Evil Dead 2: Dark Ones Rising Review at Comics for Sinners

Posted on November 3, 2016 by Steven

evildead2-darkones1-cvrOver at Comics for Sinners you’ll find my review of Evil Dead 2: Dark Ones Rising #1–2, currently on sale from Space Goat Publishing. Written by Frank Hannah and illustrated by Oscar Bazaldua, Raul Valdes, and Carlos Eduardo, the start of this new miniseries finds Ashley Williams the chain-saw-wielding, boomstick-shooting monster killer (actually, a magically created clone made from Ash’s severed hand, as explained in Space Goat’s Evil Dead 2: Beyond Dead by Dawn miniseries) trying to stop a race of Elder Gods from taking over the world. Head over to C4S to learn more.

 Speaking of Elder God–battling supernatural leads, have you met Lorelei, StarWarp Concepts’ resident soul-stealing succubus, whose graphic novel Lorelei: Sects and the City was inspired by classic horror comics and the works of H.P. Lovecraft, who created the “Great Old Ones” in his Cthulhu Mythos? Making her small-press comics debut in 1989, Lori is SWC’s first leading lady of horror, and has received praise from some high-profile fans.

Like who, you ask? How about James Warren, the legendary original publisher of Vampirella, Creepy, and Eerie, who sent his congratulations after reading a preview of the graphic novel Lorelei: Sects and the City:

“You sure do pay Warren Publishing a nice tribute. I wish you good luck and good acceptance. I like the graphics, and the story is exciting!”

And then there was the late, great Forrest J Ackerman, Vampirella’s creator and the driving force behind the original Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine. The Ackermonster saw the same preview and mailed me a postcard with this simple message that thrilled my inner fanboy:

“Lorelei, you’ve cast your spell o’er this guy!”

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 Ghost Rider, 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 (Dark Tales From the Vokesverse, Eagle). It also features a cover by legendary artist Esteban Maroto (Vampirella, Zatanna, Lady Rawhide), a frontispiece by original Vampirella artist Tom Sutton (Ghost Rider, Man-Thing, Werewolf by Night), and a one-page history of succubi illustrated by Ernie Colon (Vampirella, The Grim Ghost).

“I can honestly say that I enjoyed the hell out of this book…. The art is solid, the story is full of lots of things that make the horror genre so great, and the overall quality of the book is top notch.”—Die-Screaming

“Kudos to Roman for capturing the essence of 1970s fare like Vampirella. Filled with ghouls, chicks, and some strong artwork, this is a title that might’ve piqued Hammer Studios’ interest back in the day.”—Dread Central

Lorelei: Sects and the City is available in print and digital formats, so visit its product page for ordering information, as well as sample pages.

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Evil Dead 2: Revenge of Dracula Review at Comics for Sinners

Posted on November 2, 2016 by Steven

evildead2-dracula-cvrOver at Comics for Sinners you’ll find my review of Evil Dead 2: Revenge of Dracula, currently on sale from Space Goat Publishing. Written by Scott Peterson and illustrated by Horacio Domingues, this one-shot special involves Ashley Williams, the chain-saw-wielding, boomstick-shooting monster killer (actually, a magically created clone made from Ash’s severed hand, as explained in Space Goat’s Evil Dead 2: Beyond Dead by Dawn miniseries) going head-to-head with the king of the vampires himself. Head over to C4S to find out what level of groovy chain-saw justice Ash is currently handing out in comic book land.

Speaking of monster fighters who clash with vampires, have you met Pandora Zwieback, the teenaged Goth adventuress who stars in my young adult novel series, The Saga of Pandora Zwieback? Pan is a 16-year-old Goth girl who’s spent the last decade being treated for mental health problems because she can see monsters. It’s only after she meets an immortal monster hunter named Annie that Pan discovers she’s never been ill—her so-called “monstervision” is actually a supernatural gift that allows her to see into Gothopolis, the not-so-mythical shadow world that exists right alongside the human world. You’ll find Pan battling her own brand of evil dead in the following titles:

Blood FeudBlood Feud: The Saga of Pandora Zwieback, Book 1: This critically acclaimed novel is the beginning of Pan’s story, explaining how she, her parents and friends, and Annie are drawn into a conflict among warring vampire clans searching for the key to an ultimate weapon (or so the legend goes)—a key that just so happens to have been delivered to the horror-themed museum owned by Pan’s father. It’s a character-driven action-fest that leads immediately into the second novel:

Blood Reign: The Saga of Pandora Zwieback, Book 2: Pan and Annie face even greater challenges as the vampire clans draw up plans to go to war with humanity. Leading the charge is a fallen angel named Zaqiel, whose previous attempt at subjugating the world was stopped by Annie—who, back in the day, was Zaqiel’s lover!

The Saga of Pandora Zwieback Annual #1: A spinoff from the novel series, this 56-page, full-color comic special finds the teenaged Goth adventuress battling vampires and a jealous, man-stealing siren. It features stories by me and Sholly Fisch (Scooby-Doo Team-Up), art by Eliseu Gouveia (The Saga of Pandora Zwieback #0), comic-art legend Ernie Colon (Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld), and Elizabeth Watasin (Charm School), and cover art by award-winning artist Henar Torinos (Mala Estrella).

Blood Feud, Blood Reign, and the Pandora Zwieback Annual are available in print and digital formats. Visit their respective product pages for ordering information, as well as sample pages and chapters.

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Comic Book Treats for Trick-or-Treaters

Posted on October 31, 2016 by Steven

Pandora0_CoverHappy Halloween! All Hallows’ Eve is our favorite holiday here at ’Warp Central, so in keeping with the fine tradition of handing out free treats to boils and ghouls everywhere, we have some digital-comic offerings for you!

The Saga of Pandora Zwieback #0: A full-color introduction to the young adult novel series of the same name, hosted by Pan herself. Pan is a girl with the ability to see the monsters that regular humans can’t, and with the help of a 400-year-old monster hunter named Sebastienne “Annie” Mazarin, she’s going to protect the world from danger—and maybe even have some fun while doing it.

This 16-page comic features a seven-page story written by me, with art and color by Eliseu Gouveia (The Saga of Pandora Zwieback Annual #1, Lorelei: Sects and the City), and includes two sample chapters from Blood Feud, the first Pan novel.

Heartstopper #1Heartstopper: The Legend of La Bella Tenebrosa #1–3: Before she became Pan’s monster-hunting mentor, Sebastienne Mazarin made her debut in this short-lived, 1990s Mature Readers series from Millennium Publications. A nefarious heavy metal band has arrived in New York City, and its lead singer is more than just a sex magnet for his female fans—he’s an incubus! Will Annie put an end to his plans for worldwide chaos, or fall prey to his supernatural charms?

Written by me (of course), issue 1 is drawn by Pan and Annie co-creator Uriel Caton (JSA Annual) and inker Alan Larsen (Femforce); issue 2 is penciled by Uriel, Holly Golightly (School Bites), and David C. Matthews (Satin Steele) and inked by Larsen; and issue 3 is penciled by Holly, with four pages of inks by “Chainsaw” Chuck Majewski (Harvey Kurtzman’s New Two-Fisted Tales).

heroinesandheroes-1Heroines and Heroes is our latest free digital comic. It’s a collection of comic stories I’ve drawn over the years, starring indie characters the Blonde Avenger, the anthropomorphic Motorbike Puppies, and the humanoid-rabbit spy Snowbuni. The feature story is “V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N (in the Summertime),” a short adventure that I wrote and drew in the late 1990s as an audition for DC Comics’ Batman: The Animated Series comic (spoiler: I didn’t get the job), and pits Harley Quinn—Clown Princess of Crime and star of this past summer’s blockbuster film Suicide Squad—against none other than Wonder Woman!

All these comics are available for download right now, so visit their respective product pages and add them to your digital trick-or-treat bags today!

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Happy Halloween to All You ‘Warp Fans!

Posted on October 31, 2016 by Steven

halloween-wish

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Pandora Zwieback Examines Halloween TV Marathons

Posted on October 30, 2016 by Steven

thetinglerHey, fright fans! Over at the Pandora Zwieback blog, I’ve taken a look at all the horror TV shows and movies (both classic and contemporary) that are scheduled for certain U.S. cable television stations as they celebrate Halloween 2016. There are some good ones to watch, like Vincent Price in The Tingler (the poster for which you see here), about a killer parasite that can only be stopped if its victims scream—scream for their lives! Head over to the Pan site and give the four-part post a read!

Part 1: Chiller TV and Syfy

Part 2: AMC, Antenna TV, Showtime Beyond

Part 3: Movies! and Get TV

Part 4: Turner Classic Movies

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Venus F Review at Comics for Sinners

Posted on October 20, 2016 by Steven

venusf-cvrOver at the news site Comics for Sinners you’ll find my review of Venus F., on sale right now from Oniric Comics. Created, written and illustrated by Chris Malgrain (Stan Lee’s Alexa, The Formidables), this one-shot, Mature Readers black-and-white special involves a woman living on a bleak future Earth who searches for meaning in her life, by traveling to other planets. The art is stunning, and the story is completely “silent,” without captions or word balloons; it’s up to the reader to consider what the heroine is thinking. Head over to C4S to find out more.

Speaking of science fiction heroines on other worlds, are you familiar with Dejah Thoris, kick-ass princess of the Martian city of Helium and costar (with her love interest, Earthman John Carter) of the classic science fantasy novel A Princess of Mars? No, then allow me to explain…

Created by author Edgar Rice Burroughs (who also created Tarzan the Ape-Man), A Princess of Mars served as the basis for Disney Studio’s 2012 big-budget adaptation, John Carter—a movie that was tragically mishandled by the Mouse’s marketing department, despite it being a fairly faithful translation from printed page to silver screen.

A Princess of MarsA Princess of Mars, originally published in 1912, is the first in Burroughs’s “John Carter of Mars” ten-novel series about a post–Civil War era American who suddenly finds himself on the Red Planet, battling to stay alive against all sorts of alien threats. It served as the basis for Disney’s 2012 film adaptation, John Carter, and inspired a century’s worth of SF works, including Flash Gordon, Star Wars, and James Cameron’s Avatar. The special StarWarp Concepts edition—available in both print and digital formats—features six incredible illustrations by SWC artist supreme Eliseu Gouveia (Carmilla, Lorelei: Sects and the City), and a special introduction by Mars-fiction expert John Gosling, author of Waging the War of the Worlds. Here’s the back-cover synopsis:

Captain John Carter thought his days as a fighter were over. The South had lost the Civil War, and as a soldier now without a battle to fight or a cause to believe in, he journeyed west in search of a new life.

But not even Carter could have expected that his new life would begin with his death in the Arizona desert, and his inexplicable arrival on the barren plains of the planet Mars. Or that he would find love in the eyes of the beauteous Dejah Thoris, princess of Helium.

A prisoner of the giant, green-skinned warrior race called the Tharks, Dejah Thoris is meant to be used as a pawn in the ongoing war between the Tharks and her people, the red Martians—unless the gentleman from Virginia takes sword in hand to free her…and thus unite a divided world.

Once more, John Carter has a cause to fight for—and this time, a love to win, as well….

A Princess of Mars is available in print and digital formats. Visit its product page for ordering information.

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The Formidables Are Here!

Posted on October 12, 2016 by Steven

formidables01Do you remember the days when superhero comics used to be fun and not contests to see which publisher could come up with the grimmest and grittiest antihero? When heroes fought villains and not one another? When Marvel Comics actually acknowledged the existence of the Fantastic Four? 😉

Well, it’s just that sort of nostalgic approach you’ll find in the pages of The Formidables #1, now on sale from French publishing house Oniric Comics, and available in English-language print and digital formats through online distributor Indy Planet. Created by writer/artist Christophe Malgrain, The Formidables are a quartet of superheroes battling evil in 1950s America, with their first challenge coming in the form of a Communist super-villain—who’s disguised as a white supremacist!

It’s a unique take on the genre, with Chris examining topics like race relations and sexual identity in a Cold War setting, with an appropriate amount of punching and explosions mixed in, of course—we are talking superhero comics, after all!

So, naturally, the question you’re thinking of is, why would I be promoting some other publisher’s superhero comic, here at the SWC blog? Well, if you know me by now, it’s probably because I’m somehow involved in the project—and I am! Not only is Chris Malgrain my old creative partner from the one-off comic Stan Lee’s Alexa (and a contributor to the 13 Days of Pan-demonium gallery), but I’ve also signed on to be Oniric’s U.S editor for their English-language translations. (What that means is I tweak Chris’s dialogue and captions to make them sound a bit more “American.”)

The Formidables #1 can be purchased right now from Indy Planet, so visit its product page for ordering information.

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Happy Teen Read Week 2016!

Posted on October 9, 2016 by Steven

teen-read-weekTeen Read Week 2016 is happening right now, October 9–15. What is it? Well, to quote the event’s website:

Teen Read Week is a national adolescent literacy initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). Its purpose is to encourage teens to be regular readers and library users.

Teen Read Week’s 2016 theme is “Read for the Fun of It,” in which “library staff and educators are encouraged to leverage this theme to highlight all of the resources and services available to the 22% of the nation’s youth who speak a language other than English at home.”

For more information on this annual event, visit the Teen Read Week site.

Blood FeudAnd speaking of books for teens that can be fun to read, are you familiar with my young adult, dark-urban-fantasy series The Saga of Pandora Zwieback? Pan is a 16-year-old Goth girl who’s spent the last decade being treated for mental health problems because she can see monsters. It’s only after she meets an immortal shape-shifter named Annie that Pan discovers she’s never been ill—her so-called “monstervision” is actually a supernatural gift that allows her to see into Gothopolis, the not-so-mythical shadow world that exists right alongside the human world. You’ll find Pan in the following titles:

The Saga of Pandora Zwieback #0: A free, downloadable comic that serves as an introduction to Pan and Annie—with an 8-page story written by me and illustrated by Eliseu Gouveia—as well as Pan’s first novel, Blood Feud (via a pair of preview chapters).

Blood Feud: The Saga of Pandora Zwieback, Book 1: This critically acclaimed novel is the beginning of Pan’s story, explaining how she, her parents and friends, and Annie are drawn into a conflict among warring vampire clans searching for the key to an ultimate weapon (or so the legend goes)—a key that just so happens to have been delivered to the horror-themed museum owned by Pan’s father. It’s a character-driven action-fest that leads immediately into the second novel:

Blood-Reign-FinalCvrBlood Reign: The Saga of Pandora Zwieback, Book 2: Pan and Annie face even greater challenges as the vampire clans draw up plans to go to war with humanity. Leading the charge is a fallen angel named Zaqiel, whose previous attempt at subjugating the world was stopped by Annie—who, back in the day, was Zaqiel’s lover! But Pan isn’t about to let some ancient monster win the day, not when the lives of her parents and friends—along with those of every human on the planet—are at stake, so she leads a charge of her own. But whose side is going to emerge the victor remains to be seen…

Blood Feud and Blood Reign are available in print and digital formats. The Saga of Pandora Zwieback #0 is a digital exclusive. Visit their respective product pages for ordering information, as well as sample pages and chapters.

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It’s Banned Books Week 2016!

Posted on September 25, 2016 by Steven

bbw-logoGot a favorite book? Well, odds are good there’s someone out there in the United States who’d liked to see it censored. And that’s where Banned Books Week comes in—an annual celebration of literacy in which the spotlight is shone on the problem of censorship in U.S. libraries and bookstores. To quote the Banned Books Week website:

Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries. More than 11,300 books have been challenged since 1982.

This year’s focus is on diversity, and why so many books—like the acclaimed firsthand account of the Holocaust, Anne Frank: The Diary of a Girl (file that ban under: what the hell is wrong with people?), perennial “favorite” Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie, Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home, and Jessica Herthel and Jaz Jennings’s I Am Jazz—that celebrate it were among the top titles banned in 2015.

Banned Books Week 2016 is happening right now, September 25 to October 1, so visit the BBW website for more information, including a list of the books they’re celebrating this year.

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You Want to Talk Vampire Hunters?

Posted on September 23, 2016 by Steven

pandoracomic-1Tonight is the broadcast premiere of Van Helsing, the SyFy Channel’s latest entry in their ever-growing scripted-series schedule, and one that has no connection to that terrible Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale movie from 2004. To quote the press release:

“The 13-episode series, from acclaimed filmmaker Neil LaBute, will focus on Vanessa Helsing (True Blood’s Kelly Overton), the latest in a long line of famed monster hunters. The series will feature an intriguing twist on the Dracula story, with Vanessa being resurrected in a future in which vampires rule the world. Discovering that she holds a mysterious power over them (the bloodsuckers, that is), Vanessa must lead what’s left of humanity against the vamps in a post-Rising world.”

Well, if vampires and the hunters who fight them are your thing, are you familiar with my young adult novel series The Saga of Pandora Zwieback? Pan is a 16-year-old Goth girl who’s spent the last decade being treated for mental health problems because she can see monsters. It’s only after she meets Annie that Pan discovers she’s never been ill—her so-called “monstervision” is actually a supernatural gift that allows her to see into Gothopolis, the not-so-mythical shadow world that exists right alongside the human world. You’ll find Pan and Annie battling evil in the following titles:

The Saga of Pandora Zwieback #0: A free, downloadable comic that serves as an introduction to Pan and Annie—with an 8-page story written by me and illustrated by Eliseu Gouveia—as well as Pan’s first novel, Blood Feud (via a pair of preview chapters).

Blood FeudBlood Feud: The Saga of Pandora Zwieback, Book 1: This critically acclaimed novel is the beginning of Pan’s story, explaining how she, her parents and friends, and Annie are drawn into a conflict among warring vampire clans searching for the key to an ultimate weapon (or so the legend goes)—a key that just so happens to have been delivered to the horror-themed museum owned by Pan’s father. It’s a character-driven action-fest featuring the kind of gun-toting vampires that Selene would feel right at home among, and it leads immediately into the second novel:

Blood Reign: The Saga of Pandora Zwieback, Book 2: Pan and Annie face even greater challenges as the vampire clans draw up plans to go to war with humanity. Leading the charge is a fallen angel named Zaqiel, whose previous attempt at subjugating the world was stopped by Annie—who, back in the day, was Zaqiel’s lover! But Pan isn’t about to let some ancient monster win the day, not when the lives of her parents and friends—along with those of every human on the planet—are at stake, so she leads a charge of her own. Yes, there’s more vampire gunplay involved—the undead sure do like their firearms—but that’s only part of the dangers Pan has to contend with, as her adventures take her to a mysterious South Pacific island where monsters dwell.

pan_annual_lgThe Saga of Pandora Zwieback Annual #1: A spinoff from the novel series, this 56-page, full-color comic special finds the teenaged Goth adventuress battling Gothic Lolita vampires and a jealous, man-stealing siren. It features stories by me and Sholly Fisch (Scooby-Doo Team-Up), art by Eliseu Gouveia (The Saga of Pandora Zwieback #0), comic-art legend Ernie Colon (Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld), and Elizabeth Watasin (Charm School), and cover art by award-winning artist Henar Torinos (Mala Estrella).

Blood Feud, Blood Reign, and the Pan Annual are available in print and digital formats. Pandora Zwieback #0 is a digital exclusive. Visit their respective product pages for ordering information, as well as sample pages and chapters.

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