Who Will Be In Artists Alley At The 2010 Long Beach Comic Con (LBCC)?! Friday October 29th through Sunday October 31st - In Long Beach, California     - Above Photo:  Bernie Wrightson as seen at the February 2010 1 Day Long Beach Comic Con Expo! - At the Left: The Poster for THIS Year's 3 Day LBCC - Make Plans Now!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3266:

I realized that I wasn't going to be able to list everyone individually that is going to be in Artists Alley at the upcoming Long Beach Comic Con at my Facebook Group Page.  So I'm posting the current full list here in my blog today!

Tina and I have definitely booked this last weekend in October to attend this 2nd Annual LBCC.  We suggest YOU check out the links below, both to their Facebook Fan Page, and to their own web site for additional info and costs.  I'll be Facebooking more about this upcoming con in the days to come at my own Facebook Group Page:  Facebook Comic Con | Make It So Marketing. 

This is just an additional notice for you to see who is scheduled to appear in Artists Alley, (subject to change, of course!).  

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Again, this is just the Latest Notice about this upcoming event.  I'll be sure to post more notices at my own Facebook Group Page as the weekend nears. And at least one follow up blog afterwards on the event itself.  Plus any comic books / promos that we pick up at the LBCC from the creators for possible review blogs!

If YOU are exhibiting at this LBCC, feel free to message me on Facebook or send me an email so I can add you in future posts!

My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now over 3,265 total posts in number! I do appreciate your continued reading and support of this Blog!

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have 2,000 'Followers'!  Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button!  And for those of YOU that haven't yet...I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

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.  

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     ComicBooksCircus.com - It's Under The Big Top Of Comics! Click the Above Circus Tent to See Our Current Listings!

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)! Plus I have a chapter in a new book coming out in December of 2010, that is pictured above, "Gotham City 14 Miles"! Click here to become a 'Fan' of the GC14M Facebook Fan Page!! 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'. Please Note: I have reached the maximum of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages already, so it might be a while before I am able to accept your request. Just send a message along with the invite that you saw my Blog!         ------------------- 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: 'Gotham City 14 Miles' The Upcoming Book That Is Ready For Pre-Order @ Your LCBS!     -------------- Above Top Photo: This is the Front Cover of the 'Gotham City 14 Miles'  Book that YOU Can Pre-Order from YOUR LCBS! At the Top Left: Michael D Hamersky with Lee (Catwoman) Meriwether at the April 2010 Wizard World Anaheim Comic Con! At the Middle Left: Deanna (Anna Gram) Lund at the Same Convention! At the Bottom Left: Yvonne (Batgirl) Craig holding a copy of her book 'From Ballet to the Batcave to Beyond'!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3265:

In Blog #3247, I posted that YOU could start pre-ordering YOUR copy of the upcoming book 'Gotham City 14 Miles', (referred to as GC14M in this post), at your LCBS (Local Comic Book Shop)!

Being a comic book / graphic novel / books on comics reviewer, I was able to obtain an 'advance review copy' .pdf of this book. 

I do need to point something out here, before going further. For those of you that don't know, I am also one of the fourteen contributors to this upcoming book, GC14M.

Of course since I'm a contributor, (Mile Marker #10), as well as a fan of the TV Show, I've been blogging about this book now for what seems quite a while...(Click here for the almost 500 links on Google!)

Enough of the disclaimers, you now know why this book has been on my personal horizon for months now.  So here's 'My Take' / review: 

I have found that reading .pdfs on my laptop is not the easiest way for me to read 'comics', 'graphic novels', and certainly not 'real books'. I prefer the 'hard copy' format, as I am more of a tactile reader.

Saying that, I found that my initial excitement about this book was justified after receiving my 'review copy' via .pdf format.

That's because this book is highly organized, presented well, and written by people who 'know' this TV Series that has been running in syndication since it first left the air in 1967!

As stated before in my earlier posts, this GC14M book is written as a series of fourteen essays.  That's 14 chapters on the TV Series with 14 different topics.  Great marketing tool to use the Mile Marker shown in the TV Series as the title. Kudos to the Editor, Jim Beard, for thinking that up!

I finished reading the GC14M 'book' last night.  Since it is so fresh in my mind, I'm blogging my "review" this morning.  Here are the first 'Seven Reasons to Love the New GC14M Book"! 

Please note:  These are MY personal choices to highlight first, and are not meant to slight any of the essayists that contributed. I enjoyed reading all of the 14 Mile Markers. This blog covers far more than most blogs, as it is presented in a web page format, not just a 'blog paragraph' teaser with a link to someone else's article or blog. But I still have a 'space limit' on how much I can post in each blog.  You can see ALL of the 14 Mile Markers & their authors at my Blog #3247.  And No, I'm NOT including my Mile Marker #10 as one of the Mile Markers being mentioned first here!

Here's those Mile Markers from the 'Table of Contents' in their numerical order that comprise my first 'Seven Reasons To Love the New GC14M Book'!:

Mile Marker No. 2: “Batman — From Comics Page to TV Screen” by Peter Sanderson. Delves deep into “Batman’s” comic book roots. This essay really brought in additional info that I did not know, and presented in such an entertaining way, that it jumped right out at me!  Maybe because it also included histories of Catwoman, Batgirl and Aunt Harriet, but this essay had info I wanted to read about.

Mile Marker No. 4: “Notes on Bat-Camp” by Tim Callahan. An effort to answer that age-old question: “Was ‘Batman’ truly camp?” - I lived through this period when the TV Show was first aired. I enjoyed it, although by Season 3 it was little too 'formulaic' in its presentation.  However, I had never seen an in-depth article on 'Camp' let alone 'Bat-Camp'.  Researched well, and formatted well in this Mile Marker!  

Mile Marker No. 6: “POW! – Batman’s Visual Punch” by Bill Walko. Looks into the impact of the show’s vibrant visual design. Bill hits it right on the money...The Batman TV Show was "...a live action pop-art camp adventure".  Well researched, well written, and presented many facts that I had not known about the TV show.

Mile Marker No. 8: “May I Have This Batdance?” by Michael S. Miller. Very good history presented in this essay! Being a record collector / seller at the early Capitol Records Collector Meet in Hollywood during the 1970's, this essay had special meaning for me.  And I never did get to hear all of the records mentioned in this essay.  Now I have to find them on YouTube or somewhere!

Mile Marker No. 9: “The Best Dressed Women in Gotham City” by Jennifer K. Stuller. Presents a compelling argument for its female denizens and their place in “Batman.” - As you can see from the top of this blog post, I definitely have a fondness for those actresses that had either continuing roles or one-shot features in this TV series! So this essay really was one I had a pre-disposition to want to like. It was well researched, and well written, so I wasn't disappointed!  Neither will be fans of Catwoman or Batgirl!

Mile Marker No. 13: “Jumping the Bat-Shark” by William Patrick Murray. Delves into the third season of “Batman.” -Really good summarization of the third (and last) season of Batman! I had a problem when re-watching all of the series episodes in order to write my own Mile Marker for this book. My wife who watched several with me, and then 'listened' to others when the series became too formulaic, would agree here.  The introduction of Batgirl was fine, but the one episode per week just didn't work for the episodes that were two parters.  I appreciated the extra effort that William put into this essay. It would have been easy to jump on the bandwagon on how bad the third season was, but he didn't.  William really put together some great facts into a well written essay!   

Mile Marker No. 14: “Some Days You Just Can’t Get Rid of a Bomb” by Paul Kupperberg. The legacy beyond its original broadcast.  Quite honestly, I haven't kept up with the Batman mythos in recent years.  I've seen ALL of the Batman theatrical live action films on the Big Screen at local theaters, and rented the animated DVDs of major animated releases.  I haven't watched the several animated series that have been shown on TV, or have been released on DVD.  So it was very interesting to read in this essay on what has been happening since the 1966 Batman TV Show eneded.

The above are 7 of the 14 Mile Markers that I have space to mention here this morning.  (I'm planning on running an additonal post in the future on the other 7.)

I did want to mention here a few other items that are included in this book.

One is the 'Introduction' titled: 'Giant Lighted Lucite Map of Gotham City' by Jim Beard, who is also the Editor of this book.  Now I know why this book came into being!  Thanks for sharing that at the beginning of this book!

Another is an Appendix that wasn't listed on the 'Table of Contents' in the pre-publication .pdf that was sent to me.  I have sent in word on this, hoping that the published book will have that correction.

That is the Appendix: Bat-Discography by Michael S. Miller. Yes, the same author of Mile Maker No. 8!  This is a wealth of info on this subject, the best I've ever seen!  For Batman TV Show fans, this is a list you need to copy off and carry with you to record collector shows!

Last, but certainly NOT least is the 'About the Contributors' section. It was good that all of the Contributors were listed with a little about them.  It could have been worked to have the Mile Marker Number included with the paragraph on them for easy cross reference, but it was good to see what the backgrounds were of each Contributor for those that are picking up the book to possibly purchase it.

So, as you can see...I'm more than slightly prejudiced in favor of this book being in YOUR personal library at home!

Even so, I'm going to give this book a Near Mint (NM) 9.4 out of a 10.0 comic book grading scale. That's because it is well researched, well written, and will be presented for sale in a print format in the upcoming future!

Again, when YOU go to your LCBS to pick up your weekly shipment of comics, don't forget to pre-order this upcoming book that is due to arrive at the end of December!

Gotham City 14 Miles / ISBN 9780578064611 / $22.95 MSRP

Also, in the meantime please feel free to check out the Facebook Fan Page for Gotham City 14 Miles and 'liking' it!

PLUS...My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now over the 3,260 total posts in number! I do appreciate your continued reading and support of this Blog!

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  I would appreciate that!

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.  

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     ComicBooksCircus.com - It's Under The Big Top Of Comics! Click the Above Circus Tent to See Our Current Listings!

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 'comic book 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, (both pictured at an early 2000s SDCC), 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'. Plus as mentioned in today's blog...I have a chapter in a new book coming out in December of 2010, that is pictured above, "Gotham City 14 Miles"!  Click here to become a 'Fan' of the GC14M Facebook Fan Page! 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: ZKS Zombie. Kill. Squad #0: From Forbidden Panel Productions and AJ Herrera     - Above Photo:  The Front Cover to ZKS #0 From Forbidden Panel Productions. - At the Top Left: AJ Herrera at the August 2010 Semantink Comic Savvy Meetup in San Diego.  - At the Bottom Left: A promo poster for Zombie Kill Squad.

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3264:

I have posted a few blogs mentioning AJ Herrera attending the Semantink's Comic Savvy in San Diego that I have been attending this year.

However, I haven't blogged about any of his works to date.  Back at the August 2010 Comic Savvy, AJ brought the Zero issue of Zombie Kill Squad as shown at the top left of this blog. 

With Halloween coming up next weekend, this would be a good time to review blog it here....

Here is what this series is about, per the promo on the web site:

Z.K.S. is a new comic series put out by Forbidden Panel. In this series we see how the world is trying to adapt and over come being overrun by the undead.

It is written and created by AJ Herrera
Cover Artist Ryan Cain
Scripting and Editing by Bryan Kreusch
Pencils, Ink and all art by Justin White
Characters created by Brandi Auset

Okay...So what is 'My Take' on this Zero Issue?

Starting with the understanding that a Zero Issue (#0) is usually just a preview / promotional issue for an upcoming series, I'm not surprised that just the premise is shown in this zero issue.

Which is okay, because there is enough storyline, text copy, and artwork to give me a 'feel' for what the creators are wanting to do with this series.

As I've mentioned several times before, there have been dozens of comics sent to me full of zombies / vampires / were-this-or-that.  So a new series has to have something 'different' for me to take the 1 - 2 hours to review blog it here.

Front Cover: Good promotional text / font used on this zero issue.  The black / white / grey / red colors add additional emphasis, without being over the top in presentation.

Inside Front Cover:  The Credits are shown in very large white colored letters.  Without indicating further what the series is about. So hopefully the Splash Page will give the reader more?  

Splash Page:  Nope...just a variation of the graphic shown at the 2nd top left of this blog post.

The Interior Pages: A total of eleven pages are presented to get the reader interested in the concept.

The storyline / premise is fine...I find myself wondering where this will go.  So that purpose of this promo issue is doing its job.

The artwork is black & white in color. Which is also okay for this promo issue, especially with the subject matter.

The illustrations get the point across, meshing fine with the copy text.

The lettering also intertwines well with the illustrations, not overcrowding the panels.

The 12th interior page is a pin-up page by Joey LaBartunek. I don't see him listed in the credits, so having a guest artist this early in a series doesn't really add any value for me as a possible series reader. I would have preferred to see a little more promotion on this series. I shouldn't have to go to the web site to find out more, if I am seeing this at my LCBS's shelf for new comics.

The Inside Back Cover: The same creators that were listed on the Inside Front Cover are listed again, this time with details on who they are, and some of what they want to do.  Okay, this is what a promo issue is for.

Back Cover: This is a Printer's ad, this time by ComiXpress.  Which is okay.  I see a lot of this from self-publishers.  ComiXpress is a quality printer.

So, that's the end of the presentation of this Zero Issue.

For the most part it piqued my interest enough to 'review blog' it here today.  The premise and storyline is something that I believe could make a good series.

The artwork fits this genre, and the usage of different sized and shapes of panels added depth to the story.

However, as this is a 'promo issue' / a 'zero issue', I would have expected a little more 'tease' for what's to come in at least the next issue.  

Thus my 'comic book grade' for this publication is a VERY FINE PLUS  (VF+) 8.5 on a 10.0 comic book grading scale.

Here is the link to Zombie Kill Squad so that YOU can purchase this comic book for yourself to read!

Here is the Facebook Fan Page for Zombie Kill Squad, which I suggest YOU 'like' also to keep up with what this publisher is presenting next.

My thanks to AJ Herrera for bringing this publication to my attention!

PLUS: My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now over 3,260 total posts in number! I do appreciate your continued reading and support of this Blog!

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 1,990 'Followers'!  Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button!  And for those of YOU that haven't yet...I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

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.  

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   ComicBooksCircus.com - It's Under The Big Top Of Comics! Click the Above Circus Tent to See Our Current Listings!

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)! Plus I have a chapter in a new book coming out in December of 2010, that is pictured above, "Gotham City 14 Miles"!  Click here to become a 'Fan' of the GC14M Facebook Fan Page! 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'. Please Note: I have reached the maximum of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages already, so it might be a while before I am able to accept your request. Just send a message along with the invite that you saw my Blog!         ------------------- 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: Hybrid Bastards! The Collected Edition Hardcover From Archaia Entertainment!     - Above Photo:  The Dust Jacket to: Hybrid Bastards! Collected Edition - by Tom Pinchuk & Kate Glasheen. - At the Left: The Logo for Archaia Entertainment LLC.

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3263:

This is the final blog on my series of posts for what turned out to be 'Archaia Week' at ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com!

I've already blogged this week about: The Secret History - Books Ten & Eleven, Mouse Guard: Legends of the Guard #2 (of 4), The Killer - Modus Vivendi Issues 3 & 4, and Fraggle Rock Vol. 1 The Collected Edition. As you can see from the titles alone, Archaia Entertainment definitely covers a LOT of genres in publishing!  Kudos to those at this company for electing to doing so!

I happened to visit Archaia Entertainment's booth at the 2010 Comic Con International: San Diego in July of this year. (Thanks again, Dale Wilson, for turning me on to this booth!) 

I suggest that if YOU are at a comic con that they are exhibiting at, to stop and take a look at their titles.  There is a LOT of good reading there for sure! I've already posted earlier blogs before this week on some of those titles and series, as seen here.

Today's post is on a different comic book series that has been collected and printed in a hardcover format. Here is what this comic book series is about, per the promo on it:

HYBRID BASTARDS!
Written by: Tom Pinchuk
Illustrated by: Kate Glasheen

Zeus is a god, and he has a reputation, a reputation based on a simple truth: he’s a cad. An unrepentant, philandering cad, and it’s been driving his wife Hera nuts for years. One night Hera reaches her limit, and in a passive-aggressive act of revenge, she places a spell on Zeus, a spell that causes him to fall in lust with every inanimate object in sight. It was a night Zeus doesn’t remember, but he’s a god, after all, and so his seed took root, and eighteen years later, his unnatural hybrid bastards are wandering the world: misbegotten creatures. Quirky oddballs. Nature-defying fusions of man and inanimate object. The hybrid bastards were born in a practical joke of mythic proportions.

But Zeus is a god, and he has a reputation, one that he wants to protect, so those hybrid bastards—evidence of a most embarrassing infidelity—have got to go. And go they do, hunted down by his goons. All except a motley crew: COTTON, a smarmy cloth patchwork; CARMINE, a timid automobile; COREY, a self-loathing apple; WALTER, a belligerent stack of bricks; and PANOS, their gallant would-be leader. This pack of hybrid bastards refuses to go quietly. Through schemes both ingenious and idiotic, they will force their negligent father to acknowledge them and, just maybe, do right by them. That is, if their own squabbling doesn’t defeat them first.

Hybrid Bastards!
A three-issue series in which writer Tom Pinchuk and illustrator Kate Glasheen take Greek mythology in a decidedly different direction.

(Next is the Promo For the Collected Edition Hardcover)

Collecting the mini-series that takes Greek mythology in a decidedly different direction, the HYBRID BASTARDS! hardcover includes a bonus story and pin-ups by talented guests. .

(W) Tom Pinchuk  (A) Kate Glasheen (Cover) Kate Glasheen. 

Retail Price $17.95 U.S.  Page Count 104 pages

Format: hardcover with dust jacket, 6.625" x 10.25", full color. Mature Readers (series contains Graphic Violence and Adult Content).

So what is 'My Take' on this Collected Edition  of the comic book series?

I didn't see this comic book series when it was first published. Plus I wasn't aware of earlier works by Tom Pinchuk or Kate Glasheen.

Having said that, I found that once again, Archaia Entertainment has put together into a striking hardcover format, another comic book series.  The format of this book is very fine in its compilation, and the added features make owning this book for fans of the series, a special printing.

However, as always, I've got to be honest on 'My Take' in reviewing this Collected Edition. 

I found that the background research for this storyline to be a very interesting one.  It is definitely a project for 'mature readers' as the topic is a different side of the Greek Gods as mentioned in the promo blurbs above.

The story as written is pretty good, if you are into that historical era, and can appreciate a current updated adapatation taking that topic and running with it as the central theme.

My only 'problem' with the contents of this book is that the artwork is somewhat 'over-powering', and doesn't mesh as well in readability for me on this presentation.

The artist's style on its own is outstanding, if you can appreciate art that is somewhat in an 'underground comix' style, yet updated for the 2000s. 

I found reading the collected edition a little harder than most items that are sent in for possible review.  That's because of the placement of panels, the word balloons seemingly being placed so as not to affect the art, and the flow of the story because of the art layout.

For me, an illustrated story should mesh smoothly between the written word and the illustrations.  I found myself being caught up in looking at the art, and getting sidetracked from the story being told. I do realize that this is a 'collected edition' of an earlier printed comic book series, and again want to state that the compilation into this hardcover format was done beautifully.

Maybe that's what it is...It's more of an art book for me than a comic book series  or  a story in graphic novel presentation style.  Nothing wrong in that, but I read for pleasure, and blog for business purposes.

I did find that the added story 'The Family Tree' produced by both creators to be a better meld of storyline and artwork for me.  Maybe this is like when I was first introduced to Jim Steranko's artwork in the 1960's.  I could see potential there in his artwork, which became full blown in just a few short years.  But at first for me, it was a little disjointed from the stories being presented.  I grew to appreciate his artwork and visual storytelling, and a very fine mix was soon established.  And you know where HE went in the comics industry!

There's some additional pin-ups by other artists in a special section.  Interesting pages of what others could possibly do with this concept.

Plus a short 'sketchbook' section by Kate Glasheen. Where you can see her artwork without the word balloons.

Plus one last short story, 'Cure For The Common Foe'. Which shows me that this writer / artist team can combine for a very well presented illustrated story!

The book ends on an 'Afterword' by Tom Pinchuk. A fitting end to this Collected Edition!

As stated before in this Blog...I don't post negative reviews, as it takes way too long to post a blog in this format. I liked the concept, the storyline, and the artwork.  Just that I personally had a harder time reading this series because it just didn't meld perfectly for me.  However I can appreciate what was presented here in this Collected Edition Hardcover. 

Thus my 'comic book grade' for this publication is a VERY FINE / VERY FINE PLUS  (VF/VF+) 8.25 on a 10.0 comic book grading scale.

Here is the link to Archaia so that YOU can purchase the Collected Edition.  If they are sold out, then try this link via Amazon: Hybrid Bastards!

Here is the Facebook Fan Page for Archaia, which I suggest YOU 'like' also to keep up with what this publisher is presenting next.

My thanks to Archaia for bringing this series to my attention!

PLUS: My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now over 3,260 total posts in number! I do appreciate your continued reading and support of this Blog!

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 1,990 'Followers'!  Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button!  And for those of YOU that haven't yet...I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

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.  

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   ComicBooksCircus.com - It's Under The Big Top Of Comics! Click the Above Circus Tent to See Our Current Listings!

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)! Plus I have a chapter in a new book coming out in December of 2010, that is pictured above, "Gotham City 14 Miles"!  Click here to become a 'Fan' of the GC14M Facebook Fan Page! 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'. Please Note: I have reached the maximum of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages already, so it might be a while before I am able to accept your request. Just send a message along with the invite that you saw my Blog!         ------------------- 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: Fraggle Rock: Vol. 1 Collected Edition Hardcover     - Above Photo:  The Front Cover's Dust Jacket to Fraggle Rock: Vol. 1 Collected Edtion Hardcover. - At the Top Left: At the Archaia booth during the Comic Con International: San Diego.  My first intro to this collection.  - At the Bottom Left: The Logo for Archaia Entertainment LLC.

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3262:

This must be 'Archaia Comics Week' here at ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com!

That's because this is the fourth blog in a row this week on a publication published by Archaia Entertainment!

Those earlier blogs from this week, plus archived blog posts on Archaia publications are easy to find, as seen here via this link.

However, I haven't blogged about this title before, in fact I wasn't familar with the characters at all before reading this book. Sure, I was familiar with Jim Henson's Muppets of course, Miss Piggy, Kermit and the others, but had never seen at all, an episode of 'Fraggle Rock'.

Here is what this publication is about, per the promo on it:

Fraggle Rock: Vol. 1 Collected Edition Hardcover

Collects the spectacular first three issues of Archaia and The Jim Henson Company's FRAGGLE ROCK comic series, featuring work by a talented mix of newcomers and indie superstars! Includes all the activity pages contained in the single issues and, as a bonus, Fraggle Rock content from the Free Comic Book Day issue is included as well!

(W) Adrianne Ambrose, Nichol Ashworth, Jeffrey Brown, Bryce Coleman, Katie Cook, Leigh Dragoon, Sam Humphries, Grace Randolph and Heather White. (A) Jeffrey Brown, Katie Cook, Michael DiMotta, Joanna Estep, Whitney Leith, Jeremy Love, Jake Myler, Fernando Pinto and Jeff Stokely. (Cover) Jake Myler.

Retail Price $19.95 U.S.  Page Count 112 pages

Format: hard cover with dust jacket, 8" x 8", full color. All Ages, (contains content suitable for all ages).

So what is 'My Take' on this Collected Edition Hardcover?

Starting with the book's Dust Jacket: Cute illustration! If I was already a fan of Fraggle Rock, I would definitely have picked up this book up to browse through it because of the cover.

Inside Credits Page: I recognized several names, so there is some cross-over from cartoonists I already was aware of.

Table of Contents: Although the individual sections were itemized by page numbers...There were NO page numbers on the actual interior pages for quick access?!

Foreword: Good intro by Karen Prell, the pupeteer of Red Fraggle.

The Residents of Fraggle Rock section: Man, am I glad that there were character illos / bios here!  It helped me out immensely to get a head start on the stories!  Great idea to place this near the front of the book!

Then the individual stories start...

'A Throne of My Own' - Which is a good introductory story for me to first find out about the Fraggles.  The writer, Heather White, outlines the story well, and the artwork by Jeff Stokely is in a style that I find liking immediately.  Good introduction to the characters in a story format.  Which made me want to read the next story...

'Time Flies' - Story and art by Katie Cook.  I've blogged about Katie before, (as seen here). I've seen Katie at a few comic cons before, and also have her as a 'Facebook Friend'.  Saying that, I find the story she both wrote and illustrated was also a fun read!

There are nine additional stories. Plus a cover gallery, activity pages, and for those that are interested on more about the creators that are involved with this collection of stories...there is a section on "About the Creators".  Which is good reading for a person like me that likes to know about the creators of comics.

I found that I could identify the characters, the activities they were involved in, and additionally found myself enjoying the stories that were set forth in this book.  All this on characters I had not known before sitting down and reading this book. So I believe that this book would be even better for those readers that are fans of the characters already! 

Thus my 'comic book grade' for this publication is a VERY FINE / NEAR MINT  (VF/NM) 9.0 on a 10.0 comic book grading scale.

Here is the link to Archaia so that YOU can purchase the book for yourself or for a friend who has kids that enjoy Fraggle Rock.  Being printed in a hardcover format, this book would make a good Holiday Season Gift!  If it is not available for sale there, then I suggest you use this link: Fraggle Rock Volume 1 !

Here is the Facebook Fan Page for Archaia, which I suggest YOU 'like' also to keep up with what this publisher is presenting next.

My thanks to Archaia for bringing this hardcover book to my attention!

PLUS: My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now over 3,260 total posts in number! I do appreciate your continued reading and support of this Blog!

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 1,990 'Followers'!  Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button!  And for those of YOU that haven't yet...I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

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.  

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   ComicBooksCircus.com - It's Under The Big Top Of Comics! Click the Above Circus Tent to See Our Current Listings!

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)! Plus I have a chapter in a new book coming out in December of 2010, that is pictured above, "Gotham City 14 Miles"!  Click here to become a 'Fan' of the GC14M Facebook Fan Page! 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'. Please Note: I have reached the maximum of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages already, so it might be a while before I am able to accept your request. Just send a message along with the invite that you saw my Blog!         ------------------- 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.