It’s Monday the 13th, which seems like the perfect time to pass along the recent announcement that writer Washington Irving’s classic tale of the Headless Horseman, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, is scheduled for an all-new screen adaptation courtesy of Paramount Pictures and writer/director Lindsey Beer (Pet Sematary).
If you’ve never read the chilling story of the headless soldier and his eternal search for a replacement, and want to find out what the interest is all about, then look no further than our SWC Horror Bites imprint, where The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is available as an e-book ready to be ordered! Here’s our back-cover copy to pique your interest:
Sleepy Hollow, New York, appears to be the perfect peaceful location for newly arrived schoolteacher Ichabod Crane, whose nerves always seem a little on edge. The people are nice enough—with the exception of the town bully, Bram Bones—the meals they serve are even better, and most appealing of all is the beautiful Katrina Van Tassel, daughter of one of the town’s wealthiest families.
But lurking behind Sleepy Hollow’s peaceful setting is a terrifying secret: a murderer stalks the countryside—specifically, the ghost of a Hessian soldier whose head was blown off by a cannonball during the American Revolution. Ever since his grisly death, the dreaded Headless Horseman has been searching for a replacement…
…and Ichabod Crane’s noggin looks to be just the right size…
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow has captivated readers ever since its first publication in 1820, in Irving’s collection The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. In the 200+ years since, it’s become the quintessential Halloween story, as well as the basis for countless movies, TV shows, comic books, and other pop-culture adaptations, among them Disney’s classic animated feature Ichabod and Mr. Toad (featuring the voice of Bing Crosby); director Tim Burton’s Hammer Films–esque live-action film that starred Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, and Christopher Walken; and most recently the TV show Sleepy Hollow, which starred Tom Mison as a resurrected Ichabod Crane pursuing the Horseman in modern-day New York State.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a digital exclusive available for download right now, so visit its product page for ordering information.
[Banner art: detail from “The Headless Horseman Pursuing Ichabod Crane” by John Quidor (1801–1881)]
With the unofficial start of summer having arrived last week with the celebration of Memorial Day here in the U.S., the time has arrived for summer reading—and for many people, summer reading means visiting your local library (either in-person or online) to find books that will assist in your enjoyment of these lazy, hazy days.
Well, librarians, it just so happens that OverDrive, the biggest distributor to libraries—both school and public—has our titles ready for order directly from their website! All you need to do to get started is visit the author pages for Steven A. Roman (that’s me!) and Richard C. White, where you’ll find all of the available ebooks.
Via OverDrive, the following titles can be ordered for your libraries:
Blood Feud: The Saga of Pandora Zwieback, Book 1 and Blood Reign: The Saga of Pandora Zwieback, Book 2 are the critically acclaimed, character-driven action-fest young adult novels by Steven A. Roman (that’s me!) that introduce readers to the title character, 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. In Blood Feud and Blood Reign, Pan, 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 fallen angel named Zaqiel, whose previous attempt at subjugating the world was stopped by Annie—who, back in the day, was Zaqiel’s lover!
“Far and away one of the best young adult supernatural fantasy novels. Pan is exactly the kind of teen heroine that readers should be standing up and cheering for.”—HorrorNews.net on Blood Feud
Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination is our popular how-to book for writers and gamers in which fantasy author Richard C. White 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. In fact, the book is so popular that it’s currently being used as a textbook in the Interactive Media & Game Development program at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worchester, Massachusetts!
“A solid introduction to the subject of world building. The book succeeds in helping the aspiring writer in creating a skeletal framework on which to hang the moving parts required of a believable fictional setting.”—The Gaming Gang
For a Few Gold Pieces More collects Richard’s fantasy short stories about a Rogue With No Name who travels a world of epic-fantasy adventure, looking for treasure—and revenge against the woman who sent him to prison for a crime he didn’t commit (but she did). Think Lord of the Rings meets the “spaghetti Westerns” of director Sergio Leone (A Fistful of Dollars; The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly). It’s “entertaining, old-school sword and sorcery, in the tradition of [Fritz Lieber’s] Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser,” according to author Jim C. Hines of the Magic ex Libris book series, and we at SWC couldn’t agree more!
Harbinger of Darkness is Richard’s first fantasy novel for SWC. In it, a thief named Perrin steals an extremely valuable—and magical—gem from the evil king ruling her home country. With thugs and fellow thieves and the king’s assassins hot on her trail, Perrin finds just staying alive is becoming a full-time occupation, which directly conflict with her secret life—and identity—as a humble bookseller’s daughter. It’s sword-swinging adventure at its finest!
“A visceral adventure through a world of magic with well-developed characters, dynamic dialogue and a good dose of two-handed sword fights.”—Experience Writing
So if you’re a librarian interested in adding those titles to your digital bookshelves, head over to OverDrive and place your order today!
Celebrated on the first Saturday in June, International Tabletop Day is an annual event celebrating tabletop and board games of all sorts, launched in 2013 by creator Boyan Radakovich and originally hosted on actress (and gamer) Felicia Day’s Geek & Sundry YouTube channel. As the website Days of the Year explains, it’s “an opportunity for players to remember why they got into playing tabletop games in the first place. It’s all about pitting yourself against strangers and finding ways to survive through to the next turn.”
Well, if you’re looking to celebrate this special event, it just so happens that StarWarp Concepts has a book that’s perfect for tabletop RPG gamers:
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 (Harbinger of Darkness, For a Few Gold Pieces More, 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.
A bonus feature is an exclusive 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. In fact, it’s a book that’s become so popular with gamers that it’s currently being used as a textbook in the Interactive Media & Game Development program at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worchester, Massachusetts!
This coming weekend, pop-culture fans of all ages will be gathering at Awesome Con, being held again at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in the heart of Washington, DC. And among the exhibitors is author Richard C. White, who’ll be promoting his many projects (including his StarWarp Concepts titles, of course) at the Awesome Con Book Fair’s section of the event—you’ll find him at booth L04 in Author’s Lane (it’s part of Artists’ Alley).
We hope those of you attending Awesome Con enjoy the show. And for those of you who can’t make it but would like to pick up copies of Rich’s SWC titles…well, there’s no better place than right here for you to explore the Worlds of Richard C. White and purchase the very books you were looking for!
Chasing Danger: The Case Files of Theron Chase is Rich’s collection of fantasy-noir, pulp-detective tales starring a private eye working the supernatural beat in the city of Calasia, and whose clientele is of a definitely paranormal persuasion. Think The Maltese Falcon crossed with Constantine and you’ve got a pretty good idea of Theron Chase’s workload. From a sexy chanteuse who literally turns into a beast when the moon is full to a string of pearls that kills its owners, and from the ghost of a dead woman seeking justice to the Grim Reaper’s little girl seeking her stolen chicken, Chase certainly has his hands full—of danger, death, and dames!
Harbinger of Darkness is an original novel that’s perfect for book lovers. It stars Perrin, the daughter of a bookstore owner in a land of magic and adventure. Quiet and unassuming, Perrin harbors a special secret: with the aid of a mystical talisman, she can transform into Raven, a swashbuckling thief who’s number one on the king’s list of most-wanted criminals. But with thugs and fellow thieves and the king’s assassins hot on her trail, Perrin finds just staying alive is becoming a full-time occupation! It’s sword-swinging adventure at its finest!
The Chronicles of the Sea Dragon Specialis a digital pirate-fantasy comic created and written by Rich, drawn by Bill Bryan (artist of Caliber Press’ Dark Oz and DC Comics’ House of Mystery), and features cover art and color by Eliseu Gouveia (SWC’s The Saga of Pandora Zwieback Annual). It’s 48 pages of high-seas adventure perfect for fans of the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise, as well as classics like The Crimson Pirate, Against All Flags, Captain Blood, and The Sea Hawk—and it’s available for download for just 99¢!
For a Few Gold Pieces More is a collection of ten critically acclaimed short stories that star a Rogue With No Name who travels a world of epic-fantasy adventure, looking for treasure—and revenge against the woman who sent him to prison for a crime he didn’t commit (but she did). Think Lord of the Rings meets the “spaghetti Westerns” of director Sergio Leone (A Fistful of Dollars; The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly), with a healthy dose of monsters, magic, and swordplay mixed in.
Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination is our most popular book, and a reference book for writers and RPG game masters. In it, Rich takes you through the step-by-step process of constructing a world for your characters, from societies and governments to currency and religion. As a bonues, there’s 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.
And Troubleshooters, Incorporated: Night Stalkings is a general readers’ graphic novel about a group of supernatural-superheroes-for-hire taking on their first case. The team consists of a wizard, a female ninja, a sorceress, a werewolf, and a rock ’n’ roll lighting designer wearing high-tech armor. Sure, they might not be on a power level with the Avengers or Justice League of America—they’re more like superpowered Ghostbusters—but they get the job done. The graphic novel is written by Rich and his wife, Joni M. White, and illustrated by Reggie Golden and Randy Zimmerman.
Terra Incognito is available in hardcover and trade paperback, and as an ebook. Chasing Danger, Harbinger of Darkness, For a Few Gold Pieces More, and Troubleshooters Incorporated are available in print and digital formats. Chronicles of the Sea Dragon is a digital exclusive. Visit their respective product pages for ordering information.
Today is World Dracula Day: the annual celebration launched in 2012 by the Whitby Dracula Society 1897to mark the first publication of Bram Stoker’s seminal novel in 1897. What makes it even better is that it’s also the 125th anniversary of that occasion!
It was Mary Shelley’s ghoulish but tortured Monster and Stoker’s vampire lord that both set the gold standard for horror icons, and not only are their works still in print over a century later, but the names Frankenstein and Dracula are recognized around the world, even by people who aren’t horror fans.
So, Happy 125th Anniversary to Mr. Stoker and his bloodthirsty count! Vampire fiction wouldn’t be the same without the lasting effect you had on the genre—an effect that continues to inspire legions of writers, artists, and Monster Kids young and old!
On a related note, today is also the birthday of legendary movie-vampire hunter Peter Cushing (1913–1994), who would have turned 108. Star Wars fans know him best as the villainous Grand Moff Tarkin, commander of the Death Star in Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope (and, through the wonders of CGI and animation, in the movie Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and the Disney+ series Star Wars: The Bad Bunch), but horror fans fondly remember him as Professor Van Helsing, Dracula’s number one nemesis, in Hammer Films’ series of Dracula movies that starred Christopher Lee.
Speaking of Hammer, in 1975, Mr. Cushing was also meant to be the co-star of their planned movie adaptation of Vampirella, the Warren Publishing comics series about an outer-space vampire from a planet of bloodsuckers who teams up with an alcoholic stage magician to battle an alien invasion of Earth; Cushing was to play the magician, Pendragon, to actress Barbara Leigh’s Vampirella. If the movie had been successful, the sequel would have pitted Vampi and Pen against Dracula himself…only the first movie never got past the planning stages.
Still, Vampirella did clash with the lord of vampires a number of times in her classic Warren series, beginning with “…And Be a Bride of Chaos,” a story by writer Archie Goodwin and artist Jose Gonzales in which Dracula lured Vampi and Pen to his castle and then attempted to offer her as a marital sacrifice to Chaos, the mad, Lovecraftian Elder God whose followers often pursued Vampi in those days.
Eventually, though, the outer-space vampiress did eventually go on to fight a celluloid Dracula, in the made-for-cable-TV movie Vampirella, which starred Talisa Soto (1995’s Mortal Kombat) as Vampi and the Who’s front man, Roger Daltrey, as Dracula. The low-budget, poorly written adaptation was produced by b-movie king Roger Corman and directed by Jim Wynorski, and aired on Showtime in 1996. It is not highly regarded by Vampirella fans.
However, if you’re interested in exploring the Vampi/Dracula relationship—which has served as the basis for the recent Dynamite comic miniseries Vampirella/Dracula: Unholy—you can find the full details of the stories behind their clashes, both in print and on screen, in From the Stars…a Vampiress: An Unauthorized Guide to Vampirella’s Classic Horror Adventures, by Steven A. Roman (that’s me!), the critically acclaimed nonfiction history of Vampirella that takes an extensive look at her early days, from the debut of her series in 1969 to the death of Warren Publishing in 1983. In it you’ll find an in-depth guide to all her Warren stories; a checklist of all her Warren appearances (plus the publications from Harris Comics and Dynamite Entertainment that reprinted her Warren adventures); an overview of the six novelizations by pulp sci-fi author Ron Goulart that were published in the 1970s by Warner Books; and the behind-the-scenes story of Warren Publishing’s demise, explaining how Vampirella survived the death of her original comic house. There’s also a foreword by Official Vampirella Historian Sean Fernald, a frontispiece by Warren artist Bob Larkin, and photographs from the personal archives of Forrest J Ackerman.
Back in March, e-book distributor Smashwords announced it had been acquired by its closest competitor, Draft2Digital, an equally successful e-tailer that, unlike Smashwords, is able to place its offered titles on Amazon. (SWC’s e-books, in case you’re unaware, have always been available in the Kindle Store, because we post them ourselves.)
And so, via Draft2Digital and Smashwords, the following titles can be ordered for download:
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 (The Chronicles of the Sea Dragon Special, Chasing Danger: The Case Files of Theron Chase) 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. In fact, the book is so popular that it’s currently being used as a textbook in the Interactive Media & Game Development program at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worchester, Massachusetts!
For a Few Gold Pieces More collects Richard C. White’s fantasy short stories about a Rogue With No Name who travels a world of epic-fantasy adventure, looking for treasure—and revenge against the woman who sent him to prison for a crime he didn’t commit (but she did). Think Lord of the Rings meets the “spaghetti Westerns” of director Sergio Leone (A Fistful of Dollars; The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly). It’s “entertaining, old-school sword and sorcery, in the tradition of [Fritz Lieber’s] Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser,” according to author Jim C. Hines of the Magic ex Libris book series, and we at SWC couldn’t agree more!
Harbinger of Darkness is Rich’s first original novel for SWC. In it, a thief named Perrin steals an extremely valuable—and magical—gem from the evil king ruling her home country. With thugs and fellow thieves and the king’s assassins hot on her trail, Perrin finds just staying alive is becoming a full-time occupation, which directly conflict with her secret life—and identity—as a humble bookseller’s daughter. It’s sword-swinging adventure at its finest!
You can also obtain our Saga of Pandora Zwieback young adult novels, Blood Feud and Blood Reign—written by yours truly, Steven A. Roman. You know how popular young adult books are these days, don’t you? Well, here’s another series your patrons might be interested in!
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, character-driven action-fest is a novel that introduces 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!
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 whether you’re a patron of Smashwords or Draft2Digital, head over to your e-book distributor of choice and order some SWC titles today!
It was a caption that always ran on “Fang Mail,” the letters page of Famous Monsters of Filmland—the magazine that inspired generations of actors, writers, directors, producers, and makeup and special effects magicians to follow their dreams—above the photographs of loyal readers and Monster Kids who’d submitted headshots.
And so, what better way to present a note I recently received from Horrorwood, Karloffornia, resident and grown-up Monster Kid Sam Irvin, with regard to our critically acclaimed nonfiction examination From the Stars…a Vampiress: An Unauthorized Guide to Vampirella’s Classic Horror Adventures:
“Everything you always wanted to know about Vampirella and then some! I was particularly enthralled reading about Hammer Films’ never-made film version of VAMPIRELLA and the big ballyhoo that happened at the 1975 Famous Monsters Convention—with Peter Cushing presenting Barbara Leigh—because I was there as Ingrid Pitt’s aide-de-camp! It brought back such a torrent of jaw-dropping memories! Bravo to author Steven A. Roman and Foreword legend Sean Fernald!”— Sam Irvin, director of Elvira’s Haunted Hills and co-executive producer of Gods and Monsters
That’s right: someone who’s worked with Ian McKellen, Brendan Fraser, director Bill Condon, and Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, and who back in the day got to hang out with Hammer legends Ingrid Pitt and Peter Cushing, enjoyed the horror-comics history I wrote! Which is the sort of top-notch endorsement that indicates perhaps you would as well, if you’re a fan or horror and/or Vampirella!
From the Stars…a Vampiress: An Unauthorized Guide to Vampirella’s Classic Horror Adventures, by Steven A. Roman (that’s me!) is a nonfiction history that takes an extensive look at her early days, from the debut of her series in 1969 to the death of Warren Publishing in 1983. I provide an in-depth guide to all her Warren stories, a checklist of all her Warren appearances (plus the publications from Harris Comics and Dynamite Entertainment that reprinted her Warren adventures), and an overview of the six novelizations by pulp sci-fi author Ron Goulart that were published in the 1970s by Warner Books.
Most important of all, there’s the section of the book that enthralled Sam Irvin so much: what may be the first time anyone has actually told, in chronological order, the story behind the rise and fall of Hammer Films’ proposed Vampi movie of the 1970s that was meant to star Playboy model Barbara Leigh and horror icon Peter Cushing—along with a peek at Peter Cushing’s personal copy of the ’70s Vampirella screenplay. Plus there’s my look at the awful 1996 direct-to-cable-TV movie that was made, produced by b-movie icon Roger Corman and starring Talisa Soto (Mortal Kombat) as Vampirella and rock god Roger Daltrey, legendary lead singer of the Who, as Dracula.
There’s also a foreword by Official Vampirella Historian Sean Fernald, a frontispiece by Warren artist Bob Larkin, and photographs from the personal archives of Vampi’s cocreator (and creator/editor of Famous Monsters of Filmland), Forrest J Ackerman.
From the Stars…a Vampiress is available in print and digital formats. Visit its product page for ordering information.
With all the havoc caused by the pandemic over the past couple of years, and its effects on the publishing industry as general, it’s true that, like other houses, releases have been slow in coming from ’Warp Central, but we’re slowly making headway—as evidenced by our newest upcoming title.
On Wings of Steel is a sci-fi steampunk adventure novel from Richard C. White, author of the SWC books Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination, Chasing Danger: The Case Files of Theron Chase, Harbinger of Darkness, For a Few Gold Pieces More, Troubleshooters, Incorporated: Night Stalkings, and The Chronicles of the Sea Dragon Special. Here’s the back-cover copy to pique your interest:
Erica Halgrim is a proud new member of the Angels of Steel: a courier service whose all-female members navigate through the streets of Underworld and the skies of the Aerie with the aid of winged flying devices that allow them to traverse the toxic Dark Cloud that separates the downtrodden masses on the ground from the wealthy socialites who live aboard enormous airships.
Her job becomes secondary, however, when Erica attends a soiree at the Aerie with her fellow Angels and witnesses what appears to be an unfortunate accident—but could it perhaps have been murder?—and she becomes a suspect.
Almost immediately, her life is put in danger as various forces attempt to either jail her or shut her up—permanently. Most terrifying of all, though, is that it may be one of the people closest to her who is looking to clip her wings…
Cover art is provided by Beto Lima, whose digital paintings have graced the covers of such role-playing game supplements and collectible card games as Eternal, Fey Encounters, The Mahrym Project, and Monsters of Murka.
On Wings of Steel will soon be available in print and digital formats. Stay tuned for further information!
That’s right, comic book fans, today is Free Comic Book Day at brick-and-mortar and online comic shops around the world.
Held the first Saturday in May, this year’s event is timed to coincide with yesterday’s release of Marvel Studios’ latest blockbuster, the Benedict Cumberbatch–led Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, director Sam (Spider-Man, The Evil Dead, Army of Darkness) Raimi’s highly anticipated follow-up to last December’s Spider-Man: No Way Home, which brought the dreaded, maddening multiverse into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And in keeping with FCBD’s fine tradition of gifting comics to fans everywhere, here’s a list of StarWarp Concepts’ offerings that you can download—for free—directly from us!
Heroines & Heroes: A collection of comic stories and pinups all drawn by me, dating back to my days in the early 1990s small-press movement—that age of dinosaurs in which creators like me used to make our comics by printing them out on photocopiers and then stapling them by hand. In H&H you’ll find mainstream heroes and small-press heroines, and even a couple of anthropomorphic bikers. Leading off is “V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N (in the Summertime),” a three-page Wonder Woman vs. Harley Quinn story that I wrote and drew in the late ’90s as a sample for a DC Comics editor who thought I’d be a good fit for their Batman: The Animated Series comic (it didn’t work out). The WW/Harley matchup is followed by an adventure of small-presser Jeff Wood’s rabbit-eared superspy, Snowbuni; three pages from the long-canceled indie comic Motorbike Puppies; and an adventure of the indie superheroine The Blonde Avenger.
The Saga of Pandora Zwieback #0: A full-color introduction to the young adult novel series of the same name, hosted by Pan herself. Pan is a 16-year-old New York City Goth who’s not only a horror fangirl but someone with the rare ability to see the for-real monsters that regular humans can’t (she calls it her “monstervision”), and with the help of a 400-year-old, shape-shifting monster hunter named Sebastienne “Annie” Mazarin, she’s learning how to protect her family, her friends, and the world from the supernatural dangers out there—and maybe even have some fun while doing it. This 16-page comic features a seven-page story written by me, with art and color by Eliseu Gouveia (The Saga of Pandora Zwieback Annual#1, Carmilla, A Princess of Mars), and includes two sample chapters from Blood Feud, the first Pan novel.
Heartstopper: The Legend of La Bella Tenebrosa#1–3: Before she became Pan’s monster-hunting mentor, Sebastienne “Annie” Mazarin made her debut in this short-lived, 1990s Mature Readers series from Millennium Publications. A nefarious heavy metal band has arrived in New York City, and its lead singer is more than just a sex magnet for his female fans—he’s a soul-stealing incubus! Will Annie put an end to his plans for worldwide chaos, or fall prey to his supernatural charms? Written by me (of course), issue 1 is drawn by Pan and Annie co-creator Uriel Caton (JSA Annual) and inker Alan Larsen (Femforce), and colored by Dan Peters; issue 2 is penciled by Uriel, Holly Golightly (School Bites), and David C. Matthews (Satin Steele), inked by Larsen, and colored by Zeea Adams; and issue 3 is penciled by Holly, with four pages of inks by “Chainsaw” Chuck Majewski (Harvey Kurtzman’s New Two-Fisted Tales). As a special bonus, issue 3 includes a brief look at the never-published Heartstopper/Trollords, a crossover special that would have had Annie meet Harry, Larry, and Jerry, the Three Stooges–inspired trolls created by Scott Beaderstadt and Paul Fricke for their popular comic series of the 1980s. H/T was to be written by me with pencils by Holly and Scott and inks by Bill Lavin (Troubleshooters, Incorporated: Night Stalkings), but unfortunately it just never got past the starting gate.
(Warning: Heartstopper is designated a “Mature Readers” comic for violent scenes and some sexual innuendo, so younger Panatics should avoid it.)
All these comics are available for download right now, so visit their respective product pages for more information.
So get to downloading, and have a happy Free Comic Book Day!
In case you were unaware of it, this coming Saturday is National Bombshells’ Day, a promotional event that, according to the National Day Calendar, was launched by a well-known lingerie company: “Victoria’s Secret created Bombshells’ Day as a day for women to celebrate themselves and their best friends with numerous in-store activities and surprises for customers. The registrar at National Day Calendar proclaimed National Bombshells’ Day in March 2015 to be held annually on the first Saturday in May.”
…Okay.
Well, if bombshells are your thing, then might I suggest that you check out two of StarWarp Concepts’ leading—and sometimes lethal—ladies, and one very special guest…
Lorelei is a soul-stealing succubus, and SWC’s First Lady of Horror, having made her small-press-comic debut all the way back in 1989. She currently stars in three critically acclaimed titles:
Lorelei: Sects and the City is a Mature Readers graphic novel in which Lori battles a cult of Elder God worshipers attempting to unleash hell on Earth. Basically a love letter to 1970s horror comics like Vampirella, Tomb of Dracula, and Satana, the Devil’s Daughter, it’s written by yours truly, Steven A. Roman (From the Stars…a Vampiress: An Unauthorized Guide to Vampirella’s Classic Horror Adventures, X-Men: The Chaos Engine Trilogy), and illustrated by Eliseu Gouveia (The Saga of Pandora Zwieback Annual, Lady Death), Steve Geiger (Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection: Kraven’s Last Hunt, Incredible Hulk Epic Collection: Going Gray), and Neil Vokes (Tom Holland’s Fright Night, Elvira, Mistress of the Dark). It also features art by a trio of comic-art legends: a cover painting by 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).
Lorelei Presents: House Macabre is Lori’s first outing as the hostess of a horror comic anthology, introducing the four tales of terror you’ll find behind the eye-catching cover art by fan-favorite artist Louis Small Jr. (Vampirella, Vampirella Strikes).
• “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?
And Lorelei: Genesisis a 24-page, one-shot digital-exclusive comic that collects the original small-press Lori stories that I wrote and drew back in the late eighties and early nineties. Behind that brand-new cover drawing by yours truly (and colored by Eliseu Gouveia), you’ll find a pair of stories: “Lorelei” is an 8-pager from 1991 in which Lori journeys through the streets of New York on an important mission: to pick up her dry-cleaning! It’s followed by “In the Midnight Hour,” the 1989 story that introduced horror-comic fans to our favorite redheaded succubus, who steps in to rescue a couple being menaced by a street gang. If you’re curious about Lori’s early days as a horror heroine, then be sure to order yourself a copy from our webstore—it’s available at the low, low price of just 99¢!
Sebastienne “Annie” Mazarin is an immortal, shape-shifting, monster-hunting mentor who currently appears in my Saga of Pandora Zwieback novels, mentoring a teenaged Goth chick on the finer points of handling the creatures of the night. In addition to co-starring in the novels Blood Feud and Blood Reign, you’ll find Annie in the following comics:
The Saga of Pandora Zwieback #0: A full-color introduction to the young adult novel series of the same name, hosted by Pan herself. Pan is a 16-year-old New York City Goth who’s not only a horror fangirl but someone with the rare ability to see the for-real monsters that regular humans can’t (she calls it her “monstervision”), and with the help of a 400-year-old, shape-shifting monster hunter named Sebastienne “Annie” Mazarin, she’s learning how to protect her family, her friends, and the world from the supernatural dangers out there—and maybe even have some fun while doing it. This 16-page comic features a seven-page story written by me, with art and color by Eliseu Gouveia (The Saga of Pandora Zwieback Annual #1, Carmilla, A Princess of Mars), and includes two sample chapters from Blood Feud, the first Pan novel.
The Saga of Pandora Zwieback Annual #1: A spinoff from the novel series, this 56-page, full-color comic special features cover art by award-winning artist Henar Torinos (Mala Estrella). Annie appears in “Shopping Maul,” a short story by Steven A. Roman with title-page art by Elizabeth Watasin (Charm School), in which Pan and Annie, along with Pan’s boyfriend, Javier, and her best friend, Sheena, run into a group of Gothic Lolita vampires out to do more than a little window shopping. The special also contains “Song of the Siren,” a 24-page full-color comic adventure by writer Steven A. Roman and artist Eliseu Gouveia, in which the Pan matches wits with a man-stealing enchantress who’s set her sights on Javier, and “After Hours,” by writer Sholly Fisch (The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries), and comic-art legend Ernie Colon (Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld), about a demon who walks into a bar to unwind after a long day of scarifying.
But before she became Pan’s monster-hunting mentor, Annie made her debut in a short-lived, 1990s Mature Readers series that you can download for free from our webstore:
Hearstopper: The Legend of La Bella Tenebrosa#1–3: The nefarious heavy metal band Hellfire has arrived in New York City, and its lead singer, Corum de Sade, is more than just a sex magnet for his female fans—he’s an incubus! Will Annie put an end to his plans for worldwide chaos, or fall prey to his supernatural charms? Written by me (of course), issue 1 is drawn by Pan and Annie co-creator Uriel Caton (JSA Annual) and inker Alan Larsen (Femforce); issue 2 is penciled by Uriel, Holly Golightly (School Bites), and David C. Matthews (Satin Steele) and inked by Larsen. Issue 3 (which Millennium never published) is penciled by Holly, with four pages of inks by “Chainsaw” Chuck Majewski (Harvey Kurtzman’s New Two-Fisted Tales). As a special bonus, issue 3 includes a short preview of the also-never-published Heartstopper/Trollords, a proposed one-shot special that would have had Annie meet Harry, Larry, and Jerry, the Three Stooges–inspired trolls created by Scott Beaderstadt and Paul Fricke, written by me with pencils by Holly and Scott and inks by Bill Lavin (Troubleshooters, Incorporated: Night Stalkings).
(Warning: Heartstopper is designated a “Mature Readers” comic for violent scenes and some sexual innuendo, so younger Panatics should avoid it.)
Last but not least, Vampirella is best known to comic book fans around the world as the half-naked vampire from outer space—created by comics publisher James Warren and writer/editor Forrest J Ackerman, and currently published by Dynamite Entertainment—who fights monsters while wearing nothing but a one-piece swimsuit and a pair of go-go boots. If you’re a new fan of hers, someone interested in learning about her background, or a longtime fan, we have a book that’s perfect for you:
From the Stars…a Vampiress: An Unauthorized Guide to Vampirella’s Classic Horror Adventures, by Steven A. Roman (that’s me!) is a nonfiction book—not a comic—and a history of Vampirella that takes an extensive look at her early days, from the debut of her series in 1969 to the death of Warren Publishing in 1983. I provide an in-depth guide to all her Warren stories, a checklist of all her Warren appearances (plus the publications from Harris Comics and Dynamite Entertainment that reprinted her Warren adventures), an overview of the six novelizations by pulp sci-fi author Ron Goulart that were published in the 1970s by Warner Books, and most important of all, what may be the first time anyone has actually told, in chronological order, the story behind the rise and fall of Hammer Films’ proposed Vampi movie of the 1970s that was meant to star Playboy model Barbara Leigh and horror icon Peter Cushing. It also includes my look at the awful 1996 direct-to-cable-TV movie that was made, starring Talisa Soto and Roger Daltrey; a peek at Peter Cushing’s personal copy of the ’70s Vampirella screenplay; a foreword by Official Vampirella Historian Sean Fernald, a frontispiece by Warren artist Bob Larkin, and photographs from the personal archives of Forrest J Ackerman.
Lorelei: Sects and the City, Lorelei Presents: House Macabre, and From the Stars…a Vampiress are available in print and digital formats. Lorelei: Genesis is a digital exclusive. Heartstopper is a free digital exclusive. Visit their respective product pages for ordering information.
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