BLACK LION #3 & ALL-STAR PULP COMICS #5 FROM RON FORTIER & CO

Ron Fortier's Black Lion re-enters in the hot-off-the-press, all-color Issue #3, from Redbud Studio and Indy Planet. 

"Mountain Crucible" may be the most exciting chapter yet in the Black Lion saga, with our brave and bold Jamal Lyon held captive by zealous soldiers. It'll take all that the former Navy SEAL can muster to flee his oppressors, in a stretch that combines high tension with a decent dab of steamy seduction.  

Fortier's script is brilliant, and Kevin Johnson's artwork (abetted by Warren Montgomery's lettering and Arrick Church's colors) grants the concept a virtual, cinematic thrust.

In addition to Black Lion #3, Redbud/Indy, along with Airship 27 Productions, has released the long-awaited, All-Star Pulp Comics #5, wherein Fortier's iconic undead avenger, Brother Bones, seizes the spotlight; with Mike W. Belcher's exhilarating Brother Bones/Nightshift crossover cover setting the crime-crushing tone. 

For the sake of "Behind the Mask", Fortier takes Brother Bones into Cape Noir's dangerous depths to topple the testy Tor Crawley, who dares to reveal the face behind our crusader's guise. T. Glenn Bane's moody artwork honors Fortier's concept by stirring the perfect, creepy chill. 

Brother Bones' hair-raising adventure is accompanied by two different, character studies by the author, the first being "A Greater Calling", with snazzy artwork by Belcher, which places the stealthy Nightshift against a gang of gritty, German saboteurs; and for Fortier's third submission, "Death Leaves a Message", Ravenwood, Stepson of Mystery and his investigative pal, Chief Inspector Stagg set forth to crack a murder that flows with the fiendish finesse of a classic, old-time radio show, all enhanced by Sam A. Salas' elegant artwork.  

Rounding out Issue #5 are two more tales, one featuring the courageous Crimson Mask and the other, the pugnacious Dr. Fear.

For the former, Mark F. Davis supplies an eerie script entitled "The Vampire of Broadway", with fantastic artwork by Luis Rivera and crackling lettering by Mike Rickaby. In this instance, Crimson Mask tracks an opponent who appears to have slipped straight out of a classic, horror picture, but is the fiend of actual, supernatural emanation or is there some other strange cause at play? 

For "Fear and Loathing", writer Michael Vance has Dr. Fear and Lady Loathing going to the movies, but instead of enjoying a little, healthy escapism, our dynamic duo becomes enshrouded by the wrath of a taunting, spectral adversary. Brian Cote's sweeping artwork and Montgomery's fine lettering add to the otherworldly circumstance.  

Purchase Black Lion #3 and All-Star Pulp Comics #5 at 

https://indyplanet.com/?s=black+lion+%233 and

https://indyplanet.com/all-star-pulp-comics-5.

TALES OF CAPE NOIRE: THE WORLD OF BROTHER BONES EXPANDS

There's no stopping the popularity of Ron Fortier's Undead Avenger, Brother Bones. It only goes to reason. The entity's grim qualities are contagious, as are those of his related characters.

In "Tales of Cape Noire", the fifth volume in the New Pulp series, not only does Fortier submit a segment, but so do such worthy writers as Fred Adams Jr, Andy Fix and Drew Meyer. And yes, a burst of friends and fiends manifest from their words, including Harry Beest, Sister Blood, Lt. Dan Rains and the insidious Alexis Wyld, Queen of Crime. Their intersecting adventures are enhanced by none other than Rob Davis, who supplies the volume's sizzling illustrations and spectacular front and back covers. 

The enclosed exploits span such engrossing scenarios as Bones' melee with a rat-rustling witch queen in league with the wily Wyld; Sister Blood's encounter with possessing demons of unexpected emanation and cause; Harry Beest's reconstruction of Professor Bugosi's lab as he keeps envious adversary, Ace Bricker at bay; and Lt. Rains' urgency to snuff Cape Noire's suffocating gang war, but not before he solves a kidnapping caper involving a gangster's daughter (one with an ultimate catch, no less).  

But that's not all, folks. These tales contain cameos, overlaps and tidbits galore (one still has me shaken from the guest-starring surprise), building the Brother Bones/Cape Noire mythology to the point to rival Batman's Gotham. That sure says something!

Fortier must be mighty proud of the level this new volume has taken his creepy concept, and with a live-action, web series on the horizon, the sky (albeit mad and menacing) is the limit.

For those who wish a taste of what the Undead Avenger entails, previous volumes are yet available for purchase, but one can't go wrong by delving first into the latest. It covers the essential ground for readers to comprehend Cape Noire's intricacies, while catapulting them to unparalleled heights of bewitching complexity, mystery and terror. 

"Tales of Cape Noire" is available in paperback and Kindle at 
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1946183857/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1.

AIRSHIP 27 PODCAST (JULY '20): READY FOR LIFTOFF!!!

To thwart the heat and humidity comes a blast of breezy salvation: Airship 27's July podcast, piloted by the diligent and neighborly Captain Ron Fortier and Chief Engineer Rob Davis. 

For this episode, the emphasis falls on Ron's famous creation, Brother Bones. Understandably so. There's a Brother Bones live-action, web series in the works (with a batch of fifteen-minute episodes planned), and the much anticipated "Tales of Cape Noire" is now available in paperback and Kindle. 

For "Cape Noire" (Vol #5 in the exciting Brother Bones saga), not only does Ron contribute, but such authors as Fred Adams Jr, Andy Fix and Drew Meyer. Their combined concoctions are guaranteed to enthrall in the most chilling ways, and it's not just the Undead Avenger who's involved, but a city-full of eccentric and lethal personas. Indeed, the Brother Bones mythology expands and all for the better.

Also, the guys share more news on the profitable "Ravenwood, Vol 4", R.A. Jones' celebrated "The Road Twice Taken", that big, charitable bestseller, "Who's Who in New Pulp" and a heap of other in-the-pipeline productions, including upcoming volumes on the Purple Scar and Domino Lady.

Tune in for all the terrific commentary at 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awqrVHjuQxE&t=27s&fbclid=IwAR31oVhfjE2Eir0dAEpvcmXzb46UCZJGJ2lFwxtnk0OktExesLb6rDOAqlE. 

FUN ADVENTURE COMICS! WELCOMES RON FORTIER'S BROTHER BONES!!!

Will Lill Comics has hit a home run with its latest Fun Adventure Comics!  If you’re a Ron Fortier/Brother Bones fan (and who isn't?), Issue #8 (July '18) is surely one to own and savor.

For one thing, just feast your eyes on that dynamic Barry McClain Jr./Warren Montgomery cover!!! Wow!!!

Fortier's script is exquisite in its dark, vengeful ambiance, placing the Undead Avenger and tremulous sidekick, Bobby Crandall in pursuit of a relentless pusherman. 

Joe Arnold's artwork and Montgomery's coloring/lettering ensure that Fortier's "Needle Justice" surfaces as another classic in Brother Bones' menacing mythology, and man, oh man, what a memorable ending!!!

Also in Issue #8, there's the bold Ash-Aman, high priest of Atlantis in a sublime tale called "Chaos", written by Lloyd Smith and illustrated by Russ Martin. One will be transported to a realm of the bizarre, the beautiful and the passionate: a crafty combination that will haunt one's senses for days after reading it. (Fans of Robert E. Howard and Universal's Imhotep and Kharis will find much to relish here.)

And last but not least, get set for the bedazzling wonders of Solomon Wyrd, a mighty man of stealth and magic, who'd give even Stephen Strange a hardy run for his money. The story by Jonathan A. Gilbert brims of ethereal excitement and features a startling demon destined to please any monster fan, brought to sinister life by penciler/letterer David A. Vance and inker David Owens.

Fun Adventure Comics! #8  delights on all levels and can be purchased now at ... https://willlillcomics.bigcartel.com/. 

BROTHER BONES RETURNS IN RON FORTIER'S CITY OF LOST SOULS!!!

A Brother Bones adventure reminds me of nice chunk of chocolate: dark and moody in appearance, but in taste, exquisitely sweet. This has never been more the case than in Ron Fortier's latest offering, "City of Lost Souls": a series of interlocking episodes that spice up the Undead Avenger's already delicious legacy. 

A large sum of the atmospheric flavor stems from the skull-faced crusader's stomping ground, Depression-era Cape Noire: the offbeat ingredients of which would give even the intemperate Gotham City a spirited run. Much the same can be said of Brother Bone's bizarre and divergent adversaries.  

In the case of "City of Lost Souls", we have Doctor Satan, a juicy homage to the mysterious, movie-serial titan of terror. He's abetted by the Bela Lugosi-based, Synthetic Man manufacturer, Professor Bugosi and his henchman, the Rondo Hatton-inspired, Waldo Danzinger: stand-outs among Fortier's rogue's gallery for reasons that any seasoned, horror fan would know. They're complemented by Harry Beest, who possesses the same percipient verve as DC's Gorilla Grodd and so many of those legendary "Planet of the Apes" antagonists. And for a little, alluring scintillation, we're treated to the sexy, parasitic Sister Blood and the beautiful Alexis Wyld, who was once the apple of Beest's eye and now desires the Undead Avenger's head. 

This eccentric blend delivers quality creeps with every page turn, with the participants being consistently classy and sophisticated in their rottenness: each molded in the tradition of those endearing villains we've met in good ol' chapter plays and B films.

Marvelous, brooding illustrations by Rob Davis bridge the exciting ensemble and accentuate its brimming weirdness; Michael Stribling delivers one helluva Satanic cover. As with all Airship 27 products, this is an outstanding package from front to back, from start to finish. 

By the time I flipped to the final page and ruminated upon this entry's intriguing intricacies, I grew wracked by a bittersweet craving: fulfilled, yes, but hungry for another nibble. The best I can do is reread (re-taste) the well-worded layers, and of course, await the Radio Archives audio edition. In any event, I'm grateful to Fortier for allowing his supernatural protagonist to prevail. The appetizing "City of Lost Souls" has proven the ideal way to achieve that oh-so-essential goal. 

"City of Lost Souls" is available for purchase in Kindle and paperback at ... https://www.amazon.com/dp/1946183369/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1521917491&sr=8-1&keywords=brother+bones%3A+city+of+lost+souls.

AIRSHIP 27 PODCAST (JAN '18): READY FOR TAKEOFF!!!

Another Airship 27 Productions podcast is set for takeoff and your listening pleasure. To say the least, it's another thrilling dandy of a New Pulp ride. 

Captain Ron Fortier and Chief Engineer Rob Davis give scoops on such iconic heroes as Captain Action; Secret Agent X; Bass Reeves; and Sherlock Holmes. And buckle your seat belts, for on the Brother Bones front, there's a soon-to-be-released role-playing game; an illustrated script of the proposed film; and a spankin' new Fortier novel!!! 

As if things couldn't get more exciting, the guys also share info on the upcoming, Moonstone revised edition of Fortier and Davis' "Faces of Fear": that great team-up featuring those dark crusaders, the Black Bat and the Purple Scar (see June '17). The new edition (slated for release through Diamond Distributors) will include a Fortier Easter-egg supplement, in addition to other swell additives!!! Wow!!!

So, climb aboard and give a hardy listen. The latest podcast transmission can be tapped at ... http://zone4podcast.com/airship27-035/.

AIRSHIP 27 PODCAST #29 (JULY '17): READY FOR TAKEOFF!!!

Captain Ron Fortier and Chief Engineer Rob Davis are back in flight with another exciting Airship 27 Podcast!!!

Episode #29 offers discussion on a number of New Pulp topics/releases, with special focus on Ron and Rob's latest collaboration from Moonstone Books...Black Bat/Purple Scar: Faces of Fear. (See my review: June '17.) The episode also contains inspiring updates on Franklin-Husser's Brother Bones movie.

Tune in for a lively hour of insightful thoughts and terrific tidbits!!!

https://www.facebook.com/zone4podcast/app/282096688512542/

REVENGE OF THE LOST--NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON PRIME!!!

For those excited about Erik Franklin and Daniel Husser's "Brother Bones--the Undead Avenger" movie, there's now a chance (via Amazon Prime) to view the creative duo's earlier, fantasy endeavor..."Revenge of the Lost"!!!

Directed by Franklin, who co-wrote with Husser, "Revenge of the Lost" is a sprawling tale set in modern times: an alternate-reality romp, that is, where dinosaurs have returned to ravage the earth. In the heart of the monstrous chaos, desperate survivalists trek to a military base, only to learn that the flesh-feasting behemoths pale in comparison to the furtive ferocity that lurks behind the scenes.

"Revenge of the Lost" takes Michael Crichton's "Jurassic Park" concept one step beyond what we find in the novels and big-budget movies, which have only ever teased fans with the prospect of an actual global, dinosaur invasion. The Franklin-Husser Entertainment LLC production is, therefore, a dream come true for those who've yearned for such a logical expansion, but the film also presents significant and realistic characterizations and set-ups, similar to what one finds in George A. Romero's acclaimed "Dead" franchise. In other words, this film isn't merely a series of dinosaur attacks, but rather an epic of imaginative, identifiable depth. 

The cast helps make the concept credible, with Franklin doing a sterling job as Ray O'Brien: a resourceful, former police officer who must maintain his sanity as the terror escalates. He's joined by Ivey Bronwen as Michelle Dixon; Erika Chang as Commander Knight; Matt White as Rico Wilder; Jerry Nash as Jeremy White; Lawrence Ratliff as Corporal North; Grace Xie as Dr. Price; and Jay G. Hill as Dr. Winston. Each plays a pivotal part in the adventure, creating convincing bridges between the well staged action sequences.We end up caring for these people, never wishing to see them perish, even if their chances for survival appear dim. 

Do yourself a favor and give this fine production a view at ... https://www.amazon.com/Revenge-Lost-Ivey-Bronwen/dp/B072MSTXDB/.

After you watch, then visit... https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/333395674/brother-bones-the-undead-avenger ... to help get the film version of Ron Fortier's Brother Bones into gear.

It would be wonderful if Franklin-Husser Entertainment could make its next excursion the first, true-blue, New Pulp movie ever made. It's not so far-fetched an idea, either, considering that these capable filmmakers have committed themselves to the honorable task. 

AIRSHIP 27 PODCAST #26 (APRIL '17): READY FOR TAKEOFF!!!

Hello, folks!  The latest Airship 27 Productions Podcast is now available for absorption at ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7zc3qjC9Do&feature=youtu.be.

Captain Ron Fortier and Chief Engineer Rob Davis again give us a cheerful hour of New Pulp fun, covering such swell topics as upcoming conventions; R.A. Jones and Davis' "Scimidar" novel; the Brother Bones movie and the character's potential comic-book series; plus commentary on Mark Barnard's dramatic reading of my novel, "Enter--the Persona!" ("The Persona, Vol. 1), from Radio Archives.  

Give a listen when you can. You'll be entertained and edified, all at the same time!!!

AIRSHIP 27 PODCAST #23 (JAN '17): READY FOR TAKEOFF!!!

The latest Airship 27 Productions Podcast (#23) has launched, with Captain Ron Fortier and Chief Engineer Rob Davis again at the helm. As with all such hour-long broadcasts, this one is jammed with in-depth scoops on current and upcoming Airship pulp-hero and action/adventure releases. Also included in this episode is a question from yours truly regarding character crossovers, plus an exciting Brother Bones movie update!!! Yippee!!!

Give a listen when you can at the Comics Podcast Network: http://comicspodcasts.com/…/airship-27-podcast-23-comanche…/ 

LEGENDS OF NEW PULP FICTION IS HERE...BIG, BOLD AND ASTOUNDING!!!

I can't praise enough the latest Airship 27 anthology from author/editor/publisher Ron Fortier. Legends of New Pulp Fiction is an incredible, jam-packed stretch of thrills, chills and action/adventure jubilation, containing 62 amazing stories, accompanied by remarkable illustrations from some of today's top pulp artists.

Both Fortier and Pro Se founder, Tommy Hancock supply entries, which beautifully represent the volume's spine-tingling fun. Fortier's stirring story, "The Hideout", features his skull-faced, undead avenger, Brother Bones; and Hancock's "The Lady Wore Vengeance" is perhaps the strangest, sensual sojourn you're ever bound to encounter. 

Proceeds for the colossal edition go to Mr. Hancock, who's been contending with CHF (congestive heart failure). He's given much to the pulp-fiction field and now needs (to paraphrase the Beatles) a little help from his friends and general admirers. Indeed, the writers and artists involved in this ambitious project have come through in a most exemplary way, and those fans wise enough to purchase Legends will be mighty pleased, if not stunned, by the gamut of creativity the volume employs.

Legends of New Pulp Fiction is available through Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/Legends-New-Pulp-Fictio…/…/ref=sr_1_1…). For anyone with a taste for wondrous worlds, intense intrigue and exotic escapism, Legends not only guarantees your satisfaction, but will exceed it a hundredfold. 

(And next on the agenda...an audio presentation of the massive edition from Tom Brown's Audio Archives: fated to be the ultimate of its kind!!! Stay tuned: more details to follow...)