Harry Houdini: La Clef De La Magie

A French graphic novel featuring the exploits of a young Houdini has been released by JUNGLE. This appears to be based on the animated movie released on DVD in 2015. Tesla is involved and this is the first of series.

You can purchase Harry Houdini: La Clef De La Magie at Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.fr and Amazon.com.

Related:

• Animated 'Houdini' released on DVD
• The Chronicles of Young Houdini
• Never too young for Young Houdini

Houdini returns to Murdoch Mysteries

Houdini returned to the popular Canadian series Murdoch Mysteries in the 200th episode titled Staring Blindly into the Future. This time Houdini was portrayed by Grisha Pasternak (right).

The episode, which also featured Nikola Tesla, H.G. Wells and Thomas Edison, first aired in Canada on January 13 and in the U.S. on March 7.

Houdini's first appearance on the series was in the season 2 episode Houdini Whodunit played by Joe Dinicol.

Related:

• Murdoch Mysteries investigates Houdini
• Watch Murdoch Mysteries "Houdini Whodunit"

Real Science Adventures collected edition released

A collected edition of Brian Clevinger's Real Science Adventures: Billion Dollar Plot, a graphic novel that features Houdini in action beside Nikola Tesla, Charles Fort, Annie Oakley and others, is released today by Atomic Robo.

A cabal of industrialists are conspiring to overthrow Washington D.C. in the wake of the Financial Panic of 1893. Only the Centurions of Science stand in their way! But can they stop the Black Coat Army and save New York City from sinking into the Atlantic first? Starring: Nikola Tesla: The Mastermind; George Westinghouse: The Industrialist; Winfield Scott Lovecraft: The Secret Agent; Charles Fort: The Investigator; Ehrie "Houdini" Weiss: The Escapist; Annie Oakley: The Sharpshooter; and Wong Kei-ying: The Martial Artist.

You can buy Real Science Adventures: Billion Dollar Plot on Amazon.com (U.S.) and Amazon.co.uk (UK).

Related:

• Houdini's Real Science Adventures continue
• Houdini in Real Science Adventures 9

Houdini throws shade at Edison (for real)

In recent episodes of Houdini & Doyle and Timeless, a fictional Houdini encounters Thomas Edison. In both cases, Houdini is hostile towards the inventor, expressing his support for Nikola Tesla who's inventions Edison was reported to have stolen and/or undermined.

Like Christopher Columbus, Thomas Edison, a great hero in his own day, has been reassessed by history, mainly because of the emerging story of Tesla, and Edison's aggressive business practices and credit grabbing. So it didn't surprise me that these shows would make Houdini an Edison foe, although I suspected in real life Houdini would have been an Edison admirer. The two men were known to correspond.

However, I recently found a clipping in the November 26, 1924 The Tar Heel that suggests Houdini might have been more in line with current thinking. Check out the paragraph below from a report on Houdini's spiritualism lecture at the Memorial Hall in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Tesla was not Danish, so I suspect the "Danish inventor" referenced here may be Poul la Cour, who in 1878 made key improvements to the Telegraph and competed with Edison. Or maybe Houdini thought Tesla was Danish?

Houdini's hostility might have also had something to do with the fact that Edison was a tacit believer in spiritualism. He was even said to be working on a device that could communicate with the dead.

Houdini seemed pretty fired up at this lecture. The paper also reported him as saying "The ouija board is the first step to the insane asylum" and that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Sir Oliver Lodge "should be locked up and kept away from society."

Related:

• REVIEW: Houdini & Doyle (ep. 9): Necromanteion
• Watch Houdini's 'Timeless' appearance online
• All posts related to Edison

REVIEW: Houdini & Doyle (ep. 9): Necromanteion

In Houdini & Doyle episode 9, "Necromanteion," the trio travel to Canada and meet Thomas Edison who has invented a device he claims can communicate with the dead. I don't have to tell you who believes him and who doesn't.

The episode kicks off with Houdini, Doyle and Adelaide aboard an ocean liner bound for North America. Houdini is bringing his deceased mother back to the U.S. for burial in New York while Doyle and Adelaide are off to investigate a homicidal poltergeist in Canada.

During the funeral for Mama, we get to meet Houdini's brother, played by Canadian actor and musician Justin Rutledge. While not mentioned by name, the credits show him as Theodore Weiss. While it's nice that we get to see another important part of Houdini's life, I can't help but feel like Theo is wasted here. I would have preferred him to show up in London in his professional guise as "Hardeen," a Houdini clone, who shared his brother's skills and skepticism. I can just imagine Doyle moaning, "Oh God, there are two of you?"

But Thomas Edison is the real focus of this episode. Edison uses his "Necrophone" to channel the dead and gives a convincing demonstration of the device at the scene of an alleged poltergeist murder. Houdini, a friend of Nikoli Tesla, is no friend to Edison, and is skeptical of his "glorified Ouija board." The story plays out at an estate in Niagara-on-the-Lake in Canada and features lots of spooky haunted house action. At one point, Edison's Necrophone appears to reach the spirit of Houdini's mother.

But the only person who actually returns from the dead is Adelaide's husband, who confesses he's been working with the secret service and faked his death. Speaking of Adelaide, this episode finally features a kiss between Houdini and the good constable! I'm been waiting for this, and the scene was very well played by Michael Weston and Rebecca Liddiard, who have nice chemistry. (This got a big reaction on Twitter last night -- #HoudiniAndDoyle even trended during the East Coast feed.)

Ultimately, the murderer is exposed as human and Edison destroys his Necrophone, fearing he has "opened a doorway to Hell." But one thing Houdini can't explain is the repeated appearance of a mysterious young woman who seems to be following him. She even appears (and disappears) at his mother's grave. Is she a stalker or a ghost? It looks like they're saving the answer for the season finale next week.

Just the Facts

This episode opens with a transatlantic ocean voyage. In real life, Houdini suffered from terrible sea sickness. Just the sight of a ship in the harbor would make him feel queasy. But here Adelaide is the sick one.

There's no record of a friendship between Houdini and Nikola Telsa and nothing that records his feelings on the Edison vs. Tesla competition. But Houdini did correspond with Thomas Edison. I've never read any of these Houdini-Edison letters, but it's likely the topic was Spiritualism. Edison was convinced that the medium and mind reader Bert Reese was genuine. This, of course, delighted Conan Doyle.

Edison also claimed that he was working on a device that could communicate with the dead. Nothing ever came of his "Telephone to the Dead", but the idea persists today with EVP (electronic voice phenomena). In 2013, EVP was employed at the annual Official Houdini Seance in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The medium later claimed a positive result.

Despite Edison's spiritualistic predilections, it's likely Houdini was an admirer. Certainly Edison's inventions played a large part in his world. Houdini's adopted hometown of Appleton, Wisconsin was the first U.S. city to have electric street lights. Houdini also famously recorded his voice on an Edison wax cylinder in 1914. He also kept an electric chair in his home, said to be an Edison original from Sing Sing, but more likely a dime museum mock-up which reminded him of his early days. [Read: Houdini's electric chair - the shocking truth.]

As noted, we get to meet Houdini's brother Theo a.k.a. "Dash" in this episode. (Houdini was one of seven Weiss children.) Theo was born Ferenc Dezső in Budapest in 1876. The brothers were very close and performed together as The Brothers Houdini in their youth. When Houdini found fame in Europe, he sent for Dash. There he set him up with his own escape act and even provided him with a stage name: Hardeen. Dash would perform as Hardeen throughout his life and carry on the act after Houdini died.

This episode suggests conflict between the brothers over how to handle Mama's death. While there was no conflict between Houdini and Dash (who was with Cecilia when she died), Houdini later turned his wrath on his youngest brother, Leopold, whom he partly blamed for their mother's death. In my opinion, it would have been better if the brother in this scene would have been Leopold, and Hardeen could have been saved for season 2 (if we get it).

Finally, the scene in which Houdini grieves at his mother's grave is certainly a moment that the real Houdini experienced. Houdini visited his mother's grave in Machpelah Cemetery in Queens on a regular basis. He would also say Kaddish, as we see him do here, over both the graves of his mother and father on the anniversaries of their deaths. In 1916, he dedicated a large marble excedra in the memory of his parents which still stands today.

Next Monday: Houdini & Doyle concludes with the season finale, "The Pall of LaPier."

Houdini and Edison illustration by Marco Roblin from the unpublished Edge of the Unknown II.

Related:

• Houdini speaks in 1970
• Official seance medium claims to have captured Houdini's voice
• Hardeen joins Houdini & Doyle
• The real story of Houdini & Doyle

FOR MORE REVIEWS VISIT MY HOUDINI & DOYLE EPISODE GUIDE.

REVIEW: Houdini & Doyle (ep. 1): The Maggie's Redress

This review contains only minor plot spoilers.

The premiere episode of Houdini & Doyle, "The Maggie's Redress" reveals the series to be fast and breezy with terrific production values and fine performances. While Doyle purists might not forgive Stephen Mangan for abandoning the author's Scottish burr, I think Houdini fans will be very happy with Michael Weston. In fact, in some regards, Weston is giving us one of the more accurate depictions of Houdini during his early Handcuff King days. But I will get to that.

The episode kicks off with action showing Houdini and Doyle trapped in a cellar filling with water. Here we get a taste of their relationship via snappy dialogue, with Harry boasting he can hold his breath longer than anyone alive, and Doyle telling him that won't matter, he will still drown. Harry's retort: "I'm not saying I'm going to live. I'm just saying I'm going to outlive you."

This nicely establishes their competitiveness, which was an unspoken aspect between the real Houdini and Doyle. So right off the bat the series sets up their relationship in a way that is both accurate and funny. And the death trap device reminded me of watching Houdini's The Master Mystery so... I'm in!

We then jump "3 Days Earlier" and find Houdini and Doyle independently angling to investigate the murder of a nun in a Magdalene Laundry. The only eyewitness claims she was killed by a ghost. Doyle is there because this could prove the existence of spirits. Houdini is there to debunk the nonsense being peddled in the papers. Chief Inspector Horace Merring, played by Tim McInnerny (who also appeared in the Houdini and Doyle movie, FairyTale: A True Story), assigns freshly minted Constable Adelaide Stratton the thankless task of looking after the feuding celebrities during their investigation. Stratton is played by Rebecca Liddiard and she darn near steals the show. She's not only a very good actress, but her character is the only one of the trio that has something at stake that isn't all about ego. Her inclusion was inspired, and in some ways this is her series.

Michael Weston is very well cast as the young Houdini. His playful high energy and American brashness might be closer to the real Houdini's character than we've ever had before (although I have no idea where they conjured up that hairstyle). His tendency to back his claims with a cash bet is very Houdini, and something that hasn't really been exploited before. Weston's Harry has the famous ego, but it's not an objectionable ego. It's more a youthful expression of extreme confidence in his abilities, which are undeniably miraculous. But there's a point in which Houdini is not asked for his autograph, and Weston's reaction is perfect. However, showing Houdini loading up what appears to be an opium pipe is a bit of a shocker. I'm curious to see where this goes.

Stephen Mangan does a good job as Conan Doyle, and while he is the bigger name actor (at least in the UK), he has the less glamorous role. Houdini and Stratton are both youthful 20th century progressives, while Doyle is still rooted in Edwardian ways and weighed down with superstition; although he thinks he's the progressive. The series is set during a period of time when Doyle had retired from writing Holmes after killing him off in "The Final Problem." It will be interesting to see if the series motivates Holmes' resurrection.

Like I said, the action plays out fast and furious (maybe a little too fast for my taste), and the core mystery of the murdering ghost is okay, not great. Still, it's an easy 45 minutes to sit through, and for Houdini buffs there is a lot to enjoy, including a recreation of the Water Torture Cell with an accurate looking cell and a conclusion that shows Houdini escaping and not "magically" reappearing as one of his own axe-wielding assistants. Moments like this actually make Houdini & Doyle more historically accurate (and respectful) than the recent Houdini miniseries.

The music has come in for some criticism for being too contemporary, but I thought it worked well. The criticism that some of the dialogue is anachronistic is warranted. The final scene in which Houdini hears the sound of ghostly piano playing is very nice, suggesting that the great skeptic might himself be haunted. By what or whom? We'll just have to wait and see.

Just the facts

Houdini & Doyle is upfront about being fictional. But as with most Houdini fiction, it still inserts some factual elements. So it's worth putting this episode under the microscope and seeing what truths lie within the fiction. It's not fair to call this a "fact check." Let's call it "fact sleuthing."

First off, Houdini and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle did indeed know each other in real life. However, they met later than what's depicted in the series. The series is set in 1901 (not stated in this first episode) during Houdini's first European tour. In reality, Houdini and Doyle met during Houdini's last tour of the UK in 1920. The real Houdini and Doyle did not investigate supernatural crimes, instead they shared an interest in spiritualism. It is true that Doyle was a great believer and Houdini was a skeptic. It's also true that Houdini was investigating spiritualism this early in his life and career, although he had not yet become the hardened skeptic and crusader.

The series shows Houdini doing his famous Water Torture Cell escape. As discussed, it's a pretty accurate depiction. The posters we see are based on real Houdini posters (although they would not be onstage like this), and while it's a little strange that the audience applauds each passing minute, the panic they later demonstrate is something that is said to have gone on during Houdini's performances.

But the Water Torture Cell, as well as Houdini's identity as a "death-defyer", was still several years away. At this time, Houdini was known as "The Handcuff King" and was primarily doing handcuff and jail escapes, as well as magic such as Metamorphosis. Harry's attractive and put upon assistant Florrie (Jerry-Jean Pears) is pure fiction. Houdini's wife Bess was still working as his stage assistant at this time. But it appears Houdini is a bachelor in this series.

The hostility between Houdini and Chief Inspector Merring comes amusingly from Houdini having broken out of one of Merring's jail cells. This is somewhat rooted in fact. While Houdini never did a jail break from Scotland Yard, legend has it that a handcuff escape at the famous police headquarters launched his career in England. (But even that is open for debate.) There's also a suggestion that Houdini has a special relationship with the head of Scotland Yard, here called Sir Nicolas Hampsted. This mirrors the relationship the real Houdini had with Superintendent Sir William Melville. A hint that Houdini's "spywork" might show up later in the series? (Hope not.)

The inclusion of Houdini's mother (Diana Quick) was a nice surprise. Houdini's "royal" reception for her is rooted in reality as Houdini gave his mother a similar reception in Budapest with relatives. The idea that Houdini might have known W. B. Yeats, Winston Churchill, and Nikola Tesla is a bit of fantasy. A least there is no record of the men ever having met.

The series shows Houdini living at the Metropole Hotel in London. The real Houdini and Bess stayed at a boarding house favored by magicians at 11-12 Keppel Street. Houdini later bought an apartment in Bloomsbury. At one point, Weston's Houdini says he drives an Oldsmobile. The real Houdini drove a British made Humber at this time.

Finally, there's one real missed opportunity (IMO). In the scene in which Houdini opens the Magdalene Laundry's strong box, he picks the lock, which we see him do a lot in this episode. But in The Grim Game, the real Houdini opens the exact same type of strong box by "bumping" the lock. Wouldn't it have been wonderful to have Weston's Houdini do what the real Harry did in The Grim Game? This would have not only been a treat for Houdini buffs, but it would have provided the audience with a wider variety of lock-opening methods.

Based on this first episode, Houdini & Doyle looks very promising. It's not quite the quality of SHERLOCK, and I'm not sure it's even The X-Files yet, but it's well made and great fun and in Michael Weston we have a Houdini as appealing as Tony Curtis. I can't wait for the rest of the series.

I will review and "fact sleuth" the remainder of the episodes as they air in the U.S. on FOX starting May 2.

Related:

• Houdini & Doyle - Episode Guide
• Houdini & Doyle premieres May 2
• "My wife said to me when I got this role, ‘I love Houdini.’ I had no idea."

FOR MORE REVIEWS VISIT MY HOUDINI & DOYLE EPISODE GUIDE

Houdini, Lovecraft and Tesla in action

Houdini is a regular character in the ongoing comic book series Herald: Lovecraft & Tesla by John Reilly with art by Tom Rogers and Dexter Weeks. The title launched in 2015 and is now six issues in. Along with Houdini, the book also features Amelia Earhart, Aleister Crowley and Thomas Edison. Here's a look at a Houdini page.

Individual issues of Herald: Lovecraft & Tesla are available from Amazon. The first six issues have also been collected in two volumes: Herald: Lovecraft and Tesla - History in the Making (issues 1-3) and Herald: Lovecraft and Tesla - Fingers To the Bone (issues 4-6).

You can keep up with at the series via their official Facebook and Twitter.

Related:

• Houdini meets Aleister Crowley
• Houdini makes The Tesla Connection
• Houdini joins the ROUGH RIDERS

Houdini & Doyle TCA panel highlights

The cast and creators of Houdini & Doyle appeared before the Television Critics Association (TCA) in Pasadena on Friday, January 15. During a panel discussion they provided new information about the series set to air on FOX this Spring. Here are some highlights:

• Each episode is different. One may be a gothic story and another may be a psychological thriller. 

• Bram Stoker, Nicola Tesla and Thomas Edison appear in episodes. Bram Stoker was a distant cousin of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

• Before filming, the writing staff went to the Magic Castle in Hollywood for a seance.

• Michael Weston (Houdini) "learned the magic on the fly." He said all the escapes were scary.

• The first episode was filmed in a theater where Houdini once performed.

• Stephen Hopkins directed the first two episodes. The producers wanted a "real pro." [You can see all the directors at my new Episode Guide.]

• Constable Adelaide Stratton (Rebecca Liddiard) is based on a real person. She was the first woman to arrest someone.

• Writer/producer David Shore said the stories will feel contemporary and that, "Houdini needs Doyle; Doyle represents hope."

• Writer/producer David Hoselton said Houdini and Doyle's famous falling out isn’t covered, but their rivalry is there in the background from the start. Should the show continue beyond the first season, their increasing tension will become an increasingly larger part of the story.

• Houdini & Doyle is 10 episodes. But David Shore says it's not an event series. "The plan is to do many, many more."

Houdini & Doyle will air on FOX in the U.S., ITV Encore in the UK, and Global TV in Canada.

Photos by Frank Micelotta.

Related:

• Houdini & Doyle - Episode Guide
• FOX releases Houdini & Doyle trailer
• New Houdini & Doyle cast photos

David Bowie's Houdini incident

No doubt you've heard that David Bowie, one of the great iconic rock stars of all time, died yesterday at the age of 69. Bowie had been battling cancer and is reported to have died peacefully at home. So is there a Houdini connection to the Starman? Why yes there is.

In 1991, Bowie starred opposite Rosanna Arquette in The Linguini Incident. In the movie, Arquette plays an aspiring magician and escape artist who collects Houdini artifacts and comes into possession of "Madame Houdini's" wedding ring. While waiting for her big break, she works as a waitress at a Manhattan restaurant where Bowie tries to get her to marry him so he can get his green card.

It's a decent film loaded with Houdini references and a nice water tank escape at the end. In some territories it was called Houdini & Company.

David Bowie also played Nikola Tesla in the 2006 film The Prestige, one the best magic films ever.

Below is the trailer for The Linguini Incident.

You can read David Bowie's obituary at The New York Times.

Did Houdini really perform in San Francisco in 1926?

The Official Houdini Séance 2015 will be held this year at the historic Brava Theater in San Francisco. The seance is open to the public and promises to be a spectacular event. The official website notes that Houdini himself performed at the Brava -- then called the Roosevelt Theater -- in 1926, the year it opened. But Houdini in San Francisco in 1926? Can that be right? As the attending Houdini Historian for this event, I felt like this was something I had a responsibility to investigate. Here's what I found out.

According to organizer Robert Strong, the source of the Brava claim is a plaque on the wall of the theater lobby which states that Houdini performed there in 1926. So I contacted the good folks at the Brava Theater who were very nice and eager to help. They said the plaque was actually put up by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) who held an event at the Brava last year. They are the one's who researched the history and discovered the alleged Houdini connection. One certainly can't blame the Brava for leaving the plaque up and taking pride in this famous association!

So I fired off an email to SFMOMA to discover the source of their information. Unfortunately, the museum is closed for construction and no one was available to answer my email (another possibility; they blew me off). So the trail went cold.

But knowing what we know about Houdini, and especially how much we know about his activities in 1926 (the year he died), how possible is it that he performed in San Francisco that year?

First off, it should be pointed out that San Francisco was a very important city in Houdini's career. It was the first city he played under the management of Martin Beck in 1899, and is where he achieved his first real recognition and success. Houdini returned in 1907, 1915, and 1923. He performed an overboard box escape in San Francisco Bay (ad left) and a suspended straitjacket escape from the Hearst Building at Third and Market above a reported 30,000 spectators. So Houdini and San Francisco are linked in meaningful ways.

Now, as I said, 1926 is a year very well documented in the life of Houdini, and there is no record of him in San Francisco that year. Not even close. Also, the Roosevelt opened as a vaudeville/movie house, and Houdini had moved well beyond vaudeville by 1926 and was touring with his own full evening show ("3 Shows in One"). Houdini's roadshow did not make it beyond Detroit in 1926.

So we have a few possibilities to consider. Houdini made a trip to San Francisco in 1926 that has somehow gone unrecorded (seems unlikely). The Roosevelt showed a Houdini movie and over the years it has been confused with the real man (seems possible). Or could it be that Houdini had pre-booked the Roosevelt as the San Francisco stop for his "Coast to Coast" tour in 1926-27? So Houdini shows up in the old theater archives -- possibly uncovered by the researchers at SFMOMA -- as being scheduled to perform there, and the assumption was that he made it.

I admit this last theory is a speculative stretch, but I do like it. If Houdini was scheduled to perform at the Brava/Roosevelt, then there's something poetic about holding The Official Houdini Séance there. The theater has been waiting for Houdini to arrive for 89 years!

However, my spirit guide offers another explanation from the great beyond:

It's true! On March 24, 1926, Harry jumped into his Voisin biplane and flew out to the West Coast for a quick canoodle with Charmian London. While out getting some Farmers Chop Suey, he stopped in and gave an impromptu performance at the Roosevelt. Then with Nikola Tesla's help, he teleported back to New York before Bess sobered...I mean, woke-up.

So we can believe whatever version we like.

Recent seance publicity has focused more on the fact that Houdini performed in San Francisco 100 years ago this year, which is certainly true. But regardless of the history, the Brava is a beautifully restored theater from Houdini's time and I think it's going to make a terrific venue for The Official Houdini Séance 2015.

Tickets to the Official Houdini Séance 2015 are now available direct from the Brava website. But you also have SIX days left to buys tickets through the Official Houdini Séance Kickstarter where you can choose from a whole host of special premiums. Either way, it's time to make your plans for Halloween, and I hope to see some familiar faces at the Brava.

And, who knows, maybe Houdini's face will appear as well!

With thanks to Anastacia Powers Cuellar of the Brava Theater, Robert Strong, and Theatre Histories for the then and now image at the top of this post.

Related:

• Official Houdini Seance 2015 reaches initial funding goal
• The Official Houdini Seance 2015 - FULL DETAILS
• Official Houdini Seance 2015 will be held in San Francisco

Animated 'Houdini' released on DVD

Today sees the release of NCircle Entertainment's Houdini (a.k.a. Little Houdini) on DVD. This is a feature-length French animated film produced by Dandelooo. It has been dubbed into English for this U.S. release.

Twelve year old Harry has lived and breathed magic since his early childhood. The problem is that his hometown, Appletown, is not the best place for his natural talent to blossom. Although he rehearses endlessly in his parents' barn he realizes that his dream is just that a dream. One day Harry catches the glimpse of a chance: the New York mayor has announced a magic competition due to the official opening of the Statue of Liberty. Unfortunately, there is a slight problem with this competition, in order to try out one must be trained by a real magician. Poor Harry doesn't know a single one. Until Harry s father runs into the magician, the Great Tesla, in town and Tesla promises to see Harry. Despite the young boy s lack of knowledge Tesla spots talent, creativity and boldness in Harry. He decides to give him a chance and invites him to his own home, accompanied by his niece, Beth, and his assistant, Amrold. Tesla will teach Harry the basics of magic, his tricks but will also test him. Will Harry be strong enough to become a true magician?

Purchase Houdini on DVD at Amazon.

UPDATE: Having now watched this, I can report that it is a delight. It's very well made with beautiful animation. The movie also does a nice job of explaining some of the principles of magic. While it's pure fiction, I think kids will enjoy it on many levels. This is a quality contribution to the world of Houdini-inspired cinema.

Related:

• Animated 'Houdini' coming to DVD
• French animated Houdini TV series in the works

The Ehrich Weisz Chronicles book 2 released today

The second book in Marty Chan's The Ehrich Weisz Chronicles, Infinity Coil, is released today. Here's a description:

Ehrich Weisz, Demon Hunter was introduced to steampunk fans in Demon Gate. Now, he is continuing his increasingly desperate quest to rescue his brother in an alternate universe in the sequel, Infinity Coil.

Now a fugitive from Demon Watch, young Ehrich Weisz hides in the underbelly of an alternate New York where immigrants from other dimensions mingle among Americans. Amid growing racial tensions, Ehrich searches for Kifo, the man who stole his brother's mind and locked it inside an ancient medallion. With the help of his friends, including Nikola Tesla, Ehrich poses as a stage magician named Harry Houdini to draw out Kifo's next target—the commissioner of Demon Watch, Thomas Edison. Ehrich is willing to risk the outbreak of war to save his brother, but he must decide whether or not he can betray his friends...

According to a teaser on the last page, the next and final book in the series, Metamorphosis, will be released in 2016.

Chan's series is not to be confused with Simon Nicholson's "Young Houdini" series. The second book in that series is due for release later this year.

Purchase The Ehrich Weisz Chronicles: Infinity Coil at Amazon.com.

Related:

• Discover 'The Ehrich Weisz Chronicles'

Strange Detective Mysteries

Caliber Press presents a new original graphic novel Strange Detective Mysteries by Terry Pavlet and Sam Gafford with illustrations by Rosaria Battiloro. The book gathers together Houdini, H.G. Wells, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Nikola Tesla to solve the mysterious death of Edgar Allan Poe. Here's the plot description.

Strange Detective Mysteries is a science-fiction fantasy where several of the leading creative minds of the early 1900s are brought together to look into the death of Edgar Allen Poe and discover a conspiracy that threatens to destroy all time and reality in this techno science fiction thriller. The saga begins with famed Western lawman Bat Masterson summoned to a mysterious meeting in 1902 New York City. Upon arriving, he finds several others have been summoned. These men are some of the most brilliant minds of the new century; H. G. Wells, Arthur Conan Doyle, Harry Houdini and Nikola Tesla. When they are finally greeted by their aged host, Robert Tyler, they find that this rich patron has brought them together to solve the mystery of the murder of America’s foremost literary genius, Edgar Allan Poe.

Purchase Strange Detective Mysteries on Amazon.

Thanks to Arthur Moses for the tip.

Houdini in Real Science Adventures 9

Houdini returns for yet another indie graphic novel adventure in Atomic Robo Real Science Adventures #9 by Brian Clevinger. The book is released this month by Red 5 Comics. Here's the plot description:

In the wake of financial panic of 1893, a cabal of industrialists plot to overthrow the government. Their "Black Coat" army stole Nikola Tesla's most top secret technologies. Now they lurk in the shadows of New York City. Starring Charles Fort, Winfield-Scott Lovecraft, and Ehrie "Harry Houdini" Weiss!

You can find Atomic Robo Real Science Adventures #9 at comic books stores and websites such as Midtown Comics.

UPDATE: This is the first in a serialized story, so you can look forward to more action with Ehrie "Harry Houdini" Weiss in Real Science Adventures #10, #11, and #12, coming soon.

The Doctor meets Houdini (at last!)

While Houdini has been name-checked several times on the popular BBC series, Doctor Who, it's hard to believe that in 50 years of time travel adventures in books, film, radio and television, that we've never seen The Doctor encounter Houdini in person.

But that has finally changed with the release of the first official Doctor Who-Houdini mash-up adventure! "Houdini and The Space Cuckoos" is a short story by Joseph Lidster and is available online at the BBC One website.

Here's how the idea for a Who-dini story came about:

"Earlier this year we asked who you would like to see the Doctor meet in a future adventure. We were delighted by the huge number of responses and the enormous breadth of your suggestions.

The most popular ‘nominees’ ranged from Florence Nightingale to Nikola Tesla with writers, scientists and soldiers all having their champions. We were forced to discount characters who were fictional, so Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson had to be left in Baker Street and similarly, people we’ve already seen the Doctor encounter were eliminated, which meant figures like Shakespeare were barred.

In the end, Doctor Who’s Executive Producer Caro Skinner sifted through the most popular suggestions and picked the person from history whom the Time Lord would meet in our seasonal short story… It’s the master escapologist, Harry Houdini!"

You can download a PDF of "Houdini and The Space Cuckoos" from the Doctor Who Adventure Calendar 2012:

Click to download Part One

Click to download Part Two
Click to download Part Three
Click to download Part Four

A complete list of Doctor Who-Houdini references can be found at TARDIS Index File.

UPDATE: Check it out. This post made it (temporarily) onto the main page of the official Doctor Who website.

Houdini makes The Tesla Connection

Houdini and his brother Theo (Hardeen) make a cameo appearance in the new book The Tesla Connection: A Cavalier Family Adventure by Adam Cornell.

In the book the young heros, Elina and Tipp Cavalier, do a little time traveling with the help of Nikola Tesla and see "The Brothers Houdini" performing at the very start of their careers.

The Tesla Connection: A Cavalier Family Adventure by Adam Cornell is released in paperback by Hudson Jade & Steele Publishing and can be purchased on Amazon.

David Blaine ELECTRIFIED

For those who don't know, David Blaine's latest stunt "ELECTRIFIED" is happening right now. David has been standing on a post inside a cage of electrified Tesla coils for 62 hours with another 10 hours to go.

One of the reasons I so dig these David Blaine endurance stunts is they are absolutely the kind of thing Houdini would be doing if he were alive today. Houdini was firmly headed in this direction with the Shelton Pool Test and especially the Summerfield's Test in the months before his death in 1926. The idea of seeing Houdini performing endurance tests, not escapes, would have become a regular event in New York City...just as it is now with David Blaine.

Watch David Blaine's latest stunt live on YouTube

UPDATE: David made it! He also announced this would be the last endurance stunt that he would ever do. (!)

Houdini and Charmian London battle Martians

First released in 2010, the second novel in the Wonder of the Worlds trilogy by Sesh Heri, Metamorphosis, is now available as a Kindle eBook from Amazon and as a print-on-demand from Lulu. The series finds Houdini joining forces with Nikola Tesla and other 20th Century notables in a battle against Martian agents on Earth...and on Mars!

It's over twenty years since the top secret flight to Mars and Harry Houdini is now a world-renowned escape artist recruited by the covert Majestic Seven group to pursue Martian agents on Earth. Time itself becomes the battlefield as the NYMZA, inter-dimensional masterminds using the men from the Red Planet and the astonishing mercury vortex torsion device known as The Bell for their nefarious purposes, are exposed. Houdini is joined by author Jack London and his adventurous wife Charmian, a woman ahead of her time, in the struggle to keep humanity free from eternal slavery and ultimate destruction. Nikola Tesla and young US Navy Ensign Chester Nimitz hold up their end of the fight in a classified submarine designed by the great inventor. The biggest, darkest and most revealing of the trilogy from Sesh Heri!

Houdini and Charmain London battling Martians in a 623 page novel-? Wow.

The third book, The Lost Pleiad, is also available. However, the description doesn't say anything about Houdini's involvement in the final story. Maybe the Martians (or Charmain) get the better of him in Book 2?