This Patrol of Ours is Doomed

 

After loving the first season, I never really got around the second or third of Doom Patrol. K and I did have a false start where we watched a handful of episodes, but honestly, I barely remember anything about it. So I started up from the beginning of Season 2 this week, and I'm once again in love with this fantastically mad adaptation/distillation of (mostly) Grant Morrison's six-volume run on the C-Building X-Men. 

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Read:

After savoring it for over ten years, I finally finished Ramsey Campbell's definitive collection Alone With the Horrors.

This collection was curated by the author himself, so it represents the stories from his early career that he feels are his finest. It's dense, perhaps because a lot of the oldest stories in here, hailing from as far back as the early 60s when Campbell first began to write, read verbose in a way that often feels unnecessary. That said, all the imagery and all the concepts here are fantastic. As the collection goes on, however, you begin to discover some absolute short fiction gems among these pages. Of particular note for me were 

Man in the underpass

The Depths

Down There

The Hands

Again

Seeing the World

The Other Side

Boiled Alive

End of the Line

That last one is nothing like it sounds like it would be. Campbell actually wrote the forward to this edition and talks briefly about how Boiled Alive is his attempt at Science Fiction. All of these are extremely British and characterized by solitude, rain, and a general social malignancy that fits with the Britain I've gotten to know through the New Wave British Comic writers of the late 70s-mid 80s. Likewise, the final story in this volume, End of the Line, feels about as close as a writer ever got to demonstrating literal madness in prose. A freaky and fantastic journey into a mind seriously deluded by knowing nothing of the world except the religion foisted upon him by a father that never let him leave the house and taught him everything in the world outside the window is evil. Now imagine that person having to go outside for the first time by themselves.

Chilling.

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Playlist:

Steve Moore - The Mind's Eye OST

The Thirsty Crows - Hangman's Noose

Revocation - Teratogenesis

Plague Bringer - Life Songs in a Land of Death

Bret Easton Ellis Podcast - S6E21: Platinum Patreon Q&A

Clint Mansell & Kevin Kiner - Doom Patrol: Season 1 OST

Deafheaven - Sunbather

Ghost Bath - Moonlover

Deafheaven - Infinite Granite

Deafheaven - From the Kettle Onto the Coil (Single)

Deafheaven - Black Brick (Single)

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Card:

A quick Pull from Missi's Raven deck to bring me into the weekend:

A reminder to remember my equilibrium. 

Young For Eternity!

Hot Damn has it been a long time since I listened to The Subways!

Here's what happened two days ago: I charged my old iPod and linked it up to the speaker in my office, found a bunch of stuff that I know is stored in my backup drive, but that I don't really have access to for listening purposes. You'll see a bunch of it listed below, from Living Nudes to my own Darkness Brings the Cold back catalog, to a bunch of stuff I'm sure is readily available on Apple or Spotify, but that I just don't think about. Hence, Young For Eternity, The Subways' 2005 debut record that rips from start to finish! I could have posted any song on this one, but I went with "Oh Yeah" because I literally got chills when the first chorus kicked in.

I never followed this group after their second album, which, at the time, I don't think I ever gave a fair shake. I'll have to remedy that. A quick internet search shows they are still kicking, and that kinda makes my day!

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Read:

What a fantastic NCBD yesterday! Not only did my copy of Reckless: Follow Me Down finally come in (I forgot to ask them to order me one before the cut-off, and they sold out. I'm so not used to frequenting a smaller shop where the clientele dictates they order less of the non-Superhero stuff), but after reading the newest issue of Kieron Gillen's Immortal X-Men, I have to once again state that this book is the top of what the X-books can be.

Mystique was Sherlock Holmes? Sinister and Nathaniel Essex were basically Jekyl and Hyde? The mind reels at how those cloning vats on the final page with the four playing card suits might explain what the hell is going on with Sinister. I'm fascinated beyond belief and want more!

While initially, the one weak link I had with Hickman's refashioning of the X-Books was his treatment of Sinister as a bit of a dandy; a gossipy, oft-comedic buffoon, I get it now. Between recent revelations in Duggan's X-men book and now here, I can't wait to see where this is going.

Also, yesterday Geof Darrow's most recent chapter of Shaolin Cowboy wrapped with issue 7, and once again, after reading it I am just blown away by the absolute insanity of it. Imagine Post Apocalyptic Western set amidst a pretty accurate extrapolation of the end result of our country's current obsession with nationalism, and throw in some B-movie Grindhouse violence and a healthy dose of ToHo Kaiju madness, and you're maybe in the ballpark, but still not going to be able to anticipate how bat-shit crazy this book is.

I can't wait for another iteration of this story, though I realize at the level of detail Darrow puts into every single panel of every page, 

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Playlist:

Calderum - Mystical Fortress of Iberian Lands

The Trapezoid & Six Ex - Cannibal Children of the West (single)

Moderat - II

Living Nudes - My World Exploded

The Subways - Young For Eternity

Godflesh - Post Self

Godflesh - A World Lit Only By Fire

Ghost - Impera

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Card:

When the desired result interferes with the rational mind, stability is threatened.

I'm walking a thin line working on the second Shadow Play again. One day I'm super psyched about my progress, the next, I hate everything I've written so far. Because of this, I have to constantly remind myself of the capricious nature of writing fiction, especially something that, for me, is well beyond the scope of anything in my short fiction 'comfort zone.' I'll take today's pull as a kindly reminder to watch my step and remember that, no matter what, I did this once before and I can do it again.

Sing for Joy

 

Man, I listened to Frank Black's Honeycomb record for the first time in a long time yesterday and was deeply moved. I've always identified more with the other iterations of his solo work that occur under variations of his moniker. Frank Black and the Catholics are my favorite, followed of course by Pixies, Black Francis and, um, whatever other derivations might be currently escaping me. Honeycomb occupies a weird place in my awareness because I always confuse it as being a Catholics album, and my least favorite of the bunch. But in being reminded of its place in Mr. Black's catalog, I was also reminded of a lot of good times listening to this, and it was nice to go back and give it my full attention, even if I might not do so again for some time. 

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Watch:

Last night, K and I made it out to see Martin McDonagh's new film,  The Banshees of Inisherin, which floored me when I saw it landed in our local Regal. 

Like the rest of McDonagh's oeuvre, Banshees is a feast for the eyes, brain and heart. Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson turn in outstanding performances that are bolstered by a supporting cast that knows no weakness, especially Kerry Condon and Barry Keoghan. The chemistry between all of them is riveting, but of special note for me was seeing Keoghan and Farrell together again; echoes of their performances in Killing of a Sacred Deer still resound in my head.

I know many will be tempted to wait for streaming on this one, being a quiet drama and all. I would, however, advise seeing it on the big screen. Not only will you be supporting films like this continuing to receive wide theatrical release - David O'Russell's Amsterdamn and its epic failure at the BO has greatly corrupted the chances of adult dramas rolling wide from here out - but you'll be able to feel the breathless majesty of the Emerald Isle on the big screen, the way cinematographer Ben Davis intended.

Also of note, Carter Burwell's score is, as always, wonderful; inspiring as it is in its "less is more" aesthetic.

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NCBD:

Here's what I'm pulling off the shelves later today:

Mystique and Destiny in Victorian England? Been waiting for this, as I really want follow-up on that opening sequence in Immortal X-Men #1 that saw the two of them and Sinister  - or perhaps the man who would be Sinister - discussing the future from the vantage point of citizens of Victoriana. 

Speaking of Victoriana, the first two issues of Phantasmagoria blew me away. Possession, secret high society societies, and a bevy of literary allusions have made this one of my most anticipated monthlies at the moment.

Will the finale of this current Shaolin Cowboy series be as insane as the first six issues? I'd bet my talking, smoking lizards on it.

I'm still in awe of what Lemire and Sorrentino have given us so far from the Bone Orchard Mythos, so I've been kind of chomping at the bit to read more. 

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Playlist:

Ifernach - Capitulation of All Life

Grand Duchy - Petite Fours

Frank Black - Honeycomb

Revolting Cocks - Big Sexy Land

Godflesh - Streetcleaner

Barry Adamson - Back to the Cat

Calderum - Mystical Fortress of Iberian Lands

Underworld - Barbara Barbara, We Face A Shining Future

Underworld - RiverRun Project

Darkness Brings the Cold - House of Sin

Darkness Brings the Cold - Eponymous

Darkness Brings the Cold - Human Me

Deafheaven - Sunbather

Fvunerals - For the Horrors Eat the Light (pre-release single, thanks Tommy)

Godflesh - PURE Live

Godflesh - Messiah

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Card:

From Jonathan Grimm's Bound Tarot, which you can buy HERE.

The stability achieved through ritual and routine will be disrupted briefly. Instead of allowing this to cause frustration, I'm pretty sure the message here is to look at it as a pattern interrupt that will help me see things from a different perspective and, thus, gain new insight.

For Absent Friends

I don't think I ever noticed how much this track from 2002's Deliverance resembles Alice in Chains. It's the guitar, 100%. Has that woodsy, almost campfire sound Jerry Cantrell gets to his playing when it veers forlorn and reflective. Absolutely stunning, regardless of the comparison. I always teeter back and forth between Deliverance and Blackwater Park as the crowning jewel of Opeth's "mid" period.

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Watch:

Over the course of two nights last week, I watched and rewatched Panos Cosmatos' entry in Guillermo del Torro's Cabinet of Curiosities. 

 

To say The Viewing is my favorite installment of Cabinet would be an understatement. I liked all of them to one degree or another, and even the ones I connected with least - unexpectedly, both H.P. Lovecraft adaptations - rank as extremely well-made genre films. But The Viewing is something else entirely.

 

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Read:

Seeing the announcements for Stephen Graham Jones' Don't Fear the Reaper, I finally ordered a signed Hardcover edition of last year's My Heart is a Chainsaw from the wonderful folks at Jones' home store, Boulder Books in Bolder Colorado. Chainsaw was the first volume in what Jones has dubbed his Indian Lake Trilogy, and Reaper continues the story. Here's the solicitation from Jone's publisher, Simon and Schuster:

December 12th, 2019, Jade returns to the rural lake town of Proofrock the same day as convicted Indigenous serial killer Dark Mill South escapes into town to complete his revenge killings, in this riveting sequel to My Heart Is a Chainsaw from New York Times bestselling author, Stephen Graham Jones.

Don't Fear the Reaper is out February 7th, and you can pre-order it anywhere. I'm sure I'll be ordering a signed one from Boulder Books, and I'll probably ask for the personalized option this time. To good to pass up.

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Playlist:

Barry Adamson - Back To The Cat

Opeth - Deliverance

Raveonettes - Chain Gang of Love

Opeth - My Arms, Your Hearse

With Strangers - A Love That's Gone (single)

Preoccupations - Arrangements

The Ocean - Phanerozoic I: Palaeozoic

The Ocean - Phanerozoic II: Mesozoic/Cenozoic

Zeal and Ardor - Eponymous

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Card:

Returning once more to the Raven Deck for a quick pull to establish the week:

Reading this as a reminder to keep things fluid this week. I had a great writing session this past Saturday where I dug heavily back into Shadow Play Book Two, and then a massive, three-plus hour one again Sunday to further that. Raven's telling me to enjoy this, but be open to other projects that might need attention this week.

Lynne Davison's Mandrake

 

Opeth isn't the only band that breathes November to me. TV On the Radio has also long been synonymous with the penultimate month of the year, though I'm not entirely sure why. With both bands, I think it goes back to the first couple of years after I moved to L.A. I was really digging in and establishing myself, and I spent a lot of time listening to music (as I always do). Whatever the reason, TVOTR is always a band I "feel" more when the skies are grey and the air has a nip to it.

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Watch:

Yesterday I watched the latest film to hit Shudder, Lynne Davison's Mandrake. Super solid Irish Folk Horror. 

If you dig flicks like Lorcan Finnegan's Without Name or George Popov's The Droving, you'll dig this one. Very subtle, brooding and ominous. Here's the press solicitation:

Mandrake follows probation officer Cathy Madden, who is given the task of rehabilitating notorious killer ‘Bloody’ Mary Laidlaw back into society after twenty years of jail. Cathy has always believed that every client deserves a shot at redemption, but her beliefs are firmly tested when two children disappear near Mary’s farm.

This is the kind of movie where the setting is as much a character as the actors, and Davison and crew could not have chosen wiser. Mary's "farm" has so much character, you can practically smell the place whenever the film takes you there. Mary herself, played by Derbhle Crotty could not be creepier in her stoicism, leaving you wondering about her motives and machinations pretty much from the first time she appears on screen. Likewise lead Deirdre Mullins's aforementioned Officer Madden. Mullins plays this character so close to the chest that you can feel the disappointments in her history before they're ever mentioned in the film. 

Over the last year, Folk Horror has become such a thing that I went from being excited by it to having a healthy dose of skepticism whenever a new film hits. Mandrake, however, is quite solid and a definite recommendation for those nights when you're looking for something more cerebral and less bombastic. Not that there isn't blood, because there most certainly is that, too.

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Playlist:

Opeth - Watershed

Electric Wizard - Dopethrone

Boy Harsher - Lesser Man

Revocation - Teratogenesis EP

Revocation - Netherheaven

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Card:

From Jonathan Grimm's Bound Tarot, which you can buy HERE.

A lot of emotional work ahead in order to advance to a place where those 'feelings' won't interfere with my better judgment. 

Christmas Bloody Christmas!

 

I think I'm going to need a heaping dose of sonic autopsy from Electric Wizard to wake my ass up today. K and I went and got our Boosters yesterday, and in line with all the other iterations of this, it knocked me on my ass, so I didn't sleep all that well, and I'm struggling to get through work today.

Any band that names a song (or part of a song) after Weird Tales are gods in my book. 

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Watch:

That which I have been waiting for has finally arrived:

 

Since Heavenisanincubator turned me on to Joe Begos' ultra-violent SciFi mind-fuck Almost Human many years ago, I've been a fan. I corralled a bunch of friends to go see Begos' follow-up Mind's Eye at Beyondfest in 2015 and repeated that in 2019 for the Bliss/VFW double-header. Knowing Christmas Bloody Christmas would land this year, it reigned as my #1 "Gotta get tickets" film for this year's Beyondfest, but Murphy's Law dictated that the viewing occurred on the same night I'd bought tickets to see Zeal and Ardor. I don't regret the choice, however, it's been ribbing me ever since. Now that the trailer is here, I'm even more excited to see Begos' latest film. He just delivers the kind of violent trash (I mean that as a compliment, of course) that puts me back to the world of my childhood, and his visual and musical aesthetic aligns very much with my own. 

With the line "in theatres everywhere" attached to the film and the fact that I just saw Damien Leone's Terrifier 2 at the Regal in town, I'm hoping CBC lands here, too. If not, I've been plotting where I might have to drive to see it. Because oh yes, I will drive to see this.

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Read:

Here's another NCBD addendum. On a lark, I picked up the first issue of Specs, published by BOOM studios, created by David M. Booher and Chris Shehan.

Very solid first issue. Obviously, the cover gives off They Live vibes, but that's not really the case. The set-up is the two main characters get a hold of wish-granting Specs that turn their life upside down and by the looks of it, there will be fallout. I dug this issue enough that I'll definitely be coming back for more.

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Playlist:

Opeth - Watershed

Electric Wizard - Dopethrone

The Neverly Boys - The Dark Side of Everything

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Card:

From the Grimoire: "Let things develop before making another move." Loud and clear. 

Madrigal/The Amen Corner

 

From Opeth's 1998 My Arms Your Hearse. These are separated as two separate tracks, so props to efrain23 for posting them together. 

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NCBD:

Can't wait to get into Rick's Comic City and pick up my books later today. Here's what I'm grabbing off the shelves for NCBD:

Hobgoblin may be the character that first got me to pick up a Spidey comic as a kid - I think my first was the famous Amazing Spider-Man #289 back in 1987. I've talked here before about how I never really followed any Spider-book on a monthly basis, only jumped on when the story/cover looked appealing to me. Hobgoblin was always a draw, and it's cool to see him - ah, them? - back again. After all, what's better than a Hobgoblin appearance? Two Hobgoblins! 

The penultimate issue. Daniel Warren Johnson's Do A Powerbomb is definitely a series of continued gut punches, and for the second year in a row, DWJ's leading my "Best of 2022" comics list. 

Benjamin Percy's Ghost Rider has kept me around, despite being slightly uneven. Issues that I expect to flop - like the one with Wolverine as a guest star - blew me away (so f**kin' gory!), but often after those tentpole issues, the series feels a bit by the book. I think I'm wrong, though, and I'm hoping the change at the end of issue 7 marks new territory. I don't love the implications of this cover, however, I've been reading comics long enough to know an arresting image like this will probably play no part in the actual issue.

This Moon Knight series is another that continues to defy my expectations. Marvel is really developing the "Midnight Sons" corner of their universe, most likely to usher in an eventual leg of the MCU, and that's alright in my book. In Moon Knight alone we've recently had Vampires and now Werewolves, so who knows where this is going.

J.M. Dematteis returns to the Kraven's Last Hunt lore? I'm in. 

In an interesting coincidence, I just caught up on The Nice House On The Lake over the weekend, so I'm ready for this, another penultimate issue. I'm not really certain how this book will wrap up by #12, but I have learned to trust the Tiny Onion.

I'm now three issues behind on this series; time to get my ass in gear. What a cover!

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Playlist:

Pailhead - Trait

Lard - Pure Chewing Satisfaction

Cocksure - K.K.E.P.

Lustmord - The Dark Places of the Earth 

Tangerine Dream - Force Majuere

Tangerine Dream - Sorcerer OST

Opeth - My Arms Your Hearse

Opeth - Watershed

Type O Negative - Bloody Kisses (digipak)

Trust Obey - Fear and Bullets (1998 Edition)

Ghost Bath - Moonlover

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Card:

From Jonathan Grimm's Bound Tarot, which you can buy HERE.

A Breakthrough that leads to increased assets inspires determination and a new willingness to take on extra burdens. Vague, but it fits something in my life perfectly (I think).