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

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

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

Krystle Green asked:


Michelle Obama. A wife, mother, sister, friend, First Lady, and last but not least a superhero. First Lady Michelle Obama is the newest superhero, or should we say superwoman, in a new series of comic books called the Female Force series. President of Bluewater Productions, Darren Davis, came up with the idea. The comic book series features strong, influential, political women that have helped change the world in a positive manner. Other superhero women featured in the series are Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, Senator Hillary Clinton, Princess Diana, and Caroline Kennedy; just to name a few.

First Lady Michelle Obama’s twenty-five page comic features her life story. The story starts with her life in Chicago and living on the south side, it also describes her college career at Princeton, and goes on to describe her life during the campaign trail. There are aspects of Michelle Obama’s life that most of the public does not know about, but will be revealed in the comic book. For example, there is a link between Barney the Dinosaur and the First Lady.

Senator Hillary Clinton’s comic was a thirty-two page issue. It featured her story as a feminist as well as working towards her nomination for president. Neal Bailey wrote this issue and said that she is an underrated historical figure of our time. He was quoted saying this on the Bluewater Production’s website. Alaska Governor Sarah Palin’s comic is also a thirty two page issue. It highlights a biography of her life starting from the time she was the president of the Parent Teacher Association. It also tells about her nomination as John McCain’s running mate for their bid as president and vice presidential candidates. Her comic was written with two potential endings; one with her one and the second with her loss for entering the White House.

The comic books have certainly become a hit and have sold out of the first and second printed copies. A third printing of Senator Hillary Clinton and Governor Sarah Palin’s copies are planned so that interested parties can purchase and read about the women’s stories. Not only are these comic books entertaining, they are educational and controversial. The new series Female Force teaches the readers about independent women’s lives, and can also inspire a new generation to become an iconic role model. Girls and women that have helped shape modern history can be displayed in through a tasteful comic book series that represents them in a positive light.

 



TRACY

Krystle Green asked:


The first Saturday in May is the official day for comic books. What is so great about this day is that comic books are given away for free. For the past seven years, participating stores have been giving out free comics; but only on this one Saturday a year. The purpose behind this day is to promote comics to kids. To keep the industry alive, we need the newest generations getting hooked on comics. Kids as young as two and three years old become interested in comics, even though they can’t read, because they are familiar with the action hero figures. More than likely, most kids have a superman or batman action figure and they can relate to the comics from looking at the pictures.

The comics given out are special issues. They are printed especially for Free Comic Book Day. They are printed differently than normal comics, and they don’t have a barcode on them. Also, most of the comic books handed out have Free Comic Book Day printed somewhere on the cover. At one store participating in the event, they have more than ten different comics to choose from that will be given out for free. This is made possible because each major comic publisher produces a free edition comic. For a comic book enthusiast, this once a year even is like Christmas for them. As many as twelve million comic books will be given out on Saturday.

William Shatner, one of the most memorable Star Trek actors, is taking part in the event. He has plans to announce the release of his own comic book series. He will be doing a comic book signing at a store in Los Angeles where they will be giving out free comics. William Shatner partnered with Bluewater Productions to create a 32 page comic to be given away for free in support of Free Comic Book Day. His series of science fiction comics is called Tek War, and the free comic given out is a prologue to the issue. Hugh Jackman, leading actor in the X-men series, is also promoting Free Comic Book Day. He is starring in the new release X-Men Origins: Wolverine. He believes that comics have the power to get kids to read. They are playing a large part in fighting illiteracy in our country.

Without comic book retailers, this world wide event wouldn’t be possible. They pay anywhere from 12 to 50 cents for each free edition comic book, and give them out to free for anyone who walks through their store.



TONY

MIKE SELVON asked:


Comic book collecting was once the realm of children who only cared about comic book prices as buyers. They weren’t selling or trying to get the best deal. Comic book prices affected whether they could get comic books that week, and how many they could get.

Comic book prices were printed on the items they wanted and were therefore static. If they wanted a 25-cent cartoon book, they had to come up with a quarter with which to buy it.

Back then, there were no cartoon book collection supplies or cartoon book collecting bloggers. Collectors were pretty much on their own. They made their choices according to what they liked.

Then they grew up. Comic book prices went up. But they also discovered that many people were getting rid of their old collections and that they were able to buy books that they had always wanted.

Savvy collectors who were getting rid of their books reasoned that people would be willing to pay good money for books they really wanted. A new kind of cartoon book market was born.

As this market evolves and becomes more complicated, collectors have begun to trade more than cartoon books; they have begun trading information.

Whole businesses have grown up around selling cartoon book collection supplies and cartoon book collecting bloggers are out there filling the Internet with all kinds of information.

There is an infinite number of variables that cause comic book prices to go up or down. Of course, it can all be filed under the law of supply and demand, but so many things affect demand that it takes an expert just to make an educated guess. And cartoon book collecting bloggers don’t have to have any special credentials to dispense information.

All they have to be is convincing. So if you are searching for the best way to handle collecting, buying and selling, or the best cartoon book collection supplies to buy, it’s best to look at a lot of sources, to cross reference, and to look very skeptically at what people say.

If you are a beginning collector, decide on the comic book collection supplies that you will need to start your collection. If you plan on buying and selling comic books, for instance, keep a system of the ones you buy and sell.

Also, buy a cartoon book price guide so you can keep up with the latest trends in the industry. With enough research, you will be able to tell experts from beginners in the cartoon book field.

Comic book collecting was once a simple and fun pastime that was meant for kids. In the last few decades, though, it has become a way to make money because of their increasing value over the years.

Comic book prices have increased as a result of their potential. But cartoon book collecting can still be fun. If had a collection as a kid, you can find the comic book prices on the market and sell them if you’d like.

Or, if you’d rather, just learn more about the industry so you know what kind of precious commodities you have in your possession. With the wide selection of cartoon book collection supplies and comic book collection bloggers, there is an entirely new aspect to the entire industry.



STACY

Vince Platania, Jr. asked:


It’s no secret that Marvel comic books are the best selling comic books in the American market. Marvel holds the highest percentage of the market share as it has for many years, just above main rival, DC Comics. But does this really mean that Marvel comic books are the standard for the industry? Are they the best written and best illustrated? Are they diverse and varied enough? Do they really captivate readers that much, or is it mainly due to diehard fans of their characters or creators buying up books just for that reason alone?

Of course, that’s not something that can be easily discerned, if it even can at all. Things like this are largely subjective, and no study in the world could possibly gauge the reasons behind all the buyers of Marvel comic books purchasing the books. But one can look at the market, and look at the books being produced by Marvel and by other companies and develop their own opinion.

Naturally, though, opinions are completely polarized between fans of Marvel comic books and fans of DC comic books, each despising the other. There are plenty of fans that enjoy books from both companies, mind you, but generally even these fans have their loyalty to one company or the other. Then there are those fans who **** superhero comics altogether and choose to make all their purchases in the indy market. But marginally, this is a small group compared to those who are fans of the Big Two. Even the market shares of the two largest indy companies, Image Comics and Dark Horse Comics, while competitive, are still far below the massive shares Marvel and DC claim.

But listening to the complaints of fans, at least on the internet, and sometimes in the local comic shops, there are many dissatisfied customers with many of the books from both companies. But since the topic is Marvel comic books, the major crossover events of the past few years bare mentioning, as they have gained equal amounts of acclaim and disdain by Marvel fans and non-fans alike.

Many are sick and tired of the massive crossover storylines that, because of the problems of the 90s, feel like they are merely thinly veiled marketing ploys to force readers into buying more books than they normally would to get the full story. Others enjoy their superhero comic universe being united and the effects of world events materializing throughout all the Marvel comic books. But most agree, outside of these crossovers, and of course the main books (the Spider-Man books, X-Men books and Avengers books) not much else is that great right now, nor has it been for sometime. There are exceptions, like Runaways and Thunderbolts, but by and large it’s substandard fare. Even the major books, like Uncanny X-Men and Amazing Spider-Man, weren’t that great a couple of years ago by the standards and opinions of many.

So why do Marvel comic books outsell all others and remain the dominant brand in American comics? We may never know for sure, but one can guess that it’s a combination of all the reasons mentioned above.

Not much different than African Americans felt not too long ago, or even how Native Americans felt when their land was stolen from them. Wolverine and The X-Men suffered the same type of bigotry, abuse and segregation from the get go. But despite their tribulation, they still helped anyone they could. Some, like Wolverine, became bitter for a time. But by and large, they lived their lives the best way they could, proving humans wrong in the process.

Over the years, the X-Men became more accepted by society for a time, but eventually it would all come crumbling down. A radical church group would crucify some of their ranks, then the majority of the mutant population suddenly became powerless and normal. This reignited the hatred for mutants, because most had just come to accept their existence, not like it. With the possibility of “no more mutants” a reality, closet hatred came to the forefront again.

Still, the X-Men maintained their cool, for the most part, and proved to be better people than those spreading their messages of **** with words and weapons.

The X-Men are a symbol in comics, and in society as a whole. They show how hatred and ignorance can be overcome, and how being different can be a great attribute and not a flaw that we need to expel or feel sorry about. There is strength and power in being unique that those who allow fear and **** to run their lives will never understand. Maybe they should ***** open an issue of X-Men from time to time. Maybe seeing their ignorance and stupidity displayed in full color will somehow enlighten them. Maybe, just maybe, by reading the stories of how these unique and wonderful beings are harassed and persecuted on a nearly daily basis will make them think twice about their own actions. One could only dream.



ABRAHAM

Krystle Green asked:


An internationally known comic book convention is held in San Diego, CA and is known as Comic Con or as Comic Con International: San Diego. It is a four day convention that has been going on since the 1970s when Shel Dorf founded it. There are two other conventions held annually by the same organization but are in San Francisco, WonderCon and the Alternative Press Expo.

The conventions are held to showcase comic books. In addition, the convention also features science fiction, fantasy, television, and film. Because the convention has gained momentum over the years, the convention has broadened its feature topics. At the convention you will also learn about fantasy novels, anime, horror, collectible card games, webcomics, video games, and manga. On average at the San Diego Comic Con there are 125,000 attendees. If you are a part of these industries, you can have the chance to win the Inkpot Award.

At the convention you will participate, see, and hear different panels, workshops, and seminars. All of which are held by comic book professionals. Comic con is held in a large venue because they need a lot of floor space for everything that is offered at the convention. There are a lot of exhibits to see about comic books, TV networks, and media production companies. Comic book collectors show off their prized possession comic books, and merchants are there to sell them as well. After buying a comic book, or bringing your own, you can get them signed. Comic Con has what they call Artists’ Alley set up. Different comic artists and writers are lined up and willing to autograph their comic books.

This summer the Comic Con convention is being held July 23-26. There is a preview night that will take place on July 22 at the San Diego Convention Center. However, if you don’t have your tickets already, you won’t be able to go. The convention has already sold out. The first time the convention sold out was last year, 2008. The convention has come a long way since its debut 40 years ago. The first convention was held at the U.S. Grant Hotel, in San Diego, and was only a one day event. The first convention was held as a test to see if people would be interest in later conventions. They used the event to raise funds for San Diego Comic Con. The first show was a hit and set the ground work for the next 40 years.



LOWELL

MIKE SELVON asked:


Many of us collected comic books as kids. As adults, we think back to a simpler time when our biggest worry was the release of the latest edition of our favorite comic. At the time, we collected comics simply because we loved them.

As we grew up, however, our interests changed. We became adults and too grown up for comic books. We might still have a stack of old comics in the attic, though, or we may have sold them at a yard sale years ago.

Some adults, though, remained proud of their comic book collections, and many turned that collecting instinct to profit, buying, and selling comic books to supplement their income.

If you are new to collecting for value, you may have some questions and concerns. This article will address the questions most commonly asked by new comic book collectors.

How do I grade my comic books?

You have two choices when it comes time to grade a comic book. You may send the comic book to the Comics Guaranty Company for grading, or you can grade the comic yourself.

The CGC will charge a fee for grading, and then seal your comic in a plastic sleeve. A CGC rating is the only purely objective means of grading and guarantees to a potential buyer that your comic does have a certain official rating.

However, since the CGC grading costs money, it is not worthwhile to have every comic graded that way. You can learn to grade comic books yourself and for lower dollar value comic books, this is the way to go. Remember to be objective when grading your own comics, as you do not want to cheat a buyer inadvertently.

For comic books that are in less than perfect condition, you will need to look carefully at each bit of damage or wear to determine which grade the comic book should receive. Online guides or comic book collectors’ magazines often have reference sheets to tell you the specifics of each grade.

It may be best to work with a more experienced collector initially, until you are more familiar with how the grading system works. He or she can show you examples of various comic grades.

How can I properly store my comic books to decrease wear and tear?

First, individually bag each comic book in Mylar. These storage bags are available from any good comic book store. You will also want to use comic book boards to prevent bending or creasing.

Purchase these individually or in bulk at your comic book store. Remember to change out your boards every few years to prevent the breakdown of the board, which can have a negative impact on your comic. Finally, you will need storage boxes.

Comic book storage boxes are available in long or short size. Long boxes are better value for the money, but if your comics must be stored in tight quarters, short boxes will give you more flexibility.

Remember to store your comic books in a climate controlled environment. Extremes of heat, cold, humidity, or dryness could have a negative impact on your comic books.

So what comic books should I buy?

The answer to that question really depends on your personal interests. Did you have a favorite comic book character as a kid or do you have one now? Seek out early editions of that character’s comics or read the latest on what he or she is doing now.

If you see your comic book collection mostly as an investment, then you will want to carefully research and attempt to understand the market before jumping in. Spend time on online auction sites, visit comic book shops, and talk to other collectors.

Find out what is consistently hot, what is hot right now, and what the future trends expect to be. Focus on collecting first editions, full sets, and vintage “finds.”

My comic book collection is huge! How can I possibly keep up with what I have?

A variety of tracking software is now available to monitor your comic book collection. Some programs are free; others charge a small fee. The complexity of the programs varies dramatically, from simple tracking forms to the ability to generate multiple reports based on many different criteria.

Alternately, you can create your own database or spreadsheet file using software that you already own. Any office software can track a comic book collection. Simply decide which information you want to include and set up a new worksheet.

What should I know before I sell my comic book collection?

Be sure that each comic in your collection is individually graded, either by yourself or friend, or professionally through the Comics Guaranty Company (CGC). Any especially rare or valuable comics should definitely be graded by the CGC prior to sale, as the official rating will often increase the price you can receive.

Once every comic is graded, check the average selling price for each comic. Decide whether to sell individually, in sets, or in bulk. Often you can receive a better price for low value comics by selling them in bulk or in a complete set, while particularly high-end comics may command the best price alone.



JOEL

Krystle Green asked:


Books, magazines, and music are categorized according to their genre. There are different types of music such as rock and roll, country, classical, and jazz. Books are categorized as fiction, non-fiction, drama, romance, and horror. Comics are no different than books, magazines, and music on how they are categorized. There are different types of comics ranging from superhero to science fiction. The most popular type of comic book genre is superhero. What about each comic makes it a certain genre? There are different elements and characteristics that determine the type of comic.

Superhero comic books are easy to categorize and are the most well known. A superhero has to be the main character for it to fall under this genre. Superheroes are fictional characters that have superhuman strength and special abilities that are almost like a sixth sense for them. The life of a superhero and most comic stories are about them saving the world and keeping humans safe in their cities. Well known superhero comics are Batman, Spiderman, Wonder Woman, and Superman. Comics about everyday people without special powers or abilities that fight crime and keep people safe fall under the action genre. These comics are generally about police officers; real life superheroes. The themes and story plots between these two genres are similar, but the main difference is the distinction between a human and a fictional character with superhuman strength.

Another popular genre of comics that can be easy to categorize is science fiction. To be in this genre the comics must represent a theme about science or advanced technology such as time travel or flying cars. It is common for these comics to also take place in outer space. The stories often take place in the future and show what life would be like if we currently had use of the advanced technologies that the comics tell about. A well known science fiction comic that was also a movie is Star Trek.

For a comic to be in the horror genre they have to include anything and everything scary like zombies, vampires, monsters, and villains. These comics are usually dark and have gory pictures, like most horror movies. There is a lot of drama and suspense in this genre. Sometimes it can be confused with fantasy because vampires and zombies aren’t real. However, fantasy comics have a medieval type them with dragons, sword fights, and faraway lands. Both types have made up characters but horror is meant to scare you while you are reading it.

What genre of comic books do you enjoy reading?



TY