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 "When Jack Kirby returned to Marvel in the 1970s, scores of amazing concepts would spring forth from his limitless imagination - and THE ETERNALS was his mind-blowing masterpiece! Kirby unveiled a secret history of humanity, races known as Eternals and Deviants, and a host of towering Celestials come to bear judgment on the Earth! It was a jaw-dropping saga that could have only come from the Needleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11243274667834930867noreply@blogger.com0

WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/28/21 – Sci-fi fantasy graphic novel THE MONUMENTS will be available on Kickstarter on April 1st!

THE MONUMENTS is a 140 page, beautifully illustrated, mystery/adventure story from Oliver Mertz (FIRST LAW OF MAD SCIENCE, MAYBE SOMEDAY), Michael S. Bracco (THE CREATORS, NOVO), and Mike Isenberg (FIRST LAW OF MAD SCIENCE, FUBAR).

The Kickstarter sign-up can be found here.

THE MONUMENTS is about a fantasy world in which four warring city-states are forced to come together to face a common enemy: giant mysterious mechs. Right before wiping out the entire civilization, the mechs all power down for no clear reason, leaving the survivors to rebuild their world together.

800 years later. The world has moved on. The city-states are now united as one nation: a land littered with massive robotic relics that serve as monuments to a long-forgotten war.

After centuries of dormancy, one of these long-frozen mechs suddenly powers up, revealing a man who is confused, misplaced in time, and still very much alive.

While we may be past the era of "peak television," we seem to be entering the era of peak superhero TV. The CW and HBOMax have got new DC shows, and Disney+ has the latest Marvel offerings. Then there's a few other things on Amazon Prime like The Boys and Invincible. The superhero dominance of the box office got put on hiatus by the pandemic, but it has gone on long enough now to get backlash.

All of this makes me wonder when we'll get a superhero rpg with more of a cinematic vibe, much in the the same way we got a number of rpgs with a "animated series" aesthetic (some of that could be pragmatic, though. There may be more artists able to do a cartoony style willing to work at rpg rates). Of course, you don't have to want for a new game to run a cinematic style campaign. You could even reboot an old campaign in a cinematic version.

What would "cinematic superhero universe" mean in a rpg context? I haven't really fully formulated an answer to that but their are some traits I can think of:

• Fewer superhumans (though they are getting more all the time!), particularly villains
• Lower power levels (in general), but...
• Fewer "skilled normal" masked heroes. (Captain America seems super-strong in the CMU; Falcon as more gadgets)
• Fewer secret identities, fewer masks
• Less colorful costumes
• A smaller array of possible origins
• Heroes more likely to engage in potentially lethal action

In general, cinematic universe changes seem similar to "ultimate universe" changes. They are more "realistic" versions of the characters.

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ABLAZE
A Sister GN, $24.99
Cagaster Volume 5 GN, $12.99
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Save It For Later Promises Parenthood And The Urgency Of Protest GN, $24.99

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Nuclear Family #2, $3.99

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Edgar Allan Poe’s Snifter Of Blood #6, $4.99

AMERICAN MYTHOLOGY PRODUCTIONS
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ANDREWS MCMEEL
Living With Mochi TP, $16.99
Phoebe And Her Unicorn Volume 13 Unicorn Famous GN, $11.99

ANTARCTIC PRESS
Coaraptor #3 (Kaiju Of The Wind), $3.99
Horror Comics Black And White #2 (Of 3), $3.99

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Betty And Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest #292, $7.99
World Of Archie Volume 2 TP, $10.99

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Cinema Purgatorio Collection TP, $19.99
Warrior Nun Dora Volume 1 TP, $9.99

AWA STUDIOS
Byte-Sized #4, $3.99
Mann’s World #3, $3.99

BBC BOOKS
Doctor Who Time Lord Victorious All Flesh Is Grass HC, $12.99

BLACK MASK STUDIOS
Destiny NY #1, $3.99

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Fleetway Picture Library Classics Presents Pirate Tales SC, $34.99
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Illustrators Magazine #31, $24.99

BOOM! STUDIOS
Firefly #27, $3.99
Firefly Blue Sun Rising Volume 1 HC, $19.99
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Power Rangers Unlimited Heir To The Darkness #1, $7.99

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Lincoln Brigade TP, $19.99

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Battle Volume 1 GN, $15.95

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Autobiographix HC, $24.99
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Black Ghost TP, $19.99
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EC Archives Shock Illustrated HC, $49.99
Sacred Decay The Art Of Lauren Marx HC, $29.99
Stranger Things Volume 4 Science Camp TP, $19.99
Trial Of The Wizard King The Wizard King Trilogy Volume 2 TP, $12.99
Unfinished Business HC, $19.99
Usagi Yojimbo Saga Volume 9 TP, $24.99
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Young Hellboy The Hidden Land #2 (Of 4)(Cover A Matt Smith), $3.99

DC COMICS
Batman Catwoman #4 (Of 12), $4.99
Batman’s Grave The Complete Collection HC, $39.99
Flash #768 (Cover A Brandon Peterson), $4.99
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Green Arrow 80 Years Of The Emerald Archer The Deluxe Edition HC, $29.99
John Constantine Hellblazer Volume 2 The Best Version Of You TP, $16.99
Justice League Odyssey Volume 4 Last Stand TP, $16.99
Other History Of The DC Universe #3 (Of 5), $6.99
Strange Adventures #9 (Of 12), $4.99
Teen Titans Raven HC, $19.99

DEL REY
Star Wars Doctor Aphra Novel HC, $25.00
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Framed Ink Volume 2 Frame Format Energy And Compositition For Visual Storytellers SC, $27.95

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Star Wars Skywalker A Family At War HC, $24.99

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
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FANFARE PRESENTS PONENT MON
Journal Of My Father HC, $28.00

GHOST SHIP
Yuuna And The Haunted Hot Springs Volume 13 GN, $12.99

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Menopause A Comic Treatment GN, $29.95

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Dog Man Volume 10 Mothering Heights GN, $12.99

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Phantom The Complete Newspaper Dailies Volume 21 1968-1970 HC, $60.00

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I Like to Read Comics A Giant Mess GN, $14.99
I Like To Read Comics Spring Cakes GN, $14.99

IDW PUBLISHING
Korgi Volume 5 End Of Seasons GN, $14.99
Marvel Action Spider-Man Volume 3 #1, $3.99
My Little Pony Transformers Friendship In Disguise TP, $15.99
Sea Of Sorrows #4 (Of 5), $3.99
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Transformers #28, $3.99
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IMAGE COMICS
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Spawn #316, $2.99
Two Moons #2, $3.99

INFINITE WORLDS
Infinite Worlds Magazine #7, $13.00

J-NOVEL CLUB
Animeta Light Novel Volume 5 SC, $14.99
Ascendance Of A Bookworm Light Novel Part 3 Volume 1 SC, $14.99
Ascendance Of A Bookworm Part 1 Volume 4 GN, $14.99
By The Grace Of The Gods Light Novel Volume 3 SC, $14.99
I Shall Survive Using Potions Volume 3 GN, $14.99
I Shall Survive Using Potions Light Novel Volume 4 SC, $14.99
Infinite Dendrogram Omnibus Volume 2 GN, $19.99

JY
W.I.T.C.H. Part 7 New Power Volume 3 GN, $15.00
Wizards Of Mickey Volume 2 GN, $16.00

KEENSPOT ENTERTAINMENT
Biden’s Titans #1, $4.99
God Mode #3, $4.99

KODANSHA COMICS
Heaven’s Design Team Volume 4 GN, $12.99
Orient Volume 3 GN, $10.99
Quintessential Quintuplets Volume 13 GN, $10.99
Shikimori’s Not Just A Cutie Volume 3 GN, $12.99

LO SCARABEO
Serpiero Eros Bilingual Collection HC, $44.99

MAD CAVE STUDIOS
Terminal Punks #5 (Of 5), $3.99

MAGNETIC PRESS
Wahcommo HC, $29.99

MARVEL COMICS
Avengers Academy The Complete Collection Volume 3 TP, $44.99
Avengers By Jonathan Hickman The Complete Collection Volume 4 TP, $44.99
Avengers Curse Of The Man-Thing #1, $4.99
Beta Ray Bill #1 (Of 5), $4.99
Black Cat #4, $3.99
Captain America #28, $3.99
Fantastic Four Antithesis Treasury Edition TP, $34.99
King In Black Ghost Rider #1, $4.99
Shang-Chi By Gene Luen Yang Volume 1 Brothers And Sisters TP, $15.99
Shang-Chi Earth’s Mightiest Martial Artist TP, $24.99
Silk #1 (Of 5), $3.99
Symbiote Spider-Man King In Black #5 (Of 5), $3.99
U.S.Agent #4 (Of 5), $3.99
Union #4 (Of 5), $3.99
X-Men #19, $3.99
X-Men Legends #2, $3.99

NBM
Loud House Volume 12 The Case Of The Stolen Drawers HC, $12.99

NEW YORK REVIEW COMICS
Jimbo Adventures In Paradise GN, $29.95

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Stig And Tilde Volume 3 The Loser Squad GN, $13.95

ONI PRESS
Hazards Of Love SC, $19.99
Secrets Of Camp Whatever SC, $17.99

PANINI PUBLISHING
Doctor Who Magazine #557, $11.99
Doctor Who Magazine #558, $11.99
Doctor Who Magazine #560, $11.99
Doctor Who Magazine Presents The Daleks, $19.99
Doctor Who Magazine Special #56 (2021 Year Book), $13.50

PENN STATE UNIVERSITY PRESS
Fat GN, $17.50

PICTURE ESQUE PUBLISHING
CARtoons Magazine #32, $6.99

PIE INTERNATIONAL
Haruhiko Mikimoto Character Design Archives HC (Updated English Edition)(not verified by Diamond), $49.99

RANDOM HOUSE BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS
Max Meow Cat Crusader Volume 2 Donuts And Danger GN, $12.99

REBELLION / 2000AD
Faceache The Ken Reid Years Volume 1 TP, $15.99
Judge Dredd Megazine #428, $10.99

RED 5 COMICS
Riptide Draken TP, $14.95

RUTGERS UNIVERSITY PRESS
Ballad Of An American A Graphic Biography Of Paul Robeson SC, $19.95
Comics Studies A Guidebook SC, $34.95
Rebuilding Story Worlds The Obscure Cities By Schuiten And Peeters SC, $29.95

SCOUT COMICS
Grit Volume 1 TP, $9.99

SEVEN SEAS ENTERTAINMENT
Berserk OF Gluttony Light Novel Volume 2 SC, $14.99
Didn’t I Say To Make My Abilities Average In The Next Life Light Novel Volume 12 SC, $13.99
How A Realist Hero Rebuilt The Kingdom Light Novel Volume 11 SC, $13.99
Kingdoms Of Ruin Volume 2 GN, $12.99
Magical Girl Site Volume 14 GN, $12.99
Nurse Hitomi’s Monster Infirmary Volume 12 GN, $12.99

SOLO PUBLISHING
Cinema Retro #49, $11.99

SOURCE POINT PRESS
Black Of Heart #5 (Of 5), $3.99
Claim A Song Of Ire And Vice #4 (Of 4), $3.99
Cult Of Dracula #1 (Of 6), $3.99
Damned Cursed Children #3 (Of 5), $3.99
Dead End Kids Suburban Job #3 (Of 4), $3.99
Eighth Immortal #3 (Of 4), $3.99
Era Of Great Wonders #4 (Of 6), $3.99
Hollow TP, $14.99
Spaced Out #1 (One Shot), $3.99
Touching Evil #14, $4.99
Warcorns Combat Unicorns for Hire #3 (Of 4), $3.99

TASCHEN AMERICA
Little Big Book Of Breasts HC, $15.00

TITAN BOOKS
Blade Runner 2049 The Storyboards HC, $50.00

TITAN COMICS
Adler Volume 1 TP, $16.99
Star Wars Insider #201, $9.99

TOKYOPOP
Laughing Under The Clouds Volume 1 GN, $12.99
Our Not-So-Lonely Planet Travel Guide Volume 1 GN, $12.99

TOON BOOKS
Wildflowers HC, $12.95

TRIPWIRE PUBLISHING
Tripwire Autumn 2020 Special, $12.99

TWOMORROWS PUBLISHING
Marvel Comics In The 1970s TP (Expanded Edition), $29.95

UDON ENTERTAINMENT
Devil May Cry 3142 Graphic Arts HC, $49.99
Robotech Visual Archive The Southern Cross HC, $49.99

VAULT COMICS
Giga #3, $3.99
Shadow Service #6, $3.99
Witchblood #1, $3.99

VERTICAL COMICS
Blood On The Tracks Volume 5 GN, $12.95
Don’t Toy With Me Miss Nagatoro Volume 6 GN, $12.95
School Frozen In Time Volume 1 GN, $12.95

YEN ON
86 Eighty Six Light Novel Volume 7 SC, $14.00
Hero Is Overpowered But Overly Cautious Light Novel Volume 6 SC, $15.00
I Was A Bottom-Tier Bureaucrat For 1500 Years And The Demon King Made Me A Minister Light Novel SC, $15.00
Rampage Of Haruhi Suzumiya Light Novel SC, $15.00
Rascal Does Not Dream Of Siscon Idol Light Novel SC, $15.00
Wavering Of Haruhi Suzumiya Light Novel SC, $15.00
Yokohama Station SF Novel SC, $20.00

YEN PRESS
86 Eighty Six Volume 2 GN, $13.00
Bungo Stray Dogs Volume 18 GN, $13.00
Can’t Stop Cursing You Volume 1 GN, $13.00
Carole And Tuesday Volume 2 GN, $13.00
Fiancee Of The Wizard Volume 3 GN, $13.00
Goblin Slayer Side Story II Dai Katana Volume 1 GN, $13.00
Im Great Prince Imhotep Volume 8 GN, $15.00
Kaiju Girl Caramelise Volume 4 GN, $13.00
Karneval Volume 11 GN, $20.00
Do You Love Your Mom And Her Two-Hit Multi-Target Attacks Volume 4 GN, $13.00
Love Of Kill Volume 1 GN, $13.00
Lust Geass Volume 3 GN, $13.00
Reborn As A Polar Bear The Legend Of How I Became A Forest Guardian Volume 5 GN, $15.00
Strawberry Fields Once Again Volume 2 GN, $13.00
That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime The Ways Of The Monster Nation Volume 4 GN, $13.00
Vampire And His Pleasant Companions Volume 2 GN, $13.00
When A Magician’s Pupil Smiles GN, $30.00

ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT
Courier Liberty And Death #3 (Of 3), $5.99
Grimm Fairy Tales #47, $3.99
Van Helsing Black Annis #1 (One Shot), $5.99

This week’s Cosplay Girl of the Week Jannet Sorekage

If you would like to be the Cosplay Girl of the Week! Please send your photo to Giovanni.Aria@firstcomicsnews.com and you will be considered for inclusion in a future edition of Superhero Girls!

This week’s Cosplay Dude of the Week

If you would like to be the Cosplay Guy of the Week! Please send your photo to Alex.Wright@firstcomicsnews.com and you will be considered for inclusion in a future edition of Superhero Dudes!

This week’s Cosplay Team of the Week

If you would like to be the Cosplay Team of the Week Please send your photo to Alex.Wright@firstcomicsnews.com and you will be considered for inclusion in a future edition of Superhero Team!

Brian “Road Dogg” James, was hospitalized Saturday after suffering a heart attack, according to his wife, Tracy James.

The Event Will Be Held At The San Diego Convention Center Over Thanksgiving Weekend

San Diego Comic Convention today announced dates for their November convention. Comic-Con Special Edition will be held as a three-day event over Thanksgiving weekend, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, November 26-28, 2021 at the San Diego Convention Center. It is our hope that by Fall conditions will permit larger public gatherings.

Comic-Con Special Edition will be the first in-person convention produced by the organization since Comic-Con 2019, and the first since the onset of the global pandemic COVID-19. The Fall event will allow the organization to highlight all the great elements that make Comic-Con such a popular event each year, as well as generate much needed revenue not only for the organization but also for local businesses and the community.

“While we have been able to pivot from in-person gatherings to limited online events, the loss of revenue has had an acute impact on the organization as it has with many small businesses, necessitating reduced work schedules and reduction in pay for employees, among other issues,” said David Glanzer, spokesperson for the nonprofit organization. “Hopefully this event will shore up our financial reserves and mark a slow return to larger in-person gatherings in 2022.”

As details are still being finalized, badge cost, attendance capacity, and related information will be forthcoming.

Think Big Studios Released Live-Action Fan Fiction Film Harley Quinn – Blazing Shadows

Free 35-minute film released on YouTube, telling the story of Harley’s redemption from The Joker

BERLIN – Mar. 28, 2021 – Think Big Studios released its new 35-minute-long fan fiction film Harley Quinn – Blazing Shadows on YouTube. Produced and directed by Thomas Bernecker, who also financed the project, the film represents the work of a team of movie business professionals who collaborated on its creation in their free time over a two-year period. The film tells a new chapter in the story of Harley Quinn, a character who was made famous as a sidekick of The Joker in the Batman comics and movies.

“We have always seen Harley as so much more than just a supporting character,” Bernecker explained. “Harley Quinn has the full potential to exist as an independent character. My wish, as a fan of Harley Quinn, was that there should be a film in which Harley plays the leading role and that we should be able to experience her character in all its facets.” The 2020 film Birds of Prey proved that Harley works very well without The Joker and Batman.

In this spirit, the filmmakers deliberately chose the classic comic version of Harley, where she wears her jester suit, but without the jester’s cap. Bernecker added, “In our opinion, this version of Harley is still the most popular original—the one we fell in love with in the comics and Batman.” Formally named Dr. Harleen Frances Quinzel, the Harley Quinn character previously appeared in Batman, the Animated Series and Suicide Squad.

Harley Quinn – Blazing Shadows tells the story of Harley’s redemption from The Joker. Taking place about five years after her breakup from The Joker, it reveals that Harley has moved back to her hometown Brooklyn, where she grew up, and now lives in a relationship with her girlfriend, Poison Ivy. However, after all these years in her now quite “middle-class life,” she slowly starts to long for the good old days, when she robbed banks and was guided by great feelings for The Joker and had many great adventures.

As these feelings of doubts, pain and fear swirl around Harley, the audience experiences the awakening of Kitsune, the master of fire and fear. What Harley doesn’t know is that Kitsune draws his existence and power from her self-doubt. He digs deeper and deeper into Harley’s psyche until he finally meets her greatest fear: The Joker himself. For Harley, this turns into a fight against the dangerous love of The Joker. The film culminates with Harley having to decide a direction for her life. Will she remain in her new, self-determined life together with Poison Ivy or her old ego under the seductive leadership of The Joker?

As a fan movie based on characters owned by Warner Bros. and DC Comics, Harley Quinn – Blazing Shadows cannot engage in any commercial activities of it own. “We want to respect the copyrights and make no profit from the creative and marketing power of the creators,” said Bernecker. “It is rather an appreciation for the creators and the lovingly designed characters and worlds around Harley Quinn, Joker, Batman and Gotham.”

Bernecker financed the complete production out of funds he earned from commercial work as a director and filmmaker for large companies. Approximately 80 filmmakers from various countries, including Germany, France, Austria, England, USA, Vietnam and India, participated in the film. The film was shot entirely in Berlin during eight days of shooting in December, 2019. The location for the “Arkham Asylum,” which comes from the Batman Comics, was a former Stasi prison in Berlin.

The 35-minute film is of cinema quality, ideally to be watched on a big screen. For instance, it features sound that was mixed in a professional sound studio for cinema screenings, ready even for 7.1 surround sound.

 As was said last blog entry there's something very distinctive about Michael Moorcocks's Kane of Old Mars series. The Michael Moorcock, Kane of Old Mars (Warriors of Mars/Blades of Mars/Barbarians of Mars) (Lancer, 1965) books are a homage to Edgar Rice Burroughs Barsoom books. But they have a very distinctive flavor because the war between Law & Chaos on Mars is far closer to the fight between Needleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11243274667834930867noreply@blogger.com0

The post Video of the Day – Doctor Who: Twice Upon A Time, 2018 appeared first on Blogtor Who.

New York, NY (March 27, 2021) – American comic book writer, editor, and letterer, Erica Schultz, best known for her work on Daredevil will be launching a Kickstarter campaign for her newest graphic miniseries, The Deadliest Bouquet on May 11th.

The Deadliest Bouquet has murder, secrets, and family drama wrapped up in 1998. Three estranged sisters trained by their Nazi-hunting mother must come together to help solve their mother’s murder…and try not to kill each other in the process. Rose, Poppy, and Violet were all trained in the art of espionage and assassination by their mother, Jasmine. When they were old enough to survive on their own, Poppy and Violet left home, with Rose, the oldest and “responsible one” remaining to help Jasmine run the flower shop. When Jasmine is found murdered in an apparent botched robbery, Poppy and Violet return home to New Jersey to confront old demons, dig up buried secrets, and solve their mother’s murder. With the sisterhood and family drama of Charmed and the aesthetic of Singles, it’s grunge meets pop meets enthusiasm for the new millennium.

Working with Schultz on The Deadliest Bouquet is interior artist Carola Borelli (Destiny: NY), colorist Gab Contreras (The Final Girls), cover artist Kevin Wada (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Scarlet Witch) and editor James Emmett (I Am Hexed).

“This is a story I’ve worked on for several years, so to see it come to fruition is long overdue. James helped me find the through-line for the story, and Carola and Gab’s art just brings it to life.”

The Kickstarter campaign will be asking for $20,000USD to fund The Deadliest Bouquet mini- series (five issues) and send it to print.

Female Force: Dolly Parton

Writer: Michael L. Frizell

Artist:  Ramon Salas

Release Date: 3/31/2021

Print and Digital 

The woman famous for proclaiming, “It costs a lot of money to look this cheap,” has proven to be a powerhouse singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, actress, author, businesswoman, and philanthropist. The ascent of country music superstar Dolly Parton from modest means to the most honored female country performer of all-time is empowering and inspirational.  Alternate cover by famed comic book artist Dave Ryan.

 

Power of the Valkyrie: Chronos Edda #3

Writer: Chris Studabaker

Artist:  Mannix

Release Date: 3/31/2021

Print and Digital 

As the Valkyrie’s fate draws nearer she seeks to understand the elusive nature, the future, and ancient myths in which she has become entangled. In the aftermath of Kostr’s hospital attack Suzanne decides it’s time to be proactive in her fight, but Thor and Odin disagree. Shunning the Norse gods, Suzanne arrives at the great World Tree and finds a new level of clarity and confusion when she meets the three strange women who create the fate of all existence. Kostr, the demi-god who has foreseen her doom, arrives and Suzanne prepares to meet her fate.

 

Odyssey: Solo

Artist:  Abdullah, Carl Riely , Norm Breyfogle, Eduardo Mello, Esdras

Writer: Erica Carlson-Schultz, Chad Rebmann, Scott Davis, Darren G. Davis, Nick Lyons

Release Date:  3/31/2021

Print and Digital 

For twenty years, TidalWave which started at Image Comics has been known for developing mythological characters into modern day world.  This new graphic novel showcases some of the best one-shots from over the two decades such as Atlas, Medusa, Camelot, Venus, Valkyrie, 10th Muse, Orion the Hunter and more.  Featuring art by late comic book legendary artist Norm Breyfogle and a cover by DC Comics Mike S. Miller.

Over at https://landofnod.blog/ you can find posts by John Stater called Dragon by Dragon where he reads through an issue of Dragon Magazine and gives his thoughts about it. I recently bought a big pile of NOD Magazine and thought I would return the favor and go through each issue similarly.

NOD #5 is 83 pages with a striking cover of Death taking a knight. It begins with Eat, Drink, and Be Scary! which is 6 pages detailing about 25 different kinds of vampires from many different mythologies. An example would be the Tlahuelpuchi, which are not undead but cursed from birth to feed on blood once per month. They take the form of a vulture at night when they go to hunt but resume their normal form when they enter a house. They usually live with their families who hide them so they do not also become cursed. 
After that is Medieval Mining which gives us the basics of actual mining techniques in 2 pages and then goes on for 13 more pages detailing the many stones and metals which are mined: the ore it comes from, what it looks like, types of rock the ore is associated with, the methods of mining (and smelting), its uses, and its general value. Very useful stuff if you want adventures investigating a mine!
My favorite class to play in D&D is an illusionist. I love being able to use illusions in creative ways in order to solve problems. Here, The Illusionist takes 8 pages, most of which are spells. This version does not prepare spells but uses spell points instead. they gets 2 spell points at 1st level and each spell level costs 1 point. All of the illusionist's 1st level spells are new  and then there is a mixture of old new spells all the way up to level 9 spells. (Only the new spells are detailed in NOD #5. The rest are in Swords & Wizardry.) I have not played this version of the illusionist but it looks like great fun and I would love to try it out.
Next is the feature article, Ibis - City of Sorcerers, which is a city-state dominated by magic users. The theme given is "ancient Egypt in Renaissance costume". It is a huge city, detailed like NOD's hexcrawls, going for 25 pages. There is even a Court of Spirits, where on moonlit nights, you might experience Fairyland effects.
The second level of the dungeon The Pleasure Palace of Izrigul, introduced last issue is next. There are 8 pages where the cultists "play in their weird, profane wonderland." All I will say is that there is a Wine Elemental.
We then get a preview of John Stater's Mystery Men! RPG, and he shows the basic conceit of scaling up the D&D attributes and using experience points to buy levels and superpowers to make D&D a superhero RPG. To get powers, he recommends just using spells and this formula to determine the experience point value: spell level x caster level x 100. Many sample characters are given to show what can be done using this system. I have played the 2nd edition of the Mystery Men RPG and it works quite well. I recommend it.
Finally, there is part 4 of Phantastes. There are only two RPG notes this time: one about Fairy Shadow and one about the Fairy Palace. Both are cool concepts for use in any game that uses Fairyland.
NOD Magazine continues to be quality material. You can get the PDF of issue #5 at Lulu or in print at Lulu.

The 1950s called and they want their aliens back! Samuel Barnett returns as agent Norton Folgate in a full cast Torchwood audio adventure to remember Due for release by Big Finish in July 2021, Madam, I’m sees the return of Dervla Kirwan as Norton’s boss Lizbeth Hayhoe. Set in the heart of 1950s Torchwood Soho, […]

The post Torchwood: Madam, I’m – PRE-ORDER NOW from Big Finish appeared first on Blogtor Who.

 Alright several weeks ago before the current Sword & Sorcery run that we've been on at the table top level. Things got pretty interesting before DM Steve's schedule with work fractured our current campaign. So its been a bit of mad scramble to get back on track but last night a phone call proved quite good with him feed us some Sword & Planet notes.  His proposel was simple use Astonishing Needleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11243274667834930867noreply@blogger.com0

The stellar cast of Steven Moffat’s Inside Man has been announced – including David Tennant! Steven Moffat’s next project, Inside Man, is coming to BBC One and Netflix next year and this week the team have announced the main cast. And it includes some names very familiar to Doctor Who fans. Because Moffat is calling […]

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A new monster for the Forgotten Smugglers' Cave adventure, which starts here.

illustration by Lore Suto

Aggroach

Least Large Huge Giant (Adult) Move 150 feet/turn 120 feet/turn 90 feet/turn 60 feet/turn,
30 feet flying Hit Dice 1 hp 1/2 1 2 Armor Class 7 6 5 4 Treasure Type nil nil nil nil Attacks 1 1 1 1 Damage 1 hp 1d4 1d6 1d8
A large, aggressive cockroach that has recently invaded the region of Portown, likely brought in with smuggled goods from afar. The earliest encountered specimens were only one foot long (the least aggroach*), but unfortunately these were merely the earliest instar (stage) after hatching. The most numerous of the forms, these are, luckily, often eaten by those hardy predators that can stomach them, like giant rats. The survivors, however, grow and toughen with each molt, until finally transforming into the adult form, the winged giant aggroach, which is as long as a halfling is tall.
An omnivorous hunter, an aggroach will attack by rearing up on its hindlegs and then lashing out with the razor sharp spines on its forelegs. Like their smaller kin, they are somewhat social, hunting in packs with similarly-sized members (e.g., 2d6 least, 1d10 large, 1d6 huge, 1d4 adults). 
When killed, an aggroach will release a "death stench" to warn away other members of its species (make a morale check or flee). This smell is revolting to humans and their kin, and thus anyone who delivers a killing melee blow to one must make a save vs poison or attack at -2 for 1d6 turns (save at +1 for the least, and -1 for the giant). It is rumored that various wizards in the area are now paying for intact larger specimens so that they might study the stench-producing glands in order to determine if they have any practical application in magical research.
*See One-Hit Point Monsters (2013)