Sadly, the next stop is not Willoughby! Editing for the third Howard Lovecraft book is nearly completed. We tie it up neatly, folks, and you will not be disappointed!
Next Stop…
Posted by rebeccamacpherson on July 28, 2012
Arcana Studio
All posts tagged Arcana Studio
Great news in our inbox this morning! David Barnett of the Guardian UK gives Howard Lovecraft and the Undersea Kingdom a glowing review! And we’ve been alerted that there may be a Howard Lovecraft sighting in The Independent this weekend, so we’ll certainly keep our eyes peeled.
In the meantime, please be sure to pre-order your copies and thanks again for your support!
Rebecca
The year is quickly winding down, and 2011 will soon be gone! We are moving into our busy social time, so you will probably not hear from us until well into the new year. This is usually the time when people start reflecting on their lives – where they are, where they have been, and where they want to go. For us, it has been an incredible year – full of new projects, traveling, and family bonding. You know how New Year’s Eve goes: out with the old and in with the new. We are looking forward to 2012 and all it has to bring, including several exciting new projects!
We wish you a safe, blessed, and Merry Christmas!
As our special gift to you, just click the image below and get ready for some cozy KRAMPUS Christmastime love (okay, maybe not).
Signed Books
Don’t forget: if you still want to order signed copies of Howard Lovecraft and the Frozen Kingdom, drop us an email (howardlovecraft(dot)comic(at)gmail.com). They have gone quickly, and we only have a few books left.
The Lovecraft Anthology
SelfMade Hero has announced the March release of The Lovecraft Anthology: Volume II, which features an H.P. Lovecraft adaptation by Dwight and sensational artist Paul Peart-Smith. Check out this amazing cover by our dear friend Francesco Francavilla, and click on the image to find out more about the book.
“Jack! But they said you were dead. You must be… DOUBLE DEAD!”
-The Nightmare Before Christmas
Warm regards,
Dwight and Rebecca and Krampus
PS – You can certainly tell which parts Dwight added! Hahaha!
Hello again, my friends. Sorry for the lapse in blog posting, but I’ve been extremely busy. I will have some exciting news to share in the near future, but, for now, a blog exclusive sneak peek from the upcoming Howard Lovecraft and the Undersea Kingdom and a couple other things I believe merit a mention on my blog will have to suffice.
Let’s Get it Started
Here. Here is a sneak peek at Howard Lovecraft and the Undersea Kingdom…
Illustrated by Thomas Boatwright
Mind-boggling–innit?
PISTOLFIST: Revolutionary Hero
My good friend J.S. Earls approached me a couple years ago with several story ideas. One of the pitches which captured my imagination and showed the most promise–in my opinion–was the idea of a superhero story in the Revolutionary War-era United States starring a runaway slave and Founding Father Benjamin Franklin.
Yes, seriously!
Over the course of the next few months, J and I tossed around ideas until Salem Attucks emerged as a character with a rich background, explained the origin of his powers, plotted and fleshed out a coherent story, and scripted and edited a three issue mini-series.
Now, I am happy to announce that this groundbreaking alternate-history superhero story is being collected in trade paperback format by Arcana Studio! Check out this amazing trailer JS put together…
It is now available from your friendly neighborhood comic shops and traditional/online bookstores, so please support indie comics and order your copy TODAY!
The Truth is Out There
Talented artist, musician and friend Mark Bell–better known as Tribal Gothic–has learned my deepest, darkest secret.
It happened one dark and stormy night…
Click here to read the rest. WARNING: NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART!
Adieu For Now
Thank you for reading, dear friend. Please feel free to share a link to the blog, and do stand by for a couple of exciting announcements!
It’s Coming…
I am proud to announce the sequel to the critically-acclaimed Howard Lovecraft and the Frozen Kingdom is well into production! And, whereas I served as the copy editor on the first book, I have co-written this installment with Bruce Brown.
Cover art by Thomas Boatwright
Have You Read the First Book?
While it is not imperative that you read Howard Lovecraft and the Frozen Kingdom before diving into the sequel, I strongly recommend doing so. Our publisher has notified us that the initial print run is almost sold-out, but you may yet purchase a copy at an online retailer. Your local bookshops (Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, etc.) can also order copies–but make haste, as they are very nearly gone!
Sneak Peek
Without further adieu…
Sneak Peek from Howard Lovecraft & the Undersea Kingdom
Brilliant–right?
We do not have a release date as of yet, but I will let you know as soon as we are notified by our publisher.
Work, Work, Work
Please feel free to share the sneak peek and spread the word about the sequel. In fact, I’d greatly appreciate it if you did. We have a small publisher, so we will not get the PR love the “Big Boys” offer their clientele.
Well… I am up to my tentacles in writing, research, worldbuilding and editing work, so I’ll get back to it. Thank you for reading!
Avast there, Swashbucklers and Buccaneers!
Dead Men Tell No Tales is now available for download on ComiXology!
The entire 114-page full-color graphic novel is available for only $9.99. It includes a forward by fan-favorite writer B. Clay Moore (I Am An Avenger, Superman Confidential, Hawaiian Dick, Billy Smoke) and a fabulous cover by the notorious Ben Templesmith (30 Days of Night, Fell, Wormwood: Gentleman Corpse).
Cover Art: Ben Templesmith
Here is the solicit:
In the golden age of piracy, Captain Kidd, Blackbeard, and Black Bart Roberts, the three most reviled pirates in history, contend for the most sacred prize the world has ever known – the lost Relics of Christ! This absolute edition collects the entire sold-out series hailed by critics and fans alike as “Pirates of the Caribbean meets Indiana Jones.”
We are extremely excited to see the graphic novel is available as a complete edition. One download and you’ve got the entire story on your iPhone or iPad. How cool is that?!
This supernatural historical-fiction graphic novel is really an amazing ride through the lives of Captain Kidd, Blackbeard, and Black Bart Roberts. To ensure maximum historical accuracy, Dwight spent two years researching the project before even writing it. Now that’s dedication!
So what are you waiting for? Go download your digital copy now or suffer a fate worse than death. Aaar.
I leave you with a quote from the infamous Blackbeard himself:
“Gilly, Gilly, give him just a tickle with the point of your blade, at about his liver.”
Rebecca
Artist: Zeke
Avast Ye Scurvy Knaves!
The Story:
In the golden age of piracy, Captain Kidd, Blackbeard, and Black Bart Roberts, the three most reviled pirates in history, contended for the most sacred prize the world has ever known – the lost Relics of Christ!
300 years later…
Present day: Archaeologist Samuel Cahn receives a mysterious package that turns his world upside-down! Pursued by unknown assassins and the undead pirate Blackbeard and his zombie crew, Cahn flees to the Middle East with his fiancée and bodyguard Winston. There, Cahn learns that he was chosen to end the curse of the Holy Relics once and for all. But nothing is at it appears, and Blackbeard isn’t the only one who would move Heaven and Earth to possess the Treasures of Christ.
From the Harvey and Eagle Award nominated writer of The Surreal Adventures of Edgar Allan Poo and DC Comics’ SIDEWISE comes the bold final installment of the supernatural swashbuckling pirate epic Dead Men Tell No Tales.
PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY NOW, MATEYS!
Don’t miss the groundbreaking sequel to the sold-out graphic novel Dead Men Tell No Tales as we close the book on Dead Men forever.
Or do we? [insert sinister laugh]
Rebecca
You Asked For It
First off, a special shout out to my buddies on Twitter for their feedback. I wasn’t sure how most folks felt about reading scripts on the internet, so I thought I’d ask. True, I read several script by Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, Mike Baron and Brian Bendis before attempting to write my first comic book (Dead Men Tell No Tales), but I’m an anal retentive research hound.
But you’re not here to hear about my toilet training.
I’ve posted the first 5 pages of script from Dead Men Tell No Tales #1 for your perusal. I hope you enjoy it and can glean something from it.
Lastly, as a caveat, I should point out that this is the very first comic script I wrote, so please be kind. If you continue reading and commenting, I’ll continue posting so you will be able to see the evolution (maturation) of my scriptwriting style and ability.
End Disclaimer.
DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES
Dead Men Tell No Tales Issue 1 Cover by Ben Templesmith
Dead Men Tell No Tales Issue
Issue 1: The Albatross of Ill Fate
©2010 Dwight L. MacPherson
PAGE 1 ( 4 Panels )
Panel 1. Long interior shot. Kibble’s bungalow. In the foreground, a white-haired Kibble lies stretched out in a rickety chair, neck snapped back resting on the top of the back of the chair. His right arm is to his chest cradling an empty rum bottle. His left hand hangs limply over the worn arm of the chair. In the dimly lit background, we can see a table with the map box sitting prominently on the “desk”… which is little more then a board propped up on a stool at one end and a coconut tree stump at the other. The desk is also littered with empty rum bottles of every shape and color, several nautical tools and books (which a large island rat is feasting upon). Also, featured PROMINENTLY over the table is the weathered and torn JOLLY ROGER from the Quedagh Merchant, affixed to the wall. Once the captain of a much-feared pirate ship, today Kibble lives in a shambles that could only be made hospitable if it were burnt to make way for something better. It is 3 AM in the morning and shadows like demons play upon the scantly lit room.
CAP: New Providence Island, 1719.
CAP: An aggrieved and aged Tobias Kibble slumbers after a lifetime of drink. But the rum does nothing to drown Kibble’s Hell…
Panel 2. (Dream panel… show this differently than the previous panel to denote that it is indeed a dream. Mess with the panel outline. Give these dream panels a red surreal hue.) Medium shot of Henry Sinclair (featured in the Hurricane Relief Fund short story) holding the Holy Grail triumphantly over his head. In the background, we see several other Templar Knights looking through large stone chests for holy treasures. These great containers are more than a thousand years old during the Crusades! Each is PROMINENTLY marked with a Hebrew Star of David and Menorah. The chests are filled with gold items from Solomon’s temple. One of them holds up the spear that pierced Christ’s side. Also, there are golden Egyptian items in the chests and the Ark of the Covenant can be seen as well. (NOTE TO ARTIST: IMPRESS THE READER WITH THE SHEER AMOUNT OF TREASURE IN THIS PANEL!!)
CAP: … Of glory…
Panel 3. (Back to the “real” world.) Medium shot of Kibble. Sweat beads from his forehead. He is asleep, but he appears to be having a nightmare, frowning, mouth slightly opened. (SHOW MOTION HERE. HE’S HAVING A NIGHTMARE!)
KIBBLE (Small): … Hell of glory…
Panel 4. (Dream panel.) A long shot of Hell. Demons fly around a FLAMING sea of fire , filled with the skeletons of sunken ships jutting from the fiery sea at odd angles, tormented half-decomposed people are seen through the flames, demons fly around with their prodders, randomly attacking the tormented. Millions of hands are raised, pleading for mercy. In the foreground, we see a zombified Kibble, reaching toward us. Maggots drop from his eye sockets. His flesh is peeled away, rotting in other spots. (MAKE THIS LOOK F*****G SCARY!!!) [Mike - Make Kibble have the same wound as Page 22 so the astute will realize that he is foreseeing his own fate.]
CAP: … and a Hell that awaits Kibble beyond his final resting place.
SFX: KNOCK!! KNOCK!!
Page 2 ( 3 Panels)
Panel 1. (Show these panels like in strange angles to emphasize the rocking motion of the ship.) Long shot of the Adventure galley with the pale moonlight behind her. The sea is gently swaying and splashing against her prow. We see a flag blowing in the light wind, but we can not tell what is on it due to the darkness. We see the masts of two ships behind the large ship.
CAP: But there was a time when Kibble was going to Hell… yet, not a reserved ring of it…
CAP: …until that blusterous summer night in 1698.
CAP: Tobias Kibble was first mate for the nefarious Captain Kidd. That fateful evening, Captain Kidd’s ship, the Adventure Galley, lay off the Indian coast like a shark in search of blood.
Panel 2. Medium shot of the Adventure galley with our view panning to the sails and the flag flying high and proud. But we still cannot see what is on the weathered flag.
CAP: The blood’s scent came with the sighting of the heavily laden British merchant ship, which evoked a frenzy that took hold of the man and his crew like a foul spirit.
Panel 3. Tight shot of the Jolly Roger flying high above the ship. It is a wind weathered and evil looking specter that twitches like an undead thing in the breeze.
CAP: A frenzy seemingly inspired by the grim grin of the Jolly Roger flying high above the deck of the Adventure Galley.
PAGE 3 ( 3 Panels)
Panel 1. (Smaller panel.) We see the deck of the Adventure galley as if looking down from the Roger’s point of view. We see pyrates running everywhere, and a lone figure dressed in regal clothes standing on the quarter deck behind the immense ship’s wheel.
KIDD: On me mark, lads!
Panel 2. (This panel is superimposed on the large third panel.)
Close up of Kidd’s weather beaten, evil looking face. His mouth is wide open as he screams the order cannoneers live for.
KIDD: FIRE!!!
Panel 3. (Large Panel) We see from behind Kidd as smoke erupts from the starboard side of the Adventure Galley. Kidd is still grasping the wheel and is turning to the starboard side. His eyes are glued on his quarry.
SFX: THOOM!! THOOM!! BADOOM!! BOOM!!
PAGE 4 ( 5 Panels )
Panel 1. Long shot off the starboard side of the Adventure Galley as cannon balls explode onto a merchant ship. People are blown to pieces as well as the deck of the merchant ship. People and wood are flying everywhere.
SFX: BADOOM!! CRACK!! THOOM!!
Panel 2. Medium shot of Kidd from the waist up, looking into his gold spy glass. He has a look of complete rapture on his face. He is relishing the attacked ship’s crew’s suffering and confusion.
KIDD: ‘Tis sufficient! She’s lowered her jack… she’s ours!
Panel 3. Upward angle shot of the quarter deck from behind the heads of some of the crew who have their cutlasses drawn. Kidd is still looking into the spy glass, but has his other hand raised with his open palm out, his elbow resting on the wheel.
KIDD: What spoils have ye, my lovely?
Panel 4. We see as through the looking glass, the bronze marker with the ship’s name upon it. It reads “The Quedagh Merchant,” and the single words “New World” below it.
KIDD: Me hold’s already brimmin’ with booty…
Panel 5. Medium shot from just behind the ship’s wheel. Kidd has the spy glass at his side and one hand on the wheel. He is smiling an evil grin. We see his two other ships behind him in the distance.
KIDD: … But let it not be said that Captain Kidd’s a fool who’d scuttle a prize as this! HAHAHAHA!!
PAGE 5 ( 6 Panels )
Panel 1. (Make the panels kind of erratic to show the confusion.)
Medium shot of the black smoke of cannons coming from the port side of the Quedagh Merchant. We see this from behind the head of a pirate standing on the starboard deck.
Panel 2. Medium shot of the pirate on the starboard deck from the waist up. He has one hand to his mouth to yell and the other raised in the air. We can see the Merchant in the background with smoke around her like a haze.
PIRATE: She’s firin’ on us, Cap’n!!
Panel 3. From same view as the pirate’s raised arm is ripped from where it was. Blood explodes everywhere. We see a couple canon balls whizzing past the man.
PIRATE: AAAAAH!
Panel 4. Over the shoulder shot of Kidd, looking onto the deck which is being damaged by a couple of canon balls. The injured pirate is holding his stump. Several other pirates are on the deck. Kidd still has one hand turning the wheel, and the other holding his spy glass.
SFX: THOOOM!!
KIDD: PREPARE THE HOOKS!
Panel 5. Tight shot of the deck as several pirates with large grappling hooks in their hands ready to pitch them. Their muscles are tense, and sweat flows from their bodies in the warm air.
Panel 6. Tight off ship view of the starboard side of the Adventure galley as many, many large grappling hooks with their ropes sprawling in the wind fill the sky.
Thar She Be, Mateys
As you will see, the format will change considerably over the course of my comic writing career from Dead Men to the present. I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s for the better!
Thank you for reading. I’ll see you soon with another script.
