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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Michael D Hamersky On Comics Presents: Additional Photos From The 2010 After-Con 2nd Annual Captain Rochester Artists Appreciation Party... Now Featured In a Special Photo Album At My Facebook Fan Page!     - Above: The After-Con Second Annual Captain Rochester Artists Appreciation Party Had A Special Cake Designed For The Occasion!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3382:

I found that this blog's server was not working properly this morning when I got up and started my day's social networking / blogging / listing comics / preparing invoices /etc.

So I started uploading even more pics from the party that my youngest son, my wife, and I attended during the evening hours of the 2010 Comic-Con International.  The party was the Second Annual Captain Rochester Artists Appreciation Party, sponsored by Rochester Electronics!

Those pics are ones that were either used in blog #3208 that I blogged about the party at, or in blog #3196 that Vinnie blogged at, or were not used at all, and are being posted for the first time.

I'm asking for help in identifying several of the people that are shown in the pics.  If you know someone that isn't identified, and you are a Facebook member, you can add their names in the comment section under the photos.

I would appreciate that!

Plus I'm sure that 'Captain Rochester' would appreciate your 'Liking' his Facebook Fan Page:  Captain Rochester!

Again, this was a perfect opportunity to post more of the pics from this great after-con party today, as the blog's server was not accessible, but my Facebook Fan Page was...

Please note: Tomorrow will be a guest blog by my wife, Tina LoSasso, on a graphic novel that she just finished. 

(As long as the blog's server is up... That is!)

Again, my thanks to George Karalias of Rochester Electronics, who invited us to be part of the media presence at this great After-Con Party!

~Michael D Hamersky

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,352 '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: Trigger Men #1 From Triptych Books!     - Above: The Front Cover to Trigger Men #1! At the Top Left: Kyle Winters & Mike Andersen at the 2010 Long Beach Comic Con (LBCC)!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3381:

I found this comic book at the recent 2010 Long Beach Comic Con, (LBCC).

It is a self-published comic book from Triptych Books.

The color cover intrigued me when I first saw it at the table. The cover is laid out very well and should appeal to those interested in the genre that the cover suggests it is in.

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

"Trigger Men is a dark comedy that follows the lives of two hitmen, Matt Whit and Jason McCarty as they navigate the absurd world of contract killing.

Jason is hired to kill a dangerous target and very quickly realizes that he's in over his head. He convinces Matt to come out of retirement and help him with one last job. Before they know it the "one last job" has become a dash to save their own lives."

My thoughts on this first issue are this:

Inside Front Cover: The credits for the issue are presented without any 'splash efects'.  Which is a good way of doing so, because the 'splash page' for Chapter 1 starts right off to the sotry with three basic panels. No contrast there!

The interior pages are black / grey / white, which gives the 'moodiness' to the storyline.  I don't believe that color would have done so well for this issue.

The 2nd Chapter in this comic, 'High School Reunion - Part 1', is similar in presentation. However, it truly is 'Part 1' and the story cuts off without a resolution. Not a good place to end in a 'floppy comic book format', IMO.

I would have preferred to see Part 1 & possibly Part 2 (of ? parts to to the story arc), in one 'floppy comic book issue.

I'm not for sure how this feature was first presented, whether web comic or individual published pages.  I do know that 'Kickstarter' was used to finance the publishing of this comic book, which is being utilized by more  & more comics creators.

(I've mentioned that service that 'Kickstarter' provides on my own Facebook Fan Page, as a possibility for those that want to be self-published.)

The artwork, storyline, and dialogue mesh well for this comic book. The word balloons were also placed well.

Again, my only negative thought was the editing, where the last page of the story doesn't have a 'to be continued' blurb, and the actual last page is a 'Thank You' page instead.

The inside back cover was also left blank.  I would have finished reading this comic book with a more 'finished' or 'to be continued' feeling, if those last two pages had some mention as to what was coming next, and when, or how...

There are Facebook and Twitters urls to follow, so there was some follow-up an interested reader could check out online, but since this was a 'printed' floppy coomic book format, I would have preferred to see a 'printed' blurb in the comic itself.

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

To purchase this comic book please see the following link:  Purchase Trigger Men comic book here.

You can also 'Like' the Facebook Fan Page for this publication via this link.

Thre are a lot of credits to the making of this comic book series.

Written by:  Mike Andersen. Interior Art by: Heather Brinesh. Lettered by: Rachel Wells. Cover Art by: Greta Schimmel.  Additional Cover Art by: Heather Brinesh. Cover Editing by: Casey Straka. Edited by: Stephanie Flint. With Additional Editing by: Kyle Winters and Nick Fisher.

Again... My thanks to Kyle Winters and Mike Andersen, for bringing this comic book to my attention!

~Michael D Hamersky

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,352 '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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