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Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Guytron... The '80s Coming Right Back At Ya!
Mood:

caffeinated
Topic: Comic Books - New

GUYTRON
The '80s Coming Right Back At Ya!
A New Comic Mini-Series
By Raymond Leonard

Raymond Leonard has informed me that... the first issue of his new comic book mini-series should be out soon for all to read!

I just finished reading the preview copies to issues #1 & #2, and wanted to mention Raymond's new creation here in my blog.

The first issue is 16 pages of the main story plus a backup feature for a $3.50 cover price, and #2 follows up with story with 22 pages of story for a $3.50 cover price. Raymond is the creator / writer / penciller / inker for this mini-series. The colorist is Virginie Menard.

The 3 issue mini-series comic book is from Enemi Entertainment through Haven Distribution.

So of course the first question would be... What is the story about? Well here is a synopsis of the story from Raymond on the publisher's web page:

"Galvin Fry is a normal 20 year old retail stock boy, who encounters a
crashed spaceship. Suddenly he found himself face-to-face with an alien
being that called himself "Lycon" from the planet called "Macron".
Lycon informed Galvin that his planet was invaded and earth will face
the great dangers of the invasion as well. Earth will also face a great
evil nemesis called 'Lord Versa'."

"Galvin is told he's the only one who can stop the invasion. However, the perishing alien gives his "Gadgettron" gauntlet glove to him. (The Gadgettron is a symbioticbio-armor that mergies with it's host.) The symbiotic weapon has bonded with Galvin and can not be removed. However, he becomes a cosmic hero called "Guytron". He will have more to worry about, than every day personal life issues. Now it appears that the fate of the universe rests on his shoulders. This is a superhero - romance - action - sitcom where anything and everything can happen!"

The creator goes on to say that ... "If you are a huge 80’s type of fan that like “Specter-Man”,”UltraMan”, 8Man, The Galaxy Rangers your gonna get that all out action! adventure! drama! and hanging on the edge suspense!"

Okay, I read these first two stories in .pdf format, and I gotta agree that Raymond is going for the 1980's feel of comics in his first two issues! There are some familar aspects to the storyline as it unfolds in the beginning and the middle of this three issue story arc. But that doesn't take away from the story itself.

So who is this mini-series 'targeted' for? Well, the creator states that it is for the Young Adult (YA) to the 'older crowd'. When a creator of a project takes on all the duties of writing / pencilling / inking etc. on a project, the success or failure of the project lies directly on the shoulders of that creator. The creator has to know who his/her target market is and to write for that audience.

In this case, Guytron does hit the mark for the Young Adult audience IMHO. Sure, there could be a little tightening up of the storyline, but I haven't seen the finale of this three story arc as of yet... So I would have to reserve judgment on that. The artwork does remind me of the early days of Image Comics with a few 'pin-up' style pages, but the artwork flows with the story nonetheless.

For those of you near Chicago, Illinois, Raymond will be exhibiting at the Wizard World Chicago this upcoming August 6th - 9th, 2009. So by then, this first mini-series of Raymond's should be totally published, and you could ask him there about his next planned story arc for Guytron that he has in mind!

In the meantime check out Raymond's three issue mini-series at your LCBS or regular online source for purchase!

(Note: eBay doesn't allow 'hot links' in the eBay blog posts to non-eBay pages, so if you are reading this on our Blog's eBay format version, just copy and paste the url into your browser and add the www. if necessary. Also Please Note: A .pdf copy for this mention / review was provided by the creator.)

For those of you that are new to our blog today, my wife and I also have an ongoing online 'Comic Con and Pop Culture Convention' 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 for reading this blog post today, and please join us again for more! BTW, besides blogging, we have 480+ Reviews that Tina and I have placed in our eBay Reviews Section. Just click here to see our latest reviews!

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

~ Michael

"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.

Michael is shown below in a photo from the 2008 San Diego Comic Con International, along with a few other well know characters from Star Wars!

If you are a Facebook member and want to join my Facebook Network, feel free to send a 'friend request' to 'Michael D Hamersky'.

Posted by makeitsomarketing at 7:36 AM PDT

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Monday, April 6, 2009

Whooo... Whooo... Who Loves Owly?
Mood:

caffeinated
Topic: Comic Books - New

Whooo... Whooo... Who Loves Owly?
A Series Of Graphic Novels
By Andy Runton

Today my wife Tina is our 'Guest Blogger' with her thoughts on two Owly Graphic Novels... Owly - A Time To Be Brave (4th GN in the series), and Owly - Tiny Tales (5th GN in the series). Here's Tina's post:
Owly is an adorable little Owl created by Andy Runton. Owly lives in a treehouse in a woods filled with friends: a wiggly worm, ducks, rabbits, a racoon, and a possum, to name a few.
Each story is a little adventure and lesson for Owly and his young reader. Owly is geared to the very young using little language to tell the story. Little ones will enjoy the sweet little stories, while their elders will enjoy how the lessons are told.
Personally I much preferred "A Time to Be Brave" over all the little stories in "Tiny Tales." But I think this is more the preference of an adult than a young reader. "Tiny Tales" offers a wealth of sweet little bedtime stories for pre-schoolers. "A Time to Be Brave" is a full length story of Owly and his friend Wormy's adventure with a nocturnal menace - the opossum.
Who will love Owly? Pre-schoolers and indulgent grandparents, aunts and uncles. As my husband Michael, the reformed "bean counter", points out... $10 for a little book of tales (with little words) is pricey. But paired with a cute little stuffed owl, glow worm, duck or rabbit, an Owly book makes a special gift for a special pre-schooler.
Enjoy,
~Tina
Details for this 4th Graphic Novel: Owly - A Time To Be Brave
Author: Andy Runton

Format: Softcover
Pages:  129
Dimensions:  5" x 7 1/2"
Colors:  black & white
Year: 2007
Publisher: Top Shelf Productions
ISBN-10: n/a
ISBN-13: 978-1-891830-89-1

-----------------

Details for this 5th Graphic Novel: Owly - Tiny Tales
Author: Andy Runton

Format: Softcover
Pages:  172
Dimensions:  5" x 7 1/2"
Colors:  black & white
Year: 2008
Publisher: Top Shelf Productions
ISBN-10: n/a
ISBN-13: 978-1-60309-019-3

-----------------

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

~ Michael (and Tina)

"Hammering Out the Web
For You Since May 12th, 1998!"

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.

Michael is shown below in a photo from the 2008 San Diego Comic Con International, along with a few other well know characters from Star Wars!

If you are a Facebook member and want to join my Facebook Network, feel free to send a 'friend request' to 'Michael D Hamersky'.

Posted by makeitsomarketing at 5:48 AM PDT

Updated: Monday, April 6, 2009 5:51 AM PDT

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Sunday, April 5, 2009

A Mess Of Everything...
Mood:

caffeinated
Topic: Comic Books - New

A Mess Of Everything
A New Graphic Novel
By Miss Lasko-Gross

Earlier this past week I noticed that Miss Lasko-Gross... had a new graphic novel that was just published by Fantagraphic Books. In one of the comics news magazines that I have a subscription to, it was considered one of five 'Indie Gems' to read.
Since I have not yet blogged about Miss Lasko-Gross's earlier works, I thought I would mention this newest endeavor of hers here in my Blog.
For those that are not aware of her previous works, 'A Mess of Everything' is the second volume in Miss Lasko-Gross's semi-autobiographical trilogy. It actually picks up where the first volume, Escape from "Special," left off.
However, You really don't have to search out and read the first book of the trilogy to enjoy this second volume, as 'A Mess Of Everything' is actually separate short stories combined into this volume.
So what is this volume about? Well it is about a... "self-effacing non-conformist Melissa now in high school, where the stakes are higher as she copes with an anxiety-induced drug habit and an anorexic best friend".
This volume finds "Melissa finding herself negotiating the kinds of everyday problems facing young adults today — such as alienating her friends with her uncomfortable honesty and accidentally breaking her best guy friend's heart".
Ok, so this may sound like several young adults you may know... maybe even some of stories will remind you of your earley self?   Well... "Eventually, her woes cause her to nearly flunk out of school, and by the end of the book Melissa faces the choice that we all do at some point: to take the risk and pursue her dreams or settle for a safer, more secure routine"!
So that pretty much says what this second volume in the trilogy covers!   Please note: This graphic novel does contain language that is now somewhat commonly used by young adults. It will probably be placed in the YA sections of your local library should that institution purchase a copy. However it is not for young children, and a caution is noted for the 'tweens' age group because of the language.
I found the graphic novel to be an interesting read, and the art style that Miss Lasko-Gross uses is one that actually grabs me the more I read into the graphic novel.  The storyline is not totally unfamilar to a reader, yet different enough to want you to read more. The growth that Melissa goes through during this time period makes an interesting read.
It is nice that the stories within this graphic novel are broken up into several story arcs. So that a new reader doesn't feel like they have to finish the book at one sitting. Thus you are able to take in the artwork as well as the text during a leisurely reading.

I definitely can see why it was chosen as an 'Indie Gem' in the publication I first saw this mentioned in! I look forward to the third volume being published...

Details for this Book:
Author: Miss Lasko-Gross
Format: Softcover
Pages: 232
Dimensions: 6" x 9"
Colors: full-color
Year: 2009
Publisher Fantagraphics
ISBN-10: n/a
ISBN-13: 978-1-56097-956-2

For those of you that are new to our blog today, my wife and I also have an ongoing online 'Comic Con and Pop Culture Convention' 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 for reading this blog post today, and please join us again for more! BTW, besides blogging, we have 480+ Reviews that Tina and I have placed in our eBay Reviews Section. Just click here to see our latest reviews!

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

~ Michael (and Tina)

"Hammering Out the Web
For You Since May 12th, 1998!"

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.

Michael is shown below in a photo from the 2008 San Diego Comic Con International, along with a few other well know characters from Star Wars!

If you are a Facebook member and want to join my Facebook Network, feel free to send a 'friend request' to 'Michael D Hamersky'.

Posted by makeitsomarketing at 5:43 AM PDT

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Saturday, April 4, 2009

Special Sketch Cards Benefit Auction Listings Ending Today!
Mood:

a-ok
Topic: Comic Book Artists

The 1,000+ Character Sketch Cards At the 'Comics For Cures' eBay Listings Will Be Ending Today Saturday Evening, April 4th, 2009! Don't Miss Out On These UNIQUE Sketch Cards!

NEWS FLASH: Photo Below is Courtesy of Chuck Moore From the Exhibit Floor where the Sketch Cards Are Being Exhibited Right Now!

Near the top of this blog post are photos of the artists, Herb Trimpe, Harold Cupec, Greg Harms, and Daniel Miki... Are just four of the many artists who have contributed one or more sketch cards for the 'Sketch Card Auction and Gallery Show for American Cancer Society'!

I have previously blogged on the above artists individually because they took the time to illustrate and submit sketch cards for this worthy cause, and because that was either brought to my attention or I found out about them while looking at the listings.

There are so many contributors that it is not possible to individually name them all... and that says a lot for the Great turnout from the comics industry for this benefit!

So here are the links once again that will take you the eBay listings for each of the above pictured artists:

Just click here to see all four of Herb Trimpe's sketch cards on auction!

Harold Cupec's 4 sketch cards from his 'Pugnuggle Tales' which you can see by Clicking Here.

Daniel Miki's two set of collage sketch cards,

and see this link for Greg Harms set of four 'Twilight' sketch cards!

Here are the details for the benefit from the 'Comics For Cures' web site as this blog post is published:

Blue Line Art has been organizing their second annual exhibition and auction of original sketch card art to benefit the American Cancer Society.

Their first event in March of 2008 showcased 200 artist with over 1200 sketch cards. They raised over $7,400 for the American Cancer Society and are hoping that this current event will be bigger and better in raising funds.

There will be a public exhibition at Comics 2 Games, Florence, KY location on April 4^th 2009. The auction of all the original art cards will go online starting the week before the Sketch Card exhibition and will end that evening. All proceeds from the sale of the cards will go to the American Cancer Society.

Bob and Mike Hickey, founders and owners of Blue Line Art, are organizing this fundraiser in honor of Bob’s wife Katie, a breast cancer survivor. Blue Line publishes Sketch Magazine and Graphic Novel Scene and sells Blue Line Art boards to both comic book companies and individual artists. The Hickey family has long been aware of the generosity of the comic book community. All involved are looking forward to another successful event that celebrates the diversity of comic book artists’ unique talents and their heroic spirit of helping those in need!

There are a thousand plus total listings of other sketch cards in this special event to raise funds; please check out the following link to take you to the eBay page where all of those auction listings are listed until the end of the auction time:

Click Here!

The listings start to end on Apr-04-09 17:37:46 PDT!

(Note: Make It So Marketing is NOT affialiated with Comics For Cures, nor any of the sponsors of the benefit auction. This is for review / mention purposes only, and to hi-light several artists' contributions to the fund raiser.)

Note: There are other well known artists who have submitted sketch cards that I didn't have time to blog about. They are: Neal Adams, Kevin Graham, Danielle Corsetto, Dave Simons, Adam Hicks, David Petersen, George Calloway, Scottie Watson, Mark Stegbauer, and more!

So Comics fans... don't delay looking and placing your bid on these items!

As of this blog post time, there are still many cards starting at $1 with the current highest sketch card at a bid of $71! So there are many that anyone can afford still at this time!

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

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

~ Michael

"Hammering Out the Web
For You Since May 12th, 1998!"

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.

Michael is shown below in a photo from the 2008 San Diego Comic Con International, along with a few other well know characters from Star Wars!

If you are a Facebook member and want to join my Facebook Network, feel free to send a 'friend request' to 'Michael D Hamersky'.

Posted by makeitsomarketing at 12:48 PM PDT

Updated: Wednesday, April 8, 2009 12:11 PM PDT

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Use The Right Size And Type of Bag For Your Paper Collectibles!
Mood:

a-ok
Topic: Comic Book History

Note: Above are sample sized bags that can be used to better protect your paper collectibles including comic books!

Use The Right Size And Type of Bag For Your Paper Collectibles!

Part 3 of a 3 Part Series by Michael D Hamersky

Earlier this week I started... Reposting a little series of blog posts about how you should bag and board your paper collectibles. That would include comics, graphic novels, trade paperbacks, full size trading card sheets and more! It had been almost two years since I last addressed this issue online.

I first published this 3 part series due to all of the collections that I was being offered to buy, and finding that most were never stored properly! In addition the would be sellers thought that they should receive the Near Mint (NM 9.4) Guide Price for Comics that weren't even in 'Good' (G 2.0) Guide Grade. The HoRRoRs of It All! Something had to be done to warn the general public!

If you missed Part 1 of this 3 part series, Click here to read!

If you missed Part 2 of this 3 part series, Click here to read!

Now today is the reposting of the 3rd blog of that original series:

Use The Right Size And Type of Bag For Your Paper Collectibles!

Now I will discuss what kind of Comic Book Bags you should use in storing your comic books or other paper collectibles properly...
Placing your comic book in a properly sized comic book bag not only keeps the dust, dirt and finger oils off the comic book's front and back covers, but also helps prevent scuffing on the covers which can lower the value of a comic book considerably!
The three most popular comic bag materials are polyethylene, polypropylene and Mylar. You should be able to find these materials in the following sizes:
Modern Comic Bags for approx 1975 - current comics, Silver Age Comic Bags for approx 1955 - 1975 comics, Golden Age Comic Bags approx 1935 - 1950's, and Treasury Comic Book Bags (for the oversized editions). Magazines come in different sizes and page counts, so one of the four different sized bags should cover them. Don't forget the board to insert with the paper collectible!
All of the above mentioned materials are considered to be archival quality. Archival quality means that there is nothing in the composition of the material of the bags that can contribute to the breakdown of the paper collectible being stored in it!
However, Mylar is considered to be the most archivally sound and is the material of choice of most museums and archivists. It has the longest shelf life of the three materials mentioned above. I have personally used the Mylars for storing my most expensive comics, although I don't use Mylar for everything, due to the high cost of the Mylars. The Mylar is not shown above, but in blog #2 of this series, one is shown with a paper collectible inside of it!
Comic Book collectors and other paper publications collectibles collectors can feel comfortable using polyethylene comic bags or polypropylene comic bags for their regular purchases for items that are not overly expensive. Just remember that the comic bags need to be replaced every 3- 7 years depending on storage place, temperature ranges, and state or country you are in!
Some comic bags come with a fold over flap that can be taped on the outside of the bag. There are also comic bags with resealable tape on the body of the bag . This is so the tape doesn't catch on the comic, causing damage to the comic.
(NOTE: I have personally seen a LCBS (local Comic Book Store) sales clerk NOT take the tape off a bag before attempting to take the comic book out of the bag. I was interested in a Fantastic Four #48 in VF/NM grade many years ago, and watched in horror as the tape clung on to the front cover... The sales clerk then attempted to lift off the tape from the front cover.... and took the glossy part of the cover off with the tape!!! This devalued the comic book so much, that the sales clerk offered the comic for a lot less than what the sticker price was... and this is now considered a 'Key Comic'. I recently had that same comic graded by CGC and it came in at VF 8.0 grade, whereas it was at least in a NM- 9.2 grade prior to the tape snafu....)
This ends my little series on how to 'Bag & Board Your Paper Collectibles'. Using the guidelines of these blog posts will help you to keep your paper collectibles in the same shape that they were when you placed them in the bags and boards until you are ready to either read them again or sell them.
If however, you decide NOT to sell your comics, and find that you have been bitten by the 'collecting bug' after following the procedures in this series of blog posts, then check out our eBay Featured Comic Book Store for more comic book related collectibles!

And thus ended the original blog post... Thanks again to all of YOU today reading my current and archived blog posts... This ends Part 3 of my 3 Part Series on how you should bag and board your paper collectibles!

~ Michael

"Hammering Out the Web
For You Since May 12th, 1998!"

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.

Michael is shown below in a photo from the 2008 San Diego Comic Con International, along with one of his favorite DC Characters... Wonder Woman!

If you are a Facebook member and want to join my Facebook Network, feel free to send a 'friend request' to 'Michael D Hamersky'.

Posted by makeitsomarketing at 5:29 AM PDT

Updated: Saturday, April 4, 2009 5:33 AM PDT

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For You Since May 12th, 1998!"

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For You Since May 12th, 1998!"

"Hammering Out the Web
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