Boys Rule Boys Read!: Of Summer, Comics, Good Times and Great Reads

Monday, June 30, 2008

Of Summer, Comics, Good Times and Great Reads

Hi guys,
Man, summer is here and things are loony here at the library (busy, busy, busy)!!!!! "This Sith, methinks, has misplaced his mind!!!!!!!!!" he says out loud to no one in particular. Take a look at these before summer and during summer pictures of me working at the library.

<-------Before

After----->

Okay, enough of this nonsense!!!!!!! As some of you may or may not know, we had this really coolprogram at the library called "Kids Love Comics! Workshop for Aspiring Artists & Young Fans." on June 19 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Basically, we had some very cool guys who work on comics and graphic novels do a how-to-create-your-own-comics program. They also talked about the books they work on, answered any type of questions, and talked about comics and graphic novels. Everyone who attended got a free comic in which most of these guys' work appeared. Also, after the program, the guys hung around to talk to attendees and sign comics and graphic novels. Man, I really had a blast and I know everyone who attended had a good time too!!!!!! The guys who basically did the program for free were:

John Gallagher front and center who works on such comics as NASCAR Heroes, Buzzboy & Roboy Red.

Rich Faber (middle) with John Gallagher and Jimmy Dash (NASCAR Heroes) who also works on Roboy Red, NASCAR Heroes and Buzzboy.

Josh Elder(right) with Rich and Jimmy Dash whose work includes Mail Order Ninja and The Batman Strikes.

Harold Buchholz (left) with Rich and John who works on Acredale Kolor Komics Kollection.

I am very sorry to report that, because I ran out of room for pictures on the digital camera, I was not able to get a picture of Scott Sava in action at the event. He really did an awesome job and I found him to be an extremely talented and nice guy. Some of the books he makes are The Dreamland Chronicles, Pet Robots and Ed's Terrestrials.

Jay Piscopo (middle) with Rich and Jimmy Dash who works on The Undersea Adventures of Capt'n Eli.

These guys really did an awesome job and so did everyone who attended. A terrific time was had by all!!!!! Check it out:

If you want to learn more about these guys' work, I suggest the following web sites:

http://www.kidslovecomics.com/

http://www.captneli.com/

Well, to complete my post, I'm going to give you the skinny on some really excellent graphic novels I have read recently:

Transformers Animated, Volume 1 adapted by Zachary Rau - I don't know about you guys, but I love the Transformers!!!!! Well, this is the first graphic novel in a series about them and how they came to be on planet Earth. The Autobots (the good guys) are Optimus Prime (mechanized form - Fire Truck), Bulkhead (mechanized form - S.W.A.T. Assault Cruiser), Ratchet (mechanized form - Ambulance), Bumblebee (mechanized form - Undercover Police Cruiser) and Prowl (mechanized form - Motorcycle). The Autobots' evil adversaries are the Decepticons. Some of the Decepticons are Megatron and Starscream (mechanized form - Jet Fighter). This first volume sets the stage for how the Autobots and Decepticons reach Earth and what they are fighting over the Allspark. This is a cool graphic novel with great characters and action-packed adventure.

Warriors: Warrior's Return, Volume 3 created by Erin Hunter, written by Dan Jolly and art by James Barry - This is the concluding volume in the story of Graystripe's search to find his clan with Millie accompanying him. As they continue their adventure and journey to find where the cat clans have relocated or even if they still exist, Graystripe grows angrier as he sees what the twolegs have done to his former home and the way he is treated by them in general. Greystripe despairs that they may have even destroyed all the cat clans. Millie keeps his hopes up and insists that they continue forward on their journey, no matter what, to find what has become of the clans. This graphic novel can be read alone but if you can get your hands on the first two volumes (The Lost Warrior and Warriors Refuge), which the library carries, I highly recommend reading the entire trilogy. This is very good stuff!!!!!

Marvel Adventures Avengers: The Dream Team, Volume 4 by Jeff Parker & Leonard Kirk - If you want to read about a team of superheroes that kicks butt; well, my friend, look no further!!!!! The Avengers are made up of Marvel Comic's biggest and best heroes. The Avenger are Storm, Iron Man, Giant-Girl, Spider-Man, The Hulk, Wolverine and Captian America. This graphic novel collects Marvel Adventures the Avengers #13 - 15 and Giant-Size Marvel Adventures the Avengers #1. In this volume we get to see the mighty Avengers team up with Thor, one of my favorite Marvel heroes, in Asgard. It seems trouble is brewing for Thor and his fellow Asgardians in the form of Malekith and his fellow dark elves who have joined with the Frost Giants to destroy Asgard and all the gods who reside there. Will the Avengers be able to turn the tide in this battle of epic preportions? And this is just one of the four stories in this volume. Read this graphic novel for guarenteed thrills and excitement.

Well guys, I think I said a mouthfull. So until next time, peace,

Bill

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