New Chris Pennock Comic Book

Chris Pennock (Jeb) has just written and drawn the latest volume of his autobiographical comic book series Fear and Loathing... and the Chakra Shack in Idyllwild, California, is hosting a launch party to mark its release, with Chris in attendance. The event takes place on October 23 and copies of the new title, Fear and Loathing on Facebook will be on sale. For more information, click here.

Audio Dramas Update

Big Finish Productions have recently released Kingdom of the Dead, the long-awaited sequel to their first series of continuing Dark Shadows audio dramas. The four-part serial is available as a boxed set and as individual discs.

The cast includes David Selby as Quentin, Lara Parker as Angelique, Kathryn Leigh Scott as Maggie, John Karlen as Willie and Jerry Lacy as Reverend Hartswood. The guest cast includes appearances from Nancy Barrett (Carolyn), James Storm (Gerard), Marie Wallace (Eve), Alec Newman (2004 Barnabas), Lysette Anthony (1991 Angelique) and Emmy Award winner David Warner. Kingdom of the Dead is written by Stuart Manning and Eric Wallace, and directed by Darren Gross. For more information and to purchase on CD, click here.

Debuting at the end of this month is The Doll House, which explores the doomed bride Jenny Collins. The CD was recorded in New York City in May, with Marie Wallace returning to the role of Jenny, alongside Terry Crawford as Beth Chavez. The script is by James Goss, whose Doctor Who audio CD Dead Air has just been voted Audiobook of the Year by the Audiobook Store. To pre-order The Doll House from Big Finish, click here.

The Doll House concludes 2010's Dark Shadows audio releases, but more titles are planned for 2011, including a full-cast sequel to Kingdom of the Dead. For more news and information on therange, plus exclusive recording photos, visit the Big Finish Dark Shadows Audio Dramas Group on Facebook, by clicking here.

DVD Sale and Video On Demand

For the first time, Amazon have begun offering completed Dark Shadows episodes through their video-on-demand service. The first 40 episodes following Barnabas' release (210-250) are currently available and can be viewed online here.

Amazon are also having another sale on the Dark Shadows DVD boxsets. For a limited time, all volumes are being offered at a 55% discount on the retail price. Here are ordering links:

Dark Shadows: The Beginning (pre-Barnabas episodes): Collection 1, Collection 2, Collection 3, Collection 4, Collection 5,Collection 6

Dark Shadows DVD Collections (episodes from Barnabas' arrival onwards): Collection 1, Collection 2, Collection 3, Collection 4,Collection 5, Collection 6, Collection 7, Collection 8, Collection 9,Collection 10, Collection 11, Collection 12, Collection 13, Collection 14, Collection 15, Collection 16, Collection 17, Collection 18, Collection 19, Collection 20,Collection 21, Collection 22, Collection 23, Collection 24, Collection 25, Collection 26

Compilations: The Vampire Curse, The Haunting of Collinwood

News Digest

• Amazon are now stocking Spectre Toys' new range of Dark Shadows action figures, which comprises a vampire Barnabas Collins, Angelique Bouchard in 1795 costume and Werewolf Chris Jennings. To order, click on the hyperlinked names.
• Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie) has updated her official website with photos from August's Dark Shadows Festival. She's currently working on a documentary based on the investigative feature for Opera News, The Star and the Stalker, alongside Dark Shadows cameraman Stuart Goodman, and has just filmed commercials for Capital One and Kia.
• John Karlen's (Willie) classic 1970 horror movie Daughters of Darkness is coming to BluRay in December. To pre-order it from Amazon, click here.
• Roy Thinnes (1991 Roger) is to appear at October's Chiller Theatre nostalgia convention, which takes place in New Jersey on October 29-31. For more information, click here.

Comics Collection Released

Hermes Press' first collection of Dark Shadows comic strip reprints is finally available after some delays, and copies are beginning to ship from major retailers.

Dark Shadows: The Complete Series Volume One collects the classic 1960s Gold Key stories in a collector's hardback, with extensive digital restoration and bonus features. Amazon are offering the book at a 35% discount. To order, click here.

Volume Two is still on track for a November release and can be pre-ordered at a discount price by clicking here.

Win Action!

Spectre Toys have just released two new retro-style Dark Shadows action figures of Barnabas and Angelique, the first in an ongoing series, showcasing classic characters from the show.

Thanks to our friends at Spectre Toys, we have two sets of figures to give away to readers. To be in with a chance of winning, just answer this simple question:

Where did Barnabas and Angelique first meet?

Send your answer, along with your name and postal address to webmaster@collinwood.net before September 30.