Showing posts with label Aiden Belcher. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Aiden Belcher. Show all posts

Thursday, July 3, 2025

THE PERSONA #3: SILVER SKIN PROGRESSING WITH ARTIST, AIDEN BELCHER

Per Airship 27 publisher, Ron Fortier, progression on my novel, The Persona, Vol 3: "Silver Skin," is moving along with Aiden Belcher supplying the illustrations. All but two illustrations are now completed. (BTW: Below are examples of Aiden's work for Jade Rockwood's The World of Albumtasia, and below that is a neo Green Hornet/Kato panel for an online comic that he created with his famous dad, Mike. Pretty impressive, eh?)

"Silver Skin" is more of a science-fiction submission than a mystical one for my character, Michael Mansford. In this instance, an alien world infiltrates Earth through the Amazon rain forest, as orchestrated by an insane, silver-skinned entity named Sentinel Sifer. 

I'll share more on the book's progression as I receive such. For now, hang tight. More details are on the way.

Tuesday, December 12, 2023

FORTIER/KATO'S RETURN TO NEVER NEVER LAND

I knew that Ron Fortier and Gary Kato had taken a stab at J.M. Barrie's exalted Peter Pan, but I had only experienced bits and pieces of the 1991 endeavor (catching a picture here and there). I'm proud to report that I finally purchased a copy of their comic-book triumph, Peter Pan in Return to Never Never Land (both issues in one, 52-page, Redbud Studio volume) and must declare, it's even better than I anticipated. In fact, I consider it one of the best Pan exploits ever rendered, holding more than its own with Barrie's classic novella. 

For this particular sequel, Fortier's script places understandable emphasis on its titular hero, but also grants special focus on Roxbury, Massachusetts brothers, Jerry and Mike (the former, a lover of cowboy lore and the latter, his conscientious, older sibling). 

The story starts with the youngsters being accosted by bullies just before Christmas break, but by a twist of fate, Peter Pan arrives to halt (and humiliate) the aggressors. Then, along with the glitzy Tinkerbell, the eternal boy inspires the lads to embark on a journey to his fabled world.

Once there, Jerry and Mike meet the petulant, Captain Hook; the legendary Lost Boys; the verbose Carousel Broncos; and neighboring, American Indians, including the beautiful yet crafty Tiger Lily, as they engage in roughhouse shenanigans that support the old adage, Boys Will Be Boys. 

Kato's artwork, combined with Aiden Belcher's vibrant coloring, gives Return to Never Never Land a fresh, modern look, though at the same time, Fortier's story never overlooks Pan's roots (as some retellings and follow-ups have done). Return to Never Never Land respects Barrie's mythology, with Jerry and Mike fitting right in, always embracing the proper, derring-do spirit.  

Return to Never Never Land is so darn invigorating, it's guaranteed to manifest the kid in anyone and everyone. (I only wish I had experienced the jubilation sooner!)

Order now at 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1953589618?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details