Eric Shanower's Blog, page 3
September 26, 2023
Tik-Tokking to You
At last! My three volumes on The Tik-Tok Man of Oz, the 1913 stage musical by L. Frank Baum and Louis F. Gottschalk, were published at the end of July by Hungry Tiger Press.They're all available here.
First is All Wound Up: The Making of The Tik-Tok Man of Oz. This hefty softcover volume of 440 full-color pages contains the complete history of the show with a generous load of images and photographs. It also includes L. Frank Baum's complete, newly-discovered 1913 script for The Tik-Tok Man of Oz, Baum's complete 1909 scenario titled The Rainbow's Daughter, a full biography of composer Louis F. Gottschalk, an account of Hank the Mule's career across the world, and more.
I'm delighted to say that All Wound Up has been garnering praise from those who see it. You can purchase the book by clicking here.
Next is The Tik-Tok Man of Oz Performance Script. This 114 page volume features the script I synthesized from Baum's surviving materials to create a version that can be performed today. The words are L. Frank Baum's in this two-act musical play for nine principal roles, three minor roles, and a chorus, in a running time of about 2 hours. You can purchase the script by clicking here
The third book is The Tik-Tok Man of Oz Piano-Vocal Score. Its 194 pages hold 26 core musical numbers by Gottschalk/Baum and Schertzinger/Morosco, originally written for the show. Also included are 2 optional numbers by Cowles/Wulschner and Waters/West, interpolated into the 1913 production. The music is arranged for piano. You can purchase the score by clicking here.
All three volumes are offered as a set with a $10 discount off the total price. Click here for the complete set.Whether you want to act, sing, or just read about Tik-Tok, the copper clockwork man of Oz, here's your chance.
Copyright © 2023 Eric Shanower. All rights reserved.
July 8, 2023
Making of The Tik-Tok Man of Oz
My new book detailing the history of the stage musical The Tik-Tok Man of Oz, is due for release at the end of this month. All Wound Up: The Making of The Tik-Tok Man of Oz presents 440 full-color pages bursting with photos and images about the 1913 musical written by Oz-creator L. Frank Baum and composed by Broadway and Hollywood composer Louis F. Gottschalk.I produced a revival of The Tik-Tok Man of Oz in 2014 at Winkie Con 50 in San Diego, CA. I wrote a long article for the convention program book on the history of the show. That article was the basis for the book, but I greatly expanded on the information I originally wrote (as well as correcting my mistakes). I've been working on the book intensively for the past several years, researching and collecting long-forgotten details of the show and the people involved in it.
The book offers a wealth of treasures, including these features:
The first publication of L. Frank Baum's original script for the show, newly locatedThe first publication of Baum's original scenario for the show, when it was titled The Rainbow's DaughterHundreds of photos and images, showing scenes from The Tik-Tok Man of Oz, the actors and production team, posters, publicity photos, advertisements, and much moreCapsule biographies of all the principal actors and many of the chorus members--along with photos of as many show participants as I could findA biography of Louis F. Gottschalk, the show's composer, detailing his high-profile career on Broadway and in HollywoodA biography of Fred Woodward, the actor who played Hank the Mule in The Tik-Tok Man of Oz and who, surprisingly, continued to play Hank the Mule for several decades afterward
In conjunction with All Wound Up: the Making of The Tik-Tok Man of Oz, my script for The Tik-Tok Man of Oz and my reconstructed piano-vocal score for the show will also be published. From Baum's and Gottschalk's surviving materials, I prepared these for the 2014 revival, although I subsequently revised a few bits in preparation for publication. For almost ten years now, I've wanted to make this performable version of The Tik-Tok Man of Oz available for others to produce. At last, that plan approaches fruition.Hungry Tiger Press will release all three books in late July 2023. I'll announce publication and a link to order the books. Look for those here!
Copyright © 2023 Eric Shanower. All rights reserved.
July 4, 2023
New Webstore Open for Business
Hungry Tiger Press's new webstore is open! There you'll find Age of Bronze graphic novels, Age of Bronze comic books, Age of Bronze t-shirts, Age of Bronze posters, and a whole lot more. The new store provides a standard shopping cart experience, with easy checkout. Payment is accepted
from all major credit cards. Shipping is through the US Post Office.
Come check out the new store here:
Copyright © 2023 Eric Shanower. All rights reserved.
June 29, 2023
Temporary Webstore Closing
The Hungry Tiger Press webstore, where Age of Bronze graphic novels, comic books, t-shirts, and posters are sold, is moving to a new online site. The online store will be temporarily inaccessible starting at the end of the day, June 30, 2023, and lasting sometime through the first couple days of July 2023.Unfortunately, the actual hours or days that the store will be unavailable can't be predicted. That has to do with webhosts and servers and a lot of technical aspects.
But if you're trying to visit the store about that time and you can't find it or you get some sort of error message, simply return later. The brand spanking new store will be opened as soon as they let us put it online. The hiatus should only last a few days--possibly only a few hours.
Copyright © 2023 Eric Shanower. All rights reserved.
April 11, 2023
Betrayal Part One, the Full Color Edition
Continuing the color version of Age of Bronze!The Trojan War continues in the acclaimed graphic novel series by Eric Shanower, published by Image Comics.
Book 3, titled Betrayal Part One, is now for sale at the Age of Bronze website. John Dallaire's subtle and appropriate coloring brings new life to the betrayal of Philoktetes, one of the Achaean kings in the battle against Troy. This volume also presents the peace embassy of Menelaus, Odysseus, and Palamedes to King Priam of Troy. Akamas expects to find Aithra in Troy, but a surprise awaits him instead. Troilus agonizes over Cressida. Achilles confronts Tennes, ruler of Tenedos, and thus seals his own fate.
All orders of Betrayal Part One in the Hungry Tiger webstore will be signed by cartoonist Eric Shanower. Order at this link.
Click here for a 6-page sample in full color.
Copyright © 2023 Eric Shanower. All rights reserved.
March 1, 2023
The Magician: Review
Colm Toibin's recent book The Magician tells the story of the life of Thomas Mann. The book is engaging and filled with powerful characterization. I recently discussed it with Alan Rose and Caroline Miller on the video review series Just Read It. Here's the link to watch and listen:https://www.booksbycarolinemiller.com...
Copyright © 2023 Eric Shanower. All rights reserved.
December 20, 2022
Betrayal Part One in Full Color
At last, Book Three of the Age of Bronze graphic novel series shines with full color for everyone to see! Betrayal Part One goes on sale today from Image Comics.This volume tells the story of Philoktetes's betrayal and digs deeply into the beginnings of the Troilus and Cressida episode. The cover features the moment just after Philoktetes is bitten by the snake.
John Dallaire's colors bring to life the Achaean attack on the island of Tenedos, the embassy to Troy when Hektor seems to be the only person still trying to reach peace between the two sides, and Menelaus's drunken memories of growing up with Helen.
Age of Bronze Book Three: Betrayal Part One--in color!--is available for sale at comics stores and wherever books are sold. Here's a short preview:
Copyright © 2022 Eric Shanower. All rights reserved.
November 15, 2022
Bakersfield Comic Con
This coming weekend, November 19 and 20, 2022, I'll be appearing in person at the Bakersfield Comic Con at the Kern County Fairgrounds in Bakersfield, California. Come check out all the fun!
Click here for the convention website for all the details.
Copyright © 2022 Eric Shanower. All rights reserved.
October 7, 2022
Signing at Jan's Books in Beaverton
Jan's Books in Beaverton, Oregon, is holding an author event in connection with Willamette Writers. Saturday, October 8, from 11 to 1, several writers, including me, will be signing books in front of the bookstore. Horror authors will primarily be featured, in celebration of Hallowe'en, but I'll be there with my Oz fantasy work and Age of Bronze historical fiction. Come check it out if you get the chance!Place: Jan's Books, 12320 SW 1st Street, Beaverton, Oregon 97005
Time: October 8, 11AM to 1 PM
Here's the link to the Facebook events page: https://www.facebook.com/events/774036317008524/?ref=newsfeed
Here's the link to Jan's Books website: https://www.janspaperbacks.com/
Copyright © 2022 Eric Shanower. All rights reserved.
September 14, 2022
Reading the Classics
Author Edward Einhorn, translator of the recent English-language publication of Iphigenia in Aulis by Euripides, is holding a reading at Word Up bookstore in New York City. This Age of Bronze edition of the Classical Greek tragedy, illustrated by me, has proven unexpectedly popular for a drama thousands of years old.The reading is scheduled September 20 at 7 PM eastern time. Space is limited, so sign up here at the link, if you're planning to attend.
Copyright © 2022 Eric Shanower. All rights reserved.
