Kinski-Inspired Fumetti Cover

I never knew what the heck a fumetti was until a few years ago when my buddy Curt Purcell introduced me to the term.

I suppose the simplest way to describe them is "Italian comic books" but these ain't like the "comic books" you and I probably grew up with.

Nope, instead of caped heroes rescuing damsels in distress and masked vigilantes seeking justice for the FILL IN THE BLANK killing their FILL IN THE BLANK, the fumetti I've seen reside largely in "not safe for work" territory.

Monsters. Big-breasted damsels. Revenge tales. Graphic sex. Hunchbacks who give birth out their ass. Um, yeah, this ain't exactly Mighty Marvel.

So while I was over perusing Curt's awesome Groovy Age of Horror blog the other day what did I stumble upon but the image shown at right... with a vampire definitely "inspired" by our boy Klaus Kinski!

Unfortunately, they don't carry the resemblance over to the inside panels, but damn, that's some wicked cool artwork and I'd love to find a copy of that issue or – even better – the original art used for the cover.

But until then I'll always have this Groovy Age blog post to drool over.

Eurospy Poster-Gasm (and Bonus VHS-Gasm)

I spend a lot of time in my office here at home. Probably a good six hours or so a day, even more when I get immersed in a big project like I'm working on now. So I decided that while I've loved assembling my Kinski Kollection I haven't really been appreciating it. Sure, I have a few pieces loitering on my bookshelf but I thought it might be fun – and help me push the Kinski guide along – if the mass of DVDs and VHS tapes, along with the magazines and a few choice collectibles, were on display for me to see each day.

Hauling everything out and rearranging my bookshelf was a start, but I realized that I have so much Kinski stuff that's not on commercial DVD that I needed to replace my slimline cases and low-rent CD-style jewel cases with custom DVD cases.

Admittedly, finding poster artwork for some of these flicks, like THE PLEASURE GIRLS or MAN, PRIDE, VENGEANCE is easier said than done. But I had a fair amount of success last night and even stumbled upon two art archives that should appeal to a few of you trashers.

First up is this Eurospy Poster Collection. The guy who houses it -- David J Deal -- wrote a Eurospy Guide as well as a 70s TV horror movie book. If you scroll down to the bottom of this page you can find the links to some Komissar X and Jerry Cotton posters, too. But it was the Eurospy collection I found most inspiring!

And for those of us who remember the good old days of standing in the video store and drinking in the trashy, goofy, stoopid, lurid and fun VHS box art, you can spend hours at CoverBrowser.com. I immediately recognized tons of flicks that I passed up back in the day, only to realize now that those boxes houses Eurotrash classics I've come to know and love.

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Awesome CIRCUS OF FEAR Poster on eBay

This is one of those days where I wish I had a spare $300 laying around to blow on Klaus-abilia. Check out this great poster for the krimi CIRCUS OF FEAR starring Christopher Lee, Eddi Arent and Kinski up for sale on eBay. Even though Klaus has a fairly small supporting role in the flick the poster captures him perfectly as a cigarette-smoking hooligan involved in a heist. The role may be small but it's one of my favorite Klaus Kameos and the poster is just awesome...

Ruthless Four Pressbook: Part 1

I picked up a pressbook for the excellent spaghetti western THE RUTHLESS FOUR on eBay a few weeks back. While I'm not a huge spags fan, this one – also sometimes seen on video as SAM COOPER'S GOLD – can be recommended without hesitation.

A SIERRA MADRE-esque tale of suspicion and greed, the film follows Van Heflin, Gilbert Roland, George Hilton and Kinski as they make their way to a gold mine that Cooper (Heflin) has mined... but cannot lug back by himself. The quartet forms an uneasy alliance with Roland playing a former associate of Heflin's who harbors a long-brewing hatred for him and Hilton (the film's one sour note) hamming it up as Manolo, a handsome young man who is like a son to Cooper. Kinski is outstanding and memorable as Brent the Blond, Manolo's domineering, milk drinking lover.

I'll be posting some scans from the pressbook that you might enjoy. Here's an ad for flick to get things started...

What If Klaus Were Cast as The Joker?!

While searching for some Klaus info yesterday I stumbled upon this great illustration.

Suppose Klaus were still alive and was cast as The Joker in a Christopher Nolan Bat-flick? Michele Petrelli's digital airbrush illustration shows what that might look like!

Do yourself a favor and check out the full size illustration by clicking the link above.

This SOLDIER Ad is Way Better Than the Movie

THE SOLDIER should have been much better. Made in the great period of the 1980s before Gorbachev, glasnost and the Malta Summit, THE SOLDIER revels in its depiction of all Russians as slimy, raping and pillaging scum whose only goal in life is the destruction of "the American way of life." In fact, the Commies in this go 'round are sooooo evil that they steal plutonium and make some kind of bomb which they plant somewhere (I'd actually lost most of my interest by this point).

The only squad that can possibly save the day is run by a CIA operative known only by the code name, "The Soldier." As played by Ken Wahl in pre-'Wiseguy' fashion,"The Soldier" is a mix of James Bond and Rambo... getting caught in hair-raising predicaments and then blasting his way out of them.

Despite sharing top-billing in the ad above, Kinski shows up for about one scene 34 minutes into the flick (okay, so I was clock-watching) as a KGB agent named Dracha who wears a really spiffy white ski outfit and tries to kill Wahl by employing a ski lift and a rocket. Not classic Klaus, but better than nothing.

Much to my disappointment my memory of this flick was better than the actual product. Yes, there is a great beginning on a Philadelphia street near my old stomping grounds. Yes, director James Glickenhaus (THE EXTERMINATOR) includes a few good twists and exploding heads. And yes, the great Steve James (THE EXTERMINATOR, AMERICAN NINJA, AVENGING FORCE) does get to say to a redneck in a bar: "You got two choices asshole... duck or bleed." However, these three minor shining points do nothing to absolve THE SOLDIER of its looong uninteresting stretches.

Who is the Tater? Or, I Really Need to Learn German

I'll be the first person to admit the Internet is great and has totally changed my life. I haven't worked in an office in over six years, my commute is about 20 feet, and I can take a Kwik Klaus Break whenever I feel the need.

But, man, some of these web-based translators aren't as huge a help as you'd like.

I recently scored a cool lot of Kinski magazine and newspaper clippings, mostly from the 70s and 80s and mostly from Germany. In my effort to try and make sense of some of them for my fine readers I've been playing around with German-to-English web-based translation sites like Systran. Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure the copy on this cool Edgar Wallage krimi ad from Bravo magazine is not asking the burning question, "Who is the Tater?"

I wish this ad was available as a large poster! I love that image of comic relief Eddie Arent at the back holding a blood-stained knife and that sepia-toned pic of Kinski and Arent at the bottom left is from one of my favorite scenes from CIRCUS OF FEAR, which is what I'm currently watching.

German Magazine Ad for VENOM

You're probably aware of the story behind Kinski's involvement with the film VENOM. Though Steven Spielberg wanted him for a role in the blockbuster-to-be RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, Klaus passed on that slice of cinematic immortality because he was being offered more cash to star as the kidnapper/terrorist Jacmel in the tale of a black mamba on the loose in a London flat.

Personally, I'm a fan of the flick and really enjoy the tension-so-thick-you-can-cut-it-with-a-knife "chemistry" between Klaus and co-star Oliver Reed, who brings a sweaty desperation to the role of Dave, the desperate and sweaty chauffeur/kidnapper. Though I'd love to have seen what original director Tobe Hooper did with the material, one listen to the commentary track on the Blue Underground DVD makes me appreciate the job Piers Haggard did in not only wrangling his two larger-than-life stars but also producing an entertaining flick with a healthy dose of our man Klaus.

Here's a funky, Klaus-centric German magazine ad for the flick, here known as DIE SCHWARZE MAMBA...

Awesome Kinski Box Art

Sorry for the light posting schedule of late. If you've been paying attention to the 100 Kinski Challenge list over in the sidebar you know it's not for lack of watching. In recent weeks I've knocked off TO KILL A RAT, SECRET OF THE RED ORCHID and COMMANDO LEOPARD but I'm way behind on reviews. Don't fret, they're coming, as well as other goodies and tidbits I'll be unveiling in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, here's some groovy Klaus box art that just arrived and I felt the need to share. First up is a classic big box for PSYCHOPATH (1968) which despite its spooky sounding name is not horror-related at all. As soon as I opened the package this box was in I got a big smile on my face because it immediately made me think of The Pennsauken Mart (RIP). I can remember staring at this box on its shelves many nights on my way to the Eric movie theater, Liquor Mart, Crazy Eddie's Beef & Beer... or all three.


I haven't seen PSYCHOPATH yet but that box art is destined to suck me in... and soon! I have seen CREATURE WITH THE BLUE HAND (1967), however, and it's easily one of my favorite Kinski flicks not to mention a favorite krimi. How can you go wrong with Klaus playing twin brothers, one of whom is convicted of a series of brutal murders?

Acquired, retitled THE BLOODY DEAD and spiced up with some additional gore footage by Sam Sherman, BLUE HAND has been out in a variety of packages over the years. I was always fond of one BLOODY DEAD box that featured an illustration of a very 70s-era Klaus wielding a Freddy Kreuger-style glove, despite the fact that the mid-60s flick takes place on the grounds of a castle manor and is relatively bloodless.

But this box might give that one a run for its money. For some reason it features an upside down Madonna-wannabe being menaced by, well, a drawing of a blue hand.

Give the folks at Platinum Productions credit for their very literal interpretation of the film's title.

Big thanks to Wolfie from Eurotrash Paradise for sending these my way!

NOSSY IN VENICE Day 2: Neil Vokes Art

I wouldn't call my collection of Klaus-related items "world class" by any stretch of the imagination, but I have picked up some cool stuff here and there. One of my favorite items in my collection is a collage of scenes from NOSFERATU IN VENICE as interpreted by Rondo award-winning illustrator (and good pal) Neil Vokes.

Vokes – who has illustrated such great graphic novels as THE BLACK FOREST and its sequel, PARLIAMENT OF JUSTICE (with writer Mike Oeming), and THE WICKED WEST and its followup – originally showcased this artwork back in 2003 on The Eurotrash Paradise during a discussion of the film. Not too long afterwards I was able to acquire the artwork from Neil at a horror convention and, as I say, it's one of my prized possessions of Klaus-work.

Check it out below and click to enlarge...