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Friday, July 1, 2011
Spotlight On... Barbara Marker!
Mood:  caffeinated
Topic: Comic Book Artists

                                        

Michael D Hamersky On Comics Presents:

Spotlight On...

Barbara Marker! 

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Above Photo: I had the pleasure of meeting Barbara Marker at the 2010 Comic-Con International (San Diego Comic Con) in Artists Alley!
Top Left Photo: Close-up of Barbara Marker, who is being 'Spotlighted' in this Blog today! See more at BarbaraMarkerArtist.com!
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TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3451:

I had the pleasure of meeting Barbara Marker last year at the Comic-Con International, (aka San Diego Comic Con), in Artists Alley.

At the time, I didn't know she was the wife of Paul Tallerday, who I've met elsewhere in San Diego!  I did know his wife was an artist, and her first name was Barbara, but I didn't make the connection at the time!

So, just a week ago, Paul contacted me and asked if I could help him get Barbara online at Facebook with a Facebook Fan Page. 

Since that is something that I do for Tina's and my clients, I gladly accepted as I knew that Paul had been involved in the comics industry for several years, and that Barbara had been also.

Not knowing how involved she was, I had to check out her bio and comics credits, which I am presenting here as part of the 'Spotlight' processs:

"I was born in Garmisch Parten-Kirchen, in the Bavarian Alps of Germany. I came to the United States at 3 years old. I have been a Pacific Beach resident since he early '70s and have done most of my artwork there. My earliest dream as a child was to become an artist. It was my main interest in my early schooling. I won an art scholarship at the Chautauqua Art Colony in upstate New York. After that I studied art at Elmira College in New York. My next place to study art was at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa.

Then at City College in San Diego, CA and for several years at the San Diego Academy of Fine Art. I kept up with my art and finally in 1981 got the opportunity to work as a comic book artist. I was hired to color cover art but sometines I did the entire process, the drawing , inking and color. Mostly, I enjoyed doing the covers since they have a strong impact. I worked for 12 years for Pacific Comics, Blackthorne Publishing, DC Comics, Eclipse Comics, and Dark Horse Comics.

I was also doing my own work. I have always loved animals, to capture their expressions and show how beautiful they are. I began an association with local Hallmark stores and sold prints of animals and fantasy drawings.

I've done many commissioned art projects; animal portraits, people portraits, fantasy art and paintings of people's homes and the San Diego skyline. I've had multiple one woman shows at the La Jolla library, the Tierrasanta library and the Benjamin Branch library. Since 2000, I've been invited to be in "Artist Alley" at the San Diego Comic Convention. There is a "YouTube" interview done at Comic-Con."

Here is a link to the Grand Comics Database on Barbara, for several of her comic book credits.  Please note that this database is incomplete.

Now for what's happening in Barbara's life today!

Barbara and Paul are adding more info, photos, and paintings / illustrations for sale at her brand new Facebook Fan Page, BarbaraMarkerArtist.com, which they invite YOU to 'LIKE'!

Barbara is also busy getting ready to showcase her works at the upcoming 2011 Comic-Con International: San Diego / San Diego Comic Con!

She will be in Artists Alley at Table FF11, and here is a link to her 'Facebook Event Page' that you can click the 'Attending' button as a reminder. Barbara will also be adding additional info there as the time of the Comic-Con nears!

So Barbara, (and Paul!), have a lot to do to get ready for the BIG SHOW of the year. Over 126,000 attendees show up there each year!

That's going to be it for now at this 'Spotlight On... Barbara Marker' for now. For more on Barbara, be sure to 'Like' her Facebook Fan Page, where she and Paul will be posting more info in the future!

Thanks, Barbara (and Paul!) for the above bio!  It's good to know a little more about you, and to present that info & new Fan Page to my blog readers as well!

 -------------------
The above is my 'Spotlight On...Barbara Marker', one of several 'Spotlight On' blogs I've done over the years...

Matter of fact, YOU can check out the 'Spotlight On...' blogs by clicking this link where there currently are about 818 different links served up by Google!

There aren't THAT many individual posts, but the blogs have been picked up and re-posted by many others, including the person 'Spotlighted' at this Blog! 

Some of those include (but not limited to): Troy BoyleJamilyn ParksElizabeth WatasinRay Anthony-HeightPhil OrtizBruce Durham, Scott Shaw!, James Pinard, Elisa Feliz, Amanda Stevens, Tonya Kay, Bryan Reesman, Robert RoachChristian Meesey a.k.a. Messimo, Erik Andresen, Jeff Balkeand Joe Pepitone a.k.a. JoepeP.

Matter of fact, I have also posted an index to my 'Spotlight On...' archivedblogs over at my own Facebook Fan Page, in a special photo album that you can see by clicking this link.

~Michael D Hamersky


My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and the archived blog posts, now over 3,450 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 2,472 '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 

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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Posted by makeitsomarketing at 6:34 AM PDT
Updated: Friday, July 1, 2011 8:04 AM PDT
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Thursday, June 30, 2011
Part 1: The 2011 Comic-Con International: San Diego Is Less Than Three Weeks Away!
Mood:  cool
Topic: Comic Cons

                                        

Michael D Hamersky On Comics Is Excited That... The 2011 Comic-Con International: San Diego Is Less Than Three Weeks Away!
Part 1 - A General Overview of the SDCC!

July 20th (Preview Night) Thru July 24th, (My Birthday), 2011

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Click here to see the SDCC and COMIC-CON PROMO COMICS & ITEMS that we have in our online store for sale, including DOLLAR COMICS!
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Photos: (topmost above) Michael D Hamersky in front of one of the many signs at the San Diego Convention Center aiding attendees of the Comic-Con Internationl: San Diego on where rooms & halls are! (Above top left) You wouldn't believe how many attendees to the con have had their photos taken in front of this sign!
  

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3450 - Part 1 of a series on the 2011 Comic-Con International San Diego:

I must be excited that the 2011 Comic-Con International: San Diego, (aka CCI:SD / San Diego Comic Con / SDCC), is less than three weeks away... I'm up at 3 AM this morning thinking about getting ready for it!

No kidding!  And no, it's not it's my first SDCC that I'm attending... Which would make this excitement understandable!

As you can see by the photo to the left, I first started attending what has become known as CCI:SD 'officially' back in 1972, when I bought out a comics dealer at the El Cortez Hotel, when he needed to leave before the last day of the con. That successful last day set me up into selling at the con and in mail order. Before that, I had sold my comics duplicates to a dealer in town by the name of Richard Alf. 

The next year, when the con was held at the Sheraton Hotel on Harbor Island in San Diego, I had already purchased my full membership as a comic books dealer! 

So, my excitement started yesterday morning, when I had an appointment to go to, and talked with a few people about the upcoming con... The subject came up because I was wearing one of my 'ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com' indigo colored polo shirts that you see in this blog! (Yeah, I have a half-dozen of those shirts... But I now have a new half dozen of Navy Blue colored polo shirts I'll be wearing at this year's con! Here's a link to where I 'premiered them' at earlier this month.)

Anyways, when I got back to the home office yesterday, I continued working on my new client's Facebook Fan Page, which she needs up and running in time for the same Comic-Con, as she will once again be at her table in the Artists Alley section of the con.  'She' is Barbara Marker, and I met her at last year's Comic-Con, not realizing that she was the wife of Paul Tallerday, who I've been talking with for the past couple of years about the 'old days' at Pacific Comics & Blackthorne Comics!  BTW, you can check out the progress of Barbara's new Facebook Fan Page at 'BarbaraMarkerArtist.com'!

So, during yesterday late morning and afternoon, I started uploading more photos from earlier Comic-Cons to my own Facebook Fan Page, 'Michael D Hamersky On Comics'.

So I woke up very early this morning, thinking I should start the first of what I am sure will be a series of blogs on the upcoming SDCC, just like I did last year, and several years before that here in this Blog!  Here's a link to all of the mentions of the SDCC during the years of this Blog and its predecessor in the eBay Blogs platform, which were copied over!

So as to not to keep you waiting any longer, I am going to list links to what I have personally seen at prior years cons.  The links don't go all the way back to 1972, as there just isn't enough time in the day to upload all of the photos. And I haven't attended all of the ones since then. But I haven't missed one SDCC since July 4th of 1991, when the con first was moved to the San Diego Convention Center... So that would make this year the 21st one in a row now!

Here's the links to the individual photo albums that are already posted at my Facebook Fan Page. You are welcome to view them, and if you are a Facebook member also, feel free to 'tag' yourself or your friends if you see yourself there!

1973 San Diego Comic Con International SDCC

1974 San Diego Comic Con International SDCC

1990 San Diego Comic Con International SDCC

1993 San Diego Comic Con International SDCC

2000 San Diego Comic Con International SDCC

2001 San Diego Comic Con International SDCC

2002 San Diego Comic Con International SDCC

2003 San Diego Comic Con International SDCC

2004 San Diego Comic Con International SDCC

2005 San Diego Comic Con International SDCC

2006 San Diego Comic Con International SDCC

2007 San Diego Comic Con International SDCC

2008 San Diego Comic Con International SDCC

2009 San Diego Comic Con International SDCC

2009 SDCC 40th Anniversary Book Signing at Mysterious Galaxy

2010 San Diego Comic Con International SDCC

2010 - Second Annual Captain Rochester Artists Appreciation Party

2011 San Diego Comic Con International SDCC

As you can see, I have a long ways to go to post additional photos and photo albums to this Facebook Fan Page of mine!

That's because the earlier years were NOT shot with a digital camera.  Which means I would have to pull the actual photos out, scan them, and then upload them in the albums.  That's a lot of work and time involved, and I have to remember that the Facebook Fan Page is to assist me in promoting my online comic book shop, (ComicBooksCircus.com), where I sell comics and related items, and my social networking services for both Tina's and my clients, (MarketingTina.comMakeItSoMarketing.com).

So please excuse the lack of all the links to the photo albums that could be posted at my Facebook Fan Page.  But be sure to check back for more in the months to come!

As for now, I've got a lot of work to do this morning... Including adding to my list of things I want to do / see at the 2011 SDCC.  As for the last time probably for a while, my Birthday actually occurs during Comi-Con Week, which is the BEST place for me to spend that special day at.  And this year it is on the last day of the con!  Woo-hoo!

~Michael D Hamersky


My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,450 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 2,471 '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:  

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:  As of Monday, June 27th, 2011, I'll be using my new laptop, where the default resolution is 'higher', so there may be some temporary glitches until I am used to the new resolution.

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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Posted by makeitsomarketing at 3:44 AM PDT
Updated: Monday, July 11, 2011 9:55 AM PDT
Post Comment | Permalink
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
My Take On: Children of the Yellow Kid
Mood:  caffeinated
Topic: Comic Books - New

                                        

Michael D Hamersky On Comics Reviews:

Children of the Yellow Kid

By Robert C Harvey

Click Here to see ABOUT THE SELLER in our eBay Store!

Click Here to add This ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com to Your list of NetworkedBlogs!

 
 
Click here to see the SCI-FI AND SWORD & CARTOON COMICS that we have in our online store for sale, including DOLLAR COMICS!
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Photos: (Above) The front cover to 'Children of the Yellow Kid' hardcover book.
(Above top left) An early photo of the Yellow Kid.
  

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3449:

I enjoy reading books about comic books, comic strips, comic book movies, etc. Especially when they are 'done right'!

This book starts way back when the comic strip first started... And no, I wasn't there at that time, LOL!

I always enjoyed reading certain comic strips in the newspapers that my folks bought when I was a kid.  I continued reading them through my young adult life, and until just recently, when I stopped buying the Sunday newspaper.

You see, just like the subtitle of this book, 'The Evolution of the American Comic Strip', I've also 'evolved' into some of the ways of the 2010s.

My wife and I no longer 'need' to buy the Sunday newspaper, which basically we were doing to have a 'hard copy' of the TV listings for the upcoming week. Now, we just look at an app on our 'Droid' for that!

So I haven't read a newspaper in several months, other than the 'free' local papers that you would find on a rack outside of a store, and that don't carry any comic strips. 

Yeah, it has come to that!  When someone my age stops buying newspapers, you know that the comic strip needs to evolve even more in the 2nd 100 years.

That being said... I found this book more than just nostalgia for me.  As it does cover 'The Yellow Kid', and so many other strips that I was already familiar with, and several that I wasn't, including those that started in the 1980s and later, that weren't carried in any newspapers that I was buying at the times.

Several of the choices included in this book got me to wondering why, and some that weren't included made me wonder why as well...?

Robert's intro set the pace for the book. The Chapters, called 'Movement(s)',were indeed about the moving of the comic strips into different genres during the years. This was well thought out by writer!

A special note before I go further. This book actually documents an exhibition that was held at the Frye Art Museum in Seattle, Washington, during Sept 19th - November 8th of 1998. Plus when it was moved to the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francsico, California, from November 21st, 1998 - February 21st of 1999. Not being able to attend those exhibitions, it was pretty cool to see this book documenting them!

Yes, there were some older strips that I just haven't cared for in the past, including 'The Katzenjammer Kids' for example.  Any book that includes multiple samples of a topic can't help but include some of those that individual readers wouldn't like.

But for the most part, this book really has a lot that most persons that like or love comic strips could get into.

Especially for the original art that is pictured! Beautiful examples of the art behind the strip, with all of the notes, pencil markings, etc., that go into making a comic strip. Similiar to what you can see on original art for comic books, where the penciler writes on the margins for the writer to see for dialogue, etc.

'Movement' 1 had the really old strips being showcased.  I was familiar with most of them. 

'Movement' 2 had additional strips, such as 'Gasoline Alley' that had built upon the foundations of the earlier strips. Also included were 'Blondie' and 'Nancy', so by page 59 of this book, more familiar strips, and ones that are currently still be published today were shown.

'Movement' 3 'showed the advent of continuity strips... Mainly 'Soap Opera' and 'Adventure' strips. Some shown were 'Mary Worth', 'Brenda Starr', 'Apartment 3-G' 'Tarzan', 'Flash Gordon', 'Prince Valiant', 'Dick Tracy', 'Terry and the Pirates', and more.  All that I was already familiar with, but each sample included the creator's brief bio, and a quick history of the strip. 

'Movement' 4 showed that the comic strips had competition from TV and other media formats, so the comic strips started evolving to a 'gag-a-day' style. Samples presented were 'Peanuts', 'Beetle Bailey', 'B.C.', 'Tumbleweeds', 'Hagar the Horrible', and more.

'Movement' 5 presented "Comics with a conscience: Satire and social commentary".  Including 'Lil Abner', 'Little Orphan Annie', 'Pogo', 'Wee Pals', 'Dilbert', and others of that genre.

The book wraps ups with a bibliography and an afteword.

The samples of the strips, the brief bios of the creators and the strips, and the cultural and social events happening during the creation and print runs of these strips made for very interesting reading!

My only, and main concern of reading this book, was the fact that the font size of the text is just too darn small for me!  Plus the font color of the text in several area was a strange color, very 'light' on the page, in contrast to other pages that had the 'normal' black font color.

That is the only detraction to this book, in my opinion, when I was reading it.

Thus, my comic book grade for this hardcover book is a VERY FINE PLUS (VF+) 8.5 out of a possible 10.0 grading scale.  If the materials presented for viewing weren't so darn good, my grade would have been lower due to the size and colors of the font... 

Here's the info for identifying the book that I read.  Please note - I read the hardcover book format, which is OOP and considered collectible. Thus the below is for the softcover format, which is also OOP, but a lot less in cost for a copy:

Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: University of Washington Press (March 1999)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0295977787
ISBN-13: 978-0295977782
Product Dimensions: 12 x 9.1 x 0.6 inches
Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
 

Here's the link where YOU possibly can buy it online, as I don't have it listed for sale in my online comic book shop:    Children of the Yellow Kid: The Evolution of the American Comic Strip     

~Michael D Hamersky


My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,449 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 2,470 '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:  

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:  As of Monday, June 27th, 2011, I'll be using my new laptop, where the default resolution is 'higher', so there may be some temporary glitches until I am used to the new resolution.

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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Posted by makeitsomarketing at 12:01 AM PDT
Updated: Wednesday, June 29, 2011 6:13 AM PDT
Post Comment | Permalink
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
My Take On: Greg and Tim Hildebrandt - The Tolkien Years
Mood:  caffeinated
Topic: Comic Books - New

                                        

Michael D Hamersky On Comics Reviews:

Greg and Tim Hildebrandt The Tolkien Years

Click Here to see ABOUT THE SELLER in our eBay Store!

Click Here to add This ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com to Your list of NetworkedBlogs!

 
 
Click here to see the SCI-FI AND SWORD & SORCERY COMICS that we have in our online store for sale, including DOLLAR COMICS!
-
Photos: (topmost above) The front cover to 'Greg and Tim Hildebrandt - The Tolkien Years'.
(Above top left) A photo of the Hildebrandt Brothers, (L-R) Tim and Greg, as of the book being published.
  

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3448:

I have known more of Greg and Time Hildebrandt works after they started illustrating comic books characters, so this book about their efforts to create calendars back in the past opened a whole new world to me.

Not that I didn't know about Tolkien in the mid 1970s, but when I read the books even earlier than that, there weren't many images that I was aware of. Yeah, I'm that old, LOL!

So I've read this book after viewing Peter Jackson's POV of what 'The Lord of the Rings' should look like, which I'm sure a lot of potential readers for this book now would be coming from...

Here's what the publisher had as a promo for this book:

"Author Greg Hildebrandt, Jr., son and nephew of the internationally renowned fantasy artists, witnessed the making of the paintings for the best selling Tolkien calendars.

In this lavishly illustrated book, he shares his recollections of their creation, from idyllic Hobbiton to fearsome Mordor.

Includes a uniqaue collection of original sketches and photographs for the paintings.

Filled with commentary by the Hildebrandt Brothers

Features a pull-out poster of an original painting, created especially for this book."

Okay... The above is pretty much what I found to be in this book.

That's because the presentation of this book is very orderly.  It is more of a 'coffee table book' in style, yet hard hitting with all of the illustrations presented.  Plus the text on where and how and why the calendars for those years were created. A really nice behind the scenes account by a person who was there, as a young child. And who was one of the several real life persons who were the models for the illustrations!

I found that even though I was reading an account of what happened almost forty years ago... That it was 'fresh' in the mind of the author, and very strikingly presented! Not dry at all, and indeed, giving an insight to the way the Brothers worked!  As well as an insight to how the younger Hildebrandt grew up!

Did I mention how lavishly an illustrated book this is?! The painted illustrations were created for what became the popular J. R. R. Tolkien calendars of the mid 1970s, whic became world-wide bestsellers!

The vivid color pictures of those paintings illustrate how fantastic those early concepts were in bringing to life the characters and locations of Tolkien's Middle-Earth.

The  story that the son/nephew gives to the readers is more than just an inside peek at the creative team's work. It also presents their methodology in creating the fantasy paintings for the calendars.

Coming into the Hildebrandt Brothers creations so many years later, it is cool to see how these calendars came into being! 

My comic book grade for this hardcover book is a NEAR MINT (NM) 9.4 out of a possible 10.0 grading scale. 

Here's the only problem I can find about the book, (not with the book!).

That's because the book is Out of Print, (OOP).

Which definitely says something about this book, 'Sold Out'!

I found a copy of the hardback with pullout poster to be listed for $470 as of this morning when this blog is being written!

The softcover versions are also a little pricey, (mid one-hundreds!).  But for those of you that are really into Tolkien and / or the Hildebrandt Brothers artwork... This book would have to be a 'Must Have'!  And I notice there are other reprints with different ISBN numbers!

Here's the info for identifying the book that I read:

Hardcover: 132 pages
Publisher:  Watson-Guptill Publications (2001)
Language: English
ISBN: 0-8230-5124-2
 

Here's the link where YOU possibly can buy it online, as I don't have it listed for sale in my online comic book shop: Greg and Tim Hildebrandt: The Tolkien Years

Again, please remember that you will probably only see reseller / collector prices for this OOP book, unless you find a reprinted paperback copy for sale!

~Michael D Hamersky


My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,448 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 2,469 '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:  

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:  As of Monday, June 27th, 2011, I'll be using my new laptop, where the default resolution is 'higher', so there may be some temporary glitches until I am used to the new resolution.

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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Posted by makeitsomarketing at 12:01 AM PDT
Updated: Tuesday, June 28, 2011 5:34 AM PDT
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Monday, June 27, 2011
My Take On: Charley's War Vol 1 From 2 June 1916 - 1 August 1916
Mood:  caffeinated
Topic: Comic Books - New

                                        

Michael D Hamersky On Comics Reviews:

Charley's  WAR!

Volume 1  of 7 (so far) Published by Titan Books

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Photos: (topmost above) The front cover to Volume One of Charley's WAR by Pat Mills & Joe Colquhoun from Titan Books. (Above top left) A photo of my grandfather, who though not a 'tommy', was a 'yank' who went 'over there' in World War I.  This book made me think of what he must have went through during that time, as he was also gassed.
  

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3447:

As you can tell from the top left photo of this blog post... I have a 'personal' interest in this book about World War I.  Even though my grandfather, Aloyisus 'Ollie' Hamersky was not a 'tommy', he was one of many 'yanks' who was sent 'over there' in the 'Great War'.  But enough about my family... What's this book about?

Here's what the publisher has as a promo for this book:

"From renowned UK comics writer Pat Mills (Marshal Law, Sláine) and legendary artist Joe Colquhoun (Johnny Red) comes a truly classic piece of British comics history, by turns thrilling, humorous and horrifying.

In 1916, Charley Bourne lies about his age to enlist and fight on the battlefields of France. But thoughts of glory and patriotism are swept aside by bloody horror and needless sacrifice as artillery rains down on the trenches of the First World War.

Rich in the detailed minutiae of the terror-punctuated existence of a ‘Tommy’, Charley’s War features a brand new introduction and ‘director’s commentary’ by Pat Mills, a cultural history of the comic, and an essay on the Battle of the Somme."

Okay... The above is pretty much what I read in this book.

You see... Charley's War is mostly about the story of a 'simple-minded', yet quick-witted teenager named Charley Bourne. Like so many during those days, Charley lied about his age and signed up in 1916 to "fight the Hun for King and Country".

So like many other 'tommys', he found himself in what many called "Hell" in the trenches of France.  During the period that this book covers, he makes slowly makes friends, yet struggles to survive the living hell amid a company of strange persons of the same rank. And stranger yet, all of them are under orders from ranking officers, many whom come across as either simpletons, psychopaths, or out and out uncaring career military men out to make a name for themselves!

I found this story to be bleak and terrible at times, which the black & white artwork just reinforces!  There is also the overwhelming cynicism and negativity througout the story presented here.  It just permeates the trenches the men are in, almost as much as the posion gas does... Talk about grim n' gritty comics today... This story makes those look tame in comparsion!

The writer of this story uses what could be called a 'gimmick' in that there are Charley's letters to his parents in his own way of spelling, and the return letters from his family and other family members.

Yet, I found myself engaged in reading each of the chapters presented, as this was originally a comic book feature during the 1980s. So there are multiple chapters with breaks and partial recaps. 

I found this book to very well researched, very well written, and the artwork is fantastic, even though it is in black & white, which was just fine for me!

Again, although my grandfather was a 'yank' I could just imagine a 'little taste' of what he must have gone through as well.

My comic book grade for this hardcover book is a NEAR MINT MINUS (NM-) 9.2 out of a possible 10.0 grading scale.  The reason being, when the book was first brought to my attention, I had no idea there were seven volumes already in this series! I thought there was just the one book, and maybe he died?  That fact there are already 7 of them since 2005 is maybe a bit much for me to think about purchasing all of them... Although I wouldn't mind reading more of them!  The 8th volume is being released this upcoming October... Maybe I should ask a local library to buy 'em all?  This first one was that good!

Here's the info for purchasing the book:

Hardcover: 112 pages
Publisher: Titan Books (October 1, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1840239298
ISBN-13: 978-1840239294
Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 9 x 0.6 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds 

Here's the link where YOU can buy it online, as I don't have it listed for sale in my online comic book shop:  Charley's War (Vol. 1): 2 June - 1 August 1916

Again, this book is a great start for compiling into hardcover format what was printed years ago in UK Comic Book format!

~Michael D Hamersky


My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,447 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 2,466 '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:  

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:  As of Monday, June 27th, 2011, I'll be using my new laptop, where the default resolution is 'higher', so there may be some temporary glitches until I am used to the new resolution.

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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Posted by makeitsomarketing at 12:01 AM PDT
Updated: Monday, June 27, 2011 7:29 AM PDT
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