A 25th Anniversary Edition of your Sherlock Holmes meets Dracula graphic novel, Scarlet in Gaslight, is being published in December. How does that make you feel?
Very lucky! Scarlet in Gaslight has been, in many ways, my most significant book since it was the start of everything for me. This was during the Black and White Glut of the 1980s, as it was called, and I never ever thought the book would survive beyond that time. This will be its seventh printing. Miraculously, it’s never been out of print, and continues to enjoy a new life. The Washington Post recently gave the book a very flattering review. Sherlock Holmes has been very good to me.
HEY! I’LL TAKE IT!
Coming to you in December via Pulp 2.0 Press. The graphic novel The Washington Post said is, ” …more satisfyingly cinematic than many of the movies”
Pulp 2.0 Press is pleased to announce the upcoming December release of the 25th anniversary edition of SCARLET IN GASLIGHT, the classic graphic novel starring two of literature’s immortal characters, SHERLOCK HOLMES and DRACULA. Written by Martin Powell and illustrated by Seppo Makinen this thrilling supernatural mystery-adventure has been reviewed by no less than the Washington Post who said that SCARLET IN GASLIGHT is “…more satisfyingly cinematic than many of the movies.”
This special collector’s edition features:
– remastered artwork from the artist
– a special introduction from noted pulp writer and scholar Win Scott Eckert (CROSSOVERS 1&2, THE EVIL IN PEMBERLEY HOUSE)
– a comprehensive interview with Martin Powell on the origins of SCARLET IN GASLIGHT conducted by Michael Leal.
Win Scott Eckert announced on his blog [http://woldnewton.blogspot.com] that a German translation of Philip Jose Farmer’s classic Sherlock Holmes-Lord Greystoke pastiche The Peerless Peer will appear in 2012 from publisher Atlantis Verlag.
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:
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?
Howard Hopkins is a prolific writer of novels, comic books, and short stories as well as an editor and musician. It was recently announced that Howard would be writing the first new Lone Ranger novel of the 21st Century, which will certainly be a future Trivial Pursuit question. All Pulp sat down to discuss the new novel, Lone Ranger: Vendetta as well as Howard’s other writing and editing projects.
AP: Tell us a little about yourself and your pulp interests.
HH: I’m a horror, western, kids’ horror, pulp, comics writer who lives in Maine, in a small seaside community haunted by sea captains’ ghosts and tourists. It’s a very mysterious place of snaking mist and strange happenings, most of which occur on beer night, which is basically every night in these parts! I’m not sure I can really label myself a “pulp” fan, but I am a huge fan of certain pulp characters, such as Doc Savage, The Avenger and The Shadow, maybe a handful of others to a lesser degree. I grew up on the Doc Savage paperback reprints with their gorgeous Bama covers, as well as The Avenger with their Caras and Gross covers. As a kid I didn’t know what a pulp was, only that there was the occasional odd reference in the books to running boards and wire recorders. It was only in my 20s I got my hands on an actual, honest-to-goodness-crumble-my-hands-as-tried-to-read-it pulp and learned of some of the other characters, like The Spider, Captain Future and The Moon Man.
AP: It was recently announced that your next novel will be The Lone Ranger: Vendetta from Moonstone Books. With your history writing western novels, this seems like a perfect fit. What can we expect from the first Lone Ranger novel of the 21st century? HH: You can expect the true Lone Ranger, no re-imaging and political correctness. Set in a more realistic and gritty West, dealing with authentic issues and vicious villains. The original Lone Ranger series on the radio and TV—which, make no mistake, I love dearly—was largely intended for a younger audience. Moonstone’s series is not aimed at kids, but it is aimed at Lone Ranger fans and Western readers, as well as adventure readers and folks who just enjoy a thrilling story. The Lone Ranger and Tonto—I don’t like to use the term Blood Brothers because it was a term not used by the Native Americans, but that’s what they really are—are equal parts of a whole, dealing with a West full of prejudice, sudden death and human corruption. Yet The Ranger also stands above that. He is The Lone Ranger and I have taken great pains to keep the soul and spirit of the character intact. I have a great love and respect for this character and have done my best to make sure to respect Rangers fans in writing the book. There’s nothing I hate more than seeing a cherished character so totally redone as to be not only unrecognizable but alienating. These are great, iconic characters. They were popular and loved for a reason. I see no need to screw with that. At the same time, the Old West is a violent, vast and even lonely place, and The Lone Ranger and Tonto are operating within it. Basically I have done my durndest to preserve everything that makes The Ranger The Ranger, and set it against a backdrop of a Deadwood styled West (without the cussing). I believe fans as well as many non-Western readers will like it. I am hoping there will be a few of those goosebump moments we all look for in our favorite characters when they appear in new books or movies.
You can also expect a pretty vicious villain seeking revenge. The story is called Vendetta and the lead villain has a hell of a score to settle. Unfortunately this means bad news for some of the Masked Rider of the Plains’ acquaintances.
AP: In addition to writing, you also have a couple of anthologies coming up that you’ve edited as well. Tell us a bit about the upcoming Sherlock Holmes and The Avenger collections.
HH: Yes, indeed. A Honey West anthology too, in fact. The Sherlock Holmes antho is called Sherlock Holmes: The Crossovers Casebook, and involves the Great Detective working with some of history’s fictional and real characters, solving a crime. My own story, called The Haunted Manor, teams Sherlock with Calamity Jane. He teams with Arsene Lupin, The Great and Powerful OZ, Lawrence of Arabia and many others. We have some truly excellent writers involved with the project and an awesome cover. I believe Holmes fans will enjoy it and if I may say so myself it’s going to be one kick ass anthology. I have also been co-editor with Joe Gentile on three Avenger anthologies, the first two of which are out now and available from comic shops and Amazon.com. These are labors of love for me, since The Avenger is one of my all time favorite characters, second (or perhaps even tied with) Doc Savage. I’ve done stories for all three volumes, and the second volume, titled The Justice, Inc. Files, includes, in the special hardcover edition, the first three of six vignettes focusing on the original Man of Steel’s aides. In this case, Nellie, Mac and Cole Wilson. The next will spotlight Smitty, Josh and Rosabel. And of course this is THE Richard Benson, not somebody named Benny or a drastic updating of characters.
AP: What is The Chloe Files?
HH: The Chloe Files is my paranormal horror series focusing on Chloe Everson, a dancer at The Red Lagoon who gets herself into all sorts of supernatural problems. She’s not a wizard like Harry Dresden, but she does take on others’ ghostly problems and something quite special about her will be revealed as the series progresses. Two books are now available on Kindle, Nook and in paperback. The action takes place in the cursed seaside town of New Salem, Maine, and this is not your sparkly vampire lovefest. The monsters Chloe faces are classic style and mean as hell. She’s Kolchak with boobs. She’s also going to find out some rather dark and startling revelations about her past and the reasons the supernatural is after her. In the meantime, she’s kicking Evil’s ass—one demon at a time.
AP: Your books have spanned multiple genres including westerns, horror, mystery, pulp adventure, and more. Do you have a favorite genre to write? What appeals to you about switching genres?
HH: The spooky genes are probably my favorite. I love things that go bump in the night and I love to scare readers. But I enjoy all genres I write in because it all boils down to the same thing–I read to escape…I write to help others escape. I like working in genres that take folks away from their worries and day to day problems, at least for a couple hours. I do not strive to be literary, though I do strive to make my characters live and drive the story. I am an entertainer and that’s just fine with me. It’s all about the escape. When I was a kid, I went through some tough times—and if not for some of the heroes and books I love, honestly, I might not have made it. They saved me from at least some addictions that might have proved destructive. I owe the writers of those stories more than I can repay and I owe my readers what I was given.
AP: Is there a genre you’ve not written that you would like to try your hand at some point?
HH: Well, actually there’s one I am just now getting a chance to write in I haven’t done much with before and that’s 50s noir. I will be writing a 15,000 word novella (novelette?) for a brand new anthology based on the old radio show Nightbeat, about a reporter who stumbles into serious crime. And the best part is I am getting to be in it with some super talents. What more can a writer ask? It will be a lot of fun slipping into that noir world.
AP: There seem to be many different opinions about what can be defined as pulp. How do you define pulp and what do you look for in a pulp story as a writer and a reader?
HH: Oh, man, this may get me into some trouble, but I don’t define pulp. Pulp was a type of paper novels and stories were printed on, in magazine format. In every genre. Now stories are printed in paperbacks and in ebooks. It was cheap fiction, but still just fiction, often written hastily and for the specific reason of entertaining its audience. Escapism, again. I don’t write pulp, because pulp does not really exist as a genre, in my opinion. I write about some characters who appeared in pulp magazines, but I make no deliberate attempt to write in the same style or emulate the technical mistakes they made. I believe the authors, had they been paid better and given the opportunity, would have polished their stories more. But they weren’t and didn’t have time. When I write about those characters, I do my best to flesh them out and present as highly a polished story as my ability allows. Some are hero stories, some horror, some adventure. I think the modern audience expects more from authors now. While I think it’s a huge mistake to reinvent the wheel with these characters—I do my damnedest to maintain the core and soul of the characters and let’s face it, these characters have cult followings because there was something special that didn’t need changing—I do feel writers handling them have to give them more depth, along with slicker writing and better plot. I love reading these characters’ original adventures, but I accept them for what they are and when they were written. I won’t accept that from modern writers who have the time and talent to avoid the things the original writers would have avoided had they gotten the time for rewrites. If you look at The Avenger Chronicles and Justice, Inc. Files, you won’t see “pulp” stories; you’ll see very talented authors telling great stories. I don’t label anything “pulp.” I label them good stories using pulp characters. They are adventure, hero stories in genre. They cross into mystery, horror, western, etc.
Not Actual Cover
That said, anyone who wants to call it pulp or call me a pulp writer is certainly free to do so and it bothers me not in the least. I just don’t feel it’s even an argument and worth the time debating, to be honest. I’d rather read and write the stories!
AP: Where can readers find information on you and your books?
AP: What upcoming projects do you have coming up that you can tell us about at this time?
HH: Well, The Lone Ranger novel, of course, and a Lone Ranger short story for an anthology, along with another story for The Green Hornet 3, the novella for Nightbeat, a new Chloe Files novel in the works, an Avenger story, Honey West story, a new Western novel, a comic book called Threesome that involves my own—dare I now say “pulp”?—heroine called The Veil and the return of the Golden Amazon (with The Domino Lady and co-written with NY Times bestselling author, the lovely and talented Nancy Holder), A Golden Amazon novel called Ripper, Burning Bright, three Spider widescreen graphic novels from Moonstone, new Golden Amazon short stories, a YA series novel, and some other stuff. Two upcoming Westerns called Hell of Hoofs and Twilight Trail. Then a kidnapping of myself by Jennifer Love Hewitt, but shhhh on that…
AP: Do you have any shows, signings, or conventions coming up where your fans can meet you?
HH: Nothing scheduled at present. I haven’t done many shows, but I’m hoping to change that soon.
AP: And finally, what does Howard Hopkins do when he’s not writing?
HH: Um, what do you mean by that? What is this not writing thing of which you speak? My ass is superglued to the office chair. Well, ok, I am a musician—mandolin, keyboards, guitar, singing—so when I have time I do that, read, of course, collect comic books and DVDs of old TV shows such as UFO, Hulk, Dark Shadows, etc. Sometimes I sleep, but try not to let that get in the way.
AP: Thanks, Howard.
HH: Thank you, All Pulp Potentates!s
About The Lone Ranger – Vendetta:
The Masked Man in a brand-new adventure! From out of the past comes a mysterious killer systematically murdering anyone with a connection to the Masked Rider of the Pains former identity. When all signs point to Butch Cavendish, a man long dead, The Lone Ranger finds himself trapped in a deadly game of cat and mouse with the life of his faithful Indian companion hanging in the balance!
Our three October releases are: BAAL by Renée Dunan (1924) which features the remarkable Madame Palmyre, a bold, brazen occult heroine to rival Sar Dubnotal or Canacki (whom she’ll meet in TOTS 8) fighting the eponymous Lovecraftian entity. The great and seductive sorceress Palmyre teaches her assistant Renée the secret of her magic, including her ability to interact with creatures from other worlds, such as the unspeakable Baal, whose octopus-like form is the three-dimensional projection of an unfathomable four-dimensional entity.
The book includes The Devil’s Lovers (1929), a heroic saga about Satanism and Witchcraft that follows the adventures of a poacher and his daring wife in war-torn 16th century France.
These two ground-breaking supernatural thrillers from early feminist writer Renée Dunan, also known for her crime fiction and erotic historical novels, depict witchcraft as having its psychological origins in sexuality, reflecting the repression of the sexual impulses by the social norms of the times. “Highly original works that fully deserve translation for the benefit of fans of modern horror fiction and exotic erotica.” Brian Stableford.
THE HUMAN ARROW, a proto-SF novel started before WWI and anticipating the future of aviation, and reissued in with a new ending in 1927 (also included here) by which time it had become an alternate history.This is the story of the first non-stop Paris-to-New York flight by rocket-powered plane as it never happened. French engineer Henri Rozal faces tough competition from rivals for the hand of his fiancée, as well as shady dealings from financiers trying to steal his invention. But as the shadow of war looms, is Rozal’s utopian dream of a peaceful planet traversed by powerful flying machines fated to turn into an apocalyptic nightmare? This edition is the first time that the two versions of the story, the original 1917 edition as well as its rewritten conclusion published in 1927, to take into account Charles Lindbergh’s flight and the horrors of World War I, have been published in a single volume.
Also included is Champsaur’s novella, The Last Man (1885), which describes how a comet increases the oxygen in Earth’s atmosphere and causes Paris to revert to a jungle, and Man to an ape-like beast.
SHERLOCK HOLMES VS JACK THE RIPPER adapted/edited by Frank Morlock which includes an 1889 play (the first fictional encounter ever) plus a a 1908 issue of the German series which later became HARRY DICKSON.”Jack the Ripper is one of the most enduring archetypes in criminal fiction. This book presents, for the first time in English, two of the earliest pieces of Ripper fiction ever written in French: Gaston Marot & Louis Péricaud’s stage play Jack the Ripper from 1889, and No. 16 of the French pulp series The Secret Files of the King of Detectives (which later became Harry Dickson) from 1908 in which the Great Detective matches his wits against Jack the Ripper. These two stories are translated by Frank J. Morlock, author of Sherlock Holmes: The Grand Horizontals.
I’ve been writing stuff for a while so it’s hard to take me by surprise. I can often spot where a story is going; I’ve been known, when watching a movie or TV show, to not only predict the next plot twist but sometimes the next line of dialog. Those around me, aside from shushing me, sometimes ask me if I’ve seen this particular movie or episode before. The answer in these cases is “no” but based on what I know of plot and character, you can predict where the story has to go or what a person has to say to get it there, especially when the writer(s) are going by the numbers.
On the other hand, I’m delighted when the writer surprises me. It’s not a matter of willy-nilly just writing any old damn thing but advancing the plot or the dialog in a way that completely makes sense within context of the story. The sort of thing that makes me go, “Of course! Why didn’t I see that?!” The fact that I didn’t see or hear that coming delights me. It makes sense yet is a surprise.
I first noticed Geoff Johns on the JSA title when he did that twice to me. He re-invented original Justice Society members Doctor Fate and Johnny Thunder in ways that surprised me but were completely true to the characters and the book. They didn’t come out of the blue but were what I call “fair extrapolation” of what was already given. Any chump writer can write a surprise or a “shock surprise;” the real difficulty is to make it work in context of the character or story. Geoff makes his surprises seem organic and inevitable – once you’ve seen the surprise. He’s a writing magician.
Another writer like that is Stephen Moffat, currently renowned for as the producer and lead writer of the current Doctor Who series. He started this season with an astronaut coming out of a lake and killing the Doctor, not giving him time to regenerate. Turns out this Doctor was slightly from the future so we still had the “current time” Doctor running around this season. (The Doctor, for those of you who don’t know, is a time traveler and Moffat makes very good use of time travel in this series.)
Next Saturday is the season finale and it looks as if they’re going to deal with all this. I have no idea how Moffat’s going to pull it off but I trust him. Not only has he done a sterling job on Doctor Who but he’s also done a modern update of Sherlock Holmes (simply called Sherlock) that totally works. He also ended the first three-episode season on a cliffhanger. I trust him to find a way out that will be cool.
Moffat’s also done a revised update of Jeykll and Hyde simply called Jekyll. I admire it a lot but the first couple of episodes creeped me out enough that I haven’t finished the rest. Remember, I’m the guy who wrote the real Wasteland.
The third on my list of writers who know how to pull off “logical surprises” is Jim Butcher and, in particular, his series of novels The Dresden Files.It features a “wizard for hire,” Harry Dresden, who works out of Chicago. Okay, that’s my hometown and so I’m already there and Dresden is a hard-boiled wizard – part private detective, part Doctor Strange. It was made into a short-lived TV series on SyFy and they completely screwed it up. If that’s your only encounter with the series, please ignore it.
The Dresden Files was good when it started and has just gotten better with each successive book. Terrific cast of supporting characters, well-developed mythology for the series, and each one leaves me panting for more. Whoever I think I know where Butcher is going, he throws me for a loop. Highly recommended.
While all these writers know how to do a twist, it’s never a twist just for the sake of doing a twist. It always involves pushing the story forward or reveals new levels of characterization. I don’t need a twist to love a book or story but I always appreciate it when I get blindsided by one and it works.
Price: $3.99 Shipping: October, 2011 Related Products: SKU: C725130179708 Rating: Teen + Covers: Francesco Francavilla (50%), Aaron Campbell (50%) Writer: Stuart Manning Artist: Aaron Campbell Awards: N/A Publication Date: Oct 2011 Format: Comic Book Page Count: 32 pages Rights: WW Age range: 16+ UPC: 725130179708 Television’s original reluctant vampire is back! Barnabas Collins is re-adjusting to life under his vampiric curse. Haunted by terrifying dreams of his age-old lover and nemesis, Angelique, and fighting his bloodlust, Barnabas fears that danger lies ahead for all who live at Collinwood. Meanwhile, Barnabas’ ally and trusted friend Dr. Julia Hoffman is harboring secrets of her own…
RED SONJA STATUE INSPIRED BY J. SCOTT CAMPBELL
SKU: C117134 This beautiful statue was inspired by the incredible Red Sonja artwork of J. Scott Campbell. Tom and Joy Snyder sculpted, painted and painstakingly reviewed every detail of this statue under the watchful eye of J. Scott, creating one of the most compelling and beautiful Red Sonja statues of all time. Measuring approximately 8.5″ tall with a base 4″ long x 6″ wide, this magnificent piece shows that we created a piece that fans will appreciate for years to come Price: $189.99 Shipping: October, 2011
WARLORD OF MARS 2012 CALENDAR
Price: $14.99 Shipping: October, 2011 Related Products: SKU: C117556 Publication Date: August 2011 (advance solicit for October 2011) Dimensions: 12 x 12 Format: Wall Calendar Page Count: 24 pgs Caution Code: C:0-1-2 UPC: 725130175564 Start 2012 with a trip to Mars! This full color calendar features incredible art by J. Scott Campbell, ,Alex Ross, Joe Jusko, Paul Renaud, Arthur Adams, and Lucio Parrillo from the hit Warlord of Mars comic books. 2012 is the year of John Carter and his adventures on Mars!
KEVIN SMITH’S THE BIONIC MAN #3
Price: $3.99 Shipping: October, 2011 Related Products: SKU: C725130179753 Rating: Teen + Covers: Alex Ross (main), Jonathan Lau (1-in-10) Writer: Kevin Smith with Phil Hester Artist: Jonathan Lau Colorist: Ivan Nunes Genre: Media Tie-In, Action Adventure Awards: N/A Publication Date: Oct 2011 Format: Comic Book Page Count: 32 pages Rights: WW Age range: 16+ UPC: 725130179753 Colonel Steve Austin’s body is ruined, his spirit broken, the prospect of a future as a barely human cyborg haunting him as he hovers between life and death. Meanwhile, the demented cyborg Hull launches the first strike in his fanatical war against humanity! From the team that brought you Kevin Smith’s Green Hornet.
WARLORD OF MARS #13
Price: $3.99 Shipping: October, 2011 Related Products: SKU: C725130179852 Rating: Mature Covers: Joe Jusko (50%), Stephen Sadowski (50%), Lucio Parrillo (1-in-15) Writer: Arvid Nelson Artist: Stephen Sadowski Colorist: Adriano Lucas Genre: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Super-Hero Awards: N/A Publication Date: Oct 2011 Format: Comic Book Page Count: 32 pages Rights: WW Age range: 16+ UPC: 725130179852 John Carter returns to Mars to be with his beloved princess and the son he has never know – at least, that was his plan. He arrives on the Red Planet in a forest of horrors, a place he’s never seen before. Fortunately, an old friend joins him soon enough. Before Carter can look for answers about where he is, he’s going to have to do what he does best – kick a little ass. Well, more than a little! Warlord of Mars #13: A Forest Battle is the thrilling first installment of the Gods of Mars story arc, believed by some, including the writer of this very blurb, to be the finest of the Edgar Rice Burroughs Mars novels. You don’t want to miss it!
WARLORD OF MARS: DEJAH THORIS #8
Price: $3.99 Shipping: October, 2011 Related Products: SKU: C725130179883 Rating: Mature Covers: Paul Renaud (33%), Joe Jusko (33%), Ale Garza (33%) Writer: Arvid Nelson Artist: Carlos Rafael Colorist: Carlos Lopez Genre: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Super-Hero Awards: N/A Publication Date: Oct 2011 Format: Comic Book Page Count: 32 pages Rights: WW Age range: 16+ UPC: 725130179883 Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium, and Phondari, Pirate Queen of Mars, find themselves in the clutches of Phodari’s old master, Xen Brega. But before Xen was Phondari’s master, he was her slave. Phondari wasn’t the kindest of mistresses, and Xen’s looking for a little vengeance. He’s invited Phondari and Dejah to dinner… to be the main course! If Dejah and Phondari can escape the butcher’s knife, Dejah might just learn a thing or two about the mysterious coin she discovered, and why Phondari is so interested in it. Get ready for Dejah Thoris #8: The Hoard of Segotha!
WARLORD OF MARS: FALL OF BARSOOM #4
Price: $3.99 Shipping: October, 2011 Related Products: SKU: C725130179913 Rating: Teen + Covers: Joe Jusko (main), Francesco Francavilla (1-in-10) Writer: Robert Place Napton Artist: Roberto Castro Genre: Action/Adventure Awards: N/A Publication Date: Oct 2011 Format: Comic Book Page Count: 32 pages Rights: WW Age range: 16+ UPC: 725130179913 100,000 YEARS BEFORE THE TIME OF JOHN CARTER! A tribe of Red Martians attacks the Atmosphere Plant just as it’s about to go operational. Meanwhile, the savage Warhoon march on the last stronghold of the Orovar — the city of Horz–determined to wipe the White Martians from the face Mars. This is the penultimate chapter in the Fall of Barsoom!
GREEN HORNET #21
Price: $3.99 Shipping: October, 2011 Related Products: SKU: C725130180018 Rating: Teen + Covers: Brian Denham (33%), Phil Hester (33%), and Jonathan Lau (33%) Writer: Ande Parks Artist: Igor Vitorino Colorist: Ivan Nunes Genre: Super-Hero, Adventure Awards: N/A Publication Date: Oct 2011 Format: Comic Book Page Count: 32 pages Rights: WW Age range: 16+ UPC: 725130180018 This stand alone story is jam packed with malevolent Mixed Martial Arts mayhem, as Green Hornet and Kato enter a cage match with the baddest men in Century City! Britt Reid and Mulan have decided to enjoy a nice, street clothes night out at the fights. When an old college buddy of Britt’s is seriously injured in the octagon, our heroes join the fray. Now, Green Hornet and Kato have to stay alive in a bloody cage match to the death against the very fighters they bought tickets to see.
ZORRO RIDES AGAIN #4 (OF 12)
Price: $3.99 Shipping: October, 2011 Related Products: SKU: C725130180025 Rating: Teen + Covers: Matt Wagner Writer: Matt Wagner Artist: Esteve Polls Genre: Action/Adventure Awards: N/A Publication Date: Oct 2011 Format: Comic Book Page Count: 32 pages Rights: WW Age range: 16+ UPC: 725130180025 Matt Wagner (MAGE, GRENDEL) continues the finale of his epic story of Zorro! How will Don Diego’s personal life affect Zorro’s continuing crusade against the alcalde of Los Angeles, Luis Quintero? Find out in ZORRO RIDES AGAIN #4!
RED SONJA #64
Price: $3.99 Shipping: October, 2011 Related Products: SKU: C725130180049 Rating: Teen + Covers: Walter Geovani (50%), Wagner Reis (50%) Writer: Eric Trautmann Artist: Walter Geovani Genre: Sword and Sorcery, Adventure, Superhero Awards: N/A Publication Date: Oct 2011 Format: Comic Book Page Count: 32 pages Rights: WW Age range: 16+ UPC: 725130180049 The She-Devil With A Sword has traveled from pastoral Shem to strife-torn Koth and now, into the dark heart of Stygia itself. Sonja’s quest: a lost weapon of terrifying power, and perhaps, some measure of atonement. But the sinister schemes of the Phaorah’s own witch, Azenathi, may only bring Red Sonja death.
QUEEN SONJA #24
Price: $3.99 Shipping: October, 2011 Related Products: SKU: C725130180056 Rating: Teen + Cover: Lucio Parrillo (50%), Adriano Batista (50%) Writer: Luke Lieberman Artist: Fritz Casas Genre: Sword and Sorcery, Adventure Awards: N/A Publication Date: Oct 2011 Format: Comic Book Page Count: 32 pages Rights: WW Age range: 16+ UPC: 725130180056 When finally the forces of Emora and Songoria meet in open battle, who lives and who dies? Can Queen Sonja stop the Emperor’s onslaught on Songoria from a hundred Leagues away? And once she sits on the Emperor’s throne, will she ever give it up?
THE LONE RANGER VOL 4: RESOLVE TPB
Price: $19.99 Shipping: October, 2011 Related Products: SKU: C1606901184 Rating: Teen + Cover: John Cassaday Writer: Brett Matthews Penciller/Inker: Sergio Cariello Colorist: Marcelo Pinto Genre: Western, Action Adventure Awards: N/A Publication Date: Oct 2011 Format: soft cover trade paperback Page Count: 180+ The Ranger and Tonto head for their final confrontation with the villainy that is Butch Cavendish. Along the way, love is found, life is lost, and the Ranger learns the true meaning of “Resolve”. Collects issues #17-25, along with a complete cover gallery by artist John Cassaday. ISBN-10: 1-60690-118-4 ISBN-13: 978-1-60690-118-2
GREEN HORNET VOL 3: IDOLS TPB
Price: $16.99 Shipping: October, 2011 Related Products: SKU: C1606902199 Rating: Teen + Cover: Alex Ross Writer: Phil Hester Artist: Jonathan Lau Colorist: Ivan Nunes Genre: Superhero, Action Adventure Awards: N/A Publication Date: Oct 2011 Format: soft cover trade paperback Page Count: 136 Picking up right where Kevin Smith’s Green Hornet left off! The Black Hornet is history, but a new, even deadlier threat has grown right in the heart of Century City, and it may already be too late for The Green Hornet and Kato to stop it. How can Green Hornet scare a street gang out of business when the gang members themselves have no fear of anything – even death? Is the horrifying power behind their fearless ferocity truly supernatural? And just who is Saint Death? Collects issues #11-15 in one volume, along with complete cover gallery. Introduction by Ande Parks ISBN-10: 1-60690-219-9 ISBN-13: 978-1-60690-219-6
WARLORD OF MARS: DEJAH THORIS VOLUME 1 – THE COLOSSUS OF MARS TP
Price: $16.99 Shipping: October, 2011 Related Products: SKU: C1606902458 Rating: Mature Cover: Paul Renaud Writer: Arvid Nelson Artist: Carlos Rafael Colorist: Carlos Lopez Genre: Fantasy, Sci Fi, Action Adventure Awards: N/A Publication Date: Oct 2011 Format: soft cover trade paperback Page Count: 128 Martians live forever – everyone knows that. So what was Dejah Thoris doing all those hundreds of years before John Carter arrived? Four hundred years before the events of Warlord of Mars took place, Dejah’s nation of Helium was divided into two warring city-states. An unscrupulous overlord from afar encouraged that rivalry to his own advantage, until he discovers a terrible secret from Mars’s ancient past beneath Dejah Thoris’ capital. A secret to kill for! Collecting the first five issues of the hit series in one volume, with bonus material and a complete cover gallery from artists such as Art Adams, Joe Jusko, Paul Renaud, Sean Chen, and Ale Garza. John Carter of Mars film in development from Pixar, set for a March 9, 2012 release in theaters worldwide. ISBN-10: 1-60690-245-8 ISBN-13: 978-1-60690-245-5
SHERLOCK HOLMES: YEAR ONE TPB
Price: $19.99 Shipping: October, 2011 Related Products: SKU: C1606902172 Rating: Teen + Cover: Francesco Francavilla Writer: Scott Beatty Artist: Daniel Indro Genre: Mystery, Action Adventure Awards: N/A Publication Date: Oct 2011 Format: soft cover trade paperback Page Count: 144 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s dauntless detective returns in an all-new series of adventures exploring the sleuth’s untold origins! Join Dr. John Watson as he meets young Sherlock Holmes in a fateful encounter that will forever shape both men’s destinies! Mysteries and murders most foul abound as we discover clues that reveal just how Holmes became the world’s most famous detective. Collecting the 6-issue series in one volume, plus bonus material and a complete cover gallery timed to coincide with the new Guy Ritchie Sherlock Holmes movie, A Game of Shadows, starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law slated for theatrical release December 16, 2011! ISBN-10: 1-60690-217-2 ISBN-13: 978-1-60690-217-2
WAREHOUSE 13 #3 (OF 5)
Price: $3.99 Shipping: October, 2011 Related Products: SKU: C725130179982 Rating: Teen + Covers: Ben Morse (50%), Photo Cover (50%) Writer: Marque Franklin-Williams & John-Paul Nickel Artist: Ben Morse Genre: Media Tie-In, Sci-Fi Awards: N/A Publication Date: Oct 2011 Format: Comic Book Page Count: 32 pages Rights: WW Age range: 16+ UPC: 725130179982 When a series of strange murders in Japan pings the Warehouse team’s radar, Pete, Myka and Claudia journey to the Land of the Rising Sun to investigate. What they discover is a masked assassin who’s using an artifact to cut a swath of terror through the Japanese criminal underworld. In order to snag, bag and tag this deadly weapon, our heroes will have to protect the head of the Yakuza from becoming the killer’s next victim. Little do they realize the assassin is closer than they think! Written by WAREHOUSE 13’s Marque Franklin-Williams & John-Paul Nickel.
Harlan Zinck, a long time member of the Radio Archives family, has moved on to take advantage of new opportunities. Radio Archives wishes Harlan all the best in his future endeavors.
Starting with this issue, the Radio Archives Newsletter will be bi-weekly and emailed to you every other Friday afternoon. Tommy Hancock, a good friend and supporter of the Archives, joins the Archives as editor of this newsletter. Tommy is one of the bright lights in New Pulp. A partner in a publishing company, Tommy is an author with many fiction short stories and one published novel to his credit. Tommy also runs a Pulp convention each year while maintaining several blogs and a podcast.
We are excited that the infrastructure of our website has been dramatically upgraded and you should see a much faster and snappier website.
Stay tuned for the same great info and quality you’ve come to know and for a few new surprises as well, all from RadioArchives.com!
The World’s Greatest Detective Back On The Case
NEW RELEASE – The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Volume 2
Created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in 1887, the character of Sherlock Holmes was a fixture of American broadcasting almost from the beginning of network radio. First heard over NBC in the fall of 1930, Holmes and Dr. John Watson – his friend, right-hand man, and chronicler (his “Boswell” as Holmes called him) – were portrayed by a number of actors on screen and on radio throughout the 1930s. Most definitely the appearance of Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce in the 1939 20th Century Fox film “The Hound of the Baskervilles” created, for many, the perfect embodiment of the characters. Because of this, Rathbone and Bruce would come to be seen as Holmes and Watson in the flesh for the next six years – both on radio, in series for NBC and Mutual, and in a lengthy series of second features made for both Fox and Universal through 1945.
By the middle of 1946, however, Basil Rathbone had grown weary of playing Holmes – so much so, in fact, that he refused to sign a lucrative seven-year radio contract. And so, at the end of the 1945-46 season, the producers of “The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” faced the necessity of finding another actor to play the leading part – and, after considering a number of talented members of Hollywood’s British colony, happened upon the name of Tom Conway.
Born in Russia and educated in England, Tom Conway was certainly no stranger to the detective genre, having taken over the movie role of The Falcon from his brother George Sanders in 1942. His seasoned acting abilities gave him the ability to adopt a voice and delivery very similar to that of Basil Rathbone, performing his lines in much the same clipped and precise way that his predecessor had done. He quickly acquainted himself with the role and, in the company of Nigel Bruce – who opted to stay with the series in exchange for being assigned star billing in the weekly adventures – was introduced as Sherlock Holmes in October of 1946. Also, in 1946, the series moved from the Mutual network to ABC – the former Blue Network – and was given a few more production values to boost interest, as well as a new sponsor – the Semler Company, promoting their Kreml Hair Tonic and Shampoo.
Unfortunately, due to a combination of Rathbone’s departure and the inevitable loss of interest in a series that had been on the air for over six years led to both Conway and Bruce leaving the roles at the end of the 1946/47 season. “The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” would return the following season, moving from Hollywood to New York and recast with John Stanley and Alfred Shirley in the leading roles which is also available from RadioArchives.com.
Heard today, “The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes”, with Tom Conway and Nigel Bruce, not only retain their entertainment value but compare quite favorably with the earlier series with Rathbone. Conway is indeed quite good as Holmes and Nigel Bruce, though often disdained by the “Baker Street Irregulars” who prefer their Conan Doyle adventures straight, is always charming as the sometimes baffled but always loyal Dr. Watson. Wisely, the producers retained the framing device of Watson introducing each story from the cozy scene of his fireside, retired (as radio would have it) comfortably in California.
This collection offers ten full length broadcasts of “The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” starring Tom Conway and Nigel Bruce, all taken from the original reference recordings and beautifully restored for outstanding audio fidelity. If you’re a long-time fan of “the world’s greatest consulting detective”, or if you just love a good mystery, you’ll definitely want to add The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Volume 2 to your collection today priced at only $14.98 for the five Audio CD set or $9.98 for the Digital Download.
Celebrating Sherlock Means More Holmes For You!
With the debut of The New Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes, Volume 2, Radio Archives is celebrating Sherlock Holmes for the next two weeks! And you’re invited to the party!
Radio Archives, in association with Moonstone Entertainment, commissioned the beautifully rendered art for this collection from Timothy Lantz. Radio Archives is proud to offer you Moonstone’s comic take on the World’s Greatest Detective as part of a limited time promotion!
Buy any of the Sherlock Holmes products listed below from now until the next newsletter is released and RadioArchives.com will automatically include for absolutely FREE The Sherlock Holmes Mysteries, Volume One, a Graphic Novel from Moonstone, normally priced at $22.95. No coupon code required.
Order one of the following Audio CDs or DVD:
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Volume 1
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Volume 2
Sherlock Holmes, Volume 1 from Nostalgia Ventures
Sherlock Holmes, Volume 2 from Nostalgia Ventures
Sherlock Holmes (Classic Television Series) DVD
And with your order, you’ll be able to thrill to the World’s Greatest Detective combating Dracula and the Invisible Man in Sherlock Holmes Mysteries, Volume One from Moonstone for FREE! Offer good for the next two weeks. (The bonus offer does not apply to the Download versions of these products)
New Digital Downloads Now Available
Laugh out loud at the lovable neighbor Harold Peary made famous – The Great Gildersleeve!
RA006 The Great Gildersleeve, Volume 1
RA035 The Great Gildersleeve, Volume 2
Dive into the original Medical Drama with The Story of Dr. Kildare!
RA018 The Story of Dr. Kildare, Volume 1
RA048 The Story of Dr. Kildare, Volume 2
Ride the Vocal Range with America’s Singing Cowboy – Gene Autry’s Melody Ranch!
RA104 Gene Autry’s Melody Ranch, Volume 1
RA126 Gene Autry’s Melody Ranch, Volume 2
Follow Ann Sothern’s antics as that Jill-of-all-trades – The Adventures of Maisie!
RA157 The Adventures of Maisie, Volume 1
RA197 The Adventures of Maisie, Volume 2
Find Mystery, Intrigue, and Espionage in The Adventures of Frank Race!
RA170 The Adventures of Frank Race, Volume 1
RA191 The Adventures of Frank Race, Volume 2
Fighting his way from Dime Novels to Radio – The Adventures of Frank Merriwell!
RA101 The Adventures of Frank Merriwell, Volume 1
RA203 The Adventures of Frank Merriwell, Volume 2
Digital Downloads from RadioArchives.com literally give you the best of everything. The same sparkling high quality audio content as our compact disc collections at a reduced price; Delivery immediately upon payment and the ability to play them on your phone, computer, iPod or portable device! Purchase the audio collections you love and enjoy them in a whole new way. Click here to see all the sets available for download.
New in Pulp Fiction: Doc Savage Volume 50 and The Shadow Volume 52
Anyone living in the world today knows that true heroes are very hard to come by. But, in the pulp fiction world of the 1930s and 1940s, heroes were always on watch to fight the criminals and evildoers that threatened our way of life. You’ll find proof of this in the two new double-novel pulp reprints now available from RadioArchives.com, featuring the top heroes from this Golden Age of literary entertainment:
Doc Savage Volume 50
The Pulp Era’s greatest superman journeys to the American West in classic pulp thrillers by Lester Dent writing as “Kenneth Robeson.” First, a bequest from a dying scientist leads Doc Savage to Death Valley in search of a long-dead pirate’s legendary treasure. Can this amazing invention allow The Pirate’s Ghost to speak from beyond the grave? Then, the Man of Bronze goes undercover at a Wyoming dude ranch to solve the bizarre puzzle of a strange Green Eagle with lead feathers. This special anniversary edition showcases the original color pulp covers by Emery Clarke, Paul Orban’s classic interior illustrations and an intriguing article by The Shadow’s famous raconteur, Walter B. Gibson. Priced at $14.95.
The Shadow Volume 52
Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows! The Knight of Darkness wages war on criminal masterminds in two thrilling pulp novels by Walter Gibson and Theodore Tinsley writing as “Maxwell Grant.” First, The Shadow executes a deadly chess game with The Crime Master, an underworld kingpin whose amazing superbrain rivals his own. Who will have the last laugh? Then, the Master of Darkness seeks to unmask The Fifth Napoleon, the master plotter who commands New York’s four most powerful crime lords. This instant collectors’ item features both classic cover paintings by George Rozen, the original interior pulp illustrations by Tom Lovell, historical commentary by popular culture historian Will Murray plus a biographical article by Anthony Tollin on Frank Readick,.”The Man with The Shadow’s Laugh.” Available for only $14.95.
Knowing The Shadow
Reviews Of The Shadow Pulp Tales By John Olsen
“The Golden Vulture” was published in the July 15, 1938 issue of The Shadow Magazine. It was actually written much earlier, in July of 1932. And it was written, not by Walter Gibson, but Lester Dent – the same Lester Dent who would begin writing the adventures of Doc Savage a few months later. It is the only Shadow pulp mystery ever written by Lester Dent, and was greatly revised by Walter Gibson before its 1938 publication, all which makes it a unique collaboration between the two.
The Golden Vulture is an unseen master criminal who extorts millions from wealthy men of society. He controls a vast empire of gangsters who do his every bidding. He communicates his instructions to his minions via small golden statues of a vulture which can receive and transmit radio and television signals. Who is The Golden Vulture? Who will be his next victim? And who can stop him? Only The Shadow can stop this super fiend’s quest for power and wealth!
Many of Lester Dent’s famous touches are evident in this story — little things that would later show up in his Doc Savage stories. Great strength, for example. The Shadow, as described by the pen of Lester Dent, is capable of great strength. Even Walter Gibson’s Shadow was exceedingly strong, but Dent’s description of The Shadow’s display of strength seems quite familiar to anyone who has read Doc Savage. His grip is that of steel bands. He easily overpowers a foe of tremendous strength and throws him through a door, reducing it to splinters. And then, there’s the gadgets. Lester Dent loved to use gadgets in his stories. And although Walter Gibson enjoyed using them in his Shadow stories as well, he employed far fewer of them than did Dent. In this story, the coolest gadget of all is the actual statues of The Golden Vulture. Most are small statuettes of under two feet tall. But their insides contain enough electronics to receive and transmit both audio and video as well as enough explosive charges to create tremendous destruction.
We also see the touch of Walter Gibson in this story. He keeps the character of The Shadow true to the version readers had come to recognize in 1938. The Shadow creates a temporary sanctum in Miami, where he puts his thoughts to paper with pen and disappearing ink. The Shadow has strange but vague powers to compel others to do his wishes. He communicates secret messages by the use of slightly emphasized words in otherwise seemingly innocent announcements. He disappears from the back of taxi-cabs, leaving a five dollar bill on the seat. He is a master of disguise, who can make himself faultlessly appear as others.
I really enjoyed reading this partial collaboration of Dent and Gibson, and I think you will too. You’ll appreciate the exotic locations and gadgets typical of Doc Savage, mixed with the moody atmosphere and frenetic action of Walter Gibson’s Shadow. A very unique story, and one that is definitely recommended!
Read The Golden Vulture and another Shadow tale when you get your copy of The Shadow, Volume 1 available at RadioArchives.com for only $12.95.
AUDIOBOOKS
Special Collectors’ Editions of Audiobooks
Attention collectors and autograph seekers! Here’s a special offer just made for you.
RadioArchives.com’s two new audiobooks, Python Isle and White Eyes, are now available in special signed limited editions, available only from RadioArchives.com!
Each Special Edition CD set is autographed by the entire production team including author Will Murray, producer/director Roger Rittner, and the voice actors and recordist. They come with a special bookplate to certify their authenticity.
There are only 50 copies of each set available. There will be no more.
These special collector editions are available for just $45.98 for Python Isle, and $51.98 for White Eyes. That includes the complete set of CDs, plus the autographed case, and certified bookplate.
Reviews are starting to come in for White Eyes, the latest audiobook from RadioArchives.com. And they’re just as enthusiastic as the reviews for our first audiobook, Python Isle.
Stephen Brandt at Audiobook Heaven says:
“The whole idea behind these Doc Savage productions is to give them the feel of an old-time radio program. Richard Epcar achieved this with his radio-announcer voice, and his melodramatic characterizations. White Eyes is narrated in 3D stereo, with Epcar’s narration coming through the center channel, and his character voices coming from the right or left, putting the listener right in the middle. Add to this Radio Archive’s crystal clear reproduction technology, and you have a cinema quality extravaganza.”
“… you can really tell how much work the likes of Roger Rittner and of course Radio Archives puts into these audiobooks. The sound is crisp and clear and they make sure to get a narrator that can not only portray the Man of Bronze and his “fabulous five” but EVERY character in the tale as well, and they’ve chosen wisely with Richard Epcar.
I have to say that in Chapter 28 “Gangdom’s Long Arm” I was pacing the floor in front of the radio, since this is a chapter where Doc Savage’s skyscraper headquarters comes under siege by the united criminal underworld. That I think is the greatest compliment I can give to Radio Archives and Will Murray, the writing and production is so strong that I actually got nervous for Doc Savage and his friends!”
And don’t miss narrator Michael McConnohie’s exclusive “Python Isle” promotional video, including a number of dialog excerpts (scroll to the bottom of the page):
Radio Archives not only offers the finest Audio and Pulp Products, but we also give you awesome bargains with the RadioArchives.com Deal Of The Day! You can take advantage of Three Deals at All Times with the Deal of the Day!
Every Day a Different Item is available at 10% Off. If you’re into Pulp, Tuesdays and Thursdays are the days to pick up a great Pulp deal at a 10% discount!
Every two weeks as the newsletter comes out, a different item is available at 25% off from RadioArchives.com
Each month, one item is 50% off for the entire month!
Enjoy Quality. Enjoy Savings. Take advantage of the Deal of the Day from RadioArchives.com!
Hearing From You!
Comments From Customers!
Greg Burton listened to Let George Do It and writes:
I am so glad you have made the radio shows available as downloads. I started collecting old radio shows in mp3 format in 1995 and have listened regularly (daily) since that time. Last year I purchased a CD from you (“Let George Do It”), and since you have been making shows available as a download, I have purchased three items from you. I have been amazingly surprised how much more I enjoy listening to your top-quality productions. I did not think it would make that big of a difference, but it does. I can’t thank you enough. There are many more that over time I will purchase. I get on your site regularly to see if you have any new releases.
Find out for yourself what Greg is talking about! Pick up an Old Time Radio Classic, on CD or by Digital Download, today from RadioArchives.com!
