Free Comic Books!

Who's going to there local comic shop for Free Comic Book Day on Saturday? I know I am. I'm going to two stores actually. Kenmore Komics & Games and J C Comics & Cards. To get you in a comic book mood, I've added a Playlist player at the bottom of the blog loaded with comic book and superhero theme songs. Of course, just like YouTube videos, I can't see the player. Can someone let me know if it's working?

Big Chuck!

Way back in November, I got an email from Gray & Company, Publishers. They are publishers of the best books about Cleveland, Ohio. They had seen my blog and wanted to know if I'd like to have a preview copy of their book "Big Chuck! My Favorite Stories from 47 Years on Cleveland TV" by Chuck Schodowski with Tom Feran. Of course I would! I grew up watching Hoolihan and Big Chuck and then Big Chuck and Lil' John on Friday nights. It's taken me awhile, but I've finally finished reading it. I highly recommend it for anyone who grew up in northeast Ohio or is a fan of horror hosts. Two thumbs up. You can order the book from the Gray & Co. website or from Amazon.com. They also included a couple of other books, "Ghoulardi: Inside Cleveland TV's Wildest Ride" and "The Buzzard: Inside the Glory Days of WMMS and Cleveland Rock Radio." I can't wait to start reading those.

From the back of the book --

Big Chuck was on camera, behind the scenes, or in the director's chair for an amazing 47 years, starting in 1960. He collaborated with Ernie Anderson on the groundbreaking "Ghoulardi" show, and continued to host a late-night show with popular co-hosts Bob "Hoolihan" Wells and then Lil' John Rinaldi across four decades--the longest such run in TV history.

He worked alongside a wide range of talented people, from Tim Conway to Burgess Meredith to Muhammad Ali. He wrote and directed two thousand hilarious sketches featuring characters like the Kielbasy Kid and Certain Ethnic Guy; they were watched by adoring fans, including Drew Carey, Tom Hanks, Meat Loaf, Don King and even two of NASA's top astronauts. His honors are almost too many to mention: dozens of Emmys, film and television festival awards, a Grammy nomination (for a polka record--what else?). He even fought heavyweight champ Mike Tyson!

Chuck's stories are packed with juicy details. They'll entertain fans of all ages--and anyone who enjoys behind-the-scenes tales of television and celebrities. So slip on your white socks, heat up some kielbasy, and get ready for great stories from the man who made Cleveland laugh for 47 years!

Here's some classic clips from YouTube --

Michael Pataki, R.I.P.

As Korax on Star Trek
From Variety.com --

Character actor Michael Pataki died Thursday [April 15] in North Hollywood, Calif., of cancer. He was 72.

Pataki was a versatile thesp who frequently played the bad guy in pics like "Grave of the Vampire" and "Airport '77."

Born in Youngstown, Ohio, Pataki attended USC where he double majored in drama and political science.

His film debut was an uncredited role in 1958's "Ten North Frederick," but it was at a 1966 summer stock festival in Edinburgh that he impressed.

Other films included "The Onion Field," "The Dirt Gang," "The Baby" and "The Bat People."

As Count Mallachi (right) on Happy Days
On TV Pataki recurred on "The Amazing Spider-Man" and guested on series including "The Twilight Zone," "Combat!," "Rawhide," "My Favorite Martian," "Ben Casey," "Batman," "Mission: Impossible," "The Flying Nun," "Baretta," "Happy Days," "McCloud," "Barney Miller," "Little House on the Prairie," "Charlie's Angels," "T.J. Hooker," "WKRP in Cincinnati," "Laverne and Shirley," "The Jeffersons," "The Fall Guy," "Airwolf" and "St. Elsewhere."

He guested on the original "Star Trek," where he was the first to speak the Klingonese language, and on "Star Trek: The Next Generation."

More recently, Pataki was the voice of George Liquor in the animated "The Ren and Stimpy Show" on Spike network.

Pataki directed low-budgeter "Mansion of the Doomed" and soft-core sex farce "Cinderella." He produced the TV version of tuner "Pippin" in 1981. He also worked as an acting coach.

Pittsburgh Comicon

The Pittsburgh Comicon is this weekend. I wish I could go. I haven't been there in three years. There's some comic book guests I'd like to meet --

ERNIE CHAN
GARY FRIEDRICH
RUDY NEBRES
JOE SINNOTT
ROY THOMAS
HERB TRIMPE

And media guests --

DERMOT CROWLEY
MARGOT KIDDER

Maybe next year.

Here's some of my photos from the 2007 Pittsburgh Comicon --

Peter Mayhew Chewbacca autograph


Joe Jusko autograph


Mike Grell autograph


Ron Frenz and Joe Sinnott autographed print


Chris Yambar autograph


Cosplay


Is that Porkins?

Krazy Little Comics: Stuporman

Here's the last of the Krazy Little Comics I have. I've now posted all of the ones based on Marvel and DC comics. I'm still missing the last five based on comic strips and pulps. I'm still looking for them. Click here to see all of the previous Krazy Little Comics I've posted.

Stuporman

The Zombie's Hand

The friend of a guy I work with has a webcomic on Zuda Comics. What is Zuda Comics? From Wikipedia --

"Zuda Comics is DC Comics' webcomics imprint. Zuda has competitions that are open for comic creators to submit their own eight-page comics. Each month ten are selected to compete by editorial. Users can vote for their favorite and the winner receives a contract to continue their comic on Zuda with 52 more screens. When the contract is filled, if the comic is liked enough it can be renewed for an additional "season". "

His comic is called The Zombie's Hand. I read it and I liked it. Here's a synopsis --

"Eddie Cadaver, a local punk/goth rock idol is murdered by his band mates and he re-animates as a flesh-eating ghoul."

I'm asking all of my faithful readers to please go to Zuda Comics and vote for it. You'll have to sign up for a Zuda account, but it's free. Voting ends at the end of April.

Krazy Little Comics: The Flush

The Flush

Krazy Little Comics: Badman

Badman with Ribbon the Boy Blunder

Amazon Deals

Krazy Little Comics: Jester's League of America

My brother found a couple more of Topps Krazy Little Comics.

Jester's League of America