Michael D Hamersky On Comics Reviews: MYX - Artists Cut! A TPB From Inks-inc & JamieChaseArts.com!       - Above: The Front Cover to MYX - Artist's Cut: Issues #1 - 4 - Now In Full Color! Top Left: Jamie Chase & Sasha Pyle at Bubicon 42 in Albuquerque NM, 8/29/2010!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3387:

Jamie Chase sent in this Trade PaperBack, (TPB), compiling the 'Artist's Cut' from Issues # 1 - 4 of the comic book series, 'MYX'.

I had not seen the comic book series that had been printed in black & white, when they were first published, The series was a 'Midnight Fiction Favorite 2010 Award Winner'.

So what is the TPB about?  Here's the promo blurb:

"Artist Jamie Chase offers a new limited-edition anthology of issues 1-4 of his underground hit comic series MYX -- and now in vibrant full color.  This special collection again features Chase's illustrations for his own horror stories and  those of contributing writers Bram Meeghan and Darryl Lorenzo Wellington."

My thoughts on this first volume are this:

As stated above, I hadn't seen these stories when they were first published in black & white in the 'floppy' comic book format.  So I don't have the original publications to compare this TPB to.

However, from what I've seen in this TPB, this series definitely is one to be published in full color!

The front cover design by Sahsa Pyle doesn't give me an idea of what I am in for when opening the TPB.  It is sharp looking, and immediately got my attention, but I couldn't tell  what genre this TPB was in, when I first pulled it out of the package it was sent in.  (Note: If I had known that 'Myx' is prounced 'mix', then I would have realized that the illustration would be a 'mix', and that the front cover illustration showed that.)  So I looked at the back cover to see what this would be about.

The back cover does a quick intro that this TPB is a compilation, PLUS the fact that it is printed in 'full color' exclusively for this editon.  So without further ado, I proceeded to check out the front pages.

The front pages included a table of contents, which listed the guest featured writers, for three of the ten stories presented.  They were Bram Meehan, and Darryl Wellington.  So I could see that this anthology would be presenting a lot of publisher Jamie Chase's writing and art...

I was immediately struck by the story & art combinations... It seemed that I was reading something that could have been published years ago by Warren Magazines 'Creepy' title, or seen on TV in an anthology series, such as 'Outer Limits'.  When I did a little research later on this, I found that Jamie is a fan of those series, so that is where some of the influence comes in.

I enjoyed those magazines & TV episodes also, and found that the 'dark fiction' that this TPB presented was something that kept my interested, even though there were a total of ten stories presented, so some were shorter than others. 

It was the artwork & writing combination by Jamie that pulled me back to reading more of this TPB compilation over a few nights.  

True, this HoRRoR / 'dark fiction' wouldn't be for everyone's tastes, but for me the combination of colored art with imaginative storylines made this anthology series one that I enjoyed reading... enough to spend the time to present a review blog here.

Jamie states in the creators mini-bios at the back of the TPB, that he first presented the series apart from his 'fine art' work as a 'moonlight art form' away from his day job.  The creators that he credits as influences are ones that I can see in this TPB, including Gene Colan, Jeff Jones, and Angelo Torres, among others.

The guest writers had stories that contributed to this anthology series, and it was nice to see how Jamie would present those. (From Bram Meehan and Darryl Wellington.) 

As with all anthology publications, there were stories that I preferred more than others, which is why 'reviewing' anthologies are so hard to do.

In this case, I've decided to take the TPB as a 'whole' presentation, (as it was mostly Jamie's stories & art), and decided that it is a well produced & printed book in this format.  It is a presentation of stories of varying page lengths, which is a good mix for an anthology series.  For those of you that enjoy different styles of artwork, Jamie presents different dynamic perspectives, which kind of reminds me of the comics that I enjoyed years ago from Gene Colan using his cinematic techniques.

There is a good mix of HoRRoR, MoNSTers, and Sci-Fi stories in this TPB. A limited edition to be proud of, IMO.

Please Note:  There are some scenes with nudity and of off-color language, so it is not for younger readers.

Here is more info on the TPB:

MYX - limited edition - full color collection.  Fans of Creepy magazine and the Outer Limits TV show will love this post-modern horror/science fiction anthology series.

Limited edition, collecting issues 1-4, printed in full color for the first time!
120 pages of mystery, magic, sci-fi and horror.
Stories by Bram Meehan, Darryl Wellington, and Jamie Chase
Art by Jamie Chase
$24.95 + shipping

My review rating for this comic book is a NEAR MINT MINUS (NM-) 9.2 out of a 10.0 possible comic book grading scale. Again, I want to state that this is an anthology format publication and in the HoRRoR genre / 'dark fiction' style. Anthologies are the hardest format to review blog on...

To purchase this graphic novel,  please see the following link:  JamieChaseArts.com  

There isn't a Facebook Fan Page for this publication nor the Publisher at this time, so no link is provided.  So please see the above link to see what else Jamie Chase has in stock, including the b&w comics that this TPB compiles. Plus check out his 'Fine Art' links while you are there!

My thanks to Jamie Chase for sending this TPB to me for possible review 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 2,368 '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:  

http://www.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!

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

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

 Also, if you are a Facebook member, I would have liked you to send me a 'Friend Request'. However, I have reached the maximum limit of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages already, so I've added a New 'Facebook Fan Page' 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 & Vinnie On: The April 2011 Collector Con In Oceanside, CA!     - Above: Katie Limon of Kaleidoscope Projector did a fantastic job on the signage for their table at the Collector Con! Top Left: Voice Actor, Peter Robbins, was the Guest of Honor for this month's Collector Con!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3386:

My dad and I attended the Collector Con over in Oceanside, California earlier today.

Among other exhibitors there, we met Peter Robbins, the original voice actor of Charlie Brown, of Peanuts fame!

He was very nice and he signed autographs and had his photo taken with atteendees, including myself, seen in the above pic.

Peter told me that he was about my age when he was the voice of Charlie Brown, from age 9 to 13, from 1965 to 1969. 

We got to to talk with him for a while before he headed off for a late lunch with friends from the North County Times.

His guest attendance spiced up the place, considering we had visited all the vendors already, and were just ready to make our second round of checking out all the tables before leaving.  It was good to have a guest celebrity at this con this month...

~Vinnie

Thanks, Vinnie for your above mention of Peter Robbins, who attended the Collector Con today.

My thanks also to Raven White, (pictured to the left), and Heather Wagner who promoted the April 2011 Collector Con for the hosts,  Carpinelli Productions & Retromonster!

Vinnie and I had fun again at this outdoor swap meet style 'Collector Con', and we ended up spending more time than we thought we would, as we found quite a few bargains today!

For more photos that were taken at this Collector Con, please see the following 2011 April Collector Con photo album at my Facebook Fan Page!

For more information on the Collector Con that has been held in Oceanside, here's the Facebook Fan Page for it!

~Michael D Hamersky

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,365 '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:  

http://www.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!

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

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

 Also, if you are a Facebook member, I would have liked you to send me a 'Friend Request'. However, I have reached the maximum limit of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages already, so I've added a New 'Facebook Fan Page' 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: GAAK #1 From First Run Publishing!     - Above: Being introduced to GAAK (Groovy Ass Alien Kreatures) at the 2010 Long Beach Comic Con (LBCC)! Top Left: A closer look at the Front Cover to GAAK Volume 1!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3385:

I found this title in the Artists Alley at the recent 2010 Long Beach Comic Con, (LBCC).

It was published in graphic novel format from First Run Publishing.

The title of the property 'GAAK' caught my eyes as I walked by the table. Finding out that 'GAAK' stood for 'Groovy Ass Alien Kreatures', I asked further about it.

Here is what the publishers state in their promo blurb about it:

"What is GAAK? It's like ET--With teeth. It's like The Gremlins if they came from outer space and had great comic timing. GAAK is what you get when you mix Steven Spielberg's "The Goonies" with equal parts of classic 50's style creature feature movies like "The Invaders from Mars". When aliens from outer space invade a small suburban town and hatch a fiendish plot to take over the earth and meet the original cast of "Star Trek", four misfit kids named Zach, Jemmy, Plato, and Chubs set out to save the world--And all before bedtime. After all, tonight's a school night. Story by Darryl Hughes, art by Monique MacNaughton."

My thoughts on this first volume are this:

Front Cover:  This cover should grab the attention of the target market of this graphic novel, IMO.  It shows the titel 'GAAK', what it stands for, and shows action as well as the main characters.  Good presentation.

The storyline is both fun yet silly like the old sci-fi creature features at the drive-ins, and a good read. I found myself continuing to read the graphic novel with increasing interest, although I wasn't in the target market age group.

The artwork by Monique MacNaughton really fits this storyline!  The dialogue and artwork together made this a fun read for me.

The black and white interiors are fine for this presentation, and fit the sci-fi storyline, where GAAK invade the Earth.  Color was not needed for this book.

The lettering is also done very well, and doesn't interfere with the artwork, a sign of good lettering!

This 'graphic novel' print format was actually from an earlier format.  Here's Darryl Hughes telling more:

"GAAK is a regularly updating webcomic that follows the adventures of 6th grade misfits Zach, Jemmy, Plato, and Chubs as they try to stop the maniacal Jim Carrey like alien Gakk and his posse' of kooky Pod Critters from taking over the earth and meeting the original cast of "Star Trek". LOL! GAAK volume two will be published once GAAK the webcomic has finished it's online run."  

So I'm calling it a 'graphic novel' instead of a TPB, (Trade PaperBack), as it hadn't been printed in a floppy comic book format before.

Researching a little further into the several websites that the creators and the publisher have started, I found that 'GAAK' started as a webcomic in 2001.  This printed volume was the first hard copy format for the concept.

Although the intended target market for this webcomic / 'graphic novel' was not me, I still found it an enjoyable read, and wanted to bring it to my blog readers attention.  This would make a good gift for younger readers, IMO.

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

To purchase this graphic novel please see the following link:  Purchase Groovy Ass Alien Kreatures

There isn't a Facebook Fan Page for this publication nor the Publisher at this time, so no link is provided.  However you can visit First Run Publishing LLC via this link.

~Michael D Hamersky

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,360 '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:  

http://www.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!

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

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

 Also, if you are a Facebook member, I would have liked you to send me a 'Friend Request'. However, I have reached the maximum limit of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages already, so I've added a New 'Facebook Fan Page' 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 Notes That: The 2011 Long Beach Comic Con Expo Is Coming Soon... Saturday, April 23rd!     - Above: Michael D Hamersky with just some of his superpowered friends at the 2010 Long Beach Comic Con (LBCC) Expo! - Top Left: The 2011 Long Beach Comic Con Expo Flyer... Save the Date!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3384:

I have attended all of the Long Beach Comic Con 3-Day Conventions and the Long Beach Comic Con 1-Day Expos so far, (as shown in my multiple blog posts from those cons & expos seen here, which have been 'picked up' by others also and now number about 944 links in total).

Each of the Cons & the Expos have had their different guests, exhibitors, cosplayers, and attendees show up, but each has had the same 'good time' feeling that makes me want to attend this con or expo each time!

I'm bringing this topic up, because the 2011 Long Beach Comic Con (LBCC) Expo is coming up soon on the calendar, April 23rd, and I wanted to bring this to YOUR attention!

First, here's my special photo album on the 2010 LBCC Expo that I wanted to share with you on my own Facebook Fan Page.

Second, here's the link to the Long Beach Comic Con Facebook Fan Page, where both the 3-Day Cons & 1-Day Expos are shown and talked about.

Third, here's the link to the 2011 LBCC Expo event page on Facebook,  where you can find out more info on just this event.  More Facebook event pages for the LBCC itself can be found in this link.

Fourth, here's the link to the Long Beach Comic Con's own web site, where there is even more info on where and how you can purchase tickets is at.

As for myself, I intend to be there, along with my youngest son, who does 'guest blogs' on cons that he attends with me.  (Tina won't be making this expo this year.)  Feel free to stop me and say 'hello' when you see me there.  I'll be wearing one of my indigo colored polo shirts with the 'Comic Book Collectors Blog.com name in white letters on the left breast pocket, (as seen in the pictures on this page), and you can't miss my bald head, (or so Tina tells me!).

Here's the link to where YOU can buy a ticket NOW, online! Note: All day tickets are only $15.00 with kids 10 and under FREE with paid adult ticket!

The LBCC Expo is one of the 1-Day Shows that I most look forward to each year!  I highly recommend it to those of YOU in the Los Angeles Metro Area, (or even the SoCal area), to attend. It's a big enough, yet small & 'intimate' enough for you to meet some of your favorite comics creators without standing in looooong lines to see them!

Again, here's the link to my Special Photo Album from the 2010 LBCC Expo on my Facebook Fan Page for you to look at, just to whet your appetite for this year's Expo!   April 23rd is coming soon!

~Michael D Hamersky

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,359 '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:  

http://www.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!

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

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

 Also, if you are a Facebook member, I would have liked you to send me a 'Friend Request'. However, I have reached the maximum limit of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages already, so I've added a New 'Facebook Fan Page' 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 Presents: Tina's Take On: an ELEGY for AMELIA JOHNSON  A graphic novel from Archaia Entertainment!     -

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3383:

Today's blog is a review on the recent graphic novel published by Archaia Entertainment. The review is a 'guest blog' by my wife, Tina LoSasso.

Review: An Elegy for Amelia Johnson
A graphic novel by Andrew Rostan, Dave Valeza & Kate Kasenow

An Elegy for Amelia Johnson is the story of how Amelia, a 30-something poet in the final last stages of breast cancer, sends her two best friends on a cross-country journey to deliver messages to key people in her life before she passes.

Amelia's childhood friend, Henry, a filmmaker, chronicles the journey while her college friend, magazine writer and erstwhile novelist Jillian, captures the story and each person's reflections on Amelia in words. Together they hope to join the visual and written word to form a proper 'elegy for Amelia'.

But, first they discover much more than they realized about their friend and themselves.

There's much to like about "Amelia".  The story is easy to follow. The illustration succinctly captures both the emotion and the action within each scene. The characters are clearly drawn with distinctive personalities. I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of Henry's sidekicks, Frank and Charles. They provide much-needed comic relief in an otherwise serious storyline and, in the absence of narrative (the story is told entirely in dialogue), the musings of Henry's long-suffering crew serve to set the scene and supply explanations for some of the characters'actions.

This reviewer didn't care for the sometimes preachy tone of the story and depiction of Amelia.  Most annoying was how the story's ending was clearly telegraphed on the back cover. If you plan on reading "Amelia" and I recommend it for readers who are looking for a thoughtful, adult story, I strongly suggest you avoiding even a glance at the back cover.

Grade: 8.0 out of a possible 10.0 comic book grading scale.

~Tina LoSasso

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Thanks, Tina for your review of the graphic novel above!

Here's the publisher's promo blurb:

In her 30 years on earth, Amelia Johnson has touched many lives with her compassion, intelligence and spirit. Now, at the end of a year-long battle with cancer, she asks her two closest friends to take her final messages to the people who have touched her life the most. Henry Barrons is a cocky, Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker whose demeanor hides deep insecurities. Jillian Webb is an acclaimed magazine writer with an inability to make long-term commitments. They set out across the country to fulfill Amelia’s dying wish…and end up learning more about her—and themselves—than they ever imagined.

This graphic novel went on sale: March 2nd at your LCBS - and March 8th wherever books are sold!

Retail Price $14.95 Page count: 128 pages

Format: hardcover, 5.25" x 8.25", black and white

T+13 (contains material suitable for teen readers age 13 and above).

If you don't buy at your LCBS... Here is a link so that YOU can purchase the graphic novel online:    An Elegy for Amelia Johnson - Purchase Online.

Here is the Facebook Fan Page for Archaia Entertainment, which I suggest YOU 'like' also to keep up with what this publisher is presenting next.

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,350 '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:  

http://www.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!

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

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

 Also, if you are a Facebook member, I would have liked you to send me a 'Friend Request'. However, I have reached the maximum limit of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages already, so I've added a New 'Facebook Fan Page' 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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