Michael D Hamersky On Comics Presents ...   Comic-Con Goddess No More   By Tina LoSasso!   TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3923 -       San Diego Comic-Con (Friday, July 19, 5:30 AM) -- Husband rolls car to a stop in front of the Hilton. I hop out and join the throng of humanity flowing around the sleepy Hall H line. We run/walk way, way back, past the Symphony (I marvel that San Diego has a Summer Pops series I've never heard about), behind the boats, to settle on the rocks in front of the fishing pier. We compare our spot to last year, to people we know who were here yesterday, to folks we've heard about. Mostly, we bemoan our fate: How will we ever get in? Flash Forward 8 hours: 1:35 pm. We are poised at the top of the next chute of people ready to be loaded into Hall H. We're 20 people from the Promised Land when we get the word: The Fire Marshall has closed The Walking Dead panel. No one else will be admitted. We are screwed. So close, yet so far. We watched all morning as those lucky few before us were herded by the dozen across the walkway into the door. We pushed our noses up against the rope line and hoped and prayed as the last flight to Elysium departed. And so it was that the one thing, the one panel, program, experience I prized most at this year's Comic-Con slipped away. Spirits low, I bade farewell to my line buddies, grabbed my pack and walked away. After 13 years, my Comic-Con line mojo was gone. Maybe it was the antibiotic I'm taking that killed it. It's the same stuff they give you if you're exposed to anthrax. (Did I mention I was battling pneumonia? The Friday before, I went to the doctor. I explained that I had to get better for Comic-Con. He scrunched up his face at me. "Great, he's going to tell me I can't go," I thought. This being San Diego mere days before Comic-Con, he said he wished he could get tickets!) My Comic-Con line mojo is pretty much my only super-power (unless you consider baking real NY-style cheesecake a super-power). Until this Con, I could pick anything on the schedule and make it in. No more. Irony of ironies, I couldn't even get into the Playback room that evening to see the panel I'd missed. So, for me, the question becomes, what the heck do you have to do these days to get into Hall H? Or, for that matter, Ballroom 20, 6BCF, or any of the other large rooms at Comic-Con? And, is it worth it? This is a question I'll be answering at some point in the next few weeks when pre-registration opens for 2014. On the positive side, I managed to get into everything else that I wanted to see. And, even though I waited in vain, I had a wonderful time with my line buddies outside Hall H. We had a great time talking about the shows we love, what we read, and what we enjoy at Comic-Con. In fact, for me, and for many, this is the best part of Comic-Con -- hanging with people who love what you love. And, not just the stuff you love, it's cool to see people light up when they talk about what they read, watch and play. Or, to have an intelligent discussion with someone about the difference between reading a comic book series and a graphic novel. Or, to watch people talking about who their favorite Doctor is and why. This is why they started Comic-Con, so people would have a place to talk and share about the things that earn them a Geek label in the real-world. The challenge with Comic-Con today is that the Geeks have inherited the earth. There are just too many people at this thing and crowds do something to people. Granted, this isn't a Metallica concert (usually) so the crowd is pretty tame but pumped to get where they want to be. The traffic in parts of the Exhibit hall (even on Preview night) was atrocious. After the Exhibit hall closes, the sidewalk in front of the Convention Center is covered in wall to wall people all moving in the opposite direction. It makes you wonder, is this what people see right before they're trampled to death - or World War Z breaks out? The negatives for SDCC this year: 1.) The wait to get into the big rooms has gotten out of control (but enough on that, I'm still trying to get over it). 2.) The crowds - not just on the Exhibit floor or trying to walk outside the Convention Center, the crowds are crazy getting back and forth from the Marriot or simply trying to cross the street. 3.) Security staff (it's Comic-Con, so I have to bitch about security!) taking up residence at the front of the big room stages so that the folks who waited for hours to get those seats can't get a decent picture or see much of the panel because their big heads are in the way. 4.) Photographers doing basically the same thing as #3. 5.) More food options - but they are so expensive and the lines are so long, that it's not worth it. 6.) With so much going on during Comic-Con, why are more and more studios creating venues outside Comic-Con - yet not opening them on Wednesday when no one has anything to do until about 5:50? (Except for those folks lining up for special edition merch.) Speaking of which... 7.) Lines on the Exhibit floor have gotten out of hand. On Preview Night we hit the worse crush of people (due to a toy offering) since Warner Bros stopped giving the bags out at their booth. Here's what was great: 1.) Meeting so many people who love stuff I love. 2.) Great line buddies every day. (a big improvement over recent years!) 3.) Amazing cosplayers - I even saw a hot-looking Sub-Mariner. (I've seen Sub-Mariners before, but they've all been, frankly, gross.) 4.) X-Files 20th Anniversary Tribute Panel - just hearing opening notes of the theme song and writers talking about episodes like the later-banned "Home". Great, now you can't sleep tonight too! 5.) The "Rope a Dope" short we saw at Ric Meyers Superhero Kung Fu Extravaganza - haven't laughed this hard since, ok I watched Sharknado with my stepson... 6.) The Haven panel gave hugs to pretty much everyone who asked a question. Adam Copeland (Edge from WWE) had men bear hugging him. 7.) Ronnie who ran the Hall H line the day I didn't get in (Friday). Despite the bad experience, Ronnie was a marvel. The President should tap him for the next round of Mid-East Peace Talks. 8.) Seeing people buying comics in the Exhibit Hall on Sunday. 9.) My "I feel like a little kid again" moment: seeing Chuck McCann at Cartoon Voices on Saturday. In addition to being a noted voice actor, Chuck was a staple of children's programming in the NYC area where I grew up. What a joy to see him. Do I want to go next year? Will we even get tickets? If we get tickets, will I be able to get into anything I want to see? I don't know. Maybe I can pay some kid to camp out for me. (That's a new business concept for enterprising young people in San Diego.) Comic-Con has become a crap shoot; more so when you've lost your line mojo. It seems the longer you've been going to Comic-Con, the less you want to go again. And, as I learned at last year's Talk Back, that's just fine with SDCC President John Rogers who prefers that new people come to the event even if it's at the expense of long-time members. What do you think? Was it worth it? Did you have fun? Or are you still about something or someone at the Con? Don't give a crap about my experience because you've never gotten tickets?  Sound off. ~Tina LoSasso.  Yes... The Hall H Line Began There...   But the Hall H Line Seemed to Continue Forever... Especially On Friday Morning!   There Were Aliens...   ...And Cosplayers!   Wolverine Was There...   And So Was Chuck McCann!   Plus a Panel on Person of Interest...   ...And One on Under the Dome!

NOTE FROM Michael D Hamersky On Comics:  My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,923 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!

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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 His Take On...   The August 2nd TGIF Jazz In The Parks Concert   With the Bayou Brothers Band!   TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3922 -     Last night, Tina & I joined a couple of our neighbors and took in the August 2nd TGIF Jazz In The Parks Concert in Carlsbad, California.   Featured was the Bayou Brothers Band, as mentioned in my blog #3893, where I listed out the schedule of who was playing at the nine concerts this 2013 Season.   We had NOT seen this band before, as this was the 1st time they had played in this concert series.  The series is now in its 28th Season!    The wine and food we all brought to this outdoor concert was very good, and Viikki and Tina outdid themselves this week!   The music was a Zydeco style... Which I thought was pretty good. So did Joe, Vikki & Tina!   I'll be uploading a couple of videos to my YouTube Channel in the future, as seen at this link.   As for why I blog about these concerts... Well... I also sell comic books with music as the theme, as seen at this aisle in my online comic book shop, ComicBooksCircus.com.   We will probably be attending next week's concert, which will be featuring The Sierra Leone Refugee All-Stars.  See you there?!   Note:  Additional photos from this concert can be found at this Special Photo Album at my Facebook Fan Page.    ~Michael   The Bayou Brothers Band at the TGIF Jazz In The Parks Concert, Carlsbad, California! Tina and Vikki Outdid Themselves With The Food!     The Band Leader With His Accordion!  Strange Instrument Played At the Concert... She's Wearing It!

NOTE FROM Michael D Hamersky On Comics:  My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,922 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 Mentions That...   TwoMorrows Publishing Turns 20!   As Seen At The San Diego Comic Con!   TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3921 -     This week I've been blogging about publications from TwoMorrows Publishing. As seen in blogs #3917, 3918, 3919, and 3920.   What I didn't cover as much was the fact that TwoMorrows Publishing turns 20 years old this year!   I had the opportunity to attend the special 20th Anniversary panel at the San Diego Comic Con International this past month in San Diego.    The panel was as follows:   TwoMorrows Turns 20 Since 1994, TwoMorrows Publishing has been producing comics' best and most insightful historical books and magazines. Publisher John Morrow (editor, the Jack Kirby Collector), Jon B. Cooke (editor, Comic Book Creator magazine), Keith Dallas (editor, American Comic Book Chronicles), and P.C. Hamerlinck and Bill Schelly (historians and associate editors of Alter Ego) a revealing look at the ins and outs of their ongoing efforts to bring a new day to comics fans. Thursday July 18, 2013 11:00am - 12:00pm Room 23ABC   As stated above, I attended that special panel, and took a few photos and videos.   I'm sharing a few of the pics here.  The rest can be seen at this special photo album on my Facebook Fan Page.   I want to congratulate John, his wife, and his staff plus contributors for an awesome 20 years of printing publications that I, and many thousands of others enjoy!    ~Michael     TwoMorrows Publishing Turns Twenty!   The Panelists At The Special Panel During SDCC!     John Morrow (L) and Jon B Cooke (Middle) Discuss A Point Made on a Slide Presentation.  This Magazine, Jack Kirby Collector, was the Start of It All back in 1994! Next Issue is #62!

NOTE FROM Michael D Hamersky On Comics:  My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,921 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 Take On...   Back Issue #63 The British Invasion Issue! From TwoMorrows Publishing

TODAY'S FEATURE IS (GUEST) BLOG #3920 -     In yesterday's blog post I mentioned that this week is starting to look like it is 'TwoMorrows Publishing Week' here at ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com!

That's because Monday's post was blog #3917 titled: American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1960s, and on Tuesday the blog #3918 was titled: Jack Kirby Collector #61!

Then Wednesday's blog #3919 was on another publication that was picked up at the TwoMorrows Publishing Booth at the recent 2013 San Diego Comic-Con International. That blog #3919 was on Alter Ego #120.

So, in keeping with what I've blogged about this week so far... I've read one of the several back issues of the magazine titled 'Back Issue!'!   Issue #63 of the magazine because the cover caught my eyes in the stack of Back Issues that I purchased from John Morrow's booth at the SDCC!

So what does this magazine have to read? Besides an outstanding front cover?!  Well...Here's the promo from the publisher:

April 2013 - 84 FULL-COLOR pages
BACK ISSUE #63 (84 FULL-COLOR pages, $8.95) watches the USA’s and UK’s comics worlds cross over in our “British Invasion” issue! Featuring a history of Marvel UK, the Beatles in comics, DC’s British talent pool of the 1980s, V for Vendetta, Excalibur, Marshal Law, Doctor Who, and a “Pro2Pro” interview with PETER MILLIGAN and BRENDAN McCARTHY! Showcasing the talents of KAREN BERGER, BRIAN BOLLAND, ALAN DAVIS, DAVE GIBBONS, STAN LEE, DAVID LLOYD, ALAN MOORE, DEZ SKINN, and others—and loads of art originally produced for the UK market. With a Mighty Marvel in London cover by RON WILSON and DAVE HUNT, showcasing art from Marvel UK’s rare 1970s “Quadra-Poster” as a deluxe 25-inch long fold-out triptych cover! Edited by MICHAEL EURY.
.

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

First... Of course I noticed the cover!  It is a 3 page fold out cover, taking the front & back covers & another flip out page.  Beautiful cover with the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, Doctor Doom, the Sub-Mariner, the Green Goblin, and the Incredible Hulk in London!  Great cover for the 'British Invasion' theme issue by Ron Wilson and Dave Hunt!

Turning the page I found the inside front cover to be an in-house ad for more TwoMorrows publications.

The next page was the Table of Contents page.  Oh, and I want to mention the Editor-In-Chief of this publication, Michael Eury.  I also want to mention that the second reason I read this issue first out of all the other Back Issue mags I picked up is because I have on occasion over the years picked up British comics / magazines to read and or place into my collection.  One of those titles was 'The Complete Fantastic Four' series, which I have for sale right now in my online comic book shop!

I've always wondered about the British publishing history of Marvel Comics.  From the Table of Contents it looked like many of my questions were going to be answered!

Here are the articles in this issue that I especially enjoyed!  There are also other articles in this 80 page publication...

Pages 2 - 20 - Flashback: The Mighty World of Marvel UK -  This article had a lot history of Marvel UK.  I definitely enjoyed reading this!

Pages 21 - 27 - Flashback: The Launch of the 'Titanic' Format - Nice article on Marvel UK's landscape format printed comics.  I have not had the pleasure of reading one of these... But the history was fascinating!

Pages 28 - 32 - Interview: 'Jigsaw' Jim Starlin -  I have enjoyed seeing Jim's art in American comics, and was intrigued to read his early history in UK publications.  If you are a Jim Starlin fan... You will love reading this article!

Pages 33 - 36 - Backstage Pass:  Comic Book Beatles.  I have blogged about the Beatles being pictured on American Comic Book Covers in the past.  This fine article covers those and the British comics.  Definitely for fans of the British rock group!

Pages 37 - 40 - Beyond Capes: Doctor Who: The Invasion of Time.  More on the Britsh TV Show that crossed the pond and joined the Marvel Comics lineup.  I've read the Marvel Premiere issues of Doctor Who and sold them repeatedly during the past decads.  This short article was about those and the British publications.  Interesting reading for Doctor Who fans.

There were other articles, filling out the 80 pages, but the above listed articles were the ones that I enjoyed the most. 

As for my comic book grade for this issue... I'm giving it a Very Fine / Near Mint (VF/NM) 9.0 out of a possible 10.0 comic book grading scale.

You can try your local comic book shop to see if they have this issue in.  Or you can check out my own online comic book shop at ComicBooksCircus.com for this issue and many other previous issues of Back Issue! magazine!

~ 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 3,920 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 Take On...   Alter Ego #120 From TwoMorrows Publishing

TODAY'S FEATURE IS (GUEST) BLOG #3919 -     This week is starting to look like it is 'TwoMorrows Publishing Week' here at ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com!

That's because Monday was blog #3917 titled: American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1960s, and on Tuesday blog #3918 was titled: Jack Kirby Collector #61!

Today's blog #3919 is on another publication that was picked up at the TwoMorrows Publishing Booth at the recent 2013 San Diego Comic-Con International.

So, what does this magazine have to read?  Well...Here's the promo from the publisher:

September 2013 - 84 pages (now with FULL COLOR)

ALTER EGO #120 (84 pages with FULL COLOR, $8.95) is a salute to the first series of THE X-MEN (1963 to 1969)—behind JACK KIRBY's unused cover for issue #10! There's secrets behind the mag's first decade—rare late-'60s BRAZILIAN X-Men stories—a long-lost '60s X-Men "character sheet" by STAN LEE himself—and ROY THOMAS on the 1970s revival that turned into a mutant explosion! With art and artifacts by LEE, KIRBY, ROTH, ADAMS, O'NEIL, HECK, FRIEDRICH, DRAKE, and BUSCEMA—plus the story of MMMS fan club! Extra: An interview with Golden Age writer ED SILVERMAN—FCA (Fawcett Collectors of America)—MICHAEL T. GILBERT and Mr. Monster's Comic Crypt—BILL SCHELLY on comics fandom—and more! Edited by ROY THOMAS.

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

First, I noticed that the print format of this magazine has changed.  It is what would be called a 'square bound' if it was a comic book.  Interesting change... Oh, and it is all in COLOR now!  That is a BIG change!

The front cover was exciting to behold!  A Half-Century Salute to the X-MEN Featuring Their First Decade Definers... With a list of writers & artists in that decade.

I turned the page.. The inside front cover was an in-house ad for previous issues of Alter Ego...

The Table of Contents Page showed that there were a LOT of contributors to this issue!

Pages 2 &3 were from the Editor of this magazine, Roy Thomas.  Good reading as to what the issue would be about, and Roy's own thoughts on the X-Men.

Next were the articles... I'll blog about the features that appealed to me...

Pages 4 - 19 were on 'The Extraordinary But Star-Crossed Origins of the X-Men' by Will Murray.  Having lived through this time period, I knew most of what was presented, but the additional info made for good reading also, and I am not an X-Men fan...

Pages 21 - 32 were on 'The Secret History of the Mutants South of the Equator'.  In other words, 'Made In Brazil: The X-Men!".   Which I found to be of interest, although the pages shown were in the language of Brazil.  Roberto Guedes did a good job in presenting this feature.

Pages 33 - 38 were on 'The M.M.M.S. Wants You!', a feature I have personally blogged about a few times in this Blog.  Richard Kelsey's take on the Marvel Fan Club was an interesting presentation. The color scans / photos shown greatly added to the text of this feature.

Pages 40 - 51 were on 'I Kept All the Comic Book Stuff In a Separate File', which was an interview with the very versatile Ed Silverman.   I wasn't overly familiar with Ed's work, but recognized some of the works presented in this feature. 

Pages 54 - 59 showed 'The Men Who Would Be Kurtzman Part 2'.  Very interesting feature on those who came after Harvey Kurtzman and did homages to his work.  I'll have to find Part 1 of this feature!

Pages 60 - 65 was a 'Spotlight on Bill Schelly - Part II', which was on Alter Ego's Associate Editor's Own Panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2011.  Which I attended, and found the transcript to be accurate.  The photos included in this feature were not shared at the Comic-Con.

Pages 66 - 69 were on comic book creators that had passed recently:  Roy Ald, John Severin, Norman Fruman, and Sid Couchey.  I didn't know all of these men... Yet found those one page tributes to be good reading.

Pages 73 - 80 were part of the FCA #179 publication that is included in each Alter Ego. For those interested in the Fawcett Publications history, this would be good reading.

Whew!  80 pages!  That is quite a bit of reading to go through!  But in my mind, it is worth the time invested in reading this issue.  I'll have to check the previous issues that I missed since last year's 2012 San Diego Comic Con next!

As for my comic book grade for this issue... I'm giving it a Near Mint Minus (NM-) 9.2 out of a possible 10.0 comic book grading scale.

You can try your local comic book shop to see if they have this issue in... It ships August 14th.  Or you can check out my own online comic book shop at ComicBooksCircus.com for this issue and many other previous issues of Alter Ego!

~ 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 3,919 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!

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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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