FEMME NOIR WINS SPINETINGLER AWARD!
May, 2009

Well, I'll be damned! I still am waiting on the official notice, but apparently, Femme Noir: The Dark City Diaries has won the second annual Spinetingler Magazine Award in the Graphic Novel category, over such high caliber competition as 100 Bullets, Criminal, Incognegro, Scalped and Hawaiian Dick.

Here are the official results.

Thanks to everyone who voted!

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MAINE COMIC ARTS FESTIVAL
March, 2009

If you happen to be in Maine on Sunday, May 17th, you can drop by the Maine Comics Arts Festival in Portland, and get Joe Staton and I to sign your copy of the Femme Noir trade paperback! Yep, I'll be making one of my very rare public appearances with my Femme Noir partner Joe at this one-day celebration of indie comics.

It's being put on by my pal Rick Lowell of Casablanca Comics, and it looks like it's going to be a blast.

For the complete guest list and more information, check out the Festival website.

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SPINETINGLER AWARD NOMINATION!
March, 2009

Joe Staton and I were shocked and honored to discover our own names – and that of our Femme Noir funnybook – among the nominees for the 2009 Spinetingler Awards, being given out by Spinetingler Magazine. These are awards given out for the best in crime fiction. Here we are, in the "Graphic Novel" category:

Graphic Novel:
• 100 Bullets, by Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso
• Criminal, by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
• Femme Noir, by Christopher Mills and Joe Staton
• Hawaiian Dick, by B. Clay Moore and Steven Griffin
• Incognegro, by Mat Johnson and Warren Pleece
• Scalped, by Jason Aaron and R.M. Guera

As Spinetingler editor Sandra Ruttan explains, “Winners in each category will be determined by public vote. Voting will be open until April 25, 2009. Please follow this link to cast your vote in any or all of the categories, to see the covers nominated, and to follow the links to the short stories.” The victors will be announced on April 30.

Considering the competition, we don't have a shot in hell, but still, as they say, "it's an honor just to be nominated."

On the other hand, it'd be nice to win, or at least get some votes.

What are you waiting for? Go vote. Now!

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FEMME NOIR COLLECTION Due May 2009
March, 2009

Yes, I've been very bad about keeping this page current, but there have been technical issues. As always, I suggest checking out my blog (link above and below) for more up-to-date information and news about my work.

The Femme Noir miniseries came out last year, and although it didn't set any records, it sold well, and received lots of nice reviews. The first issue was even a sell-out from the publisher. Now, Ape Entertainment has solicited a trade paperback collection:

FEMME NOIR VOLUME 1: THE DARK CITY DIARIES

Writer: Christopher Mills
Artist: Joe Staton
(w/Alfredo Lopez, Horacio Ottolini, Mark Stegbauer, Melissa Kaercher, Matt Webb & Michael Watkins)

On the mean streets of Port Nocturne, justice is blonde! This volume collects all 4 issues of the critically acclaimed crime fiction mini-series about a mysterious, gun-toting dame fighting for justice in a dark city drowning in violence and corruption. This volume also includes 2 complete bonus stories, conceptual artwork by Eisner Award-winning artist Joe Staton, and an introduction by the Shamus Award-winning author of Road To Perdition, Max Allan Collins. 148 pages, Full Color, $19.95

THE DARK CITY DIARIES trade paperback collection is solicited in the March issue of Diamond Comics' PREVIEWS (Available February 25th).

The Diamond Item Code is MAR094063.

With Diamond's new minimum order policies, it's more vital than ever that if you want a copy of this hefty paperback collection, you must pre-order it through your local comic shop owner. If people don't, then Diamond may not carry it at all and it will be unavailable in any comic shops. So, if you "waited for the trade," please make a point of personally visiting your local dealer in early March, and make sure that he orders your copy. If you can persuade him to order a few more for his shelves, so much the better.

Thanks.

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BANGPOP!
September 1, 2008

On Saturday, September 13th, I'll be making my first convention appearance in several years at the one-day BangPop show in Bangor, Maine. It's being held at the Spectacular Event Center at 395 Griffin Road, Bangor, Maine. Other guests include comics writer/artists Mark Ricketts & Gareth Hinds, science fiction and fantasy authors Kristen Britain and Walter H. Hunt, and dark fantasy writerJoe Hill, among others.

Admission is $10. For more information, check out the BangPop website.

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FEMME NOIR #1 & KOLCHAK TALES #2 On Sale NOW!
July 11, 2008

The first issue of Femme Noir: The Dark City Diaries is on sale NOW at better comic book shops nation-wide! Ape Entertainment printed only enough copies to cover initial orders, so run out and get your copy now, before they're all gone!

In addition, I'm informed that the second issue of my Kolchak Tales: Night Stalker of the Living Dead miniseries from Moonstone Books is also on store shelves right now. Art by Tim Hamilton.

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FEMME NOIR #4 in July PREVIEWS - On Sale NOW!
July 11, 2008

The fourth and final issue of the Femme Noir: The Dark City Diaries miniseries is currently listed in the July Diamond Comics PREVIEWS catalog. You'll find it on page 198 under "Ape Entertainment," and it has been singled out by the distributor as "Certified Cool." The Diamond Item Codes are: JUL083648 for Cover "A" (Staton & Lopez) and JUL083649 for Cover "B" by the late Mike Wieringo and co-creator Joe Staton.

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FEMME NOIR #3 in June PREVIEWS - On Sale NOW!
June 6, 2008

Issue #3 of Femme Noir: The Dark City Diaries, is currently being solicited in Diamond's June PREVIEWS catalog. Orders on the first issues were low, so if you want a copy of this one, you really should pre-order it. You'll find it at the bottom of page 206 under "Ape Entertainment."

The Diamond Order Codes are JUN083647 for Cover "A" by Joe Staton and Alfredo Lopez and JUN083648 for Cover "B" by Phil Hester (Green Arrow, Nightwing, The Irredeemable Ant-Man).

My fine, far-seeing publishers, Ape Entertainment, are still firmly behind the book, and not only will they be publishing the entire 4-issue miniseries as promised, but they've asked for an immediate, 48-page, one-shot follow-up. Joe Staton and I have already come up with a story idea, and we'll be starting on the new book – which I'm referring to as the Femme Noir Annual – just as soon as we've got the last issue of the miniseries off to the printer.

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FEMME NOIR #2 & KOLCHAK #3 in May PREVIEWS -
On Sale NOW!
April 23, 2008

The May Edition of Diamond Comics Distribution's PREVIEWS catalog will be in stores this Wednesday, April 23rd, and will contain the solicitation for the second issue of the Femme Noir: Dark City Diaries miniseries from Ape Entertainment.

As with the first issue, #2 will feature two variant covers: the "A"cover by Joe Staton and Alfredo Lopez, Jr., and a "B" cover by Matt Haley (Ghost, Birds of Prey, G.I. Spy). Each version has its own order code (see below) so you can choose in advance which version you want to get.

Here's a brief synopsis of issue #2, "Dead Man's Hand:" A husband's bad luck at cards results in a violent, twisted web of lies, blackmail, murder, and an explosive climax at sea with Port Nocturne's beautiful and deadly protector.

And here's what "Mistah Z" at Project Fanboy had to say about this issue:

This story continues the compelling crime/noir feel that was initiated with the first issue. While archetypical to the genre, I found the story to still manage to be fresh and compelling, giving some pulpy nods to its inspirations. The sub-plotting introduces and develops some "lesser" (for now, at least) characters, drives the main plot, and continues the mystery of "who is Femme Noir?" by trotting out all the possible suspects just long enough to keep you wondering. Joe Staton's art continues to be top notch and, once again, really ties the whole crime/noir vibe together. I'm looking forward to seeing how this mini-series develops.

The Diamond Item Code is MAY083591. (Staton & Lopez)
The Diamond Item Code is MAY083592. (Haley)

Remember, if you can pre-order it from your local comics shop, please do. Every pre-order helps a lot, and shows the store owner that there is interest in the book, which may lead him to order a few more copies for the shelves. Not sure where your closest comic shop is? Try calling 1-888-COMICBOOK.

Also appearing in the May PREVIEWS is the solicitation for the third and final issue of my Kolchak Tales: Night Stalker of the Living Dead miniseries, published by Moonstone Books.

Here's the Solicitation Copy:

KOLCHAK TALES: NIGHT STALKER OF THE LIVING DEAD #3 - Coming in July! by Christopher Mills & Tim Hamilton
This is it, Kolchak fans! One more small town that thought "it couldn't happen here" is overrun with the animated corpses of men — and pigs? Hey, zombies are zombies, and they're everywhere! Carl Kolchak just wants to finish his story before lunch, especially since he's on the menu! Just what is the terrible secret behind this little farm town? 32 pages, Full Color, $3.99

The Diamond Item Code is MAY084041.

The first issue has generated some pretty good reviews and fan mail, and I think that Tim Hamilton's art just gets better with every issue. Ditto the colors by Ian Sokolowiski and covers by Dave Aikins.

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FEMME NOIR in April PREVIEWS - On Sale NOW!
March 30, 2008

The first issue of Femme Noir: The Dark City Diaries is now available for pre-order through Diamond Comics Distributors' PREVIEWS catalog.

It's the April edition, with Indiana Jones on the cover. The catalog itself is available at better comic book shops for $4.50, but you don't need the catalog to order the comic as long as you tell the retailer that you want it and where in the catalog to find it. Not sure where your closest comic shop is? Try the Comic Shop Locator Service or call 1-888-COMICBOOK.

Femme Noir is listed on page 212, under Ape Entertainment. The editors of PREVIEWS saw fit to single it out as one of their "Spotlight On:" listings, which is greatly appreciated. The Diamond Item Codes are: APR083544 for Cover "A" (Staton & Lopez) and APR083545 for Cover "B" (Brian Bolland).

Now, if you're just not able to get to a comic book store to pre-order the book, you can wait until June and order it online, but if you can pre-order it, please do. Not only does every individual order help, but it shows the retailer in question that there's interest in the book, and he might order a couple of extra copies for shelf display.

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KOLCHAK TALES #1 in Stores March 26... and...
FEMME NOIR in April PREVIEWS - On Sale March 26!
March 23, 2008

The first issue of KOLCHAK TALES: NIGHT STALKER OF THE LIVING DEAD is on Diamond's list for books shipping this week, and should be on your local shop's shelves this Wednesday, March 26th.

I'm really pleased with the way this miniseries came out, especially with Tim Hamilton's marvelous artwork and Ian Sokoliwski's evocative coloring.

Also, this hitting stores this week is the April edition of Diamond Comics Distributon's Previews catalog, with the solicitation information for the first issue of FEMME NOIR: THE DARK CITY DIARIES from Ape Entertainment.

The Diamond Item Codes are: APR083544 and APR083545.

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KOLCHAK TALES #2 now in PREVIEWS
March 2008

The second issue of my Kolchak Tales miniseries, Night Stalker of the Living Dead, is listed in the March 2008 edition of Diamond Comics Distributors PREVIEWS catalog, which should be available now.

Here's the solicitation copy, with the Diamond Order Code at the bottom.

KOLCHAK TALES: NIGHT STALKER OF THE LIVING DEAD #2 (of 3)
32 pages, Full Color, SRP: $3.99
by Christopher Mills & Tim Hamilton

Kolchak and the local sheriff are up to their ears — pun intended! — in zombies at a small-town corn festival! But what is the terrible secret behind these walking, lifeless people, and what else besides people has it affected? This is one story Kolchak may not want to get to the bottom of!

KOLCHAK TALES #2 is solicited in the March PREVIEWS (available February 27th).

The Diamond Item Code is MAR083874.

To be sure to get this zombie-riffic horror epic, you'll want to visit your local comic book retailer and have them order you a copy. (If you misssed Issue #1, they'll be able to backorder that for you, too, I bet.)

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WEREWOLVES: DEAD MOON RISING NOW AVAILABLE
January 2008

My latest published short story, "The Beast of Bava Pass," is now available in Moonstone's firts "Moonstone Monsters" anthology, Werewolves: Dead Moon Rising.

Other contributors include Elaine Bergstrom, Tom DeFalco, Dave Dorman, Clay Griffith, William R. Halliar, C.J. Henderson, David Michelinie, Mike Reynolds, Beau Smith, Paul D. Storrie, Dave Ulanski, and Fred Van Lente! Cover by Dave Dorman, illustrations by Ken Wolak.

Werewolves: Dead Moon Rising can be ordered now from Amazon.

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KOLCHAK TALES #1 Coming March '08
November 2007

My long-gestating Kolchak miniseries for Moonstone has just been announced by the publisher over on their forums. It's scheduled to debut in March of '08. The art by Tim Hamilton is incredible, and Dave Akins' covers are pretty awesome, too.

Here's the solicitation copy:

KOLCHAK TALES: NIGHT STALKER OF THE LIVING DEAD #1 (of 3)
32 pages, color, $3.99
Written by: Christopher Mills
Art by: Tim Hamilton

ZOMBIES! Everybody hates them. But that appears to be exactly what Carl Kolchak finds to be stalking among the cornstalks in the small heartland town of Georges Corner, Nebraska. The simple task of covering just another festival pageant takes a dark turn... as it so often does in Kolchak's world... when people start disappearing, and the dead start walking! Watch out... they bite!

Covers by Twilight Creation’s board game "Zombies" artist Dave Akins!

Keep an eye out for this in Previews, and be sure to pre-order It from your local comic shop so you can be certain of getting your copy!

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MYSTERY SCENE Magazine's Top 100 Private Eyes
August 2007

In the 100th issue of the crime fiction genre's "industry journal," Mystery Scene, contributor Kevin Burton Smith (of the Thrilling Detective website) authored an article listing the Top 100 Private Eyes to come along since the magazine's inception in 1985.

Among such luminaries as Robert Crais' Elvis Cole, Andrew Vachss' Burke, Stuart Kaminsky's Lew Fonesca, Dan Simmons' Joe Kurtz, Brian Bendis' Jinx Alameda and TV's Veronica Mars and Monk, was none other than my own, Portland, Maine P.I. -- Matthew Dain... who has only appeared in two short stories to date. (Check out this site's Fiction section to read them online.)

The complete article can be downloaded (as a pdf file) from the Mystery Scene website.

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WEREWOLVES: DEAD MOON RISING
Updated! July 2007

I've been informed that my story, "The Beast of Bava Pass," has been accepted for inclusion in the forthcoming Moonstone Books prose anthology, Werewolves: Dead Moon Rising, currently planned for an October, 2007 release – just in time for Halloween.

Here's the official PR:

Moonstone proudly steps up during the full moon to launch this first book in a line of monster/horror prose fiction anthologies, with this one featuring our favorite ferocious and furry fiends, werewolves!

The blood will run red in the dead of night as both horror-fiction and comic book writers alike unite to bring you an unlucky 13 chilling tales of howling horror, just in time for Halloween.

With stories by Elaine Bergstrom, Tom DeFalco, Dave Dorman, Clay Griffith, William R. Halliar, C.J. Henderson, David Michelinie, Christopher Mills, Mike Reynolds, Beau Smith, Paul D. Storrie, Dave Ulanski, and Fred Van Lente!

Interior illustrations by Ken Wolak- and a fang-tastic cover by fan-favorite Dave Dorman, this chilling collection of short stories is sure to keep you cringing under the covers all night long!

Werewolves: Dead Moon Rising can be pre-ordered from Amazon.

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THE SPIDER CHRONICLES available now!
June, 2007

The Spider Chronicles is a trade paperback prose anthology containing all new adventures of the legendary pulp hero of the Thirties and Forties, by such notable authors as John Jakes, Mort Castle, Bill Crider, Shannon Denton, Chuck Dixon, Steve Englehart, Martin Powell, Joe Gentile, John Helfers, C. J. Henderson, Howard Hopkins, Anthony Kuhoric, Elizabeth Massie... and, well, me, with illustrations by my pal, Tom Floyd.

My story is "The Spider and The Monster Makers." The collection is published by the fine folks at Moonstone Books.

Available directly from Moonstone, or Amazon.