Badlands Turns A Predator Into The Protagonist

The director of Prey welcomes you to a world of hurt. Experience Predator: Badlands on the big screen, in cinemas and IMAX November 7.

In the future on a remote planet, a young Predator (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi), outcast from his clan, finds an unlikely ally in Thia (Elle Fanning ) and embarks on a treacherous journey in search of the ultimate adversary.

Is it just me, but I'm getting serious Harry Harrison Deathworld vibes from the planet the Predator appears to find himself on? Haven't read those books since I was a teen, but that's where my mind immediately went when I saw this teaser.

Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi), the young Yautja

Comic Book Collecting Isn't Just A Hobby, It's A Lifestyle

Latest comic book mail call: a pair of vintage issues of The Mighty Marvel Western

A combination of factors has necessitated constant revisions to my monthly comic book pull-list at Paradox Comics in Poole in recent years.

Not only do I find shelf space increasingly limited (despite dedicating most of the wall space in our office to my comic book collection, coupled with numerous short boxes under the bed and stacks of "to be read" books), but the cost of a single, new, comic book continues to rise while my pool of disposable income shrinks.

Yet while my list of new titles contracts, I can't help myself but seek out vintage back issues, either to fill holes in my collection or latch onto new (to me) titles that I decide I want to collect.

The latest arrival in this category is a pair of 1970's The Mighty Marvel Western (which, in turn, reprinted tales from the '50s and '60s), creating a fresh category on my list of titles to look out for.

There are 46 issues in that title, so that's going to take some work to fill up. But the joy is in the hunt.

Other comic book runs I'm gradually tracking down include Shang-Chi, Master of Kung-Fu (which I'm nearly there on); Blue Devil (I'm only a handful issues away from finishing the original run of this title); and Jonah Hex (which I have a long way to go on).

Jonah Hex #40, from 1980: one of my recent acquisitions

While I collected the modern Jonah Hex run as they were published (well, at least, until he got zapped forward in time - again - to contemporary Gotham City) and the gorgeous Joe Lansdale and Tim Truman horror mini-series from the '90s, I'm currently on the hunt for the Bronze Age books.

I'm aiming for the first volume of Jonah Hex, the 92 issues published between 1977 and 1985, with the idea that I'll then look further back in time and try to collect his appearances in All-Star Western and Weird Western Tales (1972 - 1977).

Ultimately, I can see my pull-list of new titles shrinking down to, primarily:

• Superman Family books, 
• Fantastic Four titles, 
• and Titan's Robert E Howard books (currently Conan The Barbarian, Savage Sword of Conan magazine, and my top comic of the year so far Solomon Kane)

Hopefully, there'll be a bit of wiggle-room to still embrace the Justice Society and Justice League, Green Lantern and Daredevil. I'd like to also be able to squeeze some Archie in there too.

Sadly, top indie publisher Mad Cave's excellent books aren't getting distributed over here at the moment (because of the collapse of Diamond), which makes it easier to drop those titles and the first wave of EC horror books are coming to an end soon, so that'll make a convenient point to jump off.

Even though I've loved those books.

This month's Summer of Superman Special

Commemorating Barney The Bunny

This weekend was largely about saying 'goodbye' to our beloved Barney The Bunny, who died on January 29.

He was buried under his run, but I wanted to celebrate his life with a small rockery (rock garden) over his grave.

The first thing Rachel and I did on Saturday was move his metal-framed run, which - after almost six years here - had become quite firmly wedged into the ground.

Then I dug out a 1m by 1m area, about four of five centimetres deep, which we filled with pebbles. A weed-proof membrane (generously supplied by Rachel's parents) was laid over that, then I carefully placed the big stones that would form the core of the rockery.

Rachel then filled in the holes around the main rocks with the plants we had chosen and compost.

Finally a layer of smaller rocks was spread around the area to cover the membrane and fill in any other gaps.

The final job was to place the commemorative reclining rabbit statue, which has sat in my gamesroom for weeks - as it was the first thing I brought for this memorial garden project.

I’m immensely proud of the job we did, as well the planning and shopping beforehand of the rocks, gravel, plants, and statue. 

The only thing left is to get an engraved plaque, and Rachel has her eyes on one on Etsy.

Then, on Easter Sunday, Rachel's parents came round to help us dismantle Barney's old hutch, as well as do some other gardening stuff for us.

Rachel was also planting up the new, large pots which would take the place of the hutch, I helped a bit with some clearing up and Alice mainly demanded treats.

We also put Barney's run on Facebook Marketplace and it sold within three minutes, the buyer coming to collect it about 45 minutes later.

Growing The Western Library With Easter Treats

Magnificent Easter treats from Rachel today

Nothing says Easter more than books about American Civil War battles and a 19th Century cannibal outlaw.

As is "tradition" in our house, rather than exchanging chocolate eggs (we know Rachel's parents will have us covered in that department), Rachel and I get each other small gifts to mark this holiday instead.

Iain MacGregor's U.S. Civil War: Battle by Battle is a beautifully illustrated Osprey book that looks at 30 key engagements from the war, both on land and sea.

It is resplendent with illustrations of uniforms, flags, ships etc as well as the usual high-standard full-page 'action' paintings that Osprey's publications are renowned for.

The Kentucky Cannibal, by Ryan Green, tells the true story of Boone Helm, a murderous mental asylum escapee whose journey to "the West" earned him a reputation for killing and eating adversaries and travelling companions alike. 

I got Rachel a couple of outdoor, solar powered, lamps that she wanted.

The History Channel Turns West This May

America's History Channel is promoting a couple of imminent Western-themed docuseries that are right up my alley, although I have been informed that over here in the UK we're going to have to wait until September to see them both.

Stateside, the eight-part series Kevin Costner's The West begins on May 26, while the two-part Sitting Bull debuts the following day, May 27.

HAPPY SUPERMAN DAY!

Eighty-seven years ago, Action Comics #1 was published on this date, heralding not just the arrival of Superman but the birth of the comic book superhero genre. 

April 18 is now - and forever - Superman Day, celebrating the first, and greatest, superhero.

While we didn't get a new trailer for James Gunn's eagerly-anticipated Superman movie today, as many of us had hoped, we were gifted this look behind-the-scenes which is full of tantalising glimpses of things to come:

Among the many Superman items being released - or put up for pre-order - today was, the previously mentioned, Golden Age facsimile of 1938's Action Comics #1.

Action Comics #1: Where it all began...

However, available for pre-order from today, DC is releasing another Golden Age facsimile on July 30: 1939's Superman #1.

See the origin of Superman retold as the infant Kal-El escapes the destruction of Krypton and is adopted by the kindly Kents on Earth. Then, thrill to the early escapades of the Man of Tomorrow as he saves an innocent woman from the electric chair, foils a plot to foment war, and champions the cause of workers’ rights as a reporter for the Daily Star!

THROWBACK THURSDAY: The Pantiles

The Pantiles, circa 1900

Something a bit different this week for Throwback Thursday, a slice of local history.

The Pantiles, in Tunbridge Wells, is probably the most famous part of the town.

Wikipedia will tell you: "The Pantiles is a Georgian colonnade in the town of Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England. Formerly known as The Walks and the (Royal) Parade, it leads from the well that gave the town its name. The area was created following the discovery of a chalybeate spring in the early 17th century and is now a popular tourist attraction."

It is called The Pantiles simply because the Upper Walk was originally paved with pantiles in 1700, until these were replaced with stone flagging in 1793 and the area became known as The Parade.

Its original name came back into use in 1887 and it has remained The Pantiles ever since.

There are a number of pubs along there and these used to be a favourite haunt for Matt, Nick and I before we went to see live bands at The Forum, over on The Common.

TUNBRIDGE OR TONBRIDGE?

I currently live in Tonbridge (Tunbridge Wells' neighbouring older brother), but grew up in Pembury (a village just outside Tunbridge Wells).

I then lived for many years in and around Tunbridge Wells (with a break for university in Bournemouth and a spell in Sevenoaks) - until I moved in with Rachel  in Tonbridge.

Until 1870, Tonbridge was actually spelt 'Tunbridge', but it was changed to 'Tonbridge' by the General Post Office due to confusion with nearby Tunbridge Wells... despite Tonbridge being a much older settlement!

The "wells" in Tunbridge Wells refers to the aforementioned chalybeate spring, which sits at one end of The Pantiles.

Photochrom of the Pantiles, 1895 (via Wikipedia)

Welcome To The Family: A First Step For The Fantastic Four, One Giant Leap For Superhero Cinema

Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps arrives in theaters July 25.

This trailer makes the MCU's Fantastic Four look as near to perfect as an old school superhero flick can get. Honestly, I cannot wait, I'm buzzing to see First Steps.

It's also quite sneaky of Marvel to release this trailer today, the day before Superman Day, when we expect to see a new, full trailer for James Gunn's Superman.

For me they're not competition, but complementary displays of the positivity that symbolises the best comic book adventures of both The Fantastic Four and Superman.

PROJECT 60: Bitz 'n' Pieces

Inside our garden storeroom

With the first batch of my Dead Man's Hand miniatures sent away for professional painting, my attention is slowly turning to other aspects of this summer's ambitious plans.

As I mentioned the other day, part of that will involve putting together the lovely plastic buildings supplied by Great Escape Games for their wild west skirmish wargame. 

I also pointed out that I haven't painted anything for years and when I was putting away some things in our garden storeroom earlier this week I realised I had quite a bit of my old modelling kit stashed away in there.

The four giant blue plastic box boxes (visible in the photo above), along with a couple of other smaller ones, are what I packed my various "bitz" in when we moved here six years ago; "bitz" being plastic model parts; broken miniatures; plastic toys and parts of action figures; old packaging; paints; brushes etc that could all come in useful "at some point" for scratch building wargame terrain and scenery. 

Of course, I haven't actually looked in these boxes since we moved. I'm not even sure if the old pots and tins of paint will still even be viable.

So, this side project has been subsumed into my plans for this summer. I need to go through these boxes, sift their contents, see what is still useable and suitable for my planned Western setting (I recall a lot was geared towards post-apocalyptic settings, so there should be some overlap), and bin/recycle the rest.

Ultimately, as well as giving me some solid terrain-building material this will hopefully free up some space in the store room (which will please Rachel, who doesn't embrace clutter like I do).