Return of the Russian Bear

Series creator and director Sam Reich has done for Zangief what producer William Dozier did for Batman; brought an almost forgotten hero back from near obscurity and right smack dab back into the pop culture limelight again. Just as Capcom used the fall of the Soviet Union as an excuse to remove Zangief from the Street Fighter universe, Sam used it as the catalyst to bring him back. Zangief as a washed up has-been, brokenhearted by his realization that, unlike during his glory days when he was a hero to millions, today the kids see him as a joke.

Since the Red Cyclone's triumphant return, he's been popping up more and more again in pop culture these days. Sota Toys has finally issued a Zangief action figure (along with Dhalsim, E. Honda and R. Mika for good measure). Now yours truly is making some appearances as the scary but lovable Russian brute in a variety of mediums.

First was the cover of the June issue of Creativity magazine. On October 1st, I made a very Alfred-Hitchcock-like cameo appearance in the new feature film about street fighters called "Fighting", starring Terrence Howard, Channing Tatum and Luis Guzman and directed by Dito Montiel. Just this past Sunday, October 7th, I did a shoot as Zangief with some other bears for an ad for Absolut Vodka (can you think of a heavier vodka drinker than our hairy Russin wrestler?) which will appear in the holiday issue of A Bear's Life magazine.

Speaking of which, your Drummer Bear will be featured in the spring, '08 issue of the magazine and I'll be interviewed along with Sam Reich by ABL's Stevo Harris.

Big thanks to Sam for revitalizing the career of one of the most legendary video game characters and easily the first successful grappling character in any fighting game.

Is it just me or is everybody else noticing all the Mohawks out on the street these days?.