Legenderry: Red Sonja Review at Comics for Sinners

Posted on February 12, 2015 by Steven

Legenderry-Red-Sonja01-CovNow at the news site Comics for Sinners, you can read my review of Legenderry: Red Sonja #1, currently available from Dynamite Entertainment. Written by Marc Andreyko (Batwoman) and illustrated by Aneke (Damsels), it’s the tale of a pirate version of Robert E. Howard’s She-Devil With a Sword sailing into a port city and almost immediately finding herself in another grand adventure. I haven’t paid too much attention to Dynamite’s Legenderry series and its spinoffs—Victorian-Age steampunk science fiction isn’t really one of my interests—but the start of this solo outing for Steampunk Sonja was enjoyable. Head on over to C4S to read all about it.

Speaking of fantasy redheads, have you been introduced to Lorelei, StarWarp Concepts’ resident soul-stealing succubus? Making her comics debut in 1993, Lori has remained SWC’s first leading lady of horror, and currently stars in two critically acclaimed projects:

Lorelei: Sects and the CityLorelei: Sects and the City is a Mature Readers graphic novel in which Lori battles a cult of Elder God worshipers attempting to unleash hell on Earth. Basically a love letter to 1970s horror comics like Vampirella, Tomb of Dracula, and “Satanna, the Devil’s Daughter,” it’s written by yours truly, Steven A. Roman (Stan Lee’s Alexa, X-Men: The Chaos Engine Trilogy), and illustrated by Eliseu Gouveia (Vengeance of the Mummy, Lady Death), Steve Geiger (Web of Spider-Man, Incredible Hulk), and Neil Vokes (Flesh and Blood, Fright Night). It also features a cover by legendary artist Esteban Maroto (Vampirella, Zatanna, Lady Rawhide) and a frontispiece by original Vampirella artist Tom Sutton (Ghost Rider, Man-Thing, Werewolf by Night). Visit the Lorelei: Sects and the City product page for all the ordering information, as well as sample pages.

House_Macabre_large_finalLorelei Presents: House Macabre is Lori’s debut as the hostess of a horror anthology comic. Behind that eye-catching cover by bad-girl artist supreme Louis Small Jr. (Vampirella, Vampirella/Lady Death), you’ll find stories by Steven A. Roman (yep, me again) and Dwight Jon Zimmerman (Iron Man, Web of Spider-Man). Art is provided by Uriel Caton & “Chainsaw” Chuck Majewski (Heartstopper: The Legend of La Bella Tenebrosa), Lou Manna (T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents), John Pierard (Graphic Classics: Horror Classics), and Juan Carlos Abraldes Rendo. It’s available in print for $3.99 (plus shipping) exclusively from the StarWarp Concepts webstore, and in digital form for $1.99 from DriveThru Comics and the SWC webstore (and hopefully soon from ComicsFix and comiXology, as well). Visit the Lorelei Presents: House Macabre product page for all the ordering information, as well as sample pages.

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Blood Reign: Pandora Zwieback, Book 2 On Sale at DriveThru Fiction

Posted on February 11, 2015 by Steven

Blood-Reign-FinalCvrHot on the heels of its debut in the StarWarp Concepts webstore in both print and e-book editions, my young adult, dark-urban-fantasy novel Blood Reign: The Saga of Pandora Zwieback, Book 2 is now also available at digital distributor DriveThru Fiction!

Blood Reign joins the previous Pandora Zwieback novel, Blood Feud, which is also available from both DriveThru and the SWC webstore. For those unfamiliar with Blood Reign, here’s the synopsis:

She was stabbed in the heart with an ancient mystical spear. Her mother was kidnapped by a band of vampires led by a fallen angel—their goal: unleashing hell on earth. And every living creature on the planet faces extinction at the hands of a race of biblical monsters. But for Pandora Zwieback, the worst may be yet to come.

In this terrifying next chapter of the story begun in the critically acclaimed novel Blood Feud, join the teenaged Goth adventuress as she discovers that death is only the beginning of her saga…

You’ll find Blood Reign: The Saga of Pandora Zwieback, Book 2 here for $2.99 at DriveThru Fiction. Get started reading today!

And don’t forget to visit the SWC store at DriveThru Fiction, where you’ll find our growing list of digital graphic novels and novels. From monster-fighting Goth chicks and immortal warriors to fairy-tale princesses and soul-stealing succubi, StarWarp Concepts is your home for literary action heroines, and you’ll find them all at DriveThru Fiction!

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Blood Reign: Pandora Zwieback, Book 2 Now On Sale!

Posted on February 10, 2015 by Steven

Blood-Reign-FinalCvrYes, it’s finally happened—after many drafts, a lot of angst to get it just right, and a lot of cries for forgiveness to Panatics eager to read this tome, the print edition of Blood Reign: The Saga of Pandora Zwieback, Book 2 is at last on sale! And just in time for Women in Horror Month, too! Here’s the synopsis:

She was stabbed in the heart with an ancient mystical spear. Her mother was kidnapped by a band of vampires led by a fallen angel—their goal: unleashing hell on earth. And every living creature on the planet faces extinction at the hands of a race of biblical monsters. But for Pandora Zwieback, the worst may be yet to come.

In this terrifying next chapter of the story begun in the critically acclaimed novel Blood Feud, join the teenaged Goth adventuress as she discovers that death is only the beginning of her saga…

Print copies are currently heading for the SWC offices for our webstore sales, and after that you’ll be able to order it through the usual book retailer suspects: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc. The PDF e-book edition is currently available, with the Kindle and ePub versions to follow within the next two weeks. In the meantime, visit the Blood Reign product page for ordering information, as well as a free, downloadable sample chapter.

And if you haven’t read it yet, Blood Feud: The Saga of Pandora Zwieback, Book 1 is still available from The ‘Warp’s webstore, in both print and e-book versions. Visit that page, too, for sales links and a downloadable sample chapter.

Thanks to everyone for their patience, and once again I apologize for the lengthy delay. Now it’s on to book 3: Blood & Iron!

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Sinful Comic Fans Lust for Lorelei Presents: House Macabre

Posted on February 7, 2015 by Steven

House_Macabre_large_finalWell, now this is a switch: Instead of me reviewing one of the latest comics, over at the news site Comics for Sinners you’ll find C4S president Richard Boom’s review of Lorelei Presents: House Macabre, which is currently available right here at StarWarp Concepts! Here’s what he said to say:

“If you like horror-anthologies and good B&W comics then this is something that would really fit on your bookshelf!”

You can read all of Richard’s review here.

Lorelei Presents: House Macabre is Lori’s debut as the hostess of a horror anthology comic. It’s available in print for $3.99 (plus shipping) from the StarWarp Concepts webstore, and in digital form for $1.99 from DriveThru Comics and the SWC webstore (with ComicsFix and comiXology to follow).

This 24-page special contains stories by yours truly, Steven A. Roman (Lorelei: Sects and the City, Stan Lee’s Alexa, Heartstopper: The Legend of La Bella Tenebrosa), and Dwight Jon Zimmerman (Iron Man, Sensational She-Hulk, Web of Spider-Man). Art is provided by Uriel Caton (JSA Annual, Ex-Mutants, Heartstopper: The Legend of La Bella Tenebrosa) & “Chainsaw” Chuck Majewski (Harvey Kurtzman’s New Two-Fisted Tales), Lou Manna (T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, Young All-Stars, The Phantom), John Pierard (Graphic Classics: Horror Classics, My Teacher Fried My Brains), and Juan Carlos Abraldes Rendo. And the cover art is courtesy of good-girl artist supreme Louis Small Jr. (Vampirella, Vampirella Strikes, Codename Knockout).

Visit the Lorelei Presents: House Macabre product page for ordering information and sample pages.

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StarWarp Concepts to Attend Brooklyn Book Festival 2015

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Steven

brooklyn_logoIt’s official: Brooklyn Book Festival will be celebrating its tenth anniversary this September, and StarWarp Concepts will definitely be there to join in the festivities! It’s a show I’ve come to look forward to—a major shift in attitude from when The ’Warp made its first appearance there a few years back, and I kept rolling my eyes hard every time I heard authors referred to as the “literati” (a god-awful, pretentious term if ever I’ve heard one). The ’Warp missed out on last year’s show due to circumstances beyond our control, so we’re doubly excited to greet readers new and old at this year’s festival!

Brooklyn Book Festival takes place—rain or shine—at Brooklyn Borough Hall Plaza, on Sunday, September 20, 2015, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For more information, including travel directions, visit the BBF website. I won’t know the location of the SWC booth until later in the year—usually they don’t announce booth numbers until August, after the festival committee has finalized the plaza layout—but I’ll be sure to post the map here when I get it.

Hope to see you there!

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StarWarp Concepts to Attend Big Apple Con 2015

Posted on February 4, 2015 by Steven

Mets-Big-AppleIt’s a late addition to the SWC convention calendar, but with noted comic-art dealer Michael Carbonaro celebrating the twentieth anniversary of his annual Big Apple Con this year, how can StarWarp Concepts not be there to join in the festivities? This one-day Manhattan show always gets a sizable turnout of fans and professional comic creators, and so far they’ve announced that legendary talents James O’Barr (The Crow), Herb Trimpe (Incredible Hulk, Iron Man), Rich Buckler (Fantastic Four, Deathlok), Ramona Fradon (Super-Friends), and Larry Hama (G.I. Joe) will be among the folks you’ll find in artists alley.

Big Apple Con takes place at the Penn Plaza Pavilion (401 7th Avenue) in Manhattan on Saturday, March 7, 2015, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For more information, visit the Big Apple Con website. Unfortunately, I probably won’t know the location of the SWC table until I get there—right now, all I know is that it’ll be in Artists Alley—but I’ll be sure to give you the lowdown if that situation changes prior to the show.

Hope to see you there!

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StarWarp Concepts to Attend Collingswood Book Festival 2015

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Steven

Collingswood-logoNo, it’s not the house where vampire Barnabas Collins of the gothic soap opera Dark Shadows lives—that would be Collinwood—but you’ll definitely find some spooky deals there! The Collingswood Book Festival returns for its lucky 13th anniversary this October, to fill the streets of this quaint New Jersey town with book lovers, and StarWarp Concepts will be making its debut appearance there! Unfamiliar with the Collingswood Book Festival? Well, to quote the festival’s site:

The 13th Annual Collingswood Book Festival makes a triumphant return as bibliophiles converge in this historic South Jersey town to celebrate everything about the written word. The Collingswood Book Festival is a big literary event that exudes small-town, friendly ambience. A week of activities will culminate on Saturday, October 3. Festival-goers will have an opportunity to stroll more than six blocks of Haddon Avenue filled with nationally recognized authors/speakers for adults and children, as well as booksellers, storytellers, poetry readings, workshops, exhibitors and performance stages. All events are free.

Due to circumstances beyond our control, we had to cancel our appearance at last year’s show, so this gives us a brand-new chance to introduce readers to the adventures of Pandora Zwieback, Lorelei, Troubleshooters Incorporated, Carmilla, John Carter of Mars, and all the rest. And what better time for a dark-fantasy publisher to show up than for the festival’s thirteenth year?

Collingswood Book Festival takes place—rain or shine—on Saturday, October 3, 2015, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information, including travel directions, visit the CBF website. I won’t know the location of the SWC booth until they finalize their plans in September, but once I get that information I’ll be sure to pass it along.

Hope to see you there!

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Happy Women in Horror Month!

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Steven

women-horror-logo

It’s that time again, when every February the horror genre celebrates Women in Horror Month, putting a spotlight on the contributions of all the female creators—writers, artists, movie directors, producers, special makeup artists, special effects experts, etc.—who’ve brought thrills and chills to generations of fans around the world. And the Women in Horror Month website is the place to go to find out all about the events scheduled for this year. To quote their mission statement:

“Women in Horror Recognition Month (WiHM) assists female genre artists in gaining opportunities, exposure, and education through altruistic events, printed material, articles, interviews, and online support. The vision is a world wherein all individuals are equally given the opportunity to create, share, and exploit their concept of life, pain, and freedom of expression…. WiHM focuses on supporting the achievements of women who utilize the most extreme mirror available in storytelling: horror. We encourage women to explore and represent these horrors constructively, in positive environments.”

For more information, visit the WiHM site.

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Horror Fans Talk About Lorelei Presents: House Macabre

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Steven

House_Macabre_large_finalThe enthusiastic response to Lorelei’s return, in the pages of our new horror comic anthology, Lorelei Presents: House Macabre, continues! This time, the love comes courtesy of reviewer James Ferguson and the site Horror Talk:

“Lorelei likes her frights with a little fun…. If you liked Lorelei: Sects and the City, you’ll dig House Macabre. This gives us just a little taste of more Lorelei, which is always a good thing.”

You can read the entire review here.

Lorelei Presents: House Macabre contains stories by yours truly, Steven A. Roman (Lorelei: Sects and the City, The Saga of Pandora Zwieback), and Dwight Jon Zimmerman (Iron Man, Web of Spider-Man). Art is provided by Uriel Caton & “Chainsaw” Chuck Majewski (Heartstopper: The Legend of La Bella Tenebrosa), Lou Manna (T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents), John Pierard (Graphic Classics: Horror Classics), and Juan Carlos Abraldes Rendo, with cover art from good-girl artist supreme Louis Small Jr. (Vampirella). Visit the Lorelei Presents: House Macabre product page for all the ordering information, as well as sample pages.

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Lorelei Presents: House Macabre Gets Added to The Pullbox

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Steven

House_Macabre_large_finalLorelei Presents: House Macabre continues to garner good reviews from top comic-news sites, and this time is no different. The latest positive response comes courtesy of the site The Pullbox, which called Lori “the new face of horror anthology comics,” and had this to say about the stories she hosts:

“Any fans of the old-fashioned horror anthology comics (Eerie, Creepy, Tales From the Crypt, etc.) is gonna want to take a look at this one-shot from StarWarp Concepts…. If campy horror fun is your thing, this should be a hit for you.”

You can read the entire review here.

Lorelei Presents: House Macabre contains stories by yours truly, Steven A. Roman (Lorelei: Sects and the City, The Saga of Pandora Zwieback), and Dwight Jon Zimmerman (Iron Man, Web of Spider-Man). Art is provided by Uriel Caton & “Chainsaw” Chuck Majewski (Heartstopper: The Legend of La Bella Tenebrosa), Lou Manna (T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents), John Pierard (Graphic Classics: Horror Classics), and Juan Carlos Abraldes Rendo, with cover art from good-girl artist supreme Louis Small Jr. (Vampirella). Visit the Lorelei Presents: House Macabre product page for all the ordering information, as well as sample pages.

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