A “Calvin & Hobbes” Christmas
Boy, I wish I’d thought of this first.
Author: Glenn Hauman
Spider-Man: Threat, Menace, or Bank Robber?
Hat tip to Peter David, who sent this out with the note, “Holy crap. J. Jonah Jameson was right all along.”
Prince George’s County Police Department is looking for an armed man they suspect robbed a BB&T bank in Fort Washington, Md., on Wednesday afternoon. According to the police department’s blog, the man robbed the bank while wearing a Spider-Man mask and matching Spider-Man sweater:
The suspect is described as an unknown race male in his 20’s, around 5’5”-5’7” tall, and weighing between 150-170lbs. He was last seen wearing a black and gray “North Face” jacket, a black hooded “Spider Man” sweater with a spider on the chest, a “Spider Man” mask with a white web design, black shoes with white soles, gloves, a blue canvass bag, and armed with a silver handgun.
This is, of course, not the first time that Spider-Man’s visage has been employed in a bank robbery. In 2010, a Utah bank was robbed by a man in a Spider-Man mask. Earlier this year, a credit union was robbed by a man in a Spider-Man mask (the same man may also have robbed a Waffle House). The blog Consumerist says Spider Man masks for robbers are so common they’re a veritable trend.
via Spider-Man Robs Bank In Maryland (PHOTOS).
Maybe the new movie is going over budget, and Marc Webb needs to make up the shortfall?
DC Comics Remembers Jerry Robinson
“Jerry Robinson illustrated some of the defining images of pop culture’s greatest icons. As an artist myself, it’s impossible not to feel humbled by his body of work. Everyone who loves comics owes Jerry a debt of gratitude for the rich legacy that he leaves behind.”—Jim Lee, DC Entertainment Co-Publisher and artist of BATMAN: HUSH
“Jerry Robinson was one of the greats. He continued to be a vibrant, creative force, with ideas and thoughts that continue to inspire. Jerry was a great advocate for creators. It was my pleasure to meet and work with him. He will be missed.”—Dan DiDio, Co-Publisher, DC Entertainment
“It’s impossible to work at DC Entertainment without feeling the impact of Jerry Robinson’s contributions to the industry. His influence continues to resonate today.”—Bob Harras, DC Entertainment Editor-in-Chief
“Jerry Robinson was an innovator, a pioneer in storytelling. His artwork was always astonishing, but his contributions to the Dark Knight mythology go far beyond art. The streets of Gotham City are a little lonelier today…Jerry will truly be missed.”—Mike Marts, BATMAN editor
Christmas Tree Shows Again And Again How Nature Points Out The Folly Of Men
From the Aqua City Odaiba shopping mall in Tokyo, Japan…
Gojira Tree, Gojira Tree,
Your breath is deadly danger;
Gojira Tree, Gojira Tree,
You just stepped on the manger.
You do not fit in humble homes,
You only stand in malls and domes,
Gojira Tree, Gojira Tree,
I’ve seen no tree that’s stranger.
Hat tip: Glenda Boozer. Apologies to Blue Oyster Cult for the headline.
Table Talk – Questions from the Readers 1.0
As you may have seen, last week we opened up Table Talk to questions from the readers at the request of C. William Russette. While a few crickets chirped briefly, the questions did start rolling in. Now, Barry Reese, Bobby Nash and Mike Bullock have answered the first two reader questions, while discussing the merits of removing limbs from a certain New Pulp character the three of them know and love.
Recently, a reader of the Table Talk columns asked if Barry Reese, Bobby Nash, and Mike Bullock would answer questions from readers. Well, the guys liked the idea so much they’ve decided to open this up to all the fine readers of newpulpfiction.com. Today marked the first installment of the column with reader questions. Due to the positive feedback, we want to keep this going.
New Pulp’s Table Talk – Questions from the Readers 1.0 is now available at http://www.newpulpfiction.com/ or at the direct link: http://www.newpulpfiction.com/2011/12/table-talk-questions-from-readers-10.html
Join the conversation. Leave us a comment on the blog and let us know your thoughts on this topic. We’d love to hear your thoughts and questions.
Have a question you want the guys to answer? Send it to newpulpfiction@gmail.com with “Table Talk Question” in the subject line. Also, let us know if you want attribution for the question, or you’d rather remain anonymous. Please, keep the questions pertinent to the creation of New Pulp and/or writing speculative fiction in general. We’ll get the questions worked into future columns ASAP.
Thanks!
New Pulp Fiction.com
“Star Wars Holiday Special” Will Be Resurrected On “Glee”
I feel a great disturbance in the Force– as if millions of viewers suddenly cried out in terror and suddenly switched off their TVs. I fear something terrible has happened…
Glee will welcome Chewbacca for the Fox musical’s upcoming Christmas episode.
Series stars, including Harry Shum, tweeted pictures with Chewie last month. Last week, Matthew Morrison — who also directed the Christmas episode — revealed additional details. “We’re doing a Christmas special within the episode of Glee and it’s a throwback and a tribute to the Star Wars holiday special and the Judy Garland Christmas special,” Morrison said.
via Chewbacca To Take a Bite Out of Glee’s Christmas Episode – TVGuide.com.
But will Jane Lynch have the same raw sexuality of Bea Arth– oh, you don’t know what we’re warning you about? Okay, you asked for it… here’s The Star Wars Holiday Special:
Bill Willingham on “Fables” vs “Once Upon A Time”
Cover of Fables Vol. 1: Legends in Exile
Comic Book Resources gets Bill Willingham to talk about the similarities between the long-running Vertigo comic series Fables and Once Upon A Time:
For those of you who just came in, let’s start with some of the basics. “Once Upon a Time” is a weekly TV series showing on the ABC television network. It’s just over a month old now, having aired four episodes by the time of this writing. It was created by Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis.
“Fables” is a monthly comic book series, published by Bill Willingham, the author of this essay.
Both series explore the notion of popular fable, folklore and fairytale characters, native to a fantasy medieval setting, but still living today in modern day America. Let’s discuss.
via Bill Willingham on “Fables” vs “Once Upon A Time” – Comic Book Resources.
Related articles
- Bill Willingham To Work On Fables Game For Telltale (bleedingcool.com)
“Cowboys & Aliens” Studios Sued For Copyright Infringement
Scott Rosenberg involved in legal problems and accused of theft? What are the odds?
Cowboys & Aliens studios Universal Pictures and Platinum Studios have been sued by cartoonist Stephen Busti, who claims that the graphic novel and Jon Favreau movie infringes on his strip ‘Cowboys and Aliens’, which appeared in Bizarre Fantasy #1 in 1994.
TMZ reports that Busti’s story was spotlighted in a 1995 issue of Comic Shop News on the same page that ran a story about Platinum’s Scott Rosenberg. The studio executive later presented the Cowboys & Aliens concept to the studio.
Platinum produced a Cowboys & Aliens poster in 1997 and sold the rights to the property to Universal and Dreamworks. It did not appear in graphic novel form until 2006.
Related articles
- Comic author sues over ‘Cowboys & Aliens’ (today.msnbc.msn.com)
- SUED! Comic Book Writer Slams Cowboys And Aliens For Infringement (perezhilton.com)
HANCOCK TIPS HIS HAT TO MYSTERY MEN (& WOMEN) VOLUME 2!
TIPPIN’ HANCOCK’S HAT-Reviews of All Things Pulp by Tommy Hancock
MYSTERY MEN (& WOMEN) VOLUME TWO
Written by Various Authors
Cover by Mike Fyles
Interior Art and Design by Rob Davis
Published by Airship 27 Productions
New Pulp is such an interesting creature. It is organic, something sprouting from the past, but as it grows and blossoms, it becomes its own thing.  And there are Publishers and Writers today who continue to care for this beautiful thing we call New Pulp, making sure that it remains available, that it stands out as innovative and different, not derivative and unoriginal.   A leading Publisher in doing just that is Airship 27 Productions, a company that divides itself between New Pulp based on Public Domain pulp characters as well as new and original characters blazing trails through New Pulp.Â
One of the titles that showcases the movement of original characters in Airship is their MYSTERY MEN (& WOMEN) series of books. Four stories in the first volume introduced the idea and it has been continued in a second volume. Overall, the book is enjoyable, a hoot to read, and wonderful to view.  Individually, the stories vary in style and quality.Â
THE RED BADGE ATTACKS- by Mark Halegua and Andrew Salmon
This is not only the debut of the vigilante known as The Red Badge, but it’s also the first story published by the Badge’s creator, Mark Halegua.  The premise is simple. A vigilante is in the city taking out the bad guys as quickly and violently as possible. Throw into that the fact that the identity of the Badge is a mystery, even up until the very end, but a mystery with a myriad of suspects.
The Red Badge has definite potential as a concept. The path traveled by this story is well worn, but its also one that could be done with twists and turns. Unfortunately, that’s not done nearly enough with this tale. Yes, some of the action scenes sing like a chorus of tommy guns, but others drag like they’re falling on dead chambers. The same with the dialogue-There’s a few solid exchanges, but overall it’s stilted and weak.  The strongest point of this story is you can see what Halegua (with help from Salmon) wants the Red Badge to be, which gives one hope he may get there in future tales.
TWO OUT OF FIVE TIPS OF THE HAT
LAIR OF THE MOLE PEOPLE- by Greg Bastianelli
One of the neatest stories in Pulp is when you take a person in an occupation that isn’t cop, adventurer, spy, and you throw them into a Pulp over the top adventure tale and it works!  Bastianelli does this with his character Jack Minch, Ace Reporter in this tale and does it so well and with such skill that the story was over before I even realized it.   The premise, again like with the previous story, is straightforward. Minch opens a message from a woman who had left it behind to be opened if she disappeared, which she did. This action leads this spunky, two fisted typewriter jockey into a world beneath the city, as indicated by the title, and at that point, the real fun begins.Â
This story crackles with solid characterization, strong dialogue, and enough jump-from-around the corner action to keep any Pulp fan enticed and most definitely wanting more!
FIVE OUT OF FIVE TIPS OF THE HAT
DOCK DOYLE AND THE WANDERING CITY by Adam Lance Garcia
This story gave me fits. Here’s why.
Dock Doyle is a great American Hero and Movie Star, legends galore attached to his name. And this story takes him on an adventure deep into the Jungle for what is apparently another film job, but Doyle finds out far too late that things are not at all what they seem. And the reader finds that out as well, even about the central character himself.
This is quite possibly one of the best stories I have ever read. No kidding.   Looking at it as an avid bibliophile who reads across all genres and recognizes all the movements, nuances, and influences in literature, mainstream and otherwise, this story is one of the best examples of post modern deconstruction I have found in a long time.
Looking at it as a reviewer of Pulp….It isn’t. It simply isn’t a Pulp Tale.Â
Don’t get me wrong. Some key elements are woven in. Action. Quick Pacing. Exotic locales. Defiance of death. All of that is there. Where this fails as a Pulp story is in the characters, especially the lead himself. Garcia paints vivid pictures and builds characters from the ground up. But they’re not Pulp characters. And trust me, I don’t feel Pulp characters have to be two dimensional or all good or all bad….but with Dock Doyle, there’s far too much gray even in the lead character…especially in the lead character…for this to be a Pulp Tale.
THREE OUT OF FIVE TIPS OF THE HAT- It ain’t Pulp, but it is damned good.
A MAN CALLED MONGREL by Derrick Ferguson
One of the great things about a good author…no, about a great author, is that he/she can deliver consistently, even when they are writing characters with some similarities in the same field of literature. And not just consistently in terms of quality, but also consistently in terms of differentiation-in making their work stand out solidly from what has come before. Â
Derrick Ferguson is just such an author. A master of the art.
Mongrel is a member of a family who essentially has a corner on the genius gene pool.   When an attempt is made on the life of a family member, Mongrel swings into action against a Family that is focused on taking down leading corporations in the world via super science.  But not while Mongrel Henderson is on the job.
This tale is raucous, over the top, and yet grounded in strong values. Family connections, pure heroism, and the battle of intellect versus emotion are all not only clearly on display in this story, but turned up to Eleven and broadcast in every single word. These characters, particularly Mongrel, exude excitement, action, as well as humanity.   Mongrel can take on nearly any baddie that wants to stand with him, but he still cowers when called down by his mother. Ferguson’s strong suit in all his work is that the action is relentless, the violence is pointed and necessary, and the characters ooze the good and bad of simply being human, although the smartest, toughest, and most righteous or vile humans ever seen anywhere. This story stands out as the best in the entire volume and likely in the entire MYSTERY MEN (& WOMEN) series to date.
FIVE OUT OF FIVE TIPS OF THE HAT
Design and Art-Even though I said what I did about Dock Doyle’s debut story, the first image of Dock to be seen, the cover of this volume, is phenomenal.   Award winning artist Mike Fyles delivers once again and proves he understands the concept of what Pulp covers are and what they need to convey.Â
Likewise the interior art and design of the book by Rob Davis does just what both of those things are supposed to.  Davis’ work supports all the stories, the images bringing out in wonderful line work and iconic imagery exact moments from the stories and the format of the book makes one feel as if they’re holding a Pulp from a news kiosk back in the Thirties.   Even the back cover design as well as the ads included add to that authentic feel.
FIVE OUT FIVE TIPS OF THE HAT
Even though every story wasn’t a grand slam and one might be better suited in another volume, MYSTERY MEN (& WOMEN) VOLUME TWO as a whole delivers.
OVERALL-FOUR OUT OF FIVE TIPS OF THE HAT!
The Scarlet Saint rides again!
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| Art: Shane Nitzsche |
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| Art: Pete Hernandez III |
Chapter Four of the on-line pulp novel, THE WORLD WILL DIE SCREAMING starring Darwin Flynn, the Scarlet Saint by Phil Bledsoe has been released. You can read chapter Four at http://bledsoep.hubpages.com/hub/Chapter-Four-The-Scarlet-Saint-rides-again.
Previous chapters and stories featuring Phil Bledsoe’s Scarlet Saint can be found at http://bledsoep.hubpages.com/hubs/topics/books-literature-and-writing/books-and-novels/523/hot.
Happy Reading.
