6/12 – The Strands of the Void: Joe LaHoud, aka Lunar-Man!
The "Father" of Lunar-Man, my friend and mentor, the late George Roussos! I miss you, partner!
Welcome to part 6/12 of the special feature, The Strands of the Void. In this 12-part series, I’ve been spotlighting characters and themes found in Void that stretch either from Dogwoods Blush or, most of all, forward into Dove of War. This week, let’s look at the star of comics, television and movie screens in the Bill Cain Universe, the costumed super-hero, Lunar-Man!
The above art is the original character concept sketch drawn by my friend and mentor, George Roussos. It’s the actual concept art he provided to MARVEL COMICS as a potential comic character in 1990. While MARVEL never optioned Lunar-Man to be part of their universe, I certainly did! I pulled this drawing from a trash pile in George’s basement in 1998. I am so happy to have saved it!
Readers of my blog know all about George Roussos and the influence his friendship had on me. And readers of Dogwoods Blush know all about Lunar-Man. Established as the Alter-Ego of character Joe LaHoud, Lunar-Man is a major comic book and TV character in the Bill Cain Universe. He was introduced in 2009′s I Know Why the Dogwoods Blush. The ‘teaser” at the end of that book opened the door for Joe to return in Dove of War.
Beneath the light of the moon, LUNAR-MAN shines!
Lunar-Man is unique in that he’s a fictional character within a fictional universe. The comic heroes of the 50s and 60s are outdated now, but weaving Lunar-Man into my stories gives me a chance to bring George’s original concept to life in a way and manner that he’s have intended for Lunar-Man to be written.
While Lunar-Man will not specifically appear in the pages of Void (at least, I don’t currently plan to have him appear) he and Joe LaHoud debuted in Dogwoods Blush and both are MAJOR players in Dove of War. What’s more, Lunar-Man will make a huge splash in a totally different and unexpected way in my planned 2013 novel, Stands Against the Wind! It will continue the overall story begun in Dogwoods and continued through Void and Dove of War.
There was no larger influence on my creative writing life than George Roussos. He designed a comic book character … Lunar-Man … with a distinctive look and feel and opted to give him to me to develop his origin, character and story. And that’s what I fully intend to do.
Thanks again, George. I know you’d be so proud of Lunar-Man and what he means to my stories of good vs. evil!
“By the light of the moon, let my aura shine into the darkness, causing evil to fear the night! Beware the light of … Lunar-Man!”
This was originally the cover to a 1940s comic, Dr. Midnight. But with a touch of photoshop magic by my son, William, it is transformed into a classic cover for a comic starring Lunar-Man! "Victory Comics" was the name of the company George and I intended to start before his untimely death in 2000. RIP, George!
Coming August 19, 2012: Part 7/12 - The Strands of the Void: The Azif!
2 Comments
Nice, did you get a chance to go thru the pile we brought to you? Just wondering. And these comics I remember seeing at my girlfriends house. She had EVERYTHING. I wonder what they did with them all, to include hundred of LP albums?
All are still part of my collection, Eva. Many thanks as always. Seems like those old LPs are getting more and more populkar all the time!