For years I've referred to Santo vs. The Vampire Women as the "Gone With
The Wind of Mexiluchahero Movies". But if the genre has it's Citizen
Kane than it would be Santo el Enmascarado de Plata vs. La Invasion de
los Marcianos. Or as it's known in America , Santo vs. The Martian
Invasion. Directed by Alfredo B. Crevenna and written by Rafael Garcia
Travesi if this flick had been dubbed into English it would have enjoyed
the same cult status in America that Santo vs. The Vampire Woman does.
It still rates high on the Top 10 lists of fans of the genre.
Co-starring Wolf Ruvinskis and Maura Monti the story in some ways
resembles the 50s sci-fi classic The Day The Earth Stood Still. Though
the poster would make you think you were going to watch a Mexican
version of Robinson Crusoe On Mars. What appears to be a Martian advance
guard comes to Earth to force the human race to live in peace and stop
experimenting with the A-Bomb. Living in peace seems to be a good idea.
But gosh darn it we don't want aliens from another world to force us
into it. So it's up to the Man in the Silver Mask to save the Earth.
Usually when I think of comic book adaptations of el Santo's movies it's
Steve Ditko I imagine drawing them. The original artist on Spider-Man
and Dr.Strange would have been perfect illustrating the adventures of a
silver-masked grappler wrestling against the principalities and powers
of darkness. But for this science fiction flick adapted to the comic
book page I can only think of one of three Silver Age Superman artists
illustrating it. Curt Swan working in a tag-team with George Klein or
Murphy Anderson. Or Kurt Schaffenberger just to see his take on the
Martian women. And finally Wayne Boring who drew the Man of Steel with
the beefy , barrel-chested physique of a professional wrestler.
Look, kids!! It's Dr. Judo and flying saucers over Hollywood!
Now, representing the very first Judo Comics TV from March 10th 2010:
We've been making comics even longer...here's proof! Grab
I have been a fan of old-time burlesque and striptease since
the first time I saw the movie GYPSY as a preteen. Starring Rosalind
Russell and Natalie Wood (in the title role) this was the movie
adaptation of the Broadway play based on the autobiography of legendary
striptease artiste' Gypsy Rose Lee. Only the last third of the movie
dealt with Gypsy's life as a burlesque queen. But it left a lasting
impression on me. Burlesque like pro wrestling came across to me as
something both glamorous and seedy.
Pro wrestling always seemed like a burlesque of big time sport. Boxing
specifically , though the analogy pro wrestling is to amateur wrestling
as striptease is to ballet works too. Pro wrestling had Ricki Starr and
Gorilla Monsoon.While burlesque had Candy Barr and Tempest Storm. Back
in the 80s I did some work for John Mozzer's underground comic WEIRD
SMUT. I created two (forgive the joke) "strips" for the first two issues
starring ecdysiast, Stella Starlett and Sugar Caine. Both features
were illustrated by pin-up cartoonist supreme Bill Ward.
I had been introduced to Ward's art back in the 60s in the pages of mags
like HUMORAMA. These were magazines that featured recycled burlesque
jokes , pin-up pictures of Hollywood starlets and strippers in lingerie
and swim-wear and pin-up cartoons by Ward and others , like Dan De Carlo.
I absolutely loved Ward's work. I think I enjoyed his cartoons even
more than the " girlie photos ". But it was funny looking at De Carlo's
pin-up cartoons with strippers and bathing beauties that looked like
Betty , Veronica and Midge a couple of years after a graduation from
Riverdale High School.
We make comics! Currently you can grab JUDO COMICS. We also make comics for this very blog. A few weeks ago you met the Bronze Adonis. In that strip you also met a lovely young lady. And she's back....Miss Ginger Snaps~
By their very nature Mexico's masked wrestler movies
a.k.a Mexiluchahero movies can only be described as psychotronic. What
with their colorfully costumed heroes having comic book-like adventures
with alien invaders , mad scientists , mummies , vampires , werewolves
and zombies what else could they be described as? And none of these
flicks were more psychotronic than the Los Campeones Justicieros series.
Better known in the U.S.A as the Champions of Justice trilogy. I
consider the first film from this series to be the best. And it has what
I consider to be the best team. Blue Demon , Mil Mascaras , Tinieblas ,
el Medico Asesino and el Sombra Vengadora.
The 1971 movie was directed by Federico Curiel and written by Rogelio
Agrasanchez , Rafael Garcia Travesi , Ramon Obon and Valente Perez. The
flick has five Mexiluchaheroes team up to thwart a mad scientist known
as the Black Hand and his minions , including a squad of midgets in
Halloween-like superhero costumes. There is also a plethora of Mexican
pulchritude on parade provided by the actresses portraying our heroes'
goddaughters/nieces. Do you remember the scene in the blockbuster movie
PRETTY WOMAN between Julia Roberts and Elinor Donahue. Roberts tells
Donahue that Richard Gere isn't really her uncle. And Donahue replies "
They never are dear. "
The best remembered scene in this flick may be the one where the villain
gives his team of costumed midgets super-strength. It's hilarious
watching the Black Hand's miniscule minions toss around the muscular
heroes like rag-dolls. Almost as funny is the scene where their
super-strength wears off and the heroes turn the tables on them. If
you're a fan of psychotronica and Mexiluchahero movies and have never
seen this flick or it's two sequels ( Vuelven Los Campeones Justicieros
and Triunfo Los Campeones Justicieros ) search them out. You won't be
sorry.
If you're a fan of comic book hero teams check out this
alternate-universe JLA illustration by Vance Capley. It features Dr.Judo
, Mr. Incognito , the Phantom Gorilla and the Judo Twins (Judo Jim
& Judo Jenny).
One of my favorite flicks from the sinew & sandal genre is
SAMSON AND HIS MIGHTY CHALLENGE. Not to be confused with HERCULES ,
SAMSON AND ULYSSES. This one features the strength heroes Samson ,
Hercules , Maciste and Ursus. Directed by Giorgio Capitani and written
by Sandro Continenza and Roberto Gianviti this movie was a wonderful
spoof of the genre and was originally titled ERCOLE , SANSONE , MACISTE E
URSUS GLI INVICBLI. Hercules getting top billing makes more sense as he
carries the picture.
Alan Steel is great as a narcissistic, ego-driven Hercules. He even
bullies Samson, played by Nadir Moretti, after the biblical strongman
has his hair cut by Delilah. In an interesting switch from the Bible
Delilah is Samson's wife. And she doesn't cut his hair to betray him to
the Philistines. But to keep him from chasing after other women.
Maciste in this movie is played by Howard Ross. And Ursus is portrayed
by Yann Larvor. Any of these four musclemen could have carried a movie
on their own.
Also notable are the women in the film. Moira Orphei portrays Delilah.
And she's really quite stunning. Interestingly enough her cousin Liana
Orphei played the Philistine temptress in the movie HERCULES , SAMSON
AND ULYSSES. Helene Chanel never looked more beautiful than she does
here as the oracle Onfale as opposed to the Princess Omphale played by
Elisa Montes. Montes has one of the funniest lines in the movie. When
told that Samson once killed one thousand Philistine soldiers using the
jawbone of an ass she asks " Was that the best weapon he could find? ".
The movie climaxes with a free-for-all with the four heroes. And it ends
with them riding off together. A perfect springboard into a sequel or
two or three. But unfortunately we never got one.
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