Michael D Hamersky On Comics Presents: Tina's Take On: an ELEGY for AMELIA JOHNSON  A graphic novel from Archaia Entertainment!     -

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3383:

Today's blog is a review on the recent graphic novel published by Archaia Entertainment. The review is a 'guest blog' by my wife, Tina LoSasso.

Review: An Elegy for Amelia Johnson
A graphic novel by Andrew Rostan, Dave Valeza & Kate Kasenow

An Elegy for Amelia Johnson is the story of how Amelia, a 30-something poet in the final last stages of breast cancer, sends her two best friends on a cross-country journey to deliver messages to key people in her life before she passes.

Amelia's childhood friend, Henry, a filmmaker, chronicles the journey while her college friend, magazine writer and erstwhile novelist Jillian, captures the story and each person's reflections on Amelia in words. Together they hope to join the visual and written word to form a proper 'elegy for Amelia'.

But, first they discover much more than they realized about their friend and themselves.

There's much to like about "Amelia".  The story is easy to follow. The illustration succinctly captures both the emotion and the action within each scene. The characters are clearly drawn with distinctive personalities. I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of Henry's sidekicks, Frank and Charles. They provide much-needed comic relief in an otherwise serious storyline and, in the absence of narrative (the story is told entirely in dialogue), the musings of Henry's long-suffering crew serve to set the scene and supply explanations for some of the characters'actions.

This reviewer didn't care for the sometimes preachy tone of the story and depiction of Amelia.  Most annoying was how the story's ending was clearly telegraphed on the back cover. If you plan on reading "Amelia" and I recommend it for readers who are looking for a thoughtful, adult story, I strongly suggest you avoiding even a glance at the back cover.

Grade: 8.0 out of a possible 10.0 comic book grading scale.

~Tina LoSasso

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Thanks, Tina for your review of the graphic novel above!

Here's the publisher's promo blurb:

In her 30 years on earth, Amelia Johnson has touched many lives with her compassion, intelligence and spirit. Now, at the end of a year-long battle with cancer, she asks her two closest friends to take her final messages to the people who have touched her life the most. Henry Barrons is a cocky, Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker whose demeanor hides deep insecurities. Jillian Webb is an acclaimed magazine writer with an inability to make long-term commitments. They set out across the country to fulfill Amelia’s dying wish…and end up learning more about her—and themselves—than they ever imagined.

This graphic novel went on sale: March 2nd at your LCBS - and March 8th wherever books are sold!

Retail Price $14.95 Page count: 128 pages

Format: hardcover, 5.25" x 8.25", black and white

T+13 (contains material suitable for teen readers age 13 and above).

If you don't buy at your LCBS... Here is a link so that YOU can purchase the graphic novel online:    An Elegy for Amelia Johnson - Purchase Online.

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 2,350 '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:  

http://www.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!

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! 

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Michael D Hamersky On Comics Presents: Additional Photos From The 2010 After-Con 2nd Annual Captain Rochester Artists Appreciation Party... Now Featured In a Special Photo Album At My Facebook Fan Page!     - Above: The After-Con Second Annual Captain Rochester Artists Appreciation Party Had A Special Cake Designed For The Occasion!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3382:

I found that this blog's server was not working properly this morning when I got up and started my day's social networking / blogging / listing comics / preparing invoices /etc.

So I started uploading even more pics from the party that my youngest son, my wife, and I attended during the evening hours of the 2010 Comic-Con International.  The party was the Second Annual Captain Rochester Artists Appreciation Party, sponsored by Rochester Electronics!

Those pics are ones that were either used in blog #3208 that I blogged about the party at, or in blog #3196 that Vinnie blogged at, or were not used at all, and are being posted for the first time.

I'm asking for help in identifying several of the people that are shown in the pics.  If you know someone that isn't identified, and you are a Facebook member, you can add their names in the comment section under the photos.

I would appreciate that!

Plus I'm sure that 'Captain Rochester' would appreciate your 'Liking' his Facebook Fan Page:  Captain Rochester!

Again, this was a perfect opportunity to post more of the pics from this great after-con party today, as the blog's server was not accessible, but my Facebook Fan Page was...

Please note: Tomorrow will be a guest blog by my wife, Tina LoSasso, on a graphic novel that she just finished. 

(As long as the blog's server is up... That is!)

Again, my thanks to George Karalias of Rochester Electronics, who invited us to be part of the media presence at this great After-Con Party!

~Michael D Hamersky

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,352 '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:  

http://www.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!

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! 

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Michael D Hamersky On Comics Reviews: Trigger Men #1 From Triptych Books!     - Above: The Front Cover to Trigger Men #1! At the Top Left: Kyle Winters & Mike Andersen at the 2010 Long Beach Comic Con (LBCC)!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3381:

I found this comic book at the recent 2010 Long Beach Comic Con, (LBCC).

It is a self-published comic book from Triptych Books.

The color cover intrigued me when I first saw it at the table. The cover is laid out very well and should appeal to those interested in the genre that the cover suggests it is in.

Here is what the publishers state in their promo blurb about it:

"Trigger Men is a dark comedy that follows the lives of two hitmen, Matt Whit and Jason McCarty as they navigate the absurd world of contract killing.

Jason is hired to kill a dangerous target and very quickly realizes that he's in over his head. He convinces Matt to come out of retirement and help him with one last job. Before they know it the "one last job" has become a dash to save their own lives."

My thoughts on this first issue are this:

Inside Front Cover: The credits for the issue are presented without any 'splash efects'.  Which is a good way of doing so, because the 'splash page' for Chapter 1 starts right off to the sotry with three basic panels. No contrast there!

The interior pages are black / grey / white, which gives the 'moodiness' to the storyline.  I don't believe that color would have done so well for this issue.

The 2nd Chapter in this comic, 'High School Reunion - Part 1', is similar in presentation. However, it truly is 'Part 1' and the story cuts off without a resolution. Not a good place to end in a 'floppy comic book format', IMO.

I would have preferred to see Part 1 & possibly Part 2 (of ? parts to to the story arc), in one 'floppy comic book issue.

I'm not for sure how this feature was first presented, whether web comic or individual published pages.  I do know that 'Kickstarter' was used to finance the publishing of this comic book, which is being utilized by more  & more comics creators.

(I've mentioned that service that 'Kickstarter' provides on my own Facebook Fan Page, as a possibility for those that want to be self-published.)

The artwork, storyline, and dialogue mesh well for this comic book. The word balloons were also placed well.

Again, my only negative thought was the editing, where the last page of the story doesn't have a 'to be continued' blurb, and the actual last page is a 'Thank You' page instead.

The inside back cover was also left blank.  I would have finished reading this comic book with a more 'finished' or 'to be continued' feeling, if those last two pages had some mention as to what was coming next, and when, or how...

There are Facebook and Twitters urls to follow, so there was some follow-up an interested reader could check out online, but since this was a 'printed' floppy coomic book format, I would have preferred to see a 'printed' blurb in the comic itself.

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

To purchase this comic book please see the following link:  Purchase Trigger Men comic book here.

You can also 'Like' the Facebook Fan Page for this publication via this link.

Thre are a lot of credits to the making of this comic book series.

Written by:  Mike Andersen. Interior Art by: Heather Brinesh. Lettered by: Rachel Wells. Cover Art by: Greta Schimmel.  Additional Cover Art by: Heather Brinesh. Cover Editing by: Casey Straka. Edited by: Stephanie Flint. With Additional Editing by: Kyle Winters and Nick Fisher.

Again... My thanks to Kyle Winters and Mike Andersen, for bringing this comic book to my attention!

~Michael D Hamersky

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,352 '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:  

http://www.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!

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! 

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Michael D Hamersky On Comics Reviews: The Super*Teen Topia TPB Invisible Touch From Forcewerks!     - Above: The Front Cover to the SUPER TEEN*TOPIA (Invisible Touch) TPB! At the Top Left: Kirk Kushin at the 2010 Long Beach Comic Con (LBCC)!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3380:

Thanks to Kirk Kushin, who presented the Trade Paper Back, (TPB), of 'Super Teen*Topia - Invisible Touch' to me a the recent 2010 Long Beach Comic Con, (LBCC), (seen at the top left of this blog post).

I've already review blogged another of Kirk's comics, OZopolis, in  blog #3322.

I hadn't heard of the comic book series that this TPB compiles.

So I checked out what the writer stated the series was about, as follows:

"10% Costume... 100% Character!

In a world of super powered icons, being sixteen and having amazing abiliities isn't quite as life altering as comic books would have you believe. No jets, no indestructible costumes and no high-tech headquarters mean that these young super-heroes can only fight crime as far as the bus route will take them.

Join our friends as they experience all the fun of high school -- but with a super powered twist.  Super Teen*Topia: just because you can level a mountain, it doesn't make it any easier to get a prom date!"

So what's 'My Take' on this TPB?

I figure that the 'Target Market' for this TPB is the YA, (Young Adult), age group.  If so, then this TPB should be of interest to them.

Well written, with plenty of storyline, dialogue, and action by the author, Kirk Kushin.

The artwork by Gonzalo Martinez is 'pleasing' to look at... With no overtly 'stylized' art that would interfere with the storyline for the target market.

The colors by Laura Abella complement the artwork, with the letters by Michael David Thomas fitting well in the panels!

The front covers used for the comic book series are also reprinted.  Diego Barreto, cover artist, did a fine job in presenting what the interior pages of the comics covered.

The collected series is a fine TPB that would make a good volume for a library that is looking for 'graphic novels', or similiar volumes for their library patrons. Again, I would think that the YA target market would be pleased with this volume.

My review rating for this TPB is a VERY FINE / NEAR MINT (VF/NM) 9.0 out of a 10.0 possible comic book grading scale.

To purchase this TPB please see the following link:  Purchase Super Teen*Topia:Invisible Touch

There isn't a Facebook Fan Page, otherwise I would also include that link here.

Additionally, the web site for Super Teen*Topia seems to be down at this blog's posting, so I won't be listing that link here.

Again... My thanks to Kirk Kushin, for bringing this TPB to my attention!

~Michael D Hamersky

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,350 '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:  

http://www.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!

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! 

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Michael D Hamersky On Comics Reviews: Souled #1 From Cosmic Times!     - Above: The Front Cover to Souled #1 (Of 5) Mini-Series From Cosmic Times! At the Top Left: The FCBD 2010 Edition of Souled!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3379:

Martin T Pierro, Publisher at Cosmic Times, sent me the 1st issue of this 5 issue mini-series just before its preview at the MegaCon in Florida this past weekend!

I've already review blogged Martin's own series,  Arthur - The Legend Continues #1,  and this is the first mini-series that he is publishing that he didn't create.

Here's the publisher's promo on this series:

"Set against the backdrop of intergalactic corporate manipulation, Souled follows the crew and passengers of the space-freighter Another Man’s Trash as they uncover a mystery on the edge of the universe that transcends even the barriers of life and death.

“Souled” is a five-issue FULL COLOR mini-series from Cosmic Times that made its premiere March 25th 2011 at MegaCon in Orlando."

So what is 'My Take' on this series?

First of all, I didn't see the Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) 2010 Edition of this comic book.  So for an intro issue to a five issue story arc... I thought that the concept shown here in issue #1, (of 5), was an interesting one.

The Splash Page used most of the space to tell us what had happened and what was happening in the future of the Universe of 'Souled'.

Which was a good intro, as the front cover showed four individuals that didn't exactly give me an idea of what this series would be about.

The 2nd page of the interior pages displayed the credits.  It wasn't until the 3rd page that the story actually started.

The storyline picked up, introducing the main character and showed the reader what the cargo of the space ship was.

The artwork was fine, however the colors at first threw me slightly 'off', until I realized that this spaceship didn't have the brighter illuminations inside that a lot of space stories present.

The 'action' sequences of the storyline picked up the pace until all too soon, at page 24, the 'To Be Continued' phrase was shown at the bottom right of the page!

The inside back page was a repost of the credits from page 2, but laid out in a different format. Plus there was the messages from the crators with thier thanks to supporting friends & family.

The back cover was a 'house ad' for 'Decisions' from CosmicTimes.net.

I found the concept presented in this 1st of 5 issues mini-series to be one I would want to follow.  The 'set-up' of the future and the main characters was done well by Christopher Faulkner.

The pencils by Zach Bassett and the inks by James Whynot meshed well with the storyline.

The colors by Kevin Zeigler was the only thing that seemed not to mesh as well for me, but I'm thinking that 'lighting' the interiors of the space ship was what threw me off. I'll wait to see how the planet's colors are shown, in the next issue, before making a final 'call' on that aspect.

All in all, I believe this is a fine start for the first mini-series published by CosmicTimes.net that was not also created by Publisher Martin T Pierro.

My review rating for this '1st Issue' is a VERY FINE PLUS  (VF+) 8.5 out of a 10.0 possible comic book grading scale.

For those of YOU that would like to see more of this concept, please check out their Facebook Group Page:  Cosmic Times.

For the web site of this series, where YOU can purchase a copy of the first issue, please see:  CosmicTimes.net

My thanks to Publisher, Martin T Pierro, for bringing this new series to my attention!

~Michael D Hamersky

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,345 '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:  

http://www.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!

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! 

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