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Friday, November 11, 2011
Celebrating Veteran's Day 2011 Via Comic Books!
Mood:  celebratory
Topic: Comic Book History

                                        

Celebrates Veterans Day 2011 Via Comic Books!

Continuing An Annual Tradition Honoring My Family Members Who Have Served Their Country In One Of The Five Branches Available To Serve In!  

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Above Top Photos: The World Around Us #12 - The Illustrated History of the Coast Guard -  Gilbert Aug 1959
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Fightin' Air Force #9 Charlton Comics 1959 
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Fightin' Marines #15 St. John Comics August of 1951
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Right Column Photos:
The Veterans Wall of Honor At Francis L Hamersky's Home
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Navy Tales #3 from Atlas Comics May of 1957
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War Dogs of the US Army #1 from Avon Comics 1952
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Click here to see WAR COMICS in our store!
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Click here to see the LOWEST COST ITEMS that we have in our online store for sale, including DOLLAR COMICS! 
  

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3545:

As stated above, this has been become an annual tradition here at Comic Book Collectors Blog... As I want to both honor the family members who served their country, as well as publicize comic books from the past that also honored American servicemen, as well as told a good story in an entertaining style.

You can read last year's blog entry, blog #3278, by clicking this link!

Okay... Back?!

Here's this year's comments:

My dad had mentioned this week via phone that he had added his step-father's photo to his Veterans Wall at his home.  I asked if he could send me a photo of it, which I'm using at the top right of this blog post.

My dad's dad, (Ollie Hamersky), had died in 1946, leaving his wife, (Veronia Walk Hamersky), with several children yet to raise.  She re-married a few years later to one of her cousin's husband, (Frank Wilhelm). The cousin had also died, and between the two of them, (Frank & Veronica) there were several children yet to raise. They had known each other, and somehow were able to put the two families together and lived happily for several years afterward.

Anyways, I'm glad my dad added another photo to his Veterans Wall, which I'm sharing here with you today.

As for the comics... One each from each branch of the services, Navy, Army, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard, are shown above.

Being a 'Navy Brat', I elected to post the Navy comic as one of the larger pics, and since I always watch  the Army - Navy Football Game each year, I also posted a larger Army comic. I am continually amazed each year of the choice of comics available for four of the five branches to post here.  However, it is getting harder to find a good representation of a Coast Guard comic!  There just aren't any comics titles with 'Coast Guard' on them, as a title!  Just other comics with a 'Coast Guard' issue. 

Enjoy!   And thanks to all the Veterans who have served their country!

~Michael D Hamersky On Comics!


NOTE FROM THE BLOGGER:

My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,545 total posts in number!   I do appreciate your continued reading and support of this Blog!

BTW, You can 'follow' this blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app link!  We currently have over 2,609 '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

Note:  My online 'Local' Comic Book Shop (LCBS), carries many different genres of comics, magazines, graphic novels, and comic con promotional items. Possibly even copies of the item(s) that was mentioned here today...!

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. Every effort has been made for this blog post to show properly on your computer, but the different standards that the browsers serve this blog up in have minor tweaks that could need to be adjusted to...

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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Posted by makeitsomarketing at 7:30 AM PST
Updated: Friday, November 11, 2011 9:18 AM PST
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Thursday, November 10, 2011
The Tenth Anniversary...
Mood:  celebratory
Topic: Comic Book History

                                        

Michael D Hamersky On Comics Shares His Thoughts On...

The 10th Anniversary

Of the Wedding of Tina Lo Sasso & Michael D Hamersky that was held November 10th of 2001 at Morgan Run Resort in Rancho Santa Fe, California... AND... Special Weddings In Marvel Comic Books Over The Years!  

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Above Top Photos: Henry Pym & Janet Van Dyne 1969 Avengers #60
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Namor McKenzie & Lady Dorma (actually Llrya) 1971 Sub-Mariner #37
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Jonathan Storm & Alicia Masters (actually Lyja) 1987 - Fantastic Four #300
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Right Column Photos:
Michael D Hamersky & Tina Lo Sasso 2001
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Reed Richards & Susan Storm 1965 Fantastic Four Annual #3
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Peter Parker & Mary Jane Watson 1987 Amazing Spider-Man Annual #21
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Click here to see the SPIDER-MAN ITEMS that we have in our online store for sale, including DOLLAR COMICS! 
  

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3544:

I woke up this morning and decided to share our 10th Anniversary with our blog readers and Facebook friends!

It's been ten years since Tina Lo Sasso and I were married at the Morgan Run Resort in Rancho Santa Fe, California.

Looking over the wedding photo album to see what photo I wanted to use for this blog, I was both remembering the great day and the fact that a few of our wedding guests have sadly passed on since then...

So I was kind of distracted as to my original intent for this blog.

Add to that, that when I went in to get comic book covers of weddings over the years in Marvel Comics... I once again noticed that weddings are few and far between in that Marvel Comics Universe.

The ones that I really remembered, and I go back to the 1965 wedding of Reed Richards & Susan Storm in the Fantastic Four Annual #3, are being pictured here. Of course, the first and the best cover / interior pages issue in my mind was that issue by Stan & Jack, which is why it is directly underneath the photo of Tina & myself.  Yeah, weddings weren't considered so 'hot' as to portray on the front cover... but the wedding crashers were something else, LOL!

I'm also adding the one where Namor the Sub-Mariner was married to Lady Dorma (actually Llyra in disguise!), as he is Tina's favorite Marvel Comics character!

Other weddings over the years (in the Marvel Comics Universe only) included:

1960s
■ Reed Richards and Susan Storm (1965, October)
■ Henry Pym and Janet van Dyne (1969, January)

1970s
■ Namor McKenzie and Dorma (actually Llyra) (1971, April)
■ Pietro Maximoff and Crystalia Amaquelin (1974, September)
■ Jacques Duquesne and Mantis (1975, June)
■ Vision and Wanda Maximoff (1975, June)
■ Edward Leeds and Elizabeth Brant (1976, May)

1980s
■ Scott Summers and Madelyne Pryor (1983, November)
■ J. Jonah Jameson Jr. and Marla Madison (1984, December)
■ Robert Bruce Banner and Elizabeth Ross (1986, May)
■ Namor McKenzie and Marrina Smallwood (1986, November)
■ Jonathan Lowell Spencer Storm and Lyja (1987, March)
■ Peter Benjamin Parker and Mary Jane Watson (1987, October)

1990s
■ Sean Cassidy and Maeve Rourke (1994, February) (Only in flashback)
■ Scott Summers and Jean Grey (1994, March)
■ Richard Milhouse Jones and Marlo Chandler (1994, June)
■ Carl Creel and Mary MacPherran (1996, April)
■ James Howlett and Ophelia Sarkissian (1998, July)
■ Brian Braddock and Meggan Puceanu (1998, October)

2000s
■ Robert Reynolds and Lindy Lee (2000, October)
■ Luke Cage and Jessica Jones (2006, June)
■ John Jameson and Jennifer Walters (2006, August)
■ T'Challa and Ororo Munroe (2006, September)
■ Gabriel Summers and Cal´syee Neramani (2007, June)
■ Crystalia Amaquelin and Ronan (2009, May)
■ J. Jonah Jameson Sr. and May Reily (2009, September)

I stopped reading most of the Marvel Comics titles after the company started doing their reboots in issue numberings.  So most of the 2000s weddings don't hold any nostalgic memories for me, as I haven't read them...

However, the 1960s and 1970s weddings sure do to this day!

The wedding of Reed & Sue was the first major wedding that turned out to be 'real', not an 'Imaginary Story', like over at the DC Comics Universe... Which is why I was a 'True Believer', a 'Marvelmaniac' during my early comics collecting days!

Viewing the wedding comic book covers of the ones in the 2000s, which are not shown here, I see that more of the wedding ceremony scenes are shown on the covers, so that in itself makes these individual issues more memorable for others that would have read them.

Looking back at our own ten years together, I find myself pleased to have found Tina and enjoy our decade of married life with one another.

Yes, she is a 'trooper' to attend so many comic cons & pop culture cons with me, but she did see my 10' x 10' mini-warehouse storage unit full of them before she married me, LOL!

Tina Marie... Thank YOU for your love, your understanding, your friendship, and your patience with me these past ten years.  I love YOU...  Happy 10th Anniversary! 

...And I am looking forward to our Anniversary Dinner at our Special Restaurant later this evening!

~Michael D Hamersky On Comics!


NOTE FROM THE BLOGGER:

My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,544 total posts in number!   I do appreciate your continued reading and support of this Blog!

BTW, You can 'follow' this blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app link!  We currently have over 2,609 '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

Note:  My online 'Local' Comic Book Shop (LCBS), carries many different genres of comics, magazines, graphic novels, and comic con promotional items. Possibly even copies of the item(s) that was mentioned here today...!

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. Every effort has been made for this blog post to show properly on your computer, but the different standards that the browsers serve this blog up in have minor tweaks that could need to be adjusted to...

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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Posted by makeitsomarketing at 5:36 AM PST
Updated: Thursday, November 10, 2011 7:20 AM PST
Post Comment | Permalink
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
My Take On: Shane And Chris Houghton's Reed Gunther Issues #1 -5
Mood:  caffeinated
Topic: Comic Books - New

                                        

Shane And Chris Houghton's

Reed Gunther

Issues #1 - 5 From Image Comics!

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 IMAGE COMICS as seen at my own online comic book shop!

-
Top Photo left column: The Main Characters in Shane And Chris Houghton's Comic Book Series:  Reed Gunther & Sterling the Bear!
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Photo at top of this column:  Chris & Shane Houghton at the 2011 Long Beach Comic & HoRRoR Con with Issues #1 - 5 at their table!  Today, November 9th is their Release Party for the TPB compilation of those issues in Los Angeles!
  

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3543:

The past two weekends have flown by for me!

October 29th & 30th Tina and I were at the 3rd Annual Long Beach Comic & Horror Con in Long Beach, California.  There, among hundreds of other exhibitors, we met Shane and Chris Houghton once again, where I picked up the first five issues of their 'Reed Gunther' comic book series. I read them right away and knew that I would want to review blog them in the near future.

This past weekend, November 5th & 6th, Tina and I were at the Los Angeles Convention Center for the 1st ever ComiKaze Expo, where we met Shane and Chris once again. This time their brand new TPB (Trade Paper Back), was shown for the first time at their table! I knew it was coming soon, being told at the LBC&HC that it was upcoming, but I haven't yet review blogged the issues I had just read in the floppy single issues format.

Well, today is their Release Party for the new TPB in Los Angeles, as seen by the flyer at the left. So I better get started! Please note: My review is based on the five single issues published in 'floppy' comic book format. Other than seeing the cover of the TPB at the ComiKaze Expo, I haven't seen the contents to see if any extra 'goodies' were included or not.

First, what's this comic book title about? Here's what the guys show on their web site:

"Reed Gunther is a goofy and exciting, all ages comic book, created by brothers Shane and Chris Houghton and published by Image Comics.

Follow Reed Gunther and his trusty bear, Sterling, as they ride through the adventurous Old West! Whether they're battling supernatural monsters, tracking down slimy villains, or catching a runaway train... you can bet they wish they were doing something else!"


Okay... So what's 'My Take' on this 5 issue story arc?

First, I'll say that I have seen either one or the other of the brothers at comic cons in Artists Alleys for a while... During their original black & white press run via their own independent publishing days for this comic book title.  However, I had not read their title in that B&W format before.

At the recent 2011 LBCC, I had the opportunity to pick up all 5 issues of the story arc, now being re-printed by Image Comics in full color.

The first issue of the five issue story arc is about:

Reed Gunther and the Steak Snacking Snake!
 
This first issue follows Reed and his faithful bear, Sterling, as they help a not-so-helpless young lady named Starla. Starla’s herd of cattle are dying off and Reed is determined to figure out how!
 
I’ll give you a hint. It’s a Steak Snacking Snake.
 

I found this first issue to be a very good introduction to the story arc, starting with the front cover!  Right away a consumer knows that this comic book is for 'All Ages', and that the price is 'reasonable' at $2.99 cover price.  The addition of the 'Image Comics' logo is something that would give comics readers a moment to think that if Image published it... There must be something in the inside contents for Image to publish it.  

There is! The storyline, the dialogue, the artwork, the characters, and the colors all appear to be 'fresh' and 'vibrant'! The introduction of the characters is smooth, and the storyline is a fun ride, (no pun intended on the front cover!).

Issue #2:

Reed Gunther in a Stalac-TIGHT Spot!
 
This exciting second issue is specifically designed to burst your spurs!
 
Follow Reed and Sterling as they venture underground in search of hidden gold, despite being warned by the town loony that there is something dangerous hiding in the caves! But what does he know? He’s crazy, right?
 

The action doesn't slow down in this issue, and is well written by Shane Houghton.  The artwork by Chris Houghton moves the reader into believing that this story can be told. I'm very interested in continuing on to Issue #3:

Reed Gunther in Trains, Reigns, and Pains!
 
The continuing adventures of Reed Gunther …uh… continues!
 
Reed, Sterling, and Starla hop a train in hopes of catching up with Mr. Picks, the slimy freak show owner, to stop him from spreading those dreaded mole creatures to the East! But I’m sure they will. Nothing ever goes wrongs in comic books, right?

This series continues on to be for 'All Ages', which is good, as I dislike series that start for one age group or as one genre, and convert to something else partway through.  The Houghton brothers have a good handle on what they want to present in this story arc so far!

Issue #4:

Reed Gunther in Fish Out of Slaughter!
 
Continuing his cross-country chase to reclaim the mysterious monster-generating Idol, Reed Gunther and his trusty steed Sterling must find their way through the wild, wild… East? Join the out-of-place cowboy in New York City, where monsters aren’t the strangest thing in town!

The story arc taking us across country works for me.  The two main characters are out of their natural element in the Big City, and this is a fun read.  It is good that this is a 5 issue story issue, as I am ready to read the ending in the Next Issue!

Issue #5:

Reed Gunther And The Freakshow Showdown!

The 'Freakshow (Final) Showdown'!   It takes 5 single floppy issues to finish this story arc.  A good number of issues / pages for a compilation into a TPB.  Not too short at 3 or 4 issues, and not to long at 6 issues.  Five issues are just right for a story arc such as this one.

I enjoyed the Statue of Liberty scenes in this final issue of the story arc.  I turned the final page feeling satisfied with what I had read in this issue and the earlier 4 issues.

This presentation was done right, and was in keeping with the 'All Ages' label on the front covers.  And no... It wasn't dumbed down for younger readers!  A fun read, enjoyable artwork, and great coloring made this a comic book story arc I would recommend to those that are looking for a series to help get younger people to read.  Plus it is a good read for those even my own age... Who remember comics when they were referred to as 'funnybooks' by the mainstream public.  It truly is a comic book story arc for 'All Ages'!

My comic book grade for this series of comic books is a NEAR MINT (NM) 9.4 out of a possible 10.0 comic book grading scale.  (I have not read the TPB compilation of these issues for rating purposes, just the five single 'floppy' issues published in color by Image Comics.)

I do want to mention that both the Houghton Brothers and myself were nominated in different categories for the 2011 Shel Dorf Awards...

The Brothers in the category: Self Published Comic of the Year, and myself for Comic Blogger of the Year.

However none of us won... Which is the reason for the sad faces at the left at the Long Beach Comic & Horror Con... LOL!   But it was an honor to be nominated, we all said! 

My thanks again to Shane and Chris Houghton for taking the time to talk with us at both the 2011 Long Beach Comic Con AND the 2011 ComiKaze Expo!

Oh... And have some fun at your 'Release Party' for the TPB tonight!

(Note: For those of you that can't make it to the release party tonight either... Here is the link to the Houghton Brothers' store at their web site, where you can still buy most of the issues in the original black & white published format.   For a copy of the new TPB, here is a link to it: Reed Gunther Volume 1 TP!

     

~Michael D Hamersky On Comics!


NOTE FROM THE BLOGGER:

My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,543 total posts in number!   I do appreciate your continued reading and support of this Blog!

BTW, You can 'follow' this blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app link!  We currently have over 2,608 '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

Note:  My online 'Local' Comic Book Shop (LCBS), carries many different genres of comics, magazines, graphic novels, and comic con promotional items. Possibly even copies of the item(s) that was mentioned here today...!

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:  Your computer's resoulution may be set differently, but the above resolution is the most commonly used resolution at the time of this blog post. 

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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Posted by makeitsomarketing at 5:12 AM PST
Updated: Wednesday, November 9, 2011 6:59 AM PST
Post Comment | Permalink
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
My Take On: Ron Dante - Favorites!
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Comic Book History

                                        

Ron Dante - Favorites

'The Voice Of THE ARCHIES'!

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Click Here to add This ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com to Your list of NetworkedBlogs!

  

 THE ARCHIE COMICS ITEMS ENDING SOONEST as seen at my online comic book shop!

-
Top Photo left column: The Voice of The Archies - 'Live In Person' at the 2011 Comikaze Expo in Los Angeles, California!
-
Photo at top of this column:  Tina LoSasso with Ron Dante and the CD: Ron Dante - Favorites!
  

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3542:

This past weekend Tina and I attended the 1st ever ComiKaze Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

While walking through the exhibit hall, we came across a table that had Archie photos, Archie TPBs, and Archie CDs. In addition was the placard shown at the left of this blog post, which stated: 'Live In Person' - Ron Dante - 'Voice of the Archies'.

I immediately knew who we were seeing behind the table, as my friend, Joe Pepitone (aka JoepeP!), had talked to me on the phone about him before, and has posted a few great comments about Ron on his own Facebook profile page.

Telling Ron Dante about our mutual friend, we discussed a few quick topics, including what he was doing at ComiKaze, etc.

Of course both Tina and I knew of 'The Archies' cartoon band, and of his relationship with that series.

However, I had not seen the other CD on his table. Tina had picked it up, and I did also, commenting about the choice of tracks that Ron had included in this compilation of 'Ron Dante - Favorites'. 

That's because I knew ALL of the tracks, and exclaimed so outloud.

Well, we ended up leaving Ron's table with that CD, telling ourselves we would listen to it on the drive back to Carlsbad, a good hour and half down South of the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Indeed it was a great choice to listen to, as we headed down to 'El Maguey', our Favorite Mexican restaurant in Orange County.  After a long day or two at a comic book convention in either Los Angeles or Orange County, stopping there for their dishes with mole sauce is just heaven for Tina and myself!  No convention center food for us!  (Here's the link to their Facebook Fan Page so you can get the location and hours.  Truly recommended for those of you in the area, or traveling between LA & San Diego!)

Anyways, we listened to the CD on the way, and after a great dinner, we finished listening to it.  Or rather I should say, Tina finished listening to Ron sing and with me singing along!  She did say she preferred Ron's voice over mine, LOL!

Here's the info on what is on this CD:

First of all... The Tracks:

1.  Old Time Rock and Roll  
2.  I'd Wait a Million Years  
3.  Heaven Knows  
4.  That's Alright Mama  
5.  Windy  
6.  Temptation Eyes  
7.  Billy Don't Be a Hero
8.  Rock Me Gently  
9.  Let's Live for Today  
10. Cherish  
11. Black Is Black  
12. Rockin' Robin  
13. Happy Together  
14. Gimme Some Lovin'  
15. Bee Gees Medley  
16. Give Me Just a Little More Time  
17. I Go to Rio  
18. Midnight Confessions
19. Lay a Little Lovin' on Me  
20. Even After

Secondly, the liner notes gives a little background on Ron Dante, as a record producer, Broadway producer, and as a recording artist. With a note from Ron... and what musicians and singers accompanied Ron on this album.

I've got to say... Just the fact that this CD has six 'Grass Roots' songs in it made it something I'm going to play again and again while I'm driving! What a happy, upbeat CD compilation this is!   Which is exactly what we needed after the death of our parakeet on Friday morning before we left on Saturday for the ComiKaze Expo...

Tina was pleased that the songs were interpreted by Ron with being very close to the originals when sung, with only a couple of changes that she could tell. Those songs on this CD reminded her of being with her friends and family and brought back good memories.

And yeah, I did enjoy hearing Ron with the 'group', 'Cufflinks', back in 1969 with the hit song 'Tracy'.  For the story on that, you have to read this Wikipedia entry

So... I would have to say that one of the hi-lights for me at the 2011 ComiKaze Expo was meeting Ron Dante in person, and driving back home with his 'Favorites' CD playing on Sunday evening!  I'm sure I'll be listening to this CD for years to come!

Oh, and you can purchase this CD also, but you don't have to wait to see him at a convention.  Here's the link to purchase this CD online: Ron Dante - Favorites.

You can also find out more of what Ron is currently up to, including his upcoming performances schedule at his web site, RonDante.com!

And yes... I know... It's NOT a comic book, but my comic book grade for this CD is a NEAR MINT (NM) 9.4 out of a possible 10.0 comic book grading scale. Highly recommended for listening to!

Thanks again to Ron Dante for taking the time to talk with us at the 2011 ComiKaze Expo!

     

~Michael D Hamersky On Comics!


NOTE FROM THE BLOGGER:

My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,542 total posts in number!   I do appreciate your continued reading and support of this Blog!

BTW, You can 'follow' this blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app link!  We currently have over 2,608 '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

Note:  My online 'Local' Comic Book Shop (LCBS), carries many different genres of comics, magazines, graphic novels, and comic con promotional items. Possibly even copies of the item(s) that was mentioned here today...!

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:  Your computer's resoulution may be set differently, but the above resolution is the most commonly used resolution at the time of this blog post. 

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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Posted by makeitsomarketing at 12:01 AM PST
Updated: Tuesday, November 8, 2011 6:13 AM PST
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Monday, November 7, 2011
My Take On: The 2011 ComiKaze Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center
Mood:  caffeinated
Topic: Comic Cons

                                        

Michael D Hamersky On Comics Shares 'His Take' On...

The 2011 ComiKaze Expo

Held at the Los Angeles Convention Center in the Downtown Los Angeles Area November 5th & 6th of 2011!

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Above Top Photo: Sam F Park with Michael D Hamersky at the Monsterverse Booth during the 2011 ComiKaze Expo.
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Above Middle Photo:  The guys at the Stranger Comics booth.  I'll be review blogging several of their publications in the weeks to follow!
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Top Bottom Photo:  Tina LoSasso and Ron Dante, known for many recordings during the years, especially for his 'Archies' songs including 'Sugar,Sugar'!   We totally enjoyed his CD 'Ron Dante - Favorites' album on the way home to Carlsbad!  More on that soon!
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Left Column Middle Photo:  Tina LoSasso & Michael D Hamersky in front of the ComiKaze Expo backdrop that was moved inside the exhibit hall on Sunday!
  

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3541:

Back in blog #3522, I mentioned that I was looking forward to attending a brand new convention in the Downtown area of Los Angeles...

That would be the ComiKaze Expo, which would be held in the expansive Los Angeles Convention Center!

I'm not going to repeat here what I said in the earlier blog post for the most part, other than the links I believe you would be most interested in, along with my 'review' on the con itself.

Here are just a few photos from this convention, as uploaded at my Facebook Fan Page, Michael D Hamersky On Comics:  Special Photo Album!

I will be adding more photos to this photo album in the next four hours, and in the days to follow.  Tina took almost 200 photos and I took over 200 photos from our two days there, (Saturday & Sunday).  Plus I have videos to share from this con, which will be posted directly at my YouTube Channel as well as the links to those videos at Facebook Fan Page.

Plus here are the links for you to check out to match up with the photos and videos that I will be presenting at my Facebook Fan Page, as these links have links to the exhibitors, panelists, and Artist Alley participants:

The 2011 Scheduled Guests of Honor

The 2011 Featured Guests

The 2011 Artists / Exhibitors / Creators / Etc.

Oh, and so you can see what everyone else is saying or has alreday said about this year's Long Beach Comic & Horrr Con... Here's the Facebook Fan Page for the ComiKaze Expo, so that you can be interactive with the promoters / attendees for this year's Con!

So... With All that out of the way... What was 'My Take' on this year's con?! (Along with a few comments that Tina voiced to me during the con & on the drive back home.)

Here's my immediate topics and my thoughts on them:

Attendance:  The Expo's organizers did a Great Job in getting attendance at this first time ever event.   The word of mouth and distribution of flyers at other conventions prior to theirs showed that they were going to do their utmost in getting people there. I saw their promotional pieces at the Comic-Con International: San Diego back in July, followed up at So Cal Comic Con in August, and Long Beach Comic Con in October.  So the Expo's organizers were on the ground promoting their Expo, as well as doing a fine job online.  

Parking:  Saturday's parking was a little tough, as where I have parked at befor the Wizard World Los Angeles Comic Con held here previously, was full.  So we parked at the next closest parking structure.  Sunday's parking was worse, as there appeared to be even an additional convention going on.  (At least three at one time... An Anthony Robbins conference, and a Franchise conference.)

Registration:  Saturday's registration for attendees was disorganized, as far as we and others trying to find where the lines were going.   We had press passes as usual for conventions of this niche, which we able to obtain relatively easily once we found where the registration booths were actually located at. However, as we came in and out during the day to use the restrooms, (there was only one inside the hall!), the lines continued to stay packed. Sunday's registration was better, as we arrived at 11:30 and the line wasn't as long.

Opening Day Ceremony:  We didn't see any ceremony.  We were there before the opening.  With our press passes, we were allowed in early, and the attendees on Saturday were delayed in coming in until after the official opening hour as much as we could tell from inside.   

Exhibit Hall:  Believe it or not... The exhibit hall was actually held in an underground parking garage facility.  You could tell by the multiple columns holding up the floor above!  That's probably why there was just the one set of restrooms in the hall itself, which was hard to find... Several attendees, including us, were told to leave the large hall, use the restrooms near there, and come back in the entrance again afterwards...

Panels:  This is where the organizers of the con could definitely improved on... The panels were held inside the exhibit hall, with just blue drapes separating them from the rest of the hall.  The noise factor was horrendous, and with the announcer on the public address system coming on too often for commercials... the panels were interrupted even further.  Worse, the numbering of the panel 'rooms' were out of logical order... and a person had to walk back and forth a few times until learning the numbering layout.  There was ONE panel held upstairs in an actual room, (the room that surprise guest Mark Hamill was giving his presentation).   Definitely the worst aspect of this convention...  At the least there should have been large placards with the numbers of the panel 'rooms' that could be visible from a ways away.  A person had to walk all the way to the panel 'room' to see what the 'room' number was.  Why?  Because the organizers 'ran out' of maps / panel schedules the very 1st day of the show!   And no, neither Tina nor I believe that there weren't any Kinkos FED Ex or anything else close to the LA Convention Center that couldn't deliver more!

Program Book:  Which brings me to the lack of a 'program book' or some sort of giveaway at the time of registration.   Even small cons that have more than just a bunch of dealers in a room with comics to sell, have a 'program book' or 'program flyer'.   Nothing was provided to regular attendees / pros / press.  You were expected to have downloaded / printed your own.  Which I had done, only to circle / make a grid of the panels I wanted to attend before arriving to the con. 

Pricing:   Yes the expo was 'inexpensive'.  Only $12 a day, or $20 for both days.   And yes the parking cost was $12 per day at the LA Convention Center.   But what the problem was, IMO, was that the lack of name badges, the lack of program schedules, lack of maps for the layout inside the exhibit hall, led to the confusion that existed there for both days.  Please bear in mind that this in intended to be constructive criticism, not a bitch session...

Events:  On Sunday there was appeared to be a 'masquerade' of sorts in the back of the exhibit hall... I'm still not for sure what kind of event it was meant to be.   As the 'contestants', all stood in line and faced an evergrowing crowd.  Mass confusion, and many of the cosplayers were obviously not pleased to be standing there in line for so long.  Other events?   Well, I'm not for sure if there were any, other than the following:  

Special Event:  The Award Ceremony for Cassandra (Elvira) Peterson.  It was nice that Cassandra was honored, especially as Saturday was the last convention appearance for her Elvira charcter (portrayed by hereself, as there is a 'replacement' already).   However the mini-event STARTED and ENDED before the publicized time of the event at 2PM!  Many attendees came over to the 'panel room' AFTER the event was over, no kidding!  Tina had grabbed us a couple of chairs earlier, because the event that was supposed to be running at 1PM had been cancelled / rescheduled.   But then she had to sit and listen to an impromptu session of a few panelists who arrived early for the 2PM ceremony and "entertained" the crowd until Cassandra was announced (early).  For those of you that missed this event, I'll be uploading the ceremony at my YouTube Channel sometime in the near future, and posting a link at my Facebook Fan Page.   

Artists Alley:  The map that I had printed out to get a general idea of how the exhibit hall would be laid out, indicated an area that I thought would be an 'Artists Alley', although it was not called that. However it turned out to be a 'hodge-podge' of artists intermixed with TV & Film 'celebrities' ala a Wizard World convention. Plus at least one row of 'models' with Playboy and other such credits.   The intermixing of all of this was NOT conducive to bring younger children into.   Too much semi-nudity, and I am NOT a prude, as you can tell by my review blogs on comics / graphic novels / books.   Not a good mix at all.  Something that Wizard World learned a while back not to do, as well as the Comic-Con International in San Diego.  Keep these areas separate!

Exhibitors: The way the floor design was set up... It was tough to know where you were without a map.   And with the promoters running out of maps & with no program books... Well, it wasn't until Sunday that I saw pillars (columns) with maps taped to them for some guidance.  The mix of exhibitors was interesting... but not cast into sections. I found even some 'TV / Film celebrities' in areas that were not conducive for signings. However, I know of at least one comics publisher who had made back their total booth & transportation costs the first day of this con, so they were happy!

Other Activities:  With everything but one panel room in the exhibit hall, the other activities were limited, UNLESS you left the area to go elsewhere in LA for 'parties', which we did not do.  We had other business at night to attend to during this trip.

Additional Comments:   I want to point out here that the above, and what I am about to point out here is meant as constructive criticism.  After attending comic, sci-fi, anime, and other pop culture conventions since 1972, I like to see even more avenues for 'mainstream' people to find out about the niches that this con and others are attempting to bring new people into!  However, if a promoter uses the word 'Comi(c)' in their name, be sure to have a stand alone section for that.  Not like a 'comic ghetto for comic book dealers' that the Comic-Con International now has in that expansive San Diego Comic Center, but at least somewhere that the undressed models aren't a part of, to have families want to attend the upcoming years.

For a first time con, both Tina and I were pleased to see that the promoters of ComiKaze were able to deliver attendees on Saturday!   AND for you vendors, we saw many going through boxes of items for sale, AND walking away with purchases!   For a vendor thinking whether or not to set up at ComiKaze next year... This would be good news!   Sunday was a little lighter in purchases from what we could see, but exhibitors that I personally know, (publishers & comics dealers) said that the weekend was a sales success for them.   I won't go into the exhibitors at the 'Artists Alley' area, as several still don't get the idea of how to sell their publications or their artwork... I see that at every show.

The attendees that have been posting that they were 'underwhelmed' by this ComiKaze Expo, are basically stating that the promoters were over promising and under delivering what was being told about this convention.  

I don't see it that way. I see it as trying to be too much of a 'pop culture con', with too much inclusion and not enough specializing in any one or three niches and doing those very well. Yes, there was something for everyone... But not enough of it. Except that the price was right, at $12 for a day. Others have said 'you get what you pay for', but I'm not going to be unkind about that. I found it to be more than what I thought it would be in the numbers of attendees, and I believe the promoters found that to be the same as well, as they weren't prepared on Saturday morning to handle the crowds of those wanting to get in.

A first con is always a learning experience, both for attendees, exhibitors, and promoters. Those that attended had a 'pop culture con' in the Downtown Los Angeles area, which hasn't happened for a few years.  The promoters should take a closer look at the layout of other cons that are using their facilities well for a guideline, such as the previous weekend's Long Beach Comic Con.  That exhibit hall's layout, and the adjoining panel rooms was executed very well for example.  Along with their program book with maps, panels, guests, etc. For a convention that is only 3 years old... They are hitting on all 8 cylinders this year. 

I wish the promoters well, and hope they get the 'messages' of what are being told to them, both in person and online. I look forward to seeing the 2012 ComiKaze Expo, and will be glad to mention it on my Facebook Fan Page, as well as pre-blog about it here.

My thanks again to Regina Carpinelli, Fabiano Carpinelli, and a big hello to Gino Fabinelli who I saw briefly at the Expo!  He was very pleased with what his children had been able to put on for a first time con.  He has every reason to be pleased as far as I am concerned.   It was a good first time effort to put something of this size together. I am hoping to say even better things after the 2012 ComiKaze Expo!

~Michael D Hamersky On Comics!


NOTE FROM THE BLOGGER:

My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,541 total posts in number!   I do appreciate your continued reading and support of this Blog!

BTW, You can 'follow' this blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app link!  We currently have over 2,607 '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

Note:  My online 'Local' Comic Book Shop (LCBS), carries many different genres of comics, magazines, graphic novels, and comic con promotional items. Possibly even copies of the item(s) that was mentioned here today...!

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. Every effort has been made for this blog post to show properly on your computer, but the different standards that the browsers serve this blog up in have minor tweaks that could need to be adjusted to...

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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Posted by makeitsomarketing at 5:21 AM PST
Updated: Wednesday, November 9, 2011 8:15 AM PST
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