Graphic Novels, Comics and Cartoons Rule!!!!!!

Hi all, it is Darth Bill again on the scene. Before I talk about recent reads, I would like to share some other information on some really cool stuff. One is called Reading With Pictures. It's mission/purpose is as follows:



Reading With Pictures is a nonprofit organization that advocates the use of comics in the classroom to promote literacy and improve educational outcomes for all students. We work with academics to cultivate groundbreaking research into the proper role of comics in education. We collaborate with cartoonists to produce exceptional graphic novel content for scholastic use. Most importantly, we partner with educators to develop a system of best practices for integrating comics into their curriculum. At Reading With Pictures, we get comics into schools and get schools into comics.

To find out more and how you can get involved visit it's website at: http://www.readingwithpictures.org/Reading_With_Pictures/Home.html.

Something else I would like you cats out there to know about is the really cool new DC Cartoon Series "Batman: Brave and The Bold." Check it out:





The New Cartoon Series Batman: The Brave and The Bold

And now to talk about some cool recent reads!!!!!!!


Bone Handbook by Jeff Smith and Bob Cooper - I don't know about you guys, but I really miss the "Bone" series and can't wait until Mr. Smith does some future stories about the Bone Cousins, their friends and even their enemies. I did get a great Bone fix by reading this great handbook that covers everything "Bone." You get a ton of really great stuff such as: A look at Jeff Smith and cartooning; A new Bone Mini-Comic (that takes place during the original 9 GN story) called "The Kite;" Information on all the characters in the Bone universe; Recipes for Cheese and Bacon Quiche, a Blank Sandwich and a Peanut Butter and Pickle Sandwich; A history and synopsis of the entire Bone Series; An interview with Jeff Smith about writing and drawing the Bone Series; An interview with Steve Hamaker about the coloring of the Bone GN Series through Scholastic; A Cover Gallery; A Bone Glossary; And an additional 2 page Bone Cartoon at the end of the book called "Greed" starring Phoney Bone and Smiley Bone. If you are a Bone Fan you will love this handbook!!!!!





Iron Man: The Ultimate Guide to The Armored Super Hero by Matthew Manning - When this book says it is the ultimate guide, I am inclined to believe after reading. As in the "Bone Handbook," this book covers everything Iron Man such as: The birth of of the character into comics (created by the great Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Don Heck and Larry Lieber) in 1963; Detailed Iron Man Armor information; Different types of Armor worn by Iron Man since his inception; Detailed information on Tony Stark (the man behind the armor); Iron Man Friends and Foes; Team Histories for Iron Man; An exhaustive Iron Man Timeline; Iron Man through the decades starting in the 60s and going through to the present; Etc. If you are an Iron Man fan, this book is most definitely for you.




Until next time all you crazy cats,

Bill

Captain America and Bone

First off everybody Ms. Yingling wrote to us concerning the Young James Bond Series:
Hurricane Gold is coming out soon, and I think I saw a fifth book out in the UK. David Gilman has a new spy one coming out soon, too. Ice Claw, I think!

Thanks for the heads up Ms. Yingling. I am reading the second Young James Bond book as I write this (Blood Fever).

Well I'm really excited because ImaginOn just picked up a new Comic Book Series to carry and man is it fun!!!! I just got finishing reading the first issue we received, so I thought I would write about it:

Marvel Adventures Superheroes #12 "Featuring" Captain America by Scott Gray, Matted Lolli, Roger Langridge and Craig Rousseau - This issue features Captain America in both the past and present. In the first story we find Cap trying to find his way in the modern world after he has been rescued from being frozen in time sense the end of World War II (1945). His friend and government assigned liaison Rick Jones is trying to explain modern computers and the internet to him when a terrorist organization known as HYDRA strikes. Cap and Rick are sucked into HYDRA's Web Page and find themselves fighting for their lives in a virtual world that is to strange to describe. The second story takes place during World War II and stars Cap and his teenage sidekick Bucky. While on leave from the War, they run into a sadistic German killing machine right here in the good old U.S. of A. Two fun stories that I really enjoyed. If you can get ahold of this comic at a library or comic book store, I highly recommend it.




Another thing I'm excited about is another Bone book by Jeff Smith that has just been put out by Scholastic.


Rose by Jeff Smith and Charles Vess - I thought the series was over with Volume 9 Crown of Horns, but Jeff Smith wrote a prequel to the series with Charles Vess doing the art work entitled "Rose." Now if the name Rose does not sound familiar how about Gran'ma Ben (Rose is Gran'ma Ben's name). The story basically focuses on Rose and her sister Briar. They are both in this story training to master the ways of the Veni-Yan who are seers into the Dreaming. Rose proves to be more adept in learning their ways much to the displeasure of Briar. The Veni-Vang have felt through the Dreaming the coming of an emancipator of "The Lord of Locust" and fear that Rose or Briar may be this entity. Through the story we learn who the emancipator is and the events that lead up to the first Bone GN Out from Boneville. What is really special about this story is we get more insight into Gran'ma Ben's relationship with her sister Briar and we see the mistakes Gran'ma Ben makes that lead to her becoming the heroic figure we know from the Bone Series. We also get to see some familiar characters in The Red Dragon, a young Lucius and the Rat Creatures along with meeting some new ones in Cleo and Euclid (Rose's two hounds that she can talk to) and the evil River Dragon Balsaad. I highly recommend this book for both Bone fans and those who are not yet.

Well that's all I have for now all you hepcats so peace,

Bill

You've Got a Ticket to Read with Capt'n Jack Sparrow and Bone!!!!

Hello all in the land of Blog!!!! I know it's been a whole week sinse I posted, but it seems like The Carlman and some of you guys out there have been pretty busy posting stuff!!!! I'm really bummed that I missed Mrs. Hemphill's visit yesterday, but I was busy speaking to the local Sith Association of Charlotte (was not sick Carl, don't know why he is always telling people this kinda stuff). See our logo below:




Now I bet you're wondering were the title for this Blog Entry comes from? Well I'm a big Beatles fan from way back and they have this really cool tune "Ticket to Ride." Truth be told, I just wanted an excuse to get them on the blog. Check it out:




The Beatles Performing "Ticket to Ride"


And now for something completly different; Book Reviews by Darth Bill!!!!!


Pirates of The Caribbean, Legends of the Brethren Court: The Caribbean by Rob Kidd -
Well if you are a fan of Captain Jack Sparrow, you will love this new series. This series has some familiar characters serving our beloved Captain: Jack's First Mate Hector Barbossa (I love Barbossa almost as much as Jack), Billy Turner (future father of Will Turner) and Jean Magliore (from the previous and also excellent Jack Sparrow Series). Some new additions to the crew include Alex (a zombie) and Catastrophe Shane (possibly the worst pirate ever) among others. In this series Jack and his fellow Pirate Lords of the Brethren Court are not only battling each other, but a new deadly enemy known only as the Shadow Lord. The Shadow Lord wants to rid the seven seas of all pirates and rule them himself. His army consists of inanimate objects he brings to life that serve as his army. How can you kill or stop an enemy army that is not alive? In this introductory story of the series Jack is looking for the answer to this question along with trying to stay two steps ahead of the Spanish Pirate Lord Vilanueva who is also after him. This book is filled with action and lots of laughs. A really fun read!!!!!!!!



Bone Vol. 9: Crown of Horns by Jeff Smith - Well this is the Graphic Novel (GN) I had been waiting for for such a long time. The final volume of the "Bone" Series where all reader's lingering questions are answered and the final battles fought. I read this last volume with a mix of excitement amid sorrow. Excited because I had another installment to read; saddened because I knew this would be the last one (but hey, I could always reread the series again). In this final installment The Lord of the Locust is bringing the battle to everyone in the form of the Dragons' Queen, the very first of all dragons, Mim. Also Briar, Gran'ma Ben's sister and loyal servant of The Lord of the Locust, makes full-fledged war on all with the rat creatures, an evil army of men, Rock Jaw and Kingdok. Also find out how our heroes end up: Thorn, Gran'ma Ben, Fone Bone, Smiley Bone, Phoney Bone, The Red Dragon, Ted the Bug, Lucius and Bartleby. This book will make you laugh at times, cry or sniffle at some points and make your heart race at the thrilling adventure. This is a great GN that brings to a close a great series. Bone Rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Well all, that's all I gots this time. Until next time remember "No Matter Where You Go, There You Are!!!!!"

Peace,

Bill

All Together Now....

Ladies and Gentlemen - The Beatles!!!!!

"All Together Now" by The Beatles (my most favorite band ever!!!!!)

One, two, three, four can I have a little more?
Five, six, seven eight nine ten I love you.
A, B, C, D can I bring my friend to tea? E, F, G H I J I love you.
Bum bum bum, bum pa bum sail the ship,
bum pa bum chop the tree,
bum pa bum skip the rope,
Look at meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee,
All together now....

And now some book reviews:


Bone: Treasure Hunters, Volume 8 by Jeff Smith - Fresh into the PLCMC Library's Graphic Novel Collection is the latest instalment of the Bone Series. Well kids things are really getting interesting in the Bone Graphic Novel Series. In this instalment the Bone Cousins (Phoney, Smiley and Fone Bone), Gran'ma Ben, Thorn and Bartleby have gained entrance into the once great ruling city of Atheia. Inside and outside the city things are not well. Outside the city Ghost Circles are everywhere and Briar (Gran'ma Ben's Sister) is gathering both rat creatures and human warriors to serve the Lord of the Locust and bring an end to all. Inside the city things are not all that great either as our heroes must contend with Tarsil, The Captain of the Queen's Guard, who has turned traitor and now rules the city. So besides the dragons disappearing, enemies all around who would like nothing better than to find and crush the former royal linage of the kingdom (that would be Thorn and Gran'ma Ben) and all that support it, the nearing release the Lord of the Locust into the world and all other types of nastiness; everything is just great!!!!!! I tell ya, you need to get ahold of this latest volume as soon as possible and read it. This is really just awesome stuff!!!!!!!!!!



The Strongest Man in the World: Louis Cyr by Nicolas Debon - This Graphic Novel tells the true life story of Louis Cyr who could have actually been the strongest man in the world, ever! In his lifetime he performed such astounding events as lifting a huge draft horse on his back, lifting huge boulders that weighed well over 450 pounds, resisting the pull of four horses weighing 1,200 pound each, lifting a 553 pound weight with one finger and many more outstanding featsof strength. He even owned his own circus. At his final performance as a strong man he lifted on his back a platform with 18 men standing on it that weighed approximately 4,300 pounds. Both the writing and artwork are really outstanding. This is a fascinating biography about a very interesting man.







One last thing I would like to share with you guys is a very special Comics Camp we had in July with Dave McDonald creator/writer/artist of "The Secret Adventures of Hamster Sam: Attack of the Evil Boll Weevils!" (coming to the PLCMC Library System very soon) The program was lots of fun and all who attended had a great time. Check out some photos from the event:





Dave talking about making comics.

Dave showing everyone how to draw Hamster Sam.

One of the attendees of the event drawing his own character for the entire room on the spot!!!!!(nerves of steel I tell ya)

Some of the attendees hard at work creating their own comic masterpieces!!!!!

This program was a blast!!!

If you are interested in attending future Comic Camps keep on the lookout here and at the ImaginOn Web Site for when the next one will be. We should have another no later than September with the most awesome team of Herc and John returning (hope you guys are enjoying your summer and we miss seeing you)!!!!!

Whelp, until the next blog. Wagon Train Hoooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bill

Yes, There are Sith on Mars

Silly Carl, don't you know we Sith are everywhere, even on Mars. Well, guys, I have good news and bad news. I guess I' ll start with the bad news. ): I finished my PS2 game, Marvel Ultimate Alliance. I was really having a blast with this game and hated to see it come to an end. I especially enjoyed playing Wolverine!!!! If you have a chance, you have to visit Tech Central here at ImaginOn where we have a PS3 with this game.

Wolverine, he really is the best at what he does!!!!!!!! I think he would make an excellent Sith Lord, don't you?



As for the good news, if you guys don't know by now, I am a huge comics and graphic novel fan. I got to meet one of my heroes and talk to him when I drove him to a local Charlotte School to do a presentation during Novello. This person was the one, the only, the great Jeff Smith!!!!!!! This is the guy who both writes and draws the Bone Graphic Novel Series and DC has just released his Shazam Graphic Novel ( we have the Bone Series at the library and I hope we can acquire the Shazam Graphic Novel because it is so excellent). Also on Wordplay Saturday, (also a part of Novello) I got him to sign some of the graphic novels of his that I own. It was a great experience as he was a very cool and extremely nice guy.

Below are some pictures from Mr. Smith's school visit:

Jeff Smith talking about Bone. Mr. Smith answering questions.

Jeff Smith talking
about Bone.

Mr. Smith answering some questions.

Mr. Smith drawing
some Bone Characters.

The Finished Product!!!!!!

Well, until next time, take it easy guys,

Bill

Another One Gets a Book

Here we go, guys. We have another boy who has written a comment and claimed his free book. This is Thomas, who wrote to us way back on June 21. (Go to our Archives and click on "June" to see what he said) Way to go, Thomas!

Hey, here's a head's up for an event coming in October. I know that's a long way off, but it's a cool event--it's the WordPlay Saturday that the library puts on every year as part of its Novello Festival of Reading. WordPlay Saturday is really fun and there's a lot to do, but the real reason I'm telling you about it now is because there are going to be some terrific authors there. There will be Tony Abbot, who writes the Secrets of Droon, Jeff Smith, who does the Bone graphic novels, and Wendelin Van Draanen, famous for the Shredderman books. They (and several other authors and illustrators) will be at the Book Brunch on WordPlay Saturday at 9:30 am. You can meet them, ask them questions, and get books signed later on that day. To find out more about WordPlay Saturday, click here. To see a list of the authors and illustrators who will be there, click here.