Uncle Bill

 

Illustration by The Illustrating Man

Bill Paxton was an incredible character actor of the finest form. He was a “That Guy”. The kind of actor you recognize instantly, and are so excited to see because they are a memorable weirdo from a million movies you have seen, even if you’ve never known their name, and snap your fingers trying to remember the name of just one thing you’ve seen them in. Bill played fools and maniacs the way only a true genius can, an incredibly intelligent actor and film maker hiding behind a goofy grin. He was so omnipresent in movies and TV when I was growing up he was like some rarely seen uncle who showed up at family events from time to time, America’s TV uncle. And like a real “That Guy”, Bill truly was everywhere, whether you knew it or not. He directed the Fish Heads music video, and was at the parade in Dallas the day Kennedy was assassinated. He is a real life Forrest Gump. As a matter of fact I just had to double check to see if he wasn’t in Forrest Gump, with his track record it seemed entirely possible. His passing today is a loss to the art form, we will never see his particular brand of lunacy on film again. Good night Uncle Bill.

“There he goes. One of God’s own prototypes. A high-powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die.”

-Hunter S. Thompson

-Max

 

 

-Max

The Weekly Haul

Good evening, and welcome back to the Weekly Haul. I swear to the Christian God it feels like I’m writing three of these damn things a week. Being absent a month and then getting  back on schedule sure makes it feel like it, at least. It’s unseasonably warm here at Grim Manor, and Mr. Kittycat Jackson and I have a lot of reading to catch up on, so let’s see what’s in the stash tonight, shall we?

The United Monster Talent Agency

I just found out this existed, and it’s wonderful. Directed by Greg Nicotero (special effects artist from most things, recently The Walking Dead), it features every monster you could want to see, except Godzilla. It also has cameos from Frank Darabont, Jeffrey Combs, Robert Rodriguez, Dana Gould, Arden Myrin, Derek Mears, Eli Roth, and I’m sure there were more I didn’t catch. It’s monsters, it’s funny, Enjoy.

-M

The Weekly Haul

Good evening, reader. Welcome once again, to the weekly Haul. It’s been a cold, dark week, and the nights are long and starless. But that hasn’t stopped Mr. Jackson and I from reading comics. If you don’t mind a deep dive into 70’s Batman comics, let’s see what’s in the stash this week…

Just for you, here’s a Love Song.

The Weekly Haul (Blizzard Edition)

Good evening, all. The stash this week is a little light, but none the less great. I’m still working my way through reading last week’s haul, and didn’t get to go out for new books, but that didn’t stop me from finding plenty to read, nor did it stop Mr. Jackson from trying to steal it from me. Let’s see what’s in the stash this week…

The Weekly Haul

Greetings, tenebrous travelers, and welcome back to the weekly haul. I have crossed this crumbling continent twice over in this past week, through ice and rain and fog, and an honest-to-God supernatural sand storm. It fell upon me to read the ancient spells to the mummified Witch-Queen of the western desert, so that her merciful slumber may last another thousand years and spare us her wrath. But wouldn’t you know it, her tomb was empty. Hope that doesn’t come back to bite me. But while I was out there, I picked up an old, hitch hiking gold prospector named Abernathy Buckner, and drove back East. And along the way, found comics. Kittycat Jackson grows weary of these long-winded introductions, so let’s see what’s in the stash this week, shall we?