Bela Lugosi Returns this Halloween

BELA LUGOSI's TALES FROM THE GRAVE is lurking your way, coming soon from the fine folks at Monsterverse.

Please order the collectible first issue NOW by contacting your local or online comic book shop and giving them the Diamond Item # Code: AUG101080 along with the title.

Long time friend Terry Beatty and I have a prominent story in this massive 48 page debut issue. Our creepy contribution is different from the other eerie episodes, which feature Lugosi as the traditional sinister and sardonic horror host. Terry and I present Bela as the star of our tale, as if were a long lost film made in the 1940s, with vintage two-strip color, which was banned for being "too shocking" for its time.

It was a real kick for me getting to work with Terry and Bela. Composing villainous dialogue for Bela Lugosi is among the most fun I've ever had as a writer.

If you also love Bela Lugosi, and the great horror comic books in the tradition of EC and Warren, this anthology is for you!

The Most Influential Book I've Ever Read

Is there a particular book, which you discovered as a kid, that completely changed the course of your future? There have been several for me, but for the moment I'm focusing just on works of fiction.

The very first time I read Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, it was a life-defining moment, changing me forever. I was already a fan of the movies with Boris Karloff, but at that early age, and in spite of the fact that Forrest J Ackerman's Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine had repeatedly mentioned their origin, I didn't yet fully comprehend that the films were based on a classic English novel. I must have been about nine years old when I excitedly saw the paperback book (pictured above) on my cousin's dresser and I probably literally gasped with astonishment.

My cousin kindly gave me that book, which I stared at during the entire long drive home, mesmerized by its enigmatic Karloffian cover. Obviously, before even opening the novel, I was hooked. I would read it many times during the years to come, each time finding rich new layers that I had never dreamed of before. The horrific epic tragedy always seemed fresh and new every single time I fell under its phantasmagoric spell.

Ultimately, I was passionately inspired to write my own graphic novel interpretation of Frankenstein many years later, hauntingly illustrated by Patrick Olliffe. Happily, our book hasn't been out of print since its original publication, and was recently published again in a Spanish language edition.




































My and Patrick's Frankenstein remains my favorite book I've ever written.

I mentioned all this to my cousin recently and she didn't remember giving me that paperback, little suspecting what she started.

At any rate, I want to take a moment and say:

"Thank you, Charlotte. So very much."

And, yes, I still have that same paperback book.


















http://www.amazon.com/Frankenstein-New-Martin-Powell/dp/0971293791/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279924402&sr=1-2

http://www.amazon.com/Frankenstein-Spanish-Martin-Powell/dp/1594972958/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279924402&sr=1-4

(Click on the pictures for a larger image.)

THE SEVEN VOYAGES OF SINBAD Now On Sale!

Very exciting news! My brand new graphic novel, The Seven Voyages of Sinbad, is now on sale!

I've been eagerly anticipating this ever since I completed the script last summer, and now that I see the finished book--it's absolutely gorgeous. I loved writing this story, featuring spectacular full-color painted art by Daniel Perez. This is one of my personal favorites.

It's available in hardcover library binding and paperback. Published by Stone Arch Books.

http://www.amazon.com/Voyages-Sinbad-Sailor-Graphic-Revolve/dp/1434219879

Forty-One Years Ago Today

Today is the 41st Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing, when humans walked on another astronomical world for the very first time in history.

For me, this represents the most significant achievement of our often-troubled species; an extraordinarily courageous journey toward a peaceful, scientific exploration of our universe. I've always felt that this is our ultimate destiny.





























If we can put aside our petty differences, and manage to avoid destroying ourselves, the planet Mars, the giant moon Titan, and more than a billion other solar systems are continuing to beckon to us.


















I hope we are wise enough to answer that call.

http://martinpowell221bcom.blogspot.com/2009/07/one-giant-leap.html

THE SPIDER & KI-GOR Interview at Broken Frontier

Jason Wilkins of Broken Frontier did a recent interview with me about THE SPIDER and KI-GOR THE JUNGLE LORD, which are a part of Moonstone's upcoming pulp hero revival. Interviews are usually a bit tense for me, but Jason made this one fun.

Here's the link:

http://www.brokenfrontier.com/lowdown/p/detail/the-return-of-the-originals-caught-in-the-spiders-web-with-martin-powell

KI-GOR THE JUNGLE LORD VS. THE CHIEF OF THE BEAST-MEN

Here is another awesome pencil drawing from artist Tom Floyd for our upcoming illustrated prose story " War of the Beast-Men", starring Ki-Gor the Jungle Lord.

Tom and I are so excited about this new series--and it obviously shows in his artwork. We are writing and drawing a new Ki-Gor comic book series, too.

Lots more to come!

(Click on the picture for a larger image.)

Pulp Cover of the Week

Spicy Adventure Stories by H. L. Parkhearst

(Dylan also appears to have been a fan.)