For a few years in the mid-2000s—and off and on since—I wrote comics, zines, and, on rare occasions, illustrated them. Somewhere in that period, I was introduced to The Journal of MODOK Studies and immediately fell in love with its unique mix of reverence and absurdity, especially at a time when you weren’t really supposed to take … Continue reading A MODOK Origin Story
More scribbles from the margins and the Musicalia playlist. Continue reading Marginalia #28
Ahh…the Sight and Sound list of greatest films. I’m glad I don’t take those things seriously anymore. I do appreciate seeing the variety of critics’ lists because it challenges me to see movies I may not have come across on my own. Finally saw Vigo’s last film, L’Atalante, which I had confused with von Sternberg’s … Continue reading Marginalia #15
A fascinating history for the film obsessive in your life. While being focused on the development of synching sound to image in movies, it is also a decent history of the studio system. If you’re already interested in the morbid, melancholic, and macabre, then there will be some old friends here. I found the biggest … Continue reading Marginalia #13
I love reissues of classics, even though I don’t buy a lot of them. At one point, realizing I had over 13 copies of 1984 and limited space led me to getting rid of most of them. Anyway, I like “The Willows”, but haven’t been made a superfan of Blackwood yet. He sets fantastic moods, … Continue reading Marginalia #11
I feel like I read too many surveys or books that cover a range of topics. This one is certainly an antidote to that. A fascinating, academic look at ilanot (something like Maps of God or Trees of Life) from around 1300 to the initial era of printing. Besides captivating art, this book is an … Continue reading Marginalia #10
More interesting and insightful than I thought it was going to be. Australian folk horror from the early 80s. A precursor to Hereditary, maybe? Genuinely bad, but possibly fun for those with a penchant and the patience for horror on a low budget in the 80s. Takes on apartment horror/possession. Some hilarious dialogue hilariously delivered. … Continue reading Marginalia #5
An epic about change and organized around the history of the world. I can’t imagine any reader not knowing some of these stories. I had been meaning to read the whole thing for years, especially after coming across Samuel Beckett’s enthusiasm for it. I can only remember offhand Beckett celebrating Proust, Joyce, and Ovid. Beckett’s … Continue reading Marginalia #2
Or What I Think About While Doing Burpees with Peter Murphy. You can read it at The Drunken Odyssey. Continue reading Lost Chords and Serenades Divine #14: Sweatin’ to the Goths
Stephen McClurg 