The Compelled
Haunting and evocative, Adam Roberts and François Schuiten present a sci-fi novella where humanity is in the grip of a mysterious compulsion.
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Stone
A neo-noir near-future revenge thriller by acclaimed cartoonist Ho Che Anderson
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Rizzo
They stripped Rizzo of everything. Now he's vowed to take it back.... A Ho Che Anderson/Benjamin Marra novella in the world of ‘Stone.’
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Midnight 99
Ashley Christine's classic hard-boiled whodunit novella, where the victim is a 7-foot-tall Lizard Reptilian Overlord.
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Sorcerers
An urban fantasy novella by Maurice Broaddus and Otis Whitaker, illustrated by Jim Mahfood, about a hip hop inspired sorcerer.
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Shaman
Published jointly with The Sager Group, 'Shaman' is Mike Sager's year-long investigation into the mysterious life and impeccable death of Carlos Castaneda
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The Last Western
Rone Tempest's gripping true crime story of a Puerto Rico-born undercover officer gunned down by a white Wyoming lawman in 1978
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Death Notification Agency, Volume One: The Reaper
The first volume in Julian Oliver Meiojas's breathtaking new series about a process server for the DEATH NOTIFICATION AGENCY
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Death Notification Agency, Volume Two: The Gauntlet
The second volume in Julian Oliver Meiojas's breathtaking new series about a process server for the DEATH NOTIFICATION AGENCY
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Janet’s World
A new take on a much maligned Black historical figure, Mike Sager presents the inside story of Washington Post Pulitzer fabulist Janet Cooke
New Releases
Culture
Ranson Notes: The Astonishing Artwork of 2000 AD’s Arthur Ranson
In appreciation of British "Button Man" artist Arthur Ranson, whose career has gone unsung for far too long.
Only Connect: K.W. Jeter’s Woefully Neglected Fantasia, ‘Noir’
"Wake up and smell the burning corpses of your dreams, pal."
“My God, Fuckin’ Pictures!”: Peeping into the History of the Tijuana Bibles
A glimpse into the story behind history's dirtiest comic books
Janet’s World: The Inside Story of Washington Post Pulitzer Fabulist Janet Cooke
A New Take on a Much Maligned Historical Figure
Legions, Dreams, and Distant Soil: Celebrating the Career of Colleen Doran
Writer, inker, colorist, and penciller Colleen Doran has set the comics world on fire for decades..and it's time more people knew her name.
Hanover Street: The Lost Gem from the Prime of Harrison Ford’s Career
In 1978, an actor named Harrison Ford was getting his first real taste of movie stardom. He had just portrayed intergalactic smuggler Han Solo in George...
The Killing of a Chinese Bookie: Cassavetes’ Deeply Personal Foray into ‘Sheer Entertainment’
Following his great artistic and financial triumph, 'A Woman Under the Influence', the iconic American independent filmmaker John Cassavetes...
“Just One More Thing”: Columbo and Class Disruption
Writer and critic Tiffany Babb discusses class disruption and uncommon themes of police procedurals in the 1970s hit show 'Columbo'
A Michael Kaluta cover gallery
When I look at Kaluta's artwork for comic book covers the thing that always strikes me is that the work doesn't...
BIFF! BANG! POW! The Pop Art Revolution of Marvel Lettering in the 1960s
The early years of Marvel Comics saw some of the best lettering comics has ever seen. It's time to give credit to the men behind the sound effects.
Horror Magazine: A Selection of Covers
Horror was an Italian comics magazine that was a contemporary of the Warren publications in the U.S. These covers are decidedly Italian feel to me.
Art Spiegelman’s ‘Maus’: More Than Just “The Holocaust Comic”
Gregory Paul Silber discusses the deeper themes beyond the Holocaust in Art Spiegelman's seminal comic, 'Maus'.
How A Generation of Creators Has Made Romance Comics Stronger Than Ever
While the genre officially died in the 1970s, romance comics are back and have evolved to be stronger than ever.
‘American Gigolo’ (1980): Paul Schrader’s Character Study on Loneliness that Established Richard Gere as a Leading Man
While he was teaching screenwriting at the UCLA Film School, American director and screenwriter Paul Schrader got a character idea during one of his...
“Tales of Love That Could Be Yours!”: The Romance Comics of John Romita Sr.
Before his iconic work with the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, John Romita Sr. was breaking hearts in romance comics!
No Names, Just Jobs: Russell Mulcahy’s ‘Silent Trigger’
What does it take for an audience to identify with an action movie hero? There are some generally accepted tricks of the trade that probably go back...
Enjoy Everything: The Unbridled Joy of Yotsuba&!
With many children's comics available across the market, few tap into the joyful mind of a child like Kiyohiko Azuma's Yotsuba&!
Joanna Russ’s ‘We Who Are About To …’
What would YOU do on a desert island?...
A Joe Kubert cover gallery
The thing that I love the most about Joe Kubert’s art is the speed with which it looks like it was made. Each mark embodies...
All the Right Hardware: An Appreciation of Denys Cowan
An appreciation of the extensive and incredibly beautiful career of artist Denys Cowan.
King of New York (1990): Abel Ferrara’s Blood-Soaked Portrayal of New York City’s Underbelly
Long-time independent filmmaker Abel Ferrara was never one to pander to the expectations of either critics...
A Neal Adams cover gallery
The history of comics pivots on the career of Neal Adams. He ushered an era of naturalism illustration to comic books. It had...
‘Black Sunday’ (1977): John Frankenheimer’s Overwhelmingly Suspenseful Terrorist Film
The late American director John Frankenheimer began his career when the Cold War was at its peak...
‘Tomorrow Never Happens’ – Oliver Reed’s Blunt Instrument of Revenge in Douglas Hickox’s ‘Sitting Target’
By the tail end of the 1960s, the Hollywood studio system was in the doldrums. The British film industry...
Sacrilege: Shared Themes of ‘Blade Runner 2049’ and Naoki Urasawa’s ‘Pluto’
Writer Sean Witzke explores the shared themes of a barren future with Villeneuve's 2017 film 'Blade Runner 2049' and Naoki Urasawa's manga 'Pluto'
An Interview with Eddie Campbell, Part Two: The (Ever-Shifting) Fate of The Artist
Part two of NeoText's interview with the incomparable comics creator Eddie Campbell.
An Interview with Eddie Campbell, Part One: The Years Have (Digitally Colorized) Pants
An interview with the incomparable comics creator Eddie Campbell.
‘Caliber 9’ (1972): Fernando Di Leo’s Intense Poliziottesco Film
During his film career that lasted from 1964 to 1985, Italian filmmaker Fernando Di Leo worked as a director...
‘Deep Cover’ (1992): Bill Duke’s Exhilarating and Aesthetically Poignant Undercover-Cop Thriller
The year 1990 saw the publication of a non-fiction book entitled Deep Cover: The Inside Story of How DEA Infighting...
‘Mad Max Fury Road’: The Best Comic Book Movie (That Was Never a Comic Book)
With comic book movies in high demand by audiences, perhaps the best one to date isn't a comic book at all, but instead, Mad Max: Fury Road.
A Bill Sienkiewicz Cover Gallery
These covers by Bill Sienkiewicz are a good chronology of his artistic development through the 80s and 90s...
Alan Moore is Pretty Hilarious, Actually.
Despite a reputation of emotionally intense titles, Watchmen creator Alan Moore's career is far funnier than audiences give him credit for
Un Uomo Un’Avventura—an appreciation
UN UOMO UN’AVVENTURA loosely translates as A MAN AN ADVENTURE. If we wanted to move past the literal, we might change...
Paul Schrader’s ‘Hardcore’ (1979): A Gripping Juxtaposition of Religious Rigidity and Unabashed Sexuality
American director and screenwriter Paul Schrader grew up in a strict Calvinist family in Grand Rapids, Michigan...
The Man Who Shot Hell’s Kitchen: The Story of Phil Joanou’s ‘State of Grace’
The story of filmmaker Phil Joanou’s breakthrough in the movie business is basically a pitch-perfect...
“No Room For Darryl”: Re-Examining ‘Scanners’ In The Digital Age
With today marking 40 years of Cronenberg's iconic "Scanners", essayist Kim Winters takes a look at how it has aged in a contemporary digital atmosphere.
A Ken Barr Gallery
Pulp art doesn’t get much better than Ken Barr’s work. Though his rendering of form is very much in the vein of naturalism, his color palette...
Out of Moomin Valley: The Poetically Queer History of Tove Jansson
Exploring the links between Tove Jansson's life and as queer woman and the themes of her comic, The Moomins.
Scorpio: Michael Winner’s Cynical Thriller About A Spy With A Death Wish
Burt Lancaster is one of the greatest actors to ever appear in films, but he didn’t hold all his work in high esteem. He is said to have looked down...
François Schuiten Interview
It might have been the insomnia that sparked it all. Legendary Belgian cartoonist and illustrator François Schuiten recalls that he couldn’t sleep when...
Remembering Steve Lightle
Honoring the memory of artist Steve Lightle, who's art defined superheroes for an entire generation.
A Paul Gulacy Cover Gallery
When I first saw Paul Gulacy's work I hated it. I think it was the Terminator: Secondary Objectives series he penciled...
Darwyn Cooke: The New Frontier of Cartooning
A retrospective on the laid back and exceptionally classic art of Darwyn Cooke.
Jim Steranko’s Mediascene Magazine
Like a lot of fans, I often lament Steranko's truncated comics career. It's clear he had bigger ambitions than...
‘The Crying Game’: Neil Jordan’s Deeply Humane Story That Transcends Gender, Race and Nationality
The 1980s were an intense decade for Irish filmmaker Neil Jordan. He had made his directorial debut in 1982...
Stephen Fabian: A Gallery of Science Fiction & Fantasy Art Masterpieces
Fabian's forms are lyrical in their own sense. The curves are like the language...
In Memoriam: Honoring The Comic Creators We Lost in 2020
With 2020 coming to a close, it's time to take a look back on this year and pay homage to the incredible creators we've lost along the way.
‘Internal Affairs’ (1990): Mike Figgis’ First American Film that Proved to Be an Intense Crime Thriller
English director, screenwriter and composer Mike Figgis made his directorial debut in 1988 with Stormy...
David Mamet’s ‘Spartan’: Live by the Code, Film by the Code
A contemporary American renaissance man, David Mamet has had an incredibly rich and fulfilling career spanning...
Santa Baby: A Thank You To History’s Pin Up Santas
With pin up models donning the shortest version of the jolly red suit for over 100 years, it's time to ask some questions and offer a hearty thank you
To Live and Die for Authenticity: How Friedkin Made One of the Best Films of the Eighties
At the beginning of the seventies, American filmmaker William Friedkin made two everlasting...
Cat Peoples: Feline Femme Fatales On Film
In 1942, horror movie audiences were treated to what with some historical hindsight now seems clear as one of the greatest horror movies ever made...
‘The Dead Zone’: Cronenberg’s Masterful Adaptation of a Stephen King Classic
Many a movie has been based on prolific writer Stephen King's works of fiction. And while quite a few of...
PM Entertainment: Dude Perfect
The rise of the VHS supergiants, PM Entertainment, and their everlasting stamp on the genre of action films
Celebrating 75 years of Hugo Pratt with ‘Asso Di Picche’
A reflection of Hugo Pratt's cartooning career on the 75th anniversary of his first comics, Asso di Picche
The Marshall and the Space Miners – In Peter Hyams’ ‘Outland’, No One Can Hear You Punch Out
George Lucas’ Star Wars in 1977 led to a boom of hasty space opera knock-offs, but there had always been a dogged...
Where Are All The Chanukah Comics?!
Writer and critic Gregory Paul Silber explores the Jewish-American influence on the comics industry and ironic lack of Chanukah comics during the holidays
‘Hard Times’: Walter Hill’s Violent Directorial Debut About Survival During the Great Depression
American filmmaker Walter Hill is famous and revered for both his action movies and the fact that he revived the...
Ken Kelly’s Heroes
I didn't know that Ken Kelly was Frank Frazetta's nephew until I started researching his work in earnest a...
Celebrating 40 Years of ‘Flash Gordon’: An Intentionally Campy Space Opera that Became a Cult Classic
December 5th, 2020 will mark the 40th anniversary of a lavish space opera hitting US theaters and subsequently...
Frank Frazetta – Iconic Pieces From A Legend
I had an illustration professor who said book publishers back in the day believed they could...
The Unbeatable Art of Erica Henderson
From 'The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl' to 'Dracula, MotherF**ker!', comic artist Erica Henderson is certainly a force to be celebrated.
Stephen Fabian: Story-Telling Artist
Anyone who has had an interest in heroic fantasy in the 1970s -1980s would surely recognize the name of Stephen Fabian ...
‘The Driver’: Walter Hill Behind the Wheel of a Glorious Experiment
Having experienced his screenwriting debut with Hickey & Boggs in 1972, Walter Hill went on to pen several...
“You there! What day is it?”: Why The Muppet Christmas Carol is the Ultimate Holiday Film
You can keep your White Christmas and Holiday Inn!
Remembering Richard Corben
NeoText discusses the impact and legacy of the late Heavy Metal artist and legendary creator Richard Corben
‘Body Double’: Brian De Palma’s Uniquely Stylized Erotic Thriller that Pays Homage to Hitchcock
American director and screenwriter Brian de Palma, a leading member of the New Hollywood movement that lasted...
Paul Gulacy on Black Widow
Before Black Widow was humanized on screen in the MCU Gulacy did it here with this portfolio. She's not a...
Like an Animal: Fascism and Desire in Bertolucci’s ‘The Conformist’
Writer and critic Sean Witzke discusses the themes of fascism, sexuality, and desire in Bernardo Bertolucci’s iconic 1970 film *The Conformist*
William Goldman’s Edgy Novel ‘Heat’ And Its Two Screen Adaptations
In 1985, famed screenwriter and novelist William Goldman released his novel 'Heat', introducing the world to Nick Escalante, Nevada’s only freelance...
John Pound: Heaven and Hell
I'm not familiar with John Pound's work. It is staggeringly good though. It's got the right level of...
George Tuska on T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents
Every time I look at images of the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents I wonder why they weren't a bigger...
Sic Transit Garber’s Subway: ‘The Taking of Pelham One Two Three’
Only the amazing reaction that that picture has gotten, because at the time I was dreadfully unhappy with the fact that I was going to be doing another ...
This and That: The Duality of Gene Luen Yang
Writer and critic Tiffany Babb explores the duality of comic creator Gene Luen Yang's style of storytelling
Kent Williams: Beyond ‘Blood’ and More Than ‘Meltdown’
Kent Williams is a name that has become synonymous with 'Havok and Wolverine: Meltdown', but for many readers there's a whole new world of art to explore..
‘Point Blank’ – John Boorman’s Amalgamation of American, British and French Filmmaking Styles
The stories behind director John Boorman and screenwriter Alexander Jacobs brilliant retelling of Donald Westlake's THE HUNTER
The Honky Tonk Romance of ‘Desert Hearts’
Writer and scholar Annabel Paulsen explores the inherently queer themes of honky tonk music in the 1985 lesbian classic film Desert Hearts.
Paul Gulacy on Swamp Thing
I'm not sure if these Swamp Thing images by Gulacy work if I don't know it's Gulacy who did them...
Billy Wilder’s Noir Trilogy
When you’re a teenager, there’s nothing like discovering a new writer or a new movie director – new to you, that is.
Our Doppelgängers, Ourselves
Here’s an elevator pitch. You’re you, right? You are who you are, doing the stuff you do. But let’s say there’s another you out there, an exact double...
Eddie Little: Paradise Lost
The night of November 2nd, 1998. The El Cadiz Apartments, Los Angeles. Thief-turned-writer Eddie Little is worried sick; he’s convinced he can hear a ...
The House Wins: Brian De Palma’s ‘Snake Eyes’
“Believe Everything Except Your Eyes.” This arguably meaningless phrase was one of five similarly-themed taglines concocted to promote Brian De Palma’s ...
Samuel R. Delany’s ‘Babel-17’
"It's a port city." It's not an opening as famous as, "The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel," but it's an equally
Rajinikanth: India’s Superstar
Rajinikanth is a paunchy and balding 69-year-old man who also happens to be one of the biggest movie stars in the world. He has been making blockbusters...
Earl Norem’s Action Figure Art
I had the Transformers Big Looker Storybook "The Battle for Cybertron" when I was a kid. Norem's paintings...
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: We Buy Your Kids Talks Art and Influence
Sonny and Biddy, the incredible designers behind the team of We Buy Your Kids, sit down with NeoText.
Exist As Pure Data: Albert Pyun’s Tech Noir Masterpiece ‘Nemesis’
When James Cameron made The Terminator in 1984, he included as a sort of nod to his own reference points in making the film a nightclub named ‘Tech Noir.’
70s Paranoia Thrillers … and why we need them now more than ever
It was never going to last that long. Golden ages rarely do. But for a while there in the 1970s that’s what we had.
Carlos Ezquerra: The Life and Style of an Absolute Drokking Legend
An appreciation of the late Judge Dredd co-creator and all-around art legend Carlos Ezquerra.
‘No Country for Old Men’: The Coen Brothers and Cormac McCarthy’s Ruthless Examination of Life
That is no country for old men. The young In one another’s arms, birds in the trees...
John Schoenherr’s Dune
There's a lot of artwork for Dune out there that's been done since the book was published. A lot...
Rian Hughes: Yesterday’s Tomorrows and the Future of Design
With his new novel XX on the shelves now, NeoText sits down to appreciate the eclectic career of designer and novelist Rian Hughes.
Scorsese On the Ropes: The ‘Kamikaze’ Film-Making of ‘Raging Bull’
Raging Bull is not your dad’s boxing movie. It’s certainly not a story of conventional redemption or hope overcoming the odds...
Sam Kieth: Art, Cruelty, and The Part of Us That Escapes
For an entire generation of comic readers, few things are as weird, touching, and satisfying as the art and storytelling of Sam Kieth.
10 Cent Heroes: An Abridged Evolution of American War Comics
In honor of Veteran's Day, NeoText takes a look back at the influence and evolution of American war comics throughout the century.
From Men’s Magazines to Marvel, the Curtis Magazine covers of Earl Norem
From Men's Magazines to Marvel, the Curtis Magazine covers of Earl Norem
The Artistic Triumph of Sir Alan Parker’s Still Beating ‘Angel Heart’
Sven Mikulec looks at the history and legacy of Alan Parker's 'Angel Heart'
Adding it Up: A Discussion of Numerology in Culture
From Aleister Crowley to the Gorillaz, writer Avery Kaplan explores the ways that numerology has influenced culture across the centuries.
Giving ‘Em The Biz: The Seminal Art of Simon Bisley
A boldly satisfying combination of chaotic line work and velvety paints, artist Simon Bisley has been reinventing comic art for decades.
‘I Am Insane, and You Are My Insanity’: The Captivating World of Terry Gilliam’s ‘12 Monkeys’
As the final shot of Chris Marker’s iconic 'La Jetée' faded to black, screenwriter Janet Peoples turned to her husband and writing partner David ...
Bill Sienkiewicz vs. The Shadow
A Bill Sienkiewicz portfolio: The Shadow, introduced by Benjamin Marra. "I'm not sure what the exact sequencing of these images is, or what order...
‘Heat’: Michael Mann’s Meticulous Masterpiece of Both Style and Substance That Transcends Genre
“Don't let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds flat if you feel the heat around the corner."
Front Row Center with Howard Chaykin: Neal Adams
Howard Chaykin pries into the secrets behind the legendary art of Neal Adams
8:46
Ho Che Anderson's powerful essay on the murder of George Floyd. "Wer're tired. Tired of the fear. Tired of the anger. Tired of dying..."
“Satan! Cool!”: Why Kyle Baker’s Zombie Comic Tops Them All
When it comes to the best "Walking Dead" title, there's no doubt that Lester Fenton and the Walking Dead by Kyle Baker takes the cake!
‘Minority Report’: Steven Spielberg’s Proof that You Don’t Need to Sacrifice Substance to Produce Spectacle
The beginning of Minority Report, Steven Spielberg’s thrilling sci-fi noir from 2002, is closely connected to another science fiction classic...
The Delightfully Sexploitative Horror of Emanuele Taglietti
Exploring the ever-green and ever-perky sexploitative pulp art of Italian comics artist Emanuele Taglietti.
‘Miller’s Crossing’ is touching and studiously crafted love letter to American film noirs and the seventh art in general
The Coen brothers’ critically acclaimed Miller’s Crossing can be easily studied in two distinct ways. Firstly, it’s one hell of…
Will Eisner vs. The Spirit
When I think of Will Eisner the first thing that comes to mind is not watercolor paintings. The first thing is heavy black-and-white drawings, deep dark...
Lived All Our Best Times Left With the Worst: Christopher Nolan’s ‘Memento’
Fractured narrative, skewed perception, compressed timelines—director/writer Christopher Nolan won’t lead his audience in a straight line…
Zombie Himbos and Vatican Hunks: The Joy of British Horror Comics
With Halloween just around the corner, NeoText explores the versatility, humor, and perfectly grotesque visuals of British horror comics.
‘DOES THIS LOOK LIKE A SICK MAN TO YOU?’: The Horror of Identity and the Identity of Horror in David Cronenberg’s ‘The Fly’
TELEPOD 1: STATHIS He watches Her, trembling and nerve-twitched, eyes darting, lips pulled back over protruding…
Monsters, Wolves, and Petticoats: The Perfectly Poised and Predatory Art of Emily Carroll
Remarkably proper and even more horrifying, the comics of creator Emily Carroll are here to deliver only the most stylized of Halloween scares.
Leonard Gardner on Film: ‘Fat City’ and ‘Valentino Returns’
"Writing a novel is, as you know, a demanding job. I guess everyone does the best they can. Maybe. It makes me uncomfortable...."
FURS BY FENDI: A Taxonomy of Fashion Horror
Writer and film critic Sean Witzke introduces readers to the glamorously unsettling world of the fashion horror genre.
“Game Over, Man”: The Alien Franchise as Working Class Horror
An essay exploring the ways in which the Alien movie franchise exposes the horrors of the working class.
Take It to the Limit One More Time: Michael Mann’s ‘Miami Vice’
Michael Mann’s 2006 big screen revamp of 1980s groundbreaking TV show Miami Vice (Brandon Tartikoff, NBC’s entertainment president scribbled “MTV cops” ...
Spiralling Into Horror: Exploring the Surreal Manga of Junji Ito
With Halloween just around the corner, there is no better time to pay homage to the master of horror manga: Junji Ito
Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Apocalypse Now’ must be the key lecture in anyone’s filmmaking education
People often exaggerate when they talk about films. They get carried away, leaving the cinema emotionally stirred and too impressed to ...
No Adam for Eve: The Quiet History of Lesbian Pulp Fiction
A look into the history behind lesbian and bisexual themes in mid-century pulp fiction paperbacks.
‘JFK’: Oliver Stone’s Emotionally Accurate and Masterfully Crafted Trip Down the Rabbit Hole
“I think I was always controversial, provocative. But I can’t help it. I have to go there. It’s my nature. It’s my father’s nature, too..."
Simon Bisley: Dangerous Fantasy
I remember distinctly when I first saw Bisley's work. It was the cover of the first issue of the Lobo...
Dylan Dog: Adventures in Absurdist Italian Horror
With Italian horror having slipped through the cracks for many comic fans, it's time to get introduced to the absurd and ghoulishly fantastic Dylan Dog.
‘Sweet Smell of Success’: A Visceral and Vicious Depiction of the Evil that Power-Hungry Men Do
There’s an old rule among directors that you see a film in its totality about four times. The first is when you really decide you love the story and you...
William Friedkin’s ‘The Exorcist’: The Most Terrifying Film We Ever Laid Eyes On
It’s difficult to think of a horror film that caused so much controversy and polarized the audience to this degree…
Front Row Center With Howard Chaykin: Scott Phillips
Howard Chaykin digs into the deep-seeded influences that fuel Scott Phillips' suburban noir stories.
Bill Sienkiewicz vs. Conan
Acclaimed cartoonist Benjamin Marra introduces a gallery of Bill Sienkiewicz's Conan illustrations.
Robert Altman’s ‘McCabe & Mrs. Miller’ is one of the most beautiful and emotionally stirring westerns American cinema ever produced
Confidently riding the waves generated by his highly successful satirical black comedy M*A*S*H, Robert Altman easily secured a directing job…
Shirley Bellwood: The True “Misty”-ress of the Night
An appreciation for Rebellion Publishing's mistress of horror comics: Shirley Bellwood.
‘Manhunter’—’Horror Implied, as Opposed to Explained…That’s Michael Mann’s Strength (Will)’
In 1986, Michael Mann’s 'Manhunter' elevated schlock-horror to a thoughtful, stylised, forensically psychological level, introducing the concept of a ...
Introducing Mike Sager
"You could say Mike Sager stumbled into journalism as a way to save his ass."—Alex Belth introduces the bestselling author and award-winning journalist.
The Jukebox Existentialism of Stirling Silliphant
The interaction between and among human beings is the only story worth telling.
‘Network’: Sidney Lumet and Paddy Chayefsky’s Gruesome Prophecy Turned Reality
Once it opened, everybody kept saying, ‘Oh, what a brilliant satire.’ But Paddy and I always said, ‘This isn’t satire, it’s sheer reportage.’
Richard Powers: The World of fFlar
An essay celebration of renowned sci-fi artist Richard Powers and the surrealist wonder of the fFlar universe.
The Art of Creating Cages: A Conversation with Dave McKean
An interview and career retrospective with acclaimed storyteller and artist Dave McKean.
Bravo for Cartooning!: A Retrospective of Alex Toth
With an artistic experience spanning the spa between cartoons and comics and everywhere in between, Alex Toth's career is certainly nothing to scoff at!
‘Charley Varrick’ – The Last of the Independents
Don Siegal's follow up to *Dirty Harry*, an adaptation of John C. Reese's *The Looters,* and a masterclass in character-driven storytelling
Jean-Pierre Melville: Life And Work Of A Groundbreaking Filmmaking Poet
Jean-Pierre Melville: Life and Work of a Groundbreaking Filmmaking Poet by Sven Mikulec
Gang Wars, the Prohibition Menace: Brian De Palma’s ‘The Untouchables’
Screenwriter David Mamet came up with a Stanislavski quote to describe The Untouchables: “Tragedy is just heightened melodrama.” Brian De Palma, director..
“No One Is Just Anything”: William Friedkin’s ‘Sorcerer’
After the success of *The Exorcist,* director William Friedkin teamed up with *The Wild Bunch* screenwriter Walon Green for the groundbreaking *Sorcerer*
Fincher’s ‘Zodiac’ Is Easily One Of The Best Thrillers Of The Millennium So Far
He paints with people, Jake Gyllenhaal said of David Fincher after the two had worked together on Zodiac. “It’s tough…
Seven Pseudonyms: An Exploration of Women’s Pen Names in Fiction
Avery Kaplan explores seven female genre fiction authors and their varying motivations for adopting a male pseudonym.
The Megazine That Never Was
With today marking 30 amazing years of the Judge Dredd Megazine, it's time to look back and appreciate the never-were publications that made that possible.
Life And Death In A Northern Town: Mike Hodges’ ‘Get Carter’
Tim Pelan examines Mike Hodges's classic 1972 British crime movie, 'Get Carter'
More than 65 years since its release, Carol Reed’s ‘The Third Man’ is still a marvel to see, experience and learn from
Carol Reed’s 'The Third Man' might just be as visually stimulating as classic films get….
Jack Gaughan: Jack’s Trip to St. Louis
An Historic Intersection of Pro Art and Fandom in a famed Five-piece Portfolio by Jack Gaughan.
Once Upon a Time… In the Philippines: Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Apocalypse Now’ Is a Three-Time Prime Cut of Film-Making Largesse
Meanwhile, the mystique of ‘Apocalypse Now’ lives on. The Marine Corps invited me to Camp Pendleton to watch a demonstration of an aerial ...
‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’: Lucas and Spielberg’s Epitome of Action-Adventure Films Still Waiting to Be Surpassed
Trying to catch a break from all the Star Wars hype, in the spring of 1977, George Lucas was resting on a Hawaiian beach, building sand castles with ...
Nick Abadzis revisits his beginnings with Hugo Tate…with Hugo Tate.
Artist and writer Nick Abadzis sits down to rehash the beginnings of both his career and his highly under-recognized British comic strip, Hugo Tate.
Bill and Ted: A Fantastic Familial Journey
Writer and comic creator Adam Knave discusses the evolution and importance of familial bonds in the Bill and Ted movie franchise.
In The Shadow Of The Crane
Cinematographer Karim Hussain csc's appreciation of the Louma Crane
How John Schlesinger’s Homeless and Lonesome ‘Midnight Cowboy’ Rode His Way to the Top and Became the First and Only X-rated Movie to Win a Best Picture Oscar
A friend of mine, an American painter living in London, had read the book and suggested that I look at it. I read it and thought ‘If I’m going to make a...
“MAKE WAR NO MORE”: Marking 75 years post-WWII with Joe Kubert’s war comics
A gallery and brief overview of Joe Kubert’s seminal message “Make War No More” found in DC’s War Comics of the 1960’s and 70’s.
The Holy Mountain: A Funny Thing Happened On the Way To Enlightenment
An analysis of the themes surrounding gender, sexuality, nature, and enlightenment in Alejandro Jodorowsky's seminal 1973 film, The Holy Mountain.
‘The Last of the Mohicans’: Michael Mann’s Riveting Love Story as the Formation of American Identity
After a string of successes on television, having made a name for himself on projects such as Starsky and Hutch> and Police Story, Michael Mann ...
‘The Conversation’: Francis Ford Coppola’s Paranoia-Ridden Tale of Surveillance, Guilt and Isolation
The idea originated in a conversation between me and Irving Kirshner. We were talking about espionage, and he said that most people thought the safest ...
‘The Friends of Eddie Coyle’: Peter Yates’ Crime Masterpiece that Chose to Rely on a Completely Different Kind of Spectacle
Published in January 1973, George V. Higgins’ crime novel The Friends of Eddie Coyle was well received by critics and the public, featuring a story ...
The Matrix Revelation: How the Wachowskis Opened Our Eyes to a New Kind of Action Cinema
Few films permeate the gestalt consciousness like Star Wars (“I am your father”, “Use the Force”…
Fincher’s Zodiac: A Suspenseful and Thrilling Combination of Police Procedural and Newspaper Film That Masterfully Chronicles the Progression of Obsession
Robert Graysmith knew he was a guy on the sidelines of this story. He wanted to be a part of it and he made himself a part of it. He was doing it on his...
Nothing Will Stop Us, Readers!: Celebrating 50 Years of Jack Kirby’s Jimmy Olsen
An explanation behind the delightfully unlikely origins of Jack Kirby’s Fourth World Saga
‘To Live and Die in L.A.’: The Intelligent, Authentic Thriller as One of the Highlights of Friedkin’s Career
If you were to compile a list of the most impressive and exhilarating car chases in the history of the motion pictures, it’s more than likely that one ...
Subject to the Requirements of the Service: Peter Weir’s ‘Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World’
Asked by Debbie Lynn Elias of Behind The Lens Online on what compels the director Peter Weir to film such varied stories ...
‘Magnolia’: Paul Thomas Anderson’s Absorbing Mosaic of Compassion, Humanity and the Importance of Forgiveness
In 1997, an ambitious 26-year-old called Paul Thomas Anderson made Boogie Nights, his sophomore directing effort…
‘Miller’s Crossing’ at 30: A Lamentation of Losers by the Coen Brothers
After the success of 'Raising Arizona', Joel and Ethan Coen were given the chance to do something a little more ambitious, with a budget of somewhere...
Sidney Lumet and Paddy Chayevsky’s ‘Network’: The Grim Prophecy that Was Once Just Brilliant Satire
What excited the general public and outraged horrified television moguls as a razor-sharp satire in 1976, a film promoted as outrageous, hasn’t lost its...
Carol Reed’s ‘The Third Man’: How Orson Welles Stole a Show He Was Barely In
Filmmaker Carol Reed, hailed as one of the greatest U.K. directors, became famous in the late 1930s and 1940s with motion pictures such as Night Train ...
Francis Ford Coppola and Brian De Palma: ‘The Conversation’ Between Two Great Filmmakers
The most personal of all films in Francis Ford Coppola’s repertoire was born between two big projects that helped Coppola gain the reputation he enjoys ...
Psycho Pension Qu’est-ce que c’est: Richard Donner’s ‘Lethal Weapon’ Is a Real Live Wire
You think I’m crazy? You call me crazy, you think I’m crazy? You wanna see crazy?…
Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Superhero Influences
A look into the subversive use of superhero imagery that infiltrates Jean-Michel Basquiat's art.
HandMade Crime
An exploration of the independent mavericks, HandMade Films, that gave us some of the most iconic British crime films of the 1970s and 1980s.
David Gerrold: The Man Who Folded Himself (Into Fiction)
A retrospective interview with award-winning science fiction author David Gerrold
‘Sweet Smell of Success’, Alexander Mackendrick’s Most Accomplished Film that Hasn’t Aged a Day
Tony Curtis had to fight really hard to get the role of Falco in Alexander Mackendrick's 'Sweet Smell of Success' …
Downwards Is the Only Way Forwards: Welcome to David Fincher’s ‘The Game’
Twenty-one years on, David Fincher’s The Game (1997) has come to be seen as a prescient, schadenfreude look at the gulf between us and the “one ...
Rats In the Attic: William Friedkin’s ‘The Exorcist’
Forty-five years after its powerful debut, and with all the attendant publicity, analysis and second-hand knowledge, from satire to theological debate,…
Magic and Ink: An Interview with Artist Jim Mahfood
Chloe Maveal sits down with artist Jim Mahfood for an interview about his career, cultural influences, and 'Sorcerers'.
‘Paris, Texas’: Wim Wenders’ Film of Extraordinary Beauty and Irresistibility
In 1984, one film confidently rode through Cannes, sweeping prizes from all three juries at the most respected film festival in the world. Wim Wenders’ ...
‘Goodfellas’ at 30: Martin Scorsese’s Anthropological Goodlife Through a Lens
As far back as I can remember, director Martin Scorsese has been synonymous with wiseguys, mooks, goombahs, and spin-on-a-dime funny-how guys delivering...
Duct Soup: The Daffy, Dystopian Design Nightmare of Terry Gilliam’s ‘Brazil’
Brazil is the demented, surreal flip-side of George Orwell’s dystopian warning—"1984 1/2" was director Terry Gilliam’s originally…
The Holy Grail of Workprints: The Five-Hour Rough Version of ‘Apocalypse Now’
Workprints, rough versions of films before the editing process kicks in and trims out all…
Dracula Magazine: From Spain to London to Warren… and beyond
In 1972 a neophyte Spanish media company created a rare platform for artists to explore classic genre imagery with a sophisticated cinematic sensibility.
The day an X-rated walk on the dark side called ‘Midnight Cowboy’ won the Oscar for best picture, a new generation came to power in Hollywood
John Schlesinger’s 1969 classic Midnight Cowboy is one of those films that linger around our minds, that we get a sentimental…
How Robert Altman’s Anti-Western Classic ‘McCabe & Mrs. Miller’ Aged Like Fine Wine
The legendary director Robert Altman was given an Academy Honorary Award in 2006, “in recognition of a career that has repeatedly reinvented...
Berni Wrightson vs. Edgar Allan Poe
A series of indelibly intricate and eerie paintings by Berni Wrightson, each inspired by the text of a classic Edgar Allan Poe tale
Abel Ferrara’s ‘King of New York’ gained a true, cult reputation of a legitimate gangster classic
Sven Mikulec When it comes to filmmakers who are, among other things, distinguished for their strong and passionate connection…
Roy Krenkel’s Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
In 1976, famed comic and genre paperback artist Roy Krenkel turned his talents toward the myths and monuments of antiquity.
Thelma Schoonmaker Breaks Down ‘Raging Bull’
It’s said that a movie is made three times: once through a script, once on set, and finally in the…
Luigi Corteggi: A Retrospective Gallery of an Italian Pulp Art Master
A gallery showcasing the work of Luigi Corteggi, cover artist for a rogue's gallery of Italian comics from the early '60s to the modern era.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: An Unforgettable and Heartbreaking Exploration of Love, Human Beings and the Nature of Memory
Having heard his friend complain about her boyfriend for what seemed to be a hundredth time,…
Noir Cut to Look of the Period, Not About the Period: The Sunny, Seedy ’50’s Underbelly of Curtis Hanson’s ‘L.A. Confidential’
"I came to it because of Ellroy. When I read ‘L.A. Confidential,’ I just got hooked on the characters, got caught up emotionally in their individual...
Judge Dredd: The Devil You Know
Chloe Maveal provides a comparative look into Judge Dredd as a predictor of unchecked contemporary police brutality.
Howard Chaykin – A Life in Comics
A deep dive conversation between author Michael Tisserand and Howard Chaykin, whose life and career offer an oral history of American comics.
Paradise Lost: How Martin Scorsese’s ‘Casino’ Charts the Rise and Fall of a Criminal Empire
This story has to be on a big canvas. There’s no sense in my getting Bob De Niro and Joe Pesci and making a 90-minute picture about only one aspect ...
“A Quiet Place for Elio”
Photographer and director Neil Krug takes a personal look at the work of Academy award-winning director Elio Petri
The Mad Genius of Stephen Chow
A deeper look into the mad genius of the Hong Kong filmmaker, Stephen Chow.
‘Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia’: The Story of the Great Sam Peckinpah’s Most Personal Film
Before Warner Bros. decided to take a chance and hire him to make The Wild Bunch, the classic revisionist western that would completely revitalize his ...
How I Define Science Fiction
Multiple award-winning science fiction author and genre scholar Adam Roberts breaks down his ultimate definition of "Science Fiction."
The Comic Art of Hip-Hop
A selection of hip hop album covers done by comic book artists featuring: Wu-Tang, EPMD, Jay-Z, De La Soul, T.I., Kid Cudi, Public Enemy, Pete Rock...