Authors A to Z - Stefan Petrucha

Recent and Upcoming Projects:

2003

June: Kolchak: Devil in the Details, 44 page comic from Moonstone Books

July: Assamite: The Sleep of Reason, 44 page comic from Moonstone Books

September: Haunting the Dead - an Orpheus novella from White Wolf Books

Rare Openings - All new VtM short story from White Wolf Books

2004

Time Hunter: The Tunnel at the End of the Light from Telos Publishing

Meta-4 - comic series from Moonstone Books

A professional writer of comics, novels and scripts for well over a decade, Stefan Petrucha most recently sold his first feature script, Grace of God, commissioned by director Allen Rubin. His spec screenplay Lance Barnes: Post Nuke Dick, based on his original comic property, currently has Matt Frewer (Max Headroom) attached to star.

Petrucha also currently writes Dark Fantasy novels for White Wolf Publishing and comic books for Moonstone Books. His first vampire novel, Dark Ages: Assamite received many rave reviews and has gone into a second printing.

His latest comic, Kolchak: Devil in the Details is already being hailed as a classic in the series. In fact, Jeff Rice, creator of the cult TV hit Kolchak: The Night Stalker, was so pleased with Petrucha's script, he felt it should be used as the template for all future Kolchak scripts, and at one point enthused in his notes, "This scene is. well. literature. It has genuine substance very neatly handled. Take care. This kind of thing could spread and, ohmigawd, "elevate" the comic novel a rung or two."

Internationally acclaimed as the scribe of Topp's X-Files comic book, Petrucha's work on that series has been republished in six trade paperbacks in the US and abroad. He's also scripted over 100 comic book adventures for Mickey Mouse & Donald Duck for Egmont Publishing in Denmark, which have been published in over 35 languages.

His self-published novel, Making God, received critical acclaim and was part of the syllabus for a graduate literature class.

In addition to his feature film contract, Rhino Pictures asked Petrucha to develop a treatment for a possible Monkees animated feature, while his Angel spec script brought a promise of an assignment from the producers of the new Buffy the Vampire Slayer animated series, pending availability.

He is also the writer/creator of such comic book characters as Squalor, Meta-4, Counterparts and The Bandy Man, and has completed a gaggle of eclectic, top-notch writing assignments.

In the two years prior to the death of, Petrucha was fortunate enough to be the personal assistant to Joseph L. Mankiewicz, director of All About Eve, Sleuth and more. After his passing, Petrucha wrote a screenplay based on Mankiewicz' epic battle with Cecil B. DeMille over the Director's Guild loyalty oath in the 1950s.

Interviews with or articles about Stefan Petrucha have appeared in: Cinefantastique, Millimeter, The New York Daily News, America Talks (Cable TV show), Gina Smith's Connected (national radio show), Comic Shop News, Comics Interview, The Fortean Times, Wizard Magazine and Wrapped in Plastic, among others.

Articles written by Stefan Petrucha have appeared in: AV Video Multimedia Producer, Film & Video, TapeDisc Business, DVD Report, mmWire, PC Video & Graphics, The Comic Buyer's Guide, Computer Gaming World, PC Magazine, TV Guide and Wizard.

Much more on him can be had at http://www.petrucha.com

Quotes on Stefan Petrucha

"Stefan Petrucha is a Dancing Wu Li Master. Meta-4 is transcendence with an AK-47 bass line."

Warren Ellis, comic book writer

"Petrucha's X-Files stories match and sometimes surpass the edgy suspense of the TV series."

Cliff Biggers, Comic Shop News

"This is no Hollywood formula script with the usual stupid situations; in fact, it's unlike anything I've read. The dialogue has real snap and wit; the running gags are consistently funny. I loved reading Flip and pictured it onscreen the whole time."

professional coverage of screenplay, FLIP.

"Petrucha has an open, even friendly, style that pulls the reader in immediately. Add to that a talent for creating distinctive characters. Throw in some truly dark humor. Then, pile it all on a risky, unbridled story line and you've got a wild read. Chances are you will speed through Making God like a highway construction crew."

Lisa DuMond, SF Site

"The Bandy Man earns an A+. Highly recommended. Overall, a great mini-series with a chilling, compelling, and thought-provoking story. If you can, hunt down all the back issues and buy them now. This one is too good to miss."

Ed Douglas, internet reviewer

"Years from now, after the New Age community finally discovers comics and the hunt is on for back issues of notable series, the three Meta-4 comics are sure to become prized finds."

Maurice Harter, The Monthly Aspectarian

"If the quality of this first installment is maintained throughout Squalor, readers will witness a rare event in comic books - the introduction of a new, major talent, Stefan Petrucha. Even more amazing is that this tense, well-written, highly original book is the first comic book Petrucha has ever written. His potential makes the mouth water."

Suspended Animation, LA Radio Show

Quotes on Lance Barnes: Post Nuke Dick

"I got a big kick out of Stefan Petrucha's Lance Barnes' amazing originality and offbeat humor. Stefan postulates a future world with a surprise in almost every panel and some of the strangest, most unique characters imaginable. Lance Barnes, Post Nuke Dick is truly a wild reading experience."

Stan Lee, creator of Spiderman, X-Men, Hulk etc.

"'Post Nuke Dick' is no longer just a sexual disease. . . . It's also dark, weird and very, very Funny."

Matt Frewer - star of Max Headroom and Stephen Spielberg's Taken

"If you see only one movie this year, read 'Lance Barnes' during it."

Larry Doyle, Supervising Producer, The Simpsons; producer Looney Tunes theatrical shorts

"I like Stefan Petrucha's Lance Barnes, Post Nuke Dick. It's this really bizarre cross between Phillip Marlowe and Road Warrior, which sounds odd but Stefan has a lot of fun with it and tells some really good stories."

Bill Morrison, Exec Producer Futurama

"I always wondering what it would be like if Jim Thompson wrote a post-apocalyptic sci-fi novel."

Paul Semel, critic for WIRED magazine

"Lance Barnes is a quirky, post nuclear freak show. It is filled with such well drawn characters that you can't help rooting for them as they blunder their way through the most dementedly enjoyable 120 pages that you'll ever pick up."

Scott Billups, Visual FX Director Mulholland Drive

"Stefan Petrucha is demented and I mean that in the nicest way. Who knew the Post-Apocalypse could be so much fun? Or so terrifically silly at times? Add to that the fact that Stefan has always been a damn fine writer with a penchant for crunching genres together like he was a literary atom-smasher and you wind up with a damn good, if slightly demented, time. Way to go, Stefan, you bastard!"

John Ostrander, comic book author, creator of Grimjack

Reviews of Dark Ages: Assamite

"There are quite a few twists and turns and a level of thoughtfulness that take this above the average vampire adventure. Dark Ages: Assamite is an imaginative and gripping winner."

Jim Brock, Baryon Magazine #89

"Indispensable. Stefan Petrucha has created a bold combination of vampiric dark-horror, historical drama, and Shakespearean tragedy."

John C. Snider, scifidimensions

"Oh, this novel is good, it's intelligent, it made me think long and hard about the world today and the world 800 years ago, and how little things have changed. When I finished it, I had to put it down and simply sit and think for a while. When's the last time a gaming novel did that?"

Michael G. Williams, RPG Net - 5/5 Stars

"Stefan Petrucha really shines in this book."

Ralph Dula, RPG NET

"With a wealth of historical detail portrayed from another (or should one say a 'nether') viewpoint, this is a gripping story, with lots of action sequences, as well as strong characters."

Sue Reider, The Zone - 3/4 Stars

"This is the first novel I have read from Stefan Petrucha, but hopefully not the last."

Lars Kare M. Sukka, RPG United - 4/5 Stars

".a well written book; instead of resorting to gimmicks of vampiric powers and combat scenes to keep the readers' interest, it cleverly employs several moral points to fuel debates between its characters."

John Margaritsanakis, nocturnis.net - 8/10 Stars

"A very difficult book to put down. Recommended."

Barry Adams, Assamites.com - 4/4 Stars

"A fine novel for vampire/dark fantasy fans."

Book of the Week, Creature Feature Tomb

Reviews of Boston Blackie

"Petrucha's Boston Blackie perfectly captures the noir feel of the old pulps. It's a big, dark story that doesn't ignore the human touches, and is easily one of the more entertaining comics I've read this year (and I read a lot of them)."

Charles de Lint, author

"Is it worth picking up? That's a Hell, yes!"

Ralph Dula, RPG Net - Style: 4/5 (Classy) Substance. 4/5 (Meaty)

"Be sure to check it out; it's definitely a hidden gem, just like the black diamond!"

Chris Madsen, Culturedose.com - 4.5/5 stars

"If you enjoy hard-boiled detective fiction with some weight to it, I believe Moonstone Noir: Boston Blackie will be right up your doubtless dark alley."

Tony Isabella, Tony's Tips #482 published in Comics Buyers Guide #1523

"Pulp fans will delight in the return to crime stories of the past. Petrucha's terse and hard-boiled prose harkens back to the tough guys of the golden age of radio."

Lisa Dumon Trexler, SF Site, MeViews.com

"The faux noir in which Blackie finds himself is neither simple nor staid. The book has an edge to it and does indeed make use of horrible crimes that would certainly find a place in the black and white world of despair. However, Blackie's presence alleviates the doom-felt atmosphere, and we're better for it in my opinion."

Ray Tate, Silver Bullet Comics - 4/5 Stars

"Starting with the line "Memory is like a woman, one who wants you in the worst possible way. . ." you just know your reading Noir. It doesn't stop there, though, the story by Stefan Petrucha is peppered with good lines. . ."

Lars Kåre M. Sukka, RPG United - 4/5 Stars

"Readers of the genre can rejoice at the arrival of this tale of noir character Boston Blackie. Packed with flashbacks and betrayals, this book covers a lot of dark territory in its pages."

Alex de Morris, RPG Net Style: 4/5 (Classy Substance: 4/5 (Meaty)

"Petrucha does a great job with the dialog, bringing an authentic hardboiled voice to the characters. It serves the title character well. Blackie has an affable tone, and it's easy to like him. But the violence that surrounds him keeps us from getting too close."

John Platt, Joe Bob Briggs Book Club - 3/4 Stars