Michael D Hamersky On Comics Reviews: TFTSG3 (tales from the seventh galaxy #3) From James Rubino Comics!     - Above Photo: The Front Cover to Tales From The Seventh Galaxy #3, (TFTSG3) from James Rubino Comics. Top Left Photo:  A self portrait by James Rubino.

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3357:

As blogged about yesterday, this weekend I'm going to a sci-fi con in San Diego, (ConDor XVIII).

So when going through the 'Read & To Be Reviewed' box this morning, I came across this comic book that was previously sent in for possible review.  Being on a sci-fi 'kick' this week in preparation for the above mentioned con, I decided to blog about this comic from James Rubino Comics!  

Here's what the creator's promo says about the comic book issue:

"TFTSG3 IS HERE!!!

We're pleased to announce the release of the long-awaited TALES FROM THE SEVENTH GALAXY #3

featuring the debut of our sensational new character YUMISHIRA- Oriental Space Lily!

We've really put a lot into this story and we're sure you're going to find it exciting, unique and thought-provoking!

Also inside is a mini-sequel to our “Alien Interview” epic from issue 2

as well as the much requested "BOYHOOD OF CACTOR" origin tale (believe me, they don’t come much weirder than this)!

...BUT THAT'S NOT ALL!

There's also the tongue-in-cheek sci-fi tale "SPOIL SPORTS FROM SPACE"

...the haunting twist-ending saga "THE FACE OF EVV"

...PLUS BROTHER BODIBAG, PROFESSOR SEMAJ ONIBUR AND MORE!!!

...In our humble opinion: this is our BEST comic yet!"

So what's 'My Take' on all of this?

First, when I opened up the package and saw the front cover... I thought I knew what I was in for..

Well, it was that and a lot more as seen here:

TALES FROM THE SEVENTH GALAXY #3; published November 2009.
Entire contents created, written, illustrated, colored by James Rubino.
YUMISHIRA- ORIENTAL SPACE LILY: 8 pages (First appearance of Yumishira).
THE BOYHOOD OF CACTOR: 6 pages. (expanded origin of Cactor the Unbelievable. Prequel to first appearance in TFTSG#1).
DAVE & STARIANA UPDATE: 3 pages. ("Sequel" to "Alien Interview" story in TFTSG#2).
MESSAGE FROM SPACE RECEIVED: 1 page. (Prof. Semaj Onibur appearance).
SPOIL-SPORTS FROM SPACE: 3 pages (first appearance aliens from Phanirel).
MAILS TO THE SEVENTH GALAXY: 1 page (letters & illustration).
THE FACE OF EVV: 8 pages. (first appearance beings of Edeynia).
STIFFS R' US: 1/2 page (Brother Bodibag appearance).
ANCIENT TALES FROM THE FUTURE AD: 1/2 page.
WINTER'S CHILD: 1 page.

The above were all of the short stories and illustrations that made up this comic book's contents.

Thus it was an 'anthology' of sorts, with all the pages written & illustrated by the creator, James Rubino.

What I've found when a comics creator self-publishes a comic book, odds are the reader will find what the creator wants to publish to the world, not necessarily what the casual browser at their LCBS thinks is inside after the front cover either 'grabs' them or not. Which is why a lot of self-published comics are not at LCBS.  There is a 'niche' market for these comics, and it is best for the creators to self-market their own comics.

Here, the front cover would grab someone that either is into 'sci-fi', or possibly 'underground comix'.  The color front and back covers remind me of an early 'Herb Trimpe' sketchy pencil style, which if you like Herb's early work like I do, isn't a bad thing. That style of artwork continues on into the interior pages.

The first story, 'Yumishira - Oriental Space Lily' is more of an illustrated story to me, in the way that it is presented.  A lot of text, with illustrations to go along with it.  This story, as all the others in the comic is presented in black & white, which is perfect for this 'illustrated story' format, IMO.

The next couple of features remind me of Atlas Comics early sci-fi comics, before it evolved to Marvel Comics, but with an 'underground comix' art style.

The remainder of the comics are miscellaneous features which round out the overall readability of this comic book.

For those of YOU that like 'indie comics', and are open to different art styles... then this could be a fun read for you.  For those of YOU that are into mainstream superheroes type of comics period, this won't be.  It's a fun read, but you have to be receptive for where this comic book takes you.

This publication is a standard comic-book sized format. Color covers, 32 pages, with B&W interior pages.

My review rating for this comic book is a VERY FINE / VERY FINE PLUS (VF/VF+) 8.25 out of a 10.0 comic book grading scale.

You can find this comic book at James Rubino Comics web site, as well as the earlier two issues. The cover price for this comic is only $3.00 ($4.00 when shipped).

James has a Facebook 'Profile' Page in lieu of a 'Fan Page'.  You can 'friend' him / his comics at this link.

My thanks to James Rubino for submitting this third issue of his comic book series for possible review here in my blog!    

~Michael D Hamersky

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,260 '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 

If I have it... 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, Safari, 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: ConDor XVIII San Diego's Longest Running Science Fiction & Fantasy Convention February 25th - 27th, 2011  (Part 1 - Pre-Con)     - Above Photo: Herbert Jefferson Jr, 'Lt. Boomer' from (The Original) Battlestar Galactica TV Series, with Michael D Hamersky at the 2010 Long Beach Comic Con. Top Left Photo:  The ConDor Logo for ConDor Conventions, which is now in its 18th convention season.

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3356:

Last year I 'introduced' my wife, Tina LoSasso, to her first sci-fi con, CONjecture 2010. (Here's her blog post on her thoughts on that intro!). 

This year I'm introducing that 'World' to my youngest son, Vinnie, who will be attending the 'ConDor XVIII' for two of the three days, (Saturday & Sunday).  I have my membership already for all three days of the con, which runs Friday through Sunday, February 25th - 27th of 2011. I'll be posting all of the necessary links for you at the end of this blog post for additional details.

One of the main reasons I wanted to attend this con is that a high school buddy of mine, Scott Norton, co-founded this con many years ago. 

Scott is pictured to the left, when he was in the 1983 S.T.A.R. Masquerade.  Scott and I go way back to high school years, although he moved away before graduating from Mar Vista High School which we both attended, ending up graduating from Bonita Vista Senior High School.  So we are both 'South Bay Boys'.

I've lost touch with him since his attending my first wedding, back in 1975, as I moved up to the Los Angeles Metro Area for several years.  When I moved back down to San Diego, I was more into the comics conventions, whereas Scott, as I stated above, was a co-founder of this sci-fi con.  He contacted me via Facebook in April of 2010, and we re-established 'contact'.  I missed seeing him at the CONjecture 2010, as we went on different days.

I'm planning on seeing him again here at ConDor XVIII, as he will be in several panels. Which are:

Friday 5 PM Ascot Room - From Elfland to Poughkeepsie: Fantasy should sound like fantasy - Elwin Cotman, Scott Norton, Eric Shanower, Lynn Maudlin, Michael Underwood

Saturday 12 PM - Ascot Room    -  Gaming styles - RPGs as a literary activity - William Stoddard, Lisanne Norman, Allison Lonsdale, Scott Norton, Patricia Sallume

Sunday 2 PM - Ascot Room    -  Everyone Will Be Famous To Fifteen People: Famous in your small community - Arabella Benson, Val Ontell, Chris Weber, Allison Lonsdale, Scott Norton

Sunday 3 PM - Brittany Room - The City As A High Fantasy Location - Sherwood Smith, Sharon Mock, Dave Duncan, Scott Norton, Elwin Cotman

Of course programs and schedules and panelists are always subject to change.

Then there's the opportunity of again meeting Herbert Jefferson Jr., who of course you would all know from his many roles! 

I've had the pleasure of meeting Herb several times over the past few years, most recently at the 2010 Long Beach Comic Con (LBCC), as shown at the top right of this blog post, and to the left.

Herb Jefferson Jr played the role of Lt. Boomer on the original Battlestar Galactica and on the spin-off series Galactica 1980. His numerous other credits over more than forty years as an actor include roles on both Rich Man, Poor Man miniseries and appearances on such genre shows as Night Gallery and The Bionic Woman,  as well as in the movie Apollo 13.

YOU can see Herbert at the following:

Sunday 2 PM -  Brittany Room       Q&A - Herb Jefferson

I don't know the rest of his schedule... And the ConDor web site doesn't show any other listings, or any tables he will be at.  For updates to this blog post, please see my Facebook Fan Page:  'Michael D Hamersky On Comics' in the days to follow.

Herb didn't have a web site or fan page that he admins the last I knew.  He does make the 'cons circuit' on a frequent basis.  For more info on Herb, I can just offer you the link at Wikipedia.

Another Facebook Friend, who I met at the CONjecture 2010 I mentioned above, is Jean Graham. 

She is pictured to the left, with one of her books. For a full list of what titles she has out, please see her web site, Jean Graham's Short Stories and Fan Fiction Archive.

Her short stories and essays have appeared in the anthologies The Time of the Vampires and Fantastical Visions I and I, & in online and print magazines. Two stories will soon be available via Fictionwise.com.

Jean also a panel schedule as seen here:

Friday 12 PM Garden Salon I      - Scientific vs. Supernatural Horror - Jean Graham, Cody Goodfellow, Richard Dean Starr, Victoria Waks

Friday 3 PM Garden Salon I    -    Creationism vs Intelligent Design - Jean Graham, James Hay, Lynn Maudlin, Val Ontell, Michael Underwood

Friday 8 PM  Brittany Room    -   The Myths Behind the Monsters: Folk origins of vampires, werewolves, and other traditional monsters - Jean Graham, Merrie Destefano, Jeanne Stein, Deborah Flores, Kiersten White

Saturday 1 PM Ascot Room  - Gothic Horror - Alexandra Sokoloff, Jean Graham, Chris Farnsworth, Eric Shanower

Sunday  1 PM  Brittany Room   -    The Science of Star Trek - Jefferson Swycaffer, Jean Graham, Karen Schultz, Victoria Waks

Sunday 2 PM  Garden Salon I    -    Why Do People Believe Weird Things? - Stephen Potts, James Hay, Atanielle Rowland, Todd McCaffrey, Jean Graham

So you have plenty of opportunites to see her talk!

One more Facebook Friend, (who I will be meeting for the first time in person), is Mike Dubisch. He is shown at a different con, along with his wife, Carolyn Watson Dubisch, who I also hope to meet in person at the ConDor XVIII! 

Mike Dubisch's paintings and drawings have shown at the Society Of Illustrators gallery and the JK5 Boutique. Previous projects include "Strange Fear" from Catskill Comix, and "The Vampire's Christmas," with Joseph Michael Linsner, from Image comics.

Dubisch has created art for album covers, CD Rom packaging, magazines, comic-book covers, paperback book covers, corporate logos, t-shirts and web-sites. He is perhaps best known for his moody drawings and paintings for fantasy role playing game sourcebooks, primarily "Rifts" and "Dungeons and Dragons."

Mike emailed me that: "Hey Michael, I'll be doing two panels and I will be doing two art demos- A Cthulhu Mythos art demo and a Fantasy Art Demo, I'll have my books there and at the signature event".

I also want to mention that Maryelizabeth Hart, co-owner of Mysterious Galaxy, which is San Diego's local source of books of Martians, Murder, Magic and Mayhem (with occasional Matchmaking and Munchkins), will also have a table in the dealers room.  She will not personally be there, but the store will be represented in the Dealers Room by Patrick Heffernan!

Maryelizabeth is pictured to the left, along with her husband, Jeff Mariotte, along with Alice Henderson (at the right), at the May of 2009 'Sweet 16' party at the Mysterious Galaxy book store.  That was a great celebration, with multiple guests and panels that day!  (Click here for that archived blog post!)

There are other Facebook Friends that merit mention here today, but I've run out of room & time to post additional.  That's why I've sub-titled this 'Part 1'!

Here are the links I promised from above:

For the Facebook Event Page for ConDor XVIII - click here.

For the Facebook Fan Page for Condor Cons - click here.

For the Condor Cons web site - click here.

The pre-registration period is over.  However you can buy memberships for multiple days or single days at the con itself, as shown on the con's web site above.

For those of YOU in the San Diego area, I hope to see you there.  Please stop me and say hello, if you would!  With my 'bald head' and the indigo colored polo shirts I'm wearing all three days, that show my 'Comic Book Collectors Blog.com' name on the left breast area... I'm easy to identify!  (See photo of me below this article.)

I'll be there all three days, mobile Facebooking, etc.  I won't be able to blog more about this con until AFTER the event is over...    

~Michael D Hamersky

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,250 '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 

If I have it... 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, Safari, 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 Reports On: Semantink's Comic Savvy February 20th, 2011 Meet-up! (In San Diego, California)      - - Top Photo: Benjamin Glibert, Andrew Rakestraw, Steve Hendricks, Gary, Luis Alvarez, and Yanglyn Ou, in the outside porch area of Milano Coffee Company in Mission Valley Area of San Diego, California. Lower Photo:  (Bottom center to left and around): James Michael Ninness, Chris Henderson, Helen Pegg, Patrick, Matt Dunford, James, Dwayne, Sean.

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3355

Last night was the February 2011 meetup of Semantink's Comic Savvy at Milano Coffee Company in the Mission Valley area of San Diego, California.

The turnout was the largest I've seen to date... It ended up at 21 persons attending, between the hours of 5PM to 7PM when it 'officially' ended, although several of us stayed till 8PM, we were having so much fun attending!  And yeah, it does get dark out there!

I've included a couple of pics at the top right of this post, with names of those in attendance, (Sorry, not all are pictured... And please excuse any name misspellings!).

Ben Glibert, Director of Publishing at Semantink Publishing, proposed several topics during the evening.  James Michael Ninness, Writer / Creator at Semantink also, proposed a few topics.  I, as usual, had a few questions I wanted to hear opinions on from those also in attendance for this blog post.

Please note before I get started with mentioning those topics here.  The meet-up started with approx 19 in attendance, then there were 20.  One additional person, Joel Gomex of Wildstorm came in after I had started my questions.  So figure about 20 persons there for my questions, along with Ben's and James' questions that are mentioned below.

Ben started with asking when the 'Human Torch' of the Fantastic Four, who recently 'died' (sorry... by now that shouldn't be a spoiler!), would be back? The consensus was at what would have been Fantastic Four #600.  The comic book is starting over with another #1 issue with a new title...

Continuing on with 'death in comics', Ben asked who the group thought 'should die' next?!  Deadpool was immediately proposed, with 3 total affirming that! Cyclops of X-Men was next proposed with four agreeing.  Aunt May was overwhelmingly laughed at due to Mephisto's agreement with Peter. Professor X of the X-Men was mentioned as being "...more useful dead than alive".

Ben next threw out this question:  Which 80's cartoon should make a comeback?".  He-Man and Robotech were the faves volunteered from the group.

Other topics were discussed en masse before 6PM when the main group broke off into what could be called 'sub-groups', as the 21 persons in attendance couldn't all be heard in one larger group.

Before that happened I asked my questions.  Since I had missed December's meetup (out of town), and January's meetup (sick), I asked a couple of questions that were a little out-of-date, but wanted to know what the group thought.

'Who viewed the Tron film?', I asked. Of the 13 who did, only one didn't like it.  That is darn good for a group of approx 20 at the time I asked it.

'Who viewed the Green Hornet film?' I asked next. Only 8 of 20 did, and 6 thought it was so-so. With two not really liking it. One comment made was that 'Kato should have been made to be sexier!'.

After the 'Captain America trailer' was brought up in conversation, I asked the question of who saw that trailer and the 'Thor trailer' during the Super Bowl televised event.  First, let me say that 6 didn't see the Super Bowl as they were up at the Inland Empire Con that happened on the same Sunday as the Super Bowl!  

I was the only one that really liked the Captain America trailer more than the Thor trailer that was aired. Those others who had seen both trailers preferred the 'Thor trailer' and are interested in seeing it on the Big Screen.  One did mention that seeing Steve Rogers really skinny and then shown as totally muscular was a really cool shot in the trailer....

As is customary with me, after the group replied to the questions I asked, I then proceeded to pass out 'freebies' for those participating.  Last night the comics were courtesy of Archaia Entertainment, which were copies that were sent to me because I am on their 'reviewers list'.

As a final note in this blog today, I brought up the demise of the print version of 'Wizard magazine'.  No one, except for me, had a subscription to 'Wizard'.  Several of the 20 in attendance had bought single issues during the years, but in the past 2 - 3 years had bought next to none.  A comment was made that by the time Wizard wrote about it in print... that it was already 'old news'.   The power of the internet really affected this magazine, at least among the other 19 in attendance!

So I brought out my copy of the latest issue of Comics Buyer's Guide (CBG) and showed it to everyone.  Not ONE of the other NINETEEN in attendance had bought this magazine from their LCBS, nor had a subscription.   I was the only one...

Okay, I realize I was the oldest one at this February meet-up, the next oldest is four years younger I found out later... But still, none had bought CBG or Wizard within the past year (at least!)   Does this fortell that the shape of things thought to come are actually happening now...?!

As a last note, I was pleased to see Rich Kuhaupt's pin-up sketch in the latest issue of Zombie Kill Squad.  (I review blogged an earlier issue of that series here.)  This issue was just released at the Inland Empire Con I mentioned earlier, and copies were brought down to those who had asked about it at the prior meeting.

My thanks once again to Semantink Publishing sponsoring this monthly meet-up.  Here's the Facebook link to the event that just occurred, and here's the link to Semantink's Facebook Fan Page, which I encourage YOU to 'Like'!  Plus check out their several comic book series that are online.  When they publish hard copies of those in TPBs, I'll be sure to review blog them here!

Semantink's Comic Savvy is normally the 3rd Sunday of every month, which has been held at the Milano Coffee Company in Mission Valley.  There has been a recent change in ownership, and with 21 persons in attendance last night, the meet-up may have outgrown this location.  If there is a change, I'll mention it  in my next wall post at my own Facebook Fan Page, 'Michael D Hamersky On Comics'.

Till then...Have Some Fun!      

~Michael D Hamersky

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,253 '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 

If I have it... 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, Safari, 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 Reviews: TOOF! A Rafael Navarro Sketch Book (And More...)      - Above Photo: The Front Cover to TOOF! A Rafael Navarro Sketchbook Which Was First Printed for the 2010 SDCC. Top Left Photo:  Rafael Navarro with Michael D Hamersky at the 2010 San Gabriel Valley Comic Book Festival.

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3354:

Last year in my blog #3240 I blogged about Rafael Navarro's TPB titled 'Sonambulo In: Sleep of the Just'.  I followed up with blog #3252, where I review blogged his 'Sonambulo In: Mexican Stand-Off'.  I suggest you click those two links just shown as to what Rafael's creation, 'Sonambulo', is all about and then come back...

Okay... Are you back now?!

Good!  Because today I want to mention Rafael's sketchbook that he first premiered at the 2010 Comic-Con International: San Diego, a.k.a. San Diego Comic Con, (SDCC).

As you read in my earlier blog about Rafael, I missed seeing his booth there at the SDCC. Which is why he hailed me at the 2010 San Gabriel Valley Comic Book Festival, (a.k.a. SGV), so I didn't do that again!  As the SGV was a lot smaller than the SDCC, (and almost every con in North America is!), I made time to stop in at his table, (as well as every other table at the SGV).

I'm glad I did!  As mentioned in the earlier blogs, I truly enjoyed his 'Sonambulo' series of comic books he has published.  Although I've only reviewed blogged two of the series, I found the works compelling and actually moved up the first TPB reprinting the first series of Sonambulo for reviewing.

Here's where today's blog post comes in... Which is actually pretty 'timely' as the comic convention season for 2011 has already started... but hits 'full swing' in another couple of months!

In the stack of publications that Rafael gave me for possible review, was this 'TOOF! - A Rafael navarro Sketch Book. 

The sketch book is 8" x 10 1/2" in size.  Inside it are 52 full color pages of Rafael's artwork.  Of course quite a few pages are on his own character, Sonambulo.  But also included are:

A 'Tomb of Dracula' homage (shown at the left), a 'prelim sketch' of Batman & Robin, the Phantom from King Features, the Enchantress from Marvel Comics, Spider-Woman, Supergirl, Wonder Woman, Captain America & the Red Skull, the Destroyer, Captain America (by himself), Zorro, the Falcon, Indiana Jones, the Spirit, and many more, including several animated series characters that I am not familiar with.

Of course the obligatory 'good girl' art is included, as you gotta please them 'fanboys'!  But you get the picture now...

This publication by Rafael Navarro shows that he is far more than just a comics creator that has created one great character and nothing more!  This publication is representative of what every artist should have at his or her table at every comic con that they appear at!  More on that in a moment...

By showing other publishers characters in this sketchbook of his, Rafael shows that he is also a storyboard artist, a 'fine artist', penciller, illustrator, and painter.   This sketchbook shows his versatility.

I already mentioned the size of this publication and the number of pages... For those of you just starting out, the cost of this publication is probably a little too much to print too many copies for distribution.  I've seen other artists actually use Ka-Blam to print out comic book sized & comic book looking sketchbooks.

In the 'title' to this blog I added (and more!):  My point is this:  I missed seeing Rafael at his booth at the over-sized SDCC in 2010.  If you've never been to the SDCC, let me tell you... Last year was the first time since 1991 when SDCC moved to the SD Convention Center that I didn't walk every aisle of the exhibit hall.  It's too massive now.  An artist should carry with them a comic-book sized promo sketchbook, so that if they run into a 'reviewer' like myself, or others that are at different levels in the comics industry, that they could give a copy to them for possible mention, review, or even referral for additional work!

Please note:  I would suggest a color front cover, black & white interior pages, a background history on the 'splash page', and most important of all, a link to YOUR web site for possible follow-up and even purchases!   If you already have a self-published comic book, then 'put it out there' in your sketchbook with a the domain name address and e-mail address!  Consider this to be an over-sized business card.  Seriously... It doesn't cost that much when given to those in the industry that could possibly get you more fans who will buy your publications! 

And yeah, you should charge at least what it cost you to print them, when selling them at comic cons.  You want to create a 'buzz' about your work, and 'stand out' from the crowd of other comics creators, several of whom are just busy with their head down, busy sketching for fans... so busy they don't even look up when another potential fan stops at their table!  I've seen that way too often at comic cons... Sheesh!  

And here's another 'business card' idea... If YOU had a Facebook Fan Page, which doesn't cost anything to start... Except for your time to build it and maintain it, you would have a 24/7 biz card online. 

Yeah I know, you don't have the time to promote the page.  That's where it is going to cost you... But you have to have a 'product' to sell to monetize the Fan Page.  Because with the little time you have... You are going to have to  use a 'pro' in marketing the Facebook Fan Page, and keep yourself doing the best thing you can be doing... Which is creating more comics!  (Unabashed plug for Tina's and my services on promoting Facebook Fan Pages and other web services that we do, LOL!).

Anyways, I want to thank Rafael Navarro for presenting me with such fine series of 'Sonambulo', AND for this sketchbook!  It shows your versatility, and with today's economic environment, versatility is what we all need!

My Review Rating for this 'sketch book' is NEAR MINT MINUS (NM-) 9.2 out of a possible 10.0 Comic Book Grading scale. 

The link to Rafael's web site for 'Sonambulo' can be found here.  I've elected to link to the 'store' link of his web site, so you can see what he has available for sale.

Also, Rafael has not started a Facebook Fan Page for 'Sonambulo'.  However Facebook has placed a 'community page' for it, which you can see by clicking here.  Which gives you a little more 'background' on the character. 

Again, my thanks to Rafael for bringing his Sonambulo series AND this Sketchbook of his to my attention.  I have enjoyed several hours reading all of these... And will be blogging about another of the series in the future.  (Gotta give other deserving creators out there equal time here in this blog, you know!)     

~Michael D Hamersky

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,250 '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 

If I have it... 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, Safari, 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! 

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Michael D Hamersky On Comics Reviews: Walking Man Comics Presents Special #74 By Matt Levin     - Above Photo: The Front Cover to Walking Man Comics Presents Special #74 Top Left Photo:  Matt Levin, Creator.

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3353:

Earlier this week I received issue #75 of this series from creator, Matt Levin... Which reminded me that I had not yet mentioned issue #74 of the same series.

Matt has been pretty busy uploading several of his earlier issues of this series to his personal Facebook profile page, of which I will post the link to at the bottom of this review.

I first blogged about Matt and his mini-comics in my March 1st of 2010 blog, as seen in this link. As I mentioned there, even though Matt had been producing these for a decade, I had not seen a copy.  Small Press comics can be exactly that... Comics that have a 'small distribution'.  In this case, with Matt being based in Connecticut, I had not heard of his line of mini-comics till he introduced himself to me via Facebook.

As to Issue #74, this is what Matt wrote on a sidenote that was enclosed with the issue to those that were on his subscription list:

"Welllll, it took me a long time, but I'm willing to call it quits on WMCP74, completed, if not done.  I'm planning to post "Pere et Fils" 1-4 on my Facebook page; on issue issue weekly in Jan.; hope to show the kid growing up between issues.

It's very nice to be scheduled according to pleasure, but worrisome--shouldn't I be doing more?  Mostly, I've been doing short pieces for "Oh, Comics!", "Banzai" and the Trees & Hill anthologies.  But it's getting to hard to be inventive, for too small a return to be enjoyable.  The frog--the frog is fun and writes itself and I have the actual characters--so it's likely the frog Super Hero Frog will return.

Hope your life and work are working out, if not as expected, than at least with good health and some fun."

The above pretty much states what I felt when I was publishing my family genealogical newsletter titled 'Hamersky & Allied Familes Newsletter'. It was published from 1980 to 1995 for the benefit of descendants of all Hamerski / Hamersky / Hammersky families. The newsletter was available in English, Portuguese and German. As Matt stated above... I too felt that "...it's getting too hard to be inventive, for too small a return to be enjoyable'. A few years after my divorce... I just ceased publishing.

I'm glad that Matt is posting these issues of his online at his Facebook personal page.  The 'privacy settings' to his page are open to those that want to take a look at this issue and the other three in this 'Pere et Fils' story arc.

This issue #74 is the final issue in that very same story arc.  With only 12 page, (including covers), to this mini-comic, Matt presents a good story and one that he felt needed 'telling'.

What is unique with Matt's mini-comic is that the art is shown via 'rubber stamp' art... Yes, I said 'rubber stamp art'.  A list of credits of the rubber stamp makers are shown as 'Where to GO-!' to purchase the rubber stamps used in the story, with the rubber stamp makers names (personal / business), and a mailing address.

In this 'Pere et Fils', (Father and Son), story arc, Matt has been producing four comics of 'questionable advice' to his son.  I found this last issue of that story arc the one to touch my own heart... Enough to want to blog about it here today. 

If you aren't reading Matt's comics, either hard copy or on his Facebook personal page, you should... Period.

My Review Rating for this series is VERY FINE / NEAR MINT (VF/NM) 9.0 out of a possible 10.0 Comic Book Grading scale. 

The link to Matt's Facebook 'photo album' so that you can see this four issue story arc can be found by clicking here.  I'm not for sure how much else is open for you to see on the WMC series or his other mini-comics. The 'privacy settings' are Matt's choice, not mine.

Again, my thanks to Matt for sending me hard copies of his mini-comics to me for possible review!     

~Michael D Hamersky

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,247 '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 

If I have it... 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, Safari, 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! 

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