Mocata's Den of Horror

Despite having five years' worth of releases already, Walk Among Us was the first full-length album to be released by the Misfits, way back in 1982, the year before the band would split up.  By this time, the band's image and sound were both fully in place, with band members sporting the devilock hairstyle, lyrics which made references to all kinds of horror and sci-fi movies, Glenn's vocals, and Jerry's growling bass tone.  The album also features what is arguably the "classic" line-up of the Misfits: Glenn Danzig- vocals, Jerry Only- bass guitar, Arthur Googy- drums, and Doyle- guitar.  Cover of LP reissue from Rhino Records Comprised of thirteen songs and clocking in at a total of about 24 minutes, Walk Among Us is a no-nonsense affair.  This is an album without filler.  Of course, there is the odd inclusion of a live recording of "Mommy, Can I Go Out and Kill Tonight" right in the middle of the album, even though there hadn't even been a st...

Most people don't realize that there is much more to comic books than superheroes like Spider-man or Superman.  Over the decades, many different genres have had their ups and downs in the world of comic books: western, science fiction, horror, crime, romance, and, of course, superheroes.  Comics are also not just an American thing; they are produced in many countries around the world.  Today, I want to write about one such comic-- the Italian fumetto dell'orrore (horror comic), Dylan Dog . Two different issues of Dylan Dog Dylan Dog, created by Tiziano Sclavi and published by Sergio Bonelli Editore, debuted in 1986 and continues to this day.  At this moment, the regular series is at #400.  Dylan Dog, the character, is a private investigator residing in London.  However, he does not handle normal cases; he is the nightmare investigator.  He deals with monsters, ghosts, deranged killers, etc. Dylan Dog is a man who lives somewhat nonchalantly,...

Back in the 1950s, horror comics were quite popular, with numerous titles from various publishers, all ranging in quality, of course, popping up at newsstands.  However, after some concern from some adults (parents always seem to need something to point to as the thing corrupting their children's minds-- in my day it was Garbage Pail Kids ), along came something called the Comic Books Code which basically killed the horror comic.  Sort of. EC, publisher of the top titles of horror and crime comics in those days, attempted to continue publishing its horror and crime titles, just without the seal of approval.  Apparently, sellers would return the comics to the publisher unsold.  EC soon got out of the horror comic game. There was, however, a loophole it seems.  The code only applied to regular-sized comic books.  If you had a larger format comic book, one the size of a regular magazine, then the code no longer applied, as it was now considered a magazine ...

Earlier this year, Eibon Comics announced that it was redoing the old graphic novel of Lucio Fulci’s Zombie ( Zombie Flesheaters to those in the UK and Zombi 2 in its native Italy) originally released through Blackest Heart Media, this time in color and expanded into an ongoing series, from what I have read.   The first issue of this new version went on sale more than a month before it was due to ship and sold out rapidly.   Happily, I was able to order a copy before it sold out.   Eibon and since stated there will be a second printing of the issue and that future issues will be printed in higher quantities. My copy of Zombie Issue #1 arrived recently and I am quite pleased with it.   It is just as Eibon advertised it.   The presentation alone is remarkable, including the outer sleeve each copy comes in.   My copy also came with a liner note booklet about Eibon and the development of the comic sleeves Eibon is putting all of its comics in, as...