Greetings! ScoreKeeper here with the results of the SPOOKS autographed comic and CD contest. I received quite a few entries and really enjoyed pouring through them all. I’ve picked out five winners that I felt had the most interesting or entertaining answers to the three prescribed questions asked of each entrant. To recap, here again are the three questions: 1). If you were a member of the U.S. Department of Supernatural Defense and a gargantuan army of classic monsters were invading Washington, D.C., which single person would you rescue and why? 2). Which classic monster would you find the most difficult to destroy? Please explain. 3). Should more comic books come with original scores aimed at enhancing the reading experience? Why? And the five newest members of the U.S. Department of Supernatural Defense are as follows:

John Scoleri – Santa Clara, California

1). I'd rescue the corpse of JFK from Arlington National Cemetery, because frankly the rest deserve to be food for an army of classic monsters. Aside from that, it would be a pain trying to tell the politicians from the monsters once they became entangled. 2). This is a no-brainer. The Gillman, aka Creature From the Black Lagoon, aka Blacky. Let's face it, he's the single greatest monster of all time, and the poor guy is just misunderstood. No way could I in good conscience wipe such a beautiful creature off the face of the Earth. 3). If scored by Lalo Schifrin, then hell yes. Generally, soundtracks to fiction are uninspired (I'm thinking the soundtrack to Skipp and Spector's novel The Bridge - if you don't know what that is you're definitely not a geek amongst splatterpunks - or the Joel McNeely score to Shadows of the Empire, which does not earn the right to sit alongside any John Williams Star Wars score). Carlos Ruis Zafon did a nice job with his score for Shadow of the Wind, but that was such an amazing book, how could anyone be surprised that the guy's also a fine musician.

Fernando DeAlba – Kyle, Texas

1). I would choose to rescue the President of the United States, because even though he (or potentially she) may be one of the most unpopular Presidents in history, they still represent the ideology of these United States, which of course includes democracy, freedom, and the right to “...life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. To have anything happen to him/her would most likely demoralize many within this country, even if they did not like them. One has to only look at the natural passing of any President to see such an effect. Anytime a President passes away (either naturally or unnaturally), the entire nation mourns the loss of an individual who served the highest level of office within this country. Even those who hated said President would eventually pause to collectively give appreciation for their service. To this effect the same situation would happen if a President were killed during a monster invasion, and this is why I would gladly pick the President as the one person I'd pick to rescue. 2). I believe that Dracula would be the most difficult to destroy. Although Dracula has several commonly known weaknesses (garlic, the cross, sunlight), all of these attributes require the person to be in close proximity in order for them to work. To this extent this is where a catch-22 situation arises, because the closer one gets to Dracula the more dangerous (perhaps even fatal) the situation becomes. It would be like figuring out that the only way to kill an Alien from the “Alien” movies would be to put a medallion on their neck. Yeah, good luck trying that one out. And with his abilities to either hypnotize a subject, turn himself into a bat (and/or wolf depending on the interpretation), and use of lighting speed, there's just so many ways that he could kill someone without the person even being able to realize it. 3). I believe that more comics should come with accompanying scores, because in my opinion this only helps and never hurts the medium. One has to only look at attempts within comparative fields to see just how good it works. For example with the novel “Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire”, it was released with an entire score soundtrack by Joel McNeely (featuring work composed by John Williams of course) to much success. New and existing themes/motifs were given to Star Wars fans, which allowed one to read the novel and truly become immersed within its pages. The same example is constantly utilized within audiobooks. Many Star Trek audiobooks regularly have background music (and sound effects) accompanying a narration, and this greatly adds to the drama being filtered into the reader's mind. This same effect would happen if scores were accompanying the latest editions of comic books. One can only imagine just how wonderful the reading experience would be if strong action pieces were accompanying one of Superman's many heroic rescues. Or if romantic music were playing during a tender scene between Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson. Or if suspenseful music were playing as Batman is tracking one of his latest villain. Such examples would truly be great experiences.

Matthew Schwartz – Phoenix, Arizona

1). Without question Alexander Ovechkin.  He is the first pure scorer in the NHL since early Mogilny and Sellane.  His electricity on offense singlehandedly may resurrect the NHL.  Well him, an aggressive international marketing campaign and possibly a new Canadian and European division can put the sport of hockey back on the map.  As for the politicians... it is us to be saved from them.  Bring on November 4th! 2). The Frankenstein Monster.  Vamps have to many obvious weaknesses, garlic, mirrors, crosses, daylight, metrosexuals... boo.  Werewolves?... no, silver is too well known and easy to come by- high school girls who "think gold is gaudy" would be our saviors... no thanks.  But Frankenstein... yeah, gimme some of that.  First off, there is only one.  He has no minions to toss haphazardly at me.  Second, he's already dead so how do you kill him?  Third, no known weaknesses.  Yeah the F Monster is one I wouldn't want to hunt. 3). yes, Yes, YES!  I read Jurassic Park before the movie came out.  I also remember reading it the second time (after the movie came out) with John Williams' score on in the background and it changed every thing I knew about leisurely reading and soundtracks.  I never think of that book, or movie, without thinking of the scene where Grant sees his first brachiosaur (apatosaur in the book) and the music just carrying the scene in the background.  I recently reread Silence of the Lambs with its movie score on in the background and...damn.  I'm currently rereading LotR with its score- maybe the best reread yet.  I encourage every reader I meet to do the same when given the chance.

Jeffrey Waters - Moore, Oklahoma

1). Well as an actual member of the USDSD who survived such an attack, I can’t so much tell you who I would save, as who I did save.  Initially, I was assigned to save Vice President Chaney, but after he shot me in the shoulder and swore to me that there was a Vampire behind me who had very quickly turned into a bat and flown out an unopened window, I decided he could fend for himself.  I spent the next half hour battling a horde of werewolves while carrying Condoleezza Rice over my bum shoulder.  Upon exiting, she promptly flew into the bright light of the full moon.  To which one of Bush’s detail responded by saying: “I could be wrong, but there is a chance that wasn’t Condoleezza Rice.”  Ultimately, I ended up walking Donald Rumsfeld out, though our exit wasn’t exactly resisted, and I wasn’t sure what he was doing at the White House since he resigned in 2006.  There is actually an ongoing investigation into his possible involvement, though he seemed like a perfectly nice guy to me. To your original question, if I had to do it all over again, I would have saved Barney, the President’s Scottish Terrier, because he was a downright charismatic animal, and I cannot help but feel responsible for his demise, as I doubt the Harpy, who I had confused with Mrs. Rice, had good intentions for him. 2). From personal experience I can actually tell you that, surprisingly, Mummies are the hardest monster to destroy.  Frankly, they just don’t die.  Your best bet is to just shove them in a box somewhere and bury ‘em.  Now, they aren’t particularly hard to fight.  I have actually had leisurely cell phone conversations mid-battle with mummies.  All you really have to do is walk fast for0Aabout thirty seconds and that will give you a solid five minutes of talk time, but you have to remember that they won’t quit.  I actually forgot I was fighting a mummy once only to have him catch me taking a nap while watching a football game on my couch 3 days later. 3). Yes.  I listen to score music anytime I read, and it does nothing but enhance the experience.  The problem, of course, lies in the fact that much of what I listen to isn’t always perfectly suited for what I am reading, but when you hit that note it is a thing to behold.  Those moments would obviously occur more readily with a score tailored to said reading material.

Lowell Larson – Phoenix, Arizona

1). This one is the easiest to answer, THE HOT SCIENTIST CHICK, and this is why:  In the history of monster movies only two people really survive monster attacks consistently, the hot chick and the guy who saves the hot chick to become her boyfriend/fiance at the end.  Now usually that guy has some sort of scientific background that comes in handy to defeat said monsters, I do not have a scientific background, thus, I have to save a scientist chick.  Therefore when you combine the two, I shall save THE HOT SCIENTIST CHICK.   2). Frankenstein's Monster would be the most difficult.  Dracula, c'mon, just kill him during the day, and if daylight's not handy, crucifix and wooden stakes, holy water, etc.  Wolfman, shoot his hairy ass with a silver bullet, problem solved.  Zombies, shoot, shoot, shoot in the head.  Mummy, set the damn thing on fire already and be done with him.  All these monsters are pretty easy to kill EXCEPT Frankenstein's Monster.  That sorry S.O.B. has been shot, stabbed, burned, frozen, electrocuted, beat by angry villagers, but he just doesn't go down.  I swear, Frankenstein's Monster must be the bastard father of Jason and Michael Myers, HE JUST DOESN'T GO DOWN!!!!   3). If the comic doesn't cost 20 bucks, then sure why not.  I recall many a day when I would put on a little record (yeah, I'm old) that had the soundtrack to Star Wars on one side and a thing called "A Stereo Space Odyssey" on the other and just veg out reading comics listening to kick ass classical soundtrack music.  And I would dare anyone to read Bloom County's "Billy And The Boingers" cartoon book and NOT have that great little lp of "I'm A Boinger" and "You Make Me Sick (But I Love You)" playing non-stop on your stereo.  TUBA SOLO!!!!!!!



Congratulations gentlemen! You’re autographed copy of SPOOKS and the accompanying autographed CD will be in the mail early next week. Enjoy! I want to thank everybody for their entries. I’d also like to give special thanks to Aleph Records, Devil’s Due Publishing, and Beth Krakower of Cinemedia Promotions.

ScoreKeeper!!!