I recently stumbled my way across an animated Corto Maltese filmed titled La cour secrète des Arcanes, or The Arcane Secret Court, released 2002. Like almost all Corto Maltese material it’s not in English. What few copies on DVD I could…
As a Cosplayer there are lots of opportunities to get geared up in a costume and get out there. Right now there seems to be a convention every other weekend. But the thing I enjoy most about dressing up, is…
On May 23, CGC announced a new class of labels. Starting next month CGC will introduce the Conservation Label and at the same time expand the Purple Label into five tiers. We’ll now have: 1. Slight 2. Slight/Moderate 3. Moderate…
Sadly, this interview wasn't able to happen in person, as Patrick is on the other side of the country in Dark Horse's home town of Portland, Oregon. Instead, we had a little internet back and forth to find out how Thorpe got his position with Dark Horse Comics as an Associate Editor.
Read MoreHow I Got My Job (A Series): Patrick Thorpe
A little more than two years after the first book hit the stands it was part of a Marvel wave of cancellations due to poor sales (Nick Fury, Doctor Strange, and The Silver Surfer) and suspensions (X-Men & Captain Marvel) and it was gone. I can’t say I was that sorry to see him go. What happened? There are a gazillion reasons and theories why the Surfer failed in his first solo effort. I will list some of my own reasons I thought the book failed and then we will take a look at the high’s and lows of the run itself. For anybody who thinks this run is not a failure I say this – when you are cancelled and the Sub-Mariner continues you have done something wrong.
Read MoreWhy did the original Silver Surfer run fail? #1-18
This is not a column about collecting comics: this is about reading comics. I've been an avid comic reader for 34 years now and things have changed in the industry and in my life that affect how I buy comics.
Read MoreAre comics a rich man’s hobby?
If you are a regular follower of this column, you may recall in the Batman Year One column from a few weeks ago, how I likened David Mazzucchelli’s work to that of Alex Toth. Well this week the third and…
First off… I am not a fan of Harry Potter. I don’t read the books. I’ve never watched one of the movies. I am not even sure what the heck a “muggle” was until I had to have someone explain…
Lewis & Clark explore the West, slaughtering everything in sight! But they're bloodthirsty monsters, so it doesn't feel TOO wrong.
Read MoreReview: Manifest Destiny Vol. 1
One of the benefits of discussing movies after their release date is that you can actually talk about things. So, as is custom, here is your spoiler warning: do not read any further if you haven't seen X-Men Days of Future Past yet and would like to be surprised when you get a Bluray in your stocking at Christmas. For everyone else I thought I'd share some thoughts on the flick, the franchise, and comic book movies in general.
Read MoreX-Men Days of Future Past
Last week I posted about ComiXology’s 20 days of free comics campaign dubbed Summer Reading. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by some of their offerings, including a My Little Pony collection and a Jason graphic novel from Fantagraphics. Much more than…
One of the best examples of Big John Buscema's Conan is probably the one that has been seen by fewer fans than any other. In 1991 Marvel released the graphic novel "Conan the Rogue" which was a story that was plotted, penciled, inked and coloured by Big John Buscema. He got his long time collaborator Roy Thomas to script the story, which he had plotted and oh what a job these two did on this book! It had a relatively low print run and was never really promoted from what I understand.
Read MoreConan The Rogue
Yesterday I attended the summer edition of the Burlington Toy Show (presented by RPG Events). This edition of the BTS featured a wide variety vendors selling all sorts of toys and collectibles from new to vintage classic toys.
Actually... a lot of vintage and classic toys. There seems to be a trend at the local toy show circuit of late 80's/early 90's toys making an appearance. I have been finding more and more C.O.P.S., Dick Tracy and MASK toys. Dick Tracy wasn't as popular as expected in the 90's, but the toys are very stylistic and cool. Plus you can collect the complete series of figures right now at various shows, for as little as $5 each.
Read MoreBurlington Toy Show – June 1, 2014
It’s time for another update from BIFF SOCKO, TWO-FISTED NEWSHOUND. Biff Socko covers Comic Book News like zits on the A-V Club. Faster than Perry White! Stronger than J. Jonah Jameson! Hotter than Cat Grant. He is…BIFF SOCKO!
Read More“Face the Wrath of the Anti-Rugrats”
Thanks to Walter Simonson every time I see a horse my mind invariably drifts to a super hero with a similar appearance and many of the same qualities of those Clydesdales - Beta Ray Bill. Walt Simonson’s critically acclaimed run on Thor ran from issue #337 thru issue #382. He started with this Beta Ray Bill story and followed it up with the introduction of Malekith the Accursed Ruler of the Dark Elves (issue #344), who was the villain in the second Thor movie. Not a bad way to start your new job! Simonson’s run really breathed new life into this title and the many accolades he received are justified.
Read MoreMeet Beta Ray Bill: Thor 337-340
ComiXology has had their share of bad press lately, with the Amazon buyout and the shutting down of in-app purchasing. To counter some of those woes with the public they're running a promotion called Summer Reading, offering one free comic every day until June 14th.
Read MoreComiXology Summer Reading offers one free comic a day
Last week I came across an almost complete run of the 1980's Marvel Magazine Epic Illustrated in ultra- high grade raw shape. So I bought them all! Now Epic Illustrated has been on the radar ever since it was announced that Marvel was doing a movie version of Jim Starlin's Vanth Dreadstar character from Metamorphosis Odyssey.
Read MoreEpic Illustrated
The latest installment of the X-Men film franchise hit theatres this past weekend. To help celebrate the event, Big B Comics had a table set up at the Cineplex Odeon Galaxy in Barrie.
My cosplay teammate Stephanie and I showed up at the theatre to help out Big B, dressed as X-Men. This was going to be a challenge for me. Stephanie has many costumes in her repertoire - Rogue being one of them - but I don't have much stuff when it comes to X-Men.
Read MoreI am Wolverine; X-Men Days of Future Past
Liz Wynter exists in a world where individuality is not only discouraged, but statistically improbable. Of course, this is an adventure comic, so that is all about to change.
Read MoreReview | Wynter #1-2
I recently had the opportunity to sit down with series artist Ramon Perez and chat a bit about everyone’s favourite wall crawler, new villains, and what it’s like revisiting a seminal time in comic book history.
Read MoreInterview | Ramon Perez on Spider-Man: Learning to Crawl