tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44313031890815759772024-02-19T07:20:13.262-08:00Dirk's Comic Book CornerDirkStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798032040590840735noreply@blogger.comBlogger87125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431303189081575977.post-37992348817126153872015-06-10T12:39:00.001-07:002015-06-10T12:39:42.344-07:00My city in ruins...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Signs of the bitter things ahead...</b></div>
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Yesterday I had the opportunity to visit Yellow Springs, Ohio. As an old hippie-activist, this town has been an important part of the fabric of my life for many years. At one time <a href="https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?p=yellow+springs+ohio&ei=UTF-8&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-001" target="_blank">Yellow Springs</a>, and the small college in its midst, <a href="http://antiochmidwest1-px.rtrk.com/?utm_source=reachlocal&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=branding" target="_blank">Antioch</a>, were one of the major political centers of the anti-war movement of the sixties and early seventies. I dare say this small Ohio town was no less significant to hippies back in the day than <a href="http://lovehaight.org/" target="_blank">Haight Ashbury</a> in California. Yellow Springs was a town of great substance, filled with intellectual and creative minds. It was a place where people joined together in intellectual conversation that led to getting things done. It was a place of great power, and great activity. Sadly, that is no longer the reality of Yellow Springs.<br /><br />Yellow Springs has become a ghost town, where tourists and wannabe hippies come in search of memories that no longer dwell in the quaint storefronts that line the main thoroughfare of this once fine community. Gone is the communal feeling of Yellow Springs. It has been replaced by a adversarial and confrontational spirit of "townies" versus the rest of us. The town has been ruthlessly taken over by economic conservatives who see no value in the hippies coming to visit their establishments than the green dollars in our drugged up hands. More often than not, shops are operated by fake hipsters who are more prone to quoting <a href="http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/" target="_blank">Rush Limbaugh</a> and <a href="http://www.billoreilly.com/" target="_blank">Bill O'Reilly</a> than <a href="https://www.ramdass.org/" target="_blank">Ram Dass</a> or <a href="http://www.biography.com/people/abbie-hoffman-9341100#!" target="_blank">Abbie Hoffman</a>. There are Hollywood movie sets more real and containing more substance than Yellow Springs. The place now breaks my heart far more often than it lifts my spirits. It is bereft of heart and soul...</div>
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<b>Where the cruel kids hang...</b></div>
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Super-Fly was perhaps the worst experience of my day in Yellow Springs. The place was staffed with sullen faced kids who seemed more interested in ignoring potential customers than getting up off their butts and welcoming them to their shop and asking if they might help them find something specific to their interests. After my experience there, I wouldn't spend a dime in their shop if they were having a Going Out Of Business sale. I would, however, highly recommend <a href="http://www.darkstarbookstore.com/" target="_blank">Dark Star Books</a>. They greet customers with kind words, easy smiles and they'll walk you through their shop and help you find whatever you might be looking for. Yeah, I spent money at Dark Star. They earned it.</div>
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<b>Open hearts and open minds welcome here. </b></div>
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Nestled in a building filled with Aveda hair salons and local artists combines, (where it seemed as if even business cards cost fifty dollars and up) I discovered the wonderful little shop by the name of the <a href="http://www.house-of-ravenwood.com/" target="_blank">House of Ravenwood</a>. Hippies are welcomed here not as tourists to be fleeced, but as kindred spirits to be embraced and welcomed to their community. This is the Yellow Springs I remember. You can walk into this establishment, and if you have have half a mind to speak your mind, they'll let you speak it. This is where church was in Yellow Springs yesterday. And for twenty bucks, I walked out of there with a <b>BAG</b> of beads, bangles, essential hippie gear, and a heart uplifted and a spirit renewed by the fellowship I encountered there. It would have been a bargain at double the price.</div>
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<b> Lorele and Ms. Philana. Very good spirits.</b></div>
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These two wonderful souls will see more of this old hippie in days to come. As long as the House of Ravenwood is occupied by these wonderful women, I'll return again and again. Truly, if you plan on visiting Yellow Springs, your visit will not be complete until you stop in and visit this quaint little shop. I'd sit down for coffee and conversation with these women any day of the week.</div>
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<b>Deanna, Kari and Carrie, the random encounter...</b></div>
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<b> </b>After my wonderful experience in the House of Ravenwood, I walked outside seeking food and beverage to refuel my corporeal needs as thoroughly as my spiritual batteries had just been recharged. I'd no sooner stepped out upon the sidewalk to begin my search for mass quantities of consumables, when three giggling ladies came walking up the sidewalk towards me.<br /><br />It turned out that Kari was celebrating her birthday with two of her best friends, Deanna and Carrie. As soon as they saw me, Kari turned to Carrie and said, "This guy is your soul-mate!" Well, conversation ensued and after some laughs and an exchange of photos, they began contemplating psychic readings for fifty dollars a pop.<br /><br />"Oh no ladies," I said. "In my jingly green bag I have several devices that I will share with you, for no charge whatsoever, as my gift to you on your birthday." Long story short, we rolled across the street and into a bar called, The Gulch. The ladies ordered their beverages of choice and I ordered an ice water, (I don't drink alcohol) and I proceeded to share with them the magic I possess as an old hippie-shaman. It proved to be an enlightening experience I'm sure they'll talk about for many birthday gatherings to come. And it didn't cost them a single penny. Needless to say, hearts were opened, and both tears and laughs were shared in copious quantities. It was a grand time. <br /><br />The lesson of this day in Yellow Springs? The experience I came looking for, only happened when I opened up my heart and gave it freely to the folks around me. The hippie they were looking to meet, turned out to be me. In a town filled only with ghosts of the past, they encountered a spirit who greeted them with a simple message, "Hello, and welcome to the planet. Have a wonderful and safe trip. Treat those you encounter with a loving heart, and more often than not, they'll reciprocate and a grand time will be had by all." There was magic in Yellow Springs yesterday, those who were a part of it will tell you in no uncertain terms, "It felt good, and I'm glad I was a part of it."</div>
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DirkStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798032040590840735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431303189081575977.post-88122391880705922722015-03-22T16:40:00.000-07:002015-04-06T22:50:54.696-07:00NIX Comics, March Madness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>KABLAM!!</b></div>
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So I'm sitting around watching some college hoops, and playing around on facebook, when up pops a post from my buddy at <a href="http://www.nixcomics.com/" target="_blank">NIX Comics</a>, Ken Eppstein. He was looking for someone to proofread a new book, and I immediately replied that I'd do it. He shoots me a PDF of NIX Western Comics #<b>3</b> right away, and shortly thereafter, I'm reading what turned out to be one of the best stories I've read in awhile, The Coward Earl Vance. <br />
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Written by Ken Eppstein, and brilliantly illustrated by Michael Neno, The Coward Earl Vance is a perfect example of what's best about Indy comics, <u>when they're at their best</u>. Ken doesn't produce books that simply emulate or imitate the same old tired drivel being pumped out, week after endless week, by the "Big Two". Whenever I read a <a href="http://www.nixcomics.com/" target="_blank">NIX Comic</a>, I don't feel like he's trying to prove he's worthy of landing the "big job" with either of the "Big Two" companies. Ken does his own thing. His books are never thinly veiled covers of the latest flavor-of-the-day super hero team. I really like that a lot.<br />
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The Coward Earl Vance may be set in the Wild West, but the story is socially relevant to a major issue of our day, without feeling forced, phony or preachy. I was floored at how good a read this turned out to be. And no, I'm not going to give away anything about this story. I'm just going to say this, "This story deserves an award for <u>Best Short Story of the Year</u>." (<b>So far</b>)</div>
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If you're planning to attend either <a href="http://pixcomics.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">PIX</a>, in Pittsburgh, Pa, next week, or, <a href="http://allevents.in/columbus/extra-space-an-indie-comics-expo/#" target="_blank">EXTRA SPACE</a>, in Columbus, Ohio on April the eleventh, this is THE book you want to buy. I'm telling you, The Coward Earl Bruce is so good, I had two cigarettes afterwards...<br />
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Please buy this book! Trust me, you won't be disappointed...</div>
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DirkStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798032040590840735noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431303189081575977.post-90716590404004214472015-03-16T01:41:00.001-07:002015-03-16T01:41:28.733-07:00The Day the Music cried...Sugar-free they may have been, but the Players were laying down funk as smooth as twelve-year-old scotch. Local legends, international successes, they filled the stage at Gillys and played music for the reason its supposed to be played, for the joy of playing music. Roller Coaster of love...<br />
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Then they were whisked off stage faster than the folks who came to see them could get in the doors.<br />
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Then came twenty minutes of awkward silence, followed shortly thereafter by the most bumbling, stumbling troupe of pretentious coffee-house wannabes assembled upon one stage I've ever witnessed in my entire life. And it was a train wreck. Miscue followed miscue, highlighted by a genuine, <i>Nancy Kerrigan</i> moment, when a woman I would have expected better of, given her obvious age, stopped mid-song and whined, "I think my monitor is too loud, can I start over?"<br />
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Even if they'd been playing around a bonfire in my backyard, we'd have booed them off the stage.<br />
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My wingman looked at me and said, "Taco Bell sounds a lot better than this, let's get out of here." And we did...<br />
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I love Louie, I love his shows, and have more often than not enjoyed some surprisingly good music at them. I'll just think of Friday night's portion of Dayton Does Dayton a sour note in what up until then has always been a fairly solid composition. <br />
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On a positive note, High 5 Riot will be playing Gillys on April 25th and I'm sure they'll be bringing some energy. See you then?<br />DirkStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798032040590840735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431303189081575977.post-52901490577338594202014-10-12T01:22:00.002-07:002014-10-12T03:29:25.738-07:00H!gh 5 Riot CD release party, 10/11/14<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>High 5 R!ot in the house!</b></div>
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Tonight Jane and I had the great pleasure to attend the CD release party for H!gh 5 Riot. Everything about the night was perfect. I loved the venue. It was my first time visiting The Old Yellow Cab building and it felt like I was in Hamburg, Germany during the early days of the Beatles. Yes, the venue is small, but it produces an atmosphere of intimacy that is unique in all the Oregon District. You don't go to watch a show there, you go to participate in the show. It was the perfect setting for Ashley Stacy. She loves the people who turn out for the band's shows. She doesn't just perform for the crowd, she jumps off the stage and gets up and close and personal with them.</div>
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Look, I've spent a lot of time in the Oregon District. Many a weekend I've walked from bar to bar and listened to a lot of live music. I can't begin to count the number of times I've heard the same handful of songs performed from one club to the next. I'm not faulting any of the bands, they're bar bands and they cater to the patrons who want to hear popular radio songs while consuming mass quantities of alcohol. More often than not the bands are simply background noise. High 5 R!ot isn't a bar band. They're about making good music and partying with the many friends who come to see them perform.<br />
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High 5 R!ot and Ashley Stacy have learned an important secret often overlooked by other bands; Music isn't just about being on stage and being admired by people. Good performers have a way of making a crowd feel like they're right up there on the stage with them and an important part of the show too. Ashley Stacy is the master of the art of making a crowd feel like they're part of the show. And she doesn't do it with pithy verbal repartee between songs. No, she does it by getting genuinely involved with the crowd. She gets down off the stage and gets down with the crowd. Point a camera at her and she's going to give you the picture that belongs to you and no one else. It's magical and the crowd loves her for it.<br />
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And boy does she have a band: Andy Uzzel on bass, Austin labig on lead guitar, Sean McGrath on drums and Aaron Noble on keyboards. They blend together perfectly. Each member brings something to the table without which the overall sound wouldn't work. They're tight. There's an undeniable chemistry between the members of the band and they're producing something special. I can't wait to see what musical directions this band takes as they develop their own unique sound and style. They aren't just performing, they're creating.<br />
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Anytime Ashley contacts me and says, "Hey, we're doing a show at _______, can you make it?" I'm gonna be there. And so should you. There's something very special about this group of kids. They make magic. They make incredible music together. And most importantly, they make you feel like they're there to see you. They're not just creating a fan base, they're creating a family, and a circle of close friends who share the same love of music they share among themselves.<br />
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Mark my words folks, this band is gonna make some noise. And a whole lot of friends too. Give your ears a treat, pick up a copy of their new CD, <i>Crowd Control,</i> and you'll hear what I'm talking about. <u>Trust me, you won't be disappointed</u>.<br />
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DirkStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798032040590840735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431303189081575977.post-43583220294436989702014-09-26T16:48:00.000-07:002014-09-26T17:31:10.963-07:00High 5 R!ot Meet and Greet, September 20th, 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ashley Stacy of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/high5riot" target="_blank">High 5 R!ot</a>.</div>
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This past Saturday night, I had the delightful pleasure of attending a meet and greet for a new band, High 5 R!ot, at one of the Oregon District's popular local watering holes, The Trolley Stop. I always go into each of these events with certain <i>expectations</i>: promoters, slick press kits, a lil' swag, food, beverage, and of course, the band. Seeing that all the fore-mentioned ingredients were present from the get-go, and my expectations met so quickly, the evening could have been called a success the moment I walked in the door to the party house.<br />
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However, expectations aren't why I attend these events. I'm <i>looking</i> for something. Good music...<br />
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You see, good music isn't just a part of my life, its a key ingredient of my life. I don't even put on the first pot of coffee of the day before selecting the first tune of the day. Music fuels the engine of my soul. Its the most important meal of the day. I went to the gig at the party house looking for something that had already caught my eye, the voice of Ashley Stacy. She makes good music.<br />
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The first time I ever heard Ashley perform was during an acoustic set at Rewind 5 (<i>Gilly's, May 2014</i>) with now band mates, Andy Uzzel and Sean McGrath. Ashley flat out stole the show that night and produced the truly "big moment" of the evening's entertainment. I made a point of searching her out after the set and in no uncertain terms I told her exactly how impressed I was with her vocal abilities. I'm telling you, the girl can flat out sing.<br />
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So, Saturday night I went to see the new band at the Trolley Stop. Louie Wood was in attendance and the more I hang out with him, the more I like him and his uncanny ear for good music. If I see Louie at an event, I know something good is going to happen. I met mothers and fathers, siblings and friends of the band. I was welcomed as warmly as Ive ever been at a function like this one. I met some good folks I can't wait to hang out with at a show in the near future. I like the crowd that hangs around Ashley Stacy and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/high5riot" target="_blank">High 5 R!ot</a>. Yeah, these are folks I want to party with.<br />
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Eventually the band performed a three song set. The first song felt a bit nervous and rushed. (I expected that.) It was like watching a runaway train, racing faster and faster down the tracks until it crashed into a deafening silence. It was okay, it just wasn't the moment I was looking for. The second song saw the band calm down a bit and they produced a solid song. Still, I was looking for that special something, the big moment.<br />
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Then came the third song of the set and the band finally relaxed and just let the music come. Again, you could have heard a pin drop. Cameras ceased flashing, voices grew quiet and every single eye was on Ashley Stacy as she dominated the room with her voice and stage presence. <u>It was exactly what I was looking for</u>. I'm telling you, the girl can flat out sing her butt off.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/high5riot" target="_blank">High 5 R!ot</a> will be performing Saturday, October 11th, at their CD release party, in the "Old" Yellow Cab building located at 700 E. 4th Street in Dayton, Ohio. Doors open at 7, tickets are currently available for the great price of $5.00 and will also be available at the door the night of the show for $7.00. I've got it marked on my calendar and so should you.<br />
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I think we're going to see some big things from this band. I think we're going to see some big things from Ashley Stacy. I can't wait for the show to begin. I'm going to be there and I hope you'll be joining me for what I believe will be a magical evening of great music. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.<br />
<br />DirkStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798032040590840735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431303189081575977.post-41883281608477289022014-05-25T15:27:00.001-07:002014-05-25T16:13:53.042-07:00Rewind 5, May 23, 2014. A celebration of local music and good times.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG3cqdyzf7kACbTzd23H90vK2JKdLP3RrdTHm47R1PovWQcXfQktrD4KTUMJGS2MVphYqym5kJKABAfAOOXeSGgPn1hxMgb0RFVABI1C96fKwm_YOJh0aHjp5dXt6kfF8i2v-elH4gFts/s1600/Rewind+poster.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG3cqdyzf7kACbTzd23H90vK2JKdLP3RrdTHm47R1PovWQcXfQktrD4KTUMJGS2MVphYqym5kJKABAfAOOXeSGgPn1hxMgb0RFVABI1C96fKwm_YOJh0aHjp5dXt6kfF8i2v-elH4gFts/s1600/Rewind+poster.jpg" height="320" width="206" /></a></div>
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<b>A celebration of local music.</b></div>
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From the moment I walked into Gilly's I knew this was going to be something different. I don't know what Louie does to get Fuerst Florists to donate the flowers, but folks, I've walked into funerals that didn't smell as good as Gilly's did Friday night. The air was as perfumed as the fields filled with Spring flowers surrounding our fair city. It was magical. And while I'm on the subject of venue, I want to say what a great place for music Gilly's really is. They have a great stage, large enough to handle any number of musicians comfortably and I love the theater style seating. Gilly's isn't just another bar hosting bands. Its a showcase for musicians. Musicians aren't just a part of the scene, they are the focus of the scene. I confess that it had been a while since my last visit, but after Friday night's show, I'll be frequenting them on a much more regular basis. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3F6KXoBkTJxDukm2eBrcKdb8ow4wDxfMSGAvyu8-rx2wpGo4iNi4MjZxcp0Rl9gS1Aqj74TqdX-sjC-NMN1h5tfrUbxJ20Q3C3WmxWZoRenjsNg6BmfP6GrHPXRekTYK-g5FTIz6sYDw/s1600/Jam+I+B.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3F6KXoBkTJxDukm2eBrcKdb8ow4wDxfMSGAvyu8-rx2wpGo4iNi4MjZxcp0Rl9gS1Aqj74TqdX-sjC-NMN1h5tfrUbxJ20Q3C3WmxWZoRenjsNg6BmfP6GrHPXRekTYK-g5FTIz6sYDw/s1600/Jam+I+B.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Acoustic jam to get the evening rolling. </b></div>
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The acoustic jam to get the evening rolling really set the stage for what was to follow. Each of the performers participated in a kind of Round Robin format where they each had to perform an eighties cover song as well as an original song from their normal playlist. My favorite moments from this part of the show had to be the guitar styling of Joe Gillis and the brilliant vocals of Ashley Stacy. Ashley is one of those performers that simply command the attention of a crowd. She reminded me of Janis Joplin. I don't mean to say she sounded like Janis, she simply had so many of the vocal qualities that made Janis Joplin so popular during her all too brief career. Ashley can flat out sing and she has a charisma on stage that makes her a musical force to be reckoned with. She's working with a new band called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/high5riot" target="_blank">High5 Riot</a> and I can't wait to see what they'll be bringing to the Dayton music scene come October. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8kci1In56B-EAoYg5QEvoyVkcqFu6kHOd8ehO_Owu3kzu13Uq-n4pLcZf4ykArdXbjJ0elZ6I-5zRys_JyxxOf3NmIygxctJCuArgl3851Yb-phsHAMtdVdc7c6D_l0ZGF3VH0p4ZUIQ/s1600/Ashley+Stacy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8kci1In56B-EAoYg5QEvoyVkcqFu6kHOd8ehO_Owu3kzu13Uq-n4pLcZf4ykArdXbjJ0elZ6I-5zRys_JyxxOf3NmIygxctJCuArgl3851Yb-phsHAMtdVdc7c6D_l0ZGF3VH0p4ZUIQ/s1600/Ashley+Stacy.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Ashley Stacy and yours truly.</b></div>
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One of these days I'm gonna post this picture and say, "Yeah, I told you this girl was gonna be somebody some day." She absolutely made me a fan with this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93TYh-bY9K0&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">song</a>. Taking a classic and making it your own, that takes real talent, and folks, she's just flat out loaded with it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KRm_GunQxFPwRhM855H6FQUr1g2nscppF5Dnw0z_Xf3KqSKuZGxHnAeFy4gziH0jXytcI5aPrKrYFBax95BZ_2IS6x4PXqg7P-tZ6ywz5fIOrhWiNcJe4RKDWTKHbVtz-n_T7I7hsns/s1600/Dancers+B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KRm_GunQxFPwRhM855H6FQUr1g2nscppF5Dnw0z_Xf3KqSKuZGxHnAeFy4gziH0jXytcI5aPrKrYFBax95BZ_2IS6x4PXqg7P-tZ6ywz5fIOrhWiNcJe4RKDWTKHbVtz-n_T7I7hsns/s1600/Dancers+B.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Belly dancing? At a rock show?</b></div>
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Yup, that's what I thought too, but then Belly Dance by <a href="http://bronwenbellydancer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Bronnwen</a> put on a beautiful performance that truly caught me unawares. It dawned upon me after a few moments into their performance that I'd never actually seen a belly dancer perform. It wasn't like anything I expected and brought me a whole new respect for something I'd read about often enough yet never experienced first hand. Their performance was beautiful and graceful. They expanded my horizons and I can't say enough good things about these dancers, they were really amazing.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtjjYdJTEMbM0i8D_ycuJgF33nxU0uJx_99trIO8qqsFp62AsnlNj2dXDyEK5tuLMS2FURlkEbdcQmyW3zuPHYauKlrIN-sc2lPXnaUhby7I73ADf7B83ZwA3mblKiqCoxpcJGDF7uKX8/s1600/GGW+II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtjjYdJTEMbM0i8D_ycuJgF33nxU0uJx_99trIO8qqsFp62AsnlNj2dXDyEK5tuLMS2FURlkEbdcQmyW3zuPHYauKlrIN-sc2lPXnaUhby7I73ADf7B83ZwA3mblKiqCoxpcJGDF7uKX8/s1600/GGW+II.jpg" height="237" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b> Cat Swift, Catherine Ralston, myself and Reyna Spears.</b></div>
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These three girls worked their butts off the entire evening and were a joy to behold every time they took the stage in whatever configuration of musicians they performed with. Cat Swift is the quintessential drummer. She bounces around with so much energy she makes Tigger look lethargic. When you talk to her it's fist-bumps, "Hell yeahs," and rock and roll. She's the kind of girl you love to party with until you both throw back a shot and then she head butts you and knocks you flat on yer ass. Catherine Ralston just made me smile the whole night. She's the wiggly-jiggly girl you think is onstage just for her looks until she starts singing and then you realize she has some serious chops. Reyna Spears is smoking hot. She also plays some serious key boards and can sing too. Check her out <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNxUjEdM-FA" target="_blank">here</a>. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfb2Q9PGgAjuijYkyUUZl2BwnqhwmI45aIrmy6Q_VZRsHP9kahGWajI9XcbQp0bxJHZARtSqoNZIQGXkf3NxD02BsO7dvVNn9Wmcnv0xI8tH_V2GSMs_sugFJMRVgm8wk0WYnlBIGEnlk/s1600/Louie+Wood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfb2Q9PGgAjuijYkyUUZl2BwnqhwmI45aIrmy6Q_VZRsHP9kahGWajI9XcbQp0bxJHZARtSqoNZIQGXkf3NxD02BsO7dvVNn9Wmcnv0xI8tH_V2GSMs_sugFJMRVgm8wk0WYnlBIGEnlk/s1600/Louie+Wood.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b> Louie Wood, the man is on to something good.</b></div>
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I first met Louie a few years ago on facebook and we quickly became good friends. He's got a great sense of humor and genuinely cares about so many things and people. He loves the music scene, he loves musicians and he understands how to make the ordinary extraordinary. As I stated earlier in the piece, from the moment you stepped into Gilly's and were embraced by the perfume of flowers in the air, you knew something magical was going to happen. The place didn't smell like a bar, it smelled like a Spring meadow. The eighties
numbers required of the bands really produced some great musical
moments and forced bands out of their normal comfort zones. The show format had bands playing acoustic sets and then interacting with each other on the stage throughout the evening producing a very unique musical experience you just don't find in Dayton, Ohio often enough these days. It was a jam. I loved every single moment of it and I haven't even touched on some of the amazing moments this show produced, like The Tracers doing Rush covers like they'd been playing the songs their entire lives or Crazy Damn Good rocking out George Harrison's Got My Mind Set On you. Folks, this is a show I won't miss in the years to come. Louie Wood has something special going on with these shows and they aren't to be missed. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.</div>
DirkStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798032040590840735noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431303189081575977.post-55634580237852781052014-02-18T17:46:00.000-08:002014-02-19T14:48:08.908-08:00Zombie Marge, putting fun back into comics...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgdlWJoJ6Bpx44J7N6Bc0mbhvH1_lYlKNuBvJvHw60NZe2OzLOWDlMCeCZoL4Hwc3MbdPpl4EaoBr7O1wdmQYPAPIHtv3TSsrXZrzrIn-i_DX_CnU3fv07805dUgeWA-NBMQRBC1oViI/s1600/Zombie+Marge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgdlWJoJ6Bpx44J7N6Bc0mbhvH1_lYlKNuBvJvHw60NZe2OzLOWDlMCeCZoL4Hwc3MbdPpl4EaoBr7O1wdmQYPAPIHtv3TSsrXZrzrIn-i_DX_CnU3fv07805dUgeWA-NBMQRBC1oViI/s1600/Zombie+Marge.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<b>Delightfully irreverent and funny...</b></div>
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Halfway through Tim Fuller's Zombie Marge it suddenly dawned upon me why I've fallen so in love with Indy comic books. For too long now I've been unhappy with mainstream comics. I wasn't happy with them because they're just not <i>fun</i> to read anymore. I'm so tired of intergalactic wars of "epic" proportions being fought by superheros who somehow need to be socially relevant, politically correct and continually tormented by their inner demons. I'm sick to death of the half White, half Black, half Latino characters struggling with their homosexuality while they battle to save humanity in galaxies far far away while their lovers lie dying on planet Earth of Aids. Mainstream comics are just too damned preachy, boring and pretentious these days. No wonder folks aren't buying comic books anymore, it's cheaper to turn on our televisions and watch daytime dramas for free. <br />
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<a href="http://zombiemarge.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Zombie Marge</a> is none of the above things. Zombie Marge is refreshingly witty, funny and irreverent. It takes me back to the days of Hellboy Junior and Ren and Stimpy. Zombie Marge, and so many of the other books being produced by Tim Fuller, are just plain good-old-fashioned fun. This is what's being forgotten in the comic book industry today. Not every comic book has to be an epic tale of Herculean warriors battling the forces of evil to save the universe from the super villain of the month. There's a market for books like Zombie Marge. There's a market for a good laugh and Tim Fuller fills it admirably. Look, for those of us working ten to twelve hours a day, often times six days a week, the last thing we need when we sit down to read a comic book for relaxation is one more source telling us how we should be thinking about the "major" issues of the day. All we're looking for is a good laugh, a bit of respite from our busy work week, and that's where a book like Zombie Marge comes into play. Zombie Marge is a break from the realities of daily life, not another reminder of how rough and horrible life is these days.</div>
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<a href="http://www.hoohacomics.com/" target="_blank">Hoohah Comics</a> is Tim Fuller's home on the Internet and it's loaded with a treasure trove of books guaranteed to make you smile when you could really use one the most. You'll find Tim's Little Olden books, Sham Comics, The Blue Beagle, Twelve-Way with Cheese and so much more. You'll find books you can enjoy with your kids as well as books to amuse your more sophisticated stoner friends. Yeah, I said it, your stoner friends. We, uh, I mean they, like a good laugh too. Whether you like ongoing <a href="http://zombiemarge.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">web comics</a>, <a href="http://www.comixology.com/search?search=Cap%E2%80%99n+Catnip" target="_blank">digital comics</a> or hard copy books, Tim Fuller has you covered. And best of all? You'll truly find something for the entire family to enjoy reading. That's something I just don't find in the big two comic houses these days. Surf on over and check Tim out, you'll be glad you did. Trust me, you won't be disappointed. </div>
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DirkStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798032040590840735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431303189081575977.post-4807592950441158172014-02-14T20:35:00.004-08:002014-02-14T20:37:10.055-08:00Nix Comics; comics for cool kids.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDENKD1PtJeKDYLKqo27-nFA-fB6L-ho7WuaRtg6x3ctGSE_NbEAOpSEp0EU75rp_uIx7pRLyBblU3v7q0TnBDrjqmrmgInBJdRUMw8_XUmsgk5fmLMJ0vJM9Y3OJvHZil70rcyXS2y3U/s1600/Nix+One.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDENKD1PtJeKDYLKqo27-nFA-fB6L-ho7WuaRtg6x3ctGSE_NbEAOpSEp0EU75rp_uIx7pRLyBblU3v7q0TnBDrjqmrmgInBJdRUMw8_XUmsgk5fmLMJ0vJM9Y3OJvHZil70rcyXS2y3U/s1600/Nix+One.jpg" height="320" width="218" /></a></div>
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<b>Comics for cool kids, like us...</b></div>
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Time for the first review of some of the great books I discovered at the Independent Creators Expo 2014. I've been pouring over comic books since the evening the con ended and I'm happy to report that the amount of quality materials I received there has warmed my heart during one of the worst winters Ohio has experienced in a very long time. Let's get to it, shall we?<br />
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<a href="http://nixcomics.com/" target="_blank">Nix Comics</a> is a unique blend of some of my all time favorite comic books, Mr. Natural, Not Quite Dead, The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers and Tales From The Crypt. Writer/Editor, Ken Eppstein, has skillfully managed to combine an obvious love for rock and roll music, classic morality-tale horror and an appreciation for sarcastic humor into a quarterly comic book guaranteed to satisfy the appetite of the Indy comic book reader looking for something truly different in the Indy scene. You won't find superhero makeovers and rewrites of stories already written to death in Marvel and D.C. comics in Nix Comics. What you will find are a collection of short vignettes intelligently written and skillfully illustrated by artists including, Ryan Brinkerhoff, Joel Jackson, Darren Merinuk and Michael Neno.<br />
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Between the front and back covers of a Nix comic book you'll find mature tales of horror based around characters like the musician who <i>wouldn't</i> sell his soul to the devil or the Narcissistic guitarist. You'll also find socially relevant and thought provoking pieces like Man Loves, God Kills?. You'll also find irascible characters like Bus Stop Ned and funny parodies of classic comic book ads. And that's what I find so enjoyable about <a href="http://nixcomics.com/" target="_blank">Nix Comics</a>, every turn of the page brings something new. And Ken understands the difference between mature content and titillating illustrations. Ken understands that good stories don't need to be wrapped in spandex, bolstered by breasts, babes or sexual innuendo. Good stories are just as engaging as hard bodies in skimpy costumes. I found this approach to story telling refreshing.<br />
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<a href="http://nixcomics.com/" target="_blank">Nix Comics</a> aren't just about rock and roll either. You'll find some great Western stories and an excellent book for parents and children featuring a cleverly designed character named Boy Howdie. Everything I sampled was smart, engaging and entertaining. Comic books like these are the reason I read Indy comics almost exclusively these days. Rather than trying to breath new life into exhausted character stereotypes and story lines, Ken is producing fun and imaginative comic books based upon solid story telling and visually delightful illustrations. If you're looking for some quality Indy comics, I'd strongly encourage you to go online and give Nix Comics some well deserved support. Ken Eppstein and friends are truly deserving of your time and hard earned money. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.</div>
DirkStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798032040590840735noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431303189081575977.post-47537562704628345312014-01-28T12:02:00.002-08:002014-01-28T12:02:51.589-08:00Independent Creators Expo Febuary 1st, 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi06C12jwMCovR3UkkvhWnCji-dZqh0SWGNGbK_KTh2TGvIx5NV1tw048nuKDbLkagpzYlmwaEQNY77I0ybwmM-iEp8VHtv5HPM-xotJ73OmmY0USbyffH5u9cauLg81xN0F1Xj68J8zmw/s1600/Ice+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi06C12jwMCovR3UkkvhWnCji-dZqh0SWGNGbK_KTh2TGvIx5NV1tw048nuKDbLkagpzYlmwaEQNY77I0ybwmM-iEp8VHtv5HPM-xotJ73OmmY0USbyffH5u9cauLg81xN0F1Xj68J8zmw/s1600/Ice+2014.jpg" height="320" width="274" /></a></div>
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<b>Guaranteed to warm you up inside.</b></div>
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Okay, we all know it's cold outside and the weather is frightful, but if you're looking for something to break the grip of cabin fever, and provide a little chicken soup for the soul, then you need to get yourself to Wright State University this weekend for the Independent Creators Expo featuring some of the best talent in the Indy scene today. Saturday, February 1st 2014 there's going to be a jam you don't want to miss; we're talking music, films, comic books and lot's of surprises for those of you stalwart enough to brave the elements and get your butts to this venue for some some fun.</div>
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I can't wait for some of my local friends to meet and greet some of my favorite Indy folks. You're gonna love the gang from <a href="http://www.tethercomic.com/" target="_blank">Tether</a>. Folks they bring a show and a half and they're just the greatest group of characters you could ever hope to spend some time with. Are you looking for a read that will chill your blood and curl your toes? Check out my buddy Chris Charlton from <a href="http://assailantcomics.com/" target="_blank">Assailant Comics</a> and his amazing series Black of Heart. And I just can't wait for my Dayton friends to meet Jonathon Hodges of <a href="http://www.badplaceproductions.com/" target="_blank">Bad Place Productions</a>. This guy has assembled some of the most amazing talent you've seen in a long time and they're producing some absolutely must read comic books you've ever seen. Looking for a good old fashioned laugh out loud book? Check out my friends from <a href="http://www.oldworldcomics.com/" target="_blank">Old World Comics</a>. Seriously, these guys put the fun back in comic books and I just love their stuff. I guarantee, you'll love them too.<br />
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Oh, are ya looking for some new jams? Check out my buddies from <a href="http://www.redhotrebellion.com/" target="_blank">Red Hot Rebellion</a>. Dude, they flat out rock and they're gonna keep the jam room a hopping. And best of all, when you walk up to their table looking to buy a few goodies, they don't charge what the market can bear, they let you pay what your pocketbook can afford! I'm not kidding! Are you familiar with the <a href="http://www.thenightbeast.com/" target="_blank">Night Beast</a>? How about <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PropheticRecordings" target="_blank">Nathan Profitt</a>? Yeah, it's gonna rock...<br /><br />How about a little love for the homegrown goodness of Jason Young of <a href="http://buyerbeware.guttertrash.net/" target="_blank">Buyer Beware Comics</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Baron-Von-Porkchops-Terrifying-Tales-of-the-Macabre/134553616562735?sk=photos_albums" target="_blank">Baron Von Porkchop</a>. And last but certainly not least, let's give a big round of well deserved applause to our gracious host Brandon Johnson of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Studio-Akumakaze/110909949273" target="_blank">Studio Akukmakaze</a> for putting together such an amazing event. I'm telling you, for the amazingly low price of three dollars, you can't find a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon in Dayton, Ohio than the <a href="http://ice.studioakumakaze.com/" target="_blank">Independent Creators Expo</a>, February 1st, 2014, from 10 am to 5pm. I'll be there, my best bud Robert Floyd is going to be there, heck, who all knows who'll be there! If you have any idea what a good time is, you'll be there too. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.</div>
DirkStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798032040590840735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431303189081575977.post-65481500448371360622013-08-17T17:12:00.003-07:002013-08-17T17:21:38.586-07:00Melt the Sky-Red Hot Rebellion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b> Melt yer' face off rock and roll music!</b></div>
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A little over an hour ago, Jim Tramontana of <a href="http://www.redhotrebellion.com/" target="_blank"><i>Red Hot Rebellion</i></a> put a copy of their new CD in my hands and I've been playing it over and over again ever since. Seriously boys and girls, I've seen Buddhist monks on fire that weren't this hot. This new album doesn't just assault the senses, it beats them bloody with a baseball bat and then boot-stomps whatever is left over until they're begging for mercy. Holy Frack these mother f**kers are good.</div>
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Every time I turn the album cover over to read the band credits I expect to read stuff like; <i>Andris Devine</i>-Drums/Vox and "Bulldozer", <i>Doug Spencer</i>-Guitar/Vox and "Chainsaw" and <i>Jim Tramontana</i>-Bass/Keys/Vox and "Jack Hammer". These boys are just plain tearing it up! <br />
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Track one, <i>Melting the Sky</i>, gets this new offering from <a href="http://www.redhotrebellion.com/" target="_blank">Red Hot Rebellion</a> off to a whirlwind start that will leave your eardrums bleeding for a week. With Andris Devine thundering on drums, Doug Spencer laying down lightening on guitar and Jim Tramontana raining major riffs on bass, this isn't a band as much as it is an elemental force of nature shoving a hurricane of sound up yer' arse. And with each of the tracks that follows, the storm just keeps on a comin' faster and more powerful than the one preceding it. Fact is, this album outta come with an application form for FEMA cause you ain't gonna be right for weeks after listening to it the first time.<br />
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And they're doing a show at Blind Bob's August, 31, 2013! Hell yeah I'm going!! You'd be a fool not to go see these guys for five dollars before they hit it big and you wind up paying forty bucks per pop just to watch em' from the nose bleed seats of your local arena. Seriously, five dollars, Hell, you can't even buy a cup of coffee for that price anymore.</div>
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<img alt="Photo: Seriously, if you aren't already planning to attend this event, you don't know nuthin' bout' how to party your f**king face off!" class="scaledImageFitWidth img" height="780" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/p480x480/1184753_10151809520496276_388392984_n.jpg" style="top: 0px;" width="504" /></div>
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<b>Come on out and support he best party band in the whole frackin universe!</b></div>
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Oh yeah, you all know where I'm gonna be Saturday, August 31, 2013 and I'm going to be dragging everyone I know along with me or they're all going on the friends Probationary List fer sure. Hey, I gotta have standards, and these days they all seem to be by <a href="http://www.redhotrebellion.com/" target="_blank">Red Hot Rebellion</a>. </div>
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So come on out and join me for what I guarantee will be one of the best nights of party music you've heard in a very long time. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.<br />
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DirkStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798032040590840735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431303189081575977.post-23950138180810009782013-07-22T21:18:00.000-07:002013-07-22T21:18:36.214-07:00Black of Heart - Assailant Comics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2oaomW0gQg_hHvRnAbHhyphenhyphenZbkoOkRoxioItqCrQqS-65q9KpK0Phd5z3rSfuVa5WRlXwY2IzGXxj6oFPeSDWx-MGKMCTFAEnpmN5QJ1Y010ryd6J7qd9wRH1WRqzfCAP1IKMSAu56_mOQ/s500/Black+of+Heart.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2oaomW0gQg_hHvRnAbHhyphenhyphenZbkoOkRoxioItqCrQqS-65q9KpK0Phd5z3rSfuVa5WRlXwY2IzGXxj6oFPeSDWx-MGKMCTFAEnpmN5QJ1Y010ryd6J7qd9wRH1WRqzfCAP1IKMSAu56_mOQ/s320/Black+of+Heart.png" width="228" /></a></div>
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<b>Noir fiction at its best.</b></div>
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Okay, I admit it, this is a rather fast turnaround for another review of an <a href="http://assailantcomics.com/" target="_blank">Assailant Comics</a> book but Gawd-a-Mighty these boys are cranking out some great reading. Black of Heart, chapter one; Last Cab in Brooklyn was a stunner from page one to the cliffhanger on the final panel of the story. Writer Chris Charlton has created a piece of Noir fiction the likes of which I haven't seen since Ed Brubaker's Criminal series. Masterfully illustrated by David Hollenbach and smartly lettered by Brant W. Fowler this book proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that there's something going on over at this company well worth keeping an eye on.<br />
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Black of Heart is a dark and visceral tale about a serial killer stalking the streets of Brooklyn and the detective trying to hunt him down and put an end to his reign of terror. Writer Chris Charlton continues to display a real talent for using classic elements of any particular genre without falling into the quagmire of using overworked and tired cliches. The man just knows how to tell a good story. I liked Binary Gray, but I loved Black of Heart. Chris just seems to be gaining confidence with each and every story he's writing and I'm quickly becoming a real fan of his work.<br />
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The illustrations of David Hollenbach border on absolute brilliance producing some truly goose-bump and hair-raising panels without going into the extremes of excessive blood and gore. Don't get me wrong, David ain't afraid of walking on the wild side and he does some things with point of view perspective that will draw you into a world not meant for the squeamish or faint of heart. He nails it folks, he just flat out nails it. And lest I forget it, Bryant W. Fowler does a great job with the lettering. I know it seems like a minor point to some but quality lettering can sometimes make or break a book and in this instance Mr. Fowler puts the perfect cherry on top of the Noir sundae.<br />
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I don't care what everyone else might be reading over the next few months, but as for me and my house, we're gonna be glued to Black of Heart. I have a feeling this is going to be one of the sleepers of the summer and I don't plan on missing a single episode of what promises to be a great story.</div>
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DirkStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798032040590840735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431303189081575977.post-29668391924037529662013-07-07T20:24:00.001-07:002013-07-07T20:24:22.697-07:00Serial Squad - Bad Place Productions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>"Nazis and Martian Tripod Walkers? Oh my!"</b></div>
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Although their heyday had long come and gone by the time I began reading pulps in the mid sixties, characters like Doc Savage, The Green Hornet, The Shadow and The Phantom still managed to reach out from the nineteen-thirties and forties to capture the attention of a young boy and keep me spellbound with the tales of their adventures. Sure I loved characters like Superman and Spider Man, but in my mind, the pulp heroes and their two-fisted tales of fighting Nazis, mobsters and thugs, from the dark streets of Chicago, to the deepest-darkest-wilds of the Amazon jungle, never took a backseat to anyone, no matter how super-powered they might be.<br />
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Serial Squad pays homage to those bygone days of the great pulp characters with a storyline taken right out of the pages of yesteryear. Of course there are Nazis. And there's a group of actors who suddenly find themselves faced with the choice of fighting for the good old American way and freedom, or turning tail and running away from danger like cowardly dogs. Oh yeah, there's a dame too. Tough as nails, trained in judo and able to hold her own against any tough guy. And she's got a trained tiger too. And if that isn't enough to whet your appetite, there's a science fiction twist that is literally out of this world.<br />
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Not only has creator Paul E. Shultz written a quality story, he's also illustrated the book with some of the finest black and white panels I've seen in years. His use of negative spacing is simply breathtaking. Seriously, the book is a must have for any artist seeking to learn how to do a black and white book the right way. Truly this is a comic book I'll treasure for years to come, before someday passing it on to my son. He's gonna love it as much I do too.<br />
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As if all this goodness isn't enough already, hold on to your hats boys and girls, because there's even more! On the inside of the back cover is a secret message for all members of the Jr. Serial Squad, that can only be decoded using the Official Glow-In-The-Dark Secret Decoder Ring! Yeah, you heard me right, and its only available by joining the the Jr. Serial Squad! Now, I'm not about to sink ships with loose lips, but I will tell you this, the message has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with Ovaltine.<br />
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Now I suggest you get your freedom-loving-patriotic butts over to <a href="http://www.badplaceproductions.com/" target="_blank">Bad Place Productions</a> right this very minute and do your patriotic part to defend America from the dark forces of evil lurking around every corner. Lady Liberty needs you boys and girls! Don't let her down!<br />
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Oh, and don't forget to buy bonds...<br />
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DirkStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798032040590840735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431303189081575977.post-50180904393380888822013-07-06T21:05:00.001-07:002013-07-06T21:06:41.414-07:00Tether - Tether Comics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>"Humor on stun, Mr. Sulu."</b></div>
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Hands down, without a doubt, the best book I brought home from the local Kentucky artists who displayed their wares at the Derby City Comic Book Convention last weekend, has to be a wonderful little book called Tether. Folks, these people were all about fun from the moment they marched into the convention hall and began setting up their display table. Their entire group was costumed as characters in the book and they were hamming it up for anyone and everyone who wanted a picture with them. (see picture below)<br />
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Well of course anyone having that much fun caught my attention right away and I couldn't help but walk over to their booth to investigate just what the heck all the commotion was about. Boy am I glad I did because the book they put in my hands turned out to be about the most fun I've had with a comic book in some time. <br />
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Now the first thing I do when I set out to review a comic book is to go out to the supporting website to see what the creators are all about and what they have to say about their book. Good thing I did too or I'd have missed the three rocking music tracks designed to be listened to as you read each section of the book. I strongly suggest you surf out to their <a href="http://www.tethercomic.com/" target="_blank">website</a> before you read the book, download the three tracks, and then follow the instructions on when you should play each one as you read the book. I also suggest you put on some quality headphones too because the combined effect of the tunes and comic book are a multimedia entertainment package you're going to enjoy the daylights out of experiencing.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJZohtNhzH6zczZBlPboXwdHc-7feuPUxPGoWVFbdMjPy-5x5GZY0_jINTnnIW57xD9DIUUwT19TAI6oxyDozObKzHb9X3zzVk1QhSZC-9_XaDOf3fRRmMO1hQvxtDPkZhK5WRid29DI/s1600/Tether.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJZohtNhzH6zczZBlPboXwdHc-7feuPUxPGoWVFbdMjPy-5x5GZY0_jINTnnIW57xD9DIUUwT19TAI6oxyDozObKzHb9X3zzVk1QhSZC-9_XaDOf3fRRmMO1hQvxtDPkZhK5WRid29DI/s320/Tether.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>The only thing missing was a red suit guy.</b></div>
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Seriously guys, this isn't just a clever comic book, its a darn clever artistic presentation. Now, I'm not gonna say anything about the story, the artwork, (both of which I loved) or offer up a single spoiler to whet your curiosity enough to buy this book; I'm just gonna tell you straight up, go <a href="http://www.tethercomic.com/" target="_blank">online</a> and spend your five dollars on something guaranteed to put a smile on your face and a song in your ears. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.<br />
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DirkStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798032040590840735noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431303189081575977.post-72491527477304985632013-07-05T20:38:00.000-07:002013-07-05T20:45:26.058-07:00Space Dwarf - Space Dwarf Studios<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Back to the Dwarfing Board...</b></div>
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As an older individual I've learned there are times I just don't understand why some particular item in popular cultural is considered hip, cool, funny or even socially relevant. For instance, I don't understand why either of the Justins are considered to be so hot; either Bieber or Timberlake. I certainly don't understand the popularity of Fox News as a news source. Sadly, among those things I just don't understand, Space Dwarf has just moved up to number five on the list.<br />
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Now as anyone who reads my reviews knows, I got nothing but love for the small indie companies. I've even got love for the micro-indie companies. Hell, let a kid hand me a couple of pieces of paper stapled together with pencil drawings on them and I'm gonna give his/her book a good review if it is at all in my power to do so. Sometimes however, all the love in the world just isn't enough to make something good when it isn't, and unfortunately that's the case with Space Dwarf.</div>
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This book <i>could</i> have been funny, maybe even <i>should</i> have been funny, but in the end it was so poorly written, terribly punctuated and dreadfully edited that it just fell flatter than a souffle baking in an oven during a Metallica drum solo. Sorry Marcus, but this one needs to go back to the Dwarfing Board. Better luck next time...</div>
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DirkStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798032040590840735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431303189081575977.post-41908706974014389562013-07-04T01:35:00.000-07:002013-07-07T07:04:42.710-07:00The Powers That Be: The Origin of Buxom Blonde - Old World Comics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Double D-cups of fun!</b></div>
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Among the best moments I enjoyed at the Derby City Comic Book Convention in Louisville, Kentucky was sitting down with Todd Goodman and Cory Butler from <a href="http://www.oldworldcomics.com/" target="_blank">Old World Comics </a>and talking about the need to put the fun back in comic books. Eventually I was handed a book to review, The Powers That Be; The Origin of Buxom Blonde. They asked only one thing from me in return for the book, an honest review. Well, they asked for it, so here it goes.<br />
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Once upon a time there were small press books with names like Captain Guts, Mr. Natural and The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers. The illustrations in these books weren't like anything in the Marvel and DC comic books of the day and neither were the stories they contained. If you were looking for tales of good triumphing over evil or teams of super powered mutants rescuing the planet from alien invaders you weren't going to find them them in these books. What you were going to find was lots of humor and generous helpings of belly laughs.<br />
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We called them funny books. Because that's what they were, funny books. The Powers That Be; The Origin of Buxom Blonde is a funny book. Written by Todd Goodman and illustrated by Cory Butler the book comes together perfectly and is a joy to read. Todd has written a clever story peppered with zany characters like President Duke Wayne, Dr. Erectenstein and of course, our sweet heroine Toni Daily. <br />
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The whimsical illustrations of Cory Butler combine perfectly with Todd's story to produce a book that is as much fun to view as it is to read. I've become a fan of Cory's work and would like to see more of it in the future. Together Todd and Cory have created a very funny book and one that I'll be more than glad to add to my humble collection of what I consider to be Dirk's Comic Book Corner worthy. </div>
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The Powers That Be; The Origin of Buxom Blonde is a perfect example of why I find myself reading more and more indie press books on a weekly basis than I do the Marvel and DC "Skittles" books where the only creative direction seems to be creating a rainbow of Arrows, Lanterns and Hulks. There's nothing but drama in the big houses and I've grown bored with the same old rainbow soap operas. I want my comic books to be fun again, and thanks to the good folks at <a href="http://www.oldworldcomics.com/" target="_blank">Old World Comics</a> I've found a good place to start making that a reality instead of a frustrated fantasy. Thanks guys! And yes, I'd very much like to read the first couple of books in the series.</div>
DirkStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798032040590840735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431303189081575977.post-87027729544058064152013-07-03T21:58:00.004-07:002013-07-05T11:21:40.462-07:00Derby City Comic Book Convention - 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIowQqMHc_YJBqv9ctSCI58p2QY6JGD7lySA9ltFx-0kHuPkfUsud3KucP_iFJFhhfMY7HhRN9eBnoPzYzKEXPQdbtmKg9ChTrkhnSTncBbVJ7VkEtBxzFWGcsne4jrrIwNVWPN8bCBwM/s300/Derby+City+Con.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIowQqMHc_YJBqv9ctSCI58p2QY6JGD7lySA9ltFx-0kHuPkfUsud3KucP_iFJFhhfMY7HhRN9eBnoPzYzKEXPQdbtmKg9ChTrkhnSTncBbVJ7VkEtBxzFWGcsne4jrrIwNVWPN8bCBwM/s300/Derby+City+Con.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>A celebration of comic books and those of us who love them.</b></div>
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I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a comic book convention as much as I did the Derby City Comic Book Convention. Upstairs, downstairs, inside and outside on the sprawling steps leading up and into the Kentucky International Convention Center it was a celebration of the industry and those of us who love it as passionately as we do. It was small press friendly, it was cosplay friendly, it was fan friendly and as a result the overall atmosphere of the con was one of warmth, intimacy and comraderie.<br />
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My favorite moments of the con? Sitting down with Chris Charlton of <a href="http://assailantcomics.com/" target="_blank">Assailant Comics</a> and talking about Binary Gray and their new book Black of Heart. (Which I loved. Best Noir fiction story I've read since Brubaker's Criminal.) Meeting Jon Hodges of <a href="http://www.badplaceproductions.com/" target="_blank">Bad Place Productions</a> and talking about everything comics and then having him hand me a copy of Woodboy to read was something special. Quite frankly, if the con hadn't ended the two of us would still be sitting outside the convention center drinking cups of coffee and talking about everything comics. The man has a passion for the damn things that's just infectious.<br />
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That's what made this con so special for me. I may have walked up to tables looking for items to purchase, but the next thing I knew I was sitting down with yet one more individual who loves comic books as much as I do and talking like we were old friends from childhood. And of course some of these folks like Todd Goodman and Cory Butler from <a href="http://www.oldworldcomics.com/" target="_blank">Old World Comics</a> became instant buds I can't wait to spend some time getting to know better.<br />
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And I know this was Chuck Moore's first year at the helm, but if what I saw is any indication at all the Derby City Comic Book Convention is in loving and capable hands. The man was a whirlwind of promotion and it was a rare moment I didn't see him smiling, shaking a hand and talking about what great things are in store for this annual event. And the best news he kept delivering again and again? Next year this love fest is going be a two day event! Man, I'm so excited I'd time travel to next year if I knew anyone with a time machine.<br />
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You can find photos <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.480892565328336.1073741830.472393799511546&type=3" target="_blank">here</a>. I hope they inspire you to put this con on your list of must attend events for next year. You won't be disappointed. <br />
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DirkStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798032040590840735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431303189081575977.post-74242841030917748852013-06-30T21:26:00.000-07:002013-06-30T21:29:48.049-07:00Woodboy - Bad Place Productions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSKcgzYKaC8XUSqEdVCTktUtHp-sbvcqsGHUWYczWH5_ua1jawh1nWJRAgNOHuEAgrJmOSHUZwsS5euyfI_KWou9XSFp00cclbkGLpp33GH7LveHftgM2kTsk0MiVDyHJyiRK3d-T2jGU/s499/Woodboy+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSKcgzYKaC8XUSqEdVCTktUtHp-sbvcqsGHUWYczWH5_ua1jawh1nWJRAgNOHuEAgrJmOSHUZwsS5euyfI_KWou9XSFp00cclbkGLpp33GH7LveHftgM2kTsk0MiVDyHJyiRK3d-T2jGU/s320/Woodboy+cover.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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<b>Hauntingly Good Book</b></div>
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Over the weekend I had the great pleasure of attending the Derby City Comic Book Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. I also had the even greater pleasure of meeting Johnathon Hodges of <a href="http://www.badplaceproductions.com/" target="_blank">Bad Place Productions</a>. Over the course of the afternoon we spent hours in friendly conversation sharing what was clearly a mutually shared love for comic books. Eventually John wound up handing me a comic book with the invitation to read it. The book he handed me was the one you see pictured above, Woodboy.</div>
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Upon returning to the table I was manning with Brandon Johnson of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Studio-Akumakaze/110909949273" target="_blank">Studio Akumakazi</a> I sat down and began reading what would soon prove to be one of the very best comic books I've read in a long time. <span class="userContent">There are actually two stand alone stories in the book and even though they share no common elements they somehow fit together like Yin and Yang producing a complete vision. </span><br />
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<span class="userContent">The first story is that of the main character's (Woodboy) search to find his mother and thus discover his roots and origin in the world in which he dwells. I was immediately struck by the marvelous black and white illustrations of creator and artist Dave Watt. His work is both unique and evocative. I couldn't help but think of Clive Barker's Weaveworld. This is how the magical creatures of the ancient times, before the coming of man, would've drawn their stories upon the cave walls hidden deep within the mountains of Fugue. <br /><br />The story read and felt like an ancient myth, passed down from generation to generation since the predawn of time. It felt as if I'd discovered a sacred scroll long forgotten. Upon unrolling it I discovered a piece of myself I'd never realized was missing until the strange symbols drawn upon it revealed its absence to me. I loved it and felt myself a better person for having read it. I was very impressed with the execution of this story and the emotional response it evoked in my heart.</span></div>
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<span class="userContent"> The second story in the book, Apocalypso, is a tale about the ending of times. Although completely unrelated to the story of Woodboy in either epoch or characters it felt as if it fit with the story I'd just finished reading and somehow fulfilled a vision neither story could have completed without the other. Apocalpalyso is at the same time both horrible and beautiful. There is something profoundly deep and honest about it that is difficult to label. It damn near brought tears to my eyes at the same time I wanted to recoil in revulsion and flee in horror from it. Apocalpalyspo was powerful and unexpected. It left me stunned and in awe of the mind that had produced such a story.<br /><br />This book and the time spent in conversation with Johnathon Hodges about it afterwards made me remember why I've loved the art form of the comic book for all these years. It was a celebration when I ran back to Johnathon's table proclaiming, "Holy shit, that was incredible!" </span><br />
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<span class="userContent">The man just smiled and said, "Wait til you see what's coming next."</span><br />
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<span class="userContent">I can hardly wait. This man's got something good happening over at <a href="http://www.badplaceproductions.com/" target="_blank">Bad Place Productions</a> and I'll be keeping a close eye on this group of folks. I suggest you do too.</span><br />
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DirkStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798032040590840735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431303189081575977.post-11953985314873588452013-06-16T12:17:00.000-07:002013-06-16T12:17:00.978-07:00Binary Gray-Assailant Comics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Solid and well executed.</b></div>
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One of the great things about being a comic book geek is having a small treasure trove of forgotten books sitting around in plastic tubs from past events and conventions. Every now and then when the "Big Two" seem to be deluging the market with comic books I find less than entertaining, I'll run downstairs, grab a stack of small press material and while away a few hours panning for gold. That's just what I was doing the other night when I chanced upon Binary Gray.<br /></div>
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This is one of those comic books that just get's it right from page one. The immediate flashback to childhood quickly provided some nice back story elements to the main character and got the story up to speed in a hurry. The pacing was fluid without being forced or hurried. I was engaged from the moment I started turning pages. <br /><br />The main character is a young man named Alex Gray. He's not a scientist or an athlete capable of super-human feats. He's just an ordinary guy working a dead-end job as an IT guy. One day while performing a routine fix in the server room he's zapped by an electrical discharge from one of the computers and wakes up in the hospital. The next thing he knows he's hearing a voice in his head and the hospital monitors and television sets seem to be reaching out and attempting to interface with him.<br /><br />Sure the story sounds familiar. I've read it a thousand times involving characters like Peter Parker and Bruce Banner. The plot is archetypical of the modern comic book origin story. That's what made it feel familiar and believable to me without being cliche. I bought into the character right away. The same went for his new abilities. He wasn't given super powers, he was simply given new abilities that didn't stretch the suspension of disbelief system beyond a breaking point.<br /><br />This was an origin story that didn't suffer from the same mistakes I've seen so many small press comic books suffer from again and again in trying to create a new book. Creator/Writer Chris Charlton didn't try to reinvent or revolutionize comic books, he simply told a good story based around a believable character using familiar and time tested plot lines. I liked the book. It satisfied me as a reader and made me want to read more of Alex Gray's story and hopefully learn more about him and the world he inhabits in future issues of Binary Gray. You can find this book along with other fine products at <a href="http://assailantcomics.com/" target="_blank">Assailant Comics</a>. Check em' out. I'm glad I did.</div>
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DirkStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798032040590840735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431303189081575977.post-81793560296545123302013-06-15T13:23:00.000-07:002013-06-15T13:37:47.538-07:00Red Hot Rebellion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>"Hell... Frackin'... Yeah!"</b></div>
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First off, this review would've been a whole lot easier to write if I hadn't been leapin' around my office wailing on air-guitar and head-banging every file cabinet that got in my way. Seriously, by track three I was outta my seat and jammin' big time. Wow, what a great surprise.<br />
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<a href="http://www.redhotrebellion.com/" target="_blank">Red Hot Rebellion</a> is a party band, plain and simple. If there's any kind of <i>message</i> to take away from their self titled album it's this, "It's better to die behind a guitar than a gun.". Holy crap these guys are good! If you like your vocals raw and your guitar loud and blazing fast, you're gonna love this band. Ya wanna hear these guys the right way? First, find a pair of the biggest damn Marshall amps you can find, second, take em' out to the garage and hook your CD player up to em'. Next, open your garage door, set up a lawn chair in the driveway, turn on the music and get ready to blow your neighborhood away. Dude, you crank these bad boys up and the party is gonna come running to your house.</div>
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My favorite tracks were: <i>Wait And See</i>, <i>For the Benefit of Evil</i>,<i> Hellfire</i>, <i>Wild One</i>, <i>Devil's Rope</i>, <i>Cooking With Gas</i> and <i>Open Wide and Say Awesome</i>. Cripes, did I just list almost every track on the whole damn CD? That just ain't like me at all! I haven't heard a party band this good since the days of J Geils and Deep Purple...<br />
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You know what? <i>Frack</i> my boss and <i>frack</i> the office! I'm <i>outta</i> here! I'm gonna go home and put these bad boys on a real stereo system. Then I'm gonna sit down on a lawn chair in my living room and party my butt off.<br />
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Do yourself a favor, boys and girls, go out and buy this CD right frackin now! And while you're at it, visit their <a href="http://www.redhotrebellion.com/" target="_blank">website</a>, find out where they're performing next and get yer' asses out to see em'. You won't be disappointed.<br />
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Oh, I almost forgot! There's a comic book I would've reviewed if I hadn't shredded it after rolling it up and using it for an air-guitar. Maybe I can get em' to send me a new one...</div>
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DirkStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798032040590840735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431303189081575977.post-46973209514556414152010-07-23T12:47:00.000-07:002010-07-23T13:26:28.624-07:00Baltimore - Bantam Books<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglibyWNAufULNI5-aFr8A8itvAH5GzfSEBro3QkaosWylWbizo8KoonNHwjSxPE6sL68a6Ca3_ewwjluLRO7ZwSpdeQuLfNTX8VxZdKKIKA4dxCFOHEBZw2z5cF-M3pi2ZViKJpHrvroA/s1600/Baltimore.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 321px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglibyWNAufULNI5-aFr8A8itvAH5GzfSEBro3QkaosWylWbizo8KoonNHwjSxPE6sL68a6Ca3_ewwjluLRO7ZwSpdeQuLfNTX8VxZdKKIKA4dxCFOHEBZw2z5cF-M3pi2ZViKJpHrvroA/s400/Baltimore.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495768388990167794" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">A first rate read steeped in atmosphere.</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">If not for a three issue mini-series soon to be released by, Dark Horse comics, <span style="font-style: italic;">Baltimore, The Plague Ships</span>, I would never have heard of this novel. If not for my fondness for the creative team of, Mike <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Mignola</span>, (<span style="font-style: italic;">writer</span>) and, Ben Steinbeck, (<span style="font-style: italic;">illustrator</span>) I'd have simply dismissed, <span style="font-style: italic;">Baltimore, The Plague Ships</span>, as yet one more vampire story in a market already over-saturated with tales of the blood-sucking night-stalkers. Only because of my fondness for, Mike Mignola and Ben Steinbeck, did I decide to add the mini-series, based upon a novel I'd never heard of, to my pull file.<br /><br />Not wishing to read a comic book based upon a novel I'd never read in the first place, I looked it up on, Amazon.com, found a copy of it for a fair price and ordered it forthwith. I started reading the novel the day it arrived in the mail and didn't put it down until I'd finished it. <span style="font-style: italic;">Baltimore, or, The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire</span>, is as good a read as I've enjoyed in a very long time. This novel took me back to the days of my youth when the tales of, Edgar Allen Poe, and H. P. Lovecraft, introduced me to the horror genre. Like all good classic horror tales, Baltimore, begins on a moonless night in a field covered in fog. Men are at war, a human endeavor already fraught with unimaginable horrors, but on this particular night one soldier is about to come face to face with a horror that will change his life forever.<br /><br />Wounded, slipping in and out of consciousness as he lies in a tangled heap of dead and dying soldiers, Baltimore, looks on in mounting terror as a strange flock of flying creatures descend upon the bodies strewn across the recent battlefield and begin feeding upon them. After drawing the attention of one of the winged monstrosities, Baltimore, finds himself fighting for his life against an ancient and fearsomely strong vampire. During the ensuing struggle, Baltimore, manages to inflict a terrible, but non-lethal wound to the face of his adversary. The enraged vampire leaves a wound of his own upon the thigh of, Baltimore, that will eventually cost him his leg.<br /><br />Thus begins a tale I can only best describe as, <span style="font-style: italic;">Captain Ahab</span>, versus the, <span style="font-style: italic;">Great White Wraith</span>, that took his leg. <span style="font-style: italic;">Baltimore, or, The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire</span> is a tale of revenge and retribution and the toll such pursuits take upon those who seek such bitter satisfactions. It is a good read that echos many of the great tomes that have preceded it in the genre of horror. <span style="font-style: italic;"></span>The novel pays homage without copying or cloning other works. Once again, it is a good read and if you're planning on picking up the upcoming, Dark Horse mini-series, <span style="font-style: italic;">Baltimore, The Plague Ships</span>, I would encourage you to find this book and read it in advance of, Mike Mignola and Ben Steinbeck's return to the world of, Henry Baltimore. If the comic book is even half as good as the novel, this will be a tale you won't want to miss.<br /><br /><br /></div></div>DirkStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798032040590840735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431303189081575977.post-44063629462618995412010-07-22T10:48:00.000-07:002010-07-22T13:09:15.825-07:00Brody's Ghost - Mark Crilley<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1aYhEBA2w2qDPJqA92BpG-_1yWZt5RAx4Ar4x0Ilrmr4FUc4RSE_8j-klRvULxBzC6QbeZB4odTZIngZ-atzAAQngl82PHG8HiFvjvwW3tMbSov1mXf6cF0Wiz59l6dlnqIf939DsEQ/s1600/Ghost.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 280px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1aYhEBA2w2qDPJqA92BpG-_1yWZt5RAx4Ar4x0Ilrmr4FUc4RSE_8j-klRvULxBzC6QbeZB4odTZIngZ-atzAAQngl82PHG8HiFvjvwW3tMbSov1mXf6cF0Wiz59l6dlnqIf939DsEQ/s400/Ghost.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496789075493500226" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Just plain fun and entertaining.</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It was through MDHP (<span style="font-style: italic;">MySpace Dark Horse Presents</span>) that I first came into contact with, Brody's Ghost. There was just something interesting enough about the premise of the story that led me to pick up the first graphic novel in what will be a six book series. All I can say is that this little book gives substance to the cliche, "good things come in small packages." If you overlooked this wonderful gem while shopping in your local comic book store I strongly encourage you to call your local shopkeeper and ask him or <span style="font-style: italic;">her</span> to pull a copy of this book from their shelves and put it in your file before there are no more copies to be found. You just don't want to miss this story.<br /><br />Mark Crilley can draw. I must admit to being a newcomer to his work, but I'm a fan now and I'll be looking up some of his earlier work as soon as possible. Even in black and white his illustrations breath with vitality and life. I was immediately drawn in to Brody's world from the very first panel and held there until the last panel of the story. Judging from the youthful look of the main characters this story is aimed at the young adolescent market, but anyone could read this book and find it entertaining. <br /><br />The story revolves around a young man named, Brody. He's till steeped in the throes of a broken heart and living a very shallow and depressed life. Plainly put, he's a slacker. Everything in his life is going from bad to worse until one day he encounters the ghost. Her name is, Talia, and she's been temporarily locked out of heaven until she performs A <span style="font-style: italic;">life task</span>--think, really good deed. Being a ghost she's somewhat limited in her ability to manipulate the corporal world and she needs the help of a, ghostseer, an individual with psychic powers capable of seeing, hearing and talking with ghosts.<br /><br />Brody, up to this point in his life, has remained blissfully ignorant of his latent psychic abilities. In his current slacker-state of being he isn't going to be of much use to, Talia. She decides he needs training to awaken his abilities and she arranges for him to meet, Kagemura, a ghost sensei with the wisdom to educate young, Brody, in the ways of his psychic skills. The game is then "afoot" as they say...<br /><br />One of the aspects of, Brody's Ghost, I found most refreshing was that I didn't find myself having to shove aside an overabundance of female cleavage or don a welder's mask to protect my face from the flash burn of a nonstop barrage of the F-Bomb to enjoy the story. It was nice to read a book without feeling assaulted or challenged. It was more than entertaining, it was refreshing. <br /><br />Mark Crilley has crafted a beautifully illustrated and delightfully written story that promises to deliver five more installments of quality entertainment. I can recommend this book without either hesitation or reservation to readers of all ages and genders. There's something here for everyone and I can't wait for more of, Brody's Ghost, to hit the shelves of my local comic book store. Well done, Mr. Crilley! I'm a fan for sure...<br /><br /><br /></div></div>DirkStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798032040590840735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431303189081575977.post-75852868079326795882010-07-16T21:59:00.000-07:002010-07-17T22:02:44.165-07:00Mog World - Yahtzee Croshaw<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUwCBuPZETgoqBFtDDajf-ukFvwYwvNGdbAlHlqI46he5nuekVV2Uz7fRGmDdB3yiJX_OtS_OLoLBNtEMh84PRcYXfbNW9fg3MCe4t6tqEUbNKKGmhtlpxRbBLUu_r91HRTPKuf5MIkfE/s1600/Total+crap.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUwCBuPZETgoqBFtDDajf-ukFvwYwvNGdbAlHlqI46he5nuekVV2Uz7fRGmDdB3yiJX_OtS_OLoLBNtEMh84PRcYXfbNW9fg3MCe4t6tqEUbNKKGmhtlpxRbBLUu_r91HRTPKuf5MIkfE/s400/Total+crap.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494735924699991314" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">I do like the cover art.</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Fortunately I was spared the tragic mistake of picking this up as an impulse buy by reading the extended nineteen page preview of the book at, Dark Horse Publishing's website. Make no mistake about it, whatever qualities you might find appealing about the online antics of, Yahtzee Croshaw, you'll be hard pressed to find a single one of them between the covers of this book. Unfortunately, this is one of those marketing team projects designed to make money solely on the basis of name recognition. You know how it goes...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Marketing team:</span> "We love what you've got going here with the whole, <span style="font-style: italic;">Yahtzee</span>, thing and we're here to help you capitalize on it while the iron is hot. Celebrity is fleeting, Mr. Croshaw. Especially the Internet kind and if you're going to benefit financially from your current popularity we've got to act fast before the opportunities available to you right now disappear faster than the video games you review."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Yahtzee:</span> "Well, this is all kind of new to me. What do you have in mind?"<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Marketing team:</span> "We've already started production on a series of tee-shirts, coffee mugs and buttons, none of that cheap crap mind you, this is all first rate material, assembled in the, United States, and produced to order. All it requires on your part is a link on your website and a small percentage of each sale to cover shipping, handling and manufacturing costs."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Yahtzee:</span> "That's all there is to it?"<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Marketing team:</span> "That's just the beginning! Have you ever thought of writing a book?"<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Yahtzee:</span> "I read one once, Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy, or something like that."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Marketing team:</span> "Don't worry about it. Just throw something together, we'll clean it up in editing, slap a, <span style="font-style: italic;">Grateful Dead</span>, looking cover on it and find a small publisher to sell it online."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Yahtzee:</span> "Well, I'm really not much of a <span style="font-style: italic;">writer</span> per sey..."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Marketing team:</span> "Yahtzee, my man, don't worry about it. You see, we're not selling the literary contents of the book, we're selling the <span style="font-style: italic;">name</span> on the book, Yahtzee Croshaw. Besides, your fans are primarily gamers, not exactly top of the food chain, if you know what we're talking about. They'll probably never even bother to read it once they get it home. It's an impulse purchase..."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Yahtzee:</span> "So that's it?"<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Marketing team:</span> "Why, that's just the tip of the iceberg! We're in the final steps of negotiating the closing details on a deal with an online hemp-jewelery company out of, Korea. We're very excited about the, Yahtzee, <span style="font-style: italic;">one hit wonder</span>, line of glass bongs and we just received an email from our perfumer in, China, that they've just begun human testing on the first in your new line of cologne for men called, <span style="font-style: italic;">Joystick</span>."<br /><br />Sorry, Yahtzee, but in the words of, The Beatles, "You may be a lover, but you ain't no dancer."<br /><br />Better luck with your cologne...<br /><br /></div></div>DirkStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798032040590840735noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431303189081575977.post-66589475168278820492010-07-15T01:00:00.000-07:002010-07-15T09:02:52.343-07:00R.E.B.E.L.S. - D.C. Comics<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1XHe0oyjAF9ZZtKpaLcJODQP_PLsD_l7PNLM5Z7HYuZ-REXkzeBochIaozwTcFuIRh43986nim6G1iDyBFt4aUrSbNKClCrbEriUk9kEovhfH8m9CHyKvebkMAKHC-xCFd_Jgxs2M7hk/s1600/REBELS.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 260px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1XHe0oyjAF9ZZtKpaLcJODQP_PLsD_l7PNLM5Z7HYuZ-REXkzeBochIaozwTcFuIRh43986nim6G1iDyBFt4aUrSbNKClCrbEriUk9kEovhfH8m9CHyKvebkMAKHC-xCFd_Jgxs2M7hk/s400/REBELS.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493914482990272658" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">The best book nobody knows about.</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This is one of the very best comic book titles being produced right now. Tony Bedard is just flat out writing his arse off. Issue after issue he's creating perhaps the most original book to come out of the D.C. talent pool and he's doing it with a cast of characters no one else really seems to care about working with. Tony seems to have found a way to circumvent the stranglehold, Geoff Johns seems to have over the creative process at D.C. and is producing original work that is both engaging and entertaining. R.E.B.E.L.S. is a book you can read without needing a degree in molecular engineering to understand it. There is an elegant simplicity to Tony's story telling that is a breath of fresh air in the current age of convoluted obscurity that passes itself off as dark and edgy adult entertainment.<br /><br />R.E.B.E.L.S. has managed to do in just eighteen issues what, Geoff Johns has failed to do in series after seemingly endless series of crossover events involving an average of thirty titles each. Tony Bedard has advanced his premise, developed his characters and provided genuinely poignant and compelling moments of story telling in the process. And most impressively of all, he's managed to do it without dropping the F-Bomb in every other sentence, covering up gaping plot holes with with bucketful after bucketful of T&A and offering more adult examples of creative problem solving than, "My powers-penis is bigger than your powers-penis!".<br /><br />Before I journey much further along I'd like to point out how wonderfully the illustrations of the artistic team of, Claude St. Aubin (<span style="font-style: italic;">Pencils</span>) and Scott Hanna (<span style="font-style: italic;">Inker</span>) enhance this book. This team manages to flesh out more than breast size. The worlds and environments they create are beautifully rendered and a joy for the eye to behold. Theirs is a vision of the universe containing more than nipples, breasts and camel toes. Every time I turn a page I'm treated to alien landscapes filled with lush flora, fauna and architectural designs that spark my imagination and take my breath away. Truly this team engages the highest intellectual functions rather than stimulating the basest part of human nature.<br /><br />Tony Bedard and his team are creating a genuinely articulate and intelligent piece of work. It is truly sophisticated and adult in every way. Unlike the elitist, pseudo-intellectual group of bohemian extremists currently in charge of the industry who're more concerned with force-feeding their vision of morality and artistic integrity upon the marketplace, Tony is doing what matters most to a real writer. He's telling a story in a manner that engages and entertains as many people as possible rather than alienating all, but the most narrow of demographic. Tony is using the art form to entertain, not to engage in some ludicrous, political crusade against the moral windmills of imaginary censorship.<br /><br />If you're a reader seeking content more substantial than titillating pinup art to decorate your school locker with, R.E.B.E.L.S. is the book for you. This is a title that shows the very best of what comics can be. It may not be getting the push that some of the <span style="font-style: italic;">bigger</span> projects at D.C. are receiving, but it delivers far more quality for the dollars you'll spend on it than just about anything else you can find in their catalog of books.<br /><br /></div></div>DirkStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798032040590840735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431303189081575977.post-64684329766010862942010-07-14T11:07:00.000-07:002010-07-14T21:10:38.297-07:00Doctor Solar - Dark Horse Publishing<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dijD0bYiUloIXH7EiGCNRb9wNs5YxS0c-T2VB7jJbRiDqIqNfyOL3TrtYFpkTB6Ts9nTDg1ceWmJxZULgHQld47GMJiQG4zQKpG22lJJ9vDdHaCGBO09aVNqXabJDfqTZx94-XUSlrQ/s1600/16966.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 260px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dijD0bYiUloIXH7EiGCNRb9wNs5YxS0c-T2VB7jJbRiDqIqNfyOL3TrtYFpkTB6Ts9nTDg1ceWmJxZULgHQld47GMJiQG4zQKpG22lJJ9vDdHaCGBO09aVNqXabJDfqTZx94-XUSlrQ/s400/16966.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493226299503419266" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">This is gonna be so good...</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">At last a book has come along worthy of my leaving poolside to come inside, get on the computer and write about. Three times I've read this book now and it just gets better with each and every read. No, it isn't a perfect book. Yes there's a bit of rust around the corners of the dialog and yes, there were some ponderous moments where exposition around minute details seemed to get in the way of the story's pacing, but damn this is a book that we'll all be talking about once this title gets off the ground and running. This book was about laying the foundation for things to come and if you look at the things hinted at in this first issue there's a lot of very cool things coming down the road. Did you catch some of the awesome goodness in this issue?<br /><br />Secret therapy? How cool is that!? Phillip Solar gaining unbelievable abilities and in the first few nano-seconds of possessing those goodies screwing up the world because he tried to save himself some personal humiliation? Doh! Or how about the, Captain Kirk, poster on the wall of, Whitmore Pickerel's, apartment? (Yeah, there's <span style="font-style: italic;">all</span> kind of goodies in this issue.) Just who was, Bently, working for? And just what is, Tanek Nuro, CEO of Lovejoy International Inc. up to? And exactly what does happen when a hack writerreally can bring his characters to life? And poor, poor, brokenhearted, Gail...<br /><br />If the foundation laid in this issue is any indication at all there's gonna be a fine house built by the time it's all said and done. And you know what? Jim Shooter's right. How the hell are you supposed to write a good book when most of the characters in the big two companies are so damn tied up for the next many years in plot lines revolving around "major event" stories? At, Dark Horse, Jim Shooter, gets to write without character restrictions fouling up every good idea he comes up with for them. Bravo, Jim! I'm excited and I'm looking forward to some real creative story telling.<br /><br />This is a book that will suffer initially because of the teasers released to promote it. I too thought the book looked pretty hokey as far as the preview teaser went, but seen now in full context with the rest of the story the book looks pretty damn good. Let me be the first to tell you in no uncertain terms, don't be fooled by the previews, this book is pretty darn good and it's only going to get better as future issues are released.<br /><br />Compared to other offerings in the marketplace this summer, this one really did manage to"<span style="font-style: italic;">brighten</span>" my day. Nice job, Jim! Now, I'm off to lounge by the pool again. Ciao!<br /><br /><br /></div></div>DirkStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798032040590840735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4431303189081575977.post-6624912057926274182010-05-24T07:05:00.000-07:002010-05-24T22:03:54.655-07:00Comics for Cures 2010 - The afterglow...<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuktyL7G8no4pzDnIY6NTqKVwDR9UPVnJpJ7XhOGYXDc3NZDsAup6pKjfGpct_Ys-7AXScqBd4RlcdhluuWikl0aJhWJXb4QztYcKzIVNgqaeVg1xoHqG9GrUPYbP7q5yQ0szRvBN6kIA/s1600/Lobster.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 205px; height: 292px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuktyL7G8no4pzDnIY6NTqKVwDR9UPVnJpJ7XhOGYXDc3NZDsAup6pKjfGpct_Ys-7AXScqBd4RlcdhluuWikl0aJhWJXb4QztYcKzIVNgqaeVg1xoHqG9GrUPYbP7q5yQ0szRvBN6kIA/s400/Lobster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475063656624221602" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lobster Johnson</span><br />by Carla Rodriquez<br /></div><br />I felt pretty good going into this event. I'd scouted things out in advance, I'd set up my watch list and with an ingenious setup of browser tabs in place I was feeling quite confident as crunch time grew closer and closer. Both the upstairs P.C. and the laptop I keep on the end table beside me in the television room were warmed up and ready to go. A fresh pot of coffee in the kitchen and a cooler full of Red Bulls assured me of a state of alertness until the wee hours of the night in case I needed to be ready for a last minute bid. I was confident, organized and ready to work a master plan I believed would guarantee me a maximum acquisition of treasures.<br /><br />Days earlier I'd gone through page after page of sketch cards making a detailed list of the ones I liked and would be interested in acquiring. I carefully listed the cards by the hour and minute the bidding on them would close. Once the information had been properly organized in a data base and printed out on paper I began making the hard decisions which of the three hundred chosen cards I could live without if I didn't win the individual battles of the bid. This was a process I repeated until I was down to a twenty card pool of my absolute favorites. By Saturday evening my clipboard contained a fifteen card list of the sketch cards for which I would put up a good fight. The battle was about to be joined.<br /><br />Early on in the evening (<span style="font-style: italic;">Saturday</span>) I scored an easy acquisition when I picked up three Tiki themed cards by an artist named, David Fletcher. At ninety-nine cents each I was just ecstatic. I think so many people passed on them because they weren't superhero cards, but the detailing was exquisite and they were beautifully drawn. They were on my list as cards I'd go for if the price was right and at ninety-nine cents apiece, the price was right.<br /><br />For the next several hours I watched as cards I was interested in acquiring, but wouldn't bid my hardest for came and went, and I may not have won any of those cards, but I know I drove the price up higher than the buyer had originally hoped to pay for them. (Whoever wound up buying the, Adam West card knows what I'm talking about.) My plan was to force the early evening bidders into spending as much money as possible so that by the time my late night cards hit the block they'd be out of money. Hey, it was for charity...<br /><br />As the evening progressed I picked up another great ninety-nine cent card by an artist named, Earl Geier. Again, this was a beautiful drawing of an Amazon, but in a more realistic rendition than so many of the other modern "stylized illustrations" favored by so many people right now. It really reminded me of the illustrations that used to accompany the, Ripley's, <span style="font-style: italic;">Believe It Or Not</span>, pieces in the Sunday funny pages. Again, a wonderful piece so many people passed by in favor of Superhero drawings. At this point I'd picked up four very solid pieces and I still had the funds at my disposal to go for the last two cards I really wanted to acquire.<br /><br />The two cards I wanted to come away from the auction with were, Carla Rodriguez's, <span style="font-style: italic;">Lobster Johnson </span>and Guy Davis', <span style="font-style: italic;">Sandman Mystery Theater</span>. I'd fallen in love with Carla's interpretation of, Lobster Johnson, since the moment I'd seen it. Not only was the illustration amazing, the coloring was simply brilliant. It was simply the best interpretation I've ever seen of the character. I had to have it. I put the ninety-nine cent bid on it to see if I could draw any one else interested in it out into the open. Sure enough, someone answered the bid. At two dollars and ten cents I let it ride until the last possible minute and then put in a max bid of six dollars and seventy-five cents. My theory was that the other bidder was going for the five dollar bargain and bidding what I did would beat their six dollar and fifty cent bid when it came and sure enough, I got one of my top two cards for six dollars and seventy-five cents.<br /><br />Guy Davis is a favorite of mine. I love his art and I wanted the, <span style="font-style: italic;">Sandman Mystery Theater</span>, card more than any other single card in the auction. Once I'd managed to grab the, <span style="font-style: italic;">Lobster Johnson, </span>card at the bargain price at the bargain price I knew I could go all in for the card and most likely come away with it. With under a minute to go in the bidding for it I placed a max bid of fifty dollars. I took it home for twenty-eight dollars and sixty-five cents. My evening was complete.<br /><br />I went into the auction looking for what I felt were some of the better art pieces as opposed to who were my favorite comic book characters. In the end I got a little bit of a number of things from the auction, I got a piece by a favorite artist, a favorite character piece and some cards I just plain liked as pieces of art. For the first time I'd ever participated in the event I couldn't help, but feel I'd come away from it in pretty good shape. I came away with the top two cards I really wanted and six of the fifteen I'd gone into the event willing to bid on. It was well worth staying up until three in the morning for.<br /><br />If you've never participated in this wonderful event I'd recommend you watch for it next year. <span style="font-style: italic;">Comics For Cures</span>, sponsored by, Comic2Games, is a worthwhile event where everyone comes out a winner. The, American Cancer Society, is the big winner of course, but the little pieces of art are real treasures that make anyone who takes one or two of them home a winner too. I won't be missing this annual event from now on and I hope you'll be adding it to your calender too. Thanks, Comics2Games, you guys rock!DirkStarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798032040590840735noreply@blogger.com0