Moonstone Books' Return of the Monsters titles are available in better comic shops everywhere today. If for some reason your local comic shop doesn't have them on hand, they can still order them through Diamond or you can order direct through
http://www.moonstonebooks.com/ or wherever you buy your favorite comic books on-line.
Titles include Domino Lady vs. The Mummy, Black Bat vs. Dracula, and The Spider vs. Werewolf.
Domino Lady vs. The Mummy
The Egyptian sorceress Nephthys has promised to build her mummified mistress the perfect mate. Together, they cut a bloody swath across 1930’s Hollywood in search of the last few perfect bodies to harvest to complete the process. The last thing Nepthys or the mummy expected to run across was The Domino Lady, a perfect body that fights back.
Story: Nancy Holder, Bobby Nash
Art: Rock Baker, Jeff Austin
Cover: Dan Brereton
40 pages, grayscale, $3.99
Direct Link:
http://moonstonebooks.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=917
Black Bat vs. Dracula
For the first time in history three eras collide in one place as Pulp Fiction's newest heroine, Death Angel joins forces with Pulp's enduring vigilante The Black Bat to battle the eternal face of horror, Dracula. Mike (The Phantom) Bullock and rising star Eric Johns bring this spine-tingling tale of darkness, lust and fear to you, wrapped in a visceral cover crafted by horror comic legend Dan Brereton.
Story: Mike Bullock
Art: Eric Johns
Cover: Dan Brereton
40 pages, grayscale, $3.99
Direct Link:
http://moonstonebooks.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=918
The Spider vs. Werewolf
A seething, ferocious nightmare from the Spider’s dark past invades New York City, preying upon the innocent and the helpless. Mutilated victims are strewn in the blood-slick streets, and once normal men have become murderous monsters. The Master of Men must face the deadly demons alone. Not even his beloved Nita Van Sloan can be trusted when everyone—including the Spider himself—may not be what they seem.
Story: Martin Powell
Art: Jay Piscopo
Cover: Dan Brereton
40 pages, grayscale, $3.99
Direct Link:
http://moonstonebooks.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=916
For more information on Moonstoen Books, please visit them at
http://www.moonstonebooks.com/.
Domino Lady vs Mummy is just a mess. Domino Lady spends most of the book talking to her boyfriend. There are too many sub plots that don't advance the story and very little mummy action. Two quick edits and the mummy and all supernatural elements would be right out of the book.
ReplyDeleteSorry the book didn't work for you, Mark. I thought the plot was interesting and I had a good time bringing it to script and Rock and Jeff really killed it on the art.
ReplyDeleteI considered adding a hand-to-hand battle between the Domino Lady and the mummy, but it would've made this a very short issue.
Bobby
I totally agree with your assessment on the art. Rock and Jeff are the best. They were the reason I got the book in the first place. But story always comes first for me. I don't see where you got the idea that the mummy could over power Domino Lady quickly. The only feat of strength the mummy did in the entire book was putting the detective's head thru the window of the car. Not beyond the strength of a human thug that DL would routinely encounter. As for the sub plots, how did Vernia's partner getting shot advance the story at all, I kept waiting for his organs to get harvested, never happened. Chasing Tommy down and threatening him. What did that accomplish? Page after page of DL and Vernia talking and talking and talking. No wonder there was no time for any mummy fighting. When I read the title Godzilla vs King Kong I expect and got a great fight. When I read the title Domino Lady vs Mummy I don't expect a angsty, Twilight inspired story written for tweens. Here's how I would have done it. Ellen wrestles with a cloaked mummy in the restaurant and rips the amulet off it's neck. Later Domino Lady empties an entire magazine into the mummy after the mummy kills the detective in the parking lot. Armed with the knowledge she is facing a supernatural creature she goes after the mummy in the machine shop with a talisman she got from the fence. Bingo. Three mummy fights in 28 pages, plus the fight with the witch. That part I did enjoy. No shot up partner, no Tommy no moody cop boyfriend. Domino Lady vs Mummy. I'm done venting.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your comments, Mark, and that you took the time to write.
ReplyDeleteI've known Jeff for years and always have fun working with him. Rock and I work well together as well, I think. The three of us worked on a Lance Star: Sky Ranger comic that'll be out in 2012. They're a talented team.
The subplot with Vernia and the cop who was shot and when she meets the mummy were in the plot I was given to work from. I think they are good story points.
I'm sorry the story wasn't your cup 'o tea.
Bobby
Thank you for answering Bobby, I really appreciate it. You are the only one so far to address my concerns with the book. I assume you were given Nancy's plot to flesh out. So far I have not heard from Nancy Holder, not surprising or Moonstone, very surprising, most small publishers I've dealt with are very fan friendly and understand we take these things very seriously.
ReplyDeleteYou bet, Mark. I always try my best to respond to all emails and posts sent my way. I appreciate that you took the time to write in.
ReplyDeleteFor this one shot I did work from a plot and then Nancy and I worked together to tweak the final script. I'm pretty happy with it, although I've not actually seen a print copy of the book yet, but I plan to pick one up soon.
Not sure if you'll be interested after reading this one, but Nancy has a 2 issue Domino Lady/Sherlock Holmes tale coming and I will be scripting issue #2 of that. I don't know any details beyond that at this point. I'm looking forward to writing the character again.
I will be writing Domino Lady in novel form in 2012. That story will be a pulp thriller. My plot was just approved and I'll start writing that in January. Not sure of an in-store date as yet.
Bobby
My real last name is Holmes. I am naturally a huge Sherlock Holmes fan. I have read and re read all of Sherlock Holmes' adventures by Sir Conan Doyle and several non Doyle Adventures. Very few stand up to the originals. After this Domino Lady book I really don't think I want to read anything Nancy Holder or Moonstone has ever touched. I'll think about giving you another chance though because you have acted like a professional.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your time.
Mark Holmes
I appreciate the nice words, Mark.
ReplyDeleteI like Holmes, but have never written the character. I actually turned down the opportunity to a Holmes novella for airship 27 a couple years ago because I didn't feel I could do Holmes justice. I'm curious to read the plot for the Domino Lady/Holmes story. I understand it is a sequel to the Holmes story in the Domino Lady prose anthology.
I write more prose than comics these days. I just did a short Secret Agent X story in All-Star Pulp Comics. It's 8 pages of action. There's a link on the left of my site if you want to check it out. Some talented folks in this comic.
I have a couple graphic novels for 2012 (both more horror-based). The rest is mostly novels (generally thrillers) and shorter pieces for anthologies. Comics are my first love, however, so I dip my toe into comics whenever I can.
What type of stories do you like to read? There are a couple of inexpensive ebooks with my work I might be able to recommend.
I like stories where pretty girls fight mummies :-) I'm pretty easy to please. I really enjoy reading about sexy female heroes like the FemForce at AC comics. Edgar Rice Burroughs, Doc Smith type sci fi, westerns. A lot of your stuff seems right up my ally. However if you put out a Space Sirens book I want to read about a sexy space babe not about other things for 90% of the book then at the very end shoehorning in a Space Siren. Just give me what the title promises. ERB's first book "A Princess of Mars" gave me just that. We are so diametrically opposed on the Domino Lady book it scares me! If you really feel that was a good 1930's style pulp story we may have to go our separate ways. Vernia was too much of a modern style excuse for a hero (read crybaby pansy)and really Domino Lady didn't use her sex appeal to advance the story any. She could have been written as a librarian and got the same results. I meant what I said about this being an angsty Twilight type of story. I like two fisted heroes and gals who can take care of themselves! Whip out a sequel and reboot Domino Lady. Have her kick that wimp Vernia to the curb and have her fighting a mummy!
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Mark Holmes
There's not much I can do about this particular story as it's done and published. Vernia is in Moonstone's ongoing Domino Lady book, which is why he's here. I tried to keep him consistent with how he appears in that book, which I don't write.
ReplyDeleteMy first Domino Lady story was in the prose anthology. You can read that story as an ebook at iPulp. There's a link on my page. I believe it's either $.75 or $1.00. Maybe that one will be more to your liking.
My story in Space Sirens (it's a collection of short stories) is about a doctor on a space station. She's the main character and we follow her through the entire story.
Just finished Target Domino Lady. I would have finished it much sooner but i had a meeting to go to tonight. That story was spot on! Nancy Holder must be a bad influence on you. Your character Macarthy was much better than that wimpy Vernia.
ReplyDeleteThanks. Glad you liked Target: Domino Lady. The DL novel I'm doing for 2012 will be more like this than the comic. Inspector McCarthy will return in the novel and play a pivitol role. No plans for Vernia at this time, but that could possibly change as the story progresses. No title for the novel yet, but my plot has been approved and I plan to start writing on it in January. I'm catching up on other short stories and novellas in November and December.
ReplyDeleteI'm also writing 3 pulp novellas in January. Lance Star: Sky Ranger (pulp aviator hero), The Ruby Files (a 1930's hard boiled pulp p.i.), and Barry Reese's The Rook (costumed pulp hero).
2012 is going to be a busy year.
Bobby