Kansas City Con report

Hello Chums,

Once again Scott, Wayne and I took the five hour (one way) car trip to Kansas City, Kansas. Of course the main reason to go was Planet Comicon, but we also hit three half price books stores and had some decent food too.


As far as the con goes, it was as good or better than last years show. Planet Comicon features a nice blend of retailers and guests that (unfortunately) the OKC show will probably never get. For the size of the show the artist alley is incredible. Unlike OKC, this show features multiple rows of guests that I had actually heard of. And new this year: the panels were in a side room where you could actually hear the guests speak. Yes!


Highlights of the show for me:
Meeting Eric Powell, getting my Goon books signed, getting a Goon sketch in my sketch book, and picking up an Eric Powell sketch book.
Meeting Bernie Wrightson and Bruce Jones and getting my Freak Show book signed.
Meeting and getting comics/graphic novels/trades signed by: Bernie Wrightson, Kurt Busiek, B. Clay Moore, Tony Moore, Jeremy Haun, Ande Park and Jason Aaron.
Meeting and talking at great length to Walter Day - Owner of Twin Galaxies Arcade and keeper of all the world records of (arcade) video games - He was featured in the movie King Of Kong.
Getting a really nice copy of Doc Savage - The Man of Bronze on DVD.


There was plenty of cool merchdise to check out at the show. But try as I did, I was not able to go through all the back issues. With just 13 total show hours over two days, two days is almost not long enough. I had to miss a couple of panels I would have liked to have gone to because of needed time on the show floor. I did however manage to pick up numerous comics, trades, and graphic novels at great prices.


All in all, another great (quick, [two days]) con.

See you at conventions and K.R.C. (keep reading comics)!

D.L.

My Pick For Week Of 4-2-08

Hello Chums,

I'll get right to my pull list for the week of 4-2.

Abe Sapien #3 of 5

American Splendor Vol. 2 #1

Punisher War Journal #18

Young Avengers Presents #3 of 6

Secret Invasion #1 of 8

Kick-Ass #2


After some thought, Kick-Ass edged out Secret Invasion as Pick Of My Pile.


K.R.C.


D.L.

A Ride with a Pride (of Baghdad)

Hello Chums,

One of the most highly acclaimed graphic novels of 2006 was The Pride of Baghdad. This story, by Brian K. Vaughan, is based on the true story of a group (or pride) of lions that escape the Baghdad zoo after the bombs fall. The small group contains four lions: Zill a full grown male. Safa an old, one-eyed female. And Noor, the brains of the bunch with her cub, Ali.

After the zoo is rocked by numerous blasts, the zoo keepers leave the animals to fend for themselves. Of course the walls fall and the terrified surviving animals make a run for it. The lions being at the top of the food chain, simply walk off.

Although the animals talk to each other, this is no Disney story. The lions deal with nasty monkeys, avoid men in tanks, and fight a huge bear all while looking for food and shelter. During their walk through the streets of Baghdad and vicinity, there are moments of love and compassion for other animals. We realize these lions aren't just killers but they are a family on the run.

Can this story end on a happy note? Come on, they are lions in the middle of a war zone.

The art by Niko Henrichon really makes this story special. Without his fantastic art, I probably wouldn't have picked up this book. Give this book a shot. You won't regret it.

Rating: Story A-, Art A+

K.R.C.

D.L.

New Feature: Pick Of My Pile

Hello Chums,

People I know are always curious: What's good to read? or What comics are you currently reading? Since I usually buy a short stack of comics, I thought I'd let you know what I'm reading with Pick Of My Pile. Here I'll list what I bought and pick my favorite for the week.

For the week of 3-26:

All Star superman #10

Tron #5

Second Stage - Star Trek - New Frontier #1

Star Trek - The Next Generation - Intelligence Gathering #3

Marvel Atlas #2

Franklin Richards - Son Of a Genius - Spring Break #1

The New Avengers #39

The Mighty Avengers #11

The Pick Of My Pile this week is:

Star Trek - The Next Generation - Intelligence Gathering #3

Without any new Star Trek TV shows on, IDW's Star Trek books are currently filling my Star Trek void. These books are some of my favorite comics being produced.

K.R.C.

D.L.

Do You Believe In The MATRIX?

Hello Chums,

Remember the Matrix? The first movie was pretty great. The Animatrix was very good. What happened to the second and third movies? The were disappointing to say the least. That being said, I still picked up the two Matrix trades. Why? Because the Matrix was entertaining. What if the comic books were awesome. How cool would that be?

I read The Matrix comics vol. 1 awhile back. It was okay. It didn't exactly make me run over and read vol.2. But that was awhile back, maybe vol.2 would be better. And I was looking for something to read. So what the heck.

Instead of talking about the twelve stories in this volume. I thought I would focus on one story I liked entitled Wrong Number. Clocking in it a mere six pages, this tale written and drawn by Vince Evans, is short but far from sweet. This story reminds me of the opening scene of The Matrix where Trinity is looking for a phone line to use while being chased by agents.

In this story, K (a Lucy Lu type) is looking for an open phone line to return home from The Matrix. Helping her find one via cell phone is the always dependable Link. Link finds a location with a line for her being worked on by a phone repair man. K makes her was to the location and has the repair man open a line for her at gun point. Unfortunately this line is lost when an agent shows up. After an explosion the agent is gone but so is the line. As K makes the repair man go with her to the next location, the repair man tells K that even in the war he couldn't hurt anybody. Aah. What a nice guy! At the second location a new line is acquired for K's getaway. What happens next is pure Matrix.

What I liked about the story was it showed the possible consequences of living with the knowledge of the Matrix. Agents are tough.

As the first volume did, this volume featured multiple writers and artists. Many of these stories were pretty good.

Rating: Stories: B, Art: A-

Keep Reading Comics

D.L.

Back up to "The Bottom"

Hello Chums,

Are you a fan of Moon Knight? I'm not. Never have been. I have never read him in the past and never wanted to anyway. So when Marvel Comics brought him back in '05, I wasn't exactly lined up to buy his book.

What changed my mind? David Finch. You see, I really liked his over-rendered style he used on the initial run of The New Avengers. When he quit doing that book I missed his art. Of course his type of art takes a looong time to do. So he has to move around and do six issue arcs here and there. And lets not forget the highly lucrative covers.

When David Finch showed up as the artist on the first arc of Moon Knight, I'm interested but I'm not buying it. But then I hang out with David Finch and fellow con attender Scott in a bar at Wizard World Texas. Hey he's a pretty cool guy. We do some serious drinking and talking. Have a real good time (Wayne missed out). Fast foreword to Wizard World Chicago, there's the Moon Knight hardcover "The Bottom" at a great price. I can't pass it up. I then get the book signed by Finch. Cool huh?

But is the story cool? Not really, it's just okay. It's basically the story of Moon Knight getting back in the game. We see Moon Knight take out street level thugs and use equipment that reminds me a little too much of the Dark Knight. Huum? Dark Knight /Moon Knight- are they ripping off Batman? Okay, he does get his powers from an Egyptian god so it's not a complete rip off.

While the story was okay, the artwork was not as good as Finch's New Avengers.

Rating: Story: B, Art: A-

K.R.C.

D.L.

Welcome Aboard!

Now that I have your attention, Hello Chums.

With the influx of new readers, I wanted to mention the other sites I post at. First up is my comic Better Than Fiction. This comic features true (at times) slice of life stories that might not be for everyone. Is it for you? Check it out at:

http://betterthanfictionthecomic.blogspot.com/

Next up is First Planet Comics. This is Scott Sackett and my collaborative comic venture. Our first comic is I Am Domino, a pulp inspired story of action and adventure. Give it a shot at:

http://firstplanetcomics.com/

And our brand new endeavor is First Planet Comics the blog. This site will be about everything comics related. Comic books and graphic novels, comic book movies, toys, video games and other surprises. So check it out at:

http://firstplanetcomics.blogspot.com/

Enjoy.

K.R.C.

D.L.