GI Joe Number 155.5 - GI Joe Comic Book Index

GI Joe: A Real American Hero #155 ?
Writer: Larry Hama
Penciler: Augustin Padilla

Summary:

Cobra Commander wakes up from a dream of attacking the US Capitol Building. Zartan informs him that the Cobra-backed "Broken Star Army" has succedded in creating turmoil and unrest in the US by assualting several landmarks. With a master plan seemingly unfolding, Cobra Commander contacts the Jugglers and appears to be working in cahoots with them-- all part of a plan to get martial law declared, enabling Cobra to gain more power in the US.

Billy, Storm Shadow and the Baroness are recalled from a mission to Trucial Abysmia to steal WMD's. Billy is torqued off and is slapped into the Brainwave Scanner (now abbreviated as BWS). During so, Dr. Venom's face appears on the BWS monitor screen. Dr. Mindbender discovers that Venom had a Trojan Horse program planted in the thing; but what it will do is still unknown. Meanwhile, the Baroness begins to worry that she's due for another BWS session and questions Destro's loyalty.

Finally, Cobra Commander sends out a signal to all "sleepyheads" around the US, activating hundreds of Crimson Guard sleeper agents.

Notes:
The inside cover page is a letter from IDW publisher Andy Schmidt, explaining their decision to bring back the old Marvel continuity. They're picking right up where the old title ended. This basically wipes out the Devil's Due continuity...despite the fact that Hama wrote a rather awful 4-part "Mission that Never Was" in "GI Joe: Frontline". I'm okay with that, since the Devil's Due run was essentially fan fiction and a nostalgia kick. The guys involved were all big fans, so we can't fault them for their efforts. But for now, they appear to be the Ripper Owens to Larry Hama's Rob Halford. Larry Hama answers a few questions from IDW forum posters in a "letters page" of sorts. Of note (to me, at least), Hama mentions that Carl Barks and the Disney Ducks are a favorite of his. Also important that Hama notes the "Joe-verse" takes place in its own time/space vacuum. Which is a good way to avoid pesky things like "real world" aging or current events. Dr. Mindbender upgrades Cobra Commander's battle armor and gives him a new suit which resembles CC's old "battle helmet/faceplate" look. Think of the original action figure. Cobra still appears to be operating out of the Trans-Carpathia "Silent Castle". Baroness has a slightly modified new look. She wears a dark visor instead of glasses, and her jumpsuit is simplified (all of the ribbed lines and contours of her old leather cat-suit have vanished). Storm Shadow's back to a modified version of his original outfit, as well. It's basically his original suit with grey shoulderpads added. Billy is wearing a white Storm Shadow-ish get-up as well. Showing his old dental background, Dr. Mindbender also implants a BWS directive for Bily to floss his teeth everyday. In a neat touch, we see that Cobra Commander sleeps with a half-mask, covering the top of his head to just past the nose. Cobra Commander mentions the "new Springfields" across the US. Springfield was one of my favorite concepts from the original series, so I'm glad they're including that. Note that NO Joes appear. The Cobras mention that they're aware of the team being deactivated, however. Two "file cards" appear in the back of the book. One for Billy and the other for the Brainwave Scanner. Billy's mentions that "Fred III" gave Billy his prosthetic leg. However, it was Fred VII. No-Prize Explanation: typo! It's common knowledge now (in 2010), but for the record, this book was given away as part of "Free Comic Book Day" on May 1, 2010. Sure...I'll keep doing updates and adding to this GI Joe Comic Index project. I seem to get lazy when it comes to adding non-Joe content, so I should keep these updated in a timely manner. This article has been viewed 132 time(s).
Article Submitted On: June 04, 2010

How to Start Your Own Super Hero Comic Book Collection in 3 Easy Steps

The web has become the world's reference library. You'll find more information about almost anything here. Possibly you'd be considering how to choose the perfect super hero comic book collection. There are helpful tips and suggestions to choose from regarding how to start your own super hero comic book collection.

This informative article is all about showing you and teaching you just how to start your own super hero comic book collection. Maybe this article could help you reach whatever objectives you may have. If you wish to, read on and learn how to start your own collection in 3 simple steps...

Step one is deciding on what particular super hero you want to focus on. You really need to get this because you don't want to end up collecting those characters that you really didn't want. You must avoid collecting stuffs that in the end you will leave out and will end up in your pile of stuffs.

Do this task promptly, correctly and completely. This is really important. It will make you come up with good decisions.

Your second step is finding different real local stores or online shops where you can find back or latest issues. Things you need to avoid here are those stores or individuals that are selling fake copies. And you ought to stay away from scammers who are claiming that they have the genuine copy but they're not.

The third step is going to be finding the best storage to put your collection. This is important because those are made of paper and it's easy to catch dust, or even attract insects. What to avoid here is the wrinkling of the pages and easy deterioration of the item, since this is also an investment

Follow the exact steps outlined above and you should have minimum issues with how to start your own super hero comic book collection rapidly and well, and with so much ease. Simply do the things you should, for the reasons given and to avoid the difficulties and traps explained. Then take advantage of the fruits and outcomes of having your collection that you will earn because of your time and effort.

Underground Comix - Comics With Purpose

Do you remember how fond we were of comics in our childhood days? In those days we really used to yearn for comics but in today's tech-savvy world, with the advent of television and internet, comic books have lost their charm as avid readers have become a dying species. At one point underground comics were also very sought after, and may still have some collectors.

Underground comix are comic books that were self published in a small press and deal with socially relevant or satirical topics. They usually depict topics which are banned under normal publications by a regulatory body known as the Comics Code Authority. They deal with forbidden topics like drug use, explicit sex and violence and they were popular in United States and United Kingdom between 1968 to1975.

These comics were very popular among hippies and punks. Later they even gained popularity through films and television shows but they were always considered as alternative comics by the masses. Between 1920 and 1940 underground comix started including pornographic comic books which depicted popular comic strip characters who engaged in sleaze and perverted sexual activities. They appeared sporadically in the early sixties till 1967 and they were basically personalized works created solely for friends and also contained comic strips for publication in newspapers.

Underground comics became very popular between 1968 and 1975 and these titles were popular in head shops which sold drugs and narcotics which were banned by the society. These comics were used to popularize the drugs and the sleazes which were predominant in Western societies those days It was the lack of censorship which made them popular among the masses.

Underground comix are basically cartoon strips which were meant to titillate the audiences. Some believe that these comics were created by revolutionaries and miscreants in order to mould the minds of children so that they became a menace for the society.

Top Five Tips For Collecting Silver Age Comic Books (1955 - Early 1970s)

The Silver Age of Comic Books ran from 1955 to 1970. It was a time period when superhero books become popular. There are several tips and techniques to collecting this period. But to understand these tips, you first need to know about the history of this imaginative art form.

Comic books in the United States first started appearing in the early 1930s. These early comic books were just collection of newspaper strips. Then, in the late 1930s, comic books started creating their own characters - most notably Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. By World War 2 (1939-1945) there were hundreds and hundreds of superhero comics. (Most of them forgotten to today's audience ). This time period was considered the Golden Age.

Superhero comics disappeared after the war. The public was more interested in crime, romance, and horror. For a variety of reasons, however, Superhero comics came back in the late 1950s. In 1956, DC brought back an old character - the Flash - but reinvented him. He was no longer the same person (or the same looking character) as the Golden Age Flash.

Showcase #4 - the first appearance of the Silver Age Flash - spawned a new generation of superhero comics. DC reinvented most of their popular characters. Marvel followed suit. And other publishers did the same. The Silver Age of Comic Books had begun!

If you are interested in collecting comic books from the Silver Age, here are my top 5 tips.

Tip #1 - Make sure that you have the proper size bag and board to protect your investment. Not all bags and boards are created equal. Basically, comic books have been shrinking since the 1930s. Golden Age books are the widest; Modern books are the skinniest. And Silver Age Comic Books are right in between. So make sure you buy the right bags and boards or you'll ruin your comics. (They should be labeled "silver age" bags and boards).

Tip #2 - A quick way to determine whether a comic book is from the Silver Age is to look at the original cover price. If the price is 12 to 15 cents, it is probably from the silver age. Ten cent comic books were generally from the Golden Age (pre 1950s) and 25 cent comics were from the Bronze Age (1970s).

Tip #3 - Quality is extremely important! If you look at a price guide for a specific comic - you might see that the price ranges from $6.00 to $600.00. The spread is a result of condition. If the book looks pretty beat up - as if 10 or 20 people have already read it - then it is probably going to be worth the $6.00. (And you might be able to find it at a convention or store for $1.00 or $2.00). If instead, the book is mint - as if nobody has every touched it before or read it - then the comic might be worth the $600. Condition is one of the main drivers of value. (The other two drivers are scarcity and popularity).

Tip #4 - The best place to get silver age comic books is usually at a convention or through the internet. There are fewer and fewer stores that sell books from this time period. Most stores make their money on new stuff and don't want to take up floor space with older items. So if you want to find the best deals on the internet, use a search engine to search for "silver age comic books" and see what you can find. Or look for comic book conventions in your area to buy your comics.

Tip #5 - The most expensive Silver Age books are from DC and Marvel and tend to be superhero books. This is due to the fact that DC and Marvel have been publishing continually until the present day and have thus developed a large fan base for their characters (Batman, Superman, X-Men, Iron Man, Avengers, Hulk, Wonder Woman, etc). However, if you want to start your collection without paying an arm and a leg, you might try collecting other publishers besides Marvel and DC (Harvey, Dell, Gold Key, Charlton Comics) or try other genres besides superhero comics (Horror, Crime, Romance).

The Best Alternative Comic Book Series - 3 Reasons To Read Scalped

Golden Age Hawkman Remains Excellent DC Comics Character

Although he may not be as famous as Superman or Batman, Hawkman has been a major DC Comics superhero since the Golden Age of comics. Not only is he a great character visually, he sports an interesting origin, too. And while there have been more than one Hawkman, the Golden Age Hawkman is the best.

I am not going to spend hours explaining Hawkman's past. A great place to read about it is at Wikipedia. However, I need to sum up Hawkman a little. Hawkman first appeared in Flash Comics in 1940. He was Carter Hall and, later in the series, his fiancee Shiera became Hawkgirl. They flew using wings and a metal-called ninth metal in the Golden Age and Nth metal in the Silver Age-harness that defies gravity. This was all courtesy of ancient Egyptian secrets. They were reincarnated Egyptians.

In the 1960s, Hawkman and Hawkgirl were reintroduced as Katar Hol and Shayera Hol (Thal was her maiden name). They were alien police officers who came to Earth from the planet Thanagar. Although they have a different history, their costumes look almost exactly the same as the original hawks. There are twists and turns to the history of Hawkman and Hawkgirl, but, basically, these are the four main hawk characters.

Growing up in the 1980s, I was most familiar with the alien hawks. It was Katar and Shayera who were on the SuperFriends and featured in DC Comics at the time. Carter and Shiera Hall were still around in DC Comics, too, but not as prominently in the 1980s. In the 1990s, the entire Hawkman franchise was revamped, in a way, through the Hawkworld miniseries and the Hawkworld ongoing series. Although fans were split on some decisions made with the Hawkworld stories, I loved them. The Hawkworld ongoing series was excellent. Some issues featured all four hawks, which made for some great tales.

Hawkman was once again reintroduced in the early 2000s. Carter Hall was back as the main Hawkman and Kendra Saunders (grandniece of the first Hawkgirl) was Hawkgirl. But, it was not really Kendra. It was Shiera's soul in Kendra's body, using Kendra's memories. Thankfully, Shiera is back completely now, memories and all! She returned in DC Comic's Blackest Night No. 8 in early 2010.

Carter is my number one choice for Hawkman. The reincarnation angle of his character makes for some good stories. His adventures are a mix of Indiana Jones and Mummy movies with science fiction thrown in. Plus, he's the first Hawkman. He gets kudos for that!

Haters who say Hawkman is pointless because all he does is fly are missing the point. Sure, he flies. And while Superman can fly and do a hundred other things, Hawkman is unique. Hawkman is about adventures in ancient worlds, lost civilizations, and even on other planets. Also, unlike other heroes who fly, Hawkman embodies the idea of flight. His wings are a symbol of man's dream of flight. And they just look darn cool!

Another important aspect of Hawkman has also been the equality and partnership between Hawkman and Hawkgirl (sometimes called Hawkwoman). The first Hawkgirl, Shiera, appeared in Flash Comics (1940) No. 1 as an non-costumed supporting character in the Hawkman story. She becomes Hawkgirl later in the run. But, that is a subject for another article.

The Comics Collector and the Comics Fan

I began accumulating comic books at the age of eight and over the next few years I was prone to losing a few issues now and again. Still my stacks of comics grew and I kept the issues piled up in shelves and drawers, a couple of hundred issues or so - no backing boards or bags. Going into my teens and still very much into the hobby I began to be aware of the notion of comics as investment. That comic books were 'graded' according to their 'condition'; and that the better the condition the higher the 'resale' value. At this point, I started buying specialty boxes to store my comic books, then bagging them, with the acid-free backing boards coming in later. I even bought a few Mylar sleeves but the price was too prohibitive. I also changed the way I read my books, holding them just so, protecting the spine and the pages from the slightest crease or fold. What a mistake.

I wasted a lot of money on these paraphernalia. The meticulous care with which I would open and read a book took a bit off the fun of reading it. But my worst regret was scolding my brothers when I would see them 'mishandling' my precious comics - all this collecting lunacy made me into a bit of a jerk is what happened.

Today I still have my comics - going into the thousands now. But they are unbagged, un-boarded and stored for easy access when I want to read. Why? Because that's what they are for: To read. To enjoy. To share.

How about collecting? Not all comics are collectibles. Most comic books are NOT collectibles. I don't own any Golden Age comic books. I don't have any key Silver or Bronze Age books like Hulk No. 181 or Iron Fist No. 14. If I did, then yes, I would protect them, I would slab them properly and get them graded. But most of my comics are treasured by me for the beauty of the art, the power of the writing - because they are fantastic reads.

It takes money to be a collector. Investment grade comics cost substantial amounts of money. I would like to collect but this is something I will only undertake if I ever jump into another tax bracket. There's no use speculating and second guessing the market by considering the typical Modern Age book in the racks these days as a potential collectors item - it's simply too early to tell. The collectibles have been identified, are rather pricey, and most likely will continue to go up in price. We're talking Amazing Fantasy No. 15 here not Civl War no. 4.

So unless you can afford it, forget about being a collector and just enjoy your comics.

Zombie Tramp 2

The Tramp is back! The second issue of Zombie Tramp is even more violent and boob-filled than the first! Janey Belle wakes from fresh death, hungry and filled with anger and confusion. The opening panels of the comic show her staggering out of an alley way in her panties, dripping gore from her wounds and slightly rotten effluence. Two drunks stumble upon her, and quickly assess her 'assets' to be worth their attention. She quickly bites the face off the first and decapitates the second in a single movement. This first scene lays the foundation for the rest of the issue.

Janey meets up with a busty black woman, who I assume is the queen of the dead (this is gleaned from her apparent command of legions of zombies and a skull themed loin cloth). This black mistress of death decides to aid Janey in her quest for revenge. She also recognizes that Janey is very special, for she has retained her soul even in death. Together, they set their wicked sights on Madame George and her streetwalkers (Janey makes a costume change first, of course more revealing than the last).

When Janey Belle busts in (pun intended), Madame George and her hussie brigade pull nines and start blasting her. She loses an arm(and one of her pasties), but not her thirst for blood and revenge. Her black mentor teaches her that she can replace her arm by taking one from someone else, and so she does so (gruesomely I might add). The hussies are toast, and Madame George hurries his hairy behind into the back room for a knife he has stashed under his bed.

Janey Belle ignores the pleas of her former pimp and walks slowly across the room (dripping buckets of her victims blood). At the last minute, Madame George plunges the knife deeply into Janey's breast, but the blade is ineffective. Janey bites the top of Madame George's head off. AWESOME.

I totally loved this one as much as I loved the first (can you say GUILTY PLEASURE?). The story (as you can see) is crazy gory and the context is just hilarious. Once again I repeat: If you don't like comic nudity or panties or pasties, steer clear of this comic.

Runways Comic Novel - The Best in 3 Decades

Runaway is a comic novel created by Brian K. Vaughan and Adrian Alphona. The lead characters are six kids whose parents have been best of friends and have stayed in touch despite their distance and difference in lifestyle. Yearly, the kids see each other during their parents' reunion. Unlike their parents, the kids don't like each other. Sick of being thrown at each other, they decided to spy on their parents in the last gathering. This is when they discovered a sickening truth - their parents aren't as ordinary as they thought they were. Their parents are actually super villains set out to destroy the world.

This is being published by Marvel Comics and has been hailed as the best comic novel that came out of the Marvel publication in thirty years. I agree.

The six kids decided that they cannot allow their parents to succeed in their plan and set out an elaborate plan to fight their parents. The six kids are later on discover that they inherited the powers of their parents:
• Alex Wilder, a prodigy, is considered the leader and tactician
• Nico Minoru is a powerful witch
• Karolina Dean is an alien
• Gertrude Yorkes has a telepathic link to a dinosaur
• Chase Stein takes possession of his father's powerful gloves
• Molly Hayes has an incredible strength

The kids runaway from their parents as they try and figure out a way on how to stop them. The problem is while they are getting used to their powers, they are also under pressure to know exactly what their parents are into and how to stop them.

The good thing about the comic novel is that it didn't veer away from the natural behavior of kids. They didn't act out or think like adults. The solution they offered when faced with a problems and their reactions to the whole thing remained very young. It is really a successful fusion of a youth story with a superhero one.

Who Is Batman? The Mythology of the Dark Knight

In this article we are going to discuss a superhero that is known as batman. Batman is a fictional comic book superhero created by Bob Kane and Bill finger. Batman was first introduced to the world in 1939. Batman has several nicknames including the batman, the caped crusader, the world's best detective and The Dark Knight.

The origin story of the dark knight is that young Bruce Wayne's parents get murdered and he then seeks revenge on the criminal underworld. Bruce Wayne is the alter ego of the bat-man and has to live the life of a billionaire playboy at day and caped crusader at night.

Bruce Wayne has to first train himself physically and mentally before he becomes a superhero and although it's not known how long he trains for many people believe it to be around 15 years. In this time Bruce trains in multiple martial art disciplines.

When Bruce returns to Gotham city he sees that it's in ruins and decides to dress up as a bat to instill fear on those who prey on the fearful.

What makes batman so well liked in popular culture is that he is relate-able. Even though his parents were killed and he's a billionaire he still struggles with every day issues like you or I. Batman also has an impressive list of villains which include:

The Ridler
The Joker
Catwoman
Penguin
Two Face

Batman has many other super villains however in my opinion the ones listed above are the favourite among fans.

The caped crusader has had many outings on the big screen and has had many big Hollywood actors portraying him; actors such as Val Kilmer, Michael Keaton, George Clooney and more recently Christian Bale have all donned the suit to play the dark knight.

Summer 2010 Comic News

Iron Man 2 rakes in the bucks for Marvel Millionaire Tony Stark is back to help preserve world peace while trying to stave off government attempts to get their hands on his technology. The combination of Robert Downey, Jr. and Mickey Rourke as his enemy are driving Iron Man 2 to great financial heights for Marvel Studios.

40th Anniversary Comic-Con Comic book fans from around the world will converge on San Diego from July 22-25 for the 40th anniversary of the first convention in 1970. Special guests like Ray Bradbury, who attended the first convention, will be on hand. Jenette Kahn, who was editor-in-chief and president of DC Comics from 1976 to 1993 will be available, as will many of the writers and illustrators of your favorite comics of all types.

Wonder Woman gets new Duds After nearly 60 years in her patriotic swimsuit, Amazon superhero Wonder Woman gets a fresh new look that covers a little more of her aging body. In the 600th issue of Wonder Woman, she's outfitted in trendy leggings and long sleeves. Lest you think this will leave her frumpy, think again, as the overall affect is still designed to appeal to her legions of fans who love her sexy looks. This has created a hailstorm of controversy and buzz in the comic world. Some people love the new look, others hate it, with no seeming middle ground.

American Reaper In 2008, famed 2000AD creators decided to form a company that would make graphic novels, not comics, but using comic characters with the ultimate goal of bringing them to film. With lots of buzz since Sting's wife, Trudy Styler optioned American Reaper, the first of the series, for Xingu films long before it was published. In the interim, it's been eerily quiet. Just recently, their Repeat Offenders site appeared, and everyone who attends ComicCon in San Diego will receive excerpts, with rumors of much bigger news to follow.

There are a few other stories written, Dinosty and Wardog, and listed on their website. So it seems that the founders of Repeat Offenders, Paul Mills and Clint Langley, have been quietly toiling away for the past few years, with lots to share with the comic world.

Hawkman's History Makes Him a Fascinating Comic Book Character

Many people feel that Hawkman is a confusing comic book character and that hurts his appeal. I disagree. Hawkman's history is one thing I find appealing about the hero. Let's revisit Hawkman's history and also why he is a rocking super hero.

Hawkman is a superhero who appears in DC Comics. He was created by Gardner Fox and artist Dennis Neville; the original Hawkman first appeared in Flash Comics #1 (1940) in the Golden Age of comics. The first Hawkman was Carter Hall, an archeologist. His girlfriend (later wife) Shiera Sanders became Hawkgirl. Like most Golden Age heroes, Hawkman and Hawkgirl disappeared from comics after World War II.

In the Silver Age, DC introduced new versions of several characters. Hawkman and Hawkgirl were revamped and became aliens from the planet Thanagar. Hawkman and Hawkgirl were interesting because unlike other heroes getting a revamp, their names were very similar to the original Golden Age hawks. The alien hawks were named Katar and Shayera Hol. On earth they went by the more earth-like names Carter and Shiera Hall.

I can certainly see why people get a little confused about Hawkman's history, given the Golden Age and Silver Age hawks were different people yet very similar. However, it was pretty cut and dried in the Silver Age. The alien Hawkman and Hawkgirl lived on Earth-1 and it was revealed the Golden Age heroes from the 1940s lived on Earth-2, a parallel world!

The problems with Hawkman happened after 1985's Crisis on Infinite Earths series. You see, at the end of Crisis on Infinite Earths in 1986, DC merged the parallel worlds in their stories into one world. So, all their Golden Age and Silver Age characters came to live on one earth. That meant that some characters who had duplicates either died or disappeared. For instance, the Golden Age Superman went off to live in a paradise world while the Silver Age Superman lived on.

Originally, Carter Hall and Katar lived on the same earth, and then Hawkworld came in 1989. The Hawkworld limited series retold Katar's origins. It was popular. When the ongoing series started in 1990, the decision was made to reintroduce Katar and Shayera as new characters and have them come to earth for the first time. This is where the confusion really begins. However, all the questions surrounding Hawkman's post Crisis history have been answered.

It was revealed in Infinite Crisis that the changes to Katar and Shayera's history happened because Superboy was punching on the walls of reality.It was explained in the Hawkworld ongoing series that the Katar and Shayera who joined the Justice League after 1985, appeared in the Millennium series and other comic books, were really a Thanagarian spy and his wife, Sharon. It was later revealed in the last Hawkman series that Sharon was brainwashed into believing she was Hawkgirl.It was also revealed in the Hawkworld ongoing series (Annual No. 1, to be specific) that the Justice League did have a Hawkman and Hawkgirl in the Silver Age. Carter and Shiera Hall joined the Silver Age JLA and served with them and the JSA.It was explained in the Hawkworld ongoing series that Carter Hall was close to Paran Katar, Katar's father. When Paran left Earth to go back to Thanagar, he gave Carter and Shiera plans for a Thanagarian teleporter. Later, in the JLA Incarnations miniseries, we see Carter Hall building a teleporter on the JLA satellite.All of these changes to Hawkman's history have been confirmed throughout the years and remain intact today.

Personally, I loved Hawkworld, the miniseries and ongoing series. I found the 1990s Katar and Shayera to be much more interesting that the original version of Katar and Shayera. I also found it interesting that Carter and Shiera (the Golden Age hawks) were now the JLA's hawk couple. It makes perfect sense that the JSA and JLA would have members who served as liaisons between the teams.

I find Hawkman's history to very clear today. I think many people who say his history is confusing either have not read the Hawkworld series or simply do not like that the Silver Age Katar and Shayera were reintroduced as new characters in 1990. Finally, I see Hawkman's history as a fascinating part of DC Comics and the changes have made the character more interesting than heroes who have straight-forward, boring histories.

Plus, Hawkman has wings and carries a mace. Who doesn't like a winged hero with a mace?

Robin - Batman's Sidekick But Who Is He?

Robin is the fictional superhero character who fights crime with Batman. Robin was first introduced to the comic book world in detective comics issue 38. Robin has had multiple characters play him, however the first carnation of the character was Dick Grayson. Many people at the time believed that the Character Robin was introduced into the Batman comics to gather in a younger crowd, if this was the intention it worked. Robin brought in a mass increase of comic book readers and eventually became successful enough to have his own comic published.

Dick Grayson became the Character Nightwing, however fearing that he was becoming too old to carry on fighting Dick retired as robin and was replaced by the character Jason Todd. Jason Todd first made an appearance in detective comic's issue 357.

Jason Todd may arguably have had the best story arc as towards the end of his comic book career he is viciously beaten, taunted and eventually killed by the Joker. However we were led to believe the Joker killed him but in a twist of fate Jason Todd became the antihero known as the Red Hood. The Red Hood had good intentions to rid the city of its evil doings however he done them in an non heroic way which eventually meant that he would cross paths with Batman and the new Robin.

After the so called death of Jason Todd, Robin was then played by the character Tim Drake. Tim has a long story arc which would last 6 years and eventually made him into being is own superhero.

Smart Tips to Fix Comic Staples With Rust

Do you like reading comic books? If you do, you will find that these books have provided fantastic stories and many characters that still remain until today. In the business side, you will find that these books are also big business that is very promising and might bring many profits.

Regardless those things, for you who have many collections of comic might face some problem in storing comic books. One of them is rusting staples along the binding of the books. For this problem, you will find that it is actually easy to fix. The most important thing is that you are patient. The followings are the easy tips to fix rusting staples that you might find in your comic books.

The foremost thing that you have to do is to wash your hands and dry them out. This is important to do to wipe away oils on your hands that can damage the pages of your comic books. Then you should lay the comic book on a flat clean stable work surface. Make sure that you have enough lighting toward it. After that, you should open the comic book so that you can access the staples.

The next thing that you have to do is to get a clean cloth and lay it over the pages. This is done in order to prevent the pages from scratching. Then, you should place a nail file over the rusting staples and begin to file away the rusting staples. You can do it in long or strokes. Then, you should blow away the rust debris gently.

The last thing that you should do is to remove the staples by using a razor blade. This is done if you do not satisfy with the filing method. To do this, you should loosen the staple by inserting the tip of the blade under the staple's edges and turn them upward. In this case, you should do it one by one. After the entire staple's edges are loosen, then you should turn the book over and pull out the staple by insert the blade pin under the staple's body. Make sure that you do this slowly in order to tear the pages. Then, you should insert the new staples in the same holes. Then, you should use the blunt part of the blade to press down the points of the staples.

From an Unknown Village to Readers All Over the World

Asterix is a series of French comic books that were written by Rene Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo, first published in French magazine Pilote on 29 October 1959. But from 1977 Albert Uderzo took over as the writer of the comic after the death of co-creator Goscinny.

The plot of the comic is centred around the exploits of an unnamed village on the coastal region of Armonica, a province of Gaul as they resist Roman occupation. They do so by using a magic potion that is brewed by their druid the potion gives the user superhuman strength this is brewed by a Druid named Getafix.

The main character of the comic is Asterix who with his friend Obelix have various adventures. Asterix is a clever little character who the village trusts to handle most of their important affairs. Obelix is a large and is slow witted character, who he fell into the Druid's cauldron of the potion when he was a baby, which is the reason for his fat appearance but he gain permanent super human strength.

This series is one of the most popular Franco-Belgian comics in the world. It is mainly popular in Europe but still has a small following in America and Japan and the series have been translated into over 100 languages. There are over 300 million copies of the 34 Asterix books have been sold over the world, which makes the creators France's best selling authors abroad. With this success it has helped spawn numerous other forms of publication and media. There have been 11 films made with 8 of them being animated while three were live action. There have been various games based on the characters made as well, these range from video games, game books and board games.

There is also a theme park that centres around the Asterix theme and it is called Parc Asterix, this has 12 miles which is based upon the series of the comic and is especially known for its large variety of roller coasters. The rides have incorporated themes from historic cultures such as the Roman s and Ancient Greeks. When Euro Disney was announced there were initial fears that there would be a loss of business due to the rumoured popularity of the Disney. But those fears were dispelled as they were both have actually increased the popularity which is a effect seen in other places such as Florida, for example in Orlando Disney has a main presence there as well which has seen numerous other theme parks such as universal studios have benefited. When Parc Asterix first opened it was not heard of by most people that didn't come from France but today most visitors come from all over the world. Its location is the top of Paris so you could find some villas in France that are of the relaxed nature. There are roughly 1.6 million visitors per year

Asterix has been around for over 50 years and it doesn't look like it's going to disappear any time soon they are making two more films and the comic is still ongoing, it is no wonder that the French are so proud of their little hero.

Spider-Woman #6

By Chad De Lisle Chad De Lisle
Level: Platinum

Chad de Lisle is currently a student at Brigham Young University in Provo Utah. He has been married for 2 and a half years to ...

We left Jessica Drew about to confront the "Thunderbolts" in the end of the last issue, and in this issue they clash head on. The good news is that she absolutely beats their trash, mentally and physically. For being a super creature with such low self esteem Spider-Woman sure does kick a large amount of a**. This issue was literally filled with combat and chase scenes. Honestly this is the most exciting issue in the series so far. I have already said it once, but I will say it again: Alex Maleev's art totally upstages Brian Michael Bendis' writing.

And to be up front with you (I might get death threats for this), I really haven't been impressed with Bendis in this series. I don't know if I am just not getting it or what, but the writing has seemed scattered, repetitive, and under-developed. Very little of the story jumps out at me as being impressive or original and Jessica Drew's inner monologue can be annoying and over-the-top. Speaking from a perspective of very little experience with the works of Bendis, I am unimpressed and unmoved. (and when I met him he gave me a limp noodle handshake). To be fair, the only works of his that I have read have been Powers 1-4 and Alias 1, nothing else. And those are pretty good, but still nothing to freak out about. By comparison, I have read even less of Brubaker, but I am impressed as all get out by him. So go figure.

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Article Submitted On: March 30, 2010

Ex Machina - Graphic Novel Review

I recently rediscovered my desire to read comic books. In keeping with that I also discovered that anything that interests me becomes a weird addiction. With comics, it is this urge to collect. I need every issue from origin to present. I went to my shelves and found "Ex Machina: The First Hundred Days," the first graphic novel in a series under DC's Wildstorm imprint about a guy who is able to talk to machines because of a freak accident. The story begins as he decides to run for Mayor of New York in a post-911 climate. I recall that I had purchased all the issues from Volume 1 to Volume 5, and I decided I must have the rest. I ordered the rest and realized it is still being issued. That is actually bittersweet, because when you get into a comic you have to suffer the waiting for the next issue, whereas when you find a series that is complete you can collect them all and you have this sense of having a whole entity in your library.

Setting all that aside, I began to re-read the first volume to jog my memory, and then the next one, and the next.

The thing that strikes me is the medium of comics in itself. The art is so much more textured than what I remember from being a kid. The writing is mature, and the creativity of the whole genre nowadays is this electric thing that you hold in your hands.

The idea that heroism is kid's play is not really the truth. It took me back to the imagination I seem to have left behind as an adult, and it makes me want to revive that child in me, where fantasy and yet the truth of the human struggle are all there, in incredible color and dreamlike frames. So graphic, so poignant.

Grab The Best Comic Books Today!

Comic books are still an important segment in the publication industry. No matter how old you are, comic books still fascinates most of us, as we develop a special bonding with the characters portrayed in them.

It is tricky to name just the top comic of all best comic books. The comic books on Batman and Superman are still selling like hot cakes in any bookstore. These books have created and captured a certain group of readers especially the teenagers; the comics are right on top in the list of all time favorites, and fans hope for these comics to lead the race in the coming future too. Are the best graded comics not the ones having Batman, Superman and the few other super-popular heroes as the central character?

Nevertheless, deciding the best comic books largely depends on individual perspective and taste. DC Comics is the publication house that created these fictitious characters decades ago. It was said that the first Superman was portrayed as a villain. In the early part of 1930's, Hitler was supreme and it was believed that he was going to create a gang of supermen. However, the whole idea of it took a completely different course with the issue of the second edition, which made Superman a real life hero busting criminals. Action Comics was the name given to the original Superman comic.

The Superman comic took a different dimension when, in its seventh issue, Clark Kent with alternate ego was introduced to us. Another fact of the story is the fictional projection of Clark Gable as Clark Kent. Today, DC Comics with the help of production houses in U.S., create movies based on best comic books. There have already been few Hollywood movies on Superman, which were huge hits across the globe. Still many producers are coming forward to recreate these comic characters to entertain millions of fans around the globe.

You can also say that some of the best comic books are Batman comics too. Bob Kane created Batman combining the characters like Zorro, Bat Whispers and Dracula. The combination of the characters was unique, but it worked out perfectly and came into the limelight with the issue of #27 of the Detective Comics series. Like Superman, Batman was recreated in movies and came into the limelight in a completely new avatar.

There are also other comic characters, which are as popular as Batman and Superman. With the likes of Hulk, Justice League, Captain America, Iron Man, Spiderman, etc. the list is never ending and it is for you to choose the best comics out of these.

Who Is Harvey Dent?

Two Face is a fictional comic book character who appears in comics produced by DC comics. The character was created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger and is a super villain to the Character Batman. Two Face first made his comic book debut in the detective comics issue 66.

Two face was once the district attorney of Gotham city known as Harvey dent and was an ally of batman; however he soon goes mad and often tries to kill the dark knight. In various different versions of the characters history the character is often burnt or scared by acid being thrown over half of his face. In the most recent telling of the character two face half of his face was burnt when a warehouse exploded which killed his girlfriend Rachel Dawes. Two face blamed batman for this because he didn't save Rachel and saved Harvey Dent.

Two face suffers from different disorders depending on which version of the character you are reading about, in some instances he has bipolar while in others he has a split personality disorder. Most of two faces decisions are made by flipping a coin, which consist of one side having a face on scratched with an X across it.

The modern version of this character was a personal friend of James Gordon and Batman. This character is one of my favourite comic book villains because he has so many complexities behind him especially in the modern day version. The character simply wants to make Gotham a better place and is even willing to sacrifice himself to catch the criminals, however when the love of his life is killed his world is tipped upside down and a new personality is created. Harvey and Two Face constantly clash between right and wrong and the duality of both characters is often decided over a flip of a coin.

Why Buy Comic Books?

It is often a pleasure to buy comic books. Not only do they help people pass their leisure in a light mood but also create a possibility to gather wealth.

People buy comic books because it serves as their hobby. Collection is an intrinsic element of buying and a fine collection of comics could usher in a good deal of money. Rare comic books worth hundreds of dollars catch the attention of the buyers and collectors for their timeless appeal and antique value.

Some of the basic aspects that influence the collectors while they buy comic books, especially the rare ones, are as follows:

1. CONDITION: Books in mint condition command higher price while books in poor state can be bought at a lower bargain. Obviously, mint condition comics that are very popular are extremely hard to come by.

2. AVAILABILITY: The price is inversely proportional to the supply of comics, in a way true to other commodities. Hence, lower the availability, higher the price and vice-versa. The availability of the older comics is literally impossible.

3. CHARACTER AND STORY: Comics that have popular characters like Superman, Spiderman, Tintin or Batman and a well-known storyline are more in demand than the ones less known.

Buying these books that are rare is exciting and full of fun. Reading such books is entertaining while preservation of the collection might bring in treasures depending upon the increase in its real value with the passage of time.

Collectors can visit local bookstores and grab a copy of their coveted comic by physically examining it. It also provides them an opportunity to take help of some professional and verify the claims of the seller. Interested buyers can also buy comic books online. For this purpose, a PayPal account has to be created usually. A current price guide would enable one to take a view of the books on offer and help one evaluate if the money asked for is justified. However, it is advisable that the prospective buyer acquires complete information of the seller before closing the deal. This must be done so that appropriate action can be taken if, after delivery, one finds out that the condition of the book does not match with the statements made by one who sold it. Comic books are also available in different auction sites, like eBay and Heritage Comics.

A practical, far-sighted and reasonable approach while buying comic books could make one amass fortunes, thus making such comic books worth thousands. A childhood hobby could cause a windfall because the whims of public are as unpredictable as life itself.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ruth_Caldon

Homo Ludens - Notes About BOCAH Comic Book

According to Indonesia law, a man presumes to be adult when he/she reaches age of eighteen. When that age is coming, I come to realize that the most interesting part of life is when someone at his/her childhood, or to be clearer, when someone entering his essence of humanity as a homo ludens: which means, creatures who love to play. Sometimes before a man becomes an adult, or when someone still at his childhood, maybe he would be happy to play with one fake pistol, and then consider himself as a cowboy who carries pistol at his waist, walking on the dusty road, going to save a beautiful princess who had been kidnapped by some bad person.

The comic book, written by Bayu, Seta, Ockto, and given with title: B.O.C.AH (MnC!, 2010), depicted everyday's life of four mischief-making children: Beri (11 years old), Badi (11), Ijul (11), and Ardi (11); who reach their essence of humanity by become a group of homo ludens. This comic book divided into twelve chapters, each chapter contains one story, which does not have any relation with the others. Readers might also notice that each panel occasionally burlesqued everyday's life by focusing on Beri and his Friend's naughty behavior; showing to us one world filled by Childs imagination. Moreover, it is not only their imagination, but also their game and adventure, which had, becomes elements of the whole story. Readers can find those elements by looking at some "ridiculous" (some reader might say, irrational) story. However, what kind of story we could find in B.O.C.A.H? To say some, they once dreaming about turning-out fire with giant glass. On the other story, Beri (with his ridiculous daydreaming experiment) trying to pull out moon from its orbit to prevent earth from tsunami disaster. With those "ridiculous" stories, of course, you do not have to ask any logical sense, because you really do not need to do that.

Perhaps the simple story line of B.O.C.A.H is actually the most endearing part of the comic. The entire plots follow four children relationship with one another, showing the various nuances of their lives. Although Beri seems to be given more portion to develop his nature than others boy do. Therefore, it seems that the only purpose that the other characters serve is to create conflicts, exposition, and comedic relief. I this case, I must say that the other characters are more like additional player, even in the beginning of this comic; four of them have mentioned to be prominent figure. Surely, in this comic book, as I said before, there is no room for logical sense. For a four mischief-child, all they can do is playing with their body and mind, more and more. Readers may find some plots, which are so irrational to us, but, once again, it is child imagination, you can imagine whatever, and whenever you want. At this point, irrational-thing will guide us to some pieces of childhood memories.

Daytripper #4

So, I changed my mind about Daytripper. When I first started this series, I felt that it was deep and moving and thematically rich and varied. Now, I feel as though I am stuck in the most emo comic book series ever. Every issue is a depressing romp in the life of an underachiever who has a constant battle with dying. Gabriel Ba tries to plumb the depths of the human soul with every issue, but he is repeatedly tracing the same avenues and now the streets are littered with uncaring garbage.

In the first issue, Bras learns a hard lesson about family and gets shot in the face. In the second, he falls in love and then drowns. The third issue he is dumped and then gets hit by a car. And the fourth his dad dies on the same day his baby is born and then Bras has a heart attack. When you list them in rapid succession like that, don't they sound lame? Daytripper doesn't challenge my emotions like I thought it would after reading the first issue. It seems to be constructed of the saddest possibilities that Gabriel Ba could conceive of, and that isn't good enough for me. If you want to make a authentically sad comic, you can't do it by throwing a pile of unending sadness at the readers. It just doesn't work that way.

The art is beautiful and consistent (no complaints there), but the story is really starting to lack. I am going to give it two more issues to redeem itself. After that, its out of the holds box for good. Sorry Gabriel.

Who Is Superman? The Mythology of Kal-El

Superman is a fictional comic book superhero created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in 1932.? The pair later sold Superman to detective comics in 1938, which are now known as DC comics.? Superman first caught the public's imagination when he was released to the world in the action comic's issue 1.

Superman was the first of his kind, without him there may have never been a superhero genre.? Superman was born on the planet Krypton under the name of Kal-El.? Kal-El was a little child no more than a few weeks old when his planet was headed for destruction, knowing this his father the brilliant scientist of Krypton named Jor-El built a rocket ship that would eventually save his sons life and send him to our planet, planet earth.

Earth was the new home of baby Kal-El where he was found and raised as a normal human on a Kansas farm in a small town called Smallville.? Kal-El was raised by a humble and caring family known as the Kent's, where they would rename baby Kal-El to Clark Kent.?

Clark Kent started to show super human abilities even from a small age, and not known to him then he would eventually use these powers to benefit mankind.

With age Clark soon left Smallville and headed off to the big bustling City of Metropolis where he became the star reporter alongside the arrogant Lois Lane, later the both fell madly in love and in the most recent movie outing of superman the two had a little child named Jason.

Overall superman is my favourite superhero simply because he always does the right thing even if that means he has to sacrifice himself.

Young Boys and Their Comics

Every young boy dreams of being a superhero. Whether alone is his room with underpants on outside his pyjamas, or simulating emergency response situations, he's in that familiar mode: saving the world from darkness.

Comic books have made their livelihood on this immutable truth. There must be a Spiderman molecule somewhere with the double helix of the human DNA strand. Why else would the superhero be so universally loved, and on such a fanatical level? Perhaps the students at MIT might consider it a worthy of investigation. Maybe the academic world needs to shine a light on the supposed link between genetic encoding and the love of superhero comics. We could end up with a whole new biological paradigm. Wouldn't that be fascinating?

Fascination is the buzz word for comic books. Comics of every ilk, but particularly of the Spiderman and Batman ilk, have been stealing gasps from boys the world over for eons. No other medium can so brilliantly and entertainingly express the excellence of Spiderman as he ejects his spider webs; or of Batman as he saves Gotham City from the malicious Penguin. This is what young boys will tell you as they jump up and down or run up and down walls in excitement. Who would take it from them?

Maybe the answer as to why boys are so taken by superhero comics is less to do with biology than magic. What if there were subliminal, supernatural forces at work? What if characters such as Lex Luther or The Joker secretly encoded the paper covers of epic boy's comic books with forces capable of hypnotizing them? Or maybe they hide spells within the text to lure children into their worlds? This wild conjecture leads me to the truth: the reality, unfortunately for imaginations that like to rove untamed, is that no such malice exists.

But lovers of the conventional superhero comic do like to fantasise, which is why comics are made out of the stuff of dreams. Why not speculate furiously? Comic books are a rare way in which to lose ourselves. Long may they live.

I Love Uzumaki Naruto

When I knew that the famous Masashi Kishimoto have created the new manga named Naruto, I can not wait to watch. It was an in credible manga and I was impressed by the role Uzumaki Naruto. I believe he will be a fervent believer in the Will of Fire. I love him.

In order to protect the village, the fourth Hokage put a nine tailed demon fox inside Uzumaki Naruto's body using the forbidden technique. At that time, he was just a 4 months baby. So he was born different from others.

He was not welcomed by other children or people in the same village, because he is a monster in their eyes. He was alone, unrecognized and despised by everyone, he hope to get attention from all people and make friends with them. In order to get the attention from them, he was a troublemaker, unpredictable and noisy kid at the beginning. But he has his unique way to view life and will change the hearts of anyone around him by talking to them, showing a unique tenacity or fighting with all his might, and never gave in.Even after graduating from school, he not only want to be recognized but also desire to protect his home and the people close to him.

What attract me mostly is his personality. He is relatively naive and simple, being slow to understand a principle or situation, and often requiring an oversimplified analogy in order to grasp what is being explained to him. He is most prominently characterized by his hyperactivity, being exuberant, impatient, impulsive, and inattentive. Overall, Naruto responds best to competition and possesses a great degree of confidence in himself, loudly proclaiming that he will master whatever technique he is learning in a fraction of the usual time, though he will not hesitate to ask for help if he needs it. What's more, his unstoppable determination and drive strongly impacts the lives around him, even his enemies had been affected by his empathy.

Aside from me, most of my friends also love him. We often dress Uzumaki Naruto Cosplay to attend the Naruto theme party together.

Spider-Woman #5

By: Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev

Seldom in Brian Michael Bendis' career is his writing up-staged by the artist on a particular project, but it has happened in this series. When I picked up my first issue of Spider-Woman, it wasn't because I knew he would be writing, it was because I knew Alex Maleev would be drawing. All of the art within the comic is done digitally, and it is uncannily realistic and crisp. The story is intriguing, albeit confusing at points (mostly because I do not know Spider-Woman's back story AT ALL.

This issue picks up with Jessica Drew falling from the top of a building while remembering that she cannot fly without her suit on. And the action continues from there. Actually I was relieved to see her kicking some trash for a change, throughout the series it has seemed that she has been pushed around a lot by the powerful force of her possible employers. I can tell you (without spoilers) that the next issue is going to be even more action packed. Can't wait.

I know that anyone would really enjoy this comic, the art is beautiful, the writing is crisp, and the action is nearly non-stop. There is a scene where she uses her powers on a Policeman, and you finally get to see what she is capable of. It has taken a long time to develop this story, and it finally feels like it is actually going somewhere. I have become a great fan of Spider-Woman. She kicks trash!

Who Is the Penguin?

Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot who is also known as the penguin is an arch enemy to the character Batman. The penguin is often seen as a secondary villain just behind the Joker. The Penguin was first introduced into comic book super fame when he was created by Bob Kane and Bill finger. The Penguin made his first appearance in the detective comics issue 58.

The penguin is known for being a high class citizen while loving high tech weaponry. The penguin is often portrayed as a small, round and fat man dressed in a tuxedo and fancies himself as a modern day gentleman of crime.

He owns a chain of nightclubs which often cover for low key crime and Batman allows this to a certain extent so he can keep tabs on the penguin. The dark knight often extracts information from the penguin's employees at these nightclubs.

The characters early life was covered in bullying and this was because he is seen as a social outcast. Some variations of the character have him born with webbed feet and hands which create a flipper effect, hence the reason why he gets the nickname the penguin. The character is rejected by his family because of his odd looks and this is what leads him to the life of crime.

Unlike many of the Batman villains, the penguin is in complete control of his actions at all times, which means that the penguin carries out these horrible actions while being completely sane, this makes him a real threat to Batman and I think this is what makes the character so special.

Underground #5, Conclusion!

This issue is the dramatic conclusion to the "Underground" series. It would be impossible to craft a more satisfactory end. Essentially, this story is very short (only five issues), but it has all of the components necessary to convey an intriguing tale. Wesley Fischer and Seth Ridge are still on the run, deep within the Stillwater Cave. The air is getting colder and the light is getting dimmer, and the lovers have to rely on each other more than ever before. Jeff Parker's dialog is magical, and one feels the physical and emotional tension between the protagonists as they strip their clothes and huddle by a fire made of bootlegger's gin and old rags.

Two high points worth mentioning: Wes and Seth have to do a "chimney" climb on a rock section too wide for them to do it by themselves, so they link arms back to back and have to walk up the cliff face. What an amazingly creative and imaginative scenario to place them in! Second, Seth tackles someone (no spoilers) through a waterfall and beats some serious a**.

Themes of loyalty, treachery, misunderstanding, and human nature permeate the text and create a context that is believable and visceral. With all of the "green" campaigns being conducted in our day and age, this comic is very politically and culturally relevant. Underground showcases both arguments 'for' and 'against' preservation, although I would argue that it does not portray each side in a fair light. The group that would commercialize and extort the Stillwater Cave for commercial gain are revealed as villains, while those that are fighting to preserve it are heroes.

Out of each of the "Underground" issues, this one was the most action packed and well paced. I was not disappointed in the least! (Well, maybe I was disappointed that this was the last issue). Seriously, if Jeff Parker can think up a reasonable premise, I would love to see an "Underground" series that doesn't conclude with five issues.

Victorian Undead #4

By Chad De Lisle Chad De Lisle
Level: Platinum

Chad de Lisle is currently a student at Brigham Young University in Provo Utah. He has been married for 2 and a half years to ...

I've said it once and I'll say it again... I am a sucker for anything zombie related. When I saw that they had mashed Sherlock Holmes and zombies in the same comic, I rejoiced and gladly opened my wallet. This is the most recent issue in the series, and I've heard that there are only going to be six. Truly a shame because this is much more interesting than most mini-series. I guess they have to end the series soon because Sherlock Holmes doesn't lose. In all of his cases, he solves them and then moves on. So I am thinking that it is safe to assume that he is going to solve the whole zombie-caper, kill the bad guys, and have a night-cap.

The most interesting thing about this series is the fact that the villain is a self aware zombie. (He is Moriarty, the classic nemesis of Sherlock Holmes). This issue goes into detail on Moriarty's foray in the realm of the undead and the madness and ambition he found waiting there. We finally learn the reason for the outbreak, and we watch in horror as its nexus swears to bathe the world in blood and hellfire. Sherlock and Watson share their memorable banter throughout the issue as they are rescued from the flat on Baker Street and taken to a secure location. The art is wonderfully colored, and the zombies are especially gory and menacing. If you are a zombie enthusiast then you will in no way be disappointed with Victorian Undead. An excellent series to collect!

This article has been viewed 80 time(s).
Article Submitted On: March 26, 2010

Football Rookie Cards

Football rookie cards are the first appearance of a football player in a particular trading card. These are highly valued and sought after by football card collectors. Every year major companies bring out special editions on the best players of the season.

For an ardent follower of football who is into sports card collection, football rookie cards are perhaps the most prized possessions. Sports card collection itself is a very rewarding hobby. And if this is a rookie card, then it becomes that much more special. A football card is the first appearance of a football player in a particular trading card.

Among all other types of sports cards, rookie cards are the most valued and are most sought after. Some regard it as the first ever appearance of a player, while others regard it as the first official card of a player from a major manufacturer. Collecting these is a separate hobby altogether. People are crazy about these. Some people spend fortunes on building a sports card collection. Although quite a time consuming and expensive hobby, some people keep hunting for these, looking to add every one of them to their collection, and football being one of the most popular games, football cards are prized even more.

Some people collect these only because of their novelty, others for the information, while the rest for simply nostalgic reasons. For American football fans, collecting football rookie cards of NFL players is a very popular hobby. All leading manufacturers bring out special editions on the best NFL players of the season every year. These cards are highly valued and, considering their demand, are often highly priced. However, that definitely doesn't serve as a deterrent for crazy football fans. They are just too happy to add their favorite players' rookie card to their ever-increasing collection. After the 2010 pro-bowl, a Vincent Jackson card is what every collector would be looking for.

Football cards are also excellent for investments. Their value never diminishes. On the contrary, they become more valued over the years, growing in demand. Apart from the ones for current players, collectors keep hunting for those special editions from the yesteryears to add to their collection. Apart from local shops, these are also available online. Some collectors also form groups where they exchange cards. If you are on the lookout for some rare rookie card, being a part of such a group can be a good idea.

Funny Comics

In every newspaper there is a section called the "comics" or the "funnies." Whatever the name of the section they are just that, funny comics. There are always a variety of different comic strips. Some point out things that are going on in society today, others are just non-sense. Either way, the funny comics always invoke laughter, at least for some people.

They also come in book form and can be found at book stores, you can also find comic books at regular book stores, even news stands. These types of book stores are filled with different types of genre in an animation form. Zombies, superheros and even just ordinary people fill the pages of comic books all over the world.

What makes a comic "good" or "funny" in this instance, is entirely up to the reader. Everyone is different, has a different personality and also a different sense of humor. There is a comic or certain fun way out there for everyone. There are many different sources, not only comic books, to find funny comics. Or any comics out there. You can search on the internet and find some interesting comics, made by tons of people with different messages and jokes or story lines.

No matter where you search, if you're looking in the right place, you are bound to find some interesting things. Like I said, the internet is a wonderful tool to use if you're trying to find some comics, as well as different specialty stores and even just regular book stores. If you have the drive and creative mind, you can also make your own comics. You can make anything you want, draw it and add in some dialogue. It can be a funny comic, dramatic comic or political one, no matter your choice you can make it happen. And you should if you want to.

Demo - The Waking Life of Angels

Here is another comic rescued from the free piles at the DC booth. I am always skeptical of any comic that they will give away for free because if it is free then its implied that it has no worth. After reading this comic, I'm not sure that my opinion has changed. I have EXTREMELY mixed feelings about this and I don't feel bad spoiling the crap out of it.

Joan has a recurring dream. In this dream she sees a woman frantically climb the brick stairway of a cathedral and then fall over a high ledge to her death. As Joan loses more and more sleep she becomes more and more concerned about the woman. She believes that this woman is going to die if she doesn't find the cathedral and go there to save her. (Can you guess the ending yet? I did.)

Joan researches and finds that the cathedral is in London. She buys a one way ticket and quits her job, breaks up with her boyfriend, and leaves without letting anyone know. When she arrives, she follows a woman up the stairs and in the process gets chased by a security guard. At the top, she is the one to fall over the edge and die. (Or maybe she doesn't, it wasn't very clear.) Either way, it was a pretty lame idea. Basically there is no point to the story other than the fact that you need to get a good night sleep or you will quit your job to go to England and kill yourself. I don't know very much about "Demo" as a comic, but it appears that each issue if going to be a different story or plot-line. I don't believe that I will read anymore of these. I read this one two times, and on the second time through, you can see exactly how contrived the story is. The foreshadowing in the dialog of the main character is unmistakable and the attempt on behalf of the author to bring deep meaning to his story fails.

The art was okay, black and white with lots of feet and hand shots.

Zagor the Pathfinder

I started reading comics when I was six years old. My older brother gave me my first comic book, which was science fiction, but as a little kid, very little of it made any sense to me. I couldn't understand all those tough concepts, the dialogues were too complicated, and all those black and white drawings seemed too serious. So, my first impression of comic books was unfavorable.

I did not want to read those difficult and boring comics, but my brother and all our friends were comic book fanatics. Also, during the socialist period in Yugoslavia, comics were trendy, and were a favorite reading material among all ages. Most people thought comic books were relaxing, funny, and interesting. After a couple of years, I began to really enjoy reading comics.

Alan Ford and The Group TNT

People bought comics because they were cheap and, most importantly, they were very brief, not more than a hundred pages of drawings, dialogs, and action. You could read them in less than an hour on the bus, on the train, at home, at school - below the desk when the teacher got boring - or in the toilet during a break, and so on. Comics were the best for passing time, but also to escape from reality, especially for the older people who were stressed at work, or the juveniles who were bored, as I was. So during that time I became addicted to collecting comic books, and I started to ask my parents for more and more money to buy comics. My parents were not happy about it because they were preoccupied with surviving in a despair that came to my hometown, Zadar, after Tito passed away. The time was severe and we kids were aware of it, but we did not let it get to us, we had fun.

Tex Willer-The head of the Navajos, known as "Eagle of the Night,"

In the early nineties the war started. The war made our national mood even more depressing, and the war forced us all into claustrophobic bunkers. We children were allowed to go out only when the city siren gave us the signal that it was safe. The siren was usually awful for us because it warned us to go as quickly as possible back into our dark bunkers; in the bunker all we had was a candle, a blanket and some comic books. This was a golden period for the comics industry because children did not get to play nearly as much on the playgrounds and the new circumstances of being stuck in a boring bunker caused the demand for comics to sharply increase; all those children who had previously ignored comics were now becoming obsessed with them.

Mister NO

Reading comics in the bunker was very pleasant because we did not have school and I was safe and secure with my mom, sister, and my brother- with whom I fought occasionally; he was already a teenager and I was still a kid. My mother did not want to see us fighting all the time, especially in front of everyone in the shelter. She sent me to another room with my sister while my brother would go with boys. I was disappointed and jealous, but at the same time it was more peaceful. I read one comic over and over again just to forget the fight and my brother's provocations and mockery. That was the only time when my mother approved of my comic books. Generally she did not like my reading because I ignored books and school. Even though we did not have school classes, we were supposed to read our school books, which were thicker, more complex and much more boring than comics.

Zagor, or "Za-Gor Te-Nay" whose fictional meaning is "The Spirit with the Hatchet"

I improved my passion for comics with drawing the main hero, Zagor, or "Za-Gor Te-Nay" whose fictional meaning is "The Spirit with the Hatchet", as the Indians in the comics used to call him. People liked Zagor because he was strong, sharp, and impossible to deceive. However, his character also represented modesty and courage. This had an affect on my behavior. I started ignoring my brother's provocations, and I understood that my fights with him were ignoble, not worth it. I became apprehensive and more curious. I started to act like Zagor. I believed in Zagor, he was my idol and my only story. One day, my mother made me a Zagor suit for a masquerade, and I literally became him for some time.

However, this surreal dream did not last long because I became older and, most importantly, my country became free and independent. The war finished and my father came home, exhausted and tired. Also that awful siren did not disturb the city anymore, and bunker time was over. I started to play free, I started to study more and school became my number one priority; my mother was very happy about it, and so was I. My perception also changed. I grew older and Zagor became boring and unattractive to read. It was a story for kids, it wasn't real, like a silly fairy tale. I stopped buying comic books. I left them, I abandoned them, and I did not want to see them anymore.

I became a teenager and times changed. Comics were no longer cool or trendy, and new forms of entertainment appeared, like Sega or Nintendo video games. I was not Zagor anymore, I forgot him completely - until recently, during a school break, when my family moved into a new house. During the move, I found my comics in an old closet. They were hidden for more than ten years; seven hundred different comics all in perfect shape, like new, but with a lot of dust all over them. During my reordering and cleaning, I discovered Zagor, the man who maintained peace between Indians and cowboys, but also peace in me, because Zagor helped me think positively, or occasionally not to think about anything but him, which helped me through very tough times, even in a war for independence, where bombs exploded and people died. Zagor showed me what is good and what is bad. All through those episodes he showed me, in his own experiences, how life and people can be unfair. The only way was to never give up, as he never gave up. Zagor was my first and my only idol; he influenced and persuaded me to read more. It helped me to improve my capability of thinking and mostly, Zagor helped me to see the bigger picture. I may have considered him a fairy tale for a short time during my teenage years, but I now see that Zagor the Pathfinder was my guide to the real world, he helped me find my way down my own paths in life, and continues to do so...

The Last Days of American Crime (2 of 3)

The Last Days of American Crime is an incredibly suspense-filled criminal comic. The warning on the cover does not lie, "Mature Readers" only please. The disgusting depths that this book goes to are not for youthful eyes. It is hard to describe the filthy feeling that pervades this story, its as if Remender has given you a ticket into the darkest corners of the underworld and you can't get off the ride until its over. Rape, torture, murder, and promiscuous sex in all of their cold variations drive the story and paint the panels. Tocchini's art is superb, his loose and colorful style adding real gravitas and grit to the backdrop.

Remender seems to let his pen trace the edge of the taboo and outre, slicing the "politically correct" and daring all to be offended. He seems to force his readers to the cliff of what they will accept, and then he shoves them off just as they were achieving balance. I admire his daring, but I wonder how much of his writing is tied down by this gimmick. Is he such a good author because of his extreme style and taste? or are his depictions of the bizarre and offensive a smokescreen to poor writing? For me, it's too early to say.

The Last Days of American Crime follows a nobody thug named Graham Burke as he tries to pull off one last heist. The American Government is taking paper money out of the equation in favor of Federally-Controlled electronic credits. Also, they intend to broadcast a signal country-wide that will effectively brain wash the populous, making it impossible for any citizen to knowingly break the law. In the last issue, Graham had to hire some new partners because the Mexican gang he was allied with double-crossed him (and he "burned" them for it). He hired Kevin (a safe cracking specialist) and his girlfriend Shelby (who knows her way around computers (and the bedroom *wink)). Kevin says he knows where to find a laser cutter, and he leaves Graham and Shelby to prepare for the heist. The problem is Graham's old partners want back in, and they are willing to do anything to get revenge.

Here are some predictions for next issue: So far, Kevin has been oblivious to Graham and Shelby's affair (seriously, they go at "it" every chance they get). But I don't think that he doesn't know. I am betting that Kevin put Shelby up to "it" in order to blindside Graham and take all the money for themselves in the end. If you don't smell the double-crossing coming, then you best open your nostrils.

Secret Avengers, Perfect For Longtime Marvel Comics Fans

I love Secret Avengers. I had given up on newer Marvel Comics but Secret Avengers changed my mind. The roster is a good mix of interesting characters, the art is amazing and the story is a well-written story that reminds me of the good old days of Marvel.

Writer Ed Brubaker and artist Mike Deodato are the creative team for the Secret Avengers title. The series started in May 2010 and showcases many former Avengers along with a few new ones. The roster includes Steve Rogers (the first Captain America), the Beast, War Machine, Valkyrie, Moon Knight, Nova, Black Widow, Sharon Carter, and Ant-Man.

One thing that makes this title great is Steve Rogers. He is and always will be Captain America to me and the one who should lead the Avengers. Having him joined by former Avengers Moon Knight, War Machine, Black Widow and his love, Sharon Carter, is good planning. I am most excited to see Beast, an Avenger in the 1970s and early 1980s, back with the team. I am also excited to see Valkyrie join the Avengers family.

I am a big fan of the original Defenders series that ran from 1972 until 1986. The Defenders original members were Doctor Strange, Hulk, Namor and, sometimes, the Silver Surfer. Not long after the series started Valkyrie became the first female member. Much later in the run, the Beast joined the Defenders. I hope that the past relationship between the Valkyrie and Beast is touched upon in the Secret Avengers.

It is interesting to note there has been more than one Valkyrie. The first time she appeared in Avengers No. 83, it was actually the evil Enchantress posing as Valkyrie. In the Valkyrie's second appearance, the Enchantress turned a girl, Samantha, into Valkyrie. In her next appearance in the Defenders series, it was the real deal that joined the ranks, Brunnhilde the Valkyrie. Thanks to the Enchantress, though, she could not remember who she was until years later. On the Comic Book Resources Forum, Brubaker confirmed that the Valkyrie on the team is indeed the original Brunnhilde. She was killed a handful of years ago, but she is back!

Another nice thing about Secret Avengers besides great characters like Steve Rogers, Beast and Valkyrie being around is the first storyline. It involves the Serpent Crown, which old-school Marvel fans will remember. The Serpent Crown is an object of great power that has appeared in various Marvel Comics for decades. The crown resembles a coiled, seven-headed serpent. There are classic storylines in Sub-Mariner, Avengers and Marvel Two-In-One comics involving the crown. I am looking forward to seeing how it plays out in the new Avengers title.

Using classic characters and an object that has been around Marvel for decades makes this old-school fan happy. But, do not think Secret Avengers is going to be boring and the same type of book we have read over and over again. While many team members have been around for years, there is a new character here to explore. This is not Hank Pym as Ant-Man. The Ant-Man in Avengers now is the third character to use the name. The Secret Avengers Ant-Man is Eric O'Grady who first appeared in The Irredeemable Ant-Man No. 1, Sept. 2006.

Also, Brubaker has said online that, "[Secret Avengers is] definitely going to have a lot of the espionage plots and the Steranko influence, and the crazy Kirby technology, but I don't think there's going to be much soap opera. I hope it feels different than any Avengers team, ever."

I am sure there will be some soap opera drama, though. You can't have superheroes without some drama. Reading Secret Avengers makes me want to dig out my old Avengers and Defenders comics and relive my youth! I suggest you do the same thing.

Here's Your Sign by Bill Engvall

By Alain Burrese Alain Burrese
Level: Platinum

Alain Burrese and Burrese Enterprises, Inc. provide entertaining and informative keynote speeches and educational seminars. From success & achievement principles and leadership skills to safety ...

Bill Engvall has been performing comedy for over 20 years, but since he joined up with Jeff Foxworthy, Ron White, and Larry the Cable Guy in "Blue Collar Comedy Tour" it seems his career has skyrocketed, just as it has for the other three. For all those that are familiar with his comedy routines, you know how he likes to point out the stupid things people say, and he wishes he had a sign that says "I'm Stupid" to hand out to these people, hence his most famous saying, "Here's Your Sign."

Now, in the book of the same name, "Here's Your Sign," Bill Engvall has collected more than 200 of his classic "Here's Your Sign" jokes. For anyone not familiar with these, here's an example:

"My son, whose front tooth had just come out, was with me in a mall. I ran into a friend of mine who looked at my son and asked, 'Did you lose your tooth?' My son said, 'No, I like to keep that space open so I can spit water through it." Or, for another, "I was in the bathroom and my son yelled through the door, 'Dad, are you going to the bathroom?' I said, 'Nope, I'm quilting the Charmin."

In his stand-up routines, he jokes about just handing people their very own Stupid sign, and I bet Engvall could sell millions of the little sign that is stuck onto the cover of this book. I'm sure we all could figure out many people to give them to. The collection contained in this volume made me laugh. I think it is even better if you have heard him tell some of these jokes, because then you can imagine how he tells it. And face it, the telling of jokes by comedians is often more important than the material.

Besides all of the "Here's Your Sign" jokes, the book also contains a few family stories that I enjoyed more than the shorter quips. He shared times when his kids asked him what sex was, other parenting experiences, and a hilarious story about how a fear of snakes ruined what could have been a very romantic evening.

If you are a fan of Bill Engvall, you'll enjoy this book. I sure did. His hilarious look at the ridiculous things people say and do will make you laugh and the family stories are even better. For a quick humorous read when you need a chuckle or belly laugh, "Here's Your Sign" by Bill Engvall fits the bill. The perfect gift for Engvall and Blue Collar Comedy fans.

Alain Burrese, J.D. is a performance and personal development expert who teaches how to live, take action, and get things done through the Warrior's Edge. Alain combines his military, martial art, and Asian experiences with his business, law, and conflict resolution education into a powerful way of living with balance, honor, and integrity. He teaches how to use the Warrior's Edge to Take Action and Achieve Remarkable Results. Alain is the author of Hard-Won Wisdom From The School Of Hard Knocks, the DVDs Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, the Lock On Joint Locking series, and numerous articles and reviews. You can read more articles and reviews and see clips of his DVDs as well as much more at http://www.burrese.com and http://www.aikiproductions.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alain_Burrese

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Article Submitted On: July 04, 2010

Y - The Last Man Volume 8 (Kimono Dragons)

This chapter of the 'Y' saga creates excellent context for the rest of the series. We finally begin to understand the motives of several of the main characters. The group has finally made it to Japan, where they have begun their frantic search for the missing Ampersand. Alison and Rose head for Alison's Mother's lab while Yorick and 355 head to Tokyo for the capuchin. When Alison and Rose find that the lab has been torched and there is no sign of the Alison's family, they head for a secret garden in the city that her mother kept. They find her mother, but they also find the Ninja Toyota who has lost Ampersand. After a few stabbings and a sword fight, Toyota takes Alison's mother hostage and leaves both Alison and Rose wounded. The deal is, Alison can have her mother back as soon as they bring Ampersand to Hong Kong.

Elsewhere, Yorick and 355 discover an incredibly advanced android man (mandroid) that has been pimped out by an ex-cop. This ex-cop is named You. You tells them that she had Ampersand at one point but was forced to sell him to the Yakuza for self preservation. The funny thing is, the Yakuza is now run by a Canadian pop-star that was stranded in Japan when the plague hit. With the help of You, Yorick and his friends infiltrate the Yakuza building to rescue Ampersand, and they aren't sure they are going to make it out alive....

We finally get a glimpse of Alison Mann's backstory, how she came to resent her family so much and how she came to grips with her sexuality; also why it is so hard for her to open up to anyone. At the end, Alter rears her ugly head and extorts some information from some of Yorick's old friends in Kansas. The only good thing about this is that we finally get to see what her back story is.

Understanding these motivations adds a great deal of depth to the story. Earlier, I didn't realize how shallow some of the characters seem, but after the revelations presented here, I am excited to re-read the old volumes in context.

Why Comics?

Every time I do a personal survey of the good and bad things in my life reading comics always comes up as one of the best things that ever happened to me. It's simply one of those things I'll never regret - a source of joy. And we can all use more of that, can't we?

The core attraction of comics is the fundamental, and primeval, attraction of stories. The art of storytelling is as old as humanity and will always be with us. That's what comics are, words and pictures that make up a story.

If you are not into reading comics but want to try it, the entry point is easy. It's how I got into this hobby when I was eight years old. It's how it took hold of me and never let go - a sublime addiction that will be with me all my life.

It starts with one issue. A typical comic book issue is 32 pages of full color art and story.

Pick up a comic book, any comic book. Maybe the cover catches your eye, maybe somebody recommended it, maybe you read something good about it in a website, maybe somebody gave one to you, or you found one. Pick it up and read it.

Read it. Set is aside. Let it settle. Heck, try to forget about it.

Chances are it will work its magic on you just like it did on me. Then you try another. Then another. Issue after issue.

The time will come when you will become aware of the comic book concept of universes. That comics published by a particular company like Marvel or DC or Image all happen in the same space, and a story in one issue affects characters in another - a shared universe where the stories occur building up on top of each other forming rich histories out of the contributions of all the writers and artists, editors and colorists, letterers and inkers who have worked in comics through the years. The older the publishing house the richer the universe. The richer the universe the more interesting the stories become. The more you know about a particular universe the more you'll appreciate the issues you read that happen in that universe.

Without any effort, your hobby becomes even more engaging. You find yourself logging on to websites and participating in online forums. You buy not just the comic books but publications about comic books. You get to know the biographies of favorite artists and writers and find yourself interested in the goings-on within the comic book industry. All this happens without effort; it all just naturally follows, creating an aspect of your life that was not there before. A place of fun, a place where you can get excited, and, dare I say it? Happy.

And who doesn't want to be happy?

Conan the Cimmerian #19

Until 2 weeks ago, I had never read a SINGLE Conan comic book. He never interested me. Then, while I was in Captain Comics in Boise, Idaho, I saw this cover and I knew I had to buy it. Initially, I bought 5 issues to give it a test run. I was immensely surprised by the depth of story I found, and how much I enjoyed the Cimmerian's antics. The story reminded me of playing dungeons and dragons as a twelve year old, gathered with my closest friends in my parent's kitchen, slaying evil and stopping villainy. Since that day in Boise, I have completely caught up on the back issues and I was able to purchase #19 that came out this month. So from here on out, expect a monthly review of Conan the Cimmerian!

This issue begins with the ghost of Amalric (the dead mercenary leader) paying a visit to the diseased and starving Conan. He rebukes the Cimmerian for losing his mighty army, and begs to know how it was so. Conan then proceeds to recount the loss of the "Free Companions of the Sword". The art is crisp and beautiful, as always when Giorello pencils. (One criticism I have for this series is the unending parade of guest artist that lack the skill to bring Conan to life.) We are introduced to a smok'in hot chick, Olivia, who is added to the harem of Shah Amurath. The Shah takes brutal advantage of her and all we can do is cringe and pray that the mighty hands of the Cimmerian will one day snap his neck. As the issue concludes, a man that Conan had previously offended returns, and it looks to be a bloody reunion!

I know why I love the Conan comics so much, here is the equation: 1) Conan travels and slays 2) He meets a beautiful woman who is in some sort of danger 3) Conan slays the crap out of everyone and protects/saves her 4) They make sweet, powerful, sweaty Cimmerian love 5) Conan travels and slays again.

With the Conan equation in place, any comic, movie, television show, or book will be wildly successful. I?guarantee?it. Issue 19 is awesome, and I absolutely cannot wait until next month when 20 comes out!

The Noble Silver Surfer

By Troy Tun Troy Tun
Level: Basic PLUS

Troy Tun is a poet, playwright, and essayist. He writes in English and Pilipino and two of his plays are being translated into French.

The Silver Surfer is one of the most famous and loved Marvel Comics superheroes. The character first appeared in a 1966 issue of The Fantastic Four. The space traveler riding on a surfboard, turned on his master, Galactus, to defend the planet Earth.

The Silver Surfer was given limitless cosmic powers by Galactus. His main duty was to look for planets for his world-devouring master to feed on. When he got to planet Earth, he came across the Fantastic Four and subsequently, Alicia Masters. Touched by the nobility of the Fantastic Four, and the passion of Alicia Masters, a blind sculptress who awaken his own innate nobility, he chose instead to rebel against his own master preventing him from consuming the planet Earth. The stories depict him as lonely entity, though possessing immeasurable powers, he lacked the humanity that exists in planet Earth. He lacked the understanding of things like beauty and love. But that was before he met a certain earthling. He then slowly developed compassion along with other human traits though the frail Alicia Masters.

The story of the Silver Surfer portrays the importance of nobility for mankind's survival. And it also depicts how even in a powerful character as the Silver Surfer who acme with a mission to annihilate the human race, there exist in him innate nobility.

The reason for the creators of the Silver Surfer from Marvel Comics for choosing 'silver' may not really be to represent pureness, strength, or nobility. But the association of silver with nobility, and of course also with pureness and strength has quite a history in itself. Most gifts and awards given for one's nobility have always been made of silver. The Silver Award, the Silver Cross, the Silver Star, all shows the connection that 'silver' has with nobility and honor. And of course, it can also be topped up with a little love as the Silver Surfer did.

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Article Submitted On: May 19, 2010

The Invincible Iron Man - Number 1

What the hell Greg? My comic book shop of choice is run by a handsome gentlemen with an uncanny talent; He knows the types of comics I'll enjoy. As I was leaving his store last Saturday, he slipped this one in my bag and simply said, "You're going to hate me." I wasn't exactly sure what he meant, but as I read it dawned on me. I HAVE TO GET EVERY ISSUE IN THIS SERIES. So, I finally realized that Greg is like a drug dealer. He offers me a free hit of comics here and there, and then I get hooked and buy more from his store. My wallet and budget hate him, but my mind and heart love him. So it is with Iron Man.

I really have never been a fan of Iron Man. I have always known of him, but I have never picked up a single issue until now. This issue begins with a crazy suicide bombing and Tony Stark bedding a foreign supermodel, the PERFECT intro to the world of Iron Man. Later, the villain makes his appearance in the form of Ezekiel Stane, a wunderkind with a bank roll and cutting edge technology. The heinous part of his tech is the fact that it is Iron Man technology improved upon. And that simple fact SCARES the hell out of Tony Stark.

I was impressed by the detail in the art, the quality in the dialog, and the breadth of the story. I expect that this tale will be one full of twists and turns, plot shifts and betrayals. There are over 20 issues in this ongoing series, and I don't expect to purchase all of those (or have very much finding them). So I plan on purchasing the Omnibus and then catching up with the floppies from that point. All I have to say is I had a one night stand with Tony Stark, and I hope that he calls me tomorrow.

Where to Read Comic Books Online?

More and more people are wondering where they can read comic books online. The digital versions of print publications of this highly enjoyable and addictive medium, after all, have grown in prominence in recent years, with the advent of comic book readers and portable computing devices like laptops, iPhones, iPods and the Apple iPad.

When trying to discover where to read comics online, one must remember a particular day when these digital format files are released.

Wednesday is usually (san the occasional holiday) New Comics day, when new issues arrive at your local comic shop. It's the time of the week that is always red marked by sequential art aficionados all over the country, and all over the world for that matter.

This is the time of the week when the likes of Spider-Man, Superman, Batman, the X-Men, Green Lantern and other superheroes embark on their newest adventures (or continue their quests from previous months, as the case may be). Whether the heroes are up against the specter of the Blackest Night, or banding together to defeat a Siege, or fighting against one another in a Civil War, Wednesday will always be the day when the newest chapters of the greatest stories are published, delivered and revealed.

Whether people like Spiderman comics, or Superman issues, or old comics of Captain America in World War II, there will always be something for different people come Wednesdays.

Wednesday has, thus, become what is known as 0-day in the digital comics community. 0-day is when printed comics are converted into digitally distributable formats like CBR, CBZ and even PDF (though the former 2 are preferred). With comic book reading programs like CDisplay for the PC, Comic Zeal 4 for the Mac, and Stanza for iPhones, iPods, and iPads, enjoying these digital comic formats has become very easy and convenient.

The sole question that remains is this: where exactly can you read comic books online?