Just call me "storyteller"

I was first published in 1981. An article I wrote about Steve Ditko's Spider-Man which appeared in issue #5 of Amazing Heroes. My second professional published  article appeared in Marvel Preview, also in 1981. My first professionally published piece of fiction appeared in a Marvel Year in Review in the late 1980s/early 1990s (it was a short essay about either an imagined origin to the X-Men or the Avengers — I forget which as my writing partner (John A. Wilcox) and I submitted both but the editor only used one). 

(Prior to both of these, I had actually been previously been published in the newsletter (both fiction and non-fiction) from my local library, where I was working at the time.)

My first solo fiction piece was a comicbook entitled Agent Unknown which was published by Renegade Press in 1987. That particular comic lasted three of the six planned issues (the B&W implosion of the late ‘80s killed it). it wasn't until 2006 that I once again had a piece of fiction of mine published, this time in the comicbook series, Psychosis (Guild Works Productions). 

In between that first published article in Amazing Heroes and the publication of Agent Unknown (Renegade Press). I had literally hundreds of articles published. since then I have had hundreds more published, as well as a few books, and, well a handful of fiction short stories (both illustrated and prose. 

As I pen this piece, it is the beginning of March, 2022, and already I have had an article and three fiction pieces published online. An Illustrated story and a prose piece both slated for publication, as well as written a script for a second illustrated piece. I have more stories and articles in me, and I haven't slowed down. 

The best is yet to come. 

Comicbooks published by my friends

Back in October, when I was attending the New York Comic Con I acquired several comics, some of them were produced by some very good friends of mine. I'm just now getting around to posting about it (sorry guys, life sometimes gets in the way).

In No particular order, here they are:

Andrea Grant’s Minx is continuing the tale of a a woman who walks the in-between spaces between the “real” world and the dreamscape that is just a shadow and a whisper beyond the veil of what we see.

By her own admission, Andrea has been working this comic for some 10 years, and has, over the past few years, issued a number of iterations of this comic as it has evolved. It is lyrical, engaging, and totally original. Andrea is a wonderful renascence talent that simply commands the space around her.

Check out her comic, you will be amazed.

A second comic that deserves your attention is Hell’s Blood #3, by Hector Rodriguez, and published by Guild Works Production.

Hector is just another average teen living in a small town in Massachusetts, However his whole life changes one day when his grandmother dies and he himself is relentlessly pursued by horrific monsters that are generally only seen in our nightmares. Soon, Hector finds himself fighting for his very life against an army of hell-spawned creatures that are led by a magma-spitting, fire-haired werewolf who threatens to bring about man's darkest fear to a terrible reality the return to Earth the demon known as Olosi (Satan) himself!

Hector is not only the artist who illustrated this powerful story but the storyteller himself. This issue (as was issue #2) was scripted by Chris Buchner. As each issue has been published, you can not only see the improvements to Hector’s art, but the story itself grows and deepens as we are drawn further and further into the world of Hell’s Blood.

In addition to this issue (and the first two), GWP has issued a combined copy of both of the first two issues in a single package. We strongly urge you all to pick up all iterations.

All of which brings us to a pair of stellar comics from our very good friends over at Atlas Unleashed. The Adversary #3 (by the incomparable Jim Webb) and Crimson Rose by Mark Mazz, Grey Williamson, and N. Steven Harris.

Webb’s Adversary which continues the story of a demoness who has managed to overthrow the reigns of her demonic lord and master (Beelzebub). These days she fights the demons she used to serve. While serving the minions of Hell she was one of its top warriors, now  she battles on the side of Heaven.

In this second issue she goes up against a demon named Belial who has possessed  a fallen priest, in order to lure Adversary out in the open in order to kill her. Only, things don’t go quite the way Belial (or Adversary) planned. It is a fun book to read, and this chapter delves deeper into the character of Adversary.  Jim is a delightful storyteller, making this book a Must Buy for readers.

Next up from Atlas Unleashed, is a preview con book entitled Crimson Rose. The comic that AU presented at NYCC is a fully-rendered penciled version of the comic without dialogue. While this may sound like “not quite” a comicbook, don’t think like that. Grey’s fully-detailed pencils are powerful and are fully-capable of telling a story without the need of dialogue.

Further, by presenting the pencils in this fashion, AU has given us the unique opportunity to see how intense and through Grey’s pencils actually are. Plus it certainly whets our appetite for the completed package.

Personally, we can hardly wait.

Also of note for this issue is the powerful cover by our good friend Chris Torris. We have to admit a personal bias towards Chris’s work as he was the penciler for our own relaunch of our own comic, Agent Unknown (Renegade Press) — the first story of which appeared in CAG #7, and the follow up is slated to appear under the AU umbrella. Any way, Crimson Rose looks like a very interesting book, and we are looking forward to the full version.

well, these were just a few of the comics we acquired at NYCC, and over the next several weeks as we approcah the end of the year, we will be posting about the other, so stay tuned.

Hell's Blood is here!

I just wanted to shout from the rooftops that the second issue of my good buddy, Hector Rodriguez’s comic, Hell’s Blood, has come out from Guild Works Productions. Now I want to say right off the bat that I really like Hector, and I was looking forward to this comic for quite a time, and have long been associated with both Hector (Through CAG) and with GWP, so it should be no surprise that I’m pimping his book in my space here.

Still, I want you all to know that Hector is a phenomenal artist, and if you want to experience some truly outstanding art, you need to acquire a copy of this issue. I was very impressed with the first issue (copies of which are still available), so needless to say, Hector has not disappointed with this follow-up issue.

The Story (penned by Chris Buchner and Liam Webb) picks up from where last issue left off and pits young Hector (the main character, not the esteemed Mr. Rodriguez) against all the demons of Hell (or so it seems). As expected, an all-out knock-down brawl occurs. To find out more, you’ll need to acquire a copy for yourself.

Remember, that’s Hells’ Blood from GWP

* * * * UPDATE * * * * * UPDATE * * * * * UPDATE * * * *

I just learned that Hector was also interviewed on Jazma online, you can read that interview here where he talks more about Hell’s Blood.

Hey look! I’m on TV!

So, this is a little bit dated, but it just popped up on my radar, and I was so tickled by it that, well, I just had to post it.



Anyway, like I said, GWP is so last year, right now Mark and I are involved in Mark’s new venture, Atlas Unleashed. We are building a new publishing paradigm, and right now are gathering creators and material to publish.

There will be more info as we are ready to talk about it, but let me leave you with this: We brought Psychosis! over with us, and are preparing to launch a Sci-Fi mag, and a number of creator-owned titles, including my own Agent Unknown, and Wülf Girlz.

Putting the Bite on Vampires.

One of the comics that I managed to get my hands on recently was Am I Immortal by Shawntie Therrien (published by Free Lunch Comics). This comic continues the story that Shawntie began back in Psychosis! #1. To be sure, this isn’t so much the same story, as it deals with the same characters, themes, and universe. Shawntie you see has something of a crush on Vampires. (Can’t say that I blame her as I have been feeling the same way about Werewülves these days, but that’s an entirely different post. Today, we’re talking about Shawntie.

Over in Psychosis! her stories deal with Meth, while Am I Immortal follows Cain, the other player in her undead opera. Shawntie’s style of storytelling (as I’ve seen in Psychosis!) has tended to be a series of full-page illustrations accompanied by text. with this installment she has chosen to deliver her story in a more traditional manner (panel art with word balloons) . I have to say that I enjoy both, and she is equally adept in both styles. In her Meth stories, we have heard of Cain, but never met him, now (at last) we are meeting this tragic character.

Shawntie brings us right into the story, causing us to care about Cain, even though we don’t know who he is. Her art is very stylistic, drawing us in and washing over us as we move further into her story. This is not your typical vampires, nor is it the weepy, angst-filled vampire-lite crap from Twilight this is a whole world of mystery, lore, and creatures who walk in the night.

I strongly urge you all to head over to the Free Lunch Site and order one of your own (You might want also go to the Guild Works Productions site and pick up the first three issues of Psychosis! as well.

It’s Good to be Published

Well, if you have been stopping by here any time recently you just might have noticed that there are some subtle changes in the framework of my Blogspace. As I’ve mentioned, I have a couple of new short stories that have been recently published. Both Psychosis! #3 and CAG #7 are due out this month, and both contain stories of mine in them.

The first, Psychosis! #3 contains the long-awaited follow-up story (a prequel, actually) to my story Never Judge a Book... (Psychosis! #1). I would tell you more about this little tale, only that will give away too much of it. Suffice it to say that it is once again lovingly rendered by Matt C. Ryan.

The second story has been even longer in a holding pattern (if you can believe it). It is a continuation of my legendary Renegade Press espionage thriller series, Agent Unknown. This particular story is a new tale of two new agents from the same top-secret intelligent organization. This series is set squarely in the present day, and has a much harder edge to it. It is painted by Chris Torres, and you really have to see it to believe how striking it is on the page.

I seriously have waited a very long time for both of these comics to hit, and this is really only the beginning, as I have more stuff waiting in the wings. Both comics will be available at the CAG & GWP tables at the NY Comic Con 2008 If you are in the neighborhood of the Javitz Center on April 18–20, stop by and say hello!

(Oh, in case you are wondering, both books have flip covers, that’s why there are four covers up here for two books; the second cover for CAG is courtesy of our good buddies over at the Filament Factory.)

The Wülf Girlz are Returning!

I just the other day saw some of the lettered art on my follow-up story to Never Judge a book (printed in the premiere issue of Psychosis! published by Guild works Production). Let me tell you that not only do I totally love Matt Ryan’s distinctive artwork, but I was totally blown away by the entire story as it now appears in print.

Sure. sure you knew I was going to say that, after all the work is mine, but still. living with these characters in my head for the past year or so, and then writing the script, and waiting (waiting) for the art. Now finally seeing the whole thing lettered.

I’m completely blown away. I can hardly wait for the story to finally be published next month (just in time for Comic Con NY).

So, yeah, I’m going to be enjoying my time at the show (word has it that CAG #7 will also be there and will have the artwork for my new Agent Unknown Story in it. I’ve see the are and love it. Right now I’m just waiting on the pages to be lettered. As soon as I get the electronic images from that I'll post some of those pages as well. In the mean time, I have to wait.

Matt Ryan Rules! So too does Mark Mazz, but we’ll get there in a minute.

This past weekend, my good buddy and collaborator on Wülf Girlz, Matt Ryan handed me what was easily the coolest piece of comicbook art that I’ve ever received. Yep, cooler than than the Stan Goldberg con sketch of Jughead, cooler than the con sketch I have of Betty Anderson. Hey it is even cooler than the page of original art by John Constanza from my first published comic strip — which John drew.

(OK, OK, it still takes second place to the Gwen Stacey illustration that was drawn for me by John Romita, Sr. back when I was 17 or 18, but it is a close second.)

Matt, as I’ve said, illustrates Wülf Girlz, and does a beautiful job doing it, I might add. Well, Mark (another good buddy of mine as well as the creative director of Guild Works Productions) commissioned a piece of delightful art from Matt knowing that I would not only instantly love the art, but be inspired by it as well. (Today I penned a pair of story pitches to the Marvel Adventure line.)

Sure enough, I was both. and I’d love to show you that art now:



Is this the coolest picture or what?

Truthfully, I only have one small problem with it. I just can’t remember who that girl in the picture is with Spidey...

The (Brand) New Face of Fear

Here is the updated cover of Psychosis! # 2.



Art by Keith Murphey

According to Keith, in this revised version of the Meth cover we are presenting grimmer, more pissed off look. Apparently, this is what Shawnti was looking for nall along. Mark Mazz (our Creative Director) also moved the signature so people will actually be able to read Keith's name.

I've been Reviewed (again)!

That’s right folks, Psychosis! #1 has been reviewed yet again. This time it was done by a publication that is local to your humble blogger. Interestingly enough, they had some nice things to say about my story, and I thought that I’d share them with you.



If you are interested in some of the other reviews, you can check them out for yourselves. Not to brag, but Psychosis! has been favorably reviewed at Broken Frontier, PopThought, Comic Monsters, and others. Follow the links to see what they have to say about us!

If you are interested in learning more about Psychosis!, Guild Works Productions,or even the Comicbook Artists Guild, follow the appropriate links. to purchase your very own copy of Psychosis! you’ll want to travel to Dimestore Productions.

Tell them, The Perfessor, sent you.

Spider-Man is here and all is right with the world!

Yes folks, it is Sunday and the new NY Post Spidey Collectible Reprint is in! It sports a great retro-cover of Spidey vs. Electro (seen here at the left), and an awesome newsprint style reprint of the second half of the Lee/Ditko classic story. Man I seriously just can’t get enough of this stuff!

Yesterday, I was at the Big Apple’s 10-year anniversary convention. It was a free-for fans entrance convention, sort of a way for Mike Carbonaro, and Big Apple to say “Thanks” for 10 great years. I was there as were several fellow CAG members. We sold some copies of Psychosis! #1, and got to promote the CAG network. I managed to get some of my own writing done at the con (no small feat, I might add). Plus there was the usual assortment of pros and fans catching up on our mutual lives.

).Oh yeah, I did score a very cool Spidey Fleece blanket that is now in my office (with all the other Spidey stuff. Whelp, that’s about it for now. I hope to have more later on in the week. I’m really hoping to post more regularly to this space, and even have some non-Spidey stuff about which I can chat (like the fact the I’ve just been informed that another one of my stories will be published in Psychosis! #2. How cool is that?

Spidey is Still Running Strong!

That’s right Boys and Girls, the Spider still rules the roost. (Has anyone checked out the new trailer running on Itunes? It is totally wicked-cool-awesome!) Yep. This film is going to top the other two as the comicbook-to-film to beat.

Yeah, yeah, I know that we were a bit disappointed with X-3, and Supes Returns, but I’m sayin it here and now that simply won’t be the case with Spidey 3. And, no, I’m not just saying that because I’m certifiable a card-carrying Spider-Geek, but because (director) Sam Raimi absolutely knows what he is doing, (and has proven it over and over again with films like Darkman, and the first two Spidey films).

Plus, of course, we are being treated to classic Lee-Ditko Spidey stories in the NY Post each and every week. In this week's edition, we have the second half of the introduction of The Lizard. I’m telling you that I grew up on this stuff, and I’m still not over it. Plus, I get chills every time I go back and read the material.

Yes, yes, I know that I have the original issues (bag and boarded) in my collection, plus I probably have a couple of three reprints of the material, but I seriously never get tired of reading them. Plus in this new format, I’m betting that Spidey is getting read by more folks than read his episodes the first time around. Yeah, I hope that this stuff continues for some time to come, as I just can’t get enough of it.

In other comic news, on Friday, I handed off the first new Agent Unknown script in nearly two decades to Mark Mazz for him to consider for inclusion in CAG #5. It features a pair of newly-introduced agents (not seen in the original, Renegade Press series, but who had been conceived at the time). To be sure, the script was probably written about 10 years back, but never typed up. Plus, I had originally written it as a 10-page story, only Mark wants only 8-page stories. Hence I had to trim two pages out of it, and still have it deliver the kind of punch I wanted. I believe that I succeeded.

Next up, (and even thought I’m half-way through a brand-spanking-new AU script) I’m working on a new story that I’m hoping will be included in Psychosis! #2. (Oh yeah, here is as good a place as any to announce that while I had originally intended the two young girls from my first Psychosis! story, Never Judge a Book..., to be a stand-alone story, I’ve discovered that they will return, in, not just one more tale, but a series of stories. Seems these gals have taken on a life of their own. As of this moment, Matt Ryan (who drew the first story) and Melvin Ylagan (who panted the cover) are interested in continuing along with me as we explore who these young gals really are.

Oh, but the new Psychosis! story isn’t about them. I have to get this one done first, but don’t worry, the girls are coming along soon, and I’ll let you know when they are on their way!

Is that cool or what?