The credits for this issue are as follows:

Writer:        Sebastian A. Jones
Artist:         Peter Bergting
Art Dir:        Darrell May
Letters:       Troy Peteri 
                   Christopher Walmsley
Cover:         Peter Bergting
Editor:        Joshua Cozine

My thanks to Laura Rosenberg who took the time to show me what PSA is doing for those that have non-sports cards as well as sports cards! 

For info on this issue and other back issues of the SMR, check this page:    http://www.psacard.com/smrweb/backissues/1109.chtml or look for it at Your LCBS or sports collectible shop!  Of course there is also additional info on how You can submit your cards to PSA for 3rd party grading as well!

Now the mini-series is available as a TPB for those of you that didn't get all three issues of the 'floppies' (single issues) either!  Here are the details for this collected mini-series:

Okay, if You have already clicked on the link above that would have taken you to my earlier blog post on the first issue of this series... You would know that I loved the premise, the writing, the artwork... everything actually about the first issue.

So, having now read the TPB, I was able to finish the story arc that was presented in the first issue.  You know... it didn't disappoint me!

The story was funny AND entertaining, the pencils by Jeremy Dale were just right for this series, and Rob Jones complemented the artwork by inking it.  Colors by Jelle Van Den Brink added to the whole presentation.

I for one enjoyed seeing this in a TPB (graphic novel style) format!  This was a fun read... and I would say it would be for those that don't always want their comics in a 'grim and gritty' style. 

I also appreciated the 'winks' to the well known Dynamic Duo, who in this story are portrayed as 'The Cowl' and 'Kid Cowl'. 

To order your copy direct from the Dial 'C' For Comics people, check this page:    http://dialcforcomics.com/shop/fs_shop.htmlor look for it at Your LCBS, as this just hit the stands last week!

First off, let me post what the first issue of the Nyssa: War series is about. Here is the description of the story:

Okay, now on to my thoughts of this first issue:

The cover art shown above at the top right of this post is without the logo and the lettering that would come with it.  The artwork does make an impact on the casual browser that would see it at their LCBS.  The additional logo and text adds to the cover.  The finished cover would make me pick up the comic book at my LCBS to see what it is about. 

Turning the front cover page... I find that on the inside front cover there are two house ads, one for 'Battle Blood' and the other for 'Guytron'.  I'm going to stop for a moment and address something here that I will be mentioning later.   This could / should have been an intro page to the story line that is being presented.  I for one have never read the earlier Nyssa comic book mini-series and had no idea what this series is going to be about...

The splash page does what it is supposed to do.  Make a 'splash' impression in front of you, as if you were at a newstand or a LCBS and make you want to spend your $ to buy this and take it home with you to read and possibly collect the rest in the series.

The art style was presented by Michael McClain.  I happened to like it in this story. The style was different enough, yet also familar, that it was easy to follow the storyline. 

The coloring by Virginie D Menard added to the illustrations. Just the right amount of coloring to give it a certain 'feel' of likability.

The lettering done in-house flowed with the art & colors, which is what it is supposed to do.  

Nest comes the writing... Here is what I found that detracted from my having full enjoyment from reading the first issue.  And that is going back to what I wrote earlier.  The inside front cover should / could have been an 'intro' to the characters that are in this story.   The splash page and the initial pages take off like I already knew the characters and their background history to each other.  

However, as I said earlier, I didn't know these characters.  That being said... If I had read the earlier Nyssa mini-series, I'm sure I would have enjoyed it more.  It was still a good read, just that I 'felt' I was missing 'something' from not having read the earlier continuity... 

One additional note: there are only 16 interior pages to this comic.  The front inside cover and the back inside cover are both house ads. Nothing wrong with that, except as I mentioned the front inside cover could have been an intro page to new readers, which would have been more helpful.  This mini-series is projected to be four issues.  With the current price of $3.99 for most comics, mainstream and indie comics, I would have preferred to see a few more pages of story.

All in all, I found this first issue to be drawn in a style I liked, the colors and lettering were fine, and story line flowed to the last page, which of course is "To Be Continued".  Hopefully the following issues will address 'the newbie' to the Nyssa character and other characters involved in the series.

To order your copy in the future, or to order the earlier Nyssa series, check this page:    http://www.michael-mcclain.com/books-page.html .

For those of you that were there at the 2009 SDCC or even ones before that, you'll know that it is very hard to see everyone that you plan to see!  Well, unfortunately when I was at the table later to take a photo for this Blog, Jimmie had stepped away.  However, Derek was kind enough to pose with the T. Runt book, Plus another book that he had collaborated on with a different artist, Shepherd Hendrix, on 'Stagger Lee'.

First, let me post what the T. Runt story is about. Here is the description of the story and the details necessary for purchasing the book:

Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Image Comics (July 29, 2009)  cover price $16.99
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1607060744
ISBN-13: 978-1607060741
Product Dimensions: 8 x 8 x 0.4 inches

Okay, now that the business part of this feature post is out of the way, what did I think of this children's book?  And what is a children's book doing in this this Comic Book Collectors Blog?

Well, second question answered first!  You see, there are a lot of cross-overs going on in the publishing and pop culture industries.  There are screenwriters looking to write comics, because producers are looking for comic book wirters to write screenplays because comics are 'hot'.  Novelists are writing comics, and comic writers are writing novels.  There are other cross-overs going on as well, but I think you get the point.

However, I was kind of surprised at first thumbing through 'Stagger Lee' at the table at the SDCC, because I had already read a preview copy of T. Runt.  You see,  Derek McCulloch wrote the award-winning study of  Stagger Lee which includes the topics of racism and music, so this children's book is on the other extreme in writing style as well as topic.  

Yet, taken on its own stand alone merits, I really enjoyed this T. Runt book.   Enough to suggest to those of You that have nephews or nieces or small kids to consider purchasing this book for an early Christmas / Holiday present!  Seriously, this story and artwork is that good!  Plus how could you go wrong on DINOSAURS?! Especially with the way that Jimmie Robinson draws them!  Great artwork here!

The book has a simple moral that is expressed through a solid and well-crafted storyline.   My thanks to Derek for bringing this children's book to my attention before the SDCC.  I was finally able to fit this book into my Blog's schedule today, and just in time for early buying for gift-giving season!  Which You can find at any of the standard book outlets or online right now.  I know, I checked!

Also, after You become a fan of T. Runt, don't forget to check out T. Runt's Facebook Fan page at:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/T-Runt/105303034694!