Michael D Hamersky On Comics Mentions That...    The San Diego Comic Fest   Is NOW Accepting Membership Registrations For 2013!

TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3808 -    Today's blog is on the news that the San Diego Comic Fest is now open online to accept membership applications for the 2013 convention!

Thanks to Comic Fest Organizer, Mike Towry, for messaging me that news late last night!

Here's the news... And the link:

"Membership registration for this year’s San Diego Comic Fest is now online!

The first San Diego Comic Fest was a great success and we plan on making this year’s Fest an even greater experience for all our attendees, professional guests, and dealers. We invite you to come and enjoy the friendly comic book convention with a casual atmosphere and an intimate scale. The emphasis will again be on comics, science fiction, and movies, served up with a sense of community that brings professional writers and artists together with fans in an environment of creative exchange and good, good times."

Plus on the registration page:

"On-Site Registration: If the Fest has not sold out in advance, memberships will be available at the door. However, we encourage you to get your memberships in advance to avoid the possibility that they may sell out before the Fest begins.

1-Day Memberships: Our current plan is to make single-day memberships available at the door but, of course, this will be subject to availability. (See On-Site Registration above.)"

I'm bringing this news to you now, as I don't want you to miss out on the fun for 2013!

Here's the link to the membership registration page:   Link!

For the record... I do want to mention that I am involved with this Comic Fest, as I'm the 'Social Media Promoter' for the SDCF.

For those of you that missed last year's first ever convention... Here's my review blog on the 2012 convention, that took place in October of 2012.

Be sure to book your registration early, as there is a capped limit on the number of participants to this year's convention.

See you there! 

~ Michael

NOTE FROM Michael D Hamersky On Comics:  My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,808 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!   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!     

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 Reviews...    Men Into Space   The Book On The TV Series (1959-60) By John C. Fredriksen

TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3807 -    Today's blog is on the new book titled: 'Men Into Space', by John C. Fredriksen, from Bear Manor Media.

This book was sent to me by the author, as I have previously review blogged another of his books, 'Honey West', in a blog that I posted back on August 6th of 2009.

So what's this new book about?

Here's the promotional info:

MORE SCIENCE THAN FICTION Before Lost In Space, before Star Trek, and before Space 1999, American audiences were regaled by the weekly thrills, perils, and otherworldly exploits of Men Into Space, the first-ever "hard science" sci-fi program. Popular actor William Lundigan appeared as the redoubtable Colonel Edward McCauley, who grappled with many of the same problems that real astronauts encountered in their quest to reach the Moon a decade later. It was a somber departure from previous televised science fiction fare, aimed at juveniles, and served up the drama and excitement of space flight in realistic fashion. In 38 black-and-white episodes, McCauley endures lunar crashes, renegade satellites, runaway space stations, meteor strikes, and colliding tankers, in addition to memorable encounters with feuding scientists, balky subordinates, hostile cosmonauts, and space babes. All told, Men Into Space is a classic slice of 1950s Americana and exuberantly reflects the national obsession with astronautics of its day. It is a must for devotees of the heroic age of spaceflight and early science fiction television. This ground-breaking booklet examines the historical context of the series and its rise and fall, along with biographies of all major personalities involved with its production. Includes two appendices and footnotes; profusely illustrated.

Whew!   That seems a lot to cover, doesn't it?

Well, it does! 

First of all, I want to bring this point up...

I didn't watch this show when it first aired on CBS on Wednesday nights in 1959-60. My family only had one TV set, (a black & white), when my dad was stationed in Long Beach, California.  

We actually watched 'Wagon Train' on NBC from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM, and then switched to ABC at 8:30 PM to watch the 'Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet'!   So, no, I don't have any real memories of this one season TV series like the author has!

And, even though there was a comic book, Dell Four Color #1083, printed in March/May of 1960, (shown at the top left of this blog), I've never owned the comic book to read it!  So, I definitely don't have any nostalgic fondness for the TV series...

But, after reading the first few chapters in this new book... I had to stop to find if there was any uploads on the internet on this TV Series, as I wasn't going to stop and try to purchase a DVD set.   I found that there is a fellow that has uploaded all 38 episodes of the series at his YouTube Channel.  So I would suggest checking those uploads out first.

Just a quick note... I found it interesting that McCauley's wife was played in the pilot episode by none other than Angie Dickinson!  By the time the network picked up the series, she had committed to being in John Wayne's Rio Bravo film, and thus couldn't play the wife role in the rest of the series. 

Like I was saying though, this book is based on the TV Series, that you can read about at this link on Wikipedia.  I found that John first wrote a 'Preface', then an intro titled 'Space Was New / The Future Was Now', and then individual chapters on the 'Cast and Crew'.  The cast and crew chapters totalled seven in number.   Then the section on 'Episodes' started on page 39 and ended on page 292.  Following that there were two Appendices:  Interview with Anastacia Lundigan, the daughter of William, and 'Men Into Space Merchandise.  With an 'About the Author' section, Endnotes, and Name Index.

This is a really well researched book in my opion. Why?

The first section, preface and introduction, showed that John really knew the topic that the TV show covered.  And that he had the opportunity to watch the show when it first aired.  The show stood the test of time for him, enough for him to write about it.

The second section, on the cast and crew, was in depth on several main characters & crew, plus the topic of the Convair Atlas rocket!

The third section had the episodes written out... In such detail that I thought that several were 'short stories', they were so good!

I've got to say that John's writing was contagious enough for me to stop reading and check the show out online!  That's how good this book was!

My grade for this book is a Near Mint Minus (NM-) 9.2 out of a possible 10.0 comic book grading scale. Even if you haven't seen the TV series, this book would get you interested in checking it out, like me!

Here's the ordering info:

Paperback: 328 pages
Publisher: BearManor Media (December 26, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1593932316
ISBN-13: 978-1593932312
Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.2 inches

If your LCBS or bookstore doesn't have it in stock... Then you can order it here online: Men Into Space .

My thanks to John C Fredriksen for sending me this book for possible review! 

~ Michael

NOTE FROM Michael D Hamersky On Comics:  My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,807 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!   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!     

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'!

---

Michael D Hamersky On Comics Reviews...    IRON (or) The War After  A Graphic Novel By   S.M. Vidaurri / Archaia

TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3806 -    Today's blog is on the graphic novel titled: 'IRON (or The War After),' by S.M. Vidaurri.  From Archaia Entertainment.

So what's the book about?

Here's the promotional info:

It is the aftermath of a long war, in a world of constant winter. An intelligence spy from the Resistance - the rabbit, Hardin - steals secret information from a military base of the Regime. His actions set off a chain of events that reverberates through the ranks of both sides, touching everyone from Pavel the crow to Giles the goat, from the highest-ranking officials to the smallest orphaned child. When the snow finally settles, who will be the true patriot and who the true traitor?

So what's my thoughts on this book?

Well... Quite honestly, I was a little disappointed right off the bat, when the second sentence of the story started off with cursing... From an animal character.  That was on page 8 of the story.

I couldn't get over the animal figures talking the way they did in the following pages. 

No, it wasn't that the animal figures were funny animal characters, as the artwork definitely was not cartoonish in style.

I continued to read the story, hoping that it would get better, or that I would get accustomed to the animal characters talking or acting the way they did. 

It did get a little better, enough that I finished the story.

There was actually an Epilogue, and then the final page, stating 'The End'.

Then there was a guest artist gallery which featured the story's characters portrayed by others.

I liked David Petersen's pin-up page! (David is the author of Mouse Guard.)

Tim Durning's page was okay...

Christian 'Patch' Patchell's page was a little strange in presentation.

Eric Orchard's page was right on.

Eamon Dougherty's page had nine panels, with nine different characters / scenes.  The style was becoming of the story presented in the book, in my opinion.

Alex Eckman-Lawn's page was kind of spooky, but in a style that would work for the story.

I guess that the book had enough going for it to have Archaia publish it.  They printed it with a nice cloth cover, which induced me to open up the book and read it.

The storyline was good enough, the artwork was good enough, but together, the book just wasn't 'there' for me as a reader.  Possibly I'm not the target market for this book?

The artwork was fine, (watercolored panels), and actually could stand alone with different dialogue written...

I'm giving this book a Fine Plus (F+) 6.5 out of a possible 10.0 comic book grading scale.

Here is the ordering info for the book:

Reading level: Ages 12 and up
Hardcover: 152 pages
Publisher: Archaia Entertainment, LLC (January 1, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 193639328X
ISBN-13: 978-1936393282
Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 0.8 x 9 inches

If your LCBS doesn't have it in stock... Then you can order it here online: Iron: Or, the War After.  

~ Michael

NOTE FROM Michael D Hamersky On Comics:  My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,806 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!   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!     

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'!

---

Michael D Hamersky On Comics Reviews...    Cursed Pirate Girl The Graphic Novel By Jeremy A Bastian / Archaia

TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3805 -    Today's blog is on the graphic novel titled: 'Cursed Pirate Girl' by Jeremy A Bastian.  From Archaia Entertainment.

So what's the book about?

Here's the promotional info:

Adventures on and under the high seas lead a cursed pirate girl to encounter mythic creatures, gnarled and crusty pirates, and ghostly apparitions as she tries to find her lost father, one of the dreaded Pirate Captains of the mythical Omerta Seas. Cursed Pirate Girl is a whimsical, swashbuckling tale of wonderland journeys and unimaginable dangers, starting in Port Elisabeth, Jamaica in the year 1728, and quickly heading across - and beneath - the waves!

Okay... So what are my thoughts on this book?

Well, when it first came in, I had to show it to my wife, Tina, who is a book marketing person.  She was impressed with the physical looks of the book, with the embossed front cover, and the special pages cut along the sides of the pages. Plus the fact that the interior pages were in black and white.

For myself... I found that the black and white pages had fantastic artwork!  Very 'Old School' artwork!  Older than myself even... Looking more like the late 1800s early 1900s in style.  Which kept me intrigued into reading the full book!

The lettering of the word balloons is what kept me from fully enjoying this book though...

The lettering appeared to be hand lettered, and wasn't the same size or shape for the most part.  It was hard to read some of the word balloons because of that.

I found myself drifting into checking more of the full art panels when reading the word balloons became hard to read.  Again, it was because of the fantastic artwork that I continued to the end of the story...  Only to find that this was only the first volume of the book series!

Yes, there were some additional pages after the story for Volume One ended.  There was the Epilogue on page 115.  Then there was the Alternate Cover Gallery that started on page 121.  Plus 'The Royal Portraiturist' on page 129.  Plus a fold out poster that was melded into the inside back cover of the book!

This book was really well put together, in my opinion!  (And in my wife's opinion also!)

I would almost say that the book is almost fun, definitely quircky, and when readable... very engaging!

Because of the word balloon lettering 'problem', I've got to downgrade the total effort to a Very Fine Plus (VF+) 8.5 out of a possible 10.0 comic book grading scale.

Still, it is a good read...

Here is the info for you to find the book:

Reading level: Ages 8 and up
Hardcover: 152 pages
Publisher: Archaia Entertainment, LLC (January 1, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1936393603
ISBN-13: 978-1936393602
Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 0.9 x 10.2 inches  

For those of you that don't have a LCBS near you, here is a link that you can purchase the book online: Cursed Pirate Girl.

I do look forward to seeing a Volume Two of this series...

(Note:  There may be a second review blog of this book after Tina reads it.)   

~ Michael

NOTE FROM Michael D Hamersky On Comics:  My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,805 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!   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!     

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'!

---

Michael D Hamersky On Comics Reviews...    Rust: Volume 2 Secrets of the Cell By Royden Lepp / Archaia

TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3804 -    Today's blog is on the second volume of Rust by Royden Lepp.  I've already review blogged Volume 1, as seen here in blog #3482, from August 11th of 2011.

So what is Volume 2, 'Secrets of the Cell' about?

Here's what the publisher has for the promo:

Picking up where the previous volume, Rust: Visitor in the Field, left off, after a second robot attack on the Taylor farm, Roman, Oswald, and Jet begin to seek answers to the mysteries of the past. Oswald becomes more and more suspicious of Jet’s connection to the robots, while Jet himself tries to connect with the flesh and blood family that has harbored him. Roman looks for comfort in his friendship with girl-next-door Jesse, but what he doesn’t know is that a new evil may be looming on the horizon for his family. Will they be ready when it comes?

Okay... That pretty much is it!  Seriously... The above paragraph is basically what the book covers in this second volume!

But, and let me tell you... It is the art that really captivated me once again!  The sepia toned panels in this book take me away to the story as it is happening... The layout of the pages, the insertion of the panels, whether one large or several small panels kept me once again very involved with the storyline!

The writing is simplistic, yet 'deep'...

I was really caught up with the action in the book, and the 'motion' scenes really grabbed me into the panels.

All in all, another good volume in this series by Royden!  I am glad I met him at the 2011 San Diego Comic Con Internationa, (as seen to the left)l!

My grade for this book is a Near Mint (NM) 9.4 out of a possible 10.0 comic book grading scale!

Here is the info on the book for ordering:

Reading level: Ages 8 and up
Hardcover: 200 pages
Publisher: Archaia Entertainment, LLC (December 25, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1936393581
ISBN-13: 978-1936393589
Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 1 x 9 inches 

Here is where you can get yourself a copy online: Rust Volume 2: Secrets of the Cell, in case your local comic book shop doesn't have a copy.

I for one am looking forward to seeing Volume 3 when it comes out!  

~ Michael

NOTE FROM Michael D Hamersky On Comics:  My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,804 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!   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!     

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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