Articles by Ben McCool
How Edgar Allan Poe And William S. Burroughs Inspired One Of The Creepiest Video Games Ever
Shudder... Happy birthday, Edgar Allan Poe! Born on January 19th, 1809, the dedicated disciple of all things Gothic would've turned 209 years young today.
When National Lampoon Magazine Dropped The Atom Bomb Of Spoilers
The Internet is full of spoilers. Back in April of 1971, so was National Lampoon Magazine ... Spoiler: The very word strikes mortal fear into fans of, well, pretty much anything.
Why Obi-Wan Kenobi Is A Bigger Jerk Than You Remember
Obi-Wan: Not a very nice guy. There's no shortage of Star Wars sticklers that have been widely debated, but never actually explained. One such enigma: Why did Obi-Wan Kenobi return to Tatooine after the events of Revenge of the Sith? You'd think a Jedi Knight would know better than to take the son of his former apprentice back to his sole surviving family members.
How An Artist's Mistake (And A Negligent Superboy) Turned Lex Luthor Bald
Laboratory on fire? Call 911. Not Superboy. Bad hair days: Marginally less distressing than Attack of the Clones. Comic book enthusiasts seemingly agree.
That One Time Lobo Killed Santa Claus
Lobo + Christmas = CARNAGE It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Not least when LOBO is around to boost the festive spirit. In the words of DC Comics' beer-swilling bruiser: Ya'd better watch out -- ya'd better not cry! Ya'd better not pout, I'm tellin' ya why -- Santa 'Bo is comin' to town! Released in December of 1991, the Lobo Paramilitary Christmas Special offered the first appearance of Rudolph the Mutant Reindeer (who promptly perishes), Kris “Crusher” Kringle (he also kicks the bucket), Santa’s elves (yep, they die, too), and the Easter Bunny.
How A Bet With George Lucas Nabbed Steven Spielberg 2.5 Percent Of Star Wars' Profits
Steven Spielberg: Master Gambler. How to make oneself rich, #27: Write and direct a blockbuster movie. How to make oneself rich, #71: Bet George Lucas that his blockbuster movie will make more cash at the box office than yours.
How An Ill-Fated Cruise Led To The First Batman And Superman Team-Up
Before they became the World's Finest, Batman and Superman first met each other as roommates on a swanky cruise.
Revisiting 'Hardware Wars', The First (And Best) 'Star Wars' Parody
Like 'Star Wars'? Enjoy silliness? You'll LOVE this... "Hardware Wars! A thrilling space saga of romance, rebellion, and household appliances!" In news somewhat less earth-shuddering than that time George Lucas dropped his wallet, there's no shortage of Star Wars parodies on the market.
Did 'Star Wars' Inspire L. Ron Hubbard To Create His Own Space Opera?
Star Wars made George Lucas a VERY wealthy man. Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard took notice... It’s fair to say the 1977 release of Star Wars changed the landscape of cinema forever.
How Marvel's Hell's Kitchen Compares To The Real World
Dark, dingy, danger-filled streets? Not around here, good sir... Daredevil, the sightless superhero created by Stan Lee and artist Bill Everett—along with "disputable amounts of input” from Jack “King” Kirby—made his Marvel Comics bow in April of 1964.
Alan Moore's Star Wars Episode V: 'Blind Fury!'
The fifth and final excursion into the Star Wars universe as imagined by Alan Moore... First it was revealed that Alan Moore wrote a series of Star Wars stories.
George Lucas vs. 'The Star Wars Holiday Special'
Star Wars + Variety TV = BAD "Well, I know that George Lucas doesn't like it at all—when I was working on The Illustrated Star Wars Universe, he told me that he would be happy if every copy could be tracked down and burned.
Bea Arthur Sings To Inebriated Aliens In 'The Star Wars Holiday Special'
Bellowing out 'Goodnight, but Not Goodbye' to a crowd of otherworldly drunks? Sure, why not?
Alan Moore's Star Wars Episode IV: 'Rust Never Sleeps'
More Alan Moore! More Star Wars! And to top it all off, a deluge of droids! Our first exploration of Alan Moore’s Star Wars introduced "The Paragon Effect".
Alan Moore's Star Wars Episode III: 'Dark Lord's Conscience'
Darth Vader, as explored by Alan Moore? Bring it on! In our first installment, we revealed that Alan Moore was responsible for five stories taking place in the world of "Star Wars," starting with "The Pandora Effect".
Revisiting The Utterly Insane 'Friday The 13th' TV Series
Seeking some hilariously OTT (and Jason Voorhees-bereft) violence? Look no further! It’s Friday the 13th, and what better way to celebrate 24 hours devoted to misfortune than revisiting an abruptly axed TV show bearing the same name? Originally titled The 13th Hour, the American-Canadian horror series underwent its last-minute name change in hope of attracting larger viewership.
Alan Moore's Star Wars Episode II: 'Tilotny Throws A Shape'
More Alan Moore writing Star Wars! And this is where things get REALLY weird... Last time we revealed that bearded/brilliant writer Alan Moore is responsible for five short stories taking place in the "Star Wars" universe.
Alan Moore's Star Wars Episode I: The Pandora Effect
Wait, what? Alan Moore wrote a series of Star Wars stories? You'd better believe it... Any mention of comic book pioneer Alan Moore typically springs three words to mind: BEARD.
Revisiting Each Of The Uncanny X-Men's Centennial Issues
Uncanny X-Men #600 is now in stores! Here's a look back at the milestone issues preceeding it...
'Spectre' Review: A Waltz Through The Motions
Can 007 sustain the momentum set by 'Skyfall?' James Bond is a survivor. A badass. Heck, some consider him the ultimate action hero. However, Spectre, the spy’s 24th (official) cinematic venture, may well pose 007 his gravest, most sinister threat yet … and it doesn’t come courtesy of Christoph Waltz.
The Worst James Bond Movie Of All Time Never Actually Happened
So you thought 'View to a Kill' was bad, eh? Wait until you read THIS. James Bond is no stranger to extravagance. It's fair to say the spy’s escapades typically teeter on the wild side, with many of 'em being downright outlandish.
Looking Back At 'The Lost Boys,' The Best Comedy-Horror Vampire Film 1987 Had To Offer
Heed not the naysayers - Joel Schumacher's 1987 horror comedy totally holds up! "One thing about living in Santa Carla I never could stomach: All the damn vampires.
Why Asian Horror Movies Are The Best Horror Movies
Seeking some unique Halloween scares? Trust me, they won't come any freakier than this.... Halloween is but a few days away, and many a movie fan has yet to find a suitably spooky fix.
How The Song 'Dream Weaver' Influenced 'Nightmare On Elm Street'
Prog rock inspired Freddy Krueger's bonanza of violence! Well, sort of... Wes Craven’s Nightmare on Elm Street, the movie that introduced the infamous Freddy Krueger, is one of Hollywood’s most successful horror franchises.
The Unlikely Origins Of Freddy Krueger's Sweater
The serial killer's trademark garment found influence from some unlikely sources... Wes Craven’s Nightmare on Elm Street hit U. S. movie theaters in November 1984, introducing one of the horror genre’s best-known (and freakiest-looking) maniacs, Freddy Krueger.
Roots Of The Simpsons' 'Treehouse Of Horror'
This year offers Springfield's 26th edition of the Halloween spookfest. But where did it all start?
Watch Hulk Hogan Serenade An Infant In This Japanese Air Conditioner Commercial From The Early '90s
Oh, Terry. You've REALLY done it this time ... For better or worse, there’s no shortage of global TV commercials featuring Western celebrities.
How One Nintendo Executive's Gamble Turned The NES Into A Worldwide Phenomenon
30 years ago this week, the most influential gaming console of all time launched in the U.S. It’s been 30 years since Nintendo’s NES first hit stores in the United States.
Star Wars' 1977 Budget Breakdown Highlights The Importance Of A Good Agent
Ever wonder how much Star Wars: A New Hope cost to make? Look no further... It’s no secret that Star Wars made George Lucas a very wealthy man. Inspired by the serial adventures of Flash Gordon (along with Akira Kurosawa’s 1958 film, The Hidden Fortress), Lucas began writing the script after wrapping American Graffiti in 1973.
J.J. Abrams (Mostly) Kicked His Lens Flare Addiction In New 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' Trailer
A trailer for a J.J. Abrams movie bereft of lens flare? I think not... Star Wars: One of the most popular and influential series of films in cinema history.
