K-Box in the Box

The Private Eyes of Apex City

2023-12-14T03:23:15Z

Austin Kingsley and Mitzi Klingfeld aren't the only grownup gumshoes looking into mysteries and criminal misdeeds in Apex City.

Reid Warne knows how to navigate a forensic scene, managing to tread carefully even though the treads he's leaving are the tracks of his wheelchair, while one of his fellow licensed private investigators, wisecracking tough guy Bruno Hudson, constitutes one half of Nighthawks Investigations (whose name was inspired by the "Nightshade Investigates..." comic strip, distributed by Kingsley Features Syndicate), and which was bankrolled by former Glamourpuss Magazine cover girl Cybele Seagrams.

To preserve the statements they solicit from witnesses and other sources, Bruno and Cybele have a habit of recording their cases live via compact video, which can lead to snarky running commentary as they play to the camera.

Even more media-savvy, but vastly less given to snappy or sexually suggestive patter, is Richard Corinthian, who acquired the title of "The Auspex Inspector" from his six-season syndicated TV series, "The Wandering Auspex Inspects..." (likewise inspired by "Nightshade Investigates..."), which ran from the late 1970s through the early 1980s.

Richard claims to be psychic, to assist in law enforcement investigations, by playing up his supposed Romani "fortune-teller" heritage, and yet, while almost all of his ostensibly uncanny abilities can be chalked up to keen observational insights and skilled stagecraft, his Romani heritage is more genuine than he lets on (his birth name was "Roman Corinthian," which he correctly estimated would be a touch too "ethnic" to appeal to more mainstream audiences), while his insights include flashes of what would seem to be psychic visions.

Not that "The Auspex Inspector" is above commercial shilling, since the success of Time-Life Books' "The Enchanted World" and "Mysteries of the Unknown" series led Enigma Media to begin publishing "Myths & Mysteries of the Otherworldly" in 1987, for which Richard Corinthian serves as the line's suitably spooky, brooding spokesman ("From fairy-tale fables to paranormal phenomena... If it's out there, it's in here").

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From CBR: "Honor Among Thieves Honors D&D's Messy Tolkien Influence"

2023-04-12T14:37:40Z

Honor Among Thieves Honors D&D's Messy Tolkien Influence

Tolkien influenced Dungeons & Dragons, but the chaotic game included more than the orderly Middle-earth in its mythos, as seen in Honor Among Thieves.

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From CBR: "Two Episodes Prove Night Court Was Always Decades Ahead of Its Time"

2023-04-09T12:01:06Z

Two Episodes Prove Night Court Was Always Decades Ahead of Its Time

Think trauma "triggers" and transgender identity acceptance are topics today? Night Court devoted entire episodes to those issues decades ago.

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From CBR: "How Poker Face's Season Finale Offers 'The Illusion of Change'"

2023-04-09T10:26:10Z

How Poker Face's Season Finale Offers 'The Illusion of Change'

Poker Face put most of its ongoing plotlines to bed in its first-season finale, even as it reinforced Charlie Cale's reasons to remain on the road.

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From CBR: "Picard's Captain Shaw Isn't the New Jellico - He's Star Trek's Frank Grimes"

2023-04-05T11:04:16Z

Picard's Captain Shaw Isn't the New Jellico - He's Star Trek's Frank Grimes

Picard's Liam Shaw doesn't share Edward Jellico's military mindset. He and The Simpsons' Frank Grimes just hate protagonists with plot armor.

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From CBR: "How Quantumania's Scott Lang Proves the Appeal of an Adult Peter Parker"

2023-03-11T02:26:34Z

How Quantumania's Scott Lang Proves the Appeal of an Adult Peter Parker

Many think of "classic" Spider-Man as young and unattached, but Quantumania's Ant-Man shows grown-up family men can be everyman underdogs too.

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From CBR: "NBC's New Night Court Is Desperately Missing These Original Series Characters"

2023-02-26T14:10:33Z

NBC's New Night Court Is Desperately Missing These Original Series Characters

These Night Court supporting characters appeared in less than a dozen episodes, but they deserve appearances in the new series as much as Bull or Roz.

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From CBR: "How Netflix's Wednesday Fulfills the Unrealized Dreams of MTV's Daria"

2023-02-15T04:10:49Z

How Netflix's Wednesday Fulfills the Unrealized Dreams of MTV's Daria

MTV's Daria blazed a trail for snarky, sullen "Misery Chicks." Netflix's Wednesday steers it into the drama fans craved, without sacrificing any wit.

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From CBR: "How Poker Face's Use of Sound Enhances the Viewing Experience"

2023-02-11T02:05:07Z

How Poker Face's Use of Sound Enhances the Viewing Experience

Poker Face earns praise for its storytelling and acting, but the series' innovatively deployed background sound deserves credit for its heavy lifting.

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From CBR: "How Melissa Rauch's Judge Abby Stone Made 2023's Night Court Her Own"

2023-02-05T14:38:59Z

How Melissa Rauch's Judge Abby Stone Made 2023's Night Court Her Own

Abby Stone greeted viewers with do-gooder goals and a sweet smile, but Night Court's new judge proves she has the crazy heart to conduct its chaos.

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From CBR: "Transformers: Optimus Prime's Death Ended Peak '80s Kids' Culture"

2023-02-04T16:16:30Z

Transformers: Optimus Prime's Death Ended Peak '80s Kids' Culture

1980s nostalgics tend to recall the same cartoons and toys. Most of their faves are from the same part of the decade, before 1986's Transformers film.

I even graphed my data:

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From CBR: "Glass Onion Is The Canterbury Tales for the COVID Era"

2023-01-19T20:21:35Z

Glass Onion Is The Canterbury Tales for the COVID Era

Glass Onion's satires of influencers and industrialists echo The Canterbury Tales' critiques of medieval England's feudal lords and corrupt clerics.

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From CBR: "How Bill & Ted Face the Music Delivered an Impossibly Satisfying Conclusion"

2023-01-18T01:06:54Z

Jan. 17, 2023:

How Bill & Ted Face the Music Delivered an Impossibly Satisfying Conclusion

Bill and Ted began as parodies of "Chosen Ones" who achieve the impossible. Face the Music made their utopia almost plausible by sharing their stage.

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My articles for Comic Book Resources from Nov. 17, 2022 to Jan. 10, 2023:

2023-01-12T08:17:21Z

Jan. 10, 2023:

How the Quantum Leap Reboot Transforms the 'Stealth Anthology'

NBC's original Quantum Leap focused on the lives Dr. Sam Beckett leaped into -- an approach the 2022 series keeps alive with Dr. Ben Song.

Jan. 3, 2023:

From Top Gun to Picard, 1980s Nostalgia Is All About Resolution

1980s heroes and franchises aren't just being brought back. From Star Trek: Picard to Quantum Leap and Willow, revivals are giving them closure.

Dec. 24, 2022:

The Star Wars Holiday Special Presaged Andor's Oppressive Empire

The Star Wars Holiday Special snuck in political commentary as hard-hitting as Andor between cringeworthy comedy skits and misfiring musical numbers.

Dec. 22, 2022:

How the MCU's Military Heroes Rate as Officers

Everyone debates which MCU heroes or villains are best or worst. Few evaluate the service members among them on their strengths as military officers.

Dec. 17, 2022:

Andor's Most Tragic Soldier Reveals the Danger of Misplaced Loyalty

Andor's Sgt. Linus Mosk fights for his troops and tries to help his commanding officer improve as a leader. He's a good man, but on the wrong side.

Dec. 13, 2022:

TV's Weirdest Superhero Universe Isn't the Next MCU - But It Should Be

In 1986, King Features Syndicate tried to turn its comic strip stars into the next Super Friends. Their shared universe can now become a reality.

Dec. 11, 2022:

How Avatar's James Cameron Filled This Abyss Scene with Emotion

Some critics see Avatar as unfeeling, but director James Cameron's first film to use CGI wore its pulse-pounding heart on its sleeve.

Dec. 2, 2022:

Why The Legend of Billie Jean Was a Better Superhero Film Than Supergirl

Helen Slater starred in Supergirl in 1984 and The Legend of Billie Jean in 1985. The cape made her famous, but her teen outlaw was a more super hero.

Nov. 17, 2022:

Léa Seydoux's Lady Margot Could Assume a Surprising Role in Dune: Part 2

Her role in the novel was relatively minor, but if her husband is omitted from the film, Lady Margot Fenring could be a key player in Dune: Part 2.

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From CBR: "Nostalgia Demands That This '80s Cult Classic Gets a Sequel"

2022-11-13T07:09:33Z

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension has the ingredients to appeal to '80s genre nostalgics and modern superhero fans alike.

WWW.CBR.COM

It’s time to go Back to the Future on Comic Book Resources, as I break down how Eighties sci-fi cult classic “The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension” was ahead of its time in anticipating both “Stranger Things” and the MCU’s Avengers.

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From CBR: "Emil Blonsky Doesn't Need Abomination To Be a Dangerous MCU Villain"

2022-11-06T07:27:59Z

She-Hulk: Attorney at Law proves Emil Blonsky is one of the MCU's most cunning villains, even when he's not rampaging as The Abomination.

WWW.CBR.COM

Hey, everyone, here’s hoping you’ll check out the work of the newest movie features writer over on Comic Book Resources, especially if you enjoyed his work on /Film.

It’s me, by the way. I’m the new writer, and fries are up.

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From /Film: "11 Ways To Make A 'One Wild Night Out On The Town' Movie"

2022-04-03T05:12:01Z

11 Ways To Make A 'One Wild Night Out On The Town' Movie

"One Wild Night on The Town" movies come in all shapes and sizes. Here are 11 great ones.

WWW.SLASHFILM.COM

It's the film subgenre you never knew existed, but it includes some classics. Let /Film treat you to "One Wild Night Out on the Town."

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From /Film: "Every Batman Movie And The Real-World Fears They Highlight"

2022-03-23T11:17:31Z

Every Batman Movie And The Real-World Fears They Highlight

Batman may not exist in the real world, but the societal issues from his films certainly do. Here are some of the real-world fears highlighted in Batman movies.

WWW.SLASHFILM.COM

For /Film, it's not enough for us to throw opinions and theories out there. We research and source our assertions, because pop culture is culture, and film history is history, and our readers deserve due diligence.

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From /Film: "The Best Selina Kyle Moments In The Batman, Ranked"

2022-03-11T02:02:03Z

The Best Selina Kyle Moments In The Batman, Ranked

Matt Reeves' "The Batman" is a time capsule of the five days when cat burglar Selina Kyle becomes Catwoman, and this is a ranking of her best moments.

WWW.SLASHFILM.COM

Spoilers abound, but I've got the scoop on Zoë Kravitz's best moments as Selina Kyle in Matt Reeves' "The Batman."

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From /Film: "Everything You Need To Know About Moon Knight's Multiple Identities"

2022-02-17T00:03:02Z

Everything You Need To Know About Moon Knight's Multiple Identities

We're answering the question "Who is Moon Knight?" by delving into the primary multiple identities that have coalesced into this character.

WWW.SLASHFILM.COM

Oscar Isaac plays him on Disney+ starting March 30, but as /Film reveals, the question "Who is Moon Knight?" has a multitude of answers.

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From /Film: "Things You Didn't Know About Hawkeye's Jacques 'Jack' Duquesne, Aka The Swordsman"

2022-02-02T06:39:13Z

Things You Didn't Know About Hawkeye's Jacques 'Jack' Duquesne, Aka The Swordsman

Kate Bishop? Pizza Dog? Nah. Jack Duquesne is Hawkeye's real breakout star. Here's everything you need to know about his comic book counterpart, the Swordsman.

WWW.SLASHFILM.COM

Jack Duquesne was both creepy and charming in "Hawkeye" on Disney+, and in Marvel Comics, the Swordsman started a war in Southeast Asia, trained Hawkeye and married Mantis from "Guardians of the Galaxy" as an alien plant zombie. Read /Film for more.

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From /Film: "Most Memorable Moments From Disney+ Marvel Shows In 2021"

2022-01-20T10:00:36Z

Most Memorable Moments From Disney+ Marvel Shows In 2021

Marvel really hit its stride on Disney+ in 2021. Here are the memorable moments from MCU television that had fans buzzing.

WWW.SLASHFILM.COM

Each show had enough memorable moments that it was tough for /Film to winnow this list to 15 total for 2021, but we'd love to hear the moments you'd have chosen.

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From /Film: "20 Things You Didn't Know About Ghostbusters"

2022-01-07T02:55:57Z

20 Things You Didn't Know About Ghostbusters

Think you know your Ghostbusters trivia backwards and forwards? Let's put that to the test.

WWW.SLASHFILM.COM

It's one of the longest published articles I've ever written, and one of my heaviest research lifts as a journalist. Every fact is sourced, and most are directly linked, because that's the standard you can expect from /Film.

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From /Film: "The 14 Best Moments In Willow, Ranked"

2021-12-22T10:32:30Z

The 14 Best Moments In Willow, Ranked

With a new Disney+ sequel series en route, it's time to look back at some of our favorite moments from Ron Howard's Willow.

WWW.SLASHFILM.COM

It's not a Christmas movie, but 1988's "Willow" was better than you remember.

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From /Film: "Overlooked Holiday Movies That Are Surprisingly Somber"

2021-11-25T11:54:28Z

Overlooked Holiday Movies That Are Surprisingly Somber

If you're tired of the standard holiday classics, or if you're just in the mood for something a little grinchier, check out these lesser-known holiday flicks.

WWW.SLASHFILM.COM

Before your family carves the Thanksgiving turkey, let /Film (and me) introduce you to what could become your new favorite offbeat holiday films.

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