HARD BARGAIN GRAPHIC NOVEL KICKSTARTER

A Kickstarter campaign launched today that will run through July 25, 2024 to support the publishing of a supernatural thriller themed graphic novel written by Steven S. DeKnight and illustrated by Leno Carvalho. HARD BARGAIN follows a hard-boiled P.I. in 1940s Los Angeles who finds himself fighting not only the usual cadre of criminals and ne’er-do-wells—but also demons, monsters, and other malevolent supernatural beings—as he races to solve a deadly mystery before a horrific fate descends upon everyone it touches. Pledges range from $15 for a digital edition of the graphic novel to $140 for a printed collectors edition signed by DeKnight and Carvalho. 

Battling the forces of darkness is another day at the office for Frank Harding, P.I.—but his current case may just be the one that puts Frank out of business for good. As he investigates a case deeply connected to his own murky past—as well as L.A.’s all-too-real history of prejudice and discrimination—Harding is forced to reckon with the fact that the sins of one generation will always be paid for by the next. Combining the appeal of classic noir crime storytelling with a well-wrought fantasy world of monsters and magic, HARD BARGAIN pairs DeKnight's crackerjack storytelling with Carvalho's dynamic visuals to build a fast-paced, hard-boiled thriller that simultaneously reckons with the dark underbelly of bigotry, violence and revenge haunting gritty Los Angeles.

DeKnight got his start in the entertainment industry as a staff writer on the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer before going on to write, direct, and produce on the series Angel, Smallville, and Dollhouse. He also was the executive producer and showrunner of season one of the Marvel/Netflix series Daredevil. DeKnight has also written Wastelanders comics for Marvel.

Leno Carvalho is a Brazilian comic artist and illustrator best known for his realistic and detailed style. Throughout his career, Carvalho has worked with many publishers on series such as Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen Special at DC Comics, Dean Koontz’s Nevermore and Bionic Woman at Dynamite Comics, The Rift at Red 5 Comics and Crusaders at Soleil, as well as The Source at Scout Comics. 

NANCY SPECTOR MONSTER DETECTIVE

When you find yourself with a ghoulish mystery you can’t solve, who do you call? Nancy Spector, monster detective! This fearless young detective will solve the case with the help of her sassy, talking dog Jinx. In their debut graphic novel being released September 10, 2024, NANCY SPECTOR, MONSTER DETECTIVE #1: The Case of the Missing Spot, author Stephen W. Martin and artist Linh Pham craft a fantasy world brimming with intriguing mystery, adorable creatures, and hilarious antics. With a targeted audience of kids aged 9 to 12, NANCY SPECTOR, MONSTER DETECTIVE is the perfect entry point to horror and mystery for young readers, with monsters drawn with in an adorable kawaii style, balancing fun and frightening.

The Invisible Man has a problem. His dog, Spot, is missing. Complicating matters, Spot is also invisible. So the Invisible Man turns to Nancy Spector for help. Nancy eagerly takes the case, and she and her grumpy best friend, a (visible) dog named Jinx, dive into the investigation. As they follow Spot's trail, they find themselves: 

• Riding dragons 
• Searching the monster diner—because all dogs like hot dogs 
• Fleeing from vicious chipmunk unicorns 
• Shopping in a store that is a gelatinous candy cube named Bob 
•  And paying a visit to Nancy’s vampire friend Eugene’s hamster’s funeral 

Every time they think Spot is right around the corner, things get more and more confusing, but Nancy knows that to a great detective, there is no such thing as a bad clue. And Nancy knows she's a great detective. Now she just needs to crack the case. . .

Stephen W. Martin is an Emmy-nominated writer on the Netflix animated series Trash Truck and is the author of many picture books, including Fluffy McWhiskers Cuteness Explosion. As a Canadian living in California, he misses poutine and the noble beavers. Find him online at stephen-w-martin.com. 

Linh Pham is an award-winning illustrator and visual development artist. She currently works as a lead designer at Vivid Greetings, where her custom digital greeting cards have garnered over 1 million views worldwide. In television and film, Linh has worked in animation, rigging, lighting, character design, and visual development bringing all sorts of wonderous monsters to life. She lives in Vancouver, Canada with her husband, daughter, two black dogs, and one white cat.

NANCY SPECTOR, MONSTER DETECTIVE will be out just in time to provide some spooktacular Halloween season reading fun. CLICK HERE to preorder the graphic novel from Hatchette Book Group.

THE HAPPY SHOP

Cartoonist Brittany Long Olsen will be having a new graphic novel for middle grade readers, THE HAPPY SHOP, released by Eisner and Havey award winning publisher Oni Press in February 2024. It is promised to be a heartwarming story that tweens and teens are sure to be able to relate to. Do you have a middle grade reader in your home. If so, keep an eye out for Brittany Long Olsen's THE HAPPY SHOP.

In THE HAPPY SHOP, eleven-year-old Darcy is feeling sad and alone after she moves to a new country when she accidentally stumbles into a magical store that sells happy feelings. But when Darcy witnesses a sad feeling accidentally being sold at work, she begins to wonder. Is happiness really the only emotion people need?

“THE HAPPY SHOP shines a light on the deep importance of experiencing a whole range of human emotion, not just happy feelings, and building community with the people we care about,” Brittany Long Olsen commented to ageekdaddy.com about the graphic novel release.

“The story features a contemporary setting with just a light touch of magic," added Oni Press Editor Grace Scheipeter. "And much of that magic is in the dynamic cartooning of Brittany Long Olsen, whose graphic novel is a delight and inspiration."

Brittany Long Olsen is an author, illustrator, and editor. She has lived in three different countries over the past ten years and made comics about her adventures (and culture shock!) in each one. Her happy jar would contain videos of unlikely animal friends. She currently resides with her partner and their dog, Jetpack, near Portland, Oregon.

PALOMINO SEQUELS KICKSTARTER

Back in 2020, nearly 700 Kickstarter backers provided the necessary support to allow Dark Planet Comics to publish the neo-noir graphic novel Palomino.  The brain-child of acclaimed cartoonist and award-nominated animator, writer, and director Stephan Franck, who has worked with a wide range of childhood favorite characters ranging from Spider-Man to The Smurfs, Palomino is not your Saturday Morning Cartoon variety story. The graphic novel follows the life of Eddie Lang, a former Burbank detective who now spends his days as a private investigator and nights working as a musician. 

Now Franck and Dark Planet Comics have launched a Kickstarter campaign in hopes of continuing Eddie Lang's story by crowdfunding two more Palomino graphic novels. Supporters have until May 5 to support the publication of Palomino Volumes 2 & 3. Pledges range from $10 for a digital edition of the original Palomino graphic novel to $40 to receive print editions of Palomino Volumes 2 & 3. 

Set in Los Angeles in the year 1981, Palomino is perfect for fans of mysteries, hard boiled dialogue, music, lived-in slice-of-life, and Los Angeles' weird and forgotten history. The American Century is running on fumes, but the end isn't anywhere in sight. The cowboy is still America's most central symbol—and from movies, to music, to the President himself, it all hails from Southern California. Across LA, six nights a week, working musicians, TV actors, stuntmen, cops, hustlers, and broken souls all play their part in the cultural myth making. Most of them are just trying to survive—on the B-side of the City of Angels. This is Palomino — where Farrah Fawcett hair reigns supreme, where Ronald Reagan is beginning his first term as President, and where LA’s hottest music spot is North Hollywood's historic Palomino Club.

“Palomino follows the neo-noir, slice-of-life adventures of a man on thin ice,” Stephan Franck remarked to ageekdaddy.com. “In the new volumes, Eddie Lang dives deeper into the murder case of a former TV actress and quickly finds himself uncovering too many deadly truths. Meanwhile, his old-soul teenage daughter Lisette just might be even more hard-boiled than her father. Lisette’s frustrated by her father’s refusal to reopen her mother’s cold case and she decides to begin her own investigation. What could possibly go wrong?”

Two step over to Kickstarter if you want to get your hands on the Palomino graphic novels by Stephan Franck.

BATMAN THE LONG HALLOWEEN ANIMATED MOVIE

Warner Bros Animation provided complimentary Blu-rays of Batman: The Long Halloween Parts I & II. Opinions expressed are honest and my own.

The Halloween season is upon us! A good time to watch the animated movie adaption of one of the best Batman stories ever published by DC Comics → BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN. This graphic novel story is so epic that its film adaption was split into two movies. Parts I & II are now available on Blu-ray and Digital as direct to video DC Universe Release release from Warner Bros Animation that any fan of the Caped Crusader will absolutely want to add to their home entertainment library.

Like other animated DC Universe Movies, BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN demonstrates that cartoons don't just have to be for kids to enjoy. In fact warning to parents this is a movie you probably don't want to view with young children. The combined BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN films are rated R for violence and bloody images. This flick immerses you into the gritty and violent atmosphere of the Dark Knight's vigilantism. 

PART I begins as a brutal murder on Halloween prompts Gotham’s young vigilante, the Batman, to form a pact with the city’s only two uncorrupt lawmen (Police Captain James Gordan and District Attorney Harvey Dent) in order to take down The Roman, head of the notorious and powerful Falcone Crime Family. But when more deaths occur on Thanksgiving and Christmas, it becomes clear that, instead of ordinary gang violence, they’re also dealing with a serial killer – the identity of whom, with each conflicting clue, grows harder to discern. Few cases have ever tested the wits of the World’s Greatest Detective like the mystery behind the Holiday Killer.

PART II continues from the cliff-hanger ending of Part I, the Holiday Killer is still at large and, with Bruce Wayne under the spell of the venomous Poison Ivy, Batman is nowhere to be found. The Caped Crusader finds himself liberated by an unlikely ally. Meanwhile Harvey Dent is confronting battles on two fronts: attempting to end the mob war while also dealing with a strained marriage. And, after an attack that leaves Harvey hideously disfigured, the District Attorney unleashes the duality of his psyche that he’s strived his entire life to suppress. Now, as Two-Face, Dent decides to take the law into his own hands and deliver judgment to those who’ve wronged him, his family and all of Gotham. Ultimately, the Dark Knight must put together the tragic pieces that converged to create both Two-Face and the Holiday Killer.

 

Buy BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN Part I or Part II using a Geek Daddy affiliate link and this blogger will receive a small commission at no additional expense to your purchase. Commissions are reinvested into the blog to provide non-sponsored content to share with our audience. Your support is appreciated by ageekdaddy.com! 

KNIGHTS CLUB

Choose your own path through a fantasy adventure with the Knights Club series of middle grade reading level graphic novels from Comic Quests. These comic books incorporate role playing game aspects to provide a fun, interactive reading experience. Pick one of four characters -- a fighter, archer, mage or paladine to embark on a quest with. Tear out from the book or print out at quirkbooks.com a Quest Tracker sheet to manage your character's health, abilities, and accessories on your journey through a Knights Club adventure.

Each character has unique abilities and there are multiple potential endings in each book making it enjoyable to play through with different heroes and scenarios. For example the paladine can restore lost health points during combat or a mage can cast magic spells and make potions. Different decisions can lead your character down a variety of different paths. There are numerous outcomes to each of the Knights Club quests that are affected through solving puzzles, finding hidden items and battling adversaries. It is up to you whether your adventure succeeds or fails!

My son has a number of the Knights Club books and I decided to flip through the pages of The Alliance of Dragons. I completed a Quest Tracker for a fighter whose special ability is adding extra attack and resistance points to his skills as he gains experience points. You can level up your character by gaining XP that are recorded on your Quest Tracker. Your health is also tracked and can go up and down through the quest. If it reaches zero you are defeated and have to start over at the beginning of the book.

My fighter was recruited to rescue the Orc King's daughter who was captured by a band of Vikings. I bravely stormed the gates of the Viking compound to save the princess ... and that didn't go well. Quickly imprisoned in their dungeon it looked like my quest had come to a quick end. But then the Viking leader made me an offer I couldn't refuse. He would release me to hunt down a dragon who was harassing the Vikings and if I killed the beast the Orc Princess would be returned to her royal family.

This wasn't going to be easy though! I had to fight my way through a forest filled with bandits and zombies to make my way to the dragon's lair. To battle these foes there is a combat wheel that can be torn out of the book or printed from the Knights Quest section of quirkbooks.com. Spin a pencil around the wheel when you are in combat to determine your actions. Utilizing the combat wheel which decides if you hit or miss in an attack in combination with your adversaries stats printed in the book and your own skills listed on your Quest Tracker determine outcomes. So winning these encounters depend both on strategy and chance. These aspects of Comic Quests combine elements of the Choose Your Own Adventure books I loved as a kid with role playing games like Dungeon & Dragons to create comic books you can play.

After conquering a number of obstacles that included riddles, puzzles and a number of fights, it was time to tackle the dragon!

The dragon was fierce and it looked very likely that my fighter was going to become its next meal. But ultimately I prevailed defeating the monster! The Viking leader true to his word returned the Orc Princess to her home. Mission accomplished ... or was it? I discovered there are three more dragons lurking in this book to be encountered. Time to take another run through the story!

Evolve from squire to knight by engaging in the quests of all four Knights Club books: The Alliance of Dragons, Bands of Bravery, The Buried City and The Message of Destiny. Targeted for middle grade readers ages 8 to 12 years old this 40 year old dad had a good time too immersing himself in these medieval themed fantasy adventures filled with magic and monsters. I also like there are scenarios in these stories where stereotypical monsters are presented as victims, heroes and allies demonstrating to readers that you can't always judge a book by its cover so to speak. Now  onto the next adventure → The Buried City.

An exciting and entertaining way to encourage reading Knights Club books have earned a Geek Daddy nod of approval. Nicely illustrated and filled with problems to solve and battles to imagine involving strategic thinking these graphic novels are great for reading through over and over again. Fans of comic books and fantasy adventures are sure to be geeked to join in a Knights Club quest.

ACURSIAN

Did you know Legendary Entertainment, the production company behind such blockbuster films as The Dark Knight trilogy, Jurassic World, Pacific Rim and Godzilla vs Kong, also has a comic book division? LEGENDARY COMICS has published comic books and graphic novels tied to movies the company has released as well as stand alone titles such as THE TOWER CHRONICLES and KRAMPUS. The newest release from LEGENDARY COMICS is a graphic novel titled ACURSIAN which brings a popular digital comic strip from WEBTOON to print.

While digital comics can be convenient to purchase and read there is just something about holding a printed edition in your hands and flipping through its pages that I really appreciate. So it was nice to pick up Legendary Comics graphic novel adaption of the WEBTOON supernatural adventure Acursian. This graphic novel stands out not just because of its origin as a web comic but also in that one of its co-authors had his image illustrated as the story's main character. That is why the title is promoted as starring John Barrowman. 

Sci-fi and superhero tv show fans may be familiar with Scottish-American actor John Barrowman from his roles as Captain Jack Harness in BBC's Doctor Who and Malcolm Merlyn in The CW Network's Arrowverse. He has teamed up with his English professor sister Carole to write a suspenseful Celtic themed thriller with drawings by artists Beni Lobel and Rubine portraying John in their artwork as the lead character Charlie Stewart. Celtic myth and Scottish magic intertwine with the modern world as Charlie Stewart unexpectedly learns that curses can be very real.

Charlie Stewart is leading a wonderful life with an amazing wife and successful career as a high powered attorney. It is his 40th birthday though and suddenly his life begins to unravel.  He accidently splits his pants on his way to work, gets into a car crash that totals his vehicle, his wife starts acting crazy during a telephone call and he finds himself arrested for embezzlement upon arriving at his law office...and the day just gets worse from there!

This path of events sets him on a time-traveling journey set between 1745 and present day as he discovers his bloodline is cursed by the Celtic Gods based upon Charlie’s ancestor, Prince Charles Edward Stewart, breaking deal made with Bregon, the god of war. The Bonnie Prince had stolen three talismans from Bregon's sisters, the goddesses of fate and time, which he promised to return in exchange for the god of war's support Scotland's battle against England. The prince reneges on his pledge and until the talismans are returned, the three sisters can no longer control fate and time, but they can put a curse on Charles Edward Stewart and his descendants. The Stewart bloodline is now cursed to lose everything at the age of the Bonnie Prince's betrayal ... their 40th birthdays.

Now Charlie must find a way to reverse his misfortune and save his young son from a similar future. Can he find the missing talismans and if so who does he return them to? Bregon or his sisters? Will this break the curse? Or worse will restoring the power of fate and time to the gods alter life and destroy the world as we now know it? You'll have to read the graphic novel Acursian to find out!

If you appreciate stories in the vein of Highlander that merge history, mythology and fantasy plots together within a modern world setting, Acursian should pique your interest. You can order this graphic novel from your local comic shop or purchase it through Amazon.com. For more information about Legendary Comics check out their social media accounts on Twitter and Instagram. While there also make sure to follow this Detroit based blogger via @Geekdad248 on Instagram and Twitter. 

HIGH MOON

I've been looking forward to getting my hands on the new release of HIGH MOON by papercutz and it just arrived in time for some Halloween reading!  Written by David Gallaher and illustrated by Steve Ellis, papercutz has brought the acclaimed graphic novel series and web comic back to print.  Originally created as a weekly online comic strip then later published in 2007 by DC's Zuda Comics imprint, HIGH MOON combines a wild west adventure with a monstrous horror story.

Papercutz specializes in graphic novels for children and teens but is publishing HIGH MOON through its Super Genius subsidiary that distributes titles that are a bit more artistic and edgier for more mature audiences than its parent company. The first volume in a three part series, "HIGH MOON: BULLET HOLES AND BITE MARKS" is being released on Halloween at book stores and comic shop across the United States including Amazon.com.  Volume 2 is scheduled to be released next May and the final graphic novel of the trilogy will follow that at a yet to be determined date.  The artwork for the first two volumes has been remastered from previous publications and volume three with all new material.  All three graphic novels feature brand new cover artwork by Ellis.

The Super Genius editions of HIGH MOON are printed on larger paper stock than the previous publications by Zuda Comics, but still maintain the landscape format of the original series.  The landscape layout provides a nice panoramic view of the content that enhance the movie like feel of the material you are reading.

Super Genius' HIGH MOON graphic novels include a removable slipcase which is nice for being able to vertically store and display on a book shelf.

I'm a fan of Gallaher and Ellis work and really happy that Super Genius is bringing their Harvey Award winning story back to print so it can be added to my bookshelf of favorite graphic novels.  HIGH MOON follows the investigations of a mysterious bounty hunter who has his own dark secret that emerges every full moon.  This gritty series does an excellent job of taking the elements of a horror flick and action movie so they play out on the pages of a comic book for an incredibly engaging reading experience.  A terror-ific story about cowboys and werewolves in the Old West!



Gallaher's script makes reading the book as interesting as looking at its illustrations....and the artwork by Ellis really is amazing!  One of the best graphic novels you can pick up this year!  Add reading HIGH MOON: BULLET HOLES AND BITE MARKS as part of your Halloween celebration by purchasing it on October 31, 2017.  The graphic novel is available as an e-book, paperback and hardcover edition from Amazon.com.

MURDER BALLADS

Indie publisher Z2 Comics provided a sneak peak of its upcoming graphic novel MURDER BALLADS to comic book fans at Free Comic Book Day last May by distributing a prequel story that sets up this tale of rock'n'roll noir.  Now the graphic novel that prequel was hyping is arriving on store shelves!  Written by Gabe Soria with Paul Reinwand's artwork follows Nate Theodore, a dead-broke and deadbeat owner of a failing record label, who is on a cross-country drive fleeing the wreckage of his business and trying to save a crumbling marriage.  He finds himself with an unexpected chance to reverse his fortunes when, during a stop in a desolate rust belt town, he "discovers" Donny and Marvell Fontweathers, two African-American brothers who play a raucous brand of doom-laden country blues. You'll find MURDER BALLADS at your favorite book stores and comic shops beginning Tuesday, August 8, 2017.  It is priced at $24.99.

While the story is appealing for its gritty supernatural tale there is also a very interesting twist to this publication that is a real bonus for people who pick it up.  It will include a sound track of authentic blues music tied to the story that can be downloaded online from a code printed within the graphic novel.  Grammy-Award winner Dan Auerbach, singer/guitarist of the rock band Black Keys, and bluesman Robert Finley have come together to record the music for the MURDER BALLADS soundtrack which includes a cover of the classic Leadbelly song "In the Pines" along with four original songs inspired by the graphic novel's story ("Bang Bang," "Butter Sandwich," "The Empty Arms," and "Three Jumpers").

This graphic novel combines two of my favorite indulgences; relaxing to blues music and reading comic books.  I'm really looking forward to checking out MURDER BALLADS illustrations and listening to its tunes.  This is a great read for those hot Autumn dog days of summer.  Pour yourself your favorite drink, relax in a comfortable chair, flip on the soundtrack, and enjoy reading an interesting story.  Combining the blues with a story told through comic strips really is a novel idea!

MURDER BALLADS

Indie publisher Z2 Comics is taking a unique approach to comic books by combining an original soundtrack of songs with a rock'n'roll noir graphic novel.  MURDER BALLADS, available in July, is about the fall and reinvention of Nate Theodore, the dead-broke and deadbeat owner of a failing record label who is on a cross-country drive in the dead of winter, fleeing the wreckage of his business and trying to save his crumbling marriage. Nate is given an unexpected chance to reverse his fortunes when, during a stop in a desolate rust belt town, he "discovers" Donny and Marvell Fontweathers, two African-American brothers who play a raucous brand of doom-laden country blues.  Written by Gabe Soria with artwork by Paul Reinwand, MURDER BALLADS will be priced at $24.95 and will include downloadable codes for songs by bluesman Robert Finley and Dan Auerback, the singer/guitarist of the Grammy-Award winning rock band The Black Keys.

“I’ve always been fascinated by the unglamorous side of music making,” noted MURDER BALLADS writer Gabe Soria. “Accounts of glorious obscurities and the characters working the fringes…that’s my meat and potatoes right there, the stuff that has nothing to do with fame and everything to do with love, obsession and compulsion to MAKE. I dig stories about people who are just trying to get by making music on their own terms, and about the unusual and beautiful and tragic ways music can be woven into the fabric of our lives, whether it’s through someone playing sad piano in a dive bar, a one-hit wonder on a transistor radio, a bootleg blues record, or whatever."

The MURDER BALLADS Original Soundtrack will include Finley and Auerbach's cover of the classic Leadbelly song "In the Pines."  The duo also perform four original songs on the soundtrack, "Bang Bang", "Butter Sandwich", "The Empty Arms" and "Three Jumpers," that Finley and Auerback created specifically to accompany the graphic novel's story.

Robert Finley and Dan Auerbach

Z2 has also partnered with Mondo, an art gallery and online store devoted to a passionate love of film, art, music and toys, to release a limited edition of the graphic novel with the soundtrack included as a 10" vinyl record.  It will feature original album cover art by Jon Langford, the acclaimed visual artist best known for his striking portraits of country and rock music icons including Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and Elvis Presley.  This limited edition package will be available for $200 at mondotees.com.

This graphic novel combines two of my favorite pastimes, reading comics and listening to the blues, so I'm really looking forward to checking out its illustrations and listening to the tunes accompanying the story by Finley and Auerbach.  Keep an eye out for this gritty combo at comic book stores this summer.  If you miss out on picking up MURDER BALLADS this summer, you'll probably be disappointed in yourself for not buying it.

SURGEON X

Antibiotics have revolutionized medicine over the last century saving millions of lives.  Overuse though is starting to have consequences as more and more bacteria are developing resistance to these drugs.  Image Comics' medical thriller SURGEON X portrays a future where antibiotics are no longer effective creating a deadly impact on society.  SURGEON X is the comic book writing debut of documentary, factual drama and animation filmmaker Sara Kenney (Angels & Ghosts) and features artwork from acclaimed artist John Watkiss who recently passed away last January.

It is the year 2036 and there are great futuristic advancements available in medicine and surgery, yet in this near-future reality what was once a simple treatable infection can now kill because antibiotics are no longer effective.  Rosa Scott, a brilliant and obsessive surgeon becomes Surgeon X, a vigilante doctor who uses experimental surgery and black market drugs to treat patients.  As Surgeon X, Rosa develops a godlike-complex, deciding who will live and who will die.  Risking everything to save lives, Rosa believes that to survive she must follow her own moral code which ultimately warps her Hippocratic Oath to suit her own decisions.  These actions though begin to endanger those closest to her that trying to protect led her down this slippery slope of ethical decisions in the first place.

If you missed the initial monthly issues at your local comic book shop now is your chance to catch up reading the first story arc of this series.  SURGEON X Volume 1: The Path of Most Resistance will be available everywhere books are sold as of May 2, 2017 both in print and digital editions.  The 208 page  graphic novel is a collection of issues #1 - #6 from the comic book.  This is John Watkiss' last published work and the graphic novel also features a gallery of his incredible charcoal development drawings used to set the tone and imagery for SURGEON X.

In addition to the graphic novel, Image Comics has also just published an all-new digital exclusive 10 page comic book called SURGEON X SPECIAL: Trial and Error that is available on Comixology for .99 cents.  This standalone story featuring art by Warren Pleece (Incognegro) set in Bristol, England in 2037 introduces readers to Rosa's cousin Sun Walker.  Rosa decides to help Sun, a chemical scientist with a risky plan that could either kill or cure a loved one.

Publication of Trial and Error was subsidized by the Royal Society of Chemistry.  Join in a FACEBOOK LIVE conversation on Wednesday May 3, 2017 with SURGEON X author Sara Kenney, artist Warren Pleece and chemical scientist Dr. Jess Healy who is serving as a science advisor to the comic book series.  Kenney and Healy will discuss the scientific aspects portrayed in SURGEON X while Pleece will do some live sketching for the audience. The FACEBOOK LIVE event will be for a 1/2 hour beginning at 3pm (British time) and if my calculations are correct that would be 10 am (ET) here in the United States.

For more information about this sci-fi franchise, please visit surgeonx.co.uk

Papercutz Announces Graphic Novels Based on Nickelodeon's THE LOUD HOUSE

The funny adventures of 11-year old Lincoln Loud who has to survive the struggles and bedlam of being the only boy in a household filled with  10 sisters is jumping from the TV screen to the pages of a comic book.  Papercutz, a leading publisher of graphic novels for kids, is publishing the first graphic novel based upon Nickelodeon's hit animated television series The Loud House.  "There Will Be Chaos" will feature stories and artwork from show creator and executive producer, Chris Savino, and his his talented team of animators and writers that are behind the creation of The Loud House episodes.  Papercutz has teamed up with Savino to distribute The Loud House mini-comics at San Diego ComicCon International in 2015 and 2016 and has included The Loud House comic strips in its Nickelodeon Pandemonium anthology, but "There Will Be Chaos" will be the first full volume graphic novel devoted solely to The Loud House.

The Loud House follows Lincoln as he gives an inside look at his daily life in a very large family. With his best bud Clyde, Lincoln always comes up with a plan to stay one step ahead of the chaos, but whether or not it works is where the adventures begin. Inspired by creator Chris Savino’s (Rocko’s Modern Life, The Powerpuff Girls) chaotic life growing up in a huge household, the television series was recently picked up for a third season by Nickelodeon.

“Comics are a first love of mine, so it’s incredibly exciting to expand The Loud House universe with this graphic novel,” Savino reflected in the announcement by Papercutz about the publication of this graphic novel. “With endless stories to be told from Lincoln and his 10 sisters, The Loud House feels just as 'at home' on the printed page as it does on television, and I look forward to sharing all the adventures to come with readers.”

THE LOUD HOUSE #1: "There Will Be Chaos" will be available in bookstores and comic book shops across the United States and Canada beginning May 9, 2017.  To find a local comic shop near you go to comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-COMIC-BOOK.  For more information about the graphic novels available through Papercutz, please visit papercutz.com

DOCTOR STRANGE GIVEAWAY

Marvel's DOCTOR STRANGE is one of the most highly anticipated films of the year. To celebrate its release, I've partnered with a group of bloggers from The Hopping Bloggers to create a prize pack worth $120! This amazing prize pack includes:

• Mug
• Funko Pop Figure (Movie Version)
• Funko Pop Figure (Comic Version)
• Eye of Agamotto Necklace
• Bleacher Creature
• Graphic Novel

Marvel's Doctor Strange hits theaters everywhere on November 4th, 2016!

About Doctor Strange

From Marvel Studios comes “Doctor Strange,” the story of world-famous neurosurgeon Dr. Stephen Strange whose life changes forever after a horrific car accident robs him of the use of his hands. When traditional medicine fails him, he is forced to look for healing, and hope, in an unlikely place—a mysterious enclave known as Kamar-Taj. He quickly learns that this is not just a center for healing but also the front line of a battle against unseen dark forces bent on destroying our reality. Before long Strange—armed with newly acquired magical powers—is forced to choose whether to return to his life of fortune and status or leave it all behind to defend the world as the most powerful sorcerer in existence.

“Doctor Strange” stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Benedict Wong, Michael Stuhlbarg, Benjamin Bratt and Scott Adkins, with Mads Mikkelsen and Tilda Swinton. Scott Derrickson is directing with Kevin Feige producing. Louis D’Esposito, Stephen Broussard, Victoria Alonso, Charles Newirth and Stan Lee serve as executive producers. Jon Spaihts and Scott Derrickson & C. Robert Cargill wrote the screenplay. Join Strange on his dangerous, mystifying and totally mind-bending journey when Marvel Studios’ “Doctor Strange” opens in U.S. theaters on November 4, 2016.

Follow DOCTOR STRANGE on Twitter: twitter.com/DrStrange 

Follow Marvel on Instagram: instagram.com/marvel/  

Visit the official DOCTOR STRANGE website here: marvel.com/doctorstrange

Enter to win the Doctor Strange Prize Pack using the form below. GOOD LUCK!

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How To Survive A Zombie Apocalypse

A zombie apocalypse is just a topic for horror novels or movies so it could never happen in real life... could it?  Well don't be too quick to write that scenario off.  Did you know that there actually are real life zombies in our world?  According to National Geographic there exist zombies in the rain forests of Brazil ...  just not the type you'd think of based off of Night of the Living Dead or The Walking Dead.  These zombies are ants whose minds have been taken over by a fungus.  The fungus ophiocordyceps unlateralis infects an ant, takes over its mind and then kills the insect once it has moved to a location ideal for the fungi to grow and spread its spores to other ants.  Could such a fungus ever evolve to infect the human population?  Well while very unlikely, if a zombie apocalypse were to occur it probably would be due to some sort of bacterial, fungal or viral outbreak.

With the popular television show The Walking Dead recently starting its sixth season, Halloween approaching, and zombie ants on A Geek Daddy's mind, we reached out to Rachel Buchholz, editor-in-chief of National Geographic Kids magazine/digital and author of How to Survive Anything with some questions about how to survive a zombie apocalypse:

Q: What is the best way to ward off zombies?

A:  I’m not sure there’s any way to ward off zombies, so I think it’s best to just avoid them, like venomous snakes. Stay on clear trails or roads, and avoid walking through tall grasses or stepping over fallen logs without looking. Try to wear thick clothing that they can’t bite through.

If you see one that hasn’t seen you yet, just stay calm and slowly start walking in the opposite direction. If it has seen you and is making it’s way in your direction, run.

Q: Is there anything zombies would rather eat than human brains?

A:   It’s a little known fact that zombies are pretty lazy. They’re like lions and gators, which are usually after the easiest meal. So if you put up a fight—if you throw rocks, swing sticks, even poke at their eyeballs, they’ll probably start looking for an easier snack.

As you know zombies are also pretty slow so if one gets too close it’s totally feasible to take off and run. They’re kind of like killer bees, which will chase you for maybe about 200 yards, until you’re far enough away from their hive. I think 200 yards sounds like a good distance to put between you and a zombie swarm.

Unless you really know what you’re doing I don’t ever advise attacking a zombie. They might be slow and lazy, but if you don’t have a lot of practice you can become quickly overwhelmed, especially if there’s more than one.

Q: If you can pick any item but only ONE item to have on you and use to survive during a zombie apocalypse what would it be?

A:  If I could only have one item on me, it’d be a pop-top from a soda can. You can use it as a fish hook, a signaling mirror, a scraper, a flint, a food knife, and even a weapon.

 If I could have one other thing it’d be a sock. You can slit holes in it and use it as sunglasses, but you can also take out some of the elastic from time to time to use as string, like for a fishing lure.

Q: What would be the best way to ensure a supply of safe drinking water and food?

A: If it’s the beginning of the apocalypse I’d start like you were expecting a power outage after a hurricane and fill up every bathtub and sink you can find, even use the clean water in the toilet.  That will last you for a while if you limit your intake to the equivalent of about two cans of soda a day.

But that’s not going to last you forever, so you’re gonna eventually have to go to the woods and survive there. Try to make camp near a fresh source of water. This way you can learn to catch fish but also scavenge around the banks for water plants and the critters that live in them. But don’t drink the water unless you can boil it. Fresh water is really like one big toilet for animals, and too many of those microorganisms can make you sick. If you can’t boil the water, you can collect rainwater or lick dew off of plants. And if you get desperate, suck the liquid out of a fish eye. 

To make sure that the family of at least one of our blog readers has the skills to survive a zombie apocalypse, we have Rachel's book How To Survive Anything to giveaway.  This 176 page softcover book published by National Geographic Kids is recommended for ages 10 to 14 years old though it has valuable information that even kids' parents can take away from it as well.  The book is a hilariously informative take on surviving everything from the trials of middle school life to being lost in the jungles of South America with those zombie ants.  How To Survive Anything combines the National Geographic Society's expertise on nature and adventure with the Nat Geo Kids style to provide tweens and teens with advice to conquer any obstacle whether it is a life threatening or social status damaging situation that is both authoritative and amusing. The book retails for $12.95 on the National Geographic online store.

For a chance to win How To Survive Anything you  must be a U.S. or Canadian resident over 18 years old and submit the following entry methods prior to 11:59 pm EST on Saturday October 31, 2015 to earn up to 2 entries.  All valid entries will be assigned a number in the order they are received and one number will be  selected to determine the winner using random.org.  E-mails will only be used to contact the winner and deleted following the selection of a winner.

EMAIL (1 ENTRY)

E-mail thegeekdaddy [at] yahoo [dot] com your name and mailing address.   Email subject line should be ZOMBIES.

TWITTER (1 ENTRY)

Follow @Geekdad248 on Twitter and tweet:

Save me from the zombies @Geekdad248 - please have #ageekdaddy blog send me the @NGKids book HOW TO SURVIVE ANYTHING #Halloween #ad

Also check out this graphic novel put together by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) that is meant to be a fun way to teach emergency preparedness using the theme of a zombie apocalypse:



Happy Halloween everyone!!! Have fun and don't let the zombies bite!!!

A Geek Daddy is a member of the National Geographic Kids Insider blogger program.  Insiders get a behind-the-scenes look at National Geographic’s resources, activities, content and projects for kids and families. They also review copies of books, magazines and toys, and are offered interviews with authors, explorers and editors. 

National Geographic is a global nonprofit membership organization driven by a passionate belief in the power of science, exploration and storytelling to change the world. National Geographic Kids teaches kids about the world and how it works, empowering them to succeed and make it a better place. National Geographic Kids inspires young adventurers through award-winning magazines, books, apps, games, toys, videos, events and a website, and is the only kids brand with a world-class scientific organization at its core.

DISCLAIMER:  A Geek Daddy Blog will be responsible for selecting the winner of this contest, but National Geographic is responsible for fulfillment and delivery of the prize.  By participating in this contest you waive any liability towards A Geek Daddy Blog or its publisher that may arise from your involvement with this promotion.  If you win this prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification. No P.O. Boxes are allowed as mailing addresses. A Geek Daddy Blog did not receive any financial compensation but did receive a free featured product for the blog to review and the prize that is being awarded to provide  one of our readers for this contest.  A Geek Daddy Blog is hosting this contest as a benefit to our readers. Any opinions in this post are my own.  #NGKINSIDER