Michael D Hamersky On Comics Mentions That Several Of His Favorite Websites That He Uses Each Day Are ... Blacking Out Or Otherwise Protesting For 24 Hours on January 18th of 2012 In Protest of SOPA & PIPA --------------- Photos - (Top Photo:)  Blackout image posted at my Hamersky On Comics Facebook Fan Page. At The Column To The Right: 3 photos:  What Wikipedia, Google, and Amazon are presenting at their home pages today .

TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3585 -  Yesterday I stated I would be back to posting more review blogs on comics and graphic novels that have been given to me at conventions or mailed in to me for that purpose.

However, I saw this morning several references to the 'blackout' that many websites are presenting on their home pages for approx 24 hours.

Usually being non-political in this Blog and on my Facebook Fan Page, I normally wouldn't more than possibly mention it, and not blog about it.

Yet, I realize that most of my 3,584 archived blog posts have links to websites that may be participating today in this one day strike / blackout.

Thus those links won't serve up to this Blog's readers what I had intended for them to follow up on.  Imagine if that was an everyday occurence!

Or worse yet, what if the sites I linked to were taken down by the authorities for whatever reasons?!

I showed just three of my most used websites during each day:  Wikipedia, Google, and Amazon. Without those, what free flow of information would we have?  

Here's a few links on what others are doing today regarding the blackout / strike on SOPA & PIPA:

C|NET, Wikipedia, Google, Turn Facebook Black with In The Spotlight.

Again, I'm not being 'politcal' today... I just see that what is being presented is something that would affect this blogging venue of mine.  So please read the links and decide for yourself what you want to do and or say about it at your webpages...

~Michael D Hamersky

NOTE FROM Michael D Hamersky On Comics:  My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,585 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 2,675 '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!!!

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 ComicBooksCircus.com, including the book 'Gotham City 14 Miles' shown to the left. I'm 1 of 14 contributors to that book!

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written per the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safari, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers serve the page up slightly 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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In Addition, I started a YouTube Channel just before the 2011 Comic-Con International, where I am slowly uploading videos from conventions or other events that we attend that are also pop culture related.  You are invited to 'subscribe' to that channel also!  As found at 'HamerskyOnComics'!

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Michael D Hamersky On Comics Presents 'My Take On': The Stone Legacy Issues #1 - 3:  A Comic Book Series Created & Written By Gavin Andazola - From Walk Alone Entertainment -  As Seen At The 2011 Long Beach Comic Con (LBCC)!

TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3584 -  It's been a little while since I review blogged a comic book or comic book series... That's due to the fact that other topics have come up for blogs since the beginning of the year, and the fact that I have a dear elderly relative that I have been helping recover from two surgeries in December, and who is now temporarily located in a rehab / SNIF in the Los Angeles area that I have been responsible for getting back to living at home. 

That aside, I want to get back into the mode of bringing to your attention comic books / graphic novels / TPBs that I have been given for possible review in this blog. So here's to my first review blog for 2012!

One comic book series that really made an impression on me at the recent 2011 Long Beach Comic Con was 'The Stone Legacy'.  That is because the creator / writer of the series, Gavin Andazola, presented me with a 'total package' for possible review that was the best I've seen yet in several years of doing this review blogging feature!

You can see in the photos in the header of this blog, the plastic display case that showed the name of the intellectual property (IP), which held one each of the three comics so far that have been printed, along with a characters illos album called 'The Stone Legacy Sketchbook', and trading cards for the series.   No matter what the contents of the comics held, I know that any reviewer that has been in the 'business' for a good while would recognize that the creator of this IP had great faith in it enough to make a special presentation package!   A package that was worthy of showing to potential investors to make a film out of this comic book series!

So before I start with a review of the IP, I bet you are wondering what is 'The Stone Legacy', and who besides Gavin is behind this series?

Here are those involved in the series:

CREATORS:
- Created by/written by: Gavin Andazola
- Edited by: Jay So
- Illustrated by:  Harsho Chattoraj
- Color by: Bo Setiaji

The Stone Legacy is defined in this promotional literature:  "Decades ago, The General reigned terror over the city of Mt. Clare. Then a mysterious heor called the Guardian appeared to stop him... they both vanished without a trace.  Years later they have resurfaced.

Enter Jacob Stone, a typical teenager, who will discover that his family holds a secret.  It's a family legacy that will connect him to The General and The Guardian.  He will unocver a destiny that will change his world forever."

Okay, with the above promo, you definitely get the gist of what the series will start off as...

The storyline continues and does deliver what the promotional writeup promises. The dialogue flows well with the storyline throughout all three issues that have been printed so far.

The artwork is in a style that takes a little getting used to, but is consistent in its presentation.  The coloring meshes well, and brings out the artwork.  I'm glad that the creator went with the inside pages being printed in color, as several indy comics elect to be published in black & white. I'm not a 'color snob', but the use of colors adds greatly to the presentation. 

The lettering's font appears to be a little different than what I am used to reading in a comic book, but the larger size helps to read it easier.  I definitely like 'The Stone Legacy' logo / comic book series title used at the top of each of the three covers.  The 'o' in 'Stone' really stands out.  If this was on the newstands or in a LCBS, each comic issue would stand out nicely, except for issue #2 that has the title / logo at the bottom of the front cover.

What is really nice for retailer purposes is that in issues #2 & 3 is that there is a 'recap page' where the 'splash page' would normally be in a floppy comic book format.  For someone that would be coming into this series for the first time with either issue #2 or 3, that is very helpful!

At the end of issue #3 I found that the storyline is 'To Be Continued'... 

That's because 'The Inheritance' storyline is halfway through at that point, and the final three issues are in production.  After that, there are plans in the works to put together a 'Stone Legacy' spin-off before returning to this title for the seventh issue and beyond.

My comic book grade for the series thus far is a VERY FINE PLUS (VF+) 8.5 out of a possible 10.0 comic book grading scale.  What the series promises is delivered in the first three issues.  It is a series that shows additional promise, and with the creator helming the direction the series is going, it should deliver 'The Inheritance' storyline to a satisfying conclusion.

There is a Facebook Fan Page for The Stone Legacy that I suggest you 'Like' to follow this series and become interactive with the creator and others that are following the progress of the series.

You can purchase these issues via The Stone Legacy website, which is presented very well with a Flash intro / and individual web pages which takes the place of 'The Stone Legacy Sketchbook' that I was given.

My thanks to Gavin Andaloza for bringing this series of his to my attention at the Long Beach Comic Con, and I'm looking forward to the conclusion of the first story arc!

~Michael D Hamersky On Comics! 

BTW, You can 'follow' this blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app link!  We currently have over 2,674 '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!!!

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'll find under the BIG TOP of Comics, at Comic Books Circus.com, including the book 'Gotham City 14 Miles' that I am shown holding to the left. I'm 1 of 14 essayists in that book! !     

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written per the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safari, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers serve the page up slightly 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!

---------------            

      

In Addition, I started a YouTube Channel just before the 2011 Comic-Con International, where I am slowly uploading videos from conventions or other events that we attend that are also pop culture related.  You are invited to 'subscribe' to that channel also!  As found at 'HamerskyOnComics'!

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Michael D Hamersky On Comics Mentions That... The 1956 Martin Luther King Jr. Comic Book Inspires A New Global Generation! An Update On My Yearly Blog On Celebrating the Life of Martin Luther King Jr. In Comic Books!

TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3583 -  Each year at this time I mention the fact that Martin Luther KIng Jr. has been featured in a few comic books since the first one was printed in 1956.  This year I'm following up on the comic book shown at the top right that was published in 1956 by The Fellowship of Reconciliation. To my knowledge that is the oldest comic book with MLK on the cover.

As I've stated before... That comic book had an English printing of 250,000 copies, and a Spanish version of 125,000 copies. They were used for teaching tools about the civil rights movement during the 1950s.

Imagine my surprise when I found the following information when looking to blog about Martin Luther King Jr. today:  "Dalia Ziada, the director of AIC’s North African Bureau, was responsible for translating and editing the Arabic version of “The Montgomery Story,” eventually distributing 2,000 copies throughout the Middle East".

In another article I found further info on Dalia Ziada, who is pictured to the left:  "One of the key leaders in that Egyptian blogging community is Dalia Ziada, the Cairo-based North Africa Director for the American Islamic Congress. She was profiled in international media in the spring of 2009 in articles in both Time magazine and the History News Network for her efforts to help develop a democratic voice in her region".

It appears that these translated comics were printed and distributed before and during the 'Arab Spring' of 2011.   So this 1950s comic book is seeing renewed life globally! 

Here is the link to the first article cited: Martin Luther King, Egypt, and the Fellowship of Reconciliation. Plus the link to the other earlier article: Can a Comic Book About MLK Change the Middle East (At Least a Little)?.

I'm pleased to see that comic books are once again being used to teach & motivate. No matter how old the material... New uses and readership can be found for the comic book format.

BTW, here is a link to where you can read this 1956 comic book in the English version.  It's about time you read this once out-of-print comic book, especially today, the holiday commemorating Martin Luther King Jr.'s birth!

~Michael D Hamersky On Comics! 

BTW, You can 'follow' this blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app link!  We currently have over 2,672 '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!!!

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'll find under the BIG TOP of Comics, at Comic Books Circus.com, including the book 'Gotham City 14 Miles' that I am shown holding to the left. I'm 1 of 14 essayists in that book! !     

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written per the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safari, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers serve the page up slightly 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!

---------------            

      

In Addition, I started a YouTube Channel just before the 2011 Comic-Con International, where I am slowly uploading videos from conventions or other events that we attend that are also pop culture related.  You are invited to 'subscribe' to that channel also!  As found at 'HamerskyOnComics'!

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Michael D Hamersky On Comics Along With Many Others Was Remembering... Richard Alf At His Memorial Service January 12th, of 2012 In Ramona, California  --------------- Photos - (Top Photo:)  One of several photos that was presented for those attending the memorial service to see of Richard Franklin Alf. (At The Column To The Right: 4 photos)  A photo taken during the memorial service from the inside doors of the chapel.  A photo of the casket, flowers, photos & the hat that Richard loved to wear.  One of the photos shown during the slide show presentation of Richard's life at the remembrance table, along with flyers from Richard's comic con days.  The last photo is a scan of the cartoon strip illustrated by Clayton Moore who distributed it at the memorial service. Definitely covered Richard's life as a visionary/ patron of all popular arts / entrepreneur / socialite. (You can right click the photo to see it in a larger format.)

TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3582 -  The memorial service for Richard Franklin Alf was attended by approximately 100 persons, coming from at least as far North as Lake Arrowhead, as far West as Inglewood, East as far as Victorville, and South as far as Chula Vista.  This I gathered from talking with those that I met at the memorial service and later at the reception.

Richard Alf's life touched those that bought or sold from / to his mail order comic book business; those that were involved with the early start of what became the San Diego Comic Con International; those that bought and sold at his Comic Kingdom comic book shop - one of the first in San Diego, those that dealt with him in his later businesses; and those that interacted with him at the Leo parties.

So many came from all those aspects of his life, (and more), to pay their last respects to him, and several stood up at the podium or from their seats in the pews during the memorial service yesterday.

I didn't catch all of their names, and some didn't mention their connection with Richard, but all were heartfelt when stating why they were there honoring Richard.  Those included:  Mike Towry - who also read a letter from Barry Alfonso, Dave Clark - who read a letter from Greg Bear, Paul Salmon, Martha Alf (Richard's mother), Earl Bookhammer, Anthony Keith, Ed Cormier, Clayton Moore, Rich, Gloria, Greg Koudoulian, Anthony Keith, Will Clausen and others. (Pictured below L-R are:  Mike Towry, Dave Clark, Paul Salmon, Martha Afl, & Ed Cormier.) 

This memorial service was one that really touched me... Although there was underlying sorrow that Richard had passed away much too soon, his life and how it touched those that attended overwhelmed the chapel.   The one song that was played and sung was beautifully performed...

A couple of hours after first starting, the memorial service was over... Yet several stayed to talk with others, before many went on to Earl & Vicky Bookhammer's residence for a reception.  Richard had elected to go with them to their home in Ramona because he knew the end was near.   Good people and their reception was well attended and so many stories about Richard and his life filled the rooms in the house during the two hours that the reception was held there.

My thanks to Earl & Vicky for their hospitality, and to those that shared their remembrances of Richard during the mid aftertoon into the evening yesterday.  Although I hadn't kept up with Richard's life until we reconnected at the 40th San Diego Comic Con International Reunion panels at the 2009 Comic-Con International, I still remember fondly selling him my comic book duplicates back in the early 1970s when he had his mail order business.

As seen by the turnout yesterday at the memorial service / reception, a LOT of people also have good memories of Richard Alf. He will be remembered for a long time to come!

For those of you not able to attend, or even if you did, but weren't able to take photos... I have a special photo album set up at my Facebook Fan Page for this memorial service / reception, which you can see by clicking the following link: Richard Alf Memorial Service January 12th 2012.  Please allow me some time to upload the photos there... As I have several that were taken at both the memorial service / reception that I would like to share there.

~Michael D Hamersky

BTW, You can 'follow' this blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app link!  We currently have over 2,671 '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!!!

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 ComicBooksCircus.com, including the book 'Gotham City 14 Miles' shown to the left. I'm 1 of 14 contributors to that book!

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written per the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safari, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers serve the page up slightly 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!

--------------- 

                     

In Addition, I started a YouTube Channel just before the 2011 Comic-Con International, where I am slowly uploading videos from conventions or other events that we attend that are also pop culture related.  You are invited to 'subscribe' to that channel also!  As found at 'HamerskyOnComics'!

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Michael D Hamersky On Comics Reminds You That... Stars Of The 1988 - 1992 TV Series 'The Adventures Of Superboy' Will Be At  The Los Angeles Comic Book And Science Fiction Convention Sunday, January 15th of 2012!

TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3581 -  I wanted to bring this upcoming one day 'Los Angeles Comic Book And Science Fiction Convention' to my blog readers attention today.

Although Tina and I won't be attending this one day show, this is a great start for the convention to begin its 35th Anniversary!  And congrats to those that are running this show!  If Tina and I were a little closer to it, we would attend more often, especially when it has a chock full of stars line up as it does this upcoming Sunday!

I just got back in last night from another ay trip to the LA area, checking in on my great uncle Howard who is in a SNIF after recovering from two surgeries.  That and the fact that I'm attending the funeral services this Thursday for one of the co-founders of the San Diego Comic Con, (Richard Alf), is filling my already busy schedule!

But I wanted to mention that for those of you already living in the Los Angeles Metro Area, that this Sunday's lineup at the LA show is one that seems to have something for everybody!

Sam J Rizzo brought this upcoming show to my attention last month, when he sent me an 'invite' to attend the show via the setting up of a Facebook event page, 'Los Angeles Comic Book and Sci Fi Show Featuring the Cast of Superboy'.   Which, BTW, if you are a Facebook user, be sure to check it out via the link!

John Haymes Newton, (1st season Clark Kent / Superboy), Tracy Roberts (Darla), James Calvert, (TJ White), and Ilya Salkind (series producer) are among those scheduled to be attending!

Plus... As seen by the flyer at the top right of this blog post, there are other TV & Film stars from shows that are probably ones you would recognize!

Including Rex Smith, who played Daredevil in the TV Movie 'Trial of the Incredible Hulk'.

Plus Ron Ely, who played Doc Savage: Man of Bronze, and Tarzan in the 1966 NBC-TV Series.

As well as Yancy Butler of Witchblade, and Robert Dix of Forbidden Planet!

For an extra 'spiff', there is a free movie t-shirt and poster from Underworld - Awakening, while supplies last... Check the website for details.

Again, this is definitely a good start for the 35th Anniversary Year of this convention.  Congrats to those involved in keeping this show continuing!

I hope that all of you that have interest in any of these TV shows or films are able to make it there on Sunday! 

Special thanks again to Sam J Rizzo for bringing this upcoming one day show to my attention!

You are invited to check out Sam's Facebook Group Page for his Superboy Homepage!

Plus, Sam has his Superboy Homepage.com web site that can be found here.

~Michael D Hamersky On Comics! 

BTW, You can 'follow' this blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app link!  We currently have over 2,669 '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!!!

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/  including the book 'Gotham City 14 Miles' shown to the left.  I'm one of 14 contributors to that book!

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written per the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safari, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers serve the page up slightly 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!

---------------            

      

In Addition, I started a YouTube Channel just before the 2011 Comic-Con International, where I am slowly uploading videos from conventions or other events that we attend that are also pop culture related.  You are invited to 'subscribe' to that channel also!  As found at 'HamerskyOnComics'!

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