Blog | StarWarp Concepts | Publisher of Dark Fantasy and Horror

The Latest Praise for Terra Incognito

Posted on March 16, 2016 by Steven

terra_ingoc_lg_cover Well, this is nice! Over at gaming manual distributor RPGNow, a customer named Ben K was so impressed with Richard C. White’s Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination—a how-to reference book for writers and gamers—that after he read it he was inspired to give us his impressions on RPGNow’s StarWarp Concepts product page:

“I really appreciated this book. It was an easy read with lots of details, depth and plot bunnies to chase. It had some new ideas to consider—currency, new forms of government—and made me rethink my ideas on religion…at least on its importance to the people in my stories and how to incorporate their beliefs into cultural backgrounds and character motives. It also made me think about the world beyond the one small continent I started from.”

On behalf of Rich White and the SWC staff, Ben K—thanks!

In Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination, Rich takes fantasy writers and gamers through the step-by-step process of constructing a world for their characters, from societies and governments to currency and religion. Included is an interview with New York Times bestselling author Tracy Hickman (Dragonlance) that discusses his methods of world building, as well as his creative experiences during his time as a designer for gaming company TSR, the original home of Dungeons & Dragons.

Terra Incognito was not just the hottest #1 title when it made its debut last October at RPGNow’s sister site, DriveThru Fiction, but it then held the #1 position for weeks as DTF’s hottest title for nonfiction books and writers’ reference guides!

And Ben K isn’t the only one who found Terra Incognito to be a valuable resource—so did the folks at a popular site for RPG players:

“I think Terra Incognito is a solid introduction to the subject of world building. The book succeeds in helping the aspiring writer in creating a skeletal framework for which to hang the moving parts required of a believable fictional setting.”—The Gaming Gang

Interested in building your own world? Well, Terra Incognito is available in print and digital formats, so visit its product page for ordering information and start creating today!

Posted in Publishing, Reviews | Tagged richard c. white, rpgnow, terra incognito: a guide to building the worlds of your imagination, world building, writing reference | Comments Off

Cthulhu is Coming to Call…

Posted on March 15, 2016 by Steven

Coming in just a few short months from indie publishing house First United Church of Cthulhu is their latest horror anthology, Urban Temples of Cthulhu: a collection of tales inspired by the works of legendary author H. P. Lovecraft—specifically the “Cthulhu Mythos” he developed and then expanded upon with the assistance of such writers (and H.P. fans) as Robert Bloch, Conan the Barbarian creator Robert E. Howard, August Derleth, and others during the first half of the twentieth century. In a nutshell, in his stories Lovecraft posited that a race of giant aliens—the Great Old Ones—lurk in the vastness of space, waiting for the day when their crazed human worshippers make it possible for them to rule the Earth. Foremost among these terrifying monsters is Cthulhu, a squid-headed horror who sleeps in the depths of the Pacific Ocean, dreaming of the day when he arises to usher in the age of darkness.

That’s all well and good, you say, but why am I mentioning another publisher’s upcoming release, here at the SWC blog? Well, if you know me by now, it must be due to the fact that I’m involved in some capacity with Urban Temples of Cthulhu—and I am!

“Sects and the Single Girl” is my short story contribution, and tells the tale of Shitaki Cumberbatch, a member of the Elder God–worshipping Church of Starry Wisdom (a religious order that appeared in “The Haunter of the Dark,” the final Mythos story that Lovecraft wrote before his death). Set in the present day, we find Shitaki involved in filing a sexual harassment lawsuit against her former church—even though she was a willing participant in all their hedonistic practices! It’s a character-driven story of faith and soul-searching, lawsuits and reverends, with just a touch of the sarcasm and snark that readers have come to expect from my writing.

It’s very much a Mature Readers story in tone—rife with four-letter cursing and sexual innuendos and the like—but it’s also the latest addition to what I’ve called the “Paniverse”: the fictional universe in which teenaged Goth monster hunter Pandora Zwieback (star of my Saga of Pandora Zwieback novels and comics) and her supporting cast of characters dwell. It’s also home to Lorelei, the soul-stealing succubus found in the graphic novel Lorelei: Sects and the City. (Hey, if Stephen King can have the Dark Tower multiverse that crosses through most of his works, and F. Paul Wilson can have his tales of the Secret History of the World that revolve around his “Repairman Jack” novels, why shouldn’t I have the Paniverse?)

I’ll be spreading the word when Urban Temples of Cthulhu gets closer to its release date, so as they say, watch this space for developing news!

House_Macabre_large_final Speaking of anthologies in which I’m involved that feature tales of horror and suspense, are you familiar with SWC’s very own horror anthology comic, Lorelei Presents: House Macabre? In this one-shot special that contains four tales of horror—collected behind eye-catching cover art by fan-favorite artist Louis Small Jr. (Vampirella, Supergirl, Batman 80-Page Giant)—you’ll find:

“The Old, Dark Manse” is written by me and illustrated by Uriel Caton (JSA Annual, The Ex-Mutants, Heartstopper: The Legend of La Bella Tenebrosa) and “Chainsaw” Chuck Majewski (Harvey Kurtzman’s New Two-Fisted Tales), and has Lori welcoming readers to this special.

“All in Color for a Crime” is another tale from me, with art by Lou Manna (T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, Young All-Stars). Two comic book collectors clash over a rare back issue—and only one of them will be adding it to their long boxes!

“The Basilisk,” from me and artist John Pierard (Graphic Classics: Horror Classics, My Teacher Fried My Brains), is a “Lori’s Feary Tale” that examines the history of a supernatural creature that’s a cross between a deadly snake and a…chicken?!

Wrapping up the special is “Requiem for Bravo 6,” by New York Times bestselling author and comic writer Dwight Jon Zimmerman (She-Hulk, Steve McQueen: Full-Throttle Cool) and artist Juan Carlos Abraldes Rendo. A special-ops team goes on a life-or-death mission…but will they be prepared for what awaits them at mission’s end?

“This is like a cross between Elvira and House of Mystery, where you’ve got a very sexy hostess who loves the Macabre and tells you stories that are supposed to chill and thrill you…. This whole book is such a pleasant surprise, [and] something that should be sought out by everyone.”—Reading With a Flight Ring

“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.”—The Pullbox

Lorelei Presents: House Macabre is available in print and digital formats, so visit its product page for ordering information, as well as sample pages.

Posted in Publishing | Tagged cthulu mythos, first united church of cthulu, h.p. lovecraft, horror anthologies, lorelei presents: house macabre, sects and the single girl, steven a. roman, urban temples of cthulu | Comments Off

Some Bad News for Our International Readers

Posted on March 10, 2016 by Steven

Heads up, residents of the United Kingdom and the European Continent: Barnes & Noble just sent us some bad news for you e-book fans who purchase titles from their Nook Store—news that affects StarWarp Concepts, as well!

terra_ingoc_lg_cover On March 15, all Nook titles—which, in SWC’s case, means my Pandora Zwieback novels Blood Feud and Blood Reign, and Richard C. White’s writers’ reference book, Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination—will become U.S. exclusives, as Barnes & Noble closes its UK Nook Store and discontinues its Nook Reading app for Android. UK readers will have access to their Nook purchases up to May 31, at which point those readers will have to go to Sainsbury’s Entertainment on Demand to access them.

I know; it sucks. But don’t worry, European ’Warp fans: If you haven’t purchased our Nook-friendly ePub titles from B&N, you can still buy them directly from us, through our webstore. Just follow the links below:

Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination is our popular how-to book for writers and gamers in which bestselling fantasy author Richard C. White (Gauntlet: Dark Legacy: Paths of Evil, The Chronicles of the Sea Dragon Special, Troubleshooters, Incorporated: Night Stalkings) takes you through the step-by-step process of constructing a world for your characters, from societies and governments to currency and religion. Included is an interview with New York Times bestselling author Tracy Hickman (Dragonlance) that discusses his methods of world building, as well as his creative experiences during his time as a designer for gaming company TSR, the original home of Dungeons & Dragons.

Blood Feud As for our Saga of Pandora Zwieback young adult novels: 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.

Blood Feud: The Saga of Pandora Zwieback, Book 1 is the critically acclaimed novel that starts 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, in which Pan and her friends and family 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!

Terra Incognito is $4.99 U.S.; Blood Feud and Blood Reign are $2.99 U.S. each. Sales are made via Paypal, and the books are available for immediate download.

Place your orders today!

Posted in e-books, e-tailers, Publishing | Tagged barnes and noble, blood feud: the saga of pandora zwieback book 1, blood reign: the saga of pandora zwieback book 2, e-books, nook, richard c. white, steven a. roman | Comments Off

Big Apple Con 2016 Report

Posted on March 9, 2016 by Steven

big-apple-con2 Last weekend, StarWarp Concepts put in an appearance at the twenty-first annual Big Apple Con, right in the heart of New York City. So how’d it go for me and The ’Warp at the first NY convention of the year? Read on!

So, the last time I exhibited at this show, in 2012, it was operating under the name New York Comic Book Marketplace, and in my con report I complained about how I wound up being placed in a dark corner of artists alley that fairly killed any business that day. As a comics fan, I’d been to previous editions of this one-day show—both as NYCBM and Big Apple Con (it had switched names for a while before returning to BAC)—and it’s always been a bit disorganized, with no show maps so you can locate guests and exhibitors, and scattershot artist alley placements. So, in 2012, I found myself in a shadowy corner. In 2016…

BigAppleTable-2016

…I found myself in a shadowy alcove between two support pillars. That tan obstruction you see to the right isn’t where the picture cuts off—it’s a wall.

…Yeah.

Also tucked away in the land of darkness was my next-door neighbor for the show, artist Stephen Najarian, who was selling prints and gaming-mat reproductions of his incredible paintings. Despite our odd location, there was a good amount of traffic passing through the area, and plenty of folks stopped by to check out our respective offerings—in SWC’s case, Richard C. White’s Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination, the graphic novel Lorelei: Sects and the City, and Sunn, my 2004 ibooks, inc. superhero graphic novel, were the most popular items.

As to be expected, there were lulls in the traffic, and that’s when I passed the time by taking out a sketchbook and working on a sketch idea I’ve had for a while that involves my Goth monster hunter Pandora Zwieback and Jason Voorhees, the unstoppable killer of the Friday the 13th movies. I didn’t finish the drawing during the show (I’ll be posting it on the Pandora Zwieback website when it’s done), but my working on it did…er, draw the attention of passersby to the SWC table. And that occasionally led to sales, which is always a good thing.

And The ’Warp got some press coverage! I did interviews with Vince Vlado from the Queens public-access-channel series Sci-Fi Ninja Theater, and Meke Brown from the podcast Pondering Nerds. Vince was interested in Lorelei Presents: House Macabre. Meke wanted to know about my zombie apocalypse short story “Laundry Day,” which appears in Books of the Dead Press’s Best New Zombie Tales, Vol. 2.

lantern228E At the end of the day, it turned out to be an all right experience. SWC made some new fans, there was a good turnout for the show, and despite the gloomy location there was definitive proof that there are plenty of folks out there interested in the books, comics, and graphic novels we publish. And what does that all mean? Well, in all likelihood you’ll find SWC at next year’s show, already announced for March 4, 2017.

Just look for the table with the lantern on it. Otherwise you might miss me in the dark. 😉

Posted in Convention Reports, Conventions | Tagged big apple con, convention reports, conventions | 1 Comment

Are You a Librarian Looking for Quality E-books?

Posted on March 7, 2016 by Steven

nyplibrary An interesting topic came up the other night, while I was talking with Richard C. White, author of SWC’s supernatural graphic novel Troubleshooters, Incorporated: Night Stalkings, pirate-fantasy digital comic The Chronicles of the Sea Dragon Special, and the popular how-to book for writers, Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination. Rich had been a guest this past weekend at MystiCon (check out his Mysticon convention report over at his blog) and had a conversation with some school librarians who were interested in adding his writers reference book, Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination, to their lists of e-book titles. But how, they asked, would they be able to obtain it? As librarians, they’re required to order books from distributors, not from publishers; that applies to e-books as well.

Well, it just so happens that one of The ’Warp’s digital distributors, Smashwords, makes our titles available to libraries through Baker & Taylor’s Axis360 and OverDrive e-book programs. To quote from Smashword’s arrangement with the programs:

“Library patrons are able to check out only one copy at a time. The books are wrapped in DRM so they time out after a specific period of time. The library can purchase multiple copies if they decide demand warrants multiple simultaneous checkouts. Otherwise, the library purchases a single copy and allows only one copy at a time to be lent out. If a library patron wishes to obtain a book that’s already checked out, the patron is sometimes given the option to purchase a copy through a retailer.”

In the case of OverDrive, “If a library patron wishes to obtain a book that’s already checked out, the patron is sometimes given the option to purchase a copy direct through OverDrive (for libraries that utilize OverDrive’s ‘Buy it Now’ feature).”

Via Smashwords, the following titles can be ordered through Axis360 and OverDrive:

Oh, and in case you’re wondering, you can also obtain our Saga of Pandora Zwieback young adult novels, Blood Feud and Blood Reign—written by yours truly. You know how popular young adult books are these days, don’t you? Well, here’s another series your patrons might be interested in!

Blood Feud 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 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!

So if you’re a librarian interested in adding those three titles to your digital bookshelves, head over to Axis360 or OverDrive and place your order today!

Posted in e-books, e-tailers | Tagged axis360, baker & taylor. overdrive, e-books, library orders, Pandora Zwieback, richard c. white, smashwords, steven a. roman, terra incognito: a guide to building the worlds of your imagination, world building, writing reference | Comments Off

Welcome, Big Apple Con 2016 Attendees!

Posted on March 5, 2016 by Steven

SWC Thanks for stopping by our table today, and for coming here to check things out at a more leisurely pace. We’re always thrilled to meet potential new readers intrigued by our range of titles, and hope we can add you to our growing fan base.

StarWarp Concepts specializes in tales of horror and dark urban fantasy, and our titles range from young adult fiction (The Saga of Pandora Zwieback) and illustrated classics (J. Sheridan’s Le Fanu’s vampire romance, Carmilla; Edgar Rice Burroughs’s A Princess of Mars; The Brothers Grimm’s Snow White) to graphic novels for superhero fans (Troubleshooters, Incorporated: Night Stalkings) and adult horror aficionados (Lorelei: Sects and the City); from digital and print comic books (The Saga of Pandora Zwieback Annual #1, Lorelei Presents: House Macabre #1, The Chronicles of the Sea Dragon Special, Heartstopper: The Legend of La Bella Tenebrosa); to artist sketch collections (The Bob Larkin Sketchbook) and writing guides (Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination). And we’ve got even more exciting projects in the works!

Currently, our most popular titles are:

Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination: Not a novel or graphic novel, but our first nonfiction book for writers and gamers. Bestselling fantasy author Richard C. White (Gauntlet: Dark Legacy: Paths of Evil, The Chronicles of the Sea Dragon Special) takes you through the step-by-step process of constructing a world for your characters, from societies and governments to currency and religion. Included is an interview with New York Times bestselling author Tracy Hickman (Dragonlance) that discusses his methods of world building, as well as his creative experiences during his time as a designer for gaming company TSR, the original home of Dungeons & Dragons. The gaming-news site The Gaming Gang recommended in its four-star (out of 5) review that “For those who have yet to dip their toes into the creative waters of devising a fictional setting, the book makes a mighty good reference aimed to point you to the stream.” And when the e-book edition was released at digital distributors DriveThru Fiction and DriveThru RPG, it made its debut as their #1 Hottest Title, and then spent more than a month in the #1 positions for nonfiction books and writers guides!

Blood Feud: The Saga of Pandora Zwieback, Book 1: Steven A. Roman’s critically acclaimed novel is the story of 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 a shape-shifting monster hunter named Sebastienne “Annie” Mazarin 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. But before Pan can learn more about what she can do, she and her parents are drawn into a conflict between warring vampire clans that are 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. Her first adventure continues in Blood Reign: The Saga of Pandora Zwieback, Book 2 (also now on sale) and concludes in the upcoming Blood & Iron: The Saga of Pandora Zwieback, Book 3.

Lorelei: Sects and the City: This critically acclaimed, Mature Readers graphic novel stars a soul-stealing succubus who finds herself in a life-or-death struggle with a cult of Elder God worshippers intent on summoning their demonic overlords to rule the world. At its heart, this tale is an homage to such 1960s and 1970s horror comics and movies as Vampirella, Son of Satan, Satana the Devil’s Daughter, Tomb of Dracula, The Devil Rides Out, and The Devil’s Rain, as well as H. P. Lovecraft’s classic Cthulu Mythos—but with a modern day attitude. It’s written by Steven A. Roman, and features art by Eliseu Gouveia (Lady Death, The Phantom), Steve Geiger (Web of Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk), and Neil Vokes (Fright Night, Flesh and Blood). Cover art is provided by the legendary Esteban Maroto (Vampirella, Zatanna, Lady Rawhide). Among Lorelei’s fans are Vampirella and Famous Monsters of Filmland creator, the late Forrest J Ackerman; James Warren, the original publisher of Vampirella, Creepy, Eerie, and Famous Monsters; horror writer Elizabeth Massie; and Science Fiction Writers of America Writer Emeritus Neal Barrett Jr.

Lorelei Presents: House Macabre: It’s Lori’s first outing as the hostess of a horror comic anthology, in this one-shot special that contains four tales of horror, behind eye-catching cover art by fan-favorite artist Louis Small Jr. (Vampirella, Supergirl, Batman 80-Page Giant).

“The Old, Dark Manse” is written by Steven A. Roman and illustrated by Uriel Caton (JSA Annual, The Ex-Mutants, Heartstopper: The Legend of La Bella Tenebrosa) and “Chainsaw” Chuck Majewski (Harvey Kurtzman’s New Two-Fisted Tales), and has Lori welcoming readers to this special.

“All in Color for a Crime” is another tale from Roman, with art by Lou Manna (T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, Young All-Stars). Two comic book collectors clash over a rare back issue—and only one of them will be adding it to their long boxes!

“The Basilisk,” from Roman and artist John Pierard (Graphic Classics: Horror Classics, My Teacher Fried My Brains), is a “Lori’s Feary Tale” that examines the history of a supernatural creature that’s a cross between a deadly snake and a…chicken?!

Wrapping up the special is “Requiem for Bravo 6,” by New York Times bestselling author and comic writer Dwight Jon Zimmerman (She-Hulk, Steve McQueen: Full-Throttle Cool) and artist Juan Carlos Abraldes Rendo. A special-ops team goes on a life-or-death mission…but will they be prepared for what awaits them at mission’s end?

Carmilla: J. Sheridan Le Fanu’s 19th-century classic tale of love gone wrong. Laura is so desperate for a friend that when a young woman practically turns up on the doorstep of the castle owned by Laura’s father, she thinks her prayers for companionship have been answered. But as she comes to realize, Carmilla isn’t as interested in making friends as she is in spilling blood. Our edition contains six original illustrations done especially for StarWarp Concepts by the super-talented Eliseu Gouveia (Lorelei: Sects and the City).

All titles are available in print and digital formats, so visit their respective product pages for ordering information, as well as sample pages.

When you’re done touring the StarWarp site (be sure to visit the Downloads page for the freebies), don’t forget to Like StarWarp Concepts’ Facebook page, so you can keep up-to-date with all the latest SWC news.

On Tuesday I’ll be posting my convention report, so feel free to come on back and see how the show went for this indie publishing house.

Posted in Conventions | Tagged big apple con, conventions | Comments Off

Happy Game Masters Appreciation Day 2016!

Posted on March 4, 2016 by Steven

Since 2002, March 4 has been well known to the gaming community as International GM’s [Game Masters] Appreciation Day. Never heard of it? Well, that’s probably because, like me, you’re not involved in that ever-growing collection of fans. To explain this event, I’ll let this quote from the official GM’s Day site provide you with some background:

GM’s Day was born on the site EN World in December 2002. Originally a simple message board post by EN World member Spunkrat, the idea quickly gained popularity, championed by Mark Clover of Creative Mountain Games and, of course, EN World itself…. GM’s Day is an annual day to show your Game Master (or Dungeon Master, or Storyteller, or Referee) how much you appreciate them. Publishers and retail outlets across the world now join in GM’s Day, offering discounts, sales, and other cool stuff.

And what do you know? It just so happens that StarWarp Concepts has a book that’s perfect for game masters and gamers alike:

Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination is available in both print and digital formats, so visit its product page for all the ordering information. And don’t forget to order a copy for your favorite game master!

Posted in Events, Publishing | Tagged gm's day, international game masters appreciation day, richard c. white, terra incognito: a guide to building the worlds of your imagination, world building, writing reference | Comments Off

Big Apple Con 2016 is This Saturday

Posted on March 3, 2016 by Steven

big-apple-con2 It’s been awhile since The ’Warp has exhibited at a comic-book convention—our last appearance was at 2014’s Eternal Con, out on Long Island—but I figured if we were going to make one show this year, why not make it the first New York fan gathering of 2016, the Big Apple Con?

Due to the terrible winter weather last March, we missed out on the con’s twentieth celebration, but this Saturday, March 5, StarWarp Concepts has every intention of being at this year’s show (weather permitting)! Run by noted art dealer Michael Carbonaro, this one-day gathering of geek culture has become quite the event to attend during its two decades, its aisles filled with comic book back issues, comic creators, and media guests.

Blood-Reign-FinalCvr You’ll find the SWC table in artists’ alley, where you’ll be able to purchase a fine selection of our titles, including my dark-urban-fantasy novel Blood Reign: The Saga of Pandora Zwieback, Book 2; Richard C. White’s how-to book for writers and gamers, Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination; and the horror comic anthology, Lorelei Presents: House Macabre.

Where will the SWC table be, precisely? Well, that’s a good question, since the folks at Big Apple don’t hand out table assignments to exhibitors until they get there. I guess we’ll all find out on Saturday…

The Big Apple Con is being held at the Penn Plaza Pavilion, located at 401 Seventh Avenue in Manhattan, directly across from Madison Square Garden and Pennsylvania Station. Show hours are 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. For more information, including a list of the comic creators and television actors scheduled to appear, head over to the Big Apple Con website.

Hope to see you at the show!

Posted in Conventions | Tagged big apple con, conventions | Comments Off

Arhian, Head Huntress Review at Comics for Sinners

Posted on March 2, 2016 by Steven

Arhian01 Over at the news site Comics for Sinners, you’ll find my review of Arhian, Head Huntress #1, now on sale from ARH Comix. Written by Arahom Radjah, Abraham Kawa, and Ben Bishop and illustrated by Yannis Roumboulias, it’s the start of a five-issue miniseries that stars a Red Sonja–esque warrior woman who, as the old saying goes, is as deadly as she is beautiful, and who’s hired by a nobleman to rescue his daughter from kidnappers. Considering the story’s pulp-fantasy roots, there’s probably more to Arhian’s quest than even she knows—and all of it dangerous. Head over to C4S to learn more.

Speaking of action heroines, are you aware that StarWarp Concepts has a few of its own? No? Then allow me to fill you in…

Lorelei: SWC’s first leading lady of horror, Lori is a succubus who revels in devouring the souls of bad guys, and currently stars in two critically acclaimed projects: the graphic novel Lorelei: Sects and the City, in which she battles a cult of Elder God worshippers to prevent them from unleashing hell on Earth; and the one-shot special Lorelei Presents: House Macabre, in which she tries her hand at hosting an old-style horror anthology comic.

Pandora Zwieback and Sebastienne “Annie” Mazarin: Pan is a teenaged Goth with the power to see through the human disguises of the monsters that actually exist in the world; Annie is Pan’s immortal, monster-hunting mentor. Together they star in The Saga of Pandora Zwieback, a series of dark-urban-fantasy novels that involve vampire civil wars, fallen angels, and a legion of other monsters. Currently, you’ll find Pan and Annie clashing with monsterdom in the novels Blood Feud and Blood Reign, as well as the comic book The Saga of Pandora Zwieback Annual #1.

heartstopper_lg_cover_2013 But long before she started teaching Pan how to deal with the creatures of the night, Annie was also the star of a short-lived “bad girl” comic book miniseries in the 1990s: Heartstopper: The Legend of La Bella Tenebrosa. Here you’ll find Annie doing a bit of research for an article about gentlemen’s clubs in Times Square—research that includes actually performing as an exotic dancer (I did say it was a ’90s comic, didn’t I?). It’s that part-time gig that brings her into contact with Corum de Sade, a heavy metal singer with a deadly secret: he’s a soul-devouring incubus! All three issues are available for free from this very website, so download them today!

Dejah Thoris: Created by author Edgar Rice Burroughs, Dejah Thoris is the sword-wielding princess of the Martian city of Helium and the costar of the classic science-fantasy novel A Princess of Mars, first in Burroughs’s “John Carter of Mars” 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. Dejah Thoris is no pulp-fiction damsel in distress, ready to fight alongside Carter in his quest to end the ongoing war that threatens to tear apart the red planet.

Carmilla: The blood-drenched temptress of a 19th-century novella by author J. Sheridan Le Fanu, Carmilla is a vampiress who desires not just blood but love from her victims, and when she enters the life of a young woman named Laura, Carmilla decides that her new friend will become her next great love—and won’t take no for an answer. Regarded as the one of the earliest lesbian vampires—if not the first—Carmilla was an influence on author Bram Stoker in the creation of the vampire brides in his seminal novel, Dracula, and remains a popular character in fiction to this day.

All titles except Heartstopper—which is a digital exclusive—are available in print and digital formats. Visit their respective product pages for ordering information, as well as sample pages.

Posted in Comic Books, heartstopper, Lorelei, Pandora Zwieback, Princess of Mars, Reviews | Tagged arhian head huntress, comic book reviews, comics for sinners, swc action heroines | Comments Off

Happy Will Eisner Week 2016!

Posted on March 1, 2016 by Steven

Graphic novels: Who doesn’t love to read them, especially if they can be used to get adults, teens, and kids interested in reading? And if there’s one thing the staff at StarWarp Concepts believes in, it’s promoting literacy. And wouldn’t you know it, there’s a yearly literacy event that’s been set up to help get the ball rolling!

Will Eisner Week is an annual celebration—held this week from March 1 to March 7—and is run by the Will and Ann Eisner Family Foundation. It promotes literacy, graphic novels, free speech, and the legacy of the late Will Eisner, who would have turned 98 on March 6. Eisner, for those of you who might be unfamiliar with his work, was the creator of the 1940s masked crimefighter The Spirit, and one of the founding fathers of American graphic novels. A Contract with God, A Life Force, Dropsie Avenue, and The Dreamer are just some of the fascinating tales Eisner wrote and drew, featuring ordinary people in extraordinary (and sometimes not-so-extraordinary) situations. And even though he passed away in 2005, Eisner continues to inspire generations of writers and artists. Events are being held this week around the world; visit the Will Eisner Week site for more information.

StarWarp Concepts, of course, has its share of graphic novels, and we’d have no problem at all if you happened them to order them as your reading material for this special week. Check out the following titles—there may be one (or more) that pique your interest:

Lorelei: Sects and the City: This is the critically acclaimed, Mature Readers tale of a succubus battling a cult that’s trying to revive the elder gods they worship. 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).

Troubleshooters, Incorporated: Night Stalkings: Perfect for superhero fans, this graphic novel is about a supernatural team of superfolk-for-hire, consisting of a wizard, a sorceress, a female ninja, a high-tech-armor-wearing rock concert lighting designer, and a werewolf. Not every superhero team has Tony Stark’s billions to play with, you understand, and the Troubleshooters are just looking to earn a living while fighting the monsters that have always lurked in the shadows. Makes sense, right? Of course it does! Written by the husband-and-wife team of Richard C. White (The Chronicles of the Sea Dragon Special) and Joni M. White, and illustrated by Reggie Golden and Randy Zimmerman, Night Stalkings presents the TSI members on their first mission: protecting a multimillionaire from a trio of Middle Eastern demons out to raise a little hell!

The Saga of Pandora Zwieback Annual #1: Although it may not be a graphic novel, at 56 pages it’s still a pretty thick comic book, with three stories of Pan and the monsters that live in her New York City hometown. The Saga of Pandora Zwieback chronicles the adventures of sixteen-year-old Pandora Zwieback, a Gothy horror fangirl who possesses amazing powers that she just learned about, including the ability to see past the human disguises worn by monsters to blend in with society. And The Saga of Pandora Zwieback Annual #1 is a 56-page, full-color special that contains stories by Steven A. Roman (yep, me again) and Sholly Fisch (Scooby-Doo Team-Up, The All-New Batman: The Brave and the Bold), and art by Eliseu Gouveia (Lorelei: Sects and the City, The Saga of Pandora Zwieback #0) and comic-art legend Ernie Colon (Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld).