Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Night of the Living Holidays


Like many bloggers, I’m going to take off a few days from blogging to celebrate the holidays. It’s also possible that I’ll head up to Arkansas to see my mom. She was put in the hospital for just a day, but they then took her to the nursing facility for a bit to get her physical therapy so she can come home. I’d like to be there to help out once she gets out of the nursing facility. But I also have to go back to work on January 7 so I need to go up before then. I’m still playing it by ear, to see when it would be best for me to be there. I’m not leaving until after Christmas for sure because I want to be here for that to be with Lana and to see my son, Josh.

I will post here if I decide to go, or when I decide to go, but I may not be visiting blogs for a few days anyway because of the holidays. In the meantime, I leave you with a review of Kolchak: Night Stalker of the Living Dead.

I was lucky again in winning a contest held by Christopher Mills over at Atomic Pulp, and he sent me the three volume comic book series that he wrote about Carl Kolchak warring with zombies in the corn fields of Nebraska. Chris wrote the books, and the art was done by Tim Hamilton. Dave Ulanski is the editor.

I’ve been a fan of Kolchak for a long time. I really enjoyed the original TV series, with Darren McGavin in the lead role. It’s one of the very few TV series I’ve ever caught all the episodes of. Chris perfectly captures the McGavin take on Kolchak, rumpled, cynical, a little brave and a little cowardly at the same time. If you like Kolchak and comics you should definitely like this three volume series. It’s available at Moonstone Books.

By the way, Chris’s Femme Noir series is also very good. In fact, I thought it was better than the Kolchak, and that’s saying something.

Until later, Merry Christmas to all. And to all a good night!

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35 comments:

j said...

I will be out of pocket for several days too. Not for family reasons such as yours though. I hope your mother heals quickly.

Be careful as you travel Charles. Merry Christmas to you, Lana, and Josh.

See you in 2009!!

X. Dell said...

I barely remember Kolchak. I was too young to get anything out of it, back in the day, but I've been meaning to catch a few episodes wherever I can find them.

Happy holidays, and have a good, safe trip.

Barbara Martin said...

Congratulations on your win.

Take care when and if you travel. May you have a wonderful Christmas holiday with Lana and your family. Happy writing in the New Year.

the walking man said...

Hope all is well for your mom Charles. Being there is ever so much more important than being here. Have a good Christmas.

writtenwyrdd said...

Merry Christmas, Charles, and I hope your mother is back on her feet shortly.

eric1313 said...

I understand about your mom. My mom had surgery to remove a tumor (non malignant thank god) back in November, and since I'm conveniently unemployed, I went to help her around the house for a week and a half. I didn't want to even mention it on my blog... Moms are very important, so maybe I should have, just to get the good vibes going her way.

But it's all good, she's recovered and is back to exercising every day and working, which is her normal routine. I'm happy.

Have a great holiday season, to the both of you.

Paul R. McNamee said...

Happy holidays - I'll be offline a bit, too.

I love the two Kolchak movies and I have been waiting to get the t.v. series DVD.

I remember reading about this comic so thanks for reminding me it's out there. I'll need to pick it up sometime.

Sidney said...

I'm going to try taking off a while too, but I'm not sure if it will work. I won't be far from a keyboard. Love Kolchak and Chris's work so that will be interesting to check out.

Back issues of Kolchak can be read online at Wowio.com if anyone wants a taste of the series before purchasing.

Heff said...

I'm going to start betting on you in these contests, as the outcomes seem like they would be quite lucrative.

Merry Christmas Charles.

Anonymous said...

Merry Xmas to you and yours Charles!

BernardL said...

Thanks for the Kolchak tip Charles. Merry Christmas!

Anonymous said...

Happy Merrytime Charles! A Merry Christmas too! I'm a Kolchak fan. I have the complete series on DVD. It didn't last very long, so I didn't have to put out a lot of money for it.

I haven't read the comic or the original novel, but I would like to, someday.

Best wishes to your mom, which reminds me that I need to call my mom.

Take care on your trip and we'll see you when you get back. Thanks for a great year in blogging.

Michelle's Spell said...

Hey Charles,

Thanks for the review! And thanks for keeping up with me during my recent illness and all well wishes. Here's to your mother's good health and wishing you and Lana a beautiful Christmas.

Steve Malley said...

Merry Christmas, you!

Crushed said...

You have a great Xmas and enjoy the time with your son!

It's good to spend time with those important to us.

David Cranmer said...

Merry Christmas and I wish all the best for your Mom's full recovery.

Travis Cody said...

I don't recall Kolchak, but then I wasn't into comics for that long so it's not surprising that I would miss it.

Happy Holidays to you and Lana! I hope all goes well with your mom.

Take care!

Barrie said...

Merry Christmas back at you!

Clare2e said...

Charles- You and Lana have a great one, along with the rest of your family. Frankly, thinking of Kolchak filles me with all kinds of festive cheer. Salud!

Donnetta said...

MERRY CHRISTMAS, CHARLES! D

Sarah Hina said...

Merry Christmas, Charles! I hope your mom recovers well, and that you have a wonderful break with Lana and your family.

Cloudia said...

Sending you warm aloha!

Cloudia said...

Get well to your mom!

J. L. Krueger said...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

To you and your family. Stay safe over the holidays!

Issa's Untidy Hut said...

Charles:

Wishing you and your family the best of Christmas holidays. Thanks for all your wonder full postings and for your input over at the Hut, too - it's all been great.

best,
Don

Scott said...

Charles,

I remeber the Kolchak TV series...I may have to check out the comic. I hope your Mom gets well soon. You and Lana have a great holiday!

Middle Ditch said...

Charles I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas with Lana and Josh.

I also hope that your mother is going to be okay.

Talking about films, one of my favorite presents was the DVD 'The Winds Of War'. I saw it in the eighties but was not quite long enough in England to follow it all and it's great to watch it now.

lol

laughingwolf said...

prayers and all the positive energies i can muster i speed to your mom's recovery, charles

was a kolchak fan myself, and of mcgavin

will check out the comics when i can, thx....

SQT said...

I just got a new laptop for Christmas so I'm on the net more than ever with my new toy. I'm not sure that's what hubby had in mind.

I hope your mom feels better soon and that you have a nice holiday.

Shauna Roberts said...

Merry Christmas to you, Lana, your mom, and your son! I hope your mom gets well and everyone is safe in the bad weather.

Erik Donald France said...

Happy Holidays and here's to a salubrious '009!

Virginia Lady said...

Congrats on your win and I hope everything is well with your mom. Have a good holiday!

Greg said...

i'll have to check that out. never heard of kolchak.

hope your mother is okay.

Charles Gramlich said...

Jennifer, thanks. I appreciate the good wishes.

Naval Langa, and to you as well.

X.Dell, trying to make me feel old there? They do rerun them pretty regularly. Definitely a bit tongue in cheek.

Barbara, thanks. I will.

Mark, take care yourself and have a good Christmas.

Writtenwyrd, she’s getting a bit stronger, but it is slow to come back.

Eric1313, you should always let us know what is going on in your life. At worst we can all send our well wishes.

Paul, I may try for the Kolchak stuff on DVD too. I’d like to have it.

Sidney, it’s kind of hard to go cold turkey when you’re used to blogging day in and day out.

Heff, I used to never win anything. Hurrah for the internet. Or maybe it’s Lana who has changed my luck. Merry Christmas to you and Donna as well.

Wil, and to you and your family also. I was just wondering where you were and thinking maybe we should send out a search party to the LoveTel.

Bernadl, and Merry Christmas to you as well.

Jack, that’s true. They didn’t have a lot of episodes. Did you try the “new” Kolchak? I thought it was horrible.

Michelle, thank you. And thanks for thinking of us. We both appreciated it.

Steve Malley, I guess it’s not very Christmassy looking down there eh? But enjoy it anyway.

Crushed, I miss my son a lot. It’s ahrd when they grow up and you’re not ready.

David, she seems to be regaining some strength, but slowly.

Travis, then you are in for a treat. You should check out the TV show, though. That’s the iconic stories. If you like a little humor with your horror it’s great.

Barrie, and back at you! Lol.

Clare2e, if Kolchack fills you with cheer you’re just my kind of people! 

Donnetta Lee, thank you. And to you.

Sarah, it’s always nice to be off with Lana.

Cloudia, man we must have got that warm stuff. It’s been almost in the 80s here.

J.L, and to you and yours.

Don, no problem. I’ve learned a lot from the “hut” this year.

Scott, I’m glad Krampus didn’t cause you any trouble. Happy holidays to you both.

Middle Ditch, I don’t think I’ve seen the Winds of War. I believe there might have been some books associated with that but I don’t recall exactly.

Laughingwolf, thanks my friend. Much appreciated.

SQT, new computers are a lot of fun. Bring hubby in on it!

Shauna, thanks. And Merry Christmas to you and your husband as well. Enjoy!

Erik, I hope it’ll be a good year.

Virginia lady, Thank you. And you too.

Greg, check out the TV shows if you get a chance. Kolchak combines humor and horror in a very nice way. I thought.

LoveRundle said...

I hope everything is going good with you and that your mother is starting to feel better. Being injured on a family holiday is never fun, but having family makes things better.