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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.
06/02/21 @ 4:24 pm EST
Dynamite is celebrating the heat of the summer with two scorching hot limited edition Red Sonja comics by the massively talented artistic power couple of Arthur Adams and Joyce Chin - available on Indiegogo right now!
"Both of us love Red Sonja, so we were really excited to do these covers," said Joyce Chin. "I read tons of Spider-Man comics when I was a kid, so the Spider-Man and Red Sonja was the very first time I saw Red Sonja. I've been lucky enough to draw her several times.
Arthur Adams added, "I've loved Red Sonja since I was, gosh, probably 13 years old or so. I used to buy Frank Thorne Red Sonja comics. His art was so fantastic"  
These beautiful covers are completed with the coloring by Peter Steigerwald, known for his fan-favorite pairings with artists like Michael Turner, Joe Benitez, Ivan Reis, and many more. And they're printed over special presentations of the recent smash hit Invincible Red Sonja #1 and the classic Marvel Feature: Red Sonja #2. Each cover is available separately, as a pair, and in three key variations and multiple combo packs. Trade dress, logo-free "virgin" and a black and white option round out the variants for each. Plus ultra-rare metal editions, and of course signed CGC graded copies!
Arthur Adams is by many considered to be one of the greatest comic artists of his era or any. His contributions to such hallmark titles as Uncanny X-Men, Fantastic Four, Hulk, and more were celebrated in fandom as a special occasion every time his name was in the credits box. Indendent work such as Monkeyman & O'Brien brought him to a whole new generation of fans. His style ... 05/24/21 @ 4:00 pm EST
The Mistress of the Dark herself, Elvira, returns to monthly comic books and this time she's joined by fellow horror comedy legend Vincent Price!
The two titans of terror and comedy unite in comics for the very first time as Dynamite Entertainment proudly presents Elvira Meets Vincent Price! The ghost of Price has a mission that only the macabre maven can assist him with. The apocalypse is coming, and it's heading straight to livestreaming for binge-watching! Leave it to a fabled lost film to save the day, if only our horror hostess and spectral companion can find it in time.
    Writer David Avallone (Bettie Page, Drawing Blood) returns to capture the timeless voice of Elvira, and taps into his own history and love for Old Hollywood and film to bring Vincent Price along for the ride this time. With over three years and countless issues of experience working right alongside Elvira herself and putting words in her mouth, fans will be happy to see his return. This time he's joined for the first time by artist Juan Samu (Black Panther, Transformers). The cast is rounded out by returning colorist Walter Pereyra and letterer Taylor Esposito. Avallone shared, "Writing Vincent Price is a gift. On-screen and off, he’s an indelible character and it’s delightful to write in his “voice,” just as it is to write in Elvira’s. He’s charming and elegant and hilarious… and as in real life, a perfect foil for Elvira. I recommend fans Googling their talk show appearances together."
Though this new history-making crossover is perfect to jump right into for Elvira newcomers, Dynamite has released several ... 04/28/21 @ 3:13 pm EST
Dynamite Entertainment and Paizo Inc. are excited to announce three new exciting pledge levels to the official Fumbus comic book Kickstarter! The support of Pathfinder fans so far on the campaign has been amazing, and to reward the most dedicated adventurers, a trio of top tier very limited options are now available. Whether one wants to be immortalized in every copy of the comic, have a special edition fully dedicated to them, or even play a game of Pathfinder live with a creator, each option is enticing in its own way! Has your favorite RPG character fallen in battle? Do you want their moniker enshrined forever in Pathfinder history? The Wall of Names is a long, curving wall of black glass on a tree-shaded hill on the grounds of the Pathfinder Society’s headquarters—the Grand Lodge—in the city of Absalom. It serves as a memorial for all Pathfinders who have died in service to the Society since the wall's creation nearly 400 years ago, and its surface is etched with the name for each Pathfinder that fell in battle. For a limited number of backers, a spot on the wall is available for your PC to be memorialized in the pages of the Pathfinder Fumbus comic book. See your fallen character's name on a panel in the comic and get a copy of Pathfinder Fumbus to show your friends! Every other backer of the comic will also get to see your legendary status. This tier is limited to just 12 spots. Maximum character length is 20 letters/spaces and Paizo has the final right of approval for submitted names.  Is your favorite Pathfinder character a legend in your gaming group? This is a rare opportunity ... 04/23/21 @ 3:46 pm EST
Barbarella, the sensual siren of space returns for a series of all-new adventures by a dynamic new creative team! Dynamite is proud to welcome writer Sarah Hoyt for her big debut in comic books with the new series starting in July. The longtime author has written over 34 novels in science fiction, fantasy, mystery and more, including her fan-favorite Darkship Thieves, and garnering Prometheus and Dragon Awards. For this space-faring journey, she's joined by rising star artist Madibek Musabekov (Vampirella vs Purgatori). Colorist Ivan Nunes and letterer Carlos Mangual round out the crew at the controls.
In this exciting new series, Barbarella sets out on a mission filled with danger, duplicity, and a dose of romance as she travels through multiple inventive sci-fi locales. Fans of the character and genre can expect deep dives on questions of class, romance, sexuality, and more in the classic Barbarella style.
"Writing the Barbarella stories was more fun than is probably legal in most states," said writer Sarah Hoyt. "The work of learning a new format was overshadowed by the fun of being able to think big and play with someone else’s no-holds-barred character. I’ve also loved the art I’ve seen so far from Madibek!"
   Traveling from planet to planet, the tale starts in Camelot, home to the rich and powerful class seeking escape from a crowded and decaying galactic empire. Intercepting desperate transmissions from the underclass, Barbarella sets off to investigate, unravelling a string of secrets. Along the way she will visit the underwater world of Encantado, the carnival-like Rio, and even more. All painstakingly designed by Musabekov. On her escapade, Barbarella is joined by two fun new characters that ... 04/22/21 @ 3:21 pm EST
Thanks to fabulous fan support, Dynamite and the creative team are excited to announce the extension of Sonjaversal and a great new jumping-on point! The ultimate story of Red Sonja multiversal mayhem was originally set as a five issue miniseries. By popular demand, more is to come, starting with issue #6 this July. Writer Christopher Hastings (Unbelievable Gwenpool) and artist Pasquale Qualano (Dejah Thoris) return for an all-new story arc perfect for new readers while continuing the same boundless energy and creativity of the previous issues.
With the opening story blasting open the metaphorical toy chest and introducing an endless expanse of Sonja's battling for the fate of the universe, now the team will drill down and focus on select Sonja's in a more episodic format.
Making her moody debut in this issue is Noir Sonja! She's on the trail of someone making a huge splash in the criminal underworld - only problem is that they're dead. Actually, she has more problems, as a whole new onslaught of alternate Sonja's throw off her investigation.
"I love to play with genre, and this arc is going to be all about mashing up Red Sonja's sword and sorcery with noir, then gothic horror, then space opera, and 80s action movies. It's a blast," said writer Christopher Hastings.
Fans can stay tuned for full explorations of even more wildly unique takes on the She-Devil With a Sword!
A top tier team of cover artists bring their own multiverse-esque appeal to the title with the diverse stylings of Lucio Parrillo, Joseph Michael Linsner, Jae Lee, Junggeun Yoon, and of course Dynamite's fan-favorite cosplay covers.
  
 Read More Here 04/22/21 @ 3:06 pm EST
One of the oldest and most iconic couples in genre fiction reunite once more this summer in Dejah Thoris vs. John Carter of Mars by sci-fi superstar Dan Abnett!
Kicking off this July from Dynamite, Abnett (Guardians of the Galaxy, Aquaman) opens a new chapter in the storied history of Barsoom and its charismatic couple. Serving as a perfect jumping-on point for new and returning fans, while also continuing threads from Abnett's previous tales, the love of Dejah Thoris and John Carter will be tested by a grave new threat and cataclysmic planet-wide war.
"Now that John Carter has returned, is he still the legendary hero they all respect?," said writer Dan Abnett. "And are he and his beloved Dejah still working to the same ends? It's a tale of swords, sorcery, space gods and true love, an interplanetary romance in the true sense of both those words."
Barsoom has been in crisis, wracked by freak weather seemingly signifying a coming ice age. Matching turbulence has cropped up as conflict between the planet's many tribes and nations. The Earth-born hero of John Carter was missing. With Dejah Thoris and the help of her allies, stability has been established (for now) and John has been found, only for the true foes to take center stage in this new story.
The Longborn, ancient "space gods" of immense and mysterious power wildly outmatch the citizens of Barsoom. They may even be the original architects of all life in the Solar System, shaping the red planet in their image. Back to reclaim their creations to wipe the slate clean and start over, it is up to Dejah, John, and their allies to take on their biggest threat yet.
Artist Alessandro Miracolo joins the adventuring ...
04/20/21 @ 3:42 pm EST
The most prestigious Red Sonja comic book ever debuts this July to heat up the summer! Red Sonja: Black, White, Red showcases today's top talents and longtime legends with unforgettable and experimental tales! The new prestige project pulls in the world's greatest storytellers to capture the legendary Hyrkanian hero like readers have never seen her before. The series will be presented in beautiful black, white, and red to fully bring the linework and writing to the forefront, with exciting accents like Sonja's iconic red hair and of course plenty of splashes of the blood of battle. The premiere issue has stories by Kurt Busiek with Benjamin Dewey, Amanda Deibert with Cat Staggs, as well as Mark Russell with Bob Q!
  
In the first issue, the legendary Kurt Busiek (Astro City, Marvels) returns to the Hyborean Age for his first ever Red Sonja story. Alongside frequent collaborator Benjamin Dewey (King in Black: Namor, The Autumnlands), the duo take readers to the Mountains of Night, a foreboding haunt that calls Sonja to it, in search of a precious artifact. “I’ve gotten to roam around in the Hyborean Age before, and even wrote Kulan Gath in Avengers. But the one part of those classic comics that I never got to write was Red Sonja," said writer Kurt Busiek. "So it’s great to have a chance to correct that, and do a full-on Sonja story, where we can showcase what makes her great — her quick wits, her anger and her unique way of dealing with the world’s rough edges. Plus, it’s always a joy to work with Ben Dewey, and we came up with a way to use ... 04/13/21 @ 2:19 pm EST
Available right now exclusively on Indiegogo, fans of the legendary Elvira, Mistress of the Dark can scoop up a big bursting tome of her classic out of print comic stories! "You know, people always ask me, 'Elvira, how can we see more of you?' Check out my comic book adventures! You may never have seen these stories! Now you can binge these long-lost tales in one big, sexy graphic novel. In my book, more is always better!
The Elvira Mistress of the Dark Classic Years Omnibus is the first volume kicking off reprinting the highly sought-after tales originally published by Claypool Comics. With this deluxe volume, fans can turn back the clock to 1993. Bill Clinton was president, Jurassic Park ruled the box office, and just like today, Elvira was her legendary horror host self.
In these beloved adventures Elvira must contend with teen werewolves, killer clowns, aliens, a high school reunion, pro wrestling, and more! Plus, special Halloween, Christmas, and Easter stories.
The book is available in paperback or hardcover and covers 26 issues, rounding out to a massive 600-page tome. And for a special surprise Dynamite is sneaking in extra bonuses amounting to .666 of an issue. That's right gals and ghouls, 26.666 comics in one massive book! Spooky!
A bountiful bevy of talented creators contributed to these adventures. Known for his love of the macabre and the flirty, Paul Dini of Batman fame lent his hand. While this first volume also compiles all of the plentiful pages written by Kurt Busiek (Avengers, Astro City). Claypool head honcho Richard Howell (Vision & the Scarlet Witch) and Frank Strom also contributed writing. While on the art side, Tom Simonton is beloved by Elvira fans for his early contributions to the ... 03/23/21 @ 2:18 pm EST
Vampirella returns to the (in)famous '90s in a meta tale from acclaimed writer Max Bemis (Moon Knight, Savage) that delves into the celebrated and critiqued comics of the era as well as fandom itself! The 1990s were one of the most exciting yet controversial eras in comic books. A time of bravado, excess, pouches, and cyborg assassins. But also heady and at times pretentious fantasy books usually written by Englishmen. As a reader at the time, Max Bemis was drawn to both types of books at the historic Golden Apple Comics in Los Angeles. Including his discovery of Vampirella, who somehow straddled the middle with explosive action stories, bad girl covers, and top tier creators like Grant Morrison, Mark Millar, and others.
Vampirella 1992 is a one-shot special that interweaves and melds those two styles, through the artistic stylings of Roberto Castro (Turok) and Marcos Ramos. For the covers, Castro is joined by fan-favorite Mike Krome and a cosplay variant.
"Vampirella 1992 explores these two sides of 90's comic fandom, goofy and extreme versus heady, trippy and dark," said writer Max Bemis. "It's just as scary as imagining Alan Moore slow-dancing sexily with Rob Liefeld."
   Readers will get to know a group of women who work weekends portraying "bad girls" at comic conventions, video store events and other geek gatherings. But when terrorists attack one of these conventions, the unexpected heroines must take their cosplay to the next level Die Hard-style to save the day.
The character at the center of the story is one particular model who has been through the ups and downs navigating the comics industry and events. A second viewpoint will ... 03/23/21 @ 12:13 pm EST
Red Sonja finds herself deep in the culture of the 1980s in a special one-shot this June by acclaimed scribe Amy Chu. 40 years ago, Red Sonja once found herself mysteriously transported to the then-present, tangling with one red and blue wall-crawler and her immortal enemy Kulan Gath. Writer Amy Chu's beloved ongoing run on Red Sonja kicked off in 2016 with a similar premise, taking the fiery-haired heroine to the constantly-under-construction bustling NYC of today. She also found herself out of time in Amy's fun-filled crossover with Riverdale's finest, Betty and Veronica. In this new special story, Sonja finds herself once again in more modern times in the City of Angels. Red Sonja goes to Hollywood! "1982 was a special year. I mean it was the year of E.T., TRON, Magnum PI, Hill Street Blues. MTV was brand new and exciting. The Commodore 64 and Apple II ruled. There was no internet," said writer Amy Chu. "If you thought my last run was wild, well... I love the fact that [artist] Eric didn't blink an eye when I explained what was going on. It does get pretty crazy, but there's a method behind the madness. I hope you have as much fun reading it as I had writing it."    This time she's up against a mysterious killer android tracking her through time. In the midst of the excesses of Los Angeles of the era, Sonja recruits a rag tag team for her mission. A bouncer, a drag queen, and a disco roller skating martial artist will help her slay her enemies all across the city. Could Kulan Gath be involved again this time? Amy Chu ... |
