Michael D Hamersky On Comics Presents His Take On...    Mighty Mouse Blue Cream!       Fly on over to your nearest Rocket Fizz because we've teamed up with iconic Golden Records to bring you the mighty, Mighty Mouse theme song blue cream soda "Here I Come To Save The Day!"!

TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3850 -    This past weekend my youngest son, Vinnie, and I attended the Free Comic Book Day event in Rancho Cucamonga.   One of the nice things about this event at 4 Color Fantasies is that while we were standing in line for a couple of hours plus, I went over to the food stand where our tickets got us a free hot dog each!   Which helped make the wait more bearable!

After staying there for four hours in total, we headed back down to Carlsbad, which is 1 & 1/2 hours away.  We of course had to stop at Tom's Farms in Corona for a break!   I always try to stop there, to pick up divinity, chocolate, and vanilla fudge samplers!   Which I did again this time, LOL!

While there, since it was just Vinnie and myself on this drive, I decided to check out what else was on hand.   Besides all kinds of candy, nuts, etc., Tom's Farms of course has a fruit / vegetable stand.  In that area there was also a large cooler.  So as I wandered over there, I came across a bunch of 'strange' pops!  Including this Blue Cream bottle.  Of course it was the Mighty Mouse on the label that caught my eyes! 

So while I bought one for me, Vinnie picked up a Chocolate Creme Soda, which he had never had one.  But it didn't have a cartoon character on the label.

So anyways, I started drinking mine on the way back down to Carlsbad.  It was very smooth to the taste, and refreshing.  Enough so that when I got back home, I had to look up the producers of this soda pop, RocketFizz.com. 

As you can see by their web site, they have quite a few sodas to sample!  And the Rocket Fizz people mentioned the  'Golden Records' logo on the label.  Golden Records has their own web site.   So there is quite a bit of extra reading to be done, if you are interested!

Oh, and the RocketFizz folks are a franchise opportunity!  As it is actually Rocket Fizz Soda Pop & Candy Shops.  Take a look if you have interest at the tabs on their web site for more info.

Also for more info, and to be interactive with Rocket Fizz... Be sure to check their Facebook Fan Page!

Anyways, I just had to bring this soda pop to your attention today, as it was darn good, and comic book related.  You never know what you will find at Tom's Farms!

~ 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 3,850 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 Vinnie's Take On...    Forever Freshman #2       Vinnie with Neil Segura at the Forever Freshman booth at the 2013 FCBD!

TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3849 -    This past weekend my youngest son, Vinnie, and I attended the Free Comic Book Day event in Rancho Cucamonga.   While we were standing in line for a couple of hours, we passed several booths with comics creators and small press publishers.

One of the booths had Neil Segura and Ray Mendevil with their Forever Freshman comic books.  Vinnie had previously blogged the 'Preview' issue of this comic book back in blog #3435.  So Neil gave Vinnie a copy of issue #2 of the comic book series for possible review.  Here's Vinnie's Take on the comic book:

While at the FCBD event (which you can read a blog post about here) this past Saturday, I saw many comic creators and publishers. I had the chance to see the creators of "Forever Freshman," a comic by Neil Segura and Ray Mendivil, which I had previously read and reviewed, which can be found here. We talked for awhile, and they gave me the second issue to read. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, seeing as I am a freshman in high school now as well.

The story, which is a collaborative of both Ray and Neil, but written by Ray, is fun and reminiscient of what happens in highschool. The two characters, Neil and Ray, who are based off of the creators, have a fight and nearly end their friendship over a girl. However, after watching a chick-flick, they realize that they can't be fighting, and their friendship is saved. At the same time, their principal, DeMaskero, tries to catch them to put them in detention. They also skip school with the girl, Annie, who they were originally fighting over, and go on a kung-fu-chili-fueled adventure. In the end, Annie chooses another guy over Ray or Neil, which was the best thing for them, as they remained friends. DeMaskero ends up catching them, and they now have to attend Saturday School.

One thing I noticed was that when they were hallucinating from eating too much chili, Ray asked the girl "Annie, are you ok?" followed by Neil saying "Are you ok, Annie?" which happens to be in a Michael Jackson song. Whether or not that was intentional, I do not know, but I did find it mildy amusing.

The art, which was done by Neil, is quite detailed for being so cartoony. The first page shows an elaborate design of the evil principal's office as he is scolding the hall monitors and brewing up a nasty plan to catch Ray and Neil. The creators also had special permission to include characters from the "Reed Gunther" comic books, and they made a "cameo appearance" in one of the panels. There is also a full two-page picture of the three kids' journey which is just unbelievable. It shows them all fighting off a giant ant, talking to the toad king, rocking out with Neil on guitar, Ray on drums, and Annie singing, and each one on a majestic steed; a dragon for Ray, a giant eagle for Neil, and the seahorsicorn for Annie, as she holds onto the magic key. The inside back cover shows the ancient Chinese scroll detailing the ingredients for the kung-fu chili. Unfortunately, the part of the scroll telling of the secret ingredient was either burned or torn off, and will forever remain a secret.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed "Forever Freshman" issue 2. The story was interesting and the art was beautiful. I give it a Near Mint (NM), a 9.4 out of 10.0 grade scale. Those guys did an awesome job. You can also visit their website for more information or to pick up a copy of any of their issues for yourself.

~ Vinnie

NOTE FROM Michael D Hamersky On Comics:  My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,849 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 Shares Our Take On...    Free Comic Book Day 2013...   In Rancho Cucamonga At 4 Color Fantasies!     TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3848...   Well, I've got just a short blog to post today, on where my youngest son, Vinnie, and I travelled to yesterday for Free Comic Book Day!   That would be at 4 Color Fantasies, in Rancho Cucamonga, California.  Here is a link to their Facebook Event Page for their FCBD.   At the right are photos from their event.  Here is the link to my Facebook Fan Page's special photo album for the event.  Vinnie & I shot 199 photos / videos which we are sharing at that link.   True, the event was an hour and a half from my home in Carlsbad, but this LCBS did more than just pass out FCBD comic book editions.  There were several tables manned by comic book creators as well.  Plus there were several small press publishers!  And even entertainment by guitarist 'Mega Josh', (pictured here). Take a look at the photo album for more details!   We had a pretty good time at the event, which was a change of pace from our previous years celebrating the FCBD at San Diego Metro Area LCBS.  The only negative was that it took 2 & 1/2 hours to go through the line for the 7 free comic books allocated for each participant.  However you got to choose what 7 comics you wanted from a vast assortment. I'm not sure how many of the possible 52 FCBD comics were available though...   See this link for the blog I posted earlier for FCBD 2013 that has links to our previous years photo albums and blogs.   I give this FCBD event a Very Fine / Near Mint (VF/NM) 9.0 comic book grade. Vinnie gives it the same grade. Our Thanks to Chris Brady, shown in bottom photo for hosting this event!   If you are in the LA Metro Area, you gotta check this event in Rancho Cucamonga out for 2014!   You are welcome to post your thoughts on your own personal 2013 FCBD experience at my Facebook Fan Page, Michael D Hamersky On Comics!

NOTE FROM Michael D Hamersky On Comics:  My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,848 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 Tina LoSasso's Take On...    Iron Man 3   Which Is Currently Playing At A Theater Near You!

TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3847 -    Iron Man 3

Whether or not you agree that Gwynneth Paltrow is the World's Most Beautiful Woman, Pepper Potts is definitely hot in Iron Man 3.

Paltrow plays an expanded role and even gets in on the action in surprising and Tony Stark-life-saving ways. If you recall, Pepper is now in charge at Stark Industries (and gets to wear a cool white suit). Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) is hanging out at home recuperating from "New York" (Avengers) and building a fleet of Iron Men. Tony broken by "aliens and wormholes" was a little hard to believe. Really, would anything really disturb Stark's psyche - aside from maybe losing Pepper? Stark seems much more the scientist or mechanic, as he calls himself, to be upended by his "experience" in New York. Think Walter in Fringe - the more aliens, worm holes and mutating animals the better.

Perhaps the panic attacks are the movie's way of tipping us as to just how dark Iron Man 3 will be. America is being terrorized by an Osama Bin Laden-esque character called The Mandarin wonderfully played by Ben Kingsley. (Does Iron Man have the most number of Oscar nominees and winners in its cast?) The Mandarin's army is a formidable band of rather invincible fighters led by James Badge Dale (The Pacific, Rubicon). When Starks's friend and driver Happy is gravely injured in one of the terrorist attacks, Stark calls out The Mandarin who doesn't disappoint. Home destroyed, Stark lands in Tennessee, the site of a past bombing with a similar signature.

In Iron Man 3, we see Stark stripped of his suit, his resources, his lady love -- and presumed dead. It's a sad sight even without the panic attacks. Enter an adorable and enterprising Tennessee kid played by the young Ty Simpkins. He is the perfect foil to Downey who needs someone to play off beside Jarvis whom we love and finally got enough of in IM3.

The fun of Iron Man 3 is seeing Stark on his own, sans suit, improvising at every turn to foil the evil doers. Guy Pearce (L.A. Confidential, Momento) makes a truly creepy villian primarily because he doesn't look like one. Take note of him at the beginning of the film, the transformation is fascinating. Speaking of the film's opening, pay close attention to the partygoers, there is one very poignant reveal. And, no, it's not Stan Lee, look for him later on - you can't miss it.

My verdict on Iron Man 3? I really enjoyed it. Everyone wants to compare the three movies so I'll say definitely better than 2. I loved the first Iron Man movie for the joy and fun that it was. This latest installment has a more dramatic side. The pacing was terrific. My interest never wavered; it held me the entire time and not because of the action - the slower scenes were enjoyable. With an array of Iron Men suits, Iron Man 3 packs an action whallop while still giving us enough story to hold us in its grip.

Comic Book Rating: Very Fine / Near Mint (VF/NM) 9.0

-- Tina LoSasso.

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

Thanks, Tina, for your review!   Here are Tina's review blogs from Iron Man 1 (9.4) & Iron Man 2 (9.2).

And... If you missed my review blog from yesterday, here's the link to blog #3846.

~ 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 3,847 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 Shares His Take On...      Iron Man 3!

TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3846 -    I've just come back from viewing Iron Man 3 on the Big Screen with my wife, Tina LoSasso. 

This blog post is 'My Take' on the film.  Please check back tomorrow to read Tina's 'Take' on the film.

Before I start, here are 'My Takes' on Iron Man 1 (8.5)  & Iron Man 2 (9.2).

So... What did I think of the film?

I've got to say... This film was like a drama to me... Which is good!  The storyline was well written, and there was a lot of 'Tony Stark' on film, instead of Iron Man.  Plus a lot of Pepper Potts!  Which also was good.

There weren't as many characters in this 3rd film of the Iron Man Trilogy.  Which was also good! 

However, the ending of the film was just a little 'comic booky' for my tastes.  And yes, I am a comic book collector!  So I know 'comic booky', LOL.

Yet the storyline for the most part was very well written & directed.  I liked this film because for 3/4 of the film there was a 'human touch' to it.

It could also be the actors that brought more to this film. Here's my grade on the actors:. 

Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark / Iron Man - A Near Mint (NM) 9.4.  Robert is Tony for sure!  Plus his interaction with the kid in Tennessee was very well played.

Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts - A Near Mint (NM) 9.4 also!  At last she got more film time, and played it very well.

Don Cheadle as James Rhodes / (War Machine) Iron Patriot -  Very Fine / Near Mint 9VF/NM) 9.0 - Was pretty good in this film.

Ben Kingsley as the Mandarin - Near Mint Minus (NM-) 9.2  - Very well played, especially with the twist!

Guy Pearce as Aldrich Killian - Very Fine Plus (VF+)  8.5 -  Good role for Guy, except the ending part, which was written a little too comic booky.  I realize that it isn't the actor's fault, but it affected my grading of the role.

Rebecca Hall as Dr. Maya Hansen - Very Fine Plus (VF+) 8.5 - Pretty good acting for a minor role!

Jon Favreau as Happy Hogan: - Very Fine (VF) 8.0 - Happy gets hurt early in the film, and is out of it... Too bad, as Jon was good as Happy in the earlier two films.

Ty Simpkins as Harley - Near Mint Minus (NM-) 9.2 - This kid got a role a lot of kids would love to have had in the film.  And he pulls it off!  Good job!

Paul Bettany reprises his role from previous films as JARVIS, Stark's AI system - Very Fine / Near Mint (VF/NM) 9.0  - JARVIS is still  hanging in there!

Stan Lee makes a cameo appearance as a beauty pageant judge. Very Fine Plus (VF+) 8.5 - Too small of a cameo for Stan the Man Lee! 

I would have to say that this film rounds out the Iron Man Trilogy very well.  I for one, along with the rest of the audience in the theater enjoyed this film!   And almost all of them stayed for the final scene at the end of the credits!

My comic book grade for this comic book movie is a Near Mint Minus (NM-) 9.2.   The film was well played until just near the end when it became just a little too 'comic booky' for me.  Yet I will still buy the DVD when it comes out, because it is a good movie, and worth seeing again!  So yes, check this film out on the Big Screen near you! 

If you want to know more about the film, you could read the Wikipedia entry for the film.  But be aware, there are a LOT of 'SPOILER ALERTS' in that entry!

~ 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 3,846 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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