NEW SALE! FPU 2 & 3 available again!

In celebration of the release of LOS CAMPEONES DE LA LUCHA LIBRE, we're having a huge sale at FROM PARTS UNKNOWN.

Everything we sell, from new books to old back issues, is at slashed prices for a limited time.

AND, for those who missed the storied second and third issues of the old FPU magazine, we've pulled a few copies out of the storage archive and are offering them for sale while supplies last.

Also NEW in this sale is the hugely discounted ONE-OF-EVERYTHING BULK PACK.

Shop early, shop often. Supplies are already dwindling!

Currently reading : Monster Nation: A Zombie Novel By David Wellington

6:05 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

FPU art gallery, CAMPEONES trailer and more!

No time to mirror everything, so check out a bevvy of new info and content over at the real FPU blog here:

http://www.xanga.com/keithrainville

Thanks kids!

KR

1:39 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Lucha comics on FPU
Current mood: accomplished
Category: Art and Photography

Just posted an epic-length picture-heavy article on the FPU website, been the better part of ten years in the making.

Before Santo and ilk crossed media to become silver screen superheroes, they were justice fighters in the pages of wildly popular photo-collaged comic books. These comics sold millions of copies per week, and were bestsellers for three decades, yet outside of Mexico they are virtually unknown.

We look at this prolific body of work that featured ring legends like Santo, Blue Demon and Huracan Ramirez, the massive readership, the unique techniques of "fotomontaje" production, and why they are the long-forgotten unsung heroes of an entire mass-media idiom.

AND - the FPU site has been given a nice cosmetic makeover in celebration of our 11th anniversary. The LINKS page has been greatly expanded, too.

www.FromPartsUnknown.com

Currently watching : Santo Contra la Invasion de los Marcianos Release date: 12 February, 2002

7:13 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Another big lucha libre party - Friday in Pasadena!

Here's the rundown for Friday night at Vroman's in Pasadena:

Dan Madigan and photographer Edward McGinty from "Mondo Lucha"

SoCal art photographer Daniel Chavira - also a contributor to Mondo, and he'll have his astounding portfolio of lucha portraints on hand. I put Daniel on a level approaching Lourdes Grobet, lucha libre is in his family and his photos are just awesome.

Rafael Navarro - signing "Lucha Noir" and displaying various original Sonambulo paintings and his unpublished in-progress sketchbook.

Christa Faust - signing "Hoodtown" one last time before starting a year of promotion for her Hardcase debut.

Keith Rainville signing both Mondo and Noir, with free Mexican lucha libre goodies for anyone who buys an FPU book, while supplies last. He'll also have some masked wrestler rarities on display as well.

Vroman's is a great indie bookstore and deserves your support. We'll be speaking, reading, signing and whatnot starting at 7:00pm.

Vroman's Bookstore
695 E. Colorado Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91101
Tel: 626-449-5320
http://www.vromans.com

11:03 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Lucha libre book group-signing April 7th!

On Saturday, April 7th at 2:00 p.m. DARK DELICACIES in Burbank, the amazing horror bookstore that LA Weekly calls "A virtual Pandora's Box of all things grim and grisly" hosts a group signing of recent Lucha Libre books:

-- Author Dan Madigan signs MONDO LUCHA: THE BIZARRE & HONORABLE WORLD OF WILD MEXICAN WRESTLING (hardback)

-- Artist Rafael Navarro signs his new masked wrestler artbook LUCHA NOIR and displays original artwork

-- "From Parts Unknown" publisher Keith Rainville (contributing writer to Mondo and editor of Lucha Noir) signs both the above

With potential additional lucha scribes and contributing photographers popping in as surprise guests...

Dark Delicacies
4213 W. Burbank Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91505
1-888-DARKDEL
1-818-556-6660 (for local residents)
http://www.darkdel.com/
darkdel@darkdel.com

10:45 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

A great release / signing last night!!!

Many thanks to all those who attended the LUCHA NOIR coming out party last night, and a
special thank you to the amazing Secret Headquarters for being gracious hosts.
http://www.thesecretheadquarters.com

Take a look at some great pics courtesy of Christa Faust on her Flickr gallery:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/80062593@N00/sets/72157594402228046

The book is currently available from the newly re-launched FPU site, and soon to
be available on both Amazon.com and Raf's Sonambulo homepage as well.

If you're in Hollywood, you can pick the book up at Meltdown Comics on Sunset,
and of course at SHQ...

**WEDNESDAY UPDATE**

The Comic Bug was recently damaged in a fire from an adjacent shop, however they
are still in business. The signing will now be an outdoor event at the burned-out locale,
so bring a sweater. All proceeds go to the owner's rebuilding fund.

7:10 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

"Lucha Noir" release events in early December
Current mood: accomplished

Yikes - the release events for the new artbook are already upon us! This Fall is just disappearing right into Winter. Someone reminded me that this new book is out just in time for holiday gift giving, and my first response was 'yeah, I'll wait a few weeks and then push it heavy for December' but half-way through that statement I relaized that December is essentially upon us, so that push is now! Wow...

Anyway, here's the events if anyone is interested in attending. Good times all around!

RELEASE PARTY:
Secret Headquarters
3817 W. Sunset Blvd. (Sunset Junction), Los Angeles / Silverlake, CA
Friday, December 1, 8:00pm

Artist and publisher will be on-hand, as will several other lucha-inspired creative types. Besides the new book, we'll have other FPU and Ninth Circle fare on-hand, including HOODTOWN (and likely author Christa Faust as well), a selection of "Sonambulo" books and prints, and a wide array of FPU ephemera from over the years. We're clearing the shelf to make room for new book inventory, so come on down!

Secret Headquarters is a gorgeous comix boutique located in the booming Sunset Junction area. Come see us, grab the new book, get it signed, have a drink on us, or hop next door to the legend-in-the-making Pazzo Gellatto for an amazing desert...

http://www.thesecretheadquarters.com

ARTIST SIGNING:

The COMIC BUG
1015 Aviation ave.
Manhattan Beach, CA
phone:(310) 372-6704

Wednesday, Dec. 6th - 5-8pm

What's better than new comic day? New comic day with a NEW book debut and the artist on-hand to sign it! Raf loves these types of in-stores, and often takes time to not only sign and personalize books, he'll do full-on finished sketches in them too.

http://www.thecomicbug.com
http://www.sonambulo.com

See y'all out there!!!

And for those distant to SoCal, our online orders start shipping next weekend, and Amazon.com will have the book available by the 1st as well.

Currently reading : World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War By Max Brooks Release date: 12 September, 2006

3:00 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

R.I.P Huracan...

Last week, working on the altar, it occurred to me that we had drafted the list of tributees a month earlier, and heaven forbid by now it might be a longer list. Had the event been on the real holiday instead of the more convenient Saturday before, we would have had a last minute addition, and this is one close to my heart.

Daniel Garcia made a mask famous and a move fundamental. As the ring's first HURACAN RAMIREZ, he elevated a modestly successful film character into an icon of lucha libre, and as the man who made the "huracanrana" a household word for lucha fans and a staple of the sport, he became a ring legend. His mask is omnipresent, even today after so many underwhelming "Juniors". He was a pallbearer to Santo and an active spokesman for lucha well after his unmasking and retirement.

He passed away today at the age of 80.

Back in 2001, I gotta say I was a jaded publisher with a failing business and a waning interest in my original inspiration. I gave in to some bitterness, and needed to find something that would snap me back into "fan mode." I had some of the hooded "staff" set-up at LA's Shrine Auditorium for a comic show, and was losing my shirt yet again. Determined to make the best of a bust day, I got in line to meet some lucha talent signing autographs for Bart Kapitzke's "Alternative Wrestling Shop."

Daniel Garcia was making his first such appearance in LA, and was overwhelmed by fans. He still took time to shake my hand and sign a souvenir hood. I gave him a fat envelope full of everything lucha I had ever published - I do this alot - less of a networking exercise than a simple "thanks" to the ring guys. His English wasn't great, but he thanked me, took a quick curious look, but nothing more came of it.

The rest of the day continued as a washout, so I had everyone pack up early and get lost. As I was going out, I said hi to Bart, and congratulated him on a good turnout for his table at least. The crowds had thinned, and I saw Garcia talking to his translator and pointing at me. We walked over, and he's holding up an FPU ..4. He give me a REAL handshake at that point (with a vicious grip!), a big smile on his face. He stumbles over some broken English to the tune of "Hey, you do good. Thanks from us". US!!!! 'US' meaning 'us guys' - the lucha community. Then... he gives me a good natured cross arm slap across the chest and shoulder blades!

I'll never forget that moment. I use it to remember why writing about these guys is worth it. It's the single best personal interaction I've ever had with ring talent. That's the power men like Daniel Garcia have, for them it's just another Saturday in some hall somewhere, but for people they affect, it's unforgettable. The real stars know that, they know how important each and every handshake can be. They never let us fans down.

Being my age, I never had the pleasure of seeing Huracan in the ring, but Garcia the retired ambassador of classic lucha had a major impact on me. A short little instance at a signing, a friendly encouraging word at the right moment that has kept on fueling me - I'll always be thankful.

I love telling this story. I just wish I wasn't telling it at such a sad occasion.

Rest in peace Huracan - your mask, your ring style and your good will to fans even in distant lands make you eternal.

Keith Rainville
11/1/2006

8:26 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

See FPU's Dia de los Muertos masked wrestler altar!
Current mood: accomplished
Category: Art and Photography

Come to Hollywood Forever this Saturday night, and see a beautiful event, including the debut of FPU's tribute altar to masked wrestlers throughout the ages!

See life-sized skeletal enmascarados grapple for the souls of the departed, with tributes to over 30 famed maskedmen who have shed the mortal coil, gorgeously framed by a "ring" with calavera turnbuckles, and traditional offerings to the departed.

On-hand at any given time of the night will be FPU publisher Keith Rainville, HOODTOWN author Christa Faust, "GoreGilla" himself Dave Buscemi, and other friends of FPU. We'd love to see you all there, and our tribute to masked wrestlers is truly breathtaking. It choked us up just making it, but to see it candlelit in the surrounding of one of LA's biggest Dia de los Muertos celebrations will be truly amazing.

Saturday, October 28, 2006..4:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Hollywood Forever Cemetery
6000 Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90038

http://www.ladayofthedead.com/

Currently watching : Dust Devil - The Final Cut Release date: 26 September, 2006

11:48 PM - 3 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

FPU projects!
Current mood: chipper

Last week I proofed advanced galleys of Lucha Noir and man does it look great. This new printer I'm experimenting with seems to be working out great (knock on wood!) and we should be shipping product by mid-November.

I'm working on some special discount packages for the holidays, too - something like LN and HOODTOWN in a package for $30... making for ideal holiday gift shopping! More later...

Meanwhile, work continues on our Altar to Masked Wrestlers for the Hollywood Forever "Dia de los Muertos" event on October 28th. Our little tribute has grown into a 6-foot ring of bones with life-sized skeletal combatants and visages of 30 maskedmen who have shed the mortal coil in the past seven decades. It'll really be something!!!

And yes, we are working behind the scenes of a whole new FPU website, so stay tuned.

KR

Currently listening : Boys and Girls in America By The Hold Steady Release date: 03 October, 2006

11:20 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment