October 22, 2003

• Janet Klein & FPU

  We had dinner tonight with Keith and Christa at the Pig and Whistle on Hollywood Blvd. Keith & Christa are the original members of the From Parts Unknown team - writers of the very first US-based English-language Lucha Libre magazine that ever existed, long before lucha became a mainstream fad (as it is now). Keith is still self-publishing the magazine; Christa has just written a novel with masked wrestlers in it. Of course!

  What a cool evening. The food was great and there were oldtime jazz performances including the person we all came to see: Janet Klein a ukelele chanteuse who does obscure and saucy 20‘s melodies. Christa calls her the “world’s cutest human being”, and this is almost true. Janet Klein does sort of resemble Betty Boop with her 20′s garb, mannerisms and voice.

  

  Issue #7 Cover image © From Parts Unknown

  The final treat of the evening was getting a copy of FPU #7 from Keith.

  The Back From the Dead Issue – is dedicated entirely to skeleton and bone-suited masked wrestlers! The main feature on La Parka is followed by a look at similarly themed grapplers throughout history. From there we hop the globe to cover every boner we could find, Japan’s “Shockers” to Italy’s “Kriminal”, Turkey’s “Kilink” and even Britain’s Romney rogues and scarecrows. AND, the FPU offices are invaded by curvaceous cat burgling cadaver “Skeletura Satanic” – a Stacked Grappler with a bone to pick of her own! - FPU

  Eddie says:

  It’s not until you start reading From Parts Unknown #7 – Back From The Dead, that you realise how much you’ve missed this ornery bastard hybrid of Lucha Libre/Popular Culture, and how much the world needs it.

  Published by Keith J. Rainville, with text by Mr.Unknown (when WILL we finally meet that guy? ), despite the scaling down due to budgetry reasons (we guess), three things just leap out immediately and grab you: The Writing – which is just so smart-ass clever; The Research – which is just amazingly insightful and in depth (How in depth you ask?  Well, in researching the history of skeleton-themed heroes and villains throughout celluloid history, the article even covers Dr.Syn - a 1930′s British movie!  Dr. freakin’ Syn – Jesus!).  And lastly The Passion, which comes through with every page.

  My only fear is that by scaling the mag down size-wise, FPU may get overlooked, and lumbered in with all the inferior fanzines out there, of which it is not.  If ever a magazine needed to be big, glossy and on every coffee table across the country, it’s this one. 

  I rank this one right up there alongside the Bad Doctor issue.  How can you go wrong with Masks, Muertos and Mexican Monstruos?  Order it HERE!

  

  Mucha Lucha’s Skellantonio © WB Animation

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  Some upcoming Events

  • Big Umbrella Comic signing at Hi De Ho Comics (Santa Monica) Saturday 3pm. Rafael Navarro is going to be there; also other talented people who bring us luchador comic characters! see website
  • Don’t forget to buy your tickets for Lucha Va Voom.  It’s on next Wednesday 29th October at the Mayan Theatre. And the promoters tell us that tickets are selling out fast!
  • There’s a WB Wrap Party (not sure what they’re wrapping…) on Friday at Hollywood Billiards. Should be interesting.
  • And Thievery Corporation are doing a DJ set this weekend at Ivar.

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  Doggie Halloween Outfits

  We’ve never been crazy about costumed pets, but these halloween costume pics are hilarious.

  
  Hot Dogs!

  
  Disco Dog!

  
  Ghosts!

  • 4:35 am
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