I recently had the opportunity to chat one-on-one with Dylan Baker, who plays Principal Wilkins in Trick “˜r Treat. The actor talked about the Halloween-themed horror film, its “rules,” and why it never hit theaters. He also gave his thoughts on geek culture, classic horror stories, and much more!

Check out the interview here below.

Baker will take part in a special, one-night-only event for the cult classic film, which includes the first-time-ever theatrical screening of Trick “˜r Treat, followed by a panel with the stars, happening on October 28, 2013 at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood, CA.

Conan and the People of the Black Circle #1
Written by Fred Van Lente
Art by Ariel Olivetti
Letters by Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Cover by Ariel Olivetti
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: October 23, 2013
Cover Price: $3.50

Based on a couple of panels of preview art I saw, I was set to love Conan and the People of the Black Circle #1. Painted! And Ariel Olivetti‘s Conan looked like a real badass. I even pulled up my online pull list to put it in this week’s basket.

But then I got my advance reading copy and with each successive page, my initial enthusiasm waned. There’s something just”¦missing here. It felt flat overall, lacking dynamism and fluidity, with some pages containing only three or four illustrations per. There were some compositional elements that made it seem like the characters weren’t looking/reacting to each other. It also appeared that a profile illo of the evil sorcerer was repurposed three times, and not for dramatic effect.

Hellboy: The Midnight Circus
Hardcover | Kindle Edition
Written by Mike Mignola
Art by Duncan Fegredo
Colors by Dave Stewart
Cover by Mike Mignola
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: October 23, 2013
Cover Price: $14.99

Something wicked this way comes, and it augers ill-portent for a young Hellboy in Hellboy: The Midnight Circus.

The previous story about the young Hellboy proved to be rather touching, and this one evokes a similar feeling. There’s something inherently sad about a child seeking to belong, to have a family, especially when it’s an orphaned child (which Hellboy is, demonic origin notwithstanding).

Without spoiling too much, we briefly revisit the story of Pinocchio, whose situation is made poetically similar to Hellboy’s, and from there, descend into a nightmarish, midnight circus, operated by characters who clearly have a strong knowledge of, and seemingly cryptic connections to, our young hero.

Was it all a dream? Was it real?

Electric Man
Director: David Barras
Writers: David Barras & Scott MacKay
Starring: Toby Manley, Mark McKirdy and Jennifer Ewing
ElectricManMovie.com

Electric Man is an independent Scottish flim by writer/director David Barras that deals with the pursuit of the rarest comic, ever. Rarer than Action Comics #1, it’s Electric Man #1, and people are willing to kill for it. That’s the premise, and sadly, that’s the most intriguing thing about this movie because from the first scene on, it flounders on its execution of that premise.

At first, I was convinced Deadhead Comics, where much of the action takes place, was a fake store; a rented space, poorly dressed to look like a comic shop. But I wanted to be sure, and much to my surprise, I was wrong. It’s a real store! In the movie, business sucks, and small wonder, as this is one of the dreariest comic shops I’ve ever seen. So immediately, comics are cast in a poor light. More of that, to come.

Shaolin Cowboy #1
Written and illustrated by Geof Darrow
Colors by Dave Stewart
Variant Cover by Walt Simonson
Pinups by Simon Roy, Aaron Conley, and Damon Gentry
Letters by Peter Doherty
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: October 9, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

This isn’t really a number one, but rather part of an ongoing tale, the last issue of Shaolin Cowboy having come out six years ago. With a schedule this spotty, I suppose it seemed smarter to renumber it as a first issue. Because of its sparse text, those picking it up for the first time won’t necessarily be lost, so it’s suitable as an introduction to the character/series.

As noted, the previous issue is six years old, so I can’t really remember the plot (such as it was), and can’t be bothered do dig through my short boxes. I can tell you that the art was insanely detailed and über-violent. And that’s why you buy this comic. For the inventive ways Geof Darrow figures out how to kill people, and for his exquisite renderings illustrating those depictions.