I’ve got several impending deadlines so I’ll be laying low this week. Y’all behave yourselves and have a good time.

Sadly not terribly prolific, illustrator Kenneth Huey produced two outstanding comic book stories for me while I was at Mojo Press ("Inside/Out" in Creature Features and "Till The Cows Come Home" with Mark Evans in Weird Business) He also painted the beautifully disgusting back cover for Creature Features.

Prior to his work for me, Huey’s strange illustrated stories appeared in the bizarre anthology Commie From Mars.

He famously created the cover for the legendary Book of the SubGenius.

Luckily for us, Huey decided to make his sequential work available for everyone to enjoy.

I’m one of the special guests for the Alan Moore episode of the geek podcast The League of Extremely Ordinary Gentlemen.

It began with a discussion about Watchmen and devolved into many other subjects. Lots of comics, movies, Alan Moore, and other geek shit within. You can hear me diss the movie, Lord of the Rings, and Neil Gaiman.

I’m now putting a moratorium on my discussions about Watchmen for the foreseeable future. After three articles and countless talks about it, I’m so tired of the subject. Time to devote my energies on other far more interesting things.

Let’s take a quick look to see what’s arrived in the mail here at the Geek Compound.

The Burning Skies by David J. Williams

Promo copy:

In his electrifying debut The Mirrored Heavens, David J. Williams created a dark futuristic world grounded in the military rivalries, terror tactics, and political wrangling of our own time and reinvented military science fiction as we knew it. Now he takes his acclaimed blend of military SF, espionage thriller, and dystopian cyberpunk one step further….

The world Claire Haskell knew is in tatters–her lover dead, her mission betrayed, her past a lie…. All that lies before her is a future built on memories that may not even be real. And the terrorist group Autumn Rain is hot on her tail.

The Rain was not destroyed, only wounded….and it’s quickly becoming clear that their ultimate goal is not simply to destroy the tenuous global alliances of the twenty-second century–but to rule all of humanity. And they’re starting with the assassination of the US president and violently takeover of the complex American computer networks known as the zone. Now it’s up to Claire to hack the networks of the enemy, outwit their attacks, and win this impossible war.

Battling ferociously across the Earth-Moon system and navigating a complex world filled with both steadfast loyalists and ruthless traitors, Claire fights to defend the president, the zone, and herself. But the true enemy may already be one step ahead of her.

World’s End (Age of Misrule Book 1) by Mark Chadbourn

Promo copy:

When Jack Churchill and Ruth Gallagher encounter a terrifying, misshapen giant beneath a London bridge they are plunged into a mystery which portends the end of the world as we know it. All over the country, the ancient gods of Celtic myth are returning to the land from which they were banished millennia ago. Following in their footsteps are creatures of folklore: fabulous bests, wonders and dark terrors As technology starts to fail, Jack and Ruth are forced to embark on a desperate quest for four magical items – the last chance for humanity in the face of powers barely comprehended.

Darkest Hour (Age of Misrule Book 2) by Mark Chadbourn

Promo copy:

The eternal conflict between the Light and Dark once again blackens the skies and blights the land. On one side stand the Tuatha de Danaan, golden-skinned and beautiful, filled with all the might of angels. On the other are the Fomorii, monstrous devils hell-bent on destroying all human existence. And in the middle are the Brothers and Sisters of Dragons, determined to use the strange power that binds them to the land in a last, desperate attempt to save the human race. Church, Ruth, Ryan, Laura and Shavi have joined forces with Tom, a hero from the mists of time, to wage a guerrilla war against the iron rule of the gods. But they didn’t count on things going from bad to worse …this is the stunning continuation of a powerful fantasy saga by one of Britain’s most acclaimed young writers.

Congratulation to Pyr editor and longtime RevSF booster Lou Anders on his third consecutive Hugo Award nomination.

Last night my neighborhood was in lockdown as the Austin SWAT confronted a "man [who] refused to surrender" after a "wellfare call." The whole thing ended after a five hour standoff with no one being hurt and the man brought into custody. Since it was in my ‘hood, I recorded my experiences via Twitter.

Bold are from the later news reports or commentary from me. Times are approximations since Twitter doesn’t record the exact time of a post. I share my tweets with Facebook but there is sometimes a lag.

9:41 PM trying to figure out why the cops are diverting traffic from Burnet down 47th (past my house). Access to Rosedale cut off at 47th also.

Austin Police Lt. Ockltree tells KEYE TV a check wellfare call came in shortly before 7:30p.m. Police aren’t releasing any other details but tell us the man inside refused to surrender.

10:04 PM SWAT standoff like one block from my house! http://tinyurl.com/cjnjhx Streets blocked off and everything.

10:07 PM More on SWAT standoff http://tinyurl.com/dn48bv

10:24 PM Cops are keeping everyone off the streets. It’s very quiet out there… hopefully, not too quiet.

Sgt. Mason with APD says, "That’s why were here, that’s basically why we shut down Burnet Road. To make sure that everyone is safe and if the person has weaponery and we don’t know at this point, but if there is some kind of danger. That’s why we shut down Burnet Road and the neighborhood is in lockdown."

10:30 PM Hope this resolves before bed. Not exactly easy to sleep with police lights flickering throughout the house.

I live on 47th between Burnet and Rosedale. Standoff on 46th between Burnet and Rosedale. I could see the flashing lights from both Burnet and Rosedale as cops blocked off the streets.

11:30 PM aluikart @rickklaw @iemilie @terrymtz @ctreada SWAT team has closed rosedale between 45th and 47th. almost wasn’t allowed back to my house.

Neighbor aluikart who is on Rosedale reached out to several of us via Twitter. I’ve included some of his tweets for a more complete picture.

11:30 PM aluikart good thing sarah was home – my license doesn’t have my rosedale address so i couldn’t prove i lived here. 46th is crazy dark right now.

11:35 PM Still no news and no movement. Just flashing lights.

11:40 PM aluikart this is no "omg plane just landed in hudson", but probably the most exciting few twitters i’ve ever twittered. UPDATE: no gun battles.

12:00 AM aluikart "YOU NEED TO COME OUT. WE CAN’T LEAVE UNTIL WE KNOW YOU’RE SAFE"

I assume this is SWAT talking to the man barricaded in the house.

12:25 AM aluikart okay, no more fucking around. those were gunshots.

12:25 AM Gunshots fired!

We both heard the shots. This very vague bit comes from the news report. "At one point while police were talking to a woman in the front yard, neighbors say they heard two gunshots."

12:28 AM A few moments of lots of cars moving on 47th then nothing but quiet after the shots.

12:32 AM some of the news trucks parked at Phoenicia [Bakery at 47th & Burnet[ have driven away. Burnet and Rosedale still closed.

12:35 AM aluikart lots of banging noises right now. not like the gunshots earlier. maybe they’re breaking the door down?

12:36 AM banging noises are from the garbage truck at Phoenicia. Watching out my window.

12:40 AM Garbage truck gone now. Any new clanking is from something else.

12:41 AM Another gunshot! Shotgun this time?

12:43 AM And now a cop car went zooming by on 47th toward Burnet!

12:45 AM According to @aluikart who is closer to the scene, it was an explosion

12:46 AM aluikart that rattled windows here. not that i’ve ever heard a shotgun before.

Police finally used [tear] gas on the man, and were able to get him out of the house without incident around 12:30 a.m. Thursday.

12:47 AM aluikart well, i didn’t see anything. i’m going to stop posting because i can’t see anything and don’t want to spread misinformation.

1:00 AM Ambulance passed my house on 47th and turned left on Ramses! No lights but heading toward scene.

1:22 AM Hearing what may very well be several gunshots

Have no idea what the noises were and probably never will.

1:26 AM Wish they’d end this standoff. I’d really like to go to bed now.

Course it was over but had no way of knowing.

1:40 AM Been very quiet for abt 15 minutes. No noise. No cop movements. Just some barking from the dogs in the neighborhood. They’re agitated.

1:54 AM Streets still blocked but been quiet for nearly 1/2 hour. Wonder if they forgot to tell the grunts blocking the streets?

1:58 AM Police van is gone from Burnet but street is still closed. As is Rosedale.

2:15 AM Guess it is over. Rosedale is open though Burnet is still closed. Figure out in morn. Off to bed.

So there you have it. A lil bit of excitement in my life as experienced via Twitter.

While "researching" a recent Nexus Graphica, I had reason to look through my collection of Comics Of Unusual Size. This set of the big and small and odd of comicdom offers many gems. Deciding that I really should share some of these largely forgotten and sometime rare pieces, I’m taking you through a tour of the more interesting selections.

Click on images for full sized versions.

The New Original Captain Canuck Limited Edition No. 1 (Matrix Comics 2001)
Art by Dejan Ostojic

Premiering in Captain Canuck #1, Captain Canuck‘s original adventures ran for three issues in 1975-76. Writer Ron Leishman and artist/co-writer Richard Comely relied on tropes of US action comics while creating one of the most popular Canadian-created superhero. In 1979, Captain Canuck returned for an additional eleven issues and a Summer Special. The extraordinary George Freeman drew most of these issues and are sought after by discerning fans. (IDW recently announced two forthcoming collections of these issues!)

Captain Canuck #11 (Comely Comix) Art by George Freeman

Since the end of Freeman’s run (and that incarnation of the comic) in 1981, there have been several attempt to relaunch/ reintroduce the character including by Matrix Comics in 2001. The ashcan The New Original Captain Canuck Limited Edition No. 1 served as a prequel to a proposed series by writer Mark Shainblum and artist Sandy Carruthers (illustrator for the original Men in Black from Aircel Comics) that updates the character for 21st century audiences.

From The New Original Captain Canuck Limited Edition No. 1 (Matrix Comics 2001)
Script by Mark Shainblum
Art by Sandy Carruthers

As far as I can discern, this is the only Captain Canuck appearance created by the duo and the Matrix Comics series never materialized.

While "researching" a recent Nexus Graphica, I had reason to look through my collection of Comics Of Unusual Size. This set of the big and small and odd of comicdom offers many gems. Deciding that I really should share some of these largely forgotten and sometime rare pieces, I’m taking you through a tour of the more interesting selections.

Actual size

Werner – Volles Rooäää!!! (Edel 1999)

The small, nearly square (3" x 2 3/4") wordless flip book Werner – Volles Rooäää!!! was published to promote the 1999 film of the same name (film clip).

Video release cover

Created by Brösel (Rötger Feldmann), the popular German underground comix character, Werner, first appeared in 1978 and is the subject of several graphic novels and three feature films. This particular book focuses on Werner the plumber emerging from a pipe.

Actual size


Interiors from Werner – Volles Rooäää!!! (Edel 1999)

The rear cover advertises the forthcoming Werner – Volles Rooäää!!! film.

Actual size

While "researching" a recent Nexus Graphica, I had reason to look through my collection of Comics Of Unusual Size. This set of the big and small and odd of comicdom offers many gems. Deciding that I really should share some of these largely forgotten and sometime rare pieces, I’m taking you through a tour of the more interesting selections.

Though primarily remembered for Shannon Wheeler’s Too Much Coffee Man (see C.O.U.S. #1), Adhesive Comics produced several other titles including six issues of the anthology JAB, Sam Hurt’s Eyebeam: The Trilogy, Pal-yat-chee (stories by cartoonists Tom King and Walt Holcombe), and the cyberpunk series Eden Matrix. Created by writer Aubrey McAuley, Eden Matrix evolved from the "SplitPhaze" stories– written with McCauley’s ex-wife DeAnne and drawn by Ashley Underwood– in JAB #1-3. In 1993, Adhesive Comics offered the full color Eden Matrix Mini-Comic #1 to promote the forthcoming Eden Matrix series. The mini featured two stories, both written by McAuley, in a flip format.

"The Serpent’s Tale"

Click on images for full sized versions.

Eden Matrix Mini-Comic #1 Cover A (Adhesive Comics 1993)
Art by Theron Smith

From Eden Matrix Mini-Comic #1 "The Serpent’s Tale" (Adhesive Comics 1993)
Written by Aubrey McAuley
Illustrated by Theron Smith
Colors by Martin Thomas and Adhesive Media

"Waste Land"

Eden Matrix Mini-Comic #1 Cover B (Adhesive Comics 1993)
Art by Ashley Underwood (not credited)

From Eden Matrix Mini-Comic #1 "Waste Land" (Adhesive Comics 1993)
Written by Aubrey McAuley
Illustrated by Michael Washburn
Colors by Ashley Underwood and Adhesive Media

The mini also advertised the new eponymous BBS service. In the days before the World Wide Web, computer users dialed directly into a local server into what was essentially web page hosted on local computers. (BBS stands for Bulletin Board System.) Eden Matrix the BBS eventually became a webhost, operating out at eden.com. The domain and company are currently owned by UNICOM System.

McCauley again teamed with Underwood to create the two extant full-sized issues of Eden Matrix. As were norm for comics of the early 90s, both issues come out in two separate cover editions– one sf and one horror focused. The interiors of both issues were identical.

Let’s take a quick look to see what’s arrived in the mail here at the Geek Compound.

Midwinter by Matthew Sturges

Promo copy:

Winter only comes to the land once in a hundred years. But the snow covers ancient secrets: secrets that could topple a kingdom.

Mauritaine was a war hero, a Captain in the Seelie Army. Then he was accused of treason and sentenced to life without parole at Crere Sulace, a dark and ancient prison in the mountains, far from the City Emerald. But now the Seelie Queen–Regina Titania herself–has offered him one last chance to redeem himself, an opportunity to regain his freedom and his honor.

Unfortunately, it s a suicide mission, which is why only Mauritaine and the few prisoners he trusts enough to accompany him, would even dare attempt it. Raieve, beautiful and harsh, an emissary from a foreign land caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Perrin Alt, Lord Silverdun, a nobleman imprisoned as a result of political intrigues so Byzantine that not even he understands them. Brian Satterly, a human physicist, apprehended searching for the human victims of the faery changeling trade.

Meanwhile, dark forces are at work at home and abroad. In the Seelie kingdom, the reluctant soldier Purane-Es burns with hatred for Mauritaine, and plots to steal from him the one thing that remains to him: his wife. Across the border, the black artist Hy Pezho courts the whim of Mab, offering a deadly weapon that could allow the Unseelie in their flying cities to crush Titania and her army once and for all.

With time running out, Mauritaine and his companions must cross the deadly Contested Lands filled with dire magical fallout from wars past. They will confront mounted patrols, brigands, and a traitor in their midst. And before they reach their destination, as the Unseelie Armies led by Queen Mab approach the border, Mauritaine must decide between his own freedom and the fate of the very land that has forsaken him.

The Twilight Herald: Book Two of the Twilight Reign by Tom Lloyd

Promo copy:

Lord Bahl is dead and the young white-eye, Isak, stands in his place; less than a year after being plucked from obscurity and poverty the charismatic new Lord of the Farlan finds himself unprepared to deal with the attempt on his life that now spells war, and the possibility of rebellion waiting for him at home.

Now the eyes of the Land turn to the minor city of Scree, which could soon be obliterated as the new Lord of the Farlan flexes his powers. Scree is suffering under an unnatural summer drought and surrounded by volatile mercenary armies that may be its only salvation.

This is a strange sanctuary for a fugitive abbot to flee to–but he is only the first of many to be drawn there. Kings and princes, lords and monsters; all walk the sun-scorched streets.

As elite soldiers clash after dark and actors perform cruel and subversive plays that work their way into the hearts of the audience, the city begins to tear itself apart–yet even chaos can be scripted.

There is a malevolent will at work in Scree, one that has a lesson for the entire Land: nations can be manipulated, prophecies perverted and Gods denied.

Nothing lies beyond the reach of a shadow, and no matter how great a man s power, there some things he cannot be protected from.

The Twilight Herald is the second book in a powerful new series that combines inspired world-building, epoch-shattering battles and high emotion to dazzling effect.

Air Vol. 1: Letters from Lost Countries by G. Willow Wilson (writer) and M. K. Perker (artist)

Promo copy:

Collecting the story that started it all, from AIR # 1 – 5! Blythe knew it was a risky time to be an airline stewardess, but the skies might be much more dangerous than anyone imagines. She’s just learned of the Etesian Front – vigilantes dedicated to take the skies back from terrorism. They’re after a mysterious man she’s just met. And whether he’s an average frequent flier or a terrorist, finding out will lead Blythe to discover the weird science of hyperpraxis – an innovation that will change the way we see technology forever.

From the comics imprint known for breaking new ground, G. Willow Wilson and M. K. Perker bring a flight of fantasy for the age of technology.

More in Part Two.

Let’s take a quick look to see what’s arrived in the mail here at the Geek Compound.

James Bond: The History Of The Illustrated 007 by Alan J. Porter

Promo copy:

Now for the first time, the complete history of the illustrated James Bond is chronicled by pop-culture historian Alan J. Porter in James Bond: The History of the Illustrated 007. Before Bond became world famous with his movie series, the character was the subject of successful English newspaper strips and later in comic books. James Bond: The History of the Illustrated 007 examines it all, covering Bond’s newspaper strip and comic book appearances from the 1950s to the present.

This absolutely gorgeous book reveals the secret history of the world’s most famous spy. Essential reading for any serious Bond fan!

Troy: Fall of Kings by David Gemmell and Stella Gemmell

Promo copy:

Outside the golden city of Troy, Prince Hektor leads the Trojan cavalry in daring raids against the forces led by his young rival, the peerless warrior Achilles. Meanwhile, burning for vengeance after the brutal murder of his wife, Helikaon commands the Trojan fleet, sowing misery and death among the Mykene navy and supply ships. But even these mighty efforts are of scant avail against the hordes of battle-hardened Mykene infantry, the Myrmidon soldiers of Achilles, and the cunning strategies of Odysseus, compelled against his heart’s urgings to aid the cause of Agamemnon.

Now, before the gates of Troy, Hektor and Achilles will find themselves inexorably drawn into a battle of champions that will decide the fate of the innocents trapped within the city walls. There, as King Priam slips into madness, Andromache–wife of Hektor, lover of Helikaon, mother, warrior, and priestess–must navigate a maze of treachery and danger to save her children and her city from the massacre about to unfold.

Buyout by Alexander C. Irvine

Promo copy:

From acclaimed author Alexander C. Irvine comes a gritty near-future thriller in the paranoid, prophetic vein of Philip K. Dick and Richard K. Morgan.

One hundred years from now, with Americans hooked into an Internet far more expansive and intrusive than today’s, the world has become a seamless market-driven experience. In this culture of capitalism run amok, entrepreneurs and politicians faced with rampant overcrowding in the nation’s penal system turn to a controversial new method of cutting costs: life-term buyouts. In theory, buyouts offer convicted murderers the chance to atone for their crimes by voluntarily allowing themselves to be put to death by the state in exchange for a one-time cash payment, shared among their heirs and victims, based on a percentage of what it would have cost taxpayers to house and feed them for the rest of their natural lives. It’s a win-win situation.

At least that’s what Martin Kindred believes. And Martin is a man who desperately needs something to believe in, especially with his marriage coming apart and the murder of his brother, an L.A. cop brutally gunned down in the line of duty, unsolved.

As the public face of the buyout program, Martin is a lightning rod for verbal and physical abuse–but he embraces every challenge, knowing his motives are pure. But when evidence comes to light that a felon in line for a buyout may have been involved with his brother’s death, Martin’s professional detachment threatens to turn into a personal vendetta that will jeopardize everything–and everyone–he holds dear. Inspired by today’s politics, Buyout is an unforgettable look at an all-too-believable future . . . and one man’s struggle to do the right thing.

More in Part One.