Muna wa Wanjiru asked:


Comic books are a firm staple of many people. With these comics people can follow the exploits of their favorite series without having to worry about missing any action. There are many different comic book types that are well known but many of us like getting comic book action from comics like Marvel comic books.
The various charters that are depicted in these comics are ones that many of us have grown up with. Just as we are familiar with Superman we know the adventures of Spiderman, the Hulk, and the Scarlet Witch. We also recognize their many villains like the Green Goblin, Magneto, Mr. Sinister and many other villains and superheroes.

Marvel comics are very well known and today some of these action comics have been transformed into full length movies like that of the X-Men Movies, Spiderman and even the DareDevil. These movies and the crowds of people who come to see them just reaffirm that Marvel comic books have a way of reaching into various aspects of our lives.

Since many people both young and old love reading the various adventures of their favorite action characters sometimes these Marvel comic books take their cartoon characters and change them slightly to reflect the various moods and feelings that are currently around.

The next time that you decide to buy some of your comic book choices and you see some Marvel comic books you may want to see if you can find ones from a few years ago as well as the more current ones.

You will probably be surprised to see that not only does the artwork of the comic books look different but the action series itself may have some interesting storylines and other new characters making their appearance. These changes are mainly due to the fact that even Marvel comic books need to keep up with the times.

For this reason you will see that these different comic books are constantly looking different but they generally try to follow the original story lines. Without seeing the various exploits of Marvel super heroes and heroines like the Scarlet Witch, Jean Grey from the X-Men and Spider Man you will probably feel let down.

As a result all of the Marvel Comic books feature their well known characters in the original storyline and sometimes they are in adventures in different series. This way you get double the pleasure. The next time that you are looking to buy some Marvel comic books you may want to choose the various old and new versions of these comic books. You will enjoy all of the action that is revealed before your eyes.



DANIAL

Groshan Fabiola asked:


The CW’s Smallville may be called an adaptation of the Superman comics, but this time, it’s the long-running comic that’s going to look back at Smallville for some bits of inspiration. March 12’s Superman issue 674 will be featuring Smallville’s very own aspiring writer, Chloe Sullivan (Allison Mack) as she enters the comic book realm. This would be the first time an original character from the CW show has made its way into the pages of the Superman comic book.

Comic book writer Kurt Busiek revealed to Newsarama that the inspiration for this transition came from the fact that another famous character, Jimmy Olsen, was also adapted from another form of media, The Adventures of Superman radio show in 1940. He said that there was an initial question on how to bring Chloe into the picture, but he everything eventually fell into place, thus creating a brilliant idea, which he says “would give us several elements to the cast structure that have been missing for years, but in a new and different way.”

However, fans should not expect a complete Allison Mack replica, as the character has to be drawn to look like Chloe, but not too much like Mack due to issues with likeness rights. In fact, the Smallville Chloe and the Superman comic book Chloe do have a lot of differences.
For one, Chloe won’t be all grown up on the comic books like Clark and Lois. In fact, she will be retaining her age and status as an aspiring journalist.

“The problem we’d have faced if we brought her in with the same background as the TV show is that she’d fill two basic roles — the Girl from Back Home and the Reporter — and those roles are both pretty solidly filled in the adult Superman cast, by Lana and Lois,” Busiek explained. “So she’s got to have a different spin, one that lets her occupy a different role from either of them. She’s the younger sister of someone Clark went to school with, not a classmate of Clark ’s herself. As a result, she’s the new intern at the Daily Planet, fresh out of journalism school and itching to make a name for herself. That’ll make her clearly different from Lois and Lana, and at the same time more familiar to watchers of the show.”

Moreover, the Superman comic book version of Chloe won’t have any powers and will know about Clark ’s secret. Chloe will be introduced in issue 674, but will figure prominently in the next issue, as Busiek promises for another exciting saga in the life of Superman.

For more resources about Smallville or for the full story of Smallville: Chloe Sullivan Comes To Comic Books please review http://www.buddytv.com



BOBBIE

JeepnDave asked:


When you think of the movies of today what is one area of source material that you would say is dominating themes of Hollywood movies lately? I will give you a minute to think about some of the bigger block buster movies of the last year. If you thought about comic books and graphic novels than you know what I am talking about. Seems like every time you do a little search of what the latest rumors are about movies that Hollywood studios are looking to make. More often than not the original source material for the idea behind that movie is a comic book or a graphic novel.
Lately it feels like the people in Hollywood land have run out of original ideas and there is some sort of comic book element or graphic novel story line weaved into the movie. Don’t get me wrong here I loved the recent crop of movies that we have seen lately. Batman, Iron Man, Incredible Hulk and now the Watchmen have all been great films to watch and for the most part have given big props and stayed closer to the original source materials then in movies past. All I will say about that is the Fantastic Four movies, there was so much potential there and it all just went so terribly wrong.

Oh well they can’t all be winners though enough about that. On to more positive comic books in the movie news. The latest rumors on the new Thor Movie that is being directed by Kenneth Branagh is that he hay have the right actor to step into the role of Thor. Word has it that Alexander Skarsgard who is best known right now for his work on the HBO shows Generation Kill and True Blood is a leading candidate. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that they get this movie done right. Like it or not the Hollywood studios seem to be enamored with comic books and graphic novels right now.



PRESTON

Christina B asked:


I am aware of “Because I know that you don’t read books” and I have “Fresh for the ‘01″ but are there any more? What is the order of the books?

BILLIE

Adam Jaylin asked:


Comics are the books in which the story is presented with the help of cartoons and graphical illustrations alongwith written dialogues and comments. As the name itself suggest they have element of humour and pun in them. Comic Books are extremely catchy and attractive as they present a certain idea or story with the help of fancy illustrations and drawings. Cartoons have a unique preposition and they deal with the various sensitive subjects at times in a light and hilarious manner.

Many fictional characters have become excessively popular amongst the children and the teenagers. The super heroes like He-man, Super Man, Spider Man etc have evolved over the years in movies and 3D games, however they first appeared in the various comic series. It is a wrong notion that all the comics are humorous. There are a lot of books that are based on serious subjects and are also packed with action and drama. They are a favourite pass time for kids and youngsters. The craze for these books is quite high amongst the ardent readers. People are often having addiction for their favourite comic series.

Generally, the comic series have interesting characters and exciting plots. The adventures and fun of these characters is showcased in the books with the help of wonderful iteration and illustrations. The fun filled books cater with different subjects and situation. There are various characters that entice the readers from different age groups. While children read comics like TinTin, teenagers love to read the interesting stories of Archie. There are numerous comic books that have great stories.

Earlier the comic books were simply collection of comic strips that are funny and hilarious. Later on, comics that focussed on the social issues and other sensitive topics were also created. These books are completely entertaining and rejuvenating.There are several very famous comic series that are highly popular in the UK. “The Dandy” and “The 2000 AD and The Eagle” are among the all time favourite comics. There are a number of other comics that have gained great popularity amongst the young ones in the Europe. Asterix and Tintin have grown to become the best companions of the children in the free time.



SAMMIE

crystaled126 asked:


I have some comic books that I would like to sell, but I don’t know how much they are worth. Can anyone here tell me how to determine their value?

NEIL

Vince Platania, Jr. asked:


Everyone at one time or another had those old comic books lying around. Either from childhood, or they belonged to your parents or even grandparents. Or perhaps they were given to you from someone close who wanted to get rid of theirs. Most of the time they’re not worth much, just nice to have around for nostalgia’s sake. Other times you can find a real gem that you could keep and hold dear, or sell that puppy on Ebay or to a local retailer.

Regardless of where they came from or what one intends to do with them, those old comic books bring back a lot of memories and can be hard to let go of. But sometimes it’s necessary to do just that, either to lessen the clutter in your home, to make some quick cash, or to make room for more new ones! It’s still hard to let go of all those memories and cool stories you enjoyed so many years ago, but it can be worth it.

How do you know if they’re worth anything though? Well, if you’re not a regular comic reader, it’s a common misconception that they’re all worth at least as much as their cover price, and if they’re old they must be worth more. Sadly, that is almost never the case. Like anything else, comics depreciate with age, and with every tiny little crease they may have. They also lose value if the characters represented are no longer popular, or if the comics aren’t old enough. In fact, anything 1970s and up is probably not going to be worth a lot unless it’s a hot storyline, by a top creator, or features a first appearance by a very popular character.

One way you can find out if your old comic books are worth anything is to have them graded by the Certified Guaranty Company (CGC) which grades comics and places them in a plastic protective covering to further preserve them. They also give a seal and a document of authenticity and of course a rating. Graded comics generally sell for considerably larger amounts than the same comic in mint condition that is not graded. But grading comes at a price. For each comic you grade it cost you anywhere from $20 to $80 depending. While it will sell for more, it may still be hard to find a buyer, and you’re cutting your profit by the cost of the grading.

Ebay is a great way of getting rid of old comic books as well. Everyone uses Ebay these days, and you can set reserve prices, or open it all the way up. You can sell single issues or collections. And you can describe your items in intricate detail for the potential buyers. Tons of comics are sold on Ebay every day.

You could also just give them away to Salvation Army, the local library, or some kid down the street if you wish. They’re your comics, so do what you want with them. If you want to keep your old comic books around, but you want to protect them, go purchase some bags and boards from your local or favorite online comic shop and throw them in a box for storage. It’s your call.



RICHARD

ramonmendoza@myspace.com asked:


First,in the current spider-girl comic, whats the deal with the guy dressing as spider-man but looks like dr. strange? Second, in the current ultimate x-men, how is charles x able to walk? Last, in the current kyle ryner green lantern book tittled ION, whats the story behind that?

SANDY

Virgil The Stroyteller asked:


Early female comic book characters were limited to supporting roles or used as damsels in distress. They were the Lois Lanes and Lana Langs; characters that mattered to a certain extent, but not as much as the male leads. But since comics were primarily marketed to the male population, this was acceptable and expected.

 

With the role of women becoming more prominent in society in later years, though, more and more female comic book characters took on larger roles, like Wonder Woman and Hawkgirl. These women were not simply supporting characters, but lead characters who took a backseat to no one as they trail blazed the way for the future of female comic book characters.

 

In modern times, female comic book characters are as diverse and plentiful as their male counterparts. Whether in the superhero genre or various other genres, more and more women characters are seen every day. This is especially the case in Manga, the Japanese comic book form, and Anime, it’s television equal. The bulk of these stories are primarily targeted towards a female audience and thus feature lead female comic book characters like Cardcaptor Sakura.

 

Traditionally, superhero comics with female leads have been hard sells for whatever reason. Many heroines have had their own series only to be canceled after only a few issues. There are a few exceptions, though, like Birds of Prey, a DC Comics book that features a team of female comic book characters fighting crime, which has lasted well over 100 issues. And Marvel Comics’ Spider-Girl, featuring Spider-Man’s daughter, May Parker, which was saved from cancellation three times thanks to fan support.

 

In the early 2000s, Crossgen Comics also created several books with strong female leads, like Sojourn, Meridian and Crux, that forced other companies to take another look at their own female comic book characters. Today, Ms. Marvel and Catwoman are both doing well with their own titles, and Image’s Bomb Queen has had several mini-series and continues to carry a strong fan base. And when mentioned female comic book characters, one can’t forget Aspen Comics’ Aspen Matthews and her book Fathom, which became popular in the 90s and still has a strong following even though it’s not currently producing many issues.

 

The rise of strong female comic book characters, especially in superhero comics, is obviously intended to extend the audience beyond the typical target market, giving female readers something to relate to as well. And with female characters stepping up even in male dominated team books, like Emma Frost and Storm in the X-Men books, should comic companies continue to cater to this growing audience it should reach its goal. And more readers for comics is always a good thing for the medium.

 



MARCELINO

Vince Platania, Jr. asked:


Created by Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan in 1973, the first Blade comic book appearance as a supporting character in The Tomb of Dracula #10 by Marvel Comics.  Over the years, Blade appeared in back-up stories and made guest appearances, but it wasn’t until the mid 90s when the first Blade comic book came out.  From there, Blade gained popularity and eventually branched out into other forms of media.

In 1998, the first Blade comic book adaptation to the big screen was released.  Starring Wesley Snipes as the Daywalker, and Kris Kristofferson as Whistler, the film centered around Blade wanting to avenge the death of his mother by vampires.  Meanwhile, the pure blood vampires have gone to war with those that have been turned from humans.  As the film progresses Blade learns that his mother has been turned, and that it was the head vampire, Frost, that bit her while she was pregnant, which is why Blade has the symptoms of vampires, but none of the weaknesses.  The film was loosely based on the Blade comic book stories, though chiefly the latter ones, and is sometimes thought of as the film that started the comic movie revolution as it predated the first Spider-Man film.

Blade II, the sequel to the first film, also loosely based on the Blade comic book, came out in 2002 following the success of other comic related films like Spider-Man and X-Men.  In this film there is a new breed of vampires called Reapers that feeds on both humans and vampires thanks to an irresistible and enhanced bloodlust.  Those that survive the attacks of the Reapers become Reapers themselves.  To stop the Reapers, Blade is forced to team up with the regular vampires, the Bloodpack of the Shadow Council as neither alone could defeat them.  Eventually, of course, the Bloodpack betray him and he has to defeat them all on his own.  Luckily he finally learns that ultraviolet light kills the Reapers.  This particular Blade comic book film is the most popular of the three and did the best at the box office of the three as well.

The third Blade comic book film was Blade: Trinity, and was released in 2004.  The vampires concoct a plan to have Blade blamed for killing humans, and they are successful at doing so.  Now on the run from the FBI, Blade must unite with the Nightstalkers, a group of human vampire hunters led by Whistler’s daughter, and they go on the hunt for the original vampire Drake, aka Dracula.

The future of the Blade comic book films is uncertain now after a lawsuit filed by Snipes, and now that Snipes is serving a prison term for federal income tax crimes.

In other media, two video games based on the first two Blade comic book films were released for the Playstation and XBox platforms.  And a short-lived television series based on the Blade comic book movies was shown on Spike in 2006.



MILTON