The Complete Gorgo Readers Collection: Volume 1 & 2

Gorgo was a 1961 British film produced by MGM. The film itself was a European rip-off of Godzilla with offshore atomic testing awakening the prehistoric beast and being worshiped as an ancient deity by a Gaelic seaside town. But the real change to this kaiju was that Gorgo was a baby. You did not want to get on the bad side of mama!

This deluxe volume from Gwandanaland Comics reprints the all of the Gorgo books published by Charlton Comics. First is the adaptation of the film. Then a comic based on the never made proposed sequel. Those two books was enough to warrant a 23-issue series based on further exploits of Gorgo and his kin. Then there was 2 one-shots that sought to revitalize the adventures of Gorgo, but to little avail. 

The main series that ran from 1961-65 was a product of it's time. As with all giant monster franchises, the threat of nuclear destruction is ever looming. But what's even more interesting about Gorgo is how he was such a vital cog in the war against Communism. 

One issue ties the events of the Cuba Missile Crisis to the classified inclusion of a very po'd Gorgo. Several other issues has Gorgo and his mom running afoul of hidden commie bases and wrecking the plans of global domination from Communist China. But when it comes to the good guys, Gorgo is there to help; almost like a giant reptile version of Lassie. 

This book has one big superstar tied-in. The legendary Steve Ditko (Doctor Strange) pencils the first 5 issues and then returns from time-to-time. I just wish that the storytelling and editing was given as much care as Ditko gave the art.

There are dozens upon dozens typos through this book. Apparently spellcheck was something never explored by the editors at Charlton Comics. Yeah, yeah. I know I am one to talk. But then again, I'm not a professional either.

I loved this book. It was as massive as Gorgo himself. Full of awesomely wild stories about a classic but forgotten movie monster.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

1977: A Madman Turns 40: 2017- Day 58

 

Such an Iconic Poster.

 40 years ago today, the 50 Foot Woman died. actress Allison Hayes, whose claim to pop culture and film fame will forever be her portrayal as Nancy Fowler Archer, a troubled socialite, who after an encounter with some strange orbs, grows to a stature of 50-feet tall!

    The movie actually isn't as bad as it sounds. Yes, it's a B-movie but not all B-movies are terrible. Sometimes, a film just can't get a good budget and get's relegated to a studio's B-status. 

     Attack of the 50 Foot Woman is one of my favorite B-movies, though the Incredible Shrinking Man is probably my all-time fav in this genre. Sadly, the Shrinking Man and the Giant Woman never teamed-up in a film together... That would've been awesome.

     Allison Hayes was a former beauty contestant and model whose reign as Miss District of Columbia in the 1949 Miss American pageant, garnished the attention of local TV stations and eventually Universal Pictures.

Attack of the 50 Foot Socks!

      The reason of death for Ms. Hayes is rather tragic yet important to American consumers. In 1976, the former actress was diagnosed with leukemia. She actually was responding fairly well to treatment. However, her increased use of calcium supplements were found to have stricken her with lead poisoning. Hayes was then motivated to persuade the FDA to remove the 'drug' from the market and perform better regulations of supplements. 

Miss Hayes has even been immortalized as a diorama kit.

     Unfortunately, after a blood transfusion, Haye's condition suddenly turned for the worse. Experiencing flu-like symptoms, she was transferred to a medical center in San Diego where she died just one week shy of her 47th birthday. Even more unfortunate, she never saw the letter from the FDA informing her that amendments to the laws governing supplement importation due to her condition.

     Until tomorrow, a moment of silence for a fallen 50 Foot Woman...

Toxic Crusaders #4 (Family Comic Friday)

 

 Toxic Crusaders, based on the cartoon of the same name, is proof that producers in the nineties did not know how to make age appropriate children's cartoons and programming. Toxic Crusaders is based on the Toxic Avenger films made by Troma, which is known for producing low budget gory and gross sex romps. Naturally, this is the perfect film series to adapt into programming for a kid. Sadly, the comic book isn't  much more suitable either.          
 
   As with the Toxic Avenger movies, the cartoon series revolves around  Melvin, a young janitor, who fell into some radioactive waste. Our hero emerges from the goo to become the Toxic Avenger who along with several other mutants form the Toxic Crusaders who battle the evil alien, Dr Killemall, whose mission is to turn the city of Tromaville into a desolate wasteland.    

     Shows aimed at boys in particular during the late eighties and early nineties were full of potty humor and gross jokes. The TV show (and subsequent comic) Toxic Crusaders was no different. In fact, this issue was entitled the 'Special All-Toilet Issue.' It comprises of three stories devoted to clogged toilets, large piles of feces, and lots of plungers.

   Though I remember this show being on TV as a kid I do not remember watching Toxic Crusaders. Like other preteens my age, I would watch horror movies like those made by Troma. In fact,  I do recall watching Toxic Avenger on cable but I wasn't a huge fan. But man was it gory and full of nudity.

    I also remember that this show was banned in Delaware and Maine because of the source material of which this cartoon was based. I do not recall Toxic Crusaders being banned in my area but with North Carolina being so conservative I would not doubt that at least a station or two followed suit like the channels up North did.
                                                                                   
   The thing that made Toxic Crusaders so controversial in the nineties wasn't necessarily the gross humor but the fact that the series was based on an r-rated movie known for nudity, rape, and madcap sex. A little T & A is even shown in this book when Toxie's magic mop emerges from a toilet in a residential bathroom. During this scene, you see that woman is taking a shower without a shower curtain. In that scene, you can actually see the woman's naked butt. Lucky for the girl (and the Comics Code) she managed to cover her breasts.

Toxic Crusaders, like its film predecessor, has become a cult classic. This series which ran for about 13 episodes and 8 issues and is considered a collector's item for fans of The Toxic Avenger films. It is also a difficult comic to find. When I found this at a comic book store in Burlington North Carolina last week it was the first time I had ever seen this series which was published in 1992.

The comic book (and cartoon) wouldn't be so bad if its target audience wasn't children under the age of 13. This series would be very popular if it was aired at a later time like the Adult Swim shows are on Cartoon Network. Personally, I found the jokes a little tasteless, a little Juvenile, and a little gross. But the story structure as well as the art wasn't so bad. I happen to have bought two issues of this series and look forward to reading the other issue sometime soon.

 However, the reason I still own this issue is based on its controversial nature. As you may know, I am a huge supporter of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. Since the TV series was banned in some parts of the country, I consider this a banned comic of sorts. Thus, feel that this book has an important place in comic book history. Would I let my children read this book? Not until they were older, but I do not feel that this book warrants a witch hunt either.

  Instead, Toxic Crusaders should join the ranks of Rambo, Robocop, James Bond, Conan, and Starship Troopers as adult films repackaged to kids as a cartoon program in the Bad Idea Hall of Fame.

   Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Sharknado and Sharknado 2: The Second One

Today I gave in to the cultural phenomenon that is SHARKNADO! Friends of ours who have really good taste in comics and sci-fi recommended it and my and I decided to give it a try.

Now I love B-movies: the schlockier, the better. One of my favorite shows of all-time is Mystery Science Theatre 3000 (MST3K). It was a show in which people in front of the screen mocked horrible movies, just like I would do with friends in college (I minored in Film Studies.) The whole “how unbelievable” routine was in full force between my wife and I with myself playing the ‘believer’ to her ‘skeptic.’

Now I normally don’t combine things into one review unless they’re packaged together in a bound volume or a set. But since the two films are pretty much interchangeable, I made an exception. I will have to say that the second film was better, probably because it didn’t take itself so seriously. The opening sequence is a parody of Airplane! And that William Shatner episode of Twilight Zone. Only instead of a monster on the wing, a giant water spout of sharks attacked a commercial airliner.

SyFy and probably the world, was shocked that Sharknado was such a big hit. I’m one of those people. Even more shocking was how many people tweeted how this was the best thing that ever happened to them (The version I watch of Sharknado 2 was a repeat from Saturday with tweets from viewers last week posted in the left hand corner.) Really, a B movie about a storm system full of sharks- the best thing that ever happened to you? I feel for our country.

The sequel also garnered a lot of stars making cameos. I was surprised how many A-listers were in this thing. The first film only had Robbie Rist guest starring in it. (Yes, the same Robbie Rist who destroyed the classic show that is the Brady Bunch as the toe-headed coke battle wearing cousin Oliver. I cheered wildly when his character ‘bit’ it!) S2: The Second One had Kelly Osbourne, Kelly Ripa, and Michael Strahan, actual meteorologists from the Weather Channel and Al Roker and Matt Lauer!

I actually lost a little respect for Roker and the Weather Channel. It’s not because they agreed to do this movie. I gave them a little bit of props for that. No, I’m ashamed of the ‘reporters’ for actually reporting these sharknado weather patterns as real. I know it’s a movie but in both Sharknados, the meteorologists classify these weather spouts as EF5 tornados. That wouldn’t happen in real like as the Enhanced Fujita scale determines the amount of damage left by a tornado. It would not be classified until after the storm subsided.

I’m not going to get into the whole global warming debate but shame on SyFy and Al Roker for trying to convince me that my use of automobiles and air conditioning is going to cause man-eating sharks to rain from the sky.

Both movies are corny with bad acting, dumb lines, and even dumber special effects. However, I found it an enjoyable way to spend a mindless Sunday with a wife whose under the weather. I was entertained but unlike when I watch an Academy Award winning film, I like these movies for their lousiness not their genius.

As with any cash cow, the powers that be are going to milk this thing. I expect a Sharknado 3 to finish out a trilogy. And with other cultural phenomenon’s I would bet money that movie 3 will be in 3-D and in theatres, if only for a brief weekend showing. Will I be in line for that? Probably not, but I won’t rule out another lazy Sunday in front of the tube with some maple bacon popcorn.

Worth Consuming because it’s so bad it’s good and it has that ‘train wreck’ effect to it.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars- this isn’t Jaws folks.