TODAY'S 'MAIN FEATURE':

Since this package was complete, along with a follow-up email, I decided to move the review of this comic book at the top of my list of comics that I wanted to blog about.

That's because the package, besides being in the orderly format that makes a review much more manageble to conduct, also contained a really beautiful copy of this first comic book issue!

First though, let me post what the writer / producer says the comic book is about:

"This is a limited series based on the true story of Admiral Yi Soon Shin, a Korean naval commander who saved his people from Japanese invasion forces during the Imjin War (1592-1598).

Much like the Nazis during World War II, the Japanese were known for having little remorse for the innocent civilians of Korea.  They raped women, enslaved children and killed elders.  All that stood against them was one man who could not be defeated in battle." 

Okay, that's not my usual fare in reading, although I am a student of history!

Why is it Not my 'usual fare'?  Well, let me tell you... I grew up during the days that 'World History' was taught basically about the "Western World's" History.  Yeah, I took a 'Religions of the World' course that included a LOT of Eastern religions, but my knowledge of the Eastern hemisphere is a little limited.

My knowledge of the history of that part of the world is basically obtained by watching 'Kung Fu Extravanganza' at the Comic Con Internatiaonal: San Diego each year, which is hosted by Richard S Meyers!  And No, I'm not kidding!

So what did I like about this comic book?

Well, the artwork from cover to cover is stunning! Artist Giovanni Timpano does excellent work in telling the story in his own style.  Adriana De Los Santos, the colorist, added 'atmosphere' to this 'Eastern Hemisphere' locale.

The lettering by Joel Saavedra fits and flows around the artwork without getting in the way.  Great job!

I also found a name in the credits that I have known about for many years, that of David Anthony Kraft.  I really enjoyed his series 'Comics Interview' that he published for many years. Good to see him here as Editor.

So what's left to like or dislike?  Well, that would be the writing / the story / the dialogue.... Which I found to be very good, even though I am not a student of the Korean / Japanese war that is the background of this story.

However, I for one enjoyed the story as it was told to the reader from the mind of the writer.  But, and I say this cautiously... the story is told by the writer who is also the producer of this series.

Thus I have to say this, not knowing of the history of the war portryaed in this series.  And maybe it also popped into my mind because of the reference to the Nazis provided by the writer that I used above.

If the Nazis had won WWII, then I'm sure we would have seen 'history' written as it always is... by the victors.  I remember seeing cartoons on TV in the late 1950's - 1960's from the early 1940's portraying the Japanese soldiers as 'Japs' and the Germans as 'Krauts', etc., etc., in name calling, and physical characteristics being overly exagerated... 

So I'm not for sure or not if someone who is a descendant of the other side of this Yi Soon Shin story would consider this storyline as 'Propaganda' or not.  I'm sure my blog will reach someone who will possibly take it as such sometime in the future.

My only thought here is that this first issue is a good readable and introductory issue, good enough to jump to the top of my list for wanting to review it ASAP! 

Yes, there is a little 'blood & guts' in this storyline, but for the most part done 'tastefully'.  Again, the word 'propaganda' could be brought out to use for the last page of this issue!

However, I for one can see this as a really good start for a limited series on this subject, told in the style and fashion that the writer wants it presented.  Thus, I am stating that I for one am looking forward to the rest of the second issue of this storyline!

So how can YOU obtain a copy of this first issue of the limited comic book series?  Onrie tells me the following:

"The book can be purchased through one of the following retailers listed on my website":

www.yisoonshin.com/purchase

The book can also be purchased directly on Amazon;

http://www.amazon.com/Yi-Soon-Shin-Warrior-Defender/dp/B002MVAUM8

Onrie also tells me that:

"Creator bios can be found on our website by clicking on the following link":

http://www.yisoonshin.com/creators

"We also have a Facebook Page dedicated to the book":

http://www.facebook.com/?sk=messages&tid=1246130642392#!/pages/Yi-Soon-Shin-Comic-Book/139636395551?ref=ts

"Our home page is": www.yisoonshin.com.

My thanks to Onrie Kompan for bringing the new format of this series to my attention!

AND...My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts!

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

~ Michael D Hamersky @ ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com

Note: Comic books / fanzines / and graphic novels like the one mentioned above, can be found at our own web site for sale at:

 http://www.comicbookscircus.com/ 

 

"Hammering Out the Web For You Since May 12th, 1998!"   Note: If you are breaking into or already 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 possible review, send to:   Make It So Marketing PO Box 130653 Carlsbad, CA 92013   We also have an on-line exhibitor table at the virtual Facebook Comic Con. You can view the table by clicking this link.  If you are a Facebook member, please join our Facebook Comic Con | Make It So Marketing exhibitor table for updates, specials, and other wall posts!   If you are a Facebook member and would like to join my Facebook Network, feel free to send a 'friend request' to 'Michael D Hamersky'.

TODAY'S FEATURETTE: I'm receiving all kinds of invites to comic cons, events taking place at comic cons, etc.  Most usually come a day or two before the event happens, so there just isn't enough time to blog about them here! However, when I can, and there is room in this Blog's Featurette section, then I like to post 'events' from my Facebook Friends here. One of those 'Events' invites is from 'Angel Comics'.  I haven't seen any of their comic books to date to review or mention here, but their individual pages that they post in their Facebook Fan Page look pretty good. So I'm picking out their invite here to post here in my Featurette section. It's at the upcoming MegaCon that is happening this NEXT weekend: March 12th-14th, 2010 Orange County Convention Center Hall D 9899 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819 Showroom Hours: Friday - 1pm to 7pm Saturday - 10am to 6pm Sunday - 10am to 5pm Since it was the Angel Comics people that 'invited' me to attend their 'Event' at this con via Facebook, I'll post here what they had to say... After showing you a photo of a couple of them at the recent 'Texas Big Beat 09 Show' below:     At the left is Adrian Nelson, and at the right is Roderick Thornton.  The others in this Angel Comics group are: Chris Forman, Mike Brooks, and Mike "MC" Charles. Their event that you can 'add' yourself to AND be interactive with, is shown below: Megacon Florida 2010 -  Come check out the Angel Comics Artists! Tina and I will NOT be at this Con. If You are also exhibiting there, please let me know via my Facebook pages contact info, for a possible mention in my Blog! --------------------------- Talking about comics and comic cons: if YOU are a comics creator, (writer, penciler, inker, colorist, letterer, etc.), OR even a Comics / Magazine Publisher, feel free to contact me regarding YOUR works for a possible mention / review! I've made a special blog post about: "How To Best Submit YOUR Publication For Possible Review!" for those creators / publishers that would like to possibly have their publications mentioned or reviewed, which could either be published in the 'Main Feature' or 'Featurette' sections. ~Michael @ ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com

 

TODAY'S 'MAIN FEATURE':

First of all... I want to thank Bob Bretall, who invited me join him via phone to be a guest on the Comic Book Page's "Round Table Discussion"! 

The topic was "The Long Beach Comic Expo" and can be heard at the following link: (Click here for Podcast)!

Description of the podcast as follows:
Bob Bretall and Michael Hamersky (of MakeItSoMarketing.com) discuss the recent Long Beach Comic Expo which occurred on February 20th, 2010. A great smaller show with a plethora of creators, including Steve Niles, Mike Mignola, Stan Sakai, Bernie Wrightson, Whilce Portacio, Richard Starkings, and many more… 

I have known Bob for a while via Facebook and meeting him at a few cons, including the 2008 Comic Con International: San Diego, where I blogged about him and his partner, John Mayo, who were guests on a panel on podcasters. (Click here for that 2008 SDCC post.)!

John wasn't available to attend the February 20th, 2010 one day LBCC Expo, So Bob asked me when we ran into each other there if I would like to participate in lieu of John.

"Sure!" I replied. It sounded like fun!

And it was! Bob and I conversed about 35 minutes via the phone. You'll have to pardon my voice, as Tina and I no longer have 'land lines' to call from.  Actually the sound is not bad coming from me via Bluetooth & cell phone.  And Bob sounded Great as usual!

Each of us went over aspects of the LBCC Expo, and although we both liked several things in common, there were other aspects of the Expo that the other of us didn't see.

It wasn't that big of a show, but Tina and I spent from Opening Time at 10 AM to 6:15 PM on the exhibit floor!

Plus Bob was there till just about closing time at 7 PM!

So between us, this Expo is definitely covered in this podcast!

So give it a 'listen' if You would, and let me know via my Facebook Group Page what You thought of our podcast!  We both gave 'Shout Outs' to several creators and comic dealers that attended this show, but couldn't cover them all in this half hour podcast.

For other links to Bob and John's podcast web site, just click the following: http://www.ComicBookPage.com.  There's loads of great podcasts covering all aspects of comics!

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

~ Michael D Hamersky @ ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com

Note: Comic books / fanzines / and graphic novels like the ones mentioned on this podcast, can be found at our own web site for sale at:

 http://www.comicbookscircus.com/ 

 

"Hammering Out the Web For You Since May 12th, 1998!"       Note: If you are breaking into or already 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 possible review, send to:   Make It So Marketing PO Box 130653 Carlsbad, CA 92013       We also have an on-line exhibitor table at the virtual Facebook Comic Con. You can view the table by clicking this link.  If you are a Facebook member, please join our Facebook Comic Con | Make It So Marketing exhibitor table for updates, specials, and other wall posts!     If you are a Facebook member and would like to join my Facebook Network, feel free to send a 'friend request' to 'Michael D Hamersky'.

TODAY'S "FEATURETTE": The Lutheran (Magazine) - February 2010 Issue: Okay... First this ISN'T a proselytizing blog featurette.  Heck, I'm NOT even Lutheran! BUT... I always like to point out articles that are in the 'mainstream world' that those in the comics industry could adopt for their own purposes. So this is my 'pointing out' that the cover feature to this issue starts on page 20 of the magazine and ends at page 26.  What's the 'cover feature'? The cover is pictured below:     In those six pages you'll find updated info on Social Media / Facebook / Twitter. Info that YOU could use to help build awareness of YOUR works in the all important social media.  I keep seeing comics / graphic novel creators jumping into social media because everyone else is doing so, or being told to do so by their friends and then see them floundering, or giving up, because they don't have the background nor inclination to utilize the social media the ways it could be...  You wouldn't believe the numbers of 'invites' I receive to Facebook group pages or fan pages that are a 'page' in name only. There is a limit of 300 Group Pages a Facebook member can belong to.  I only want to keep those that are actually actively using their Group Pages! Here is the link where you can read those pages for yourself. Good reading! And I want to thank Pastor Shel at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Monterey Park for making this magazine available for reading! Tina and I were up in the LA area visiting my Great Uncle Howard after attending the LBCC Expo that is mentioned above in the "Main Feature" today! ----------------------------- If this blog's "Main Feature" and "Featurette" appear to be centered around our recent trip to the Long Beach Comic Expo, well that would be true! Tina and I are looking forward to the upcoming 2nd Annual Long Beach Comic Con.  That's the 3 day event at the end of October 2010. Here's a link to the Con's Facebook Fan Page, so you can be interactive with them between now and October: http://www.facebook.com/LongBeachComicCon?ref=ts There you can also find out who's going to be there as guests, and links to where YOU can purchase advance tickets! Tina and I are definitely booking October 29th thru the 31st!  I suggest that if YOU are in SoCal area during that time, that You should drop in at Least ONE of those Days! --------------------------- Talking about comics and comic cons: if YOU are a comics creator, (writer, penciler, inker, colorist, letterer, etc.), OR even a Comics / Magazine Publisher, feel free to contact me regarding YOUR works for a possible mention / review! I've made a special blog post about: "How To Best Submit YOUR Publication For Possible Review!" for those creators / publishers that would like to possibly have their publications mentioned or reviewed, which could either be published in the 'Main Feature' or 'Featurette' sections. ~Michael @ ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com

 

TODAY'S 'MAIN FEATURE':

Today's blog post is about seeing Lauren Perry in the Artists Alley at the recent Long Beach Comic Con Expo, a couple of weekends ago!

I had met her at the previous three day Long Beach Comic Con in September of 2009, and noticed her table all laid out in what she calls "Blank-Ees"!

The next day when Tina accompanied me for a 2nd round of Artists Alley to see those creators I had missed the 1st day... Tina pointed out to me the "Wonder Woman" Blank-Ee, that I had missed before.

So this time at the the smaller LBCC Expo, I was able to converse with Lauren more as to what her works are all about.

I'm impressed enough with her talents to blog about her in the 'Main Feature' of my Blog today! 

Currently you can find her works at conventions like the LBCC Expo or at her own web site at: http://www.Blank-EEs.com.

I suggested to her that she should start an eBay Store to have a larger presence on the web, so we'll see how far she expands her horizons to a world-wide basis!

My thanks to Lauren Perry for taking the time talk more about her creations and to pose for photos!

AND...My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts!

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

~ Michael D Hamersky @ ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com

Note: Comic books / fanzines / and graphic novels like the ones that the Blank-Ees are based on, can be found at our own web site for sale at:

 http://www.comicbookscircus.com/ 

 

"Hammering Out the Web For You Since May 12th, 1998!"       Note: If you are breaking into or already 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 possible review, send to:   Make It So Marketing PO Box 130653 Carlsbad, CA 92013       We also have an on-line exhibitor table at the virtual Facebook Comic Con. You can view the table by clicking this link.  If you are a Facebook member, please join our Facebook Comic Con | Make It So Marketing exhibitor table for updates, specials, and other wall posts!     If you are a Facebook member and would like to join my Facebook Network, feel free to send a 'friend request' to 'Michael D Hamersky'.

TODAY'S "FEATURETTE": Imagine my surprise after checking out the two different sections of Artist Alley at the recent Long Beach Comic Con Expo, to see that there were even more creators set up at tables against the North Wall of the exhbitors room! One of those 'additional' creators NOT mentioned in the promotional flyer was Tony DeZuniga! Tony who? Well, let me tell you folks... Tony is one classy artist going back to the 1970's with work on Doc Savage Magazine, Dracula Lives, Rampaging Hulk, Robocop Magazine, Savage Sword of Conan, Savage Tales, and Thor, just to name a few series! He's currently selling his original art, but only at comic cons, otherwise I would post his web site here in my Blog! Bob Bretall, of http://www.ComicBookPage.com scored a great illustration of Shanna by Tony, which I'll be posting a photo of him, the artwork, and Tony soon. In the meantime, You can see Tony and his wife Tina along with me in the photo below:     My thanks to both Tony and Tina for taking the time to talk to us and for sharing some stories!  I hope you both had a Great Time at the Long Beach Comic Con Expo! Tina and I can't always keep in stock Tony's publications that were mentioned above at our own online store at http://www.ComicBooksCircus.com.  My suggestion for you is to check out when Tony and Tina will be in your area.  Tony recently started using Twitter!   ----------------------------- Because of great one-on-ones visits with comics greats like Tony DeZuniga along with his wife; Tina and I are looking forward to the upcoming 2nd Annual Long Beach Comic Con.  That's the 3 day event at the end of October 2010. Here's a link to the Con's Facebook Fan Page, so you can be interactive with them between now and October: http://www.facebook.com/LongBeachComicCon?ref=ts There you can also find out who's going to be there as guests, and links to where YOU can purchase advance tickets! Tina and I are definitely booking October 29th thru the 31st!  I suggest that if YOU are in SoCal area during that time, that You should drop in at Least ONE of those Days! --------------------------- Talking about comics and comic cons: if YOU are a comics creator, (writer, penciler, inker, colorist, letterer, etc.), OR even a Comics / Magazine Publisher, feel free to contact me regarding YOUR works for a possible mention / review! I've made a special blog post about: "How To Best Submit YOUR Publication For Possible Review!" for those creators / publishers that would like to possibly have their publications mentioned or reviewed, which could either be published in the 'Main Feature' or 'Featurette' sections. ~Michael @ ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com

 

TODAY'S 'MAIN FEATURE':

I first read one of Richard Starkings' Elephantmen comics back in September of 2009, when I stopped at his booth at the Long Beach Comic Con, (LBCC).  Richard realized that I blogged about comics and pop culture items, and gave me a then current issue, (#21), to see if I would like the work. I did, and I blogged about that issue, click here.

At the recent Long Beach Comic Expo, Richard wanted me to check out more of the earlier works, which has recently been reprinted as a Trade Paper Back (TPB), of which that published format is now up to Volume 2 of the series.

The following is a blurb about the TPB and the details on what is included in this newly printed format:

"A meteor falls in Santa Monica Bay, and the lives of Hip Flask, Ebony Hide, Obadiah Horn, Sahara and her father, Joshua Serengheti, converge once again with far reaching consequences for all. Collects Elephantmen #8-15, plus the Pilot issue and loads of extras!"

Paperback: 312 pages
Publisher: Image Comics (January 27, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1607061775
ISBN-13: 978-1607061779
Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 6.6 x 1.1 inches
Shipping Weight: 3 pounds"

There's a lot of pages in this volume, that's for sure!  Again, please realize that I had only read the other two issues mentioned in my earlier blog, so I did not know the full story or background of the series.

However, this TPB was formatted so well, that I didn't miss not having read the early issues.

That's because there was an excellent intro, and the stories flowed together very well.  Plus there were additional pages at the end of the TPB, which added 'value' to the concept.

Too often I have found that story arcs are built on earlier stories so much so, that a reader could feel left out by not having the read the ealier works.

True, I would prefer to have read the earliest issues first, but the way this material is republished, it doesn't hurt to start with this TPB.  Matter of fact, my appetite for this series has grown to where I want to check out the first volume of this TPB series.

Yes, I am still a fan of the 'floppy' comic book format, but this series is being very well reprinted in this TPB format.  It is a class act series, and the contributors to the series have put their best efforts into this ongoing series.

Those contributors featured in this Volume Two of the TPB series inclued: Richard Starkings, Moritat, Kurt Busiek, Steve Buccellato, Phil Yeh, Greg Wright, Joe Kelly, Ryan Kelly, Rob Steen, Peter Gross, Stuart Immonen, Boo Cook, Ian Churchill, and Kevin Eastman, just to name a few!

Even with all of those name above plus more, the 'tone' / 'mood' / 'atmosphere' of the series is cohesive and beautiful to behold it unfold in the issues reprinted in this TPB.

I am definitely a new fan of this series! 

Here's the web site for more on this world that the creators have established:  http://www.hipflask.com.  You are welcome to purchase the TPB where ever you may shop for reading materials like this, but you should check out the rest of the history presented there. It's a pretty sharp looking web site!

My thanks to Richard Starkings for bringing this TPB format for his earlier issues to my attention.

PLUS: Our 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 or topics, such as the one blogged about here today. 

TODAY'S 'MAIN FEATURE':

I wanted to blog about this promotional comic book, which is a preview of the upcoming graphic novel of the same name, to be published by Insomnia Publications this Summer of 2010!

What I've shown above is the front cover to the preview comic book which prints the complete first chapter to "Quarantine", which is to be a full 146-page graphic novel (GN) release in the Summer of 2010.

When the GN is released, it will also be available through Insomnia Publications as well as Amazon for digital download on the PSP. 

So what is this preview comic book / graphic novel about?

Here's what Michael Moreci sent me:

"Quarantine" by Michael Moreci, Monty Borror, Lauren Anne Sharp, and Jim Campbell.

In a small town in the Upper Penisula of Michigan, a virus is released into the water supply, transforming people into vicious killers - the "infected".  The military shuts down the borders - no way in, no way out.  A group of survivors trapped within the town must survive against the infected, against the odds, and against each other.

Presented as a 146-page original graphic novel, Quarantine aims to carry the torch of the zombie tradition, yet break away from it as well.  Because the heart of the story isn't just survival - it's about the cost of survival.

Through the struggles of the characters and the choices they are forced to make, Quarantine is a microcosm examination of society. It's about compromising values and morals and the threat of becoming something you are not."

There's more to the promo blurb, but you should get the gist of the storyline from the above paragraphs.

So what did I think of this preview comic book, which by the way, is published in a full sized 24 page comic book format with color interior pages?!

Well, once again it's zombie time...  I seem to have been sent several publications in this vein in the last few months.  However this one, like the other ones I chosed to have blogged about, stands out from the rest.

Why this one?  Well, because of the storyline and the art. Please don't preliminarily 'grade' this publication by its' cover.  The cover shown above is actually the same artwork as interior page three in this comic book preview.  Not saying the art used as the promo cover isn't good, but it isn't the projected final cover for the upcoming graphic novel. The final cover artwork is currently being drawn by by Keith Burns (Blood Psi, Herogasm).

Plus the interior artwork and especially the colors used meshes very well with the storyline.  Add the fact that it isn't overwritten.  Just enough word balloons used with moving the story along in this, the first chapter.

This chapter one of the full story is well paced and would entice me to check it out further when it comes out in graphic novel format.  Which is what a preview comic book should do!

In the meantime, YOU can do some checking on your own while also waiting for the release date.

Here's the Facebook Fan Page link for:  Quarantine - The Graphic Novel. Check it out and then become a 'fan' if this grabs your attention.  And be sure to check out the full details for the special contest they are running there.  Here's just a teaser for it:

"We want you--yes, you!--to get infected. From now until March 10, we here at Team Quarantine are running a contest. The grand prize? How does getting immortalized in a comic book sound?!"

Here's the web site for the writer: http://www.MichaelMoreci.com

Finally here's the web site to the publisher so you can order it from there as a download when it is released if you prefer to have it that way:

http://www.InsomniaPublications.com

My thanks to Michael Moreci, for sending this preview comic book to me!

PLUS: Our 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 or topics, such as the one blogged about here today.