Gotham City 14 Miles 14 Essays On Why The 1960s Batman TV Show Matters!   Now Shown With The Revised Front Cover To The Upcoming Book! To Be Published December of 2010 by Sequart  Above Photo: The Sequart Logo! At the Top Right: The Newly Revised Front Cover to the Upcoming Book! At the Middle Right: Editor Jim Beard at the 2010 C2E2 With the Batmobile! At the Bottom Right: Michael D Hamersky with Yvonne (Batgirl) Craig at the 2010 Wizard World Anaheim Comic Book Convention!        --- ---

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3218:

Earlier this week I viewed the revised front cover to the upcoming book 'Gotham City 14 Miles'.  I've blogged about this book a few times as I have definite interest in seeing it published later this year.

That's because 1 of the 14 Essays being printed in it is mine!

So those of you that are my relatives, and are reading this blog, you could suspect what you may be receiving from me during the upcoming Holiday Season as a gift, LOL!

Here's just a little more of the update from Sequart as to the book itself:

Gotham City 14 Miles offers the 1960s Batman TV series the critical reevaluation it deserves. Its essays examine Batmania, camp, the role of women, the show's participation in '60s counter-culture, its many celebrated actors, its lasting cultural effects, and other critical subjects.

From 1966-1968, on both ABC and in movie theatres, America embraced Batman as a campy cultural icon. The nation thrilled to deathtrap cliffhangers and phrases like "Atomic batteries to power!" and "Same bat-time, same bat-channel!" But in the ensuing decades, many vilified the show as an embarrassment that needed to be swept under the rug if Batman -- and super-heroes -- were to be taken seriously. Having won this battle for legitimacy, perhaps we can now return to Adam West's Gotham, to the unapologetic fun of colorful, cackling villains hatching bizarre schemes, and deadpan heroes ridiculously climbing walls. And perhaps we may find it not only fun but rich with deeper cultural meanings.

Here's who is involved with this project:

Gotham City 14 Miles: 14 Essays on Why the 1960s Batman TV Series Matters - edited by Jim Beard; introduction by Jim Beard; afterword by Jeff Rovin; essays by Becky Beard, Jim Beard, Joseph F. Berenato, Timothy Callahan, Chuck Dixon, Robert Greenberger, Michael D. Hamersky, Michael Johnson, Paul Kupperberg, Michael S. Miller, Will Murray, Peter Sanderson, Jennifer K. Stuller, Bill Walko, and Robert G. Weiner; cover by M. Mrakota Orsman. 

Here's what a reviewer of the upcoming book has said:

"I now have a new book for my 'Five I'd Take to a Desert Island' list. Gotham City 14 Miles is the perfect companion to my favorite pop-culture phenomenon of all time!""
-- Mark Waid

Here's the publishing info so you can start thinking about a possible mention to your friends, or even for yourself!

300 pages / ISBN 9780578064611 / $22.95 MSRP

So yeah, I do have a vested interest in seeing this book do well! But it sure looks like a fun read! And No...I don't have my preview copy yet, but I like what I've seen so far!

I'll let you know more as the weeks go on about this book.

In the meantime feel free to check out the Facebook Fan Page for Gotham City 14 Miles and 'liking' it!

Thanks again to Jim Beard, my Editor, for asking me to participate in this enterprise of his!

Oh, and until 'our' book comes out from Sequart...You can check out an earlier published book on Batman from the same publisher, as seen in this link:  Improving the Foundations: Batman Begins from Comics to Screen!

Here's the promo blurb on this book: "The definitive, unauthorized study of Christopher Nolan's 2005 film, paying particular attention to how it draws upon comic-book source material. Darius examines the evolution of Batman's origins, as well as previous attempts to film that story. His scene-by-scene analysis, addressing changes from the script, themes, and comics correlations, expands the reader's understanding through crisp, insightful language. Also explores the film's realism in contrast to past Batman films, the film's reception, and its box office"!

My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now over the 3,215 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!  I would appreciate that!

Note: Our online comic book shop carries many different genres of comics, magazines, graphic novels, and comic con promotional items at the link seen below.  

http://www.comicbookscircus.com/

 

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"Hammering Out the Web For You Since May 12th, 1998!"       Note: If you are breaking into, or already work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email 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   ComicBooksCircus.com - It's Under The Big Top Of Comics! Click the Above Circus Tent to See Our Current Listings!

My thanks to those of YOU that have read today's blog post! I do appreciate that! For those of you that didn't know me before today... I first set up as a 'dealer' at the 1972 San Diego West Coast Comic Con (SDCC) at the El Cortez Hotel. So I've been around comic conventions for a little while, LOL!   My wife Tina and I now have an on-line exhibitor (dealer) table at the first "virtual" comic con titled the "Facebook Comic Con" (FBCC)! You can view our dealer table and interact with us there on Facebook by clicking this link, which takes you to our table named: 'Facebook Comic Con | Make It So Marketing'.  So if YOU are a Facebook member, please 'join' our Facebook Comic Con - Make It So Marketing exhibitor table for updates, specials, links to this blog, and other wall comments that we post every day!     Also, if you are a Facebook member and would like to also join my Facebook Network, feel free to send a 'friend request' to 'Michael D Hamersky'. I am reaching the maximum of 5,000 Facebook Friends soon, and I don't want YOU to be left out!         ------------------- Talking about comics: if YOU are a comics creator, (writer, penciler, inker, colorist, letterer, etc.), OR even a Comics / Magazine Publisher, feel free to contact me regarding YOUR works for a possible mention / review! I've made a special blog post about: "How To Best Submit YOUR Publication For Possible Review!" for those creators / publishers that would like to possibly have their publications mentioned or reviewed. Just click on the link provided in this paragraph! ~Michael @ ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com   WEB PAGE NOTE:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards. Chrome, Safarai, Netscape, Firefox and the others serve the page up 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: All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.

 

Lost Without  'LOST'? Checkout the LOST Show Auction This Weekend! Online Or In Person August 21-22,2010       -------------- Above Top Photo: Live Auction of LOST Show Props, Costumes and Memorabilia Aug 21-22, in Santa Monica, California! At the Top Left: We picked up a sampler of the amazingly detailed “LOST Encyclopedia” by Tara Bennett and Paul Terry at the 2010 SDCC! At the Bottom Left: Someone will win Hurley’s Winning Lottery Ticket with the infamous numbers at this weekend’s auction!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3217:

Today's Guest Blog is by my wife, Tina LoSasso:

OK, I admit it. I’m lost without my favorite show - LOST.

Comic-Con just wasn’t the same this year:  no LOST panel, no camping out with fellow LOSTIES trying to get great seats, no playing LOST trivia games with Jo Garfein of JoOpinionated. 

I pinned my LOST fan pin (thanks, Jo!) to my lanyard and tried valiantly to find something new to grab my interest.

I saw a couple premieres – “The Event” and “Nikita”. They had some high points, but nothing like watching that guy get sucked into the plane engine in the LOST pilot at SDCC 2004. (At which point, I turned to Michael and said, “I don’t care what you think, we are watching this show!”)

I walked around the Exhibit floor looking for fun stuff and trying to follow Michael through the crowd. On Sunday, he stopped me at a small booth and pointed – my heart leapt – it was a preview of the LOST Encyclopedia!

I poured over it that night. It’s like a little fix for all us lost LOSTIES. The LOST Encyclopedia will have over 400 pages and 1500 images of LOST stuff! It’s being released in October. Imagine reading it and reliving your favorite LOST moments.  You’re sure to learn something new about the show. Writers Tara Bennett and Paul Terry, who did the official LOST Magazine, worked with the producers to catalog everything you can imagine about the best show ever.

I’m parting with a couple copies of the preview copy, appropriately called Artifacts – it’s 40 pages of pictures and descriptions of LOST stuff. Michael has listed them in our online store. You can get your fix here.

If the LOST Encyclopedia is a ‘little’ fix, the LOST Show Auction is a ‘Lost Weekend’ of fun.  Profiles in History, the largest auctioneer of Hollywood memorabilia, is running the auction August 21-22 in Santa Monica starting at 1 pm PST. They’ve got it all:

Hurley’s winning LOTTO ticket
Dharma suits, Dharma food and Dharma beer!
Mr. Eko’s stick
Locke’s hunting knives
Kate’s airplane
Jack’s suit
Ben’s eyeglasses
Charlie’s DS ring
Sawyer’s letter to Mr. Sawyer
Jin’s wedding ring
Desmond’s picture of him and Penny
The Hatch
Even Claire’s squirrel baby – and the cradle Locke made for her birthday in Season 1

If you want to bid on any of the show items, you need to register with the auctioneer. You can register as a bidder, check out the auction catalog online and even buy yourself a copy ($55) at http://www.ww.profilesinhistory.com .

Me, I’m sticking with LOST Encyclopedia and hoping for a new show that is half as great next season.

~Tina

------------------

Thanks, Tina, for blogging about this cool collector's item and the upcoming auction!  Another great reason to attend the San Diego Comic Con International to find out about great shows like this one was!

PLUS...My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now over the 3,215 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!  I would appreciate that!

Note: Our online comic book shop carries many different genres of comics, magazines, graphic novels, and comic con promotional items at the link seen below.  

http://www.comicbookscircus.com/

 

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"Hammering Out the Web For You Since May 12th, 1998!"       Note: If you are breaking into, or already work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email 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     ComicBooksCircus.com - It's Under The Big Top Of Comics! Click the Above Circus Tent to See Our Current Listings!

My thanks to those of YOU that have read today's blog post! I do appreciate that! For those of you that didn't know me before today... I first set up as a 'dealer' at the 1972 San Diego West Coast Comic Con (SDCC) at the El Cortez Hotel. So I've been around comic conventions for a little while, LOL!   My wife Tina and I now have an on-line exhibitor (dealer) table at the first "virtual" comic con titled the "Facebook Comic Con" (FBCC)! You can view our dealer table and interact with us there on Facebook by clicking this link, which takes you to our table named: 'Facebook Comic Con | Make It So Marketing'.  So if YOU are a Facebook member, please 'join' our Facebook Comic Con - Make It So Marketing exhibitor table for updates, specials, links to this blog, and other wall comments that we post every day!     Also, if you are a Facebook member and would like to also join my Facebook Network, feel free to send a 'friend request' to 'Michael D Hamersky'. I am reaching the maximum of 5,000 Facebook Friends soon, and I don't want YOU to be left out!         ------------------- Talking about comics: if YOU are a comics creator, (writer, penciler, inker, colorist, letterer, etc.), OR even a Comics / Magazine Publisher, feel free to contact me regarding YOUR works for a possible mention / review! I've made a special blog post about: "How To Best Submit YOUR Publication For Possible Review!" for those creators / publishers that would like to possibly have their publications mentioned or reviewed. Just click on the link provided in this paragraph! ~Michael @ ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com   WEB PAGE NOTE:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards. Chrome, Safarai, Netscape, Firefox and the others serve the page up 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: All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.

 

My 'Take' On: PUG The Graphic Novel As Seen at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con International Image Comics Booth!        -------------- --------- Above Topmost Photo: Writer Derek McCulloch as seen at the Image Comics Book during the 2010 SDCC! --------- Above Photo: Artist Greg Espinoza as seen in Artists Alley at the same SDCC! At the Top Left: The Front Cover to PUG - the Graphic Novel from Image Comics! At the Bottom Left: The Logo for the Comic Con International: San Diego - a.k.a. San Diego Comic Con 2010.

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3216:

As blogged before...One of the great pleasures in attending comic-cons, no matter what the size of them, is visiting the sections named 'Artists Alley', and 'Small Press' or 'Indy Aisles'.

I usually end up with several new publications to read and possibly review in this blog, after striking up conversations with the creators of the comics or graphic novels, due to this blog being the #1 'Followed' blog on Facebook for 'comics', 'comic books', and 'graphic novels' per the NetworkedBlogs app, as seen here.

So as posted earlier, I left with multiple new publications to read after this year's SDCC...I wanted to put this graphic novel near the top of the stack to review, as the graphic novel's artist and writer are having a book signing this upcoming weekend!  More on that at the end of this review...

First...Here's the promotional blurb on:

PUG - The Graphic Novel - by Derek McCulloch & Greg Espinoza  

Hardcover: 104 pages
Publisher: Image Comics (June 30, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1607060663
ISBN-13: 978-1607060666 

Six years ago, the Darlinger fight ended Jake's career, cost him his family, and put him in a downward spiral with no end in sight. Now, he's doing collections for a small-time loan shark and thinking maybe it's time he set a few things straight in the world. From award-winning writer Derek McCulloch (Displaced Persons and the Eisner-nominated Stagger Lee) and artist Greg Espinoza, Pug is an unsparing tale of a good man trapped in a life of brutality - 15-rounds of blood and bad memories! 

Now for 'My Take' (review), on this graphic novel:

I've read some of Derek McCulloch's works before. He is a very versatile writer, and is not to be labeled as a writer of any one genre. Indeed this is yet different from other of his works that I've reviewed!

I don't review an original graphic novel, (GN), the same as I do comic books or 'graphic novels' that are actually a compilation of already published comic books into one story arc TPB.

This 'PUG' GN is an original work, and due to its 'odd-size, it is easy to hold and read.

The artwork is in black and white format in the interior pages, although the front and back covers are in colors, (by Moose).

Reading this GN in this style and format is almost like reading a 'Sunday Newspaper Strip' minus the color and the logos on each page. I kind of like that!

The style and format fits the time periods this story is set in: 1956 & 1962.  Being a child of the late 50's & early 60's, reading it in this format and in b&w is a very familar format for me to read it in.

Would it suit today's younger readers that didn't experience those years?  I would think so, as movies about boxing and the characters involved in that era have never truly gone out of style on film.

I also like the 'breaks' in the chapters with a 'girl' holding a placard stating 'Round 2', 'Round 3' etc. to identify the next chapter.  Plus there are flashbacks shown in 'Rest Period' chapters as well.

This is very innovative  in presentation, as far as I am concerned.

So, I had to think back where I saw Derek at during the SDCC, as pictured above.  He was at the Image Comics booth.  I wouldn't have thought that Image would be the pulbishers of this GN?!

I'm glad they did!  Because this is one heck of a 'read' IMO.

I give “PUG” a 9.4 on a 10.0 Grading Scale. NEAR MINT (NM).

Don't miss the book signing by Greg Espinosa and Derek McCulloch this upcoming weekend in the San Francisco area.  Details shown in this link.

Thanks to Derek for bringing his latest work to my attention, and to Greg for taking time at Artists Alley to pose with the GN also!

PLUS...My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now over the 3,215 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!  I would appreciate that!

Note: Our online comic book shop carries many different genres of comics, magazines, graphic novels, and comic con promotional items at the link seen below.  

http://www.comicbookscircus.com/

 

---

 

"Hammering Out the Web For You Since May 12th, 1998!"       Note: If you are breaking into, or already work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email 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     ComicBooksCircus.com - It's Under The Big Top Of Comics! Click the Above Circus Tent to See Our Current Listings!

My thanks to those of YOU that have read today's blog post! I do appreciate that! For those of you that didn't know me before today... I first set up as a 'dealer' at the 1972 San Diego West Coast Comic Con (SDCC) at the El Cortez Hotel. So I've been around comic conventions for a little while, LOL!   My wife Tina and I now have an on-line exhibitor (dealer) table at the first "virtual" comic con titled the "Facebook Comic Con" (FBCC)! You can view our dealer table and interact with us there on Facebook by clicking this link, which takes you to our table named: 'Facebook Comic Con | Make It So Marketing'.  So if YOU are a Facebook member, please 'join' our Facebook Comic Con - Make It So Marketing exhibitor table for updates, specials, links to this blog, and other wall comments that we post every day!     Also, if you are a Facebook member and would like to also join my Facebook Network, feel free to send a 'friend request' to 'Michael D Hamersky'. I am reaching the maximum of 5,000 Facebook Friends soon, and I don't want YOU to be left out!         ------------------- Talking about comics: if YOU are a comics creator, (writer, penciler, inker, colorist, letterer, etc.), OR even a Comics / Magazine Publisher, feel free to contact me regarding YOUR works for a possible mention / review! I've made a special blog post about: "How To Best Submit YOUR Publication For Possible Review!" for those creators / publishers that would like to possibly have their publications mentioned or reviewed. Just click on the link provided in this paragraph! ~Michael @ ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com   WEB PAGE NOTE:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards. Chrome, Safarai, Netscape, Firefox and the others serve the page up 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: All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.

 

Tina's 'Take' On: Syndrome - A Graphic Novel As Seen at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con International Archaia Booth!        -------------- --------- Above Topmost Photo: Corrissa Baker showing us just one of the many publications showcased at the 2010 SDCC. This one had her name in it! --------- Above Photo: David A Rodriguez showing us the Starkweather Immortal comic book that he wrote for Archaia Comics! At the Top Left: The Front Cover Dust Jacket to Syndrome - The Graphic Novel hardback! At the Bottom Left: The Logo for the Comic Con International: San Diego - a.k.a. San Diego Comic Con 2010.

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3215:

One of the great pleasures I receive at visiting comic-cons, no matter what the size of them, is visiting the sections named 'Artists Alley', and 'Small Press' or 'Indy Aisles'.

I usually end up with several new publications to read and possibly review in this blog, after striking up conversations with the creators of the comics or graphic novels, due to this blog being the #1 'Followed' blog on Facebook for 'comics', 'comic books', and 'graphic novels' per the NetworkedBlogs app, as seen here.

So as posted earlier, I left with multiple new publications to read after this year's SDCC...

Plus..I've had a few more mailed to me for possible review since then. This was one of them mailed by in by Mel Caylo, Marketing Manager for Archaia. 

Due to my on-site work schedule this week, my wife Tina LoSasso was willing to read and review at least one publication this week.

Here's "Tina's Take" on:  

“Syndrome” Probes the Root of All Evil

When Michael asked me if I’d like to review “Syndrome” I blanched at the front cover, turned it over and was immediately intrigued by the synopsis on the back. I was once a Psych major so the idea of a scientific experiment to isolate and cure evil piqued my interest.

“Syndrome” is a graphic novel for the new millennium. In an age where science seeks to explain – and alter - every aspect of human emotion from depression to hyper-activity – and control the aberrations with pharmaceuticals – “Syndrome” asks whether evil is simply a malfunction of the brain.

At a secret facility in the Nevada desert, a psychiatrist tests his serial killer subject with the help of a struggling young Hollywood actress and a renowned set director. By recreating a small town complete with all the triggers to set off the psycho killer, the doctor monitors and attempts to control his subject’s behavior with unexpected results.

The novel’s artwork is compelling – far more so than the story itself. David Marquez does a fine job illustrating the story.  Clear, concise, dramatic. The subject matter of the story is evil. Fortunately, Marquez manages to depict scenes of horrific violence without wallowing in the gore as so many comic and graphic novel artists do today.

Following the story, readers will find a few pages on The Artistic Process of David Marquez. In it, Marquez shows how he drew the entire story digitally using Photoshop and his Cintiq drawing tablet. It’s an interesting look into the process of modern illustration.

Sadly, the story is not as well executed as the art. The premise of whether evil-doers are simply born that way – and can be controlled by pharmaceuticals is worthy of Orwell. Unfortunately, too much time is devoted to the Hollywood artist who creates the fictitious town and stories about the film industry.  Not enough time is given to developing the story of the scientific experiment.

I suspect the writers wanted me to be shocked at the ending – and I was – I was shocked that the story had ended. I actually turned back and re-read several pages thinking I’d missed something.

While the experiment seems to go awry, how much more interesting and suspenseful would it have been for the experiment to seep outside the confines of the secret facility? Or, to see how the implications of the experiment impacted society?

While the writers came up with a fascinating concept, which was illustrated extremely well, editing fell short. I give “Syndrome” a 7.5 on a 10.0 Grading Scale. VERY FINE MINUS (VF-).

~Tina

Note: This graphic novel will be available September 1st, 2010 in comic book shops, and September 14th in bookstores.

For Mature Readers: Series contains adult content, nudity, adult language and graphic violence.

Retail Price $19.95    Page Count: 112 pages

Format: Oversized hardcover with dust jacket, 7.25" x 11.25" with full color.

Also, there is a Facebook Fan Page for Archaia Comics. Feel free to 'like' their fan page and be interactive with them!

------------------------

Thanks Tina for such a well written review!  I can tell you definitely were a 'Psych' Major!

Again, my thanks also to Mel Caylo, for introducing this graphic novel to us.  It was good to meet you at the SDCC this year!

PLUS...My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now over the 3,210 total posts in number! I do appreciate your continued reading and support of this Blog!

Note: Our online comic book shop carries many different genres of comics, magazines, graphic novels, and comic con promotional items at the link seen below.  

http://www.comicbookscircus.com/

 

---

 

"Hammering Out the Web For You Since May 12th, 1998!"       Note: If you are breaking into, or already work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email 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     ComicBooksCircus.com - It's Under The Big Top Of Comics! Click the Above Circus Tent to See Our Current Listings!

My thanks to those of YOU that have read today's blog post! I do appreciate that! For those of you that didn't know me before today... I first set up as a 'dealer' at the 1972 San Diego West Coast Comic Con (SDCC) at the El Cortez Hotel. So I've been around comic conventions for a little while, LOL!   My wife Tina and I now have an on-line exhibitor (dealer) table at the first "virtual" comic con titled the "Facebook Comic Con" (FBCC)! You can view our dealer table and interact with us there on Facebook by clicking this link, which takes you to our table named: 'Facebook Comic Con | Make It So Marketing'.  So if YOU are a Facebook member, please 'join' our Facebook Comic Con - Make It So Marketing exhibitor table for updates, specials, links to this blog, and other wall comments that we post every day!     Also, if you are a Facebook member and would like to also join my Facebook Network, feel free to send a 'friend request' to 'Michael D Hamersky'. I am reaching the maximum of 5,000 Facebook Friends soon, and I don't want YOU to be left out!         ------------------- Talking about comics: if YOU are a comics creator, (writer, penciler, inker, colorist, letterer, etc.), OR even a Comics / Magazine Publisher, feel free to contact me regarding YOUR works for a possible mention / review! I've made a special blog post about: "How To Best Submit YOUR Publication For Possible Review!" for those creators / publishers that would like to possibly have their publications mentioned or reviewed. Just click on the link provided in this paragraph! ~Michael @ ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com   WEB PAGE NOTE:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards. Chrome, Safarai, Netscape, Firefox and the others serve the page up 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: All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.

 

My 'Take' On:  Spectra #1 As Seen at the 2010 San Diego Comic Con International!      -------------- Above Top Photo: (L-R) Rebecca Thompson-Flagg and Kerry G Johnson at the 2010 SDCC! At the Top Left: The Front Cover to Spectra #1 The Original Laser Superhero! At the Bottom Left: The Logo for the Comic Con International: San Diego - a.k.a. San Diego Comic Con 2010.

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3214:

One of the great pleasures I receive at visiting comic-cons, no matter what the size of them, is visiting the sections named 'Artists Alley', and 'Small Press' or 'Indy Aisles'.

I usually end up with several new publications to read and possibly review in this blog, after striking up conversations with the creators of the comics or graphic novels, due to this blog being the #1 'Followed' blog on Facebook for 'comics', 'comic books', and 'graphic novels' per the NetworkedBlogs app, as seen here.

So as usual I left with multiple new publications to read after this year's SDCC...

One that jumped right up at me out of the stack to read was a 'promotional' comic title 'Spectra' #1 - The Original Laser Superhero, from the APS.org, (American Physical Society). Cover dated May of 2010, I had not seen this comic book before or even heard about it.  And it's on its 5th Printing!

I met the creators, Rebecca Thompson-Flagg & Kerry G Johnson at the Comic-Con, and they were kind enough to explain the premise, and to pose for pics.

Just briefly, here is a little bit what the comic character is about in Rebecca's own words: "Spectra is a laser superhero,” Thompson-Flagg said. “Anything a laser can do, she can do. Anything light can do, she can do.” Throughout the course of the story, Spectra uses her powers to save her kidnapped friends from the clutches of the evil Miss Alignment. She can travel at the speed of light, change color, cut through solid metal, pass through windows, reflect off of mirrors and diffract into multiple copies of herself".

Here's 'My Take' on the #1 issue:

Front cover - Great introductory scene of Spectra appearing on the cover.  Plus even the casual browser can see that it is being presented by 'The American Physical Society', so that should bring some credence to the credibility of what appears to be a superhero.

Inside front cover - blank...Which you would think would at least have some promotional blurb about the APS?

Splash Page - Not used as a splash page, it is a story page. Not the most exciting way to start off a comic book, after the great cover...

Interior pages - which number 12 in total.  The storyline is well presented.  The characters are introduced in an orderly fashion, and for an 'origin story' it is pretty darn good!

Inside back cover - blank again.  The two inside covers are the only detraction I can see for the promotional comic book presentation.

The Back Cover - Now THAT's a great back cover for a 'promotional comic book'!  It has the name of the sponsor, the web site address, and the physical address of the APS, as well as credits to the creators of the comic book.

The storyline -  Even though it is aimed at pre-teens, I found myself enjoying the storyline!  It was a fun read!  The language sounds like kids talking and the adults are shown to be regular people except for the villainess of course!

The artwork - I liked this artwork!  It really fit the genre of this promotional comic book very well.  The colors fit the style as well, and the lettering was placed properly and did not interfere with the artwork or bog down the storyline.

In final summation, I found this promotional comic book to be well written and illustrated to fit the genre.  The only detraction was the two inside covers which could have had some inside scoop on the characters, how lasers work, or more about APS.

Thus I give this publication a NEAR MINT MINUS (NM-) 9.2, and recommend it as a good gift to give to those pre-teens that have an interest in science, or that you would like to expose to more science subjects using a superhero as a character based on science fact to read about.

The APS web site is at:  APS.org for more info. Just type in 'Spectra comic' in the search bar on the portal page to see what links they have to stories about the creators and the comic book.

Again, my thanks to Rebecca Thompson-Flagg and Kerry G Johnson for introducing this promotional comic book to me at this year's San Diego Comic Con International!

Oh...AND You can purchase this and others published by APS at this web site.

PLUS...My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now over the 3,210 total posts in number! I do appreciate your continued reading and support of this Blog!

Note: Our online comic book shop carries many different genres of comics, magazines, graphic novels, and comic con promotional items at the link seen below.  

http://www.comicbookscircus.com/

 

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"Hammering Out the Web For You Since May 12th, 1998!"       Note: If you are breaking into, or already work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email 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     ComicBooksCircus.com - It's Under The Big Top Of Comics! Click the Above Circus Tent to See Our Current Listings!

My thanks to those of YOU that have read today's blog post! I do appreciate that! For those of you that didn't know me before today... I first set up as a 'dealer' at the 1972 San Diego West Coast Comic Con (SDCC) at the El Cortez Hotel. So I've been around comic conventions for a little while, LOL!   My wife Tina and I now have an on-line exhibitor (dealer) table at the first "virtual" comic con titled the "Facebook Comic Con" (FBCC)! You can view our dealer table and interact with us there on Facebook by clicking this link, which takes you to our table named: 'Facebook Comic Con | Make It So Marketing'.  So if YOU are a Facebook member, please 'join' our Facebook Comic Con - Make It So Marketing exhibitor table for updates, specials, links to this blog, and other wall comments that we post every day!     Also, if you are a Facebook member and would like to also join my Facebook Network, feel free to send a 'friend request' to 'Michael D Hamersky'. I am reaching the maximum of 5,000 Facebook Friends soon, and I don't want YOU to be left out!         ------------------- Talking about comics: if YOU are a comics creator, (writer, penciler, inker, colorist, letterer, etc.), OR even a Comics / Magazine Publisher, feel free to contact me regarding YOUR works for a possible mention / review! I've made a special blog post about: "How To Best Submit YOUR Publication For Possible Review!" for those creators / publishers that would like to possibly have their publications mentioned or reviewed. Just click on the link provided in this paragraph! ~Michael @ ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com   WEB PAGE NOTE:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards. Chrome, Safarai, Netscape, Firefox and the others serve the page up 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: All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.