Friday, January 22, 2010

Black Angel Preview


















A couple atmospheric grey-toned preview pages (minus dialogue) of my second Black Angel episode, strikingly illustrated by artist Ver Curtiss.

This will be featured in Moonstone's AIR FIGHTERS # 2 comic book anthology.

I love writing this series!

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

Monday, January 18, 2010

SHERLOCK HOLMES Wins!



















Congratulations to Robert Downey, Jr. as Winner of the Golden Globe Award for his brilliant and electrifying performance as the Great Detective in SHERLOCK HOLMES!

Richly deserved. Now, how about an Oscar nomination? Yes, I really do think he's that good in the role.













Saturday, January 16, 2010

The Return of Baroness Blood!


















Fresh from the pages of my second episode of
Black Angel, appearing in Moonstone's AIR FIGHTERS # 2... the re-emergence of the evil Baroness Blood!

Art by the splendid
Ver Curtiss!

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

http://mysite.verizon.net/pulps.fan/Art-Nocturne/index.htm

Coming Soon...!

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

PAUL BUNYAN Arrives!


















Very exciting day as I just received my comp copies of The Tall Tale of Paul Bunyan, which is now on sale, in gorgeous hardcover library binding and spiffy paperback format, from Stone Arch Books.

This book was a joy to write, from start to finish. The giant lumberjack, and Babe the Blue Ox, have been favorite characters of mine for as long as I can remember. This is probably the most fun I've ever had being paid to write a book.

Several other American States lay claim to Paul and Babe, such as Maine, Washington, and Northern California, but as a transplanted resident of Saint Paul, Minnesota--which I very much consider my new hometown--I decided early on that my Paul would be a Minnesotan through and through. Last summer Lisa and I even made the journey to fabled Paul Bunyan Land, in Brainerd, MN, for the sole purpose of meeting Paul and Babe in person, and to have my photo taken with the bigger-than-life celebrities for the About the Author Page.

Here's a link in case you missed our adventures on that glorious day:


http://martinpowell221bcom.blogspot.com/2009/08/tall-tale-reborn.html





























(Click on the photos for a much larger, Paul Bunyan-sized image!)


Although I've always been reluctant to say, I must finally cheerfully admit this is my favorite of the many children's books I've written. It is fabulously illustrated by Aaron Blecha (who also provided pictures for my The Ugly Duckling) and imaginatively edited and designed by Donald Lemke and Bob Lentz. Special thanks to Michael Dahl, too, who continues to help make my literary dreams come true.












Whether you discover this book at the library or generously decide to purchase a copy to keep at home on the shelf, I sincerely hope you'll love spending time with Paul and Babe as much as I did.

http://www.amazon.com/Tall-Tale-Paul-Bunyan-Graphic/dp/1434222683/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263328336&sr=8-1

Thursday, January 7, 2010

The PHANTOM Unmasked Issue # 2 Preview

New pages of my THE PHANTOM Unmasked mini-series, by the incredible Hannibal King. Of course, I may be utterly bias, but I think this is possibly Moonstone's best-looking story ever of the Ghost Who Walks.

Stay Tuned For More!

(Click on images for much larger picture.)





































Thursday, December 31, 2009

SHERLOCK HOLMES Mysteries Volume One













Over twenty years ago I wrote a graphic novel featuring Sherlock Holmes and Count Dracula, entitled Scarlet in Gaslight. I still vividly recall pounding out the original manuscript on my portable typewriter in my little spider haunted basement apartment in my old hometown of Louisville, Ky.

The story was written mainly out of frustration as I had been unsatisfied with two previous novels from other writers, both of which I left unfinished, dealing with a similar theme. Also, this was very early in my career and I'd had a few short story anthology sales, mostly science fiction tales, which encouraged me to attempt something of greater length.

After a bit of deliberating, which included the painstaking process of carefully rereading not only Bram Stoker's Dracula--but also Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's entire Sherlock Holmes Canon, consisting of four novels and fifty-six short stories, and finally, I was ready to begin.

I remember the tale flowing pretty easily, tripping me up only a couple times (such as when I had to stop and figure out how Holmes was ever going to get rid of the hundreds of vampires which I'd set loose to terrorize London). Much of the story seemed to write itself and I never once felt as if I was "working". This was much too much fun for that.

Once the manuscript was completed, I nervously sent it to Ray Bradbury, at his very kind invitation, and he immediately encouraged me to look for a publisher. In those days before the internet, I began the comparably costly process of snail-mailing the first completed issue to every independent comic book publisher I could think of. Literally no one was interested. Usually I never even heard back from them. Still, knowing that giving up and quitting was a sure way to fail, I kept at it. I was beginning to feel like there was something very wrong with me.

Suffice to say, for almost two years, I received back nary a nibble until Malibu Comics snatched it up and Scarlet in Gaslight ultimately went on to receive an Eisner Award nomination for Best Limited Series. Finally, and quite suddenly, I was off on a full-time career as a professional writer. I could hardly believe my luck.

Now, toward the close of 2009, it’s amazing for me to realize that Scarlet in Gaslight is entering its sixth printing, together with the fifth printing for A Case of Blind Fear, both collected in an elegant new edition of SHERLOCK HOLMES Mysteries Volume One. I suppose that this is no small accomplishment for two mere creator-owned mystery/adventure stories from the frantic old days of the "Black and White Glut".

Even so, as I've always said, it's really Sherlock Holmes, not Martin Powell, who sells these stories. In many ways, throughout my long career, he's been my very best friend, even if I did choose to ignore that fact for a number of foolish years. I also owe a tremendous debt to Seppo Makinen’s brilliant illustrations, to Joe Gentile at Moonstone for continuing to carry the torch, and for the late, great Don Thompson of the legendary Comic Buyer's Guide, for his inspiring early endorsements.

Over the past several years, I’ve grown considerably in my affection for Scarlet in Gaslight and A Case of Blind Fear . And, hopefully, the Great Detective will continue to allow me to share in his adventures for a long time to come.

SHERLOCK HOLMES Mysteries Volume One will be on sale around Valentine's Day 2010.