Strange Ruminations #3: Our Newsletter of the Weird Exits Cryosleep

Greetings, fellow weirdos and wanderers of the bizarre! Welcome to another mind-bending issue of Strange Ruminations, where we visit the quirkiest corners of the imagination.

This week, we're serving up a smorgasbord of delights that'll tickle your synapses and leave you salivating for more. First up, our Recent News Roundup is hotter than Johnny Storm’s OnlyFans page, featuring the bromantic return of Deadpool and Wolverine, Netflix's dreamy plans for The Sandman, and the unstoppable box office rampage of Alien: Romulus.

Next, we're shining our Artist Spotlight on the incomparable Peach Momoko, whose ethereal watercolors are redefining comic book art as we know it. Trust us, your eyeballs will thank you.

Feeling nostalgic? Harness your chi as we unpack the martial arts classic Master of Kung Fu #114: "A Fantasy of the Autumn Moon," just in time to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival. It's an action-filled masterpiece that'll have you practicing your crane stance in no time.

And because we love you (yes, you!), we've got a fresh batch of book and movie recommendations that'll keep you entertained until the heat death of the universe. Or at least until next week's newsletter.

So settle into your reading nook, and let's get weird together. Oh, and don't forget to share this newsletter with your fellow geeks – after all, misery loves company, but weirdness demands an audience.

Recent News Roundup: Geek Culture Goes Wild!

Deadpool and Wolverine: The Bromance Continues

Hold onto your chimichangas, folks! Marvel's about to unleash a new ongoing series that'll make you say "Snikt!" faster than you can heal a paper cut. "Deadpool and Wolverine" is hitting the stands in January 2025, courtesy of Benjamin Percy and Joshua Cassara.

Fresh off the heels of their blockbuster movie and mini-series, our favorite mouthy merc and grumpy Canuck are diving headfirst into their shared history. Think 80s action flicks meet comic book mayhem, with a dash of bromance for good measure. Percy promises a perfect blend of wisecracks and claw-popping violence that'll have you grinning from ear to ear.

Oh, and did I mention there's a classic X-Men baddie making a comeback? Plus, the first issue's got a reveal so big, it'll make Galactus look like an appetizer. Mark your calendars, True Believers!

The Sandman Reawakened: Netflix's Dream Machine Rolls On

Dream a little dream with me, because The Sandman is finally returning to Netflix in 2025! Neil Gaiman's masterpiece is getting the royal treatment once again, with Season 2 adapting the mind-bending "Seasons of Mist" and "Brief Lives" arcs.

Get ready to meet some new faces in the Dreaming. Delirium's bringing the chaos, Destiny's got the book on everything, and The Prodigal... well, let's just say things are about to get destructive. Tom Sturridge is back as our brooding Dream King, facing palace intrigue that'd make Game of Thrones blush.

Netflix dropped a behind-the-scenes teaser during Geeked Week that had fans losing their minds. New characters, new challenges, and enough dark fantasy to keep you up at night (in a good way). Sadly, the Dead Boy Detectives spin-off bit the dust, but hey, you can't win 'em all in the world of dreams.

Alien: Romulus - The Little Xenomorph That Could

Who says horror can't rake in the big bucks? "Alien: Romulus" is proving the doubters wrong, becoming the highest-grossing scream fest of the year. We're talking $101 million domestic, $331 million worldwide, and enough IMAX ticket sales ($40 million) to make it the format's top horror earner ever.

Not bad for a bunch of space colonists stumbling into the galaxy's worst house party, right? Director Fede Alvarez and producer Ridley Scott have cooked up a terrifying new chapter in the Alien saga, with Cailee Spaeny leading a fresh-faced cast into the jaws of death (literally).

With a modest $80 million budget, "Romulus" is now the franchise's second-biggest hit. It's nipping at the heels of "Prometheus," proving that in space, everyone can hear you count money. Who knew Disney's first foray into xenomorph territory would be such a face-hugger of a success?

Artist Spotlight: Peach Momoko

Peach Momoko has taken the comic book world by storm with her breathtaking and distinctive art style. A Japanese artist who burst onto the American comics scene in the late 2010s, Momoko quickly gained recognition for her stunning variant covers for major publishers like Marvel, DC, and Image.

Her work is characterized by a unique blend of delicate watercolors and precise inking, creating ethereal and often haunting images that captivate viewers.

In 2020, Momoko's talent was further recognized when she signed an exclusive deal with Marvel Comics as part of their Stormbreakers program, which highlights rising talent in the industry.

Her success continued to soar, and in 2021, she received both the Eisner Award and Ringo Award for best cover artist, cementing her status as one of the most sought-after artists in comics. That same year, Momoko launched the "Momoko-verse," a line of comics at Marvel that reimagines the Marvel Universe through the lens of Japanese folktales, showcasing her skills not just as an artist but as a writer as well.

What sets Momoko apart is her ability to blend enchanting and horrifying elements in her artwork, creating pieces that are simultaneously beautiful and unsettling. Her covers often honor the essence of iconic characters while infusing them with a unique, often dreamlike quality. From her adorable renditions of superheroes to her more disturbing "Nightmare Variant Covers," Momoko's range and versatility continue to impress both fans and industry professionals alike.

As her star continues to rise, comic enthusiasts eagerly anticipate what stunning visuals Peach Momoko will create next.

The Comics That Made Me: Master of Kung Fu #114 (April, 1982)

“A Fantasy of the Autumn Moon”

Words: Doug Moench. Editor: Ralph Macchio.
Pencils & Inks (and Cover Art): Gene Day. Colors: Christie Scheele. Letters: Jim Novak

Alright, ready your nunchakus, kung fu aficionados! Just a few days after Mid-Autumn Festival 2024 (aka ‘Moon Festival’ - the Chinese holiday) we're about to dive into a tale that'll make your head spin faster than a Bruce Lee roundhouse kick. This story also happens to be Into the Weird’s favorite single issue of all time, and has been since the first time I read it way back in the early 80’s.

Synopsis

Our tale starts with Marvel’s favorite martial arts master Shang-Chi hanging out at a swanky Scottish mansion owned by the ever-mysterious spymaster Denis Nayland Smith. Why? Because Shang can conveniently serve as Smith’s attack dog whenever they get wind of nefarious international intrigue involving Shang-Chi’s father. And wouldn’t you know it, on this fine evening (with the Rolling Stones as our soundtrack - Song: “If I Was a Dancer”) there's trouble brewing in Hong Kong, and it's got "Fu Manchu" written all over it.

Lyrical Interlude

It's time to get up, get out, get out into something new
Time to get up, get out, out into something new
Everybody wants somebody's fantasy
Everybody wants somebody's crazy dreams
Everybody wants somebody's fantasy
Everybody wants somebody's crazy dreams 🎵

Enter Mara Ling, a damsel in distress with more secrets than a fortune cookie factory. She's got a Si-Fan (aka one of Fu Manchu's personal army of elite assassins) on her tail, and her hubby's in the crosshairs too. Shang-Chi, always ready to throw a spanner in his dad’s works, jets off to Hong Kong to deal with the matter.

Now, here's where things get spicy. Shang arrives at the home of Li, Mara's better half, the blind archer. But hold onto your chopsticks, folks – Li's not just any old dude. He's a blind archer. Yeah, you heard that right. Daredevil, eat your heart out.

Just as Shang's getting the lay of the land, the Si-Fan assassin crashes the party, dressed like he raided a samurai's closet. He's throwing more shade than a drama queen at a Real Housewives reunion. But our boy Shang's got moves smoother than buttered noodles. He saves Mara from becoming a human pincushion and sends the assassin packing.

You'd think Li would be grateful, right? Wrong! The old archer's grumpy, storming off like Shang insulted his mother's cooking. But here's the kicker – Mara's got a bombshell to drop. Turns out, she used to be one of Fu Manchu's concubines, who submitted to his advances in return for a taste of his Elixer Vitae, but later fled from him. Talk about baggage…

She spills the tea about Fu's Elixir of Life, which explains why she looks young enough to be Li's granddaughter. But oops! Li overhears the whole thing (he never knew the truth, which she was so eager to impart to Shang-Chi) and decides he’s had enough. He leaves the house, ready to meet his fate, ‘cause apparently blind archers always know when the Reaper’s about to come swinging.

Poor Li ends up doing his best piñata impression, strung up in a tree courtesy of the lurking Si-Fan.

Shang races out for round two, and the sight of Li’s corpse sends him into a berserker frenzy that makes the ending of Fists of Fury look like a little girl’s tea party. Cue one EPIC fight. The climax? Our villain does a backflip onto one of Li’s archery targets and... well, let's just say he got the point, and Li got his revenge.

But wait, there's more! Shang rushes back to check on Mara, only to find she's decided to punch her own ticket to the afterlife with a swig of some poison. Talk about a downer ending.

Our hero's left with nothing but questions, and an eerie sense of lingering deja vu, recalling the myth the Chinese Moon Festival is based on, which revolves around Chang'e (Mara Ling) and Hou Yi (Li).

Hou Yi, a legendary archer, shot down nine of ten suns to save the Earth. He received an elixir of immortality as a reward but didn't drink it. His wife Chang'e consumed the elixir to prevent a thief from stealing it, causing her to float to the moon. Hou Yi, heartbroken, began offering fruits and cakes to the moon in remembrance of his wife.

This tale explains the origin of moon worship and mooncake offerings during the festival. It also reflects (extremely vaguely) the legend that Mara Ling tells Shang-Chi during the brief interlude where she revealed the truth of her ties with Fu Manchu, and why the Si-Fan wanted to kill her.

And there you have it, weirdos – a tale of love, betrayal, and pointy objects - the greatest story ever told in comic book form (courtesy of Doug "Genius" Moench and Gene "The God" Day). It ultimately proves why Master of Kung Fu was the coolest thing that came from the Kung Fu craze of the 1970s, and one of Into the Weird's most cherished possessions.

Coda

"Everybody wants somebody's fantasy

Everybody wants somebody's crazy dream

If only in darkness, under a harvest of moonlight."

Recommendations

Here’s what Into the Weird’s been reading and watching of late - and what we smugly think you should be sampling too!

Books: Kiss My Axe! The Secret History of Slaine by Pat Mills

This memoir is a fascinating look at the world of Sláine, the iconic Celtic warrior from 2000AD comics. Mills, the mastermind behind this beloved character, takes us on a 40-year journey through the inception and evolution of ‘Celtomania.’ But this isn't just a dry history lesson. Mills interweaves his own life experiences with the development of the character, creating a unique blend of autobiography and comic book lore that's sure to enrapture anyone who likes their sword & sorcery weird.

Mills' raw honesty and willingness to bare his soul on the page makes this a special read. He doesn't shy away from the ups and downs of his creative process, giving us an unfiltered look at the man behind the myth.

While die-hard Sláine fans will undoubtedly get the most out of this 348-page tome, there's plenty here for anyone interested in the inner workings of the British comic book industry. Mills' writing style is personal, making you feel like you're having a chat with an old friend who just happens to be a comic book legend.

If you're even remotely curious about the world of Brit comics or the creative mind behind one of its most enduring characters, "Kiss My Axe!" is definitely worth a read.

Cinema: The Substance

This flick is a crazy time that'll make you squirm. Demi Moore plays Elisabeth, a washed-up TV aerobics star who discovers a sketchy drug that can make her young again. Sounds great, right? Well, this being a horror film, it’s not quite that easy, and there's a terrifying catch.

As Elisabeth dives deeper into this fountain of youth, things get seriously messed up. We're talking body horror that'll make your skin crawl. But beneath the gore, there's a sharp take on Hollywood's obsession with youth and beauty. It's gross, it's clever, and it's not for the faint of heart. If you're into weird, thought-provoking horror, this one's for you.

Streaming: Netflix’s Twilight of the Gods

"The Bride-Price" kicks off Netflix's "Twilight of the Gods" with a bang. We meet Leif and Sigrid, star-crossed lovers whose wedding day turns into a bloodbath when Thor crashes the party. The episode brilliantly sets up the series' revenge plot, blending Norse mythology with gritty, adult themes.

The animation is stunning, bringing ancient legends to life with a unique style. While the violence is intense, it serves the story well, showcasing the brutality of the gods.

If you're obsessed with dark fantasy or Norse myths as we are, this series is a must-watch. It's bold, beautiful, and promises an epic journey through a world where gods and mortals collide in bloody battle.

That’s All, Folks! (At Least, For Now)

Well, weird ones, we've reached the end of another week. We hope you enjoyed this issue of Strange Ruminations! And remember, sharing is caring! Spread the love like a xenomorph infestation by forwarding this newsletter to your sci-fi and fantasy-loving friends, your not-so-geeky colleagues (convert them!), or that guy at the comic shop who always argues about whether Magneto was right. The more, the merrier in our little corner of the weird-o-verse.

Thanks for reading, and we’ll catch you next week!

*Some of the links in this edition of our Newsletter are affiliate links. Clicking on them will help support Into the Weird!