TODAY'S 'MAIN FEATURE':

This is another "Spotlight On..." blog in a series of blogs I have posted during the last two years!

I recently became aware of Bryan Reesman's works after winning a prize by subscribing to his blog via Facebook. It was a DVD that Tina and I just viewed last weekend matter of fact! Thanks again Bryan!

So being curious, I checked further into Bryan's Facebook profile, finding that Bryan also does more than just posting blog posts on a regular basis.  He actually is involved in numerous activities that I will list later on in this post.

The following text and the photos supplied for this post of mine came from his blog.  I'll give you the main link to all his activities and blog at the end of this post.

The main reason I chose to pick the following blog post and the photos out of all of his activities should be apparent to those of you that have been reading my own Blog for a while!  Bryan's blog post was about one of the artists that I enjoy seeing also in person, and one that just doesn't receive enough acclaim in my opinion!

Here's Bryan's post:

"One of my favorite comic book artists growing up and the greatest artist ever to draw The Incredible Hulk, Herb Trimpe has always had a signature style that dazzled me. I recently interviewed Trimpe for ADD, but beyond that the one thing I really wanted was to have my likeness sketched by him.

I did not have time while I was attending New York Comic Con this past February because I was busy on assignment.

So when the Big Apple Comic Con rolled into town last weekend, I made sure I attended and got what I craved.

Trimpe admitted that he had not sketched someone on the spot in awhile, so I felt honored that he took a shot at it. Both he and I were pleased with the result! It’s the closest I’ll get to looking like a real superhero."

Great blog post, Bryan!  Thanks for sharing that AND allowing me to repost it here! BTW, Bryan's own Blog is at:

http://www.BryanReesman.com/blog/

Oh, and I did say that this post is a 'Spotlight On... Bryan, right?  Well...Below is a little about Bryan Reesman:

Freelance journalist Bryan Reesman immerses himself in pop culture: Film, television, music, theater, graphic novels, and toys. From darkened movie theaters to the bright lights of Broadway, he covers it all.

His credentials speak loud and clear:

Bryan has penned cover stories for American Way, Razor, Relix, Grammy, ToyFare, Metal Edge, Stage Directions, Goldmine, and many other publications.
   

He was the Consulting Editor for the September 2007 relaunch issue of Metal Edge, for which he contributed the Tool cover story. It is the longest collective interview in the elusive group’s 17-year history, clocking in at nearly two hours.
 

Recently promoted to New York editor for Stage Directions magazine, Bryan has also served as a Contributing Editor to Keyboard magazine.
 

He is a columnist for Metal Edge, Stage Directions, and Projection, Lights & Staging News, and he was a panelist at the 25th annual CMJ New Music Marathon in 2005.
 

Various assignments have taken him to England, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Tenerife, British Columbia, Belgium, Monaco, and the Czech Republic.
 

A voting member of the Recording Academy, Bryan has written liner notes for heavy metal legends Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Dokken, Aldo Nova, and Yngwie Malmsteen, among others.
 

Bryan recently contributed over 1,200 questions to the Caddyshack and Killer Trivia board games from USAopoly.
 

For three years he was the U.S. correspondent for Malcolm Dome’s weekly “Nu World Order” radio broadcast on Total Rock.com. He has been interviewed by ICE Magazine (U.S.), El Pais (Spain), and Spotlight Magazine (Germany).

Bryan’s diverse tastes and in-depth knowledge of pop culture have made him a sought after entertainment journalist by dozens of media outlets over the last decade.

Whew!  When I said a "little about Bryan Reesman", it actually turned out to be a 'Lot'!  Bryan is a busy guy!!

You can see ALL that he's doing by going to his own web site at: http://www.BryanReesman.com.  There are multiple pages of what he has accomplished and is currently working on!

My thanks again to Bryan for sending me the DVD prize I won AND allowing me to re-publish in different format his encounter with Herb Trimpe!

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 like the ones mentioned above, can be found at our own web site for sale at:

 http://www.comicbookscircus.com/

    

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"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 have previously blogged about finding this Museum after becoming Facebook Friends with the owner, Allen Stewart. Well now, I've received an invite to the event being called:  Hall Of Heroes Comicon! So for those of you that are able to attend, (we can't...) here's the info that you would need to be able to attend: Date: Saturday, March 27, 2010 Time: 10:00am - 4:00pm Location: Hall of Heroes Super Hero Museum Street: 58005 County Road 105 City/Town: Elkhart, IN Here's the greeting from the invite: "Welcome to the 1st Hall of Heroes Comicon! We will have local and out of town dealers selling both comics and toys here at the museum. Come and see what treasures you will find to complete your collection or start collecting. We will also have a surprise guest on hand and a s Super-Hero will be wandering the museum, so don't forget your camera! Great fun for all. Admission is only $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for children under 10. Come and meet Casey Heying, artist and co-writer of The Oz/Wonderland comic book series and get some of his book autographed, and also appearing in person, the fastest man alive...The Flash! Below is a photo of the front of the Hall of Heroes Museum, so YOU can recognize where it is being held:         You can also check out what's happening at this show by clicking on the link below. It is a Facebook Event Page, so you may not be able to see all of the event if you aren't a member of Facebook... http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=307363481708 My thanks to Allen Stewart for sending me the invite... Sorry we can't make it, but... Have Sum Fun at the show, Allen and All of YOU that can make it there! --------------------------- Talking about comics: 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':

This is another "Spotlight On..." blog in a series of blogs I have posted during the last two years!

Well... Actually, you could actually call it more of a 'Mini-Sptlight' on Robert Roach today, because Tina and I met him briefly again at the recent LBCC Expo up in Long Beach California!

Briefly, because although Robert was there to help man The Antidote Booth with others from the 'TAT Collective', he had to leave early to teach a class elsewhere later that afternoon! Busy guy, that Robert!

I have blogged about Robert's two different mini series before, both the (non-autobiographical) "The Roach" and also "Menthu". See the links for those archived blog posts for actual reviews of each of the series, by clicking on the mini-series names.

Robert still has those issues available for sale at: http://www.hometownprods.com/commerce  even though I've personally stated that "The Roach" was the Best Mini-Series I read in 2009!  ;-)

I'm looking forward to see what is next in line for Robert's publishing line.  I'll be sure to let you know when his next work is available here in this blog.

And Robert, it was Great to see You again, however brief a time it was!

My thanks to Robert  for posing with me for the photos, and for bringing his two mini series to my attention in the past couple of years! 

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 like the ones 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: Kat Nicholson, a Facebook Friend, sent me an 'invite' to attend the 'Comic City' show being held within the upcoming 'Memorablia Show'. Only thing is... it's "Across the Pond" in the UK!  But I did want to bring it to the attention of those of YOU reading this Blog that are already in the UK or flying there for business or pleasure during that time period! Here's just a part of what the promo flyer stated: "The Spring Memorabilia Show is nearly upon us. Along with the Sporting Memorabilia and the comings and going of All sorted manner of Sci-Fi fans there is now Comic City! Come along see original artwork, get sketches or just have a chat with Artist from within the Comics Industry." The show is happening March 27th & 28th of 2010.  The following is more info that I received regarding Kat at the show: "Kat Nicholson is a comic artist currently drawing "A Midsummer Night's dream" for Classical Comics, & also worked as a colourist on; Marvel Heroes, Action Man Atom, Transformers animated, Dream works tales & Scooby Doo. Jason Cardy and Kat Nicholson will be joined by other artists drawing sketches to raise money for "Draw the World Together", a charitable art project that raises money for under privilaged children in some of the poorest regions of the world." Below is a photo of Kat Nicholson, so you can recognize her there:       You can also check out what's happening at this show by clicking on the link below. Unfortunately for those of YOU that aren't Facebook members, you can't see too much, as it a 'Group Page Invitation' to this Event. However, give it a try and see more on what Kat is going to be doing there, and what others have to say about the upcoming Show! You can do so by clicking on the link shown below: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=357696144602 My thanks to Kat Nicholson for sending me the Facebook / Group Page / Event Invite... Have Sum Fun at the show, Kat! --------------------------- Talking about comics: 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':

Well... Here's what I found Cover To Cover!

Front Cover / by Jeff Gaither: The cover reminded me so much of the 'Plop' comics that were produced by DC Comics many years ago.  So yeah, I did enjoy this cover!

Inside Front Cover:  I like Intros by the Publisher AND a Table of Contents when first opening this magazine!

1st Story: 'Lonesome Hound Dog' / by Simon Mackie & Ben Rowdon - Okay 5 page story to start out this magazine with...

2nd Story: 'Wild Strawberries' / by BeBop - Also a 5 pager - okay story.

3rd Story: 'Monster In The Sheets' / by Barry Southworth - 4 pager... Now THIS was truly 'eye-popping'!  Good selection to run in this issue!

4th Story: 'Best Friends Forever'/  by Jenn Walker - 6 pager... So-so story for me...

5th Story: 'The Haunt of Hipster' / by Carl Alessi - Definitely reminded me of stories from the earlier days of underground comix! You gotta be into these type of text stories with illustrations to appreicate it though!  But it did complement the front cover!

6th Story: '!*%&#ERS' / by Marc Haines - Realllly Good Story & Art... AND Not just because of the special guest star!  Best story feature in this issue, IMO!  Goes well with the front cover theme!

Letters Pages: An Editorial / TOC page AND a Letter Page(s) in One Issue?!  Great Idea, Jim!

Back Inside Cover:  Great 'In-House Ad Page' - Lets the 1st time reader of this magazine know there's more than just Satyr in the Main Enterprises stable of publications!

Back Cover / by Brad Foster:  ANOTHER 'Eye-Popping' cover!  But for a much diffent reason than the Front Cover!

In Summary: As I've noted before in my Blog... Publishing an Anthology comic or magazine has to be the HARDEST thing to publish!

Especially when it comes time to choose / include / exclude what the contributors have sent in to be published by you!

For the most part I look at a magazine like this in the following way:  Would I have seen the stories / artwork by the creators anywhere else? 

A magazine like this is like an 'introduction' to other creators out there, WITHOUT having to pay full price, sight unseen usually, for one of their complete works.

So this is more like a 'sampler' to me. A sampler where the publisher DOESN'T charge an arm and a leg to see works such as these!  Heck, the cover price is only $3.50 and with shipping to You in the States, it's only $5.25 total!

I mentioned DC Comics earlier in this post.  They used to have a comic book series called "New Talent Showcase". It ran for 15 issues, starting in 1984.  That's where those who hadn't hit the 'Big Time' yet were given an opportunity to be published in a publication for a wider audience distribution than they could have done on their own. 

This magazine fits that function PLUS provides a LOT more!

I look forward to each Satyr magazine as it comes out... As Should YOU!

Oh, and here's where YOU can check it out further, and also buy it, as well as a few back issues of the same magazine:

Click here to see Satyr issues for sale!

My thanks to Jim Main of Main Enterprises for bringing the Tenth issue 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 ones 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: MASTER CLASS SERIES IN COMICS WRITING - You know... I am really impressed with what MoCCA offers to their members at a discounted rate, and even non-members for just a little more! Makes me wish we lived or could commute easily to NYC just to attend the programs and workshops that are sponsored by this organization! Anyways here's the scoop on what this Master Class Series in Comics Writing per the invite I received: Type: Education - Workshop Start Time: Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at 6:30pm End Time: Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 8:30pm Location: Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art - MoCCA The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art – MoCCA is proud to announce the spring offerings from its Education Department. Organized and headed by Senior Vice-President of Education, DANNY FINGEROTH, the season’s initial offering will be: MASTER CLASS SERIES IN COMICS WRITING 3 sessions, TUESDAYS, March 16 & 23; April 13, 6:30-8:30 pm March 16: CHRIS CLAREMONT March 23: TOM DeFALCO April 13: DENNIS O’NEIL Series Cost: $100 | $90 for MoCCA members Individual sessions: $40 | $35 for MoCCA members   CHRIS CLAREMONT, TOM DeFALCO, AND DENNIS O’NEIL will each hold a master class session in comics writing. These three extraordinarily accomplished writers have written some of the highest profile and most acclaimed comics of all time, with bodies of work that have played significant parts in defining the modern versions of The X-Men (Claremont), Spider-Man (DeFalco), and Batman (O’Neil). Each of them will condense the most important things they know about writing into highly-concentrated (and entertaining!) lecture form. This is a rare opportunity to hear these top names in the field speak about what makes for great comics writing. Below is a photo of Chris Claremont at the 2009 Baltimore Comic Con:     MoCCA Education Programs: All classes are held at MoCCA, except where otherwise noted. To register for a class, please call 212-254-3511, Tuesday through Fridays,1 1AM to 5 PM However you can see what else this event is about by checking out further the link shown below: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=313489899698 My thanks to Ellen Abramowitz for sending me the Facebook Event Invite! --------------------------- Talking about comics: 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':

Since this comic book is debuting at this weekend's MegaCon in Orlando, Florida, I wanted to get this blog published ASAP.

So what's this storyline all about? Well, Shannon sent me the following:

Six students have been selected to receive full scholarships for their participation in a special sleep studies class. It doesn't take them long to realize that this is no ordinary class, and that they will be facing dangers unlike anything in this world. They hold the fate of countless lives in their hands, and every decision they make could be their last.

A new weapon capable of changing the world is being developed underground. With quick thinking and a strong team the students might have a chance to save life as we know it. That is if they can save their own...  

Join us as we follow their out of this world adventures. Will these students that seem a world apart be able to fulfill their roles as heroes while still trying to deal with the everyday pressures of school? Will their friendships and bonds be able to withstand the trials they will face? Find out in the all new comic series "SleepRunners".

So... what did I think of this first issue?

First, the Story: I found the storyline and the background to be of interest to me.  It caught my attention, but at times the execution of scenes changing and locales changing was just a little too abrupt for me.  The story does delve into the background of the concept presented above, and it is a long enough issue that there is more than just skirting around the concept.

Second, the writing / dialogue / etc.:  Well, I'm definitely glad the acronyms that were used were spelled out for me at the very beginning of the story.  Not being from the area, I wasn't for sure where everything was at first or what was being talked about until the explanation of the acronymns which were listed in the same panel... Then again, the cutaways to different locales wasn't as smooth as it could have been for me as a reader, witness pg 10 to 11 and 12 to 13, and elsewhere in the story.  Yet the dialogue was well written and the story made sense to me overall.

Third, the art: I had not seen this artist's work before... and at first it was a little different for me to adjust to. However, as the pages went on, I could see that he could tell a story, in a sequential art format, and not settle for 'pinups' like I've see too much of in the past in other comics.  The artwork grew on me, and it would bring me back for part 2 to read.  Of course there was another reason that the art stood out for me, and that is addressed next...

Fourth, the coloring: The coloring more than complemented the artwork, it actually made the artwork stand out.  Beautiful job of color creating / matching / setting the tone of the book. Kudos to the colorist!

Fifth, the lettering:  It may have been the fact that I was reading a .pdf file, instead of a hard copy, but I found the lettering font a little hard to read at times when the wide word balloons were used in a few panels.

In Summary: I found this first issue of SleepRunners a good read, and better yet, a good value for the money a purchaser of this comic book would be paying.  Yes, it is $5.00 cover price, but you get a good story and more in the 55 total pages of this comic book. There are actually 51 pages of story, plus some additional promo pages and the 2 covers.

For those of YOU interested in checking this issue out...

HERE'S HOW TO PURCHASE SLEEPRUNNERS #1
On Sale: March 2010
Story by: Shannon Vokes
Art by: Kewber Baal
Colours by: Clarissa Filice
Cover by: Mario Zuccarello
Publisher: Knighty Knight Publishing
Cover Price: $5.00
Available at Indyplanet, and select retailers.

Shannon also tells me the following:

"We can be found on facebook :   SleepRunners Comic Page
Plus: http://www.Sleeprunners.net will be active March 5th in preparation for the launch of issue 1."

Plus, I've mentioned Shannon's name several times in this blog post.  I don't want to neglect mention the artist's name that handled the art chores for this issue. Here is a little bio on him now:

Kewber Baal: Born and living in Brazil, Kewber started his comic book venture with SleepRunners, and is quickly becoming a highly sought after artist. Kewber Baal is best known for his work on Chaos Campus from Approbation Comics with Bart Thompson.  Kewber joined team Knighty Knight in 2008 for work on SleepRunners. All concept art and line art from the series has been provided by his great talent.  His works can be seen for many issues to come as Kewber continues to provide our window into the SleepRunners world.

AND Finally:  I did mention that SleepRunners would be found at this weekend's MegaCon, right?! 

SPECIAL NOTE: Well, there will be 50 limited edition copies of a special issue with a variant cover there by Chris Stehm.  So be sure to drop by early at their booth at the MegaCon!

Okay, that should do it for this post... My thanks to Shannon Volkes for bringing 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 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: As I mentioned in yesterday's Featurette section, I'm receiving all kinds of invites to comic cons, events taking place at comic cons, etc., etc.  Most usually come a day or two before the event happens, so there just isn't enough time to blog about them here, let alone attending them! However, when I can, AND there is room in this Blog's Featurette section; then I like to post 'events' that are brought to my notice from my Facebook Friends here. One of those 'Events' invites is from Jeff Balke. I've mentioned his 'Sketch Colorings' concept here before in my blog, (click here for that post). So I'm using Jeff's 'Flyer' for his appearance at the Con to post here in my Featurette section. He's driving down to attend  the upcoming MegaCon that is happening this UPCOMING 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 Jeff tells me:  "Make sure to stop by "ORANGE 11" in Artist Alley and say hey!  I'll have... - Comics (the ones I've worked on INCLUDING a new one) - Prints (NEW and older) - LIMITED ED. Sketch Colorings and of course will be creating.. - SKETCH COLORINGS! So be sure to bring me your favorite sketch cover of any comic and get it ONE OF A KIND Sketch Colored right there on the spot!! (((bring anything black and white to get Sketch Colored))) Hope to see you there!" Here is Jeff's Flyer pictured below:     His 'event' at the MegaCon that you can 'add' yourself to AND be interactive with, is shown below: Jeff Balke's Will Be At The 20201 Megacon! PLEASE NOTE: 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 or on my Facebook Member Page Wall and / or our Facebook Comic Con Group Page Wall! And Jeff...  Have Sum Fun @ the MegaCon! --------------------------- 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':

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