So what's it about? Here's the Press Release Info:

"Sunlight kills.

Everywhere the bodies of the dead lay where dawn caught them.

Now the survivors of the solar plague cower in darkness during the day.  They flee by night while cities burn.

Ex-cop Jedediah Miller and his teenage kids start across the desert in a stolen tractor-trailer.   The only thing they know is this: go West to safety.

The plague isn’t the only enemy they’ll face.”

So what's 'My Take' on this first comic of the series?

Front Cover:  The title logo is inserted in just the right font compared to the figure and the figure's shadow on the front cover. Interesting effect and enough to have me place this comic near the top of my review stack to read!

Inside Front Cover:  The credits are presented in an interesting style.  BTW:  The writer is John O'Connor. Art by Jeff Clemens. Edited by Bruce Levine. Published by Scare Tactix Graphics.

Splash Page / First Page: Not a 'splash page' per se, but illustrated with enough panels (3) to draw me in to turning the pge.

Pages 2 & 3:  Here's the 'splash page' drawn like a double spread or centerfold would be.  Definitely set the table for the storyline and the next pages.

Pages 4 & 5: Are double spread pages also. For visual effect. No text used.

Again, Pages 12 & 13 are done double spread - but no more of these up to the 'end' of the story on page 30.

Then on page 31, is a 'coming soon' page, telling the reader to look for the rest of 'Black Dawn' to come out in installments throughout the year.

Page 32 is an 'invite' to the reader to "Be In the Book".  Really...An offer to be 'in' the Black Dawn book.  Good idea to draw the casual reader in to email their name and photo for possible inclusion in this series.

Inside Back Cover: House 'Ad' for other Scare Tactix Graphix items, inscluding comics, posters, and t-shirts.

Back Cover: The Company Logo enlarged for Scare Tactix Graphix and their web site name is presented.

So did this 1st issue immerse me into this storyline enough for me to want to follow it...?

Well...For a storyline in this genre, this was a good introductory issue.

The dialogue was a little 'sparse' on some pages, what with the 3 double spread pages used.  However there was a beginning or the start of an origin story being told here.

The artwork was well illustrated, and not really 'over the top' in depiction for a story in this genre.

The coloring is what sets this issue apart from others in this genre!  Really good and sets the mood and tone from the very first page down to the last page.

The lettering was done right for almost all of the pages on the word balloons, and definitely done right for the sound effects.

Overall, this introductory issue did what it was supposed to do...Which was to draw in the casual reader to want to read more.

For info on how YOU can see more AND order this comic book, check the following web site: www.BlackDawnWeb.com - where you can also view a video on this project!

Also, you don't have to be a Facebook member to see the brand new Facebook Fan Page for Scare Tactix Graphix. But if YOU are a Facebook Member feel free to 'Like' / 'Fan' them at their Facebook Fan Page by clicking here!

My thanks to Jeff Clemens, for submitting this issue of the series for possible review! You can also see what Jeff is currently working on by visiting www.JeffClemens.com !

AND My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now over the 3,130 total posts in number!

~ Michael D Hamersky @ ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com

Note: Our online comic book store carries many different genres of comics and graphic novels, including HoRRoR and MoNSTer Comics 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 Inc. PO Box 130653 Carlsbad, CA 92013

Check Out More Of Our Own Endeavors:   Yeah, that's me in the photo shown to the left, taken at the 1973 San Diego Comic Con! I first set up as a 'dealer' at the 1972 SDCC at the El Cortez Hotel. So I've been around comic conventions for a little while, LOL!   Tina and I now have an on-line exhibitor table at the first "virtual" comic con titled the "Facebook Comic Con" (FBCC)! You can view our table and interact with us there on Facebook by clicking this link.  So if YOU are a Facebook member, please 'join' our Facebook Comic Con - Make It So Marketing exhibitor table for updates, specials, links to this blog, and other wall comments that we post every day!    Also, 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'.         ------------------- 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. Just click on the link provided in this paragraph! ~Michael @ ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com   WEB PAGE NOTE:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards. Chrome, Safarai, Netscape, Firefox and the others serve the page up differently. The screen display resolution is best seen at the setting of 1024 x 768. NOTE; All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.

 

Iron Man 2: Course Corrected

My impression of Iron Man 2 is that Favreau and Co. held a focus group and made some adjustments from the first wildly popular film to try to give this one even more mass appeal.

For one, the movie was clearly more family-friendly – without losing any of the fun or thrills. While the original Iron Man was riddled with corpses, multiple scenes of torture and civilians being killed, this new and improved Iron Man keeps the killing off-camera. The only “thing” you see biting the dust are machines. (Yes, The Black Widow goes on a rampage through Hammer headquarters, but that’s ass-kicking, there’s no bloody shooting, stabbing, blowing to smithereens as in Tony’s adventures in Afghanistan.) 

Kids and parents will be less uncomfortable watching together since Tony’s not bedding giggling girls or cracking wise about every woman in sight as he did in the first movie. In fact, he mostly gets shot down – and not just by his leggy assistant, Pepper.

The pacing of IM-2 was also a welcome change. The action is spread throughout the movie with less extended fight scenes.  Interestingly enough, the most exciting and tense fight sequence is between Tony Stark and best buddy, Rhodey, soon-to-be War Machine. It’s tense because there’s so much at risk: the onlookers, Tony’s incredible mansion, and most importantly, the friends’ survival and that of their relationship.

The final battle between villain and hero is over quickly without the extended (yawn…), bloated, cartooney CGI of the first movie.

Another big change is the switch in actors playing Rhodey. My husband, Michael, tells me that they didn’t replace Terrance Howard because of his performance, more like his inability to get along. The casting of Don Cheadle reminds of how amazing this cast is: we’ve got Oscar nominated and winning actors in Downey, Paltrow, and Johanssen, now Cheadle.  I admit -  I love him in most anything he does. Again, he doesn’t disappoint.

While I enjoyed most of the movie – much of it even more than the first – there was a downside: way too much time devoted to trying to get me interested in The Avengers. Samuel L. Jackson held my interest but otherwise, sorry, no sale. Will Tony be asked to be an Avenger? Will he want to be one? What do they do? Who cares?  Not me.  I was much more interested in Tony, Tony’s health (that palladium is ruining it!), Tony and Pepper, Tony and Rhodey, and (yes, I’m a crazy bird lady) the fate of Whiplash’s cockatoo.

Mickey Rourke was an excellent villain – subtly menacing. Heck, he’s scary enough looking, he doesn’t need to go around beating people up like most movie bad guys.  It was much more interesting and tense to watch him not take someone down. You kept waiting for it. 

Having spent a good part of my childhood at the ’65 World’s Fair, I loved the Stark Expo set and the significance of the big Unisphere – I’ll never look at my beloved souvenir pin the same way again! Halfway through the movie I thought I was watching an episode of LOST as Tony watched old films of his Dad and finally got some closure. Do all super-heroes have Daddy issues?

Whether you compare IM2 to the original, you’ll still enjoy it. While I love an origin movie, I loved this sequel – more action, more fun, less silly CGI fight scenes, more family-friendly. Kids will love the exchange between Iron Man and a little boy in the midst of the last big battle!

RATING:

I give it a 9.2 – that’s Near Mint Minus (NM-) on the Comic Book Grading Scale!

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Thanks, Tina for your above review and the rating!

And by the way... Here's the Link to Tina's earlier 'My Take' on Iron Man 1: http://bit.ly/abTIOE which she gave an 8.75 out of 10.0 in the comic book grading scale!

AND My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now over the 3,125 total posts in number!

~ Michael D Hamersky @ ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com

Note: Our online comic book store carries many different Marvel Comics titles including IRON MAN Comics 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 Inc. PO Box 130653 Carlsbad, CA 92013

Check Out More Of Our Own Endeavors:   Yeah, that's me in the photo shown to the left, taken at the 1973 San Diego Comic Con! I first set up as a 'dealer' at the 1972 SDCC at the El Cortez Hotel. So I've been around comic conventions for a little while, LOL!   Tina and I now have an on-line exhibitor table at the first "virtual" comic con titled the "Facebook Comic Con" (FBCC)! You can view our table and interact with us there on Facebook by clicking this link.  So if YOU are a Facebook member, please 'join' our Facebook Comic Con - Make It So Marketing exhibitor table for updates, specials, links to this blog, and other wall comments that we post every day!    Also, 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'.         ------------------- 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. Just click on the link provided in this paragraph! ~Michael @ ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com   WEB PAGE NOTE:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards. Chrome, Safarai, Netscape, Firefox and the others serve the page up differently. The screen display resolution is best seen at the setting of 1024 x 768. NOTE; All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.

 

Usually we see the comic book movies on their Opening Day, but with the staggered world-wide release schedule for this film, it didn't make that big of a deal for us to be there on opening day what with our schedules...

Also, there are just minor SPOILER ALERTS here. Because after all, I am just blogging my reactions to the film in general, not in specific scenes, (for the most part).

Additionally I am doing something different in this blog post, as it is so late, it's 7PM PST here in the San Diego area, and I want to get this blogged ASAP.

So I'm going to post what I believe are my thoughts on the PROS / CONS / SUGGESTED VIEWING FOR / AND MY RATING.  Here's 'My Take':

PROS:

Tony Stark / Iron Man / Robert Downey Jr. - Excellent continuation of the Tony Stark that I enjoyed in Iron Man 1.

'Natalie Rushman' / Natasha Romanov' / "Black Widow" / Scarlett Johansson -  Although not named as such (Black Widow), her real appearance near the end of the film showed how useful she could be, besides being eye candy!

Virginia 'Pepper' Potts / Gwyneth Paltrow - More screen time this time AND worth the wait!  Plus the ending scene was alright in my book!

Whiplash / Ivan Vanko / Mickey Rourke - 'Humanized' with the cockatoo scenes.  I'm glad that he (Mickey) suggested bringing the bird in to the director!

Justin Hammer / Sam Rockwell - Darn good acting in this role. My only thought was that in the comics, Justin was a much older man.  Here in this film he is about Tony's age.  Not Sam's fault, and he plays this role very well.

Nick Fury / Samuel L Jackson - More screen time in this film.  Mostly good for me, however, just like in the Marvel Comics, I feel there is a 'continued' story going on.  Will it upset mainstream film goers that there is this 'to be continued story' subplot going on...???

Happy Hogan / Jon Favreau - I'm glad that Jon gave himself more screen time in this film!  I'm a fan of the old Pepper Potss / Happy Hogan  / Tony Stark triangle from the really old days!

CGI usage - Not as overbearing or as tedious as in the 1st Film.  The fight scenes were not as long, which was good for me!  I have found I don't like the long drawn cartoonish CGI scenes in these comic book movies.

Senator Stern / Gary Shandling - Really came across well in this role.

JARVIS / Voice of Paul Bettany - The interchange between JARVIS and Tony was even better this time.

Christine Everheart / Leslie Bibb - Nice to see Leslie reprising her reporter role from the 1st Film.

The Iron Man Armors - Still enjoying the designs by Adi Granov who was involved with both the 1st and 2nd Films!

Stan Lee / as '___" - Well, I'll let you figure that one out!  But I did enjoy the cameo...'Nuff Said! 

CONS:

RATING:

Near Mint Minus (NM-) 9.2 - This 2nd Film appealed to the 'fanboy' in me.  And when I say 'fanboy', I mean way back to 1963 when Iron Man first started in 'Tales of Suspense' #39!

And by the way... Here's the Link to 'My Take' on Iron Man 1: http://bit.ly/dCL7Tk which I gave an 8.5 out of 10.0 in the comic book grading scale!

One last thing... And I couldn't let this review end without saying something about in particular about the film. But Please Note: 

!!!SPOILER ALERT!!!!

I waited for YEARS for something to happen between Pepper & Tony...Sheesh!

!!! END -  SPOILER ALERT!!!!   

My thanks to Tina LoSasso for attending this Opening Weekend with me and looking forward to reading her review in tomorrow's blog post.

I'll copy it here for all to see at that time!

AND My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now over the 3,125 total posts in number!

~ Michael D Hamersky @ ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com

Note: Our online comic book store carries many different Marvel Comics titles including IRON MAN Comics 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 Inc. PO Box 130653 Carlsbad, CA 92013

Check Out More Of Our Own Endeavors:   Yeah, that's me in the photo shown to the left, taken at the 1973 San Diego Comic Con! I first set up as a 'dealer' at the 1972 SDCC at the El Cortez Hotel. So I've been around comic conventions for a little while, LOL!   Tina and I now have an on-line exhibitor table at the first "virtual" comic con titled the "Facebook Comic Con" (FBCC)! You can view our table and interact with us there on Facebook by clicking this link.  So if YOU are a Facebook member, please 'join' our Facebook Comic Con - Make It So Marketing exhibitor table for updates, specials, links to this blog, and other wall comments that we post every day!    Also, 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'.         ------------------- 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. Just click on the link provided in this paragraph! ~Michael @ ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com   WEB PAGE NOTE:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards. Chrome, Safarai, Netscape, Firefox and the others serve the page up differently. The screen display resolution is best seen at the setting of 1024 x 768. NOTE; All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.