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11/06/13 @ 3:36 pm EST
Arvid Nelson has been in comics a long time having published his first issue of Rex Mundi with Image Comics over a decade ago. Since then he’s worked for Marvel (X-men Unlimited), DC (The Joker Asylum) and Dark Horse (Kull). Now he’s switching form Robert E. Howard to Edgar Rice Burroughs as he takes on John Carter in Lords of Mars for Dynamite Entertainment. Nancy Collins did a quick peer-to-peer interview with Nelson to talk about the new project.
NANCY COLLINS: How old were you when you first became aware of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ work? Was your first exposure Tarzan, John Carter, or one of his other series, like Pellucidar?
ARVID NELSON: Exactly the age when Nick Barrucci first approached me about writing Warlord of Mars! Isn’t that pathetic? But it’s true. Burroughs is one of those things you’re “supposed” to read, I think that’s why I never got around to it beforehand. It felt like homework.
But imagine my delight! The Mars novels are surprisingly accessible and fresh. I read the first three in a span of 48 hours, I literally only put them down to urinate and eat. One of the most amazing things about the Mars books is their universal influence. John Carter is, in my opinion, the world’s first superhero. Star Wars is heavily based on the Mars novels, too.
I went on to read the Tarzan and Pellucidar novels, of course, but the Mars stories will always have a special place in my heart. They launched Burroughs’s career, and they’re the bedrock of modern-day Science-Fantasy.
NC: You’ve cited Robert E. Howard as a literary influence–does the same hold true for Edgar Rice Burroughs?
AN: Absolutely. Burroughs was constantly bursting with ideas and creative energy. Each successive Mars novel is like delving into a new world all over again. But it’s more than that – Burroughs is a great storyteller. He knows how to keep you reading, page after page. He ends chapters brilliantly. He lures you into complacency with what you think is going to be a tired, reheated plot cliché… and then he utterly defies your expectations. There are very interesting, satisfying and complete arcs for his secondary characters – Xodar and Phaidor, for instance. Reading the novels a second time was especially educational for me.
NC: Do you see LORDS OF MARS as science fiction, heroic fantasy or heroic adventure?
AN: I try not to worry too much about genre conventions. That’s one of the best things about the Mars novels – they were written before conventions existed, so there’s a wonderful freeness to them. I mean yes, there are elements of heroic fantasy in Lords of Mars. But it’s mostly a world of science, not magic. And there’s no shortage of adventure! If I had only one word to describe Lords of Mars, it would be “heroic”. John Carter and Tarzan are heroes. They’re the good guys, period. Of the two, Tarzan is darker and more conflicted, but neither of them are cynical or self-serving, they’re not Han Solo. Any other portrayal just wouldn’t do them justice.
NC: You’ve worked on films in the past–how does it compare to working in comics?
AN: Hah! My “work” in film culminated with a glorious tenure as a production assistant on a Woody Allen movie my summer after college, and as a special effects intern on a Troma movie – Small Time Crooks and The Toxic Avenger Part IV, respectively. Film, especially independent, East Coast film, is a real meat grinder. It just wasn’t for me. It’s not like anyone was going to say “Hey, Arvid! You do such a great job fetching coffee and diverting pedestrian traffic, why don’t you direct this next scene?” In fact, Woody Allen dropped out of school to start writing, so I followed his example – I dropped out of film to start writing. It was a scary decision, but I haven’t looked back.
Comics are much more gratifying than film, for the simple fact that the production costs are several orders of magnitude cheaper. Money just screws everything up. Nobody sets out to create a terrible film that nobody wants to watch, but the obscene amount of money it takes to make a movie means you have to play it safe. You can take more risks with comics, and you can make fewer compromises. Dynamite’s goal from the beginning with the Burroughs adaptations was to tell the stories the “right” way, capturing the essence of the originals while maintaining the integrity of what Burroughs “is” and “is not”. Whether or not we succeeded is for readers to judge, but I feel great about what we accomplished.
NC: Do you have anything up your sleeve for 2014 that your fans might like to know about?
AN: I’ve got several things up my sleeve – way, way up my sleeve. Right now I’m in the process of trying to pull them out. It would be premature to say anything else! Suffice it to say I’m really excited about the future.
05/28/20 @ 5:02 pm EST
05/28/20 @ 4:34 pm EST
Tomorrow (Friday), master painter Lucio Parrillo will be joining creator and self-publisher Billy Tucci on the PopXP Youtube channel. Lucio will be discussing his career as a comic book cover artist, the decade of beautiful contributions to Dynamite titles, and most of all his current and first-ever crowdfunding campaign for his exclusive Vampirella variant. Click here at Noon EST Friday to watch the discussion. (9 AM PST, 5 PM BST).Billy himself is no stranger to Vampirella and crowdfunding, as his independent creation Shi crossed over with the Daughter of Drakulon back in 1997 and then again last year for a special dual anniversary celebration cover. He's successfully crowdfunded a big comeback for Shi with the upcoming Return of the Warrior. And through PopXP (formerly known as Crowdfunding Comics) with Nile Scala, he's made waves talking to comic book pros from all corners. Guests have included Marc Silvestri, Humberto Ramos, Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Conner, Brian Pulido, Erik Larsen, Chuck Dixon and countless more. Click here to check out Lucio Parrillo's exclusive Vampirella cover on Indiegogo
 05/28/20 @ 4:32 pm EST
Dynamite and Fanatical announce a goodies-stuffed digital comics bundle - available right now!
The clock is already counting down, so check out the deals! - Dynamite & Fanatical Bundle
This promotion launches as part of Fanatical's BundleFest, coinciding with several additional deals for all kinds of fans, across comics, video games and more. Featuring over 70 individual issues and a dozen graphic novels, the Dynamite bundle touts a whopping 95% savings on over $300 worth of great comics.
Across three tiers starting at just one dollar, fans can fit their haul to their budget. Particular highlights include the timeless cartooning of upcoming Green Hornet artist Anthony Marques in the Savage Tales of Vampirella one-shot. Or the 380-page tome of Vampirella's earliest stories. And the beautiful and badass portrayal of Red Sonja by artist Carlos Gomez with the whipsmart writing of Amy Chu. As well as Van Jensen and Dennis Calero's pitch-perfect adaptation of Ian Fleming's original James Bond novel to the graphic novel form.
Other creators who contributed to books in the bundle include Mike Carey, Steve Niles, Nancy A. Collins, Greg Pak, Vita Ayala, Joseph Michael Linsner, Jim Zub, Max Bemis, Roy Thomas, Leah Williams, Ethan Sacks, Michael Moreci, David Avallone and countless more! Check out the offerings available in each tier below, with each successive one also including previous items. $1 Tier
Army of Darkness Furious Road #1 – 6
Barbarella #1 – 6
Centipede #1 – 5
Savage Tales of Vampirella
Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time #1 – 6
The Bionic Man vs The Bionic Woman #1 – 5
For just a single buck, that's $60 worth of top tier comics!   Read More Here 05/26/20 @ 8:16 pm EST
Yep, it's streeeeetch goal time! The campaign has been such a success so far that we're bringing in some extra goodies for everyone who's already joined the party, and those yet to come on in. Over the holiday weekend, we passed $26,000 and 200 backers. And one very lucky collector locked themselves in for Lucio's one-of-a-kind original painting! A huge congrats to that fan! To show our gratitude for all this support, we are setting a stretch goal of $30,000 which will give every physical backer a promo trading card of Lucio's breathtaking masterpiece. This card will feature a minimalist design to emphasize the artwork itself, and as with the comics will be incredibly limited based on the number of backers of the campaign. Check out the campaign now and help unlock the stretch goal!
 05/22/20 @ 7:39 pm EST
Coming soon... Two fantastically talented creators. One badass and historically crucial character. A groundbreaking story. Gorgeous artwork. Available directly for the fans through crowdfunding. Billy Tucci and Maria Laura Sanapo have a classified project they're cooking up. If you poke around social media, you may figure it out... Or just click below for the partial reveal and to sign up for updates. We'll show you some more teases as the launch approaches, and will let you know ASAP when it's live. Click Here To Get The Latest Teases & Updates! 05/21/20 @ 5:47 pm EST
Super sales are ending and continuing, and ComiXology is full of energy with the industry getting back to full steam!
First of all, check out the first new release from Dynamite in a while, with RED SONJA #15 available now! Critically acclaimed writer Mark Russell continues to weave this witty grounded yet action packed tale of Sonja the Red, now dealing with being Queen of Hyrkania in "peacetime" in Year Two. The art by Bob Q balances impressive action and cartooning for a classic, timeless style. Reviews have been great, so check it out!
Our Sci-Fi sale ends tonight! 13 thrilling graphic novels are deep discounted, as well as all their respective single issues. Below are some of the standouts included, but click here to browse the full sale!
    It's still running for a couple more days, but don't gloss over the Dynamite Select Sale either! With a huge selection of 50 books, there's something for everyone! And for a recommendation from us, we advise straddling both sales and piecing together a binge reading collection of work from the master Howard Chaykin! You'll find all the below books across these two spectacular sales. All of these are whipsmart tales that pushed against the boundaries of comics and continue to inspire readers and creators today. Though we warn that they do employ mature subject matter.
   05/19/20 @ 7:37 pm EST
Yep, we heard you! Many fans were asking for a graded option on this crowdfunded variant cover, and we made it happen. Now every version of the cover is available graded, and as a bundle. In addition to all the awesome existing options and add-ons. We're guaranteeing a 9.8 grade too! Keep the great ideas coming and maybe we could have another fan-inspired update!
Get yours now on Indiegogo! 
05/19/20 @ 7:35 pm EST
Welcome back ladies and gentlemen to brand new comic releases from Dynamite! It's been a while, but everything seems to be getting back on track. At Dynamite we're choosing to ramp back up slowly while leading off with heavy hitters, to accommodate fans and stores in different circumstances. For our glorious planned return to an official New Comic Book Day on May 20, we've got Red Sonja #15 here for you! #BackTheComeback and make sure to play your part in making the industry come back strong! Check with your Local Comic Shop about any changes to hours and policies while we get everything revved back up. Stay safe, and most of all #ReadMoreComics!
RED SONJA #15Writer: Mark Russell I Art: Bob Q   
Covers A: Jae Lee I B: Joseph Linsner I C: Bob Q
 
Covers D: Marc Laming I E: Cosplay (Katy DeCobray)
  
Adam Gorham 7-Copy INC I Andrew Pepoy 10-Copy INC I Roberto ... 05/18/20 @ 3:26 pm EST
Guess what? Dynamite is back in stores this week! Make sure to grab RED SONJA #15 and #BackTheComeback. Check with your store about hours and details. But many of us will still be dealing to some extent with the quarantine and social distancing. So we are going to continue sharing these fun videos with you. Subscribe to us on Youtube to get notified as soon as they go up. This time we have writer extraordinaire David Avallone. Or do we? He seems to be deep undercover with a suave mustache. Bringing that trademark humor that makes his work on Elvira and Bettie Page so beloved by fans. After watching this, head to David's own channel to see him talk about and read classic pulp fiction.
Can you tell if it's the real Avallone? 
To support David and Dynamite, check out some of his work below! We recommend contacting your Local Comic Shop about their availability to support the industry and your community. We've also included links for other options. ELVIRA: MISTRESS OF THE DARK & THE SHAPE OF ELVIRA Writer: David Avallone I Art: Dave Acosta, Fran Strukan   
The Mistress of the Dark has become unstuck in time! Elvira crashes Mary Shelley's monster weekend, beginning an epic journey through horror history, stalked by the most terrifying nightmare to ever walk the Earth. (No spoilers!) Writer David Avallone (Bettie Page, Doc Savage, Twilight Zone) and Dave Acosta (Doc Savage) bring you the thrills, chills and double-entendres ... 05/16/20 @ 12:41 pm EST
Yes, that's right! Lucio's new exclusive Vampirella cover completely blew away its initial goal. In just half an hour enough fans supported his variant that it will officially be printed. You can join them right here! We're thrilled to be working with Lucio, one of the top tier cover artists in the industry and an unparalleled painter for his flavor of the macabre. His visions breathe life into the characters with a vitality that is seldom seen. And this breathtaking portrayal of Vampirella is one of his greatest ever. We've been proud to work with him for nearly a full decade and play a role in his meteoric rise.
Jump over to the campaign page to look out for more videos of his painting process and stretch goals announcing soon!
And share the project with your buddies! Click here to share the campaign on Twitter now. 
Get Your Exclusive Vampirella Comic Here! |
