Comic Book Journal

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Movie Apaptation #2 from IDW press by Simon Furman and Jon Davis-Hunt is a typical adaptation o any blockbuster, short, action-packed, yet not heavy on plot, nor sense. The artwork fell flat, and as far as characters from the movie originally went, they are pretty unrecognizable. I couldn’t tell the difference in nearly any panel in Sam from his friend. The transformers are loosely rendered, and as far as their shape shifting action goes–I can’t say its anything impressive on page. Maybe the bots are destined for big screen magic only as the adaptation falls far short of any prestigous mark. Overall I’d give this book a four out of ten. It’s a weak movie marketing tie-in at best and would not serve to replicate seeing the film in person. I’d say wait for the dvd rental and watch the bonus features instead of seeing the film in theatres, then buying the adaptation. I’ve seen far better come from IDW, hopefully this is the not the sign of things to come from the new house of ideas. For more new reviews see http://www.comicbookjournal.net/category/reviews/

From the Ashes #1 by Bob Fingerman in a romp into society after the apocalypse through the eyes of an artist and his wife. They are the only remaining couple in the world. While its more of a commentary on the wasteland of pop culture and the effects of technology on communication, it doesn’t really grab me as being a book that average Joe or Jane will want to pick up. There are some humorous moments with his wife lamenting the loss of Jimmy Choo shoes over the loss of friends and relatives, but in my opinion the story falls flat. Maybe the adventure will pick up after meeting the cannibals (a traditional hook in post apocalypitical literature), but I’d have to say overall the book is just decent at best. The artwork is definitely distinct and stylized, and the colors work well for setting the grim tone of the story, but I still felt as if something was missing. Perhaps the small-press feel of the book, and the unfinished look of the artwork was altering my interpretation of the text, but like with most Eisner works, I didn’t really see true genius in the pages. Overall, I’d have to give this one a six out of ten, it’s just average, not extraordinary. For more reviews see http://www.comicbookjournal.net/category/reviews/

I have made an error in assumption once again. After looking through some FCBD samplings, I stumbled upon Thom Zahler’s Love and Capes. Glancing at the artwork, I had assumed this was another small press title, which would be a few pages of cheesy, over exaggerated black and white art, which little plot, nonsensical dialogue, and characters with nothing to love about them. I was wrong an all accounts. After giving the cartoony artwork a chance, I discovered that this book is a little-known gem. I’m glad it was part of the FCBD offerings because I did have the chance to discover a title I would not have ordinarily read. The story was paced well and kept my attention throughout, while the artwork, while cartoony, seemed to fit just right with this comic romp. The characters are instantly likable and there is plenty humor to go around. Would I buy this next issue? Absolutely. Should you? You betcha. I’d give this book a solid nine out of ten. I think that Thom Zahler’s wit would be extremely refreshing on a mainstream title like the Flash or perhaps he could even add a touch of merriment to Marvel’s mighty mutants again. As far as self-published/small press books go, this is tops! For more info on Free Comic Book Day and other fantastic reviews see http://www.comicbookjournal.net/category/reviews/

I’m sitting here was a stack of comics to review (some old, some new) and I’m anxiously awaiting the task of adding a few more to the pile after May 2nd. For those who do not know, Saturday, May 1st is Free Comic Book day, which launches nicely after the kickoff of the summer movie frenzy. Looks like there’s going to be some good ones this year, stay tuned for my review of X-Men Origins: Wolverine as soon as it opens. It’s going to be a scorcher. This year’s FCBD goodies also look mighty fine was plenty of titles to choose from. What I like most about Free Comic Book Day is it gives many people with no background in the comic book industry a chance to see what variety there is in the field and also it gives us die hard comic book geeks a chance to get out of the basement and into the spotlight. To help you gear up for the festivities I’ve compiled a list of titles out there. Also the one marked indicate a “gold” title, which means it’s pretty limited and could be hard to find, depending on how many titles your retailer has ordered from the publishers. So without further ado here’s the list:

• Archie Comics: Archie Presents: The Mighty Archie Art Players

• BOOM! Studios: Disney/Pixar’s Cars

• Bongo Comics: 2009 Free For All

• Dark Horse Comics: Star Wars: Clone Wars

• DC Comics: Blackest Night #0

• IDW Publishing: Transformers Animated/G.I. Joe

• Image Comics: Savage Dragon #148

• Oni Press: Resurrection #0

• Marvel Comics: The Avengers

• Viz Media: Shonen Jump Presents: Ultimo

Dark Horse Comics: Aliens/Predator

APE: Cartoonapalooza #2

Aracana Studio Presents

Atomic Robo And Friends

Attack Of The Alterna-Zombies!

Comics Festival! 2009 Volume 3

Contract #1

Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer Preview

Dabel Bros. Showcase

DC Kids Mega Sampler

FCHS

Fist Of Justice #1

Gold Digger #101/Prince Of Heroes

IMPACT University Volume 5

Love & Capes

Love & Rockets Sampler

Mercy Sparx: Under New Management

Nancy & Melvin Monster

NASCAR Heroes: Origins #1

Owly And Friends

Radical 2009 Preview

Sonic The Hedgehog: Evolution Of A Hero

Studio 407 Sampler

The Stuff of Legend

The Wizard Hot List

TMNT #1 25th Anniversary Reprint

Warhammer Fantasy

William Shatner Presents #1

Wolverine: Origin Of An X-Man

Worlds Of Aspen #4

I predict that of these titles the biggest sleeper hits will be Green Lantern: Blackest Night, which will shake up the DC Universe a bit. I’m a bit partial I’ve always been a big Green Lantern fan.

Also check out Shatner’s latest offering, with the upcoming Star Trek film I’d imagine a little Kirk nostalgia will likely drive sales of his upcoming title.

A pile of reviews will be coming tomorrow and also Saturday I’ll have the claws out for Wolverine! Be there at www.comicbookjournal.net

It’s rare that I can find a preview that I can’t enjoy and I’m sorry to say this is one of them. Usually I enjoy this sort of other-worldly, Vertigo-esque title, but I found this title to be a bit flat. The plot is, I hate to say it typical, with a hero/heroine, demon/angel, coming to earth on a quest to find someone/something from the past, who is now perhaps, inhabiting someone/something else’s body. There’s many unknowns here and that’s my main problem with the story, there’s not enough of an introduction for me to like any of the characters or become attached to them, or their plights. Granted, this is only a preview with little room for narrative, but there’s nothing here that made me want to pick up the first issue. The artwork is of the usual indie fair also I’m afraid. There’s bold lines, sketchy backgrounds, and lack of depth and detail. Again there was never a “wow” moment with the artwork. The only bright spot in the art was the coloring. The muted tones and lack of brightness did add a bit of gloomy atmosphere to the story and added a hint of richness to the overall art, which makes me think the story might have looked far better as a painted graphic novel rather than single issues. Overall I’d have to give this one a lousy five out of ten, it was a nice attempt that fell flat on its face. I’d recommend this only to die hard fans of J.M.’s. As always for more reviews check out www.comicbookjournal.net/reviews.

IDW publishing is turning out to be quite a good publisher. They’re already nailed down some pretty good liscenses and Angel:After the Fall is no exception. First off, I’m a diehard Buffy fan, but never got too much into Angel. I saw maybe two episodes of the tv show and read only a couple books before. So what’s the point? You do not have to be a fan of the series to enjoy this book. The story, plot, and pacing is exceptional. Lynch’s writing skills are showcased as the characterization and dialogue from the leading cast are dead on (especially Spike). The artwork is equally as gorgeous and the sketchy sytle, combined with dark, heavy linework sets the tone for the end of all things very nicely. While this is number fourteen, and I feel that I lost most of the storyline and jumped in at a bad point for new readers, it’s involving. I’d have to give this book a solid seven out of ten. Definitely check out this issue, then wait for IDW to lanuch the TPB of the series. I’m sure it’ll be worth every dollar. As a rule, I generally don’t like angsty vampires, but if you want to check out even more fangy goodness or see why the vampire genre should be staked in the proverbial heart check out http://www.toybender.com/twilight-ruins-toys-like-it-does-vampire-books-and-flicks/.

Today we’re gonna have a little history lesson. If you think that independent publishers and imprints exists today in the comic book marketplace, you’re sadly mistaken. I took a look at an odd find I discovered. In reviewing Uncle Scrooge #181, which is definitely retro, I was amazed at the level of quality and care that was placed into the issue. The art was fantastic, despite being a little primitive and the colors definitely popped. The writing wasn’t bad either and the main story in the issue was plotted well. You see, Uncle Scrooge is set to loose his entire fortune (as always) if he does not find a case of horseradish buried in the depths of the sea and deliver it to Jamaica. He, of course, must dodge the devious plot of rival McSue to find the booty before he does. Chaos ensures, but ultimately Uncle Scrooge is successful thanks to his handy nephews, Huey, Dewey, and who could forget, Luey.

Now as a book for children this was not bad reading material. I would actually recommend back issues of the title for children in elementary school, or children trying to learn to read. So on a review basis I’d give the title a five out of ten. But it goes deeper than this

For those of you who may not know, and as I learned Whitman Comics was only an alternate distributing company for Gold Key Comics who was an imprint of the original Western Comics imprint. All properties were eventually engulfed by DC. The original titles, however, were impressive and could use a read even today. Whitman’s books included such titles as:

Battle of the Planets
The Beagle Boys Vs. Uncle Scrooge
The Black Hole
Buck Rogers
Bugs Bunny
Daffy Duck
Daisy and Donald
Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom
Flash Gordon
Grimm’s Ghost Stories
Huey, Dewey, and Louie
Little Lulu
Mickey Mouse
The Pink Panther and the Inspector
Porky Pig
Turok, Son of Stone
Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories
Yosemite Sam and Bugs Bunny.

These are considered classics and still cherished by many adults and are a throwback to simpler times of the silver age. So if you’re at a convention, and keep in mind convention season will be in full swing soon, stop by the quarter bin and you’re sure to find a handful of these. If you’re feeling generous, pass them out to the local schools and libraries in an effort to promote not only the comic book market, but literacy in general. So that’s my public service announcement for today.

Also if you know anyone who loves all the classic Disney characters, and who doesn’t know Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and the rest of the crew, have them check out the Disney Movie Club. Below are links to check out all the great benefits the club has to offer.

http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-2191506-10511469
Get 3 Disney Movies for $1.99 Each, Plus Free Shipping! Join Now!“>Get 3 Disney Movies for $1.99 Each, Plus Free Shipping! Join Now!

Also for all who have commented–Yes, I do read the comments and I appreciate any feedback you have to give. Often, I may not take time to respond to each one personally, but I assure you they are all read! Have a webzine or e-comic you want reviewed? If so send me a comment or e-mail at Velma92181@yahoo.com and I’ll do my best to get it out to the world wide web. That is, unless you scared of what I think. Until tomorrow, all will remain quiet on the Western front.

Devil’s Due publishing has successfully proved they are more than just a one-trick pony. By branching out to other genres and different types of storytelling platforms they have proven they have what it takes to be successful on the comic book front, not just with GI Joe either. Other than Image and Dynamite Entertainment, I feel they have produced the best quality of work, outside of Marvel and DC. As far as independent publishers go, they are among the best. So what has made Devil’s Due successful? Talent. They consistently attract high-profile talent and that leads to a high quality of product made. Spooks #1 is no exception.

With a script by acclaimed fantasy novelist R.A. Salavatore and long-time comic book scribe, Larry Hama (who also draws a pretty picture or two himself), this series has large market success all over it.

The storyline of Spooks is fairly simple. It’s werewolves, vampires, and monsters versus the rest of the world in a battle for complete domination. Throw in some powerful magic, and an undead war general in charge, and you have a pretty good fight. The government has assembled a highly trained team of officers to protect and defend against supernatural enemies, and possible terrorists. In the first issue the spooks members see what they are up against with seven foot werewolves and then Frankenstein’s monster joins in at the end of the issue. I think this series could be really entertaining, but would like to see more development from the members of the task force. Right now, they just seem to be cardboard cut outs of characters.

I look forward to the series, but this issue was just not enough of a taste to keep me involved. In my opinion no one will ever write the story of humanity versus supernatural forces better than Mike Mignola. To see why he writes the ultimate end of the world story see my post at http://www.comicbookjournal.net/why-i-like-mike-mignola/

Now about the art. Adam Archer has made me believe werewolves exist they were literally jumping off the page. This is dynamic action, nicely rendered beings, brilliant backgrounds. And what I like most about Archer’s artwork is it flowed. It is clear that this issue was storyboarded and planned out before he drew even the first panel. Careful planning plus attention to detail equal outstanding artwork.

On a scale of one to ten I’d have to give this book a solid seven out of ten. While it’s a great starting point for a new series, that’s all it does is give a sample of what could be greatness. I’d have to have more of a sense of direction as to where the story will be taken before I could give it a ten. Sorry Devil’s I’ll give you your Due, but I’d just recommend this story to a casual reader who is looking for some fluff reading on the bus.

Sci-fi is often an overlooked genre in both fiction and comic books as well. Sometimes it can surprise you when you fall in love with a character or series. That’s why I thought I’d give 2000 AD a shot. I have never read this legendary UK magazine for fear it would be only weak Judge Dredd stories. Ain’t it Cool News, as it touts on the cover, said that nobody does sci-fi better so I thought why not. Maybe I have misconceptions about this title. I have to say that I was a little disappointed in this title. I think that Ain’t it Cool News should have said that 2000 AD has the MOST sci-fi anywhere, not necessarily the best. Being an anthology format, I like how the title does give a diverse sampling of different stories, but there is just not enough of any story to make a judgment on the title as a stand alone series.

The best thing about 2000 AD as it’s true sci-fi: aliens, different world, future stories, and dystopias are plentiful. For the most part the art is detailed enough, and the ads are not interruptive of any storylines, but it just does not have the same effect as a whole comic book.

The worst thing about the anthology is it does seem a little dated, almost as if it’s stuck in the mid nineteen eighties. There is really nothing unique about any of the stories in the issues, the highlight was the mini story of Shakara and Henry Flint’s artwork. I think that he is an artist to watch if he ever brings his artwork to the states, with another vehicle his bold lines, and heavy detailing could make him an outstanding professional in the industry, but he does need more than eight pages and more polishing to refine his style.

I think the major difference in the work has to be the definition of what in the US has become sci-fi with space operas such as the best title nobody seems to be reading: see my review of Battlestar Galactica at : http://www.comicbookjournal.net/battlestar-is-pure-dynamite/; and the overseas interpretation of sci-fi filled with paranoid political viewpoints and dystopian nightmares.

Overall I’d have to give this title a six out of ten. I’d recommend it for someone who’s never watched Doctor Who, Judge Dredd, or read Frank Miller’s Ronin, for a taste of diversity in sci-fi.

What’s all of this? See my blog at http://www.comicbookjournal.net/the-pop-culture-superhero-collison/ for all the grisly details. To prove how much I love comics I’m attempting to review every February comic before the end of the month. Can I do it? We’ll just have to wait and see. Now with this title I reviewed it a few months ago and was blown away. To my joy, the folks at Dynamite have done it again. Battlestar Galactica: Season Zero #5 is pure magic. The issues felt as if it was “shot” instead of drawn and the writing, both plot and dialogue was seamless. Dynamite Entertainment is the place to be this year it looks like. It’s always hardest to review the best titles because they often leave me speechless in terms of having any criticism. This book is simply one of the best continuing series out there. Hopefully it won’t be just a mini-series, but will actually continue throughout the seasons. If a budding artist needs a lesson on plot and storyboarding, I would recommend this issue hands down. The action is smooth, the transitions are solid, and the detail is fantastic. With that said I have no choice but to give this title a ten of ten. Absolute perfection. Dynamite Entertainment will be the sleeper studio to blow 2008 away.

I think the title says it all. This is how science fiction should be written. I’ve never watched an episode of Battlestar. Now maybe I will. This book was fantastic. The artwork made the page come alive and I felt as if I was among the crew of the Pegasus. The characters were nicely rendered. The ships and space fighting scenes were sharp and stylistic. Despite being a bit long, this was an excellent first issue, and hopefully not the last in the series. Dynamic entertainment has a winner with this book. Generally, the sci-fi genre has been unsuccessful in the conversion to comic books, see my review on Star Trek Enterprise here: http://www.comicbookjournal.net/to-boldly-go/.
I cannot stress enough how this title is worth picking up. The crew take a tired genre and actually make it feel as if you’re watching a space thriller. The story basically follows the crew of a ship that has been in flight for far too long, and they encounter the evil Cylons, who has killed the majority of another crew. The Pegasus crew must encounter and continue the battle against the Cylons to avenge the death of their fallen comrades. I don’t want to spoil the details of the plot because I hope you’ll do yourself a favor and pick up this awesome book. On a scale from one to ten, this gets a solid nine. What’s the only thing missing, a little background on the Pegasus and its crew. This is recommended reading for any comic book fan, whether they’re into space adventures or not. Dynamite Entertainment has a winner in this series.

Who here hasn’t read classics illustrated? Chances are quite a few people have read these adaptations of the classics. While totaling over 100 issues and still counting, this series gives a visual interpretation of some of the most beloved classics in literature. Classics Illustrates does a couple different things, which are unique. It makes reading a lot more fun, and it teaches children the value of a story. When a reader can become immersed in a world of fiction, the reader will ofter come back for more escapism. I applaud Russian-born Albert Lewis Kanter for creating a timeless series which really encourages children and adults alike to love the written word. I have compiled a list of the classics that have been adapted thus far and noted which stories I think are worth checking out.

1. THE THREE MUSKETEERS Alexandre Dumas–check this out if you like high action, think Errol Flynn
2. IVANHOE Walter Scott
3. THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO Alexandre Dumas
4. THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS James Fennimore Cooper
5. MOBY DICK Herman Melville
6. TALE OF TWO CITIES Charles Dickens
7. ROBIN HOOD–Who can’t love a man who steals from the wealthy only to give it to the poor
9. LES MISERABLES Victor Hugo
10. ROBINSON CRUSOE Daniel Defoe
11. DON QUIXOTE Miguel DeCervantes–if you’ve never read this you’ll never think of windmills the same way again
12. RIP VAN WINKLE & HEADLESS HORSEMAN Washington Irving–one of the greatest, creepiest, stories ever written Irving is a master wordsmith
13. DR JEKYLL & MR. HYDE Robert Louis Stevenson–Again, a suspensful masterpiece.
14. WESTWARD HO! Charles Kingsley
15. UNCLE TOM’S CABIN Harriet Beecher Stowe–Important for it’s time period, definitely worth a read.
16. GULLIVER’S TRAVELS Jonathan Swift
17. THE DEERSLAYER James Fennimore Cooper
18. THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME Victor Hugo
19. HUCKLEBERRY FINN Mark Twain
20. THE CORSICAN BROTHERS Alexandre Dumas
21. THREE FAMOUS MYSTERIES Doyle-Poe-Maupassant–Just plain fun.
22. THE PATHFINDER James Fennimore Cooper
23. OLIVER TWIST Charles Dickens–Please sir, may I have another.
24. A CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN KING ARTHUR’S COURT Mark Twain
25. TWO YEARS BEFORE THE MAST R H Dana Jr.
26. FRANKENSTEIN Mary W Shelley–Good creepy fun, high adventure, great for children and adults alike
27. THE ADVENTURES OF MARCO POLO
28. MICHAEL STROGOFF Jules Verne
29. THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER Mark Twain
30. THE MOONSTONE William Wilkie Collins
31. THE BLACK ARROW Robert Louis Stevenson
32. LORNA DOONE R D Blackmore
33. THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES Arthur Conan Doyle–While he didn’t invent the mystery story (Poe did with the Murder in the Rue Morgue) he certainly perfected it.
34. MYSTERIOUS ISLAND Jules Verne
35. THE LAST DAYS OF POMPEII Bulwer-Lytton-Edward
36. TYPEE Herman Melville
37. THE PIONEERS James Fennimore Cooper
38. THE ADVENTURES OF CELLINI
39. JANE EYRE Charlotte Bronte
40. MYSTERIES Edger Allan Poe
41. TWENTY YEARS AFTER Alexandre Dumas
42. SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON Jonathan Wyss
43. GREAT EXPECTATIONS Charles Dickens
44. MYSTERIES OF PARIS Eugene Sue
45. TOM BROWN’S SCHOOL DAYS Thomas Hughes
46. KIDNAPPED Robert Louis Stevenson
47. TWENTY THOUSAND LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA Jules Verne
48. DAVID COPPERFIELD Charles Dickens
49. ALICE IN WONDERLAND Lewis Carroll
50. TOM SAWYER Mark Twain
51. THE SPY James Fennimore Cooper
52. THE HOUSE OF THE SEVEN GABLES Nathaniel Hawthorne
53. CHRISTMAS CAROL Charles Dickens
54. THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK Alexandre Dumas
55. SILAS MARNER George Eliot
56. TOILERS OF THE SEA Victor Hugo
57. SONG OF HIAWATHA Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
58. THE PRAIRIE James Fennimore Cooper
59. WUTHERING HEIGHTS Emily Bronte
60. BLACK BEAUTY Anna Sewell
61. THE WOMAN IN WHITE Wilkie Collins
62. WESTERN STORIES Bret Harte
63. THE MAN WITHOUT A COUNTRY Edward Everett Hale
64. TREASURE ISLAND Robert Louis Stevenson
65. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN-AUTOBIOGRAPHY
66. CLOISTER AND THE HEARTH Charles Reade
67. THE SCOTTISH CHIEFS Jane Porter
68. JULIUS CAESAR William Shakespeare
69. AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS Jules Verne
70. THE PILOT James Fennimore Cooper
71. THE MAN WHO LAUGHS Victor Hugo
72. THE OREGON TRAIL Francis Parkman
73. THE BLACK TULIP Alexandre Dumas
74. MR. MIDSHIPMAN EASY Frederick Marryat
75. THE LADY OF THE LAKE Walter Scott
76. THE PRISONER OF ZENDA Anthony Hope
77. THE ILIAD Homer
78. JOAN OF ARC
79. CYRANO DE BERGERAC Edmond Rostand
80. WHITE FANG Jack London
81. THE ODYSSEY Homer– There are no original stories, unless you count the Odyssey here’s where fiction began.
82. THE MASTER OF BALLANTRAE Robert Louis Stevenson
83. THE JUNGLE BOOK Rudyard Kipling
84. THE GOLD BUG ETC Edgar Allan Poe
85. THE SEA WOLF Jack London
86. UNDER TWO FLAGS Ouida
87. A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM William Shakespeare
88. MEN OF IRON Howard Pyle
89. CRIME AND PUNISHMENT Dostoyevsky
90. GREEN MANSIONS W H Hudson
91. THE CALL OF THE WILD Jack London
92. MILES STANDISH Longfellow
93. PUDD’NHEAD WILSON Samuel L Clemens
94. DAVID BALFOUR Robert Louis Stevenson
95. ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT Erich Maria Remarque
96. DANIEL BOONE John Bakeless
97. KING SOLOMON’S MINES H Rider Haggard
98. THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE Stephen Crane
99. HAMLET William Shakespeare
100. MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY Nordhoff & Hall
101. WILLIAM TELL Frederick Schiller
102. THE WHITE COMPANY Arthur Conan Doyle
103. MEN AGAINST THE SEA Nordhoff & Hall
104. BRING ‘EM BACK ALIVE Frank Buck
105. FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON Jules Verne–Classic, fun, (although at times campy) sci-fi.
106. BUFFALO BILL
107. KING OF THE KHYBER RIFLES Talbot Mundy
108. KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE
109. PITCAIRN’S ISLAND Nordhoff & Hall
110. A STUDY IN SCARLET Arthur Conan Doyle–Again a Doyle classic.
111. THE TALISMAN Walter Scott
112. THE ADVENTURES OF KIT CARSON
113. THE FORTY FIVE GUARDSMEN Alexandre Dumas
114. THE RED ROVER James Fennimore Cooper
115. HOW I FOUND LIVINGSTONE Henry M Stanley
116. THE BOTTLE IMP Robert Louis Stevenson
117. CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS Rudyard Kipling
118. ROB ROY Walter Scott
119. SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE Richard Harding Davis
120. HURRICANE Nordhoff & Hall
121. WILD BILL HICKOK
122. THE MUTINEERS Charles Boardman Hawes
123. FANG AND CLAW Frank Buck
124. THE WAR OF THE WORLD SH G Wells–The only thing which made this tale better was the invention of the radio.
125. THE OX-BOW INCIDENT Walter Van Tilburg Clark
126. THE DOWNFALL Emile Zola
127. THE KING OF THE MOUNTAINS Edmond About
128. MACBETH William Shakespeare
129. DAVY CROCKETT
130. CAESAR’S CONQUESTS Julius Caesar
131. THE COVERED WAGON Emerson Hough
132. THE DARK FRIGATE Charles Boardman Hawes
133. THE TIME MACHINE H G Wells
134. ROMEO AND JULIET William Shakespeare
135. WATERLOO Chatrian Erckmann
136. LORD JIM Joseph Conrad
137. THE LITTLE SAVAGE Frederick Marryat
138. JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH Jules Verne
139. REIGN OF TERROR G A Henty
140. ON JUNGLE TRAILS Frank Buck
141. CASTLE DANGEROUS Walter Scott
142. ABRAHAM LINCOLN
143. KIM Rudyard Kipling
144. FIRST MEN IN THE MOON H G Wells
145. THE CRISIS Winston Churchill
146. WITH FIRE AND SWORD Henry K Sienkiewicz
147. BEN HUR Lew Wallace
148. BUCCANEER
149. OFF ON A COMET Jules Verne
150. THE VIRGINIAN Owen Wister
151. WON BY THE SWORD G A Henty
152. WILD ANIMALS I HAVE KNOWN Ernest Thompson Seton
153. THE INVISIBLE MAN H G Wells
154. THE CONSPIRACY OF PONTIAC Francis Parkman
155. THE LION OF THE NORTH G A Henty
156. THE CONQUEST OF MEXICO Bernal Diaz Del Castillo
157. THE LIVES OF THE HUNTED Ernest Thompson Seton
158. THE CONSPIRATORS Alexandre Dumas
159. THE OCTOPUS Frank Norris
160. THE FOOD OF THE GODS H G Wells
161. CLEOPATRA H Rider Haggard
162. ROBUR THE CONQUEROR Jules Verne
163. THE MASTER OF THE WORLD Jules Verne
164. THE COSSACK CHIEF Nikolai Gogol
165. THE QUEEN’S NECKLACE Alexandre Dumas
166. TIGERS AND TRAITORS Jules Verne
167. FAUST Goethe–Classic story of a deal going horribly wrong.
168. IN FREEDOM’S CAUSE G.A. Henty
169. NEGRO AMERICANS

The Second Series

1. The Raven & Other Stories
2. Great Expectations
3. Through The Looking Glass
4. Moby Dick
5. Hamlet–Pictures definitely make Shakespeare more interesting.
6. The Scarlet Letter
7. The Count Of Monte Cristo
8. Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
9. Tom Sawyer
10. The Call Of the Wild
11. Rip Van Winkle
12. The Island Of Dr. Moreau
13. Wuthering Heights
14. Fall Of the House of Usher
15. The Gift Of the Magi–The irony in every O. Henry story was purely genius.
16. A Christmas Carol
17. Treasure Island
18. The Devil’s Dictionary
19. The Secret Agent
20. The Invisible Man
21. Cyrano de Bergerac
22. The Jungle Books
23. Robinson Crusoe
24. Rime of the Ancient Mariner–I want this Coleridge classic on my bookshelf. Trust me, if you think Pirates of the Carribean was a fun flick, then you’ll be amazed at the Mariner.
25. Ivanhoe
26. Aesop’s Fables
27. The Jungle–Like Uncle Tom’s Cabin, important to culture and society at the time.

If you have a particular favorite or just want to talk about comic books in particular, feel free to leave me a message and I’ll be glad to send an e-mail back. For more of my favorites including writers and artists feel free to check out my archieves at www.comicbookjournal.net/archive.

Goblins and ghosts and vampires, oh my! While I’ve yet to see 30 Days of Night I’ve heard quite a mixed bag. Has anyone seen this (blood) sucker yet? Yahoo, which is usually my primary source of information, has some reviews posted, so I thought I’d be nice and share a few of my favorites. I’ve posted some of my favorites from critics and users alike. From what I’ve seen and heard so far, it seems to be more loathed by the critics and the general movie-going population like it. I think the main discrepancy between the movie and the graphic novel is the issue of pacing. From what I understand the movie moves slowly (probably to leave enough plot room for the dreaded sequel.) 31 Days of Night anyone? If you’re looking for something ultra-creepy to do this Halloween however, why not revisit some classic comics instead. Check out my blog Octoberfest here http://www.comicbookjournal.net/octoberfest/
for a list of the scariest reading out there. So without further ado here’s some food for thought to determine whether or not to go see 30 Days of Night. We’ll start with the users first.

The user reviews:

Very RARELY do I shout “Oh My God” at a movie. But this picture made yell out loud. It combines suspense, shock, horror, and gore.

hollywood has done something right for the first…in a long time: made a DECENT horror flick that was RATED-R, now lets pray that they can make a decent video game…

the suspense and stunning visuals take over as soon as the credits roll. The action was breath taking from the beginning. In addition the story is much more.

Versus the critics here:
“A nifty premise… spoiled by slipshod storytelling and a grim, charmless cast.”

“…sucks the fun out of graphic novel.”

“…relentlessly one-note.”

“…amounts to two hours of missed opportunities.”

And my personal favorite:

“Hartnett…once again displays the same range of facial expressions as the average footstool…”

So what do you think 30 Days of Night or 30 Days of Nothing. Let me know if you’ve seen this flick and what you thought.

Sex sells. Just ask Jenna Jameson. I’m excited about the release of a Jenna Jameson comic book for a couple of reasons, (you can stop your drooling now, we’re not going there). The publication of the new book from Virgin Comics can bring in Jenna fans to the title, and the possibility of new readership it always exciting. Another reason I’m glad to see this series is Christina Z. is working again. She did an impressive job with Witchblade as her storyline gave more depth to a title that could have easily been nothing more than art with no substance behind it. She humanized the character and brought light to the fact that the Witchblade was both a blessing and a curse. Also, I applaud Virgin Comics for making the premiere issue accessible to readers wanting to try a new series with a twenty-five cent price tag. You can bet that for a mere twenty-five cents I’m going to go revisit with a favorite writer, a hot blonde Shadow Hunter, and give Virgin Comics the credit it’s due for taking a risk. I can hardly wait until December for its release.

This happened a while ago, but I just can’t stop thinking about it.

If you haven’t already heard, Nicholas Cage is writing a comic book with his teenage son Weston called Voodoo Child, which comes to us from the hotter-than-hot Virgin Comics - which isn’t at all suprising, as the comic book company, part of the record label of the same name, has brought a number of high profile Hollywood names to the comic industry in recent month.

Nor is it any surprise Nicholas Cage is involved. A long-time comic book fan, Cage - who, depending on who you talk to, may or may not have borrowed his name from Luke Cage, finally got his shot at a comic book movie with Ghost Rider. He’s also named as a producer on Sci-Fi’s adaptation of the Jim Butcher hit, The Dresden Files.

Here’s where it gets interesting. By this point I’ve already heard about this, but a news clips comes up again in Cynopsis, an e-mail newsletter I read to keep abuzz about entertainment news. After summarizing the Cages’ comic book premise - about ghost boy in New Orleans, murdered by seccessionists, revolving around the investigation of several missing girls - the Cynopsis article reads - and I quote - “Clearly this is not for younger kids.”

Now, Cynopsis is right on in its observation, but why do they think its for kids at all, younger or older? In fact, why is this even listen in Cynopsis Kids in the first place? There’s nothing about this story which particularly screams kids except for - here it comes - the dreaded comic book stigma, which may be alive and well even amidst the recent comic book film explosion.

Then again, Cynopsis could have assumed kids implied teens as well - but that’s a stretching assumption at best. Most comic books are written for a teen audience - that’s just the best place for the material of the medium in the mainstream. So why are comics still assumed a strictly for-kids-affair?