Michael D Hamersky On Comics Presents His Take On...   A Game of Thrones  The Graphic Novel Volume One!

TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3657 - This graphic novel was read after meeting George R R Martin at the 50th Anniversary of Comics Fandom special party at the Comic-Con International: San Diego of 2011.  

So what is the publisher's promo blurb for this trade paperback compilation (graphic novel)? Here it is:

"You’ve read the books. You’ve watched the hit series on HBO. Now acclaimed novelist Daniel Abraham and illustrator Tommy Patterson bring George R. R. Martin’s epic fantasy masterwork A Game of Thrones to majestic new life in the pages of this full-color graphic novel. Comprised of the initial six issues of the graphic series, this is the first volume in what is sure to be one of the most coveted collaborations of the year.
 
Winter is coming. Such is the stern motto of House Stark, the northernmost of the fiefdoms that owe allegiance to King Robert Baratheon in far-off King’s Landing. There Eddard Stark of Winterfell rules in Robert’s name. There his family dwells in peace and comfort: his proud wife, Catelyn; his sons Robb, Brandon, and Rickon; his daughters Sansa and Arya; and his bastard son, Jon Snow. Far to the north, behind the towering Wall, lie savage Wildings and worse—unnatural things relegated to myth during the centuries-long summer, but proving all too real and all too deadly in the turning of the season."

Okay... Here's My Take on this issue:

First of all, as stated above... I met George at the party, but had not read the books he had written, nor seen the HBO series on TV.

So this book was my first introduction to 'A Game of Thrones'.

The storyline was pretty well written, except that it was a little 'choppy' in the comic book version of the books.  Too many characters for this format, and it took me a while to settle in to read the whole book.

The artwork was pretty good, and carried my interest in the series until I was up to speed on the series.  There was some confusion on my part as to who was whom, but I'm not for sure if that was the artist's doing or my own fault.

The lettering and coloring was done well, and the whole production was very fine.

Not a bad start for this series of books, of which the 2nd volume is scheduled for December of 2012 release!

My comic book grade for this first issue is a Very Fine / Very Fine Plus (VF/VF+) 8.25 out of a possible 10.0 comic book grading scale.

You can buy this book  at:   A Game of Thrones: The Graphic Novel: Volume One and see for yourself!

Here's the publishing info:

Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: Bantam (March 27, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 044042321X
ISBN-13: 978-0440423218
Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 0.8 x 10.6 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds

To see the comic books that this graphic novel originated at... see this link!

~ Michael D Hamersky!

NOTE FROM Michael D Hamersky On Comics:  My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,657 total posts in number!   I do appreciate your continued reading and support of this Blog!

BTW, You can 'follow' this blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app link!  We currently have over 2,746 '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!!!

Note:  My online 'Loca8' Comic Book Shop (LCBS), carries many different genres of comics, magazines, graphic novels, and comic con promotional items. Possibly even copies of the item(s) that was mentioned here today...!  If I have it, you'll find under the BIG TOP of Comics, at Comic Books Circus.com, including the book 'Gotham City 14 Miles' that I am shown holding to the left. I'm 1 of 14 essayists in that book! !     

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written per the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safari, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers serve the page up slightly 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:  Your computer's resoulution may be set differently, but the above resolution is the most commonly used resolution at the time of this blog post. 

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!

---------------            

      

In Addition, I started a YouTube Channel just before the 2011 Comic-Con International, where I am slowly uploading videos from conventions or other events that we attend that are also pop culture related.  You are invited to 'subscribe' to that channel also!  As found at 'HamerskyOnComics'!

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Michael D Hamersky On Comics Presents His Take On...   Cowboys & Aliens  The Graphic Novel!

TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3656 - This graphic novel was read after Tina and I viewed the film on the Big Screen, as seen at this review blog on the film, blog #3474 from August 1st of 2011.  

So what is the publisher's promo blurb for this trade paperback compilation (graphic novel)? Here it is:

"1873. Arizona.    An era when all a man could count on was his horse and his six-gun, and Indians fought a losing battle with European settlers.

Until somebody else entered the fight - an invader who saw all humans as slaves, and was determined to conquer our world."

Okay... Here's My Take on this issue:

First of all, as stated above... I first saw the film last year, and review blogged it, along with Vinnie & Tina.

I had not read the comic books that the film was loosely based on, nor the trade compilation, grahic novel.

So imagine my surprise on how different this 'graphic novel' was from the film itself!

No Daniel Craig based character, and no Harrison Ford character!

Instead, this storyline didn't follow the film at all, at least as far as I was able to make it out...

Still the storyline was okay... just okay in my book.

The artwork was fine, and the lettering and coloring were okay also.

Just didn't follow the film at all, which left me kind of disappointed... To tell you the truth.

If I hadn't seen the film already, then I wouldn't have had a preset notion of what this graphic novel should have been... Alas, I had already seen the film!

My comic book grade for this first issue is a Very Fine (VF) 8.0 out of a possible 10.0 comic book grading scale.

Please note:  My comic book grade for the film itself was a Very Fine / Near Mint (VF/NM) 9.0 out of a possible 10.0 comic book grade.

You can buy this comic book direct from the publisher at:   Cowboys and Aliens and see for yourself!

~ Michael D Hamersky!

NOTE FROM Michael D Hamersky On Comics:  My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,656 total posts in number!   I do appreciate your continued reading and support of this Blog!

BTW, You can 'follow' this blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app link!  We currently have over 2,746 '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!!!

Note:  My online 'Loca8' Comic Book Shop (LCBS), carries many different genres of comics, magazines, graphic novels, and comic con promotional items. Possibly even copies of the item(s) that was mentioned here today...!  If I have it, you'll find under the BIG TOP of Comics, at Comic Books Circus.com, including the book 'Gotham City 14 Miles' that I am shown holding to the left. I'm 1 of 14 essayists in that book! !     

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written per the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safari, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers serve the page up slightly 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:  Your computer's resoulution may be set differently, but the above resolution is the most commonly used resolution at the time of this blog post. 

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!

---------------            

      

In Addition, I started a YouTube Channel just before the 2011 Comic-Con International, where I am slowly uploading videos from conventions or other events that we attend that are also pop culture related.  You are invited to 'subscribe' to that channel also!  As found at 'HamerskyOnComics'!

---

Michael D Hamersky On Comics Presents Our Take On:    Men In Black (MIB) III!

TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3655 - We are back from Regal Cinemas located in San Marcos, California, where we took in a showing of MIB III.  Here is a link to the Wikipedia entry for the film, but beware it gives a lot of the film away!

Here's Our Take on the comic book film:

Tina:   Review: MIB3 Will Smith goes back to the future in Men In Black 3.

Advance reviews have not been kind to MIB3. Calling it harmless fun, most serious critics question why the movie was made. As my husband tells me: don't they know how many movies you need for a trilogy?!

So you can see why I was downright amazed to catch a late morning showing on Memorial Day - with a full house of movie goers, and unfortunately one rather smelly guy beside me who reminded me of the crowd at the Watchmen movie panel at San Diego Comic Con, except he wasn't wearing a raincoat.

Even more amazing? I still managed to enjoy the movie. Just think how much fun YOU will have watching it.

For me, the most fun moments in MIB3 were:

-- seeing Harvey the Pug (unfortunately there were no 'Who let the dogs out' treats this time around
-- Josh Brolin as the (much) younger Agent K - Tommy Lee Jones minus the winkles
-- Andy Warhol, The Factory... and the truth about fashion models!
-- Agent J's time jump
-- any of crazy alien Griffin's possible futures

There are plenty of jokes and sight gags to go around. While not great - and not up to the fun and surprise of the original - MIB3 takes you for a fun summertime ride and wraps the trilogy up with a sentimental twist.

Rating: Very Fine Minus (VF-) 7.5 out of a possible 10.0 comic book grading scale.

Michael:  I want to mention that I have already seen MIB both I & II before.  MIB II was seen with Tina on the big screen which was now ten (10) years ago!   Sheesh!

We finished up our chores early this three day weekend, and I wanted to take in a movie, which is our usual 'thing' to do on a holiday weekend.   With MIB III being based on a comic book from Malibu Comics, this was the perfect one to check out!

So we are back from the theater... Here's 'My Take' on the film...

The film played, and I was a little surprised at how full the stadium seating room was!  It was the regular version of the film that was playing, not the 3D version.  Yet almost every seat was taken!

Still, as the film went on, there was something missing... At least to me.  Well the film was finely directed, and it it seem like old friends were on the big screen in front of me... There wasn't that 'extra' touch to it to make the film outstanding.

Sure, I enjoyed the present 'J' & 'K', and the 1969 version of 'K' & 'O'.   But there was just something missing to me in MIB III.  Maybe the ten years that had gone by since MIB II were to blame.

Yet it was a good film to see, and worth the money to see it.

Just wish I could give it a better comic book grade...

MIB III gets a Very Fine Plus (VF+) 8.5 out of a 10.0 possible comic book grade from me.

So as you can see from both Tina and my own take... MIB III is a film that could be seen on the Big Screen near you!

NOTE FROM Michael D Hamersky On Comics:  My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,655 total posts in number!   I do appreciate your continued reading and support of this Blog!

BTW, You can 'follow' this blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app link!  We currently have over 2,746 '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!!!

Note:  My online 'Loca8' Comic Book Shop (LCBS), carries many different genres of comics, magazines, graphic novels, and comic con promotional items. Possibly even copies of the item(s) that was mentioned here today...!  If I have it, you'll find under the BIG TOP of Comics, at Comic Books Circus.com, including the book 'Gotham City 14 Miles' that I am shown holding to the left. I'm 1 of 14 essayists in that book! !     

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written per the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safari, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers serve the page up slightly 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:  Your computer's resoulution may be set differently, but the above resolution is the most commonly used resolution at the time of this blog post. 

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!

---------------            

      

In Addition, I started a YouTube Channel just before the 2011 Comic-Con International, where I am slowly uploading videos from conventions or other events that we attend that are also pop culture related.  You are invited to 'subscribe' to that channel also!  As found at 'HamerskyOnComics'!

---

Michael D Hamersky On Comics Presents    Celebrating Memorial Day Weekend of 2012 With Comic Books!

TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3654 - In memory of the many soldiers who have served our country with bravery and honor... This blog post is shown today.

So what is 'Memorial Day' all about?  

Here is the link to the Wikipedia entry, as to when and where the 'Memorial Day' started..

Here is the link to Comics.org, where you can find other comic books that have related covers.  There aren't any true 'Memorial Day' comic books with that title, however.

So here is a link to Batman #30 from August / September of 1945 with the 7th War Loan front cover.

This is the link to Superman #12 from September / October of 1941 with Superman posing with a sailor and an army man.

Plus, a link to World's Finest #5 from Spring of 1942 with Batman, Robin & Superman.

There are several more front covers with this theme... Have some fun checking them out at the Comics.org web site!

And yes, before I forget to mention it, the comic book pictured at the top right of this blog is New Heroic Comics #69 from November of 1951 from the publisher, Eastern Color.

Take some time during this three day weekend to remember what Memorial Day is truly about!

~ Michael D Hamersky!

NOTE FROM Michael D Hamersky On Comics:  My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,654 total posts in number!   I do appreciate your continued reading and support of this Blog!

BTW, You can 'follow' this blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app link!  We currently have over 2,745 '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!!!

Note:  My online 'Loca8' Comic Book Shop (LCBS), carries many different genres of comics, magazines, graphic novels, and comic con promotional items. Possibly even copies of the item(s) that was mentioned here today...!  If I have it, you'll find under the BIG TOP of Comics, at Comic Books Circus.com, including the book 'Gotham City 14 Miles' that I am shown holding to the left. I'm 1 of 14 essayists in that book! !     

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written per the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safari, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers serve the page up slightly 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:  Your computer's resoulution may be set differently, but the above resolution is the most commonly used resolution at the time of this blog post. 

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!

---------------            

      

In Addition, I started a YouTube Channel just before the 2011 Comic-Con International, where I am slowly uploading videos from conventions or other events that we attend that are also pop culture related.  You are invited to 'subscribe' to that channel also!  As found at 'HamerskyOnComics'!

---

Michael D Hamersky On Comics Presents His Take On...   Alter Ego Vol 2 #5  By Roy Thomas & Ron Harris! From Heroic Publishing!

TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3653 - This comic book was shown to me by the Publisher of Heroic Publishing, Dennis Mallonee, who is shown above at his table at the recent Long Beach Comic Con Expo, (see blog #3647 for my review on the LBCC Expo).  

So what is the publisher's promo blurb for this issue number 5?  Here it is:

"For the first time in 25 years, enjoy an all-new adventure of ALTER EGO, by his original creative team of Roy Thomas and Ron Harris. In this 25th anniversary special, the world of classic CRIME COMICS opens for Rob Lindsay when he dons the mystic mask of ALTER EGO to do battle with BROTHER CRIME!"

Okay... Here's My Take on this issue:

First of all, I have had a copy of the first four issues of this comic book series in the past, but never all of them at one time, so truth be told, I haven't read the series!  So this issue #5, printed 25 years later is actually my first time reading the series!

Front Cover - Nice Front Cover!  I didn't see the 'Heroic Publishing' name on the door being smashed in when I first looked at the page, but I do now.  Good standard front cover!

Inside Front Cover - Which is "A 25th Anniversary Introduction by Roy Thomas'!  Great intro piece by Roy!

Splash Page - Now that's a Splash Page!

Interior Pages - A total of 21 additional interior pages, with only an inhouse ad page following the story.  Which is NOT a 'to be continued story'!

Following the inhouse ad page is a 2 page feature by Ron Harris, titled:  "In Loving Memory, Mister Crime".   A good feature, which shows that the artist had an additional interest in the feature.

Then an ad from The Hero Initative, the only charitable fund dedicated to helping yesterday's comic creators in need, and then...

The Inside Back Cover - Which featured a one inhouse ad for the graphic novel: Alter Ego by Roy and Ron 'Alter Ego: the Graphic Novel', which reprinted the first four issues of this series.

Back Cover - The Ka-Blam Girl's ad, from the printer.

So, here's what I think of this issue:

As noted above, I have not read the first four issues of this series, either in comic book format, nor in 'graphic novel' format that was recently reprinted.

However, I do enjoy Roy Thomas stories, and I found this issue to be one that I also enjoyed for the storyline!

Plus it was a 'Done In One' story!  Which right now is hard to beat!

The artwork by Ron Harris was also fine in detail, and the two comics creators did a good job in updating this series to where 'Alter Ego Fights Crime!'. 

The price of the comic book is just a little high, at $4.99 per copy, which is the only drawback that I could find in this issue.

I enjoyed the intro by Roy and the 2 page feature by Ron after the main story.  A really good comic book to read, IMO!

My comic book grade for this first issue is a Very Fine / Near Mint (VF/NM) 9.0 out of a possible 10.0 comic book grading scale.

You can buy this comic book direct from the publisher at:  Heroic Publishing.

Or if you are on a Kindle format for reading... You can purchase it here: Alter Ego #5

Thanks to Dennis Mallonee for bringing this comic book to my attention at the Long Beach Comic Con Expo!

~ Michael D Hamersky!

NOTE FROM Michael D Hamersky On Comics:  My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,653 total posts in number!   I do appreciate your continued reading and support of this Blog!

BTW, You can 'follow' this blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app link!  We currently have over 2,743 '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!!!

Note:  My online 'Loca8' Comic Book Shop (LCBS), carries many different genres of comics, magazines, graphic novels, and comic con promotional items. Possibly even copies of the item(s) that was mentioned here today...!  If I have it, you'll find under the BIG TOP of Comics, at Comic Books Circus.com, including the book 'Gotham City 14 Miles' that I am shown holding to the left. I'm 1 of 14 essayists in that book! !     

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written per the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safari, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers serve the page up slightly 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:  Your computer's resoulution may be set differently, but the above resolution is the most commonly used resolution at the time of this blog post. 

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!

---------------            

      

In Addition, I started a YouTube Channel just before the 2011 Comic-Con International, where I am slowly uploading videos from conventions or other events that we attend that are also pop culture related.  You are invited to 'subscribe' to that channel also!  As found at 'HamerskyOnComics'!

---