To all my American friends -- Happy Independence Day!

I hope it's a safe and happy one, spent with friends and family! (And may your fireworks stock resemble that of Susan Hayward's.)

For July 4th: Complete Golden Age Oddballs Patriotic Edition!

Just in time for 4th of July... the latest release from NUELOW Games spotlights two patriotically themed heroes from the Golden Age of comic books--Major Victory and Yankee Girl. 

In addition to every single Golden Age appearance of both characters, including covers, "Complete Golden Age Oddballs: Major Victory and Yankee Girl," contains brief publication histories for each; an overview of how they are being incorporated into NUELOW Games' emerging comic book universe; ROLF! game stats; and a bonus expansion to the OGL Modern superhero rules first published in "Madden's Boys."

Here's a preview of the book--a couple slash pages and some of the included covers.

Click here to see previews or to get your own copy of "Complete Golden Age Oddballs: Major Victory and Yankee Girl,"

Ann Miller is ready for the Fourth of July!

She's prone to overkill. Or maybe she's going to be celebrating the Fourth by dropping fireworks on the heads of  those fun-loving folk in ISIS.

Have you got your plans all settled? Whether you have or not, we wish you and yours a Happy Fourth of July (tomorrow)!

A request from the management regarding fireworks

Be sure to practice safe handling of fireworks this Fourth of July. We don't want to ruin Gloria Grahame's outfit again this year.

Furies of the Jungle by Art Saaf & Karl M.

These illos will be appearing in a forthcoming stock art pack from NUELOW Games. They are adapted from art originally done by Art Saaf for Nedor/Standard Comics in the mid-1940s. The tentative title for the set is "The Deadlier of the Species."

For the record, the blonde is Tygra. an aid worker in Africa who gained super-strength after chugging a severe overdose of an experimental medicine; and the dark-haired one is Princess Pantha, an animal tamer who took to wearing fur bikinis after being stranded in the jungle during a safari than went horribly wrong. NUELOW Games has published two books with Princess Pantha--"The Hunt of M'Gana" and "The Footsteps of Fate"--each of which feature the work of Art Saaf.

A popular topic among gamers and fantasy fans these days seems to be, "how does she not get hurt in skimpy armor?" I don't recall the question ever being asked regarding John Buscema's or Frank Frazetta's portrayal of Conan, but I guess people need things to complain about. And "realism" in fantasy art (limited to female characters, and excluding impossibly large swords) is the latest Big Thing, I suppose.

Well, at least as far as jungle characters in OGL d20 Modern games, I have the answer for you.: They have the Hearty and Untouchable talents from the Jungle Master tree.  and it should be added to the selection available to Strong Heroes, Tough Heroes, Fast Heroes, and Dedicated Heroes. The rest of this post is presented under the Open Game License, and may be reproduced within its terms. The material originally appeared (in a slightly different form) in NUELOW Games' "Judy of the Jungle: The Lords of Memnon". Copyright 2015 Steve Miller.

JUNGLE MASTER TALENT TREE

   Prerequisite: Strength 14, Dexterity 14, Constitution 16

   Beastmaster: You gain a +4 bonus to all Animal Handling skill checks. Animal Handling becomes a permanent class skills. If it was already a class skill, you gain 2 ranks in Animal Handling.

   Hearty: You gain double the amounts of hit points through First Aid and natural healing.

   Silent Death: You gain a +4 bonus to all Move Silently skill checks. You deal +2 damage with melee weapons.

   Terror of the Jungle: You have a +4 bonus to all Buff, Diplomacy, and Intimidate checks when in a wilderness environment.

  Untouchable: Your Class Defense Bonus increases by +2 when you select this talent. For all even character levels acquired, you gain an additional +1 bonus to you class-based Defense Bonus. The benefit from this talent is negated by using armor or other Defense Bonus-enhancing gear.

For more from NUELOW Games (and me!), visit the blog by clicking here.

In memory of Elizabeth Montgomery

It's 20 years today since the passing of the great Elizabeth Montgomery. She is best remembered for her role as Samantha in the "Bewitched" television series, but she had a thriving career both before and after what became her signature role. Read more IMDB.com.

For more images from the "polar bear shoot," click here.

Mohammed Monday: 'You can't draw me!'

Pamela Gellar and her organization sponsored an art contest for people to draw the Prophet Mohammed. Not surprising to anyone, a pair of psychopathic idolators (posing as Muslims) tried to shoot up the gathering where the $10,000 prize was given out for the best entry. Fortunately, the only deaths were those of the would-be mass-murderers themselves. Fortunately, their lives ended as they had led them -- in failure.

On that note, here's one of the entries from Gellar's constest. And a quote from a post at the Reason.com blog on the topics of the event and the violence it drew. Too bad so many American "leaders"--from President Obama down--believe the opposite.

The future must belong to those who recognize a categorical difference between free expression and violent reprisals. The future must belong to those who affirm speech over silence and freedom over fear, regardless of who is speaking and who is offended.  

Picture Perfect Wednesday: Dancers by Jack Sparling

NUELOW Games released one of its art packs that's themed to International Dance Day! You can get more information on the set by clicking here, or you can just enjoy the nice Sparling art right here at Shades of Grey!

 

It's International Dance Day!

Here are some pictures of ballerinas to celebrate... and when you're done sitting around looking at photos--go dance!

#internationaldanceday

Mohammed Monday: Dedicated to Gary Trudeau

After accepting the George Polk Award, Gary Trudeau blamed the victims in the "Charlie Hebdo" murders, You can read his speech here. Apparently, he thinks that if you're "offended" or "feel pain" over something someone writes or draws that it's an appropriate response to murder the people who offended you.

The only appropriate response if someone threatens murder or commits murder over art is for anyone who cares about the freedom of expression to do MORE of the same. I don't describe myself as a "free speech absolutist" but I AM a fanatic when it comes to the position that it's never an appropriate response to commit violence over a drawing or a cartoon. In my mind, there should never be a "but" behind that sentiment... especially not when it's coming from someone who has made their living drawing cartoons, like Gary Trudeau

In honor of Gary Trudeau's fucked-up outlook are a trio cartoons I did a few years ago for the "Everybody Draw Mohammed" craze. I figured I'd practice what I preach.

And if you feel pain or feel like I should die because the cartoons are badly done or because they feature magical, soul-searing images of the Prophet Mohammed, I really don't care. I do suggest you seek the services of a good psychiatrist, however. You clearly have issues that need to be worked out, and that may only be treatable with anti-psychotic medications.

Trivia: The first image led to the idea that became the "Jihad Fairie Activity Page" cartoons.