Brett Kelly Entertainment Breaks Into The Comic Book Biz

Written By: Ken Hulsey

Sources: Brett Kelly / Avery Guerra

You really have to give credit to Brett Kelly for doing everything in his power to resurrect the comic book character "The Scarab." Not only is he making a movie about the obscure hero that first appeared under the Nedor Comics label way back in 1945, now he has launched a line of comic books featuring "The Scarab" and several other characters from the comic.

Under his, Brett Kelly Entertainment label, the director, who pumps out films in mass, is presently producing four different comics based on "The Scarab". Two of the books feature the series title hero in both new adventures and reprints of the classic comics. There are also 'spin-off' books featuring both, "The Woman in Red", and "Jack of Spades."

Here is a list of the comics with a short synopsis for each:

GOLDEN AGE CLASSICS!

Reprints featuring key characters in our comics and in the SCARAB feature film!

THE SCARAB: GOLDEN AGE CLASSICS

Classic rare tales of the Nedor Comics hero "The Scarab" also features a sneak peek at the Scarab movie!

THE WOMAN IN RED: GOLDEN AGE CLASSICS

Thrill to the adventures of the character that is often referred to as the First female superhero! Also contains a sneak peek at the W.I.R character from the Scarab feature film! THREE ISSUE MINI-SERIES

JACK OF SPADES

Organized crime has someone new to deal with!. JACK OF SPADES is a ruthless vigilante with a personal stake in making sure that crime pays- IN SPADES!

Here is some historical info on "The Scarab" from Wikipedia:

The Scarab was the secret identity of Egyptologist Peter Ward. Ward was actually the reincarnation of an ancient Egyptian high priest; by rubbing his magic scarab ring Ward would instantly transform into the super-powerful Scarab.

Alan Moore revived the Scarab, along with many other Nedor Comics characters that had entered the public domain, for his Tom Strong series. In Tom Strong #12 (June 2001), the Scarab was revealed to have been one of the members of SMASH that had been placed in suspended animation after an alien invasion from the moon in 1969. Awakened 30 years later, the Scarab joined his former comrades in the fight against the alien. SMASH disbanded shortly thereafter, but reformed three years later. The Scarab is a member of the reformed group.

In the Terra Obscura spin-off series, the Scarab allows himself to be bonded with the ancient Egyptian god Thoth in order to control one-time superhero Mystico (who is himself bonded with the god Seth).

You have to wonder how much of a market there will be for these "Scarab" titles? If Kelly fails to re-ignite interest in the character, it won't be from lack of devotion. Not many people would invest this much time and effort into something that they don't truly love. Maybe the time is right for the re-birth of "The Scarab", people will always need heroes, especially in this world that is quickly turning upside down.

Here is a collection of cover art and illustrations from the comics:

See Also: Monster X Strikes Back: Attack The G8 Summit And Attack Of The Giant Leeches Coming To DVD! / New Photos From Brett Kelley's The Scarab / New Poster And Behind The Scenes Photos From Attack Of The Giant Leeches / The Legend Of Viper's Hill Is A Bloody Good Debut For The Cousin Company / Brett Kelly Resurrects 1940s Comic Book Hero Scarab For His Latest Film / The First Look At Brett Kelly's Iron Soldier / Brett Kelly Is Remaking Corman's Leeches / Brett Kelly Talks About His Latest Film "Attack Of The Giant Leeches"

New Photos From Brett Kelley's The Scarab

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Sources: Brett Kelly / Avery Guerra

As I have pointed out numerous times, director Brett Kelly is a movie making machine. To date he has been juggling up to four films at one time. The hyperactive film maker just finished up the remake of "Attack of the Giant Leeches" and is still filming the sci fi based "Iron Soldier", the adventure film "Pirates: Quest for Snake Island" and now the superhero driven "The Scarab."

Well Kelly has just revealed the nemesis for his movie adaptation of the rather obscure 1940s comic book hero, "The Scarab."

Okay, guess what a super-villain that fights a hero called "The Scarab" is called? Come on.....take a crack at it......take a wild guess......no, not Ra......try again.......Anubis.......no, wrong again!

I will just tell you......it's The Sphinx. You should have guessed it. Anyway, The Sphinx is being played by Jody Hauke, who also starred in Kelly's "Attack of the Giant Leeches" and two films about space men, go-go girls and Christian holidays.......don't ask.

Here is a new set of photos from "The Scarab", a couple of which show Hauke as The Sphinx:

See Also: New Poster And Behind The Scenes Photos From Attack Of The Giant Leeches / The Legend Of Viper's Hill Is A Bloody Good Debut For The Cousin Company / Brett Kelly Resurrects 1940s Comic Book Hero Scarab For His Latest Film / The First Look At Brett Kelly's Iron Soldier / Brett Kelly Is Remaking Corman's Leeches / Brett Kelly Talks About His Latest Film "Attack Of The Giant Leeches"

Brett Kelly Resurrects 1940s Comic Book Hero Scarab For His Latest Film

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Sources Brett Kelly / Avery Guerra

Director Brett Kelly is out of control. He is pumping out one movie after another. He doesn't even finish one film before he starts another one. Presently he is working on the remake of "Attack of the Giant Leeches", the sci fi based "Iron Soldier", the adventure film "Pirates: Quest for Snake Island" and now the superhero driven "The Scarab."

You can't blame Kelly for wanting to get into the Superhero market. Just about everyone is doing it, and it is big business.....at the box office that is.

Even the most 'hard-core' comic book fans may have trouble remembering the hero Kelly has chosen to make a film about. The Scarab first appeared in Neo Comics 'Startling Comics' series #34 way back in July of 1945.

In fact the character fell into the public domain before Alan Moore revisited The Scarab in 2001 for the 12th issue of his "Tom Strong" series and in the spin-off "Terra Obscura". Before these rare, later appearances, the character hadn't been seen since the 20th issue of "The Black Terror" in 1947.

Here is some historical info on "The Scarab" from Wikipedia:

The Scarab was the secret identity of Egyptologist Peter Ward. Ward was actually the reincarnation of an ancient Egyptian high priest; by rubbing his magic scarab ring Ward would instantly transform into the super-powerful Scarab.

Alan Moore revived the Scarab, along with many other Nedor Comics characters that had entered the public domain, for his Tom Strong series. In Tom Strong #12 (June 2001), the Scarab was revealed to have been one of the members of SMASH that had been placed in suspended animation after an alien invasion from the moon in 1969. Awakened 30 years later, the Scarab joined his former comrades in the fight against the alien. SMASH disbanded shortly thereafter, but reformed three years later. The Scarab is a member of the reformed group.

In the Terra Obscura spin-off series, the Scarab allows himself to be bonded with the ancient Egyptian god Thoth in order to control one-time superhero Mystico (who is himself bonded with the god Seth).


At this time it is unknown if Kelly plans to use any of these prior stories in developing the plot for his film.

By choosing a very obscure comic book character Kelly certainly will be able to avoid 'fanboy' backlash if he strays away from the original plot from the 1940s. I doubt very seriously if there are many Scarab fanatics out there that need to be worried about when developing this one.

See Also: The First Look At Brett Kelly's Iron Soldier / Brett Kelly Is Remaking Corman's Leeches / Brett Kelly Talks About His Latest Film "Attack Of The Giant Leeches"