Michael D Hamersky On Comics: Poppie's Adventures - Serpents In Paradise     - Above Photo: Jack Hsu at the 2010 Long Beach Comic Con (LBCC). With the 'Poppie's Adventures: Serpents In Paradise - by Julie Yeh & Jack Hsu -

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3335:

Tina and I met Jack Hsu in Artist's Alley at the recent 2010 Long Beach Comic Con, (a.k.a. LBCC).  Jack had a full table of a graphic novel that had just come in from the printers, which Tina immediately blogged about.  I soon followed.

After Tina had expressed her interest in reading that latest graphic novel, Jack pulled out a publication that had seen print a few years earlier.  It's taken until now to blog about, because we received so many publications for possible review at the LBCC, and other comic cons since then. As well as the dozens that have been sent in the mail for possible review also.

However, that is not to say that this isn't a good read.  Here's what the web site for Poppie's Adventures say about the book:

"Poppie's Adventures tracks the adventures of Poppie Field, a talented 17 year old young woman who decides to take some time off from her first year in college to experience the working world. She lands her first job as a writer with a travel magazine, and during her first assignment, she makes the acquaintance of Ham, a young Asian American photographer who will become her sidekick in all future stories.

In each issue of the series,Poppie and Ham will be sent to new exotic locales to cover travel stories.They will inadvertently become entangled in adventures involving some piece of history, geography, or culture unique to the country or location they are in.

In the debut issue, Serpents in Paradise, Poppie and Ham are assigned to cover the Island of Hawaii.

While there, they happen upon an evil snake worshipping cult that seeks to introduce non-indigenous snake to Hawaii, and thus threatening to destroy its delicate ecological balance. It will be up to Poppie and Ham to stop them. In the story, the readers are introduced to the Kilauea Volcano of Hawaii, the legend of the volcano goddess Pele, and the ecology of the beautiful Hawaiian islands."

My thanks again to Jack Hsu for bringing both of his graphic novels to our attention at the LBCC!

~Michael D Hamersky

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,185 '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!!!

~ Michael D Hamersky 

If I have it... You can find it 'Under The Big Top Of Comics' at:   ComicBooksCircus.com 

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safarai, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers 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.

Comics Creators: If you are breaking into, or already work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email or mail us press releases, news items, and updates that you feel would be of interest to our blog readers. Including YOUR own works!!  (Note:  I don't list my email address here, due to 'spambots' gathering it and 'spamming' me. 

To mail printed items to us for possible review, send to:

Make It So Marketing Inc., PO Box 130653, Carlsbad, CA 92013, USA

 Also, if you are a Facebook member, I would have liked you to have sent me a 'Friend Request'.

However, I have reached the maximum limit of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages in my network already, so I've added a New 'Facebook Fan Page' for myself so that even more of YOU can 'Like' what I am doing, and be interactive with me and others there. 

Here is the link to that 'Facebook Fan Page': Michael D Hamersky On Comics! Please click the 'Like' button on that page! 

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Michael D Hamersky On Comics: So Does FantaCo's Chronicles Super Sized Annual #1 Ring True... ...After 27 Years?     -

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3334:

In a recent collection that I picked up for resale in my online comic book shop, (ComicBooksCircus.com),  I came across another FantaCo publication in a series that was called 'FantaCo's Chronicles'.  This was numbered Annual #1, and dated 1983.

You may ask, what would a publication that was dated back in 1983 make me want to blog about it?

Especially one that was published to be a 'reference' tool or a 'guide' to comic book series.  Wouldn't it be out of date by now?

Well, trust me on this one... These chronicles were first printed before the rise of the internet, yet can still be worthwhile to read AND keep in your collection, or even pass them on to younger, newer readers who don't have the 'history' with the titles that we older readers / collectors have. 

I have given the FantaCo's Chronicles #5 - The Spider-Man magazine to my youngest son, so that he can fill in the 'gaps' between the issues that he doesn't have in his own Amazing Spider-Man collection. (As seen to the left.)

I have even kept the FantaCo's Chronicles #2 which featured the Fantastic Four for my own reference. 

That is how much I value these now OOP publications.

Of course, Marvel Comics has since published their own indexes, but these aFantaCo magazines are pretty darn good almost three decades later!

Which brings me to the publication that this blog's title is about. The FantaCo's Chronicles Super-Sized Annual #1.

So what exactly was this publication about?  This was a publication that printed systematic reviews of comic book titles in an alphabetical manner by series title.  More than just dwelling on Marvel Comics titles, like the earlier FantaCo's Chronicles, this publication gave 'snapshots' of titles both cancelled, ongoing, and brand new series or one-shots of the time, from many comics publishers. Including Tower Comics, Gold Key Comics, DC Comics, ACG Comics and others.

Additionally, there were some forthright POVs that were placed in the reviews of the individual titles. While I may not agree 100% with all of the POVs expressed on titles covered in this publication, I was amazed at how many I felt 'hit the mark' in covering the strengths and exposing the weaknesses of the titles. 

I mentioned that I gave a copy of the Fantaco Chronicles on Spider-Man to my youngest son.  I would recommend giving this to those newcomers coming into the hobby of collecting comics, or just wanting back issue comic book series, but are hesistant to spend the money on a series without knowing what they are getting into.

This Annual #1 definitely pulls no punches.  Dud series are called duds. Mediocre titles are called out also.  Of course, titles with long years of history have several 'ups and downs' during the years they were published.  'Key reading issues' are hi-lighted, and those to avoid are also mentioned.

It must have taken a lot of thought by these reviewers who submitted the reviews to call 'em as they saw 'em.  Again, I'm not 100% in agreement with several of the reviews, but for the most part, I would agree with the majority of the reviews.  This is a good 'primer' for the comic book titles that were published up to 1983 when this magazine was first published.  You should be able to pick this magazine up online for a LOT less than other indexes that are printed by the titles publishers, which will just list the credits / characters / etc., but without unbiased reviews of the series.

My Review Rating for this publication is VERY FINE / NEAR MINT (VF/NM) 9.0 out of a possible 10.0 Comic Book Grading scale.

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

While I'm at here today, I want to add an addendum to this blog post...

Here's a little bit of background on the publisher of this Chronicles series.

FantaCo Enterprises was more than just an American comic book publishing company with this series of 'Chronicles', which included covering: the X-Men, Fantastic Four, Daredevil, Avengers, and Spider-Man.  Which is what I know them best for, other than another series that I enjoyed, that of the seven volumes of the humorous  Fred Hembeck series, of which an example is shown to the left! 

The company 'FantaCo' actually started as a Local Comic Book Shop (LCBS) in 1978.  It also had a mail-order business.  It then started running FantaCon  from 1979- 1990 which was a hybrid comic / film / rock n' roll / horror con. 

Then it actually broke into the comic book publishing industry in 1980!   Plus it published magazines and books! That was a lot of growth in such a short period of time!

The person behind this fantastic growth  was the founder Thomas Skulan, who based the company in Albany, New York.

In addition to Thomas, many of the store's employees, including Mitch Cohn, Roger Green, and Raoul Vezina, also worked on the published FantaCo titles in various creative capacities.

Things were going well for FantaCo, until like many other companies during the the mid-1990s bursting of the speculators bubble, the company fell on hard times.  The company continued for a while, printing other titles, but in 1998, the whole operations closed its doors.

Here is a link to the Grand Comics Database where most of the titles published by the company are listed.  I notice that not all of the Chronicles titles are listed, so possibly other titles are not fully listed either. 

As mentioned at the top of this blog post, I bought this back issue as part of a collection to sell in my online LCBS.  I usually stock a few of the Chronicles issues, as well as the Hembeck Issues in that online shop, as there is a 'steady' amount of readers / collectors searching for those publications.  If in stock they would be listed at - ComicBooksCircus.com. As they are OOP, the supply doesn't always meet the demand, so be patient when you either search my web site or others websites for those issues!

~Michael D Hamersky

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,185 '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!!!

~ Michael D Hamersky 

If I have it... You can find it 'Under The Big Top Of Comics' at:   ComicBooksCircus.com 

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safarai, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers 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.

Comics Creators: If you are breaking into, or already work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email or mail us press releases, news items, and updates that you feel would be of interest to our blog readers. Including YOUR own works!!  (Note:  I don't list my email address here, due to 'spambots' gathering it and 'spamming' me. 

To mail printed items to us for possible review, send to:

Make It So Marketing Inc., PO Box 130653, Carlsbad, CA 92013, USA

 Also, if you are a Facebook member, I would have liked you to have sent me a 'Friend Request'.

However, I have reached the maximum limit of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages in my network already, so I've added a New 'Facebook Fan Page' for myself so that even more of YOU can 'Like' what I am doing, and be interactive with me and others there. 

Here is the link to that 'Facebook Fan Page': Michael D Hamersky On Comics! Please click the 'Like' button on that page! 

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Michael D Hamersky On Comics: All The Way With MLJ! As Seen In Alter Ego #82     -

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3333:

I picked up a large run of back issues of 'Alter Ego' magazine edited by Roy Thomas, and published by TwoMorrows at the 2010 San Diego Comic Con.  Of which I've already blogged about one that was 'current' at the time in July of 2010; issue #95, which featured a cover story on Marie Severin.

This Blog of mine hasn't covered 'Alter Ego' that much in the past, although I do enjoy reading it, as well as several other publications published by TwoMorrows.

One issue in this Alter Ego series that recently 'jumped out at me' when pulling back issues for a customer of my own online 'Local Comic Book Shop' ComicBooksCircus.com, was issue #82, which featured 'All The Way With MLJ', which I had not read to date.  It was seeing superheroes that I hadn't thought about for a while that made me pull it to read.

I opened it up and became fascinated with the early history of MLJ Comics, which was the 'forerunner name' of Archie Comics.  I couldn't help but keep reading it, because of the well crafted articles, AND the MLJ Comics Super-Hero Index (1939 - 1948).

As I have stated before in this Blog, I grew up on 'funnybooks' in the late 1950's, and then started reading western comics with photo covers from my favorite TV Shows that were on at the time, (Dell Comics).

I didn't start truly 'collecting' comics until coming across what would become 'Marvel Comics'.  Without an 'Overstreet Price Guide' or access to 'fanzines' during those years, (as there weren't any that I was aware of in the early 60's), I fell for the way that Stan Lee made me, and hundreds of thousands of other readers, feel like 'part' of the Marvel Gang! 

However, it wasn't until Fantasy Masterpieces #3 was published, cover dated June of 1966), that I was truly able to 'tie' in the fact that Marvel had a 'Golden Age' dating back to the 1939, where several of the new found characters that I enjoyed to read had a 'prior history'.   

By the period that superheroes had really come back into newstand distribution, circa 1963 - 1966 for me in the San Diego Metro Area, and on the Naval Base at Kodiak Island, Alaska, I had pretty much settled in on 'collecting' Marvel Comics, because of Stan / Jack / Steve / Don / & the rest of the 'Bullpen'. 

Not that I didn't 'read' other comics.  Because I did.  But the fact that 'my' Marvel Comics had a 'back history', made me realize I was onto something that had been around for quite a while. 

Remember that 'comics fandom' had just started getting organized a few years earlier, and I was just a young teenager. 

I do wish now that Michelle Nolan's MLJ Index referred to above, had been vailable before it was first published in 1969. That would have been so helpful! But then again, even Michellle had to seek the assistance of several comics dealers to find all of the back issues to write on! 

My earliest knowledge of any superhero titles that we now connect with 'Archie Comics' were 'The Shadow' #7 cover dated July of 1965, (seen to the left), which I truly enjoyed, probably because of the fine artwork by Paul Reinman, who I enjoyed seeing his work earlier in Marvel Comics on the Sci-Fi titles there. (Although The Shadow was NOT part of the earlier MLJ superheroes line.) 

Plus Fly Man #32 featuring the Mighty Crusaders [Fly-Man [Thomas Troy]; the Comet [John Dickering]; The Shield [Bill Higgins]; and the Black Hood [Matthew Burland]. Artwork once again by Paul Reinman! 

I tried to find more of these comics while in Alaska in 1965, but distribution there was so slim that I could only find a couple more.  And by that time, as I stated, I was really 'into' Marvel Comics, and thought that this 'Shield' was very similar to 'Captain America' that I was already reading, not realizing who came first!

As quoted from Wikipedia: "The Shield first appeared in MLJ's Pep Comics #1 (cover dated January 1940). The character was created by writer Harry Shorten and artist Irv Novick. At the end of the 1930s, America was feeling patriotic, and The Shield was the first patriotic hero. He was soon followed by three other patriotic comic characters: Minute-Man (cover date February 1941), Captain America (cover date March 1941), and Captain Battle (cover date May 1941)".

Mentioning 'Irv Novick'... There is also a really good article on Irv in this same issue of Alter Ego.  I met Irv years ago at a San Diego Comic Con, before he passed away in 2004 at the age of 93.  I had become aware of his some of his history, but mostly from his work at DC Comics.

But before that, from about 1939 to 1946, Irv was working for MLJ Comics, which I have already mentioned above would become better known as Archie Comics. I found that Irv actually became the primary artist for their superhero comics titles during the MLJ years.  The characters in those titles were The Shield, Bob Phantom, The Hangman, and Steel Sterling.  That is, until MLJ switched their emphasis from superheroes to just Archie comics, due to the ever rising popularity of that feature.

There have been a few more attempts to bring these superheroes 'back' during recent decades.  However, as this issue of Alter Ego doesn't go into this, I'll also stop here.

I found that this Alter Ego #95 was a 'treasure trove' of information on the MLJ superheroes line, and can only wonder 'What If?'...

For those of YOU that enjoy reading comic book history, and didn't know about the background history of the MLJ / Archie line of superhero comics... Then this issue is perfect to catch up with their earliest history!  I only wish a magazine like this had been around in the early 1960s with this information. 

(Actually there was, as Alter Ego was founded as a fanzine by Jerry Bails in 1961, and then later taken over by Roy Thomas before he became a 'comics pro'. There were ten issues that were released through 1969, with issue #11 following nine years later. I just didn't see them before 1966.)  

Note: As stated above, I also missed Michelle Nolan's earlier 1969 print run of the MLJ Comics Super-Hero Index, as seen to the left. 

My Review Rating for Alter Ego #82: NEAR MINT (NM) 9.4 out of a possible 10.0 Comic Book Grading scale.

My thanks to John Morrow of TwoMorrows for bringing the then current issues to my attention.  John has a Facebook Fan Page for TwoMorrows  Publishing, which publishes Alter Ego, as well as other fine magazines.

As mentioned at the top of this blog post, I also have back issues of Alter Ego, as well as several of the other magazines published by TwoMorrows in my own online 'LCBS' - ComicBooksCircus.com - should the publisher be out of stock.

~Michael D Hamersky - Who is pleased to see this Blog reach 'issue' #3333 today!

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,180 '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!!!

~ Michael D Hamersky 

You can find it 'Under The Big Top Of Comics' at:   ComicBooksCircus.com 

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safarai, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers 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.

Comics Creators: If you are breaking into, or already work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email or mail us press releases, news items, and updates that you feel would be of interest to our blog readers. Including YOUR own works!!  (Note:  I don't list my email address here, due to 'spambots' gathering it and 'spamming' me. 

To mail printed items to us for possible review, send to:

Make It So Marketing Inc., PO Box 130653, Carlsbad, CA 92013, USA

 Also, if you are a Facebook member, I would have liked you to have sent me a 'Friend Request'.

However, I have reached the maximum limit of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages in my network already, so I've added a New 'Facebook Fan Page' for myself so that even more of YOU can 'Like' what I am doing, and be interactive with me and others there. 

Here is the link to that 'Facebook Fan Page': Michael D Hamersky On Comics! Please click the 'Like' button on that page! 

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Michael D Hamersky On Comics: John Carpenter's Snake Plissken Chronicles Preview Issue and #1 - #4 From Hurricane Entertainment!     -

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3332:

As I stated back in Blog #3320, I have seen Tone Rodriguez at several comic cons during the last couple of years.

I also stated that I had not seen his comics works, although I knew that he had illustrated several comic book stories and series, as seen at this link to the Grand Comics Database.

So the last time I saw him at a comic con, the 2010 Long Beach Comic Con (LBCC) to be exact, I actually talked to him for the longest time ever, in between his illustrating commissions at his table in the Artists Alley of the LBCC.  He's always busy at comic con illustrating, as he has a large following!

That led to him showing me packages of the comic books and series that he had illustrated for.  I've already blogged about the 'Best Radioactive Man Event Ever' in Blog #3220, and today I'm going to blog about a series that I missed when it first came out...

'John Carpenter's Snake Plissken Chronicles' from Hurricane Entertainment / Crossgen.  The 'Special Preview' issue was published August of 2002, and the mini-series was published June 2003 to February 2004.

The 'Special Preview' issue had a color cover, but the interior pages were black and white.  The illustrated pages were actually the beginning pages for issue #1, but in B&W.  A 2 page background text article was also printed, telling of the concept of transforming the film series to comic book format.

Then villain concepts were shown, vehicles, and a pin-up gallery of 'Snake Plissken', whose likeness of course is based on actor Kurt Russell, who portrayed 'Snake' in the films.

This was a very good introduction to the then upcoming mini-series. Although I missed the entire comic book series back then, this 'Special Preview' had I seen it, would have led me to want to seek the mini-series out when it was published in the Spring of 2003.  That is definitely the 'purpose' of a 'Sneak Preview' comic book or mini-comic!

I read the full series & preview in order in the packet that Tone gave for review consideration. As stated above, the 1st issue took the B&W pages presented in the 'Special Preview' issue and presented them in color. The rest of the story was shown. Of course, since it was a mini-series, the last page of the story had the 'To Be Continued' box.

The next page had a one-page 'house ad' showing the 'Violent Messiahs' mini-series that had been created by the Writer and Artist of this Snake Plissken Chronicles series.  I haven't mentioned William O'Neill, who was the writer of both series. 

The following three pages were additional sketches  and text showing the concept art for this Snake Plissken Chronicles series, which was interesting reading. There was also a 3 page 'teaser' for another Hurricane Entertainment property, 'The Diplomats', that I won't go into.

So for a 1st Issue, this really got me wanting to read more!

Which I did!  Issue 2 continued the storyline in a fine manner, as did issues 3 & 4.  Yes, I may be a little 'prejudiced' in favor of the series due to the fact that I 'know' the penciller of this series a little.

Yet, I found the storyline, the pencils, the colors, and the 'xtras' included in this series to be all that I would want to follow another adventure of 'Snake Plissken' in a comic book format.  Plus 'Kurt Russell' himself was depicted very well as 'Snake Plissken' in this series.  I have see other series that didn't depict the actors that played main characters depicted as well as this one did. 

And yes, I did 'Like' the 'Snake Plissken' films that were on the 'Big Screen'. So I was already 'introduced' to the character via those films.

This comic book mini-series was a well produced one, and I'm sorry it took me this look to read it!  So I'm taking the time today to 'review blog it' here. 

Review Rating for this mini-series: 9.2 NEAR MINT MINUS (NM-) out of a possible 10.0 Comic Book Grading scale.

The reason for that is because of the multiple covers that the publisher had for this mini-series, which is a 'tactic' that I am not in favor of generally. There were 3 covers for issue #1, 2 covers for #2, 2 covers for #3, and 2 covers for #4.  However, that is just my POV on this 'gimmick', and may not be your POV.  I know of several persons who enjoy collecting multiple covers, so to each his own.  In today's economy, I do know that is a possible 'burden' to some, which is why I mention it here.  Especially for 'completists', which I once was...

Additional comic book mini-series have not been produced, and as a matter of fact, the whole 'Snake Plissken' additional adventures on film or TV have been in 'development hell' for years.  A shame actually...

At this point of time, I don't have a link as to where you can buy this mini-series or special preview, as the publisher has gone under.

If you are in the SoCal area, you could buy it from Tone Rodriguez himself at a comic con. 

Tone does not have a Facebook Fan Page for himself, otherwise I would point you to that site.

There is a Facebook 'author' page for Tone, but it does not have a link to communicate with him.

Tone Rodriguez does have a 'Facebook Member Profile Page', and he is not maxed out at this time with the 5,000 Facebook Friends 'Limit' like I am.  However, please be informed that as many comic books creators are, he is very busy creating, and doesn't have all the 'free time' needed to communicate promptly to 'Friends Requests' or wall posts.

I can usually 'see' where Tone will be exhibiting next by his posts on his Facebook Wall, but with 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan Pages 'Liked', I can't keep track of all of the comics creators I am 'Facebook Friends' with.  I do try to let my own Fan Page readers know of current events there, but my 'free time' is also limited at times during projects I am working on.

My Thanks again to Tone Rodriguez for bringing this mini-series to my attention at the recent 2010 LBCC!  I am appreciating more and more his versatility in different genres of comics.  This was quite different from his illustrated art in the Bongo Comics 'Best Radioactive Man Event Ever' trilogy!

~Michael D Hamersky

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,175 '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!!!

~ Michael D Hamersky 

You can find it 'Under The Big Top Of Comics' at:   ComicBooksCircus.com 

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safarai, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers 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.

Comics Creators: If you are breaking into, or already work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email or mail us press releases, news items, and updates that you feel would be of interest to our blog readers. Including YOUR own works!!  (Note:  I don't list my email address here, due to 'spambots' gathering it and 'spamming' me. 

To mail printed items to us for possible review, send to:

Make It So Marketing Inc., PO Box 130653, Carlsbad, CA 92013, USA

 Also, if you are a Facebook member, I would have liked you to have sent me a 'Friend Request'.

However, I have reached the maximum limit of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages in my network already, so I've added a New 'Facebook Fan Page' for myself so that even more of YOU can 'Like' what I am doing, and be interactive with me and others there. 

Here is the link to that 'Facebook Fan Page': Michael D Hamersky On Comics! Please click the 'Like' button on that page! 

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Michael D Hamersky On Comics: Atomman Limited Edition An Al Barrett Production!     -

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3331:

I have been communicating with Al Barrett since June of 2010, when he brought his creation to my attention.

That creation would be Atomman, which he started back in 2005.

All of what I had seen of Atomman was online, posted on the Atomman FanClub Group page,  and on the Atomman Comics Profile Page that Al had started for this fictional character.

I told Al, (pictured at the top left of this blog), as I have told all creators since March of 2010, when so many .pdfs of comics and links to online comics or webcomics came in for me to read, that I no longer found it possible for me to read comics online when I am on my laptop or Droid.  I found myself overwhelmed with all the product that is online, and that I either am blogging / networking / publicizing for clients / or listing comics while online.  I found that I am still a 'tactile' reader for my 'pleasure' reading. 

Al understood the above and recently mailed me a newly reprinted / upgraded copy of Atomman #1 in a 'Limited Edition' from Quebec, Canada.

The following is what Al provided as the promo blurb for this first issue of the Atomman series:

The origin of Atomman: John Smith, an ordinary soldier is exposed to the radiations of an atomic explosion in a 1947 bomb test. He encounters the cavern of a guardian and travels through time. 

So what is 'My Take' on this first issue of the series?

I had already seen several samples of the artwork, due to my exposure of being introduced to the Atomman FanClub and the Atomman Comics profile as mentioned above.

Al states that his black & white comic book is Silver Age / Bronze Age 'like' in substance and style.

I found that the artwork was of this period, but with more of an 'Underground Comix' feel, one that is still being used today for some self published comics / mini-comics that have been sent in for possible review.

The comic book that I received from Al is a little larger in width & height than most comics I am sent. I actually have bagged it into a 'magazine' sized bag to protect it until it was time to review blog it here.

The storyline in issue #1 starts off feasibly, which I know something about, after visiting the Atomic Testing Museum in Las Vegas over our recent Holidays Vacation trip.

Then it goes into an adventure / fantasy / sci-fi mode, which mixes well with the artwork style that is presented in this issue, and all the other artwork I've seen posted on the Facebook group page and profile page for Atomman.

There are 20 pages in this revised / updated first issue.  In black & white.  Which mixes well with this first issue's story taking place in 1947. 

There are at least ten issues so far in this series. The 2nd issue time jumps into the 1980's.

I'm pleased that Al sent me a hard copy to possibly review blog.  I now understand more of the 'approach' of what he is doing with this creation. For those of you that enjoy an independent style of artwork, which I consider to be in an 'underground comix' presentation / format, without the 'extreme language' that known for that genre, then you should take a closer look of what is already presented online, and then inquire as to where you could purchase copies. 

Review Rating for this Classic ReIssue Limited Edition: 8.25 VERY FINE / VERY FINE PLUS (VF/VF+) out of a possible 10.0 Comic Book Grading scale.

Retail Price (Not Shown - Is Canadian) Page count: 20 pages

Format: saddle bound, 7.25" x 11.0", color front cover and back, b&w interior

1st Issue (at least, and what is on the webpages) - General Audiences.

Here is the link to Atomman's Profile Page on Facebook.

Here is the Facebook Group Page for Atomman's FanClub, which I suggest YOU take a look at for more details and photos of some of the pages of the series that has been published so far.  You can inquire of what the back issues would cost, plus the shipping to your country from Al Barrett directly there.

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,170 'Followers'!  Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button!  And for those of YOU that haven't yet... We would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

~ Michael D Hamersky 

You can find it 'Under The Big Top Of Comics' at:   ComicBooksCircus.com 

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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.

Comics Creators: If you are breaking into, or already work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email or mail us press releases, news items, and updates that you feel would be of interest to our blog readers. Including YOUR own works!!  (Note:  I don't list my email address here, due to 'spambots' gathering it and 'spamming' me. 

To mail printed items to us for possible review, send to:

Make It So Marketing Inc., PO Box 130653, Carlsbad, CA 92013, USA

 Also, if you are a Facebook member, I would have liked you to have sent me a 'Friend Request'.

However, I have reached the maximum limit of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages in my network already, so I've added a New 'Facebook Fan Page' for myself so that even more of YOU can 'Like' what I am doing, and be interactive with me and others there. 

Here is the link to that 'Facebook Fan Page': Michael D Hamersky On Comics! Please click the 'Like' button on that page! 

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