I had several hard choices to make this year on which panels  / programs to see at the 2009 Comic Con International: San Diego because several panels / programs overlapped each other schedule-wise...  

Including two panels I really wanted to see on Saturday.  It was going to be either the CHUCK panel or the Last LOST panel!  Well, my wife Tina really worked on me to attend the Last LOST panel, because... well, you know...it was THE Last LOST panel at Comic Con!  

And besides... hadn't we been there for the FIRST LOST Panel and each subsequent year's LOST panel?!  OK, OK... so we saw the main star of CHUCK at another panel the day before, and I somehow ended up in line with thousands of other LOST fans and those other crazies that were in line way too early Saturday morning for programs that didn't even start until later!  Actually much later, including those that were in line before and after us for the IRON MAN 2 Film panel that didn't even start until 4PM on Saturday!  Now THAT is fanatical folks!

Anyways, Tina's already blogged about the LOST  Trivia Game that was conducted by Jo Garfein a.k.a. JoOpinionated (one of the top LOST bloggers out there - click here for that post) that happened while we were in line. 

Now I want to blog about an artist who we met as he went through the line showing his characters prints that were for sale.  And man did those look good!  Tina and I weren't prepared to see such fine illustrations being hawked while standing in line out there that early in the morning!

And we weren't the only ones suprised!  Paul and his partner Jess were just standing there for quite a while as more and more LOST fans came up to find him as they heard about these great prints being sold by the illustrator himself!

By the time Tina and I made it to his impromptu sales area, he was already out of several character prints!  We however did snag on of Hurley, which is a fantastic likeness in Paul's unique style of illustration.  To see what I mean take another closer look at the top right photo of this blog, where Jorge (Hurley) Garcia is holding one of those prints himself!  Jorge had stopped in during the Con at Paul's booth where he signed the one he is holding!

Anyways, Tina and I like to share the finds that we come across, whether they are at conventions like this one or online.

So Since You probably didn't make it to the 2009 SDCCI, or Even if you did, probably weren't in the right place at the right time to pick up one of these... I wanted to plug Paul's web site here today!

You can see Paul's LOST TV Show characters prints, and a LOT more at his web site:

http://www.paullinsley.com/ 

No, we are Not his agents, LOL, so you'll have to go there and see what is available now, and what it costs to ship to your city or country!

BTW, unless we are on site all day and night during a three day or longer comic con... we normally blog daily on comic book creators, comic book reviews,  comic book conventions, and pop culture news and events!  

Plus for purchases of items that our blog posts are based on; please check out our listings of comics, graphic novels, Comic Con exclusives and more pop culture items for sale in our own online store! 

Thanks again to all of YOU reading our current and archived blog posts!

I was really looking forward to this year's San Diego Comic Con, or as they call it now:  Comic Con International: San Diego...  

Well whatever You want to call it by, it's still the SDCC to me and seem to be used that way in most blogs, wall posts and discussion threads that I see online!  

However, what I wanted to do with this post today is to let those of You that didn't attend this year's Con to hear about what was in the Souvenir Book for this year.  Oh, and it's NOT the special 40th Anniversary Book that I blogged about earlier before the con happened.  (Click here for that post.)

The above pictured publication is the regular sized Souvenir Book that is distributed each year at Registration, along with an events guide and possibly other goodies that are enclosed in your welcome bag.

What made this year's souvenir program book edition so special, is that it printed several pages in a special section about the earlier 39 con years. Year by year from the very first ones including Con #0!  So for those of You that have made it to the SDCC in earlier years, whether once or twice or multiple times, this would be a great memorial issue for you to have in your possession!

I myself have not attended every year, although I started with Con #1, and then started selling as a dealer at Con #3 at the El Cortez Hotel.  So the in depth account of each year's con was either a nostaligic look back for me, or looking at what I had missed those years I didn't attend...

The cover itself showed some familar faces to me.  First were the Comic-Con Toucan and Expo Boy, (created by Rick Geary), atop the El Cortez Hotel.  And then they were standing under the simple yet poignant Comic-Con 40 lettering.

Inside were the credits, and then the table of contents.

The 2009 Special Guests were introduced first, very artfully and tastefully displayed.

Then the Special Section starting on page 39.  Comic Con @40.  Worth the price of admission alone IMHO!

Following were the Special Anniversaries of several features, which is a standard feature in this souvenir book's history.  Since we as readers can't pick out in advance which features deserve to be featured in the souvenir book, it's always a wonder to me why certain features do get chosen, and sometimes a surprise that others don't.  But that is the choice of the publishing group of the book, and I for one am usually more than pleased with the overall book each year.

The first feature shown was the 50th Anniversary of Green Lantern, starting on page 124.  Good Choice there!  And a well written featurette along with several fan illustrations chosen to be run after the text article.

The second feature was the 50th Anniversary of Rocky and Bullwinkle, another good choice!  A well written and researched featurette.  Plus the fan illos afterwards were well drawn.

Third feature was on the 25th Anniversary of TMNTs, and Yeah that would be appropriate for this souvenir book!  I remember my kids in front of the TV set watching that series when it transformed from comics to cartoon show.  Heck, I even joined them to see what all the fuss was about!

The fourth feature chosen to be celebrated was the 25th Anniversary of Usagi Yojimbo. That is sure to make fans of that feature happy.

Then the listings of Awards that have been presented by the Comic-Con during its' many years.  I found this to be extremely interesting, as it covered the 2009 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees, the 2008 Will Eisner comic Industry Award Winners, Will Eisner Hall of Fame past inductees, The Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award winners, The Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award winners, Bill Finger Excellence In Comic Book Writing Award winners, the Russ Manning Most Promising Newcomer Award winners, and the Comic-Con Award winners, the Inkpot Award winners.... whew, that's a LOT of awards that have been presented at this Con!  Definitely worth reading if You haven't seen these award winners lists before!

Finally, there was the 'In Memoriam' feature... Which is always a rememberance past of those that have passed since the last Con souvenir book was published.  Sometimes I missed seeing the mentions of several persons that are comics or pop culture related passing during the previous year.  I am also sometimes saddened, and then again recharged into mentioning in my Blog about works by those that have passed on.  Too many were taken from us this past year, including Uncle Forry, Frank Springer, and more...     

For me, this 2009 Souvenir Program Book is one of the best in recent years.  A Souvenir Book to be proud of by all that were involved in producing it!  My Thanks to all that were part of that team!

For those of You that didn't attend the Con... If you are interested in obtaining a copy of this 2009 Souvenir Program Book, and can't obtain it elsewhere, you are welcome to try our online eBay Store at:

http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Make-It-So-Marketing__W0QQ_sidZ2986211?_nkw=2009+comic+con&submit=Search 

Currently it is only listed for USA buyers, but we will ship it internationally upon being asked.  Please contact us via email at that site for shipping costs to Your Country if you are outside the USA.

BTW, unless we are on site all day and night during a three day or longer comic con... we normally blog daily on comic book creators, comic book reviews,  comic book conventions, and pop culture news and events!  

Plus for purchases of items that our blog posts are based on; please check out our listings of comics, graphic novels, Comic Con exclusives and more pop culture items for sale in our own online eBay Featured Store! 

Thanks again to all of YOU reading our current and archived blog posts!

I met Jacque Nodell at her booth during the recent 2009 San Diego Comic Con International (SDCCI)...  

Where she shared with me the above pictured booklet that she used to teach her program 'Forgotten Romance - Artists of A Bygone Genre'.  She was presenting this program at the Comic Arts Conference (CAC), that was run in conjunction with the SDCCI.

First, if Jacque's last name sounds familar, well it should!  Jacque is the grandaughter of Martin (Marty) Nodell of Golden and Silver Age Comics fame!  Martin was an American cartoonist and commercial artist, best known as the creator of the Golden Age superhero Green Lantern!

However, it isn't superheroes that Jacque's program was about during the CAC.  Even though the artists that she names in her booklet also are known for their superheroes art, it is their work in the romance genre that is near and dear to Jacque.

And actually, to myself also!  I really enjoyed Don Heck's artwork in the romance field for DC and Atlas Comics.  Also Gene Colan's, John Romita Sr., Winslow Mortimer, and others that she names for those and other comic book companies.  Those guys really knew how to draw realistic good-looking women for comic books! 

Believe it or not, there are actually other comics genres than just superheroes, even though sometimes it is hard to tell that at your LCBS!

The reason I don't delve into Romance Comics genre much in this Blog, is that because for the most part, aside from an occasional TPB or other type of reprint, the Romance Genre has been 'dead' since the late 1970's...

Yes, I've seen some 'floppies', (single standard sized comics), on the stands, like the Marvel Redux series, but for the most part the mainstream publishers aren't publishing 'romance' comics.

Jacque picks out just a few of the artists of the 1960's - 70's for her booklet.  Some good photos of artwork from Heck, Colan, Mortimer, Alex Toth, and Jim Steranko are shown in the booklet. Yes, That Steranko!  His one and only romance story published in 'Our Love Story' #5 from June 1970 is a hard to find issue nowadays!

For You to get an idea why the "Forgotten Romance" is a genre you should at least read about, please check out Jacque's source booklet that she used at the program that most of you probably could not attend!    

If you are interested in obtaining a .pdf copy of this booklet You are in luck!  You can download it for FREE at:

http://justinbleep.com/dropbox/sequential_crush/FR_teaser_150.pdf

My thanks to Jacque Nodell for making this great source book available for reading!

For additional reading about this 'Forgotten Romance' art form, check out Jacque's blog at:

http://www.sequentialcrush.blogspot.com/

BTW, unless we are on site all day and night during a three day or longer comic con... we normally blog daily on comic book creators, comic book reviews,  comic book conventions, and pop culture news and events!  

Plus for purchases of items that our blog posts are based on;  please check out our listings of comics, graphic novels, Comic Con exclusives and more pop culture items for sale in our own online store! 

Thanks again to all of YOU reading our current and archived blog posts!

I was asked if I would stop at the Famous Monsters of Filmland (FMOF) booth at the recent 2009 San Diego Comic Con International...  

...By a good Facebook Friend, Debbie Poccia, to see if I could pick up one of only 200 prints of the new FMOF logo poster. 

Well, I made it there just in time, as I was able to pick up one of the remaining three of that limited edition for her!

At the same time I got involved in conversations with Robert Aragon - Editor In Chief / Art Director, Dominie Lee - Managing Editor, and then Philip Kim - Publisher.  Those three have a Lot going on now for the relatively 'new' venture.

When I say relatively new, it's because I thought that FMOF had ended with Uncle Forry's death earlier this year.  However, as FMOF says on their Facebook Fan Page, they are:  "Keeping the legacy and vision of Uncle Forry alive and well as we take FM and expand it beyond the page".

One of the items at the booth above was shown to be by Rob himself.  I took a photo of him holding it, so I could share it with my Blog readers, that are into FMOF or other works by Forrest Ackerman.

What Rob is holding is the:  "First in a series of classic horror icons by FM's own, Robert Aragon, this 18 x 24 BELA LUGOSI as DRACULA fine art print is limited to 500 pieces printed on 100 lb stock in 4 color with the plates being destroyed. Signed on request".  The print is a Famous Monsters Exclusive item, and can only be found on their web site!

I'll be sure to keep an eye on this company, and bring you more info in the months to come as they bring out new products to market.

In the meantime, I want to thank Rob, Dominie and Philip for their hospitality at their booth at the SDCCI!

If you are interested in obtaining one of these Fine Art limited Prints, priced @ $25.00 + $5.00 for shipping to USA buyers, please see the publisher's web site at:

http://www.famousmonstersoffilmland.com/products-page/?category=8

The Publishers also have a Facebook Group Page which You can join at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Famous-Monsters-of-Filmland/116475154987?ref=ts  

BTW, I would be remiss if I didn't run an artist's bio on Rob, so here it is:

Robert Aragon is a self-taught artist. He is currently one of the leading fine art portrait artists in the world. His award winning art has exhibited internationally and is represented and protected by the very prestigious Bridgeman Art Library.

One of his admirers was the late Vincent Price, whose friendship and guidance was both a personal and artistic inspiration to him. Aside from portraiture, his passion for classic horror and science fiction has lead him to a career spanning projects such as cover artwork for the Monstrous Movie Music label, children's books, graphic novels and everything in between.

He has created works for Karloff Enterprises, Universal Studios, Lugosi Enterprises, Ray Harryhausen, Warner Bros Studios, The Steve Mcqueen Estate, and others. He is currently the Art Director/Editor in Chief(print) of Famous Monsters of Filmland.

When he steps away from the canvas the San Diego native enjoys surfing, playing piano, collecting art and film memorabilia.

Looks like I have more of Rob's work to hunt down now!

Oh, Additionally...unless we are on site all day and night during a three day or longer comic con... we normally blog daily on comic book creators, comic book reviews,  comic book conventions, and pop culture news and events!   Plus for purchases of items that our blog posts are based on; please check out our listings of comics, graphic novels, Comic Con exclusives and more pop culture items for sale in our own online store! 

Thanks again to all of YOU reading our current and archived blog posts!