Black Bat Merchandise From Doctor Multiverse

A Twitter search earlier today revealed the delightful Black Bat products below, among others, available for purchase from Teepublic. The design is the work of one Doctor Multiverse.

I need another coffee mug like I need another bout of Athlete's Foot but I could not resist this. The good Doctor also has a Black Cat / Miss Fury design which can be applied to various items if they're more to your liking.

Let's Look In On Miss Fury

This blog initially split its attention between the Black Bat and Miss Fury around the time that Dynamite Entertainment was preparing to release series about each character. When news and material involving Miss Fury dried up, the blog was made Black Bat-specific.

Perhaps it was inevitable that the situation would one day reverse itself. While there are a few projects involving the Black Bat on the horizon, we're pretty much in a holding pattern for the time being. Miss Fury is recapturing some of her spotlight, however.

Dynamite Entertainment announced in July that they will be publishing a third volume featuring the character. The first issue should be available on October 3rd.

The debut issue marking the return of one of the most influential characters in Comics History comes this October with "Miss Fury - Joy Division."  

Multi-Eisner nominee Billy Tucci (Shi, Sgt. Rock) and rising star Emma Kubert recapture the legend of the original "Cat Woman" Marla Drake and her army of "Black Furies" that take readers from the warring skies above NYC and into the heart of Hitler's Third Reich in spirit of an all-female "Inglourious Basterds."

The above cover is by Ken Lashley is one of several variants, in standard Dynamite fashion.

I may be more interested in a smaller publisher's offering, mind you. Miss Fury will appear in a book called Sleuth Comics by Atomic Pulp. The series will focus (at least initially) on another public domain character named The Black Owl.

Ooh, so close...Miss Fury will show up at least in the second issue. She shared the "regular" cover with the lead character but a variant was revealed on which she is the main focus.

Ain't that pretty?

I actually hadn't realized that Atomic Pulp had already published a couple of books. I thought they were strictly webcomics at this point with plans to kickstart their way into publishing in the future.

As a (small, granted) gesture of support today, I purchased digital copies of two of their titles; Perils On Planet X and Femme Noir.

Looks like something I can get into...As for Sleuth Comics, I believe the plan is for that title to appear some time next year so hopefully Dynamite satisfies our Miss Fury appetite in the meantime. Here's a  glimpse at what else Atomic pulp has in store for us for 2019.

Get your Atomic Pulp news here while we wait. 

And Still More Updates On Black Bat Projects From Lucky Comics

Only a few days after sharing posting news about upcoming Black Bat projects from Lucky Comics, additional update were posted on the publisher's own blog. I copy those below, with more than a little anticipation and giddiness.

Lou Mougin has ramped up his Black Bat scripting (to include) several 1932 adventures and has plans to continue his Eliot Ness/Black Bat trilogy as the two work through their tumultuous relationship.  

Lou has another Pulp Legends tales in mind as he continues to expands The Black Bat Golden Age Universe at Lucky Comics.

Publisher John  Michael Helmer has scripted three Black Bat stories: Black Bat vs. Houdini and Black Bat vs. the Pearl Thief are some of the notables. He's also produced "Fantom Face #1" and the "Masked Angel #1" which occur in the Black Bat universe of the 1930's.  

Look for a team-up book consisting of Black Bat, Miss Fury, Masked Angel and Fantom Face in the spring of 2018.

Lots to look forward to there. Miss Fury used to be a co-star on this blog but got bumped when her material dried up and, frankly, I became more interested in The Black Bat both past and current.  She's not new to Lucky Comics though. She appeared in an issue of Girl Commandos.

Fantom Face and Masked Angel, to the best of my knowledge, are new characters or based on public domain character but renamed. My guess is the former. Either way, the notion of a Black Bat "universe" with a set continuity, recurring villains and fellow crime fighters is welcomed.

Coming Later This Month: Black Bat Tales #2!

The first issue of Black Bat Tales from Lucky Comics came out late last summer and the second is now close enough to release that the publisher is comfortable with promoting it on social media.

The original plan was for this issue to feature a short story (prose) by Lou Mougin. That has since changed and we are getting another comics story while Mougin's tale is being saved for a book called Pulp Legends. Presumably we are getting the 1930s version as opposed to the current-day Bat character that guest-starred in Lucky's Beetle Girl title recently.

Speaking of Beetle Girl, some time back Lucky Comics announced a book called Girl Commandos which would team that character with Flame Girl and Miss Fury. That book should come out at around the same time as BBT2 and its cover was recently revealed as well. Looks sharp.

The Black Bat's appearance in Beetle Girl was drawn by one Saulo Silva. I stumbled into Mr. Silva's Facebook page this weekend and found the sketch below which teams The Bat and Beetle Girl with, I believe, a Brazilian superhero.

At first glance, I couldn't help but wonder if Lucky hadn't created its own "trinity" to match DC's Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman team. I guess we'll find out before too long if Lucky Comics has something along those lines brewing.

Digital and print versions of the Lucky line of comics are available from Indyplanet.

The Beetle and The Bat

November should bring us the second issue of Lucky Comics' Black Bat Tales but I recently found out that The Masked Nemesis of Crime will also make a guest-appearance in one of the publisher's other books.

Lucky Comics has several irons in the fire but Beetle Girl is arguably its flagship book and character with five issues available as I write this. The above image is the cover to a compilation of issues one through ten and is expected to be available in March. Furthermore, she will be one of the main character in an all-female team book coming soon (December?) which will include this blog's former co-star, Miss Fury.

While promoting the book on Facebook, publisher John Helmer mentioned that issue number seven will feature "BG vs Black Bat".  So we have that to look forward to.

And who is this Beetle Girl? The following bio is provided inside the front cover.

There you have it. Her current issues, and number seven once it is available, can be downloaded from drivethrucomics. Print versions coming soon.

Hey, Look Who's Back!

For the first time in quite a while, Dynamite Entertainment solicitations actually look like the Dynamite Entertainment that I enjoyed so much a few years ago. No knock on whomever happens to enjoy books about Grumpy Cat and Bob's Burgers but it ain't my deal and it certainly is not what I'd grown to expect from Dynamite.

Today felt more like "old times" though when I stumbled into the following among Dynamite's upcoming books for April:

MISS FURY VOL. 2 #1 (OF 6)
(W) Corinna Bechko (A) Jonathan Lau
(CA) Tula Lotay, Jonathan Lau 

The Golden Age heroine returns! New York during the Second World War is a place of mystery and intrigue, but with all our boys fighting in Europe, who will stand up to the forces of darkness at home? 

Miss Fury is ready to step into the breach, but even she doesn’t understand the shadow she carries within herself. Is it a force of good or of evil? And can she learn to control it in time to stop the deadly attack that threatens to destroy the Big Apple?

I didn't expect to see this blog's former co-star any time soon, unless it was in a team-up book similar to Noir or Masks. It raises hope that Dynamite may, one day, give The Black Bat another try. 

Masks 2, Issue 3 solicitation

Issue one drops on April 1st! No foolin'!

MASKS 2 #3 (OF 8)
Writer: Cullen Bunn
Art: Eman Casallos
Peter Cannon AKA Thunderbolt smashes his way into the struggle against the Red Death! The mysterious villain has plagued the heroes of three different timelines. Her scheming is even more dangerous than anyone could possibly guess, but now the adventures of the masked heroes of the last 80 years are coming together in a way no one could possibly imagine!

Oh dear. Is that The Black Bat on the right? Certainly looks like his kind of scene.

While looking for information about this issue, I happened across a cover to the previous one that I had not seen earlier. I include it below because it features another pulp era favourite of mine, Miss Fury.

Can't wait for this series to start, even if BB's contribution seems limited.

Masks 2 from Dynamite coming in April!

I came across this annoucement on First Comics News earlier today on my way to work and have been dying to give it a longer look. Here's an abbreviated version of the release, including a variant cover featuring our former cover girl.

Mt. Laurel, NJ: Dynamite Entertainment is proud to announce the full creative team for Masks 2, the eagerly anticipated sequel to 2012-2013’s pulp hero extravaganza, Masks.

Artist Eman Cassalos (Alice Cooper) joins fan-favorite writer Cullen Bunn (Deadpool) in an epic comic book event uniting such diverse pulp characters as The Shadow, Peter Cannon: Thunderbolt, Lady Satan, Black Terror, Green Hornet, Zorro, and more.

Slated for release in April 2015, Masks 2 will feature cover artwork by a selection of the industry’s most celebrated artists, including Butch Guice, Jae Lee, Gabriel Hardman, Colton Worley, Sean Chen, and Robert Hack.

...Masks 2 promises to expand the scope dramatically beyond even what the first series presented, while simultaneously serving as an entry point for new, curious readers.

“I’m introducing a new villain called the Red Death who is plaguing the heroes in three different time periods,” says Bunn. “Again and again, she resurfaces, in the ’30s, the ’70s, and the present day. Her agenda is a bit of a mystery… but our heroes will start to see just how dangerous the Red Death can be. Her machinations definitely have the potential to bring all of civilization to ruin.”

The complete Masks 2 roster of pulp heroes, gathered from different periods in time, includes: The Shadow, Green Hornet, Kato, Black Terror, The Spider, Green Lama, Lady Satan, Black Sparrow, Miss Fury, Peter Cannon: Thunderbolt, Black Bat, and Zorro. However, readers should expect the unexpected when dealing with these characters. Bunn says, “We’re working with a cast of existing and new characters who span three different timelines. For some characters, like the Green Hornet, we’ll be seeing multiple versions of those characters. We might even be seeing those various versions of those characters interacting with each other! So, the Green Hornet and Kato of the 30s will be meeting their modern day counterparts face-to-face. It’s a very ambitious, wild story. There were moments where, in the middle of writing this beast, I wondered if I’d bitten off way more than I could chew. But it’s come together, and I’m really excited for readers to dig in.”

Interesting take indeed. Full release here.

Specific to the The Black Bat, Dynamite indeed has two versions of the character; the one from the first volume of Masks and the modern-day version that had a 12-issue series between 2013 and 2014. I didn't finish that series (waiting for the Omnibus) so I don't know if he even lived through the end. Even if he did, that Black Bat seemed to be in his own setting (one without characters like The Shadow and The Spider around) so I doubt he would be brought in to Masks 2.

No sense worrying about it too much because it doesn't appear as though The Black Bat will be featured player this time around either. Clicking on the link above to view the release will display some of the covers and interior art, all of which is rather Bat-deficient. If not for his name appearing in the text, you'd be hard-pressed to know that he's included at all. On the cover below, if you squint enough, you can see him in a frame behind the logo. Hooray!!

Still going in with an open mind though. While his part was small in the first volume, he made a good team with Zorro and had an idealogical clash with The Shadow that I was hoping would lead to more. With a different writer involved, I doubt that point will be revisited but I'm eager to see what Bunn does to make him stand out.

Miss Fury by "Slangmead" on deviantart

The Black Bat has received most of the attention on this page in recent weeks for the simple reason that there is more activity based around him of late, but I'm still hopeful that we'll get good Miss Fury news soon.  In the meantime, let's enjoy the art work below from Stephen Langmead.

Float on over to his page to check out more of his work. The guy is ridiculously talented.

New Black Bat Material on the Way: Possibly, Eventually and Literally.

After a quiet spell, there has been a bit of news on the Black Bat / Miss Fury front in the last day or two.

Let's start with "possibly", because it's arguably the biggest one. It's not a huge surprise, but it was kind of a long time coming.

Dynamite Entertainment is proud to announce that comic book writer Cullen Bunn (Deadpool, Magneto) will tackle their wide cast of company-owned and licensed pulp heroes in Masks II. Following upon the success of the bestselling 2012 Masks miniseries, Masks II will unite iconic crime-fighters of singular purpose (if not diverse ideologies and techniques) in an epic miniseries event designed to appeal to both longtime fans and fresh newcomers. Dynamite plans to launch Masks II in late 2014. 

"I couldn't be more excited to be working on Masks II," says Bunn. "I've always loved these great classic characters that I will have the privilege of working with, and I'm striving to keep the tone of the pulps that have always been a big inspiration for me. I'll admit, this project is a little intimidating, because I've put together a very ambitious team-up story that readers will have to see to believe!" 

The original Masks series launched in 2012 with industry fanfare, with its #1 issue ranking among the bestselling independent comic books of the year and selling over 70,000 copies. Drawn to the premise by the work of superstar painter Alex Ross, writer Chris Roberson, and artist Dennis Calero, readers thrilled to an adventure that united classic characters like The Shadow, The Spider, The Green Hornet, and Kato against a cadre of corrupt politicians and their fascist police state. Masks II promises to follow the themes established within that first series, but in a way that's perfect for new readers. 

The presence of The Black Bat or Miss Fury's is not guaranteed but you'd think at least the latter would be included.  Neither character had a huge role in the first volume, but Fury has appeared in the Noir mini and had a digital-first mini in addition to her own book.  She seems to have Dynamite's support.

Over to "eventually".  The following wall message appeared on the Black Bat Facebook page yesterday.

Some very exciting Black Bat news on the way, BB fans. Stay tuned.

That page tends to focus on the work done by Airship 27 and Moonstone Books.  We already know about The Black Bat's team up with Domino Lady being prepared for Moonstone.  My guess then (and that's all it is) is that there'll be either a 3rd edition of Black Bat Mystery (and being that the first two are among Airship 27's best sellers, it's kind of a no-brainer) or a comic book specific to him from Redbud Studio.

Which leads me to "literally".  I ordered both volumes of Airship 27 / RedBud Studio' All Star Pulp Comics from IndyPlanet yesterday.  As mentioned in an earlier post, each book has a healthy page count (58 for volume one, 64 for volume two) but also feature several characters from the pulp era.  So the Black Bat content might be kind of light, but I'll enjoy the other stories and save the Bat for last.

I'll display a page or two from those books when they arrive, and I'll gleefully share the news referred to on Facebook when it's made public.  Looking forward to being able to do both!

Miss Masque vs Miss Fury by John Chalos

Some fun stuff here, lifted from John Chalos' deviant art page.  Make sure to view the full-sized version.

This story is two pages in black and white featuring three characters in the public domain (Miss Masque, Miss Fury, Fighting Yank) and a group of 1940s era Nazi collaborators. I wrote, penciled, inked and hand lettered it. It was published this month in the Public Domain volume of The Gathering by Gray Haven Comics. 

Super-Team Family Presents #713: Batman and Miss Fury

If you read either of my other two blogs, you're aware of a another with which I have nothing to do but that I enjoy a great deal; braveandboldlost.blogspot.ca.

The blog's premise, as explained on its banner, is quite simple. Ross Pearsall creates mock covers of superhero team-ups that are highly unlikely to ever happen (since the characters involved are from different publishers) but that would be extremely cool nonetheless. Miss Fury was featured on one such cover manipulation recently.

Well done, eh?  If you're any kind of comic book fan, take a look through Pearsall's portfolio.  His blog's a blast.

Dynamite Entertainment's May 2014 Bat/Fury solicitations

So obvious even a blind man could see it (see what I did there?), Dynamite ends their Black Bat book at issue #12 in May.

Writer: Brian Buccellato
Art: Ronan Cliquet 

FINAL ISSUE! In the final chapter to this story, the Black Bat is confronted by the unforeseen consequences of his vigilante quest for redemption. He comes face to face with the shadowy villain that has been pulling all of the strings, and must decide how far he is willing to go to save the city.

So who knows if we'll see this version of the character again.  Dynamite CEO/Publisher Nick Barrucci did hint, on the company's message board, at an announcement by the end of February but nothing ever came of that.  In recent months, Dynamite had done a good job of including some of their less-popular characters in limited series with more popular ones, but they seem so focused on the Gold Key and Chaos universes of late that there's little cause to be optimistic about the Bat (or for that matter, Miss Fury) getting that sort of treatment.

Speaking of minis, the Noir trade paperback is also available in May.  I haven't finished the series yet, but I am enjoying it, though the art is a little rough in spots and Miss Fury only shows up at the end of the first book.  Still, interesting story.

On the flip side, I've finished the first volume of Black Bat Mystery from Airship 27 and will definitely be getting the second before long.  More on that later.

Noir #5 early Solicitation

The solicitation below was among the "first look" at Dynamite's upcoming books for March 2014.  It appeared on comicvine.com.

Writer: Victor Gischler
Artist: Andrea Mutti

FINAL ISSUE! Lost in the labyrinth of the Templars and separated from the others, Miss Fury must outwit the demented Minerva and the Mohawk Akash. Meanwhile, The Black Sparrow has problems of her own. The sadistic Orlando has overdosed on Dr. Ravels super serum and he's out for blood. And just what is the lost treasure of the Templars that the Mohawks guard so jealously? Find out in the exciting conclusion of NOIR!

With the regular Miss Fury series coming to an end in February, it's easy to get the sense that this may be the last we see of this character for a while.  However, writer Victor Gischler made an interesting comment during an interview recently when asked about his dream line-up for Noir.

VG: I don't really know what the plans are beyond this first arc. But the real dream for a book like this is that the line-up could always be changing. Sparrow and Miss Fury this time ... maybe Miss Fury and Green Hornet next time. Or The Back Sparrow and Doc Savage. You could crack open a beer and daydream about the possibilities all day.

Sure could. I don't expect additional volumes of Noir, but there's nothing to suggest that a similar limited series could not appear in the future.  Dynamite has apparently developed a strategy along the lines of late, and Miss Fury's time-hopping aspect may make it easier to include her in any number of books.  So here's hoping.

Noir #4 Solicitation

The bulk of Dynamite's February solicitations were revealed about two weeks ago but the fourth issue of the Noir mini series, which features Miss Fury, did not appear among them.

This surprised me a bit, but the Black Bat book did skip a month recently.  Dynamite has a history of falling behind with books, so I assumed that they were trying to avoid to promote a book they knew full well they would not be able to produce on time, for whatever reason.

The publisher has finally updated its website to include the solicitations and Noir #4 does appear among them.  So maybe they just didn't submit it to news outlets earlier in the month.  Regardless, it's there now and presumably will be available on time.  There was also an alternative cover to Black Bat #9 revealed, which I've displayed at the bottom of this post.

NOIR #4 (of 5)
Writer: Victor Gischler
Art: Andrea Mutti

In the Labyrinth of the Templars, The Black Sparrow and Miss Fury follow the deranged villains Orlando and Minerva on a trail of a lost treasure. Along the way, they dodge traps and pitfalls and learn of the Templar connection to the Mohawk Tribe. Will the ladies be forced to join forces with the bad guys to attain their goal, or will one stab the other in the back at the first opportunity. Blazing guns, snapping bullwhips and the looming shroud of betrayal await you in the next issue of Noir.

Dynamite Entertainment's Bat/Fury February 2014 Solicitations

And they come with disappointing news.

MISS FURY #11
Writer: Rob Williams
Art: Jack Herbert

FINAL ISSUE! With Miss Fury now allied with US Naval Intelligence she is parachuted into wartime Europe in order to track down Schauburger's laboratory in Germany. Can she find her kidnapped lover, Captain Chandler, there? And who is attacking Schauburger during his garbled ghostly messages? Nazi forces are everywhere but a war can be fought on many fronts, as Miss Fury is about to discover...

The BLACK BAT #9
Writer: Brian Buccellato
Art: Ronan Cliquet

To save Carol Baldwin's life, the Black Bat must do the unthinkable and break his most hated enemy out of prison. But will doing so cement his status as an outlaw? Also, the police start to lose their grip on the city as vigilantism takes hold with disastrous results.

These two items are from an "exclusive first look" at the solicitations that Comic Vine posted.  The fourth issue of Noir should also come out that month, but it was not included in the first look.  When its solicitation is available, I'll add it here.

And so ends the Miss Fury series, unfortunately.

Now historically Dynamite would tend to forget about characters that did not sell well for them.  Of late they've improved on that level though.  They have restored their 1940's version of the Green Hornet, for example, and have included some of their character in other books, much like they did for both The Black Bat and Miss Fury in Masks (and Fury in Noir).  So it's not necessarily the end for our leading lady.

And quite frankly, I believe The Black Bat is headed for a similar fate.  Brian Buccellato's current story ends at #12 and the book isn't a top seller for the company.  As best as I could determine, it was about in the middle of the pack in  terms of sales, but several of the books that sold similar amounts are now cancelled, including Vampirella, Jennifer Blood and Green Hornet: Legacy.  The positive side of that is that those titles all had 30 plus issues published, so perhaps there's hope.

Dynamite Entertainment's Bat/Fury January Solicitations

Dynamite was so late announcing their December solicitations that it feels I just got around to posting those.  Let's have a look at what we can now expect from them in the new year.

THE BLACK BAT #8
Writer: Brian Buccellato
Art:Ronan Cliquet
The fallout from recent events changes the dynamic between Carol, the Black Bat, and the shadow organization behind his creation. Black Bat wrestles with the choices he has made, and how far he is willing to go to get justice. Are the strings attached to his redemption worth the price?

MISS FURY #10
Writer: Rob Williams
Art: Marcio Abreu
PHILADELPHIA 2 of 2. Miss Fury's search for the missing Captain Chandler continues, and US Naval Intelligence are willing to give her the top secret location of Schauburger's laboratory in Nazi Germany, but first she has to do something for them. A deal with the New York underworld to keep the docks safe from saboteurs and Axis agents has become a deal with the devil, as a new murderous costumed crazy has appeared calling himself The Mob. Miss Fury will have to return to her pulp roots in order to take down a super-villain who is all about respect...

NOIR #3 (OF 5)
Writer: Victor Gischler
Art: Andrea Mutti
The unlikely team of The Black Sparrow and Miss Fury strong arm the Mohawk Akash into revealing a map they hope will lead them to the lost treasure of the Templars. But is the map actually worthless without the rune codes? Their quest takes them deep into the wilderness and to an ancient place that's been locked away for centuries. Danger and betrayal lurk around every corner.

These solicitations were revealed by Newsarama earlier today but they are likely incomplete as they do not include other standards like Vampirella, Red Sonja, etc. It's possible (but doubtful) that either Black Bat or Fury appear in other books in January so we'll keep an ear to the ground.

Sensational Sundays 1941-1944

This came out last week, but I only found out about it today.

Eisner Award-nominee for BEST ARCHIVAL COLLECTION!

Reprinting every Miss Fury Sunday page from the beginning in April 1941 through April 1944 (where IDW's companion volume picks up), we learn the origins of Miss Fury and her skin-tight panther costume - complete with its sharp claws on her hands and her feet!

By day, she was socialite Marla Drake - by night, the costumed adventuress Miss Fury. These early exploits introduce all of the memorable characters who remained in the strip for the rest of the decade: the one-armed General Bruno, the Baroness Erica Von Kampf (with a swastika branded on her forehead), Albino Jo, and the all-American Gary Hale and Detective Carey, who each vies for Marla's affections. The stories range from downright kinky to all-out action against Nazis, spies, cuthroats, and thieves.

Edited by Trina Robbins and designed by Lorraine Turner.

The "companion" volume had a release date of June 2011 and reprints material from 1944 to 1949.  I have no idea why it came out two years earlier when it contains the latter material, but presumably there's a good reason.

I've read reviews that state that the current Dynamite Entertainment Miss Fury series is nothing like the original version.  That may be so, but I can see why writer Rob Williams felt comfortable with including a healthy dose of wackiness.  Albino Jo indeed.

Dynamite Entertainment's Bat/Fury December solicitations

There hasn't been much Black Bat activity of late.  Dynamite's November solicitations did not include that book's seventh issue, which caused me to fear that the book had been canned early.  Apparently that's not the case; #7 is now planned for December.  Here it is, along with the Miss Fury books.

The Black Bat #7
Writer: Brian Buccellato
Art: Ronan Cliquet

The city government tries to pick up the pieces following the tragic climax of the police kidnappings. Looking to assess blame, the District Attorney sets his sights on The Black Bat. And as Carol faces the repercussions of her actions, she turns to Tony Quinn for help.

Miss Fury #9
Writer: Rob Williams
Art: Marcio Abreu

PHILADELPHIA 1 of 2. With Miss Fury now working undercover as The Pharaoh of Time's chief assassin, she is sent to a Philadelphia shipyard to murder a nuclear physicist who could become a time travel threat. But that physicist is working on The Philadelphia Experiment!

In the battle that follows, Miss Fury and the crew of the USS Eldridge find themselves thrown through time... into a naval battle unlike any seen before. Can Miss Fury save the scientific mind that could finally end the time war?

Noir #2
Writer: Victor Gischler
Art: Andrea Mutti

The Black Sparrow and Miss Fury are a team-up that makes Thelma & Louise look like a couple of girl scouts selling cookies. They've got wind of a long-hidden, secret Templar treasure, but they need the man with the clues to help them find it. That man just happens to be under police guard and unconscious in a Newport hospital, a Mowhawk Indian with a past. The ladies decide to break him out of the hospital, and they don't go about it gently.

Dynamite isn't the only producer of Black Bat material.  It's slow coming, but from time to time, Excelsior Webcomics adds a page to its ongoing story.  It is currently up to page 14 as a I write this.

Dynamite Entertainment's Miss Fury November 2013 solicitations

Had a bit of a scare here.  I found a large list of Dynamite solicitations for November and Black Bat wasn't on it.

Sales for the book do not appear to be strong, but according to writer Brian Buccelato, he had signed on for 12 issues.  I was concerned that the book was either ending prematurely, or falling behind schedule, something that has plagued Dynamite books a number of times in the past.  However, the actual answer for his absence is quite simple; the list I have found is incomplete.  So when the solicitation(s) for The Black Bat are revealed, I'll have a post specific to that.

In the meantime, let's see what's in store (pun intended) for Miss Fury.

Miss Fury #8
Story: Rob Williams
Art: Marcio Abreu

The Pharaoh of Time is alive and he and his enormous mothership have come to 1943's New York City for Miss Fury. But which one will he find? The immoral murderer with the samurai sword, the titanic stash of grenades and the epic love of debauchery or the Miss Fury who is lost in time, grasping for a sense of sanity and for the good inside her? It's a metaphysical battle played out with martial arts as two futures of our hero fight for supremacy, and only one Miss Fury is getting out alive.

And here's an unexpected treat...

Noir #1
Story: Victor Gischler
Art: Andrea Mutti

Prelude to Miss Fury! When thieves steal from other thieves it always causes problems, doesn't it?  So when The Black Sparrow is hired to steal a mysterious "Moon Stone" from a museum in New York, her decision to keep the thing for a better payday annoys her former employers who then steal it back from her.  Now it's The Black Sparrow who is annoyed, and that's a dangerous thing.  All she wants is what she stole fair and square, but she needs help.  She needs The Shadow!

The first volume of the Miss Fury series also comes out in November. Entitled "Anger is Energy", it checks in at a healthy 144 pages.