Good Evening, and welcome to the Weekly Haul. It’s been a long hot wretched week, as we all try to beat the heat here in Grim Manor. The Widow Sunday is studying in the Alligator pool, Mr. Jackson is stretched out with this week’s stash as he tries to cool himself on the floorboards, while I myself, am drinking from the air conditioner. Enough about us, let’s see what’s in the stash this week…
The stash is a little light this week, as it will be from time to time, but we got some bonus items in the mail. Poe Dameron was great this week, and I eagerly look forward to reading Rise of the Black Flame, spin off from B.P.R.D., though I really must catch up in the main title first. That was all I got of the monthly stuff, but some treacherous treasures arrived by postman, if only the poor guy had seen Kittycat Jackson hiding under the stairs he might still have all his toes. Honestly it’s a miracle he got away with both legs, but still, I’ll have to send poor Carl a nice basket or something this Christmas. Anyway we got Seven Soldiers of Victory, by Grant Morrison, a miniseries I’ve been meaning to read since it came out featuring Zatanna, Shining Knight, Klarion the Witch Boy, Frankenstein’s Monster, Mister Miracle, and more. It’s Grant Morrison, who writes positively fantastic comics half the time, when he’s not writing glowing retrospectives on his own work, or reaching deep enough levels of meditation to physically become a snake eating it’s own tail. And it features art by J.H. Williams III, Ryan Sook, Frazer Irving, and more. Good, juicy fall reading.
Lastly, arriving two days ahead of the 50th anniversary, Star Trek: The Key Collection Vol. 2. Last week I weighed in on the first volume of this incredibly bonkers book, and having read further through it, I can tell you I am still loving every stupid minute of it. I also stumbled across this little article, which provides some very entertaining and enlightening information on the Gold Key Star Trek series, as well as a generous smattering of beautiful artwork and those classic covers. Vol. 2 of this collection sees the writing duties taken over by our dear old fiend Len Wein, unsung hero of American comics. In fact the title of the introduction of the collection is, my hand to Satan, “A Fine Wein”. That put’s my pernicious puns to shame, but I digress. Len Wein takes over as the writer of the series, terms like “teleportation chamber” are replaced with “transporter room”, and it begins to resemble the ship and crew as we know them. Wein corrects little details like this, but doesn’t forget that the comic book form allows for a bottomless-budget Star Trek, and before too long Kirk, Spock, McCoy and the rest find themselves beset on all sides by pirates, dinosaur-like giant monsters, belly dancers, knights, wizards, and genies. In a later volume they will fight mummies. Folks, this is good stuff. Go seek it out, it’s some of the most pure dumb comic book fun I’ve had in a long time, and you can find these Checker editions dirt cheap on Amazon.
And that’s all I have to say this week, guys. Except of course, that this edition of the weekly haul marks 50 posts for The Cyclops Lanterns blog, and that’s thanks in part to all eight of you readers. I never thought I, or my co-contributor Max would stick with this as long as we have. What started as a drunken bet has become something I look forward to every week. Oh, and Max writes some bloated bullshit posts when he can. And let’s be honest, my cat Mr. Jackson has become the star of this thing. But still, 50 posts feel a lot better when we know we aren’t talking to ourselves, so thanks for reading. Or at least looking at the pictures of the cat. He’s laughing now, He knows what’s up. Alright, that’s it for the haul this week. Pleasant screams.
-Grim Doin’s
The Cyclops Lanterns 