There are all kinds of things happening on many fronts at Palladium, so we continue to be insanely busy.
Heavy Metal® Magazine with the Rifts®/Colt the Outlander™ crossover is on store shelves. The magazine is out and the Rifts® crossover comic strip looks fantastic. It’s my understanding that a few thousand copies were given away at San Diego Comic Con, but it has only recently hit store shelves nationwide. The crossover is a two part story involving a Juicer going through “Last Call” teaming up with Colt to take down a Splugorth Slaver. The Aradio Brothers and Dante Giovanni did a great job: a dramatic opening chapter, a dynamic story, great art and storytelling, and a very cool pin-up page of the Juicer hero.
This issue of Heavy Metal® (and Part Two) should be a must for Rifts® fans, as the guys really capture the look and feel of Rifts®. I guarantee it will leave you panting for Part Two. I highly recommend it. Don’t wait too long or you might miss a copy. It is the last story in the issue of Heavy Metal® with a September 2010 cover date and gorgeous Simon Bisley cover – on sale now.
I ran out and got my copy this morning.
I spoke with R.C. Aradio yesterday and he was pumped up about the two-part crossover. He’s working on Part Two of the Rifts®/Colt the Outlander® crossover right now, and hopes to be done with it by the end of August. Plus R.C. and I have been talking about him doing 2-3 covers for Palladium in the near future. I think Part 2 should appear in the November issue on sale in the month of October. Get ‘em both. I’ll keep you posted when it’s about to come out.
I don’t mean to gush, but it is always exciting for me when I see one of our role-playing creations adapted to other mediums by other creators. It’s doubly exciting when those doing the adaptation capture the look and feel as well as the Aradio Brothers have. On top of that, I’ve really hit it off with R.C. and Dominica, great guys, and I look forward to working with them on other projects. By the way, did you know that the publisher of Heavy Metal® Magazine is our ol’ pal Kevin Eastman? Yeah, the Kevin Eastman who co-created the Ninja Turtles®.
I’ll warn you right now, when Jerry Bruckheimer makes the Rifts® movie, I’ll barely be able to contain myself. I dream of the day. :)
AVAILABLE NOW! Rifts® SAMAS™ T-shirt – “Accept No Imitations” is in stock and ready to ship. It arrived yesterday morning and looks fabulous! I’m wearing mine right now. Get those orders in. This shirt is very cool and should be a must for every Rifts® fan. ;)
UPDATE: Heroes of the Megaverse®. Layout has started and will continue through the weekend. As Wayne works on it, I’ll be polishing up a last few bits of written material. The book should be in the printer’s hands by Monday or Tuesday. Finally. Man, this book took twice as long as I anticipated. I think part of the reason is that I worked hard to make something special on several different levels.
First and foremost, I tried to make a tribute to ALL Palladium fans, with a nod to everyone who purchased the special print I drew during the Crisis of Treachery. I doubt you guys and gals realize how much all of us at Palladium Books appreciate you.
Second, I made it so Heroes of the Megaverse® is a sourcebook that can be used in ALL our world settings, with the possible exception of Dead Reign™.
Third, I wanted the entire concept to be something people were not expecting.
And of course, to make it a tool for both players and Game Masters full of wows, fun and surprises.
I’m delighted to say, I think I’ve accomplished all of those goals. Of course, you’ll be the final judges, but feedback on Heroes of the Megaverse® from the staff has been positive and two thumbs up. They agree this sourcebook will surprise and please a lot of fans. Remember, it is designed to be used with any and all of Palladium’s RPG settings whether they are Mega-Damage or S.D.C. That means it’s suitable for Rifts®, Phase World®, Three Galaxies™, Heroes Unlimited™, Ninjas & Superspies™, Nightbane®, the Palladium Fantasy RPG®, Splicers®, Rifts® Chaos Earth™, and all the rest. And not just suitable or adaptable for use in those settings, but designed to fit as if it were written for them.
UPDATE: Armageddon Unlimited™ (for Heroes Unlimited™ and the Minion War™) is looking good. All art is assigned and I can hardly wait to dive into it next. Armageddon Unlimited™ is the perfect follow up to Heroes of the Megaverse® and prelude to Megaverse® in Flames, the last two books in the Minion War™ series. Mark Evans, you need to get that darn cover finished pronto!
UPDATE: Rifts® Thundercloud Galaxy™. I had a nice talk with John Zeleznik, who is geared up and diving into the creation of the cover. It’s pretty cool. I haven’t decided if we should show you the pencil sketch or not. If it appears in this Weekly Update, I guess we did. If not . . .
UPDATE: Rifts® Lemuria. Johnny Z is going to do the cover for this book too. It might even be a wrap around. I’ve also assigned some of the art for this book already. We want to keep books rolling out at a fast pace. Fun, fun, fun.
UPDATE: Sales. Online sales remain weak. What can I say? No new product and it’s the dog days of summer with lots of events and things to squeeze in before school starts back up for some and winter arrives for the rest of us.
UPDATE: Dad. The closer we get to the date of his surgery (August 31, 2010) the more down he gets. Doing my best to keep his spirits up, but it is scary to be fighting cancer and getting internal organs removed. (Dad’s bladder and prostate are being taken out. With any luck, there won’t be complications and he’ll be cancer free after that.)
Zombies, Werewolves, Dark Jesters and more continue to roll out of Kathy Simmons’ garage. Kathy makes one of a kind, life-sized Halloween props for sale in her online store at queenofghouls.com. She’s got a new crawling zombie, a standing zombie, a walking zombie, jester and werewolf all in production and all to be added to her online store over the weekend. If you are looking for scary and fun life-size Halloween props for your Halloween party or yard display, take a look at queenofghouls.com. They are awesome.
Other things going on behind the scenes keep us on our feet, busy and behind deadline. Grrr. But know that new books are coming your way, and fast. Keep those imaginations burning bright.
– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher and Writer
- NEW! Rifts® SAMAS™ “Accept no Imitations” T-Shirt – Make a statement! Now available.
- The Rifter® #49 – Now available.
- The Rifter® #50 (special anniversary issue) – Now available.
- The Rifter® #51 (official Triax source material & more) – Now available.
- Rifts® Dimension Book™ 12: Dimensional Outbreak™ – Now available.
- Rifts® Logo Hoodies (2 styles, zipper and pullover) – Now available.
- Rifts® World Book 31: Triax™ Two – Now available.
- Rifts® 20 Year Celebration T-Shirt – Now available.
- Rifts® 20 Year Celebration Color Print – Now available. Suitable for framing.
- Rifts® Vampire Kingdoms – “Death is for the Weak” T-Shirt – Now available.
- Palladium Books® – Game Master T-Shirt – Now available.
- Palladium Open House “Checklist” T-Shirt – Now available.
- Rifts®/Phase World®: Heroes of the Megaverse® – Early September.
- Armageddon Unlimited™ – end of September (tentative).
- Rifter® #52 – Horror Special – First week of October.
- Rifts® World Book One: Vampire Kingdoms™, Expanded/Updated
- Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook™
- Rifts® World Book: Lemuria
- Rifts® Dimension Book™: Thundercloud Galaxy™
- Dead Reign™ Sourcebook Three
- Robotech® New Generation™ Sourcebook
- Rifts® Megaverse® in Flames™
- Rifts® Chaos Earth™ – First Responders Sourcebook
- Plus more Robotech® sourcebooks, more Mysteries of Magic™ sourcebooks, more Nightbane® sourcebooks, more Dead Reign™ sourcebooks and other good stuff. Note: Order of release, as listed, may be altered.
White on a black T-shirt featuring a Coalition SAMAS™ as drawn by Kevin Long. The words “Rifts® by Palladium Books®” are in royal blue, the artwork and “Accept No Imitations” are in white.
Type: 50/50 cotton polyester blend.
Sizes: Medium to 5XL.
Color: Black and white artwork, blue Rifts logo and text, slogan in white on a black T-shirt.
Art by: Kevin Long, inked by Brian and Allen Manning.
Cost: $18.95 for Medium, Large and XL. $20.95 for 2XL, $22.95 for 3XL, $24.95 for 4XL and $26.95 for 5XL. Plus shipping.
Cat. No. 2552. Available now.
The Rifter® #51 has official Rifts® Triax™ weapons, cyborgs and other source material, strange and amazing O.C.C.s, powers and abilities for Splicers®, and much more. Have you ordered yours? Is it time to renew your subscription? The Rifter® is your doorway to unlimited imagination and numerous Palladium role-playing worlds. It offers new heroes, powers, weapons, magic and adventure for your games. It presents new villains, monsters and dangers to battle, and new ideas to consider.
In final layout and production. Should be in your hands in three weeks.
It is a time of fear and darkness when the rival dimensions of Hell – Hades and Dyval – clash. Their Minion War ripples across the Megaverse, brings death and suffering, and changes the destiny of countless worlds. It is at moments like this when talk about the Book of Heroes spreads. Could the legends be true? Is there a magic book that inspires and empowers new heroes when they are needed most?
Heroes of the Megaverse® presents the Book of Heroes and its 2,000 greatest champions of the Megaverse. This magic artifact is said to be a hero maker able to find beings with the spirit of a hero and bestow upon them incredible power to do battle against evil. Only one copy of the book is known to exist, and everyone wants to get their hands on it – good guys and bad (demons, Deevils, the Splugorth, the Dominators, the Kreeghor, etc.). According to legend, he who controls the Book of Heroes and wields the “Power of the Two Thousand” can rule the universe. The book has been missing for millennia. No one knows its fate or the true power contained within its List of Heroes. No one except YOU – the current keepers of this legendary Rune book.
Demons and Deevils are trying to turn Earth into one of their playgrounds. It’s worse than you think. The plan is to bring about Armageddon to unleash a powerful force that could change the tide of the Minion War™. Only Earth’s greatest superheroes (that’s your characters) stand in their way. Can be played as a Minion War™ crossover bringing in heroes from across the Megaverse, or as a stand-alone adventure setting for Heroes Unlimited™.
Kevin Siembieda is reorganizing, tweaking, expanding and updating one of the most popular Rifts® World Books ever published: Vampire Kingdoms™. This will include some new artwork and an expanded page count. The book will be updated and expanded in much the same way as Kevin did with Rifts® Sourcebook One a couple years ago. Best of all, it will be accompanied by the Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook that will also come out this summer.
Trouble is stirring in the Vampire Kingdoms as ambitious vampire lords, ladies and misanthropes seek to expand their power to dominate more mortal life forms.
Written by Kevin Siembieda and a handpicked selection of other writers, this sourcebook explores the vampires of Mexico and their kingdoms in ways you never imagined. Tons of new data, adventure ideas and revelations.
The Thundercloud Galaxy™ is the perfect companion to Rifts® Dimensional Outbreak™ to expand one’s gaming Megaverse in the Three Galaxies. History, aliens, weapons, spacecraft, and adventure in a galaxy far, far away.
The Minion War spills across Rifts Earth, where demons and infernals hope to recruit allies and use the Rifts as gateways of destruction. Their influence shakes things up across the planet, especially at locations where demons and Deevils already have a strong presence. More details to follow, but for now, ‘nuff said.
At last, the underwater realm of Lemuria. The people and history of Lemuria, new magic, sea herbs and healing, sea monsters, and more.
Data about the chaos and madness of the early days of the Great Cataclysm, and the brave men and women who tried to stem the tide of destruction and save lives, the First Responders.
Palladium has made 90 titles available as PDF digital downloads from DriveThruRPG.com. This is a great way to try Palladium products and get access to out of print RPG source material. Some notable titles include.
- Splicers® RPG
- Beyond the Supernatural™ RPG, First Edition Rules.
- Boxed Nightmares™ for BTS, First Edition Rules.
- Nightbane® Book Four: Shadows of Light™.
- The Mechanoids® RPG and The Mechanoid Invasion® RPG Trilogy.
- Palladium Fantasy RPG®, First Edition Rules and select 1st edition sourcebooks.
- After the Bomb® RPG and sourcebooks.
- The Rifter® issues 1-40.
- The Best of The Rifter®
- Deluxe Revised RECON® RPG and Advanced RECON® Sourcebook.
- And more – go to DriveThruRPG.com and check ‘em out.
Kathy sold more of her creations this week, and if the sales follow last year’s pattern, she’ll be selling like hot cakes in the months August and September. If you see something you want, you’d better buy sooner than later. Remember, these are one-of-a-kind works of art.
Palladium’s very own Kathy Simmons makes and sells all-weather, life-sized Halloween props. Each is a one-of-a-kind work of art. Each looks frighteningly “real.” All come apart for easy storage. All come with the lawn stake to stand them up in your front yard. Indoor stand sold separately.
Types of “Ghouls” include: a wild-eye butcher, a ghoulish butler, killer clowns, wizards, witches, devils, grave ghouls, scarecrows, crawling zombies, staggering zombies, all kinds of zombies, executioners, mad doctors, vampires, werewolves, monsters, grave ghouls, and more. Kathy’s also now offering an array of hand-painted Halloween signs, signs with heads and bodies hanging from them, witch’s brewing pots and more. Best of all, her high quality creations are much more affordable and imaginative than most competitors or mass produced items in a store, making them affordable Halloween fun.
If you think the photos online look good, you should see them in person. A typical “ghoul,” as she calls her creations, costs $89-$150. You can see some of her work at her Queen of Ghouls™ Ebay store – queenofghouls.com.
© Copyright 2010 Palladium Books Inc. All rights reserved.
Robotech® and Robotech® The Shadow Chronicles® are Registered Trademarks of Harmony Gold USA, Inc.
This press release may be reprinted, reposted, linked and shared for the sole purpose of advertising, promotion and sales solicitation.
Rifts®, The Rifter®, RECON®, Splicers®, Palladium Books®, The Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game®, Phase World®, Nightbane®, Megaverse®, The Mechanoids®, The Mechanoid Invasion®, Coalition Wars® and After the Bomb® are Registered Trademarks of Palladium Books Inc. Beyond the Supernatural™, Chaos Earth, Coalition States, Dead Reign, Heroes Unlimited, Ninjas & Superspies, Minion War, Mysteries of Magic, SAMAS, Thundercloud Galaxy, Three Galaxies, Vampire Kingdoms, Warpath, and other published book titles, names, slogans and likenesses are trademarks of Palladium Books Inc., and Kevin Siembieda.