Sunday, July 31, 2011

I Wrote Some Comics Recently.

     The last few months I've had three comics published and more are on the way.  One is a superhero comic entitled, "Mr. Dusk."  Another deals wirh the undead that I call, "The Vampire Gazette."  The last one is about a young woman who goes after criminals as a form of therapy that I call, "Sleekness." 

     I only bring this up because the weekend of August 6-7th, I'll be out in Madison, along with my friend and artist David Russell, to sign autographs on this trilogy of new releases.  I'll be blogging with places and times later in the week. 

     Hope you enjoyed your July and don't forget to adopt a comic today.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

More Stuff I Heard...

     Continuing some thoughts and speculations on the comic industry that I began on my last blog, I must tell you that I overheard some startling news (if it's true) from some comic shop owners talking among themselves last week.  It seems that Warner (the company that owns DC Comics) is giving DC two years time to bolster sales on their comic lines or they will retain film rights only to all of the hot characters (Batman, Superman ect) and dump the publishing arm.

     Is this possibly why DC is revamping all of its books and re-starting with all new #1's?  Is this why Warner may be paying for better visibilty on the book racks at Barnes and Nobles?  Can DC continue to thrive on its own if cut off from the cash machine that is currently its parent company?  This one may take a few years to unravel.

     PS: Some new Retro books came out from DC yesterday, books done in the style of the 1970's by pro writers and artists that were working on those books over three decades ago.  So far my favorites are Batman, JLA and Green Lantern.  All books include a 70's reprint that ties in with the new story.  Good stuff and interesting concept.  Next month comes the retro 80's and 90's books.

     Stay cool in this heat and adopt a comic today.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Don't Look Now, But Barnes and Nobles...

     Yes, has anyone checked out Barnes and Nobles next to Great Lakes Mall lately?  It seems they've altered their magazine racks radically.  Before, the entertainment mags, rock and roll periodicals and the history issues were on the rack facing the front door as you first walk in.  But now the comics have taken over that sweet spot and with a marked difference from their old spot.

     You see, the comics which used to have three or four slots worth of display space on the rack behind Rolling Stone and the likes, now fills a very wide space of three or four feet.  This makes for easier shopping, especially since they now carry more product than before.

     Could this have something to do with DC's relaunch in the fall or Marvel's recent purchase by Disney?  Could Warner (owner of DC) and Disney be throwing their weight around to remind the shopping public that all of these blockbuster movies of late are coming from somewhere?

     Or could it be something else?  Check my next blog for a news leak I overheard.  Don't forget to adopt a comic today!

Thursday, July 21, 2011

This Heat is Killing Me!

     How do super heroes beat the heat?  Sometimes it comes down to beating the guy who brings the heat.  Of course I'm talking about heat based villains, such as Flash's main rouge-Heat Wave or Batman's bad guy, Dr. Phosphorus, who generates radioactivity as well as heat.
   
     I'm guessing whatever methods the good guys use to come out on top in the end, they "break a sweat" in doing so.  But in closing I'd just like to state for the record, with the heat index around 105, where's a good villain like Captain Cold or Mr. Freeze when you need them?

     Stay cool and adopt a comic today.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Wounded Super Heroes

     No sooner do I start recovering from heart surgery than I'm rushed back to the ER with possible heart infection.  So I start to think, was there ever any wounded heroes in the comics?
    
     Batman's broken back comes to mind very quickly.  And if memory serves me the editors of Batman back in the 90's talked about a new real life drug that would help spinal cord injuries if administered quickly enough.  That news item actually pushed "The Breaking of the Bat" storyline forward.
     
     Green Arrow once got shot with one of his own arrows and believe me, the writers kept bringing up the twinges in the bowmans' arm for months.  Now that's reality.

     But wounded is also the way I feel when I can't sit down to write this blog because I'm always getting hauled off to the hospital.  So I've got to go now to get ready for tons of comic writing and blogging.  And don't forget, adopt a comic today.

Friday, July 8, 2011

Waiting for September

     After looking over all of the new books that DC Comics are either re-starting or creating, I must admit I'm a little anxious.  Most people I've talked to are either going to stick with their favorite characters or with their favorite writers and artists.  Well I'm no different but I am looking forward to seeing how DC revamps one of my favorites...Blackhawk.

     I do worry though, as DC declares that this is a great "jumping on point," I've talked to four long time collectors around the various area comic shops, and they're saying this might also be a perfect "jumping off" point.

     I guess time will tell.

Monday, July 4, 2011

Comics On the Fourth.

     It's the holiday that celebrates our independence and there has been more than one war fought to keep us that way.  Many along my family tree have served, been promoted and have even died in the cause.  But this is a comic blog so I'll tell you about some of my favorite war comics.

     Sgt. Rock from DC Comics tops Terry's (my brother) and my lists, both as kids and adults.  We also like Tomahawk who helped fight the Revolutionary War.  It's still hard to believe a comic about a hero with flintlocks and buckskins could run over twenty years.  Maybe it was the coonskin cap that sealed the deal. After all -  it worked for Fess Parker and Davey Crockett.

     We also enjoyed Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandoes from Marvel.  These were some of the best freedom fighters from comics that my brother and I enjoyed.  But he was no longer collecting in the mid 1970's when DC actually produced a comic entitled, "Freedom Fighters."

     But after the last week (for anyone who's read my most recent blog) I'm just glad that any fireworks I see today are in my war comic collection or in the sky and not in my chest.
    

Sunday, July 3, 2011

My Brother, Iron Man.

     If you have read the title of this particular blog no, I did not change my last name to Stark.  But Iron Man's secret identity, Tony Stark and I, do have something in common now which is why I haven't been able to blog much since my birthday a week and a half ago.

     To make a long story short I was rushed to the hospital where I was suppossed to have had some tests that had already been scheduled but wound up getting an emergency angioplasty.  Needless to say I'm a big fan of balloons now.  I had one artery that was 90% blocked, but not now.

     Just got home yesterday and I'm not allowed to do any lifting or much bending or stairs and such so it looks like I'll be doing lots of blogging.  Hope to hear from all of you comic fans and take care of yourselves.  And remember to adopt a comic today.

     PS: First thing I did when I got home from the hospital was read four issues of Daredevil.