Michael D Hamersky On Comics Presents: Photos From The 2011 Long Beach Comic Con Expo Taken Saturday, April 23rd - Plus A Recap of the Expo!     - -  Topmost Above Photo: Opening Hour at the 2010 Long Beach Comic Con (LBCC) Expo. (L-R) Phil Lawrence, Martha Donato, Tom Pinchuk! - Above Photo: Phil Lawrence (background), Michael D Hamersky, and Bob Bretall before the Opening Hour. Bob is a podcaster and will be reviewing the LBCC Expo in an upcoming show.

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3398:

Okay... The 2011 Long Beach Comic Con Expo is NOW part of Comic Book History!

I have now attended all FOUR of the Long Beach Comic Con 3-Day Conventions and the Long Beach Comic Con 1-Day Expos, (as shown in my multiple blog posts from those cons & expos seen here, which have been 'picked up' by others re-posting and now number about 4,980 links in total on Google alone for all 4 shows!).

As mentioned in my earlier blog #3384, stating that this 2011 Expo would soon be here... Each of the Long Beach Comic Cons & the Expos have had their different guests, exhibitors, cosplayers, and attendees show up, but each has also had the same 'good time' feeling that makes me want to attend this con or expo each time!

My youngest son, Vinnie, and I arrived an hour before opening time. We saw a crowd already outside of the Long Beach Convention Center building itself, which turned out to be part of a group that was also inside. 

There was filming going on already, and both the inside and outside crowds were part of 'crowd shots' that the Knights of Good Productions, Inc. were filming for their webseries presently titled 'The Guild - Season 5'.

After watching the filming session going on briefly... Vinnie and I went down to the registration area that was located in the large inside lobby, yet still outside of the doors to get into the exhibition hall.  There was already a crowd there, mostly of those that had already picked up their entry badges and were talking with others.  The badge registration was going smoothly already, about 45 minutes before the doors to the hall were scheduled to open.

Martha Donato, one of the event's organizers came up to Vinnie and myself, and greeted us warmly!  She took the time to ask where my wife, Tina was at, and introduced herself to Vinnie.  Martha is well suited for organizing this type of event, a real people person! (Martha is pictured at the top right of this post.)

Tom Pinchuk, of 'Hybrid Bastards' fame as well other projects, came up to Vinnie and me, and re-introduced himself from an earlier con.  I wasn't aware that Tom was going to be giving the 'Opening Speech' before the exhibit halls opened in just a while.  His welcoming speech to those in attendance for the oening hour was a heartfelt one, and just added to the camaraderie that others felt in the crowd before and during the opening speech.  (Tom is also pictured in the top right photo of this blog post.)

Phil Lawrence, another of the event's organizers, came up to Vinnie and me and welcomed us, and thanked me for continuing to blog, and mobile Facebook on the LBCC's events.  (Phil is also pictured above in the same photo with Martha and Tom.)

I mentioned the camaraderie that I felt and saw at this Expo, before the Opening Ceremony.  It continued on inside shortly after 10AM when the doors opened.

There wasn't a mad rush to run in, instead, everyone was respectful of each other, and greeted those exhibitors inside with similar respect. Especially those creators that were in 'Artists Alley', which took up a big part of the Expo.

The 'Artists Alley' section was broken up into two blocks of 'Artists Alleys', plus there more creators along the sides of the hall.

I've started uploading some of the pics taken at this Expo already, starting on Sunday, so here is the link to that special photo album at my Facebook Fan page, titled:  2011 Long Beach Comic Con Expo. 

There were approximately 60 creators in attendance at this Expo.  About a third are Facebook Friends of mine.  So I stopped to say hello to those FB Friends, and centered in on meeting those that were 1st timers at this LBCC Expo / Con series of shows that I had not met before. 

I'll be review blogging several of those creators works in the near future, as several gave me copies for possible review in this blog.  Thanks to those that have previously done so, and who told others of my endeavors in this aspect of the comic book industry!  It's good to be known for a positive influence in the indie / indy comics field!

I took a quick look at a section of comic book dealers that were there, recognizing several of them, and at the same time remembering when I used to do that... Stand by or behind tables of comics / mags that I had brought to sell... That is hard work! 

It's much more rewarding and satisfying doing what I now do at cons, whether they be comic cons, sci-fi cons, or even anime cons!   I had several Facebook Friends who didn't have tables at this Expo, come up to me and greet me and my son, while others unkown to me came up to us and thanked me for writing this blog.  Again, a true sense of camaraderie!

As the morning wore on though, my son Vinnie, started feeling a pain in his abdomen area.  This continued for a while, and I suggested he sit down at a table in the lobby area for a while until he felt better.  He did, and re-joined me, being the 'official photographer' for this blog at the event.

However as the late morning wore on into the early afternoon, the pain he felt increased.  After calling his HMO's screening nurse service on the phone, it was decided that he should see an Urgent Care facility right away, as the screening nurse thought it was too close to appendicitis. 

Vinnie and I still had more panels that we both wanted to see, as the Expo lasted till 6PM, but unfortunately, Vinnie did not feel any better while I was making the phone call and we ended our stay at the Expo before closing time.

For those of YOU reading this blog, and didn't see us inside, or us stop by your table... That is the reason.  Sorry about that, but Vinnie didn't get out of the emergency room that I ended up taking him to... Until 11PM Saturday night!

However, he and I enjoyed what we were able to see at this LBCC Expo... and are looking forward to the upcoming Long Beach Comic AND HoRRoR Con that will be taking place on October 29th & 30th later this year!

In the meantime, please see this link to the 2011 LBCC Expo photo album at my Facebook Fan Page. I'll be uploading more pics in the days / weeks to follow. Vinnie and / or I took a couple hundred shots before we had to leave.

Also, feel free to come back to this Blog, as I'll be review blogging several of the publications / graphic novels / books that I was given at this Expo for possible review blogs.

My thanks to all of those named above that organized and presented the 2011 Long Beach Comic Con Expo, PLUS those that I didn't have a chance to meet this time that also help organize this Expo.  This LBCC Expo reminds me of the earliest SDCCs that I attended, (and sold at!) in the early 1970's. 

Where an attendee can rub shoulders with comics pros, pick up comic books that they are missing from comic dealers, and attend panels with good topics that are presented.  My kind of 'comic con', which I've now shared with Vinnie, and my wife, Tina.  I'm looking forward to next year's LBCC Expo, and of course the bigger scale Long Beach Comic Con later in October of this year!  

In closing... I've already shared a link to the 2011 LBCC Expo photos, so here's my special photo album on the 2010 LBCC Expo that I have already shared at my own Facebook Fan Page.  There are more to be uploaded from the hundreds of pics I took back then, but I rather place 'text copy' and links with each photo to the creators own websites, instead of just throwing them up.

Oh, and for those of YOU didn't get to go, or were able to attend but not see everything, here's the link to the Long Beach Comic Con Facebook Fan Page, where both the 3-Day Cons & 1-Day Expos are shown and talked about. Plus others' photos are linked there to their photo albums.

Not enough room in this blog to write about everything, so here's the link to the 2011 LBCC Expo event page on Facebook,  where you can find out more info on just this event.  More Facebook event pages for the LBCC Expo itself can be found in this link.

Lastly, here's the link to the Long Beach Comic Con's own web site, where there is even more info on where and how you can purchase tickets for the October 2011 Long Beach Comic & Horror Con... You won't want to miss that!!

Thanks again to the organizers, my Facebook Friends, the new creators that we met, and to the attendees for making this another great 1-day Long Beach Comic Con Expo!

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,393 '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: Kristen Hamersky's Take On... The Action Bible! God's Redemptive Story... From the Christian Comic Arts Society!     - Above: The front cover to 'The Action Bible'! - Top Left: The Christian Comics Arts Society booth at the 2010 Long Beach Comic Con, where they were awarding 100 of these to winners during the three day con! BTW, the CCAS will be presenting a panel at the April 23rd 1-day LBCC Expo from 5Pm to 5:45 PM!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3397:

I'm getting ready to leave Carlsbad, California to drive up to the 1-day Long Beach Comic Con Expo, that I've been blogging about and also mentioning at my Facebook Fan Page, 'Michael D Hamersky On Comics'.  My youngest son, Vinnie, will be going up with me to help photograph and mobile Facebook from the Long Beach Convention Center.

So I'm really pleased that my oldest child, Kristen Hamersky, is pinch hitting today for me, with a timely topic to blog about.  Plus the Christian Comic Arts Society is also presenting a panel at the LBCC Expo this very afternoon, from 5PM to 5:45 PM. Definitely a timely blog today!

Also... This is Kristen's first guest blog in this Blog... So please welcome her! 

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Hello Blog Readers, I am Michael D Hamersky's daughter, Kristen Hamersky. I am an Avon Independent Sales Representative and you are invited to visit my site to purchase some great products, after reading this blog of course!

My father asked me to write a blog about The Action Bible: God's Redemptive Story, a bible of the Christian faith-in sequential art form. He has asked me to do this as the Easter Holiday is just around the corner, (tomorrow!).

The illustrations are by Sergio Cariello, and the text is by David Cook. The below contents of this blog include my thoughts on the artwork, storyline, who I would recommend it to and why. This blog comes from the point of view of an active Catholic.

The drawings and stories closely correlate to the stories from the bible. For example, the designs of the people in here are what you see on some of the older paintings - the same facial features, hair design and color, and it all looks exactly what you would imagine from reading the bible. The same is likewise for the stories. They are transferred flawlessly from the bible to the Action Bible without fail. I have seen no major differences when reading this graphic novel, that it is in fact a different book. The stories are so much alike, that this could be an exact substitute for reading the bible.

The artwork looks realistic, especially in the drawings of the people. The colors used were very vibrant. The scenery in the art makes the stories look like you're actually there in the book. It can also make you feel like you are "adventuring" to that time period. The art was very crisp and clean, and obviously time was spent to make such detailed works, and was definitely not rushed. It showed that the creators put a lot of thought into this before just jumping right to it and putting it out on the market.

The storyline in the book flows well. Some of the stories are based upon more than one section from the bible. Putting the stories together helps the book flow better because you can read about one bible character in a few sections of the novel. The story also is strongly based upon the bible, which allows for one to read this if they prefer fewer words with detailed pictures, rather than reading about every single detail. However, this can also be used to back up some information, such as if you are reading the bible and come across a section you don't quite understand. Just pull out the Action Bible, and read the section from there. You can now visualize the section better, allowing to understand it more.

This book will appeal to a graphic novel fan who wouldn't regularly be reading a bible. The stories are easy to understand and bibically correct. Im not usually a person who likes graphic novels but I found the artwork and the story to be targeted to someone who would like to learn more about the Bible through their favorite art format.

I would give this book to a friend that favors sequential art or believes in the Christian Faith or to those who don't, as this book can appeal to these three groups equally.

All in all, I find this story to be a great read, and I definitely would recommend this to people interested in reading the Christian bible in the form that comics are presented in, sequential art.

I give this hard cover publication a comic book grade of Very Fine Plus (VF+), an 8.5 out of a 10.0 grading scale. I thank you for reading my blog, and I hope you can find this to be a good book to read and cherish.

~Kristen Hamersky

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Thanks Kristen for sending me this blog for the 'Weekend Edition' of my Blog! And it is rather timely for the Easter Weekend too!

Here's the links that YOU, the blog reader, should have:

The Action Bible - Where you can purchase it online - The Action Bible

The Christian Comic Arts Society - Facebook Fan Page

The Christian Comic Arts Society web site - For more info

My thanks to the Christian Comic Art Society for presenting me with a copy 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 2,388 '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: Sonambulo's STRANGE Tales! From Rafael Navarro*, Publisher - Ninth Circle Studios! *Who is appearing on the Classic Horror Meets Modern Comics panel at the 2011 Long Beach Comic Con Expo, April 23rd, 2011!     - Above: The Front Cover To Sonambulo's STRANGE Tales! Above Left: Publisher / Writer / Artist - Rafael Navarro Having His Picture Taken At His 2010 San Gabriel Valley Comic Book Festival Booth by Tina LoSasso!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3396:

I had the pleasure of having an in-depth conversation with Rafael Navarro at the recent 2010 San Gabriel Valley Comic Book Festival, (SGV).

We had missed getting together at the previous 2010 Comic-Con International: San Diego, (aka SDCC), at his booth, after we had run into each other at a diferent booth.

At the SGV, Rafael introduced me to his World of Sonambulo, by presenting me with all of his then in stock comics. I've review blogged about a few of them, or mentioned them at my own Facebook Fan Page, (Michael D Hamersky On Comics), but not on this one, 'Sonambulo's STRANGE Tales'.

The reason I am mentioning / semi-reviewing this older work of Rafael's, is because he had the 4th story in the recently published, (and review blogged by me), in Bela Lugosi's Tales From The Grave #1, a brand new HoRRoR anthology comic book series from Monsterverse!

Here is the link to what I wrote about that story in my review blog on Bela Lugosi's Tales From The Grave #1.

So I was pleased to see that Rafael will be attending the 2011 Long Beach Comic Con Expo tomorrow, April 23rd, 2011.  Well... At least on the 'Classic Horror Meets Modern Comics' panel.  I don't see that he has a booth there this time.  (If he does, or is sharing one with someone else, I'll update it at my Facebook Fan Page.)

I saw some of what Rafael can do with a HoRRoR / MoNSTer comic book story in his own published works, especially 'Sonambulo's Strange Tales', which is pictured at the top right of this blog post.

That stand-alone issue had two illustrated stories in sequential artwork form, and one story with illustrations, which was placed in between the other two stories.

I found that Rafael's style of art fits the genre pretty darn good, especially in his printing of the stories in black & white format.

There are 48 pages in this comic book; the three stories, along with pin-ups by other artists, (including Dale Berry, Adam Huntley, Ty Smith, Sanyu, and others), which gave a different 'feel' for the main character, Sonambulo.

What can you expect in this issue, per the creator's promo blurb?

In the ring, I knew my opponents... Adversaries of flesh and bone.

And now, in the dead of night, as I walk these strets, I often face the unknown...

The unknown which lurks inside our dreams...

Dreams of promises, dreams of dread...

Dream that lie, concealed...

Behind my mask... Tell me your Dreams!

Which can be purchased from Rafael's own web site via PayPal or check or money order for only the $4.00 cover price plus $2.00 shipping to USA buyers, at:  Sonambulo's web store.

Which leads me to ask... Who is El Sonambulo?
 
SONAMBULO is a series of illustrated stories by animation and graphic illustrator RAFAEL NAVARRO. Winner of the XERIC FOUNDATION AWARD, SONAMBULO has now achieved cult status among enthusiasts of PULP NOVELS, MASKED MEXICAN WRESTLERS, B-MOVIES, and even SUPER HERO comic readers all around.

Like the world-weary street guys of Spillane and Hammet, SONAMBULO steps head on into danger, living in a world where werewolves still lurk in the streets and THE DAY of the DEAD can literally become a holiday for those who seek revenge from the grave.

Every story holds a dream-like bizarre quality, letting the reader know that the world of SONAMBULO is not the world of an ordinary guy. Depending on the case, or the subjects from whom he chooses to extract a dream in order to reveal some well-hidden clue, or as the case may be, their deepest, darkest secrets, SONAMBULO knows that at the dead of night, his day is just beginning….

I suggest you check out this stand-alone issue in the Sonambulo series of comics, AND if YOU are in the Los Angeles Metro Area tomorrow, April 23d of 2011, check out the Long Beach Comic Con Expo, and stay until 4PM when the special panel moderated by Monsterverse runs until 4:45 PM!

My review rating for this comic book series is a NEAR MINT  (NM) 9.4 out of a 10.0 possible comic book grading scale.

I have a LOT of links to share with YOU today:

Sonambulo.com - The web site for Rafael's series

Comics From the Monsterverse - Which is publishing Bela Lugosi's Tales From The Grave comic book series - This link is their Facebook Fan Page

Long Beach Comic Con - The Facebook Fan Page

Long Beach Comic Con web site - Where you can purchase tickets online for the 1 day Expo for April 23rd and / or tickets for the Halloween Weekend 3-day Convention later in the 2011 year

Sonambulo's Wikipedia entry - Where you can learn even more

Rafael Navarro - I don't see any Facebook Fan Page for Sonambulo, so I'm listing Rafael's personal profile page, as there are several persons with a similar name on Facebook, and approximately two dozen Fan Pages for Rafael Navarros!

Again... My thanks to Rafael Navarro for bringing his long running series to my attention at the SGV! 

I'll be seeing him, and the others mentioned above at the Long Beach Comic Con Expo tomorrow, as my youngest son and I will be attending the full day!  If YOU are reading this and are also attending the Expo... Feel free to stop me and say hello!

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,388 '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 Comments On: Comics Buyer's Guide 40th Year Anniversary!     - Above: The 40th Anniversary Issue, Comics Buyer's Guide #1678! - Top Left: The Comics Buyer's Guide Logo!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3395:

My subscription issue of Comics Buyer's Guide, (CBG), #1678 arrived in the mail on Tuesday of this week...

I already knew about the upcoming anniversary, but couldn't help noticing while I was standing right at my PO Box door, the front cover commemorating the 40 Years of CBG!

So, I placed this issue at the top of my 'To Read Stack' of comics and mags to read and possibly review for this Blog.

You see, I've been reading CBG via a subscription service, off and on ever since 1986.  (I had seen and purchased individual issues before that at my LCBS(s), but had not subscribed.)

The format for CBG has changed quite a bit since I've been reading it, from a newspaper format, that was too hard to bag & board to store properly, to a monthly magazine that the USPS seems to like to keep it from arriving Near Mint (NM) to my PO Box.

Yet, because of the articles in CBG, I've kept a subscription going. Other magazines that I've bought on a mail subscription basis, Comic Book Marketplace, Wizard, etc., etc., have all ceased hard copy distribution.  Others that I didn't have a subscription, but purchased at my local LCBS(s), like Hero Illustrated, Comics Scene, etc., etc., have also ceased publishing.

With the increased usage and timeliness of the internet, a lot of breaking news is 'broken' first now on the web... So for a hard copy magazine to make it to 40 Years in this day and age... Well that's an achievement!

My congrats to those working on CBG at fw media for bringing this 40th Year Anniversary Issue to press! That is quite an accomplishment!

Also my congrats to those who have had regular features in CBG for many years!  Such as Maggie Thompson (Beautiful Balloons), Michelle Nolan (Who Was Who In The Four-Color Funnies), Craig 'Mr. Silver Age' Shutt (Ask Mr. Silver Age), Andrew 'Captain Comics' Smith (Dear Captain), Tony Isabella (Tony's Tips), John Lustig (Last Kiss), Peter David (But I Digress), and others, such as Chris Galvan, the first fan reviewer as part of 'The Review Crew' with their reviews of mainstream and indy publications.

My thanks also to those like Chuck Rozanski, Beau Smith, and others,  who have been regular contributors in the past, but no longer contribute to the magazine on a regular basis.  (Note: Chuck's column was always the first I would read during his time with CBG.)

Thanks also to those who have worked on CBG during the previous years, but have passed on, including Don Thompson, who added so much to the 'flavor' of CBG.

Reading the current issues... I've noticed that the number of pages in each issue seem to have dwindled in recent months, (this issue coming in at 60 pages, counting covers), but the quality of articles and information has stayed constantly good.  That has to be due to those that are part of the CBG 'community' that put this magazine together!

Of course there is an online 'presence', that of CBGxtra.com!  With so much for me to do online, (blogging, social networking, promoting Facebook Fan Pages, listing comics for sale, etc., etc.), I personally don't frequently access that web site... But I'm sure others do, as I've seen plenty of interaction on the boards when I've checked.  I prefer to read CBG for enjoyment when I am 'offline', but then again, I am 'old school'...

I used CBG years ago to find comics from other dealers and individual collectors that I was missing for my collection, but those ad pages have fallen in number of pages.  

I used CBG years ago to find out what comic books I should be reading, but anymore I'm mailed many comics for possible review in this Blog, or given them at comic cons I attend.  (Personal note: Until March of 2010 I was also sent many .pdfs of comics via email for possible review, but found that I don't have the time or inclination to read them, so stopped accepting them.)

I used CBG years ago to find out what next 'Big Event' was coming in comics with all of those cross-over events... But now I can find those online, or am notified by creators involved in those events...

What I STILL use CBG for is a sense of 'Community' that just isn't found in any other hard copy comics related magazine anymore...

Which is why I thank all of those that are continuing Comics Buyer's Guide into what is now its 40th Anniversary Year!

Oh, and the reason that I'm blogging about CBG's 40th Anniversary today is because of issue #1678, which had several special features in it, including 'CBG at 40' by Brent Frankenhoff, and the 'Top 10 Favorite Comic Book Covers' - this time presented by Maggie and Brent who chosed their Top 10 CBG covers), besides the regular columns, (already mentioned above), with 40th Anniversary thoughts!  A good way to celebrate the 40th Anniversary, and I thank them all for printing their thoughts! 

To see more of the 'community' and / or 'history' of CBG, via 'online',  please see the following links:

CBGxtra.com - The community online

Comics Buyer's Guide - The Facebook 'Profile / Friend' Page

Comics Buyer's Guide - Wikipedia entry

Back Issues of CBG - Can be found at my online LCBS ComicBooksCircus.com

As for myself, I'll check those links from time to tine, but I'll continue reading CBG in hard copy format, (either via subscription or via my LCBS) as it is a long time habit that I quite enjoy!

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,385 '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 SECRET HISTORY OMNIBUS Volume Two: From 1918 - 1945   From Archaia Entertainment!     -

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3394:

The hardcover book being reviewed today is a compilation of the comic books published by Archaia Entertainment in a series that I called 'the best limited series of 2010', when proclaiming my year end review of 2010 at my own Facebook Fan Page, 'Michael D Hamersky On Comics'!

I had started reading with issue number ten and found it so fascinating that I starting adding it to my series of review blogs.

Here is my review blog #3259 of Book Ten & Book Eleven.

Here is Tina LoSasso's review blog #3277 on Book Twelve.

I picked up the reviews again with blog #3318 On Book Thirteen.

Then my blog #3336 reviewed Book Fourteen.

So, I'm not going to go through each chapter of this Omnibus again, as it collects Books Eight through Book Fourteen.

I will mention that the chapters that I missed reviewing in earlier blogs, Eight & Nine, which are fine additions to this Volume 2 of the Omnibus format.

Chapter Eight, (Book Eight), titled 'Seven Pillars of Wisdom' takes place in 1918 A.D.  I still haven't read the earlier books so this added to my knowledge of the series, and was quite entertaining.

Chapter Nine, (Book Nine), titled 'The Thule Society', brought in even more conventional historical knowledge and tied it to this 'Secret History'.  As I've stated before, I loved 'history' in high school, and find the way the creators of this series intertwine what we 'know' with their 'Secret History' to be mind boggling!  Great series... and deserving of this Omnibus 'format'!

For those of you that missed my earlier review blogs, and are reading this blog before checking out the links above...

Here's the publisher's promo blurb on this Omnibus:

The series that gives historical fiction an occult bent! In this sequel volume to the first SECRET HISTORY OMNIBUS, past rivalries amongst the original four Archons must be put aside as a fifth unnatural Archon, William of Lecce, tries to either bring the world under his rule or watch as it burns. William’s plots and puppets drive the nations and people of the world into the Second World War, and the Archons and their Players risk their lives to stop his hideous plans. Whatever the outcome may be, history will belong to the victor. Collects books #8-14 of THE SECRET HISTORY.

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

I can't give this series enough credit in making what a lot of people this is a very 'dry' subject, (history), into a fascinating one!

My Review Rating for this Omnibus Volume 2 is a NEAR MINT (NM) 9.4 out of a possible 10.0 comic book grading scale. 

This Omnibus went on sale: February 9th at your LCBS - and February 15th wherever books are sold.  The reason I'm review blogging this a little late is that Tina grabbed this Omnibus to read it first, and I just got it back!

Retail Price $34.95 - Page count: 336 pages

Format: hardcover book with dust jacket, 6.875" x 10.25", full color.

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

If you don't buy at your LCBS... Here is a link so that YOU can purchase the Omnibus Volume Two online:     The Secret History Omnibus Volume 2 - Purchase Online.

I haven't read the Omnibus Volume One yet, but here's the link to where you can purchase it online:   The Secret History Volume 1 (The Secret History Omnibus) .

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.

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