Saturday, June 30, 2007
Friday, June 29, 2007
Pulpcon, Anyone?
It looks like I'll be going to my first Pulpcon, next Friday in Dayton. There are a couple of personal situations that might mess with the plans, but as of now it looks solid. Anyone else going?
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Classic Cover of the Day
"And coming up next on Fox News Mars, Paris Hilton turns 250. Will she wear panties to her party?"
Pulp O' The Day
Damn mankind and our atomic weapons! Will we never learn? Will we never--AAAAAARRGGGGH!
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Mark's Pulp Reference Hall of Fame
Here it is. The book that revealed to me the world of pulp fandom.
I had already been reading Doc Savage for a few years when Robert Weinberg published this paperback in the mid-70s. For the first time, I learned about the guy who really wrote most of the Doc novels.
Also, The Man Behind Doc Savage was my first exposure to the original pulp covers, and let me tell you, I was hooked like a crack addict after his first rock. From that moment on, I grabbed every piece of pulp info I could find, not an easy task in those pre-internet days. This book directly inspired a Doc Savage fanzine which I produced for exactly one issue with a school friend (Hi, John).
In fact, that fanzine -- lost for many years -- recently turned up, thanks to pulp scholar Will Murray (also a contributor to TMBDS). I'll provide a few cringe-worthy excerpts soon right here.
The book also included several illustrations by the immensely talented Frank Hamilton.
In addition to the articles on Dent and Doc Savage, TMBDS reprinted two mystery stories by Dent. For the first time I got to read his non-Doc writing, and it was good stuff.
Thanks to all involved, including Murray, Hamilton, Weinberg, Robert Sampson and Philip Jose Farmer for setting me on this lifelong path of pulpishness. I still have my battered copy, inscribed (as I annoyingly did on the first page of every book I owned back then) with my childish scrawl and the date I received the book in the mail: 7-19-75.
Come to think of it, that was a great summer.
Pulp O' The Day
I love this cover. Everything is there: bad guys, good guys and a weird death-trap. Anyone have a copy of this they want to sell me? Or make a copy?
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Hey Pulp Fans
Here's a shameless plug for the first volume of the new adventures of the classic pulp hero Secret Agent X, edited by the talented Ron Fortier and published by Wildcat Books.
If you're looking for slam-bang two-fisted action in the style of the blood and thunder pulps, then here's your fix.
Four brand new Secret Agent X yarns, including my contribution "Cult of the Walking Dead."
You can order it here.
The Man of a Thousand Faces thanks you.
And if you'd like to know more about X, click here.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Sunday, June 24, 2007
The Worst of the Week
I’ve given up on Moon Knight.
I love the character (even though it’s a ripoff of Batman, who, we now know, was a ripoff of The Shadow).
I loved the Doug Moench era. I even loved the Chuck Dixon run on the character. But Charlie Hutson has worn me down.
Hutson may be a great writer. I don’t know. I’ve never read any of his novels. As a comic writer he is a mind-numbing mix of Ambien and the worst history teacher you ever had. You know the one, the guy who taught the same lesson for 40 years and would spew out his lecture in a lethargic monotone while thinking of how much he was going to enjoy his first scotch of the day.
I know how old this makes me sound, but I’m real damn tired of “decompressed” storytelling. You know what that is, right? It’s where you take six friggin’ issues to tell a story that Stan Lee and Jack Kirby needed 20 pages for back in 1967.
Hutson’s Moon Knight moves like a snail on ‘ludes (and I’m not even referring to a shipping schedule so far behind that it hasn’t even caught up with the big Civil War crossover that ended months ago).
I’ve read my last Moon Knight, at least until a new writer comes on board.
So, what are you reading?
The Shadow-Batman Connection
Nice article over at ComicMix on the inspiration The Shadow provided to the creation of Batman.
I didn't realize how extensive Anthony Tollin's comic book career had been.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Solomon Kane at Marvel
To go along with the Kane fan film linked below, the cover to one of my favorite magazines from Marvel's swingin' 70s.
Here's another Kane cover, just for giggles:
Here's another Kane cover, just for giggles:
Pulp O' the Day
Holy Crap. I wish there were still magazines like this. I'd love to write a little space opera.
The Best of the Week
It’s a tie this week for two great books. And both made the list for different reasons.
Captain America #27 continues the saga of those closest to the dead hero as they deal with their feelings, their guilt and their need for revenge.
Writer Ed Brubaker has taken his best contribution to the title – the return of Cap’s WWII partner Bucky as a soviet-controlled, mind-wiped assassin – and created one of the most compelling characters in the Marvel roster.
In this chapter, Bucky sets out to retrieve the shield of Captain America. Along the way he battles a former ally and quite possibly sets out to kill the man he feels is responsible for Cap’s death.
Meanwhile, Agent 13 dons the spandex to do some old school crime fighting alongside The Falcon.
The story never falters or feels like it’s padded. The dialogue rings true. Brubaker keeps the action “ground-level”. As always the gritty art by Steve Epting and Mike Perkins is perfect for the book.
Whether Cap returns or not (my theory: someone else assumes the mantle for a while until the real Cap resurfaces), let’s hope Marvel keeps this creative team on the series.
Our second winner is The Brave and The Bold #4, and it makes the list because of the sheer exuberance the creators have for the material.
Mark Waid and George Perez give us a good old fashioned superhero comic devoid of darkness, angst or any connection to company-wide crossovers.
You’ve got a sassy Supergirl teamed up with alien bounty hunter Lobo to find the Book of Destiny. Meanwhile Batman has been turned into a half-man/half-robot while Blue Beetle tries to undo the transformation. And Green Lantern is thrown in there for good measure.
If you love superhero comics, then this issue will make your fanboy parts tingle. It’s more fun than an invitation to Paris Hilton’s Get-Out-of Jail party
Friday, June 22, 2007
Thursday, June 21, 2007
COUNTDOWN Ooops
In this week's Countdown #45, when Jimmy Olsen eats up 3 pages explaining to the reader who Jack Kirby's New Gods are, he proclaims, "It's home to the war-god Orion, the brainy Metron, the far-out Tomorrow People..."
Hey, Jimbo, that's The Forever People.
No wonder you're still a cub reporter after 60 years.
Hey, DC, can we get an editor over here?
If it's not a mistake, then maybe this Jimmy is from an alternate Earth where tomorrow means forever.
Or perhaps DC has changed the name of the group.
Either way, DC is taking another dump on the memory of Jack Kirby.
Hey, Jimbo, that's The Forever People.
No wonder you're still a cub reporter after 60 years.
Hey, DC, can we get an editor over here?
If it's not a mistake, then maybe this Jimmy is from an alternate Earth where tomorrow means forever.
Or perhaps DC has changed the name of the group.
Either way, DC is taking another dump on the memory of Jack Kirby.
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