| May 5, 2007 09:11 - News on a Couple of my Fellow Comic Book Site Builders!
Well, well. I had a contact this week from a new comic book website that Gary is building. He wants to keep everyone in the come book genre well informed on industry news. Quite frankly, his site looks pretty good for just getting started. And it is building daily. You may even see some of my articles there. It is well worth checking out and even bookmarking. Run on over to Comic News and leave some comments for Gary.
Dave Macy, or Mace as he likes to be called, my bud over at Comic Collector Live, gave me some news to pass on to every one:
NEWS! Comic Collector Live has partnered with IRONMAN Illustrator (MARVEL astist) Brian Denham, who will be doing all original art in Comic Collector Live's ads-soon to be in DC and other publications. Check the website soon for Brian's Artwork and where he'll be appearing to do Comic Convention signings. Thanks for checking us out...
Dave Macy- Comic Collector Live
Dave and his partner have been working on their site for several months now. Among other things, they have their own version of cataloging software you can download for free. They also have script set up to let everyone post their items for sale and their wanted items (for a small fee). I have seen little ads all over the place for their site lately. They are also collecting quite a membership following. It is well worth checking out Comic Collector Live.
One last note, hope those of you that went to see it yesterday, really enjoyed Spider-man 3. Can't wait to see it myself. Later.
Dave
May 10, 2007 06:35 - Spider-man is Alive and Well!!
Looks like Spider-man 3 took the country's movie theaters by storm. I have seen mixed reviews, but the dollars sure seemed to dictate. There were massive amounts of greenbacks brought in last weekend. Here is what Aaron over at about.com had to say about Spidey:
"Spider-Man 3 Comic Book Movie Review
From Aaron Albert,
Your Guide to Comic Books.
Stay up to date!
From The Official Press Release:
"In Spider-Man™ 3, based on the legendary Marvel Comics series, Peter Parker has finally managed to strike a balance between his devotion to M.J. and his duties as a superhero. But there is a storm brewing on the horizon. When his Spider-Man suit suddenly changes, turning jet-black and enhancing his powers, it transforms Peter as well. Under the influence of the suit, Peter becomes prideful and overconfident and he begins to neglect the ones he cares about the most. As two of the most-feared villains yet, Sandman and Venom, gather unparalleled power and a thirst for retribution, Peter's greatest battle is the one within himself. Spider-Man will need to rediscover the compassion that makes him who he is: a hero."
The Story:
In this latest story of the Spider-Man movie franchises, Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man, couldn't be having a better time in his life. He is adored by the denizens of New York City, he's the top of his class in school, and he is about to propose to the girl of his dreams. He's flying high, but it all comes crashing down all too soon.
His best friend, Harry Osborn, seeks revenge for the death of his father, the original Green Goblin, and his girlfriend, Mary Jane, calls things off before Peter can pop the question. All of this comes down as he discovers that the man responsible for his Uncle Ben's death is still at large in the form of Flint Marko, the villain known as the Sandman. All of this would be bad enough, but when a symbiotic creature covers Peter, becoming his black suit and increases his rage, greed, and lust for revenge, this all becomes a situation that puts Peter's entire future in jeopardy.
When Peter discovers just how much the symbiont has truly changed him, he makes a desperate attempt to remove the costume once and for all. The creature flees, only to find a new host in Eddie Brock, whom Peter disgraced and humiliated moments before. The two form a bond of hatred for a common enemy, Peter Parker and Spider-Man. This new villain, known as Venom teams up with Sandman to take out Spider-Man once and for all and Peter's only hope is to form an alliance with the most unlikely of people, his sworn enemy Harry Osborn.
Review:
Overall, I felt Spider-Man 3 was a solid film for a comic book fan. If you enjoy the Spider-Man comics, cartoons, movies, and history, then you will surely like this movie. There is a lot going on for comic book fans, with the cool looking villains, intense action scenes, and seeing the dark Peter Parker was enjoyable all in its own..." And to finish the Spider-man 3 review, follow the un-bouncing link!
I have yet to see the movie. But regardless of the critics, I imagine I will enjoy it. I have grown accustom to this character. Talk soon.
Dave
May 15, 2007 15:20 - The big Why Behind Hollywood and Comic Book Superheroes!
In my opinion, comic book movies are here to stay. In one form or another, comic book heroes have been in the media for decades. It has only been in the last ten years or so though, that superheroes have become such block busters that many a pocket is getting lined with green. Why are these movies so hugely successful? Here is an article I found that brings up some very interesting points:
"Not just for kids: an analysis of the Hollywood Cape Machine
May 14, 2007
By Victor Fuste
Comic book fans like myself have a bittersweet relationship with Hollywood these days. On one hand, nothing is more exhilarating than watching the polychromatic heroes leap out of the pages of our childhoods onto the silver screen. On the other hand, that very nostalgia makes even the most miniscule of changes to each property's respective mythos tantamount to blasphemy. (Case in point, the collective brick shat by the internet fanboys when Sony announced that Spider-man was to have organic web-shooters.) There is nothing worse than seeing Hollywood mangle your most beloved of superheroes. But despite the fickle nature of fans, Hollywood continues to produce comic book- based films. In light of the recent overwhelming box-office success of critically panned films like "Ghost Rider" and "Spider-Man 3," perhaps an investigation as to why comic book movies are so popular with Hollywood is in order.
If the banality of the Hollywood product in recent years is any indication, things in Tinseltown run on equal parts formula and predictability. You see it in the preponderance of sequels that choke up the multiplexes during the summer months - "Pirates of the Caribbean 3," "Rush Hour 3," and "Harry Potter 5" are only the most recent of examples. Ever since the entertainment industry discovered that the superhero was a profitable blockbuster vehicle with "Superman: The Movie" over thirty years ago, tights have been the name of the game. However, it has only been in the last ten years or so that these superhero movies - particularly with heroes from the Marvel universe - have become super lucrative franchises, spawning merchandising and licensing opportunities galore.
The main reason? The stories. Comics as we know them arguably get their start with Superman's first appearance in Action Comics #1 in 1938, and Hollywood is still using his origin story over seventy years later. Characters like Batman, Spider-man and the X-men have nearly a half century's worth of stories ripe for exploitation. All any of the major studios need to do to cash in on the trend is to buy the creative license to the character and to hire a screenwriter (probably David Goyer) to translate it for the screen. This summer's "Fantastic Four: The Rise of the Silver Surfer" is based on a story by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby done way back in 1966. If Hollywood is still doing stories from the 60s, we'll be seeing many more comic based movies in the years to come. Why? Comics are movie-ready stories. They are full of the necessary ingredients for a successful movie - action, romance and memorable characters. There is such a ready pool of material, it is a veritable goldmine..." And do finish Comic Book Movies here! It is well worth it.
Do you agree with Victor's reasoning? Is this why you like comic book superhero movies? Do you find yourself as part of the crowd defined by Victor? I will admit that I am amongst some of this niche, BUT not all. Let me know how you feel. Later.
Dave
May 19, 2007 14:34 - Comic Books Come One Step Closer to Mainstream!
Hmmm, do you think Shakespeare would create comic books? For years, comic book readers and enjoyers have been considered a fringe element (hey I am an element!). As time goes on, and comic books go through one evolution or another, they have come closer and closer to mainstream enjoyment. Here is an article, which describes yet one more accomplishment for the comic book genre:
"Novelists, eager to try new mediums, turn to comic books
NEW YORK (AP) - Author Jonathan Lethem was a big fan of the comic 'Omega the Unknown' when he was a boy growing up in Brooklyn, and he was pretty depressed when the superhero vanished from corner store shelves.
Never fear. He'll see Omega in print again soon, because Marvel Entertainment is reviving the comic after 30 years - with Lethem writing the story.
'I was very devoted as a teenager to comic books,' said Lethem, who recently finished a tour for his new novel, 'You Don't Love Me Yet.'
'I drifted to other kinds of reading, but I never lost interest in the medium.'
Lethem joins a growing list of novelists such as Stephen King and Michael Chabon, who have shifted to work on comic books as the medium gains critical and academic respect and becomes more mainstream.
Marvel contacted Lethem after his book 'Fortress of Solitude,' which had some comic-book reverence, and asked if he was interested in doing work in the medium, said Marvel publisher Dan Buckley.
'We wanted to see what he was interested in, and he brought it up immediately,' Buckley said. 'Bringing this kind of talent to the room is fantastic. He knows how to tell a story, and his perspective is different from traditional comic writers.'
Omega's not your average swashbuckling superhero. He's mute, for starters, and has a sort of psychic connection with a 12-year-old boy named James-Michael Starling, who moved to New York City with his family from 'the mountains' to improve socialization skills after years of home-schooling. Trouble ensues, of course, and he meets Omega, the last surviving member of an unnamed alien race.
'It was an interesting challenge,' Lethem said. 'One of the things I concluded very quickly was that it's not a written form. My primary task was to provide amazing things for artists to draw.'
The first six issues are in the can, and the series will have a total of 10, like the original, which debuted in 1976. No official release date has been given..." Click here to finish writers turn to comic books!
It seems to me that comic books and their cousins, graphic novels are again becoming a publishing force to be reckoned with. This is good as the industry took a real punch in the stomach a few years ago. Long live rock and roll, err, I mean comic books.
Dave
May 24, 2007 06:32 - MJ Parker and Comic Book Sex!
Well, good old Aaron at about.com has come up with some interesting ramblings. I will let you see what he has to say about the new Mary Jane Parker statue now available:
"Sex In Comics
Thoughts About Comics is a new column for the comic book section of About.com. It is a collection of my musings and ramblings about the comic book world, industry, it's creators, future, and whatever else I want to add to this list. This article comments about the controversy surrounding the Mary Jane statue from Sideshow Collectibles.
There has recently been a flurry of outrage over a certain statue of Mary Jane Watson Parker from the Spider-Man comic books put out by Sideshow Collectibles. The statue is being called a "cheesecake statue" referring to the Bettie Page styled pinups of the 50's where you have a beautiful woman in a sexually suggestive situation doing household tasks, such as making a cheesecake, hence the name….you get the idea.
Apparently, there are many feminist websites such as When Fangirls Attack! that have railed against the statue in a very strong voice, as well as those whose ideas don't line up with theirs.
Other sites, such as the Eisner award winning website Journalista by Dirk Deppey, have taken a fairly different approach, basically saying that comic books are made by men for men and if women want to change the face of comic books, "make the f-ing comics," as women have when it comes to manga, making a huge niche that continues to rise on the book charts.
A little bit about my background first. I'm a white, middle class male who had a fairly traditional upbringing. I've collected comics since I was a little kid, I'm straight, loved 300, and can imagine I'm exactly the kind of target audience that Sideshow Collectibles has in mind for this statue. The problem for me is, I found the thing incredibly distasteful..." You can finish Spider-man Sex here!
Personally the statue doesn't do much for me. How about you? I still more so enjoy Kirsten Dunst as the love life of Peter Parker and Spider-man. But that is just me!
Dave
May 28, 2007 06:31 - How is this for a Comic Book Success Story?
I had an email acquaintance send me this story. It is more on a serious note, but is a great story. It will be worth your while to read it:
"Diabetic Teen and Brother Create Comics
By ANDALE GROSS
AP
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) - The evil Dr. Diabetes leaps from a hospital window, crashing through the glass, determined to infect anyone in his path with the chronic, debilitating disease from which he takes his name. The imposing, green, wild-haired monster scowls, punches the air and taunts, "I will make sure that everyone on the planet feels my pain. The whole world will have diabetes."
In real life, 13-year-old Kamaal Washington - one of the creators of the Dr. Diabetes comic book character - faces his own battle with diabetes. The teen says the adventures that he and his 11-year-old brother, Malcolm, capture in their comic books are meant to spread awareness about the disease and empower those who have it.
"You control the disease," says Kamaal, "don't let it control you."
The comic books tell the stories of children who learn they have diabetes and find themselves visited by Dr. Diabetes. But his wicked intentions are foiled by the heroes of the comics, Omega Boy and later, Mighty Boy. The books are sold online but will be available soon at Walgreen and CVS shops in the Kansas City area and comic book shops nationally..." Head on over to Teen Comic Book Creators and finish the rest of the story!
Well, if I would have been this passionate about a cause and comic books at their age, I guess I would have it made these days (ha ha). At any rate you can see what can be accomplished with creating your own comic book series if you really want to. In the next several weeks I will also make you privy to some software that will help you create your own comics. Until later.
Dave
May 31, 2007 12:35 - Who's Up for the Next Fantastic Four Movie Release?
Although the last Fantastic Four movie didn't fair real well with the critics, I still enjoyed it. I even have it in my DVD collection. It is now getting close to the second movie's release. I believe it is June 15th. Correct me if I am wrong. Anyway, for those who need a review, here is an update on Mr. Fantastic's profile. I thank Aaron over at about.com for the description:
"Mr. Fantastic Profile
From Aaron Albert,
Your Guide to Comic Books.
Stay up to date!
Real Name:
Reed Richards
Location:
New York City
First Appearance:
Fantastic Four #1 (1961)
Created By:
Jack Kirby and Stan Lee
Powers:
Mr. Fantastic's nickname, "Stretch," sums up the nature of his powers quite nicely. Reed Richards is able to stretch and mold his body in many fantastic ways. Enabling him to stretch to paper thinness or blow up like a balloon.
He is akin to the water elemental, being able to form and flow his body to many different shapes. He can squeeze his body through the tinniest of openings, stretch his appendages out to restrain opponents, or flatten out and act like a parachute. He generally chooses to form his body into more basic shapes such as balls, mallets, or springs. He either seems unable to or unwilling to form more complex variations. Although one could imagine that a man of such intellect has surely tried to make his body take more complex and unusual shapes.
While in his stretchy state, his body is nearly impervious, being able to bounce bullets back at adversaries and withstand physical attacks that would render other beings unconscious or dead.
Another thing to note about Reed Richards is his mind. He has one of the most keen human intellects in the world, being proficient in almost every field of science. His mechanical engineering is unparalleled as he has devised and created countless amazing machines and patents. He is often called in by other superheroes and teams that encounter things that while greatly perplex them, merely challenge Richards until he comes up with a solution..." And cruise on over to Mr. Fantastic at about.comfor the rest of the story!
Well, I for one can't wait to see how Hollywood handled the second Fantastic Four movie. I'll bet I will like it regardless of what the critics may say. Later.
Dave
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