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MINDY NEWELL, R.N., CNOR, C.G. (Comics Geek): How I Became A Comics Professional

  • News
  • August 8, 2011

newell-100808-art-1891906…Or How The Fuck Did That Happen, Part Two

Where was I last week?

I was in the midst of a great crusade against the most terrifying villain ever unleashed upon the universe. A tyrant created by an evil greater than Mephisto – or Emperor Palpatine or Darkseid, choose your poison – whose sole purpose is to destroy humanity. A crafty, insidious, and totally nasty piece of work, capable of twisting even the greatest brains ever known – Einstein, Newton, Hawkings, Reed Richards – into Roquefort cheese, of destroying REM sleep, of chaining even the raging Incredible Hulk to a chair for weeks.

Oh, yes, it was a battle for the ages. He tried driving me mad with visions of z-scores and ANOVAs and Pearson Correlations and Chi-Square Tests for Goodness. Of blinding me with rs = 1 – 6∑D2/n(n2-1) and SSA = ∑T2ROW/nROW – G2/N and t = (M1 – M2) – (µ1 – µ2)/s(M1 – M2) equations and incapacitating my ability to write my column.

Who is this creature from which Doctor Doom hides in the blackest caves of the deepest forests of Latveria? Who is this monster that chases Galactus through the Andromeda galaxy? What is this, this thing, which sends Doomsday scurrying for his Mommy?

He is Statistics.

And though in the end I was bloodied and broken, I triumphed.

So where was I?

I had found some typewriting paper in a drawer. I had pulled my old portable manual out from underneath my bed, where it has been collecting dust bunnies for I-couldn’t-remember-how-long. I had gotten a paper towel and some Windex and had wiped off the keys. I had prayed that the ribbon was still good. I had rolled the paper in. Had set the margins.

And started writing…

(more…)

Reviews from the 86th Floor: Barry Reese looks at Phantom: Guardian of the Eastern Dark

  • Uncategorized
  • August 8, 2011



THE PHANTOM:

GUARDIAN OF THE EASTERN DARK

Written by Mike Bullock

Art by Sivestre Szilagyi and Fernando Peniche

Moonstone Books

ISBN 978-1-933076-81-2

$24.95

This heavy tome collects the entire 12 issue run of Moonstone’s second ongoing Phantom series. All issues are written by Mike Bullock while Silvestre Szilagyi handles the art on what was originally issues 1-3, 5-6 and 8-12. Fernando Peniche is the artist on issues 4 and 7.

If you’re a fan of The Phantom, then you’re probably already aware of Bullock’s contributions to the character. He was the primary writer of The Phantom during the character’s time with Moonstone and he peppered his stories with real-life issues related to Africa. This collection is very much a sequel to Bullock’s work on the first Moonstone Phantom series, as it brings back one of his greatest creations, the villain known as Him. Indeed, the entire 12-issue arc is based around Him’s return and the various ways that he manipulates The Phantom. The stories are fast-paced and action-packed, featuring The Phantom in a number of dramatic situations… he even battles a polar bear towards the end!

The artwork is serviceable — Szilagyi is a good storyteller though his style lacks some of the flair that would help set the stories apart. He seems to come from the lineage of guys like Don Heck: draftsman who know how to clearly lay out a page and can hit all the required notes but there’s not any pages here that scream “Boy, I wish I could get that one as a poster!” Peniche is a far more dramatic artist but has some wonky anatomy and layouts at times.

If I had any criticism of the storyline as a whole, it would be that there’s little downtime for The Phantom. Diana is very much a background figure in the series and Kit and Heloise do show up for a couple of drama-inducing pages but I would have enjoyed seeing an issue somewhere in the run where The Phantom would have spent more time with his family: I think mixing in a “small” story amidst the proceedings would have made the final chapters have more power. As it is, readers are required to already have feelings for the kids and understand The Phantom’s devotion to his family — there’s not really much in the way of explaining that to new readers along the way.

I consider this book well worth the money and it should be of interest to any Phantom fans. I will say that my favorite Bullock storyline is collected in The Phantom: Checkmate and it serves as an excellent lead-in to this volume, since it also features Him. Get ’em both, if you haven’t already.

I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

LET THERE BE PULP-NEW COLUMN LOOKING AT EARLY CAP FILM ATTEMPT!

  • News
  • August 7, 2011

LET THERE BE PULP- Examining where Pulp Classics Start- by Frank Schildiner

cap-a-serial-3377520Millions, including your humble narrator, await the opening of the new CAPTAIN AMERICA feature film, one that promises to bring the character back to his Simon and Kirby roots. But old Cap has a troubled history with Hollywood that has this writer shuddering at the thought of a return to the bad old days of horrific Captain America films.

Captain America first hit the big screen as a 1944 Republic Pictures serial and has the distinction of being that studio’s last superhero film. But the studio that created such incredible hero serials as THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MARVEL, a film renown for some of the best stunts in history, and the spectacular cliffhangers of SPY SMASHER, seriously dropped the ball on this film. To call this film a disaster for all Captain America fans is a mild statement, this serial is just painful.

Let’s start with some basics about Captain America, the very basis of the character. Every fan knows Captain America is Steve Rogers, a weakling turned into the perfect man through the legendary super-soldier formula. Throughout World War Two he fought evil Nazis in the frontline of battle, dressed in star spangled chain mail and carrying a red, white and blue shield. Sounds like an easy setup for a film shot during WWII, right?

Not so for Republic Pictures! No, suddenly Captain America is District Attorney Grant Gardner who fights crime with his fists and a pistol. Steve Rogers does not exist in this world and this hero is an unimpressive type who appeared slightly overweight. This was not a mere perception of a disgruntled fan, the actor who played the part, Dick Purcell, died of a heart attack prior to release. The cause of death being the stunts weas too much of a strain on the poor miscast actor’s heart. And yes, Cap’s signature weapon is replaced by a pistol. Oh and his costume was transformed from chain mail to cloth with the signature eagle wings on his mask also removed. Any connection to the Captain America created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby appears accidental by the time this film in completed. 

The villain of the piece was legendary Universal Films horror star, Lionel Atwill as a villain called The Scarab. Atwill adds an eerie menace to the role and was considered one of the bright lights in this production.

The reason for these bizarre changes to the character was, in the opinion of writer/film historian Don Glut, this film was originally a script meant as a sequel to THE MYSTERIOUS DOCTOR SATAN. That famed serial had a hero named Copperhead who did use a pistol and fought crime. This appears to be as good an explanation as any about this terrible serial, though it did keep Cap from appearing in any feature films until an unauthorized appearance in a Turkish action film called 3 DEV ADAM. Should you wish a truly bizarre film experience, view this one…one hint, the villain is a potbellied Spider-Man with huge green eyebrows who regenerates himself once being killed…poor Cap…

NEW REVIEW COLUMN DEBUTS-CAN I BE FRANK ABOUT MONSTER HUNTERS?

  • Uncategorized
  • August 7, 2011

CAN I BE FRANK-Pulp Reviews by Frank Schildiner

Monster Hunters means Modern Pulp

By Frank Schildiner

Vampires coming up the front path? Zombies on the lawn? Maybe werewolves howling and keeping you awake at night? Then you might want to look up the MONSTER HUNTER series of pulps by rising scribe, Larry Correira. Three books in the series are MONSTER HUNTER INTERNATIONAL, MONSTER HUNTER VENDETTA and the recently published MONSTER HUNTER ALPHA, all of which are available in bookstores, online as well as electronically through Baen Book’s website.

These true modern pulps tell the tale of  Owen Zastava Pitt, an account with a love for nasty fighting and upbringing that included training a Green Beret would find arduous. Attempting to live a normal life, Pitt is one day attacked by his supervisor who was unfortunately recently infected as a werewolf.

This setup plunges the hero into a world of vampires, ghouls, zombies and government paper-pushers that have terrifying secrets of their own. Owen Pitt is soon recruited by a private company of monster hunters, all of whom are fun and interesting characters in their own right.

Correira, a weapons expert as well as a former account himself, provides the reader with an astonishing level of detail unseen since the days of Don Pendleton’s Mack Bolan War Against the Mafia series. It should be said that most writers who place this level of detail in a series often bog the story down in minutia, but Larry Correira manages to rise above that pitfall and provide the reader with just enough information to get you move involved in the story.

As a hero, Owen Pitt is reminiscent of the pulp heroes of the Western yarns; he’s strong, amusing, self-effacing and confident without becoming a “Mary-Sue”. If you don’t understand what a Mary-Sue is, feet free to pause this article and look up the term on Google (and maybe read the Conrad Stargrad stories by Leo Frankowski). In any event, he plays well off the other protagonists, especially the terrifying FBI Agent known as Franks. That character’s backstory alone is worth the price of admission.

The true pleasure of Larry Correia’s series lies in his world itself. Monsters such as vampires and werewolfs exist and have their own sets of rules. These rules derive from legends as well as great films from the Universal and hammer series and no doubt other sources. Other, equally terrifying and interesting creatures exist and provide the reader with plenty of excitement as well as fast paced action. The approachability of the characters allows the reader a better connection with the story, preventing a feeling of disconnection one often gets in action and adventure tales from new and historical pulp.

To sum up, if you want some modern pulp horror with a fun does of action, not to mention beautiful women and clever dialogue, Larry Corriea’s Monster Hunter series of books. I’m betting you’ll have a good time in the process and, like me, will be looking forward to the continuation of this enjoyable series of tales.

JOHN OSTRANDER: Pro Advice – Hit By a Bus

ostrander-110807-art-2733058From time to time I’m going to use this space to talk about professional concerns gleaned from my experiences of the past twenty-five plus years in the industry and pass on words of advice that I got in that time.

For example – if you go to a Convention and you’re a pro, you’re probably going to be asked to autograph copies of your work. Here’s something I didn’t know when I began and was taught by another pro: keep your autograph separate and different from your legal signature (the thing you sign checks and binding contracts with). Walt Simonson, for example, has a great autograph – looks like a dinosaur. I doubt he signs his checks that way. It makes sense. If your autograph is the same as your legal signature, it makes it easier for someone to forge that signature and that’s not good.

Here’s another bit of advice. I was once negotiating a contract at one of the major companies and I had a question about something in the contract that no one could answer. I was told, “Oh, John. Just go ahead and sign it. We’re all family here.”

My answer was – no, we’re not. I know who and what my family is and the company isn’t it. I applied my “Hit By A Bus” theory which goes as follows: if everyone I knew (and liked) at a given company all went out to lunch together and they were all hit by a bus and killed, all I would have would be the contract as written.

I have lots of friends at lots of different companies in lots of different positions ranging from editorial to management to production to the business end. They’re all personnel and can be promoted, demoted, fired, leave, and so on. The company itself can merge with another, change divisions, be sold, be bought, and more than one has gone out of business out from under me. Businesses will make business decisions that are usually based on financial reasons. The famous line from the Godfather, “it’s not personal; it’s just business” remains true.

I don’t fault businesses for that. It’s what they are. I may have friends at a certain business and, yes, I often depend on them to be friends. I never expect a corporation to be my friend. I don’t care what a commercial that’s trying to sell you something tells you to the contrary. A business is not your friend and certainly isn’t your family. They are a corporate entity and they will act like one. Don’t expect anything different.

Short form: read the contract, any contract, and know what you’re getting into. If you need a lawyer to explain it to you, get one. Don’t take the word of anyone working for the company as to what it means; make sure it’s someone who is not part of the corporation. That’s true outside of comics as well as in. If it isn’t in the contract, it doesn’t exist legally. There is no “understanding,” there’s only what’s on paper. Know that before you put your legal signature – not your autograph – on the dotted line. You and your family will be happier as a result.

And watch out for killer buses.

MONDAY: Mindy Newell

OPERATION BACKPACK GETS WEIRD!

  • News
  • August 7, 2011

FROM THE DESK OF EDITOR RUSS ANDERSON:

HOW THE WEST WAS WEIRD and HOW THE WEST WAS WEIRD, VOL. 2 are part of an e-book bundle being offered this month to support Operation Backpack. Operation Backpack buys school supplies for kids who are homeless or in foster care. With this e-book bundle, you’re getting 17 books (including both HTWWW volumes… did I mention that?) for $10 bucks. My two books alone would normally cost you $7.
• Here’s a PDF with blurbs and cover images for all 17 books.
• E-books are delivered in both .mobi and .pdf formats.
• This bundle is only being offered until the end of August, so go get it now.
So… yeah, that’s an awesome deal and a great cause. You should totally go buy that. You can do so here.

(And check out this Volunteers of America page for more info on Operation Backpack.)

OPERATION BACKPACK:  http://www.voa.org/Support-Operation-Backpack?gclid=CLyqrpTnlaoCFYgH2godR2qiww

NEED MORE PULPFEST? THEN JUST LISTEN…

  • News
  • August 6, 2011

For those who couldn’t make the grand trek to PULPFEST, The Book Cave, the premiere podcast of Ric Croxton and Art Sippo, makes it possible to almost be there via your very own ears!  Listen to the Pulpfests specials live from Summer’s Best Pulp Con as well as a pre con episode and several other recent pulpy type offerings from THE BOOK CAVE!

Fri, 5 August 2011
Credit and thanks go to Art Sippo for this episode. Ron Fotier, SteamPunk and the Shadow star in this episode.
http://www.pulpfest.com/
Thu, 4 August 2011
Credit and thanks go to Art Sippo for recording this episode. New Pulp, Bill Craig and Anthony Tollin are the stars of this episode.
http://www.pulpfest.com
Thu, 4 August 2011
Joel Jenkins joins Art and Ric to discuss his latest epic novel in the Dire Planet series.
Joel Jenkins’ blog: http://www.joeljenkins.com
Strange Gods of the Dire Planet preview: http://www.pulpwork.com/2011/08/strange-gods-of-dire-planet-sneak.html
Punch in the discount code of ZUEEWBQV to purchase Strange Gods of the Dire Planet with a 20% discount (until August 10th) at http://www.pulpwork.com/p/available-titles.html
PulpWork Press: http://www.pulpwork.com
Strange Gods on Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Strange-Gods-Dire-Planet-ebook/dp/B005CDDE5S/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1312294899&sr=8-2
Strange God for all electronic readers: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/73278
RJCroxton1@yahoo.com
Wed, 3 August 2011
Credit and thanks go to Jason Aiken for recording this epiaode. C.L. Moore, Steampunk, Walter Gibson and the Shadow are on this episode.
http://www.pulpfest.com/
Tue, 2 August 2011
Credit and thanks goes to Jason Aiken for recording this episode. Included in this episode are PulpFest welcome, Shadow Radio, Pulp artists born in 1911 and granddaughters of Pulp.
http://www.pulpfest.com/
Mon, 1 August 2011
Credit and thanks go to Art Sippo for recording this episode at PulpFest. This episode has Wayne Reinagel and Win Scott Eckert reading from their books. This week will feature several more recordings from PulpFest. If you weren’t able to attend, this is the next best thing.
http://www.pulpfest.com/
Thu, 28 July 2011
Ron Fortier, Aaron Smith and andrew Salmon join Ric and Art to discuss the latest Sherlock Holmes anthology from Airship27.
http://homepage.mac.com/robmdavis/Airship27Hangar/index.html
Amazon store: http://www.amazon.com/Andrew-Salmon/e/B002NS5KR0/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_2
iPulp: http://ipulpfiction.com/books/SecretAgentX-Vol1-IcarusTerror/jacketNotes.php
Thu, 21 July 2011
Ed Hulse of Blood -N- Thunder magazine joins Ric and Art to discuss this year’s upcoming PulpFest.
http://www.pulpfest.com/
bnteditor@yahoo.com
Thu, 14 July 2011
Jeff Deischer returns to the Book Cave to discuss his newest book The Way They Were.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&fiel
d-keywords=westerntainment&x=19&y=21
Thu, 7 July 2011
Van Plexico drops by The Book Cave to talk about his Sentinels books.
Van Allen Plexico
http://www.plexico.net
Links to all of my books, info, and other sites can be found there,
including to my Amazon author’s page.
The SENTINELS site: Info, images, and links to buy any of the books in
paperback or for e-reader.
http://www.whiterocketbooks.com/sentinels
White Rocket Books
http://www.whiterocketbooks.com
Includes the Sentinels plus the Avengers ASSEMBLED! books and more.
My Airship 27 books:
LUCIAN: DARK GOD’S HOMECOMING
http://www.amazon.com/Lucian-Homecoming-Van-Allen-Plexico/dp/1934935441
GIDEON CAIN: DEMON HUNTER
http://www.amazon.com/Gideon-Cain-Van-Allen-Plexico/dp/1934935743
LANCE STAR: SKY RANGER Vol. 2
http://www.amazon.com/Lance-Star-Sky-Ranger-2/dp/1934935611
PDF copies of any of my Airship 27 books for just $3:
http://homepage.mac.com/robmdavis/Airship27Hangar/index.html

—
Van Allen Plexico
Writer, Editor, Publisher, Educator
www.plexico.net
“Nobody—not even Abnett and Lanning—is doing cosmic superheroes as
well as Van Plexico is doing them. Period.”
–Barry Reese, award-winning author of Rabbit Heart and creator of the Rook
“His gift of storytelling is razor sharp and he captures the reader’s
interest from the first chapter to the last.”
–Ron Fortier, award-winning author of Boston Bombers and the Captain
Hazzard novels
Thu, 30 June 2011
Will Murray, Roger Ritner and Michael McConnohie join the Book Cave crew to discuss Python Isle and future audio books.
Will Murray – www.adventuresinbronze.com
On Facebook: The Wild Adventures of Doc Savage.
Radioarchives.com
Michael McConnohie
Credits: www.imdb.com
Web Site: www.michaelmcconnohie.com
Thu, 23 June 2011
Shelby Vick of the online Pulp magazine Planetary joins the Book Cave crew to talk about his site.
http://www.planetarystories.com/
After the first one — www.planetarystories.com/wonerlust.htm — the other links are www.planetarystories.com/W2.htm — www.planetarystories.com/W3.htm — www.planetarystories.com/W4.htm — www.planetarystories.com/W5.htm — www.planetarystories.com/W6.htm
Also, I left out someone really important: Ron N Butler, of the Atlanta Radio group, turned up by Jerry Page. Ron has developed Rory Rammer, Space Marshal as, for instance, in www.planetarystories.com/rammer.htm and www.planetarystories.com/planetoid.htm for instance. Rory Rammer is PERFECT for Planetary Stories.
our Associate Editor is Robert Kennedy

MARC ALAN FISHMAN: “We Interrupt This Snark for a Shameless Plug”

Hello all. I thought I’d change things up a tad today… and not just tear into a character, creator, or comic that drives me bonkers. I figured instead it’d be fun to discuss a comic I actually love. OK, this may not actually count. Why? It’s my comic.

Unshaven Comics is my studio/self-publishing/merchandising pet project, alongside my brothers-from-other-mothers, Matt Wright and Kyle Gnepper. Back in 2006 we were lucky fuckers who were given a shot to make a book for an actual publisher. I won’t get into the details, but suffice to say we learned more lessons than we earned dollars. We wouldn’t trade that experience in for the world; especially because it’s how we came to meet Mike Gold. That’s not where the story ends though. In fact, it’s where it all begins.

Having finished a project on someone else’s terms, Unshaven Comics looked around for someone else to work for. Unlucky for us, publishing a tiny educational comic book about immigration isn’t the way to get on anyone’s radar. Thus, we looked inward. Why do a book for someone when you can do one for yourself, right? If comics aren’t going to pay our bills, it might as well be something we give a damn about. Thus, Disposable Razors was born. Pie-eyed, we pitched it to Mike. “Anthologies? They don’t sell.” And like happy drunks, we just kept on keeping on.

Disposable Razors conceptually isn’t a hard sell. For us? It’s an exercise. A single issue to tell a single story that leaves enough of a world developed that should we care to return to it, we can. Issue 1 was Kyle’s baby, Chasing Daylight, wherein a group of four guys learn about the frailty of friendship by way of a demon. Issue 2 was fishtastic: Iron Side: Living Will, wherein a retired geriatric superhero straps up his boots on one last mission before he meets his maker. And as I sit here looking at it… Issue 3 is now a reality as well. This time around the three of Unshaven lads really worked as a team (with Kyle penning half, Matt painting said half, and crazy me writing and drawing the other half). Issue #3 is homage to our childhoods. I need only give you the pitch on this one. The Samurnauts™! Astronaut Samurai led by an immortal Kung-Fu monkey fighting evil demon dinosaurs. I can’t even type that without smiling a little.

A recent exchange with my friends at ComicMix posed an interesting question. “What exactly are you looking for, Unshaven Comics?” In our wildest dreams, Marvel or DC comes to us and says “Hey, how about we give you a shot.” In our less-but-not-really-cause-it’d-be-amazing dreams, Image, Avatar, Boom or Dynamite comes to us and says “Hey, how about we give you a shot.” But in the real world? DC isn’t calling. Marvel ain’t either. Avatar and the like are after licenses, and their creative teams are generally established. Trust me, this kind of talk from me even two years ago, wouldn’t happen. I’m an admitted dreamer. But, getting married? A kid on the way? It has a knack for opening the bigger picture to a guy.

Unshaven Comics was founded because at the time, our early 20s, we had our future at our fingertips. We knew the traditional routes into comics. Matt could have easily made a portfolio, pitched himself to editors at con after con, and if he was lucky? Land a gig doing a backup in an annual. Once. And Kyle? Getting into comics as a writer is about as easy as… well… getting into comics as a writer. And me? A jack of all trades, a master at none. I can color. I can letter. I fancy myself a writer. And if I put my mind to it? I can pencil and ink. If I were lucky, a publisher might use me in a pinch (cough, The Original Johnson, Volume 2). But I digress… Like I said, we were founded on the idea that if we were to make it into the industry, it was all for one, and one for all. Insane? You bet your ass. But we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Doing our own books means I have to hang up the snark gloves and ask myself what I want to see in a comic. With backs against the wall, and your soul for sale for five bucks a pop, whilst sitting at a six foot table in the midst of real professionals? It’s exhilarating. And with every sale to a stranger, a knot in my stomach forms. Will they like it? Are fooling ourselves? Does the book look professional enough? Oh my god, is there a typo?

Sometimes, the reactions we get astound us. We had a girl buy book 1 on a Friday. She came back to the table on Saturday gushing. She bought book 2. Other times? We get slapped right in the jaws. Johanna Draper Carlson of “Comics Worth Reading” stopped by our table last year. She flipped through the issue and a long frown came upon her face. “This is just… not good. But I like your logo!” And she was off. She tripped a little over our now dead egos, and moved on. I could wax poetic as to why I think our comics are the bee’s knees… but frankly I’m the artist. Too close to my work to know if I should just be reading them, not writing them.

For the last five years I have given up a social life. Both my and Matt’s amazing wives have allowed their husbands to spend near every hour that isn’t at work, eating, pooping or sleeping… making comic books. Disposable Razors #3 in fact, was near 225 work-hours, last I counted. And those hours? Not 9 to 5. That’s every night after working day jobs. It’s weekends not spent relaxing on a couch, or watching a movie. From taking reference shots, scripting, penciling, inking, coloring, lettering, editing, reediting and prepping the book to print? The last four months of our life have been nothing short of exhausting. All for 36 quickly read pages of art and words. We’re tired. We’re cranky. We’re hoping people buy it, and don’t spit on us.

And we’ll do it all again tomorrow. Why? Because, when you’re living the dream, you never want to wake up.

SUNDAY: John Ostrander

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