DC Universe Online

I know this has been out for a while now (since November last year) but this still looks very cool. Why can't they make a feature length movie like this?

Superman outed

I think I like Batman's comment the best.

Meet the Bat-barrow

Arkham Has Moved...

Good news! Batman is back...

Behind the Scenes: Howl of the Werewolf - the Werebat

WARNING - SPOILERS! WARNING - SPOILERS!

Okay? Got that?

WARNING - SPOILERS!

Sure?

Well, on your head be it...

In the Tower of Maun, in the cursed land of Lupravia, the hero of Howl of the Werewolf is likely to run into a Werebat. I was thrilled with Martin McKenna's rendition of this particular monster which I have reproduced for you here.



Of course, in a book about were-creatures, I was looking to include all sorts of variations on a familiar theme. Bats and vampires go together like toast and butter, so a werebat seemed like a suitable addition to the storyline.

While I was imaging this particular scene, I inevitably found the image of Dracula as bat-monster from Bram Stoker's Dracula coming to the fore in my mind. However, there was also another influence - that of the Man-Bat from Batman.

In the DC Universe, Dr. Kirk Langstrom is a scientist specializing in the study of bats. He develops an extract which is intended to give humans the bat's sonar sense and tests the formula on himself - of course - because he is becoming deaf. While it works, it has a horrific side-effect, transforming him into a hideous humanoid bat-like monster.


In case you were wondering, the Man-Bat's latest incarnation appears in the next Lego Batman: The Video Game.

A weekend off!

I can't remember the last time I went for a whole weekend without doing any writing work whatsoever, whether it be finishing another chapter, editing one I've already written, or even plotting another adventure. But that's exactly what happened this weekend just gone.

At 11.45pm Friday night I emailed my editor the completed manuscript of Human Nature - my third Pax Britannia adventure, ninth novel and twenty-first book! A large motivating force was that it was my birthday this weekend, so I was able to commence the celebrations safe in the knowledge that I had put another one to bed and could really let my hair down. (How cool is Lego Batman on the Xbox?!?)

But now it's Monday morning and it's back to work. There's a new novel to start, short stories to plot and the more practical admin side of the business to catch up on. But for the moment I'm still basking in the warm afterglow of knowing that it's another job well done. (It also means that, come December, I will have passed the 1.3 million published words mark!)

Human Nature is out this December from Abaddon Books. You can reserve your copy here.

The Batman meets his ultimate nemesis