Michael D Hamersky On Comics: ConDor XVIII  Starts TODAY! San Diego's Longest Running Science Fiction & Fantasy Convention Runs February 25th - 27th, 2011  (Part 2 - Day of the Con)   -

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3359:

As mentioned in Blog #3356... Last year I 'introduced' my wife, Tina LoSasso, to her first sci-fi con, CONjecture 2010. (Here's her blog post on her thoughts on that intro!). 

This year I'm introducing that 'World' to my youngest son, Vinnie, who will be attending the 'ConDor XVIII' for two of the three days, (Saturday & Sunday).  I have my membership already for all three days of the con, which runs today, (Friday), through Sunday, February 25th - 27th of 2011.

Also in Blog #3356, I posted pics and quick bios of several of my Facebook Friends that will be panelists and / or at other events during this con. For a look at those people, which is actually 'Part 1' of this mini-series of blogs on the Condor XVIII, please see this link.

I'm posting many informational links for you now, as there are new links that would help you make up your mind to attend either one, two, or all three of the days of this con. 

I won't be blogging from the con itself, nor during the weekend. However I will be mobile Facebooking, which at this time is set to only go to my personal profilie page.  I'll transfer what I can to my 'Facebook Fan Page' during the three day weekend at:  Michael D Hamersky On Comics.

Here are the 'informational links' for this con:

For the Facebook Event Page for ConDor XVIII - click here.

For the Facebook Fan Page for Condor Cons - click here.

For the Condor Cons web site - click here.

For the Printable Schedule Grids - click here.

For the Downloadable Program Book - click here.

For the Town and Country Hotel info - click here.

For the Dealer Room Vendors & Hours - click here.

For the Guests and Panelists - click here.

Of course there are a LOT more links, but I've posted the ones that are in my mind, 'necessary', as I don't want to write on my program book!

The pre-registration period is over.  However you can buy memberships for multiple days or single days at the con itself, as shown on the con's web site above.

For those of YOU in the San Diego area, I hope to see you there.  Please stop me and say hello, if you would!  With my 'bald head' and the indigo colored polo shirts I'm wearing all three days, that show my 'Comic Book Collectors Blog.com' name on the left breast pocket area... I'm easy to identify!  (See photo of me below this article.)

I should be there all three days, mobile Facebooking, etc.  I won't be able to blog more about this con until AFTER the event is over... So please note:  There will be NO 'Weekend Edition' of my blog for this weekend.  Which is actually 'standard procedure' for when Tina and / or I attend cons.  Each of these blogs takes from 1 - 2 hours to format, and during con days... The time just flies by!  Again, I'll see what I can do to post pics at my Facebook Fan Page when possible.   

~Michael D Hamersky

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,265 'Followers'!  Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button!  And for those of YOU that haven't yet... I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

~ Michael D Hamersky 

If I have it... You can find it 'Under The Big Top Of Comics' at:   ComicBooksCircus.com 

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safari, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers serve the page up differently, sorry about that!

The screen display resolution is best seen at the setting of 1024 x 768 on your laptop or desktop computer.

NOTE: All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.

Comics Creators: If you are breaking into, or already work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email or mail us press releases, news items, and updates that you feel would be of interest to our blog readers. Including YOUR own works!!  (Note:  I don't list my email address here, due to 'spambots' gathering it and 'spamming' me. 

To mail printed items to us for possible review, send to:

Make It So Marketing Inc., PO Box 130653, Carlsbad, CA 92013, USA

 Also, if you are a Facebook member, I would have liked you to have sent me a 'Friend Request'.

However, I have reached the maximum limit of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages in my network already, so I've added a New 'Facebook Fan Page' for myself so that even more of YOU can 'Like' what I am doing, and be interactive with me and others there. 

Here is the link to that 'Facebook Fan Page': Michael D Hamersky On Comics! Please click the 'Like' button on that page! 

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Michael D Hamersky On Comics Reviews: Woe Is OZ #1 & #2 By Ethan Tarshish & Kelly Brown!     - Above Photo: The Front Cover to Woe Is OZ #1. The comic book series is by Ethan Tarshish & Kelly Brown. Top Left Photo:  The Front Cover to Woe Is OZ #2.

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3358:

As blogged about earlier this week in Blog #3356; this weekend I'm going to a sci-fi and fantasy con in San Diego, (ConDor XVIII).

So when going through the 'Read & To Be Reviewed' box again this morning, I came across this comic book that was previously sent in for possible review.  Still being on a sci-fi & fantasy 'kick' this week in preparation for the above mentioned con, I decided to blog about this comic from Ethan Tarshish & Kelly Brown.

When I last posted about a comic book series based on 'The Wizard of OZ' series of books, (see this blog #3322 on Ozopolis #1), I was contacted by Ethan Tarshish about his comic book series titled 'Woe is OZ'.

I invited him to submit a copy for possible review in this blog, (details on how to are shown at my Facebook Fan Page), which he did. 

Here is what Ethan & Kelly show at their web site as to what their series is about:

"The Witch of the West has been defeated. Ruggedo, the villainous Nome King, has been destroyed. Basking in the wake of victory, Oz is going through a time of self-discovery. But smoldering beneath the surface, a fire still burns. The Winkies (a working class society that live in the western quadrant of Oz) are held accountable for their complicity in the Witch’s rise to power. In the eyes of the citizens of Oz, Winkies are seen as villains. A decree is made by Queen Ozma, that they are to atone for their war crimes by being forced into a role of servitude and labor to those most affected by their actions; the Munchkins.

A new threat is found in two Winkie Demonstration leaders, a husband and wife team, Umb and Ra. They preach equality and fair treatment for Winkies, stressing that Ozma’s decree is ill deserved, and quickly gain a following. But behind their message is a much darker agenda, the utter destruction of the Munchkins, and the complete overthrow of Queen Ozma.

This is a world full of magic and fantasy, where anything can happen; these are the characters you only thought you knew. Welcome to a brave new chapter in the world of Oz.

With a war imminent, the peaceful walls of the Emerald City are about to come crashing down, and a new order will arise. Dark is the future. Woe is Oz!"

So what is 'My Take' on this series, based on the first two comic books sent in for possible review?

Well, as you can see from the above promo blurb, this series is just a little bit more 'grim n' grittier' than what is presented onscreen with the original film with Judy Garland!

Nothing wrong with that, as it has been a long time since 1939 when the 'Wizard of OZ' has been released.  As well as all of the original OZ books, as shown in this link. There has been 'evolution' of styles and genres of writing since those years, of course.

The first two comics of this series are not 'over the top' in depicting grim n' gritty, but it isn't for young children, as seen by the 'splash page' of issue #1 with a closeup of the Lion with blood all over his face. Pages 2 & 3 are a two page depiction of a battlefield after it is over, with bodies sprawled all over...

So now that the 'setting' is shown, the storyline continues to move.  I've already shown above what the premise of the series is about.  So, I'll say this... The story shows a 'darker' OZ, which a lot of illustrated fantasy publications show nowadays.  Thus if you are into a 'darker' Oz, then this storyline will keep your interest.  If you are going into this thinking it is going to be like the original film... Then you are going to be surprised.  It is not a bedtime story to read to your younger children!

The artwork is similiar to other illustrated fantasy comics that have been published in the last few years. Not that it is a 'copy' or anything, but it is definitely not a childrens' illustrated book. It still has what some would call a 'cartoony' or 'fantasy' art style to it, but in my mind the artwork fits the story that is being told.

According to the web site, 'Woe is OZ' is illustrated & designed by Kelly Brown, while written by Ethan Tarshish.  They make a good collaborative team in the first two issues for the 'Land of OZ' that they want to center on. 

Again, I want to state that this series is NOT for young children, nor possibly for young pre-teens.  Issue #1 has a little more 'blood' than what most would think a 'Wizard of OZ' series would have, while Issue #2 has a 'sexual scene'. This is not what the general public would think a series of OZ comic books would have in its interior pages.  Which is why I am emphasizing that here.  There is no longer a 'CCA seal of approval stamp' on any comics that are printed.  That 'code approved' seal officially ended February of 2011.

Then again, the title of the series does state: 'Woe is OZ'...!   Which is where this creative team appears to be taking this comic book series!  

My review rating for this comic book is a VERY FINE / NEAR MINT (VF/NM) 9.0 out of a 10.0 comic book grading scale.

You can find these comic books for sale at the 'Woe is OZ' web site.

There is also a Facebook Fan Page for the series, 'Woe is OZ'.

My thanks to Ethan Tarshish for submitting the first two issues of this comic book series for possible review here in my blog!    

~Michael D Hamersky

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,265 'Followers'!  Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button!  And for those of YOU that haven't yet... I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

~ Michael D Hamersky 

If I have it... You can find it 'Under The Big Top Of Comics' at:   ComicBooksCircus.com

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safari, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers serve the page up differently, sorry about that!

The screen display resolution is best seen at the setting of 1024 x 768 on your laptop or desktop computer.

NOTE: All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.

Comics Creators: If you are breaking into, or already work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email or mail us press releases, news items, and updates that you feel would be of interest to our blog readers. Including YOUR own works!!  (Note:  I don't list my email address here, due to 'spambots' gathering it and 'spamming' me. 

To mail printed items to us for possible review, send to:

Make It So Marketing Inc., PO Box 130653, Carlsbad, CA 92013, USA

 Also, if you are a Facebook member, I would have liked you to have sent me a 'Friend Request'.

However, I have reached the maximum limit of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages in my network already, so I've added a New 'Facebook Fan Page' for myself so that even more of YOU can 'Like' what I am doing, and be interactive with me and others there. 

Here is the link to that 'Facebook Fan Page': Michael D Hamersky On Comics! Please click the 'Like' button on that page! 

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Michael D Hamersky On Comics Reviews: TFTSG3 (tales from the seventh galaxy #3) From James Rubino Comics!     - Above Photo: The Front Cover to Tales From The Seventh Galaxy #3, (TFTSG3) from James Rubino Comics. Top Left Photo:  A self portrait by James Rubino.

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3357:

As blogged about yesterday, this weekend I'm going to a sci-fi con in San Diego, (ConDor XVIII).

So when going through the 'Read & To Be Reviewed' box this morning, I came across this comic book that was previously sent in for possible review.  Being on a sci-fi 'kick' this week in preparation for the above mentioned con, I decided to blog about this comic from James Rubino Comics!  

Here's what the creator's promo says about the comic book issue:

"TFTSG3 IS HERE!!!

We're pleased to announce the release of the long-awaited TALES FROM THE SEVENTH GALAXY #3

featuring the debut of our sensational new character YUMISHIRA- Oriental Space Lily!

We've really put a lot into this story and we're sure you're going to find it exciting, unique and thought-provoking!

Also inside is a mini-sequel to our “Alien Interview” epic from issue 2

as well as the much requested "BOYHOOD OF CACTOR" origin tale (believe me, they don’t come much weirder than this)!

...BUT THAT'S NOT ALL!

There's also the tongue-in-cheek sci-fi tale "SPOIL SPORTS FROM SPACE"

...the haunting twist-ending saga "THE FACE OF EVV"

...PLUS BROTHER BODIBAG, PROFESSOR SEMAJ ONIBUR AND MORE!!!

...In our humble opinion: this is our BEST comic yet!"

So what's 'My Take' on all of this?

First, when I opened up the package and saw the front cover... I thought I knew what I was in for..

Well, it was that and a lot more as seen here:

TALES FROM THE SEVENTH GALAXY #3; published November 2009.
Entire contents created, written, illustrated, colored by James Rubino.
YUMISHIRA- ORIENTAL SPACE LILY: 8 pages (First appearance of Yumishira).
THE BOYHOOD OF CACTOR: 6 pages. (expanded origin of Cactor the Unbelievable. Prequel to first appearance in TFTSG#1).
DAVE & STARIANA UPDATE: 3 pages. ("Sequel" to "Alien Interview" story in TFTSG#2).
MESSAGE FROM SPACE RECEIVED: 1 page. (Prof. Semaj Onibur appearance).
SPOIL-SPORTS FROM SPACE: 3 pages (first appearance aliens from Phanirel).
MAILS TO THE SEVENTH GALAXY: 1 page (letters & illustration).
THE FACE OF EVV: 8 pages. (first appearance beings of Edeynia).
STIFFS R' US: 1/2 page (Brother Bodibag appearance).
ANCIENT TALES FROM THE FUTURE AD: 1/2 page.
WINTER'S CHILD: 1 page.

The above were all of the short stories and illustrations that made up this comic book's contents.

Thus it was an 'anthology' of sorts, with all the pages written & illustrated by the creator, James Rubino.

What I've found when a comics creator self-publishes a comic book, odds are the reader will find what the creator wants to publish to the world, not necessarily what the casual browser at their LCBS thinks is inside after the front cover either 'grabs' them or not. Which is why a lot of self-published comics are not at LCBS.  There is a 'niche' market for these comics, and it is best for the creators to self-market their own comics.

Here, the front cover would grab someone that either is into 'sci-fi', or possibly 'underground comix'.  The color front and back covers remind me of an early 'Herb Trimpe' sketchy pencil style, which if you like Herb's early work like I do, isn't a bad thing. That style of artwork continues on into the interior pages.

The first story, 'Yumishira - Oriental Space Lily' is more of an illustrated story to me, in the way that it is presented.  A lot of text, with illustrations to go along with it.  This story, as all the others in the comic is presented in black & white, which is perfect for this 'illustrated story' format, IMO.

The next couple of features remind me of Atlas Comics early sci-fi comics, before it evolved to Marvel Comics, but with an 'underground comix' art style.

The remainder of the comics are miscellaneous features which round out the overall readability of this comic book.

For those of YOU that like 'indie comics', and are open to different art styles... then this could be a fun read for you.  For those of YOU that are into mainstream superheroes type of comics period, this won't be.  It's a fun read, but you have to be receptive for where this comic book takes you.

This publication is a standard comic-book sized format. Color covers, 32 pages, with B&W interior pages.

My review rating for this comic book is a VERY FINE / VERY FINE PLUS (VF/VF+) 8.25 out of a 10.0 comic book grading scale.

You can find this comic book at James Rubino Comics web site, as well as the earlier two issues. The cover price for this comic is only $3.00 ($4.00 when shipped).

James has a Facebook 'Profile' Page in lieu of a 'Fan Page'.  You can 'friend' him / his comics at this link.

My thanks to James Rubino for submitting this third issue of his comic book series for possible review here in my blog!    

~Michael D Hamersky

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,260 'Followers'!  Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button!  And for those of YOU that haven't yet... I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

~ Michael D Hamersky 

If I have it... You can find it 'Under The Big Top Of Comics' at:   ComicBooksCircus.com 

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safari, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers serve the page up differently, sorry about that!

The screen display resolution is best seen at the setting of 1024 x 768 on your laptop or desktop computer.

NOTE: All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.

Comics Creators: If you are breaking into, or already work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email or mail us press releases, news items, and updates that you feel would be of interest to our blog readers. Including YOUR own works!!  (Note:  I don't list my email address here, due to 'spambots' gathering it and 'spamming' me. 

To mail printed items to us for possible review, send to:

Make It So Marketing Inc., PO Box 130653, Carlsbad, CA 92013, USA

 Also, if you are a Facebook member, I would have liked you to have sent me a 'Friend Request'.

However, I have reached the maximum limit of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages in my network already, so I've added a New 'Facebook Fan Page' for myself so that even more of YOU can 'Like' what I am doing, and be interactive with me and others there. 

Here is the link to that 'Facebook Fan Page': Michael D Hamersky On Comics! Please click the 'Like' button on that page! 

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Michael D Hamersky On Comics: ConDor XVIII San Diego's Longest Running Science Fiction & Fantasy Convention February 25th - 27th, 2011  (Part 1 - Pre-Con)     - Above Photo: Herbert Jefferson Jr, 'Lt. Boomer' from (The Original) Battlestar Galactica TV Series, with Michael D Hamersky at the 2010 Long Beach Comic Con. Top Left Photo:  The ConDor Logo for ConDor Conventions, which is now in its 18th convention season.

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3356:

Last year I 'introduced' my wife, Tina LoSasso, to her first sci-fi con, CONjecture 2010. (Here's her blog post on her thoughts on that intro!). 

This year I'm introducing that 'World' to my youngest son, Vinnie, who will be attending the 'ConDor XVIII' for two of the three days, (Saturday & Sunday).  I have my membership already for all three days of the con, which runs Friday through Sunday, February 25th - 27th of 2011. I'll be posting all of the necessary links for you at the end of this blog post for additional details.

One of the main reasons I wanted to attend this con is that a high school buddy of mine, Scott Norton, co-founded this con many years ago. 

Scott is pictured to the left, when he was in the 1983 S.T.A.R. Masquerade.  Scott and I go way back to high school years, although he moved away before graduating from Mar Vista High School which we both attended, ending up graduating from Bonita Vista Senior High School.  So we are both 'South Bay Boys'.

I've lost touch with him since his attending my first wedding, back in 1975, as I moved up to the Los Angeles Metro Area for several years.  When I moved back down to San Diego, I was more into the comics conventions, whereas Scott, as I stated above, was a co-founder of this sci-fi con.  He contacted me via Facebook in April of 2010, and we re-established 'contact'.  I missed seeing him at the CONjecture 2010, as we went on different days.

I'm planning on seeing him again here at ConDor XVIII, as he will be in several panels. Which are:

Friday 5 PM Ascot Room - From Elfland to Poughkeepsie: Fantasy should sound like fantasy - Elwin Cotman, Scott Norton, Eric Shanower, Lynn Maudlin, Michael Underwood

Saturday 12 PM - Ascot Room    -  Gaming styles - RPGs as a literary activity - William Stoddard, Lisanne Norman, Allison Lonsdale, Scott Norton, Patricia Sallume

Sunday 2 PM - Ascot Room    -  Everyone Will Be Famous To Fifteen People: Famous in your small community - Arabella Benson, Val Ontell, Chris Weber, Allison Lonsdale, Scott Norton

Sunday 3 PM - Brittany Room - The City As A High Fantasy Location - Sherwood Smith, Sharon Mock, Dave Duncan, Scott Norton, Elwin Cotman

Of course programs and schedules and panelists are always subject to change.

Then there's the opportunity of again meeting Herbert Jefferson Jr., who of course you would all know from his many roles! 

I've had the pleasure of meeting Herb several times over the past few years, most recently at the 2010 Long Beach Comic Con (LBCC), as shown at the top right of this blog post, and to the left.

Herb Jefferson Jr played the role of Lt. Boomer on the original Battlestar Galactica and on the spin-off series Galactica 1980. His numerous other credits over more than forty years as an actor include roles on both Rich Man, Poor Man miniseries and appearances on such genre shows as Night Gallery and The Bionic Woman,  as well as in the movie Apollo 13.

YOU can see Herbert at the following:

Sunday 2 PM -  Brittany Room       Q&A - Herb Jefferson

I don't know the rest of his schedule... And the ConDor web site doesn't show any other listings, or any tables he will be at.  For updates to this blog post, please see my Facebook Fan Page:  'Michael D Hamersky On Comics' in the days to follow.

Herb didn't have a web site or fan page that he admins the last I knew.  He does make the 'cons circuit' on a frequent basis.  For more info on Herb, I can just offer you the link at Wikipedia.

Another Facebook Friend, who I met at the CONjecture 2010 I mentioned above, is Jean Graham. 

She is pictured to the left, with one of her books. For a full list of what titles she has out, please see her web site, Jean Graham's Short Stories and Fan Fiction Archive.

Her short stories and essays have appeared in the anthologies The Time of the Vampires and Fantastical Visions I and I, & in online and print magazines. Two stories will soon be available via Fictionwise.com.

Jean also a panel schedule as seen here:

Friday 12 PM Garden Salon I      - Scientific vs. Supernatural Horror - Jean Graham, Cody Goodfellow, Richard Dean Starr, Victoria Waks

Friday 3 PM Garden Salon I    -    Creationism vs Intelligent Design - Jean Graham, James Hay, Lynn Maudlin, Val Ontell, Michael Underwood

Friday 8 PM  Brittany Room    -   The Myths Behind the Monsters: Folk origins of vampires, werewolves, and other traditional monsters - Jean Graham, Merrie Destefano, Jeanne Stein, Deborah Flores, Kiersten White

Saturday 1 PM Ascot Room  - Gothic Horror - Alexandra Sokoloff, Jean Graham, Chris Farnsworth, Eric Shanower

Sunday  1 PM  Brittany Room   -    The Science of Star Trek - Jefferson Swycaffer, Jean Graham, Karen Schultz, Victoria Waks

Sunday 2 PM  Garden Salon I    -    Why Do People Believe Weird Things? - Stephen Potts, James Hay, Atanielle Rowland, Todd McCaffrey, Jean Graham

So you have plenty of opportunites to see her talk!

One more Facebook Friend, (who I will be meeting for the first time in person), is Mike Dubisch. He is shown at a different con, along with his wife, Carolyn Watson Dubisch, who I also hope to meet in person at the ConDor XVIII! 

Mike Dubisch's paintings and drawings have shown at the Society Of Illustrators gallery and the JK5 Boutique. Previous projects include "Strange Fear" from Catskill Comix, and "The Vampire's Christmas," with Joseph Michael Linsner, from Image comics.

Dubisch has created art for album covers, CD Rom packaging, magazines, comic-book covers, paperback book covers, corporate logos, t-shirts and web-sites. He is perhaps best known for his moody drawings and paintings for fantasy role playing game sourcebooks, primarily "Rifts" and "Dungeons and Dragons."

Mike emailed me that: "Hey Michael, I'll be doing two panels and I will be doing two art demos- A Cthulhu Mythos art demo and a Fantasy Art Demo, I'll have my books there and at the signature event".

I also want to mention that Maryelizabeth Hart, co-owner of Mysterious Galaxy, which is San Diego's local source of books of Martians, Murder, Magic and Mayhem (with occasional Matchmaking and Munchkins), will also have a table in the dealers room.  She will not personally be there, but the store will be represented in the Dealers Room by Patrick Heffernan!

Maryelizabeth is pictured to the left, along with her husband, Jeff Mariotte, along with Alice Henderson (at the right), at the May of 2009 'Sweet 16' party at the Mysterious Galaxy book store.  That was a great celebration, with multiple guests and panels that day!  (Click here for that archived blog post!)

There are other Facebook Friends that merit mention here today, but I've run out of room & time to post additional.  That's why I've sub-titled this 'Part 1'!

Here are the links I promised from above:

For the Facebook Event Page for ConDor XVIII - click here.

For the Facebook Fan Page for Condor Cons - click here.

For the Condor Cons web site - click here.

The pre-registration period is over.  However you can buy memberships for multiple days or single days at the con itself, as shown on the con's web site above.

For those of YOU in the San Diego area, I hope to see you there.  Please stop me and say hello, if you would!  With my 'bald head' and the indigo colored polo shirts I'm wearing all three days, that show my 'Comic Book Collectors Blog.com' name on the left breast area... I'm easy to identify!  (See photo of me below this article.)

I'll be there all three days, mobile Facebooking, etc.  I won't be able to blog more about this con until AFTER the event is over...    

~Michael D Hamersky

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,250 'Followers'!  Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button!  And for those of YOU that haven't yet... I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

~ Michael D Hamersky 

If I have it... You can find it 'Under The Big Top Of Comics' at:   ComicBooksCircus.com 

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safari, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers serve the page up differently, sorry about that!

The screen display resolution is best seen at the setting of 1024 x 768 on your laptop or desktop computer.

NOTE: All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.

Comics Creators: If you are breaking into, or already work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email or mail us press releases, news items, and updates that you feel would be of interest to our blog readers. Including YOUR own works!!  (Note:  I don't list my email address here, due to 'spambots' gathering it and 'spamming' me. 

To mail printed items to us for possible review, send to:

Make It So Marketing Inc., PO Box 130653, Carlsbad, CA 92013, USA

 Also, if you are a Facebook member, I would have liked you to have sent me a 'Friend Request'.

However, I have reached the maximum limit of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages in my network already, so I've added a New 'Facebook Fan Page' for myself so that even more of YOU can 'Like' what I am doing, and be interactive with me and others there. 

Here is the link to that 'Facebook Fan Page': Michael D Hamersky On Comics! Please click the 'Like' button on that page! 

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Michael D Hamersky On Comics Reports On: Semantink's Comic Savvy February 20th, 2011 Meet-up! (In San Diego, California)      - - Top Photo: Benjamin Glibert, Andrew Rakestraw, Steve Hendricks, Gary, Luis Alvarez, and Yanglyn Ou, in the outside porch area of Milano Coffee Company in Mission Valley Area of San Diego, California. Lower Photo:  (Bottom center to left and around): James Michael Ninness, Chris Henderson, Helen Pegg, Patrick, Matt Dunford, James, Dwayne, Sean.

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3355

Last night was the February 2011 meetup of Semantink's Comic Savvy at Milano Coffee Company in the Mission Valley area of San Diego, California.

The turnout was the largest I've seen to date... It ended up at 21 persons attending, between the hours of 5PM to 7PM when it 'officially' ended, although several of us stayed till 8PM, we were having so much fun attending!  And yeah, it does get dark out there!

I've included a couple of pics at the top right of this post, with names of those in attendance, (Sorry, not all are pictured... And please excuse any name misspellings!).

Ben Glibert, Director of Publishing at Semantink Publishing, proposed several topics during the evening.  James Michael Ninness, Writer / Creator at Semantink also, proposed a few topics.  I, as usual, had a few questions I wanted to hear opinions on from those also in attendance for this blog post.

Please note before I get started with mentioning those topics here.  The meet-up started with approx 19 in attendance, then there were 20.  One additional person, Joel Gomex of Wildstorm came in after I had started my questions.  So figure about 20 persons there for my questions, along with Ben's and James' questions that are mentioned below.

Ben started with asking when the 'Human Torch' of the Fantastic Four, who recently 'died' (sorry... by now that shouldn't be a spoiler!), would be back? The consensus was at what would have been Fantastic Four #600.  The comic book is starting over with another #1 issue with a new title...

Continuing on with 'death in comics', Ben asked who the group thought 'should die' next?!  Deadpool was immediately proposed, with 3 total affirming that! Cyclops of X-Men was next proposed with four agreeing.  Aunt May was overwhelmingly laughed at due to Mephisto's agreement with Peter. Professor X of the X-Men was mentioned as being "...more useful dead than alive".

Ben next threw out this question:  Which 80's cartoon should make a comeback?".  He-Man and Robotech were the faves volunteered from the group.

Other topics were discussed en masse before 6PM when the main group broke off into what could be called 'sub-groups', as the 21 persons in attendance couldn't all be heard in one larger group.

Before that happened I asked my questions.  Since I had missed December's meetup (out of town), and January's meetup (sick), I asked a couple of questions that were a little out-of-date, but wanted to know what the group thought.

'Who viewed the Tron film?', I asked. Of the 13 who did, only one didn't like it.  That is darn good for a group of approx 20 at the time I asked it.

'Who viewed the Green Hornet film?' I asked next. Only 8 of 20 did, and 6 thought it was so-so. With two not really liking it. One comment made was that 'Kato should have been made to be sexier!'.

After the 'Captain America trailer' was brought up in conversation, I asked the question of who saw that trailer and the 'Thor trailer' during the Super Bowl televised event.  First, let me say that 6 didn't see the Super Bowl as they were up at the Inland Empire Con that happened on the same Sunday as the Super Bowl!  

I was the only one that really liked the Captain America trailer more than the Thor trailer that was aired. Those others who had seen both trailers preferred the 'Thor trailer' and are interested in seeing it on the Big Screen.  One did mention that seeing Steve Rogers really skinny and then shown as totally muscular was a really cool shot in the trailer....

As is customary with me, after the group replied to the questions I asked, I then proceeded to pass out 'freebies' for those participating.  Last night the comics were courtesy of Archaia Entertainment, which were copies that were sent to me because I am on their 'reviewers list'.

As a final note in this blog today, I brought up the demise of the print version of 'Wizard magazine'.  No one, except for me, had a subscription to 'Wizard'.  Several of the 20 in attendance had bought single issues during the years, but in the past 2 - 3 years had bought next to none.  A comment was made that by the time Wizard wrote about it in print... that it was already 'old news'.   The power of the internet really affected this magazine, at least among the other 19 in attendance!

So I brought out my copy of the latest issue of Comics Buyer's Guide (CBG) and showed it to everyone.  Not ONE of the other NINETEEN in attendance had bought this magazine from their LCBS, nor had a subscription.   I was the only one...

Okay, I realize I was the oldest one at this February meet-up, the next oldest is four years younger I found out later... But still, none had bought CBG or Wizard within the past year (at least!)   Does this fortell that the shape of things thought to come are actually happening now...?!

As a last note, I was pleased to see Rich Kuhaupt's pin-up sketch in the latest issue of Zombie Kill Squad.  (I review blogged an earlier issue of that series here.)  This issue was just released at the Inland Empire Con I mentioned earlier, and copies were brought down to those who had asked about it at the prior meeting.

My thanks once again to Semantink Publishing sponsoring this monthly meet-up.  Here's the Facebook link to the event that just occurred, and here's the link to Semantink's Facebook Fan Page, which I encourage YOU to 'Like'!  Plus check out their several comic book series that are online.  When they publish hard copies of those in TPBs, I'll be sure to review blog them here!

Semantink's Comic Savvy is normally the 3rd Sunday of every month, which has been held at the Milano Coffee Company in Mission Valley.  There has been a recent change in ownership, and with 21 persons in attendance last night, the meet-up may have outgrown this location.  If there is a change, I'll mention it  in my next wall post at my own Facebook Fan Page, 'Michael D Hamersky On Comics'.

Till then...Have Some Fun!      

~Michael D Hamersky

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