Bond is Back, Space Cadet Adventures and I'm Batman!!!!

Hi all and welcome to 2010!!!! Well to get the year started right I've got a couple reviews of books and comics that I have recently read. So, here we go:

Double or Die: A James Bond Adventure by Charlie Higson - Wow, 13 year-old James Bond is back in this great book that packs one heck of a punch!!!!! This adventure starts with the kidnapping of one of Professor Fairburn, who teaches at Eton, where James goes to school. The kidnappers are two cutthroat brothers; one rather normal looking guy named Wolfgang, the other Ludwig, who looks like a skeleton with rotting teeth. They are employed by a mysterious man whose identity when revealed will shock the reader. It seems that this professor and another colleague where/are working on something that could quite literally change the world overnight. After Professor Fairburn's disappearance, one of James' friends at Eton receives a letter that gives clues as to what has happened to him, what he was working on, and where he is now located. The clock is ticking and James must figure out what is going on quickly or very bad things will happen. One thing I really liked was the reappearance of Red Kelly (if you have read the first Young Bond Book Silverfin, you will be familiar with this roguish friend of James). Bond is back and better than ever!!!!!!!

I hardly ever need an excuse to put something about Bond on the blog and since we just talked about "Double or Die," check out this alligator stunt from the Bond flick "Live and Let Die."




Pretty Cool, right???!!!!!!!


Batman The Brave and The Bold - The Fearsome Fangs Strike Again by J. Torries and Carlo Barberi - This is a really cool comic that the library is considering adding to it's collection in the near future. Right now, we just happen to have a few issues. In this series, Batman teams up with different superheroes each month. In this issue he teams up with one of my favorite superheroes, Green Arrow (Master of the Bow and Arrow). Talk about action-packed, the issue starts with a brief apperance by The Huntress with Batman helping her take on the supervillian, Sports Master, and his henchmen.

The Huntress -->

After The Huntress and Batman have wrapped up business with The Sports Master and Crew, Batman and Green Arrow find themselves investigating a robber of a very powerful weapon by a Supervillain Team known as The Fearsome Fangs (made up of The Fox, The Shark and The Vulture) and a band of Ninjas known as The Shadow Clan.


<-- The Fearsome Fangs

This features superheroes doing what they do best against nasty villains doing what they do best. Starts off smoking and never comes off the gas petal. So either give it a try at your local Comics Shop (in Charlotte I would recommend Heroes Aren't Hard To Find) or check out the couple of issues we have here at ImaginOn. Great Stuff!!!!!!!



Tom Corbett, Space Cadet: Service Call by Bill Spangler and John DeCosta - This is the first issue of a space-oriented series featuring Space Cadets Tom Corbett (Leader), Astro, and Roger serving aboard the spaceship Polaris. The story starts out with a lone Life-Pod zooming through space; it is carrying what appears to be the only survivor of the Space Station Nia (located near Jupiter). Soon afterward Tom and his fellow Cadets make a stop at a nearby Rescue Station for needed supplies and general inspection. What should be a boring inspection and pickup turns into a situation of life or death for the Cadets. How are these two events tied together and how do our Cadets fair in this exciting first issue? Well, there are two ways you can find out. You can either register for our January 21, 2010 Comics Camp here at ImaginOn (for 8 - 12 year olds at 704-416-4630) and possibly win an issue or check out your local Comic Book Store (again in Charlotte the place to go is Heroes Aren't Hard To Find). The artist for this book is one of our very own Comics Camp Instructors John DaCosta. So if you win an issue at the Comics Camp or buy an issue and bring it with you, he can sign it for you!!!! How cool is that?????? This is an excellent comic that I highly recommend!!!!!

Well until we meet again on that dusty trail Cowpokes, here's looking at ya,

Bill

Congrats, Young James Bond, Spider-Man and Catching Fire!!!

Hi everyone in the Land of Blog. I have returned from the reaches of outer space after a very enjoyable week off. It is also my happy and sad news to report we have lost our last single guy of the three of us who run this blog. Last week Jedi Master Zack tied the knot with a very lovely young lady. Here's looking at you kids:

The Zack Man and his lovely wife Laura!!!!

Congrats from Darth Bill and wishing you a very happy future together!!!!

And Congrats from the CARLMAN! We're both very happy for you and I join Bill in wishing the two of you a long and happy life!

Well enough sappy stuff, let's talk books and such!!!!. First I have to tell you I just finished the second book of "The Hunger Games" Trilogy by Suzanne Collins and literally flew through it!!!! I can't wait for the final installment and the waiting is going to kill me!!! If you have yet to read "The Hunger Games" check it out now and do so!!!! You will not be disappointed. To see my review of this book click HERE. So you, come over here and let's talk:

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins - Well without blowing too much for those who have yet to read the first book (see above), Katniss and Peeta from District 12 have won the 74th Hunger Games. That's the good news. The bad news is that President Snow, who runs the Capital and the defeated Districts, is not happy at all about the series of events that have lead to their co-victory (the first ever in the games). He is so unhappy that when their victory tour is about to start he visits Katniss and warns her to be on her best behavior as she has become a sort of symbol of rebellion for some of the Districts. Well even with the best intentions everything begins to fall apart and some of the Districts go into full rebellion mode. To hopefully solve this problem President Snow fixes the 75th Hunger Games so that previous winners must compete against one another. District 12 only has three living victors: Katniss, Peeta and Haymitch. At the very minimum, because she is the only living girl winner, Katniss is horrified to learn she must again go into the games to fight for her life (or perhaps some else's). I guarantee you will love this book, so if you are not on the waiting list for it get on it NOW!!!!!!!

Marvel Adventures Spider-Man, Issue 53 (All Ages) by Paul Tobin & Matteo Lolli - I didn't plan on doing a review of a Comic Book again this soon, but I just got finished reading this one and was very impressed. This story gives a recap of how Peter Parker became Spider-Man no thanks to some mind probing by the very mischievous Emmy Frost (X-Man with telepathic abilities). Her friend Chat (mutant with the ability to talk to animals) does not like Emma's intrusion into Peter's life but with Emmy what can you do. In the end a new soon to be important character (whose name is not given) is introduced into the Spider-Man mythos; along with Chat developing a crush on Peter and her asking Emmy if she can use her mental powers so she can become a student at the school. This was a very cool story showing a slice of life in Peter Parker's world. If your local library does not have it, you may want to think about picking it up at your local comic shop (We do carry this title at ImaginOn). Most Excellent indeed!!!!

Blood Fever by Charlie Higson - On my week off I finished this one and can't wait to pick up the next one!!!!! What's so cool about these Young Bond books is they are written in a very realistic manner. Nobody is safe and James is in just as much danger as anyone (although we know he can't die because he grows up to be the coolest spy ever, 007). In this book James is up against pirates and a secret society bent on world domination. It all starts out very innocently with James joining a school trip to the Italian island of Sardinia. From there things get strange and exciting. James learns about an ancient Roman secret society called the Millenaria that is up to no good and the kidnapping by pirates of a girl who is the sister of one his friends from school. How is all this connected or is it? That's what James has to figure out without being crushed by some serious bad guys. My favorite villain in this book is Zoltan the Magyar, leader of the pirates, he has such a strong personality and likability to him that even though he is clearly bad to the bone you still like him. I highly recommend this book and series and can't wait to read the next one (Double or Die).

Lastly I want to remind everyone that on September 24th at 6:30 the Comics Camp Program starts back at ImaginOn after breaking for the summer. Check it out:

Hello one and all!!! Comics Camp is back and the next event will be held at ImaginOn in the Round on 9/24/09 with registration starting on 9/10/09. Come join local artists & comic book creators John DaCosta and Eraklis Petmezas (Herc) as they present this awesome workshop that focuses on many different areas of Comics, Graphic Novels and working on creating your own. The only requirement is that you be between the ages of 8 to 12 years old. The program starts at 6:30 p.m. and last approximately 1 1/2 hours. John and Herc will answer any questions you have about how Comics and Graphic Novels are made such as writing, drawing, the process and what ever else you can think to ask!!! Also a continuing part of the program will be creating from your own ideas and art your own comic stories. These workshops have limited space so be ready to sign-up starting 9/10/09 to attend. The number to call and register is 704-416-463.

<--Artwork by Eraklis Petmezas (Herc)

Artwork by John DaCosta-->

Peace until next time all,

Bill

Bond, James Bond

Bond, James Bond....well not really it's Corder, Bill Corder Librarian!!!! Since I am reviewing a book about one of the most famous spies ever, here's a little theme music to get you in the mood!!!!!








Now if that doesn't get you in the mood to kick some bad guy butt nothing will!!!! So let's talk some Bond:



Silverfin: Young Bond Book 1 by Charlie Higson - I recently heard about the Young Bond Series so I decided to check it out and see if they were as good as I had been hearing. Well I just finished reading Book 1 of the Series and I have to say I'm hooked and look forward to reading the rest. In this first book we are introduced to Bond when he is a 12 year old student attending Eton Boarding School in England. He has few friends, although the ones he does have are good ones, and he is very much a loner. We find out that his parents died when he was 7 years old and he is being raised by his Aunt Charman. James is a new student at the school and he immediately runs afoul of an older student George Hellebore who is a bully and the son of Lord Hellebore, a wealthy and powerful arms dealer. Lord Hellebore comes to the school and sets up a tournament that involves shooting, running and swimming all in the hopes that his son George will win by any means necessary. Let's just say that James prevents George from winning and their relationship does not improve. Break comes to Eaton and James travels to Scotland to meet his Aunt Charman who is there taking care of his Uncle Max who is dying of cancer. Just when James thinks he is getting away from his troubles at school, he discovers that the Hellebores live in an old castle by Lock Silverfin; right in the very same area that his uncle lives. James meets new friends in Scotland in Red Kelly, who sneaks on a train in England with Jame's help, and Wilder Lawless as they try to figure out what has become of Red's brother who was last seen in this area. Needless to say all clues lead to Lock Silverfin and the Hellebores. This is a great book for both Bond and Non-Bond fans (if that is possible?). Two Thumbs Up!!!!!!

So until next time this is Bill, Darth Bill saying Peace.