These books were fun to write. They required a bit of research as I’m not as versed in Norse mythology as I am in Greek. I didn’t really realize when I drew this pair that their stories overlapped so much, with Heimdall clashing directly with Loki at Ragnarok.

The covers below are the first artwork I’ve seen from them. In fact, it’s from them that I’m learning that comic book artist Brandon McKinney (Spider-Man, Godzilla!!!) illustrated the Loki book. Comic book artist Shawn Moll (She-Hulk, Friday the 13th) drew the Heimdall book. Can’t wait to see the interiors.

[singlepic id=177 w=320 h=240 float=left] [singlepic id=178 w=320 h=240 float=left]

Other books in the line include Odin by Shannon Eric Denton and Mark Bloodworth, Thor by Denton and Mateus Santolouco, Freya by Christopher E. Long and Mike Dubisch and Tyr by Long and Dubisch.

Everybody knows cautionary tale of The Boy Who Cried Wolf but you’ve never seen it through the lens of animation superstar illustrator Will Meugniot (‘Ultimate Avengers 2′) before. I thought I turned in a pretty funny script for this story book, but Will’s drawings make it laugh-out-loud hilarious.

I wasn’t that familiar with The Ants and the Grasshopper Aesop’s ode to hard work and planning. Comics great Mark Bloodworth drew this one and did amazingly detailed renderings of the insect characters of the story. I can’t wait to see the colored images for the first time!

The books are for beginning readers and are meant for libraries. Check out the covers!

[singlepic id=136 w=320 h=240 float=left] [singlepic id=137 w=320 h=240 float=left]

Other books in the line include The Lion and the Mouse by Shannon Eric Denton and Mike Dubisch, The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse by Shannon Denton and Mark Bloodworth, The Tortoise and the Hare by Shannon Denton and Mark Pennington, The Fox and the Grapes by Christopher E. Long and John Cbonis.

Now if I could just get an ETA on the Norse Mythology books we did for ABDO!

Update: Amazon shows September for the Norse Myth books.

I adapted the books into a comic book script, with the goal of an almost-religious adherence Warner’s stories and language. My good buddy Mike Dubisch (who illustrated ‘Heir to Fire‘ as well as the various Short Tales books that I adapted). Other ‘Boxcar‘ books were adapted by Shannon Eric Denton and Christopher E. Long and illustrated again by Dubisch.

Check out these swell covers:

The titles are Wizard of OZ, Puss in Boots and Medusa, all adapted from classic works.

My “Heir to Fire” collaborator Mike Dubisch illustrated each of them and they are digitally colored. The books have library binding, hence the increased price.

Publisher: ADBO (Short Tales)
Publication Date: January 2008
Rob’s Credit: Author
Other Credits: Mike Dubisch – Illustrator
Synopsis: Adapting L. Frank Baum’s classic novel into a series of storybooks. This volume covers the introduces Dorothy and Toto and begins their journey to the land of Oz.
Link: Buy it at Amazon.com

Publisher: ADBO (Short Tales)
Publication Date: January 2008
Rob’s Credit: Author
Other Credits: Mike Dubisch – Illustrator
Synopsis: A storybook retelling of the classic fairy tale
Link: Buy it at Amazon.com

Publisher: ADBO (Short Tales)
Publication Date: January 2008
Rob’s Credit: Author
Other Credits: Mike Dubisch – Illustrator
Synopsis: A storybook retelling of the life and death classic character from Greek Myth
Link: Buy it at Amazon.com