BOB REUNITES WITH

Last month, I was contacted by my long-time friend, and Batman movie producer, Michael Uslan about participating in the Special Features section of his upcoming DVD animated release, TUROK: SON OF STONE.  Mike told the production crew that I was an expert on all things Turok and they should get me on the DVD.  Why he told them that—I’ll never know.  But, what good is having a buddy in high places who won’t talk you up, eh?!

While I’m not exactly an expert, I was a co-founder and co-creator of Valiant Comics and functioned as Senior Vice-President and Editor-In-Chief for most of the company’s history.

Turok was a licensed property that we acquired from Western Publishing and modernized for our line of books.  My primary task at Valiant was to act as an overseer to the people creating the comic book adventures of Turok. However, as E.I.C., I spearheaded the creation of the major story concepts and art designs for the highly-successful Turok, Dinosaur Hunter video game (the largest selling game in Acclaim’s history--selling over 1.5 million units)

So, I told them that I wasn’t sure how much I had to specifically contribute-- but I was more than willing to do the interview. After all, I recognize free P.R. when I see it!

The interview took place on October 16^th at the Tampa Airport Marriott.  Erin, Todd and Scott, the ace production crew from The Benson Group flew in and recorded the hour-long session with me in one of the hotel’s conference rooms. Over that hour, we discussed my involvement with the Dinosaur Hunter during my stint with Valiant, as well as the character’s long and glorious comic book history.

In the upcoming animated film, Turok returns home after twenty years in exile to find his village in ruins, his people annihilated by their ruthless enemy, Chichak, and his brother, Nashoba, dying. Upon his brother’s death, Turok swears revenge and seeks to protect his brother’s wife and son. To keep his promise, our hero will have to journey to the Lost Land, a savage and primeval world outside of time, and struggle with dinosaurs, cave dwellers, and even his own spirit.

Turok is voiced by Adam Beach (Flags of our Fathers, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee), leading a cast that includes Robert Knepper (Good Night, and Good Luck), Irene Bedard (The New World), Cree Summer (Rugrats) and Graham Greene (Dances With Wolves).

Supervising director on Turok: Son of Stone is Tad Stones, who most recently served as supervising director of the animated DVD feature Hellboy: Blood and Iron, which he co-wrote with Mike Mignola, creator of the Hellboy comics. In bringing Turok to the screen, Stones got some help from accomplished directors Dan Riba, Curt Geda and Frank Squillace. Two-time Emmy winner Riba has directed episodes of the animated series Justice League, Batman Beyond and Superman: The Animated Series, as well as Batman Beyond: The Movie. Fellow Emmy winner Geda has directed such animated movies as Ultimate Avengers, Superman: Brainiac Attacks, Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman and Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker. Squillace’s directorial credits include Jackie Chan Adventures, The Life and Times of Juniper Lee and X-Men: The Animated Series.

The animated movie makes its way to the market as Disney’s Buena Vista Games is developing new Turok video game. 

Check out the trailer to this upcoming feature here: