Western Wednesday: Deadlands

The first of several Deadlands one-shot comics hits shops today. Thanks to its creative mixture of Westerns and Horror (resulting in awesome monsters like man-eating tumbleweeds and ghostly hangmen) as well as Steampunk, Deadlands was one one of my Top Five role-playing games back when I used to play. One of my criteria for an excellent RPG was an extremely developed world to play in and Deadlands had that in spades with its wide swaths of Indian-controlled territory, outlaw settlements (based on real, Western towns), and a maze of pirate-filled waterways where California used to be. There's a ton of story potential there for some truly awesome comics.

Ron Marz is editing the series of one-shots and has hired creators like Steve Ellis, Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray, Bart Sears, Steve Niles, and Francesco Francavilla to contribute. I lamented on Robot 6 that I wished it was an actual series with characters I could get to know instead of a series of one-shots, but C Edward Sellner, Creative Director for the studio that's producing the book assured me that they're "just warming up with these first one-shots, to introduce the world and the property to the comics fans. We have plans a’plenty for more Deadlands goodness, including more traditional mini-series and if sales warrant, even a monthly dose with an ongoing character you’ll meet in these first one shots." Sounds good to me.

According to the press release: "The first book out of the gate is Deadlands: The Devil's Six Gun by the Harvey award-winning team of David Gallaher and Steve Ellis. In classic Faustian tradition, a weapons maker comes to America to pursue the American dream in the former colonies. Instead, he becomes immersed in plots and manipulations to gain unearthly power through the supernatural Ghost Rock. His goal? To make a gun that can kill anything, including the powerful Hellstromme! Its a journey that will cost him everything he loves, including his soul!

"Deadlands (APR110410), the first 32 page full color one shot in this series of weird westerns, will be available in stores June 15, 2011 for $2.99."

Read My Stuff: Panels for Primates

For those who aren't familiar with it, Panels for Primates is a charity anthology webcomic on the act-i-vate site that's meant to raise money for the Primate Rescue Center in Kentucky. It's entirely free to read, but if the ape and monkey stories move or entertain you at all, you're invited - but not obligated - to contribute.

I'm a huge fan of these animals, so I was thrilled when editor Troy Wilson invited me to contribute a short, two-page story. And even more thrilled when he told me I'd be working with the awesome Simon Roy. Between the two of us, we packed a ton of action into two pages including giant cephalopods, tiki-men, a sinister elephant, a mad tortoise, slime-monsters, werewolves, mummies, and I'm self-indulgent enough to have thrown in giant monsters, giant robots, and yes, gorillas riding dinosaurs. It also features that most famous of Kentucky primates, Daniel Baboon. Please go check it out.

Pass the Comics: Trespasser in Time

This isn't even the weirdest thing that happens in this story. [The Comic Book Catacombs]

Elsewhere... Mad scientists pose as vampires

Flick Attack!



Flick Attack is a new blog by the folks behind Bookgasm, the awesome book review blog. They can explain what Flick Attack's about much better than I can:

We’ll have no news. No scoops. No rumors. No set reports. Just one kick-ass review a day, Monday through Friday, with the occasional article on Saturday to make your weekend that much awesomer.

Yep, that’s right: Every day you get one review, so take it or leave it. While everyone else pees their pants over the latest multiplex releases, we’re gonna dig through our archives and toss out something that’s not playing a theater near you. Maybe you’ve heard of it; maybe you haven’t; maybe it’s easy to find; maybe it’s not — doesn’t matter. You will read it, and you will like it.

So if you like discovering cinematic trash-terpieces, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve got horror, sci-fi, action, kung fu, comedy and sex. But no drama. If it’s tears you want, we’ll be happy to kick you in the shin.

And they're letting me play with them. My first review - for the Bela Lugosi masterpiece (and possible origin of vampires' saying "Bleh!") My Son the Vampire - went up last Monday.

Food or Comics?



This week's comics on a budget column included Beasts of Burden/Hellboy and Sky Pirates of Valendor amongst other things.

Boneyard



Finally, this week's Gorillas Riding Dinosaurs was a look at Richard Moore's Boneyard.

Art Show: Meddling Kids

Bad Night for Graverobbing



By Pat Lewis.

Bear and Witch



By Andrea Tsurumi.

The Fly



By Francesco Francavilla.

Scooby and the Gang



By Andry Rajoelina. Have any of you guys seen the new Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated show? It's the best Scooby Doo show since Scooby Doo, Where Are You? and The New Scooby Doo Movies and there are times when I think it may be better than either of those. [Art Jumble]

Pass the Comics: Attack of the Octo-Man!

The Fantastic Voyages of Sinbad



Sinbad hates cephalopods (and dragons and giant spiders). [Gold Key Comics!]

Arms of Doom



A mad scientist creates a human octopus! [Pappy's Golden Age Comics Blogzine]

Pass the Comics: Ape Gods and Scientific Fiends

Cave Girl gets Thun'da to do her dirty work against The Ape God of Kor



[The Crossover of the Epoch courtesy of The Comic Book Catacombs]

Marga, the Panther Woman vs. the power-mad Professor Meier



[The Comic Book Catacombs]