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Showing posts from May, 2013

DARK UNIVERSE: update on horror fiction adaptations

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Since the last time that this horror comics anthology was mentioned here, two additional issues have been published.   Issue #5 will debut in late June.  Here’s an update on this fascinating series of horror/dark fantasy fiction adaptations to the comics medium . . . . . . . TALES FROM THE DARK UNIVERSE is meant to showcase graphic adaptations of stories contained within the DARK UNIVERSE omnibus , a collection of short works by author William F. Nolan.  Nolan writes across various genres and is most noted for co-authoring science-fiction novel LOGAN’S RUN with George Clayton Johnson.  He shares scripting chores in Bluewater’s DARK UNIVERSE with Jason Brock, his editing partner on several dark fantasy anthologies.  ( The Bleeding Edge, The Devil’s Coattails , etc.)  Plans are to adapt these stories into six individual issues and then later collect them all in a trade paperback or hardcover edition.  An interview with the authors was posted to this site on Sunday, May 26. TALES FRO

INTERVIEW: Adapting horror fiction to a graphic format

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  William F. Nolan is perhaps best known for coauthoring the novel Logan’s Run with George Clayton Johnson, and has written hundreds of pieces, from poetry to nonfiction to prose.  He also had a long career in the movie industry, and co-wrote the screenplay for the 1976 horror film Burnt Offerings which starred Karen Black and Bette Davis.  Nolan has also been a prolific editor of collections (by others), and anthologies, frequently with Jason V. Brock.  He has received the Living Legend in Dark Fantasy award by the International Horror Guild in 2002.  In 2010, he received the Lifetime Achievement Stoker award from the Horror Writers Association (HWA). Jason V Brock is an American author, artist, editor and director.  He is the CEO and co-founder (with his wife, Sunni) of JaSunni Productions, LLC , whose documentary films include the controversial Charles Beaumont : The Short Life of Twilight Zone ’s Magic Man , and The AckerMonster Chronicles.   His novella, Milton’s Children ,

WHAT'S NEW? May 20, 2013

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MAJOR SPOILERS PODCAST: Check out www.majorspoilers.com for a variety of podcasts on subjects near and dear to our pop culture cravings. It’s the new home of WAYNE’S COMICS, a podcast that I try to follow. WAYNE’S COMICS PODCAST #90 features a great interview with writer John Layman, who discusses his work on CHEW, DETECTIVE COMICS and many others. TOP SELLER FOR APRIL: It’s great to see a book that’s not a Marvel or DC title break into the top sellers list. JUPITER’S LEGACY reached #3 in April 2013 based on pre-orders through Diamond Distribution. BRANDON PETERSON IN MARYLAND: Artist Brandon Peterson (Age Of Ultron) will visit Comics, Cards & Collectibles (100A Chartley Drive, Reistertown, Maryland) on Saturday, June 1 from 1 to 5 p.m. DC HUNGER FUND-RAISER: DC Comics fans really supported their We Can Be Heroes crowd-funding campaign in a big way. The original goal was to raise $50,000 for non-profit agencies to provide hunger relief in Africa. By the end of the campaign

Comics Are For Everybody . . . . . . . . . . .

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From the official press release . . . . . COMIC BOOK TO COMMEMORATE STONEWALL RIOTS- BIRTH OF THE GAY PRIDE MOVEMENT History remembers the sacrifices of icons like Rosa Parks and the efforts of Dennis Banks, Cesar Chavez, and other great defenders of American civil rights. However, less is known about the rise of the gay rights movement, which many say started as a result of the Stonewall Riots. Bluewater Productions looks to commemorate the event and examine its legacy in an upcoming comic book. The Stonewall Riots, scheduled for release on the 44th anniversary of the infamous New York City riots this June, centers around the events and culture leading up to the riots, the incident itself and its historical significance as the genesis of the Gay Pride Movement. “Civil rights are not just an American tradition; it’s a birthright,” said Bluewater president Darren G. Davis. “When I recognized that Stonewall was quickly fading into an obscure footnote, I had a obligation to remind peop

What's New? May 12, 2013

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INDIEGOGO CAMPAIGN UPDATES: The IRON KING fundraiser previously mentioned has completed funding. They raised $12,313. The new horror comics series EVIL JESTER PRESENTS has also reached their goal of $5,000 and will be able to produce the first issue (of a planned four issues). You can pre-order a copy of Issue #1 at www.eviljestercomics.com. Lastly, the DC Entertainment "We Can Be Heroes" campaign to supply food to Africa raised a whopping $152,941! All hail the power of crowdfunding. PLANET DEATH CONTINUES: The epic story continues this Wednesday 5/15 with X-O MANOWAR #13 with more incredible art from Cary Nord. Here's a one panel preview courtesy of Valiant Entertainment. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Variety is the spice: zombies, crime, outer space, horror

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THE COLONIZED  #1 (IDW, APRIL 2013) Written by Chris Ryall. Art by Drew Moss.                It’s Zombies versus Aliens!  What more could you ask for?  There is actually more, such as a militant faction going head to head with an environmentally-conscious group.  Both reside in a small-town Montana c ollective community and the recent death of their leader sparks the power struggle.  There’s a vibe to this book that resonates like the more likeable parts of the MARS ATTACKS movie, comics, and original trading cards. An alien exploratory craft enters the atmosphere and transports a human from ground level to their ship to make introductions.  Turns out they hovered over a cemetery and tractor-beamed a zombie aboard their ship. Mayhem ensues and their ship crashes, with the community coming out to investigate.  You might be surprised by what occurs next, and that’s why the description ends here.  THE COLONIZED  #1 is a promising beginning, with clever art that keeps a light-hearted

Moody, atmospheric horror: The team that can’t miss

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B.P.R.D.: VAMPIRE #1 of 5 (Dark Horse, March 2013) and B.P.R.D.: VAMPIRE #2 of 5 (April 2013) Story by Mike Mignola, Gabriel Ba, and Fabio Moon. Art by Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon. Colors by Dave Stewart. Letters by Clem Robins. If there are any “can’t miss” scripters in horror comics today, then Mike Mignola would be at or near the top of the list. If you are not picking up any of the various mini-series he’s been involved with the last few years (HELLBOY, B.R.P.D., BALTIMORE , etc) then you are depriving yourself of some ultra-premium quality work. The imagery by Ba and Moon in the opening five pages is mesmerizing. Without dialogue or captions, the art reveals the details of a grim event while the coloring by Dave Stewart embellishes it further with dark tones and shades of red in stark contrast to the white, wintry woodlands. A dark river stained red by the floating corpses of various ladies in gowns creates enough dread in the reader to carry forward until the end of the issue.