Spider-Friends, go for it!!

My favourite cartoon when I was a kid? Had to be Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends. Somewhere in my parent's loft there must be my collection of C60 tapes containing the soundtracks of the toon recorded off the telly. For this reason I loved Marvel's latest Spider-Family one-shot featuring a new story featuring Spidey and his chums Iceman and Firestar. Granted the issue also features issue two of the SpiderMan 2099 (why bother reprinting something that a) was rubbish in the first place and b) finishes with a cliff hanger? There must have been other stand-alone stories that could have filled this space) and a reprint of Spider-Man fighting a Man-Bat wannabe) but the Amazing Friends story makes it well worth the cover price. All at once I was transported back to late afternoon TV, simple adventures and corny villains. Magical.

Now if only they'd do a new version of the show like the one imagined in this fan art..

I'm also reminded of my other Spider-Man memory when I was younger. A copy of Spider-Man with Spidey holding the unconcious form of Wasp in his hand against a storm. I bought it on holiday in Cornwall and must have read and re-read it time and time again that week. I can't remember if it was any good, or what the story was about but I remember loving that comic... I wonder if I can find it online...

EDITED: 30th AUGUST

For that little bit of nostalga...

Press Release

I'm famous! Just two things - Why did they have to use an awful photo like that and when did I edit a mag called Internet Business? Ah well, who needs correct facts...

The Mummy

Out of all the classic cinematic monsters, the mummy is one that is largely forgotten or, at least, ignored by modern horror. Granted in the ‘90s we had the fireworks of Stephen Sommers’ CGI-fest re-imagining of Imhotep, but while vamps, werewolves and Frankenstein’s spawn pop up time and time again, the Mummy remained festering in its sarcophagus.

Perhaps the Egyptian ghoul has simply been taken over by modern-day zombies - surely its closest unliving relative - but the Mummy seems to be perceived as a charming, but largely anachronistic, terror of yesteryear. However, when you look back at 1932's The Mummy you see a landmark film you realise how much horror has to thank this Boris Karloff's classic portrayal of the man out of time.

The Mummy obviously has echoes of Dracula but is in many ways a far superior film. While it contains little actual shocks the overriding sense of creeping horror is outstanding, helped by Karl Freund’s understated direction. While Karloff only appears in full bandage makeup at the start of the film, Freund’s restraint shines through the fact that he doesn’t linger over still-impressive Jack Pierce makeup. Instead, a withered hand, strands of rotten fabric and the viewer’s imagination provide the horror. Later when the Mummy has regained some humanity, Karloff too keeps things close, hardly moving or adding any inflection into his lisping voice, yet invoking more menace than Bela Lugosi ever managed in Dracula. This is never more apparent than when we are treated to extreme close ups of Ardath Bey’s desecrated face as he stares down his opponents. Haunting and powerful even though Karloff hardly twitches a solitary facial muscle.

While The Mummy lacks much of the spectacle of later Mummy movies, and those who just want to see a grunting, bandage –clad zombie smashing through period sets will be sadly disappointed, the daddy of all Mummys betrays sophistication and subtly rarely found in horror movies.

What would the Hoff do

He's the Pipex-powered king of the internet and his power knows no end...

Check out these quotes from Fulham full-back Moritz Volz:

"The Hoff is a big inspiration - in times of trouble I often ask myself 'how would the Hoff deal with this situation...?"

That's it - I can make a fortune through this. WWTHD - What would the Hoff do? bracelets, t-shirts, novely pens... the possibilities are endless.

Fast... Ship?

Did you know Christopher Walken was second choice for Han Solo? True story...

Here in this clip from Saturday Night Life Kevin Spacey gives us an idea of what the screen test might have been like...

This is the BBC...

It's been a great week this week.

After 11 years at Future Publishing I've moved over to BBC Magazine where I've taken up editorship of BBC MindGames, a new breed of puzzle mag. BBC MindGames is not just any old puzzle magazine, it's jam-packed with new and traditional puzzles, clues, brainteasers, challenges and much more on every page. Plus there's features of how the mind works, tie-ins to BBC programmes and much more.

Working for the Beeb has long been an ambition of mine and so I'm made up about this. I must admit I can't remember the last time I had so much fun at work.

Not having to work such long hours at work should also mean I can get back on track with a number of my online projects including the That's Weird podcast.

So all is good. Watch Bristol City lose to Scunthorpe this afternoon to muck up my mood!