Pulp of the Week - The Burning Hand

Cover art by Mike Mignola with Dave Stewart

The second Lobster Johnson graphic novel is out in one volume and it is a good one. Set concurrently with my own "The Horn," in 1932, this book sees mobsters in New York pitted against the Lobster and his crew. 

However, since this is the Hellboy universe, it is not that easy and the gangsters have some unusual help. Throw in a plucky reporter and a mess of bullets and you get a pile of fun.

Gangster Arnie Wald is looking to make a killing in real estate by killing. All is going fine with his "haunted Indian burial ground" scheme until the Lobster steps in and reporter Cindy Tynan starts digging around. When the 'Indians' turn out to be gangsters, Wald brings in some help. Some 'Weird Tales' kind of help. Well, this being a Mignola universe story, you had to know that was coming.

There is some major mayhem and a bit of tragedy as the story unfolds. I really dig these Lobster Johnson stories. They have the perfect blend of horror, macabre, character, and pulp action.

I am pleased as can be with the New Pulp action in comics and books that is happening. There is more New Pulp than I can afford at this point, so I can pick and choose - but that is the topic of a future article.

Buy all things Lobster! Support New Pulp in comics and in prose.

For this review I read The Burning Hand trade paperback. The story is by Mike Mignola and John Arcudi. The Art is by Tonci Zonjic and the color is by Dave Stewart.

I'll give The Burning Hand a 9 out of 10. Check it out.

Tannhäuser Tuesday - Shogunate Releases

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The first new figure is Hellbo…err, Itami, a hoofed demon that the Shogunate  assigned to Iroh Minamoto’s 3rd Division.

As the FFG press release says, "There, they hope he can make use of the strange powers he draws from Naraka, the Realm of Suffering. Itami can wrack others with pain and bend their very wills, and an unholy penumbra that seeps out of his every pore drains the life essences of those around him. Enemy combatants tremble at the primal suffering in his bellowing voice."

The second character is an “international liason” for the Shogunate.  Mizu Kage is a ninja-like character equipped "with Willow and Winding Stream, her deadly sai blades. 

Currently, Mizu operates with a directive from the Lord of Spiritual Wellness Yami Seimei to collect information that the Shogunate’s Reich allies have been withholding. With her sai, shuriken, and happo, she can decide to tread a path of blood or conduct an infiltration, unseen and unheard."

These single figure pre-painted character packs come with the usual tokens and character sheets along with equipment cards. The rulebooks include "unique scenarios designed to pit Mizu and her team against that of a thief from the Union or Matriarchy, or to test Itami and the limits of his strange abilities against a demon of the Reich."

I'm curious to see what those scenarios are like.

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Tannhäuser Thursday Bonus - Hellboy Upgraded

There are two bits of news today. First off, I have collected the BPRD characters onto their own page for easy reference - look for the Tannhäuser BPRD link under the banner.

Secondly, with the frightening appearance of Asteros and his mighty stats (along with several players that indicated that Hellboy may be too weak) I have upgraded Hellboy. While his stats still do not equal Asteros', Hellboy has good ranged attacks and this should put him on better footing.

Tannhäuser Tuesday - News and BPRD Field Agent Two

HOT NEWS - New official Fantasy Flight Releases keep on coming. The new releases - Wolf reissued and the Hoax single figure pack should be in stores NOW. I will do a news report next week if I can get my hands on those figure. The Daedalus Map pack should be for sale by next week, and the Asteros the Minotaur figure pack is listed as being on the truck - so that should be in stores within a few weeks.

Daedalus Rules Online Now!

The Daedalus rules have been (partially) posted byFFG - here are a few highlights...

Finally, the last two TOY designed pieces that we know of, Hoss Harbinger and Oksana are at the Factory now. Let's get back to our regularly scheduled feature...

Field Agent Two of the B.P.R.D.

Arkham Horror Investigator Mike McGlen

A fierce battle between the BPRD Field Agents, the Matriarchy, the Union and the Reich

I feel U-Chronic!

Thanks again to Miah for the tokens. Unless I hear howls of protest this will be the last character sheet on this particular template. I will be switching to the single page one developed with/by Miah for future characters.

Tannhäuser Tuesday - B.P.R.D. Field Agents

B.P.R.D. Field Agents

BPRD Field Agent One uses the Joe Diamond figure from Fantasy Flight Games' Arkham Horror Investigators miniatures line. These are 25-30mm prepainted figures for use with the Arkham Horror and Mansions of Madness board games. The figures are good pulp era  figures that will find use in many rpgs and minis games. They are $4 each, whis is an OK price for the quality, which is average. As you can see there is some flash and Joe is a little smaller than he should be. The bases are a bit thinner than the Tannhäuser ones, but I don't see the need to replace them. They are close enough. I'll have a further review of the figures later. 

Joe's offense comes from his twin .45s that blaze into action. He fast on the draw and has been known to take down multiple targets with his trusty .45s.

BPRD Field Agent Two is represented by the Mike McGlen figure, also from the Arkham Investigators set. Mike's got a Thompson sub machine gun, a .45 caliber death machine. There are many figures available that would work as field agents, so feel free to substitute any appropriate figure.

I FEEL U-CHRONIC!!!

My custom additions to Tannhäuser are not created by, distributed, or endorsed by Fantasy Flight Games. Tannhäuser and all related characters are trademarks of Fantasy Flight Games and © Fantasy Flight Games. The BPRD, Hellboy and all related characters are TM and © Mike Mignola.

Tannhäuser Tuesday - Hellboy Pt 3

Here are the tokens for Hellboy. 

I received some comments from old pal Rhydderch about the Hellboy powers and agree with some of his points so there will be a tweak to his Character 2-Page Sheet. I'll get that up next week. 

If you have any comments on Hellboy or any of the other BPRD, let me know as I am looking to move on.

I'll be working on the Agent card next. It'll be a twofer - both agents will have the same powers, but there will be two cards for two different figures.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

Tannhäuser Tuesday - Hellboy Pt 2

HELLBOY

There you have it, the rest of Hellboy for Tannhäuser. Now if only we had some agents...

Tannhäuser Tuesday - BPRD - Hellboy Pt 1

Tannhäuser Tuesday - BPRD - Liz Sherman Sneak Peek

Tannhäuser Tuesday - BPRD - Roger the Homunculus Complete

Sneak Peek of the BPRD on the Daedalus Map

Roger the Homunculus

Roger gets a few extra tokens due to his grenade powers. He starts with two of each kind, but can not gain any more during the game.

I FEEL U-CHRONIC!!!

My custom additions to Tannhäuser are not created by, distributed, or endorsed by Fantasy Flight Games. Tannhäuser and all related characters are trademarks of Fantasy Flight Games and © Fantasy Flight Games. Hellboy and all related characters are TM and © Mike Mignola.

Tannhäuser Tuesday - BPRD - Roger the Homunculus

BPRD 

Part 2

Roger the Homunculus

I FEEL U-CHRONIC!!!

My custom additions to Tannhäuser are not created by, distributed, or endorsed by Fantasy Flight Games. Tannhäuser and all related characters are trademarks of Fantasy Flight Games and © Fantasy Flight Games. Hellboy and all related characters are TM and © Mike Mignola.

Tannhäuser Tuesday - BPRD - Roger the Homunculus

I'm working on it! I think I've posted all the finished cards and now I'm working on the new ones. These take at least 5 - 10 hours each. I'll put it up Roger when I'm done. Here are a couple of sneak previews...

The BPRD has planted a bomb inside Roger. This bomb must detonate if certain conditions are met. I finished the bomb icon, but as you can see the language still needs adapting to the new rules.

The Gauss Gun graphic is done - red strip needs to be removed and language needs to be adjusted.

The Power Cell is in good shape, only needing a drop shadow behind the icon.

Incredible Strength needs a drop shadow behind the icon and the language to match the revised edition rules.

I still need to finish the bio and finish filling in the other packs. I know all the items, but need to finish graphics and text.

Tannhäuser Tuesday - Abe Sapien Revised

Hellboy & The B.P.R.D.

Part 2

Abe Sapien 

The tokens include a bonus First Aid Kit token...


 

I FEEL U-CHRONIC!!!

My custom additions to Tannhäuser are not created by, distributed, or endorsed by Fantasy Flight Games. Tannhäuser and all related characters are trademarks of Fantasy Flight Games and © Fantasy Flight Games.

Tannhäuser Tuesday - Lobster Johnson Revised

Hellboy & The B.P.R.D.

Part 1

The Lobster

I Just Can't Stop the Uchronic!!!

Tannhäuser Tuesday - U-Chronicle Postponed

Greetings fearless U-Chronicle readers. As you can see from this post, this is not your full and complete U-Chronicle feature. As some of you may know, I participated in NaNoWriMo this year, writing the first draft of my science fiction novel, Dreamweavers, in 30 days. Finishing yesterday. Unfortunately, that killed any time that I had. Between family, job, and writing 1700 words a day, I was pretty tapped out. But fear not, you will receive a full U-Chronicle this month.

Just not today. I will post a full article soon, hopefully by next Tuesday. In the meantime, enjoy this abbreviated feature.

TOP STORY

FFG released the Wolf Character Pack on their web store as part of their Holiday sale, so everyone that needs one should order now. And while you're ordering you might want to pick up this AT-43 figure - Hero Box: Sergeant Anastasiva Tymofiveva. I'm just saying. Because the Matriarchy can always use another hot chick.


Here is a look at another product you might want to buy...


Miniature Market has a similar box set of Heroclix figures on sale for $8.50. As of this writing they have 16 left.

Here is a bonus image since I am late in posting this month... A whole mess of figures for Tannhäuser, some official, some custom. How many can you name?



These custom additions to Tannhäuser are not created by, distributed, or endorsed by Fantasy Flight Games. Tannhäuser and all related characters are trademark and © of Fantasy Flight Games. All Rights Reserved. Heroclix figures are TM and ©WizKids.

Tannhäuser Tuesday - Roger

The U-Chronic History
of
Roger the Homunculus

What can be said about our dear departed Roger...

He was a kind soul that we cannot believe is truly gone because he was dead when we met him. Even though he was blasted to bits in The Black Flame, we know he will return, but only when the time is right and when Mike Mignola and John Arcudi figure out why he needs to come back.

It is easier for us in the U-Chronic world, because history has changed. Roger was not discovered in March 1997 by Liz Sherman, but instead found in 1947 by Trevor Bruttenholm and Hellboy in the ruins of Czege Castle. Hellboy calls the inanimate homunculus Roger. They brought him back to Connecticut where he is put in storage.

Less than a year later, a teenaged girl is brought in to the BPRD HQ. The girl get loose from her handlers and escapes down into the storage catacombs of the base. The agents chase her down and in her fright she explodes in a massive fireball. The agents are killed, but the girl and Roger survive.

The energy seems to have jump-started Roger and he comes to life. It doesn't last long, but the BPRD scientists soon fit a generator to his chest hole and power him back to life. Only at the highest levels of the BPRD is it known that there is a bomb contained within the generator.

Roger learns that in times of war people move up quickly. He becomes an agent in the fall of '49.

ROGER'S TOKENS

SPECIAL OBJECT
The Secret Bomb - The BPRD has hidden a bomb in Roger's Power Cell. Roger has a Power Cell even if the BR-66 Power Cell is not chosen.
The BPRD will explode the bomb automatically under the following circumstances: 1) If Roger kills a BPRD or Union figure the bomb will go off on the first turn that Roger does not share a path with a BPRD or Union figure. If Roger attacks another BPRD or Union figure the bomb explodes instantly, negating the attack. 2) If exploding the bomb has a chance of winning the game for the BPRD on that turn; i.e. if detonating Roger could kill all of the opponents figures and not kill the majority of the Union or BPRD figures on the board. When the bomb explodes all figures on Roger's path are attacked with 6 dice and regardless of the Shock Roll results will take at least 1 damage.
Roger has a standard Power Cell if the BR-66 Power Cell is not chosen.



COMBAT PACK
BR-66 Power Cell - Roswell-developed Ilirium energy technology gives Roger massive strength and life.
Add 2 to Combat, Stamina, and Movement.

Edison .75 Gauss Assault Gun "Tornado" - This is the most powerful hand-held weapon in the BPRD arsenal.
Type: Heavy Weapon - Each Natural 10 rolled results in 1 additional hit.
This weapon can only be carried by figures with Incredible Strength, Supernatural Strength, or have the Athletic Skill.

Incredible Strength


STAMINA PACK
BR-66 Power Cell - Roswell-developed Ilirium energy technology gives Roger massive strength and life.
Add 2 to Combat, Stamina, and Movement.

Colt .45 1911 A1

Immunity to Pain

MENTAL PACK
M15 Smoke Grenade

MKII A1 Grenade

Colt .45 1911 A1

I FEEL U-CHRONIC!!!



© 2009 Peter Miller

My custom additions to Tannhäuser are not created by, distributed, or endorsed by Take on You, Asmodee, or Fantasy Flight. Tannhäuser and all related characters are trademarks of Take on You and © Take on You LTD. Roger the Homunculus is trademark and © Mike Mignola. All Rights Reserved.