I stopped by the Com.X booth at the recent Long Beach Comic Con, (LBCC), basically to meet Andi Ewington in person....  

As Andi and I have been Facebook Friends for a while; but with him based in the United Kingdom, and myself based in the San Diego, California area, we had never met.

So an added plus for me attending the LBCC  a couple of hours North of me was to meet Andi.  Besides showing me the Special Edition Sampler, (more of which is shown in the bottom "Convention Photos Featurette", he also introduced me to Benjamin Shahrabani, Producer for Com.X.

Benjamin showed me a few of the projects that Com.X will be producing this year, as well as showing me a couple of others that have already been published.

This blog post is on the graphic novel 'Path' which is created, written and artworked by Gregory S Baldwin.  I had not seen it before, nor heard of it when it first came out in the UK.  Com.X has opened a Venice, California office. 

So what is this graphic novel about?  Here's the PR for it:

"Doppler is a neurotic bunny who doesn't have much in the way of people skills, but when he is cornered by a pack of hungry crocidogs, Dodge rescues him. Dodge is an older Elephant who doesn't see so well, but he needs help getting to his destination and against all odds, Doppler and Dodge form a very special friendship."

Product Details
Comic: 80 pages (graphic novel format)
Publisher: Com.x; 1st edition (2008)   Cover priced: $12.95 USD
ASIN: B0019RSI0W
Product Dimensions: 10 x 6.6 x 0.3 inches 

The comic book shown above was released just last month, and should still be available for sale at Your Local Comic Book Shop (LCBS)!

Before I get to my review on this issue, here is some of the PR info that was used to promote the comic book:

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

Actress, Producer, Entrepreneur, and talk show queen. She turned her wounds into wisdom and survived an abusive family to become one of the most powerful and influential people in the world. See the humble beginnings of Oprah Winfrey."

Following are the credits for this issue:

Writer and interior pages penciler: Joshua LaBello
Colorist:            Michelle Davies
Letterer:          Wilson Ramos, Jr.
Cover art:        Vinnie Tartamella 
Type:               Comics 
Genres:            Biography, Non-Fiction
Publisher:        Bluewater Productions 
Pub. Date:      October 06, 2009
Availability:   Released 
ISBN:              978-1-4276-3998-1
For ages:       13+

I read the above comic book this weekend along with a few others from Bluewater Productions.  I blogged about the Tribute issue to Michael Jackson already this week. (Click here for that blog.)

The reason I read this one and am blogging about it quicker than normal, is that comics like these that have big potential mainstream interest, have a way of being underordered by LCBS, and then sold out before my Blog readers can get to their LCBS for shopping.

This issue is just one of several in the 'Female Force' Series by Bluewater Comics.

Here are my thoughts on it, as well as a few points of interest by my wife Tina, who also read it:

The storyline that the writer, Joshua LaBello, laid out was well told.  I had not known of all the background scenes that Joshua laid out in this comic book.  The early years were well covered, and the later years were more of a 'scattered montage', to use Tina's phrasing of it.

Not that we didn't like the comic book, it truly is one that holds up well as an individual bio-comic and as one in the 'Female Force' series.   When Tina says 'scattered montage', that's because there was so much history to capture in such a small format (comic sized instead of graphic novel sized), that there had to be some 'cutting' done in presenting Oprah's long history.

The interior pages pencilling is finely illustrated also.  In this case the writer and penciller were the same, so he had the complete say as to how to layout the story he was telling.  Good job on this Joshua!

Michelle's coloring accentuated the pencilling.

Wilson's lettering was his usual good performance, and fit well within the parameters of the story and art. 

Plus after seeing so many great covers by Vinnie Tartamella, I just had to run a photo of him near the top of this blog post.  It's because of his front covers, and OK... also the personalities / subjects of these different series by Bluewater, that make me put these issues near the top of my reading stack!  Another great cover, Vinnie! 

I found this to be a good read, and also informative.  Yeah, there's been times when I've caught Oprah on TV, especially on her road trips with Gayle King.  Those were fun episodes!  And yes, Tina also found this to be a good read! 

BTW, I have already blogged about a few other issues in this series, including: Princess Diana, Condoleeza Rice, and Caroline Kennedy.

To see more news about this comic book series, and / or other comics that are being published by Bluewater Comics, please check their web site at:    http://www.BlueWaterProd.com !

Yesterday, late afternoon, I received a message from John Tighe, Administrator of the 'Fans of Shel Dorf, Founder of the San Diego Comic Con' Facebook Fan Page.  

The message was copied from Charlie Roberts communication:

I just spoke with Shel's brother Mike. Shel passed away at 1:15 PM Pacific Time today, Tuesday November 3rd at Sharp Hospital in San Diego after a lengthy illness.

I also received an email from Mike Towry from the ShelDorfTribute.com site, as well as from other Facebook Friends.  This blog post is just to mention the services that are being held Today in San Diego.

So as to get this blog posted quicker, I am just going to refer you to my earlier blog post from October 7th, about when the ShelDorfTribute.com site was first set up... (click here for that blog).

Shel's passing has been noted already on at least one TV Station in San Diego, as I saw a mini-feature on him during the 7:30 AM spot on KUSI-TV. Shel was duly noted as the Founder of the Comic Con.

Also, you can go to this page for more info on the services for today, (click here).

I am sure there will be more information and also stories about Shel in the upcoming days, so  please check the following websites at:

http://www.sheldorftribute.com/ 

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=93720774140

This blog post is relatively timely because of the Michael Jackson film that was released last week.  In addition to that film, there was also a comic book tribute issue which is pictured above with both covers that were used for the comic.  

Before I get to my thoughts on this issue, here is some of the PR info that was used to promote the comic book:

"To millions, he was the King of Pop; one of the world's most cherished entertainers and a celebrated international icon. With his untimely passing, Michael Jackson left an extraordinary and tragic legacy. Bluewater Productions is paying tribute to his memory and legacy in October 2009 with a special collectors edition biography comic, which will trace Jackson's rise as a musical prodigy with the "Jackson 5" through last Thursdays sad end.

The book will feature highlights from his storied career and enigmatic private life.

"Michael Jackson's music served as the soundtrack to countless lives... including mine," said Bluewater president Darren G. Davis, "His influence on our culture has been profound."

TRIBUTE: MICHAEL JACKSON, KING OF POP features a wraparound cover and foreword by The Official Michael Jackson Fan Club's Giuseppe Mazzola. Mazzola was also Jackson's friend.

"This is a celebration of his life and what he meant to a legion of fans," Davis said. "Although the book won't shy away from some of his personal troubles, we try to tell a balanced story that shows Jackson as a musical genius, an unparalleled superstar, and as a complex person."

Michael Jackson's reign as the King of Pop is celebrated in the latest biographical comic book from Bluewater Productions.

The newest addition to the publisher's critically acclaimed library features a cover and foreword by artist and friend of Jackson's Giuseppe Mazzola.

The life of the world's most popular entertainer was infused with fantasy and tragedy. His discography is legendary. His legacy is complicated and unparalleled."

Following are the credits for this issue:

By:    Wey-Yuih Loh - writer, Giovanni P Timpano - interior art, Erick Marquez - colorist, Jaymes Reed -letterer, Cover 'A' - Giuseppe Mazzola, Cover 'B' -Vinnie Tartamella 
Type:   Comics  
Genres:   Biography, Non-Fiction
Publisher:   Bluewater Productions 
Pub. Date:   October 06, 2009  $3.99 cover priced
Availability:   Released  (Note: 1st Printing Sold Out!  Still available at your LCBS!)
ISBN:   978-1-4276-4183-0
UPC:   978142764183050399
For ages:   13+

I read the above comic book this weekend.  Quite honestly I'm not that big of a fan of Michael Jackson.  Before I go further, I'll say this:  I enjoyed the Jackson 5, and several of Michael's songs in his solo career. However I didn't go see him in concert, nor when he had to go to court. 

So I read this as someone who was not going to go 'ga-ga' over the fact that this is a Tribute issue to Michael.  I also read it as someone who enjoys rock bands and solo artists history being portrayed in comics / graphic novel format for reading.

The 'Splash Page' was a letter to the readers of the comic by Giuseppe Mazzola, of the Michael Jackson Official Fan Club.  So that should settle any thoughts that this publication was intended to 'rip off' Michael Jackson's legacy, as was done when Elvis Presley died so many years ago now...

Upon opening the comic to the second page, I then come across a 'cartoon character' who introduces the story.   I can't quite get over that.  It kinda 'bugs' me, (no pun intended).  Okay, I figure that the cartoon character is being used because Michael really never 'grew up'.  However I don't see an explanation for the cartoon character in the story.  Yeah, the cartoon character is the narrator of the story.

The story line is one that a Michael Jackson Fan would love.  I made sure of this thought by asking my wife Tina to read this issue also.  She was of the opinion that this issue would be a good keepsake for Michael Jackson Fans, as the storyline was pretty much what she knew about Michael.  She's a bigger fan of Michael's works than I am, which is why I asked her.

However she took point with the interior artwork, which is what I was coming to next...  Her thoughts about the Jackson kids not looking just 'right' artwise was something I was thinking too when reading the issue.  The artwork on both of the covers were done by different artists than the interior pages artist.

The coloring was fine, and the lettering fit well with the tone of the tribute issue. Yet the interior artwork was just a little 'off' in my opinion.  Looking again at the issue, I would have to agree with my wife, and point to the head shots, and the facial expressions as being what bothered me also.  The rest of the panels were fine, with the bodies and scenes illustrated well.  It was just the heads / faces that just didn't seem right.

However, the storyline was put together well.  No sensationalism here.  No out to make a quick buck capitalizing on Michael's death.  Instead it is a well written comic book tribute, and well worth the time and money for a Michael Jackson fan to pick up for their collection.  As this blog is being written to be published on Tusesday November 3rd, the news is out that the 1st printing of this tribute issue is 'Sold Out'.  What that means is that the publisher doesn't have more copies to send to retailers.  You should be able to find a copy of this issue at your Local Comic Book Shop, (LCBS).  If not, then there is a 2nd printing planned, along with a different cover for the second printing.

To see more news about the second printing of this comic book, and / or other comics that are being published by Bluewater Comics, please check their web site at:    http://www.bluewaterprod.com/  !

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

Erik Andresen, who I have been in contact with, off and on, for many years during the early years of his comics mail order and of course, mine.  We recently became Facebook Friends, and I realized that Erik has really been busy all these years!   So I asked him to share with my Blog on what he has done in recent years, and what's new with him.  Here it is in his own words:

"I drew a popular comic strip for my college newspaper. (The Arizona Daily Wildcat at The University Of Arizona). After graduating in 1989, I created my own comic strip syndicate and distributed my comics to college newspapers. At its height, my comic appeared in over 200 college newspapers, and was the most widely read college-only comic strip in America at the time. A book of my cartoons, “No Exit by Erik Andresen” was published in 1991 by Bean Avenue publishing, and is still available on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0962811106/ref=dp_olp_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1255459588&sr=8-1

Even so, I was making more money trading vintage comic books as a hobby. I opened a collectibles store and drawing comics took a back seat to selling comic books.

My store did very well and one day, one of my customers wanted to buy it. By now, I was married and my wife was expecting our first child. So I sold the store and became a stay-at-home dad.

While raising my son, I also sold collectibles on eBay. I became a Power Seller and met many great entrepreneurs through the eBay discussion boards.

One of them is Bruce Hershenson, owner of a website called eMoviePoster.com. He knew I used to be a cartoonist, and asked me to draw cartoon ads for him. Each ad features Bruce as a different character, based on a classic movie genre. In one ad, he’s a jungle man, like Tarzan. In another, he’s a hard-boiled detective, like Sam Spade. The ads appear in Movie Collector’s World magazine, and also on his website.

Other people saw the ads and wanted me to draw cartoons for them. One of them is the wife of a vintage watch dealer. She couldn’t buy him a watch. He already owns thousands of them. She had me turn him into a superhero called “The Watchdude”, who fights crime after being bitten by a radioactive watch dog.

At his birthday party, the comic strip was turned into a giant poster, and attendees wore t-shirts with the comic strip on it. The watch dealer says it was one of the best birthday gifts he ever received.

Another one of my clients operates job expos in foreign countries, for professionals seeking work in America. This client believes that people throw away junk mail, but they’ll read a comic strip. The next expo is in Australia, so I drew a cartoon where a koala is talking to an employer, telling him about the expo. The comic was turned into a postcard and mailed to human resource directors all over the United States.

I think the internet has opened up some tremendous opportunities for cartoonists to apply their craft. There are thousands, maybe even millions, of small and micro business owners who are proud of their accomplishments and would love to have their story told in fun-to-read comic strip format. You can publish anything, anywhere for any audience.

The internet is also a tremendous place to learn. Facebook is such a vibrant, exciting community. I’ve been lucky to be able to interact with so many gifted and knowledgeable people from so many different walks of life. Some of my “Facebook Friends” are accomplished artists, writers, publishers and entrepreneurs who share their craft and offer valuable feedback.

YouTube is an incredible educational resource. You can find videos which teach you how to do almost anything. When I started drawing these cartoon ads, I needed to color them in Photoshop, and I had no idea how to do that. After a YouTube search, I found dozens of videos from professional comic book colorists which helped me get up to speed.

I turned a couple of my cartoons into YouTube videos, and I think that internet videos might be a great way to branch out.

The reboot of my cartooning career is still in its infancy. I’m grateful to those who have allowed me to learn from them, to those who have offered encouragement, and especially to those who have paid me to draw cartoons for them. THANK YOU!"    - Erik Andresen