I've been working a full scale replica of a tombstone coffee table seen in publicity photos of Vampira from the 1950's. After a couple weeks, here's the first in progress photo, the table leg. The tombstone top is next and I expect to have this finished and for sale within a month. I'm toying with the idea of making this limited to 13 pieces but if Melony has her way it'll be an open edition. Going to be done in fiberglass with wood mixed in for strength and is sure to be my most expensive piece yet.

a one page preview of the comic I'm working on called "Houseguest". About a travelling serial killer. This page is 99% likely to be tweaked again before the book is finished but here's what I've gotten done thus far. It's mondo, so click the thumbnail:

While sculpting the table leg for my tombstone coffee table, I realized that I'd been mistaken all along. According to the photo I have of Vampira with the actual table the leg is not an eagle claw, it's a dragon. And while Thomas Kuntz is an incredible sculptor, his version of the table leg looks nothing like the original. Artistic license I suppose but it really doesn't jive with my wanting this to be an exact replica of the original. Good thing these tidbits smacked me in the face BEFORE I finished.

a new series I'm working on called Gods and Monsters. Portraits of my personal horrorish deitites. Each is done in my usual mishmash of techniques and I'm happy with them so far. Here they are in all their nastiness. HP Lovecraft, Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff and Elsa Lanchester. The Boris and Elsa is two seperate pieces but meant to be displayed side by side. Click the pics for the full size.







Just got off the phone with a guy in South Carolina looking for someone to illustrate screenplays. I'll be sending him some examples of my work this week. Speaking of which, my comic is progressing. I'm almost halfway through it and exepct to have it finished soon. It's a horror slasher tale and after that I'll be doing my ghost story in the same format. In other book news, still pluggin away on the Devilman book with new info added constantly. I know I said this last year, but this year I'm gonna get it done!

Also starting on the tombstone coffee tabled this week too. It's a full scale replica of one used in publicity photos of Vampira for her short lived horror show on ABC way back in the day. Not sure if it's gonna be limited or open edition yet, news on that later though. Not sure what my next mask will be just yet, I'm hoping to have news of that soon though. Been concentrating alot on my fx portfolio, so it may be a while. I've some other groovy things to report, but I'm not gonna say anything just yet about that. Gotta wait a couple weeks.

This week I stepped back into the martial arts by re-starting my training in Muay Thai. Called "The science of eight limbs", Thailand's national sport and an incredibly vicious system utilizes not just fists and feet, but adding elbows, and knees to the arsenal as well. Since I've trained Thai before, I was given the chance to skip the intro class and go to the advanced. I declined because I wanted to shake the rust off by starting from scratch. My first night's training was fruitful and productive. The instructor mentioned to me that for someone that hasn't trained in a while, I was doing better than guys that were going six weeks or more and that I'd be moved up soon. Nice to know time hasn't taken some of the animal out of me :)

I'm paying for it today, with some awesome bruising and pain. But growth and power is in discomfort and I'm looking forward to this new path. The dojo also offers mixed martial arts (think UFC) and Krav Maga as well, I expect to add those to the repertoire soon. In the meantime, I'll be enjoying the brutality of Muay Thai.

Melony told me on Squidmas that I had two gifts that weren't here yet. Last night I found out what they were. Original one sheet posters for two of my favs: Flash Gordon and Big Trouble In Little China. Since I collect original movie posters, this fills two MAJOR gaps in my collection. Damn my woman rocks! I'm all giddy and shit.

Recently, it was reported a strange spiral over Norway that was reputed to be the remnants of a missle test. But I've got it on good authority that it was actually some well armed Cthulu cult member summoning the old ones. Below is the original photo here found all over the interwebs:





And this TOP SECRET photo I just received via my intelligence sources:

Only took four weeks of waiting, but with this week's episode of The Venture Bros. I FINALLY get both Dr. Orpheus and the return of Brock Samson. And Raiders of The Lost Ark and G.I. Joe references too. I'm all geeky now.

my next mask, Eddie from the Iron Maiden Powerslave album cover. Done in two colors, blue with gold accurate to the album cover and black with gold like the sarcophagi used on stage during the World Slavery Tour. Running these in neoprene, not sure of edition size yet but to use a line from my pal Tony they will be limited like woah. sine the pics are mondo, click the thumbs for the full view:

been awhile since I've done a photo of the day entry and this one I deemed perfect. me and my lil buddy Ian:

For the five of you keeping score, and in the words of Chuck Barris "here's more...STUFF!" First up, the Eddie sculpture is hopefully going to mold in the next few days. I've had a hold up that's kept that from happening but for the people who've asked about getting the mask, it won't be much longer. Juggling ideas for the next mask after that, I'm planning on Devilman but I've been planning that for years so who knows. The octopus mirror will be released soon as well, I know I've been saying that, but it's coming with more mirrors behind that.

Next is the illustrated part of this write up, some new paintings. I've gotten turned back onto canvas again and here are the latest. Yes, more in my obsession with tentacles. "Nyartholep, The Shining Messenger" Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor, Pastel, Ink on canvas:






wait! more tentacles! The first in a series of portraits of my personal horror heroes that I'm calling "Gods and Monsters". I selected my favorite authors
as the first two in the series, and I kicked it off with the dead one of the two, HP Lovecraft Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor, Ink, Pastel on canvas:




I've not started it yet, but the next one will be the living one in the author duo, Clive Barker. Expect to see Bela Lugosi's Dracula, Karloff's Frankenstein,
and Elsa's Bride soon. I've got a few more ideas but more on that later. I've also been putting hours into storyboarding in comic form two short stories that
Christian and I plan to turn into film at some point before the world explodes. It's more a daunting task than I realized as what is a 5 page short
is becoming a 36 page illustrated story and I haven't gotten to the more elaborate second story yet. And last, new shows of both Velvet Darkness and
Clint Mephisto's Shit Kick Road Show start Monday on < a href="http://www.radiofreesatan.com" target="_blank">Radio Free Satan</a>, check 'em out.
End of line.

photo of my newest sculpture, Iron Maiden mascot Eddie as an Egyptian Pharoah from the "Powerslave" album:




I hope to mold this bastard within the week. Also just started a series of portraits based on some of my favorite horror icons, the first being HP Lovecraft. Up next is Clive Barker then the Bride of Frankenstein. Beyond that, who the hell knows. The Octopus mirror I'm doing for Melony is just about ready to release, we paint the prototype this week and expect to be selling them soon. And I'm illustrating and self publishing two short stories I wrote for an anthology that my friend Christian and I had been talking about doing as a film. I'm doing this mainly because I want to storyboard them out for when we get this underway. I'm gunning to have it finished by years end.

Short update for those keeping score. First up, the sculpture for the octopus mirror has been through the mold stage and the prototype cast. I'm currently tweaking the final piece and prepping it for paint. Once that's done we'll be releasing it.

Next up, here is the most recent photo of the Eddie sculpture. Put in some decent hours on it this week, and it's getting closer to completion.





Still needs lots of work, but you get the idea of where it's going. I'm still racking my brain over edition size and such, so no new info on that but I'll know soon enough. I can say that this will be (to borrow a line from my friend Tony) limited like whoah.


Next, here's the first of several new paintings. "Sacred Heart", done in oil, acrylic, watercolor, ink and pastel on canvas:





Been working on some other stuff too, but no evidence of it exists just yet.

During my morning breakfast run to my favorite fried chicken spot Bojangles, I discovered a sign proclaiming Wednesday to be "all you can eat day" at Boho. All I can eat fried chicken and those godlike fries. It's now on like Donkey Kong.

Melony and I made an (almost) impromptu roadtrip to Nashville to see her favorite band She Wants Revenge. I've not had that much exposure to them aside from her and I do like what I've heard, so I was interested in going. Plus it's a roadtrip with my baby so I'm down either way. We set out Saturday around noon after dropping the kiddies off and began our journey. We made decent time until we reached the NC mountains when rain started hitting. Now her car has both rear tires in bad need of changing, they have no tread in the middle at all. So we are sliding all over the fucking place and had to cross the mountain at 35 mph. Eventually we got past it and arrived unmolested in Country music USA.

The show was in what we found to be a yay jesus youth hall. Just as odd as when I saw The Explosion in the basement of a church. Opening were Kill Hannah, who were killing me and an even worse opener called Paper Route. They probably made more money on the paper route that inspired their name. SWR was pretty good, I did enjoy them. Not sure if their shorter set was decreed by the venue or not as the show was over pretty early. But they did hang out afterwards and we got to meet and talk to them for a bit. Melony got a hard disc version of a download only ep that they are about to release, that is super limited and had hand drawn artwork. She got them to sign it, which made her all giddy.

The real fireworks though came after the show when we exited the building to find rain. YAY! Rain that NEVER stopped..for the entire fucking trip. We drove from Nashville back to Charlotte with flashers on and going no faster than 40 mph at a time in the dead of night. Around 2:30, there were two semis coming pretty fast behind us and one of them in an effort to get around us cut the other off. He narrowly missed hitting us by maybe 6 feet. This was the first of several near collisions with semis and many slides. The 6 hour drive took double that in the end.

the official count:

near collisions: 3
horns honked: 7
slides: too many to count
middle fingers: surprisingly, only one

and we were lapped by a mini van with a handicap sticker who had his flashers on too. how the hell does that happen?!?! I'm amazed we made it back in one piece, but my gal got to see her favorite band so I'm happy.

I'm always a little more nervous about selling a mask to a Satanist than anyone else. Satanists by nature are VERY critical and just as outspoken about that criticism, So being my own worst critic, there is always that period of waiting to hear if my product is going to well or ill received. A fellow CoS member who purchased one of my Anton LaVey hoods posted this review onhis myspace page today:

"The Crown of Horns...
What is this upon the front doorsteps of Blackthorne Manor this Magical September afternoon, surrounded in flints of blowing leaves by wisps of a curling breeze; but a package from Akuma Productions containing no less than a perfect replica of Dr. LaVey's horned cowl!

Manufactured as a gesture of honor to Daemon Szandor on the day of observation, the High Holiday of his personal birthday {4/11}, the cowl served as a staple in early Church of Satan rites seen in various documentaries, and Satanis in particular. Unique and making a most striking statement as the veritable incarnate devil, sorcerers have been depicted throughout history bearing the skullcap of the trade, and with the addition of the cornus {the widow's peak, and/or if so inclined, the demonic bird of prey's beak; ergo, 'Lex Talionis'}, affirmed the Crown of Horns unto symbolic self-deification. Majestic horns of virility, strength, upthrust to affirm independence!

HIghest quality, and adjustable to fit just about any head*, the neoprine resembles a light though sturdy rubber material, leather-like, smooth and shiny black on the outside, cool with an almost slightly adhesive texture within; the highly-detailed vertically striated horns are treated with a blood-wash rinse during molding, which adds to the bone effect even more so, and the black suede leather ties work perfectly to keep the cowl firmly on without manipulation.

When I first heard of this creation as part of 'The Lords of The Left-Hand Path' collection, I immediately knew it had to be a part of The Haunted Noctuary's possessions, now taking its honored place for The Rites of Darkness, which seemed such a natural devilution to integrate.

Aesthetics: 5/5. Quality: 5/5."

It's when I read things like this that I know I'm travelling the right direction on my path.

I met with a guy today that hopefully will be translating my books for the Devilman book I am working on. The meeting went rather well, he was excited about the project and it looks like he may come on board. Things quickly escalated to other subjects and it turns out he also works freelance in film and is working on getting projects of his own off the ground, including shopping scripts around to the Japanese television market. We spent a good couple hours chatting about our mutual interests and the possibility of working together on his projects was discussed as well. Seems I made a great contact today indeed.

And the other day, I was in a local art supply buying some supplies when I spotted this little gem. Jesus themed gum called...




Apparently, jeebus wants your breath to be super fresh. I could NOT pass them up.

Melony, the little hammers and I finally made the trip to the local Drive-In to see G.I. Joe. Now before I proceed with my thoughts on it, I must state a few things. First, I LOVE G.I. Joe. It was always my favorite comic book growing up (and the cartoon as well), and even after I'd stopped buying comics the arrival of new Joe books is what got me back into it. I still buy the toys, watch the old cartoon regularly, and have had a Joe tattoo for years.
The mythos created in those stories is canon as far as I'm concerned and any deviation tends to make me bloodthirsty. We've all seen what happens when Crappywood suits think they know a property better than it's targeted fanbase. So when this was first announced way back
when, I was both excited and nervous. And as more stills and info were leaked, I got more nervous. But despite all of that, it was G.I. Joe so the excitement began to outweigh my apprehension. Which leads me to statement #2: I went into this movie wanting to hate it and not give it chance. So all of that being said, here is my biased and opinionated review.

The classic Joe storyline is about a group of highly trained and exceptional operatives from various branches of the U.S. military Counter Terrorist Unit Delta, codename G.I. Joe. The team is involved in a constant global struggle with a ruthless terrorist group called Cobra, lead by an insane genius that is either going to have the world or blow it up. This film still dances around the concept fairly close to the mark, but with some differences. This "updated" version is a mash up of several versions of Joe: the original Marvel comic series, the newer books from IDW, Devils Due and Image as well as both animated series from the 80's and the Sigma 6 series from the 90's. Along for the ride was the original writer Larry Hama as a consultant to the writers, but unfortunately his influence wasn't as much as I'd hoped.

The story centers around James McCullen and his arms syndicate M.A.R.S. who is marketing nanomite technology to NATO forces. He's also acting as his own double agent setting up the theft of his warheads with the aid of The Baroness, Storm Shadow and Zartan. This theft is the first step in a much larger plan to shift world power in a more sinister direction. Charged with the transport of the warheads are Conrad "Duke" Hauser and Marlon Wayans, who I will NEVER refer to as Wallace "Ripcord" Weems. When I discuss this movie, I will simply call
him Marlon Wayans. They are met with resistance in the form of The Baroness and a squad of Vipers, nanomite injected super soldiers who feel no pain or fear. They are saved from doom, by the Joe team consisting of Breaker, Heavy Duty, Scarlett and Snake Eyes. The two are then taken back to "The Pit" and soon become unofficial members of the team on a mission to stop McCullen and get the warheads back.

While the dialogue and writing suffer immensely (I refuse to believe the writers ever really had true Joe fans in mind), it actually felt like I was watching a G.I. Joe comic brought to life, much to my surprise. Not so much my G. I. Joe, but it had the feel of something that
could be. With the exception of the Accelerator suit segment, which had it been left out would've made the entire Paris pursuit scene so much better. The suits took away from what could've been a fun chase scene. The pacing was severely chopped by putting the cuts back to Duke and Marlon Wayans in their Sigma 6 gear in.

The acting was in some places spot on and some way off base. Channing Tatum played Duke properly maybe five minutes of the movie, the rest of the time he was nowhere near the hard nosed badass wanting to be in the thick of combat. Rachel Nichols may have looked the part, but she failed to deliver and turned Scarlett into a helpless little girl, not the tough as nails woman that could kick any man's ass. While I can't recall their names (and I'm too lazy to imdb it), the guys who played Heavy Duty and Breaker weren't too bad. Byung-hun Lee was spot on as Storm Shadow, no complaints from me on that one at all. I would've preferred the classic look as opposed to the Reloaded comic version but he was still excellent. Arnold Vosloo as Zartan was not at all what I was hoping for but not nearly as annoying as Marlon Wayans. Christopher Eccleston in the role of Destro was pretty good, but not as menacing as he is portrayed in the comics. Joseph Gordon Levitt as "The Doctor" who becomes Cobra Commander actually played it better than I thought he would considering what he was given. Sienna Miller was pretty dead on with The Baroness but she needed the European accent to really hammer it home. Dennis Quaid was General Hawk, hands down.

And Ray Park, well he's the only guy I would have trusted to play Snake Eyes other than me, so I was more than happy with that. I was a bit annoyed with the messing around with the origins. Snake Eyes being an orphan and street rat was lame compared to his actual back story. And removing the relationship between him and Scarlett only to replace it with that crap between her and Marlon Wayans really pissed me off. While we're talking about relationships, Duke and The Baroness being together was retarded too. The origin of Cobra Commander worked for a cheesy movie of the week scenario and was hardly befitting a terrorist and would be dictator. I was also less than impressed with how Zartan's camoflage abilities and Destro's mask were obtained and the severe lack of the Arashikage hexagram at the temple during Snake Eyes' flashback. And don't even get me started on Cobra Commander looking like Freddy Krueger in a gas mask.

I did enjoy the chance to spot the little things put in for the core audience. Seeing the USS Flagg, Breaker chewing bubble gum, the Dr. Mindbender, Mainframe and Jinx cameos, Hawk in a wheelchair at the hands of Storm Shadow, Larry Hama in the NATO meeting, seeing the multi level Pit actually done right, Storm Shadow in the Claw scene from Marvel Issue #21 and the use of the Night Raven. They even managed to squeeze in "knowing is half the battle" and "yo joe" into the dialogue. Like I said, it felt like G. I. Joe and I think they at least tried. All in all, it was in no way the movie that could've been made but I didn't hate it as much as I thought I would. They are signed to do three, so I'm keepin my coffin nails crossed
that they repair at least some of the damage. Yo Joe.

The studio is fully operational and with the cashing in of both 401k's, a large order of materials has been placed. Both radio shows are running again as well, the goth/industrial "Velvet Darkness" and Psycho and Rockabilly/Country "Shit Kickin Road Show" both on Radio Free Satan. Melony and I are officially in business together, akuma productions is now a two person operation. We're splitting duties, but I anticipate her taking over office type stuff because I like Edgar Allen Poe have no head for money. We've got a full schedule of projects in the works and the time is at hand to add an imprint of akuma, Tentacle Shop FX. TS will be the name under which my fx work will be done and will operate under the akuma banner. Once my friend Christian and I get our heads together and finally get to work on the film projects we've talked about forever Tentacle Shop will handle the duties. Damn for a moment there I almost sounded like I know what I'm doing!

I also have started the ball rolling on an idea I've wanted to do for ages. I'm talking to the manager of the local drive in here about renting the facility and screening old horror and cult movies. My own little "Grindhouse" night that will feature three or four back to back classics and old school trailers in between. The search has begun for collectors with original prints and I'm desperately hoping to find someone with a print of Mad Max or Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I need the planets to align on this one, so keep your coffina nails crossed!


In other news, I am thrilled to have the G4 channel again so I can watch Japanese super game show Sasuke :)

In the interest of getting him started early, here is Ian in his very own Snake Eyes costume. And the tactical boots for the Snake costume I am working on for me:




I know I opened a can of worms when the other day after seeing a G.I. Joe toy commercial on tele, he leans over my shoulder and says: "Now you gotta by two toys"