Third Place Winner Sam McClellan:

I have been costuming for 9 years. Batman was the first costume I ever put together. I chose it because, at the time, I thought it would be the easiest superhero costume to do.

Boy, was I wrong! For the longest time I have tried to make the perfect bat suit. This costume is not my first Batman. This particular Batman is my third and final attempt.

I believe it to be just about perfect after making the grey body suit, the rest of the pieces to the outfit were added/selected very carefully. It is based off of my favorite Batman story, the HUSH story line written by Jeph Loeb and drawn by Jim Lee.

I like it because I’ve always loved Batman in his blue cowl and cape costume rather than in a black cowl and cape. It just seemed more interesting.

Batman is not my favorite character but he definitely makes my top 3. I really chose to enter with him mainly because when I saw the other costumes that entered it hurt that Batman was not in the mix! Batman is a giant part of comic book culture and to have a costume contest and not at least see one Batman is almost criminal.

A funny thing about the picture is that it was taken at 5AM of the morning of the deadline. I forgot about the deadline to the contest and realized the night before that I had to take a picture that night or would never have another chance. The problem was that when I tried to take it myself I always came out dark. So I had to wait for my roommate, but she did not get home until 4am!

Well, imagine her surprise when she walks in the door at 4AM and I’m in my Bat suit and ask her to take a picture (in the best Dark Knight voice I could do). Well, after half an hour of her laughing she finally took the picture and afterword told me that if I ever needed a picture taken again to find someone else. Can’t wait for the next costume contest, I have plenty to show off.

Thanks to Sam for taking the time to tell his story!  It is now posted at the FBCC page for all to enjoy and to congratulate in the months to come.

Actually all three of the winning entries names / costumes worn are now posted on the FBCC pages for all to view and congratulate!  The stories of the 1st and 2nd place winners have already been blogged in this Blog at previous posts.

And congratulations are also in order to all that entered the First Ever FBCC Costume Competition!  As one of the five judges for this event, I can say that they were all winners in my book as it was hard to judge all the great entries!

Here's the details on how you can view all the entries including the three winning entries:

PREMIERE COSTUME COMPETITION - Entries & Results are at:

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=63366131619&topic=8264

Lisa Hager-Duncan - Coordinator

SATURDAY, MARCH 14th, 2009

JUDGES

• Dave Ryan
• Amy Fletcher
• Mat Broome
• Simon Williams
• Michael D. Hamersky

Thanks again to all of YOU reading our current and archived blog posts... Hope to 'see' you at this virtual 24/7/365 Con soon!

~ Michael

Note From Make It So Marketing:  Michael first set up at the 1972 San Diego's West Coast Comic Con. To the left is a photo of Michael at the 1973 SDCC - San Diego Comic Con that was held at the Sheraton Hotel, Harbor Island, San Diego. Today, Michael and his wife Tina run an online business as well as attend conventions and blog!  Click the photo to the left to see 'Their Current World Of Pop Culture'!                   Each comic / comics book. Graphic Novels or magazine in our eBay Featured Store is individually graded by Michael, inventoried, priced, bagged and boarded, before being listed for sale!                     If you don't see what you are looking for, feel free to email us a 'want list' and if in stock, we'll place it in our eBay Featured Store 'Just for You' to purchase!

"Hammering Out the Web For You Since May 12th, 1998!"   Note: If you work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email 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 review, send to: Make It So Marketing Inc PO Box 130653 Carlsbad, CA 92013

Thank You For Being One Of This Blog's NOTE:  This Blog Post May Not Be Viewed Properly On YOUR Screen Due To the Changes eBay is Making on the Blog Format At this time OR in the Future!  Additionally, this blog post is written for IE Browsers. Netscape, Firefox and the others serve the page up differently. The screen display resolution is best seen at the setting of 1024 x 768. All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.   If you are a Facebook member and want to join my Facebook Network, feel free to send a 'friend request' to 'Michael D Hamersky'.

We received review copies of the two graphic novels pictured above this past week...  And I was a little surprised when my wife, Tina, wanted to read  AND review them here.   So the following is by our 'Guest Blogger' Tina:

Rod Sterling's The Twilight Zone Graphic Novels transport classic stories from the beloved series into graphic novel form. Some are more suited than others. 

"The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street" retains the pace, suspense and irony of the original episode. The artwork powerful depicts the story with a wallop much the same as the actual episode. 

"The Odyssey of Flight 33" pales by comparison.  It's tough to convey suspense in the closed confines of the time-traveling airplane. Many of the passengers and crew are as irritating as if you were on the flight with them!

These limitations aside, the graphic novels are a fitting tribute to the groundbreaking show.  Both those who grew up with the series, and new fans alike will enjoy the added tidbits of Twilight Zone lore. 

The books include background on creator Rod Sterling (Who collected "Tales from the Crypt" and "Weird Science" as a kid!), the time period, the series, and facts about the airing of each episode.

That concludes Tina's review of the two books. Thanks Tina!

Here's a couple of thoughts from Michael:   I would have to agree with Tina that 'The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street' was brilliantly transferred from TV Show to Graphic Novel Format.  Mark Kneece's adaptation was well done, and the artwork by Rich Ellis kept me enthralled as much as the airing of the episode did.  Well done by both!

However, as Tina stated about 'The Odyssey of Flight 33', there was something about this adaptation that didn't work.  My thought is that it was the 'updating' of the story, with references of today, with added security etc., that didn't quite do it for me either.  I remember as a kid marvelling at the story and the non-ending... The artwork by Robert Grabe was good, but the adaptation of the story didn't quite do it for me either.

The paperback price of $9.99 is not bad for this type of work, nor the $16.99 for hard cover format.  This series would be a good purchase for libraries to stock for their patrons, as well as Twilight Zone Fans, a.k.a. 'Zonies'. 

The following is for: The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street

Reading level: Young Adult

Paperback: 72 pages

Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers (December 23, 2008)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 080279713X

ISBN-13: 978-0802797131

Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.5 x 0.3 inches

 

The following is for: The Odyssey Of Flight 33

Reading level: Young Adult 

Paperback: 72 pages

Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers (December 23, 2008)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0802797199

ISBN-13: 978-0802797193

Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.5 x 0.5 inches

(Note: Complimentary copies of these graphic novels for this mention / review was provided to the bloggers.)

For those of you that are new to our blog today, we have an ongoing online 'Comic Con and Pop Culture Convention'  ourselves here at "Make It So Marketing Inc.", what with our daily blog posts, and new listings of items for sale in our online eBay Featured Store! 

Thanks again to all of YOU reading our current and archived blog posts!

~ Michael

Note From Make It So Marketing:   Michael first set up at the 1972 San Diego's West Coast Comic Con. To the left is a photo of Michael at the 1973 SDCC - San Diego Comic Con that was held at the Sheraton Hotel, Harbor Island, San Diego. Today, Michael and his wife Tina run an online business as well as attend conventions and blog!  Click the photo to the left to see 'Their Current World Of Pop Culture'!                   Each comic / comics book. Graphic Novels or magazine in our eBay Featured Store is individually graded by Michael, inventoried, priced, bagged and boarded, before being listed for sale!                     If you don't see what you are looking for, feel free to email us a 'want list' and if in stock, we'll place it in our eBay Featured Store 'Just for You' to purchase!

"Hammering Out the Web For You Since May 12th, 1998!"   Note: If you work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email 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 review, send to: Make It So Marketing Inc PO Box 130653 Carlsbad, CA 92013

Thank You For Being One Of This Blog's NOTE:  This Blog Post May Not Be Viewed Properly On YOUR Screen Due To the Changes eBay is Making on the Blog Format At this time OR in the Future!  Additionally, this blog post is written for IE Browsers. Netscape, Firefox and the others serve the page up differently. The screen display resolution is best seen at the setting of 1024 x 768. All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.   If you are a Facebook member and want to join my Facebook Network, feel free to send a 'friend request' to 'Michael D Hamersky'.

Second Place Winner - Chris Constantine:
This is the first time I've ever been in a costume contest, so it's a great debut for me.

I read the Watchmen a few times years back and with the film coming out it obviously influenced me a bit.

Rorschach is one of my favorite characters because of his shear brutality and strangeness. Not to mention it would be cheap to make.

So after hitting up a few thrift stores I got all I needed. It's a fairly simple costume and I wanted to make the most of it, especially by doing the mask right.

To make the story creepy, I actually found out halfway through finishing it that I'm the exact same height and weight as Rorschach. So I guess that told me that this was THE character for me.

Thanks to Chris for taking the time to tell his story!  It will be posted at the FBCC Premiere Costume Competition page for all to enjoy and to congratulate in the months to come.

Actually all three of the winning entries names / costumes worn are now posted on the FBCC Costume Competition page for all to view and congratulate!  

The story of the 1st place winner has already been blogged here, and the 3rd place winner's story will also be blogged about in an upcoming post.

PLUS congratulations are also in order to all that entered the First Ever FBCC Costume Competition!  As one of the five judges for this event, I can say that they were all winners in my book as it was hard to judge all the great entries!

Here's the details on how you can view all the entries including the three winning entries:

PREMIERE COSTUME COMPETITION - Entries & Results are at:

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=63366131619&topic=8264

Lisa Hager-Duncan - Coordinator

SATURDAY, MARCH 14th, 2009

JUDGES

• Dave Ryan
• Amy Fletcher
• Mat Broome
• Simon Williams
• Michael D. Hamersky

Thanks again to all of YOU reading our current and archived blog posts... Hope to 'see' you at this virtual 24/7/365 Con soon!

~ Michael

Note From Make It So Marketing:  Michael first set up at the 1972 San Diego's West Coast Comic Con. To the left is a photo of Michael at the 1973 SDCC - San Diego Comic Con that was held at the Sheraton Hotel, Harbor Island, San Diego. Today, Michael and his wife Tina run an online business as well as attend conventions and blog!  Click the photo to the left to see 'Their Current World Of Pop Culture'!                   Each comic / comics book. Graphic Novels or magazine in our eBay Featured Store is individually graded by Michael, inventoried, priced, bagged and boarded, before being listed for sale!                     If you don't see what you are looking for, feel free to email us a 'want list' and if in stock, we'll place it in our eBay Featured Store 'Just for You' to purchase!

"Hammering Out the Web For You Since May 12th, 1998!"   Note: If you work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email 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 review, send to: Make It So Marketing Inc PO Box 130653 Carlsbad, CA 92013

Thank You For Being One Of This Blog's NOTE:  This Blog Post May Not Be Viewed Properly On YOUR Screen Due To the Changes eBay is Making on the Blog Format At this time OR in the Future!  Additionally, this blog post is written for IE Browsers. Netscape, Firefox and the others serve the page up differently. The screen display resolution is best seen at the setting of 1024 x 768. All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.   If you are a Facebook member and want to join my Facebook Network, feel free to send a 'friend request' to 'Michael D Hamersky'.