It's (Still) Alive!

This is so danged cool I had to share it.

Artist Nik Poliwko whipped up a 1950s-style imaginary cover for our upcoming The Monster of Frankenstein graphic novel, inspired by the great Dick Briefer's legendary pre-code horror series.

Writing comics doesn't get more fun than this!

Coming in 2012 from Sequential Pulp/Dark Horse Comics.

Artwork © Nik Poliwko

The Monster of Frankenstein Returns

In celebration of of Mary Shelley's birthday, we've waited until to today to officially announce Sequential Pulp/Dark Horse Comics newest graphic novel.

The Monster of Frankenstein returns in 2012!

Artwork © Nik Poliwko

(Click on the picture for a bigger image.)

Happy Birthday Mary Shelley

Of all the classic authors, she's the one I'd most like to have known.

At the age of six I was hooked by the Frankenstein films starring Boris Karloff, and when I first read her novel, while in my early teens, I was changed forever.



































So, thank you, Mary. If it wasn't for you, I'd be doing something very different, and a lot less interesting, with my life.

Double, Double Toil and Trouble

I just learned that my graphic novel of Shakespeare's Macbeth is available! Haven't received my copies yet, but I absolutely loved working on this. It's illustrated by F. Daniel and published by Stone Arch Books.

This was one of the most challenging books I've ever written, and I nervously hope I did the Bard justice.

Martians Invade Earth

Suddenly, without warning, one billion Little Green Men are everywhere.

They're on your street, in your house, and all of them know your deepest and darkest secrets. Untouchable as ghosts and obnoxious as hell, their sinister agenda remains a mystery. Perhaps, their plan is simply to drive the entire human race insane, for that is exactly what they’re doing. All is lost.

Or, is it?

Only our unlikely hero Luke Devereaux, a burnt-out science fiction writer with nothing left to lose, knows how to defeat the Martians…but he has already lost his mind!

Artwork © Lowell Isaac

MTV Geek Interview

MTV Geek has interviewed Sequential Pulp Comics President Michael Hudson and Dark Horse Editor Patrick Thorpe. They even talked to me, too, and I'm not even one of the cool people.

Check it out! http://geek-news.mtv.com/2011/08/25/the-future-of-pulp-the-sequential-pulp-interview/

The Game's Afoot!

A dream project, with a dream artist.

Coming soon.

Artwork © Jamie Chase.

A Mind of Their Own

So strange. It's happened again.

My little group of weirdos is telling me what they want to do on the page, instead of the other way around. Just as I was confidently finishing up one of the last chapters, they detoured me again in another direction, utterly surprising we with something better and more exciting. It's sort of spooky and very fun...but that's what they're all about!

I've known them most of my life, but so far they've lived only inside my head. It's as if they are well aware of finally being born and are very much taking over the story. I feel like an observer, watching and reporting from the sidelines as The Halloween Legion work their magic before my own astonished eyes. It really is deliriously disconcerting, but also delightful.

This is a very rare thing for me, but now I have no idea how this adventure is going to end!

The Halloween Legion © Martin Powell. Artwork © Thomas Boatwright.

They're Mean, Green, and More than They Seem

Sequential Pulp Comics/Dark Horse is very pleased to announce the new artist for Martians. Go Home. Allow me to introduce Lowell Isaac, using his own words:

"I'm a lifelong writer/illustrator, I studied film at the Art Institute of Chicago and printmaking at the John Herron School of Art and Design, and I'm currently employed by Author House Publishing. I'm a collector of oddities, a science buff, and a family man."

Take a bow, Lowell!


















Martians, Go Home is written by me, based on the classic sci-fi dark comedy by Fredric Brown, and will be published by Sequential Pulp Comics/Dark Horse in 2012.

You'll never think of Alien Invasion the same way ever again.



















(Click on the pictures for larger images.)

Artwork © Lowell Isaac

R.I.P. Jimmy Sangster

A very sad farewell to screenwriter and director Jimmy Sangster, who passed away yesterday at the age of 83. Mr. Sangster is best known for his very successful scripts for Hammer Studios.

He was an amazing writer, and his movies inspired me tremendously. Among many other creepy classics, he also wrote The Horror of Dracula (1958), starring Peter Cushing and Sir Christopher Lee, directed by Terrence Fisher. I consider that production to be the greatest Dracula film ever made, and seeing it for the first time at the age of eleven was a life changing experience for me.

I wouldn't be the writer I am today without the influence of this remarkable man, who could take classic material and transform it into something fresh, new, and exciting. There would certainly be no Scarlet in Gaslight without the inspiration of Jimmy Sangster.

Rest in peace, sir.

The Master of Men Remains at Moonstone

Regarding the recent Dynamite Spider announcement, I thought some things needed clarification.

Yesterday, I had a very busy day and evening attempting to figure this out, and finally I have some facts. Apparently, Moonstone still retains the license of The Spider, just not exclusive rights. This is something happening more and more among licensors. For example, Moonstone and Dynamite share the Green Hornet license, too. Also, I'm under the impression that the Dynamite Spider is a limited mini-series.

I do have more Spider adventures coming from Moonstone, including the highly anticipated Halloween Special, "The Werewolf War Massacres", with artist Jay Piscopo, due out in October. Plus, Moonstone and I are currently in the process of determining the best format for my future Spider tales. Expect more news soon.



































I'm not holstering the automatics of the Master of Men yet.

(Click on the pictures for larger images.)

Artwork © Dan Brereton and Jay Piscopo

Getting Ready for Their Creepy Close-ups!

Here are three of my little group of five weirdos by awesome artist Thomas Boatwright, all ready for their graphic novel debut next year!

And don't forget the World's Weirdest Heroes' first prose novella is coming soon from Wild Cat Books, stylishly illustrated by Danny Kelly! My band of creepy do-gooders are determined to be born before October 31st...even if it kills me...!

(Click on the pictures for bigger images.)

The Halloween Legion © Martin Powell

My New Studio Takes Shape

My new studio is about half finished, so I thought you'd might like to see some pics. Here we go, starting with the bookshelf directly behind my desk.















Full marks to anyone who comprehends the significance of the vintage radio and the Martian invader.

My ReelArt statues of The Spider and Tarzan (Thank you, Michael!).















The Guardian of Ruby, my laptop.















Some of my Edgar Rice Burroughs and Doc Savage collection.















"It's elementary."















Probably my single most prized possession. This life-sized mountain gorilla bust was the first piece of art I ever purchased, just as I was out of high school. It's traveled with me everywhere I've ever lived, all over the country ever since, and now is finally home. He likes it here. Can't you tell from his expression?















Here are some of my model kits, waiting to be painted. Most of them will have a long wait, but I'll get around to it eventually.











































The Superboy kit is a long-time favorite.















My favorite toy dinosaurs are the British Museum Collection. They're are made to scale and exquisitely sculpted. A bit out-dated, perhaps, but utterly charming to me. I've had them for three decades. I love these guys.















Another very cherished possession: my Archaeopteryx fossil cast.




















The Creature from the Black Lagoon model kit, built and painted by me.















A section of my Frankenstein collection. That paperback Frankenstein book lurking in the background was my first ever copy, generously given to me by my cousin Charlotte when I was about nine years old.





























That big guy in the center is the rarest piece in my Frankenstein collection. It's an original Aurora Gigantic Frankenstein kit (also affectionately known among collectors as "Big Frankie"). He needs some repair, but he's been with me ever since Christmas when I was six.





























Some of my Popeye collection.















Another old friend of thirty years. Helped see me through a lot. Mighty glad she's still here close by.




















Boris the cat meets the Man of Bronze.















Mary Jane guarding the shelf containing some of my published books.















Got lots more pics to post later. Thanks for indulging me!

(Click on the photos for larger images.)

The Classic Sherlock Holmes Mystery Returns

Sequential Pulp Comics and Dark Horse presents The Hound of the Baskervilles, a new graphic novel of the classic Sherlock Holmes mystery, illustrated by Jamie Chase and written by me.

Currently in production!


(Click on the pictures for a larger image.)

Artwork © Jamie Chase

I Want My MTV

Wow...I'm being interviewed by MTV Geek today, for Sequential Pulp Comics, an imprint of Dark Horse.

A bit nervous here. What if they discover that I'm actually not one of the cool people?

El sabueso de los Baskerville

A fan sent me this. Very fun and gratifying to see a Spanish Edition of my HOUND THE BASKERVILLES graphic novel, for younger readers.

Hola de nuevo, os quiero comunicar que he encontrado una novela gráfica de la editorial uruguaya LatinBooks sobre EL SABUESO DE LOS BASKERVILLE.

SOBRE EL ADAPTADOR:

Desde 1986, Martin Powell ha sido un escritor freelance. Ha escrito cientos de historias, muchas de las cuales fueron publicadas por Disney, Marvel, Tekno Comix, Moonstone Books y otros. En el año 1989, Powll recibió una nominación para el premio Eisner por su novela grafica Scarlet in Gaslight (adaptación de Un estudio en escarlata). Este premio es uno de los más importantes dentro del género cómic.

SOBRE EL ILUSTRADOR:

Daniel Pérez nació en Monterrey, México, en 1977. Durante más de una década trabajó para WZJL y como colorista e ilustrador para editoriales de cómics como Marvel, Image y Dark Horse. Actualmente trabaja para Protobunker Studio mientras también desarrolla su primera novela gráfica.

http://www.circuloholmes.org.es/cholmes/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1185&Itemid=2

Big News from Sequential Pulp Comics and Dark Horse

DARK HORSE ANNOUNCES SEQUENTIAL PULP IMPRINT!

Sequential Pulp Comics Launch in September

Sequential Pulp Comics, a highly anticipated new graphic-novel line distributed by Dark Horse, will launch in September!

This new line will bring to life works of classic literature, 1950s paperbacks, and other stories. The series comes out of the gates with Victor Hugo’s classic literary work The Hunchback of Notre Dame, a forty-four-page graphic novella that marks Tim Conrad’s first new work in twenty years!

“Michael and I share a love for great stories, no matter where they come from. I grew up with these great works of science fiction, adventure, the supernatural, and crime noir,” said Dark Horse president Mike Richardson. “I can’t wait to see how Michael and his talented teams of artists and writers will breathe new life into them in this exciting new series of graphic novels.”

“We intend to simplify matters by foregoing single-issue comics, at least at first, and going straight to the graphic novel. In doing this we reach all markets including digital at the same time, and I believe the modern comics audience is hungry for complete stories,” said Sequential Pulp president Michael Hudson. “Our goal is to tell great stories and accentuate them with excellent art.” He concluded by saying, “Mike Richardson is a personal mentor and his vision has been one of greatness for Dark Horse for twenty-five years. I like surrounding myself with successful people, and with his help I know this can be a success.”

With titles scheduled into 2013, this new line is sure to please modern comics fans, as well as others who remember these classic works of fiction. Other upcoming titles include Dick Briefer and Mary Shelley’s The Monster of Frankenstein, Harry Whittington’s noir masterpiece A Night for Screaming, and many others.

Here is a list of the graphic novels already scheduled with Sequential Pulp Comics, an imprint of Dark Horse, and others being planned. More news still to come!

THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME A/W Tim Conrad 44 pages. Estimated turn over date 09/11

MARTIANS, GO HOME W-Martin Powell A-Kevin Atkinson Licensed Fredric Brown 132 pages. Estimated turn over date 03/12 Martians have invaded the Earth!

CASPAK, THE LAND THAT TIME FORGOT W-Martin Powell A-Will Meugniot 76 pages. Authorized Edgar Rice Burroughs Estimated turn over date 04/12

SWORDS OF VENUS W- Bruce Jones A-Sergio Cariello Licensed Otis Adelbert Kline 176 pages. Estimated completion date 01/13

NUMBER 13 (THE MONSTER MEN) W-Martin Powell A-Tom Floyd (2010 Golden Lion Award Winner) 44 pages. Authorized Edgar Rice Burroughs Estimated turn over date 03/13 •••100th YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE NOVEL•••

THE CAVE GIRL W-Martin Powell A-Tom Grindberg 76 pages. Authorized Edgar Rice Burroughs Estimated turn over date 05/13 •••100th YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE NOVEL•••

THE HALLOWEEN LEGION W-Martin Powell A-Thomas Boatwright

The Halloween Legion © Martin Powell.

A NIGHT FOR SCREAMING W-David Wilson A-Greg Espinoza Licensed Harry Whittington

THE METAL MONSTER A/W Tim Conrad PD with Estate Approval 120 pages.

SKYLARK OF SPACE W-Paul Kupperberg A-Rick Hoberg E. E. “Doc” Smith space opera

CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF OF PARIS W-Martin Powell A-Steven Gordon