The One Hitter: More Inmates Enlist at Asylum Press!

If you listened to our podcast with Asylum Press creator Steve Mannion (The Bomb, Fearless Dawn) and publisher/creator Frank Forte (Warlash: Dark Noir, D-TOX, Undead Evil), then you know that AP has a plethora of awesome comics out there for you to read. With the successful release of the new Fearless Dawn series, Asylum Press is forging ahead with fresh material for you horror fans to sink your teeth into. Check out these recent press releases sent out by the company which announce the arrival of horror great, Tim Vigil, Detective Comics scribe, Royal McGraw, and some updates on Asylum’s presence at San Diego Comic Con!

TIM VIGIL JOINS ASYLUM OF HORRORS

Asylum of Horrors #2 features new Tim Vigil work!

Asylum Press announces that Asylum of Horrors #2 will contain a new story from iconic horror artist/writer Tim Vigil.  Vigil brings his highly stylized voice to a post apocalyptic wasteland in “Survival Extinction Z”.  Asylum of Horrors #2 (DIAMOND: JUL090699) can be previewed at http://www.asylumpress.com/AOH02_HOME.html. Vigil’s story will be a 3 part series that will be continued in subsequent issues of Asylum of Horrors. The second issue of Asylum of Horrors will also include stories from Frank Forte, Szymon Kudranski, Billy George, Darren Sellars, Patrick Shanahan, Nenad Gucunja,and Marcin Ponomarew.

Tim Vigil burst into the comic book scene with co creator David Quinn in the early nineties with the creation of the horror comic Faust.  Detailed artwork and Vigil’s over the top story line captured comics fans interest and held it tight for the better part of a decade. Vigil has gone on to work with Avatar Press, Glenn Danzig and many others.   “Nominated for awards, works published all over the world, Tim is a god,” explained Asylum Press Publisher Frank Forte.  “You say the word Faust to any comic horror fan and they smile.”

Intended Audience: mature readers
Retail Price: $4.95
Pages: SC, 64 pgs, FC with B&W. Perfect bound
Ship Date: SEPT 2009
Genre: Horror
Frequency of Publication: Quarterly
ISBN: 978-0-9818230-4-1

BATTLE FOR THE COWL SCRIBE SCRIPTS WARLASH TALE

Warlash:Dark Noir #3 is not available through Diamond, but is available direct from Asylum Press, through Haven Distributors and Tony Shenton. Asylum Press announced today that Warlash:Dark Noir #3 (of 3) will feature a short story written by Royal McGraw (Detective Comics, Batman: Battle for The Cowl:Commissioner Gordon) and illustrated by Frank Forte.  “Rocket’s Red Scare” pits Warlash against a biogenetically engineered villain who goes by the name of Trotsky De Sade, the crazed leader of the Gene Communist Militia. De Sade is a Neo-Cold War menace who has taken the form of Joseph Stalin to try to wreak havoc upon the capitalist pigs of Pittsburgh.  Can Warlash and his new ally Vigil stop him? Or will De Sade be allowed to unleash his stalinococcus virus on an unsuspecting populace? In “A Touch of Deadly”, a neo-noir tale, Warlash is deceived by a sexy D.A. to uncover a murder of an old Black Ops buddy. The plot thickens Warlash uncovers a Russian cyborg smuggling ring.  Written by Frank Forte and illustrated by Szymon Kudranski. This issue concludes the “Phlegm Fatale” storyline wherein Warlash battles a biogenic beast in the sewers below Pittsburgh, but the battle is not over even after the beast has been destroyed; written and illustrated Frank Forte.  Cover by Aly Fell.

Warlash:Dark Noir #3 preview can be seen here: http://www.asylumpress.com/warlash_DN03_Home.html.

ASYLUM PRESS BRINGS ITS INMATES TO COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL

Asylum Press and Girls and Corpses Magazine team up to bring you more horror and chaos than you can imagine. Asylum Press announces it will brings several inmates and some special goodies to Comicon International July 22-26, 2009.  Asylum Press Booth will be #1534 near Spike and Mike’s Sick and twisted Animation Festival and Publisher NBM.   New books will be debuting, animation screenings, poster giveaways and sneak peaks will all be part of the madhouse at the Asylum Press booth!   Come by the booth to check the schedule for signings from the following persons:

Writers
*Frank Forte (Warlash, Asylum of Horrors, Vampire Verses)
*Robert S. Rhine (Girls and Corpses, Satan’s 3-Ring Circus of Hell)
*Royal McGraw (Detective Comics, Batman: Battle for the Cowl: Commissioner Gordon #1)
*Elizabeth J, Musgrave (Farmhouse)

Artists 
*Dwayne Harris (Warhammer: Crown of Destruction and the upcoming Black Powder)

Of the new books making their debut at CCI will be Steve Mannion’s Fearless Dawn #1.  After being cancelled by Diamond’s new Threshold initiative this book is headed out of the gat with a smash.  Picked up by Indy distributors Haven Distro and Tony Shenton Distribution, this book is determined to make it going the indy distribution route.  Haven’t seen the hottest in retro pin up action? Visithttp://www.asylumpress.com/index2.html.  Another issue to be featured  at CCI is Warlash:Dark Noir #3–  The third and final issue of this dark superhero series concludes  Featuring the talents of Frank Forte,  Royal McGraw, Szymon Kudranski and J.C. Wong. You can see more about Warlash atwww.asylumpress.com.

MORE INFORMATION ON CON BOOTH TALENT:

Robert Steven Rhine-
Robert Steven Rhine is the Founder/Publisher and Deaditor-In-Chief of Girls and Corpses Magazine.  R.S. Rhine began working in comic books as a contributing staff writer forCracked Magazine and Insidious Tales.  The success of three “humorr-ific” comic books led to Rhine’s 278 page, color graphic novel Satan’s 3-Ring Circus of Hell. Forty-three of the top horror artists in the world (such as William Stout and Tim Vigil, Hilary Barta and Alan M. Clark) contributed to the book, illustrating over forty twisted Rhine tales.  Rhine has sold fiction to over one hundred magazines and the published anthologies: Bram Stoker Winner: Dark Delicacies (Carroll & Graf) alongside Ray Bradbury and Clive Barker.

Royal McGraw-
Royal McGraw is an award winning writer of feature film, television, and graphic novels. Royal is best known for his work on the DC Comics’ flagship title Detective Comics(Batman) and the Batman: Battle for the Cowl tie-in, Commissioner Gordon #1. Royal is currently penning several projects, including an upcoming arc of Batman Confidential for DC Comics, Batman: Brave and the Bold for DC Kids, and several creator-owned projects.

To order comics from Asylum Press, head on over to their website at AsylumPress.com. I highly recommend Fearless Dawn andWarlash: Dark Noir!

 

Inside the Asylum With Frank Forte!

A little less than two weeks ago Simon and I interviewed Steve Mannion the artist/writer/creator of The Bomb and Fearless Dawn from Asylum Press. Well, yesterday afternoon we called up the leading scribe at Asylum who is also the founder of the publishing company/Top Dog over there- Frank Forte!

Join us as we talk about graffiti art, the MLB, classic Horror films, Poe, H.P. Lovecraft, what it takes to make it as a comic book publisher in today’s economy, comic book art, and of course the kick ass comics currently being published by Asylum Press! All of this and more when you download our interview with Frank Forte!

To order any of the titles we discuss during the podcast, please visit AsylumPress.com and check out the store. Tell Frank Comic Impact sent you!

DOWNLOAD EPISODE (Right-click and choose “Save As…” and save locally)

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST
Thank you to everyone who downloads, subscribes, listens to and tells their comic book stores about this show. We really appreciate it, since we make this show for you guys!

 

Exclusive Interview with ‘The Bomb’ Creator, Steve Mannion!

My pal Simon and I interviewed the artist/writer/creator of Asylum Press’ The Bomb, Steve Mannion! Download this podcast as we talk to Steve about The Bomb, his new mini series Fearless Dawn, Canadian television, cigarettes, his time at the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Design, girls, punk rock and much, much more!

DOWNLOAD EPISODE (Right-click and choose “Save As…” and save locally)

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST
Thank you to everyone who downloads, subscribes, listens to and tells their comic book stores about this show. We really appreciate it, since we make this show for you guys!

 

Spotlight On: The Bomb

I wanted to check out something a little more on the indie side, so I went with The Bomb published by Asylum Press. Originally released in August 2008, Steve Mannion is the writer and artist of the trade and holy shit does his talent shine!

The Bomb is a series of T & A black and white short stories of the superhero/horror genre that are crude, hilarious, and sexy all at the same time. It’s also jam packed with pin-ups, which is appropriate considering the trade’s main story line takes place in the late 1930’s/early 1940’s when pin-up girls were all the rage. Plus, the main characters are f-ing HOT (seriously, if I had an extra copy of this book my apartment would be littered with Mannion’s art). The Bomb has a wide array of characters and is broken up into a bunch of vignettes that have no real continuity in relation to each other, as most of them stand on their own as solo stories. Because of this the book’s pacing feels like a Vaudeville show or one of the rare good episodes of Mad TV- fast, funny, and highly enjoyable.

The star of the book is Prissy Jones, a.k.a the super-chick Fearless Dawn. Prissy is a late teens/early 20 something school girl who is cute, sexy, and endearing in the most dorky way possible. She wears glasses, reads comics, and smokes cigarettes, while repeatedly breaking the fourth wall to the delight of the reader. At school Prissy is constantly harassed by the tough girl, Betty Magillicutty (who looks A LOT like the temptress of the day, Betty Paige… actually, she looks exactly like her). After being humiliated by Betty for the last time, Prissy decides to make a stand as she sends away for a Joe Jeeder Miracle Strength Kit. She saw the ad in a comic book she was reading (pick up any comic from the 80’s and you’ll get an idea of what she ordered), and once the package arrives she pumps herself up and kicks Betty’s ass. Prissy then happens upon a costume (to the chagrin of a horny douche), tailors it a bit, and decides to head out on her first mission as the superhero, Fearless Dawn!

After the Third Reich invaded Poland in 1939, a ghoulish looking Nazi dude called ‘The General’ is recruiting men in America for his evil forces. He’s planning on making his own army of Nazi zombies so Fearless Dawn decides to investigate, scoping out The General’s HQ at the Sauerkraut Factory. She’s still too new at the superhero gig, and eventually gets herself captured, but guess who comes to her rescue? Betty Magillicutty! The girls lay down some kicks, punches, and marbles, making a narrow escape to the factories roof top. There they back themselves into a corner as The General and his men are closing in fast, so the girls strip down to their undies and set their clothes aflame in order to attract the attention of the local police. As the cops arrive and arrest The General, the girls leap from the roof top into a stream below, making a safe exit.

Other stories in The Bomb featuring Fearless Dawn include a battle between her and a villain known as ‘The Monster’ (they duke it out with fish and salami as weapons), a tale where The General escapes from prison (ironically by using a Joe Jeeder Miracle Strength Kit) and comes looking to get his revenge on the girls, the back story of how Prissy and Betty were able to overcome their differences to become best pals (the reason is pretty ridiculous!), and a futuristic story where Dawn takes on her arch nemesis Helga Von Krause. Helga is German, hot, and wears an unzipped army jacket without anything on underneath… yeah, she’s a goddess. Have I mentioned yet that Mannion draws really sexy women? We also get an outtakes section, and at the end of the book we are treated to a few full color pages starring Dawn and Betty!

Throughout the trade we meet a variety of other characters totally unrelated to our lovable duo, like Brownhole Jones, the captain of the S.S. Blow Me Down, his woman Sea Goin’ Lil, and their first mate Seaman Stains. They’re a group of pirates who get wasted, party with zombies, and generally cause trouble. As for Sea Goin’ Lil, as Mannion says, “Think Mae West mixed with… some hot chick and you’ve got a good idea of what Lil’s all about.”

Other characters who make multiple appearances are Jungle Chick and Dinosaur, whom Steve gives the following introduction, “Jungle Chick starts out in the story pretty stupid and then she gets hit in the head and now she’s really stupid.” Basically these one or two page stories are in the style of Tom and Jerry or Spy vs. Spy, where Dinosaur (a T-Rex) is constantly trying to kill Jungle Girl but is repeatedly foiled one way or another- like by a giant rock falling on his head, or a bubble of tar burning his eye. Jungle Girl is totally oblivious to what’s going on, heightening the hilarity of the situation. Oh, did I mention that Steve draws really hot women?

We also meet characters like Lizard Guy who serves as a host of sorts, randomly popping into the book saying things like, “Heeeeey I’m Lizard Guy! Wasn’t that great?” or “Heeeeey this is Lizard Guy! Enjoy the next story.” Witchie Witch and Robynn are two women who show up at the end of the trade and get nothing more than cameo appearances, leaving me wondering if perhaps they’ll have a larger role in an upcoming series… Mannion also provides some stand alone short stories like Dead Men Don’t Lose which is about a Nazi general who refuses to believe that Germany lost WWII and has his own plans for global domination (it would appear that Steve is fascinated with Nazi’s, but I can forgive him because they are always depicted as the villains and because he draws bodacious babes… have I mentioned that already?), and Chicks on Bombs (which I incorrectly call Girls on Bombs in the podcast- whoops!) which sounds exactly like what it is- absolutely hilariously ridiculous. Especially when the Chicks on Bombs meet up with a planet of Guys on Planes!

As if that weren’t enough, included in the latter half of the book is a Swimsuit Special where practically every character is featured, and most are featured more than once like Fearless Dawn, Betty, Sea Goin’ Lil, and Jungle Girl. Yeah… it’s a nice section to say the least. Mannion even rewards his readers with a shower shot of Betty and Prissy (please excuse me while I go grab a kleenex).

In case you just skipped down to this part of my review, Steve’s art is clean, detailed, and downright sexy! He switches artistic styles like a new born switches diapers, and his writing and pacing feels like you’re watching a live performance where after each little vignette the lights dim, the MC comes out to introduce the next piece, and your imagination flows with the show. It’s awesome stuff. Asylum Press had announced late last year that a new Fearless Dawn mini-series was supposed to hit the shelves in April. However, due to the recent Diamond shipping restrictions the book had to be delayed. Here’s some exciting news for you; I managed to set up a phone interview with both Steve and Frank Forte (Asylum’s head dude and main scribe) early next week! So keep an eye out for that podcast as I’ll be sure to ask them when we can expect the release of the Fearless Dawn mini.

The Bomb is a trade I recommend to anyone with a sense of humor and an eye for smokin’ hot art. It’s totally kick ass and exceeds it’s $15 price tag in entertainment value. If you can find it at your LCS, definitely get a copy, and if you can’t find it, head over to Asylum Press’s website, AsylumPress.com and check out their store to order The Bomb. Be sure to stay tuned for the interview with both Steve and Frank, and for more reviews from Asylum Press!

 

Spotlight On: Warlash Dark Noir #1

Picture a time when demonic monsters and horrible creatures can easily find their way to Earth, preying on the weak and innocent, devouring flesh and souls. Only one man has what it takes to stop them: Warlash, a seldom talking bad ass complete with body armor, guns, knives, a scorpion-like tail that has been the bane of many a monster, and an inner monologue that reads (as the title would imply) like a Noir film. Published by Asylum Press, Warlash: Dark Noir #1 is a slash’em up action packed battle royale as the hero combats four different monstrosities in four separate short stories filled with stuff that makes you go “What the hell?” and “Awww nasty!” The tales are all written by Frank Forte, but feature different artists giving each it’s own specific look and feel.

Previews of each short story:

Phlegm Fatale Part 1

Warlash suspects biologist Alexander Pyke to be trafficking an illegal substance between Russia and the United States. To confirm his suspicion, he sends rich beauty, Jessica Lockhart, on an espionage mission by going on a date with Pyke. Things take a turn for the worst, however, as Pyke turns out to be a large, horny, serpentine creature set to ‘defile’ Lockhart and create a new life form that will aid in the further evolution of humanity. This doesn’t sit well with Warlash, and in the confines of a city sewer, he has every intention of stopping Pyke…

Wormwar Part 1

A group of renegade bio scientists called the Necroworm, have gained possession of biotechnology. Warlash stakes them out in an effort to rid his city of the worm infestation. Before he can stop his human adversaries though, Warlash quickly finds himself pitted against a giant metallic worm that makes Shai-Hulud look like fish bait…

The Demon

Intercepting a call on a police scanner where a hysterical woman claims to have heard terrified screams coming from a neighboring building, Warlash investigates. What he finds is a room full of shredded corpses and a large pentagram painted on the floor. The monster hunter knows he’s in for a battle, when suddenly a giant red horned demon appears, ready to rent Warlash asunder. The demon has fed on the bodies and souls of the weak minded kids who conjured his spirit with a mouth that looks like a relative of the Great Pit of Carkoon. Upon seeing the horror, Warlash’s inner monologue reads, “I’m taken aback by the monstrosity before me.” A moment’s hesitation is all the demon needs to taste another delicious human soul…

Grubbs

Grubbs, a sex hungry former pimp who has contracted so many STD’s in his time that he has developed an infectious touch and a horrible skin disease that looks like “fly larvae was growing just under his skin.” Nasty. As he started to deform, his working girls began to mock him behind his back. After fleeing town, Grubbs has decided to come back to enact some revenge on his former employees; he plans to turn them into disgusting creatures like himself. Warlash looks to prevent Grubbs from adding to his ranks, but before he can get to him, Grubbs is attacked by a group of mob guys looking to kick his head in…

—

Frank Forte’s scripts, while similar in structure, are full of action and highlight the cunning and wit of Warlash. This is fitting for an introductory issue and Forte does a nice job of sticking with the Noir theme, presenting Warlash as a tough, intelligent protagonist. His setting is the underworld of Pittsburgh, and it is reminiscent of Gotham City except that instead of psychopathic costumed humans running around, it’s evil human devouring monsters.

Props to all the artists who convey the battle scenes clearly, complete with gratuitous gore, and a structure that makes combative sense. Forte’s art in Fatale is sketchy and rough, whereas Szymon Kudranski’s illustrations in Wormwar feature blurred borders around solidly drawn characters, giving it a more realistic feel. Marcin Ponomarew’s work in The Demon uses solid lines and fearsome close ups, giving the reader some awesome takes on how Warlash utilizes his scorpion-esque tail. Steve Mannion’s illustrations truly have a Noir feel, as his tale is told in black and white. His characters are both beautiful and gross and his different panel layout is conductive to the story.

Non-stop action, solid art, and twisted writing is the modus operandi of this comic. If monster butt kicking is your thing, than Warlash Dark Noir #1 is worth checking out!

 

The One Hitter: Asylum Press Impresses With ‘DETOX’ and ‘Undead Evil’

In this edition of The One Hitter we will be taking a look at two comics from Asylum Press: DTOX and Undead Evil. Frank Forte is the publisher and founder of AP, as well as an illustrator and the companies main scribe. Forte says that Asylum Press is “dedicated to cutting edge comics, trade paperbacks, and art.” This was my first experience reading anything published by Asylum, and the stories I experienced were original and disturbing! Forte writes both comics and Nenad Gucunja provides the illustrations.

DTOX #0

While this over-sized issue is short in quantity,  it’s an in-your-face story jam packed with quality action. The setting is Detroit in a post-nuclear world where police and hospitals are nonexistent, and the “rape and consumption of women and children has become common place.” Due to radiation and chemical filled air, many people have mutated into sex hungry, flesh eating mutants. Enter DTOX: a tank driving, camo/bio hazard suit wearing, blow up doll loving bad ass whose mission is to detoxify the Earth’s monstrous mutations. DTOX’s ammunition is laced with an acid that eats away at the freakish mutants, melting their bodies into a sterilized bubbling green goo. Like DTOX says, “You can never be too clean.”

What this issue lacks in length (11 ad free pages of story) it makes up for in spectacle. The art is colorful and energetic, the characters unique, weird, and detailed. The action is gruesome and intense. I was left longing for a full page shot of DTOX’s kick ass tank, but a hilarious shot of a giant hand/dog mutation flipping him the bird made up for it.

This issue is magazine size, so the panels are larger than usual, and nine pages of concept art and character sketches give the reader a special look behind the scenes of DTOX. Since being published in July 2007, no subsequent DTOX issues have been released, so pick this issue up for a fun and gruesome read!

3/5 stars

Undead Evil #0

 

This is a tale of an awkward young man’s quest to forge the gap between the living and the dead in order to save his bloodline from an evil magic. The story is told as a narrative that eerily reeks of Poe and Lovecraft, presenting a dark take on one of America’s most tragic natural disasters…

When Alfred Carter’s mother died, he was left alone, shutting himself inside his old house. Forced to rummage through his late mothers belongings, he finds a skeleton key. This key is Alfred’s ticket to a place forbidden to him his entire life; the attic. What have his parents been hiding from him all these years? Now, for the first time, Alfred holds the power to reveal his family history and learn the answers to his darkest questions.

The writing and art of this issue is vivid, assaulting the (six) senses, allowing the reader’s imagination to run wild. Forte does a great job scripting a dark, twisted tale that is filled with surprises. He questions the power of prayer (and the beings who listen to them), claiming that taking matters into one’s own hands is sometimes the best action, if not the only action… Gucunja’s black and white images take the time to detail the horror and stress that Alfred experiences on his journey. The inking is fantastic, showcasing intense close ups and chilling full page shots. One such shot depicts the remnants of a place that has suffered through Mother Nature’s wrath. Alfred reflects on the scene, “It was only a matter of time.”

Undead Evil #0 has a creepy feel from the first page to it’s abrupt, cliffhanger ending. The comic will leave you pondering the dark secrets of your own family history, so be sure to look for it in comic shops come December 2009.

4/5 stars

 DTOX and Undead Evil aren’t comics to give to the kids, as these titles are loaded with gratuitous violence, nudity, and (gasp!) cursing. Forte’s style of dropping the reader into the thick of the action is conductive to these two tales. The stories are to the point, with minimal exposition, providing an experience that allows the reader to enjoy what is presented. What’s even better is that you can kick back and read these comics from cover to cover without ever having to take a commercial break; ads never interrupt the story!

Keep coming back to Mint Condition for upcoming Asylum Press reviews! For more info on Asylum Press, please visit AsylumPress.com. Click on the following AP links to theUndead Evil Blog and the DTOX Blog.