Michael D Hamersky On Comics Presents An Invite For You To Attend A Panel On...    The Business and Hobby of Collecting Comics! At The 2013 WonderCon Anaheim! Sunday, March 31st 3:30 - 4:30 PM Room 213

TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3814 -    I have been hinting at this at my Facebook Fan Page, as well as in this Blog the last several days...

So here's the news, as it was just published last night on the WonderCon web site.

I'll be on a panel at the WonderCon on Sunday, March 31st, from 3:30 to 4:30 PM in Room 213, along with seven other guys, including Moderator Gregg Koudoulian, who invited me to sit in on this panel!

That's Gregg Koudoulian at the right of the photo at the top left of this blog, along with George Clayton Johnson, (wearing the hat), from an earlier panel at the Comic-Con International: San Diego in 2012!

Here's the lowdown on the panel:

The Business and Hobby of Collecting Comics

From personal collections, working with museums and art galleries and even a little bit of hoarding, George Clayton Johnson, Barry Short, John Ellis, Eric Hoffman, Michael Hamersky, Alan Williams, and Dave Arshawsky are all fans and collectors of most things related to science fiction and comics. Collecting is a major industry these days; just watch the cable shows dedicated to it! Join moderator Greg Koudoulian to discuss how we can make sure that our histories and legacies are preserved for future generations, in both museums and art galleries and your own home!

Sunday March 31, 2013 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Room 213

I'm also setting up an Event Page for this panel via my Facebook Fan Page, at... Wondercon: The Business and Hobby of Collecting Comics.   I'll be updating that page between now and the event date, and will post photos / videos from the panel there also.

Feel free to send this blog / the event page to your friends as well...

And Thanks for doing so!  See you there?! 

~ Michael

NOTE FROM Michael D Hamersky On Comics:  My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,814 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 link!   Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button!  And for those of YOU that haven't yet... I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

Note:  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(s) that was mentioned here today...!  If I have it, you'll find under the BIG TOP of Comics, at Comic Books Circus.com!     

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written per the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safari, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers serve the page up slightly 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:  Your computer's resoulution may be set differently, but the above resolution is the most commonly used resolution at the time of this blog post. 

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!

---------------            

      

In Addition, I started a YouTube Channel just before the 2011 Comic-Con International, where I am slowly uploading videos from conventions or other events that we attend that are also pop culture related.  You are invited to 'subscribe' to that channel also!  As found at 'HamerskyOnComics'!

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Michael D Hamersky On Comics Presents My Take On...    Irresistible The Trade Paperback From Zenescope Entertainment

TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3813 -    Today's review blog is on the trade paperback titled: 'Irresistible' from Zenescope Entertainment.

So what's the book about?

Here's the promotional info:

Allen Keeg was your average middle age heart broken sap who just went through the worst break up in his life. That was a year ago. Since then Allen's been having trouble getting back into the swing of things. But all that's about to change. When Allen saves an old woman from being mugged he will be given an amazing supernatural ability that will change his whole life. But is the gift of being irresistible to every woman he meets a gift or a dreadful curse. 

So what's my thoughts on this book?

First of all, I've got to say that I had already read issues #2 & #3 of the limited series that this TPB (trade paperback), is compiled from.

I hadn't review blogged either of those, because I had missed issue #1, and wasn't for sure what my feelings for this limited series were in total.

Now with the TPB read, (reprinting issues #1-4 of the Limited Series, I can tell you that the series came to a satisfying conclusion.  At least for me...

Now that I know how the main character, Allen, became 'Irresistible' to women, it made more sense to me.  The storyline was pretty good, as I'm sure a lot of guys that read comics would like to be 'Irresistible' to women!  The creator & writer of the series, Raven Gregory, did a fine job here!

The artwork by Derlis Santacruz & Amin Amat was fine also, and the colors by Franco Riesco and Mike Stefan covered the series well.

I'm definitely believing that reading this storyline in a collected TPB format is the way to read this.  It is actually pretty good, and not exactly over the top in depicting the outcome.  It is NOT for younger children though!

The Cover Gallery at the end of the storyline is nice to see.

There was also a preview of Fly: The Fall #1 & also a preview of The Waking: Dreams End #1 after the Cover Gallery.  I'm not going to comment on those two stories here.

I'm giving this book a Very Fine / Near Mint (VF/NM) 9.0 out of a possible 10.0 comic book grading scale.

If your LCBS doesn't have it in stock... Then you can order it here online: Irresistible.  

~ Michael

NOTE FROM Michael D Hamersky On Comics:  My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,813 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 link!   Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button!  And for those of YOU that haven't yet... I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

Note:  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(s) that was mentioned here today...!  If I have it, you'll find under the BIG TOP of Comics, at Comic Books Circus.com!     

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written per the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safari, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers serve the page up slightly 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:  Your computer's resoulution may be set differently, but the above resolution is the most commonly used resolution at the time of this blog post. 

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!

---------------            

      

In Addition, I started a YouTube Channel just before the 2011 Comic-Con International, where I am slowly uploading videos from conventions or other events that we attend that are also pop culture related.  You are invited to 'subscribe' to that channel also!  As found at 'HamerskyOnComics'!

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Michael D Hamersky On Comics Reviews...    Sharaz-De Tales from the Arabian Nights A Graphic Novel By   Toppi / Archaia

TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3812 -    Today's blog is on the graphic novel titled: 'Sharaz-De: Tales from the Arabian Nights',  by Toppi.  From Archaia Entertainment.

So what's the book about?

Here's the promotional info:

A set of tales inspired by the Arabian Nights by the late European comics master Sergio Toppi, exploring a barbaric society where the supernatural is the only remedy to injustice, as Sharaz-de, captive to a cruel and despotic king, must each night spin tales to entertain her master and save her head from the executioner. Tales filled with evil spirits, treasures, risk, and danger, but with ever at their center the passions of gods and men.

So what's my thoughts on this book?

My first thought when seeing the front cover of this book was... I'll wait and read the other books that had come in for possible review first.

That's because the artwork was just a little bit on the 'strange' side for me.

However, I did see at the bottom right of the book the following words: 'Featuring A Foreword By Walter Simonson', whose artwork I do enjoy, so I made sure I would read it soon.

I've just finished reading this book and wanted to place it in the numerical sequence for blogs to be posted.

That's because this book, 'strange' art and all, is darn good!

First of all, here is (Sergio) Toppi's Wikipedia entry, for those of you like me that didn't know who this guy was.  I say 'was' because Toppi recently passed away, (August of 2012).  The other reason I wasn't aware of his work is because the majority of it is in French.  Which I haven't studied since junior high school.

Upon opening the book, and reading the foreword by Walter Simonson, I plunged in.

And I read chapter after chapter of this book!

The artwork was pretty darn good, and the text, translated from French to English, caught my attention!  I too was hooked on the theme of the book, that of Sharaz-de delivering a story each night to the despotic king, and saving her from the executioner.

I've got to say... That the stories and the art filled me with wonder! 

The majority of the stories are in black & white only, but there are two that are in color.  They seem to be finished in watercolors.

I found that I wanted to take a break after each story to let the story soak in. Thus it has taken me a couple of days to finish the book up.

The fact that the artwork is almost presented like 'Heavy Metal' style makes the reading of the pages a little slower going, because you want to drink in the artistic effects.

I'm going to say that this book is one that you'd like to check out for yourself.

Thus I'm giving this book a Very Fine / Near Mint (VF/NM) 9.0 out of a possible 10.0 comic book grading scale.

Here is the ordering info for the book:

Reading level: Ages 16 and up
Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Archaia Entertainment, LLC (January 1, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1936393484
ISBN-13: 978-1936393480
Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 0.8 x 11 inches

If your LCBS doesn't have it in stock... Then you can order it here online: Sharaz-de: Tales from the Arabian Nights.  

~ Michael

NOTE FROM Michael D Hamersky On Comics:  My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,812 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 link!   Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button!  And for those of YOU that haven't yet... I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

Note:  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(s) that was mentioned here today...!  If I have it, you'll find under the BIG TOP of Comics, at Comic Books Circus.com!     

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written per the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safari, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers serve the page up slightly 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:  Your computer's resoulution may be set differently, but the above resolution is the most commonly used resolution at the time of this blog post. 

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!

---------------            

      

In Addition, I started a YouTube Channel just before the 2011 Comic-Con International, where I am slowly uploading videos from conventions or other events that we attend that are also pop culture related.  You are invited to 'subscribe' to that channel also!  As found at 'HamerskyOnComics'!

---

Michael D Hamersky On Comics Reviews...    Space 1999: Aftershock And Awe A Graphic Novel    From Archaia Entertainment

TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3811 -    Today's blog is on the graphic novel titled: 'Space: 1999 Aftershock And Awe' by Gaska, Morrow, Hueso, and Miki.  From Archaia Entertainment.

So what's the book about?

Here's the promotional info that I found:

The sci-fi classic series returns! September 13th: 1999 – An atomic accident causes the moon to be blown out of orbit and hurled into the unknown, the survivors of the lunar base stationed there launched towards their destiny across the stars. But what of the cataclysm and wanton destruction caused to the Earth in its wake?

Based on the classic science fiction television series SPACE: 1999 – and set in the continuity of the original series, AFTERSHOCK AND AWE steals a glimpse at an alternate history of mankind, and jump-starts humanity’s eventual destiny far out in space.

So what's my thoughts on this book?

Well... Quite honestly, I was sort of torn in reading this book.  That's because the first part of the book had artwork by Gray Morrow with Miki finishing it.  The second part of the book had visuals by David Hueso & Miki.  

The first part was outstanding in visual presentation, with kind of 'Old School' artwork.  Which I enjoyed!  The second part was rendered in a totally different style. 

The storyline re-tells the original "Breakaway" tale from 1999, plus also showing what happens to Earth in the aftermath. 

I found the storylines in the total book presentation to be one that was quite readable, even though I was not an avid fan of the TV series that ran from 4 September 1975 – 5 November 1977.

Here's the thing though... Gray Morrow, through 1976, was art director of Charlton Comics' black-and-white magazine Space: 1999, which was based on the TV series of that name.  Gray passed away in 2001, so this new book is a re-working of his art from the magazine.

What I figured out was that the author / story adaptor, Gaska,  used art from the classic Space: 1999 comics of the 1970s, along with new art, to actually expand on the series pilot episode titled: "Breakaway." He then added scenes that were either cut from or possibly never filmed for the original episode.  Then he introduced new material that helps link it all to the much larger story and then smooths out the inconsistencies that probably cropped up during the TV series two-year run.

I'm kind of torn about what comic book grade to give this book.  It's readable, and even enjoyable for someone like me that didn't watch the TV show all that much.  The book holds it own as good sci-fi reading.   And the artwork isn't that bad of a compilation...

So I'm giving this book a Very Fine / Very Fine Plus (VF/VF+) 8.25 out of a possible 10.0 comic book grading scale.  If you are already a fan of the TV show, then this book should be of value to you for reading.  If you aren't already a fan, but like good sci-fi reading, then this could fit that bill for you.

Here is the ordering info for the book:

Price:     $24.95
SKU:      978-1-936393-88-6
Weight:  1.50 LBS

If your LCBS doesn't have it in stock... Then you can order it here online: Space: 1999- Aftershock and Awe.  

~ Michael

NOTE FROM Michael D Hamersky On Comics:  My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,811 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 link!   Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button!  And for those of YOU that haven't yet... I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

Note:  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(s) that was mentioned here today...!  If I have it, you'll find under the BIG TOP of Comics, at Comic Books Circus.com!     

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written per the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safari, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers serve the page up slightly 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:  Your computer's resoulution may be set differently, but the above resolution is the most commonly used resolution at the time of this blog post. 

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!

---------------            

      

In Addition, I started a YouTube Channel just before the 2011 Comic-Con International, where I am slowly uploading videos from conventions or other events that we attend that are also pop culture related.  You are invited to 'subscribe' to that channel also!  As found at 'HamerskyOnComics'!

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Michael D Hamersky On Comics Suggests...     NINE Chances For YOU To See Allen Bellman In 2013!     (Nine Different Comic Conventions Ranging From Alabama to Colorado to Florida to Michigan to Missouri to New Jersey to Rhode Island!  Whew!)

TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3810 -    This is an update from blog #3784 as I was in contact with Allen Bellman this weekend via e-mail once again, and he was telling me that he had just added a 9th convention that he is scheduled to attend this year!  Dragon-Con in Atlanta, GA!

Well...  I just had to post an updated blog on this fact, as I'm sure you or your friends would love to meet him in person.  BTW... Allen will be celebrating his 89th birthday in June of this year!

First, here's a link to the blogs that I have already mentioned him in.

Second, here's the updated list of conventions that Allen will be at in 2013:

Feb. 14th       VisionCon  Springfield, Mo

March 15th     Mega-Con Orlando Florida
 
March 30th     Asbury Park Comic Con     Asbury Park N.J.
 
May 24th        Alabama Phoenix Festival  Birmingham AL

May 31st         Denver Comic Con   Denver CO

July 4th           Florida Super Con Miami FL

Aug 30th         Dragon-Con  Atlanta, GA

Oct 12th          Grand Rapids Comic-Con Grand Rapids MI

Nov 1st            Rhode Island  Comic Con   Providence RI

I'm hoping that YOU will be able to see Allen at one of these conventions that he is scheduled to attend.  You can find more on each con by clicking on the links provided above.

For more on Allen, you can check out his web site at AllenBellman.com, and even order a commission from him, if you can't see him in person!

Oh, and one last thing... Here's a checklist of just some of Allen's credited artwork during his comic book creating period!

If Allen adds on any more, I'll try to update this blog post once again!

 ~ Michael

NOTE FROM Michael D Hamersky On Comics:  My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,810 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 link!   Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button!  And for those of YOU that haven't yet... I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

Note:  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(s) that was mentioned here today...!  If I have it, you'll find under the BIG TOP of Comics, at Comic Books Circus.com!     

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written per the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safari, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers serve the page up slightly 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:  Your computer's resoulution may be set differently, but the above resolution is the most commonly used resolution at the time of this blog post. 

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!

---------------            

      

In Addition, I started a YouTube Channel just before the 2011 Comic-Con International, where I am slowly uploading videos from conventions or other events that we attend that are also pop culture related.  You are invited to 'subscribe' to that channel also!  As found at 'HamerskyOnComics'!

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