HALLOWED BY THEIR NAME Is A Maiden Voyage

HALLOWED BY THEIR NAME: THE UNOFFICIAL IRON MAIDEN BIBLE (Book)

By Martin Popoff

2025 / 666p (naturally)

From Schiffer Publishing

Review by Mr. Bonnie, the Banger😺

When this arrived, my first thought was that it would break every bone in my foot if I happened to drop it. This is a massive, meaty volume, as any biography about heavy metal legends should be. 

And Iron Maiden aren’t just legendary (to say nothing of hugely influential), their brand is still culturally relevant. My own daughters probably couldn’t name a single one of their songs, but they sure as hell know the band’s iconic logo and mascot, Eddie (as would anyone else who regularly ventures into Hot Topic). As for their headbanging ol’ Dad, he’s been a die hard fan since Maiden’s first album…way back in 1980, before most Americans had even heard of them.

I’ve also read numerous books about Iron Maiden, but none as comprehensive as Hallowed By Their Name. I suppose it’s not quite a biography in the purest sense, since it focuses almost exclusively on the band’s musical career, album by album, along with the massive tours in between and numerous line-up changes over the years. Anyone curious about Steve Harris’ childhood are advised to look elsewhere, since the closest the book dives into anyone’s personal life is when it influences or affects the band. And as the “unofficial” part of the title indicates, a majority of the stories and anecdotes are culled from various interviews over the years, from band members to roadies to important figures like manager Ron Smallwood.

Still, it’s a fascinating read. After a lengthy introduction that charts Maiden’s tumultuous rise from playing British pubs to being the poster boys for the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM), every album and tour (Iron Maiden to Senjutsu) is chronicled in enough detail to sate even the most hardcore fan. Concurrently, the chapters keep tabs on careers of notable former members, such as perpetually troubled Paul Di’Anno (RIP), and current lead singer Bruce Dickenson’s solo projects. During the course of this nearly 50-year journey, author Martin Popoff also discusses the ever-changing musical climate and Maiden’s status and relevance within it. 

Speaking of the author, Popoff is a prolific and engaging music writer who focuses almost exclusively on rock & metal. I’ve read some of his other books, all which reflect an exhausting amount of research, so there’s no disputing his knowledge of the genre. While I’ve enjoyed his previous biographies, I sometimes took issue with the overt subjectivity he’d frequently interject, writing as though his own critical assessments reflect a general consensus. Although some of his personal opinions about various songs/albums pop up in this one from time to time, he mostly lets his subjects tell a majority of this story. Besides, Mr. Popoff, everybody knows Powerslave is their greatest album (see what I did there?).

I can’t say I’m crazy about the cover, but inside, Hallowed By Their Name is a thing of beauty. Hundreds of photos are included throughout its glossy pages, as well as promotional material and, of course, plenty of Derek Riggs’ iconic artwork (by the way, this is the second Iron Maiden book I’ve read where Riggs comes across as kind of a dick). Capping things off are the complete discographies of Iron Maiden and various band members’ solo/side projects. 

Epic in length and aesthetically gorgeous, Hallowed By Their Name is a terrific book about one of metal’s greatest bands. I think even the most knowledgeable Maiden fans will find much that’s revelatory. And I did happen to drop it once while reading. Luckily, I missed my foot, but it hit the floor hard enough to scare the shit out of my cats.

THE POOP SCOOP: Books & Blockbusters

🙀MEOW!: CATS IN HORROR, SCI-FI, AND FANTASY MOVIES Available Now from Vanessa Morgan and Moonlight Creek Publishing.

Meow! Cats in Horror, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy Movies is the ultimate movie guide for cat lovers and cinephiles. Whether you are a fan of spine-chilling horror, fantasy worlds filled with cats, or the sudden thrill of a cat jumpscare, this comprehensive book has everything you need. Explore an extensive list of cat horror movies that will leave you on the edge of your seat. From the eerie and mysterious to the downright terrifying, our furry friends are the central figures in these hidden gems and cult classics. But the magic does not stop at horror. Meow! also delves into the most famous cat-centric sci-fi and fantasy movies. Find cats that have inspired fantastical adventures, mythical journeys, and futuristic sagas. This guide highlights a curated selection of films where cats play pivotal roles, embodying everything from magical felines to alien beings. Includes contributions from your furry friends at Free Kittens Movie Guide!

😺THE BRUTALIST Coming to 4K Ultra HD andBlu-ray March 25 from A24.

Escaping postwar Europe, a visionary architect arrives in America to rebuild his life. But power and legacy come at a heavy cost. Starring Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn, Alessandro Nivola. The Brutalist is nominated for 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress.

🙀COMPANION on Digital NOW and Coming to 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray & DVD April 1 from

Warner Bros..

New Line Cinema—the studio that brought you “The Notebook”—and the unhinged creators of “Barbarian” cordially invite you to experience a new kind of love story… “Companion,” will debut Digitally at home on February 18. Written and directed by Drew Hancock (“My Dead Ex,” “Suburgatory”), “Companion” stars Sophie Thatcher (“Yellowjackets,” “The Boogeyman”), Jack Quaid (“The Boys,” “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”), Lukas Gage (“Smile 2,” “Dead Boy Detectives”), Megan Suri (“Never Have I Ever,” “It Lives Inside”), Harvey Guillén (“What We Do in the Shadows,” “Blue Beetle”) and Rupert Friend (“High Desert,” “Asteroid City”). The film is produced by the filmmakers behind “Barbarian”—Raphael Margules, J.D. Lifshitz, Zach Cregger and Roy Lee. The executive producers are Tracy Rosenblum and Jamie Buckner.

🦁MUFASA: THE LION KING On Digital NOW and 4K, Blu-ray & DVD April 1 from Disney.

Exploring the unlikely rise of the beloved king of the Pride Lands, “Mufasa: The Lion King” enlists Rafiki to relay the legend of Mufasa to young lion cub Kiara, daughter of Simba and Nala, with Timon and Pumbaa lending their signature schtick. Told in flashbacks, the story introduces Mufasa as an orphaned cub, lost and alone until he meets a sympathetic lion named Taka—the heir to a royal bloodline. The chance meeting sets in motion an expansive journey of an extraordinary group of misfits searching for their destiny—their bonds will be tested as they work together to evade a threatening and deadly foe.

DUNE: PROPHECY: The Complete First Season - Coming To 4K UHD, Blu-ray, & DVD on

May 13 from Warner Bros.

Get ready to binge all 6 episodes from the epic sci-fi adventure, along with over an hour of bonus content including 5 extended featurettes and an all-new, never-before-seen featurette exclusive to 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD. DUNE: PROPHECY: The Complete First Season is also available now to purchase Digitally from Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, YouTube, Fandango at Home, and more. 

TRICK OR TREAT on 4k UHD, Blu-ray & DVD March 11 from Synapse Films.

Red Shirt Home Video and Synapse Films are proud to present this heavy metal horror classic in an all-new 4K restoration presented in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) with a head-banging 5.1 surround sound mix and loaded with hours of supplemental material including multiple commentary tracks and a feature-length video retrospective! 

BETTER MAN arrives on Digital February 11th and on 4K/Blu-ray May 13th from Paramount.

Better Man is based on the true story of the meteoric rise, dramatic fall, and remarkable resurgence of British pop superstar Robbie Williams, one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Under the visionary direction of Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman), the film is uniquely told from Williams’ perspective, capturing his signature wit and indomitable spirit. 

THE LAST OF US: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON is releasing March 18 in a 4K Ultra HD

Steelbook Limited-Edition Collectable from Warner Bros.

In anticipation of the Season 2 premiere of “The Last of Us” on HBO, catch up on all nine episodes of the critically-acclaimed first season, along with nearly 3 hours of special features! Pre-order your copy today HERE.

MOANA 2 is now available on Digital and coming to 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD on March 18

from Disney.

Moana 2 is available on digital retailers and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on March 18. With hours of exclusive bonus content for the whole family featuring a full-length Sing-Along version of the film, deleted scenes, featurettes and much more. 

DEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA arrives on PVOD Now and 4K, Blu-ray & DVD March 4 from

Lionsgate.

DEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA returns to everything fans loved about the original film, while answering unresolved questions and diving deeper into the lives of each character. 

DEEP BLUE SEA Limited Edition on 4K and Blu-ray March 18 from Arrow Video.

Limited-Edition release features a brand new 4K restoration approved by the director on 4K UHD, packed with special features. There is also a limited-edition Blu-ray. 

GLADIATOR II on Digital NOW and on 4K Ultra HD & Blu-ray March 4th from Paramount.

Director Ridley Scott’s action-packed epic GLADIATOR II is available to purchase now, followed by a physical release on March 4, from Paramount Home Entertainment.

CRUEL JAWS: The Novelization...Really!

CRUEL JAWS (Novel)

By Brad Carter

2024 / 336 pp

FROM ENCYCLOPOCALYPSE PUBLICATIONS

Review by Mr. Bonnie, the Bookworm😺

What a cool idea…take some of cinema’s cheesiest, most craptastic low budget horror films and give ‘em the full novelization treatment. Then include covers that either resemble the original promotional artwork, or better yet, look like they could’ve been released back in the good ol’ days when such pulpy paperbacks were found at every Waldenbooks and supermarket rack in the country.

It’s the brainchild of Encyclopocalypse Publications, and I can’t believe I’ve just now learned about this Movie Tie-In Series. Growing up with paperback novelizations like this is what got me to start (voluntarily) reading in the first place. Encyclopocalypse is now partnering with Severin Films to produce a series of novels based on classic cult films released by the label over the years. First up is Cruel Jaws, inspired by one of the goofiest, most infamous Jaws ripoffs ever made. 

For those unaware, Cruel Jaws was notorious for its cut-rate production, copycat story (right down to copping some of Jaws’ dialogue) and lifting most of the shark footage from other movies…including Jaws itself. An Italian production (though shot in the U.S.), it was directed by prolific sleaze merchant Bruno Mattei, who never met a popular film he couldn’t redo faster and cheaper.

The novel, adapted by Brad Carter from the original screenplay, tells basically the same story and includes some of the same daffy dialogue, though it nicely fleshes out the film’s cardboard characters and expands the subplots. At the same time, Carter doesn’t forget he’s cranking out a pulpy piece of exploitation. The novel is loaded with gobs of nasty gore and explicit sex, which was ironically absent from the film (considering Mattei’s dubious reputation). 

Available in two editions.

Obviously, we ain’t talking The Old Man and the Sea here. The book will never be mistaken for great literature, nor is its author a master wordsmith. Still, Cruel Jaws is a fun read, with plenty of spectacular shark action that Mattei was simply unable to depict with the meager resources at his disposal. A guilty pleasure, to be sure, but a compulsive page turner.

The icing on the cake is the wonderful book design. Cruel Jaws is available in both mass market or trade editions, each with different covers. The trade version features the film’s original promotional art. But personally, I have a nostalgic soft spot for the mass market edition because it closely resembles the Jaws 2 novelization and recalls an era when novels like this were never intended as anything more than quick & dirty beach reads (which this book definitely is). 

And what movie tie-in would be complete without stills from the movie itself? This one includes 17 pages of black & white photos along and the film’s original poster art. The book also features a forward by Sharksploitation director Stephen Scarlata, who nicely sums up Cruel Jaws’ place in the pantheon of squalid shark cinema. 

We’ve all heard someone boast their literary snootiness with “the book was better than the movie.” But in this case, it’s inarguably true. While you may ashamed of yourself for enjoying it, Cruel Jaws is a bloody blast.

THE POOP SCOOP: Sharks & Scares

🦈SEVERIN FILMS Announces Pact with Encyclopocalypse Publications for Film Novelizations with CRUEL JAWS Launching on 7/30

Severin Films today announced a partnership with genre publisher Encyclopocalypse Publications to co-produce original novels, movie novelizations and resurrected horror paperbacks tied to and inspired by Severin’s expansive catalog of genre classics. Their first joint release will be CRUEL JAWS: THE NOVELIZATION by Brad Carter, based on the notorious film by Bruno Mattei called “THE AVENGERS of JAWS knockoffs” (Oh The Horror!), available July 30, 2024. In 1995, Italian director Mattei stunned the civilized world with CRUEL JAWS, the ultimate sharksploitation saga that liberally borrowed characters, plot and footage from Joe D’Amato’s DEEP BLOOD and Enzo G. Castellari’s THE LAST SHARK. CRUEL JAWS: THE NOVELIZATION will be available in mass market and trade editions, both priced at $16.99, from all major online book retailers as well as encyclopocalypse.com. Each edition features new cover art and photos from the film, along with an all-new foreword by SHARKSPLOITATION: THE DOCUMENTARY director Stephen Scarlata. In addition, every paperback order sold through encyclopocalypse.com comes with a free digital copy. 

🙀A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE arrives on Digital July 30th and on 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray/DVD/4K Ultra HD SteelBook on October 8 from Paramount.

Experience the day the world went quiet in this terrifying continuation of the A Quiet Place universe. When Samira (Lupita Nyong’o) returns home to New York City, her simple trip turns into a harrowing nightmare when mysterious creatures that hunt by sound attack. Accompanied by her cat Frodo and an unexpected ally (Joseph Quinn), Samira must embark on a perilous journey through the city that has suddenly gone silent, where the only rule is to stay quiet to stay alive. Djimon Hounsou and Alex Wolff also star in this intensely suspenseful thriller. A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE expands the franchise’s groundbreaking universe, taking fans back to the first day of the invasion by deadly creatures who hunt by sound in one of the loudest places on Earth: New York City. Fans who purchase the film on Digital, 4K Ultra HD, or Blu-ray will have access to over 50 minutes of thrilling bonus content. A three-movie collection including A Quiet Place, A Quiet Place: Part II and A Quiet Place: Day One will also be available to purchase on Digital platforms July 30. 

😺COLLATERAL Celebrates 20th Anniversary With New Limited-Edition 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray SteelBook Arriving On August 6th from Paramount

Celebrate the 20th anniversary of director Michael Mann’s stylishly compelling noir thriller COLLATERAL with a new Limited-Edition 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray SteelBook, arriving August 6, 2024 from Paramount Home Entertainment. Tom Cruise is “convincingly wicked” (Toronto Star) and Jamie Foxx gives an Oscar-nominated* performance in the exhilarating film that “crackles with energy and purpose” (Los Angeles Times).  Originally released on August 6, 2004, COLLATERAL wowed critics and audiences alike and continues to be revered as a masterful blend of suspense and drama, combining intense action with captivating character exploration.  Written by Stuart Beattie, the film also stars Jada Pinkett Smith, Mark Ruffalo, Peter Berg, and Javier Bardem. The Limited-Edition SteelBook includes access to a Digital copy of the film, as well as legacy bonus content.

🙀PARAMOUNT SCARES VOL. 2 arrives on 4K Ultra HD October 1 from Paramount.

Everyone loves a sequel!  PARAMOUNT SCARES is back with another limited-edition collection of terrifying films, all available for the first time in 4K Ultra HD.  PARAMOUNT SCARES VOL. 2 arrives October 1, 2024 from Paramount Home Entertainment. This collectible box set includes four killer films that offer an exciting mix of all that the horror genre has to offer.  From a knife-wielding maniac in FRIDAY THE 13TH PART II, to the twisted thrills of ORPHAN: FIRST KILL, the terrifying zombie hordes of WORLD WAR Z, and the psychological terror of BREAKDOWN, this must-own collection delivers loads of chills and thrills. Each film in the 8-disc collection has been newly remastered and is presented on both 4K Ultra HD Disc and on Blu-ray in an individual case and special sleeve exclusive to the set, all housed in a premium box with original artwork.  PARAMOUNT SCARES VOL. 2 also includes more than 2.5 hours of bonus content, the unrated version of WORLD WAR Z, access to a Digital copy of each film, and these exclusive collectible items: 

• Full-size FANGORIA magazine produced specifically for this release with new and classic articles about the films

• Four unique iron-on patches representing each film

• A domed PARAMOUNT SCARES logo sticker

• A new PARAMOUNT SCARES glow-in-the-dark enamel pin

• Limited-Edition poster by acclaimed artist Orlando “Mexifunk” Arocena