What I'm Digging

It occurs to me that I don't really blog enough. So, I'm writing this piece about the stuff that's really turning me on lately--a post about What I'm Digging in the realm of comics, shows, music, and movies.

I recently saw Martin Scorsese's classic film AFTER HOURS from 1985. It's a fantastic departure from Marty's usual ganger-flick genre, and I can't believe I never saw it before now. A young Griffin Dunne stars as "regular guy" Paul Hackett, an NYC office worker who gets mixed up in the nocturnal craziness of the city. The entire film takes place during a single night that gets progressively weirder and more insane. Terrific supporting performances by Rosanna Arquette, Catherine O'Hara, and John Heard--as well as Cheech & Chong, who play a pair of bumbling burglars. The intensity simply grows and grows as Hackett slips deeper and deeper into a nightmarish situation, when all he really wants to do is get back home. It's definitely a "grown-up" movie, and it has the Scorsese genius all over it.

I'm also digging the new seasons of DARK WINDS, MONARCH: LEGACY OF MONSTERS, SHRINKING, and the ever-amazing PRIMAL. In new shows, STARFLEET ACADEMY is terrific--especially any scene with Paul Giamatti and Holly Hunter. These two have a simmering chemistry as mortal enemies that serves as a dramatic backdrop to this coming-of-age STAR TREK drama. Another great new show is DTF SAINT LOUIS with Jason Bateman. And I've been shouting about the return of SCRUBS, which is funnier than ever after a 16-year hiatus. SCRUBS and TED LASSO are two of the best "feel-good" shows ever made, which makes sense because they were both created by Bill Lawrence (who also co-created SHRINKING).

I've been bumping the new ROB ZOMBIE album, "The Great Satan." It's sort of a return-to-form for RZ, since he has reunited with Riggs, the guitar player with whom he started his solo career back in '98. The lyricism is darker and more dangerous than ever, and this album features less techno-geekery and more raw power. It sounds like the lineup change has reinvigorated Rob--the album seethes with dark energy and thundering hooks. In true Libra fashion, I've been balancing the new RZ album with some classic PAUL McCARTNEY lately--most specifically his "Band on the Run" album from 1976. An utter classic from the get-go, and a testament to McCartney's genius and the seamless chemistry he had with WINGS.

Let's talk comics. Jason Aaron and Kewber Baal have released two issues of the first-ever THUNDARR THE BARBARIAN comic. The first issue was okay, but the second issue is fantastic. Aaron is going some very interesting places here, while paying homage to the style and flavor of the classic Saturday-morning cartoon designed by Jack Kirby and Alex Toth. It's well worth checking out if you were a fan of the cartoon.

Another book that has grabbed my attention and has me completely fascinated is CODA by writer Simon Spurrier and artist Matías Bergara. It's a fantasy comic but with a sardonic post-apocalyptic twist, and the art reminds me of Ed Risso meets Kaare Andrews meets classic Disney. It's full of strange creatures and weird concepts, yet has its feet firmly planted in classic fantasy tropes, which it

gleefully morphs into something unique. Also, Doug Braithwaite has returned to Titan's CONAN THE BARBARIAN ongoing series with #29, and this is great news for the title. This latest arc sets up a new villain that is surely to challenge the legendary Cimmerian, and Braithwaite's art seems to get better every time he does a new Conan tale.

Another comic I have to shout about is Mike Mignola and Ben Stenbeck's

THE SKINLESS MAN. The first issue just came out and it's nothing short of perfect. The story is set in Mignola's LANDS UNKNOWN universe--which is the best thing Mike has done since launching HELLBOY back in the 90s. Mike's first LANDS UNKNOWN graphic novel, BOWLING WITH CORPSES, came out last year, and the second volume URI TUPKA AND THE GODS is set for release at the end of March. Meanwhile, he has turned Stenbeck loose in the spectacular sandbox of this new world he has created--a mythological world of high fantasy blended with weird horror. Seriously, having both Mignola and Stenbeck doing LANDS UNKNOWN stories is one of the best things to happen to the comics medium in the last 25 years.

I'd better end this post with a writing update: The ideas are flowing fast. I'm about to write the ultimate tale of GNORI THE BOLD, winding up his saga so I can collect it the forthcoming WORLDS BEYOND WORLDS EXPANDED EDITION later this year. I've also got a loose grip on the characters and plot of my next novel, THE BOOK OF CARSONNE (which could end up being released under a different title). I intend to write it over the summer for a 2027 release. Meanwhile, Brian LeBlanc is working on a cover painting for another upcoming book of mine called DOOMED & TOSSED: THE MAGTONE SAGA, which collects all of my ultra-magical Magtone stories from WEIRDBOOK into a single picaresque novel (also set for release later this year).

This week only (March 4-8), the IMMACULATE SCOUNDRELS eBook is available absolutely FREE.

A BIG THANKS to everyone buying and reading my books.

The best is yet to come...

Peace & Broadswords,

John