Mansion Media today announced the official launch of its latest project, Dark Spectrum. “We’ll soon be doing a superhero anthology comic, Giant-Size Spectrum, and Dark Spectrum is essentially a prose precursor,” reports Mansion Media publisher David Watkins. “Dark Spectrum will be exclusive on Kindle until the end of March. As of April 1, Dark Spectrum will be everywhere online.”

The prose project is, in fact, the perfect predecessor to a super-hero comic book because Dark Spectrum showcases the super-heroes’ direct ancestors: pulp heroes. The old-school stories within the prose anthology include:

• “Little Miss Queen Of Darkness”-Comics legend Steven Grant crafts a heart-stopping tale where Master Warlock Khanh answers the challenge of brain-hungry, interdimensional zombies. Recounts Grant: “David Watkins came up with a really interesting concept in Master Khanh, but he was kind enough to let me take it where I wanted. I may have gotten a bit carried away.”
• “Little Miss Queen Of Darkness”-Comics legend Steven Grant crafts a heart-stopping tale where Master Warlock Khanh answers the challenge of brain-hungry, interdimensional zombies. Recounts Grant: “David Watkins came up with a really interesting concept in Master Khanh, but he was kind enough to let me take it where I wanted. I may have gotten a bit carried away.”
• “The Frozen Fiends”-In a tale that’s equal parts Flash Gordon and Doc Samson, The Saturnist and his sexy, four-armed companion, Samma, fight their way through a combative cult while trying to escape an inert ice planet. “The Saturnist is the free spirit in all of us,” Watkins, who created the character, supposes. “He just hops in a space ship and travels to thousands of planets, seeking adventure.”
• “The Murder Prophet”-Confirming Mansion’s pulp pedigree, the original Black Bat is reprinted in a story where the Black Book Detective seeks to tear down the poisoned church of the Murder Prophet. “I love The Black Bat,” Mansions’ publisher confesses. “I’ve read most of his tales. But that particular story was one of the first ones I read years ago. Now it’ll be one of the first for someone else.”
• “UnMask”-In an exploration of the often-disturbing link between heroes and villains, the Illusioneer is a wicked master of deception who finally adds the one component that’s been missing in his many attempts to kill his archenemy, the heroic Blush–the Illusioneer’s own death! “It’s not precisely a pulp fiction story,” observes veteran author Terrance Griep. “I think it’s a narrative that puts the ‘Dark’ in ‘Dark Spectrum.'”

As compelling as the short stories are, what’s sure to draw readers’ initial attention is the magnetic cover art, a further accentuation of Dark Spectrum‘s quixotic origins. “I wanted an action cover that showed our heroes facing threats not obvious to the reader,” Watkins declares. “I also wanted to make sure that the cover featured the Black Bat’s head looking on ominously, which is how he’s often done on pulp fiction covers.”

To get in on the thrills, chills, and spills, you can purchase Dark Spectrum at Amazon for just $5.99.

And to check out Mansion Media’s other offerings, please click here.