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Showing posts from July, 2016

Guest Article: DC REBIRTH -- Explained and Endorsed

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  EDITOR’S NOTE:   Even though the Big Two comics publishers get plenty of press elsewhere, we feel a sense of duty to cover at least some of the upcoming changes currently underway in their respective universes.  We’d like our coverage to go a bit beyond the surface elements and get into depth where it deserves it. However, with such a massive re-boot in store at not one, but two, major publishers who put out a monthly mountain of books we wanted to avoid burn-out.        So, we’re going to concentrate on focusing on just one of these publishers, and cover the other’s changes as time permits.  We at BC were already leaning towards DC, simply because they are trying to revive and bring new life (rebirth) into their established characters.  That’s different from what Marvel is doing by taking established icons and introducing new (and younger) characters to wear the same costumes. Marvel seems to be reaching out to new readers while DC seems to be trying to get their older audience bac

CBR features tours of comic book stores around the globe

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EDITOR’S NOTE:                                                                                                                                                                 We just discovered this feature at Comic Book Resources ( http://www.comicbookresources.com ) today.   It’s a very cool weekly tour of comic book stores in the United States and elsewhere.  Check it out here, where a local comics store (The Comic Book Shop in Wilmington Delaware) was featured back in November 2015. http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2015/11/store-tour-the-comic-book-shop-in-wilmington-delaware/

Harry Potter book release event this Saturday

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Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts I & II The Eighth Story. Nineteen Years Later. Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, a new play by Jack Thorne, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child  is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. Buy your copy at Captain Blue Hen Comics! RELEASE PARTY JULY 30th 9PM  Harry Potter Midnight Release Party Games, Fun, Prizes and more! Come dresses as your favorite character from the series. Watch Harry Potter movies outside (bring something to sit on!) Saturday, July 30th 9PM – 1AM Book goes on sale at 12:01AM RSVP HERE & SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS https://www.facebook.com/events/789882111148361/ Our address is: Captain Blue Hen Comics & Entertainment 280 E. Main Street Suite 101 Newark ,  Delaware   19711

Indie Comics publisher offers freebies to build the information network

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  EDITOR’S NOTE:  GARY SCOTT BEATTY works hard to promote the work of indie comics creators.  He’s actively working to get more readers to join Aazurn Publishing’s mailing list, and offering some nice free incentives to the public.  We turn the column space over to Gary to tell you more about it.  OK, Gary - - that’s your cue to begin! . . . . . . . . . . .   August’s Previews is on sale today and it’s time to order Indie Comics #2 from Aazurn Publishing!  Plus our freebie:  Christmas in July! Many thanks to all of you who downloaded the  Indie Comics #2 Facebook Cover  from the last email! It was popular enough, I’m letting you know about it again!  Download it here =  http://www.aazurn.com/newsroom/ic2/ic2-facebook.jpg Did you miss Indie Comics #1? Be real nice to your local or online comic shop and they can still order it with order code JUN160995.  Second in a series!  Download  the next digital poster in th

Al Jaffee to receive Harvey Kurtzman Hall of Fame Award

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    from the official BCC press release . . .  BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - July 28, 2016  - The Baltimore Comic-Con is September 2-4, 2016 at the Baltimore Convention Center, and will once again host the Harvey Awards on the evening of September 3, 2016. We are privileged to announce the addition of legendary  MAD Magazine  creator and industry luminary  Al Jaffee  for a special panel at the Baltimore Comic-Con and bestowal of the Harvey Kurtzman Hall of Fame Award. Mr. Jaffee will be joining us on  Saturday, September 2nd .  Tickets  for the show and awards ceremony are  now available . Al Jaffee,  MAD Magazine  cartoonist and creator of the celebrated fold-in cover, is a Guinness World Record holder with the longest career of a comics artist (over 73 years!). His early career was spent as an artist for Timely Comics and Atlas Comics, and later again working for Stan Lee

Book Review: PRESSURE by Brian Keene

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from the GOODREADS  summary . . . . . . . . Pressure by   Brian Keene   (Goodreads Author)   3.73    ·      Rating Details    ·    113 Ratings    ·    33  Reviews Off the coast of tropical Mauritius, an ecological catastrophe with global implications is occurring. The ocean's floor is collapsing at a rapid rate. World-champion free diver and marine biologist Carrie Anderson joins a scientific expedition determined to discover the cause-and how to stop it. But what they uncover is even more horrific. Deep beneath the surface, something is awake. Something hungry. Something...cold. Now, the pressure builds as Carrie and her colleagues must contend with the murderous operatives of a corrupt corporation, an unnatural disaster that grows bigger by the day, and a monstrous predator that may spell the extinction of all mankind. Pressure  is this summer's hot new thriller from bestselling author and World Horror Grandmaster Award winner Brian Keene.   (less) Hardcover ,  First

Sneak Peek: Valiant's X-O MANOWAR #50 anniversary issue

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EDITOR’S NOTE:  Hard to believe Issue #50 marks the finale of X-O MANOWAR, the flagship title that started the Valiant re-boot in the 21st Century.  We’ll miss it, but anticipate some future mini-series and/or yet another re-boot.  This artwork was too good not to share . . . so take a good look below.   From the official press release . . . . . . . . . .   For the first time anywhere, Valiant is proud to reveal that Eisner Award-winning artist  Colleen Doran  – best known for work on some of comics' most acclaimed series including  The Sandman ,  Wonder Woman , and, most recently, FAITH – will contribute an all-new cover to  X–O MANOWAR #50 , the massive 64-page anniversary milestone arriving in stores this September! Springing off her Valiant debut in the pages of July's  FAITH #1 , Doran joins a formidable roster of comics all-stars – including New York Times best-selling writer  Robert Venditti  ( Hal Jordan & The Green Lantern Corps ),  X-O MANOWAR visionaries  Cary

Book Review: X-FIles Anthology Volume 2

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from the Goodreads summary . . . . . . . X-Files: The Truth Is Out There by   Jonathan Maberry   (Goodreads Author)   (Editor) ,  Kelley Armstrong (Goodreads Author) ,  Kami Garcia   (Goodreads Author) ,  Jon McGoran   (Goodreads Author)   4.22    ·      Rating Details    ·    50 Ratings    ·    11  Reviews Fox Mulder and Dana Scully are back in a chilling collection of all-new tales of dark secrets, alien agendas, terrifying monsters and murderous madmen. Featuring original stories by bestselling authors Rachel Caine, Hank Philippi Ryan, Kelley Armstrong, Kami Garcia, Greg Cox and many others. Edited by New York Times bestseller Jonathan Maberry (V-WARS). Paperback ,  360 pages Published February 16th 2016 by IDW Publishing OUR REVIEW:      I never expected the anthology to be this good! Editor Jonathan Mayberry has done a remarkable job of choosing the best stories, keeping them respectful and in sync with the X-Files bible (10 years of a television series plus movies an

IDW and TOP SHELF awarded three Eisner Awards

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from the official IDW press release . . . .   San Diego, CA (July 25, 2016) – IDW and Top Shelf celebrated two award wins, plus one shared award, at Friday night’s Eisner Award ceremony held annually at Comic Con International in San Diego! With 10 nominations, IDW, Top Shelf Productions, Yoe! Books, and The Library of American Comics would like to thank the judges and the voters of this year’s awards.   Winning the award for  Best Reality-Based Work  was the widely  acclaimed second volume of  Congressman John Lewis ’ memoir,  March Book Two . This Eisner award recognizes the entire team of Congressman Lewis,  Andrew Aydin , and  Nate Powell !   Walt Kelly’s Fairy Tales  edited by  Craig Yoe  was awarded  Best Archival Collection/Project—Comic Books  from Yoe! Books with a lavish look at the legendary artist’s wondrous work.   “Craig is one of comics’ leading archeologists and we are thrilled for him to win this much deserved Eisner,” says  Greg Goldstein , IDW’s President and COO. 

The best looking comic storage box yet!

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from the official Valiant Entertainment press release . . . . . . In stores and online now  at   http://www.bcwsupplies.com/1-BX-SHORT-ART-VAL    From X-O Manowar to Bloodshot to Ninjak and Faith, Valiant’s greatest heroes are leaping out your comics collection and into an awe-inspiring new line of solid, sturdy and eye-grabbing comics storage boxes from BCW!   Valiant is proud to present an all-new collaboration with BCW — the world’s leading hobby supplies manufacturer — for all-new  Valiant Universe Short Comic Boxes ! For the first time ever, the Valiant Universe’s award-winning roster of characters surround BCW’s trusted comic book short storages boxes with an awe-inspiring wraparound design illustrated by blockbuster artist  Diego Bernard  (X-O MANOWAR, NINJAK) – complete with an eye-catching print of Valiant’s iconic logo on the top storage lid!   Looming at 10.75 inches high, 15.75 inches long, and 7.5 inches wide, these specially printed short boxes can contain a universe’s

Another month, another PREVIEWS: August 2016

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EDITOR’S NOTE:  This Wednesday, July 27 the August edition of PREVIEWS arrives in comic shops.  This is your opportunity to help your local comic shop bring the best books (the ones that you want to read) into their store two months from now.  Hey, this is the business model that comic shops have to use.  Won’t you do your part and give them a little hint at what you expect them to carry for you?  Pick it up and browse.  You can count on us to highlight some picks in order to help you make those decisions.  Here’s a sneak peek at the next edition’s covers, courtesy of Diamond Distributors.

New Imprint IT'S ALIVE reprints historic graphic novels and comics

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  from the official IDW Publishing press release . . . . .   Drew Ford, In Association With IDW, To Bring ‘It’s Alive!’ To Life San Diego, CA (July 20, 2016) – It’s Alive! Like a bolt of lighting, a new publishing deal has struck and IDW Publishing is excited to present the most electrifying new imprint of the year, It’s Alive!   IDW’s newest publishing partner,  Drew Ford , brings with him first-rate taste and years of experience putting together dozens of graphic novel and comic book reprint collections for Dover Publications. He left his post there to launch his own imprint It’s Alive! with plans to continue his mission of saving the history of comics, one collection at a time.    That goal has led Ford to acquire reprint rights to several exciting graphic novel and comic book projects, and has now signed with IDW to solicit and distribute the titles produced by his new imprint,  making those collections much more accessible to a larger audience. Ford has utilized Kickstarter i

Columbia Comic Con

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TICKETS ON SALE Galactic Con tickets are available online. Early Bird tickets are $20 and include early admission, along with a copy of the limited edition Anthony Spay print. Single Tickets & Family Tickets are also available online and at the door. Buy your tickets online and SKIP THE LINE at the door, just look for the EXPRESS LANE! Get tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/galactic-con-columbia-comic-con-tickets-24516038130?mc_eid=5db36b6f88&mc_cid=f9f7521005   COSPLAY CONTEST! Click here for official rules and details! https://www.facebook.com/events/1064542826967747/   If you like Shopkins, join us at the TRADING BOOTH at the Columbia Comic Con. Bring along some doubles to trade!    More details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1106836312704125/