Tagged: creation

Fortier takes on Koontz’s FRANKENSTEIN-LOST SOULS!

ALL PULP Reviews by Ron Fortier
FRANKENSTEIN – Lost Souls
By Dean Koontz
Bantaam Books
381 pages
Released Jan 2011
ISBN 10 – 0553593676
ISBN 13 – 978-0553593679
About the author –
Dean R. Koontz is the author of many #1 New York Times bestsellers.  He lives in Southern California with his wife, Gerda, their golden retriever, Anna, and the enduring spirit of their golden, Trixie.
Review –
Horror fantasist, Dean Koontz continues his best selling series about the never ending war between Mary Shelly’s mad scientist Victor Frankenstein and his immortal creation, the Monster; now known in these books as Deucalion.  This is the fourth book in the saga and the beginning of a brand new story arc.  In the opening trilogy, which took place in New Orleans, the four hundred year old obsessed genius set about creating an army of super clones who would ultimately replace imperfect humans as the new dominant species on Earth. 
He was foiled by Deucalion and two brave police detectives, Carson O’Connor and Michael Maddison.  By the third book’s climax, they believed he had been killed and the world saved.  What they were not aware of was Frankenstein had cloned himself and this doppelganger came to life upon the death of the original.
“Lost Souls” opens two years later after the first conflict to find Carson and Michael have married, moved to San Francisco, opened a private detective agency and had a child, a beautiful baby girl named Scout.  For the most part their lives couldn’t be any happier.  This is why Deucalion’s reappearance bodes ill tides.  He has learned that his creator is still alive and hiding in the small town of Rainbow Falls, Montana.  What the patchwork  warrior does not know is that his cloned nemesis is completely insane and unlike his predecessor, has but one goal, the total annihilation of all mankind, both originals and replicants.  He dreams of Armageddon.
“Frankenstein – Lost Souls” is Koontz’ most audacious pulp novel to date.  It is a bold, raucous narrative that moves at lightning pacing.  Horror upon horror is visited on the small, peaceful town of Rainbow Falls and Koontz never once spares his readers with his lean and brutal prose.  His fans are going to devour this latest chapter in what has become a truly classic pulp series.  New readers need not have read the first trilogy, although it would add much to their enjoyment of this entry.  And be aware, this is book is only the first part of the story and ends with a suspense laden cliffhanger. Wherein the only real sour note is we now have to wait for several months for part two.  Now that’s torture at its most sophisticated.

RUNEMASTER STUDIOS GOES PULP!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information contact
Tommy Hancock
PR@Runemasterstudios.com
RUNEMASTER STUDIOS ANNOUNCES RUNEMASTER PULP DIVISION
All-Ages Studios Opens Pulp Fiction Division for Creation of New Pulp Fiction Tales
AUSTIN, TX  – Runemaster Studios, Inc. is pleased to announce the expansion into the world of New Pulp Fiction with the new Runemaster Pulp imprint.

With the Studios’ growing body of non all-ages works, including a long run on PHANTOM by writer Mike Bullock, letterer/writer/graphic designer Josh Aitken and colorist Bob Pedroza, as well as current runs on original pulp hero BLACK BAT by Bullock and Michael Metcalf and New Pulp creation DEATH ANGEL by Bullock and Metcalf, the timing seemed right to open the new arm of the content creation studio.

“We realize a lot of people have come to know Runemaster Studios as the place where LIONS, TIGERS AND BEARS and TIMOTHY AND THE TRANSGALACTIC TOWEL came to life and we don’t want to mess with that image,” said head Runemaster, Mike Bullock. “So, we thought it best to open a new division dedicated to the creation of New Pulp comics and prose.”

With the launch of Runemaster Pulp, the studio has entered into two new publishing partnerships to enhance the already existing relationships with Moonstone Books, who continues to release new tales of DEATH ANGEL, BLACK BAT, CAPTAIN FUTURE and GLADIATOR under the creative guidance of the Runemasters.

Beginning in 2012, Airship 27 will bring THE RUNEMASTER, a Viking inspired sword and sorcery epic to life in the pages of a full-length novel series authored by Bullock. Forged in the fires of CONAN, BEOWULF and BRAVEHEART, steeped in Norse legendry and baptized in the blood of those who would oppose him comes THE RUNEMASTER.

“Action thriller writer, Mike Bullock has whipped up a rousing fantasy adventure in the grand tradition of Robert E. Howard,” declared Airship 27 EiC Ron Fortier. “It sweeps across the frozen wastes with a new hero sure to capture the imagination of fans everywhere.”

Next up Pro Se Productions will usher in TOTEM, a New Pulp hero with an ancient past and supernatural burdens. Written by Bullock with cover art by Manny Trembley, TOTEM is a New Pulp hero for a New Pulp age. Two Men, Grandfather and Grandson forever linked by a supernatural totem of power that unites them in one body as the Guardian against the Forces of Darkness. TOTEM will join THE ROOK, YESTERYEAR and other original New Pulp tales at Pro Se.

“With TOTEM, Mike Bullock brings his excellent writing ability as well as a concept full of action and adventure to the New Pulp movement and raises the bar for the rest of us. A very good thing indeed,” states Pro Se Editor in Chief Tommy Hancock.

Readers are urged to check out www.pulp.runemasterstudios.com for frequent updates.


***
Discover the worlds of New Pulp Fiction at www.newpulpfiction.com
More information regarding Death Angel, The Runemaster, Totem, Union, Mike Bullock, Michael Metcalf, Josh Aitken and Bob Pedroza, Runemaster Pulp, its members, services, properties and other projects can be found at www.pulp.runemasterstudios.com.
More information on Moonstone Books, Black Bat, Captain Future and Gladiator and the rest of the Return of the Originals pulp line can be found at www.moonstonebooks.com
More information on Airship 27, The Runemaster, Ron Fortier and the rest of its properties and other projects can be found at www.airship27.com
More information on Pro Se Productions, Totem, The Rook, Yesteryear and the rest of its properties and other projects can be found at www.proseproductions.com
The Point Radio: James Cameron On Life With ‘Avatar’

The Point Radio: James Cameron On Life With ‘Avatar’

For years now, James Cameron has been toiling on some form of the film we now see as AVATAR. In our exclusive interview, Cameron shares how he learned to both love and let go of his latest creation. Plus Marvel gives it up for the girls and Singer talks early X-Men.

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Webcomics You Should Be Reading: “Garfield Minus Garfield”!

  • News
  • March 30, 2009

Howdy folks! We’re back here today to take a step into the post-modern… a step into the existential… a step into a parallel dimension. No, not the twilight zone. Today’s ‘Webcomic You Should Be Reading” is an experiment utilizing one of America’s most cherished cartoon characters. Who you ask? Why, it’s Jon Arbuckle, the would-be owner of an obese and lazy cat, named Garfield. We’re quite familiar with the Garfield strip, aren’t we? Since 1978, the world has been privvy to the the misadventures of this lazy fat cat and his awkward geek of an owner. Years later, an Irishman (Dan Walsh) took an idea shared by many, and gave it birth in webcomic form. Mr. Walsh graced the interwebs with Garfield Minus Garfield.

In a nut shell, take Jim Davis’ acclaimed comic, and remove the titular main character… What do you end up with? As Dan Walsh puts it… you get “…[the] reveal [of] the existential angst of a certain young Mr. Arbuckle. It is a journey deep into the mind of an isolated young everyman as he fights a losing battle agianst loneliness and depression in a quiet American suburb.” I just say you get to take a cherished comic, and make it a post-modern laugh fest.

Now, obviously enjoyment of the material comes with the knowledge of the source material. When “G-G” works, it works well. Minus his kitty companion (or really any other elements in the strips) Jon is sad, pathetic, and possibly schitzophrenic. Successive reading of multiple strips in a row only makes the joke funnier. But, when the majority of the strip leaves bookended blank panels… this fan grows quickly bored. Why? Well, the joke itself of removing that darn cat can make for some funny asides by Jon. Dramatic pauses add to the humor of most of these situations, but, in these strips in particular… it leaves a little too much to the imagination. Given the decades worth of material though, Walsh has plenty to work with, and there are plenty of funny re-imagined strips to present to we, the surly and overly critical internet population.

So what, pray-tell, does Mr. Jim Davis think of this Frankensteining of his most famous creation?

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Webcomics You Should Be Reading: ‘Penny Arcade!’

  • Uncategorized
  • February 4, 2009

Penny Arcade!
It’s the trifecta of modern comedy: Sarcasm, Near-Cartoon-Levels-of-Violence, and The Deflowering of Fruit. I speak of a web comic that has consistently delivered all these aspects without fail for over 10 years. Since its creation in 1998, it’s spawned graphic novel collections, a charity that has raised millions of dollars for children’s hospitals, nearly half of my roommate’s funny tee-shirt collection, and its own convention to boot. I speak of Penny Arcade.

In concept it is merely a riff on the (now) age-old Beavis and Butthead theorem: Two dudes and a TV. Swap the TV with a video game system (or PC, or Tabletop RPG), and swap the aforementioned dunderheads with the highly sarcastic Tycho Erasmus Brahe and his friend, the sometimes-sharp-as-a-marble Jonathan "Gabe" Gabriel . The two will comment on various video games they are playing, or wax poetic on other whims and flights-of-fancy we nerds take to heart.

The strip is written by Jerry Holkins and illustrated by Mike Krahulik. Over time the strip added an additional (beloved) character or two… and will (from time to time) not include Gabe or Tycho in lieu of an in-game strip. Be forewarned (if you’ve not been clicking on the links above, because you’re patient unlike me) the boys do love the potty humor and foul language. Never-the-less…. violence, swearing, and video games has always made for excellent laughs.

The guys have a wonderful store chock full of tee’s and hoodies adorned with cute catch phrases only "very cool and socially acceptable" people like us understand. They also recently added a feature allowing you to order any of their strips in a nice high res print, suitable for framing and posting with intent to have your co-workers acknowledge your exquisite taste. Suffice to say, the guys over at the arcade have spent a good long time perfecting their craft, and three days a week you can get your fill. There’s a great archive to dig through, and their news posts, while not as auto-biographical as their Texas counterpart Scott Kurtz, offers some great thoughts about the game industry from time to time.

Some Strips of Note:

The Breakdown:

Drama: Well, aside from the "sagas" from time to time, (see Cardboard Tube Samarai above) there is little is any drama. And it’s probably best that it stays that way.

Humor: Covering everything under the sun in nerditry from video games, role playing, computers, to insider-only game industry humor…all under the banner of cartoon-violence, swearing, and general bafoonery.

Continuity: Well, Gabe and Tycho have been long time friends, but that aside, really, there’s little you’d need to know to start laughing your pooper off.

Art: Mike Krahulik’s artwork has taken considerable leaps over the last 10 years. At the beginning, backgrounds were simple, and the colors were flat. Over time, Mike’s character stylings has gotten looser, and to his credit, far better. The exaggerated figures emote wonderfully. i dare you not to laugh at Gabe’s face when he wishes Tycho vast amounts of pain. At present, the strip is a great example digital painting technique, with a vivid color palate that always compliments it’s subject matter; Be it in Fantasy, Space, or just ‘Guys on the Couch’.

Archive: The strip is over 10 years old… Generally three strips a week over the course of 10 years? By my math that’s over a boatload.

Updates: Currently updates on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Risk/Reward: It’s a free web comic folks. By my dime, it’s well worth your time if you like topical nerd humor with a dash of blood, guts and laughter. Plus, every now and then you get a strip like this.

 

ComicMix Six: Fictional Presidents in comics

ComicMix Six: Fictional Presidents in comics

  • Uncategorized
  • January 20, 2009

We’ve had a lot of US Presidents show up in the comics, Jossip and the Chicago Tribune both hit on the major ones– Nixon in Watchmen, Bill Clinton speaking at Superman’s funeral, Reagan in The Dark Knight Returns, JFK impersonating Clark Kent. But there are many more that stick in t here are a few truly fictional US Presidents from the comics:

1. President Ken WInd — not wind like a watch, but wind as in freedom. A dead ringer for Dan Quayle and a tool of the Beast, he was set up to become President so he could start a nucelar war. He was stopped by Elektra and a goddammed agent of SHIELD. (Elektra: Assassin)

2. President Howard Johnson Nissen. The former Secretary of Agriculture, he became president when President Rexall and the rest of his cabinet were killed in an explosion. (Give Me Liberty) Incidentally, Secretary of Agriculture Margaret Valentine also got the top spot when all the men above her in the line of succession died. (Y: The Last Man)

3. President Prez Rickard. The first teenaged president of the United States, and the only one on this list to have his own series, this creation of Joe Simon made things run on time. Later written by Ed Brubaker, Neil Gaiman, and Frank Miller– he does that a lot, doesn’t he?

4. President Gary Callahan, a.k.a. "The Smiler". A rictus grin in a suit, he hates everyone and only wants to be President in order to control and oppress people, and has no problems killing anyone whose death will help him gain or keep power, or even get a rise in the polls– up to and including his own wife and children. The sworn enemy of Spider Jerusalem. (Transmetropolitan)

5. President Melanie Henderson. Okay, that was the name of the actress playing the President in the Spidey Super Stories short, "Spidey vs. the Funny Bunny", where a mischievous woman dressing in a rabbit costume and damaging Easter baskets by sitting on them. Spidey eventually foils the villain’s plans to disrupt the annual White House Easter Egg roll. Some sources indicate that Melanie may have been the first African American actress to portray an American president on television.

6. President Lex Luthor. Yes, Luthor won the 2000 Presidential Election. Couldn’t have been worse than what really happened, right?

Neil Patrick Harris Loves Being One of Joss Whedon’s Players

Neil Patrick Harris Loves Being One of Joss Whedon’s Players

  • News
  • December 23, 2008

"Oh, God, I wish I could say there was going to be a Dr. Horrible sequel, but I know there’s so many people involved in the creation of it that have a lot of other stuff going on right now," Neil Patrick Harris told Sci Fi Wire. "Mainly, Joss [is doing] Dollhouse, and he has another movie, Cabin in the Woods, that he’s doing at the same time. So I don’t know that anything would happen soon. But everyone has been super-enthusiastic about it, and I think that means that hopefully something will come."

Dr. Horrible just hit stores as a DVD after becoming one of the most talked about Internet sensations of the year, appearing on numerous Best Of lists. Harris, as the super-villain, recognizes that once you work with Whedon, you tend to get cast in his future projects.

After all, Dr. Horrible featured Firefly’s Nathan Fillion and Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s Felicia Day while Dollhouse was built around Buffy alum Eliza Dushku and now features Angel’s Amy Acker.

"Wow! Well, you know, I’m in CBS’ corner right now because of How I Met Your Mother, so I don’t know that I’d be able to, but I think [Dollhouse is] produced by 20th Century Fox, so, you know, they’re sort of cousins," he said. "That would be fun! All right. I’ll ask Joss! I like being a cousin in the Whedon family, so whatever he wants me to do. Except porn."

Production Art from Boorman’s ‘Oz’

Production Art from Boorman’s ‘Oz’

  • News
  • November 14, 2008

Ain’t it Cool News reports that the just-announced John Boorman Wizard of Oz project has been in development for some time.  It now is learned that Boorman has been fascinated with L Frank Baum’s creation for some time and production art has been polished as seen below.

The site notes, “The screenplay is reported to read very dark (by design) and they may even be voice casting. Expect Boorman to use his connections to bring in some strong voices.

“Look for a return to the book, Including the fact (from the book) that the Tinman is a Munchkin and shorter than Dorothy. Look for Dorothy to be a tomboy…a real Kansas farm girl. There is even some information on Dorothy’s parents (Dorothy’s mom is Aunt Emily’s sister).

“The Emerald City was descried as sitting on a plateau over endless waterfalls sending up a witch proof veil of mist.”

 

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Jesse Stone Returns to CBS

Jesse Stone Returns to CBS

  • News
  • November 6, 2008

Robert B. Parker may be known for his series of Spenser novels, but his second creation, Jesse Stone, is gaining popularity through a series of CBS telefilms starring Tom Selleck. A sixth chapter has been announced as now being in production.  No Remorse has started shooting in Halifax, Nova Scotia for eventually airing.  A fifth telefilm is completed with no airdate.

Jesse Stone is a small town Sheriff in Massachusetts who fights his alcoholism and unhealthy addiction to his ex-wife, now living in the area as a local television news reporter.

The new film will be an original story, not based on one of the seven novels in the series which launched in 1997. Night and Day will be published in the first half of 2009. Stone inhabits the same universe as Spenser and Parker’s other creation, Sunny Randall. In fact, Stone and Randall was an item in several novels but their emotional commitments to their exes kept the relationship from continuing.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the new telefilm tells of Stone “having been suspended by the local town council, moonlighting for his friend, State Homicide Commander Healy (Stephen McHattie), by investigating a series of murders in Boston.”

Kathy Baker, Kohl Sudduth, William Devane, William Sadler and Saul Rubinek will all be back in their familiar roles with Krista Allen joining the cast.

The teleplay is from Selleck and Michael Brandman, who double as executive producers.

Review: ‘Casino Royale’ 3-Disc Collector’s Edition DVD

Review: ‘Casino Royale’ 3-Disc Collector’s Edition DVD

I’m not objective when it comes to James Bond. [[[Dr. No]]] was the first “grown-up” movie I ever saw, and I’ve been writing about 007 in magazines and my books ever since.

Nor am I particularly dispassionate about [[[Casino Royale]]]. The New York premiere at the great Zeigfeld Theater was the best experience I’ve had in cinemas for the last few decades — and it was there that I ate humble pie because, to my shame, I had been dead set against Daniel Craig in the role prior to that (I had been rooting for runner-up Henry Cavill, and anyone who’s seen him as “Charles Brandon” in the second season of Showtime’s [[[The Tudors]]] can see why).

The only thing I wasn’t a big fan of was the original, cautious, DVD release that didn’t even include an audio commentary. Naturally, everyone knew that a big special edition would eventually appear, and, following record-breaking grosses and a Blu-ray release that really put the medium on the map, this is it.

The film remains exceptional but quibbliable (some nitpick at the central, drawn-out poker game, while I cavil [if you’ll excuse the expression] at the dispassionate off-screen dispatching of the main henchmen, to be hastily replaced by some generic thugs for 007 to slaughter at the climax).

The three-DVD status of this Special Edition (tomorrow) is also questionable, since the second disc only contains the extras found on the original release, promoted to their own disc apparently to make way for the previously absent audio commentaries. Even the DVD menus aren’t particularly distinguished.

However, the approximately nine hours of new Special Features made it worth the wait. Having done forty good, bad, or ugly audio commentaries myself, I know a great one when I hear it, and Casino Royale now has two. The first, with director Martin Campbell and producer Michael Wilson, is packed with illuminating info (including that the opening was inspired by The Ipcress File and the finale by Don’t Look Now), but the second is even better.

(more…)

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