Ending One Second At A Time

THIS BLOG HAS MOVED!

2006-07-27T11:52:00.000-07:00

I'm moving my blog to my main site (www.cullenbunn.com) . I hope you'll join me over there! Thanks!

Refocus

2006-07-14T14:16:00.000-07:00

The past couple of weeks have been rough ones. I'm not complaining. Rough weeks just happen. But I've had to let a few things slide over the past several days. Some of you may be waiting on something from me. Here's my promise that I'll be back on track shortly. On Sunday, Cindy and I celebrate our second anniversary. I'm still in awe of how lucky I was that she suffered from a momentary lack of good judgment and agreed to marry me. We're heading to the cabin to get away from it all, and I hope to be refreshed and refocused when I return Monday.

Dead Acres Is The Place To Be

2006-07-03T18:56:00.000-07:00

Over on his webiste, Chris Samnee's been posting a few of the pages he illustrated for Dead Acres, a proposal we put together a while back. The comic is on hold right now, but I still hope it will see print one day. Until then, it's nice to see the pages posted somewhere.

Go, Samnee, Go!

2006-06-27T11:16:00.000-07:00

My buddy, Chris Samnee, has been nominated for the 2006 Russ Manning Most Promising Newcomer Award for his work as artist on Capote in Kansas by Oni Press. The winners will be announced at the San Diego Comic-Con. You know I'm rooting for ya, Chris!

Morlock Must Be Destroyed

2006-06-26T10:24:00.000-07:00

In the distant futureworld that is the year 2001, Morlock the plantman leads a angst-filled struggle against the tyranny of a cruel government and his own seething rage. He might be able to help those in need ... if only he can keep from devouring them. Read all about Morlock 2001 in the latest installment of POW! Moments.

... Or Maybe Not.

2006-06-23T06:52:00.000-07:00

Well, we were on our way. Had the car packed, the dog in the kennel, the neighbors looking after the house. About 45 minutes into the trip, we received a call regarding a familiy emergency and we headed back home. We're still not sure if we'll be able to go to Nashville or not, even for a day or two, but we're holding out hope.

Hypericon, Here I Come

2006-06-21T01:14:00.000-07:00

I'm leaving Wednesday morning for Nashville, TN, where I'll be a guest at Hypericon. I'm not sure if I'll have access to the internet while I'm away, but if not I'll post a full con report when I return. For those of you who are planning on attending the convention, make sure to find me and say hello. I'll be participating in a couple of panels on Saturday: Sat -10 AM Writing Short Fiction Cullen Bunn, Geoffrey Girard, Steven Antzak, James Bassett Tips to improve your short story writing Sat - 4 PM The Future Of Comics Brian Keene, Michael Oliveri, Cullen Bunn What is going on now in the comics industry that will influence comics tomorrow? How will the graphic novel medium evolve?

Penslingers, Inc.

2006-06-17T14:07:00.000-07:00

Mike Oliveri, Nate Southard, and I are looking for artists for our next comics projects. To make it a little easier, we teamed up and started a website and loose writing studio called Penslingers, Inc. If you're at all interested in the projects we're dreaming up, drop by www.penslingersinc.com and take a look!

The Oceans Cannot Contain Them!

2006-06-16T20:01:00.000-07:00

Here's an idea I conjured up a few months back. Upon showing it to my buddy Brian Hurtt , I was told, "Never, never show this to anyone else." But since I rarely pay attention to such sage advice, here ya go, a feast for your eyes and mind--I give you ...

ATTACK OF THE ATTACKING SHARKS (Pt. 1)

Deep beneath the ocean waves, something evil stirs. Some say the shark has not evolved significantly in thousands of years ... it is, as it ever was, a perfect, mindless killing machine with no desire save to eat. But now the sharks hunger for more. Exposed to dangerous levels of radiation seeping from the ruined hulk of a sunken nuclear submarine, the sharks have started to change. Strange mutations have increased their intellect to a level surpassing that of humans. And to make matters worse, some of the sharks have developed the ability to read thoughts and control minds! Simple thought patterns have been replaced with a lust for power and a drive to conquer. Imagine now that you are one of the surface world's top scientific minds. Imagine your elation to be invited--along with dozens of your peers--on an all-expense paid pleasure cruise. Surrounded by geniuses in biotechnology, robotics, and engineering, you are in your element. But imagine, too, your shock--your ultimate horror--to learn that the cruise was but a ploy to lure you and your fellows into a trap! Far too late you realize your predicament. The ship's hull is torn apart upon corral reefs! As the ship begins to sink, you realize you are surrounded by the cold, dead eyes of hundreds of sharks! The scientists are taken deep into an undersea cave and trapped within a few winding, air-filled chambers. There they are forced to do the bidding of the sharks if they ever hope to see the surface world again. Using the wreckage of sunken ships, the scientists assist their new masters in the creation of awesome engines of destruction! Weeks later, as swimmers and sunbathers frolic in the surf and sand of Grayson City Beach-- The waters begin to churn ... A lifeguard blows his whistle upon sighting a shark's fin breaking the surface ... Frightened swimmers trudge through the waves to reach the safety of the beach ... But there is no safety, as an army of horrific beasts emerge from the water ... Attacking sharks!A deadly fusion of barnacle-encrusted machinery and sandpaper-rough flesh, the sharks march upon the shore with spidery legs. Even the once harmless pilot fish that swam beneath the shark have been turned into flesh-seeking weapons! What could possibly stop this army of now-amphibious predators? When the military is dispatched to destroy the sharks, they encounter an even greater horror rising from the depths ... Shark tanks! Massive, lumbering aquariums filled with water and bloodthirsty sharks! Gigantic claws scoop up soldiers and innocent victims alike and plop them through the yawning opening atop the machine. Those who escape the grasping claws are witness to the terrible sight of the victims being torn to shreds by the hungry creatures within! All seems lost ... but one lone survivor of the initial attack of the attacking sharks, 14 year old Carrie Woods, vows revenge. Partnering with her uncle, a grizzled and crusty fisherman, Carrie sets out to find a way to put a stop to the advance of the sharks once and for all! Will she succeed? Will she be too late? Will she and her uncle fall victim to the cruelty of the sharks? Only time will tell! There you have it! The first part of an epic tale. I'm not sure when I'll get around to posting the rest of the story. Maybe it's best to let this ghastly story remain untold ... For now ...

Congratulations, Hoffmeister!

2006-06-16T19:52:00.000-07:00

My friend Curt Hoffmeister recently took a well-earned first place in Desdmona's Hard-boiled Sex Contest for his short story "Wet Work". You can read his winning spy story online. I think the tale has enough trappings to call it--dare I say--horrific. But you'll have to judge for yourself. Either way, it's a fine piece of work, and despite the fact that it won an erotic story contest, you don't even have to feel cheap indulging in the story.

One Can There Only Be!

2006-06-15T11:45:00.000-07:00

My latest POW! Moments column features Aricel's Warlock 5, a nifty little comic that resembles many of the popular movies of the 80s. But it's tough to go wrong with terminator robots, zombies, knights, and dragons all rolled into one book.

Get All The Damned News You Could Ever Want

2006-06-13T13:25:00.000-07:00

One of the things my illustrious co-creator, Brian Hurtt, and I have discovered--when you title a comic The Damned, the jokes never step. "Let's have a Damned meeting." or "Would you e-mail me The Damned script pages?" or "The Damned artwork is almost finished." Well, now you can sign up for regular Damned updates. We've set up an e-newsletter to deliver the latest scoop on the comic and our other creative efforts directly to your inbox. To sign up, just click the link below:

With Friends Like These ...

2006-06-10T05:47:00.000-07:00

Maybe you thought by the title I'd be ranting about some slight (or imagined slight) perpetrated by a friend of mine. No way! My friends are both too cool to do such a thing. I'm talking about John Constantine, who takes center stage in my latest Broken Frontier column.

The Last Stand

2006-05-30T05:02:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, my wife and I saw X-Men: The Last Stand. Usually, I avoid movie theaters like the plague, but I make exceptions every now and again. Since the X-Men have always been one of my favorite superhero teams, I knew I couldn't wait for the DVD. The movie was pretty good. I think it was probably the weakest of the trilogy, but it still had plenty of merits. Like the rest of the X-movies, it deviates significantly from the comics, so if you can't get past that, don't watch it. This one really takes some liberties with the source material. Even I was almost ready to stand up and shout, "That never happened!" a time or two. But I kept my cool by chewing a few Sour Patch Kids and reciting the mantra, "It's an alternate reality. It's an alternate reality. It's an alternate reality." It was great to see Kitty Pryde (who surprised me as my favorite mutant this time around), Juggernaut, and Beast on screen, and some of the action scenes were awesome. My major complaint with all of the movies is that none of the characters (besides Wolverine) get enough screen time, and this one was no exception ... but what are you going to do with a cast of hundreds of mutants? As I watched the movie, I was inspired to pursue something new. I want to write those announcements that roll with the previews. You know, the ones that inform you in some clever way to turn your cell phone off. Those I create would be connected to the movie in question, of course. Imagine if you will ... A movie theater lit only by the flickering light of the projector. The seating is auditorium style, and two friends sit near the back of the room, overlooking a standing room only crowd. JOE, a rather small fellow in a faded New Mutants tee shirt circa 1985, and HAROLD, a big fellow in a "Magneto Was Right" tee shirt, munch handfuls of popcorn and sip sodas as they watch X-Men: The Last Stand. A couple of rows in front of them, a man's cell phone rings, unleashing its disturbing synthesized ringtone right in the middle of an important scene. The man tugs the cell phone from his pocket and reviews the caller ID, letting the phone ring for several seconds before shrugging and putting the phone away again. JOE and HAROLD shift uncomfortably in their seats. A few minutes later, the man's phone starts ringing again. Once more, the man lets it ring as he checks the caller ID. JOE looks at HAROLD in frustration. JOE: I can't take it any more. You know what to do! HAROLD: You mean-- JOE: Do it! HAROLD rises and hoists JOE into the air. JOE shoves his fists out in front of him as HAROLD hurls him towards the man and his cell phone. JOE: Fastball special! But HAROLD's aim is off, and JOE crashes into the seat just in front of him. As JOE sinks into a twisted pile on the sticky floor, HAROLD sits down again, face red. The caption rolls: Don't let this happen during your movie-going experience. Please, turn off your cell phones.

Funny ... She Doesn' t Look Druidish

2006-05-26T07:32:00.000-07:00

Yet another Broken Frontier column has been posted, this one about an ill-fated horror comic that's near and dear to my heart. Marvel's Druid only lasted 4 issues ... but so much potential was packed into those pages I still read the series over every now and again.

Something Wicked

2006-05-23T12:14:00.000-07:00

Futurequake Press has released the first issue of Something Wicked, a horror comic anthology featuring the short weird western tale "Dark Rider, Pale Horse" written by Shawn Lee and myself and illustrated by Johnny McMonagle. Give it a look if you're in the mood for some good, old-fashioned creepy comics.

60-Second Book Review - Wolf's Trap

2006-05-22T07:56:00.000-07:00

I read about one novel a week. I wish I could get through more, but it's kind of tough to do when there are short stories and comics and tv shows and magazines and my own writing to worry about. This week, I read Wolf's Trap by William Gagliani. A murdered friend. A descent into the darkness of the porn world. A cop whose tragic past includes a terrible secret and a horrible burden. A serial killer with depraved obsessions and a blood grudge. They will meet in Wisconsin's dark and chilly North Woods. But who will be the hunter, and who will be the hunted? And how many innocents will have to die? I'll admit, this isn't my usual cup of tea. Werewolf (or vampire ... or zombie ... or mummy) cop books have been done really badly over the years. But I met Bill at World Horror Convention, and he was such a nice guy I couldn't help but buy a copy of his book. I'm glad I did. Not only is Bill a nice person, he's a helluva writer as well. Nick Lupo, the main character, happens to be a werewolf, but the story is much more of a crime drama/serial killer tale. We've got good guys matching wits with a demented villain, a bit of romance, a trio of ne'er-do-wells ... and a werewolf to boot. The story never degenerates into a superhero story, and I was pleased to see the lycanthrope legend returning to its roots. (And Nick's origin as a werewolf was a very chilling part of the book for me.) It's a page-turner, and the final payoff is worth it. For my money, there are two people who do the crime drama meets werewolf story justice. One is my friend Curt Hoffmeister, and I have no doubt you'll soon be reading his work. The other is William Gagliani. If you're in the mood for a good crime thriller with a sprinkling of lupine fury, give Wolf's Trap a read.

Hey! You got your horror in my comic book!

2006-05-18T19:32:00.000-07:00

The latest POW! Moments column is posted and available for your consideration. For the next few weeks, I'll be covering horrific moments in the funny books, and I figured I'd start off with an issue of Swamp Thing that gave me the heebie jeebies. Hope you enjoy it!

Today's Flash Fiction: CE MC MR ON/C

2006-05-17T13:20:00.000-07:00

Back when I edited Whispers from the Shattered Forum, I used to get some strange little nonsense stories. They were never right for the magazine, but as a goof I wrote a few myself. Most have been lost, but as I was cleaning out my office, I found one. I thought I'd share it here.

CE MC MR ON/C

I noticed fingerprints on the leys of my desktop calculator. I wondered to whom these prints belonged. Perhaps it was an astronaut, calculating the distance to some far off planet. Or perhaps it was a bookie, working on some mob boss's finances. Then I realized the fingerprints were mine!!!!!!

So I sat, chewing at my fingertips, wishing my shoes were clean.

It's a Feud!

2006-05-17T08:48:00.000-07:00

Here we have a partial cover image for my upcoming novel Blood Feud: A Vampire Yarn ... With Spiders. My partner on The Damned comic series, Brian Hurtt, whipped this up for me after reading the novella on which the novel is based. The image was used on t-shirts passed out at the 2006 World Horror Convention. Brian has further plans for the piece before it will grace the cover of my work. I can't wait to see what he comes up with.

Nothing or Double, Jack - World Horror Convention 2006 Report

2006-05-15T07:54:00.000-07:00

Last week, I spent a few days in San Francisco at this year's World Horror Convention, a gathering of some of the darkest minds in the business. While the best part of any lengthy trip for me is the return home, I thought I'd share some of the highlights of the journey, the city, and the convention. I was pretty pleased with the show. It wasn't perfect, but I've never been to a convention that went off without a hitch. All in all, the organizers did a nice job. Even if the event had been a total mess, it's always great to see all my good chums at the convention (you know who you are). Wednesday JimmyZ of Still Water Press and I headed out bright and early to make our 8:00 flight. Once we arrive in Oakland, we realized we had no idea how to get to our hotel in San Francisco. No problem, I thought. This town has one of the greatest public transportation setups in the world. So, I asked the nice lady at the information desk. Without skipping a beat, she rattled off a litany of shuttles and cab rides and something called the Air BART that required exact change. My eyes glazed, I nodded, and staggered away to find a change machine. The cabs and trains and shuttles and trolleys--they're second nature to the folks in San Francisco, but I don't have the cognitive capacity to handle such exchanges. For me, it's like trying to solve some difficult puzzle. After trying to figure it out on my own, I went back and asked for directions once again. This time, with the help of JimmyZ's map-reading skills and a couple of quick phone calls, I made it to the hotel without incident. Once we got checked in, we walked around a few blocks in search of something to eat. We settled on a little Mexican cafe called (I think) Pancho's. They didn't serve margaritas, but the food was all right and it filled my empty stomach. Once back at the hotel, we met up with a bunch of early convention arrivals and had a great time until the wee hours of the morning. Thursday Before registering for the convention, JimmyZ and I walked down to Fisherman's Wharf, then to Chinatown. Only after we had already started walking on this sunny day did I realize my shaved head had no protection, so for the next few days I sported a bright red dome. We walked for 4 or 5 hours, I think, but missed the uber-tourist spots like Pier 39. We ate lunch in Chinatown, because that seemed like the thing to do, but I was kinda unimpressed. We probably picked the wrong restaurant. Jimmy got his hair cut in Chinatown because, again, it seemed like the thing to do. The girl who cut his hair asked if I wanted a haircut, too. Did I mention I have naught but stubble atop my head? As we headed back to the hotel, we were serenaded by thousands of annoying metal crickets in cardboard boxes. Every little shop in Chinatown carried these things. Back at the convention, I registered, bought a shirt featuring a cool illustration by Brom, and quickly browsed the dealer's room. I thought the dealer's room was pretty impressive this year, but I didn't stay long before going to take a quick nap. At dinner we hit the House of Prime Rib and they lived up to their name. The food was delicious, if a bit pricey, and I ate much more than I needed to. Perhaps because of the full belly, perhaps because of all the walking, perhaps because of the previous late night, I retired relatively early that evening. Friday During my reading Friday morning, I read "Beneath Black Boughs My Darlings Slumber," and I hope everyone enjoyed it. Christopher Golden burst in early on to attack Kelly and Kelli from Horror-Web with a water gun, but from what I could tell, they deserved it. Besides, the spray of the waterguns added to the atmosphere of the seaboard-based tale. At lunchtime, I found myself at a delightful Thai cafe with a group of cool folks. That afternoon I participated (if that's what you want to call it) in a panel on horror in comics. Later I dined at Crustacean Euro-Asian Cafe, where I felt very underdressed. Friday night was the infamous Borderlands Books party, and it was as crowded and entertaining as should be expected. Those folks know how to throw a shindig! Saturday I awoke relatively early and finished my Gross-Out contest entry. I read it a couple of times, hated it more and more with each reading, then decided it was as good as it was going to get. I ripped the sheets out of my notebook and tucked them in my pocket to be read that night. Along with Curt, Karen, and JimmyZ, I took a cab to Pier 39 and took in some of the tourist attractions. But our real objective was to buy matching pirate shirts that read "Surrender the Booty!" That's right, I'm not afraid to admit it. Curt, JimmyZ and I wore matching pirate shirts. Now you're upset that you didn't go, aren't you? If only we could have gotten the other attending members of the Midwest Writers of Horror to don booty shirts!

That night at the Leisure party, I was the victim of mistaken identity. A woman came up to me, clutched my arm, and said, "Oh, good. I was hoping you would be here!"

Since I didn't know her, I smiled politely and said, "Thanks. I'm glad I could make it, too."

"And you're feeling okay?" she asked, at which point I realized she wasn't an adoring fan of my work and she, in fact, thought I was God-knows-who.

"Yes," I said. "I feel great."

"Good, good." She then asked if I had seen someone around. I couldn't make out the name, though, so I pointed towards the balcony.

"They're right outside," I said.

Across town, there was a fireworks show, which could be seen from outside the party. Very nice. To build my courage for the Gross-Out Contest, I indulged in a few (by few I mean many) libations, then headed to the ballroom in which the event was held. Cody Goodfellow talked a good deal of smack, and Jeff Strand seemed confidently subdued. I knew those two would be my primary competition, but I didn't know which one worried me more--Cody, with his evil laugh and threats of utter humiliation if I walked the walk to the bouncer-surrounded podium, or Jeff with his subtle smile that hinted at secrets of such blasphemous levels of disgustitude that I wondered if the audience would even be able to handle his tale of grue. In the end, I thought they both unleashed hilariously gross entries. I took first place, though, and won a Tickles the Tapeworm t-shirt and a surprise cash award from Flesh & Blood!

I went just a little over time on my entry, though, and bouncer Steven Shrewsbury hurled me over his shoulder and carried me bodily away from the stage. I think I'm retiring from the competition. I've entered three times and conquered three times. And as much as I enjoyed having dozens of itty bitty rubber chickens thrown at me by the audience this time, it's only a matter of time before someone unlocks The Cullen Code and discovers the secret of my gross-out success. So I'm out ... unless Cody or Jeff or any other yahoo wants to start some smack-talking, in which case I'm gonna have to lay down a heaping helping of learning they just can't get in school.

Thanks to everyone who threw a chicken at me, to Flesh & Blood Press, and to the judges and hostess. Sunday The morning was filled with tearful goodbyes (both to my good friends and to my last few dollars in the dealer's room) before we hopped in a cab to the Air BART station to the shuttle to the airport. A nice trip came to an end ... but I was thrilled to get home to my wife. And I mean it when I say I won't go to another WHC without her.

As always, I returned from the convention both tired AND energized. I'm ready to get to writing ... and that, along with all the cool people I got to see again or meet for the first time, makes the trip well worth it. Here's a list of stuff I bought at the convention (because I know you want to go out and buy the same cool things as me):

Ring, Spiral, and Loop by Author Guest of Honor Koji Suzuki
Wolf's Trap by W.D. Gagliani
Night Terrors by Alice Henderson
Secrets of the Bones by Teri Jacobs
The Return and The Change by Lynne Hansen
Monster Lake by Ed Lee and Shifters by Ed Lee and John Pelan
The first three issues of Dark Recesses Press on CD
Several copies of City Slab, Dark Discoveries, and Surreal magazines

Hopefully, I'll be able to direct you to some photos soon!

Stupid, Stupid TV Viewers

2006-05-07T08:37:00.000-07:00

Just a short post today because I'm swamped trying to get ready for this week's World Horror Convention. I'll take my few sentences today to rant a little. Now, I admit that Love Monkey is a terrible name for a television show ... but regardless of the title, this is the type of show that deserved to make it on network television. But due to less than impressive ratings, CBS pulled the show after airing only three episodes. Hey, I can understand their reasoning. They've got to make money, and the average television viewer would rather watch another re-treaded season of Survivor or the (hard to believe) even more godawful Unanimous--two shows that in my opinion only prove that people will lie, cheat, backstab, and worse for a buck. Love Monkey isn't the type of show I expected to like but--by God--it made me feel good. And I'm a pretty pessimistic guy at heart. Thankfully, VH1 is showing the original three episodes and the remaining five. Just too bad the viewing public didn't really give it a chance.

So Long, Micronauts!

2006-05-04T14:33:00.000-07:00

The latest installment of my Broken Frontier column is up for your reading pleasure. I promise--this is the last time I write about the Micronauts for at least a week. Check it out right here.

"I've Got A Special Mission For You!" or "Gggh Hhh Ffgg Hrrggrug Vrr Oo!"

2006-04-21T13:14:00.000-07:00

I could never be sure what mush-mouth Talking G. I. Joe was saying, but he was still one of my favorite toys. Around the time he came out, Habro rolled out the Adventure Team--the direct ancestor of the modern G.I. Joe (Real American Hero) incarnation. In addition to the talking Joe, we had Bullet Man (who had metal arms and came with this string from which he could rocket across the room) and the Atomic Man (*Cough, cough! Steve Austin!*). And long before Cobra Commander, the Joes faced a different foe--the Intruder, an armor-wearing caveman. I always felt a little sorry for the Intruder because he was all alone in his hatred of the Adventure Team. Did he have Destro or Major Bludd to back him up? Nope. Who did he have? A rubber shark and a vulture. Those were the only other bad guys Joe had to deal with. A vulture!? Why do you need a bionic (oh, I'm sorry--atomic) arm to battle a vulture? Also, the Intruder was a short little guy, and that endeared him to me ... mainly because around that time my older brother liked to tease me by singing "Short People Got No Reason to Live."

The Coolest Comic With a Pink Cover ... Ever!

2006-04-20T05:01:00.000-07:00

A new Broken Frontier column has been posted, this one about the rip-roaring 35th issue of Micronauts!

Growing Old ... Word by Word

2006-04-19T06:44:00.001-07:00

I realized last night that my vocabulary has changed, ever so slightly. Ten or fifteen years ago, I said good-bye with the phrase "be cool." Nowadays, "be cool" has been replaced by "take care." Cindy thinks this indicates that I'm becoming an old man. The good news is "dude" is still a big part of my vocabulary, and I've always got this blog to write about horror novels and comics and toys and cartoons. That should keep the Reaper at bay for a while longer. Be cool!

Soldiers vs. Dinosaurs!

2006-04-16T05:45:00.000-07:00

As a kid, I loved little plastic soldiers, cowboys, safari animals, and dinosaurs. You could buy them by the pound in sealed plastic bags, haul them out to the backyard and set up sprawling adventures. The sandbox became a desert battleground. The base of the old oak tree, a prehistoric cave system. The patio, an airfield under assualt by a fiendish coalition of Nazis, thunderlizards, and lions. If I needed a swamp setting, I just ran the water hose in the grass for a few minutes--and later endured punishment for muddying up the lawn. There are probably thousands of tiny green infantrymen buried in the back yard of my childhood home. Eventually, many of my crack squadron fell beneath an insidious device created by a mad scientist--a giant magnifying glass that focused the sun into a beam of plastic-melting energy.

I Wanna Cast ... Magic Missile!

2006-04-13T07:48:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, I was more excited about the ads that ran for Dungeons & Dragons in the early 80s than I was about the comic books in which they appeared. Each ad revealed one small portion of a much larger story. I doubt the entire tale was ever told, but I remember at least five installments. The trio of heroes encountered dragons and shambling mounds and green slime and werewolves. And who says D&D is a violent game? These adventurers never hurt anyone! I'd love to see all of the ads in order one day.

Aaaaoooooo! Bark at the Moon!

2006-04-13T04:48:00.000-07:00

My friend Mike Oliveri has given Comic Geek Speak an exclusive preivew of the first issue of his upcoming Moonstone comic Werewolves: Call of the Wild. The first issue should hit the stands in the next week or so. If you haven't pre-ordered the first issue, go beg your local comic shop to special order it. The second issue is in Previews now.

Check out the exclusive preview here.

Another tik Broken Frontier Column

2006-04-13T03:41:00.000-07:00

The second part of my Micronauts retorspective has been posted at Broken Frontier. Hope you enjoy it!

The Robotic Magic 8-Ball

2006-04-12T12:49:00.000-07:00

Rom the Spaceknight was a pretty cool toy, and the ad features my all time favorite superhero catch phrase. "Rom has come ... evil is on the run!" I must have drawn pictures of a thousand heroes of my own creation, all with the "evil is on the run" tagline. I never had a Rom action figure (although I liked the comic) but my little brother received one under the tree one Christmas. I'm convinced I was supposed to get the toy, but there was a mix-up on Santa's part. After all, I was the older brother. Surely I should have been the one entrusted with such a high-tech piece of equipment. Rom had a flashing chest plate and eyes, and he made different noises for each of his weapons. He also made cool breathing and jet propulsion sounds. But most amazingly, Rom could answer simple yes or no questions! One bong means no, two means yes! "Rom, should I have a peanut butter sandwich for lunch?" Bong! Bong! "Hot diggity! Thanks for helping me choose a delicious meal, my armor-plated buddy." "Rom, should I swipe my little brother's allowance money so I can buy a Slurpee?" Bong! "That was a close one, Rom! Thanks for being my moral compass!"

And Now ... A Word From Our Sponsors

2006-04-11T07:01:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, I was chatting with some folks about some of the toys we liked as kids. The conversation frequently turned towards the advertisements that appeared in magazines and comics. Half the time, I liked the ads better than the actual toys. I thought I'd take a few posts to mention some of my favorites. First up, Big Jim ...

I think I had one Big Jim action figure--Dr. Steel with that karate chopping metal hand. But who needed the actual toys? I taped a cardboard wrist band covered in magic marker buttons to my arm and commanded my forces, just like Big Jim himself. Or I used my bow and suction cup arrows and pretended to be Warpath. Few people know this, but my little brother is named Jim because of Big Jim. In fact, when my parents asked for my input on my little brother's name, I suggested Tonto Jim Bunn, because I thought the Lone Ranger was pretty cool, too, and having a brother named after the Ranger's sidekick would make the pretend western adventures all the more entertaining.

I found conflicting information on the artwork for the ad. It certainly looks like Jack Kirby, and some sources say he drew the ad. I've seen some other reference, though, that says it was illustrated by someone copying the King's style.

Either way ... here's to Big Jim--the coolest action figure I never had!

Screenplay Oversight?

2006-04-10T07:24:00.000-07:00

The Writer's Guild of America has posted a list of the 101 Best Screenplays. But I can't help but wonder how they missed Big Trouble in Little China and Red Dawn.

They Came From Inner Space!

2006-04-06T07:40:00.000-07:00

This week's column has been posted at Broken Frontier, beginning a multi-part retrospective of the greatest comic series of all time--The Micronauts!

Say Hello to Freakhunter

2006-04-02T08:50:00.000-07:00

My friend Chris Samnee recently posted a drawing of Terry Hammett, the Freakhunter. A few years back Chris and I got together and discussed ideas for comics we could work on together. Freakhunter was an I liked, but I wasn't sure if anyone else would think my bring-'em-back-alive bounty hunter was as much fun as I did. Chris liked the character, though, and ran with it. After I saw his initial designs, I knew no one else could ever draw Terry. As Chris notes, hopefully one day we'll be able to bring our vision of Freakhunter to the comic-reading public.

Old School Avengers to the Rescue

2006-03-30T03:37:00.000-08:00

My latest Broken Frontier column has been posted. What comic could bring me back into the fold after a hiatus of several years? Find out here.

Because Venger and Tiamat Were Cool ... But Dungeon Master, Not So Much

2006-03-27T11:06:00.000-08:00

This recently posted article stirred a bunch of memories for me. In 1983, the Dungeons and Dragons cartoon was released. An avid player of D&D, I waited for the show with much anticipation. On the day it first aired, my family was on a fishing trip, and we were staying a t Calico Jack's Motel and Marina at Harker's Island, NC. I begged off taking to the ocean so I could watch the show. Funny how many memories are tied to those fishing trips. Watching Dungeons and Dragons on the small, black and white television in the motel room. Reading my cousin's copy of Famous Monsters late at night. Trying to stay within the lines of a Flash Gordon coloring book while the boat thudded and bumped across the waves. And ... oh, yeah ... fishing, too.

Tony Stark: Your GO TO GUY!

2006-03-23T14:38:00.000-08:00

Okay. I know I said I'd post something non-comic related, but this is just too cool to pass up sharing. I love Iron Man. He was my first most favoritest superhero. This blog is a collection of Shellhead inspired artwork. Tony Stark: Your GO TO GUY! Makes me want to rush home and dig out all my old issues of Iron Man.

The Coolest Comic No One Read ...

2006-03-23T04:26:00.000-08:00

... One of them, at least. My latest column for Broken Frontier details how the cancellation of the Blackwulf lead to my own hiatus from comic collecting. Seek out this 10-issue series by Glenn Herdling and Angel Medina if you get the chance. I'm sure you can find it in a quarter box somewhere. I haven't been posting much lately, but I should have plenty more to share soon (maybe even some non-comic stuff).

The Golden Age of the New Mutants

2006-03-16T05:31:00.000-08:00

The latest installment of my column has been posted at Broken Frontier. This time, I'm discussing my all-time favorite issue of New Mutants. Even if you don't like comics, this issue (and the two that follow) are well worth checking out.

The Illustrated Crooked Hills

2006-03-10T13:14:00.000-08:00

The very talented artist Chris Samnee has an online journal you should all check out immediately. The entry for March 9th features some awesome artwork inspired by my young adult novel Crooked Hills.

Words, Words, Words

2006-03-09T07:23:00.000-08:00

My good friend Mike Oliveri pointed me in the direction of this column by J. Michael Straczynski. At the risk of being a copycat, I'm linking it here, too, because I think it's something every would-be writer should read.

We Got Dreadstar

2006-03-09T03:02:00.000-08:00

While I was out of town, a new entry for my column was released. This one focuses on one of the greatest comic space operas of all time. Dedicated to Toby.

Bring on the Bad Guys!

The Real Crooked Hills?

2006-03-08T06:40:00.000-08:00

Last week, I drove to North Carolina to visit my folks. Many of my stories take place in Midway County, an imaginary backwoods country that is a combination of rural spots in North Carolina and Missouri. Without Newton Grove, Spivey's Corner, Thayer, and Koshkonong, there would be no Crooked Hills or Spider Creek. My parents live in Broadway, NC, and their home (and the land surrounding it) shows up from time to time in my tales. I took a few pictures during the trip, and since I'm too tired after spending 15 hours on the road to write much, I thought I'd share a few.

Here's a shot of our first real stop in NC. After my car's drive shaft came apart like peanut brittle, we had to dump all our luggage and Mr. Chompers at the gas station and wait for my folks to come pick us up. Somehow, we managed to cram all this junk in a compact pickup.

Driving up in the dead of night, we were greeted by the cries of goats. Goats have always creeped me out, especially in pitch black darkness. This is Andy, who likes to butt anyone who isn't looking, and one of his many girlfriends.

Below we have a few shots of the grounds. It's amazing how peaceful it is, especially at night, unless someone approaches the house, at which point the aforementioned goats--along with dogs, chickens, roosters, ducks, geese, and turkeys--let the visitors have it. At about 3:30 in the morning, though, the roosters get bored and start crowing.

Below is a picture of Mr. Chompers and his new best friend Red Dog. I swear--despite the way it looks in the picture--we were not training them for pit fights. They actually got along famously, and they're only playing in this shot.

Seriously.

And finally (for now anyway) here's a picture of me looking rather militant. The gun was real, but I didn't have any bullets. Probably for the best ("You'll shoot your eye out!") but I would have loved to fire a few rounds.

Beneath Black Boughs Now Available

2006-02-27T04:04:00.000-08:00

"A lie, I believe, often proves more powerful than the truth. This story starts with a - a lie passed down in my family from generation to generation - but it ends, here, now, with the truth, and while a lie can be more powerful, the truth is almost always more frightening. "

--From Beneath Black Boughs My Darlings Slumber

I love chapbooks. Always have; always will. And I'm pleased to announce that Naked Snake Press has just released my short story "Beneath Black Boughs My Darlings Slumber" in chapbook format. This is a story of ancient curses, dark witchcraft, and pacts made with primal forces of nature long ago. You can order your very own copy directly from the publisher by clicking here or from Shocklines, the online horror bookshop by clicking here.

Your Weekly Moment of POW!

2006-02-23T06:27:00.000-08:00

Starting today, the comic book website www.brokenfrontier.com will be running a weekly column by yours truly. Essentially, the column will examine some of the comic book moments over the years that have changed me from a casual reader to a comic book junkie. This week's column -- the day the Avengers die! Hope you enjoy it.

POW! Moments

So I'm A Big Kid At Heart

2006-02-20T07:13:00.000-08:00

Know what I did this morning? Sat on the couch, ate cereal, and watched cartoons. All my friends know I'm never gonna grow up, and watching children's television just proves it, right? You may call it being childish. I call it staying young and--if I want to be more practical about it--doing research. My new favorite show is Cartoon Network's Ben Ten . As far as I'm concerned, there hasn't been a cartoon this fun in years. If this show had aired when I was a kid, I would have come running whenever it was about to come on. Cartoon Network ran a marathon of episodes yesterday and I decided it couldn't hurt to give it a shot. I was delighted to find aliens, cyborgs, mutants, and weird 1950s-style sci-fi paranoia in every episode I've watched so far. Ben Ten is the story of Ben Tennyson, who finds a device called the Omnitrix that allows him to take the form of 10 different aliens. One's strong, one's super-fast, one's the gross-looking bug ... you get the idea. Ben is spending the summer cruising the country with his Grandpa Max and cousin Gwen in an RV. Everywhere they go, weirdness follows, whether it's sea monsters, alien bounty hunters, or bank-robbing robots. Ben always manages to save the day, but each episode ends on a brooding hint of darkness to come. Ben Ten is a kid show, sure. It's also the kind of story I would love to tell. In some ways, the series is a little similar to a new young adult novel I've been working on, but it's different enough not to worry me. Now if 5:00 would just get here so I can rush home to watch another episode. Heck, maybe I'll even drink a CapriSun and eat one of those tiny bags of Doritos, too.

Now All We Need Is A Little Energon ... And A Lot of Luck

2006-02-14T08:21:00.000-08:00

If only it made those transforming sounds ... http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/wr-07-a-real-transformer

Quarter Box Plunder

2006-02-12T10:49:00.000-08:00

What a simple joy--digging through quarter comics at a Saturday morning comic show. While I didn't discover any amazing treasures in the 4 for $1 box, I managed to fill a few gaps in my want list and share a few laughs with the vendor. Avengers, X-Men, some Bob Layton Iron Man, a few issues of Byrne's Fantastic Four, even a couple of issues of New Mutants and Ghost Rider and Howard the Duck. Nothing that would knock the speculator's socks off, but an afternoon's worth of entertaining reading material. After I scoured the quarter, I looked for a few pricier items, although bargains still abounded and I paid just a couple of bucks each for some true gems, such as Conan #58 (Queen of the Black Coast), Uncanny X-Men #108 (The X-Men and the Starjammers versus a big-ass robot), Uncanny X-Men #124 (Colossus takes on the Persona of the Proletarian!), Marvel Chillers #1 (Modred the Mystic), Marvel Two-in-One #1 (The Thing AND the Man-Thing), Sandman #1, and Kamandi #29. Those last two deserve a little discussion. Both sprang from the mind of Jack Kirby, and both feature some of the wildest characters, art, and stories ever to grace comics. The Sandman was published in 1974. He was a super-hero who wore yellow and red, monitored dreams with his Universal Dream Monitor, and used a pair of nightmares named Brute and Glob to help him out of tight jams. With a toot of his hypersonic whistle, he could enter dreams and combat evil. Glob and Brute, whom Sandman kept in glass cells, were kinda evil. For instance, when young Jeb, in his dream, takes a deadly fall, Brute and Glob cry with glee. "Let him fall! Let him die!" But the Sandman was made of nobler stuff. Kamandi: The Last Boy on Earth was a wild end of the world comic, and #29 features a tale of intelligent gorillas who worship "The Mighty One" and await his return. The legendary figure in this case was Superman, and the apes kept his blue and red uniform in a secret vault. When Kamandi's friend Ben is mistaken for the Mighty One, he must undergo a series of challenges, including trial by combat, moving a boulder called "the Daily Planet," and withstanding the blast of a gatling gun (Ben could turn into a metal form, like the X-Men's colossus). In the end, Ben passes the tests, but he leaves the costume in the vault for the day the real Mighty One would return. If for nothing else, watching intelligent gorillas launch themselves into the air with a giant catapult in order to "leap tall buildings in a single bound" was a lot of crazy fun. Cindy came to the show with me since we were heading to Starbucks and the winefest afterwards. I couldn't really get her to find anything for herself, although she said she'd be willing to read a comic that featured "naked Wolverine." When she realized the comic version of the character was much hairier than Hugh Jackman, she changed her mind. The winefest afterwards was a lot of fun, too, but the wine-induced headache for the rest of the day was dreadful to say the least.

No Writing Today

2006-02-11T06:21:00.000-08:00

The chances of getting any writing done today are slim. Two events conspire against me. First of all, there's a tiny comic books show I'd like to attend. It's cramped and smells kinda funny, but the quarter comic boxes are fun to dig through. Immediately following the comic show, Cindy and I are hitting the 19th Annual Missouri Winefest. The event benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of America, and twenty or so Missouri wineries offer up samplings of their delicious wines. We've attended every Valentine's weekend for the past few years, and it's always a great time. But I know when I get home I'll be in the mood for napping, not writing. Oh well. Maybe I'll dream some terrific story idea.

I Should Have Kept My Legos

2006-02-08T06:54:00.000-08:00

And to think, I wasted my time building goofy-looking cars and robots when I could have been building a tribute to CTHULEGO. This really is a lot of fun. Creator Mark Stafford knows his way around Legos. Check out a detailed photo gallery here.

Beneath Black Boughs My Darlings Slumber

2006-02-07T10:41:00.000-08:00

Here's a first look at the cover to my upcoming chapbook from Naked Snake Press as illustrated by my friend Brian Hurtt.

Aww, shucks!

2006-02-06T15:37:00.000-08:00

Over at www.newsarama.com, James Lucas Jones, Editor-In-Chief at Oni Press has some nice things to say about me, my upcoming comic, and my co-creator. Check it out if you have a moment and learn a little bit about what's going on with this wonderful comic publisher.

Dead Birds

2006-02-05T17:10:00.000-08:00

"We'll see you get a little taste of Hell in this world before you pass into the next."

Over the weekend, I spent a couple of nights at the cabin, a nice secluded spot perfect for relaxation and reflection ,,, as well as spooky horror movies. The 2004 horrific western Dead Birds certainly fit the bill. The setup is pretty straightforward: during the civil war, a group of outlaws hide out in a haunted house. Hijinx ensue.

I'm not big into spoilers, so I'll avoid any major revelations regarding the film. Suffice it to say, it had almost everything I could have wanted from a horror movie. The heroes--or anti-heroes in this case--are faced with a plethora of terrifying occurrences, and the filmmakers threw in a heaping helping of brooding ambiance, chills, and even a few startling jumps. More a Lovecraftian story than a ghost story, the tale leaves its fair share of unanswered questions ... but there are plenty of clues to the nature of the evil lurking within the Hollister house, and the story will resonate with you for a while.

A few problems and inconsistencies keep the film from being perfect. An odd transition from day to night is either going to blatantly stand out to you or go unnoticed. I actually think this might have been on purpose. The sun's still shining when the outlaws reach the plantation, but as soon as they enter the house, it's dark outside. It came off as a kind of eerie sign of things to come, to me, but it might just bother other viewers. Also, upon watching the commentary track, I discovered the most overdone supernatural death in the story was originally scripted as a suicide. The writer's original idea would have worked much better, but I guess the producers really wanted to throw some so-so CGI into the movie.

I feel pretty inspired after watching this movie, though, and give it a high recommendation. Sixguns, ghosts, demons, and scarecrows ... How can you go wrong?

Once you've seen the movie, you may want to visit this excellent resource to get an even deeper understanding of the story.

Incidentally, the story reminds me of another low-budget horror movie, Scarecrows from 1988, in which a group of payroll thieves hijacking a plane crash land near a haunted farmhouse. Hijinx ensue. Both movies are fun, although the "creep factor" is much higher in Dead Birds.

World Domination 101

2006-02-05T14:06:00.000-08:00

"Paying the bills via writing is my definition of success." --Brian Keene, World Domination 101

Horror author Brian Keene has started a new blog titled World Domination 101. This blog will feature articles, essays, and advice for beginning and mid-level horror writers. I think Brian has a lot of good things to say here, so if you're a writer, check it out. If you aren't a writer, you might get a kick out of Brian's other Journal, Hail Saten.

A Big Writing Mistake ... Office Tour, Part 2

2006-02-03T05:36:00.000-08:00

"If you don't have the time to read, you don't have the time or the tools to write." --Stephen King, ON WRITING

This is the other half of my office. One of the biggest mistakes I could have made as a writer ... at least as a writer with hopes of being productive ... was to add a recliner, TV, and DVD player to the office. Sometimes, while sitting at the keyboard, it's just too tempting to stretch out on the recliner to "write in longhand." That can often lead to popping a DVD in the player so I can "clear my head and become energized." Sometimes, I need that. I need to read a few pages of a favorite writer's book to become inspired when the words aren't flowing. I need to watch a few minutes of a movie to get the juices flowing. While you can't really see it in the picture, I keep a notebook, AlphaSmart, and alarm clock right next to the recliner. All useful tools when I'm telling myself I'm not wasting all of my valuable writing time.

Across from the TV are my barrister shelves, filled to the brim with Arkham House and other prized volumes. Beneath the window is a wall to wall ledge filled with my To Be Read pile. There's a poster from one of my favorite movies (Big Trouble in Little China) next to the chair, and Alan M. Clark prints on every wall.

So maybe this side of the office represents a mistake when it comes to my writing ... not my first ... certainly not my last ... but definitely my favorite.

Where I Do My Damage ... Office Tour Part 1

2006-02-02T12:29:00.000-08:00

"The shelves go on for miles and miles. My collection of marbles gleams in a mason jar. My dried cicada waits to sing again in summer. My Duncan yo-yo that whistles except the string is broken and Dad’s got to fix it. My little book of suit cloth samples that I got from Mr. Parlowe at the Stagg Shop for Men. I use those pieces of cloth as carpet inside my airplane models, along with seats cut from cardboard. My silver bullet, forged by the Lone Ranger for a werewolf hunter. My Civil War button that fell from a butternut uniform when the storm swept Shiloh. My rubber knife for stalking killer crocodiles in the bathtub. My Canadian coins, smooth as the northern plains. I am rich beyond measure."

--Robert R. McCammon, BOY'S LIFE

I thought I'd start my new blog with a tour of my workspace, if for no other reason then to test out this new-fangled blogging thing all the kids are talking about. This is my favorite room in all the world--my home office.

Here we have my desk and the majority of my bookcases. The desk makes its sad, final stand in this room, for it will never survive another move. The bookcases are slightly mismatched. Along the side wall, the smaller shelves hold mostly paperbacks, some stacked on top of each other, some two stacks deep. The back wall houses an assortment of hardbacks and trade paperbacks, organized into "sections" such as "Lovecraftian," "Books I bought at World Horror Con," and "Supernatural and Strange Reference." On one of the lower shelves are all the magazines and anthologies in which I've been published. The shelves are also crowded with dozens of odd knicknacks, such as a plush Cthulhu, the Lovecraft Tarot, Baron Karza, gargoyles, and an urn containing the ashes of the toughest cat to ever walk the face of the earth. On my desk is a Bansai tree my wife has to remind me to water; I'm surprised its managed to live as long as it has. I have a Palm V that I didn't use even when Palm Vs were in vogue, but I can't bring myself to disconnect it from the computer. Positioned strategically around the desktop are dozens of ink pens, index cards, calendars, and CDs. You can tell I'm hard at work when the empty soda cans form numerous crooked towers across the desk.