------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE COMIC BOOK NET ELECTRONIC MAGAZINE - ISSUE NUMBER #57 ________________________________________________________________________ World Wide Web Page------>> http://members.aol.com/ComicBkNet ------------------------------------------------------------------------- o \o/ _ o _| \ / |_ o_ \o/ o /|\ | /\ _\o \o | o/ O/_ /\ | /|\ / \ / \ |\ /) | ( \ /o\ / ) | (\ / | / \ / \ This publication is brought to you by the members of the premiere BBS network for the discussion of comics books and the people who create them, The ComicBook Network!!! Edited by: David LeBlanc [ComicBkNet@aol.com] ------------------------------------------------------------------------- The ComicBook Network was founded by Ed Dukeshire and Mike Imboden ------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you wish to receive these issues automatically through your internet account, please address a message to ComicBkNet@aol.com to be placed on the subscription list. ________________________________________________________________________ T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S ------------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] On the Net ............................ David LeBlanc [2] Letters to the Editor ................. Your Page! TRIVIA CONTEST......................... Guesses & Answers [3] CBN Insider ........................... News, gossip, & rumors [4] 1996 Eisner Award Nominees............. Jackie Estrada [5] REVIEW:Innocent Bystander.............. David LeBlanc [6] Recommended Reading.................... Joe Torres [7] New Comics Shipping 5/07/96............ Bobb Waller [A] How to join ComicBook Network.......... BBS 101 [B] BBSes Linked into CBN.................. CBN node list [C] E-Mag Info: Submissions, Subscriptions, Back Issues, Copyrights ________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] On the Net by David LeBlanc First a bit of hype for the Emag. Dr. Wonder #1 came out this week.The back cover lists a variety of quotes from the "media" about this book. We are quoted from our previous review of this fine effort and are elated to share the company of Stan Lee, The Jack Kirby Collector, Overstreet's Fan, Advance Comics, Comic Shop News, Joe Sinnot, Marie Severin and others helping a new independent make a splash on the scene. If your dealer missed it or sold out get him to reorder more or get your own by sending $2.95 ($3.50 CAN) for each issue of #1, 2 or 3 to: Old Town Publishing, Inc. P.O. Box 447, Franklin Square, NY 11010 You can also get 12 issues for $24.00 ($28 CAN) and a free poster to boot. Hype #2: CBG (Comic Buyer's Guide for you newcomers) offers a free classified ad for all it's subscribers when you renew. They run it once and limit it to like 20 words. Think you can say a lot in 20 words? Try it, and see how hard it is. Well my sub came due so I decided to plug the Emag in my free ad with a bare bones mention of how to get news and reviews weekly to your Email by writing to our address or visiting the web page. It ran in Issue # 1173, May 10th issue with Terminal City on the cover. It was also a stroke of luck that Maggie Thompson mentions the classifieds in her editorial pointing the readers to check them out. Ours was in the FAN/COLLECTOR CLUBS section, right before all the FOR SALE categories. Already I have had 2 requests for new subscriptions and one person wants to send comics to be reviewed. Not bad for a free ad. I think you small press guys may be overlooking a marketing tool with the regular rates only $.35 a word. Check it out. Hype #3: This issue contains the list of nominees for this year's Eisner Awards, the "Oscars" of comics. One category not listed is the "Spirit of the Industry" awards and I would be remiss if I did not mention that my local retailer, Paul Howley of THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT in Worcester Mass. is one of the finalists for the first time! As the one person who has made it easy and fun for *me* and so many others to enjoy the hobby I know of no retailer in my limited exposure more deserving. His two stores offer variety and depth in products and the staff is very competent, helpful and interested in every aspect of their business. Long time readers of this E-Mag also know that Paul has helped raise hundreds of dollars for a special fund to fight a killer blood disease that afflicts the son of one of the member SysOps of the ComicBook Network. By soliciting the major publishers and Distributors for materials to auction and then running it on his own time (even rescheduling his own vacation last year) he has helped keep hope alive for an eventual cure. I wish I had some pull with the group that makes this award but all I can do is mention it here and wish him good luck. Cross your fingers folks! We will be spreading out Keith O'Brien's interviews of Women in Comics over several issues so look for the next one with Trina Robbins in #58. David LeBlanc [ComicBkNet@aol.com] Editor The Comic Book Net E-Mag ________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- [2] Letters to the Editor If you want to comment on this or any previous issue, want to offer something for us to publish, or just want to shamelessly suck up to the editor to try and get your name in print send Email to: ComicBkNet@aol.com Note: letters of comment may be used in future issues of the CBN E-Mag unless you specifically request us NOT to use them. Subj: Fastlane Illustrated Date: 96-04-30 21:33:33 EDT From: CiscoRam To: ComicBknet Comic Book Net, Hi, I just read your ad in CBG about the electronic comic magazine. I would be very interested in reading it. I self-publish a comic book titled Fastlane Illustrated. It's the only comic book in existance right now that mixes street racing/hot rod themes with "traditional" comic book. It's kind of like a mix of Christine and Star Wars. Please send me a copy of your magazine. Also, I would be happy to submit a copy of Fastlane for your review. I had a table at WonderCon this weekend and there was much interest in this work. Hope to hear from you soon, -Francisco Ramirez [Francisco got a prompt reply and we'll be waiting to sample his work] +++++ To: "David L. LeBlanc" From: ddailey@knights.farmington.k12.mo.us (Jon Dailey) Subject: Re: CBEM #56 1/2 This is a nice e-zine and I am glad I asked for it. If you would like to receive my NEW e-zine, please let me know. Many artist/writers and just other people in the industry receive this newsletter. Thanks Jon Dailey Publisher/Editor Comic Club [Glad you like our effort Jon, and in the words of Jimmy Durante, "Everybody's trying to get into the act!"] +++++ Subj: APAs Date: 96-04-28 12:34:45 EDT From: jkp0002@jove.acs.unt.edu (John K Parkin) >I just read your column on apas, and was wondering why each member had to >have email. I'm a member of Phoenix APA, which is a popular culture apa The Email requirement was set up for communication purposes. At first the APA was for members of CBN, the Comic Book Network, and they communicated in their own conference on the BBS network. As they allowed non-CBN participants to join they decided to change the requirement to being able to be reached online by Email and/or an online comic conference such as Fido, Rime or CBN. It is either or, not just Email. >(movies, music, TV, and, of course, comics) where about half of us have >email. One member thinks we've become a clique and are alienating the >rest of the membership, so things are obviously a lot different than >they are in CBN! Anyway, is the mailing on-line? I'd like to get Phoenix >on-line, and was wondering if you had a web page or sample electronic >mailing or something I could look at. The APA is MAILED like any other normal APA, it is PAPER not electronic. Ed Dukeshire runs it. Write him at: 103676.2236@compuserve.com >Also, would you mind if I submitted one of your weeky email newsletters >for the next issue of Phoenix? I'd like to show some of the non-liners >what they are missing. Keep up the good work! I enjoy my weekly dose of >your ezine. As we note in every issue, it may be freely distributed if left as is, without changing it. Spread the word. ...---====*David LeBlanc> ComicBkNet@aol.com http://members.aol.com/ComicBkNet +++++ Subj: Re: CBEM #56 1/2 Date: 96-04-29 12:20:03 EDT From: cslepage@fair.net (Charles S. LePage) On Fri, 26 Apr 1996 21:37:03 -0700, "David L. LeBlanc" wrote: >aspect. Spending most of my time making sure it is as good as it can be >leaves little time left for cataloging web sites. As I suggested in my >other mail, go to our links page, the RACM list is huge and you will find >many more at ONLINE COMICS, and the above mentioned nightscape INDex. Another fine place to find many links to publishers' web sites is my web page, http://www.america.net/~cslepage/ncrl.htm. Just check under "Other Comic Book Sites Of Interest" for the list, or clink on the link at the top of the new releases list at my site. chuck Charles LePage [Right you are Chuck. We have a link on our web page to your weekly list of new comics shipping which is the most complete and timely list out there. We use another sent to us by CBN member Bobb Waller to get info into our mag before the weekend. We recommend our readers go to Chuck's page and the links he has set up as well.] +++++ Subj: Comic Database Date: 96-05-01 01:25:28 EDT From: 103676.2236@compuserve.com Just curious -- can anyone recommend a 'good' comic book database program to run under Windows 95? Preferably something in the shareware department (I'd like to try before I buy). Maybe someone out there has a 'listing' of all existing programs? Maybe we could run it in the e-mag? -- ed {Well I can take a hint, especially from CBN co-founder and original editor of this mag Ed Dukeshire. How about it folks, any Win95 collectible database programs you can tell us about?} +++++ [TRIVIA CONTEST] >What month and year saw the first two Marvel Universe crossovers? >Bonus prize if you also name which characters crossed into which books! FROM: desada Subject: Re: Trivia Contest Date: Monday, April 29, 1996 You've probably got an answer already, but just for fun, can you clarify something for me? When you say Marvel Universe Crossover, do you mean a cross over between Marvel characters only, or a crossover between different companies? [Still need a winner, and yes it is the first between Marvel characters. One is real easy if you stop and think about it.] Subj: Re: Trivia Contest Date: 96-04-30 07:30:56 EDT From: desada@edc1.edc.ca (Desabrais, Dave) To: ComicBknet@aol.com (ComicBknet) just a wild guess. Avengers number 1 and I think it was Amazing Spiderman #4 (spidey and the FF) [To win you need to give the month and year] +++++ And the winner is a name we have seen guessing nearly every week, and he finally beat the band for the prize: Date: Mon, 29 Apr 1996 06:32:04 -0700 To: "David L. LeBlanc" From: Jim Murdoch Subject: Re: CBEM #56 1/2 >What month and year saw the first two Marvel Universe crossovers? >Bonus prize if you also name which characters crossed into which books! > It appears to be cover date 3/63, where the Hulk crossed over into FF, and the FF crossed over into the Human Torch strip in Strange Tales. Yes, I do keep my Overstreet guide by my computer just to answer trivia questions. [Jim got the right month and year but missed the bonus. Overstreet lists the first FF crossover as being in Spider-Man #1, which is what we were looking for. Glad you finally won Jim] Jim, Master of Comics smiv@primenet.com Order SPANDEX NOT REQUIRED #2 and HIGH OCTANE THEATRE #! from APL Shipping June 1996 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION: In "Batman:The Dark Knight Returns" there is a female Robin, Carrie Kelly. What is her full real name? IMPORTANT RULES NOTICE: The first correct answer to reach the editor wins the CHEEZY PRIZE(tm). The editor will be the sole judge as to which guess arrived first! Please be sporting and send only one guess at a time. LIMIT: ONE PRIZE PER MONTH PER PERSON! Submit your own trivia and win the CHEEZY PRIZE(tm) if you stump the subscribers! You MUST submit the correct answer with the question. ________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- [3] CBN Insider - News, gossip and rumors from around the industry Think we were the only ones pulling April Fools gags? Last week we got caught by using info from Comic Shop News : >Also news that Daniel Presedo, creator of Dream Wolves has signed on to >produce a superhero genre book with the Dream Wolves mythos through >Homage Comics in early 1997 Jeff Mariotte, who posted the real news about Homage (going non-exclusive in distributing its comics), let us know that the CSN got the info from a gag post by Daniel and took it for real. Actual news will be posted online by Jeff. Well, we know even the "real" press can get fooled once in a while. (I had to assure more than one person that Adam West was NOT going to be the next Batman after our gag issue) +++++ More news from the horse's mouth, this time to straighten out somewhat who might be writing for Fabian Nicieza over at Valiant: We are planning an ARMED & DANGEROUS Trade Paperback for the summer. There will be a second A&D Limited Series titled Hell's Slaughterhouse on sale starting (I think) in June. Bob Hall's stuff keeps getting BETTER (as those of you who saw the A&D Special will know). Good crime fiction comics am fun. There will be a couple more titles coming in Acclaim's Crime Fiction genre imprint, including a book called GRAVEDIGGERS by Mark Moretti and Rodney Ramos starting in July and a Limited Series by Mike Baron and Paul Gulacy (Paul INKING himself!) starting in September. Both of these titles are quite different than A&D and each other, but all fall into a Black and White Crime Grenre category of publishing and all are good examples of these fine folks doing some of their best work. Wait'll you see the design formats for the covers, etc. -- it will give that whole portion of thhe Acclaim Publishing Program (don't snicker, there IS one!) a very distinct, nifty-cool look. And don't worry, we haven't fogotten PUNX -- it was pulled because of scheduling difficulties and a new version of PUNX with some new creative folks in the mix will be coming out as a one-shot in late 96/early 97. And did anyone ask about our superheroes? Hmmm... soon, very very soon, it will ALL be revealed. Mind if I drop a few names? Like Busiek? Ellis? Ennis? And last (and most certainly least), ME?! That's just to name a few... there will be more to come :-) -- fabian +++++ From the CSNsider in this week's Comic Shop News #463, lots of stuff we already told you about, plus . . .Kevin Anderson, writer of Star Wars fame, will be writing a 2 part X-Files story for Topps for issues 20 & 21 as well as future stories for the comic . . .AArdwolf Productions will be putting out a Gene Colan Treasury to help Gene pay for some very large medical expenses. It will contain more than two dozen never before seen Colan illustrations and intros by Stan Lee and Roy Thomas . . . the mysteriously named creator, Dark One, is creating a six issue bi-monthly for Sirius that begins in July. Look for Animal Mystic:Water Wars in full color. . . John Jake's Mullkon Empire has been licensed for television to Alliance Television Productions . . .Fantasy Flight will venture into comics books this July with the first two issues of Valerian at $2.95. They are known for graphic novels of European comics and will continue in that area as well. . . Lethargic Lad moves to Crusade Comics beginning this summer. . . The first issue of Broadway Comics new series, City Perilous featuring the "Knights on Broadway", will start with a forty page special in July for only $2.95 . . . running out of catchy names for new characters? One would think so from the next title from Maximum Press, supposedly with a heroine determined to bring an end to the "bad girl" craze (huh?). Coming in July - AVENGEBLADE. . . The new #1 issue of Neil Gaiman's Mr. Hero will also be the last issue and Gene Roddenberry's Xander ends with #8, causing Big Entertainment to shuffle the chapters of its Big Bang Crossover now appearing as the back feature in all its titles. I want to know why they dropped Isaac Asimov's name from the I-Bots cover. . . Marvel EIC Bob Harras is now the father of triplets! Rumor is the names are Scott, Xavier, and Logan but I wouldn't count on it. . . Marshall Rogers and Terry Austin do the art for Mister Miracle #5 featuring the return of Oberon. . . Comic Images trading cards sets coming up include Bone:Dragonslayer(July), Animal Mystic(July), Strangers in Paradise(August), Double Impact All-Chromium(August), Elvira, Mistress of the Dark(September), and Poison Elves(September). . . The Adventures of Superman comic book based on the new animated series will debut September as the series will. The first story is by Paul Dini and the next 6 issues are written by Scott McCloud. Art will be supplied by Rick Burchett and Terry Austin, with colors by Marvel vet Marie Severin. . . X-Men 2099:Oasis, the graphic novel with art by the Hildebrandt brothers, has been rescheduled for June 12. +++++ ________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- [4] 1996 Eisner Award Nominations originally posted by Jackie Estrada relayed by Geoffrey R. Mason Here are the 1996 Eisner Award Nominations for the best of 1995 work. The awards will be given at the Comic-Con International in San Diego this summer. Best Single Issue The Acme Novelty Library #4, by Chris Ware (Fantagraphics) Bacchus Color Special, by Eddie Campbell and Teddy Kristiansen (Dark Horse) Eightball #16, by Dan Clowes (Fantagraphics) Kurt Busiek's Astro City #4: "Safeguards," by Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson (Jukebox Productions/Image) Stray Bullets #3: "The Party," by David Lapham (El Capitan) Best Short Story "Caricature" by Dan Clowes, in Eightball #15 (Fantagraphics) "Horsing Around with History," by Carl Barks and William Van Horn, in Uncle Scrooge Adventures #33 (Gladstone) "Jimmy Corrigan," by Chris Ware, in Blab #8 (Kitchen Sink) "Klingon Battle Helmet," by Rob Maisch and Scott Hampton, in Confessions of a Cereal Eater (NBM) "Pink Frosting," by Adrian Tomine, in Optic Nerve #2 (Drawn & Quarterly) "The Eltingville Comic-Book, Science-Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, and Role-Playing Club in Bring Me the Head of Boba Fett" by Evan Dorkin, in Instant Piano #3 (Dark Horse) Best Serialized Story "The Chuckling Whatsit," by Richard Sala, in Zero Zero #2-7 (Fantagraphics) "Naked City,"by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon, Preacher #5-7 (DC/Vertigo) "Palestine: In the Gaza Strip," by Joe Sacco, in Palestine #6-9 (Fantagraphics) Strangers in Paradise #1-8, by Terry Moore (Abstract Studios) "The Wake," by Neil Gaiman and Michael Zulli, in Sandman #70-72 (DC/Vertigo) Best Continuing Series Acme Novelty Library, by Chris Ware (Fantagraphics) Kurt Busiek's Astro City, by Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson (Jukebox Productions/Image) Preacher, by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon (DC/Vertigo) Strangers in Paradise, by Terry Moore (Abstract Studios) Stray Bullets, by David Lapham (El Capitan) Best Title for Younger Readers Akiko on the Planet Smoo, by Mark Crilley (Sirius) Batman & Robin Adventures, by Paul Dini, Ty Templeton, and Rick Burchett (DC) Bone, by Jeff Smith (Cartoon Books/Image) Lisa Comics #1, by Mary Trainor, Mili Smythe, Stephanie Gladden, Bill Morrison, and Chris Clements (Bongo) Uncle Scrooge, by Don Rosa (Gladstone) Walt Disney's Comics & Stories, by William Van Horn and others (Gladstone) Best Limited Series Chiaroscuro: The Private Lives of Leonardo da Vinci, by Dave Rawson, Pat McGreal, Chas Truog and Rafael Kayanan (DC/Vertigo) Father & Son, by Jeff Nicholson (Kitchen Sink) Nexus: The Wages of Sin, by Mike Baron and Steve Rude (Dark Horse) Sin City: The Big Fat Kill, by Frank Miller (Dark Horse/Legend) Best New Series Black Hole, by Charles Burns (Kitchen Sink) The Book of Ballads and Sagas, by Charles Vess and others (Green Man Press) Kurt Busiek's Astro City, by Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson (Jukebox Productions/Image) Optic Nerve, Adrian Tomine (Drawn & Quarterly) Preacher, by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon (DC/Vertigo) Stray Bullets, by David Lapham (El Capitan) Best Anthology The Big Book of Conspiracies, edited by Bronwyn Taggart (Paradox Press) Blab #8, edited by Monte Beauchamp (Kitchen Sink) Drawn & Quarterly, edited by Chris Oliveros (Drawn & Quarterly) Weird Business, edited by Joe R. Lansdale and Richard Klaw (Mojo Press) Zero Zero, edited by Kim Thompson (Fantagraphics) Best Graphic Album-New Adolf: A Tale of the Twentieth Century, by Osamu Tezuka (Cadence Books) Dropsie Avenue: The Neighborhood, by Will Eisner (Kitchen Sink) Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm, adapted by Doug Wheeler and David Wenzel (NBM) Jar of Fools, Part 2, by Jason Lutes (Black Eye Productions) Stuck Rubber Baby, by Howard Cruse (Paradox Press) Best Graphic Album-Reprint Concrete: Killer Smile, by Paul Chadwick (Dark Horse) Pussey! by Dan Clowes (Fantagraphics) Sandman Mystery Theatre: The Tarantula, by Matt Wagner and Guy Davis (DC/Vertigo) The Tale of One Bad Rat, by Bryan Talbot (Dark Horse) 32 Stories, by Adrian Tomine (Drawn & Quarterly) Best Archival Collection Alley Oop, vol, 3 by V. T. Hamlin (Kitchen Sink) The Comic Strip Century, edited by Bill Blackbeard and Dale Crain(Kitchen Sink) The Complete Crumb Comics, vol. 11, by R. Crumb (Fantagraphics) EC Comics reprint series, comic book format (Gemstone Publishing) Prince Valiant, vols. 23-25, by Hal Foster (Fantagraphics) The Yellow Kid, by R. F. Outcault (Kitchen Sink) Best Humor Publication Acme Novelty Library, by Chris Ware (Fantagraphics) Comic Book, by John Kricfalusi, Richard Pursel, Jim Smith, and Shane Glines (Marvel) Eightball, by Dan Clowes (Fantagraphics) Milk & Cheese #666, by Evan Dorkin (Slave Labor) Zippy's House of Fun, by Bill Griffith (Fantagraphics) Best Writer Kurt Busiek, Kurt Busiek's Astro City (Jukebox Productions/ Image) Garth Ennis, Preacher, Goddess (DC/Vertigo) Neil Gaiman, The Sandman (DC/Vertigo) Alan Moore, From Hell (Kitchen Sink) Grant Morrison, The Invisibles (DC/Vertigo) Best Writer/Artist, Drama Charles Burns, Black Hole (Kitchen Sink) Howard Cruse, Stuck Rubber Baby (Paradox Press) Will Eisner, Dropsie Avenue: The Neighborhood (Kitchen Sink) David Lapham, Stray Bullets (El Capitan) Joe Sacco, Palestine (Fantagraphics) Osamu Tezuka, Adolf: A Tale of the Twentieth Century (Cadence Books) Best Writer/Artist, Humor Sergio Aragones, Groo (Image) Dan Clowes, Eightball (Fantagraphics) Kim Deitch, "The Strange Secret of Molly O'Dare," Zero Zero (Fantagraphics) Evan Dorkin, Instant Piano stories (Dark Horse); Milk & Cheese #666, Dork #3 (Slave Labor) Chris Ware, The Acme Novelty Library (Fantagraphics) Jim Woodring, Jim, Jim Special (Fantagraphics) Best Painter John Bolton, Batman: Manbat (DC) Dan Brereton, The Nocturnals (Malibu/Bravura) Teddy Kristiansen, Bacchus Color Special (Dark Horse) David Wenzel, Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm (NBM) Phil Winslade, Goddess (DC/Vertigo) Best Penciller/Inker Geof Darrow, The Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot (Dark Horse/Legend) Steve Dillon, Preacher (DC/Vertigo) Milo Manara, El Gaucho (NBM) Al Williamson, Flash Gordon (Marvel Select) Michael Zulli, The Sandman, #70-72: "The Wake" (DC/Vertigo) Best Cover Artist Frank Miller, X #18-21; Sin City: The Big Fat Kill and Silent Night (Dark Horse) Alex Ross, Kurt Busiek's Astro City (Jukebox Productions/Image) Charles Vess, Books of Magic (DC/Vertigo); Ice Age on the World of Magic the Gathering (Acclaim/Armada); The Book of Ballads and Sagas #1 (Green Man Press) Chris Ware, The Acme Novelty Library (Fantagraphics); Blab! #8 (Kitchen Sink) Phil Winslade, Goddess, Vamps: Hollywood & Vein (DC/Vertigo) Jim Woodring, Jim, Jim Special (Fantagraphics) Best Coloring George Freeman, The X-Files (Topps) Claude Legris, The Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot (Dark Horse/ Legend) Angus McKie, Neil Gaiman's Teknophage (Big Entertainment); Martha Washington: Stranded in Space (Dark Horse/Legend) Maurice Vellekoop, stories in Drawn & Quarterly (Drawn & Quarterly) Chris Ware, The Acme Novelty Library (Fantagraphics) Best Lettering Dan Clowes, Eightball (Fantagraphics) Richard Sala, "The Chuckling Whatsit," Zero Zero (Fantagraphics) Stan Sakai, Groo (Image); Usagi Yojimbo (Mirage) Bill Spicer, The Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot (Dark Horse/ Legend) Bill Yoshida, various Archie titles (Archie Comics) Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition Kim Deitch (Zero Zero, Waldo World, etc.) Peter Kuper (Kafka: Give it Up!, Stripped, etc.) Jeff Nicholson (Father & Son, Through the Habitrails, etc.) Joe Sacco (Palestine) Seth (Palooka-Ville) Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo) Best Editor Monte Beauchamp, Blab (Kitchen Sink) Stuart Moore, Swamp Thing, The Invisibles, Preacher (DC/Vertigo) Chris Oliveros, Drawn & Quarterly (Drawn & Quarterly) Bronwyn Taggart, The Big Book of Weirdos, The Big Book of Conspiracies, Brooklyn Dreams, Stuck Rubber Baby (Paradox Press) Kim Thompson, The Acme Novelty Library, Palestine, Zero Zero (Fantagraphics) Best Comics-Related Publication: Periodical Comic Book Marketplace (Gemstone Publishing) The Comics Journal (Fantagraphics) The Jack Kirby Collector (TwoMorrows) The Staros Report (Chris Staros) Best Comics-Related Publication: Book Alex Toth, edited by Manuel Auad (Kitchen Sink) Collectibly MAD, by Grant Geissman (Kitchen Sink) DC Comics: Sixty Years of Your Favorite Comic Book Heroes, by Les Daniels (Bullfinch Press) The Golden Age of Comic Fandom, by Bill Schelley (Hamster Press) Best Comics-Related Item Comic strip stamps (U.S. Postal Service) Sandman: The Wake poster by Michael Zulli (DC) Shadow limited-edition cold-cast bust, designed by Michael Kaluta, sculpted by Randy Bowen (Graphitti Designs) Vertigo Tarot Deck, illustrated by Dave McKean, text by Rachel Pollack (DC/Vertigo) Vues de Sauve portfolio, by R. Crumb (Fantagraphics) Zippo lighters: Love and Rockets, Milk & Cheese, Smoking Cat, Too Much Coffee Man (Smoke King) Best Publication Design The Acme Novelty Library, designed by Chris Ware (Fantagraphics) Betty Boop's Sunday Best, designed by Kevin Lison and Doug Bantz (Kitchen Sink) Blab #8, designed by Monte Beauchamp (Kitchen Sink) Bone hardbound collections, vols. 1 and 2, designed by Jeff Smith (Cartoon Books) Palooka-Ville, designed by Seth (Drawn & Quarterly) Voodoo Child: The Illustrated Legend of Jimi Hendrix deluxe signed and numbered hardcover slipcased edition with CD, designed by Bobbi Bongard and Lisa Stone (Kitchen Sink) Hall of Fame (Past winners: Carl Barks, C. C. Beck, Milton Caniff, R. Crumb, Steve Ditko, Will Eisner, Frank Frazetta, William Gaines, Walt Kelly, Jack Kirby, Harvey Kurtzman, Stan Lee, Jerry Siegel, Joe Schuster, Alex Toth, Wally Wood) Jack Cole Bill Finger Hal Foster Gardner Fox Chester Gould Harold Gray George Herriman Bob Kane Sheldon Mayer Winsor McCay Alex Raymond Alex Schomburg Julius Schwartz E. C. Segar art spiegelman Dick Sprang John Stanley Basil Wolverton -- Geoffrey R. Mason | jrm@grove.ufl.edu Editor - indy Magazine | 611 NW 34th Drive College of Law - Univ of Florida | Gainesville, Florida 32607-2429 -- URL = http://grove.ufl.edu/~jrm ________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- [5] REVIEW by David LeBlanc INNOCENT BYSTANDER {Ollie Ollie! Oxen Free Press} Black & White/Color covers $2.50(#1) $2.75 (#2) Self Published by Gary Sassaman - 121 Academy Ave. #2 Pittsburgh, PA 15228 GSassaman@aol.com Innocent Bystander is not a *story* comic book. It is a lot of autobiographical thoughts, images, remembrances, fantasies and whatever else fits. Sometimes they are one page comments on life or comics or cats or whatever. I particularly like the "Tales from the Tube" recounting actual bloopers from tv that are too stupid to be made up, like the news anchor asking us to "stay tuned for the Young and the Breastless", or the fact that "Groucho Marx has taken a turn for the worse. In fact he's dead!" We see from Gary's two page "Guilty Pleasures" that his influences are what you would expect - Rick Geary (very strong), Stan & Ollie; Larry, Moe & Curly, Los Bros. Marx, Omaha (the comic not the city),Jack Kirby, and a few others. A simple sequence of famous hair styles does not seem funny until you get to the last row and you realize, you have been set up for a pretty good gag. So many of his recollections are similar to mine, it is uncanny; "playing" war as a kid, memories of the movies or the Stooges, talking back to sitcoms, or speculating what cats are thinking. These two books are a pleasant break from the drama and action which are the staple of my comic reading. Gary has a lot to say and his art and its composition fit just right with the text. He projects a love for what he is doing and his thoughts and humor are worth sharing with your friends. I highly recommend you kick back with INNOCENT BYSTANDER - the nice little comic you can take home to mom! Issue #1 is still available at the above address for $3 which includes postage and handling. #2 will be shipping June 5 from Diamond and Capital but you can get both #1 and #2 from Gary for $5 total and they will be autographed as well. Both are 24 pages with color covers. ________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- [6] Recommended Reading by Joe Torres TALES FROM THE BOG #2 (Aberration Press) 32pg. By Marcus Lusk. 416 Cahaba Park Circle, Suite 107-B, Birmingham, AL, 35242. Poor, poor Cosmo. In the first issue of this wonderful new title, we saw Miz Edna's Sundries sell out of his favorite comic, "The Astonishing Cobweb". In this issue, just when you think Cosmo's troubles will soon be over, as he's earned the $10(!) to buy the book over at Reggie's comic shop, Miz Edna drops another bomb on him. See, she's decided to stop carrying these "comical books" which are "fulla blood n' death and folks getting their hearts ripped out"! So does this mean Cosmo will then forever be at the mercy of the rip-off comic retailer? Meanwhile, Jasper pays his last respects to Ray and we're given another poignant look at death. His parting words strike all the right chords and we are once again touched by his sadness. We are also left to continue wondering about his lost love Miz Jessie. No answers here, instead more intriguing questions. On the surface this is a "cute" comic book, but elements of tragedy and humanity provide an interesting contrast to the charming "cartoon" characters. And their stories are pretty familiar because, really, their stories are ours. If you can't relate to the small Southern town environment, or to Jasper's melancholy, then surely Cosmo's fanboy dilemmas will be familiar ground to you. Visiting the Bog is much like visiting family or friends or a place of your youth. Do yourself a favor, visit the Bog soon. PATTY CAKE #7 (Permanent Press) 24pg. $2.95. By Scott Roberts. P.O. Box 546, Monsey, NY, 110952. Have you seen this? Patty Cake has fast become one of my favorite comics these days. Take L'il Jinx and give her some attitude, maybe infuse Calvin & Hobbes with a bit more of an edge, combine Ren & Stimpy with the Peanuts and you have somewhat of an idea what this book has in store. The precocious Patty Cake is Scott Roberts' lovable little girl made of nostalgic "sugar", that will have you fondly remembering childhood, and a lot of "spice", that will have you laughing out loud. Roberts' writing is thoroughly entertaining, depicting Patty in strips at once situationally funny and sentimental; and he really knows how to capture the cuteness, charm, innocence, expression and even venom in a child's voice. The art is wildly fun with shades of Charles Schulz, John Kicfralusi, and even Peter Bagge (but as Roberts cleverly says: "I'm not Bagge -- I just draw that way"). In this issue we find Patty and a couple of her friends hilariously complicating a game of Sit N' Spin in "It's How You Play the Game"; the self-explanatory "How to Cheese Your Sister" has the little miss of mischief showing us how it's done; and in "The Unkindest Cut" Patty finds the silver lining in getting a boo-boo (remember scraping your knee as child, then getting a cookie for it?). As an added bonus, this issue includes a Cynicalman strip from minicomic master Matt Feazell! Do yourself a favor and pick up Patty Cake. It's more fun than a hula hoop! ------------------------------------------------------------------ [+] j.torres [*] watch for "the copybook tales" [!] jtorres@cam.org [=] from slave labor graphics [x] montreal, quebec [$] may solicitation/july release ------------------------------------------------------------------ ________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- [7] New Comics Shipping 5/7/96 by Bobb Waller Here is what is Scheduled to ship from Diamond, Capital Cities, and UPS: ============================================================================ 21st Century: Bettie Page: Queen of Curves-Foil Set AA 2 Ent.: Agony Acres #1 Abstract Studios: Strangers in Paradise #11 Acclaim Comics: X-O Manowar #66 Mutant Chronicles Golgotha #4 Archie Comics: Betty #39 Betty & Veronica Digest #82 Hanna-Barbera Presents #5 Big (Tekno) Comics: Mystery Scene Magazine Special #1 Blackmore Publishing: Indy Magazine #14 Comic Images: Supreme All-Magnachrome Cards Foil Box Comic Shop News: CSN #464 Dark Horse Comics: Age of Reptiles: The Hunt #1 Ghost/Hellboy Special #1 Legend of Mother Sarah: City of ... Man from Ciguri TP Oh My Goddess:Terrible Master Urd #2 Sin City: That Yellow Bastard #4 DC Comics: Animaniacs #15 Azrael #19 Batman #532 Big Book of Little Criminals Blood & Shadows #4 Books of Magic #26 Detective Comics #698 Hawkman #33-Final Issue Impulse #15 Invisibles #22 Justice League:America #112 Kingdom Come #1 Showcase 96 #6 Sovereign Seven #12 Static #37 Superman Annual #8 Superman:TMOT #5 Vertigo Verite: The System #3 Entity Comics: Foodang #1 Nira X:Cyberangel #2 Stargate #1 Stargate Special Edition #1 Zen Intergalactic Ninja Legends #1 Fantagraphics Books: Orgy Bound Gemstone Publishin-R. Cochran: Two-Fisted Tales #16 Two-Fisted Tales Annual Vol. 3 Vault of Horror #16 Vault of Horror Annual Vol. 3 Weird Fantasy #16 High Top Comics: Brinke of Destruction #3 I Box Publishing: Thieves & Kings #11 Image Comics: Angela TP Big Bang Comics #1 Bone #24 Celestine #1 Chapel #7 Maxx Friends of Maxx Special Shadowhunt Special #1 Sigma #2 Stormwatch #35 Strikeback #4 Weapon Zero #4 Witchblade #5 Kevlar Comics: Horseman #0 Knight Angel Comics: Raptus #2 Lightning Comics: Claire Voyante #1 Marvel Comics: Cable #33 Captain America #453 Daredevil #354 Doctor Strange #90-Final Issue Fantastic Four Unplugged #6 Iron Man #329 Marvels (Special Edition) #1 Prime (2) #8 Sensational Spider-Man #6 Spider-Man 2099 #46 Terminator #0 Uncanny X-Men #334 X-Men:Askani'son #4 Maximum Comic Press: Battlestar Galactica Apollos Journey #? Pocket Books: Inside Star Trek Sports Time: Playboy Centerfold June Ed. Foil Box Tomart: Tomarts Action Figure Encyclopedia/Price Guide Topps Comics: X-Files Comics Digest #2 X-Files:Season One Factory Tin Set Viz Communications: Game On! USA Vol1 #1 Maison Ikkoku Part 5 #7 No Need for Techni #2 Riot:Act 2 #2 Samurai Crusader:Kumomaru Chronicles ============================================================================ Well Looks like a small week, can't wait for Kingdom Come! See ya on the spinners! ________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- [A] How to join the COMIC BOOK NETWORK (CBN) You too can enjoy the intelligent conversations and informative threads that occur in the conferences of the Comic Book Net every day! However, many people who read this e-mag aren't familiar with the Local BBS echo-mail system.... Bulletin Board Systems are scattered everywhere across the continent and the world, many of them are free! Chances are, if you have a modem you have the accompanying communications software. Using the Terminal Emulation software that came with your modem, you can dial up one of the many systems linked into CBN (see the listings down a few paragraphs). Most of the boards offer all the message echoes in the Comic Book Network... There are message bases devoted to all the bigger comics publishers, as well as big Small Press and Independent message bases, not to mention sections for general conversation, collecting, gaming and other forms of entertainment. If you are worried about long distance charges, worry no longer! Most if not all the BBS's offer a mail service from which you can download a .QWK packet of recent e-mail to read offline with a program called an offline mail reader. You can read & write messages at your leisure, and then upload your own messages & replies the next time you call your local BBS. There are many .QWK packet readers out there, for every type of computer system. They all give you a better explanation in their documentation than I can. These programs are available all over the Internet and are free to download from most BBS's. I recommend SLMR or OLX-TD for DOS to get started. These "mail runs" (dialing up, downloading the mail packet and uploading replies) generally take less than 5 minutes to accomplish, and at the average after-5pm/weekends/holidays long distance phone rates, that is LESS THAN $.75! See? Even less expensive than many of the commercial information services available! :) So what else can you find on free BBS systems? There are plenty of files for specific types of computers. Some systems also offer other types of message networks ranging from general topics to specific themes like sci-fi, role playing, games, music, etc. And, let's not forget online games. Join into the many different multiplayer games, each system sports different challenges. There's nothing like becoming the most powerful being in a online adventure! And when you _do_ log on, leave a message in The Bullpen conference to ALL, and introduce yourself to us! You're guaranteed to get plenty of replies and all the help you need to join in the fun! ________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- [B] BBSes Linked into CBN Here's the most up-to-date node listing for the COMIC BOOK NETWORK F=FIDO Q=QWK B=Both *=Major HUB -- ARKANSAS ------------------------------------------------------------- F* Karate & Comics & ... Russelville AR 501-968-3910 Robert Wood Conway PC Users Conway AR 501-329-7227 Tim Stone -- CALIFORNIA ----------------------------------------------------------- Q Freedom Flight Victorville CA 619-955-6445 Ronald Siodla Electronic RPO Newbury Park CA 805-498-8061 Kelly Cruise -- FLORIDA -------------------------------------------------------------- F Never Never Land Melbourne FL 407-253-8754 Wayne Bell Steel Dog Cafe Destin FL 904-654-1631 Keith Schultz Ghost's Realm Crestview FL 904-689-6664 Kie Dorton -- ILLINOIS ------------------------------------------------------------- -- INDIANA -------------------------------------------------------------- F The CyberSpace BBS Indianapolis IN 317-856-9020 Charlie Smith -- KENTUCKY ------------------------------------------------------------- Lex Corp Georgetown KY 502-867-0992 -- MARYLAND ------------------------------------------------------------- F The Vampyre Bar! Frederick MD 301-698-5194 Darryl Pierce F DataStorm Kettering MD 301-390-5243 Tarek Gordan F Bifrost Mount Rainier MD 301-779-9381 Kevin Carlin F Womens World East BBS Silver Spring MD 301-431-0647 Wendy Dumser F Sherata's Realm Mechanicsville MD 301-884-9732 Linda Peek -- MASSACHUSETTS -------------------------------------------------------- F Archives BBS Acushnet MA 508-995-0085 John Viera F Muskrat & Heatwave New Bedford MA 508-984-5321 Dennis Racine B* Keystone BBS Shrewsbury MA 508-753-3767 John Harris F HellFire BBS S. Dartmouth MA 508-979-8930 Brock Cordeiro B Call Again Soon Worcester MA 508-791-1281 Joe Johnson -- MICHIGAN ------------------------------------------------------------- F Intl. Comic Network Dearborn Hgts MI 313-565-8464 Anthony Palacio -- MISSOURI ------------------------------------------------------------- F The Oan Citadel Grandview MO 816-767-1488 Brian J. Stewart -- NEW HAMPSHIRE -------------------------------------------------------- Venom's World Rollinsford, NH 603-743-4188 Ira Locke -- NEW JERSEY ----------------------------------------------------------- Phoenix Modernz Systems Seaside Hts. NJ 908-830-8265 -- NEW YORK ------------------------------------------------------------- Asgard TW BBS West Islip NY 516-422-4225 Tom Pemberton Interzone BBS Long Is. City NY 718-786-5557 Jim Garvin F Starbase : Red Dwarf Saugerties NY 914-247-9601 John Dragun -- NORTH CAROLINA ------------------------------------------------------- F Electronic Hangover Durham NC 919-286-4542 Richard Lee F Psychotronic Durham NC 919-286-7738 Richard Lee F* TI-Raliegh Maximus Raliegh NC 919-833-3412 Walter Tietjen F Crystal Winds Raliegh NC 919-790-3599 Mike Gurkin F Federal Post Spring Lake NC 910-436-2055 Frank Koza -- OKLAHOMA ------------------------------------------------------------- Compumate Tulsa OK 918-628-0887 Danny Pelletier F Snart's Dreamland Collinsville OK 918-371-0980 Jeff Bennett F The Dreaming World Broken Arrow OK 918-451-3056 Greg Adkins -- PENNSYLVANIA --------------------------------------------------------- F Comic Book Board Philadelphia PA 215-365-5225 William Horton -- TENNESSEE ------------------------------------------------------------ The Factory BBS Union City TN 901-885-9647 -- TEXAS ---------------------------------------------------------------- F Razor's Domain ][ Edinburg TX 210-631-5159 Kevin Nunn Q Way Out There Dallas TX 214-680-2755 Justin Pasher F The Chess Board Grand Prairie TX 214-641-1136 Ken Givens B* FIAWOL/MSConnections Irving TX 214-790-6472 Bobb Waller F Star Streams Waxahachie TX 214-938-7115 Michael Rudolf F Orion BBS Odessa TX 915-530-2712 Dennis Brown -- VIRGINIA ------------------------------------------------------------- B Crystal Aerie Arlington VA 703-415-0134 Spencer Greenwald -- WASHINGTON ----------------------------------------------------------- -- ONTARIO, CANADA ------------------------------------------------------ F Dark Knight BBS London ONT 519-850-9929 Michael Cross F MACH 1 BBS London ONT 519-457-6771 Tomasz Heiber Stargate:Above & BeyondLondon ONT 519-472-4938 Paul Nicholas -- MEXICO --------------------------------------------------------------- B* The Gate BBS Mexico City 52-5-264-2994 Emilio Karam - From USA, dial international-access 011 then 52-5-264-2994# ________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- [C] E-Mag Info The Comic Book Net E-Mag is published by the many participants of The Comic Book Network. This is a compilation of articles and columns which were originally posted in the network's conferences or written specifically for this electronic magazine. Some articles are independent of any connection with CBN and are used with permission. All text contained within is copyrighted to the originating author(s). Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Editor, the Network Administration Team or the members and users of The Comic Book Network. Except where elsewhere noted, The Comic Book Network Electronic Magazine is Copyright 1996 by the Comic Book Network. You may freely distribute or duplicate this file intact without alteration for noncommercial purposes only. Please do not distribute except as the complete file as originally transmitted by The Comic Book Network. THE CBN WEB PAGE ---------------- If you have access to the World Wide Web, please stop by and visit our web page! On our web page, you can find the latest issue of our E-Mag, as well as an annotated index and all back issues. You'll also find important information on how to join the conversation in the Comic Book Net, and other neat features like newly released comic book graphics, links to lists of Comic Book Company addresses, Comic Professionals Email addresses, and other Comic Book related Web pages! The URL address is: http://members.aol.com/ComicBkNet LOCATING THE ISSUES ------------------- The latest issue is always available from all the systems linked into The Comic Book Network. You can also find the back issues at America Online, by going to Keyword: Science Fiction, scrolling to the menu item _Comic Book Forum_ and then going to the _Comics Library_ from there. Most issues should also be available on Compuserve, Genie, Channel1 BBS and Software Creations BBS as well as other non CBN affiliated Bulletin Board Systems. All back issues should be available at the above sites, as well as our World Wide Web page. SUBMISSIONS ----------- To submit an article, review, column, etc to our e-mag, simply post it in any Comic Book Net conference and leave me a message in the CBN: E-Mag conference giving me permission to use the article. If you cannot access the Comic Book Net, submit your articles for consideration to the editor at: ComicBkNet@aol.com Reviews of mainstream books are least likely to get included when submitted from sources outside of CBN. We give more consideration to reviews of indies and self published material as we feel that material deserves more exposure to the general public. Commentary on the state of the industry, and personal observations and reflections related to comics are *most* likely to be included in our publication. We also accept product for review purposes. Advanced copies of comic books will not be returned but anything sent to us will be reviewed in the ComicBook Net Emag. Send all material to: David L. LeBlanc 84 Heather Circle Jefferson, MA 01522-1419 SUBSCRIPTIONS ------------- If you wish to receive these issues automatically through your internet account, please address a message to ComicBkNet@aol.com to be placed on the subscription list. ________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - End of another Issue .. see ya in the funny papers!! Any similarity of events is due to the overlapping quantum realities.