Dr Helen Magnus and her daughter Ashley have a safe haven for abnormals, mutants, & super natural creatures. They provide a volunteering based shelter in return for research on these beings. Easier put… daughter bags them, mother tags them. The problem with the way they’ve been doing things is with some creatures, they wish they could get a more insightful approach to learning about them. Helen decides to recruit a forensic psychiatrist, Dr. Will Zimmerman.

Will lives in the real-world. Investigating crimes throughout the city, but as of lately has been stumped. He’s been going from scene to scene and because of his creative mind, often gets laughed at while he hypothesizes on these unsolved cases. Apprehensive to join Helen at first, he recalls back to his childhood. Dr. Zimmerman remembers vaguely his mother and him being attacked by a reptile-like monster, killing his mother, leaving him to grow-up alone.

He decides since everyone in the so called real-world thinks he’s crazy for believing this, gives Helen the benefit of the doubt. Will agrees to come see the “Sanctuary For All” before he makes his decision to formally join or not. After observing this high-tech mansion full of wondrous beings, he agrees to dedicate himself to Helen’s dream of equal rights, study, & peace for the world’s lesser-knowns.

Sanctuary is the best surprise series I have ever seen. I have heard good things about the first series since its release on DVD and am very glad to say I’m now an addicted fan. I’ve never been one to enjoy many science fiction series, let along movies. This series is so much more than your average sci-fi series! The cast is wonderful; they’re a good mix of colorful personalities and with each episode you grow to love the characters. They all deliver great performances giving you drama, comedy, and the right amount of action. Every episode reveals a new concept or character and the cast does a great job lifting the plot to focus around the situation. The special effects have their great moments, but when its comical the story plays into itself -not taking it so serious. I am incredibly fascinated with all the creatures and supernatural people that are brought up.

You should definitely pick this up if you are a fan of either genre (drama, comedy, action, sci-fi). It’s a shame to label this one or another because the series offers equal amounts of each in every episode. “It’s the X-Files mixed with Hellboy!” Overall Grade: A-

You can pick up Sanctuary: The Complete First Season on DVD now!

MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS: BEFORE WOLVERINE THERE WAS WEAPON X
RUMANIAN RUMBLE Through issues 77-79
Rude Awakening-Part 1of 3

Writer–Doug Murray
Penciler–Tom Lyle
Inkers–Joe Rubinstein/Art Nichols
Letterer–Mike Heisler
Colorist–Steve Mattsson

So you thought you were getting a review on Barry Windsor-Smith’s phenomenal story/art, did you? Sorry…what I bring to the forefront is one of the coolest and overlooked stories in the series! Sgt. Nick Fury & Dracula VS Nazis!!!

Why would anyone want to go back and read old comics? Especially a sub-series for that matter? It goes back to quality & quanity. “Marvel Comics presents” titles more than often suck. The Weapon X story was one of the  most amazing back-stories created for a character ever (with superb art). At the time of this run, its hard to believe that anything being stuck in or around the story would establish the same buzz. Enter Doug Murray…

Doug Murray did a great job grabbing two seemingly opposite characters and combining them for a common goal: kickin’ Nazi ass. He also keeps true to the vampire mythos as well as Fury’s cigar (damn thing never burns out!). Tom and company are superb at character faces/expressions: you see a great deal of emotion regardless of how comedic the story gets.

The story opens with Vlad (Dracula) awakening to find that his gypsy community has been overtaken by the Nazis. With his brethren dying in his arms, they tell Dracula that they “put up a good fight” but it was not enough against this powerful force. Drac goes to investigate the concentration camp and watches his people get tormented/killed. One of whom gets shot in his head! He can’t jump to his aid because their insignia is a holy symbol & he must be invited into their dwelling to enter. You still with me?

Fury gets assigned to mark an oil refinery so his Air Force comrades can blow it up, and it just so happens to be the same night Dracula is at the Nazi camp. Nick drops – cigar in mouth and cut-off sleeves – into a Nazi ambush. Of course, he starts blazin’ up shit upon his landing. To begin the next issue, Dracula is flying overhead to lend a helping hand because they are by an oil refinery and not a camp. When Vlad lands he starts chocking bitches!!!

I really would like to give a complete overview on this but it would take the excitement out of reading a classic story & enjoying the ageless art work. Check it out. You will laugh, cry, & start smoking cigars with the undead!?

Evangelion Throw-back Toy Review
1/6 scale pre-painted figure
“Rei Ayanami”
Sculpted by Tsukuru Shirahige
Craftsmanship Kotobukiya Co.
www.kotobukiya.co.jp
www.kotoUS.com

A must-have for Anime collectors, toy hedz, & anyone who is looking to spice-up their displays.

Unlike most Anime figures, this female character is fully-clothed & in actual costume/dress from the popular series. What stands out most is her plug suit’s glowing-like properties. It’s white at first glance, but a closer look reveals perfectly placed blasted gloss. Her face & hair don’t take a back seat to this either. Adequate air-brushing to her hair enhances a look of innocence on her face.

The packaging is by far the most “display friendly” I’ve seen. Clear-cubed packaged with minimal graphics, centered, & posed. To make it even better, Rei’s also got a clear plastic shell around (but not touching) her more than “perfect” shape.

This figure will easily stand out from the rest of your collection & you will be very satisfied with your new addition.

In the spirit of the recent iPhone app., I bring you 1994 Shiny Entertainment, Inc.’s Earthworm Jim action figure. You all owned this at one time, most of you played with it in the shower. For a really long time!

The figure stands in your standard graphic cardboard with original character drawings. The plastic surrounding displays the character, his weapons, and snotty friend.

Jim’s suit looks ordinary at best and continues with the classic big upper body and skinny legs. His hands are pre molded to hold weapons or jack off… but unless you display him-forget either! The “spring loaded real firing Jim head” is enough to make the purchase worthwhile. Who doesn’t want a head that, if lost, completely defeats the purpose?!

His weaponry, if painted right, would have been awesome! Instead we have all the accessories painted in one boring red. They hardly gave details to the “plasma gun”. “Jim’s really big crow croaking gun” is molded really well but like everything else falls far with bad coloring. As for Snott, well, see previous.

Yes, these are individually numbered for you crazy collectors and EWJ junkies alike. I just don’t know many people who would waste time & effort on collecting this very average series of toys. Oh wait, that would be uh… umm… me.