BotTalk Reviews

A family argument breaks out on a rented houseboat.  Chet and his sister Laura take shots and jabs at each other, each placing blame on the other.  The next day it continues until Laura and her husband cannonball into the water.  The husband comes back for his brother-in-law.  Chet dives in only to come up in a darker version of reality, while his sister and brother-in-law find a somewhat nicer reality.  Chet's new friends turn on him.  At the same time, his sister realizes she wouldn't trade the slightly nicer world for her brother.  She dives in to save him, comes back up only to smack into the false bottom of the boat.  Looking down at her is Chet, unable to break through to her. In a way this feels like a take on 'The Bewitchin' Pool' the final episode of the original series.  Only here we get a better world and its shadow.  Honestly, the dialogue between Chet and Laura is insufferable.  It feels very of the moment and just goes...

Marin County (San Francisco Bay Area of California), December 1978 Wendy Moira (a Peter Pan homage?) confesses to Clara Holmwood that she is in love with the leader of "The California Cult", Billy Joe aka William Joseph Franklin. Wendy plays Billy Joe's advanced promo record. Wendy and Clara listen to Billy Joe's song "Come Wander With Me". Suzy Smiles (a radicalized acolyte of Billy Joe who likes to listen to "Always is Always Forever" by Charles Manson) pays the girls a visit. Suzy leads the demoiselles into an ambush, they get abducted by "The California Cult". Death Valley National Park, east of the Sierra Nevada, 5 months later Clara escapes from the Billy Joe Family. Reseda, Los Angeles, California, Present day Clara (now Lucy) cannot afford to pay for her daughter's university tuition, so she agrees to tell her "California Cult" story on TV for beaucoup bucks.  Clara/Lucy, Wren (Clara's daughter), Phoebe (Clara...

In a medieval setting a fortress is under siege.  During the attack an armoured knight opens the gates and stands ready with a modern gun.  He opens fire.  In conflict with the leader of the opposition the knight is defeated by his own weapons and the victors enter the fort.  Behind enormous doors we see a tank, a WWII plane and seemingly an atomic bomb.  The victor meets the face of God, a fast food drive through character with a speaker in its stomach.   The art for this issue is great.  The story, however... just doesn't fit The Twilight Zone.  I could see it in Eerie (1966 Warren Magazine) or Creepy (1964 Warren Magazine), but it just doesn't have that 'it' factor that says The Twilight Zone.  That doesn't mean it is bad.  Not at all.  It is a fine story.  I just think that it would fit in better elsewhere.   six out of ten.

A crew in cryosleep wakes up and eventually begins the explore a planet.  As they talk the things they mention seemingly appear, although alien and distorted in nature.  Eventually they come upon two lifeforms, one beating the other.  One of the crew intervenes and they are soon overwhelmed by aliens and taken into custody.  Placed in a holding cell they attack the wall and it reacts.  They escape and eventually the real aliens show themselves.  They state that the planet can read their minds, that the planet is for relaxation and therapy.  They offer to start over and go through a reconfigured therapy but it will take centuries.  The crew, except for one, agree.  Alone, he returns to Earth but those in charge refuse to believe his story. In every aspect this has the feel of the original Twilight Zone.  The black and white art.  The designs of the space suits and spaceship.  The aliens.  The ending.  I expected nothin...

Kane, a very wealthy man, travels to a remote island.  There the lead scientist tells about their recent breakthrough in virus research.  Kane is eager to take the experimental drug, as he has less than a year to live.  After some reluctance Kane is given the treatment.  He wakes up and finds everyone around him has a blank face.  He runs outside and fines the lead scientist who tells him the experiment mutated after it entered Kane's system.  Before he mutates as well he gives Kane a cure.  Once taken it will spread and reverse the effects.  Kane ponders this, but ultimately does not take the cure.  Content with his restored health, youth and millions of dollars in the bank. Written by Dan Watters and illustrated by Morgan Beem this first issue is... fine.  Twilight Zone is one of those things that is so hard to capture the feeling of.  They've tried again and again over the years.  The movie, the 80s revival, the early 2000s ...

Don't look for this Marvel Masterworks that is masquerading as an Omnibus. You may not like what you find. But, all joking aside, if you are a fan of extremely lurid colours in your comics you'll be in bronze age ape heaven. The direct market edition with the Gil Kane cover has Dr. Zaius on its spine while the standard edition with the new E.M. Gist cover has a Dr. Zira spine. Pick your spine doctor wisely for your bookshelf. The scripts, not the actual movies, of Planet of the Apes (1968) and Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970) are expertly adapted by Doug Moench, George Tuska and Alfredo Alcala. This means that both adaptions feature many altered, extra and cut scenes not seen on screen. Note that you will find absolutely no physical likenesses to actors. Charlton Heston (1923-2008), Robert Gunner (1931-2001), Jeff Burton (1924-1988), James Franciscus (1934-1991), Victor Buono (1938-1982) and Linda Harrison are completely unrecognizable. The Omnibus collects the complete el...