You’ve experienced Africa in April and Memphis in May, but are you ready for the “Sivads of March”?

The Sivads of March — a public tribute to the memory of the late Watson Davis, the Malco ad executive who, as Sivad, “the Monster of Ceremonies,” was the host of the “Fantastic Features” horror movie program on WHBQ-TV Channel 13 from 1962 to 1972 — will take place at various venues March 25-28, with movies, an art show, and a rock concert featuring the Reigning Sound.

Davis co-workers and family members are expected to attend, and rare film clips and Sivad “artifacts” will be displayed.

As the comically ghoulish Sivad, Davis — who died five years ago this March 23, at the age of 92  — was simultaneously beloved and frightening, with a community-wide popularity that transcended class and race in a way that perhaps was rivaled only by wrestler Sputnik Monroe and a few other entertainers. A 1963 appearance by Sivad at the Mid-South Fairgrounds attracted 30,000 fans, according to The Commercial Appeal.

Sivads of March highlights will include:

A “monster martini” opening ceremony and reception on March 25 at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, followed by an 8 p.m. screening of the 1958 horror masterpiece, “Night of the Demon.”

Screening of other films originally introduced by Sivad — including “The Giant Claw,” “A Bucket of Blood,” “From Hell It Came” and “I Was a Teenage Werewolf” — at the Brooks, March 26-28, along with a March 28 panel discussion featuring Sivad colleagues and experts. The famous “Fantastic Features” introduction will be shown before each film.

A “Sivad Art Show” at 7 p.m. March 26 at the Adam Shaw Studio, 2547 Broad Ave., featuring Sivad-inspired work by local artists.

“Li’l Film Fest 13” at 2 p.m. March 27 at the Brooks, featuring shorts created by local filmmakers that pay homage to Sivad and the tradition of TV horror hosts and scary movies.   (Entries still are being accepted: Visit livefrommemphis.com for more information.)

A March 27 concert featuring the Reigning Sound, the acclaimed band led by former Memphian and Sivad fan Greg Cartwright, at Nocturnal,  1588 Madison. The Reigning Sound’s latest album, “Love and Curses,” is named for a Sivad catchphrase, and the CD itself is imprinted with a picture of Davis’ vampiric alter ego.

For more, visit sivadsofmarch.com.

More Sivad!

Tags: Adam B. Shaw, Adam Shaw, art show, horror, lin workman, Memphis, Mid-South CArtoonists Association, MSCA, SIVAD, Watson Davis

This Friday (7pm central) on the CW Smallville will be a two hour JSA episode called “Absolute Justice” which was written by Geoff Johns. This episode will feature DC heroes Dr. Fate, Sandman, Star Girl, Martian Manhunter, Green Arrow, and Hawkman. To read more or listen to interviews with Geoff Johns click here or here. To see a trailer click here.

The Human Target has been reimagined on Fox. Originally on TV with Rick Springfield as Chrostopher Chance (1992), now Mark Valley is in the lead role, with Chi McBride and Jackie Earle Haley co-starring. It is based on characters created by comic greats Len Wein and Carmine Infantino. You can find out more about this show here.

The Green Lantern is headed to the big screen soon. You can see movie concept art here and  here!

From Lora with the Comic Creator’s Alliance:

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” -Margaret Mead

Monday, January 11th is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. To participate, we formed the Comic Creator’s Alliance–a group of over eighty comic book creators (both web and print) who volunteered our artistic talents to raise money and awareness for this cause. You may not know it, but there are currently 27 million enslaved people worldwide- more than double the number of enslaved Africans during the trans-Atlantic slave trade. UNICEF estimates that 1.2 million children every year are sold into slavery, most of it sexual. The US Department of Justice estimates 16,000 victims of human trafficking are brought into the United States every year. Unlike slavery in the 19th century, what is happening today is happening in secret. So it won’t end until awareness is raised, and people like you and me take a stand.

So here’s what we did: each creator contributed an original drawing of one of our own female characters, and combined them into a single wallpaper image. The wallpaper features characters from The Phoenix Requiem, Girls with Slingshots, Earthsong, Looking for Group, Shadowgirls, Marsh Rocket, The Uniques and three IDW Publishing titles: Fallen Angel, The Dreamland Chronicles and The Dreamer, and lots, lots more! Donate today to download this unique, once-in-a-lifetime wallpaper. The Donations Drive will last for two weeks, from January 11th – 24th. All proceeds will be split evenly between Love146 and Gracehaven House- two organizations working on rehabilitation of victims and prevention of this crime. To learn more about the Comic Creator’s Alliance visit www.comicalliance.weebly.com. To learn more about the problem, visit http://love146.org/slavery. (Note: contains adult themes and actual accounts of sex slavery.)

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BushiTales.com and Toshigawa.com have donated art to this wallpaper, too.

Lin

Tags: bushi tales, comic, comic books, Comic Creator's Alliance, dave beaty, lin workman, martheus antone wade, Toshigawa

Hey gang-

Got a press release from Angie with Metropolis Tourism I thought I’d share…

Hello Superman Fans!

Here is the latest news from Metropolis, Illinois:

Comic Book & Toy Show set for March 6-7 in Metropolis, Illinois The city best known for its super hero connection will be the site of a Comic Book and Toy Show on Saturday and Sunday, March 6-7. The event will be held at the Riverfront Event Center inside Harrah’s Hotel, 100 Front St. in Metropolis. For the second year in a row, the show is being produced by Marc Ballard, the owner of Comic City in Nashville, Tenn. Ballard says that those who enter the doors of the Riverfront Event Center will see a variety of vendors showcasing comics from the 1940s to present-day, vintage Star Wars toys, autographed celebrity items, games, t-shirts, western items and more.

Admission into the show is $5 each day. All attending will receive a free poster and will be eligible for door prizes. Also, all who attend the Comic Book and Toy Show will receive free admission into the Super Museum and Americana Hollywood in Metropolis that weekend. Hours for the show are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday.

The featured guest for this year’s show is Mark Goddard, who is best known as Major Don West in the cult 1960s television series, Lost in Space. Goddard, now a special education teacher in Middleboro, Mass., attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and received his first acting role as “Cully” on the television series, Johnny Ringo in 1959. He went on to act in The Detectives, Lost In Space, Perry Mason, Adam 12, The Fall Guy, Mod Quad and the movie, Blue Sunshine. He also appeared in One Life to Live, The Doctors and General Hospital as well as on Broadway in The Act with Liza Minnelli. Goddard made a cameo appearance in 1998 in the movie, Lost in Space, as the general in charge of the Jupiter Mission, and superior officer to his former character, Major Don West.

Other guests scheduled to appear at the Metropolis Comic Book and Toy Show include: Jacob Rougmont, a writer of Marvel Comics Handbook and Index; Jason Craig, artist of Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash and Grim Fairy Tales; Gary Freidrick, creator of Ghost Rider; John Dugan, Grandpa from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie; Mike Nicolosi , actor from The Untouchables; and Tojo Yamamoto Jr., wrestler and owner of Renegade Pro Wrestling in Metropolis, and the son of the world famous wrestler Tojo Yamamoto. Regional artists, Will Woods, Jay Chuppe and Sean Dulany will be a part of the show as well as the Paducah Imperials Star Wars Fan Club. Celebrity guests and artists will be featured both days.

A popular part of the show is sure to be the costume contest. Anyone wishing to enter should attend the show in costume on Saturday and must be present at 4 p.m. in order to be eligible to win. The person chosen with the best all-around costume will be awarded a convention prize package consisting of passes to Nashville Comic Con, Fright Night Film Festival, Cincinnati Comic Con, next year’s Metropolis Con and a San Diego exclusive certified graded comic (only 10 made, valued at $200.)

A Saturday evening event is being planned, but details are not yet available.

For information about the Metropolis Comic Book and Toy Show , visit www.comiccitytn.com or call Ballard at 615-573-4537. For information about attractions and other happenings in the Metropolis area, visit www.metropolistourism.com, call 877-424-5025 or visit Metropolis Tourism on facebook.

Tags: comic books, convention, metropolis, superman celebration, toys

I have finally reached the one year mark with my website, http://spudcomics.com , and have over 300 comics in the archive. I am also offering a book and a calendar in my store. It’s been a good year for my cartooning, and I’m hoping 2010 will bring even more great surprises.  ~Lonnie Easterling, creator.