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The Terrors
The BLACK TERROR returns! But NOT as you remember him...
In 1940, the U.S. Government forced the super-heroic Terror Twins to give up their costumed identities and keep their loved ones safe. Thus, The Terror and Kid Terror retired to a mundane life of work, school, and home.
And to see their adventures whitewashed and reduced to comic book propaganda as "The Black Terror."
But two years later, The Terror puts on his mask again to fight political corruption, organized crime, and illicit drugs in Raceway City.
As The Terror navigates this dangerous new landscape, he encounters a former New York City cop with his own set of wild powers. But is he friend or foe?
Can The Terror become the hero Raceway City needs, or will his return to action be cut short by the beguiling and dangerous Sylvia Devereaux?
In 1940, the U.S. Government forced the super-heroic Terror Twins to give up their costumed identities and keep their loved ones safe. Thus, The Terror and Kid Terror retired to a mundane life of work, school, and home.
And to see their adventures whitewashed and reduced to comic book propaganda as "The Black Terror."
But two years later, The Terror puts on his mask again to fight political corruption, organized crime, and illicit drugs in Raceway City.
As The Terror navigates this dangerous new landscape, he encounters a former New York City cop with his own set of wild powers. But is he friend or foe?
Can The Terror become the hero Raceway City needs, or will his return to action be cut short by the beguiling and dangerous Sylvia Devereaux?
250 pages, Ebook
Published November 11, 2013
1 person is currently reading
2 people want to read
About the author
Brian K. Morris
29 books32 followersBrian K. Morris is an independent publisher of novels and comic books, freelance hybrid author, "award-winning" playwright, occasional actor, and former morticians assistant.
Brian's articles have seen print in magazines such as BACK ISSUE Magazine, Hogan's Alley, Knights of the Dinner Table, RetroFan Magazine, WHOtopia, The Jack Kirby Collector, and many other magazines in varying degrees of obscurity.
His books have sold across North America as well as in Great Britain, Japan, and China. In addition to his writing, Brian hosts two Facebook Live shows (NEVERMIND THE FURTHERMORE on Mondays and Thursdays at 9:30 am and CLEVER TITLE PENDING at 7 pm on Tuesday, all times Eastern).
Because he doesn't have enough to do, he does two vlogs on his Facebook page: NEVERMIND THE FURTHERMORE (Mondays and Thursdays at 9:30 Eastern) and CLEVER TITLE PENDING (Tuesdays at 7 pm Eastern). Brian also maintains a page for Rising Tide Publications where new content appears daily.
In addition, Brian gives seminars on storytelling, motivation, self-publishing, and comics history at conventions, libraries, and for private groups. Contact him at Brian@RisingTide.pub for information.
Don't let anyone steal your dream ... you have greatness within you ... and never apologize for being awesome.
P.S. If you want to receive my monthly newsletter, filled with tips, news, promoting my very talented friends, and the MYSTERY LINK, sign up at http://bit.ly/RsgnTd01
(Your contact info will never be sold, given away, rented, donated, abandoned, spindled, folded, or mutilated.)
Thanks for reading (and don't forget to leave a review)!
Brian's articles have seen print in magazines such as BACK ISSUE Magazine, Hogan's Alley, Knights of the Dinner Table, RetroFan Magazine, WHOtopia, The Jack Kirby Collector, and many other magazines in varying degrees of obscurity.
His books have sold across North America as well as in Great Britain, Japan, and China. In addition to his writing, Brian hosts two Facebook Live shows (NEVERMIND THE FURTHERMORE on Mondays and Thursdays at 9:30 am and CLEVER TITLE PENDING at 7 pm on Tuesday, all times Eastern).
Because he doesn't have enough to do, he does two vlogs on his Facebook page: NEVERMIND THE FURTHERMORE (Mondays and Thursdays at 9:30 Eastern) and CLEVER TITLE PENDING (Tuesdays at 7 pm Eastern). Brian also maintains a page for Rising Tide Publications where new content appears daily.
In addition, Brian gives seminars on storytelling, motivation, self-publishing, and comics history at conventions, libraries, and for private groups. Contact him at Brian@RisingTide.pub for information.
Don't let anyone steal your dream ... you have greatness within you ... and never apologize for being awesome.
P.S. If you want to receive my monthly newsletter, filled with tips, news, promoting my very talented friends, and the MYSTERY LINK, sign up at http://bit.ly/RsgnTd01
(Your contact info will never be sold, given away, rented, donated, abandoned, spindled, folded, or mutilated.)
Thanks for reading (and don't forget to leave a review)!
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 19, 2024
I've always loved fiction of the fantastic be it horror, fantasy, or science fiction when it marries unlikely elements to a very realistic world setting. I blame the classic TV movie 'The Night Stalker', because setting a vampire tale in the neon glare of Las Vegas with a grizzled investigative reporter like Carl Kolchak gave me the appreciation. In comics, 'Watchmen' presented a similar sort of real-world take on superheroes.
And that's a similar impact Brian K. Morris's 'The Terrors' made on me. There may be superheroic mystery men bending steel between their bare hands, but Morris also explores how a superpowered individual might have fared on the home front during World War 2 if he was part of a minority in American society.
It's gutsy writing. Gutsy because it's more of a challenge. Morris could have simply resurrected the public domain superhero Black Terror for a nostalgic romp which echoed the character's previous adventures alongside his juvenile partner, Kid Terror. That approach would have also dodged the heat that revising nearly any element of a Golden Age character draws.
But Morris doesn't play it safe, and for the most part, it pays off. He's one of my favorite short story writers, and the way he handles longer works like this usually has a few sections of meandering. In this case, the beginning required some patience. Quite a bit of setup was necessary, the revisionist elements slowly revealing themselves, and it took time for evolution past exposition. Imagine watching someone carefully but slowly bait a hook.
But then imagine tossing the line in and getting a strike that nearly pulls the reel out of your hands! After that intro, the action and the character-building balance out. Dark deeds ate planned, thwarted, rethought. Protagonists try pushing back against the forces trying to hold them in check while crime rate in the poorer sections of town, especially, rise. By the end, the corner our heroes find themselves backed into is a contortionist's nightmare.
Having a love for classic comic book action stories will help you appreciate 'The Terrors', but no special familiarity with the Black Terror is required beyond a Wiki read. And if you're a fan of those classic tales and the original Black Terror, you might consider this story as one that happens in an alternate timeline. Multiverses are all the craze, and it's not hard to imagine one close to the Golden Age version but in a world and Raceway City slightly less ideal and more segregated than the original.
For my money, balancing superpowered mystery men who can push train cars and fly with a wartime propaganda effort meant for tailoring the kinds of heroes 'appropriate' to fighting forces and the civilian population is handled believably and effectively. The resolution was also satisfying. It sticks the landing yet leaves sufficient threads to pull on for another adventure. More, 'The Terrors' will leave you wanting that next book.
And that's a similar impact Brian K. Morris's 'The Terrors' made on me. There may be superheroic mystery men bending steel between their bare hands, but Morris also explores how a superpowered individual might have fared on the home front during World War 2 if he was part of a minority in American society.
It's gutsy writing. Gutsy because it's more of a challenge. Morris could have simply resurrected the public domain superhero Black Terror for a nostalgic romp which echoed the character's previous adventures alongside his juvenile partner, Kid Terror. That approach would have also dodged the heat that revising nearly any element of a Golden Age character draws.
But Morris doesn't play it safe, and for the most part, it pays off. He's one of my favorite short story writers, and the way he handles longer works like this usually has a few sections of meandering. In this case, the beginning required some patience. Quite a bit of setup was necessary, the revisionist elements slowly revealing themselves, and it took time for evolution past exposition. Imagine watching someone carefully but slowly bait a hook.
But then imagine tossing the line in and getting a strike that nearly pulls the reel out of your hands! After that intro, the action and the character-building balance out. Dark deeds ate planned, thwarted, rethought. Protagonists try pushing back against the forces trying to hold them in check while crime rate in the poorer sections of town, especially, rise. By the end, the corner our heroes find themselves backed into is a contortionist's nightmare.
Having a love for classic comic book action stories will help you appreciate 'The Terrors', but no special familiarity with the Black Terror is required beyond a Wiki read. And if you're a fan of those classic tales and the original Black Terror, you might consider this story as one that happens in an alternate timeline. Multiverses are all the craze, and it's not hard to imagine one close to the Golden Age version but in a world and Raceway City slightly less ideal and more segregated than the original.
For my money, balancing superpowered mystery men who can push train cars and fly with a wartime propaganda effort meant for tailoring the kinds of heroes 'appropriate' to fighting forces and the civilian population is handled believably and effectively. The resolution was also satisfying. It sticks the landing yet leaves sufficient threads to pull on for another adventure. More, 'The Terrors' will leave you wanting that next book.
August 23, 2024
The spin on the Black Terror from the Golden Age of comics was a good way to explain the characters. With the book taking place in the 1940's and the main character being African American, BKM handled the dialogue and the interactions very respectfully but also realistic. The ending makes me want to see what is to come with The Terrors.
September 15, 2024
Morris puts his own unique spin on the Golden Age character. The Black Terror, from the now public domain Standard/Better/Nedor line, by re-imagining him as a Black superhero dealing with 1940s racial prejudice. In this version, the U.S. government wants to use the exploits of superheroes to inspire the troops, but want to literally whitewash them. The Black Terror and his sidekick, Kid Terror, will now be depicted as white in the comics, and the real heroes will retire, or else their loved ones will pay the price. Naturally, the gangsters, pushers, and corrupt city officials are all too happy to be rid of actual crimefighters. But evildoers beware: The Terrors can't be held down for long. Well written and entertaining.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews