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Thursday, September 17, 2009
After 39 Months AND 1.311 Million Page Views...
Mood:  caffeinated
Topic: eBay Info

 

Click here to see all of our ENDING SOONEST graphic novels, magazines and comics!

(Please Note: This is a repost from the eBay version of this Blog from this morning. It is presented here to explain why that version of our Blog is ending.  The blog post you are reading here in our Tripod Blog Format is NOT ending!)

   

After 39 Months

And Over 1.311 Million Page Views...

 

 

...This eBay formatted version of our Blog will be ending soon and then deleted! 

That's because eBay has opted to close their eBay Blog Platform by sticking the following header notice at the top of the eBay Blog Front Page, as well as at each individual eBayer's blog and blog posts.  You can't see the notice easily at the eBay version of our Blog because of the placement of our blog banner with our pics. The notice runs across our banner.  Here is the header notice:

eBay Blogs platform will be retired after 10/31/2009.  Read more.

When the 'Read more' link is opened, the reader will find the following:

Goodbye eBay Blogs

After October 31, 2009, we will be discontinuing eBay Blogs.

While eBay Blogs provided useful and interesting information, we have decided to focus our efforts on what matters most to our members: making eBay the best place to buy and sell on the Web.

We appreciate all the great articles that were published on eBay Blogs, and we'd like to thank these eBay member/bloggers for their contributions to the eBay Community. If you have created an eBay Blog, we encourage you to print out or save your blog entries before we close this section of our site.

Remember, after October 31, 2009, these pages will no longer be available on the web.

 

I held off commenting here for a week after the 'notice' was first being 'seen' sometimes at the top of our eBay Blog.   My first initial reaction would be understable to anyone else that has spent hours and hours posting blogs here on this platform... but I'm just not going to go there 'in print' even a week later!

After all, with over 3,000 archived blog posts there was no way I could have gone back and 'saved' each one of them and bring over to a new blog format, even being given approx 50 days to do so...

Which is great that I had the foresight to open up our Own Blog back in February 2007, when eBay changed the orignal blogging format in their first major rennovation.  That rennovation came after first setting up the eBay blogs in June 2006.   That experience told me that I had to be in control of my own Blog, because the eBay Blogging Platform was not 'ours', but 'theirs'.  Those who have since looked at our earliest blogs here will see that the eBay blogging 'format' was changed at that time, thus distorting the look and images of the majority of our oldest archived blog posts that were more than a few text paragraphs when I was learning my way here.

Well, I've just got this to say:

I enjoyed the opportunity that eBay gave us to blog here. The first post was a simple blog post, on June 7th 2006 about seeing the X-Men film the day before. It was here that I first started learning the blogging process.  I thank eBay for that, AND the $100 that I won for just blogging during the earliest period when they had the Grand Opening Blogging Contest for the eBay Blogs. 

I also quickly learned that with no guidelines set in place, that the 'blogging' that went on here at this platform was a 'different' kind of 'blogging', after researching what blogging was all about. 

Yes, there was 'blogging', and then there were other activities that went on here.  We had the 'Chinese Spammers' that came in and posted their spam notes to visit their non-eBay stores on our blogs when we were asleep, which led to our personally closing down the 'comments option' when we weren't on blogging.  Yeah, that's the main reason why!  There's still old spamming comments on our older posts... it was a pain to go in and delete them especially when we weren't notified of a commenter's comment!

I also found that although there were eBay Chat Rooms, and eBay Discussion Boards, and later on eBay Neighborhoods, that the eBay Blogs quickly turned into at times what could be considered a 'free-for-all rough and tumble' chat room. 

Yet what does eBay 'officially' say above when announcing they are closing this platform?  "We appreciate all the great articles that were published on eBay Blogs... 

I think that eBay is being 'kind' in saying that sentence.  Take a look at the blog posts that were posted on this platform.  The vast majority are NOT articles, but instead were the cousins of 'tweets' etc.  Nothing wrong in posting those notes elsewhere, but this was supposed to be a 'blogging platform'.  That wasn't what this eBay Blog platform turned out to be in my opinion.  Then again, what were the guidelines from eBay as to what the blogs were meant to be...?

What about 'spam' posts that are posted all the time at the eBay Blogs?  I was and am still fine with that, even if several are nothing more than posted with a title of 'Spam' and then a widget showing that eBayer's items for sale.  Why anyone that is not a friend of that blogger would bother looking at a blog post titled 'Spam' is beyond my way of thinking, but hey, isn't showing off our eBay items part of the reason we were blogging here? 

However, I'm surprised that eBay hasn't closed this platform prior to this notice, what with so much of the activities here on the eBay Blogs requiring 'policing' by eBay staff.   Too many and too often the 'blogs' would run rampant with charges and counter-charges against other bloggers, etc.  No wonder eBay took off several (most / all ?) of the links directing eBay users and possible viewers to the eBay Blogs back in April of 2009!  The eBay Blogs haven't had visibility on eBay itself since then.  If it wasn't for the thouands of blog posts visible on search engines directing new people to find our posts, this format of our Blog would withered away long before now...     

I've seen too many eBayers leave this 'blogging' platform because of the activities of others.  I hung in there, because this version of our Blog kept getting viewed every day by hundreds and at times thousands of other folks on the internet looking for information that our archived blog posts had.  Our 3,000+ eBay formatted blog posts rank highly in several search engines, but soon those links will show something other than our Blog posts... (we don't know what... but it will be something that eBay will direct what could have been our possible customer to somewhere else within eBay.  Or at least you would think so... because there are going to be continued visitors that see our 'blogs' in search engines until those get cycled out).

I've also seen other eBayers who would come in, post a few 'blogs', stir up the waters, and then delete their posts, or even their entire 'blog' and start over again doing the same thing.  Again, I'm not surprised at the official closing of the eBay Blog Platform after actions like these...

However, and I don't mean to comment on this last, but I wanted to save something good for the end of this post...  I've enjoyed making friends with those of you that have been forthright and caring / sharing individuals over the 39 months the eBay Blog platform has been around.

You know who you are, and Yes, I've already 'friended' several of you over at my Facebook Network over the past few months.  (Even though my personal FB Network is basically centering on persons working in or interested in Comics and other Pop Culture networking, not eBaying.)

So yeah, I've been reading some of the wall posts since September 10th when eBay first started showing part of the announcement at the top of the eBay Blog Front Page, and realize that many of you will miss all the comraderie that has been built up over the months.  I too will miss many of you, although I haven't stopped in as much here at the eBay version of our Blog lately, and quite honestly haven't added my comments to too many eBay Blog posts lately of others, because of time factors. 

 Anyways, in closing, I want to give Thanks again to all of YOU reading our current and archived blog posts!  We do and will continue to blog daily on comic book creators, comic book reviews, and other pop culture news and events including some TV shows and theatrical films, even if it is elswhere!  

While You are here today... Please check out our new listings of comics, graphic novels, Comic Con exclusives and more pop culture items for sale in our online eBay Featured Store that most of our blogs are based on!  It's due to sales at this online store that keep us going with the ability to post blogs like the one you have read here today! And No, our eBay Store is Not Closing... just our eBay Blog!

I have been saying in recent blogs posted at this eBay version of our Blog, that:  "We appreciate your wanting to read our Blog, no matter which format it is published in, either at eBay that has several of our blog posts, or at our own domain name that has them all".

But now, I want You blog readers that are reading this eBay version of our Blog to find us elsewhere on the web, now that eBay has opted to close the eBay version of Our Blog and thousands of others who had eBay Blogs.  We will still be blogging there at our own Blog as we have since February 2007... and yeah, I for one will miss this eBay blogging platform, no matter how the 'blogs' platform ended...  There's always 'Good' in things, no matter how things look at times.  If nothing else, this experience has to emphasize the old saying:  "Don't put your all your eggs in one basket"! 

~ Michael  @ ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com

 

Now Celebrating the 10th Year On The Web!

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

Click Here to see 'Our Reviews posted at eBay! 

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

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NOTE:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards. 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.

CONVENTION PHOTOS:  Keeping with the theme of this blog post, I'm publishing a photo of Tina and myself at the 2005 eBay Live Convention that was held in San Jose, California.  Those were the days! Full of inspiration at the programs and panels we attended at this con, and the promise of better days to come!   There's been a Lot of Changes since then!

Click Here to see 'My World at eBay!

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 6:06 AM PDT
Updated: Thursday, September 17, 2009 6:15 AM PDT
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Wednesday, September 16, 2009
John Buscema Exhibition In Palma, Spain!
Mood:  caffeinated
Topic: Other Cons

 

Click here to see our ENDING SOONEST Comics, Graphic Novels, Toys, Cards and Magazines for sale! 

   

John Buscema Exhibition In Palma, Spain

September 17th thru November 8th, 2009!

Click Here to see our NEWLY LISTED Comics, Graphic Novels, Toys, Fanzines and Prozines!

Above:  'Big' John Buscema @ the 2001 SDCC holding my copy of FF #300 he signed for me, while at the Vanguard booth.

To The Left:  The Catalogue Cover for the Big John Buscema Exhibition in Palma, Spain.

Monday of this week I went to Stephanie Buscema's Facebook Page to post a picture of her grandfather holding my copy of the Fantastic Four #300 that he had personalized to me back in 2001...

It was at that time I found out that Stephanie was enroute to the airport in Barcelona, Spain, to travel to a Special Exhibition starring her Grandfather's works in the city of Palma, Spain.  

This is what I found at her Facebook Wall about what had brought her to fly to Spain:

"There's actually an exhibition of my Grandfather's art in Palma, Mallorca at Casal Solleric. The translated show info can be found here:

Population: Palma de mallorca Palma de Mallorca
Centro: Center: Casal Solleric Casal Solleric
Dirección: Address: Passeig del Born, 27 Passeig del Born, 27
Fechas: Dates: del 17 de septiembre al 8 de noviembre September 17 to November 8

John Buscema (New York, 1927-2002) was attracted to the comics as a child, and copying the cartoons of Alex Raymond, Hal Foster, Burne Hogarth and Elzie Segar.

Guió sus primeros pasos hacia la ilustración comercial dada de su evidente capacidad para el dibujo realista de la figura humana tras dejarse influenciar por los clásicos (los europeos Rubens, Monet, Renoir, Rafael, y los yanquis Al Dorne, Dean Cornwell, Norman Rockwell y Robert Fawcett).

He led his first steps into commercial illustration because of its obvious ability for drawing realistic human figure after being influenced by the classics (the Europeans Rubens, Monet, Renoir, Raphael, and the Yankees Al Dorne, Dean Cornwell, Norman Rockwell and Robert Fawcett).

Entre 1970 y 1990 Buscema fue un modelo a seguir (en su estilo gráfico, junto a John Romita) entre los dibujantes de la editorial Marvel y se convirtió en el perfecto ejemplo de autor prolífico e incansable, llegando a dibujar 60 páginas mensuales y llegando a publicar en aproximadamente 60 títulos distintos de Marvel (destacando su trabajo en The Avengers).  

Between 1970 and 1990 Buscema was a model (in its graphical style, along with John Romita) between the artists of the Marvel editorial and became the perfect example of a prolific author and tireless, coming to draw 60 pages a month and reaching publish approximately 60 titles than Marvel (highlighting their work in The Avengers).

I had only met John Buscema one time, back at the 2001 San Diego Comic Con International.  He was at a couple of special panels upstairs in the program halls.  Please Note:  At the bottom right of this post is a photo of Stan (The Man) Lee and 'Big' John Buscema at one of the panels I just mentioned.  

John Buscema really loved illustrating Conan the Barbarian stories, and other genres.  He said at one of his panels that he just didn't like to illustrate super-hero stories, which by the gruff way he said it, we all knew that he would and could draw just about anything that he was asked to do as he was a professional, but his favorite series at Marvel Comics was Conan. 

I really enjoyed Big John's artwork during the many years he was at Marvel, and every now and then come across something that he drew in the earlier years for other companies. Including individual issues of Adventures Into The Unknown from ACG Comics.  You can find 2,667 different publications that John had a hand in illustrating during his long career at the GCD (Grand Comic Book Database).  John passed away shortly after attending the SDCC on January 10, 2002 (aged 74). 

Stephanie Buscema is a grandaughter of Big John.  Here is a little bit about Stephanie, taken from her web site:

Stephanie is a freelance illustrator and cartoonist from Brooklyn, New York. Since 1998, she has worked on everything from comics and children's books to rock'n'roll art and gallery exhibitions. Growing up on a heavy dosage of comic books, early animation, 1950's-60's horror/sci-fi movies and punk rock helped fuel the creative fire at a young age.

Starting out as an inker for her grandfather, John Buscema, Stephanie learned how to make traditional sequential art with brushes and without computers. Being exposed to the art of Milton Caniff, Jack Kirby, Mary Blair (and about a hundred other inspirations) she longed to expand her skill and learn how to paint the traditional way. Soon, she became infatuated with mid-century advertisements, design and illustration.

You can find more about her at her web site:

http://www.stephaniebuscema.com 

I wish Stephanie a fun time at the exhibition in Palma, Spain.  It is very good that her grandfather's works are being shown world wide!  For those Europeans that are reading this Blog Post, You might want to stop reading this for a moment and add this event to your calendar to see!  Be aware that you only have until November 8th 2009 to see this!

BTW.... Whereas we don't have a special exhibition of Big John's works here at Make It So Marketing, we do have several back issues of John's comics and magazines, (plus his brother's Sal Buscema's comics), in our own online store. Plus please check out our other new listings of comics, graphic novels, Comic Con exclusives and more pop culture items for sale in our online eBay Featured Store that our blogs are based on

Thanks again to all of YOU reading our current and archived blog posts!  We do blog daily on comic book creators, comic book reviews, and other pop culture news and events including some TV shows and theatrical films!

~ Michael @  ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com

 

Now Celebrating the 11th Year On The Web!

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

Click Here to see 'Our Reviews posted at eBay! 

Note: If you breaking into or 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

Site Meter
NOTE:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards. 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.

 

CONVENTION PHOTOS:  As stated in the above blog post, I attended the 2001 Comic Con International: San Diego (aka SDCC).  There I met John Buscema, had him sign several comic books for me, plus I attended all the programs he was at during the 4 day con.  Below was a special moment when Stan (The Man) Lee was raving about Big John's work for Marvel Comics.  All those in the audience could see how Stan truly appreciated John's contributions to help make those years 'The Marvel Age of Comics'! 

Click Here to see 'My World at eBay!

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

Digg!

 

 


Posted by makeitsomarketing at 6:33 AM PDT
Updated: Thursday, October 29, 2009 9:16 AM PDT
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Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Female Force: Condoleezza Rice
Mood:  caffeinated
Topic: Comic Books - New

 

Click here to see all of our ENDING SOONEST graphic novels, magazines and comics!

 

   

Female Force:

Condoleezza Rice

 

From

 Bluewater Comics!

 

 

There's been a few issues of this comic book series 'Female Force' published from BlueWater Comics...  Of which I have blogged about a couple so far, those on Princess Diana, and Caroline Kennedy.

That's because I enjoy reading about history and history makers.  The sequential art format is great to read on topics that could possibly otherwise be a little 'dry' to read for the casual reader!    

Plus, I grew up reading 'Treasure Chest' Comics that were distributed at the Catholic Schools where I attended in my formative years.  Those comics printed inspirational stories of sports and folk heroes, and of course saints, as well as general history topics.  Those comics, actually titled 'Treasure Chest of Fun and Fact' were published from 1946 to 1972. 

Now, I'm not saying that Condoleezza, Princess Diana, Caroline Kennedy or the others in this Female Force series are / were 'Saints', but their lives are interesting reading in my opinion, no matter what political persuasion you may be of.

Here are the details for this one-shot comic book issue only. Please note that each issue is considered a #1 issue in the series:

By:                 Chris Ward, Dave MacNeil, Osmarco Valladao, Vinnie Tartamella 
Type:             Comics 
Genres:          Biography, Non-Fiction
Publisher:      Bluewater Productions 
Pub. Date:     September 09, 2009
Availability:   Released
ISBN:             1427639329
UPC:             978142763895350399 
 

This comic series has been featured on CNN, Fox News, and OK! Magazine.

A special one-shot that chronicles Rice's life from her childhood to her accomplished career as the 1st African American woman to hold the United States, Secretary of State position. This issue will document how Condoleezza Rice became one of the most powerful women in the past decade.

I didn't know all that much about Condoleezza prior to her coming to the national stage in recent years.  This publication gave me some indication of her childhood and her formative years.  It also gave more info on what she did during her period of being in the Bush Administration. 

The cover of the comic book by Vinnie Tartamella was excellent as usual. The interior pages were illustrated by Dave MacNeil and paced well.  The colors by Osmarco Valladao fit the tone of the book, and the lettering was the usual great job by Jaymes Reed.  The amount of text was a little 'heavy' in places on the pages, but there was a lot of ground to cover to cover in this publication, so I can forgive that by the writer, Chris Ward.  It has to be hard to get all that history covered in so few pages!

This issue's cover price was $3.99, well worth the price for this stand alone issue #1 in the series of Female Force.  I recommend checking this issue out and the others I have blogged about in this series!

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

Thanks again to all of YOU reading our current and archived blog posts!  We do blog daily on comic book creators, comic book reviews, and other pop culture news and events including some TV shows and theatrical films!  
While You are here today... Please check out our new listings of comics, graphic novels, Comic Con exclusives and more pop culture items for sale in our online eBay Featured Store that most of our blogs are based on!  It's due to sales at this online store that keep us going with the ability to post blogs like the one you have read here today!  

~ Michael @  ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com

 

Now Celebrating the 10th Year On The Web!

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

Click Here to see 'Our Reviews posted at eBay! 

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

   

Digg!

     

 

Thank You For Being One Of This Blog's

Site Meter
NOTE:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards. 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.

CONVENTION PHOTOS:  Keeping with the 'teaching / history' theme of this blog post today... below are Herb Trimpe and John Romita Sr. during the 2002 San Diego Comic Con International (SDCCi).   They were at one of Mark Evanier's many panels that he hosts each year.  This photo shows John gesturing while making a point during the panel.  Seeing great guests like Herb and John below at Mark's panels / programs is one of the reasons that I am willing to fork out $100 for the upcoming 2010 SDCC to attend!

Click Here to see 'My World at eBay!

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 5:49 AM PDT
Updated: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 5:55 AM PDT
Post Comment | Permalink
Monday, September 14, 2009
For Ever Green...
Mood:  caffeinated
Topic: Comic Book Artists

 

Click here to see our ENDING SOONEST Comics, Graphic Novels, Toys, Cards and Magazines for sale! 

   

For Ever Green #1

A Tribute To Richard 'Grass' Green!

Click Here to see our NEWLY LISTED Comics, Graphic Novels, Toys, Fanzines and Prozines!

Above:  Richard 'Grass' Green circa 1964.

To The Left:  Front Cover of Tribute Fanzine to Richard, titled 'For Ever Green',  edited by Michael Vance and published by Main Enterprises.

 

As most of this Blog's regular readers know...

I've been around comics for most of my life.  Starting back in the mid to late 1950's when I first started reading them, and then with issue #72 of Journey Into Mystery, (cover dated September 1961), which started me truly 'collecting' them instead of just reading them!

I've also been very lucky to have attended several comic conventions, shows, or store signings during the years, where I have met comics creators.  

However, there are many creators that I've never met or seen.  Which is why fanzines or prozines that are devoted to comics creators or comics history make good reading for me.  Additionally those fanzines that are devoted to writing on just one comics creator always attract my attention.  

The above pictured fanzine edited by Michael Vance is one that after reading it proved to be blog worthy.  Michael worked with Grass Green on the three stories that are published in this first issue.

For those that are not familar with Richard 'Grass' Green, here is a brief bio from Wikipedia:

"Richard 'Grass' Green (May 7, 1939 – August 5, 2002) was an African American cartoonist notable for being the first black participant in both the 1960s fan art movement and the 1970s underground comics movement.  Popular creations included Xal-Kor the Human Cat and Wildman and Rubberroy. In the 1960s, Green's Harvey Kurtzman-like zany, action-packed, humorous comics parodies appeared in numerous fanzines. His "outrageous" 1970s and 1980s underground work used searing humor to expose America's racism and bigotry.

Hailing from South Bend, Indiana, Green was given the nickname "Grass" by his childhood friend Ronn Foss (with whom he later collaborated in Alter Ego).  Beginning in 1964, Green's fan art quickly became sought out, and his work appeared in zines like Alter Ego, Star-Studded Comics, Fantasy Illustrated, The Buyer's Guide to Comics Fandom, Rocket's Blast Comicollector, Komix Illustrated, Super-Hero, and Masquerader.

In 1967, Green broke into the professional comics world, collaborating with Roy Thomas on "The Shape" in Charlton Premiere #1. In the late 1960s, Green drew several more humorous strips for Charlton Comics, mostly in Go-Go Comics. (He also had work published in witzend.) He then became involved in the underground comix movement, where his work was published in Super Soul Comix and a Wildman and Rubberroy series. In the 1990s, Green produced work for among other places Eros Comics."

I had seen several stories during the years in other fanzines that were illustrated by Grass Green, but had never seen the three stories reprinted in this first issue.  (There are a lot of regional comic strips or cartoons that have not been published even yet for mainstream reading.)

Here is Jim's advertising blurb for this first issue:

Features the work of comic fandom legend, the late Richard "Grass" Green, in a publication lovingly compiled by his equally talented co-worker, Michael Vance. The book is comprised of material the two did together from the "Holiday Out" comic series, which is wildly outrageous.  

OK, I'll take it from there...

First off, even though I may enjoy fanzines like this one, I do realize that they are not for everyone.  This is a 28 page fanzine, and thus cannot go into 'depth' in just one issue on Grass Green's vast amount of comics work.  And this issue was not meant to.  It is however a good representation of the work that Grass did with Michael Vance.  Plus the stories are from publications that did not have mass publishing, so most people would not have seen these stories before. Which adds to the 'reading value' in my opinion.

Also, the inside cover text, where Michael Vance writes about his collaborations with Grass is informative and does present a good introduction for the three stories presented within. 

I believe that this is a good beginning for a series of issues devoted to Grass Green.  The price is right for a first issue, and the shipping charge is reasonable.  If you are already a fan of Grass Green, then this would be a good fanzine to see more of his work.  If you are new to his work, then it would be an interesting start to see just a little of what Grass illustrated, in this case on stories with Michael Vance.

I thank Michael Vance for putting together this first issue.  And to Jim Main that published this fanzine.  This is just 1 of the 48 publications that Jim has published that are currently listed for sale in his online store!

Details on this issue as follows:

Cost of this issue is: $2.95 plus 1.35 shipping.
$4.30 per issue postpaid in the USA.  Personal checks only, with checks made out to Jim Main.  Jim's web site to order is at:   http://www.mainenterprises.ecrater.com/
  

Unfortunately we don't have many back issues of Jim's comics or magazines in our own online store at this time... However, Please check out our other new listings of comics, graphic novels, Comic Con exclusives and more pop culture items for sale in our online eBay Featured Store that our blogs are based on

Thanks again to all of YOU reading our current and archived blog posts!  We do blog daily on comic book creators, comic book reviews, and other pop culture news and events including some TV shows and theatrical films!

~ Michael @  ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com

 

Now Celebrating the 11th Year On The Web!

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

Click Here to see 'Our Reviews posted at eBay! 

Note: If you breaking into or 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

   

Digg!

     

 

Thank You For Being One Of This Blog's

Site Meter
NOTE:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards. 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.

CONVENTION PHOTOS:  As stated in the above blog post, I never did meet Grass Green before his passing in 2002.   When I was growing up in the 1950's - 1960's as a kid, conventions were sparse in number.  The Center of the Comics Universes was in New York City for the most part.  It was only thanks to Comic Conventions, Comic Book Store Signings, and Comic Shows that I have met most of the creators I wanted to meet during the years.  Including the one and only time that I met 'Big' John Buscema, who was a Guest of Honor at the 2001 San Diego Comic Con International. John is pictured below holding issue #300 of the Fantastic Four which had special significance to me at that time. I was lucky to meet him in person, have him sign a few comics to me, and also hear him talk at a few programs during that Comic Con.  Unfortunately John passed away shortly afterwards... Which is another reason You should get out and attend comic shows, comic cons, and other pop culture conventions!  Let Your favorite creators know how much  You have enjoyed their works during the years! 

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Posted by makeitsomarketing at 7:54 AM PDT
Updated: Monday, September 14, 2009 7:59 AM PDT
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Sunday, September 13, 2009
Vincent Price Presents....
Mood:  caffeinated
Topic: Comic Books - New

 

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Vincent Price  Presents:

The Comic Book Series

From

 Bluewater Comics!

 

 

There's been a dozen of these comic books published from BlueWater Comics...  Although I hadn't blogged about any of them until now.

That's because I've only read issues #10 -12 so far.  Issue #1 came out in October 2008, and yes there is a #13 planned for the series, making it at least a "baker's dozen" of HoRRoR Comics in this continuing series!

Below is what the marketing for this series had to say:

One of classic Hollywood's most famous scary men, Vincent Price made a name for himself in classic mysteries and thrillers throughout the 1940's, 50's and 60's. Now Vincent Price Presents comes to Bluewater Productions as their 1st ongoing monthly series.   The series will feature some of Prices’s films as well as developing new frightening ones with his estate. Welcome back to the macabre world of Vincent Price!

I have wanted to blog about the earlier issues I've read, but since it is my 'policy' to write basically only reviews on publications that I truly liked or found intriguing or 'different' enough to mention here, something or other in each of those comic issues I read kept me from doing so here...

As stated before in this Blog, I don't normally write neutral or negative blogs, as each blog takes at least 45 minutes to generate with text, copy, cropping and hosting photos, etc.  (I just don't throw together a one paragraph 'mention' of a comic, graphic novel, or film along with a bunch of other non-related projects in a 'review' blog post.)

Thus to spend that additional time on a comic book or other project that I didn't enjoy that much to begin with or maybe disappointed me a little, just doesn't make time management sense to me...

So why hadn't I blogged about this series before?   That is because I found the earlier issues (#10-11) to be a little uneven for me.  I'm no editor, but it must be very difficult to present a comic book title that has different writers and artists each issue and a completely different story. 

Editing a HoRRoR comic book that has just one story and presenting it each issue has to be even harder than editing an anthology comic book with multiple stories!   At least in an anthology issue that say has three stories, the reader could like one, be OK with a second, and dislike the third story.  Yet that same reader could be interested enough to pick up the next issue at their LCBS to at least glance at the cover and skim the interior pages to see if they want to purchase it.

With a comic book that has just one story, and no true continuing character(s), that has to be a harder sell, if the potential buyer had lukewarm feelings for the previous issue(s).

What this series has going for it is the 'Vincent Price Presents' title.  Yeah, I grew up in the late 1950's -60's when Vincent Price had his heyday in films.  So yes I could be a potential buyer for this series.  And with today's resurgence in HoRRoR films, comics and mags, there should be a good market for a comic book series like this with readers that are much younger than me!

If each issue was like #12 was in pleasing me with both a good storyline and good art, then I would feel better in recommending this series to you, my Blog reader.  However so far, the earlier issues I read had either good art or good story or a combination of both but the twist ending was off, like with issue #11.  

Issue #12, (front cover pictured above), has a good storyline by Nick Lyons.  Good art by R.H. Stewart.  The usual good lettering by Wilson Ramos Jr.  The front cover by Jim McDermott is catching to the eye, which should help pull the casual reader's attention to this title to at least take a look at the interior pages.  It is similar in 'look' to the Rue Morgue cover with Forrest J Ackerman that I blogged about in October 2008

Here are the details for this issue #12 only:

By:    Nick Lyons, R. H. Stewart, Jim McDermott 
Type:   Comics 
Genres:   Horror
Series:   Vincent Price Presents
Publisher:   Bluewater Productions 
Pub. Date:   August 26, 2009
UPC:   837654359495 
 

Vincent Price tells another gothic adventure. In 'Fade Away,' Private Eye Frank Wood takes on a case in which he must investigate mysterious break-ins at a home belonging to a wealthy old man named Jack Leonard.

Is there really an intruder or is Jack losing his mind and seeing someone that isn't there?

I'm hoping that what I liked in this issue will be repeated in upcoming issues.  Again I realize that it is very difficult to present stories that have different creative teams each issue that a regular reader would like. I myself want to like this series.  I would like to see the license with the Vincent Price Estate be continued, helping keep Vincent's name in the public eye.  I was pleased with this issue.  We'll see how it goes with the upcoming issues if I am to blog about this series again...

Notes:  This issue's cover price was $3.99, which is the standard cost of new comic books today.   However I have noticed at BlueWater's web site that there will be a trade paper back compiling the earlier issues.  I do not see what issues of the twelve published so far will be included in that TPB. Here are the known details of the upcoming TBP which is to be released September 30th:

The Gothic horror tradition of film icon Vincent Price is revived in these twisted comic book one-shots that transplant the best of the horror genre into innovative and bizarre landscapes for a new generation. Vincent Price serves as host and muse for these unforgettable stories, which include horrific transformations, twisting plots, perversions of science, labyrinthine castles, Gothic dread, surreal revelations, and a little unexpected genre-bending.

The cover price of the TPB Volume 1 is $17.99.  Again, I'm not aware of how many of the first issues are included in this first volume.  Yet this may be the better way to present this series to a wider audience.  Where in an 'anthology' TPB the reader has a better chance to like more of the stories in that format rather than taking a chance on a single issue with just the one story.  

For more info on Vincent Price Presents with previous and upcoming issues, please see the Bluewater Comics web site at:  http://www.Bluewaterprod.com

Thanks again to all of YOU reading our current and archived blog posts!  We do blog daily on comic book creators, comic book reviews, and other pop culture news and events including some TV shows and theatrical films!  

While You are here today... Please check out our new listings of comics, graphic novels, Comic Con exclusives and more pop culture items for sale in our online eBay Featured Store that most of our blogs are based on!  It's due to sales at this online store that keep us going with the ability to post blogs like the one you have read here today!

We appreciate your wanting to read our Blog, no matter which format it is published in, either at eBay that has several of our blog posts, or at our own domain name that has them all. 

And Yes... I have seen the Notice posted by eBay that they are 'retiring' the eBay Blogs and worse: "Remember, after October 31, 2009, these pages will no longer be available on the web".  With over 3,000 archived blog posts on the eBay Blogs platform.... and over 1.3 MILLION Page Views there alone...  THIS news does not please me!  I'm gathering my thoughts and letting my initial reaction calm down before posting on this news later this week... 

~ Michael  

 

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NOTE:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards. Netscape, Firefox and the others serve the page up differently. The screen display resolution is best seen at the setting of 1024 x 768.

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CONVENTION PHOTOS:  Keeping with the HoRRoR theme of this blog post... below is Doug Bradley during the 2009 San Diego Comic Con International.   Douglas William Bradley, (who was born 7 September 1954) is a well known English actor. He is best known for playing the role of the Cenobite Pinhead in all eight of the Hellraiser films!  Plus he played the character of Captain Elliot Spenser in two of the films Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988) and Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth (1992).  My thanks to Doug for taking the time to pose and talk with me at the booth!  BTW, have you heard the SPINECHILLERS Audio Books that are read by Doug?  If not check out Alexander Finbow's http://www.renegadeartsentertainment.com/to find out more!

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Posted by makeitsomarketing at 7:25 AM PDT
Updated: Sunday, September 13, 2009 7:30 AM PDT
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