Thursday, 31 March 2022
Wednesday, 30 March 2022
Sunday, 27 March 2022
The Online Store Master Plan!
As I have made clear in the past with sales to the United States I get hit with tax and as the print company is in the U.S. I get hit with currency conversion when it comes to paying me (even on UK sales).
The Print on Demand company will not allow me to restrict sales to exclude the U.S. so every book sold there is no money for me -they are give aways. Tax, POD Company and printers all get money and I am at the bottom of the pond.
I have a solution though I cannot follow through on this until mid April. I am going to hike up the U.S. cover prices so high no one will buy them. Therefore no U.S. tax or giveaway books (owing the IRS money for books you have received no money for...weird at best).
Therefore by May -remember I am going to have to re-price 200 books and each one takes time- I am sorry if anyone in the U.S. is interested but you have had since 2010 to buy- Black Tower Books and Comics will be unavailable in the U.S. because no one will want to pay the cover price!
Devious but I am sick of selling books and getting nothing in return.
Plan sorted.
Hexagon Comics: TALES OF THE HEXAGONVERSE
ISBN-13: 978-1-64932-088-9.
Phantom Of What Opera?
Story : Jean-Marc Lofficier * Art : Timothy J. Green II
The Restaurant
Story : Jean-Marc Lofficier * Art : Timothy J. Green II
Cassandra Troy
Story : Jean-Marc & Randy Lofficier * Art : Gerald Forton
Hogun Temu: The Clay Dogs
Story : Jean-Marc & Randy Lofficier * Art : Philippe Xavier
Nightspeeder
Story : Jean-Marc & Randy Lofficier * Art : Kevin O’Neill
Cover : Kevin O’Neill
English adaptation: J.-M. & Randy Lofficier
Hexagon Comics isn’t merely Wampus, Zembla, Phenix, and the Strangers. For well over sixty years, they published a number of anthology comics in the tradition of DC’s Mystery in Space, Strange Adventures, etc., with colorful titles such as Yuma, Nevada, Mustang, Rodeo...
In addition to the regular hero-driven series, these books also contained many one-shots: war stories, western adventures, supernatural tales, etc. A few of the characters who first appeared in these eventually returned, but most never went beyond these initial appearances.
In this book, we have translated and reprinted five of these one-shots, published between 2000 and 2003. Only two have ever been published in the U.S. before and, as they were all drawn by remarkable artists, we felt that they deserved greater exposure.
Saturday, 26 March 2022
Hexagon Comics: KABUR #3: ZOTHAQA
by Jean-Marc Lofficier; cover by Mike Ratera.
11. THE REAPER art by Mike Ratera
15. ZOTHAQA art by Willy Hudic
16. INTRIGUES IN ILSHANYI art by Willy Hudic
17. NEVLAK AND SEBHO art by Willy Hudic
(eps 12, 13, 14 are included in KABUR #2: KABUR VS ZEMBLA)
ISBN-13: 978-1-64932-112-1
One hundred million years before our time was the continent of Hyperborea. There thrived the rebellious young prince of Ultima Thulé and his companion, the beautiful ex-slave girl Lagrid.
After defeating an evil doppelganger, Kabur must now return to the city of his birth from which he was banished by his father, the King. The journey, however, is long and fraught with many perils!
In this collection of four new episodes, Kabur will successively encounter the formidable Reaper, the diabolical Wampus, and the two mercenaries Nevlak and Sebho.
Friday, 25 March 2022
Kult Creations: SAVAGE! JUNGLE PRINCESS: BOOK 2 - THE HATE MACHINES
John A. Short and Gabrielle Noble
44pp
US Comic sizesquarebound
Full colour
UK £6.50 (incl. p&p)
https://savagecomic.blogspot.com/
Here it is, nearly ten years on from the original adventure - the sequel to SAVAGE! JUNGLE PRINCESS BOOK 1 !
This full colour adventure is by the original SJP team of John A. Short on the words and Gabrielle Noble on art!
This time Arabella Savage and Friday Robinson are up-against Nazi- Robots! (Also featuring a volcano, naked bathing and engine grease!) It's STILL the most fun you can have with your loin cloth on!
The PDF digital version is available from the Kult Digital blog! (Book 1 too!) http://kultdigital.blogspot.com
Wednesday, 23 March 2022
Monday, 21 March 2022
Hexagon Comics: Guardian of the Republic & Count Saint-Germain & Scarlet Lips
by Jean-Marc Lofficier & Manuel Martin Peniche; cover by Manuel Martin Peniche
7x10 squarebound comic
48 pages
b&w
ISBN-13: 978-1-64932-093-3.It is Christmas Eve in Paris and the dead emerge from the catacombs, dressed as ghastly Santa Clauses, plunging the French capital into total panic.
Faced with this terrifying threat, the Guardian of the Republic and Marianne find two unexpected allies: the immortal Count Saint-Germain and the vampire Scarlet Lips.
But will even they be enough to stop the threat posed by the Hangman of Bethune and his mysterious new ally, Baphomet?
A blood-curling Holiday saga told at the fireside by Jean-Marc Lofficier and Manuel Martin Peniche.
Sunday, 20 March 2022
It Is 02:15 hrs....
Hopefully after ten hours the PC will last long enough to get the reviews I have to do out there.
No support so looks like CBO is on borrowed time!
Saturday, 19 March 2022
Just a heads up
After six hours I have saved all files to USB Sticks so everything is safe.
However, if there are no new updates/posts for more than a week...my computer is gone and I cannot get a new one but the blog content ought to keep people happy -views increase dramatically when I don't post!
Just a heads up
NO More Word Press CBO II
This morning I found that all posts from 2022-2019 were gone and the blog was in its 2018 format.
I am assuming that this is a Word Press fault and as they answer queries as fast as Blogger (never) I put it all down as lost. Had this CBO gone.....
We shall continue...if I can be bothered.
Friday, 18 March 2022
Hexagon Comics: WAMPUS 02: DOOMSDAY MARCH
Thursday, 17 March 2022
Monday, 14 March 2022
BENEFIT COMIC BOOK FOR THE UKRAINIAN RED CROSS
This special issue introduces a character who is both new and yet has been part of the Hexagon Universe since 1963: Captain Ukraine!
Nadiya Karine, the modern-day version of this hero, introduced alongside the French Guardian of the Republic in her very first appearance here (in a story by J.-M. Lofficier & Constanzo), is none other than the descendant of Ivan Karine, a Ukrainian Captain from the 17th century, created by Vincenzo Chiomenti, whose exploits were first published in 1963.
The Karine family belongs to the Zaporozhian Cossacks, who were the progenitors of the Ukrainian nation. The first story of this classic series is reprinted here, along with a foreword providing details on this historical, yet still topical, character.
This issue features the Captain Ukraines of the 17th, 19th, 20th and 21st centuries, united in a common effort to defeat injustice and tyranny.
During these tragic hours, Hexagon Comics stands with Ukraine, uniting past and present by releasing this very special issue, the profits of which will be donated to the Ukrainian Red Cross
PRE-ORDERS ONLY FROM www.hexagoncomics.com
or www.blackcoatpress.com
BOOKS WILL SHIP ON APRIL 15.
CONTENTS:
THE RETURN OF CAPTAIN UKRAINE: Story by Jean-Marc Lofficer; Art by Constanzo
THE FIRES OF VICTORY (1963): Art by Vincenzo Chiomenti
ISBN 978-1-64932-139-8
56 pages b&w - US$9.95 / GBP 8.99 / EUR 12.00
Friday, 11 March 2022
The Two (turns out to be one) Recent Comic Discoveries
Although I do read any old boks and annuals/albums I receive before adding them to my already overweighted shelves
The first reason I check is to make sure no pages are missing and that there is no other damage that needs tending to first. Also...I love reading them!
The second reason is to see whether there are any characters I am unfamiliar with. My Vault of the Lost (that sounds cool...but I'm only referring to a section of my brain so...) has a stack of characters that no one else appears to know or care about (until I find them and then the Copy and Paste crew goes to work). There are a good few instances of my stumbling across a character not mentioned anywhere. Forgotten and as soon as I "show and tell" on the blog it is all grabbed and the purloiners start with their lies on how 'they' discovered this "lost gem". They know who they are as they check into CBO daily.
Comic Bits the Journal of British Diamond, Gold and early Silver ages comics as well as Penny Dreadfuls has featured some discoveries in its first two issues and issues 3 and 4 just need editing to make them presentable if I decide to publish them. In future any new discoveries will either be presented in Comic Bits or through a Black Tower publication as I am no longer in the mood for gving everything away after months of hard work.
Which brings us to the announcement I made..two weeks ago? Finding two more forgotten characters -female characters. Well, one turns out to be a slightly altered U.S. reprint that did make their way into some UK comics. At th time they were published (late 1940s) some new artists were trying to develop a more slick American style while working for Gerald Swan. This creates confusion unless you know what to look for.
It took a day but I found the original American comic strip and was able to dismiss it.
The second one, however, was British and was a superheroine (yeah, I wrote "heroine" -live with it). It seems to be a one off strip as I have almost a full collection of the publisher's annuals and even checked some comic issues -nothing.
Name? Who drew it? Sample art?
Well, if you are really that interested you will need to wait for either Comic Bits or another publication to see the full strip and info.I have been giving away everything on CBO since 1997 and that is without any support to keep the work going so if you are interested then you pay.
Keep those eyes open!
A Quick But IMPORTANT Note
I have coming up to 200 books on the online store. I am editinf books as well as photographs, finishing art projects and a number of other things. My time is important to me if not you.
There is the QRD Interview (one of several interviews from the past 30 years) if you want to find out more about me. The info is out there to answer questions not for ego.
https://hoopercomicart.blogspot.com/2016/08/the-qrd-interview-terry-hooper-scharf.html
or the much more indepth:
https://hoopercomicart.blogspot.com/2010/11/phil-latter-talks-to-terry-hooper.html
I do not and will not discuss any business related questions. Following on from internet trolls (the UK 'comic book nice guys') and the fact that their sad and empty (unemployed) lives having nothing better to do than pester me and try to use what I say in various out of context ways.
Check out CBO posts, the British Golden Age posts...in fact there is a shed load of info on myself and Black Tower Comics and Books.
Tuesday, 8 March 2022
Friday, 4 March 2022
HEXAGON COMICS USA / MARCH 2022 RELEASE: (NEW) WAMPUS 2: DOOMSDAY MARCH
Hexagon Comics USA now offers translations of selected titles from the catalog of this 70-year-old French comics publisher. Books can be purchased on amazon or through the website www.hexagoncomics.com.
Retailers can purchase them at a 40% discount from distributor Ingram or from the publisher at the website above.
NEW RELEASE:
WAMPUS 2: DOOMSDAY MARCH
stories by Franco Frescura; art & cover by Luciano Bernasconi.
7X10 squarebound trade paperback, 180 p. b&w - US$15.95.
ISBN: 978-1-64932-113-8.
Wampus was the herald of a second generation of comic heroes and magazines launched by Editions Lug in 1969, which eventually led to Jaleb, Homicron, The Time Brigade, Kabur and many more.
Wampus is a shape-shifting monster sent to Earth by an evil cosmic power called The Great Mind to sow havoc and destruction. He can change into any form by merely touching water, and revert to type by coming into contact with fire. His only adversary seems to be an French ex-secret agent named Jean Sten, whom, in typical Invaders tradition, no one believes.
In this issue, Wampus brings chaos to London, Spain and Venice, while Sten appears unable to stop him. Yet, strange new allies show up who might pose a challenge to the creature from beyond…
"I ate it up when my copy arrived and have already reread it, it's such grand fun; a heady stew of bogus sf/alien/espionage/terrorism circa the '60s, working up to staggering global political/social collapse (orchestrated by the translucent noodle-bodied bad boy Wampus) that builds upon the anarchistic spirit of none other than Diabolik -- hence, a missing link of sorts in European comics history, between the archetype of Fantomas and the coming wave of underground comix radicalism. Love, love, love it, highly recommended!" S. R. Bissette.
"Wampus is one of the great alien monsters of comics... [an] obscure gem of bande dessinée pulp paranoia." Paul Gravett.
STILL AVAILABLE: WAMPUS #1
stories by Franco Frescura; art & cover by Luciano Bernasconi.
7X10 squarebound trade paperback, 232 pages b&w; US$20.95.
ISBN: 978-1-932983-61-6.
Foreword by Will Eisner.
Thursday, 3 March 2022
It's All Getting A Bit Weird Now...
To show off -a new addition to the family tree. My great great great great grandfather
You can see the resemblance
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Holloway_(British_Army_officer)
Yes. I Just Re-discovered Two More Lost (female) Silver Age Characters
There are two female characters that I have never heard of before and I am going to be writing a post on these in the next week or so (I hope).
Nothing stays lost forever -not even old British characters!
Cinebook Ltd: YAKARI 19 - THE DEVIL OF THE WOODS
Authors: Derib & Job
Age: 6 years and up
Size: 21.7 x 28.7 cm
Number of pages: 48 colour pages
£7.99 incl VAT
ISBN: 9781800440371
https://www.cinebook.co.uk/yakari-19-the-devil-of-the-woods-p-4463.html
In the middle of winter, while Yakari and his friends play in the snow, the tribe’s hunters kill a terrified wapiti. A welcome catch, for the stocks of food are running low. But the next day, all the meat that had been left to dry has disappeared! The hunters set out after the thief, and soon begin to suspect a bear. Yakari then decides to visit his furry friends to identify the culprit …
Before anyone asks the bear involved is not named "Yogi" and no "pic-a-nic" baskets are involved!
Things could be a bit bleak for any bear but as we know by now, Yakari is a friend to the wild animals and pretty soonthings start becoming clearer. Was it a bear? If not then who is the mysterious thief? Well, I was very happy by the end.
Great fun for older readers just as much as youngsters and "safe" content. Colourful and wonderfully drawn as ever. Beat the worldly blues and follow Yakari!
Cast Iron Chris Never Rusts. Apparently
(c)2022 J Long, D H Wilberton and Black Tower Comics and Books
Wednesday, 2 March 2022
Young Madame Foretell and "Our Fatheaded Fortune Teller"!
Glynn Protheroe created Madame Foretell -"Our Fatheaded Fortune Teller" for Gerald Swan and her page was basically a series of head-to-head gags. Pretty one-dimensional and for a long time I just put her aside and went with the original pages. However, I was building up a back story for the character in my mind.
In The Green Skies, Vol. II part 3 we see Madame Foretell appear out of nowhere to warn two characters of the coming danger before a transportation spell pulls her back home to "The Wizardry" in Sussex. There she is met by an old turban-wearing fellow she refers to as "Gally".
"Gally" is in fact a Second Level sorceror whom Fanshawe the Reality Check-Controller calls by the name of Gagamulasha. In fact earlier Gagamulasha revealed that Madame Foretell's first name is Glynnis. Gagamulasha and Glynnis are married (though don't ask me which church or sect).
We learn that Madame Foretell can use "magic" but to what extent we do not know though she is left behind when Gagamulasha leaves for the final confrontation at Arrana Comare (Plain of Tears) where only powerful members of the mystical community join the Reality Check Controllers. What happens after that.....
At some point later in her life Madame Foretell met the sorceror and that is a story for another comic!
But how did she end up for a period as some 'batty' (not all there) fortune-teller?
It was a question I was developing when a package arrived from Japan. After a lot of bowing and apologising for being unworthy the postman gave me the package. I opened up the envelope to see that Ben Dilworth had already produced some "Young Madame Foretell" strips and I thought "go with it".
So we now see Foretell when she was younger, possibly in th eerly 1930s -that raises other questions since she has obviously not changed since the Swan era (1940s/1950s) and 2021 and that is another story to tell (yes, there is one). It is this younger period that I hope to expand on in future.
Madame Foretell was literally a throw-away gag page and although I do not believe in "re-booting" characters I do believe in filling in their past and what made them into the people they became.
Keep popping by as you never know when something might appear. Looking into the future I can tell you it will not be tomorrow.
Cinebook Ltd: CEDRIC 07 - "Isn't It Past Your Bedtime?"
Authors: Laudec & Cauvin
Age: 8 years and up
Size: 21.7 x 28.7 cm
Number of pages: 48 colour pages
Publication: July 2021
£7.99 incl VAT
ISBN: 9781800440258
https://www.cinebook.co.uk/cedric-07-isnt-it-past-your-bedtime-p-4451.html
Childhood is a time to learn about life. We discover love, but also such things as disease and death. We learn to share and be generous, but we also learn about the dangers of excesses, greed and gluttony. In other words, every day is a new adventure – especially when, like Cedric, you have a somewhat clumsy father, a grumpy but loveable grandfather … and a strong-willed almost-girlfriend with an occasionally volatile temper!
Hah! This is far more like it. Colourful, well drawn and with some great gags and humour and also that perrennial question asked by many courting couples hoping to make out while baby-sitting: "Isn't it past your bedtime?"
I know that this is supposed to be for younger readers but I also know that some rather "mature" people also enjoy this series and it takes a lot of work to write humour scripts and make them funny for the reader (oh -the failures!!).
Have some fun -buy a copy.
Cinebook Ltd: MEMORIES FROM THE CIVIL WAR 1
Authors: Richard Marazano & Jean-Michel Ponzio
Age: 12 years and upSize: 21.7 x 28.7 cm
Number of pages: 56 colour pages
In a not-so-distant future, mankind’s greed and short-sightedness have exhausted the planet. The vast majority of the population lives in misery among the ruins of civilisation, while a small, privileged minority continues to enjoy a luxurious existence inside a few fortress-cities scattered around the globe, the Enclaves. Vivian is a member of the elite forces that protect this utopia – but also regularly hunt down and capture people from outside the walls to use as cheap, forced labour …
Let me start by saying that the art in this books is absolutely lovely. Looks like photo referenced but the overall look and feel is added to by the colour ork which all gets a 10 out of 10 from me. The dialogue and story flows well and then we have the problem.
We have seen with HSE and other books from Cinebook this "Humans have really ***** up the future" and how the super rich are controlling everything either with tech, troops blah blah blah. Meanwhile the poor and downtrodden fight on as best they can as they seek to survive in this bleak future.
Bor-ring,
I am sorry to write that as the art and story I like but it is this dark future which, honestly, is like the same old trope being churned out and flogged to death. There are people who love this stuff. I like it to an extent -see Dilworth's The Dark Night Detectives for instance. However, I hold back a hell of a lot of this type of material because it gts too repetitive or is simply depressing to read over and over. Comics are fun and while I can appreciate the art and writing skills involved here but the constant dystopian output is such that I will put a book to the bottom of the review list.
The one thing we all need is some fun and escapism -the important word there; escapism. So art and story wise great. Being yet another dystopian series...no. But we'll see how this develops over the next two books.