Be decent! A message from Stan Lee

Jim Flora's "Grandpa's Ghost Stories" re-printed for Halloween

Jim Flora was a groovy illustrator of books and jazz LP covers back in the day. He also published numerous kids books of his own. A favorite is "Grandpa's Ghost Stories," out Oct. 19 in a new edition just in time for Halloween.

You can order a copy here.

Jim Flora's fantastically illustrated books captivated kids throughout the 1960s and 70s, so much so that secondhand copies sell for exorbitant sums. Grandpa's Ghost Stories has been the most sought-after of his children's books, and Feral House is pleased to announce the first reprint since its original publication in 1978. These ghoulish and amusing stories and wildly inventive illustrations will keep readers shivering. Perhaps better known for his brilliant and madcap illustrations that graced the covers of hundreds of jazz and classical record albums in the 1940s and 50s, Jim Flora also wrote and illustrated seventeen popular books for children. In this book, Grandpa comforts his grandson during a fierce thunderstorm by telling him stories about far scarier things, including a hungry werewolf and an evil witch who turns boys into spiders. The illustrations bring the tall tales to life with Flora's incomparable humor and wit. Grandpa's Ghost Stories is a spooky (and silly) delight for all ages. This edition includes an introduction by writer, radio personality and cultural historian Irwin Chusid, who has published several books of Flora's artworks and illustrations, and also runs JimFlora.com.


New "Thor: Ragnarok" trailer

New trailer: "How to Talk to Girls at Parties" based on Neil Gaiman story

Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams – Official Trailer

Via Amazon Video:

From the mind of the prolific sci-fi author, comes the new anthology series Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams. With 10 standalone episodes and a sweeping all-star cast, each epic story will explore fantasy, humanity, and a future we’ve only begun to imagine.

Based on the short stories from one of science fiction’s most prolific authors, Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams explores humanity in 10 standalone episodes. From 5 to 5000 years in the future, each story in the anthology will question what it means to be human in uniquely ambitious, grounded, yet fantastical worlds.

Vintage pic: Humphrey Bogart


Real Gone label reissues "Zacherle Monster Gallery" LP

For your holiday listening pleasure (worth it for the Jack Davis sleeve, in my opinion):

Fittingly enough, The Cool Ghoul himself, John Zacherle, passed away right around Halloween in 2016, and now we here at Real Gone Music are celebrating his one-year “deathday” by releasing his incredibly rare album Zacherle’s Monster Gallery, originally issued on the budget Elektra imprint Crestview, on green & orange “pumpkin” vinyl limited to 1000 copies! This record was originally released in 1963, and was actually a copy of the 1960 Elektra album Spook Along with Zacherley, except for one very important detail: the cover art to the Crestview release was inked by legendary Mad Magazine artist Jack Davis, who actually passed away last year as well. Which probably explains why original copies of this record are selling for about $150 if you can find them…So consider this release a twin tribute to two guys who brought a big smile to millions of kids, especially those on the East Coast that used to see Zach present all those cheesy horror movies on TV. R.I.P., Zach and Jack!

You can order a copy here.

Other holiday treats from Real Gone include vinyl releases of the "Cujo" and "The Return of the Living Dead" soundtracks.


The Justice League is "all in" for a new series of movie posters




The Monkees meet the Archies!

Here's a comic book cover Michael Allred was born to draw: The Archies meet the Monkees!

The Riverdale rockers will meet the Pre-Fab Four in issue four of a new Archies ongoing series, which starts this month.

According to the Comic Book Reporter: "The meeting between The Archies and The Monkees will take place thanks to some good, ‘ol fashion time travel, which will allow Archie and the Riverdale gang to meet the Monkees — Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork, David ‘Davy’ Jones — in their prime."

Mark Pinkus, the president of Rhino Entertainment, owns the rights to The Monkees name, logo and back catalog — which he acquired back in 1994 — and sees the inclusion of the band as a way to introduce the group to new fans. “What a great opportunity to expose a whole new audience to the classic music and antics of The Monkees,” he said in a statement. “I look forward to seeing Micky, Davy, Mike, and Peter in Riverdale!”

Allred's cover is one of a few variants for the issue (and definitely the coolest).

New Comics: Tomb of Dracula; Werewolf by Night; Swamp-Thing: Doctor Strange; Master of Kung Fu; Donald Duck

New and notable this week.






New "Justice League" character posters


New Music Releases: Bowie; David Gilmour; The Association; Nilsson; Bill Murray





Pop Culture Roundup: Al Hirschfield; Maverick; Batgirl; Playmobil; Peanuts

The theatrical art of Al Hirschfield. I agree with Ger Apeldoorn, a collection of these would make a great book. Hirschfield also regularly did illustrations for TV Guide, which are pretty darn cool, too.


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Celebrating the 60th anniversary of TV Western "Maverick." Always loved the show.


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A swallowed Playmobil traffic cone was in a man's lung for 40 years.

A report in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) said the handyman told doctors he "regularly played with and even aspirated (inhaled) the toy pieces during his childhood".
He did not report any ill-effects for decades, doctors said, until the persistent cough which caused him to seek medical advice.

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Celebrating the Gil Kane/Murphy Anderson run on Batgirl.


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Via BoingBoing, a cool photo feature on the kids who voiced the "Peanuts."