Mood:
caffeinatedTopic: Comic Books - New
TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3240: Today's post is the 1st Review on any publications that I found at the recent SGV Comic Book Festival that took place on Sunday, September 19th! I thought I would start with Rafael Navarro's 1st mini-series that was compiled into a TPB, and that is listed for sale at his web site. More on that at the end of this review... Here is what I found about the series, after reading the TPB. This was from the Wikipedia entry: "Sonámbulo (Sleepwalker) is a fictional character from the American independent comic book series of the same name created by Rafael Navarro. The character made his first public debut in Sonambulo: Sleep of the Just, the first of the on-going series in 1996. The story follows the eponymous character, who in the '50s became a successful luchador. Due to his rise in fame, Sonámbulo was approached by the local Mafia with the intent of extorting money from him and other special services. Around the same time, the masked-wrestler was plagued by a strange sleeping disorder. Upon refusing the gangsters demands, he was brutally beaten, shot, and left for dead. Instead of dying however, Sonambulo fell in to a deep hibernation only to awake decades later, having the power to see other people's dreams and having the uncanny ability to go without sleep. Using his new-found powers, Sonámbulo becomes a private detective against the supernatural underworld of the night. All of the collected stories following the character feature some surreal dream-like quality, keeping with the theme of sleep." Even though I had not read the above, before reading the TPB, I had gathered some of the above knowledge while talking with the creator, Rafael Navarro. The reason I am moving this review blog up in the stacks to post first is that I had met Rafael briefly at a different con in July, (the SDCC), when he stopped by a booth I was visiting. (Gumby booth.) I never did make it to his book at the other con, so when I arrived at the SGV he made sure that I stopped at his SGV Table. I'm glad he took the time to let me know he was there! Here's why, as you'll see in my review that starts next... Here is 'My Take' on the TPB compilation of the collected mini-series: Front Cover - I'm taking into consideration that this is a TPB compilation of the earlier 3 comic books with different covers. This cover for the TPB really invites you as a casual browser at a book store or at a LCBS to stop, pick it up, and thumb through it. Good presentation of what is inside and is a true representation of the storyline as well... The first few pages are designed to give you the 'tone' of the TPB. Black & white images along with the credits page, and a Table of Contents. PLUS a Foreword / Introduction by David J Schow. After all of that, I was ready to read the first chapter, (issue). I found that the artwork was familar to me, when I first thumbed through the TPB at the SGV table. I asked Rafael who he would list as his influences. He named Jack Kirby, Alex Toth, and Frank Robbins. I noticed the Frank Robbins influence right away, and then the Alex Toth. I also saw some George Tuska influences there. Which is All Good in my reading preferences! Not that Rafael didn't make this artwork his own, but it is good to see such Great Masters influences live on! The black and white interior pages helped set the mood for the chapters. I found myself reading this TPB rather quickly, because I couldn't put it down for long! I'm not going to give away more than what was given away in the promo blurb from Wikipedia above, other than to say that this storyline all made sense to me! Well written, good dialogue, and intriguing artwork were found in the pages of this TPB! Plus there was a Bonus Section! The early stages of development of this character in 1996. The pages were interesting to read, and the illustrations showed the beginnings of this character. Excellent 'Bonus' Section here! You know, I had not heard of this series before the SGV Comic Book Festival. I understood that Rafael had something to do with a Gumby series from my meeting him at the San Diego Comic Con International. But this Sonambulo that started back in 1996 (!) is a far cry from that! My wife Tina, says that is a sign of a true artist, one that can work in different genres easily and do well in them. I'm looking forward to reading and viewing more of Sonambulo in the near future! My comic book grade for this TPB publication is a NEAR MINT, (NM) 9.4 on a 10.0 grading scale. That is the highest I grade any comic book / graphic novel / TPB. Okay...I promised to let you know where YOU can buy this TPB I just reviewed above! Here is the link to the Sonambulo TPB and other publications that Rafael has published on this character. Plus other tie-in materials! Plus, YOU can also meet him at the Long Beach Comic Con in October, if you are planning to take that comic con in! --------------------------- Thanks again, Rafael, for sharing your time with me at the recent San Gabriel Valley Comic Book Festival! PLUS: My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now over 3,235 total posts in number! I do appreciate your continued reading and support of this Blog! ~ Michael D Hamersky @ ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com
http://www.comicbookscircus.com/
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Note: Our online comic book shop carries many different genres of comics, magazines, graphic novels, and comic con promotional items at the link seen below. 
My thanks to those of YOU that have read today's blog post! I do appreciate that! 
Also, if you are a Facebook member and would like to also join my Facebook Network, feel free to send a 
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!
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First up is Ted Seko. I had not met Ted before, nor read his works. 
Next is Rafael Navarro. He is pictured behind his table, with Tina taking a photo to upload to Facebook. 
I was a little surprised to see Drew Edward Johnson at a table at this comic con. Pleasantly suprised actually, as I knew he had illustrated the Fantastic Four: 40th Wedding Anniversary Special. Being a Fantastic Four Fan since 1962, I wanted to see how he illustrated them.
We also met Bernyce Talley, who is pictured to the left, holding one of her latest publications.
There were also raffles for items that were donated by the creators. 
At the left, I'm in the back row, while others are listening intently to Raul Aguirre, Jr. who was presenting his program. 
Second, although the choice of music being played by the deejay pictured to the left were good, (Thanks for the Led Zepplein, BTW!), the low lying ceilings inside the Cuban Hall made for a noisier atmosphere inside, where we couldn't fully hear the program speakers above the din of the crowd on the exhibit floor, plus the music that was being played from the outside front of the street access area leading to the Hall doors.
Our thanks again, Grasiela and Javier, for inviting us up to this comic festival and for the info / pics that have been used in earlier blogs here publicizing the event!
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!
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!
Instead, I first want to thank 
First of all, we went from Left to Right, instead of the 'norm' of right to left you see most con goers travel. 
Then we met, Javier Hernandez, who has been a Facebook Friend for a while, but I have never met in person! 
One I want to mention here now, because it isn't a comic book or graphic novel, (thus I won't be reviewing it in this Blog), is Richard Carradine, who wrote the book 'The Park After Dark: An Unauthorized Guide to the Happiest (Haunted) Place on Earth [Paperback]' which when I thumbed through looked to be a very interesting book on Disneyland. Richard was sharing a table with his friend who is a creator of comics. 
Another Facebook Friend, whose works I have review blogged, but never met before in person is Shawn Granger. He is pictured to the left. 
Plus 
That's because the 
That plus the fact that Tina and I imbed a Cuban drink, a Mojito, which is 
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!