Michael D Hamersky On Comics Reviews: Bob the Angry Flower: Rothgar!     - Top Photo: Stephen Notley holding a copy of 'Bob the Angry Flower: Rothgar'.  As seen at the 2010 Comic-Con International: San Diego!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3433:

I saw Stephen Notley again at the last Comic-Con International: San Diego, (SDCC), as seen in the above right photo.  He wasn't hard to find, as he is usually seen appearing as 'Bob the Angry Flower'!

However, because there has always been a crowd at his booth each year that I had walked by, I hadn't had a chance to talk with him until the last SDCC. This last time I did, and found out about his then latest book, which is also pictured above, at the top left. (Right click the book photo, and you'll see a larger pic.)

Here's what the promotional blurb says the TPB is about:

"Loaded to bursting with mad crackers, vengeful geats, blithely oblivious royalty and wholly unnecessary Doctor Who references, Bob the Angry Flower: Rothgar is the newest, latest and most recent Bob the Angry Flower book ever to exist so far!"

152 Pages | Black & White 7x8.5" TPB

Okay... That didn't tell me much, so I had to dig right in to the book itself!

This TPB appeared to be a compilation of several comics strips put together for printing in a book format. Upon further research after reading the book I found the following:

"Bob the Angry Flower is a black-and-white comic strip that tells the exploits of an easily angered anthropomorphic flower named Bob and his interactions with the world, often in search of either global domination or love. Though the strip features a range of recurring characters, most strips stand alone with little or no continuity."

So what I figured when reading the book was true. !

In addition I read this:

"Bob the Angry Flower is the creation of Canadian cartoonist Stephen Notley, a native of Edmonton, who has been based in Seattle since early 2005. The cartoon has been carried, at different times, by several local newspapers and magazines including See magazine, Vue Weekly, the Edmonton Journal, and The Gateway. Notley also generally posts new strips to his website every Friday." 

You know, as I read this book further, over several nights, I found that the themes or story arcs printed in the book made sense, except that it took a while to meet 'Rothgar', which you would think would be a main part of this book...!

Rothgar does appear, starting on page 86 and ends on page 95.  Which seemed a little strange to me, what with 'ROTHGAR' being the featured name on the front cover of this book.  However this section in the book was in color, while the rest of the book was in black & white.

Again, after reading the book, I found this was to be true for the other books in this series as follows:

There are currently six books published, mostly consisting of compiled cartoons from the weekly series, with a few extra features. They are:

   In Defence of Fascism (1997) (ISBN 978-0968217504)
    Coffee with Sinistar (1999) (ISBN 978-0968217511)
    Everybody vs. Bob the Angry Flower (2001) (ISBN 978-0968217528)
    Bob the Angry Flower: The Ultimate Book of Perfect Energy!!! (2003) (ISBN 978-0968217535)
    Dog Killer (2005) (ISBN 978-1892391346)
    Pamplemousse (2008)
 

You know... Reprinting the comic strips like this was a pretty good concept, and one that I could understand to be more 'readable' in this format, instead of searching for the comic strips in the webcomic online.

I must mention that there are words used that are not for young children, and possibly some concepts presented that may be considered 'over the top', ('Freddie the Flying Fetus') in the online comic strip.

The webcomic itself was launched in 1992.  I know that I have seen 'Bob the Angry Flower' at the SDCC for a few years, always with a crowd at the booth.

I found the TPB to be one that jumped around a bit.  From 'Cracker Comix' to 'Bob' to 'Cracker Comix' to 'Rothgar' to 'Cracker Comix'.  I think you get my drift here...

Again, with the Title words shown on the front cover, 'Rothgar' at the top, and 'Bob The Angry Flower' at the bottom right, I would have expected to see more 'Rothgar' than what was presented in this TPB, than what was shown.

This TPB is probably best read in small chunks like I did, when reading it over several nights.

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

Here's the info you will need to find this book:

This is a POD (Print On Demand) TPB from ComiXpress as found here.  Note from the printer: All items are printed-to-order. Please keep in mind that there will be production time as we produce your personal copy of this title. 

For easy purchase to the earlier books in the series, here's a link to just one that is shown at Amazon: Bob the Angry Flower: Dog Killer

Stephen's own web site for this concept can be found at Bob The Angry Flower.

I do not see a Facebook Fan Page for this webcomic, just a 'community page', thus no link at this time will be presented here.

My thanks again to Stephen for bringing this TPB to my attention at the comic con! (Please note:  Although I am a bit slow in reviewing this TPB, this is the latest book in the series!)

~Michael D Hamersky

BTW, You can 'follow' this blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,452 '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! 

---

 

Michael D Hamersky On Comics Reviews: The Licensable Bear™ Big Book Of Fun!     - Top Photo: Nat Gertler holding a copy of 'The Licensable Bear™ BIG BOOK of Fun!  As seen at the 2011 Wizard World Anaheim Comic Con!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3432:

I met Nat Gertler at the latest Wizard World Anaheim Comic Con as seen in the above right photo.  He was kind enough to introduce me to his TPB, 'The Licensable Bear™ BIG BOOK of Fun!

Although the stories re-printed in this TPB had been published in four separate 'floppy' single issue comic books, I had never heard of this comic book series before seeing Nat at this comic con.

Here's what the promotional blurb says the TPB is about:

"Licensable BearTM is a little fella who just wants to be licensed for products. (It's what most cartoon characters exist for, he's just the only one who's honest about it.) Here are dozens of stories featuring the li'l critter, plus guest cameos from heroes Mister U.S. and Liberty Girl, and the very first comic book appearance by Barack Obama! This volume includes all of the stories from the Licensable BearTM comic book series, plus stories created for Many Happy Returns, Wild About Comics, and Liberty Comics. Plus, there are Licensable BearTM's Intellectual Property Insights columns, Licensable BearTM ads, and even the one-and-only Su-do-Licensable BearTM puzzle."

Okay... Sounds like an interesting premise... What's to keeping it from being a one 'trick pony' / one-shot issue?!

Well... It could have been a one-shot comic book, but the creator decided to spice it up a bit with different artists being featured in the multiple stories in each issue!

Issue #1 included art by Rusty Haller, Tone Rodriguez, Mark Dos Santos, and others.  I mention these three because I have also met them before, and blogged about them here.

Issue #2 included others that I have heard about, but haven't met, including Eric Erbes, and Ryan Estrada. I have met Dave Lanphear, who also has art in this issue.

Nat didn't stop there.  Issues #3 & 4 included art by Hugo Salvatierra, Nimrod Reshef, Sarah Gertler, Jett Atwood, Jim MacQuarrie, and Lonny Chant.

So Nat was sharp enough to realize that different art approaches to this concept would keep the readers into coming back for the next issue.  The only problem was... That issue #4 became 'Sold Out'.  Why?  Well it is the first appearance of Senator Obama!

Here's the story on that:

Is Licensable Bear™ issue 4 the first comic book appearance of Barack Obama?

To the best of our knowledge, yes. The issue hit stores on July 17th, 2007, more than a year before the Obama appearance in Savage Dragon, IDW’s Presidential Material biography, or any of the ensuing appearances.

How rare is Licensable Bear™ issue 4?

The print run was only 1050 copies. There was a special second printing done as a fund raiser for The Hero Initiative, which was only 60 copies (50 signed-and-numbered copies, plus 10 Artist Proof copies) and has a different cover.

Is the character actually Barack Obama, or just some unnamed politician?

The character is specifically refered to as “Senator Obama”, and is seen on two pages. A couple of other then-candidates for president are mentioned in the story (Clinton, Guiliani), but unlike Obama, they are not seen.

Was the inclusion of Obama a publicity stunt?

No. The inclusion of Obama was not promoted at the time this was published (although there was some promotion of the election theme of the story). When the issue was published, Obama was 19 points behind Clinton in the polls, so he wasn’t even the probable Democratic contender, much less the likely winner of the presidency.
 

There's a lot more than just the 1st appearance of Obama in comics in this TPB compilation.  A lot more...

Including pages from 'Many Happy Returns' Issue 2008, 'Wild About Comics' Issue 1, 'About Comics' 2005 Holiday Card, and 'Bits And Also Pieces'.

Plus two additional guest stars, Mister U.S. from ItsMister.Us, and Liberty Girl from Heroic Publishing!

You know, this was a pretty good concept, and I found the TPB to be a fun read.  I did read it over several nights, which kept the adventures 'fresh', as the main 'theme' of the stories was to get licensed and make $$$$$$.

Thus my comic book grade for this TPB is a VERY FINE PLUS (VF+) 8.5 out of a possible 10.0 comic book grading scale.

Here's the info you will need to find the book:

Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: About Comics (September 30, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0979075068
ISBN-13: 978-0979075063
Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 6.4 x 0.6 inches
Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces

For easy purchase, here's a link to The Licensable BearTM Big Book of Officially Licensed Fun!

Nat's own web site for this concept can be found at LicensableBearTM.com.

More about Nat Gertler and his other projects can be found at AboutComics.com, as well as at his own web site, Gertler.com.

Here is the credits in comics for Nat as seen in the Grand Comics Database. I don't see this series of comics being shown in the credits, so there may be others as well.

I do not see a Facebook presence for his projects, just his personal profile page, thus no link at this time.

My thanks again to Nat for bringing this TPB to my attention at the comic con!

~Michael D Hamersky

BTW, You can 'follow' this blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,452 '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! 

---

 

Michael D Hamersky On Comics Presents:  Vinnie's Take On: The Adventures of Faithboy! #1     - Above: The Front Cover to Faithboy #1 from Kingdom Comics! - Left Top Photo:  The Faithboy Caucasian bobblehead with glowing shield of faith!

(Vinnie) Today I am here to blog about "The Adventures of Faithboy" comic book, issue #1. It is about a boy facing his fears and staying away from evil with the help of God and his message. First off, this comic is Christian-based.

 

   

 

Do you get scared at night when it’s storming and lightening outside?  Then, do you see shadows on your bedroom wall from the storm outside? You can read about how Faithboy conquers his fear and much more."

   

 

 

 

 

Thanks, Vinnie!  

I read this comic book when it first came in, and thought it would be a good one for Vinnie to review.

This is a really good concept for a comic book, and has a target audience that could appreciate reading this series.

You can find it and the bobble-heads that the comic book is based on, at the web site, Faithboy.com.

I give this comic book a VERY FINE / VERY FINE PLUS (VF/VF+) 8.25 out of a 10.0 possible comic book grading scale.

~ Michael

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

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,452 '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.

If it isn't available in my online 'Local Comic Book Shop, (LCBS), then you may be able find it in my Amazon affiiate link, as seen here:  Comics & Graphic Novels at Amazon!

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safarai, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers serve the page up differently, sorry about that!

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

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

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

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

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

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

---

 

Michael D Hamersky On Comics Presents:  Vinnie's Take On: Yogi Bear - The Film!     -

(Vinnie) Tina, my dad, and I watched the new Yogi Bear film this past Saturday night, so I thought I'd write a blog on my thoughts of it, as well as some information about some of the history of Yogi.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks, Vinnie!  

I grew up on Yogi Bear cartoons, and feel a little sentimental about this character... And I laughed several times on the jokes.  So for you 'older kids' out there, like me!, I gave it a VERY FINE / VERY FINE PLUS (VF/VF+) 8.25 out of a 10.0 possible comic book grading scale.

However, Tina, who also watched Yogi Bear cartoons as a kid, gave this film only a VERY GOOD / FINE (VG/F) 5.0 out of a possible 10.0 comic book grading scale. 

So parents, you may or may not enjoy watching this one with your kids!

~ Michael

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

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,452 '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.

If it isn't available in my online 'Local Comic Book Shop, (LCBS), then you may be able find it in my Amazon affiiate link, as seen here:  Comics & Graphic Novels at Amazon!

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! 

---

 

Vinnie's Take On:  Mouse Guard - The Black Axe #2 of 6     - Above Photo: The Front Cover from Mouse Guard - The Black Axe, Issue #2 of 6. Written & Illustrated by David Petersen. Published by Archaia Entertainment! -

(Vinnie) Today, I am here to review the second installment of the series, 'Mouse Guard: The Black Axe.'

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

Note from Michael: Mouse Guard - The Black Axe #2 of 6, went on sale: May 4th... Check it out TODAY at YOUR LCBS to pick a copy up!

   

Here is the link to Archaia so that YOU can purchase either the single volumes or the collected work when published, if YOUR LCBS doesn't have it in stock. 

Here is the Facebook Fan Page for Archaia Entertainment, to keep up with what this publisher is presenting next.

 

Additional Note: Vinnie makes it to as many comic cons with me as he can. He collects the 'Amazing Spider-Man' comic book series, but is open to read other titles from publishers that print titles that are age appropriate for him.  He also has been attending 'behind the scenes' events, such as the one he blogged about here:

Vinnie's Special 'Look at The Captain Rochester Party for the Artists' at the recent 2010 Comic-Con International: San Diego! He really had fun meeting and having dinner with Sergio Aragones, Bob Burden, Scott Shaw! and others there at this exclusive after hours Comic-Con Party in San Diego!

Also...If YOU liked Vinnie's guest review blog today, you may also enjoy reading Vinnie's other reviews on: Jim Henson's Fraggle Rock Vol 2 #1 of 3, Space Punks #2, Jim Henson's Fraggle Rock Vol 2 #2 of 3, Kleeman and Mike #1, Mortifera #3,  Classics Illustrated #142 Abraham Lincoln - 8th Edition, 2011 FCBD Edition - Mouse Guard / Dark Crystal Flip Book, Fraggle Rock Volume 2 #3 of 3, Bear and Fox #2, Space Punks #1, The Daughters of Merlin #1, Sea Ghost #1, Mouse Guard: Legends of the Guard #4 (of 4), Clutch Cargo DVD, The All New Super Friends Hour Season 1 DVD, The Ultimate Underdog Collection Volume 1, Planet Hulk, Coraline, Ponyo, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Sonic the Hedgehog TPB Vol 1, Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs, The Possum #1 comic book, Vinnie's Take on Berona's War: Field Guide, just to name a recent few! 

 Thanks, Vinnie, for guest blogging here today!

~Michael D Hamersky

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,452 '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.

If it isn't available in my online 'Local Comic Book Shop, (LCBS), then you may be able find it in my Amazon affiiate link, as seen here:  Comics & Graphic Novels at Amazon!

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! 

---