Daytripper - A Sublime Experience

By: Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon

While in Emerald City, I attended the Con of Comics. At the DC booth, there were heaps and heaps of free comics, pins, and posters. Like a red leaf among the yellow piles, the first installation of Daytripper lept into my hands. Seldom does a comic resound so powerfully within a single issue. Daytripper #1 is an non-judging look at the life of an obscure writer named Bras on his birthday. It goes largely unremembered and unnoticed by the world around him, and he struggles with resenting his family as a result. His father is a very successful writer, and all that Bras has accomplished is a steady job as a writer of obituaries. The reader of this comic follows him on this red letter day in his life, not because of his accomplishments, but because of his realizations.

There are very thick themes of family loyalty and love within this issue. It ends in a most surprising manner (which I won't spoil here) that drove several waves of emotion through me. Sadness, joy, understanding, but most of all gratitude. I would recommend this comic to my Father, my Mother, my brothers, my friends and my Wife; such is the power of the message it portrays. It seems to touch upon a deeper level of thought and emotion that most media strives to reach but seldom obtains. More important than reading it, is feeling it.

"You don't choose family."

Please read this comic! You won't regret it!

Chad de Lisle is a newly married college student in Utah. He spends much of his day with his wife Hilary and their dog Bobby Dylan. He spends his weekends as a Dungeon Master for his friend's Dungeon's and Dragon's games.

His website: http://www.resmirch.com/

View the original article here

A Brief History Of The Evolution Of Vintage Comics

For centuries now, comics have been printed and collectors classify them into 5 Periods: 1897 to 1937 Platinum; 1938 to 1955 Golden Age; 1956 to 1969 Silver Age; 1970- 1979 Bronze and 1980 to present Modern Era. The value for vintage comic books is given based on condition, issue and title and rarity. Some of the popular titles are Spider-Man, Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, Incredible Hulk and X-Men.

Among the first comics to be published was Hogan's Alley in 1895 and this featured the first lead character and speech bubbles. The Yellow Kid in McFadden's Flats was published in 1897, which created the comic book term and this signifies the start of the Platinum Era, which continued until 1937.

Immediately after newspaper comic strips like Mutt and Jeff had been reprinted as books and the publishers started to experiment with periodic books, which were sold for 10 cents at the newsstands. The pre-superhero comic strips had been mainly pulp stories of detectives, adventure, criminals and exotic travel. The very first costumed hero had been The Phantom, which came out in 1936 wearing black mask and a purple costume.

The Golden Age started in 1937, and comics, formerly intended for adults were now centered more on youngsters. During 1938 an innovative new series called Action Comics #1, released Superman first comic character with superhuman capabilities. Batman came out in the following year in Detective Comics #27, much grittier than the Superman and at first much more mysterious than the superhero comics.

In 1939, Superman received his own book and this brand-new format took over as the standard for the American comics. The Golden Age continued to 1955 and presented characters like Captain Marvel, Captain America, The Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash and The Spectre.

The Silver Age revamped The Flash with superheroes coming back from the post WW2 decline. There were characters such as Fantastic Four, X-Men and The Avengers
In 1962, Spider-Man was introduced to great success because he was similar to an average person. Some other characters introduced during this era include Dr. Doom, Aquaman and Martian Manhunter.

For more great tips on vintage comic books and comic book collectors visit any of the links in this authors bio.

View the original article here

3 Locations To Discover Rare Comics

Whether you've been collecting comic books for a long time, or you're new to the hobby, there's something fun that keeps both nerds and entrepreneurs interested. Finding rare comics is one of the funnest things you can do and if you play your cards right, you can earn a good living by reselling your findings. You don't need to be an expert, you simply need to know where to find the best of the crop. Consider these three locations to finding your next big rarity.

1. eBay - This seems way too obvious. But if you look for misspellings and listings that get the numbers and grading wrong, you will discover a new world of options. There are a variety of sites that can help you look through the millions of comics on this mighty auction site. I most recently purchased a Daredevil #8 for ten dollars because someone forgot to list that it was the first appearance of Stilt Man.

2. Amazon - The biggest e-commerce website has a lot of books in their database. That includes millions of copies of used and new illustrated graphic novels. I was surprised to see just how many different options that are available to the consumer. I most recently found vintage copies of Dr. Strange from the Silver Age at a faction of the price that they are worth.

3. Half Priced Discount Book Store - There are a great variety of clearance book locations throughout the world. Look for these places to jack up the price for retail goods, but if they have a used section look for high quality trade paper backs and single issue comics. You'll be amazed how many of these stores sell big lots of vintage comics, and don't even realize that they are worth a lot of money. While in Seattle, I found a whole collection of Spawn comics for less than ten cents each. Just keep your open and you'll find gems.

For some, these seem obvious, but for others these represent modern locations where your next big score is waiting. There are a great deal of options to discover if you're looking to collect or resell these marvelous works.

Whether you're a comic nerd, or simply want more commentary about comics, consider reading Casket Sales Man Blog. It is updated daily with book recommendations, music reviews, and a variety of other geeky things.

View the original article here

Homo Ludens - Notes About BOCAH Comic Book

According to Indonesia law, a man presumes to be adult when he/she reaches age of eighteen. When that age is coming, I come to realize that the most interesting part of life is when someone at his/her childhood, or to be clearer, when someone entering his essence of humanity as a homo ludens: which means, creatures who love to play. Sometimes before a man becomes an adult, or when someone still at his childhood, maybe he would be happy to play with one fake pistol, and then consider himself as a cowboy who carries pistol at his waist, walking on the dusty road, going to save a beautiful princess who had been kidnapped by some bad person.

The comic book, written by Bayu, Seta, Ockto, and given with title: B.O.C.AH (MnC!, 2010), depicted everyday's life of four mischief-making children: Beri (11 years old), Badi (11), Ijul (11), and Ardi (11); who reach their essence of humanity by become a group of homo ludens. This comic book divided into twelve chapters, each chapter contains one story, which does not have any relation with the others. Readers might also notice that each panel occasionally burlesqued everyday's life by focusing on Beri and his Friend's naughty behavior; showing to us one world filled by Childs imagination. Moreover, it is not only their imagination, but also their game and adventure, which had, becomes elements of the whole story. Readers can find those elements by looking at some "ridiculous" (some reader might say, irrational) story. However, what kind of story we could find in B.O.C.A.H? To say some, they once dreaming about turning-out fire with giant glass. On the other story, Beri (with his ridiculous daydreaming experiment) trying to pull out moon from its orbit to prevent earth from tsunami disaster. With those "ridiculous" stories, of course, you do not have to ask any logical sense, because you really do not need to do that.

Perhaps the simple story line of B.O.C.A.H is actually the most endearing part of the comic. The entire plots follow four children relationship with one another, showing the various nuances of their lives. Although Beri seems to be given more portion to develop his nature than others boy do. Therefore, it seems that the only purpose that the other characters serve is to create conflicts, exposition, and comedic relief. I this case, I must say that the other characters are more like additional player, even in the beginning of this comic; four of them have mentioned to be prominent figure. Surely, in this comic book, as I said before, there is no room for logical sense. For a four mischief-child, all they can do is playing with their body and mind, more and more. Readers may find some plots, which are so irrational to us, but, once again, it is child imagination, you can imagine whatever, and whenever you want. At this point, irrational-thing will guide us to some pieces of childhood memories.

View the original article here

Golden Age Hawkman Remains Excellent DC Comics Character

Although he may not be as famous as Superman or Batman, Hawkman has been a major DC Comics superhero since the Golden Age of comics. Not only is he a great character visually, he sports an interesting origin, too. And while there have been more than one Hawkman, the Golden Age Hawkman is the best.

I am not going to spend hours explaining Hawkman's past. A great place to read about it is at Wikipedia. However, I need to sum up Hawkman a little. Hawkman first appeared in Flash Comics in 1940. He was Carter Hall and, later in the series, his fiancee Shiera became Hawkgirl. They flew using wings and a metal-called ninth metal in the Golden Age and Nth metal in the Silver Age-harness that defies gravity. This was all courtesy of ancient Egyptian secrets. They were reincarnated Egyptians.

In the 1960s, Hawkman and Hawkgirl were reintroduced as Katar Hol and Shayera Hol (Thal was her maiden name). They were alien police officers who came to Earth from the planet Thanagar. Although they have a different history, their costumes look almost exactly the same as the original hawks. There are twists and turns to the history of Hawkman and Hawkgirl, but, basically, these are the four main hawk characters.

Growing up in the 1980s, I was most familiar with the alien hawks. It was Katar and Shayera who were on the SuperFriends and featured in DC Comics at the time. Carter and Shiera Hall were still around in DC Comics, too, but not as prominently in the 1980s. In the 1990s, the entire Hawkman franchise was revamped, in a way, through the Hawkworld miniseries and the Hawkworld ongoing series. Although fans were split on some decisions made with the Hawkworld stories, I loved them. The Hawkworld ongoing series was excellent. Some issues featured all four hawks, which made for some great tales.

Hawkman was once again reintroduced in the early 2000s. Carter Hall was back as the main Hawkman and Kendra Saunders (grandniece of the first Hawkgirl) was Hawkgirl. But, it was not really Kendra. It was Shiera's soul in Kendra's body, using Kendra's memories. Thankfully, Shiera is back completely now, memories and all! She returned in DC Comic's Blackest Night No. 8 in early 2010.

Carter is my number one choice for Hawkman. The reincarnation angle of his character makes for some good stories. His adventures are a mix of Indiana Jones and Mummy movies with science fiction thrown in. Plus, he's the first Hawkman. He gets kudos for that!

Haters who say Hawkman is pointless because all he does is fly are missing the point. Sure, he flies. And while Superman can fly and do a hundred other things, Hawkman is unique. Hawkman is about adventures in ancient worlds, lost civilizations, and even on other planets. Also, unlike other heroes who fly, Hawkman embodies the idea of flight. His wings are a symbol of man's dream of flight. And they just look darn cool!

Another important aspect of Hawkman has also been the equality and partnership between Hawkman and Hawkgirl (sometimes called Hawkwoman). The first Hawkgirl, Shiera, appeared in Flash Comics (1940) No. 1 as an non-costumed supporting character in the Hawkman story. She becomes Hawkgirl later in the run. But, that is a subject for another article.

I am an owner of Halloween Hill, an online store that sells haunted house props, as well as Halloween decorations. I am also a comic book collector and have been for more than 25 years!

Visit me at http://www.halloween-hill-props.com/ and http://comicbooksandthings.blogspot.com/.

View the original article here

Football Rookie Cards

Football rookie cards are the first appearance of a football player in a particular trading card. These are highly valued and sought after by football card collectors. Every year major companies bring out special editions on the best players of the season.

For an ardent follower of football who is into sports card collection, football rookie cards are perhaps the most prized possessions. Sports card collection itself is a very rewarding hobby. And if this is a rookie card, then it becomes that much more special. A football card is the first appearance of a football player in a particular trading card.

Among all other types of sports cards, rookie cards are the most valued and are most sought after. Some regard it as the first ever appearance of a player, while others regard it as the first official card of a player from a major manufacturer. Collecting these is a separate hobby altogether. People are crazy about these. Some people spend fortunes on building a sports card collection. Although quite a time consuming and expensive hobby, some people keep hunting for these, looking to add every one of them to their collection, and football being one of the most popular games, football cards are prized even more.

Some people collect these only because of their novelty, others for the information, while the rest for simply nostalgic reasons. For American football fans, collecting football rookie cards of NFL players is a very popular hobby. All leading manufacturers bring out special editions on the best NFL players of the season every year. These cards are highly valued and, considering their demand, are often highly priced. However, that definitely doesn't serve as a deterrent for crazy football fans. They are just too happy to add their favorite players' rookie card to their ever-increasing collection. After the 2010 pro-bowl, a Vincent Jackson card is what every collector would be looking for.

Football cards are also excellent for investments. Their value never diminishes. On the contrary, they become more valued over the years, growing in demand. Apart from the ones for current players, collectors keep hunting for those special editions from the yesteryears to add to their collection. Apart from local shops, these are also available online. Some collectors also form groups where they exchange cards. If you are on the lookout for some rare rookie card, being a part of such a group can be a good idea.

Rare football rookie cards also surface at auction sites. Every collector knows the worth of a rare football rookie card, and they protect such cards as they would their most precious possession. If you want to add such a rare card to your collection, then be ready to shell out an astronomical price.

View the original article here

Conan the Cimmerian #19

Until 2 weeks ago, I had never read a SINGLE Conan comic book. He never interested me. Then, while I was in Captain Comics in Boise, Idaho, I saw this cover and I knew I had to buy it. Initially, I bought 5 issues to give it a test run. I was immensely surprised by the depth of story I found, and how much I enjoyed the Cimmerian's antics. The story reminded me of playing dungeons and dragons as a twelve year old, gathered with my closest friends in my parent's kitchen, slaying evil and stopping villainy. Since that day in Boise, I have completely caught up on the back issues and I was able to purchase #19 that came out this month. So from here on out, expect a monthly review of Conan the Cimmerian!

This issue begins with the ghost of Amalric (the dead mercenary leader) paying a visit to the diseased and starving Conan. He rebukes the Cimmerian for losing his mighty army, and begs to know how it was so. Conan then proceeds to recount the loss of the "Free Companions of the Sword". The art is crisp and beautiful, as always when Giorello pencils. (One criticism I have for this series is the unending parade of guest artist that lack the skill to bring Conan to life.) We are introduced to a smok'in hot chick, Olivia, who is added to the harem of Shah Amurath. The Shah takes brutal advantage of her and all we can do is cringe and pray that the mighty hands of the Cimmerian will one day snap his neck. As the issue concludes, a man that Conan had previously offended returns, and it looks to be a bloody reunion!

I know why I love the Conan comics so much, here is the equation: 1) Conan travels and slays 2) He meets a beautiful woman who is in some sort of danger 3) Conan slays the crap out of everyone and protects/saves her 4) They make sweet, powerful, sweaty Cimmerian love 5) Conan travels and slays again.

With the Conan equation in place, any comic, movie, television show, or book will be wildly successful. I guarantee it. Issue 19 is awesome, and I absolutely cannot wait until next month when 20 comes out!

Chad de Lisle is a newly married college student in Utah. He spends much of his day with his wife Hilary and their dog Bobby Dylan. He spends his weekends as a Dungeon Master for his friend's Dungeon's and Dragon's games.

His website:

http://www.resmirch.com/

View the original article here

Comic Book Reviews - Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight

One of my special guilty pleasures on TV was Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It was not your typical scary vampire sucking the lifeblood out of innocent virgins but a rousing and irreverent dedication to youth, culture and its relationship with eternal damnation.. The television show kept some of the connection with the horrible movie of the same name but had its creator Joss Whedon at the helm to ensure its appropriate poignancy and humor came through loud and clear. Its creators made sure that the material kept us amused, surprised and caring for the young heroine as well as her friends and even some of the bad guys. After seven seasons the young cheerleading vampire slayer saved the world one last time and exited network television.

For the uninitiated, Buffy Summers was the young girl chosen from a long line of mystical maidens to fight the demons of the dark. She fights vampires with mad martial arts skills with the help of her best friends Willow, a witch and Xander a nice enough ordinary guy. The comic series is well drawn and is surprisingly consistent in its look and feel from issue to issue. The comic book series contains several story arcs but basically it's Summers and her worldwide army of young slayers against vengeful demons with ulterior motives as well as the full force of the United States Army.

For five seasons Buffy the Vampire Slayer kept us entertained on a fledgling network called the WB then made the jump to UPN for two more seasons before going out with a bang. To the surprise and delight of many of its fans, the "Chosen One" returned in comic book form to continue slaying vampires and demons while taking on the establishment as well. The comic series was called Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8 and picked up after the destruction of the Hellmouth and the city of Sunnydale.

Joss Whedon, the creator continued to guide the series in this new format; working feverishly to keep the flavor and style that made the series so unique. The comic series blasted off with Whedon scripting the story and artist Georges Jeanty on pencils and Andy Owens working inks; Dave Stewart created the exquisite colors with Comicraft and Richard Starkings filling out the team on lettering.

Series 7 ended with the group driving off into the great unknown apparently ready to assemble the hundreds of new slayers that have been awakened after the last great confrontation with evil. What we see in the opening segment is a much more emotionally mature Buffy Summers. Our pretty blonde cheerleader has now morphed into General Patton or more appropriately Nick Fury agent of Shield. Her new crew comprising of hundreds of new slayers are battle tested and dedicated to her cause. The TV show was unconventional in its delivery and dialogue and the comic series tries to deliver that same flavor.

You are probably in one it is you and ensure new a new day in the you delete it. If it is a good idea is to you and Vampire Slayer season eight continues many of the relationships that have blossomed throughout the television series while continuing to explore new themes. Even Buffy gets a new love interest that assists in the mending of her broken heart. The mythology that colors the world of Buffy Summers continues to evolve in the color comics. The material continues to feel fresh after all these years because Whedon and the original writers for the show treat the new material with care and pull the reader in with a mix of new characters and old favorites.

Buffy Season 8 started out as an exhilarating new opportunity for comics to continue the storyline and characters past their TV incarnations. Comics can be just as entertaining medium without the exorbitant expense of production. Continuing a TV series in this medium also allows for more merchandising opportunities in new markets. Although the concept of portraying television characters in comics is not new the idea of continuing a series while bridging the gap between television and comics in this way is novel and refreshing.

In Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 8, Buffy and her new charges known as Slayers live and train tirelessly in Scotland. The US Army and a roundtable of old and new villains take on Buffy and her friends. A new villain named Twilight figures heavily in the plots and subplots which pepper the series. The slayer army and Buffy are forced to fight for their lives and in defense of their loved ones; as usual, not everyone makes it out alive in a Joss Whedon production. If you are a fan of the show and you are into comics I'm fairly certain you will like this series. Since there are no limitations when it comes to special effects in comics Whedon and the gang have a great time constructing their fantasy world. Although the season 8 story arc is over, Whedon and company are already talking about continuing the project which means lots more work for the Slayer.

You can find more information on graphic novels at my blog. Get FREE online comics at http://www.graphic-novels.com/.

View the original article here

Cowboy, Ninja, Viking #1

I am like you. When I saw a comic called "Cowboy, Ninja, Viking" I almost pooped the bed. Seriously, even the cover gave me a chili dog. But upon acquiring and reading the text, I am thoroughly NOT IMPRESSED.

First of all, half the time my thought process was, "what the hell is going on?" The issue consists of WAY too much dialog, and not enough cowboy, ninja, viking trash whooping. Personally, I have no problem with dialog, in fact I welcome it, when it's good. This was confusing jargon, scientific terms, and unspecified plot fillers. Not to mention the insanely hard to understand 'inner monologue' portions of the comic.

Which thought bubble do you read first? And are you kidding me-- they expect to draw a little AXE for every viking line, a SWORD for every ninja line, and a GUN for every cowboy line? Unreal. Just use different colors or something, because the little icons in the word bubbles look crazy and confuse the scene more then they provide clarity.

The only redeeming portion of the comic are the last 3 pages, when you finally understand that the main villain is going to have three personalities as well. That single fact was enough to peek my interest in picking up the next issue. We'll see though, those first 15 pages were torture. The art is pretty good, very loose but an effective vehicle none the less. Personal opinion, steer clear of Cowboy, Ninja, Viking because apparently you need 3 personalities to understand it.

Chad de Lisle is a newly married college student in Utah. He spends much of his day with his wife Hilary and their dog Bobby Dylan. He spends his weekends as a Dungeon Master for his friend's Dungeon's and Dragon's games.

His website:
http://www.resmirch.com/

View the original article here

Are Comic Books Good Reading For Children?

Kids nowadays love to surf the internet, play video games, listen to music and sit down and watch a movie. Getting them to sit down and read a book can be an impossible feat without creating a war. Why is reading so important for a child? Reading gives your child knowledge, just as when you read as an adult you will acquire knowledge. Reading will also improve your child's speech, pronunciation of words and their vocabulary. Reading will soothe their mind helping them to relax.

First, we must get your child to turn off the computer or television. This will be the most challenging obstacle. Then you will need to get a comic book. I would suggest getting one that your child is interested in. Pick one of your child's favorite cartoons and grab it in comic book form.

Be sure to monitor your child's reading. It will do them no good if they sit at the table and stare at the pictures. Once they have finished the comic book give them a little quiz. Have them describe what they have read. If they supply you with detailed information, then you will know that they are following the story.

Once your child begins to show enthusiasm for reading the comic books, then it is time to show them more advanced childrens books. It will depend on their age and how much their reading has advanced to what level children's book that they will need.

So don't delay, have them turn off that computer or television and dive into a comic book. This will be their first steps into the world of reading.

Scott is a father of four. He enjoys the outdoors and reading novels. His passion is finding good children's books for his children to read.

Childrens Books
Kids Book Blog

View the original article here

"The 99 Superheroes" - Are Islamic Cartoons Justified?

In Islam, every man or woman who enters the fold of the 'Divinely Ordained' religion is bound by a number of laws and beliefs that he is to adopt for sustaining in the material world. No doubt, the most important faith among these is to believe in the uniqueness of the Creator, His Powers and His Attributes. It is thus, known to be the responsibility of Muslims to not only commit their lives to their creator but also convey the message to those who still dwell in ignorance.

A few days ago, while skimming through some news websites on the internet I came across one of president Obama's speech that he delivered during a Summit on Entrepreneurship a month ago. The speech covered topics on what areas he wanted American citizens to look upon to add on to their productivity and how they should collaborate with each other to promote their common goals of sustenance. Among this speech was also a topic that caught all my eyes and ears. The president shed light on a Muslim figure; Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa for his contributions on capturing the imagination of youngsters through a message of tolerance with his comic series entitled "The 99 superheroes".

This series of comic heroes as I discovered later were actually derived from the 99 names of Almighty Allah. The founder of Teshkeel Comics, Mutawa, considered his act to be a way of building a bridge between the Muslim extremists and the Western ideology by making use of the Islamic concepts to promote universal virtues. The comic book with a monthly subscription around US, UK, Middle East and several other countries since first printed in May 2006, for me was hard to swallow.

The Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) himself once mentioned that angels would never enter the house of those who had pictures. For every believer it should be clear that images and portraits of any living thing or cartoons for that matter cannot be justified in the jurisdiction of Islam. In this regard, not only the images but those personifying the attributes of God in cartoon characters cannot be allowed. A human being can possess one or many virtues attributable to God for His 99 names, but the use of cartoons in this case raise questions and controversies similar to the past incidents at Denmark and recently reincarnated on Facebook.

One cannot deny alcohol to be condemned, interest to be forbidden and the taste of pork to be justified in Islam or even Christianity for that matter. Cartoons or any other expressions of art, no matter what angelic purpose they might seem to pursue cannot be allowed in any case no matter what.

The author is an associated editor at IslamTribune a US based Online News Magazine , which tries to address the issues pertaining to people around the world especially the Muslim community. Visit IslamTribune.com for Breaking News , Current Affairs and blogs run by people who have more to share with this world.

View the original article here

GI Joe Number 155.5 - GI Joe Comic Book Index

GI Joe: A Real American Hero #155 ?
Writer: Larry Hama
Penciler: Augustin Padilla

Summary:

Cobra Commander wakes up from a dream of attacking the US Capitol Building. Zartan informs him that the Cobra-backed "Broken Star Army" has succedded in creating turmoil and unrest in the US by assualting several landmarks. With a master plan seemingly unfolding, Cobra Commander contacts the Jugglers and appears to be working in cahoots with them-- all part of a plan to get martial law declared, enabling Cobra to gain more power in the US.

Billy, Storm Shadow and the Baroness are recalled from a mission to Trucial Abysmia to steal WMD's. Billy is torqued off and is slapped into the Brainwave Scanner (now abbreviated as BWS). During so, Dr. Venom's face appears on the BWS monitor screen. Dr. Mindbender discovers that Venom had a Trojan Horse program planted in the thing; but what it will do is still unknown. Meanwhile, the Baroness begins to worry that she's due for another BWS session and questions Destro's loyalty.

Finally, Cobra Commander sends out a signal to all "sleepyheads" around the US, activating hundreds of Crimson Guard sleeper agents.

Notes:
The inside cover page is a letter from IDW publisher Andy Schmidt, explaining their decision to bring back the old Marvel continuity. They're picking right up where the old title ended. This basically wipes out the Devil's Due continuity...despite the fact that Hama wrote a rather awful 4-part "Mission that Never Was" in "GI Joe: Frontline". I'm okay with that, since the Devil's Due run was essentially fan fiction and a nostalgia kick. The guys involved were all big fans, so we can't fault them for their efforts. But for now, they appear to be the Ripper Owens to Larry Hama's Rob Halford. Larry Hama answers a few questions from IDW forum posters in a "letters page" of sorts. Of note (to me, at least), Hama mentions that Carl Barks and the Disney Ducks are a favorite of his. Also important that Hama notes the "Joe-verse" takes place in its own time/space vacuum. Which is a good way to avoid pesky things like "real world" aging or current events. Dr. Mindbender upgrades Cobra Commander's battle armor and gives him a new suit which resembles CC's old "battle helmet/faceplate" look. Think of the original action figure. Cobra still appears to be operating out of the Trans-Carpathia "Silent Castle". Baroness has a slightly modified new look. She wears a dark visor instead of glasses, and her jumpsuit is simplified (all of the ribbed lines and contours of her old leather cat-suit have vanished). Storm Shadow's back to a modified version of his original outfit, as well. It's basically his original suit with grey shoulderpads added. Billy is wearing a white Storm Shadow-ish get-up as well. Showing his old dental background, Dr. Mindbender also implants a BWS directive for Bily to floss his teeth everyday. In a neat touch, we see that Cobra Commander sleeps with a half-mask, covering the top of his head to just past the nose. Cobra Commander mentions the "new Springfields" across the US. Springfield was one of my favorite concepts from the original series, so I'm glad they're including that. Note that NO Joes appear. The Cobras mention that they're aware of the team being deactivated, however. Two "file cards" appear in the back of the book. One for Billy and the other for the Brainwave Scanner. Billy's mentions that "Fred III" gave Billy his prosthetic leg. However, it was Fred VII. No-Prize Explanation: typo! It's common knowledge now (in 2010), but for the record, this book was given away as part of "Free Comic Book Day" on May 1, 2010. Sure...I'll keep doing updates and adding to this GI Joe Comic Index project. I seem to get lazy when it comes to adding non-Joe content, so I should keep these updated in a timely manner.

View the original article here

A Brief Overview Of Vintage Comics

Most people love comic books, not to mention the vintage comics. Regardless of how old we become, there is still this attraction to purchase comics when we are out shopping. Personally, the older I become the more appreciative I am of things such as the vintage comics.

Over the years doing research, I discovered that the very first comic has been published above a century ago during 1895. This had been Hogan's Alley. Besides that, comic book received its name from the reference that was made in a comic strip during 1897. It was at this time when the first usage of bubble speech enabled the characters to have their own voice. A book called The Yellow Kid in McFadden's Flats had a main character named Yellow Kid, which was acknowledged with the term and this has stuck since then.

There are actually five categories of this type of book by the era. In order for a comic to be viewed as Platinum comics this must had been published throughout 1897 to 1937. Golden Age of comics was the ones printed during 1938 to 1955, while the Silver Age comics had been published from 1956 to 1969. After that emerged the Bronze Age comics and these were in 1970 to 1979. Modern day comic books actually began in 1980, which continues today.

The first appearance of comics was in newspapers and many years after this was the only published format. Mutt and Jeff had been among the first comic strips which were created into a small book and sold at newsstands for ten cents. Phantom was the very first super hero and was popular during 1936.

This was the beginning of the vintage comic books. In case you are able to locate one of these outdated 10 cent publications it will be worth a lot of money. Vintage and rare comics are one of the best investments you could make, but even more importantly these will be fun to have in your collection.

For more great tips on vintage comic books and comic book collectors visit any of the links in this authors bio.

View the original article here

Chew #8 by John Layman

Here we are again Mr. Chu! Tony Chu is still on Yamapalu (which I Googled, and it is not a real location (or maybe it is a secret location?(or maybe google doesn't know about Yamapalu? (or maybe they know and they don't want us to know?) and he is being jerked around by the locals. He is placed in a holding cell by the local constable where he is tormented by the brutes already in custody. They deliver a multitude of swirlies to him junior high style. And he gets to taste all the nonsense left in the toilet bowl, YUCK.  

This happens to be the second time I can remember in the comic where Tony Chu absolutely loses it with anger. (the first time being when he begins to eat the face of the killer in issue #1) He gets pissed off and begins to attack the brutes, thoroughly beating them about the head and shoulders until knuckles are painted with bloody vengeance. After biting one of them, he and the constable (who now believes that Tony is actually with the FDA) go on a wild goose chase (chicken actually) from hidden grave, to hidden cockfighting league, to the king of cocks himself, Poyo the chicken. Good story, though not as grabbing as some of the earlier issues, I hope that John Layman isn't running out of steam because I would like to see this comic continue for a long long time! Most intriguing moment: does anyone know what raw ALIEN fruit tastes like!?!?

One piece of criticism with this issue: If you are going to put a bada** chicken on the front with metal headgear and a title like "king of cocks", then you better show us a chicken whooping some trash! All they show is a bunch of fight posters that showcase the many matches Poyo has been in, not one finger bit or one eye pecked in the entire issue. We'll see what the next has to bring.

Chad

Chad de Lisle is a newly married college student in Utah. He spends much of his day with his wife Hilary and their dog Bobby Dylan. He spends his weekends as a Dungeon Master for his friend's Dungeon's and Dragon's games.

His website:

http://www.resmirch.com/

View the original article here

Comical - Easiest Way To Read Comics

In this digital era, some changes happen in the way of life that we do not understand, immediately. As an example, when you buy a comic book in the bookstore, of course what you will have in your hand is printed version of the book, with sheets of paper in it, and well protected by cover. In industrialized societies, most of us now live in media-saturated that we can hardly imagine a time when such obvious, necessary, and pleasurable parts of our daily life as television, radio, cinema, books, and audio and video cassettes did not exist.

From this point of view, it seems clear that our societies are changing, especially during digital era. Thanks to internet and development of computer software, comics reading habits have changed. We can see from this simple example: have you ever heard software called "comical"? If you are looking for a CBR and CBZ reader for your favorite OS, look no farther. Comical is an easy-to-use, feature full GUI comic book viewer. However, the most important fact to me is It is open-source, so it is free software. Surely, this time, I do not have to visit bookstore anymore!

Comical lets you access comics from all over the Web in a format that is almost as easy to use as the conventional format of comic books. Comical's interface is plain, intuitive, and simple. This software handles many format of digital comic such as.rar,.cbz,.cbr, and.zip; with a list of available menus: file, go, view, and help. Users simply click on the 'file' menus, and then choose comic format they have in their disk. Overall, I was quite impressed with Comical; it was easy to use, and we could have spent hours reading our favorite comics without spent much money. In fact, we probably will.

View the original article here

How to Start Your Own Super Hero Comic Book Collection in 3 Easy Steps

The web has become the world's reference library. You'll find more information about almost anything here. Possibly you'd be considering how to choose the perfect super hero comic book collection. There are helpful tips and suggestions to choose from regarding how to start your own super hero comic book collection.

This informative article is all about showing you and teaching you just how to start your own super hero comic book collection. Maybe this article could help you reach whatever objectives you may have. If you wish to, read on and learn how to start your own collection in 3 simple steps...

Step one is deciding on what particular super hero you want to focus on. You really need to get this because you don't want to end up collecting those characters that you really didn't want. You must avoid collecting stuffs that in the end you will leave out and will end up in your pile of stuffs.

Do this task promptly, correctly and completely. This is really important. It will make you come up with good decisions.

Your second step is finding different real local stores or online shops where you can find back or latest issues. Things you need to avoid here are those stores or individuals that are selling fake copies. And you ought to stay away from scammers who are claiming that they have the genuine copy but they're not.

The third step is going to be finding the best storage to put your collection. This is important because those are made of paper and it's easy to catch dust, or even attract insects. What to avoid here is the wrinkling of the pages and easy deterioration of the item, since this is also an investment

Follow the exact steps outlined above and you should have minimum issues with how to start your own super hero comic book collection rapidly and well, and with so much ease. Simply do the things you should, for the reasons given and to avoid the difficulties and traps explained. Then take advantage of the fruits and outcomes of having your collection that you will earn because of your time and effort.

Grab a Wonder Woman costume for your girl and a Batman Beyond costume for your boy. Make your children's Halloween party a super hero showcase.

View the original article here

American Vampire #1 - Stephen King!

This weekend I was in Black Cat Comics in Salt Lake City picking up my holds, and Greg (the owner and operator of the shop) told me I had to check out American Vampire. He has never steered me wrong, so I took his advice and added it to my purchase. Upon reading, I am absolutely satisfied, and eager for the next installment. It seems that anything in my life attached to the name: "Stephen King" is extremely satisfying and entertaining. This holds true for this comic as well.

American Vampire reads like two comics, one placed in 1925 and the other placed in 1880. The most fascinating aspect of this dual nature is the shared characters in each timeline. There are only two characters in the comic that are shared between the two points, the first is Skinner Sweet, a swarthy outlaw from the wild west, and the narrator Will Bunting, the author who has scrawled the tale. In the first half, an aspiring young actress, Pearl, is invited to a high class party in the Hollywood hills.  Her invite isn't all that she expected. While in the second, the outlaw Skinner Sweet is involved in a train wreck, and through a series of captivating events he undergoes the transformation to the unholy dead.

This issue was haunting, intriguing, and grabbing in a way that any good piece of media is. I felt drawn in by the foreshadowing and twists in the plot along the way. I was eager for each page, and felt my stomach twist when the cliffhanger arrived. And ultimately I gasped when our vampires made their first appearance. Chilling and thrilling, American Vampire #1.

Chad de Lisle is a newly married college student in Utah. He spends much of his day with his wife Hilary and their dog Bobby Dylan. He spends his weekends as a Dungeon Master for his friend's Dungeon's and Dragon's games.

His website:
http://www.resmirch.com/

View the original article here

5 Marvel Graphic Novels You Really Need to Read

Obviously, there are more than 5 great Marvel graphic novels, but here's a small selection of the very finest. The quintet I've chosen are all accessible to anyone, really, and don't require a PhD in Marvel chronology to appreciate.

Marvels

Kurt Busiek's take on the Marvel Universe's New York through the eyes of Daily Bugle photographer Phil Sheldon isn't quite like anything else. The premise is simple: what would it be like to live a normal life in the Marvel world? Beautifully painted by Alex Ross, Buseik's narrative spans several decades of comic history, as Sheldon manages to shoot the biggest events in Marvel comics, from the arrival of Galactus to the death of Gwen Stacy.

Inhumans

When Paul Jenkins took on Jack Kirby's family of metahumans, they were hardly the hottest comic property going. But alongside artist Jae Lee, Jenkins crafted a complex tale that acts as a primer to the Inhumans, while touching upon such subjects as genetic diversity and adolescence metamorphosis. And Magnus the Mad, Black Bolt's insane brother, has to be one of the most brilliant villains in a very long time.

The Sentry TPB

Nowadays the Sentry, or Bob as we've come to know him, is the Marvel Universe's equivalent of Superman, a deus ex machina who numerous writers have exploited as an easy way to end a difficult conflict. This trade paperback collects the miniseries that introduced the character to the MU, as wasted loser Bob Reynolds suddenly recovers memories of fighting alongside the X-Men, the Fantastic Four and many more, as beloved hero the Sentry. But why does nobody else but Reed Richards remember the Sentry? Written by Paul Jenkins with art by Jae Lee.

Old Man Logan

Wanted/Kick-Ass writer Mark Millar and Civil War artist Steve McNiven teamed up once more for this futuristic take on that X-bloke known as Wolverine. 50 years from now, the heroes have fallen and Logan is forced to come out of hiding and once again take down the scum, accompanied by a blind Hawkeye. Unlike much of Millar's recent work, Old Man Logan has a real British feel to it, and evokes some of the finest 2000AD stories, and McNiven's work is incredible.

Daredevil

Ok, not a graphic novel as such, but an entire series collected in over a dozen (and counting) trade paperbacks. Kevin Smith, Brian Michael Bendis and Ed Brubaker take blind attorney Matt Murdock down an increasingly dark and tortured path. Unlike many Marvel superheroes, Daredevil actually evolves, and his relationship with Kingpin of Crime Wilson Fisk is one of the most multifaceted in comic book history.

At time of writing collected in the following volumes (and growing!), as well as several larger hardbacks:

Daredevil: Guardian Devil

Daredevil: Parts of a Hole

Daredevil: Wake Up

Daredevil: Underboss

Daredevil: Out Daredevil

Daredevil: Lowlife

Daredevil: Hardcore

Daredevil: Echo - Vision Quest

Daredevil: King of Hell's Kitchen

Daredevil: The Widow

Daredevil: The Golden Age

Daredevil: Decalogue

Daredevil: The Murdock Papers

Daredevil: The Devil, Inside and Out, volumes 1 & 2

Daredevil: Hell to Pay, volumes 1 & 2

Daredevil: Cruel and Unusual

Daredevil: Lady Bullseye Daredevil: Return of the King

Carl Doherty is a freelance writer and occasional artist. His further musings on the comic industry can be found at his personal site shelfabuse.com Comic Reviews, which features regular comic book and graphic novel reviews, and numerous other articles about Marvel graphic novels

View the original article here

A History of Violence

Yesterday, one of my co-workers who shares my enthusiasm for comics loaned me 'A History of Violence'. I took it with an open mind, willing to read it and give him my feed back. Once I started into the story, it was a slippery slope, and I couldn't put it down until it was finished. What an amazing tale! One thing that stands out is the lack of a hero in the story. In essence, its about a bad guy who does some bad things to some other bad guys, and then he hides and turns into a good guy, and then the bad guys find him and he has to defend his new family. Make sense? The point I am making is that even the protagonist is actually just a bad guy. Sure, he's changed, but all of his problems would be non-existent if he wouldn't have murdered and crossed the mob to begin with.

The art is black ink, in "From Hell" or "Walking Dead" fashion. To be honest, the art isn't the real vehicle of this tale. You could almost take away the art and this would make a riveting short story. Basically, don't buy this comic if you are looking for beautiful art, buy it for the story. It is hard to read sometimes, there is a very heavy macabre feeling that permeates the entire story. Themes of tainted innocence, cruelty, revenge, and fear are the backbone of the novel. It reads fast, but it is entertaining the whole way because the pacing is superb. Even in the duller sections of the story the pages go quick and there is a constant changing of scenery and unfolding of the plot. I don't know if I'll buy it, but I will recommend it as a good read none the less.

Chad de Lisle is a newly married college student in Utah. He spends much of his day with his wife Hilary and their dog Bobby Dylan. He spends his weekends as a Dungeon Master for his friend's Dungeon's and Dragon's games.

His website:

http://www.resmirch.com/

View the original article here

Ex Machina - Graphic Novel Review

I recently rediscovered my desire to read comic books. In keeping with that I also discovered that anything that interests me becomes a weird addiction. With comics, it is this urge to collect. I need every issue from origin to present. I went to my shelves and found "Ex Machina: The First Hundred Days," the first graphic novel in a series under DC's Wildstorm imprint about a guy who is able to talk to machines because of a freak accident. The story begins as he decides to run for Mayor of New York in a post-911 climate. I recall that I had purchased all the issues from Volume 1 to Volume 5, and I decided I must have the rest. I ordered the rest and realized it is still being issued. That is actually bittersweet, because when you get into a comic you have to suffer the waiting for the next issue, whereas when you find a series that is complete you can collect them all and you have this sense of having a whole entity in your library.

Setting all that aside, I began to re-read the first volume to jog my memory, and then the next one, and the next.

The thing that strikes me is the medium of comics in itself. The art is so much more textured than what I remember from being a kid. The writing is mature, and the creativity of the whole genre nowadays is this electric thing that you hold in your hands.

The idea that heroism is kid's play is not really the truth. It took me back to the imagination I seem to have left behind as an adult, and it makes me want to revive that child in me, where fantasy and yet the truth of the human struggle are all there, in incredible color and dreamlike frames. So graphic, so poignant.

View the original article here

Chacha Chaudhary, The Diamond Comics Superhero

Chacha Chaudhary is India's most loved comics character. When we hear or talk about him the first thing that comes to our mind is his red turban, his wooden stick, his big white mustache, his wife Binni, his faithful dog Rocket, and Sabu who is an alien from planet Jupiter. Sabu arrived on earth along with Chacha on one of his trip. Chacha treats him as his nephew, his power comes in handy in defeating bad guys. While Chacha's mind is his most powerful weapon, which is shown to work faster than a computer. Chachaji is portrayed as a middle class, old man. Physically he is not strong but his strength lies in his brain. He is differs from other superheroes whether Indian or foreigner of the fact that he does not have a single superpower to his credit except of course his mind. Chachaji has solved thousands of cases till now.

His family includes his wife, Binni, popularly known simply as Chachi (Hindi for aunt), his pet dog Rocket, and Sabu the giant from the plane Jupiter. Sabu decided to stay permanently on Earth after tasting delicious food made by Chachi's hands. When need arises Sabu helps Chacha Ji with his physical strength. According to comics whenever Sabu gets angry, somewhere a volcano erupts (this is stated in a panel with a picture of a volcano erupting, which says, "When Sabu is Angry, a Volcano Erupts."). Whenever he performs an act of great strength, he utters the cry, "Hu-Huba!" Sabu eats 108 Chapatti's, 12 kilos of halwa and about 20 liters of Lassi in one meal. He is not married, and avoids the topic.

The biggest enemy of Chacha Chaudhary is Raaka (once a dacoit, but an immortal giant who became invincible after drinking a magic portion made by Chakram Acharya), other enemies being Gobar Singh (a dacoit), Dhamaka Singh, and his accomplice Paleeta and Ruldu.

Many a times Chacha Chaudhary has beaten Raaka and forced him to shave off his moustache as a result of some competition which Chacha has won. Chacha's comic with Raaka, Raaka ki waapsi (The Return of Raaka) is one of the best sellers. In the previous comics Raaka was of the same size as that of Sabu but then Raaka was put to sleep by some potion given by a saint from the Himalayas and buried in the ocean the first time. On his return by another potion he was reduced to a small size, closed in a bottle and buried in a grave. But this was not the end. He returned several times again to wreak havoc in the city. Finally Chacha Chaudhary and Sabu buried him in an endless hole somewhere near a rocket launch site.

Currently Diamond Comics are the biggest publishers of Chacha Chaudhary. One of the Diamond Comics Press Release stated that the Indian kids of the age group 10-13 years ranked Chacha Chaudhary as their most popular comic book character. It is notable that not only kids but adults also like Diamond comics specially Chacha Chaudhary. Diamond Comics is published in nearly all Indian regional languages, it has reached large audience made fans from across the world. Since the last three decades it is providing the best Comic literature to kids.

Shehrin is a young writer and loves comic books she can be found on her hindi comics blog, she loves reading classic novels and Hindi books.

View the original article here

Best Comics and Their Value

The pricing of the best comic books are unpredictable like most other things. More often than not, they are quite costly. Determining the value of a comics depends on certain factors.

If you are a huge comic book fan, then, needless to say, you will have a mammoth collection of some of the best comics. People who are able to speculate the market for comic books are reaping huge benefits and they turn out to be lucky, if they have the ones that are rare and have a good value in the market. However, when it comes to ascertaining the comic books worth, it completely depends on what the buyer is willing to pay.

There are certain deciding factors to ascertain the value of the best comics. Condition of the comic is an important factor, since a large percentage of the pricing factor depends on it. A lot depends on how the comic books have been preserved too. The grade fine is rated higher than very good. The worth of the comics thus depends on the total condition it is in. The pricing is bound to come down if the cover of the book is missing.

The value of the best comics is decided largely on their availability too. The cover of books plays an important role in deciding the price. If the creases are less noticeable, then there is a high chance that the book will fetch you more. Another deciding factor is the condition of the spine. If the book is folded backwards while reading, it lowers the worth of the book. Comic pricing also depends on the condition of the binding. If the staples are discolored or rusted, it will automatically reduce the price of the book.

The best comics are always competitively priced, but if the pages or the corners are torn, then obviously, the price of it will come down. If the pages are missing from the book then it loses value too.

If you have a collection of best comics, which are hard to come by in the market, or rare, it will give you higher returns. Popularity is also another deciding factor for price determination. If you have an edition of popular comic that is rare, it will give you better value than a comic that is less popular.

There are passionate collectors of the best comics who are willing to shell out good amount of money to get one. So, marketing your resource plays a pivotal role to decide the worth of the comic books.

You can also get an idea about what your comic books worth on various web portals.

View the original article here

Bad Night

'Bad Night' is a chilling addition to the Criminal series. Jacob is a retired counterfeiter who was crippled by the mob. He suffers from intense insomnia and other more sinister mental ailments. While visiting a favorite haunt, he gets tangled up with a sexy red head and the shiz hits the fan. Her reckless abandon and feral sexiness plays ping-pong with his emotions and causes the more irrational side of his mind to take over.

This story is a classic tale of a no good girl and the effect she can have on even the most level headed man. I was deeply satisfied by the complex plot, Brubaker never fails to deliver. And once again the art was consistent and moody and just dark enough for the subject matter. This trade paper back (more than any of the others so far) reminded me greatly of Max Payne. I could only sit back and watch as Jacob made bad decision after bad decision because of Iris (the hot broad). There is even a scene where she starts to kiss him, and he pulls away saying, "we can't do this, it's not right. He'll be back soon." And she gets angry and pulls a gun on him. She screams at him to have sex with her, and he says, "You can't force me." So she sets aside the gun, and starts to strip tease instead. I bet you can guess what choice Jacob made. Bad Night is a riveting thriller full of morbid twists and seductive turns. You won't regret reading it.

Moral of the story, never pick up a strange sexy woman on the side of the road. Unless you think the sex is worth losing everything.....

Chad de Lisle is a newly married college student in Utah. He spends much of his day with his wife Hilary and their dog Bobby Dylan. He spends his weekends as a Dungeon Master for his friend's Dungeon's and Dragon's games.

His website: http://www.resmirch.com/

View the original article here

100 Bullets - Hang Up on the Hang Low

"Hang Up on the Hang Low" is the third installment of the popular series called 100 Bullets. Azzarello understands the depth and grit of the noir comic genre. I don't think he is the best at it, but I do believe that he pulls it off. A great read if you only have an hour or so (it took me less than 60 minutes to read), but this one is definitely the shortest in the series so far.

In this trade we get to meet Lewis "Loop" Hughes, a young fatherless gangster trying to make it on the streets of Philadelphia. He is approached by the surreptitious Agent Graves with the usual offer: 100 untraceable bullets, an untraceable gun, and a subtle suggestion. In this case, Graves suggests that Loop should seek out his absentee father, and "pay him back" for all the years that he and his mother have had to struggle without him.

The themes in this volume of 100 bullets are universal in their influence and emotional in their context. Fatherhood, baseball, loyalty, deception, rape, and poverty are the backdrop against which we examine our characters. Curtis Hughes is quite possibly my favorite character in the 100 Bullets comic book series. He perfectly highlights the great sacrifices that a good father will go through in order to protect and provide for his family.

"Hang Up on the Hang Low" would not be an ideal comic for a female audience. There is a very brutal rape scene and some other abuse directed towards the fairer sex throughout the pages. Also, I felt that the themes were mainly directed towards men. The overwhelming undercurrent to the entire story is the strange relationship between Curtis and Loop (strange because of context, but familiar because it is still text book father son interaction).

What would you sacrifice to give your son a life worth living?

Chad de Lisle is a newly married college student in Utah. He spends much of his day with his wife Hilary and their dog Bobby Dylan. He spends his weekends as a Dungeon Master for his friend's Dungeon's and Dragon's games.

His website:

http://www.resmirch.com/

View the original article here

Birds of Prey - The Gail Simone Years

In 2003, DC newcomer Gail Simone took over from Chuck Dixon as the writer for "Birds of Prey", an all girl super hero comic starring Barbara "Oracle" Gordon and Black Canary. She decided to add Huntress to the team and the combination of these three characters and Simone's flare for mixing drama with wit and action resulted in her 5 year run being one of the finest of the decade.

Let's be honest, strong women have not been given a fair hand in the entertainment world. For most writers a powerful woman either means an ultra cold bitch (Katherine Janeway) or just a guy with boobs (anything with Michelle Rodriguez). So whenever an exception to this rule comes along it's a real treat. Ellen Ripley or Jadzia Dax ect.

Comic books are hardly guilt free. Lord knows Frank Miller has a hard time writing any female character that isn't a prostitute. And the less said about Lois Lane's tantrums in the 70's the better. I guess they figured it was a better alternative than just using women as victims. But, sadly, that still happened too. A lot. Even in the supposedly more progressive modern era women were still kidnapped, tortured and murdered in mainstream super hero adventures. This led to Gail Simone setting up "Women in Refrigerators", a website named after a gruesome event in Green Lantern #54 and pointing out how many times the murder of women is used as a plot point in comics. This website actually caused the industry to stop and think about it's actions and while things aren't perfect, (Identity Crisis still hurts) a hell of a lot has changed and, hopefully, will stay that way.

This change is due in no small part to Simone's "Birds of Prey". Her run on the title from issues 56 to 108 breaks all the previous rules regarding female super heroes and actually dares to make them into, wait for it, human beings! Many members of the group come and go but the core line up consists of super hacker and former Batgirl Oracle, Black Canary, a reserve member (and soon to be chairman) of the Justice League and Huntress, a Gotham vigilante who has no qualms about punishing criminals. These three unique individuals share laughs, argue, talk nonsense and eat take out food while remaining very loyal to each other throughout. Simone has an uncanny ability to insert simple throwaway words and phrases we all use every day into her dialogue and it never seems forced and never drags the story down. There is real human drama involved and has the reader worrying not only if they will survive their next fight, but if they will remain friends after their last bitter argument.

All this drama and human relationship does not get in the way of the action. Every issue has some sort of fight, chase or rescue. Even wheelchair bound Oracle has a scrap or two. (She was trained by Batman after all). All these thrilling scenes are peppered with clever lines that manipulate the villains during their pummelling. That is what makes Birds of Prey such a great title. These are women who don't talk their way out of trouble because they can't fight or don't fight their way out of trouble because they can't talk. They do both when required, making for strong and powerful heroes for both male and female readers.

Gail Simone left the title in 2007, a move which she described as "agony". The series continued but never reached the same level of success or recognition as it had before and was cancelled less than two years later. It just wasn't the same. Chuck Dixon may have started it but Birds of Prey was Gail Simone's comic.

Or should I say "is". In May of this year Birds of Prey vol. 2 was launched with Simone once again at the helm. Whether the series will reach the same level of success remains to be seen but her return is more than welcome. It's fitting that it is launched under the "Brightest Day" banner as the future does indeed look bright for these Birds.

"The characters don't apologize for being ass kickers, nor for being smart, nor for being sexy, nor for being sexual, for that matter. There are always going to be some people who find that not to their taste, but at the same time, BoP regularly brings in people who don't otherwise read mainstream comics, a whole audience that may not pick up any other superhero titles, and I love that niche, that little area between good taste and utter shamelessness"-

Gail Simone

D MCEvoy
http://www.prog464.com/

Welcome to PROG464, Ireland's new webzine of news, views and reviews on all things Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Horror and Cult. We bring you the best in books, comics, graphic novels, movies, TV, radio, games, toys, technology and the web - and From classic novels to the latest games we have it all.

View the original article here

Batman: Year One

Written by Frank Miller

Art by David Mazzucchelli

Published by Titan Books

The story of Batman's origin has gone relatively unchanged since his creation in 1939, most people would be able to tell the tale of how a young boy witnessing his parents deaths went on to become 'The Caped Crusader', fighting for the idea of justice by utilizing fear against the criminals of Gotham City. Using his inheritance to fund everything that makes Bruce Wayne the Batman has allowed him to fight crime at the level of superheroes without needing any actual super powers and this is what makes him so popular. The idea that anyone of us could go out and fight crime given the resources without relying on shooting fireballs out of our hands or needing some special ring.

While this general story remains unchanged, Frank Miller manages to redefine the birth of Batman, creating something that seems familiar but much darker and grittier than before. This book aimed primarily at the more mature audience makes adults proud to be reading a comic book, taking us back to reading comic books as a child while redefining it into something new, something interesting and exciting.

The thing that primarily sets Year One's story line aside from others is that it focuses as much on James Gordon as it does Bruce Wayne, interweaving their two different approaches to fighting the crime in the city. It also shows them both in new ways, not as the perfect cop and vigilante hero, but as two slightly flawed human beings striving for the same goal. It shows Bruce Wayne's struggle to convince James that he isn't the bad guy and James Gordon realisation that in order for him to achieve his own goal he will need the help of Batman.

The story written by Frank Miller offers something familiar but with new dimensions, making it seem better than before. The artwork is slightly more controversial, some readers are fans of the dated look to the story given that it was written in the 80's while others believe that the artwork in some places does not match the storyline. I for one think it is a small fault on an otherwise perfect book. Any fan of comics will agree hands down that this book is the ultimate in detailing the origins of Batman and building the foundations upon which all future stories can be told.

A must have for every fan of Batman especially those looking to start a collection of comic books.

View the original article here

Bomb Queen II - Dirty Bomb

The second trade in the Bomb Queen saga was just as satirical as the first. Jimmie Robinson continues his disgusting commentary on our society through the grimy lens of New Port City. I have a LOVE/HATE relationship with this comic book series. I LOVE the storyline, setting, and premise of Bomb Queen's tale; but I HATE the nudity, crudity, and raunchy humor. Essentially, you have to choose if it is worth it to you. As soon as I had read 5 pages of this trade I said to myself, "I am not getting the next one." But by the time the final page turned I was saying, "Okay just one more."

Bomb Queen is looking for love and companionship, and when an unlikely male with a charming accent and a chivalrous manner sweeps her off her feet. This causes her to let her guard down, and the man isn't all that he appears to be. In this volume, we learn Bomb Queen's history. How she used to be one of many queens: Ice Queen, Scream Queen, Drama Queen, and Bomb Queen. Ice Queen had powers much like Ice-Man or Mr. Freeze. Scream Queen could shred people with the sonic powers of her voice. Drama Queen would grow to enormous proportions if someone made her angry. This trade covers how she came to be the only Queen to rule Newport City, and how that rise to the top wasn't as easy (or sought for) as we imagined. Dang you Jimmie Robinson for making me have to buy the next.

Chad de Lisle is a newly married college student in Utah. He spends much of his day with his wife Hilary and their dog Bobby Dylan. He spends his weekends as a Dungeon Master for his friend's Dungeon's and Dragon's games.

His website:

http://www.resmirch.com/

View the original article here

From an Unknown Village to Readers All Over the World

Asterix is a series of French comic books that were written by Rene Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo, first published in French magazine Pilote on 29 October 1959. But from 1977 Albert Uderzo took over as the writer of the comic after the death of co-creator Goscinny.

The plot of the comic is centred around the exploits of an unnamed village on the coastal region of Armonica, a province of Gaul as they resist Roman occupation. They do so by using a magic potion that is brewed by their druid the potion gives the user superhuman strength this is brewed by a Druid named Getafix.

The main character of the comic is Asterix who with his friend Obelix have various adventures. Asterix is a clever little character who the village trusts to handle most of their important affairs. Obelix is a large and is slow witted character, who he fell into the Druid's cauldron of the potion when he was a baby, which is the reason for his fat appearance but he gain permanent super human strength.

This series is one of the most popular Franco-Belgian comics in the world. It is mainly popular in Europe but still has a small following in America and Japan and the series have been translated into over 100 languages. There are over 300 million copies of the 34 Asterix books have been sold over the world, which makes the creators France's best selling authors abroad. With this success it has helped spawn numerous other forms of publication and media. There have been 11 films made with 8 of them being animated while three were live action. There have been various games based on the characters made as well, these range from video games, game books and board games.

There is also a theme park that centres around the Asterix theme and it is called Parc Asterix, this has 12 miles which is based upon the series of the comic and is especially known for its large variety of roller coasters. The rides have incorporated themes from historic cultures such as the Roman s and Ancient Greeks. When Euro Disney was announced there were initial fears that there would be a loss of business due to the rumoured popularity of the Disney. But those fears were dispelled as they were both have actually increased the popularity which is a effect seen in other places such as Florida, for example in Orlando Disney has a main presence there as well which has seen numerous other theme parks such as universal studios have benefited. When Parc Asterix first opened it was not heard of by most people that didn't come from France but today most visitors come from all over the world. Its location is the top of Paris so you could find some villas in France that are of the relaxed nature. There are roughly 1.6 million visitors per year

Asterix has been around for over 50 years and it doesn't look like it's going to disappear any time soon they are making two more films and the comic is still ongoing, it is no wonder that the French are so proud of their little hero.

Vacation rentals from around the world, direct from the owner at http://vacationrentalpeople.com/.

Try one of the great Villas in France at VacationRentalPeople.com.

View the original article here

Bomb Queen - Woman of Mass Destruction (Vol 1)

Woman of Mass Destruction

What an unusual comic! In this story, the villain WON. Bomb Queen is a heinous woman with a hot body and an appetite for lascivious behavior. She has defeated every hero that has crossed her path and now spends her days bullying the City Government and collecting tribute money. At first glance it doesn't seem like a setting with much longevity. What possible problems does a victorious villain face that might be worth reading about? (Besides breasty wardrobe malfunctions.)

Elections are coming to Bomb Queen's city, and the candidate running for the new mayor wants to make some significant changes to the sinful city. If there is anything that Bomb Queen hates, its changes to HER city. The hopeful mayor drops 10 million dollars to hire a hero from a nearby city to challenge the evil queen. And the political and violent clashes ensue! A very well thought out, succinctly written story with many high points and few low.

Jimmie Robinson (the author) uses this playful comic as a satirical commentary on the nature of our society. He prods us with dark humor about murder, violence, sexual perversion, and anarchy. Overall, he uses comedy to highlight the most tragic of crimes among us. But the most interesting part is that they are not brought to the forefront, most of the commentary comes through in the backgrounds of the panels. It screams boldly in the depictions of the 'filler' characters in each scene, as Bomb Queen seems to be the only "beautiful" person in the city. (But she is also the root of all evil.)

I think that this story is a fascinating take on society, but I will warn that it is not for everyone. There is a hefty portion of goofy contrived nudity and offensive jokes. BUT! They are intentional devices used by the author to offend and convey his message, which is:

"In our world, the villains have won."

Chad

Chad de Lisle is a newly married college student in Utah. He spends much of his day with his wife Hilary and their dog Bobby Dylan. He spends his weekends as a Dungeon Master for his friend's Dungeon's and Dragon's games.

His website: http://www.resmirch.com/

View the original article here

Here's Your Sign by Bill Engvall

Bill Engvall has been performing comedy for over 20 years, but since he joined up with Jeff Foxworthy, Ron White, and Larry the Cable Guy in "Blue Collar Comedy Tour" it seems his career has skyrocketed, just as it has for the other three. For all those that are familiar with his comedy routines, you know how he likes to point out the stupid things people say, and he wishes he had a sign that says "I'm Stupid" to hand out to these people, hence his most famous saying, "Here's Your Sign."

Now, in the book of the same name, "Here's Your Sign," Bill Engvall has collected more than 200 of his classic "Here's Your Sign" jokes. For anyone not familiar with these, here's an example:

"My son, whose front tooth had just come out, was with me in a mall. I ran into a friend of mine who looked at my son and asked, 'Did you lose your tooth?' My son said, 'No, I like to keep that space open so I can spit water through it." Or, for another, "I was in the bathroom and my son yelled through the door, 'Dad, are you going to the bathroom?' I said, 'Nope, I'm quilting the Charmin."

In his stand-up routines, he jokes about just handing people their very own Stupid sign, and I bet Engvall could sell millions of the little sign that is stuck onto the cover of this book. I'm sure we all could figure out many people to give them to. The collection contained in this volume made me laugh. I think it is even better if you have heard him tell some of these jokes, because then you can imagine how he tells it. And face it, the telling of jokes by comedians is often more important than the material.

Besides all of the "Here's Your Sign" jokes, the book also contains a few family stories that I enjoyed more than the shorter quips. He shared times when his kids asked him what sex was, other parenting experiences, and a hilarious story about how a fear of snakes ruined what could have been a very romantic evening.

If you are a fan of Bill Engvall, you'll enjoy this book. I sure did. His hilarious look at the ridiculous things people say and do will make you laugh and the family stories are even better. For a quick humorous read when you need a chuckle or belly laugh, "Here's Your Sign" by Bill Engvall fits the bill. The perfect gift for Engvall and Blue Collar Comedy fans.

Alain Burrese, J.D. is a performance and personal development expert who teaches how to live, take action, and get things done through the Warrior's Edge. Alain combines his military, martial art, and Asian experiences with his business, law, and conflict resolution education into a powerful way of living with balance, honor, and integrity. He teaches how to use the Warrior's Edge to Take Action and Achieve Remarkable Results. Alain is the author of Hard-Won Wisdom From The School Of Hard Knocks, the DVDs Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, the Lock On Joint Locking series, and numerous articles and reviews. You can read more articles and reviews and see clips of his DVDs as well as much more at http://www.burrese.com/ and http://www.aikiproductions.com/

View the original article here

Daytripper #4

So, I changed my mind about Daytripper. When I first started this series, I felt that it was deep and moving and thematically rich and varied. Now, I feel as though I am stuck in the most emo comic book series ever. Every issue is a depressing romp in the life of an underachiever who has a constant battle with dying. Gabriel Ba tries to plumb the depths of the human soul with every issue, but he is repeatedly tracing the same avenues and now the streets are littered with uncaring garbage.

In the first issue, Bras learns a hard lesson about family and gets shot in the face. In the second, he falls in love and then drowns. The third issue he is dumped and then gets hit by a car. And the fourth his dad dies on the same day his baby is born and then Bras has a heart attack. When you list them in rapid succession like that, don't they sound lame? Daytripper doesn't challenge my emotions like I thought it would after reading the first issue. It seems to be constructed of the saddest possibilities that Gabriel Ba could conceive of, and that isn't good enough for me. If you want to make a authentically sad comic, you can't do it by throwing a pile of unending sadness at the readers. It just doesn't work that way.

The art is beautiful and consistent (no complaints there), but the story is really starting to lack. I am going to give it two more issues to redeem itself. After that, its out of the holds box for good. Sorry Gabriel.

Chad de Lisle is a newly married college student in Utah. He spends much of his day with his wife Hilary and their dog Bobby Dylan. He spends his weekends as a Dungeon Master for his friend's Dungeon's and Dragon's games.

His website:

http://www.resmirch.com/

View the original article here

Gotham Central

In 2003, Ed Brubacker, Greg Rucka and Michael Lark got together to start a comic book series about the Gotham City Police Department or GCPD. The series was called Gotham Central and is part of the Batman family of books. The series was also a commercial failure. The first issue came out February 2003 and the last issue was dated April 2006.

Forty issues. That's it. And you know what? That's beautiful. I mean, if a series ran into the hundreds of issues it come under the responsibility of any number of creative teams; it's inevitable that some issues in the run would be crap. Can't be helped, if your series in currently numbers 500+ or 300+ there will be some dogs in that pile. And that's where the forty issues of Gotham Central become magic. I have read everyone and everyone is a gem. Well, there is one, issue no. 37 is a tie in to a DC-wide event called Infinite Crisis, and it doesn't have the magic of the others. It was a bit bleh, but still okay. If that's the worst that Gotham Central can do then it's safe to say that this series is magic and highly recommended.

Over the course of the run the writing is consistently Brubacker and Rucka and it shows in the quality of the stories. This two are among the top writers in the field at the time, still are actually (circa 2010), Michael Lark shares art chores with others over the run, artists like Stefano Guadiano and Greg Scott. They all do a good job. There are some panels in this run that are just spot on. Not just any writer can do this series because it's a street level series with hardly any costumed heroes; so the artists have to do 'street' very well. Things like facial expressions, gestures. From panel to panel the action can get very subtle - no expansive super-hero action here - which could explain the low sales.

So why should you even bother?

First of all: the writing. The pacing, characterization and the character dynamics add up to engrossing single-issue stories and story arcs. These are great page-turners that can be re-read with relish. My favorite single issue tale is called 'Nature' and is presented in issue no. 32. This is a tale that involves the Batman villain Poison Ivy - as the hero. How cool is that? The best of the arcs is called 'Soft Targets' and stars the most nefarious Batman baddie of them all - the Joker. Close to it in quality is another arc called 'Unresolved' this time with the Mad Hatter.

Another reason to pick this up is the art. Oh, the art. I've found myself stopping to stare at some panels. Just looking at them. The approach is not exactly noir but very close - the mood created is just perfect for street level Gotham.

Did I say Gotham. Yes, Batman's town. He's here too, along the edges of the stories. Never the centerpiece, but always present. In fact, a bit conspicuous by his absence. But not only him, he's history, the lore surrounding the bat. The stories are accessible to any reader not familiar with Batman but the more you know about the Batman's world the richer that tales become. Subtle touches abound for readers in the know. The series also adds to the DC Universe. Two protagonists in particular: Renee Montoya and Crispus Allen go on to bigger roles in the DCU.

Gotham Central wasn't popular, and isn't, except for a small group of loyalists like me. It's fated to be one of those 'lost gems' of comics. Quality awaits for those willing to give it a chance.

View the original article here

5 Good Books To Read - Comic Books

1. Midnight Nation by J. M. Straczynski

To show my point, let's start with Midnight Nation, a dark and a bit religious comic book describing "the other world," a place where all forgotten and abandoned people and things go.

A police lieutenant David Grey starts to investigate what appears to be a flustering murder and ends up rather differently than he anticipated - trapped in a shadow world and faced with a challenge to fight for his own soul.

David receives a guide named Laurel, he eventually falls in love with her and this act alone will set him off of all his predecessors. After overcoming multiple tests, Grey resents the usual course of action offered by The Other Guy (the Devil) and sacrifices his own soul to prove that hope still exists.

Midnight Nation is an excellent comic book and you don't really need to be religious to enjoy it.

2. From Hell by A. Moore & E. Campbell

Jack the Ripper is famous worldwide for his murders. From Hell offers a different perspective on this whole case, combining imagination and facts from the real world.

Royal prince Albert Victor marries a woman from East End in London and fathers a child. They are separated after Queen Victoria finds out and actions are being taken to sweep this matter and its follow-ups (such as group of prostitutes blackmailing the Crown in exchange for protection) aside.

A highly ranked Freemason named Gull gets involved and as time moves on, gives birth to the famous Jack the Ripper with previously unseen brutality and bestiality of his murders - but the whole matter is still being covered up to protect the interests of the royal family.

Authors very well combine their own ideas with historical facts and have produced a marvelous comic book, that will make you read and read until you're finished - and you'll spend a plenty of time thinking when that happens.

3. The Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes by N. Gaiman

Chances are you already know the famous American novelist Neil Gaiman, say because of American Gods or Stardust. Gaiman is extremely good in mixing various genres, creating unusual heroes and what's most important right now, he is also good in writing comics.

Have you ever wanted to be immortal? Living up to the end of Earth, maybe seeing the Sun eating up our planet... and so an enchanter named Burgess tries to capture Death and live forever. By his mistake, he however captures Dream instead.

After decades of imprisonment, Dream manages to finally escape his captor (Burgess' son at the time) and hop on a quest to seek his lost items of power. He encounters the Justice League, John Constantine the Hellblazer and even Lucifer himself.

Well, what can I tell you? If you want to imagine Death as a pragmatic, goth girl, you are going to be more than satisfied.

Ok, seriously, Gaiman has once again done a wonderful job with creating a weird world and will push your imagination to the limit over and over again until you drop off - and you will still dream about it anyway.

4. Garfield by J. Davis

Let's switch to a less serious note, shall we? I bet you've already heard about a fat, lazy and sybaritic cat named Garfield, often accompanied by a human named Jon and a dog called Odie.

Garfield is especially known for his laziness, the only thing that will get him moving is, well, a rich lunch or something. Another common attribute of Garfield's comics is the very short story line, most usually just 3 pictures.

The stories vary greatly - you can find the heroes at the sea, in their home, at the vet; eating, lying, having a phone call; being bored, watching TV... pretty much anything you can come up with.

Garfield also had several film adaptations and it is very safe to say that he and his friends can provide quality entertainment.

5. Asterix by R. Goscinny

There was a time when the Roman Empire was vast and no one could challenge the mighty Roman Legions - expect a small Galian village in the Armorica province. Again, I'm sure you are familiar with the stories featuring Asterix, Obelix, a-lot-of-fancy-names-ending-with-ix and a magic potion.

It is the same genre as Garfield - fun. The main characters often travel outside the major theme, e.g. visit Egypt and deal with Cleopatra. At all times they keep up their high spirit, sense for goodness and Obelix also tend to be a little bit, shall we say, simpler.

The fame of Asterix and his fellow Galls may be indicated by the fact that the first French satellite ever launched was named after him - Asterix-1.

Conclusion

That's it, we went through another 5 good books to read. I'm hoping you found my suggestions useful and it will be my pleasure to talk to you soon!

Thank you for reading!

Find more book recommendations at Most Popular Books: http://www.mostpopularbooks.org/

Take advantage of our featured category and get the best of the book world delivered to your browser! http://mostpopularbooks.org/featured-book/

View the original article here

Batwoman in Detective Comics #854

This issue was another treasure acquired at the DC booth for no lucre. To be honest, I hungrily snatched it up and stuffed it in my bag for the simple reason that it was free. Batwoman normally wouldn't interest me in the slightest. But this issue came out of left field and blindsided me with its unique paneling, its vibrant colors, and its promise of violence. As I finished the last page, I was shocked that I wanted more. "How did this happen to me?" Well, let me try to explain....

First of all, the art is crisp and grabbing. Whenever Batwoman takes to the night in uniform, flying along alleyways perched upon her motorcycle, the color pallet is restricted to black, gray, red, and white only. This simple technique brought a uniqueness and class to the comic that I never thought possible. Second, the story was vague enough to keep me turning pages. It spoke of "covens" of crime, and a "dark mistress" that rules over them all. Batman makes an appearance, and offers advice like he's a bada**. The tale recounts capture, torture, and a near fatal stab through Batwoman's heart. And near the end, the dark mistress appears almost as a porcelain doll and introduces herself as Alice. This comic is well paced, well drawn, and perfectly crafted to leave you wanting more. This is what a comic book should be.

On the other side, not all is perfect with this tale. Batwoman is a lesbian, and while in costume she looks enchantingly beautiful and harshly violent, but once the facade is shed she looks a little too butch. I realized that when she was going through her day as her alter ego, I was bored and uninterested. Then, I brought the comic to one of my friends (the most devout Batman follower I know) and I asked him what he thought of it. He told me, "It looks cool, but in a couple issues it starts to suck. They introduce a bunch of 'were-beasts' and it gets really lame. I stopped following it." So, on his advice, I might let this be the anomaly that it is, and not pick up any more issues.

Chad de Lisle is a newly married college student in Utah. He spends much of his day with his wife Hilary and their dog Bobby Dylan. He spends his weekends as a Dungeon Master for his friend's Dungeon's and Dragon's games.

His website:

http://www.resmirch.com/

View the original article here

Comic Book Reviews - The Amazing Spider-Man - "Shed"

The Amazing Spider-Man has seen more than its fair share of criticism after the major reboot in "Brand New Day", but readers who have stuck with the wall crawler have been enjoying some solid storytelling, and the latest story arc, entitled "Shed", featured in Amazing Spider-Man issues 630 through 633 might just have spider-fans rushing back to their local comic shop to get a piece of the action.

Though there's only one major fight in the 4 issue storyline, there's plenty of violence and tense, gritty action to sate the appetite of anyone who thinks Spidey books are too soft.

Without ruining the story with spoilers, the storyline is throws another classic villain at Spider-Man, the Lizard. After the past six month's Gauntlet storyline where the descendants of Kraven the Hunter have been throwing a gallery of Spidey's classic foes in the web-head's path, Dr Curt Conners is the latest to get caught in the web.

Dr. Conners obsession with getting custody of his son is bringing out the cold blooded beast in his psyche and he's doing all he can to keep it in check. Problems beyond his control are keeping that from happening and the Lizard breaks loose, this time with some sort of telepathic ability to "unlock" the reptilian side of all humans and the streets of New York end up being engulfed in frenzied riots.

What happens along the way will shock a lot of readers, but the talented team of writers and artists including Zeb Wells and Chris Bachalo put the horrible tale on paper in a terrific way that will keep you gripped from start to finish.

As a long time Spider-Man reader, it's been a long time since I sat with my mouth hanging open at plot developments.

Find issues 630 and on at your local comic shop, or wait for the inevitable trade paperback printing of "Shed".

This article was created by comic book fan Geoffry Livingston. Geoffry likes to write about arts and entertainment as well as home design. His recent projects have been about Duette Blinds and light-filtering duette blinds.

View the original article here

Best Superman Comic For You

This article offer information to one looking to buy or sell the best Superman comic or the best Spider-man comics. One needs to know how to select a book before buying it.

For people who would want to invest, there are numerous options which present themselves. Apart from immovable property and even movable assets, people have also been investing in other things which might have very little face value but a lot of aesthetic or time value. Art is one of such thing which can have a whole lot of value. There are a few works by some well known artists which go out on auction at mind boggling prices. Very much like paintings or sculptures, comic books are works of art. These comics have also become a collectible item which many people have amongst their priced possessions. Many people have already started collecting some of the best Superman comic books for the value that these books possess.

The real value of some of the best Superman comic books or the best Spider-man comics mainly depends upon the artist who works on the comics. The value of the best Superman comic or the best Spider-man comics is given by the paintings in the comic. People also take into consideration the plot or the story line of the comic before selecting the best comic on their favorite super hero.

The best Superman or best Spider-man comics which have the highest value should have a few properties or characteristics which will make the comic unique and valuable. One thing that will make the comic one of the best Superman comic books or the best Spider-man comics in the presence of a character for the first time in that comic series. This can be collected as they will be very valuable in the future.

The other thing that people should look for while selecting a comic for investment sake would be the publisher or the printing house. Some of the best comic books would have come out from some well known comic book printing agencies. People should take care and make sure that the comic selected should be from a reputed printing agency to ensure that it will have a lot of value. The other thing that people should consider while selecting the best Superman comic would be the physical state of the comic book.

People should ensure that the Superman or the best Spider-man comics they are looking to buy do not have any dog ears. People should have to ensure that the books are also in very good condition and do not have any flaws with the printing or with the colors. People should also have to take special care about the best Superman comic books or the best Spider-man comics to ensure that they do not get spoilt easily. They can do this by using some protective cover which will ensure that moisture does not get into the books and ruin the coloration.

It is important that that one have the best Superman comic book they wish to buy evaluated first as there are some people who will con you into paying way too much for a comic.

Do the same before selling the best Spider-man comics as you don't want someone to under value the comic book.

View the original article here

Andy Panda - Unsung Character From the Golden Age of Cartoons and Comics

When you mention Andy Panda, many people respond, "Who?" However, there was a time when the bear was a major player in the world of cartoons. He is a character from the Golden Age of animation, and a great one, too.

Andy was created by the legendary Walter Lantz, the same creator of the famous Woody Woodpecker. In fact, Woody first appeared in an Andy Panda cartoon. But, let's get back to the little-known Panda.

Andy was actually quite popular in the 1940s. His first cartoon was Life Begins for Andy Panda in 1939. He starred in multiple cartoons in the 1940s and had his own comic strip in New Funnies comics from the 1940s to the 1960s. He even had his own comic book series as recently as the 1970s. One thing I loved about the comics is he had a sidekick named Charlie Chicken. They were a little like Abbott and Costello to me.

I always liked Andy and Woody cartoons as a child, and they were rerun continuously in the 1970s and '80s. I have fond memories of watching 1940s' Andy Panda cartoons before and after school. My favorite cartoon is Apple Andy. In the cartoon, Andy fights with the good and bad side of himself. The good side is a panda that looks like an angel. The bad side is--you guessed it--a panda that looks like the devil.

In the cartoon, the bad side convinces Andy to skip school and steal a farmer's apples. He eats so many apples that he passes out and dreams he goes to Hell. In the end he wakes up, defeats his bad side and goes back to school. Yes, some early cartoons were eerie and amusing at the same time. I am glad they were still shown on television in the 1980s.

Andy is not completely lost to limbo, though. Recently, DVD sets of old Woody Woodpecker and Andy Panda cartoons were released for sale. You can't keep a good character down forever!

If you remember Andy, feel free to comment! I would like to hear your memories.

I am an owner of Halloween Hill, an online store that sells haunted house props, as well as Halloween decorations. I am also a comic book collector and have been for more than 25 years!

Visit me at http://www.halloween-hill-props.com/ and http://comicbooksandthings.blogspot.com/

View the original article here