Michael D Hamersky On Comics Presents My Take On...        the Gladys Knight Concert At Buffalo Bill's In Primm, Nevada - March 23rd of 2013

TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3818 -    Today's blog is just a quick mention of the great concert we saw in Primm, Nevada this past weekend!

Primm used to be called 'State Line' until 1996.  For a history of Primm, be sure to check out this Wikipedia entry.

Primm has three hotels / casinos:  Primm Valley Resort, Buffalo Bill's, and Whiskey Pete's.  All three are owned by Primm Valley Casino Resorts. Plus there is a large outlet mall, 'Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas', located adjacent to Primm Valley Resort.

We stayed a couple of nights at Buffalo Bill's in Primm, and saw the Gladys Knight concert on Saturday night, due to a free promo from my players card used last December and this past February!

Buffalo Bill's is also home of the Star of the Desert Arena, a 6500 seat arena designed for concerts.

Gladys Knight, (who has a Wikipedia entry also), played starting after 8:30 PM.  The show was supposed to start at 8PM... But there was a steady stream of people coming into the arena as late at 8:15 PM.  The band didn't get set up until 8:25 PM....

Here are my thoughts on her concert...

Although the concert started late... Gladys endeared herself to audience right away!  She talked between songs, and was very into the 6500 attending the show.

Her voice was beautiful and the backup singers were pretty darn good also!  The musicians were playing modern style of music, although Glady's music goes back to 1966!

I enjoyed the songs I knew her for, and was entertained by her newer songs that I hadn't heard before.

One thing was missing though... No Pips!  

Well, no Pips until three quarters of the way through the show!  Then we were introduced to the #1 Pip himself, her brother!  

You see, the Pips retired in 1988.... Yeah that long ago!   But darn!  Her brother did a fantastic part of the show, and was really good!   His name is Merald "Bubba" Knight.   He really added a lot to the show in my estimation.  And Tina really enjoyed seeing him also! 

Oh, the original Pips were comprised of her brother Merald "Bubba" Knight and her cousins Edward Patten and William Guest.  Bubba was the only one there on Saturday night.

All in all, we had a pretty good time at this show, and it was worth the drive!

Here's the link to my photo album of pics we took on our way to Primm, during our stay, and the road back to Carlsbad.  We left from Carlsbad, going up the I-15 all the way.  With stops in Barstow and Baker.   We stayed at Primm the whole trip once we arrived there.

Oh, and our stay at Buffalo Bill's was pretty darn good!  Besides a little gambling, we took in the Outlet Mall nearby, and the attractions at all three casinos / hotels.

The Facebook Fan Page for Primm Valley Casino Resorts is this link.

The reason I'm mentioning this event we took in this past Saturday night, is because there are actually music related comic books!  Seriously!  Here is the link to just a few of the comic books that I have listed for sale at this time.

Again, my thanks to Primm Valley Casino Resorts for the promotional trip and concert!  And to Gladys Knight for a really fine concert!  

~ 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 3,818 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 Presents My Take On...    Boston Metaphysical Society Chapter One

TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3817 -    Today's review blog is on the trade paperback titled: 'Boston Metaphysical Society - Chapter One' published by Madeline Holly-Rosing, (pictured at the top left of this blog post).

So what's the book about?

Here's the promotional info:

The year is 1895...An evil from a parallel dimension escaped and now roams the city of Boston.

Our world has developed along the lines of Steampunk technology, but with a modern twist.

Here exists steam driven rudimentary computers and electronics. And dirigibles rule the sky. But with it comes social and political upheaval as not everyone is comfortable with change. In fact, many people fear it. That fear and the violence that followed caused a psychic rift to puncture the veil of space and time allowing the entity known as "The Shifter" to escape.

And the only people who stand a chance in hell of destroying it are: Samuel Hunter, ex-Pinkerton Detective; Caitlin O'Sullivan, Medium and Spirit Photographer and Granville Woods, Scientist Extraordinaire.

They are the Boston Metaphysical Society.

Wish them luck. They're going to need it.. 

So what's my thoughts on this book?

First of all, I've got to say that this is the first print effort from the webcomic that Boston Metaphysical Society Chapter One is based on.

That being said...  The actual printing of the pages is very much like a traditional comic book.  Meaning that it is the standard vertical sized comic book... Not like several webcomics that are two panels in height size and are printed horizontally.  So that is a plus for this published effort.

The front cover is well aimed, (pun intended), showing that it appears to be some kind of 'steampunk' effort. 

The inside front cover is a list of the credits:

Madeline Holly-Rosing - creator and writer

Emily Hu - artist

Gloria Caeli and Fahriza Kamaputra - colorists

Troy Peteri - letterer

Then there are 22 pages, fully colored, and considered to be Chapter One.  I'm aware there is a Chapter Two, but not for sure how many total chapters this storyline is meant to be. 

There isn't any 'splash page' to start off this hard copy, so I'm missing that as an introduction to the story.

However, the story is laid out nicely, and the art is also fine.  I'm appreciative of the coloring, as a lot of webcomics are in black and white only.

I do want to point out that there is a secret organization called B.E.T.H. that is used in the storyline.  The members of B.E.T.H. are Alexander Graham-Bell, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and Harry Houdini!  So this type of story definitely appeals to me!

Oh, as for more info on the story... Boston Metaphysical Society is actually a team lead by detective Samuel Hunter, a medium named Andrew O’Sullivan, and a scientist named Granville Woods. Plus, when their most recent case ends with the death of O’Sullivan, that is when his daughter shows up to take his place.  Both as a medium and spirit photographer, so she does have assets to bring to the team.

I also want to mention that the lettering is placed in light green colored balloons.  Not for sure of the reasoning behind that, but it is a little hard to read in some panels.

Following the story, there are 20 pages of behind the scenes of Chapter One.  Including Early Sketches for the Cover, Notes to Emily from Madeline about the characters used in the story,  based on real people, character sketches, etc.

Not a bad effort on publishing a webcomic to print in my opinion!  I'm looking forward to seeing the continuation of this storyline either online in the web comic or in a printed version of Chapter Two!

Please note that this printed work is $10 in price. However, this edition is soft-bound with a hard spine and with a quality laminated cover. It contains the full first chapter of the webcomic, early sketches of scenes and characters, script pages and an excerpt of the short story 'THE DEVIL WITHIN'. It also comes signed by the writer/creator, Madeleine Holly-Rosing.  So this is just a caution to those of you on a limited budget for purchases.  Other than that, this is a finely published effort by the creator.  Plus the printed version actually makes a very good promotional plug for the online comic, which is still ongoing at this moment!

Thus, I'm giving this book a Very Fine Plus (VF+) 8.5 out of a possible 10.0 comic book grading scale.

If your LCBS doesn't have it in stock, which it probably doesn't... Then you can order it here online:  Shopping Page at Boston Metaphysical Society.  

Oh, in addition, don't forget to check out the Facebook Fan Page for this webcomic!

My thanks to Madeline for sending me a copy of this book after meeting her at the 2012 Long Beach Comic Con!  Oh, and for those of you attending the upcoming WonderCon at the end of March, she will have a table there also... So check this project / book out in person if you are attending WonderCon!

~ 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 3,817 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 Presents His Picks On Panels To Attend At The...    2013 WonderCon! Being Held At The Anaheim Convention Center March 29th - 31st

TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3816 -    I have been asked what there is to see at the upcoming 2013 WonderCon being held at the Anaheim Convention Center March 29th through the 31st.

Well, first of all, here is the link to the panels that are being presented.

Next, here are my choices of what panels I am planning to attend during those three days, if I don't sidetracked on the convention floor!

Friday:

12:30 PM - The Latino Comics Roundtable

  1:00 PM - Warner Archives Collection (Ron Ely featured)

  1:30 PM - Insights Into Indie Publishing

  2:00 PM - Quick Draw!

  5:30 PM - Indie Comics marketing and PR 101

Saturday:

11:30 AM - Archaia Presents: Writing for Comics

11:30 AM - That '70s Panel

12:30 PM - Falling Skies

  1:15 PM - Revolution Special Video Presentation and Q&A

  1:30 PM - Oddball Comics Live:  Sex, Drugs, and Rock n' Roll

  2:00 PM - Spotlight on Steranko

Sunday:

11:30 AM - Warner Archives Collections Presents the Saturday Morning Extravaganza

  1:00 PM - Arrow Special Video Presentation and Q&A

  1:30 PM - CBLDF: The Story of Comics Censorship

  3:30 PM - The Business and Hobby of Collecting Comics (Which I am a panelist on!)!

The above are the panels I have circled on my program sheet to see. And yes, I do know that some of them overlap into another one.  So I may be attending half of one panel and half of the other panel.

Oh, and for those of you that didn't see my earlier blog #3814...  Here's the lowdown on the last panel mentioned above:

Panel:  The Business and Hobby of Collecting Comics

From personal collections, working with museums and art galleries and even a little bit of hoarding, George Clayton Johnson, Barry Short, John Ellis, Eric Hoffman, Michael Hamersky, Alan Williams, and Dave Arshawsky are all fans and collectors of most things related to science fiction and comics. Collecting is a major industry these days; just watch the cable shows dedicated to it! Join moderator Greg Koudoulian to discuss how we can make sure that our histories and legacies are preserved for future generations, in both museums and art galleries and your own home!

Sunday March 31, 2013 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Room 213

I have already set up an Event Page for this panel via my Facebook Fan Page, at... Wondercon: The Business and Hobby of Collecting Comics.   I'll be updating that page between now and the event date, and will post photos / videos from the panel there afterwards.

Feel free to stop me and say hi if you see me at any of the above panels!  And yes, there are a few other panels that are on my 'maybe see' list, which I haven't posted above.

BTW, the photo at the top left of this blog is a photo of my wife, Tina, and myself at the 2012 WonderCon.  Tina's panel schedule is different than mine most of the time.  But you can say hi to her also! 

~ 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 3,814 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 Presents Vinnie's Take On...    Scratch 9   The Limited Series - Issues #1-4

TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3815 -    I am guest-blogging a review of "Scratch9," a comic created and written by Rob M. Worley and illustrated by Jason T. Kruse. It is a four part limited series about a cat named Scratch, and the mystical spirits of his other lives that he can summon.

Scratch is originally seen escaping from his owner, Penelope, when he is picked up by a man who is working for another man who needs a cat for developing his scientific studies of elongating humans lifetimes, by taking advantage of a cat's 9 lives.

The art is very well done, and promotes the "friendly" nature of this story for younger readers. It's very cartoony, considering the story is supposed to be goofy. Sound effects like "crash" or "boom" are displayed in a bold font for dramaticization, and it ties up the artwork nicely.

The story was well written, having an exciting plot and interesting character design. However, I think some of the characters could have been developed more through the story. The 9 lives of Scratch had a "screen time" of only a couple panels each, which didn't really allow for their history to be discovered. The storyline, I felt, was a little to quick. Some events were rushed, and I think the author could have expanded on them, including more details, or have done some other things to prolong the story.  However, it did take four issues to complete this storyline.

In conclusion, I found the "Scratch9" limited series to be a fun read. It's a great comic to pick up for a child, or for yourself, if you wanted to read a funny, light story. The story was great, but it could have been "expanded" a little. The artwork was beautiful, and was a great pair for the light-hearted story.

I give it a Very Fine / Near Mint (VF/NM), a 9.0 out of 10.0 grade scale. I'd recommend purchasing it if you get the opportunity. If you can't find it at your local comic book shop (LCBS), you can visit the creator's website for more information at: Scratch9.com.

There is also a Facebook Fan Page for Scratch9.  

~ Vinnie

NOTE FROM Michael D Hamersky On Comics:  My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,815 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 Presents An Invite For You To Attend A Panel On...    The Business and Hobby of Collecting Comics! At The 2013 WonderCon Anaheim! Sunday, March 31st 3:30 - 4:30 PM Room 213

TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3814 -    I have been hinting at this at my Facebook Fan Page, as well as in this Blog the last several days...

So here's the news, as it was just published last night on the WonderCon web site.

I'll be on a panel at the WonderCon on Sunday, March 31st, from 3:30 to 4:30 PM in Room 213, along with seven other guys, including Moderator Gregg Koudoulian, who invited me to sit in on this panel!

That's Gregg Koudoulian at the right of the photo at the top left of this blog, along with George Clayton Johnson, (wearing the hat), from an earlier panel at the Comic-Con International: San Diego in 2012!

Here's the lowdown on the panel:

The Business and Hobby of Collecting Comics

From personal collections, working with museums and art galleries and even a little bit of hoarding, George Clayton Johnson, Barry Short, John Ellis, Eric Hoffman, Michael Hamersky, Alan Williams, and Dave Arshawsky are all fans and collectors of most things related to science fiction and comics. Collecting is a major industry these days; just watch the cable shows dedicated to it! Join moderator Greg Koudoulian to discuss how we can make sure that our histories and legacies are preserved for future generations, in both museums and art galleries and your own home!

Sunday March 31, 2013 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Room 213

I'm also setting up an Event Page for this panel via my Facebook Fan Page, at... Wondercon: The Business and Hobby of Collecting Comics.   I'll be updating that page between now and the event date, and will post photos / videos from the panel there also.

Feel free to send this blog / the event page to your friends as well...

And Thanks for doing so!  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 3,814 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'!

---