ShadowGram Update # 203 - Comic Books, Wayne Tippit, Marley Shelton, More

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Number 203.    September 11, 2009.

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Hello, Dark Shadows Fan,

ShadowGram (SG), The Official Newsletter & News Source for Dark Shadows (DS), announces the following breaking news in this Online News Update “bulletin.”


--- SG PREMIERE ANNOUNCEMENT:
PLANNED COLLECTION OF ORIGINAL 1960s-70s COMIC BOOKS

---- PASSING OF WAYNE TIPPIT (1991 Dr. Hiram Fisher)

--- MARLEY SHELTON (WB Pilot Victoria) & HUSBAND WELCOME FIRST CHILD

--- MATT CZUCHRY (WB Willie) STARS IN “The Good Wife”

--- BLAIR BROWN (WB Pilot Elizabeth) IN DVD RELEASE OF “Fringe” – Season 1


*** SHADOWGRAM PREMIERE ANNOUNCEMENT:
GOLD KEY DS COMIC BOOKS COLLECTION TO BE PUBLISHED

Dan Curtis productions asks SG to premiere-announce that Hermes Press will reprint “the complete classic Gold Key Comics’ “based on the legendary supernatural suspense” TV program “in a series of 5 hard-cover volumes” of coffee-table books.

Hermes press release: DS “still garners serious attention as one of the most memorable  TV shows of the last 40 years,” and the anticipated new film adds to its popularity. “The time seems perfect to reprint the full run of 35 Gold Key comics...first published from 1968-1976.” They will be “completely digitally restored” and “present the work of Silver Age comic book artists such as Donald Areneson and Arnold Drake.” .Artist Joe Certa “was responsible for the artwork on the complete run of the DS series.” Additionally, each volume expects to feature “poster art, pin-ups, and documentary material,” plus “essays about the history of DS as well as other aspects of the show.”

“Volume One will be available in March, 2010.”


*** WAYNE TIPPIT (1991 DS Dr. Hiram Fisher)

SG sadly reports he passed away 8-28 at age 76 in Los Angeles after a long illness. He portrayed “Palmer Woodward” on the series “Melrose Place” and was in many TV, film, and stage roles. His surviving wife, daughters, and grandchildren indicate that those who wish to may remember him by supporting the Lung Transplant Program in the Women’s Guild Lung Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd., Suite 6732, Los Angeles, CA 90048.

The next SG #117 print issue will honor his memory with information and pictures.


*** MARLEY SHELTON (2004 WB Pilot Victoria) WELCOMES DAUGHTER

SG congratulates Marley and her husband, producer Beau Flynn: Their first child, daughter West, was born 9-6 in Los Angeles.

SG #115-#116 print issue detailed Marley’s starring role as FBI Special Agent “Rachel Young”: in the CBS drama “Eleventh Hour.” The issue featured excerpts from media publicity materials, interviews, and reviews.


*** MATT CZUCHRY (2004 WB PILOT Willie) IN NEW DRAMA

SG #115-#116 reported he co-stars as “Cory” in the new CBS series :The Good Wife,” debuting 9-22. He’s an ambitious lawyer trying to work his way up the ladder in a major law firm when the wife of a disgraced politician joins the group.    :


*** BLAIR BROWN (2004 WB Pilot Elizabeth) in “Fringe” DVD Release

SG #115-#116 highlighted her role as “Nina Sharp” in “Fringe,” Fox’s hit new series from last year that realistically explores the fine line between science fact and – fiction? Perhaps.... The new season begins 9-17. The DVD release of Season 1 came out 9-8.


All fans are asked to please share any media references to “Fringe,” “The Good Wife,” and the comic book collection: articles, publicity, reviews, interviews, etc. Send all materials to SG’s postal- or e- mail addresses below.   


**** SHADOWGRAM NOTE:

Please send SG your photos and reports from the 8-14/16 DS Festival convention in Elizabeth (Newark), NJ. You can send hard copy photographs or send images as jpegs at high resolution. Every picture captures a unique moment and each person has an individual experience. In this way, fans who cannot be there with us can share in the weekend fun. Please also send – at any time – articles, reviews, publicity, or other material you may find about the new DS film, the DS personnel, and DS-related news. Use the SG addresses below.

You will be named as Contributors in upcoming print issues. You also may receive a complimentary Contributor’s Copy for major contributions of information, funds, postage stamps, supplies, publicity, assistance, etc.

**** Subscription information for the ShadowGram Newsletter print issues follows. When your order arrives, I will mail you the new SG #115-#116 Double Issue newsletter to begin / renew your subscription. Subsequent issues will be sent to you and all postal-mail subscribers as they are published.

Thank you.

Marcy Robin
ShadowGram Editor / Publisher
P.O. Box 1766
Temple City, CA 91780-7766

E-mail: Shadowgram1@yahoo.com

Official ShadowGram Website:  Shadowgram.com

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SHADOWGRAM (SG) is the *Official* "Dark Shadows" Newsletter. Much of its news is provided by the show's personnel and those involved in the 1966-71 TV series, 1991 TV series, and 2004 WB pilot. Established 30+ years ago in April, 1979, SG works directly with individuals, companies, and others involved in DS' creation, distribution, promotion, merchandise, etc.

Regular SG print issues are published throughout the year. Free bonus complimentary breaking-news published updates can be sent as needed at any time to all current paid postal-mail subscribers.

Brief Update bulletins are posted through the ShadowGram Online "Dark Shadows" News Updates Yahoo Group.

NOTE:  The e-mail Updates are * NOT * the actual Official DS Newsletter. The Official DS Newsletters are the published SG print issues that expand and explain each short online post I make to this List . Each postal-mail edition, available by paid subscription, features specific detailed information, exclusive and rare photos, media coverage, and much more than these brief Updates.

SG postal-mail print issues are immediately available and SG #114 will be sent to you immediately to begin your subscription.

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Please send print issue subscription/renewal payment (check/money order) made payable to:

Marcy Robin
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ShadowGram1@yahoo.com

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For more information on the newsletter, please write with a SASE (Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope) to the above postal-address or e-mail:  ShadowGram1@yahoo.com

Thank you.

Sadly, the Gold Key comics, for the most part, stunk.    But the inclusion of “poster art, pin-ups, and documentary material,” plus “essays about the history of DS as well as other aspects of the show” in the reprint books sounds cool. 

That's what I was thinking.  Although I have several that I purchased as a kid, for the most part those comic books were downright ugly.  That will give me great pause, especially in this economy, to purchase the volumes even with all the extras.  Maybe I can con somebody into giving them to me as a gift.

Gerard

This is really great news!

Nancy

Maybe I can con somebody into giving them to me as a gift.

Christmas of 2010 doesn't seem too late to wait.

Very cool news about the Gold Key comics!  Coincidentally, I was wondering recently if there had ever been any discussion of reprinting the stories in a book.  I am a bit surprised, though, that they're being reprinted in hardcover volumes rather than in trade paperbacks.

Perhaps Hermes wants them to appear more classy than they actually are. 

The Gold Key comic books are "classic"??

Sheesh.

Makes you wonder what is next going to be trotted out as a "classic" just because it's a moldy-oldy.  

Perhaps the volume can contain a prominently placed apology to Jonathan Frid, Grayson Hall, David Selby, Thayer David, Joan Bennett, Lara Parker and anyone else whose likeness was so horribly, garishly caricatured in the pages of those mags.  I remember Selby looking like Engelbert Humperdinck doing a screen test for the Tasmanian Devil...

cheers, G.

I remember Selby looking like Engelbert Humperdinck doing a screen test for the Tasmanian Devil...

You've got that right - especially when he was in his werewolf form. 

Perhaps the volume can contain a prominently placed apology to...Joan Bennett...whose likeness was so horribly, garishly caricatured in the pages of those mags.  

With that hairdo in the comic books she looked like Marge Simpson.

Gerard

The one thing I really liked about the DS Gold Key Comics were the nicely painted covers.  The covers were, for the most part, fantastic.  The artwork inside and most of the stories were... erm...um... yeah.  I remember one in which Liz and Roger were married.  I guess that gives Roger's "incestors" line new depth.  Yeesh.  Anyway, it's still nice that they're reprinting these in a deluxe format.  

What I'd really like to see is a new GOOD DS comic series based on the original series and likenesses.  

Penny Dreadful

I've almost never posted here but I lurk regularly and I wanted to weigh in on the Gold Key DS comics.  I love em! When I was a kid I got them all. Dark Shadows and comics were a very big thing for me, in fact I became a professional comic book artist. Some of my DS comics are now like the Dead Sea Scrolls and I've been clamoring for reprints for years. Never thought it would happen though. I hope Herme's plans go off without a hitch.
 
Yes, the artwork at times leaves something to be desired. I don't know much about the artist Joe Certa, but I know he was already an older guy in his 50's when he got the DS assignment in 1968. He was hardly one of the best comic artists of all time but he was a solid pro and had a distinguished career dating back to the early 40's. He's best known for his long run on DC's Martian Manhunter series in the 50's and early 60's. I believe he is credited with designing that character's costume which is still in use today. Comic book artists are often brutally overworked and under paid. Certa didn't even receive credit on the books but it's clear on the earlier issues he put a tremendous amount of effort in. When the book went from quarterly to bi-monthly his approach became more streamlined but even then there are positive features to his work. At best, Certa's art has an animated, kinetic feel with a great storytelling sense and credible, detailed backgrounds. At worst: guilty as charged, ugly faces and stilted awkward poses. Certa didn't endeavor to render the characters to look like replicas of the tv actors and I don't think that was necessary. This was a different version after all. Ken Bald, who meticulously copied Frid's face in all his Dark Shadows newspaper strips has a lifeless quality to his efforts that I think Certa beats at his best. At least I think Joe Certa should get some credit for being a creative individual who was involved with a Dark Shadows production longer than anyone else in any medium. He drew the book for eight years. I haven't said anything about the story content of the comics but there is a pretty definitive review on Collinwood.net I'm sure most are familiar with.
I hope everyone will give the Gold Key series another look when and if they comes out. Plus, if there's anyone reading this connected with DS merchandising please contact me. I'm the perfect guy to draw new DS comics!