This is Entry 197: FCBD 2011 & Comics at Toys R' Us

Tomorrow is Free Comic Book Day!



Comic Book Stores (and some Libraries) around the U.S. & the world are handing out comic books for free tomorrow, May the 7th. Also, at a number of stores I know of there they will be having sales & special events at the stores. So, tomorrow stop on by & get yourself a come free comic books! A few posts down the Blog, I went over a few of the Comic books that are being offered Tomorrow, to take a look at the post either scroll down the Blog or click Here!

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When I was coming back from this year's Emerald City ComiCon (Photos are forth coming) I stopped on by my local Toys R' Us & saw this:


Yup! It's Comic Books! Now I didn't have this when I was the target market for the Store. But that would have been Awesome! Yes, the selection isn't all that great but that's besides the point.


That's all I have for today. I'll be back a day or tow with what I got on FCBD & maybe a few different things. Great things are planned & forth coming!

- Brian

T-Minus 3

This is Entry 190: FCBD 2011 Preview

In less then 2 months is the 10 anniversary for Free Comic Book Day! The annual event where comic book stores across & the around the world give out comic books for.. you guessed it: FREE!



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I was looking at their website & the comics that will be given out. So, I've made a partial list of the comics that I would like to pick up. Not every store has gives out every comic:


Green Lantern/Flashpoint by Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis & Andy Kubert.
According to the website: This is the perfect jumping-on point for new readers who can't wait to see the Green Lantern major motion picture from Warner Bros.! Discover how and why Hal received the power ring that changed his life forever with this reprinting of Green Lantern #30, a pivotal chapter of the Green Lantern: Secret Origin graphic novel by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis. Plus: No comic fan can afford to miss this exclusive first sneak peek of Flashpoint, DC's blockbuster event of 2011, by the all-star team of Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert!

So, half of it is a reprint but the Flashpoint part is what I'm excited about.


Super Dinosaur Origin Special #1 by Robert Kirkman & Jason Howard.
According to the Website: Super Dinosaur is finally here! In this standalone origin special you will learn everything there is to know about Derek Dynamo's best friend, Super Dinosaur! Where did he come from? How did he avoid extinction? What is Inner-Earth? And what the heck is DynOre and why is it so dangerous? All this and more will be revealed - and all for FREE!

Now I hadn't heard of Super Dinosaur before but how can you pass up a Comic Book about a Dinosaur with rocket launchers attached to it!


Captain America/Thor: The Mighty Fighting Avengers! by Roger Langridge & Chris Samnee.
According to the website: From the fan-favorite creative team of Thor: The Mighty Avenger comes a time-twisting tale of Camelot-craziness. When mischievous Loki's machinations throw Thor and a World War II-era Steve Rogers into King Arthur's court, it's an adventure neither noble Avenger will ever forget!

This is one of the two comics Marvel is putting out for the event (the other is a Spider-Man comic) but this one intrigues me more.


Civil War Adventure by Chuck Dixon & Gary Kwapisz.
According to the website: Two-fisted, historically accurate stories of the war that divided America! Bloody Bill Anderson's rein of terror in Missouri traps a reluctant soldier in the battle of his life in 'I Rode With The Devil!' Blood-stained axes, moonshine, murder, and revenge in the South Carolina swamps leads to a gunrunner's worst fear in 'Gator Bait!' Check out the 'Battle Field Amputation' fact page!

This comic comes from a company I had never heard of (History Graphics Press) & it seems (to me) like an odd choice for FCBD but it dose seem like it could be an interesting read.


Deadliest Sharks/Prehistoric Predators by Joe Brusha & Anthony Spay.
According to the Website: Sharks, Dinosaurs and Dangerous Animals! This FCBD edition from Zenescope's Silver Dragon Books' imprint has got them all. This book previews Discovery Channel's and Animal Planet's first ever line of Graphic Novels and is based on some of their most popular programming including Shark Week. A book for animal fans of all ages to enjoy.

Much like the Civil War book it seem like an odd choice but could be an interesting read. If the discovery channel wanted to do more comics based off their shows I'd be open to seeing a Mythbuster comic. :)


Inspector Gadget by Dale Mettam & Jose Coba.
According to the Website: Inspector Gadget, Penny and Brain are back... but so is M.A.D.! On what should be a peaceful vacation aboard the Orient Express, Gadget must locate Professor Sagan-Heisenberg and escort him safely back to Metro City. But with M.A.D. agents everywhere, perhaps this time, Dr. Claw will finally beat his nemesis. Go-Go-Gadget-Adventure!

This comic (from Viper Comics) seems to riding the recent wave of Comics based off of Cartoons from my childhood. I have fond memories of the show & am willing to check out the book.


The Mis-Adventures of Adam West #1 by Reed Lackey, Russell Dauterman & Matt Bellisle.
According to the Website: The Man, The Myth, The Amulet? Legendary star of the small and silver screen, ADAM WEST, has his career youth-enized in this hip-whimsical,trans-dimensional epic of an adventure. When a mysterious fan delivers an exotic amulet to Mr. West's doorstep he is Dorothy-fied on an odyssey that will change his career, his love life and inadvertently make him the man that saves the universe!

Bluewater Productions is known for producing comics based off of real people. But I'm not quite sure what to make of it. It could either be really super cool & awesome or extremely stupid. I hope the comic is earlier!


The Tick by various people.
According to the website: In honor of this year's FREE COMIC BOOK DAY, NEC Press offers fans-both old and new-an all-new full-color full-lenght 32-page comic book! Featuring a new 7-page introductory story by the awesome creative team of the popular ongoing Tick Series, Benito Cereno and Les McClaine! Plus we offer original full-color preview material from this year's blockbuster project, The Tick's Giant Circus Maximus, the all-new and updated official "encyclopedia" of The Tick Universe! Use this FCBD Tick both to introduce new fans to the phenomenon know as The Tick, as well as to introduce Tick fans to the upcoming Giant Circus Maximus project!

I have a soft spot for The Tick. I remember watching the cartoon as a kid & reading some of the comics.

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As I said these aren't the only comics that will be given out, you can see the website for the rest. These were the just the ones that interested me the most. Also on the site you can find out what comic book stores in your area will be participating in the event.

Until next time: Stay Jazzy everybody!

- Brian

T MINUS 10

This is Entry 140: FCBD 2010 part 2

I guess this could have been an amendment of Entry 139 but I'm making it's own post.

I was at my local comic book store today picking up my books for the week (all 3 of them, it was slow week) while I was there I was asked if I had picked up Issue 0 of The War of the Supermen, one of the books from Free Comic Book Day. Now why was I asked this?

It wasn't because they have extra copies & wanted to unload them on customers. It was because I had Issue 1 on my pull list & they wanted to make sure I had the issue before I read Issue 1. Now this was really nice & cool. But they wasn't all I was asked if I had. I was also asked if I had gotten a Bag on Saturday. I wasn't sure what that meant (bag of what?) & said "no" so I got this cool Free Comic Book Day bag for FREE. I wasn't the only person there that got the bag. So I'm not sure if I got it because I had a pull list with them & am a regular customer (am at that store at least once a week. Some weeks I'm there twice) or if they just had extra bags & were giving them out to whom every wanted them.

But that they did both of these things are among the reasons why I keep coming back. I know of at least a dozen or so comic books stores that are close to me & I could go to any one of them for the same comics. A few of them are closer to my home then this store but there are a few things that I like about this store, no pun intended, that I go the extra distance to go there.

Just thought I'd share this.

Until next time: Stay Jazzy!

- Brian

This is Entry 139: FCBD 2010

Yesterday was Free Comic Book Day & as always it was awesome, even thought I had to go to work. But I set it up so that I could go in later then normal so that I might partake in the geekiness of the event. I started off the day at the store I go to each FCBD, it's a few cities away from me but definitely worth the drive. Why? Out of the 32 books offered for FCBD not every store gets them all & most stores only let get a small number of the books. The store I go to lets you get one of each & they get like the whole line of books. This means I get 30 some odd comic books for free!

The store I go to is in a strip mall & there was 2 lines outside 2 different stores: 1 in front of the Comic Book store & another line in front of a Scrapbooking store that was going out of business. Can you guess which store had the longer line? If you guess the Scrapbooking store: you are correct! :)

As I awaiting entry with about 15 to 20 other people I noticed a sign that would through off my entire morning. My original plan was to get comics there & then maybe see a few other stores before I had to head home & get ready for work. I planned to do also this & be home by Noon or at least 12:30. The sign in question said there was a sale. One I could not pass up! In a back room, their was back issues & every single one was on sale for a quarter! Not matter what the book, how old or new it was, you could get it for a quarter.

After getting inside, I went through the the line to get my free comics & headed into the back room to start my search. I picked up about 40 books & I didn't go through all the bins. I went through most of them but I had things to do. Also while there I got 2 other Comic Book Boxes, my collection is expanding & need more storage. This is of course because of that day's haul but also due to the other books I've been picking up.

With my 70 some odd books, 2 boxes & free War Machine heroclix, I made my way to another line: The check out line!

Once done with that, I left my first store around Noon & maybe my way to one other store. I had planned to maybe visit 3 store in total that day. If I had the whole day I might have visited more. But 1 main store with 2 store overs seemed good enough.

I made to my other store stop over, they had less of a selection of books & a 3 books per person limit. I picked up some some books for a my nephews & headed home. Was there in just enough time to change for work & get there almost on time. Was late clocking in by a minute.

I'll be back with another post telling of the books I got. Until then: Stay Jazzy!

- Brian

This is Entry 137: Emerald City, FCBD & Scott Pilgrim

So, It's been a month & I have yet to post anything. I think I should post something, so here it is.

Those of you awaiting my review of Emerald City Comicon 2010: you''l be waiting a long time since there isn't going to be one. I will say It was super cool & awesome. Also, that I'll be back next year. I will have a decession to make: which day to attend: Friday or Saturday? The show is expanding to 3 days & don't attend the the Con on Sunday (I got Church to go too!) so do I continue to attend on Saturday or attend on Friday? A third option is attend booth day? I''l think about it.

In some what related news: Free Comic Book Day 2010 is only 16 days away. For more info check out their website: FCBD

A minor update on the my video project: It'll happen. sometime. Getting everything set up. I'll probablty have it up & running by Summer. Maybe late Spring. More on that as it happens.

In other news: If you you haven't seen the trailer for Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World I suggest you do.

SP vs. W

Now I haven't read the comics the movie is based off of but the Trailer is pretty super cool & awesome.

Until next time: Stay Jazzy!

- Brian

This Is Entry 133: Update!

So.....

What's coming up here on this here Blog?

Well, Videos. If I get off my butt & start a doing stuff. There should be at least 2 (maybe 3) new videos in the next 2 weeks. I won't say much about them, don't want to spoil the surprise. Ok, I'll spoil one: I'll be making a video that is in a similar vein as Entry 73.

There is a Big Event coming up: Emerald City ComiCon is happening on March 13th & 14th. I will attending this function & I will be bringing my Video Camera with me to film stuff while I'm there. This will the first major outing with my camera. So, this event will most likely give me footage for a hand full of videos. I could just do one really long video but I doubt anyone would sit through the whole thing. I doubt I've even sit through that.

So, March should be a big month for Video here on the Living for Wednesday Blog.

On a sidenote: It's almost here!



Until next time: Stay Jazzy!

-Brian

This is Entry 91: Comic Books!

It's just a little over an hour later since the last post, just a day under five months since my last Comic Book review posting & exactly 30 entries between them. :)

The task at hand:

The last of my Comic Book Backlog.

Back in Entry 83 I review all my back issues & this posting is all the *new* books I've boughten. I added asterisks around the word new since I number of these books are a few months old. :)

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But first up the comics I got on Free Comic Book Day (May 2nd): I got 22 books. Of those worth mentioning:
- Mercy Sparks from DDP: some nice art & a kind of interesting story.
- Eastman and Laird's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by Mirage Publishing: this is a reprint of the first appearance of the Turtles. 2009 marks the 25th anniversary of the Turtles which means I only predate the group by one year.
- Wolverine: Origin of an X-Man by Marvel Comics: pointless comic that was only made to cash in on the movie.
- Atomic Robo by Red 5 Comics: funny comic & some nice art.
- Sonic: Evolution of a Hero by Archie Comics: The comic series is mark it's 200th issue soon. I have a few old issues of the series & reading those this book found that Sonic's story has become really convoluted over the years. Never played the game the comic is inspired by.
- The Avengers by Marvel Comic: The Dark & New Avengers meet up & do stuff. The book was kind of pointless. Yeah, it was kind of cool to see the 2 teams together but nothing really came of it.
- Green Lantern: Blackest Night #0 by DC Comics: this is the only truly cool book of the bunch. It's the first part of the GL summer event & in the back you get some cool info pages on all the Lantern Corps.

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Next up is Marvel....

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The Marvel Comics I've bougthen from the last week in January to 3rd week in May:

- Captain Britain and MI13 #10-13: Dracula (yes, that one) is attempting to instate a Vampire state & it's up to Capt. B. & his crew to stop him. By #13 it looks like that might happen but I don't know what #14 will bring us.
- Guardians of the Galaxy #10-13: This book is tying into the War of Kings mini-series which I'm not reading so some of of what is happening is lost on me but it's still a fun book.
- Fantastic Four #563-566: The Thing is getting Married, we had a Christmas Story & Doom's master showed at the end of #566. Should be an interesting next issue given the last page.
- Dark Reign: Fantastic Four # 1-3 as to not interrupt Millar & Hitchs' run on FF but so that the team does tie into the main event in the Marvel Universe we have this book & it's pretty cool. It's written up & comer Jonathan Hickman (I didn't want to say young up & comer since I'm not sure of Hickman's age).
- Fantastic Force #1: a book spinning out of the most recent story arc from the Millar/Hitch run on FF. Wasn't impressed by the first or second issue (looked at 2 in the store). I think the art is meant to look like Hitchs' art & only kind of succeeds.
- Captain America #46-50: 46-49 deal with Cap teaming up with Namor to saving Jim Hammond's Body & Cap having to deal with his past. In 50, It's Cap birthday & he reflects on this past birthdays & his life in general. In the back are some cool stories, too. Next issue the book switches it's numbering; it won't be 51 but 600.
- Captain America Comics #1: This book ties into the fact that Marvel is now 70 so they are doing a number of books that harken back to their original comic book line up. The art by Marcos Martin is awesome!
- Avengers: The Initiative #21-23: They are dealing with the fall out from Secret Invasion & the reformation under Norman Osborn. Still don't like the art by Humberto Ramos, just don't think it fits with the book.
_ Avengers: The Initiative One-Shot: The book was kind of pointless. Sure, it tied up a few loose ends from the now cancelled Heroes for Hire book but that was pretty much the only good thing. Cloud 9 still needs a better costume.
- Dark Avengers #2-4: wasn't sure I'd like the book but. #1 didn't sell me on it, 2 didn't either but 3 did it & 4 was pretty good. I look forward to seeing where relationship between Norman Osborn & Sentry goes.
- The Mighty Avengers #22-24: good ol' classic Avengers action!
- New Avengers: The Reunion #1: the book hinges on you know about the relationship of Hawkeye & Mockingbird from the days of the West Coast Avengers which I don't really so I wasn't exactly sold on the book. Haven't look at any of the further issues. But the art by David Lopez (there is a hyphen over the o but I'm sure how to type that letter with my computer) is nice.
- Dark Reign: Young Avengers: is awesome & really look forward to seeing where it goes.
- Lockjaw and the Pet Avengers: ditto.
- Agents of Atlas #1-5: a nice series that gives a different perspective of the whole Dark Reign thing. It's a good book with good writing by Jeff Parker & the use of 2 art styles is interesting but I just kind of like the mini-series better.
- Secret Warriors #1-4: Awesome! Cool cover design, nicely written by Jonathan Hickman with some nice art. At the end of issue there are 12 pages of text which are as equally awesome!
- The Invincible Iron Man #10-13: how Tony is dealing with the fall-out from Secret Invasion is awesome.
- Dark Reign: The Cabal: a one-shot with 5 stories all dealing with one member of group behind the Dark Reign. The Doom story ".. and I'll get the Land" (written by Hickman) is my fav of the book.
- The Amazing Spider-Man #589-591: 589 has Spidey fighting The Spot. 590 & 591 has Spidey teaming up with the Fantastic Four and deals with some of the repercussions the whole mind wipe thing. 2 words: Psychic Blindspot!
- Runaways #6-9: *sigh* I'm not sure why I still read the book. It's boarders on the edge of ok & not ok with me. what I've read about 10 it sounds good which I think might be a stand alone issue so I think I'll give them one more arc to decide if I'll drop the book.
- New Warriors #20: the last issue of a series that had promise but just never really went anywhere.
- Wolverine #71: part 6 of the "Old Man Logan" storyline. It's almost at it's end which said since it's been so awesome!
- New Exiles #18: It's over. :)I was wanting it to go somewhere & it never did.
- Exiles #1 & 2 : It begins again! And is good! It's makes me think of the original series which was awesome up to about the time of issue 90 when Clairmont came on the book to kill it.
- X-Men: Sword of the Braddocks: This book ties up the loose ends of Pyslocke's story from New Exiles & brings her back to the main Marvel Universe.
- The Age of the Sentry #5 & 6: the last 2 issues of the cool retro themed story.
- Hulk: Broken Worlds #1 & 2: 8 stories involving The Hulk in 3 alternate futures, 4 alternate timelines & 1 parrell universe. The cool stories are the one involving The Mircoverse, Future Imperfect, 1602 & the Days of Future Past.
- Marvel Assistant-Sized Spectacular #1 & 2: 6 Stories based off of ideas from 6 of Marvel's Assistant Editors. The stories involve D-Man, American Eagle, The Mini-Marvels, Luke Cage, Galacta (The Daughter of Galactus) & Elsa Bloodstone. Sidenote: I wouldn't mind see more art by Jacob Chabot.
- Marvel TV: Galactus The Real Story: a fun tabloid-like tv show set inside the Marvel Universe. I wouldn't mind see another "episode".
- Fin Fang Foom Return!: a book of reprints. I wanted new material!
- Marvel Apes: Speedball & Marvel Apes: The Amazing Spider-Monkey: 2 parts of the continuing story of the Marvel Apes saga.
- Human Torch Comics #1: part of the thing as the the Cap. A. comic I mentioned earlier. Not as cool art but still nice.
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz #3-6: some nice art by Skottie Young & I'm learning some stuff, too. Since my only knowledge about Oz is from the movie where this book takes it's basis from the book.

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Marvel is now over. On to DC!

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The DC Comics I've bougthen from the last week in January to 3rd week in May:

A Sidenote: I've found it kind of funny that all the DC books I've picked up in the last month or so have a Wolverine (a Marvel character) "Got Milk?" ad on the back. None of the Marvel books have this. :)

- The Superman Books, this still part of the "New Kyrpton" which becomes the "World Without Superman" storyline & each book in number to be read in a certain order:
12: Superman #684
13: Action Comic #874
14: Supergirl #38
15: Superman #685
16: Superman: World of New Krypton #1
17: Action Comics #875
18: Supergirl #39
19: Superman #686
20: Superman: World of New Krypton #2
21: Action Comics #876
22: Supergirl #40
23: Superman #687
24: Superman: World of New Krypton #3
25: Action Comics #877
26: Supergirl #41

I have a mild case of super burn out. It's a lot of books (4 with a 5th be added soon) & I'm not sure I can keep up. I want to know how it ends. On S:WoNW it said the series is 15 issues long so if I assume that is how long it is until Superman is back on earth we have 1 year until that happens.Not sure I can keep it up until then. *sigh*

- Batman #686 & Detective Comics #853: the 2 part "Whatever happened to the Caped Crusader?" story which I'm not sure how this fits in with Batman's death in Batman: R.I.P. & the one in Final Crisis but still an interesting story & with some nice.

Speaking of Batman....

- Battle for the Cowl: the 3 part mini-series with various tie-in books. Let's talk about them:
- Battle for the Cowl: Gotham Gazette: Batman Dead?: the one-shot that kicks all off but then it's not a one-shot, it's issue 1 of 2.Issue 2 is shortly to be out since the whole thing is wrapping up shortly.
- Battle for the Cowl: Azrael: Death;s Dark Knight: this is a 3 issue series that I wasn't really feel so I didn't pick up the rest. I also didn't pick up the Manbat because I didn't really care about the character.
- Battle for the Cowl: Oracle: The Cure: this follows up threads from the recently cancelled "Birds of Prey" book & the till going on "Teen Titans" book. Barbara's story continues on in the new "Batgirl" book that is soon to be launched. 1 nitpick: the covers. Guillem March's art makes Barbara Gordon look to busty. She's not Power Girl gosh sakes! :) The interior art is good (by Julian Lopez & Fernando Pasarin). Yes, this didn't have much to do with the main BftC story but still a good story.
- Battle for the Cowl: Commissioner Gordon: a somewhat pointless tie-in with a "well, no duh!" ending.
- Battle for the Cowl: Arkham Asylum: one of the better one-shots of the set. I want to know more about the character introduced here.
- Battle for the Cowl: The Underground: it shows how the Villains are acting in a Batman less Gotham. This book also sets up the soon to be launched "Gotham City Sirens" book.
Battle for the Cowl: The Network: which shows us there are a lot of heroes that roam the streets of Gotham (at least 15). This shows how they work (or don't work) together.
Battle for the Cowl: the main series. It was ok: ok writing & ok to good art. But I don't think anyone didn't see the ending coming a mile away. The series was just a means to set up the new status quo.

- Batman/Superman #60: part 1 (or 2) of the "Mashup" story line where Batman & Superman meet up the Justice Titans who's members include Star Canary, Aquaborg, Hawkbeast, Terrando, The Flash, Donna Wonder & Night Lantern! A fun story & looking forward to seeing part 2 when we get to see some of the Villains of this world (in this issue we meet Doomstroke & Lex Joker)!

- Justice Society of America #23-26: The team fought Black Adam & his family. Issue 26 was a nice down time/ farewell issue (a new writer & artist team are coming on the book soon).
- Power Girl #1: a fun first issue with some nice art. Looking forward to future issues.
- Booster Gold #17-20: still a fun book.
- Brave and The Bold #23: Booster Gold goes up against Magog & the way the issue ended it looks like this might continue on in Booster's own series sometime in the future (no pun intended, maybe just a little).
- Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #3 & 4: the book has been chronically late, I was kind of surprised that 2 issues came out some quickly. But the book is still really cool: good writing & good art!
- Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance #1: Now I haven't read Final Crisis yet but the characters in this book (Super Young Team) did interest me from the promo stuff I looked at. Also, the book is really good. I await the further issues with glee!
- The Flash: Rebirth #1&2: an interesting story & wonder where it's going.
- Tangent: Superman's Reign: the last issue of the 12 issue series where the character of the regular DC Universe interact with the characters of the Tangent Comic universe. Still prefer the old Tangent Comics more.
- DC Super Friends: Super Pets unite!

One Graphic Novel: I've bought since I review the others: Starman: Sins of the Father which collects Issue 0-5 of the early 90's, post Zero Hour series & it's really cool. I'd pick up the rest of the series.

Now for book under other imprints but are DC books:
- From America's Best Comics: Top 10: season 2 #4 & Special #1: I didn't like the special, but the series is fine. Like the older stuff better.
- From Wildstorm: Mysterious The Unfathomable #1-4: an interesting series.
- From Vertigo: The Unwritten #1: one of the better, more interesting, more original comics I've read in awhile.

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Marvel & DC are over. On to the other stuff!
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All the other comics I've bougthen from the last week in January to 3rd week in May:

Dark Horse Comics
- The Umbrella Academy #3-6: cool series with probably the best cover design scheme of any comic I know of.
- Buff the Vampire Slayer: Season 8 #24: I'm sucker for any issue with Faith in it.

IDW
- Doctor Who: The Whispering Gallery: a cool story involving the Doctor & Martha.
- Doctor Who Classics: Series 2 #4-6: cool old Doctor Who comics.
- Star Trek Alien Spotlight: Tribbles: a really cool story about Tribbles.

Image
- Madman Atomic Comics #3: I'm not sure how to explain this comic but if your a lover of comic art you should have this book in your collection.

3 Finger Prints
- The 3 Geeks: Slab Madness #2 & 3: One of the best nerdy series out there.

Boom Studios
-The Muppet Show Comic Book #1: it's just like the show which is good.

Archie Comics
- Jughead's Time Police #5: an odd comic from the early 90's that has Jughead as a member of a time traveling police force.

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Well, that everything!

In case your wondering: this post took from 11:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. to write.

Until next time: Stay Jazzy!

- Brian

This is Entry 32: FCBD 2008!

It was a most glorious day that I was engaged in for most of the day. It's started around 11 a.m. & I wasn't done with it until 9 p.m. (I was done getting stuff by 2:30 p.m. & spent the rest of the time reading). I got 29 comics for free! Most of them were from the smaller companies.

Books I enjoyed:
- Bongo Comics Free-For-All (they made their book smaller this year, not sure why).
- Ape Entertainment's Cartoona Plaooza (The Go-Go Gorilla & the Jungle Crew was the best of the stories, Monstroids the second). Ape Entertainment are the same people who put out the super cool mini series Bizarre New World, I recommend picking it up.
-Red 5 Comics' Atomic Robo, it's about this robot secret agent that was made by Nikola Tesla. The story has shades of The Amazing Screw-On Head & some shades of Hellboy, both from Mike Mignola. I may try to find some of the Atomic Robo comics or wait for the the trade paperback. It comes out in June.
- Speaking of Hellboy, Dark Horse put on a book of him. The funniest part is on the inside cover, Bill Morrison (known for his work on all things Simpson related) drew the cast of Futurama as the cast of Hellboy. I really like Dr. Zoidberg as Lobster Johnson & Leela as Liz Sherman.
- Rude Dude Comics put out a book hyping the coming of The Moth, a retro themed book. It harkens back to an age long past: the late 1960's. The art reminded me of Darwyn Cookes' art, who is known for his retro takes of the DCU.
- Marvel put out 2 new books: Marvel Adventures: Iron Man & Hulk & Spider-Man and an X-Men book. The MA:IM&H&S-M book was co-written by Jeff Parker. Frequent readers of the blog should know that I enjoy the work of Mister Parker. The Trio fight The Mandarin! The X-Book was an ok read, I don't read a lot of the main X-Titles so I disn't really know what was going on. It kind of reminded me of a few episodes of Doctor Who: They have to defeat a giant monster that lives underground. I will say this about the art: Greg Land know how to draw one heck of a Emma Frost!
- Each year Gemstone Publishing puts out a different Disney book & this year Gyro Gearloose got the the spotlight shown on him. Now I don't have a lot exposure to the pantheon of the Disney characters beyond a few comics & some of the late 90's cartoons but I have a soft spot for Gyro.
- Archie Comics put out 2 books one about "Archie's Pal" Jughead (in the back was a cool quick over view of the company) & a reprinting the first issue of Sonic the Hedgehog from 1993. This comic took me back, I wasn't into video games growing up but I did read some of the comics based off of them (Nintendo also put out a series of comics in the early 90's), Sonic was one of those, I still have those comics.
- Renaissance Press put out another Amelia Rules! book, It's a cute book about a girl named... Amelia & her group of friends & family.

There were more, this is only about half. But I don't have all that much to say about the rest.

Now I went to 3 stories & spent varying degrees of time at each. The one I spent the most at was one with a sale I wanted to check out. The sale was they were selling comics by the pound. There was a flat rate: 7 dollars buys you 1 pound. But the cool part was you got to choose what was in your pound & how many you wanted. The rummage sale, as one employee called it, was in the basement: 1 concrete room, boxes & boxes of comics to go through. It was Awesome!

I bought 3 pounds, could have bought more but I had spent an hour looking around plus there was ECCC the next so I didn't want to burn myself out. So out of the 3 pounds that I have stuff to sat about:

DC Books:
- Speed Force #1, a Compilation book of different heroes connected to that force. I'll tell you now ever so often I but the random Flash related book. I'll probably do that next week, too.
- The 1st issues of Superboy The Comic Book! Well, no duh! But this is comic relates to the TV show. Yeah, I didn't know there was one either.
- Mr. Mxyzptlk #1 from the New Year's Evil five week event from 10 years ago. Mxy's has to save the 5th dimension from a 10th dimension being. He goes looking through various DC books looking for help, the book definitely breaks the fourth wall!
- I picked up 2 issues of the short lived Chronos series, from what I've read: it was a cool read. I like time travel stuff. This book is about the second Chronos, not the first one who was a foe the Atom.

Marvel Books:
- Marvel Riot #1, a humor book in the vein of Not Brand Ecch!. This issue makes fun of the Age of Apocalypse mini-series. There was a somewhat funny if not drawn out to long joke about X-Man's name (I'm X-Man, you mean I'm a Woman? No, your not an Ex-man but X-Man!)
- Daredevil 2099, nowthis book isn't connected to the 2099 books of the mid 90's but a part of a 5th week event from 2004 where the books from the Marvel Knights imprint are set in the future. It's an interesting book & the twist at the end is an good one.
- I picked up 2 issues based off of The Avengers: United They Stand cartoon from '99. I didn't think that cartoon was all that bad. Sure so of the costumes were a little bad. But I will say this about their toy line: They produced a top notc Ultron figure! I'm happy to display it with the rest of my figures.
-I picked 5 of the books from the 2000 mini-series Heroes Reborn. Wait a minute, you may be telling yourself: HR happened before that & was multiple books! Yes, but I'm talking about the event that revisited that world after all the heroes had gone home. The world was post-Apocalyptical & I enjoy stories set into worlds. I will have to re-get one of the issues because the issue I got had a few of the pages ripped out. :(

Other Companies
- I got most of the books from the Alan Moore mini-series 1963, which was done in the style of Marvel Comic from the early 60's. They even came fake ads! I'm only missing 2 books! Well, 2 books plus the one they never made. :)

Also I bought a cool Justice League: The New Frontier T-Shirt.

That is all.

Next post we'll return to our normal review format of stuff I buy weekly. Then is the review for the Emerald City ComiCon or the Iron Man (not sure if I see it this week).

So come back for those & as always: Stay Jazzy!

-Brian

This is Entry 25: FCBD

In one months' time, lo there shall come a holiday!
A most glorious holiday that all good little geek boys & girls wait for all year!
It's a most glorious Saturday where one can go into their local participating ye olde Comic Book shoppe.
Once there ye can pick up many a printed page for no cents on the dollar!
Yes, for nothing excluding the the cost of getting thy hence!
But a word of warning to ye: get thy there early for a line doth form & ye may miss out on some cool printed pages!
This Holiday shall happen on one day every year: The first Saturday of every May & shall be called by one name:



The Event's official website: http://www.freecomicbookday.com