This entry in our 'Spotlight On...' blog post series is about ...

Bruce Durham, who sent a Facebook Friends request to me at the beginning of September.  

As I do with everyone that either sends me a Friends request or accepts one that I send them, I check out the info and photos tabs on their Facebook wall to get to 'know' them a little better.

What I saw on Bruce's photo wall really got my interest, as he had attended the 'Howard Days' back in 2006!   For those that don't know which Howard, that would be THE Robert E Howard (REH), creator of such characters as Conan, King Kull, Solomon Kane and others!

I invited Bruce to send in a brief bio about himself, as I could see he had several interests and activities that he was doing that would make a good blog post. The following is what he submitted:

Hi, my name is Bruce Durham, or for those who frequent the Conan.com community forums, Crom’s Justiciar. I was born in Toronto, Ontario shortly before Hurricane Hazel and have spent the majority of my years in neighbouring Mississauga. Though I majored in film and television, it was before Toronto gained the moniker as Hollywood North. So, seeing as I predated the industry, I ended up in the cable TV business. For over 30 years.

In the 60’s I perused a selection of pocketbooks and came across a title with artwork that was, quite simply, stunning. The book was ‘Conan the Conqueror’, and the cover was by the legendary Frank Frazetta. From that moment on I was hooked, and anything that had the name Robert E. Howard attached, I bought. It was only later I came to understand the liberties that (Lancer) series editor L. Sprague de Camp had taken with Howard’s work, and it wasn’t until the Wandering Star and Del Rey editions appeared that I could read Howard as he was meant to be read.

In 2002 Conan Properties Inc. was acquired by Paradox Entertainment. In early 2003 they opened a website complete with community forums. At the time I was moderating another Paradox forum, and because of my knowledge of REH was asked to help out. After a short stint as a moderator, I was made Administrator. Over the years the forums have grown into a valuable resource on all things Howard, attracting scholars such as Rusty Burke, Mark Finn and Patrice Louinet. In addition to Howard’s writings there are forums covering the comics, frequented by various artists and writers, as well as debates over the films. Currently Michael J. Bassett and Paul Berrow, director and producer respectively of ‘Solomon Kane’, drop by to post updates. In addition, Berrow is keeping us posted on the new Bran Mak Morn movie. And it doesn’t stop there. We discuss the Hyborian Age, Rpgs and so on. The website can be found at http://www.conan.com

In my spare time I write, with over 20 stories published in various venues, as well as authoring an upcoming graphic novel. You can visit my website at: http://www.brucedurham.ca

So as you can see Bruce is a pretty busy guy!  You should check out the forums mentioned in the link above should you be interested in the Hyborian Age and other things Conan!

Bruce didn't mention that if You are on Facebook, You can find out more about what he is doing and also post input at his Facebook Comic Con | Bruce Durham creator table at:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=63716717402&ref=ts 

My thanks to Bruce for taking the time to update me and this Blog's readers as to what he is currently doing, and where you can contact him further and also get into some lively discussions!

And... 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!  And Yes, there are many Conan item listed there, plus hundreds more to be listed!

~ Michael @  ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com

I have brought to my blog readers attention that the 1st Annual Long Beach Comic Con will be upon us very shortly...

That's because it starts at the beginning of October; running from October 2nd thru the 4th!

When I was checking the guests lists, both comics creators and media guests, a few names jumped out at me.  I have previously blogged about Hygena and Ms. Limelight from Stan Lee's Who Wants To Be A Superhero TV show on SyFy would be in attendance. (Click here for that post.) 

Another name that jumped out at me was Reb Brown.  He may not be as well known to you as the other two persons named above, but if you have ever seen the two made for TV films that were pilots for a Captain America TV Show... then he is the guy that played Captain America!   

Reb was born in 1948.  After playing college football at USC, Reb began his acting career in 1973. His first appearance was in the film Sssssss. He then appeared in guest roles on several Universal Studios-produced television series.  Those included Emergency!, Marcus Welby M.D., Kojak and The Rockford Files.

He then played Captain America in two made-for-TV pilot films.  This was during that the time in the late 1970's that Marvel Comics worked with Universal Studios for CBS network development deals.  The main success that is remembered today is 'The Incredible Hulk' that starred Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno, (Lou will also be at this Con!).

Reb has gone on to play in other theatrical films and guest roles on TV Shows, none of which are of comic book based projects.

So anyways, I thought I would point out his appearing at the LBCC to you today because I for one, have never met him, even though I have watched both films.

Who else is scheduled to be there?  Well, here is the link to the full comics creators and media guests schedule: http://www.longbeachcomiccon.com/guests.html  - Please note, appearances and times are always subject to possible change, just like at any other convention.

Now that you know that Reb Brown a.k.a. Captain America will be there... You can buy your tickets online for the LBCC at:

http://www.longbeachcomiccon.com/p-1-long-beach-comic-con-registration.aspx

Also, If you would like to join with over 1,300 other members who have 'joined' the Long Beach Comic Con Facebook Fan Page, feel free to do so at:

http://www.facebook.com/LongBeachComicCon?ref=mf

You'll get more up-to-date information as the Con gets closer to its' opening day by signing up there! 

BTW.... Whereas Tina and I don't publish comics or books (yet?) or set up at comic cons (except at our own Facebook Virtual Comic Con Dealer Table), we do have thousands of indies and mainstream comics in our own online store. Be sure to 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 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! 

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

This past Saturday there was a special awards ceremony held in Toronto, Canada...

Which I was made aware of when sent the ballot results, as I'm a 'Fan' of 'The Joe Shuster Canadian Comic Book Creator Awards Fan Page' on Facebook.

So what exactly are these awards and who are they named for?

Well, here is that data from their Fan Page:  

"The first national achievement award for Canadians working on comic books, graphic novels and webcomics, the Joe Shuster Awards were established in 2004 and first presented in April 2005. The awards are named after Joe Shuster, the Canadian-born co-creator of Superman, and are named as such with permission of his estate. The Joe Shuster Awards honour the people who create comics, publish comics and sell comics.

Creator nominees are nominated for their BODY OF WORK during the previous calendar year, not just for one specific work. Hall of Fame and Retailer Awards are selected by individual committees after a review and discussion of eligible candidates. Four Hall of Fame candidates will be initiated into the Canadian Comic Book Creator Hall of Fame in 2009. Aside from the retailer award committee, active creators acted as advisors so as not to influence a bias in any of the creative awards categories.

The Joe Shuster Awards are run by the Canadian Comic Book Creator Awards Association (CCBCAA), a not-for-profit organization that relies on sponsorship, eBay and convention sales of prints and memorabilia or private donations."

My thanks to Kevin Andrew Boyd, Executive Director, who sent me the list of winners on Saturday night 9:34 PM, which is blogged here today:

"Announced a few hours ago at a packed ceremony held at the University of Toronto’s Innis Town Hall, the 2009 Joe Shuster Award winners are:

Artist/Dessinateur

* David Finch – Ultimatum #1-2 (Marvel Comics)

Cartoonist/Créateur

* Dave Sim – Glamourpuss #1-4, Judenhaas (Aardvark-Vanaheim)

Colourist/Dessinateur Couleur

* François Lapierre - “Gédéon et la bête du lac” Contes et légendes du Québec (Glénat Québec), Magasin général 4 (Casterman)

Writer/Écrivain

* Mariko Tamaki - Emiko Superstar (DC/Minx), Skim (Groundwood Books)

Cover/Couverture

* Niko Henrichon – Hostile Tome 1 (Dupuis)

Webcomics/Bandes Dessinées Web

* Cameron Stewart – Sin Titulo

Publisher/Éditeur

* Les 400 Coups/Mécanique Générale

Comics for Kids / Bandes Dessinées pour Enfants

* Kean Soo, Jellaby Book 1 (Hyperion)

Gene Day Award for Canadian Self-Publishers / Le Prix Gene Day pour Éditeurs Direct Canadian de Bandes Dessinées

* Jesse Jacobs for Blue Winter, Shapes in the Snow.

The Harry Kremer Award for Outstanding Canadian Comic Book Retailer /Le Prix Harry Kremer pour Détaillant Exceptionnel Canadien de Bandes Dessinées

* Legends Comics and Books (Victoria, British Columbia)

Canadian Comic Book Creator Hall of Fame / Temple de la renommée Créateur Canadien de Bandes Dessinées

* George Menendez Rae (1906-1992)
* Réal Godbout (1951-)
* Ken Steacy (1955-)
* Diana Schutz (1955-)

Congratulations to all of the winners and the nominees!"

The reason I published the cover of the winner of the Gene Day award: Jesse Jacobs for 'Blue Winter, Shapes in the Snow' at the top right of this blog post, is because I have blogged about Gene Day here before, of whom the award is named for. (Click this link for that story.) 

I think it is great that there is a Canadian Awards Ceremony for Canadian creators and comics and related items.  Yes, there are cross-overs of Canadians working in American (USA) comics and graphic novels, but still it is important to honor local born creators in their own countries. 

Matter of fact I had another Facebook Friend, (Bruce Durham), messaged me after learning I was going to blog about these awards that... "I don't think many people know that half of the creative team behind Superman was Canadian, and that the Daily Planet was named after the Daily (now Toronto) Star".

So if You are aware of other countries that have 'local' awards ceremonies, feel free to email / message me about them as they come up!  I'm willing to read about them and possibly blog about those awards also!

If you are on Facebook you can find out more about the Shuster Awards AND post your thoughts at their Facebook Fan Page at:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6567185869 

If you don't belong to Facebook... You can find out more from the Awards web site:

http://joeshusterawards.com/ 

~ Michael @  ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com

Last night Tina and I were among many who attended the fourth film evening of the 2009 Leo Carrillo Film Festival...  

This time it was on a Saturday evening instead of the usual Friday evening.  It happened that since the 2009 Festival had been cancelled earlier this season, that a Friday evening wedding had been scheduled to take over the grounds where the Films are shown.

However, attendance for this film showing was even larger than usual, probably because it was on a Saturday night!  Or perhaps because the featured film for the night was 1943's 'Phantom of the Opera'?!

For those younger persons in the crowd, I was wondering if they would be expecting a 'HoRRoR film' instead of what this turned out to be... which was more of a 'romantic melodrama with comedic flair' instead! 

Here is the trailer to the 1943 film 'Phantom of the Opera': http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi110887193/ 

As you can see by the trailer, Leo Carrrillo had 5th billing in this film, behind Nelson Eddy, Susanna Foster, and Claude Rains who were the headliners.

This film was actually a main feature instead of a 'B' movie, which several of the films that Leo played in would be considered to be.  However, even with 5th billing, Leo actually just had approximately 11 lines in the film!  He was Madame DuBois' vocal instructor in this film.

Charles Balteria, (pictured above top left), has been the public 'face' of the Film Festival for at least the two years we have been attending.  Our thanks to him for being a good public speaker and great 'host' each evening!  Last night before starting the main film he told us that Universal Pictures lavished Technicolor on this film, one of the first films to use color.

Even though Leo had only a few lines in the film, I would have to say that the film went over very well with the audience in attendance.  This film was Universal's long-awaited remake of the 1925 Lon Chaney classic!

However, Claude Rains who played the title role and was always a fine character actor, had refused to wear the kind of grotesque makeup that other Universal Pictures actors like Lon Chaney, Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff were wearing in other Universal films for this movie.  He was very leery of being 'typecasted' in this film, and would only allow makeup wizard Jack Pierce to apply a very moderate non-hideous scar.

Additionally, since it was 1943, the murders that took place were done very quickly and the film pace moved on, not showing every detail. Truly this was done very effectively and without being overly sensationalized.  You would almost think you were watching a romantic comedy / melodrama, especially with the 'Love Triangle' aspect in the film.  Or would that be 'Love Quadrangle' with three main male characters in love with the female lead?!

Tina, my youngest son Vinnie, and I also invited a couple with their young son to join us last night.  Below photos show Vinnie (shown at left in the bottom left photo), Alex (shown at left in the bottom right photo - the boys took turns shooting the photos) and then Michael, Tonya Mantooth, Dale Strack, and Tina.  The right photo also shows Brad Lousberg in the right foreground who was part of the Mens Group that 'sponsored' those from our Church that attended last evening also. 

The below left photo shows Tina LoSasso, Dick Swenson, Tina, and Rev. Diana Swenson who attended also from the Church.  A good time was had by all who came to this second Mens Group sponsored Leo Carrillo Film Festival outing!

At the immediate top right is a photo of Tina LoSasso holding one of four prizes that was awarded by Charles Balteria during the 'Trivia Game' portion of the Film Festival!  This was held during intermission time between the Cisco Kid TV Show episode and the Main Feature Film.

Tina is a very competitive person who loves to play to win, and was very pleased to be the 2nd winner after she answered a very hard trivia question.  She had to name two additional languages that Leo could speak fluently, out of seven total that Leo knew.  This after Charles told the audience three of the seven languages!

Not to be outdone, Michael stood up and waved his hat on the last question; what were the names of The Cisco Kid and Pancho's horses???  And No, Pancho's horse's name in The Cisco Kid TV Show was NOT Conquistador!  

So yeah, as you can tell by the number of blogs I've posted on Leo Carrillo's Ranch & Film Festival, Tina and I know our Leo Carrillo / Cisco Kid trivia, as we took home half of the prizes awarded last night!   As Tina would say "Woo-Hoo"!

There is only One More Night of the 2009 Leo Carrillo Film Festival should you be in the Carlsbad, California area next week.  Next Friday Night... on October 2nd!   However there will be NO Blog afterwards from us, as Tina and I are planning to be at the Long Beach Comic Con (LBCC) Friday and Saturday, and possibly blogging or Facebook Mobile(ing) from there!  So you'll have to look elsewhere for what happened at the Film Festival next week!

My thanks to Vinnie and Alex who helped me take photos at the Film Festival, (49 of them, so they can't be all used here!).  Plus our conversations with those we have met before at the Festival or just last night, like Denise, Anna, Sheila, Dee, Tina, Tonya, Dale, Dana and Greg.  Plus others from our Church who attended including Dick, Diana, Brad, and Debbie.  We've enjoyed the four films we've seen at the Film Festival this year and are sorry we won't be able to attend the fifth and final one next Friday...

Which reminds me... For more info on the Film Festival or just to learn about the ranch, check out the web site at:  http://www.leocarrilloranch.org/ 

Plus, if You would like to belong to the 'Friends Of Leo Carrillo Ranch', please check out their web site at: http://www.carrillo-ranch.org/ 

Continuing My Series On Creators that I met at the Comic Con International: San Diego 2009 and received at least one issue of their works for possible review...

Is Manuel Ríos Sarabia of Sadhaka Studio.  Manuel's Company is actually nearby in San Diego which I wasn't aware of at the time when I met him at the Con.  

This is what Manuel's advertising blurb about this comic says:

"The Fearless Zombie Hunters 1

Writer/Creator Manuel Rios Sarabia
 Art Gared Campos

Standard Comic
Black & White
Page Count: 28
Cover price $3.99

With his dying breath, El Angel Exterminador thrusts his legacy upon his hopeless son, Angel. Angel decides he is not really cut for the job of being the new Angel but fate puts him in front of a horde of zombies that might just make him change his mind. The appearance of Abronsius, Zombie Hunter, will help Angel to make his final decision.

The Fearless Zombie Hunters is… well, basically a tale about fearless zombie hunters. Imagine a black comedy starring Johnny Depp as the wise, middle aged and only living doctor in bio-thanathology, Professor Abronsius; an overweight Diego Luna (Y tu mama también) as the incompetent and disgraceful Angel, Son of El Angel, the greatest wrestler ever in Mexican history and Ana de la Reguera (Nacho Libre) as Candy, the sassy, sexy, retro aesthtete and extremely feminine balance between those two complete opposites. Now picture the three of them (in comic book form) fighting zombies for the sake of the world. There you have it. The Fearless Zombie Hunters.

You can find more about this comic book at Manuel's web site at: http://www.sadhakastudio.com/ which appears to be under a revision at this time.   Until then it appears with additional info, this one is still current: http://www.lapaella.com.mx/etogawa/sadhaka/inicio.html

~ Michael @  ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com