"Look, an illegal Alien!!"

I never understood how one human being can look at another and call him/her illegal. Doesn't matter if that person works, is 90, or is even 1 day old. I hear people being called illegal. I can't believe they mean it..Because if they really believed it to be true, then this scenario would be ok too I guess.. Let's say the Aliens invaded, conquered, and then set up shop. Then in 50 years they tell us to get the hell out because we don't belong. Is that fair? Would WE be illegal? I don't think so.

Don't Forget To Smile!!

Sometimes you push the WRONG buttons

Frank, the dumbest husband in the world.

Hope you enjoyed and thanks for checking it out!

A Pleasant Review! Howard Lovecraft-and the-Undersea Kingdom

Howard Lovecraft

-and the-

Undersea Kingdom

Written by-Bruce Brown and Dwight L. Macpherson

Art by- Thomas Boatwright

Letters by- E.T. Dollman

Cover Art by- Erik Fokkens

So if you managed to catch my mistake on Twitter tonight you'll notice that I mentioned the wrong book before I corrected myself. I mentioned a book titled Howard Lovecraft-and the-Frozen kingdom. I accidentally said that I was reviewing that book instead of this one, Howard Lovecraft -and the-Undersea Kingdom. There's a reason for that mistake. You see... when Bruce asked me to review a couple of his books I was not only intrigued and happy, but eager to read some new items in the comic book world. I first read Clay County (you can find the pleasant review here.) and I was so blown away by the book that I quickly dove into the Undersea Kingdom immediately after. As I was reading I became so excited about the work in my hands that I decided to stop and do some more research on Bruce Brown. Then I discovered that there was another book, Howard Lovecraft-and the-Frozen Kingdom, which I also enjoyed. So naturally, I had both books on my mind.

This cover absolutely brings home the point of these books, in my opinion. A truly beautiful cover with deep colors, unique monsters, set in a unique world. There's mystery and there's horror behind Howard in the depths behind him. Not to mention that large tentacled creature standing guard over the child. All of which btw..is under water! This cover is as unique and thought provoking as the book itself. The ocean has always been a place that leaves me in awe and this cover captures the things that make the ocean such a powerful place. The deep vastness of the cold dark ocean grips my mind with sensations of fear and dread. I think it's a human thing...Anyway, you put a child in there with some creepy monsters and you now have my complete and undivided attention!

So I start reading this book and I have the feelings of a child. For a second I remembered what it is was like when I was a child and yet behind all that nostalgia that these pictures brought me, I still had much trepidation for the young Howard.

Then the story really begins! And it's awesome!

I wouldn't call the predicament that Howard is in a total nightmare, I would describe the situation as being grim with the anxiousness of a nightmare. Yet I almost feel like young Howard has some control. If you add those things together you'll find it makes this story completely unpredictable. It's so imaginative and it's all perceived through the eyes of a child. So you must understand by this point that the possibilities are truly endless and the dangers are infinitely limitless. That realization had me excited and it was at this point precisely, that I stopped reading and started looking up Bruce and found the "Frozen Kingdom". Which I bought right away.

But this isn't about that book it's about this one!

Right, so back on track! So I continue reading and soon I'm not only captivated by the story but I'm head over heels in love with the art. This is the type of art that I really enjoy in books. Especially in books like this one, one that's meant for both kids and adults alike...Unique and precise.

The art is not only a bit dark, but at times it speaks more than the words on the page. This is a quality that most comics lack these days. A glance at the panel and you'll notice the environment, the darkness, and most importantly the feelings of the characters. It brings it all together like an expertly crafted pizza. The style and the attention to detail make me feel like I made a wise decision with my money.

It's really a beautiful book and when I let my daughter read it she also commented on the art 5 pages in. Her  words were " This is so cool!!" She was excited because she too could see the adventure in the art. The panels flowed nicely and like I said earlier the colors were deep and complex.

The story itself was great, obviously, I loved it. It was pure and in my opinion perfect for kids. The whole approach was that of a child. ( Wow Kyle..that was deep ) That's the only way I can describe the writing. The reader knows as much as Howard knows and Howard is a child. So we see things the way he sees it, the way a kid would see it. Including Howard's fears and his hopes. There were plenty of twists and turns to keep me flipping the pages and I remember wondering at one point how this was all going to play out in the end. All signs of a great story.

When I was done I decided that it was appropriate for my daughter and I bought her a copy on comixology. When she was done she also commented on how cool the story was and started to try and explain it to her younger brother and sister. She's 8 going on 9 this October.

So how about a final thought for the conclusion of this Pleasant Review?

Hey, check out the Jerry Springer of comics over here...

This was another home run by Bruce Brown and his team and I'm glad to not only say I read them, but that I own them. A perfect book for Adults who are into a non-gory adventure and children who are looking for an imaginative thrill ride. I see a very successful future ahead of Bruce and his team and wish them nothing but the best. I will surely keep my eyes peeled and purchase anything he comes out with. I think the world needs more stories like this. Especially ones that not only capture us adults, but our kids too. Our kids tend to live a stressful life at such a young age and it's unnecessary. These books help relieve that stress for them too. And even we can become kids again with the help of a book like this.

So until next time...SMILE!!!

(I HAVE NEVER AND WILL NEVER BE PAYED FOR A REVIEW. BECAUSE I'M COOL LIKE THAT.)

Tsk... Tsk... On The Hypocrisy Horse

I have an Oxford dictionary that defines Hypocrisy for me.

Here it is

"Hypocrisy-NOUN Falsely pretending to be virtuous; insincerity"

Now I'm no better than anyone else, and we can all be guilty of being a hypocrite at times. This cartoon I sketched captures a piece of that hypocrisy in the laws we've passed and continue to ignore. Now I'm not going to get all righteous on you, lol. I promise! So here is my cartoon sketch poking fun at the hypocritical laws and the people who enforce them.

I'm going to include a description and even quotes because of the shitty image quality. I promise after my move I'm going to outfit my office with a new scanner and a program to color and do it up nice for you. Hope you enjoy, even without all the necessary equipment needed to bring you the highest quality product.

I did this with some pencils and a ball point pen. hahaha #AMATEUR

Below we have a young person rocking a livestrong shirt. He's obviously been busted for possessing marijuana.

Coppa: Smoking marijuana....tsk! Do you realize how unhealthy that stuff is?!?!

Man realizing that this cop is A) Fat and out of shape B) His life is ruined for having marijuana on... He starts to think to himself : I should have just ran....

Then the Coppa's talkie speaks: Sarg! You coming out for beers later?

My Friends,

We live in a world where the danger posed from smoking marijuana is dangerous only because of the penalty that it carries. This is absurd. Here we have a young man who is not only healthy but capable of being a great human being even though he smokes. The Cop is also a good person. But I want his appearance to raise two questions...

1) Can over eating be more dangerous than smoking marijuana? The answer is Yes. No one has died ever from marijuana use. How many people die each day due to obesity and illness related to obesity? Again, I'm not knocking down anyone who's over weight. I'm just saying... if you can trust people to be responsible with cheeseburgers you can trust people to be responsible with marijuana.

2) I'm hoping you noticed the hypocrisy of the Coppa when the walkie talkie speaks.. Just because a person chooses marijuana over alcohol doesn't make them stupid or reckless or even a criminal! It can be used recreationaly just like alcohol. Except there's a huge difference. A man doesn't smoke a joint and go home and beat the tar out of his wife and kids and he certainly wont die from over smoking..It's a million times safer than alchohol and if marijuana was readily available some of our friends and family that we've lost to alcohol might still be alive.

That is all I wanted to say.

One love and Good Vibrations my Friends!!

The Heroes ( The Creators and The LCS )

We all have them, a personal hero, maybe a favorite athlete, a teacher who inspired you, maybe it's your mom-maybe it's your dad. Maybe, those aren't the heroes I'm talking about. O_o .... COMIC BOOK HEROES!

No, not the superheroes-- the Creators and the LCS!

That's who gets this blog post...The Creators and The Comic Shop Owners!

I've had the pleasure of reading some really great stuff the past couple weeks. -Smiles- Comics, I love em and I know you do too! We cannot live without them. They have been there for some of us since we were children. Through every cruel girlfriend or boyfriend, through all the criticisms, the highs,and the lows. Come to think of it, pretty much through just about everything our comics have been there when we needed them.

Sometimes we put them away for years or sometimes months...only to find them there waiting for us when we return. Glossy cover...detailed pages.... all ready to catch us and swoop us away to wherever the hell we want to go. A comic is a very magical and sacred object to us. Yeah, to some they might just be jumbled of words and pictures, but we know comics are so much more!

 I don't thank DC and or Marvel for these things...I don't thank them for providing me with hours of comic enjoyment...I thank the creators and the shop owners. The shop owners who till the soil and lay down strong roots in neighborhoods... Cultivating the fans which in this case are the water that feeds the tree. A tree that will eventually produce a hefty bounty of sweet comic produce <---That's the Creators. The LCS and Creators of comics deserve the royal treatment from us fans. They are the real heroes of our world. They are the superstars! In my eyes, when I get a RT from my favorite creator it might have well been from Tom Brady. Except Brahm Revel's RT is worth a shit load more tome than a RT from Tom Brady. I love football, but I love comics way more. This is how it should be. We should embrace our heroes and spread their good name so we can see more of what they can do.

But we need to be real with ourselves..we cant have it all for nothing. We cant promote our favorites and support Creator Owned books and expect to pay nearly nothing for them. Unfortunately money rules the world and it can dictate or control the people involved. We are all just trying to survive. And it's the LCS and The Creators that risk the most and unfortunately... the payoff isn't always there for them.

How much risk is there involved when a man or woman decides to stand up and say,"You know what...I'm going to pursue my dream because this is all I want to do." ? Answer= A ton! I bet such a decision comes with a ton of scrutiny for the would be creator or the would be shop owner. Example A: " Selling wha??? Comics??? For a living?" or Example B:" Your spending your time making a wha??? A comic book? I thought you grew out of that?" all very sad and mean responses that I bet happen all too often when the Creator or LCS decide to pursue their dream. The skepticism is not only real but it merits a tiny bit of truth. The odds are so heavily stacked against these heroic people... These people who are more than fans... The people who are the roots and fruit of the comic industry. I bet each person that dared to make their dream a reality can admit to receiving some pretty harsh criticisms... even from the closest relatives. It's time us fans acknowledge the risks and take more risks ourselves by buying more creator owned comics and by investing in the growth of this section of the comic industry.

Perspective! No one creates comics or opens up a comic shop to be super rich. Sure, some people may have that particular motive, and sure to some it can be the sole reason to embark on such an endeavor , but I can guarantee those few have already closed there doors or decided to give up. The Creators and or shop owners that do it out of love will always tell you it was never really about the money. . Just another reason why they are heroes! I can only hope that my children will have something that can inspire the same sort of courage and passion that these men and women possess.

I'm sure the ups and down are epic for the creator and Shop Owner...And yet they persevere...Just like our favorite super heroes on the pages of our beloved comics!


The Creators and Licensed Comic Shops are like our parents in this comic universe. We reap the benefits of all their sacrifice and hard work. Very rarely will these creators be recognized for the amount of talent that they pour into panel after panel...and better yet, never will the brick and mortar shop get the credit that it deserves as the rock of the industry. Oh how I dream of a world where shops begin to pop up left and right, all across the United States

It's time the fans get together and brainstorm ways to help the comic industry grow. Maybe somehow we can alleviate some of the burden and or risks associated with opening a comic shop or creating a comic.

Brainstorming and feedback are the tools to success!

So to close this I want to be the first one to share an idea. Proof that it doesn't matter how ridiculous or improbable the idea may be, all that matters is that we have our eyes open for new ways to help nourish the comic tree. Not just because times are tough...but because of principle! We love comics and the people who sacrifice so mush to bring them to us and create them for us should be taken care of by us. I'd like to see the money go directly to these heroes,opposed to just giving my money to the "Boss" who bathes in money.

So here is my idea and pitch

 Imagine if the payoff was there at the end of selling your own creator owned book while promoting the LCS.. Imagine an extra incentive to make a book that would not only provide a cash prize but a year long promotion of your name and work.

The creators need to have their names put out there so that recognition may come to it. They are fighting Goliath in that respect. So it led me to thinking some more..( don't worry I'll stop thinking soon before I hurt myself..) How do we bring in new and old blood alike into an LCS while promoting Creators?

I'm not naive enough to think that this question hasn't been asked or that my tiny brain could come up with the answer, I just know it's a huge question that needs answering. It needs ideas... So without further delay here is my idea for that very question.

Again these are just open thoughts

Yearly Comic Cup

• Every Comic fan pays a one time fee for the right to vote in this tournament.
• Any single creator or team of creators can compose a series
• Creators enter for free but give the LCS a deal on the books
• I think it'd be fair to charge a bit more for these books
• The fan then goes to the LCS buys the book and takes home a rating card that is dropped back off at their local LCS before a deadline
• This goes on for some time
• There is a preliminary tally to set up a tournament tree
• Then the last couple books in each series all released on the same day to face off, single elimination style
• Eventually it's the last two books..the winner gets a trophy, even more name recognition and a monetary prize

I completely understand that this may be unreasonable and a severely flawed idea..I don't care. It's just an idea. I think if something like this could be accomplished the industry would grow and flourish. The competitive nature of humans, the privilege to vote, and the excitement of a yearly tournament drawing down would be exciting. The creators don't have to make the books for the sole purpose of winning the tourney..it's just an extra incentive. Maybe it will keep the pencil in the hand of the creator who's thinking of replacing that pencil with a hammer.

Again just a thought..I love comics and want the world to love them too. So until next time my friends...SMILE!

A Pleasant Review! Clay County

 A Pleasant Review

Clay County By

Bruce Brown, Chip Christell, and Adam Mrozowski

Clay County! I liked so many things about this book that I almost have no clue where to start. I knew writing a Pleasant Review for this was going to be difficult but I didn't realize exactly how difficult it would be. It has really made me re-evaluate how I'm going to do reviews in the future. My main concern was that I wasn't going to be able to give this book the justice it deserved. A book that I highly recommend to anyone who's of age to read it.

 You all know I stay away from negative comments about this or that, but this book was so well done that I feel I must come out and admit that there was not one thing I did not like. Something that has happened only a few times! So in the future, unless I mention that there wasn't a single thing that I didn't like, it's safe to assume that there was something that I did not like. Not something strong enough to make me not like or recommend the book though, because as you know, if I don't like a book I wont review it. End of story. Life is just too damn short to be writing about things you don't like...or read about things other people don't like!

 So here we go!!

So there I was, looking over the cover and the first thing I say to myself is "I like how this guy did this".  Obviously the first thing I noticed was the huge ass UFO hovering above the trees. Then I noticed the stars ....then the truck and the highway sign reading "Clay County Next Exit"...then it's the beer cans on the road. lol At that point I really didn't know what type of story to expect behind this well crafted cover. But I was pumped at having the opportunity to find out.

I'm reading the first couple pages and the characters really came to life. The characters, their traits, and the dialogue sucked me in and would not let me go until I reached the back cover. I want to say everything about this book was remarkable and just leave it at that, but I'm trying to be exact for the sole purpose that this is supposed to be a review.

 The dialogue would have to be the tip of the spear for me. The conversations were not only entertaining but hysterically funny. If you can even imagine a takeover of planet earth by aliens, who are now occupying us for a resource, and imposing a form of tyranny over the people during this process, you will easily understand the gravity of the situation presented. An extremely heavy situation that you'll find made extremely light by these incredibly funny characters. These guys are not only funny in each character's own way, but fun to laugh at. They seem very real at times and will probably remind you of someone you know or maybe even yourself. These guys had me laughing out loud more than once and left a smile on my face in between. So as with any great story, it was the characters that took me away from here and brought me to Clay County. For which I am very grateful. A+++

This story I would describe as a sci-fi comedy. To take it another step further, I would say it is the funniest sci-fi comedy I've read to date! Which is crazy because, I'm going to be honest, I wasn't really expecting that after a glance at the cover. To be fair though, I could never have expected to know how funny this book was going to be. As I started reading, I started laughing. Really! I also kept having the same thought reoccur in the back of my mind every once in awhile.. This would make an awesome movie..To me that's really the highest praise I can give a book. A praise that states more than what was written. Meaning, I loved Clay County so much that the book, while being perfect ( Yes, I said perfect!), wasn't enough for me. I hope to experience the same story in another way and more than once! This book is fun, funny, entertaining, creative, witty, and a must read. I think anyone who reads Clay County will agree with me entirely

You know I always stay away from describing too much about the plot of a book because I think I could never do it justice that way. That's regardless of a book I liked or didn't like. I just don't believe in it and I will keep the oath I made to myself before I started doing reviews. I'm not going to summarize a story..No way! But for the first time I have this itch in my mind that wants to tell you all these hilarious moments and quotes.. to tell you about this or that...but if you enjoyed something as much as I did this book, you would be resigned to say what I'm about to say to you now..You are just going to have to see for yourself. 

But I will try and convince you that this is worthwhile in other ways..

If I gave stars as ratings this would surely get a 5 and even though I've read the book digitally, I feel like that's not enough for me. I want to and will own this book! I will read it probably 3 or 4 more times and the collector in me will probably buy two copies, just so I have an unread copy in 'new' condition and hopefully that copy will be signed one day. I have another little tidbit that may help explain just how much I enjoyed this book.. when I do get my hands on a printed version of Clay County, it's going on my top shelf next to my 9 other favorite graphic novels. Seriously!No joking! No exaggeration!

I would recommend Clay County to anyone who asks. I will probably even buy a couple this upcoming Christmas to give away as gifts... Why am I telling you this? Well, I'm hoping it shows not only how much I loved this book, but how confident I am that anyone who reads it will thoroughly enjoy it and be grateful for to having read it. It takes you away my friends...to Clay County!

These are high praises and rightfully so! This book deserves every single one of them.

 I'm also going to post my notes that I used to help me write this because I'm struggling to give Clay County the praise it deserves. Like I said in the beginning, this has been hard to write because I haven't done a review on a book I enjoyed this much. It takes a lot of effort to not keep repeating the same praises over and over, again and again. This is a book that needs to be read to completely understand the level of awesomeness that it contains.

After you've read this book please drop me a line and share your thoughts. I'm excited to see your reactions to this extremely funny book named Clay County! So HERE is the link to Clay County on Amazon..it's only ten bucks!

I'm never paid for writing these reviews, I do it strictly out of love for comics. Also, I have not and will never sign up for any kickback from amazon or any other site. Just so you know that I'm not sending you to a link for my own gain. Never will I be that guy!

So until next time my friends, Smile!

Here are the notes I promised

• Art was as fun as the story itself, the two meshed like peanut butter and jelly
• Characters had life to them!
• Reactions and dialogue force literal Laugh Out Louds
• Hilarious... I wonder if their will be a movie or animated series in the future?..I hope so
• Great gift for other comic lovers
• Very cinematic! The panels were spot on
• Story was flawless throughout- no loose ends
• Must own and must read
• Find more stories by these guys
• Really cool cover
• Flawless...if I gave ratings it'd be 5 freakin stars
• This book easily finds a place in my top ten graphic novels all time

A Pleasant Review! Stormchasers #4

Stormchasers #4 By Unstoppable Comics!

"Unstoppable Comics is providing a diversified cast in the comic books we publish to represent the various nationalities that make up the tapestry of the UnitedStates"  - Unstoppable Comics   
   

Its this sort of declaration that really makes me excited!
So without further delay here is my Pleasant Review of Unstoppable Comics Stormchasers #4!



I could tell with one look at the cover that I was in for a real treat. The Color, The Logo, The Action...It was all there.

As I started reading I was surprised and excited to see such a vast diversity of Superheroes, all with different attributes and ethnicity. Each character having their own unique reactions to situations and a prevailing sense that each character had to put a little something extra into the relationship to make it work. This was a real nice touch because of how authentic it is to real life. Some traits may rub others the wrong way and any real relationship takes work, even for superheroes.

I was also relieved that this wasn't just the cliche superhero team with the predictable "Hey, whatever you say, fearless leader!" response that - doesn't always happen- but does show up every once in awhile in other less thought out comics. This surely wasn't the case with Stormchasers. Each character in this comic is truly his/her own person and that itself can sometimes create conflicts within the ranks of this dynamic superhero team from all over the world.

Another super cool detail is that some characters have different lettering in their speech balloons. This was a great touch and and to me personally, it helped demonstrate exactly what Unstoppable is trying to do, which is create a true sense of diversity within the pages of their comic books. There is just about a character for everybody from every nationality under the sun. I was also grateful to see a more than usual amount of female characters in one comic book. On both sides! Villains and Superheroes! All in one comic! Just another way this comic stays true to what Unstoppable vows to do.

So now comes the question: With all these characters is this comic hard to follow? I can be completely honest when I say that after reading one issue that I did come into "class" a little late by not reading 1,2, and 3, first. But, that didn't make me feel left out of the story in anyway, and by the end of the issue I had a reasonable understanding of each character and their role. Not bad for having jumped in at issue 4!!!

The art was as professional as you'd expect from top publishers. The panels flowed nicely and you got the sense of urgency while going through the action scenes. All aspects of comic creating is important and it was all there. This comic had the sort of art that I love, and really vibrant coloring that is very appealing to the eye. What more could I ask for?!

The story itself, I felt, was very entertaining and with some pretty cool twists. The writer did a really good job. Everyone knows that I'm not about to reveal the plot of a comic but I can however tell you what I appreciated. The character's have a real and unique problem on their hands with a very nasty and quite despicable gang of villains to deal with. The action and beautiful colors in each panel only make the story better and better. So when you combine this stellar art with a well written plot, the dilemma is not only palpable but it leaves you with the sort of story that stays on your brain. The writer also did a great job of  leading the story into the next issue. Every comic attempts this, some hit and some miss... Unstoppable definitely hit! 

So I will be following Unstoppable and supporting them in anyway I can. Not just because I enjoyed this issue but because of what they are trying to do. Imagine a world where a person can find a hero or villain that not only resembles them, but a hero who shares the same blood and holds dear the same culture that they do. It really makes me smile just thinking about it. Equality and unity are important ideals , but they are useless unless diversity is embraced.

Bravo, Unstoppable! And Godspeed!

Check out the Unstoppable Comics website and keep an eye out at your local comic con to see if they'll be there. If you're lucky enough to attend the same Con as them then definitely stop by and say hello.

Until next time my dear friends, stay positive!!

-I was not paid in anyway for this review. Just sharing my opinion with my good friends!-

Pill's Aren't NORML.

"Big Pharma Cares! Talk to ur Dr. 2Day!"

A Pleasant Review! The Savage Sword of Conan The Barbarian

 Stan Lee presents : The Savage Sword of Conan The Barbarian   December, 1985 No.119 - By Marvel Group. EIC- Jim Shooter, Editor- Larry Hama, Managing Editor-Pat Redding, Ernie Chan - Cover, Danny Crespi- Art Production Coordinator, Barry Shapiro- Design, Soul & Inspiration - Robert E. Howard * 66 total pages B/W *

I'm a big fan of the old comics. I like to collect them and read them while  acknowledging the time in which the comic was born. This one was done in 1985, a year after Conan The Destroyer hit the theaters. This was definitely a massively published and extremely popular magazine at the time. At $1.50 cover price it's important to point out this was just about twice as much as a single comic in those days. But make no mistake, the fact that they don't call this a comic doesn't mean that's it's not a comic. I would describe it as a super comic with a unique format. If you ever come across one, the first thing you'll notice is that it's certainly bigger than a standard sized comic book, but still very much a comic book.

So how about a brief glance into the world of 1985!The historical significance is important to me because I want to know a little about the world people were escaping while reading these books and because it's just plain interesting. To put it the time period into perspective, and with some digging around, I found these really cool facts about 1985. A gallon of gasoline would run you $ 1.09, the average monthly rent was $375.00, and it would cost you $2.75 to see a new movie in the theatres. Sure, it all sounds incredibly easy and cheap now but please keep in mind the median income was around $27,000 a year. Still better than today's economy but still quite challenging. A search of the world news in 85' turned up some interesting stories as well. President Reagan was selling the rights to his autobiography, Aids was scaring the shit out of just about everybody, and the television was being used for one of the first times to bring awareness to the great poverty in the world, particularly in Ethiopia. Now.. here is one last fact to help put the time into perspective, in 1985 windows version 1.0 was released. Yep! The history buff inside of me gets excited just thinking about it! That technology changed the world in a way that is immeasurable to any other invention by man, in my own humble opinion. I can only marvel how far we've come and the amount of growth in the comic world since then.

Trust me, when I seen a couple of these lying around the local comic shop I felt I had discovered a great find and just had to pick them up. I started to think about how some of my favorite writers and artists may have read this series when they were a kid and how maybe it helped make their destiny a bit clearer to them. Not only that, but I was sure ads and other types of fan feedback were to be found within its pages. That to me is a true glimpse back in time! 

 I only payed a couple bucks per issue, maybe a dollar or so above the cover price, and have since looked online to purchase more. Surprisingly ( to me anyway), I have not only found them readily available but fairly inexpensive! I've seen Lots for sale containing four issues being sold for $12, and some individual issues running for around $5. I personally wouldn't pay over $5 for a single issue unless there was something really special about that particular book. I've contemplated the idea of collecting the entire series from start to finish ( over 250 books ) a couple of times but have never committed completely to the idea. So for now, if I see one I'll buy it and just check it off my list. Don't worry so much about getting an issue and feeling a bit left out. This was never really meant to be an ongoing series as it was to telling stories about that famous Cimmerian we call Conan.

The first thing I noticed when I opened the magazine was of course the art. As I did a quick flip through I quickly discovered that just about every single black and white page was extraordinary. The amount of detail that went into every single inch of each panel really made me feel like I bought not only a cool piece of comic history, but a book filled with magnificent art. I cant vouch for every issue as the production teams likely changed throughout the course of its publication, but I can say with a certainty that the team that put my issue together were the purest definition of the word professional.

Now if you haven't had the chance to read Robert E. Howard's The Complete Chronicles of Conan,  then that's ok. The issues I've read tell the stories really well. Bringing to life all the brutality and gore that only Conan can bring. Of course, the novels go into depth and history way more than the comics do, but we're not reading a novel, we are reading comics! The story is just as engaging and intense but without the lulls that some novels, especially the seriously long ones, tend to have between the lines. Another thing that I really enjoyed about the writing is that I felt it stayed true to The Conan that Howard created in his novel. From reactions to certain situations, to the brutality that one would acquire living in a land ravaged by death and war. Another great attribute is that throughout the story, you have a sense that each character is aware of the mighty Crom, this was a really fantastic touch. The other characters in the story, while not carrying the same weight,  are also scarred by the lands. It's this sort of attention to detail that makes finding these issues worth it!

Another cool, and really unexpected surprise, was that I found a short story of Kull The Conqueror at the end! Yes! After 56 pages of pure Conan awesomeness they still fed me dessert. This was really like a comic that just kept on giving and by the time I was done I was truly satisfied with both my purchase and the time I spent reading it. If I could go back in time I'd definitely be a lifetime subscriber!

So if you get a chance, or find a couple of these lying around your local comic shop, they are worth picking up and as long as they are under $5 dollars an issue, I'd consider it a real steal.

So until next time take care and smile!

- Of course I wasn't paid for this review!!! I will never be paid off to praise anything! -

Pleasant Reviews

One of the aspects of my blog that I'm really looking forward to is writing pleasant reviews. Almost more than anything else. Now, I'm sure someone is asking, " What makes this guy qualified to give a review?" and "Pleasant review?". And they are legit questions. So legit that the answers deserve their own post.

Most people who do reviews are cut throat honest, have some sort of professional background in the field, and are usually an individual with name recognition - one that the reader trusts. All very great qualities in a good critic. To most there might be a lot at stake on a review, for both the reader and creator. The critic is a lot like a financial advisor to the reader. The " Buy this book" or "Stay away from this book" can help steer the investor to a good investment while avoiding a bust. To the creator those terms mean the same thing but the effect of the words can either be a gust of wind towards that tropical island or a gust blowing you back out into the cold dark ocean.

So, I want to be crystal clear. I am not a critic and don't want to be. I do not have the qualifications or the intent to be critical of anyone. That's just how I roll.

What I do want to do however is share my opinions and recommend something if I like it. If I don't like a particular book, movie or cartoon, I wont mention it. I still think the reader will be able to decide by my review if he/she would be interested in the item I'm reviewing, all without the negative. I think the world needs more people who search for the good instead of the bad so it makes sense to me to be that change that I'm seeking in my own world.

 But on top of all that,  beyond all those words I've just thrown together, here is the objective truth that we all must try and remember; all opinions are subjective. Simple as that folks! So can there really be a science to writing a perfect review? Nahhh.

I am a pleasant guy and that makes me qualified to write a pleasant review on anything that I love. Please don't worry, my friends...This wont be an ass kissing fest.

So now when you see it you'll know what it means.


Good Vibrations, my friends.

If you're interested to see how I feel about something, suggest it!



AND SMILE!



Kyle's Pleasant Review : A review that searches for good things and completely ignores the bad.