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Wednesday, 6 April 2016
As If A Publisher Did Not Have Enough Problems
You know, the thing you need to combine and convert your pages to pdf for the printer?
Adobe in the UK -over £200 for a year and Nitro aren't much better. You see, I assumed that you purchased the program it was yours for good. No, I was chatting with someone whose job it is to review various computer software and he asked if I was being serious?
"It's a year subscription purchase -after that it deactivates and you have to re-subscribe"
I checked. He wasn't kidding.
So IF I purchased one of these -Adobe or Nitro- I need to re-subscribe each year. That's money I need to get back by increasing prices on books that are not selling.
And, yes, there are a few "free" pdf makers out there but they all have hidden catches that create more problems that take time to set right.
We are in 2016 and no one has created a free-to-all pdf converter?? Jeez, if I was computer literate I would.
But as of now the files for 4 books sit on my computer. They aint going anywhere.
Where's "Anonymous" when you need them?
Monday, 4 April 2016
DC’s ‘Hanna-Barbera Beyond’
My first reaction is that I'd caught an April Fool's joke too late. Sadly, it isn't.
Scooby Doo...how can I explain how I feel without bursting into typed obscenities that go on for pages? Just WTF are these asses thinking?
Oh, and what a totally unoriginal concept. Anyone other than me NOT done that story?
Future Quest is weird. Why? Because it seems to have better art than regular DC animated series. But as Tim Coombs has pointed out, these are comics BASED on the classic cartoons!
Looks interesting but like I'm going to watch it.
Wacky Race Land and The Flintstones. Go chew on my big, fat hairy log.
DC has a huge back catalogue of characters that could easily fill these ideas.
But, then, like a lot of US entertainment today, DC is trying to latch on to old classics because of the nostalgia they carry with them. Why use some of your own characters when you can take the fun memories of a generation put them into comics and screw them up?
Destroy your comics company and characters then move on to...to.....this!
You see DC has Angel and the Ape, Anthro, Scooter and his gang and so many more characters but they do not have that "pull" of the old animated characters -anyone else remember Scooter or Angel and the Ape?
Or even The Inferior Five??
Ahhhh. My poor fevered brow...
Scooby Doo...how can I explain how I feel without bursting into typed obscenities that go on for pages? Just WTF are these asses thinking?
Oh, and what a totally unoriginal concept. Anyone other than me NOT done that story?
Future Quest is weird. Why? Because it seems to have better art than regular DC animated series. But as Tim Coombs has pointed out, these are comics BASED on the classic cartoons!
Looks interesting but like I'm going to watch it.
Wacky Race Land and The Flintstones. Go chew on my big, fat hairy log.
DC has a huge back catalogue of characters that could easily fill these ideas.
But, then, like a lot of US entertainment today, DC is trying to latch on to old classics because of the nostalgia they carry with them. Why use some of your own characters when you can take the fun memories of a generation put them into comics and screw them up?
Destroy your comics company and characters then move on to...to.....this!
You see DC has Angel and the Ape, Anthro, Scooter and his gang and so many more characters but they do not have that "pull" of the old animated characters -anyone else remember Scooter or Angel and the Ape?
Or even The Inferior Five??
Ahhhh. My poor fevered brow...
DC’s ‘Hanna-Barbera Beyond’ Will Remix and Reimagine Classic Characters
http://www.cartoonbrew.com/comics/dcs-hanna-barbera-beyond-will-remix-reimagine-classic-characters-138479.html
Hanna-Barbera classic TV characters are getting a new injection of life this year, but not in the animation sphere.
DC Comics, whose parent company Warner Bros. also owns the Hanna-Barbera library, is launching a new comic book line of called “Hanna-Barbera Beyond” with “reimagined” concepts that keep “the heart and soul of the classic animation.”
The initial four titles arriving in May are Scooby Apocalypse, Future Quest, Wacky Raceland, and The Flintstones.
Hanna-Barbera classic TV characters are getting a new injection of life this year, but not in the animation sphere.
DC Comics, whose parent company Warner Bros. also owns the Hanna-Barbera library, is launching a new comic book line of called “Hanna-Barbera Beyond” with “reimagined” concepts that keep “the heart and soul of the classic animation.”
The initial four titles arriving in May are Scooby Apocalypse, Future Quest, Wacky Raceland, and The Flintstones.
At a Wondercon panel last week, the creators of the comics explained how they’re re-imagining the concepts; for example, the Scooby gang first meets at Burning Man, and Fred and Daphne are Youtube stars.
DC editors haven’t ruled out the possibility that all the books will connect to create a larger story for the Hanna-Barbera universe. In the immediate future, the most likely new addition to the series will be a Jetsons comic.
Here’s more details from DC on the line-up:
DC editors haven’t ruled out the possibility that all the books will connect to create a larger story for the Hanna-Barbera universe. In the immediate future, the most likely new addition to the series will be a Jetsons comic.
Here’s more details from DC on the line-up:
- Scooby Apocalypse - Featuring character designs by veteran artist Jim Lee and an origin story by Jim Lee and Keith Giffen (Justice League 3001), artist Howard Porter (Superman) will provide his own unique take on Freddie, Velma, Daphne, Shaggy and Scooby-Doo. “Those meddling kids” and their Mystery Machine are at the center of a well-meaning experiment gone wrong and they’ll need to bring all of their mystery solving skills to bear (along with plenty of Scooby Snacks), to find a cure for a world full of mutated creatures infected by a nanite virus that enhances their fears, terrors and baser instincts. This time, the horrors are real in this apocalyptic near-future badland!
- Future Quest - Writer Jeff Parker (Aquaman, Justice League United, Batman ’66) and artist Evan “Doc” Shaner (Justice League Darkseid War: Green Lantern) join forces to bring fans new tales of adventure’s most iconic teenager, Jonny Quest, along with his sidekick Hadji. This series combines Team QUEST (Hadji, Race Bannon, Dr. Benton Quest and Jezebel Jade) with some of the most well-known action and adventure heroes ever created by Hanna-Barbera, including Space Ghost, The Herculoids, Birdman, Mightor, and Frankenstein Jr., among others.
- Wacky Raceland - Take The Ant Hill Mob, Penelope Pitstop and Dick Dastardly, mix in a healthy dose of “Mad Max” and you get this dark and gritty take on Hanna-Barbera’s “Wacky Races,” courtesy of writer Ken Pontac (Reboot, Happy Tree Friends) and artist Leonardo Manco (Hellblazer), with vehicle designs by Mark Sexton (Mad Max: Fury Road). A time of hope and innocence with Utopia at the finish line has given way to planetary Armageddon and a desert wasteland full of radioactive lakes, nanotech dust storms, and cannibalistic mutants. Against this backdrop, the Wacky Racers and their sentient vehicles continue their contest, but now the competition is for survival, and there can only be one winner when the checkered flag falls.
- The Flintstones - Based on character designs by Amanda Conner (Harley Quinn Starfire, writer Mark Russell (Prez, God is Disappointed in You) provides his own unique perspective on everyone’s “modern stone age family.” Russell will use Bedrock’s most popular family to shine a light on humanity’s ancient customs and institutions in a funny origin story of human civilization. Fred is still the simple man, striving to be the king of his castle, Wilma is still the tolerant but not-indulging wife and Barney (with his wife Betty and infant son Bamm-Bamm) is still the original wingman, whose loyalty to Fred often outweighs his common sense.
BilBOlbul Newsletter - 4 aprile 2016
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Chang31ings
Chang31ings would like to thank all of those that came along to the Edinburgh Comic Con in April 2016.
Your continued support is very much appreciated.
We're currently going through our stock and restructuring the website, so please bear with us while we get our act together.
Check back in a week to see what goodies await you.
Thanks again.
Sunday, 3 April 2016
I Have Books!
Buy my books.....buy my books....buy my books.....buy my books....
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!
****************************************************************************
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!
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