This graphic novel series...  comes from Iberian Press.  So far I have read the first volume and started the second one.  Because the first volume is in a 'grayscale' format, and the second is in color, I thought I should blog about the first volume before the obvious changes influence my thoughts on the first!

Before I do, I'll post what the creators have laid out about the storyline synopsis:

"A wild and original samurai fantasy epic rolled into an action adventure. Samurai Elf® takes place in a world recuperating from a series of global wars. Civilization is now threatened by the Horde, a lethal army of hive-minded, cybernetic soldiers. The only thing standing in their way is an Elf named Ardan and his fellow Samurai, Keegan. The two team up and begin an epic journey of discovery as the world around them sways between hope and annihilation."

Okay.... I've been around for a while and have read several Sci-Fi / Adventure / Fantasy epics before.  The main idea in a first volume is to get the reader 'hooked' into the characters and the storyline, so that they will continue to follow the rest of the series.  Does this first volume do that for me?

Well this volume is obviously the setting up of the storyline and origin of the characters.  As with so many other stories of this nature, you have to a get a sense of the beings that live on this planet Tyr where the story takes place.  In this volume there are several different beings, (i.e. trolls, dwarfs, elves, etc.), but not too many where it becomes a menagerie and too confusing to keep track of.  (The famous bar scene in Star Wars comes to mind here!)  I became involved early on with the last of the Elves, Ardan, who is the main character in this storyline. 

I also prefer a little suspense in a fantasy adventure story. Well, as a reader you soon make  the realization that Ardan’s story is far bigger than even Ardan realizes.  Since this appears to be an ongoing graphic novel series, you know you won't find out soon what it is all about...

I have stated before in my blogs that 'manga' art is not one of my favorite stylings.  Saying that, I found that Miguel Guerra's styling in this black, gray and white format to be a little different than most, and I grew used to the more polished look used in this first volume.  The artwork is clear and well-defined plus easy to follow when looking at the panels.  

The lettering is the only thing that seemed a little strange at times.  The person at the right of the panel could be speaking first, and then the person at the left speaking.  But not always, only sometimes... This is probably a holdover from the manga format, but it was a little unsettling at times for me.  Additionally the word balloons are not totally white, and they appear to be 'super-imposed' over the art.  At first it was a little distracting for me, but a few pages in I adapted to this word balloon format.

All in all, this first volume in the series did what it needed to do.  Which was get me interested in reading the whole graphic novel, and look forward to the next one.  That is what this 'Samurai Elf' graphic novel did.  I am looking forward to finishing the second one in this series and returning with a blog on that volume...

Samurai Elf (vol. 1): Set Apart
Creator/Artist/Writer: Miguel Guerra
Editor/Writer/Color Assists: Suzy Dias
Genre: Sci Fi/Fantasy/Adventure
Format: FC, 184 pages, 5.75" x 8.5"
Cover Price: $13.95 Black & White - Grayscale 
Ages: Teen+ There are a few swear words in the volume

For more info on the series and upcoming graphic novels, please see the Iberian Press web site at:  http://www.IberianPress.com

(Please Note: A complimentary copy for this mention / review  was provided by the publisher.)  

This comic book introductory issue...  came from Bluewater Comics this past week.  Because I noticed it was based on the Lionsgate Film Series, which I have not seen, I thought I would read it before checking out what the films were about.   Which is a switch in reading / viewing habits for me!

The films, of which there are three, first started in 1989.  New World Pictures produced this HoRRoR film, which was distributed by Trimark Pictures.  A sequel was released in 1993 called Warlock: Armageddon.  The third film, Warlock III: The End of Innocence, was released in 1999. Since then there has been a video game released based on the franchise.

Not having seen the films, I wondered if I would be 'lost' while reading the comic book.  Well, I am pleased to report that that was NOT the case!

In this first issue, the Warlock is introduced as a being on a mission to destroy a 'book' that contains a spell which had already imprisoned six other Warlocks.

The premise of this first issue is... "If the book manages to be destroyed, the dangerous Warlocks would be released back into the world free to cause chaos and destruction. It's up to a rag-tag group of people to prevent the Warlock from carrying out his plan".

Well, I enjoyed this introductory issue, as it was well written by Nick Lyons!  The pencilling by Jacob Bear fit the story genre, and the colors by John Hunt complemented the whole issue.  Nice job on an introductory issue, setting up the issues to come!  Cover price to this first issue is $3.99.

For more info on the series and upcoming issues, please see the Bluewater Comics web site at:  http://www.Bluewaterprod.com

BTW, Bluewater Comics is also the publisher of the 'Political Power' comic book series featuring special issues on Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, Colin Powell, and more to follow!    

(Please Note: A complimentary item for this mention / review  was provided by the publisher.)  

Sorry about the late notice for this event...  but I just received it from Robert Sikoryak, whose mailing list I am on.

I have already blogged back in January 2009 about Danny Hellman's anthology series 'TYPHON'.  (Click here for that archived blog post.)

This week you can see that comics anthology TYPHON colliding with the comics performance series CAROUSEL for a unique, once-in-a-lifetime multimedia comics extravaganza at MoCCA on Thursday, June 18th!
 
As the press release states:

You'll laugh! You'll scream! It's not for the squeamish!
 
Please join the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art, (aka MoCCA) for an evening of dazzling cartoon slide shows featuring work from the critically-acclaimed comics anthology TYPHON Volume One.
This exclusive event is brought to you by TYPHON editor Danny Hellman and Carousel host R. Sikoryak.
 
A select group of TYPHON contributors will be on hand to read their strips, including:
 
Gregory Benton
Rupert Bottenberg
Victor "Bald Eagles" Cayro
Nick Gazin
Hawk Krall
Hugo
Pshaw
Hans Rickheit
plus Hellman and Sikoryak.
 
Come meet the artists whose cutting-edge artwork
brings the pages of TYPHON to life!
 
MoCCA Thursday, June 18, 2009. 7 pm
Admission: $5 (Free for MoCCA Members)
Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art
594 Broadway, suite 401
New York, NY 10012
212-254-3511
 
For more information about MoCCA please visit
http://www.moccany.org
 
For more info on TYPHON visit
http://www.dannyhellman.com/typhon.html
 
This event is intended for Mature Audiences!
(In other words, don't bring your kids unless they're already hopelessly warped!)

Again, my apologies for the lateness in mentioning this, but I wanted to blog about this event in case you were a MoCCa member or just in the NYC area this week!  Individually both Typhon and Carousel are good on their own, but this combined effort could be a great one to see in person! 

Currently I'm still reading several source books and documents...  for a chapter I am writing in an upcoming book.

One book that grabbed my eyes just from the cover alone was the above pictured book, 'The Ten-Cent Plague' by David Hajdu!  Visions of HoRRoR and MoNSTer comics ran through my head, as I was that kid at one time, although it was a few years after the 'Comic Book Burnings' of the early to mid 1950's!

What enticed me to read this whole book in just a few sittings, was that it gave me, the reader, a valuable history lesson in what led up to this 'Plague' and what was done to stop it!

Yeah, I've been around long enough to know most of the story, but in this new book, (the hardcover is from 2008), I learned even more, as it was well researched!

From the earliest beginnings of the comic books to the first inklings of resentment toward the new format, this book lays out a great foundation on how the comic book detractors laid out their case against the comics. 

Those publishing the Crime and HoRRoR Comics in the comic book industry themselves first ignorned the warnings signs of the first outward offensive against the 'low brow' comic books.  It was only after several of those artists, writers and others creating the comics for the industry were castigated for even working in the industry that the warning signs were finally believed by the publishers of these comic books.

Indeed it was those who worked for the industry that were hurt the most when in September of 1954 the Comics Magazine Association of America (CMAA) came into being. Charles F Murphy, the Administrator of the 'Code' actually put more than 'teeth' into the enforcement of the 'Code', and between 1954 and 1956, more than half of the comic books on the newstands disappeared.  Indeed, the number of titles published went from approximately 650 to only 250 titles during that time!

Of course EC Comics with its' HoRRoR Comics are a major focus of this book.  Since Bill Gaines was the major publisher that was on television during the hearings on comic books, it was only natural that any book about this topic would include him and his company.

However, there are more stories about other publishers, and comics creators in this book, and enough that are not widely known to lead me to recommend this book.  Plus it has an extensive notes and bibliography section for reference.  I give it a 9.6 (comic book grading) rating!

Whereas I read the hardcover version there is now a Paperback format: 464 pages
Publisher: Picador; 1 Reprint edition (February 3, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312428235
ISBN-13: 978-0312428235
Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
Shipping Weight: 12 ounces .