Chiller Theatre April 2022

I made my return to the greatest of all conventions, Chiller Theatre, on April 30, 2022. Thanks to the pandemic it was cancelled in 2020, and I didn't go last year. But, with a great guest list and me feeling more willing to do more cons, I headed out with my friend and Master's Minion Freddie to the show.  

The first person that I went up to, was long overdue. While I had seen the lovely Amy Steel at many cons, I never met her. I finally did and it was well worth it. She, of course, played Ginny, one of the best final girls ever, in Friday the 13th Part 2, among other roles.

Next for me was the beautiful Denise Galik who starred in such classics as V: The Final Battle, Don't Answer the Phone, and Humaniods from the Deep, which is one of my favorite movies. I told her it was one of my favorites and asked her how it was working on it. She said it was a rough shoot being that it was out in the elements. In fact, she talked to us quite a bit was very sweet, and all smiles and laughs. Especially as she signed my friend's Don't Answer the Phone pic and couldn't remember her lines or even much of what she did in that movie! 

I've been a fan of the gorgeous Deborah (Waxworks, Sundown) Foreman ever since I was a kid and, as such, been wanting to meet her forever. She had an awesome deal for selfies with her at $15! So, I wasn't about to let this opportunity slip by me!

The final celeb that I met on my own was the legendary Russ Tamblyn. He's worked on so many classics like West Side Story (he was there as part of the cast reunion), The Haunting (1963), War of the Gargantuas, Twin Peaks, and so much more, that I simply had to meet him. He was very nice and gracious in person. I was honestly honored to have met him (on a side note, I met his daughter Amber [The Ring] Tamblyn many years ago at a Fangoria Weekend of Horrors).

Alongside of my friend Freddie, I also met Tony (West Side Story) Mordente. He was so incredibly friendly and nice in person!

Finally, the last person that we both went up to was the amazing Lea Thompson! She looked even more beautiful than when I first (and last) met her. She was so nice to us and chatted with us for a bit. I also got to tell her that I loved the issue that she appeared in for the Howard the Duck comic-book. It seemed that she definitely liked to hear that. 

The following are the autographs that I got at this show:
Russ Tamblyn- Twin Peaks
Denise Galik- Humanoids from the Deep
Amy Steel- Friday the 13th Part 2

And, the following is all the stuff that I bought. By the way I have seen all these movies before, except for Caligula: The Untold Story and Night of the Demon.

From Vinegar Syndrome's booth I got:

Ticks

The Scary of Sixty-First (an awesome arthouse/ indie/ exploitation horror movie from this year with Polanksi and Eyes Wide Shut vibes)

From Severin Films booth:

Don't Go in the House

Joe D'Amato's Caligula: The Untold Story
And, Screem magazine, which scored me a copy of Frankenstein's Daughter

We left early, so no party for us, but we had a blast! This is also the most packed con I been to, outside of New York Comic Con, since the pandemic started. We hope to be back in October. Were any of you there? If so who did you meet? What were some of the highlights for you? Let me know in the comments section below.

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NJ Horror Con: March 2019

On April 30, 2019, I made my first ever visit to New Jersey Horror Con at the Showboat hotel and casino in Atlantic City, NJ. This is a relatively new horror convention, only 4 years old, if I am not mistaken, that has rapidly gotten huge. They had some amazing guests, on this occasion, so two of my closest friends, Nelson and Freddie, and I headed out to have an awesome day of horror fun!

The first person that I went up to was Joe Bob Briggs. He has been a hero of mine and a huge influence on me and my writing, since I first read about him many years ago. I have been wanting to meet him for years, especially after his return with the now weekly series, The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs, currently airing Friday nights on Shudder. And, speaking of that awesome show, the gorgeous Darcy the Mail Girl was also there with him! I got to tell him what a hero of mine he is. My friend Freddie and I talked to the both of them for a few minutes. They are so nice and sweet in person, that they more than made my day. This for me is a highlight of the year!

The other highlight of the show, and the year, for me, came with the next person I met: Lea Thompson! The star of Tales from the Crypt, Back to the Future, Red Dawn, Howard the Duck, and more has been on my convention must meet list forever. She is, after all, one of my biggest childhood crushes. I told her that, and she was so sweet and all smiles! She even said that she liked my jacket (AKA my battle-jacket). That made my year! Thompson is still gorgeous in person and truly awesome to her fans.

Freddie and I went up to Frances Lee McCain, who played the mom in one of my favorite movies of all time: Gremlins! I told her and that it was a Christmas tradition for me to watch it every year during the holiday season. She was so nice and sweet in person!

I also went up to Harvey Spencer Stephens, who played Damien in The Omen. He clearly works out and is in great shape. He is also really nice in person. I got to tell him that that movie is one of my favorites of all time.

All three of us got a pic with Bob Camp, the legendary creator of Ren and Stimpy! He was fucking awesome in person and talked to us for a decent amount of time.

As an Aliens fan this was my favorite cosplay of the day!

At the convention I got:
Joe Bob Goes Back to the Drive-In which he signed for me
80s Trailer Trauma 3: Horrothon on Blu-ray, which is the only one in the series that I am missing
and, a Funko Pop Motley Crue Vince Neil (on a side note, The Dirt is an awesome movie!)

The autographs that got (Joe Bob Briggs and Harvey Spencer Stephens) are below:

We had an awesome time, for sure, and would surely be back. Below is the three of us next to the Ecto 1 and Slimer (!) from Ghostbusters!

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Howard the Duck #8 (Comic-Book Review)

Title: Howard the Duck
Issue Number: 8
Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Art: Joe Quinones
Cover: Joe Quinones
Publisher: Marvel
Genre: Science Fiction/ Action/ Comedy/ Superhero
Cover Price: $3.99 (US) 

After all the crazy stuff that has been going in Howard the Duck's life, he decides to go visit and talk to Beverly, his beautiful and loyal human partner and friend. He wants her back in his life, but she is over with all the craziness that comes with him. And, as if to prove her right, a sentient Sentinel appears and tries to kill them. The end of the issue sets up the next story arc, as actress Lea Thompson comes in to Howard's PI office looking for help.

First and foremost, this is my first time ever reading a Howard the Duck comic. While, I know the character and have read stories or appearances with him in it; I never read any of his own titles. But, holy crap, am I ever sold on the guy! This comic was priceless!! The writing by Zdarksy is fun, hilarious, and fast paced. His dialogue, especially between Bev and Howard, is spot-on and made me laugh my ass off! The whole story, mostly a one-shot, save for the end, is so wildly imaginative. And, being that it sums up a lot of what has happened in the comic, it's a perfect set-up point for new readers to come in. Especially, since the next arc is gonna revolve around Lea freaking Thompson!

She was my main reason for picking this issue up, and I am happy that I did. I have a life long crush on her (she's still beautiful!), and I especially liked her 80's rocker look in the crappy 80s Howard the Duck movie. Quinones is a great artist, and he really captures her beauty in his art. The comic looks beautiful thanks to him. It's fun and bright looking (also his cover is gorgeous, just look at it at the top!), and his ability to draw superhero stuff in a really cool manner and draw girls really pretty. It all just hits the mark. The flashback stuff is amazing looking like an issue straight from the 70s!!!

Howard the Duck is THE best title that you are not reading. Get off your ass and change that, NOW! Me? I plan on getting some trades to catch up and can't wait for the next issue!

* * * * out of * * * *

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