Buy Tales of the TMNT #50 this week!!!

My good buddy, Tristan Jones, returns to the world of the Turtles after his fan-favorite issue #36 along with his partner in crime, Paul Harmon. I interviewed Trist a few months back for my comic column, he was a blast and showed some awesome preview art. I can guarantee this is gonna be a blast, so do check it out.


Here's the link to the interview http://burbank.directrouter.com/~bludbloo/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=339&Itemid=51

Here is the link to his blog where he has awesome stuff inside is mind
http://tristanhuwjones.blogspot.com/

And here is the link to Paul Harmon's AWESOME artwork.
http://dogmeatsausage.blogspot.com/

Oh, The Horror! #4: David Hine's Strange Embrace

Beautifully stitched and crafted by the twisted mind of David Hine, we are pulled into an analysis of the human psyche in what could be described as intriguing, but of course frightening. In Hine’s Strange Embrace we are introduced to a cast of characters who could be seen quite normal at first glance. But pull down the first layer of curtains and turn that knob on the door, and we are introduced to a world filled with love, obsession, alienation, sexual longing and perversion, pain and tragedy… Basically the essential of what makes us all human, and quite frankly – disturbed. Hine presents the littlest flaws and emotions of love and pushes each button to the point where a horror story is milked that leaves your mind tingling in both fascination and disgust.

The story is filled with so many characters that all share connections somehow to each other. We are first introduced to a teenage delivery boy by the name of Sukumar who has to deliver groceries to an old man named Anthony Corbeau, the key to this mundane and moody story. After rushing away in fear from Corbeau during a snowstorm, Sukumar is taken in by Alex, a writer whose picture should be next to the definition of “sadistic bastard.” Alex is a psychic who finds pleasure in stories, but gone are the stories of fantasy and fiction – Alex likes to dwell into the minds of the people around him, peeling away at their secrets, lies, and their past, even if in doing so corrupts and drives them insane or even death. If by chance you die while Alex is going through your tortured psyche, Alex would smile on satisfaction that your story is finally completed and goes on with his life to uncover more stories for his library collection, a café literally filled ghosts. But once again, Alex is a writer, and like every writer he needs an audience. And this is where Sukumar comes unto the plot as he is mentally forced to deal with Alex and listen to the story of the old man, Corbeau, and his obsession with African art. But it is that one simple obsession with African art that presents us to his father, Edward, mother, Agnes, and eventually his wife, Sarah. Each character is filled with their own secrets and everything just slowly but surely comes to a head as eventually each of their story intertwines and interferes with each other to a surprising conclusion.

Each character is delicately crafted and at many times the characters you root for one minute now has you covering your mouth in disgust a minute later. Be surprised if you aren’t driven insane by this horror story. But it isn’t quite fair to continue to call it just a horror story. This is also quite a mystery story where we are constantly seeing a missing piece of a puzzle slightly placed to give us a clearer picture. This is where we, the reader, eventually becomes Alex, the sadistic bastard. Like Alex trying to uncover the life story of Anthony and everyone who surrounds him, you are going to constantly want to turn to the next page to see what happens and how far insanity can be pushed. The story will absolutely consume you.

And lets not just stick to the writing, Hine also provides the art. And if you are familiar with Hine’s writing on Silent War, Spawn, or Poison Candy, just wait to see how twisted he could get with his artwork. With his own art style that you can most definitely call his own, panels of horror and pain will be popping up at times that you’d least expect, moments that add more tragedy to the already intense story. There’s a part in the book where you are trying to uncover Sarah’s story and you are drawn to a drawer that will open up a whole new secret to unravel and shock you. And another page when Sarah meets her mother-in-law. I’m telling you, all my praising of this tale gives it no justice until you read it yourself. But let me not forget the fantastic colors by Flanimal’s Rob Steen. Originally Strange Embrace was published back in ’94 in black and white by Atomeka Press and later collected into trade by Active Images. But thanks to Elephantmen’s Richard Starking, we are presented to Hine’s world in color that only draws you more into this story and both pleasantly and disturbingly locks you in a Strange Embrace. Heh… see what I did there?

So run to a local comic shop or bookstore and pick up Strange Embrace. You will not regret it. This book has been getting absolutely NOTHING but rave reviews from critics and this would surely be a great time to read the book that got David Hine his Marvel and Image’s Spawn job, and DC Comics job (Two-Face, baby!!!) So let’s jump into Hine’s café of ghosts and be prepared to be held and consumed in his hold.



















The order number for Strange Embrace is: APR08 2187 retailing for: $34.99 or it can be ordered from Amazon with a hefty 34% discount at $23.09.

This edition includes the original graphic novel, written by David Hine and coloured by Rob Steen, plus four short stories, sketches, cover art and interview.

Baby vs Cobra

Okay, um.... seriously... wtf?

What's Your Image?

Well, my new article for my comic column, Face To Greg, was just put up. I have a huge love for Image comics and I thought it's time I wrote about it, hopefully get other comic folks or others interested in picking up Image books. Even Jay Faerber, writer and co-creator of Dynamo 5 and Noble Causes, drops by, along with my one of my Image partner in crime, Brikhed21.

Below is the link to it. Tell me what you think.

http://www.bludblood.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=532&Itemid=1

Disney Horror?

Okay, besides being a fan of horror, I am a big fan of Disney movies, but really the ones back in the days, like the 2D flicks. I extremely miss the 2D films Disney used to be famous for making. My favorites being Pocahontas, Hercules, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Cinderella, and quite a few other numbers. I was surfing around and ended up stumbling on a video someone made of The Lion King but as a horror film. The person sliced Lion King 1 and 2 scenes to make in a horror trailer and it truly is funny.

Then I found a trailer some one made of Hunchback of Notre Dame, with The Omen trailer dialogue/music accompanying it. After that is another Hunchback video but with 300 music/dialogue in the background. It really is a funny thing to watch. The videos are below.

Oh, The Horror! #3: Norma Desmond (In Sunset Blvd)

"I am big! It's the pictures that got small!" belts Norma Desmond, portrayed by the late great Gloria Swanson in 1950's Sunset Boulevard. Okay, so this movie isn't a horror movie, but for the people who's seen this movie can all agree that Norma Desmond, the aging actress who's in denial of her faded spotlight is just downright creepy. Now, for the people who hasn't seen this movie: what the frag is wrong with you?! Go and buy it right now! This is a classic that should be on everyone's DVD collection!

William Holden stars in this movie as Joe Gillis, a struggling screenwriter in Hollywood. His car is about to be towed due to missing his payments and struggles to get the cash for it. He tries to hide the car inside of a garage after a car chase from those pesky folks who won't leave him alone for his car and meets the woman who owns that great big mansion where he parked it. The actress is non-other than the great Norma Desmond, a big time actress from the silent film era. Or "used to be" big shot. But don't tell her that! She's a star, it's just that the pictures got too small! Before Gillis can leave, he is forced to read Desmond's screenplay of Salome, a story of a young princess who Desmond has envision with her in the starring role. Reluctant at first, Gillis sees the opportunity to finally get some money as Desmond begins to spoil him with many things, including her growing desire for him. Her love and desire for him begins to becoming very disturbing as the cold-hearted actress becomes even more creepy given her already scary mindset of now being a fallen actress. This is certainly a movie that has held up through the ways and is still a blast to see, especially seeing the characters go through a spiral, maybe a way of warning me, an aspiring director/actor, about the Hollywood biz. Sheesh.

But anyways, if you haven't seen this movie, go pick it up now and enjoy the it from beginning to the very last line that's become a classic in cinema, "... All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up."

2008 Spike Scream Awards Nominees

Well, today I stumbled upon the nominees for the Spike Scream Awards for this year. Now, as a film-maker/actor/writer who is into horror, fantasy, and comic books, it puts a great smile on my face to have an award show that is dedicated to those types of movies. While critics are all gushing about "Oscar" type movies, I think it's great that geeks have an award show to care about and just have fun. And the best thing is that we, the viewers, get to vote. Heh, but the thing about that also is that movies, actors, actress, etc who I believe deserve to win sometimes don't due to some other movie. I mean, Transformers beat Children of Men in Best Sci-Fi last year! Are you serious? No way in heck that should have happened, but ah well. Heh, but yes, below I posted a link to the voting process for anyone who stumbles upon this. And check it: Dark Knight has gotten twenty noms!

After the link is the list of nominees and bolded are my picks.

http://www.spike.com/event/scream

THE ULTIMATE SCREAM
Cloverfield
The Dark Knight
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Iron Man
LOST
The Mist

BEST FANTASY MOVIE
Beowulf
The Dark Knight
Hancock
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
The Incredible Hulk
Wanted

BEST HORROR MOVIE
30 Days of Night
The Mist
The Orphanage
The Ruins
The Strangers
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

BEST SCIENCE FICTION MOVIE
Cloverfield
I Am Legend
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Iron Man
Southland Tales
WALL-E

BEST TV SHOW
Battlestar Galactica
Dexter
Heroes
Lost
Reaper
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

BEST SUPERHERO
Christian Bale as Batman; “The Dark Knight”
Will Smith as John Hancock; “Hancock”
Masi Oka as Hiro Nakamura; “Heroes”
Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man; “Iron Man”
Edward Norton as The Hulk; “The Incredible Hulk”
Ron Perlman as Hellboy; “Hellboy II: The Golden Army”

BEST ACTOR IN A FANTASY MOVIE OR TV SHOW
Christian Bale; “The Dark Knight”
Heath Ledger; “The Dark Knight”
James McAvoy; “Wanted”
Edward Norton; “The Incredible Hulk”
Terry O’Quinn; “LOST”
Ron Perlman; “Hellboy II: The Golden Army”

BEST ACTOR IN A HORROR MOVIE OR TV SHOW
Fernando Cayo; “The Orphanage”
Johnny Depp; “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
Michael C. Hall; “Dexter”
Thomas Jane; “The Mist”
Jared Padalecki; “Supernatural”
Jonathan Tucker; “The Ruins”

BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE
Anna Friel; “Pushing Daises”
Jessica Lucas; “Cloverfield”
T.J. Miller; “Cloverfield”
WALL-E; “WALL-E”
Anna Walton; “Hellboy II: The Golden Army”
Odette Yustman; “Cloverfield”

BEST ACTRESS IN A HORROR MOVIE OR TV SHOW
Julie Benz; “Dexter”
Jena Malone; “The Ruins”
Belen Rueda; “The Orphanage”
Liv Tyler; “The Strangers”
Naomi Watts; “Funny Games”
Helena Bonham Carter; “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”

BEST VILLAIN
Tobin Bell as Jigsaw; “SAW IV”
Jeff Bridges as Obadiah Stane; “Iron Man”
Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent/Two-Face; “The Dark Knight”
Zachary Quinto as Sylar; “Heroes”
Heath Ledger as The Joker; “The Dark Knight”
Alan Rickman as Judge Turpin; “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"

BEST ACTRESS IN A FANTASY MOVIE OR TV SHOW
Amy Adams; “Enchanted”
Selma Blair; “Hellboy II: The Golden Army”
Maggie Gyllenhaal; “The Dark Knight”
Angelina Jolie; “Wanted”
Hayden Panettiere; “Heroes”
Charlize Theron; “Hancock”

BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE
Jason Bateman; “Hancock”
Michael Caine; “The Dark Knight”
Terrence Howard; “Iron Man”
Doug Jones; “Hellboy II: The Golden Army”
Gary Oldman; “The Dark Knight”
Shia LaBeouf; “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”

THE HOLY SHIT! SCENE OF THE YEAR
The Batmobile/Batpod Chase; “The Dark Knight”
The Big Rig Flips Over; “The Dark Knight”
Escape From Ten Rings Hideout; “Iron Man”
Iron Man’s First Flight; “Iron Man”
The Reverse Kill Shot; “Wanted”
The Statue Of Liberty/Empire State Building Attack; “Cloverfield”

MOST MEMORABLE MUTILATION
Attacked By The Infected; “I Am Legend”
The Autopsy; “Saw IV”
The Pencil Trick; “The Dark Knight”
Bitten By Vagina With Teeth; “Teeth”
The Leg Amputation; “The Ruins”
Attacked By The Flesh-Eating Tooth Fairies; “Hellboy II: The Golden Army”

BEST SCREAMPLAY
“Cloverfield;” Drew Goddard
“The Mist;” Frank Darabont
“The Orphanage;” Sergio G. Sanchez
“WALL-E;” Andrew Stanton, Peter Docter & Jim Reardon
“The Dark Knight;” Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Nolan & David S. Goyer
“Iron Man;” Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby, Arthur Marcum & Matthew Hollaway

BEST SCREAM TO COMIC ADAPTATION
Army of Darkness
Battlestar Galactica
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season Eight
Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash
A Nightmare on Elm Street
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

BEST SEQUEL
The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian”
The Dark Knight
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Resident Evil: Extinction
Saw IV

BEST DIRECTOR
Tim Burton; “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
Frank Darabont; “The Mist”
Guillermo Del Toro; “Hellboy II: The Golden Army”
Jon Favreau; “Iron Man”
Christopher Nolan; “The Dark Knight”
Rob Zombie; “Halloween”

BEST REMAKE
The Eye
Funny Games
Halloween
The Incredible Hulk
Journey To The Center Of The Earth
Prom Night

BEST ACTOR IN A SCIENCE FICTION MOVIE OR TV SHOW
Robert Downey Jr.; “Iron Man”
Harrison Ford; “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”
Dwayne Johnson; “Southland Tales”
Edward James Olmos; “Battlestar Galactica”
Will Smith; “I Am Legend”
David Tennant; “Doctor Who”

BEST ACTRESS IN A SCIENCE FICTION MOVIE OR TV SHOW
Summer Glau; “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles”
Tricia Helfer; “Battlestar Galactica”
Lena Headey; “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles”
Milla Jovovich; “Resident Evil: Extinction”
Gwyneth Paltrow; “Iron Man”
Odette Yustman; “Cloverfield”

BEST F/X
Beowulf
Cloverfield
The Dark Knight
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Iron Man
Wanted

BEST COMIC BOOK
Astonishing X-Men
Hack/Slash
League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen: The Black Dossier
The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite
The Walking Dead
Y: The Last Man

BEST COMIC BOOK MOVIE
30 Days of Night
The Dark Knight
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
The Incredible Hulk
Iron Man
Wanted

BEST COMIC BOOK ARTIST
Gabriel Ba; The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite
Darwyn Cooke: The Spirit
Pia Guerra; Y: The Last Man
Jim Lee; All-Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder
Joe Quesada; Amazing Spider-man
Alex Ross; Project Superpowers

BEST COMIC BOOK WRITER
Warren Ellis; Anna Mercury, Black Summer, Doktor Sleepless, Fell, No Hero
Robert Kirkman; The Walking Dead
Mike Mignola; Hellboy: Darkness Calls, Lobster Johnson: The Iron Prometheus
Alan Moore; League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: The Black Dossier
Grant Morrison; Batman, Final Crisis
Brian K. Vaughan; Ex Machina, Y: The Last Man

MOST SHOCKING COMIC BOOK PLOT TWIST
The 70s Heroes Return!; Secret Invasion 1
Buffy And Satsu In Best Together!; Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Season Eight
The Plague Is Revealed!; Y: The Last Man
Kitty Pride Sacrifices Herself To Save The World!; Giant Sized Astonishing X-Men
The Slaughter Of Woodbury Prison!; The Walking Dead
The X-Men Disband After Professor X Is Shot In The Head By Bishop; X-Men

BEST LINE
“Hulk Smash!” (The Hulk); “The Incredible Hulk”
“I believe whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stranger” (The Joker); “The Dark Knight”
“I am Iron Man!” (Tony Stark); “Iron Man”
“I’m not a baby…I’m a tumor” (The Tumor); “Hellboy II: The Golden Army”
“I will now make this pencil disappear” (The Joker); “The Dark Knight”
“Why so serious?” (The Joker); “The Dark Knight”