Month: June 2016
Buy a book (or two)
Seriously, it may have gone past survival time.
See why we are Europe’s largest publisher of Independent Comics.
See why we are Europe’s largest publisher of Independent Comics.
The Hooper Interviews!
To celebrate, at the time of publication, over 25 years of interviewing comic creators -writers, artists and publishers- this 365 pages book was produced.
Interviewees included Yishan Li, Marv Wolfman, Dave Ryan, John Cooper, Mike Western, Donna Barr, Roberta Gregory, Sonia Leong, Emma Vieceli, Pekka A. Manninen, Alan Class, Karen Rubins, Kate Glasheen, Ron Fortier, Jon Haward, Franco Francavilla, Rick Geary, Tania Del Rio, The Etherington Brothers, Olivier Cadic (Cinebook the 9th Art), Holly Golightly and MANY others.
Profusely illustrated with art and photographs!
Reduced in price until October to £16.80 -an odd price but it’s what the printer and lulu.com earn -I get zilch!
http://www.lulu.com/shop/terry-hooper-scharf/the-hooper-interviews/paperback/product-22078000.html
All Black Tower comic albums (that is A4 format) are in black & white. Once you’ve had black and white you won’t go back to colour, baby.
BTCG has specialised in presenting original material covering super heroes, crime, adventure, sci fi, horror as well as illustrated prose -not to mention ground breaking books on “world mysteries” and wildlife. Oh, and even a huge book of interviews with comic creators and publishers.
All the books are, naturally, available for overseas licence -but we cannot translate work: that will be up to any licensed publisher.
What follows is a brief glimpse at some books but you can visit the online store to see more details and books at:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/hoopercomicsuk
You can also find some on Amazon and other sources but they do not make me much money so, come on, buy from the online store and remember that at least these books will be collectibles!
To contact me please check out “About” at the top of the page -thanks!
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Black Tower Comics began in 1984 as a Small Press publisher of A5 (US -Digest size) titles such as Adventure,Presents,Windows and Hanley’s Garage. Then came the news, reviews, previews and interviews publication backed up by the mart and mail order service –Zine Zone (later Zine Zone International).
In 2009, with the innovation in publishing of Print On Demand (POD), Black Tower jumped in head first!
One of the first titles to see print in the new comic album format (A4) was The Bat Triumphant! This saw the complete story, begun in Black Tower Adventure vol. 1. William A. Ward’s long lost 1940s character once again saw print as he fought a host of enemies in an attempt to reclaim his homeland.
And while The Bat may have fought fist and nail to reclaim his homeland, another 1940s Ward creation, Krakos the Egyptian, seemed far from willing to claim a new Egyptian Empire as promised to him by the Gods. Tackling a number of foes and even encountering the Many-Eyed One, Krakos turned his back on the gods and the final panel of Krakos -Sands Of Terror, delivered a true twist!
Of course, the flag-ship title had to return! And so Black Tower Adventure -eventually reaching new heights when the legendary Ben Dilworth jumped on board! Volume 2 consisted of ten issues. Just look at these covers….
And, with something like 40 years worth of files and investigation reports could all that much delving into UFOs, lake and sea creatures and many other mysteries not result in a book or two…or three? Some Things Strange & Sinister, Some More Things Strange & Sinister as well as Pursuing The Strange and Weird: A Naturalist’s Viewpoint set a precedence.
Whereas for decades those involved in “UFOlogy”, “Cryptozoology” and “Forteana” declared many mysteries, that photographs were lost “to history” and so on, these three books swiped away the false claims. Alleged lost photographs -found. ‘Mysteries’ solved by doing actual research work and reading the sources -something others had never done.
And, of course, mention natural history and Black Tower Books broke new ground with that in The Red Paper: Canids.
But not all the prose books covered mysteries and wildlife.
And if there is one thing “Herr Professor” loves it is discovering and presenting long lost UK Golden Age (1939-1951) comic strips and characters from publishers such as Gerald Swan, Foldes, Denis M. Reader, Cartoon Art Productions and others.
Scanned and restored as best as can be considering the poor print quality of the rationing years -especially red, orange, yellow, blue and purple ink printing!
Ace Hart The Atomic Man! The Tornado! TNT Tom! Dene Vernon! Acromaid! Cat-Girl! Bring ‘Em Back Hank! Robert Lovett:Back From The Dead and so many other action heroes and humour strip characters -William A. Ward, Jock McCaill and a host of known and unknown creators contribute -either in single volume ” Black Tower Gold” albums or all six collected into the 400+ pager –The Ultimate British Golden Age Collection!
Another great love is Centaur Comics from the United States. Right at the very start of the American Golden Age of Comics Centaur had creators who were ahead of the others! Before Plastic Man there was Plymo! Before The Human Bomb there was TNT Todd! Before Green Arrow and waaaaaaay before Hawkeye there was the mysterious red hooded archer called The Arrow! And, to just break your comic mind world there was even a Black Panther -decades before Kirby came up with his character of the same name.
The Eye Sees All. The Owl. The Iron Skull. Amazing Man. The King of Darkness. The Invisible Terror. The Blue Lady. The Shark. Mini Midget & Kitty. Mighty Man. Super Anne. The company may have been short-lived but it’s characters -oh boy!
The two volume Centaur Heroes Collection has been compiled into one sweet 140 page comic collection!
Horror. Ghost stories. The twist-in-the tale. Did you think that a publisher who is a big horror comic/film fan would ignore these?
Nope. Each year since 2010, BTCG has published a Tales Of Terror anthology album and 2014s included some fun and spooky lost Swan Comic strips. I mean how can you go wrong -even Ben Dilworth is in these!
The Church Of England has it’s own basher of dark forces in the Reverend Merriwether -“God’s Demon0-Thumper” as the press billed him. From an ancient Egyptian demon to a village of the damned and Varney the Vampyre, werwolves and a final confrontation with Satan himself -Merriwether pulls no punches and offers no compromise. And in those last few seconds between life and death, Merriwether’s mind recalls past cases -thanks to Ben Dilworththe Tall Man of Osaka.
Merriwether: God’s Demon Thumper and Merriwether: The Test Of Satan are available as individual comic albums or in one swanky book The Collected Merriwether: God’s Demon Thumper.
Oh, did I forget to mention Dene Vernon -British comics’ first investigator of the supernatural and strange mysteries? I did? Unbelievable since Gavin Stuart Ross drew the 1948 based Dene Vernon: The Thing Below!
And did you know Ross also drew the two adventures of Victorian mystery man Chung Ling Soo? Chung Ling Soo: The Curse Of The Jade Dragon and Chung Ling Soo: The Case Of The Thames Serpent were two cracking tales of magic, adventure, murder and deception -still available as single comic albums or collected together to form The Adventures Of Chung Ling Soo!
Ben Dilworth is no slouch either! Chung Ling Soo’s police “counter-foil” isnone other than old London “Jack” (police man) Inspector Wilberforce and when Dilworth says “Here’s a Wilberforce one-off: PUBLISH IT!” you do not argue!
And did you know you can be a Gold Master of Japanese Haiku? Well, neither did I -but guess what? Ben Dilworth is such a master and his Osaka Brutal features his Haiku in English!
Old saleman that he is, Dilworth just keeps on going. He produced Aesop’s Fables -a darker version of the childrens tales and then went on to write two well illustrated prose albums looking at spirits and demons –Dilworth’s Japanese Yokai and Dilworth’s Western Yokai. Osaka and the Yokai books were combined with Aesop’s Fables into the one volume The Collected Ben R. Dilworth -though the single volumes are also still available.
Horror comics yes but also some nice illustrated prose from Dilworth in…Dilworth’s Horror & Ghost Stories but for the connoisseur those stories were collected together with the Phantom Detective comic strips into The Complete Phantom Detective!
And could anyone forget the sensational Iron Warrior Versus Big Bong:When Giants Fought? But add to that the various Iron Warrior strips from Adventure and you get The Iron Warrior Collection -When Giants Fought! In the 1940s, William A. Ward’s creation was to be the most graphically violent comic strip seen until the 1970s. That is some legacy. It continues….with a touch of fun!
In case you are wondering, yes, obviously there are super heroes. Mix in ancient pantheons of gods, giant robot, alien invasion, Lovecraftian dark ones and so much more that the book runs to over 320 pages then you have part 1 of Terry Hooper-Scharf’s Invasion Earth Trilogy” or as it is titled Return Of The Gods: Twilight Of The Super Heroes! And epic ending with the words: “Dr Morg has killed us all” -and if you have never read the mind altering counter actuality that is The Dr Morg Trilogy you may be saying “What? Who-?”
And part 2 of the trilogy The Cross Earths Caper ought to get you in the mood for 2015s big 31st Anniversary third part of the trilogy The Green Skies.
If you pass the ESTC (Epileptic Seizure Test Cover) on Dr Morg well, you are fit and healthy enough to read it and to check out all the Black Tower Comics and Books at the online store -see why we are the UKs largest publisher of Independent Comics!
EVERYTHING Ends……
Fifth annual Clallam Bay Comicon
CLALLAM BAY, WASHINGTON –
The fifth annual Clallam Bay Comicon will be held July 9-10, 2016, in the Lion’s Club building in Clallam Bay (90 Bogachiel Street), on Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula.
Canadian artist, writer and illustrator Leanne Franson will be the Special Guest Creator, here to share her experiences in art, publishing, and her latest venture – pottery. A GoFundMe campaign will help finance her travel.
The Comicon is held on the same weekend as Clallam Bay/Sekiu Fundays, giving everyone the opportunity to enjoy the festival’s fireworks on the beach. It is just one of a growing number of artist-based comicons on the Olympic Peninsula. Artists have said they enjoy the scenery and friendly businesses in the area, and consider the long drive to be one of the better comicon road trips.
No admission fee, very low sales table rates; first-come, first-served. Peninsula businesses and communities are encouraged to offer welcoming specials or events to Comicon attendees.
And if you go you get to meet legends Donna Barr and Roberta Gregory!!
Contacts: donnabarr01@gmail.com and 360 963 2935
Götz George, dead at 77
I try to avoid death notices these days but Gotz George was one of my favourites.
http://www.dw.com/en/german-tatort-star-g%C3%B6tz-george-dead-at-77/a-19358684
http://www.dw.com/en/german-tatort-star-g%C3%B6tz-george-dead-at-77/a-19358684
German ‘Tatort’ star Götz George, dead at 77
The beloved German actor Götz George has passed away at the age of 77 after a short illness. He was well-known for his role as Inspector Horst Schimanski on the long-running German crime show “Tatort.”
The versatile German television and film actor Götz George has passed away, the star’s agent in Berlin announced late on Sunday.
George, age 77, died last week on June 19 after a brief illness, his agent said. The German daily newspaper “Bild” reported that George was privately buried in Hamburg, at a ceremony attended by family members.
Although he played numerous characters over the span of his 65-year acting career, millions in Germany remember George best as the brash inspector Horst Schimanski on the weekly crime drama “Tatort.”
He embodied the Duisburg detective a total of 48 times on the show over the course of 32 years.
The announcement of George’s death sparked messages of mourning from German fans on Twitter. German Justice Minister Heiko Maas said that with the passing of Götz George, “our country loses one of our great character actors.”
Tempus fugit
My FINAL Comment on the EU Referendum Disaster
Allegations of fraud in the EU referendum…..really? In a petition to have a 2nd referendum?
VERY serious.They are looking at fraud signatures on the petition but allegations of fraud during the referendum are ignored. Not serious enough.
And with 77,000 names removed that still leaves a genuine number of voters who have signed the petition: 3,658,409
Cameron does NOT want a 2nd vote because he’s in a strop and people voted against him -so why should he bother. In fact there SHOULD be a general election or we are back again with someone who was unelected. The Conservative-Liberal (Conservative) alliance and then the travesty of the last election.
Look where that’s got us.
Looking at the grim side of things and possibilities, I do NOT want to see a return to conflict in Northern Ireland. The Irish are quite justified in being angry because they voted to remain in the EU not be dragged out of it by idiot English and Welsh voters.
Wales, and many other areas in the UK depended on EU funding -they killed their, their childrens’ and grand-childrens futures.
Scotland don’t want to allow the Brexit because of self interest and wanting an independent Scotland -I understand that but it leaves those of us who are EU citizens fecked. I’ve never read so many deprewssing comments from so many people on social media before -many seriously thinking of moving to Scotland or abroad.
The EU turned its back on us without trying to do a thing from the moment the result came in. THAT is the Brotherhood of EU Unity? And they will not try to talk to the Brexit leaders (in hiding) to make a deal to keep the EU and UK together? Isn’t that stamping its foot and screaming “Its MY ball and you can’t play!”?
Politicians in the EU and UK have shown how little they really care for their citizens. They all have money so they are okay. Those who voted “Leave”….let’s see you smile in two years time.
Johnson, Gove, Cameron, Merkel, Hollande and the EU -hang your heads in shame.
Cinebook Ltd Newsletter 102- June 2016
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Dear Reader,
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Welcome to this June newsletter, packed full of goodness just for you.
Such as a brand new series in print, for example. Here´s The Last Templar, adapted from Raymond Khoury´s international best-seller. A bizarre attack on a New York museum sends an archaeologist and an FBI agent on the trail of the legendary Knights Templar. Hold on tight – it´s going to be a wild ride!
Speaking of holding on tight, Lucky Luke is escorting a convoy of mail-order brides westward, and could find himself in danger of losing his precious independence when one – or more – of them starts thinking he´d make a good husband too!
Meanwhile, Valerian and his allies and friends are finally assembled and ready to do something to stop the destruction of Galaxity at the hands of some extraterrestrial scheming power. The price to pay and the discoveries they´ll make could prove difficult to accept, though…
Want more Valerian fun? At San Diego Comic Con [http://www.comic-con.org/cci] this year, there will be a special panel with Luc Besson, Cara Delevingne and Dane DeHaan, and the lucky attendees will get to see the first footage of the Valerian movie. In addition, we´ve arranged to be represented at SDCC by Mysterious Galaxy [http://www.mystgalaxy.com/], a mighty fine independent genre bookstore based in San Diego. So, if you happen to be undertaking this holy pilgrimage of geekdom on 20-24 July, stop by the Mysterious Galaxy booth (#1119) and stock up on Valerian titles – we´ve even reprinted volumes 1 and 3 so everyone can complete their collection!
June with Cinebook: good to the last page!
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My Stupid Girlfriend Explains Why She Vote Brexit | ‘EU Refeyendum’- LOL
THE Poster Child for the modern young voter in the UK. Watch and be STUNNED.
Still Available -Maakika Art Book
Petition EU Referendum Rules triggering a 2nd EU Referendum
DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
#EURef: Petition to Hold 2nd EU Referendum Receives Over 2 Million Signatures, Reports Say
The petition needed 100,000 signatures to be taken up in Parliament, outlets reported. The majority of UK residents voted in favor of leaving the EU in the first referendum held on Thursday.
Its worth a try.
Petition EU Referendum Rules triggering a 2nd EU Referendum
We the undersigned call upon HM Government to implement a rule that if the remain or leave vote is less than 60% based a turnout less than 75% there should be another referendum.
2,321,752 signatures
And now it stands at 2,430,584 signatures -please sign the petition.
Comic Bits 20 