'My Take' On: I Am Stu Pitt By Danny deBruin -------------- Above Photo: The Front Cover to 'I Am Stu Pitt'. At the Left: The Creator of this Comic Strip Novel, Mr. Danny deBruin!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3178:

I've been absent in my blogging duties the last couple of days...Due to the re-organization of our Home Office.  That's because Tina was transitioning back to working full-time out of the home office. Between moving my operations back to just one-half of the office, I also was busy listing the comics received in for consignment sales, (see the Richard Herd Comics Collection blog for example), and generating proposals for possible clients for Social Media Projects, which I also do.

However,  today I am back to blogging, which I truly love to do...Hey, there's already 3,177 of these in archived format!

Today's post is a review on a 'comic strip novel' that was sent to me by Danny deBruin, creator and self-publisher of 'I Am Stu Pitt'.

Danny asked me if I would be interested in possibly reviewing his book.  Danny is one of almost five-thousand 'Facebook Friends' that I have, so I was just a little familiar with his work, but only by single pages he had posted on his Facebook wall.

Here's what he wrote me:

"Enclosed is a copy of my book, I Am Stu Pitt: A Comic Strip Novel for your review. The author and illustrator is yours truly, Danny deBruin.

It is currently self-published. The forward is written by James P. Pinkerton, former Newsday columnist and current fellow at the New America Foundation and a FOX News contributor. Back cover comments by Bunny Hoest of the Lockhorns comic strip; former Newsday editor John Mancini, and Chris Campion, author of the book, Escape from Bellevue (Penguin, USA)."

So what's this 'comic strip novel' about?  Here is the promo blurb from Danny:

"I Am Stu Pitt is a humor book aimed at anyone 18 years  and older or younger, although it is doubtful that people younger than 18  will get
some of the cultural references such as “Gnip Gnop,” etc. The  book
itself is Rated PG; the worst language is the  word “ass.” There  are
mild drug references. It is also the first book in a series of three,
so there are a few loose ends left at this book’s conclusion."

Danny also gave me a brief synopsis of the publication:

"With the greatest plot twist since Luke Skywalker found out his daddy was Darth Vader, I Am Stu Pitt is 134 pages of full color action that will tantalize and improve your life by as much as 46%. Stuart Pitt is the everyday hero who, despite not realizing his dreams of becoming a lusty rock star, hangs in there and rolls with Yodels. Or Ring Dings. Or Twinkies, whichever you prefer."

So what's 'My Take' on 'comic strip novel'?  I keep calling it a 'comic strip novel', because that is what the creator, Danny deBruin keeps calling this published format.  Some of you may refer to it as a 'graphic novel', which at first glance in a bookstore or your LCBS it would appear to be. 

Front Cover:  Since this is NOT a comic book, or a 'true' graphic novel, I am going to slightly change my review format here.

From the front cover there would appear to be a lot of characters involved inside.  And at the top appears to be a 'rocker' standing atop the title of the book 'I Am Stu Pitt'.

There appears to be a word play on the title 'I Am Stu Pitt' (stupid?), but it takes opening the book to find out more...

The inside first page shows just the main character atop the the title of the book.  Initially I am liking the artwork of this book.

Turning the page, I find the usual copyrights, etc. Then there is a 'Table of Contents'.  Good!

What follows are the pages for 'Thank Yous', a 'Forward', and a 'Dedication' page.  Okay...After all, it is in a graphic novel book format style.

Then comes the Introduction to 'Stu Pitt'.  I am very glad that the 'Introduction' is there!  This 'comic strip novel' is laid out very well so far...

Then come the stories, which are broken into chapters.  Good thinking in presenting it this way.  I am able to read this over several days, stopping at chapter breaks, without a break in the action of the stories.

There are ten total chapters.  The storyline flows and the artwork keeps me involved with the telling of this 'comic strip novel'. 

Note: In between several of the chapter are original songs by 'Stu Pitt' written out in text only.  The songs relate to the chapter that was just presented.  Interesting concept here. 

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

Well...First of all, I was intrigued by what Danny said he was sending to me in the mail.  He was sending a 'comic strip novel'.  Okay...

Then, almost everything that I ask for from a creator / publisher / publicist as shown at: How to Submit Your Publication for Possible Review link was there. Thanks Danny for that!

The 'comic strip novel' wasn't that 'far out' from being a 'graphic novel' in style.  But I was glad to see that Danny had also printed that blurb on the front cover at the top right. See top right photo of this blog.  Thus letting others know not to expect a 'graphic novel'.

So far I've mentioned the lay-out of the novel, the artwork, and the storyline briefly. What did I find about this novel that entertained me?

Well, I enjoyed the many references made in the novel.  Even though several were about pop culture references from a few decades ago, some, like the A-Team references, were just brought back in a Big Theater Film. this very month in 2010!  So some, not all would be familiar to a younger reader.

When I say younger reader, I would agree with Danny's thoughts above that the book would be a 'PG' in a rating scale.  Basically because a lot of the references would not be known by the much younger than 18 crowd.

However, the storyline itself flows well and you don't have to know all the pop culture references to enjoy this novel. Matter of fact, I had to look up one of the 'references', LOL. 

I would grade this 'comic strip novel', 'I Am Stu Pitt' with a Near Mint' (NM) 9.4 out of the 10.0 Grading Scale. That's because I don't give anything above that when selling 'comic strip novels', 'graphic novels' or just 'floppy' comic books out of our own online comic book shop! 

It is that good IMO.  A refreshing story told in illustrated format, and broken into chapters for easier reading for persons like myself that don't have the time to sit and read through an entire novel at one sitting!

So where can YOU pick up a copy? Here's what Danny, also the self-publisher tells me:

"The book is 134 pages color and sells for $21.95 on www.iamstupitt.com. People who order this will receive a signed copy.

There will also be I Am Stu Pitt: The Semi-Deluxe Edition available at Amazon.com for $23.95 and will be available by mid-July, which will also be in full color but will not be signed by the author."

(UPDATE 09-04-10...Danny has sent out a message that all the signed copies at his web site are now SOLD OUT!  But never fear, YOU can still order non-signed copies from Amazon! Here is the link to purchase a copy:  I Am Stu Pitt   

 

 

Talking about Danny, here is a brief bio / message from him:

"Brief Author Biography:    Danny deBruin is an award-winning cartoonist
whose articles and cartoons have appeared in Cracked Magazine,
Newsday, Howard Stern’s book, Private Parts, The Long Island Voice,
the Connecticut Business Digest, and numerous other publications."

The above is pretty much what I have to say about this 'comic strip novel'.  Now YOU can have your say AND be interactive with Danny deBruin at the Facebook Group Page for this book. I have 'joined' this Group Page, of which I am suggesting YOU to click on and 'join' as a member also. 

My thanks to Danny deBruin for bringing this work of his to my attention!

AND My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now over the 3,175 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/

 

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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

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.

 

Congrats to Galactic Comics!  Celebrating 13 Years on Newport Ave in Ocean Beach! Stop In And See Ed Fogarty During the OB Street Fair June 26th of 2010!       -------------- Above Photo: Edward 'Ed' Fogarty at his Galactic Comics shop in Ocean Beach, San Diego Metro Area! At the Top Left: The Storefront to Galactic Comics! At the Bottom Left: Galactic Comics celebrated the 2010 Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) by having Craig DeBoard sign / sketch at the Storefront as pictured!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3175:

Yesterday I had business in Downtown San Diego. So afterwards I stopped in at a LCBS in the Ocean Beach neighborhood of Metro San Diego.

That LCBS (Local Comic Book Shop), was 'Galactic Comics' owned and managed by Edward 'Ed' Fogarty.

I haven't been there in a long time, because I don't frequent that area of Metro San Diego very often, (beach area).  But a LOT of outlying area residents and visitors to San Diego sure do!

Which is why I am blogging about this today.  The Ocean Beach Street Fair is running between the hours of 10 AM and 8 PM.  It is the 31st Annual Event!

Plus, it is actually the 13th Anniversary of Ed moving Galactic Comics from Voltair to Newport Ave.  He told me how he worked hours on end to be be ready for the 1997 OB Street Fair!

Ed actually started Galactic Comics back in 1994 and it stayed there on Voltaire until 1997.  Congrats to Galactic Comics on staying in business for so long!

I would have to say one of the reasons that Galactic Comics has stayed in business is because of the comics & movies savvy of it's owner, Ed Fogarty!

Truly half of the shop is on comics & TBPs & Graphic Novels, while the other 50% is on DVDs to rent or purchase - action figures - and other pop culture items.  Please Note:  Ed has a fine selection of current titles and possibly a few months of previous issues of those same titles. However, he does NOT carry a backstock of older comic books.

So if you are either visiting San Diego this weekend, or living in the Metro Area, be sure to check out OB's Street Fair and stop in to see Ed's Galactic Comics located at 4981 Newport Ave, San Digo, CA 92107. The phone number is (619) 226-6543!

Of course if you aren't coming to San Diego until later in the Summer, you are welcome to stop in anytime during the LCBS's regular hours of:

Mon - Fri:
    11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Sat - Sun:
    11:00 am - 10:00 pm

You can become a Fan of Galactic Comics at it's Facebook Fan Page by clicking here.

For more info on Ocean Beach's 31st Annual Street Fair, just click here!

My thanks to Ed Fogarty, for bringing this Ocean Beach Street Fair event to my attention.  The reason it is of such short notice is because I just saw him at his store yesterday afternoon, and this was the earliest I could blog about it!

However, as mentioned in the above post, if YOU find yourself in the Ocean Beach / Point Loma area of Metro San Diego, stop in and check out his LCBS's selection of comics AND selection of DVDs to rent or purchase! 

AND My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now over the 3,170 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/

 

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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

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.

 

Gary Friedrich To Receive The Bill Finger Award  At The 2010 Comic-Con International: San Diego!   Above Photos: Top Photo:  Gary Friedrich Holding An Original Art Page by Bill Everett at the June 2010 Heroes Con In Charlotte, NC. Bottom Photo: The Comic Con International: San Diego Logo.     ------------  Above Photo: (L-R) Roy Thomas with Gary Friedrich at the June 2010 HeroesCon in Charlotte, North Carolina. ------------ Below Photo: (L-R) Gary Friedrich with Bob Bailey, at the same HeroesCon. ------------ All 3 Photos from HeroesCon Courtesy of Facebook Friend, Bob Bailey.  FYI: Bob Bailey is a North Carolina collector, former Kubert student & Disney artist and a regular contributor to Alter-Ego. Bob also owns the Everett artwork page shown in photo! ------------ Black & White Photos:  From the 1967 Fantastic Four Annual:  Photos of the Bullpen!  The Way I 'Remember' Gary Friedrich From the Silver Age of Comics...Along with Bill Everett and Stan G!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3174:

Please Note Date & Time of the Presentation:

"The 2010 awards are underwritten by Comic-Con International. DC Comics is the major sponsor; supporting sponsors are Heritage Auctions and Maggie Thompson.

The Finger Award is presented under the auspices of Comic-Con International: San Diego and is administered by Jackie Estrada. The awards will be presented during the Eisner Awards ceremony at this summer's Comic-Con on the evening of July 23 at the San Diego Hilton Bayfront."

My personal favorite stories written by Gary Friedrich would include several that he wrote at Marvel, including Kid Colt Outlaw, Black Widow stories in Amazing Adventures, The Gunhawks stories in the series of the same name, several Rawhide Kid stories, and of course several Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos! Plus Butch Cassidy stories over at Skywald Comis! The GCD has his credits listed here.

My thanks to the folks at Comic Con International: San Diego for posting this special event early!

Plus My Thanks to Bob Bailey who gave me permission to publish the above three photos of Gary Friedrich from the June 2010 HeroesCon in Charlotte, North Carolina.  You can find out more about Bob Bailey from his Facebook Member Page, and if you have the same interests, send him a Facebook Friends Request! Bob is a "North Carolina collector, former Kubert student & Disney artist and regular contributor to Alter-Ego"! 

AND My Thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now totalling over 3,170 posts in number! 

~ Michael D Hamersky @ ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com

Note: Comic books like the ones discussed at the group meeting can be found for sale at our own online comic book store 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 at the Sheraton Hotel at Harbor Island in San Diego! 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.