Between The Night Stalker (1972, 1974-1975) and Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992, 1997-2003) came an occult investigator who switched from being a horror-comic host to a bona fide adventurer, brought together a burgeoning comic universe, and faded too soon. Along the way he rode the growing wave of 70s occultism and vampire fandom, attempted-- awkwardly-- to racially diversify comic books, and fought all manner of things that go bump in the night.

Imagine a man in his late thirties with black hair, Satan's goatee, and a vampire's fashion sense. Dark coats and cloaks fly back in the breeze, and he rarely makes the scene without his bolo tie. He lives in a mansion and battles the ancient, eldritch Dark Gods. He takes his tea with sorceresses and witch doctors. His circle of friends includes a psychic medium and a vampire with a soul or, at least, a conscience. For a time, he became a werewolf-- a trying experience, to be sure, but one which gave…

In September of 1983, my teenage self entered first year university. Friday of that first week, they had a local band playing the dry pub, where people danced, and recorded music across the hall, where people sat at barracks-like tables and drank.

The band announced a break just as I asked a strikingly attractive girl to dance. I improvised something about…

I was recently discussing this movie in a chat channel. Okay, I will be honest - I was holding forth on this movie, regardless of whether anyone was listening. I do that a lot. Witness me here writing this. I mention this because I think my commentary, while irreverent and perhaps even slightly contemptuous beneath the awe at the commercial machine, is actually not too terribly far off base. So I will commit the most hideous sin possible and quote myself. Ready?

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