Independent Propaganda

Reviewed by Matthew Constantine / Writer for Independent Propaganda

Order Malena Uncut Special Edition 2 DVD Set [Import] from Amazon.com

I “discovered” Monica Bellucci when I saw Brotherhood of the Wolf. She really stood out in such a small part, and I had to see more. Luck was on my side and I was able to rent Malena within the week, and I’ve been in love ever since.

Like the boy, Renato, I too could not take my eyes off Bellucci playing the title role. She has a sadness in her eyes that is captivating, and the movie captures it very well. For a model turned actress, she has never failed to impress me with more than physical beauty. There is always something going on, deeper inside. It’s kind of like watching Lena Olen in that respect. Even when she’s in a bad movie, Bellucci adds a little depth, emotion, and class.

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Reviewed by Matt Butcher / Writer for Independent Propaganda

Wirehead: a person with a predilection for complex media, either hardware or software. Likely, the person you would go to in order to get your wireless setup working, or fix your Plasma screen.

Amazingly, there is never an end to the everyday humor that happens in office situations.

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Reviewed by Matt Butcher / Writer for Independent Propaganda

Published by Dark Horse Comics
Written and illustrated by Park Joong-Ki

Order Shaman Warrior Volume 1 from Amazon.com

According to the back cover, Shaman Warrior is “One of the top-five best-selling Korean epics of all time.”

All of my dots would not have been connected without the hard work of everyone involved…And you. Thank you so much for opening this book.” -from the Author’s Note

In the event that you find yourself looking for something new and good to read in a comic book, look no further than SHAMAN WARRIOR from Dark Horse Comics.

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Posted by Wesley Craig Green

Available as a FREE download is THE INDEPENDENT PROPAGANDA YEAR IN INTERVIEWS 2006.

This free download has over 15 interviews which first appeared last year on Independent Propaganda. They include:

Robert Scott, owner of Comickaze
Chris Pitzer of AdHouse Books
Larry Young of AiT/PlanetLar
Carla Speed McNeil- creator of FINDER
Jason Richards, owner of RIOT Comics + Culture
David Peterson- creator of MOUSE GUARD
and many more!

The download is in PDF format and comes in at over 70 pages. You can download the file by clicking here. Highly affordable advertising is available in the file. You can have an ad added to the file for as little as $15. Email me for information.

Interviewed by Matt Butcher / Writer for Independent Propaganda

Matt Butcher: There are those of us that are still learning about Arcana Studios. Can you give a brief history of your company?

Sean O’Reilly: Arcana Studio started in 2004 and has been getting stronger each year. Independent comic book publishing is a tough gig and we’re already seen the rise and fall of some pretty major companies. We are a ‘work for hire’ studio that always delivers on time art production for companies like Disney, HBO, NBC and more. We also work for ourselves producing and publishing our own materials. We are always accepting outside submissions and just love the excitement from the comic book industry.

Matt Butcher: Why Arcana? Why not another publisher like Image?

Image is a great publisher and I love what they’ve done…we’re obviously much smaller and are able to help a creator get set up with many opportunities from toy companies to Lion’s Gate. Some opportunities even end up at Image so I don’t see them as my competitor.

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Reviewed by Matthew J. Constantine / Writer for Independent Propaganda

You can order The Call of Cthulhu DVD from Amazon.com

The Call of Cthulhu is a silent film, in black and white, that was made in 2005. It’s 40 minutes long, and probably the best film adaptation of an H. P. Lovecraft story to date. Where bigger budget films have failed by throwing in unneeded love stories, modern settings, humor, and lame creature effects, this film succeeds by keeping the mood right.

The idea of doing it silent, and in the style of films of the era (circa 1926), is brilliant. The black and white, scratched and rough film stock glosses over short comings of set, costume, or special effect, if there are any. And being silent, any bad acting that might hurt the film (again, if there is any) is also missing.

Of particular interest is Matt Foyer as “the Man.” He has the classic look and actions of a silent film actor. The heavy eye makeup, and the monstrously sad look he wears through almost the whole film reminded me greatly of the hero of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (played by one of my favorite under used classic actors Conrad Veidt).

Also of note are John Bolen, Barry Lynch, David Mersault, and Clarence Henry Hunt as “Castro” the cultist (who might have stepped right out of Nosferatu).

I don’t know how much this film cost, but to me it is worth every penny. I hope that those involved can go on to do more such work. I don’t wish them stardom and fame, because that would likely mean that this quality of product would not happen again. It seems low budget film is the only place you can afford to do something right.

If you’re a fan of H. P. Lovecraft, and like me have been pretty disappointed with the films done in the past, check this one out. It’s worth tracking down, and I believe you can still get the DVD at www.cthulhulives.org .

About The Reviewer: Matthew is a writer living in Northern New England. He has written for On the Fly Publications and Global Cafe. A longtime film fan, his list of favorite movies includes the classics Casablanca, Citizen Kane, Lawrence of Arabia, and Commando.

Share your thoughts on this film in the Comments section below.

Technorati Tags: THE CALL OF CTHULHU, H.P. Lovecraft, DVD, review

Reviewed by Matt Butcher / Writer for Independent Propaganda

Contributors to MANTRA #10: Steve Keeter, Jim Pack, Larry Blake, Cliff Kurowski, April Kurowski, Tim Kelly, Brien Wayne Powell, Ken Meyers, Bob Mosher, Nathan Corrigan, L. Johnson

You can learn more about MANTRA #10 at Happy Face Productions and at the Small Press Syndicate.

Diving into a bit of underground press, I came across a copy of MANTRA. The publisher Steve Keeter has reinvigorated the little ‘zine after a sixteen year absence. Power to anyone who wants to publish and show their perspectives. This could be a great little ‘zine.

The little stories are cute and fun. Keeter and Pack’s tale about prescription medicine gone wrong could be transferred to any of these Nickelodeon shows my daughters make me watch. The Kurowskis pen an ironic tale in “Pepper & Snuggle’s Great Escape” about a rabbit and guinea pig making a break for it, only to find that their cages may have been the best place in the world. Larry Blake’s “Worthwords” is an exquisite poem with a backdrop of great images which reminds me of the copper etchings of the great romantic poet William Blake, author of Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience. Maybe the name means something.

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Courtesy of Jim Giar

Read The Making of SOULDRIVER Part 3
Read The Making of SOULDRIVER Part 2
Read The Making of SOULDRIVER Part 1

THE MAKING OF SOULDRIVER is a series of articles documenting the trials and tribulations of self publishing ones own comic/graphic novel..or whatever you want to call it. Available in both widescreen and full screen and told in vivid color and excruciating detail by writer/artist and creator of his own self-publishing venture, Jim Giar.

Hello! Yeah I know…I know. It’s been a while, like I didn’t already know that. Go ahead. It’s o.k. Admit it, you missed me. What can I say? I’ve been busy. No. It’s no excuse, but it’s all I got.

The past year of 2006 was an amazing year for me. I’ve spent the last several months networking. Joining places such as myspace and comicpsace. You know, peddlin’ my wares, getting my name out there, shaking hands and kissin’ babies. So not only is Souldriver close to launching, (Tentatively for the end of January, more on that later. Quit rushin’ me!) but I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and befriending some amazing people. They weren’t necessarily in person mind you, but more of what I like to call “I-friends” or internet folks. Chances are I may never meet a lot of them in person but they have been instrumental in providing me support, inspiration and keeping me motivated….. ….Oh yeah and recipes for homemade soup. (Thanks Joanne!) So I won’t bore you with the episodes that have taken place since last we talked.

O.K..I lied. I’ll bore you. Hey, who doesn’t like to talk about themselves…and dammit it’s my article.

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Courtesy of Top Cow Productions

Listed below are products available for pre-order from Diamond’s February Preview catalogue for items shipping in April. To pre-order anything listed below, just provide your comic shop retailer the diamond order code for the item you wish to pre-order. And if your comic shop retailer doesn’t do this for you- then find a new comic shop!

APRIL 2007 CHECKLIST!

Witchblade/ The Punisher
Ron Marz / Adriana Melo / Tim Bradstreet
Full-color 32 pages $3.99

Sara Pezzini and the Witchblade meet their toughest opponent yet in The Punisher! Urban legend tells of a brutal vigilante on an endless quest to avenge his family, innocent bystanders killed years ago in a mob shootout. The boogie man that criminals warn their troublemaking kids about is called - The Punisher. As a New York City homicide detective, Sara’s seen just about everything and she doesn’t believe in legends. But when she encounters the myth himself during a prison transport she must ask herself - do the ends justify the means? And will her partner, Patrick Gleason pay the ultimate price for her principles?

The popular creative team behind the monthly WITCHBLADE title, Ron Marz (ION) and Adriana Melo bring their considerable talents to this tense, action packed crossover one shot. And for the first time ever, the quintessential Punisher artist Tim Bradstreet’s art graces a Top Cow cover.

Madame Mirage First Look
Paul Dini / Kenneth Rocafort
Full Color 16 pages $0.99

Who is Madame Mirage? This is the question at the center of Paul Dini’s (DETECTIVE COMICS, WITCHBLADE ANIMATED) first newly created character series from Top Cow Productions. Dini, best known for his work on the BATMAN THE ANIMATED SERIES and creating fan favorite character HARLEY QUINN, brings his unique vision to Top Cow. Joining Dini as the regular series artist is Top Cow rising star Kenneth Rocafort, who’s been riveting fans with his highly kinetic art on HUNTER-KILLER.

This FIRST LOOK gives readers an exclusive look at the upcoming series and introduces Top Cow’s latest femme fatale Madame Mirage! But who is Madame Mirage? What is nature of her powers? What drives her vendetta against the shadowy ASI? Get a glimpse of things to come and don’t miss out on this chance at this FIRST LOOK, because MADAME MIRAGE tends to disappear!

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Posted by Wesley Craig Green

Source: Video Business

Order the Amazing Screw on Head DVD from Amazon.com

Besides Hellboy, Mike Mignola is also known for his quirky one-shot comic book, THE AMAZING SCREW-ON HEAD, which was published by Dark Horse Comics a couple of years ago. The cult comic was turned into a respectable and fan-applauded pilot episode cartoon which aired on the Sci-Fi Channel last year.

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