Cover Art: Danny Kelly

Martin Powell’s The Halloween Legion (Book One) is now available for just $12.95 from Wild Cat Books. You can order The Halloween Legion at http://www.amazon.com/Halloween-Legion-1-Martin-Powell/dp/0983953201/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319484334&sr=1-2

The printed edition features five interior illustrations by artist Danny Kelly.

“Many thanks to Ron Hanna and Wild Cat Books for allowing my little group of weirdos to finally be born–and in time for Halloween!” Powell said on his blog.

The Halloween Legion © Martin Powell.
Cover and Interior Illustrations by Danny Kelly.

Interior Art: Danny Kelly

Graphic Design by William Carney.
Logo by Ver Curtiss.
Published by Wild Cat Books.

To learn more about author Martin Powell, visit http://martinpowell221bcom.blogspot.com/
To learn more about Wild Cat Books, visit http://www.wildcatbooks.net/

You can order The Halloween Legion at http://www.amazon.com/Halloween-Legion-1-Martin-Powell/dp/0983953201/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319484334&sr=1-2

Still churning through some great photographs, although sadly my photos of Banana-Wolverine didn’t come out at all (just for the caption “In Canada, banana slices you! </yakovsmirnoff>”) but luckily, ComicsAlliance caught him.

But we have photos of everything else, from Astro Boy to Avengers, from Slave Leia (of course) to the littlest Sinestro, and Optimus Primes both large and sub-Optimus… let’s take a look!

Tarzan © ERB, Inc. Artwork Tim Burgard

Author Martin Powell recently announced that he is writing a graphic novel of TARZAN AT THE EARTH’S CORE that will be illustrated by Tim Burgard, for Sequential Pulp/Dark Horse Comics.

The Tarzan At The Earrth’s Core graphic novel is officially licensed and authorized by the estate of Edgar Rice Burroughs, and will be published as a special edition in celebration of the ape-man’s 100th Anniversary in 2012. “Tarzan has always been at the top of my list for characters to write,” Powell said on his blog. “And this is possibly the biggest project of my twenty-five year career. I honestly never thought I’d get this chance. Very special thanks to ERB, Inc. and Michael Hudson for making this possible.”

For more on Martin Powell, visit http://martinpowell221bcom.blogspot.com/.
For more on Sequential Pulp Comics, visit http://www.sequentialpulpcomics.com/
For more on Dark Horse Comics, visit http://www.darkhorse.com/
For more on Tim Burgard, visit http://www.timburgardart.com/

I wrote a while back, lamenting over not writing much for or about Star Trek these days and it appeared that my involvement in the franchise was going to become a fading memory.

Perhaps I wrote too quickly.

Back in August, I was contacted by an editor at Voyageur Press on the recommendation of fellow Trek writer, and Voyageur employee, Scott Pearson. Grace LaBatt kindly asked if I was perhaps interested in tackling an Unauthorized History of Star Trek, tracing not only the TV series but the movies, the spinoffs, the merchandise and most importantly, the fan following that kept the dream alive.

(more…)

Walking home from food shopping, thinking about this week’s column. Thinking about all the “news that’s fit to print” (and some not) about the portrayal of women in comics. And I thought, has anyone written about the portrayal of men in comics? I’m talking down and dirty, hot stuff, glistening muscle, chest hair or no chest hair?, blue brown or green eyes, skin-tight costume, hunky super-duper M-E-N.

Distaff geeks unite!

I’ll start. Off the top of my head, and in no particular order:

• Logan, a.k.a. Wolverine. Chest hair. Goddamn, he’s sexy.
• Dick Grayson, a.k.a. Robin in New Teen Titans written by Marv Wolman and drawn by George Pérez. He looked like a guy I had a crush on in high school… and for years afterwards.
• Clark Kent, a.k.a. Superman, drawn by Curt Swan, Jerry Ordway, John Byrne, and many others, up to and including Rags Morales and Jesus Marino.
• Hal Jordan, a.k.a. Green Lantern. Just read recently that Julie Schwartz wanted him to look like Paul Newman. Explains a lot.
• Scott Summers, a.k.a. Cyclops. Who’s behind those Foster Grants?
• Peter Parker, a.k.a. Spider-Man. It was Revenge of the Nerds, thanks to J. Michael Straczynski and John Romita, Jr!
• Adam Strange. Why can’t a Zeta-beam land him in my bedroom?

Now for the “live-action”:

• Christian Bale makes delicious eye candy and engenders dirty thoughts as Bruce Wayne/Batman. But isn’t it odd that the comic version doesn’t make my “off-the-of-my-head” list?
• Of course the true superhero, Christopher Reeve. “Easy, miss. I’ve got you.”
• And I have always, always, always had a thing for Robert Downey Jr. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched Iron Man. Even sat through Iron Man more than twice just to look at him. Special mention for Sherlock Holmes.
• Not so much for the blondes, generally. Though there is Chris Hemsworth as Thor. And Robert Redford (“See ya, Hubble”) in The Way We Were. And Jason Lewis as Jared Smith on Sex And The City – the scene where he shaves his signature long, blonde, thick hair in solidarity with Samantha as she loses her hair due to the chemotherapy, well, every man who has ever questioned why his girlfriend or wife left him should be chained to a chair ala Malcom McDowell in A Clockwork Orange and forced to watch that scene over and over and over until he screams Igetitigetitigetitigetit!

uh, sorry ‘bout that. where was i? she said sheepishly.

• John Wesley Shipp as The Flash on the too-soon cancelled TV series.

No quibbling allowed on the next four. I am the columnist. I am allowed my all things Buffy. Anyway, maybe they started out as live-action characters, but they all appear in comics now. And don’t give me any lip about any of them not technically being superheroes. I don’t see you fighting demons and vampires and saving the world over and over again.

• David Boreanaz as Angel, first on Buffy and then on the eponymous TV series. Broody, morose, dark and tragic. A vampire Hamlet.
• Alexis Denisof as Wesley Wyndam-Pryce. I envy Alyson Hannigan.
• James Marsters as Spike, a.k.a. William the Bloody. Just for the record, I’m one of those who believe in Spike and Buffy 4 Ever. S.W.A.K.
• J. August Richards as Charles Gunn. He almost didn’t make the list, ‘cause his selfish actions led to the death of Fred, but I can’t deny that bod’!
• Anthony Stewart Head as Rupert Giles. Loved him ever since the Folger commercials. ‘Sides, I’m a sucker for British accents. Ask John Higgins.

What’cha think of my choices, fellow geek women? Who are yours? Martha, y’ wanna start?

TUESDAY: Michael Davis

Cover Art: Alex Ross

Dynamite’s Lord of the Jungle comic book series is set to expand on Edgar Rice Burroughs classic tale!

Cover: Paul Renaud

September 21, 2011, Runnemede, NJ – The original Lord of the Jungle returns! Dynamite is proud to announce the December release of Lord of the Jungle! Dynamite’s Lord of the Jungle is true to Edgar Rice Burroughs original tale, savage, violent, and uncensored for the first time in its 100 year history! We are so proud and excited about this book, that we are offering the first FULL issue for the introductory price of just $1.00!

Based on the classic Edgar Rice Burroughs adventure story, Tarzan of the Apes, the first of his famous series, which initially began publication in All Story Magazine in 1912. The saga of Greystoke begins in December, written by Arvid Nelson and illustrated by Roberto Castro, and featuring covers by Alex Ross, Lucio Parillo, Ryan Sook, and Paul Renaud!

Cover: Ryan Sook

“Tarzan’s DNA is in everything from super heroes to space epics,” says writer Arvid Nelson. “But I was surprised at how little I knew about him, because the many adaptations wander very far from the original character. His true story is so much deeper and more interesting — that’s we’re trying to bring to life in Lord of the Jungle.”

“To allow the series to be accessible to fans old and new, we are offering the first issue at the Introductory Price of $1.00 for the full ENTIRE 32 page comic, as well as dedicating both of the Dynamite front gate folds of the October shipping Previews Magazine to our launch,” says Dynamite Entertainment President and Publisher Nick Barrucci. “Get on board for the biggest comic book launch this December!”

For art and more information, please visit: www.dynamite.net

Cover: Lucio Parillo

About Dynamite Entertainment:

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT was founded in 2004 and is home to several best-selling comic book titles and properties, including The Boys, Green Hornet, Vampirella, Warlord of Mars, Bionic Man, Game of Thrones and more!

In addition to their critically-acclaimed titles and best selling comics, Dynamite works with some of the most high profile creators in comics and entertainment, including Alex Ross, John Cassaday, Garth Ennis, Michael Avon Oeming, Mel Rubi, Marc Guggenheim, Stephen Sadowski, Mike Carey, Jim Krueger, Greg Pak, Brett Matthews, Matt Wagner and a host of up and coming new talent!

Cover: Francesco Francavilla

DYNAMITE is consistently ranked in the upper tiers of comic book publishers and several of their titles – including Alex Ross and Jim Krueger’s PROJECT SUPERPOWERS – have debuted in the Top Ten lists produced by Diamond Comics Distributors. In 2005 Diamond awarded the company a GEM award for Best New Publisher and another GEM in 2006 for Comics Publisher of the Year (under 5%). The company has also been nominated for several industry awards, including the prestigious Eisner Award.