Extra Life Update: Stretch Goals!

I’m super excited to say that thanks to your amazing generosity, we’ve already hit my initial $200 goal for Extra Life! That means: STRETCH GOALS! All of which help the Extra Life Chicago guild reach our team goals for Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.

For $300, during my stream you get a Spooky Storytime where I read from/demonstrate one of my three scary pop-up books (see photo below). Make it $400, I will play at least 3 rounds of Dead By Daylight as a killer, while wearing my Jason hockey mask in order to channel my inner slasher.

We still have over a month to raise money for the kids being treated at Lurie, and you can visit my fundraising page here: https://www.extra-life.org/participant/268932 and you can read more details about donating, as well as what I'll be doing during my stream in this blog post.

Thanks to everyone who has donated so far, you're fantastic and I hope I get to do some ridiculous things on November 4th!

American Mary

As of today, AMERICAN MARY is officially out on VOD! You can see it through Comcast, Cox, Cablevision, Verizon or iTunes. The film will also have a limited release in the U.S. starting May 31st. The best way to find out if it's coming out near you is probably to keep an eye on the film's Twitter feed or Twisted Twins Productions' Facebook page.

However! If you're in the Chicago area you're in luck...

Comic review: Revival Volume 1, "You're Among Friends"

My local Chicago comic fandom is slowly spreading through the entirety of Four Star Studios, which includes local comic creators Tim Seeley, Mike Norton, Sean Dove, Josh Emmons, Chris Burnham, and Jenny Frison. I started out loving HACK/SLASH from Tim Seeley, discovered Jenny Frison's artwork through that series, and now REVIVAL has gotten me into Mike Norton's work, as well.

Screenplays, Comics and Why Calm Sucks

A sentiment to live by! Don't get me wrong, I take my breaks from the genre. But I've decided too much calm and comfort is no good. Everyone needs some adventure and excitement.

Metalcakes!

While I'm definitely no expert, I've been known to enjoy the metal genre from time to time. Most of it has been under the influence of a good friend of mine, who used to sing in a metal band in Colorado, but I also found myself unable to resist the epicness of bands like MASTODON. Mmmm, Mastodon. 

Women in Horror Comics: Jenny Frison

This feature is part of my Women in Horror Comics series in honor of Women in Horror Month. For more info on WiHM visit www.womeninhorrormonth.com

The Women in Horror Comics series continues with local Chicago area cover artist Jenny Frison as my feature this week. Jenny has done a lot of wonderful covers, working with publishers like Dark Horse, Image, IDW and DC. It was honestly difficult to narrow down my choice of which artwork to show you as an example because it's all so good, but let me first tell you a bit about one of my favorite horror comics that Jenny has worked on.

Horror Marathon: Snow Edition

Chicagoland gets its share of wintery weather, and then some. The icy winds, the lake effect snow, the inevitable Hoth jokes. The cold doesn't get to me, but I despise ice and snow unless I'm housebound. This year we've had an extremely mild winter so far which I am delighted about. But what I do love is the effect all that cold, wet, frozen stuff has in a horror movie. As part of my December vacation I decided to have a marathon of snowy terror in lieu of the real thing.

Days of the Dead @ Ax Wound Zine Blog!

I've got an article up on Ax Wound Zine's Blog about the evening I spent at Days of the Dead Chicago this past November. It was a fun little horror fest out in the northwest suburbs, my neck of the Chicagoland woods, and they had a great panel with the three leading ladies of ROCK 'N' ROLL HIGH SCHOOL. As you may or may not recall, two of the three are horror actresses as well. See the article for more info!

I was very lucky when years ago, I stumbled across Ax Wound and "met" Hannah Neurotica, its founder. The zine focuses on exploring gender, sex and sexuality in the horror genre which was right up my alley. Gender and media studies almost became my unofficial second major in college I loved it so much. Hannah's amazing, and she has some fantastic people working with her that are just as passionate about the genre as she is. I've written for Ax Wound a few times over the years, never as much as I'd have liked to. Even if you don't go to read my piece, check out the website and grab a copy of the zine. If you love horror and want some brain-stimulation it's a must!

Rock 'N' Roll High School Reunion  via Ax Wound Zine Blog

Days of the Dead Chicago

More about Hannah Neurotica

Zombies on Ice!

If you live in the Chicago area and like more Halloween in your Christmas, you absolutely must check out Zombies on Ice 2012! It's happening Sunday, December 16th from 2:30-5:30 p.m. with more undead fun at the Christmas Market afterwards. They'll be skating at the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink in Millennium Park, which is the rink under the Bean. 

Sadly, I will not be there. The Librarian of the Dead has to slave over her reference desk that Sunday. Always missing out on something the weekends I've gotta work! I'm not big into Christmas anyways, but this would definitely have been a sight for red-and-green sore eyes. Have a blast for me!

Zombies on Ice 2012 via ChicagoZombie.com