Oklahoma comics writers set for Tulsa signing
Word Balloons #1212: R.A. Jones and Michael Vance to meet with fans
Two Oklahoma-based writers are set to meet with fans at a Tulsa store this weekend.
Tulsa-based comic book writer, critic, and novelist R.A. Jones will join fellow author and historian Michael Vance to sign books from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 20, at Gardner's Used Book Store, 4421 S. Mingo Road in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
“Among other offerings, I will have copies of my two most recently released novels: ‘Monsters and Men,’ the latest in my series of ‘Steel Ring’ novels, and ‘Shadows of Love,’, my first-ever Romance novel,” Jones said on his Facebook page. “This historical romance story is set in England and North Africa in the late 18th/early 19th centuries and is published by Airship 27.”
Meanwhile, in “Monsters and Men,” the latest in the World War II superhero prose series, “Golden Age comic-book superheroes fight side by side with the Allied soldiers at the pivotal D-Day invasion of Europe,” Jones wrote in a Facebook post.
Jones, formerly a comics critic for “Amazing Heroes,” wrote a wide variety of comics for Malibu, including “Scimidar,” “Dark Wolf,” “Merlin,” “Ferret,” “The Protectors,” and “StarTrek: Deep Space 9.”
He’s written for DC, Dark Horse, Image and Marvel Comics.
Jones’s “Steel Ring” series brought him back to a version of the “Protectors” characters he wrote in the 1990s. These novels starring the Centaur comic-book heroes from the 1940s, including. The novels in the series are "Steel Ring," "Twilight War," “House of Souls,” and the newly released “Monsters and Men.”
In 2017, Jones also wrote a novel starring his comic-book character Scimidar. The interior illustrations are by Rob Davis, who drew most of the original Scimidar comic books.
Jones and Davis more recently re-teamed on the title “Twilight Grimm” from Silverline Comics, featuring a vampire hunter who has sworn to protect humans.
Jones’ most recent title, “White Devil,” bringing back a character he created in the 1990s, currently seeks crowdfunding for issue #2 on the Fund My Comic site: https://www.fundmycomic.com/campaign/464/whitedevil2
Vance, who was born in Oklahoma City, now lives in Tulsa. In 2015, he helped locate the apartment building in Tulsa where Lester Dent, who created the pulp character Doc Savage, once lived as he began his writing career. Vance’s history book, “Forbidden Adventure: The History of the American Comics Group,” was reprinted in Alter Ego magazine #s 61 & 62. He wrote a comics review column, “Suspended Animation,” for more than 20 years, and his comic-book credits include “Straw Men,” “Angel of Death,” “The Adventures of Captain Nemo,” “Holiday Out” and “Bloodtide.” His character Dr. Fear is featured in “Fun Adventure Comics” #12.
Vance has written and co-written multiple novels and prose stories. His most recent illustrated prose release is the “Weird Horror Tales” trilogy from Airship 27.
Meanwhile, in Norman
Those who can’t make it to Tulsa may wish to visit Speeding Bullet Comics’ Monster Sale this weekend in Norman, Oklahoma.
Speeding Bullet’s spring invitational starts today, April 19, and runs through April 21. Plus, on April 21, stop in for an “Ink & Draw” meet-up! Want to sketch and chat with other local artists? Bring your pad or tablet and take some time to jam from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.!
How can you qualify for the sale? There are multiple ways to get a sale wristband!
1. Be a subscriber in good standing at the shop OR
2. Be a Speeding Bullet Gold Member OR
3. Purchase a wristband for just $10 OR
4. Confirm your e-mail in-store for our weekly e-mail updates OR
5. Subscribe to Matt’s Substack (the one you are reading now!) and show your subscription at the shop
The Monster Sale wristband makes you eligible for all the weekend’s savings.
Our Fall Monster Sale will feature 50 percent off many back issues and 25 percent off trade paperbacks!
During the sale, premium back issues ($25 and up) will be 25 percent off the currently marked price.
Back issues priced at $24.99 and under will be 50 percent off. Buy more than 70 standard back issues, and the discount jumps to 70%! (Comic book ’sets’ count as one issue for purposes of the sale.)
Plus, all graphic novels are 25% off! (Does not include any graphic novels pre-ordered or in files.)
Speeding Bullet Comics is located at 614 N Porter Ave. in Norman, OK.
Matthew Price, matthew@matthewLprice.com, has written about the comics industry for more than two decades. He is the co-owner of Speeding Bullet Comics in Norman.