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?

Daytripper - A Sublime Experience

By: Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon

While in Emerald City, I attended the Con of Comics. At the DC booth, there were heaps and heaps of free comics, pins, and posters. Like a red leaf among the yellow piles, the first installation of Daytripper lept into my hands. Seldom does a comic resound so powerfully within a single issue. Daytripper #1 is an non-judging look at the life of an obscure writer named Bras on his birthday. It goes largely unremembered and unnoticed by the world around him, and he struggles with resenting his family as a result. His father is a very successful writer, and all that Bras has accomplished is a steady job as a writer of obituaries. The reader of this comic follows him on this red letter day in his life, not because of his accomplishments, but because of his realizations.

There are very thick themes of family loyalty and love within this issue. It ends in a most surprising manner (which I won't spoil here) that drove several waves of emotion through me. Sadness, joy, understanding, but most of all gratitude. I would recommend this comic to my Father, my Mother, my brothers, my friends and my Wife; such is the power of the message it portrays. It seems to touch upon a deeper level of thought and emotion that most media strives to reach but seldom obtains. More important than reading it, is feeling it.

"You don't choose family."

Please read this comic! You won't regret it!

Pamela Ivy - Batman Villain, But Who Is She?

Pamela Lillian Isley is a fictional comic book villain more commonly known as poison ivy.? Ivy is one of the main female comic book villains to the hero known as Batman. Ivy was created by Robert Kanigher and Sheldon Moldoff and was first introduced to the world in the batman comic issue 181.

Pamela Ivy is known as one of the world's highest threat eco terrorists and uses botany to carry out her evil plans.? Ivy uses toxins from her own blood and other plant life to carry out acts of terrorism which usually involve protecting Mother Nature. Poison Ivy is often played as a love interest to Bruce Wayne and is seen as one of his most powerful foes.

Ivy's most powerful story arc was when she attempted to rob a gala hosted by Bruce Wayne.? During the robbery she kissed Bruce meaning that she left her deadly poison on his lips which would have killed him if ivy hadn't has later kissed a dying Batman which gave him the cure.? She did this without knowing and ever since a sexual tension has been apparent between the super hero and the villain, which has made for many highly charged situations.

Poison ivy isn't one of my favourite female villains, simply because I don't find her too interesting, having said that I believe that Ivy has a lot of potential when it comes to including her character in feature length movies in the future, and with the right story arc poison ivy really could become a powerful enemy to the Dark Knight.

Preacher - Answering the Big Questions

I just finished Preacher, a 75 issue series by Garth Ennis (illustrated by Steve Dillon), and I wonder if I will ever find another series to match it in that hold-your-interest, make-you-want-to-rush-home-and-read quality. Oddly, it sat on my shelf for a few years. I left it there because I thought it just wasn't my style. The cover art was weird, and the surface of the whole thing looked boring to me. A preacher from Texas goes on some sort of adventure. Why would I invest in a comic whose hero was a preacher? I mean come on. Not my style.

But for some reason (perhaps some notion that it would be a waste of money to have bought all the books in the series, only to never read them?), I decided to give it a chance. I think I was on some mission to complete something I started, which for me personally is like a weird trip I get on from time to time... So I read the first issue, just to see if I was wrong about my earlier assessment of the thing. And that was all it took.

It was completely irreverent. I couldn't believe what I was reading, right in that first issue. A preacher who appeared to be a hard drinking badass, starts exposing the depraved sins of his parish members when they pop off to him in a bar. And I am not talking your run of the mill sins, either. Two rednecks raped a child years ago, thought nobody knew. The preacher remembered. Some local tramp did it with a horse. The preacher outs her right there in the saloon. At this point, I know this series is for me.

The premise is interesting, in that the Preacher, a guy named Jesse Custer (initials JC) finds himself imbued with a celestial being named Genesis, who is the progeny of an angel and a demon. When Genesis attaches to his soul, Jesse is empowered to speak with the Word of God, which of course makes people obey him. Jesse decides that he must find God and give him a piece of his mind, what for all the bad things that happen in the world under His watch, and he wants to make Him answer for it. He befriends a vampire, who is a hard drinking Irishman to take along on his quest, and of course his true love Tulip. And of course he is guided by the spirit of John Wayne.

Preacher deals with some very basic issues, and by basic I mean deep existential questions about the nature of God, spirituality, sin and redemption, free will, and all the Big Whys. In the world of Preacher, God exists. It is not a question of wondering, or why one needs faith. God is, and he's on the run. He left heaven in shambles, and nobody can find him. If you are a god fearing whatever, Preacher is probably not for you, because it basically conceptualizes notions that would, to most sensible, god fearing whatevers, amount to blasphemy. But Garth Ennis uses these perhaps unholy ideas to explore spiritual questions, to challenge existing constructs, and rather breaks it all down literally by destroying everything just to see what is really built there in the first place. I am reminded of an exchange Jesse has about God with his psychotic, demented, evil grandmother, whose plan is to force him to become a preacher. She says to the young childhood Jesse, something to the effect of, 'Now Jesse, God watches everything you do. Always. He wants you to love Him with all your heart, and He will be with you forever when you're dead. Now doesn't that make you feel better?' To which Jesse whispers to himself, 'No, Granma. That scares me.' Perfect. A nail right in the collective heart.

What I also find interesting about Preacher, or maybe the genre of comics is general, is the effect circumstances have on people to essentially transform their characters, to actually make them who they are. In the world of comics, these kinds of things are simply made more explicitly obvious. A bayou scientist becomes an organic being by a chemical accident, and incarnates as Swamp Thing, for example. In Preacher, I cannot call the job of writing about it done unless I mention Arseface. While a minor character, Arseface becomes what he is because of his circumstance when he fails to see anything worth living for when Kurt Cobain shoots himself, so he decides to put a gun to his face. Of course he survives, only to look like, well, Arseface. Perhaps not as outwardly heroic as Swamp Thing, or Superman, but really, who in real life ever is? As I read the Arseface arcs, I felt something in my heart. It was true pity, or compassion, not sure which, but I know it because I felt it, right where real feelings live.

If you are a fan of rebellion, or enjoy mere perversion, like to think about the real meaning of life all at the same time, and want to see what could be so compelling about an Arseface, and want to see what Meatman does that is so incredibly disturbing, Preacher is ready for you.

Commissioner Gordon - Who Is He?

Jim Gordon who is also called Commissioner Gordon is an ally and friend of the superhero known as Batman. Commissioner Gordon was created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger and first appears in Detective Comics issue 27. It is worth noting that Jim Gordon was the first supporting character added to the Batman comics.

In nearly all versions of the Batman mythology Gordon is either a police officer of a police commissioner in Gotham City. Most police officers in Gotham City are crooked or even worse villains, however Gordon is different and shares the same hatred for evil that Batman does, and because of this both characters become close allies. Gordon is still sceptical of the dark knight's tactics but deep down he knows that the methods used are needed to clear up the villains on the streets of Gotham City.

Gordon was the father/step father depending on which version of the comics you read of Barbara Gordon who became the first Batgirl. Barbara was later paralyzed by the joker. Gordon in most versions of the mythology is the one who creates and uses the bat symbol, and it is an ongoing joker between comic book readers that Batman will often disappear when Gordon is talking to him while in mid sentence or when he turns his back.

Gordon often wears a trench coat and a fedora while sporting a thick moustache. Commissioner Gordon in the most recent form was played by the actor Gary Oldman who fits the look and feel of the comic book character excellently.

Reaching You - An Endearingly Sweet Shoujo Manga

Stereotypes in high school are common. Other kids will give you labels based on your preferred activities. You either get to be the jock, the queen bee, the nerd, or the teacher's pet. But what if you are too shy and don't mingle around much? You're either a wallflower or a boring nobody, which neither applies to Sawako Kuronuma.

Kimi ni Todoke, or Reaching You, centers on a shy girl named Sawako Kuronuma. Sawako Kuronuma's nickname in school is unique. Due to her shyness, and her resemblance to the popular horror film character in The Ring, her classmates call her Sadako. She's too shy to correct the misconceptions, so she just accepted the nickname. She has difficulty in expressing her emotions, and the more she tries hard, the more she resembles Sadako. Her classmates tend to whisper that she knows witchcraft and brings ill omen to whoever opposes her.

Sawako has two goals in her high school life: to search for good friends, and to do one good deed each day. She is a good daughter and a studious student, always ready to extend a helping hand. A popular boy named Shota Kazehaya noticed her and started to get friendly with her, treating her like any other normal people. He encourages her to open up to other people, and little by little Sawako became friends with Ayane Yano, Chizuru Yoshidan and Ryu Sanada.

High school life is full of surprises for Sawako as she gradually warms up to her other classmates. She started to volunteer to school festivals, offer help to students having difficulty in their lessons, and even lends her clean notes when exam season rolls around. Other people started to flock around her when she joined a gardening club and began growing herbs with medicinal values. Although her classmates still call her Sadako, she doesn't mind it. They even exploit her reputation by creating themes around her growing popularity for the school festival, and Sawako is more than happy to help.

Being a shy wallflower, she didn't realize that she began to like Shota Kazehaya more than a friend. Due to inexperience in love matters, she thought she was just being selfish to want Kazehaya more to herself, so she just ignore her growing feelings. She thought she was just being grateful for all the help and support he gave her, now that their fellow students recognize her unique abilities and sweet nature. But what about Kazehaya? Does he feel the same for Sawako?

You'll fall in love with Kimi ni Todoke's simple plots and twists. This manga has an air of freshness unlike any other, because it deals with everyday problems faced by teens without getting too heavy on drama. Once you started reading this, you'll get an exclusive look in the lives of not just Sawako, but also her other friends' dilemma. The manga doesn't give illusions about love and defeat, but gently explains and give examples on how to deal with your problems through the author's simple illustrations that speak in volumes: life may be fraught with big and small problems, but in the end, the only thing that matters is love, friendship and compassion.

Roxanne is trying to write good articles for nearly 3 years and has a problem finishing her short stories due to her becoming attached to her beloved characters. Her obsession to Bleach manga and shoujo manga knows no bounds. In fact she wants to learn how to read Japanese so she can go to Japan and buy all the shoujo mangas available. So come and visit her latest website Facematch that is full of cute people.

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

Who Is the Joker? - Comic Book Villain

The Joker is a fictional comic book super villain which has no known origin, but he does have various different ways of being portrayed. The joker is responsible for many of the dark knight's traumas throughout the history of both characters. Some of the biggest heart aches caused by the Joker include:

The paralysis of Barbara Gordon, the death of Robin and the death of Rachel Dawes in the latest version of the Dark Knight movie. The Joker first appeared in the very first Batman comic.

Throughout the ages there have been several different portrayals of the Joker. Some have shown him to be a clever psychopath with a warped sense of humour where as some other versions have shown him as a bumbling clown with more focus on the humour side of the role. In the latest version of the joker in the Dark Knight, the joker is played by heath ledger and comes across as a very inelegant psychopath who seems to be one step ahead of the dark knight at all times.

In most versions of the characters history his skin is bleached white while falling into a vat of boiling acid and in most versions the Joker blames batman for this accident so the hatred begins. Overall I would have to say the joker is probably my favourite comic book villain because he's smart, funny and a real threat to the caped crusader. I'm not the only one who thinks this either as the Joker was voted the number 1 super villain of all time in a recent survey.

Zombie Tramp! The Undead Prostitute

While at Comic Con in Emerald City, I passed a booth that caught my eye. Once I approached and browse the contents of their display, I realized that the Zombie Tramp was the culprit. She was so dead, so hot, and so unnatural looking. Not to mention the witty double entendre "She'll blow your brains out". ?Needless to say, I am a sucker for anything zombie related. There are only 2 issues out right now (of 3 total) and I tried to get the guy at the booth to give me both for a discount, but he was rigid and I had to pay a full FIVE dollars for each of them. BUT, in retrospect, I am glad that I paid full price because I know that it is important to support indie comics, and I want Dan Mendoza to do a third issue. I have to know how the story ends!

Here is the story: Janey Belle is a high class prostitute, 'serving' the most wealthy and famous 'A' list celebs and moguls. She makes appearances at red carpet events, and knows the 'ins' and 'outs' of the boudoir. She is pimped out by a transvestite named Madame George. When Ms. George gets into some trouble with the law, she makes a deal for her freedom by arranging for Janey to spend an evening 'working'?with the sheriff. But, the sheriff has other plans in mind as he leads her to the basement where his zombie son is chained... and the rest unfolds from there. I don't want to spoil too much of the comic.

In essence, this comic is a boob-fest with a fast moving story and a love-affair with blood and gore. EXTREMELY entertaining to read, and consequently one of my favorite comics acquired at the Con. Totally blindsided me, took me by surprise, and satisfied my zombie desires. I think the reason I liked it so much, aside from the undead presence throughout, is because the story is SO goofy and whacked out. If you don't like comic nudity (huge balloon-like boobies and pantie shots galore) then steer clear of this one.

Comical - Easiest Way To Read Comics

In this digital era, some changes happen in the way of life that we do not understand, immediately. As an example, when you buy a comic book in the bookstore, of course what you will have in your hand is printed version of the book, with sheets of paper in it, and well protected by cover. In industrialized societies, most of us now live in media-saturated that we can hardly imagine a time when such obvious, necessary, and pleasurable parts of our daily life as television, radio, cinema, books, and audio and video cassettes did not exist.

From this point of view, it seems clear that our societies are changing, especially during digital era. Thanks to internet and development of computer software, comics reading habits have changed. We can see from this simple example: have you ever heard software called "comical"? If you are looking for a CBR and CBZ reader for your favorite OS, look no farther. Comical is an easy-to-use, feature full GUI comic book viewer. However, the most important fact to me is It is open-source, so it is free software. Surely, this time, I do not have to visit bookstore anymore!

Comical lets you access comics from all over the Web in a format that is almost as easy to use as the conventional format of comic books. Comical's interface is plain, intuitive, and simple. This software handles many format of digital comic such as.rar,.cbz,.cbr, and.zip; with a list of available menus: file, go, view, and help. Users simply click on the 'file' menus, and then choose comic format they have in their disk. Overall, I was quite impressed with Comical; it was easy to use, and we could have spent hours reading our favorite comics without spent much money. In fact, we probably will.