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Terry Hooper-Scharf

Tuesday 28 February 2023

ARMPAL Armor-1 Wooden Toy Weapon Kit Review! Fun Build for You and Your ...

Max Ernst

Cinebook Ltd Newsletter 182- February 2023

 


Dear Reader,

Ah, the unknown. The thrill of discovery, the joy of new experiences, the terror of terra incognita … Perhaps Mankind’s greatest strength is our constant desire to explore it, in all its shapes and forms, and advance our understanding of life, the universe and everything.
At our humble level as comic publishers, it makes for cracking reading!

Take the new Marsupilami, for example. Continuing the adventures of Noah the misanthropic clown, Donald the lost rich child and Solorio the orphaned Native across the jungle, this book takes us to a mysterious temple where laughter is both a threat, a promise of wealth … and the reward for you, the reader, should you dare to enter!

Neptune takes us one step further with this new cycle of Leo’s Worlds of Aldebaran. Our heroines Kim and Marie are called upon to investigate a mind-boggling mystery before it turns into a potential threat. This time, though, the ‘final frontier’ in need of exploring is right here in the Solar System – perhaps too close for comfort …

Finally, Trent, in his final adventure, begins the exploration of a different type of unexplored territory for him: fatherhood. Temporary and surrogate as it may be, his guardianship and father figure role to a young boy he is tasked with protecting from his real, abusive father will have a profound impact on both of them.

February with Cinebook – strange new worlds!

A special shout-out to two bookshops that have decided to stock our books and make our catalogue available to their customers: Graphic, in Wellington, New Zealand, and Strange Adventures, in Halifax, Fredericton and Dartmouth, Canada. We thank them for their trust and hope that, in turn, you will put your trust in them!



Marsupilami 8
Batem & Yann and Franquin
The Temple of Boavista

Noah, Donald and Solorio, having rescued the rest of the children kidnapped by the ruthless gold prospectors of the Palombian rainforest, have escaped up the Boavista River, despite the rumours of terrible danger in that region … Read more


Neptune 1
Leo
Episode 1

After three years of study and training, Marie is now officially a member of the UN Special Forces. But she’s barely had time to celebrate her graduation when an extraordinary event forces her to leave for her first mission: an alien ship of unknown origin has just arrived in orbit of Earth … Read more


Trent 8
Leo & Rodolphe
Little Trent

While Agnes is in Europe to visit family, Trent is given a somewhat unusual mission: to escort a woman to her father’s home. Mrs Taylor has left her husband – a man that alcohol turns horribly violent – and is now taking their son to safety at his grandfather’s … Read more


Neptune 2
Episode 2

Nottingham 3
Robin


North-American readers, to locate a comic book shop near you that stocks or can order these titles and many more, us this handy Read more 

Or, if you're a retailer yourself, please go to: Read more

HEXAGON COMICS CELEBRATES BARBARELLA’S 60TH ANNIVERSARY!

 HEXAGON COMICS USA / MARCH 2023 RELEASES:

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.



The legendary comic strip Barbarella created by Jean-Claude Forest first appeared in the French magazine V, in 1962, concluding the following years, before being reprinted in a hardcover graphic novel by publisher Eric Losfeld in 1964.


Today, before Euphoria star Sydney Sweeney takes on the role created in 1968 by Jane Fonda, just as Barbarella returns for a brand new comic book series published by Dynamite Entertainment, written by Sarah A. Hoyt and drawn by Riccardo Bogani, Hexagon Comics celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Queen of the Galaxy by releasing two entirely new books by her creator, Jean-Claude Forest:

BABY CYANIDE



Story & art by Jean-Claude Forest adapted by Randy & Jean-Marc Lofficier; cover by Jean-Claude Forest; 

48 pages 

color. 

US$15.95. 

ISBN 978-1-64932-213-5.


In the 53rd century on the planet Venus, Baby Cyanide and her younger brother have just escaped from the orphanage where they lived when they find themselves involved in a strange quest for a mysterious treasure chest pitting rival space clans against each other…


Baby Cyanide was the second major character created by Forest, just after Barbarella. Originally published in 1965, this colorful, planetary fantasy tale of two orphans stranded in a whimsical universe, relying only on their wits to survive the most extravagant adventures, became an instant classic which has never been out of print since.

This first ever English-language edition, introduced and translated by the award-winning team of Randy & Jean-Marc Lofficier, is presented here as the first of two books released jointly by Black Coat Press and Hexagon Comics to celebrate Barbarella’s 60th anniversary.

THE ILLUSTRATED SHAMBLEAU



Story by Catherine L. Moore; illustrated by Jean-Claude Forest; cover by Jean-Claude Forest. 

40 pages 

b&w. 

US$10.95. 

ISBN 978-1-64932-211-1.


Shambleau was the first in a series of stories featuring the proto-Han Solo character, Northwest Smith, who wanders through the Solar System, and which originally appeared in the November 1933 issue of Weird Tales. Its author, Catherine L. Moore, was among the first women to write in the science fiction and fantasy genres, becoming a major award-winning figure in the field.


In 1955, a French translation of Shambleau was published in the French magazine “V”, fully illustrated by Jean-Claude Forest, then one of France’s premier science fiction artists. It was that November 1933 issue of Weird Tales. Its author, Catherine L. Moore, was among the first women to write in the science fiction and fantasy genres, becoming a major award-winning figure in the field.



In 1955, a French translation of Shambleau was published in the French magazine “V”, fully illustrated by Jean-Claude Forest, then one of France’s premier science fiction artists. It was that regular Hexagon Comics release:

THE LORDS OF THE DEPTHS #3: OCEANIA




Story & art by Leone Frollo & Perluigi Sangalli; cover by Mike Hoffman. 

88 pages 

b&w. 

US$12.95. ISBN 978-1-64932-186.2.


Underwater heroes and amphibian characters from Jules Verne’s famous rogue submariner, Captain Nemo and his myriad imitators, to Marvel’s Sub-Mariner and DC’s Aquaman (1941), have always proved popular with comic book aficionados. Hexagon Comics introduced their own “Lords of the Depths” in six series, which we have sampled here in three issues. This is the third and last. In this volume, meet: 




Oceania (1972), drawn by Leone Frollo, in which two members of the Bathy teams, Alan Foster and Robin Mallet, discover an Atlantean outpost and help its inhabitants fight an evil tyrant. 




Marino (1974), drawn by Pierluigi Sangalli, is a young orphan who discovers that he can breathe underwater. This is his very first adventure in which, prior to joining the group Kidz, he meets two young Atlanteans, and fights alongside them against the Sirenids. 

Wednesday 22 February 2023

Hexagon Comics Some Updated Info

 

Jean-Marc Lofficier at Hexagon corrected me re. what I wrote in one book review and added the extra info -which my old fuddled brain couldn't! 😂

https://hoopercomicart.blogspot.com/2023/02/hexagon-comics-lords-of-depths-3-oceania.html


"OCEANIA is scheduled to be on sale on March 1st. I jumped a gun a little by sending you an advance copy.

"You can find out what became of MARINO by (re)reading KIDZ. Also THE SEA KING and COMMANDER NEPTUNE in STRANGERS 7: THE RETURN OF HOMICRON; THE PATROL OF THE DEPTHS in STRANGERS 5: THE KINGDOM OF SHIVAR; and BAHY-09 in HEXAGON COMICS: THE FIRST 70 YEARS.  And of course you have the "old" KIT KAPPA reprint to compare with his recent appearance in STRANGERS 8: THE INVASION OF ATLANTIS.

"This is also true of the "old" versions of HOMICRON, STARLOCK, JAYDEE, JALEB, etc. which I reprinted a while ago in the STRANGERS ORIGINS tpbs.

"This you can compare the original characters as they were and their treatment in the revamped Hexagon universe."


See? Hexagon Comics is a whole big world you are missing out on!

Tuesday 21 February 2023

Hexagon Comics STRANGERS 8: THE INVASION OF ATLANTIS

 


by Jean-Marc Lofficier; art by Eduardo Garcia & Roberto Castro; cover by Eduardo Garcia.

Contents:
- Foreword by J.-M. Lofficier
- Prologue by J.-M. Lofficier & Roberto Castro
- The Return of Kit Kappa by Jean-Marc Lofficier & Eduardo Garcia
- Assault on Atlantis by Jean-Marc Lofficier & Eduardo Garcia
- Epilogue by J.-M. Lofficier & Roberto Castro
7x10 square-bound trade paperback, 
102 p. 
b&w

In search of HOMICRON, RITA TOWER, JOANNI BOURASK and the ZORR-KO travel to Tibet where the mysterious COUNT SAINT-GERMAIN enlists their help to protect the hidden city of the Mohenjo Dar. Its sole defender is the formidable KIT KAPPA, but without the STRANGERS’ help, will he be able to repel the dreaded DOCTOR CYBERNAC, in his quest to seize the secrets of Atlantis which are being kept there?
 
Can SAINT-GERMAIN fulfill the mission entrusted to him by TANKA and safeguard the last component of the KERA WEAPON from the diabolical MALEFICUS and his master, the sinister KRUGE, almighty Lord of Twilight?
 
Ultimately, it is not in the PRESENT, but in the PAST, in ATLANTIS herself, that TANKA and his STRANGERS will have to thwart KRUGE and his scheme to rewrite the course of history...
 
The conclusion of the STRANGERS’ epic cosmic quest approaches in this frantic mix of martial arts and science fiction, full of action and twists through space and time, remarkably orchestrated by writer Jean-Marc Lofficier and artist Eduardo García.

Continuing Hexagon's Atlantis season (it's not over yet!) and the story is well paced and obviously part of a broader plan. The art I like. I have said before that there is something about these books that I find compelling to read and look at. I think I have said before that in a way I am reminded of Martin Lock's Harrier Comics but there are other things and I was reminded of the rush of UK Independent publishers of the late 1990s and early 2000 -Portent Comics being a great example.

There is also the fact that these are not rebooted after rebooted after rebooted (ad nauseum) characters but new and old ones that Lofficier obviously cares about and has developed without mutilating what the original characters were. And as he is also the main writer/scripter he has control over continuity (Marvel and DC editors may be confused by that word -look it up: c-o-n-t-i-n-u-i-t-y).

If you are new to comic book reading then try at least one Hexagon title before diving headlong into the current DC/Marvel mess and money-grab. If you have been reading comic books for a long time then try a Hexagon title and see what you think. It's almost like a breath of fresh air.

Monday 20 February 2023

The Dark Night Detectives 2: The Ministry of Safety

 


 

A4

28pp

B&W

£7.00

https://www.lulu.com/en/en/shop/terry-hooper/the-dark-night-detectives-no-2-november-2020/paperback/product-7jr8g8.html

Its a world where if you stand up for what is right you'll be lucky if its just a beating you get. A world where people are starving (if poor) and the rich live in luxury. A world where you have to have birthing Rights. Where sacrificing someone to the Devil is acceptable -as long as they pay the wages. A world where if you DO NOT take that bribe you WILL be made an example of. 

This was the dystopian world set up by Ben Dilworth in Small Press publications in the 1980 and some strips in Black Tower books and led on to The Dark Night Detectives: Everything Is Under Control. 

Now Detective Inspector Black and Special Constable (Community Policing) Jones are back and it is still dar, bleak and depressingly familiar in a way.

 The ending will make you ask more than a few questions.

Dilworth's Corporal Religion!

 


A4

B&W

20pp

£7.00

https://www.lulu.com/en/en/shop/terry-hooper/corporal-religion-no-1/paperback/product-nj4yw7.html

Over thirty years since Corporal Religion Against the Pinko Commie Menace and the world thought that it was safe.

 It was wrong! 

His religion is Hard Capitalism 

His dream is total anarchy 

And his motto is:"American Might Is Always Right" 

No, this is not the Trumpster. 

This is....well, it's...complicated.

Thursday 16 February 2023

The Failure of Thundercats (2011) & How Lego Accidentally Killed It

Hexagon Comics: The Lords of the Depths #3 -Oceania




Art by Leone Frollo, Perluigi Sangalli; cover by Mike Hoffman.

7x10 squarebound trade paperback, 
88 p. 
b&w
ISBN-13: 978-1-64932-186-2. 
USD12.95

Underwater heroes and amphibian characters from Jules Verne’s famous rogue submariner, Captain Nemo and his myriad imitators, to Marvel’s Sub-Mariner and DC’s Aquaman (1941), have always proved popular with comic book aficionados.

Hexagon Comics introduced their own “Lords of the Depths” in six series, which we have sampled here in three issues. This is the third.

In this volume, meet:

Oceania (1972), drawn by Leone Frollo, in which two members of the Bathy teams, Alan Foster and Robin Mallet, discover an Atlantean outpost and help its inhabitants fight an evil tyrant.

Marino (1974), drawn by Pierluigi Sangalli, is a young orphan who discovers that he can breathe underwater. This is his very first adventure in which, prior to joining the group Kidz, he meets two young Atlanteans, and fights alongside them against the Sirenids.

Currently sold out -this is why I keep telling everyone to buy while they can. Check back at Hexagon every so often to see when (if) it becomes available again https://www.hexagoncomics.com/forthcoming-books-the-lords-of-the-depths-3-oceania.html

First thing that hit me was that cover. I got a huge nostalgia boost from this and it took me back to the 1970s and the Bristol Book Centre in Gloucester Road and the thousands of pulp novels it was crammed with. That image I would frame and have on my walls (except my walls are full beyond capacity😂)

Oceania is slick black and white work and there are a good few wannabe artists out there who can learn from this. There has to be a giant squid..or two..oh, and sharks. You have to have sharks!  Semi hostile "locals" also helps as do strange lion-type creatures. It's all action and fun.

Marino starts off on a ski slope but soon gathers pace and the action kicks off and it is going to be interesting to see what Hexagon does with this character in future.  The art is -again- slick black and white and I am not familiar with  art so this was a nice introduction. All of this adds to Hexagon's underwater world and considering how much of this planet seas and oceans cover that makes expanding this worth while!

Keep checking the Hexagon site for when this book becomes available and do not miss out!

Halcon Lord of the Craterland No. 1

 


A4
24pp
B&W
£6.00
https://www.lulu.com/en/en/shop/terry-hooper/halcon-lord-of-the-craterland-no-1-july-2020/paperback/product-7jy675.html

Halcon Lord of the lost craterland. Created by Nat Brand (Len Fullerton) in 1940 for Swan Comics and seen occasionally in various Black tower titles now gets his own one off books thanks to Ben Dilworth. 

Action and fun all the way with stories such as - 

"Alligator", "Lake Monster", "Monkey", "Pteranodon", "Into the Moon" and "Alien". 

The twist ending to "Werewolf" even had the old bearded one surprised!

"A Hundred Lives For Every Innocent Life!" The Bat Triumphant!

 


A4
B&W
60pp
£6.00
https://www.lulu.com/shop/terry-hooper-scharf/the-bat-triumphant/paperback/product-12046091.html

In 1941,The Bat sets about modernising the backward Duchy of Stahl,over which his dynasty has ruled since 1410 A.D.. 

The Bat is soon involved in experiments with the infamous Count Cogliostro. One of these experiments involves suspended animation;The Bat deciding he will be the test subject. When he wakes,The Bat finds that not days have gone by but 51 years! 

Worse,his kingdom is in ruins and an enclave of Kamora. 

The Bat tries politics to win back his homeland and when that fails he decides to fight for it! 

However,he is unaware that some old,and new,enemies are lying in wait to stop him and all of them want one thing:The Bat dead! 

Originally a back up strip in Black Tower Adventure (vol. 1) in 1994,The Bat proved very popular as an anti-hero. The story was never completed. It is now. New edition -added art pages

Krakos: The Sands Of Terror

 


64pp
black and white
comic album (A4)
£6.00
https://www.lulu.com/en/en/shop/terry-hooper-scharf/krakos-sands-of-terror/paperback/product-1rg8ngqv.html

Created by William A. Ward for Swan Comics in the 1940s,Krakos was one of Ward’s supernatural anti-hero types.

Used, with Swan’s permission, in Black Tower Adventure strips in the 1980s/1990s,this is the character’s first solo outing.

But will Krakos fulfill the Goddess Isis’ dream and become the new pharoah of a New Egyptian Kingdom that will encompass all of the Middle East? Did anyone actually ask Krakos?


The book contains information on Ward and his work plus sample pages rescued after 60 years of neglect!

Wednesday 15 February 2023

Boss fight Flash Gordon and Prince Barin review

我的中文读者的一个问题

 时常有中国读者问我,为什么他们不能在中国购买黑塔漫画和书籍?



这可能是因为我使用的是位于美国的按需打印服务,而他们没有花任何精力在香港或中国寻找打印机。 我过去曾问过,但恐怕我们正在处理美国政治。


通常情况下,有人会从网上商店购买一本书。 这本书是在与按需印刷公司签订合同的印刷商订购的国家或地区印刷的。 它被打印出来,然后使用当地邮政服务邮寄,这是最好的方式,因为不涉及国际邮寄或运输。

我对今天的中国漫画出版了解有限,而且对中文没有真正的了解,很难找到可能对漫画或图画小说感兴趣的出版商将其翻译成中文。


如果我的任何中国读者有任何建议,请在评论部分告诉我。


谢谢