This week in TONY'S TIPS at Tales of Wonder...Star Trek/Planet of the Apes, Knight Rider and Saved by the Bell!
Monday, June 29, 2015
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
INDY POP CON IS ALMOST HERE
Today (Wednesday) is my "Getting Ready for IndyPopCon Day." The convention is Friday, June 26 through Sunday, June 28, at the
Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. You can get further details
by going to the event website.
I’m one of an army of terrific guests that includes Edward James Olmos of Battlestar Galactica and, more recently, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. I hope I get the opportunity to tell him how much I enjoyed his layered performance on the latter. His character kept me guessing from his first scene to his last scene this season and that was due, in no small part, to his talent.
Also appearing at the convention: Tony Moore, Sam Jones, John De Lancie, Malcolm Goodwin, Sophie Henderson, Brooke A. Allen, Scott Shaw, Joe Corroney, Casper Van Dien, Jim Wynorski, Troy Brownfield, Lloyd Kaufman, Brizzy, Franchesco, Kevin Bachelder, and a bunch of fine people from my favorite film company, The Asylum. Okay, it’s tied with Disney/Marvel for my top spot, but I have a big heart and I can love both.
I’ll be appearing on two panels during the weekend:
Saturday, June 27
11:00 am
MOVIE BLOGGING: TALES FROM THE TRENCHES
with Kevin Bachelder and Greg Sorvig
Sunday, June 28
1:00 pm
COMIC CREATOR PANEL
with Brooke Allen, Tony Moore, Scott Shaw and the Amalgam Podcast Network
When I’m not on a panel or at a panel I’m not on or just wandering around the convention talking to cool people and looking at cool stuff - when you check out the website, you’ll see there are many cool panels, people and vendors - I’ll be set up at:
Booth Number 515
Please don’t be shy about stopping by my table. I’m always happy to sign Isabella-written stuff for both fans and retailers. I never charge for my signature. However, on the unlikely chance I have a long line and you have a whole bunch of comics for me to sign, I may have to sign just some of your items and ask you to go back to the end of the line for the rest. If you have less than a dozen items, I can sign them all without making that request of you. That sound fair to you?
I’m happy to answer questions at my table and on my panels. I’ll do my best to answer them all, though, on occasion, the answer might be “You’ll have to buy my new book.” Heh, heh, heh.
I love cosplayers, especially those appearing as characters I have created or have written. I’m delighted to pose for photos with you. All I ask is that you send me a scan of the photo with permission to use it in this bloggy thing or my Facebook page.
I'll have some stuff for sale at my booth. These will include:
I’m one of an army of terrific guests that includes Edward James Olmos of Battlestar Galactica and, more recently, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. I hope I get the opportunity to tell him how much I enjoyed his layered performance on the latter. His character kept me guessing from his first scene to his last scene this season and that was due, in no small part, to his talent.
Also appearing at the convention: Tony Moore, Sam Jones, John De Lancie, Malcolm Goodwin, Sophie Henderson, Brooke A. Allen, Scott Shaw, Joe Corroney, Casper Van Dien, Jim Wynorski, Troy Brownfield, Lloyd Kaufman, Brizzy, Franchesco, Kevin Bachelder, and a bunch of fine people from my favorite film company, The Asylum. Okay, it’s tied with Disney/Marvel for my top spot, but I have a big heart and I can love both.
I’ll be appearing on two panels during the weekend:
Saturday, June 27
11:00 am
MOVIE BLOGGING: TALES FROM THE TRENCHES
with Kevin Bachelder and Greg Sorvig
Sunday, June 28
1:00 pm
COMIC CREATOR PANEL
with Brooke Allen, Tony Moore, Scott Shaw and the Amalgam Podcast Network
When I’m not on a panel or at a panel I’m not on or just wandering around the convention talking to cool people and looking at cool stuff - when you check out the website, you’ll see there are many cool panels, people and vendors - I’ll be set up at:
Booth Number 515
Please don’t be shy about stopping by my table. I’m always happy to sign Isabella-written stuff for both fans and retailers. I never charge for my signature. However, on the unlikely chance I have a long line and you have a whole bunch of comics for me to sign, I may have to sign just some of your items and ask you to go back to the end of the line for the rest. If you have less than a dozen items, I can sign them all without making that request of you. That sound fair to you?
I’m happy to answer questions at my table and on my panels. I’ll do my best to answer them all, though, on occasion, the answer might be “You’ll have to buy my new book.” Heh, heh, heh.
I love cosplayers, especially those appearing as characters I have created or have written. I’m delighted to pose for photos with you. All I ask is that you send me a scan of the photo with permission to use it in this bloggy thing or my Facebook page.
I'll have some stuff for sale at my booth. These will include:
The rare double-sided Superman that was created for Cleveland's International Superman Expo of 1988. My supply of these is limited, so I'll be selling them for $20 each.
I'll have a box of Isabella-written stuff, but I'm not sure what will be in that box or what the prices on the items will be. That's one of today's tasks.
I'll have a box of fairly recent comics priced at $1 each.
I'll have Archie digests for sale at $1 or $2 each. Digests originally priced under $5 will be a buck and digests originally priced over $5 will be two bucks.
There might be a miscellaneous box of other stuff, but that depends on how long it takes me to put together the other stuff..
Since 1000 Comic Books You Must Read is out of print until I get a chance to explain to the publisher that electronic versions aren’t even close to being the same as “in print” and that “out of print” means their rights to the book have expired, I won’t have copies of my award-deserving, best-selling book for sale. However...
If anyone has good condition copies of the book they are willing to part with, I’d be delighted to purchase them from you at $10 each. I would love to replenish my supply of the book so I can continue to sell it at conventions and my garage sales. If you have a large quantity of copies, email me before June 25 so I can be ready with payment for you.
I’m really looking forward to IndyPopCon. The show will be open to the doubtless eager public from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday, 10 am to 6 pm on Saturday and 10 am to 5 pm on Sunday.
I hope to see you there.
Since 1000 Comic Books You Must Read is out of print until I get a chance to explain to the publisher that electronic versions aren’t even close to being the same as “in print” and that “out of print” means their rights to the book have expired, I won’t have copies of my award-deserving, best-selling book for sale. However...
If anyone has good condition copies of the book they are willing to part with, I’d be delighted to purchase them from you at $10 each. I would love to replenish my supply of the book so I can continue to sell it at conventions and my garage sales. If you have a large quantity of copies, email me before June 25 so I can be ready with payment for you.
I’m really looking forward to IndyPopCon. The show will be open to the doubtless eager public from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday, 10 am to 6 pm on Saturday and 10 am to 5 pm on Sunday.
I hope to see you there.
Monday, June 22, 2015
TONY'S TIPS #113
This week in http://blog.talesofwonder.com/tonys-tips-113/ at Tales of Wonder...Zombillenium, Roller Girl and Joe Frankenstein!
Sunday, June 21, 2015
PSYCHIATRIC TALES
My local library system continues to supply be with great comics material. Most recently, I read Darryl Cunningham's Psychiatric Tales: Eleven Graphic Stories About Mental Illness [Bloomsbury USA; $17]. Published in 2011, the book is informative and moving. It was Cunningham's first book and here's what Amazon says about it:
Psychiatric Tales draws on Darryl Cunningham's time working in a
psychiatric ward to give a reasoned and sympathetic look into the world
of mental illness. In each chapter, Cunningham explores a different
mental health problem, using evocative imagery to describe the
experience of mental illness, both from the point of view of those beset
by illness and their friends and relatives. As Cunningham reveals this
human experience, he also shows how society's perceptions of and
reactions to mental illness perpetuate needless stigma, for example, the
myth that schizophrenic people are more likely to commit crimes than
non-schizophrenic people. Psychiatric Tales is a groundbreaking
graphic work; it deftly demythologizes and destigmatizes the disorders
that 26.2 percent of American adults live with every day.
Concluding with a reflection on how mental illness has affected his own life, Darryl Cunningham's Psychiatric Tales is a moving, engaging examination of what is, at its root, the human condition.
Cunningham has been doing some terrific work with his non-fiction graphic novels. I've like all the ones I've read to date, but I particularly recommend this one to you.
ISBN 978-1-60819-278-6
Saturday, June 20, 2015
RECOMMENDED READING: ROSES IN DECEMBER
From Kent State University Press:
ROSES IN DECEMBER: A STORY OF LOVE AND ALZHEIMER'S by Tom Batiuk and Chuck Ayers [$34.95].
From the Amazon solicitation:
Since its debut in 1987, Crankshaft has engendered reader
loyalty and affection with its wry wit, engaging storylines, and
identifiable characters. Created by Tom Batiuk and drawn by Chuck Ayers,
the strip offers plenty of humor but also tackles serious issues like
adult literacy, school violence, and the challenges of aging.
Roses in December is a touching collection of two Crankshaft
storylines of characters who find themselves dealing with the incurable
condition of Alzheimer's disease. First, Ed Crankshaft's best friend
Ralph is confronted with the trauma of his wife Helen's worsening
Alzheimer's. He never knows if the love of his life will recognize him
on those days that he visits her at Sunny Days Nursing Home. Ralph and
Helen s love story unfolds with humor and heartbreak.
In the
second story arc, Crankshaft s neighbor Lucy McKenzie also exhibits
symptoms of Alzheimer's and eventually is moved to Sunny Days Nursing
Home by her sister Lillian. The fourteen year struggles of Lucy, Helen,
and their loved ones are elegantly told, preserving their dignity and
reminding us that sometimes a sense of humor can be our greatest
possession during life's trials.
Through the deceptively simple
medium of the daily comic strip, Tom Batiuk and Chuck Ayers address the
profound effects of Alzheimer's disease in a thoughtful and
occasionally humorous way.
Roses in December includes a resource guide for caregivers, patients, and practitioners.
ISBN 978-1-60635-264-9
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
STILL ALL IN WITH THE CAVALIERS
The Cleveland Cavaliers sure gave us an exciting season. That they didn’t win the championship is sad. But when I think of the amazing determination and drive they showed throughout the playoffs and the finals, I stand in awe of this team.
LeBron James proved once again that he is the greatest basketball player on the court today. Matthew Dellavedova proved to be one of the scrappiest competitors I have even seen, only to be accused of being a dirty player by talking sports heads who should only have painful rectal sores for the rest of their lives. Other teammates stepped up their games in big ways during the playoffs and finals.
The Cavaliers were and are a magnificent team. Those commentators who said their two finals wins were flukes must be forgiven as it’s difficult to watch a fast-moving sport like basketball with one’s head up one’s ass.
The unexpected is forever the extra player on the court or field. I know injuries are part of sports. That the season-ending injury of Kevin Love was inflicted deliberately on him by a second-rater like Kelly Olynyk of the Celtics was deplorable.
Spare me your claims that it was an accident. Look at Olynyk’s face from multiple still photos. Watch the tapes - also from multiple angles - of him giving that pull on Love’s arm. Though Love has magnanimously said he is okay with Olynyk, I’d be lying if I said I don’t hope karma catches up with Olynyk in a big way.
The Golden State Warriors are a terrific team. They played hard and it is no dishonor to lose to them. That said, if the Warriors had played this series without two of their best players, I think the championship trophy would be in Cleveland right now.
Disappointed sports fans across the nation know well the sorrowful phrase “Wait until next year!” This time, I am more eager for next year than any time within recent memory.
Thanks to the Cleveland Cavaliers for an exciting season. They may not be the national champions, but no other team beat them when it came to heart.
I’ll be back soon with more stuff.
LeBron James proved once again that he is the greatest basketball player on the court today. Matthew Dellavedova proved to be one of the scrappiest competitors I have even seen, only to be accused of being a dirty player by talking sports heads who should only have painful rectal sores for the rest of their lives. Other teammates stepped up their games in big ways during the playoffs and finals.
The Cavaliers were and are a magnificent team. Those commentators who said their two finals wins were flukes must be forgiven as it’s difficult to watch a fast-moving sport like basketball with one’s head up one’s ass.
The unexpected is forever the extra player on the court or field. I know injuries are part of sports. That the season-ending injury of Kevin Love was inflicted deliberately on him by a second-rater like Kelly Olynyk of the Celtics was deplorable.
Spare me your claims that it was an accident. Look at Olynyk’s face from multiple still photos. Watch the tapes - also from multiple angles - of him giving that pull on Love’s arm. Though Love has magnanimously said he is okay with Olynyk, I’d be lying if I said I don’t hope karma catches up with Olynyk in a big way.
The Golden State Warriors are a terrific team. They played hard and it is no dishonor to lose to them. That said, if the Warriors had played this series without two of their best players, I think the championship trophy would be in Cleveland right now.
Disappointed sports fans across the nation know well the sorrowful phrase “Wait until next year!” This time, I am more eager for next year than any time within recent memory.
Thanks to the Cleveland Cavaliers for an exciting season. They may not be the national champions, but no other team beat them when it came to heart.
I’ll be back soon with more stuff.
© 2015 Tony Isabella
Monday, June 15, 2015
TONY'S TIPS #112
This week in TONY'S TIPS at Tales of Wonder...What would I do if I were in charge of DC for two months? That epic four-column adventure concludes here, though, like so many DC epics, it'll probably continue in another epic down the road. Maybe even with variant covers.
THE FACTS OF TONY’S LIFE
I didn’t want to write this brief bloggy thing, but I took a real good look at my schedule for the next two months and I knew I had to do it. Cue ominous music.
Okay, stop the ominous music. It’s not that bad.
Readers of this bloggy thing know I am currently writing a memoir of sorts about my life in comics. It has a tight deadline, but I’ll make it. In addition to the new book, I am also working on something for my one remaining comic-strip client...and working on a secret project that is unlike anything I’ve ever done before...and writing my weekly TONY’S TIPS column for Tales of Wonder...and working on a couple of other things, one of which, if it happens, will almost certainly make your jaws drop. And I’ll be a guest at Indy Pop Con on June 26-28 in Indianapolis.
That’s just the work part of my life. Tomorrow is Barb’s and mine 31st wedding anniversary. Also this month: Father’s Day, the first anniversary of our daughter Kelly starting her post-college job and our son Eddie’s 27th birthday. There’s also some medical stuff in my near future. With this crazy schedule, I need to make sure the maintenance on my aged body is as up to date as possible.
The good news is that I am determined to continuing posting all the fun stuff I post on my Facebook page, my First Church of Godzilla page and The Official Tony Isabella Message Board page. I’ll also continue posting new content in this bloggy thing of mine, albeit not on a daily basis. These are important to me.
The bad news is that I must postpone stuff that’s also important to me until sometime in August. My online Vast Accumulation of Stuff sales won't resume until sometime in July. My Vast Accumulation of Stuff garage sales won't resume until August and only run for two months.
The additional bad news is that I will have to delay or turn down all of the following:
I will not be able to read that PDF of your new project and assist you in its promotion. I wish you great success with your project, but I just don’t have the time. When it’s a friend asking, I will most likely give them permission to promote their new project on my Facebook page. Those friends who have actually done me a good turn in the past will have the best chance of getting my permission to use my Facebook page.
I will not be able to answer any interview questions until sometime in August, even if I had already committed to that. I need the time to work on my new book.
Basically, I will not be able to fulfill or even consider any new requests of any kind until August. I enjoy helping people out when I can, but, for the next two months, I must keep my eyes on my own prize. I think you can understand that.
Thanks for your understanding at this time.
I’ll be back soon with more stuff.
Okay, stop the ominous music. It’s not that bad.
Readers of this bloggy thing know I am currently writing a memoir of sorts about my life in comics. It has a tight deadline, but I’ll make it. In addition to the new book, I am also working on something for my one remaining comic-strip client...and working on a secret project that is unlike anything I’ve ever done before...and writing my weekly TONY’S TIPS column for Tales of Wonder...and working on a couple of other things, one of which, if it happens, will almost certainly make your jaws drop. And I’ll be a guest at Indy Pop Con on June 26-28 in Indianapolis.
That’s just the work part of my life. Tomorrow is Barb’s and mine 31st wedding anniversary. Also this month: Father’s Day, the first anniversary of our daughter Kelly starting her post-college job and our son Eddie’s 27th birthday. There’s also some medical stuff in my near future. With this crazy schedule, I need to make sure the maintenance on my aged body is as up to date as possible.
The good news is that I am determined to continuing posting all the fun stuff I post on my Facebook page, my First Church of Godzilla page and The Official Tony Isabella Message Board page. I’ll also continue posting new content in this bloggy thing of mine, albeit not on a daily basis. These are important to me.
The bad news is that I must postpone stuff that’s also important to me until sometime in August. My online Vast Accumulation of Stuff sales won't resume until sometime in July. My Vast Accumulation of Stuff garage sales won't resume until August and only run for two months.
The additional bad news is that I will have to delay or turn down all of the following:
I will not be able to read that PDF of your new project and assist you in its promotion. I wish you great success with your project, but I just don’t have the time. When it’s a friend asking, I will most likely give them permission to promote their new project on my Facebook page. Those friends who have actually done me a good turn in the past will have the best chance of getting my permission to use my Facebook page.
I will not be able to answer any interview questions until sometime in August, even if I had already committed to that. I need the time to work on my new book.
Basically, I will not be able to fulfill or even consider any new requests of any kind until August. I enjoy helping people out when I can, but, for the next two months, I must keep my eyes on my own prize. I think you can understand that.
Thanks for your understanding at this time.
I’ll be back soon with more stuff.
© 2015 Tony Isabella
Saturday, June 13, 2015
INDY POPCON IS ON THE HORIZON
We’re just under two weeks away from IndyPopCon, which will be held Friday, June 26 through Sunday, June 28, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. You can get further details by going to the event website.
I’m one of an army of terrific guests that includes Edward James Olmos of Battlestar Galactica and, more recently, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. I hope I get the opportunity to tell him how much I enjoyed his layered performance on the latter. His character kept me guessing from his first scene to his last scene this season and that was due, in no small part, to his talent.
Also appearing at the convention: Tony Moore, Sam Jones, John De Lancie, Malcolm Goodwin, Sophie Henderson, Brooke A. Allen, Scott Shaw, Joe Corroney, Casper Van Dien, Jim Wynorski, Troy Brownfield, Lloyd Kaufman, Brizzy, Franchesco, Kevin Bachelder, and a bunch of fine people from my favorite film company, The Asylum. Okay, it’s tied with Disney/Marvel for my top spot, but I have a big heart and I can love both.
I’ll be appearing on two panels during the weekend:
Saturday, June 27
11:00 am
MOVIE BLOGGING: TALES FROM THE TRENCHES
with Kevin Bachelder and Greg Sorvig
Sunday, June 28
1:00 pm
COMIC CREATOR PANEL
with Brooke Allen, Tony Moore, Scott Shaw and the Amalgam Podcast Network
When I’m not on a panel or at a panel I’m not on or just wandering around the convention talking to cool people and looking at cool stuff - when you check out the website, you’ll see there are many cool panels, people and vendors - I’ll be set up at:
Booth Number 515
Please don’t be shy about stopping by my table. I’m always happy to sign Isabella-written stuff for both fans and retailers. I never charge for my signature. However, on the chance I have a long-ish line and you have a whole bunch of comics for me to sign, I may have to sign just some of your items and ask you to go back to the end of the line for the rest. If you have less than a dozen items, I can sign them all without making that request of you. That sound fair to you?
I’m happy to answer questions at my table and on my panels. I’ll do my best to answer them all, though, on occasion, the answer might be “You’ll have to buy my new book.” Heh, heh, heh.
I love cosplayers, especially those appearing as characters I have created or have written. I’m delighted to pose for photos with you. All I ask is that you send me a scan of the photo with permission to use it in this bloggy thing or my Facebook page.
I will have some stuff for sale at my booth, but I won’t know what until I see what is accessible from my Fortress of Storage and my Vast Accumulation of Stuff. Once I know what I’m bringing, I will post an update in this here bloggy thing of mine.
Since 1000 Comic Books You Must Read is out of print until I get a chance to explain to the publisher that electronic versions aren’t even close to being the same as “in print” and that “out of print” means their rights to the book have expired, I won’t have copies of my award-deserving, best-selling book for sale. However...
If anyone has good condition copies of the book they are willing to part with, I’d be delighted to purchase them from you at $10 each. I would love to replenish my supply of the book so I can continue to sell it at conventions and my garage sales. If you have a large quantity of copies, email me before June 25 so I can be ready with payment for you.
I’m really looking forward to IndyPopCon. The show will be open to the doubtless eager public from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday, 10 am to 6 pm on Saturday and 10 am to 5 pm on Sunday.
I hope to see you there.
******************************
In other Tony stuff...
Blogging will be somewhat iffy between now and the end of July, but I’ll do my best to bring you new content almost every day. Once I turn in the manuscript of my “memoir of sorts,” daily blogging will resume. Because I love doing this.
I wish I could share with you all the amazing and interesting stuff going on in my life at the moment. When announcements come, if they come, some of them will absolutely floor you.
In the meantime, you can visit me at my personal Facebook page, at The Official Tony Isabella Message Board group on Facebook and, for your spiritual needs, my First Church of Godzilla page on Facebook. I’m also on Twitter.
I’m one of an army of terrific guests that includes Edward James Olmos of Battlestar Galactica and, more recently, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. I hope I get the opportunity to tell him how much I enjoyed his layered performance on the latter. His character kept me guessing from his first scene to his last scene this season and that was due, in no small part, to his talent.
Also appearing at the convention: Tony Moore, Sam Jones, John De Lancie, Malcolm Goodwin, Sophie Henderson, Brooke A. Allen, Scott Shaw, Joe Corroney, Casper Van Dien, Jim Wynorski, Troy Brownfield, Lloyd Kaufman, Brizzy, Franchesco, Kevin Bachelder, and a bunch of fine people from my favorite film company, The Asylum. Okay, it’s tied with Disney/Marvel for my top spot, but I have a big heart and I can love both.
I’ll be appearing on two panels during the weekend:
Saturday, June 27
11:00 am
MOVIE BLOGGING: TALES FROM THE TRENCHES
with Kevin Bachelder and Greg Sorvig
Sunday, June 28
1:00 pm
COMIC CREATOR PANEL
with Brooke Allen, Tony Moore, Scott Shaw and the Amalgam Podcast Network
When I’m not on a panel or at a panel I’m not on or just wandering around the convention talking to cool people and looking at cool stuff - when you check out the website, you’ll see there are many cool panels, people and vendors - I’ll be set up at:
Booth Number 515
Please don’t be shy about stopping by my table. I’m always happy to sign Isabella-written stuff for both fans and retailers. I never charge for my signature. However, on the chance I have a long-ish line and you have a whole bunch of comics for me to sign, I may have to sign just some of your items and ask you to go back to the end of the line for the rest. If you have less than a dozen items, I can sign them all without making that request of you. That sound fair to you?
I’m happy to answer questions at my table and on my panels. I’ll do my best to answer them all, though, on occasion, the answer might be “You’ll have to buy my new book.” Heh, heh, heh.
I love cosplayers, especially those appearing as characters I have created or have written. I’m delighted to pose for photos with you. All I ask is that you send me a scan of the photo with permission to use it in this bloggy thing or my Facebook page.
I will have some stuff for sale at my booth, but I won’t know what until I see what is accessible from my Fortress of Storage and my Vast Accumulation of Stuff. Once I know what I’m bringing, I will post an update in this here bloggy thing of mine.
Since 1000 Comic Books You Must Read is out of print until I get a chance to explain to the publisher that electronic versions aren’t even close to being the same as “in print” and that “out of print” means their rights to the book have expired, I won’t have copies of my award-deserving, best-selling book for sale. However...
If anyone has good condition copies of the book they are willing to part with, I’d be delighted to purchase them from you at $10 each. I would love to replenish my supply of the book so I can continue to sell it at conventions and my garage sales. If you have a large quantity of copies, email me before June 25 so I can be ready with payment for you.
I’m really looking forward to IndyPopCon. The show will be open to the doubtless eager public from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday, 10 am to 6 pm on Saturday and 10 am to 5 pm on Sunday.
I hope to see you there.
******************************
In other Tony stuff...
Blogging will be somewhat iffy between now and the end of July, but I’ll do my best to bring you new content almost every day. Once I turn in the manuscript of my “memoir of sorts,” daily blogging will resume. Because I love doing this.
I wish I could share with you all the amazing and interesting stuff going on in my life at the moment. When announcements come, if they come, some of them will absolutely floor you.
In the meantime, you can visit me at my personal Facebook page, at The Official Tony Isabella Message Board group on Facebook and, for your spiritual needs, my First Church of Godzilla page on Facebook. I’m also on Twitter.
Because I am the poster child for online excess.
I’ll be back soon with more stuff.
© 2015 Tony Isabella
Friday, June 12, 2015
FREE COMIC BOOK DAY FRIDAY
My favorite free comic book of this week’s batch is Marvel’s Free Comic Book Day 2015 (Avengers) #1. There are three story fragments. The first two could qualify as complete short tales with the third being long enough to get my attention
The lead feature is the All-New, All-Different Avengers by writer Mark Waid and artist Mahmud Asrar. The roster is Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, the Vision, Ms. Marvel, Nova and Spider-Man...but these are the current, not always classic versions of the heroes. The ten-page fragment is all action, but it allow every member of the team a moment or two. It leads into the first issue of the ongoing title.
Next up is ten pages of the Uncanny Inhumans by Charles Soule and artist Brandon Peterson. I wasn’t a big fan of the Inhumans in the 1960s and 1970s because they grew and kept slaves. Marvel has moved from that original concept. Between the comic books themselves and the use of the Inhumans in TV’s Agents of SHIELD series, I now find the concept as interesting and somewhat less confusing than X-Men has been in decades. This is an intriguing story fragment leading into the first issue of the new ongoing series.
Rounding out the issue are three pages of Max Ride: First Flight #1, which is apparently based on a book by James Patterson that was scheduled to be a movie. The short fragment didn’t give me any real clue as to what the series was about, but the writing (Marguerite Bennett) and art (Alex Sanchez) were nicely done.
On my free comic book checklist, the quality was high on all three fragments. The Avengers and Inhumans fragments were accessible to new readers. I will definitely be reading Avengers and Inhumans when they are published. On Max Ride, I’ll wait until I can get a copy of a collection edition from my local library.
This wasn’t a perfect FCBD issue, but it was very good.
Marvel also published a Spanish edition of this issue with the Max Ride fragment replaced by ten pages of Secret Wars #0 by Jonathan Hickman and Paul Renaud. I can’t speak to this Spanish edition of Secret Wars, but the English language version of the same material was not to my taste. I’ll have more to sat about Secret Wars - but not much more - in a day or two.
******************************
Boogie Troll/Drone/Agent 42 [Red 5 Comics] was a mixed bag. Boogie Troll “is a fuzzy little grump who wants to be big and scary, but is doomed to be cute and cuddly.” Written and drawn by Jay Fosgitt, the 16-page story is great fun. I’m going to see if I can get the first trade from my local library. If not, I’ll probably stick it on my Amazon wish list until I start making some decent money once again. Which will be after I finish writing my memoir of sorts, but that’s not pertinent to this review.
I wasn’t impressed by Drone, a near-future tale of military robots. Despite the indicia title, there is no “Agent 42" in this book. In its place is four pages of something called Creature Academy, which also failed to impress. I can’t see anyone buying those two titles based on the material in this free comic book.
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And Then Emily Was Gone [ComixTribe] didn’t do much for me either. The title feature involves a police detective, a missing girl and some sort of demons. The second story stars a brutal killer called Oxymoron. Great name, uninteresting story. This might attract the attention of people who like their comics more weird than anything else, but I don’t think it would be a success with the majority of the Free Comic Book Day civilians.
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From Dark Horse, Free Comic Book Day 2015 All Ages delivers three short stories. Avatar the Last Airbender comes from the Nickelodeon cartoon series and is the cover feature. It’s a nice little story by writer Gene Luen Yang and artist Carla Speed McNeil. It isn’t a comic I’d buy, but it’s very well done and accessible to even me who never watched the cartoon.
Plants Vs. Zombies is based on a video game and that doesn’t speak to me at all. But it’s got good writing by Paul Tobin and good art by Ron Chan in a story that is accessible to new readers and would likely get some of those new readers to buy the comics.
Saving the best for last, we get a new Bandette story by Tobin and artist Colleen Coover. Bandette is a delightful young woman and a master thief. The two Bandette collections published to date have been outstanding and among my favorites of recent years. This is a quality story, very accessible and, if I had my way, every person who reads it in this free comic book will immediately buy those two collections. I love Bandette.
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Bob’s Burgers [Dynamite] presented seven comics stories or related material based on the animated series. I enjoyed the variety of so many creators doing so many different things and was entertained by the contents. I give it points for quality and, since I was able to enjoy the comic book despite never having seen the show, I give it points for accessibility.
Will this free comic book entice readers to buy the ongoing comic book and watch the TV series? I think that’s entirely possible. I don’t see myself buying the comic at this point, but I’ll certainly see if any collections of the comic are available via my library. If I’m on the right mood, I might even watch an episode of the TV show. I’d rate this free comic book a success.
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The Tick: Free Comic Book Day 2015 [New England Comics] seems like something I’ve read before and didn’t find at all memorable. There are three stories by Jeff McClelland with art by Duane Redhead and they were all just kind of there.
This free comic book, which wasn’t very good, strikes me as a way for the publisher to try to sell back issues and trade paperback reprints. There’s no background on the characters and no indication that any new material is being created or published. As free comic book day issues go, this one is a failure.
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There were two Free Comic Book Day issues from IDW: Transformers: Robots in Disguise and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I confess I’ve always been confused by and disinterested in the Transformers. This free comic didn’t change that. I suspect fans of the show will be far more interested in the ongoing comic books than I am, but they were probably buying the comics anyway.
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles giveaway is much better. It has a 20-page story from the current continuity that does a terrific job bringing a new reader up to speed while providing some good action scenes. It’s not my cup of tea, but it’s quality work, accessible to new readers and sure to interest fans of the Turtles. This one is a successful FCBD issue.
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Th3rdWorld offered a Thanatos Diver/The Stuff of Legend flipbook. One is science fiction and the other is fantasy.
Thanatos Diver is written by Nick Tapalansky and illustrated by Alex Eckman-Lawn. The 12-page excerpt from a forthcoming graphic novel is intriguing, but doesn’t give a lot of background information. There’s a full-page directing readers to a Thantos Diver website, but, when it comes to Free Comic Book Day issues, I’m old school. I think the issue should tell a prospective new reader everything he or she needs to know to get a foot in the door without having to go online.
The Stuff of Legend is a fun fantasy about devoted toys on a quest to rescue their beloved master. Written by Mike Raicht and Brian Smith with art by Charles Paul Wilson III, I liked this snippet of story well enough to get the first graphic novel of the series from my library. I think it’s third from the top of my library reading pile.
This is an okay Free Comic Book Day issue. It’s not a huge success, but it’s not a failure either.
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FCBD 2015: Valiant 25th Anniversary Special celebrates a milestone goal reached by the company. There are small chunks of story from Bloodshot: Reborn, Ninjak and X-O Manowar: Dead Hand as well as a number of anniversary text pieces. I liked everything in this free comic, but it struck me as directed more towards existing Valiant fans than new ones. Which sort of defeats what I think is the key purpose of FCBD giveaways: attracting new readers.
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Our last FCBD issue for today is from Zenescope: Grimm Fairy Tales presents Wonderland Free Comic Book Day 2015. It’s the thinnest of the giveaways I received, just 16 pages and that includes covers. The issue has a sexy cover of the kind Zenescope is known for and a helpful “The Story So Far” stuff on the inside front cover.
“A Mother Knows Best” is a complete 12-page story by writer Erica J. Heflin with art by Tony Brescini. It’s a well-done little tale, but it’s not a grabber. I wouldn’t seek out issues or collections of Wonderland after reading it. Your mileage may vary.
That’s all for today. I’ll be back soon with more stuff.
© 2015 Tony Isabella
Monday, June 8, 2015
TONY'S TIPS #111
This week in TONY'S TIPS at Tales of Wonder...In an alternate universe, a possibly deranged man has taken over DC Comics for eight weeks!
Friday, June 5, 2015
GIRL POWER
I’m writing and posting this mini-bloggy within minutes of getting back home after going to the Medina Library to return four graphic novels which I had read and enjoyed. It wasn’t until I got to the library that it hit me:
All four of those graphic novels had young female protagonists and two of those were written and drawn by women:
Smile by Raina Telgemeier
Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson
Lies in the Dust A Tale of Remorse From the Salem Witch Trials by Jakob Crane and Timothy Decker
Courtney Crumrin: The Final Spell By Ted Naifeh
Four graphic novels. All with young female protagonists.
This is the last time I will be surprised by this.
By the way, from my own Vast Accumulation of Stuff, I just read and loved Bandette Volume Two: Stealers, Keepers! [Dark Horse; $14.99] by Paul Tobin and Colleen Coover.
I’ll be back soon with more stuff.
All four of those graphic novels had young female protagonists and two of those were written and drawn by women:
Smile by Raina Telgemeier
Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson
Lies in the Dust A Tale of Remorse From the Salem Witch Trials by Jakob Crane and Timothy Decker
Courtney Crumrin: The Final Spell By Ted Naifeh
Four graphic novels. All with young female protagonists.
This is the last time I will be surprised by this.
By the way, from my own Vast Accumulation of Stuff, I just read and loved Bandette Volume Two: Stealers, Keepers! [Dark Horse; $14.99] by Paul Tobin and Colleen Coover.
I’ll be back soon with more stuff.
© 2015 Tony Isabella
Monday, June 1, 2015
TONY'S TIPS #110
This week in TONY'S TIPS at Tales of Wonder...What if Tony Isabella ran DC Comics for two months? The adventure begins here!