Michael D Hamersky On Comics: All The Way With MLJ! As Seen In Alter Ego #82     -

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3333:

I picked up a large run of back issues of 'Alter Ego' magazine edited by Roy Thomas, and published by TwoMorrows at the 2010 San Diego Comic Con.  Of which I've already blogged about one that was 'current' at the time in July of 2010; issue #95, which featured a cover story on Marie Severin.

This Blog of mine hasn't covered 'Alter Ego' that much in the past, although I do enjoy reading it, as well as several other publications published by TwoMorrows.

One issue in this Alter Ego series that recently 'jumped out at me' when pulling back issues for a customer of my own online 'Local Comic Book Shop' ComicBooksCircus.com, was issue #82, which featured 'All The Way With MLJ', which I had not read to date.  It was seeing superheroes that I hadn't thought about for a while that made me pull it to read.

I opened it up and became fascinated with the early history of MLJ Comics, which was the 'forerunner name' of Archie Comics.  I couldn't help but keep reading it, because of the well crafted articles, AND the MLJ Comics Super-Hero Index (1939 - 1948).

As I have stated before in this Blog, I grew up on 'funnybooks' in the late 1950's, and then started reading western comics with photo covers from my favorite TV Shows that were on at the time, (Dell Comics).

I didn't start truly 'collecting' comics until coming across what would become 'Marvel Comics'.  Without an 'Overstreet Price Guide' or access to 'fanzines' during those years, (as there weren't any that I was aware of in the early 60's), I fell for the way that Stan Lee made me, and hundreds of thousands of other readers, feel like 'part' of the Marvel Gang! 

However, it wasn't until Fantasy Masterpieces #3 was published, cover dated June of 1966), that I was truly able to 'tie' in the fact that Marvel had a 'Golden Age' dating back to the 1939, where several of the new found characters that I enjoyed to read had a 'prior history'.   

By the period that superheroes had really come back into newstand distribution, circa 1963 - 1966 for me in the San Diego Metro Area, and on the Naval Base at Kodiak Island, Alaska, I had pretty much settled in on 'collecting' Marvel Comics, because of Stan / Jack / Steve / Don / & the rest of the 'Bullpen'. 

Not that I didn't 'read' other comics.  Because I did.  But the fact that 'my' Marvel Comics had a 'back history', made me realize I was onto something that had been around for quite a while. 

Remember that 'comics fandom' had just started getting organized a few years earlier, and I was just a young teenager. 

I do wish now that Michelle Nolan's MLJ Index referred to above, had been vailable before it was first published in 1969. That would have been so helpful! But then again, even Michellle had to seek the assistance of several comics dealers to find all of the back issues to write on! 

My earliest knowledge of any superhero titles that we now connect with 'Archie Comics' were 'The Shadow' #7 cover dated July of 1965, (seen to the left), which I truly enjoyed, probably because of the fine artwork by Paul Reinman, who I enjoyed seeing his work earlier in Marvel Comics on the Sci-Fi titles there. (Although The Shadow was NOT part of the earlier MLJ superheroes line.) 

Plus Fly Man #32 featuring the Mighty Crusaders [Fly-Man [Thomas Troy]; the Comet [John Dickering]; The Shield [Bill Higgins]; and the Black Hood [Matthew Burland]. Artwork once again by Paul Reinman! 

I tried to find more of these comics while in Alaska in 1965, but distribution there was so slim that I could only find a couple more.  And by that time, as I stated, I was really 'into' Marvel Comics, and thought that this 'Shield' was very similar to 'Captain America' that I was already reading, not realizing who came first!

As quoted from Wikipedia: "The Shield first appeared in MLJ's Pep Comics #1 (cover dated January 1940). The character was created by writer Harry Shorten and artist Irv Novick. At the end of the 1930s, America was feeling patriotic, and The Shield was the first patriotic hero. He was soon followed by three other patriotic comic characters: Minute-Man (cover date February 1941), Captain America (cover date March 1941), and Captain Battle (cover date May 1941)".

Mentioning 'Irv Novick'... There is also a really good article on Irv in this same issue of Alter Ego.  I met Irv years ago at a San Diego Comic Con, before he passed away in 2004 at the age of 93.  I had become aware of his some of his history, but mostly from his work at DC Comics.

But before that, from about 1939 to 1946, Irv was working for MLJ Comics, which I have already mentioned above would become better known as Archie Comics. I found that Irv actually became the primary artist for their superhero comics titles during the MLJ years.  The characters in those titles were The Shield, Bob Phantom, The Hangman, and Steel Sterling.  That is, until MLJ switched their emphasis from superheroes to just Archie comics, due to the ever rising popularity of that feature.

There have been a few more attempts to bring these superheroes 'back' during recent decades.  However, as this issue of Alter Ego doesn't go into this, I'll also stop here.

I found that this Alter Ego #95 was a 'treasure trove' of information on the MLJ superheroes line, and can only wonder 'What If?'...

For those of YOU that enjoy reading comic book history, and didn't know about the background history of the MLJ / Archie line of superhero comics... Then this issue is perfect to catch up with their earliest history!  I only wish a magazine like this had been around in the early 1960s with this information. 

(Actually there was, as Alter Ego was founded as a fanzine by Jerry Bails in 1961, and then later taken over by Roy Thomas before he became a 'comics pro'. There were ten issues that were released through 1969, with issue #11 following nine years later. I just didn't see them before 1966.)  

Note: As stated above, I also missed Michelle Nolan's earlier 1969 print run of the MLJ Comics Super-Hero Index, as seen to the left. 

My Review Rating for Alter Ego #82: NEAR MINT (NM) 9.4 out of a possible 10.0 Comic Book Grading scale.

My thanks to John Morrow of TwoMorrows for bringing the then current issues to my attention.  John has a Facebook Fan Page for TwoMorrows  Publishing, which publishes Alter Ego, as well as other fine magazines.

As mentioned at the top of this blog post, I also have back issues of Alter Ego, as well as several of the other magazines published by TwoMorrows in my own online 'LCBS' - ComicBooksCircus.com - should the publisher be out of stock.

~Michael D Hamersky - Who is pleased to see this Blog reach 'issue' #3333 today!

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,180 '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!!!

~ Michael D Hamersky 

You can find it 'Under The Big Top Of Comics' at:   ComicBooksCircus.com 

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safarai, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers 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.

Comics Creators: If you are breaking into, or already work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email or mail us press releases, news items, and updates that you feel would be of interest to our blog readers. Including YOUR own works!!  (Note:  I don't list my email address here, due to 'spambots' gathering it and 'spamming' me. 

To mail printed items to us for possible review, send to:

Make It So Marketing Inc., PO Box 130653, Carlsbad, CA 92013, USA

 Also, if you are a Facebook member, I would have liked you to have sent me a 'Friend Request'.

However, I have reached the maximum limit of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages in my network already, so I've added a New 'Facebook Fan Page' for myself so that even more of YOU can 'Like' what I am doing, and be interactive with me and others there. 

Here is the link to that 'Facebook Fan Page': Michael D Hamersky On Comics! Please click the 'Like' button on that page! 

---

 

Michael D Hamersky On Comics: John Carpenter's Snake Plissken Chronicles Preview Issue and #1 - #4 From Hurricane Entertainment!     -

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3332:

As I stated back in Blog #3320, I have seen Tone Rodriguez at several comic cons during the last couple of years.

I also stated that I had not seen his comics works, although I knew that he had illustrated several comic book stories and series, as seen at this link to the Grand Comics Database.

So the last time I saw him at a comic con, the 2010 Long Beach Comic Con (LBCC) to be exact, I actually talked to him for the longest time ever, in between his illustrating commissions at his table in the Artists Alley of the LBCC.  He's always busy at comic con illustrating, as he has a large following!

That led to him showing me packages of the comic books and series that he had illustrated for.  I've already blogged about the 'Best Radioactive Man Event Ever' in Blog #3220, and today I'm going to blog about a series that I missed when it first came out...

'John Carpenter's Snake Plissken Chronicles' from Hurricane Entertainment / Crossgen.  The 'Special Preview' issue was published August of 2002, and the mini-series was published June 2003 to February 2004.

The 'Special Preview' issue had a color cover, but the interior pages were black and white.  The illustrated pages were actually the beginning pages for issue #1, but in B&W.  A 2 page background text article was also printed, telling of the concept of transforming the film series to comic book format.

Then villain concepts were shown, vehicles, and a pin-up gallery of 'Snake Plissken', whose likeness of course is based on actor Kurt Russell, who portrayed 'Snake' in the films.

This was a very good introduction to the then upcoming mini-series. Although I missed the entire comic book series back then, this 'Special Preview' had I seen it, would have led me to want to seek the mini-series out when it was published in the Spring of 2003.  That is definitely the 'purpose' of a 'Sneak Preview' comic book or mini-comic!

I read the full series & preview in order in the packet that Tone gave for review consideration. As stated above, the 1st issue took the B&W pages presented in the 'Special Preview' issue and presented them in color. The rest of the story was shown. Of course, since it was a mini-series, the last page of the story had the 'To Be Continued' box.

The next page had a one-page 'house ad' showing the 'Violent Messiahs' mini-series that had been created by the Writer and Artist of this Snake Plissken Chronicles series.  I haven't mentioned William O'Neill, who was the writer of both series. 

The following three pages were additional sketches  and text showing the concept art for this Snake Plissken Chronicles series, which was interesting reading. There was also a 3 page 'teaser' for another Hurricane Entertainment property, 'The Diplomats', that I won't go into.

So for a 1st Issue, this really got me wanting to read more!

Which I did!  Issue 2 continued the storyline in a fine manner, as did issues 3 & 4.  Yes, I may be a little 'prejudiced' in favor of the series due to the fact that I 'know' the penciller of this series a little.

Yet, I found the storyline, the pencils, the colors, and the 'xtras' included in this series to be all that I would want to follow another adventure of 'Snake Plissken' in a comic book format.  Plus 'Kurt Russell' himself was depicted very well as 'Snake Plissken' in this series.  I have see other series that didn't depict the actors that played main characters depicted as well as this one did. 

And yes, I did 'Like' the 'Snake Plissken' films that were on the 'Big Screen'. So I was already 'introduced' to the character via those films.

This comic book mini-series was a well produced one, and I'm sorry it took me this look to read it!  So I'm taking the time today to 'review blog it' here. 

Review Rating for this mini-series: 9.2 NEAR MINT MINUS (NM-) out of a possible 10.0 Comic Book Grading scale.

The reason for that is because of the multiple covers that the publisher had for this mini-series, which is a 'tactic' that I am not in favor of generally. There were 3 covers for issue #1, 2 covers for #2, 2 covers for #3, and 2 covers for #4.  However, that is just my POV on this 'gimmick', and may not be your POV.  I know of several persons who enjoy collecting multiple covers, so to each his own.  In today's economy, I do know that is a possible 'burden' to some, which is why I mention it here.  Especially for 'completists', which I once was...

Additional comic book mini-series have not been produced, and as a matter of fact, the whole 'Snake Plissken' additional adventures on film or TV have been in 'development hell' for years.  A shame actually...

At this point of time, I don't have a link as to where you can buy this mini-series or special preview, as the publisher has gone under.

If you are in the SoCal area, you could buy it from Tone Rodriguez himself at a comic con. 

Tone does not have a Facebook Fan Page for himself, otherwise I would point you to that site.

There is a Facebook 'author' page for Tone, but it does not have a link to communicate with him.

Tone Rodriguez does have a 'Facebook Member Profile Page', and he is not maxed out at this time with the 5,000 Facebook Friends 'Limit' like I am.  However, please be informed that as many comic books creators are, he is very busy creating, and doesn't have all the 'free time' needed to communicate promptly to 'Friends Requests' or wall posts.

I can usually 'see' where Tone will be exhibiting next by his posts on his Facebook Wall, but with 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan Pages 'Liked', I can't keep track of all of the comics creators I am 'Facebook Friends' with.  I do try to let my own Fan Page readers know of current events there, but my 'free time' is also limited at times during projects I am working on.

My Thanks again to Tone Rodriguez for bringing this mini-series to my attention at the recent 2010 LBCC!  I am appreciating more and more his versatility in different genres of comics.  This was quite different from his illustrated art in the Bongo Comics 'Best Radioactive Man Event Ever' trilogy!

~Michael D Hamersky

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,175 '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!!!

~ Michael D Hamersky 

You can find it 'Under The Big Top Of Comics' at:   ComicBooksCircus.com 

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safarai, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers 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.

Comics Creators: If you are breaking into, or already work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email or mail us press releases, news items, and updates that you feel would be of interest to our blog readers. Including YOUR own works!!  (Note:  I don't list my email address here, due to 'spambots' gathering it and 'spamming' me. 

To mail printed items to us for possible review, send to:

Make It So Marketing Inc., PO Box 130653, Carlsbad, CA 92013, USA

 Also, if you are a Facebook member, I would have liked you to have sent me a 'Friend Request'.

However, I have reached the maximum limit of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages in my network already, so I've added a New 'Facebook Fan Page' for myself so that even more of YOU can 'Like' what I am doing, and be interactive with me and others there. 

Here is the link to that 'Facebook Fan Page': Michael D Hamersky On Comics! Please click the 'Like' button on that page! 

---

 

Michael D Hamersky On Comics: Atomman Limited Edition An Al Barrett Production!     -

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3331:

I have been communicating with Al Barrett since June of 2010, when he brought his creation to my attention.

That creation would be Atomman, which he started back in 2005.

All of what I had seen of Atomman was online, posted on the Atomman FanClub Group page,  and on the Atomman Comics Profile Page that Al had started for this fictional character.

I told Al, (pictured at the top left of this blog), as I have told all creators since March of 2010, when so many .pdfs of comics and links to online comics or webcomics came in for me to read, that I no longer found it possible for me to read comics online when I am on my laptop or Droid.  I found myself overwhelmed with all the product that is online, and that I either am blogging / networking / publicizing for clients / or listing comics while online.  I found that I am still a 'tactile' reader for my 'pleasure' reading. 

Al understood the above and recently mailed me a newly reprinted / upgraded copy of Atomman #1 in a 'Limited Edition' from Quebec, Canada.

The following is what Al provided as the promo blurb for this first issue of the Atomman series:

The origin of Atomman: John Smith, an ordinary soldier is exposed to the radiations of an atomic explosion in a 1947 bomb test. He encounters the cavern of a guardian and travels through time. 

So what is 'My Take' on this first issue of the series?

I had already seen several samples of the artwork, due to my exposure of being introduced to the Atomman FanClub and the Atomman Comics profile as mentioned above.

Al states that his black & white comic book is Silver Age / Bronze Age 'like' in substance and style.

I found that the artwork was of this period, but with more of an 'Underground Comix' feel, one that is still being used today for some self published comics / mini-comics that have been sent in for possible review.

The comic book that I received from Al is a little larger in width & height than most comics I am sent. I actually have bagged it into a 'magazine' sized bag to protect it until it was time to review blog it here.

The storyline in issue #1 starts off feasibly, which I know something about, after visiting the Atomic Testing Museum in Las Vegas over our recent Holidays Vacation trip.

Then it goes into an adventure / fantasy / sci-fi mode, which mixes well with the artwork style that is presented in this issue, and all the other artwork I've seen posted on the Facebook group page and profile page for Atomman.

There are 20 pages in this revised / updated first issue.  In black & white.  Which mixes well with this first issue's story taking place in 1947. 

There are at least ten issues so far in this series. The 2nd issue time jumps into the 1980's.

I'm pleased that Al sent me a hard copy to possibly review blog.  I now understand more of the 'approach' of what he is doing with this creation. For those of you that enjoy an independent style of artwork, which I consider to be in an 'underground comix' presentation / format, without the 'extreme language' that known for that genre, then you should take a closer look of what is already presented online, and then inquire as to where you could purchase copies. 

Review Rating for this Classic ReIssue Limited Edition: 8.25 VERY FINE / VERY FINE PLUS (VF/VF+) out of a possible 10.0 Comic Book Grading scale.

Retail Price (Not Shown - Is Canadian) Page count: 20 pages

Format: saddle bound, 7.25" x 11.0", color front cover and back, b&w interior

1st Issue (at least, and what is on the webpages) - General Audiences.

Here is the link to Atomman's Profile Page on Facebook.

Here is the Facebook Group Page for Atomman's FanClub, which I suggest YOU take a look at for more details and photos of some of the pages of the series that has been published so far.  You can inquire of what the back issues would cost, plus the shipping to your country from Al Barrett directly there.

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,170 'Followers'!  Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button!  And for those of YOU that haven't yet... We would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

~ Michael D Hamersky 

You can find it 'Under The Big Top Of Comics' at:   ComicBooksCircus.com 

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safarai, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers 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.

Comics Creators: If you are breaking into, or already work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email or mail us press releases, news items, and updates that you feel would be of interest to our blog readers. Including YOUR own works!!  (Note:  I don't list my email address here, due to 'spambots' gathering it and 'spamming' me. 

To mail printed items to us for possible review, send to:

Make It So Marketing Inc., PO Box 130653, Carlsbad, CA 92013, USA

 Also, if you are a Facebook member, I would have liked you to have sent me a 'Friend Request'.

However, I have reached the maximum limit of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages in my network already, so I've added a New 'Facebook Fan Page' for myself so that even more of YOU can 'Like' what I am doing, and be interactive with me and others there. 

Here is the link to that 'Facebook Fan Page': Michael D Hamersky On Comics! Please click the 'Like' button on that page! 

---

 

Michael D Hamersky On Comics: Cyclops Book 1 of 8  From Archaia Entertainment!     -

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3330:

Today's blog is on a series that Archaia Entertainment is publishing that was originally published in France.

The orginal work is by the same creative team that was behind 'The Killer: Modus Vivendi' series that I've been blogging about.

The following is what Archaia provides as the promo blurb for this series:

From the creative team behind The Killer comes a new series originally published in France about controversial private armies for hire and the pervasiveness of the media.

2054. Douglas Pistoia is looking for work, but only a private security firm, Multicorps Security, has offered him a job. Soon after he signs up, the UN decides to outsource its peacekeeping missions, and Multicorps wins the first bid, propelling Douglas into a war that is not his own, a highly sophisticated war broadcast worldwide by the soldiers themselves, thanks to the micro-cameras in their helmets. They are called the Cyclops. Douglas plays the game, and slowly emerges as both a unit leader and a media celebrity. But how far will he go in exploring the boundaries between war and peacekeeping, news and entertainment?

So what is 'My Take' on this first issue of the series?

I was already used to the art style that is in this new series, because of reading the earlier translated series I mentioned above, (The Killer: Modus Vivendi).

Thus I was able to concentrate more on the storyline in this first issue.

The storyline in this first issue is heavy with dialogue, which is good, because there are minimal captions as to what is taking place.  The reader is gently eased into the series, and I found it intriguing as to wondering where the storyline was going.

The colors that are used in the panels are mostly darker, which adds to the suspense.  The better paper that the first issue is printed on brings out the colors and meshes well with the artwork.

This is a good start for what is being considered as a 'Sci-Fi thriller'.  I'm looking forward to see what boundaries between war and peacekeeping will be brought up in this series.

The first issue for this series is a good start to jump on board for this series, instead of waiting months down the road for a TPB.

Cyclops - #1 of 8  went on sale: December 22nd at your LCBS - Check it out!

Review Rating: 9.0 VERY FINE / NEAR MINT  (VF/NM) out of a possible 10.0 Comic Book Grading scale.

Retail Price $3.95 Page count: 32 pages

Format: saddle bound, 6.625" x 10.25", full color

Mature Readers (series contains Nudity, Graphic Violence and Adult Content).

Here is the link to Archaia so that YOU can purchase either the single volumes or the collected works so far, if YOUR LCBS doesn't have them in stock.

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

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,165 'Followers'!  Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button!  And for those of YOU that haven't yet... We would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

~ Michael D Hamersky  & Tina LoSasso

Note: Our online 'Local' Comic Book Shop (LCBS), carries many different genres of comics, magazines, graphic novels, and comic con promotional items. Possibly even copies of the item that was reviewed here today...!

You can find it 'Under The Big Top Of Comics' at:  

http://www.ComicBooksCircus.com/ 

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safarai, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers 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.

Comics Creators: If you are breaking into, or already work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email or mail 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

 Also, if you are a Facebook member, I would have liked you to send me a 'Friend Request'. However, I have reached the maximum limit of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages already, so I've added a New 'Facebook Fan Page' so that even more of YOU can 'Like' what I am doing, and be interactive with me and others there.  Here is the link to that 'Facebook Fan Page': Michael D Hamersky On Comics! Please click the 'Like' button on that page! 

---

 

Michael D Hamersky On Comics: The Killer: Modus Vivendi Book 6 of 6  From Archaia Entertainment!     -

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3329:

I received the 6th and Final issue of the series: The Killer: Modus Vivendi from Archaia Entertainment in the mail recently.

Which was great, because I've been reading this series since issue #3 and been blogging about it. (See my posts for #3 & #4 - #5.

The following is what Archaia provides as the promo blurb:

In the final chapter of THE KILLER: MODUS VIVENDI, political tensions are on the rise as nations seek to claim the rich oil deposit discovered in Cuban waters. Amid the swelling political climate, the Killer lends Mariano a helping hand, dispatching a group of drug-dealing Hell's Angels who've crossed Mariano and his boss in a nasty way.  Despite the distraction, the Killer knows a silent war is beginning between nations.  How long will he be able to avoid being drafted into the conflict? Time may be running out faster than the Killer thinks.

So what is 'My Take' on this sixth and Final issue of the series?

The storyline that was revealed in this issue continued to interest me.  This has been a well written series since I first started reading it in issue #3.

As mentioned in my earlier blogs, I don't normally start reading limited or mini series that have already started... Something about coming in after the film has already started in a theater!

However, I made an exception for this series, because the artwork was rather unique and grabbed my attention right away!  The darker colors used in this series definitely added to the tone of this series.

Issue #6 gave me the finale, the 'punch line' if you will, to have made reading this series worthwhile!

But then on the final panel of this 6th & Final issue... I find a 'To be continued in The Killer Volume Four' text blurb.  Wait a minute... Volume Four?  I already knew there had been an earlier series of 'The Killer', (which I haven't read), but now it seemed there was another volume where the story would be continued?

That didn't set right with me... Yes, I would like to read another volume of 'The Killer', but didn't this say Issue #6 of 6? 

This is the only thing that didn't set right with me after reading this far.  I realize that this series is being translated from a foreign language series in some format, but still...

Other than that final panel, I found this series to be a satisifying read.  The translation into English was very readable, the artwork different enough to make this genre of story more than readable, and the colors kept this series going smoothly on eight cyclinders throughout the series.

I'm only going to 'downgrade' this issue half a grade, because of the fact that 'the story' is 'to be continued', which I wasn't expecting to see in the final panel of a 'final issue'.  I'm not knocking this issue per se, just the fact that as a reader, I'm told in the last panel: 'To Be Continued' in another volume. 

However, since this series does NOT have any ad pages, then I'm thinking where would the translators / editor of this series have placed the fact that there is another volume that continues the adventures of 'The Killer' from this point in time.

Plus I'm not aware of what sort of format this was originally published in.  So this may have been the best point in time to stop the complete storyline, and start a new volume. 

To give credit... The storyline presented in issue #1 of this series does wrap up with issue #6, so a 'complete' story is presented in this series.  So maybe I'm being a little 'picky' here, so which is why I still think this series (or volume) itself is worthwhile for YOU to pick up and read in its entirety.

The Killer: Modus Vivendi - #6 of 6 - For mature audiences. It went on sale: December 2nd at your LCBS - Check it out!

Review Rating: 9.2 NEAR MINT MINUS (NM-) out of a possible 10.0 Comic Book Grading scale.

Retail Price $3.95 Page count: 32 pages

Format: saddle bound, 6.625" x 10.25", full color

Mature Readers (series contains Nudity, Graphic Violence and Adult Content).

-------------- 

Here is the link to Archaia so that YOU can purchase either the single volumes or the collected works so far, if YOUR LCBS doesn't have them in stock.

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

My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now over 3,327 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 2,165 '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, I would have liked you to send me a 'Friend Request'. However, I have reached the maximum limit of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages already, so I've added a New 'Facebook Fan Page' so that even more of YOU can 'Like' what I am doing, and be interactive with me and others there.  Here is the link to that 'Facebook Fan Page': Michael D Hamersky On Comics! Please click the 'Like' button on that page!         ------------------- 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.