Monthly Archive: May 2011

Happy Mother’s Day!

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  • May 8, 2011
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We’re off taking care of our own moms today, so I’m going to just link to Ty Templeton’s list of the Top 7 Bad Mothers in Comics. Although how he missed Rorschach’s mom, I’ll never know.

Of course, we all know the worst mom in comics is the one that threw your comics away– or even worse, claimed that you read them too much, and so tore up your copy of [[[Batman]]] #251, “The Joker’s Five-Way Revenge” by Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams, in front of you to prove a point; an event that scarred and twisted you to this very day, and then she wonders why you want to put her into a home…

…perhaps I’ve said too much here.

Love you, mom!

Twitter Updates for 2011-05-08

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  • May 8, 2011

Review: “Thor”

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  • May 7, 2011
Chris Hemsworth as Thor as depicted in the upc...

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For a Marvel movie geek, three things were inevitable about Thor: 1) The Stan Lee cameo scene, 2) the post-end credits scene, and 3) nitpicking. Nitpicking is going to happen with any comic book related movie, and I’ve grudgingly accepted it as a necessary evil that certain sacrifices would need to be made in any translation of a story from one medium to another. Thus, certain things will have to be overlooked IF the end result is successful.

Marvel’s version of Thor in its many incarnations has tread a delicate balance of Norse mythology and something flashy thanks to Jack Kirby’s glorious art. In Kenneth Branagh’s movie adaptation of Thor, there are elements of the Prodigal Son, Arthurian mythology, and of course, grounding in Marvel history.

For his arrogance and defiance of his father Odin (Sir Anthony Hopkins), King of otherworldly Asgard, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is stripped of his considerable power and warhammer Mjolnir and banished to Earth. Making matters worse, his brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) is beginning to discover things about himself, and let’s say he starts some trouble, now that Odin is in a coma. While on earth, Thor is tricked into believing that his father is dead (and three guesses as to who tricked him).

There was the requisite love interest in Dr. Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), a scientist investigating atmospheric anomalies. As with recent Marvel movies, the shadowy government agency SHIELD was behind the scenes, and this being a Summer movie, there was the requisite amount of wholesale property damage.

While formulaic, Thor is refreshingly entertaining. Comic book movies rely heavily upon reverence for and adherence to the source material. The result must look and more importantly feel like the comic books. Kenneth Branagh’s Thor succeeds and entertains although the progression from arrogant bastard to superhero wasn’t deep enough, and I could have done without Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings), Dr. Jane Foster’s ultra-annoying assistant.

If you still have no idea what the movie’s about, here’s a brief featurette:

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Chris Hemsworth and Kenneth Branagh Face The Challenge Of “Thor”!

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  • May 6, 2011

The 20011 Summer Movie barrage is now officially underway and first up to bat – one of the most beloved Marvel Comic legends, Thor. It was no easy task translating decades of comics into a visual project and we talk to the cast and director about how each one of them faced that challenge. Natalie Portman, Kenneth Branagh and Chris Hemsworth all join us for our exclusive coverage right here.

Ok – you saw THOR?  Did it hit the mark? Drop us a comment below!

Read “Hammer Of The Gods: Back From The Dead”!

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  • May 6, 2011

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With all the interest in Norse sagas because of that movie opening today, we would be remiss if we didn’t remind you about you Hammer Of The Gods, the series from Michael Avon Oeming (Powers) and Mark Wheatley (EZ Street)!

This is the saga of Modi, a young Viking who was given amazing powers from the Norse Gods, literally carrying the power of Mjollnir, the hammer of Thorr… and a destiny to shake the world.


In the original 2004 graphic novel (which was recently reprinted by ComicMix and IDW, and is available for sale now) Modi came to terms with his strengths and weaknesses, fell in love with the Valkyrie, Skogul, and became a hero. As the new series starts, Odin, the king of the Gods, decides to peek in on the world of men. He travels to China, and soon Modi and his men must follow.

In addition to Oeming and Wheatley, there are contributions from John Staton, Neil Vokes, Guy Davis, Matt Plog, Tim Wallace, Brian Quinn, Scott Morse, Ethan Beavers, David Beck and others.

Read the series online now— or buy Hammer Of The Gods Volume 1: Mortal Enemy from your local comic book store or from Amazon!

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HANCOCK TIPS HIS HAT AND HEARS THE VOICE OF ODIN!

TIPPIN’ HANCOCK’S HAT-Reviews of All Things Pulp by Tommy Hancock

DILLON AND THE VOICE OF ODIN
By Derrick Ferguson
178 Pages
Published by Pulpwork Press

I read a lot, always have.  I read a lot of Pulp, Pulp of all varieties and all stripes and eat it up like a jungle explorer lost in a desert who finished off his last camel three weeks ago.  Most of what I read I like, a fair piece of it I thoroughly enjoy, but very rarely do I find something that I absolutely cannot put down, that sends me into withdrawals when I step away from it, that just completely changes my view on what good stories can be  I’ve reviewed a couple of those types of tales here, but its rare.

Well, here’s another one

Derrick Ferguson’s DILLON AND THE VOICE OF ODIN is one of the best pieces of New Pulp literature I have ever read.   The lead character is draped in all the trappings and traits of classic Pulp icons while having enough of his own wrinkles and scars to make him a thoroughly modern protagonist.   The pacing is relentless, starting off with a seemingly day in the life of scene for Dillon which blossoms into the lead-in to a world spanning, body count multiplying, gadget filling adventure that doesn’t allow a reader, even a seasoned one like me the chance to catch his breath.

The plot is that Dillon, an adventurer who is both sought after positively by those in need of his services and wanted by almost every agency in the world with a badge and letters in its name, does a friend a favor and retrieves a ring.  This ring is the key to an invention that could save or destroy the world.  Odin, the holder of said invention, as well as multiple other interested parties come after Dillon for the ring and madness and murderous mayhem ensues from there.

The best parts of this book concern Ferguson’s characters and his turn of phrase.  He creates such a wide panorama of characters, people who in no way should exist in what we think of the real world, yet he makes them believable, flawed, and likable, even the evil ones.   That combined with his ability to wrap words around a single concept and turn into an explosion of description, narration, and thought provoking exposition, not only once or twice but on almost every page, makes DILLON AND THE VOICE OF ODIN  a pure New Pulp delight to read!

FIVE OUT FIVE TIPS OF HANCOCK’S HAT-The finest kind.

ALL PULP NEWSSTAND BULLDOG EDITION 5/6/11

ALL PULP NEWSSTAND
BULLDOG EDITION
5/6/11
RADIO PULP RIDES AGAIN!
From Radio Archives-
The Latest News from RadioArchives.com!

* New in Old Time Radio: The Adventures of Frank Merriwell, Volume 2
* New in Pulp Fiction: The Spider, Volume 19, The Shadow Volume 48, and Doc Savage Volume 47
* Bargain Deals in the Radio Archives Treasure Chest
* Coming Soon: Pulp Audiobooks from Radio Archives

New in Old Time Radio: The Adventures of Frank Merriwell, Volume 2 
When we consider the great pulp characters of the past, we tend to think of the top heroes of the 1930s: Doc Savage, The Shadow, The Spider, and the other larger than life figures that captivated our imaginations. But decades before these crimefighters came on the scene, another character was filling the imaginations of millions of avid readers and inspiring them to follow his example.

The late nineteenth century marked the true beginnings of the pulp era, thanks to the introduction of “dime novels” – an inexpensive mix of newspaper and magazine that specialized in attention grabbing stories that always left readers wanting more. Aimed directly at American youth, many of the stories emphasized that, with a combination of pluck, dedication, and clean living, any American boy or girl could rise to any height that they chose – and indeed, become a hero themselves.

In the winter of 1895, a writer named Gilbert Patten created such a character for a new magazine called “Tip Top Library”. His publisher, Street and Smith, had instructed him to give his new hero admirable attributes like good looks, intelligence, good sportsmanship, ethics, and an outgoing personality – and so, based on these standards of excellence, Frank Merriwell was born.

The first Merriwell story appeared the following spring and was an instant success with readers. Thanks to Patten’s exciting, fast-paced writing style, the characters of Frank Merriwell and his friends Bart Hodge and Inza Burridge quickly became an institution; Street and Smith published their adventures for nearly two decades and an enduring literary legend was born.

After World War II, when the stories were largely a nostalgic part of the past, many of Merriwell’s readers retained a lingering fondness for this role model of their youth. Recognizing this, the National Broadcasting Company decided to reintroduce him to a contemporary audience. And so, in the fall of 1946, “The Adventures of Frank Merriwell”returned in a half-hour series of weekly radio adventures. Broadcast from New York, the new series starred Lawson Zerbe as Frank, with Hal Studer as his pal Bart Hodge and Elaine Rost as his girlfriend, Inza Burridge. NBC chose to make the series a period piece and, like many of the original stories, the programs were written as mini-mysteries – fast-paced tales in which Frank, Bart, and Inza investigated mysterious happenings, robberies, and underhanded deeds. True to its origins, each program subtly emphasized that success and popularity were best obtained through good sportsmanship, academic study, and athletic achievement. Thus, Merriwell and his cohorts continued to be the sort of positive role models they had been for half a century.

Heard today, “The Adventures of Frank Merriwell” may well remind you of the mystery stories of your own youth, reminiscent of characters like the Hardy Boys, the Three Adventurers, or Encyclopedia Brown. Priced at just $20.98, “The Adventures of Frank Merriwell, Volume 2” is a seven-hour CD set from RadioArchives.com that features fourteen exciting and original stories. It’s a collection you’ll want to add to your personal library right away – and be sure to share these wholesome and inspiring tales with your children and grandchildren too!New in Pulp Fiction: The Spider Volume 19, The Shadow Volume 48, and Doc Savage Volume 47

At RadioArchives.com, we love the thrills, chills, and excitement that only a great pulp fiction story can provide. That’s why we’re excited to announce that three brand new reprints featuring the top heroes from the 1930s and 1940s are now available from RadioArchives.com:

Pulp fiction’s legendary Master of Men returns in “The Spider Volume 19”, featuring two classic novels written by Norvell Page under the pseudonym of Grant Stockbridge. First, in “Slaves of the Dragon”, white slavery is stripping America of its wives, sisters and sweethearts. Richard Wentworth, valiant champion of human rights, knows that an Oriental master criminal is captaining the slavery syndicate and has guessed the unspeakable purpose behind these wholesale abductions. Can the Spider outwit his most formidable foe and save America’s doomed womanhood? Then, in “The Spider and his Hobo Army”, murder and destruction has stupefied the nation. The zero hour has come and the vast and insidious Order of the Double Cross is ready to blast America from the face of the earth. Can The Spider crush the minions of the Double Cross, with only a handful of ragged hobos to aid him? This beautifully reformatted double-novel version of these two pulp classics, priced at just $14.95, features the original cover art and interior illustrations that accompany each story.

Next, in “The Shadow Volume 48”, the Dark Avenger continues the celebration of his 80th anniversary in an extra-length issue that pairs his explosive second adventure with a gripping novel of international intrigue. In “The Eyes of The Shadow”, the Knight of Darkness assumes the identity of Lamont Cranston to investigate a series of baffling serial murders in a groundbreaking novel that introduced the Shadow’s famous alter ego and his enigmatic agent, Burbank. Then, can The Shadow stop “The Money Master” before his financial machinations destroy the global economy? This instant collectors’ item, priced at just $14.95, showcases the classic cover paintings by George Rozen and John A. Coughlin, the original interior illustrations by George H. Wert and Paul Orban, two never-before-published articles by the Shadow’s creator Walter B. Gibson, and historical commentary by Will Murray.

Finally, in “Doc Savage Volume 47”, pulp fiction’s legendary Man of Bronze returns in three action-packed thrillers by Lester Dent, writing as Kenneth Robeson. First, when a man claiming to have found the secret of eternal life is murdered, Doc Savage journeys to Mexico searching for an answer in the remote “Weird Valley”. Then, only the Man of Bronze can provide a beautiful con artist with an antidote for murder in “Let’s Kill Ames”. Finally, a lost city of Incas battles over the strange power of “The Green Master”. This classic pulp reprint, priced at just $14.95, features the original color pulp covers by George Rozen, Modest Stein, and Walter Swenson, plus Paul Orban’s classic interior illustrations and historical commentary by Will Murray.

If you’ve been collecting these beautifully reformatted issues as they are released, you’ll want to place your order for these new books right away. And if you’ve never read a pulp novel – well, you’re in for a real treat! Be sure to stop by RadioArchives.com today and check out our pulp fiction section, where you’ll find more of the exciting and engrossing tales of Doc Savage, The Shadow, The Spider, the Whisperer, and The Avenger.Bargain Deals in the Radio Archives Treasure Chest

Each week in this newsletter, we tell you about the great Treasure Chest deals that are always waiting for you at RadioArchives.com. But here’s something you may not know: every Friday, when we introduce our brand new CD set, we also put that new CD set into the Treasure Chest and offer it to you for Just 99 Cents. Throughout the weekend – all the way from Friday thru the following Monday – you can get this brand new release for less than one dollar when you place an order for $35 or more. What a great chance to get our newest products at bargain prices!

Check out the Treasure Chest bargains coming your way this week at RadioArchives.com – including our just released Frank Merriwell collection!

* Today through Monday May 9th, you can get our newest CD set – “The Adventures of Frank Merriwell, Volume 2”, a $20.98 value – for Just 99 Cents when you submit an order of $35.00 or more.

* On Tuesday May 10th, the mighty Man of Bronze is featured in “Doc Savage Volume 4”, featuring two thrilling pulp adventures novels by W. Ryerson Johnson and Lester Dent, writing as Kenneth Robeson: “Land of Always Night” and “Mad Mesa”. This beautifully reformatted double-novel reprint, chock full of special features, is normally priced at $12.95 – but you can enjoy these two exciting adventures for Just 99 Cents when you submit an order of $35.00 or more.

* On Wednesday May 11th, the legendary mastermind of evil returns in “The Shadow of Fu Manchu”, an action-packed ten-CD set featuring 45 rare and fully restored broadcasts from 1939 and starring such familiar radio performers as Gale Gordon, Hanley Stafford, Paula Winslowe, Edmond O’Brien, and Frank Nelson. This collection of exciting entertainment normally sells for $29.98 – but it can be yours for Just 99 Cents when you submit an order of $35.00 or more.

* On Thursday May 12th, when you submit an order of $35.00 or more, you can get “John Wayne: The Screen Legends Collection”, a 3-DVD set featuring five of the Duke’s best films, including “Reap the Wild Wind” with Ray Milland, “The Spoilers” with Marlene Dietrich, “The War Wagon” with Kirk Douglas, “Hellfighters” with Vera Miles, and  “Rooster Cogburn” with Katherine Hepburn. This impressive collection normally sells for $26.98 – but, thanks to the Treasure Chest at RadioArchives.com, it can be yours for Just $3.99 – that’s only seventy nine cents for each movie!

We’re sorry but, at these low prices, multiple orders cannot be combined into single shipments. Each separate order must be placed on the days on which the specials are offered and no early or late orders will be accepted.

Make it a habit to stop by RadioArchives.com often and see what’s waiting for you in the Treasure Chest. It’s a great way to save money and bring some delightful entertainment into your home. And don’t forget that the Treasure Chest deals at RadioArchives.com make great gifts to give to your friends and family – and we promise to never tell them how little you paid for them!

Coming Soon: Pulp Audiobooks from Radio Archives

When you think of the exciting adventures of Doc Savage, you think of the best selling double-novel reprints offered by RadioArchives.com. But soon, you’ll be able to enjoy the action-packed tales of The Man of Bronze and many of his Golden Age counterparts in a whole new way.

This June, RadioArchives.com will introduce a brand new series of audiobooks featuring Doc Savage, The Spider, and the other classic heroes of pulp fiction. By special arrangement with the authors, owners, and publishers of these thrill-packed adventures, these full length and unabridged  audiobook adaptations will soon be available in compact disc collections, produced in digital stereo and featuring narration by many of the top names in the audiobook field.

The first series of audiobooks will be the Doc Savage novels written by renowned writer Will Murray – starting with his classic adventure story, “Python Isle”. These new audio productions are being produced and directed by Roger Rittner, who created the “Adventures of Doc Savage” full-cast radio series, now available from RadioArchives.com. All of these exciting and collectable audio editions will feature cover art by Joe DeVito, as well as a wide variety of special features.

For more information on these exciting new releases, click here: Audiobooks from RadioArchives.com

Be watching for updates on our website and also special features in our weekly newsletters as we begin the “Countdown to Adventure” with pulp audiobooks, coming to you soon from RadioArchives.com!

Young Justice Brings First 4 Episodes to DVD in July

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  • May 6, 2011

Warner Home Video picked the wrong day to tell eager comic book fans about Young Justice being released on DVD since the fun news was eclipsed by the Star wars on Blu-ray announcement. Still, the excellent series, airing on the Cartoon Network, will have volume one of the debut season available in mid-July. The following is the complete press release:

BURBANK, CA (May 4, 2011) – The newest Warner Bros. Animation–produced hit series on Cartoon Network finally arrives on DVD as Warner Home Video (WHV) unleashes its secret weapon with Young Justice Season 1 Volume 1. These DC Universe teenage super heroes have quickly proven to be a hit as the favorite show among boys 9-14. With non-stop action, Young Justice Season 1 Volume 1 comes to DVD for the first time on July 19, 2011.

In Young Justice, being a teenager means proving yourself over and over — to peers, parents, teachers, mentors and, ultimately, to yourself. But what if you’re not just a normal teenager? What if you’re a teenage super hero? How much harder will it be to prove yourself in a world of super powers, super villains and super secrets? Are you ready to come of age in such a world? Are you ready for life or death rites of passage? Are you ready to join the ranks of the great heroes and prove you’re worthy of the Justice League? That’s exactly what the members of Young Justice — Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash, Superboy, Miss Martian and Artemis — will find out: whether they have what it takes to be a proven hero. (more…)

Gene Colan Garage Sale: Round Two

  • Uncategorized
  • May 5, 2011

Thor #126 recreation by Gene Colan and Michael Netzer

Bidding on these items ends May 8 at 10pm. To bid, email Cliffmeth@aol.com

Two cover recreations, one of THOR #126 (originally rendered by Jack Kirby), the other of SUB-MARINER #8 (by Gene’s pal John Buscema) — both reimagined here by the team of Gene Colan and Michael Netzer (12×18). Starting bid on each: $1200.00

Complete 6-page story from Life With Archie – current bid $325 (denro55@aol.com)

Plots and Misadventures by Stephen Gallagher (hardcover, limited edition from Subterranean Press) signed by Gallagher; only 750 copies issued – starting bid $25

Pages 24, 25 and 26 Original Art from Gene Colan’s Little Shop of Horrors – min. bid $180

Two random Firestorm (DC Comics) Original Art pages by Gene Colan – min. bid $200 for the pair

Spawn #33 – signed by Todd McFarlane – $15

A handful of comics signed by Gene Colan: Glamourpuss (Aardvark-Vanaheim), Creepy – Book One (Harris Comics), Journey Into Mystery #4 (Marvel, 1973), and Daredevil #89 (in rough shape) – min. bid $40

A pair of comics signed by Gene Colan: Captain Marvel #5 and Howard the Duck #3 (collects newspaper strips) B&W – min. bid $40

The Marvel’s Project (Variant Edition) #1 signed by Gene Colan with small, original black & red marker drawing of Daredevil’s head on the cover – min. bid $100

The Savage Return of Dracula #1 (Marvel) Gene Colan file copy – signed in red by Gene) – min. bid $40

The Tomb of Dracula: Book One – signed by Gene – min. bid $40

Tales of Suspense #39 reprint (Marvel Milestone Edition) signed by Gene Colan and Don Heck – min. bid $75

Tales to Astonish #79 – signed by Gene Colan – current bid $45 (kpedd)

Nathaniel Dusk #1 – Gene Colan’s file copy – signed in red by Gene – min. bid $30

Iron Man #124 signed by Stan Lee and Gene Colan – current bid $60 (josephc)

“The Simpsons: Sub-Basement of Dracula” script (signed by Marv Wolfman) – min. bid $5

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