Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer get married
Congratulations to the happy couple. Neil, to no one’s surprise, wrote it up in his journal.
And yes, that’s Batman and Superman looking on approvingly in the background.
The Mix : What are people talking about today?
ALL PULP NEWSSTAND BULLDOG EDITION-1/4/10
ALL PULP NEWSSTAND
BULLDOG EDITION
1/4/11
PRO SE PRESENTS PECULIAR ADVENTURES #3 NOW AVAILABLE
SPOTLIGHT ON TALES OF SOVEREIGN CITY!!!
SPOTLIGHT ON TALES OF SOVEREIGN CITY!!!
Ready for Adventure? Like it Peculiar? Then PRO SE PRESENTS PECULIAR ADVENTURES #3 from Pro Se Press is for you! This issue sports a painted cover by pulp artist David Burton and spotlights SOVEREIGN CITY, Pro Se’s very own pulp universe! Join Doc Daye and Lazarus Gray for over the top action and adventure! Also along for the ride are monkeys from the future, pirates from the past, The Cerebus Clan, Wylde World, and so many others. Pro Se’s Best Selling Title brings even more this time around, including the first part of a Peculiar Oddfellow Novel!! Thrill to stories by Teel James Glenn, Tommy Hancock, Joshua Reynolds, Barry Reese, Fuller Bumpers, Lee Houston, Jr., Ken Janssens, a book excerpt from noted author Bobby Nash, and more!! Get your print or e-copy of PRO SE PRESENTS PECULIAR ADVENTURES 3 today! http://lulu.stores.com/proseproductions
GREEN HORNET MARATHON COMING ON SI-FY!
The upcoming theatrical release of THE GREEN HORNET starring Seth Rogen has stirred up quite a…hornet’s nest in the pulp world at large. Regardless if you plan to see this movie or plan to get as far away from it as possible when it debuts January 14, 2011, the channel now known as Si-Fy is bringing the Van Williams-Bruce Lee classic television series ‘THE GREEN HORNET’ to the small screen! January 11, 2011, Si-Fy will host a GREEN HORNET marathon, running all 26 episodes of the one season cult hit beginning at 10 am that morning. Although the shows will not be shown in order, each episode will be shown! If Rogen’s not your cup of tea but you still need some HORNET to watch, then be near a tv on January 11, 2011!
LEGENDARY ACTRESS ANNE FRANCIS PASSES AWAY
Actress Anne Francis, best known to the Pulp world for her roles in ‘Forbidden Planet’ as well as playing the sexy title private eye in “Honey West” on TV, died Sunday, 1/2/11 at age 80. Cause of death was complications of pancreatic cancer according to famliy members. Considered a star and icon from the 1950s well into syndication and reruns years later, Francis will be fondly remembered by her fans as ‘Forbidden Planet’ remains a classic film and ‘Honey West’ lives on in another medium, comic books.
Disney Promises 15 3-D Blu-ray Releases in 2011
Personally, I could care less about 3-D movies let along 3-D television, but as this technology rolls out and we’ll be hearing more about 3-D TV during this week’s Consumer Electronics Show, expect more announcement such as the one below.
BURBANK, Calif. — January 3, 2011 — Continuing its leadership in the advancement of 3D entertainment and marking the most significant title commitment to the growing Blu-ray 3DTM market, The Walt Disney Studios today announced plans to release at least 15 of its films for in-home viewing on Blu- ray 3D in 2011.
Among the stellar list of films to debut on 3D include beloved and celebrated animated classics THE LION KING and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, recent theatrical releases including the visually stunning high tech adventure TRON: LEGACY and acclaimed box-office smash hit TANGLED, plus many others to be announced that will release day-and-date and packaged with the Blu-ray 2DTM version.
“As our contemporary library of 3D content continues to grow, and the original artists and filmmakers meticulously „dimensionalize‟ their work for release on the Blu-ray 3D format, we will be offering movie- lovers the most incredible in-home entertainment experience they will ever have,” noted Lori MacPherson, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. “In addition to offering new releases day-and-date in 3D and further cementing our leadership in the marketplace, we‟re thrilled that consumers will have the exclusive Blu-ray 3D experience of two of the most celebrated Disney animated features, THE LION KING and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, in their homes.”
Also included among the titles slated for release in 2011 are BOLT, MEET THE ROBINSONS, TIM BURTON’S THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, G-FORCE and CHICKEN LITTLE. These titles will join Walt Disney Studios‟ recent 2010 Blu-ray 3D releases ALICE IN WONDERLAND, DISNEY’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL and STEP UP 3, bringing Disney‟s list of available Blu-ray 3D titles for the home to nearly 20 in all.In addition to the film being in 3D, each disc will include thematically linked 3D menus, 3D previews of coming-attractions trailers and an introduction to the eye-popping world of Disney Blu-ray 3D featuring beloved characters Timon and Pumbaa from THE LION KING.
MOONSTONE MONDAY-CLIFFHANGER FICTION-CONCLUSION TO FORTIER’S DOMINO LADY TALE!
MOONSTONE CLIFFHANGER FICTION-MORE DOMINO LADY!
Moonstone Books and ALL PULP are proud to present the final chapter in this thrilling tale from MOONSTONE CLIFFHANGER FICTION!!!!
Let ALL PULP know what you think of MOONSTONE CLIFFHANGER FICTIONÂ on the Comments Page!!!
Want more Moonstone??? http://www.moonstonebooks.com/ !  And stay tuned at the end of this week’s chapter for a link to purchase the collection this story is featured in!
THIS WEEK ON MOONSTONE CLIFFHANGER FICTION-
THE CLAWS OF THE CAT
BY RON FORTIER
featured in DOMINO LADY: SEX AS A WEAPON
from Moonstone Books
Chapter Seven
âIâm coming,â Reginald Hanna said loudly over his ringing doorbell. Although it was quite late, near midnight, he knew who his caller was. Beside, after all the commotion at the selectmenâs meeting earlier, he was much too keyed up to sleep.
âDetective Bishop, I take it,â he said, after opening the front door to see a young man in a dark suit and fedora standing before him. In the manâs arms was the cat he was now intimately familiar with.
âHello, Mr. Hanna,â Bishop began. âI thought you might like to know how things went at the station house.â
âBut of course. Wonât you please come in.â
Once inside, Hanna offered Bishop a drink but the detective politely refused. âIt is late, sir, and I really should wrap this up. I just wanted you to know that both Geller and Ochra have confessed to the crimes and implicated Topper Carson as their boss.â
âThatâs excellent. I will only be too happy to testify when the time comes.â
âThank you, sir. I donât know how the D.A. is going to play this one, but your help was very instrumental to bringing them in.â
âIt was the least any good citizen would do. And letâs not forget the Domino Lady.â
âActually, sir, I wish we could.â
âExcuse me,â Hanna was perplexed.
âWell, sir, you see, itâs like this. My superiors are happy the case is solved and the suspects in custody, but they donât need the press to know another known felon was responsible for their apprehension. It sort of makes the department look bad.â
âAh, but of course, Detective. Very well, you can rely on me to⦠ah⦠forget to mention the masked lady. Now, is there anything else I can do for you?â
âWell, yes, sir, there is.â Bishop indicated the yellow cat in his arms. âI was wondering, sir, seeing as you already have one cat, if you might not want⦠another one? Sheâs really a good cat and when she attacked that fellow tonight, she might have saved my life.â
Hanna looked at the animal and smiled. Over on the sofa, Alexander was stretched out but still very much aware of what was transpiring. Hanna reached over and took the cat from Bishop.
âCome here, my sweet,â he said warmly, then looked over at Alexander. âWhat do you say, Alexander? Shall we adopt this lovely creature and give her a loving home?â
As in response, the male cat extended its paws and went, âMeowww.â
âWell,â laughed Reginald Hanna, âI think itâs settled, detective. Yes, weâll take her. But first weâll have to come up with a name for her, wonât we.â
Bishop tilted his hat back on his head and scratched his jaw. âWould you mind a suggestion?â
âNot at all, detective.â
âWell, sir, when I was in school, we had a French girl who was a real spitfire and the way this cat acted kind of reminded me of her in some ways.â
âReally. And what was her name, this French girl⦠with pizzazz?â
âBabette. Her name was Babette.â
Detective Barney Bishop started down the steps to the sidewalk, a jaunty bounce to his step. It was hard not to feel elated with how things had turned out.
âHold it right there, detective!â The voice was decidedly female.
Bishop stopped in mid-step and turned toward the high hedge on his left. The Domino Lady, gun in hand, stepped out of the shadows and he caught his breath.
In the soft glow of the street lamp, she was a vision of ethereal beauty, draped in a slinky white gown with a black cape covering her creamy pink shoulders.
âThe Domino Lady,â he uttered, finding his voice. âTo what do I owe the pleasure?â
âI simply wanted to congratulate you on a job well done, Detective.â
âReally?â She was closer now and all he could smell was her lilac perfume.
âYes,â her said with a breathy voice as she reached out with her free hand and took hold of his necktie. Gently she pulled his head down and then he was kissing her full, sweet, honeyed lips.
Bishop felt his head swim, looking into twin pools of brown. He closed his eyes and savored the kiss that seem to linger forever.
When he opened his eyes, she was gone as if sheâd never been there at all. But there was the warmth on his lips and in the distance he thought he heard footsteps fading away.
Bishop sighed, âYouâre welcome.â
Want more Domino Lady? Then order the collection that includes this story today at http://moonstonebooks.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=104!!
And tune in next week for a brand new exciting pulp adventure from  MOONSTONE CLIFFHANGER FICTION!
Review: ‘Missile Mouse Rescue on Tankium3’
[[[Missile Mouse: Rescue on Tankium3]]]
By Jake Parker
Scholastic/Graphix, 160 pages, $10.99
Aimed at readers 7-9, Missile Mouse is a cute, bright and colorful space adventure series. Jake Parker, who works at Blue Sky Studios, home to the [[[Ice Age]]] movies, certainly knows how to tell a story and create visually interesting worlds.
His first offering, last year’s [[[The Star Crusher]]], introduced us to the maverick law-enforcement agent, Missile Mouse, who works for the Galactic Security Agency. Why he does not wear their uniform or follow the rules is never explained but clearly he’s one of those can-do heroes despite fighting with the higher ups.
Parker has publically stated his love for creating the worlds and races that make up the Galactic Union but while they look interesting, they’re thin as paper with no depth to them. The first book was wall-to-wall action with a mystery that was obvious. This time, it’s an equally obvious straight adventure with 10 page left over for character designs and background to some of the races seen in the story.
For the second mission, Missile Mouse has to find out who has been enslaving the residents of Tankium3. The world is significant because it is the only one with an element needed for the commercially successful Cosmic Cola. Our hero is paired with a GSA robot, Unit 44, despite his dislike for mechanical agents who only see the world in their binary programming. Of course, he learns a valuable lesson along the way.
In the course of 160 pages, Parker rushes us from thrill to thrill but it’s all surface. We never get to understand the culture of Tankium3 let alone how the Galactic Union works and how King Bognarsh enslaved a planet with no one noticing. There’s a lack of distinction and originality to the storyline and storytelling that keeps this franchise from being anything more than mildly entertaining.
MOONSTONE MONDAY-SAVAGE BEAUTY SWEEPSTAKES WINNERS ANNOUNCED!
1128 South State Street
Lockport, Illinois, 60441
815-834-1658
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-
1/3/11, Lockport Illinois-
MOONSTONE ANNOUNCES ‘GET DRAWN INTOÃÂ SAVAGE BEAUTY’ WINNERS!
Moonstone Entertainment, Inc., Runemaster Studios, Inc.,ÃÂ and Captain Action Enterprises, LLC, theÃÂ forces behind the upcoming comic series SAVAGE BEAUTY,ÃÂ are pleased to announce the winners of the ‘GET DRAWN INTO SAVAGE BEAUTY’ sweepstakes!
The story of two sisters who fight injustice and right wrongs as jungle heroines inÃÂ Kenya,ÃÂ Savage BeautyÃÂ will have an extra person drawn into its third issue as a result of the Sweepstakes.ÃÂ To qualify, entrants had to pre order at least one issue of SAVAGE BEAUTY #1 and submit their names as well as the names of the comic book stores or websites they pre ordered from.ÃÂ
The grand prize winner that will be drawn intoÃÂ Savage BeautyÃÂ #3 and that will receive signed copies of the first issue as well as a signed and numberedÃÂ Savage BeautyÃÂ print, both autographed by writer and co creator Mike Bullock, is RICHARD VASSEUR.
Ten second prize winners that will receive signed copies of Savage Beauty #1 and a Savage Beauty signed/numbered print, both autographed by co-creator/writer Mike Bullock are as follows-
Barry Reese
Ric Croxton
Ron Fortier
Allen Klingelhoets
Klima Littlewareagle
Andreas Giannoukakis
Andreas Eriksson
Mark HeywoodÃÂ
Joe Douglas
Frank Bonilla
Moonstone, CAE, Inc, and Runemaster Studios, Inc. would like to thank all who participated in the sweepstakes!ÃÂ Be on the lookout for SAVAGE BEAUTY at a comic retailer near you!
SAVAGE BEAUTY #1
Story: Mike Bullock
Art: Jose Massaroli
Colors:Bob Pedroza
AVAILABLE FROM MOONSTONE 2/2011
Place your order at http://moonstonebooks.com/shop/category.aspx?catid=122
Moonstone Entertainment Inc. publishes comics and illustrated fiction designed to âÂÂawaken your sense of adventureâÂÂ, featuring classic and new heroes in thrilling tales of adventure, mystery, and horror. For more than a decade, Moonstone Entertainment Inc.àhas created fine and distinct comic books, Graphic Novels and proseâ¦books that are meant to be read.àAwaken your sense of adventure at http://www.moonstonebooks.com/
Captain Action Enterprises, LLC is dedicated to creating new character experiences for both the collectible/nostalgia market and passionate fans of adventure toys and fiction through licensing, re-creations and creative innovations. Properties included Savage Beauty, Captain Action, the Zeroids and Lady Action. More information is available at www.CaptainActionNow.com.
Marvel Boosts Disney TV Ratings To All Time High
Here’s yet more tangible proof that the Disney/Marvel merger was a good thing from a money-making POV: with help from various Marvel properties such as The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, Fantastic Four, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Silver Surfer, Spider-Man, X-Men, and X-Men Evolution, 2010 became Disney XD’s most watched year ever (including as Toon Disney) in Total Day and Primetime with Total Viewers and kid demos.
In Total Day the network hit all time highs with Total Viewers (270,000) and K6-11 (107,000) and Boys 6-11 (69,000), the latter two demos up +14% and +17% respectively.
In Primetime Disney XD set records in Total Viewers (325,000) and among K6-11 (136,000) and Boys 6-11 (89,000), the latter two demos up by +21% and +24%, as well as with Tweens 9-14 (105,000) and Boys 9-14 (71,000), increasing by +28% and +29% respectively.
These were exactly the demographics that Disney was purported to be targeting, and it looks like they got them. In addition, of course, Disney saves lots of money by not paying outside licenses.
2010 was also the Disney Channel’s most-watched year in its history in Total
Day (6a-6a) with Total Viewers (1.72 million) and K6-11 (623,000) and
Tweens 9-14 (533,000). Disney Channel was also the top TV network in
2010 in Total Day with Tweens 9-14. In primetime for 2010, the network
was tops with K6-11 (1.06 million) and Tweens 9-14 (878,000).
Makes you wonder what will ever happen with DC and Cartoon Network, doesn’t it?
MOONSTONE MONDAY-HONEY WEST #3 REVIEWED!
Honey West is a character that I only know from the 1960’s television show starring Anne Francis. But then again, being male, I didn’t need much. Thanks to the corrupting influence of my father (Thanks, Dad!) I quickly became hooked on reruns of the show. I never read any of the books but my understanding is that they’re a whole lot racier and sexier than the TV show.
Moonstone’s HONEY WEST series would appear to be following the original print incarnation rather than the TV version. Honey doesn’t use any of the James Bond inspired gadgets she used in her TV series. In fact, Honey uses the standard equipment just about any other private eye of the same period would use: a gun, brains, guts and sex.
Issue #3 is my first exposure to Moonstone’s series and while I wasn’t disappointed with what I read I also wasn’t jumping up and down with boundless excitement. Honey is hired anonymously to figure out who killed the lead actress in a Grade C science fiction movie. She thinks the job stinks like houseguests who won’t leave but she takes the job and hires on as an extra. And that’s when the story gets cooking.
It’s not an elaborate set-up for a story. But then again, how much do you need for a private eye story? There’s a dead body, there’s suspects and there’s a mysterious someone who wants Our Heroine to discover the truth. Bing bang boom.
The suspects we’re given are such a self-absorbed lot that I find it difficult to imagine that any one of them could have taken attention off of themselves long enough to even contemplate attempting to murder somebody much less carry it out. Honey is soon up to her beauty mark in sifting through the various motives of the suspects even if they seemed kinda thin to me.
The artwork didn’t excite me but I do appreciate that it does what artwork in a comic book is supposed to do: tell me what’s happening, who’s doing what and why and to whom. I also got the feeling that the artwork was attempting to evoke the feel of how the art in a comic book of that period would look.
So should you read HONEY WEST #3? If you’ve read #1 and #2 I see no reason why you should stop now. I’m certainly going to come back for #4 to see how the mystery gets solved but as to whether I’m going to continue reading the title…that’s a mystery that will wait to be solved depending on the story and art in future issues.
PULP EMPIRE TAKING OVER IN 2011!!
From Pulp Empire (http://www.pulpempire.com/)
As we ring in the new year, we wrap up the final stories of Pulp Empire volume 3 on our website, www.pulpempire.com. Later this month, we will debut the fourth volume of our pulp stories collections featuring returning favorites like Teel James Glenn, Jack Mulcahy, and David Perlmutter, along with new Pulp Empire contributors Scott T. Swartz, Paul Newman, and Kenneth W. Comer. Thirteen new stories in all. As always, volume four will be available with all the rest of our books over at our Lulu store (stores.lulu.com/nahlhelm). We have absolutely been deluged with submissions are are still working our way through all of them! Currently we’re putting together tales for our next two numbered volumes.
In addition we are also introducing our first themed anthology that will be debuting in May: Pirates and Swashbucklers. We are now seeking submissions for the book; guidelines can be found at our submissions page (http://pulpempire.com/mag/?page_id=3).
Those are only the first two of a planned five collections this year so 2011 looks to be a big year over here!
Sincerely,
Nick Ahlhelm
Pulp Empire editor
THE CONCLUSION OF MARK HALEGUA’S HOLIDAY PULP TALE!
The Night Before Christmas
by
Mark S. Halegua
Conclusion
In a police precinct downtown, an impressive edifice about 40 years old and constructed of light colored but massive blocks, a tall man with dark eyes and brown hair in a police uniform walks up the precinct steps and up to the station desk in the lobby.
He approaches the front desk, set on a platform, and the duty officer, Sergeant Muldoon, looks down/ “Hi Lieutenant. So, you got Christmas, huh? I thought you’d be able to get the day off.”
“No, Francis. Seniority still means something here.”
“How’s your wife taking it? You working Christmas, I mean?”
“She’s the granddaughter, daughter, and wife of a cop. She knows the drill. She understands, even if she doesn’t like it. The only thing is, it’s one year today since her father was killed, and she’s a bit upset we haven’t arrested the killer, Tony Minetti. He must have gotten out of town, nobody’s been able to find him.”
“So, Sgt., what do you have to report? Busy night?”
“Nothing sir. It’s been mostly quiet. I guess you could say nothing is stirring. Ha. We did get a call in from Northtown. Don’t know what it’s about yet. Probably some party making too much noise. Sent Toody and Cardona.”
“OK. Well, I have paperwork to do.”
“Unfortunately, I have some to add, Lt.”
Walking to his office, with Sgt. Muldoon following behind him with a sheaf of papers, Lt. Jim Halloran removes his overcoat and sits at the beaten old wooden desk on an equally beaten wooden swivel chair. On the walls hang framed pictures of a younger Halloran in a pitching pose, wearing the uniform of the Toledo Mud Hens. Another of him holding a bat.
On the desk a picture of him in a tuxedo and a dark haired woman in a wedding dress. Another picture with him in a police officer’s uniform standing next to an older officer with Sgt. stripes.
Sgt. Muldoon looks at the pictures on the wall, “You know sir, it’s a pity you hurt your arm. I think you would have made the majors the next year. I saw you pitch once. You looked like you could put that fastball wherever you wanted to. What a fastball! And your curve, twisted guys silly with that.”
Halloran looks up from the stack of papers on his desk wistfully. “It might have happened. But, I did get hurt. And now I’ve got this great job. I’m a cop. I met Mary because I’m a cop. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”“Yes sir. I need you to sign these.”
Lt. Halloran signs the papers and Sgt. Muldoon leaves.
Half an hour later Muldoon crashes into the room, “you gotta come out here Lt. They got him!”
“They got who, Muldoon?”
Rushing out into the lobby Halloran sees three handcuffed men surrounded by cops. One of them is Tony Minetti.
“Minetti! Toody, Cardona, you arrested Minetti??!! Where, how?”
Officer Gunther Toody, holding the handcuffed Minetti, “well sir, we got a call to go to this house in Northtown, there had been an attempted robbery. So, we go there and these three are hanging off a streetlight in, well, uh, in Christmas stockings.”
Halloran raises his eyebrows in surprise, “What? Christmas stockings?”
Tony Minetti interrupts, “It was Santa Claus what did this! Santa Claus who stuffed us. Without him you would never have gotten me, coppers.”
Toody chimes in, “That’s what the swells said too Lt. Santa Claus came down and well, uh…”
“The guy even put coal in the stockings wit us!”
“Coal. Well,” Walking over to Minetti. “You have charges more serious than attempted robbery on you Minetti. And you deserve more than a lump of coal for it. You killed a cop last year. For that, you’re going to burn.”
Turning to Muldoon, “Lock him up. Tight.”
“You bet sir.”
As Minetti is led away he screams, “Santa Claus. Freakin’ Santa Claus!”
“Muldoon, I’ll be in my office. I have a call to make.”
He enters the room and closes the door, walks over to the phone on the desk and dials a number.
“Honey, it’s me. Did I wake you? No, no. I’m fine. Sorry to call you so late. We got him. Merry Christmas.”
The End
