Tag Archives: russell mark olson

Preview: The Phantom #1

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The Phantom #1

(W) Ray Fawkes (A) Russell Mark Olson
(L) Taylor Esposito (CA) Freddie Williams II

THE GHOST WALKS AGAIN! The Phantom returns! Created by Lee Falks in 1936, the Phantom is one of the first costumed super heroes in history, with untold influence on pop culture. Now, critically-acclaimed creators Ray Fawkes and Russell Olson revive the character for fans old and new. When a violent gang of smugglers stubbles on an idyllic Bandar village, the peace that the Phantom has brought to the African nation of Bangalla will suddenly shatter. It will take all of the Phantom’s many skills — and allies — to restore it. The most exciting series of the year starts here!

The Phantom #1

Under the Lights, the Shadows Lengthen in Past Time Vol. 1

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Some legends are born on sun-baked diamonds. Others only come alive when the stadium lights flicker on. Just in time for the World Series, Mad Cave Studios brings fans Past Time Vol. 1, collecting the complete five-issue run of the genre-bending sports-horror series from New York Times bestselling writer Joe Harris and artist Russell Mark Olson, with letters by Carlos M. Mangual.

This first full arc brings the full first arc—spanning barnstorming ball of the 1920s to the blinding glare of the modern big leagues—into one gripping volume!

Henry Hayes could have been the best to ever do it—if only his affliction didn’t make daylight lethal. When barnstormers unveil a novelty that changes the game—night baseball—Henry’s shot at the pros finally feels real. But the brighter the lights, the longer the shadows; and in those shadows, Henry’s bloody past is still keeping score. From midwestern backfields to today’s national stage, Past Time is a small-town thriller with big-league stakes.

From dusty dirt lots to big-city neon, Past Time plays the long game, stacking tension inning by inning until the final out. Whether you come for the crack of the bat or the chill in your spine, this is a story about the cost of ambition, the ghosts we drag between bases, and the price of stepping into the light.

For fans of The Natural, Let the Right One In, and The Sandlot by way of Stephen King, Past Time delivers grounded sports drama with razor-edged supernatural suspense.

Past Time Vol. 1 arrives in shops October 14, 2025.

Past Time Vol. 1

Preview: Past Time #5

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Past Time #5

(W) Joe Harris (A/C) Russell Mark Olson (L) Carlos M. Mangual (CA) Mark Chiarello

When a big league scout comes looking for talent, the Monroe County Burners think they’ve got a couple of prospects who might make the cut. With only one spot available, Henry Hayes has to bring his “A” game. That’s bad news for the competition, and worse news for Henry.

Past Time #5

Preview: Past Time #4

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Past Time #4

(W) Joe Harris (A/C) Russell Mark Olson (L) Carlos M. Mangual (CA) Mark Chiarello

Ryelyn and Haddy begin to learn more of their new home’s dark past, while Belle begins to see Jesse as a loose end that could unravel the lucrative murder farm scheme that grows deadlier with each new man Belle welcomes in.

Past Time #4

Joe Harris, Russell Mark Olson, and Carlos M. Mangual bring horror the baseball in Past Time

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Baseball’s brightest lights hide its darkest shadows! Mad Cave Studios has announced Past Time, a five-issue miniseries blending America’s favorite pastime with a supernatural twist! 

This thrilling new sports-horror series is sure to captivate readers with its demons in the outfield. Written by New York Times-bestselling author Joe Harris, Past Time is brought to life by acclaimed artist Russell Mark Olson with letters by Carlos M. Mangual.

Henry Hayes could have been the best baseball player anybody ever saw, if only his dark affliction didn’t prevent him from playing in the daylight. But when the barnstorming circuit introduces a new novelty to the game—night baseball under the bright lights—will his dreams of playing pro ball finally be realized, or will his bloody past catch up with him before he gets the chance? From the midwest fields of the 1920s to the big city lights of today, Past Time is a small-town thriller on a National scale.

Featuring stunning cover art from celebrated illustrator and art director Mark Chiarello (Cover A), X-Force’s Adam Pollina (Cover B), and Star Wars Darth Vadar’s Rahzzah (Cover C), Past Time delivers a high-stakes story set against the backdrop of America’s pastime, transporting readers from the dusty Midwest fields of the 1920s to the bright city lights of today.

Past Time #1 hits shops on April 2nd, and is now available for preorder.

Past Time #1

Preview: A Phone Call Away

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A Phone Call Away

(W) Rich Douek (A/C/L) Russell Mark Olson

Fourteen years ago, Emma and Andrew Walker suffered a devastating loss when Mandy, their 6-year-old daughter, was kidnapped. Her unrecognizable body was found one week later. The case and resulting media coverage moved an entire nation to the point that everyone knew who the Walkers were. Everyone felt sympathetic…which indirectly propelled the Walker’s businesses and careers. Years pass, and now their second child is missing–can they find her in time?

A Phone Call Away

Review: Gateway City Volume 1

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Gateway City Volume 1

As a fan of crime noir novels, I’ve always been fascinated with that era. It’s been more than documented on television and the movies. Television shows like Boardwalk Empire and movies like LA Confidential enchant audiences with the style, feel, and loss of innocence of the era. Writer Ed Brubaker is definitely a disciple of this era, as many of his comics, like Fatale and Criminal, capture the essence of the time period.

I am also a fan of Star Trek. Every iteration that has come out I’ve watched religiously. The quality of writing on each series is some of the best I’ve ever seen. One of my favorite storylines in the Scott Bakula led Enterprise is “The Storm Front” arc where they’re taken to an Earth where Alien Nazis have control. This two-part episode more than melds science fiction, crime noir, and World War II into one of the best stories the Star Trek Universe has ever yielded. In Russell Mark Olson’s Gateway City we get a tale with the same familiar mix but with an even more thrilling story at its core.

We are taken to 1925 St. Louis where our protagonist, Lundy, a private investigator, is being interrogated about his whereabouts two days prior. As he was on a job, looking into a double homicide, which he was hired by the city for, as he uncovers something bigger at play, as he discovers a bootlegging operation, ran by one of the city’s most esteemed Senators. As he stumbles upon a few players that his employer did not account for, as Lundy escapes by skin of his teeth. He gets taken by the Senator’s men and we find out the Senator has a few guests, who are not quite what one would expect. Soon Lundy’s mentor, Wolf, is killed and Lundy goes missing, leaving the police to wonder to believe Lundy had killed his mentor. We also find out what exactly Lundy had to deal with in the war, as he suffered torture, by aliens that looks like the Senator’s guests. As we find the Senator has an illegal Gladiator arena where humans fight aliens. Luckily, his friends, Papers, and Pete, track him down and Lundy finds out who killed Wolf. By books’ end, Lundy gets his vengeance, but his actions unravel unintended consequences in the city and the outer rim of the universe.

Overall, an excellent nostalgia trip to the Prohibition Era that more than thrills, as Olson proves to be an excellent storyteller. The story by Olson, is fast, smart, and well developed. The art by Olson is simply breathtaking. Altogether, a story that will sweep the reader away and will look for genre mashups, especially when they are done as well as this.

Story: Russell Mark Olson Art: Russell Mark Olson and Emily Olson
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 9.9 Recommendation: Buy

Keith Lansdale Continues His Father’s Red Range

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It’s Alive! has announced that Keith Lansdale, the writer who recently brought you X-Files and Creepy stories, will unleash his imagination on the historical and somewhat Steampunk world his father (Joe R. Lansdale) created in the original Red Rangegraphic novel! Launching in 2019, Red Range: Pirates of Fireworld will be the first new Red Range story in almost two decades!  And the first new comic book series from It’s Alive!

The original Red Range graphic novel was set sometime after the Civil War, when groups like the KKK were gaining popularity in the American South.  After having his family destroyed by the Klan, an African American man named Caleb Range donned a mask and sought his revenge, becoming The Red Mask!  Along the way, he met a young boy named Turon, who’s family suffered a similar fate to his own. Together, the two struggled to survive, while being pursued by the KKK. Then, while trying to escape, they fell through a hole to some deeper layer of the Earth, finding relics from different time periods in Earth’s history, and a sky of fire! A few dinosaurs showed up, and things were really staring to get weird, when the story abruptly ended, with a promise of “Pirates of Fireworld coming soon!”.

This new tale picks up right where the first one left off! Caleb Range (AKA The Red Mask), and his young companion Turon, find themselves under the surface of the Earth, in a world that seems to be lost in time. They are quickly confronted by a group of Steampunk-ish pirates in hot pursuit of a strange fellow who can only speak one name over and over again…Seetoc!  You’ll have to pick up the comic to find out what happens next!

These new Red Range comics will be launching with a beautiful standard cover by regular series artist Jok, along with a group of stunning variant covers by an international collection of artists including N. Steven Harris, Andrew Pepoy, Christopher Schenck, Russell Mark Olson, Ramón Pérez, and Aleksandar Bozic.  Please note: one variant will only be available via the Kickstarter campaign, and one variant will only be available via comic book shops.