Mood:
caffeinatedTopic: Comic Books - New
TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3550: At the two recent conventions that Tina and I recently attended, (the 2011 Long Beach Comic & Horror Con on Halloween Weekend, and then the 2011 ComiKaze Expo the following weekend), I was given quite a few comics / graphic novels to possibly review by comics creators. So as usual after a major convention, I'm a little backed up on presenting them here at my Blog... Plus I like to cover more than just new (at least 'new' to me!) comics / graphic novels / TPBs here in my blog. That is just one section of this Blog which today has actually hit the 3,550th blog post number! Anyways, I wanted to bring to YOUR attention a comic book that I found at the ComiKaze Expo, as seen in the two photos show above. Kristopher White had a table at the con, which nicely displayed his new comic book, (October 2011). After thumbing through the comic book, I realized that it could be something that I would enjoy reading, although the front cover was a little bit on the 'over-selling' the comic book, what with the 'big names' being used to promote the comic book. More on that later... So what is this comic book series about? Here is what the publisher states: "The 36 is a graphic novel based on Jewish mythology. The Kabbalists say that there are 36 people in the world upon whom it is saved by their simple existence. This graphic novel follows the exploits of these people as they try to "save" the world...even if no one knows what that truly means." Okay... Sounds like something that I would be interested in. So what's 'My Take' on this comic book after reading it? Front Cover - Like I said above... I was a little 'put-off' by the use of mini-review quotes on the top right of the front cover. I thought at first I was reaching for a multi-page flyer or promo comic book when seeing this at the table. Seeing the names on the front cover did nothing for me but make me hesitate on going further. This reminds me of a one-sheet for a film, not a front cover for a comic book, or in this case, a comic book series that will be formatted into a graphic novel later. The title at the bottom of the front cover is overwhelmed by the verbage at the top right of the comic book. My eyes naturally go to the top, and all I see is the #1 on the left, and the quotes at the right. Again, it looks to me to be a promotional piece, not a 'comic book' at first glance. Inside Front Cover - The 'normal' credits page in presentation. Where probably the quotes could have been placed, (or on the back cover). Splash Page - Kind of a 'splash page', but not really... However it does get me interested into quickly turning the page to get into the storyline. Plus it does truly make a 'splash', pun intended! Interior Pages - Now THIS is what I was hoping this comic book would be! Twenty pages of good plot, dialogue and intro of the characters. The artwork is fine, and the colors add to the mood and genre of the comic book. The lettering is really good, and I like the 'sound effects' lettering style.
While I think the pinups are very fine, I'm wondering why they were inserted there, instead of an ending page from the creator as to what he intends to do with the storyline, etc. Oh, there's my answer... The Inside Back Cover - That's where it takes a full page of "We Want YOU to Check Us Out Online - the36.net" as an inhouse ad. Being 'Old School' I would have preferred the inside back cover to be more than just a pinup page with some ad text. I would have looked online anyways if the last two pages of the interior pages had been the promo / notes / thank you for reading / etc. page from the creator, with maybe just the one guest pinup as the inside back cover. Back Cover - A promo on what is in store for you in the interior of the comic book. Not bad, especially for people who look at the front cover first and then the back cover, before opening the comic. Which is done all the time at LCBS when patrons pick up a book off the shelf to check out. So, to summarize... I really enjoyed the storyline inside, and would want to see more. The packaging is the only thing that doesn't totally 'ring true' with me. It was only after reading the text on the KickStarter Funding Program for this project, as seen here, that I understood the backdrop of this comic book. It is a five chapter project that is to be formatted / published as a graphic novel. Which is fine, as that is usually the right amount of pages to be published in a graphic novel, (5 comic books). Also, it is great that the KickStarter funding project exceeded its goal of $10,000 to print a graphic novel. I, as others who funded the project, truly believe that this storyline would be a good choice for one. Especially from what I've seen in the first chapter in print. Again, it is only the 'packaging' of the first comic book that is throwing me off a bit in recommending it higher. If it was treated as a stand alone comic book, with just subtle hints to go see more online, I know I would have graded it higher. Plus a revised front cover. Speaking of 'grading'... My comic book grade for this first issue of a series of comic books is a VERY FINE / VERY FINE PLUS (VF/VF+) 8.25 out of a possible 10.0 comic book grading scale. Here are the links for you to check this project out further: The KickStarter funding program, which is fully funded as of August of 2011. I'll be checking in on these to see the progress of this project, as the premise / storyline / art / interior pages show that this project should be one to watch! My 'grade' is based only on the first printed issue of the comic book, not the project itself. My thanks again to Kristopher White for the courtesy of introducing me to 'The 36' at his table during the 2011 ComiKaze Expo! ~Michael D Hamersky On Comics!
My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,550 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 2,615 '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 Note: My online 'Local' 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 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: 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.
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! |
The interior pages are twenty pages of story, and then two pages of pinups by Chris Thorne, shown to the left, who was at the table when I visited. (Thanks, Chris for pointing out that those pages were yours, and for showing me your great sketch cards you have illustrated! I'll mention more on those at another time.)
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