---------------------------------------------------------------------- Ed Dukeshire and Mike Imboden Present: THE COMIC BOOK NET ELECTRONIC MAGAZINE ISSUE NUMBER 230 9/10/99 Edited by: David LeBlanc - ComicBkNet@aol.com FREE VIA EMAIL SINCE FEBRUARY 1995 ______________________________________________________________________ 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! [3] TRIVIA CONTEST ........................ Win *real* prizes! [4] Network Buzz .......................... News, gossip & rumors [5] Tony Isabella's Journal ............... Tony Isabella [6] And Let Me Tell You Why ............... David Coulter [7] Too Old for Comic Books?!? ............ Johnny Gonzales [8] A Voice from the Doorway .............. Christopher Myers [9] Venting My Spleen ..................... David Groenewegen [10] Stranger in a Strange Land ............ Jennifer M. Contino [11] M.O.E. Reviews ........................ Paul Dale Roberts [12] My View:RAT BASTARD ................... David LeBlanc [13] New Comic Book Releases List .......... Charles LePage [14] HYPE! Section ......................... Various [A] Submission, Subscriptions, Back Issues, Copyrights, BBS Info ______________________________________________________________________ World Wide Web Home Page-->> http://members.aol.com/ComicBkNet HTML WEB EDITION at -->> http://www.digitalwebbing.com/cbem featuring a week's worth of the online strip: Steve Conley's ASTOUNDING SPACE THRILLS ----------------------------------------------------------------------- o \o/ _ o _| \ / |_ o_ \o/ o /|\ | /\ _\o \o | o/ O/_ /\ | /|\ / \ / \ |\ /) | ( \ /o\ / ) | (\ / | / \ / \ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The ComicBook Network was founded by Ed Dukeshire and Mike Imboden ----------------------------------------------------------------------- If you wish to receive each issue automatically through your Email account, please address a message to: ComicBkNet@aol.com with the word SUBSCRIBE in the SUBJECT to be placed on the FREE subscription list. To drop it use UNSUBSCRIBE as a SUBJECT. See section [A] for the address to mail material to be reviewed. ______________________________________________________________________ All text contained within is copyrighted to the originating author(s). Except where elsewhere noted, The Comic Book Net Electronic Magazine is Copyright 1999 by The ComicBook Network. You may freely distribute or retransmit this file intact without alteration for noncommercial purposes only. Except for personal archiving, permission must be obtained from the individual authors to reproduce, retransmit, or publish any part of this magazine. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] On the Net David LeBlanc My AOL subscribers know that last time I once again had to resend the last 3 messages of the Emag because AOL would not let them through as they were sent - one after the other - minutes apart. They admit that this is happening but offer solutions that mean that I have to either incur more expense or alter the way I have been sending this Emag for over 3 years. All because they choose to FILTER their incoming mail in a certain way, even though that mail is not violating their terms of service, has not been reported as SPAM, and is actually requested by the 300 intended recipients. They will not change their method of filtering and offer no explanation as to what if anything I am doing against any of their rules or WHERE the details of what they are doing and why are posted for the public to see. Since they refuse to answer these questions one can assume they do not want people to know they are doing this. I view what they are doing as censorship because they are intercepting mail and trashing it. The last thing I was told was that the matter has now been referred to Corporate officials. Maybe they didn't like being referred to as Big Brother? And seeing how yesterday was 9/9/99 the Emag will probably explode in a fiery ball as a sign of the coming apocalypse! I dunno, but I do not just fold when there are still cards to be played. Now, as they say in the funny books, when last we saw our heroes . . . Subj: THE SUPERMAN COPYRIGHT Date: 9/5/99 8:12:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time From: jrbarrett101@yahoo.com (JOHN BARRETT BARRETT) To: comicbknet@aol.com Whew! What a story. After years of getting shafted by DC this is the way it should end. I wonder if this applies to Jack Kirby's NEW GODS. After all he created most of the material in the mid-sixties, while still working for MARVEL. He then brought it over to DC where it's been a moderate success ever since. +++++ We are running Tony Isabella's column that better explains it this week. In a nutshell - Copyrights had lasted 28 years and could be renewed for another 28. In the 1970s the US changed that to make the second term last 47 years instead of 28 (as well as extending new copyrights to last "life of the author plus 50 years"). Since rights that were sold away for the original 56 years would automatically be extended another 19 years (47 minus 28) they felt it was unfair for those who had originally sold the rights not to be able to get them back after 56 years (why should the current guy automatically get a FREE 19 year extension is the reasoning) so they made provisions for original copyright holders, or their immediate family if they died, to reclaim them - within the 5 years after the second 28 year period by filing certain papers that give the current holder 2 years notice. Since the Superman rights were sold in 1938, the original 56 years ended in 1994 (and by the new laws DC would have the rights another 19 years - until 2013). The Siegel heirs had 5 years from April 1994 to file the papers. They did so in 1997 and the 2 year notice ended April 1999 - which means from that point on they CO-own Superman. In the case of Kirby (and that may or not have been work for hire) or anyone else, this circumstance will only apply for work published before 1978 and ONLY after 56 years (the original copyright term and extension) expire. That is WHY Superman and other Golden Age publications are the first to be considered. Original creators who SOLD their rights away (not just worked on the payroll as some did at DC and Marvel) before 1943 (56 years ago) can now file to reclaim them if they do so within 5 years of the end of that 56 year period. Creators who sold their rights for publication after 1978 are out of luck when it comes to reclaiming them because they are selling them for the entire 75 year copyright term after which the property goes into public domain. Other mail I have gotten on this subject misses the mark, accusing the Siegels of doing something unfair. That is wrong. The law has changed and they are taking steps within their rights to take. One guy suggested DC contest it all the way to the Supreme Court! That would be ill advised, on the negative publicity alone. It is obvious they parties have been negotiating in private up until now, but the cat is out of the bag. It will likely end with DC settling for a HUGE amount to retain exclusive rights to market Superman and all things spawned by his books over the years. It sure would be interesting if they don't and the Siegels explore other options. But, as some cooler minds have suggested, the agreement is probably already done and has been for a while, the Siegels will be well taken care of for the rest of their lives and the public will probably never know the details of it all. But it sure is great publicity! Stay tuned . . Now tune in on the latest comics on the racks . . DC COMICS Day Of Judgment #2 (Of 5), 2.50 Hourman #8, 2.50 JLA 80 Page Giant #2, 4.95 JLA Superpower, 5.95 League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen #4 (Of 6) 2.95 Legionnaires #77, 2.50 Tomorrow Stories #2, 2.95 LONE STAR PRESS Force Seven #1, 2.95 <--PICK OF THE WEEK MARVEL COMICS Avengers United They Stand #1, 2.99 Black Panther #11, 2.50 Iron Man #22, 1.99 Now, providing the world did not end yesterday when all the date/time stuff hit multiple nines - here is this week's Emag. David LeBlanc - ComicBkNet@aol.com Editor The Comic Book Net Electronic Magazine ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [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 CBEM unless you specifically request us NOT to use them. Your Email address and/or name will be withheld upon request. +++++ From: senft@att.net David; Even though I'm without a machine at home (it's in a deep coma), I feel have to stick in my 2 cents re: DC's loss of half it's rights to Superman, so here's my thoughts, in no particular order of priority. Does this loss extend to characters not created by S&S before they signed their rights away? How did this exactl6y happen? I can't believe DC didn't have an opportunity to appeal the proceeding. Did they and they missed it? Or does their time to appeal it start after the two year waiting period ended? And what about the economics? Other than the occasional licensing deal, is the franschise all that lucrative? And for that matter, since the latest movie and TV deals are within Time Warner, how profitable are they actually? For that matter, given Warner's licensing abilities, why would the Siegels want to do anything but watch the money come in? Also, how long does this go on? I mean, do the Siegels now have a right in perpetuity? (I doubt that -- copyright was never a perpetual right.) And let us not forget that if the Siegels have a right to half of the profits, do they not have some sort of liability for half the costs. Do they get only half the profits or are they to subsidize the money-making enterprises in some way. Am I wrong about this? If so, can someone explain how this would work. And I wouldn't worry, with one exception, about other creators; the savvy on their (or their estate's) parts aren't there and the characters don't offer the worth. The exception, of course, would be Jack Kirby. And now that I think about, maybe Chris Claremont. Mitchell [See ON THE NET above and TONY ISABELLA'S JOURNAL for most of your answers. APPEAL is not possible since this was not decided in court. DC/WARNER could possibly sue the government to overturn the LAW on some constitutional grounds perhaps.] +++++ From: "Jim Ottaviani at G.T. Labs" Subject: DIGNIFYING SCIENCE in September's PREVIEWS! Science class may have been boring now and then, but the people who actually do the science that fills textbooks are anything but! To prove the point, a new book is now available from G.T. Labs. You'll find DIGNIFYING SCIENCE in this month's PREVIEWS, "Spotlighted" on page 267. DIGNIFYING SCIENCE, like its award winning predecessor TWO-FISTED SCIENCE, tells true stories about scientists in comics form. The 144 page trade paperback features famous women scientists including Marie Curie, Lise Meitner, Rosalind Franklin, Birute Galdikas, and (believe it or not) film star Hedy Lamarr. Filled with intrigue, danger, humor, and tragedy, the stories offer a human context missing from all those equations and test tubes you remember (or have tried to forget) from science class. Drawn in by the compelling anecdotes, you'll discover the intriguing characters behind some of the most important discoveries of the century. End notes and references will lead you to further information on scientists you'll want to read more about. With art by favorites such as Donna Barr (The Desert Peach), Mary Fleener (Fleener), Stephanie Gladden (Looney Tunes, Hopster's Tracks), Roberta Gregory (Naughty Bits), Lea Hernandez (Cathedral Child, Clockwork Angels), Carla Speed McNeil (Finder), Linda Medley (Books of Faerie, Castle Waiting), Jen Sorensen (Slowpoke), Anne Timmons (Star Trek: DS9) and comics legends Ramona Fradon (Metamorpho, Brenda Starr) and Marie Severin (Dr. Strange, Incredible Hulk), this handsome book, complete with a full-color dust jacket, will please old and new readers alike. Thanks for your interest in my previous books. As always, I promise to only send you a few messages a year, coinciding with new publications. But if you'd like me to remove your name from this list, just say the word and I'll take care of it right away. -Jim [p.s. If you'd like to see some sample art from the book, you can visit the website listed below.] Jim Ottaviani :: http://www.gt-labs.com +++++ Subj: Ancient Studios From: AcntStdios@aol.com To: ComicBknet David, Thank you very much for the review of our preview comics. It was tough, but fair, and your criticism was taken with the intention it was given. I especially appreciate the amount of effort and thought that went into the review. We have exhibited at 2 conventions (Wizard World and Visions) and blanketed the Net with links to our web site, and yours was the first full review we've gotten. I found the preview comics were a terrific learning experience before we have to deal with the pressure of deadlines Worcester, eh? My wife and I are going to see Lenny Kravitz at the Centrum next week. Small world. Thanks again. If you haven't, check out our web site. It's always being added to. Welcome to Ancient Studios Jan-Ives Campbell Ancient Studios +++++ From: chuck@eternalwheel.com (Chuck Whelon) Dear Editor, I've just enjoyed looking at your CBEM website & just wanted to let you know about my self published Pewfell Porfingles comics. You can get a look at my artwork at: http://www.eternalwheel.com/pewfell.html As well as a homepage in homage of that disheveled and myopic master of magic Pewfell Porfingles, there's lots of cool stuff like animations and several comic books posted in their entirety. If you like I'll send you a copy of the latest issue when it's done... Perhaps it is the sort of thing you might enjoy Congrats on your excellent site Love & Peace Chuck chuck@eternalwheel.com http://www.eternalwheel.com http://www.eternalwheel.com/pewfell.html Editor/Webmaster Haight Ashbury Free Press http://www.webcom.com/~haight/welcome.html haight@webcom.com +++++ From: "Andrew Ford" Subject: you can now buy RIB comics with credit card! You can now purchase RIB 1-5 by credit card, for only $20 (shipping paid!). Simply click on the link below, click on the ORDER FORM link, then click on the BUY IT button on the ORDER FORM page. While there, be sure to check out the rest of the RIB web site! Thanks! http://www.rib-online.com +++++ Subj: Kansas City October Comic Book Show Date: 9/5/99 8:51:12 PM Eastern Daylight Time From: yrogerg1@eagle.cc.ukans.edu (greg huneryager) To: ComicBkNet@aol.com Hi, It's less than two months away so I thought I would remind everyone that Barry Smith will be our big guest at the fall Kansas City Comic Book Convention October 23-24. Admission is only $5 and Mr. Smith only does two show a year so we feel very priviledged. For more information email me or check out website http://members.xoom.com/_XOOM/ghuneryager/KansasCityComicBookConventions.html +++++ Subj: The Comics Continuum has moved! Date: 9/6/99 9:32:10 PM Eastern Daylight Time From: robtmyers@aol.com (Robt. Myers) Hello there. You're receiving this e-mail because at one time you participated in the Comic Book Continuum's Web link exchange. I'm writing to you now to let you know that our URL and our site have moved (and all our links are updated to include yours). Our new and improved URL is: http://comicscontinuum.com We're self-publishing now, and fully independent -- but with the same wonderful creative team. On our new site you'll find the same daily news on comics, TV, animation and film that you always did. And now that we're on our own, the sky's the limit on what we might do next! Come on by and check us out! And thanks to all our loyal readers for sticking with us. We really appreciate it! Rob -- Robert Myers The Comics Continuum http://comicscontinuum.com [The Continuum gets our highest recommendation for daily reporting of comic news and more! - D.L.] +++++ From: Jim_Adcock@Dell.com To: DneColt@aol.com Subject: CBEM article well, yeah, but... See, I liked what they did with the Spectre. The whole Wrath of God thing made sense to me, and I liked it, a lot. (The previous series, where the Spectre separating itself from Corrigan was a bit dumb, but it laid the groundwork for Ostrander's superlative series) Hal Jordan, on the other hand, I never did get into. no one really had a great handle on his character, I never got a sense of him as a real person, as I did with Ollie, or Bruce, or Clark, or... And yet, I am intrigued by the idea of iron-willed Hal Jordan versus the Wrath of God. Quite a contest. Especially since the Wrath is going to be a little upset at Hal for his actions, and once again Hal will be struggling against a force that prevents him from doing what he might feel to be right (or, more frighteningly, may wish to aid him in his quest....). And we know that Hal has the ability and talent to manipulate energy and force using his willpower... Hal did redeem himself during Final Night, and maybe being dead for a while taught him some humility ('cause I know being attached to the power of the Wrath of God won't). In any event, I am intrigued and hope to follow the adventures of Hal Jordan, Wrath of God. Here's hoping it doesn't suck... Have a great day! Jim Adcock, MCSE Senior Technician Dell MACSD Technical Support +++++ Subj: Lea Hernandez' "Lemons--Lemonade!" Contest From: DivaLea@aol.com In my Atelier DivaLea newsletter of 09.08.99, I wrote this about DIGNIFYING SCIENCE and LOVE IN TIGHTS #4: "And that's it. PREORDER these books, if you want them. You're all familiar enough with the manager saying, "I bought one, and the assistant manager bought the other, and the reorder won't be in for months" drill to not kid yourselves, right? Right?" A retailer took exception to this: > Just a quick note to ask you if you might be able to find a more > constructive way of saying this. I find it a tad offensive and have > to wonder if it is the best way to make retailers appreciate you. My reply was as follows (edited for brevity and clarity): "Good point, and I'm sorry if you were offended. However, I have been through enough emails from readers that had to hunt high and low for my easy-to-get-through-Diamond books to know that many stores either never order them, or order a couple and sell out and won't order more. It is an all-too-familiar scenario. Please don't assume that because I am acerbically commenting SOME peoples' local store, that I am describing (all stores). And I passionately believe in preordering books from both good AND poor stores. In a good store, the astute manager will say, "Wow, the preorders on this book have been pretty hot, I better get some more." And it's demonstrated before copies ever come in that the book has "legs". In all other scenarios, at least a customer who wants the book has a fighting chance of getting it. Perhaps I could have left off the bit about the managers, but I will always and forever trumpet the virtues of the preorder." I feel I should add that while I didn't mean ALL retailers in the offending paragraph, I also know how damn annoyed I get when I read/hear, "All Image books are crap." Of course, I didn't say "All retailers suck." either, but I can see where that meaning could be derived. So, to make it up to any and all retailers and customers I may have offended, let's do this: Write me-- DivaLea@aol.com or Lea@DivaLea.com--I want to hear about great comics stores from customers AND retailers. I want to be inundated with email hailing the virtues of your favorite comic store(s)--especially if it is your own! Why are they great? Are they clean? Host gamers on Saturdays? Carry kid-friendly stuff and don't rack saucy covers at tot's-eye level? Kick-ass selection? Knowledgeable staff? Just damn nice to go to? I want the name of the store, its location and phone number. The five best letters get a pair of autographed cover flats from CC and CA for BOTH the letter-writer and the store. ONE grand-prize winner gets an original sketch of Glory from CATHEDRAL CHILD or Amy from CLOCKWORK ANGELS for her- or himself and one for their favorite store. Deadline, Monday September 20th. After that, I go to work scripting SILKY WARRIOR TANSIE: Crush, for Image Comics. Which I sincerely hope you will all pre-order next year. +++++ Subj: re: The slamming of creators & Prophecy of the Soulsorcerer From: MAR93@aol.com I've been out of the loop lately with vacation, work, and various other elements in my life, so I apologize if anyone has missed my almost-usually-kinda-regular column in these electronic pages. The above reasons also explain why I haven't been able to read the CBEM in some time but I'm currently catching up and I just read something that concerned me directly, a letter printed in the letters column of CBEM #225. In the interest of context, if anyone would like sent an e-copy of any of these missives that I'm responding to then please e-mail me and I can send you a copy of each or all fairly quickly. I'll try not to take up the space or time to quote each directly but I will refer to comments made by a number of people within past pages of the CBEM, specifically those made by Anonymous, in CBEM #225, and also by editor David LeBlanc in his editorial from CBEM #224. Though he does not mention my name directly, Anonymous took issue, in his letter, with my now-infamous review of PROPHECY OF THE SOUL SORCERER, which I reviewed in CBEM #220, along with a follow-up a few issues later, which was in response to a reader's comments about that review, which also touched on a number of other topics. Yes, I slammed PROPHECY a good deal, I will admit. #1 of that series was so ludicrously bad to me that I felt I had no choice but to do so. The first sentence in that column said, "This could very well be the worst comic ever produced." I still feel this way. It's assumed that the end of every such sentence could end with "...in my opinion." With my column, along with any other criticism in the world, it is only opinion. If you feel differently, then all the power to you. But don't attack me because I'm saying what I feel. While I admit that perhaps I went too far in places in my review, often for the sake of entertainment, I still stand by the fact that #1 of that series was the worst comic I've ever read. I'd like to ask Anonymous, and also Paul Dale Roberts, if he's ever read a comic that he didn't like that he warned people away from. I'd also like to ask him if he's ever seen the movie THIS IS SPINAL TAP, which is what my comment of "shit sandwich" is in reference to. Perhaps instead of sitting at his computer and writing diatribes slamming people who slam other people, he might go out and see that movie. There's no such thing as bad press. Even when one is talking negatively about a comic, or anything for that matter, then people still become aware of the product. I ran that risk with my review of PROPHECY. Sure, I made a number of largely negative comments about the issue but anyone that read it would learn at least its name and the name of its publishers and recognize it in the comic store that had a copy, then perhaps look at the comic to see whatever it was that I was talking about. They might even buy the issue in spite of me. And maybe become a big fan of it. So my criticism would have backfired and, instead of letting the comic disappear into obscurity, created a legion of people, depending upon how many people read my column and the CBEM, that could be potential fans of the comic. Which doesn't matter to me either way. I said my piece about the comic and anyone can make up their mind from there. I can't speak for that certain editor of the COMICS JOURNAL, or anyone on the Comic.com boards, or whatever happened on the Howard Stern show. I'll speak for, and take full responsibility for, myself and anything I say. I will, however, come to the defense of TCJ, probably the best source of criticism in comics currently available. Often arrogant, yes, perhaps even egotistical, but they're not giving handjobs to every comic that Marvel, DC, and Image put out like, say, the fluff-piece that is WIZARD. While I'm here, I'll also take issue with editor David LeBlanc's editorial about why "so many people complain about about the amateur effort of others who are just trying to spread their love of the medium around." Though he does not say it directly, I will infer that this is also his response to recent remarks about Paul Dale Roberts and his "columns." Anonymous agrees with David about it all being about JEALOUSY. Am I jealous of having enough time to write "OVERVIEWS" regurgitating the plot of any comic then ending it with "I give it a solid 10 out of 10!" -- EVERY TIME? Maybe so. Am I jealous that weak-willed comic editors will print letters, also with regurgitated stories then a handjob at the end, for the sole purpose of seeing one's name in print? Perhaps. Am I jealous of people with enough money to waste to put out a half-assed comic like PROPHECY OF THE SOUL SORCERER #1? Could be. Am I jealous of talented individuals like Dave Lapham of STRAY BULLETS and Evan Dorkin of MILK & CHEESE, who have done their homework and won't settle for putting out a less-than-the-best-they-can-do effort? Absolutely. We can learn from what they've done. Yeah, I'll agree with David that we're all fans comparing notes. David and the CBEM give us a forum in which we can do that. All of us, with the exception of Paul Dale Roberts, are bringing something to the table. Whether it's positive or negative. Yes, I am a critic of comic books. I have been reading comics for over 20 years now and I feel I have the experience, intelligence, and honesty to read critically and then articulate the good and bad points of what I've read. Anonymous may not be so familiar with my column that he has failed to notice that with most every review that I do, I try to illustrate something good and something bad about the particular comic, whether it's an overwhelming positive and negative review. With PROPHECY I went to extremes because I just couldn't find much of anything positive about it. You will note, however, that I did include the line, "I suppose I should say one positive thing about the comic: I wouldn't give it negative points for the coloring." Anonymous, if he had read my columns, would also know that I don't regularly slam comics or comics creators as hard as I did, and I went as far as I did with that one for entertainment purposes. There were some people that thought it was funny, so I accomplished what I set out to do, which made it a successful column, and personally one of my favorites that I've done. As far as being "counterproductive," I don't think there's anything counterproductive about criticism. What we have to say are opinions, and as long as they're honest and informed they they're valid, even if our criticism is about other criticism, i.e. David bringing it up in his editorial or anyone taking issue with Paul Dale Roberts and his "OVERVIEWS." Some might say comics are in a time of crisis right now, both financially and perhaps artistically, and the only way we're going to get the comic world back to its past glory is to put our heads together, figure out what's wrong, and try to fix it. Which is where critical thinking comes in. And we're not going to get anywhere if each of us keeps saying how great every single comic we read is. I have been critical of comics in an effort to point out what's wrong and what can be done to fix it. I don't write reviews to hurt people, despite what Anonymous might say. I write reviews to get a discussion going and perhaps come to a solution to the problem at hand. I love comics and I would like to see comics regularly published that are good enough to proudly show to those that would not normally give a comic a second thought. If the industry keeps going in the direction it is headed, we might not have comics, much less bad comics. We sure like to have our egos stroked but we sure fall apart when someone says something bad. Anybody who puts out a comic or any work of art has to face the public. Those that put forth 100% are often rewarded. The creators of PROPHECY apparently did not do so, and I think they might even agree with me. If they had, they might have found a better artist, worked on the story a bit more, or even had an editor. Yes, sometimes those that do their best work are not rewarded and sometimes those that do not do their best work are rewarded better than they should be. I, as an individual, will do my best, at least in my personal forum, in my columns, to single out those that I think are worthy. And I will call out those that I do not think are worthy. This is my opinion. You have yours. If you think I'm an idiot, then that's your criticism and I, unlike others who take issue with anything negative, won't keep you from it. "At the CBEM, there are slews of folks who take the time to write a concise, thought-provoking article on their outlook within the industry. Don't like...SKIP IT!" And I didn't even say that last quote, it was Anonymous. He might even consider taking his own advice. No, I don't have a personal beef with Arcane Comics, the creators of PROPHECY. Anonymous goes on to say, "If you can't think of something nice to say, don't say anything." If every reviewer followed this then we wouldn't have any honest reviews, and I refuse to be a part of that. Every review I've ever written is honest. If I say I didn't like a comic, I didn't like it. I refuse to give out handjobs. Anonymous goes on to applaud who I will assume is David LeBlanc for giving honest, positive reviews while also raising a family, which I won't dispute. All of us have our own personal lives behind what we write and how we're known, in this case in the CBEM and the comics fan press, though I choose not to bring my personal life into my columns, which is my own decision. However, how does Anonymous know that I'm not raising a family while writing my column? I think even Paul Dale Roberts will agree with me that writing a column takes time, at the very least to put everything you have to say together and type it out. Yes, this is also hard work, much like putting together a self-published comic book. And if I were to put out my own comic book, I certainly hope I would get honest, informed opinions of it. I might say "thank you" to every person that says it's a "solid 10 out of 10!" but it won't really help me for my next issue and I would be suspicious of a less than honest and informed opinion. I write negative reviews. I don't feel I have to defend what I write, but I will if I have to. I would hope that anyone would accept my negative opinions along with my positive opinions but apparently some people don't like it when we say something bad. I met the Arcane Comics fellows a month ago at the San Diego Comic Con and told them I didn't like their first issue. They admitted it wasn't as good as it could have been and of course I didn't argue. However, they did give me #s 2 & 3 for review purposes and I will say that, just by paging through the two issues, since I haven't read them yet, that the art, at the very least, is a marked improvement over the first issue. This doesn't change my opinion of the first issue, but there may be hope for them, through a want to improve what they are doing, which I admit I didn't think they had. However, this is not my final review -- once I read these new issues I will incllude what I have to say in my column. Anonymous says, "I also urge everyone out there to think twice before deliberately slamming someone else and their hard work. Think before you speak..." I agree with both of these points. However, I won't kiss up to anyone just because they've published their own comic book and there's a chance they might print my name in their letters column. "...and say something that will only succeed in making you look like an idiot hiding behind a keyboard, with no spine to speak of." This, of course, coming from someone who won't sign his name to the letter. I have spine enough to put my proper name to what I write and stand by my convictions. David runs an excellent magazine and even though he and I have often not seen eye to eye on many issues, I am proud and honored to be a part of the CBEM and if his or the CBEM's reputation is sullied by something I have said in these pages, then I apologize for that happening but I won't apologize for what I've said. I thank David LeBlanc and the CBEM readers for this space and time in which to espouse my opinions. I also thank Anonymous, whoever he or she may be, for opening this discussion. Marlan Harris Burbank, CA (with thanks to the lovely Annette Moore of San Diego, CA) [Gratitude aside, I let this run in its entirety as a last word. THAT means enough has been said back and forth on this subject. I regret you had to take the opportunity to take one comment of mine and use it to springboard into things I never said - as if they could be inferred by what I said. The "jealousy" comment referred to people, and one recent letter writer in particular who had nothing better to do but harras a columnist with REPEATED Emails (in private). If you are going to use my jealousy comment as a springboard at least give the entire context because in the very next paragraph I wrote: "This is not directed at a specific person, but several who have at one time or another sought to claim they know better than one columnist or the other but when the challenge and the free forum was laid at their feet they either balked or put forth a slew of hate that did nothing to defend their argument. Like I said last week in response to one such letter - if you don't like what you get from one column, just go on to the next." That clearly does not apply to YOU as you do use the forum regularly and no one can infer from it it would apply to any of the regulars who may have criticized Paul as well. Secondly, while it seems so, "10 out of 10, EVERY TIME" is inaccurate and you know it! (and I know the response is 'everyone knows what I meant' but fair is fair - you want to slam someone's column, be accurate.) The "with the exception of Paul" comment is mean spirited and I disagree, as I have stated before - everyone has something to contribute, if you can't see that you are no better than those you criticize. Finally "This, of course, coming from someone who won't sign his name to the letter. I have spine enough to put my proper name to what I write and stand by my convictions." I have explained to all and will say again, it is MY POLICY that allows people to PROTECT their personal and PROFESSIONAL privacy by withholding their names. It is VERY easy to give false names and addresses via EMAIL so when someone actually requests anonymity they are taking me at my word when I vow to let them have their say without worry of the adverse consequences that might occur (the least of which is harassing Email from spammers and twits). There are several good reasons to make such a request. Those are the rules here - they have been from the start. Using that exercising of their rights to somehow try and create a negative impression of that person DOES NOT help you win favor with me or anyone else with the sense to understand the rules of this forum. It too is mean spirited, and a cheap shot. I would warn anyone, columnist or letter writer, to curb your emotion when writing comments adverse to those already stated by another - not just Marlan, but anyone who is moved to comment on previous opinions here. Comments should be direct at the opinions not the person. Remember you are essentially debating and as any good debater knows when you sling mud, you lose ground. - DL] ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [3] [TRIVIA CONTEST] **THE FIRST PLACE TO FIND THE EMAG EACH WEEK IS ON OUR HOME PAGE!** IF YOU ARE DESPERATE TO WIN THE TRIVIA, GO THERE FIRST ON FRIDAY NIGHT http://members.aol.com/ComicBkNet/emag.htm QUESTION OF THE WEEK (Prizes donated by THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT - Worcester, MA) (DC COMICS & DIAMOND COMIC DISTRIBUTORS, INC.) +Submit your own trivia and win the CHEEZY PRIZE(tm) if you can stump+ +the readers! You MUST submit the correct answer with your question.+ LAST ISSUE'S QUESTION OF THE WEEK: What is the real name of "Him"? Him is none other than Adam Warlock, as Eli Zweifach was quickest to know. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION: Figure out the title of the comic from the below clue and then tell us what COMPANY published the comic! "September 1999? . . . Shouldn't Martin Landau be on the moon by now? 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! Messages with more than one guess will be disqualified. LIMIT: ONE PRIZE PER MONTH PER PERSON! ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [4] Network Buzz News, gossip and rumors from around the industry NEIL GAIMAN'S GUARDIAN ANGEL TOUR HITS WASHINGTON, BOSTON Acclaimed comics and fantasy author NEIL GAIMAN continues his GUARDIAN ANGEL TOUR this month with readings in the WASHINGTON, D.C. and BOSTON areas. Gaiman will read at the Bethesda Theatre Cafe in Bethesda, MD on SEPTEMBER 21, and at the Brattle Theatre at Harvard Square in Cambridge, MA on SEPTEMBER 23. The Brattle will also host the U.S. theatrical premiere of Gaiman's BBC series "NEVERWHERE." All proceeds from Gaiman's Guardian Angel Tour and the "Neverwhere" screening will benefit the COMIC BOOK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND, a non-profit organization protecting the First Amendment rights of the comics community. Tickets can be ordered on-line at http://www.cbldf.org, by calling the Fund toll-free at 1-800-99-CBLDF, or direct from participating comic shops (see below). Gaiman first attracted critical acclaim for his graphic novels and long-running comic series "Sandman." A masterful storyteller, Gaiman has written two best-selling novels, numerous short stories, and has seen his unique vision translated for film, television, and the stage. He is the recipient of the prestigious World Fantasy Award and is noted in "The Dictionary of Literary Biography" as "one of the top ten post-modern writers" in America. At the Guardian Angel events, Gaiman will be giving dramatic readings from his shorter fiction, including stories from his collections "Angels & Visitations" and "Smoke & Mirrors." He will also be debuting new, unpublished works. Each reading will be preceded by a private cocktail reception with the author for Premium Ticket holders and CBLDF Members, and followed by a question and answer session with the audience. The 1999 Guardian Angel Tour begins on Tuesday, September 21 in downtown Bethesda, MD, just over a mile from the nation's capital. Gaiman will be reading at the BETHESDA THEATRE CAFE (7719 Wisconsin Avenue), a fully renovated art-deco theater from the 1950s with nightclub seating. Gaiman will host a casual reception for Premium Ticket holders and CBLDF Members beginning at 6:00 p.m. The reading itself gets underway at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the reading are available for $20 and $30, while Premium Tickets including the reception cost $40 and $50. In each case, the more expensive tickets are for tables closer to the stage. A seating chart is available on-line at http://www.cbldf.org/pr/gat99/ tickets.html. On Thursday, September 23, Gaiman will read at the BRATTLE THEATRE at 40 Brattle Street in Cambridge, MA. One of the best art houses in the Boston area, the Brattle is located on historic Harvard Square next to HMV Records. The Guardian Angel events begin at 3:00 p.m. with a screening of Gaiman's acclaimed fantasy television series "NEVERWHERE." Produced by the BBC, the series received limited television air play in the United States and is frequently bootlegged by fans. The 1999 Guardian Angel Tour marks "Neverwhere"'s theatrical premiere. Gaiman will introduce the series, and answer questions following the screening. Tickets for "Neverwhere" are $10, and available from the CBLDF and participating retailers. The reading itself will be preceded by a private cocktail reception with Gaiman for Premium Ticket Holders and CBLDF Members. The reception begins at 7:00 p.m.; seating for the reading begins at 8:30 p.m. Balcony tickets cost $20, mezzanine tickets $30, and Premium tickets including the reception are $50. A seating chart for the Brattle is available at http://www.cbldf.org/pr/gat99/tickets.html. The Guardian Angel Tours are part of Gaiman's continuing commitment to raise money and awareness for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. To date, Guardian Angel events have raised more than $60,000 to support the legal defense of comics-related First Amendment cases in court. Gaiman was awarded the 1997 Defender of Liberty Award for his efforts to promote free speech in comics. He has also been the driving force behind a number of other projects designed to benefit the CBLDF, including "Gods & Tulips," a collection of his speeches and essays, and a 1999 GUARDIAN ANGEL TOUR SHIRT featuring tour dates and artwork by Michael Wm. Kaluta (available at both tour stops). Tickets to all events are available from the CBLDF at http://www.cbldf.org/pr/gat99/ tickets.html. or 1-800-99-CBLDF, or from the following participating comic retailers: BETHESDA TICKETS -------------------------- Big Planet Comics (MD) 4908 Fairmont Ave. Bethesda, MD Cambridge, MA 301-654-6856 617-492-6763 Big Planet Comics (VA) Comicopia 426 Maple Ave. East 464 Commonwealth Ave. Vienna, VA Boston, MA 703-242-9412 617-266-4266 Closet of Comics That's Entertainment 7315 Baltimore Ave. (US Rt. 1) 244 Park Ave. College Park, MD Worcester, MA 301-699-0498 508-755-4207 Beyond Comics Lake Forest Mall 701 Russell Ave. Gaithersburg, MD 301-216-0007 CAMBRIDGE TICKETS ------------------------------ Million Year Picnic 99 Mt. Auburn St. Cambridge, MA 617-492-6763 Comicopia 464 Commonwealth Ave. Boston, MA 617-266-4266 That's Entertainment 244 Park Ave. Worcester, MA 508-755-4207 The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization protecting First Amendment rights in the comics community. Donations can always be sent directly to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund at P.O. Box 693, Northampton, MA 01061. Be sure to check out "Busted!," the Fund's quarterly newsletter, or our web site at http://www.cbldf.org for more CBLDF news. For additional information please contact Chris Bleistein at (413) 586-6967 or cbldf@compuserve.com +++++ Be sure to swing by St. Mark's Comics (located at 11 St. Mark's Place between 2nd & 3rd Avenues/NYC/212-598-9439) on Wednesday, September 15th, between 6-8:pm, and meet cartoonists: Eddie (Bacchus/From Hell) Campbell, Tom (Hutch Owens/Banks Eubanks) Hart, Craig (Goodbye Chunky Rice) Thompson, and Dean (Billy Dogma/Keyhole/Non) Haspiel. +++++ Motion International: New Series Marsupilami Brings Motion International's Animation Production Volume to 26 M MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 7, 1999--Motion International (Coscient Group Inc.) (ME:CST.A.) (TSE:CST.A.) has announced production start-up on the animation series Marsupilami, starring the hilarious little jungle creature of the same name created by Belgium's late great comic strip artist Franquin. Motion International has invested $4 million in this $11-million co-production with French producer Marathon. Production is underway in Motion International's animation studios and is scheduled for completion in early 2000. With this new project on its production slate, Motion International's cartoon business volume now stands at 26 million dollars. The half-hour series will include 26 episodes and is already licensed to Tele-Quebec. Motion International's distribution arm is handling sales in Canada, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Well loved by children and comic book fans around the world, Marsupilami sprang from the prodigious imagination of Belgian artist Andre Franquin, widely known in Europe and French-speaking countries elsewhere for his popular comic book series Spirou and Gaston Lagaffe. "It will be a delight to see Marsupilami springing and swinging on our animators' drawing boards," said Andre A. Belanger, President of Motion's Youth and Animation Division. "This co-production agreement is very important for Motion International, as it confirms and reinforces our position as a key player in the eyes of our various European partners." "Motion's recognized expertise in both animation production and distribution will be a major asset in the creation and success of this great project," said Pascal Breton, Executive Director of Marathon. "We are very pleased with this venture and hope that it will lead to other similar projects." "Houba, ! Houba !", said the Marsupilami. The Canadian line-up for the series features Andre A. Belanger as Executive Producer, Ann Picard as Line Producer and the Directors Pierre Houde and Francois Brisson will act as ringmasters. The Marathon group has produced some 500 program hours since its founding in 1990 and recorded sales of nearly $50 million in 1998, including $10 million in export activity. The group has forged international-quality expertise in the production and distribution of multi-episode drama and documentary series and also operates in the animation sector. Marathon is one of France's leading animation suppliers, with four series currently airing in the United States. Coscient Group, which has centralized its activities under the brand name Motion International, is the largest independent producer in Quebec and the second largest in Canada; it is also the leading Canadian distributor of television programs. The company operates in six areas of production national drama, international feature, TV series and TV movies, youth and animation, entertainment and documentaries and large format films - in addition to its domestic and international distribution activities. Class A shares of Coscient Group are listed on the Montreal and Toronto exchanges under the symbol CST.A. CONTACT: Motion International Caroline Jamet, 514/284-2525 or Motion International Lison Lescarbeau, 514/284-2525 +++++ Marvel Enterprises, Inc. Announces Strategic Internet Relationship with McKinsey & Co. Multi-Million First Phase Development Investment to Create Unique Marvel Fantasy Universe NEW YORK, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Marvel Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE: MVL) today announced that it has signed an agreement with the New York-based consulting firm McKinsey & Company, Inc., to assist with the development and integration of a broad-based Internet strategy within Marvel's core operations. This initiative will further leverage the wealth of intellectual assets in the ToyBiz, Publishing, and Licensing divisions and will strengthen the market value of legendary Marvel superheroes such as Spider-Man, Incredible Hulk, Wolverine, and more than 3,500 other proprietary characters. The McKinsey initiative will be in addition to Marvel's current Internet activities with West End New Media, the firm that Marvel engaged in early 1999 to upgrade its existing website, Marvel.com. The work with West End New Media is expected to be completed by this year's Christmas season. McKinsey and West End will work together to develop a cohesive, online product development strategy. Marvel has targeted key areas for growth including subscriptions, advertising, on-line gaming, services, clubs, toys, print and licensee merchandise sales. Peter Cuneo, Marvel's President and CEO, said the company views the Internet as a significant opportunity to enhance the interactive experiences of audiences with its superhero- and fantasy-oriented content. "Marvel's first multi-million dollar phase development investment will create an online world where fans can interact with their favorite characters, both old and new, and with each other on a level impossible through comic books and offline toys," Cuneo said. "Users will be able to fully immerse themselves in the Marvel Fantasy Universe and the Superheroes who inhabit that world," he said. "We will be able to work with advertising and marketing partners to communicate effectively with the hard-to-reach young males who are spending an increasing amount of their time online." Both McKinsey and West End New Media consider this a key assignment, with McKinsey pledging seven professionals and West End New Media providing its lead strategic team to the project. According to John Rose, McKinsey's senior partner on the engagement, "Marvel's ambition to use its huge character content library and fan base in a meaningful way is underscored by a management commitment to spend real funds toward, among other things, the development of a youth entertainment portal." McKinsey has been instrumental in developing Internet ventures through its McKinsey.com special initiative and has served numerous clients in media, financial services, retailing, telecommunications, and other industries. Before its collaboration with Marvel, West End New Media led efforts for both Martha Stewart and TheStreet.com. "Our objective is to couple McKinsey's world-class strategic services with the best partners in creative services and e-commerce. We have committed significant staff and monetary resources to this effort and have already started to build our base for this new economy," Cuneo said. "This will build on our current efforts, which currently generate 600,000 visitors and 6 million page views per month." +++++ Ultimate Sports Entertainment Inc. Announces The Release Of "The Shortstop Squad" - Its Latest Comic Book Title LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 8, 1999--Ultimate Sports Entertainment, Inc. (OTC BB: ULSP), an entertainment company with operations in licensing and comic book publishing, announced today the release of its newest comic book title, The Shortstop Squad. The comic book, officially licensed by the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) features baseball superstars Cal Ripken, Jr., Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Barry Larkin. "The Shortstop Squad is a perfect follow up to Cosmic Slam because it singles out some of the greatest baseball players to ever play that position," said Paul Fairchild, Publisher and Vice President of Ultimate Sports Entertainment, Inc. "I'm very confident kids, collectors and especially baseball fans will really enjoy this one due to its unique story and great artwork." The new title from Ultimate Sports is a story about a fighting force that has been part of a special military operation since 1945 their name: The Shortstop Squad. In the first issue, their mission is to destroy an out-of-control sea monster who has wreaked havoc on Coast City Stadium. Now, The Shortstop Squad, comprised of Cal Ripken, Jr., Derek Jeter, Barry Larkin and newcomer, Alex "A-Rod" Rodriguez, team up to rid the town of the terrible creature in this first of a three part series. The Shortstop Squad will be available in comic specialty stores throughout North America in October, or it can be can be purchased directly with a Visa or MasterCard by calling 1-888-228-2254 today. Ultimate Sports Entertainment Inc. (www.ultimatesportsforce.com) is headquartered in Los Angeles. The company has licensing agreements with the National Hockey League Players Association, NFL Properties, the NFL Quarterback Club, Major League Baseball Players Association, the 1999 MVP of the NBA - Karl Malone and Chris Webber of the NBA's Sacramento Kings. Ultimate Sports is also in the process of developing ancillary marketing opportunities, including the merchandising of action figures, video games, Internet ventures and film and television projects. This press release contains forward-looking statements. The words "estimate", "possible" and "seeking" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which speak only as to the date of the statement was made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events, or otherwise. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted, or quantified. Future events and actual results could differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties to which forward-looking statements are subject include, but are not limited to, the effect of government regulation, competition and other material risks. +++++ CBLDF EXTENDS MEGA-AUCTION The massive ON-LINE AUCTION benefiting the COMIC BOOK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND has been extended until Wednesday, SEPTEMBER 15. The auction takes place on EBAY, the electronic epicenter of collectibles trading, at http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/nextplanetover.com. Organized by NEXTPLANETOVER.COM, the auction features original artwork, signed prints and comics, rare collectibles, toys, and much more. All items have been donated to raise funds for the CBLDF. While bidding on some auction items will still close on September 12, new items are being added every day. Upcoming auction items include original JACK KIRBY art from "2001: A Space Odyssey," ADAM KUBERT's cover from "Uncanny X-Men" #339, and a rare story by LYNN CHEVLI from the first all-women comix anthology. There's also more rare collectibles to come, including animation cells from "Batman: The Animated Series" and signed action figures from McFarlane Toys. All thus, plus a one-of-a-kind "Sin City" Survival Kit, signed and assembled by FRANK MILLER! Many items are still available for low bids. Miller's extremely limited "300" Print originally cost $300; a signed artist proof donated by Miller is still available for only $200! There's some early artwork from "Uncanny X-Men" and "Battlechasers" artist JOE MADUREIRA for only $40. And how about a week-long luxury cruise down the Mexican Riviera with NEIL GAIMAN, WILL EISNER, FRANK MILLER, LOS BROS HERNANDEZ, NEAL ADAMS, and many more comics legends, for the unreal price of $830! All these items and more are still up for bidding. This special auction event is sponsored and organized by NextPlanetOver.com (http://www.nextplanetover.com), one of the nation's premiere on-line retailers, to raise funds and awareness for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. The CBLDF is a non-profit organization protecting the First Amendment rights of the comics community. This event will be the largest on-line fundraiser ever undertaken on the Fund's behalf. For more CBLDF news and information, be sure to visit http://www.cbldf.org. +++++ COMICS 2 FILM at http://www.comics2film.com FROM DAILY VARIETY: Getting back to The Hulk, Michael Flemming of Daily Variety reports that the movie is working towards a spring production start. http://www.variety.com Big Guy and Rusty ----------------- A brief preview of the upcoming Big Guy And Rusty The Boy Robot animated TV show is now available on the program's official website. The short QuickTime™ video spotlights Rusty but also depicts an inactive Big Guy. The boy robot sounds suspiciously like Bobby Hill of King of the Hill, due to the fact that they are both voiced by Pam Siegal. The site also features design specs for both robots and black and white artwork that fans can print out and color. Look for the show to debut Saturday, September 18th at 11:30am on Fox Kids. http://www.bigguyandrusty.com/ Harsh Realm ----------- FROM EON MAGAZINE: X-Files creator Chris Carter recently spoke to Eon Magazine about his upcoming Harsh Realm TV Series. The show is based on a comic book created by James Hudnall and Andrew Paquette. Of the comic, Carter said, "There were elements in it that I really liked a lot and I thought it was a great vehicle for telling a series of stories. No one had ever tackled virtual reality in a satisfactory way on network television. I think parallel worlds are great ways to tell stories. This is really what I was shooting for, a way to tell stories about the human condition, using war as a backdrop." Carter also commented to Eon about cinematic influences on the show, " What I wanted to do was to do a TV show that had elements of some of my favorite movies: Paths of Glory, Platoon, Blade Runner, a lot of really good early war movies. And this was my way of doing that, using a contemporary element, which was the virtual reality element. This I think has a tremendous romantic story and has a great mythology potential as well. There's a conspiracy at work here. There is another world, a parallel world that people can go back and forth between. I think it's a great chance to tell allegorical stories, which is I think one of the storytelling conventions that provides the best of series television." One movie that didn't influence the show is the recent virtual reality hit, The Matrix. "I didn't know about The Matrix until our show was shot," Carter told Eon. "I saw it and there were elements that I think you're going to find in any kind of parallel world idea. So I think there were some similarities. I was impressed by a lot of what they did in that movie. I was super impressed by the special effects in that movie. I think that Harsh Realm, even though it is a virtual reality idea, is much different than The Matrix. And I think that what we've done, too, is we've set the stage for many episodes of this show, where a show like The Matrix I think might have to change its concept a little bit in order to do the same thing." Fans can read more of Carter's thoughts on Harsh Realm at the Eon Magazine website. Fans can also view a teaser trailer for the show at the Fox.com website. http://www.eonmagazine.com http://www.fox.com/harsh_realm/ Shi --- FROM EON MAGAZINE: Eon Magazine ran a report on the Shi movie which is set to star Tia Carrera. The report, which credited as originating in Wizard Magazine claims that the movie is set to begin filming next year in New York and Montreal. The article mentions that Franchise Pictures (owned by her Tia's husband Eli) is producing. Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa is also said to have been in talks to co-star. http://www.eonmagazine.com Spawn 2 ------- FROM SFX ONLINE: The SFX Online website recently conducted an interview with Todd McFarlane. The website selected excerpts. One such quote pertained directly to the sequel to the Spawn motion picture. When asked about the prospect of Michael Jai White (currently seen in Universal Soldier: The Return) reprising the title role McFarlane replied, "I don't get to make those choices. I mean, I was happy with him. I thought he has the intensity in the movie that was needed for that character, even underneath all the make-up and the mask. I'm not the guy paying all the bills, so ultimately I don't have final say. But if they ask my opinion, I had no problem with Michael. Actually, I thought he raised the level of his talents to meet the role that was needed for that first movie." http://www.sfx.co.uk/ X-Men ----- FROM DVDFILE.COM and DARK HORIZONS: Corona Coming Attractions uncovered a little gem of a scoop on X-Men. A recent chat transcript found on the DVDFILE.COM reveals one of the special effects houses that will be working on the X-Men movie. The chat session was with Henry LaBounta, an Academy-Award Winner who talked about his work on The Prince Of Egypt. When asked about future projects, LaBounta responded, "There are a few that we're excited about right now, I'm now at PDI (Pacific Data Images) in Palo Alto (which produced Antz), we're working on Shrek right now which is a 'fractured fairy tale' based on the children's story by William Steig. We also have several live action films we're starting work on, unfortunately its too early to say very much about them except that one is Bagger Vance (Robert Redford) and another that you may have heard about is 'Xmen' (sic) which looks to be incredibly cool." Not to be outdone, the Dark Horizons website came up with some interesting photos. The photos show "focusing boards" which are said to be part of the X-Men production. According to the write-up, such boards are used by cameramen to test their equipment. The boards shown have various focal points, but are adorned with X-Men artwork, all of which appears to have originated from the comics. http://www.dvdfile.com/ http://www.dvdfile.com/chat/1999/august/transcript.htm http://www.darkhorizons.com http://www.corona.bc.ca +++++ From The Daily Buzz at http://www.mania.com/newsarama/index.html Batman Inspiration Film Found Bob Kane's inspiration for the creation of Batman came from three main sources. One of those sources, a 1935 film The Bat Whispers, once considered lost, has been found. Along with Douglas Fairbanks Sr. (the inspiration for Bruce Wayne) and Leonardo da Vinci (the flying wings), The Bat Whispers inspired Kane with its bat/man, cape and cowl and shadowy atmosphere, says the BBC. The widescreen movie has been found and restored by the UCLA film archive. It's story was that of a master criminal who dressed as a bat. "There's a moment when he emerges from the shadows which has the feel of something very special and is the kind of image that will stay with you," explains Erich Sargeant of the British Film Institute, which is releasing The Bat Whispers on video. Jerry Ordway takes time to answer some questions about his fill-in issues on the Hulk in this week's Comic News Bytes. Plus, new JLA writer Mark Waid's Canadian Q&A and Evil and Malice, all this week! +++++ From Newsarama; http://www.AnotherUniverse.com/newsarama WINNER OF THE 1997 & 1998 INTERNET "SQUIDDY" FOR BEST WEB SITE Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely's long-awaited 96-page hardcover graphic novel, JLA: Earth II is set to ship in time for convenient holiday gift-giving this December. An "update" of one of Morrison's favorite Silver Age stories - "Crisis on Earth-Three" - from Justice League Of America #29-30 "for today's continuity", the story pits the current JLA against their dark, evil mirror image opposites from an anti-matter universe. It's a word where James Gordon is the criminal boss of Gotham City, where Benedict Arnold's face adorns the dollar bill and where the brilliant Alexander Luthor is the only hero left. The battle-scarred Luthor crosses the dimensional barrier to seek the Justice League's help in fighting the Crime Syndicate of Amerika, the anti-matter Earth's most powerful super-team. Retailing for $24.95 U.S., DC has stated that a softcover edition will not be offered for in-store sale anytime before June 2000. +++++ From Zentertainment; HTTP://WWW.ZENTERTAINMENT.COM To sign a friend up or begin receiving ZEN yourself, e-mail: subscribe@ZENtertainment.com The second and final part of an audio adaptation of the Neil Gaiman short story "Murder Mysteries," goes up online at SCIFI.COM's SEEING EAR THEATRE today. Brian Dennehy stars in the story, about the Angel of Vengeance's investigation of the first crime. Gaiman has an absolute ton of other projects in the works, including: - THE SANDMAN: DREAM HUNTERS: A 136-page haardcover graphic novel painted by Yoshitaka Amano, renowned Japanese artist and painter of the recent SANDMAN poster, adapting the Sandman mythology into an ancient Japanese setting. Its story of an ill-fated romance between a young monk and shape-changing she-fox is told in a prose style, and the book features an 8-page gatefold portrait of painted artwork. Available October 27th. - There is no development on a SANDMAN featture film. - The DEATH: THE HIGHCOST OF LIVING featuree film remains in active development at WARNER BROS.. - Matt Greenberg's script for an adaptationn of Gaiman's VERTIGO mini-series THE BOOKS OF MAGIC will be turned in this month. - The translated version of PRINCESS MONONOOKE for which Gaiman did the English adaptation will be released in the U.S. on October 29th. A trailer is available for download exclusively at AIN'T IT COOL NEWS. - The script for DIMENSION Films' adaptation of NEVERWHERE is complete, and a director should be attached any time now. - AVON will release his fantasy novel STARDDUST in paperback this January. As a result of its appeal to the fantasy, mainstream, and romance audiences, it'll be released with 3 different covers, which combine to make one uniform background image. - He'll team up with artist Dave McKean on the dark children's tale WOLVES IN THE WALLS, and he's determined to finish up CORALINE, a spooky book for little girls he began when his 14-year-old daughter Holly was 7. - MIDNIGHT DAYS: A special one-shot gatheriing a few rare VERTIGO stories from outside from outside the SANDMAN book, as well as a newly-illustrated SWAMP THING story based on a 10-page script Gaiman sent in to editor Karen Berger in 1986. - A one-shot featuring Gaiman's scrapped fiinal issue of DC's ACTION COMICS WEEKLY, starring Superman, Green Lantern, Deadman, the Phantom Stranger, and others, with a cover by Frank Miller, and art by Mike Allred, Matt Wagner, Eric Shanower & Art Adams, Eddie Campbell, Jim Aparo, Gil Kane, and Kevin Nowlan. - Details of Gaiman's GUARDIAN ANGEL Tour ffor the COMIC BOOK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND will soon be available on the CBLDF website. The tour begins September 21st and travels to both Cambridge and D.C.. - Gaiman is presently working on a horror nnovel tentatively titled AMERICAN GODS, which he describes as "All murders, grifters, zombies, and blowjobs." http://www.scifi.com http://www.dccomics.com http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com http://www.cbldf.org COMIC SHOP NEWS' CSINSIDER column reports MIRAMAX plans to launch its own comic book company. Writer Scott Lobdell, who recently signed a five-picture deal with MIRAMAX/DIMENSION that includes an adaptation of his HELLHOLE comic, will develop titles for the company. http://www.csnsider.com http://www.miramax.com HASBRO has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire gaming company WIZARDS OF THE COAST. Valued at an approximate $325 million, the transaction is expected to be completed by the end of the month. WOTC founder and CEO Peter Adkison will take part in a live Internet chat tomorrow at 2pm ET to discuss the sale of the company, where he'll welcome questions from the public from the company's website. http://www.hasbro.com http://www.wizards.com the new FOX KIDS series BIG GUY AND RUSTY THE BOY ROBOT later this year. http://www.tacobell.com http://www.foxkids.com COMIC SHOP NEWS' CSINSIDER column reports HARRIS Comics' VAMPIRELLA will feature back-up stories in the coming months by Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale (#18), Christoper Priest, Alan Davis & Mark Farmer (#19), and Ty Templeton & Bruce Timm (#20). In related news, HARRIS recently launched recently launched an official VAMPIRELLA website where you can find online exclusive merchandise, fan club information, contests, image galleries, and more. http://www.vampirella.com CORRECTION: LIQUID is not a separate imprint at TOP COW. +++++ From the DCOnline newsletter; http://www.dccomics.com/newsletter.html To subscribe, or for questions or comments about the DC newsletter, please email DCWebSite@aol.com. DC COMICS SUPER HEROES FLY INTO JACK IN THE BOX(R) RESTAURANTS FOR KID'S MEAL PROMOTION Batman and other DC Comics' super heroes are joining forces with Jack in the Box(R) Restaurants for an exciting kids' meal promotion beginning August 28, through a promotional agreement with DC Comics and Warner Bros. Consumer Products. The deal marks the first time Jack in the Box(R) restaurants have included Super-Hero licensed characters in a kid's meal promotion. DC Comics fans of all ages will have the opportunity to collect figures of their favorite super heroes when they purchase one of Jack in the Box's(R) kid's meals. Figures of Wonder Woman, Batman cruising in his Batmobile, Superman along with his alter ego Clark Kent, Superman's arch-rival Darkseid, the Flash, Green Lantern, and Aquaman will be available until October 17 or while supplies last. "It's thrilling to see so many of our great characters represented in this kid's meal program," said Joel Ehrlich, Senior Vice President, Promotions for DC Comics and Warner Bros. Consumer Products. "It's a first for Aquaman, the Flash, Green Lantern and even Darkseid, one of Superman's most formidable villains." DC CONDUCTS BACKLIST SURVEY In an effort to create a diverse and profitable backlist library for both retailers and readers, DC Comics has been using a select group of its best- selling DC, VERTIGO, and PARADOX PRESS trade paperbacks to conduct a consumer survey. The brief survey -- which began in mid-August and will run until mid-September - will be included in the trade paperback editions of KINGDOM COME, BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, SUPERMAN: PEACE ON EARTH, JLA: ROCK OF AGES, WATCHMEN, V FOR VENDETTA, YOU ARE HERE, DEATH: THE HIGH COST OF LIVING, TRANSMETROPOLITAN: LUST FOR LIFE, NEIL GAIMAN AND CHARLES VESS' STARDUST, SANDMAN: PRELUDES & NOCTURNES, PREACHER: GONE TO TEXAS, and THE BIG BOOK OF URBAN LEGENDS. A postage-paid envelope is attached to each survey for the respondent's convenience. Participants who return the survey will receive one of two free comics that are treasured by DC collectors -- SUPERMAN: THE WEDDING ALBUM or THE SANDMAN #50 -- while supplies last. DC/VERTIGO CELEBRATES THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SANDMAN! The triumphant high point of the 10th Anniversary celebration of THE SANDMAN arrives in comic-book stores in October with THE SANDMAN: THE DREAM HUNTERS, a haunting, all-new hardcover VERTIGO graphic novel featuring Morpheus, the original Lord of Dreams, written by THE SANDMAN's Neil Gaiman and fully painted by legendary Japanese artist Yoshitaka Amano (G-Force, Vampire Hunter D, Final Fantasy, 1001 Nights). Opulently told in an illustrated text format combining prose with stunning, full-page paintings, this project deserves all the attention it can get! "THE DREAM HUNTERS is one of the most important projects of the year," said Bob Wayne, DC Vice President - Direct Sales. THE SANDMAN: THE DREAM HUNTERS arrives in comic-book stores October 27 with a cover price of $29.95 U.S. ANIMATION EPISODE SCHEDULE THE NEW BATMAN/SUPERMAN ADVENTURES airs weekdays and Saturdays on the WB Network, and BATMAN BEYOND airs Saturdays. Times given are Eastern and Pacific. This schedule is subject to change. 9/13/99 (4:00 pm) - "Rebirth Part 1" (Batman Beyond) 9/14/98 (4:00 pm) - "Rebirth Part 2" (Batman Beyond) 9/15/99 (4:00 pm) - "Gotham Golem" (Batman Beyond) 9/16/99 (4:00 pm) - "Spellbound" (Batman Beyond) 9/17/99 (4:00 pm) - "Disappearing Inque" (Batman Beyond) 9/17/99 (4:30 pm) - "Splicers" (Batman Beyond - new) 9/18/99 (8:00 am) - "The Demon Reborn" (Superman - new) 9/18/99 (9:30 am) - "Splicers" (Batman Beyond) +++++ From: Frank Cho Subject: UNCLE FRANK'S LIBERTY MEADOWS NEWSLETTER for SEPTEMBER 1999 GREETINGS MONKEY BOYS, MONKEY GALS AND ALL FREAKS IN BETWEEN! Whatta month it has been. The Liberty Meadows comic book collection took off like my date's prom dress. The orders are pouring in daily by the truckload (Liberty Meadows #2 is currently out and #3 will be out in October along with another very special project mentioned at the end of this message). Now there are couple of you subscribers out there who haven't received Liberty Meadows #2 yet. Don't worry, you just missed our latest round of mailing. We'll get you sooner or later in the END (insert Richard Gere joke here). On the syndication front, Da Man (my syndicate editors) have been busting my hump like something fierce. It must be the heat or sumthin', cuz Da Man been riding me like "Miss Daisy" (Slow down. You're drawing the women all wrong. Yes, Miss Daisy. Now take that word out. It's improper. Yes, Miss Daisy . . . Cripes, "Calgon" take me away!) =========================================== OK. LATEST BATCH OF CENSORED COMIC STRIPS!! Now take notes, kiddies. There will be an exam at the end (insert your Richard Gere joke here, too) AUGUST 20 Original: Third panel. Ralph, drunk, picks his nose. Apparently, a cartoon bear picking his nose is an affront to the American way. Go figure. AUGUST 24 Original: Last panel. Ralph in a dress yells, "HELL NO!" I can't say the word "hell" in a family newspaper or "Jesus" for that matter, unless you're Johnny "Messiah" Hart. AUGUST 31 Original: Last Panel. Dave Letterman says to "Head Bean" Gary, world renown teddy bear maker, and to Ralph. ". . . So 'Head' (Can I call you 'Head'?) What stupid pet trick is Ralphie here gonna do?" Ralph answers, "I have a trick. I'm gonna make my foot disappear up your..." Da Man replaced the word "Head" to "Bean" in the Letterman's dialogue, and completely deleted the words "up your . . ." from Ralph's reply. My editors told me that calling someone "Head" has a sexual connotation to it and will offend children everywhere especially their soccer moms who like to write to newspaper editors. The "I'm gonna make my foot disappear up your . . ." bit was just wrong in their eyes. SEPTEMBER 1 Original: The picture of Star Wars Episode 1 boxer shorts (spoofing the wanton merchandise craze) had Jar Jar Binks on it saying, "Meesha Gottsha Force Right Here!" Da Man utterly wiped that slogan out. They said it was funny, but it was offensive to asexual people or sumthin'. SEPTEMBER 13 Original: Last Panel. Ralph swears off booze and drugs, and decides to be a Born-again Christian. Ralph is baptized by Johnny Hart's BC characters. Ralph yells, "I'M CLEAR!" My syndicate really flipped out on this one. My syndicate is Creators Syndicate. It syndicates my strip, Liberty Meadows AND Johnny Hart's strip, BC. For those out there who don't know about Johnny Hart and his strip, ol' Johnny is a hardcore Born-again Christian. He became a Born-again about 10 years ago. His strip, BC, was once a very funny strip in its hey days, but drastically changed to preachy fire and brimstone Jesus strip when Hart was reborn. Anyway, Johnny Hart is Creators Syndicate's most vital cartoonist, and I'm not. The President of Creators Syndicate came down on me hard. He simply refused to run my BC spoofing strip, unless I changed it. I, of course being young, dumb, and full of sperm, didn't back down. I told 'em to go to Hell with Johnny. Well, my syndicate in not so many words then said that it was willing to let Liberty Meadows lose newspapers rather than offend Johnny Hart (cash cow). They said that it will run a completely blank strip for that day. I, of course, blinked and backed down. I replaced the BC characters with Will B. Dunn (Kudzu) and the country preacher from Snuffy Smith comic strip. The moral of this story is "Don't screw with Jesus". SEPTEMBER 17 Original: Tick bite episode. A giant has Oscar the wiener dog in its mouth (visual gag). Frank can't get the tick to release Oscar. Brandy shows up and frees Oscar by punching the tick in the stomach. The tick then says the punchline, "Oooh, I torn my sack." This line needless to say was censored outright. SEPTEMBER 18 Original: I spoof Charles "Sparky" Schulz by drawing the entire strip in his shaky style. Although, I didn't use any of Schulz's characters, the dickweeds made me put in an apology line to Schulz. Sheesh, everyone is so damn sensitive. QUESTION OF THE MONTH * IS BRANDY'S ROOMMATE, JEN, REAL? I knew that this question was bound to appear. Jen, similar to Brandy (body and size), is modeled after somebody real. Jen is modeled after an old high school acquaintance of mine. She was a hottie. But, the personality of Jen is completely fabricated. I wanted Jen to be the complete opposite of Brandy. Jen is bad while Brandy is good. Jen knows that she is hot, and she has no qualms about using her looks to get what she wants (Wow, wotta woman!) Oh, I have big plans for Jen . . . Stay tuned. ========================================== Well, this concludes another exciting newsletter (and brief monthly glances of my . . . pathetic . . . sad . . . sad . . . little . . . life. Aww, man. See what you've done . . . I'm blubbering like wuss . . . Don't look at me! DON"T LOOK AT ME!!!) Later, Gator! Frank "Smeg Head" Cho ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [5] Tony's Isabella's Journal Tony Isabella tonyisa@ohio.net Tony Isabella is a featured weekly columnist in the nation's largest comic book collector's newspaper, Comics Buyer's Guide. His satiric "Tony's Tips!" is a favorite among fans and industry professionals alike. A life long comic book fan, Tony began his career in 1972 as a comics professional as assistant to Stan Lee! He has worked in nearly every aspect of the business, from retailing, to distribution to writing. Among his credits is the creation of DC's first starring black super-hero, Black Lightning. Tony's latest project, the daily "Tony's Isabella's Journal" made its debut in June of 1997 on the world wide web exclusively through World Famous Comics, at http://www.wfcomics.com/tony The following is one of those daily columns . . . Tony Isabella's Journal #797 for September 4, 1999 I've been successfully dodging phone calls from reporters who want to interview me on the Superman copyright story or who want me to provide them with background, phone numbers, smoking guns, and the like. I've been taking calls from some fellow comics creators who have been wondering what it means for them. This is the best advice I can give to them: Don't assume your situation is not affected by the copyright laws. Don't assume that it is. Do not accept you were an employee just because a publisher tells you that you were. Above all else, if you are interested in exploring whether or not you can reclaim the copyrights to your creations, contact a copyright attorney and let that person chart your course. That said, let's continue discussing Superman, starting with the following excerpt from an ancient scroll found in the legendary Isabella archives. ****** SUPERMAN DIES AGAIN This is from a "Tony's Tips" column I wrote for COMICS BUYER'S GUIDE on October 27, 1992: Superman. The Man of Steel. Strange visitor from another planet and so on. The first super-hero who I would think of AS a super-hero. My understanding would someday expand sufficiently to include the likes of the Long Ranger and Julius Schwartz, but not way back then. I think I watched the Superman television show before I ever actually owned one of his comics. I can't be certain, though, and a quick between paragraphs call to my mother brought neither confirmation or correction. Mom's been trying to erase me from her memory since I made snide remarks about George Bush and Dan Quayle on a recent radio program. First I didn't enter the priesthood and now this. Superman, or, more accurately, his imminent demise, was the reason I'd been asked to do the radio program. It was just after the news hit the general media and maybe thirty seconds before I would get head-splittingly annoyed with answering the same question all of us have been asked over and over again since the early days of September. "Tony, why is Superman going to die?" "Well, Merle, he just can't handle the possibility of four more years of George Bush." Okay, I lied for the sake of a laugh. Superman can handle anything. That's what made and makes him such a great hero for kids. If Superman were the shortest kid in the class, the one who didn't get chosen by either baseball team, he could handle it. If Superman had to chose between his friends and what was right, he could make the just choice. If Superman was lonely, he could overcome that loneliness and save the world anyway. And, because Superman could handle all that and more, even a kid could at least TRY to do the same. Not a bad hero for grown-ups either. I've written about the wackier aspects of the Superman comics of my youth in these pages and, judging from your enthusiastic response to same, doubtless will again. But these same comic books could be surprisingly poignant. My personal favorite is "The Last Days of Superman" from SUPERMAN #156 (October, 1962). Superman is dying. The cover copy proclaims that this is not a HOAX, not a DREAM, but REAL. The premise is summer up by Superman himself" "Goodbye, dear super-friends...I am dying from VIRUS-X, a plague fatal to all from KRYPTON! I must remain in this isolation booth until the end, lest you catch this deadly virus from me! Heed my last wishes!" Indeed, we learn those last wishes all involve things Superman wants to do for humanity before he dies. When his strength fails him, he calls on his super-comrades to pitch-hit for him. Supergirl, Krypto the Super-Dog, Lori Lemaris from Atlantis, the Superman Emergency Squad of bottled Kandor, and the Legion of Super-Heroes all answer the call, inspired by the greatest hero of them all. One sequence in this story ALWAYS gets to me. Feeling a bit stronger as his life draws to a close, Superman flies off to say goodbye to his memories and his friends. His farewell to Batman and Robin is especially moving. The next panel takes the sequence right to your heart. The Captain describes it: "With desperate, dying strength, Superman launches himself into space to write a farewell message...to the whole world!" Superman thinks to himself as he drifts facing the moon: "My heat-vision is charring the white moon-rock to make the letters! When the clouds around Earth which now hide the moon clear away, people will read my last message...and learn my real identity! But...I'll be gone then..." The message? "Do good to others and every man can be a Superman." It's signed "Superman (Clark Kent)." Is that an exit or what? "The Last Days of Superman" was written by Edmond Hamilton with classic artwork by Curt Swan and George Klein. It wasn't in 1987's THE GREATEST SUPERMAN STORIES EVER TOLD, but it should have been. I'll forego revealing anything more about this great story in the hope that someday you'll be able to read it yourself. At around $21 for a fine copy, it's a bargain. Superman's death this year [1992] has generated considerable commentary. Some flippant and some thoughtful. Some angry and some off the chart. Like the quote attributed to a Metropolis, Illinois police dispatcher in an Associated Press report: "We'd just as soon they kill off the guy that drew him as kill off Superman. They shouldn't kill off our heroes. We need somebody to look up to. "In this day and time, you need more heroes." J.D. Considine, writing for the Baltimore Sun, sees Superman as too good for our imperfect world. He wrote: "What he represented was the belief that American government and social principles were inherently good, and most Superman comics carried the implicit suggestion that the world would be a much better place if only there was some Godlike being around to keep our enemies in check and our values on top. "But in the post-Vietnam, post-Watergate, post-Rambo culture of today, that approach seems as quaintly outmoded as a DRAGNET rerun. Modern comic heroes aren't good-natured and Godlike--for the most part, they're disaffected misfits and angry young mutants. "There's no room for a Superman in this world." I think both the dispatcher and Considine miss the most important lesson of the Superman comics, past and present. It's a simple as the words carved on the moon 37 years ago. Superman, even without his Godlike powers, would still be Superman. He represents our most noble instincts given wings and will of steel. He can be every one of us and we, every one of us, can be him. As a less accomplished scribe than Hamilton put it: "Where are you most likely to find a Superman? Whenever he's most needed!" Okay, you got me. I wrote that in my plot for the Superman- Hawkman team-up that appeared in DC COMICS PRESENTS #94. Scripter Alan Gold liked it and put in the actual comic book. ****** THIS IS A JOB FOR...LAWYER-GUY! Our pal ERIC CARPENTER has been holding forth on the Superman copyright matter on the various WORLD FAMOUS COMICS message boards. He also sent this to TOT central: Yep, it's time for fun with copyright law! This reminds me of a Radio Shack/Sprint commercial currently circulating. One comment: Breathe! The Superman issue is big news, one of the biggest things to happen in comics in a few years. Yes, it's only been broken in the last week, but it's actually old news. This document was filed over two years ago, and every comic book company was provided notice of the fact. The document actually took effect last April. This has been happening for a while without any disruption on the surface; but what's it going to mean? Time to turn on the lawyer powers. Does it mean a lengthy court case? No, not at all. The events in this are completely set out by law, and they followed it to the letter. There's no contesting what is happening, it just happens. Unfortunately, I've got to go into a bit of legal history. If you've got trouble sleeping, save this for bedtime. In the mid-1970s, copyright laws in the US were re-written. The essential overall changes were that creators of copyrighted materials gained many rights and the length of a copyright was significantly changed. Before 1976, a copyright vested for a period of 28 years. If you wanted to maintain the copyright and keep it out of public domain, you could renew the copyright once for another period of 28 years. 56 years was the length of time you could gain protection. That would have meant, interesting enough, that Superman would have entered the Public Domain in 1994. When it came to renewing copyrights, generally, all rights reverted at the start of the second term-although, with a bit of legal finagling those rights could have been sold away in advance as well. I'm not certain of the status of Superman back in 1966, when it would have been renewed. When the statutes were rewritten, the copyright term was brought into alignment with the rest of the world and was extended to "Life of the author plus fifty years." Assuming you don't die within six years of publishing something, the end result is much longer protection for both you and your heirs. This led to a problem, however: it meant that anything published AFTER 1978 (the effective date in the statutes) would have a longer period of protection than items published before. That didn't seem very fair, so the government actually, believe it or not, tried to make things fair. The basic outcome, without going into the various permutations, was that items such as Superman, which were in their second term, would be extended for a second term of 47 years instead of 28--meaning that the life of the copyright was 75 years from creation instead of 56. That was all fine and dandy. Superman had been created in 1938, and had been renewed in 1966. That means that DC would hold the rights for the additional period, right? Nope. Against incredible odds, the government went even further to even the playing field for the creators. This is where today's issue comes into play, and the math can be a bit stunning. The distilled fact of the matter is that the government decided that when a creator sold away renewal rights to another company (Siegel and Shuster sold those to DC), they couldn't have gotten a fair bargain, since they'd only negotiated the deal on a basis of 56 years instead of selling the rights for 75. That meant that the buyers of copyrights were getting 19 years for free. To be fair, the statutes provide that the creators of a copyright could terminate the copyright after the 56 years were up. This was further limited to a five year period that started the day the copyright would have originally gone away. This was FURTHER limited by making the copyright creator give two years' notice that this action was going to take place. In this case, the timeline runs as follows: 1938: Superman created. 1966: First 28-year term expires, DC comics renews copyright for Siegel and Shuster. 1994: Original copyright would have expired, now extended due to copyright changes. Clock begins on termination rights. 1997: Last year the notice of termination could be filed. Notice was filed. 1999: Last year termination could occur. Termination occurs. Now there's the problem that Jerry Siegel died in 1996. So if he died, how can the copyright contract be terminated? That's because under the law, his heirs all split percentages of the rights in his creations. Jerry Siegel owned half the rights, his heirs (at least 75% of the controlling shares to the property) have the right to revoke the copyright. That's what they've done. So, at last, what does this mean? Assuming that the Shuster family didn't do a similar thing (and I don't believe they did or we'd have heard about it similar to how we heard about this), then DC still controls the Shuster half of the copyright. Each group (the DC side and the Siegel side) controls precisely half the copyright, and are entitled to half the proceeds from the use of the character. Now, this is not retroactive--the Siegels only get the rights to the character starting in April, 1999. It's been from that point forward that the sharing must occur. Both groups have the rights to create derivative works and manage the copyright in any way they see fit, so long as they don't shortchange the other half of the rights. That does mean, indeed, that the Siegels could allow Marvel comics to produce a comic based on Superman. So what's DC to do? I'm absolutely positive that DC has been dealing with this since they received notice in 1997. It's in both Warner's and DC's best interest to reach a lump sum purchase, or some sort of annual payment, and re-obtain both halves of the rights. I doubt that the Siegels are very interested in getting into comic publishing--they just want to be paid for the extra period of time. I could also see them extracting some level of, well, to be tacky, I'll just say "revenge," for DC's treatment of the issue through the 1970s and 1980s. I'm sure the negotiations have been going on; I'd be curious to see what the final settlement of the issue will be. Anyhow, that's the law behind the issue. Just consider this a preview for 2013, the year Supes enters the Public Domain. I'll be back tomorrow with more stuff, including our regularly scheduled CBG reprint and a couple of more letters on the Superman copyright story. See you then. Tony Isabella ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [6] And let me tell you why ... David Coulter DneColt@aol.com [David - who declared himself "America's Weirdly Cool Columnist" in a misguided tribute to The Firesign Theatre -- lives with his family in Kansas City and pays the bills as Marketing Director for a computer consulting group. He's heard the old saying that the best comics ever published were the ones that came out when you were ten ... and he's not buying it. He knows there are good comics out there, he can hear them breathing.] Well, it seems someone out there is actually listening to me. Two years ago I wrote a column here about how -- for me -- Steve Englehart and Marshall Rogers' 1977 stint in Detective Comics will always be the definitive Batman (almost exactly two years, it was August 8, '97). I went on to opine that DC could do a lot worse than collect this series into a TPB. And now I see in the most recent edition of Previews that DC is soliciting a TPB of the series (which ran from Detective 469-479 and also included work form Len Wein and Walt Simonson). At $12.95 this book will give any Batman fan more entertainment for their dollar than the last year's worth of Batman family books (words can't even begin to express my relief that "No Man's Land" is ending). The TPB will be called "Strange Apparitions," and you'll find it on page 82. Order it now, and buy it in October! As for why this series is so great, there are two reasons: Steve Engleheart and Marshall Rogers, two creators at the top of their respective games. The series is terrifically written, and beautifully drawn and -- to my way of thinking -- present the best take on the character of Batman that has appeared in the last 25 years. About 12 years ago, DC reprinted the Englehart/Rogers run from Detective Comics in a 5-issue limited series called Shadow of the Batman (I know, but this one had no connection to the series now). Englehart supplied an introductory essay to the series addressing the question of whether Batman was, in fact, nuts (this was before Frank Miller's proudly unbalanced Batman hit the stands in Dark Knight Returns -- so the question was still up for debate). In this essay, Englehart stated that, in his opinion, the answer was a loud, unequivocal NO. Not only was Batman sane, he's probably the sanest guy around. It was, in fact, the entire world that, from time to time, went nuts. His justification for this was well thought-out. First, the argument for Batman-as-a-psycho goes, Batman is convinced he's always right, and that everyone who disagrees with him is wrong -- the sure sign, they say, of a psychopathic personality. Nonsense, Englehart says. Batman is convinced that's right all the time for the simple reason that he really IS right all the time. After Bruce's parents were murdered, Englehart points out, Bruce dedicated his life to fighting crime and, in doing so, developed his mind and body to the peak -- therefore he's perfect. But, the argument continues, he's still only human. Who is he to judge who's right and who's wrong? Well, to quote Michael Keaton, "he's Batman," and he's qualified to judge because *Bob Kane designed him that way* -- and that's really the key. People tend to forget that Batman is a comic book character, and they try to apply real world rules to him, but those rules simply don't apply. In the end it comes down to the fact that Batman is what he is because he was designed that way. Furthermore, Batman was designed to "strike fear into the hearts of criminals," NOT his friends, too. Englehart's Batman was scary, but not brooding. He was always in control and, even though he struggled with finding a balance between his life as Batman and his life as Bruce Wayne, Batman was always Bruce Wayne with a mask on, not Bruce Wayne possessed by a demon. Englehart went to great lengths to incorporate ALL of Batman's history into his incarnation. He resurrected Hugo Strange from Batman #1 and Deadshot from Batman #59 (incidentally creating the Deadshot we all know and love today), and even while Englehart evoked the scary, lone sentinel quality that Neal Adams had returned to the character just a few years before, he still kept a lot of the goofiness that Dick Sprang and Carmine Infantino added (for example, Batman and Deadshot duke it out on top of a giant-sized electric typewriter). But Englehart was the only reason this series was great. Marshall Rogers had an awful lot to do with it. I don't know what Rogers has been up to lately, but it hasn't been comics, which is too bad, because he's unquestionably one of the finest comic book artists in the business. If you don't believe me, buy the book. There's a single panel in the series that exemplifies exactly what I'm talking about. It's a half-page panel of a city street in the middle of the day, and Bruce Wayne is climbing out of a cab to meet his girlfriend at the time (Silver St. Cloud) for lunch (when was the last time THAT happened in a Batman book?) The panel is pretty much a throwaway, doesn't add anything to the story, and yet .... it knocks my socks off. I mean, it's obvious that Rogers just snapped a picture of 5th Ave. in the middle of the day and more or less traced it onto the page, but it adds a feeling of total authenticity. The sidewalk is crowded with normal-looking people, the street is lined with parked cars, and there are two different cabs (a checker cab and a newer yellow one). But the detail that slams the panel home is that fact that, creeping into the panel from the top left corner are TWO city buses. Think about it. No one drawing a street scene today would think to add a city bus (unless someone was being punched through it), let alone TWO -- but how often do you actually see two buses bunched up together in real life? Especially in New York. Now it may seem incongruous of me to praise Rogers for such a realistic touch after praising Englehart for intentionally avoiding realism, but that's what makes this such a great series. By having natural-looking art and a story that conveniently ignores nature, Englehart and Rogers were able to more effectively suspend disbelief, creating a better story. Besides, no one draws Batman better than Marshall Rogers. Not Frank Miller, not Jim Aparo, not Kelly Jones. Nowadays, Batman looks like a cartoon, with pointed fingers, ears that shoot through the roof, pointy shoulders, and a cape that looks like the artist spilled a bottle of ink onto the panel. Rogers' version of Batman's cape still billowed, but with a couple of simple, smooth lines -- not dozens of jagged streaks. This was a real high point in the history of Batman, and I'm glad DC took my advice and turned it into a TPB. Do yourself a favor and BUY THIS BOOK! Comments? Criticisms? Flames? E-mail them to DneColt@aol.com ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [7] TOO OLD FOR COMIC BOOKS?!? Johnny Gonzales gonzalesj@ltsgate1.lts.aetc.af.mil [Upon graduating from high school, Johnny Gonzales took off to follow his dream. When the adult film industry turned him away, he decided to enlist in the Air Force and pursue cartooning on the side. He's had cartoons published in various publications including AJA magazine and draws caricatures at local events and parties. He has been reading and buying comics ever since grade school. Johnny use to live in Texas until a misunderstanding with local law enforcement forced him to relocate to parts unknown.] Alas, poor Malibu, I knew you well. It still amazes me how they could have been so foolish to sell out to Marvel. For many years Malibu existed by publishing numerous black and white comics. They had several imprints for different types of stories and were quite successful at it much like Rob Liefeld with this Extreme and Maximum imprints. They gave the Image boys their first break by publishing their first several titles, and then they created the Ultraverse, which took off like the price of pre-legal Tracey Lords' movie. But the glut of super hero titles in the comic market and the fickle fans who wouldn't buy most of the Ultraverse books because they had no "hot artists" on their roster forced Malibu's hand. And Marvel, pulling a Bill Gates on Apple, actually had Malibu believing that they wanted their "coloring department" and that the Ultraverse characters would get bigger exposure now with crossovers and whatnot. Yeah right! To Malibu, this should have sounded like the old, "I promise to only put the tip in" line we all used on our high school sweethearts. Sure, we did see a few crossovers, Captain America and Prime, The Hulk and Prime, Wolverine and Night Man, Rune and The Silver Surfer, heck, even The Avengers and Ultraforce had quite an adventure. But less than a year later, the Ultraverse characters did a disappearing act much like adult film star, Viper. But the sad death of Malibu is not what I'm here to discuss. I want to talk about one of their cool mini-series I picked up recently via the bargain bins. It was published by their Adventure imprint and was called. VELVET Writer: Kirk Chritton Artist: Mark Runyan Letterer: Tim Eldred Cover Colorist: Tom O'Connor The year is 2019 and St Louis is still recovering from an earthquake that ravaged America 15 years earlier. Organized crime and Japanese corporations are the true power. Velvet is one of the dozens of private operatives who serve as detectives, bounty hunters, spies, and sometimes, assassins. A recent string of assassinations have been blamed on private operative, and Velvet's compatriot, Garrison Garrote. Together, they attempt to uncover the true identity of the assassins along with the person who originally ordered the hits. I found this series a very entertaining read. Kirk Chritton's story and dialogue flowed well like spiked punch at a high school prom and Mark Runyan's artwork was very pleasant to the eye and had a very unique style that fit the story well. It's unfortunate that the series probably did not do too well sales wise since we never saw any future stories involving Velvet although in his editorial, Mr. Chritton mentioned that he did indeed have many more stories to tell involving these characters. Till next time. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [8] A Voice from the Doorway Christopher Myers myers@albany.net [By night Chris is a forty something part time writer, reader and comic fan. By day he is a Police Officer in upstate New York where he lives with his wife, along with two dogs and two cats.] I started reading comics long before the direct market came to be. In those days I would go to the corner store, which we had a lot of, and buy comics off the spinner racks. Of course you had to go to more than one store because none of them carried all the titles that were published or all of the issues that were published. As I look back on that I have a nostalgic sense of adventure but in reality it was a pain in the neck. When I reached my mid-teens I, like so many before me, decided that I was too old for comics. So I got rid of the stacks that I had squirreled away and started reading "real" books. I'm sure that there was some mother influence here but I won't get into that. Flash forward about seven years, I'm reading the newspaper and I see an advertisement for something called a comic book store that had opened in downtown Albany NY. Curiosity got the best of me and Albany wasn't too far away so I went to see what this was all about. Welcome to the direct market or at least the beginnings of it. Here was a store, named Fantaco, that had it all. The books were on racks, in boxes, hanging on the wall and they were all in order. Heaven on earth, before I knew what happened I was a comic reader again. Once a week I would climb into the car and take my comic jones to Albany to see what came out that week. One day a couple years later I'm driving down the street in North Troy, where I live and what do I see but a banner proclaiming Comic Shop Grand Opening and grand it was. This shop was even better than the first, it was bigger and brighter and best of all more accessible than Albany. This celebration of the good times lasted about four years until the owner moved on to other things and closed the store. Then it was back to Albany and Fantaco, with an occasional stop at Earth World, another Albany shop. I know now that life could have been much worse. Ten or twelve years ago a new comic age dawned in Troy, that was when Joe Tarday opened Aquilonia Comics on Fulton Street. Aquilonia quickly became my primary comic shop, it was there that I learned about subscription or pull lists, trade paperbacks, Previews, Wednesday deliveries and all of the other wonderful things that make up the comic book hobby. Joe ran the store for the better part of a decade before he sold it to the current owner, Bob Lupe. Bob not only sells comics but he also reads them, as did Joe. He takes time to discuss titles and storylines and to recommend books. It was through Bob, about two years ago, that I found out about Strangers in Paradise. Since then I have purchased all of the trade paperbacks and the title is on my pull list. That was also how I came to try Castle Waiting. Note to Linda Medley, come back, we miss you. The Previews catalog is stressed at Aquilonia, Bob makes the book available to all of his customers so that we can order out of it. I find this very useful, since no store, at least any that will stay in business, can carry every book that comes out every month, Previews allows me to see what is available. As a result of using it, I have purchased and read books that I never would have heard about otherwise. Bob never hesitates to get me the books that I want, when I ask for something special or add a book to my pull list I get it. I rarely have to ask twice. Most if not all of my comic shop experiences have been positive and as one shop has closed another one has appeared out of the mist. When I read other peoples comic shop horror stories I realize how lucky I have been, for that I thank the staff of the now closed Fantaco and of course Joe and Bob of Aquilonia. And Mom don't worry I still read "real" books, only not on Wednesdays. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [9] VENTING MY SPLEEN David Groenewegen david.groenewegen@lib.monash.edu.au [David Groenewegen is 30, a librarian and sadly addicted to comics. He has been reading them since before he could read, and plans to keep on doing so. His first trip out of the house with his infant son was to a comic shop. Can't start 'em too young. ] Recently my fellow columnist David Coulter had a bit of a go at the work of Chris Claremont. I actually wrote him an email about it, because I had some problems with what he said, but the more I think about it, the more I wanted to put my thoughts into a column myself. I don't think David went far enough. There are other things that Chris Claremont warrants some abuse for. OK, first of all the Claremont abusing credentials. My first X-MEN was #139 (Byrne's last). I read it for about a year, got bored, stopped, then read it again from about #180 to somewhere in the early 200s. I also read the first three years of NEW MUTANTS and the first two of EXCALIBUR. Throw in the odd mini, and I've read well over 100 issues of Claremont's mutant work. Here's some criticisms of him that David left out. One of the things that always annoyed me about Claremont's work was his complete inability to write anything even vaguely resembling exposition. You really needed to have read everything he'd ever written about the mutants to keep up sometimes, and if you hadn't there weren't many clues as to what you'd missed. Worse, he never seemed to give any clues as to what had happened in the previous issue. Each issue seemed unrelated to its predecessor, and often you were dumped into the action (such as it was) half way through. It was like walking into the middle of a movie every month. As if to contradict himself, Claremont then refused to make any lasting changes. He gave the appearance of making changes, but this was mainly to get some pathos out of a situation. He was forever killing off characters, accompanied by much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth, only to bring them back again six or twelve months down the track. I mean did he ever actually totally kill off a major character? Not that I can remember. But he milked every death as if it was the final curtain for them. And it wasn't just deaths - how many times was the Xavier school totally destroyed? Or did Colossus and Kitty break up? Or did someone lose their powers? After a while it just became a big snooze, so we got those big events where he would kill all those mutants who lived in the sewers (what was their group name? Like I care.) Or half the human race. Thanks Chris, for creating the interminable, "event" crossover. But Claremont's greatest sin, his biggest crime, was being so successful. Which meant that everybody tried to copy him. Now I'll give Claremont credit for reworking one of Marvel's greatest tricks - the superhero as metaphor for tortured fanboy. Spiderman was the original of this, of course (although it goes right back to Clark Kent). Peter Parker was the fanboy geek personified - thin, dorky, wore glasses, read a lot, was picked on. He was different. But he was also different because he had great power, which he refused to use to smite his enemies. All of us fanboy geeks had this fantasy - that were not only different, but we were "special". We were unappreciated, our great brains were being ignored because we were thin, and spotty and un- athletic and wore glasses. But we knew we were better than our tormentors, and they were bloody lucky we didn't use our great powers to destroy them. X-MEN tapped into this - the mutants were shunned because they were different, because they were special and powerful. It's no accident that here were no stupid X-men, because all us weedy types thought we were pretty clever, so we identified with the clever, yet alienated X-folk. And Cyclops, the pinup boy geek, was the leader of the X-men, because he had to be. He was us (note that he couldn't have a girlfriend at first because he was too dangerous - but he eventually got the girl (Marvel Girl) ahead of the rich kid (Angel), the muscle boy (Beast), and the smartarse little brother(Iceman)). Now I have no problem with comics playing the teenage wish fulfillment card. But while Spiderman grew out of being a teenage loser, as most of us do, the success of X-MEN resulted in all superhero comics being gradually reduced to the level of teenage fanboy wish fulfillment. Yes, there's always been an element of that in comics. But now it's everywhere, with the result that very few people under the age of 15 or over the age of 22 want anything to do with them. And forget about women. I mean, all the female characters seemed to get around in fetish gear (those that weren't wearing their underwear "to proclaim their femininity - yeah, sure Chris, whatever you say). There wasn't anything for a woman to identify with there (although I'm sure I'll get loads of emails from women now saying that Ororo gave them new hope or something. Ah well.) So to recap - Claremont helped to bring in the reign of lousy writing, mindless deaths milked for cheap thrills, and the degradation of the comics industry into a place of solace for alienated teenage boys and the socially inept. And let's not even begin to talk about the decline of Marvel from the House of Ideas to the House of Mutant Regurgitation (not entirely his fault, I know, but let's blame it on him anyway). Cheers Chris. Good job. David Groenewegen davidhar@lib.monash.edu.au ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [10] Stranger in a Strange Land Jennifer M. Contino Jencomx3@aol.com [Jennifer M. Contino is 27 and a life-long lover of comics books and super heroes! While most girls were playing with Barbies and watching cute little shows, she was playing with Mego's and watching the Superfriends and any other super hero show she could find on the television! NOW almost 19 years later she owns over 26000 comics, has written some interviews for SEQUENTIAL TART--the online e-zine, is a frequently published letter of comment writer and is the official HOST of the DC COMICS chats on AOL! She is pursuing work in the comics field at DC and is trying to start her own independent comics company!] "The NEXT big crossover Event" You know what would be cool? If the key villain behind the whole JLAPE thing would be revealed to be none other than....GRAPE APE! Yah..that would rock. We could have the Justice League of America versus the Laff 'A' Lympics. Booster Gold and Fred Flintstone could MC the whole event and it would be such fun to read. JLApe..how could DC have even tried this event without including Grape Ape. Why if I was good old Grapie I'd be feeling mighty slighted right about now. Wouldn't it be fun? We could have the Atom versus Atom Ant, which tiny titan would win? Penelopy Pussycat could race Catwoman, Impulse could go against Shaggy in a test of wits (*heh*), and Blue Falcon and Dog Wonder can fight against Batman and Robin. OK I know you all are smiling now, but if Scooby Doo can guest star the Dynamic Duo, stranger things could happen. To me, the whole APE thing is kind of ABSURD, so if ABSURD is the key we are going for . . . why not go the whole nine yards and have the Jlaers versus the Hanna Barbera's? The whole WORLD IS going APE! Really. I'm serious! The Justice League fighting alien starfish is one thing, but making monkeys out of the world's greatest superheroes is pushing things just a little too far. IT was cute, but hardly something I consider worth 3 bucks or more a pop. What's next? Will a rival fish nation of Atlantis turn the whole world into guppies? Coming next summer. . . JUSTICE LEAGUE GUP! Heh, maybe Bat Mite will return and turn the whole world into IMPS. Justice League IMP! Personally I'd like to see the JLA versus the Looney Tunes--hey it was a CRAZY summer crossover idea and the Looneys wrote the book on crazy. Daffy Duck: S-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-oooperman YOU'RE dis-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-picable! Superman: Grabs Aquaman and holds him in front of Daffy, since A-man's been out of water for almost an hour. Aquaman: Thanks, Superman, NOW I'm refressed and ready to make this duck quack. Can't you see all of the cool opportunities if this was the team up instead of the ape one? How could DC overlook an opportunity like this? YOU know what we all must do? We must send them emails DEMANDING our looneys in the next major SUMMER crossover. Don't delay! Make sure you tell all of your friends and we start a massive letter writing campaign to DC comics now! DcoDcumail@aol.com Demand the best in insanity! Tell them you want your looneys. Peace out all. . . ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [11] Multiverse Observer and Explorer Reviews Paul Dale Roberts silhouet9@aol.com [Paul promotes amateur and professional comic book artwork, scripts, storylines, and unpublished comic books with a newsletter called the Peoples' Comic Book Newsletter. Its website is at Jazma Comic Book Newsletter Productions at http://www.jazmaonline.com/ He is also a prominent letter hack, as anyone who reads comic letter pages would know. He is in production of his own self-published comic book called The Legendary Dark Silhouette and has copyrighted over 600 characters for his Jazma Universe.] M.O.E. Sidenote: Right now on the racks of Broadway Comics & Cards, I found the following: Adrenalynn - Weapon of War #1 by Image, Warlands #1 by Image and American Splendor Terminal and a whole lot more! This week, I'm giving everyone a break. Why? Because I just moved from Sacramento to the glorious city lights of Elk Grove. I'm busy unpacking and trying to get settled in. So, when I went to Broadway Comics & Cards, this week, I glanced at the comic books and didn't buy ONE comic book. Because if I did, it would have hindered me from my moving tasks. Ron Lim was holding a humongous stack of comic books for his reading pleasure. Ron and I both buy our comic books from Broadway Comics & Cards. Ron, looked surprised that I walked out of the store empty handed. I merely patted Ron on the back and said..."I just don't have the time, don't worry, I still read comic books." So, I feel a bit naked without my comic books. But, hopefully next week, I will have everything unpacked and settled in. Gad! I hate moving!! Multiverse Observer and Explorer signing off until next time........ Name: The Scary Book (4 Parts) Publisher: Silverline Comics Written by: Sidney Williams Drawn by: Steve Willhite/pencils Dan Schaeffer/inks Comments: When they say big things are coming out from Silverline Comics, they mean it! Soon, very soon, Silverline Comics is coming out with a 4 part comic book called "The Scary Book". This comic book is right in tune for Halloween! Make sure to let your comic book retailer know, that you want "The Scary Book" in your comic book saver, you don't want to miss out on this one! Let me give you some hints to what you will find in The Scary Book. Do you like ghoulish monsters, demons and things that go bump in the night? Well, you will find it here and a whole lot more! Meet Lou C. Fer who is bewildered by strange incidents that are occurring on Earth and how one city is in flames. His assistant is Baal, a mangy goat looking demon. What? This sounds like it might be funny? You better believe it, I'm not going to tell you every single joke in this comic book, but I will say this....it's hilarious, outrageously hilarious! Some parts I laughed so hard, I had a belly ache afterwards! Lou C. Fer is upset that many of his main demons are gone. One of his demons, Adramelech is doing voice-over backward masking for some aspiring heavy metal band. All of his demons have been summoned! When the demons are gone, the lost souls of hell will play and one scene shows two lost souls sunbathing and living it up in hell! Lou C. Fer checks out the problem and discovers that Applegates Book Store received some arcane books that were misdelivered to them. The main book called "Advanced Sorcery Made Easy" is being passed around to every human being on the street who has an interest in summoning demons. This is an authentic book and almost any conjurer is getting good results. Funny things happen to a janitor named Lovecraft, monsters are everywhere and you'll have to check out the Hell Spa where a Richard Simmons type of demon is making the lost souls exercise. C'mon, 1000 more to go....another eon to go! Very torturous exercise to say the least! As the series progresses, you'll meet Crimson at this gym. Crimson sold her soul to have a dynamite body and a hot body she has! Wait until you see this babe! Crimson gets recruited by Lou C. Fer to locate his "scary book". As Lou C. Fer tells Crimson of his plans, a lost soul is crawling on his belly asking for a swallow of water and Lou C. Fer steps on his head. Crimson is sent to Earth and teams up with Marty Applegate, owner of the bookstore and they head off on an incredible adventure to locate the "scary book". Marty had a start, to see a gorgeous gal like Crimson in his bedroom. Marty is the type of guy who never has any gorgeous women in his bedroom, so this is a first for him. As the story progresses, you will see a old lady type of demon chasing a purse snatcher and telling him that she has a need for his lungs. Things get even zanier as Crimson and Marty seek out a private investigator! Meet Phillip Chandler, P.I. who narrates his every movement. So much, that it gets on Marty's last nerve! Remember, as this story moves on, there is a full scale conjuring going on, practically world wide. UFOs are in the skies, brontosaurus walking the streets and another character enters the foray. Meet Hell Tristan and the fury of his Hell Dachsunds! You'll have to pick up this comic book, to learn about Hell Tristan. Believe me, you'll never be the same again! Not to mention the demonic Blazers basketball team, ghostly wrestlers and one who even looks like Hollywood Hulk Hogan as our favorite P.I. keeps narrating the story, here is an example...."I lifted my rod and plugged five rounds...straight through him." Crazy, bizarre and inhumanly fun as you will bump into some apparitions, an Inca Mummy, watch Inca Mummy kidnap Crimson, see a dead and demonic party being given by the diabolical Mr. Caduceus. Yep, it's a Mash, a Monster Mash! A graveyard smash! This bash with monster guests of all sorts, was a rollicking good time! If you think this is nuts, wait until you see Lou C. Fer get into a vehicular accident with hippies that come off like Cheech and Chong!! This comic book is filled with high quality artwork, spectacular characters and a story that will have you laughing so hard, you'll get a bellyache like me and maybe a nose bleed! Excuse me, where is my tissue? My nose just won't stop bleeding! Remember when everyone was talking about the Death of Superman? Well, that will seem like small talk when the buzz gets started on The Scary Book! This comic book has it all! It's a frightfest of outrageously hilarious fun!! For more information about this comic book, email Roland Mann at: rmann@kakuta.com Also, don't forget to check out the Silverline Comics Website!! Very cool site! Name: A.S.H. / The Legendary Dark Silhouette 2 of 2 Publisher: Marky Comics / Jazma Comics Written, penciled & inked by: Mark Cardosa Price: $1.25 Comments: In the powerful crossover event, you have A.S.H. (Alliance for Safety to Humanity- (c) Marky Comics) teaming up with The Legendary Dark Silhouette (c) Jazma Comics, as they hunt down Evilily (c) Richard Vasseur. As the story begins, Jagger and Sunshine are being interrogated at ASH Headquarters by Carter and Dynamite. LDS is being kept at bay at this headquarters and Carter / Dynamite want to know if LDS will leak out information about the headquarters location. As things simmer down, Jagger and Sunshine are assigned with LDS to locate the murderous serial killer named Evilily. Cool scene as LDS is finished with his conversation with Jagger and Sunshine and melts away into the shadows. Heatwave who has fallen for the alluring seductive powers of Evilily takes Evilily to ASH Headquarters. Hostilities fly and action is plentiful, as all heck breaks loose in this story! Major hunt for Evilily throughout the back streets of the city as LDS, Sunshine, Jagger and Star Magic sweep the city in a desperate search for this notorious killer! Your heart will skip a few beats as time is of the essence in her capture! Scary scene as Evilily has Heather hostage and when things get close to her capture, Evilily mysteriously escapes again! Major battle occurs at the ending of this story and you will be left in awe at the heroics that are played out! Won't tell the full ending, but will let you know that Star Magic erases the memory of the ASH Headquarters location from the minds of LDS and Evilily. Powerful dramatic scenes, that will leave you quivering in your boots! Good stuff, give it a shot, it's only a measly $1.25! Ordering information: Email Mark at: MarkyComics@juno.com Don't forget to check out Mark's website at: http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Lofts/2991/index.html ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [12] My View David LeBlanc ComicBkNet@aol.com [David LeBlanc is the Editor of the Comic Book Net Electronic Magazine. He is a long time fan of comics and the electronic media - having been the moderator of the comics forums on WME, FIDONET and the Comic Book Network. He and his wife are attempting to raise two teenage sons in a suburb of Worcester, Massachusetts. David supports his comic book habit by working as the Manager of Marketing and Sales for a privately owned manufacturer of electro-mechanical components.] RAT BASTARD:(#5 & #6) VENGEANCE DAY 32 pages, full color, $1.95/$3.20 CAN Crucial Comics www.crucialcomics.com PO Box 130 Colonia, NJ 07067 Story & Art: The Huja Brothers Colors by Cliff Galbraith Ahn Onimous & Colleen Frendak Furnari crucialcg@aol.com If you have not been reading RAT BASTARD up to now then this is a good place to jump on. The two-story arc, VENGEANCE DAY, is a good introduction to the characters and world of Rosco J. Rodent. He is an ELF, Experimental Life Form, in the 22nd Century Manhattan. Since he is a genetic form that is less than 50% human he is part of the lower echelon on this world were all power is tied to genetics and Elvis is a deity. The story opens at the beginning of Vengeance Day - a holiday on which everyone is allowed to get back at anyone who has wronged them in the past. As you might guess, this results in a lot of mayhem and a lot of paranoia. Rosco is trying to keep Carmen Monoxide from being a victim of vengeance but it is soon apparent that he had better look out for himself. Being a detective he has made enemies, and they all seem to be after him on this day of legal revenge. Crashing elevators, robot handed samurai, mystery bombers, are all trying to do our hero in. Just when he seems to have found safe haven a gigantic robot, THE ANARCAT, strikes his building and soon it is clear that Rosco is the target. The ANARCAT is the creation of Otto Von Spam who is using it to seek revenge from beyond the grave at not being selected as the ruling Elvis. His message is broadcast on all frequencies