1989 was the year director J.R. Bookwalter’s debut feature, the zombie epic The Dead Next Door (which Sam Raimi not-so-secretly had a hand in), made its way out into the world – and it also happens be the year when his follow-up feature, the “dark, splatter-drenched” oddball comic book homage Robot Ninja (watch it HERE) was released. Thirty-five years later, Robot Ninja has now received the novelization treatment and the result, Robot Ninja: The Official Novelization by Damien Casey, is now available from Encyclopocalypse Publications! Copies can be purchased at THIS LINK.
Shot in Ohio for $15,000, with David DeCoteau credited as an executive producer, Robot Ninja features cameos by Burt Ward (best known for playing Robin in the ’60s Batman TV series) and legendary scream queen Linnea Quigley and has the following synopsis: Leonard Miller (Michael Todd) is a frustrated artist. His publisher (Burt Ward) and his agent (Mike Shea) are out to capitalize on the blooming success of “Robot Ninja”, the greatest costumed superhero since Batman! One night, Miller witnesses a brutal rape/murder of a young couple at the hands of ruthless thugs. He cries out for revenge! With the help of an inventor friend, Dr. Goodknight (Bogdan Pecic), Miller becomes the Robot Ninja, stalking the dark streets of Ridgway, intent on spilling some blood! The only thing stopping him is a remorseful Goodknight and a frustratred local cop (Floyd Ewing Jr.) that’s always just one step behind him. Robot Ninja slashes, stabs, guts, pokes, and jabs his way through body after body until his final confrontation with head baddie Sanchez (Maria Markovic). You’ll never see comic books the same way again!
Encyclopocalypse Publications notes that Damien Casey was believed to be the perfect author to write the Robot Ninja novelization due to his sharp wit and sense of humor, as well as his love of comic books. The folks at Encyclopocalypse really love novelizations; some of their other publications include novelizations of Chopping Mall, Forbidden Zone, Plan 9 from Outer Space, Squirm, Vamp, Fright Night, Wishmaster, Re-Animator, Long Weekend, Cruel Jaws, The Barn, Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, and more.
Are you a fan of Robot Ninja, and will you be picking up a copy of the novelization? Let us know by leaving a comment below.