Month: November 2016

Masquerade Cosplay Contest Saturday at Wintercon NY Comic & Sci-Fi Expo


Masquerade Cosplay Contest Saturday at Wintercon NY Comic & Sci-Fi Expo

Wintercon New York Comic & Sci-Fi Expo 
Saturday, December 3, 2016, 10:30am – 8pm
Sunday, December 4, 2016, 10:30am- 5pm
Resorts World Casino, 110-00 Rockaway Blvd, Jamaica, NY 11420
The weekend of December 3rd & 4th, 2016, WINTERCON NY Comic & Sci-Fi Expo brings the world of Cool Geek Fandom to Resorts World Casino in Jamaica, Queens, NY! Returning for its third triumphant year, the exciting two day event features the best of the Comic Book, Sci-Fi, Cosplay, Fantasy, and Pop Culture worlds brought to you by the promoters of Big Apple Con and Eternal Con. Hundreds of dealer tables will be selling comics, toys, collectibles, videos, T-shirts, sci-fi jewelry, and more, just in time for your holiday shopping! Panels and performances will run all weekend long. 

Wintercon NY presents the LARGEST Costume Contest in the area! The Masquerade Cosplay Contest on Saturday at 6pm is hosted by Spat Oktan of SpatCave Studios, a professional costume and prop maker and FX makeup Artist Extraordinaire! This is a craftsmanship award show, with a pre-judging session and a catwalk display. On Sunday at 11am there is a 12 and under Kids Costume Showcase where everyone gets a prize, sponsored by Squishable. So bring the WHOLE Family!!
Last year we had a great number of beautiful costumes be a part of our Masquerade Cosplay Contest, and this year there are more categories and amazingly cool prizes! Here are the complete rules from our website: 
1. Contest Format
1.1 Contestants must pre-register for the contest by 5pm on Saturday December 3rd at the Cosplay Repair Station located to the right of the main stage. Please check-in with the Cosplay Coordinator in person at the Cosplay Repair Station so we can be sure you are still participating! If you do not check in, your spot may be given to someone else.
1.2 On Saturday, December 3rd, 2016 all contestants must arrive in the Main Events Area approximately 40 minutes before the start of the contest for instructions.
1.3 The Cosplay Contest will last approximately 60 minutes, with an additional 30 minutes for judges’ deliberations and award presentation. After the judges have finished deliberating, the winners will be announced. Contestants must be on site to accept awards.
1.4 Winners in the Costume Contest will be selected for the following categories:
Costume Contest
Best Costume
Runner Up Costume
Best Novice Costume
Fans Choice
2. Rules and Regulations
2.1 Costumes and props must be suitable and appropriate for all ages. Costumes should have a theme consistent with what Winter Con celebrates – Sci-Fi, Anime, Comics, Video Games, and Pop Culture. Costumes and props should adhere to general Wintercon Rules and Regulations including the Weapons and Props Policy. Questions may be answered, and exceptions may be made, by the Cosplay Coordinator or Head of Safety depending on circumstance.
2.2 Permission is granted to Winter Con to use any photographs/video taken as future promotion material for future events and dealings.
2.3 Costume Contest
2.3.1 Contestants will be given a number and will line up in numerical order during intercession. During the contest the MC will introduce the contestant, and the contestant will walk on to the stage
2.3.2 Contestant will proceed to 3 marker pose points and will pose for 5-10 seconds at each points. They will then leave the stage and line up back in order. At the end of the category all contestants will proceed back to the stage for judging.
2.3.3 Contestants are judged solely on the impression of their costumes and stage presence. Costumes do not have to be handmade by contestants to compete.
Featured Media Guests include: from Star Wars, the Wookie himself, Peter Mayhew, Chewbacca! Joining him from the Rebel Forces are: Mike Quinn (Nien Nunb/Ree-Yees), Garrick Hagon (Biggs Darklighter, Red 3), and Jack Klaff (John D, Red 4). We are also overjoyed to welcome back Nichelle Nichols, Lt. Uhura from Star Trek, and to present George Lazenby (James Bond in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service), Adrienne Barbeau (Swamp Thing, Escape From New York), Johnny Brennan (Jerky Boys, Family Guy), Taimak (The Last Dragon), and Dustin Diamond (Screech in Saved By The Bell). From The Warriors meet Michael Beck, James Remar, David Harris, Terry Michos, Dorsey Wright, and Bryan Tyler, and from The Walking Dead we present Austin Amelio (Dwight) and Khary Payton (King Ezekiel). Celebrating the 35th Anniversary of Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior we host cast members Virginia Hey (Farscape), Bruce Spence, Emil Minty, Kjell Nilsson, and Vernon Wells.
Legendary comic artist Rich Buckler (Deathlok, Fantastic Four) will be heading up Artist Alley, which will include favorites Ken Kelly (Kiss, Micronauts), Sean Chen (Wolverine, Iron Man), Paris Cullins (Blue Devil, Blue Beetle), Brian Kong (Leaf Trading Cards, Cryptozoic Entertainment), Nelson DeCastro (Superman, X-Force), Kristen Gudsnuk (Henchgirl, Strawberry Shortcake) and other Mainstream and Indie comics creators and publishers. Special Cosplay Guests include: Tank, Jennifer Rose, Joker’s Harley, the Empire Saber Guild, the 501st Legion, and Ruby Rinekso.
Admission: Saturday: $29.99 adults, $15 kids; Sunday $24.99 adults, $10 kids; Two-day pass: $50 adults, $20 kids; VIP packages: $100-250
NY Wintercon is the easiest con in the world to get to! You just jump on the subway A train, which goes to the Aqueduct/North Conduit station, and a Resorts World Casino Shuttle will take you to the casino entrance! Resorts World Casino also has free shuttle buses from all over the city going straight to the con, and free outdoor parking.
For more information including ticketing and directions by car and mass-transit, go to http://www.nywintercon.com
Contact Info:
Mike Carbonaro
Frank Patz

Cinebook The 9th Art – Newsletter 107 – November 2016
Dear Reader,
This month has a bit of a Grim Reaper flavour to it. In Yakari, our young Sioux goes out to meet the lords of the plains, the mighty buffalo – the very animals his people depend on for food, furs and leather. Can there be friendship between hunter and prey?
In Damocles, Ellie is caught between love and death. Love between partners, love between mother and child … and death, always threatening her client. Can she protect Ava against her unknown enemies – and at what cost?
Wayne Shelton is an old hand at the adventuring business. He´s cheated death many times. The first time it happened was in Vietnam, during the war. And now that distant past is coming back to haunt him, with a name he´d long thought buried…
Finally there´s Valerian and Laureline, and the two former agents of Galaxity are forced to take any old job these days. Everyone´s got to make a living, but … is any work acceptable? Could this contract drive a wedge between our two heroes?
November with Cinebook: don´t catch your death – stay in with a good book!
Have we mentioned lately that Luc Besson is adapting Valerian and Laureline for the big screen? Yes? Oh. Well, allow us to reiterate, because, colour us excited, Luc Besson is making a Valerian movie! And the first trailer is out, and full of promise!
Chances are you´ve been exposed to it already, but in case you missed it, here´s a link to your 2.06 minutes of early Spatio-Temporal goodness:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DX6LPS_PcCw
Roll on July 2017!



Damocles 4 
Henriet & Callède
Eros and Thanatos

Walt is back among the living thanks to Ellie and a massive dose of the Damocles agency´s superdrug. Meanwhile, their client Ava Troy narrowly escapes an assassination attempt. But the man who threatened her is a lone wolf, so who is behind the previous attacks?… Read more

Wayne Shelton 4 
Denayer & Cailleteau
The Survivor

During a garden party in California, Shelton is approached by a clearly determined individual. The man tells him that he is there on behalf of Wayne´s son, who apparently tracked down one Rod Hooker. The thing is, Sergeant Hooker once served under Shelton in Vietnam… Read more

Valerian & Laureline 14
Mézières & Christin
The Living Weapons

Valerian and Laureline, no longer members of any organisation, are down to doing space deliveries. With Galaxity gone and money getting scarce, their aging spaceship is becoming a hazard, which is pushing Valerian into accepting questionable cargo… Read more

Yakari 14 
Derib & Job
Lords of the Plains

After a hunt that brought the tribe much needed supplies, Yakari is visited in his dreams by the buffalo, killed the day of his birth, whose pelt still serves as his blanket. Intrigued, the young Sioux and Little Thunder go see the great herd… Read more

Namibia 4
Episode 4

The Marquis of Anaon 5
The Chamber of Cheops

North-American readers, to locate a comic book shop near you that stocks or can order these titles and many more, us this handy Read more

Or, if you’re a retailer yourself, please go to: Read more

"…a ten issue run and full of gems that very few comic fans know about!"

According to Steve Thomas of The Comic Project “The Black Tower Adventure series is a ten issue run and full of gems that very few comic fans know about!”

Thank You, Steve.  Oh and he is not talking about the 1980s zine version….

He’s talking about these.  And he is quite right.  The book was Black Tower’s flag-ship title yet it was never pushed or publicised as some other books so….why not?
All the books are A4 with a card cover so are given the European classification of Comic Albums.  All have between 50+ to 80 pages and yet, as part of Black Tower’s “fair deal” for comic fans the series all have the same cover price of £7.00 -even the first issue.  Adventure was intended as a springboard for trying out different characters but to provide a good read for those into comics.
Now the details!

Black Tower Adventure No. 1
PublisherTerry Hooper-Scharf/Black Tower Books
LanguageEnglish
Pages 67
BindingSaddle-stitch
Paperback
Interior Ink Black & white
Weight 0.26 kg
Dimensions (centimetres) 20.98 wide x 29.69 t
Price: £7.00 (excl. VAT)
Prints in 3-5 business days
http://www.lulu.com/shop/terry-hooper-scharf/black-tower-adventure-1/paperback/product-21175829.html
In 1984 the A5 (digest sized) Black Tower Adventure first appeared featuring some later-to-be top UK comic book and was a must-read in Small Press circles and sold so well that even the publisher does not have a full run!
The title was put on hiatus in 2007 but in 2010 was relaunched, bigger and better than ever!
This first issue of volume 2 contains: Part 1 of the mega series Return Of The Gods:Twilight Of The Super Heroes which comes in at 43 pages! Thaddeus Twatt In The Twatt-Verse -first part of a truly microscopic titanic tales (which makes sense if you read it!). And those Third Level sorcerers Kotar & Sabuta race to face The Deadly Dilemma Of Sigismund Benfriggisund! The cold war between Chinaand Russiacouldn’t get any hotter in the 1980s but one strip that appeared in the new talent comic Preview was The Phoenix Team and that story has been much requested over the years as the team, and the Soviet Red Star Squadron, stumble into The Evil of the Salamander and his master plan.

And more?  Well, of course there is!

Black Tower Adventure 2
Language English
Pages 69
Binding Perfect-bound
Paperback
Interior Ink Black & white
Weight 0.26 kg
Dimensions (centimetres) 20.98 wide x 29.69 tall
Price: £7.00 (excl. VAT)
Prints in 3-5 business days
http://www.lulu.com/shop/terry-hooper-scharf/black-tower-adventure-2/paperback/product-21175857.html
Things begin to pick up apace as Thaddeus Twatt and Tomas go on foot to explore The Fearful Fate Of Friggia. Both, naturally, oblivious to the mystery and action that continues in Return Of The Gods:Twilight Of The Super Heroes. In a more, uh, “fun” vein, we learn why using reptilean DNA to replace human limbs might not be a good idea in Out On A Limb!  Of course, when dealing with criminal gangs the Crimson Cowl packs a punchline.
And how could we forget Kotar & Sabuta as they confront…The Ghost! So, you may ask, if you are old enough, “Whatever happened to the 1980s craze for Yucca plants?” Well, we learn the deadly secret in The Day Of The Yucca!
There is also the obligatory “much, much more”!

Black Tower adventure 3
Language English
Pages 72
Binding Perfect-bound
Paperback
Interior Ink Black & white
Weight 0.27 kg
Dimensions (centimetres) 20.98 wide x 29.69 tall
Price: £7.00 (excl. VAT)
Prints in 3-5 business days
http://www.lulu.com/shop/terry-hooper-scharf/black-tower-adventure-3/paperback/product-13837179.html
Things get grim as heroes begin to fall and the truth is realised in Return Of The Gods:Twilight Of The Super Heroes part 3. Lady Sivana and Tarot help Kotar & Sabuta tackle a nasty lycanthrope problem. With things looking VERY grim will Thaddeus Twatt and Tomas escape The Fearful Fate Of Friggia? Ben Dilworth provides not one -not two -THREE Purple Hood strips.
Is there more? Can there possibly be more?  Don’t be silly -YES!!!!!

Black Tower Adventure 4
Language English
Pages 56
Binding Saddle-stitch
Paperback
Interior Ink Black & white
Weight 0.23 kg
Dimensions (centimetres) 20.98 wide x 29.69 tall
Price: £7.00 (excl. VAT)
Prints in 3-5 business days
http://www.lulu.com/shop/terry-hooper-scharf/black-tower-adventure-4/paperback/product-14304136.html
Krakos takes care of some burglars who have to “take the heat” in a very literal sense!  The Purple Hood deals with a suicide banker so you have to ask how that will turn out?   Kotar & Sabuta rescue a young woman in Antarctica, but what mysterious force took here there and how is it connected to Kotar? The action gathers pace in Return Of The Gods: Twilight of the Super Heroes as more mystery enfolds those taken from Earth…and those on Earth.
Thaddeus Twatt and nephew Tomas land on The Jungle Planet -and it looks as though this could be their deaths as Thaddeus realises too late what has colonised the planet!
The Thinker decides that thinking alone can get a little boring while one of China’s Phoenix Team has to deal with..well, you’ll see and it’s probably not what you expected!
What more could you ask for? More? You got it!

  

Black Tower Adventure 5
Language English
Pages 60
Binding Saddle-stitch
Paperback
Interior Ink Black & white
Weight 0.24 kg
Dimensions (centimetres) 20.98 wide x 29.69 tall
Price: £7.00 (excl. VAT)
Prints in 3-5 business days
http://www.lulu.com/shop/terry-hooper-scharf/black-tower-adventure-5/paperback/product-15534161.html
It’s the penultimate part of RETURN OF THE GODS:TWILIGHT OF THE SUPER HEROES and on Earth and in space heroes confront the invading Boarmen! Who will pay the ultimate price for defending the planet and how many will fall on Neo Olympus?
Kotar and Sabuta try to have a quiet night in but..well…you remember they are Third Level Sorcerers with enemies, right?
Xendragon (see Tales of Terror 1)investigates The Legacy of Frankenstein which might not be as straight forward as it sounds.
Thaddeus Twatt and Tomas are held by the Crystallids and we hear of their origins and get a glimpse at how the eccentric scientist may not be all he seems.
Lord of the Flies teaches a very naughty boy a lesson. No school children were harmed in the making of this comic strip.
The Iron Warrior rushes to the rescue down the Amazon way while The Bat (but probably not the one you think) and Reverend Merriwether, God’s Demon Thumper put in appearances.
Its 60 pages of Black Tower Action!

Black Tower Adventure 6
Language English
Pages 81
Binding Perfect-bound
Paperback
Interior Ink Black & white
Weight 0.29 kg
Dimensions (centimetres) 20.98 wide x 29.69 tall
Price: £7.00 (excl. VAT)
Prints in 3-5 business days
http://www.lulu.com/shop/terry-hooper-scharf/black-tower-adventure-6/paperback/product-16069877.html
Yes!  It’s 80 page Giant time! (Well, 81 pages)
The final chapter in Return Of The Gods:Twilight Of The Super Heroes. Everything is finally revealed as the heroes on Neo Olympus mourn their dead and learn that one of their number must also die!  Meanwhile, on Earth, things seem to be turning more favourably….we think.
Thaddeus Twatt has brace himself certain death as his past catches up with him and he faces the Ultimate Crystallid!
The Purple Hood versus The flame! And we don’t mean he has to sort out a chip-pan fire, either.
Whatever Happened To Mark Tyme? A good question because he appears to be lost in time and one German hero, Zeit Meister, survivor from a destroyed parallel Earth, is determined to find him.
Atomic Tommy has a slight alien problem to deal with and the Missing Link  is caught up in it all. 
Dr Sorrow has problems while Ben R. Dilworth takes us back to a re-telling of the origin of Runestone!
It’s 80 pulse-pounding pages of graphic delineation! (plus an extra blank page because we’re keeping it real!).

Black Tower Adventure 7
Language English
Pages 60
Binding Saddle-stitch
Paperback
Interior Ink Black & white
Weight 0.24 kg
Dimensions (centimetres) 20.98 wide x 29.69 tall
Price: £7.00 (excl. VAT)
Prints in 3-5 business days
http://www.lulu.com/shop/terry-hooper-scharf/adventure-7/paperback/product-17143438.html
The First part of a new series! How do you follow up Return Of The Gods after many heroes have died while others have gone into seclusion or retirement and yet heroes areneeded? “The Cross Earths Caper” is how! And when we say “Cross Earths” we mean the multi-verse, time and space and….buy it and see!
In the final part of the Xendragon story our hero confronts the Legacy of Frankenstein and things could get from very bad to fatally bad. 
And following his confrontation with the Ultimate Crystallid there are tragic if not fatal consequences for Thaddeus Twatt in the final part of The Jungle Planet.
Silvermaigne tracks down a vampyre.  The Thinker over thinks and Dilworth’s re-telling of the origin of Runestone continues apace. Oh. And more.  Well, of course there is!

Black Tower Adventure 8
Language English
Pages 58
Binding Saddle-stitch
Paperback
Interior Ink Black & white
Weight 0.24 kg
Dimensions (centimetres) 20.98 wide x 29.69 tall
Price: £7.00 (excl. VAT)
Prints in 3-5 business days
http://www.lulu.com/shop/terry-hooper-scharf/black-tower-adventure-8/paperback/product-20233334.html
At last! After cameo appearances in Tales of Terror and one strip over the last twenty years, Herbert Kirby’s THE PHANTOM DETECTIVEreturns in two tales to horrify!
Plus, The Thinker…thinks DOOM!  He over stresses at times but we see that as him just being a kind of cosmic pressure release valve (he does tend to fart).  Meanwhile, having discovered the Iron Warrior in the African jungle, three adventurers are about to get a shock that ends in a loud “Bang!”
In the UKa wizened old man offers to give a rather over inebriated Kelvin Nolan his helmet -which creates a few misunderstandings in Kelvin Nolan and His Helmet of Power!  Runestone, with the help of his science pal, George, begins to test the rune stone that has embedded itself in his hand and is in for a few surprises.
In The Cross-Earths Caper (pt.2) Bristol is, quite virtually, The Wild, Wild West Country..and Selenites threaten to destroy Earth with a huge interplanetary cannon. Why?  Well, maybe a misunderstanding but have no fear –Earth’s finest from the 1920s have been unfrozen and are ready to fight. Thought that ought to be mentioned.

Black Tower Adeventure 9
Language English
Pages 65
Binding Saddle-stitch
Paperback
Interior Ink Black & white
Weight 0.25 kg Dimensions (centimetres)
Price: £5.00 (excl. VAT)
Prints in 3-5 business days
http://www.lulu.com/shop/terry-hooper-scharf/black-tower-adventure-9/paperback/product-20675547.html
This is it!! 
Yes, the one that someone has been waiting for!  It may well have been you but you just never realised it.
Runestone gets to try out his new powers as he faces…The Beast of Exmoor! And believe us this ain’t no puma or leopard.  That might be weird enough but this Beast is a tool of the Celtic dark god himself!
Kelvin Jones gets to try out his shiny Helmet of Power and by this point some may ask if he’s capable of even using a TV remote control.
Our heroes are on a parallel Moon and fighting off Selenites in The Cross Earths Caper! And their new mysterious companion, “Bob” deisplays some super human abilities leading to the question: who the hell is “Bob”??
Kotar has his hands full in a solo adventure while Lady Silana faces a demon of her own. The quest for the Iron Warrior continues in the Amazon and this one has a few surprises for our lady adventurers.

There is a prequel to two British Golden Age comic strips in Return To Lost Man’s Gulch and more…including The Thinker and The Phantom Detective -all in the UKs TOP SUPER HERO-ACTION COMIC!

Black Tower Adventure 10
Language English
Pages 54
Binding Saddle-stitch
Paperback
Interior Ink  Black & white
Weight 0.23 kg
Dimensions (centimetres) 20.98 wide x 29.69 tall
Price: £5.00 (excl. VAT)
Prints in 3-5 business days
http://www.lulu.com/shop/terry-hooper-scharf/black-tower-adventure-10/paperback/product-21116296.html
The 10th and final issue of volume 2!
Our three lady adventurers are in the Amazon and have encountered the ape-men but are they ready for Rodney Dearth and his Iron Warrior to return?
The Cross Earths Caper concludes and for one hero it is the parting of the ways and two others face life altering situations and many months away…only to find on their Earth they were hardly gone a few seconds.  Ben Dilworth concludes the re-telling of Runestone’s origin.

There are lots of other goodies and this issue guest stars a gun-toting crime-buster that Elliott Ness would love – The Clock! Sit back and read Ben Dilworth’s crime-busting tale –it’s far better for you than the internet! Its just too much fun!

More fun than Ya Ya Han.

It’s Wednesday Morning. It’s -1 Degree. I Just Destroyed Another Planet.

Disclaimer: in stating “I Just Destroyed Another Planet” I should make it clear that I refer to a planet in a comic strip. Any aliens or law enforcement officers working on behalf of Galactic Councils or similar bodies, should not assume that I am in any way responsible for the destruction of any real planet in this or any other portion of the multiverse. It was funny when I wrote it but I now understand that to survivors of home planets that were destroyed while they were away it is not funny. My apologies.

Hmm. It IS A Request I Might Consider But….

…let me first make it clear the request is not for me to shoot/drown (done that. NOT fun)/hang or overdose on laxative chocolates.  But that last one….what a way to go -and someone else has to clean up!

Gerd, via the now defunct (yeah, he’s not told me why he messaged from there rather than just email me or leave a comment here) Yahoo Eurocomics Group, asked why I do “not look at comics from countries other than France or Germany?”

I’ve already mentioned that it is a lot of work to just spend hours on the net looking for “Danish Comics” or “Spanish Comics” and even if I did find links I’d have to translate.  As with some French BD that can take a day.  Also look at the fact that nearly every country in Europe provides views for CBO.  It might be easy to start with, say, Eire, then move to Belgium and then the Netherlands but without sources or seeing comics it would simply be “Here is an comic cover from Eire” and so on.

I have touched on Russian comics but I have no idea what is being published there in 2016 so my posts are all based on my collection from childrens comics to Tarzan.  I don’t even have a copy of the Red Star Squadron “Salamander” story that was translated into Russian in 1989 but as a Small Press comic.  My copy vanished in the 1990s.

The Ukraine.  Again, another country providing a high number of views but I can’t find anything on comics there.

Also…well, I could go on. My German can handle web sites and my French is “piss poor” but I get by.  India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, China, etc., I have done posts on before in the past and I know about comics there but keeping up-to-date on new books is near impossible because of costs and I definitely do not click on download file links sent to me by people I do not know!

So, I try but I’d need a very high salary to buy and look over comics from outside the UK. CBO is not a high salaried job!

I’ll try when I can but after 17 years no CBO viewer has ever forwarded links to comic web sites in their countries so it’s a low priority.  But haven’t I covered enough for regulars who do not pay but read and move on?

Why I Do Not Think D-Gruppe Will Get A German Language Translation

As the “Other Other Guy” (that’s how I’m referring to him!) ran those German comics postings I did receive a couple of comments from members of my Yahoo Groups.  They had read the posts but were a bit confused as the below cover never appeared.

So an explanation. Not sure how much longer I’ll be on the internet and there are other concerns far more important than CBO, the internet or comics (hey, no reader loyalty or support so I’m not that bothered).

This is how it goes. The above cover was intended for a German language version of the D-Gruppe The Zeit Geist Saga trade an for sale at German comic events in 2017.  Two problems arose.  The main one was that after the idiotic Brexit vote, all contact from German organisers, etc., stopped. In part this may have been fuelled by their anger at anyone from the UK because, as in many EU countries, the press/media and even politicians told some horrendous lies about the UK contribution to the EU which was basically “taking everything but contributing nothing” -ignoring the fact that one problem that brought about the Brexit vote was the large amount the UK contributes to the EU.

My mother’s family is German. I am pro-Europe and if I pushed French, German and other European comics anymore people would think I was being paid!  That, however, did not stop the idiots from seeing me as “English and anti-EU”.  Paying for a translation of a 100+ pages book into German with nowhere to sell it….that was the second problem.  So a rough cover was put together and the reason it was not used in those last postings is because Frank never had a scan and it was “business” that wasn’t happening.

I would like to see the book translated and published in German but I am not in the position to do so and the only version is the English language one on the online store http://www.lulu.com/shop/terry-hooper-scharf/d-gruppe-the-zeit-geist-saga/paperback/product-21156613.html

If I do not seem to cover European comics much it is because companies seem to have frozen out the UK. There are at least two who publish their books in English but will only market/sell them in the United States not the UK (I know that means they miss getting their books seen by thousands of American readers each week but sending me review books is not law!).

And I have just heard from Tomppa, the creator of Der engel, to tell me that issues other than those featured in the blog posts have appeared -and he’ll send me copies.

I wish Small Publishers in the Nederlands, Belgium and elsewhere were as helpful -I’m still trying to see whether Windmill Comics is still going (Netherlands publisher).

Now, off to gather some nuts….for birds, not me!

Cinebook The 9th Art Delays -The Company Is Still There!

Yes, the last Cinebook The 9th Art book reviews were back at the end of September/beginning October.  No, Cinebook has not gone out of business and is not preparing to take business back to France after Brexit (as far as I know and am told).

You do know they have a web site you can check?  Face Book page? You can ask them things.

There is a big delay as owner Olivier Cadic is involved in French Senatorial duties and travelling. Things seem to be about two months behind at the moment. This does not bode well.  M. Cadic has been quite vocal and open about French EU citizens getting their businesses back to France after Brexit and, yes, he is busy with his political work.  However, I think a few of us thought that the comic album publishing business was handed over to someone else. Comics take second place to a busy political schedule and when company supporters hear nothing (I receive no responses to emails sent to  M. Cadic these days) you can bet rumours will start.

So if you’ve read the various comments made by people on ‘forums’ -ignore them.  They know far less than I do.  I do understand Cinebook fans get worried though!
Image result for cinebook the 9th art

The Never Deleted Emails And The Day Marvel Comics Was Buried


Here is something that has been stuck in “Draft” (no, not the wind coming through the door and window type) for a good while.  Get it out the way because I can’t imagine wanting to write anything this long in the next month.

The point was, at the time, to show why comic fandom was dying.  No printed fanzines just a lot of comic message boards and forums where anonymous little trolls ruled because moderators were too scared to act or in on the whole deal (a few UK comic creators have described these people as being “the UK comics Mafia”).  It did not help that morons were also in charge.

You want to express your opinions on comics get your own blog (don’t allow comments) or video blog and make it worthwhile just not your own version of “Nasty to get viewers”.
***************************************************************************

I had to search out some info on Comic Forums I moderated for SBC (Silver Bullet Comics -a BIG thing on the internet back then) in the mid 2000s and came across a batch of memory jarring emails -I told you I keep EVERYTHING!

Hey, do this. It’ll get you exposure.Your work will be seen by a lot of people AND you get into conventions for free???  Wowzers!  Trouble is, walking up to a convention door and saying “Silver Bullet Comics -free entry!” does not get you in.  I was young (ish) and innocent.  Embrace the fandom!!!


“Terry,

I am the Senior Feature Editor at Silver Bullet Comicbooks (unpaid) and I was wondering if you would be interested in doing some unpaid interviews? It gives you a chance to talk to some of your favorite creators and gets you in to conventions for free. I know you enjoy writing but I was unsure if you read any current comics. Also Phil wants you with us too.”

I have the emails when the SBC editor (a great fella) got “the panics” when Warner put Marv Wolfman up for interview over the then new Superman Returns movie for which he had written the novelization.  How did that turn out? Read The Hooper Interviews to find out because the online interview vanished years ago (deleted).

I have emails in which I detail facts regarding comics publishing and events that were going to happen within the industry.  The response emails: “That seems very unlikely” and the “I don’t think you understand how the comics industry works -that just cannot happen!” Rejection of news item after item followed by the “You were spot on” ones later on.

A really pissed off email I sent about being told that arrangements had been made (two years running) to be on SBCs Bristol International Comic Expo’s “SBC The Panel”. I wasn’t. It turned out the ‘boss’ had decided everything in his head and not told anyone.  First year there was no room on the panel and the second year there was no panel. SBC’s “UK Editor” hadn’t been told anything. Hey -this exposure was not getting me anywhere!

“…gets you in to conventions for free”

There is my correspondence regarding the fact that a new editor at SBC got the job because he was a pushy friend of the owner and knew nothing about comics, however, he thought the title “Editor” made him cool.  Two years into my stint there I was having complaints about old items and how I “Spellt a lot of words wrong” (I write nothing about that line) and I pointed out that I was English and spelt things correctly but he insisted I go back and alter words like “Colour” to “color” and “tonight” to “tonite”(?!). I said “No”.  SBC was not paying and I was not editing old items -I could not as I had no access to editing online anyway.  Then, apparently, I was “too friendly” with the people I was interviewing.

” It gives you a chance to talk to some of your favorite creators”

Then came crunch-time when an interview he had decided he could not do (“I’m far too busy”) I did and wrote it all up in 24 hours (the deadline was the reason he could not do the interview because he was a dumb ass).  My non-American spelling, my friendly attitude and banter with the interviewee and much more really offended the editor.

So, I’m a writer. I have a good IQ. I thought about my response. Something witty and cutting that Oscar Wilde would approve of.  The ‘Editor’ telephones me (!!) and starts with “I’m going to have to chew you out over this” and I interrupted with: “Allow me to save you the time. I quit. F*** off.” Oscar would have cried!  Then emails trying to get me back to SBC and even trying to get a couple people I knew there to persuade me back. Nope.  The worst part, as the emails remind me, was that these acquaintances were taking this crap but decided to just let it happen.

What happened to SBC again?

This one was…uh, “fun”…

Then another comics friend persuaded me to take over a couple online comic message boards as a moderator. The people behind it ran a whole string of them.  All went well, then (guess?) a new boy popped up and told me I was not doing my job by editing messages that had been posted 1-2 years before I even joined.  Then I was told I needed to “dedicate at least six hours a day” to the forums which would “have” to included new message board topics that “No one has ever thought of before”. 

One was an Alpha Flight message board so I tried the “Which Golden Age Canadian character would you like to see join AF if it were possible?” Two days later I got “NO!!!! YOU CANNOT ask that sort of question!!!! This is about Alpha Flight!”  I explained it to him.  I was told no one cared or knew about Canadian GA comics because “they were all American anyway” (now that is stupidity and ignorance on a rope).  I was told to “Start deleting messages but leave the relavent (sic) ones up” to which I had to ask for an explanation -what were “the relavent (sic) ones” ? It made no sense. Heard nothing back so decided to look for any message board topics that had gone cold over the last year.

I could not log on as Moderator.  Moderator log in code had been changed. I sent an email.  Nothing. Then, after a week of messages piling up I got a message from ‘the boss’ telling me that he had suspended me for a week to let me “stew and think things over” as he was unhappy I had not logged in six hours a day each and every day and had not come up with what he considered new never-before-asked questions and subjects for SIX message boards -I thought I was moderating two but he had decided I had to moderate six and had not told me.  I pointed out that he was treating me like paid staff and over worked paid staff –was he paying me now?  I contacted the actual owner of the message boards and found the, uh, problem man was a friend of his and he was pushy and insisting everything was done his way but the owner admitted he was too worried to tell the man he was going too far. So I quit -again, the problem man emailed me four times trying to get me back and even offered me three other message boards to handle “but you’ll need to show more initiative in future”. So I showed initiative and told him where the message boards could be put.

I decided not to ever get involved in comic book message boards again as a moderator.  I found out that, unfortunately, most UK comic forums as well as a few outside the UK were simply populated by very nasty people -a good few working within comics.  US comic creators attacking comic forums, members and much else have been documented well enough.

I then did work for a few news sites.  Everything I wrote was referenced and checkable. But allow me to quote that paragraph again: “I have emails in which I detail facts regarding comics publishing and events that were going to happen within the industry.  The response emails: “That seems very unlikely” and the “I don’t think you understand how the comics industry works -that just cannot happen!” Rejection of news item after item followed by the “You were spot on” ones later on.”

I’m dumb.
Image result for Disney buys Marvel comics
So, I was a header on an old email.  Here you go:

Sent: Monday, August 31, 2009 7:50 AM
To: Terry Hooper Super Hero News
Subject: [Super Hero News] Marvel Sold to Disney
Terry -OK you were spot on when you wrote the piece last year sorry we never published but now its official.
PR

Disney to Acquire Marvel Entertainment
Worldwide leader in family entertainment agrees to acquire Marvel and its portfolio of over 5,000 characters

Acquisition highlights Disney’s strategic focus on quality branded content, technological innovation and international expansion to build long-term shareholder value

An investor conference call will take place at approximately 10:15 a.m. EDT / 7:15 a.m. PDT August 31, 2009. Details for the call are listed in the release.

BURBANK, Calif. & NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Building on its strategy of delivering quality branded content to people around the world, The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) has agreed to acquire Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:MVL) in a stock and cash transaction, the companies announced today.

Under the terms of the agreement and based on the closing price of Disney on August 28, 2009, Marvel shareholders would receive a total of $30 per share in cash plus approximately 0.745 Disney shares for each Marvel share they own. At closing, the amount of cash and stock will be adjusted if necessary so that the total value of the Disney stock issued as merger consideration based on its trading value at that time is not less than 40% of the total merger consideration.

Based on the closing price of Disney stock on Friday, August 28, the transaction value is $50 per Marvel share or approximately $4 billion.

“This transaction combines Marvel’s strong global brand and world-renowned library of characters including Iron Man, Spider-Man, X-Men, Captain America, Fantastic Four and Thor with Disney’s creative skills, unparalleled global portfolio of entertainment properties, and a business structure that maximizes the value of creative properties across multiple platforms and territories,” said Robert A. Iger, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company. “Ike Perlmutter and his team have done an impressive job of nurturing these properties and have created significant value. We are pleased to bring this talent and these great assets to Disney.”

“We believe that adding Marvel to Disney’s unique portfolio of brands provides significant opportunities for long-term growth and value creation,” Iger said.

“Disney is the perfect home for Marvel’s fantastic library of characters given its proven ability to expand content creation and licensing businesses,” said Ike Perlmutter, Marvel’s Chief Executive Officer. “This is an unparalleled opportunity for Marvel to build upon its vibrant brand and character properties by accessing Disney’s tremendous global organization and infrastructure around the world.”

Under the deal, Disney will acquire ownership of Marvel including its more than 5,000 Marvel characters. Mr. Perlmutter will oversee the Marvel properties, and will work directly with Disney’s global lines of business to build and further integrate Marvel’s properties.

The Boards of Directors of Disney and Marvel have each approved the transaction, which is subject to clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, certain non-United States merger control regulations, effectiveness of a registration statement with respect to Disney shares issued in the transaction and other customary closing conditions. The agreement will require the approval of Marvel shareholders. Marvel was advised on the transaction by BofA Merrill Lynch.

Investor Conference Call:

An investor conference call will take place at approximately 10:15 a.m. EDT / 7:15 a.m. PDT today, August 31, 2009. To listen to the Webcast, turn your browser tohttp://corporate.disney.go.com/investors/presentations.html or dial in domestically at 800-260-8140 or internationally at 617-614-3672. For both dial-in numbers, the participant pass code is 51214527.

The discussion will be available via replay on the Disney investors website through September 14, 2009 at 7:00 PM EDT/4:00 PM PDT.

About The Walt Disney Company

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise with five business segments: media networks, parks and resorts, studio entertainment, interactive media and consumer products. Disney is a Dow 30 company with revenues of nearly $38 billion in its most recent fiscal year.

About Marvel Entertainment, Inc.

Marvel Entertainment, Inc. is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a library of over 5,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in licensing, entertainment (via Marvel Studios and Marvel Animation) and publishing (via Marvel Comics).

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain statements in this communication may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements relate to a variety of matters, including but not limited to: the operations of the businesses of Disney and Marvel separately and as a combined entity; the timing and consummation of the proposed merger transaction; the expected benefits of the integration of the two companies; the combined company’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical fact. These statements are made on the basis of the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the management of Disney and Marvel regarding future events and are subject to significant risks and uncertainty. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Neither Disney nor Marvel undertakes any obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied. Such differences may result from a variety of factors, including but not limited to:

  a.. legal or regulatory proceedings or other matters that affect the timing or ability to complete the transactions as contemplated; 
  b.. the possibility that the expected synergies from the proposed merger will not be realized, or will not be realized within the anticipated time period; the risk that the businesses will not be integrated successfully; 
  c.. the possibility of disruption from the merger making it more difficult to maintain business and operational relationships; 
  d.. the possibility that the merger does not close, including but not limited to, due to the failure to satisfy the closing conditions; 
  e.. any actions taken by either of the companies, including but not limited to, restructuring or strategic initiatives (including capital investments or asset acquisitions or dispositions); 
  f.. developments beyond the companies’ control, including but not limited to: changes in domestic or global economic conditions, competitive conditions and consumer preferences; adverse weather conditions or natural disasters; health concerns; international, political or military developments; and technological developments.
Additional factors that may cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements are set forth in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Disney for the year ended September 27, 2008, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on November 20, 2008, under the heading “Item 1A-Risk Factors” and in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Marvel for the year ended December 31, 2008, which was filed with the SEC on February 27, 2009, under the heading “Item 1A-Risk Factors,” and in subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K and other filings made with the SEC by each of Marvel and Disney.

Important Merger Information and Additional Information:

This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval. In connection with the proposed transaction, Disney and Marvel will file relevant materials with the SEC. Disney will file a Registration Statement on Form S-4 that includes a proxy statement of Marvel and which also constitutes a prospectus of Disney. Marvel will mail the proxy statement/prospectus to its stockholders. Investors are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed transaction when it becomes available, because it will contain important information. The proxy statement/prospectus and other documents that will be filed by Disney and Marvel with the SEC will be available free of charge at the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov, or by directing a request when such a filing is made to The Walt Disney Company, 500 South Buena Vista Street, Burbank, CA 91521-9722, Attention: Shareholder Services or by directing a request when such a filing is made to Marvel Entertainment, Inc., 417 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10016, Attention: Corporate Secretary.

Disney, Marvel, their respective directors and certain of their executive officers may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about the directors and executive officers of Marvel is set forth in its definitive proxy statement, which was filed with the SEC on March 24, 2009. Information about the directors and executive officers of Disney is set forth in its definitive proxy statement, which was filed with the SEC on January 16, 2009. Investors may obtain additional information regarding the interests of such participants by reading the proxy statement/prospectus Disney and Marvel will file with the SEC when it becomes available.

Contacts
The Walt Disney Company
Zenia Mucha
Corporate Communications
818-560-5300
or
Jonathan Friedland
Corporate Communications
818-560-8306
or
Lowell Singer
Investor Relations
818-560-6601

So I had enough of this messing about and I quit all that and decided to concentrate only on my own blog.  Comic Bits Online.  That went well.