POP! Rocks – Alice Cooper (Top Hat)

Though not the first shock rocker (Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, the Crazy World of Arthur Brown and Screaming Lord Sutch all predate him), Alice Cooper has still become one of the most iconic rock frontmen in pop culture. Acts like KISS, King Diamond, Rob Zombie and Ghost – to name just a few – all owe Cooper a considerable visual debt. And though I’m more of a “Greatest Hits” kind of fan, he’s been an inspiration to me, too – if a skinny kid with a big nose can become a heavy metal icon, there’s hope for all of us.  

Naturally enough, Funko was going to come calling at some point and turn him into a POP. Today, we take a look at the results!

Now, I couldn’t find a specific photo where Alice is wearing this exact outfit. The corset/harness thing and ripped pants look like they’re from the Billion Dollar Babies era – which would fit with the snakeskin theme on the box – and the earliest pics I noticed of him with a white top hat and tails seem to be from the Welcome to My Nightmare album – so let’s just say it’s meant to be him sometime in the mid-70s. If you can identify the outfit more specifically, let me know in the comments below. 

Either way, a lot of Alice Cooper’s stage costumes are variations on these themes, and even those with only a passing familiarity of the man will recognise him easily. The only real surprise is that he isn’t depicted with a snake, considering that’s one of the things he’s best known for. Still, that may come in the future; though his basic look has remained the same for decades, there’s still been plenty of variations that would lend themselves to POP figures.

As usual, the paint could be a little tighter, but it’s fine for the most part. Additionally, check his cane before making a purchase, to make sure it hasn’t warped in the box.       

The sculpt makes him a little skinnier than your average POP, and he doesn’t come with a stand. Fair enough; Alice Cooper isn’t a particularly big guy. But given his very top-heavy construction, it creates some balance problems, and I have some concerns about his long-term ability to stay upright. Skinnier POPs like Elvira and Batgirl have a tendency to warp around their legs and feet over time; while he’s not that petite, I could see something similar happening further down the track.

These issues aside, I think it’s a solid piece. There’s also a straitjacket version available, which is a Hot Topic exclusive in the USA. Either one is well-representative of the character, and a fun addition to the shelf.

Novella Update 4: Writer’s Block and Death Metal

If you’re following me over at Facebook or Twitter, you would have seen in the last few days that I just finished a major edit of Lost Tunnels. Now I plan to go through it manually – which essentially means I’ve printed it off and will be working through it with a literal red pen, trying to spot any previously unseen typos or grammar issues.

This will hopefully be the final round of edits, though having spent plenty of time working in print media I know it’s entirely possible that weird inconsistencies can creep through even at this stage. Nonetheless, things are still on track for a late June release! As always, keep your eye on Facebook or Twitter for updates.  

Today, I also wanted to talk about Writer’s Block. As someone who’s spent many years working as a professional writer, I am not a big believer in writer’s block as it’s depicted in popular media. Writer’s block is typically shown to be a torment of some creative type who just can’t get their words onto the page. There’s some “terrible” blockage which preventing them from expressing their GENIUS to its fullest. This tends to manifest as an excuse for stuffing and acting like a huge jerk in pursuit of rediscovering their creativity – and doing pretty much anything but writing in the process. If you move in any sort of creative circles, you may have even met a few people like this in real life, and they are almost always a huge chore.  

Sure, I’ll happily admit that some days of writing are easier than others. On the creative front I’ve had days where I stare at a blank page and can barely get anything down. Lost Tunnels is a relatively short novella, but it’s been an incredibly difficult process working through it. In the workplace, though…well, that’s a different thing. When you’re working in magazines, try telling your boss that you didn’t turn in a piece of copy before deadline because you had “writer’s block”.

Writing is a learned skill, just like anything else. It comes more easily to some than others, but this is true of just about anything – IT, fixing cars, painting, fishing, whatever. Do it enough and you develop a toolbox (as Stephen King calls it) of techniques that you can draw on to fake it to you make it. Turns out if you sit there and try to write, rather than just talking about wanting to write, you’ll get more done. 

Writing requires discipline, and that’s quite distinct from how people tend to imagine the “creative process”. I was talking about this with a musician friend last week over a few beers and was quite explicit in saying that for me the process is to sit my ass down, work at what I need to work at and eventually the “Muse” will show up. It gets easier with time, and you develop a skillset you can draw on.  Pretty much any established writer will tell you something similar.

People who romanticise the “creative process” and cannot do their “thing” except under very specific (i.e. anally retentive) conditions are not going to get very far with any of their creative goals. There will always be an excuse to not do it, and hard work is virtually excluded by definition. I know I have my preferences about how, where and when I like to write…

 But to be honest, you can do it just about anywhere if you practice. The modern open-plan workplace is not a place sensitive to my personal “creative process”, but…well, I don’t see the Western Capitalist working system suddenly shifting to accommodate my particular wants anytime soon. I just need to get on with the job at hand.    

But enough venting. Over the next few weeks, I hope to talk a bit more about practical techniques for freeing up your creativity and preventing your own brand of writer’s block. Today, let’s talk about music. I find listening to music extremely helpful in freeing up my creativity. This is not revolutionary advice; many authors talk about it, and author/ghostwriter Roz Morris runs a column speaking to different authors about the music they use here.

Now, heavy metal is my first and foremost musical love, but it’s not always the best tool for the job. Unless I’m very familiar with the album in question, it can take me out of what I’m doing and serve as a distraction. Instead, I like to find something appropriate for the genre I’m working on, e.g.:

• If I’m writing something fantasy-related, I might listen to something like the Conan the Barbarian soundtrack, or perhaps Mortiis’ early work. 
• For sci-fi, I might crack out Tangerine Dream, Jean-Michel Jarre or some more modern synthwave.
• When I’m doing on a copywriting gig, I tend to throw on some kind of 80s pop mix. All of this helps me get into the right mood and headspace for writing in that particular world.  

Lost Tunnels is a horror novella, and it traverses a few different moods during the course of the story. Accordingly, I went through listening to different stuff during different phases of writing. Initially, I spent a ton of time listening to Fabio Frizzi’s film scores – specifically his soundtracks for Lucio Fulci’s Zombie Flesh Eaters and The Beyond. They’re two of my favourite horror films, so they seemed like good places to start.

But as writing went on, things began to vary a bit more; I listened to a lot of Amebix’s second album Monolith. The came Blood Incantation, particularly Starspawn – this where the death metal of the article title kicks in! There was also a bunch of Fleetwood Mac and Lindsey Buckingham solo work thrown into the mix, depending on the particular scene I was working on. One band to emerge to the forefront was Popol Vuh; probably best-known for their soundtrack work with Werner Herzog, they’re often thought of as an ambient group, but they really span a much broader range.

Some of these seem like more relevant influences than others – I mean, there’s nothing particularly terrifying about “Big Love” – but everything I listened to helped me get into the particular mindset I needed for a scene.

I don’t expect you to get the same stuff out of any of these bands that I did, but I would suggest that you try listening to music while you’re writing if you haven’t already. And if you are, maybe try listening to something new as well – see how it affects your mood, and accordingly your writing. Tell me how you go in the comments below!

New article at Astral Noize

As a lot of regular readers know, I'm a big metal fan. And one of my favourite bands is Nile -- the Egypt-obsessed guys from South Carolina. Their first album Amongst the Catacombs of Nephren-Ka has just turned twenty, so I've contributed a piece to Astral Noize about its legacy. 

 

You can read the full article here -- hope you enjoy it! 

POP! Marvel: Thanos (Infinity War)

Well, in just a few more days Avengers: Infinity War will finally be upon us. This is the big event that the MCU has been building to over the last 10 years, ever since the release of Iron Man in 2008. Stuff is going to go the h*ck down.

Or will it? The MCU has been surprisingly conservative when it comes to stuff like character deaths, and after almost twenty films the overall feel is akin to a soap opera – big events happen, but their overall consequences feel minimal. Still, I’ve enjoyed the ride and I’m sure it will be another solid entry into the franchise.

Naturally the merchandise train has long since left the station and crashed into your local toy store – which brings us to today’s review, Thanos!

Now, I gave up on collecting MCU POPs some time ago, because I didn’t feel the desire to update a bunch of core characters every time a new film came out. Still, I like Thanos as a character and I felt this POP had a look heavily distinct from the POP he got back in 2015.  

It’s a pretty decent figure; I liked the helmeted, ceremonial look of Thanos back in Guardians of the Galaxy, but this is a fresh take. This time he’s also wearing the Infinity Gauntlet itself, with all of the Infinity Gems in place. Paint is pretty solid, and while it’s not as big as the previous POP I think it’s a lot more effective at conveying personality. There’s no chase, but there is a chrome version which appears to be some kind of convention exclusive. Personally, I’d like a glow version, but only time will tell whether we get one.

Super fans can also opt for the 10'' version, which is the same sculpt but substantially larger. Additionally, there's a new 6'' POP with Thanos sitting on his throne on its way too. Last but not least, there's a Wal-Mart* exclusive, which uses the same base body but has a different head and left arm. He’s also got some kind of glittery energy field emerging from the glove. I like the new face and the overall concept, but it doesn’t quite do it for me.

Y’know, it wouldn’t surprise me if we don’t actually see very much of Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War. Yeah, he’s got a bunch of toys on the shelves – but the Infinity Stones haven’t been assembled yet and there’s still another Avengers film to come in 2019. Not to mention that the merchandising suggests there are going to be a bunch of new characters introduced into a film that’s already pretty stuffed with existing characters.

Nonetheless, Thanos has taken a huge leap in popularity in recent years, thanks to his inclusion in the MCU. Infinity War is likely to boost that popularity even further, and I suspect this POP will be a strong seller.

*JB Hi-Fi exclusive in Australia – presumably New Zealand too

POP! WWE – Mick Foley

I wrote about The Undertaker just over a week ago, and I would say he’s still my all-time favourite wrestler. But Mick Foley comes a very close second. 

Best known for his stints as Mankind, Cactus Jack and Dude Love with the WWF/WWE, Mick Foley was a hardcore wrestler for years before he ever entered the public eye. Yeah, wrestling’s not “real”. Vince McMahon admitted it way back in 1989, we all know that. Give yourself a pat on the back for being so edgy as to say it out loud. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t hurt yourself doing it – just take a look at this video of Undertaker and Mankind if you doubt that’s the case.

And boy oh boy, has he destroyed his body in service the industry over the years. A missing ear, missing teeth, a ton of concussions, busted ribs, burns…this doesn’t even begin to cover the workaday injuries he accrued from doing things like thumbtack matches, barbed wire, beatings with steel chairs and just generally being thrown around the rings. In terms of how all this impacts on a person day-to-day, you should check out this episode of Celebrity Wife Swap from a few years ago.

Yet Foley has emerged from all of this punishment with an impressive lack of guile and cynicism about the industry. Whereas other legends like Rick Flair and Hardcore Holly are seemingly keen to slam everyone they’ve ever worked with, Foley seems to be a genuinely pleasant and likeable character both onstage and behind the scenes. So let’s take a look at the POP! 

It seems like a slightly odd choice to go with a generic Mick Foley as the first release of the character, but maybe he’s just more identifiable in this persona to modern viewers. Either way, this POP is instantly recognisable as Mick. He’s in fairly casual mode here, presumably styled on his post-wrestling days. His shirt has a smiley face, which is a nice reference to Mankind’s “Have a Nice Day” slogan, and he’s wearing a flannelette cut-off over the top, along with some white sneakers. Most people's wives wouldn't let them out of the house dressed like this, but for Mick Foley it's apparently the ideal thing to wear when appearing before millions of people on TV. Indeed, it's probably not unfair to say that Mick Foley looks an awful lot like plenty of the dads who watch WWE, which may explain a few things about his enduring appeal.  

Longtime fans will also recognise that casual Mick here looks pretty close to Cactus Jack, and it wouldn’t be too hard to repaint him accordingly. Or just not…and call him Cactus Jack anyway. 

All pretty good so far, but there is one major flaw – he’s got both his ears! Granted, in real life Mick Foley has part of his right ear, but it’s definitely not complete. Given the unlikelihood of their reusing the mold for other characters – except perhaps Cactus Jack or Dude Love – it seems like a fairly big oversight.

This issue aside, it’s good to see Mick Foley get POP representation. He’s a key figure in WWE’s history, both past and present. Hopefully we see a Mankind figure in the near future too -- maybe in a 2-pack with another iteration of the Undertaker, given their longstanding rivalry.  

Novella Update 3: Cover Art Revealed!

Given that today is Friday the 13th, I thought it would be an appropriate time to reveal the cover art for Lost Tunnels. If you’ve got no idea what I’m talking about, read this and this first to get filled in.

All up to speed? Good. So without further ado…

I asked an old friend of mine, Sophie Berry-Porter, to create this particular artwork for me. We’ve known each other since primary school, but this is the first time we’ve collaborated on a large-scale project together. She's an extremely talented artist and actress, and I'm honoured that she agreed to tackle this artwork for me. 

I gave her this brief:

Which she then turned into this:

I’m thrilled with the result, and even more excited about getting the whole thing finished and released now. Edits are still underway, and the full layout for the cover will need to be done, but things are still looking on track for a June release. 

Watch this space, the LBC Facebook page and the LBC Twitter for more updates as they come -- and in the meantime, I hope you enjoy this preview for the final book! 

POP! WWE – Jake the Snake

My wife and I watched The Resurrection of Jake the Snake on Netflix the other night. Those of you who’ve seen it know it makes for some rough viewing. If you haven’t though, I thoroughly recommend giving it a watch. You don’t have to be particularly interested in wrestling or anything; it’s just a well-made sports documentary which (fortunately) has a happy ending.

I wasn’t much of a fan previously, but this was more to do with timing. Jake the Snake was a huge presence in the WWF during the 80s and 90s, but he left the company in 1997. I didn’t really start watching until 1999, so my first experience of him came in Mick Foley’s first book Have a Nice Day, which tells a few interesting stories about his gimmick. 

Never having been a huge fan of snakes, I didn’t think a lot about him in the intervening years. But I’ve had a renewed interest in wrestling over the last few months, and so I’ve been digging back through some of the history of WWF/WWE. Then the POP got released, and a friend mentioned the documentary was on Netflix…well, I’m definitely a fan now. Better late to the party than never.  

I’ve been watching a few clips online, and the man had HUGE charisma and stage presence. Not to mention that he popularised the DDT, a manoeuvre that’s so ubiquitous in wrestling these days it’s often taken for granted. It’s easy to say these things in hindsight, but his is a name that really should be thrown around in the same way as Hulk Hogan, the Ultimate Warrior or Andre the Giant. Undertaker is a frightening, because but Jake the Snake gives off this terrifying serial killer vibe that really helped sell his character.   

Sadly, a few different issues derailed him over the years – company politics, drug issues and drinking. The usual stuff that causes a lot of wrestlers problems, but on a much grander scale. Fortunately, he managed to get his life under control a few years ago with the help of Diamond Dallas Page, and at time of writing he seems to be doing quite well. 

The POP is an excellent sculpt, complete with a giant signature snake draped around his shoulders.  His hair is a little thicker than it was in real life, but that’s just the way the format works. The only real downside is that he can’t turn his head too far, due to the mullet. Paint is really good too! The snakeskin pattern on his boots is well-replicated, as is the Medusa-esque portrait on his right thigh. Granted, these are tampos, but the regular paint lines are pretty clean as well. He’s one of the best I’ve bought in ages.  

There’s also a Chase version of Jake; the sculpt is the same, but the tights are blue instead of green, and the snake is a slightly different colour too. This is a good Chase. It’s fun but not essential to consider your collection complete, which is a marked contrast to this upcoming Chase*. Whichever version you get, Jake the Snake is an excellent POP. He’s essential for any wrestling fan – and maybe even if you’re not, but you enjoyed the documentary and want to make sure he gets a few royalties to better look after himself.

*I’ve sunk a lot of money in Funko products over the last 5 years, but sometimes I feel like they actively hate their fans.