The Batman The Complete Series

After Warner Bros. Batman: The Animated Series went off the air, Warner Bros. introduced a new Batman animated series simply called The Batman.

The Batman showcased a young Bruce Wayne just starting out in his crime-fighting career.

Known primarily as a crime-fighting vigilante by the general populace it would be several years before he earned the monikers of The Dark Knight and The World’s Greatest Detective.

In the animated series, which incorporated computer animation mixed with traditional cell animation, Batman fought primarily by himself.

Robin would be introduced later in the series.

The series also included many of Batman’s most diabolical villains albeit in slightly altered versions as seen in the original animated series.

Other mainstay DC superheroes also made their appearances such as Superman and Batgirl.

The Batman, as a young crime fighter, had yet to perfect his fighting and deductive skills and was much more prone to make mistakes.  The series focused on Batman honing his abilities and refining his crime-fighting techniques.

In The Batman The Complete Series, on Blu-ray/Digital Code, from Warner Bros. every episode from the series are included along with some special features.

Look for featurettes on the new look, direction and Batman, building the Batman, Gotham Case Files, Batman’s team-ups and much more.

For a completely unique take on The Dark Knight the series delivers.  Look for lots of action, cutting edge computer effects, powerful stories, interesting characters and a stellar voice cast.

Psalm 91:11 (NKJV) ^“For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.”

The MAXX Red and Blue

When The MAXX was first introduced by Image Comics and Sam Keith comic book fans weren’t sure initially how to take it.

But before long fans warmed up to Sam’s unique style and the bizarre The MAXX.

Sam Keith and Image Comics released a number of downsized The MAXX issues in black and white.  He signed them (mine are signed) and all have limited print runs.  Colors included Red, Blue, Black and Yellow.

B & W Ashcans were released for issues 1, 2, 3 and 4.

I have a Blue issue #1 and a Red issue #2.

Currently the Blue #1 sells for $100 with a print run of 4,000.  The Red issue #2 sells for $225 with a print run of 500.

Each issue includes several sketches and notes.

Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Holiday Dracula

When Sideshow Collectibles first started out it was known as Sideshow Toys.

It’s first 12-inch fully articulated collectible figures were a series of Universal Studios Famous Monsters-Bela Lugosi’s Dracula being one of them.

As a special treat to reviewers and retailers Sideshow would produce Holiday figures around Christmas time.

One year they sent me a Dracula Holiday/Christmas figure dressed in a solid white jammies outfit.  Only 300 were produced.

The figure comes in a rectangular flip lid box.  A special printed red ribbon with attached card slips over the box

The cover of the box is the original Dracula posture reproduced in a smaller scale.  On the back is a black and white head shot of Lugosi as Dracula.

Opening the box to the inside flap is the cast and crew listing from the movie.

The Dracula figure with accessories is cradled in a form-fitting clear plastic cocoon with Dracula held in place with a plastic strap.

A special clear plastic viewing panel is over the cocoon, figure and accessories.

The inside and outside trim edges look like castle brownstone.

The Dracula, fully articulated figure’s face looks remarkably like Bela Lugosi with its slicked back black hair, heavy brows, wide face, deep set eyes, creased cheeks and thin lips.

Face coloration is pale, as are its hands and torso.

There is nice coloration variation on the face with a special emphasis one the eyes, cheeks and brow.

The figure wears a solid white full jammies set with footies and a single zipper/Velcro opening on the front.

Included with the figure is a large black and brown vampire bat, two large rats with curling tails and a special flagstone base with a foot cup so the figure can stand.

Details on the bat and rats are perfect from their snarling faces to their threatening poses.

Dracula is ready to bed down in his coffin ready for Christmas the next day.

Perhaps he’ll get a gift card to a blood bank for Christmas?

Psalm 91:11 (NKJV) ^“For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.”

Supergirl: The Sixth and Final Season

Has it really been six years!  It seems just like yesterday that DC Comics Supergirl TV series from Warner Bros. premiered.  Faster than a speeding bullet is right!

A lot of things happened in the series over the last six.  Supergirl transformed from a somewhat naive young woman into a powerful and determined force for good.

She never lost her compassion and sense of right and wrong-although she was tempted a few times.

She encountered other non-superpower friends and foes over the years, had learned to fight with others, met her cousin Superman, traveled to the Arrowverse, fought along side The Martian Manhunter, lived through a Crisis and faced off against almost insurmountable odds and won.

The Sixth Season witnessed Supergirl facing her own mortality and one of her greatest foes of all time.

Lex Luthor achieved unbelievable powers, Supergirl traveled to The Phantom Zone and met a member of her family, and she returned to earth and faceed off against Lex and his equally power hunger cohorts.

The Supergirl: The Sixth and Final Season Blu-Ray/Digital Code Combo Pack contains all 20 episodes along with a special Farewell To Supergirl featurette.

The Final Season went out with a bang and hopefully Supergirl will resurface in other DC Comics TV series.

Job 19:25 (NKJV) “For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth;”

Norman Rockwell Pop-Up Advent Calendar By Norman Rockwell

 

Considered America’s most beloved artist: Norman Rockwell, is the inspiration for Abrams/Andrews McMeel’s The Metropolitan Museum Of Art Norman Rockwell Pop-Up Advent Calendar.

Brighten up your December holiday/Christmas celebration with a fun 3D calendar featuring art by Norman Rockwell.

Each day in December open one of 24 windows to reveal a classic Norman Rockwell holiday illustration.

The elaborate pop-up Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas illustration by Rockwell recreates the town in full 3D.

With sliding parts, clever hidden illustrations behind flip-open panels the calendar brings the spirit of Christmas to your home much like opening a present everyday!

Psalm 19:14 (NKJV) “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”

DC Comics OMAC #1

When artist/writer John Byrne asked about what was the one work he was most proud of he said, “The OMAC (One Man Army Corps) mini-series from DC Comics".

The OMAC series centered on Buddy Blank, the human persona of the super-powered being OMAC granted powers by the orbiting Brother Eye.

When something goes wrong in the time stream, OMAC/Buddy must traverse the web and flow of time to repair it.

The adventure gave Byrne the opportunity to let his imagination run wild.

Ever since John Byrne began drawing comic books his work has progressed and improved n stages.  It was true with his early Marvel and DC and his independent publisher projects.

To add to the nostalgic look of the series the complete story was done in black and white with ziptone shading.  Byrne used a similar technique when he did Namor The Sub-Mariner for Marvel Comics.

The OMAC mini-series was a major turning point in the drawing and writing career of John Byrne in my opinion.

Having successfully defeated the rampaging hoards that devastated and terrorized a lone group of post apocalyptic survivors OMAC leaves their encampment to go after the real culprit-Mr. Big.

As he slowly approaches the high-tech headquarters of Mr. Big OMAC battles troops and heavily armored vehicles to finally breach the wall of the compound.

After he successfully stops some genetically augmented warriors OMAC comes face-to-face with a wizened, old and nearly dead Mr. Big-whom he promptly kills.

Just as the final blow is given OMAC is whisked away through time by an old friend(s).

It seems Mr. Big has been mucking around with the timeline and its up to OMAC to stop the changes.  He enters the time chamber and is instantly transported back in time where he suddenly finds himself transformed into Buddy Blank, his weak human counterpart.

What happens next? Stay tuned as the story upholds in three more gripping issues from DC Comics.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV) “To everything there is a season,A time for every purpose under heaven:..”

Creepy Living Dead Dolls: Judas

Childhood and death.  Children are at the dawn of their lives.  Young, vital and full of life.

But in the case of Mezco's Living Dead Dolls childhood and the grave go hand in hand.

In the Bible Judas betrayed Jesus Christ.  In the Living Dead Dolls case Judas is but a small boy-albeit a dead one.

Creepy-that’s the best word to use to describe this toy.

Let’s start with the packaging.

The figure comes in a small, solid black coffin shaped box with a removable lid.

The box is sealed with shrink-wrapped plastic.

On the front of the box in silver ink are the worlds ‘Living Dead Dolls’.

Once opened the box has a separate clear plastic lid that fits over the edges of the box. Again the words ‘Living Dead dolls’ is printed in silver ink.

Removing the clear plastic lid that protects the box contents and allows for viewing the first thing you notice is the figure is nestled in form fitting black paper and it sits on a slightly raised cardboard backing.

A single strip of heavy stock black paper drapes over the feet of the figure.

In red type is the name of the figure: Judas and a short poem describing Judas-it’s all very spooky.

Nestled in his black paper lined coffin box Judas stares out with his big red eyes.  Gray lines around his eyes, which are deep-set, accent his pale face.  Heavy black eyebrows give his deathly stare a haunting look.

He has a small nose is perched above his gray tinged lips.

Real black hair hangs down over his forehead and touches the top of his small ears.

The partially articulated doll stands about 10-inches tall.  He has small delicate deathly white hands and pale white skin.

He wears a two-layer top consisting of a full sleeved black blouse with red stitching/embroidery around the cuffs, lower trim edge and a single image centered just below his neck.

The outer garment covers a solid red long-sleeved full skirt with a red collar and a Velcro seam running the entire front of the garment.  The inner skirt ends at Judas’s knees.

Under the skirt he wears a solid pair of black pant, black socks and large clunky black shoes with round tips.

The figure is secured in place with wire strips.

It is a truly horrifying figure and yet is cute in its own grotesque way.

1 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV) “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”

Upcoming!! Diamond Previews, March 2022

Marvel Comics Mini-Marvels

How would you like to purchase some key Silver Age Marvel Comic Books for a mere $1 each?  Sound too good to be true?

How does The Amazing Spider-Man #s 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Amazing Fantasy #15, The Incredible Hulk #s 1, 2, 3, The Avengers #s 1, 2, 3, The X-Men #s 1, 2, 3 and Fantastic Four #s 1, 2, 3 sound?

Tales include Spider-Man’s origin, meeting the Chameleon, trying to join The Fantastic Four, his first encounter with The Vulture, battling The Sandman and coming face-to-face with Doctor Doom.

The Hulk’s origin is told, he battles The Toad Men and faces off against the military.

Learn how Loki inadvertently created The Avengers, the team faces The Space Phantom and tackles The Hulk and The Sub-Mariner.

Discover the origin of The X-Men and their first battle with Magneto, tackling The Blob and matching wits with The Vanisher.

The Fantastic Four’s origin is told, they fight The Mole Man, take on The Skrulls and battle The Miracle Man.  The also obtain their uniforms and the Fantasti-Car.

All of the tales are told in small black and white reprint mini-comics that are about half the size of a conventional comic book.

It’s a great way to buy some Marvel classics without shelling out the big bucks.  I picked my copies up at Dollar Tree.

Proverbs 18:21 (KJV) “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”

Women Of Walt Disney Imagineering

Speaking as an artist myself it's one thing to be able to put your ideas down on paper and canvas.  It’s quite another thing to take 2D images and translate them to 3D-especially 3D items that move and interact!

Walt Disney Productions changed the face of theme parks.  No longer were rides simple mechanical contrivances that spun, turned or moved.

Walt Disney rides included figures that moved and talked. They immersed guests into whatever world they visited such as a jungle cruise or even a trip to the stars.

Like most companies in the 1950s Disney used primarily male talent when designing its initial Disneyland Park.  But, you have to give Disney credit when it came to equality of the sexes as time passed.

Many of the artists and Imagineers were women and as the years progressed more and more women became important personnel at Walt Disney Productions.  

In Women Of Walt Disney Imagineering, published by Disney Editions, twelve women reflect on their trailblazing theme park careers.

Each woman recounts their story on how they got started, their duties and the many challenges they encountered along the way.

Each of the twelve women include there own drawings and photos of the projects they worked on and the behind the scenes and personal images of their accomplishments.

The slightly oversize hard bound book, with a dust cover, edited by Ginger Zee, offers a unique look a the pioneering women who helped make Disney the worldwide conglomerate it is today.

Luke 11:9-10 (NIV) “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

DC Direct 1st Appearance Green Lantern

Did you know that there was another Green Lantern in existence before Hal Jordan put on his ring?

During the Golden Age of comic books DC Comics introduced Alan Scott as the original Green Lantern.

When DC Comics presented to the world Superman the response was far more positive than the publisher expected.

Recognizing a good thing when they saw it the owners of DC Comics decided to release more comic books starring superheroes.  Thus the DC Universe was born.  Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, The Spectre and Green Lantern were all released in a short period of time.

The first Green Lantern his powers from a Green Lantern with energy derived more from magic than science.

The DC Direct 1st Appearance Green Lantern, fully articulated, 6-inch figure comes in a clear front panel hanger/standup display box.

The figure is clearly visible and is held in place by a form-fitting, clear plastic cocoon and plastic coated wires.

The blond hair Green Lantern wears a purple eye mask, a red shirt with an open collar and a Green Lantern symbol in a yellow circle.

His green pants are held up by a wide black belt with a silver buckle and his feet are sod in red knee boots with yellow strap bindings.

The figure also comes with a real cloth, purple and green cape with an oversize collar.

Included with the figure is a plastic Green Lantern.

The right hand is positioned to hold the Lantern and his left is in a fist.

Paint application and sculpting are clear, crisp and extremely well done and articulation is cleverly hidden in the folds of the cloths.

Genesis 1:3 (KJV) “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”

Battle Of Chaos and Kuriboh Kollection

Get ready for twice the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card fun and game play with Battle Of Chaos and the Kuriboh Kollection from Konami.

Chaos: Behavior so unpredictable as to appear random, owing to great sensitivity to small changes in conditions.

If you expect to make sense while playing Battle Of Chaos you’re in for a big surprise.

The only thing you can expect is the unexpected.  Randomness rules and chaos challenges all things of order.

The first print run of Battle of Chaos Boxes includes:

Battle of Chaos +1 Bonus Pack
Introduces the "Dinomorphia" archetype to the OCG/TCG.
Features a card used by Seto Kaiba.
Features Cards used by Yugi Muto/Yami Yugi, Cologne and Yuya Sakaki.
Includes new members/support for various series.
Includes new members/support for "Smile" archetype.
Introduces the first support for the "Lady of Lament" archetype and The "Libromancer" and "Doll Monster" archetypes.
 

Five Cards come per Pack and 30 Packs per Box. The Set contains 100 Cards.

10 Secret Rares
14 Ultra Rares
26 Super Rares
50 Commons

The Kuriboh Kollaction has its own set of game accessories including:

A 9-pocket Portfolio with anti-slip pockets, a 180 Card capacity and a study cover with a brilliant Kuriboh illustration.
A 70+ capacity Card Case
A full-size, soft, cushioned, rubberized Game Mat measuring 14 inches X 14 inches.

Marvel Comics Master OF Kung Fu #64

In Marvel Comics'  The Hands OF Shang-Chi Master Of Kung Fu #64 readers get a glimpse of Shang-Chi’s life under his father’s (Fu Manchu) rule and tutelage.

We also learn how Fu Manchu lied, deceived and controlled young Shang-Chi’s life and its effect and affect on others around him.

Paul Gulacy provided the stunning cover and Mike Zeck the equally impressive interior art.

In issue #64 Shang-Chi, after successfully venturing out on his own, literally bumps into a childhood friend while on a walk on the streets of the city.

The only problem is the childhood friend he knew he believed was dead.

The friend flees with Shang-Chi fast in pursuit.

As the drama unfolds Shang-Chi thinks back to his childhood and the friend he thought he had lost.

It was a troubling time, as Shang-Chi’s father, Fu Manchu, demanded much of his son-even his choice of friends.

One day Shang-Chi is kidnapped and held by men who supposedly opposed Fu Manchu.

Eventually Shang-Chi is rescued by his father unaware that it was a setup by his father so that he would trust only him.  He never knew his friend was complicit in the whole faked abduction.

This issue delves deeply into the childhood of Shang-Chi and how he was manipulated, molded and cast into the form his father deemed fit.

Fu Manchu did not count on the indomitable will of Shang-Chi nor his inborn desire for justice and truth.

I consider this a pivotal issue in the Shang-Chi legacy and an important issue to have as it pertains to the character.

Proverbs 18:21 (KJV) “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”

Marvel Comics The Avengers #103

They’re back!  Just when you thought it was safe the mutant hunting Sentinels have returned from the sun and The Avengers are there when ‘The Sentinels Strike!’ in The Avengers #103.

After the surprise return of the Sentinels last issue Quicksilver separately searched for his sister Wanda (the Scarlet Witch) who has been captured by the mutant hunting robots.

Meanwhile the remaining Avengers also began their search.

They were unaware that Quicksilver located the son (Larry Trask) of the man who created the sentinels and that the Vision met with Grim Reaper who promised to make him human.

Quicksilver unveiled a horrible truth about Larry Trask that spelled doom to the now captured Avengers at the Sentinels' hidden base.

It’s all out action as only Marvel Comics could deliver courtesy of writer Roy Thomas and artist Rich Buckler.

Proverbs 18:21 (KJV) “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”

DC Comics Checkmate #1

Life is like a game of chess.  Black and white vie for supremacy just as evil and good do.  Checkmate seeks to take control of the board for the good.

Highly trained agents tackle the most dangerous espionage assignments imaginable-some involving super beings.

Checkmate was created by John Byrne and premiered in one of the Superman titles.  

Proving to be popular Checkmate was given its own series in 1988 and is still a vital part of the DC Comics Universe today.

Checkmate, run by Stein and Waller, plans to take the rather unorthodox methods of the Vigilante (now killed) and the Peacemaker and hone it, refine it and make them legitimate through a secret government agency that often skips over the legal aspects of crime fighting.

They drug and capture Thorn (a friend of the Vigilante and uses his same methods of crime fighting) and recruits her into Checkmate.

In the meantime Checkmate assigns one of its Knights to track down a group of Neo-Nazi’s who have kidnapped an important official.

The Knight intervenes and saves the man who is grateful for his help and promises to do whatever he can to aid him.

Next assignment, stop a string of devastating bombings.

Checkmate was an exciting series set in the real world.  International and domestic crimes were confronted and when necessary wiped out, including their chief proponents.

It was a gritty series and unfortunately didn’t last log.

However Checkmate has interwoven itself into the DC Universe and has proven to be a vital part of it.  Like any game of chess the game never is over until the final Checkmate.

Psalm 19:1 (NKJV) “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.”

Pulp Culture

Long before there were comic books and paperback books there were Pulp magazines and periodicals.

Some of the most recognizable fantasy literary figures had their start in such publications.  Conan, The Shadow, Doc Savage, Tarzan, John Carter are just a few samples.

I’m sure most readers of this blog are unfamiliar with the Pulp magazine era.  I recommend doing a little historical homework to discover just how important that era was to modern comic books and pop culture literature.

All genres were published including Westerns, Mystery, Detective, Crime, Romance, Science Fiction, Fantasy and many more.

Pulp Culture The Art Of Fiction Magazines by Frank M. Robinson and Lawrence Davidson and published by Collectors Press, delves into the history of said publications.

This colorful visual art gallery is filled with full color cover reproductions of type of genre of magazine and included detailed information on publishers, artists, writers, dates of publication and a brief description of each cover or magazine.

The book is a fascinating collection of a pop culture phenomenon that influenced publications, movies and TV for generations to come.

It is the most comprehensive collection of Pulp magazines I have ever seen and is well worth the price.

1 John 1:9 (NIV) “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Charmed and Buffy Gentlemen and Belthazor

Two supernatural themed TV shows from the 1990s and early 2000s were Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Charmed.

Buffy starred Buffy along with her ‘Scooby Squad’ that kept their hometown Sunnyvale safe from vampires, ghouls and other nasty supernatural and creatures of the night.

Charmed starred three women who were witches.  They too kept humanity safe from supernatural threats.

While the Charmed sisters and Buffy and her gang were the stars of their respective show it was the villains that made the shows interesting.

I’ve chosen two villains (one from each show) that I consider memorable.

SOTA Toys created several series of Charmed action figures.

I’ve selected The Gentlemen from Buffy toys by Moore Action Collectibles and Belthazor for Charmed to review.

The Gentlemen are fairy-tale monsters who search for seven hearts.  They invade towns and villages and steal everyone’s voices so no one can scream.  No sword or weapon can kill them except the scream of a princess.

Belthazor is half demon and half human.  He was hired by The Brotherhood Of The Thorn to kill the Charmed witches.

He possesses incredible physical and mental abilities and is known for killing countless witches, wizards and the like.

He proves to be a formidable foe for the Charmed sisters.

Belthazor has red skin (as one would expect form a demon) with black facial tattoos on is face that are especially heavy around his eyes.  The black tattoos serve to intensify his dark eyes and fangs.

The figure is bald, has large red hands and is articulated in the shoulders and neck.

He stands with his hands wide open at his sides and legs slightly placed apart.

The figure wears a black jacket and trouser with silver buckle best, a collarless back shirt and black loafers.

He also includes a translucent cluster of flames.

The Series 1 figures each come with a section of a backdrop.

Beltzazor’s set pieces is of a room with a brick and wood slat wall, wooden slat floor and a small bookcase with an assortment of books cluttering its shelves.  

The Gentlemen action figures consist of two figures.  Both have gruesome, gaunt, pale white faces with bald skulls.  Both have shallow cheeks, deep set dark eyes, one has a large sneer (the standing one) and the other has a drawn back sinister smile.

The standing figure comes dressed in a solid black suit (similar to an old time undertaker long coat suit) a white shirt, black ties and white handkerchief in the coat’s pocket.  He wears black shoes and comes with a separate set of clenched skeletal hands.

Accessories include large black tongs, a small square wooden book wit markings, a corked bottle, a knife and a long round piercing knife with black handle.

The accompanying wood slate base is included, as is half of a large black hands and hour indicators oversize clock.  A wound up rope and wooden crate are on the floor.

The second figure is a Gentleman who is crouching and wears an untied straight jacket and facial bandages that cover his cranium and his nose.

Sculpting of the figures is very precise and detailed with nice color separation, shading and clean crisp differentiation between color edges.

The figures have partial articulation that is well hidden by clothing folds.  

Psalm 91:11 (NKJV) ^“For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.”

DC/Warner Bros. Catwoman: Hunted

One of my favorite comic book femme fatales and good girl/bad girl is Catwoman.

Cat burglar supreme, fierce fighter and Batman’s lover, Catwoman has been playing cat and mouse with Bruce Wayne/Batman’s emotions ever since she was introduced way back in the Golden Age of comic books.

Batman and the rest of the DC Comics heroes and villains never quite know where they stand with Catwoman/Selina Kyle.

In Warner Bros. latest DC Animated Movie: Catwoman: Hunted, on 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray/Digital Code, Catwoman stars in her own adventure.

Never one to shy away from bagging a priceless object Catwoman sets her feline feminine eyes on the world’s most expensive Emerald.

Things seem to go smoothly until she discovers that the gem is the property of a worldwide criminal organization headed by Cheetah.

A gangster costume party is being held in Spain and Selina manages to gain access dressed in her classic Catwoman outfit. While Black Mask is in conference to join the worldwide crime cartel, Catwoman breaks into the vault and steals the emerald.

She almost gets away scot-free until a bat throwing-star sets off the alarm.

She flees with the criminals hot on her heels.  A thrilling car chase ensues and she almost escapes until she is stopped by Batwoman.

It seems Interpol wants to offer her deal.  If she agrees to become the crime syndicate’s target, Interpol and Batwoman will capture and incarcerate the crime syndicate heads and she will have her criminal record wiped clean.  She agrees.

In way over her head, Catwoman needs all of her nine lives to survive against some of the baddest of the bad of the DC Universe.

Things get out of hand when Catwoman surveys the cartel meeting only to be met by a ninja assassin, a bat creature and after crashing into the skylight with Batwoman other surprises awaits the duo.

Suddenly they must fight demons, elementals, high-tech battle suits, a ninja, a strongman and henchmen.

Somehow they persevere and the cartel members are arrested-all except Cheetah.

Later the duo are attacked by an army of assassins, Solomon Grundy and eventually Catwoman must face off against the transformed Cheetah.

Looks for lots of action, fisticuffs and foul play, twists and turns, blood and guts and off the wall humor.

I had a lot of fun watching this movie.  The characters were well defined, the fights nicely choreographed and illustrated and the visual effects added an extra punch.  

Throw in the jazzy soundtrack and the new Anime inspired animation and this movie really delivers.

It’s fast, it’s fun, it ferocious and it’s everyone’s female feline favorite is at her best.  Even Batman would be impressed.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Indiana Jones Temple Of Doom

Of the three original trilogy films of Indiana Jones, The Temple Of Doom is considered by many to be the ugly stepchild of the trilogy.

It’s dark, foreboding and downright scary!

I really enjoyed The Temple Of Doom.  It showcased Indy at his most dashing, resourceful and daring.  It was funny, scary and exciting and featured some pretty cool action sequences.

It’s been said that George Lucas wrote The Temple Of Doom script while he was going through a messy divorce.  

Coincidentally the film’s director Steven Spielberg was also having marital problem.  Perhaps that would explain the darkness of the film.

Random House published a thin hardbound Temple Of Doom Storybook based on the movie with text aimed mostly at children.  It was jam-packed with color photos from the film and also featured a character photo gallery.

It’s a fun book to look through and to recall the film.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV) “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Aliens Artbook

Regardless if you are a fan of the Aliens film franchise or not you have to admit the movies changed the face of cinema-especially the first two films.

Alien movies redefined horror, science fiction, suspense and action as no other films have ever done.

Titan Books celebrates the 35th Anniversary of the Aliens film with the gorgeous, oversize hardbound book: Aliens Artbook.

Artists from all over the world choose scenes and images from the Aliens film or make up their own original interpretations.

Every illustration and painting is in full color with statements from the artists about their art and what inspired them.

Every conceivable type of art is included from hyper-realistic to cartoonish.

Paints, markers, pencils, computer generated-all are represented in the book.

With its thick paper stock cover to its high gloss interior pages the book reeks quality and high design.

Font choices and body text fit the theme perfectly as does the framing and sizing of each piece of art.

This is a book that you can literally pore over for hours again and again and still pick up new details with each viewing.

As a graphic designer I am impressed by high production standards evident in the printing and design of this book. 

Jeremiah 33:3 (NKJV) “‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’