Special Memorial Day Blog:   Memorial Day and Comic Books In Particular for This Memorial Day 2010 Post:  Sgt. Fury & His Howling Commandos!     ---------------- Above: 'Killed In Action'...A Gripping Tale Of One of Those That Was Lost To Sgt Fury During WW II - Issue #18 from May 1965!  At The Top Left: The First "Real" Heroes Death In Comics During the 'Marvel Age of Comics' - Issue #4 from November 1963! At the Bottom Left: Captain America & Bucky During WWII with Sgt Fury & His Howling Commandos - Before the 'Death' of Bucky Barnes & The Immobilization of Captain America for Two Decades - Issue #13 from December 1964!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3151:

Today I want to blog about Memorial Day...And Comic Books!

In particular I want to blog about a few issues from a comic book series I'm familar with, that of Sgt. Fury & His Howling Commandos, from Marvel Comics.

First though, I want to post a little history of the Holiday that we celebrate in the United States of America.  That's because 'Memorial Day' itself has changed since I was a small kid. Sometimes growing up we take things for granted, unaware that 'history' keeps getting 'revised', even Holidays that we celebrate...

You see, 'Memorial Day' is now a United States Federal Holiday that is observed on the last Monday of May. It falls on May 31st this year of 2010.

The Holiday we celebrate today actually was at one time known as 'Decoration Day'. It is now a day to commemorate the U.S. men and women who died while in the military service. That would be all three branches:  The Army, Navy and Air Force.  I'm not leaving out the Marines, as they are part of the Navy.  But they are definitely worth a special mention here. There have been several 'deaths' in the comic books, but I chose this year to honor the Army. More on that below.  And yeah, I'm a 'Navy Brat', but I do honor the Army at least once a year during the Army / Navy Footbal Game. But I digress...

This Holiday, believe it or not, was first enacted to honor just the Union soldiers of the American Civil War.  At first it was celebrated near the day of 'reunification' after the Civil War ended. Yet, somehow it was expanded after World War I, but not during the Spanish / American War?

Anyways, this alternative holiday name of "Memorial Day" was first started being used in 1882. However it was only after World War II (WWII) that it saw more common usage in the USA.

When I was younger, the Holiday Name 'Memorial Day' wasn't as big of a deal.  Actually it wasn't until it was declared the official name by Federal law until 1967 that the 'Memorial Day' Holiday became so nationally known, at least in my personal experience.  I was a teenager then, and my Dad was just finishing his service in the Navy.

Then to make things more confusing, on June 28, 1968, the United States Congress passed the 'Uniform Holidays Bill'. What was that all about?  Well it moved three widely celebrated holidays from their traditional dates to a specified Monday.

This is where we today have these 3-Day Holiday Weekends.  That's because the Bill was enacted in order to create a convenient three-day weekend!  Sheesh!

I've been talking only about the 'Memorial Day' Holiday.  What other holidays were affected?  Well, they were George  Washington's Birthday, which we now celebrate as "Presidents' Day", plus 'Veterans Day' which I usually blog something about my own family's military service, and of course Memorial Day.

It used to be that we would celebrate Memorial Day on its' traditional May 30th date.  It was changed to be celebrated on the last Monday in May.  Again with the changes...The law took effect at the federal level in 1971.  So as I stated above, history and / or its celebration of it keeps getting 'revised'.

That's it for this Memorial Day Comic Book Connection! Hopefully I didn't ramble on too long with the history of the holiday, and the connection that this comic book title has with it!

My thanks to those involved with the early issues of this comic book title, in particular those that brought us these three standout issues: Stan Lee - Jack Kirby - Chic Stone - George Roussos - Sol Brodsky - Sam Rosen - Artie Simek - Dick Ayers.   

This title went on for 120 issues, from May of 1963 - July of 1974.  Yeah, I believe the anti-war sentiment of the time of the Vietnam War had something to do with the poor sales leading to reprint issues, and then title cancellation...

AND My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our earlier archived blog posts, now numbering over 3,150 in number!

~ Michael D Hamersky @ ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com

Note: Our online comic book store carries many different war titles from Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Charlton Comics, and other publishers 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

My thanks to those of YOU that have read today's blog post! I do appreciate that! For those of you that didn't know me before today...I first set up as a 'dealer' at the 1972 San Diego West Coast Comic Con (SDCC) at the El Cortez Hotel. So I've been around comic conventions for a little while, LOL!   My wife Tina and I now have an on-line exhibitor (dealer) table at the first "virtual" comic con titled the "Facebook Comic Con" (FBCC)! You can view our dealer table and interact with us there on Facebook by clicking this link, which takes you to our table named: 'Facebook Comic Con | Make It So Marketing'.  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 also join my Facebook Network, feel free to send a 'friend request' to 'Michael D Hamersky'. I am reaching the maximum of 5,000 Facebook Friends soon, and I don't want YOU to be left out!         ------------------- 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.

 

'My Take' On: Obsession The Graphic Novel   By William Rees & Jeff Clemens From HeavyProton.com!     Above Top: The Front Cover to Obsession the Graphic Novel! Above Bottom: The 2010 Wizard World Anaheim Comic Con Logo.   -------------- Above Photo: Artist of the Graphic Novel:  Obsession, Jeff Clemens, at the 2010 Wizard World Anaheim Comic Con!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3150:

Yes, this is yet another publication given to me at the recent 2010 Wizard World Anaheim Comic Con in Artists Alley for possible review in this blog!  As you can tell from my earlier posts, I met a lot of comics and graphic novel creators in the Artists Alley.  That is the main reason I go to comic cons now, besides seeing programs / panels!

So what's this graphic novel, (GN), about?  Well, I found this on the back of the graphic novel itself, as the web site for this GN only had graphics, no promos:

"Clarissa's World:  Poor Clarissa Case. Father left home when se was quite young and Mother is confined to a wheelchair. One evening, after climbing out of a bedroom window, Clarissa's world changes forever.  Normal never looked so strange in this tale of secrets, solitude and small town Obsession."

"An original graphic novel written by William Rees with artwork by Jeff Clemens."

Cover art by Sam Hart -  Art & Lettering by Jeff Clemens - Written by William Rees -  Additional Design by Jenny Frison

"For mature audiences:  ISBN-13: 978-0-0787623-2-2 - $11.95 cover price."

 

Front Cover:  The front cover is an attention grabber, showing enough to entice a casual browser into picking it up to thumb through.

Inside Front Cover:  Is blank...Yes, blank. It's a Graphic Novel though, so that's OK.

Splash Page:  Kind of 'sketchy' for a 'splash page', but wait, it's not a 'splash page', which is seen after turning the page.

The Rest of the Pages: The story has separate 'chapters' inside. Since it a GN, there is no 'to be continued' last page. 

Last Page: Is actually a page 'About the Authors' which has good insight to the creators of this GN.

Inside Back Cover:  Blank...(again)! 

Back Cover:  Promo text about the GN, which I've retyped in the above section "What's this graphic novel about?".  

So, after all of the above...what is 'My Take' on all of this?

Well...First of all, this is the last publication for me to blog about that Jeff Clemens gave me for possible review at the Wizard World Anaheim.  Here are the links to my reviews on his other works that I have blogged about previously:  Black Dawn #1 and Vesuvius Johnson: Day One. 

Back to this GN:  I gave this GN a chance to reel me in during several days of reading it.  Especially after liking the two other publications that Jeff illustrated with different authors.

However this publication I found to be somewhat scattered in the storytelling and possibly even slightly lurid.  I found that there was a committment to unfold this story by the two creators, so I hung in there to finish it.  

The story is not one I would normally read, but I wanted to finish it after starting it.  I do have a slight problem about the main character, Clarissa, who I believe is a 16-year-old girl, that wants to escape taking care of her handicapped mother, after meeting what she thinks is a handsome older man, by 'accident'.

Clarissa is so desperate to escape from her life that she does fall immediately for this "George Simmons". But meeting George is not that coincidental as she might think so... 

What made this harder for me to read was the fact that there are 'diary entries' and then 'fantay chapters' or 'inserts' that kind of pulled me away from the main story.  I believe that is where the storyline starting failing me.

The twists that the story takes seem to not be out of place, nor all that far fetched as the story developes, but what I believe to be a much younger girl falling for the stranger is why it is considered to be for 'mature audiences'.  I'll leave it at that.

I mentioned Jeff Clemens artwork in two earlier review blogs above.  This project 'Obsession' was his first after graduating the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art in New Jersey. Jeff's additional works can be found at his web site at: Jeff Clemens.com .

William Rees had one graphic novel before this one, 'Scars and Bars' released in 2006.  I have not read that project.  The web site for both of these graphic novels were placed on hiatus back in September of 2009.

I would grade this graphic novel as a 'Fine' (F) 6.0 out of the 10.0 Grading Scale.

Here's the publisher's site: HeavyProton.com - which like I said above...appears to be on a 'hiatus' at this time.  You can contact them for a possible copy to purchase, or check out Amazon.com as there is an ISBN number provided above.  I just did, and there are four copies listed for sale there at less than cover price.

My thanks to Jeff Clemens, for submitting this graphic novel for possible review!

AND My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now over the 3,145 total posts in number!

~ Michael D Hamersky @ ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com

Note: Our online comic book store carries many different genres of comics, magazines and graphic novels 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

My thanks to those of YOU that have read today's blog post! I do appreciate that! For those of you that didn't know me before today...I first set up as a 'dealer' at the 1972 San Diego West Coast Comic Con (SDCC) at the El Cortez Hotel. So I've been around comic conventions for a little while, LOL!   My wife Tina and I now have an on-line exhibitor (dealer) table at the first "virtual" comic con titled the "Facebook Comic Con" (FBCC)! You can view our dealer table and interact with us there on Facebook by clicking this link, which takes you to our table named: 'Facebook Comic Con | Make It So Marketing'.  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 also join my Facebook Network, feel free to send a 'friend request' to 'Michael D Hamersky'. I am reaching the maximum of 5,000 Facebook Friends soon, and I don't want YOU to be left out!         ------------------- 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, sorry about that!   The screen display resolution is best seen at the setting of 1024 x 768 on your laptop or desktop computer.   NOTE: All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.

 

'My Take' On: Peace Corps Frebon #0 From Singing Stone Studio!     ------  Above Photo: Creator of Peace Corps Frebon,  Aerron Allen, at the 2010 Wizard World Anaheim Comic Con!  At The Top Left: The Front Cover to Peace Corps Frebon #0 from Singing Stone Studio! At the Bottom Left: The 2010 Wizard World Anaheim Comic Con Logo.

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3149:

Yes, this was another publication given to me at the recent 2010 Wizard World Anaheim Comic Con in Artists Alley for possible review in this blog!  As You can tell from my earlier posts, I met a lot of comics creators in the Artists Alley!

So what's this comic book about?  Well, I found this on the comic book's web site to copy and paste here; which is similar to what was printed on the inside front cover, which I did not want to retype:

"We are not alone in the universe; however, we are the most advanced, and the United States Peace Corps wants to be the first aid organization to assist the third-world planet of Frebon.

It is the year 2061 and the Peace Corps’ 100th anniversary. Though miles to go before uniting all of mankind in the first world, America’s voracious appetite for commerce, democracy converts, universal power, novelty, and maybe something more sinister, has led these ten newly oathed volunteers to the recently discovered planet. 

American scientists, anthropologists, and missionaries flooded the small planet shortly after deeming it inhabitable. Scientists concluded that the environment is basically the same as Earth’s. Anthropologists quickly defined the Frebonians as a three-gendered society with equal populations of males, females, and singly reproducing hermaphrodites that all live in their respective gender groups. And missionaries clothed the naked aliens with second hand t-shirts while teaching them English in order to spread the word of God. Decades later, the ruling government of this poor society eager for development has welcomed the idea of Peace Corps on their small planet."

The web site had the additional information on the Planet and Frebonians:

"The newly discovered planet Frebon is a human inhabitable planet with an atmosphere similar to that of Earth’s, though the gravitational force is slightly stronger, and the sky is generally a shade of red.

The Frebonians are slightly smaller than humans but much wider due to the gravitational pull, and have redish, scaly skin.  Their forms resemble those of humans but with an added gender: the hermaphrodite or Chono.  Male and female Frebonians do not live together as their mental and temperamental differences tend to lead to violence between the sexes, a situation the Chono are born to avert.  The Chono reproduce by themselves and care for their own young.  Their job on Frebon is to mediate between the sexes, perform mating ritual ceremonies, and lead in musical gatherings.  Once mating is complete, the male and female couple may continue to see each other with supervision but will stay in their respective camps with females raising female children and males raising males."

Front Cover:  The front cover's colors bring out the title of the book "Peace Corps Frebon" to the casual browser.  Other than that, a browser wouldn't get what the cover scene is about.  If this was at LCBS, would it get someone interested in comics to pick it up? I wonder...?

Inside Front Cover:  A lot of text, which since the front cover doesn't tell us much...The extra text here is good to have! Also, this is the first inkling that this #0 comic book is part of something else:  "Story and Original TV Scripts by: Aerron Allen.  Comic book adaptation by: Brad L Johnson.  Pencils / inks /CGI by: William H Johnson.  Okay...Now a casual browser could see that this is a starting point for a non-comics project...!

Splash Page:  A 'splash page' with three panels.  The comic will be in black / white / greytone.

The Rest of the Pages: The story is told with many panels, and CGI looking panels at times.  I initially read this comic book after I was first given it in April.  When re-reading it again for this blog post, I found that it was a good presentation for what it truly appears to be...a promotional comic book for the comic book series and TV series.  .

Inside Back Cover:  The text asks the question: Who is Aerron Allen? The answers are there, plus the promo text:  Watch For Peace Corps Frebon: The TV Show! 

Back Cover:  The 'Sales Pitch' - For the Peace Corps Frebon...Which asks the question:  What if WE were the aliens?! 

So, after all of the above...what is 'My Take' on all of this?

Well...I have to say this.  This is a very good presentation to make a 'pitch' with in front of someone who is looking for a new show to produce / air.  It has all the ingredients, background / characters / history, etc., to 'sell' the project.  It is more than just 'storyboards'. Very good, IMO for a promotional piece.

However, I'm blogging this for a blog that is titled 'Comic Book Collectors Blog.com'.  Is this a really good comic book?

Well...I would have to say 'Yes - Qualified'.  For a Zero Issue (#0), it has everything that is needed to set up a limited sieries or mini-series.  Enough to draw in the casual browser and have them want to see more.

I'm glad it is labeled a 'zero issue', because if it was a #1 issue of a limited series, it would not rate so highly as it is mostly 'set up' with more 'sales pitch' than advancing the actual story.  So in this case, having the comic book be labeled a #0 was the smart thing to do.

I would grade this Issue #0 as a 'Very Fine / Near Mint' (VF/NM) 9.0 out of the 10.0 Grading Scale. The grade is for the 'total package' in this comic book format, not anything found on the web site, as a potential purchaser in a LCBS would not usually ahave access to that.

Here's the publisher's site: PeaceCorpsFrebon.com - where you can see more, PLUS pick up the comic book for the $2.95 cover price plus the shipping charge of $2.50, if you can't find it at your LCBS.  Additionally, the web site will draw YOU in to the storyline...it is a really good web site for the sales pitch for this project!

My thanks to Aerron Allen, for submitting this comic book version of her project for possible review!

AND My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now over the 3,145 total posts in number!

~ Michael D Hamersky @ ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com

Note: Our online comic book store carries many different genres of comics, magazines and graphic novels, including Sci-Fi 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

My thanks to those of YOU that have read today's blog post! I do appreciate that! For those of you that didn't know me before today...I first set up as a 'dealer' at the 1972 San Diego West Coast Comic Con (SDCC) at the El Cortez Hotel. So I've been around comic conventions for a little while, LOL!   My wife Tina and I now have an on-line exhibitor (dealer) table at the first "virtual" comic con titled the "Facebook Comic Con" (FBCC)! You can view our dealer table and interact with us there on Facebook by clicking this link, which takes you to our table named: 'Facebook Comic Con | Make It So Marketing'.  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 also join my Facebook Network, feel free to send a 'friend request' to 'Michael D Hamersky'. I am reaching the maximum of 5,000 Facebook Friends soon, and I don't want YOU to be left out!         ------------------- 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, sorry about that!   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.

 

My 'Take' On:  Fogel's Underground Comix Price Guide - The First Supplement!   Above Photo: The Front Cover to the Supplement! At The Top Left: Dan(iel) Fogel! At the Bottom Left: The Title Page - Click It for Larger View of Credits.

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3148:

NO, this wasn't another publication given to me at the recent 2010 Wizard World Anaheim Comic Con in Artists Alley for possible review in this blog! 

Instead, it just came in the mail and I jumped it up to the top of the review stack because of the importance of this publication! Plus the fact thatit is printed in a limited run, and will not be reprinted per the publisher!

So what's this publication about?  Well, I first blogged about the actual Price Guide back on Monday, October 15, 2007. This publication is the First Supplement, and is in magazine style format. Here's the promo piece on the mag:

Fogel’s Underground Comix Price Guide Supplement #1!

"Fogel’s Underground Comix Price Guide Supplement, the much-anticipated magazine update to 2006's Fogel’s Underground Comix Price Guide, is now available! In the past two weeks the limited-edition printing of 1200 has already sold 25% of its run, and will not go back to press!

Not a reprint or new edition of the “FUG”, the Supplement bridges the gap between Fogel's big Guides. The “SUPP” features updated prices on the hottest books, new listings for Mini Comix and British/UK undergrounds, and corrections and addenda, comprising 1500 titles and thousands of individual books! You’ll also find more exclusive content: an amazing Underground character jam cover by Scott Roberts, "Vampirooni Meets Hippy Dan" by Fogel and Carnal Comics veteran Randy Vogel, new comix illustrations by Shary Flenniken, S. Clay Wilson, Johnny Chambers, Scott Shaw!, and more. Rounding out the "SUPP" are a plethora of cover photos, articles, market reports, and advertising by the leading Underground Comix and Original Art sellers and buyers.

Dan Fogel, a comics industry veteran retailer, distributor, writer, editor, and publisher for three decades, is recognized worldwide as the leading authority on the Underground, Adults Only, and Alternative Comix genres. His Underground Comix Price Guide and Supplement are the indispensible resource for collectors, retailers, historians, investors, and fans.

Fogel’s Underground Comix Price Guide Supplement is published by Hippy Comix, Inc. in association with Carnal Comics & is exclusively sponsored by BD Cues & Comix, your leading source for high-quality custom pool cues & comix! A thick 128 pages, the "SUPP" is for Adults Only & retails for $16.95."

First of all, this isn't my usual review blog format.

That's because this publication is more of a reference guide to a topic that still has not been totally covered to date, although this Supplement adds a lot to the subject.

I usually depend on the Overstreet Price Guide (OPG) for most items I buy to resell for 'value'.  However, the OPG doesn't have all of the Underground Comix listed.

Matter of fact, neither does Fogel's own Underground Comix Price Guide published back in 2007.  Thus the reason for this Supplement!

Here's the neat thing about this publication, besides the listing of Underground Comix.

There are also articles on Underground Comix! Then an 'Underground Market Report'.  And of course, a 'How To Use This Guide' column.

The listings themselves are shown similar to the format that the old 'Comics Value Monthly' magazine used to be published in.  I found that format very easy to read and useful to take to local comic book shops for reference.  Much easier than lugging the standard hardback OPG.

Also, there are 4 columns for grade prices:  GD 2.0, FN 6.0 AND NM- 9.2, Plus  a HRP column. HRP = Highest Realized Price.  Very important column IMO.

After the Supplement to the 1st Printing of the Price Guide, there is a section on 'Mini-comics'.  Same grade / price columns format.

Plus a 3rd section on 'British / UK' Underground Comix.  I have purchased a few of these in the past, but didn't have a referenceas to their 'value'.  Now I do.

Filling out the publication are ads from dealers that deal in Underground Comix. 

I would grade this 'First Supplement' as a 'Very Fine / Near Mint' (VF/NM) 9.0 out of the 10.0 Grading Scale.  The grade is pretty darn good for a publication that is considered a 'supplement'.  That's because the original listings in the original Price Guide are not reprinted here.  This supplement is on listings that didn't make it in the Price Guide itself.  Plus the add ons of the mini-comics & the British / UK comics. 

For those of YOU that are into Underground Comix, this is a MUST HAVE. Period.  For those of YOU that are just casual browsers, this is still a Good Purchase, as the odds of finding this after the first and only print is sold out will be slim.  I know that my own copies of the 'Comics Value Monthly' always wore out because of all the use I got out of them!

So where do YOU get this publication?

I would immediately check out Dan Fogel's own web site for purchase at:  HippyComix.com !   

My thanks to Daniel Fogel for sending this First Supplement in for possible review.  I found it to be of such importance that I moved it to the top of the review stack because I don't want my readers to miss out on this 1st and only printing of the supplemnent!  And don't look for my review copy to be listed in our online store...I'm keeping it as I've been picking up more Underground Comix collections lately due to having a reference guide I can trust!

AND My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now over the 3,145 total posts in number!

~ Michael D Hamersky @ ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com

Note: Our online comic book store carries many different genres of comics, magazines, and graphic novels, including Underground Comix and Super-hero 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

My thanks to those of YOU that have read today's blog post! I do appreciate that! For those of you that didn't know me before today...I first set up as a 'dealer' at the 1972 San Diego West Coast Comic Con (SDCC) at the El Cortez Hotel. So I've been around comic conventions for a little while, LOL!   My wife Tina and I now have an on-line exhibitor (dealer) table at the first "virtual" comic con titled the "Facebook Comic Con" (FBCC)! You can view our dealer table and interact with us there on Facebook by clicking this link, which takes you to our table named: 'Facebook Comic Con | Make It So Marketing'.  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 also join my Facebook Network, feel free to send a 'friend request' to 'Michael D Hamersky'. I am reaching the maximum of 5,000 Facebook Friends soon, and I don't want YOU to be left out!         ------------------- 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, sorry about that!   The screen display resolution is best seen at the setting of 1024 x 768 on your computer.   NOTE: All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.

 

It's Goodbye To Simon Cowell... On American Idol!     Above Photo: Simon Cowell In A Publicity Pose Photo - One of the Main Reasons I Enjoyed Watching This TV Show!  At The Top Left: The American Idol Logo! At the Bottom Left: The 2010 American Idol Final Two - Crystal & Lee!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3147:

I'm formatting this blog while watching this 9th Season Finale show. I'm jotting down thoughts as they come to me for keypunching on Thursday to post...

I'm sure I'll get some input from Tina once she arrives home from her group meeting that she co-founded, Practical Spirituality in Business for Women NCSD.

The judges were announced early tonight as usual. However, Randy stands up for Simon, clapping.  It's Simon's last night on the show.  More on that as the evening progresses, I'm sure.

Besides Simon leaving...It's "School's Out For Summer!" with the Top Finalists, AND Alice Cooper! Now THAT is a way to start off a show!  Besides, I remember that song when it first came out in the Summer of '72, and I was still in college, when school really was out for the Summer!

During the first commercial, I reformatted the above notes into sentences.  I think back to what I've written above, and that this is the end of an 'era' for Tina and myself watching our favorite shows on TV...The LOST Series Finale on Sunday night, the '24' Series Finale on Monday Night, and now Simon's Series Finale on AI...

"Your reigning American Idol", Chris Allen, sings next with Ryan Seacrest's 'mic' still open...Gotta love these 'live shows', even though we are out here on the West Coast, watching them three hours later!

Watching Chris, I think of Tina's earlier comment this Season 9, about how she hasn't heard more from him since his winning the Title last year...

And I wonder how he got by Adam Lambert...while listening to his song tonight...Does America get this right any year?

End of an Era...A Tribute is next, the 1st of several planned to air tonight.  'Simon Cowell Uncovered' - "Professional", "Supportive" - and then clips from past scenes showing that...NOT!!  LOL!

I came to this show after it had already started, as I don't listen to 'pop music' any more on the radio.  Tina does, so she caught the 1st Season, and I finally came in near the end of the 2nd Season.

We started blogging 'Our Takes' on the competition in our original eBay blogging format, which is where this blog first started.

The Blog started in the 1st week that eBay started their blog platform, and we even won a $100 prize in their kickoff eBay blog promotion!  That version of this Blog lasted until eBay decided to shut down 'their' blog platform at the end of October of 2009.  Thank goodness that I had the foresight to open another version of the Blog in February of 2007!

When Tina & I picked up a large collection of rock n' roll comic books at a comic con to resell, I decided to blog about AI and tie in links to our Rock n' Roll comics in our eBay store. Which is why our archived blog posts show so many American Idol entries!

The next scene of the Final was the "things that Simon said"! Clips of insults that Simon said during the 9 seasons, and ending with several persons from previous seasons that had raised Simon's ire.  Now for a few moments a few of them had something to say to Simon!  Cut to commercial...

Tina's here now and she asks why I'm blogging about AI after not blogging about it all season? I tell her why and she says that Simon is the Doctor Doom of American Idol!

Well, You know...even Doctor Doom has his many fans, including me! Since Fantastic Four #5's 1st appearance of Dr. Doom, when I actually first held that comic book in my hands!

And...Doctor Doom was the 'constant' that the Fantastic Four strived against since the beginning of their comic book series, way back in 1962!

And...Simon (a.k.a. Doctor Doom), was the 'constant' that the audience strived against every week for years, when they booed him after his giving his opinion on the shows!

Randy Jackson, who surprisingly has the same body size as the 'Thing' of the Fantastic Four, will have a hard time piloting the AI airship without Simon next seaso...

Ryan Seacrest, (The Human Torch), the annoying flaming boy, (according to Tina!), would always banter with the Thing and irk Doctor Doom in the comics!  Which is why AI resembles the interactivity between the FF and Doctor Doom in the comics!

We're only missing Reed Richards / Mister Fantasic, and Tina says "That's a Good Thing!". She never liked him in the 2 Fantastic Four theatrical films that we saw at the movies, LOL!

Yet Simon / Doctor Doom was the one 'constant' that I've enjoyed watching since first tuning in to AI. I for one will miss him and his POVs on the contestants.

Kara (a.k.a. Ms. Marvel / She-Thing), and Ellen (a.k.a. Crystal of the Inhumans), were later additions to the original team, just like Ms. Marvel and Crystal were to the comic book team.

BTW, Lee and the rock band 'Chicago' really shined on the Medley of Chicago's Hits! WoW!  Why didn't Lee do any of these songs during the Season 9?  Sheesh!

Another funny 'skit' - Simon Cowell Uncovered - The Flirt runs next.  I enjoyed this one too...

Then 'Pants on the Ground' and in addition William Hung chimes in at the end of the song.

The Night is a little uneven, but through it all is Simon Cowell, who doesn't seem to be ruffled by it.

Good to see Bret Michaels joining Casey James on stage.  That's a 'nod' to our watching Celebrity Apprentice 3 all season, which Bret came out the winner!

Then the tears start to flow when Paula comes out for her 'tribute' to Simon.  Good video of memories played.  And then almost all of the winning American Idols come out and other contestants as well. Simon, visibly emotional, but still in control, thanks one and all...basically saying "The show goes forward...It will be different...The Truth is, who's going to be the next judge...? YOU are!  It's been a Blast!  Thank YOU!"

The Finale continues..The Season 9 American Idol winner is announced...It is a 'Beautiful Day'...AND Night!  Lee Dewyze is the AI This Season!  'America' Got It Right For A Change IMO!

My personal thanks to Simon Cowell who made watching this show interesting each season that I've watched!  And my thanks to the producers of last night's American Idol Finale...Who put on a Great Show and honored Simon in a befitting way!

AND My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now over the 3,145 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 rock n'roll and biography 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

My thanks to those of YOU that have read today's blog post! I do appreciate that! For those of you that didn't know me before today...I first set up as a 'dealer' at the 1972 San Diego West Coast Comic Con (SDCC) at the El Cortez Hotel. So I've been around comic conventions for a little while, LOL!   My wife Tina and I now have an on-line exhibitor (dealer) table at the first "virtual" comic con titled the "Facebook Comic Con" (FBCC)! You can view our dealer table and interact with us there on Facebook by clicking this link, which takes you to our table named: 'Facebook Comic Con | Make It So Marketing'.  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 also join my Facebook Network, feel free to send a 'friend request' to 'Michael D Hamersky'. I am reaching the maximum of 5,000 Facebook Friends soon, and I don't want YOU to be left out!         ------------------- 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, sorry about that!   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.