BRUCE CAMPBELL 12" FIGURE

On sale Apr 15
12" fully articulated doll, includes seven accessories
Comes packaged in a deluxe collector’s box
$89.99

One of the most anticipated genre movie releases of the year is My Name Is Bruce, starring the cult hero (or is that antihero?) Bruce Campbell. Campbell is abducted from his trailer-park home to fight against Guan Di, a Chinese war deity. Thinking it all a joke, although thinking clearly is not one of his strong suits in this picture, Mr. Campbell discovers that it all is real, much to his shock and dismay. Mayhem ensues.

The fully articulated doll is formed from a 3-D scan of Campbell himself. Besides a custom fabric miniature version of his actual Hawaiian shirt, which was loaned to us by Mr. Campbell, proving that he’s the kind of partner who would "give you the shirt off his back," an array of movie-specific accessories are included.

Two of these are miniature "angel" and "devil" versions of Mr. Campbell. They attach to his shoulders using hidden magnets. Additionally, we have:

Shemps Olde Tyme Whiskey

A Bruce collectible toy in melted package

Refreshing Lemon Drink bottle

A miniature Chins book

A big honkin’ gun with price tag still attached

Puzzled? You won’t be once you have seen the movie.

I especially love the angel and devil Bruces and the miniature Chins book! Gotta love it…

My review of the extraordinary I Live Here runs in this week’s San Antonio Current.

Be sure to check out the book’s incredible site.

Let’s take a quick look to see what’s arrived in the mail here at the Geek Compound.

Dragon in Chains by Daniel Fox

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Set in an imaginary realm that both is and isn’t feudal China, Dragon in Chains is at once period piece and fantasy novel. Fox’s book fills a unique niche while at the same time presents familiar archetypes that every fan of classic fantasy can relate– pirates, monks, and magicians, with a dragon at the center of the tale. Dragon in Chains is a beautifully written historical fantasy with unparalleled story and mythos.

Deposed by a usurper, the rightful emperor– a young boy name Chien– is forced to flee to the remote island of Taishu. In the mountains of this island, a young miner finds a huge stone of jade– a magical mineral whose ingestion gifts the emperor with superhuman attributes. Meanwhile, a vicious pirate captain has slaughtered a community of monks, and his boy slave has assumed the terrible burden of keeping a great dragon imprisoned beneath the strait separating Taishu from the mainland.

Anyone want try and decipher that first paragraph?

The Engine’s Child by Holly Phillips

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From acclaimed author Holly Phillips comes a major work of visionary fantasy in the vein of Jeff Vandermeer and China Miéville. As richly detailed as it is evocative, the vivid prose of this ambitious novel illuminates a lushly imagined world poised on the brink of revolution.

Lanterns and flickering bulbs light the shadowy world of the rasnan, the island at the edge of a world-spanning ocean that harbors, in its ivory towers and mossy temples, the descendants of men and women who long ago fled a world ruined by magical and technological excess. But not all the island’s inhabitants are resigned to exile. A mysterious brotherhood seeks to pry open doors that lead back to their damaged, dangerous homeland. Others risk the even greater danger of flight, seeking new lands and new freedoms in the vast, uncharted sea.

Amid a web of conspiracy and betrayal, three people threaten to shatter this fragile world. Scheming Lord Ghar, faithful to lost gods and forbidden lore, plays an intricate power game; Lady Vashmarna, an iron-willed ruler, conceals a guilty secret behind her noble façade; and Moth, a poor, irreverent novice, holds perhaps the darkest power of all: a mysterious link to a shadowy force that may prove to be humanity’s final hope–or its ultimate doom.

Gears of War: Aspho Fields by Karen Traviss

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For the first time, fans of the blockbuster Gears of War video games get an in-depth look at Delta Squad’s toughest fighters–soldier’s soldier Marcus Fenix and rock-solid Dominic Santiago–as well as a detailed account of the pivotal battle of the Pendulum Wars.

As kids, the three of them were inseparable; as soldiers, they were torn apart. Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago fought alongside Dom’s elder brother Carlos at Aspho Fields in the epic battle that changed the course of the Pendulum Wars. There’s a new war to fight now, a war for mankind’s very survival. But while the last human stronghold on Sera braces itself for another onslaught from the Locust Horde, ghosts come back to haunt Marcus and Dom. For Marcus–decorated war hero, convicted traitor–the return of an old comrade threatens to dredge up an agonizing secret he’s sworn to keep.

As the beleaguered Gears of the Coalition of Ordered Governments take a last stand to save mankind from extermination, the harrowing decisions made at Aspho Fields have to be re-lived and made again. Marcus and Dom can take anything the Locust Horde throws at them–but will their friendship survive the truth about Carlos Santiago?

The Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard

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Here are Howard’s greatest horror tales, all in their original, definitive versions. Some of Howard’s best-known characters–Solomon Kane, Bran Mak Morn, and sailor Steve Costigan among them–roam the forbidding locales of the author’s fevered imagination, from the swamps and bayous of the Deep South to the fiend-haunted woods outside Paris to remote jungles in Africa.

The collection includes Howard’s masterpiece “Pigeons from Hell,” which Stephen King calls “one of the finest horror stories of [the twentieth] century,” a tale of two travelers who stumble upon the ruins of a Southern plantation–and into the maw of its fatal secret. In “Black Canaan” even the best warrior has little chance of taking down the evil voodoo man with unholy powers–and none at all against his wily mistress, the diabolical High Priestess of Damballah. In these and other lavishly illustrated classics, such as the revenge nightmare “Worms of the Earth” and “The Cairn on the Headland,” Howard spins tales of unrelenting terror, the legacy of one of the world’s great masters of the macabre.

It doesn’t get much better than this. I’ve previously written extensively about REH and even blogged about this book in particular.

Plus, it’s The December selection for the Dark Forces Book Group.

The latest edition of my graphic novel column Nexus Graphica went live today albeit with a more political slant.

I do go on to discuss The Man Called Nova, the Legion of Superheroes, Herbie, Stardust, and several other comics.

This came from Yahoo News today.

King of the Hill, much like Simpsons reached its expiration date quite sometime ago, but it’s still sad to see. The lives of Hank Hill, his family and friend, actually offered a fairly accurate portrayal of Texans.

Thanks for the thirteen fun-filled seasons.

I reviewed the new Eastwood-directed, Jolie-starring film Changeling for Moving Pictures. Seeing as how this is J. Michael Straczynski’s feature film script debut, I thought many of the Revolutionaries out there would be interested.

I realize that many of you are surprised and upset that that this isn’t a movie about Changeling aka Beast Boy, the shape-shifting, literally green-headed stepchild of The Doom Patrol and Teen Titans.

So was I!

Just popping my head up for a breather and a looksee at what’s arrived at the ole Geek Compound this week.

The Stormcaller: Book One of the Twilight Reign by Tom Lloyd

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In a land ruled by prophecy and the whims of gods, a young man finds himself at the heart of a war he barely understands, wielding powers he may never be able to control.

Isak is a white-eye, born bigger, more charismatic, and more powerful than normal men. But with that power comes an unpredictable temper and an inner rage he cannot always hide. Brought up as a wagon-brat, feared and despised by those around him, he dreams of a place in the army and a chance to live his own life. But when the call comes, it isn’t to be a soldier, for the gods have other plans for the intemperate teenager: Isak has been chosen as heir-elect to the brooding Lord Bahl, the white-eye Lord of the Farlan.

The white-eyes were created by the gods to bring order out of chaos, for their magnetic charm and formidable strength makes them natural leaders of men. Lord Bahl is typical of the breed: he inspires and oppresses those around him in equal measure. He can be brusque and impatient, a difficult mentor for a boy every bit as volatile as he is.

But now is the time for the forging of empires. With mounting envy and malice, the men who would themselves be kings watch Isak, chosen by gods as flawed as the humans who serve them, as he is shaped and molded to fulfill the prophecies that circle him like scavenger birds. Divine fury and mortal strife is about to spill over and paint the world with blood.

The Stormcaller is the first book in a powerful new series that combines inspired world-building, epoch-shattering battles, and high emotion to dazzling effect.

Swallowing Darkness by Laurell K. Hamilton

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I am Meredith, princess of faerie, wielder of the hands of Flesh and Blood, and at long last, I am with child–twins, fathered by my royal guard. Though my uncle, Taranis, King of Light and Illusion, claims that he is the true father since he abducted me from my home, betrayed, and defiled me. And now he has branded my guards as a threat to my unborn children.

Bearing an heir has placed me halfway to my aunt’s throne, that much closer to my reign over the Unseelie Court–and well ahead of her son, my cousin Cel, in this race. Now I must stay alive to see my children born and claim my place as queen.

But not all in faerie are pleased with the news, and conspirators from every court in the realm plot against me and mine. They seek to strip my guards, my lovers, from me by poisoned word or cold steel. But I still have supporters, and even friends, among the goblins and the sluagh, who will stand by me.

I am Meredith Nic Essus, and those who would defy and destroy me are destined to pay a terrible price–for I am truly my father’s daughter. To protect what is mine, I will sacrifice anything–even if it means waging a great battle against my darkest enemies and making the most momentous decision ever made as princess of faerie.

The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett

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As darkness falls each night, the corelings rise, demons who well up from the gorund like hellish steam. They possess supernatural strength and burn with consuming hatred of humanity– ready to slaughter anyone unlucky enough to be outside a warded building after sunset. When tragedy strikes his tiny village and his family, young Arlen decides to brave the night roads as the kingdom’s Messengers do: facing the demons across thin air, with only the barrier of dirt-drawn wards to protect him.

Armed with a mysterious set of fighting wards, Arlen discovers an ancient artifact and becomes a legendary demon-fighter, the Warded Man. With the help of Leesha, a brave, expert healer, and Rojer, whose music can hold demons at bay, Arlem attmepts something not dreamt of since ancient times: a stand against the night.

Just popping my head up for a breather and a looksee at what’s arrived at the ole Geek Compound this week.

Comic Books Unbound

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From superheroes to superstars, Hollywood has always turned to comic books for imagination and inspiration. In this documentary, discover the history of comic books from page to screen through the evolution and revolutions that have changed entertainment forever. It’s a heroes’ journey of hits, misses and unstoppable superpowers, featuring the Spiderman, X-Men and Batman films and beyond, plus revealing interviews with Guillermo del Toro, Stan Lee, Zak Pen, Ron Perlman and more.

I haven’t had the chance to watch this one yet but it looks fun.

Star Trek: The Original Series – Season 3 Remastered

I’ve been looking forward to this one. Not only does it contains all remastered versions of Season Three’s 24 episodes but also "The Cage" and "The Cage [Extended Version]" which apparntley has NEVER BEFORE AIRED."

I previously reviewed both Seasons One and Two of these beautifully remastered episodes with the re-imaqined special effects. If you haven’t seen this, you owe it to yourself to check these incredible versions of the classic episodes.

Let’s take a quick look to see what’s arrived in the mail here at the Geek Compound.

Man of Rock: A Biography of Joe Kubert by Bill Schelly

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A full portrait of one of the comic book field’s greatest talents.

Joe Kubert’s extraordinary career spans the history of the comic book in America: he began drawing comics in 1938, just as Superman made his debut in Action Comics #1, and continues to be one of the most vital cartoonists working today, writing and drawing both mainstream comic book characters as well as, more recently, graphic novels of his own conception.

Kubert made his name working for DC Comics on acclaimed series starring Sgt. Rock of Easy Co., Hawkman, Tarzan, and has worked on many of DC’s most commercially successful properties (Superman, Batman, Flash, et al.). Kubert has created comics for virtually every major publisher over an incredible 70 years in the business, including Marvel and EC. He started the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art in the 1980s. In the 1990s, he wrote and drew his own graphic novels, including Fax from Sarajevo, which won the Will Eisner Comics Industry Award for Best Graphic Novel. He was subsequently inducted into both the Harvey Awards’ Jack Kirby Hall of Fame and the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame.

Joe Kubert: Man of Rock provides a unique, behind-the-scenes look at the career of one of the most distinctive, dynamic artists in the history of comics. Schelly’s insightful book covers all facets of Kubert’s creative life: artist, writer, innovator, entrepreneur, and educator. It abounds in heretofore unknown details about Kubert’s life and work, and is rich in colorful anecdotes drawn from numerous interviews the author conducted with Kubert’s colleagues, family and friends. Joe Kubert: Man of Rock is a full-bodied biography intended to be read and enjoyed by anyone interested in the history of American popular culture.

This should be a fascinating bio.

Serenity: Better Days by Joss Whedon, Brett Matthews, and Will Conrad

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Serenity: Better Days follows everyone’s favorite space cowboys in a thrilling, action-packed adventure, where Mal and his crew take on a heist that promises a big payoff. But when one of Serenity’s crew is taken captive and tortured, the gang must put their enduring differences aside and work together to save one of their own, even if it means losing the cash prize of a lifetime! Joss Whedon returns to the world of his blockbuster film Serenity, reuniting with Brett Matthews and Will Conrad, his collaborators on the bestselling 2005 series Those Left Behind.

As though any of you will need convincing to read a new Serenity tale.

The Mammoth Book of Zombie Comics edited by David Kendall

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You can’t keep a good (or bad) corpse down, and they rise up in spectacular form in this new collection. The mindless, shambling zombies of yesteryear are rapidly being replaced by sprinters and runners with an insatiable appetite for human flesh. These days zombies are the rock and roll of horror monsters. Presenting a mix of voodoo victims, creepy somnambulists, and flesh eating, rock n roll deadheads, "The Mammoth Book of Zombie Comics" brings you the best the graveyard can give. From film sources and literary sources to some very strange sources, here over 20 of the best zombie comics ever produced. They include the first Vince Locke "Deadworld" comic, Scott Hampton’s awesome adaptation of R. E. Howard’s "Pigeons From Hell", plus stories from Steve Niles, Darko Macan, and many, many more. If it’s dead, moving and hungry, you’ll find it here!

A little side note: Zombie cover artist Carlos Kastro also produced the cover and lead story for my first anthology Modern Perversity.

The Mammoth Book of Best Crime Comics edited by Paul Gravett

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These are some of the slickest, moodiest, graphic short stories ever collected, from the mean streets and sin cities of crime. One of the only compilations of the crime comic genre, this volume contains 25 of the best graphic short stories and is fully loaded with some of the greatest writers and artists in comics. This collection includes Alan More, Neil Gaiman, Joe Simon, Jack Kirby, Johnny Craig, Alex Toth, Bernie Krigstein, Jack Cole, Jacques Tardi, Gianni De Luca, and Paul Grist. This, for sure, is one offer you can’t refuse!

This is one of the finest collections of comic book stories I have ever encountered and at only $17.95 should be part of everyone’s collection! More details to come.

I looked up today and suddenly realized that I had to write three movie reviews, two DVD reviews, two book reviews, my new Nexus Graphica column, and a sample chapter for the Irving Klaw bio all due by next Friday!

I’ll be posting some new arrivals then probably nothing major for the next week or so as I go to ground. Also, expect there to be delays in email responses.

Talk to y’all when I resurface!