Michael D Hamersky On Comics Posts His Take On...       Stranger Than... Fiction Comics no. 1

TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3879 -    I have recently received this comic book in the mail from Robert W. Cox, publisher.   He is a Facebook Friend of mine, and asked if I would be willing to take a look at his comic book, Stranger Than... Fiction Comics #1.  So I did...

This comic book is an anthology.  With several different contributors.  Here's what the publisher says about this first issue:

"We have been working on a new Underground Comic Publishing Company called BootLeg COMIX. Our first title is Stranger Than .... F I C T I O N COMICS featuring Skip Williamson (Cover) R. Crumb, Jay Lynch, Robert W. Cox, Gene Gallatin, Monte Wolverton, Tiina Birgitta Raissen and Pat Moriarty.    

We will publish a small first edition of Artists'Proof and Distribution Company copies. These will go to the contributors and selected Distribution outlets for our type of market. Some will be available for sale, some we will sell through our shop locally."

Here's 'My Take' on the first issue:

Front Cover  -  I like the header / logo of the title 'Stranger Than... Fiction Comics'.  That looks good.  The publisher's logo 'Bootleg Comix' kind of indicates what genre this comic book will be in.  The illustration by Skip Williamson definitely sets the pace for the comic book, with 'Jesus Is Back... and he's packing heat!!'.   There is a $15 price tag published on the front cover, which I will cover near end of this blog post.

Inside Front Cover  - Which is the Table of Contents page.  Shows there are 32 interior pages, and covers what are on the front, back, and inside covers.  Then the bottom is the publishing info.

Pages 1 -4 presents 'A Rock And Roll Classic' by the publisher Bob Cox.  A story from 1984 and renewed copyrighted in 2012.  Not bad to start off an anthology... Start off with one of your own stories.

Pages 5 -8 is 'Jesus People USA Interview R. Crumb' by R. Crumb.  A nice little story by R. Crumb from 1984.  If you are a fan of Crumb... This would be for you.

Pages 9 -11  presents 'Child Martyr' by Jay Lynch.  A really good three page story!  I liked the art!

Page 12 is 'Punishment Comics' by Monte Wolverton. Copyrighted 1979. Interesting page.

Page 13 - 15 presents 'The Final Exorcism of Prince Charles' by Tiina Raisanen. I am familar with Tiina's work, being a Facebook Friend with Tiina. 

Page 16 has 'Snappy Sammy Smoot Speculates' by Skip Williamson.

Pages 17 -18 is 'Aw Heck!' by John Prine and Skip Williamson. Copyright 1971 by John Prine.

Page 19  is 'Spacehawk' by Basil Wolverton & Gene Gallatin. Strange little one page story.

Page 20 shows 'Higher Education' by Skip Williamson. A lot of verbage in one page!

Pages 21 - 26 is 'Bastard Sons of Harvey Kurtzman' by Gene Gallatin. Interesting storyline.

Pages 27 - 32 has 'Dear Mr. Spiegelman' by John Kinhart.

Page 33 shows 'Pigheaded: The Life of Skip Williamson' by John Kinhart. A pin-up page for the documentary film about Underground Comix Pioneer Skip Williamson.

The Back Cover is 'The Story of Mineshaft Magazine' by Pat Moriarty.

There are no ads or other commercial interuptions in this comic book.

So What's My Take on this comic book?

Well... I'm kind of partial to underground comix, and have bought and sold them over the years. 

The printed presentation of this comic book is that it is printed on very slick paper, which I'm not used to seeing on underground comix.   That is the reason for the $15 cover price.  However... When ordering from the publisher, the $15 also covers the shipping & handling costs.  So that's a plus for those that are not local where the publisher's shop is located.

I found the front cover to be in line with the contents of this comic book.  It shows that it is 'underground comix' although the title shows 'Comics'.

The Table of Contents page is very helpful when opening to the interior.  Too many anthologies are just thrown together in presentation.   This one is not.  It is well organized and actually preserved on better than usual paper. 

I found the process of reading this comic book was a 'fun read'.   There were classics from well known creators as well as those that are not as well known.

The 'mix' of stories presented in this anthology comic book were pretty well chosen.  For the most part I found the stories to be interesting to read, and thought provoking.  None of the stories presented were too far out from the other stories, which was good.

I'm looking forward to issue no. 2, which is in the works as this blog is being written.

The comic book grade for this number 1 issue is a Very Fine / Near Mint (VF/NM) 9.0 out of a possible 10.0 comic book grading scale.

You can obtain a copy of this comic book by sending a $15 check or money order to:.

RWC Graphics Inc
4701 Crystal Drive
Columbia, SC 29206-1012

My thanks to Robert for sending this issue to me for review!

~ 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 3,879 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!

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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 Mentions That It Was The...     Secrets Behind the Comics! As Told by Stan Lee!      TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3878 -    I received an email from a potential buyer about whether or not I still had a copy of the book titled: 'Secrets Behind the Comics', by Stan Lee.   The potential buyer had seen an earlier blog I had posted several years ago on that topic.   The blog was from the old eBay blogs format, so it doesn't appear as well in this Tripod blogs format.  So I'm going to repost what it said:   It Was The "Secrets Behind The Comics"! And You Could Have Had Them For Only $1.00 ! Which Was The Cover Price...Of Stan Lee's booklet when it was first printed in 1947! Back then, Stan came up with the idea of selling the behind the scenes story of what it took to create, print, and publish a comic book. And he should have known, as he had been involved in comics by then for about six years! The booklet was published by Famous Enterprises, Inc., in a paperback edition, and today can be found for sale at times around $150.00... there was a 'signed' copy for sale at $300.00 earlier this year on eBay! Additionally, there was a reprint edition of this booklet: 'Secrets Behind the Comics' (Limited Edition) by Stan Lee, with Ken Dale (illustrator). Published by Marvel Limited in 1994. Currently OOP.. Out of Print. First print was a LIMITED edition (700 copies) of the 1947 edition. This reprint had a silver embossed cover. With 100 pages. It was a Hard Cover Black and White 6" x 9" (15cm x 23cm) with a Dust Jacket.    Good luck to you if you are searching this book out.  There is currently one of each on eBay.                     Want to see what was inside these two covers? Then click on this link to be taken to my Facebook Fan Page's photo album for pics.

NOTE FROM Michael D Hamersky On Comics:  My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now at 3,878 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!

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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 Mentions The...     KickStarter Campaign For DitkoMania #91!      TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3877 -    This KickStarter Campaign was brought to my attention by Jackie Estrada, who posted it at her Facebook page.   I have previously review blogged DitkoMania back on June 21st of 2009 on issue #73. (See photo to the top right for that issue's cover.)    I wasn't aware of this KickStarter Campaign so there are only a few days left before it is over!   This is what the campaign is about:   This is for the new issue of the fanzine devoted to comics artist Steve Ditko. This issue focuses on Speedball and other bouncing Ditko heroes! The print copy of DITKOMANIA #91 will be at least 32 B&W pages (possibly more depending on the contents) and will focus on Speedball and other bouncing characters of Steve Ditko (such as his obscure Mr. Quiver, who has only appeared in two stories). The issue will also have a long letters section from readers reacting to the previous issue of Ditkomania (#90, "Ron Frantz Remembers"), including a letter by Cerebus creator Dave Sim. The fanzine is printed on a photocopier, and hand-folded and stapled by me. I number each issue individually (with a red ballpoint pen) on the front inside cover. The covers are printed on cardstock paper. If this Kickstarter campaign is successful, I will have a COLOR cover on the printed copies of Ditkomania, which would be the first time I've done that before.  The front cover was drawn by Javier Hernandez and colored by Fester Faceplant.  The back cover (featuring Speedball) was drawn by Tom Ahearn and colored by Mort Todd. Depending on this Kickstarter response, I may consider using a print-on-demand type printer (instead of a photocopier) to print the issue, if pledges are significantly higher than my goal amount.   Thanks for reading the above.  I am suggesting that you take a close look at this KickStarter Campaign and then contribute!    BTW, Ditkomania also has a Facebook Fan Page!   ~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 3,877 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 Mentions...      Doomed!   The Untold Story of Roger Corman's Fantastic Four Film      TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3876 -    Today I'm blogging about a current IndieGoGo Campagin and Facebook Fan Page for Doomed!  The Untold Story of Roger Corman's Fantastic Four Film.   I first saw this on Tuesday late afternoon, via Carl Ciarfalio's post on Facebook.  Carl played The Thing in the FF Film back in 1994, and I met him at a comic con a while back and we became Facebook Friends.   I of course have a copy of the unreleased film on an authorized DVD.  Similar to the one at the bottom right of this blog post.   I'm also the proud owner of the Fantastic Four One Sheet shown at the top right of this blog.  It is the only poster I have hanging in my home office, and it is framed.   Of course I also have the Film Threat magazine issue that showed the Fantastic Four on the cover, as shown at the right column, middle photo.   So I'll be checking out this IndieGoGo Campaign further... There are a lot of goodies they are providing when you donate.  The campaign ends on Thursday, June 20th at 11:59 PM.    Plus be sure to check out the Facebook Fan Page for Doomed!   My thanks to Carl for posting this on his Facebook page!    I'll be sure to mention any updates to this Campaign at my Facebook Fan Page.   ~ 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 3,876 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 Wishes...     Allen Bellman A Happy Birthday On His 89th Birthday Celebration!      TODAY'S FEATURE IS BLOG #3875 -    I want to start the day off right... By Wishing Allen Bellman a Happy 89th Birthday!   Allen lives in Florida, but is having a year long conventions appearance schedule, as seen in my blog #3810.   I first met Allen back in 2007 at the San Diego Comic-Con International.  See photo at the middle right, where he is receiving the Inkpot Award at that year's SDCC at a panel. Blog #3423.   One of Allen's biggest thrills recently was his walking down the red, white & blue carpet at the Captain America Film Premiere in 2011!  See blog #3475 for details & more photos.   I could go on and on, (see this link for blogs on or about Allen), but I'll stop and just say... "Happy Birthday, Allen!".    ~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 3,875 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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