Comments on: CAPES, COWLS & COSTUMES >> Comic Book Writers Without the Comics

By: Chap O'Keefe

Chap O'Keefe — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 05:42:58 +0000

Excellent topic, Paul. And thank you for the mention of the Black Horse Extra ezine. I’ll run a “Hoofprint” about this debate next time, which will be mid-November (only a month away!). I’ll illustrate it with a Steve Ditko cover for a ’70s Charlton comic . . . script was by a present-day BHW novelist.

By: Paul Kupperberg

Paul Kupperberg — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 22:33:37 +0000

By the way, I checked out your website & was fascinated. I don’t read many Westerns anymore (some Robert Parker now and then, or I’ll pick up one of the series books at random just to see what’s going on), but reading through your site has whet my appetite to read something good…I guess the genre is in the air; I’m writing a kids chapter book with Superman vs. a Western-themed villain, Terra-Man.

By: Paul Kupperberg

Paul Kupperberg — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 20:20:08 +0000

You are correct, sir! My apologies for forgetting the overseas markets–and after recently doing a column on British comic novels, including several by comics scripters!!!!–and, of course, one of the British writers (albeit of a comic strip) whose novels DID make it to the U.S.: Peter O’Donnell’s Modesty Blaise! Being so wrapped up in the American comics scene, sometimes I just get totally chauvinistic and forget about the rest of the world. Thanks, Keith!

By: Chap O'Keefe

Chap O'Keefe — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 19:42:59 +0000

Across the pond, British writers were happily switching between comic-book scripts and novels way back in the 1960s. Names you might not have heard of, but including Jacques Pendower (T.C.H Jacobs), Sydney J. Bounds and Vic J. Hanson, all wrote scripts for several companies — and me when I was editing Micron Publications “pocket libraries” in my late teens/early twenties. I also wrote scripts then myself. It was fast (well mostly) money.

The three writers I’ve mentioned all penned mysteries and westerns.

In Australia, comic book artist Paul Wheelahan (The Panther) turned to writing westerns, too, abandoning the drawing. He is still active as a novelist today for Black Horse Westerns.

I also turn out three westerns a year myself, including the Misfit Lil series. Now there’s a character I reckon would inspire some great art!

Cheers. Keith

By: Paul Kupperberg

Paul Kupperberg — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 13:25:29 +0000

I haven’t read any of Jim’s books besides AMONG MADMEN. In fact, until I did the research to write the column, I hadn’t known he’d written any others. I’ll hunt down a copy of THINNING THE PREDATORS and give it a go…I’ll also check out the DREADSTAR serialized novel; I’m planning a piece in the near future on prose stories in comic books, so it’ll fit in nicely.

By: Paul Kupperberg

Paul Kupperberg — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 13:21:29 +0000

John also wrote a WONDER WOMAN novel titled GODS AND GODDESSES, published (in hardcover & trade paperback) by Prima in 1997. John was writing the comic book series at the time.

By: Rob

Rob — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 12:41:56 +0000

Loved all three books by Starlin and Graziunas, particularly the last one Thinning the Predators/Predators. Their first novel, however, was serialised in the back of First Comics Dreadstar comic (created by Starlin but written at that time by Peter David) and was called Pawns. Can't remember a damn thing about it now, but loved it at the time. Shame it's never been collected into book format.

By: Sergio

Sergio — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 07:42:06 +0000

I remember reading another JB horror novel titled “Whipping boy” that I liked a lot. Has he written other novels besides these two?

By: Paul Kupperberg

Paul Kupperberg — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:30:21 +0000

Oddly enough, when I was an editor in DC Comics’ Licensed Publishing department. I had the very same thought. I kept waiting for the right project to come along for Howard, but most of what we did there was too pedestrian to interest him. Maybe one day I’ll wind up somewhere I can let him writes what he wants. This is the guy who turned me on to Stephen Hunter and Lee Childs so obviously he’s got some pop lit chops.

By: RP

RP — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 19:07:28 +0000

That’s a good point Paul. I approached it from exactly the opposite way–I really didn’t think he could do the same stories without the graphical element, so I ended up being proved wrong. That’s the awesome thing about opinions, though–everybody’s right!

On a side note, I’ve always wished that Howard Chaykin would write a novel.

By: Eric

Eric — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:07:13 +0000

Peter, I enjoy these columns of yours. Please keep ‘em coming. I look forward to your review of MINDSHIP by Gerry Conway (I mean Gerald F. Conway).

By: Paul Kupperberg

Paul Kupperberg — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:18:56 +0000

That’s good news. I look forward to reading it. And thanks for buying THE POINT MAN. Back in them days, comic book writers didn’t get no respect so Steve’s book was a ray of hope for everyone who wanted to break out of the comic book ghetto.

By: James Frenkel

James Frenkel — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:11:53 +0000

I read your review of The Point Man by Steve Englehart with great interest. I bought and edited that book for Dell, and am glad you liked it so well. I also thought you might like to know that Steve Englehart has written a sequel to The Point Man, titled The Long Man, which Tor will be publishing next July.

By: Paul Kupperberg

Paul Kupperberg — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:23:47 +0000

I enjoyed the book, Keith, I just find that Ellis relies on the same bits of shtick from story to story. I was hoping for a novel he might have broken out of his mold and tried something new.

By: keith rawson

keith rawson — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:17:12 +0000

Wow, I really disagree with yur review of crooked little vien. While enjoy Ellis’s comic work, I think his talents are very suited to this type of satarical novel

By: Bruce

Bruce — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:57:41 +0000

I had no idea John Byrne wrote something else besides comics. Especially since he was one of the comic authors who it seemed I read ad nauseam growing up.