Michael D Hamersky On Comics Reviews: LUCID  Volume One   Michael McMillian & Anna Wieszczyk From Archaia Entertainment!     -

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3420:

The hardcover book being reviewed today is a compilation of the comic books published by Archaia Entertainment in a series that I have not yet reviewed here in this Blog.

That is because I found it hard to pick up the series in mid-stream when I received issue #3 for possible review first.

This is a mini-series that is best to up as a hard copy compilation, especially since there are additional pages in this Black Label format by Archaia Enterainment.

Before I start writing 'My Take' on this compilation... Here's the publisher's promo blurb at Amazon:

Lucid is an action-packed, pop-fantasy series that draws inspiration from the spy genre, Arthurian legend, and 21st-century folklore! Dark forces are conspiring to prevent humankind from reaching its true potential. Thankfully, as newly appointed "Protector of the Realm," Agent Matthew Dee uses his skills as a covert spy and Combat Mage to ensure America's freedom from the grip of evil.

Here's the publisher's promo blurb that was mailed to me along with the book:

Welcome to the world of LUCID, the action-packed pop-fantasy that draws inspireationf rom the spy genre, Arthurian Legend, and 21st-century folklore!  Dark forces areconspiring to prevent humankind from reaching its true potential. Thankfully, as newly appointed "Protector of the Realm", Agent Matthew Dee uses his skills as a covert spy and Combat Mage to ensure America's freedom from the grip of evol.  Written by "True Blood" actor Michael McMillian and illustrated by newcomer Anna Wieszczyk, LUCID is Archaia's first title pulbished in association with Zachary Quinto ("heroes" , "Star Trek") and his company, Before the Door.

So... When I received the hard cover to this series, I wondered if it would be easier going for me to read when starting at the beginning...

It was, but the story is still somewhat complicated, in that there are 'magic sigils' that are used throughout the pages.  I didn't realized until reaching the end of the HC compilation that the 'magic sigils' were explained at the back of the book, within the extra pages printed...

The storyline was one that could draw you into the realm the series presented, but I found it was the art that held my attention more.

The series was written and created by Michael McMillian, whom you probably recognize as an actor first, (True Blood).  Anna Wieszczyk was the illustrator. Shawn DePasquale was the letterer.  

In addition to the 'magic sigils' presented at the back of the book, there was the 'Sketchbook' - illustrations by Anna, with notes by Michael.  Nice two page presentation of how the two main characters evolved to final publication.

I'm not for sure who the colorist was for this series, but the colors are noteworthy in adding to the art and storyline. Indeed, it was the colors that tied everything together for me in the reading of this hard cover.

The foreword by Alan Ball was a from a guy who himself says... "Now I know next to nothing boaut comics. I come from a theater background... Michael has taught me that comics, like TV are a collaborative effort.  Michael and his illustrator Anna Wieszczyk have used their words and images to build a world with its own rules, its own magic, and its own life".

Which I found to be true.  The world presented in this total package of the four comic books being published together in one hard cover format is one that could bring in those looking for a 'new world' to become immersed in. Which is why the 'ending' in this volume is left open to new adventures...

I have an interest in 'Camelot', so the usage of this theme in the series was one that caught my attention.  Yet the four comic book issues seemed to tie up pretty quick at the end, maybe a little too quickly...

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

This hardcover book goes on sale:  THIS Wednesday, May 25th at your LCBS - and June 7th wherever books are sold. 

Retail Price $19.95 - Page count: 112 pages

Format: hardcover book with dust jacket, 6.625" x 10.25", full color.

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

If you don't buy at your LCBS... Here is a link so that YOU can purchase the Hardcover Book online:      Lucid - 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 2,436 '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 Is Virtually Attending: The Spring 2011 Gala of the... Facebook Comic Con! Are You?!      - - - Below is the Welcoming video from the 1st Ever Facebook Comic Con Gala - The Premiere from March 12th - 15th of 2009: -

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3419:

Back in 2009, Michael Netzer, Founder of Facebook Comic Con, presented the Opening Welcome Speech for the Spring 2009 Gala Premiere, (as seen in the video above).

Today is the start of the 2011 Spring Gala, and although a little more subdued this time, (due to Facebook revising the group pages format just before the start of this Gala), this online only 'virtual comic con' goes on!

I've already posted the banners to the 'Gateway', 'Guests and Honors', and the 'Exhbitors' webpages at the above right which you can click on to directly take you to those convention halls.

Here is the link to the list of current events for the 2011 Spring Gala.

Here is the link to the list of past events so that you can see what you missed.

Here is the link to the main web page of Facebook Comic Con.

There are many links within the links provided above for you to check out.

Be sure to check out the guests tables also.

And don't forget to visit the exhibitors tables, of which we have one.

Our own exhibitor table is at Facebook Comic Con | Make It So Marketing, which I invite you to stop in at, (join), and comment on any wall posts there.

Thanks to organizing the 2011 Spring Gala goes to Ken Johnson, Lead Gala Coordinator, who lives in the United Kingdom.

Thanks also to Michael Netzer, who came up with this virtual comic con back in 2009, and currently resides in Israel.

Enjoy the 2011 Spring Gala of the Facebook Comic Con! 

~Michael D Hamersky

(Please Note:  Other than having a 'virtual table' at this 'virtual comic con', Tina and I are neither Facebook Comic Con  (FBCC) Officers, nor Staff or Coordinators. During earlier FBCC Galas I was invited to be a 'Guest Judge', which I happily did.  You see... I just mention the FBCC in my Blog and at my own Facebook Profile Page, Fan Page, and Group Page, because the Group Page 'Facebook Comic Con | Make It So Marketing' is under the 'Facebook Comic Con' umbrella.  Any questions regarding the running of FBCC need to be addressed at any of the FBCC page links that I have provided above.)

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,436 '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, Safarai, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers serve the page up differently, sorry about that!

The screen display resolution is best seen at the setting of 1024 x 768 on your laptop or desktop computer.

NOTE: All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.

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

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

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

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

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Michael D Hamersky On Comics Presents: Spotlight On... Troy Boyle!      - Above Photo: The Front Cover to an upcoming Phantom tribute publication from Main Enterprises. Pencils & color by Troy Boyle. Inks by Jeff Austin! -  Top Left Photo: Troy Boyle, who is being 'Spotlighted' in this Blog -

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3418:

I have seen some of Troy Boyle's work in Jim Main's line of publications from Main Enterprises.

So when Troy and I started messaging back and forth on Saturday, May 14th, when he brought to my attention that some of his work had been published in Jim's publications, and wanted to bring Jim's publications to my attention... I messaged him back that Troy himself was already in 39 links that Google had already indexed for my blog!

However, I didn't know too much about Troy's background, and offered him an opportunity to be 'Spotlighted' in this Blog.

The above top left photo is the 'head shot' that Troy sent my way, and the upcoming cover for Jim's Phantom tribute publication at the top right, is the one that Troy wanted me to use as a sample of his artwork.

Which was okay with me, because it kind of goes along the consignment collection of 'The Phantom Comics' that I have listed for sale in my eBay Store, (as seen here).  I already blogged about the fact that a few were even signed to Richard by the Phantom's creator, Lee Falk, because Lee was the sponsor for Richard when he first started acting back in New York! Here's the link to that blog post.

Before I start with the article submitted by Troy, here's a brief bio on him:

Bio: Troy Boyle is an American comic book artist and writer. Boyle is best known for his gritty revenge fantasy, The Return of Happy the Clown. He has worked for Image Comics, Desperado Publishing, Caliber Press and Boneyard Press.

Boyle is currently working on pin-ups and covers for Main Enterprises.

Boyle graduated from American Military University with a BA in Legal Studies.

Date of Birth: July 28, 1966
Birthplace: Los Angeles, CA

Here is a link to the Comic Book DB on Troy.

Here is a link to the Grand Comics Database on Troy.

Now for the background article on Troy... submitted by himself for this 'Spotlight blog', because who would know better about Troy's background history than Troy!

"I've been drawing since I was 12 years old. I sold my first painting when I was 13 and won a scholarship to Northern Kentucky University when I was 15. At the time, and for a few years afterward, I though that I wanted to be a studio artist, or "Fine" artist and didn't give much thought to comics.

In 1989, when I was 22, I was approached by Tyim Courts to draw a installment strip for his "Nuance" title from his studio "Magnetic Ink." I think that was the first time I considered comics, but my understanding of the medium was basic, to say the least. A few years later, I pencilled and inked the 48-page "Return of Happy the Clown" for Caliber" - also an amateurish effort, but I was beginning to get the hang of it.

The events of September 11 put my spotty comic career on hold while I served for five years in the U.S. Coast Guard. After my discharge, I bought a home in Northern Kentucky and I've lived here ever since. Comics have now become my central passion and I'm learning and growing more with each pin-up and cover that I produce. It's an exciting time, because I seem to be attracting some positive attention and notice. I plan to continue working and improving in comics for many years to come."

Troy Boyle
Florence, KY 5/19/11

-------------------

Thanks, Troy for the above!  It's good to know a little more about you, and to present that to my blog readers as well!

~Michael D Hamersky

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,434 '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, Safarai, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers serve the page up differently, sorry about that!

The screen display resolution is best seen at the setting of 1024 x 768 on your laptop or desktop computer.

NOTE: All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.

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

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

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

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

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Michael D Hamersky On Comics Comments On: The Graphic Novel Shown On ABC's CASTLE TV Show Season Finale!     - - Topmost Photo Above: Right at the start of the Season Finale episode, Richard Castle proudly shows off the original art to his upcoming graphic novel! - Top Photo Directly Above: The 'Castle' panel at the Comic-Con International: San Diego! - Left Top Photo:  The Graphic Novel's front cover - a presentation by Marvel Comics & ABC!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3417:

Yes, although Tina and I are both 'Castle' TV Show fans, I have to admit that we tape the show that airs on Monday nights, even though this past Monday's episode was the 2010-11 Season Finale!

I already mentioned on my Facebook Fan Page at 12:32PM on Monday, that Marvel had already posted a scan of the graphic novel that would be mentioned on the Monday evening screening. Which is seen at the top left of this blog post!

When we both watched the recorded episode last night, (after Glee!), I went back afterwards and re-played the beginning of the episode, when Richard Castle proudly showed off the original artwork to the upcoming graphic novel, as seen at the top right of this blog.

During that scene, Richard stated the following comments, and I'm somewhat paraphrasing in parts and combining it together... Castle questioned the two detectives, (Detective Javier Esposito and Detective Kevin Ryan), "You've heard of Wolverine, Batman, Betty and Veronica? They were fine for their day. There's a new sheriff on the spinner rack.  This is the original artwork to my new graphic novel. It's epic cool that's what it is!". 

Which quite honestly I thought was 'Pretty Cool!' for sure!

So you ask, why is this blog worthy?

Well... The photo under the scene from Monday's Season Finale, is from the Comic-Con International: San Diego.  Yeah, the 'San Diego Comic Con'!

Last year's Castle panel's line to get in was cut off 2 hours before the panel was opening!  They had already maxed out the room for attendees!  And no, it wasn't in Hall H... but still... This was an overwhelming response to a TV show that granted, has thrown in a few lines of dialogue about comic books over the now three seasons aired, but that was amazing in itself!

I urge you to check out the upcoming graphic novel.  And no, it's not about the 'Castle' TV Show itself or on the 'Nikki Heat' series of books, rather it's on Richard Castle's first series of stories on Derrick Storm.  Here's a brief promo blurb on the graphic novel:

Marvel Entertainment and ABC Studios are proud to announce CASTLE: RICHARD CASTLE'S DEADLY STORM, an all-new hardcover graphic novel inspired by the popular “Castle” television series. This 112 page hardcover hits comic shops and bookstores everywhere on September 28, 2011.  Fans can get a first look at the upcoming graphic novel when Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion) reveals the cover on “Knockout,” the season finale of “Castle,” MONDAY, MAY 16 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

When viewers first met Richard Castle, he had reached celebrity author status with the success of his Derrick Storm mystery novels. In an unprecedented collaborative effort between Marvel, ABC Studios and the producers of “Castle,” the adventures of Derrick Storm will be chronicled in an all new graphic novel...

If you don't have a LCBS near you to purchase this from, then here's a link to where you can pre-order it online: Castle: Deadly Storm where it is already #553 on the Bestsellers List!

And I should mention the fine actors that have brought this TV Series to life, and made it one of Tina's and my Top 10 TV Shows that we have watched this Season:

“Castle” stars Nathan Fillion as Richard Castle, Stana Katic as NYPD Detective Kate Beckett, Susan Sullivan as Martha Rodgers, Molly Quinn as Alexis Castle, Ruben Santiago-Hudson as NYPD Captain Roy Montgomery, Tamala Jones as Medical Examiner Lanie Parish, Jon Huertas as NYPD Detective Javier Esposito, and Seamus Dever as NYPD Detective Kevin Ryan.

Looking forward to Season 4 of this TV series, as well as the graphic novel now! 

~Michael

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,431 '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: Tina LoSasso's Review Of... How To Master The Art of Selling     - Above: The Front Cover To 'How To Master the Art of Selling' by Tom Hopkins, and Illustrated by Bob Byrne. A 'SmarterComics Book Based on the National Bestseller! - Top Left Photo: Tom Hopkins!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3416:

Today's blog is a guest blog by Tina LoSasso, who is very familiar with Tom Hopkins' National Besteller in book format: 

Worlds Collide!

Sometimes I feel as if I've read every piece of sales advice ever written. You see, for 10 years I was Managing Editor at a sales resource site that publishes a weekly newsletter and books of advice by various sales experts. My job was reading their material and selecting what we wanted to publish. That's how I met the folks at Tom Hopkins. When I learned that Tom was going to release a comic book based on his sales teaching, I thought -- to quote one of my favorite 'Seinfelds' -- "Worlds collide!"

The original "How to Master the Art of Selling" has sold over 1.6 million copies so I was eager to see what the comic book version would be like. This unusual marriage of business advice and comic book style comes from SmarterComics who have given several prominent business books the comic book treatment. Others in the catalog include 'The Long Tail' by Chris Anderson and Sun Tzu's 'The Art of War' (how perfect is that, comic book fans?).

So, why give a business book the comic book treatment? According to SmarterComics, the idea is to take the best business books ever written and "make them visually appealing to busy professionals and the Twitter generation."

I see an added benefit: most books -- especially non-fiction books, are never finished.  Typically, a book buyer finds something that they think will help them. They read a chapter or two, and put the book down, never to finish it. These Smarter Comics versions solve the problem. How? They're short - only 50 - 60 pages and illustrated so the lessons fly by.

In fairness, "How to Master the Art of Selling" doesn't really read like a typical comic book. You're not following a set of characters through an adventure. The artwork isn't forwarding a narrative, it's depicting (and sometimes lampooning) what's being explained. So the illustrations feel more like cartoons than comics. In fact, it feels more like a Classics Illustrated than a typical comic book or graphic novel.

This minor criticism aside, the book does exactly what it sets out to do. In 50 easy pages, a master of sales, Tom Hopkins clear and succinctly explains what you need to do to be successful in sales. This fun comic book version of Tom Hopkins' classic is perfect for a young person who has no sales experience, or is struggling in a new sales position. It's like Cliff Notes for today's twitter generation.

Readers will learn why sales can be an exciting and lucrative profession, and how to stay motivated during the inevitable low points of any career. This illustrated adaptation distills over 400 pages of knowledge into 50 and still manages to give clear cut advice on how to find customers, what to say to prospects and how to close.

Super cool stuff!

We give everything we review here, a comic book grade. 'How to Master the Art of Selling' gets a VERY FINE PLUS (VF+)  8.5 out of a possible 10.0 comic book grading scale.

~Tina

You can purchase this book, (cover priced at $12.95 USD), at the following locations:

SmarterComics web page for the book

Amazon:  How to Master the Art of Selling from SmarterComics

Our thanks to Judy at Tom Hopkins International for having the folks at SmarterComics send us the book for review.

Additionally you can 'Like' the Facebook Fan Page for 'SmarterComics' as seen here, where there are several more sequentially illustrated books.

I look forward to reviewing at least one of them, before Tina reads / reviews them all, LOL!

~Michael

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,426 '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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