Category: News

Conan the Barbarian

conan-the-barbarian-bluray-300x359-5766311Conan the Barbarian was such a major figure in the heyday of the pulp magazines, that he made an indelible impression on readers. When Lancer Books took over the mass market paperback publishing for the Cimmerian in the 1960s, the Frank Frazetta cover images were so powerful, you had to notice. Since then, different generations have their own impression of how Robert E. Howard’s character and world should look. After Frazetta came Barry Smith and John Buscema and after them came Arnold Schwarzenegger and then…not much. The syndicated Conan featuring Ralf Möller barely made a ripple and as the rights went from owner to owner, he faded a bit from memory. Even the wonderful Dark Horse Comics adaptations have not quite made the stir the original comics did nor have the paperback originals from Tor and others had that same spark.

As a result, there was a lot riding on Lionsgate’s revival of the character and, sad to say, they failed at their task. Conan the Barbarian, which came out in August, was poorly marketed and came up short in the writing, production design, acting and directing, resulting in a worldwide box office of anemic proportions. Now, the movie is coming out this week as a Blu-ray combo pack and we get a chance to consider what went wrong.

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“Voltron: Defender of the Universe” Coming to Game Consoles Next Week

voltron-video-game-300x267-4697184I missed the Voltron craze when the series first debuted in the United States but we here at ComicMix certainly recognize it remains a well-loved series. As a result, the following announcement should be welcome news.

AGOURA HILLS, Calif. – July 19, 2011 –Infracells are up, mega thrusters are go and the legendary robot hero is ready to make his resurgence in Voltron: Defender of the Universe, scheduled for release in October on Xbox LIVE® Arcade and PlayStation®Network.

In this brand-new take on the classic Voltron animated adventure, players will find themselves teaming up to battle the evil forces of King Zarkon across the varied landscapes of Planet Arus. Interwoven with clips from the original animated television series, the new game from THQ (NASDAQ:THQI) promises a re-mastered adventure in stunning high-definition.

Voltron fans can finally relive some of the most defining moments from the classic series, or even introduce a new generation of young Space Explorers, as they command any of the individual Lions or even team up to form Voltron and wield his epic blazing sword.

Galactic peacekeepers may choose to play either online in seamless 1- to 5-player co-op or offline in 1- or 2-player co-op. Players will select a Lion based on a number of strengths, resistances and elemental attacks that they use to battle fierce Robeasts and a number of other familiar adversaries.

“We really wanted to create a game that’s exciting, true to the original series and challenging to play,” said Peter Armstrong, executive producer. “All of us here are big fans of classic Voltron, and we’re really proud of what we have created.”

Voltron: Defender of the Universe will be available on Xbox LIVE Arcade (800 Microsoft Points) and PlayStation Network ($9.99).

PIRATES, PRIVATE EYES, PULP VILLAINS, AND PULP PUBLISHERS! THIS AND MORE FROM RADIO ARCHIVES!

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November 18, 2011
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NEW Radio Set: Afloat with Henry Morgan, Volume 2
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History And The High Seas Collide! If you’re looking for a good pulpy audio serial, the recipe is simple. Equal parts High Seas intrigue, colorful, exciting characters, and pulse pounding tales of pirates and buccaneers. Mix these together with the skills of a man who many consider a penultimate voice actor and a production genius behind the scenes. The result is a 52 episode Australian series in 1947 that can now be heard again in fifteen minute punches of action and adventure in Afloat with Henry Morgan, Volume 2!
 
Afloat with Henry Morgan followed the adventures of the title character, a real life privateer for the Queen of England employed and licensed to fight the Spanish Armada. His mission, starting around 1655, quite simply was to fight Spanish fleets, scuttle and sink their crafts, and take whatever booty there might be on the ships he managed to attack as payment for his dedication to the English crown. For obvious reasons, Morgan is often portrayed as more pirate than English seaman.
 
The magical part, though, according to many, of this classic program was the man behind it. Well-known Australian radio personality George Edwards produced Afloat with Henry Morgan. The man behind other Australian series, such as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Corsican Brothers, and Son of Porthos, Edwards lent not only his production skills to Afloat, but shared his amazing vocal talents as well. Known as “The Man with a Thousand Voices,” Edwards parlayed his ability to sound like a young child, any male he wanted to, nearly any nationality necessary, and even older women into a legendary career as a radio actor. The skill to do sometimes twelve different voices in a single episode definitely fit the needs of Afloat with Henry Morgan.
 
This program stands out due primarily to the intense pacing of the stories themselves as well as the historical component, the high quality production values, and the talented voice acting of Edwards and the rest of the cast.
 
The final 24 episodes of this cliffhanger non-stop serial are presented in Afloat with Henry Morgan, Volume 2! Restored to the finest sparkling quality possible, this collection brings you 6 hours of history, mystery, hard men, courageous women, and sea battles galore! Thrill as Morgan becomes involved in the theft of an Aztec artifact, plots are hatched and betrayed, raids are planned and double crossed, and a plethora of characters, many voiced by George Edwards, all come together to take you Afloat with Henry Morgan in this second volume of this classic show brought to you by Radio Archives! Available now on Audio CDs for $17.98 and digital download for $11.98!
 
by Tommy Hancock
 

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Ask fans of Private Eye mysteries for a list of ‘classic operators’ and you’ll get a handful of names. There will be some, depending on the fan, that society at large may not recognize, but the standards will be there. Spade. Archer. Hammer. Wolfe. Shayne. Who? The last one? Shayne. Michael Shayne. Not familiar? Then do I have a way to introduce you to one of the best examples of the popular Private Investigator mystery genre, who is also sadly largely forgotten.
 
Introduced in a novel in 1939, Michael Shayne was the creation of author Davis Dresser. Ask a fan, however, who wrote Michael Shayne and you’ll be told that his creator was Brett Halliday, from his first adventure to his last in the mid 1980s. Halliday began life as Dresser’s pen name when he wrote Shayne tales and became a house name when Dresser moved on, opening up the chance for a multitude of writers to put Shayne through his paces.
 
The Michael Shayne you’ll encounter in The New Adventures of Michael Shayne, Volume 1 is by far my favorite interpretation of him and very close to the way later authors wrote the highly likable rough-hewn character. Largely the brainchild of Director William Rousseau, this audio version of Mike’s escapades, the second time Shayne came to radio, found our hero hawking his skills in New Orleans. Described in each episode as “that reckless, red-headed Irishman,” Shayne was portrayed by Jeff Chandler. An excellent actor who would become known for his stoic heroic presence in films, Chandler lends a wild abandon, a dangerous youthful sardonic edge to the character. Chandler’s strong sucker punch of a baritone keeps the listener engaged as Shayne weaves through the dark streets of the Big Easy.
 
There’s a roughness to not only Chandler’s portrayal, but to the entire show itself. I’m not necessarily referring to production quality, it’s top notch, but more to the attitude, the spirit of the program. Each show opens with Shayne narrating some suspenseful moment where he’s either about to be shot, stabbed, or somehow violently dispatched from this world and then, right after terse credits, rolls into the beginning of the case. There’s little time taken to set the scene, the assumption being the listener has some concept of New Orleans as well as some idea of the type of character Shayne is from the opening. The rhythm of each episode is hard and hammering, like the rat-a-tat of a Tommy gun. If you’re looking for sophistication and character and tension building in your program, this isn’t the show for you. This is delivered just like a sap to the back of the head. Quick, sudden, and a knock out every time.
 
The New Adventures of Michael Shayne, Volume 1 is not only the perfect introduction to a classic PI character, but it’s also a great gateway into the pulp mystery/crime side of OTR. Few better examples exist of fast paced, plot driven programs that are both clever and in your face simultaneously. Chandler as Shayne will not only be the voice you hear in your head if you ever pick up a tale of Halliday’s. It may very well be the voice you hear any time you read a hardboiled gumshoe from now on. See what I mean by getting The New Adventures of Michael Shayne, Volume 1 from Radio Archives today, $20.98 for 7 Audio CDs containing 14 episodes or $13.98 for digital download!
 
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The history of the thriller is populated by striking supervillains—Doctor Nikola, Professor Moriarity, Fantomas, and perhaps the most diabolical of all, Doctor Fu Manchu. A variation on these evil geniuses was the Mad Scientist. And no fictional scientist was madder than the man who called himself Doctor Death.
 
The creation of a newspaperman and pulp writer named Harold Ward writing under the obscure pen name of Zorro, Doctor Death was the star of his own bizarre pulp magazine back in 1935. He was equal parts Doctor Frankenstein and Albert Einstein, with a dash of Fu Manchu and a dram of wormwood. In reality, a Yale psychologist with the improbable name of Rance Mandarin, Doctor Death was a scientist who wandered over to the dark side, consorting with demons, elementals, zombies, disinterred mummies, other unclean denizens of Hell.
 
His supreme goal in life was to crush civilization. Apparently, Mandarin practiced a strange brand of necromancy because he believed that the Almighty had commanded him to force modern man to abandon automation, quit the factories, cease inventing, and revert to a pre-industrial state. In the depths of the great Depression of the 1930s, this may have struck the American reading public as the height of horror.
 
A frightened nation responded to this challenge by organizing the Secret Twelve, a band of the top U. S. civil and business leaders, whose number included the President of the United States and the nation’s top gang leader! It was quite a group. The heroic head of that organization was the remarkable Jimmy Holm, a millionaire criminologist and occultist who joined New York’s Finest as a detective. Working under Inspector John Ricks, and sometimes allied with Mandarin’s mysterious assistant, the exotic Nina Fererra, Holm battled Doctor Death from Manhattan to Egypt and into the very bowels of Hell itself.
 
The series is one of the rare unabashedly supernatural series the pulps ever produced. When Jimmy Holm confronts the undead minions of Doctor Death, the mummies and zombies are the real deal. The explanation for that is very simple: Harold Ward was a frequent contributor to the legendary Weird Tales magazine…and that’s why Doctor Death is a classic of its type.
 
RadioArchives.com is resurrecting this wild and wonderful series by presenting Doctor Death’s first fatal foray into reversing mankind’s fortunes, 12 Must Die, in a audiobook voiced by the talented Joey D’Auria. Get yours today for $14.98 for Audio CDs and $9.98 for the Digital Download!
 
 

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Radio Archives is the only place to find fast paced, high octane audio adventures of Pulp’s Greatest Heroes! Fans are flocking toRadioArchives.com to tune into to Audiobook tales of Doc Savage, The Spider, and more!
 
For over eighty years, the name Doc Savage has meant thrills and excitement to millions of readers worldwide. Now, the Man of Bronze comes to vivid life in a series of Audiobook adventures from Radio Archives!
 
In “Python Isle”, Doc Savage and his iron comrades race to untangle a weird puzzle so deep that the only clues can be found in the Bible!
 
Written by Will Murray and produced and directed by Roger Rittner,“Python Isle” features dramatic narration by Michael McConnohie, cover art by Joe DeVito, and more!
 
A new supercriminal emerges in “White Eyes”, the second Doc Savage audiobook from Radio Archives! From his skyscraper headquarters high above the streets of New York City to the sugarcane fields of Cuba, Doc Savage races to crush gangland’s latest uncrowned king!
 
Also written by Murray and produced and directed by Rittner, “White Eyes” features dramatic narration by Richard Epcar, cover art by Joe DeVito, plus fantastic extras!
 
Other characters also fight their way through evil and injustice making their way to Audibooks! In Will Murray’s Pulp Classics, classic heroes like The Spider and The Black Bat lead off the charge by appearing in the first audiobooks of this new line! These and other great creations have meant thrills and excitement to millions of readers worldwide. Now, these timeless heroes are brought to vivid life in a new series of audiobook adventures from RadioArchives.com and feature the talents of some of the most well-respected readers in the audiobook industry.
 
Hear the greatest Pulp you’ve ever read! Get a Radio Archives Pulp Audiobook today!
 
 
Like your action classic, full of hard-boiled heroes, dames, and scientists and their mad monsters? Do you prefer new adventures and exploits of masked men and women, bad guys and gals, and weather machines, six shooters, and death rays? Or do you like both and so much more! Then welcome to The Pulp Book Store! From classic Pulp reprints to New Pulp tales by modern writers, you can find the top publishers today right here in The Pulp Book Store!
With the advent of Pulp Publishers of all varieties in the last several years, some within the Pulp field have called this current trend a ‘Pulp Renaissance’ or at the very least a ‘Resurgence.’ This is due in part to fans of Pulp who also happen to be writers, creators, designers, and much more taking hold of their interest in this often overlooked art form and producing quality work. One of the leaders in this, providing the reading public with top of the line reprints as well as professionally designed collections and comprehensive Pulp academic works, is Altus Press.
 


“Altus Press,” according to its owner and publisher Matt Moring, “is a small-press publisher, primarily of pulp-related material. We typically focus on material published between 1920-55, though we do publish new material written in the pulp tradition featuring classic characters; Lost Race stories from the1880s-1920s; and pulp history books.” One of the most notable aspects of Altus Press’ current lineup is that the company is the Publisher of The Wild Adventures of Doc Savage as written by Author Will Murray. This line of new Doc Savage novels is the only new work licensed and sanctioned by the owners of the character, meaning Altus is currently the sole publisher of new Doc Savage material.
 
Five years ago, Moring took both his longtime love of Pulps and improvements in modern technology and, putting them together, began Altus. Circa 2005, print on demand technology–as well as several solid distribution methods–became available in an affordable way,” explained Moring. “As a designer who had worked in publishing for several years, I jumped at the opportunity to present forgotten material back into print. There’s a wealth of material out there that deserves to be presented in a fresh, polished, modern way.”
 
 
“I know, Matt continued, “how difficult it is for interested readers to track much of this material down. Our mission is to present complete series, uncut and in as an affordable package as possible. We’ve over 100 titles either available or nearly complete, with many more on the way.”
 
Moring also feels that Altus answers the needs of a growing fan base for Pulp, readers finding something in these classic stories that appeal to modern sensibilities. Moring stated, ” My feeling is there is so much of current popular culture that is based upon the foundations of the pulps: the characters, plots, pacing, etc. And due to advances in cheap reading (print on demand publishing and the popularity of tablets), there seems to be an upswing in interest in these old stories. Just because they’re decades old doesn’t mean they’re not solidly-written, entertaining tales.”
 
Most of all, Matt Moring takes his work and the overall mission of Altus Press very seriously, to produce the best quality possible. “There are some nice-looking pulp reprints out there, but we really strive to make the best product for your buck. This may mean getting new introductions written, historical notes, restoring cut passages from the copy, restoring the artwork, and the like. And we’re constantly revisiting our older titles: polishing up things as typos become apparent, tightening book layouts, etc. We’re appreciative of our customers and we put our best effort into each title.”
 
 
Even though he is Publisher at Altus, Matt is also, probably first and foremost a fan. And like most fans who end up in the business producing what they love, he has his favorites from the Altus catalogue. “In the pulp history category, I’d say The Phantom Detective Companion, as the overall package turned out to be such a solid overview of the character. For new material, I’d say Doc Savage: The Desert Demons turned out very well. As for classic pulp material–and this is a tough one–I’d say When the Death-Bat Flies: The Detective Stories of Norvell Page would probably be tops. It’s 800 pages long, contains 33 complete stories, and clocks in at nearly half a million words. You can’t go wrong with it if you’re a fan of detective stories or The Spider.”
 
Altus Press, a leader in Pulp Fiction Reprints and History and pioneer of the Pulp Renaissance, offers its massive, top quality books in The Pulp Book Store! Come see what you’ve been missing!
 
 
Striving to bring you the most and best Pulp available today, the Pulp Book Store is glad to announce the addition of new product and new stores to its lineup!
 
Known for excellent reproductions and great attention to detail, Girasol Collectables has added over 300 Pulp Replicas to their storefront! These fantastic books are authentic replicas of original pulp magazines, just as they appeared on newsstands when they were first issued. These editions are exact replicas of the original magazines, designed to give the reader an authentic taste of what a typical pulp was like when it was first issued. Thrill to authentically presented adventures of characters like The Spider and Operator 5 and read classic Pulp titles like Black Mask and Weird Tales! Exquisitely reproduced, these new replicas, more than 300 of them, are available now from Girasol Collectables and the Pulp Book Store!
 
The Pulp Book Store would also like to welcome three new publishers and their Pulp products to its ranks as well!
 
adds its excellent Pulp inspired works to the Pulp Book Store.
The Worlds of Philip José Farmer 1: Protean Dimensions
The Worlds of Philip José Farmer 2: Of Dust and Soul
 
offers these great Books and Magazines in the Pulp Book Store.
Yesteryear by Tommy Hancock
The Rook Volume Six by Barry Reese
Fortune’s Pawn by Nancy A. Hansen
Creeping Dawn by Chuck Miller
Hugh Monn, Private Detective by Lee Houston, Jr
The Adventures of Lazarus Gray by Barry Reese
Pro Se Presents #1 by Various Authors
Pro Se Presents #2 by Various Authors
Pro Se Presents #3 by Wayne Reinagel
 
brings its catalog of impressive titles and authors to the Pulp Book Store.
Into the Dire Planet by Joel Jenkins
Dire Planet by Joel Jenkins
Pirates of Mirrorland by Joel Jenkins
Four Bullets for Dillon by Derrick Ferguson
Dillon and the Legend of the Golden Bell by Derrick Ferguson
Dracula Lives! By Josh Reynolds
The Nuclear Suitcase by Joel Jenkins
The Sea Witch by Joel Jenkins
Exiles of the Dire Planet by Joel Jenkins
Through the Groaning Earth by Joel Jenkins
 
Adding Product and Publishers constantly to bring you the best Pulp has to offer! Welcome to the Pulp Book Store!
 
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By John Olsen
THE MURDER MASTER was originally published in the February 15, 1938 issue of The Shadow Magazine. He broadcast over a little-known radio station in New York. But he broadcast for an elite audience, among which was New York Police Commissioner Ralph Weston. His message was simple. Men would die during his broadcast. He knew the names, the times, the places and the methods. He was… the Murder Master!
 
As it happens, The Shadow had also been listening to the broadcast of The Murder Master. And while the broadcast was in progress, The Shadow had headed for the obscure radio station, WQJ. And so it was that The Shadow entered the broadcast building not knowing that his own name had been just uttered by the sinister Murder Master.
 
So far, this story has been a fast paced whirlwind of action and excitement, and we aren’t even past chapter four, yet. And it gets even better. This 1938 story is a slam-bang pulp adventure that will keep you turning the pages long into the night. Most of the story involves The Shadow in his usual cloaked guise of black. He makes a few other appearances as Kent Allard, his true identity. That was all explained in the pulps just six months earlier in “The Shadow Unmasks.” There’s no mention of Lamont Cranston. Apparently that angle was being played down at this point in time.
 
The Shadow receives a bit of assistance from his ever-faithful contact man Burbank, as well as underworld aides Cliff Marsland and Hawkeye. Other recurring characters are Commissioner Ralph Weston and Inspector Joe Cardona. It’s a pretty streamlined cast, but there’s no real need for more. Also, A few gadgets appear in this story. The Shadow’s amazing rubber discs that he uses as suction cups to scale smooth walls are mentioned.. And there’s a hidden recording device that The Shadow uses to record the voice of the unseen Murder Master.
 
For fans of old radio shows, this pulp story holds special interest. There’s the visit to the radio station and the broadcast booths. And let’s not forget the stacks of electrical transcriptions containing possibly an untold wealth of wonderful recordings. Author Walter Gibson had originally intended this story to be entitled “The Radio Crimes.” And it was a most appropriate title, because it all begins with a strange radio broadcast over station WQJ. And it includes an interesting visit to the radio station by The Shadow. But editors at Street & Smith decided, for some unknown reason, that “The Murder Master” was a more appropriate title. I think Gibson’s original instincts were more accurate.
 
This is another of those Shadow pulp novels that gets my hearty recommendation. As with so many of the stories from this era, it’s an enjoyable romp that will thrill you and chill you. Follow The Shadow on the trail of the Murder Master. You won’t regret it. Add it to your shopping cart today for $12.95 from Radio Archives!
 

 
Deal of the Day

High quality Audio, Pulp, and Classic DVDs! And at a fantastic price! That’s the Radio Archives Deal of the Day! The Deal of the Day is actually several great deals at all times. No limits! Simply Great Products at Unbelievable Prices!
 
Look for the yellow ‘Deal Of The Day’ price tag on the right side of the home page and click it for a great deal every Single Day from RadioArchives.com!
 
 
 
Comments From Our Customers!
 
Curtis Cobb:
I got Desert Demons yesterday and I’m already half way through the book. It is excellent! Thank you for the very Speedy shipment, I really appreciate it. Thanks to everyone at Radio Archives.
 
James Davis:
Thank you for the Doc Savage audiobooks!!!
 
Audiobooks/eBooks@suite101 Review:
Calling All Cars Volume 1 is available as a 10 Compact Disc set or alternatively a download direct from Radio Archives. Lasting for approximately, 10 hours, the episodes have an excellent reproduction on CD Players or alternatively to listen to on your personal iPod or MP3 player.
 
Barney McCasland:
These audio pulps are really great, and sounds like there are some very cool ones coming up. Keep the great audio pulps coming!
 
Steve Sher:
Of the companies from which I have ordered radio shows, Radio Archives reproductions and mastering have been the best by far! Given how old some of the shows are, many of them sound as if they were broadcast today. Last night, after arriving home after a very long day, at 12:45AM, I sat in my car, in the garage, because I needed to finish the last chapter of Johnny Dollar on the last disc of Volume 2. So, I sat in the car for the next 15 minutes, listening intently. The garage security guard came over to check out my car. When I rolled down the window, he was distracted from his inquiry by the show. Never having heard anything like this (he’s about 25), he stood and listened for the last 10 minutes, asking me for the contact information. So, you might get an order from him. Good night.
 
If you’d like to share a comment with us or if you have a question or a suggestion send an email toService@RadioArchives.com. We’d love to hear from you!
 

The products you’ve read about in this newsletter are just a small fraction of what you’ll find waiting for you atRadioArchives.com. Whether it’s the sparkling audio fidelity of our classic radio collections, the excitement of our new line of audiobooks, or the timeless novels of the pulp heroes, you’ll find hundreds of intriguing items atRadioArchives.com.
 
If you no longer wish to receive our newsletter, or if this newsletter has been sent to you in error, please reply to this e-mail with the subject line UNSUBSCRIBE and your name will immediately be removed from our mailing list.
 

The Point Radio: NIKITA – Why You Should Be Watching

It might be one of the best shows you’re not watching. We begin our look at the CW‘s NIKITA, getting lessons in both the past and future of the series from producer Albert Kim & actor Shane West. Plus Marvel drops the axe on a lot of titles and is that Doctor Who movie really on the level?

 

The Point Radio is on the air right now – 24 hours a day of pop culture fun for FREE. GO HERE and LISTEN FREE on any computer or mobile device– and please check us out on Facebook right here & toss us a “like” or follow us on Twitter @ThePointRadio.

A Peek at ‘The Adventures of Tintin: Season One’

I grew up on Hergé’s Adventures of Tintin, long before I knew there were graphic albums featuring Belgium’s greatest export after chocolate. Then, in the 1990s, they tried again with different results and it is that latter series being collected on DVD this month from Shout! Factory.

For those in need of reminding, take a look:
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MARTHA THOMASES: Frank Miller Bounceback

thomases-column-art-111118-1283470There’s been a lot of noise on two areas of the blogosphere that I follow – comics and politics – because Frank Miller recently posted about the Occupy Wall Street movement on his blog. My favorite response, as usual, was on TBogg’s blog, because I love me some snark.

See that photo over there? It’s had an honorable position on my refrigerator since it was taken about 15 years ago at the San Diego Comic Convention. It’s me and Frank, back when he could still walk the floor.

I’ve known Frank since the late 1970s. I met him soon after I met Denny O’Neil, and we hung out a lot when he was drawing the Amazing Spider-Man Annual #14. My friend, Legs McNeil <http://www.amazon.com/Legs-McNeil/e/B000APOLAA>,  was (and is) a huge comic book fan. He managed a band, <a href=”

, that was essentially Sgt. Rock set to music. We conspired to put them into an issue of a comic book, a mission that required many trips to CBGBs.

I don’t remember talking politics with him, but its possible that I did. There are a lot of people in comics that I like, but with whom I disagree politically. Dan Jurgens, Larry Hama, Chuck Dixon – we don’t agree, and that’s fine. We also tend to like different kinds of music, movies and books. We have fun conversations.

Our disagreements never led me to boycott their work. And I’ll boycott quite easily. For example, I haven’t bought any Revlon cosmetics since Ron Perelman plundered Marvel.

But I won’t give up something that gives me joy. If my joy is ruined by my disagreement with the owner or creator, then I’ll give it up.

What amused me about this particular kerfuffle is that, once you got away from the comic book sites, the reactions were fairly hilarious. Most people seem to think that Frank Miller, not Zach Snyder, was responsible for the movie, 300. It’s true that Snyder spent a lot of time and energy trying to mimic specific pages of Frank’s work, but he also added a lot of other stuff to fill out the 117 minutes of playing time.

I disagree with Frank on this issue. I think he’s wrong, profoundly wrong. I think he’s far away from this issue, and getting his information from less than reliable sources.

But I don’t think he deserves to be called names. As grown-ups who defend the free exchange of ideas, we can disagree with each other. We should. But it’s bad for the country when we descend into name-calling.

In other words, this.

SATURDAY: Marc Alan Fishman

Dwayne McDuffie and Earl Kress to Receive WGAW Animation Writing Awards

Dwayne McDuffie by Glen Muramaki & Andrew PepoyI guess the write-in campaign worked. Applause to the Writers Guild for honoring these guys.

Dwayne McDuffie and Earl Kress are set to receive the Writers Guild of America, West Animation Writers Caucus’ 14th annual Animation Writing Award posthumously. The honor recognizes their animation writing work and their efforts to organize animation for the guild.

“This year, animation lost two talented, hard-working people who have given much of themselves and their talent to our field,” said AWC chair Craig Miller. “Dwayne McDuffie was a talented writer and creator of comics and animation who worked hard for others, particularly for minority writers. Earl Kress was a writer whose career included both feature and TV animation and hard work on behalf of all animation writers as a member of the WGA Animation Writers Caucus and the Animation Guild Board of Directors. Both were people I was glad to call friend and colleague, and whose efforts, it can truthfully be said, made all of us the better for them.”

via Dwayne McDuffie and Earl Kress to Receive WGAW Animation Writing Award – Hollywood Reporter.

SEQUENTIAL PULP UNLEASHES THE CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF!

Art: Steven Gordon

Sequential Pulp Comics has released promo art for their 2012 release, CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF OF PARIS by Steven Gordon. The graphic novel is scripted by Mark Ellis and will be available in 2012 from Dark Horse Comics’ Sequential Pulp Comics imprint.

You can learn more about Sequential Pulp Comics at http://www.sequentialpulpcomics.com/.
You can learn more about Dark Horse Comics at http://www.darkhorse.com/.

Uproar at Tunisian trial on Persepolis showing – Yahoo! News

This reminds me to renew my membership in the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (no, they aren’t called to defend this one, but they do great work both here and abroad):

The trial in Tunisia over the broadcasting the animated Iranian film [[[Persepolis]]] was cut short Thursday after an uproar in the courtroom. Lawyers for the two sides shouted at each other and exchanged insults inside the courtroom, prompting the judge to adjourn the trial until Jan. 23. The controversy over the film illustrates how Tunisia, the country that started the wave of uprisings that have swept through the Arab world this year, is struggling to work out the role of Islam in society after years of officially enforced secularism.The privately owned Nessma television station provoked an angry reaction last month when it broadcast a dubbed version of Iranian director Marjane Satrapi’s award-winning adaptation of her graphic novels about growing up during Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.The film, which won the jury prize at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival, contains a scene showing a character representing God. Depictions of God are considered sacrilege in Islam.

via Uproar at Tunisian trial on Persepolis showing – Yahoo! News.

CLASSIC AND NEW PULP JOIN FORCES!

Two Pulp Publishers join forces to bring Fans more and more of the stories they love!  Altus Press, the foremost publisher in quality Pulp reprints as well as the Publisher of THE WILD ADVENTURES OF DOC SAVAGE and Pro Se Productions, one of the leading companies in the New Pulp Movement announce today a cooperative effort and imprint to provide even more Pulp Fiction, both classic and New, to diehard fans of Pulp or simply exciting adventure fiction!

Beginning in February, Altus Press and Pro Se Productions will work in conjunction to produce related products. When Altus Press publishes specially selected titles featuring rare and largely forgotten Pulp characters’ original stories, Pro Se will bring together the best writers of New Pulp today and simultaneously release a collection of newly written tales starring the same character. This stunning partnership will showcase both the classic adventures of some of pulp’s lost treasures while simultaneously allowing New Pulp’s finest to bring those characters back to life.


“For a long time, I thought there was a good opportunity to simultaneously release classic pulp reprints and a companion volume of new stories featuring that same character. These are solid, well-rounded characters who have tons of untapped potential. I’m glad to see there are plans afoot to take advantage of this and utilize two companies’ joint promotions towards a common complimentary product,” notes Altus Press’ Publisher Matt Moring.


This is,” said Tommy Hancock, Partner in and Editor in Chief of Pro Se Productions, “an honor and privilege for both me personally and Pro Se.   Working with Matt and Altus Press to provide complimentary material to the great work he is already doing is simply a good move forward for Pro Se.  And I am such a fan of the obscure, lesser known, even totally forgotten characters of Pulp that this project is already one of my favorites and it’s just a few days old.”


Beginning with the first cooperative publication in February, Pro Se will initiate a new imprint.  PULP OBSCURA will be the title of the line and will feature a logo and other graphics highlighting the relationship between Pro Se and Altus Press.  Both companies will provide various forms of cross promotion as well for the complimentary releases.


“Pro Se,” Hancock commented, “has largely stayed out of the Public Domain market as far as New Pulp goes because many publishers are doing the better known characters and doing them well.  We’ve been looking for something different, something that makes Pro Se distinctive in this field.  PULP OBSCURA, shining the talent of writers and creators on the little or completely unknown heroes and villains of Classic Pulp, makes that distinction.”


Pro Se Press will publish a New Pulp collection each time Altus Press produces a new reprint collection that both companies consider appropriate for the PULP OBSCURA treatment.  Pro Se, with the encouragement of Altus Press, will also be exploring Altus Press’ catalog and be publishing New Pulp collections of previously published reprints that will have no future volumes.


The first PULP OBSCURA related project will be THE COMPLETE ADVENTURES OF RICHARD KNIGHT VOLUME ONE written by Donald E. Keyhoe to be released from Altus Press in February. Best known for writing the adventures of Philip Strange, UFO legend Donald E. Keyhoe also wrote another long-running aerial hero for the pages of FLYING ACES: Richard Knight. This collection will include the first four stories from this series, tales that mix in elements of lost races, dinosaurs and more!


Also in February, Pro Se will simultaneously release THE NEW ADVENTURES OF RICHARD KNIGHT VOLUME ONE as the debut title in its Pulp Obscura line.   Based on the stories included in Altus Press’ volume, six writers will write Knight as he wings into all new dangers, startling mysteries, and discoveries that may very well change the world!


The writers featured in this first collection are-

Terry Alexander – A member of multiple writers groups. Primarily a horror writer, Published in several anthologies from Static Movement, Open Casket Press, Living Dead Press, Knightwatch Press, May December Publications, Paper Cut Publishing, Moonstone Books and Mini Komix.


Barry Reese-Award winning New Pulp Author known for his characters THE ROOK and LAZARUS GRAY as well as being one of the most talented and prolific writers in New Pulp today.  Published by Marvel Comics, Wild Cat Books, Airship 27 Productions, Moonstone, Pro Se, and more.  Also Author of GREEN HORNET and AVENGER tales published by Moonstone


Adam L. Garcia-Author of the Award winning GREEN LAMA UNBOUND and other works centered around the Lama, including short stories, more novels, and audio scripts.  Also Author and Creator of other characters, including DOCK DOYLE.


Ian Watson-Award winning Author, known thus far for his work primarily with Airship 27 Productions.  Writer of tales in SHERLOCK HOLMES, CONSULTING DETECTIVE and GIDEON CAIN.  Also Author of the well received critically acclaimed novel ROBIN HOOD-KING OF SHERWOOD.


Frank Schildiner-Pulp Author known for work with Airship 27 on characters such as THE BLACK BAT, RAVENWOOD, and SECRET AGENT X and with Black Coat Press on such concepts as THE TOFF and JEAN KARIVEN as well as stories for Nemo Publishing.  Currently developing a novel for Pro Se Productions.


Joshua Reynolds- Author known for multiple works, including stories centered around classic Pulp character JIM ANTHONY for Airship 27 and DRACULA for his own PulpWork Press.  Also an Author for The Black Library as well having been published by Pro Se Press, Innsmouth Press, and countless others.  Considered one of the fastest, most consistent and prolific Authors in the New Pulp field.


Other PULP OBSCURA collections are currently in the works and any writers or artists interested in being a part of these projects can email Hancock at proseproductions@earthlink.net for submission details. Both Moring and Hancock cite a massive list of works coming in the near future starring Classic Pulp Characters in both Reprints and New Pulp Collections. “I’m excited to see just how new Authors take to these characters and what they come up with. There are so many forgotten characters that the possibilities are endless,” Moring comments.


For more information on Altus Press, go to www.altuspress.com.  To learn more about Pro Se Productions, go to www.prosepulp.com.