Countdown to THE PYRITE WAR #1: Nightshadow I

NIGHTSHADOW (I)

Powers: Unknown. Although there are no records of Nightshadow using any measurable metahuman abilities, the extent of his activities leads many historians to speculate he had a number of powers he kept hidden from the general populace.

First Appearance: The Pyrite War

Notes from the Simon Tower Archive: Mister Mysteriouso himself. The first man to use the Nightshadow name has remained a complete enigma even today. I asked the current Nightshadow about him once, and all he would tell me is, “If you’re not in the suit, Josh, you don’t need to know.” There must have been something about this guy, though. He started the first superhero legacy.

–Annotations by Josh Corwood.

In 1939 Siegel City only had one superhero, the world’s first. When he discovered his powers, Gabriel Ruston thought he would be the second, but died on his first excursion in costume.

After Gabriel’s death, his brother David is drawn into an investigation. What if Gabriel wasn’t the second? What if there were others? What if something tragic happened to all of them?

In Siegel City, nothing is ever what it seems… even in a Golden Age.

THE PYRITE WAR BEGINS TODAY.

Countdown to THE PYRITE WAR #2: Guardian M

GUARDIAN M

Powers: Guardian M’s powers were numerous and varied. He was known to possess the abilities of flight, super-strength, invulnerability, enhanced senses and a number of other powers, with more being added seemingly regularly for the duration of his active time in Siegel City.

First Appearance: The Pyrite War

Notes from the Simon Tower Archive: There he is, Mr. America. The first superhero in the world, the guy everyone else has aspired to be ever since. It’s still amazing to me, all these years later, that no one has ever found out his secret identity, or for that matter, what really happened to him in the end. All I know is that even Lionheart admired this guy, and that sure as hell means he’s someone I’m going to look to for inspiration.

–Annotations by Josh Corwood.

In 1939 Siegel City only had one superhero, the world’s first. When he discovered his powers, Gabriel Ruston thought he would be the second, but died on his first excursion in costume.

After Gabriel’s death, his brother David is drawn into an investigation. What if Gabriel wasn’t the second? What if there were others? What if something tragic happened to all of them?

In Siegel City, nothing is ever what it seems… even in a Golden Age.

THE PYRITE WAR launches on September 10, 2013. Prepare for battle.

Countdown to THE PYRITE WAR #3: Witch Raven

WITCH RAVEN

Powers: Undetermined. Witch Raven was observed demonstrating a number of “magical” powers, including flight and the control of animals, but whether these powers came from genuine magic or a sort of metahuman enhancement remains unknown.

First Appearance: The Pyrite War

Notes from the Simon Tower Archive: This girl was emo before emo was a thing. Flying around, sending her flocks of angry birds to attack people, slapping them with spells that knocked them into submission. I’m still not sure where I stand on the whole debate of “magic versus metahuman powers,” but no matter what she was really doing out there, she was effective as hell.

–Annotations by Josh Corwood.

In 1939 Siegel City only had one superhero, the world’s first. When he discovered his powers, Gabriel Ruston thought he would be the second, but died on his first excursion in costume.

After Gabriel’s death, his brother David is drawn into an investigation. What if Gabriel wasn’t the second? What if there were others? What if something tragic happened to all of them?

In Siegel City, nothing is ever what it seems… even in a Golden Age.

THE PYRITE WAR launches on September 10, 2013. Prepare for battle.

Countdown to THE PYRITE WAR #4: Indestructagirl

INDESTRUCTAGIRL

Powers: Indestructagirl had greatly enhanced strength and resistance to physical damage.

First Appearance: The Pyrite War

Notes from the Simon Tower Archive: Powers of a typical tank, but there’s something about this girl. She couldn’t have been out of high school when everything happened, but she seemed so angry… so fierce in battle. How does somebody so young get so mad at the world? And if that wasn’t enough… damn me if there isn’t something familiar about her.

–Annotations by Josh Corwood.

In 1939 Siegel City only had one superhero, the world’s first. When he discovered his powers, Gabriel Ruston thought he would be the second, but died on his first excursion in costume.

After Gabriel’s death, his brother David is drawn into an investigation. What if Gabriel wasn’t the second? What if there were others? What if something tragic happened to all of them?

In Siegel City, nothing is ever what it seems… even in a Golden Age.

THE PYRITE WAR launches on September 10, 2013. Prepare for battle.

Countdown to THE PYRITE WAR #5: Salty Joe

SALTY JOE

Powers: Salty Joe could breathe underwater and swim at remarkable speeds.

First Appearance: The Pyrite War

Notes from the Simon Tower Archive: Okay, I officially give up on these clowns and their names. “Salty Joe?” Dear God. Anyway, breathing underwater. Doesn’t sound too bad… maybe if we had him around today we wouldn’t keep hearing those rumblings from the Oceanica that they’re going to invade the surface world any day now. But look at these pictures… he may have still have a swimmer’s physique, but he had to be pushing 80 even in 1939. Whatever happened to him, he’s long gone now.

–Annotations by Josh Corwood.

In 1939 Siegel City only had one superhero, the world’s first. When he discovered his powers, Gabriel Ruston thought he would be the second, but died on his first excursion in costume.

After Gabriel’s death, his brother David is drawn into an investigation. What if Gabriel wasn’t the second? What if there were others? What if something tragic happened to all of them?

In Siegel City, nothing is ever what it seems… even in a Golden Age.

THE PYRITE WAR launches on September 10, 2013. Prepare for battle.

Countdown to THE PYRITE WAR #6: Atomic Particle

ATOMIC PARTICLE

Powers: Atomic Particle could reduce his size to almost microscopic levels.

First Appearance: The Pyrite War

Notes from the Simon Tower Archive: Okay, this can’t be a coincidence. Not only does he have the same powers as my buddy Particle, but he has the word “Particle” in his name. There must be a connection. He doesn’t seem to have Particle’s smarts, though — all the reports make it sound like he was a sort of stealth muscle in the group, appearing from out of nowhere, slugging the bad guys, shrinking back down to nothing before they could catch him. Nice work if you can get it.

–Annotations by Josh Corwood.

In 1939 Siegel City only had one superhero, the world’s first. When he discovered his powers, Gabriel Ruston thought he would be the second, but died on his first excursion in costume.

After Gabriel’s death, his brother David is drawn into an investigation. What if Gabriel wasn’t the second? What if there were others? What if something tragic happened to all of them?

In Siegel City, nothing is ever what it seems… even in a Golden Age.

THE PYRITE WAR launches on September 10, 2013. Prepare for battle.

Countdown to THE PYRITE WAR #7: Mysteria

MYSTERIA

Powers: Mysteria could cause someone to experience intense visual hallucinations virtually indistinguishable from reality.

First Appearance: The Pyrite War

Notes from the Simon Tower Archive: This gal, from everything I’ve heard, could be deadly. You didn’t have to look her in the eye for her to cast her illusions on you, she only had to see your eyes. The next thing you knew, you thought you were wandering through the Sahara Desert or sitting on the moon, staring back at Earth, scaring the hell out of you. She was the original Creepy Cape.

–Annotations by Josh Corwood.

In 1939 Siegel City only had one superhero, the world’s first. When he discovered his powers, Gabriel Ruston thought he would be the second, but died on his first excursion in costume.

After Gabriel’s death, his brother David is drawn into an investigation. What if Gabriel wasn’t the second? What if there were others? What if something tragic happened to all of them?

In Siegel City, nothing is ever what it seems… even in a Golden Age.

THE PYRITE WAR launches on September 10, 2013. Prepare for battle.

Countdown to THE PYRITE WAR #8: Queen Mab

QUEEN MAB

Powers: Queen Mab could force a person into a state of deep sleep. Although not as well known, it is believed she could also force a sleeper to awaken.

First Appearance: The Pyrite War

Notes from the Simon Tower Archive: Finally, a name — and a dame — with a little style! Queen Mab had the style and grace of a movie star with the mysterious air of a film noir femme fatale. People may have made fun of her for not having a more combat-applicable power, but think about this for a minute. You’re slugging it out with one of her teammates when she shows up, waves her hands, and the next thing you know you’re in dreamland, with no idea that you’re going to wake up in handcuffs. She’s on my list of “if I had been born in another time” along with Rita Hayworth and Audrey Hepburn.

–Annotations by Josh Corwood.

In 1939 Siegel City only had one superhero, the world’s first. When he discovered his powers, Gabriel Ruston thought he would be the second, but died on his first excursion in costume.

After Gabriel’s death, his brother David is drawn into an investigation. What if Gabriel wasn’t the second? What if there were others? What if something tragic happened to all of them?

In Siegel City, nothing is ever what it seems… even in a Golden Age.

THE PYRITE WAR launches on September 10, 2013. Prepare for battle.

The Pyrite War is coming soon — Bloggers Wanted!

As you may have noticed, since you read this blog, I’m currently wrapping up production work on my newest novel, “The Pyrite War.” This book is the tale of the first hero of Siegel City, setting of “Other People’s Heroes” and the rest of my superhero fiction, and I must admit, I’m rather proud of it.

As I finalize everything I need to do in order to get it into the online book marketplace, I’ll soon begin the usual ritual of wandering the internet trying to scare up some reviews. If you’ve got a bookblog or a comic book blog (or for that matter a podcast or any other media source) and you’d like to review “The Pyrite War” before its official release date of September 10, just drop me a message with your e-mail address and preferred eReader format. Spread the word!

Countdown to THE PYRITE WAR #9: Blast Lass

BLAST LASS

Powers: The ability to cause solid objects to detonate, with an explosive force of proportionate intensity to the mass of the original object.

First Appearance: The Pyrite War

Notes from the Simon Tower Archive: Another terrible name, and she dressed like a cheerleader from Hell, but at least Blast Lass knew how to use her powers. You touch something, you blow it up. Endlessly useful. And it reminds me a little of Hotshot… or at least, he’s learned how to use his powers in a similar way. I wonder if there’s any chance he’s related to her.

–Annotations by Josh Corwood.

In 1939 Siegel City only had one superhero, the world’s first. When he discovered his powers, Gabriel Ruston thought he would be the second, but died on his first excursion in costume.

After Gabriel’s death, his brother David is drawn into an investigation. What if Gabriel wasn’t the second? What if there were others? What if something tragic happened to all of them?

In Siegel City, nothing is ever what it seems… even in a Golden Age.

THE PYRITE WAR launches on September 10, 2013. Prepare for battle.