Ryan Buell to Release 'Power Rangers' Graphic Novel

Courtesy Ryan Buell's Facebook

Over the past week, former "Paranormal State" star, Ryan Buell has been making several announcements over on his Facebook page, namely that he has a new comic book hitting stores on November 25. Below is what he posted on November 20:

My first comic book hits stores next week. I love "Power Rangers" so I jumped at the chance to help add to the canon. This issue tells the back story of the green ranger. We all, as kids, wanted to know more about him. So, Saban Entertainment, Stefan and Papercutz allowed me to play god and create his backstory. Oddly enough he looks more and more like me. Mwahahahhaaha! Just kidding. If you're a Power Rangers nerd, give me a shout out! And please buy the issue. I tried to make it funny as hell. And some inside jokes also!!! http://papercutz.com/shop-all/mighty-morphin-power-rangers-vol-2.

Here is the description for the comic:

This is the story Mighty Morphin Power Rangers fans have been waiting over 20 years for—the untold story of the origins of Tommy—the Green Ranger! How did Rita Repulsa choose this teen over others to wage war against the Rangers? This is the only place to find out.

Note to fans: This graphic novel takes place right before the classic Mighty Morphin Power Rangers episode “Green with Evil.”

'Paranormal State' Returns- In Video Game Form

The "Paranormal State" team is back, and this time they want to play a game with you. Available today is "Paranormal State: Poison Spring," an iPad game that allows players to join Ryan Buell (and Heather Taddy, Sergey Poberezhny) and the Paranormal Research Society for a ghost investigation.

The game, which was released in PC format last October, is a hidden object game with voice-acted cutscenes surrounding an investigation of "a terrifying supernatural event at Poison Spring State Park, historical site to a grisly Civil War battle." And yes, that was a real battle, fought in Arkansas, and was a notable battle involving the the First Kansas Colored Infantry.

Debuting on A&E in 2007, "Paranormal State" was an early competitor to "Ghost Hunters" in the paranormal investigation docuseries genre. However, it has been off the year for three years. So while this game is oddly timed, it may be fans' best bet for new PRS adventures for now.

Created by A&E, publisher Legacy Interactive -- which is behind TV-inspired games "Twilight Zone," "Ghost Whisperer," "Psych," and "House M.D." -- and Polish game developer Teyon, "Poison Spring" was initially offered as a PC game on LegacyGames for $13.95, then $9.95. On the iPad, the download is free but the "Collector's Edition" unlock (which you'll probably need to play the entire game) is $6.95.

Based on the trailer below, the game isn't the sleekest of designs (and I'm sorry but who approved the digitized version of Ryan Buell, a handsome young guy, which looks like Michael Madsen?) but I cannot comment on the gameplay. Although, it's not a great sign that the support for the game seems pretty nonexistent and the website went dormant for about six months and still haven't added a press release. So this doesn't seem like a game that A&E or Legacy expects to do bang-up numbers, or even show much love for.

But if you've downloaded it and you do love it, let us know and we'll spread the word.

-Aaron Sagers

'American Haunting' brings paranormal back to A&E

From the network that brought popular shows Paranormal State and Psychic Kids: Children of the Paranormal into your homes, comes a frightening new three-hour event called American Haunting.

Starting at 8 p.m. ET on July 27, A&E will air three one-hour episodes of American Haunting (not to be confused with the 2005 movie An American Haunting) that depict the horrors three families must endure in their own homes.

Armed with the usual arsenal of paranormal equipment, including surveillance cameras throughout their homes, these families enlist the help of psychics, paranormal investigators and even demonologists and exorcists to help them eradicate the paranormal activity.

Beginning at 8 p.m. ET, the premiere episode introduces us to the McGlone family. Their Grayson, Ky., dream home is plagued with frightening experiences on a daily basis, including, “moving objects, strange voices and inexplicable smells” and even nightly physical attacks.

Following at 9 p.m. ET, we meet the Rudis family. Their Irving, Ill., home appears to have a haunting of a demonic nature as evidenced by mysterious growls, inexplicable scratches appearing, and “multiple demonic apparitions.”

The final episode airing at 10 p.m. ET features the plight of the Schuman family of Quincy, Mass. Did dad’s purchase of a 1966 Mustang with a shady past bring evil into their home? He must choose between his car or his family. Seems an obvious choice but you’ll have to check out the episode to see.

-Larissa Mrykalo

Paranormal Pop Culture Film Fest: Stanley Hotel, Colo., May 6

Ghosts are heading to the famous Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colo., this week - and they're bringing a few zombies, demons and other supernatural beings with them - to entertain amateur investigators and your favorite paranormal celebrities from Ghost Hunters, Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files and Psychic Kids.

In a first for "The Shining" hotel and a paranormal convention of this size, and sponsored by ParanormalPopCulture.com, Beyond Reality Events and TAPS ParaMagazine, three highly-anticipated paranormal films will be shown as part of a "Paranormal Pop Culture Film Fest" at The Stanley Hotel beginning Friday, May 6, 2011, and continuing through Sunday, May 8.

The festival films - Grave Encounters, Ghost From The Machine and The Night Shift - will be shown in conjunction with a weekend event that includes presentations and investigations of The Stanley with TAPS members and Ghost Hunters Britt Griffith, Amy Bruni and Adam Berry; Ben Hansen and Bill Murphy from Fact or Faked; psychic/medium Chip Coffey from Psychic Kids and Paranormal State; and Paranormal Pop Culture historian Aaron Sagers.

"I'm really excited to add another great element to our events," says Griffith, one of the event organizers. "For a long time our guests and investigators have been able to have fun learning about the paranormal - and actually investigating with us - but now they'll be able to check out cool new paranormal movies too."

Each film included in the festival, shown previously in limited releases, has picked up good buzz. 

Having only made its world premiere April 22 at the Tribeca Film Festival, the found footage film Grave Encounters, is a buzzed-about movie directed by "The Vicious Brothers." When the crew of a ghost hunting show, led by arrogant investigator Lance Preston (Sean Rogerson) is locked down with its small team in the abandoned Collingwood psychiatric hospital (which is actually a real facility in British Columbia), they're filming one another as they seek proof of hauntings from the institution's dark past. But when the team begins to encounter activity, they learn too late that the building itself is alive and isn't ready to let the investigators go. Often compared to the smash hit Paranormal Activity, Cinema Blend calls the horror a "scary and enjoyable experience," while The L Magazine says Grave Encounters is a "f---ed up mindfreak."

According to the official synopsis, Ghost From The Machine "explores the grey area between life and death and how science may be the bridge between the two." When his parents die, Cody must raise his younger brother James. To cope with his loss, Cody explores the "science" of the supernatural. While ignoring his duties to his brother, he invents a machine to be a conduit to the afterlife. After befriending engineer Tom, who is dealing with his own grief, Cody's machine becomes more successful than intended - and has opened a door to something that threatens the safety of the living. Written and directed by Matt Osterman, and starring Sasha Andreev, Variety calls the slow-build intellectual suspense film an "impressive feature debut" and and "reminiscent of The Sixth Sense in its subtle creepiness."

Holding its world premiere at the "Paranormal Pop Culture Film Fest," the adventure-comedy The Night Shift asks the question, "What if you could live forever?" Sounds cool, but things get tricky when you have to spend an eternity stuck guarding a cemetery with only a limbless corpse as a friend. Based on the Fighting Owl Films original short film, the feature revolves around night watchman Rue Morgan who spends the nights fighting zombies (and other supernatural scourges) and his days pining for graveyard dayshifter Claire. Fangoria called the short film a "very entertaining effort" with "light hearted good humor." The star of The Night Shift, Erin Lilley, is also a contributor to ParanormalPopCulture.com.

"These are all great movies on their own," says Britt Griffith. "They are going to be hits with regular movie audiences, so the fact that we get to show them together as part of our event - to a crowd of paranormal lovers, ghost hunters and fans of all these TV shows - that makes this all the cooler."

The "Paranormal Pop Culture Film Fest" marks the first time paranormal investigative films have been shown as part of a paranormal investigative event, and the first time each movie has been shown together. An inspiration for Stephen King's The Shining, the festival is also a first of its kind for the historic Stanley Hotel.

Tickets are still available for the weekend event and film festival at BeyondEvent.net/stanley.

Ryan Buell of 'Paranormal State': Explaining an unexplainable life

Paranormal investigator, 28-year-old reality-TV star, author, former Penn State college student, bisexual celebrity; chances are good that however you choose to label Ryan Buell of Paranormal State, you're partially wrong.

Like the paranormal, it is hard to define and explain Ryan Buell. Long before Buell was a TV ghost buster, he was a college student from Sumter, SC, at Pennsylvania State University, where he studied journalism and anthropology. Then, in December 2007, the founder of the college’s Paranormal Research Society became a celebrity when State premiered with 2.5 million viewers. Since then, the show has remained a contender amongst the reality-TV paranormal docudramas, and began its fifth season Oct. 19 with 1.4 million people tuning in.

The success of Paranormal State, which airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on A&E, is attributable to a variety of factors such as adept cinematography, high production values, creepy settings and a rotating cast of compelling characters that has included twentysomething investigators Sergey, Heather and Psychic Kids star Chip Coffey.

Yet the main focus of the show has always been on Buell. That focus on a brooding young man who has had a lifelong fascination with the supernatural and has been investigating since age 15, and with personal demons - as in a literal demon he believes was stalking him – has earned Buell countless fans and more than a few critics.

Now it’s his chance to respond. In his new biography, Paranormal State: My Journey into the Unknown, Buell discusses, in his own words, his upbringing, Catholic faith, and the beginning of PRS and the show – as well as his revelation as a bisexual man, which has earned the book coverage in the mainstream press. But for Buell, who sits down after a book signing to chat at the Stone Rose lounge in Manhattan’s Time Warner Center, it’s a chronicle of his backstory and the show’s first season. He says the book is less of a memoir and instead largely documents a life transition between college and adulthood

“It's really only a sliver of my life,” says Buell. “I was graduating but was still in school for another degree.  We were starting to realize we are getting older and about ready to leave college in another year or so; that's when the show comes along.”

Buell adds that his life changed right at the moment when he “was contemplating having a normal life for a change.”

Paranormal Statements Giveaway

Are you a fan of Paranormal State, and a bigger fan of lead investigator Ryan Buell? Then you're in luck, because now's your chance to pick up an autographed copy of Buell's new memoir, Paranormal State: My Journey Into The Unknown. Here's how:

This week, we'll be interviewing Buell about the new season of Paranormal State and about his book - and we want you to be a part of the interview.

First, click on an advertisement to the right. Next, send one question for Buell to contest@paranormalpopculture.com with your name and mailing address. We will collect all submissions and randomly select as many as possible for Buell to answer. If your question is selected and Buell answers it, then you win the kewpie doll.

Twitter option: You may also follow editor @AaronSagers and direct message the question to him to be considered.

Fine Print: Keep it clean and original. Any inappropriate or standard biographical questions already likely to be asked in the course of an interview will be discarded. Giveaway only applies to U.S. residents 18 years-old and older. One submission per person please. Giveaway winners will be announced on this site next Wednesday Oct. 27.

Ryan Buell of 'Paranormal State' comes out in new book

Entertainment Weekly broke news that Ryan Buell, the lead in A&E's para-reality show Paranormal State, comes out as bisexual in his new book, Paranormal State: My Journey Into The Unknown, to be released Sept. 21.

Buell's announcement is a non-revelation for many in the paranormal entertainment industry who already knew about his orientation. The show debuted in 2007, and is one of the top-rated paranormal investigative shows on television, trailing Ghost Hunters. Four seasons have aired and a new one begins later this year.

In the past, show producers have admitted to outlining the show and creating character story arcs, and have stated they were hoping for a romantic relationship to emerge between Buell and a female cast member. Moreover, the show does draw a younger, predominantly female audience.

So the big questions: Will Buell's admission affect the show's ratings positively or negatively? Will you be more or less likely to tune in? Will he become more or less relatable as a lead character on the docu-drama? Is this just a stunt to help drive book sales and pick up media attention (which is clearly working)?

'Ghost Hunters Academy': Steve and Tango on being paranormal professors

Combine an education of science, philosophy, psychology and history with a little electrical and plumbing vo-tech training and the result is a well-rounded, multi-faceted curriculum that many institutions of higher learning would be proud of. Add in ghost hunting and it’s the school of The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS), also known as Ghost Hunters Academy.

Premiering tonight at 10 p.m., EST, on the Syfy channel, Ghost Hunters Academy is the second spin-off from the popular Ghost Hunters brand, which began in 2004 with the flagship show starring plumbers Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson. Following the 2008 travel-themed Ghost Hunters International, the new Academy is a unique reality-TV paranormal series which focuses on training and selecting new members for the TAPS team.

Led by Ghost Hunters investigators Steve Gonsalves, 34, and Dave Tango, 24, the group is comprised of five college-aged “cadets” who travel around the country in an RV to favorite haunted hotspots visited on the main show such as the St. Augustine Lighthouse in Florida, Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, Pa., the battleship USS North Carolina in Wilmington, N.C., and the Buffalo Central Terminal in upstate New York.

During the initial six-episode run of the show, which begins at the Revolutionary War-era Fort Mifflin in Philadelphia, Gonsalves and Tango test and occasionally eliminate recruits who can’t live up to the TAPS standards. Along with being a shot across the bow at the other college-focused show Paranormal State on the A&E Network, Academy is a chance for the Ghost Hunters and TAPS team to educate fledgling investigators about what goes into the often-tedious, several-night waiting game of ghost hunting.

Gonsalves and Tango, who both had their own paranormal investigative groups before joining TAPS, spoke over the phone about their new roles as leaders on the show, and what it is like to bring their experiences to the amateur recruits.

It's official: 'Ghost Hunters Academy' premieres Nov. 11

While we've known about this for some time, Ghost Hunters Academy is officially premiering on Nov. 11 on Syfy. Run by experienced TAPS members Steve Gonsalves and Dave Tango, Academy will feature student paranormal investigators as they travel the country learning the ropes of the ghostly biz.  Those that "pass the course" will get a shot to join the regular Ghost Hunters and Ghost Hunters International teams.

Not surprisingly, the new spinoff also allows the folks from TAPS to have their own young investigative show to counter Paranormal State on A&E - and to show an alternative to the PRS methods.

To kick things off, the show will re-visit old GH haunts (yes, pun, I know) such as Fort Mifflin and Eastern State Penitentiary, both in
Philadelphia, and the St. Augustine lighthouse in Florida.