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.

If A Clown...

This poem gave me the shudders...


If a Clown

by Stephen Dunn

If a clown came out of the woods,

a standard-looking clown with oversized

polka-dot clothes, floppy shoes,

a red, bulbous nose, and you saw him

on the edge of your property,

there’d be nothing funny about that,

would there? A bear might be preferable,

especially if black and berry-driven.














And if this clown began waving his hands

with those big white gloves

that clowns wear, and you realized

he wanted your attention, had something

apparently urgent to tell you,

would you pivot and run from him,

or stay put, as my friend did, who seemed

to understand here was a clown

who didn’t know where he was,

a clown without a context?













What could be sadder, my friend thought,

than a clown in need of a context?

If then the clown said to you

that he was on his way to a kid’s

birthday party, his car had broken down,

and he needed a ride, would you give

him one? Or would the connection

between the comic and the appalling,

as it pertained to clowns, be suddenly so clear

that you’d be paralyzed by it?
















And if you were the clown, and my friend

hesitated, as he did, would you make

a sad face, and with an enormous finger

wipe away an imaginary tear? How far

would you trust your art? I can tell you

it worked. Most of the guests had gone

when my friend and the clown drove up,

and the family was angry. But the clown

twisted a balloon into the shape of a bird

and gave it to the kid, who smiled,

let it rise to the ceiling. If you were the kid,

the birthday boy, what from then on

would be your relationship with disappointment?

With joy? Whom would you blame or extol?

Bela Lugosi’s TALES FROM THE GRAVE (Press Release)

ASTOUNDING ARRAY OF MAJOR TALENT LINING UP FOR BELA LUGOSI’S TALES FROM THE GRAVE!

Celebrated writers, comic book professionals and Hollywood horror veterans offer their imagination for the highly anticipated terror anthology series














Hurst, TX – August 1, 2009 -- Comic book and horror fans are ecstatic over the incredible talent lining up for Bela Lugosi’s Tales from the Grave, which is scheduled to premiere in early 2010.

The new full-color anthology – to be done in the classic EC and Warren tradition – will have each fantastic tale hosted by iconic horror film star Bela Lugosi. The book will be the premier publication from Monsterverse Comics, which will launch other horror and monster related titles in the months ahead. Editors Kerry Gammill (Powerman and Iron Fist, Deadly Foes of Spider-Man, Superman, THE OUTER LIMITS) and Kez Wilson (Hammerlocke, Scarlet, Power of the Atom, SPACE JAM) will be adding their artistic talents throughout the series, along with associate editor and writer Sam F. Park (Horror films: HALFWAY HOUSE, DEATH’S DOOR and the upcoming “The Need” for screenwriter turned producer Stiles White of BOOGEYMAN and KNOWING).















In addition to leading comic professionals, several famous horror filmmakers will also be contributing to help celebrate Bela Lugosi’s new role as presenter of these weird tales of terror.

The stellar roster of artists and writers includes two major names among comic book fans.

Premier horror writer Steve Niles (30 Days of Night, Gotham After Midnight, Dead, She Said) will be crafting a new story to make readers’ skin crawl.

Top artist John Cassaday (Planetary, Astonishing X-Men, Captain America) will be writing and drawing a story as well as providing an alternate cover for the first issue.

The cover will be a portrait of Bela Lugosi by legendary horror magazine cover artist Basil Gogos (Famous Monsters of Filmland, Monsterscene).

Other writers, artists and filmmakers that readers can expect to see in future issues of the series include:

John Landis, film director (AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, MASTERS OF HORROR)...

Rick Baker, make-up artist/sculptor (AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, THE RING, HELLBOY, THE WOLF MAN)...

Mick Garris, film director/writer/producer (MASTERS OF HORROR, THE STAND, TALES FROM THE CRYPT)...

Bruce Timm, artist/producer (BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES, Vampirella)...

Stiles White, screenwriter (KNOWING, BOOGEYMAN, POLTERGEIST remake)...

James Farr, creator of XOMBIE, the highly successful online animated series and comic book. Soon to be a major live-action feature film from DreamWorks...

Brian Denham, artist (Iron Man, The X-Files, Nova, The Avengers)...

Rick Klaw, writer (Weird Business)...

Joe R. Lansdale, writer (Weird Business, Savage Season)...

John Lucas, artist (Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight, Star Trek, Weird Business)...

Rob Brown, artist (Bane of the Werewolf, Marvel Comics Presents, Spider-man, Conan)...

Erik Gist, painter (Upper Deck, DC Comics, Boom! Studios)...

Neil Vokes, artist (The Black Forest, Superman Adventures, Untold Tales of Spider-Man)...

Robert Tinnell, film director/writer (FRANKENSTEIN AND ME, The Black Forest, The Wicked West)...

Larry Blamire, film director/artist (THE LOST SKELETON OF CADAVRA, Tales from the Pub, Steam Wars)...

Frank Dietz, cartoonist/animator (Sketchy Things, Disney's TARZAN, TREASURE PLANET)...

Terry Beatty, artist (Ms. Tree, Scary Monsters).

Martin Powell, writer (The Spider, Scarlet in Gaslight, Frankenstein, The Phantom, Sherlock Holmes in the Lost World, Evil of Dracula)...














Stay tuned...!

All Illustrations by Kerry Gammill

Happy Birthday H.P. Lovecraft

The eldritch master himself, Howard Philips Lovecraft, was born today, one hundred and nineteen years ago, and imaginative fiction has never been the same since. Thank goodness.


















Lovecraft was, in fact, largely responsible for shifting my own creative energy from acting in the theater, and illustrating, to writing fiction. I still vividly remember snatching up HPL's Del Rey paperback series, pictured here, with their brilliantly atmospheric Michael Whelan cover art. I was instantly hooked. Soon afterward, I even upgraded my Lovecraft collection with Arkham House hardcover first editions, which are still prominently displayed upon my bookshelf.


















Never before, and perhaps never again, has there existed an author of such original terrifying cosmic power as H.P. Lovecraft. His is the long and ponderous shadow by which all modern horror writers are measured. There have been many times, I confess, when the heights of his imagination have left me with the feeling that my own work is quite insignificant. I love this guy.





































Special thanks to my old pal, fellow Lovecraft enthusiast, and writer of the weird, Christopher Mills, for reminding me of the significance of August 20th. Otherwise, I would never have forgiven myself.

DRACULA Returns!

I just received the very welcome news that Moonstone's new horror anthology, VAMPIRES: Dracula and the Undead Legions, has gone to press and will be available in time for Halloween!

My short novella, The Evil of Dracula, is the lead feature, a prequel of sorts to Bram Stoker's classic novel, and follows my own past continuity for Count Dracula.

Here's my original pitch, after being approached for the story by editor Dave Ulanski:

Count Dracula invades the fog-shrouded streets of London seeking blood, power...and retribution. As the most terrifying creature on Earth, he has only one fear; the eternal damnation that inevitably awaits him, an unending agony haunted by teeming masses of his murdered victims. Having lived far more than a single lifetime, the Count knows there is no escape from Hell.

Van Helsing, with the aid of Dr. Henry Jekyll, are secretly on the threshold of a phenomenal discovery, which will eclipse the greatest achievements in history--erasing forever the hold of Evil upon the soul of humanity. Suddenly, even for the ancient vampire, there is Hope.

A pact is formed of blood and honour, but even as the magic of Victorian medicine is mixed into the dark nature of Dracula, a greater horror is hiding in the shadows.