Guns of The Black Bat, Issue 3, Cover Reveal

The image below was revealed earlier today on Facebook through artist Michael L. Stribling's personal page, and shared a number of times. As it should be, it's friggin' gorgeous.

I haven't seen the cover to the second issue, but the cover to the first is elsewhere on the blog. Click the "Guns of The Black Bat" label. That one displayed an entirely different group of guest star, including The Phantom Detective, The Domino Lady and I.V. Frost.

On this one, we appear to have Airboy, The Golden Amazon, The Moon Man and...someone who looks far too much like The Joker. Writer Ron Fortier named many of the characters schedule to be included in a podcast some time ago but unless that mug belongs to a character that is being totally reimagined, I have no clue who it's supposed to be. Something to look forward to.

The Dark Nemesis of Crime...Against Your Refrigerator!

We've been waiting quite a while for Moonstone's Black Bat related novels and comics to finally be available, but in the meantime the publisher has released a neat little novelty items; 2" X 3" magnets of some of their better known cover images, including to yet-to-be-released The Black Bat Returns.

Click here to be taken to the order page.

Whomever manages the Moonstone Facebook page (I suspect I know, but am not certain) states that there are more of these coming, though no timeline is provided, so hopefully that includes some of the other fine covers we've seen for Guns of The Black Bat and Danger Coast to Coast: The Black Bat and Domino Lady.

I won't order just a magnet, because shipping costs won't make it worthwhile, but if I have to order any of the books directly from Moonstone I might just treat myself. I want to not only encourage Moonstone to make more of these, but to see what other type of merchandising they might get into.

Masks 2, Issue 8 solicitation

I can't say that this series has blown my mind, but the final line of this solicitation is intriguing.

MASKS 2 #8 (OF 8)  

Writer: Cullen Bunn
Art: Eman Casallos 

FINAL ISSUE! 

The masked heroes have been cast through time and twisted into strange versions of themselves. Now, they make one last attempt to set things right... without damaging the time stream any more than they already have. The final confrontation with the Red Death will lead to the emergence of a new masked hero! 

Full color, 32 pages, $3.99

Mid-August Bullet Points

Let's get started with a loud bang.

Sanctum Books reprints now available!

Sanctum Books announced a few months back that they planned on reprinting the original Black Bat stories starting in July. They're ever-so-slightly behind schedule, but they are ready to go now.

At the printer and shipping this month: THE BLACK BAT Volume 1: "Brand of the Black Bat" & "Murder Calls the Black Bat" 

Sanctum Books presents the 1939 novels that introduced the caped crimebuster whose adventures paralleled Batman's and inspired Two-Face's origin, written by Norman A. Daniels as "G. Wayman Jones" for future BATMAN editors Mort Weisinger and Jack Schiff.

First, doomed to darkness by a murderous acid attack, D.A. Tony Quinn makes darkness his weapon with "The Brand of the Black Bat." Then, "Murder Calls the Black Bat" into a deadly war against corruption as Tony Quinn battles to prevent the biggest jewel heist of the century!

GOLDEN AGE OF COMICS BONUS: the debut of The Mask from Nedor's EXCITING COMICS #1.

This instant collector's item showcases the classic color pulp covers by Rudolph Belarski and Emery Clarke and the original interior illustrations by Harry Parkhurst, with historical commentary by Will Murray relating how a lawsuit with DC Comics was narrowly averted.

(Sanctum Books) 978-1-60877-183-7 Softcover, 7x10, 128 pages, B&W, $14.95

Not to be outdone...

Altus Books' Third Volume of the Black Bat Omnibus is about to drop!

Altus announced this volume was on its way back in early July but had not specified a date, only stating that it would be released "soon".

Turns out "soon" means Pulpfest, according to a comment on their Facebook page, and Pulpfest is this weekend in Columbus, Ohio. So presumably Volume Three will be available for mail order at the same time or shortly thereafter.

Holding to the format of the previous two volumes, it will include the seventh through ninth original Black Bat stories, being The Black Bat’s Flame Trail, The Black Bat’s Triumph and The Black Bat and the Trojan Horse.

Very much looking to adding this to the collection. Hell, I look forward to being able to add it to the right side of this page!

Onwards to a project only just now being mentioned...

Super-Powered Fiction Planning a Black Bat Novel!

This is interesting news, but no more than a brief mention so far so the book is not likely to be available for quite some time yet.

Last year, Super-Powered Fiction released an anthology called Pulpsploitation featuring several known pulp era characters re-imagined for the 80's. I only signed up for the Black Bat story specifically and I enjoyed it a great deal.

In a recent update to that project, the man behind the project, Nicholas Ahlhelm, mentioned the following:

...we will wrap up this Kickstarter and start the plans for the next wave of Pulpsploitation releases: novels starring Airboy and The Black Bat. It still hasn't been 100% set in stone that we will turn to Kickstarter for those releases, but if we do, you will be the first to know right here. 

And you will be the second right here.  :-)

I hope it's a direct sequel to the story from Pulpsploitation. I was concerned that a story taking place in the 80's (or late 70's) would be filled with ridiculous pop culture references but it was actually written respectfully and tastefully. Author Frank Byrns came up with a compelling update to the character, in my opinion and I'd like to read more about the Pulpsploitation version of the character and the offspring of the original Black Bat's entourage. Looking forward to finding out about this project.

Another Option for a Shootout

Long-time and prolific pulp writer Ron Fortier recently pointed out on his Facebook page that one of his stories was appearing in an anthology book. In doing so, he also drew attention to the fact that a previously-published Black Bat story is now available in a different publication, and in a different format.

Originally included in the 2nd issue of Redbud Studio's Airship 27 Presents: All-Star Pulp Comics (whew...mouthful...), a tale called "Shootout At The Dry Martini" is reprinted in issue number four of Wicked Awesome Tales by Wicked Wolf Comics. That book is available digitally through Comixology as of July 29th.

MONSTER VERSUS MACHINE! THE BLACK BAT STRIKES! THE STARCROSSER GETS AMBUSHED AND AN INMATE RELIVES THE WORST DAY OF HIS LIFE

I wasn't able to find out much about Wicked Wolf, but being that the majority of the stories in the WAT series appear to be written by Todd Jones (including Shootout), I suspect that it is his own publishing platform.

The art is by Lee Oaks and if you want a preview, well...Look up. The art in the banner for this blog is a panel from that story. For a letter-free look, head on over to Lee's blog.

The first issue of All-Star Pulp also included a brief Black Bat story but there is nothing to suggest that it has been, or will be, reissued by Wicked Wolf.

And speaking of All-Star Pulp, while work on a third issue continues, it looks as though The Black Bat will be shut out of this one. The following information was shared on the Redbud's own Facebook group (while I generally detest Facebook, I admit it can be handy for the purpose of staying up to date on these projects).

Heads up pulp and comic fans, we've started work on assembling Airship 27 Productions presents ALL STAR PULP COMICS volume 3. Some of the characters lined up for this issue will be Ki-Gor Jungle Lord, the Crimson Mask, the Moon Man, the Purple Scar and Sinbad the Sailor. 

Ah well. That's only "some" of the characters, not all of them, and the first two issues featured seven stories so there's some space still unaccounted for.

Death Rides The Valkyrie...Right Into Your Kindle Device!

Earlier today, author Andrew Salmon posted on a Pulp Heroes Facebook group about a recent (as in yesterday) addition to his Amazon portfolio.

On the eve of World War Two, Germany's greatest zeppelin, The Valkyrie, is on a good will tour across the US.  

But there's trouble on board and disaster on the horizon if Tony Quinn, the Black Bat, and his crew can't solve the mystery of a stolen jewel in time. 

And why did a reformed thief suddenly commit suicide? Or did he? The clock is ticking and peace hangs in the balance!  

It's murder and mayhem aboard a floating city of yesteryear. The stakes have never been higher for the Black Bat in Death Rides The Valkyrie!

Does any of that sound familiar? It should if you've read the first volume of Airship 21's Black Bat Mystery anthology as it is Mr. Salmon's contribution to that entertaining book.

There are four stories in BBM1 but you can read this one individually as a $0.99 Kindle version. The story's inclusion in BBM1 is acknowledged in the opening credits, though it refers to "an earlier version" which may mean that there are modifications to this stand alone version.

Click on that rather cool cover to blow it up. It is the work of Mike Fyles.

Masks 2, Issue 7 Solicitation

Coming in October:

Writer: Cullen Bunn
Art: Eman Casallos 

In this issue, the machinations of the Red Death have scattered the masked heroes of three eras into the time stream. Now, wildly altered versions of the heroes have reunited for one last campaign to defeat the Red Death and save all of reality.

More "alternate versions" of these characters, including a cyborg Shadow, apparently, judging from the above cover.

Have you heard of "event fatigue"? It's the term used to refer to being punch-drunk from all the line-wide storylines that the comic companies have going, such as DC's recent Convergence books and Marvel's Secret War nonsense.

I believe I have some sort of "alternate version fatigue". While I try to be open-minded to that approach from publishers, there's just a point where you want to read about the character that drew your attention and captured your imagination in the first place. Dynamite seemed poised to provide exactly that in the first volume of Masks, but have since gotten further and further from it (whereas Moonstone is doing the exact opposite, to their credit)

Of course, it may be that writer Cullen Bunn will come up with something clever for his version of The Black Bat. But his treatment of the character so far does not inspire confidence, sorry to say.

The Black Bat Returns!

Credit to First Comics News for breaking this because NO ONE else seems to have it.

Cover art: Mike Fyles 

6” x 9”, sc, 270pgs, $13.95 

The original Black Bat returns in this thrilling collection of all NEW action-crime stories! 

Read the character that was created at the SAME TIME as Batman! 

Ex-District Attorney Tony Quinn is blinded in a courtroom assault! 

He now seeks justice outside of the law as the relentless hero who can see in the dark: The Black Bat! 

Guest-starring: The Green Lama, Domino Lady, and Golden Amazon! 

Stories by Ron Fortier, Bobby Nash, Adam L. Garcia, Colin B. Harvey, Sean Taylor, James Palmer, David Boop, David White, and Josh Vogt!

The publisher is not named, and FCN uses a Dynamite banner in the announcement, but the book's logo appears to be the Moonstone logo. It seems clear that this is the anthology book that Ron Fortier has talked about a few times in recent months and that the character will be be done far more traditionally than Moonstone's earlier version. I assume this is an October solicitation.

I absolutely LOVE that cover and I need to get my hands on a bigger version. Check out some of Mike Fyles other work on his Facebook page.

Edit: Moonstone posted about it on their seldom-used Facebook group. It is actually a November solicitation, not October.

Another edit: Ron Fortier stated on Facebook that his Black Bat story involving Dr. Satan is included in this book.

The Black Bat Omnibus, Vol. 3, coming "soon" from Altus

The term "soon" has yet to be defined, but it's soon enough that Altus Press was comfortable enough to mention it on their Facebook page this past weekend.

I'm actually most curious about the first story, The Black Bat's Flame Trail. It is the seventh Black Bat story overall but the first to not be written by Norman A. Daniels.

Rather, the story is credited to Whitney Ellsworth and what makes that interesting is that Ellsworth worked on Batman for DC Comics at around the same time as he was involved with The Black Bat. The Black Bat Companion includes a quote from Bill Finger in which he states that "through Ellsworth's intervention, a lawsuit was avoided" between DC Comics and Black Book Detective publisher Better Publications.

My understanding it that there are glaring differences and errors in Flame Trail, particularly involving the supporting cast, that make it glaring that Daniels did not write the story.

But even if Ellsworth has contributed only one Black Bat story out of the 60+ that appeared in Black Book Detective, and that story feels awkward in the collection, he may have had a major impact on the character "behind the scenes". So I'm eager to see his "in print" contribution first-hand.

Also, Altus has been slow to release these Omnibus volumes in the past. Let's hope that this signals the start of a little run. Volume two was released in April 2013, three years after the first volume. Maybe the gap between releases is narrowing, finally.

Masks 2, Issue 6 solicitation

Writer: Cullen Bunn
Art: Eman Casallos 

Cast though the time stream, the masked heroes of three different eras find themselves face to face with the sinister forces that spawned the Red Death… the menace who has laid waste to the world! 

But wild adventures through time have brought about amazing… and sometimes horrific… changes in the Shadow, Green Hornet, Black Sparrow, and the others. In order to set things right, the league of heroes–(as) you’ve NEVER seen them before–must band together in hopes of saving all of reality.