Rage, Love, & the Messiah Syndrome

Almost overnight, a new religion is spawned, and sanity gives way to savagery as the voices of reason are drowned in the deafening roar of violence. (Stan Lee / Keith Pollard)

In 2012s novella, "Parable," the Silver Surfer is perceived as the evil alien to Earthlings and his cosmic creator, the devourer of world's Galactus sets out to destroy our blessed planet. Galactus could pulverize the entire planet with a mere thought, but his treaty with the Silver Surfer prohibits him from doing so. 

Galactus is literally a giant with colossal powers and feasting upon entire planets is how he maintains his god-like powers. From the very beginning of "Parable," Galactus descends upon the Earth and presents himself as a god, and when a power hunger evangelist claims to have summoned him to Earth, the people of our planet cling to him like Trump supporters absorb lies. 

As a preacher of Galactus, I say he is the way and the wonder. Heed his prophet, I sing his true glory.

"I come to set you free from guilt. If you would be saved, do what you will, take what you will. There is no sin. Pleasure is all," so speait Galactus. (Lee / Pollard) 

Looting, pillaging and plunder become the new order of mayhem on earth as people blindly follow their new god. 

"Who can know when reality ends and legend begins? Do we not see with our hearts and minds as well as our eyes? Galactus plays God, having pledged not to slay Earth by force, but by guile," the Silver Surfer said. 

To no surprise, the Silver Surfer, nor the Earth is destroyed, but via Chrome Dome's wits, and not extreme cosmic violence, the planet and the people are saved. With that being said, "Parable" has many intriguing elements for a fascinating story, complete with lust and romance as cosmic entities battle each other. 

 

"I shall never cease searching for an oasis of sanity in this desert of madness men call Earth," the Silver Surfer said. 

After the Sky Rider of the space ways thwarts Galactus, he is forced to confront the evil Mrrungo-Mu who calls himself the Enslaver. He's enslaved entire planets and when he comes for our planet, Chrome Dome is pitted with a rage within his soul I've never read before. 

 The Enslaver is saved from being slain by the Silver Surfer from the woman who loves him.

 Love is indeed the power supreme in "Parable," and the Surf man is reunited with his beloved Shalla-Bal, and from the ashes of carnage and decay, hope and wellness rise anew.

 

"Parable" is my second five-star review because of the sagacious writing by Stan Lee and Keith Pollard and the awesome artwork by Josef Rubinstein, Jose Marzan and Chris Ivy. 

Mark Izzy Schurr 

Another Modern Moron Movie Review

It's no fun when the rabbit has the gun, and 2001s "Training Day" illustrates the fine line which separates the cop from the criminal.

Rookie narcotic officer, Jake Hoyt, (Ethan Hawke) is being street trained by senior officer Alonzo Harris, sagaciously portrayed by Denzel Washington. Washington takes $1 million in cash from a $4 million drug bust and splits the money five ways with Hoyt and three other cops. 

The storyline is straight forward gangster life on the mean streets of a major American city. Hoyt, (Hawke) quickly questions his methods for trying to be promoted to detective, and "Training Day" delivers its conflicts and resolutions with a powerful punch. 

 Denzel Washington as Alonzo Harris tossing over a quarter of a million dollars in cash to one of his crooked comrades. 

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$4 million in cash in an old suitcase.   

Rappers Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg were awesome in this movie. 

"It smells like bacon up in this mother fucker," Snoop Dogg said to some cops posing as causal drug buyers. 

"Training Day" delivers the goods to the mind and this four-star flick is officially nine months away from being a true movie classic. 

Mark Izzy Schurr 

"Boots on the Ground," A 2018 Take on the Vietnam War

Pictured, the National Guard surrounding an unarmed woman protesting the Vietnam War in Berkeley, California, in 1969. 

There were brains arms and legs all mixed together, and some of the men were on fire and moaned before all 12 Charlie Company soldiers died in Jan., 1970, after being blown up accidently because a mortar was mishandled, U.S. Infantryman, Jan Scruggs said.

Author, Elizabeth Partridge interviewed medics and infantryman for 2018s, "Boots on the Ground America's War in Vietnam," and provided some very good photos of this horrid and pointless war. 

The above picture was taken in 1966 of Claiborne L. Shaw. Shortly after this picture, Shaw was killed. 

I acquired "Boots on the Ground" from the Cloverdale library. It's a quick easy read, and Partridge touched on many of the political issues. 

Protesting the war in Vietnam while also advocating for civil rights was a major obstacle for Martin Luther King Jr., from both the black and white politicians. I learned this from reading "Boots on the Ground." 

Imagine the soldiers who got their feet blown off from stepping on a land mine, or the medics in 

Vietnam who had to work on wounded combat troops with severe burns, torn flesh, splintered bones and gashing belly wounds. Extremely sharp wooden stakes with feces on them were laden throughout the jungles, so infections would spread faster when American troops stepped on the stakes that penetrated their boots. 

The war effort made President LBJs "Great Society" a myth, and created a troubled and confused society, Martin Luther King Jr. said.

Many Infantryman were sent on Search and Destroy missions. Burning down villages and killing farm animals as well as unarmed women and children was a common thing for U.S. combat troops to do in this war.

 

"The Vietnam war was tragic, unjust, evil, brutal and senseless," King said.  

In October of 1967, 50,000 anti-war protesters marched in Washington D.C., and chanted, hey, hey, LBJ, how many kids did you kill today? More than 14,000 American soldiers were slain in Vietnam under the leadership of LBJ. 

"Being a combat soldier makes you real mean, and I was extremely mean," Gunner, Henry Allen said. 

Writer Eliazbeth Partridge with her boyfriend Warren Franklin in 1968. 

On May 4, 1970, the National Guard fired 67 rounds in 13 seconds amidst unarmed war protesters at Kent State, Ohio., killing four students and wounding nine. 

"If I am the last lone voice speaking for non-violence, that I will do," MLK Jr. said.

Three and a half stars easy for "Boots on the Ground." 

Mark Izzy Schurr 

Art of Nature Via Schurr Shot

 Blissfully surfing the celestial's currents of time, I simply smile.

While tapping into the unknown wells of the imagination, I sensed an intoxicating calmness.

  'Both pictures, Nor Cal beaches, Schurr Shot, October

Imbibed in curiosity, amazing poetry from a bygone era illustrates that man is a stranger to peace and a prisoner in a web of nameless fears. (Myself / Essential Silver Surfer vol. I)

Schurr Shot in October

 

The gilded realms of reality and the swirling vortex of the unknown have taught me to embrace the positives. 

Schurr Shot in Northern California in October

Mark Izzy Schurr

Tangible Fantasy

 The world killer, yet to be born, here in the burning core of ego, amidst the eternal realms of creation and myth. (Darren Shan / myself) 

Weaving Shan's words into my review of 2019s, "Silver Surfer Black" will be laden throughout this review. I acquired this 110-page comic book from Amazon Kindle, and it didn't disappoint. 

The tangible desires of reciprocated love are thwarted by the black winter of reality, and the Silver Surfer is forced to combat powers that can unmake the stars and fuel the fury of the abysses. 

The sword of darkness, wielded by its creator, the lord of the unending abyss clashes with the sword of light, a silver blade of cosmic power made of its makers living flesh, and the sound of these two swords colliding would deafen a god. (Shan) 

Shan's compelling combination of words and the awesome artwork of the many pencilers and inkers made "Black" a cosmic extravaganza. 

  

A world destroyer and the love of Chrome Dome's life, Shalla-Bal capture the moments in the conflicts and triumphs of the Silver Surfer in "Black". 

"In my long life, I have had many names, and of all of them, Norrin (Silver Surfer) is the one I carry in my heart, a breathless whisper to my love so far away," she said. (Shan) 

  Horror and beauty blend into the winds of eternity and the balance of light and darkness is a never-ending quest in the "Silver Surfer Black." 

Four stars easy for this comic book that feeds eons of atoms across the galaxies and penetrates the imagination. 

Mark Izzy Schurr 

"Roman Scandals" Reviewed

Sly humor and the deviant desires of ancient Rome are illustrated in 1933s "Roman Scandals." 

For much too long, I disliked many of these vintage flicks, simply because I didn't like the music. Mellow orchestra music is not the sound for my ears, but upon viewing these flicks now, I understand the production prowess of image and talent.

Two years later, moving picture shots like this were forbidden in mainstream movies, and these insane film laws lasted until the late 1960s. "Roman Scandals" starring Eddie Cantor is a certified Pre-Code Hollywood movie. Films made between 1930-1934 possessed a different timeclock, a doorway to a dark, yet compelling side of life amidst the safety of fantasy. 

Cantor made me laugh out loud a few times, and his sly humor was indeed timeless. As an ancient Roman slave, he said he could help with the cooking, cleaning and watching the children, and if the women didn't have children, he could help with that too.

Beauty and grace on the dance floor flaunted in "Roman Scandals." 

The only special features on this DVD are play and stop, but as the evening surpasses midnight, "Roman Scandals" is a pleasant voyage into vintage movie making. A solid three-star rating for this musical comedy. 

Mark Izzy Schurr

  

 

Seizing Adulthood

The emotions of happiness displayed in the mystic bands of time; a mother's blissful tears weaved into the bands of laughter.

Seizing adulthood...

As usual, Ruby is naturally photogenic. 

At 16-years-old, Ruby is already more grownup than I'll ever be, and I enjoy documenting sincere joy. 

 

Ruby's birthday gift to her boyfriend on Wednesday. As I snapped the above two pictures, Ruby boosted about being a good girlfriend. 

Tapping into the unknown wells of imagination, I imbibed an intoxicating sense of calmness as Ruby drove. I am not the constant back seat coach who criticizes the smallest of rookie driver inconsistencies. 

When it comes to driving a vehicle, I adhere to the ancient advice I received in the early 1980s; Driving is not a contest, and the object is to get from point A to B without incident.  

Ruby relaxed and blaring Taylar Swift music. Driving is so easy, glance, don't stare at the stereo controls and watch the road. 

The cosmic crackle of information fuels the embers of greatness. Traversing the depths of human nature while swirling in a vortex of sanity, or maybe?     

Mark Izzy Schurr