www.ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Vinnie's Take On: Space Punks #2 from The Blas Studios
Mood:

caffeinated
Topic: Comic Books - New

Michael D Hamersky On Comics
Today, It's Vinnie's Take On:
Space Punks #2 from The Blas Studios

Above Photo: The Front Cover of Space Punks #2. Published by the Blas Studios. Photo to the top left: Josep Blas at the 2010 Long Beach Comic Con (LBCC)!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3339:

(Vinnie) Today I will be reviewing Space Punks issue #2. I was visiting my dad this weekend, so I asked if I could do some review blogs for him.

When going through the box of comics and graphic novels to review, I came across this comic book title that I remembered doing a blog on, but for issue one. So, I read it and I enjoyed it, just as I did the first one.

Well, I looked in the comic, on the website, and on the SpacePunks FaceBook Fan Page, yet found nothing on what the creator wanted Space Punks issue two, to represent. So keep in mind when reading this review that I am not basing it from what the creator wanted it represented it as.

The art was it's cartoony self, so I found that enjoyable. The story was interesting, and I did feel the continuation of the first issue. The lettering was pretty plain, but I do think highly of the letters being bigger, in bold, and capitalized when a character is yelling.

Overall, I liked the art and the story, and the previously mentioned part of the lettering. Any previous reader of my writings in my dad's blog may know that I enjoy cartoony art.

Well, this comic, Space Punks issue #2, is full of this art style. The story was interesting, and I definitely felt the continuation in issues that I think most comics should do, but don't. As the lettering was prettyplain, I was happy that they spiced it up by doing the aforementioned to the text.

The only thing that I didn't like was that it was in black and white. The previous issue was in black and white as well, which was kind of disappointing. When I was reading the first issue, I thought that maybe because the comic was new, and they didn't know if it would be liked or not, that they didn't want to put a big endeavor, and if it was not liked, than for nothing.

But since issue two was still in black and white, than I don't know. I just hope that when I read issue three, it will be in color.

Overall, I did enjoy Space Punks #2, just they need to work on getting it in color, (IMO). I give this comic a Very Fine Plus (VF+), an 8.5 out of a 10.0 grade scale.

~Vinnie

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

(From Michael:) Here is the info needed for you to be able to find this comic book and the earlier issue #1 for possible purchase:

Retail Price $4.00 Page count: 24 pages

The web site to buy from is at: SpacePunks.com

Update! Josep Blas has started a 'Facebook Fan Page' for himself as of January 21st of this year. The earlier blog post on issue #1 of Space Punks didn't have that link, as it was posted a month before in December of 2010.
Note: Vinnie makes it to as many comic cons with me as he can. He collects the 'Amazing Spider-Man' comic book series, but is open to read other titles from publishers that print titles that are age appropriate for him. He also has been attending 'behind the scenes' events, such as the one he blogged about ht here: Vinnie's Special 'Look at The Captain Rochester Party for the Artists' at the recent 2010 Comic-Con International: San Diego! He really had fun meeting and having dinner with Sergio Aragones, Bob Burden, Scott Shaw! and others there at this exclusive after hours Comic-Con Party in San Diego!
Also...If YOU liked Vinnie's guest review blog today, you may also enjoy reading Vinnie's other reviews on: Fraggle Rock Vol 2 #1, Mouse Guard - The Black Axe #1 of 6, Bear and Fox #2, Space Punks #1, The Daughters of Merlin #1, Sea Ghost #1, Mouse Guard: Legends of the Guard #4 (of 4), Clutch Cargo DVD, 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, The Possum #1 comic book, Vinnie's Take on Berona's War: Field Guide, just to name a recent few!
Thanks Vinnie, for guest blogging here today!
(Addendum to Vinnie's article - Please note that my youngest son, whom I believe is part of the 'target market' for this comic book series, is not a complete 'color snob', in that he only reads color comics. However, as he points out in his review, he would have expected it to be in color by the 2nd issue, and was disappointed that it wasn't. I find that several non-comics readers to whom I mention that I review comics are totally surprised that several of the comics that I receive to read and possibly review are with black & white interior pages... They are actually floored! So comics creators, keep that in mind when you targeting your markets for sales! I do realize the economics of b&w versus color, but that is where you need to figure 'marketing' into the costs of producing and actually selling your comics!)
~Michael D Hamersky On Comics

My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and the archived blog posts, now over 3,335 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 2,195 '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

Note: My online 'Local' Comic Book Shop (LCBS), carries many different genres of comics, magazines, graphic novels, and comic con promotional items. Possibly even copies of the item that was reviewed here today...!

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

If it isn't available in my online 'Local Comic Book Shop, (LCBS), then you may be able find it in my Amazon affiiate link, as seen here: Comics & Graphic Novels at Amazon!

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!

Posted by makeitsomarketing at 12:01 AM PST

Updated: Friday, February 4, 2011 9:44 AM PST

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Vinnie's Take On: Jim Henson's Fraggle Rock Volume Two - #1 of 3
Mood:

a-ok
Topic: Comic Books - New

Vinnie's Take On:
Jim Henson's Fraggle Rock Volume Two - #1 of 3

Above Photo: The Front Cover of Jim Henson's Fraggle Rock, Volume 2 - Issue #1 of 3, with Cover A shown.

Published by Archaia Entertainment!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3338:

(Vinnie) Today I will be reviewing Fraggle Rock Volume 2 Issue #1. I was over at my dad's house this past weekend, so I asked if there were any new publications to review that were age appropriate, and there were.

I found the Fraggle Rock, (pictured above), in the 'to be reviewed stack', so I asked if I could read and blog on this, and my dad said sure, as he had review blogged a different issue from the first volume!

Keep in mind that this is an anthology comic, so in this case, there are three stories, each by different people.

Fraggle Rock Vol. 2 - #1 (of 3)

(W) Grace Randolph, Jake Forbes and ose LeFavi (A) Chris Lie, Mark Simmons, Cory Godbey, and Katie Cook (Cover) David Petersen and Chris Lie (50/50 split)

Here is what the publisher has for the promo blurb:

Get ready to rock -- Fraggle style! Archaia and The Jim Henson Company follow up their highly acclaimed Fraggle Rock anthology series with a brand-new line of comics, featuring the antics of Gobo, Mokey, Wembley, Boober and Red! Worry is indeed for another day, as this new series features a stellar lineupof talent including: Grace Randolph (Muppet Peter Pan, Marvel Her-oes), Chris Lie (Return to Labyrinth), Jake Forbes (Return to Labyrinth) and Ross Campbell (Wet Moon, Shadoweyes)! Featuring a cover from Mouse Guard's David Petersen and activity pages from fan-favorite Katie Cook.

Story 1: Wembley and the Great Dream-Capade
This story was my favorite, and by far the longest, covering over half of this book, and 20 pages long. The art was amazing as it wasn't too realistic, yet not too cartoony, which is what I think Fraggle Rock is supposed to represent. The coloring was vibrant and definitely no where close to dull. The story was understandable, didn't leave me questioning anything, told a great tale, and most of all, told a great moral.

Story 2: Boober and the Ghastly Stain
This story was my second favorite, and was the shortest, with only four pages. The art didn't seem as flowing or graceful as the first story. The style kept changing and it seemed too realistic at some times, and too cartoony at others. The story was building excitement as the story went on, but it didn't really do anything with it by the time it was over.

Story 3: Brave Sir Wembley
This story was my least favorite, and was second longest, with 6 pages. The art was different in a way I didn't like. I don't know how to explain what it was. The coloring was very dull and dark, which I felt was the exact opposite of what Fraggle Rock is supposed to be. Even most of the characters looked different, so I could only know who was who based on their shirts, as it was apparent they wear the same ones all the time. The story was kind of awkward, dark,and mysterious. I just didn't really care for it.

Overall, I thought this was okay, but some of the stories I rated higher than others. Grading anthologies are hard to do! I give this overall comic, Fraggle Rock Volume 2 Issue #1 a Very Fine / Very Fine Plus (VF/VF+), an 8.25 out of a 10.0 grade scale.

I would recommend this to kids 13 and under, or to the parents of kids 10 and under to read it with them.

~Vinnie!

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

(From Michael:) Note to those reading this blog post: Fraggle Rock Vol 2 #1 of 3, went on sale: January 19th... Check it out TODAY at YOUR LCBS to pick up a copy!

Retail Price $3.95 Page count: 32 pages

Format: saddle bound, 8" x 8", full color

All ages

Here is the link to Archaia so that YOU can purchase either the single volumes or the collected work when published, if YOUR LCBS doesn't have it in stock.
Here is the Facebook Fan Page for Archaia Entertainment, to keep up with what this publisher is presenting next.
Note: Vinnie makes it to as many comic cons with me as he can. He collects the 'Amazing Spider-Man' comic book series, but is open to read other titles from publishers that print titles that are age appropriate for him. He also has been attending 'behind the scenes' events, such as the one he blogged about ht here: Vinnie's Special 'Look at The Captain Rochester Party for the Artists' at the recent 2010 Comic-Con International: San Diego! He really had fun meeting and having dinner with Sergio Aragones, Bob Burden, Scott Shaw! and others there at this exclusive after hours Comic-Con Party in San Diego!
Also...If YOU liked Vinnie's guest review blog today, you may also enjoy reading Vinnie's other reviews on: Mouse Guard - The Black Axe #1 of 6, Bear and Fox #2, Space Punks #1, The Daughters of Merlin #1, Sea Ghost #1, Mouse Guard: Legends of the Guard #4 (of 4), Clutch Cargo DVD, 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, The Possum #1 comic book, Vinnie's Take on Berona's War: Field Guide, just to name a recent few!
Thanks Vinnie, for guest blogging here today!
~Michael D Hamersky

My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and the archived blog posts, now over 3,335 total posts in number! I do appreciate your continued reading and support of this Blog!

~ Michael D Hamersky

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

If it isn't available in my online 'Local Comic Book Shop, (LCBS), then you may be able find it in my Amazon affiiate link, as seen here: Comics & Graphic Novels at Amazon!

Posted by makeitsomarketing at 4:29 AM PST

Updated: Tuesday, February 1, 2011 12:40 PM PST

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

Monday, January 31, 2011

Vinnie's Take On: Mouse Guard - The Black Axe #1 of 6
Mood:

caffeinated
Topic: Comic Books - New

Vinnie's Take On:
Mouse Guard - The Black Axe #1 of 6

Above Photo: The Front Cover from Mouse Guard - The Black Axe, Issue #1 of 6.

Written & Illustrated by David Petersen. Published by Archaia Entertainment!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3337:

(Vinnie) This is my first guest blog of the year 2011, and today I will be reviewing Mouse Guard: The Black Axe.

This was sent in for possible review by Archaia, and since I enjoyed the other Mouse Guard publication that I read and blogged about, which can be found here, I decided that I would also read and blog about this one. In addition, I do want to point out that this comics publication is issue # 1 of 6 in a series.
(And on a side note, I can't wait to see how much this new blog layout differs from the older blogs from last year!)

Mouse Guard: The Black Axe #1 (of 6) - W/A/Cover: David Petersen

This is the promo from the publisher about this issue:

The Eisner Award-winning Mouse Guard returns with The Black Axe, a third volume to be told in six bi-monthly issues. Set in 1115, this prequel to Mouse Guard: Fall 1152 fulfills the promise the wise oldfur Celanawe made to Lieam the day his paw first touched the Black Axe: to tell the young warrior about the mouse who first wielded the deadly weapon. The arrival of distant kin takes Celanawe on an adventure that will carry him across the sea to uncharted waters and lands, all the while unraveling the legend of Farrer, the blacksmith who forged the mythic Black Axe.

Mouse Guard: The Black Axe was just as expected from the previous Mouse Guard publication I have read - fantastic! I found the art to be sophisticated, yet 'cartoony'. I would almost call it dignified. The art had a nice approach, as it wasn't too realistic, nor too unbelievable. The font used in the story was calligriphic-looking, which definitely ties the art and story together. The story was thrilling, as the events slowly built the story and the suspense. Then, the climax of this story happened, and left you with some questions, which will most likely be answered in the next issue. This definitely keeps me, and the other readers I'm sure, waiting painfully for the next issue to come out to read it.

I will say that I am very impressed with this comic publication. It was amazing, as expected, and there was not much for me to dislike. To be honest, I even went through again to see if there was anything, like a spelling mistake or otherwise, that I could write about, but nothing. Just truly amazing!

Because I enjoyed this book, Mouse Guard: The Black Axe, so much, I think anyone would know that I would give this a high grade. So, to end this blog off, I give Mouse Guard The Black Axe #1, a Near Mint (NM), 9.4 out of a 10.0 grade scale.

~Vinnie!

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

(From Michael:) Note to those reading this blog post: Mouse Guard - The Black Axe #1 of 6, went on sale: December 15th... Check it out TODAY at YOUR LCBS to pick a copy up!

Retail Price $3.50 Page count: 24 pages

Format: saddle bound, 8" x 8", full color

All ages

Here is the link to Archaia so that YOU can purchase either the single volumes or the collected work when published, if YOUR LCBS doesn't have it in stock.
Here is the Facebook Fan Page for Archaia Entertainment, to keep up with what this publisher is presenting next.
Note: Vinnie makes it to as many comic cons with me as he can. He collects the 'Amazing Spider-Man' comic book series, but is open to read other titles from publishers that print titles that are age appropriate for him. He also has been attending 'behind the scenes' events, such as the one he blogged about ht here: Vinnie's Special 'Look at The Captain Rochester Party for the Artists' at the recent 2010 Comic-Con International: San Diego! He really had fun meeting and having dinner with Sergio Aragones, Bob Burden, Scott Shaw! and others there at this exclusive after hours Comic-Con Party in San Diego!
Also...If YOU liked Vinnie's guest review blog today, you may also enjoy reading Vinnie's other reviews on: Bear and Fox #2, Space Punks #1, The Daughters of Merlin #1, Sea Ghost #1, Mouse Guard: Legends of the Guard #4 (of 4), Clutch Cargo DVD, 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, The Possum #1 comic book, Vinnie's Take on Berona's War: Field Guide, just to name a recent few!
Thanks Vinnie, for guest blogging here today!
~Michael D Hamersky

My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and the archived blog posts, now over 3,335 total posts in number! I do appreciate your continued reading and support of this Blog!

~ Michael D Hamersky

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

If it isn't available in my online 'Local Comic Book Shop, (LCBS), then you may be able find it in my Amazon affiiate link, as seen here: Comics & Graphic Novels at Amazon!

Posted by makeitsomarketing at 12:01 AM PST

Updated: Monday, January 31, 2011 6:45 AM PST

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

Friday, January 28, 2011

My Take On: The Secret History - Book Fourteen: The Watchers
Mood:

caffeinated
Topic: Comic Books - New

Michael D Hamersky On Comics:
The Secret History - Book Fourteen: The Watchers

Above Photo: The Front Cover from The Secret History - Book Fourteen: The Watchers - From Archaia Entertainment

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3336:

Tina and I have been reading this limited series since first being introduced to it at the 2010 Comic-Con International: San Diego (a.k.a. SDCC) at the Archaia Entertainment booth.

We have both blogged about this limited series, which is unusual, because we both have different 'taste's in our personal reading choices!

Here are the links to some of the earlier review blogs: Books Ten & 11, Book 12, and Book 13.

Our reviews consistently ranked the individual issues with the highest grade that we give, a NEAR MINT (NM) 9.4 on a possible 10.0 comic book grading scale. As part of a year-end review of 2010 on my own Facebook Fan Page, Michael D Hamersky On Comics, I posted that this was 'My Favorite Limited Series of 2010'!

So I'm glad that this Book Fourteen, which just came in the mail for possible review ended 'The Second Cycle' nicely. So nicely in fact, that I moved this up on my possible publications to review for this morning!

Here's what the publishers promo stated this issue was about:

"The hit French comic that gives historical fiction an occult bent continues! The Watchers. 1945. The two atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki seem to have put an end to the evil plots of William of Lecce. In liberated Paris, Daniel Rosenthal, a survivor of the death camps, learns how to live again. He owes his survival to a 'star', a strange tarot card given to him by the surrealist poet Robert Desnos in the Terezin concentration camp, who also told him about the mysterious cabaret, L'ARcane 17. Daniel begins a descent into a world he did not know existed and into a story that the textbooks do not teach: the Secret History."

As seen in the above blurb, a LOT of ground is covered in this final issue of 'The Second Cycle'. Which was a thrilling and fun read for me! I grabbed it and settled in with it last night, before Tina was aware it had come in! After being at a client's office on-site for ten hours yesterday, I needed something to 'wind down' with, and this was definitely it!

This issue had a lot more 'action' going on in it than earlier issues. Which was good, because this was the 'final' book in 'The Second Cycle'. I'm not for sure how many cycles there are in total for this concept... There are two pages at the front of each issue, outlining a 'timeline'. I am however, pleased with the 'conclusion' of this 14 chapter limited series, and don't feel 'robbed' that there is more after this. Indeed I am looking forward to seeing the other 'Cycles' as they are translated from the French version into this English language format!

I do want to state though, that this series is for 'Mature Readers', because at times, as in this issue, there is some nudity, graphic violence, and adult content. However, I am reading this because I'm a 'history buff', and love how the creators of this series wove 'real history' into their 'series history'.

A great concept, well excecuted, and FUN to read!

No wonder I mentioned it as 'My Favorite Limited Series of 2010'!

My Review Rating for this publication is NEAR MINT (NM) 9.4 out of a possible 10.0 Comic Book Grading scale.

The Secret History, Book Fourteen: The Watchers - For mature audiences. It went on sale: January 19th... Check it out TODAY at YOUR LCBS!

Retail Price $5.95 Page count: 48 pages

Format: perfect bound, 6.6255" x 10.25", full color

Mature Readers (series contains Nudity, Graphic Violence, and Adult Content)

Here is the link to Archaia so that YOU can purchase either the single volumes or the collected works so far, if YOUR LCBS doesn't have them in stock.
Here is the Facebook Fan Page for Archaia Entertainment, 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 at the 2010 San Diego Comic Con International! As stated above, both Tina and myself have enjoyed volumes in this limited series! Now it's time to give Tina this final issue in 'The Second Cycle' to read, LOL!

~Michael D Hamersky

My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and the archived blog posts, now over 3,335 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 2,187 '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!

Posted by makeitsomarketing at 4:55 AM PST

Updated: Friday, January 28, 2011 6:11 AM PST

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

Thursday, January 27, 2011

My Take On: Poppie's Adventures - Serpents In Paradise
Mood:

caffeinated
Topic: Comic Books - New

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."

So what's 'My Take' on this?   Well, this graphic novel is 180 degrees from the 8-9-3 graphic novel that both Tina and I blogged about before, that I first mentioned above.
However this earlier work by Jack Hsu & Julie Yeh is meant for younger people to read, although as an adult, I enjoyed reading it also.
Having 'Poppie Field' as a new travel writer for 'The Young Traveler' magazine was a pretty quick way to get her into the middle of an adventure! After traveling to the Big Island Of Hawaii,  she was paired with photographer James Hamamura.
What was supposed to be a material gathering excursion for a vacationing article she was assigned to write, becomes an 'adventure story' instead as she and James find a conspiracy involving snakes, being imported to Hawaii by a 'snake cult'!
Interesting that Hawaii doesn't have its own domestic snakes! So this story really adds historical background, as well as adventure. This is a well written graphic novel!
Plus Jack's art in Poppie’s Adventures is definitely different than what I saw in the other graphic novel. It is nice to see that Jack is versatile enough to handle both genres and has the style to do so!
The other characters add to the background which definitely places the reader in the Hawaiian Islands. Plus an adventure story has to have at least one bad guy, right? The priest of Kebechet with his serpent coiled headdress looks sinister enough, but not over the top for this all-ages fun story.
If this first of a planned series is the road this series is to travel, then readers should be in store for some fun reading!
The graphic novel does have a intro before the adventure starts, with a page on the Hawaiian Islands, and then a bio / illo page on the two main characters of this story. That is a plus, and should be used more often by creators, IMO. After the story, there is a one page text piece that tells of the 'origins of this proposed series, plus a little on the creators, and acknowledgements, ending with a contact address for readers to write to, and email addresses for additional contact. A class act, this graphic novel is recommended! My only 'con' if I can call it that, is the physical size of it, which is 6 1/2" x 8 1/2". However I'm not for sure if there isn't a reason for this size, but it isn't explained inside, nor on the web site that I could see...
Here is where you can see more about the 1st of this series, and order it, straight from the publisher. Poppie's Adventures web site. BTW, Poppie's Adventures - Serpents In Paradise was a receipient of the 2003 Xeric Foundation Grant!
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.

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

~Michael D Hamersky

My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and the archived blog posts, now over 3,330 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 2,185 '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'.

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

Posted by makeitsomarketing at 12:01 AM PST

Updated: Thursday, January 27, 2011 5:54 AM PST

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

Newer | Latest | Older

«	February 2011					»

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28