Pins and Pinups: Memory Lanes in Minneapolis Sat. March 26

I'll be one of the artist guests for this event this Saturday night at Minneapolis' Memory Lanes. There will be burlesque performances, rockabilly music, bowling, beer and lots of art and comics from me. Admission is free -- though the bowling, art, comics and beer will cost you.

I put together a collection of prints of pin-up and pulp themed prints of my work to sell at the show -- you can see some previews below. All will be signed and available in limited numbers at the show. I may be offering them elsewhere later, so if you can't attend, you can still have a shot at getting them.

Some of the prints are digitally enhanced pieces based on pencil drawings of live models -- some of them the very burlesque performers you might be seeing at this show. Some of these, I can't show here, as they are a little too revealing.

Others are illustration work, taken directly from the original drawings and paintings -- these include the Johnny Dynamite pencil prelim for the tpb cover painting, the cover illo for the Mickey Spillane anthology, Tomorrow We Kill and the cover of the Ms. Tree novel, Deadly Beloved.

I'm also considering doing a similarly themed sketchbook, which would feature some of the same images -- though in black and white, not the color of these hi-res prints.

I'll have copies of the Bela Lugosi's Tales from the Grave comic book, Scary Monsters magazine and Batman comics, all featuring my work -- as well as a small selection of original art. If you're in the Twin Cities area, please come by. This should be a wonderfully entertaining evening!

Doors at 9PM, show at 10PM. 21+ For more info: http://www.memorylanesmpls.com/

Max Allan Collins and Mickey Spillane

My old pal, and sometimes collaborator, Max Allan Collins, was in the Twin Cities recently, promoting several of his latest projects.  Shown above are the covers for The Goliath Bone and The First Quarry.  

Fans of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer novels should be thrilled with The Goliath Bone.  When Mickey passed away, he left several novels in various stages of completion -- and left them to Collins to finish.  This is the second posthumous Spillane novel to see publication (the first was Dead Street from Hard Case Crime) -- but the first of the new Mike Hammer books. The Goliath Bone is not a retro flashback to the Mike Hammer of the '50s -- but a modern post 9/11 novel of a close-to-retirement Mike -- and Velda.  Max did a wonderful job on this book, using Mickey's extensive notes -- and which portions are Max and which are Mickey I'd be hard pressed to tell. It's a terrific read -- and a great gift to his fans from the late great Mickey Spillane.

The First Quarry IS a retro-flashback -- not to the '50s, but to the early 70's.  Quarry is a hitman, not a hero -- and Collins' tough crime novels about him have been favorites of mine for years.  In this new release from Hard Case Crime, Max flips the switch on the Way-Back Machine and gives us the never before told tale of Quarry's first hit.  Whether you're a long-time Quarry reader -- or this is your first encounter with him -- this'll have you on the edge of your seat. 

And keep your eyes open for festival screenings of  The Last Lullaby, a film based on the Quarry books, staring Tom Sizemore (yes, that Tom Sizemore) and co-written by Max.  Check the official website for more info.

The Mammoth Book of Best Crime Comics

Out now -- this hefty anthology of crime comics contains work by Mickey Spillane, Alex Raymond, Jack Cole, Jordi Bernet -- and a "Ms. Tree" story by Max Allan Collins and me.  "Maternity Leave" is one of the tales from our run at DC Comics, and features a very pregnant Ms. Tree doling out her usual brand of justice -- but with an even worse attitude than usual.  I'm thrilled to be included in such terrific company in the pages of this massive book.  For more information, click HERE.