The 2010 Leo Carrillo Film Festival Started Last Night... August 27th! At The Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park In Carlsbad, California! It's Running For Five Consecutive Friday Nights At: 6200 Flying LC Lane  Above Top Photo: Michael Won One of the Three Opportunity Drawings Last Night During Intermission! - At the Top Right: The Film Nights Preview Online Sign.  - Second Right - Thanks to Dick & Rev. Diana Swenson For Staking Out The Church Group's Area Claim! - Third Right: (L-R) Back Row - Tina, Michael, Diana, Front Row - Tina & Ron - Just a Few of the Early Arrivals! - Fourth Right - The Cabana Crew Getting Ready for the Crowd. - Bottom Right: The Andrews Sisters Were the Main Attraction in the Film Last Night Along With Carrillo Carrillo!        --- --- ---

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3224:

I was going to take a weekend off from blogging, but Tina and I had so much fun last night at the Opening Night of the 2010 Leo Carrillo Film Festival...That I just had to blog about it this morning before leaving to run errands!

Yes...As I blogged about on Thursday, (see here for full schedule in my earlier post), It's THAT TIME of Year Again!

Because I have taken on a project that is keeping me away from the home office during the day for a few weeks more, Tina and I were not able to arrive early and stake out a 'claim' to an area at the Ranch grounds for our little church group to sit upon.

So kudos to Dick and Rev. Diana Swenson of Crossroads Spiritual Center in Carlsbad, (pictured at top right of post), who arrived in time to save us all space in the main section of the film area! They arrived at 5:45 PM and it was already full for those who have high back chairs. Note: Only low back chairs are permitted up in front.  So get there early if you don't have those size of chairs!

The rest of the church group came in as the evening wore on, before an episode of the Cisco Kid was shown.  Some of the earlier arrivals are shown at the top right also.

Tina packed us a bottle of wine and great sandwiches, so I only stopped at the Cabana to see what the Opportunity Drawing Prizes were.  However, as you can see by the photo to the left, they have several good choices for a picnic dinner!  Several of the other church members attending bought food items as the evening continued.

Tina and I had already decided not to play the Trivia Game that is usually played at these film dates, as we have won prizes repeatedly in the past, so thought we should give others a chance to win...

However since it was an 'opportunity' drawing, a game of chance, not knowledge of Leo Carrillo or his ranch, I bought 3 tickets to help support the Festival and 'gamble' just a bit.  A 'litle voice' told me to do so, and I came away last night with one of the three opportunity prizes! 

The photo to the top left of this post is me during the intermission with my prize, and to the left of this paragraph is what it comprised of for a better view after we arrived home. I had seen the three prizes, and lusted for the cornbread mix and goodies prize, which is what I ended up winning!  Thanks to the folks that put this Cheri's Desert Harvest basket together!  I'm going to enjoy it soon, probably this weekend with the syrup!

Anyways, for those of YOU that haven't been to this Film Festival, here's what happens:

Nostalgic entertainment under the stars at a real movie star retreat.  Admission is free.  Movies start promptly at sunset.  Grounds open at 5 p.m. for picnics and tours.  Complementary tour of the hacienda is offered one hour before sunset.

Guests should bring low-back chairs, blankets, and a flashlight.  Warm clothes and appropriate shoes are recommended for uneven terrain throughout the park.  An episode of “The Cisco Kid” precedes the film screening.  Films are not rated.  Parental discretion is advised.  Closed captioning is not available unless otherwise indicated.

Of course, what would the Leo Carrillo Film Festival be without an episode of The Cisco Kid from the TV Series that had an original run from September 5, 1950 – March 22, 1956?! 

As stated above, an epsiode from the TV Series is played first, then it's intermission time, and then on to the main feature... 

FYI: At the start of this TV series, Leo was 70 years old and Duncan Renaldo was 46!  BTW, Leo and Duncan are considered to be the first regular TV series Hispanic Stars, as Desi Arnaz Jr didn't start until the following year with his wife Lucille Ball with their show...Just a little bit of trivia for you today!   

The episode last night had a really young looking actor that I couldn't remember his name until the ending credits ran. It was Denver Pyle as one of the bad guys! He actually played bad guys twice during the 1954 Cisco Kid TV Season. Younger blog readers will remember him as Uncle Jesse Duke on the Dukes of Hazzard TV Series.

And of course the ending of the episode had the usual "Ohhh, Ceesco!" by Pancho, with the rejoinder from Cisco Kid..."Oh, Pancho!". Tina was glad this season didn't start with the episode that had the elephant, as we have already seen it played twice there at the Film Festival in two different years. 

Oh...This is the 6th Season of the Leo Carrillo Film Festival! And with the largest crowd there I have seen since we started attending...it's off to a great start! 

Which is why I better post this here also.  Yesterday, I was contacted by a Facebook Friend, Gerry Streff, an archivist with th the City of Carlsbad, who after seeing my Thursday blog post about this year's Film Season, sent me the following link.  There will be a Special Exhibit that opens to the general public on the Friday Night of September 10th, which coincides with that night's Film Festival.  You should plan accordingly and get there early to take this new exibit in, plus 'claim' your space to catch that night's Cisco Kid episode and the film that plays after intermission!  Thanks, Gerry for the heads up on this!

So to finish up blogging about last night's Opening Night of the Film Festival...The audience was large in numbers, the staff working the event were friendly as always, and the Cisco Kid episode was a good one!  Add to that the Opportunity Drawing Prizes given away at intermission, and the nostalgic main film that was shown...It was a Great Opening Night! Thanks again to all of those involved with having this Film Season kick off with a bang!

BTW, I blog about this Film Festival every year because there is a comic book connection as well! 

There were 40 issues of the Cisco Kid comic book title from Dell Comics, starting in January of 1951 and ending with the Oct/Dec 1958 issue!  Here's a link to all of those covers!

PLUS: Here's a link to the blog posts that we've blogged about in the past to show you what's at the Leo Carrillo Ranch, as well as what fun we had at the Leo Carrillo Film Festival in recent years:  Click here for the link!

Thanks again to the City of Carlsbad, and to the LeoCarrilloRanch.org people, and the Friends Of CarrilloRanch.org folks for making the Ranch Docent Tours and the Film Festival possible this year!

Oh, and if YOU are attending and see Tina and myself there...Stop by and say hello!  I'm usually wearing my straw hat and wearing one of my 'Comic Book Collectors Blog.com' indigo colored polo shirts to these events!

Oh...We don't have any Cisco Kid DVDs for sale, (we are keeping ours for our own collection!), but here's a link to one of the better Cisco Kid Collections! Best of The Cisco Kid (35 Episodes)

PLUS...My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now over the 3,220 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: Strangler Bros. #1 The Graphic Novel As Seen at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con International!       -------------- Above Photo:  The Front Cover to the Strangler Brothers #1 Graphic Novel! - At the Top Left: Judge Leverich and Josh Frankovich at their booth in the Small Press Section of the 2010 SDCC! 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 #3223:

As already mentioned before in this blog...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' sections.

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 GNs, 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.

Today, I'm going to post 'My Take' on another GN, (Graphic Novel), picked up at the 2010 SDCC.

First, here is what the GN's web site says it is about:

Strangler Brothers Automotive is about 2 brothers, Josh and Judge Strangler, and their journey to find out the mystery of their small town of Salem Hills.

About the Creators: 

Strangler Brothers Automotive is created by Crowbar Media. We specialize in webcomics and a number of other ventures and oddities. Judge Leverich: Creator, Writer.  Josh Frankovich: Creator, Writer. Melinda Davidson: Co-Creator, Artist.

The Main Characters are:

Josh Strangler - The tech geek of the Strangler Brothers. He acts like a goof, but is an inventor, avid comic book collector, and horror film fanantic.

Judge Strangler - The more level headed of the two brothers.  He is veryu business oriented and like to run things by the book.

Mel - Not much is known about her yet. (Note from Michael: Matter of fact, she doesn't show up in Part 1, and I missed seeing 'her' at the SDCC booth!)

The Graphic Novel - Strangler Brothers Origins: Part 1 was a 'Limited Edition' with 56 pages including exclusive artwork and creator bios.

Now that the promo info is shown above, here's 'My Take' on the Graphic Novel.

First, the cover struck me as something I would be interested in reading, due to the great logo and the main characters surrounded by shadowy figures.

I was not aware that those shadowy figures were 'zombies'. Those who have read several of my review blogs will know that I've been flooded with zombie material to possibly be read and then reviewed in this blog.

Quite honestly, I find that zombies have been overdone as of late... However I didn't notice that 'zombie influence'at the booth or on the front cover of this GN.

If I had bothered to look at the back cover first, I would have seen that the Strangler Brothers "battle zombies, vampires, werewolves, ghosts and all other things that go bump in the night!", so yeah I missed that warning...

So I read further into it, and found that I really liked the artwork.  The lack of full color actually added to the artwork, and I found that I liked the main characters as the story went on.

Additionally I liked the other characters as they were introduced into the storyline.  And I found that although there were zombies in this 'Origins' story, it wasn't the usual zombie story.  Actually I found myself not wanting to put it down...

My only disappointment in the storyline was that at the end it was "To Be Continued".  I like my graphic novels, if they are presented as a 'graphic novel' to be self contained.  However, since this story is also being presented as a web comic, there is a possibility of seeing additional pages of story as the storyline progresses?  Not for sure on that, as the web site only has the first pages of this GN online at this time.

So, I'm not going to review this GN like I would a comic book, with the analysis on the Front Cover, Inside Front Cover, Splash Page, tetc., etc., as it doesn't pertain here.

Just let me say that I for one enjoyed the characters, (appearing to be based on the creators, (wink), and especially enjoyed the artwork by Melinda Davidson, who I did not meet at the Comic-Con.

Indeed, I also enjoyed seeing the sound effects that were placed very well, and the right sound for the panel!  The lettering was also placed well, and the coloring accentuated the mood of the story.  Very well done, and looking at the credits page, I find this was all done by Melinda.  Although I missed see her in the GN and at the booth, her presence in this GN is very noticed!

This feature has something going for it, and hopefully the zombies part will finish up, and the other things that go bump in the night will be brought in as the tales continue.

I enjoyed this issue, (zombies & all), enough to give this publication a VERY FINE / NEAR MINT (VF/NM) 9.0 on a 10.0 grading scale, due to the fact that although the story was a good one for an 'Origin' story, and the artwork / sound effects / colors were cool...I would have preferred to have a 'complete story' when published in a 'graphic novel' format.  Otherwise the term 'trade paperback compilation' of the web comic could have been a better descriptive word for this publication. Again, it may just be me, but a 'graphic novel' means 'done in one' to me.

To see more on the "Strangler Brothers" series, check out this link!

If YOU are on Facebook check out their Strangler Brothers Fan Page!

My personal thanks to Judge and Josh for introducing me to their series!

PLUS: My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,220 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.

 

The 2010 Leo Carrillo Film Festival Starts... August 27th! At The Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park In Carlsbad, California!   Five Consecutive Friday Nights At: 6200 Flying LC Lane  Above Top Photo: The Placard at the Snack Shack showing Leo cooking at the BBQ Years Ago! - At the Top Right: It's Film Nights At The Rancho Again! - At the Middle Right: Vinnie, Michael, Tonya, Dale & Tina at One of the 2009 Film Nights! At the Bottom Right: The Opening Credits of the Cisco Kid on the Big Screen At the Ranch!        --- ---

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3222:

Yes...It's THAT TIME of Year Again!

Tina and I are excited to plan our calendars around the upcoming Leo Carrillo Film Festival that starts August 27th in Carlsbad, California for five consecutive Friday Nights!

That's because being proud residents of Carlsbad ourselves...we know there's more here than just LegoLand for entertainment!

Here's what the City of Carlsbad and the Friends of Leo Carrillo Ranch, Inc. are showing this year, along with some helpful tips on how YOU can attend this fun film festival:

Five consecutive Friday evenings, beginning Aug. 27

Nostalgic entertainment under the stars at a real movie star retreat.  Admission is free.  Movies start promptly at sunset.  Grounds open at 5 p.m. for picnics and tours.  Complementary tour of the hacienda is offered one hour before sunset.

Guests should bring low-back chairs, blankets, and a flashlight.  Warm clothes and appropriate shoes are recommended for uneven terrain throughout the park.  An episode of “The Cisco Kid” precedes the film screening.  Films are not rated.  Parental discretion is advised.  Closed captioning is not available unless otherwise indicated.

With all that's going on with Tina's and my own personal work schedules, we are still attempting to to take in most of these evenings, like we have done for the past several seasons.

BTW, I blog about this Film Festival every year because there is a comic book connection as well!  There were 40 issues of the Cisco Kid comic book title from Dell Comics, starting in January of 1951 and ending with the Oct/Dec 1958 issue!  Here's a link to all of those covers!

Here's a link to the blog posts that we've blogged about in the past to show you what's at the Leo Carrillo Ranch, as well as what fun we had at the Leo Carrillo Film Festival in recent years:  Click here for the link!

Thanks again to the City of Carlsbad and to the LeoCarrilloRanch.org people, and the FriendsOfCarrilloRanch.org folks for making the Ranch Docent Tours and the Film Festival possible this year!

Oh, and if YOU are attending and see Tina and myself there...Stop by and say hello!

And if you can't make it to this Film Festival any of the 5 Friday Nights...We don't have any Cisco Kid DVDs for sale, (we are keeping ours for our own collection!), but here's a link to one of the better Cisco Kid Collections! Best of The Cisco Kid (35 Episodes)!

PLUS...My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now over the 3,220 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.

 

Vinnie's 'Take' On:  Berona's War Vol 1: Field Guide Book As Introduced To At The San Diego Comic-Con 2010!       -------------- Above Photo:  The Front Cover to the Berona's War Vol 1: Field Guide! - At the Top Left: Vinnie along with Anthony Coffey and Jesse Labbé at their table in the Archaia booth! 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 #3221:

Today's post is guest blogged by my youngest son, who attended all five days of the Comic-Con this year with us!

Vinnie also visited the Archaia Publishing booth, where he met the creators of Berona's War, as pictured at the above left. Vinnie has also previously blogged about the 'Preview Book' on Verona's War, as seen in this link.

Now for his blog post today, which is very timely, as today, August 25th, is when this graphic novel is available in comic book shops!

'My Take' On Berona's War Vol 1: Field Guide - by Vinnie: 

These are my comments, and thoughts about the book I just read for review, Berona's War 1: Field Guide. This is the first of a series of graphic novels about these two species of creatures, the Ele-alta and Cropones, living on the island of Berona, who are fighting for land. This is just a field guide to the land of Berona, meaning it has no real storyline, but it helps you understand all these creatures and their jobs, as well as a map to see where they currently are, for when you're reading the next books to be found in this series.

According to Dictionary.com, a field guide is, "a portable illustrated book to help identify birds, plants, rocks, etc., as on a nature walk."

Quoted from the Berona's War page at Archaia.com, "The BERONA’S WAR: FIELD GUIDE provides a great introduction to the world of BERONA’S WAR, featuring maps, devious strategies, weapons, character and troop descriptions and the history of wartime events. This is the perfect primer for the upcoming BERONA’S WAR: FIGHT FOR AMITY!"  Okay, so that has been the background information, and now let me tell you about the actual book, with the price / format / credits blurb first.

160 Pages   -  Price $19.95
ISBN: 9781932386899  - Format: hardcover with dust jacket
Jesse Labbé: Creator, Color, and Cropone Art.
Anthoney Coffey: Cover, Layout, and Ele-Alta Art.

In Comic Book Shops August 25th, and September 7th in bookstores

Dust Jacket: The front side of the Dust Jacket has a nice, glossy image, showing the two species that inhabit the land of Berona; the Ele-Alta and Cropones, in which the story takes place in. The Left Inside Flap gives background information as well as praise from people who have seen this. I believe they deserve this praise, for it is a very well put together book, complete with great illustrations with great descriptions to go along with it. The Right Inside Flap gives even more 'testimonial' like praise as well as a little 'About the Authors' informant. The back of the Dust Jacket gives, yet again, even more background information as well as more praise.

Front Cover: It has the same image and texture as the Dust Jacket, except for it doesn't have the names of the creators, Anthony Coffey and Jesse Labbé. The corners are also glossy, making it look altogether pretty neat with a nice finish. It also has a mediveal look, as well as a journal that may have gone through major wear and tear through this one hundred year war.

Inside Front Cover: It has a close-up, non-glossy view of the same image found on the cover. What I like about it is that when I first saw the front, I gave it the above review. When I saw this close-up, I noticed on the background it had a picture of the creatures holding flags. I had noticed that, but what I didn't notice was that they had their own symbols that you find more about later in the book. It was a fine little detail that I could only see then. To me it shows what good the close-up was that took the spot here.

Interior Pages: Because this is a Field Guide, it doesn't really have a 'story', persay. It does have fantastic art, in which I stated above they are praised for, and the details and script they use here to describe these great illustrations fits it well, and makes it feel complete. The whole idea behind this is very interesting, and I'm glad it came out more appropriate for children in a cartoony way, than as an actual war between humans, with a big bloody carnage.

Although the same topic, it just seems more child-friendly with cartoony characters, although some may say it's just a way to expand their age range. Each page is filled in with pictures of the types of mercenaries they have and on which team, as well as descriptions telling the tales of these creatures on their way to victory or defeat. The pages were actually made to look as though it was a journal, with pictures paperclipped to the journal pages as well as sticky notes attached onto the pages. It is even told as though someone was documenting exactly as it was seen. Although I have just said it was amazing, I have to add this one following part. I found four, what appear to be, spelling errors. It may just be because I may not have seen that word before, but they all seem familiar, but just not right. For example, they put 'Eli-Alta' instead of the way they normally spell it as, 'Ele-Alta'. It may have just been supposed to be like that, but I wouldn't have thought so. Also, I found just one of these, but it appeared as though a blotch appeared in one of the letters. I believe the word was supposed to be 'Not', but the 'T' just appeared as a dark block. It may have been a printer defect, or when the ink was drying a bubble formed making it look like that. I mean like, none of those were a big deal, nor are a lot of people going to notice that, but just thought I'd throw that in.

Inside Back Cover: It has the same close-up image as the Inside Front Cover, so not really much to say here.

Back Cover: The Back Cover has the Ele-Alta's and Cropone's symbols that showed they were part of their team in the war, and they are at the bottom left and right of the book. It also has the Archaia symbol and name, as well as a mysterious Cropone creature.

I really enjoyed reading this book, and I'm sure most others would as well, and I thank you for reading my review on Berona's War Vol 1: Field Guide.

My comic book grade for this publication is a VERY FINE / NEAR MINT (VF/NM) 9.0 on a 10.0 grading scale.

To see more on "Berona's War" series, check out this link!

If YOU are on Facebook check out their Archaia Fan Page!

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Thanks Vinnie for guest blogging here today, and giving us your thoughts on this preview book from a tween's POV!

If this graphic novel is something YOU would like to read or give as a gift, here's a link to where you can purchase it online! Berona's War: Field Guide!

Also...If YOU liked his review on this DVD, you may enjoy reading his reviews on: Clutch Cargo, The All New Super Friends Hour Season 1 DVD, The Ultimate Underdog Collection Volume 1, Planet Hulk, Coraline, Ponyo, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Sonic the Hedgehog TPB Vol 1, Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs, just to name a recent few!!

And my personal thanks to Anthony and Jesse who took the time during the Comic-Con to personally introduce Vinnie to their series!

PLUS: My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,220 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.

 

My 'Take' On Back Issue #42 The 'Wild West' Theme Issue For August 2010!      -------------- Above Top Photo: The Front Cover to the August 2010 Issue of Back Issue #42 by TwoMorrows Publishing! At the Top Left (L-R): Tina and Tony DeZuniga in Artists Alley at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con International! 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 #3220:

A while back I blogged about picking up several back issues of 'Alter Ego' that is published by TwoMorrows Publishing, and in particular about issue #95, (as seen here).

Today I'm blogging about a different 'Back Issue', that of issue #42 of the magazine 'Back Issue' itself, by the same Publisher!

Why?  Well, the 'theme' of this special issue really grabbed me!

That's because it is the 'WILD WEST ISSUE!', of which I have a special fondness for this genre in comics.

So what's this issue about? Here's the promo blurb about this issue:

August 2010 - 84 pages

Now shipping 8 times a year, with 16 color pages each issue!

DC Comics’ latest movie star, Jonah Hex, headlines BACK ISSUE #42 (84 pages with color, $7.95) our “Wild West” issue, in a rare interview with the bounty hunter’s long-time writer, MICHAEL FLEISHER—plus Hex art galore by TONY DeZUNIGA, LUIS DOMINGUEZ, JOSE LUIS GARCIA-LOPEZ, KEITH GIFFEN, ED HANNIGAN, and a posse of popular artists!

Plus: TIM TRUMAN’s Scout, the Two-Gun Kid joins the Avengers, HERB TRIMPE’s Rawhide Kid, DICK AYERS’ original Ghost Rider, DC’s Weird Westerns, Red Wolf, Caleb Hammer, Charlton’s Westerns, and the Vigilante’s 1970s revival. With art and/or commentary by NEAL ADAMS, JIM APARO, CHUCK DIXON, GEORGE EVANS, BILL KUNKEL, GRAY MORROW, FABIAN NICIEZA, BEAU SMITH, and more. Featuring a gorgeous but gripping Jonah Hex cover by Tony DeZuniga. Edited by MICHAEL EURY.

Whew!  That's a lot to chew on, pardners!

For those of YOU that read my blog on a regular basis, you'll know that I've been running into Tina and Tony DeZuniga at a lot of comic cons recently!  It's getting harder to see them for a visit at their booths...Especially with the theatrical release of the 'Jonah Hex' film based on the character that Tony co-created for DC Comics!

So I'm really pleased to see that Tony's work from years ago is being truly appreciated today.  And that he and Tina are having fun at comic cons selling original artwork and doing new sketches for new fans as well as old!  And that's a really good illustration by Tony on the front cover of this 'Back Issue' magazine!

So, that's another reason to blog about this issue today. Although it is Michael Felisher that discusses 'Jonah Hex' in a rare interview, not Tony, in this issue.

Here's 'My Take' on each of the main articles:

Michael Felisher And Jonah Hex - Pages 3 to 15 - I would agree that Michael's Jonah Hex stories are what are most remembered today.  Even though he wrote nearly 700 comic-book stories in his 20 year career.  I enjoyed this cover feature, as it truly is a 'rare' interview that was given here.

The Vigilante - Pages 16 to 22 - I never really picked up on this character before reading this interview.  Interesting article.

Two-Gun Kid: Right Between The Eons - Pages 23 to 30. Now this I really enjoyed.  Because during these years I was a 'Marvel Zombie', reading even their Westerns, HoRRoR Comics, etc., as they hit the newstands.  A really good put together article by Jarrod Buttery!  Tells why Two-Gun was in the 'Present' as well as the 'Past' in the Marvel Universe.

All-Star Weird Western Heroes of DC Comics - Pages 31 to 40 -Again, I never read all of these issues as they came out.  I have read them when purchasing collections for resale.  I knew that Jonah Hex started here.  Other characters were in this series.  A good read for those that are into DC Western heroes, by John Wells.

Jonah Hex Art Gallery - Pages 41 to 43. In color presentation. As a center fold presentation it fits well with the cover feature.

Wild West Mego Men - Pages 44 -45. You know, I hadn't known of this series by Mego.  Of course I had the Fantastic Four dolls, ooops, I mean action figures!

Red Wolf - The Saga of a Man Torn Between Two Worlds - Pages 46 - 53.  You know, I really enjoyed reading the history of this character. I was there when these first came out, but distribution was a little spotty in my area.  Good read, written by John Schwirian!

Rough Stuff - by Tom Ziuko - Pages 54 - 59. Interesting article with several illustrations. The pencils are very interesting to see.

Ghost Rider / Night Rider - Originated by Dick Ayers - Pages 60 -61.  A way too short article on the Ghost Rider by Marvel. I didn't like what happened in the continuity in the West Coast Avengers years later...Oh, well...

Charlton 1970's Western Roundup - Pages 63 - 65. Another way too short article!  I've read several of these titles in the years since they were first published.  I didn't read them when they were first published for the most part, because they were not distributed evenly out here on the West Coast. I just couldn't put together a decent collection at that time.

Herb Trimpe Remembers the 1985 Rawhide Kid Miniseries - Pages 66 - 67.  I enjoyed this miniseries when I came across it years later.  One of Herb's best drawn series, IMO.

The Coming of Caleb Hammer - Pages 68 -69.  This was an overlooked story from years ago, but his character has been used in the years since.

The Savage Future of Timothy Truman's Scout - Pages 70 - 77. Never read these stories...and after reading this article I still have no big motivation to search them out...but for those of you that are fans of this series, 7 pages are a goodly amount of reading for you!

Back Talk - The letter pages - which take up the rest of the issue.  It's nice to see a letters column page(s) in print. 

Again...All I have to say is 'Whew!", as there is a LOT to read in this magazine!  This issue was like a runaway locomotive in its presentation style.  On and on and on.  But with 95% of topics that I had an interest in!

So for me, this was a Great 'Theme Issue'!

My comic book grade for this issue #42 of 'Back Issue' is a NEAR MINT (NM) 9.4 grade out of a 10.0 grading scale.  Definitely a 'Must Issue' for those that like the Westerns Comic Books Genre, no matter what company you mostly read.

BTW, We have will have this and other back issues of 'Back Issue' Magazine listed for sale in our online shop in the near future!

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Again, my thanks to John Morrow of TwoMorrows Publishing for publishing his line of magazines. I really appreciate the efforts of everyone involved in the TwoMorrows Publishing Empire that puts out such quality titles month after month!  Plus it was great to see you at the San Diego Comic-Con again this year!

PLUS...My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at the 3,215 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.