As a collector / dealer / blogger...  I either buy / trade / or receive many publications and books during each month.  I am not able to read them all at once, and choose what I want to read, unless it was submitted for possible review, or ask my wife Tina if she would like to 'guest blog' on something I think may interest her.

This Harvey Comics Classics Volume is one that I want to definitely blog about in both versions of my Blog, as this trade paper back compilation is one that is of great value.  Both for historical reference value and monetary value. 

Plus in my case, for nostalgia value.  You see, before I turned into a 'Marvel Zombie' years ago, I read many Harvey Comics as a young child. My Great-Aunt and Uncle were the ones that got me reading comics, as they always bought new ones for my younger brother and I to read at their house, or brought them down to my folks house for us to read when they visited.

In the bags of comics would be many Harvey titles, including Richie Rich, Casper, Baby Huey, and Hot Stuff.

The darnedest thing is, I wonder if they even knew that this 'Hot Stuff' was truly a 'Little Devil'?  There is one story inside this book that makes reference to who his father is! 

This Volume has a great foreward by Mark Arnold. In addition the book has a historical introduction by Jerry Beck.  Both of these men are persons I have blogged about before, and they are truly knowledgable on the Harvey Comics Universe!  This is what I call the 'historical reference value' to this book!

Here is where it took me a little time to read all of this volume.  It really does have 110 Classic Comics Stories from 1957 - 1966 in this volume!  You would think that these being 'funnybook' stories, that one could zip right through the stories.  After all, the stories range from one page to five pages, with a few continued stories going to an additional five pages.

But you know what?  There really is a lot of reading to these stories!  So there is the monetary value to this volume! Actually 480 pages to this book! Plus sixty-four of the pages are in color!  The rest are in black & white but look like they were drawn yesterday!  A great reproduction of the original comics!

I want to thank Jemiah Jefferson for turning me on to this series from Dark Horse.  It truly was 'refreshing' as well as 'nostalgic' to read many of the early stories when I was a kid again. 

BTW, Hot Stuff was the only Harvey Comics Character to first appear in his own self-titled comic. (The other characters were first introduced in other titles, before receiving their own title.) His comic was 'Hot Stuff, The Little Devil' and it was first published in 1957.  And oh yeah, for a change of pace, there were also appearances of Stumbo the Giant in his comic, and there are several of Stumbo's  stories reprinted here in this volume also!

If you are a Baby Boomer, and remember these stories as a kid, you probably would have fun re-reading them again, and catching up on the ones you missed later like I did.  Plus your kids or grand-kids probably haven't seen this series, because most of the comic books from the original series that I even see today are way too beat up to purchase for resale.  Again talk about value... only $19.95 for the cover price of this Volume!   I gotta check out the other four Volumes in this series that feature Richie Rich, Casper, Baby Huey, and the 'Harvey Girls' - Little Dot, Little Lotta, and Little Audrey!   

Publication Date: April 02, 2008
Format: FC & b&w, 480 pages, TPB, 7" x 10"
Price: $19.95
Age range: AA+
ISBN-10: 1-59307-914-1
ISBN-13: 978-1-59307-914-7

For more info: 

http://www.darkhorse.com/Books/14-341/Harvey-Comics-Classics-Volume-3-Hot-Stuff-TPB

Earlier this year I had blogged about the Facebook Comic Con (FBCC) Costume Contest... that was held March 14th, 2009.

That contest was just one of the events that was held during the kickoff Gala Premiere of the FBCC during the period of March 12th through the 15th.

That was a lot of fun, especially for me as I was asked to be one of the five judges for the initial Costume Contest!  And I didn't have to travel to this 'virtual comic con contest', yet still had fun judging!

Well, now I have been asked to be a 'Reviewer' by the FBCC people!

This time for the FBCC - SILVER/GOLDEN/BRONZE AGE Art Jam!

I am only going to post a few of the Art Jam details here. Please see their web site for full details. It is up to YOU to follow their rules and policies for entering. 

I am only bringing this to You here in my Blog because I am pleased to be one of five 'Reviewers',  and would to see many entries submitted for my fellow judges and I to 'review'!

Start Time:  
Friday, April 17, 2009 at 12:00am

End Time:  
Sunday, August 16, 2009 at 11:55pm

Location:  
FBCC Portfolio & Script Reviews | Art Jams   (at the FBCC!)

Okay... that's enuff of a 'teaser' to get you interested in participating in this Art Jam Contest!  And remember, YOU don't have to travel either!  However, You must submit your art entry to the FBCC Art Jam by following the details on the web site!   

For all the details, please click on the following link:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=62764192220&wall_posts

Please note:  You do have to be a Facebook member to participate in this event.  As well as a Facebook Comic Con member!

Have Sum Fun!   I'll be looking forward to being one of the five 'reviewers' judging  your Art Jam entry!

Earlier this year I had blogged about the Facebook Comic Con (FBCC) Costume Contest... that ended on March 14th, 2009.

This contest was just one of the events that was held during the kickoff Gala Premiere of the FBCC during the period of March 12th through the 15th.

That was a lot of fun, especially for me as I was asked to be one of the five judges for the Costume Contest!  And I didn't have to travel far to this 'virtual comic con contest', yet still had fun!

Well, I have been asked to be a Judge again by the FBCC people!

This time for the FBCC - SILVER/GOLDEN/BRONZE AGE Costume Contest!

I am only going to post a few of the costume contest details here. Please see their web site for full details. It is up to YOU to follow their rules and policies for entering.  I am only bringing this to you here in my Blog because I am pleased to be judging once again and would to see even more entries this time!

START TIME AND DEADLINE FOR POSTING COSTUME ENTRIES:
• Start time for posting entries: FRI: JUNE 5th, 2009. 8:00 AM, EST (NY)
• Deadline for posting entries: TUES: AUG 11th, 2009. 6:00 PM, EDT (NY)

JUDGING & ANNOUNCEMENT OF WINNERS will take place on:
SATURDAY, AUG 15, 2009 | 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM EDT (NY)
on the Costume Competition Events Page.

* HONOR YOUR FAVORITE SILVER/GOLDEN/BRONZE AGE COMIC BOOK HERO! * 

My wife, Tina and I are big fans of Sci-Fi Channel's EuREKA.  As Tina says, "When you watch this show, you just feel good."   So we were delighted to discover this comic book limited series while touring our San Diego area stores on Free Comic Book Day this past Saturday, May 2nd, 2009.

Here are our reviews of the first two issues of the four issue limited series by Boom! Studios.

Tina says:

I loved how the comic captures the spirit of the show: playful and sweet with a side of zany scientific government conspiracy theory. The dialogue and phrasing matches the show's quirky characters perfectly.

As usual, something's up in Eureka. The story opens in Cafe Diem with Sheriff Carter busting Vincent's chops over the Eureka Fantasy League. Cute. Suddenly, there's a hostage situation at the high school. Of course, Zoe's involved! Carter to the rescue, but the suspect escapes in a unique, only in Eureka way. A manhunt ensues. Could the menacing hulk of a suspect be a victim of a secret scientific military experiment? And, what's his connection to Jo?

Two criticisms:

1. The lettering is much too small and difficult to read!
2. The faces of some of the characters are way off: Taggart, Allison, and most notably - Carter.  This detracts from the overall enjoyment of the comic.

But for storyline and dialogue, Eureka the comic book rates an 'A'.

~Tina

Michael says:

I am pleased that there are comic books out there that Tina herself will pick up and want to buy now.  As a woman and one that was not brought up around comics, there must be something more than just superheroes comics that will appeal to potential customers like her.

The fact is that while Tina was going to Local Comic Book Stores for FCBD, she also browsed the shelves to see what was available for her to read if anything. This emphasizes the fact that LCBS need to stock comics that are cross-overs from TV Shows and Films for variety if nothing else!   

Comic book companies like Gold Key, Dell, Marvel and DC used to bring multiple licensed properties to comics during the Silver and Bronze Ages of Comics.  I remember buying several of these with my allowance years ago, even though for the most part I was a 'Marvel Zombie' growing up! (i.e. The Green Hornet, Land of the Giants, Star Trek, etc.)

I enjoyed the first two issues of this four issue limited series as much as Tina.

The plot, the script, dialogue caught the show perfectly. Which would be because EUREKA creators Andrew Cosby and Jaime Paglia are involved in this series!

The artwork on the covers were right on.  However the interior pages did not capture the persons as well as the covers.  I would agree with Tina on the fact that it did keep me from giving it higher than a VF/NM 9.0 rating.

Talking about art, here is something that bothered me about the series.  The nine LCBS we shopped in on FCBD did not have all of the covers for the issues that were on the shelves.   Issue #1 has 2 regular covers plus a 'Limited Edition' 3rd cover.   Issue #2 has 2 covers.  Same for Issues #3 & #4.  

Being the 'completist' that I am, this is a total 'turn-off' for me.  I am a firm believer in picking up monthly issues of comic book series and NOT waiting for the Trade Paper Back format.  (Which this series will have shortly.)  In this case I would have almost preferred to have waited for the TPB format, and then check to see if our local library system brought it in for checking out. However, since it was Tina that purchased these, I'm along for the rest of the series in single issues...

I also was around with the boom and bust of comics during the early to mid 1990's with all of the variant covers krap that was going on then.  That was when I stopped buying several series that I had followed for many years...

So, that's my thoughts on the first two issues of this series.  If you are thinking of buying this just to read, and are not a 'collector' then possibly the TPB might be the way to go... 

If you are buying it because you are a fan of the show, you might want to check out the first single issue to see if it 'hooks' you, as it is a four issue story arc.  Then it is up to you to either buy the monthly series, or wait for the TPB compilation. 

If you are a TV Show 'fanatic' and don't buy a lot of other comics, and just want to specialize in this series, then you might want to look at the multiple covers for each issue number, which have the same story inside.

~Michael

Details for this four issue series:

Writer(s): Andrew Cosby, Jaime Paglia, Jonathan L. Davis, Brendan Hay

Artist(s): Mark Dos Santos, Diego Barreto

Cost:  Each issue is $3.99 cover priced, with the exception of Issue #1 Limited Edition Cover @ $7.99 .

TPB compilation:  When made available will be $15.99 cover