BLACK ANGEL Descending

Thought a bit of a preview for my first Black Angel story was in order, which will be featured in Moonstone's upcoming brand-new AIR FIGHTERS comic book anthology series.


















I'm posting these few pages without my dialog and captions, so as not to clutter the eye-striking art of Ver Curtiss. (Just click on the image for a larger view.)



































I hope it's obvious that I have a great affection for this character, and--Moonstone readers willing--I have many more plans for WW2's Winged Avenger. I could write for Black Angel for years and years to come.

I'll certainly keep you posted.

Stay tuned!

THE PHANTOM Sneak Peek

A couple fabulous pages, and a cool double-page spread splash page, of my upcoming THE PHANTOM Unmasked mini-series. Art by the incredible Hannibal King, coming soon from Moonstone.

Bela Lugosi Movie Marathon

In preparation for beginning my story for BELA LUGOSI's TALES FROM THE GRAVE, the upcoming horror anthology comic book, I've decided to revisit several of my favorite Lugosi films for inspiration.

Thought some of you might want to know what I've chosen to rerun. The quality of these movies varies, but Bela is consistently charismatic in all of them.

Each are highly recommended for that reason.

BELA LUGOSI Lives!

I just learned that Kerry Gammill has approved my story synopsis for the upcoming BELA LUGOSI's TALES FROM THE GRAVE horror anthology!

Can't give any details now, but I'm certain that all of my friends realize that this is a dream come true for me. I'm absolutely thrilled.

My story will be illustrated by long-time friend, and Eisner Award winner, Terry Beatty. It will be creepily colored by the multi-talented Tom Smith.

Next up--writing the script!

Happy Birthday, Mary Shelley

Of all the classic authors, those no longer with us, I think Mary Shelley is the one I'd most like to have known.















She certainly is the most influential to me, particularly through her novel Frankenstein, Or the Modern Prometheus, first published in 1818 which--very fortunately--has never been out of print. This cautionary myth of an unearthly, unwanted child was one of the earliest popular works of science fiction and remains the greatest example of its kind ever written. Remarkably, Mary composed the monstrous epic while still in her teens.

I was hooked by the cinematic versions of her tale from a very early age, then the Classics Illustrated comic book grabbed me, and finally the actual incredible novel itself, which I first breathlessly read when I was eleven years old, and have revisited many times since.



















































I was never the same again.

Mary's tragic, horrific adventure even inspired me to write my own graphic novel adaptation early in my professional writing career, atmospherically illustrated by Patrick Olliffe. It was a dream come true and remains one of my all-time very favorite projects.


















I've no doubt in my mind that without Mary Shelley, I'd be doing something very different, and a lot less interesting, right now.






















































So, thank you, Mary, from the bottom of my heart.

And, Happy Birthday.

Long Live "The King"

Today would have been Jack Kirby's 92nd birthday.

Although the undisputed King of Comic Books left this dimension in 1994, Jack is probably more popular today than ever before. It's always heartening to me to hear young artists at conventions name him as the chief inspiration for following their dreams, and to see that distinctive excitement in their eyes when they talk about Kirby and his work.

Kirby was a special muse to me, too. His creative influence sparked a very precious part of my childhood that has never left me. Now, all grown up (more or less), I find myself enthralled by his accomplishments even more.

Jack Kirby will live forever.

A Tall Tale Reborn

We recently enjoyed a brief summer getaway to Paul Bunyan Land, in Brainerd, MN. I'd never been there before and, although we inadvertently chose a rather grey stormy day, Lisa and I had a lot of goofy fun. (She still wouldn't go into the Haunted House with me...but I can't say I blame her. It looked precariously spooky.)

However, it was the gigantic Paul Bunyan statue that creeped me out. I already knew that he could speak directly to the park's visitors, sometimes even calling them by name, but I didn't know that the statue could move! When his big-as-melon eyeballs rolled toward us, branch-like lower lip opened, and enormous car-sized hand gave us a ponderously good-humored wave, we suddenly knew what Fay Wray must have felt like.

(Click on the pics for a much bigger image.)


















The main purpose for the trek was to get my picture taken, at the request of editor Donald Lemke, for my new The Tall Tale of Paul Bunyan children's book due out from Stone Arch Books for the holidays. Apparently, they are planning something weird and fun with the "About the Author and Artist" page, and I certainly wanted to contribute.




























Of course, the fact that there were dinosaurs also prowling around close by made this a perfect day, thunderstorms and all.

I always relate that there's a perennial nine-year-old residing inside me, and it was liberating to publicly let him loose for awhile.

No one there seemed to mind.