Happy Birthday to Peter Cushing and "Dracula"

In a wonderful coincidence (?) the late, great Peter Cushing shares his 98th birthday with the anniversary of the novel Dracula by Bram Stoker, which was first published 114 years ago today.

For me, he and Sir Christopher Lee portrayed the definitive Van Helsing and Count Dracula, and together they starred in the best Dracula film ever made.

In another odd twist of fate, Mr. Lee's birthday is tomorrow!

Tracks from the Past

Scientists have found the first dinosaur tracks on the Arabian Peninsula. They belong to a large ornithopod dinosaur which was walking through Mesozoic mud long ago.

There's something especially magical about the footprints of dinosaurs for me, even more than their fossilized bones. The tracks really evoke the sense of a living, breathing, walking animal which might have strolled by only minutes before. Amazing.

Gives me chills.

To Be Announced Soon...

Preview sketches from a soon-to-be-announced new graphic novel project, illustrated by 2010 Gold Lion Award Winner Tom Floyd (past recipients being Frazetta, Jusko, Harlan Ellison, Johnny Weismuller, Russ Manning, Forrest J Ackerman, etc.,) and written by me.


















One of the maddest of mad scientists from the pulps.


















The courageous daughter of the crazed genius.

And our hero...


















...who is almost human.

Coming soon from Sequential Pulp Comics!

Artwork © Tom Floyd

Spring Con was fun!

Thanks to everyone for stopping by my table at Spring Con! You all made it a fun, successful weekend for me!

(And thanks for the lift home, Terry!)

Spring Con 2011

Well, I wasn't absolutely certain I'd be able to attend Spring Con 2011, but looks like I'll be there Saturday (tomorrow).

So, come visit my table at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds and say "hello". I'll have plenty of new comics, graphic novels, and children's books for sale, too.

Looking forward to seeing you!

R.I.P. Jeffrey Catherine Jones

Remembering one of the most brilliant artists of this generation, who passed away today at age 67 from a bout with emphysema.

Rest in Peace, Jeffrey Catherine Jones.

Happy Mother's Day

When I think of my mother, this is the image of her that comes to my mind (that's her on standing on the left, visiting my Aunt Ioda, who was a great favorite of Mom's).

In my memory, Mom is still young, healthy, happy, and beautiful.

Mom is about thirty, I think, in this photo (wish I could read the date on that calendar!), and she never left our house without lipstick, nail polish, and high heels. In fact, she considered it somewhat vulgar and "common" for a woman her age to appear in public without such embellishment.

Mind you, she was born and raised very poor, in the hills of Tennessee, during the Great Depression. According to my mom, having class and self-esteem had nothing to do with where you were from, or how much you had. It had to do with who you were, and who you wanted to be.

She had the most amazing cat-green eyes, which could be quite unnerving when she'd caught me at some mischief. Neither I, nor my two brothers, inherited those remarkable eyes, although I do share a small portion of Mom's uncanny photographic memory. Remarkably, she knew the birth-dates of every aunt, uncle, and cousin.

However, some things remain a puzzle. For example, Mom always called my cousin Kay by the name of "Kay Frances." The odd thing is, that "Frances" is not Kay's middle name. Thelma Jean Powell, woman of mystery.

Now that's become a part of her legend.

I miss you, Mom.

Happy Mother's Day.

Famous Monsters of Filmland # 71 Pre-Order!

The ORIGINAL monster magazine, with a publishing legacy spanning more than 50 years continues! Famous Monsters #71 is now available for Pre-order!

(Ships September 2011)

The Battle of the Century!

Bela vs. Lon Jr. for ultimate monster supremacy in FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLF MAN, with a magnificently monstrous cover painting by Joe Jusko!

Featured in this special issue is a vintage-style "filmbook" treatment by Award-Winning mystery/fantasy author Martin Powell, adapted from Curt Siodmak's original screenplay.

Take a trip back to 1970 for another of the "lost" issues: #71. Aside from all the greatest classic horror just the way it was when you were growing up, we'll also have your favorite features like Fang Mail, You Axed For It, Professor Gruebeard, The Graveyard Examiner, and more!

$8.99

http://www.captainco.com/magazines-prints-books/fm-71.html

Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man, the Uncut Edition

Okay, my fellow monster fans, the time has come. This is the secret project I've been teasing about for the past few months. I'm writing a vintage-style "filmbook" treatment (in other words, a pulpy prose version) of the classic Universal movie Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man for Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine!

The stunningly glorious cover was painted by the incomparable Joe Jusko.
































Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man was the second Frankenstein film I ever saw--and also was my first encounter with the Wolf Man--when I was six years old. This movie altered my DNA and I've never been the same since.
Of course, getting to write the filmbook for FM is extraordinarily thrilling. I was sick a lot as a little kid and Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine served as a sort of security blanket for me every dreaded time I went to the doctor's office. FM never, ever failed to make me feel better.

Many thanks to Phil, Jessie, and Joe. Couldn't have done this without you.

I can hardly describe the sense of joy I have for being involved in my favorite childhood magazine, as well as taking a small part in the Universal Monsters saga, my favorite fictional universe.

This project is a dream come true for both Joe and myself. Hope you'll join us.














On Sale in September!

(Click on the picture for a much larger image.)