My 'Take' On: Captain Fantastico #1 As Seen At the 2010 San Diego Comic Con International!     - Above Photo:  The Front Cover to Captain Fantastico #1. - At the Top Left: My Introduction to this Comic Book while at the 2010 Comic Con International: San Diego.  - At the Bottom Left: The Logo to the Comic-Con International: San Diego.

Today's Feature: Blog #3283

This is another one of the many publications that I picked up at the recent 2010 San Diego Comic Con International.

I was introduced to it in the Small Press Section as shown in the top left photo.

So what is this comic book (magazine sized) publication about?  Here's the promo blurb:

Captain Fantastico #1

by Ethan Wenberg, inks and tones by Paul Niemiec

Meet Captain Fantastico, superhero and superstar slayer of the Evil Lixian Horde riding a mighty wave of success on a planet Earth tainted with scandal.  The Captain strays into the ultra-kinky Bionic Bordello, a call-girl sexhouse specifically designed for lovelorn superheroes.  He returns to his wife, only to find that she's really, really angry at his horn-dog ways.  World collide and there's hell to pay as Fantastico must thwart his wife's unholy revenge!  Behold the Hi-Fi detail and underground seventies sequential sensibility -- fans of Robert Crumb and Heavy Metal magazine take note! Hot nudity, explosive gore, and not a few laughs in this first issue of an on-going series brought to you by the combined artistic talents of Ethan Wenberg and Paul Niemiec. 32 page b&w magazine, color cover.  Mature.  $5.00 US.

Okay... Sounds like a possible 'Underground comix' style comic book.  Let's look further...

Front Cover - Looks like a standard super hero fare, except that the artwork is filtered a little fuzzy(?)!

Inside front cover - Credits page.  Okay.

Splash Page - Not used as such...but when turning the page, there is a two page spread layout which definitely is a 'splash page' effect!

Interior pages - Are in black and white.  Which is fine for this genre.  The pencils and inks are well defined, and I find myself liking the artwork immediately!

The storyline is kind of strange, but I figured a few pages in that this was sort of an underground type of publication. 

Which means it definitely is not for a younger readership! Although there is no warning on the front or back covers...

On the rest of the interior pages: I did not know what this publication was about, as the promo blurb I printed above wasn't in this publication, so it was a surprise to me!  However, this illustrated story fit the 'underground tag' I now know it was meant to be, and it was actually a fun read.   

The next to last page was the final full page panel for this issue, with the 'To Be Continued' signage at the bottom right.

The last page had a pin-up and on the other side was a 'teaser' page for Issue #2.

The inside back cover was blank. 

The Back Cover was a pin-up page with the web site address for reference.

I kind of liked this first issue.  I wish it had been shown as to what kind of genre this was somewhere on the front or back covers, or on the inside cover page that was used for a credits page.  That is the only drawback that I could see to this presentation, that it could be mistaken for a different genre, and the reader is taken aback as to what it really is... 

My rating for Captain Fantastico #1 is: A VERY FINE / NEAR MINT (VF/NM) 9.0 out of a 10.0 comic book grading scale.

Again, I want to point out that this publication is for 'mature readers'!

You can check out where to purchase this publication at this web site: squidworks.com!

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My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now over 3,280 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!  We currently have over 2,030 'Followers'!  Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button!  And for those of YOU that haven't yet...I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

Note: 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)! Plus I have a chapter in a new book coming out in December of 2010, that is pictured above, "Gotham City 14 Miles"!  Click here to become a 'Fan' of the GC14M Facebook Fan Page! 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, I would have sent you a Friend Request.  However,  I have reached the maximum of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages already, so I have now added on a personal Facebook Fan Page of my own! Just click this link to be taken to 'Michael D Hamersky On Comics' where you can click the 'Like' button there!         ------------------- 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 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: Dreds #1 From Tanya Burr As Found At the 2010 San Diego Comic Con International!     - Above Photo:  The Front Cover to Dreds #1 by Tanya Burr. - At the Top Left: Tanya Burr shows her self published works to Michael D Hamersky Under The Sails at the 2010 Comic Con International: San Diego.  - At the Bottom Left: The Logo to the Comic-Con International: San Diego.

Today's Feature: Blog #3282

Tina and I met Tanya Burr at the area known as 'Under The Sails Pavilion' on Preview Night of the 2010 SDCC.

Tanya showed us her first self published full sized comic book titled 'Dreds' #1, plus a couple other mini-comics that were also self published.

I've been wanting to blog about her since meeting her at the Comic-Con.

I'm taking the time now before the 2010 Year runs out... Would you believe Christmas is only 38 Days away when this blog is published?  Sheesh!

Dreds #1, which is pictured at the top right of this blog, is a 20 page black & white comic book.

The Front Cover of course gives a casual browser what the title and the character are. Good intro, and her name placement at the bottom left corner is a nice touch.

The inside front cover is the Credits Page, and acknowledgements as to who has encouraged her to that point, (printed in Tuscon, Arizona in November 2009).

The Splash page is just opposite of being a Splash Page.  Instead of a 'splash' the reader is eased into the story...

The rest of the interior pages are shown in odd shaped panels, full page layouts, and with pages with mostly text on them. 

What 'ties' the story all together are the 'dreds', which are pictured all over the place on the pages... But keeping within the theme of the comic book.

The inside back cover is titled 'About the Artist', which is a good insight into Tanya's background.  It was good that she shared this with the reader.

The back cover shows just the name of her web site to see more of her work at, CowHatNinja.com, which by the way, is why she is wearing that style of hat in the top left photo of this post standing by me!

I found that that I wanted to encourage her into continuing her passion into making comics.  You see, Tanya had worked six years at her local comic book shop, (LCBS), which gave her the insight into the inner workings of the industry from a retail perspective.  Instead of following so many other persons that have worked at their LCBS, and wish they could break into comics, Tanya has taken the first steps into actually doing so!

Besides having her own domain name, Tanya also has a deviant art site at: cowhat-ninja.deviantart.com that you could look at.

To order a copy of this comic book, and possibly ask about her other works, which I do not have room here to review, you can contact her at: cowhatninja@yahoo.com. 

My rating for Dreds #1 is: A VERY FINE (VF) 8.0 out of a 10.0 comic book grading scale.

My thanks to Tanya Burr for showing Tina and myself her comics works thus far in her journey!

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PLUS: My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now over 3,280 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!  We currently have over 2,010 'Followers'!  Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button!  And for those of YOU that haven't yet...I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

Note: 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)! As of last night, November 16th, I've opened up the beginnings of a Facebook Fan Page for my comics reviews and sales.  More on that soon!   Plus I have a chapter in a new book coming out in December of 2010, that is pictured above, "Gotham City 14 Miles"!  Click here to become a 'Fan' of the GC14M Facebook Fan Page! 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'. Please Note: I have reached the maximum of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages already, so it might be a while before I am able to accept your request. Just send a message along with the invite that you saw my Blog!         ------------------- 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 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: The Killer - Modus Vivendi Issue #5 (of 6) From Archaia Entertainment!   - Above Photo:  The Front Cover of Issue #5 of The Killer - Modus Vivendi! - At the Top Left: The Logo for Archaia Entertainment LLC. - At the Bottom Left: The Front Cover of Issue #3 of The Killer - Modus Vivendi! .

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3281:

Back in Blog #3261 I blogged about Issues #3 & 4 of this 6 issue mini-series, titled: 'The Killer - Modus Vivendi'. 

Today's post is a follow up on that blog, as I have received issue #5 of the series for possible review.

Plus, there is the fact that this comic book will go on sale at YOUR Local Comic Book Shop, (LCBS), on Wednesday, November 17th, and I wanted to bring it to YOUR attention before you go there!

Here is what this series had as an opening promo blurb:

The Killer Returns

"It was my only chance to save my skin... play one side against the other, give myself away to no one, or else I was dead. In other words, I was alone... almost.  As usual.  Alone in my skin and bones, like everyone else.  Alone with my will to make it out alive."

Here is what Issue #3 was about, (which is the issue that I started reading this mini-series):

In the third installment of 'Modus Vivendi' the Killer finds himself in Cuba, in reluctant pursuit of his next target. The Killer is not one to have his strings pulled however, especially by men he's never met fact to face.

In an effort to maintain his way of life, the Killer allies himself with a beautivul Cuban agent who aims to protect the man the Killer is tasked with killing.  The water's about to get even murkier.

(W) Matz  (A) Luc Jacamon (Cover) Luc Jacamon.

Retail Price $3.95 U.S.  Page Count 32 pages

Format: saddle bound, 6.875" x 10.25", full color.

Please Note:  Mature Readers!  (Series contians Nudity, Graphic Violence and Adult Content).

This is what Issue #4 is about:

The action heats up in part four of 'The Killer: Modus Vivendi'.  The fix is in.  The Killer is looking to end his dealings with the Americans and in a fashion far more considerate of human life than he is accustomed to.  It's a done deal. Money in the bank.

But the job isn't always done when it's done.  A violent attack and a chance encounter reveal something dangerous below the surface. A lurking monster.  A deadly killer. 

Note: Credits and other info same as for Issue 3

So what is 'My Take' on this fifth issue in the six volume mini-series?

I've already mentioned in the earlier blog #3261 how I don't like coming in to mini-series that have already started. 

However, I gave Issue #3 a try, and was glad I did!

So what is it aobut issue #5 that made want to blog further on this series?

Well... The front cover is striking,  and shows some 'action' for a change, LOL!

The inside pages are well written, and carry the storyline further in this the 5th of the 6 issues planned. 

The artwork is rendered very well, and once again the nudity in the interior pages is tastefully presented. Please remember that this nudity, and the graphic violence depicted in the interior pages does make the 'MR' rating shown on the front cover, mean what it says...

All too soon issue #5 had those words..."to be continued".

As I mentioned before, I found the earlier issues I read, (only #3 & 4), made this a good mini-series to read, and once again I'm wondering about how soon a TPB compiling all six issues would be published...

Personally I enjoy reading 'floppies' on a monthly basis, but others do not.  To me, this storyline is deserving to be read in both formats, 'floppy' and TBP, so it is a case of what You prefer to read.  Once I got started in this series, I wanted to continue on...  

Anyways...For Now...My comic book grade for this stand alone issue in the six issue mini-series is a VERY FINE / NEAR MINT (VF/NM) 9.0 on a 10.0 comic book grading scale. Probably due to the fact that there was more 'action' in this issue, and I'm not talking about the sex scene!

Here is the link to Archaia so that YOU can purchase the single issues.

Here is the Facebook Fan Page for Archaia, which I suggest YOU 'like' also to keep up with what this publisher is presenting next.

My thanks to Archaia for bringing this series to my attention!

PLUS: My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at the 3,280 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!  We currently have over 2,030 'Followers'!  Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button!  And for those of YOU that haven't yet...I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

Note: 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)! Plus I have a chapter in a new book coming out in December of 2010, that is pictured above, "Gotham City 14 Miles"!  Click here to become a 'Fan' of the GC14M Facebook Fan Page! 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'. Please Note: I have reached the maximum of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages already, so it might be a while before I am able to accept your request. Just send a message along with the invite that you saw my Blog!         ------------------- 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: Escape From Terra Volume 1 From Big Head Press!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3280:

Today's blog is on a graphic novel that was mailed in to me before the recent November elections took place.

I say that before starting 'My Take', (review), on this compilation of web comics, because this is on one of the most thought provoking sequential art publications that have been sent in or given to me at comic cons for the year of 2010.

Here is what the promo blurb stated that this book was about:

Thus I'm giving this a Review Rating: 9.2 NEAR MINT MINUS (NM-) out of a possible 10.0 Comic Book Grading scale.  A better intro at the beginning would have been helpful! The characters are well written, the storylines flow well, and the artwork suits this genre. 

Future volumes, and even this volume if it is printed in a 2nd Edition, would benefit from an intro section with character bios / illos, etc. 

What I am talking about is what I actually found on this web comic's 'About' page at this link. This is what could / should have been printed in this volume to help guide possible new readers into buying this volume after picking it up at a book store, comic book shop, etc.

It would also have been a lot easier for me to really get into this story right away, read it fully, and then blog about it quicker.

Other than that lack of an intro, this volume 1 of this web comic in print is a darn good read!

So much so, I'm posting a link here on how to easily purchase it for yourself to read if you are not close to a comic book shop or book store: ESCAPE FROM TERRA Volume 1.

Product Description:

Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Big Head Press; First edition (July 7, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0974381470
ISBN-13: 978-0974381473
Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches 

My Thanks to those at Big Head Press for sending this 'Thoughtful Stories' graphic novel to my attention!

PLUS: My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now over 3,279 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!  We currently have over 2,010 'Followers'!  Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button!  And for those of YOU that haven't yet...I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

Note: 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)! Plus I have a chapter in a new book coming out in December of 2010, that is pictured above, "Gotham City 14 Miles"!  Click here to become a 'Fan' of the GC14M Facebook Fan Page! 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'. Please Note: I have reached the maximum of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages already, so it might be a while before I am able to accept your request. Just send a message along with the invite that you saw my Blog!         ------------------- 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 The Expert's Guide On: How To Kill THINGS That Go BumP In The NIGHT! Volume I: Reality Bites Back     - Above Photo:  The Front Cover to The Expert's Guide On: How To Kill Things That Go BUMP In The NIGHT! Volume 1. - At the Top Left: Robert W Zailo at the recent San Gabriel Valley Comic Book Festival held in September.  - At the Bottom Left: Robert was just recently at the Long Beach Comic Con in California during the Halloween Weekend!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3279:

I visited with Robert W. Zailo at the recent Long Beach Comic Con, (LBCC). 

Which reminded me that I hadn't yet blogged about issue #1 of his TPB that he gave me at the San Gabriel Valley Comic Book Festival in September for a possible review blog.

As stated here before... At times I do get a little behind on comics / graphic novels that I would want to blog about, IF I attend multiple conventions during each quarter of the year, which I've been doing now for the past two quarters. There are even more comic cons & pop culture cons than ever before it seems! 

I also only blog once a day now at the most, as I've been on a three month on-site project... but as you can see, this is blog #3279 in total numbers, so I do get around to those publications that grab my interest or that are unique enough to be blog worthy!

Here is what this TPB is about, per the web site:

The Experts’ Guide on How to Kill Things That Go Bump in the Night is an Ignatz-nominated horror/comedy about the world of monster hunting, as seen through the newly-inducted Expert Simon.

(Additionally, from the back of the publication...) Simon is a normal teenager. At least, normal for someone that sees dead people.  He's been looking for help, and now he's found them:  THE EXPERTS! 

Traveling arcross the country in their tricked-out RV, the Experts deal wsiht the worst villains - Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy and the Invisible Man.  And if Simon is going to survive traveling with them, he's going to need every ghost he can find.  

Okay...So what is 'My Take' on this web comic compilation in TPB format?

Inside Front Cover:  The credits are immediately shown as to whom are involved with this production.  That would be Darren J. Gendron, (writer), and Robert Zailo, (artist).  In addition, there are character illos / bios to help introduce you to the main characters, which is another good thing! 

Splash Page:  Starts right in with a story page!

The Interior Pages: The interior pages are black & white, which is okay for this genre of story.  The stories seemed to read in a sort of 'jumpy' way for me when first reading it.

When I went to the web site that was suggested to look at, I realized that this was first a web comic that had been written in different chapters when presented on the web. 

I didn't get that impression when reading this in printed format.  At first I thought I was reading a 'graphic novel', which is why it seemed kind of 'jumpy' in story presentation.

I'm thinking there should have been 'intro chapter pages' for each chapter, which would have lessened my confusion when first reading this.  Or a 'Table of Contents', (TOC), outlining this fact would have been good. 

The artwork fit the storylines that were presented.  Black & white pages were just fine for this presentation.

At the end there were a few extra pages...

There was an 'Application To Become An Expert'.  I like that 'touch'.

Also a schematic for the 'Mystery Airstream' - another nice feature.

Then there was the one page feature: 'The Weapons Locker' - Which showed that this project had been thought out in its presentation on the web.

Lastly for the interior pages, was the ad page to go to ExpertComic.com, which is the re-direction url to the web comic. Pretty sharp advertising!

The Inside Back Cover: Was the ad from the printing company that printed this publication, ComiXpress.

The back cover was the promo copy text for those casual browsers in a book store looking at publications front and back covers, before thumbing through the interior pages. The back cover blended in with the format that was shown on the front cover, in a sort of wrap-a-round fashion.

Overall, my thoughts on the printed format for this project were 'mixed'.  That is, I first thought it was a graphic novel, because of the format it was printed as.  I first read it that way, and found that the lack of clear distinct chapters, (at least to me), were just a little confusing or jumpy to me.

The story background was a good one, and original, and I give it kudos for that.  The artwork fit the genre of this story.  The black and white pages also fit the presentation of the storylines published here.  The additional pages introducing the characters, and the additional info on the team's weapons and mode of transportation were informative and added value to the printed format.

Yet, I found that after realizing it was a web comic, that the printed format for this web comic didn't come over as well for me in this first volume.  There are more volumes planned.  As well as additional pages to be found at the web comic itself. I'm sure that the next volume could have a 'TOC' added easily enough.

My final thoughts are that I found that this project had a good premise and storylines. Just that it could be a little more 'defined' when it is brought to the printed format.  

Thus my 'comic book grade' for this publication is a VERY FINE / VERY FINE PLUS (VF/VF+) 8.25 on a 10.0 comic book grading scale.

Here is the link to the web site so that YOU can check out the web comic additional pages, and find how to purchase this publication online, if your own LCBS doesn't have it in stock: ExpertComic.con !

My thanks to Robert for bringing this 1st volume of the series to my attention at both the San Gabriel Valley Comic Book Festival, and this past weekend's Long Beach Comic Con!

PLUS: My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now over 3,275 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!  We currently have over 2,010 'Followers'!  Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button!  And for those of YOU that haven't yet...I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

Note: 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)! Plus I have a chapter in a new book coming out in December of 2010, that is pictured above, "Gotham City 14 Miles"!  Click here to become a 'Fan' of the GC14M Facebook Fan Page! 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'. Please Note: I have reached the maximum of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages already, so it might be a while before I am able to accept your request. Just send a message along with the invite that you saw my Blog!         ------------------- 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.