It’s Will Eisner Week 2020!

Posted on March 1, 2020 by Steven

Will-Eisner-2020Yes, it’s time again for Will Eisner Week: an annual celebration—held this week from March 1 to March 7—run by the Will and Ann Eisner Family Foundation, to promote literacy, graphic novels, free speech, and the legacy of the late Will Eisner, 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 comics that might pique your interest. Here are just a few:

Lorelei: Sects and the CityLorelei: 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 (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 (Vengeance of the Mummy, Lady Death), Steve Geiger (Web of Spider-Man, Incredible Hulk), and Neil Vokes (Flesh and Blood, Fright Night). It also features a cover by legendary artist Esteban Maroto (Vampirella, Zatanna, Lady Rawhide), a frontispiece by original Vampirella artist Tom Sutton (Ghost Rider, Man-Thing, Werewolf by Night), and a history of succubi illustrated by Ernie Colon (Vampirella, Damage Control, Epic Illustrated).

troubleshooters_lrg_coverTroubleshooters, 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 (Chasing Danger: The Case Files of Theron Chase, Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination) 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!

pan_annual_lgThe 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).

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

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Happy National Tell a Fairy Tale Day 2020!

Posted on February 26, 2020 by Steven

Snow WhiteNo one seems to know where it came from, or whose idea it was, but today is National Tell a Fairy Tale Day, a time “to celebrate those beloved stories that we all loved as children, those fictional stories that told about characters such as fairies, talking animals, princesses, elves, witches, trolls, and giants,” according to the site Giftypedia.

Well if that’s the case, then perhaps you might be interested in one of StarWarp Concepts’ snazziest-looking fantasy titles:

Snow White is the classic story by the Brothers Grimm, and one of the titles in our Illustrated Classics line. Featuring full-color illustrations first published in 1883 (and they really are beautiful drawings), this digital-exclusive titleis available for immediate download for the wickedly low price of just 99¢!

Snow White is a digital exclusive that’s available right now for download, so visit its product page for ordering information and sample pages.

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Lorelei: For Lovers of Classic Horror Comic Heroines

Posted on February 25, 2020 by Steven

vampiress_LG_CoverLast week we released From the Stars…a Vampiress: An Unauthorized Guide to Vampirella’s Classic Horror Adventures, a nonfiction examination by Steven A. Roman (that’s me!) of Vampirella, one of comics’ most enduring characters and the queen of the comic book bad girls. It covers the history of Vampi at her original publisher, Warren Publishing, from 1969 to the company’s closure in 1983; the bizarre stories behind the 1970s Hammer Films adaptation that never was and the 1990s Showtime movie that was (and really shouldn’t have been); the six-book series of novelizations by pulp and sci-fi writer Ron Goulart; and extensive reviews and a checklist of every Vampi story published by Warren.

And with its release came renewed interest in another horror heroine published by StarWarp Concepts: our very own Lorelei, the fiery-maned, soul-stealing succubus created by Roman in the late 1980s. But when you promote From the Stars’ writer as the “author of Lorelei: Sects and the City,” well, Vampirella fans are naturally going to be curious as to what that is.

If you’re among the curious, then allow me to point out that Lori currently stars in three critically acclaimed projects that are perfect for Vampirella fans:

Lorelei: Sects and the CityLorelei: Sects and the City is a Mature Readers graphic novel in which she battles a cult of Elder God worshipers attempting to unleash hell on Earth.Basically a love letter to 1970s horror comics like Vampirella, Tomb of Dracula, and Ghost Rider, it’s written by yours truly, Steven A. Roman (X-Men: The Chaos Engine Trilogy), and illustrated by Eliseu Gouveia (Vengeance of the Mummy, Lady Death), Steve Geiger (Web of Spider-Man, Incredible Hulk), and Neil Vokes (Flesh and Blood, Fright Night). It also features a cover by legendary artist Esteban Maroto (Vampirella, Zatanna, Lady Rawhide), a frontispiece by original Vampirella artist Tom Sutton (Ghost Rider, Man-Thing, Werewolf by Night), and a one-page history of succubi illustrated by Ernie Colon (Vampirella, The Grim Ghost). And look at who were two of the book’s earliest fans:

“Lorelei, you’ve cast your spell o’er this guy!”—Forrest J Ackerman, cocreator of Vampirella and original editor of Famous Monsters of Filmland

“You sure do pay Warren Publishing a nice tribute. I wish you good luck and good acceptance. I like the graphics, and the story is exciting!”—James Warren, cocreator of Vampirella and legendary publisher of Creepy, Eerie, The Rook, and Famous Monsters of Filmland

Other reviewers dug Sects and the City’s Vampirella-esque vibe as well:

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

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

Lorelei_House_MacabreLorelei Presents: House Macabre is 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, 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?

“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_Genesis_LG_CoverAnd Lorelei: Genesis is a 24-page one-shot comic written and drawn by me. Sporting a new cover illustration (colored by Eliseu Gouveia), it’s a digital-exclusive flashback to Lori’s early days, with two 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.

“Roman obviously likes good-girl art, but the writing is quite good, too—the stories are interesting and intriguing. They move at a good clip and are injected with humor.”—Randy Reynaldo, creator/writer/artist of Rob Hanes Adventures

“Primo material here, folks. Super concept for an exotic succubus-type supernatural ‘superheroine.’ Good storytelling and art, great character.”—Comics F/X

Lorelei: Sects and the City and Lorelei Presents: House Macabre are available in print and digital formats; Lorelei: Genesis is a digital exclusive. Visit their respective product pages for ordering information, as well as sample pages.

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Author Richard C. White at MystiCon 2020

Posted on February 24, 2020 by Steven

Rich-New-PicThis coming weekend, science fiction and fantasy fans will be gathering at MystiCon, being held at the Holiday Inn Tanglewood in Roanoke, Viriginia. And among the guests in attendance will be author Richard C. White, who’ll be there to promote his latest projects.

Rich, as SWC fans should know by now, is the bestselling author of the licensed novel Gauntlet: Dark Legacy: Paths of Evil, as well as an ever-growing list of titles published by SWC: the novel Harbinger of Darkness; the fantasy-adventure story collection For a Few Gold Pieces More; the writers and gamemasters aid Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination; the supernatural-superhero graphic novel Troubleshooters, Incorporated: Night Stalkings; and the pirate-adventure digital comic The Chronicles of the Sea Dragon Special.

Chasing-Danger_large_book_coverRich’s most recent SWC release is the dark-fantasy noir collection Chasing Danger: The Case Files of Theron Chase, in which the titular private eye takes on a quartet of supernatural cases—think Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe mixed with Lev Grossman’s The Magicians. Here’s the back cover copy:

Calasia: it’s a big town with big problems. Murder, thievery, extortion, corruption, magic, and monsters—just ask any native here: this ain’t a burg for the faint of heart. You don’t live in Calasia, you survive it.

Theron Chase walks these mean streets with a sap in one hand and a .45 in the other. Story is he used to be a hell of a cop in these parts—until his partner got dead in a hurry years ago. Now he makes a living as a private eye, offering his services to one and all while trying to stay on the good side of his secretary, a dishy-looking fae name of Kyra Sylvari. Ogres, werewolves, crime bosses, mages—as long as your money’s good and no one’s looking to turn him into a dead man (walking or otherwise), odds are he’ll be able to solve your problem.

Just don’t ask him to handle any magic-related items—he’s about as adept with the arcane arts as a troll in a knitting circle.

In this collection you’ll find four of Chase’s bizarre cases. 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, Theron Chase certainly has his hands full—of danger, death, and dames!

Chasing Danger: The Case Files of Theron Chase is available in print and digital formats, so visit its product page for ordering information.

MystiCon runs February 28–March 1. Rich will be selling copies of his books, so be sure to stop by his table in the vendors’ room to pick them up. For more information on the convention, visit the MystiCon website.

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From the Stars…a Vampiress Now On Sale!

Posted on February 18, 2020 by Steven

vampiress_LG_CoverHey, horror and comics fans! Today’s the day when our latest release, From the Stars…a Vampiress: An Unauthorized Guide to Vampirella’s Classic Horror Adventures, officially goes on sale! Written by Steven A. Roman (that’s me!), author of the Pandora Zwieback series and the tales of the Vampi-inspired succubus Lorelei, it’s an extensive look at Vampi’s early days, from the debut of her series in 1969 to the death of Warren Publishing in 1983.

Created in 1969 by comics publisher James Warren and writer/editor Forrest J Ackerman, Vampirella—the half-naked vampire from outer space who fights monsters while wearing nothing but a one-piece swimsuit and a pair of go-go boots—celebrated her 50th anniversary last year with the launch of a new series by her current rights owner, Dynamite Entertainment. Surprisingly, even though Fantagraphics Books published the late Bill Schelly’s in-depth biography James Warren: Empire of Monsters: The Man Behind Creepy, Vampirella, and Famous Monsters, in 2019 (and which is now out of print!), there was no book covering the behind-the-scenes history of Vampirella herself.

Until now, that is! In From the Stars…a Vampiress: An Unauthorized Guide to Vampirella’s Classic Horror Adventures you’ll find a wealth of information in its chapters:

The Vampire Who Fell to Earth: It’s the story of the life of Vampirella at Warren Publishing: her 1969 development by cocreators James Warren and Forrest J Ackerman, with the assistance of artists Frank Frazetta and Trina Robbins; the adventures she went on via the writing and artistic talents of such visionaries as Archie Goodwin, Bill DuBay, Jose Gonzalez, Enrich, Gonzalo Mayo, and many others; and the cancellation of her series in 1982 when the company collapsed. It also features probably the most you’ll ever see reported about four Vampi writers who were just as talented but not as well known: Mike Butterworth, who wrote under the pseudonym Flaxman Loew; T. Casey Brennan; Rich Margopoulos; and Gerry Boudreau.

The Vampirella Episode Guide: The largest section of the book, it examines every story starring Vampirella during the Warren Era: over 100 entries, some with little known behind-the-scenes details. Plus stories behind some of Vampi’s unpublished adventures!

Vampi Goes to Hollywood: In 1975, Hammer Films announced the development of a Vampirella movie starring model/actress Barbara Leigh and the legendary Peter Cushing (later known the world over as Grand Moff Tarkin of Star Wars). The project crashed in spectacular fashion, but the details have always been murky. I try to clear up the confusion surrounding it, detailing the production from its launch to its unfortunate ending. And then I take a critical look at the awful Vampirella movie that was made in 1996, starring Talisa Soto and rock god Roger Daltrey of the Who—and probably shouldn’t have been!

The Literary Vampiress: From 1975 to 1976, Warner Books published a series of Vampirella novelizations by sci-fi author Ron Goulart. I take a look at each novel, and explain why they’re worth tracking down…if you can find copies!

The Vampirella Warren Era Checklist: A list of every Warren Vampi story! Every reprint volume from Harris Comics and Dynamite Entertainment! Plus little known trivia!

From the Stars also features: A foreword by Sean Fernald, the Official Vampirella Historian! A peek at Peter Cushing’s personal copy of the 1976 Vampirella screenplay! A frontispiece by legendary artist Bob Larkin, who painted covers for Warren’s Vampirella, The Rook, Eerie, and Famous Monsters of Filmland! Photos of Barbara Leigh in costume as Vampirella at the 1975 Famous Monsters Convention, held in New York! If there’s only one Vampirella history book you pick up—and let’s be honest, this is the only Vampirella history book that’s been published—then be sure to add it to your collection!

From the Stars…a Vampiress: An Unauthorized Guide to Vampirella’s Classic Horror Adventures is available right now in print and as a PDF e-book, so visit its product page for ordering information. The print edition can be purchased from us as well as through your usual reailer outlets like Amazon and Barnes & Noble; the e-book is available through the SWC webstore and DriveThru Fiction.

This book is unofficial and unauthorized. It is not authorized, approved, licensed, or endorsed by Dynamite Entertainment or any of its licensees. Vampirella is a trademark of Dynamite Entertainment.

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Love and Horror for the Romantic Soul

Posted on February 10, 2020 by Steven

CarmillaValentine’s Day—the world’s favorite day for romance and outpourings of love—is close at hand, and coincidentally it just happens to fall smack-dab in the middle of Women in Horror Month. If you’re a horror fan, what better way to celebrate both holidays by snuggling up with your significant other and reading the story of Carmilla, the vampiress in search of love…and blood?

In 1871, J. Sheridan Le Fanu’s classic vampire tale, Carmilla, debuted in serialized form in the pages of the magazine Dark Blue and was then reprinted in Le Fanu’s short story collection, In a Glass Darkly, published in 1872. If you’re unfamiliar with what’s probably Le Fanu’s most famous work, here’s the back-cover copy from our edition, which has become the most popular title in our Illustrated Classics line:

Before Edward and Bella, before Lestat and Louis, even before Dracula and Mina, there was the vampiric tale of Carmilla and Laura.

Living with her widowed father in a dreary old castle in the woods of Styria, Laura has longed to have a friend with whom she can confide; a friend to bring some excitement to her pastoral lifestyle. And then Carmilla enters her life.

Left by her mother in the care of Laura’s father, Carmilla is young, beautiful, playful—everything that Laura had hoped to find in a companion. In fact, the lonely girl is so thrilled to have a new friend that she is willing to overlook the dark-haired beauty’s strange actions…which include a disturbing, growing obsession for her lovely hostess.

Carmilla, it seems, desires more than just friendship from Laura….

Critics love Carmilla, too!

“What makes Carmilla so endearing is the fact that the story is centered around two female characters, whose complicated relationship is colored by thinly veiled lesbian undertones.”—Slate

“Carmilla manages to pack in a lot of creepiness, narrative complexity, and moral ambiguity. It is worth reading both as a progenitor of the vampire genre and as a nuanced portrayal of a female relationship—part romance, part horror story—that exists outside the confines of masculine power.”—The Toast

Carmilla is available in print and digital formats, and features six spectacular black-and-white illustrations by artist Eliseu Gouveia (Lorelei: Sects and the City, The Saga of Pandora Zwieback Annual #1). Visit its product page for further information.

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Ready to Rev Your Harley?

Posted on February 7, 2020 by Steven

Birds-of-Prey-posterToday is the U.S. release date of Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), the latest entry in Warner Bros.’ DC Comics movie universe, in which star Margot Robbie reprises her well-received portrayal of the Clown Princess of Crime, Harley Quinn, last seen busting out of Belle Reve prison with her “puddin’,” the Joker, in 2016’s Suicide Squad.

Well, if you’re a fan of Dr. Harleen Quinzel’s villainous alter ego, then perhaps you’d be interested in checking out a free digital comic available exclusively from your friends at StarWarp Concepts…

heroines_large_coverHeroines & Heroes is a collection of comic stories and pinups written and drawn by Steven A. Roman (that’s 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 (spoiler warning: it didn’t work out). It’s 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.

Heroines and Heroes is a free digital exclusive. Visit its product page for ordering information, as well as sample pages.

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On the Road Again…

Posted on February 6, 2020 by Steven

OpenRoad-LinneaMallette-PubDomPics

With the 2020 convention season already under way (did you check out my report on SWC’s trip to Pow Con 2020 last week?), that means it’s time to get back to meeting the fans. Here’s where you’ll find us during the year:

February 28–March 1: MystiCon: Author Rich White (Chasing Danger, Terra Incognito, For a Few Gold Pieces More, Harbinger of Darkness) makes his annual pilgrimage to the Holiday Inn Tanglewood in Roanoke, Virginia, for this three-day genre gathering whose media guests this year include award-winning sci-fi author Larry Niven and actor Daniel Logan (young Boba Fett of Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones).

April 24–26: RavenCon: You’ll find Rich White hawking his goods at this sci-fi and fantays gathering being held at the DoubleTree Hilton Williamsburg, in Williamsburg, Virginia. This year’s big guest is Terry Brooks, the award-winning author of the Shannara series of fantasy novels.

July 10–12: Shore Leave 42: Rich will be making his annual trek to this sci-fi and fantasy con, being held at the Delta Hotels Baltimore in Hunt Valley, Maryland. They’ve already lined up a bunch of authors who’ll be there to greet the fans, and somewhere among them—and no doubt hosting or participating in half the panels—you’ll find Rich!

September 12: CT Horrorfest is Connecticut’s sole horror convention, and this one-day gathering of monster kids keeps getting bigger every year, especially now that it’s held at the Naugatuck Event Center in the town of Naugatuck (located in New Haven County). This year, their guests so far include Michael Berryman (The Hills Have Eyes, Weird Science), C.J. Graham (Jason Voorhees of Friday the 13, Part VI: Jason Lives), and Quinn Lord (demon-boy Sam of Trick ’r Treat).

More news to come on other SWC convention appearances as the information becomes available!

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Coming February 18, 2020: From the Stars…a Vampiress!

Posted on February 5, 2020 by Steven

If you’re a horror fan or comics fan—or even better, a combination of both—then you’re familiar with the character Vampirella. She’s the half-naked vampire from outer space (or hell, depending on who’s writing her origin) who fights monsters while wearing nothing but a one-piece swimsuit and a pair of go-go boots. Created in 1969 by comics publisher James Warren and writer/editor Forrest J Ackerman, she celebrated her 50th anniversary last year with the launch of a new series by her current rights owner, Dynamite Entertainment. But for all the new comics, classic reprints, and histories of Warren Publishing that were released last year, surprisingly the one topic that was never covered was the behind-the-scenes history of Vampirella herself.

Until now, that is (click to embiggen, as they say)…

From-the-Stars-FullCvr

Coming February 18, 2020 is From the Stars…a Vampiress: An Unauthorized Guide to Vampirella’s Classic Horror Adventures. Written by Steven A. Roman (that’s me!), author of the Pandora Zwieback series and the tales of the Vampi-inspired succubus Lorelei, it’s an extensive look at Vampi’s early days, from the debut of her series in 1969 to the death of Warren Publishing in 1983, in seven heavily researched chapters:

The Vampire Who Fell to Earth: It’s the story of the life of Vampirella at Warren Publishing: her 1969 development by cocreators James Warren and Forrest J Ackerman, with the assistance of artists Frank Frazetta and Trina Robbins; the adventures she went on via the writing and artistic talents of such visionaries as Archie Goodwin, Bill DuBay, Jose Gonzalez, Enrich, Gonzalo Mayo, and many others; and the cancellation of her series in 1982 when the company collapsed. It also features probably the most you’ll ever see reported about four Vampi writers who were just as talented but not as well known: Mike Butterworth, who wrote under the pseudonym Flaxman Loew; T. Casey Brennan; Rich Margopoulos; and Gerry Boudreau.

The Vampirella Episode Guide: The largest section of the book, it examines every story starring Vampirella during the Warren Era: over 100 entries, some with little known behind-the-scenes details. Plus stories behind some of Vampi’s unpublished adventures!

Vampi Goes to Hollywood: In 1975, Hammer Films announced the development of a Vampirella movie starring model/actress Barbara Leigh and the legendary Peter Cushing (later known the world over as Grand Moff Tarkin of Star Wars). The project crashed in spectacular fashion, but the details have always been murky. I try to clear up the confusion surrounding it, detailing the production from its launch to its unfortunate ending. And then I take a critical look at the awful Vampirella movie that was made in 1996, starring Talisa Soto and rock god Roger Daltrey of the Who—and probably shouldn’t have been!

The Literary Vampiress: From 1975 to 1976, Warner Books published a series of Vampirellanovelizations by sci-fi author Ron Goulart. I take a look at each novel, and explain why they’re worth tracking down…if you can find copies!

The Vampirella Warren Era Checklist: A list of every Warren Vampi story! Every reprint volume from Harris Comics and Dynamite Entertainment! Plus little known trivia!

From the Stars also features: A foreword by Sean Fernald, the Official Vampirella Historian! A peek at Peter Cushing’s personal copy of the 1976 Vampirella screenplay! A frontispiece by legendary artist Bob Larkin, who painted covers for Warren’s Vampirella, The Rook, Eerie, and Famous Monsters of Filmland! Photos of Barbara Leigh in costume as Vampirella at the 1975 Famous Monsters Convention, held in New York! Photos of Talisa Soto in costume on the set of the 1996 Vampirella movie! Rare photos from the collection of Forrest J Ackerman! If there’s only one Vampirella history book you pick up—and let’s be honest, this is the only Vampirella history book that’s been published—then be sure to add it to your collection!

From the Stars…a Vampiress: An Unauthorized Guide to Vampirella’s Classic Horror Adventures goes on sale February 18, 2020 in print and as a PDF e-book.

This book is unofficial and unauthorized. It is not authorized, approved, licensed, or endorsed by Dynamite Entertainment or any of its licensees. Vampirella is a trademark of Dynamite Entertainment.

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Author Richard C. White Interviewed by the Dicegeeks

Posted on February 4, 2020 by Steven

terra_ingoc_lg_coverThe popularity of role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons (which is currently going through a resurgence) and the like remains as healthy as ever these days, and among the handy reference books that are available for gamers and gamemasters you’ll find our own how-to book, Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination, by fantasy author Richard C. White (Chasing Danger: The Case Files of Theron Chase, Harbinger of Darkness).

In Terra Incognito, Rich 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 Timesbestselling 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.

Recently, Rich appeared on the podcast series Dicegeeks Tabletop RPG Show (actually recorded last October) for the episode “World Building, Writing and Role-Playing Games with Richard C. White,” in which he and host Matt Davids discuss his writing background and gaming history before getting into the meat of world building. Head over there now and give it a listen.

Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination is perfect for budding authors as well as RPG fans interested in building their own fantasy and science fiction environments, and is available in print and e-book formats. Visit its product page for further information.

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