tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42671745063231634802024-02-10T13:49:47.457-08:00Comics: Don't Get Me StartedChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759822640123654690noreply@blogger.comBlogger503125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267174506323163480.post-39440376558676928112023-11-23T20:11:00.000-08:002023-11-23T20:11:12.138-08:00Thanksgiving and Comics Hello everyone, hope all is well. I was in a big Thanksgiving day setting today and did not know how many peopleI would know...so I brought a book...a Man From U.N.C.L.E. comic book. But luckily, I did not need the distraction as I got to chat with friendly people all night.
So I guess my advice to you is... be friendly to everyone, but always bring a comic book with you in case you are alone!
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you and remember to adopt a (any kind really) comic book today!
PS: I will be signing my new book, "I've Scene It All." at the Great lakes mall in Mentor, Ohio on November 25th from noon to 4pm in front of the Comics and Friends comic shop this Saturday! Come and top by and talk comics awhile. Thanks. See you then!Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759822640123654690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267174506323163480.post-64695739135444305222023-06-14T19:36:00.000-07:002023-06-14T19:36:02.500-07:00"Jazzy" Johnny Romita (sr.) PassesHello everyone, hope all is well. Another long-time Marvel artist, John Romita passed away late last night at the age of 93.
As both artist and art director and special projects go-to guy, Johnny must haved worked for Marvel for at least 50 years, I swear! He followed Steve Ditko on Spiderman and thank God, he had been drawing love comics for DC for at least 5 years before coming to Marvel, for I cannot fathom ANYONE else veing the 1st to draw (finally) the full-face shot of Mary Jane Parker, telling Peter Parker... "Let;s face it tiger, you just hit the jackpot!"
Romita also co-created Wolverine and inked the "Death of Gwen Stacy" issue of Spidey's own book. He is certainly a legend in the world of comics.
PS: Last week it was reported that Barry Windsor-Smith suffered a stroke. He is now at home resting. The seriousness of his condition has not been revealed. He was known for illustrating Conan the Barbarian for Marvel Comics in the 70s. Keep your fingers crossed and your heart open for this legend as well.
Take care and remember to adopt a (Spiderman or Conan) comic book today!Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759822640123654690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267174506323163480.post-39521400773277413112023-05-14T08:46:00.002-07:002023-05-14T08:46:27.659-07:00Batman #900 and some signingsHello everyone, hope all is well. Well, it finally happened. Batman #900 has just come out (which means I now own Batman #1-900, yes, it's true) but I think you will have to read it to believe it for yourself. I think the oddity is, that some of the best stories for Batman lately, has been when he's in the Multi-verse. Why can't writers tell good stories on OUR Earth? Check it out for yourselves and see what you think.
Also, my Lake County, Ohio mini-tour of comic shops in Lake County continues.
This wednesday, May 17th from 4-6, I will be at Comic Heaven in Willoughby, appearing with my new sci-fi, comic book adventure prose novel...The Power Brigade!
Next Saturday, May 20th, I'll be appearing at Geek's Gambit from Noon-4pm in Mentor on the Lake. Same new book, same fun conversation if you show up!
After that, June 3rd, at Vallar Comics in Wickliffe, I'll be there from Noon-3pm. Again, show up and let's talk comics, pop culture and just about anything you want to talk about!
Looking forward to seeing you and watching the fun unfurl.
Take care and remember to adopt a (any type you would like) comic book today!Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759822640123654690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267174506323163480.post-17631932751126843052023-03-30T16:29:00.002-07:002023-03-30T16:29:46.296-07:00Look at Old Stuff Hello everyone, hope all is well. Just a few weeks ago a facimile comic book was issued to highlight yet another retro-BIG important book. It seems that Batman #357 from the 80s, with just a few shown panels is now expensive since it is the 1st appearance of Jason Todd AND Killer Croc!
I guess the secondary market knows no bounds in trying to make money off of a dead back issue with one nice panel!
Well, take caare and remember to adopt a comic (one that may be discovered as rare in the future) today! Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759822640123654690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267174506323163480.post-34081153943794418852022-12-31T14:58:00.006-08:002022-12-31T14:58:45.386-08:00That New Time of Year! Hello everyone, hope all is well. Well, it is just about Jan 1st, yes, the New Year. But before I continue talking about that, did anyone take my advice and pick up certain trade paperbacks for X-Mas presents to one's self? I know I did and I am currently reading a whole mess of 1980s and 90s Thor comics from Marvel.
Now, back to the subject at hand...time. Yes, I know there is the greatest time bad guy of all...no, I won't say it, let's just go with Kang, the conquerer. I also like Chronos who fought The Atom over at DC Comics. But my favorite is Rip Hunter...Time Master! The guy went back and forth in time meeting famous people as well as fighting wizards and real people from history (like Hitler) and the future.
So take another cue from me and sit around and kill some time, this holiday and read some comics. Happy New Year!
Take care and remember to adopt a (time-traveling) comic book today!
Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759822640123654690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267174506323163480.post-5158851244758006382022-12-22T16:58:00.004-08:002022-12-22T16:58:51.207-08:00Last Tips For X-MasHello everyone, hope all is well. Now with jusr a day or two until X-Mas, I'm not going to hand out the tip of buying comic book trade paperbacks for giving that as presents. No, rather I am going to advise you to pick up ANY trade that collects anything written by Tom Defalco, especially his run on Thor, with artist, Ron Frenz or his run on Fantastic Four with Paul Ryan. This is the 3rd longest continual time spent on FF since Lee/Kirby did 102 straight issues and John Byrne did over 60, Tom and Paul were right behind Byrne with about 57 issues in a row. So get out there and treat yourselves to some great reading or good presents to buy someone else, either way, you win. Happy X-mas!
Take care and remember to adopt a (Tom Defalco) comic book today!Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759822640123654690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267174506323163480.post-2750744164381563232022-11-25T18:51:00.005-08:002022-11-25T18:51:58.807-08:00I'm Back, Alive and Talking Comics!Hello everyone, hope all is well!
Yep, months of Covid, heart problems, diabetes problems and after-effects from a serious car crash, and I'm talking comics again! Since we talked last, the comic book greats have been falling like flys. Neal Adams and George Perez passed within a week of each other back in June. Then came Tim Sale and most recently...Ken Conroy, the voice of Animated Batman! In the weeks to come, I will tell you about my one meeting with the voice of the Bat!
Also a post happy thanksgiving to all. I wound up slightly ill after my meal and had to go straight to bed with hardly a nod to this weeks comics. Did I say hardly?
HARDLY!
I still dove into my Epic collection of Iron Fist. filled with mainly John Byrne art. Yea, go John!
Well, enough for now, I promise I wwill get back to a regular schedule on my "Comics: Don't Get Me Started" blog
Take care and remember to adopt a (any kind) comic book today!Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759822640123654690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267174506323163480.post-38852713198538480672022-05-06T16:50:00.005-07:002022-05-06T16:50:35.526-07:00Free Comic Book Day! Hello everyone, hope all is well. Tomorrow is Free Comic Book Day and I'll be appearing at Geek's Gambit comic store in Mentor-on-the-lake, Ohio from 11 am -2 pm on saturday May 7th, 2022.
Come talk to me about comics, see the new books I've written and talk Neal Adams (in his honor) and of course I'll be blogging about him next week. See you then,
Take care and remember to adopt a (free) comic book today (really tomorrow)! Bye
Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759822640123654690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267174506323163480.post-79657992395187878362022-04-30T19:07:00.002-07:002022-04-30T19:07:21.263-07:00Fan Expo Convention! Hello everyone, hope all is well! Today I stopped by the Huntington convention center in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. I got to meet a couple of great Batman artists, got to listen to Capt. Kirk give a talk (William Shatner). I also met some actors "Supernatural" and got to buy a lot of cool stuff.
There's one more day left, so go online and pick up a ticket from Fan Expo and have fun!
Take care and remember to adopt a comic (convention this time) book today!Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759822640123654690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267174506323163480.post-75360308109005913722022-04-30T19:01:00.001-07:002022-04-30T19:01:20.322-07:00Legendary Passing...Neal Adams Hello everyone, hope all is well. Yesterday, ironically, on national super hero day, comic artist supreme neal Adams passed away just weeks shy of his 81st birthday.
Neal was best known for creating his artistic art style that became known as "Photo-Realism." This style took comics away from any vestiges of cartoony images and brought comics into the 70s and a more realistic approach
He's also credited with dragging Batman away from the silly and campy television show of the 60s. Along with writer Denny O'Neil, Neal brought "relevance" into comics with his run on Green Lantern/Green Arrow. Deadman was another one of his signiture characters. More on him coming up soon!
Take care and remember to adopt a (Neal Adams) comic book today!
Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759822640123654690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267174506323163480.post-49584798768221623882022-03-25T16:29:00.001-07:002022-03-25T16:29:50.272-07:00That First Show!Hello everyone, hope all is well. After a few months of Covid I'm back in the saddle. And I am here to tell you that Saturday, March 26th, I will be over at the Great Lakes mall in Mentor, Ohio at the craft show. And of course my crafts are the books I'm showing off tomorrow.
So stop by and say hello and get great book deals on a lot of action based paperbacks! Yes, stop and talk comics or pop culture with me. I'll be there from 11am till 3pm.
And I'll have a lot of good news for those who stop by. If you can't make it, then stay tuned to this blog site and I will be relating the news to you over the electronic wire, so to speak.
Take care and adopt a comic (any kind, or one that you bought at a show) today!Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759822640123654690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267174506323163480.post-42988492937813899592022-01-13T17:05:00.004-08:002022-01-13T17:05:39.400-08:00Self Storage as Self Preservation Hello Everyone, hope all is well. It is a new year and beside spending all of your comic book gift cards, you should try to find boxes,bags and boards for your books. Problem is, nobody seems to have them. maybe the supply chain is at the heart of the problems.
So try and find SOME kind of box (that hopefully won't be eating up your bboks with the regular, acid oozing cardboard) that can keep your babies protected from sliding around your den. Meanwhile, I'll try to find some answers for myself by next time to pass on to you.
Take care and remember to adopt a comic book (and a box to keep it in) today!Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759822640123654690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267174506323163480.post-63501327120671904242021-10-27T17:15:00.002-07:002021-10-27T17:15:27.354-07:00Warning, Warning= Bad News About Comic Books to Come! Hello everyone, hope all is well. Today I was told that comic book prices are going up due to climate crisis, fires all over the place and backstock of just about all products (especially paper). It was also told to me (by a shadowy source) that DC and Marvel are cutting out variant covers and different versions of the same comics to save paper.
But DC, with its limited output has already got comics at close to 6 bucks a crack. What's next, bank loans for weekly comics? Maybe fans can send ten dollar bills directly to the major comic companies and have them print your comics directly on your tenspot for you. All I know is that this coming!
Take care and remember to adopt a comic (anyone under eight bucks) book today!Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759822640123654690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267174506323163480.post-64431536670208149042021-10-19T16:40:00.006-07:002021-10-19T16:40:59.469-07:00Superman Gay, and No American Way Hello everyone, hope all is well. Last week DC Comics anounced that Superman and Lois' son is bisexual. This is taking place in the comic- Superman, Son of Kal-el. It is a very good book and don't jump on board for the hype, but rather it is a very well done comic. And if some idiot writer has Lois stating in anguish, "Oh, where have we gone wrong with our son?" I reply, "Nowhere, he's just fine the way he is.
Part two- DC just yesterday anounced that they are taking the "And the American Way," out of the Man of Steel's motto. They say that this will broaden Superman's appeal around the world. Heck.
, he's already one of the top 5 most recognizable characters on the planet, so why quibble over a few words. Superman is great...period!
Take care and remember to adopt a (Superman) comic today!Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759822640123654690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267174506323163480.post-58886496388459923642021-09-17T17:33:00.001-07:002021-09-17T17:33:32.174-07:00It's Batman Day! Hello everyone, hope all is well. Tomorrow is Batman day across the pop culture world and I will be at Geek's Gambit Comic shop in Mentor-on-the-Lake from 11am till 3pm talking Batman showing off some of my Batman toys and items from when I was a lot younger and selling some of my Bystander Adventure series paperbacks which are all sci-fi, mystery and super hero themed.
These include my two Batman books, "My Batman (and maybe yours too)" as well as "Everything Batman." So stop on by and have a supero Batman chat, check out the relatively new store and have some fun!
Take care and adopt a (Batman) comic book today!Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759822640123654690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267174506323163480.post-51619392392925375312021-08-13T09:00:00.000-07:002021-08-13T09:00:09.429-07:00Finally...Free Comic Day...and a Benefit Hello everyone, hope all is well. Tomorrow, August 14th is Free Comic Day. I will be at Comics and Friends inside the Great Lakes Mall from 1100am to 1pm with my new adventure/mystery novel, "Candlepointe, Man from the Shadows." It is a Lake County based mystery. Purchase a copy and see if the story drives by familiar places to your life! Then check out some free comics.
Then I will be at Vallor Comics in Wickliffe from 2:30-4:30 and all Bystander book sales (the company that publishes my action novels) will have a portion go towards the Wicklife scholorship fund for students entering college next year. Stop by either place (Comics and Friends early) and pick up some new exciting books and talk comics and do the same in the afternoon at Vallor Comics and part of your purchase will help a student with those college bills.
Take care and remember to adopt a comic (a free one) today! (actually, tomorrow)
Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759822640123654690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267174506323163480.post-25583949042167876652021-06-17T17:38:00.002-07:002021-06-17T17:38:29.165-07:00It's In the Bag Hello everyone, hope all is well. Well I went to the comic shop recently to search for protective plastic comic book bags only to find that the store was out of the supplies. And guess what? All of the area stores were out due to some national shortage or so they tell me. This remminds me of the cardboard box shortage of the mid 90s. What's a collector to do?
Start hoarding plastic comic bags like it was toilet paper, circa spring of 2020. Like Robert Bell said about his company back in the 70s (it was the very 1st comic book bag company of its kind)
"If they're worth collecting, they're worth protecting!"
Take care and remember to adopt a comic (any kind that is wrapped in a plastic bag) book today!Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759822640123654690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267174506323163480.post-61304038198076387612021-04-10T18:49:00.000-07:002021-04-10T18:49:35.966-07:00A New Distribution War? Hello Everyone, hope all is well. Shades of over two decades ago, last year DC Comics pulled out of Diamond Distributing which shipped all of the published comics in this country. You had to go online to see the new DC's that were coming out and God only knows how you would order them. Plus they are pulling back on the ammount of books they are publishing.
Now Marvel too has pulled away from Diamond and are now getting distributed by Random House. Do they know what's in store for them? This leaves all the smaller guys to hang in there with Diamond.
Over 20 years ago, Marvel bought Heroes World, starting a similiar chain reaction with giants like Bud Plant and Capital falling by the wayside once everyone sided with Diamond (even Marvel eventually). So now does Diamond understand how Capital felt oh those many years ago?
Take care and remember to adopt a ccomic (any distributed one) book today!Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759822640123654690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267174506323163480.post-76161778912780965462021-03-23T18:38:00.002-07:002021-03-23T18:38:24.201-07:00An Empty Wednesday Hello everyone, hope all is well. Last week I went to a few of my favorite comic shops only to find that there were no comics published last week that I collect. I was frantic! I need a comic! I'm already praying for tomorrow to be a bountiful one for me.
So in desperation, I went through the back issue boxes looking for something...anything to read. The problem is, that I already have just about everything I want, so I came to the conclusion that I needed to collect comics that I passed over the first time around...pee pee comics. That would be comics that are cheap in price but an enjoyable read. So over the next few weeks I'll be extolling the virtues of some of these forgotton and affordable gems.
So take care and remember to adopt a comic (any affordable one) book today!
PS- Keep your fingers crossed for me tomorrow so that I might have something new to read!
Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759822640123654690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267174506323163480.post-3573704828459849082021-03-03T17:29:00.003-08:002021-03-03T17:29:45.091-08:00Bats and Games Hello everyone, hope all is well. It was recently announced that Batman and the game, "Fortnite" are teaming up for a joint effort resulting in a four part comic book mini-series. Of course this is nothing new since Atari Force games BECAME a comic series thirty years ago in a sort of marriage of the mediums.
Let's hope the mixing of the genres works well for both sides of the pop culture fence AND that DC will get back to making things easy for the old time fans and release a paper order form so we know what is coming out from month to month.
Take care and remember to adopt a comic (one that involves a game) book today!Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759822640123654690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267174506323163480.post-20774094282270003702021-02-25T18:30:00.002-08:002021-02-25T18:30:24.618-08:00Generations and Other Stuff Hello everyone, hope all is well. The second half of a two part DC Comics, "Generations Shattered and Forged" just hit the stands. It's a good "everything about the DCU" type series. Give it a try and I don't think you'll be let down.
And while we're on the subject, pick up ANY of the Marvel Action books or digest reprints. These are mainly for kids, but the good stories and art will remind you that we all have a little bit of kid laft in us. Marevel Chillers just finished a 4 parter from this engaging line this past week.
So take care and remember to adopt a (any one that's recent) new comic book today!Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759822640123654690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267174506323163480.post-12486409531206623322021-02-14T17:47:00.000-08:002021-02-14T17:47:17.769-08:00Valentines Day of Comics Hello everyone, hope all is well. I hope everyone had the chance to spend time with a loved one, even if it's just the memory of a loved one or at least a quick catch up on the phone with a good friend. I did all three. I spent time with Liz, looked at pictures of my late father (who taught me to read on comics) talked comics on the phone with a long time buddy of mine and wound up going out to buy a bunch of COMICS! Yay!
Well, this IS a comic book blog so you knew I had to fit the subject in there somewhere.
Take care and remember to adopt a comic (one with love stuff or heroic super action in it) book today!Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759822640123654690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267174506323163480.post-68886877783845919752021-02-09T16:31:00.002-08:002021-02-09T16:31:53.142-08:00Comics as Health Test? Hello everyone, hope all is well. Yes, according to the title of this blog, I am using comics to test my brain and vision after my car accident 11 weeks ago. Head still hurts and hard to see and you know you've been hurt bad when you are reading a Donald Duck comic book to test your vision and wind up putting a bookmark in your comic because you are too tired. Yikes!!
Take care and adopt a (anyone that you can read clearly after a severe concussion) comic book today!Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759822640123654690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267174506323163480.post-80744109500100983832021-01-28T19:41:00.003-08:002021-01-28T19:41:27.404-08:00Browns in Super Bowl? Hello everyone, hope all is well. No, the Cleveland Browns are not in the big game and that's because of the refs that blew the call on the helmet to helmet contact and after that I think they could have got past the Bills!
So what does this have to do with comics and a comic book blog?
Did you ever hear of the Marvel's "New Universe" "Kickers Inc?" Super hero football players!
Take care and adopt a comic (with sports in it) book today!Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759822640123654690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4267174506323163480.post-51772477436266959512021-01-17T10:35:00.000-08:002021-01-17T10:35:33.390-08:00Cussed at a Con Hello everyone, hope all is well. No, according to the title above, I really did not get sworn at while at a comic con, rather I got con...cussed, a significant concussion during the holidays due to a car accident. So what does that have to do with comics. Well, to begin with, this blog is my therapy to get back to writing (I am an author and columnist you know) a little bit at a time.
Also due to my vision problems, inability to see well, (and severe headaches) I need someone to get my comics (I cannot drive currently) for me every week. And once I do get them...I CAN'T READ THEM! A true crisis (with a nod to the old JLA comics, this crisis is on "Earth Chris) to muddle through.
Take care and remember to adopt a (anyone that you can see properly) comic book today!Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759822640123654690noreply@blogger.com0