BOTW creator contributes to new Bela Lugosi comic book

Two posts back, we hinted at a 2010 comic project that artist/creator Rob Brown [REB] was going to be involved in. And this past weekend, the official announcement was released.

Look for Bela Lugosi’s Tales From The Grave in early 2010!

ASTOUNDING ARRAY OF MAJOR TALENT LINING UP FOR BELA LUGOSI’S TALES FROM THE GRAVE!

Celebrated writers, comic book professionals and Hollywood horror veterans offer their imagination for the highly anticipated terror anthology series

Dallas, TX - July 20, 2009 — Comic book and horror fans will be ecstatic over the incredible talent lining up for Bela Lugosi’s Tales from the Grave, which is scheduled to premiere in early 2010.

The new full-color anthology - to be done in the classic EC and Warren tradition - will have each fantastic tale hosted by iconic horror film star Bela Lugosi. The book will be the premier publication from Monsterverse Comics, which will launch other horror and monster related titles in the months ahead. Editors Kerry Gammill (Powerman and Iron Fist, Deadly Foes of Spider-Man, Superman, THE OUTER LIMITS) and Kez Wilson (Hammerlocke, Scarlet, Power of the Atom, SPACE JAM) will be adding their artistic talents throughout the series, along with associate editor and writer Sam F. Park (HALFWAY HOUSE, DEATH’S DOOR).

In addition to leading comic professionals, several famous horror filmmakers will also be contributing to help celebrate Bela Lugosi’s new role as presenter of these weird tales of terror. The stellar roster of artists and writers includes two major names among comic book fans. Premier horror writer Steve Niles (30 Days of Night, Gotham After Midnight, Dead, She Said) will be crafting a new story to make readers’ skin crawl. Top artist John Cassaday (Planetary, Astonishing X-Men, Captain America) will be writing and drawing a story as well as providing an alternate cover for the first issue. The standard cover will be a portrait of Bela Lugosi by legendary horror magazine cover artist Basil Gogos (Famous Monsters of Filmland, Monsterscene).

Other writers, artists and filmmakers that readers can expect to see in future issues of the series include:

John Landis, film director (AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, MASTERS OF HORROR)…

Rick Baker, make-up artist/sculptor (AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, THE RING, HELLBOY, THE WOLF MAN)…

Mick Garris, film director/writer/producer (MASTERS OF HORROR, THE STAND, TALES FROM THE CRYPT)…

Bruce Timm, artist/producer (BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES, Vampirella)…

Stiles White, screen writer (KNOWING, BOOGEYMAN, POLTERGEIST)…

Brian Denham, artist (Iron Man, The X-Files, Nova, The Avengers)…

Rick Klaw, writer (Weird Business)…

Joe R. Lansdale, writer (Weird Business, Savage Season)…

John Lucas, artist (Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight, Star Trek, Weird Business)…

Rob Brown, artist (Bane of the Werewolf, Marvel Comics Presents, Spiderman, Conan)…

Erik Gist, painter (Upper Deck, DC Comics, Boom! Studios)…

Neil Vokes, artist (The Black Forest, Superman Adventures, Untold Tales of Spider-Man)…

Robert Tinnell, film director/writer (FRANKENSTEIN AND ME, The Black Forest, The Wicked West)…

Martin Powell, writer (Moonstone Comics - The Spider, Scarlet in Gaslight, Frankenstein)…

Larry Blamire, film director/artist (THE LOST SKELETON OF CADAVRA, Tales from the Pub, Steam Wars)…

Frank Dietz, cartoonist/animator (Sketchy Things, Disney’s TARZAN, TREASURE PLANET)…

Terry Beatty, artist (Ms. Tree, Scary Monsters).

Look for more names to be added in the coming weeks.

read full post here

Keep up with the details at the official Monsterverse Tales From the Grave website: www.monsterverse.com

for more info:
info@monsterverse.com

Bane of the Werewolf - book 2 - update

Production on book 2 is running behind - Currently, we are looking at a new release date in late August.

Producing a solid horror comic book such as Bane and keeping studio funds consistent during these hard economic times is certainly a challenge… but you just can’t let it keep a good werewolf down.

After much debate and consideration, REB has also decided to extend book 2 to 29 pages of story from the norm 22. That’s seven extra pages of silver age monstrous mayhem for you and our cursed, gypsy werewolf!
In lieu of distribution/marketing issues, REB sees this as an advantage rather than a disadvantage - ” The chapter structure and character revelations ultimately demanded the additional story pages… I want to give these characters all the space they need to evolve and fuse. And this seems to give me the chance to do so. Suffocating them will only diminish the quality of the overall work. Besides, the fans deserve the best that I can give them.” - So prepare yourself monster fan for a grinding, dark tale of true gothic horror!

Look out classic horror movie fans!
Soon Coming - A special announcement regarding REB and a new horror anthology comic book debuting in early 2010.
“Comic fans and horror fans are gona love it!”

Get the latest in classic horror news at the Classic Horror Filmboard.

Bane of the Werewolf avatars!

Bane of the Werewolf Issue 2 - Available for Pre-order

Response to Bane of the Werewolf Book 1 is still growing and has been absolutely amazing :

“Wow! That was so much more than the preview pages could even make it appear to be. - This book was meant to convey that old style of horror and it does a marvelous job. - Full of the great monster elements that I love to read about (the black arts, wired sci-fi experiments). Nice touches really sell it as a whole package that you can not be disappointed about, I know I wasn’t.”
-Dan Royer (puyaybusto), Horror Comic Book Reviews - Full Review

“Hoooooowwl !!!! Look out all you werewolf and comic book fans, there’s a new beast in town.”
-Cybershizoid, Horror Movie and Magazine Blog - Full Post

A special thanks too all you fiendish, monster fans at comicmonsters.com, The Classic Horror Filmboard, Werewolf News, and Horror News!
Fans that wish to write to the Bane of the Werewolf letters page, Letters from the Damned, may send all correspondence to thedamned@silverphoenix.net.
Don’t miss this chance to get YOUR creepy copy of Bane of the Werewolf Book 1 at www.silverphoenix.net. while your there, place your preorder for Bane of the Werewolf Book 2. This is one you won’t want to miss monster freaks! The werewolf Eliphas vs The werewolf Janos, in a tale that can only be called - RESURRECTION!

You can now preorder Bane of the Werewolf Issue 2 at www.silverphoenix.net

Preview - Bane of the Werewolf Book 2 - RESURRECTION

BANE OF THE WEREWOLF #2
Head of the Magus: Chapter Two
RESURRECTION! w/a Rob E. Brown [REB]
Forever cursed by the sign of the pentagram, Eliphas Moreau, finds himself recovering from a near fatal fall, mended to health by a locale village girl. The warlock, Baphomet, raises the werewolf Janos from the grave to aid in his search for the black Book of Life leading to a brawl between the two werebeasts - Father versus Son in a grizzly confrontation with Eliphas’ new love interest trapped between the two!
-AND- Dr. Orlock keeps to his agenda in his constant search for the answers to life and death as he attempts to revive the world’s most nefarious monster!

Bane of the Werewolf Issue 2 Preview

The long awaited preview to issue 2 is now available. Sit back, drink your coffee and enjoy!

BANE OF THE WEREWOLF #2
Head of the Magus: Chapter Two
RESURRECTION! w/a Rob E. Brown [REB]
Forever cursed by the sign of the pentagram, Eliphas Moreau, finds himself recovering from a near fatal fall, mended to health by a locale village girl. The warlock, Baphomet, raises the werewolf Janos from the grave to aid in his search for the black Book of Life leading to a brawl between the two werebeasts - Father versus Son in a grizzly confrontation with Eliphas’ new love interest trapped between the two!
-AND- Dr. Orlock keeps to his agenda in his constant search for the answers to life and death as he attempts to revive the world’s most nefarious monster!

The Legendary Joe Rubinstein lends his talents to BotW

If your a long time comic fan, the name Joe Rubenstein will bring back memories of epic battles between the most evil villains and larger-than-life heroes alike.
Joe truly needs no introduction and to list his credits would simply overload our servers! He has been cited to have embellished (inked) more pencilers in the comic book industry than any other artist present (remember The Official Handbook to the Marvel Universe?) and more than likely, at some point, he worked on that favorite story of yours that has refused to be forgotten (Captain America versus Baron Blood comes to mind - Cap #253-254 or how about the first Wolverine mini-series with Frank Miller?). Today you can see his amazing work grace the Green Arrow series from DC with writer/artist Mike Grell -AND- you can now find him here at Silver Phoenix Entertainment!
We are very excited to have you with us Joe!

Be sure to check out Joe’s interviews online. Here are but a few:

Mania interview

quote-
Question: How did you first get bit by the comics bug?

Joe Rubinstein: I came to this country from Israel when I was five years old. My cousin, who was three years older, had a comic book collection. Since I didn’t read the language, I looked at the pictures. Like a lot of kids, I then started to draw the pictures, and fortunately that never wore off. I went to the High School of Art and Design, which was a vocational school in New York, and there I found other comic book people to study with–the most famous was probably Bernie Krigstein, who was one of the great innovators at EC Comics. Then when I was seventeen, I was sick of school and I didn’t want to go to college. So I did up some inking samples, and I think I got, like, three jobs on the first day. I’ve pretty much been doing it ever since. I mainly read superhero comics, like everybody else, though I did read Dracula because the Gene Colan artwork was so beautiful, and Swamp Thing because of Bernie Wrightson and all that. For a while there, Marvel came out with all these monster books like Frankenstein and Werewolf by Night.

Comicartfans interview

quote-
First off, I’d like to say that it really is an honor to have the chance to ask you some questions about your career and your current projects. You’ve been inking comics professionally since around 1978, I believe? Growing up on comics, it seemed like every other book I read back in the 80’s until now has had your name in it. To what do you credit your staying-power in the industry?

Thank you. You’re very flattering. It was actually 1975 - I was 17 when I got 3 jobs in one day. I was Dick Giordano’s assistant when I was 13. I also assisted Jack Abel and Wally Wood, and got to observe other greats like Russ Heath in Dick Giordano’s studio. I work hard, try to be responsible with my deadlines, and above all else, I try to be responsive to the work in front of me and not homogenize it all into one look. That is the philosophy I got from Dick Giordano. Scott Williams has told me that he thinks that this has actually hurt my career, because people/editors weren’t quite sure what they were getting back. Jimmy Palmotti called me once to say an Eric Larson job (a Spider-Man Vs Wolverine 3 part series in Marvel Comics Presents) was mis-credited to me. I HAD inked it

Silverager interview

quote-
JR: That’s why I inked a thing called, “The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe.” I did it on and off for twenty years. Mark Grunwald, I don’t know what I’d inked for Mark beforehand, but Mark was a nice guy, and he said, “We’re going to do this thing like an encyclopedia called “The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe,” and why don’t you ink these three pieces and we’ll see how it looks.” I don’t remember what they were, but it seems like one was maybe a Dave Cockrum Nightcrawler piece. So I brought it back and he said, “Okay, good. How many of them do you want do ink?” “All of them. Why would I want to give any of this away? Just give it to me.” And he did, but you know what? I think I made his life a much easier place, because as he’s balancing 46 different pencilers for this book, he knows to send it to one inker. One inker who has proven he can alter his approach so that it will still look like Kerry Gammill and Bill Sienkiewicz and Al Milgrom when it’s done, but still have a unifying feeling to it. As a matter of fact, I was sitting there one day inking four pieces simultaneously, that’s how I work, because I don’t want to worry about wet ink smearing, so I just ink some of this, I go to that one, I go back to this one, I go to this one, and I have like four pieces in front of me and they were possibly a Bill Sienkiewicz, an Al Milgrom, a Frank Miller and a John Buscema. So I’m inking on this one, I’m inking on that one, and I suddenly get to this realization similar to when you’re reading and you suddenly are aware of the fact that each word is a word instead of a concept. “And_he_went…” And I looked at this and I thought to myself, “How am I doing this? Because the pencilers were sort of the four points of the compass, stylistically. On one I’m using a real short, kind of dot-dash stroke. I’m inking this that way. Milgrom used a big, fat thick pencil with a long stroke; I’d pick up a brush. Sienkiewicz is short and kinetic, I used that. So it’s not like I have so much of a plan as I allow myself to be open for the stimuli to tell me what kind of a stroke happened. Which is, by the way, in comic books nowadays….. a lot of the work is done where a page is mailed to you electronically, and then you print it out in a light blue ink, which is non-reproducible, and then you ink it in the regular manner, and you e- mail it back. Well, I do that. I do that a lot, but I prefer not to, only because I believe there is a physical energy on the page, from the penciler, which I can feel, which is, of course, totally lost in the reproduction. Because, when you feel a penciler’s hand go from left to right, and you can see the dent in the paper, or how his hand sort of smeared it slightly as his hand went across it, I get the understanding that he went left to right. Maybe I should make my stroke left to right. I can see where he used the side of his thumb to smear this in. Maybe I should use a bigger brush or something. So I just try to be sympathetic and responsive to my stimuli.

Take a look at Joe’s websites:

Comicartfans

Theartistschoice

Redbubble

Also take a look at the first of many contributions by Joe Rubenstein in the pictures gallery!

Haven Distributors pick up Bane of the Werewolf

As the first issue for Bane of the Werewolf went to press, we were informed that Diamond will not be carrying the second installment as planned. This was largely due to an advertising blunder on our part that we are currently rectifying. Hey, we’re all human right? Live and learn.

The new Diamond benchmark may have had little or no effect on the exclusion as this did not seem to be the focus of our discussions.

However, there can be no room for doubt that Diamond’s cut back has effected independent publishers across the board. For more info click here The new benchmark was a necessary business decision for Diamond’s profitability. Understandable in today’s economy.

Bane of the Werewolf has been dropped from Previews, nevertheless, stay firm monster fans, BotW will continue to be purchasable online at www.silverphoenix.net. The second issue is still due out at the end May and will be available for sale at that time.
Haven Distributors has picked up the second book and we are in negotiations with two other distributors as well. More to come as it occurs.

Bane of the Werewolf covers 1 and 2

Bane of the Werewolf comic book covers issues #1 & 2.

Full color issue #1 cover.

Black and White issue #2 cover.

The Making of Bane of the Werewolf

Head over to comicmonsters.com and take a look at the creative process for Bane of the Werewolf.
The Making of Bane of the Werewolf.

quote -
“I grew up reading Werewolf By Night, Ghost Rider, Son of Satan, Adam Warlock, (Warlock not really being in the horror genre, but look at those shadows!) Creepy, Eerie, and many others. I feel my art is heavily influenced by the creators of those mags. Mike Ploog, Berni Wrightson, Jim Starlin, Murphy Anderson, and most recently in my life, Hal Foster, Wally Wood, Reed Crandall and Will Eisner. There are many others, not all belonging to the horror genre obviously, but we’ll restrict the list to these distinguished few.

The old gothic horror movies from the 1930s - 1960s play a huge role as well. When referring to set design, atmosphere and mood, the Universal classics, Hammer, RKO and Columbia have a wide range of untold wealth which originates from German expressionists dating back to the time of the silents. Yea, they’re a lot of cheesy fun (which lends to their charm)… however, look past that, and you will find amazing sets amplifying an ‘old world’ ambiance lurking in the background. The creators of these films were under the strictest of codes during their time. They were unable to produce unsupervised gore-feasts. Instead, time and effort went into every aspect of the film to generate the necessary atmosphere to perpetuate the story and to meld the viewer’s imagination therein.

I have always been drawn to the lone, suffering character. In particular, the idea of a suffering character that must continually struggle just to hold on to his or her identity. I feel this circumstance always makes for the most compelling stories and tend to deliver personal impact in a more altering cohesion than the alternatives. I haven’t given up on our ‘hero’. I just plan to beat him up a lot. And there are many ways in which one can suffer. Did you make the right choice? Do you sacrifice yourself over another? The continual longing for a friend that has passed over into the after-life. Physical suffering from a good beating by a monster or two - many ways.

Style and presentation can personify a work. Thats the kinda thing I hope to capture. Ideally, when reading Bane of the Werewolf, you will see and experience the influences I have attempted to imbue. Once you are done, step back, view the product in it’s entirety. Look at it as a complete package and see where that leaves you.

Wanting to collect and utilize these ideas/influences for a modern comic book gave birth to BotW - writing and illustrating it myself was the only way to ensure that it would be presented in the manner in-which I envision.”

Interview at comicmonsters.com

We are currently synchronizing 3 or 4 websites for optimal traffic. We hope to be at a stopping point by Monday so we can get back to production. Orders are in and the first installment is being printed.

Check out January’s comicmonsters.com interview with REB below.

Bane of the Werewolf interview with Rob E. Brown-

A gypsy vagabond, Eliphas Moreau, rediscovers his past and learns the dark secret his gypsy guardian has been trying to keep from him - a curse that has caught up with him and now must be released for the sake of all. This tells the origin of the werewolf! The first of five that begins the story arc monster fans have been waiting on for years!

We talked with creator, REB, about the project.

The Big Bad Wolf: Can you give our readers a synopsis of Bane of the WereWolf?

REB: Essentially, the book re-establishes the ‘classic’ gypsy origins of the werewolf curse through the eyes of a gypsy. Eliphas finds himself at the mercy of a dark, malevolent Tome. A Book, passed down through the ages and only entrusted to the great chieftains of various gypsy clans. Contracting the curse, he is then bombarded by the many forces/horrors of the occult world - All the while, he struggles to keep his humanity intact, as he fights to save the people he loves. Bane of the Werewolf is a book about a suffering character. The werewolf curse is just that, a curse, not a blessing. So, with that being said, expect a lot of twist and hardships as Eliphas battles his way through monsters and personal strife.

The Big Bad Wolf: Who is the werewolf?

REB: Eliphas Moreau. Taken by Gypsies from his true parents when he was but an infant, Eliphas was raised and treated as if he was of ‘true blood’. Meaning he was reared and accepted as a true Gypsy. The last name, ‘Moreau’, literally means ’son of the moors’.

The Big Bad Wolf: Can Eliphas transform at will or only during a full moon?

REB: Only during the full moon. It wouldn’t be a curse otherwise.

The Big Bad Wolf: Who are the rest of the main cast?

REB: Janos Moreau, Eliphas’ gypsy step-father. Melena Moreau, Eliphas’ gypsy step-mother. Dr. Artemis Orlock, a mad doctor consumed by the mysteries of life and death. Zigfreid, a two-armed mutant and man-servant. A warlock called Baphomet. The female love interest, Maria, and a whole mess of walking horrors!

The Big Bad Wolf: Is this an ongoing or mini-series?

REB: The book will be ongoing as separate mini-series. Each mini-series will complete one story arc. To date I have 3 story arcs planned with plenty of background material for much more. The number of individual comics within each story arc can range from 3 to 6 issues. ‘Head of the Magus’, the first story arc, will contain 5 bi-monthly issues.

The Big Bad Wolf: So, in each issue we see Eliphas take on another monster? Can you tell us or give any hints of what other types of monstrosities we will see the werewolf fight?Bane of the werewolf comic book

REB: This story arc, ‘Head of the Magus’, will feature a ‘classic’ monster archetype within each issue. The Hunchback, The Werewolf, The Vampire, Warlocks and Witches, and the world’s most nefarious monster… well, I’ll leave you hanging there, hehe.

The Big Bad Wolf: What can we expect from this book in terms of blood and gore?

REB: Minimal blood and gore if any. I want to tell fright-filled stories where atmosphere and mood set the pace. There won’t be a shortage on action mind you, but blood and gore will not be the foundation of the book.

The Big Bad Wolf: When is the release date of the first issue?

REB: March. 2009.

The Big Bad Wolf: How much is the book?

REB: $3.75 US.

The Big Bad Wolf: Did you handle both the writing and art duties on this book?

REB: Yes, but hopefully you won’t hold that against me! haha!

The Big Bad Wolf: Will this eventually be released in trade paperback format?

REB: Yes, as each story comes to a close, we plan to issue a trade paper containing the complete story arc for that series.

The Big Bad Wolf: Where can our readers find out more about Bane of the WereWolf?

REB: www.silverphoenix.net.

The Big Bad Wolf: In closing, what would you like to say to our readers about Bane of the WereWolf?

REB: I love classic horror movies. In the back of each BotW issue will be a section entitled ‘The Dungeon’s Review’. The Dungeon being my work studio where myself and the staff of BotW gather and watch/critique classic horror films. Particularly, the movie in review will coincide with the theme of that issue. In the first issue we review ‘The Undying Monster’. An amazing, classic werewolf mystery released in 1942. Also known as ‘The Hammond Mystery’, this film is largely over looked when referencing outstanding werewolf flicks. In this section of BotW, we hope to spread a candle light on little known classic horror movies such as this. Just our way of giving abit more to the genre we all love. Now, order your copy of BotW and go find a copy of ‘The Undying Monster’!!

The Big Bad Wolf: Thank you for your time, Rob! Best of luck with this werewolf comic book!

See the original interview at comicmonsters.com > here.