Tuesday, February 27, 2018

ARMY OF DARKNESS 25th Anniversary Comics Bundle offered

FROM THE OFFICIAL DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT PRESS RELEASE . . . . .


DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT AND GROUPEES GIVE FANS A REASON
TO EXCLAIM "GROOVY" WITH ALL-NEW ARMY OF DARKNESS
BUILD-A-BUNDLE FOR 25TH ANNIVERSARY!

The Cult Classic Film's Digital Comic Promotion Follows on the Heels of
Mind-Blowing Twilight Zone Bundle




February 26, 2018, Mt. Laurel, NJ: February 26th, 2018, Mt. Laurel, NJ: Dynamite Entertainment and unique media bundling site Groupees are proud to offer a horror-heavy digital comics promotion to fans of the seminal Bruce Campbell film, Army of Darkness. The AOD Build-a-Bundle is designed to fit any budget, granting enthusiasts the freedom to choose individual comics for a super-discounted rate, or collect all 111 digital comics for the low, low price of only $19.93 (a number familiar to fans as Army of Darkness' release year), a savings of over 90%!

The Groupees Army of Darkness Build-a-Bundle promotion can be found at: https://groupees.com/aod

To make the bundle even more appealing, Dynamite is offering five (5) introductory digital comics - an $8.95 value - for absolutely free. If you've never read the adventures of tough-talkin', chainsaw-wielding, Deadite-killin' Ashley J. Williams in comic book format before, feel free to dive into the carnage with the following selection:

  • Ash vs. The Army of Darkness #0
  • Army of Darkness Movie Adaptation #1
  • Army of Darkness Vol. 2 #1
  • Army of Darkness: Ash Gets Hitched #1
  • Army of Darkness: Shop Til You Drop #1


To purchase the individual issues in digital form, Dynamite and Groupees are offering each issue at a specially reduced price, so you can mix-and-match to meet your story preference. But remember - the best buy would be to nab the entire lot of digital AOD comics for the low rate of only $19.93. That's over 100 comics valued at almost $300  - over 2,000 pages of action and mayhem -- at a fraction of the price!

  • Army of Darkness Vol. 1 #1-4 ("AOD vs Reanimator" storyline) - $1.00 each
  • Army of Darkness Vol. 1 #5-7 - $1.00 each
  • Army of Darkness Vol. 1 #8-11 ("Ash vs. Classic Monsters" storyline) - $1.00 each
  • Army of Darkness Vol. 1 #12-13 (prequel to Ash vs. Marvel Zombies) - $1.00 each
  • Army of Darkness Vol. 2 #2-27 - $0.75 each
  • Army of Darkness Vol. 3 #1-13 - $0.50 each
  • Army of Darkness / Reanimator: Digital Exclusive Edition One-Shot - $1.00 each
  • Army of Darkness #1992.1 - $0.50 each
  • Army of Darkness Vol 4 #1-5 ("Ash in Space" storyline) - $1.00 each
  • Army of Darkness vs. Hack/Slash #1-6 - $1.00 each
  • Army of Darkness: Ash for President One-Shot - $1.00 each
  • Army of Darkness: Ash Gets Hitched #2-4 - $0.50 each
  • Army of Darkness: Ash Saves Obama #1-4 - $0.75 each
  • Tales of Army of Darkness (featuring Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman) - $1.00 each
  • Army of Darkness Convention Special - $2.00 each
  • Army of Darkness: Furious Road #1-6 - $1.00 each
  • Army of Darkness Movie Adaptation #2-3 - 50 cents each
  • Army of Darkness: Shop Til You Drop #2-4 - 50 cents each
  • Army of Darkness / Xena: Warrior Princess - Why Not? #1-4 - $1.00 each
  • Ash and the Army of Darkness #1-8 - $1.00 each
  • Ash vs. The Army of Darkness #1-5 - $1.00 each
  • Vampirella / Army of Darkness #1-4 - $1.00 each
  • Xena: Warrior Princess vs. Army of Darkness: What Again? #1-4 - $1.00 each


Eager to experience more horror in digital comic form? Dynamite and Groupees proudly continue to offer the Twilight Zone Bundle, from now through the first week of March! Twilight Zone - the original science fiction phenomenon - hurls humanity's fragile sanity deeper into the unknown courtesy of Dynamite's talented roster of comic book writers and artists… and thanks to the publisher's partnership with Groupees, you have a front row seat to the weirdness!

The Twilight Zone bundle, can be found at: https://groupees.com/tz

A traditional package deal, Groupees offers the following 19 digital comics, valued at over $42.00, for the low price of only $3.99 - a 90% savings!

  • Twilight Zone #1-12 (by Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski)
  • Twilight Zone: 1959 One-Shot
  • Twilight Zone Annual
  • Twilight Zone: Lost Tales One-Shot
  • Twilight Zone: Shadow and Substance #1-4


"Dynamite presents comic fans with two more great bundles of digital comics featuring iconic properties, Army of Darkness and The Twilight Zone," said Groupees Founder Thomas Brooke. "On behalf of the Groupees community, we thank Dynamite for continuing to offer such amazing deals on its digital library."

Nick Barrucci, CEO and Publisher of Dynamite, says, "Dynamite is proud to continue bringing first-class digital entertainment to the Groupees customer base through their innovative bundle program. This is a phenomenal bundle that will introduce longtime science fiction and horror lovers to the comic book medium. That's part of the Dynamite mission -- expanding the comics market by converting genre fans into comic shop customers."

These unique bundle sales are only available for a limited time, so act now!


About Dynamite Entertainment:

Dynamite was founded in 2004 and is home to several best-selling properties, including The BoysThe ShadowVampirellaWarlord of MarsBionic ManGame of ThronesSEAL Team Six, and more! In addition to their critically acclaimed titles and best-selling comics, Dynamite works with some of the highest-profile creators in comics and entertainment, including Kevin Smith, Alex Ross, John Cassaday, Garth Ennis, Jae Lee, Gail Simone, Marc Guggenheim, Mike Carey, Jim Krueger, Greg Pak, Brett Matthews, Matt Wagner, and a host of up-and-coming new talent.

About Groupees:

Groupees is a unique online and mobile platform for distribution of digital media, including games, comics, ebooks and music, with real-time social features so users can share their passions with like-minded people from around the World. Based in Portland, OR, USA, the Groupees team spans continents and includes passionate professionals with backgrounds in games, music, social media and technology.


 

Biography Comic Books debut featuring LGBTQ+ Leaders and Allies

 from the official TidalWave press release . . . .

At the heart of TidalWave comic book publishing model is the development of innovative stories focusing on topics of importance to the LGBTQ+ community. TidalWave showcases the lives of the famous in its biography line and tells cutting-edge stories of heroism in its fiction line of comic books and graphic novels. 

This month, TidalWave Comics re-releases over twenty of its most popular nonfiction comic books featuring LGBTQ+ people in an exciting new print format.   

These titles, some of TidalWaves’ bestsellers, include an historical look at the Stonewall Riots. Other titles explore the lives of allies or out celebrities such as RuPaul, Ellen DeGeneres, Cher, Madonna, Joan Jett, Tom Daley, Keith Haring, Lady Gaga, Freddie Mercury, Britney Spears, Kathy Griffin, Rosie O’Donnell, Anderson Cooper, Barbra Streisand, and Liza Minelli, among others. 

Publisher of TidalWave Comics, Darren G. Davis, created 10th Muse, one Image Comics bestselling titles during the great comic book boom of the 1990’s. He parlayed that success into his own company; a company not afraid to take chances in the publishing field. 

One of the more successful books he wrote and published is “Lost Raven,” about man coming to terms with his HIV while simultaneously battling government-created monsters. The monsters are outward representations of the battle Zak Raven wages within as he grapples with his medical status

Davis, himself diagnosed as positive in 1999, culled the story from his own journals. “Journal writing was a way for me to deal with the inevitable post-infection depression. I beat myself up pretty bad in those journals," he said. "I became a bitter person. Someone I didn’t recognize." 

Davis used creativity to bring about change. "I knew that I had to do something productive and try to create something positive. That became the story about a person struggling with the emotions of understanding his HIV."

The biography comic form allows TidalWave’s talented writers to delve into the history of newsworthy figures and explore the events that shaped them. Their line of biographical comic books have been featured on CNN, The Today Show, Good Morning America, FOX News and in Billboard Magazine, TIME Magazine, The Advocate, POZ Magazine, Vanity Fair among thousands of others, engaging readers of all ages with a mix of information and entertainment.

Educators will find TidalWave’s robust catalog of graphic and literary novels now fully accessible, providing teachable moments for their students. Libraries can order books designed to educate and entertain communities, while comic book stores can capitalize on the focus of the lives of famous – and infamous – while adding credibility to the graphic form by sharing true stories that shape our lives. 

“As a reluctant reader, I found the comic book form easy to access, so I always believed comics could both entertain and teach,” said Davis.

TidalWave formed a recent partnership with Ingram to print high-quality books on demand while assisting with eBook distribution and more. Ingram works across the full publishing spectrum, providing assistance to some of the largest names in the business to local indie authors. 

All the titles are in print and is available on your e-reader from iTunes, Kindle, Nook, ComiXology, DriveThru Comics, Google Play, Overdrive, IVerse, Biblioboard, Madefire, Axis360, Blio, Entitle, EPIC!, Trajectory, SpinWhiz, Smash Words, Kobo and wherever eBooks are sold.

 

Both comic book and book stores worldwide can order the books thru Ingram as well. 


SHADOWMAN offers two story arcs in Pre-Order bundles

EDITOR’S NOTE:  2018 looks to be a good year for SHADOWMAN fans with more content than we/ve seen in a long time.  Read below for some exclusive benefits to pre-ordering your copies. . . . .


from the official Valiant press release . . . .


Valiant Presents SHADOWMAN #4-11 PRE-ORDER EDITION BUNDLE – Spanning "DEAD AND GONE" and "RAG AND BONE" in June and Beyond!

 

Fresh off of last week's look ahead at superstar writer Andy Diggle's yearlong roadmap for Shadowman's powerful new ongoing series, Valiant is proud to announce the SHADOWMAN (2018) #4-11 PRE-ORDER EDITION BUNDLE – available only as a pre-order set to fans who reserve the next two stunning storylines,“DEAD AND GONE” and “RAG AND BONE,” with their local comic shop by the initial order date (IOD) of April 26th, 2018! 

Released monthly from June 2018 through January 2019, each PRE-ORDER EDITION comes packed with trade paperback-style extras and bonus content, including creator commentary, behind-the-scenes looks at the creation of the comics, process character designs and artwork, and first looks at upcoming issues – plus exclusive covers by rising star Hannah Fisher (Tomb Raider) that can’t be found anywhere else!

First: Shadowman’s inaugural year spirals into “DEAD AND GONE” – an epic exploration into the true power and impact of the Shadowman legacy across the ages, beginning in SHADOWMAN #4 and featuring a rotating cast of all-star artists, including Shawn Martinbrough (Thief of Thieves, Black Panther), Doug Braithwaite (X-O MANOWAR, Journey into Mystery), and Renato Guedes (BLOODSHOT SALVATION), on each issue!

For years, Jack Boniface believed that he knew the true story of the Shadowman loa – the true story of the curse inside him. He was wrong.

For the first time, Jack Boniface is about to discover the long-hidden history of the supernatural power that became his birthright… Unmoored in time and space, the loa is about to reveal its untold dimensions…and now, the last defender of the wall between our realm and the Deadside is falling backwards through the astral void, finding himself face to face with his forebears across the centuries – from the paranoia-addled alleyways of 1940s New York to the fire-scorched plantations of the Civil War…all the way back to the primeval height of the African savannah in 40,000 B.C.!

Then: Just in time for Halloween, the battle for the legacy of Master Darque erupts into civil war as the factions of New Orleans’ occult underground vie for control of his earthly remains…and the untapped power they contain…in “RAG AND BONE,” an all-new jumping-on point beginning in SHADOWMAN #8

For some men – like the sadistic necromancer Nicodemo Darque, whose eternal conflict with the Boniface family’s lineage of Shadowmen was bound in blood nearly two centuries ago – the true path to power lies beyond death… And even the last relics of their earthly remains can become a doorway themselves…

As Shadowman returns to New Orleans with a revelatory new understanding of the immense abilities within himself, he won’t have long to adjust…because a war for control of the ultimate magical artifact – the bones of Master Darque, his old arch-nemesis – is about to erupt out of the underground and into the harsh view of day!

On one side: The Brethren, a society of wealthy and powerful occultists obsessed with Darque’s resurrection and ushering in a millennia-long reign of darkness. On the other: Shadowman’s old allies from The Abettors…and Darque’s own sister, Sandria, who would like nothing more than to grind her brother’s bones to dust…

The endless cycle of death and rebirth stops here as Shadowman and the Darque clan usher in the reckoning they’ve waited ten lifetimes to achieve – with massive repercussions for the future of the Valiant Universe – as high-octane artist Stephen Segovia returns to heed the call of “RAG AND BONE”!

Fans and retailers, take note: The only way to obtain these exclusive items is to pre-order all eight issues with your local comic shop by the initial order date of April 26th, 2018! No more copies will be made available beyond that date and subsequent issues will not be offered in later solicitations!

Available only as a pre-order set to fans who reserve the next eight issues from master storyteller Andy Diggle and superstar artists Shawn Martinbrough, Doug Braithwaite, Renato Guedes, and Stephen Segovia, theSHADOWMAN #4-11 PRE-ORDER EDITION BUNDLE – eight 40-page, massively expanded editions of Valiant’s next essential ongoing series – can only be ordered as a set and must be ordered with your local comic shop by the initial order date of April 26th, 2018!


SHADOWMAN (2018) #4 (NEW ARC! “DEAD AND GONE” – PART 1)
Written by ANDY DIGGLE
Art by SHAWN MARTINBROUGH
Cover A by TONCI ZONJIC
Cover B by DAVID MACK
Interlocking Variant by DAVID LAFUENTE
Shadowman Icon Variant by DAVE JOHNSON
$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | On Sale JUNE 20th (FOC – 5/18/18)

SHADOWMAN (2018) #4-11 PRE-ORDER EDITION BUNDLE
Written by ANDY DIGGLE
Art by SHAWN MARTINBROUGH, DOUG BRAITHWAITE, RENATO GUEDES, and STEPHEN SEGOVIA
Covers by HANNAH FISHER
$3.99 each [8 issues] | 40 pgs. each | T+ | Issue #4 On Sale JUNE 20th (IOD – 4/26/18) 


SHADOWMAN (2018) #4 – Pre-Order Edition by Hannah Fisher


SHADOWMAN (2018) #4 – Cover A by Tonci Zonjic


SHADOWMAN (2018) #4 – Cover B by David Mack


SHADOWMAN (2018) #4 – Shadowman Icon Variant by Dave Johnson


SHADOWMAN (2018) #4-11 PRE-ORDER EDITION BUNDLE Coupon


Local cartoonist BOX BROWN visits COMIC BOOK SHOP on March 3

EDITOR’S NOTE:  Box Brown has earned a well-deserved reputation for crafting well-detailed biographical comics that educate while they entertain. He will visit THE COMIC BOOK SHOP at 1855 Marsh Road, Wilmington DELAWARE 19810 this Saturday, March 3.  (302-477-1119) Here’s an opportunity to meet a local creator and get a signed copy of his work.

Milk & Cookies w/ Box Brown on 3.3.18 from 12p-4p!

Box Brown!

The Philadelphia cartoonist is coming to TCBS for the release of his newest book,
Is This Guy For Real? The Unbelieveable Andy Kaufman

Join us Saturday *March 3rd* 12p-4p

*Rescheduled due to sickness – So sorry!*

 

Box Brown is an Ignatz Award-winning American cartoonist whose first work was the online comic Bellen!. He was the winner of a 2011 Xeric Grant for the comic
Love is a Peculiar Type of Thing.
In 2011, Brown started a Kickstarter fundraiser to create a new publisher
called Retrofit Comics, with the goal of publishing 16 alternative comic books
over 16 months. Since completing this goal, Retrofit Comics has continued to publish new comic books every month or two.

@boxbrown              boxbrown.com

ANDY KAUFMANN: IS THIS GUY FOR REAL? GN

Comedian and performer Andy Kaufman’s resume was impressive –
a popular role on the beloved sitcom Taxi, a high-profile stand-up career, and a surprisingly successful stint in professional wrestling.
Although he was by all accounts a sensitive and thoughtful person,
he’s ironically best remembered for his various contemptible personas, which were
so committed and so convincing that all but his closest family and friends
were completely taken in.
Why would someone so gentle-natured and sensitive build an entire career seeking the hatred of his audience? What drives a performer to solicit that reaction? Graphic novelist Box Brown takes on the complex and often hilarious life of Andy Kaufman.

*******************************************************************************************

ANDRE THE GIANT: LIFE & LEGEND GN

Andre Roussimoff is known as both the lovable giant Fezzik in The Princess Bride and a heroic pro-wrestling figure. He was a normal guy who’d been dealt an extraordinary hand in life. At his peak, he weighed 500 pounds and stood nearly seven and a half feet tall.
Box Brown brings his great talents as a cartoonist and biographer to this phenomenal new graphic novel. Drawing from historical records about Andre’s life as well as a wealth of anecdotes from his colleagues in the wrestling world, including Hulk Hogan,
and his film co-stars, Brown has created the first substantive biography of one of the twentieth century’s most recognizable figures.

*******************************************************************************************

TETRIS: GAMES PEOPLE PLAY GN 

It is, perhaps, the perfect video game. Simple yet addictive, Tetris delivers an irresistible, unending puzzle that has players hooked. Play it long enough and you’ll see those brightly colored geometric shapes everywhere.
Alexey Pajitnov had big ideas about games. In 1984, he created Tetris in his spare time while developing software for the Soviet government. Once Tetris emerged from behind the Iron Curtain, it was an instant hit.
New York Times-bestselling author Box Brown untangles this complex history and delves deep into the role games play in art, culture, and commerce. For the first time and in unparalleled detail, Tetris: The Games People Play tells the true story of the world’s most popular video game.

 

Book Review: THE CHALK MAN by C J Tudor

From the Goodreads summary:

 

In 1986, Eddie and his friends are just kids on the verge of adolescence. They spend their days biking around their sleepy English village and looking for any taste of excitement they can get. The chalk men are their secret code: little chalk stick figures they leave for one another as messages only they can understand. But then a mysterious chalk man leads them right to a dismembered body, and nothing is ever the same.

 

In 2016, Eddie is fully grown and thinks he's put his past behind him, but then he gets a letter in the mail containing a single chalk stick figure. When it turns out that his friends got the same message, they think it could be a prank--until one of them turns up dead. That's when Eddie realizes that saving himself means finally figuring out what really happened all those years ago.

 

My review  (3 stars) . . . . .


The Chalk Man 

by C.J. Tudor (Goodreads Author) 

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Michael J.'s review

Feb 27, 2018  · 

 

bookshelves: adult-thriller, crime, fiction, ha-2018-pages-read-challenge, murder, novel 

 

 

This is very impressive for a debut novel, and showcases a skillful writer with great storytelling sensibilities. I'm going to watch for C.J. Tudor's next novel, and I'd include this on the short list of new writers worth checking out. 

However, I don't feel justified rating this higher than three stars, because there are some plot threads that aren't answered satisfactorily, and the ending was a little disappointing for a book where every single one of the featured characters (including the main protagonist) could be a suspect in readers' minds. The revelations in the final chapters were somewhat of a let-down.

The first-person twisty narrative details one person's (Eddie's) observations, reflections and obsession with a 1986 event that haunts him and seems to take up a large portion of his life, including lifestyle choices.

Tudor shares his innermost thoughts, and chapters alternate between his memories of 1986, and thirty years later in 2016, when the crime is finally solved (but not before some additional murders). She's able to both accurately portray the thinking of a 12 year old Eddie, as well as the 42 year old Ed, still living in the same neighborhood in his parents' former home.

By the time I'd reached page 184, I felt that I'd solved the murder as well as the answer to where the missing victim's head was being stored. There were plenty of hints dropped and reasons to suspect others, but I admit I was influenced by this in my further reading of The Chalk Man. By page 230, I had second thoughts and began to doubt the identify of the murderer. Without spoiling the story, the reader may be misled by several other incidents in the story and never suspect the true culprit. I certainly was, and it resulted in the ending being less effective for me. (Although I was correct about the hiding place of the dismembered head).

The story is well-paced and suspenseful, but not as frightening as some of the advance reviews might seem to indicate. I also didn't find the events very frightening, just creepy and mysterious. Tudor may have been trying to create a sense of the paranormal in the early chapters of the novel, but seems to have abandoned that idea (and rightfully so) as the novel moves on and readers learn more about the characters. 

The characters are the best part of The Chalk Man. The conversations and dialogue are convincing and help prevent Eddie/Ed's tale from being a rambling exposition.

What's New in May?: Some Amigo titles worth consideration

EDITOR’S NOTE:  Looking for something a little different to read in May’s forthcoming books?.  Here are three Amigo titles worth a look, including the start of a brand-new science fiction series . . . . . . .
yd2

Tales of Rogues! #5 (of 6)

Writers: David Abadía and Pablo Durá
Art: Ertito Montana
Color: Nuno and Ricardo Rodrigues
Cover: Ertito Montana and Ester Salguero

The writers who did the non-official-but-extremely-funny El Aguila, and even published in Marvel Comics, David Abadía and Pablo Durá, and the awesome Ertito Montana taking again the art chores come The Shortcuts of Destiny, the funniest Rogues tale until now! Join the fan-favorite rogue duo in a comic-book with five stories that interlock like an arabesque (wink, wink, nudge, nudge).

And for the first time int he history of the medium, a comic-book cover with four corner boxes. You know what they say, four the corner boxes, four times the fun!


UPC Code: 713482801859—00511
MAR181121 – STL076258
32 pages FC
 
 
yd2

TITAN #1: Nascence


Writer: Colleen Douglas
Art: André Stahlschmidt
Color: Wesllei Manoel

A new science fiction miniseries that gives us another vision of the cosmic horror entities! With the Gods Beyond Our Understanding, nothing is coincidence. Duplicity and greed come as standard. Titan, the “new” Mother of Monsters, knows the rule: “None Shall Be Greater Than Another.” Yet deception and force keep her unwilling to bend.

UPC Code: 713482801873-00111
MAR181122-STL079028
32 pages FC
TEEN + READERS

Previews if you click here:
yd2

Offered again: GHOST WOLF, The Horde of Fangs #4

Writer: El Torres
Artist: JuanFra MB
Color: Veronica Lopez

This is the story told one thousand times. A worthy warrior must take on the mantle of the Wolf when his predecessor‘s time is over! Now there are two avatars: the oldest, dominated by the Horde of Fangs; and Mara, the mother warrior standing in his path. But another worthy one arises!

This is the end of the sequel of the acclaimed miniseries Ghost Wolf, from award-winner writer El Torres with the spectacular art by new talent JuanFra MB! Don‘t miss it!

UPC Code: 732030830813—00411
MAR181120 – STL051527
32 pages FC

Sunday, February 25, 2018

VALIANT'S FCBD offering focuses on SHADOWMAN, HARBINGER WARS 2

Valiant’s Newest Blockbusters Lead Free Comic Book Day with the VALIANT FCBD 2018 SHADOWMAN SPECIAL!
The New Year’s Biggest Debuts – SHADOWMAN and HARBINGER WARS 2 – March Onward with Creators Allén & Martín, Diggle, Giorello, Heisserer, Kindt, Segovia & Surprises Galore!

Valiant is proud to announce that it is joining Free Comic Book Day 2018 with the VALIANT FCBD 2018 SHADOWMAN SPECIAL – a world-shaking, silver-level offering featuring a closer look at the renowned publisher’s biggest and most impactful releases of the New Year with advance looks ahead at SHADOWMAN, HARBINGER WARS 2, and surprise guests galore!

On May 5th, 2018, Free Comic Book Day begins in full force as superstar writer Andy Diggle (Green Arrow: Year One, Daredevil) and high-octane artist Stephen Segovia (NINJAK, Action Comics) take the helm of the VALIANT FCBD 2018 SHADOWMAN SPECIAL to present a must-read introduction to Shadowman as Jack Boniface reemerges from the Deadside to reclaim his birthright…and forge a new legend of magic, might, and malice for the long-awaited return of Valiant’s most-demanded hero!

Don’t fear your demons… Fight them! Orphaned at birth and raised on the margins of society, Jack Boniface never knew his place in the world. Until he discovered it waiting for him…in a darkness far older than the reign of men…

Unbeknownst to him, Jack was fated to become the next in a long lineage of Shadowmen – mortals bound to violent voodoo spirits of immense power – that could safeguard our world against incursions from realms beyond. For years, he struggled to control the loa’s murderous urges – a battle he eventually lost.

But now, after years of self-imposed exile, the man once known as Shadowman is returning home to sharpen the weapon within…and unleash a reckoning on the evils of our world that will soon send shockwaves through heaven and hell alike…

 
Then: Jump on board the seismic comics event of 2018, HARBINGER WARS 2, here as New York Times best-selling writer Matt Kindt (DIVINITY), Academy Award-nominated writer Eric Heisserer (Arrival), and blockbuster artists Tomás Giorello (X-O MANOWAR), Raúl Allén (SECRET WEAPONS) and Patricia Martín(BLOODSHOT REBORN) plunge X-O Manowar, Bloodshot, the Harbinger Renegades, Livewire, and the whole of the Valiant Universe into an epic power struggle with the potential to tear America apart, just days after HARBINGER WARS 2 #1 (of 4) hits stands!

Plus: Also, coming to the VALIANT FCBD 2018 SHADOWMAN SPECIAL – X-O MANOWAR, BLOODSHOT SALVATION, NINJA-K, QUANTUM AND WOODY, SECRET WEAPONS, and top-secret surprise appearances from across the Valiant Universe! Be here as Valiant begins its biggest year yet with a bountiful barrage of stories, sneak peaks, teasers, and more, exclusively for Free Comic Book Day 2018!

 

But first: On March 28th, get an advance jump on the action as Shadowman storms to the forefront of the Valiant Universe – more powerful, more terrifying, and more relentless than ever before – in the all-new SHADOWMAN #1 from master storytellers Andy Diggle and Stephen Segovia!

And then, on May 2nd – right before Free Comic Book Day 2018 – the Valiant Universe will never be the same when HARBINGER WARS 2 #1 (of 4) erupts in full force, as all-star writers Matt Kindt and Eric Heisserer and incendiary artists Tomás GiorelloRaúl Allén, and Patricia Martín launch the opening salvo of the summer’s most devastating comics event!

 

VALIANT FCBD 2018 SHADOWMAN SPECIAL
Written by ANDY DIGGLE, MATT KINDT, ERIC HEISSERER, and MORE
Art by STEPHEN SEGOVIA, TOMÁS GIORELLO, RAÚL ALLÉN, and MORE
Cover by TONCI ZONJIC
FREE! | 32 pgs. | T+ | On Sale MAY 5th (FOC - 2/5/18)

SHADOWMAN (2018) #1
Written by ANDY DIGGLE
Art by STEPHEN SEGOVIA
Cover A by TONCI ZONJIC (JAN182001)
Cover B by RENATO GUEDES (JAN182002)
Interlocking Variant by JUAN JOSÉ RYP (JAN182003)
Shadowman Icon Variant by TRAVEL FOREMAN (JAN182004)
Glow-in-the-Dark Variant by TONCI ZONJIC (JAN182005)
$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | On Sale MARCH 28th (FOC – 3/5/18)

 

HARBINGER WARS 2 #1 (of 4)
Written by MATT KINDT & ERIC HEISSERER
Art by TOMAS GIORELLO & RAÚL ALLÉN
Cover by J.G. JONES
$3.99 | 48 pgs. | T+ | On Sale MAY 2nd (FOC – 4/9/18)


VALIANT FCBD 2018 SHADOWMAN SPECIAL – Cover Art by Tonci Zonjic 


HARBINGER WARS 2 #1 (of 4) – Cover Art by J.G. Jones

 

Saturday, February 24, 2018

Don't Forget To Vote THIS IS HORROR AWARDS 2017

 

There are only two days until the deadline, but that should provide plenty of time to vote in the THIS IS HORROR Awards for 2017.

For the full list of nominees, see my article from February 11- -  link provided here = https://popculturepodium.blogspot.com/2018/02/vote-in-this-is-horror-awards-2017.html 

 

You are asked to vote for first place and second place winners in each category.  After you decide, send your selections via email to awards@thisishorror.co.uk.  For your reference and to hep with your decision-making, here are my selections:

 

NOVEL

#1  I Wish I Was Like You by S. P. Miskowski

#2  In The Valley Of The Sun by Andy Davidson

 

NOVELLA

#1  Quiet Places by Jasper Bark  (I reviewed this here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2136154296?book_show_action=true&from_review_page=1

#2  In The River by Jeremy Robert Johnson

 

SHORT STORY COLLECTION

#1  Behold The Void by Phillip Fracassi

#2  She Said Destroy by Nadia Bulkin

 

ANTHOLOGY

#1  Behold! Oddities, Curiousities & Undefinable Wonders edited by Doug Murano  ( I reviewed this here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2074305147?book_show_action=true&from_review_page=1

#2  Looming Low Volume 1 editors by Justin Steele & Sam Cowan 

 

FICTION MAGAZINE

#1  Nightmare

#2  Black Static

 

PUBLISHER

#1  Crystal Lake

#2  Journalstone

 

FICTION PODCAST

#1  Tales To Terrify

#2  Nightmare

 

NONFICTION PODCAST

#1  Lovecraft ezine 

#2  The Horror Show with Brian Keene


Friday, February 23, 2018

Preview: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF TOYO HARADA

ComicsPRO 2018: Valiant Announces THE LIFE AND DEATH OF TOYO HARADA #1 – A Six-Part, Prestige Series from Joshua Dysart, CAFU & A Rotating Cast of Superstar Talents!

As revealed today at ComicsPRO 2018, Valiant is proud to announce THE LIFE AND DEATH OF TOYO HARADA #1 – the FIRST ISSUE of a SIX-PART, PRESTIGE SERIES from Eisner Award-winning writer Joshua Dysart (HARBINGER, HARBINGER WARS, Unknown Soldier) and spectacular rising star CAFU (RAPTURE)! Alongside each oversized issue's main narrative – set in the present day and featuring stunningly detailed art byCAFU – each chapter of THE LIFE AND DEATH OF TOYO HARADA will also feature a striking episode from Harada's past, illustrated by a rotating cast of staggering guest talents, including Mico Suayan (BLOODSHOT REBORN), Lewis LaRosa (BLOODSHOT SALVATION), Adam Pollina (X-Force), and more yet to be revealed when the series debuts in early 2019.

THE LIFE AND DEATH OF TOYO HARADA #1 will see Dysart – one of the driving forces behind Valiant's visionary HARBINGER saga – make his long-awaited return to the forefront of the Valiant Universe with a sweeping, continent-spanning chronicle of the man behind the rise and fall of the Harbinger Foundation...and, in the modern day, his last gambit to remake Earth in his own utopian image...or sacrifice everything in the process...

"THE LIFE AND DEATH OF TOYO HARADA is one of the most ambitious projects Valiant has ever attempted and quite unlike anything we've published to date. Joshua Dysart is a master of character, but out of all of his many contributions to Valiant, his depiction of Harada is the one that has perhaps resonated the most," said Valiant Editor-in-Chief Warren Simons. "But this isn't just a villain's tale – Harada is among Valiant's most powerful and complex characters, and at his core, he's still a man. Now, Joshua is painting on a bigger, more expansive, more groundbreaking canvas than ever before to reveal the unseen corners of Harada's life and the painful journey that shaped him from a child of war into the central force of the Valiant Universe. This is a story of war, of family, of politics, and of ultimate power – exactly the kind of story that we pride ourselves on telling at Valiant."

"The empires of the future are the empires of the mind." – Toyo Harada, 1992

In 1945, the bombing of Hiroshima awakened an immense and terrifying power inside young Toyo Harada. A literal "child of the bomb," as a newly orphaned teenager he quickly discovered that the explosion had unlocked extraordinary and extremely rare psionic powers within him. Powers that could allow him to read thoughts and control matter... To bend steel and stop bullets... To manipulate armies and deceive governments... To reshape the wills of men...and build a better world.

Ripped from his own family in a blinding flash of heat and fire, Harada set out to build a new one for himself...and dedicated decades to finding and activating other unique "psiots" – thousands of fellow latent telekinetics unknowingly living across the globe – that could be harnessed to further his mission. Across the years, he publicly became a billionaire businessman and philanthropist as CEO of Harada Global Conglomerates, while in secret, he quietly erected the Harbinger Foundation – a clandestine international operation dedicated to recruiting and training psiots for the day when their skills would be needed.

In 2019, that day will finally come. With the existence of psiots revealed to the world and the Harbinger Foundation left in ruins, Harada has been run to ground and outed as the invisible hand behind the course of recent human history. With his resources dwindling and a death warrant on his head, the world's most powerful man is about to become its most dangerous...

"[Harada] is interesting because of the conflict between his character and his intentions," series writer Joshua Dysart reveals. "He’s been the villain of all my work at Valiant because he is profoundly undemocratic. He believes, unequivocally, that he is the only man capable of bringing about a globally equitable society. His lack of self-doubt makes him ruthless. He believes he is at the 'center of God’s eye,' so to speak. But he is a complicated villain because he very well may be absolutely right. It might take a Toyo Harada to save humanity."

THE LIFE AND DEATH OF TOYO HARADA #1 – Cover by Butch Guice

THE LIFE AND DEATH OF TOYO HARADA #1 – Interior Art by Mico Suayan

THE LIFE AND DEATH OF TOYO HARADA #1 – Interior Art by Mico Suayan


THE LIFE AND DEATH OF TOYO HARADA #1 – Interior Art by Mico Suayan


THE LIFE AND DEATH OF TOYO HARADA #1 – Interior Art by Mico Suayan

THE LIFE AND DEATH OF TOYO HARADA #1 – Interior Art by CAFU


THE LIFE AND DEATH OF TOYO HARADA #1 – Interior Art by CAFU

THE LIFE AND DEATH OF TOYO HARADA #1 – Interior Art by CAFU


THE LIFE AND DEATH OF TOYO HARADA #1 – Interior Art by CAFU


THE LIFE AND DEATH OF TOYO HARADA #1 – Interior Art by CAFU


THE LIFE AND DEATH OF TOYO HARADA #1 – Interior Art by CAFU