Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Acclaimed Horror Comic Artist Bernie Wrightson Dead At 68:




ARTS & CULTURE
The Huffington Post
March 20, 2017

Comic book artist Bernie Wrightson died on Sunday at the age of 68.

LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) - Bernie Wrightson, the prolific horror comic book artist, died on Sunday after a long battle with brain cancer, his wife announced on his official website. He was 68.

Wrightson is best known for co-creating the DC Comics monster Swamp Thing with Len Wein in 1971. The character would go on to be the subject of Wes Craven’s 1982 cult horror classic.

The illustrator began his career as a freelance artist for the Baltimore Sun at the age of 18. He joined DC Comics two years later, going by “Berni” in his early professional work.

Wrightson’s many other projects include a 1983 version of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein,” released by Marvel and comprised of 50 ink illustrations. He also illustrated the comic book adaptation of the Stephen King-written horror film “Creepshow.” He worked as a conceptual artist on movies such as “Galaxy Quest,” “Ghostbusters,” and “Land of the Dead.”

Wrightson was known for his vivid attention to detail and took on the works of such authors as Edgar Allen Poe and H.P. Lovecraft. He released his own interpretations of other famous superheroes, including Spider-Man and Batman.

Fans took to social media to remember Wrightson on Sunday morning.



James Franco To Narrate Stephen King's THE DEAD ZONE Available For The First Time As An Audiobook:




News provided by
Simon & Schuster Audio
Mar 18, 2017

NEW YORK, March 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Academy Award nominee James Franco will narrate the audio edition of THE DEAD ZONE by bestselling author Stephen King.

Simon & Schuster Audio will publish the King classic, which has never been available as an audiobook, on April 25th, 2017.

This isn't the first time the author and actor have collaborated; Franco recently starred as Jake Epping in Hulu's 2016 miniseries 11.22.63, based on King's novel of the same name.

"James is a terrific actor," said King. "I knew that he would perfectly capture the vibe and voice of THE DEAD ZONE."

Franco added, "I've been a fan of Stephen King's work for a while now. He's one of the most pleasurable authors to read or listen to. He just guides you along so well. Even though we're from different generations all his influences and things he references and subjects he's interested in seem to be all the things I'm interested in."

Set in the fictional Maine town of Castle Rock, THE DEAD ZONE was made into a 1983 film starring Christopher Walken and Martin Sheen.  The story follows Johnny Smith who awakens from a five-year coma to discover that he can see people's futures and pasts when he touches them. While many consider his talent a gift, Johnny feels cursed. When he encounters a ruthlessly ambitious and amoral man who promises a terrifying fate for all humanity, Johnny must find a way to prevent a harrowing predestination from becoming reality.

"We're thrilled to fill this black hole in Stephen King's audiobook universe," said Chris Lynch, President & Publisher of Simon & Schuster Audio. "James Franco's narration is simply superb."

ABOUT SIMON & SCHUSTER AUDIO:  Simon & Schuster Audio is a leading publisher of general interest audiobooks including bestselling fiction, nonfiction, business/finance, self-improvement, inspiration, language learning programs, original audiobook productions, and children's titles. In addition to a list that includes such unparalleled authors as Mary Higgins Clark, Vince Flynn, Ernest Hemingway, Stephen King, Michael Lewis, and David McCullough. Simon & Schuster Audio has produced audiobooks that have won eight Grammy Awards and earned forty-one Grammy nominations since 1989. For more information about Simon & Schuster Audio, visit our website at:


Simon & Schuster, a part of CBS Corporation, is a global leader in the field of general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for consumers of all ages, across all printed, electronic, and audio formats. Its divisions include Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, Simon & Schuster Audio, Simon & Schuster Digital, and international companies in Australia, Canada, India, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit our website at:


SOURCE: Simon & Schuster Audio