I just became Facebook Friends this weekend with Dan Merritt, the co-owner of the Green Brain Local Comic Book Store (LCBS) in Dearborn, Michigan...  

When I asked if he had any upcoming events that would be of interest to my Blog readers, (like I ask of all my newest Facebook Friends), he replied with the following press release.  I am basically running it verbatim, since it is happening Wednesday of this week, for a good cause, and because of who the special guest at the LCBS will be:

VETERAN COMIC WRITER APPEARS FOR HEROIC CAUSE
WILLIAM MESSNER-LOEBS COMES TO DEARBORN TO SIGN BENEFIT COMIC BOOK.

On Wednesday, August 12th Green Brain Comics welcomes veteran comic writer William Messner-Loebs for a book signing to celebrate the release of Hero Comics: A Hero Initiative Benefit Book.

William Messner-Loebs or Bill to his pals, is a Michigander and a veteran comic writer and artist with an impressive resume of past projects. Perhaps best known for his run as writer on Wonder Woman, his work also includes a long stint on Flash for DC Comics and a short run on Thor for Marvel Comics. Mr Loebs has worked with artist Sam Keith on The Maxx for Image and a critically acclaimed graphic novel entitled Epicurus the Sage. He is also known for his work as an artist on his creator owned series Journey: The Adventures of Wolverine MacAlistaire.

BTW, unless we are on site all day and night during a three day or longer comic con... we normally blog daily on comic book creators, comic book reviews,  comic book conventions, and pop culture news and events!    Plus for purchases of items that our blog posts are based on; please check out our listings of comics, graphic novels, Comic Con exclusives and more pop culture items for sale in our own online store! 

I have reviewed multiple publications since this Blog first started...  

As stated before, I find hard copies are usually eaiser to read, as .pdfs have to be read on a laptop.  Since I 'work' on a laptop, reading for 'fun' and possible review is a lot easier when holding an actual printed copy for me.

That being said, I found the above pictured 2009 Annual so chock full of great articles, that it was actually slow going for me to read!  I savored each and every article that was presented, and realized that such a great magazine could only be printed quarterly at the most! 

It is NOT lightweight fan fare, nor is it something to peruse lightly while watching a TV show or some other activity.  This magazine is meant to be read when you can give it your full attention, it is THAT Good!

(Talking about 'Good', Don't miss Tina's review of the Tripwire Panel as seen at the San Diego Comic Con International 2009, by clicking here!)

Getting past the front cover, which is a great one, formatted 'after Shepard Fairey', there are multiple articles on multiple genres.

Here are just a few that stood out to me, a long time reader and collector of comic books and a pop culture junkie:

'It's a Marvelous Life' - Celebrate Marvel Comics' 70th Anniversary by reading this entertaining and informative interview with Stan Lee!  Definitely NOT the standard Stan Lee interview!

'The Dark Knight's Birthday' - Batman Celebrates by blowing out 70 candles!

'New Blood' - fan fave Guillermo Del Toro on 'The Strain'. Not my usual reading fare, but worth a look!

'30 Years of Alien' - Gotta admit, while not an overly enthuisastic fan of this series, or with the pairing up of the Predator series, this was a great back story of the series!

'Bongo Keep Drumming' - Bill Morrison on Bongo Comics - Yeah, I read those too!

'The Mark of Kane' - Robert E Howard's Solomon Kane, which is getting the film treatment as we read this article.  The new film, of which I had a sneak peek of at Comic Con, is going to open up the eyes of mainstream America.  Whether or not it is a hit, is up to the producers promoting it right, which they did NOT do at the SDCC,  IMHO...

'Crime Does Pay' - Vertigo Comics' Crime series.  While getting a few copies at the DC Comics booth at the SDCCI, I haven't yet read it.  However after reading Tripwire's article on this series, the comic book has moved up toward the top of my reading list!

I could go on listing more of the articles in this magazine, but I think you get the drift by now... THIS is an informative BUT yet Fun magazine to read.  Too bad it is out only yearly now.   There was a distribution problem this year via the major distributor outlet in the States.  So it might be a little hard to obtain a copy of this UK magazine over here now. The USA cover cost of the magazine is $15.95 USD.    

If you are interested in obtaining a copy of this magazine, please see either your usual sources of obtaining magazines or books, such as eBay or brick n' mortar stores, or try the publisher's Facebook Group Page at:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=58723471295&ref=ts#/group.php?gid=82121421646&ref=ts 

BTW, unless we are on site all day and night during a three day or longer comic con... we normally blog daily on comic book creators, comic book reviews,  comic book conventions, and pop culture news and events!   Plus for purchases of items that our blog posts are based on; please check out our listings of comics, graphic novels, Comic Con exclusives and more pop culture items for sale in our own online eBay Featured Store! 

Special note to those reading our eBay blog version:  The eBay format of our Blog does Not publish all of our posts.  Only the topics that are more 'mainstream' related and meet eBay's policies for publishing blog posts... And Yes You are reading right at the top left of this blog post. This Blog has received over 1.25 Million Page Views alone in its' eBay format per eBay's own counter.  However, our main Blog is posted daily elsewhere, so to answer those that have emailed or messaged us... Yes we are still publishing daily, but just in that format if you want to read from us daily....  

I am really enjoying seeing projects that have been brought to my attention early on in the creative process come into fruition!  

Jess Jinkies brought Jon Ascher's graphic novel concept to my attention several months ago when Jon was first painting 'NeIL'.

When I asked what 'NeIL' was, I was told that "Neil is a modern urban fable about existential crisis and redemption".

When I asked further after seeing the first pages of this concept I was sent the additional blurb:

"For Neil, finding the meaning of life just might cost the ultimate price!

Meet Neil, an ordinary punk, who hit a few bumps in the road...

Drugs can do some funny things, and some funny things do happen. But as Neil feels increasingly taunted by the weird twists of his life and everything around him, is he going mad? or is someone, or some thing, out to get him? As his world starts to unravel, the joke stops being funny... !"

OK, that wasn't a subject matter that would normally jump right out at me at first glance... it is too realistic, too 'real life' for me to usually want to pick up this subject matter to read more.  I read for 'escapism', for 'fun', not to read about 'real life' problems.  Same thing when I go to the theater.  I don't want to see real life problems on the Big Screen. I want Big Screen action... adventure... out of this world stories that make the steep price of admission worthwhile for Tina and I to attend the showing! 

But it was the painted pages that were so different, so stylistic that made me want to view more of this project.  Which I did in the months to follow via Jon's Facebook Member Page, and then later his Facebook Fan Page for this graphic novel idea.

Jon Ascher is a Graphic artist, illustrator, designer, whose work is best seen when holding the sample copy in your own hands, and flipping the pages. 

Yes, the sample pages seen in his Facebook accounts give You the viewer a 'feel' for the project.  But it's not like holding the sample trial run copy in your own hands!  The printed pages in this graphic novel, especially near the end are 'mind blowing', 'far out' and otherwise 'trippy' to use words that came to mind for me when reading them in print!

This graphic novel, (GN), NEEDS a publisher, one that is willing to put this graphic novel into the hands of the public that would benefit and even enjoy the experience of reading this all the way through!

The closest experience to reading something like this was when I read and reviewed the graphic novel 'Voodoo Child' - The Illustrated Legend of Jimi Hendrix.  That was created and produced by Martin I Green, and illustrated by Bill Sienkiewicz!   That story was a familar one since Jimi was so well known in life and afterwards.

I said that this graphic novel was composed of painted pages... right?  Well, when your fingers walk through this GN, you will feel like you are at an art show!  Those that think that sequential art like comic books have nothing to offer will be proven wrong when reading this GN.  

Jon's dynamic paint strokes increase with intensity as the storyline is moved along.  At times the art shown on the 2page spreads are minimal. But that is to convey the raw emotion that Neil is experiencing.  I found those multiple 2page spreads to be one of the best features of this GN.

I was referencing the GN on 'Jimi' earlier... well, NeIL can also be a well known story... this graphic novel just needs a publisher! 

The story itself should probably rated a PG-13 or stronger, as the pages are punctuated by some coarse language, and the underlying theme is not for the youngest readers.  Other than that qualifier, this is a finished project and ready for 'prime time' and ready for a major publishing house. 

Are You one?   Or do You work at one?  Now is the time to check this work out!

If you are interested in either seeing the 30 sample pages online or in obtaining a sample copy of this trial run print of the full 110 page GN, (there would be a cost for that plus shipping of approx $25 to USA addresses), please see Jon Ascher's Facebook web site at:  http://www.facebook.com/neilgraphicnovel  

Jon is also working on providing a .pdf file to send by email, but the multiple 2page spreads which are the 'highlight' to the graphic novel (IMHO), would be split up by default, unless viewed with some kind of horizontally scrolling comics viewer.

And No, You don't have to be a Facebook member to see the Fan Page.  That is one of the best features of a Facebook Fan Page, in that the general public can view the pages.  Just that you have to be a Facebook member in order to post your comments on the page.

My thanks to Jess Jinkies for first bringing this project to my attention, and to Jon Ascher for actually going through the long process of painting these pages after coming up with the storyline itself!

BTW, unless we are on site all day and night during a three day or longer comic con... we normally blog daily on comic book creators, comic book reviews,  comic book conventions, and pop culture news and events!   Plus for purchases of items that our blog posts are based on; please check out our listings of comics, graphic novels, Comic Con exclusives and more pop culture items for sale in our online store! 

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