| April 20, 2007 04:04 - Time for Free Comic Book Day Again!
Well, I guess it is about time to get another blog entry posted here. Been pretty busy this month with other things. Taxes were a big looming chore this month. Damn, I had to pay a sizable amount this year, so I waited until the last minute. But they are done now!
It is getting to be time for the annual free comic book day again. Here is an article I ran across talking about it:
"Free Comic Book Day Hits Saturday, May 5th
Wednesday, 18 April 2007
May 5th, the day after Sony's Spiderman 3 hits theaters, thousands of comic book retailers across North America and around the world will share the magic of comics with their customers when they distribute millions of comic books free of charge during the sixth consecutive Free Comic Book Day.
"With up to 44 available titles and special appearances by the cast of the Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer at select comic book stores, we expect this event to be the most successful since its induction," says Elissa Lynch, spokesperson for Free Comic Book Day.
"We are thrilled to be a part of Free Comic Book Day for the sixth year in a row," says Marvel President and Publisher Dan Buckley. "This is the best opportunity retailers have to actually increase readers and customers to their stores and each year has been more successful that the last. We are especially proud of our selection this year as we had so many talented people determined to make this the best FCBD book ever by offering the Amazing Spiderman. This event is about celebrating creative expression and the unique art form it represents."
Comic industry heavyweights Dark Horse Comics, DC Comics, Image Comics, and Marvel Comics are among the many publishers and manufacturers creating special titles for this year's Free Comic Book Day. The free books appeal to a broad range of reader tastes, from exciting super-hero adventures for all ages to cutting-edge graphic fiction for older, more mature readers.
This year's Free Comic Book Day is particularly special because it coincides with two major comic-related happenings: the eagerly awaited opening weekend of Sony Pictures' Spider-Man 3 (which opens on Friday, May 4) and National Cartoonists Day (a celebration sponsored by the National Cartoonists Society, the world's largest and most prestigious organization of professional cartoonists). All three events promise to make this first weekend in May a memorable one for comic-lovers everywhere! "
And to give credit for the article, here is where I found it at Sohood Magazine.
Might be that with the release of Spider-man 3 on the 4th of May, there may be some rather interesting activity on the 5th of May. Could be worth checking out. To find out more and to find a comic book store near you, check out free comic book day! Toodles (sic).
Dave
April 23, 2007 13:44 - What Are your Top Favorite Superhero Movies?
Hollywood continues to pump out comic book hero movies these days. And I sure don't have a problem with that. I personally, enjoy much of what Hollywood is pushing on us. And the special effects these days, seem to rise to the occasion. But what is your top ten list? Here is what Aaron over at about.com thinks:
"Top 10 Top Ten Comic Book Movies
From Aaron Albert,
Your Guide to Comic Books.
Stay up to date!
Comic book movies have come a long way in popular culture. They were once held mostly to Television series and specials in the likes of Spider-Man, Captain America, Batman, and others. The early comic book movies were cheesy and low budget affairs like Corman's Fantastic Four, The Phantom, and the first Punisher with Dolf Lundgren.
Now, comic book movies are huge business. Marvel comics has raised almost a billion dollars to produce their own films, and Superman and Batman have seen huge resurgences on the silver screen. These movies are now worldwide phenomena's and lets see what the best comic book films are.
1) Spider-Man
Spider-Man was the movie that rocketed the superhero genre to become cemented as a mainstay in our culture. It broke records, made hundreds of millions, and made superstars out of Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst. Spider-Man is the top super hero movie in regards to popularity, money made, and impact on the future of comic book movies.
2) X-Men
If Spider-Man is King of the Mountain, then X-Men helped get it there. The X-Men was one of the first "big budget" super hero movies in recent years, and it didn't disappoint. X-Men was widely successful and spawned a sequel with a third movie in the works. This movie had a large list of A-list actors including Halle Berry, Ian McKellen and the fan favorite to play Professor Xavier - Patrick Stewart. The success of the film helped pave the way for other films to become what they are today."
And to see the final eight, cruise on over to Top Ten Comic Book Movies!
Well, does Aaron's list fit your expectations? I would probably do a few changes, but I also have several of his picks on DVD, as I build my collection. Let me know your top ten favorites. Thanks.
Dave
April 25, 2007 11:55 - Here is One for the Books, Comic Books That Is!
Looks like comic book lore is coming closer to reality every day! Kryptonite has been discovered, for real. Check this story out:
"Be Careful Of The Kryptonite, Superman!
(CBS4) LONDON Kryptonite is a glowing-green crystal feared by Superman, draining him of all his powers, according to the comic books written on the subject.
But now, Superman, must be extra careful, because the crystal that can render him powerless, has been found.
It's a mineral discovered in a European mine in Serbia, in which an English scientist said matches almost what's described in the film "Superman Returns".
The newly discovered mineral is not green, it's white, says Dr Chris Stanley, a mineralogist at London's Natural History Museum. He told the BBC of London that it doesn't glow, and when it reacts to ultraviolet light, it will turn a pinkish-orange, and it doesn't really take away from anyone's power.
But what shocked Dr. Stanley when he researched the mineral's chemical makeup was that it was similar to what was referenced in literature, even though that was comic books and movies.
He said that the mineral's chemical formula, sodium lithium boron silicate hydroxide, was the same scientific name written on a "case of rock containing kryptonite stolen by Lex Luther from a museum in the film Superman Returns".
Learning that the chemical composition of the material was an exact match to an invented one from comic books and movies "was the coincidence of a lifetime," he added.
But in all, the newly discovered mineral cannot be called kryptonite, which is a real element in the Periodic Table that takes the form of a gas, and because it has nothing to do with the element krypton.
Instead, it will be named Jadarite. Jadar is the name of the place where the Serbian mine is located, where the mineral was found.
sr
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)"
Just think, if you stick with the world of comic books long enough, maybe real Superheroes will emerge also. Hope hope!
Dave
April 27, 2007 05:54 - A Local Comic Book Artist!
Well, while tripping through the comic book news to see what Looked interesting, I ran across an artist that is local to me. Here is a story from the Salt Lake City, Utah Tribune. I happen to live in Ogden, UT 45 minutes away:
"Comic-book artist pencils his way to industry stardom
By Brooke Adams
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 04/26/2007 12:07:14 PM MDT
SOUTH JORDAN - As a boy, Bill Galvan devoured comic books, cartoons and mystery stories.
Archie and the gang were favorites. So was Scooby Doo. And Encyclopedia Brown.
Galvan even began doodling his own cartoon characters at age 7.
Of course, today that all looks like career planning.
Galvan is the creator of "The Scrapyard Detectives," a comic-book series aimed at teaching children the value of diversity. He also is about to make his debut with Archie Comics as the cover and main story artist for "Mission Improbable" in "Jughead & Friends" #22, out in July.
"It's like a lifelong dream," said Galvan, 37, of joining Archie Comics as its newest artist. Galvan seems to have vaulted to comic-book stardom with surprising ease.
The northern California native came to Utah in 1992 after marrying his wife, Jennifer, who is from the Beehive state. He enrolled at Southern Utah University, finishing a bachelor's degree in illustration in 1994.
While in college, he was the editorial cartoonist for SUU's newspaper and also created a comic strip featuring a superhero called "Thunderbird," playing off the school's mascot.
He worked first as a Web designer for a Salt Lake company and then joined Saffire, an American Fork firm that develops video games.
In 2000, he took a job in the advertising department at Ultradent Products Inc., a South Jordan dental products company founded by Dan Fischer. The entrepreneur and dentist invented a wildly successful teeth whitening product.
Galvan worked on brochures and 3-D animations - which seemed about as far away from comic books as he could get. Funny how life works out.
In 2003, Fischer refocused his nonprofit foundation, Smiles for Diversity, more directly on teaching children about the importance of diversity. In targeting children, Fischer hoped to encourage tolerance and acceptance of others and thus prevent attitudes that lead to hate crimes.
"He wanted to get this message to kids before they grow up and become set in their ways," Galvan said.
Galvan suggested a comic book as the perfect mechanism to reach children. The first edition of "The Scrapyard Detectives" appeared in June 2003; two more have followed.
The comic features a trio of youths - Jinn Lee, Raymond Garcia and Robert Reilly - who solve neighborhood mysteries with teamwork and ingenuity..." To finish the rest of the comic book artist story, click here!
Hope you enjoy the article.
Dave
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