TODAY'S 'MAIN FEATURE':

Every day on Facebook I check for those Facebook Friends that are celebrating their birthdays, and congratulate them on their Special Day by posting salutations on their Facebook Wall...

Sometimes, when I either know them personally, or have met them at a comic con, or they have contributed something to the 'World of Comics' in general, I might even post a mention of them in the 'Main Feature' or 'Featurette' sections of this Blog.

Today, I wanted to wish a special "Happy Birthday" to John Wesley Shipp, who starred in the televison series, "The Flash" from 1990-91 on CBS!

Yes, he has starred in many other TV Series, (see his Wikipedia entry here), but this is a Comic Book Blog, so I'm going to center on that aspect of his acting career!

You can also see that long list of credits of his with additional info at: the IMDb site.

Unfortunately the TV Series, "The Flash", only ran from September 20, 1990 – May 18, 1991.  I enjoyed the series,all 22 episodes, and have blogged about it here before.

Truthfully, I hadn't seen John's earlier works before this TV Series first aired.  Those were daytime dramas that I didn't watch. However, his work on this TV Show stood out for me, and he interacted quite well with others in the cast, especially Amanda Pays in their scenes together.

One of the best things that came from this TV show for collectors, besides the DVD set, was a comic book tie-in special based on the TV series.

It was published by DC Comics back in 1991, and was titled "The Flash TV Special #1", and was super-sized by running at 76 pages. The comic book featured two stories, of which one story was written by John Byrne with art by Javier Saltares.  The second story featured a thief named "Kid Flash". Plus for fans of the TV show, there was a behind-the-scenes look on the making of that TV series with photos.

I have noticed that John Wesley Shipp has been at several comic cons in recent years.  If and when he is scheduled to appear at another one, I'll try to post that in this Blog.

Anyways, I wanted to 'Hi-Lite' the fact that it is John's Birthday today...  and wanted to wish him a "Happy Birthday"!

AND: Thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts! We usually blog on a daily basis during the 'work week' on comic book creators, comic book reviews, comic cons, book signings, and other pop culture news and events, such as the Special Birthday blogged about here today! 

Join us again soon, as we publish another 'Main Feature'.  And don't forget to check out the 'Featurette' shown below this article!

TODAY'S 'MAIN FEATURE':

Congrats to Andi Ewington and the Com.X people who I met in person at the 2009 Long Beach Comic Con (LBCC)...

They will be at the First United Kingdom Release of the '45' this week!

Below are the details of the event for the UK readers of this Blog so they can possibly make it to see Andi and the others attending:

'The 45' Com.X Signing
First UK release of The 45!
Type: Music/Arts - Opening
Network: Global
Date: Saturday, January 23, 2010
Time: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Location: Forbidden Planet, Cardiff

Description: To celebrate the UK release of their much anticipated new release 'The 45', Com.X will be showing up in full force to sign copies of the book for fans.

Guests include Com.X publisher Eddie Deighton, writer of 'The 45' Andi Ewington, writer of 'Cla$$war' Rob Williams, writer and artists of 'Razorjack' an colorist on 'Watchmen' John Higgins and artists Charlie Adlard (Walking Dead), Lee Carter, Matt Timson, Sally Hurst, Ben Oliver (Young X-Men, The Authority, Ultimate X-Men), and Jon Sloan.

They will be appearing at Forbidden Planet in Cardiff from 1pm to sign copies of their work.

So what's the work about?

"Forty-Five is a series of Superhero interviews documented by James Stanley. As a soon-to-be father, James wants to find out what lies in store for his family if his unborn child turns out to have a Superpower.

Having decided to forego the test that would determine whether his child is carrying the all-important "Super-S" gene, which differentiates the genetic makeup of a superhero from that of a normal person, James sets out on a quest to interview forty-five super-powered individuals in the hope that their experiences may better prepare him for the birth of a child that is potentially gifted with extraordinary abilities.

On his journey, he encounters characters from all walks of life; from single mothers struggling to raise gifted children, to rebellious super-teenagers, all the way through to those reaching the end of their lives. But what starts as a voyage of personal discovery becomes something far more ominous when he crosses paths with an organization known as XoDOS."

"Each page of art has been illustrated by a different comic artist, with no predetermined brief given; just the written page as guidance. The concept is unlike anything you've seen in comic books so far; it truly is an original attempt at redefining what people expect from a comic book format."

The List of the 45 Artists involved with this project include, (but not limited to):

John Higgins
Neil Edwards
Ben Oliver
Trevor Hairsine
Lee Garbett
Liam Sharp
Calum Alexander Watt
Steve Sampson
Kit Wallis
Admira Wijaya
Carlo Pagulayan
Seb Antoniou
Rufus Dayglo
David Ryan
Sally Hurst
Andie Tong
Charlie Adlard
Andrew Wildman
Stephen Thompson
Simon Coleby

My congrats to Andi Ewington, with whom I have been communicating with since early last year.  It was great to meet him in person at the October 2009 Long Beach Comic Con, (photo at top left of this post), and discuss his then still upcoming book.

For my earlier blog post on meeting Andi and others from Com.X, please see this archived blog post: "Have YOU Take THE PATH?".

You can check out the upcoming event in Cardiff at this link: "45 First UK Signing Event".

PLUS, You can become a Member of the '45' Facebook Group Page by following this link and joining:  "Forty-Five".

My thanks to both Andi Ewington and the Com.X people for the time they spent with Tina and myself at the 2009 LBCC.  And for the promo literature for the earlier mention / review in this Blog, plus what was sent for this 'Main Feature'.

PLUS: Thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts! We usually blog on a daily basis during the 'work week' on comic book creators, comic book reviews, comic cons, book signings, and other pop culture news and events, such as the one blogged about here today! 

Join us again soon, as we publish another 'Main Feature'.  And don't forget to check out the 'Featurette' shown below this article!

TODAY'S 'MAIN FEATURE':

Tina and I saw a lot of comics creators at their tables in the Artists Alley at the 2009 Long Beach Comic Con (LBCC)...

But none so wild and crazy as Iota_Arcane and D. Castr at their Taco Comics Table!

Indeed, I've held off blogging about their works for a while, because they just didn't 'fit into' this blog in the 'normal' sense.

Now that doesn't mean their work isn't good, it's just that the work is more of what used to be called 'underground' style, and their music is more hip hop style than what I usually would mention here, if I mentioned music at all.  It's a comic book blog after all, you know! 

What grabbed Tina's attention was that the comic book shown at the top right was generated from a 'track' on Iota_Arcane's CD titled 'Imaginary Slave'.  So the fact that the music media spawned a comic book was interesting to Tina.

For myself, I thought it was a cool background story.  The music is hip hop, not my normal listening to music venue.  The comic book as you can see from the front cover is kinda weird, but just as 'far out' as the underground comics from the 1960's - 1970's we are selling in our online store.

The tune that plays in the background on the video presented above is kinda catchy... more so than the CD, but again, that is my personal taste in music.  I blog about what I like here, and the combo of a CD track to a full blown Comic Book is a story that I like.

As a side note, here's Iota_Arcane's notes on the CD itself: This is a collection of old songs & poems I have been performing live for years. I linked up with a old friend Deadend from Head Hunterz Crue and I was lucky enough to have him do all the production and recording for this project with Dj Step Daddy on the Cuts. This is me doing me. It is super unorthodox with no standard or rules. Just shredding in Rhymes. D. Castr did the cover art. D. Castr and I also have a comic book out based on the "Imaginary Slave" song on this album that correlates with the comic book".

I'm presenting their story here for YOU to check it out further, IF this style of art and / or music is more your speed than mine.

They were fun guys and passionate about their Taco Comics Table at the LBCC.  They deserve to have some publicity about their creative products.  They are not sitting around waiting for fame to come to them. And also not sitting at their table not paying attention to those passing by. Indeed, they both could have figured that Tina and I were definitely not 'hip' enough to share their creations with, but they were definitely energetic and friendly enough when then realized that Tina and I expressed interest in what they were doing. 

Since the LBCC, they have since gone on to do a couple more comic cons that you can see at their websites.

You can check that and them out further at the following links:

Iota_Arcane Band on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads at: http://www.myspace.com/xnationalz

For the Taco Comics Facebook Member Page:

http://www.facebook.com/tacocomics?ref=ts

Iota_Arcane & D.Castr's Comics Page: http://www.TacoComics.com

Taco Comics Blog at: http://www.TacoComics.WordPress.com

My thanks to both Iota_Arcane & D. Castr (David Castro) for the time they spent with us at the LBCC.  And for the promo comic and CD for a possible mention / review in this Blog.

PLUS: Thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts! We usually blog on a daily basis during the 'work week' on comic book creators, comic book reviews, comic cons, and other pop culture news and events, or TV show based on comics, such as the one blogged aobut here today! 

Join us again soon, as we publish another 'Main Feature'.  And don't forget to check out the 'Featurette' shown below this article!

TODAY'S 'MAIN FEATURE':

Tina and I watched the Season Premiere Episode of the 'Human Target' Sunday Night...

Which is being rerun tonight, (Tuesday - January 19th, 2010). I'm blogging about this TV show because it is loosely based on a comic book series co-created by Len Wein and Carmine Infantino back in 1972. 

1972?  Yes, that far back!

Too often the co-creators of properties that old don't even get mentioned in the 'credits' of new works.  Or, possibly the co-creators don't even want to be associated with the new works.

In this case I went to the member page of my Facebook Friend, Len Wein, to see what he said about the TV Show.  What I found there was:  "(Len Wein) is pleased that Cartoon Network is rerunning his first Ben 10 today at Noon. Tonight, at 8 on Fox, the premiere of Human Target! Watch 'em both if you can".

So I felt good about seeing this on his page, and wanted to blog about the new series today as a 'Main Feature'.

Which is doubly good, because I really like two of the main cast members of this new show.  More on that later in this post.

First I want to give a little history on "The Human Target". The Human Target is actually named Christopher Chance, and he is an American comic book character co-created by Len Wein and Carmine Infantino. (Len is pictured at the top left of this post.)

Christopher Chance in the comic books is what I would consider a 'unique' combination of both private detective and bodyguard, who operates by impersonating his clients in order to eliminate threats to their safety. (Yes, I know, that's not what he does in the Premiere Episode of this 2010 TV Show.)

The first appearance of 'The Human Target' was published in Action Comics #419 back in December of 1972, (pictured at the top right of this post. See the blurb for 'The Human Target' above the Action Comics Logo.)

This early appearance, and others in Action Comics are known as "back-up stories".  Action Comics is of course published by DC Comics. Later on the feature appeared in core 'Batman' titles such as 'The Brave and the Bold' and 'Detective Comics'.

It wasn't until much later that DC Comics gave this feature its' own comic book title, in 1991. The one-shot comic book, (shown to the left) was titled: The Human Target Special.

This was during the time that The Human Target was adapted as a Summer Televison Series in July of 1992 that starred Rick Springfield.  (Yes, THAT Rick Springfield!) It lasted 7 episodes, and had Danny Bilson and Paul DeMeo as writers.  

After that, it wasn't until 1999 that Christopher Chance then starred in a limited series, followed up by a one-shot, and then in an ongoing Human Target series written by Peter Milligan and published under DC's Vertigo imprint. That run lasted the longest, with 21 issues in total. For a full listing of these titles and issues please click this link.

Okay... I've brought you up to date on the history of this comic book feature and its' earlier incarnation as a brief TV Series.

Now for the current series which premiered Sunday, January 17th of 2010 as a Fox television series starring Mark Valley, Chi McBride and Jackie Earle Haley.

First: I like the choice of two of the actors for sure...

That of Mark Valley as Christopher Chance.  I think it is about time that he was given the chance to headline a series. 

I thought he had a good role in the TV Series, 'Boston Legal', as Brad Chase, from 2004 - 2007.

His role in 'Fringe' on FOX TV was too short. But then again, he did marry Anna Torv, his co-star on the show in December 2008. (Anna plays agent Olivia Dunham.)

But now, he has a 'chance' to become a major TV Star...

Additionally I liked Chi McBride on 'Pushing Daisies'.  Tina saw the special panel at the San Diego Comic Con before that show premiered, and I wound up watching the series with her, althought I wasn't as excited about it as her.  However, I thought that Chi McBride and Kristin Chenowith were two of the best actors on that series...

I mentioned that I liked the choice of two of the actors for this series. It's not that I don't like Jackie Earle Haley, it's just that I've only remembered seeing him in the Watchmen film, where he had the role of Rorschach.  His role in the premiere episode of this new series was a vital one, and his look fit the role.

Speaking of roles, of course it is the guest stars that help make a series when the show itself is set in different locations with different characters for each episode.  I'm looking forward to the episode with Moon Bloodgood myself!  I've liked her ever since first seeing her on 'Journeyman'.  Her role in the film Terminator: Salvation, (seen to the left), wasn't bad either!

My thanks to the FOX Network for airing this premiere a second time... as it was up against the Golden Globes on Sunday.  The second episode of this new show airs Wednesday night.  Tina and I will be watching it!  Good luck to this new series!

TODAY'S 'MAIN FEATURE':

I received the following press release from the Hero Initiative which I wanted to share here today...

That's because the press release is about Ed Hannigan, whose works I enjoyed reading while he was at Marvel Comics.

The following is about the book, the exhibition, the charity auction, AND the man, Ed Hannigan:

"The Cartoon Art Museum and the Hero Initiative proudly present Ed Hannigan: Covered, a retrospective exhibition celebrating the art of Ed Hannigan.  This retrospective features a selection of covers and original artwork created by Hannigan for Marvel Comics and DC Comics in the 1970s and 1980s, including such popular characters as Batman, Superman, Spider-Man and The Defenders.  

Today, Hannigan is 58 years old and has multiple sclerosis.  The Hero Initiative, a charitable organization that provides financial assistance to comic book professionals in need, and Marvel Comics have collaborated on a tribute book, Ed Hannigan:  Covered, that features highlights from Hannigan’s artistic career. 

The Cartoon Art Museum will display some of Hannigan’s most notable covers alongside the cover and complete interior artwork for one of his most famous single-issue stories, The Spectacular Spider-Man #64, which introduced the crime-fighting duo Cloak and Dagger.  

Sponsorship for this exhibition has been provided by The Comic Outpost.  The Comic Outpost, located on 2381 Ocean Ave. San Francisco, CA has been fulfilling the needs of comic book lovers for well over 15 years.  Current owners Gary Buechler and Roger Yan firmly believe their customer service and subscriber program is second to none.  For more questions, visit their website at www.comicoutpost.net.

SAVE THE DATE:  An auction of original artwork will be held at the Cartoon Art Museum on Friday, April 2, 2010, in conjunction with San Francisco’s WonderCon Comics convention.

About Ed Hannigan:

Ed was born August 6, 1951 in Newport, Rhode Island, the first of what would become eight children. His dad was an officer in the U.S. Navy, and later an engineer/sales executive for Tidewater Oil (later to become Getty Oil). He grew up throughout the Northeast, where his grandmother used to give him comic books. With their help, he learned to read at a young age, particularly impressed with World's Finest, featuring Superman and Batman.

Ed soon became a Marvel fanatic, and was determined to draw comic books some day. In high school in Ashland, Massachusetts he practiced drawing constantly and produced comics of his own. He also illustrated the senior yearbook.

In 1971, after moving to New Jersey, he managed to wrangle an invitation to visit Marvel Comics’ offices. He showed his art samples to the folks there—Marie Severin, Mike Esposito, Herb Trimpe and others. They were polite, but less than impressed. But he still kept coming around. Then one day Sol Brodsky needed someone to do some lettering corrections on the British weekly reprint series, Mighty World of Marvel. Ed volunteered and for a short while, became a letterer.

Sol then needed someone to do some zip-a-tone shading on the same reprint line. Ed and Klaus Janson took on that job and were friendly rivals for a while as they shaded photostats of old Spider-Man, Fantastic Four and Thor stories. But Ed did not give up on drawing comics, practicing and learning from the pros at Marvel.

Eventually he was allowed to do some sketches for those same British reprints and finally was given a Planet of the Apes cover to draw. After that he started helping Art Director John Romita to design covers for other artists and occasionally himself to draw. He also illustrated some stories. By and by, Ed became the busiest comic cover sketch artist in the place. At one time or another he did cover designs for just about every comic in the line.

Ed tried to tailor cover designs to the style of whichever artist was going to do the final art, but he also introduced some trademark features of his own, most famously, "messing with the logo" in some way or another, destroying or distorting it. The sketches became more elaborate and often were fully colored.

He continued to draw some stories ands even wrote a few (Defenders was his longest run), but cover sketches were his mainstay for the next several years, and that's what he is best known for in the industry.

When the comics business contracted in the early 1990s, Ed was forced to find other employment. He end up doing computer graphics for a publisher in Massachusetts for nine years.

In the course of those years, he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, which at first was a minor annoyance, but soon progressed to a major disability. He now lives in New Hampshire with his wife and two children."

I wanted to add that Ed also pencilled the cover of Fantastic Four #170 cover dated May 1976 with inks by Joe Sinnott.  I always want to mention work done on that series by comic creators as it has been my all time favorite comic book run. 

The Facebook Group Page for the HERO Initiative can be found by clicking here.

The Facebook Fan Page for the Cartoon Art Museum can be found by clicking here.  

I am a member / fan of both of these pages on Facebook, and there is good reading there as well as updates by both organizations.

My thanks to the HERO Initiative people for sending me the Press Release.  I invite my blog readers to either / or / and attend the exhibit / charity auction event / pick up the book.