As the comics market has gotten a lot dicier In This Economy, a few smaller companies have become a bit harder to spot in the forest. Companies like Moonstone, the long-running pulp-themed publisher of such things as KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER, BUCKAROO BANZAI, and so on. In recent year they have been best known for putting out a bunch of pulp heroes now published by Dynamite, such as The Spider and so on. Things have been pretty quiet on the Moonstone front of late — publishing small indie comics periodicals seems like a supersonic journey to insolvency and industry scuttlebutt around Moonstone hasn’t been exactly robust.
But Moonstone is still around — here are their April releases, both collections and both Buckaroo Banzai-themed. Guess that cult film has found its afterlife in the comics, with the participation of auteur W.D. Richter a big bonus.
Banzai Banzai HC: No Matter Where you go, There You Are
story: Earl Mac Rauch, WD Richter
Art: Chew Chan, Shawn Van Briesen
Cover: Matt Haley
160pgs, 7” x 10”, color, HC, $49.99,
ISBN: 978-1-936814-26-8
Never before collected stories!
The 1984 film starring Peter Weller, John Lithgow, Ellen Barkin,
Jeff Goldblum, & Christopher Lloyd is a cult classic loved the world over!
writer Mac Rauch and director WD Richter return to their creation with BRAND NEW STORIES!
“…a bold, titillating mix of particle physics, rock n roll, super-sonic speed, beautiful women, and villains beyond redemption.”
Everyone’s favorite adventurer/surgeon/rock star is back again just in time to save the world!
-Get the low down on the events that transpired BEFORE the movie!
-See for the first time a good look and Buckaroo’s beginnings!
This volume reprints the 2 issue “Prequel” series, the two issue “H.O.T.H.” series, and the “Origin” and “Big Size” issues.
Buckaroo Banzai HC: Return of the Screw,
Story: Earl Mac Rauch, Joe Gentile
Art: Stephen Thompson, Keith Williams
Cover: Dave Dorman
118pgs, color, 7” x 10”, HC, $39.99
978-1-936814-27-5
With the softcover long out of print, here is your chance to get this very limited HC edition!
Along with his Hong Kong Cavaliers, Banzai must battle more than one surprise arch enemy, each with their own motives, but all acting in concert to bring Banzai to his knees!
All this sandwiched between a couple of great rock and roll guitar solos, a few surgical procedures, a crazy gun battle on land and air, Buck’s one chance for the ultimate revenge, his soul in turmoil, all the chicks digging him, engineering synchronicity, pretty toilets, a human pickle, and a giant sombrero!
This volume reprints the super-seller 3 issue mini series, plus a TON of extra goodies: character files! unused covers! alternate ending! production designs from the unfilmed TV Movie! An interview with Banzai’s creator Mac Rauch!
They are also publishing the new Sheena, Queen of the Jungle comic. A new Sheena movie might be announced soon so that should help promote their comic.
They might do an adaptation of the canceled 1975 Raquel Welch Sheena movie if they can get the script. I hope they do a version of the Irish McCalla Sheena.
They’re also doing a hard cover on the Domino Lady, one of the first pulp heroines.
So good luck to them!
Coming up soon is Honey West #5, the third part of the trilogy “Murder On Mars”, scripted by Elaine Lee and drawn by me. The character Honey West is based on the female detective character from 1950s & 1960s paperback novels (and short-lived 1965 tv series). I’ve been going to great lengths to try to recreate a mid-’60s atmosphere in the art. (The stoty title, btw, refers to the murder of a Hollywood star on the set of a science fiction “B movie”).
I’m currently drawing a Honey West Special crossover (with Kolchak The Night Stalker) scripted by Janet L Hetherington.
From Books In Print, searched on their most recent EAN prefix (978-1-936814):
The Lone Ranger Chronicles
Format: Trade Paper Date: Mar 2012 Price: $18.95
ISBN 13: 978-1-936814-23-7
The Lone Ranger Chronicles Limited Hardcover Edition
Format: Trade Cloth Date: Mar 2012 Price: $29.95
ISBN 13: 978-1-936814-22-0
The Spider: Slaughter, Inc
Format: Trade Paper Date: Mar 2012 Price: $14.95
ISBN 13: 978-1-936814-21-3
The Spider: Shadow of Evil
Format: Trade Paper Date: Mar 2012 Price: $6.99
ISBN 13: 978-1-936814-20-6
The Spider: Shadow of Evil Limited Edition Hardcover
Format: Trade Cloth Date: Mar 2012 Price: $22.99
ISBN 13: 978-1-936814-19-0
The Honey West Files Volume 1
Format: Trade Paper Date: Mar 2012 Price: $23.99
ISBN 13: 978-1-936814-17-6
The Lone Ranger: Vendetta
Format: Book, Other Date: Feb 2012 Price: $4.99
Availability: Available for Order
ISBN 13: 978-1-936814-15-2
Big Book of Kolchak the Night Stalker
Format: Trade Paper Date: Feb 2012 Price: $16.99
ISBN 13: 978-1-936814-14-5
Rotten TP Revival of the Fittest
Format: Trade Paper Date: Jan 2012 Price: $15.99
ISBN 13: 978-1-936814-08-4
Lai Wan the Dreamwalker
Format: Trade Cloth Date: Jan 2012 Price: $19.99
ISBN 13: 978-1-936814-06-0
Spider Judge Jury and Executioner
Format: Trade Cloth Date: Jan 2012 Price: $20.99
ISBN 13: 978-1-936814-05-3
Domino Lady
Format: Trade Cloth Date: Oct 2011 Price: $41.99
ISBN 13: 978-1-936814-04-6
Werewolves of New Idria SC
Format: Trade Paper Date: Jan 2012 Price: $15.95
ISBN 13: 978-1-936814-03-9
Eagle: The Original Adventures
Format: Trade Paper Date: Oct 2011 Price: $16.95
ISBN 13: 978-1-936814-02-2
Rotten: The Lost Diary of John J. Flynn, U. S. Agent GN
Format: Trade Paper Date: Jan 2012 Price: $9.99
ISBN 13: 978-1-936814-00-8
Also:
Sherlock Holmes: The Crossovers Casebook SC
Format: Trade Paper Date: Jan 2012 Price: $16.95
ISBN 13: 978-1-933076-99-7
It should also be noted: The AudioComics Company is now serving as Moonstone’s official audio drama production arm, with our company providing “audio movie” adaptations of their works on CD, Mp3, and for community radio showcases.
The first piece to be released will be Elaine and Ronn’s “Murder on Mars” starring audio book narrator/singer Carrington MacDuffie as Honey, which comes out in March of 2012.
We also have plans to adapt CJ Henderson’s pulp hero team-up “Battle for L.A.” and some more “Honey” pieces.
And can anyone say “The Spider” on radio?
Lance Roger Axt
The AudioComics Company
Hey, Lance,
How ’bout getting a Banzai audio play going? :)
@Jeremy: trust me, you’re not the only one who’s asked…
Lance Roger Axt
The AudioComics Company
I also recommend that folk check out Moonstones’ prose collections, which includes The Green Hornet, Domino Lady, Captain Midnight, etc. Some fine short stories to be found in them thar books.
Lance Roger Axt
The AudioComics Company
A problem with Moonstone is their unreliable publishing schedule. For example, “The Night Stalker Files” was supposed to be a regular title and they have released two issues in over a year. Another problem is their overkill of republishing things. Now we have “The Big Book of Kolchak”, which contains a third go-around of earlier comics.