Neil Kleid first came to my attention as the writer/artist of the Xeric-winning “Ninety Candles,” an innovative graphic novel in which each panel represented a year.   Here’s what I wrote about the book in early 2005, naming Ninety Candles one of the best graphic novels of the year:

Neil Kleid’s experimental “Ninety Candles” follows the life of cartoonist Kevin Hall, with one panel representing each year of Hall’s life. The book was done improvisationally, with no pre-existing script — each day represented in the book was created in a day.

Kleid has since created the Jewish gangster story “Brownsville,” coming to the iPhone via Panelfly, and one of the best graphic novels of 2009, “The Big Kahn.”   The following is a Q&A with Kleid about those projects.

Matt Price:  Tell me about the process of taking Brownsville to the iPhone. Was reformatting involved? Did you have involvement in the process?

Neil Kleid: Not really — basically, NBM Publishing handed off the files to the boys and girls at Panelfly and they went to town, making the classic mob drama available for your handheld electronical telephonic listening devices. Jake and I? We just watched with awe.

The process is definitely exciting. Each and every day another smart phone comes to market—be it iPhone, Pre, Droid or Blackberry—and the comic book industry is matching them stride for stride. The only thing, as a cartoonist or graphic novelist you really need to do is change your point of view, understand that this is the limitless new horizon and get on board.

MP:  What do you think makes a comic or graphic novel a good candidate for the iPhone?

NK: There are definitely certain comics/GNS more suited to a smart phone viewer than others. For instance, as a creator who has seen his work shrunk from standard 6×9 pages to digest I’ve noticed the benefits of having pages with fewer panels, lighter dialogue, stronger art. Taking a nine-panel Giffen grid down to an iPhone may not work as well as a four-panel manga (that is, unless you display the story panel by panel…!). Brighter art, easy to read panels, clear transitions —these are all elements needed for optimum smart phone reading.

That being said, I’m the dude that packs 6 panels on a page so maybe my book isn’t the optimum candidate, either. Looks pretty in yer hand-phone, though.

MP: Tell me about the series, for those who might be unfamiliar.

NK: BROWNSVILLE is the story of Murder Incorporated, the Jewish hit operation working out of East New York, under the thumb of Jewish gangster Louis Lepke Buchalter in the ‘20s and ‘30s. It’s a true story, following the intertwined lives of Allie “Tick Tock” Tannenbaum and Abe “Kid Twist” Reles as they immerse themselves in the gang-infested streets of Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan, work their way to the top and then rat everyone out. If you’re a sucker for a good mob movie, and you’d like to expand your Mafia horizons beyond Michael Corleone, “Goodfellas”, Lucky Luciano and the SOPRANOS, this is the book for you.

MP:  Can you tell me about your artist on Brownsville?

NK: Jake Allen is a prince among men—that is, if those men are all poor, underappreciated inkslingers devoted to the sequential arts and a slave to detail. The man’s work is so refined that he draws every building’s brick, every herringbone in your suit, every shadow, nook, cranny and dramatic detail in a story that asks a great deal from a first time graphic illustrator. And Jake? He delivers.

MP:  Of course, this year, your critically acclaimed The Big Kahn graphic novel hit the shelves.  Could you describe that for me?

NK: THE BIG KAHN is my second book for NBM Publishing, moving my Judeocentric writing arena to present day New Jersey, and in particular to the funeral of Rabi David Kahn, noted scholar, loving husband and father, pulpit Rabbi to a congregation for forty years. The only problem? Rabbi Kahn was never Jewish, rather an Irish con man who fell into a new life after falling in love, according to the “Rabbi’s” long-estranged, newly arrived brother Roy. The book explores the aftermath of the revelation, focusing in on the late Rabbi’s wife and children who are forced to examine their lives in the wake of the bombshell. It asks questions of faith, religion, legacy and lies, shining its light on a family secret so well-hidden even the family didn’t know about it until it was too late.

Inspired by the HBO series SIX FEET UNDER and sources like the novel “Matchstick Men” and THE STING, made relatable by the Bernie Madoff scandal and elements of AMC’s MAD MEN, this book is a must-have for anyone interested in the societal implications of a world where everyone lies. Everyone. Even we.

MP:  And tell me about the artist on The Big Kahn.

NK: The artist on KAHN is my pal Nicolas Cinquegrani, a talented Chilean illustration who came to my attention via the interweb and the pretty pictures he posts there that friends showed to me one night. I was blown away by Nico’s delicate yet grounded imagery, the subtle, stark appeal to his characters and the possibilities of that art applied to my stark tale of human failings. I don’t regret emailing him one bit. Not one bit.

MP: The Big Kahn touches on the themes of identity and reinvention.  What appeals to you about these themes?

NK: Who doesn’t know what it’s like to fight for a second chance? You say things, do things that mark you in a certain way and have to struggle to toss of the invisible brand. Classic journey of self-discovery and renewal for a character to go through, yes? They say better writers drop their character in unfamiliar territories, forcing them to find their way back, fight their way through to retribution. What better road for a Rabbi to walk than one paved with doubts, failings and accusations based on the sins of his father, sins that if never undertaken might have meant an entirely different life for his sons and daughter?

As it happens, during the time I was writing BIG KAHN I was going through a bit of an identity crisis myself. I’d moved to New York from Detroit, having left the isolated womb of my family home and the Jewish community surrounding it. Here I was, outside the ghetto and in the World, where anything could happen and I could be whoever I wanted. Unfortunately, several circumstances and scenarios brought me through trials of my own —professional, creative, financial, romantic — and the only comfort and grounding I could find was back in the ghetto, the protective womb of the Jewish community I was fighting to escape. I wanted to find out who I was — as a Jew, as an artist, as a writer, as a son, friend, brother, boyfriend, son of G-d — and this introspection and the questions that arose found their way into THE BIG KAHN,

MP: What other projects do you have in the works?

NK: Currently I’m in a gestating year, working on projects that won’t see the light of day for a while. Writing this, writing that and hoping it sticks somewhere… but the nice bit of news for 2010 is that I’m devoting myself back to my roots, the pencil, pen and ink I abandoned to script and plot.

This year, I’ll dive back into cartooning as I knock out a 4-page story for an unannounced Big Time anthology and then I’ll hunker down to work on my second drawn graphic novel (the first being 2003’s Xeric-award winning NINETY CANDLES) for a Big Time publisher. In and around those two projects, POP will finally see the light of day —it’s a five issue miniseries about tabloid Hollywood, celebutantes, publicists and the most evil woman in the world. I co-wrote it with Dan Taylor, it’s illustrated by Chris Moreno and it’s coming out from IDW Publishing in some form this year. I’m also toying with prose again, writing my second novel as I prepare to unleash my first, COFFIN, to the masses via print on demand delivery. So here’s hoping THAT doesn’t blow up in my face.

And, as always, working working working. Goonies never say die.

Award-winning graphic novelist Neil Kleid is taking his Jewish gangster graphic novel, “Brownsville,” to the iPhone.

“The process is definitely exciting,” Kleid said in a recent interview. “Each and every day another smart phone comes to market — be it iPhone, Pre, Droid or Blackberry — and the comic book industry is matching them stride for stride. The only thing, as a cartoonist or graphic novelist you really need to do is change your point of view, understand that this is the limitless new horizon and get on board.”

“Brownsville,” from publisher NBM, is the story of Murder, Incorporated, the Jewish hit operation of the 1920s and ’30s.

“It’s a true story, following the intertwined lives of Allie “Tick Tock” Tannenbaum and Abe “Kid Twist” Reles as they immerse themselves in the gang-infested streets of Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan, work their way to the top and then rat everyone out,” Kleid said. “If you’re a sucker for a good mob movie, and you’d like to expand your Mafia horizons beyond Michael Corleone, ‘Goodfellas,’ Lucky Luciano and ‘The Sopranos,’ this is the book for you.”

Jake Allen is the artist for “Brownsville.” The graphic novel can be downloaded via the iPhone app Panelfly, found online at www.panelfly.com.

Kleid’s second book for NBM is “The Big Kahn,” set in modern-day New Jersey, as, at the funeral of esteemed Rabbi David Kahn, his family discovers he was never Jewish, but an Irish con man.

“The book explores the aftermath of the revelation, focusing in on the late Rabbi’s wife and children who are forced to examine their lives in the wake of the bombshell,” Kleid said. “It asks questions of faith, religion, legacy and lies, shining its light on a family secret so well-hidden even the family didn’t know about it until it was too late.”

The artist of “The Big Kahn” is Nicolas Cinquegrani, a Chilean artist who Kleid found via the Internet.

“I was blown away by Nico’s delicate yet grounded imagery, the subtle, stark appeal to his characters and the possibilities of that art applied to my stark tale of human failings,” Kleid said. “I don’t regret e-mailing him one bit. Not one bit.”

Referencing the Bernie Madoff scandal, Kleid said “The Big Kahn” should be of interest to those interested in the societal implications of a world where everyone lies.

The theme of fighting for a second chance had parallels in Kleid’s own life, as while he was writing the book, he faced his own identity crisis.

“I’d moved to New York from Detroit, having left the isolated womb of my family home and the Jewish community surrounding it,” Kleid said. “Here I was, outside the ghetto and in the World, where anything could happen and I could be whoever I wanted. Unfortunately, several circumstances and scenarios brought me through trials of my own — professional, creative, financial, romantic — and the only comfort and grounding I could find was back in the ghetto, the protective womb of the Jewish community I was fighting to escape.

“I wanted to find out who I was — as a Jew, as an artist, as a writer, as a son, friend, brother, boyfriend, son of G-d — and this introspection and the questions that arose found their way into ‘The Big Kahn.’”

By Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman

WORD BALLOONS

A Moore man seeks a $700 prize and his shot at small-press fame as part of the sixth annual “Small Press Idol” contest from Dimestore Productions.

Brad Huffman-Parent is the writer of “Steel Rising,” which made it to the second round of the competition. Voting in the second round continues through April 30. Forty-two projects entered Round 1; of those, 27 have moved on to Round 2.

While Huffman-Parent can’t say much about the story as part of the contest, he did share that it’s a twist on classic fantasy.

“One day I just started thinking about how the standard fantasy characters would act and interact in the modern world,” Huffman-Parent said. “But I didn’t want to just stick them in the modern world for them to have an old-style adventure. This is a world very, very close to ours, but with elves, dwarves and orcs; a reality (where) things have evolved just a bit differently. I thought hard about how these characters would integrate realistically into the modern world.”

Huffman-Parent moved to Moore in 2001 when he was stationed at Tinker Air Force Base. He left active duty in 2007, taking a pay cut to spend more time with his family. “I’ve decided to really dedicate myself this year to getting somewhere with my writing and hopefully turn it into a full-time career.”

Huffman-Parent is working with three artists to bring “Steel Rising” to life. They met via the Internet; and while they’ve never met in person, Huffman-Parent says they meld well as creators. Brad Thingvold is the penciller, who designed the characters of “Steel Rising.” Inker Joe Armour is also a makeup effects artist, writer/director/producer and a 3-D modeler/animator. And Armour has some comics history in his family, Huffman-Parent said: Armour is the nephew of George “Inky” Roussous, who was an inker for Jack Kirby. Armour is designing the logo for the series. The color will be provided by Michael Summers.

In the second round, Huffman-Parent and his artists will create bios and various poses of the characters in the series, as well as an official logo. From this round, 20 projects will advance to Round 3. Round 3 will require three completed pages of sequential art; the fourth round requires a full 12-page story.

To vote for “Steel Rising,” go online to www.dimestoreproductions.com and sign up. Voting takes place in the Forum, under the heading “Idol judging.”

By Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman

Matt Price: Tell me about the competition.

Brad Huffman-Parent: Small Press Idol is a huge opportunity for independent creators to get noticed. This is its 6th year and the biggest one ever. 42 projects entered into Round 1 and 27 of those have moved on to Round 2.

The requirements for Round 1 were a basic premise/pitch write-up and a rough cover image.

Round 2 is all about the characters– bios, front, 3/4, and side view of each character, plus 3 action poses for each. And also the official logo that will appear on the cover. From here 20 projects will advance to Round 3.

Round 3 is where the real challenge starts. All projects that advance will have to submit 3 completed pages of sequential art, penciled, inked, and lettered (and grayscale if you want). These can be any 3 pages from your planned #0 issue or origin story, but they have to be in order.

And from there a number to be determined will advance to Round 4 which is the full 12 page 0 issue story, with completed cover and logo. The #0’s will be available for sale, and the grand prize winner will be the book that sells the most copies.

This year, the Grand Prize will be a 4-issue commitment from the Dimestore Imprint to sponsor the launching of a series based on the winning concept, with an option to continue with it if successful. The Winner will also get half of the entry fee monies taken in as a bonus payout, as well as money paid into the prize pool by sponsors, which is $700.
MP: What inspired your entry?

BH-P: I have a love/hate relationship with fantasy. I love to read it, but hate that so much of it is unoriginal and makes me feel like I’m just reading the same story with slightly different characters. I’m always looking for the new twist to my old favorites and one day I just started thinking about how the standard fantasy characters would act and interact in the modern world. But I didn’t want to just stick them in the modern world for them to have an old style adventure. This is a world very, very close to ours, but with elves, dwarves, and orcs a reality things have evolved just a bit differently. I thought hard about how these characters would integrate realistically into the modern world.

I can’t really say much about the story due to the contest restrictions, but there are a lot of political and social issues that I plan to explore. But I won’t beat people over the head with those as the main goal is to tell a fun action-packed story.

MP: Tell me about the artists you’re working with.

BH-P: What can I say about the art team? I may be the guy with the ideas, but none of this would exist without them. I found them by posting on internet forums, we’re spread across the country and have never met, but we all mold together perfectly.

First we have Brad Thingvold on pencils. He’s the first one I met and really should be credited as co-creator. I had some basic idea of what I wanted the characters to look like, but he’s the one that designed them and brought them to life as they exist now.
Surpisingly he’s only had his work published once before in a 9 page short for an anthology. Besides that he’s been honing his craft and putting together samples. I was lucky to grab him before someone else did because he has some serious skills. I’m really impressed with what he’s put together so far.

Next is our tracer, I mean inker, Joe Armour. He’s the “royalty” of the team, being the nephew of legendary inker George “Inky” Roussos. It’s some cool little history, but he doesn’t need to do any name dropping as he’s amazingly talented all on his own.
In addition to inking Joe is a special makeup effects artist, 3D modeler/ animator, and film writer/director/producer. He’s designing the logo for the book alongside his inking duties.

Finally we have Michael Summers doing colors. I don’t have much to say about him as he doesn’t say a whole lot, but he gets stuff done and gets it done well. He loves Photo Shop and he knows how to use it.

The blog I Love Rob Liefeld reports on the Small Press Expo this past weekend in Bethesda, Md.  I went to this every year for a while, and I love digging up small-press gems. I don’t know when my next trip out will be, so I’ll have to just quietly be jealous that other people have the Becky Cloonan minicomic “5″ (pictured) and I do not.

– Matt Price

DELETED: THE GAME is a web TV show that promises to blur the lines between fantasy and reality by drawing viewers into an interactive game. The show revolves around Tyler who is struggling to piece together her life after a traumatic incident left her with a memory failure condition. During the show’s first season, she finds herself embroiled in a conspiracy. Finding herself overwhelmed, Tyler seeks help from her online friends. The producers have hidden a trail of clues in each episode, all over the internet and selected real locations, setting up a massive search for clues. For their participation, viewers earn points towards prizes including an all-expenses paid trip to meet the cast at the end of the season. 

Four episodes have been released so far.  While I don’t have time to keep up with the gameplay aspects of it, it seems pretty innovative, and I could see something like this happening more in the future. The show’s pretty good, as well.

– Matt Price

This week is the one-year anniversary of the comics podcast at NewsOK.com kicking off, and George was part of the first one, so it was nice to have him back to wrap up the first year.   I’d like to thank George and my other most frequent podcast collaborators, Greg Elwell and Kyle Roberts, as well as the other guests and guest hosts we’ve had on the comics podcast over the last year. 

 – Matt Price

Oni Press has announced its solicitations for June, 2008.

In addition to new issues of “Love the Way You Love,” “Wasteland” and “Resurrection,” Judd Winick’s “Barry Ween” gets collected.  All 12 issues are put together in a $19.95 softcover.  Barry Ween is a super-genius, foul-mouthed kid who conducts experiments, travels through time, and battles strange creatures in this hilarious mature-readers comic.

Also, the long-awaited “Tek Jansen” No. 2 is scheduled for a June 25 release, with a re-release of issue No. 1 planned for June 18.  Based on the adventures of a fictional character created by Stephen Colbert, “Tek Jansen” is clever space-fantasy parody.  Oni says, about issue No. 2: “Galaxy-hero-super-awesome-spectacular-ultra-spy Tek jansen takes it back to school in his second cosmic comic book adventure!
When a misunderstanding ends with a demotion for Tek, the spaceman is busted down and forced to return to the academy that shaped him into the man he is today! Don’t miss out on the comic book that’ll have you exclaiming, ‘Apollo Creed!’”

– Matt Price

Virgin Comics reports that Hugh Jackman, “Wolverine” from the X-Men films and the upcoming “Wolverine,” will team up with “Wolverine” comic-book writer Marc Guggenheim to create the comic-book series “Nowhere Man.” 

The story is reported to be a science fiction odyssey in a future in which mankind has traded privacy for safety.

“I’ve had so much fun in the graphic novel world with the X-MEN franchise that I wanted to get even more involved,” said Jackman in a release. “I am so excited to work with Virgin and Marc and create a compelling character and story that hopefully will also make it to the big screen.”

Virgin will team with Seed Productions, Jackman’s production company with producer John Palermo, to create the comic series and then take it into film and other areas, according to the release.

– Matt Price

LAS VEGAS  —  Writer/artist Jeff Smith spoke at the annual ComicsPRO membership meeting about the publishing plans for his all-ages classic “Bone” and his new, mature readers project “RASL.” Smith also said plans are in the works to continue exploring Bone’s world.

“Bone,” originally printed in black and white, is being remastered into color for Scholastic.  Seven of the nine graphic novels have been remastered into color, and according to Smith, Scholastic has sold 2,481,500 of those graphic novels in the last three years.   The No. 1 place these books sell is as part of the book fairs held in schools.

Smith said he wants to continue the adventures in the valley where the “Bone” adventures took place, with possible appearances by supporting characters.  These would be chapter books set in the valley, written by Tom Sniegowski and illustrated by Smith.  The book would be aimed at tweens.

“Treasure Hunters” and “Crown of Horns,” the final two of the “Bone” graphic novels, are being reworked by Scholastic.  “Treasure Hunters” is near being printed, now, and “Crown of Horns” is planned for an early 2009 release.   Smith said he’d like to follow that up with a boxed set of the color editions.

The “Bone One Volume Edition,” published by Smith’s Cartoon Books, has sold 105,000 to date, despite being out of print for a year.  Originally, the “One Volume Edition” went out of print as part of the publishing deal with Scholastic, but Cartoon Books renegotiated the deal because Smith said he felt like the comic book stores still needed that edition.

In May, “Stupid Stupid Rat Tales” and “Rose” will come back into print from Cartoon Books.  At some point, a color version including some of the Rat Tales with a new framing sequence will come from Scholastic.

Smith’s latest series, “RASL,” sold about 24,000, Smith said.  After surveying the audience, Smith said he planned on reprinting “RASL” No. 1.  Each three-issue arc will be collected in oversized trade paperbacks of about 110 pages.   Another new product from Cartoon Books is a 2-foot plush of Fone Bone, the hero of “Bone,” which will sell for about $40. 

– Matt Price

– Matt Price

“Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Life” is based on the graphic novel by Bryan Lee O’Malley, in which a twentysomething slacker must battle his new girlfriend’s seven evil ex-boyfriends to win her hand.

– Matt Price 

From AiT’s Larry Young at the AiT-Planet Lar Web site:

Today is the ninth anniversary of the date you could first walk into a comic store and buy a copy of Astronauts in Trouble: Live From the Moon #1, which is the date we count as the start of the company, even if we were working on the project for a year before that. And, you know, it was published by those titans of industry, Rob and Steve Snell, the powerful third stage of the Saturn V rocket that got us into orbit. Me, I’m spending the day lettering Dugout, Adam Beechen and Manny Bello’s creative follow-up to their last team-up on Hench.

In other words, just another day of Making Comics Better…

In honor of the 9th anniversary, here are my nine favorite books that came out from AiT-Planet Lar:

1. Demo
2. The Annotated Mantooth
3. The Last of the Independents
4. Astronauts in Trouble
5. Electric Girl
6. Seven Sons
7. Channel Zero
8. Couscous Express
9.  Scurvy Dogs

Thanks for all the comics, Larry, and best of luck in the next nine years!

– Matt Price

For however many “Nerdage” readers we have in the Oregon area:

Press release:

Portland, Oregon – March 17th, 2008 - Too Much Coffee Man Opera: The Refill, the sequel to last years sold-out Too Much Coffee Man Opera, opens April 4th, 2008 at Brunish Hall in the Portland Center of Performing Arts and runs until April 20th. Admission is $20-$25 and tickets can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com.

“Last year’s performances sold out so fast, we really wanted to get the word out early so fans will have a chance to see this limited engagement,” said Shannon Wheeler, the creator behind Too Much Coffee Man.

Not only will fans get a chance to see the sequel, but those who missed out on the original will have an opportunity to experience both shows as Wheeler and his crew have brought the first show back for an encore that run before all showing of the the sequel. The first and second shows will play back to back with a short intermission between.

For many comic fans the original Too Much Coffee Man Opera was their first exposure to opera. While many opera fans saw Too Much Coffee Man for the first time. All attendees were impressed by the humor… and the music.

“This isn’t coffee-related-lyrics slipped into Wagnerian tunes. It’s original music with a personal story line about identity, love, and rejection,” said Stacey Murdock, who plays Too Much Coffee Man.

The Too Much Coffee Man Opera is the story of an idealistic hero, named Too Much Coffee Man, as he competes with rival Espresso Guy for the attention of a Barista. Unfornately, she has her own agenda, to be a super hero.

The second opera, entitled Too Much Coffee Man Opera: The Refill l, picks up two years later. The Barista has fulfilled her superhero dreamS and she’s married a Martian. Unfortunately she’s bored. She hopes caffeine will cure her ennui and calls Too Much Coffee Man for help. Antics ensue as Espresso Guy tries to win her back by pretending to be Too Much Coffee Man.

Shannon Wheeler created the comic book Too Much Coffee Man over a decade ago to parody the emerging coffee scene and to satirize the patrons (who would sit in coffee shops writing comics). Even though the comic book is humor based Wheeler and his co-creators took their opera project seriously.

Too Much Coffee Man Opera: The Refill re-unites the all star line up of creators who birthed the original This includes, Emmy award-winning Composer Daniel Crafts, award winning Canadian poet Damian Willcox, baritone Stacey Murdock performs as Too Much Coffee Man, tenor Matt Dolphin plays Espresso Guy and mezzo-soprano Jasmine Presson performs as the Barista with Meg Chamberlain producing.

Randy Rollison, a veteran of many stage productions throughout the U.S, including the world premiere of The Vagina Monologues, has taken the helm as director. He’s determined to take this show up to the next level or, at least, do something really weird.

CAST AND CREW

Too Much Coffee Man………Stacey Murdock

The Barista………………………..Jasmine Presson

Espresso Guy…………………….Matt Dolphin

The Martian………………………Daniel McLaughlin

Randy Rollison………………….Director

Meg Chamberlain…………….Producer

From Friday’s The Oklahoman: 

By Matthew Price

Acting Assistant Features Editor

WORD BALLOONS

He predates Batman and Superman, and he’s never missed a day on the job. Lee Falk’s “Phantom” debuted on Feb. 17, 1936, and has been running daily in newspapers since. Seventy-two years later, the character is still going strong.

Falk’s Phantom, sometimes called “The Ghost Who Walks,” is a costumed crimefighter in the African jungles. Falk died in 1999 at age 88, after handling the adventures of the Phantom into his 80s.

Writer Mike Bullock handles the comic-book adventures of the Phantom, which are published by Moonstone Books. (The ongoing newspaper strip features Paul Ryan on art with scripts by Tony DePaul.)

Bullock began his run on “The Phantom” with issue No. 12 of the current run.

Bullock says issue No. 21, released this month, is a good jumping-on point.

“It’s the first issue of a new arc, has a quick primer on page one and dives straight into the action leading up to the double sized No. 25,” Bullock said.

Bullock took to writing early, with his earliest creative writing taking place at age 6. He wrote “Lions, Tigers and Bears” for Image Comics, followed by “The Gimoles.”

“Since taking the reins of ‘The Phantom,’ I’ve also worked on Sonic X for Archie Comics, written a Zorro prose story for Moonstone Books as well as a Phantom prose story, and most recently I’ve begun the ground work to launch new comics featuring Lee Falk’s other newspaper legend Mandrake the Magician,” Bullock said.

Bullock is joined on “The Phantom” by artist Silvestre Szilagyi.

“His work style is reminiscent of the legendary (‘Phantom’ artist) Sy Barry, while carrying a flavor of its own,” Bullock said. “His work is clean, realistic and lively, while still producing some of the over-the-top visuals required for heroic fiction.” Bullock also praised Bob Pedroza’s “dramatic” color art.

The Phantom’s villains aren’t limited to superpowered foes. Bullock tackled the real-world problem of child slavery in the “Invisible Children” arc of the “Phantom” in issues 17-19.  (Variant covers of these issues of “The Phantom” raised money for the Invisible Children charity organization.)

Bullock said the Phantom’s enduring appeal is based on the character’s valor.

“The Phantom is one of the last true heroes,” Bullock said. “His tales reside somewhere in between the land of super hero stories and pulp fiction. Each story is full of action, adventure, drama and just enough characterization to help the reader get to know the players.”