The Return of the King

Posted on April 15, 2016 by Steven

KING_KONGNo, I’m not talking about the third novel in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic Lord of the Rings trilogy, or even Peter Jackson’s film adaptation of it, I’m talking about another monarch of the silver screen that Jackson has a history with—the Eighth Wonder of the World: King Kong!

Today is the Netflix debut of their new animated series, Kong: King of the Apes, which attempts to revive the classic movie monster for an all-new generation of young horror fans. Set in the year 2050, it finds Kong on the run from an evil mastermind who commands an army of giant, laser-beam-firing robot dinosaurs. Let the binge-watching begin!

Does this mean King Kong will become the Next Big Thing? Who knows. But considering there’s Kong: Skull Island—a big-budget film starring Tom Hiddleston (Crimson Peaks, High Rise), Academy Award winner Brie Larson (Room), Samuel L. Jackson (Marvel’s The Avengers), and John Goodman (10 Cloverfield Lane)—coming out from Legendary Pictures in March 2017, which in turn will lead to the already announced crossover film, 2020’s Godzilla vs. Kong, there’s a chance that movie audiences will want to give Kong another chance, and finally put to rest memories of that bad Peter Jackson remake from 2005.

But, you ask, why am I doing all this talking about King Kong on the SWC blog? Well, it must be because we’ve got something planned for Kong ourselves, wouldn’t you think? And you’d be absolutely right!

Coming from StarWarp Concepts in January 2017 is King Kong, a reprint of the 1932 novelization of the original motion picture and the latest addition to our Illustrated Classics line of books, joining J. Sheridan Le Fanu’s Carmilla, Edgar Rice Burroughs’s A Princess of Mars, and the Brothers Grimm’s Snow White. Written by Delos W. Lovelace, based on the story by Edgar Wallace and Merian C. Cooper, the SWC edition will feature brand-new illustrations by pulp-comics artist Kevin Tuma (Tales of the Green Hornet, The Twilight Avenger), the novelization expands on the world inhabited by this famous monster of filmland and includes scenes that didn’t appear in the movie’s final cut. The most notorious of those is the terrifying “spider pit” sequence, in which a group of sailors in pursuit of Kong falls into a chasm infested with giant, man-eating arachnids. (Peter Jackson’s remake includes this scene, with outright nightmare-inducing results.)

More details to follow as we get closer to the book’s release—which, by the way, is just two short months before Kong: Skull Island hits movie theaters. Why, you’d almost think we’d planned that intentionally…

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A Book Bundle for a Worthy Cause

Posted on April 14, 2016 by Steven

RAINN-buttonA few weeks ago, I got this message from e-book distributor DriveThru Fiction, which sells digital editions of StarWarp Concepts’ titles:

April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, and once again, we’re going to be putting together some exciting digital Bundles on DriveThruRPG, DriveThruComics, and DriveThruFiction to help raise funds for a great cause. RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation’s largest anti–sexual violence organization and was named one of “America’s 100 Best Charities” by Worth magazine. Last year’s RAINN Bundle was a huge success and we’d like to try to reach even more donations and spread the word about this cause even further in 2016.

Blood FeudI’ve known about RAINN for a while—its biggest promoter is World Wrestling Entertainment’s legendary Mick Foley (aka Mankind and Cactus Jack)—so I immediately offered Blood Feud: The Saga of Pandora Zwieback, Book 1 as a title to be included in the bundle. And now that bundle is on sale!

If you head on over to the RAINN 2016 Fiction Bundle page at DriveThru Fiction, you’ll find Pan’s first adventure is just one of more than a dozen titles you can purchase, all at once—an $80 bundle for just $15! Do it, and help support a worthy cause.

And for more information about Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, visit the RAINN website.

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Roman Talks Book Promotions at Pandora Zwieback Site

Posted on April 14, 2016 by Steven

SWCOver at the Pandora Zwieback website today, you’ll find part three of the “lost” four-part interview that I did at the now-defunct site Write a Revolution last year. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at not just the creative process, but at some of the work that goes into putting together SWC’s critically acclaimed releases. Today I talk about methods for promoting books—what works and what doesn’t.

You’ll find part one and part two of that interview at the Pan site, as well. Go give ’em a read!

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Roman Talks SWC at Pandora Zwieback Site

Posted on April 13, 2016 by Steven

SWCOver at the Pandora Zwieback website today, you’ll find part two of the “lost” four-part interview that I did at the now-defunct site Write a Revolution last year, to promote SWC’s titles, particularly my dark-urban-fantasy novel Blood Reign: The Saga of Pandora Zwieback, Book 2. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at not just the creative process, but at some of the work that goes into putting together SWC’s critically acclaimed releases. Today we get into some of the particulars involved in choosing a title for release.

You’ll find part one of that interview at the Pan site, as well.

Go give ’em a read!

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A “Lost” Interview with SWC Publisher Steven A. Roman

Posted on April 12, 2016 by Steven

Blood-Reign-FinalCvrIn August 2015, StarWarp Concepts’ owner, publisher, and main writer Steven A. Roman (that’s me!) did an interview with the writer-centric website Write a Revolution to promote SWC’s titles, particularly my dark-urban-fantasy novel Blood Reign: The Saga of Pandora Zwieback, Book 2. But as I recently discovered, both the interview and WaR’s website have disappeared from the Internet!

But fear not, ’Warp fans! If you head over to the Pandora Zwieback website right now, you can read part one of that four-part interview; parts two and three are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday of this week, respectively, with the conclusion appearing next Monday. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at not just the creative process, but at some of the work that goes into putting together SWC’s critically acclaimed releases. Go give it a read!

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Satan’s Hollow Review at Comics for Sinners

Posted on April 11, 2016 by Steven

SatansHollow01-cvrNow at the news site Comics for Sinners, you can read my review of Satan’s Hollow #1, currently available from Zenescope Entertainment. Written by Joe Brusha (Grimm Fairy Tales) and illustrated by Allan Otero (Salem’s Daughter: The Haunting), it’s the start of a six-issue Mature Readers miniseries about an Ohio town with a notorious reputation for being the home of devil-worshipping cults and a Slenderman-like creature of urban legend called the Shadow Man. If you’re into the sort of horror story that might be the perfect vehicle for a low-budget movie, then Satan’s Hollow might be just the comic for you. Head on over to C4S to read all about it.

 Speaking of Mature Readers horror comics involving demonic cults, have you met 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 a critically acclaimed Mature Readers graphic novel:

Lorelei: Sects and the CityLorelei: Sects and the City finds Lori battling 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 “Satana, 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), 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

“A satisfying romp and one that feels like it would have made an excellent seventies horror film (especially one made by Hammer)…. The story is funny at times, graphic at times, and horrific at others, and it’s always delivering its stuff at full volume.”—Strange Amusements

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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The Doorman Review at Comics for Sinners

Posted on April 7, 2016 by Steven

doorman1cvrNow at the news site Comics for Sinners, you can read my review of The Doorman #1, currently available from Heavy Metal magazine’s comic-book division. Written by Eliot Rahal (The Paybacks) and Daniel Kibblesmith (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert) and illustrated by Kendall Goode (Death Saves), it’s the start of a five-issue miniseries about Henry Clay Waters, a human whose job is to man the dimensional portal—or doorway—that links Earth to numerous worlds. It’s his last day on the job and he’s ready to retire—so of course that’s when everything goes to hell, and he’s plunged into a wild adventure that takes him across the stars. It reads like an enjoyable mash-up of Doctor Who, Sliders, and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, so you sci-fi action fans might want to check it out. Head on over to C4S to learn more.

Short_Trips_FarewellsSpeaking of Doctor Who, if you’re a regular visitor to this blog you know I’m a major Whovian, especially when it comes to the Fourth Doctor, whose portrayal by actor Tom Baker remains as popular today as when he played the character in the 1970s, and which continues in the contemporary “Fourth Doctor Adventures” produced by audio-drama company Big Finish. And if you read this post and this other post from 2013, in celebration of the show’s 50th anniversary, you can find out about the time I wrote a Fourth Doctor short story for the Big Finish anthology Doctor Who: Short Trips: Farewells. My story, “Into the Silent Land,” was a character-driven tale (what else would you expect from me?) of the Doctor examining his mortality and the unwanted regeneration looming in his future. And it was well received by critics upon publication, from Doctor Who Magazine (“a compelling story”) to Sci-Fi Online (“a beautifully written tale”).

DW12th-Vol1And that’s not all! I’ve also reviewed a few DW comics for Comics for Sinners, so give these a read:

Doctor Who: The Fourth Doctor #1: Written by Gordon Rennie and Emma Beeby, art by Brian Williamson

Doctor Who: The Twelfth Doctor, Vol. 1: Terrorformer: Written by Robbie Morrison, art by Dave Taylor

Doctor Who: The Twelfth Doctor: The 2015 Holiday Special: Written by George Mann and Cavan Scott, art by Mariano LaClaustra

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Doctor Who: The 4th Doctor Review at Comics for Sinners

Posted on April 5, 2016 by Steven

DrWho-4thDoc-01Over at the news site Comics for Sinners you’ll find my review of Doctor Who: The Fourth Doctor #1, currently available from Titan Comics. Written by Gordon Rennie (2000 AD, Judge Dredd Megazine) and Emma Beeby (2000 AD) and illustrated by Brian Williamson (Torchwood, Doctor Who: The Twelfth Doctor) it’s the start of a five-issue miniseries starring the most famous iteration of television’s time-traveling hero, as played by actor Tom Baker, and his number one traveling companion, Sarah Jane Smith, who was immortalized by actress Elisabeth Sladen. In this adventure, the Doctor and Sarah Jane visit Victorian Age London to take in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show and end up being accosted by top-hat-wearing Cyclopses from beyond time and space. Head over to C4S to learn more.

Sure, Doctor Who doesn’t exactly fit into C4S’s focus on bad-girl comics—for one thing, you don’t find too many scantily clad ladies in Doctor Who—but every now and then management allows me to indulge myself. And if you’ve read this post and this other post from 2013, in celebration of the show’s 50th anniversary, you know I’m a major Whovian, especially when it comes to the Fourth Doctor.

pandoracomic-1Speaking of immortals and their plucky companions who protect the Earth from monsters, have you met Sebastienne “Annie” Mazarin, the 400-year-old, shape-shifting monster hunter who acts as mentor to teenaged Goth adventuress Pandora Zwieback 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 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 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 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!

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 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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The Evil of Reviewapalooza

Posted on March 30, 2016 by Steven

Arhian01As regular visitors to this site might be aware, since 2014 I’ve been a comic and graphic novel reviewer for the news site Comics for Sinners, giving my opinion on some of the latest releases for bad-girl fans and general readers alike. Here are the titles I reviewed in March 2016:

ARH Comix
Arhian, Head Huntress #1: Written by Arahom Radjah, Abraham Kawa, and Ben Bishop, art by Yannis Roumboulias

Titan Comics
Independence Day #1: Written by Victor Gischler, art by Steve Scott and Rodney Ramos

Interested in seeing what else I’ve reviewed? Check out last month’s list, The Revenge of Reviewapalooza, and then head over to C4S to read the entries. And be sure to bookmark Comics For Sinners to keep up-to-date on my opinionated ramblings about bad-girl (and other) comics.

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Independence Day Review at Comics for Sinners

Posted on March 29, 2016 by Steven

ID01_CoverOver at the news site Comics for Sinners, you’ll find my review of Independence Day #1, written by Victor Gischler (Wolverine, Sally of the Wasteland), illustrated by Steve Scott (X-Men Forever, Indiana Jones and the Tomb of the Gods) and Rodney Ramos (Birds of Prey, Batman/Superman), and currently available from Titan Comics. A prequel to the upcoming film Independence Day: Resurgence, this five-issue miniseries serves as a bridge, bringing readers up-to-date about events that took place in the two decades between the original movie and its even-bigger-budget sequel. Head over to C4S to learn more.

Speaking of tales of science fiction adventure with Hollywood connections, are you familiar with the sci-fi warrior John Carter, Warlord of Mars, and his beautiful Martian princess, Dejah Thoris? Created by author Edgar Rice Burroughs (who also created Tarzan the Ape-Man), they star in Burroughs’s classic science-fantasy novel A Princess of Mars—one of StarWarp Concepts’ most popular titles in our Illustrated Classics line of books. And the Hollywood connection? 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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