OFFICIAL: Phantasm Collection Black Edition Cancelled

When word broke earlier this year about Well Go USA's mega-awesome Phantasm Collection, phans were psyched. And why not? This thing is packing beautiful transfers, a treasure trove of extras, and a new silver sphere replica. Plus, it was going to come in both black and white editions sporting Aaron Lea's incredible new artwork.

After several unfortunate delays, the white edition finally debuted through Best Buy last week. The Phantasm Archives reached out to Well Go this morning to inquire about other potential retailers and also the release of the black variant edition. Well Go responded that other major retailers should be stocking the Phantasm Collection by year's end, which is great.

As for the Black Variant edition? It's officially cancelled. A sure bummer, but a small one all things considered. We're still mighty lucky to be getting such an incredible release.

The NEW Phantasm Collection Has Arrived! (sorta)

After much anticipation and several delays, Well Go USA's newest Phantasm Collection has finally arrived - sorta. While most retailers are still awaiting their shipments, Best Buy seems to have lucked out and are already offering the sets online and in-store. (Only the white editions, apparently.)

Although it can be a major pain tracking down one of these sets in-store right now, early feedback from phans is that this is by far the greatest collective offering of the franchise we've seen yet. The newly added bonus features are reportedly wonderful and Phantasm II has never looked better with its stunning new transfer.

Photo snagged from Don Coscarelli's official Facebook.

LIMITED - Reggie/Dwarf Figure 2-Pack from Morningside Customs

It was just last month that Morningside Customs' Mike/Tall Man double-offering sold out damn near immediately. Priced at roughly $250 and limited to only 50 pieces, they were at once a hot commodity on the secondhand market. Well, MC hasn't wasted anytime in following this up with another Phantasm double-figure pack.

Pre-orders have just opened up for a Reggie/Dwarf figure combo. While they aren't saying how many are being made this time around, they're sticking with the same $249.99 price tag. I must admit, this second round of hand-painted figures look just as cool as the last ones. Reggie even comes with a four-barrel shotgun accessory!

You can pre-order yours at Monsters in Motion.

New AUTOMATONS Book Features Tribute to Angus Scrimm

Readers of this blog might remember me talking about a film called AUTOMATONS over the years. This post-apocalyptic indie from 2006 was written and directed by James Felix McKenney of Glass Eye Pix fame and featured our dear Tall Man Angus Scrimm in a starring role. I was a big fan of the movie when it first debuted on home video eleven years ago. (Check out my original review here.)

To celebrate the project's thirteenth anniversary, Pulp 2.0 Press has now released the official book of the film, which features a behind the scenes look at its unique production along with cast/crew interviews. Among the books features is a special tribute to Angus Scrimm, who played "The Scientist." Being such a big fan of the movie, I cannot wait to check out this book.

AUTOMATONS: The Book of the Movie is now available from Amazon for a very reasonable $9.99. Get your copy here! To learn more about Automatons, visit the Glass Eye Pix website.

Phantasm.com Now Selling Hammers

Here's something rather unexpected. The official Phantasm store is now offering limited edition replicas of Mike's shotgun-shell-enhanced-hammer from the original film! These replicas ship out in a glass case and are hand-signed by Don Coscarelli. The official site has dubbed this item the "Phantasm War Hammer" and they're each priced at $99.99.

Per the product page: This beautiful prop replica of the Hammer/Shotgun shell device, which young Mike uses to escape his bedroom in the original Phantasm, comes in a lovely glass and wood display case. The hammer handle is autographed by Phantasm creator Don Coscarelli and signature comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. The shotgun shell within is empty and non-operational. This display case containing the Phantasm War Hammer is approximately 15" in length, 8.5" in width and approximately 2.5" tall.

Get yours here. What other prop replicas would you like to see? Reggie's dwarf-destroying four-barrel? Better quality spheres? A life-size space gate, perhaps?

New Look at 40th Anniversary Blu-ray Set

While the Phantasm 40th Anniversary Collection is waaaay past the original October release date and also set to miss the rescheduled release date, we now have a better look at the packaging courtesy Amazon. Boasting an impressive array of bonus features AND a silver sphere replica, this new collection will come in both black and white editions. Here's to hoping we get it before the 50th Anniversary! (kidding not kidding)

40th Anniv. Set Delayed AGAIN? Seemingly, Yes.

Many of you heard about the recent confirmation that Phantasm's 40th Anniversary Blu-ray set had been delayed due to issues concerning the silver sphere replica. (Word on the street is there's an issue importing them from their place of origin. Not the Red Planet, apparently, but mainland China.) Originally slated for release on October 22nd, Don Coscarelli had been promoting December 3rd as the new release date. (This according to a promotional trailer shown at his recent Tucson, Arizona appearance.) We now have reason to believe that the set has been delayed even further.

The always terrific Dark Delicacies has just announced an in-store signing event for the release. Guests scheduled to attend - as of now - include Don Coscarelli, Reggie Bannister, Gigi Bannister, Ken Jones, and David Hartman. The plot twist in all of this is that the event is scheduled for Tuesday, December 10th and yet is mentioned as being a "Pre-Release" signing. That would seem to nix the December 3rd release date, though we've yet to get any official confirmation on that. In fact, the official camp has yet to even acknowledge that the original October 22nd release date didn't happen - except in-person, of course. An announcement would be nice.

As always, will post more news as we get it.

Stunning Mike/Tall Man Figure 2-Pack from Morningside Customs

Here's some cool news that I wasn't quite fast enough in posting about as it's already bloody sold out! The Monsters-In-Motion online store has just posted this stunning Mike Pearson/Tall Man Retro-Figure 2-Pack from "Morningside Customs." Priced at $250, this fan-produced offering is limited to a mere fifty pieces, which explains why it sold out so quickly. The 8" figures were sculpted by Chris Elizardo with box art by Allan Graves. This collection comes with silver sphere and mutant-bug accessories.

Fingers crossed they'll produce more in the near future as the quality appears quite good. You can still view the listing here. Click any of the images below to see them in greater detail. (Thanks to Scott Pensa for the initial heads up!)

Phantasm's Morningside Mortuary Threatened by Wildfires

Well, this is shitty. Recent news out of Oakland, California suggest that the state's raging wildfires may now be threatening "Oaktown," which is home to the Dunsmuir-Hellman Estate - better known to Phantasm phans as Morningside Mortuary from the first film. Built in 1899, this stunning 37-room mansion has appeared in numerous shows and films throughout the years including Burnt Offerings, A View to a Kill, and So I Married an Axe Murderer.

The Dunsmuir team posted the following notice on social media announcing their temporary closure. News outlets are reporting heavy smoke over the city and that schools have begun to close amid precautionary power shut-offs. Fingers crossed the fires extinguish soon, not only to prevent further loss of life and property, but to also spare this classic Phantasm location. (Thanks to Scott Pensa for the head's up on this.)

Here's a look at the Dunsmuir mansion from several years ago in better times. Superphan Matt Naylor proposed to now-wife Jessica during their pilgrimage to the Tall Man's stomping grounds. You learn more about Dunsmuir and even plan a visit, assuming everything turns out okay, by visiting their official website here.