Mood: caffeinated
Topic: Comic Books - New
I really do enjoy bringing new comics to my blog readers attention to possibly read... I believe that is also Dale Wilson's feelings about the comics stories he chooses to publish in his 'Caffeine Dreams' series. This latest issue of his series is a collaboration between him and three artists, along with letterer Robert Roach and cover artist Mulele Jarvis. Where most people will just dream about seeing their work published in comics, Dale Wilson and his wife Astra Price, (the DW and AP in the DWAP Productions company name), have actually gone the additional steps in collaborating with other people, putting together a creative team, and seeing those dreams come to print. As with any anthology comic book or graphic novel, there are usually stories that you like, stories you are OK with, and a story you don't like. What makes this issue interesting is that all three interior artists are so varied in style from each other, that it is a 'trip' to see Dale's story and dialogue come into being in a sequential art form. I have mentioned this issue's letterer Robert Roach's comic book mini-series 'The Roach' as being one of the best mini-series I have read in recent years. (Click here for that blog post.) In issue #4 of 'Caffeine Dreams' Robert takes the totally different art styles of the three interior page artists and adapts his lettering style to each artist's illustrations and does such a fine job of lettering you wouldn't be able to tell it was his lettering in each story without the credits! There are three stories in this issue. The stories and artwork remind me of the underground comix of the past, in style and presentation. That may 'turn on' some readers and at the same time 'turn off' other readers. I'm not saying that this comic book issue is of the genre that I usually read, but I am open to reading other genres that are sent in to me to read and possibly review blog about. I've read several underground comix in years gone by, and actually just recently picked up a new collection of that genre to read and resell in our online store. Just like I don't usually read most manga art stories, but can find individual creators or projects that I do like, like Paul Dale's 'The Children of Captain Nemo' project. (Click here for that blog.) This issue #4 of 'Caffeine Dreams' contains: 'On Becoming A Monster - Art by Alvah Smith, Story and dialogue by Dale Wilson, Lettering by Robert Roach. 'Once Upon A Time in the Dark: Kal's Burlesque - Art by Sojj, with Story and dialogue by Dale Wilson, Lettering by Robert Roach. 'Maggie and the Flying Dutchman' - Art by D.V. Ruiz, with Story and dialogue by Dale Wilson, Lettering by Robert Roach. The front cover is illustrated by Mulele Jarvis. Please Note: The above stories are part of a 'For Mature Readers' only publication. This comic book is not meant for all ages readership, nor for all tastes in comics reading. Again, it is hard to publish an anthology comic that the reader will like all three stories contained in the issue. This issue's main focal point to me was seeing one writer's story and dialogue set to sequential art form by three different artists! That truly was a 'trip' to see what each artist would do with the same writer's works. What is clear is that Dale Wilson has a vision for what he wants to see in print and will assemble a team together and see that it does make it to print. Also, I want to thank Dale Wilson publicly here for taking the time at the last Comic Con International: San Diego (SDCC) to introduce Tina and myself to other 'The Antidote Trust' (TAT) members that were manning the TAT booth at the Con. I have since blogged about several of the other publishers who have assembled together into a 'collective' to better promote their own independent comics titles. Dale has a great love for the independent comics industry and I can see that so many others appreciate what he has done is doing for that part of the total comics field both individually as a publisher and as a member of that collective.
You can find more about Caffeine Dreams and other comics that are for sale, plus free online comics at the web site: http://www.dwapproductions.com/ Also, you can find out more about 'The Antidote Trust' collective at their Facebook Fan Page at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7088509610&ref=search&sid=1379777333.1932220617..1 BTW.... Whereas Tina and I don't publish comics (yet?), we do have thousands of indies and mainstream comics in our own online store. Be sure to check out our new listings of comics, graphic novels, Comic Con exclusives and more pop culture items for sale in our online eBay Featured Store that our blogs are based on! It's due to sales at this online store that keep us going with the ability to post blogs like the one you have read here today! Thanks again to all of YOU reading our current and archived blog posts! We do blog daily on comic book creators, comic book reviews, and other pop culture news and events including some TV shows and theatrical films! ~ Michael @ ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com
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