Tagged: Tommy Hancock

ALL PULP ANNOUNCES NEW STAFF!

In efforts to continue to bring Pulp fans the most comprehensive coverage of Pulp news of all types, ALL PULP has expanded its staff to include top notch reporters, reviewers, and commentators!  With the Spectacled Seven at the helm, ALL PULP has made a name for itself in being a major source of Pulp news and discussion for nearly a year.  With both the increase of awareness among fans and the public of ALL PULP along with the continuing increase of interest in all things Pulp, it was determined more hands were needed to man the juggernaut that is ALL PULP!  Current ALL PULP staff, leading off with the new Staffers and ending with the Spectacled Seven are as follows-

STAFF
WEEKLY STAFFERS
 JOSHUA PANTALLERESCO comes on board as ALL PULP’S Assistant Editor.   Joshua has published “I Am…” a poetry book and is working on a new collection. He also penned an essay, “The Modern Day Perceval” In the collection “Secrets of the Dragon Riders”. Joshua has served as one of the editors for Northern Flight, an arts and literary magazine. and has published a non fiction piece “A Series of Unfortunate Events” and the fiction piece “Imaginary” as well. Veritas, Joshua’s first comic, is completed and now available. He is currently working on two novels and now will be assisting with editorial duties at ALL PULP as well as working in the trenches as a full time staffer, providing reviews, columns, and interviews several times a week!
ADAM L. GARCIA, one of the up and coming faces in the New Pulp Movement, is an award winning writer, most notably for his work on revitalizing the classic pulp character THE GREEN LAMA via Airship 27.  Adam isn’t a one character writer, though.  He’s working on various other projects, including original Pulp characters as well as mutliple projects that go beyond Pulp.  Adam will be providing news stories as well as his own unique take on Pulp via reviews and editorial columns.
BRENT LAMBERT, is an aspiring author working on his first novel and is excited to be able to expand not only his experience, but his knowledge as well by joining ALL PULP and delivering the best in news, reviews, interviews, and commentary on the world that is Pulp!
 
 
FRANK SCHILDINER, Pulp Author and Creator, joins ALL PULP’s ranks, ready to bring all his best to news coverage in the Pulp World.  Frank has had work published with Airship 27 Productions and is one of the many creators involved in the Infinity Comics Group.  Frank is also working on a novel and a whole universe all his own, for Pro Se Press, where he also acts as the editor of Pro Se’s ‘MASKED GUN MYSTERY’ line of short stories

JOSHUA REYNOLDS is perhaps one of the most prolific writers of the New Pulp Movement.  A partner in Pulpwork Press, Joshua has also written for Airship 27, Pro Se Press, Moonstone, as well as other New Pulp Publishers.  Currently, Joshua is writing for Black Library as well and has a WARHAMMER novel coming out in the near future, not to mention a ton of other really cool projects that are so secret even Josh isn’t allowed to know about them.  With all of that, Joshua will be bringing his views and thoughts to ALL PULP every week!



CONTRIBUTING STAFFERS
Suzanne Fuller, an aspiring writer, hails from Scotland and provides reviews that are entertaining, comprehensive, insightful, and do what a good review should-Helps the reader make a decision about the book and keeps the reader coming back looking for Suzanne’s next review at ALL PULP!

CHUCK MILLER, New Pulp Author and Creator, is the mastermind behind one of the internet’s best New Pulp characters and accompanying universes, The Black Centipede!  With Pro Se Press publishing the first and future volumes of the Centipede’s adventures, Chuck is readying to work on other projects as continuing to expand the Centipede’s wild and wacky world, turning out the occasional column or interview for ALL PULP in the process.

AND FINALLY, THE SPECTACLED SEVEN
Tommy Hancock,Editor in Chief of ALL PULP,  first and foremost, is a Pulp fan. What form it comes in really doesn’t matter. Book, Movie, Radio, Comic…Orange, not really a deal for him. This has been a lifetime condition for Tommy and went to the next level very early in life as he became a writer and, soon following that development, an actor. He has performed on stage since high school, formed and disbanded (mostly) a community theater all his own, and is now Drama Ministry Director at his church. He also has a background in audio drama. He was a newspaper reporter at 14 and has lived a variety of experiences in his time. Currently, he is Editor in Chief of Pro Se Press and the founder and coordinator of the PULP ARK Creator’s Conference/Convention. He is also a published writer, his first novella published by Airship 27 Productions. He is currently working on projects for Airship 27,  Moonstone, Decoder Ring Theater, and his own Pro Se Press.

Barry Reese has spent the last decade writing for publishers as diverse as Marvel Comics, West End Games, Wild Cat Books and Moonstone Books. Known primarily for his pulp adventure works like The Rook Chronicles, The Adventures of Lazarus Gray and Savage Tales of Ki-Gor, Barry has also delved into slasher horror (Rabbit Heart) and even the fantasy pirate genre (Guan-Yin and the Horrors of Skull Island). His favorite classic pulp heroes are The Avenger, Doc Savage, John Carter, Conan and Seekay.
From his secret lair in the wilds of Bethlehem, Georgia, Bobby Nash writes. He is an author of novels and short stories like Evil Ways, Fantastix, Lance Star: Sky Ranger, Domino Lady, Sentinels: Alternate Visions, Full Throttle Space Tales: Space Sirens, A Fistful Of Legends, and the upcoming Green Hornet Chronicles and Secret Agent X among others. He also writes comic books and graphic novels like Life In The Faster Lane, Fuzzy Bunnies From Hell, Demonslayer, Fantastix, Yin Yang, I Am Googol: The Great Invasion, and Lance Star: Sky Ranger, among others. For more information on Bobby Nash please visit him at www.bobbynash.com, http://bobby-nash-news.blogspot.com, www.facebook.com/bobbyenash, www.lance-star.com, and www.twitter.com/bobbynash, among other places across the web.

Much like removing a bandaid I suppose the best way to get through this is to rip it off as quickly as possible, accept the pain and move on: My name is Derrick Ferguson and I’m from Brooklyn, New York where I’ve lived most of my life. Married for 28 years to the wonderful Patricia Cabbagestalk-Ferguson who lets me get away with far more than is good for me. My interests include old radio shows, classic pulps from the 30’s/40’s, comic books, fan fiction, Star Trek, pop culture, science fiction, animation, television and movies…oh yeah…movies. I’m currently the co-host of the podcast BETTER IN THE DARK where my partner Thomas Deja and I rant and rave about movies on a bi-weekly basis. To date I’ve written five books: “Dillon And The Voice of Odin”, my love letter to classic pulp action/adventure with a modern flavor and the sequel, “Dillon And The Legend of The Golden Bell” ; “Derrick Ferguson’s Movie Review Notebook” and its sequel “The Return of Derrick Ferguson’s Movie Review Notebook.” Both of ’em packed full of movie reviews that I think are pretty damn good otherwise I wouldn’t be asking folks to pay hard earned cash for ’em, now would I? ; “Diamondback Vol I: It Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time”, a spaghetti western disgused as a modern day gangster/urban crime thriller. Anything else you’d like to know about me, check out my Live Journal: http://dferguson.livejournal.com/. The Pulpwork Press website: http://www.freewebs.com/pulpworkpress/. or Better In The Dark: http://sites.google.com/site/betterinthedarkcentralsite/. Or hit me up on Facebook. I ain’t hard to find!

Ron Fortier had been writing professionally for thirty-five years. He is best known for his work on the Green Hornet comic series for Now Comics and writing Alex Ross’ first comic project, Terminator:Burning Earth for the same company. Four years ago Ron co-founded Airship 27 Productions with artist Rob Davis. The company produces brand new novels and anthologies featuring classic pulp heroes from the 1930s, to include Ron’s revival of Captain Hazzard. Their books are published by Cornerstone Book Publishers of New Orleans. Ron also maintains a weekly blog at his website (www.Airship27.com) and writes a review column, Pulp Fictions Reviews found at – (http://www.pulpfictionreviews.blogspot.com/) He is a frequent contributor to Moonstone Books pulp fiction anthologies and is currently writing and self-publishing a new comic series, Mr. Jigsaw, Man of a Thousand Parts from Rob Davis’ Redbud Studios plus working on three new weekly webstrip comics. Redbud recently published Ron’s pulp comic graphic novel, The Boston Bombers. Email Ron at Airship27@ comcast.net.
Writer, editor, publisher, and historian Van Allen Plexico stands at the forefront of the pulp revival movement and the new wave of prose superhero fiction, with popular works including his “Sentinels” novels, “Sherlock Holmes,” “Lucian,” and “Gideon Cain” (with Kurt Busiek). His big-selling “Assembled!” books garnered praise from the original Marvel creators themselves. He has been published by Airship 27, Swarm Press, White Rocket, Rittenhouse, Adamant Entertainment, RevolutionSF.com, and Pro Se Press, and is the publisher of White Rocket Books. He and his family live near St Louis. Visit him at http://www.plexico.net/ and/or at http://www.whiterocketbooks.com/ .

Sarge Portera: As someone recently pointed out to me, I’m a 3rd generation pulp enthusiast whose dad & grandfather created an obscure pulp hero, Doc Diamond, that they self-published! Being nurtured on comicbooks, movies, science fiction & actioneers since childhood it would only be natural for me to help establish & maintain the following FB Groups with me darlin’ daughter’s able assist: Bronze Pastiches, Purple Prose Pulp Parade, Sergeant Preston of the Yukon Fan Club, Silhouette Pastiches & Worlds of Doc Diamond!

NEW PULP PARTNERS WITH STAN LEE FOUNDATION

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.

For more information concerning New Pulp or the round robin novel PARIAH AND THE PURPLE PRINCE, contact Hancock at proseproductions@earthlink.net and follow New Pulp on http://www.newpulpfiction.com/.

 


ALL PULP’S OFFICIAL PODCAST-THE BOOK CAVE!
It’s been busy, but that’s no reason why you can’t catch up on THE BOOK CAVE!  Ric Croxton and Art Sippo provide the best in Pulp reviews and discussions, on track and off tangent as well every week!  Here’s the last few weeks of material from these two podcasting legends and be on the lookout for the latest episode on ALL PULP!

 

Thu, 16 June 2011
Russ Anderson, Josh Reynolds, David Boop and Tommy Hancock join Art and Ric to discuss the latest volume in How The West Was Weird. Technical problems cut us off at the end, but we got a full episode in.
http://www.pulpwork.com/2011/05/how-west-was-weird-2-now-available-for.html
Joshua M. Reynolds
argus33@hotmail.com
http://joshuamreynolds.blogspot.com/
David Boop www.davidboop.com

Direct download: Book_Cave_ep_131.mp3
Category:podcasts — posted at: 1:05 PM

 

Thu, 9 June 2011
Perry Constantine returns to the Book Cave to discuss his new novel The Myth Hunter. Art was unable to join us due to be under the weather.
Pulpwork Press – http://www.pulpwork.com


Percival Constantine
Writer, Letterer
percivalconstantine.wordpress.com
pc812.deviantart.com
Direct download: Book_Cave_ep_130.mp3
Category:podcasts — posted at: 2:11 PM

 

Thu, 2 June 2011
Art and Ric go over the Brain Boy comic book series from the early 1960s.
RJCroxton1@yahoo.com
Store: http://www.cafepress.com/thebookcave
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Coming Attractions – http://members.cox.net/comingattractions/index.html
All Pulp – http://allpulp.blogspot.com/
Direct download: Book_Cave_ep_129.mp3
Category:podcasts — posted at: 6:01 PM

 

Fri, 27 May 2011
The Book Cave is crowded tonight with a cast of thousands. Art and Ric are joined by Barry Reese, Ron Fortier, Bobby Nash, Tommy Hancock, Wayne Reinagel and later in the show, Ken Janssens.
Artwork was given to us by Cari Reese.

RJCroxton1@yahoo.com
Store: http://www.cafepress.com/thebookcave
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Coming Attractions – http://members.cox.net/comingattractions/index.html
All Pulp – http://allpulp.blogspot.com/

Direct download: Book_Cave_ep_128.mp3
Category:podcasts — posted at: 3:58 PM

 


Thu, 26 May 2011
Art Sippo wraps up the last of the specials with his talk on Sun Koh, Germany’s Doc Savage.
RJCroxton1@yahoo.com
Store: http://www.cafepress.com/thebookcave
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Coming Attractions – http://members.cox.net/comingattractions/index.html
All Pulp – http://allpulp.blogspot.com/
Direct download: Pulp_Ark_Special_-009.mp3
Category:podcasts — posted at: 1:41 PM

Wed, 25 May 2011
Ron Fortier heads a panel talking about popularity of the New Pulp.
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Store: http://www.cafepress.com/thebookcave
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Coming Attractions – http://members.cox.net/comingattractions/index.html
All Pulp – http://allpulp.blogspot.com/

Direct download: Pulp_Ark_Special_-007.mp3
Direct download: Pulp_Ark_Special_-008.mp3
Category:podcasts — posted at: 9:48 PM

Wed, 25 May 2011
Van Plexico and crew talk about writer super hero prose.
RJCroxton1@yahoo.com
Store: http://www.cafepress.com/thebookcave
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Coming Attractions – http://members.cox.net/comingattractions/index.html
All Pulp – http://allpulp.blogspot.com/
Direct download: Pulp_Ark_Special_-007.mp3
Category:podcasts — posted at: 1:47 AM

Mon, 23 May 2011
Direct download: Pulp_Ark_Special_-006.mp3
Category:podcasts — posted at: 8:31 PM

Sun, 22 May 2011
Direct download: Pulp_Ark_Special_-005.mp3
Category:podcasts — posted at: 8:06 PM

Sat, 21 May 2011
Rob Davis of Airship27 spills all his secrets on how to do art for new Pulps.
http://stores.lulu.com/airship27
RJCroxton1@yahoo.com
Store: http://www.cafepress.com/thebookcave
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Coming Attractions – http://members.cox.net/comingattractions/index.html
All Pulp – http://allpulp.blogspot.com/
Direct download: Pulp_Ark_Special_-004.mp3
Category:podcasts — posted at: 8:12 PM

Fri, 20 May 2011
Direct download: Pulp_Ark_Special_-003.mp3
Category:podcasts — posted at: 8:56 PM

 

Thu, 19 May 2011
Direct download: Pulp_Ark_Special_-002.mp3
Category:podcasts — posted at: 10:44 PM

Wed, 18 May 2011
In this episode is the All Pulp panel, the first panel for the weekend.
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Store: http://www.cafepress.com/thebookcave
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Coming Attractions – http://members.cox.net/comingattractions/index.html
All Pulp – http://allpulp.blogspot.com/
Direct download: Pulp_Ark_Special_-001.mp3
Category:podcasts — posted at: 6:18 PM

Tue, 17 May 2011
Art and Ric’s adventures in Pulp Ark. The reason this episode is up early this week is because we have all the Pulp Ark panels recorded and we want you to have them as early as we can. I will be adding Book Cave: Pulp Ark Specials this week.
The Clones of Langston
Carol Fullerton-Samsel
Summer Read Publishers
Benton, AR 72018-0592

RJCroxton1@yahoo.com
Store: http://www.cafepress.com/thebookcave
PayPal: RJCroxton1@yahoo.com
Coming Attractions – http://members.cox.net/comingattractions/index.html
All Pulp – http://allpulp.blogspot.com/
Direct download: Book_Cave_ep_127.mp3
Category:podcasts — posted at: 8:35 PM

 

 

Thu, 12 May 2011
Art and Ric chat up a storm before they head to Batesville, Arkansas for Pulp ARK.
RJCroxton1@yahoo.com
Store: http://www.cafepress.com/thebookcave
PayPal: RJCroxton1@yahoo.com
Coming Attractions – http://members.cox.net/comingattractions/index.html
All Pulp – http://allpulp.blogspot.com/
Direct download: Book_Cave_ep_126.mp3
Category:podcasts — posted at: 5:25 PM

 

 

NEW PODCAST FOCUSED ON NEW PULP DEBUTS-Go Get PULPED!

Press Release-
Four New Pulp creators and proclaimed members of what some are calling The New Pulp Movement, announced today that they have united to present the world with the first official New Pulp Podcast!  PULPED!, a podcast focused on the works and trends that comprise and contribute to works created after the heyday of the Pulps that have the sensibilities of classic Pulp works and yet are new tales, debuted with its first episode on June 20th.
Tommy Hancock, Barry Reese, Derrick Ferguson, and Ron Fortier, all noted pulp authors and personalities within New Pulp, make up the core circle behind PULPED!  Functioning as a rotating circle of hosts, the PULPED! Four will spotlight different creators and New Pulp works each week as well as discussing trends in the sub genre.  There will be a News section of the podcast, but it will be slightly different than traditional newscasts.  Each co-host will bring a topic of New Pulp news to the table and then the assembled hosts will discuss and/or debate it.  Also, PULPED! will be the home of reviews done by THE PULPTRESS, the spokesperson for New Pulp!  Each week, she will deliver a review of current New Pulp books, audio, movies, tv, and other things that qualify as New Pulp.
“New Pulp,” said Tommy Hancock, “is a vibrant, relevant part of the fiction Pulp fans love and enjoy.  Edgy at times, traditional at others, New Pulp shows that the fantastic heroic adventure fiction enjoyed by so many in the early 20th Century is not only still alive and well, but is on the verge of being an important part of literature of the 21st Century.  PULPED!’s focus will not simply be on books, but on all aspects of how New Pulp permeates our society. It will also focus on everyone from major players in publishing and other fields right down to the small press publishers and independent creators that truly are the lifeblood of this movement.”
PULPED! will post a new episode every Monday at http://www.pulped.libsyn.com/ and will be available in the coming weeks via ITunes and other providers.
“Anyone who is a writer, artist, publisher,” Hancock stated, “that wants to be a guest on PULPED!, all they need to do is to send an email to braedenalex@centurytel.net or contact any of the four hosts.”
The first episode is now available at http://www.pulped.libsyn.com/ and its description is as follows-
PULPED! The Official New Pulp Podcast-Episode 1-PULPED! For The First Time!

PULPED! is a Podcast dedicated to the creators and fans of New Pulp!  New Pulp, heroic fiction by modern artists written with the sensibility and in the tradition of the Pulp genre!  Pulp creators Barry Reese, Derrick Ferguson, Ron Fortier, and Tommy Hancock kick off this podcast dedicated to the promotion of The New Pulp Movement by explaining what the podcast is about, defining and discussing New Pulp, and letting know listeners what they’re in store for. 

Then Tommy and Barry take off their hosts hats and climb in the guest spotlight to discuss Barry’s latest book, THE ROOK-VOLUME SIX, published by Hancock through the company he’s a partner in, Pro Se Productions.  The origins of the Rook, Reese’s inspirations, and the logic behind Pro Se acquiring the Rook as well as future plans for the well known character are discussed in length.  Following that, our intrepid co-hosts take on the PULPED! News.  Each week, the co-hosts will bring one topic of New Pulp news to the table and they will discuss, analyze, explore, and debate it!  If you like your fiction heroic, if you seek adventure and action in every word you read, then come on in, take a seat, and get PULPED!

PULPED! will post each Monday!

Check out PULPED! and the New Pulp Movement at www.newpulpfiction.com and at the New Pulp forum hosted by Comic Related at
http://www.comicrelated.com/forums/ under NEW PULP!  Also, like New Pulp on Facebook!

PRO SE DEBUTS SECOND ROOK TRAILER! VOLUME SIX IS COMING!

PRO SE DEBUTS SECOND ROOK TRAILER! VOLUME SIX IS COMING!

Pro Se Productions released a second trailer spotlighting its upcoming release of Barry Reese’s THE ROOK: VOLUME SIX today. Tommy Hancock, Editor in Chief of Pro Se, states, “This book is good enough to have its own movie, much less more than one trailer!  This trailer shows a different aspect from the first one and actually previews art from the upcoming volume!”  Produced by Pro Se CEO Fuller Bumpers, this trailer showcases THE ROOK: VOLUME SIX, due out in a matter of days!

FORTIER GOES BACK TO THE THRILLING DAYS OF ‘YESTERYEAR’!

ALL PULP FICTION REVIEWS by Ron Fortier
YESTERYEAR
By Tommy Hancock
Pro Se Press
180 pages

One of the most widely recognized facts regarding American comic book heroes is that they actually evolved out of the Depression Era pulp magazines.  Fans of both media are well aware that the likes of Batman and Superman were the literary children of characters such as the Shadow and Doc Savage.  Tommy Hancock employs this historical theory against which to set his first novel, “Yesteryear.”  Hancock, the winner of this year’s Pulp Ark Award for Best New Writer, had earned that title based on his short fiction. Now with this novel length drama, he cements that position soundly with a work of deft imagination heralding past days of American glory.

J.C.Smithenson is a one time crime fighting boy detective who has grown up to become a writer and publisher.  He has put his hero days behind him, though his good friend, Detective Donovan Bradley, suspects he still harbors longings to get back into the fray.  Then one day a mysterious package is left on Smithenson’s steps containing the journal of newspaper man, Ramsey Long, who was part of the Golden Age of Heroes back in the 30s and 40s.  Thought to be a myth, Ramsey’s musings are said to be a tell-all book that honestly rips aside the veil of public relation mumb-jumbo to detail the true history and exploits of those early mystery men and women.
Which is why when it is learned that Smithenson possesses the book, factions both political and private, begin targeting him and his loved ones to guarantee the journal never sees the light of day.  For J.C., it is an eye-opening revelation that some of the people he once admired are flawed enough to want to destroy him rather than have their human failings exposed publicly.  Still, he is determined that the truth will be told regardless of the consequences.
“Yesteryear” is a marvelous homage to all those great pulp characters and golden age comic heroes who followed in their footsteps wonderfully told with a true sense of time and place.  Hancock knows his history and the richness with which he paints the times adds much to the book’s plot and appeal.  So on a purely literary basis, I recommend this book highly, it was tons of fun to read.
But I do have one criticism and it deals with the book’s packaging, not the story.  I don’t often make mention of actual production values but in this case felt compelled to do so because in the end, it did lessen my overall enjoyment of “Yesteryear.”  Hancock is also the book’s producer and he’s filled many of its pages with some truly fantastic drawings of many of the fabulous characters described in the text.  All to the good.   Alas, that’s where his design musings should have stopped.
Instead he also chose to change the fonts and styling of the text throughout the entire book so that the reader is confronted with bold type, cursive scribbles, light, thin fonts constantly changing, many difficult to adjust to after finishing a chapter presented in an entirely different way.  I understand the concept he was trying to achieve with this mixing, but it does not work and instead becomes a physical flaw to an otherwise stellar offering.   Hopefully his next book will have a more conservative presentation.

PULP ARK DAY TWO-AWARDS AND AUCTION!!

Saturday, May 14th, 2011
After the final panel ended for the day, most of the stalwart band of PULP ARKers, guests and fans alike, went out for a nice, large dinner at Colton’s Steak House.  The table filled with over thirty guests went from one wall of their largest room to the other.  As had quickly become the norm, great fun and camaraderie was had by all. 

Following that, PULP ARK continued with the presentation of the first annual PULP ARK Awards!  These awards covered ten categories and had been voted on after nominations were taken late last year.  Nine of the awards were voted on by anyone who made a nomination in just one of the nine categories.  The Lifetime Achievement Award was chosen by a hand selected committee of ten, who each made three initial nominations, then the top three of those were voted on to determine the winner. 



Rob Davis and Ron Fortier accepting BEST PULP COMIC
The Pulptress in the background

 Several awards were accepted by their winners, others by proxies.

 The First Annual PULP ARK Awards went to-

BEST BOOK-Gregg Taylor for TALES OF THE RED PANDA: THE ANDROID ASSASSINS

BEST COVER-Anthony Perkins for TALES OF THE RED PANDA: THE ANDROID ASSASSINS

BEST SHORT STORY-Phil Bledsoe for THE MOUNTAIN GOATS OF MADNESS

Tommy Hancock accepting BEST PULP MAGAZINE

BEST INTERIOR ART-ANTHONY CASTRILLO for THE ROOK, VOLUME 5

BEST PULP COMIC-Ron Fortier and Redbud Studios for BOSTON BOMBERS

BEST PULP MAGAZINE-Fuller Bumpers and Tommy Hancock and Pro Se Productions for MASKED GUN MYSTERY

BEST PULP REVIVAL-Adam Lance Garcia for GREEN LAMA UNBOUND

BEST AUTHOR-Barry Reese

BEST NEW WRITER-Tommy Hancock

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD-Tom and Ginger Johnson

Art Sippo Accepting Lifetime Achievement Award for
Tom and Ginger Johnson

Following the award, the first annual PULP ARK Art Auction was held.  Three artists contributed pieces-Rob Davis of Airship 27 and Pete Cooper and Dalton Carpenter of Pro Se Productions.  Although the bidding was quick, there were a few heated wars amongst fans for some of the available pieces, but everyone enjoyed themselves and it must be noted 80% of the proceeds went back to the artist!  This will be an event that will continue at PULP ARK!

Barry Reese Accepting BEST AUTHOR Award

A major announcement, or actuall revelation was made during the Awards and Auction.   The mysterious masked lady that had been seen frequently since Pulp Ark started, at one point in her standard striped shirt, suspenders, skirt, and fedora and at another in a rather stylish cowgirl outfit, was on hand to give out the awards.  Her identity was revealed by Tommy Hancock to be that of THE PULPTRESS!  Hancock explained that this Pulp Heroine for the 21st Century would be promoting Pro Se Productions but equally as important would be the spokesmodel for the New Pulp Movement as well.  The applause and pictures being snapped around the room signalled that this announcement was a positive one.  The Pulptress, still shrouded in mystery, was very pleased to be a part of all the activity and vowed to promote New Pulp along with her never ending battle against Evil. You can now join The Pulptress’s page on Facebook!  Just search for The Pulptress and she’ll be there!



Tommy Hancock accepting BEST NEW WRITER Award

 After the Convention wrapped up for the evening, most of the participants once more gathered in the Comfort Suites conference room for an impromptu New Pulp meeting.  The results of this conversation are still being developed and will be announced soon!

PULP ARK DAY ONE-DINNER!

Friday, May 13th, 2011, later….


Left to Right-Tommy Hancock, Wayne Reinagel, Van Plexico
Ron Fortier (left) and Rob Davis

Although everyone did not get a chance to attend, many of the guests and vendors went to eat at the end of a very awesome first day.  The Pulp adventurers gathered for fine Mexican food at El Tres Amigos in Batesville and a good time was had by all.  Tommy Hancock sat down at the table, strictly ordering that no conversation take place that would cause him to have ideas…the dinner ended with him having two!  But the conversation and discussion that provided both inspirations…more on those later in the PULP ARK coverage…was fantastic and welcomed!  Following dinner, most of the guests reconvened at the Comfort Suites in the conference room for another hour or so of fellowship!

PULP ARK DAY ONE-RADIO LIVES AGAIN!

Friday, May 13th, 2011, 6 PM



Tommy Hancock getting RADIO LIVES AGAIN started!

 As a part of the first day of activities at PULP ARK, Coordinator Tommy Hancock invited several writers to adapt excerpts from their stories for a live audio old time radio style recording.  One writer adapted a script himself and Hancock had time to adapt two other scripts.  What then ensued was tremendous fun and lots of bravery and performing by volunteers.  Each excerpt was performed unrehearsed live and with sound effects. 

Rob Davis (on floor), Art Sippo, Alex  Hancock,
Fuller Bumpers, Tommy Hancock
RADIO LIVES AGAIN

The first, an excerpt from Van Plexico’s GIDEON CAIN, stars Ron Fortier as a demon, Plexico as Cain, and Tommy Hancock as Cain’s Arab Companion.  LANCE STAR, SKY RANGER, written by Bobby Nash, followed, with Fuller Bumpers as Lance, Rob Davis as Ice, Art Sippo as Andrew, Alex Hancock as Bar Guy and Tommy Hancock as Announcer.  The final scene is from Wayne Reinagel’s KHAN DYNASTY with Patrick Cranford as Kong, Rob Davis as Bart, and Tommy Hancock as Chang Lee!  Follow the link below to download the whole event AND all the con chatter that went on inbetween scenes!

http://www.filedropper.com/pulpark



From Left-Rob Davis, Fuller Bumpers, Art Sippo, Tommy Hancock, Alex Hancock
RADIO LIVES AGAIN




Van Plexico (left) and Tommy Hancock
RADIO LIVES AGAIN



PULP ARK-THE CASE OF THE BLOODY PULP ACT ONE!

4:30 PM, Friday, May 13th, 2011 PULP ARK

PULP ARK settled into a groove pretty quickly, everyone eager to meet fans, but visiting with each other and hammering out ideas and making suggestions as well. Then a newsboy walked in hollering ‘EXTRA! EXTRA! followed by two people who set up a magazine on a stand, and began going on about mystical happenings, disappeared authors, and things that go bump in the night.  A few minutes later, a black suave stranger with a gun strolls in followed soon by a black clad progeny of the Nazi party and her pet boy…Yup, you guessed it, the first act of Pulp Ark’s original Pulp Play THE CASE OF THE BLOODY PULP had begun!

THE CASE OF THE BLOODY PULP, written and directed by Tommy Hancock is a Pulp Play that went on throughout the entire convention in the midst of the regular flow of the event.  Although pictures were taken, none have surfaced at this time and will be posted when they do.  In lieu of that, however, I will be posting the acts of the play in the order they were performed right here!  So without further ado…

CAST-
Newt the Newsboy-Alex Hancock
Merlin Montgomery-Tommy Hancock
Benita Isadore Magready (Bim)-Shannon O’Cain
Simon Sanders, The Rogue-Brian Coltharp
J.C. Givens-David Jones
Nikola Deveraux-Tanya McClure
August-Bo Elrod

THE CASE OF THE BLOODY PULP
SCENE ONE
BIM AND MERLIN MONTGOMERY
BLOODY PULP, ACT ONE

(Scene opens with Newt the Newsboy walking around room, holding up papers, shouting)

NEWT:  Extra! Extra! Read All About It.  Famous Rare Pulp Magazine on Display at Pulp Ark today!  Explorer Merlin Montgomery does it again!  Bloody Pulp supposed to be cursed, here at Pulp Ark!  Extra! Extra!
(Scene shifts to focus on Merlin Montgomery, famed explorer and Benita Isadore Magredy, Bim to almost everyone standing near b getting ready for the display.)
MONTGOMERY-There, everyone should be able to get a good look at it as they walk by, but not touch or snatch it.   We’ve given the bloody pulp a nice bit of attention.
BIM-Too much attention if you were to ask me.  More than that bit of ink and paper deserves.
MERLIN (laughs) I understand, Bim, but this yellowing print and fading words is a piece of history.  Not only is it the only existing piece of the work of JC Givens left, there’s all the stories surrounding ir.
BIM-That’s for sure and certain what I mean! I’ve tagged along with you long enough to know that anything that is hexed, vexed, damned, or cursed should be destroyed, shredded, shot, and buried!  Like that little ugly statue we found in Georgia, you know, Merlin, in that abandoned sani-
MERLIN-BIM!  That’ll be enough.  I’m sure this won’t turn out to be that kind of fiasco. 
BIM AND MERLIN MONTGOMERY
BLOODY PULP ACTONE

MERLIN-You don’t know how this will be!  I mean you might know more than most since you are an expert in most forgotten languages, but that would mean you’d have to be able read it. Can  you?

MERLIN-Yes and I see where you’re going.  The stanza at the beginning of Given’s story.  The one that has the header-IF YOU CAN READ THESE FOUR LINES, THEN SHE WHOM ALL FEAR WILL ALLOW YOU THE REST OF THE STORY’.   And to answer your question, no, I can’t read them.
BIM-Well, who could for Queen’s sake?  Just a lot of gobbledy gook thrown together.
MERLIN-It has similarities to ancient Sumerian and a hint of Lemurian, but I can’t even begin to untangle what it says.  No one else can either.  I’ve had experts look at it after the experts you had look at it.  And, if legends to be believed, the secrets within the story hinge on reciting that stanza.  If you can’t, its just an averagely written story about a writer turned detective who gets into a scrape over an ancient manuscript.  
BIM-Except it isn’t!  You know the kind of busybodies and baddies that have been after this scrap of story, Merlin!
MERLIN Quiet, Bim!  It’s time to announce the display. 
(Merlin at this point calls attention, gets up in front of crowd and begins to give a speech concerning THE BLOODY PULP and explains the rumors behind its writing as well as the fact that its author JC Givens vanished the day it was submitted to be published and how the publishing house printed one copy and burnt to the ground.  Merlin’s speech will end…. With..)
MERLIN-And although we do have the single copy of the magazine containing ‘THE BLOODY PULP’ here on display for a limited time, author JC Givens disappeared 61 years ago and has not been since since-”
BIM, MERLIN MONTGOMERY, THE ROGUE
BLOODY PULP ACT ONE

ROGUE- UNTIL TODAY!

(Attention turns to Simon Sanders, also known as The Rogue, standing at the far side of the room from Montgomery, and Bim.  He is suave, debonair, not greasy and slimy, very much James Bond like, but of highly questionable morals)
BIM- Well, if it isn’t Lucifer’s stepson?  Let me at-”
MERLIN-Easy, Bim…not yet.   He’s not shown his cards in this hand yet and you know how The Rogue likes to hop fence.
BIM-Hop fence?  After what he did to you in Jamaica over this bloody book?
MERLIN-(As the Rogue steps up) Hello, Simon.
ROGUE-Ah, Merlin.  It’s so good to see that you escaped those fanatical snake worshippers and their pet in Jamaica.
BIM-And the zombies!  Don’t leave out the zombies! I oughtta-
ROGUE-Ah, yes, Miss Magredy.  I’d say it was good that you escaped as well, but I actually rather hoped that giant snake was picking its fangs with your bones.
(At that point, Bim breaks loose from Merlin and charges the Rogue…from out of nowhere, he pulls a gun that stops Bim in her tracks.  Merlin pulls the gun from her holster, both of them now pointing pieces, with Bim in the middle)
ROGUE-Ah, now my dear Benita, we both know that I won’t let you get close enough to me to do you any good.
BIM-Of course you won’t, not after the beatin’ I gave you in Timbuktu!
MERLIN-We also know, Simon, that I’m a better shot than you are.  Faster, too.
ROGUE-True, but your friend and confidant stand between us, Merlin.  We can’t shoot for risk of shooting her.
MERLIN-Speak for yourself.  Everyone’s got spots they can be shot that won’t kill them.  Thin, fleshy spots that won’t even barely slow down a bullet.
BIM-NOW JUST WAIT A BLOODY MINUTE!!
ROGUE-(laughing)  Do not worry your monkey like head, Bim.  As much as the world would thank me for ridding the world of a nuisance, I didn’t come all the way from Jamaica to Arkansas with a side trip to Turkey to shoot you. 
(While all this is going on,   Merlin is studying the older man behind The Rogue.  He walks up to him, looks him over and over, then steps back and at this point says
MERLIN-Well I’ll be Dented and Gibsoned!   It…it can’t be… Rogue, what is all this?
ROGUE-Oh, my friend here?  Why, he’s the reason I’m here.  As a matter of fact, Merlin, he’s the reason you and all these nice people are here.  Found him living in a cave system in Turkey with a bunch of monks.  (He turns, like a circus ringmaster and shouts) Ladies and gentlemen and those who think you are, allow me to introduce myself.  I am Simon Sanders, adventurer-
BIM-scoundrel
ROGUE-Explorer
BIM-Phony
ROGUE-And hero
BIM-For hire
ROGUE-I’m also known in many circles as THE ROGUE, an unfortunate epithet I assure you.  I am here today to bring you one of the greatest mysteries of the modern day, right here to your doorstep.  Yes, true believers and skeptics one and all, please welcome to speak about that rotting piece of periodical there that he himself wrote….looking just as spry as he did the day he vanished…JC GIVENS!!
J.C. GIVENS
BLOODY PULP, ACT ONE

JC GIVENS Uh…um…hello.   I…I have not left a cave in Turkey since I was spirited there by an order of ordained men dedicated to the safety of our world known only as THE MONKS in 1940.   I would not be here now, except that..The-  Mr. Sanders in his own way (The Rogue holds up the gun and smiles) spirited me away from there. 

 I know there are many questions and much confusion.  First, let me say I am…sorry.   I was a fool in years past, a man riding the wave of his own hubris and talent, believing that he could do anything he wished and daring anyone to tell him differently.   I dabbled and played with beings and powers that no one had any business even thinking of.  And I did more than think of them.

J.C. GIVENS, BIM, THE ROGUE
BLOODY PULP, ACT ONE

Everything this gentleman (pointing at Merlin) said about the story in this magazine is true.  It is more than just a made up tale.  It holds a great secret.  It is not simply fiction. It is a prison.  A genie’s bottle, if you would, holding something much more ominous, more evil than any imagined genie.  When I first wrote it, I hoped to capture this…thing…and use it for my own ends, to basically have anything I wanted.   But in the years I have been with The Monks, I have learned and been shown things that would melt most men’s eyes and I can tell you that the four line stanza, which holds the key to open the story up…can never be read by anyone who knows that language.  That stanza also holds the key to destroy the…evil that would be unleashed, but not even I can make sense of the antidote to this poison.   I began writing that story to be a God…I wrote the last word of it knowing that I would be a prison guard…hopefully keeping what lives within my words and thoughts trapped there forever.

That is why (he pulls out a lighter and lights it) that I must do this.  I must destroy the bloody pulp.
NIKOLA-One does not think so, my aging flower.
(GIVENS drops the lighter, falls forward, either after a shot or a knife in the back…and from behind him Nikola Deverueaux and her right hand man, August, step up.
BIM-Bloody Queen of crazy herself!
MERLIN-NIKOLA!
NIKOLA DEVERAUX, THE ROGUE, BIM, A DEAD J.C. GIVENS
BLOODY PULP, ACT ONE

ROGUE-Now, that wasn’t part of the plan, was it, dear?   You paid me more money than Midas to bring him to this backwater town to kill him?

MERLIN-Simon…you’re..working for Nikola Devereaux…I knew your morals were barely visible..but..she’s…pure evil.
ROGUE-And unbelievably filthy rich to boot.  Sorry, Merlin, but even I have to work where I can get it, economic downturn and all that.
NIKOLA-Yes, Merlin (she approaches Merlin) he is like all men…weak, drawn to money and desires, no different than any of their kind.  But you, in all the times we have met, you…still intrigue me like no other.
MERLIN-That’s funny, Nikola….because you disgust me..Even more than your insane father and twisted mother did.
NIKOLA-(SLAPS HIM HARD, then laughs) Ahhh, words of hate and spite are songs of life and love to my blackened soul.  Please, Merlin, say such things again.  Don’t tease a girl.
ROGUE-Nikola, you’ve put us in a spot here.  Backwoods or not, this burg has local authorities that will be here soon.  Bodies tend to draw them out, even the body of a man missing for sixty years.  But why kill him?  You needed him to read that stanza!
AUGUST, NIKOLA, MERLIN MONTGOMERY
BLOODY PULP, ACT ONE

NIKOLA-No, I do not.  Not if what August has told me is true.  August, come.

AUGUST-Yes, Madam?
NIKOLA-Tell me again what you have just learned. Speak, August, Speak.
AUGUST-Yes, Madam.   A piece of parchment has been discovered that can be used to decipher the stanza.  And because you control all you wish to, Madam, you have arranged for that parchment to arrive here tomorrow.
AUGUST-Good, August, good.   Now all we must do is be sure we have the pulp magazine in our hands. And wait.
BIM-Merlin, tell me you’ve got a plan.
MERLIN-You remember why I never lose at cards, Bim?
BIM-Because you’ve read the deck and the players before you sit down to the table.


AUGUST, NIKOLA, THE ROGUE, MERLIN  MONTGOMERY, BIM
BLOODY PULP, ACT ONE

 MERLIN-Right…and taken steps to insure I win before the first chip is thrown.  Just like today!  NEWT, go, kid. NOW!

(From a crouched position where he’s been the whole time near the magazine, Newt the Newsboy jumps up and snatched it just as NIKOLA is reaching for it.  He grabs it and runs from the building.)
NIKOLA-August! Go! FETCH THE BLOODY PULP! GO!
MERLIN-What about you, Simon?  Her purse strings are still tied around your neck.
ROGUE-I’ve got the money, she’ll have a deuce of a time getting it back.  Besides…I liked the old man.  Death doesn’t bother me, but I liked him.
NIKOLA-No matter.  August is well trained.  He will find that little urchin.
MERLIN-Don’t bet on it, Nikola.  Newt will blend in with any kid in a school yard, any dirty faced boy on a playground.  He’ll vanish. 
NIKOLA-No, passionate Merlin.  He will die.  And unfortunately, so will you if you do not stay out of my way!  (she leaves the building)
BIM-Well, let’s get after the lot of ‘em then! (And out she goes)
MERLIN-What about you, Simon?  Switching sides?
ROGUE-Not just yet.  Let’s say I’ll be Switzerland for a bit.  Find something to read here, maybe. 
END ACT ONE