.
WWE: Unreal – Season 21 (2026) rates 5 of 5 stars
“Navajo Joe” (1966) starring Burt Reynolds / Z-View
Navajo Joe (1966)
Director: Sergio Corbucci
Screenplay: Piero Regnoli, Fernando di Leo; story by Ugo Pirro
Stars: Burt Reynolds, Aldo Sambrell, Fernando Rey.
Tagline: There’s no escaping his one-man vendetta of unrelenting violence!
The Plot…
When a gang of outlaws murders his entire village for scalps, Navajo Joe vows revenge.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
When Burt Reynolds was offered the chance to go to Italy to film Navajo Joe, he reached out to Clint Eastwood. Eastwood had achieved fame for A Fistful of Dollars and A Few Dollars More. Eastwood said it was a good experience and raved about director Sergio Leone. Reynolds thought Navajo Joe was going to be directed by Sergio Leone. He was mistaken. The director was Sergio Corbucci. Reynolds tried to walk away, but the contracts had already been signed.
To make matters worse, Corbucci thought Marlon Brando was going to be the star of the film. Needless to say, Reynolds and Corbucci didn’t get along. Making the film wasn’t a fun experience for either man.
Burt Reynolds said in interviews it was the worst professional experience he ever had and “the film was only shown in prisons and airplanes because the audience couldn’t leave.”
Who am I to argue with Burt Reynolds.
Navajo Joe (1966) rates 2 of 5 stars.
Bruce Lee’s Golden Harvest Films Poster by Tony Stella!
Tony Stella created this cool widescreen poster for the release of Bruce Lee’s Golden Harvest films. Click on the art above to see a bigger version.
“Naked Ambition” (2023) starring Bunny Yeager / Z-View!
Naked Ambition (2023)
Director: Dennis Scholl, Kareem Tabsch
Writer: Dennis Scholl
Stars: Bunny Yeager, Dita Von Teese, Larry King.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Bunny Yeager started her career as a model. She transitioned to behind the camera and became one of the most popular cheesecake photographers working. Bunny’s work with Bettie Page sent both into the popular culture stratosphere.
This is her story.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Bunny was one of the first photographers for Playboy and even discovered Playboy’s first Playmate of the Year. Bunny then went on to have her photos in more mainstream magazines such as Cosmopolitan, Esquire and Redbook to name a few. Bunny’s photos of Ursula Andress exiting the water on the beach for the James Bond film Dr. No are perhaps her most famous shots.
When magazines became more graphic, Bunny refused to follow the trend and her photos became less in demand. Bunny Yeager’s photos saw a resurgence of popularity in the 1990s.
Naked Ambition (2023) rates 4 of 5 stars.
“Night of the Hunter” by Mat Peg!
I love Mat Peg’s art. Look at the thought put into this Night of the Hunter poster.
It’s in the style of an old time photograph. Mitchum, the serial killer preacher has his love/hate finger tats in view. He’s holding both his knife and the little girl he threatens with it. She’s holding the doll that secretly carries the money Mitchum’s character is willing to kill for. The title of the movie and stars’ names are scratched in as if with the knife.
Brilliant.
Submariner Triumphant by Kerry Gammill!
I first saw Kerry Gammill’s Submariner drawing above about 50 years ago. I loved it then and love it now. The art appeared in TCP Vol. 2 #3 way back in 1976. My buddy, John Beatty introduced me to the world of fanzines and this issue of TCP was one of my favorites.
Source: Ken Meyer, Jr., who posts a complete issue of a fanzine each month.
Sly Stallone is Cobra by Joe Dellagatta!
I am a huge fan of Joe Dellagatta’s art. You can imagine my surprise to find out I never posted this piece I was lucky enough to get from him way back in 2016. It is so cool to see Sly Stallone as Cobra in Dellagatta’s unique style.
“Bad Faith” aka “Bad Faith: Christian Nationalism’s Unholy War on Democracy” (2024) / Z-View
Bad Faith aka Bad Faith: Christian Nationalism’s Unholy War on Democracy (2024)
Director: Stephen Ujlaki, Chris Jones
Written by: Alec Baer, Chris Jones, Stephen Ujlaki
Narrated by: Peter Coyote
Tagline: Christian Nationalism’s Unholy War on Democracy
The Plot…
Bad Faith explores the history of Christian Nationalism in the United States from it’s start as the Moral Majority to the current Make America Great Again movement.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
It’s interesting to see how the Religious Right movement has morphed and how the long game was played. Abortion wasn’t initially THE issue used to galvanize the movement. Years after Roe vs Wade it was seen to be advantageous to make THAT the number one issue. It was also interesting to chart how more political the movement became, how and why they were able to attract millionaires / billionaires to the cause.
The long term game plan was to frame the politics as good vs evil. They wanted to take control of 7 areas: Family, Religion, Entertainment, Media, Education, Business and Government. Then they would weaken, tear down and destroy these institutions and then rebuild to fit their mindset.
Bad Faith aka Bad Faith: Christian Nationalism’s Unholy War on Democracy (2024) rates 5 of 5 stars.
Mike Mignola’s “Blade 2” Storyboards!
Blade 2 is my favorite movie of the Blade franchise. It’s also one of my favorite horror movies. Most folks know it was directed by Guillermo del Toro. Not as many realize that del Toro’s artist on the storyboards was none other than Hellboy creator, Mike Mignola. Below are some examples.
Guillermo del Toro and Mike Mignola would reteam two years later for the movie adaptation of Hellboy.
A book of Mignola’s storyboards would be a welcome addition to my book shelf.
Click on the photos to see biggie-versions or each. If you want to see even bigger versions check out our source for this post — Marco Foderà.
“Tura!” (2024) starring Tura Santana / Z-View
Tura! (2024)
Director: Cody Jarrett
Screenplay: Cody Jarrett
Stars: Tura Satana, John Waters, Margaret Cho, Dita Von Teese and Pamela Des Barres.
Tagline: How One Woman’s Quest for Revenge Changed Hollywood and the World Forever
The Plot…
Tura Satana, the actress best known for her role as Varla in the cult classic Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! had a life that is hard to believe. Raped as a child, Tura learned the martial arts in order to get revenge on the men who abused her since justice was denied in the courts. As an adult, Tura got revenge on each individual who had assaulted her.
But that would come later in life.
At fifteen, Tura ran away to California. She lied about her age and began working as a burlesque dancer. Soon Tura was making big money as a stripper. This led to a friendship with Harold Lloyd (yes, THAT Harold Lloyd of silent movie fame). Tura became a nude model for Lloyd (and others).
Then came her acting career with roles in Irma la Douce staring Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine and Who’s Been Sleeping in My Bed? starring Dean Martin and Elizabeth Montgomery. Television roles on Burke’s Law and The Man from UNCLE followed. Then came Tura’s breakout role in Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!. After that Tura appeared in just four more films and one television appearance before retiring from acting.
After the filming of The Doll Squad, Tura was shot by a former lover. Her acting career was finished… for now. Over the years Tura earned a living working in a hospital and later as a dispatcher. When Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! gained new popularity as a cult hit, Tura Santana’s popularity also surged. She began to occassionally act and make appearances at fan conventions.
Tura is her life story.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
It’s hard to believe Tura’s life story… even the parts that are easily proven. So we’ll go with the famous saying, (and I’m parphrasing), “When the legend is better than the truth, go with the legend.”
Tura! (2024) rates 4 of 5 stars.
“Assault on VA-33” (2021) starring Sean Patrick Flabery with Mark Dacascos and Michael Jai White / Z-View
Assault on VA-33 (2021)
Director: Christopher Ray
Screenplay: Scott Thomas Reynolds
Stars: Sean Patrick Flanery, Michael Jai White, Mark Dacascos, Weston Cage, Gina Holden, Abigail Hawk, Brittany Underwood, Rachel True, Max Adler and Rob Van Dam.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Jason Hill plans to have lunch with his wife at the Veteran’s Affairs hospital where she works. After lunch Jason is going to take his daughter to soccer practice. But that all changes when terrorists take over the hospital. They’re after a General being treated there. With the General and several staff as hostages, the terrorists have the upper hand.
Jason manages to not get caught during the takeover. When local police believe his call for help to be a prank, Jason realizes it’s up to him to save the day.
I think Jason’s daughter may be late to practice. Jason to the rescue – STAT.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Sean Patrick Flanery and Gina Holden play husband and wife in Assault on VA-33. They also played a married couple in Saw 3D.
Pro wrestler Rob Van Dam plays the terrorist who stays in the van. He is never shown being killed or driving away. His character just disappears. It would have been funny if after the credits rolled, at the very end they should him still sitting in the van.
Assault on VA-33 (2021) rates 2 of 5 stars.
“Reservoir Dogs” Alt Poster Created by Sahin Düzgün!
This very cleverly designed Reservoir Dogs alt poster was created by Sahin Düzgün?. Sahin is a graphic designer, poster artist and movie lover from Berlin, Germany.
Here is what Sahin had to say about his design: Sharp suits, sharp dialogue, and a story that changed indie cinema forever. Happy Reservoir Dogs day, Mr. Tarantino!
Mr. Pink: Why can’t we pick our own colors?
Joe: No way, no way. Tried it once, it doesn’t work. You get four guys all fighting over who’s gonna be Mr. Black, but they don’t know each other, so nobody wants to back down. No way. I pick. You’re Mr. Pink. Be thankful you’re not Mr. Yellow.
Marv and Nancy by John Amor!
Marv from Frank Miller’s Sin City is one of my all-time favorite characters. I love seeing artists do their “take” on the big lug. Today we have a Marv and Nancy by John Amor.
Eerie Archives Volume 13!
Eerie Archives Volume 13 is available! It is a double-sized giant and contains 608 pages of horrific fun! Here’s what we get…
A DOUBLE SHOT OF TERROR: TWO HORRIFYING VOLUMES IN ONE!
LEGENDARY CREATORS OF LEGENDARY TERROR!
Collecting eleven issues of Warren Publishing’s legendary Eerie horror anthology, previously compiled in Dark Horse’s hardcover volumes 15 and 16.
This double-volume paperback edition includes jaw-dropping work from Howard Chaykin, Bernie Wrightson, Richard Corben, Carmine Infantino, Jim Starlin, and a host of other fan-favorite talents! Thrill to the ongoing, brutal adventures of Hunter, El Cid, and Coffin! From fanciful freaks to downright disturbing demons, Eerie Archives has something for every horror devotee!
Collects Eerie magazine #70–78, #80, and content from the special reprint issue #79 not collected in previous Eerie Archives volumes.
Deal me in.