Personal / Website News
Comic Book Review: Eternal Rome #2
Technically on a roll! I did a review of Rome Eternal #1 in early March (which can be read here) and now I’ve done a review of issue two, which can be read here!
Issue three is not out yet, so I am actually current on a comic book series! I’ll do my best to get a review of issue three online as soon as it is published and in my paws.
Scholars from the Edge of Time: In the Name of the King 3: The Last Mission
In early 2024 Michele and I did a Scholars from the Edge of Time episode on In the Name of the King 2: Two Worlds (which can be watched here). We didn’t care for it. I followed this up with a Peplum Ponderings article about the film, which can be read here.
A year later we decided to give the third movie in the Dungeon Siege/In the Name of the King series a shot, so we watched In the Name of the King 3: The Last Mission.
Folks, I don’t know how to say this, but The Last Mission was legit pretty good! I dare say, it might be the best Uwe Boll movie I’ve seen! It’s like he looked at Two Worlds and said “I can remake this, but better” and actually delivered! The movie is not quite as good as other Connecticut Yankee-style movies, such as Army of Darkness, but it is leagues better than Two Worlds and pretty enjoyable. I recommend giving it a watch!
The episode can be watched on YouTube right here. I plan on doing a Peplum Ponderings about the film fairly soon while the movie is fresh on my mind.
Panthans Journal #335
The newest issue of the The National Panthans Journal has been published. This issue contains a re-print of my article “Tarzan Cocktail: Deconstructed – Reconstructed”, which I original published early right here at my website.
Paraphrased from the zine: The National Capital Panthans Journalis a monthly publication issued as a .PDF file on the Saturday before the first Sunday of each month. Contribution of articles, artwork, photos, and letters are welcome. Send submissions to the editor: Laurence G. Dunn at laurencegdunn AT gmail.com in a Word document for consideration.
ECOF 2025
In September of 2025 there will be an Edgar Rice Burroughs Chain of Friendship (ECOF) event down in Willcox, AZ. This event is to celebrate the 150th birthday of Burroughs while also honoring him with a plaque in the town due to his stationing with there the 7th U.S. Calvary in the 1890s. (Note: another ERB convention was held in Willcox back in 2019 and an event recap of that can be read at ERBZine #7059).
Here is a flyer for the 2025 event:
I’ll share more information about the event as I find out more on my website updates. Michele and I will be in attendance for this convention, so I’ve added it to the appearances section of my website as well.
Publishing Recap
Below is a recap of my external publishing endeavors so far in 2025.
Comic Book Review: “The Moon Maid: Catacombs of the Moon #2″ reprinted in the National Capital Panthans Journal #332.
Comic Book Review: “The Moon Maid: Catacombs of the Moon #3″ reprinted in the National Capital Panthans Journal #333.
“Tarzan Cocktail: Deconstructed – Reconstructed” reprinted in the National Capital Panthans Journal #335.
“There’s Always Room” in Merry Creepsmas: The Red Book. Edited by Parth Sarathi Chakraborty. Wicked Shadow Press, 2025.
“Tagliolini al Tarzan: Interview with Actress Bella Cortez on Taur the Mighty” in The Burroughs Bulletin #109. Edited by Henry Franke III. February, 2025.
Miscellaneous Tidbits
Some fun things and shout outs from these past few weeks.
New Acquisitions
Atomfall
It has been ages since I preordered a non-retro, non-re-released game, but when I heard about Atomfall a few months ago, I was immediately hooked!
My copy arrived on on 3/27 and I had it 1000 pointed on 4/4. I was hooked in the story and setting, so I just steamrolled through it.
I think I need to do an in depth write up or at least an essay about the Lovecraftian horror (lots of Colour Out of Space elements) and folk horror elements of the game. Atomfall is populated with lots of wicker men and they are a sight to behold!
Autographed Treasures
Here are some autographed treasures I’ve shared on Social Media these past few weeks.
Fast Company
Dvid Cronenberg, the auteur filmmaker known for his work of body horror cinema, has one movie that is an outlier in his body of work: Fast Company (1979). An early film in the director’s filmography, it’s a low budget exploitation film about car racing. Scanners x Days of Thunder? Not quite…
It’s been about fifteen years since I last saw this film. It is quite 70s for sure. But, I do have my copy of the movie signed by two of its stars! First is John Saxon who plays the film’s villain and the second is the films hero, William Smith (both RIP!).
Automatic
I am a hard core Olivier Gruner fan. The dude is always either a cyborg or a mercenary, but he is always awesome. Nemesis is probably his best film, but my favorite of his is Velocity Trap (1999) (see my autographed copy of that here).
I’ve got tons more films signed by Gruner, including Automatic (1994) here, which also stars Dr. Who favorite Daphne Ashbrook (whose book I have!). So, looking at the DVD cover, and judging by title, is Gruner a merc or a cyborg in this film?
Return of the Living Dead Part II
Return of the Living Dead Part II exists in the shadows of Return of the Living Dead, which I can understand. The original film has a distinct punk ethos and attitude that really makes the film stand out, especially in the zombie genre. Part II does fall on the generic side of things.
That’s not to say the movie is bad, it isn’t! It’s actually fairly fun! The artwork though, that is top notch. There was this period in the 80s were there were tons of film art that shows some malevolent face in the night sky, and Part II really captures that. I remember being a kid and scared to death of the VHS of this film.
Anywho, my copy is signed by the bully villain in this film, Thor Van Lingen.
Richard Kern’s Action
Pinups and stockings, two things I love, and Richard Kern delivers in spades in his transgressive photography. Back in the 2000s, my local comic book store was Spy Comics in Federal Way and I bought Richard Kern’s Action there.
Years later, when Taschen books published The Big Book of Breasts, the Beverly Hills store celebrated with a signing event with editor Dian Hanson. Being the fanboy I am, I took my pile of Hanson edited books for her to sign, of which Action was one of them.
News from Friends
Cool kids I know have been busy lately! Here are some signal boosts I’d like to give out.
Ride the Stream New Episodes
Michele and Travis have some brand new episodes of their Ride the Stream vidcast online at YouTube. They dive into the next few episodes of Lost.
Here is their discussion of episode twelve from season one:
Their discussion of episode thirteen:
And their discussion of episode fourteen:
New episodes drop every Friday on YouTube. Keep an eye on their YouTube channel, or give them a follow on Bluesky.
Lee Mitchell Interview at Ginger Nuts of Horror
My friend, Lee Mitchell, just scored a sweet interview at the Ginger Nuts of Horror. Check it out here!
