The Mix : What are people talking about today?

THE COMPLETE OCCULT DETECTOR ARRIVES!

  • Uncategorized
  • April 24, 2013

Altus Press has announced the release of The Complete Cabalistic Cases of Semi Dual, the Occult Detector, Volume 1: 1912 by J.U. Giesy and Junius B. Smith.

Press release:

The Complete Cabalistic Cases of Semi Dual, the Occult Detector, Volume 1: 1912 by J.U. Giesy and Junius B. Smith.
Introduction by Garyn Roberts, Ph.D.

One of Pulpdom’s earliest occult detectives returns! Running for over twenty years in the pages of The Cavalier, All-Story Weekly, The People’s Magazine, Top Notch, and Argosy, among others, these tales have never been reprinted until now. Volume 1 contains the first three tales of Semi Dual, all from 1912: “The Occult Detector,” “The Significance of High ‘D’,” and “The Wisteria Scarf.” This premiere collection includes an all-new introduction by Garyn Roberts.

274 pages, approx. 6″x9″

Order the paperback from Amazon: $24.95
Order the limited edition hardcover: $34.95 (only 100 made)

Learn more here.

Doc Savage: His Revised Apocalyptic Life

  • Uncategorized
  • April 24, 2013

Not actual cover

Meteor House is proud to announce a new edition of Philip José Farmer’s landmark biography, Doc Savage: His Apocalyptic Life, is now available for preorder and will be available in July 2013 with a cover by Doc Savage cover artist Joe DeVito!

PRESS RELEASE:

Back in print for the first time in over 30 years, Philip José Farmer’s biography of the bronze crusader who fought almost 200 separate battles against the forces of evil “is ingenious, sardonic, adulatory, outrageous and funny in turn.” (Publisher’s Weekly)

Philip José Farmer, biographer of Lord Greystoke, has turned his superb research and narrative skills to one of the greatest heroes of our time: Doc Savage, the bronze champion of justice. Now, at last, the incredible life story of the real man behind the exploits in the Doc Savage pulp novels can be told, including: his true name (Dr. James Clarke Wildman, Jr.); his family background, covering his relationship to such stalwarts as Lord Greystoke, Sherlock Holmes, Sam Spade, James Bond, and Fu Manchu); detailed information on some of his most devilish opponents—John Sunlight, the Mystic Mullah, and Mr. Wail; a summation of some of Doc’s most amazing inventions; and biographies of the Fabulous Five—Monk, Ham, Renny, Long Tom, and Johnny—as well as the group’s Lady Auxiliary and Bronze Knockout, Doc’s own cousin Pat Savage!

Together with other data and brilliant deductions, Philip José Farmer offers an amazing account of this remarkable man’s astonishing career!

Available now for preorder, the newly revised edition of Doc Savage: His Apocalyptic Life also features a brand new foreword by Farmer and pulp expert Win Scott Eckert, updates to the “List of Doc Savage Stories” including the latest novels, and rare material culled from Mr. Farmer’s notes.

The deluxe hardcover edition arrives just in time for Doc’s 80th anniversary, and features tributes by other Farmer and Doc experts, including John Allen Small, Keith Howell, Rick Lai, Art Sippo, Christopher Paul Carey, and current Doc Savage writer Will Murray, as well as other bonus materials not seen in prior editions, such as:

Doc’s Coat of Arms, reconstructed by Win Scott Eckert and illustrated by Keith Howell, from notes by Philip José Farmer. A List of Doc Savage Comics by Win Scott Eckert and John Allen Small (a rundown of authorized Doc Savage comics which supplements Mr. Farmer’s “List of Doc Savage Stories”)
Writing Doc’s Biography by Philip José Farmer.

“Written with wit and charm, sprinkled with allusions, this is a book to delight both science fiction and mystery fans.” (Library Journal)

If you want a signed copy, be sure to read this:

All copies preordered by June 30th, 2013 will be signed by Win Scott Eckert at FarmerCon VIII / Pulpfest 2013. In addition, Meteor House will try to organize a signing by the bonus material contributors (John Allen Small, Keith Howell, Rick Lai, Art Sippo, Christopher Paul Carey, and Will Murray), who are available at FarmerCon VIII / Pulpfest 2013. (Hint: almost all of them are sure to be there!)

After FarmerCon VIII only unsigned copies of the book will be available to purchase.

REVIEW: Pawn

  • News
  • April 24, 2013

Pawn Blu-ray
These days, budgets can be pared down thanks to digital photography, letting producers focus more on cast and story, which often means we get some interesting takes on the standard genres. For example, a bungled robbery has been done time and again. But in the newly released Pawn, out today from Anchor Bay, we get an interesting set of characters.

A small group of would-be thieves hit a diner and are frustrated by discovering a dummy safe and decide to wait. Bit by bit, we learn more about the characters as the hours tick down to midnight when the time-locked safe, containing the diner’s cash, will open. We’re given some interesting narrative structure added by superb performances by a familiar cast led by Michael Chiklis. Chiklis is “The Brit”, who leads the gang and largely interacts with the diner’s owner

(Stephen Lang). They banter, the tension rises and falls as the minutes pass and some interesting, plausible complications arise, starting with the unexpected arrival of a cop (Forest Whitaker).  Then there’s poor Nick (Sean Faris), an ex-con who was in the bathroom when the robbery began and worries the cop will suspect he’s part of the gang. Instead, when things go south and this becomes a hostage situation, the poor guy becomes the go-between when the police negotiator (Common) arrives.

Screenwriter Jay Anthony White is a newcomer, having previously written only shorts so this 88-minute story is his longest outing yet and shows promise. There are a few pacing issues but he creates interesting characters and has a nice way with dialogue. The key here is the structure as thigns escalate and truths are doled out, keeping your interest.  He’s helped here by cinematographer turned director David A. Armstrong, who knows a thing or two about rising tension given his work on the Saw series of films. This shows both men having promising futures as Armstrong gets nice, measured performances from Chiklis and Ray Liotta while letting this be Faris’ showcase. Chiklis has usually played the bad ass good guy, but here he wields his shotgun with authority as the real bad guy.

This is a pleasurable way to pass some time and is worth a look. The direct-to-DVD feature transfers nicely to high definition and is accompanied by a single bonus feature: Pawn: Behind the Scenes (23:09), which gives you the basic behind the scenes information.

The combo set includes the Blu-ray and a DVD edition of the film.

The Griffon Battles the Terror and the Viper—on Kindle!

  • News
  • April 24, 2013

Two Titanic Tales of Adventure in One Package, from Van Allen Plexico

Who is… the Griffon?? 

When criminals, saboteurs and foreign agents threaten America’s security, millionaire ballistics expert Kerry Keen takes the controls of his custom-built, heavily-armed seaplane, the Black Bullet, as the dashing Griffon!

With mechanic/co-pilot/butler/chauffeur Barney O’Dare at his side, the Griffon strikes from a hidden hangar on Long Island Sound and delivers swift and often brutal justice to those deserving of it.  Sought by the authorities for his ruthless vigilante tactics, he must constantly avoid both the wrath of his foes and the long arm of the law.

In these two new adventures by award-winning and best-selling New Pulp author Van Allen Plexico (Sentinels; Lucian), the Griffon squares off against Nazi agent The Terror and his horrifying new secret weapon that could tilt the balance Germany’s way in the coming war—and then battles The Viper, a vengeance-seeking SS officer leading a squadron of missile-launching rocket-planes!

“The Griffon is such a terrific character,” says Plexico, “and I’m happy that White Rocket can offer readers what is essentially a two-part adventure together in one package for the first time.  Fuel up the seaplane and get ready for takeoff—the Griffon flies again!”

In these two power-packed adventures, here are just a few of the real-life machines you will see in action:

Sikorsky 1-S38 flying boats

DKW F5 Meisterklasse and Dusenberg sedans

Bachem Ba-349 rocket planes

Henschel Hs 217 Föhn unguided air-to-air rockets

Messerschmitt Bf 109 W seaplanes

Curtiss P-36 Hawk fighter planes

Chatellerault MAC 34 high-powered machine guns

Originally appearing in LANCE STAR: SKY RANGER Vol 2 (Airship 27) and NEW ADVENTURES OF THE GRIFFON (Pro Se), this 2-in-1 Kindle edition from White Rocket Books collects the two parts of Van Allen Plexico’s epic tale of the high-flying GRIFFON into one e-book for only $2.99.

Mike Gold: The Big Booth 1105 Crossover

imagesIt was fated to happen. ComicMix is participating in our very first crossover.

This coming weekend – as in Friday, Saturday and Sunday – ComicMix will once again be appearing at the C2E2 comics and pop culture convention at Chicago’s McCormick Place, on the scenic downtown shore Lake Michigan near the Adler Planetarium, the Shedd Aquarium, the Field Natural History Museum, and that formerly beautiful football (and, next March, hockey) stadium Soldier (sic) Field – before that hideous flying saucer landed on top of it.

More prestigious still, we ComicMixers will be teaming up with our good buddies at Unshaven Comics. This means the “good” Marc Alan Fishman will be appearing at the same booth as the “evil” Marc Alan Fishman. And if they inadvertently touch… well, let’s just say people will stop bitching about Mrs. O’Leary’s improperly defamed cow.

Representing ComicMix: Glenn Hauman, Adriane Nash, either the good or the evil Marc Alan Fishman (I can never tell which one is which) and yours fairly truly. We will be making two – count ‘em two ­– major announcements at the show, each of which will be promptly detailed in this slice of the etherverse. I won’t tip our collective hand, but I will say this: the second of these announcements will reveal what “CMPS” stands for. I mean this in the acronymical sense, and not in any ethical sense. Certainly not.

We’ll be at booth 1105 in case you didn’t read the headline, and you should because the editor-in-chief spends a lot of time obsessing over them. We eagerly await the opportunity to meet you. Unless you’re rude or insulting; then, we eagerly await the opportunity to let out our pent-up convention aggression. In my case, well, I’ve been going to comic book conventions for 45 years now. But I also used to be among the crowd that founded and ran the amazingly perfect Chicago Comicon, so I know this won’t be an issue.

Truth be told, I like Chicago conventions that are actually held within the city limits. There’s a bunch of reasons for this: the fans are amazingly friendly, the food is unbelievable, the city is everything great that New York City says it is but isn’t and can never be, and – most important – the Fire Marshal, for some odd reason, actually enforces the fire laws at massive conglomerations of humans and paper goods.

Holy Odin’s Eyehole, I’m gotta get it from insecure New Yorkers, aren’t I? Well, as you read this I’m already in Chicago (meetings, meetings, meetings; all at amazing restaurants) so I can only respond in person on the convention floor. Please re-read the sentence above about rude or insulting people and my 45 years of pent-up convention aggression.

We’re gonna have us a swell time. And to take tongue out of cheek for a rare moment, I hope you-all can share those swell times with us.

I hope to see you this weekend.

THURSDAY: Dennis O’Neil

FRIDAY: Martha Thomases

 

Jack Reacher Coming to DVD in 2 Weeks

JackReacher_Combo_BRD_3D_xtraSkewWhile Tom Cruise flogs the so-so reviewed Oblivion, his last feature effort, Jack Reacher, is coming to home video on May 7. According to the PR:

One of the most compelling heroes ever to step from novel to screen makes his highly-anticipated home entertainment debut when JACK REACHER blasts his way onto Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand on May 7, 2013 from Paramount Home Media Distribution.  The film will be available for Digital Download on April 23rd.  Tom Cruise tackles the title role with the brute force his character is known for and his “tightly controlled performance holds our attention all the way through to the tense finale” (Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News).  Based on best-selling author Lee Child’s wildly popular series of novels, JACK REACHER was adapted for the screen and directed by Academy Award-winner Christopher McQuarrie (Best Original Screenplay, The Usual Suspects, 1995).  Filled with heart-pounding action, thrills and a “killer chase scene” (Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News), JACK REACHER is “hard-boiled detective story entertainment” (Richard Corliss, Time) that “will have you gasping in surprise at the velocity and ferocity of the action” (Marshall Fine, Huffington Post).  The film also boasts “a top flight ensemble cast” (Claudia Puig, USA Today) including Robert Duvall (Apocalypse Now), Rosamund Pike (Die Another Day), Werner Herzog (Rescue Dawn), David Oyelowo (Rise of the Planet of the Apes), Richard Jenkins (The Cabin in the Woods) and Jai Courtney (A Good Day to Die Hard).

In anticipation of the home entertainment release, journalists from around the globe gathered on the Paramount lot in Hollywood, California to step into the shoes of world-renowned author Lee Child’s legendary anti-hero, Jack Reacher.
 From the brutal, no-holds-barred street fight to the heart-pounding and high-octane car chase, experts demonstrated how they helped bring these unforgettable scenes to life in the action-packed film Jack Reacher.

Veteran fight coordinator Robert Alonzo provided expert training in the Keysi Fighting Method to prepare participants for their own choreographed fight.
Stunt coordinator and 2nd unit director Paul Jennings gave an inside look at how the killer car chase was filmed.

Blake MycoskieStunt driver Joey Box showed off the actual Chevelle from the movie.

The JACK REACHER Blu-ray/DVD combo pack with UltraViolet™ is bursting with compelling bonus features including an in-depth look at Reacher’s journey to the screen, the filmmakers’ devotion to remaining true to the essence of the character and their drive to create an action-thriller that harkens back to the landmark films of the ‘70s.  The combo pack also includes a look at the training and stunt choreography behind the gritty and intense fight sequences, an exploration of the Reacher phenomenon around the world with Lee Child, as well as commentaries by Tom Cruise, director Christopher McQuarrie and composer Joe Kraemer.  The film will also be available as a single-disc DVD.

The Blu-ray release available for purchase will be enabled with UltraViolet, a new way to collect, access and enjoy movies.  With UltraViolet, consumers can add movies to their digital collection in the cloud, and then stream or download them – reliably and securely – to a variety of devices.

REVIEW: Will & Whit

Will & Whit
By Laura Lee Gulledge
192 pages, Amulet Books, $12.95

Will & WhitDreamers came in all shapes and sizes, from Paige, the artist from Virginia who relocated to Brooklyn, to Wilhelmina Huckstep, an orphan seeking solace in her lamp creations. Under the sure hand of Laura Lee Gulledge, the mysteries of life are peeled away and explored with a fresh, open style. Gulledge burst onto the scene in 2011 with [[[Page by Paige]]], which earned her an Eisner Award nomination and now she is back with [[[Will & Whit]]].

Will, as her friends call her, lost her parents a year ago and has come to live with her aunt Ella in the home her grandparents built next to the small, dusty antique shop they ran in a small Virginia town. She can’t sleep, is dreadfully afraid of the dark and tends to keep to herself, fixing or recreating interesting lamps that she sells at the shop. Her small circle of friends continue to support her and their interactions and development over the course of the summer before senior year in high school forms the book’s spine.

As we meet each character, Will’s narration tells us three vital details about them, placing them in context and bringing them to life. There’s Autumn, the Indian puppeteer who is blind to Noel’s attraction towards her. He’s an amazing cook and too shy to admit his feelings. Then there’s Reese, his younger sister, who is welcomed into their clique on her thirteenth birthday.

An impending storm, Whitney, the Whit of the title, and another group of teens mounting a carnival propel the rest of the story as truths are unearthed, emotions bared, and friendships crumble or form. The book moves along breezily, aided by Gulledge’s ability to provide each character with the casual teen speak that brings them alive. They have nicknames for one another and shorthand for their conversations and she lets them talk as teens are wont to do. On more than one occasion thigns slow down so the characters can really hash through an issue or support one another.

Visually, Gulledge’s open, welcoming style is very easy on the eyes and a delight to look at. This black and white book uses shadows quite effectively, a layer of storytelling to counterpoint what’s being said or done, revealing facets of the characters, notably Will, who has yet to really confront her parents’ absence. The one year anniversary is approaching, much like the storm, and Will finds herself in the center of both.

Clearly, Gulledge is not suffering from a sophomore slump and is one of the brighter, fresher voices in graphic novels. While aimed at young adults, the universal themes make this entertaining reading for all ages.

Watch “Thor: The Dark World” Trailer

  • News
  • April 23, 2013

Will Thor: The Dark World Be Plagued By Dark Elves?

Just in time for Iron Man 3, we have trailers for Thor: The Dark World, hitting UK theaters on October 30 and US theaters on November 8. Of course, it’s the sequel to Marvel’s Thor, starring Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston and Christopher Eccleston.

Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World continues the big-screen adventures of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself. In the aftermath of Marvel’s Thor and Marvel’s Avengers Assemble,Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos…but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.

Starring Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgård, Idris Elba, Christopher Eccleston, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Kat Dennings, Ray Stevenson, Zachary Levi, Tadanobu Asano and Jaimie Alexander with Rene Russo and Anthony Hopkins as Odin, Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World is directed by Alan Taylor, produced by Kevin Feige, from a story by Don Payne and screenplay by Christopher Yost and Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely and is based on Marvel’s classic super hero Thor, who first appeared in the comic book “Journey into Mystery ” #83 in August, 1962 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

Michael Davis: Art & Design – A Love Story

  • Uncategorized
  • April 23, 2013

Frank & DebbieThe High School Of Art & Design (A&D) was where I studied illustration and where countless great comic book, animation and illustration artists learned their craft, including Carmine Infantino, John Romita  Sr., Dick Giordano, Ralph Bakshi, Neal Adams, Larry Hama, Denys Cowan, Mark Texeira, Malcolm Jones III, Frank Brunner, Jimmy Palmiotti, Joe Jusko, Mike Carlin and Ralph Reese.

That list goes on but A&D also produced many others of note in various areas such as fashion and music: Calvin Klein and Tony Bennett are A&D alumni along with a myriad of badass mofos. I’ve written about A&D before as it certainly has played an important part in the comics industry and has for many decades.

A&D is the backdrop for this piece, but that’s pretty much the extent of the industry tie in. This piece is about a love story and A&D is the only way I can justify it appearing here. I beg your indulgence, but I think this is a love story that deserves to be told to as many romantics as possible and the comic book and pop culture world is nothing if not a group of romantics.

We are a group of romantics. Consider the following from my comic book journey… I shed a tear over Gwen Stacy’s death. I felt a real sense of tragedy when Jean Gray killed millions as Dark Phoenix. I felt horrible for Matt Murdock when he found out the love of his life was a drug addict and a whore. Comics are full of stories that bring out the romantic in all our little geek hearts.

This story happens to be true. This is the story of A&D students Frank & Debbie.

I know I’m pushing it but I humbly beg your forgiveness as I compose this as if I’ve written it for Frank and Debbie alone.

I’ll understand if you skipped this article and instead went back to playing Injustice. If I were you I’d skip it… but I’m an asshole.

“Fine Tall Guy With The Kissable Lips and that Mack smile?” Debbie you said that was your first impression of Frank when you saw him on the A&D escalators?

Nope.

That fine tall guy with the kissable lips was I Debbie. Frank was the guy behind me asking for a breath mint, a pick (white people ask somebody) and a clue when he saw you.

You just think you met him on the escalator as I wiped your mind clean of the first meeting with my powers. Hello!! Master Of The Universe here! Your first meeting actually happened when Frank was coming out of the 7th floor bathroom.

Remember the 7th floor bathroom and the assemblage that used it?

Yes, yes you do.

I was covering for him (long story he was drunk) when he lost his mind and saw you.

It’s well known that ever since A&D I’ve been the crazy one of our tight knit group but I will digress for a rare moment and speak from the heart.

I remember ALL my A&D girlfriends.  Pretty Jackie Brown (way before the movie) Carol Rivera (oh my god she was fine) Lynn Jacobs (she was in the 9th grade I was in the 11th…yeahhhh jail bait) and for about 3 days Althea Hill (she was a stone cold fox but a bit eccentric. How so? I found out we were no longer an item when she decided to get mad at me for dating Jackie…the year before.)

Jackie broke up with me.

Carole broke up with me.

Althea broke up with me

Tony Tutt pointed out to me that dating a 9th grader was just stupid. I should have noticed that when I’d call Lynn at home and her mother would pick up the extension and tell Lynn it was bedtime. I decided to take Tutt’s advice and break up with Lynn but before I could…

Lynn broke up with me.

BTW, Lynn lead me to believe she was in the 11th grade when I first met her… lying little bitch.

Frank not only did you keep Debbie as your girlfriend from the moment you two were an item in high school but you married her after high school and she is still your wife and the love of your life. Debbie, those ‘break ups’ you were refer too?

Bullshit.

Frank, I remember you telling Tony & I (who was my best fucking friend in A&D and beyond until we lost touch) that you guys had broken up.  He and I just gave you a “yeah right” look.

The only people who thought you guys ever broke up were you two. Those ‘break ups’ were always about a day. If the break up went a week it was because school was closed for Christmas break. If it went 2 days it was a weekend, etc. You get the drift.

But I digress; Frank you were able to keep Debbie and every single girl I dated in High School woke up one day and said, “Michael Davis?? What the fuck and I thinking?”

I was a bit envious of that. But I also loved you guys like family so I was happy for you. Although I will never ever forgive Frank for bragging about having his girlfriend with him on the senior weekend trip to the dude ranch. All the other guys in our group spent two days trying to get a girlfriend…for the weekend.

Bastard.

Anyway-you guys are the real deal. A real love story. To this day I can’t think of you guys as individuals I have to think of you as Frank and Debbie.

I would not be surprised if you looked up soul mate in the dictionary there would be a picture of Frank & Debbie.

Happy birthday Frank. I love you man and you as well Debbie. Oh and Debbie if (when) you find Frank’s secret Asian porn collection I’m here if you want to talk…

Lastly, to the girls who dumped me in high school.

I’ve done all right for myself, all right as in I have a Ph.D., homes on both coasts, I’ve written books, created TV shows, I lecture all over the world, have a motherfucking school auditorium named after me and none of that is even the most impressive things I’ve accomplished.

How you like me now?

OK, OK, I can’t hide my feelings by bragging about things that in a moment I’d give up for any one of you. Carole, take me back. Jackie I still love you, Althea forgive me.

Lynn…bitch you lied to me you get no love!!!!

But I can be reached at motu@michaeldavisworld.com if you want to chat.

WEDNESDAY: Mike Gold

THURSDAY: Dennis O’Neil

 

Categories

Archives

Everything you need to make great comics!

comicmix-pro-300x69-2

Nucleus X

Bookshop Zaks