Behold! A cover!

-MM

Hey Hoverfans! Posted yesterday is an exclusive interview with Mr. Comics Editor Ty Templeton, speaking about the upcoming Hoverboy comic. You get your first look at the cover by Jason Edmiston and more of Steve Molnar's wonderful art, with a page of colours by Bernie Mireault.

Hey Hoverfans! Another week, another sneak from the forthcoming Hoverboy #1. More interior art from Steve Molnar, with colour by Bernie Mireault.

Promotion is due to start ramping up in the near future, with articles and promo art appearing as early as this week on some news sites. For those of you just discovering Hoverboy, I give you a hearty welcome.

The downside to all this is that I'm already starting to hear from some disgruntled Hoverboy fans. Those who don't think the new Hoverboy can live up to the characters legacy. There's a lot of people out there like this, who try to take literal ownership of characters like Hoverboy, and keep it as their own personal secret! Well, if collecting and researching Hoverboy has taught me anything, it's that Hoverboy, perhaps more than any other superhero, has changed with the times. Sometimes for good, sometimes... not. But he HAS changed, and if the comic, and anything else that might be coming up puts him back in the public view, then I'll be thrilled! Kids have been without Hoverboy's for too long...

We'll always have the past regardless...

Click here for more update about HOVERBOY'S RETURN TO COMICS

-MM

NEWS: MAY 4, 2006

HOVERBOY COMICS UPDATE.

Work continues on the first issue of THE RETURN OF HOVERBOY. Around the Mr.Comics offices, there's been much discussion. Trying to decide what's the best material to re-introduce Hoverboy to the comic buying public at large is no small task. How about an origin story, sure that makes some sense, eh? Except... WHICH origin story do you use? The wartime super-smart science adventurer slash detective? The 1950's Captain America style super soldier? The 1960's Charlie series crashed UFO-and-dying-alien story? The nonsensical leprechaun origin? Each of the staff has they're favorite; depending on when they grew up and which origin they are used to. For me, the HOVERBOY/METAL GUY ACTION HOUR never even HAD an origin story, so I tend to find all of them interesting in their own bizarre way. The decision we make may well affect the Hoverboy continuity that the new stories will take place in. It's an interesting problem.

Nevertheless, you can find new ads for Hoverboy in REVOLUTION ON THE PLANET OF THE APES#3 and BIG MAX#1, both books I highly recommend. They're APE-tastic!

Also this week, one and a half new additions to THE HOVERBOY LEGACY.

This image of a very bucket-esque helmet was sent to me by a fantastic Hover-fan. The source? Click on the image or HERE to find out.

I've also had someone send me info that a character called "Hoverboy" or "Hover Boy" appeared in an episode of THE DREW CARREY SHOW. If anyone has more on this, especially pictures, PLEASE let me know!

NEWS: FEBRUARY 28, 2005

Hey Hoverfans!

It's a sad day. A piece of film history has been lost. If I've learned one thing through my efforts to restore Li'l Bucketboy, it surely must be: make sure the people you hire know what they're doing! In what must be one of the crushing experiences of my life I must report that the restoration has met with a critical setback. Though the film dates from the early 30's, it seems that Timley Pictures cheaped out in the films production, using older and more unstable nitrate stock. What this means essentially, is that proper precautions were not taken in the films care and it exploded! One man is suffering from injuries sustained during the incident. My only comfort is that he wasn't killed! He did loose several fingers in the explosion, as well as additional injuries caused when parts of the equipment on which he was working shot at him at bullet-like speeds. This is a terrible setback for me personally, as I had put well over a year and thousands of dollars into this restoration effort. The Hoverboy curse continues, it seems...

So, is this the end of Li'l Bucketboy? I hope not. I encourage anyone with information on where I can find a new source of the film, in ANY format, to contact me.

Perhaps it is then some sort of karma that I bring encouraging news on the Hoverboy Destroys Christmas!! front. Though not a complete film print, a person has come forward with information on an early TV broadcast version. I am currently negotiating with the owner of this early telecine transfer for a viewing. Once I've seen it for myself, I can determine it's condition. Ultimately, I want to see the film return to broadcast television, so that everyone can enjoy it. However, broadcasters have certain standards which the material they air must meet, both in terms of content and quality. So, the film must be evaluated in both respects.

More as it develops...

I'd like to remind everyone that HAROLD ROSENBAUM continues to air as part of FUNPACK, Thursdays at 7:30pm on YTV in Canada. See the previous update for broadcast shedule.

Finally, a new cover for you to enjoy. It's another Charlie gem from one of the many short lived Hoverboy series from the publisher. Hoverboy's Joke Book #6.

Check it out in the COMICS section or click on the image.

Things are getting back to normal for me now, so expect more regular updates in the weeks ahead.

- MM

NEWS: FEBRUARY 3, 2005

New year, new stuff!

The first proper update of the year is coming on Monday, but I did want to let everyone know that HAROLD ROSENBAUM: CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT, the show I did restoration work on last year, is going to begin airing next week across Canada on YTV.

Part of Nelvana's FUNPACK, the half-hour anthology show premiers tonight at 7:30pm. HAROLD ROSENBAUM chapters will start airing on February 10th. The single multi-chapter episode has been broken up into 5 thrilling parts and will air as follows:

CHAPTER 1: "Audit of Evil" - February 10
CHAPTER 2: " Depreciation to Death" - March 3
CHAPTER 3: "Taxable Trap" - March 24
CHAPTER 4: "Ledger Lad Liquidation" - April 7
CHAPTER 5: "Dam, It's Exploding!" - April 21

All for now, see you again on Monday for a new comic strip, a new comic cover, and updates on Li'l Bucketboy and Hoverboy Destroys Christmas!!.

- MM

NEWS: DECEMBER 21, 2004

Happy hollidays, Hoverfans!

As you can see, a week quickly turned into a month. This is due in no small part to the fact that the girlfriend and I just bought a house! What this means is that I'll finally be able to pull a lot of old Hoverboy material out of storage, scan it, and get it up on the site for everyone to enjoy. So bear with me over the next month while I make the move and get settled in.

For those on the Hoverboy mailing list, expect the annual holliday-oriented Hoverboy nostalgia peice to pop up in your mailbox in the next day or two. Not on the mailing list? Just shoot me an email at marcus@mclellangroup.com to get onboard. For everyone else, the Christmas card will go up early in the astounding year...2005!

But now for todays update. Check it out below!

- MM

"YANK" Wartime Magazine Cover!!

Here's the first in the series of Hoverboy artifacts from a wartime propaganda collector we'll call "Dr. Mabuse". The good Doctor was very protective of his collection, so unfortunately I wasn't able to convince him to remove magazines from protective bags. But I think you'll agree it's a small price to pay to get his stuff on the site.

Check it out in the NEAT STUFF section or click on the image.

NEWS: NOVEMBER 10, 2004

Hey Hoverfans! Just a quick one today. But expect something cool on Monday!

I've heard of a recent Saturday Night Live sketch that involved a bucket headed hero. If anyone has any info, or better yet pictures, shoot me an email!

- MM

A new addition to THE HOVERBOY LEGACY page.

I was in my local comic shop (THE SILVER SNAIL) today and low and behold, what do my eyes see? Is that a new Hoverboy figure...?!

Sadly it wasn't. What it was is a new figure from The Muppets line of toys from Palisades. Why the confusion? Am I insane?

Check it out in THE HOVERBOY LEGACY section or click on the image.

NEWS: SEPTEMBER 16, 2004

Hey Hoverfans!

Just when I promise to start regular new updates I up and go on vacation! I was in the UK for two weeks digging into my roots and seeing the sights. I also had the unique opportunity to call on a couple of Hoverboy fans from across the pond. During the heady propaganda boom of the war years Hoverboy followed the US troops to England, where he appeared in several magazines and even training films. I was able to gain access to a wealth of this material through a dedicated collector of war memorabilia. This collector was initially weary of allowing me to present his material on the site, but after speaking with me at length, was won over by my enthusiasm... So throughout the rest of the year, expect to see updates centering on the the war in Europe. Some really great stuff to come!

Li'l Bucketboy continues. The more I learn the more I realize you can't rush the restoration process. Working with the materials is tricky, and once something is done, it cannot be undone.

Server troubles kept me from putting up the latest comic strip before I left. So here she be.

See you next Monday. - MM

NEWS: JULY 29, 2004

Hey Hoverfans! Back with the first full new update!

I've had it suggested to me that I should break up my updates, so that you don't get all the Hovergoodness on Monday, then have to wait a full week for more. So, I've decided to continue with the regular Monday updates, but I've shifted the weekly comic strip to Fridays. In some cases I may even be able to put up two comic strips a week, but lets see how this works out first.

So, we'll see you Friday for the next thrilling chapter of the comic strip.

Now, on with the update... - MM

Hoverboy seems to have a split personality disorder on the cover of this WWII era issue of SKY HEROS.

Check it out in the COMICS section or click on the image.

I've started a new page in the called THE HOVERBOY LEGACY. Here I'll collect all the images, weblinks and such of observant Hoverfans who've spotted Hover-influenced material.

To get started are two interesting entries:

A new live-action Hoverboy show (but it's not what you think...), and is that Homer Simpson as Hoverboy?

Check it out in THE HOVERBOY LEGACY section or click on the image.

Oh, Hoverboy... you scamp! Hoverboy puts Hovergirl in her place in HOVERBOY #36.

Check it out in the COMICS section or click on the image.

"Hover-Boys of America" Membership Card! TOO COOL!!

Peter Adams from Iowa sent me this truly amazing peice of Hoverboy memorabelia.

Check it out in the NEAT STUFF section or click on the image.

Here's a rather interesting little nic-nak!

A matchbook collector sent me this image for "Daves Air Club". What's that? and exactly what sort of entertainment do you find in the "HOVERROOM"?

Check it out in the NEAT STUFF section or click on the image.

Yikes! That's all I can say about the cover to HOVERBOY #20. Sometimes Hoverboy comics are quirky, sometimes they're ironic, but this one's just plain embarasing! Check it out in the COMICS section or click on the image.

First, Hoverboy collides with the old west in HOVER BOY No. 10, looks like it's, "INJUN' TROUBLE!" for Hoverboy. Check it out in the COMICS section or click on the image.

NEWS: FEBRUARY 9, 2006

HOVERBOY AWAY!!!!

Wow. Has it really been a year since the last update? Not quite, no. And thank goodness, since that would depress me to no end. After the demoralizing destruction of Li'l Bucketboy (see previous update), I decided to spend some time taking stock, and making sure that all my existing Hoverboy memorabilia was in order. During my move to the new Hoverboy Central this time last year, I discovered that some things were not stored as they should have been. Luckily, nothing from the archives was permanently damaged, but it took some time to get every thing bagged, mounted, or otherwise packaged properly to ensure my collection for all time (or at least the foreseeable future).

I've made some wonderful new contacts that will help to take this site to the next level. You can expect one guaranteed update at the start of every month, so make sure you have a calendar! Updates will include additional comic cover scans, the continuation of the wartime Hoverboy strip, odds and ends, and lots of new surprises.

Traffic has been in the past several months for reasons that will become clear below. Now, on with the update...!

HOVERBOY RETURNS TO COMICS... That's MR.COMICS to you!

Last December, if you picked up a copy of REVOLUTION ON THE PLANET OF THE APES #1 at your local comic dealer (which is awesome- buy it!) - within it's pages you'd have found an ad for "The Return of Hoverboy". Produced in Toronto under the Mr.Comics imprint, the new Hoverboy will be a wonderful mix of material from the archives, as well as brand new stories! How was this made possible? That will be the subject of some feature articles for this site in the coming months as the book works it's way through the creative process. It's MY first time involved in a published comic, so I've got a lot to learn. I have to say that I could think of few better to school me than the Mr.Comics crew.

Chief amongst those is Ty Templeton, Mr.Comics senior editor; Eisner Award winning writer and artist. Ty's worked for everyone and on every major character over the years. Recently, he's contributed his skills on BATMAN ADVENTURES, SIMPSON'S COMICS, SPIDERMAN AND THE HUMAN TORCH, as well as his own BIGG TIME (highly recommended).

I'm pleased as punch to be working with Ty and Mr.Comics on the temporarily titled RETURN OF HOVERBOY. If this is the type of news that starts 2006, I can't wait to see how it's going to end!

You can keep up to date with the latest developments here at hoverboy.com, or at the Mr.Comics website here.

This week, another weird and wonderful addition to my collection of GAY CAVALCADE memorabilia. This Christmas LP!

Check it out in the GAY CAVALCADE section.