PRO SE’S SOVEREIGN CITY PROJECT EXPLODES WITH THE LATEST CHAPTER-
THE ADVENTURES OF FORTUNE MCCALL BY DERRICK FERGUSON
Press Release-For Immediate Release and Available for Cross Posting and Sharing
Pro Se Productions, a leading New Pulp Company that Puts the Monthly Back into Pulp, proudly announced today the release of its latest book as well as the next chapter in Pro Se’s SOVEREIGN CITY PROJECT.
From noted New Pulp Author Derrick Ferguson, creator of the popular characters Dillon and Diamondback among others, comes THE ADVENTURES OF FORTUNE MCCALL!A man shrouded in mystery, McCall is a known adventurer and owner and proprietor of The Heart of Fortune, a luxury gambling ship that finds itself docked off the shores of Sovereign City.But McCall has come to Sovereign with a purpose, one that soon turns into action, adventure, and mayhem for he and his companions.Traveling with heroes in their own right, McCall brings his unique brand of investigation and justice to a city that wants neither!
Follow McCall and his aides as they confront the darker side of lust when they meet ‘The Scarlet Courtesan of Sovereign City.’
Instant death and insanity will lay claim to an entire city unless Fortune McCall survives ‘The Day of the Silent Death!’
McCall meets a woman who challenges him to his very core.While trying to save her missing husband, Fortune comes face to face with ‘The Magic of Madness!’
Money, Money, Everyone Wants the Money!A mad chase through Sovereign ensues as Fortune hunts to find ‘The Gold of Box 850!’
“This collection,” stated Editor-in-Chief Tommy Hancock, “shows two things.First off, it shows what great creators Pro Se is working with and how wonderfully solid a concept the Sovereign City Project is.Secondly and most important, it is just one more example of how Derrick Ferguson is one of the modern masters of this sort of writing, being able to shift from intense mystery to wonderful characterization, from masculine pulp to humorous screwball comedy type scenes, and all in the space of one story.Derrick makes words flow better than most around today and he shows that best in THE ADVENTURES OF FORTUNE MCCALL!’
Featuring fantastic cover art by David L. Russell based on a concept by Peter Cooper, this volume features amazing interior effects and design by Sean E. Ali!THE ADVENTURES OF FORTUNE MCCALL are waiting for you!
THE ADVENTURES OF FORTUNE MCCALL
Available at www.amazon.com or through Pro Se’s site-www.prosepulp.com and soon in all online retailers!And Coming Soon in Ebook Format!
Listen to tonight’s live episode of the PULPED! radio show tonight at 8 p.m. EST at http://www.tmvcafe.com/ to discuss the recently released Airship 27 Presents: All-Star Pulp Comics comic book anthology from Red Bud Studios.
Press Release:
YOU HAVE TO TUNE INTO THE FIRST EVER PULPED! SPECIAL TONIGHT! Two Hours of Pulpy Goodness talking to the creators and publishers of ALL STAR PULP COMICS!
Airship 27’s own Ron Fortier and Rob Davis will be on tonight with the crew of talented writers they recruited for this Pulp event! Barry Reese, Bobby Nash, Sean Taylor, and Adam L. Garcia will join Tommy Hancock and Derrick Ferguson tonight to discuss their stories in ALL STAR PULP COMICS and comics and pulp goodness all around! http://www.tmvcafe.com/ at 7 PM CST, 8 PM EST!
TIPPIN’ HANCOCK’S HAT-Reviews of All Things Pulp by Tommy Hancock
MYSTERY MEN (& WOMEN) VOLUME TWO
Written by Various Authors
Cover by Mike Fyles
Interior Art and Design by Rob Davis
Published by Airship 27 Productions
New Pulp is such an interesting creature.It is organic, something sprouting from the past, but as it grows and blossoms, it becomes its own thing.And there are Publishers and Writers today who continue to care for this beautiful thing we call New Pulp, making sure that it remains available, that it stands out as innovative and different, not derivative and unoriginal.A leading Publisher in doing just that is Airship 27 Productions, a company that divides itself between New Pulp based on Public Domain pulp characters as well as new and original characters blazing trails through New Pulp.
One of the titles that showcases the movement of original characters in Airship is their MYSTERY MEN (& WOMEN) series of books.Four stories in the first volume introduced the idea and it has been continued in a second volume.Overall, the book is enjoyable, a hoot to read, and wonderful to view.Individually, the stories vary in style and quality.
THE RED BADGE ATTACKS- by Mark Halegua and Andrew Salmon
This is not only the debut of the vigilante known as The Red Badge, but it’s also the first story published by the Badge’s creator, Mark Halegua.The premise is simple.A vigilante is in the city taking out the bad guys as quickly and violently as possible. Throw into that the fact that the identity of the Badge is a mystery, even up until the very end, but a mystery with a myriad of suspects.
The Red Badge has definite potential as a concept.The path traveled by this story is well worn, but its also one that could be done with twists and turns.Unfortunately, that’s not done nearly enough with this tale.Yes, some of the action scenes sing like a chorus of tommy guns, but others drag like they’re falling on dead chambers.The same with the dialogue-There’s a few solid exchanges, but overall it’s stilted and weak.The strongest point of this story is you can see what Halegua (with help from Salmon) wants the Red Badge to be, which gives one hope he may get there in future tales.
TWO OUT OF FIVE TIPS OF THE HAT
LAIR OF THE MOLE PEOPLE- by Greg Bastianelli
One of the neatest stories in Pulp is when you take a person in an occupation that isn’t cop, adventurer, spy, and you throw them into a Pulp over the top adventure tale and it works!Bastianelli does this with his character Jack Minch, Ace Reporter in this tale and does it so well and with such skill that the story was over before I even realized it.The premise, again like with the previous story, is straightforward.Minch opens a message from a woman who had left it behind to be opened if she disappeared, which she did.This action leads this spunky, two fisted typewriter jockey into a world beneath the city, as indicated by the title, and at that point, the real fun begins.
This story crackles with solid characterization, strong dialogue, and enough jump-from-around the corner action to keep any Pulp fan enticed and most definitely wanting more!
FIVE OUT OF FIVE TIPS OF THE HAT
DOCK DOYLE AND THE WANDERING CITY by Adam Lance Garcia
This story gave me fits.Here’s why.
Dock Doyle is a great American Hero and Movie Star, legends galore attached to his name.And this story takes him on an adventure deep into the Jungle for what is apparently another film job, but Doyle finds out far too late that things are not at all what they seem.And the reader finds that out as well, even about the central character himself.
This is quite possibly one of the best stories I have ever read.No kidding.Looking at it as an avid bibliophile who reads across all genres and recognizes all the movements, nuances, and influences in literature, mainstream and otherwise, this story is one of the best examples of post modern deconstruction I have found in a long time.
Looking at it as a reviewer of Pulp….It isn’t.It simply isn’t a Pulp Tale.
Don’t get me wrong.Some key elements are woven in.Action.Quick Pacing.Exotic locales.Defiance of death.All of that is there.Where this fails as a Pulp story is in the characters, especially the lead himself. Garcia paints vivid pictures and builds characters from the ground up.But they’re not Pulp characters.And trust me, I don’t feel Pulp characters have to be two dimensional or all good or all bad….but with Dock Doyle, there’s far too much gray even in the lead character…especially in the lead character…for this to be a Pulp Tale.
THREE OUT OF FIVE TIPS OF THE HAT- It ain’t Pulp, but it is damned good.
A MAN CALLED MONGREL by Derrick Ferguson
One of the great things about a good author…no, about a great author, is that he/she can deliver consistently, even when they are writing characters with some similarities in the same field of literature.And not just consistently in terms of quality, but also consistently in terms of differentiation-in making their work stand out solidly from what has come before.
Derrick Ferguson is just such an author.A master of the art.
Mongrel is a member of a family who essentially has a corner on the genius gene pool. When an attempt is made on the life of a family member, Mongrel swings into action against a Family that is focused on taking down leading corporations in the world via super science.But not while Mongrel Henderson is on the job.
This tale is raucous, over the top, and yet grounded in strong values.Family connections, pure heroism, and the battle of intellect versus emotion are all not only clearly on display in this story, but turned up to Eleven and broadcast in every single word.These characters, particularly Mongrel, exude excitement, action, as well as humanity.Mongrel can take on nearly any baddie that wants to stand with him, but he still cowers when called down by his mother.Ferguson’s strong suit in all his work is that the action is relentless, the violence is pointed and necessary, and the characters ooze the good and bad of simply being human, although the smartest, toughest, and most righteous or vile humans ever seen anywhere.This story stands out as the best in the entire volume and likely in the entire MYSTERY MEN (& WOMEN) series to date.
FIVE OUT OF FIVE TIPS OF THE HAT
Design and Art-Even though I said what I did about Dock Doyle’s debut story, the first image of Dock to be seen, the cover of this volume, is phenomenal.Award winning artist Mike Fyles delivers once again and proves he understands the concept of what Pulp covers are and what they need to convey.
Likewise the interior art and design of the book by Rob Davis does just what both of those things are supposed to.Davis’ work supports all the stories, the images bringing out in wonderful line work and iconic imagery exact moments from the stories and the format of the book makes one feel as if they’re holding a Pulp from a news kiosk back in the Thirties.Even the back cover design as well as the ads included add to that authentic feel.
FIVE OUT FIVE TIPS OF THE HAT
Even though every story wasn’t a grand slam and one might be better suited in another volume, MYSTERY MEN (& WOMEN) VOLUME TWO as a whole delivers.
Bobby will be a guest on the live PULPED! radio show at http://www.tmvcafe.com/ tonight, Monday, November 21st at 8 p.m. EST to talk about his books, career, and all things pulp.
Bobby joins PULPED! hosts Tommy Hancock, Ron Fortier, and Derrick Ferguson at http://www.tmvcafe.com/.
Dillon and The Legend of the Golden Bell: From a Modern Black Perspective
As written by Brent Lambert, ALL PULP Staffer
When I first heard the term “post racial” being thrown around I was put off by it.It seemed like terminology invented for the sole purpose of creating a false reality and to create cultural repression.Whoever thought the advent of an African-American President somehow spelled a symbolic end to racism was smoking something real good and I still want some of it.
The other idea proposed by this concept of “post-racial” was a bit sneakier and less obviously wrong because it’s an idea that’s been pushed on those America has considered “other” since its inception.Assimilation.That was what I felt was at the real core of this “post-racial” word.Minorities were being called to lay down their cultural heritage and grievances in the name of this unseen new racial harmony that supposedly miraculously sprung up after November 2008.Fortunately, most of us weren’t that stupid.
So what does any of this have to do with Derrick Ferguson and his novel, Dillon and The Legend of the Golden Bell?Well, some might look at the novel, see the character of Dillon and see what might be the world’s first post-racial pulp hero.Dillon is African-American, but you could see him as any race and he’d be just as enjoyable.One of his best friends is a white man and the friendship, thankfully, is one that exists without any sort of racial footing.In fact, one could argue that every character in the novel could be white and you’d enjoy it all the same.I agree except for the fact that it would be implying Derrick had no racial concerns when constructing this story, which is something I just can’t buy.
See, I’ve had the unique pleasure of discussing race in general and in terms of writing with Derrick.So can I assure everyone that he is without a doubt a black man and is smart enough to not buy into the political correctness of the supposed “post-racial”.The thing with Derrick is that he’s nuanced and I believe he’s so nuanced that some things in this novel could only be picked up on by someone who’s had the black experience.So race is very much in Dillon and The Legend of the Golden Bell, but it does not have to be shouted from the rooftops.
Too much of our media with a black focus has to scream “black, black, black” and Derrick avoids that trap.It’s a tempting trap to fall into because there is such a severe lack of quality black media that aspiring black artists feel the need to take the entire burden on their shoulders.Derrick contributes even more than I think he realizes because he avoids that pitfall.
Let’s look at Dillon to see the nuance I was talking about.Derrick gracefully dodges the “Macho Guy” stereotype that plagues African-American male characters from TV to comic books.Yes, Dillon is tough and he is undoubtedly an ass kicker, but the difference is that the core of his character isn’t centered on those things.Derrick defies the stereotype of the black man as a mere macho and as a deadbeat father in a one-two punch through the character of Brandon.
Dillon shows a great deal of vulnerable emotions through his interactions with Brandon and becomes the boy’s surrogate father throughout the story.He takes full responsibility for the young man and seems to really be the only character truly concerned with taking this young man on a dangerous mission.Without ever having to get preachy, Derrick uses Dillon to spit in the face of the idea that the black man is lacking in paternal instincts.
A term popular amongst urban inclined people my age and younger is “swagger” or “swagga” if you want the hip spelling.I think the term holds a particular affinity for black men because it harkens back to the 20s and The Harlem Renaissance.Our vision of that time was everyone was cool whether they were a slick gangster or a skit skatting musician.There’s a sense that black men in that time period commanded their respect simply by their presence and got it.It’s something to aspire to and therefore those who seem to command that kind of presence are admired.
Even though the word has seen a bit of a resurgence, the essence of “swagger” is something that permeates the black male consciousness as far back as The Great Migration.Look at the classic character of Shaft if you want a more modern example that represents this ideal.He’s nearly unshakeable in his self-confidence and makes everyone around him better as they admire his bravado.It’s easy to venture into Mary Sue territory with these kind of characters, but thankfully Derrick knows better.Dillon is a worthy inheritor of this tradition.He displays soap opera worthy suave with an equal dose of Herculean bravado.On top of all that there’s a good bit of Imaro’s raw intensity thrown in the mix.
Dillon ultimately is a critique of this idea that to create racial harmony one must let go of culture.He is a guy entrenched in a very racially focused world, but he elevates himself past it without giving up his identity in the process.Dillon is capable of loving a white man as a father figure without having to worry about the oft-used label of Uncle Tom.The fact Derrick is able to work past that sub-conscious complex and get a black audience to genuinely believe in Dillon’s blackness without divulging into the insanely urban is a testament to his skills as a writer.
New Pulp Author, publisher, and one of All Pulp’s Spectacled Seven, Derrick Ferguson was interviewed by Garrison James for New Pulp Fiction’s Pulp Magnet column. You can read all about Derrick, his work, and his creations at http://www.newpulpfiction.com/. Tell ’em All Pulp sent ya!
Airship 27 Productions and Cornerstone Book Publishers are thrilled to announce the release of the new MYSTERY MEN (& Women) Vol II.
In 2010, after five years of bring pulp fans the best new adventures of classic pulp characters, Airship 27 Productions launched this particular title to allow their talented creators to have fun inventing brand new pulp heroes. In Volume One we introduced pulp fans to four original characters, two of whom were female avengers. Now we proudly present the second installment and another brand new quartet of fresh and exciting heroes cast in the mold of the classic adventurers of the past.
RED BADGE –Operating on the streets of New York, he is a mysterious vigilante daring to confront the mobs and protect the innocent. But who is he really? The cop, the famous radio announcer, the brother to a victimized young woman? Created by Mark Halegua with writing partner Andrew Salmon.
JACK MINCH, ACE REPORTER –Writer, editor, Jack Minch thought he knew New York City like the back of his hand until one of his star reporters suddenly vanishes within the deep, maze like sewer tunnels beneath the concrete Gotham. Now Minch and a detective ally must travel into this unknown domain where death lurks at every turn. Created by Greg Bastianelli.
DOCK DOYLE – Dock Doyle was a movie matinee hero of the cliffhanger serials known around the world. But when things go horribly awry on location of his latest jungle adventure, the actor must come to grips with becoming a true hero, or dying in the process. Created by Adam Garcia.
A MAN CALLED MONGREL – In today’s world of high tech communications, private companies wield power like governments, some for the public good, and others for their own evil agendas. Now a modern day warrior will champion his family’s technological empire and defend it against all who would destroy them. His name is Mongrel. Created by Derrick Ferguson.
Here are four brand new, action packed pulp tales starring four original heroes to thrill and entertain today’s diehard pulp enthusiasts. The book features a stunning cover by Pulp Factory Award winning artist, Mike Fyles with interior illos and book design by Airship 27 Art Director, Rob Davis, himself a former PF Award winner; all edited by Ron Fortier and happily delivered to pulp fans around the world by …
Airship 27 Prodcutions – PULP FICTION FOR A NEW GENERATION!
ISBN 1-613420-21-8 ISBN-13 978-1-613420-21-8 Produced by Airship 27 Published by Cornerstone Book Publishers Release date: 10/26/2011 Retail Price: $16.95 Now available for $3 at Digital Hangar 27 (http://homepage.mac.com/robmdavis/Airship27Hangar/index.html#mysterymen2) Also from (www.IndyPlanet.com) 10/31/2011 P.O.D. Price: $15
Writer Joel Jenkins is one of the most prolific, exciting and talented members of the New Pulp movement today.Through his association with Pulp Work Press, an outfit he started with fellow writers Joshua Reynolds and Derrick Ferguson, Jenkins has produced some of the most amazing, fast-paced pulp adventures ever to hit print.The originator of several series in various traditional genres, STRANGE GODS OF THE DIRE PLANET, is the fifth book in this homage to Edgar Rice Burrough’s classic Martian books.
Having not read the previous four, I really appreciated Jenkins’ understanding that new readers would need a little extra background exposition to bring them up to speed on where the action was taking place and who all these characters were; while at the same time moving the story along at a breakneck pace to satisfy those fans who had been along for the ride from the beginning.That he accomplishes this wonderfully is no small achievement and a big reason I enjoyed the book so much.
Here’s what any new reader will learn upon entering Garvey Dire’s world.Dire is a modern NASA astronaut who, by some cosmic snafu, had his space craft hurled through an anomaly that sent him back in time millions of years to a Mars inhabited by humans like himself and all manner of beasts and fauna.Realizing this is a one way trip; Dire accepts his fate and sets about making a new life for himself amongst the female dominated tribes of the giant red planet.Jenkins has created a truly exotic social background that is fascinating with paying scrupulous attention to what each of these customs means to the entire culture he has created.
On Dire’s Mars, men are in short supply so they are protected and treasured and it is the abundant female sex that handles the affairs of state, commerce and warfare.Obviously this is a different world than Dire is comfortable with, especially when adapting he realizes he must accept polygamy and marry several women to assume an active role in this society.Like Burrough’s books, Jenkins’ Martian civilization is crumpling and the population struggling daily against both the forces of nature and time to survive.
The crux of this fifth volume centers about a long kept secret of an occult group of fanatics known as the Technopriests and Dire and his allies attempt to uncover it.There is bloodshed galore, non-stop action and great heroic characters battling against truly beautifully crafted background.It also ends on one of the most dramatic cliffhangers this reader has ever encountered.Over the many years since Burroughs created his interplanetary pulp classics there have been dozens of imitators who have attempted to recapture the magic he wielded but none has ever come as close as Jenkins with the Dire Planet books.These books rock!
NEW PULP ANNOUNCES ROUND ROBIN TO BENEFIT STAN LEE FOUNDATION
New Pulp, a recently organized Branding Movement to unite creators and publishers of modern Pulp fiction under a collective banner, announces today its first collective New Pulp publication. According to New Pulp founder Tommy Hancock, this project is a twenty chapter novel currently being written in a round robin style, that meaning each chapter is written by a different author. This multiple author narrative, entitled PARIAH AND THE PURPLE PRINCE, is the inaugural project of writers and publishers under the New Pulp Banner.
“New Pulp,” according to Hancock, “is a designation that applies to creators and publishers who, having found their inspiration in the stories and style established by the writers of classic Pulp stories in the early Twentieth Century, are continuing to write, draw, and publish tales of action and adventure in that tradition. New characters, new stories, new ideas, all owing a debt to the Pulp greats, but also written to be the two fisted, high octane adventure stories of today and the New Pulp classics of tomorrow.”
“This current project,” Hancock states, “actually sprouted out of the first New Pulp convention, Pulp Ark, held this past May in Arkansas. Possibly the single largest gathering of New Pulp creators to date, more than 25 creators representing at least nine publishers attended this convention and, of course, many ideas and concepts were discussed and debated. One of those discussions centered around how this collection of writers, artists, and publishers, now standing together under the banner of New Pulp could not only present and produce a unified product, a work representative of all the variety that New Pulp has to offer, but also a way that we could contribute something worthwhile, not just great stories. That desire quickly became an idea for a novel, round robin style.”
PARIAH AND THE PURPLE PRINCE is a novel in progress that started with a bare bones minimalist plot suggested by Hancock. Twenty authors were invited to participate in this project, their names being written individually on single strips of paper. As these names were drawn, each writer was assigned a chapter in the order their name was selected, the first writer getting Chapter 1 and so forth. Each writer gets a month to complete their chapter, although Hancock reports that the fourth writer is nearly done with Chapter Four and the project is just over a month along. “We are all taking this very seriously,” Hancock reports, “not only because we want the world to see what New Pulp is about, but also we are excited about the opportunity to give of ourselves, our time and effort and whatever money this novel might raise to not only a worthy cause, but toward something we all have a stake in-Improving education and literacy.”
All proceeds resulting from the sale of PARIAH AND THE PURPLE PRINCE will go to The Stan Lee Foundation. Founded to carry on the legacy of Stan Lee, the creative genius behind Marvel Comics and creator of a literal universe of iconic characters, the Stan Lee Foundation’s primary goal is to make literacy, education, and involvement in the arts accessible across America. A non-profit organization, The Stan Lee Foundation develops, designs, and sponsors programs and events with the singular purpose of bringing literacy, knowledge, and artistic enrichment to Americans from coast to coast.
“It is an honor,” Hancock states, “for each and every writer and creator involved in this project to be a part of giving something to an organization started by a man that has given us as fans and the world itself so much. The chance to contribute to The Stan Lee Foundation, to help this group further the fantastic efforts into education it has already initiated, to be just a little part of the progress and success that its various endeavors will see, is the best payday any of us could receive. With the opportunity of New Pulp working with the Stan Lee Foundation in other ways in the future also being possible, we truly want to give our best to this novel project and intend for this work to benefit future artists, learners, and readers everywhere.”
PARIAH AND THE PURPLE PRINCE will be published by Pro Se Press, the New Pulp publisher Hancock is a partner in. The writers contributing a chapter each to the novel include Hancock, Joshua Reynolds, Ron Fortier, Barry Reese, Thomas McNulty, Megan Smith, Wayne Skiver, Terry Alexander, Sean Ellis, Van Allen Plexico, Derrick Ferguson, Nancy Hansen, Adam Garcia, Wayne Reinagel, Mike Bullock, Andrew Salmon, Jim Beard, Bill Craig, Rich Steeves, and Tim Byrd. Collectively, these writers represent work in nearly every genre imaginable, from western to science fiction to crime to horror and beyond within New Pulp and as a group have worked with multiple prose and comic publishers producing the finest New Pulp has to offer.
HOW THE WEST WAS WEIRD 2 Now Available for Pre-Order
On July 1, HOW THE WEST WAS WEIRD VOL. 2 will be available to the whole wide world, through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and a host of other places, both offline and on. Twenty stories by some of the top names in New Pulp, mashing the western with horror, sci-fi, and fantasy – and all wrapped in a gorgeous new cover by Jim Rugg.
But say you don’t want to wait – nay, you CAN’T wait – a whole month for the release of this 368-page blockbuster. There’s no need! Pulpwork Press (in association with Anderfam Press) is now taking advance orders for HOW THE WEST WAS WEIRD VOL. 2.
Here’s what you get with your pre-order:
The book, of course.
Free shipping.
A free bonus e-book: HOW THE WEST WAS WEIRD: CAMPFIRE TALES. This e-book, available in just about any format you like, includes weird west stories by Josh Reynolds, Joel Jenkins, Derrick Ferguson, and Russ Anderson. These are stories that aren’t included in either of the HOW THE WEST WAS WEIRD books, and this is the only way you’re going to get your hands on them. Here’s the cover.
