Bone: Legacy is a new trilogy of illustrated fantasy novels set in the universe of Jeff Smith’s award-winning Bone comic book series. The first novel, Quest for the Spark by Tom Sniegoski, is being released by Graphix this coming February. It’s illustrated by Jeff Smith himself, too. The story goes like this: “Twelve-year-old Tom Elm is just an ordinary turnip farmer from the Valley, but he’s always felt destined for something bigger. So when he discovers everyone in his village is asleep and plagued by nightmares, he assembles a band of unlikely heroes. They must fight to preserve the Spark — a divine light born at the core of a vast, dark nothingness called the Nacht.” That band of heroes includes new members of the Bone folk, young rat-creatures, and Roderick the Raccoon, among other popular Bone characters.
Fantasy
Warriors of the Dharuk
Creators Edge Press is releasing a new full-color 4-issue mini-series this coming February. It’s called Warriors of the Dharuk, and here’s the description we found from the creators: “From the mind of Stephen Lindsay of Jesus Hates Zombies fame, and amazing art by Dave Myers and Alfredo Lopez Jr., comes an epic adventure all-ages book just in time for the holidays! Warriors of the Dharuk is the tale of Jody, a young warrior-in-training among the Clan of the Dharuk – a Koala clan that lives in harmonious existence with nature. As Jody prepares to enter The Trails — the tests of manhood for all warriors to-be — he is thrust into the middle of a brewing conflict between the Clan of the Dharuk and the Shak-ta, a technology-obsessed clan of Sugar Gliders. The Shak-ta have no respect for the ways of the Dharuk and see them as archaic hold-outs of a world long gone. For the Shak-ta to progress further, they need the Dharuk moved off of their lands or eliminated all together. To the Shak-ta, either end is acceptable. When a failed Dharuk warrior turns traitor, the very existence of the Dharuk is threatened. But the Dharuk holy man, Yuan — a blind skunk — tasks Jody and his new friend and protector, a wandering armadillo warrior named Ota, with finding a way to stop the Shak-ta.” Heavy Ink is taking pre-orders for the first issue on-line.
image c. 2010 Creators Edge Press
To Read the Mind of Pegasus
Fantasy author Robin McKinley (well-known for Dragonhaven) has a new book on the shelves, simply called Pegasus. The idea is simple: For a thousand years, humans and pegasi have lived in a magical alliance. Unfortunately, neither can speak the other’s language, and so they must rely upon a special guild of wizards to communicate. But things are different for Princess Sylviianel and her winged-horse friend Ebon: They can read one another’s minds. That fact alone, they find, makes them some powerful enemies… who consider them to be very dangerous. This hardcover fantasy novel is available now from Putnam Juvenile. Here’s a description from Amazon.
And with that, let us wish you all a Merry Christmas, and a Happy Holiday Season. Bright blessings.
The Dragon with the Girl Tattoo
By now you’ve likely heard of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, the first book in Stieg Larsson’s award-winning and wildly successful crime-drama trilogy. It, and the other books in the series, have also been made into successful movies. Well it seems that UK fantasy writer Adam Roberts could not leave well enough alone. He’s gone and written his own book entitled The Dragon with the Girl Tattoo, and it’s available now in the UK from Gollancz. Here’s the cover blurb: “Larssonous? Or out-and-out burglary? You know how dragons feel about burglars … Lizbreath Salamander is young and beautiful. Her scales have an iridescent sheen, her wings arch proudly, her breath has a tang of sulfur. And on her back a tattoo of a mythical creature: a girl. But when Lizbreath is drawn into a dark conspiracy she will have to rely on more than her beauty and her vicious claws the size of sabres . . . A dragon has disappeared, one of a secretive clan. As Lizbreath delves deeper into their history she realizes that these dragons will do anything to defend their secrets. Welcome to the world of The Dragon With The Girl Tattoo. A world of gloomy Nordic dragons leading lives uncannily like our own (despite their size, despite the need for extensive fireproofing of home furnishings), a world of money hoarded, a world of darkness and corruption. A world where people are the fantasy.” You can find out more about all of this at Adam Roberts’ new blog.
image c. 2010 Adam Roberts
Gummi Bear Reunion — On Line!
Short notice but: Animation writer, producer, and show-creator Jymn Magon is hosting another “webinar” this Saturday, December 11th, at 5:00 pm (Pacific Standard Time). This time he’s presenting a special 25th anniversary show for Disney’s The Gummi Bears — still a popular favorite animated TV series, to say the least. The two-hour “webinar” will include live interviews with June Foray (the voice of Grammi Gummi), Katie Leigh (the voice of Sunni Gummi), Art Vitello (director), Ed Wexler (layout), Gary Eggleston (backgrounds), Michael and Patty Silversher (theme song composers), Mark Zaslove and Len Uhley (writers), and of course the series creator, Jymn himself. Signing up will cost you $20.00, and you can do so by visiting Jymn Magon’s web site.
image c. 2010 Walt Disney TV Animation
The Puppy Sister Graphic Novel
The Puppy Sister is a 1997 novel by a well-known author of books for young readers, S. E. Hinton. It tells the comic story of Aleasha, a newly-adopted puppy who decides that her human family will be much better off if she becomes human too — and so, she sets out to do precisely that, and the book details her adventures as told from her point of view. Now, Bluewater Productions have released a new edition of The Puppy Sister as a full-color graphic novel, illustrated by Ramon Salas. It’s available now from (among other places) the Barnes & Noble web site.
The Mice Templars’ 2nd Sketchbook
Victor Santos has been making a name for himself as the lead artist for the popular Mice Templar comic book series from Image Comics. Now Image presents The Mice Templar Sketchbook II, presenting all new art and characters for the series — in black & white and full color. It also includes a brand new Mice Templar short story written by Bryan Glass and series creator Michael Avon Oeming. It’s on the shelves now.
Fire Breather vs. Dragon Prince
Just in time for the Fire Breather CGI movie on Cartoon Network comes the Fire Breather vs. Dragon Prince one-shot full-color graphic novel from Image Comics. It seems that both boys, each a human son with an inhuman monstrous parent, have discovered that something monstrous is killing visitors to an isolated mountain lake, and only their combined strength has a chance of defeating it. Trouble is, what happens when this strangely seductive evil turns our semi-scaly heroes against each other? You can find out now, thanks to writers Phil Hester and Ron Marz, and artists Samuin Patel, Andy Kuhn, and Jeff Johnson.
Image c. 2010 Image Comics
WOW, Worgen!
Furry fans into the World of Warcraft game and its story background might want to check out the new World of Warcraft: Curse of the Worgen comic book mini-series, published by the Wildstorm imprint of DC Comics. For those who don’t play the game, according to WOW-Wiki: “Worgen are large, lupine humanoids reminiscent of a werewolf that walks upright, but lopes on all fours to run.” The five-issue comic book, exploring the mysteries of the Worgen and where they came from, was written by Micky Neilson and James Waugh. The full-color art was created by Ludo Lullabi, Tony Washington, and John Polidora. The first issue is on sale now.
