Though I've known a fair amount about the entire Kolchak franchise over the years, I've never really had the pleasure of exploring it further until recently: just last year, I picked up the first two telefilms and the subsequent television series on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber. They were a bit pricey, but with all that I've read on the show's influence I figured the money was well spent. To date, I've only had the good fortune of squeezing in the original telefilm -- which I do plan to review at some point, just organizing my thoughts -- but I'm dying to get back into it. Darren McGavin remains one of Hollywood's most underrated actors, and the monster of the week serial format has always been a personal favorite of mine. It was great to see the actor kinda/sorta reprise (in a manner) the role with appearances aboard The X-Files during its run.
In any event, I happened across an announcement today (via email) from Moonstone Publishing, who must own the Kolchak license (or share it, perhaps?). They're spearheading a Kickstarter effort to bring Kolchak back in a big way for his 50th Anniversary (later this year). I'm not really up on these things, but it does appear as if they've met their goal (well over, in fact), so there are a wealth of products set to release for those interested in this sort of thing. I'll do the usual copy and paste below, so you kids know what to do if you're truly as interested as I am.
As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!
-- EZ
In any event, I happened across an announcement today (via email) from Moonstone Publishing, who must own the Kolchak license (or share it, perhaps?). They're spearheading a Kickstarter effort to bring Kolchak back in a big way for his 50th Anniversary (later this year). I'm not really up on these things, but it does appear as if they've met their goal (well over, in fact), so there are a wealth of products set to release for those interested in this sort of thing. I'll do the usual copy and paste below, so you kids know what to do if you're truly as interested as I am.
As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!
-- EZ
The Kickstarter is now LIVE:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/manbomb/kolchak-the-night-stalker-50th-anniversary?ref=ek7smq
On Tuesday, January 11, 1972, KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER terrified and delighted audiences on ABC. The TV movie — written by horror legend Richard Matheson (I Am Legend) and based on an unpublished novel by Jeff Rice — was the highest-rated TV movie in U.S. history. It subsequently spawned both a second TV movie, THE NIGHT STRANGLER, and a cult TV series that ran for just one season, but inspired a generation of storytellers, notably including X-Files creator Chris Carter.
In 2022, Moonstone Books will celebrate this pop culture milestone with a Kickstarter campaign for KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER 50TH ANNIVERSARY GRAPHIC NOVEL, edited by James Aquilone (Classic Monsters Unleashed). This all-new, 100+ page, full-color graphic novel will feature 10 startling stories chronicling the life of monster-hunting reporter Carl Kolchak. The stories are written by such master storytellers as David Avallone (Elvira: Mistress of the Dark), Rodney Barnes (Killadelphia), James Chambers (Kolchak the Night Stalker: The Forgotten Lore of Edgar Allan Poe), Nancy Collins (Swamp Thing), Peter David (The Incredible Hulk), Kim Newman (Anno Dracula), Jonathan Maberry (V-Wars), Richard Christian Matheson (Scars and Other Distinguishing Marks), Tim Waggoner (Temple of the Dragonslayer), and Aquilone, and illustrated by such amazing artists as Jonathan Marks Barravecchia (Scarlet Witch), Marco Finnegan (Lizard in a Zoot Suit), Warwick Johnson-Cadwell (Mr. Higgins Comes Home), Paul McCaffrey (Anno Dracula), Clara Meath (Midnight Vista), Julius Ohta (Iron Man), Tom Rogers (Herald: Lovecraft & Tesla), J.K. Woodward (Star Trek), and Colton Worley (The Shadow). THE NIGHT STALKER 50TH ANNIVERSARY GRAPHIC NOVEL features covers by Colton Worley, Jerry Ordway (The Power of Shazam!), and J.K. Woodward as well as lettering by Thomas Napolitano, coloring by Zac Atkinson, and text design by Shawn T. King.
KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER 50TH ANNIVERSARY GRAPHIC NOVEL also includes an introduction by Richard Christian Matheson, the bestselling horror author/screenwriter/producer and son of THE NIGHT STRANGLER and THE NIGHT STRANGLER writer Richard Matheson, an essay on the 50th anniversary by Mark Dawidziak, the author of The Nightstalker Companion, and a retrospective of Moonstone Book's Kolchak publication history by publisher Joe Gentile.
The KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER 50TH ANNIVERSARY GRAPHIC NOVEL ANTHOLOGY will be available in limited-edition softcover and hardcover editions, both with variant covers. In addition Moonstone Books is creating a special 40-page standalone comic for the Kickstarter, featuring the story "Satanic Panic '88," written by James Aquilone and illustrated by Colton Worley, and featuring a cover by Dan Brereton.
“It’s been half a century since Carl Kolchak made his first appearance on TV and it seems the fandom for the character is stronger than ever,” said editor James Aquilone. “I wanted to create something very special for the anniversary: a look at the life of my favorite monster hunter, from his childhood to his last case…the ultimate Kolchak story, full of creatures, frights, and the reporter’s iconic wit.”
"Carl Kolchak is one of the great horror genre characters of the 1970s,” said Kim Newman.
“KOLCHAK changed my life,” said Killadelphia writer Rodney Barnes. “The story we're telling brings the character into some wholly unexpected places and it’s a genuine thrill to be a part of this incredible anthology.”
For updates, follow James Aquilone on Twitter and Instagram and follow the Kolchak campaign on Twitter.
The Kickstarter is now live:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/manbomb/kolchak-the-night-stalker-50th-anniversary?ref=ek7smq
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/manbomb/kolchak-the-night-stalker-50th-anniversary?ref=ek7smq
On Tuesday, January 11, 1972, KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER terrified and delighted audiences on ABC. The TV movie — written by horror legend Richard Matheson (I Am Legend) and based on an unpublished novel by Jeff Rice — was the highest-rated TV movie in U.S. history. It subsequently spawned both a second TV movie, THE NIGHT STRANGLER, and a cult TV series that ran for just one season, but inspired a generation of storytellers, notably including X-Files creator Chris Carter.
In 2022, Moonstone Books will celebrate this pop culture milestone with a Kickstarter campaign for KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER 50TH ANNIVERSARY GRAPHIC NOVEL, edited by James Aquilone (Classic Monsters Unleashed). This all-new, 100+ page, full-color graphic novel will feature 10 startling stories chronicling the life of monster-hunting reporter Carl Kolchak. The stories are written by such master storytellers as David Avallone (Elvira: Mistress of the Dark), Rodney Barnes (Killadelphia), James Chambers (Kolchak the Night Stalker: The Forgotten Lore of Edgar Allan Poe), Nancy Collins (Swamp Thing), Peter David (The Incredible Hulk), Kim Newman (Anno Dracula), Jonathan Maberry (V-Wars), Richard Christian Matheson (Scars and Other Distinguishing Marks), Tim Waggoner (Temple of the Dragonslayer), and Aquilone, and illustrated by such amazing artists as Jonathan Marks Barravecchia (Scarlet Witch), Marco Finnegan (Lizard in a Zoot Suit), Warwick Johnson-Cadwell (Mr. Higgins Comes Home), Paul McCaffrey (Anno Dracula), Clara Meath (Midnight Vista), Julius Ohta (Iron Man), Tom Rogers (Herald: Lovecraft & Tesla), J.K. Woodward (Star Trek), and Colton Worley (The Shadow). THE NIGHT STALKER 50TH ANNIVERSARY GRAPHIC NOVEL features covers by Colton Worley, Jerry Ordway (The Power of Shazam!), and J.K. Woodward as well as lettering by Thomas Napolitano, coloring by Zac Atkinson, and text design by Shawn T. King.
KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER 50TH ANNIVERSARY GRAPHIC NOVEL also includes an introduction by Richard Christian Matheson, the bestselling horror author/screenwriter/producer and son of THE NIGHT STRANGLER and THE NIGHT STRANGLER writer Richard Matheson, an essay on the 50th anniversary by Mark Dawidziak, the author of The Nightstalker Companion, and a retrospective of Moonstone Book's Kolchak publication history by publisher Joe Gentile.
The KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER 50TH ANNIVERSARY GRAPHIC NOVEL ANTHOLOGY will be available in limited-edition softcover and hardcover editions, both with variant covers. In addition Moonstone Books is creating a special 40-page standalone comic for the Kickstarter, featuring the story "Satanic Panic '88," written by James Aquilone and illustrated by Colton Worley, and featuring a cover by Dan Brereton.
“It’s been half a century since Carl Kolchak made his first appearance on TV and it seems the fandom for the character is stronger than ever,” said editor James Aquilone. “I wanted to create something very special for the anniversary: a look at the life of my favorite monster hunter, from his childhood to his last case…the ultimate Kolchak story, full of creatures, frights, and the reporter’s iconic wit.”
"Carl Kolchak is one of the great horror genre characters of the 1970s,” said Kim Newman.
“KOLCHAK changed my life,” said Killadelphia writer Rodney Barnes. “The story we're telling brings the character into some wholly unexpected places and it’s a genuine thrill to be a part of this incredible anthology.”
For updates, follow James Aquilone on Twitter and Instagram and follow the Kolchak campaign on Twitter.
The Kickstarter is now live:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/manbomb/kolchak-the-night-stalker-50th-anniversary?ref=ek7smq
RSS Feed