Nicholas Diak
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nickdiak.com
Nicholas Diak
@nickdiak.com
420 followers 72 following 1.3K posts
Pop culture scholar of peplum, Italian films, industrial music, horror studies, and other odd subjects. Tiki and cocktails, mid-century and pinups. Co-host of H.P. Lovecast Podcast. He/Him. nickdiak.com. Glendale, AZ.
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nickdiak.com
Months of saving vegetable scraps in my freeze (carrots, onions, garlic, etc.), all cumulates to today where I can make a wicked vegetable stock.
Top down view of a big pot, filled with water and vegetable scraps. There is ALOT of onion
November 27, 2025 at 7:49 PM
nickdiak.com
Newest CD acquisitions for the sword and sandal soundtrack/score library: The Egyptian and Gladiator II.

#SwordAndSandal #HistoricEpic #Antiquity #Peplum #Soundtrack #Score #Gladiator #TogaAndSandal #CultFilm #EpicFilm #Epic
2 CDs, one for The Egyptian and one for Gladiator 2.
November 26, 2025 at 7:23 PM
nickdiak.com
Newest acquisition for the sword and sandal library: the new 4K Steelbook release of the Biblical peplum The Ten Commandments.

A show with everything but Yul Brynner!

#Peplum #SwordAndSandal #HistoricEpic #Epic #TogaAndSandal #Biblical #GoldenAgeOfHollywood #Bluray #Benhur #MovieCollection
Steelbook of The Ten Commandments. It shows Charlton Heston holding 2 tablets against a rest sky.
November 26, 2025 at 12:58 AM
nickdiak.com
Strange Days - way ahead of its time and still relevant, but way unappreciated as a Bigelow film and a cyberpunk film. It is just kind of lost to other 90s fare.

Also, great sound track and influential in its own right in that electronic musicians would sample dialogue from the film.
November 25, 2025 at 4:57 AM
nickdiak.com
Tonight's libation: The Mongoose Mai Tai. Originally from the Rainforest Cafe, this variation is pineapple, lime, orange, Orgeat, Coconut Rum, Dark Rum and a float of 151.

I dig it! Not a pineapple man, but it's good in this!

Have a great new week everyone!

#Tiki #Cocktail #Exotica #Midcentury
Cocktail in a Scooby doo themed rocks glass, garnished with 2 cherries. A copy of More Music for Relaxation is the background. It shows a romantic on a chair wearing plaid pants.
November 24, 2025 at 2:26 AM
nickdiak.com
The incoming storm.
Super grey, stormy skies
November 20, 2025 at 12:19 AM
nickdiak.com
Today's treasure from the archive: Ilsa: She Wolf of the SS, signed by director Don Edmonds and Ilsa herself, Dyanne Thorne.

Kino has been re-releasing these infamous #Nazisploitation films, so I wanted to share my DVD.

#Exploitation #CultFilm #Sexploitation #Grindhouse #Autographed #DVDCollection
Kinda bootleg-sh DVD of Ilsa: She Wolf of the SS. It is numbered 45 of 50. It shows Ilsa in a white shirt, her chest puffed out.
November 19, 2025 at 9:52 PM
nickdiak.com
Algernon isn’t feeling well - so at the vet :(
Tabby cat in carrier in exam room.
November 15, 2025 at 5:07 PM
nickdiak.com
New review at my website!

I take a look at Nylon Nightcap #2 from Bachelor Pad / @bachelorpad.bsky.social - check it out here:

nickdiak.com/2025/11/maki...

#Pinup #Burlesque #Stockings #Nylons #Retro #Vintage #Review
Copy of Nylon Nightcap #2 sitting on a shelf.
November 12, 2025 at 5:52 PM
nickdiak.com
Picture 1: Scene from Twilight in front of the High school (filmed at Kalama Washington)

Picture 2: Drama club photo, from my High School year book (class of 2000, Kalama High School). Me on the right (poofy hair).

There I be - me and my #Twilight connection

#Vampire #Horror #Bella #Edward
"Forks" high school from the Twilight movie. Black and White photo from my high school year book. It's of Drama clubs. We are all gathered on a flight of steps outside the school that is made of bricks.
November 11, 2025 at 8:33 PM
nickdiak.com
Good morning everyone -

Time for my updates on writing, projects, & stuff:

Vidcast on With of the Titans

Review published in Panthans journal

New Edge Sword & Sorcery coming out soon

And more! Check it all out here:

nickdiak.com/2025/11/news...

#SwordandSorcery #Peplum #SwordAndSandal #Comic
Covers of the next three issues of New Edge Sword and Sorcery. Cover of National Capital Panthans #342. It shows Tarzan, sitting on a branch, with a grassland behind him, with a lion and zebras grazing. Blu-Ray Steelbook version of Wrath of the Titans.
November 10, 2025 at 4:30 PM
nickdiak.com
I saw the passing of Diane Ladd the other day. I never had the opportunity to meet her, but she was in Carnosaur, and I do have a copy of that movie signed by Jennifer Runyon. A cult, camp classic.

#DianeLadd #Scifi #Dinosaur #JurassicPark #DVD #Autograph #RIP #Cultfilm #Horror #HorrorFilm
DVD pf Carnosaur. It is signed "To Nick, my best, Jennifer Runyon"
November 5, 2025 at 9:13 PM
nickdiak.com
The world does not see enough Gwendolyn, the tortie missing a tooth, clipped ear, and crooked butthole. She may look kinda mean, but she’s a sweetie and I love her.

#cat #tortie #tortitude
Gwendolyn the tortie.
November 2, 2025 at 7:52 PM
nickdiak.com
Arrived in the mail today! The new version of Hard Boiled from @shoutstudios.bsky.social . One of my all time favorite films, here is it paired with my older DVD version of the film.

Excited to rewatch this!

#FilmNoir #BulletBallet #HeroicBloodshed #MartialArts #HongKongCinema #HardBoiled
Three different versions of the movie Hard Boiled.
November 1, 2025 at 11:56 PM
nickdiak.com
Publication news!

My review of issue 4 of the Neo jungle girl comic Vanya from @badbugmedia.bsky.social has been reprinted in the National Capital Panthans Journal #342

Original can be read here: nickdiak.com/2025/06/goin...

#Tarzan #JungleGirl #Pulp #IndieComic #Comics #Comicbook #Scifi
Cover of National Capital Panthans Journal #342. It shows Tarzan, sitting on a branch, with a prairie behind him that has a lion and a group of zebras. The sun looks to be setting.
November 1, 2025 at 4:43 PM
nickdiak.com
:)
October 27, 2025 at 5:34 AM
nickdiak.com
Half Price Bookstore finds this weekend!

My Arkham collection grows with this Brian Lumley novel.

And I plucked up the Pink Panther compilation because Look at all that amazing SHAG artwork!!

#Tiki #Exotica #Shag #CD #Arkham #Lovecraft #MidCentury #BookCollector #Horror #Record #MusicCollector
Copy of "The Horror at Oakdeene & Others" by Brian Lumley. It shows a figure approaching a robed figure in a pond in a spooky forest. Pink Panther's Penthouse Party digipack CD. The CD folded out. It shows, in SHAG artwork style (lots of purple) a midcentury living room and bar with folks gathered around and drinking, and the Pink Panther is sipping a cocktail.
October 27, 2025 at 2:06 AM
nickdiak.com
Newest gaming stuff that I've gotten my paws on:

The Phantasy Star #TTRPG by @skydawngames.com - grey up playing PS2 and 4 on my Genesis, so lots of memories there

Yakuza 0 and Gradius from @limitedrungames.com - I've only ever played Y0 and it was a lovely fever dream!

#Videogame #Sega #Schmup
hardcover of the Pantasy Star Tabletop Roleplaying Game Boxset of Yakuza 0 and Gradius Origins on the Xbox.
October 22, 2025 at 4:34 PM
nickdiak.com
Good morning everyone -

My periodic post of news, projects, publications, etc. is at my website:

nickdiak.com/2025/10/news...

My write up for the #EdgarRiceBurroughs ECOF event is online

My publisher, @mcfarland.bsky.social , is having a sale on Horror books, which includes books I've edited
Picture of Warren Warp's Grave in Willcox AZ Cover of the book Horror Literature from Gothic to Post-Modern.
October 21, 2025 at 6:34 PM
nickdiak.com
Tonight's libation: The Tart Cherry Margarita (h/t to @robertbose.bsky.social )

Wishing all my friends, peers, colleagues, and followers a wonderful upcoming new week.

#Cocktail #Margarita #Tequila #Drink
A very red margarita flanked by a bottle of Epsilon, Tart Cherry juice, and a bottle of cointreau.
October 20, 2025 at 3:32 AM
nickdiak.com
Plucked up at the antique mall yesterday: stickers for the 90s FPS video game ZPC, a game designed by BRUTE! / Aidan Hughes - the artist behind all the iconic album artwork of KMFDM / @kmfdm284.bsky.social

What a random, neat find!

#VideoGame #KMFDM #FPS #RetroGaming #Halo #Bungie
Two stickers, one green and one red. The green is oval, with a man who looks starved. The rest sticker looks like John Wick holding a gun. Game copyright credits on the back of the sticker.
October 19, 2025 at 5:35 PM
nickdiak.com
Found out the sad news Samantha Eggar passed away earlier this week. She was in some #cultfilm including the Cronenberg classic The Brood. Here is my DVD she autographed to me.

Since she was in Hercules, #RestInPeplum !

#Horror #RIP #BodyHorror #HorrorFilm #ExploitationFilm #DVD #Autograph
DVD of The Brood. In silver it is signed “For Nick, Thank you, Samantha Eggar”
October 18, 2025 at 4:25 PM
nickdiak.com
CHUD RULES!

Here is my autographed copy :)
October 17, 2025 at 7:00 PM
nickdiak.com
Today's treasure from the Archives: my copy of Grand Theft Auto 4 signed by Mr. Niko Bellic himself, Michael Hollick.

#GTA #GTA4 #GrandTheftAuto #VideoGame #Xbox #Xbox360 #Autograph #Retrogame
Xbox 360 version of GTA4. In black ink it is signed "To Nick, have Fun in LC! Michael Hollick AKA Niko"
October 11, 2025 at 6:49 PM
nickdiak.com
It's Halloween time!

I only own 2 things that are Ravenloft-related. Survived since I was a teen in the 90s.

#Ravenloft #Horror #DungeonsAndDragons #ADND2E #DND #D&D #AD&D2E #Vampire #TSR #Halloween #Spooky #RPG #TTRPG
October 10, 2025 at 6:31 PM