Return to Zero

Back in the late 60's there really wasn't anyway to connect with you favorite comic book creators. The only glimpses you got were Stan Lee's Soapbox and you would perhaps glean something from the letters pages. I can't remember which book it was, I am sure one of you will tell me, these pics appeared. Suddenly there were actual faces behind the people who created these stories that transported me to other realms. Grainy faces...but they were faces.
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Tremblay meets Lazare

This makes me think that the only way to get a group of truly Canadian superheroes again is to follow that first and tested pattern: ban all foreign comics from entering the country, then we’d have a captive audience and a bunch of publishers dedicated to producing a set of characters and books for these Canadian readers that could really stand out as something different.
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Review | Pitiful Human Lizard #1

Canada has a new super hero, and he is pitiful... well technically he is the "Pitiful Human Lizard". Pitiful Human Lizard was created by Toronto area comic creator Jason Loo. Jason launched a successful Kickstarter campaign to help fund the production of the first issue of his comic. Not only did Jason reach his $4500 goal, he surpassed it and was able to meet his first "stretch goal" of $6000.
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Undervalued Spotlight #201

Marvel Premiere #47, Marvel Comics, April 1979. This comic features the 1st appearance of the 2nd Ant-Man (Scott Lang). Yeah, sure, measured against the Overstreet Price Guide’s assessment of $35 for a 9.2 grade this is an obvious pick. Marvel Premiere #47 has certainly grown hot over the past year and as of this post is getting about $120 for graded 9.2 copies and $190 for graded 9.4s.
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FCBD @ Big B (and some cosplay too)

I spent Free Comic Book Day 2014 helping out Big B Comics in Barrie. The night before FCBD we were set up at the theatre in Barrie for Amazing Spider-Man 2. We had a table set up displaying all the comics that were available for pick-up the next day. Plus I was able to talk to the audience at each of the screens showing ASM2, to talk to them about FCBD. What it's about, and where they can join in on the action.
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Type and Lettering

Being the old guy that I am, I'm tempted to state that digital lettering is not as good as hand lettering, which is the typical response to change. The tools are definitely different, however, I believe the sensibility has actually greatly improved. Comic book lettering is a big part of comics but it is also highly under appreciated, with all the glory split between story and art. Anyone who has tried to design their own typeface can appreciate the incredible effort that it takes to create a set of letters that is visually appealing, legible and chiseled so that each form is optically balanced.
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Review: Amazing Spider-Man 2

The summer of superhero sequels rages on with Amazing Spider-Man 2. Personally, I would have pushed for the title Spectacular Spider-Man but, surprisingly, I was not involved in the making of this film for asked for my opinion at any juncture. Perhaps for the inevitable 3 entry into the series. Oh, and if you haven't seen it yet: spoiler alert and read no further.
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Mash-up

Sometimes people doing the kind of thing I am doing for this column get called “comic book historians.” I don’t like the term. The word “historian” has academic connotations and presuppositions and the sense of being an authority that I don’t wish to take on as a mantle. People who do “history” bring to bear a number of disciplines, such as sociology, psychology, ethnology, economic theory, religion, etc., on a particular event or series of events to offer their “take” on them. They then propose an explanation for how these events came to be and/or what resulted from these events. This is definitely not what I am doing. Besides how can comic books even have a “history” yet? They are not even a hundred years old.
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Undervalued Spotlight #200

Brave and the Bold #200, DC Comics, July 1983. This is a great little comic that has no business being so little. Here we have the 1st appearance of the Batman and the Outsiders, it’s an anniversary issue, it’s the last issue of the title, it’s a double sized 64 pager and it’s ridiculously cheap at $12 in 9.2 grade.
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Interpreting Numbers

We’ve all heard the term “information age” and no where is this more true than the collector market. Armed with smart phones, buyers are able to access online resources and historical prices in order to gauge value. And when it comes to collectible back issues, the name of the game is to pick up books below market… or is it?
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IDW Submission by request

Recently I attended 1 of the 3 major annual Comic Cons in London. At the event I met Chris Ryall, the Chief Creative Officer/Editor-In-Chief at IDW. I showed him my portfolio and he liked it very much. He then gave me his card and asked me to email him! He wanted to give me a ‘test assignment’ to see what kind of pencils I could produce.
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