tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68800853912350053932024-03-15T21:12:43.207-04:00The Yeti Speaks!Jeff McClelland's long-running blog about comics and stuffUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger872125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880085391235005393.post-57062870300617584392024-03-02T13:47:00.002-05:002024-03-02T13:52:42.320-05:00Thing sketchbook, part 27<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's time for yet another round of "let's look at Jeff's Thing sketchbook, which has become so synonymous with Jeff himself that it's difficult to determine where one ends and the other begins." I mean, I like my Thing sketchbook, everyone. WHO WANTS TO SEE SOME SKETCHES?!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNoqs0x_OKRaXGRKFz-h3JgrZtHAfeLx8Y-2H5zO9ISe4admjESzwuciyWo2ohEFGhhZJxS0b6i0htHhMhGqDVGk6ls9QkeWIKv84khUvhyqYdrl9Modh69YJOdK7ErZbjqtIZ-hy9uWCfoIQ6UHF5BElDnRirqNVMvs7-b7fdK6OlO-AfpidoA12I1HY/s1623/31%20-%20Phil%20Hester%20-%20in%20the%20mail%202020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1623" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNoqs0x_OKRaXGRKFz-h3JgrZtHAfeLx8Y-2H5zO9ISe4admjESzwuciyWo2ohEFGhhZJxS0b6i0htHhMhGqDVGk6ls9QkeWIKv84khUvhyqYdrl9Modh69YJOdK7ErZbjqtIZ-hy9uWCfoIQ6UHF5BElDnRirqNVMvs7-b7fdK6OlO-AfpidoA12I1HY/w400-h394/31%20-%20Phil%20Hester%20-%20in%20the%20mail%202020.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Phil Hester - 2020</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>2020 was a light year for Thing sketches - for the reasons we all understand - and I spent some time dropping the book in the mail and sending it to folks who agreed to draw in it at their homes. I was very nervous doing this. But it all worked out, and one of the sketches I got back was this absolute gem from Phil Hester. Phil's known for his Marvel and DC books like <i>Green Arrow </i>and <i>The Irredeemable Ant-Man,</i> which is a personal favorite of mine.</div><div><br /></div><div>In this sketch, we not only get a despondant Ben Grimm, but also the Silver Surfer flying off with Alicia Masters. The Surfer and Alicia have a history that goes back to the classic Galactus storyline in <i>Fantastic Four </i>48-50, and when the FF was stuck in the Heroes Reborn universe in the '90s, the two had a brief romantic relationship in the pages of the Silver Surfer's own book. So this scene of rejection has some pretext, even though I HATE IT. But Ben and Alicia ended up back together, so I guess it's all okay in the end.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1602" data-original-width="1652" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlfd_GwQLInHQYPSqlZUlesl2wxMbSi0xImQHUyI9hzSW4chYinT0azLBliTjEQhwuVEHXBPTgaIaV6s3PSdt7MW15xdfMqwlcVZkWSael6uuXPz5k57pYl6Di8AVgjbiW5EXaxTXYmPojEQh4WQO3svVT3aR5ZMhewsKgFk1bDekAVJSxaAKxCD4s0w/w400-h388/32%20-%20Todd%20Nauck%20-%20in%20the%20mail%202020.jpg" width="400" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Todd Nauck - 2020</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's another sketch that I trusted to the postal service, from the always friendly Todd Nauck, known for his work on titles like <i>Spider-Man </i>and <i>Young Justice.</i> Todd is always thoughtful and kind, and oh man did he deliver a really incredible headshot of ol' Ben Grimm here for the sketchbook. This was done around the time that Todd was drawing a lot of headshot variant covers for Marvel, including one for the Thing's own series. The blue outline is a nice touch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy4Of67R98UWW16g39Z65kmzNUZon9Xr3YKXHW-YMcUnzpjBiQ-RfDetFZ8SrTsev4jmxOOBpKcAsF-yZmqPeZKpChfUIHnRx4GwIleF88sRlXYpneLTdpZeemjVtCNaERnTcmTGpuZB_8srCIRW6zpVYHcfZdPyi46v742sj81vbxSx92ZGPUs0UDH8Q/s1629/33%20-%20Jacob%20Quinn%20-%202020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1602" data-original-width="1629" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy4Of67R98UWW16g39Z65kmzNUZon9Xr3YKXHW-YMcUnzpjBiQ-RfDetFZ8SrTsev4jmxOOBpKcAsF-yZmqPeZKpChfUIHnRx4GwIleF88sRlXYpneLTdpZeemjVtCNaERnTcmTGpuZB_8srCIRW6zpVYHcfZdPyi46v742sj81vbxSx92ZGPUs0UDH8Q/w400-h394/33%20-%20Jacob%20Quinn%20-%202020.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Jacob Quinn - 2020</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was really happy to have my nephew Jake draw a sketch in this book. It was 2020 and I didn't have a lot of movement with the sketchbook, so it seemed like the right time to open it up to a wider audience, I guess, but also having people I know and care about personally in the book makes sense to me at this stage as well. Jake was 10 when he drew this, and honestly, he did a really great job with it, and he added a unique version for the book. I'm really happy with it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDMnTobL5z69WoaLOZVuO2DPYMjvLCf-QpKyHxxi1QorV_WxYOinmg90EyG5mwpaYY8CoD2SMjtkqzwB1d_u5JjafT0UVB-RFowX62slu7iCWUOMrj_5Mg41nt7kZ4uQMSW_l1V2kEDKq40mpe6wIep2f2d28e408c0_MHQcRqD8wJD_hWn_7AEjHrak/s1648/34%20-%20Anna%20Litofsky%20-%20Moravian%20College%202021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1561" data-original-width="1648" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDMnTobL5z69WoaLOZVuO2DPYMjvLCf-QpKyHxxi1QorV_WxYOinmg90EyG5mwpaYY8CoD2SMjtkqzwB1d_u5JjafT0UVB-RFowX62slu7iCWUOMrj_5Mg41nt7kZ4uQMSW_l1V2kEDKq40mpe6wIep2f2d28e408c0_MHQcRqD8wJD_hWn_7AEjHrak/w400-h379/34%20-%20Anna%20Litofsky%20-%20Moravian%20College%202021.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><b>Anna Litofsky - 2021</b><div><br /></div><div>The spring of 2021 rolled around and COVID restrictions were still pretty prevalent; there were certainly no conventions happening yet. I was teaching a class on scripting for comics at my current university at this point, where we met once every other week in person, and the rest of the time on Zoom. There was no requirement for artistic skill to be in this class, but Anna came in with her own polished style and a great perspective. Once the end of the semester rolled around, I asked Anna if she'd be willing to draw in my sketchbook, and she agreed, producing this as we had class.</div><div><br /></div><div>The class would go on to produce their own full-length comic, <i>Tales of the 399, </i>which we funded on Kickstarter. This was a really fulfilling experience for me. Anna drew the cover for the book and we've kept in touch since. She's contributed to several issues of <i>Planet Comics</i> and I'm excited to see where her future takes her.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlfd_GwQLInHQYPSqlZUlesl2wxMbSi0xImQHUyI9hzSW4chYinT0azLBliTjEQhwuVEHXBPTgaIaV6s3PSdt7MW15xdfMqwlcVZkWSael6uuXPz5k57pYl6Di8AVgjbiW5EXaxTXYmPojEQh4WQO3svVT3aR5ZMhewsKgFk1bDekAVJSxaAKxCD4s0w/s1652/32%20-%20Todd%20Nauck%20-%20in%20the%20mail%202020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlfd_GwQLInHQYPSqlZUlesl2wxMbSi0xImQHUyI9hzSW4chYinT0azLBliTjEQhwuVEHXBPTgaIaV6s3PSdt7MW15xdfMqwlcVZkWSael6uuXPz5k57pYl6Di8AVgjbiW5EXaxTXYmPojEQh4WQO3svVT3aR5ZMhewsKgFk1bDekAVJSxaAKxCD4s0w/s1652/32%20-%20Todd%20Nauck%20-%20in%20the%20mail%202020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0EtOTUCJd0S6m0217djYzGnJfbAFjs9Jem3ulZNKKOFtvyHsWQQjMoWN9lfbvty6IsqZ_TbPaxmg2AtLzrzd8EXbn2dEGPrj-eItKOhXX4f7a9HKLPE1-Lgt98zDy1OIYESRPPcBsCDJYpm10b78IQGgp6AvrDhqax51rrL9SzZ7-cm0UM8lXIGW3gU/s1671/35%20-%20Chad%20Kelson%20-%20in%20the%20mail%202021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1621" data-original-width="1671" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0EtOTUCJd0S6m0217djYzGnJfbAFjs9Jem3ulZNKKOFtvyHsWQQjMoWN9lfbvty6IsqZ_TbPaxmg2AtLzrzd8EXbn2dEGPrj-eItKOhXX4f7a9HKLPE1-Lgt98zDy1OIYESRPPcBsCDJYpm10b78IQGgp6AvrDhqax51rrL9SzZ7-cm0UM8lXIGW3gU/w400-h388/35%20-%20Chad%20Kelson%20-%20in%20the%20mail%202021.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><br /><b>Chad Kelson - 2021</b><p></p></div><div>This is the last of my quarantine sketches, and it comes from Chad Kelson, who has the online persona of "Metal Al" for his death metal covers of "Weird Al" Yankovic songs, if you can believe it. I met Chad at Al's Hollywood Star induction ceremony in 2018; he's also a big comic book fan and an artist in his own right, so we became fast friends.</div><div><br /></div><div>Chad went above and beyond the call of duty with this incredible recreation that combines the Thing and Al's 1985 "Dare to be Stupid" album cover, going so far as to adding in the background album elements, squeezing them all onto a 5x5 sketchbook page.</div><div><br /></div><div>I managed to get six new Thing sketches in all in between conventions, which I think was pretty good, all things considered. I'm...really glad the book didn't get lost while it traveled the country.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1San José Province, San José, Costa Rica9.9280694 -84.0907246-18.382164436178847 -119.2469746 38.238303236178844 -48.9344746tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880085391235005393.post-86502152941395030662024-02-25T19:50:00.004-05:002024-02-25T19:55:34.312-05:00The biggest and smallest books I own<p>I recently bought a very large book, along with some very small books, and WHAT DO YOU KNOW, they were both comic books. These have the distinction of being the biggest and smallest books I own, so let's take a look at these record-breakers. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfxhb44sqesovaMKYbFkDVkfiwoPRGNqqAmgUesfKq7jOD-vM3eKkKQqiKz3JVPhWI5kN7LaEtvTHXUjvesZa7nrUwwq65Cs0JqbytMGidOEXbZ4AyfEVI9Ig4nuQ_NBxnhZggczdzzGIt9gtfwcWd-_0wZwB4liRxGZiZD9GtgNimdhalbF2lrkbFKw/s3519/IMG_4322.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3519" data-original-width="2948" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfxhb44sqesovaMKYbFkDVkfiwoPRGNqqAmgUesfKq7jOD-vM3eKkKQqiKz3JVPhWI5kN7LaEtvTHXUjvesZa7nrUwwq65Cs0JqbytMGidOEXbZ4AyfEVI9Ig4nuQ_NBxnhZggczdzzGIt9gtfwcWd-_0wZwB4liRxGZiZD9GtgNimdhalbF2lrkbFKw/w335-h400/IMG_4322.png" width="335" /></a></div><div><br /></div>In 2022, Taschen published a number of early Marvel collections, reprinting 1960s issues of titles like the Avengers, X-Men, Silver Surfer and <a href="https://www.taschen.com/en/books/comics/08115/marvel-comics-library-fantastic-four-vol-1-1961-1963/">the Fantastic Four. </a>These absolutely enormous collections, measuring 11 by over 15 inches, are an impressive sight, and they're shipped in boxes that include additional art.<br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRTOmhoa2vyehSuYIhw2MFrTqLCqMcezZ11o8QaMnroffc4Q7VzVBD6L_ttMAB002FM_41EDgnWBMByQyJeCBU0WX9_Tb19QSYYW9kJXUaUsFRrleoaF-ErrWRxbJz3TzWEbiyjQ8QX1wyX1XY92SQX1nztm8TUUYwiqDMCK0sJTSgf3V-7v-lZEaiO0/s3088/IMG_4310.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRTOmhoa2vyehSuYIhw2MFrTqLCqMcezZ11o8QaMnroffc4Q7VzVBD6L_ttMAB002FM_41EDgnWBMByQyJeCBU0WX9_Tb19QSYYW9kJXUaUsFRrleoaF-ErrWRxbJz3TzWEbiyjQ8QX1wyX1XY92SQX1nztm8TUUYwiqDMCK0sJTSgf3V-7v-lZEaiO0/w300-h400/IMG_4310.png" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The Fantastic Four volume weighs over 10 pounds and is 700 pages long, reprinting the first 19 issues of the series and the first annual.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyaX7ajqPoHeFcD8JbOKVPDwRnoVe0Lvxkt3ADbW3x3R5MF2X12q5cREK5p1zUdnmS3yshe_vOy86eOChnddAtYbPD72JB339SQ4dHy0CsQEF4L4DZ_ldHWpPMHuOEWiBidrWWnt5lJtQ6JdFnOeEYSKGnAY7c2d8qiki4YG_OiZxegek_ctZ6GvJNjxE/s3570/IMG_4297.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3570" data-original-width="2885" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyaX7ajqPoHeFcD8JbOKVPDwRnoVe0Lvxkt3ADbW3x3R5MF2X12q5cREK5p1zUdnmS3yshe_vOy86eOChnddAtYbPD72JB339SQ4dHy0CsQEF4L4DZ_ldHWpPMHuOEWiBidrWWnt5lJtQ6JdFnOeEYSKGnAY7c2d8qiki4YG_OiZxegek_ctZ6GvJNjxE/w324-h400/IMG_4297.png" width="324" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The publisher scanned high-grade copies of printed issues of the book.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3V0-KgMQrZ5GVyArgDq72CjyauoRa51LwlPIgbPaaJ5flGx5tv8oevSjl4bAJnMV-1Rzy5xozMyETTHJ5FwZch1YsIjBZCSNS-oQs6oAF_knWb4ZUnCbjxKPklcPA6QavgsYYbRsakhwsiVXz4r2qv7gXZ7o-0SornVkGNHKz-8EPBlu9PSSZZe0Q00U/s4032/IMG_4300.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3V0-KgMQrZ5GVyArgDq72CjyauoRa51LwlPIgbPaaJ5flGx5tv8oevSjl4bAJnMV-1Rzy5xozMyETTHJ5FwZch1YsIjBZCSNS-oQs6oAF_knWb4ZUnCbjxKPklcPA6QavgsYYbRsakhwsiVXz4r2qv7gXZ7o-0SornVkGNHKz-8EPBlu9PSSZZe0Q00U/w300-h400/IMG_4300.png" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The version I got was limited to 5000 copies. I got it for a good price, lower than its original $200 price tag. It seems that they're getting close to selling out, as my numbered copy was 4,526. There's also an absolutely ridiculous $600 version that includes features like a Thing-themed book ribbon, which, okay, I will probably never be able to afford.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4gqWY9iF-EUcYSHmXbN-eWZ2av7YLjDaDX6lRMrFcqT0rQg0zAWN3qFapMlzp5MoUMdUlj0pNgNJFuIAnl3ANGVGhPMoyZlqMgqjg48_qyA-2lhn3-kzQbRS44CpeYQ_DQsf-FELOmyfVMxHi6inL2mOV3HNnsMVwe89DBN-uGhXWwrobofakzPSPDgc/s4032/IMG_4299.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4gqWY9iF-EUcYSHmXbN-eWZ2av7YLjDaDX6lRMrFcqT0rQg0zAWN3qFapMlzp5MoUMdUlj0pNgNJFuIAnl3ANGVGhPMoyZlqMgqjg48_qyA-2lhn3-kzQbRS44CpeYQ_DQsf-FELOmyfVMxHi6inL2mOV3HNnsMVwe89DBN-uGhXWwrobofakzPSPDgc/w300-h400/IMG_4299.png" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The books itself is lovingly designed, with a number of pieces beyond just the 20 collected issues.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdiMiPijGMIMO25rETFJ4Wu88SYxEH_HWdMwkj41sk0g7yFc-SkI7y21mdt_WfQ0WpFZMwDkw-7E7t0WJA1jCUazav70Tn_bYlpxEE-ZCDlVqLHamEKoywGznA7MGOra3t8b8k5HTMLdLKmpIyvNLcR7I5_MTrkpZxCb5LYhlOvfFh51j1bGPejmP7ynw/s3489/IMG_4302.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3489" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdiMiPijGMIMO25rETFJ4Wu88SYxEH_HWdMwkj41sk0g7yFc-SkI7y21mdt_WfQ0WpFZMwDkw-7E7t0WJA1jCUazav70Tn_bYlpxEE-ZCDlVqLHamEKoywGznA7MGOra3t8b8k5HTMLdLKmpIyvNLcR7I5_MTrkpZxCb5LYhlOvfFh51j1bGPejmP7ynw/w346-h400/IMG_4302.png" width="346" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>There's an introduction by FF writer Mark Waid, and some almost-to-scale scans of Jack Kirby's original art.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvhQEUusnVzC2ZY4yK1v1EbN4R3z1HPxeOLualrBnlSEM9WE8RQz4vs3zhrUFV-mbWra_CWlaKs7-uvprGrmgXFlrFUFuDL52IVa_tKoXU_rbfNoySfNTWhjclFRBXGNxh-e6-FNGAvRrOBT_zZ_4BqLRIPKHfEGSc8cszu_bELI6vR7Gl4ipxXtTk9MQ/s4032/IMG_4306.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvhQEUusnVzC2ZY4yK1v1EbN4R3z1HPxeOLualrBnlSEM9WE8RQz4vs3zhrUFV-mbWra_CWlaKs7-uvprGrmgXFlrFUFuDL52IVa_tKoXU_rbfNoySfNTWhjclFRBXGNxh-e6-FNGAvRrOBT_zZ_4BqLRIPKHfEGSc8cszu_bELI6vR7Gl4ipxXtTk9MQ/w400-h300/IMG_4306.png" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The pages themselves are beautifully scanned and presented. This is, honestly, an expensive presentation piece or coffee table book; there are cheaper ways to read the first 20 issues of this series without having to lug out this monstrous version.</div><div><br /></div><div>One nice feature is that the book includes all of the material from each issue, from cover-to-cover. This means that the letters pages and ads are part of this book, which is really spectacular. The Thing clobbers at a mighty scale in this book!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfjTbbCvr0Wvexy2C3f0BcHmZdN_wxR0IKZkGMmMNmuAaKrpwBWC-PTgUjKoOSbTTA3_tUtQNQggdgQedSwE5H13yhgDqaW6c_eWulX_zqHbYHLbZBt6pNmATd3hA7H1Z1VpEJHvmKXcgEFd2y_ybCDGrYKtYXKfj89CyGD64MlmJjb865XZh2gLe7FI/s4032/IMG_4320.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfjTbbCvr0Wvexy2C3f0BcHmZdN_wxR0IKZkGMmMNmuAaKrpwBWC-PTgUjKoOSbTTA3_tUtQNQggdgQedSwE5H13yhgDqaW6c_eWulX_zqHbYHLbZBt6pNmATd3hA7H1Z1VpEJHvmKXcgEFd2y_ybCDGrYKtYXKfj89CyGD64MlmJjb865XZh2gLe7FI/w400-h300/IMG_4320.png" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I've also made some headway into my collection of Marvel Mini Books from 1966. These tiny books reside on a display shelf I'm currently working on and I think they're looking good so far!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXJl_JZPbmPuZyGdWS1-M0CzNhEac77Op123qRGUmMjtS99PtDVpJfdHpSdcqi8T7UpZ-yrBAOQwPNSHFhVJhZH_aQ567-iVZYzMzdwtgV8lNUrxunukI6YsrWCxG49zoG7C46GGwT2JAN_A0fs1bN8KNqxGER6O_h3nsHY9n9ahMVDzIfqD0qLsllqo/s4032/IMG_4321.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXJl_JZPbmPuZyGdWS1-M0CzNhEac77Op123qRGUmMjtS99PtDVpJfdHpSdcqi8T7UpZ-yrBAOQwPNSHFhVJhZH_aQ567-iVZYzMzdwtgV8lNUrxunukI6YsrWCxG49zoG7C46GGwT2JAN_A0fs1bN8KNqxGER6O_h3nsHY9n9ahMVDzIfqD0qLsllqo/w300-h400/IMG_4321.png" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>These tiny comics - smaller than a postage stamp but with actual original stories printed inside - were sold in gumball-like machines in '66, and there were six in total. Superman actually makes an appearance in the Spider-Man mini-comic! I'm still on the lookout for the Hulk and Millie the Model comics.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLDRFFXcJOu0SwAlU_KyqM6Ozm4N1CMBGRfTlcWQ8lHLts5KDGfN-7jR1OhibRngKg1_qGOVMhw_3f5V__gzyrbNRcu2gARk9RxV53pl32UE8-eM0-f7VhcvKalFk6S34fvl3utc5hBk-uZSA_-w5nOR_BAxR11MgF5xkTh4H0ms2YEXXPfe0BssVFXmg/s3834/IMG_4323.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3834" data-original-width="2038" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLDRFFXcJOu0SwAlU_KyqM6Ozm4N1CMBGRfTlcWQ8lHLts5KDGfN-7jR1OhibRngKg1_qGOVMhw_3f5V__gzyrbNRcu2gARk9RxV53pl32UE8-eM0-f7VhcvKalFk6S34fvl3utc5hBk-uZSA_-w5nOR_BAxR11MgF5xkTh4H0ms2YEXXPfe0BssVFXmg/w213-h400/IMG_4323.png" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A few years ago, Abrams collected these mini-books and reprinted them in (relative) gigantic format. The stories themselves are pretty bland, as you might expect, and Millie's comic has the message of "don't ever get fat!" but I still find them pretty charming. Hopefully I can pick up the other two soon. And, you know, if the $600 Taschen Fantastic Four reprint goes on liquidation any time soon...just let me know. I have no reason to show the My Pet Monster figure in the picture, but I like it, so there it is.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C3VXUyQriuV/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 0px 0px 1px 0px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 1px 10px 0px; margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding: 16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C3VXUyQriuV/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; 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font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; 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text-align: left;">Oh! And they finally announced the cast for Marvel's 2025 Fantastic Four movie! I am very excited about this! I don't have much else to say except that they are almost certainly going to start filming this soon, and I really hope that some of it will be filmed in New York City, and if that's the case I am going to try really, very hard to be in this movie in some capacity. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Zm7bheJQxXnB_Pmyh7UcqMAjxy4U3DXAktgQNh5VysaMZNqeMYzO9kSdv9cEG1GkwDI0Tye4qR0awoEyiH2f3cdPBEEG3kB4-gLAolcPdwC0VS4atJdcfAYxLq7D0j91DU1GYxx9o7oxcTxYtEDJhNW3S1RWxMX6F6-AoTF6BNrw231-6CqbESEEcZY/s3709/IMG_4315.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3709" data-original-width="2693" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Zm7bheJQxXnB_Pmyh7UcqMAjxy4U3DXAktgQNh5VysaMZNqeMYzO9kSdv9cEG1GkwDI0Tye4qR0awoEyiH2f3cdPBEEG3kB4-gLAolcPdwC0VS4atJdcfAYxLq7D0j91DU1GYxx9o7oxcTxYtEDJhNW3S1RWxMX6F6-AoTF6BNrw231-6CqbESEEcZY/w290-h400/IMG_4315.png" width="290" /></a></div><br />Lastly, here's some great Thing original art I picked up recently. This piece was created by the Inkwell Awards, a nonprofit comics organization. This year, the Inkwells took some pencils by Walt Simonson, printed out a number of blueline copies, and had different inkers ink them. The one I picked up has inks by Guy Dorian, Sr., who has done a lot of work for IDW, notably ROM. This is on 11x17 artboard and will look great...okay, absolutely anywhere, but specifically with one of my folders of Thing art. I almost didn't recognize Ben through his really sophisticated disguise.<p></p> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1Camaquiri Conservation Initiative, 300 metros oeste de Escuela El Sota, Limón, Pococí, Costa Rica10.5357037 -83.7447517-17.774530136178846 -118.9010017 38.845937536178845 -48.588501699999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880085391235005393.post-30181416141084945062024-01-31T23:41:00.008-05:002024-01-31T23:44:46.687-05:00Here's some new Thing original artwork from Paradise X: Devils!<p>A number of years ago, I met writer Jim Krueger at a comic book convention. Krueger wrote one of my favorite Marvel alternate reality series, Earth X and its sequels, and I made sure that I let him know that - and also how much I enjoyed how he wrote the Thing in the book.</p><p>This spawned a rather frenetic conversation between the two of us, where we both said a number of things which all amounted to, "we love the Thing!" And so this was a great moment, and one that I'll always remember. He told me that he had to stop himself from giving the Thing all of the best lines and moments in the book, which I felt was unnecessary, because there's no reason to not make every (EVERY) book about the Thing.</p><p>This past October at the New York Comic Con, I sought out some original art vendors to look for a page or two that I might buy. Now, there are different tiers of original art vendors at comic conventions. Many of them sell Golden Age Superman pages for $30,000 or Will Eisner originals for $15,000. These booths are interesting to walk past, because they contain comic book history that I will never be able to afford, but I guess it's still nice to be able to see original Frank Miller Dark Knight Returns and Jack Kirby Fantastic Four pages in person. I imagine that the goal of these vendors is to sell one single page of art for the entire show, and then buy a car or something.</p><p>The other original art vendors at comic conventions have enormous stacks of pages and color guides from the 1990s Darkhawk series, probably bought from the original artist in 1997 for $1 per page, now on sale for $200 each. These are the booths where I generally spend time at, rummaging through binders and piles to see if somehow, there's a page that I can afford that also has the Thing knocking someone's block off.</p><p>On the last day of the '23 NYCC, I spent the waning hours of the convention looking for such a page, and I found a pretty good one.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9C061TWFJ9ZwR13IDNEMP8xiNN8xO_I3XjBrgNRKOHUYFEq2BpZ2avdLfbgMHwc0QodJ7vATbQ_QSHcnpBwzSPVsFUWJyxHF37neEqN4R0rYGlJiC9aIV9uzsTfiLqBoNbMqqTLsWmtnmdLxyPtkxKg9VWUuk5lCXt_5fwnkiFThCLYKFyN8EphjQzo/s3231/IMG_3793.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3abC3zJq7b2yEbJky7ZI_1lC4TIecwHy8RXycUDs0D_pmvRQy9z0ue65Vwmt46DUrm4Jb5H2tpUh1KpJk9Hg8Kbfg6Dpo7wliE4rkjg7-aKjQHz-rQAyzfn3QwBeSTnOi28fMNcG0n6MMUK_6wHUr8PrcYVp1bXs7DxwWfEFPns9JTjpYN-Aux-z0WaY/s3967/IMG_3788.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3967" data-original-width="2623" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3abC3zJq7b2yEbJky7ZI_1lC4TIecwHy8RXycUDs0D_pmvRQy9z0ue65Vwmt46DUrm4Jb5H2tpUh1KpJk9Hg8Kbfg6Dpo7wliE4rkjg7-aKjQHz-rQAyzfn3QwBeSTnOi28fMNcG0n6MMUK_6wHUr8PrcYVp1bXs7DxwWfEFPns9JTjpYN-Aux-z0WaY/w265-h400/IMG_3788.png" width="265" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>It's a page from the Krueger-written Paradise X: Devils 2002 one shot by penciller Steve Sadowski and inker Andrew Pepoy!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj29kkURDYnmJgodGjV62DASn-VEeJ_tm5wQ6HVJTTQwBi4MgtKJcllg4KJDKvj0wwHMmRIhEb8-xpIHEtYPE-vnIIk59LQWMBNP-XnjskLynhhKmGjepJm_n4xBIrKVGrz4jmgEc75gMOfK02kulYBViTLJwVzrFHGoyhoVHaWgpBr66P0RcJTnAoccEE/s3730/IMG_3789.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3006" data-original-width="3730" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj29kkURDYnmJgodGjV62DASn-VEeJ_tm5wQ6HVJTTQwBi4MgtKJcllg4KJDKvj0wwHMmRIhEb8-xpIHEtYPE-vnIIk59LQWMBNP-XnjskLynhhKmGjepJm_n4xBIrKVGrz4jmgEc75gMOfK02kulYBViTLJwVzrFHGoyhoVHaWgpBr66P0RcJTnAoccEE/w400-h323/IMG_3789.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Not only does the Thing appear on this page, but he appears in EVERY SINGLE PANEL. And not only does the Thing appear in every single panel, but it looks like there's more than one Thing present on this page. This is a great Thing-per-panel ratio. The smaller Things are actually Ben's alternate universe sons, Buzz and Chuck. They are honorary Things and they count.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3EQNahMjREd9JRyrBj2KHdwuUQRt0GR3JUevlBgHehafkW20LYnJq_7MigYbhohY9_bvnN2gSdLlsePusR0cp4NgWcIEcaJTpbuT5iNSvn72e9zM1CqI7IG-KJnzJnyyfGfD3GDRrCMdr1hUGZoN53YjUy-8rEqRE4r1hpxdg3hdwN-Q_z1I9YK20UDk/s3560/IMG_3790.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3560" data-original-width="2928" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3EQNahMjREd9JRyrBj2KHdwuUQRt0GR3JUevlBgHehafkW20LYnJq_7MigYbhohY9_bvnN2gSdLlsePusR0cp4NgWcIEcaJTpbuT5iNSvn72e9zM1CqI7IG-KJnzJnyyfGfD3GDRrCMdr1hUGZoN53YjUy-8rEqRE4r1hpxdg3hdwN-Q_z1I9YK20UDk/w329-h400/IMG_3790.png" width="329" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Paradise X is set in an alternate future, and here he's joined by Reed Richards (minus an arm), Mr. S (Scott Summers), Daredevil and the reborn Mar-Vell. Even though this takes place in the future, the Thing looks the same as he always has, which is correct. He's also wearing his signature blue shorts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpiNj3QSOz_0RRc2P19MEZUXviuqCiOlPAezJkQNFVmN4kY3HP5tyTzuPXbzwZqgLD9ol2icxJhkpqsOesqbno12NWqBNnWXQPBwxtq7vmnhv4Q6hbWQaOYjr4Itu2uYKnXTlD_cXb7qz0JA5wPZELtUWz90h4P6bYA8X0idRGZLSDFgoOsF6jlyk2kw/s3723/IMG_3791.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3723" data-original-width="2312" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpiNj3QSOz_0RRc2P19MEZUXviuqCiOlPAezJkQNFVmN4kY3HP5tyTzuPXbzwZqgLD9ol2icxJhkpqsOesqbno12NWqBNnWXQPBwxtq7vmnhv4Q6hbWQaOYjr4Itu2uYKnXTlD_cXb7qz0JA5wPZELtUWz90h4P6bYA8X0idRGZLSDFgoOsF6jlyk2kw/w249-h400/IMG_3791.png" width="249" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's a panel with Buzz (or...Chuck), who wears glasses. Buzz and Chuck are the children of Ben and Alicia. There was radioactive clay involved.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1mT_xGPjFjOcJ5ZsioaVibVsi9HzYErO8cSbK84xZsfz0YATbax3bSpn4hyphenhyphenpaEYhtecYyKkEYFenr5eGcjbCWqnwgFHPZiIcBSjhgbjd8q-9QMJGCeczqbOXIn7esQ9KAEF07BwI2PvVX5KrWQ24e-seGbdA2JUWeDtOv_KOt83GkLB1k2qhtvRzMtM/s3439/IMG_3792.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3439" data-original-width="2335" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1mT_xGPjFjOcJ5ZsioaVibVsi9HzYErO8cSbK84xZsfz0YATbax3bSpn4hyphenhyphenpaEYhtecYyKkEYFenr5eGcjbCWqnwgFHPZiIcBSjhgbjd8q-9QMJGCeczqbOXIn7esQ9KAEF07BwI2PvVX5KrWQ24e-seGbdA2JUWeDtOv_KOt83GkLB1k2qhtvRzMtM/w271-h400/IMG_3792.png" width="271" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The back of the page is pretty standard, with some copyright information stamped near the top and artist names in the corners.</div><div><br /></div><div>I think that I got a good deal on this page. A lot of Things for my buck. That's a new saying that we're sticking with now.</div><div><br /></div><div>Earth X was a great story. Things got a little bogged down in Universe X and Paradise X, though I enjoyed them both, as well as the more recent series, Marvel X. They're well worth tracking down if you haven't read them, because, if nothing else, you know that they're written by a Thing-loving author. And that should be enough.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9C061TWFJ9ZwR13IDNEMP8xiNN8xO_I3XjBrgNRKOHUYFEq2BpZ2avdLfbgMHwc0QodJ7vATbQ_QSHcnpBwzSPVsFUWJyxHF37neEqN4R0rYGlJiC9aIV9uzsTfiLqBoNbMqqTLsWmtnmdLxyPtkxKg9VWUuk5lCXt_5fwnkiFThCLYKFyN8EphjQzo/s3231/IMG_3793.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3231" data-original-width="2445" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9C061TWFJ9ZwR13IDNEMP8xiNN8xO_I3XjBrgNRKOHUYFEq2BpZ2avdLfbgMHwc0QodJ7vATbQ_QSHcnpBwzSPVsFUWJyxHF37neEqN4R0rYGlJiC9aIV9uzsTfiLqBoNbMqqTLsWmtnmdLxyPtkxKg9VWUuk5lCXt_5fwnkiFThCLYKFyN8EphjQzo/w303-h400/IMG_3793.png" width="303" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>About ten minutes before I left the convention, I found some very affordable art from Alex Sanchez (who drew in the Thing sketchbook at the show). Alex inked some pages in the TMNT: Armageddon Game series, and was selling some of the pages he worked on. By the time I found them, all of the pages with the four turtles were sold, but I still did pretty well with this action-packed page. It features none other than Metalhead, along with a Triceraton and some Utroms!<p></p><div>And then the show was over! Talk soon, everyone!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2429 11th Ave, New York, NY 10001, USA40.7575505 -74.002469112.447316663821155 -109.1587191 69.067784336178846 -38.8462191tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880085391235005393.post-618131299556865262023-12-31T22:28:00.000-05:002023-12-31T22:28:00.512-05:00The Illustrated Al is nominated for an Eisner and wins a 'Ringo! award!<p>As 2023 winds down, let's look back at my best comic memory of the year:</p><p><i>The Illustrated Al: The Songs of "Weird Al" Yankovic</i> was nominated for an Eisner award! By default, I demand that everyone recognize that I was also nominated for an Eisner! I will not be taking any questions. Also in 2023, <i>The Illustrated Al</i> won a 'Ringo! Award! I am a 2023 'Ringo! Award winner! I WILL NOT BE TAKING QUESTIONS.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrRdFFbukfrOnqqvrdFYnlZSZfn2ylj2LYYace_qJdtqTIQoGDG9ZBVW34KvmgVcH3bw8x5UPyMgIDwocYXSH_-F1D10k2pjOzcLxPO-pHuEs-EHYCg1s4VFZA9AkIxfeFf1P1JTYEbxm8z8-I5Z2O7q4GuTF1EjaWjf7iblLN7lOx7stwRqFeD87zF4/s4032/IMG_3751.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrRdFFbukfrOnqqvrdFYnlZSZfn2ylj2LYYace_qJdtqTIQoGDG9ZBVW34KvmgVcH3bw8x5UPyMgIDwocYXSH_-F1D10k2pjOzcLxPO-pHuEs-EHYCg1s4VFZA9AkIxfeFf1P1JTYEbxm8z8-I5Z2O7q4GuTF1EjaWjf7iblLN7lOx7stwRqFeD87zF4/w400-h300/IMG_3751.png" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Okay, <i>The Illustrated Al</i> is an anthology. A lot of talented creators worked on the book. But I was one of those creators, and I'm counting this is as a win in my book.</p><p>In July, I attended the Eisner Awards at the San Diego Comic-Con for the first time. This is what I took away from it:</p><p><b>It is very fancy.</b></p><p>People dressed up. People gave speeches. They sat at fancy tables and took home trophies.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOuhsWV2TkoeVQ21K5X_iEm3BeyUM_ItNqE4FQgdpFlHHvB6Jq-JFeqwQzAOPPy-TXVGCpsshEPmp79B4Bsc6ccZpVITjeevom8Xmd3NrGtp2lgh0Or61bs1saYGm9v62no1zdtjm0SoZXO_b1sc7ZYuX6gwBEjFFWPthHr74SAhnJ-t2sZrkWLHjJczg/s4032/IMG_2811.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOuhsWV2TkoeVQ21K5X_iEm3BeyUM_ItNqE4FQgdpFlHHvB6Jq-JFeqwQzAOPPy-TXVGCpsshEPmp79B4Bsc6ccZpVITjeevom8Xmd3NrGtp2lgh0Or61bs1saYGm9v62no1zdtjm0SoZXO_b1sc7ZYuX6gwBEjFFWPthHr74SAhnJ-t2sZrkWLHjJczg/w400-h300/IMG_2811.png" width="400" /></a></div><p>I sat closer to the back. The ceremony lasted close to three hours. The presenters pronounced the book "The Illustrated A.I." I took home a program!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UwYanlR-e4VpYCLim2gf-57Q2m-psj9AhKYF3PCkV8Wc-fZqjOxeCGkpF_1z_FG44LZx3Jf_YDc3TYY9W-ZCsdvZ9WveyfQbIjGzJQiJw9eV8TOCT5aDlwxD49DZvEQMlKdA68eIi0KTCvsPsA9fMufES3IFTDnMINwIZ3Nl4OG-4xeHVyxhXIdqbvI/s4032/IMG_2812.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UwYanlR-e4VpYCLim2gf-57Q2m-psj9AhKYF3PCkV8Wc-fZqjOxeCGkpF_1z_FG44LZx3Jf_YDc3TYY9W-ZCsdvZ9WveyfQbIjGzJQiJw9eV8TOCT5aDlwxD49DZvEQMlKdA68eIi0KTCvsPsA9fMufES3IFTDnMINwIZ3Nl4OG-4xeHVyxhXIdqbvI/w300-h400/IMG_2812.png" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p>The program got bend all to hell on my trip home, but I'll still keep it forever. It's listed in the program! <i>The Nib </i>ended up winning the award, but I still had a fun time and was excited to attend and to have some of my work nominated.</p><p>Later on in the year, the anthology was nominated again, this time for best humor comic, and this time...it won!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmTaJV6BW3xQGF1RM35weQZDyVJKgMDVlDWbncVvv_-K8FxH_S8ocgqdcMTNJqhBd5mL8KljJE9k1je5cD4zbLbCZwGznL44ct9Y8LVdarWtgQRM-eR2OmbglUBHr7_DhbSJq57xNhwp3soQkGs3OxgtaKBn8W1f-eXYbBee29bCZRXxAM0S29-LZ7_M/s4032/IMG_3750.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmTaJV6BW3xQGF1RM35weQZDyVJKgMDVlDWbncVvv_-K8FxH_S8ocgqdcMTNJqhBd5mL8KljJE9k1je5cD4zbLbCZwGznL44ct9Y8LVdarWtgQRM-eR2OmbglUBHr7_DhbSJq57xNhwp3soQkGs3OxgtaKBn8W1f-eXYbBee29bCZRXxAM0S29-LZ7_M/w300-h400/IMG_3750.png" width="300" /></a></div><p>Z2 Comics, the book's publisher, held a special signing for the book at their booth at the New York Comic Con, where I got to not only feel very privileged, signing books for fans, but I also got to see the award in person. This was a big deal for me! Here I am with Josh Bernstein, the book's editor.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtuO1KeBsIDoMdHf3j7HTW4nYWy2ARBHWqT5o6il0bexKNTkE4Bj3xV6MKBV0DKI7Ccll4wi7ysuahV3UNDo5LHlkY2SHb2zvrLsBNPuLYbRCaD4Tpa0W5Vnegw9H2CYk4AdPa1-0tcQu669VXMsR-j9B2mN6TRnOivMA6i5sJ5hwlHPutlLU_Rz0CgI/s1616/Screenshot%202023-12-31%20at%2010.09.37%E2%80%AFPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1436" data-original-width="1616" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtuO1KeBsIDoMdHf3j7HTW4nYWy2ARBHWqT5o6il0bexKNTkE4Bj3xV6MKBV0DKI7Ccll4wi7ysuahV3UNDo5LHlkY2SHb2zvrLsBNPuLYbRCaD4Tpa0W5Vnegw9H2CYk4AdPa1-0tcQu669VXMsR-j9B2mN6TRnOivMA6i5sJ5hwlHPutlLU_Rz0CgI/w400-h355/Screenshot%202023-12-31%20at%2010.09.37%E2%80%AFPM.png" width="400" /></a></div><p>Some of the creators of the book took a group shot and I decided to kneel down for it even though Bill Plympton is, like, 6'6".</p><p>This was my best comic experience in 2023. I will not be taking any questions.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1429 11th Ave, New York, NY 10001, USA40.7575505 -74.002469112.447316663821155 -109.1587191 69.067784336178846 -38.8462191tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880085391235005393.post-16997383148266864782023-11-30T01:40:00.006-05:002023-11-30T01:40:37.428-05:00Some thoughts on Artist Alleys and the New York Comic Con<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLn-whjesq1OyjX_FanaXJA5R3-fatbwoYVw7Mt7AGuAWlAHlqy5H0eXG34VZopxzmbDSAeVy4YhwHyIZdBYBmMbMVpGZCPqGDZ9Cu90Kp8s7CTEVHc70kE0_9IM0N99IbzthM8kaR6kOcuNJBOXykL6JBHmIDRMvsZmw2NlWxiLEb9_N2e6SpGF0Y0as/s4032/New%20York%20Comic%20Con%202023.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLn-whjesq1OyjX_FanaXJA5R3-fatbwoYVw7Mt7AGuAWlAHlqy5H0eXG34VZopxzmbDSAeVy4YhwHyIZdBYBmMbMVpGZCPqGDZ9Cu90Kp8s7CTEVHc70kE0_9IM0N99IbzthM8kaR6kOcuNJBOXykL6JBHmIDRMvsZmw2NlWxiLEb9_N2e6SpGF0Y0as/w400-h300/New%20York%20Comic%20Con%202023.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Comic book conventions have gone through a few different iterations since I've been attending them since (gasp) the mid '90s. I've seen them morph from niche, comic-centric affairs in hotel basements to popular media-saturated extravaganzas held in some of the largest indoor and outdoor spaces in the world. Both can be great, and I find that I've enjoyed both in equal measure, because comic conventions give fans a chance to celebrate the things that they love and interact with others in what, at its best, is a welcoming environment.</p><p>I think that some conventions are still trying to find their way back from the pandemic, which affected, among other things, the ways in which we think about crowded spaces. The New York Comic Con is a good example of this, I think, as over the last decade it has been an incredibly well attended show both in terms of overall engagement as well as in the sense of <i>let's see how many people we can possibly fit into this space at once time. </i>I've said this before, but one of the big differences between NYCC and the San Diego Comic-Con is simply that there's a lot of room to spread out in San Diego, and in New York, you pretty much have the Javits Center to work with.</p><p>2023 was another big year for the show in New York, but there were some changes at the convention that I think were at least curious, and perhaps were a sign of different things to come in the future.</p><p>I attended the show on both Friday and Sunday, so I didn't see everything that happened over the four-day event. When I was there, it didn't seem like there were quite as many vendors as in some previous years (certainly pre-covid), but it was the placement of these vendors that really stood out to me, and in particular, how this affected the show's artist alley.</p><p>Artist alley at NYCC has always been a weird experience, at least for me. In years past, the show has experimented with the area's location. Before the convention center's recent renovation, you'd have to walk through the main hall and down a corridor before entering the artist alley location, and because of this, it always seemed to me that this was a separate part of the show. During and since the renovation, artist alley has been on the bottom floor of the main hall, which has produced good, bad and weird experiences.</p><p>One of the things that stood out to me about the main exhibit floor at NYCC was the lack of major comic publishers. Marvel had its regular spot, but I didn't find booths for publishers like Dark Horse, Image/Skybound or DC (which, to be fair, would sometimes show up in previous years and sometimes not). Smaller publishers like MadCave Studios and Z2 did have spots on the show floor, but not seeing many of the larger comic book publishers was a little strange. Was the cost of a premium booth that prohibitive for a big publisher? Did it finally get to the point of diminishing returns?</p><p>When I went downstairs to the artist alley section, I found IDW parked at the entrance of the floor, with a smaller and relatively pared-down version of what their booth has been in the past. ComiXology, if I remember correctly, was in this spot or a similar one in 2022. </p><p>I walked through the aisles and something else stood out to me. Calling pretty much any comic book creator famous is pretty relative, of course, but there were more than a few well-known current and former creators in spaces that used to be occupied by independent and up-and-coming creators. Chris Claremont, the popular X-Men writer, for example, had a booth in artist alley this year. Seemingly whole rows were bought up by studios or agents, so every artist in a given space had the same representation and the same backdrop.</p><p>I think that this was a result of fewer publishers on the main floor. Where in the past, A-list creators would spend their time on the show floor, signing books and doing interviews at publisher booths, their best opportunity to sell some of their books and art this year was to set up in artist alley. This, I think, had the unintended consequence of squeezing out some of the lesser-known and more independent creators. This might not seem like a big deal, but I know that a lot of lesser-known creators use shows like NYCC to become...better-known creators, and I can't help but feel that the whole industry benefits when someone with talent and drive but not a lot of hype is able to show off his or her stuff at a big industry show like the one in New York.</p><p>Another consequence, and one that I'll gloss over fairly quickly, is that prices in artist alley this year were pretty steep. I don't begrudge any creator for getting paid as much as he or she can. But I saw some folks selling headshot sketches for $400 (and more) at tables and man, there was some sticker shock on my part. Again, if an artist can get that, I certainly don't begrudge him or her for it. But "well, I guess I won't be getting anything here" was a common refrain for me over the weekend.</p><p>I hope that there's a better balance in the future, where artist alley can really be a place where professionals and hopefuls can meet and collaborate. I think it's best for the industry. There's a place for a company like IDW at any show, I think, but I don't think it's taking up space in artist alley. And if companies like Dark Horse and Image choose to skip a big show like NYCC, then I think it's fair to question whether or not the show is really representing the industry as best it can.</p><p>Hey, let's look at a few pictures I took at the show!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2Mq2qazE5t3scU1g4sHfeDLNUTzlJGAuCQ_0k2EEg4K4h3s3BmEMrBBAaeO-Zrs0FrdaXx0bS5iAxmkwl5zmcJAoXmfScMOOckQxczqb_R41TGzDLETTG7spp2VJK4I_k1FppIJhCS9KiOnkbsEABQ2wMMogF2vE9u4Nibi4Ci-OkqvnzqwLtNmIPcc/s4032/IMG_3684.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2Mq2qazE5t3scU1g4sHfeDLNUTzlJGAuCQ_0k2EEg4K4h3s3BmEMrBBAaeO-Zrs0FrdaXx0bS5iAxmkwl5zmcJAoXmfScMOOckQxczqb_R41TGzDLETTG7spp2VJK4I_k1FppIJhCS9KiOnkbsEABQ2wMMogF2vE9u4Nibi4Ci-OkqvnzqwLtNmIPcc/w300-h400/IMG_3684.png" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I love the design of this Spider-Verse Doc Ock. I love most of the things the Spider-Verse did.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNjS28SF68m3S3RdR0jUPpoT8LaFLktAQZHmxvOo4GDWqr3mXIM1gziSl-uRISSD6U_txKdQn_Za2kS4J8ItJEmtseMDi3y2OnlFiMa9Rq0hzzkVF5XQWD89gRKTusTCSPCREHQ10rRQki5uS2MqJRLQySpHN0Ur_8TybCXfG_UcqKR4SnS-AwmvtZhE/s4032/IMG_3686.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNjS28SF68m3S3RdR0jUPpoT8LaFLktAQZHmxvOo4GDWqr3mXIM1gziSl-uRISSD6U_txKdQn_Za2kS4J8ItJEmtseMDi3y2OnlFiMa9Rq0hzzkVF5XQWD89gRKTusTCSPCREHQ10rRQki5uS2MqJRLQySpHN0Ur_8TybCXfG_UcqKR4SnS-AwmvtZhE/w400-h300/IMG_3686.png" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>HEY BEN</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQfszVIo_GCJK0rDCSEdy7g_sEQhUCN2VhBonK2mrN5US9C900NBserS4oizt5IfcSDWOuBs4VJl5QNe3hCWAs1kQdYyA6sq7P9XBacbYUVs0gtjAZtaP0demqe-YgNbMyGweqhnxTpKsru6srA7yJwVZhccZXXFFo4vSP9WXaKDiena6j8szK-69piA/s4032/IMG_3702.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQfszVIo_GCJK0rDCSEdy7g_sEQhUCN2VhBonK2mrN5US9C900NBserS4oizt5IfcSDWOuBs4VJl5QNe3hCWAs1kQdYyA6sq7P9XBacbYUVs0gtjAZtaP0demqe-YgNbMyGweqhnxTpKsru6srA7yJwVZhccZXXFFo4vSP9WXaKDiena6j8szK-69piA/w300-h400/IMG_3702.png" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Did Wolverine sneak up on Magneto while he was sleeping or something. Wolverine is made of metal, Magneto. I feel like the least you could do if you were any kind of supervillain would be to keep the metal person away from you.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhik3z19qxbrOZwsCNcUvvdxeIGbXFxPpGOJDVZxTRkkDMPXXs5vfc7zHs0nhhQHDId3TVrNrw42Tr_PG0JPg9gPlVKVvreD45QLEmEQfwl2oMW1_JD01JhfZB65Cd0FsfkU2HNL54ts9yzAhegxaoJo5OG7Dpk8LR0IhmP7kML1OWwXru3LCDH9xEd34s/s4032/IMG_3705.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhik3z19qxbrOZwsCNcUvvdxeIGbXFxPpGOJDVZxTRkkDMPXXs5vfc7zHs0nhhQHDId3TVrNrw42Tr_PG0JPg9gPlVKVvreD45QLEmEQfwl2oMW1_JD01JhfZB65Cd0FsfkU2HNL54ts9yzAhegxaoJo5OG7Dpk8LR0IhmP7kML1OWwXru3LCDH9xEd34s/w300-h400/IMG_3705.png" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Marceline! </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDTWrz-WYPoZbgepLp6uVTdA2roc-g5n01aGLQtu_sCs6ZW773A6cfABXkFQKovGeDHzHFmavtoWkHxepyZ7yppxLHNooHP563XjB64ib-L_3QuuM36Bl5Ztun-ULflHW01XbqtzuLuQhxB04odRW353-1XRlQPUdK4EuFHfTXAIEnsMTW2KiWjQ6AqU/s4032/IMG_3707.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDTWrz-WYPoZbgepLp6uVTdA2roc-g5n01aGLQtu_sCs6ZW773A6cfABXkFQKovGeDHzHFmavtoWkHxepyZ7yppxLHNooHP563XjB64ib-L_3QuuM36Bl5Ztun-ULflHW01XbqtzuLuQhxB04odRW353-1XRlQPUdK4EuFHfTXAIEnsMTW2KiWjQ6AqU/w300-h400/IMG_3707.png" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I love themed costumes that go beyond just the regular iterations of a character. Congrats, tennis Daisy and Peach!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBqoRndy5hpNViv-KFHM3lOk0k63VwgJCcJzSQLervmC6B5FaWbfIFbTK98xTLERjWKr1GgbcO3lzU7VkDiEdBGed-EFm5fQ_VykNCiHsb5QO0m9nFsA7b5X7qxWMYmvSAjLvBc6fPgkFJN4kc8aBolCWL-ISbfKe1bITTlYCVM8OUMgYVQ9RBCJ-zjB8/s4032/IMG_3715.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBqoRndy5hpNViv-KFHM3lOk0k63VwgJCcJzSQLervmC6B5FaWbfIFbTK98xTLERjWKr1GgbcO3lzU7VkDiEdBGed-EFm5fQ_VykNCiHsb5QO0m9nFsA7b5X7qxWMYmvSAjLvBc6fPgkFJN4kc8aBolCWL-ISbfKe1bITTlYCVM8OUMgYVQ9RBCJ-zjB8/w300-h400/IMG_3715.png" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I asked this guy what version of Spidey 2099 he was supposed to be in this adaptation of Miguel's second costume. Was it a video game version that I wasn't aware of? No, he told me, he made the alterations himself because I thought they looked cool. Hats off to this guy for looking great.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMS-89YzQq8b1ml9fktopeaTVt4lNqSNU2JPXjIpFHLnuwFkZhA4LBDzApJ5hXFCw2nQuARuw67Jnd1pz9mBDbtQOVBjBqUxDy3IoVFihC0-9kkQ-8XmnMYMlM7DFhZEeQT_u-LtnyplXNQZKsxvLdQlKzsthSOa9P_fKTbK5dgcuMaYRhd-9WdRiA5nY/s4032/IMG_3716.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMS-89YzQq8b1ml9fktopeaTVt4lNqSNU2JPXjIpFHLnuwFkZhA4LBDzApJ5hXFCw2nQuARuw67Jnd1pz9mBDbtQOVBjBqUxDy3IoVFihC0-9kkQ-8XmnMYMlM7DFhZEeQT_u-LtnyplXNQZKsxvLdQlKzsthSOa9P_fKTbK5dgcuMaYRhd-9WdRiA5nY/w300-h400/IMG_3716.png" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>After the show on Friday, I went to Midtown Comics near Times Square and waited in line for a Skybound signing. I think that this was Skybound's biggest presence at the show. I bought some comics and got to chat with a few creators, like Daniel Warren Johnson, who's creating a great Transformers comic for Image, and Tom Reilly, who drew last year's absolutely amazing Thing mini-series. I told Reilly how much I enjoyed the book; he sighed and said, "I'm glad that at least someone liked it." Was this series not immensely popular? Was it not the best book on the stands? I will not hear anything to the contrary. The Tom Reilly-drawn Thing series was comics at its peak.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNgCrhVqeBuxZcYkWSYAz0xXUZ-ToBpQOX2ifViQZLTRXxYv1q7vKsXqJJ25deloGa3k2yDuGmoOdZh1cMimtRJtzzlOpjrDDhmrmzBl09vy81DWkumUDagBaj-VYhAklZT0CFBwZSzVlblm25r9X6JJeqwqtzLLBj71XYmEEneQ8bhzKh1Kkv6Q4ow8/s4032/IMG_3717.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNgCrhVqeBuxZcYkWSYAz0xXUZ-ToBpQOX2ifViQZLTRXxYv1q7vKsXqJJ25deloGa3k2yDuGmoOdZh1cMimtRJtzzlOpjrDDhmrmzBl09vy81DWkumUDagBaj-VYhAklZT0CFBwZSzVlblm25r9X6JJeqwqtzLLBj71XYmEEneQ8bhzKh1Kkv6Q4ow8/w400-h300/IMG_3717.png" width="400" /></a></div><p>The signing was on the upper floor of the comic shop, so everyone had to move through the small space pretty quickly, but I still enjoyed getting to do this little event away from the convention center, and everyone in line got a new ashcan comic just for being there. It was a great experience.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0429 11th Ave, New York, NY 10001, USA40.7575505 -74.002469112.447316663821155 -109.1587191 69.067784336178846 -38.8462191tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880085391235005393.post-72118168924831096332023-09-26T23:34:00.004-04:002023-09-26T23:34:29.584-04:00Palisades Park and the Batman Slide<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJuYsQ_4ycnYO-_lHfByuENZJ-p008fgsn62a1tVuKVgq0DNrrOvKfvTSa9_6TRrm1oGThL5mucC6H9NCRWC6wuucRQU28v_sXG15WJWMF4gqOhctey2xMld3xN0KEcE5cW6-YByNZwF4J4PH46OSwMWO5VmhGlmres_AH1ipdc7aP-ulFeq5FihPrEw/s2960/Palisades%20Park%20DC%20Comics%20ad%2002.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2960" data-original-width="2792" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJuYsQ_4ycnYO-_lHfByuENZJ-p008fgsn62a1tVuKVgq0DNrrOvKfvTSa9_6TRrm1oGThL5mucC6H9NCRWC6wuucRQU28v_sXG15WJWMF4gqOhctey2xMld3xN0KEcE5cW6-YByNZwF4J4PH46OSwMWO5VmhGlmres_AH1ipdc7aP-ulFeq5FihPrEw/w378-h400/Palisades%20Park%20DC%20Comics%20ad%2002.jpeg" width="378" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Let me tell you all a little about Kennywood Amusement Park. Wedged somewhat uncomfortably into the Homestead area of the greater Pittsburgh region, Kennywood is nevertheless a premiere amusement park for Western Pennsylvania. With more than 120 years of history, Kennywood has roller coasters both old and new, from wooden rides like the Jackrabbit and the Thunderbolt to steel coasters like the Phantom's Revenge and the Sky Rocket. And, like any self-respecting Pittsburgh-area institution, there's also a healthy Steelers presence in the new-ish Steel Curtain ride. It's a destination attraction for the area, and a great mid-level amusement park all around.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmw0UEmKxra3-sLQS5kTGN9gyRgQtyvF4ZHSObUh4L9WtNkQUXVQBGXZBZBNp2JZ3TKndDd1ElBpnOkyEmRRfITNezq49VdSaeC5q79aWe9-R-5RJDCDuySr-4f4sfOalli8cVUgV9vALN3pGShTlaZb_DmrZ-XXxl0kyijgjn-WN3eemnw5-MBz5S898/s1000/kennywood.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmw0UEmKxra3-sLQS5kTGN9gyRgQtyvF4ZHSObUh4L9WtNkQUXVQBGXZBZBNp2JZ3TKndDd1ElBpnOkyEmRRfITNezq49VdSaeC5q79aWe9-R-5RJDCDuySr-4f4sfOalli8cVUgV9vALN3pGShTlaZb_DmrZ-XXxl0kyijgjn-WN3eemnw5-MBz5S898/w400-h266/kennywood.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I moved from Pittsburgh to the eastern side of the state a few years ago, I knew that I wanted to visit some of the nearby New York City-area amusement parks, namely Luna Park at Coney Island and Palisades Park. I had Coney Island in mind because it's a world-famous park and a real slice of Americana; why not visit somewhere that's been immortalized in different forms of media over the last several decades?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpGMzBR352IIwnVnYAOvFoJgBU2_CI4Ih_cl5d8JzrmdzD-ySkpBvu836hFW2wP2LXlY3hBjxtdg2jsmvCOqNKHW2fsmU2UezaR1DCVnd3YOz-FaAMB3KofgsrXuanufKLFUS0e6tZFzBQHpLqAf-Y2LQHv4DRqGTk5rrzVB30h3PGF9yjbJzbVnHg2a0/s4032/Cyclone%20Coney%20Island.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpGMzBR352IIwnVnYAOvFoJgBU2_CI4Ih_cl5d8JzrmdzD-ySkpBvu836hFW2wP2LXlY3hBjxtdg2jsmvCOqNKHW2fsmU2UezaR1DCVnd3YOz-FaAMB3KofgsrXuanufKLFUS0e6tZFzBQHpLqAf-Y2LQHv4DRqGTk5rrzVB30h3PGF9yjbJzbVnHg2a0/w300-h400/Cyclone%20Coney%20Island.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I've since checked that off my list. I've rode the Cyclone and enjoyed it, though I've yet to ride the Wonder Wheel. It's a park that's quaint and quite overpriced, though it's a place I'd recommend seeing at least once, and it's directly off of NYC's most popular beach, south of Brooklyn. I bought a hot dog there! I got the whole experience.</div><div><br /></div><div>Palisades, New Jersey is located near the George Washington Bridge, across the river from northern Manhattan. It's definitely a town for people who want to live in the city but don't want to pay a million dollars to get a condo there. The commute across the bridge is a relatively easy one.</div><div><br /></div><div>There were two reasons I wanted to check out Palisades Park: the first is, okay, the 1962 Freddy Cannon pop bubblegum hit of the same name:</div><div><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wgzib59HA40?si=6VLsiMtOd6kLAwX_" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>Can I just say that "I gave that girl a hug/In the tunnel of love" is a pretty awkward attempt at a rhyme? Anyway, the second reason is that I've gotten used to seeing the following ad in old copies of certain DC Comics:</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi4Zkv95_-3dBgqdidFUsrKDsowWdO5iJNA682DaywoP-4bjUM-gFTNNVpMBeD1f_p81ldKYZR9wvtzh5_RAmheEs2Hb-ZSApbNyHnWClql4kifYT6IprzLHYxozA6fIpO0z0h8zSOivHcPCLHGgONygtcjUqULePc-IfuhAVDr2FD2YiMi5FSa8xGFWY/s3697/Palisades%20Park%20DC%20Comics%20ad%2001.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3697" data-original-width="2868" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi4Zkv95_-3dBgqdidFUsrKDsowWdO5iJNA682DaywoP-4bjUM-gFTNNVpMBeD1f_p81ldKYZR9wvtzh5_RAmheEs2Hb-ZSApbNyHnWClql4kifYT6IprzLHYxozA6fIpO0z0h8zSOivHcPCLHGgONygtcjUqULePc-IfuhAVDr2FD2YiMi5FSa8xGFWY/w310-h400/Palisades%20Park%20DC%20Comics%20ad%2001.jpeg" width="310" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Any amusement park that's good enough for Superman is good enough for me, right? So I thought that the park would be fun to check out.</div><div><br /></div><div>This particular ad comes from 1967's Green Lantern #56, which features the second appearance of Charlie Vicker, the actor who played Green Lantern on TV and was deputized as a real GL when his brother was killed (revenge being a central tenant to wielding the ring). This half-page ad also comes with a coupon for the park to (gasp) cut out and use for a free admission:</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifB51r0QqGaSFmCq_DzNdpjKYvi_7Yfn6rjOnJnwwd_kcP0vuhCtVEqTZysS-ia_qobm7rYDgzp9uvd-3jZUzdEYKe4tq8J1mairw9qU-GgMVlbYDOYlefq_5xdz3dgISiilMiRFzgnaPYf9QkhqyrGQruOeG7CXuj4PG3BmpA-o34iNvHxT18ifKJZ3Y/s3297/Palisades%20Park%20DC%20Comics%20ad%2003.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3297" data-original-width="1372" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifB51r0QqGaSFmCq_DzNdpjKYvi_7Yfn6rjOnJnwwd_kcP0vuhCtVEqTZysS-ia_qobm7rYDgzp9uvd-3jZUzdEYKe4tq8J1mairw9qU-GgMVlbYDOYlefq_5xdz3dgISiilMiRFzgnaPYf9QkhqyrGQruOeG7CXuj4PG3BmpA-o34iNvHxT18ifKJZ3Y/w166-h400/Palisades%20Park%20DC%20Comics%20ad%2003.jpeg" width="166" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The coupon was also good for one trip on the Batman slide! Now, one might wonder why Superman is the only figure in this ad and not Batman, if the ride was named after the Dark Knight, especially since the extremely popular Adam West Batman show was on the air at this point. But I suppose you just have to accept that Superman is a world-renowned character and just go with it.</div><div><br /></div><div>One thing I learned while planning a trip to the semi-world-famous Palisades Parks is that...it's been closed since 1971. Over 50 years! In its place now sits, would you believe it, a high-rise apartment complex, which, okay, now that I type it, I can very much believe it. I'm sure it remains prime real estate.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJu1r8xux4Jh9AiCJppMiwSl5gKOPUJJeURCRUXS_fQHAQ35Bg1sWzZULsPzXTi4VZ5Lu5KZBogDDDk-KrDis85-mK3nxPiyf916y3Xs3wwyA0s0OaJ5-ShYGM1v9DTFwXYHuYsMRc2WXaUq1VpZSovb4YdonmrtnPn5CPTRkO1KgK2e2Q0j0ydN8fWTo/s835/Palisades%20Park%20Batman%20slide.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="835" data-original-width="550" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJu1r8xux4Jh9AiCJppMiwSl5gKOPUJJeURCRUXS_fQHAQ35Bg1sWzZULsPzXTi4VZ5Lu5KZBogDDDk-KrDis85-mK3nxPiyf916y3Xs3wwyA0s0OaJ5-ShYGM1v9DTFwXYHuYsMRc2WXaUq1VpZSovb4YdonmrtnPn5CPTRkO1KgK2e2Q0j0ydN8fWTo/w264-h400/Palisades%20Park%20Batman%20slide.jpeg" width="264" /></a></div><div><br /></div>So what WAS the Batman Slide at the forever-closed Palisades Park? From the information you can find online, it seems like it was a pretty standard slide tower, rising to heights of about 20 feet; kids would take a burlap mat up a flight of stairs and slide down while riding it, just like...you know...just like Batman. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPW7_eF0KAw&t=96s">I found a video that briefly shows the slide,</a> complete with the Batman logo. Here's a grainy screenshot!<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCb3xZYk3af_aelzktYo4jT8yut_UHVWP3ykYcHvQORL9eeprD5mgpkN68wXHD-pqSREbRx84PBx3Yep9zgdP6Bdu5Wh6rej_6aTptmk3jieFYEV5jDOUzylDiubrnBv2vlP5nfWbqb8LFoKy620fJoje38-qit2cV4zjNlGRL0ZupOW2CZFZSsWHYBcQ/s2046/Palisades%20Park%20Batman%20Slide%20color.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1752" data-original-width="2046" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCb3xZYk3af_aelzktYo4jT8yut_UHVWP3ykYcHvQORL9eeprD5mgpkN68wXHD-pqSREbRx84PBx3Yep9zgdP6Bdu5Wh6rej_6aTptmk3jieFYEV5jDOUzylDiubrnBv2vlP5nfWbqb8LFoKy620fJoje38-qit2cV4zjNlGRL0ZupOW2CZFZSsWHYBcQ/w400-h343/Palisades%20Park%20Batman%20Slide%20color.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>I suppose my dream of riding the Batman slide has been forever dashed by the fact that this park closed down before I was born. To be honest, though, they probably wouldn't have accepted my coupon, anyway.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0oNQ5N_VHYVVDiIR9Wgd6IDbCodeFuxVIB6HMHDTVLxBOqKThAOiavVUEBFDaR0wEFuFq15TBFErGKdoWaPlyeZnNi-TYEEHR7ltEgn4PHM6MWqjcgXjQ_P8YkOQgUqL-N_yYOF4kYGTf6wB3Lq5tOZsAF4LxupLybNTBzDMTA_ONHaqK4zEjfZ2B1G4/s2926/Sleepwalker%20Coney%20Island.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1982" data-original-width="2926" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0oNQ5N_VHYVVDiIR9Wgd6IDbCodeFuxVIB6HMHDTVLxBOqKThAOiavVUEBFDaR0wEFuFq15TBFErGKdoWaPlyeZnNi-TYEEHR7ltEgn4PHM6MWqjcgXjQ_P8YkOQgUqL-N_yYOF4kYGTf6wB3Lq5tOZsAF4LxupLybNTBzDMTA_ONHaqK4zEjfZ2B1G4/w400-h271/Sleepwalker%20Coney%20Island.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Interestingly enough, right after I snapped the picture of the ad, I sat down to read a copy of Marvel's Sleepwalker #1, a new and possibly masochistic purchase. Where does Rick and his best girl go on date night? To Coney Island, of course. Let me know if the Wonder Wheel is worth it, Rick.</p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com21000 Surf Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11224, USA40.5752568 -73.978514912.265022963821153 -109.1347649 68.885490636178844 -38.822264899999993tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880085391235005393.post-67138741882228587402023-07-18T13:39:00.002-04:002023-07-18T13:42:01.364-04:00Planet Comics #4 on Kickstarter - and the San Diego Comic-Con!<p> <iframe frameborder="0" height="270" scrolling="no" src="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jeffmcclelland/planet-comics-book-four/widget/video.html" width="480"> </iframe></p><div>Hello once again, internet. I'm here to tell you that the campaign for Planet Comics #4 is currently up and running on <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jeffmcclelland/planet-comics-book-four?ref=creator-nav">Kickstarter!</a> Let's take a look at what this new issue has for us all.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpE9jvON7HIt2vWslPztphdqzq05Zj-RvGNQ17nJsdhFXVvx7F8xJNMby5frBshDgIRCX1btG33lqEz70nDLegAsfUkCViLQg2S4fRV_ev-aZeYoNhufpJM20dsf-THzn0pQCSGxyVoEwjMUHTJSwG6476vRINn9YaWJXCMTBrBawqSH5BzneYSMugKKw/s2226/Planet%20Comics%204%20cover%20Jake%20Smith.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2226" data-original-width="1730" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpE9jvON7HIt2vWslPztphdqzq05Zj-RvGNQ17nJsdhFXVvx7F8xJNMby5frBshDgIRCX1btG33lqEz70nDLegAsfUkCViLQg2S4fRV_ev-aZeYoNhufpJM20dsf-THzn0pQCSGxyVoEwjMUHTJSwG6476vRINn9YaWJXCMTBrBawqSH5BzneYSMugKKw/w311-h400/Planet%20Comics%204%20cover%20Jake%20Smith.png" width="311" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>There are two covers! Jake Smith drew the main cover.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2CX9na1omPVSLAt-SK4G0VtPnOP2OlKtZqvPaF9LCj3qxTkWLx0u36-ahqI7MAhHvTQgQkoqBgcBFqHaAsnwXP5azFqjL5wLVJXF1JEmDgiMYK7bsU3vFykJA4caB5QAa1mWmLsO-k1eEN44Qc9GzFI1MkQpPgLmV6cPJmamSaUxLKgyUl9lx9o4zHTk/s1962/Planet%20Comics%204%20cover%20Mark%20Welser.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1962" data-original-width="1506" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2CX9na1omPVSLAt-SK4G0VtPnOP2OlKtZqvPaF9LCj3qxTkWLx0u36-ahqI7MAhHvTQgQkoqBgcBFqHaAsnwXP5azFqjL5wLVJXF1JEmDgiMYK7bsU3vFykJA4caB5QAa1mWmLsO-k1eEN44Qc9GzFI1MkQpPgLmV6cPJmamSaUxLKgyUl9lx9o4zHTk/w308-h400/Planet%20Comics%204%20cover%20Mark%20Welser.png" width="308" /></a></div><br /><div>And Mark Welser drew the Kickstarter exclusive cover. What is going on here? Is this a reference to a deep-cut Weird Al song? Who can say?</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoIecazPz3ihzlwmz9_XzROknQJbUexizW0GS6Vuv4BMSkn2cyPT7STKPnb0rGeuXHAid9tJhaV43YkWM1NV2X9I8PO98oc9KMd6FsEK4a4bA321KU_jZKOkopiMuJT26NbXoIUCjp-cAAyvENvjxxucJSKiMQMgAvGb2hU_Am6WJUqXSYXqRoN0wzvwY/s2216/The%20Bulwark%20preview%20Planet%20Comics.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2216" data-original-width="1724" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoIecazPz3ihzlwmz9_XzROknQJbUexizW0GS6Vuv4BMSkn2cyPT7STKPnb0rGeuXHAid9tJhaV43YkWM1NV2X9I8PO98oc9KMd6FsEK4a4bA321KU_jZKOkopiMuJT26NbXoIUCjp-cAAyvENvjxxucJSKiMQMgAvGb2hU_Am6WJUqXSYXqRoN0wzvwY/w311-h400/The%20Bulwark%20preview%20Planet%20Comics.png" width="311" /></a></div><br /><div>My four-part Bulwark story comes to an end! Co-creator Andrea Schivaone provides the lovely art for this one!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhFerM9kJJRDz64LnCf4cyedxVAJCas_NrQcslvb8yYM1mU6wJrqi74UHWljfAG1kGPzGraGlND2-Lb7LJLP5UHhwhb68GJjpCce8_BoiT3laSwVYyfY_vKy8VmvFmSzE6EVz2izTzvrgsifuulS2fWgjqL5UZkhagbSfIJvmyc7Co7gU4diN2l1Yjvc/s2218/Nightmare%20Girl%20preview%20Planet%20Comics.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2218" data-original-width="1728" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhFerM9kJJRDz64LnCf4cyedxVAJCas_NrQcslvb8yYM1mU6wJrqi74UHWljfAG1kGPzGraGlND2-Lb7LJLP5UHhwhb68GJjpCce8_BoiT3laSwVYyfY_vKy8VmvFmSzE6EVz2izTzvrgsifuulS2fWgjqL5UZkhagbSfIJvmyc7Co7gU4diN2l1Yjvc/w311-h400/Nightmare%20Girl%20preview%20Planet%20Comics.png" width="311" /></a></div><br /><div>Jennie Wood and Erin Dodge have a new, eight-page story titled "Nightmare Girl" in this issue! I'm really looking forward to this one.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWEZtAbhjGN06N5WuLXCyKBz3-_GSGXh--Jnpd0COaMrVa2TCMxy8jh4EHae1kEDoavAswGuTbuSRg79ek5AVXaxW3_qexHb16n9i1GxdWmYFHgbXIoloMhoTlNqpsDm2WujBGMedJ5xe2R10ctaCp9wNnBPc8D1QIER7NNdmL7eewHuadzADZgTUbc94/s2220/Teddy%20and%20the%20Yeti%20preview%20Planet%20Comics.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2220" data-original-width="1716" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWEZtAbhjGN06N5WuLXCyKBz3-_GSGXh--Jnpd0COaMrVa2TCMxy8jh4EHae1kEDoavAswGuTbuSRg79ek5AVXaxW3_qexHb16n9i1GxdWmYFHgbXIoloMhoTlNqpsDm2WujBGMedJ5xe2R10ctaCp9wNnBPc8D1QIER7NNdmL7eewHuadzADZgTUbc94/w309-h400/Teddy%20and%20the%20Yeti%20preview%20Planet%20Comics.png" width="309" /></a></div><br /><div>Duane Redhead and I have finished the second of a two-part Teddy and the Yeti story! What fate awaits our protagonists?</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKK2lS1_67e2herNngWiNUFXsmKI4LzyQQlVfTKxQattlLN2d0nrgVbiunOGPciCCwgR4LSym9z_DJgAMUfwBaGFMyDbrrgBWsmM1zSMGix0i1AMjgHnb9N3lRVRxuhkNyWuc38cQIz6DBCr4MGdIHYoFMFG5psL9OC-13DuKmu7WF3R4Y26xTtMqTBjc/s1580/Jackie%20Ormes%20preview%20Planet%20Comics.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1580" data-original-width="1220" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKK2lS1_67e2herNngWiNUFXsmKI4LzyQQlVfTKxQattlLN2d0nrgVbiunOGPciCCwgR4LSym9z_DJgAMUfwBaGFMyDbrrgBWsmM1zSMGix0i1AMjgHnb9N3lRVRxuhkNyWuc38cQIz6DBCr4MGdIHYoFMFG5psL9OC-13DuKmu7WF3R4Y26xTtMqTBjc/w309-h400/Jackie%20Ormes%20preview%20Planet%20Comics.png" width="309" /></a></div><br /><div>Diana Krueger pens a new essay on Golden Age comic creator Jackie Ormes!</div><div><br /></div><div>Plus there are more stories from Jeff McComsey, Benito Cereno, Jorge Correa, Jr., Guillaume Deloizon and more! There are lots of rewards and add-ons for this issue. I hope you'll check it out! The campaign runs until the middle of August.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hI64JpPWfqxs3-78iKnFzUNdOvQY2vjPrku8ApWT7-5QCyJjjSXCob3pzvZFytX6azYwN35HHkQ79t7A6Sfd7zZzvP_h_oJKrJccNBzXcfffnIPU_gq1LSt714gflG-Y6E7L7aFYcsRTo7CFp1YYJMg6Hl6W8pRPwnJqdIODPkkVstSgXwgowgrQzIA/s1710/Screenshot%202023-07-03%20at%206.40.34%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1710" data-original-width="1474" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hI64JpPWfqxs3-78iKnFzUNdOvQY2vjPrku8ApWT7-5QCyJjjSXCob3pzvZFytX6azYwN35HHkQ79t7A6Sfd7zZzvP_h_oJKrJccNBzXcfffnIPU_gq1LSt714gflG-Y6E7L7aFYcsRTo7CFp1YYJMg6Hl6W8pRPwnJqdIODPkkVstSgXwgowgrQzIA/w345-h400/Screenshot%202023-07-03%20at%206.40.34%20PM.png" width="345" /></a></div><br /><div>The 2023 San Diego Comic-Con starts tomorrow! I haven't packed yet! But I will be there! I'm sharing some space at booth 2200 with Ian Nichols and others. I'll have Planet Comics, The Illustrated Al, mini comics, pins and more! If you come and visit, I'll give you a trading card! I hope to see you there!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0111 W Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101, USA32.7088947 -117.16430654.3986608638211564 -152.3205565 61.019128536178847 -82.0080565tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880085391235005393.post-69786785966837032762023-06-20T18:08:00.001-04:002023-06-20T18:08:09.305-04:00Thing sketchbook, part 26<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Has this Thing sketchbook approached legendary status yet? I think so. We're all anxious to see the next sketches of Benjamin J. Grimm, so let's go for it:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHxvM9s0sp8rShIs36tVktCaTyVKt7-2zw2QdgTGg-uK1lBQO-J_Eg1xTzAeX2PoQoKXYUhPAJMPZH5E8mdNFGcw316vsN6IeVOpszQlqRCZmqqpc6Ql20jmwnqe9leBQWq8gyNudv_zcY1wimtgwnCwPzcsA1rnYeYKv4T6Ygy3Llud7iVIkmeXuPnE/s1647/26%20-%20Franco%20-%20New%20York%20Comic%20Con%202019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1647" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHxvM9s0sp8rShIs36tVktCaTyVKt7-2zw2QdgTGg-uK1lBQO-J_Eg1xTzAeX2PoQoKXYUhPAJMPZH5E8mdNFGcw316vsN6IeVOpszQlqRCZmqqpc6Ql20jmwnqe9leBQWq8gyNudv_zcY1wimtgwnCwPzcsA1rnYeYKv4T6Ygy3Llud7iVIkmeXuPnE/w400-h389/26%20-%20Franco%20-%20New%20York%20Comic%20Con%202019.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Franco - New York Comic Con 2019</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Franco and Art Baltazar shared a table at this show, and I was able to get very fun crayon sketches from both of them. The simple lines make it look effortless.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvMRkzndvtLABvTdbN3m-fXO1TRX2CBNqITYnv2NU57SaUYucmMSokNzmxWrRyOFy3SXDVGL05nKIaVOYaqfDuyQIg08EuD0q2mvCpkL2q172sV4fge3VOB48Er0X73C40-Lgk5nRgI557lHpneXhrPmRdYtRV3CFOb6UtdrsdtYuBl22TpmroAOB5Us/s1635/27%20-%20Steve%20Becker%20-%20New%20York%20Comic%20Con%202019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1594" data-original-width="1635" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvMRkzndvtLABvTdbN3m-fXO1TRX2CBNqITYnv2NU57SaUYucmMSokNzmxWrRyOFy3SXDVGL05nKIaVOYaqfDuyQIg08EuD0q2mvCpkL2q172sV4fge3VOB48Er0X73C40-Lgk5nRgI557lHpneXhrPmRdYtRV3CFOb6UtdrsdtYuBl22TpmroAOB5Us/w400-h390/27%20-%20Steve%20Becker%20-%20New%20York%20Comic%20Con%202019.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Steve Becker - New York Comic Con 2019</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>I caught up with my pal Steve Becker at his booth at NYCC. He asked to see the sketchbook, then agreed to draw the Thing in exchange for a new orange marker, which is a deal I'll take any day. Steve actually drew this menacing-looking Thing on a sticker, which he then stuck to the page. Note the street sign signature at the top left!</div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ96L6m9iPn1junOD48Qd9lOLRJi4gzSogN5-RxE9jcU8ANOn9e4YTl-8BuI_CvP5N2dsN9Phz_JaLKyJvDTTOLktTiAldTcvJbkooUVUXfuDK_qT4GxDepmRG_H_8jE1AAvFk54LTulEqPRapwoFT09o7XW4YlyTAwf1LBMLxSvzTAlZbWd2X4fn2WpA/s1664/28%20-%20Craig%20Rousseau%20-%20Rhode%20Island%20Comic%20Con%202019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1590" data-original-width="1664" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ96L6m9iPn1junOD48Qd9lOLRJi4gzSogN5-RxE9jcU8ANOn9e4YTl-8BuI_CvP5N2dsN9Phz_JaLKyJvDTTOLktTiAldTcvJbkooUVUXfuDK_qT4GxDepmRG_H_8jE1AAvFk54LTulEqPRapwoFT09o7XW4YlyTAwf1LBMLxSvzTAlZbWd2X4fn2WpA/w400-h383/28%20-%20Craig%20Rousseau%20-%20Rhode%20Island%20Comic%20Con%202019.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><b>Craig Rousseau - Rhode Island Comic Con 2019</b><div><b><br /></b></div><div>I was lucky enough to get an invitation to appear at the 2019 Rhode Island Comic Con, where I met Batman Beyond and Impulse artist Craig Rousseau (who, as it turns out, is also a big Weird Al fan). Craig's got a style I really enjoy and I think it stands out in this head sketch.<br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9aYar8rUvv-aS3H6FtxwO-kSpBSUq-sXoLdmwAG_CuMaVWVZml1OdmuuWD8PYCL4wmG-2DvGA66gO6ZXP70nnLm8ZnK-WgMm19vxZHnXDMOI_2juFfwL8fZfOuNyOKW_NF3uBG8c5GyG3kARyjd89ZxJt0S0AyHR1GUUITUZePhmn1tLgZT1y3TzUHw/s1645/29%20-%20Howard%20Chaykin%20-%20Rhode%20Island%20Comic%20Con%202019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1605" data-original-width="1645" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv9aYar8rUvv-aS3H6FtxwO-kSpBSUq-sXoLdmwAG_CuMaVWVZml1OdmuuWD8PYCL4wmG-2DvGA66gO6ZXP70nnLm8ZnK-WgMm19vxZHnXDMOI_2juFfwL8fZfOuNyOKW_NF3uBG8c5GyG3kARyjd89ZxJt0S0AyHR1GUUITUZePhmn1tLgZT1y3TzUHw/w400-h390/29%20-%20Howard%20Chaykin%20-%20Rhode%20Island%20Comic%20Con%202019.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Howard Chaykin - Rhode Island Comic Con 2019</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Howard Chaykin is an industry legend, and I had to build up the courage to ask him to draw in the sketchbook after sitting near him for most of this show. He delivered with a classic Thing. I also love his signature.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNuYEBhBMtdN6IVxJSe65puOqrpvtWJS5HaOKExD0MWu9HpZN4F3Xle61kWl794kOcZroB3eoNTaXhSpYLl2EIcmH-c7aNZHL9P7R7qS-S36QqNQB_YMZYWcUKHzjCzS3LEj1JZ4fgcFyYSXsYJWmGLkAReEn8kHvsmb5TNKjwcMbHllsx4EfOW-Hx1Ns/s1663/30%20-%20Rafer%20Roberts%20-%20in%20the%20mail%202020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1599" data-original-width="1663" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNuYEBhBMtdN6IVxJSe65puOqrpvtWJS5HaOKExD0MWu9HpZN4F3Xle61kWl794kOcZroB3eoNTaXhSpYLl2EIcmH-c7aNZHL9P7R7qS-S36QqNQB_YMZYWcUKHzjCzS3LEj1JZ4fgcFyYSXsYJWmGLkAReEn8kHvsmb5TNKjwcMbHllsx4EfOW-Hx1Ns/w400-h385/30%20-%20Rafer%20Roberts%20-%20in%20the%20mail%202020.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div><b>Rafer Roberts - 2020</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>This barely merits mentioning, but 2020 was a tough year on a lot of people. At the time, I couldn't have known that RICC in 2019 would be my last show for quite a while. With most of the country on lockdown and comic conventions naturally on hiatus, I took a chance with the USPS and mailed my book out to a few people that I felt I could trust not to lose it.</div><div><br /></div><div>First on my list was Rafer Roberts, a pal and a writer/artist who has seen some much-deserved comic book success in recent years. I knew that Rafer's style was suited to a different type of Thing, and so I asked him to draw the character as he appeared very early on, as a lumpy, misshapen monster from the first few issues of the Fantastic Four title. The trench coat, angry stare, no teeth and "Bah!" word balloon bring this all together for me.</div><div><br /></div><div>We're deep into this sketchbook now. Look for more installments soon!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0429 11th Ave, New York, NY 10001, USA40.7575505 -74.002469112.447316663821155 -109.1587191 69.067784336178846 -38.8462191tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880085391235005393.post-33668791101412748132023-06-10T01:01:00.001-04:002024-01-31T23:57:00.305-05:00Fantastic Four: Trapped in the Data Vortex original art by Allan Patrick and Marcio Loezer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQQS1ixrDcd077xA7wxKLt6EwIecgUDPTkS9cx8vhpV7ZDjCyAYq1GzuAXdk239ZqsyeAMwvnyZqRN3aJg86kdfXloCN9HzMOgwUQiP9NZGSUSJ9EQ55hTQxYv_2yWGRgQsdCRiw_-Jz7GCJr5ObSW0MsvQX7AdIsImpGQLDj5yEfR90GwLsWVb2x/s4032/FF%20Alan%20Patrick%2001.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQQS1ixrDcd077xA7wxKLt6EwIecgUDPTkS9cx8vhpV7ZDjCyAYq1GzuAXdk239ZqsyeAMwvnyZqRN3aJg86kdfXloCN9HzMOgwUQiP9NZGSUSJ9EQ55hTQxYv_2yWGRgQsdCRiw_-Jz7GCJr5ObSW0MsvQX7AdIsImpGQLDj5yEfR90GwLsWVb2x/w300-h400/FF%20Alan%20Patrick%2001.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p>I have a soft spot for promotional comics. Most of 'em are cheesy and silly, but every once in a while, one surprises you and ends up being a sought-after book. Fantastic Four: Trapped in the Data Vortex is...absolutely not one of those books, but since it stars the FF, I naturally grabbed it when I could. A few weeks ago, all of the interior artwork from this eight-page story popped up on eBay, and I managed to get two of the pages. So let's take a look!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhezy4qrJ0__5917PKI4d8N8Jsmm4OwjmZKFfepbtVPROYOvdj88kiFmfkWjtQwLZqCRVJ0w0MBD4TfL51_y_G9VaVWWOP1kRg7oFLsZCPBjJD5LXQulhAgSi_F5GwTe-lyov1hg61-nV51u_9JgkbLaWGB2U6k0iLUfazpU-XC2uINM5QtqLqZby8N/s1974/Fantastic%20Four%20-%20Trapped%20in%20the%20Data%20Vortex%20cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1974" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhezy4qrJ0__5917PKI4d8N8Jsmm4OwjmZKFfepbtVPROYOvdj88kiFmfkWjtQwLZqCRVJ0w0MBD4TfL51_y_G9VaVWWOP1kRg7oFLsZCPBjJD5LXQulhAgSi_F5GwTe-lyov1hg61-nV51u_9JgkbLaWGB2U6k0iLUfazpU-XC2uINM5QtqLqZby8N/w259-h400/Fantastic%20Four%20-%20Trapped%20in%20the%20Data%20Vortex%20cover.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>"Trapped in the Data Vortex" was published in 2011 as a promotional comic for Hitachi Data Systems. The story is about what you'd expect: the company is highlighted throughout the book, and the superhero action is just a thin cover for company promotion. The art, though, really stood out in this story. Publishers usually send in the B (or C) teams when packaging something like this, and books usually suffer as a result; even though Allan Patrick and Marcio Loezer aren't names I'm familiar with, they really knocked the art out of the park for this short story. Industry mainstay Greg Land provided the cover for this short comic.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKL-1sRKnR9MrVVvc9_aD98BMD21BBIGsZSsod0tWZ19RDrkpbQcOMOTae3LyPFGpYdaTNZgoRGV26mjQhqZG3M2Oz5yO0lLREEH2cmhPX39_2s_j_18KP8PUvB7DxqEKAP_s8Z8wCsgI_c7aKaq1RPUsA4VMsNtlN2nBKmZcjZwVHyiXm_FoCEIRi/s4030/FF%20Alan%20Patrick%2003.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3022" data-original-width="4030" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKL-1sRKnR9MrVVvc9_aD98BMD21BBIGsZSsod0tWZ19RDrkpbQcOMOTae3LyPFGpYdaTNZgoRGV26mjQhqZG3M2Oz5yO0lLREEH2cmhPX39_2s_j_18KP8PUvB7DxqEKAP_s8Z8wCsgI_c7aKaq1RPUsA4VMsNtlN2nBKmZcjZwVHyiXm_FoCEIRi/w400-h300/FF%20Alan%20Patrick%2003.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The better of the two pages I got is the last page of the story, where the team (with indispensable help from Hitachi Data Systems!) wraps up their mini adventure. Ben, Sue and Johnny return from the Data Vortex to find that Reed has taken care of things in this dimension by dispatching M.O.D.O.K. and some AIM henchmen.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSpinSDSI1lIK6tcXG3p7ZUKL0LWrXrtpubGZTbEK_QxLQr4O2js8W6TXe_VQSoxEohj4DFPG8voIN8vYPTvw-lB28zyUjPUYEI7eXF4V63viHc_YiwWpJ85AfWM-rC5_F3Vz6nJbTnnsrpNjO33KaPQbJCIHf_1qQCkYbO4mxO8X94_bGZNc7yJ6m/s4030/FF%20Alan%20Patrick%2002.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3022" data-original-width="4030" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSpinSDSI1lIK6tcXG3p7ZUKL0LWrXrtpubGZTbEK_QxLQr4O2js8W6TXe_VQSoxEohj4DFPG8voIN8vYPTvw-lB28zyUjPUYEI7eXF4V63viHc_YiwWpJ85AfWM-rC5_F3Vz6nJbTnnsrpNjO33KaPQbJCIHf_1qQCkYbO4mxO8X94_bGZNc7yJ6m/w400-h300/FF%20Alan%20Patrick%2002.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Even though I've got a decent number of original Fantastic Four pages, I don't often get pages with all four main characters on it, and to get a nice, half-page splash of some "off into the sunset" superhero action really adds to the deal. Plus, Johnny is on fire, Reed stretches, Ben, uh...smokes a cigar...and they all ride off in a Kirby-designed "flying bathtub" Fantasticar. It's a win all around in my book.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4IYetVk17ne6VxFedkcRYZdieKEkjT1MBPypghoZEz9eiF0DHI750FQYyQ_gt6KNfr3lCfzRs1RNUaGUwopnP39Ew6AeT2zDbw2qM1S4puJCoJn9KxzYTkWBccY374BYvemAEXyJEJlPXj6FYpUsudMeueKGp8gwT07kUxi75K_xSX6oPYvhv3yh2/s1944/Fantastic%20Four%20-%20Trapped%20in%20the%20Data%20Vortex%20page%208.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4IYetVk17ne6VxFedkcRYZdieKEkjT1MBPypghoZEz9eiF0DHI750FQYyQ_gt6KNfr3lCfzRs1RNUaGUwopnP39Ew6AeT2zDbw2qM1S4puJCoJn9KxzYTkWBccY374BYvemAEXyJEJlPXj6FYpUsudMeueKGp8gwT07kUxi75K_xSX6oPYvhv3yh2/w264-h400/Fantastic%20Four%20-%20Trapped%20in%20the%20Data%20Vortex%20page%208.jpg" width="264" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Here's how the page was published. Some of the middle pages were printed with a 3-D effect (whilst inside the Data Vortex, of course). My copy of the book didn't come with 3-D glasses, and I'm not really sure how those were distributed in the first place.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ4kxiihVkVe9gqPJyv233zl6uhyOCVgXeIxvGDcpVInqMX1-_6Ez32gTEZvrOoZAUprpoChiRpTWOSKtiAyVzoRaDVgCVou4jWCZgKW517NaX2wBlK-8qg_3eRVwJLY74N5qaPPByBDsRFL1WpVRpC2b2wJugA4Mne4GelFSRlZsqTUKswV1OTQx9/s4032/FF%20Alan%20Patrick%2004.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ4kxiihVkVe9gqPJyv233zl6uhyOCVgXeIxvGDcpVInqMX1-_6Ez32gTEZvrOoZAUprpoChiRpTWOSKtiAyVzoRaDVgCVou4jWCZgKW517NaX2wBlK-8qg_3eRVwJLY74N5qaPPByBDsRFL1WpVRpC2b2wJugA4Mne4GelFSRlZsqTUKswV1OTQx9/w300-h400/FF%20Alan%20Patrick%2004.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Even though it's not quite as impressive, I was able to add the first page of the story for almost nothing, so I grabbed it as well. At some point, the first panel was cut off and replaced with a second, finished version.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PN5G8qtWkK-3cVpdf9ZwrodWw3WKtCBW3LhsVn1R69rARZLqgYZH0JtQzau9lOSvWXBE7JJ7d6Idl1nMKJlJJcIiCfwrndtmOf1fUQh3TgRoNoYC5KCSMSdC2pW880Qp6jG8vvAb7VvlLntdx-x-iuKNmmzReRHhgmOuZXC_SzzC3IMLRxG_WFbn/s4032/FF%20Alan%20Patrick%2005.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PN5G8qtWkK-3cVpdf9ZwrodWw3WKtCBW3LhsVn1R69rARZLqgYZH0JtQzau9lOSvWXBE7JJ7d6Idl1nMKJlJJcIiCfwrndtmOf1fUQh3TgRoNoYC5KCSMSdC2pW880Qp6jG8vvAb7VvlLntdx-x-iuKNmmzReRHhgmOuZXC_SzzC3IMLRxG_WFbn/w400-h300/FF%20Alan%20Patrick%2005.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Although there's no Fantastic Four on this page, there is a really nice shot of a menacing M.O.D.O.K. Look at how surprised this office worker is! I sure hope that Hitachi Data Systems can get him out of this jam.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSYs7uYhnlwjJRUlkVjEOprWrHybHJ5fAYmOIXNmZTAiRQRDrFqoLnsjWy5Ewq9_l4EPrwGwKP8d86NkR4jCY9YuVF9titj76tn6g0aHhCbnPYh2l9DMPaWm5juhfVAd8jAbMtNyb_jm7NU5y0_sq7auO50EdoxmwG4cpwU9DJh_ZBt_9m4TwM-kkh/s4032/FF%20Alan%20Patrick%2006.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSYs7uYhnlwjJRUlkVjEOprWrHybHJ5fAYmOIXNmZTAiRQRDrFqoLnsjWy5Ewq9_l4EPrwGwKP8d86NkR4jCY9YuVF9titj76tn6g0aHhCbnPYh2l9DMPaWm5juhfVAd8jAbMtNyb_jm7NU5y0_sq7auO50EdoxmwG4cpwU9DJh_ZBt_9m4TwM-kkh/w400-h300/FF%20Alan%20Patrick%2006.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The establishing shot at the top of the page clearly shows the Baxter Building, which made this page worthwhile. The water in the distance doesn't really mesh with this being 42nd and Madison, but I'll let it slide. The Data Vortex messes with perspective sometimes. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgE7Aw4LoR6IcLiB7iBSW4joWmT2LbXGHXx0ZxEPq2CJMq3D7ec-_fQvSt89SLxhDk5d5QQ4dOTVCeg0UpsSibF6aXHC5xayaS8FQgMjltHQkISYVnoBezsUGzFwNM8QOL1RTrtcs72zgNHc6M7rqDMhd1eIxr3zt6tW_wyG5pjA4eYPGxSmdPszSP/s1961/Fantastic%20Four%20-%20Trapped%20in%20the%20Data%20Vortex%20page%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1961" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgE7Aw4LoR6IcLiB7iBSW4joWmT2LbXGHXx0ZxEPq2CJMq3D7ec-_fQvSt89SLxhDk5d5QQ4dOTVCeg0UpsSibF6aXHC5xayaS8FQgMjltHQkISYVnoBezsUGzFwNM8QOL1RTrtcs72zgNHc6M7rqDMhd1eIxr3zt6tW_wyG5pjA4eYPGxSmdPszSP/w261-h400/Fantastic%20Four%20-%20Trapped%20in%20the%20Data%20Vortex%20page%201.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Pencils for this story were drawn by Allan Patrick and inks were added by Marcio Loezer. They gave it their all on what might otherwise be a throwaway promo story that not many people outside of the company have read. The line work is fine and detailed, and the FF are all on-model in their classic suits. I'm definitely glad to add these two pages to my collection.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1Bethlehem, PA, USA40.6259316 -75.37045789999999112.315697763821156 -110.52670789999999 68.93616543617884 -40.214207899999991tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880085391235005393.post-71759249185748513662023-05-23T01:37:00.003-04:002023-05-23T01:39:05.916-04:00I have entered the Spider-Verse with Burger King's Spider-Verse Whopper<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxvYzMwfznaEgCmepBmc9iUAFi3VYYIfDaW_TmHhB9W04yuPowzx9ISNoilYcoyetsrKQK0FcK3ZcyjSih4b1CIxtWl1hn8Mk0-pCh2TkqiyhHwo1QugsoXdx_lOsTa4zkhzf5BgPE0jnZMGG2VVDTmGx85zwQexBdxQJ2RUc1QFMGqJpuuIs_96v/s3212/Spider-Verse%20Whopper%2010.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3212" data-original-width="2917" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxvYzMwfznaEgCmepBmc9iUAFi3VYYIfDaW_TmHhB9W04yuPowzx9ISNoilYcoyetsrKQK0FcK3ZcyjSih4b1CIxtWl1hn8Mk0-pCh2TkqiyhHwo1QugsoXdx_lOsTa4zkhzf5BgPE0jnZMGG2VVDTmGx85zwQexBdxQJ2RUc1QFMGqJpuuIs_96v/w364-h400/Spider-Verse%20Whopper%2010.jpeg" width="364" /></a></div><br /><div>I'll start off by saying that I'm a sucker for movie tie-in food. There's something about the ephemeral quality of Burger King's "Across the Spider-Verse" themed offerings that make me excited about things that I wouldn't normally do, like actually go to Burger King for the first time in years. I don't eat a lot of fast food, and I actually think that the last time I ate at Burger King was during a Fantastic Four promotion in...2005?? How is that possible? Where has the time gone? Anyway, now Spider-Man has a hamburger. So I tried it out.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53bCgUFcOgOio_fkrqXp0h7MVMgiBrwvLWDcfJEWnyp7X98_0AcPCbAhNVoEYJ0ZePuyFrFLmH57en29ymA_JTrTgIt6XMALG0T1LIEvhgoU7Ev0TAgVCtpEm8wiKzJuZUKVfZwOBF7RZpBxuUSgyPYo9fDBUlskySr-P3Mk9xYlBwIHHSj4ImuA7/s4032/Spider-Verse%20Whopper%2001.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53bCgUFcOgOio_fkrqXp0h7MVMgiBrwvLWDcfJEWnyp7X98_0AcPCbAhNVoEYJ0ZePuyFrFLmH57en29ymA_JTrTgIt6XMALG0T1LIEvhgoU7Ev0TAgVCtpEm8wiKzJuZUKVfZwOBF7RZpBxuUSgyPYo9fDBUlskySr-P3Mk9xYlBwIHHSj4ImuA7/w300-h400/Spider-Verse%20Whopper%2001.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div>Burger King's menu for this promotion didn't take a lot of risks. The chain is only offering up a few spider-themed items, and at the forefront is the Spider-Verse Whopper, which is just a regular Whopper with a red bun and black sesame seeds.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0QEmqEEtt_ODB5MMEuo2q_WkTRfwdGORjKDJUoYzQP05mphslPdUrJZzEgzDLHSbGg2Ee0PszQaf6dzwWW8BSGrhvrAxQIiearpn9n2b_sv-WhiIyDKYcRGUW75VYYTK6DguiJPSLwxaaPPjVZXJCdB_5AW8r2FTvJvnTb6HLMC41o50GZ38_eRf/s2639/Spider-Verse%20Whopper%2002.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2430" data-original-width="2639" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0QEmqEEtt_ODB5MMEuo2q_WkTRfwdGORjKDJUoYzQP05mphslPdUrJZzEgzDLHSbGg2Ee0PszQaf6dzwWW8BSGrhvrAxQIiearpn9n2b_sv-WhiIyDKYcRGUW75VYYTK6DguiJPSLwxaaPPjVZXJCdB_5AW8r2FTvJvnTb6HLMC41o50GZ38_eRf/w400-h369/Spider-Verse%20Whopper%2002.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Also on the list is a Spider-Verse Sundae. I walked into a local BK and saw some of the branding all around the store.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2q2t1lyx0JoDE4rodChkEwVDTTLWByv9VanOOwZAH-k3OB2x5XRINYbFcYic--WiLAvd_9kRnom5_t0FtLDYRwI228Ml1SUcqMC64TULM5VqGI3tndxGy_ay_Xt6WttLvkePn9_3A5Z-W3aSTmP5j1fvqH1hxOL5pDWCVDrLJsmJlZCz4v9RhmtlR/s2652/Spider-Verse%20Whopper%2003.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2150" data-original-width="2652" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2q2t1lyx0JoDE4rodChkEwVDTTLWByv9VanOOwZAH-k3OB2x5XRINYbFcYic--WiLAvd_9kRnom5_t0FtLDYRwI228Ml1SUcqMC64TULM5VqGI3tndxGy_ay_Xt6WttLvkePn9_3A5Z-W3aSTmP5j1fvqH1hxOL5pDWCVDrLJsmJlZCz4v9RhmtlR/w400-h324/Spider-Verse%20Whopper%2003.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Miles and Gwen were also on the kid's meal menu, but I couldn't figure out if there was a Spider-Verse toy that came with those meals.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzaLmz8-eGS1_IwKKyUIkVoKIHEcw8MX_RBxxFCu0zHqS6qlVPgR0e7N6Q9amlxqQpJTA7lRWeGBropzBwTCkievvxTMB09Tg82QaeN9Fznt2tjapQ5Bh9Mwo0uJw2UDddTT3deIJYop-JLOtAOt6AEUmtNQgFpBrIQCGoDQVq9HAaBg8lcLQfwQy5/s4032/Spider-Verse%20Whopper%2005.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzaLmz8-eGS1_IwKKyUIkVoKIHEcw8MX_RBxxFCu0zHqS6qlVPgR0e7N6Q9amlxqQpJTA7lRWeGBropzBwTCkievvxTMB09Tg82QaeN9Fznt2tjapQ5Bh9Mwo0uJw2UDddTT3deIJYop-JLOtAOt6AEUmtNQgFpBrIQCGoDQVq9HAaBg8lcLQfwQy5/w400-h300/Spider-Verse%20Whopper%2005.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Rebranded crowns were all over the restaurant. Someone must have gotten bored before opening, because this location had maybe 100 piled up in different areas. Did I grab one? Yes! Did I wear one? Also yes.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcUTO-LJMX5W6zO9S4XtP1rvPuorL-UvHvZdcIZk-aJOM71iQyfjNGYfqXKEFxJsfLRr223yX4EKkFmzZJy84WzEL_og8205zg4RX_3-TEgMt52HNtl6XOwBhKgEnhxudpwuc5KqmNcBFcD_Ve-MkaaehvN7LIZMI2HDrEmXVRy4qS7p0Elf_YkerI/s4032/Spider-Verse%20Whopper%2006.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcUTO-LJMX5W6zO9S4XtP1rvPuorL-UvHvZdcIZk-aJOM71iQyfjNGYfqXKEFxJsfLRr223yX4EKkFmzZJy84WzEL_og8205zg4RX_3-TEgMt52HNtl6XOwBhKgEnhxudpwuc5KqmNcBFcD_Ve-MkaaehvN7LIZMI2HDrEmXVRy4qS7p0Elf_YkerI/w300-h400/Spider-Verse%20Whopper%2006.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Let's look at the burger. It came in this branded wax wrapper, which was, okay, pretty great. I should've asked for an extra one.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJTbGEnZP3MSd8p_-B5HGXUSFLW28Gcb305iLSDRFrPLgs3tUaUI2bHYvdfo5iz80n8N81J5yqeuGE5G6f4mY6Cjxk4yzKBLAywABYT4TOG16bO24GD4l39KvtmqAzgd0e-PuFHMlWVsrF5wHsEd3C_0bnjLlTTn-uHR9qTlzdv8gmc-aFoqev8mtA/s3330/Spider-Verse%20Whopper%2007.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2799" data-original-width="3330" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJTbGEnZP3MSd8p_-B5HGXUSFLW28Gcb305iLSDRFrPLgs3tUaUI2bHYvdfo5iz80n8N81J5yqeuGE5G6f4mY6Cjxk4yzKBLAywABYT4TOG16bO24GD4l39KvtmqAzgd0e-PuFHMlWVsrF5wHsEd3C_0bnjLlTTn-uHR9qTlzdv8gmc-aFoqev8mtA/w400-h336/Spider-Verse%20Whopper%2007.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>And here we have the unwrapped final product. It didn't present quite as well as in the advertisement. But the bun, which, I guess, is the main feature here, is red. It's very red. How much food coloring went into this recipe? What do my insides look like after eating it? Did they make the sesame seeds black by using a magic marker? These are all good questions.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhybYE7_pIPY3nObH7mEFiV7oS2hyL7Z8KFQVYSqL6DWK3AmSJJVo-1coFiDZD6oU22rFPAk2ol3j_8MCB54D2RY7CA3q6oL1UcYvc2ozIYH2umDuIzN_5HYwdgoluK9kiEqQa-qlkx9rm7h3WA5CYdO-7T1r4Io8-K25NdVeMyFy3Lq_VM15DqC2Sm/s3554/Spider-Verse%20Whopper%2008.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2898" data-original-width="3554" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhybYE7_pIPY3nObH7mEFiV7oS2hyL7Z8KFQVYSqL6DWK3AmSJJVo-1coFiDZD6oU22rFPAk2ol3j_8MCB54D2RY7CA3q6oL1UcYvc2ozIYH2umDuIzN_5HYwdgoluK9kiEqQa-qlkx9rm7h3WA5CYdO-7T1r4Io8-K25NdVeMyFy3Lq_VM15DqC2Sm/w400-h326/Spider-Verse%20Whopper%2008.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Taking the top off, we can see the rest of the toppings, such as mayo, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, ketchup, pickles and cheese, all on top of the hamburger patty.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqjGvRswwdKPISqtW8K4dSDPAgHqK9TCF6zw86rqIYcL51AU5uzlfxIw9UdiMx0leHDTkazc_rFrUHDp7PEXfeIrN7h0crpz9W89o5gnx9iNXsQ5G6VcwgEUkpqomvMkJcmhyjLh4fuj_5nrXZl8sV4KhihgDvuIGkPN6Vak5kEcN0lGbWzE7hF4P/s3487/Spider-Verse%20Whopper%2011.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3487" data-original-width="2439" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqjGvRswwdKPISqtW8K4dSDPAgHqK9TCF6zw86rqIYcL51AU5uzlfxIw9UdiMx0leHDTkazc_rFrUHDp7PEXfeIrN7h0crpz9W89o5gnx9iNXsQ5G6VcwgEUkpqomvMkJcmhyjLh4fuj_5nrXZl8sV4KhihgDvuIGkPN6Vak5kEcN0lGbWzE7hF4P/w280-h400/Spider-Verse%20Whopper%2011.jpeg" width="280" /></a></div><br /><div>And then I ate the thing. I thought it was pretty good! It's obviously not any different than a regular Whopper that Burger King sells every day of the year, but coloring the bun and slapping a Spider-Man logo on it got me to try it out.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLD4aP-XxSp6mbApPiBl6TB5ePXs9GDBPA9iG9-he5XlRIKbJIZuRzWkWEwaCci8fDFZycdB95-wy5hLcBwj7K_Gd1krQdybPMwSn7cQMia3d0JSeQc4g6V6RxetLn5s-42TFxMvCSmnwLTZKfMif5ccjSSDmsfzbf0US6if94-zt-sjgqBmisXw9/s4032/Spider-Verse%20Whopper%2004.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLD4aP-XxSp6mbApPiBl6TB5ePXs9GDBPA9iG9-he5XlRIKbJIZuRzWkWEwaCci8fDFZycdB95-wy5hLcBwj7K_Gd1krQdybPMwSn7cQMia3d0JSeQc4g6V6RxetLn5s-42TFxMvCSmnwLTZKfMif5ccjSSDmsfzbf0US6if94-zt-sjgqBmisXw9/w300-h400/Spider-Verse%20Whopper%2004.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div>I also picked up the Spider-Verse sundae to try out, as it was the only other uniquely Spider-Man branded item on the menu. This is vanilla ice cream with red and black candy toppings. It is also tiny. Anyway, I didn't know what to make of the toppings when I ate them; they had a texture like crisped rice that you'll find in some chocolate bars. After I ate them, though, they started cracking and popping like pop rocks. This was unexpected and a little disconcerting at first. I guess they're supposed to simulate what it feels like to get spider powers? Like tiny little bursts of spider energy? We'll go with it.</div><div><br /></div><div>The verdict is: it was worth it. Even if my organs are now coated in red dye. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1Bethlehem, PA, USA40.6259316 -75.37045789999999112.315697763821156 -110.52670789999999 68.93616543617884 -40.214207899999991tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880085391235005393.post-41440445183799206932023-03-22T17:32:00.001-04:002023-03-22T17:32:42.305-04:00Let's take a look at "The Illustrated Al" from Z2 Comics!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUmtXC2YBr9heeP7ceKcwQ9xJ80eZutlrIDN-lPfafqoaIUjEccPqc1qYoGV717L3urERzrGGKyqMOjVfDMHlfHkZ40734FYZWbQSSpcfpqeI9LJ6-rI4lXplLu6hfKYyxeBvZJHxMbsJupX6WJZ25nKzcE4EOP4fRgzK6FazA2vevDL3R5KvLxNr/s1600/Weird%20Al%20Illustrated%20Al.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUmtXC2YBr9heeP7ceKcwQ9xJ80eZutlrIDN-lPfafqoaIUjEccPqc1qYoGV717L3urERzrGGKyqMOjVfDMHlfHkZ40734FYZWbQSSpcfpqeI9LJ6-rI4lXplLu6hfKYyxeBvZJHxMbsJupX6WJZ25nKzcE4EOP4fRgzK6FazA2vevDL3R5KvLxNr/w400-h266/Weird%20Al%20Illustrated%20Al.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Every once in a while, two great things converge. Sometimes the result is <a href="https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/ranch-dressing-ice-cream/" target="_blank">ranch dressing-flavored ice cream.</a> But other times, two great things coalesce into a somehow perfect combination. Even more infrequently, I get to make the dang things. So here we are at today's much-anticipated blog post about <i>The Illustrated Al, </i>Z2's "Weird Al" Yankovic graphic novel, inspired by Al's catalog of songs.<p></p><p>As an aside, would you look at that picture at the top? I'm going to be buried with it. Anyway, let's move on.</p><p><i>The Illustrated Al</i> is a collection of graphic adaptations of a number of Weird Al songs, mostly focusing on his original material from various albums over Al's decades-long career. I was contacted by Z2's EIC in May of last year asking if I would like to participate to this project, to which Al himself was overseeing. I've loved comics only slightly longer than I have loved Weird Al, so I naturally agreed and picked my contribution from a list of pre-selected songs. Wouldn't you know, my all-time favorite Weird Al song, "Good Old Days" from the 1988 "Even Worse" album, was available, so I jumped on that and contacted my friends Jeff McComsey and Mark Welser to help me make this short story. Folks, I gave it my all, and I'm happy with the results.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3Qu-oOVO04v879YI7cnKjeh8zbpUxnBGIXIWnPLBDUa5HNbo3z0Sx8stqWgCDUTCfOlIeTFbDNTN0fkD5eoTsiDsD9kXICyS8aZhRi6P3ckMFVjWanyqtc2izF-o_VcHKUb0I1h9ssYk9IwlZHCps0EuFIse2DA2lmnlj8RQzXWLhebEXJuMHs3w/s1502/Illustrated%20Al%20Good%20Old%20Days.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1156" data-original-width="1502" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3Qu-oOVO04v879YI7cnKjeh8zbpUxnBGIXIWnPLBDUa5HNbo3z0Sx8stqWgCDUTCfOlIeTFbDNTN0fkD5eoTsiDsD9kXICyS8aZhRi6P3ckMFVjWanyqtc2izF-o_VcHKUb0I1h9ssYk9IwlZHCps0EuFIse2DA2lmnlj8RQzXWLhebEXJuMHs3w/w400-h308/Illustrated%20Al%20Good%20Old%20Days.png" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I knew from the beginning that I didn't want to just adapt the song in a literal way. First of all, "Good Old Days" is a very dark and violent song when taken at face value; making a comic about this means that right away, we're lacking the accompanying James Taylor-like musical track which adds half of the humor to the song. I could go on about how the combination of those two disparate elements creates a pitch-perfect package.<div><br /></div><div>What I tried to do was create a narrative around the lyrics that centered around the story's main character looking back at his life and all of the havoc he's created. He's at the end of his life and he wants it all to mean something - he wants to perform his biggest and most terrible act yet. So he's a pretty much a serial killer, which is an idea that is, in some ways, so difficult to accept as a concept that it lends itself to hyperbole from the beginning. Then I set it in outer space, because I like outer space.</div><div><br /></div><div>Over the course of creating and submitting the story, I got a few notes from Al, his manager, and Z2's editorial team, but the story was mostly accepted as we made it.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVYSftbD2A374igZLoTdvmMEXlsQxo5d7SvbGGKuRuLr7oxAR7MwO0MZar_FyfEnQ05Luc_vS86wOhsJvgSs4FejKeh2CrJ1bnQ7TDFyYdOoP5QHbBT9iyx7pKKTdyPoj9dXmP-YU43nNrdnxKbSOSz7O2kOlBeeNbutPiIC8fBmisuJXqEgcAwi1/s736/Illustrated%20Al%20Good%20Old%20Days%20Fender.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="712" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVYSftbD2A374igZLoTdvmMEXlsQxo5d7SvbGGKuRuLr7oxAR7MwO0MZar_FyfEnQ05Luc_vS86wOhsJvgSs4FejKeh2CrJ1bnQ7TDFyYdOoP5QHbBT9iyx7pKKTdyPoj9dXmP-YU43nNrdnxKbSOSz7O2kOlBeeNbutPiIC8fBmisuJXqEgcAwi1/w388-h400/Illustrated%20Al%20Good%20Old%20Days%20Fender.png" width="388" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'll let the story speak for itself, but there are a few things that I want to call attention to. The panel above is from a sepia-toned flashback scene, where we meet the song's Mr. Fender ("who ran the corner grocery store"). There's only one line of dialogue in this story, while the rest of the lyrics are presented in dialogue boxes, which seemed more appropriate. This one line gave me the opportunity to use a different font, and I felt that I should probably use it to include my newly-minted McClellafont. Really, if there was a reason I made the thing in the first place, this was it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Let me also point out that I did add several Easter egg-style references to some of Al's other works and the like in this story. A few people have found some to this point, and there are some in this very panel. Most of them are pretty obvious, <a href="http://dukescollector.blogspot.com" target="_blank">though maybe not all.</a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19oJAgxc6cFZKtFvVvT3yedKoS2djj13Uej4ISuVTztKuZ_iu6ia34zIAxBwokwR1XuL9S45XREsujBy1zWtKlLXJN6IUe-diaPJR1xY834EGORB0dgjvOAFckeUTyvUNSuSCG-umO2FoPw1o-QsEnJF85EkDJBBWktAtFsZKaag1b6vsrYIoTOLL/s2084/Illustrated%20Al%20Good%20Old%20Days%20flats.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1608" data-original-width="2084" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19oJAgxc6cFZKtFvVvT3yedKoS2djj13Uej4ISuVTztKuZ_iu6ia34zIAxBwokwR1XuL9S45XREsujBy1zWtKlLXJN6IUe-diaPJR1xY834EGORB0dgjvOAFckeUTyvUNSuSCG-umO2FoPw1o-QsEnJF85EkDJBBWktAtFsZKaag1b6vsrYIoTOLL/w400-h309/Illustrated%20Al%20Good%20Old%20Days%20flats.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>In addition to lettering, I tried my hand at color separations (or flatting) for the first time with this story. This is the process of adding color to the image that a traditional colorist will refine later. I will say that this process didn't take a lot of skill (perfect for me), but it did take a LONG time to do. It was very time intensive. I did what I could.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Ov54xrasR80UNrUV6PuStmcH7mwDenO3efHi1XmHGbM-Zo3gaoBg36xd--yKkM88ylSqHwOV1nBwQNNguqnsavLcPv9-5uRrcwD9s4fg3rfJrtaXZPeLa1mW-gORawRSAS-pXrAvY6TQxxmi3BdzTl_VOjmG4hlLo948ZLj70D_d8dnz6FFwYRAn/s3985/Illustrated%20Al%20covers.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2825" data-original-width="3985" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Ov54xrasR80UNrUV6PuStmcH7mwDenO3efHi1XmHGbM-Zo3gaoBg36xd--yKkM88ylSqHwOV1nBwQNNguqnsavLcPv9-5uRrcwD9s4fg3rfJrtaXZPeLa1mW-gORawRSAS-pXrAvY6TQxxmi3BdzTl_VOjmG4hlLo948ZLj70D_d8dnz6FFwYRAn/w400-h284/Illustrated%20Al%20covers.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>In true form for the modern comic book industry, the hardcover volume was released with a few different covers. The main cover is on the left and has art by MAD Magazine's Drew Friedman. On the right is the limited Local Comic Shop Day exclusive cover by Mark Fredrickson, also of MAD fame. It's interesting to note that the LCSD version of the book was actually the first to be released in late November of '22, while the proper, wide release version didn't come out until early this year.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi3tUDvJli3_LgUnD5I3HjQQP3tXLCJQQGKnaQtbLmnPUVibvbAThH-ielQOvnXjyNBo2wrlKC8mKXPeywwqder7Q79b3SlQIgnXxCrao0c2hs9k_6Tc8A3Ud9HTWh0x3S5a75yRYXdeA95XXT1T7w1KhEea43_caa6G2gC-8RjK4mFLWJdyqPGjeI/s4032/Illustrated%20Al%20back%20cover.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi3tUDvJli3_LgUnD5I3HjQQP3tXLCJQQGKnaQtbLmnPUVibvbAThH-ielQOvnXjyNBo2wrlKC8mKXPeywwqder7Q79b3SlQIgnXxCrao0c2hs9k_6Tc8A3Ud9HTWh0x3S5a75yRYXdeA95XXT1T7w1KhEea43_caa6G2gC-8RjK4mFLWJdyqPGjeI/w300-h400/Illustrated%20Al%20back%20cover.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The back cover actually has my name on it (and they spelled it correctly, too!), alongside some real comic book heavyweights. You might notice, along with myself and Jeff McComsey, a few Planet Comics contributors in this list such as Hilary Barta and <i>Weird Me</i> creator Kelly Phillips.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwiMgHTJXpe9rQlK2RsBq-7wkePQ5znCRBsMP7u1ShoGaub8N6U5UFqal0fYliKYp9qQU3mf2mirJTwecZg8NiqldcGbDlQTHxIRSfH_ExYbgcTOULxB77hHX1zFEBlLyZvYdsWJnqqVxhVFogYHsbPeS61YkRk6XC27P2zbKINBhR_EDU7dyxfmm/s3878/Illustrated%20Al%20Good%20Old%20Days%20interior.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3878" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwiMgHTJXpe9rQlK2RsBq-7wkePQ5znCRBsMP7u1ShoGaub8N6U5UFqal0fYliKYp9qQU3mf2mirJTwecZg8NiqldcGbDlQTHxIRSfH_ExYbgcTOULxB77hHX1zFEBlLyZvYdsWJnqqVxhVFogYHsbPeS61YkRk6XC27P2zbKINBhR_EDU7dyxfmm/w313-h400/Illustrated%20Al%20Good%20Old%20Days%20interior.jpeg" width="313" /></a></div><br /><div>"Good Old Days" is located toward the end of the book. It's surreal to see it printed in this fine collection. Oh, and I also feel like mentioning that I created the 3-D title effect in Illustrator specifically for this story.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQP_Q3hrZSTAt9fQ2MnDFdxjeBdP4I8KlKfDe2O2jtR0mBeSdPVkqooj-qZfY_AAPgtJQE9jk04M9kOCPytAstsk2fsHigIdTLgOS71sxhBO4t5IKZ0GYxTrl8VQ3qjqaACQsHGnk7xa-KpMmll6-2TvGRd_xew8_Hu-t2NrJRsueD4qZeZHD6vIp/s4032/Illustrated%20Al%20deluxe.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQP_Q3hrZSTAt9fQ2MnDFdxjeBdP4I8KlKfDe2O2jtR0mBeSdPVkqooj-qZfY_AAPgtJQE9jk04M9kOCPytAstsk2fsHigIdTLgOS71sxhBO4t5IKZ0GYxTrl8VQ3qjqaACQsHGnk7xa-KpMmll6-2TvGRd_xew8_Hu-t2NrJRsueD4qZeZHD6vIp/w300-h400/Illustrated%20Al%20deluxe.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div>There was also an oversized, super deluxe model that came with a slipcase, a cover by Mike and Laura Allred, and a bunch of extra stuff like trading cards, coasters, a turntable dust cover and a print set. There's supposedly a miniature accordion still in the works that got delayed in production. This version is really extravagant and it seems like a real collector's item that some folks will keep for years.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoS7dBT4GIyhBja_P3JWNnr2LNFAw_M-68l8MJnoLS1UOb8X_wLNOXqTHPehHmNd-cKewO05Z0eYCne5C3S9TbOwtFNjPhUMfm5pmAafPaOpwqQQCYYxdRl5KrmzOTa9ReFt-TvOTYroI6SCS9GFHn6u6Pn_s0CLcXOV_GLXDHp34OGqttHEGvT5bL/s1762/Illustrated%20Al%20Planet%20Comics%20ad.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1762" data-original-width="1362" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoS7dBT4GIyhBja_P3JWNnr2LNFAw_M-68l8MJnoLS1UOb8X_wLNOXqTHPehHmNd-cKewO05Z0eYCne5C3S9TbOwtFNjPhUMfm5pmAafPaOpwqQQCYYxdRl5KrmzOTa9ReFt-TvOTYroI6SCS9GFHn6u6Pn_s0CLcXOV_GLXDHp34OGqttHEGvT5bL/w309-h400/Illustrated%20Al%20Planet%20Comics%20ad.png" width="309" /></a></div><br /><div>I mentioned Planet Comics earlier - issue #3 ran this ad in the back, which I believe is the only print ad for the book out there. I contacted the folks at Z2 and they put this ad together. I suggested they use the line, "give meaning to your boring, miserable life," which is along the lines of something Al would say about his songs and concerts in the past, and they went with it.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBt5YMcus_lK57MftQ6lcqfzzGPMal8_SaqyAN7fPwy9BL-naY75wxmYsMMVRFGRwNQC27ONkI9680h6CLIi3C3WijmxkkpRgPIFkrkfYkMpqeG_blvUJGnLlpW-GSOLqw-4HOfd0GpMNKNyIFclGfPKOdbZNVsHb6-FSUlCaQCOAP0Cim54qINtPk/s4032/Illustrated%20Al%20interior.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBt5YMcus_lK57MftQ6lcqfzzGPMal8_SaqyAN7fPwy9BL-naY75wxmYsMMVRFGRwNQC27ONkI9680h6CLIi3C3WijmxkkpRgPIFkrkfYkMpqeG_blvUJGnLlpW-GSOLqw-4HOfd0GpMNKNyIFclGfPKOdbZNVsHb6-FSUlCaQCOAP0Cim54qINtPk/w400-h300/Illustrated%20Al%20interior.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>In the very back of the Z2 hardcover, we find this page, which was probably created to fill some blank space at the end. Am I implying that this sequence made it into the book because of my ad copy suggestion? I am outright speaking it into existence, my friends. You are all welcome.</div><div><br /></div><div>Once the book was widely released in January, Al and the Z2 staff went on something of a mini promotional tour, talking with a number of comic book and mainstream entertainment outlets about the collection. I get how these work: so that a bunch of sites can claim that they have exclusive looks at the book, giving them an incentive to promote their interviews and by extension the product being sold, creative talent will talk about certain things with one site and other things with other sites. Cynicism aside, it was still very gratifying to see my name pop up at a few of these outlets, such as <a href="https://ew.com/music/weird-al-yankovic-graphic-novel-the-illustrated-al-music-video/" target="_blank">Entertainment Weekly.</a></div><div><br /></div><div>The best of these interviews, bar none, came from <a href="https://gizmodo.com/weird-al-graphic-novel-yankovic-saga-begins-star-wars-1850014191" target="_blank">Gizmodo, where Al mentioned the "Good Old Days" story, Jeff McComsey and me by name:</a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfavOo2MYYZi0eeJXeIxbkeX4uf8__E4otZJNjV1D8bCqCY4d7KhBs-IAj0yVm7V46y0AvXFyFWoxSyrVkmennB9ES_ahrKlkrmcI8xJ6cGe4is59iDuDTN7ZHZKXQ8ydVuoWU_aL89fuwkv1OpNnytv7W6dauHkJSNydKvh9KC-Im0C3rEzj6Lm1w/s1378/Gizmodo%20Illustrated%20Al.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="1378" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfavOo2MYYZi0eeJXeIxbkeX4uf8__E4otZJNjV1D8bCqCY4d7KhBs-IAj0yVm7V46y0AvXFyFWoxSyrVkmennB9ES_ahrKlkrmcI8xJ6cGe4is59iDuDTN7ZHZKXQ8ydVuoWU_aL89fuwkv1OpNnytv7W6dauHkJSNydKvh9KC-Im0C3rEzj6Lm1w/w400-h178/Gizmodo%20Illustrated%20Al.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>This was, and is, a pretty big deal to me, and I'm really grateful that Al noticed the story and some of the effort we put into it.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8OnTy7DJLxujyencU_Qtu66Q7wNXgj0UUAg2F2choiYd00qEJW5Qbs31ub9HRPxiouEBWJR0is_rI7F9QSrr2EIP7BGp3PjiaH2Sgs50D9jCpWuB21WBFQBqTIhuVedeNDLeqA6xPWASHoThb_bnnub45MXbBkXZwMpVfMYRV7odnsoE1n6J7obvH/s1283/Weird%20Al%20Jeopardy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="949" data-original-width="1283" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8OnTy7DJLxujyencU_Qtu66Q7wNXgj0UUAg2F2choiYd00qEJW5Qbs31ub9HRPxiouEBWJR0is_rI7F9QSrr2EIP7BGp3PjiaH2Sgs50D9jCpWuB21WBFQBqTIhuVedeNDLeqA6xPWASHoThb_bnnub45MXbBkXZwMpVfMYRV7odnsoE1n6J7obvH/w400-h296/Weird%20Al%20Jeopardy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A lot of this coincided with Al's 2022 tour and the release of <i>Weird: The Al Yankovic Story</i> from the Roku Channel. And speaking of effort, I got to play "Weird Al Jeopardy" at the Pittsburgh tour stop and I cleaned up. Don't worry that one of the individuals I beat was a literal child.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Kn8bLZ82aQZHD_uAxAtBUP09V3jHiYQDQNYu8WxxWZPeSaRvBtwfXNZ8EiIsf4woyU_tkseUdLchRtyJNtaPNHdCI75kjeiLl0uDFZLahan7GDW08j2b7GPiLYt3CGIws7eM9GJrhBSae6bt5Khto1WYMqyjZVS-sbl4PpXoFSDZpOxVsssvkgB-/s2104/Weird%20Al%20Carnegie%20PA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1284" data-original-width="2104" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Kn8bLZ82aQZHD_uAxAtBUP09V3jHiYQDQNYu8WxxWZPeSaRvBtwfXNZ8EiIsf4woyU_tkseUdLchRtyJNtaPNHdCI75kjeiLl0uDFZLahan7GDW08j2b7GPiLYt3CGIws7eM9GJrhBSae6bt5Khto1WYMqyjZVS-sbl4PpXoFSDZpOxVsssvkgB-/w400-h244/Weird%20Al%20Carnegie%20PA.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>After the show this night, I got a brief opportunity to speak with Al. Without any prompting (I promise), he told me how much he enjoyed the Illustrated Al story that I worked on. I realize that he is both a professional and an actor, but he seemed genuine and I choose to believe that this was a truly spontaneous moment. It is - without a doubt - a moment that I will remember for a long time to come, and I really appreciate his words.</div><div><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">There was a Weird Al flash mob that performed outside at the UHF screening, earlier in the evening: <a href="https://t.co/fe0bI8bQ74">pic.twitter.com/fe0bI8bQ74</a></p>— Jeff McClelland (@JeffMcClelland) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffMcClelland/status/1568244941289132035?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div><div>Around this same time, I got to attend the premiere of Al's movie in Toronto...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5XuXhkoRERdggEVcF66lsdVIJC9hbO-nQ2uKRj1irf1cddh7LubC9H9NlKCDznwStNnM6RavCEF7e6UnIp9QzKCpgN29dJxqbtiKKdbLdwZGcIphcPQlXCDNDsTONoPrnmdWGEpXbu4rS8mCDGhNvhtNqdeLtYPb1TMpp5Byt-22zGbiEs7Fa1uda/s4032/Weird%20Al%20NYCC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5XuXhkoRERdggEVcF66lsdVIJC9hbO-nQ2uKRj1irf1cddh7LubC9H9NlKCDznwStNnM6RavCEF7e6UnIp9QzKCpgN29dJxqbtiKKdbLdwZGcIphcPQlXCDNDsTONoPrnmdWGEpXbu4rS8mCDGhNvhtNqdeLtYPb1TMpp5Byt-22zGbiEs7Fa1uda/w400-h300/Weird%20Al%20NYCC.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>...and I found a seat at the Weird panel at the New York Comic Con...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3QTUycY5O-spaHI1Xzx2dyUYdwQJnGi47tdOa1ZcA9EH3tGZQPAIQaIvYAxn8TvSuUZdUGSvXirsyxqP55vTDEjaYinp_G-Tidvj25eLOJn4b4540nR1c4gHbgJUnYnS2dNkdos9ikYEKAx3e4BK90X9RBaGIfKOXQARSvDfIS4cmOx07hoFm2_cb/s3237/Weird%20Al%20-%20Fat%20-%20Clayton%20McCormack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3237" data-original-width="2391" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3QTUycY5O-spaHI1Xzx2dyUYdwQJnGi47tdOa1ZcA9EH3tGZQPAIQaIvYAxn8TvSuUZdUGSvXirsyxqP55vTDEjaYinp_G-Tidvj25eLOJn4b4540nR1c4gHbgJUnYnS2dNkdos9ikYEKAx3e4BK90X9RBaGIfKOXQARSvDfIS4cmOx07hoFm2_cb/w295-h400/Weird%20Al%20-%20Fat%20-%20Clayton%20McCormack.jpg" width="295" /></a></div><br /><div>...where I bought this "Fat" portrait from artist Clay McCormick.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjem5c0dkCwDJqPZAdCI7VxveGxrXupZL0SSJKUgCdU0A5GAQD5X3Ee4lC9ykbBNOoUURflYxDmp2UrQ7uw2FIgSUTEzp7nsE3MZUwZnT_7SLEobRNESTiZMDmTta-VFr6wqI8Et-8cESGzGYaouAYfQ6upM6VPRm_Amz9wffcyCDVWzwhmNR9b6RVe/s1200/Weird-Al-Radio-Social-Share.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjem5c0dkCwDJqPZAdCI7VxveGxrXupZL0SSJKUgCdU0A5GAQD5X3Ee4lC9ykbBNOoUURflYxDmp2UrQ7uw2FIgSUTEzp7nsE3MZUwZnT_7SLEobRNESTiZMDmTta-VFr6wqI8Et-8cESGzGYaouAYfQ6upM6VPRm_Amz9wffcyCDVWzwhmNR9b6RVe/w400-h209/Weird-Al-Radio-Social-Share.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div>At the very end of the year, a radio station in Wisconsin changed their format to all Weird Al, all the time for a brief period. Suffice it to say, 2022 was a big year for Weird Al, and a big year for me and a few different Weird Al projects.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_hTDGdqhRAVxUcYwZAbF6Q6jAvGWIOGAuVfGmFj0OpooE-1Po9_b2ltYJoP_AMLY8Kde18PH1nq0dwYrDwLn4NonFIcl-62kCfLlpu1P3559e6m5HILLoA6vN7vpoL4B0DTe8_oLw3lgDQIGn46PLRfoxnQZRTvmKyM4B2GTTWNcm-PVlzGjNhK5/s3970/Illustrated%20Al%20Jeff%20McComsey.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2682" data-original-width="3970" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_hTDGdqhRAVxUcYwZAbF6Q6jAvGWIOGAuVfGmFj0OpooE-1Po9_b2ltYJoP_AMLY8Kde18PH1nq0dwYrDwLn4NonFIcl-62kCfLlpu1P3559e6m5HILLoA6vN7vpoL4B0DTe8_oLw3lgDQIGn46PLRfoxnQZRTvmKyM4B2GTTWNcm-PVlzGjNhK5/w400-h270/Illustrated%20Al%20Jeff%20McComsey.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I walked away from this project with some really great original art, too, starting with pencils (and a book of thumbnails) from Jeff McComsey.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA0Io_iOzymqR2ebBNRuSwqNFGBQhoQvzG_Kx7dbhisYmicI2bC41K8bK4aojTamDQf6FZGZzCMroj6obyRUB_Jiq5R1Ct9VL4FG-x1elYsVGA8-Zdv5GT2d6gZ_Z3auIiawG_CGBpTmrhaHbdo0NRHtUnhuB3BkSRwBE4Peh7LqkxZtZ2pwsPWO2H/s3633/Illustrated%20Al%20Craig%20Rousseau.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3633" data-original-width="2417" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA0Io_iOzymqR2ebBNRuSwqNFGBQhoQvzG_Kx7dbhisYmicI2bC41K8bK4aojTamDQf6FZGZzCMroj6obyRUB_Jiq5R1Ct9VL4FG-x1elYsVGA8-Zdv5GT2d6gZ_Z3auIiawG_CGBpTmrhaHbdo0NRHtUnhuB3BkSRwBE4Peh7LqkxZtZ2pwsPWO2H/w266-h400/Illustrated%20Al%20Craig%20Rousseau.jpeg" width="266" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I also managed to grab the title page image from Craig Rousseau, who put together the "Melanie" adaptation in the book.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi892lsMSLRsRxyqi7VWEdXo2cK6gs_esmwYZM6F_CTZEkm05_-aqcaoUjK5YCTahHVOugxqLEMOsuCoyCEns6FPtMTFaMFplI6jH_sVpt9WTiDQLXqJTTVUPfTHSByHZDZhCBtILXOZYQmLsSdWFcF6t6v6LBwMXGd_e_1QbArWMhkZ28PI34_FPhf/s3452/Illustrated%20Al%20Danny%20Hellman.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3452" data-original-width="2703" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi892lsMSLRsRxyqi7VWEdXo2cK6gs_esmwYZM6F_CTZEkm05_-aqcaoUjK5YCTahHVOugxqLEMOsuCoyCEns6FPtMTFaMFplI6jH_sVpt9WTiDQLXqJTTVUPfTHSByHZDZhCBtILXOZYQmLsSdWFcF6t6v6LBwMXGd_e_1QbArWMhkZ28PI34_FPhf/w314-h400/Illustrated%20Al%20Danny%20Hellman.jpeg" width="314" /></a></div><br /><div>Danny Hellman drew the trading card art that was also included as a set of pinups at the back of the book. I got this one, drawn on vellum, of the absolutely incredible "Living with a Hernia" piece. I'm debating on whether or not I should frame this one.</div><div><br /></div><div>This was an incredible experience, and it was something to which I took a lot of pride contributing. I'm eternally grateful to Al and his team for considering me when this project was just starting out, and to Z2 for their work in putting the book together.</div><div><br /></div><div>The book itself has had a pretty wide release, and you can find it at comic shops and bookstores worldwide, as well as online on <a href="https://z2comics.com/products/weirdal?variant=40424881258636" target="_blank">Z2's website</a> and the usual places <a href="https://www.amazon.com/ILLUSTRATED-AL-Songs-Weird-Yankovic/dp/1954928645/ref=sr_1_1?crid=IMCM96HPP4AW&keywords=the+illustrated+al&qid=1679520395&sprefix=the+illustrated+al%2Caps%2C79&sr=8-1" target="_blank">like Amazon.</a> I'm hoping to grab a bunch more to take to conventions with me this year.</div><div><br /></div><div>I think I've made it clear on this site that I'm a really big fan of Al and his music, so this was a really big deal to me. And in case I need to show off my nerd cred even more, check out these stage-worn boxer shorts I just bought that Al rubbed in someone's face while singing "One More Minute:"</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKWbtYc3_xgW1u3dObpfyDTRQ1zg9O3S962gREDscf0c_Ar4x1c1GLlvns7NW0KAGtX1wfFddY_jZAMox_zqRnVybRcKiGqEmT4hNbkz55O1fQZBIgPQgmcVJzmvM6-hWlBzgh8gyjAN2ZzhEdk0XWAt2o5qFm6NIt97h3HoVaifeBBMiRnS19Xm0/s3812/Weird%20Al%20One%20More%20Minute%20boxer%20shorts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2816" data-original-width="3812" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKWbtYc3_xgW1u3dObpfyDTRQ1zg9O3S962gREDscf0c_Ar4x1c1GLlvns7NW0KAGtX1wfFddY_jZAMox_zqRnVybRcKiGqEmT4hNbkz55O1fQZBIgPQgmcVJzmvM6-hWlBzgh8gyjAN2ZzhEdk0XWAt2o5qFm6NIt97h3HoVaifeBBMiRnS19Xm0/w400-h295/Weird%20Al%20One%20More%20Minute%20boxer%20shorts.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Take care, all.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880085391235005393.post-12960265006711561712023-02-14T22:25:00.005-05:002023-02-14T22:29:25.256-05:00Spice up your love life with these Tick-themed Valentine's Day cards<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Back in 2018, Amazon Prime was still in the habit of promoting their Tick streaming series, and in February of that year, they posted several Valentine's Day cards on their various social media channels. I saved 'em all as I saw them, and I feel the need to share them so they don't disappear from the internet completely. So here they are, nestled onto this blog for future generations and archeologists to discover and ask, "hey, who did the art on these?" I have no idea, future people. I wish I did.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLSAq_j0_BLsHcvq8dLCNea0Uaqk9Bb49GEVoTb24Q7gFSwEZokjnuHwHzXohvihmjny2bqpIfSnAWUcdtd44yk9LS3k6IsbdaLhfOQGKFV7V0zw8Z4P0gDyBeV-0fT5ajCH1gcWQevwfIn9Lsnxubm7MGQXDXOaLL7n7U33xI8tDIWmTYEXKtlW3z/s1200/IMG_4466.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLSAq_j0_BLsHcvq8dLCNea0Uaqk9Bb49GEVoTb24Q7gFSwEZokjnuHwHzXohvihmjny2bqpIfSnAWUcdtd44yk9LS3k6IsbdaLhfOQGKFV7V0zw8Z4P0gDyBeV-0fT5ajCH1gcWQevwfIn9Lsnxubm7MGQXDXOaLL7n7U33xI8tDIWmTYEXKtlW3z/w400-h400/IMG_4466.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuPHxZtLLdzehdoJVFeF461o4CPtyyu64O8d8sY_60wvImeuuspS-tQ3rQu2ilcA8O-CgD8Ggl0JZqehdByPiHjONl__idR3KvNj35TWdQHk2oP6Btyw5_RPb-0tKRj8-r-qFowsSXc5uDEwuGbrJxsjx_Eh7RoAMf-T3wE1nU7nFEY2zxZrfSNhg/s1200/IMG_4467.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuPHxZtLLdzehdoJVFeF461o4CPtyyu64O8d8sY_60wvImeuuspS-tQ3rQu2ilcA8O-CgD8Ggl0JZqehdByPiHjONl__idR3KvNj35TWdQHk2oP6Btyw5_RPb-0tKRj8-r-qFowsSXc5uDEwuGbrJxsjx_Eh7RoAMf-T3wE1nU7nFEY2zxZrfSNhg/w400-h400/IMG_4467.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8rfizQa9WFTShuEWXaSgufIy_gDeODI54NAu7ubryBBN1oX6B_0EBbpqPpvPwXRJP3DwT7KDQyiOAOdCGw7wWnZoLMfY9fORdksZ4y6d7ATf9YqoaPtpF_h6c3hYWqcs24ouqWrB9OqPlNgxEVtbQs-1p0XTiXKp2BbSdQGtFzW6zOK6R6qJRybb/s1200/IMG_4462.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8rfizQa9WFTShuEWXaSgufIy_gDeODI54NAu7ubryBBN1oX6B_0EBbpqPpvPwXRJP3DwT7KDQyiOAOdCGw7wWnZoLMfY9fORdksZ4y6d7ATf9YqoaPtpF_h6c3hYWqcs24ouqWrB9OqPlNgxEVtbQs-1p0XTiXKp2BbSdQGtFzW6zOK6R6qJRybb/w400-h400/IMG_4462.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZ6wTX0Xf9m0fD91Ln43RoYMcaTrUcrOtnOFQSeGOZ1RNyIVKL_JZgL9s-8Nf2Z2l5aIQGQ5HJxGXvlwoaf3xwJIEWt_Ypqynr6KpvVZsDorvkBs56TCfOPwvT5pSrp3o8PPpMYUvdv4mmXaAjIcmd3ovP--oF1DKTA4ccpOE_xfFRS2UHgUYuhMU/s1200/IMG_4463.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZ6wTX0Xf9m0fD91Ln43RoYMcaTrUcrOtnOFQSeGOZ1RNyIVKL_JZgL9s-8Nf2Z2l5aIQGQ5HJxGXvlwoaf3xwJIEWt_Ypqynr6KpvVZsDorvkBs56TCfOPwvT5pSrp3o8PPpMYUvdv4mmXaAjIcmd3ovP--oF1DKTA4ccpOE_xfFRS2UHgUYuhMU/w400-h400/IMG_4463.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ct0XWPAt0aF6-ipnLO0lT_09JSGLvV1DCmXgNy4i2dY7vUEO_URCtRdVi0j0llpSKQsRrqZN4Fdv2opvlVRt4shl3ASWZYxkfzA0fqC5bBxoU-dI_2_IAVtV3TGXIf30JtFexgeknOrMHaG8-WuKrf4uKULlKsr3KTYL5vB9dPcXNXmeVytDBZhH/s1200/IMG_4464.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ct0XWPAt0aF6-ipnLO0lT_09JSGLvV1DCmXgNy4i2dY7vUEO_URCtRdVi0j0llpSKQsRrqZN4Fdv2opvlVRt4shl3ASWZYxkfzA0fqC5bBxoU-dI_2_IAVtV3TGXIf30JtFexgeknOrMHaG8-WuKrf4uKULlKsr3KTYL5vB9dPcXNXmeVytDBZhH/w400-h400/IMG_4464.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqdX77vlnSpm5EWRQsjItgu6tL17xLgs8RZo6NEjtcIf-ilykl1na7hCAN6MBwwgVce_pqh8zWUDfkA2dg95ZVNanfQHnexUH3VGcoD8qmQ8iL0SAZ4DQ38Fuq2erLHA2h4Wbvb5kkmD2RV80QZV6Bg3b4SkD-vLUcVQ_DafE3ojq8ZfzA-Po-zxT/s1200/IMG_4468.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqdX77vlnSpm5EWRQsjItgu6tL17xLgs8RZo6NEjtcIf-ilykl1na7hCAN6MBwwgVce_pqh8zWUDfkA2dg95ZVNanfQHnexUH3VGcoD8qmQ8iL0SAZ4DQ38Fuq2erLHA2h4Wbvb5kkmD2RV80QZV6Bg3b4SkD-vLUcVQ_DafE3ojq8ZfzA-Po-zxT/w400-h400/IMG_4468.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZhOwKjGE4_EYltpiD9ZTd7_IhvucexqXqFLbgFEd0YhhkH3ic7XJKQA9R506_KI_k4NCMbVrSv9tGyG_9N6H5eGl_M7R7nhJGpqrM4Drz0w3F0wsSiYduVrNFFoVHiOOeWPkFOn-E-H3NtweYEnpLbM9NTQRHeKMV91u9mRaMcS72ZoKCFDAh02w/s1200/IMG_4469.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZhOwKjGE4_EYltpiD9ZTd7_IhvucexqXqFLbgFEd0YhhkH3ic7XJKQA9R506_KI_k4NCMbVrSv9tGyG_9N6H5eGl_M7R7nhJGpqrM4Drz0w3F0wsSiYduVrNFFoVHiOOeWPkFOn-E-H3NtweYEnpLbM9NTQRHeKMV91u9mRaMcS72ZoKCFDAh02w/w400-h400/IMG_4469.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p>Wow, these were pretty great! They could only be made better by some unlikely appearance by the Thing, but what are the chances of th- </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigbJ14pdvrh27E-9iMw-8P8aRMHXZRhy1BlFKnpD6kM7N-z45DjGrG7rOwOqZHdpfXhd0FXtSmQmBLbfby1g6CjyMiapRDFdc4LZpIilHnrlMETK3qmBEBAYiiy8B1dwgtPBSUsPqZVjtAyGrTHP2SQT-NLrRFaCYLkVpcvUTVzrCsS3exR1RHO2B/s610/IMG_1207.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="419" data-original-width="610" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigbJ14pdvrh27E-9iMw-8P8aRMHXZRhy1BlFKnpD6kM7N-z45DjGrG7rOwOqZHdpfXhd0FXtSmQmBLbfby1g6CjyMiapRDFdc4LZpIilHnrlMETK3qmBEBAYiiy8B1dwgtPBSUsPqZVjtAyGrTHP2SQT-NLrRFaCYLkVpcvUTVzrCsS3exR1RHO2B/w400-h275/IMG_1207.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>There we go! All of our Valentine's Days are now complete.<p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Bethlehem, PA, USA40.6259316 -75.37045789999999112.315697763821156 -110.52670789999999 68.93616543617884 -40.214207899999991tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880085391235005393.post-81415915466693558842023-01-30T18:07:00.006-05:002023-01-30T18:10:40.819-05:00Let's take a look at this custom Thing bust by Mark Valentine<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm always on the lookout for interesting Thing items, and I recently came across a really great one - it's a resin bust of the Fantastic Four strongman that I had never seen before. This guy popped up in my eBay feed with a low starting bid. I decided to take a shot and ended up being the only bidder - I'm sure the seller was disappointed, but I got a great deal and am happy to show it off.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhP-3lgxI_5neLfeKXbzPrfvfKBaiegPjoFR9LvCf1ydJRsGi8C5325xqI01DaEl4ywDpviRYZiZmSdE5eXh6zPoys9LifmDrEJhcaOOctFK-9i-YS9lSlVgoxWsKF6m7mcw-K6S2kV19DrTp80iD4VshBy-73UiniOBOu3cih8we01WbtNRuYbTp/s4032/IMG_1065.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhP-3lgxI_5neLfeKXbzPrfvfKBaiegPjoFR9LvCf1ydJRsGi8C5325xqI01DaEl4ywDpviRYZiZmSdE5eXh6zPoys9LifmDrEJhcaOOctFK-9i-YS9lSlVgoxWsKF6m7mcw-K6S2kV19DrTp80iD4VshBy-73UiniOBOu3cih8we01WbtNRuYbTp/s320/IMG_1065.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's an unpainted resin Thing bust with a stand. Check it out!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YlGtWksaN9tg8HwQQ9AJS4k8PjpsgIlFQMBL3EuRVKusAGWq8m6dGbRRaMus6oKV0-rhB-GPJHk5NlbrF1T3B8-nRCSccBo0riJpiGpbk3niQROvInDupTSbmyPNJFraoe3FSz06FaRjQ_AFuM6detPIuSDTxOaQmpMAoz1h0pvtYI_B685fVNJT/s4032/IMG_1066.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YlGtWksaN9tg8HwQQ9AJS4k8PjpsgIlFQMBL3EuRVKusAGWq8m6dGbRRaMus6oKV0-rhB-GPJHk5NlbrF1T3B8-nRCSccBo0riJpiGpbk3niQROvInDupTSbmyPNJFraoe3FSz06FaRjQ_AFuM6detPIuSDTxOaQmpMAoz1h0pvtYI_B685fVNJT/s320/IMG_1066.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The bust itself can stand alone and is mightily impressive. The figure work is excellent for what I understand is a custom piece, not officially licensed. I don't consider this to be a bootleg figure since I believe this is a 1/1 item.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgvycSjAxkx8HMSz_6JB201_LMWnc_vxn_7bhZXGQERtIMwey0akVIvpbL8QZobNszZNrP5ZsXMqTj42BwjsTEVnh0-sNn6KIf-KkdSItNvKs73CD7k-qBbtih0i-rNZUZ38Tr_trd17hJiYjxnDo1xEUMXGVEvaqqSINQrEZH3zEbgQFrLW5QvkI/s4032/IMG_1067.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgvycSjAxkx8HMSz_6JB201_LMWnc_vxn_7bhZXGQERtIMwey0akVIvpbL8QZobNszZNrP5ZsXMqTj42BwjsTEVnh0-sNn6KIf-KkdSItNvKs73CD7k-qBbtih0i-rNZUZ38Tr_trd17hJiYjxnDo1xEUMXGVEvaqqSINQrEZH3zEbgQFrLW5QvkI/s320/IMG_1067.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The detail work on the rocks is really something. This is better than a number of licensed Thing items.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLmFPXnRNY_uHrXY882Uw3omOfVvNkiSlgJ5y-ebQxILFy3CZwMzN0sQP-EGJepFsemewEC5GKi8xUJJS-Uo3f7fkV5vwCF6U6GzsvxVU3WxBufxxSGQJNXDH_imHXfFNsuiOEWBnpW1WK_L78yFrUpZ-ivsEBs3Ce2VVH6t1bT-62_1xkm-ZXcBq1/s4032/IMG_1068.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLmFPXnRNY_uHrXY882Uw3omOfVvNkiSlgJ5y-ebQxILFy3CZwMzN0sQP-EGJepFsemewEC5GKi8xUJJS-Uo3f7fkV5vwCF6U6GzsvxVU3WxBufxxSGQJNXDH_imHXfFNsuiOEWBnpW1WK_L78yFrUpZ-ivsEBs3Ce2VVH6t1bT-62_1xkm-ZXcBq1/s320/IMG_1068.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The base also comes unpainted and is a white resin. It's got a peg at top for the bust to sit on. The base shows off some wreckage from an apparent brawl that went down on Yancy Street.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKzAzx17Wc3p6TPJPVQg7Qtp7XsKr7PMjH-IX9-l_r3ojye-B31kAhcXyJHmwh1o5D0nuAtghPomZCslq-ts2dmjoSAyX3EGgffQYuZa01SsFxUHG97APBdkRaAqxYWucCWDrr3DyL81Q8AWk4YV_iAwYVKVjatHqk-Yea5WRmRQ3_vzmuWXbL_xIO/s4032/IMG_1069.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKzAzx17Wc3p6TPJPVQg7Qtp7XsKr7PMjH-IX9-l_r3ojye-B31kAhcXyJHmwh1o5D0nuAtghPomZCslq-ts2dmjoSAyX3EGgffQYuZa01SsFxUHG97APBdkRaAqxYWucCWDrr3DyL81Q8AWk4YV_iAwYVKVjatHqk-Yea5WRmRQ3_vzmuWXbL_xIO/s320/IMG_1069.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The street sign is there and is a nice feature.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFV3DR0z2dVoDRu5wcq-EEBujmIm3e-6OE3XdkM0Z2yEOO-_gkvh00EhCwwqHlDAvScqvVALfa94bvtV12-5e8YnndFMmq6K_T69uOQDkI-EX9c0HLge5tAKtHjAs4pBzD47GvFkQJv3zUTXNhJIYpZjeq6tYbB96ijJVt9YvRxFqOvLjA8jlGlV3/s4032/IMG_1070.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFV3DR0z2dVoDRu5wcq-EEBujmIm3e-6OE3XdkM0Z2yEOO-_gkvh00EhCwwqHlDAvScqvVALfa94bvtV12-5e8YnndFMmq6K_T69uOQDkI-EX9c0HLge5tAKtHjAs4pBzD47GvFkQJv3zUTXNhJIYpZjeq6tYbB96ijJVt9YvRxFqOvLjA8jlGlV3/s320/IMG_1070.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The back looks like...wait a minute...is that...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgapQSM5FPK8tQESo3K1E7hQywbt1u7UnuQ2R3RScuuXlLUPqPajLZ2m6BOITbj-k0nbpfVZSZIbEo4oQkysuN3qicqJtjPS2vwJOTaBadHsvEvzqgtv48bw-8yaqON89pfSVLYPoO-k2m49G366qyoj3tAgCG8EfjW4ZB7qGMyolDyMSrBCeNk1M4G/s4032/IMG_1071.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgapQSM5FPK8tQESo3K1E7hQywbt1u7UnuQ2R3RScuuXlLUPqPajLZ2m6BOITbj-k0nbpfVZSZIbEo4oQkysuN3qicqJtjPS2vwJOTaBadHsvEvzqgtv48bw-8yaqON89pfSVLYPoO-k2m49G366qyoj3tAgCG8EfjW4ZB7qGMyolDyMSrBCeNk1M4G/s320/IMG_1071.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Okay, here's a strange and kind of unexpected addition - it's the Impossible Man! Or at least his head. Or at least an image of his head. Does this imply that the base is actually the man from Poppup? Is he just hiding out amid the rubble? This was an odd choice, but hey, I'm happy to get another FF character included here.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkdydyTuX3jYj5Tj6Po-4qgJthOf9UoYj6-uT36qQFBt8ZGeSqPxBwXmAsWX0cK8aPMB-rU6GUXrCKNpi1UhnWjn9VPu9ZBjS0QcsaCkHVmvQ1R3t4tX9nDExjzdbDVy6iIJwPzbm-mnsCjtq5y15SRnWlEnq3hYxzhoDatRcD0ZjeX6LxarU9UyvM/s4032/IMG_1072.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkdydyTuX3jYj5Tj6Po-4qgJthOf9UoYj6-uT36qQFBt8ZGeSqPxBwXmAsWX0cK8aPMB-rU6GUXrCKNpi1UhnWjn9VPu9ZBjS0QcsaCkHVmvQ1R3t4tX9nDExjzdbDVy6iIJwPzbm-mnsCjtq5y15SRnWlEnq3hYxzhoDatRcD0ZjeX6LxarU9UyvM/s320/IMG_1072.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Another fun surprise is on the bottom of the base, where the original sculptor, Mark Valentine, both signed and drew a great Thing sketch.<p></p><p>I'd love to know more about this unique item - whether this is truly a 1/1 item and why Mr. Valentine made it. It reminds me of one of the '90s-era Thing model kits in size and function. I suppose that this was meant to be painted, but I don't know if I could bring myself to do it. The bust, anyway, strikes an imposing figure as it is. In any case, it makes a fine addition to my Thing collection, and I'll happily put it on display.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Bethlehem, PA, USA40.6259316 -75.37045789999999112.315697763821156 -110.52670789999999 68.93616543617884 -40.214207899999991tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880085391235005393.post-34378868383858547662022-12-31T18:31:00.006-05:002022-12-31T18:31:29.141-05:00"It's Cobblerin' Time" by Second Sin Brewing<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7VZ7eAINGVE-3rr7As5W_9DXSlZ2WDqkeh8VbsDT6WnFBm4f0Oibf08-1Pc4A0gcq01KusGKRk3CRdvcjZmCetf75187wHOpzu1z0h60ZhzRGoCdbQsI-JMtC8di9hj_rJN-e3_UOIrcrdBFQ3nD8APwsBchGlWnzkgdo9jHxV-YzoPGROaWkFaxL/s1791/Cobblerin'%20Time%20Beer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1791" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7VZ7eAINGVE-3rr7As5W_9DXSlZ2WDqkeh8VbsDT6WnFBm4f0Oibf08-1Pc4A0gcq01KusGKRk3CRdvcjZmCetf75187wHOpzu1z0h60ZhzRGoCdbQsI-JMtC8di9hj_rJN-e3_UOIrcrdBFQ3nD8APwsBchGlWnzkgdo9jHxV-YzoPGROaWkFaxL/w321-h400/Cobblerin'%20Time%20Beer.JPG" width="321" /></a></div><br />My friend (and yours) <a href="http://dukescollector.blogspot.com">Larry</a> often tells me, "for someone who doesn't drink, you sure buy a lot of alcohol." Look, this is true. It's a contradiction to be sure. But Star Trek now makes a licensed <a href="https://startrekwines.com/the-chain-of-command/">Cardassian Kanar</a> and <a href="https://startrekwines.com/klingon-bloodwine-c7/">Klingon Blood Wine!</a> The Steelers have made commemorative beer cans for decades! There are several <a href="https://untappd.com/b/icarus-brewing-dare-to-be-stupid/3648205/photos">Weird Al-themed IPAs!</a> And now, thanks to the Philadelphia-area <a href="https://www.secondsinbrewing.com">Second Sin Brewing,</a> there's a Thing-inspired sour ale named "It's Cobblerin' Time!" So I ask you this - what am I to do? NOT buy these collectable beverages? Nonsense.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMST75XZCgnd7zYSb7dLiu1lDKygrU2KzYqqjVhk1K3J51cu2mBGMHdtBv6ihIcNlfMYHOPTUDfogIM_2Zw-Rjww5DFo6V89YScN3lBoCZhv1fOq8PYxTGL3NC_RbvWOl8WJnfSb5ek2jqPpkGmmLT8wAZUAV3OHGU7vsbnpQacyTeovM2rU-e30uZ/s4032/IMG_8641.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMST75XZCgnd7zYSb7dLiu1lDKygrU2KzYqqjVhk1K3J51cu2mBGMHdtBv6ihIcNlfMYHOPTUDfogIM_2Zw-Rjww5DFo6V89YScN3lBoCZhv1fOq8PYxTGL3NC_RbvWOl8WJnfSb5ek2jqPpkGmmLT8wAZUAV3OHGU7vsbnpQacyTeovM2rU-e30uZ/w400-h300/IMG_8641.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p>I found out about this new drink over the summer (back when I used to actually post to this long-neglected blog), and after a small amount of research, I discovered that the brewery where it is made and canned was not too far away. So I sent off an email to try to see where I might locate the final product and was told that...I'd have to go to the brewery itself. Second Sin is starting off small. But that was okay - I took the drive to just outside of Philadelphia, where not only was I able to purchase a Fantastic four-pack (I couldn't wait any longer to use that), but I was offered a tour of the brewery itself. Naturally, I took the owners up on it. I was greeted as "the Thing guy!", which is a title I am happy to wield.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRcDPxhQdyUJMDc2xnTIP0mMT-RbKOQRt8xMCcYYwnpXIcDkKDHXK1IEm_yfsuEVE4vLRNUeJW_kciygftG-GPy-YSppv4J40BAQNBwJAYdDaSUEOqAHL68SMS8-ULQLwjP7dmssP-vd2nj5yMuc5XaQXF13jA5kj4s0MObQK3WDZcaTvfs2ZT5v8s/s1791/28FD1D8A-0362-4A90-87F1-363A0BA4F730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1791" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRcDPxhQdyUJMDc2xnTIP0mMT-RbKOQRt8xMCcYYwnpXIcDkKDHXK1IEm_yfsuEVE4vLRNUeJW_kciygftG-GPy-YSppv4J40BAQNBwJAYdDaSUEOqAHL68SMS8-ULQLwjP7dmssP-vd2nj5yMuc5XaQXF13jA5kj4s0MObQK3WDZcaTvfs2ZT5v8s/w321-h400/28FD1D8A-0362-4A90-87F1-363A0BA4F730.JPG" width="321" /></a></div><p>I spent about a half hour hanging out in the back room brewery, watching the machines pour the beer and seal the cans, and I got to chat with some of the workers about comics and the Thing. I can hang around pretty much anywhere and talk comics, so this was naturally a great time for me. I got to learn a little more about the label's fruity-Thing artwork (a local artist drew it) and about the seasonal Cobblerin' offerings that the brewery cooks up throughout the year.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoc_FwC-c7uda4opTf9xkNNVq7ltFtZJGipBhNQfykWvta1EL9-36_R80Vh_xCN0ri0dChqU7fQ4M96xJssZ4eYB5YrNMGDHBjX6G9bzphHulidmFLtUQ5eUO3vG8P6LQmrs11kA5WTeHyObC_kHIVjRSyF5ikG4GIQw2KwnRJOxMgF06I6oXemRBc/s3847/IMG_8646.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2489" data-original-width="3847" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoc_FwC-c7uda4opTf9xkNNVq7ltFtZJGipBhNQfykWvta1EL9-36_R80Vh_xCN0ri0dChqU7fQ4M96xJssZ4eYB5YrNMGDHBjX6G9bzphHulidmFLtUQ5eUO3vG8P6LQmrs11kA5WTeHyObC_kHIVjRSyF5ikG4GIQw2KwnRJOxMgF06I6oXemRBc/w400-h259/IMG_8646.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p>On the way out, the owners sent me off with the different, seasonal labels...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KkUmCM1btCkxoz8j3RDeWO-XnhgDz5uBi5_mj_cruJ1PJOd4QQtmzV0tWnOa8B-_nG0iehI9_U748XHobUe2hs-BHAaBGjLIzgSka1FZMHJn-B-pLshV8oWbVwICOiSqjyPyvldYwwzGSV2OUYJSeyaW7Z4tyM4zrIgk0nxSfJLS0AWwyaNu7anC/s1800/435AA068-D5D6-424E-A12A-5B52363FB14C.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KkUmCM1btCkxoz8j3RDeWO-XnhgDz5uBi5_mj_cruJ1PJOd4QQtmzV0tWnOa8B-_nG0iehI9_U748XHobUe2hs-BHAaBGjLIzgSka1FZMHJn-B-pLshV8oWbVwICOiSqjyPyvldYwwzGSV2OUYJSeyaW7Z4tyM4zrIgk0nxSfJLS0AWwyaNu7anC/w320-h400/435AA068-D5D6-424E-A12A-5B52363FB14C.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>...and their last Cobblerin' Time glass! I'm really grateful for the time and effort that everyone at Second Sin shared with me on this hot summer day, chatting about the Thing and their new brew. I'm sure Ben Grimm would drink it daily, out of a dirty mug or something.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880085391235005393.post-51544753120618570562022-06-30T21:08:00.000-04:002022-06-30T21:08:15.302-04:00"The Illustrated Al" from Z2 comics<p>All right, I know that I talk about "Weird Al" Yankovic on this blog a lot. You all know that I'm a big fan and as such, I have tried to make and pitch a few Weird Al comics in the past. I mean, t<a href="https://teddyandtheyeti.blogspot.com/2016/01/weird-al-yankovic-in-eat-it-fubar-comic.html">here's one tagged at the top of the page here.</a> You get the point. Anyway, it was only a matter of time until someone published a bonafide authorized Weird Al comic, and, through various steps of good fortune, I am going to be contributing to it. Wow!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijAlm8v_9Gf6bWvsgwE37SfQeimDHjsfuyx0Oni58YIEqkA-KB5s98JPEwdQcOstx80JWQ9hj7cvHsmrEH_JetQB7J05I9EIebrSA6RMhaYoaFGaGCzTNIteVZozOIMk2rDJAuuSMIWWGe5MakTVtnDanKu8Be8oVXFhzcG4XnqXmg3iWwwle94Oa_/s1645/Illustrated%20Al%20cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1645" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijAlm8v_9Gf6bWvsgwE37SfQeimDHjsfuyx0Oni58YIEqkA-KB5s98JPEwdQcOstx80JWQ9hj7cvHsmrEH_JetQB7J05I9EIebrSA6RMhaYoaFGaGCzTNIteVZozOIMk2rDJAuuSMIWWGe5MakTVtnDanKu8Be8oVXFhzcG4XnqXmg3iWwwle94Oa_/w263-h400/Illustrated%20Al%20cover.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><p></p><p><i>The Illustrated Al</i> will be published by Z2 Comics in the fall of 2022, and it's going to be produced by some dang comic book luminaries, such as Mike & Laura Allred, Bill Plympton, Peter Bagge, Ryan Dunlavey...and a few of my friends like Craig Rousseau and Kelly Phillips!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE62LRTfSB_FzsTvke_yIGHuwv8eQS22DKLLwatTsI_3jmQSymvEhNLA1TjPNzI9TQ_b5vrrTVIcbyxUXZoGyC4v0jk510FJzzFzpcIZZ6SVJbPwHaZ3UYsJ4I3f-0nLDor8_JG5gRAfGN9wqOakUChTdkneGDbj4OwHR5r-QogeTNrRtPBQYcLg7O/s1300/Illustrated%20Al%20slipcase.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="1300" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE62LRTfSB_FzsTvke_yIGHuwv8eQS22DKLLwatTsI_3jmQSymvEhNLA1TjPNzI9TQ_b5vrrTVIcbyxUXZoGyC4v0jk510FJzzFzpcIZZ6SVJbPwHaZ3UYsJ4I3f-0nLDor8_JG5gRAfGN9wqOakUChTdkneGDbj4OwHR5r-QogeTNrRtPBQYcLg7O/w400-h400/Illustrated%20Al%20slipcase.png" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>There will be a few different versions of the book, including a softcover, a hardcover slipcase, and a super deluxe version with a bunch of extra stuff included, like trading cards and a mini accordion! All of the versions are <a href="https://z2comics.com/products/weirdal">currently up for pre-order on Z2's website, which you can get to here!</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhomSkW6GLyw60-3wCxBoFKi5mF-3_JhaxQDELxirfjzE0zAOiOslF-iEQexTXCG2uxqU2Gt2x_bgvDvn_thLaoBjCTH9RyXGCPsnczSjAexgg9XcXECGZHDm006eJbRd5InKOkin6zDtotawRJvlDMjdEuHBNrXs5oCof1LABXUWyz6cZTCvphnt89/s1500/Illustrated%20Al%20cover%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhomSkW6GLyw60-3wCxBoFKi5mF-3_JhaxQDELxirfjzE0zAOiOslF-iEQexTXCG2uxqU2Gt2x_bgvDvn_thLaoBjCTH9RyXGCPsnczSjAexgg9XcXECGZHDm006eJbRd5InKOkin6zDtotawRJvlDMjdEuHBNrXs5oCof1LABXUWyz6cZTCvphnt89/w320-h400/Illustrated%20Al%20cover%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>All of the entries will be adaptations of some of Al's songs, hand-picked by the man himself. For my part, I'll be working on the song "Good Old Days," which is absolutely one of my favorite songs of all time. It's a James Taylor-sounding original and it goes to some dark places. Joining me on this story is my friend and frequent collaborator Jeff McComsey.</p><p>To say that I'm excited about this project is quite an understatement. In a lot of ways, I feel like this is the biggest project that I've ever been involved with, and I'm really excited to see it move forward. I can't wait to hold it in my hands. Can I share any artwork from my story yet? I don't know! Maybe? Heck, let's throw caution to the wind:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5k7o2XdUp86olhKFVgh-fkxVTc3y8kw5HotcQbeHtkhlDdQiRelqf_0ZxD3GdPk_yZ5gFs1_CgNpK8df20-NqLJ7mFk-wWaJLNhIH6nnSPaVSAbwpsK-d2dF-5aSPzyaQfwGlR9pmcK_rP29kKeInLI6yqRGwk8_VIZeVZPU31OGpLzNAfVj3jPP/s2276/Screen%20Shot%202022-06-30%20at%209.00.23%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2276" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5k7o2XdUp86olhKFVgh-fkxVTc3y8kw5HotcQbeHtkhlDdQiRelqf_0ZxD3GdPk_yZ5gFs1_CgNpK8df20-NqLJ7mFk-wWaJLNhIH6nnSPaVSAbwpsK-d2dF-5aSPzyaQfwGlR9pmcK_rP29kKeInLI6yqRGwk8_VIZeVZPU31OGpLzNAfVj3jPP/w270-h400/Screen%20Shot%202022-06-30%20at%209.00.23%20PM.png" width="270" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>That'll have to suffice for now. I'll post about this again when the book comes out. If you'd like to hear me blab on about this further, I did an interview with <a href="http://2000inch.com/episode-159/" target="_blank">Dave & Ethan's 2000" Weird Al Podcast</a>, and you can get some more info there!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1Bethlehem, PA, USA40.6259316 -75.37045789999999112.315697763821156 -110.52670789999999 68.93616543617884 -40.214207899999991tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880085391235005393.post-29474341561128739972022-05-30T23:32:00.006-04:002023-05-03T02:57:54.741-04:00Introducing...the McClellafont!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihk6_kAgS7Yi0_mAGGYHdFQMzcgUyrb3ZTNwWRwA0V5JXOvFZChYrrjdwmSqG6rOVV9gFhtcqSX3kxrG7A9_glb3fgjFX05IHB0sht0ME68HuKxp5Q525vlcGPa1WlTkWwoj_Ye-tfKRYlkmr-R-fKwQcYOps5iO_ADGm1niMxs9IzresDgHtuDSvB/s1258/McClellafont%20balloon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="870" data-original-width="1258" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihk6_kAgS7Yi0_mAGGYHdFQMzcgUyrb3ZTNwWRwA0V5JXOvFZChYrrjdwmSqG6rOVV9gFhtcqSX3kxrG7A9_glb3fgjFX05IHB0sht0ME68HuKxp5Q525vlcGPa1WlTkWwoj_Ye-tfKRYlkmr-R-fKwQcYOps5iO_ADGm1niMxs9IzresDgHtuDSvB/w400-h276/McClellafont%20balloon.png" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I've spent the past few months trying to shore up some of my comic book lettering skills. I've lettered in some fashion for years at this point, but there are still things at which I'm not really proficient. This is partially because I'm lazy, but also because comic book lettering is, in many ways, Wild West-like in how people approach it. There aren't a lot of definitive resources out there, and a lot of what I've learned has simply been through trial and error. Nate Piekos did us all a great favor in publishing his <i><a href="https://blambot.com/pages/the-essential-guide-to-comic-book-lettering">The Essential Guide to Comic Book Lettering</a> </i>late last year, and I used that as a motivator to finally get some answers to questions that I've had for quite a while. If you're interested in lettering for comics, this book is a great resource!<br /><p>One skill that I never really thought I'd acquire is creating a font from scratch, but I recently came across the video below from <a href="https://twitter.com/joshuasmeaton">Joshua Smeaton</a>, which shows how he created a font using his own handwriting: </p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/l_AvRf-P7Ek" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div>This was enough for me to start working on a font of my own, and pretty soon I was writing out panagrams - sentences that use every letter in the alphabet. Rather than using a digital tablet or an iPad, I hand-wrote all of the letters so they felt more natural. My handwriting is not what I would call artistic or even all that good, so I tried my best to make everything legible while still maintaining my own style. I used comic book backers for this, so now I have a stack of these bizarre ramblings in my house. If anyone would just stumble upon them...well, I guess I have weirder stuff lying around as well.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_mxp3siz7DFIf_nKrFBf1FQ0Ugo8HonePtb3zkruVURU3R4j4soWZrDQ9RunoGtMTdB16VnLxFac64Ic3zwBe4h4xk5EkrBNyk1XtdJFcJhqKhsDscvEiI5N2vxHyc5cQCOYgSYfRp85NtSvb2B3Zj5rEFERZBkQNjq9gKQUK2cJfp3MWyjkIohVX/s3697/uppercase%20letters.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3697" data-original-width="2499" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_mxp3siz7DFIf_nKrFBf1FQ0Ugo8HonePtb3zkruVURU3R4j4soWZrDQ9RunoGtMTdB16VnLxFac64Ic3zwBe4h4xk5EkrBNyk1XtdJFcJhqKhsDscvEiI5N2vxHyc5cQCOYgSYfRp85NtSvb2B3Zj5rEFERZBkQNjq9gKQUK2cJfp3MWyjkIohVX/w270-h400/uppercase%20letters.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br /><div>The whole process has been long and involved. I scan the letters into Adobe Illustrator, where the program traces them and makes them individual objects. After choosing what I feel are the best letters, I bring the letters into <a href="https://www.fontself.com">Fontself</a>, an Illustrator extension, where the work gets even more meticulous. Not only am I looking to create a regular, all-caps font that I can use in comics, but the completist in me has put in motion a lowercase version, too, complete with alternate symbols for almost every character. In addition to this, there are bold, italic, and bold-italic versions that many good fonts need, plus symbols and other letters that are more common in Spanish and European countries that I'm trying to incorporate as well.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiugj-uNNajnrYZucdlo4QjbgCrSBH0ejsC7142RXgTx_Slnoyvs9YA3hizlt6z25MvJkH06jSBqiiApURxRs-CZrKgjuJy3yzpPQJkpkhCM-XvpqgrxAYkWMpJ00PCbZKV-hjqlFN_hkMXKQCgjedS6cgEP6yuD3Ch-UZaNPFa6GHkyuIbLoZSaxsr/s1196/McClellafont%20thought%20balloon.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1042" data-original-width="1196" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiugj-uNNajnrYZucdlo4QjbgCrSBH0ejsC7142RXgTx_Slnoyvs9YA3hizlt6z25MvJkH06jSBqiiApURxRs-CZrKgjuJy3yzpPQJkpkhCM-XvpqgrxAYkWMpJ00PCbZKV-hjqlFN_hkMXKQCgjedS6cgEP6yuD3Ch-UZaNPFa6GHkyuIbLoZSaxsr/w400-h349/McClellafont%20thought%20balloon.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>In all, this has been a ton of work, but the results are, so far, fun and at least somewhat encouraging. The above balloon looks okay, I think, though I'm continuing to tweak things that I think could be better. I figure that I'll be at this particular task for another month or two before I finally put it to rest. But at the end, I'll have a font that is completely my own and not subject to any licenses or agreements, and hopefully one that I find some uses for, too.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've named this particular creation the McClellafont, which is a bit self-centered of me, of course, but it's mine and I'm owning it. I considered different variations of spelling like "McClellaphont," "McClell-O-font," "McClellephant," and other, worse options, but "McClellafont" is what we're going with for now.</div><div><br /></div><div>While I'm waiting for the paint to dry on the McClellafont, I went ahead and made a much simpler font using a similar method, based on the keystrokes of my much-ballyhooed 1930s Underwood typewriter.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_d4fGSWnmTIap5Xc8tg7Er-0IMTZPm3BkzI-D2qcpYIWvB0g5mISGLr_9YKUmJs6_6nFNNI52g0goLv46mQogYf3RvoE9UM5C8DotOn7F-qbxcRfA8-S7q2atiiHSKHyIWW07A5fJKWNNBkhJypNoIM_ZURsM1QfMcb_SShtnf-4sE5FYDM3JLui/s1822/Underwood%20digital%20font.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="1822" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_d4fGSWnmTIap5Xc8tg7Er-0IMTZPm3BkzI-D2qcpYIWvB0g5mISGLr_9YKUmJs6_6nFNNI52g0goLv46mQogYf3RvoE9UM5C8DotOn7F-qbxcRfA8-S7q2atiiHSKHyIWW07A5fJKWNNBkhJypNoIM_ZURsM1QfMcb_SShtnf-4sE5FYDM3JLui/w400-h114/Underwood%20digital%20font.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>For this one, I typed up a bunch of text, scanned the letters, *painstakingly* adapted them in Photoshop, and then brought them into Illustrator, where Fontself took care of the spacing and kerning. Manual typewriters have fewer keys than a modern keyboard (mine does not have a key for the number 1; you use a capital I as a substitute), so this one had fewer characters to use.</div><div><br /></div><div>This font, which I am unimaginatively calling "Underwood 1930s," features a regular and italic version with numbers and all of the symbols that are included on the actual typewriter. The one exception is the exclamation point. If you wanted to exclaim something using this machine, you needed to type a period and then draw in the top line with a pencil or pen. I felt that I couldn't be without one (I get excited sometimes), so I created one using two existing symbols, and the result is what you see above. I made a few tweaks before I was happy with the final version, as seen below:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRNHYUj6VHETGbl4G6wyfCe1xrg646gVZGdjTD348BxAxorHm9bKlKR7Fsq-IsoIECuFDUQ0GfhzKPJdKL99MxyBKfZ3JmBu8fIi5aWSQkGFUSQA0V82zP3U4b5mn15dD-MlujKroEb2T2UR5CdKcqsI3xp2bM6zysqjtje877LHed5nF92e2y4g1_/s1558/Underwood%20digital%20font%20revised.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="1558" height="64" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRNHYUj6VHETGbl4G6wyfCe1xrg646gVZGdjTD348BxAxorHm9bKlKR7Fsq-IsoIECuFDUQ0GfhzKPJdKL99MxyBKfZ3JmBu8fIi5aWSQkGFUSQA0V82zP3U4b5mn15dD-MlujKroEb2T2UR5CdKcqsI3xp2bM6zysqjtje877LHed5nF92e2y4g1_/w400-h64/Underwood%20digital%20font%20revised.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>I can hear the clickety-clack of the keys and the thunk-thunk of the carriage as I read the words! I'm not sure how often I'll use these fonts, but it was interesting to make them and I'm happy I did it. I have plans for maybe one or two more before my font-creating career comes to a close. But maybe you'll see one or both fonts in a published comic book before too long.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Bethlehem, PA, USA40.6259316 -75.37045789999999112.315697763821156 -110.52670789999999 68.93616543617884 -40.214207899999991tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880085391235005393.post-71917688082862606202022-05-13T22:04:00.005-04:002022-05-13T22:04:57.816-04:00Thing sketchbook, part 25<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's the 25th installation of the (very popular) Thing sketchbook series! That means we've seen around 125 of these beauties so far. Let's see what these five look like, who they're from and where I got 'em!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4sMLzePh6gGrA_a17swI3zE34Wsh3UKdgqHfzVGKBgDQvGN2NmI0YJJXUKE4TDYVWKzXpcbFadASeRUsmuYuhfWaIOQqqr1KGMqII3GJoOipUuR_Xx28dj6EzOC7Y76ld_xoG3opzsq67LwQdnhhOATuo8ouSYQ_nX1O26OxRg3iVDMjYSq032A1a/s1659/21%20-%20Stan%20Sakai%20-%20Comic-Con%20International%202019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1613" data-original-width="1659" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4sMLzePh6gGrA_a17swI3zE34Wsh3UKdgqHfzVGKBgDQvGN2NmI0YJJXUKE4TDYVWKzXpcbFadASeRUsmuYuhfWaIOQqqr1KGMqII3GJoOipUuR_Xx28dj6EzOC7Y76ld_xoG3opzsq67LwQdnhhOATuo8ouSYQ_nX1O26OxRg3iVDMjYSq032A1a/s320/21%20-%20Stan%20Sakai%20-%20Comic-Con%20International%202019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Stan Sakai - Comic-Con International 2019</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stan Sakai is a legendary artist who has spent the last few decades working on Usagi Yojimbo, which is an absolute masterpiece. I found him at his usual spot at Comic-Con in San Diego and thought I'd take a chance to see if he would draw the Thing in the ol' sketchbook. I handed him the book and paid the money, and then the negotiation began. At first he said he didn't want to draw the Thing, but thought about it for a minute and asked if he could draw his famous samurai rabbit as the Thing, and of course I agreed. This is one of the stranger entries into the sketchbook, but it's Stan Sakai, it's Thing-like, and I'll take it.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIODz-GhMlhXjwwL1k07acYM-OS9L0r0bVxK3glWcVo6Jvljki9PSUO2RvSjMXN8hbeKXcvw97FGyyNO1hlpEGLwH8R0-VI8QAhsW9nsl0EBSgmd8cuH0V7-SgA3oWOiKnTcEo_ZPIxTfhnNnqpoiYfR_jGXzHwVhzALY1QVDZnZQkKUBSPZyjUGJ2/s1616/22%20-%20Julie%20Fujii-Sakai%20-%20Comic-Con%20International%202019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1594" data-original-width="1616" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIODz-GhMlhXjwwL1k07acYM-OS9L0r0bVxK3glWcVo6Jvljki9PSUO2RvSjMXN8hbeKXcvw97FGyyNO1hlpEGLwH8R0-VI8QAhsW9nsl0EBSgmd8cuH0V7-SgA3oWOiKnTcEo_ZPIxTfhnNnqpoiYfR_jGXzHwVhzALY1QVDZnZQkKUBSPZyjUGJ2/s320/22%20-%20Julie%20Fujii-Sakai%20-%20Comic-Con%20International%202019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><b>Julie Sakai - Comic-Con International 2019</b><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Julie Sakai, artist on the Chibi Usagi feature and Stan's wife, was at the table with Stan while he drew his sketch. After he was done, we slid the book right over to her and she drew this lovely Usagi-as-the-Thing color illustration. It's like Usagi is dressing up as the Thing for Halloween, and I heartily approve.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMBaaRxdvcBN80D9sHn47ZqEhpH1OiL7wZdz3Y2ENFNFD25GWkf7F9pJN6XGBqMiY6Kyw9C46KoDR-hQp2M05-oKf81OXDcBkq9ivtD5P1fezK9Fd37yQ977dKS5PPnRUSHC5EZ0t1Pu3acMKtooJxLEVqtKLsUbfS73ROfRa6JfH0tLDHUbc37TU/s1628/23%20-%20David%20Lloyd%20-%20Comic-Con%20International%202019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1591" data-original-width="1628" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMBaaRxdvcBN80D9sHn47ZqEhpH1OiL7wZdz3Y2ENFNFD25GWkf7F9pJN6XGBqMiY6Kyw9C46KoDR-hQp2M05-oKf81OXDcBkq9ivtD5P1fezK9Fd37yQ977dKS5PPnRUSHC5EZ0t1Pu3acMKtooJxLEVqtKLsUbfS73ROfRa6JfH0tLDHUbc37TU/s320/23%20-%20David%20Lloyd%20-%20Comic-Con%20International%202019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b>David Lloyd - Comic-Con International 2019</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>David Lloyd had a booth across from New England Comics' space at this show, so I kind of staked him out all weekend. Toward the end of the show, I found a time when he didn't have a crowd in front of his booth and I made my move. Lloyd, of course, is the artist on the classic V for Vendetta, and it was a pleasure to get to talk with him about comics while he sketched this rather spooky-looking Thing.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBlmkRIvaNKIB7pl7npAn5D7TrjSySaRU76485WnAYASpjXBQb7zKWwsJaf7l58Lrn-rT1E1W65T6K-QLUDP1Ol1vEDFph0WpJwFod2W75-XqHIqkyex_sfaSMKkBzrYvwjNtS_Lgxe4rsFPM_gB8vDoahpbrns56QHUjiZIa-Oc1tM694pZhbbU_P/s1653/24%20-%20Alexis%20Ziritt%20and%20Ian%20Nichols%20-%20New%20York%20Comic%20Con%202019%20and%20Rhode%20Island%20Comic%20Con%202019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1617" data-original-width="1653" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBlmkRIvaNKIB7pl7npAn5D7TrjSySaRU76485WnAYASpjXBQb7zKWwsJaf7l58Lrn-rT1E1W65T6K-QLUDP1Ol1vEDFph0WpJwFod2W75-XqHIqkyex_sfaSMKkBzrYvwjNtS_Lgxe4rsFPM_gB8vDoahpbrns56QHUjiZIa-Oc1tM694pZhbbU_P/s320/24%20-%20Alexis%20Ziritt%20and%20Ian%20Nichols%20-%20New%20York%20Comic%20Con%202019%20and%20Rhode%20Island%20Comic%20Con%202019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Alexis Ziritt and Ian Nichols - New York Comic Con 2019 and Rhode Island Comic Con 2019</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Is this the Thing from Hell? If so, he's my favorite demon ever. Alexis Ziritt, who draws such wild stuff for books like Space Riders, started this sketch off with a flaming skull that is something of a trademark for him. My pal Ian Nichols finished it off by adding some colors and a wide frame for this Ghost Rider-esque Ben Grimm.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Okay, there are admittedly some very different Things in this entry. Let's wrap it up with a more traditional-looking Thing:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4emPR0cOQMIBJTEd3w8mwPHRtcSqKLB0gnxakK_h4cSQ_rcU_OFhmS54J3lIw4URsXdG5g8_6qyaIvLIPJxazUGcVT3lVhexiGfjHLZkUMmYgSe_3eTT6n6g9lrK_iLfB5WUkY7fvmmQI-8msu9VUwSMihHNYTxG1WouO6zQF5-ldWEQzkcQCoh9d/s1645/25%20-%20Art%20Baltazar%20-%20New%20York%20Comic%20Con%202019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1586" data-original-width="1645" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4emPR0cOQMIBJTEd3w8mwPHRtcSqKLB0gnxakK_h4cSQ_rcU_OFhmS54J3lIw4URsXdG5g8_6qyaIvLIPJxazUGcVT3lVhexiGfjHLZkUMmYgSe_3eTT6n6g9lrK_iLfB5WUkY7fvmmQI-8msu9VUwSMihHNYTxG1WouO6zQF5-ldWEQzkcQCoh9d/s320/25%20-%20Art%20Baltazar%20-%20New%20York%20Comic%20Con%202019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Art Baltazar - New York Comic Con 2019</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Art Baltazar makes really wonderful kids comics like Tiny Titans and Aw Yeah Comics, and it's easy to see his broad appeal with this marker-and-crayon, very happy Thing sketch. Ben is so happy that it looks like he's beginning to unravel a bit! I saw Baltazar drawing sketches and I very tentatively approached him about joining the book - it's always a bit nerve wracking to barrel your way toward a booth with a book in hand - but he agreed to draw something and that's how we ended up with your good pal Ben here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We're nearing the end of 2019 in the sketchbook - I hope nothing comes out of left field to really disrupt convention sketches in the near future. Er, I'll see you all next time!</div><p></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Richeyville, Centerville, PA, USA40.0558533 -79.998989511.745619463821157 -115.1552395 68.366087136178848 -44.842739499999993tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880085391235005393.post-31698146488788194712022-04-29T23:59:00.003-04:002022-04-30T00:01:40.041-04:00The Thing is Marvel's best title! Here's some original art from Tom Reilly!Let's take a minute to talk about how great Marvel's new Thing series is. The six-issue series, the character's first solo title since 2006, just wrapped up and I can't recommend picking this up highly enough.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKS4y4Nv5vCIO0zaEyIIBok-2XAh7oJ2KDiR2ya9VeccykgwkvDO6h6QDSv5vofjiYMQuHc6UG4-RlREIE9rHnVQPGnX3MQk1JnMFLXaEe6wPjT7V6V9XTH5ZoN4CyJN68CBEjH6C3Fr98dMCP6aYpSgt1aFPrrDAyRGiz60gPC9Zs-CPDCN8NWUIW/s2800/Thing%201%202021.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2800" data-original-width="1821" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKS4y4Nv5vCIO0zaEyIIBok-2XAh7oJ2KDiR2ya9VeccykgwkvDO6h6QDSv5vofjiYMQuHc6UG4-RlREIE9rHnVQPGnX3MQk1JnMFLXaEe6wPjT7V6V9XTH5ZoN4CyJN68CBEjH6C3Fr98dMCP6aYpSgt1aFPrrDAyRGiz60gPC9Zs-CPDCN8NWUIW/w260-h400/Thing%201%202021.jpeg" width="260" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Everything you love about the Thing is on display in this title. If you love the classic Thing - the good-hearted, brooding, never-say-die strongman, then you will love this book. If you love the more current interpretations of the Thing - the more polished, self-aware version, you will love this book! Walter Mosley, the best-selling crime novelist, seamlessly weaves new characters in with old favorites, adding to the title character's mythos while remaining true to his roots.</div><div><br /></div><div>Artist Tom Reilly draws the Thing in a perfect blend of Kirby, Byrne and Wieringo. He makes him look tough without drawing him like a 12-foot, can't-fit-in-a-room monster. And he draws every page! All six issues are drawn by the same artist.</div><div><br /></div><div>Does this series have team-ups? Yes! Does it have classic Fantastic Four characters? Yes! Does the Thing get all moody? Yes! Does the Thing punch a whole lot of people? YES! Let's look at some of the examples:<br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-MbBjMeruPrhu-Uxyzfk1FQsSfJKZgSSI7zsh2G4f1sBME6HplZLr_6UwIV9aSTEVQN07bswEjoO7v9zRWcgvohui3KseBKJv8UGBj0ms2-tclwtzc29vcSLHQWt0HbFyp0BsJ1YJgklyauxmsKegXJtpSdNt5ego81U9sD_Cmmoz2Sw8Q--wkB7u/s4032/Thing%20Reilly.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-MbBjMeruPrhu-Uxyzfk1FQsSfJKZgSSI7zsh2G4f1sBME6HplZLr_6UwIV9aSTEVQN07bswEjoO7v9zRWcgvohui3KseBKJv8UGBj0ms2-tclwtzc29vcSLHQWt0HbFyp0BsJ1YJgklyauxmsKegXJtpSdNt5ego81U9sD_Cmmoz2Sw8Q--wkB7u/w300-h400/Thing%20Reilly.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>During one fight, the Thing punches a guy so hard his shirt blows up!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZIXg7J4tVvv1ZXlgYNJKxUiYY4JYdzfYPYPupF2otU6k01UBv5MCSiVQuXTQ_ekUBj6FwnGQFo2pq-gySTDj6OaRsLeahWcengia8OV_Q7HIiVtIZvGBBfzFZGIUHpAHcOfuJ_WbKhUIMq4Ac9bGL_eQnVoLwSQu3K4wF4OFmiQ8wxhaAFQ_-xNWT/s4030/Thing%20Reilly%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3022" data-original-width="4030" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZIXg7J4tVvv1ZXlgYNJKxUiYY4JYdzfYPYPupF2otU6k01UBv5MCSiVQuXTQ_ekUBj6FwnGQFo2pq-gySTDj6OaRsLeahWcengia8OV_Q7HIiVtIZvGBBfzFZGIUHpAHcOfuJ_WbKhUIMq4Ac9bGL_eQnVoLwSQu3K4wF4OFmiQ8wxhaAFQ_-xNWT/w400-h300/Thing%20Reilly%202.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>During another, he punches three villainous characters at once - including one with his head!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkv_dgYc-AhCWyC_B6qXoy-09MD2kZpfrusRrVNntgBgg8S6uWN6vWWnEWSO8qfAzcIFqfeU3P9mxfjfYL4ZmxU0tOD85FYJBS5PyVv0RPuPne2EgItOHzs8zvVEV9G6jYg419OvOkGBk1wF13Uc-FWgIjWhj8s8aYArYa1K9L_p09SnhFyPJJc9VS/s4032/Thing%20Reilly%203.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkv_dgYc-AhCWyC_B6qXoy-09MD2kZpfrusRrVNntgBgg8S6uWN6vWWnEWSO8qfAzcIFqfeU3P9mxfjfYL4ZmxU0tOD85FYJBS5PyVv0RPuPne2EgItOHzs8zvVEV9G6jYg419OvOkGBk1wF13Uc-FWgIjWhj8s8aYArYa1K9L_p09SnhFyPJJc9VS/w300-h400/Thing%20Reilly%203.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p>The Thing even manages to get his shots in at the Hulk! It really has a little bit of everything. You need to read this book!!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQBFZAPjuaA2H_OH41-rOLY6TkfZGLXj7afE1Bjo0k2I-QUT7rRglRGuGO40q-wZ0eHLfFTEppHmzp3LUp1oexmKhdiN6N9F2_HIKw5_HCkAh_FeOGy3V8qGlcY8YqaGPFPyHty4npvDbK5h30YdR9ozp2k4MH5AA61XIXdHgH3VaN47TfqBPjUEUH/s3635/Thing%201%20Tom%20Reilly%20art%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3635" data-original-width="2403" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQBFZAPjuaA2H_OH41-rOLY6TkfZGLXj7afE1Bjo0k2I-QUT7rRglRGuGO40q-wZ0eHLfFTEppHmzp3LUp1oexmKhdiN6N9F2_HIKw5_HCkAh_FeOGy3V8qGlcY8YqaGPFPyHty4npvDbK5h30YdR9ozp2k4MH5AA61XIXdHgH3VaN47TfqBPjUEUH/w265-h400/Thing%201%20Tom%20Reilly%20art%201.jpeg" width="265" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>When Reilly announced that he would be selling some of his artwork from the series, I knew that I had to get a page. I ended up with two really amazing pieces from the series, and here they are for all to see!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_jTC9T32GZ_bi7EhaaqqRnlq0BnygLdp4ZrWASSMOmSdW7Ty8n1dmtGU4gYSA8uK1nZDvxijwRksx2DooiF2R9QqSmfT3CFfoz1XgIeFpu2Iq8TWDkPKNpZLBFB64gEyhiU5MlKCvNZJiPwa12d_3AYbcLp8__ecTc-M1yX0Pa9FrnSYqYPOxN8uY/s3852/Thing%201%20Tom%20Reilly%20art%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2535" data-original-width="3852" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_jTC9T32GZ_bi7EhaaqqRnlq0BnygLdp4ZrWASSMOmSdW7Ty8n1dmtGU4gYSA8uK1nZDvxijwRksx2DooiF2R9QqSmfT3CFfoz1XgIeFpu2Iq8TWDkPKNpZLBFB64gEyhiU5MlKCvNZJiPwa12d_3AYbcLp8__ecTc-M1yX0Pa9FrnSYqYPOxN8uY/w400-h264/Thing%201%20Tom%20Reilly%20art%202.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This page is from the first issue of the series, and it features a lonely Ben Grimm wandering the expansive halls of an empty Baxter Building. Ben is taking a piece of material for Reed to analyze, and he trudges through the building's many different rooms to get to his destination. I love how moody all of these panels are, and they really lean into the FF's sci-fi background.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0P9quk3jsGlzfpnibYiuUBpexZWF5D-ZU75XyxP2LuzrQH7w6V2_u4b1Gjb49TFzplS2XhaCPCOQQPCJhTD1DHFTu1G8wG1veP4b_N091jEFJl9x1VvKs9dENo937B2H_rId79BUc-eytTyEz03dxOpuButh_jqWNtua8SQeJZu_IBiL8vhVyPKM/s4030/Thing%201%20Tom%20Reilly%20art%203.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3022" data-original-width="4030" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0P9quk3jsGlzfpnibYiuUBpexZWF5D-ZU75XyxP2LuzrQH7w6V2_u4b1Gjb49TFzplS2XhaCPCOQQPCJhTD1DHFTu1G8wG1veP4b_N091jEFJl9x1VvKs9dENo937B2H_rId79BUc-eytTyEz03dxOpuButh_jqWNtua8SQeJZu_IBiL8vhVyPKM/w400-h300/Thing%201%20Tom%20Reilly%20art%203.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's our main character as he makes his way through his weight room...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXOkUveqZYOQP1azFZTts3UarAzDQZIE4PSGjInNmiiJAt-LoS9YWlNrIxJc52eX-8iRrdjqnYmA6F6tBm-PvoEFKCkPIMyba5cMlYY-UmkBq9RV_V8A3kY1FjOj45SNMD7PX6Hz0JLmtX2WPWhK403flr5Jv0D9gjAnV9R5oozwPwAnGyXT3dz4j/s4032/Thing%201%20Tom%20Reilly%20art%204.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXOkUveqZYOQP1azFZTts3UarAzDQZIE4PSGjInNmiiJAt-LoS9YWlNrIxJc52eX-8iRrdjqnYmA6F6tBm-PvoEFKCkPIMyba5cMlYY-UmkBq9RV_V8A3kY1FjOj45SNMD7PX6Hz0JLmtX2WPWhK403flr5Jv0D9gjAnV9R5oozwPwAnGyXT3dz4j/w300-h400/Thing%201%20Tom%20Reilly%20art%204.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>...and finally he arrives in Reed's lab.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJouNvxFJ_4tdUzRJdzys6wXBFRVF9xS8qiIde0DT0JDNUmIQFfljtGcdLDlKY9udMsQAK0ARjNRPTw9uIqkOHjJcwRduR6BsbD_EuFJwQEjgLevbGP89HGPXBgJEWcIaox7W92MDu0HmvSSeX5I8UD4Jh5vMYy5G8AKxVWPTOIFeFwcPrBKHtIjv/s4032/Thing%201%20Tom%20Reilly%20art%205.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJouNvxFJ_4tdUzRJdzys6wXBFRVF9xS8qiIde0DT0JDNUmIQFfljtGcdLDlKY9udMsQAK0ARjNRPTw9uIqkOHjJcwRduR6BsbD_EuFJwQEjgLevbGP89HGPXBgJEWcIaox7W92MDu0HmvSSeX5I8UD4Jh5vMYy5G8AKxVWPTOIFeFwcPrBKHtIjv/w300-h400/Thing%201%20Tom%20Reilly%20art%205.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I love brooding Thing. It's part of his character, and it's that emotional resonance that makes the character so compelling. The shadows in this panel really hammer that home. Plus, check out that Kirby Krackle!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUoFBUbeiCeZM5NS2xT1J4GyPzV8cg0Xh3GSrXSGQJk_-SU3wdgIK2DytbTgC96xK2mxak3-4Rz_3dRmJxzC94TbJkfr9RBy0hWXVlGQf2C5UonwVLlaVN39knvo7tv06w_8HtEtaeJ98fC7_uIRqz03UElx4anZtEBTVFCTQ8J5q19lG4Bcz5CfY0/s3809/Thing%204%20Tom%20Reilly%20art%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3809" data-original-width="2498" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUoFBUbeiCeZM5NS2xT1J4GyPzV8cg0Xh3GSrXSGQJk_-SU3wdgIK2DytbTgC96xK2mxak3-4Rz_3dRmJxzC94TbJkfr9RBy0hWXVlGQf2C5UonwVLlaVN39knvo7tv06w_8HtEtaeJ98fC7_uIRqz03UElx4anZtEBTVFCTQ8J5q19lG4Bcz5CfY0/w263-h400/Thing%204%20Tom%20Reilly%20art%201.jpeg" width="263" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The next page is from the fourth issue, and is a full-page spread, albeit with a lot of empty space surrounding the relatively tiny characters. I absolutely love this one. But wait! If you look closely, you can kind of see more images on the other side of this page...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_ILIpJJF4bv-sC_kRSkJ8tBfSU9v3ev1yZjQ66lvIv8fo8yMdvI2aE-lBh19mptkK4apywivHz_gh3XajYn3U5PzWZ0PUasmqhvacwwkzTVC6DDFnxr8V9L14mLsjORDkTN03V7MZujWZCpivY7bEFch_1ecCC1qjhAfMYbPenjVDBTufRGI35f3/s3841/Thing%204%20Tom%20Reilly%20art%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3841" data-original-width="2634" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_ILIpJJF4bv-sC_kRSkJ8tBfSU9v3ev1yZjQ66lvIv8fo8yMdvI2aE-lBh19mptkK4apywivHz_gh3XajYn3U5PzWZ0PUasmqhvacwwkzTVC6DDFnxr8V9L14mLsjORDkTN03V7MZujWZCpivY7bEFch_1ecCC1qjhAfMYbPenjVDBTufRGI35f3/w274-h400/Thing%204%20Tom%20Reilly%20art%202.jpeg" width="274" /></a></div><p>That's because, unbeknownst to me when I bought it, the Thing page was drawn on the back of another, entirely different page? I sent a message to Reilly to ask about it, and it seems that he simply ran out of blank pages while drawing the Thing series, so he drew the issue 4 spread on the back of a Crow pitch that he had taken to show off at conventions as a sample page. This was an unexpected bonus on an already great piece of art.</p><p>I know that it's probably hard to take my recommendation at face value, because I will read (and probably enjoy) just about anything Thing-related. But this series is truly a brilliant piece of superhero storytelling, and you honestly should run out and grab it right away. Everything there is to love about the Thing is in this six-issue series. I can only hope that a sequel is in the works!</p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1Bethlehem, PA, USA40.6259316 -75.37045789999999112.315697763821156 -110.52670789999999 68.93616543617884 -40.214207899999991tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880085391235005393.post-48122925045348825662022-04-03T01:31:00.002-04:002023-01-30T18:13:15.855-05:00Visiting Dr. Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum - in real life<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Sanctum Sanctorum, Dr. Strange's mystical home with the signature rose window at top, is one of Marvel's iconic landmarks in its comic book universe. Like some other Marvel buildings, the Sanctum Sanctorum also has a real-world address in New York City's Greenwich Village. On a recent trip to the city, I decided to seek out this location to see how it stacked up to its comic book equivalent.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3g_mJ2sU4Xixz_TWxgMxoUIEDdm8ndAteNof04LDVqji_ZyxdwsA5jmuJ84rjRRon0svvHxBsLHMLpXcQnLw99Vjqw09rKLXi9FvxvRuj91NMNFTF3kkLAX6DtZFQL_1EtxdW7d4lYs_6cKKM6WJ9cjGyIBEflyxA5fkY0oTmmWHVhoKehUxMUDS/s587/SanctumSanctorum.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="550" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3g_mJ2sU4Xixz_TWxgMxoUIEDdm8ndAteNof04LDVqji_ZyxdwsA5jmuJ84rjRRon0svvHxBsLHMLpXcQnLw99Vjqw09rKLXi9FvxvRuj91NMNFTF3kkLAX6DtZFQL_1EtxdW7d4lYs_6cKKM6WJ9cjGyIBEflyxA5fkY0oTmmWHVhoKehUxMUDS/w375-h400/SanctumSanctorum.jpg" width="375" /></a></div><br />Back in 2018, after spending the day at the New York Comic Con, <a href="https://teddyandtheyeti.blogspot.com/2019/01/i-maybe-visited-baxter-building-in-nyc.html">I took to the streets to see if could find the Baxter Building, home of the Fantastic Four, at its 42nd and Madison address.</a> In February of '22, I found myself near the Washington Square Arch, saw a sign that told me I was in Greenwich Village, and decided that it was time to add another stop on the Marvel Universe tour.<p></p><p>Writer Roy Thomas first gave Dr. Strange's residence its street address, at 177A Bleeker Street - it also just happened to be where Thomas lived for a while. Growing up reading the comics, I had no idea where Greenwich Village was in relation to anything else in NYC, but the name gave it a special significance, I thought, and subconsciously associated it with a gentrified, somehow fancier and more residential section of the city. As it turns out, it's just, like...in a different part of Manhattan.</p><p>After checking out the Arch, I walked a few blocks and found myself on Bleeker Street. This is a street that Simon and Garfunkel sang about, too, so my expectations were great. I soon found myself at the 100-block of the street, and there, before my very eyes, I found...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKhwMTClFRYRG-LSD-VQqGfCofU6TilOVQMS7Qq5CAupog-r5bC5wxbzm3d3tqe7xBi0j4BrknRFU_b3P1fkrgkGg-LAo3MRsZ-WUHmPIPXvxUtlQvwH54Ucy0AZnByjalS8yJlmkjzQelR3bZ1hnIyXco53aadfowlJ1eSd9hOjBlRX5X0Qtta0Y0/s4032/IMG_7378.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKhwMTClFRYRG-LSD-VQqGfCofU6TilOVQMS7Qq5CAupog-r5bC5wxbzm3d3tqe7xBi0j4BrknRFU_b3P1fkrgkGg-LAo3MRsZ-WUHmPIPXvxUtlQvwH54Ucy0AZnByjalS8yJlmkjzQelR3bZ1hnIyXco53aadfowlJ1eSd9hOjBlRX5X0Qtta0Y0/w300-h400/IMG_7378.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p>...a crappy bodega and some apartments?!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijiJL_15Ftwdb_N4kcaDgTtS7t6yQ8CJ_9-qtBOntcPSSNRss9bw7-pFlIbrXIB_wV0suERE6GQcfahH93cXMYidx2ZrDPa5ZFi3sz3rGzWnI5deSWT3CHZhZHCaD9VNLlQctIGQY0h7hqFrMmYSYGtYrFhbhQBVshZO7VaKZQG24ko2YsOQ3w_V8u/s4032/IMG_7377.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijiJL_15Ftwdb_N4kcaDgTtS7t6yQ8CJ_9-qtBOntcPSSNRss9bw7-pFlIbrXIB_wV0suERE6GQcfahH93cXMYidx2ZrDPa5ZFi3sz3rGzWnI5deSWT3CHZhZHCaD9VNLlQctIGQY0h7hqFrMmYSYGtYrFhbhQBVshZO7VaKZQG24ko2YsOQ3w_V8u/w400-h300/IMG_7377.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p>So here it is, the famed home of Dr. Stephen Strange, and also a place where you can get some scratch-off tickets and a nose ring, probably at the same time. There is no longer a 177A designation, either - 177 is as close as you'll get today.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1EdoWyQCffSf5rl4MUT0xtaDOHsaLLFvaJ4Pi1Q8hpspq4kxa8n-3ZuR1tLG3Bb77QZZoFmNzyqtswaDKTnEiZfaAhQ5m0xTRSQ3RVqYiComleIC0NE9BL0gYXKUnmISGI_fUHXt0Xk2ah4rTtc7KZNZ1GKCgBGPDnKxiaLh-K-ODuNSh57p-4s0/s4032/IMG_7380.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1EdoWyQCffSf5rl4MUT0xtaDOHsaLLFvaJ4Pi1Q8hpspq4kxa8n-3ZuR1tLG3Bb77QZZoFmNzyqtswaDKTnEiZfaAhQ5m0xTRSQ3RVqYiComleIC0NE9BL0gYXKUnmISGI_fUHXt0Xk2ah4rTtc7KZNZ1GKCgBGPDnKxiaLh-K-ODuNSh57p-4s0/w300-h400/IMG_7380.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p>Of course, it's important to remember that Dr. Strange is a sorcerer, and what better way to keep a low profile than to disguise your three-story mansion as a red brick tenement? That must be it - it's all a facade whipped up by Strange, Wong, or any one of the building's other magical tenants. Knowing this, and respecting the magician's code, I declined to investigate further, knowing that it was important to keep up the illusion.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvNKjqXUYo_-975hwIRlC0ZISg9oY5LO55fQ_qKMv3rncKqEuGHU6NBUaylXPzn0cw6Eh_lh8IUzOBXwwO4mRVaSD80FM4YDzQH7aAGKy5y9Zgu6elO5N5yWZe0v-0spZHjFeL79nGakms7UpPyN7lgTdiOAQvt7pvSOj22A87RTQaTxG8qVS1vue/s4032/IMG_7356.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvNKjqXUYo_-975hwIRlC0ZISg9oY5LO55fQ_qKMv3rncKqEuGHU6NBUaylXPzn0cw6Eh_lh8IUzOBXwwO4mRVaSD80FM4YDzQH7aAGKy5y9Zgu6elO5N5yWZe0v-0spZHjFeL79nGakms7UpPyN7lgTdiOAQvt7pvSOj22A87RTQaTxG8qVS1vue/w300-h400/IMG_7356.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p>Okay, now that that's over with, let's look at a few other New York attractions, some of which are also featured heavily in the world of comics. Here's the aforementioned Washington Square Arch!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBTlGvEpCr2zAZNWzdVz5NXPfjOsw-f_XPgCsdpJdJMJ8JHYQON19IfMakYQs00kq-tlCyHXl-ADYJ_Cbvd0w9ajPKAWfEu0e4F0He0uar5_Ir9ZgdAg6FH8EhlnoN07sOPjoSLQZtWCMhUO3XG3WfJqHz_DqZiMmYd22NgPsZpm58qERsm3Oe21MS/s4032/IMG_7369.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBTlGvEpCr2zAZNWzdVz5NXPfjOsw-f_XPgCsdpJdJMJ8JHYQON19IfMakYQs00kq-tlCyHXl-ADYJ_Cbvd0w9ajPKAWfEu0e4F0He0uar5_Ir9ZgdAg6FH8EhlnoN07sOPjoSLQZtWCMhUO3XG3WfJqHz_DqZiMmYd22NgPsZpm58qERsm3Oe21MS/w300-h400/IMG_7369.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Enough of that. Let's see if we can find a comic book shop nearby. Not too far away was Forbidden Planet, which I believe is the only branch of this UK store located in the United States? Anyway, this was a very cold day in February, and I was happy to walk around inside for a little while.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9WDqhVZMeZrUFOon4S7oUVvEWdo9lEFaMcLgc7qrRxjrE8WkVt7L2OJmh6sb9tRtrfE3f1V2idi8IfeVwbwfIFvb0iRVSkF9qKpFqz742yIKSuuURg-2LhW4UJtHwNnhcx0wxG9KmKDBCTv2NX2AUvxAhHoSL0e8fJsliijeAlXLCQobc8JlTST3/s4032/IMG_7372.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9WDqhVZMeZrUFOon4S7oUVvEWdo9lEFaMcLgc7qrRxjrE8WkVt7L2OJmh6sb9tRtrfE3f1V2idi8IfeVwbwfIFvb0iRVSkF9qKpFqz742yIKSuuURg-2LhW4UJtHwNnhcx0wxG9KmKDBCTv2NX2AUvxAhHoSL0e8fJsliijeAlXLCQobc8JlTST3/w400-h300/IMG_7372.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The store wasn't exactly what I expected - there was a lot of space devoted to toys and maybe not as much to comics as I had hoped to see - but it was still a fun experience. I've really only been to the bigger chain stores in NYC, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of the independent shops on my next trip. Of comic shops, and maybe Avenger's Mansion or something like that.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1177a Bleecker St, New York, NY 10012, USA40.7290776 -74.000651940.677020763041469 -74.069316450781244 40.781134436958524 -73.931987349218744tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880085391235005393.post-21549125153979005222022-03-27T01:52:00.000-04:002022-03-27T01:52:53.862-04:00Spider-Man visits Pittsburgh in Amazing Spider-Man 292<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92NU2ndjCM4eE646cxyFRPrDJu70Box_smwFdCkJ-g-PO6ufTS_oAAkCYVT99H5minLYmqWd90MEdB-Br6wAQGsKQ2ob-JcGBcduLsenCFiC5Tqgj5hIW3JEJOV_ya1UDojTi6hB4bEpAo5WwTrIGuhEJ2AFDReHAdgnN6JE17hUgNEpX-rPR7wZi/s1500/Amazing%20Spider-Man%20292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="971" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92NU2ndjCM4eE646cxyFRPrDJu70Box_smwFdCkJ-g-PO6ufTS_oAAkCYVT99H5minLYmqWd90MEdB-Br6wAQGsKQ2ob-JcGBcduLsenCFiC5Tqgj5hIW3JEJOV_ya1UDojTi6hB4bEpAo5WwTrIGuhEJ2AFDReHAdgnN6JE17hUgNEpX-rPR7wZi/w259-h400/Amazing%20Spider-Man%20292.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A while ago, <a href="https://teddyandtheyeti.blogspot.com/2020/08/peril-in-pittsburgh.html">I wrote about a two-issue story in which the Avengers visited Pittsburgh,</a> and of <a href="https://teddyandtheyeti.blogspot.com/2020/12/pittsburgh-in-journey-into-mystery-120.html">Thor's quick stopover in the Steel City.</a> Both were fun, even if they mostly only featured generic references to the city. When I saw that 1987's Amazing Spider-Man #292 had Pittsburgh as its backdrop, I had to grab it and take some pictures. Let's see what awaits our hero!</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdO3r_5wo4UsOdGANOmbT9b8dQm-dg54VlOOkFQvcv0BnCO3r_ADfjWgtSEyKGqb2-ZpKTt0EBWgDDfFX76nmpLf1a-AgiKIEc3rI3NfdLzHpGLkza5SNJR-DY87Qqg3aNyIyhUDzl6gwVTKVohGpPmgs6tmf5DWQh2xWZ1vESBg2bcl1eU3Xx3VS/s4032/IMG_7157.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdO3r_5wo4UsOdGANOmbT9b8dQm-dg54VlOOkFQvcv0BnCO3r_ADfjWgtSEyKGqb2-ZpKTt0EBWgDDfFX76nmpLf1a-AgiKIEc3rI3NfdLzHpGLkza5SNJR-DY87Qqg3aNyIyhUDzl6gwVTKVohGpPmgs6tmf5DWQh2xWZ1vESBg2bcl1eU3Xx3VS/w300-h400/IMG_7157.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Unlike the Avengers and Thor issues, this Spider-Man story is chock full of mostly accurate Pittsburgh references. and we start out with downtown Pittsburgh, the Allegheny River, and Three Rivers Stadium! The stadium would have had to be about ten times its size to look like this from downtown, but I'll allow it. And we also start off strong with references to both the Pirates and the Steelers, longtime tenants of the all-purpose stadium.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlK69-0a8OllWDbZZZALEhK-m4r_qSvQVWcE-eAPwQU1RZCAGzRs4PvQ6VgH2wl-OPVnABSOW7oyi-iVlP-2ycBswDH_Gmrf8qF_Y_Mci7bvXbdukQGGEKachzGa8PS683iAdkwjw-H-eVw4yd850bVo49IKVQCYTDjYPd07i_3K8cEDsVPFwvyjrO/s4032/IMG_7158.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlK69-0a8OllWDbZZZALEhK-m4r_qSvQVWcE-eAPwQU1RZCAGzRs4PvQ6VgH2wl-OPVnABSOW7oyi-iVlP-2ycBswDH_Gmrf8qF_Y_Mci7bvXbdukQGGEKachzGa8PS683iAdkwjw-H-eVw4yd850bVo49IKVQCYTDjYPd07i_3K8cEDsVPFwvyjrO/w300-h400/IMG_7158.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Spider-Man then somehow swings past the University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning, which is miles away and is not surrounded by any buildings he could really swing from, but, well, okay. Spidey is following after Mary Jane Watson, to whom he has recently proposed, but apparently MJ needs time to think it over by talking with her sister, who lives in Pittsburgh. This is the first time I learned that MJ even had a sister! Who is this mysterious sibling who for some reason lives in Pittsburgh? Why didn't she live with their Aunt Anna in New York City? Questions abound.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzYhkj7ozbPG4rySkl2o2daOx7Jf4zhqwGHzx2uUt_VHk8tBMEHtyQj1noR5LTYh8s3bZyyUKO47rinUk7kKPD2hjy3EvGPhuSfVT6U_h9qbcXjTKg7a3k8jIXPsHdsrWqn4rpTdVz4avOOxTwhu6aw0cFWGmxxVmeykWBAjKDsvaYDKSnn8kfs1X/s4032/IMG_7159.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzYhkj7ozbPG4rySkl2o2daOx7Jf4zhqwGHzx2uUt_VHk8tBMEHtyQj1noR5LTYh8s3bZyyUKO47rinUk7kKPD2hjy3EvGPhuSfVT6U_h9qbcXjTKg7a3k8jIXPsHdsrWqn4rpTdVz4avOOxTwhu6aw0cFWGmxxVmeykWBAjKDsvaYDKSnn8kfs1X/w300-h400/IMG_7159.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This issue is basically just one Pittsburgh reference after another. I love 'em, of course, but I wonder why writer David Michelinie and artist Alex Saviuk decided to make this issue one big travelogue. Here we see stately Mellon Square...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6CJ3BA0bFBkuKv6GgBuxjYgDYv9XN1Tda_wWdyTReote4kObrmmOWf0K3LEUbBNdfEGovI7FqitWfgboE_ObntIP1MYB51RkwDEcuiQujQ-dl5vmCgu-1AOAh3sMeF8EJ2K4HycPIpoGP3LwiMxgI5nnYNAKixkGNCEn_ZzQUxxak0UaW5AUQ_3IJ/s4032/IMG_7160.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6CJ3BA0bFBkuKv6GgBuxjYgDYv9XN1Tda_wWdyTReote4kObrmmOWf0K3LEUbBNdfEGovI7FqitWfgboE_ObntIP1MYB51RkwDEcuiQujQ-dl5vmCgu-1AOAh3sMeF8EJ2K4HycPIpoGP3LwiMxgI5nnYNAKixkGNCEn_ZzQUxxak0UaW5AUQ_3IJ/w300-h400/IMG_7160.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>...and now we're at Point State Park. Wait, this is basically where Spidey was on page one, across the river from Three Rivers Stadium. Why did he swing to Oakland just to turn around and go all the way back to...you know what? Never mind. I'll just enjoy this for what it is. It looks like Saviuk drew the fountain at Point State Park, but the water got colored green like a tree. I'll admit that I do not know if the fountain was running in '87. I guess there could have been a tree there back then.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGb2mukH3ysQmS4gBxqBoTYCsS59ngDPCjgYJ6bWrk6rAStmcTQ6JLyC0TXCI4qdg_nh4upfSoCGVeW9mCh0pzE9ZiJUKdqA8gG-3JFCZySAnSgzyPsOQDy-gS2hg8SsSZB7YhIKf6WqXvJTdi3idAFBda-cSAVCRVHIYyhaSfyKtET-_dqCFR6Ca/s4032/IMG_7161.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGb2mukH3ysQmS4gBxqBoTYCsS59ngDPCjgYJ6bWrk6rAStmcTQ6JLyC0TXCI4qdg_nh4upfSoCGVeW9mCh0pzE9ZiJUKdqA8gG-3JFCZySAnSgzyPsOQDy-gS2hg8SsSZB7YhIKf6WqXvJTdi3idAFBda-cSAVCRVHIYyhaSfyKtET-_dqCFR6Ca/w400-h300/IMG_7161.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>What's this? The Gateway Clipper over MJ's shoulder? Why yes, it is!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIIMKuBDyZeBsWJC3hvX0Q15lJcZhX95Z3n5YJftvt9GEu3DxH4o_ejTfLS-YqtRnKdeyQlMY0Wpf-mwsGOHE0WdsXj2uxGH0pmXiIxOJo74PlSBoGYe8pnwOUPH2CmeKnw5yw2kK5vDfooZzPh0HUKdHOuNV6R1G2SHOWIMsD4Hfj6GHrOntwU21S/s4032/IMG_7162.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIIMKuBDyZeBsWJC3hvX0Q15lJcZhX95Z3n5YJftvt9GEu3DxH4o_ejTfLS-YqtRnKdeyQlMY0Wpf-mwsGOHE0WdsXj2uxGH0pmXiIxOJo74PlSBoGYe8pnwOUPH2CmeKnw5yw2kK5vDfooZzPh0HUKdHOuNV6R1G2SHOWIMsD4Hfj6GHrOntwU21S/w300-h400/IMG_7162.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Peter and Mary Jane discuss her sister's plight as they take a stroll through the park, where MJ mentions the nearby Duquesne University.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN8OsMcEHZPDUjJkEVMvn8ERH62ZgeZvLG1deemblziEVnRXsGAxPahtRusvRVF0etNWHG6loTHksgI4GwOZ8efC4Gwav1OImh9BNsQ7jFNy_fzPa5jgRabwTuPsdXrqlgN6AhDsofG7HBnGHYkoq9MD-_8lBP15oxzF3CiZXLUjfU95zWSp8-dOoZ/s4032/IMG_7163.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN8OsMcEHZPDUjJkEVMvn8ERH62ZgeZvLG1deemblziEVnRXsGAxPahtRusvRVF0etNWHG6loTHksgI4GwOZ8efC4Gwav1OImh9BNsQ7jFNy_fzPa5jgRabwTuPsdXrqlgN6AhDsofG7HBnGHYkoq9MD-_8lBP15oxzF3CiZXLUjfU95zWSp8-dOoZ/w300-h400/IMG_7163.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, there's some shady business going down at a nearby industrial park. This might actually be the industrial park off of the 31st Street Bridge, which has since been retrofitted into the 31st Street Studios television soundstage.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKiqLS0E-oP5jaDsbZjNPQYshc2ySpOLrRyFEaEkM43VUqTwzNWkXps8UsMbPjEre4OZ75opNd2DX8ZYPDkqOt-TTaNiWFa40WsaO0RmhTHhUmNOM9UEQsaBZwYFBhtDz_gIezV7zRckGtiMxwzqWQf98puUU2rkstACK4bFdQ5qFareTRrnizGtz0/s4032/IMG_7164.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKiqLS0E-oP5jaDsbZjNPQYshc2ySpOLrRyFEaEkM43VUqTwzNWkXps8UsMbPjEre4OZ75opNd2DX8ZYPDkqOt-TTaNiWFa40WsaO0RmhTHhUmNOM9UEQsaBZwYFBhtDz_gIezV7zRckGtiMxwzqWQf98puUU2rkstACK4bFdQ5qFareTRrnizGtz0/w300-h400/IMG_7164.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>But the main story takes us back to Duquesne University. I think this is supposed to be the Old Main administrative building?</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHAuEX6sDpuWOQ7Dwg1uMrlIfBBiFbKSlhurJyVfEJ5sL6dYW7VTsD_aIgrhruMPpQIelIrNCj7kk5RWTyoyrrCHe8iBeODMV_Vjfs2FrdD4ZcZVJr_08Y_PWWA8-9lVZ_P8ZmBw2ihZONzluzGuOTJUmFBqwHMthYwlknKFYORsiCN8yypXZ6k8AX/s4032/IMG_7165.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHAuEX6sDpuWOQ7Dwg1uMrlIfBBiFbKSlhurJyVfEJ5sL6dYW7VTsD_aIgrhruMPpQIelIrNCj7kk5RWTyoyrrCHe8iBeODMV_Vjfs2FrdD4ZcZVJr_08Y_PWWA8-9lVZ_P8ZmBw2ihZONzluzGuOTJUmFBqwHMthYwlknKFYORsiCN8yypXZ6k8AX/w400-h300/IMG_7165.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Both the Avengers story and this one pay special attention to the Liberty Bridge, which is right off of campus, as opposed to the Ft. Pitt Bridge, which I think is more visually appealing. It seems that the Spider-Slayer is also in the 'burgh, which is tough news for Peter. I guess using the Liberty Bridge makes sense when you want to bring in that ultimate Pittsburgh visual reference...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiohdgzSbOEBwZ-UKlwwZvbeWWYKP-0SgS368Jy7QCbpDpHJ2jiXTe9MYJrLdtofUUvc_ejlCCGvPx1Qp-dq9bIBnX4SadQIP7Hw_I0Tf0QsZ8Vjt7CQFJfCHF_fySlpFPSXGfzq9xnKqDcp_o5CAVte2mgdO_hu9gC670AWCmbbT4iB-7bNAHT17Wl/s4032/IMG_7166.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiohdgzSbOEBwZ-UKlwwZvbeWWYKP-0SgS368Jy7QCbpDpHJ2jiXTe9MYJrLdtofUUvc_ejlCCGvPx1Qp-dq9bIBnX4SadQIP7Hw_I0Tf0QsZ8Vjt7CQFJfCHF_fySlpFPSXGfzq9xnKqDcp_o5CAVte2mgdO_hu9gC670AWCmbbT4iB-7bNAHT17Wl/w300-h400/IMG_7166.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>...the Duquesne Incline! I suppose it is pretty iconic. But I think that those not from Pittsburgh might be overthinking how much it's actually used anymore.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJtwupviD0ZstnzM-irMIkKuHZkJHRD65VYOnvWsRUteQtlN1EMF_6er-C-vmAaBg7PUWEe-eLm_AodZ_gUNvIcoQ7RjrcQ2aP_xWDNq8B9pvWmwlvGxBCZtwWaZ3EI6hxAds2yY_IFGSPD3B1nes8fkugRGnUrxafIKcRuDJArpJk3ZmBh-IJmfC/s4032/IMG_7167.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJtwupviD0ZstnzM-irMIkKuHZkJHRD65VYOnvWsRUteQtlN1EMF_6er-C-vmAaBg7PUWEe-eLm_AodZ_gUNvIcoQ7RjrcQ2aP_xWDNq8B9pvWmwlvGxBCZtwWaZ3EI6hxAds2yY_IFGSPD3B1nes8fkugRGnUrxafIKcRuDJArpJk3ZmBh-IJmfC/w300-h400/IMG_7167.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>At the top of the Incline is, of course, scenic Mt. Washington, which is also name dropped in this issue. They made sure to name pretty much every location in this book.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9-jgRMb0P2fe4TPt7PLz6BdRGfLid9XdJHqrgGlu58aEIXPPVpajIUFZo2u_uCrbYVNB_Mkl6b7gxIkh-3g2eOzSTpnsl5wurFsN6_I2pQWmWlNa-7X8ZPeyWzu2mWDe_Vjkij7YnjHFp0w9eSuW3RNaIIHkYE3uD3fq-V3WQPaqVA7ozNeogUkZ/s4032/IMG_7168.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9-jgRMb0P2fe4TPt7PLz6BdRGfLid9XdJHqrgGlu58aEIXPPVpajIUFZo2u_uCrbYVNB_Mkl6b7gxIkh-3g2eOzSTpnsl5wurFsN6_I2pQWmWlNa-7X8ZPeyWzu2mWDe_Vjkij7YnjHFp0w9eSuW3RNaIIHkYE3uD3fq-V3WQPaqVA7ozNeogUkZ/w300-h400/IMG_7168.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>"We didn't get the opportunity to see the Incline car well enough on the last page. Put it in again."</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLRxYAAHSv1zvQm22giRQWk8ZpfGwycM00XYinz9qe-vLE2L86l86VTfr1uPFefhjd6yV3rIbunWNzEEq4nC1SkGKDc43CHa54zyUowMiOjJnYIML7oKR1OBeRIv9LPiw3VAMJMICzeTEL4ndSvb_9rppKPX3yDcZJffaEDtQoRUgZ0z1WIxkeftZ/s4032/IMG_7169.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLRxYAAHSv1zvQm22giRQWk8ZpfGwycM00XYinz9qe-vLE2L86l86VTfr1uPFefhjd6yV3rIbunWNzEEq4nC1SkGKDc43CHa54zyUowMiOjJnYIML7oKR1OBeRIv9LPiw3VAMJMICzeTEL4ndSvb_9rppKPX3yDcZJffaEDtQoRUgZ0z1WIxkeftZ/w300-h400/IMG_7169.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Wait, "the trolley"?! I take back everything good I've said so far.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNpKWwC16NToV_HoqwuxUZjWdLmC2kQVRSASgk6a75HpyeJo-ddiaZCRkSA9KWrlS3il5-EbtquO_7SQWa3tPQetUgE2tuhTckotR3DJwItrE85z5c6gvM_JizUmF8pMlmGV7-j7ricTBn-6rTiG3-kvErpMXRBqCjN-YW5-_ZKznxxuSvdlhLtpb/s4032/IMG_7170.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNpKWwC16NToV_HoqwuxUZjWdLmC2kQVRSASgk6a75HpyeJo-ddiaZCRkSA9KWrlS3il5-EbtquO_7SQWa3tPQetUgE2tuhTckotR3DJwItrE85z5c6gvM_JizUmF8pMlmGV7-j7ricTBn-6rTiG3-kvErpMXRBqCjN-YW5-_ZKznxxuSvdlhLtpb/w300-h400/IMG_7170.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>So Mary Jane has a sister, and also two young nephews?! And one of them is, I guess, a die-hard Pirates fan, even wearing the '70s-style pillbox hat? Do we ever see these people again?</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijB2yAc_TwZioJ58PNTTNJOehLpXYcRZQatTtgj1nw98wS3bPm034xq6Zn2W23Hq-zOvlTix1cxQtOwrKzXZmaF0qwPcBfnpfp70vgTxDm6aEJP313N6dbKNhW9uO9rUh09QFVOj8uEf58LJiVlpTcATOyZJGr6XosGabNBrTxOjlcT7zRXtTxOJt1/s4032/IMG_7171.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijB2yAc_TwZioJ58PNTTNJOehLpXYcRZQatTtgj1nw98wS3bPm034xq6Zn2W23Hq-zOvlTix1cxQtOwrKzXZmaF0qwPcBfnpfp70vgTxDm6aEJP313N6dbKNhW9uO9rUh09QFVOj8uEf58LJiVlpTcATOyZJGr6XosGabNBrTxOjlcT7zRXtTxOJt1/w300-h400/IMG_7171.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Our last scene for the book takes place at the Pittsburgh International Airport. Mysteries solved and villains defeated, Peter and MJ head back to New York.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAaA_UvUgtlSp395FKDFRZcifULoIYm7BnZvBSOTnctITPsOZXAGhMqoAiGsMSUkxoXvjK4TamPFb1VNZVy0Ta8zSZNZS7PXix_zzj6ZTfQURskfaVlPQt4vlUwwTkkTI6E2vURQmcAAz8EwXyNc9zjygvUtk_RtLUKUL9bRLMj2w1APqqK1bVbDO/s4032/IMG_7172.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAaA_UvUgtlSp395FKDFRZcifULoIYm7BnZvBSOTnctITPsOZXAGhMqoAiGsMSUkxoXvjK4TamPFb1VNZVy0Ta8zSZNZS7PXix_zzj6ZTfQURskfaVlPQt4vlUwwTkkTI6E2vURQmcAAz8EwXyNc9zjygvUtk_RtLUKUL9bRLMj2w1APqqK1bVbDO/w400-h300/IMG_7172.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>But not before Mary Jane accepts Peter's marriage proposal! Wait, what? What I thought was a throwaway issue is actually one of some spider-historical importance! It's actually the issue that leads directly into Amazing Spider-Man Annual #21 - the wedding issue!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOy141yh45oiI6Pv6os3k588-m-eEjA7QG2NLAPfGpjtzUvwsVy0RDjHGmZYuIYXOEg3YhWzliW92NN8HmSWnomqyQAnZBTD-khZCPpinsigMWbi1KGGnMnv4_lAaJ1LE93RWdvKvUq3tuNSYAYRMVbRx_v1fMsJe9plvMxjVS5MfOyngVeAh0kRL0/s4032/IMG_7173.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOy141yh45oiI6Pv6os3k588-m-eEjA7QG2NLAPfGpjtzUvwsVy0RDjHGmZYuIYXOEg3YhWzliW92NN8HmSWnomqyQAnZBTD-khZCPpinsigMWbi1KGGnMnv4_lAaJ1LE93RWdvKvUq3tuNSYAYRMVbRx_v1fMsJe9plvMxjVS5MfOyngVeAh0kRL0/w300-h400/IMG_7173.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div>The back cover confirms it! I had no idea.</div><div><br /></div><div>This whole issue was a pretty wild ride and I'm glad that I picked it up. It managed to squeeze in over a dozen Pittsburgh references in just over 20 pages. I'd love to find and share Pittsburgh in other comics, too, so if anyone has any suggestions, send 'em over!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1Pittsburgh, PA, USA40.440624799999988 -79.995886412.130390963821142 -115.1521364 68.750858636178833 -44.8396364tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880085391235005393.post-42866374953429700712022-03-14T01:32:00.004-04:002022-03-14T01:33:44.856-04:00Planet Comics #3 now on Kickstarter!<p> <iframe frameborder="0" height="270" scrolling="no" src="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jeffmcclelland/planet-comics-book-three/widget/video.html" width="480"> </iframe></p><p>Is it that time again? It is! It's once again time for a new issue of Planet Comics, your favorite oversized sci-fi anthology pulp comic tribute of the 21st century! It is all of those things.</p><p><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jeffmcclelland/planet-comics-book-three">The campaign for Planet Comics #3 is now live on Kickstarter,</a> and I hope that you'll check it out if you haven't yet. There's a little over a week left in the campaign, and the book has reached its initial goal. Let's take a look at some of the art and stories that will be included in this new issue!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2GecvePjUb7X6M6AvBPuNx8fvzmQHT8gvNmFBHYwVQTiPP9zXhlpVAoMGJ40sxXIctsoBYJEJdHAbtfymLj96b37bf81-YBMYpZcAyTu_nG8mo3Mmea96i60PX7VEXn2zxtVYhJjt_21vG2NnSun-F6CRg9ON0zmtDQi7sOv2H3lZjrUX0F_XPkB8=s1586" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1586" data-original-width="1220" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2GecvePjUb7X6M6AvBPuNx8fvzmQHT8gvNmFBHYwVQTiPP9zXhlpVAoMGJ40sxXIctsoBYJEJdHAbtfymLj96b37bf81-YBMYpZcAyTu_nG8mo3Mmea96i60PX7VEXn2zxtVYhJjt_21vG2NnSun-F6CRg9ON0zmtDQi7sOv2H3lZjrUX0F_XPkB8=w308-h400" width="308" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This issue starts off with a main cover by Nickolej Villiger! Nickolej is such a great talent and I'm sure you'll be seeing more of his work in the near future!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdPMqXWZPGou2NEzoJBQLWXMazF93CVzVkZb4T3nqe7S0HDPLiUBIQBTvPDa8bt2y1YRM_PA1CoYesvI0mEFHEkgYmKQjGM6l65k1yaTAHr4nTb8fekD8jsUV_acNgz49pR_JyQA53Tw0ry7y-UWDpoHZ47XktileW43HJiB2ZgTorGs4hnxnMPUh4=s2224" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2224" data-original-width="1710" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdPMqXWZPGou2NEzoJBQLWXMazF93CVzVkZb4T3nqe7S0HDPLiUBIQBTvPDa8bt2y1YRM_PA1CoYesvI0mEFHEkgYmKQjGM6l65k1yaTAHr4nTb8fekD8jsUV_acNgz49pR_JyQA53Tw0ry7y-UWDpoHZ47XktileW43HJiB2ZgTorGs4hnxnMPUh4=w308-h400" width="308" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Kickstarter-exclusive cover for this issue is by Hilary Barta, who has drawn so many weird and funny comics over the past few decades. I love his work on Radioactive Man from Bongo Comics!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiwZ-lbTpkyNjH1TkLWAsALobdymTCLJ4g2gCwQxr3wN91Gpm72nHNTuCNLs3Z8c5RtyMDR_lkCzX4LG0e1vXER3WfkfoCBEYEdPNhe1KUNes9rcRQmOPpelDHBoq6G_2vwryzh_XNthshKRpP-jcxpNrqo_pniJNSSxEfhVBKvRaxhetq2Dszg-0VD=s2188" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2188" data-original-width="1688" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiwZ-lbTpkyNjH1TkLWAsALobdymTCLJ4g2gCwQxr3wN91Gpm72nHNTuCNLs3Z8c5RtyMDR_lkCzX4LG0e1vXER3WfkfoCBEYEdPNhe1KUNes9rcRQmOPpelDHBoq6G_2vwryzh_XNthshKRpP-jcxpNrqo_pniJNSSxEfhVBKvRaxhetq2Dszg-0VD=w309-h400" width="309" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The Bulwark is back with another new chapter int his issue. Andrea Schiavone once again provides the art. He brings so much to this story and the book! I'm lucky to have him drawing the lead story.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhu7HewCK3j1zY_wA7a6Xa19HdRpxdd6sgnidEi5-HGyVexz2r1OYxUSgCDfah4u2vNTJ5wUZl0YXNQF9NayMPmQbqsXn1MUB8ZsM6NJW8B4CLC6TQsnDh0GFuj7Xsl_f2ifBjn7zjLDVyl-W-ujnvSzTNRGkpbRey9ustadmDcoKQWVFWcblzzoG7w=s2160" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="1670" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhu7HewCK3j1zY_wA7a6Xa19HdRpxdd6sgnidEi5-HGyVexz2r1OYxUSgCDfah4u2vNTJ5wUZl0YXNQF9NayMPmQbqsXn1MUB8ZsM6NJW8B4CLC6TQsnDh0GFuj7Xsl_f2ifBjn7zjLDVyl-W-ujnvSzTNRGkpbRey9ustadmDcoKQWVFWcblzzoG7w=w309-h400" width="309" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Jeff McComsey's "The Old Man and the Sea of Love" returns again as our other continuing story. More tales of big adventure on the high sea await!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6v6esIjm-4uAe4MA1iJzIb-qHbhy6mS_MlAWw8R7LOYaWLVaCyD1bxeC4GCMiD2Ts14aF_5rYgegZRq8-p_j_-KjE8X6ApLKc56yJ-NDA95OtXO6MOUSRiRxc2RWg84yN1j1fkWvq_KNC4cihYzImkDU5yrsKbkKKpHFWl25Mxg7Xvl5TEPP1ze1F=s2416" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2416" data-original-width="1874" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6v6esIjm-4uAe4MA1iJzIb-qHbhy6mS_MlAWw8R7LOYaWLVaCyD1bxeC4GCMiD2Ts14aF_5rYgegZRq8-p_j_-KjE8X6ApLKc56yJ-NDA95OtXO6MOUSRiRxc2RWg84yN1j1fkWvq_KNC4cihYzImkDU5yrsKbkKKpHFWl25Mxg7Xvl5TEPP1ze1F=w310-h400" width="310" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>There are a few new stories in this third issue, as well. The first has a weird western flavor provided by Joey Esposito and MoraMike. This story is called "Nixon: Small World."</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhA0o2E5Yn3-sjjQLqZT894dXcnn36hGpy2mNiDaAg9C5ZRf4UpvatBRfuz5ixMtyDgUKuFErFSnRy08veTiu_8413ApT3LmF_Kr12jUkpgOTNwA6Lm_DSPG3V85S4lu55cg5W6mfjmIphV5diI9KPq-ENR9kyzBSAbegxlGe_6YrP72EfD1v48T1Gu=s2184" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2184" data-original-width="1690" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhA0o2E5Yn3-sjjQLqZT894dXcnn36hGpy2mNiDaAg9C5ZRf4UpvatBRfuz5ixMtyDgUKuFErFSnRy08veTiu_8413ApT3LmF_Kr12jUkpgOTNwA6Lm_DSPG3V85S4lu55cg5W6mfjmIphV5diI9KPq-ENR9kyzBSAbegxlGe_6YrP72EfD1v48T1Gu=w310-h400" width="310" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm really excited about this short story from Grace Gilbert and Guillaume Deloizon, "Julián in Space." Grace is a former student in one of my comic book classes and she's a really great storyteller! Guillaume's art is so unique, especially in a book like this, and I think it adds such an interesting flair to the publication.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIMz1kH9NO-aGxNMbz-uaZJjK4SNWKcG9kVMgUCuytx14N9K-DzofFprivdU-Ca9axYc0keCzmkhd7459VvjbtgAv3KuOkei0B8PYAganyBjYCREdbiQf6OsvzThmWfAtwRycL_6xqbMsXbSdzcRNRn4lYqRPfK7b7dhQgM-ANOci6egwAbnF36wVX=s2414" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2414" data-original-width="1854" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIMz1kH9NO-aGxNMbz-uaZJjK4SNWKcG9kVMgUCuytx14N9K-DzofFprivdU-Ca9axYc0keCzmkhd7459VvjbtgAv3KuOkei0B8PYAganyBjYCREdbiQf6OsvzThmWfAtwRycL_6xqbMsXbSdzcRNRn4lYqRPfK7b7dhQgM-ANOci6egwAbnF36wVX=w308-h400" width="308" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>And get ready for this...Duane Redhead and I are creating a new Teddy and the Yeti story for this issue! This will be the first new T&Y story since 2014. I'm so excited to bring these characters back for the first time in a while.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjanmECIy7-WJWL2_L87G2QDMJTcb2VCoB0aj4Ykvlvpv1ziqNbLtCupmbbX9tdK9FM5DQfoQyb7MFOHt8AGUPeK2rL3hwdU12Z8niswHxSFz2dTHqrKYOk-tD63kOVuCJ5sC1mEmbK2NwYC42kN1W_cf-Df-M29KSK8Xg0RAcpYXO0XR9-7NkKntIx=s2230" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2230" data-original-width="1736" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjanmECIy7-WJWL2_L87G2QDMJTcb2VCoB0aj4Ykvlvpv1ziqNbLtCupmbbX9tdK9FM5DQfoQyb7MFOHt8AGUPeK2rL3hwdU12Z8niswHxSFz2dTHqrKYOk-tD63kOVuCJ5sC1mEmbK2NwYC42kN1W_cf-Df-M29KSK8Xg0RAcpYXO0XR9-7NkKntIx=w311-h400" width="311" /></a></div><br /><p>I'm also printing a blank sketch cover edition for the first time in the series. My pal Ian Nichols is offering up his services to draw sketches on these covers as one of the limited rewards! So you can get some bona fide original art with this campaign. I'm really looking forward to seeing some of these covers with pencils and ink on 'em.</p><iframe frameborder="0" height="420" scrolling="no" src="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jeffmcclelland/planet-comics-book-three/widget/card.html?v=2" width="220"></iframe><div><br /></div><div>This issue will probably end up being a few pages longer than the previous one, which will mean that issue #3 will be the biggest one yet. I'm grateful for the support this book has gathered in the past and I hope for at least a few more issues to come. <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jeffmcclelland/planet-comics-book-three">Please spread the word that Planet Comics #3 is now live!</a> Pledge if you can! Write me weird comments below this post!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1Bethlehem, PA, USA40.6259316 -75.37045789999999112.315697763821156 -110.52670789999999 68.93616543617884 -40.214207899999991tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880085391235005393.post-21564766114652099992022-02-20T23:30:00.003-05:002022-02-20T23:38:34.509-05:00I finally went to the Comic-Con Museum<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For the last 15 years, Comic-Con has grown from the pinnacle of pop culture conventions into something larger - a sprawling juggernaut that has become a celebration synonymous with comic books and pop culture in general. The folks at Comic-Con International, looking to expand the event's influence with a permanent, year-round location, announced the creation of the Comic-Con Museum a few years ago. I became a member in 2018, and in 2019, the newly repurposed building in Balboa Park opened for a preview of sorts during the '19 convention, ahead of its grand opening a year later.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The grand opening, of course, did not happen as planned, and it's fair to wonder, after two years of not having a regular convention and all of the revenue that streams from that, what the resulting limbo has done to both budgets and plans. In a lot of ways, it seemed that 2020 was going to be the pinnacle of Comic-Con, where it would really flex its muscles and become something more than a week-long experience and start having even more of an influence on San Diego with its permanent residence. Now, who knows? I'll be interested to see how the 2022 show handles what would otherwise be 150,000 people in close quarters with one another.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I didn't make it to the 2019 museum offsite, which featured a lot of Batman memorabilia, while it was open. I never made the time to break away from the convention center to travel the 15-or-so miles to Balboa Park, where the Comic-Con museum sits among other sites of interest. It's never easy to get to offsite events during the show, and the idea of taking an hour away from the convention just for traveling was too much for me at the time. Hindsight being what it is, I wish that I had started or finished a day at the museum back then.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg0e7e45dLHpHl2egYjMAlip42KuI-UY_TAqcks_mkIhdvqtfE0hitPrVO2RrBsZ_3R8xAM_cYLUz8MSxR56cJe3QFtgzUtlgDyqERik5jVofAmczgfNP9d-nlwWZcELi1VPSDCNYHf45HknnB5d3JuLq2r1fvVwaDF88p5rRD8glrbandcKbJ5P3nI=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg0e7e45dLHpHl2egYjMAlip42KuI-UY_TAqcks_mkIhdvqtfE0hitPrVO2RrBsZ_3R8xAM_cYLUz8MSxR56cJe3QFtgzUtlgDyqERik5jVofAmczgfNP9d-nlwWZcELi1VPSDCNYHf45HknnB5d3JuLq2r1fvVwaDF88p5rRD8glrbandcKbJ5P3nI=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>2021 was different, though. After the Special Edition show ended on Sunday, I knew what I'd be doing at 10:00 on Monday, and I traveled to the museum to finally check it out. I arrived about 15 minutes after the museum opened, and I was one of the only visitors for much of my time there. It was a little weird to get the museum almost all to myself, but I was able to talk with some of the staff as I wandered the three floors, which certainly added to the experience.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj26woANKyO9vyLqnLv2QtfDhs-4fW7q6FdjKb6Kk9AyR2VH16UdKBTgXlZLfGVhghhxLwW7xJ6zTW1Fy1OJVHjV5IPbYPNNZSM4ckC31KSmr3eHVrONKV0oVRpgOR5C96Dn_67vnFop3eCOqrM130xBGM1REy33tG-_4MDv98Q5UVAsJsToVbQnx4N=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj26woANKyO9vyLqnLv2QtfDhs-4fW7q6FdjKb6Kk9AyR2VH16UdKBTgXlZLfGVhghhxLwW7xJ6zTW1Fy1OJVHjV5IPbYPNNZSM4ckC31KSmr3eHVrONKV0oVRpgOR5C96Dn_67vnFop3eCOqrM130xBGM1REy33tG-_4MDv98Q5UVAsJsToVbQnx4N=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>One of the first things I saw upon entering was the cardboard sculpture display, which showed off these amazing creations, mostly built by children, using cardboard boxes.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizXbaWexMEh2L1RORrJga5ItdHB5_lI2c7iKLA71vH0lOKAsvr9D6YMKjFA_qGmAkaccSh1UQv0-s2a2OF61HAe1ielyeRDFtexl8Ix3UiGHcJa6eI20J7-5Kk8heJCeLGybRlyvgIuID13b0uqtZJo4fBMvMfCWIu1uSMpIrIvfMBwB-hG3h2d9Ll=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizXbaWexMEh2L1RORrJga5ItdHB5_lI2c7iKLA71vH0lOKAsvr9D6YMKjFA_qGmAkaccSh1UQv0-s2a2OF61HAe1ielyeRDFtexl8Ix3UiGHcJa6eI20J7-5Kk8heJCeLGybRlyvgIuID13b0uqtZJo4fBMvMfCWIu1uSMpIrIvfMBwB-hG3h2d9Ll=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Most of the sculptures were labeled with the names and ages of the creators. It was really something to see a beautifully designed, life size figure that ended up being made by a 10 or 11-year-old kid. It was all really impressive!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5BhKn8l1gUkEu6vDR79-yDbOKRxFgiXkOwo42P8SoGjUjpNkFOqCGEjMXKoKooTViuAlqnyJigZfpPNrmB5uSr2YFvD_GOoqmPqa2v2D8IzbQBJOAlzSrDL8fP7tXnQfNCjbmQfnSzPtpdscio-MsUTnMhh3Sr--i5iPN39z775yCaapZy9E17KWJ=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5BhKn8l1gUkEu6vDR79-yDbOKRxFgiXkOwo42P8SoGjUjpNkFOqCGEjMXKoKooTViuAlqnyJigZfpPNrmB5uSr2YFvD_GOoqmPqa2v2D8IzbQBJOAlzSrDL8fP7tXnQfNCjbmQfnSzPtpdscio-MsUTnMhh3Sr--i5iPN39z775yCaapZy9E17KWJ=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This Hulkbuster Iron Man was the biggest sculpture on display.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_1lsA5Ga3oAtOjJa67Qxc-9lEU9rme8fjl2Ij30ZP8emSiREUMzVAp1JtsaOoTET-oDuHnUyoP34Eqr5o06sDp8O8XyYIKhR3XQdFshzHPT06ug778OUEmHBveiQBJjha22c4pc4JKfYchVLfY2TJORRONcKsyOV6nXChLt4jQ4EDNjqtT-vWhL_U=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_1lsA5Ga3oAtOjJa67Qxc-9lEU9rme8fjl2Ij30ZP8emSiREUMzVAp1JtsaOoTET-oDuHnUyoP34Eqr5o06sDp8O8XyYIKhR3XQdFshzHPT06ug778OUEmHBveiQBJjha22c4pc4JKfYchVLfY2TJORRONcKsyOV6nXChLt4jQ4EDNjqtT-vWhL_U=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Just check out Black Manta's weapon. Sheesh!</div> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhYVzebIGxgO2AohldszOFBuqoPaHXgqInCJnB9mYlvnt6-D57_YoWExpte_bzA2iuNvUAunFadvqhxT91egVATHnO8q4T0XRdmLTDRG6YG6byNIkDqfENAu0FSsnDn3IInzg79EB0k3DjXlnjPaBDTcvFIARtri53esXvWbOJslpI-0LSUi1e8mdPB=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhYVzebIGxgO2AohldszOFBuqoPaHXgqInCJnB9mYlvnt6-D57_YoWExpte_bzA2iuNvUAunFadvqhxT91egVATHnO8q4T0XRdmLTDRG6YG6byNIkDqfENAu0FSsnDn3IInzg79EB0k3DjXlnjPaBDTcvFIARtri53esXvWbOJslpI-0LSUi1e8mdPB=s320" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At the very end of the display was this Comic-Con Museum logo. There was a lot of stuff that I loved seeing here, but the cardboard display was probably what impressed me most.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTgUa-wZCFIfM3sPU-nVn94xLBGgaM4kBw9aTNxg__x9FLd9h2CCX0MosYH_gaoQV4x3OTSwE9mFOoqzV0ycXO2uwtvdXlWDef5hO55Xtic8YkuyzNj_pS4N5o8dtCpp1rSO7t58RKC795jcMuYodlldLsPF0fYRqsoRDR7Ez6-W3nUinKeaufvEYN=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTgUa-wZCFIfM3sPU-nVn94xLBGgaM4kBw9aTNxg__x9FLd9h2CCX0MosYH_gaoQV4x3OTSwE9mFOoqzV0ycXO2uwtvdXlWDef5hO55Xtic8YkuyzNj_pS4N5o8dtCpp1rSO7t58RKC795jcMuYodlldLsPF0fYRqsoRDR7Ez6-W3nUinKeaufvEYN=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Also in a prominent location were these, and other costumes, which I soon learned were from the Comic-Con Masquerade events from years past. This means that these costumes were also fan-made, and given to the museum to display.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDL2d-2z8gUPcvJqlwOJkKPhCQ5dMwyV41Mgz7P2sST4RD1jSV_zSv4__7jzsKqOMkON8n6lDlvArYR63b5SMHJTBvDqqojq3TFzjXQ53Jl0vvdobae8o-YUF7FZRU3JUl393IVQZ4lIh_3vv03vbC0Ka-haUdaPNkHLP0rFI6WLjICXAYp_A2V3hd=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDL2d-2z8gUPcvJqlwOJkKPhCQ5dMwyV41Mgz7P2sST4RD1jSV_zSv4__7jzsKqOMkON8n6lDlvArYR63b5SMHJTBvDqqojq3TFzjXQ53Jl0vvdobae8o-YUF7FZRU3JUl393IVQZ4lIh_3vv03vbC0Ka-haUdaPNkHLP0rFI6WLjICXAYp_A2V3hd=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At least thematically, I think this worked really well. Rather than just being a museum for pop culture stuff, they're obviously trying to make it something that feels like Comic-Con and includes some of the best parts of the convention.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Years ago, when Comic-Con had a gallery at the San Diego Public Library (which was pretty clearly a lead up to the museum and its permanent display place), I remember seeing a display of Comic-Con program cover art. I wish that that display had a permanent place here at the museum. I'm sure they've got it around somewhere, and I know that there's never enough space for everything, but having a permanent display of Comic-Con history is something I think they should have.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWjrdhyTkhMJa3YcdmBKjMXLKtWm7HpTCF8mds_8O_yJ11GTJf76U9GIkjijDOkAgKrZAAUl5mI3aw9lD6LE9vfZWuGD1HPivvH3W60Fzp09nT6EpzsiXmHnLwH-9L18D6vtfyBNK8sTJROmtX6mbtb573uq-JgbIRxrYNf39hjmHFUfcyEIEAbC6g=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWjrdhyTkhMJa3YcdmBKjMXLKtWm7HpTCF8mds_8O_yJ11GTJf76U9GIkjijDOkAgKrZAAUl5mI3aw9lD6LE9vfZWuGD1HPivvH3W60Fzp09nT6EpzsiXmHnLwH-9L18D6vtfyBNK8sTJROmtX6mbtb573uq-JgbIRxrYNf39hjmHFUfcyEIEAbC6g=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>After seeing the costumes, I checked out the Archie Comics display. Beyond just artwork and collectibles, this wing had a 1950s Archie motif to it.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjj6C2kry8seKpV3Y2cFyN49TrpafgeUXfe_ZFbyGvhm6RDf-nF4aWCh_9IZ37bo5tEvvWXfRTBy_x5rMAZ58NCriuUDyBc4akwNG14Kg3Ui8FxJTZ1TKXunVQls39wep6Qi8ACw-Nj7IeUEXlDzGIaYFVF7fJ-waB0P8tQphrVAKVHmE79kQguWG51=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjj6C2kry8seKpV3Y2cFyN49TrpafgeUXfe_ZFbyGvhm6RDf-nF4aWCh_9IZ37bo5tEvvWXfRTBy_x5rMAZ58NCriuUDyBc4akwNG14Kg3Ui8FxJTZ1TKXunVQls39wep6Qi8ACw-Nj7IeUEXlDzGIaYFVF7fJ-waB0P8tQphrVAKVHmE79kQguWG51=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This display felt a little more random to me than some of the others, without a clear purpose, but there were still a lot of great pieces or art to see.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5mMv0ZMYA05gJMwkkS3fJYN2mKjKga2-aHwx1KnIPj9HMLm_V6CNmlDPzFWdaLatUU3wK2qEQpV-8Ui6Yi0iGNv0QWs_i2eKB2VPbiLs2wpJ0LdmmSss_oaubZZ8_pSNYPqgc9cfYMsPbr3sETfxZx8GWvhtHkLgexgK-bG1S2Bl7Eu19wwwFVeSL=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5mMv0ZMYA05gJMwkkS3fJYN2mKjKga2-aHwx1KnIPj9HMLm_V6CNmlDPzFWdaLatUU3wK2qEQpV-8Ui6Yi0iGNv0QWs_i2eKB2VPbiLs2wpJ0LdmmSss_oaubZZ8_pSNYPqgc9cfYMsPbr3sETfxZx8GWvhtHkLgexgK-bG1S2Bl7Eu19wwwFVeSL=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>There was also a small section dedicated to the real-life Archies musical group.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0DtML0hahLReO3GJUxJCVsWsUp0fE3Yqn8k7e4R8DShNsUUBWjRSbZvyKBCh6N0xcR26K1dFkx3XTeVsy2vsG7ZT4KhUw8dY1EKG0gidGmSByRr7LZRGHUY4t4w8yL09z4sNNaByfXRJLxN2Cnwx-tfeNKWwfq3EnicB_t62jwHUSDnu20t9YKPKY=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0DtML0hahLReO3GJUxJCVsWsUp0fE3Yqn8k7e4R8DShNsUUBWjRSbZvyKBCh6N0xcR26K1dFkx3XTeVsy2vsG7ZT4KhUw8dY1EKG0gidGmSByRr7LZRGHUY4t4w8yL09z4sNNaByfXRJLxN2Cnwx-tfeNKWwfq3EnicB_t62jwHUSDnu20t9YKPKY=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The Gene Roddenberry exhibit was what I was most excited to see, and it inhabited the most prominent location on the museum floor. The display was created so it looks like you're entering the ship through a corridor. On the floor you'll see multicolored lined. Each of these lines included events from Roddenberry's life on them, and you could follow them throughout the exhibit.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWsrCRNlfURpzlTEB6lq3Xk2405_B9HvavIKySK3Uq-jvXqp7QluaM9WFUUFYcELPBq_cZDGdFaBVkwShxz5uz2SQFBHL4mmEuwdb7YDdkNNwQwBwrGN1euK9F7XQZHZe0Ockst5aSE1O_Hm8P8P1Mnet8hmofq-De31-9fE3ChimALYsQhorR0z8t=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhWsrCRNlfURpzlTEB6lq3Xk2405_B9HvavIKySK3Uq-jvXqp7QluaM9WFUUFYcELPBq_cZDGdFaBVkwShxz5uz2SQFBHL4mmEuwdb7YDdkNNwQwBwrGN1euK9F7XQZHZe0Ockst5aSE1O_Hm8P8P1Mnet8hmofq-De31-9fE3ChimALYsQhorR0z8t=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I don't know if these costume props are the originals (there was nothing indicating that they were), but they were still great to see.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCbEbg5xWo2uBgbc4S2pu_21RDwCCP6iw1fhGudyQxXdwLCNuybxJ189qAQzOTIKIU0KdoZrzjPaJORihcvVt7RdZI4lIsXZXKD02FhlMeAB6N0-JtdyG09NxsvAibes8WCmQp8DpuYF6WaboVGekE6rbEekyhQU7IQkEfDKfZDcU0-1gnRq1pjIRn=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCbEbg5xWo2uBgbc4S2pu_21RDwCCP6iw1fhGudyQxXdwLCNuybxJ189qAQzOTIKIU0KdoZrzjPaJORihcvVt7RdZI4lIsXZXKD02FhlMeAB6N0-JtdyG09NxsvAibes8WCmQp8DpuYF6WaboVGekE6rbEekyhQU7IQkEfDKfZDcU0-1gnRq1pjIRn=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The Gorn! </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIBCyA9mGN24QVorFEaKzjV12v-dX3ABcTWPo5f-4mt1gWoe8f-CgsXyZBS7hM8x4wEYWxT58Covs8MrYGa0Pr8kmssAlzsCvQk-UoK-ZoaZcb80iKLX4ttHjvuI9b3Om92DcWkjHw6N7S8Egv64zyRcGTDUOHieneK_dBvk8D0XFWF55s4UYfYBZs=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIBCyA9mGN24QVorFEaKzjV12v-dX3ABcTWPo5f-4mt1gWoe8f-CgsXyZBS7hM8x4wEYWxT58Covs8MrYGa0Pr8kmssAlzsCvQk-UoK-ZoaZcb80iKLX4ttHjvuI9b3Om92DcWkjHw6N7S8Egv64zyRcGTDUOHieneK_dBvk8D0XFWF55s4UYfYBZs=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The uniforms, though, were labeled as originals from the various shows. Here we have a Next Generation uniform with Discovery uniforms on the bookends.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9DQOuIJJf-7eGbqtyf-2VMEhv9ZnbSMoESzNkZPS-qkwo0ieOTPGxessGzFYoChdIt6BrCMTvmdzD0FdijcN4ODbMAwOjv-xUCwDfDZjkOFDP2cfL5FDIWwC7J53Ad5eUzzuqv5ecFNjrTHIfQS3jJVSsdgMfXMe66ievGiK9VuqG9wx4aBM-v8CH=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9DQOuIJJf-7eGbqtyf-2VMEhv9ZnbSMoESzNkZPS-qkwo0ieOTPGxessGzFYoChdIt6BrCMTvmdzD0FdijcN4ODbMAwOjv-xUCwDfDZjkOFDP2cfL5FDIWwC7J53Ad5eUzzuqv5ecFNjrTHIfQS3jJVSsdgMfXMe66ievGiK9VuqG9wx4aBM-v8CH=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Why was this chair roped off? Why wouldn't they let me sit in it? Outrageous!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6t-MLGUiKIxNYMdHJHhXdx9USjSzvia_78iVr2HQc8cOEoHpDQ6YqS_w9m9N8DZOXzUPJAQnTCnXaCN_W0FoVQXZ7r99n-Wvk-P-AMbeWKM8k8DKcIYrDd-f_EwmUanXz67FcqBFoukJqmNF_duzRGVb17z1Uf3E68q-SE_SFZMnPe3DrCUku5ZPt=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6t-MLGUiKIxNYMdHJHhXdx9USjSzvia_78iVr2HQc8cOEoHpDQ6YqS_w9m9N8DZOXzUPJAQnTCnXaCN_W0FoVQXZ7r99n-Wvk-P-AMbeWKM8k8DKcIYrDd-f_EwmUanXz67FcqBFoukJqmNF_duzRGVb17z1Uf3E68q-SE_SFZMnPe3DrCUku5ZPt=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I believe the Talosian in the middle is from an episode of Discovery, not the pilot episode "The Cage" from the '60s.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPolWie83AL8k_zr6DsiuX2w5lJeUmgoGz1YkZYLGbJZzPb3XDt71lmwMMv1wfDTCM2jOlS-3Q8O7u7lWXwIyLtH5E3m-UnC6nEr7aPoWqJrkurxErVEtjlPL-fgbizRNvxsvDyM3vrcR35pi4zO8uq0yeRztb4StrYChFN5SnLvN5wNh9a1FFmE8i=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPolWie83AL8k_zr6DsiuX2w5lJeUmgoGz1YkZYLGbJZzPb3XDt71lmwMMv1wfDTCM2jOlS-3Q8O7u7lWXwIyLtH5E3m-UnC6nEr7aPoWqJrkurxErVEtjlPL-fgbizRNvxsvDyM3vrcR35pi4zO8uq0yeRztb4StrYChFN5SnLvN5wNh9a1FFmE8i=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>After making my way through all of the Star Trek items, I walked upstairs to the Creator's Lab that doubles as a classroom space. I'm sure that those at the museum are itching to use this space more fully, and hopefully they'll get a chance soon. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgaqUpVdYeeTY3AnvYwDVY5PA331wxF3-2QhyfuoqBGMFvYMGYGvx6N-VbGqVV0rEdfbExQmlxbrRRGR8rLfqirXQiM4LuyTYK2SwrKXgDQpJnYGqu6_k2BZbfpPDGFJaG8PwRz481JCCLP0qk7M7XbggC5GE8hTMIFzD4w4At9DidmDmHMSepgwJot=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgaqUpVdYeeTY3AnvYwDVY5PA331wxF3-2QhyfuoqBGMFvYMGYGvx6N-VbGqVV0rEdfbExQmlxbrRRGR8rLfqirXQiM4LuyTYK2SwrKXgDQpJnYGqu6_k2BZbfpPDGFJaG8PwRz481JCCLP0qk7M7XbggC5GE8hTMIFzD4w4At9DidmDmHMSepgwJot=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The space held costuming materials as well as these models - I don't know who will be able to use this space when it's more widely open, but what I did see was very impressive!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjV2Q-X7KzAep-dKvv6tMPh_SLBIK0Gwvc-XwIlRA2W8hLgY0LxLlirCfozNmhvClnaHb2BbPlynn4BgPNGQvc__0BcwluLGX1MlcpN2WQAxnWnfcxsSnByfQG1NavfogGckn31Z52lF_ooicjCjj6TcrTqLyNtsoYrXPRXe5liCgBFaxjdDtQecytl=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjV2Q-X7KzAep-dKvv6tMPh_SLBIK0Gwvc-XwIlRA2W8hLgY0LxLlirCfozNmhvClnaHb2BbPlynn4BgPNGQvc__0BcwluLGX1MlcpN2WQAxnWnfcxsSnByfQG1NavfogGckn31Z52lF_ooicjCjj6TcrTqLyNtsoYrXPRXe5liCgBFaxjdDtQecytl=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>On the drawing board, figuratively and literally, is Captain Carter, Marvel's new What If...? character.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiW3X5DGqF0l4Nh13WRDgwXbf6IYBljKijmwTk61QjDmXy-fPsccaIjqbj6D8_1-bwlZjl1Bk6BlguU2LyDbls4n_QNmeTRAROqZhsMfF1w-lhRNfvZAkV5YvIm8D5_QdFluVX57QlCuYanYA6gWXLgr7homYlmf6YtcvreknO9KeZeH37dldbxIIQp=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiW3X5DGqF0l4Nh13WRDgwXbf6IYBljKijmwTk61QjDmXy-fPsccaIjqbj6D8_1-bwlZjl1Bk6BlguU2LyDbls4n_QNmeTRAROqZhsMfF1w-lhRNfvZAkV5YvIm8D5_QdFluVX57QlCuYanYA6gWXLgr7homYlmf6YtcvreknO9KeZeH37dldbxIIQp=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Around the walkway along the third floor, I saw a number of original drawings from Addams Family creator Charles Addams. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjT-riLQjB0zSd-zcsnlbIyMWvrr8Xl3edo0cCCVfcJY7hd7a3N3yzZiNeUBe1WhfY6tKRTbCcOBWd-CpNsYShix5Ysm12txqihoZKA41C7cyMWmKXzneQekJQlHFoHZH2xr8hgmkIKi7ycXN2_FPj0CoyZ_dNZsQph1mKBgTBn6mE-gX9_vr8qc9Q8=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjT-riLQjB0zSd-zcsnlbIyMWvrr8Xl3edo0cCCVfcJY7hd7a3N3yzZiNeUBe1WhfY6tKRTbCcOBWd-CpNsYShix5Ysm12txqihoZKA41C7cyMWmKXzneQekJQlHFoHZH2xr8hgmkIKi7ycXN2_FPj0CoyZ_dNZsQph1mKBgTBn6mE-gX9_vr8qc9Q8=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Most of the art dealt with subjects other than the Addams Family. This was my favorite of the dozens of framed pieces on display.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPKmt2LhFZKU9OwM68ddJxNmFB68x3luvs3R1UGn4ZnnWiZQVYjI0XBDOtj1XNM2zzljyahHvVcWpmlqEJdTqMTIisC33YWNqINwS2fqj0T609nZrBwmKdK7BKG4SjhLorSDXq3enp0V89HiWnkkRyelBn68djE0IJYLyEygPIvLurAtX1Eq_eoQZq=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPKmt2LhFZKU9OwM68ddJxNmFB68x3luvs3R1UGn4ZnnWiZQVYjI0XBDOtj1XNM2zzljyahHvVcWpmlqEJdTqMTIisC33YWNqINwS2fqj0T609nZrBwmKdK7BKG4SjhLorSDXq3enp0V89HiWnkkRyelBn68djE0IJYLyEygPIvLurAtX1Eq_eoQZq=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>But there was, of course, plenty of Addams Family artwork, too.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyCYEs2R9Rc85b9a19YqswkrJcOt1XGfLuzuT9tdHYrQFbRYxdR1Kh5zD4roAUgETpMB5VAducNrU28PgsR3-wEqlvzkkXipteryIIZUzgAwWiRMHP963uEIxz69JbA7S46PVGlK4WpVrxEM07o3-cbdlNqtMTw6pLGl3XPwbJsX4BFw1LGQmJVxsg=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyCYEs2R9Rc85b9a19YqswkrJcOt1XGfLuzuT9tdHYrQFbRYxdR1Kh5zD4roAUgETpMB5VAducNrU28PgsR3-wEqlvzkkXipteryIIZUzgAwWiRMHP963uEIxz69JbA7S46PVGlK4WpVrxEM07o3-cbdlNqtMTw6pLGl3XPwbJsX4BFw1LGQmJVxsg=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I saved the Pac Man exhibit for last. This display felt secreted away in its own cubbyhole, the all-black background from ceiling to floor making it seem apart from everything else. It kind of looks like an arcade from the outside.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjD_6ONU_yBcFBaoxFEltcrBPtVCVNTiarSn9xIa5Db-yuupWSsDr3fS0cgExAkr_PYVwIeSoKrOkNdPMLCTezJVLyqzo87Nw_CDowm7N6MCY2T2ej0Lh1BLt9iCHx8KVT0MBatQV9lmSuXkqbgCbBs5tevVtcGz1EaHRKee9140nr4GATt1w0v2Yje=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjD_6ONU_yBcFBaoxFEltcrBPtVCVNTiarSn9xIa5Db-yuupWSsDr3fS0cgExAkr_PYVwIeSoKrOkNdPMLCTezJVLyqzo87Nw_CDowm7N6MCY2T2ej0Lh1BLt9iCHx8KVT0MBatQV9lmSuXkqbgCbBs5tevVtcGz1EaHRKee9140nr4GATt1w0v2Yje=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>There was a lot of memorabilia to see. I think these items were under glass to keep onlookers from getting Pac Man Fever.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrYA7t0qAhFkvz6MevWC0fReZrLMkbSxR_QLXUGGPHRmpAGsae2AQyVaO1NUYXP_uwD1S1BDWWQcmtUT8FOTvo18I5M3FjrUpEMAHrM23GofKd3yZpAulFyoVldhStjVNgpYg_HL7Cq04yeJGUmqPgaxbPAjiyz4F9La1uWBTflPnZCWx53TOA7ej8=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrYA7t0qAhFkvz6MevWC0fReZrLMkbSxR_QLXUGGPHRmpAGsae2AQyVaO1NUYXP_uwD1S1BDWWQcmtUT8FOTvo18I5M3FjrUpEMAHrM23GofKd3yZpAulFyoVldhStjVNgpYg_HL7Cq04yeJGUmqPgaxbPAjiyz4F9La1uWBTflPnZCWx53TOA7ej8=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The exhibit itself felt a little bit light on content, but these design documents looked pretty cool.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJu9NYeeSRxgZBYJxjc3iNR0EkVbKa8HApO_rexb19fHbQsMm0X16pbQ20dlXBHKrSNqzJkUWwt7rBsR3ezEDeITaqINwGxV8SXL5fjbqwGt9wyP4sSDXWI87Xbq-YuoXOIg8Lz7bA_ATa39ePuHheklMKXFPyedFG4QHhDY_pyoDFjXMlE2FxYYI9=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJu9NYeeSRxgZBYJxjc3iNR0EkVbKa8HApO_rexb19fHbQsMm0X16pbQ20dlXBHKrSNqzJkUWwt7rBsR3ezEDeITaqINwGxV8SXL5fjbqwGt9wyP4sSDXWI87Xbq-YuoXOIg8Lz7bA_ATa39ePuHheklMKXFPyedFG4QHhDY_pyoDFjXMlE2FxYYI9=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Tucked away in one corner was this really awesome Pac Man pinball machine! I had never played this game before and spent a few minutes with it. The machine was set to free play, and since I was the only one there, I might have played more than my share. It was a lot of fun.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEij_smm34yRjs8rTLh4qFq9Rpwi7bZPtMd3fljvO40JrAULrOs8SVDRKxFbNFMpwnysOrWedU3_j23juAWXmFFSaa1HYZjvnxMOZGciNs7frzL8rbQwFxzE46B-nT01A6lKJbMxwDIu8MbiR1VJFj4Irdzs6-sB46JIlgJplLbUB4K6AuIGIx1dpE9h=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEij_smm34yRjs8rTLh4qFq9Rpwi7bZPtMd3fljvO40JrAULrOs8SVDRKxFbNFMpwnysOrWedU3_j23juAWXmFFSaa1HYZjvnxMOZGciNs7frzL8rbQwFxzE46B-nT01A6lKJbMxwDIu8MbiR1VJFj4Irdzs6-sB46JIlgJplLbUB4K6AuIGIx1dpE9h=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I absolutely loved getting to finally see this museum. There's a lot of potential for exhibits, programming and other types of outreach at this place. It feels like a grab bag of Comic-Con which is exactly what I was looking for, even after leaving the truncated convention just a day earlier. I would love to make it back here the next time I'm in town.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgW0noycOs-2bgczTetFd4-hlRd-S8xK0-1Z0J5mhcLiSL7vhT9nWy9uTjocdzp-xf1zpTz3WyvjeO4_7B7_yMk8Z7g-MbTtStxVvL99VXXHeOnIPG5mTnEMnkJV9dSy4jDSVnTYGmi39WbxexeXal2upzZHEI5eyUJKM5Q3vcsY0yoXJQMp5TsjEcS=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgW0noycOs-2bgczTetFd4-hlRd-S8xK0-1Z0J5mhcLiSL7vhT9nWy9uTjocdzp-xf1zpTz3WyvjeO4_7B7_yMk8Z7g-MbTtStxVvL99VXXHeOnIPG5mTnEMnkJV9dSy4jDSVnTYGmi39WbxexeXal2upzZHEI5eyUJKM5Q3vcsY0yoXJQMp5TsjEcS=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This trip to San Diego allowed me to see a number of things that I normally wouldn't be able to, and I'm really happy to have not only had the chance to get back to this town, but to also explore some things a little more. Before I left, I made one last stop - to the Cat Café in downtown. The cats had moved across the street since the last time I was there.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgLoKbI6u57Qv6wTY6LnFk-YhoC4iW3wYfFtWfWHWMvqndWcYcpA32z1S3Q3znFCOrTtAh4BYmY1LNYQZ2U6Kp4zBj3FAX6m64Zp1jfhiSpW5BLgGaHemrDpjgA2dElP9A6XcdPTu74ptzAD6UCGM6QZNUXfDpLcGk8FfCb-T_Y07uskmzecHn7-Pgc=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgLoKbI6u57Qv6wTY6LnFk-YhoC4iW3wYfFtWfWHWMvqndWcYcpA32z1S3Q3znFCOrTtAh4BYmY1LNYQZ2U6Kp4zBj3FAX6m64Zp1jfhiSpW5BLgGaHemrDpjgA2dElP9A6XcdPTu74ptzAD6UCGM6QZNUXfDpLcGk8FfCb-T_Y07uskmzecHn7-Pgc=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>But they still had cats. I think this guy got adopted just a couple days after I was there.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhopawNuq3TvC-oHBc6C7XDSkarwnpMCQg8Gu6HK6tZmhFqvw9OVViGfZMh7Xkp_ohllZTT7GAxcOngdZDsgaGBcCqHSfQd0HCE7zqT5ScmKNmG0WSn_ETyHBHulr80U4kPxQzR_TbXFY9jAxH70hbpZlOj-TqbO3FyZENCoh0ITkPeSAIDCCIfUp61=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhopawNuq3TvC-oHBc6C7XDSkarwnpMCQg8Gu6HK6tZmhFqvw9OVViGfZMh7Xkp_ohllZTT7GAxcOngdZDsgaGBcCqHSfQd0HCE7zqT5ScmKNmG0WSn_ETyHBHulr80U4kPxQzR_TbXFY9jAxH70hbpZlOj-TqbO3FyZENCoh0ITkPeSAIDCCIfUp61=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><p>As I was leaving my parking space, I saw the Peacemaker banner coming down from the outside of the hotel. It's a Comic-Con tradition! I don't know what 2022 will bring for Comic-Con. I know that the organizers are planning on having a show in July. No matter what happens, I was really glad to be able to see the city, the convention, and some of the surrounding area again for the first time in what felt like a very long time. Here's hoping for better days ahead.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com12131 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101, USA32.7271677 -117.15230244.416933863821157 -152.3085524 61.037401536178848 -81.9960524tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880085391235005393.post-54748346562772853912022-02-08T00:52:00.004-05:002022-02-08T00:52:40.048-05:00San Diego's Now Or Never Comics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Going to a comic book shop during Comic-Con International may seem like a weird thing to do - and it is - but I've always wanted to go to San Diego's Now Or Never store, and this November, I was able to visit for the first time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNQNL-M-AfNjaeW0Fx6tdagA9yElbwcPgFB2R9uyZ1kUXTMsn0qwhH-87dCe8Co9TQMb5pwuglTd1Yr6lWpeLTieCTtKeJh2ObK_YZW5jDRge6qEahcyLEuZpVS0h-2jF070BEVAQuj2e_tnYyPLrjodMD0EoIq9HX2W7Q6VHyjwDMUgD-UFuJTFju=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNQNL-M-AfNjaeW0Fx6tdagA9yElbwcPgFB2R9uyZ1kUXTMsn0qwhH-87dCe8Co9TQMb5pwuglTd1Yr6lWpeLTieCTtKeJh2ObK_YZW5jDRge6qEahcyLEuZpVS0h-2jF070BEVAQuj2e_tnYyPLrjodMD0EoIq9HX2W7Q6VHyjwDMUgD-UFuJTFju=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now Or Never Comics opened in 2018 and it immediately landed on my radar, if for nothing else than the fact that it was a downtown comic book shop that was within walking distance of the San Diego Convention Center. I am a very big proponent of Comic-Con sprawl during the convention, and I'm always excited to see what related events are happening throughout the city while the show is going on. But once Comic-Con starts, reality sets in, and it becomes evident that there are only so many hours in a day. Because of this, sites and events that at one time seemed to be can't miss items end up getting lopped off of convention schedules because of the dreaded time crunch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If I remember correctly, Now Or Never Comics hadn't opened in time for Comic-Con 2018, and I didn't find time to walk there in 2019. I made plans to go on the Monday after the show ended, but Mondays are the one day out of the week that the shop is closed, so I never made it to the shop until this past year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheu2nt_wBce6FUUH9R9DN6v2yNMK-3dQc1NcPnKjGcNZ3lredcDa3sWl3ivtxA0TRAAK7k9tRBTvMbJuxnAyYfpODNGsDO8Zh4gnZ8g0Qii6T4fA9uo4Za1Yve7lc5JnaMzGE3KAVkpumvH1y7bWjHdHzNHlZ9iSuQO5tqYXXcyCJuHyuf6GwsTrra=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheu2nt_wBce6FUUH9R9DN6v2yNMK-3dQc1NcPnKjGcNZ3lredcDa3sWl3ivtxA0TRAAK7k9tRBTvMbJuxnAyYfpODNGsDO8Zh4gnZ8g0Qii6T4fA9uo4Za1Yve7lc5JnaMzGE3KAVkpumvH1y7bWjHdHzNHlZ9iSuQO5tqYXXcyCJuHyuf6GwsTrra=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sunday at the Comic-Con Special Edition ended up being a perfect day for me to walk to different locations around town and to see things that I normally wouldn't have time for during a regular show. It was a very decompressed day in general, so I took advantage and spent time walking to a couple different places in downtown San Diego, including this comic book shop located on F Street.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The store is located in a two-story building made of brick and concrete, a somewhat condensed space with high ceilings and seemingly every space utilized. The main floor is populated most prominently by drawers of back issues. I ended up buying that Miracleman issue in the picture above.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLe037Ybqv8g1nbP9xi0nlAT5eSzjJyqk9Vs3D1KY-CJeKH5AJkWWlpU3N2rhD9NXnkQ0FOFqiZIjpE9RXE9BwVvDTq7zVTD8URvsngN-8nzI8ijdDnGgCwzCFV88MCgA57DTb3LTb4rd6USq-tiV6T8D63xl8fU1UZ2RxfBFYuYiFnYWizPqwPIDk=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLe037Ybqv8g1nbP9xi0nlAT5eSzjJyqk9Vs3D1KY-CJeKH5AJkWWlpU3N2rhD9NXnkQ0FOFqiZIjpE9RXE9BwVvDTq7zVTD8URvsngN-8nzI8ijdDnGgCwzCFV88MCgA57DTb3LTb4rd6USq-tiV6T8D63xl8fU1UZ2RxfBFYuYiFnYWizPqwPIDk=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>There's a lot of charm to the store. It's well lit with a lived-in feel, and even though they sell collectibles, it seemed to me that this was a place where you would take things out of the box and play with them. Note the well-used My Pet Monster sitting in the stadium seats in the above picture.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfHNatmwec78lac1JY99fxFcncEIyBpyA1mdQCt8UG_HOtDnr7pKuzZhsoPxdBdoOOVF_FSC64SsDBGYZW9Tfb3Z13AZNCegJ3yRxJEn8pXy4yF2Z2Mzf78RuOdN7oK4avLM3_a6a6z-_Hvii93ARWALKAgBdUBgb3SfsniGjnlJq67Ad9aWFWt7gX=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfHNatmwec78lac1JY99fxFcncEIyBpyA1mdQCt8UG_HOtDnr7pKuzZhsoPxdBdoOOVF_FSC64SsDBGYZW9Tfb3Z13AZNCegJ3yRxJEn8pXy4yF2Z2Mzf78RuOdN7oK4avLM3_a6a6z-_Hvii93ARWALKAgBdUBgb3SfsniGjnlJq67Ad9aWFWt7gX=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The second floor of the shop was well organized and even more condensed, with an action figure display there to greet you at the top of the stairs.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNz1eoCkfaF-sGGpY1vm3yhaMRu-ppwDSbVmxbLUMuWDmJ1S4czfBRNr3XXu0KtopzK5eq-vk9nzh6o5KW4S12Waclzz-pbfwERjqiUxgqadAT_KnfzreCY29mgNTQ8JVMcJcQAJ4vwXyUFhOKgOwi1Nfqx3Cv1ba4DQgpKR53oN0aglUyfWISU92_=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNz1eoCkfaF-sGGpY1vm3yhaMRu-ppwDSbVmxbLUMuWDmJ1S4czfBRNr3XXu0KtopzK5eq-vk9nzh6o5KW4S12Waclzz-pbfwERjqiUxgqadAT_KnfzreCY29mgNTQ8JVMcJcQAJ4vwXyUFhOKgOwi1Nfqx3Cv1ba4DQgpKR53oN0aglUyfWISU92_=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The feel and layout of this space was what I'd hope from a comic shop. There was a lot of stuff to check out, and I was excited to wander around.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmJh4zB-obQyaPGEdfsyp-Ri4fsOTeUVtpf7Wbj3XDqZEjaLu0NWkzfTuUPK-shFlhd9FrvHNRNKoZLa1JBVj_9br7rErlYxTDHiOM36-yhAE2eNR1DRw093VqpX6aVH4OwY4Ii-pPQ60LDMlUk05wdakdVbmxmEqOk3fQ_y4jlYCAdv5XYTPFC2LD=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmJh4zB-obQyaPGEdfsyp-Ri4fsOTeUVtpf7Wbj3XDqZEjaLu0NWkzfTuUPK-shFlhd9FrvHNRNKoZLa1JBVj_9br7rErlYxTDHiOM36-yhAE2eNR1DRw093VqpX6aVH4OwY4Ii-pPQ60LDMlUk05wdakdVbmxmEqOk3fQ_y4jlYCAdv5XYTPFC2LD=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The store had more toys than I had expected.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-LeQQEayYBSIbas4EpG3wPMVhPW2yy1Ce93D-8hJfrFthAjqdE6DzBn25vDN25HkwWmGB14opyu6NAbtZJj7-0cc4uqpXyJRZhZEQM7VzUVpRC-b1vjwiOufFqnCusidhoUkQuJthqpyASZ0Wr8OTUfzEGDCcCwH0_dOqnLdY2QK52brlCORH3VtE=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-LeQQEayYBSIbas4EpG3wPMVhPW2yy1Ce93D-8hJfrFthAjqdE6DzBn25vDN25HkwWmGB14opyu6NAbtZJj7-0cc4uqpXyJRZhZEQM7VzUVpRC-b1vjwiOufFqnCusidhoUkQuJthqpyASZ0Wr8OTUfzEGDCcCwH0_dOqnLdY2QK52brlCORH3VtE=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><p>But there was still a lot of room for comics. These dollar books populated one side of the upstairs room, while downstairs was where you could find new books, trades and other back issues.</p><p>I dropped off a few copies of Planet Comics while I was there. As always, I wonder if anyone went home with 'em or if they're still at the bottom of a stack somewhere.</p><p>I'm always excited to go to a new comic shop, and Now Or Never didn't disappoint. The close proximity to the convention center gives me hope that sometime soon, they'll be able to create some kind of space for an event that takes place during Comic-Con. It seems like a great place to have an after-hours signing, to host a mini-panel or to sell some kind of show exclusive. But for now, if you're in San Diego, check out this shop that really captures the feel of San Diego. I hope to go back again the next time I'm in town!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11055 F St, San Diego, CA 92101, USA32.7135106 -117.15491924.4032767638211538 -152.3111692 61.023744436178845 -81.9986692tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880085391235005393.post-45818303390048439302022-02-07T00:28:00.001-05:002022-02-07T00:28:12.116-05:00pictures from the 2021 Comic-Con Special Edition, part 3<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sunday was the last day of Comic-Con 2021, and like it sometimes does, it had a very relaxed atmosphere around it. By this time, I had seen most of what I had wanted to, so I was in the unusual position of not having much of anything on my immediate schedule. Because of this, I got to do thing that I otherwise wouldn't, which ended up being really enjoyable. Let's take a look at Sunday, November 28th at the Comic-Con Special Edition! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYxI7DFDK3zQID8ychLL3DHpB6RwpZDyDSvgLjC2S5w4c1kQ9x_MlAQfwfvJtIZmGv8To9i0JjK73_-LhrOoup1cFNPUTVKTWMm4UdJmfqHIVXq_ejn-Ko05AMgfbEA4ZLkHQeOmslaFujy0fWrux0LRLQGowbyTE3AQVNvg8zrF23DYjl3nyt-2Dy=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYxI7DFDK3zQID8ychLL3DHpB6RwpZDyDSvgLjC2S5w4c1kQ9x_MlAQfwfvJtIZmGv8To9i0JjK73_-LhrOoup1cFNPUTVKTWMm4UdJmfqHIVXq_ejn-Ko05AMgfbEA4ZLkHQeOmslaFujy0fWrux0LRLQGowbyTE3AQVNvg8zrF23DYjl3nyt-2Dy=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Fresh off the trolley, I went to check on the mammoth skull at the La Brea outside exhibit. Yes, it was still there. Good.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3lKQWn_BBKRTHd4VdnIATY78hnGHEJ_972YO1XAg9dwAzb25CMR51H_RnRRynYW6nc0HHXHHXboX7_KBhPSn3m7sUmTY1XTS2TmWkvvbYvCopJL2UyDS1zjt_PR310BCNAa1NhaRyfl6wf6roG6AOW3fGSdjYHRJikxk6qpSJUMmnqWZqq4Y64Aqt=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3lKQWn_BBKRTHd4VdnIATY78hnGHEJ_972YO1XAg9dwAzb25CMR51H_RnRRynYW6nc0HHXHHXboX7_KBhPSn3m7sUmTY1XTS2TmWkvvbYvCopJL2UyDS1zjt_PR310BCNAa1NhaRyfl6wf6roG6AOW3fGSdjYHRJikxk6qpSJUMmnqWZqq4Y64Aqt=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was a Sunday morning in November, and that meant Steelers football. Bub's is a Steelers bar located right by Petco Park, so it was easy to walk from the convention center right to the bar, where I got to watch the game with some fellow Steelers fans! So how did the game go? Let's not talk about it!</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjhvtwQGkaY_mu23Xx_rg6yHYx3UHZaSak78KjWPoUxpMRtQX7AYaYOdBz8jTSv6uMK6LK6RoNhwjniVLlDnzgUNnpLs-DAKQax6_2hahxvKyDQ4YcWccuUmOBFWCesS4uTijm2ZpeGPaT-R5551crtdqgF3OBiq7wH-Z-XZBoACMI_b_tLFTqmRHCI=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjhvtwQGkaY_mu23Xx_rg6yHYx3UHZaSak78KjWPoUxpMRtQX7AYaYOdBz8jTSv6uMK6LK6RoNhwjniVLlDnzgUNnpLs-DAKQax6_2hahxvKyDQ4YcWccuUmOBFWCesS4uTijm2ZpeGPaT-R5551crtdqgF3OBiq7wH-Z-XZBoACMI_b_tLFTqmRHCI=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I decided to take a walk over to downtown San Diego's Now Or Never comic shop. This shop opened a few years ago and I've always been meaning to check it out, but I never got the chance during a regular year at Comic-Con. A slow Sunday gave me the opportunity to go inside for the first time! My next post, faithful readers, will be all about this store and my experience there.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTpvfIH_JIQpC6cMmwz-VI0--Gr3ij8K6v9Z3LUQWypGAx9csBpW9CIktGUBcVUIZDIIUe8FFA_yX8ASQmx8c_Xh4sUgAnfO0JBGacRImajGBhASKdwxoJ3XqlRxe1NwdqL0yFSMY7WeCd5bK0JyCyQY8Du7vf8blfCQTEP7JP8GjOuDp5sdLpp3U8=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTpvfIH_JIQpC6cMmwz-VI0--Gr3ij8K6v9Z3LUQWypGAx9csBpW9CIktGUBcVUIZDIIUe8FFA_yX8ASQmx8c_Xh4sUgAnfO0JBGacRImajGBhASKdwxoJ3XqlRxe1NwdqL0yFSMY7WeCd5bK0JyCyQY8Du7vf8blfCQTEP7JP8GjOuDp5sdLpp3U8=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>After leaving the shop, I walked back to the convention, and decided to give Peacemaker's Proving Ground another shot. I tried to wait in line for this experience the day before, but the line was much too long and moved much too slowly.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNEtEf2bDgLtw78VzWScOwG3aWMAp_1tC7gVujnYr83oNoXLPSAZK1SoW240un6l_ax2HHeolfOfmkXm-2WGs-8gjWNnRaZktkaEb2SB0t4hNuXmUdGlsP1bRKa_UsY4qTD7d4ddyO2h6AuJl1-v51XaqmVklppvsrexqYHJb1YbC5kY91_XDis0ru=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNEtEf2bDgLtw78VzWScOwG3aWMAp_1tC7gVujnYr83oNoXLPSAZK1SoW240un6l_ax2HHeolfOfmkXm-2WGs-8gjWNnRaZktkaEb2SB0t4hNuXmUdGlsP1bRKa_UsY4qTD7d4ddyO2h6AuJl1-v51XaqmVklppvsrexqYHJb1YbC5kY91_XDis0ru=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>On Sunday, however, I only had to wait about 20 minutes before I was able to get in. I joined a group of five other people and approached Peacemaker's trailer, which was set up to look just like the character's home in the show.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgiSEZpIjvrtvC1QOckEhlaLpQqd-Vus-MGzMVAPw2geZh1lFi_jiyxou_RPzGeDBKevufgllE-AEAHEeUQfCx6UztpN5V0V7vSv8QrpHRFVfe_mZI2fDamQQFV8QXj-VvRfu5s4_LV_I3S_cV2n--Lik4y3-HFWlVT48DyWUw1he5Uq4oWACJu97gp=s3088" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2320" data-original-width="3088" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgiSEZpIjvrtvC1QOckEhlaLpQqd-Vus-MGzMVAPw2geZh1lFi_jiyxou_RPzGeDBKevufgllE-AEAHEeUQfCx6UztpN5V0V7vSv8QrpHRFVfe_mZI2fDamQQFV8QXj-VvRfu5s4_LV_I3S_cV2n--Lik4y3-HFWlVT48DyWUw1he5Uq4oWACJu97gp=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Once we got inside, we were given some safety equipment and a Nerf gun. After a few minutes of instruction, we were off on our obstacle course-style mission.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXmk6kyjfTLoT17uot-xC-LklrOPK2d8OkdKd9JDra4gF9Q7dMw2qm7rZxHwo7frG84Y2hW-Py2jIaIgw14p3Y0GiB2OUieLx7QmuwVWgdDj27cg6Sp7KtYmCUUj0JABmf7VGACqAyFVy7HlkclBRbuGCNKww5XjbnvN_I30jHGK9DefhEobRqlEhs=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXmk6kyjfTLoT17uot-xC-LklrOPK2d8OkdKd9JDra4gF9Q7dMw2qm7rZxHwo7frG84Y2hW-Py2jIaIgw14p3Y0GiB2OUieLx7QmuwVWgdDj27cg6Sp7KtYmCUUj0JABmf7VGACqAyFVy7HlkclBRbuGCNKww5XjbnvN_I30jHGK9DefhEobRqlEhs=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I tried to take a few pictures inside the obstacle course, and all of them turned out terrible. This blurry shot is the best one that I managed to get. This was about halfway through, after dodging enemy fire and accidentally killing a hostage.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiuPCV47KJ8dvTRTKcpf4dnrkDEPQS88phISUqeysoQ7KnbX7Whv7NREqAa0vgf405QK6vVxJLuJnCh79dcRwl8ZccU_3x_VTwhRCVxd-NZ9PUWz_RaNz8-ekhciDeX1zunZYYYig-ZCbe6sScNAODKhXGuYTR6uliF_Ne7RvzoP4Hx4uVwFsdYEYEW=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiuPCV47KJ8dvTRTKcpf4dnrkDEPQS88phISUqeysoQ7KnbX7Whv7NREqAa0vgf405QK6vVxJLuJnCh79dcRwl8ZccU_3x_VTwhRCVxd-NZ9PUWz_RaNz8-ekhciDeX1zunZYYYig-ZCbe6sScNAODKhXGuYTR6uliF_Ne7RvzoP4Hx4uVwFsdYEYEW=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Once we made it through, we got to this photo opportunity where we were declared Peacemaker Proven (and encouraged to watch the HBO Max show). The whole thing was a ton of fun and easily the best event at Comic-Con this year. During a regular year, this still would have been a really popular site, but it would have taken all day to get through. I'm really glad that I was able to get through this on the last day. I'm really enjoying the show, too!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFBq9AtOnRAZvfxkJhmGIgXo2q401fR_u5kUfovwDrwweNV1BmVtImTfK77K74Z9iziE_L7FYkzNrR-x4ZS0Ue6dOn-L5adFhuqUqHPpD10z07h4ImFyNzbyjVyS0C_8KPeUdA250ATKyUyk4nYt7wjUmQwMMfZsiZNXDnkEN2jZRXmOuZtm4AcP6n=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFBq9AtOnRAZvfxkJhmGIgXo2q401fR_u5kUfovwDrwweNV1BmVtImTfK77K74Z9iziE_L7FYkzNrR-x4ZS0Ue6dOn-L5adFhuqUqHPpD10z07h4ImFyNzbyjVyS0C_8KPeUdA250ATKyUyk4nYt7wjUmQwMMfZsiZNXDnkEN2jZRXmOuZtm4AcP6n=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I then walked back through the Gaslamp, where I was invited to play a game.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2_nU9nTjkHTNwq7T2EmoYVDRQUHlUoz2Yk8JCoCT-CCaDcRCzeKFcKqsX_Tff_iJ3hSLL2lnqlDD2VEwCL34mZUD4sSGB0Jyr0AQKEkVs6loEDQ4GDy62-an01P3_RtmOcatu3ZeGkWiTLOPJ5NaJxhvitBeAT-fAqQD28BQMgXTJiygWwfmL-od-=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2_nU9nTjkHTNwq7T2EmoYVDRQUHlUoz2Yk8JCoCT-CCaDcRCzeKFcKqsX_Tff_iJ3hSLL2lnqlDD2VEwCL34mZUD4sSGB0Jyr0AQKEkVs6loEDQ4GDy62-an01P3_RtmOcatu3ZeGkWiTLOPJ5NaJxhvitBeAT-fAqQD28BQMgXTJiygWwfmL-od-=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Here's Loki and a few variants.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijXdERHoGRDKeP5--f3F2uchcnA_dSU7S5v34Dc-AeQJCCOxa2vTFSavWNTj_lMd7a4kx5l_kpQztoe5oiErzSGmIZkZFfRK5I_jH42ikOukYxlVBPGvFKeeUHdXWpOLuSAUWUcoD5hga7_VT38fw1oHYyL7tMb3eyhOJSkzOIkxGgYDx3f3I2kV0b=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijXdERHoGRDKeP5--f3F2uchcnA_dSU7S5v34Dc-AeQJCCOxa2vTFSavWNTj_lMd7a4kx5l_kpQztoe5oiErzSGmIZkZFfRK5I_jH42ikOukYxlVBPGvFKeeUHdXWpOLuSAUWUcoD5hga7_VT38fw1oHYyL7tMb3eyhOJSkzOIkxGgYDx3f3I2kV0b=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I saw these folks near the Hilton, outside of the convention center. I asked to take their picture and the guy asked if I was sure I wanted him in it as well. The maroon suit looks like something a Batman villain would wear, so yeah, guy, I do.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3UsIISwouNadhaCylALxEaL-p-JCNNK1-vXgRWnv6ZXXBF2BhF4IS3zVFpCszFYlJP7MsOEt3fOkxNsc8pj9oRJWOgXMNS2XnsJ1ps4uA93rc0CfC_dQOe4ES2xYDZOEIgARlDdM3XLkuQ55bUGbwd6TlpkOEW-DaBTozNXmgZLBnesVuG9oHpf3J=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3UsIISwouNadhaCylALxEaL-p-JCNNK1-vXgRWnv6ZXXBF2BhF4IS3zVFpCszFYlJP7MsOEt3fOkxNsc8pj9oRJWOgXMNS2XnsJ1ps4uA93rc0CfC_dQOe4ES2xYDZOEIgARlDdM3XLkuQ55bUGbwd6TlpkOEW-DaBTozNXmgZLBnesVuG9oHpf3J=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>As I made my way through the Gaslamp, back toward the convention center, I saw some guys handing out tins of mints with the Freak Brothers logo on them. I knew that there was supposed to be an offsite event for this new cartoon (based on the 1960s underground comic??), but I couldn't find it anywhere. At a show that was probably 30% the size of a normal year, that was surprising, so I asked one of the logo-shirted people about it, and where I might find this event. The guy looked so relieved that someone was actually seeking out their space. He pointed me to the lawn area between the Hilton and the convention center.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKe-JgsRP1b3BBX8P06dV_XK4w8Ym8qYEhWjcVaQTVqCtKI-sFbgE8jKjR5rrvbXpQ84uGQKacxmRUlShcG0CWRM30zKtWuKKN77T14Wb14zsTeLAFIJ0JRqp4WGwjwVBznNRDZAV61lpJTCvv5zliDdxOMEjQotW9hCELIFHxVjnQt7yWqdmzFhZ_=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKe-JgsRP1b3BBX8P06dV_XK4w8Ym8qYEhWjcVaQTVqCtKI-sFbgE8jKjR5rrvbXpQ84uGQKacxmRUlShcG0CWRM30zKtWuKKN77T14Wb14zsTeLAFIJ0JRqp4WGwjwVBznNRDZAV61lpJTCvv5zliDdxOMEjQotW9hCELIFHxVjnQt7yWqdmzFhZ_=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>After some searching, I found the Freak Brothers bus tucked away behind the hedges, out of sight from most of the convention. As I approached, two other workers waved me in and tried to give me more tins of mints. They were obviously thrilled to see someone - anyone - in the area. I was the absolute only convention attendee there. Hiding this bus behind some hedges where no one could find it was a real choice that they made, and it was kind of funny to be one of the few who found it. There was music, some bean bag chairs, a phone charging station, and tables with freebies like posters and, again, mints.</div><div><br /></div><div>I spent a few minutes check the place out, and eventually another guy wandered in. We played a game of corn hole and then I left. It was weird. Everything about it was weird.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinUdIGak8YyuAD8XeBqwUCurgOzo6145E2MGqh8Q9l4J_g0DOMGlFofhQM-dUFG8Kn2qGSQC_y4xI-N99l5fEUtLhMgx3knXBbPbam-XUcYVMBnWjcJs8c2f8MUu9I9aIVFHiHaZPr2Q2NmzREe5GpxZ6dRoVIFNkkpOon8BEzZMmogpmhDi07Wr2Q=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinUdIGak8YyuAD8XeBqwUCurgOzo6145E2MGqh8Q9l4J_g0DOMGlFofhQM-dUFG8Kn2qGSQC_y4xI-N99l5fEUtLhMgx3knXBbPbam-XUcYVMBnWjcJs8c2f8MUu9I9aIVFHiHaZPr2Q2NmzREe5GpxZ6dRoVIFNkkpOon8BEzZMmogpmhDi07Wr2Q=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The show ended at 5:00 on this day, and it was getting late in the afternoon by the time I walked back to the convention center. I hadn't been inside at all, so it was time to check the floor out one last time before it was all over.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmKGf60LiGEjaJYy4_Ta_2insCe0iSsJz6_pzrJK4-szJuqHs9A7ocFuVQisoqwFbpZW-XYJCjEU3cvJtcUai_xCc8c_DckDeD6TeGlXORaP1YfcWMWtxn0i0HvFKvHr1j3v93ITDPWNQ0SxftesUuWnf231eWZZWiX30MWMIudRQOixQs7Dev8O0v=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmKGf60LiGEjaJYy4_Ta_2insCe0iSsJz6_pzrJK4-szJuqHs9A7ocFuVQisoqwFbpZW-XYJCjEU3cvJtcUai_xCc8c_DckDeD6TeGlXORaP1YfcWMWtxn0i0HvFKvHr1j3v93ITDPWNQ0SxftesUuWnf231eWZZWiX30MWMIudRQOixQs7Dev8O0v=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Things really slowed down toward the end, which was a new experience for me at Comic-Con. It usually rolls right along until they close the doors. But there were still things to see, such as inflatable Gizmo.</div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieTvCXPLvgHMRYfU15tJgreBYfDOlsqvNyhnXW-3n4gs6rv3Vg4k3m3vl0GrckYP3kXpoOCKu18PtBEswRRV9Fv8b4H8VLuppSVyPyVADeRd4Q6kkQO2ji8jFKh8P2wX5EfAqpLIP-NwjaSVwRvCZly2sQzHspIUZpmpJP2tfMgjuebaA_MPAtRHcv=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieTvCXPLvgHMRYfU15tJgreBYfDOlsqvNyhnXW-3n4gs6rv3Vg4k3m3vl0GrckYP3kXpoOCKu18PtBEswRRV9Fv8b4H8VLuppSVyPyVADeRd4Q6kkQO2ji8jFKh8P2wX5EfAqpLIP-NwjaSVwRvCZly2sQzHspIUZpmpJP2tfMgjuebaA_MPAtRHcv=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>And this guy. Video game character? Probably.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFHlWwfl0CRY0Ojxnvthp2oVtmDbOhSC6Gph8ZHJNtaz4d_YTbLHBbZfm83pAyjmh2nHySsj0JENey0ElntjE9xD-0nFeUFIqkrQYNUZA2YLrVrynLXeIvLc3_yIbFsoEX6iyTHPx1lXZbobirE--UXqDNWcDGZwO5E7UWx42SCU5qvWWwpwVa0HAy=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFHlWwfl0CRY0Ojxnvthp2oVtmDbOhSC6Gph8ZHJNtaz4d_YTbLHBbZfm83pAyjmh2nHySsj0JENey0ElntjE9xD-0nFeUFIqkrQYNUZA2YLrVrynLXeIvLc3_yIbFsoEX6iyTHPx1lXZbobirE--UXqDNWcDGZwO5E7UWx42SCU5qvWWwpwVa0HAy=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I feel like this guy had been waiting 25 years to wear this at Comic-Con. Congratulations, guy.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9Y7lpB4icqDEP1H_T5DoMRzJfiRMzcHUk9SDL0kQInxejCQ7kJL74S1exFxueH7fRKTcVca4IPogLFmnzmo5h2c4lbhsQdNQ_79Ope_DL-x-tkynxXFybAM-GgtgmiQuuYS2axYowVAHstLYXiPBASh9Xf8uOPs_K95ianWUgcJ_jI14QAGvgyN69=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9Y7lpB4icqDEP1H_T5DoMRzJfiRMzcHUk9SDL0kQInxejCQ7kJL74S1exFxueH7fRKTcVca4IPogLFmnzmo5h2c4lbhsQdNQ_79Ope_DL-x-tkynxXFybAM-GgtgmiQuuYS2axYowVAHstLYXiPBASh9Xf8uOPs_K95ianWUgcJ_jI14QAGvgyN69=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I guess this was Studio Ghibli's first convention appearance in the United States? Good for them.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGm48VdUR6sHW6doB7lsXA0osY0-1WB_CASPrDYna9qE_dAxIcdkK7Al5gJzjM93_8PMvlA4Hme7LbiUANPiNzS5_ZKOk_OJ4Q2dYoitwl9zhs0foEGNnIurobqbwlEtk0wKMJc7OqOg5cotHKrni0CgBj2QErSZS_NaavGSkAlU1AViEgSxbs4OBQ=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGm48VdUR6sHW6doB7lsXA0osY0-1WB_CASPrDYna9qE_dAxIcdkK7Al5gJzjM93_8PMvlA4Hme7LbiUANPiNzS5_ZKOk_OJ4Q2dYoitwl9zhs0foEGNnIurobqbwlEtk0wKMJc7OqOg5cotHKrni0CgBj2QErSZS_NaavGSkAlU1AViEgSxbs4OBQ=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>At this point, I was just taking pictures of anyone who walked by.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiirKSGppfc9Kg12aHcfixl89tcBlLMTE79G3kXzdEQ8P60FSCuL9GdLImfh1GGD249f7HT5VuOWWh190MK3f8mRG14H7oT4VztPBIuMvwGBu2f5oDOh5qsooWcM7KkJ3OVH4gci-o-jtGS1dOtbL_gn6V44SgYfPIlqVlndXGfKlhsbCLuHVZLiIHB=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiirKSGppfc9Kg12aHcfixl89tcBlLMTE79G3kXzdEQ8P60FSCuL9GdLImfh1GGD249f7HT5VuOWWh190MK3f8mRG14H7oT4VztPBIuMvwGBu2f5oDOh5qsooWcM7KkJ3OVH4gci-o-jtGS1dOtbL_gn6V44SgYfPIlqVlndXGfKlhsbCLuHVZLiIHB=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Heritage had this Fantastic Four cover on display, which they estimated would sell for around $50,000. Cool.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgA2ixDc2H1Gs31X2ZGM0j5aCl9V18_amjDMDDUwHtJafoRQhM8WHv6FGsruYp-k7LHFkK7DX1e15VKGiSFCFEcTSwLigNDgK8itEx9R799rcBJ_lXlZblJrSYMORumdAiVJdjwzJNjj09NweDgnwUtLGOr85AXvmrVUAXunVKEBT-NpXZdZWKXfCuZ=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgA2ixDc2H1Gs31X2ZGM0j5aCl9V18_amjDMDDUwHtJafoRQhM8WHv6FGsruYp-k7LHFkK7DX1e15VKGiSFCFEcTSwLigNDgK8itEx9R799rcBJ_lXlZblJrSYMORumdAiVJdjwzJNjj09NweDgnwUtLGOr85AXvmrVUAXunVKEBT-NpXZdZWKXfCuZ=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Listen, the dress code was pretty lax at this show. It takes some guts to go in like this, but then again, I guess he had his face covered.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLmF-rqRkVvcHdFNNVpg_Ab41WCUry2Av0KT_oUVPhswyPBdmMmmnE8A5A68utoZoFXzBTdBOaSRiDrzl44J2oBBrqVNzAxAsjFgHaGeW6Ck8CMLsSfhwsHEzcuhPcBPlSiLofXy4mXhHTeX13-uNjrNk9Y2OkGhH1hDCZNIOkcH5OUCRONpbU8pGP=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLmF-rqRkVvcHdFNNVpg_Ab41WCUry2Av0KT_oUVPhswyPBdmMmmnE8A5A68utoZoFXzBTdBOaSRiDrzl44J2oBBrqVNzAxAsjFgHaGeW6Ck8CMLsSfhwsHEzcuhPcBPlSiLofXy4mXhHTeX13-uNjrNk9Y2OkGhH1hDCZNIOkcH5OUCRONpbU8pGP=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This was a really elaborate group costume.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpoxvvVsOCf_ccUsL44gUtOZsA-Ty8URPQbnbCZiChWv25gNWR4LdtKzwmX9nC7xV4F3eoO5E2YKE3NtlPwNkCpCMtHT7lebGdOycKM2-p3ODQ_PCfki-5R3j1FYWE8h4ePZcU9WD6ZnHU1I6we2eiRzVmo5akO4PNgvLQUbMy521-jArqLGWFp14q=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpoxvvVsOCf_ccUsL44gUtOZsA-Ty8URPQbnbCZiChWv25gNWR4LdtKzwmX9nC7xV4F3eoO5E2YKE3NtlPwNkCpCMtHT7lebGdOycKM2-p3ODQ_PCfki-5R3j1FYWE8h4ePZcU9WD6ZnHU1I6we2eiRzVmo5akO4PNgvLQUbMy521-jArqLGWFp14q=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>More Spideys! I do not know what is happening with the one in the middle.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEEGUS4xEe_YqJ3bzRc7nyqMNSKxGoQaM8EIYidra9nXafVQ2m4ac6Vh_p3sdmrV3SbgpZrSyQTTYe5-9FW5s86d1P9hlzkDaeljSWj_n_wNMzm84scpCtcPpWbz5GyzbsQUOta8XG3HhqsOLYudcMRSAjoJz8B-x_D8hQtmesznOyGywr2pkIgz4a=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEEGUS4xEe_YqJ3bzRc7nyqMNSKxGoQaM8EIYidra9nXafVQ2m4ac6Vh_p3sdmrV3SbgpZrSyQTTYe5-9FW5s86d1P9hlzkDaeljSWj_n_wNMzm84scpCtcPpWbz5GyzbsQUOta8XG3HhqsOLYudcMRSAjoJz8B-x_D8hQtmesznOyGywr2pkIgz4a=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Near row 100 and the Funko area, the convention set up a lot of backdrops where you could take pictures. This was, of course, because they had some space to fill, but a lot of people took advantage.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEip5dUjDXQykLjqWTICi6m9buuMP-aoXkeI0mVlJ9t79tJAfqoNg2OtR9pgf0KVUXu9-p_-tNefJtpPLYxaUhaV1BK9X-MNgNErOqrlOBDfXWEqJ5syOFaZ6bSH5gtBsnrDGpa1Fx2utdkl-8cp_4zHFfquEP1PqWZl5gqOhts4HG3RqHqSwxecMhbS=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEip5dUjDXQykLjqWTICi6m9buuMP-aoXkeI0mVlJ9t79tJAfqoNg2OtR9pgf0KVUXu9-p_-tNefJtpPLYxaUhaV1BK9X-MNgNErOqrlOBDfXWEqJ5syOFaZ6bSH5gtBsnrDGpa1Fx2utdkl-8cp_4zHFfquEP1PqWZl5gqOhts4HG3RqHqSwxecMhbS=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I don't know if they'll ever have room for stuff like this again. It was an interesting way to take up space.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZHJNAODnAqsJ5H2meA-AEVjyFRiBNmYjR_qUoprbFz7H_mMM7fAWIIqkuNQrOpEZ-gNweXOP7H6FNOjcqcKN6-2zp_Wbrf9gbTa6BO9wA3OQ0wuAjTSEpFhiIGN3s9dgNaKYIywgfJNbCn7DpZ7ZVsh089feUHfeI6KazYpiAkZpjIh8myK4UKhdQ=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZHJNAODnAqsJ5H2meA-AEVjyFRiBNmYjR_qUoprbFz7H_mMM7fAWIIqkuNQrOpEZ-gNweXOP7H6FNOjcqcKN6-2zp_Wbrf9gbTa6BO9wA3OQ0wuAjTSEpFhiIGN3s9dgNaKYIywgfJNbCn7DpZ7ZVsh089feUHfeI6KazYpiAkZpjIh8myK4UKhdQ=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Lumpy Space Princess made an appearance.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiL7kOVLi9Tk1MltVSLgOpT1_cZQ14V0GfhC2XaEnVA4hd-4z2shXaUYgttz-nPotAlNbFeMgfARm5Ozicox6REOgbCSTnhwKe80kru4LSTssHxdZVkQ8RBcPPPf-mNbfPrxKfd-GeGyZplCy89PyYtzoRCcPHPXqruEEGWMuDKk9U09cDxnZDy870P=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiL7kOVLi9Tk1MltVSLgOpT1_cZQ14V0GfhC2XaEnVA4hd-4z2shXaUYgttz-nPotAlNbFeMgfARm5Ozicox6REOgbCSTnhwKe80kru4LSTssHxdZVkQ8RBcPPPf-mNbfPrxKfd-GeGyZplCy89PyYtzoRCcPHPXqruEEGWMuDKk9U09cDxnZDy870P=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The Rocketeer is always a good choice, and the helmet works doubly well this time around.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnthifhDxUQFRW8GonHs1uK-8avWl4QqKY_ofmlm9OKJJJSOtDKLxGAptqnMvaQ2rRG08XRLYryw-R-ZAYt6V4ZBMdrXs0zddCnXRkmaIOEeSH1b5_DXY06vKzAlAYYGevVrwgR9PjA_hHQi9tKgUs5RtKTKAnXOMx_9DRKi429BcwJplMlVuMmh7e=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnthifhDxUQFRW8GonHs1uK-8avWl4QqKY_ofmlm9OKJJJSOtDKLxGAptqnMvaQ2rRG08XRLYryw-R-ZAYt6V4ZBMdrXs0zddCnXRkmaIOEeSH1b5_DXY06vKzAlAYYGevVrwgR9PjA_hHQi9tKgUs5RtKTKAnXOMx_9DRKi429BcwJplMlVuMmh7e=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I was disappointed at the dearth of comic book vendors at this show, especially since it seemed like there were more at the New York Comic Con just a few weeks earlier. But I still managed to get a few books and got to gaze at some more, like this rack that included three copies of Fantastic Four #1!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijO6mhoeBHjVIF9QXjc2kgTCMBQsHHJ7f3NRZdTs8P-CAcU3_h92NjEATCmAByW8ybhRSxYsd0B8jdoK3t6vOao_hJu8o32vS-H9FzsjAyQqO1SlJ20beVcvX5NTVaeZ9VdBGSfKST98UpFkjlQ-LRFTUWMp-F-5IBzqJUccfsL8QkqtAPfz9NlaHb=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijO6mhoeBHjVIF9QXjc2kgTCMBQsHHJ7f3NRZdTs8P-CAcU3_h92NjEATCmAByW8ybhRSxYsd0B8jdoK3t6vOao_hJu8o32vS-H9FzsjAyQqO1SlJ20beVcvX5NTVaeZ9VdBGSfKST98UpFkjlQ-LRFTUWMp-F-5IBzqJUccfsL8QkqtAPfz9NlaHb=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The show ended at 5:00 with not a lot of the usual fanfare. I made a number of last-minute purchases and tried to take it all in. This was the first San Diego Comic-Con in over two years! It was definitely different, but I enjoyed every minute. It was a lot of fun.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVEIfvLHR9swGl-RP4rvKSN4Hzq9H8WybxqKPtWb4hHNwiXGVe1Vn1JjmgUqchuI0SmQqVTsuFynTzUBxcrMx424VfuCmo47jjbv4Zo-mAFTpMqK4fGgfx1qpFbwj1d6__2Dxd0aYtsDXAUj98RbL_2-nPPIQVhUhodWFywaRXtjBFjysLfXQBURlM=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVEIfvLHR9swGl-RP4rvKSN4Hzq9H8WybxqKPtWb4hHNwiXGVe1Vn1JjmgUqchuI0SmQqVTsuFynTzUBxcrMx424VfuCmo47jjbv4Zo-mAFTpMqK4fGgfx1qpFbwj1d6__2Dxd0aYtsDXAUj98RbL_2-nPPIQVhUhodWFywaRXtjBFjysLfXQBURlM=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, there's always some residual energy that leaks out of the building when the show ends, and this year was no different. Captain Marvel greeted me outside of the convention center as I was leaving.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnvczb4hog-Mcys2kN_UkjLM0KkxELDhN8vCh6mte-97DAA6VXTbJRCxO1O-pQmWsBpThKoQVrJAZO7N-hW4y8N65kWeeweCnM5D0tS9WvRb4mbf6GAdt3rVkJit4Kp2dLRwFU-iOISPX1X8u5Ap4vbcnNk3YUkTJ4rTxmisfU1BP4k0_v1PqDD0ip=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnvczb4hog-Mcys2kN_UkjLM0KkxELDhN8vCh6mte-97DAA6VXTbJRCxO1O-pQmWsBpThKoQVrJAZO7N-hW4y8N65kWeeweCnM5D0tS9WvRb4mbf6GAdt3rVkJit4Kp2dLRwFU-iOISPX1X8u5Ap4vbcnNk3YUkTJ4rTxmisfU1BP4k0_v1PqDD0ip=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The sun was starting to set when the show ended. It made for a calm scene outside.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFIKJj26Sp5tTGJwknAT0gbL8_pmVQ0LLdyAC2a4dHbdMzYtfdHbOiEWEROLzyvWMhsm8Ldi2Qwg_XPykDlWvnGaGFiB248F0MAI1VHuV5y4a1Am852OJWOeqK4nXw1hsVJrzCN3gbdcN-oAJ9ujMsqLbWtTdwA4v4ZYJAkcz_s2W5tM-zhW1yCydQ=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFIKJj26Sp5tTGJwknAT0gbL8_pmVQ0LLdyAC2a4dHbdMzYtfdHbOiEWEROLzyvWMhsm8Ldi2Qwg_XPykDlWvnGaGFiB248F0MAI1VHuV5y4a1Am852OJWOeqK4nXw1hsVJrzCN3gbdcN-oAJ9ujMsqLbWtTdwA4v4ZYJAkcz_s2W5tM-zhW1yCydQ=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Cars parked on the curb! Wild. Can't wait to go back.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkXuMZz0tH3ua8cLKrHJACQngIIJwoaae8znp1VhvM4Lg-NITn7ZH6rlFXUxxiB-jmBKGU3CIsYpSK8oAfS-bl6slycDpzyXGLeWLowl7NEyy_o5F6wQ9zlDsYVoXRd3tnkF5IYSGZoLnwBBrq5oB7QAnRAkEvjdn_E7rC0NAMK5tOHNilEzeLE3S0=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkXuMZz0tH3ua8cLKrHJACQngIIJwoaae8znp1VhvM4Lg-NITn7ZH6rlFXUxxiB-jmBKGU3CIsYpSK8oAfS-bl6slycDpzyXGLeWLowl7NEyy_o5F6wQ9zlDsYVoXRd3tnkF5IYSGZoLnwBBrq5oB7QAnRAkEvjdn_E7rC0NAMK5tOHNilEzeLE3S0=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>These two clearly are not speaking to each other. Time to beam up, Spock.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghUABQyzJvABsUEpAC8P1JJqWJhHjK6D7zmQGC_2iBGlbeRB7EXDTVje94TZFiYXknXdCIjAWronupMRSIJ_-FaRk2THUJmMxNqcU5VXZYmEohNZdwqbTMp_cTngZBu-EEzvrXvao9YQl4wUkBxt0_4yh7ELFV9-8KPLX8M1I7BrWj22g95zCZS1Ab=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghUABQyzJvABsUEpAC8P1JJqWJhHjK6D7zmQGC_2iBGlbeRB7EXDTVje94TZFiYXknXdCIjAWronupMRSIJ_-FaRk2THUJmMxNqcU5VXZYmEohNZdwqbTMp_cTngZBu-EEzvrXvao9YQl4wUkBxt0_4yh7ELFV9-8KPLX8M1I7BrWj22g95zCZS1Ab=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The Peacemaker exhibit stayed open for a little while after the show ended. I ran over and hopped back in line at the food truck. This thing was a lifesaver over the weekend. I ordered some cheese sticks and almost missed my trolley out of the city because of 'em. I had to run while choking on fried mozzarella in order to catch it. Worth it.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0111 W Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101, USA32.7068214 -117.16287134.3965875638211571 -152.3191213 61.017055236178848 -82.0066213tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6880085391235005393.post-77687073823075064852022-01-31T19:17:00.004-05:002022-02-01T18:36:25.408-05:00The "Marvel Celebrates Stan Lee" memorial comic<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's kind of weird that I remember where I was when I learned that Stan Lee had died. I was in downtown Pittsburgh on a cold night, working as an extra on a Seth Rogan movie. I opened a news app on my phone and saw the headline. I thought to myself, "should I tell Seth Rogan?" He was right next to me and I figured that he would probably want to know, but I kept it to myself, which was probably the smart thing to do (I've never spoken to Seth Rogan).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyway, after Lee passed, Marvel hosted a memorial of sorts at the New Amsterdam Theatre in New York in early October of 2019, almost a year later. This invite-only event was attended by folks from the comics industry, and of course by different celebrities and other people who worked for Disney in some fashion. It was quite the who's who.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Among the items that attendees received at this celebration was a "Marvel Celebrates Stan Lee" comic book, which I suppose was very fitting. This book was never reprinted and soon became a very sought-after item on the secondary market. In 2019 and '20, it was going for so much that I wrote it off as something that I would never get my hands on, even though, ugh, the Thing was on the cover, standing right on top of the Hulk, no less, along with the rest of the Fantastic Four and many other popular Marvel characters.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've kept an eye out for the book ever since, though, and a copy appeared on eBay recently for a price that was good enough for that I couldn't pass up. The comic arrived recently, and I thought I'd share a look with all of the many, many people who read this very important comic book blog. Let's take a peek.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGx93KfKIwdCRmBkPJZFlLBT5NI7_q1uGCdPVe-j_d47GSP7vzmtAdKlys1rAoJQGmoyoh6NzMg4dlPnqex0GRV8P2YbeI2fSGfCNhXsEX4VPN6Mpg3vPS-JdQAPIIQOExkdsvpiRE4dd-zrRSO3EBEtRTRIHI-vdmRuQvo-j8INonaQ8AHjgUZXtr=s3585" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3585" data-original-width="2433" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGx93KfKIwdCRmBkPJZFlLBT5NI7_q1uGCdPVe-j_d47GSP7vzmtAdKlys1rAoJQGmoyoh6NzMg4dlPnqex0GRV8P2YbeI2fSGfCNhXsEX4VPN6Mpg3vPS-JdQAPIIQOExkdsvpiRE4dd-zrRSO3EBEtRTRIHI-vdmRuQvo-j8INonaQ8AHjgUZXtr=w271-h400" width="271" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Here's the aforementioned cover, with art by Adam Kubert. I don't know if this was repurposed art from something else, but I've never seen it used before. Many of Lee's most famous co-creations join him on the cover. I'm glad that the entire FF made the cut, as they should have.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSOw9dfCykTiBlhr9BNS53iozvu1kSlLYsYGVMJQdY-234Qu8DLRBgXQptq2KSPQ-evGX-qxQ2CC_YqfAcjNJx67LuUuQ4aYwhrSZNu_fvbmUOwS2l8hmZ13SN3fz1eyaIYVwQb0uOF5BuXmsuRmz1qAtgPlZwxJZ4esr8_muCkEz0Ia_fY6-G59Ro=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2876" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSOw9dfCykTiBlhr9BNS53iozvu1kSlLYsYGVMJQdY-234Qu8DLRBgXQptq2KSPQ-evGX-qxQ2CC_YqfAcjNJx67LuUuQ4aYwhrSZNu_fvbmUOwS2l8hmZ13SN3fz1eyaIYVwQb0uOF5BuXmsuRmz1qAtgPlZwxJZ4esr8_muCkEz0Ia_fY6-G59Ro=w285-h400" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The inside front cover has the date and location of the event. The cover logo is, of course, a repurposed Spider-Man logo.<br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQQLljqWE8Od5aKvv6aAhiLfWT-hnR4fdG6nG-V14kiS85_qGapVuh8kUKPjbPc4MTn-VU3PzAnv3pQahQm17lD2paJ0gbFcHlbWxvNij58jmm1CJ_vyGxOkYETXDrRfaUmHERuMA11XGlt0I_Sn7AiV3wPW6jj8ZINiW37hSZG8cuGwPAyVPC0gEB=s3956" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3956" data-original-width="2534" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQQLljqWE8Od5aKvv6aAhiLfWT-hnR4fdG6nG-V14kiS85_qGapVuh8kUKPjbPc4MTn-VU3PzAnv3pQahQm17lD2paJ0gbFcHlbWxvNij58jmm1CJ_vyGxOkYETXDrRfaUmHERuMA11XGlt0I_Sn7AiV3wPW6jj8ZINiW37hSZG8cuGwPAyVPC0gEB=w256-h400" width="256" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The book starts out with an introduction by then-Chief Creative Office Joe Quesada. The book is packed with remembrances from both Marvel and Disney luminaries. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsbuXa7EeHuHegfeit2CnK-5BUNJC30W23H1r1mlEYw1INABffkWl8mEaKt1j3ZDPcBGXLZJqoJn966FDzzMqfRw9IqHAO0xWdKOo--vAmZR_ug52SeQS7iSiRfzRrc_YRAZA-8z5EbiaQwV-Hb9al2SxXH9YO1sXRjWoqpVtCtWD5-bA2dP26HF7E=s3728" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3728" data-original-width="2409" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsbuXa7EeHuHegfeit2CnK-5BUNJC30W23H1r1mlEYw1INABffkWl8mEaKt1j3ZDPcBGXLZJqoJn966FDzzMqfRw9IqHAO0xWdKOo--vAmZR_ug52SeQS7iSiRfzRrc_YRAZA-8z5EbiaQwV-Hb9al2SxXH9YO1sXRjWoqpVtCtWD5-bA2dP26HF7E=w259-h400" width="259" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>There are two comic reprints in this issue. The first is the first chapter from 1961's Fantastic Four #1. This was just after Marvel had lifted their self-imposed FF embargo. There's a not-insignificant gap in Marvel's publishing history around this time that lacks most mentions of the team, so including this, the most important book in Marvel's publishing history, in this book was a relief to me.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAOjpZGU1R7EZXcdiyQbkbjcKy8zEgzrxCAjokMqYXadC9P89cSb1EOu1Ynl6z-TPVdJdNe7mlI8H62tPTeWEm_jiyd9fT8w1rx1NK7PVyMZhOLGULWnRb3caX9kH-Fmgjmi7mvxY29XMZLs5iJbU5KoLHpNrtE3-fhB3HDD0qeWQbAfLLJ3368_At=s3625" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3625" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAOjpZGU1R7EZXcdiyQbkbjcKy8zEgzrxCAjokMqYXadC9P89cSb1EOu1Ynl6z-TPVdJdNe7mlI8H62tPTeWEm_jiyd9fT8w1rx1NK7PVyMZhOLGULWnRb3caX9kH-Fmgjmi7mvxY29XMZLs5iJbU5KoLHpNrtE3-fhB3HDD0qeWQbAfLLJ3368_At=w400-h334" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The cover is reprinted, also, but not the entire first issue.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBPLU-JNC6dI1YJkxtjZfIPPn7i2U5GjggLRfVlGR9wkZkPVs77hdxOjFY9yWu8KTCNcTfSe980abngJLBuC7KU2m3c9k8XkfQLQuYgc54RAt7qdFv0Wx7tVucb-H8wlRsn0lse4UpdXmRcS1SOGn9VVrF0GxkK9hJVfbB7ipXSU-1IyhorqY1Deor=s4017" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3006" data-original-width="4017" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBPLU-JNC6dI1YJkxtjZfIPPn7i2U5GjggLRfVlGR9wkZkPVs77hdxOjFY9yWu8KTCNcTfSe980abngJLBuC7KU2m3c9k8XkfQLQuYgc54RAt7qdFv0Wx7tVucb-H8wlRsn0lse4UpdXmRcS1SOGn9VVrF0GxkK9hJVfbB7ipXSU-1IyhorqY1Deor=w400-h299" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The book also has a number of images from when Stan was depicted in different comics. Here's one reprinting the cover from What If...? #11. On the other page, we see some pictures of Stan and a message from Marvel Studio's Kevin Feige.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEnBLKu_vw9snsQDEIrnt7KBcdhq7D2XDashWrgaOJWNk5K2I4JFDRo6MJeX2Lw3kzyoeMkF0scKsccB3VCwyKBHZ1J0k_xC6uk29_SO-WVy5h8If-5rnKShpZTL-rk54dUB0bP875MOY_GesSa5pyat2kQvQPbY6P3nt7zav2N-4PtCZ7YHc-5leP=s3800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3800" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEnBLKu_vw9snsQDEIrnt7KBcdhq7D2XDashWrgaOJWNk5K2I4JFDRo6MJeX2Lw3kzyoeMkF0scKsccB3VCwyKBHZ1J0k_xC6uk29_SO-WVy5h8If-5rnKShpZTL-rk54dUB0bP875MOY_GesSa5pyat2kQvQPbY6P3nt7zav2N-4PtCZ7YHc-5leP=w400-h316" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This was an interesting spread. This highlighted some of Stan's career and personal achievements. The 2018 entry remarks, "our hallowed hero embarks on his final adventure."</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg0GhKARr3ajrl8hmVcao0U2A3NykaOfV7f--2LhbO2JMmb5A-8FD6-SOizcrLFnYHb0fje3j7ACJTW7M2bm0DVqwou9EukTAg23JWgPolfYuw9OMTwLutz7YFDoAt1p0A_tDC19Q41LUE7CE6sL-c5np7XdEzJJyk8UbAkIPsMeZVbnLbQA3oUj8XF=s3805" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2965" data-original-width="3805" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg0GhKARr3ajrl8hmVcao0U2A3NykaOfV7f--2LhbO2JMmb5A-8FD6-SOizcrLFnYHb0fje3j7ACJTW7M2bm0DVqwou9EukTAg23JWgPolfYuw9OMTwLutz7YFDoAt1p0A_tDC19Q41LUE7CE6sL-c5np7XdEzJJyk8UbAkIPsMeZVbnLbQA3oUj8XF=w400-h311" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The other comic reprint is the first chapter from 1962's Amazing Fantasy #15, the first appearance of Spider-Man. I thought that they could've also made room for Stan's first published work, a short text piece from an early Captain America Comics.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6zMGY0XIPobsKaaMN9DAWCR-LslZ_pChBC9xGVTM4Rtvgy2cPchxT5OwmbTwB-d3pRAswHTnxRUVF0W4n5LFzHTi3zbD2qQKQvGNMLsFP8s7IIxSoddHmTPp-Z7JBXc6HJN4viDF6pEOf_Uod6xypitOLofF0Db7OvI3L1NtzxTeVcJgfbn07bhxk=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6zMGY0XIPobsKaaMN9DAWCR-LslZ_pChBC9xGVTM4Rtvgy2cPchxT5OwmbTwB-d3pRAswHTnxRUVF0W4n5LFzHTi3zbD2qQKQvGNMLsFP8s7IIxSoddHmTPp-Z7JBXc6HJN4viDF6pEOf_Uod6xypitOLofF0Db7OvI3L1NtzxTeVcJgfbn07bhxk=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The book is a nice, thoughtful tribute to Stan Lee that maybe lacks some of the bombast that I might have expected. There certainly was an emphasis on the television and movie side of things that I suppose was inevitable, but those who put this book together thankfully didn't forget the comic book roots of the media empire that Marvel has since become.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmlKnMVAmk0b23mmi5oaJGFRClIPQz_KsoAEzLOwoOJnpoQtNvqiJEML3NC-thXW2MftWG72mm96Tj-yFeLmBRwaHDr-fn7ZV-_pCWt6sribmfwyT1bePlOWPdDHAuu28HHvH4_ko_tIyRjPGh6cQKaUzBvEozoW8pvRx3CkJJBCLGLjZtDKXkQ_VE=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmlKnMVAmk0b23mmi5oaJGFRClIPQz_KsoAEzLOwoOJnpoQtNvqiJEML3NC-thXW2MftWG72mm96Tj-yFeLmBRwaHDr-fn7ZV-_pCWt6sribmfwyT1bePlOWPdDHAuu28HHvH4_ko_tIyRjPGh6cQKaUzBvEozoW8pvRx3CkJJBCLGLjZtDKXkQ_VE=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The book ends with a 1967 Stan's Soapbox that looks like it was scanned from an original issue.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisbMOz7PjJmjKA69rwvNuKRtCaZPwpCdXfygRQeL0dN_1vuKdzvuqLxQ7Ik-MwZRNcZ_W1IRAcqXizgZHos4jCqELrIkMe5UeLN0anTITxvmToYrBHapwEeGMecQ-iSAytdKW_EgFPaI3odS53zi9eVCqhdE0lqcSFTTaiwocKXTEDupRwjCBRlI9a=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisbMOz7PjJmjKA69rwvNuKRtCaZPwpCdXfygRQeL0dN_1vuKdzvuqLxQ7Ik-MwZRNcZ_W1IRAcqXizgZHos4jCqELrIkMe5UeLN0anTITxvmToYrBHapwEeGMecQ-iSAytdKW_EgFPaI3odS53zi9eVCqhdE0lqcSFTTaiwocKXTEDupRwjCBRlI9a=w251-h400" width="251" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Here's the inside back cover, with art by Terry Dodson.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjD67JOy7oNiAkD3QEWFOibZ7iwMdwTQPBUzoZKCmt0cUxMNNfJixjiExzTsSPyt_Hh67LZ3LMV5jxwhDF43ZltSgfGGsamYVppk94FkEZFCZf5umeb8Jca63VVRbg-1CWZb6jBEnCeF2SMlNSqSbit1okTQc1yiwlaemNSVkTvYkdn8eGQS-sFMb4O=s3827" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3827" data-original-width="2515" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjD67JOy7oNiAkD3QEWFOibZ7iwMdwTQPBUzoZKCmt0cUxMNNfJixjiExzTsSPyt_Hh67LZ3LMV5jxwhDF43ZltSgfGGsamYVppk94FkEZFCZf5umeb8Jca63VVRbg-1CWZb6jBEnCeF2SMlNSqSbit1okTQc1yiwlaemNSVkTvYkdn8eGQS-sFMb4O=w263-h400" width="263" /></a></div><br /><div>This back cover portrait by Phil Noto was used in all of Marvel's tribute books that came out directly after Lee's death, usually with the colors inverted, for some reason.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm really glad to get a chance to actually flip through this book. It's a nice memorial for someone who helped make Marvel what it is today - and it doesn't forget the comics. I hope you enjoyed seeing inside, too!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1Bethlehem, PA, USA40.6259316 -75.37045789999999112.315697763821156 -110.52670789999999 68.93616543617884 -40.214207899999991