Michael D Hamersky On Comics: The 2nd Anime Conji  A San Diego Anime Convention Which Runs March 25th - 27th, 2011  Part 1 - The Upcoming Con   -

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3365:

I met Hector Reyes again at the recent ConDor XVIII which was held at the Town & Country Resort in the Mission Valley area of San Diego.

Hector mentioned to me that the 2nd Annual Anime Conji would be held at this same facility that ConDor was at... During the upcoming weekend of March 25th - 27th of 2011.

Funny thing is... That Tina & I actually 'semi-attended' the final hour of the 1st Anime Conji that was held at the Doubletree Hotel Club back on April 9th - 11th of 2010!

That's because I drove us to that Doubletree instead of the Doubletree Hotel at the North side of I-10 when I was driving us to meet my cousin and her husband who had flown in to San Diego for a different convention last April!

So I was totally surpised to find the 1st Anime Conji at 'her hotel'!  However it turned out that we were at the wrong Doubletree!

But while Tina and I were there looking for my cousin... I took a quick look at the convention.

That's because we were surprised at the large turnout for this con.  Because after all, wasn't it the 1st gathering for this con?!

I took a few photos, as shown above, and then drove to the correct Doubletree Hotel next!

So my youngest son and I are interested in attending probably two of the three days of this year's con...

So what's happening at this year's con?

Here's just a brief outline:

Come to the 2nd annual Anime Conji: Returns the Saga Continues! Three days of Art, Music and Cosplay celebrating Japanese Animation and Manga.

We will have everything you would find at your standard anime convention PLUS MORE!

Guest of Honor: Actor, producer, director and stuntman, Reuben Langdon
Dealer's Hall - More than double the size!
Artist Alley - Over 30 tables
Con Suite - Free Candy, no getting in a van required...
Panels - Now with prizes
Gaming - Tournaments through out the con
Karaoke - New for 2011
Viewing Rooms - Upgraded for 2011

Events:

Musical Guest of Honor: Steam Powered Giraffe
Cosplay Gatherings - 10+ and counting
Dances - Every night!
Fashion Show - Showcasing local fashion subcultures
Masquerade - 4 divisions to enter in
Model Building Contest - 3 categories
AMV Contest - More awards

EXCLUSIVE FOR ANIME CONJI!!!!

Here's the Facebook Event Page so YOU can check out the latest updates!

Here's the Facebook Fan Page so YOU can become a 'Fan' and be interactive with others!

Here's the web site for Anime Conji for even more info!

My own Facebook Fan Page will also be posting additional info in the days to come before the con starts!  I also plan on posting pics in a photo album there to share with others that aren't able to attend!

Again, My Thanks to Hector Reyes for bringing this to my attention!

If you and / or your friends have interest in Anime... And are close to the San Diego Metro Area... Here's YOUR chance to check out a fun anime con!

~Michael D Hamersky

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,309 '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, Safari, 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: The Upcoming 2011 Winkie Con Friday, July 8 at 3:30pm - July 10 at 1:00pm Asilomar Conference Center 800 Asilomar Avenue Pacific Grove, CA   -  Above Photo: Michael D Hamersky with David Maxine at ConDor XVIII. David was holding a copy of the 2009 Winkie Con Program Book he edited and designed. -  Top Left Photo: The 2011 Winkie Con will be celebrating the 100th Anniversary of L. Frank Baum's "The Sea Fairies"!

 

 

 

 

Here is more on the upcoming event:

I've never been to a Winkie Con before, but this sure sounds like fun to me! For those of YOU that have a fondness for the OZ series of books by L. Frank Baum and others, (see this link for the books!), here are links that you should look at now to see if you can make this convention this year!

The Facebook Event Page for this event is: 2011 Winkie Con. 

I do not see a Facebook Fan Page for Winkie Con, although two Facebookers 'created' this upcoming event on facebook, (David Maxine & Peter Hanff).

The Winkie Newsletter Website can be found here.

The Hungry Tiger Talk blog post on the Winkie Con can be found here.

The History of the Winkies can be found here.

The above links appear to be just a few of the links that mention the upcoming Winkie Con this July.  Again, if YOU have a fondness or interest in the OZ boooks or film(s), now is the time to check this event out!

My thanks to Eric Shanower for mentioning the booth at the panel he was on at ConDor XVIII, and to David Maxine for taking the time to share this World of Oz with me!

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,307 '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.

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

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safari, 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 Reviews: Feeding Ground Issues #1-4 of 6  From Archaia Entertainment!     -

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3363:

I received issue #4 of a 6-part series that Archaia Entertainment is publishing. I've held off on blogging about this series until now for a couple of reasons.

Before I go into that... The following is what Archaia provides as the promo blurbs for the first four issues:

#1 - This new series is ripped right out of the real-life drama unfolding on the Mexico-Arizona border.  FEEDING GROUND speaks to a large and diverse audience no matter what your personal point of view on this issue is. In this factious story, a famine caused by Blackwell Industries drives Diego Busqueda, a noble "coyote", to lead a band of Mexican border crossers across the unforgiving Devil's Highway, a desert cursed with blistering days an deadly nights.  Back home, Diego's daughter Flaca discovers that something hungrier prowls the factory fields.  Stalked and persecuted, can the Busqueda family maintain their dreams of immigration or will the horrors of the desert tear them apart?  Also included is 24 pages of bonus content in Spanish!

#2 -  FEEDING GROUND, a horror tale set on the Mexico-Arizona border, launches an entirely new werewolf mythology!  A local enforcer, terrorizes the Busqueda family as their father Diego makes a solitary trek home through the horrors of the Devil's Highway.  Meanwhile, US Border Patrol Agents unearth a shocking discovery that threatens to reveal a secret buried in the desert for generations.  Also included as bonus content on the flip side of the book is the story in Spanish!

#3 - FEEDING GROUND launches an entirely new werewolf mythology, set on the Mexico-Arizona border!  A famine drives Diego Busqueda, a noble "coyote", to lead his family across the unforgiving Devil's Highway, a desert cursed with blistering days and deadly nights.  However, they are not alone among the desert sands.  An ancient evil that has plagued the region for generations has emerged from the shadows.  Pitting real-world border politics against a boldly re-imagined werewolf mythology, FEEDING GROUND questions the very nature of survival!  In this issue: Cursed with a dying bloodline, Alejandro Blackwells hunts for young Flaca as the Busquedas trek through the nasty Mexican border town of Altere -  a broken back door to America.  Included on the flip side is the issue in Spanish at no extra cost!

#4 -  FEEDING GROUND launches an entirely new werewolf mythology, set on the Mexico-Arizona border!  All forces collide in a battle that forever changes the Busqueda clan.  The family is divided over their daughter's uncertain future as Border Patrol agents and a ruthless pack converge on The Devil's Highway.  One of the Busquedas will not survive.  Pitting real-world politics against a boldly re-imagined werewolf mythology, FEEDING GROUND questions the very nature of survival.  Included on the flip slide is the issue in Spanish at no extra cost!

So what is 'My Take' on the first four issues of the six part series?

I mentioned at the beginning of this blog that there were two reasons I hadn't yet blogged about this series, although I have read all four issues published to date.

The first reason for holding off was the storyline.  This is a brand new series being printed in 'floppy comic book sized' format.  The way the storyline was being presented made it more of a candidate for a 'graphic novel' format right off the bat, IMO.  Plus even though the publisher's promos stated that no matter what the political persuasion the reader was, the storyline would speak to you.  However, as much as I don't like to interject my own personal political views in my blogs, I don't see anything 'noble' about a "coyote".

Secondly, I held off blogging about this series, because I couldn't follow exactly where this storyline was headed, due to what I considered the 'choppiness' of the storyline, only due to the installments of the six issue story arc in single issue comic book format.  That and waiting each month for the next installment didn't work for me as a reader...

In reading this series thus far, it wasn't until issue #4 that the pieces came together for me.  For a comic book limited series presentation that is too long, IMO.

It was the artwork that has kept me going reading this series, when each successive issue came in for possible review.  Very well illustrated and colored!

Additionally I really thought that the flip side approach for this comic book series was an innovative idea!  English on one side, Spanish on the other, for no additional cost!  Great idea!

Now that this series has 'come together' for me personally, both writing and illustrations, I'm looking forward to reading the last two issues of this series.  A good HoRRoR story is hard to find at this time.

As a side note... This is the first comic book that I have received of what I've been told is the next 'wave' in comics.  By that I mean that it's been 'zombies' for a few years now, with 'vampires' being a recent addition, due to 'Twilight'.  Now it is thought that 'werewolves' are the 'next thing' in comics. This kind of makes sense, although I'm hoping that werewolves don't proliferate as much as the zombies did!  For a while there it seemed that every other comic book given to me or sent in for possible review was another 'zombie' comic book.  Way too much for me as a reader of comics!    

Feeding Ground - #4 of 6  went on sale: February 23rd at your LCBS!

Written by: Swifty Lang, Art by Michael Lapinski, Lettering and Design by Chris Mangun, with Story by Lang, Lapinski, & Mangun.  Translation by Nathalia Ruiz Murray, and Edited by Paul Morrissey.

Review Rating for the four issues published so far as a series: 8.0 VERY FINE  (VF) out of a possible 10.0 Comic Book Grading scale.

Retail Price $3.95 Page count: 64 pages (32 English / 32 Spanish)

Format: saddle bound, 6.625" x 10.25", full color

Mature Readers (series contains Graphic Violence.)

Here is the link to Archaia so that YOU can purchase the back issues, if YOUR LCBS doesn't have them in stock at this time.

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.

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,306 '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:  

http://www.ComicBooksCircus.com/ 

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safari, 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!

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

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

 Also, if you are a Facebook member, I would have liked you to send me a 'Friend Request'. However, I have reached the maximum limit of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages already, so I've added a New 'Facebook Fan Page' 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 Reviews: Cyclops Book 4 of 8  From Archaia Entertainment!     -

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3362:

Today's blog is my thoughts on Issue #4 of an 8 part series that Archaia Entertainment is publishing, that was originally published in France.

The orginal work is by the same creative team that was behind 'The Killer: Modus Vivendi' series that I've blogged about recently.

My review of Issue #1 of this series can be found here.

The following is what Archaia provides as the promo blurb for this 4th issue:

Despite the seeming success of his unit's mission deployed to the border of Argentina and Chile, Pistoia becomes increasingly disillusioned with the new nexus between armed conflict and television stardom, and in great secrecy he comes to terms with a reporter firmly opposed to the new wars-show...

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

As I mentioned in my review blog on issue #1... I was already used to the art style that is in this new series, because of reading the earlier translated series I mentioned above, (The Killer: Modus Vivendi).

The artwork continues its fine storyboarding and style in this issue.  I have read issues 2 & 3 since that blog post, and have delved into the storyline in more depth as each issue has unravelled.

The storyline has developed a lot more since I last blogged on this series.  It is paced well, and the cut offs for each issue's page count is edited well in the English language version.

My only comment about where the story is going, is on the sexual scenes that are presented on page 16.  Again, I want to stress that this is considered an 'adult content' comic book, and this issue gets a little more 'graphic' in that presentation of sexual behavior.  However, since this was first published in France, their publishing standards are a little different than the USA's...And it appears so is the USA's.

Whether or not this sexual titillation is totally necessary in this 8 issue series remains to be seen.  However, it isn't over the line in storytelling, just possibly when graphically being presented. There is a 'MR' rating icon at the bottom left of the front comer with the words 'Mature Readers', so there is a content warning shown.

The first four issues  in this series has been a good read so far, and I am interested to see where this series is headed to, now that it is halfway through its run in 'floppy comic book' format.   

Cyclops - #4 of 8  went on sale: February 16th at your LCBS - Check it out, along with the back issues!

Review Rating: 9.0 VERY FINE / NEAR MINT  (VF/NM) out of a possible 10.0 Comic Book Grading scale.

Retail Price $3.95 Page count: 32 pages

Format: saddle bound, 6.625" 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 the back issues, if YOUR LCBS doesn't have them in stock at this time.

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.

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,305 '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:  

http://www.ComicBooksCircus.com/ 

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safari, 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!

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

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

 Also, if you are a Facebook member, I would have liked you to send me a 'Friend Request'. However, I have reached the maximum limit of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages already, so I've added a New 'Facebook Fan Page' 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 Reviews: ConDor XVIII  San Diego's Longest Running Science Fiction & Fantasy Convention Which Ran February 25th - 27th, 2011  (Part 4 - My 'Take' on the Con)   -

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3361:

Last weekend was the 18th ConDor Sci-Fi and Fantasy Convention.  Right after it ended, I headed up to Los Angeles because a family member had been hospitalized.  No blogs were posted until this weekend, when I posted my youngest son's thoughts on the this con, as seen in Blog #3360.

As I previously mentioned in Blog #3356... Last year I 'introduced' my wife, Tina LoSasso, to her first sci-fi con, CONjecture 2010. (Here's her blog post on her thoughts on that intro!).  Tina had a different function to attend this past weekend, so did not attend ConDor with me. 

So now that the ConDor XVIII is over, and you've had a chance to read my youngest son's thoughts on the con... What was 'My Take' on this con?

I attended the con on Friday by myself, which was okay, because ConDor had a similiar setup at the Town and Country Hotel that CONjecture had in 2010.  

Indeed, I met several persons at ConDor who were also working at or exhibiting at CONjecture!  So Friday's registration went smoothly, and the parking was okay on Friday. (Saturday the San Diego River flooded, causing havoc in the region of Mission Valley, although the hotel's grounds were fine.)

The first day went smoothly, and there were several panels that I attended. Photos from those panels have been and will be added to at the ConDor XVIII photo album, as seen in this link.

On Saturday I introduced the world of sci-fi and fantasy cons to my youngest son, Vinnie, who attended the last two of the three days con.  As stated above you can read his thoughts on his first con by clicking that link.

The con itself reminded me of the early days of the San Diego Comic Con in that it was much smaller in size of attendance, (approx 350 - 400 attendees), which probably appealed to my son.  As there were no lines anywhere to get in, attend panels, obtain autographs, etc.

Another good thing about this con was that there was a 'con suite', where snacks, sodas / coffee / juice, etc. could be obtained.  Plus you could sit on a couch or chair and talk with other like-minded attendees, as well as panelists, and special guests.

The whole weekend was a rather enjoyable one, from panels to the dealers room to the art show, and beyond! 

My thanks to the ConDor XVIII staff for presenting such a well run and easy going yet informative & fun con!  I would recommend this con for those of you in the SoCal area that want to see what a sci-fi / fantasy con is all about!

To see what you missed... Here were the 'informational links' for this con:

For the Facebook Event Page for ConDor XVIII - click here.

For the Facebook Fan Page for Condor Cons - click here.

For the Condor Cons web site - click here.

For the Printable Schedule Grids - click here.

For the Downloadable Program Book - click here.

For the Town and Country Hotel info - click here.

For the Dealer Room Vendors & Hours - click here.

For the Guests and Panelists - click here.

Of course there were a LOT more links, but I've posted the ones that are what comprised the main events / functions of the con.

I wanted to post more here today, but time is running short, and I have to stop at this time. 

There will be individual blogs on certain panels that I attended in the future in this blog... Again, additional pics will be shown at my own Facebook Fan Page, in the 'ConDor XVIII' photo album, as seen here, as time allows.  I just have a really busy week with my family member now in a rehab center to attend to.   

~Michael D Hamersky

BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,298 '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, Safari, 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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