All Star Comics Melbourne: April 2017

Saturday, April 29, 2017

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY ALL STAR COMICS ARTIST ALLEY 2017 at 333 COLLINS ST WALKWAY

Anyone who has been to any of our previous FREE COMIC BOOK DAY celebrations will know we love to use the day as a chance to showcase the incredible skills and talents of the local comic creating scene. Each year we are fortunate enough to host a stellar line up of local creators, all ready to draw FREE sketches for you at the same time giving you the chance to meet and greet the creators and perhaps sample some of their work from our Artist Alley Merch Table!

Once again our Artist Alley line up is so massive we've had to move it out of the store to have enough room to host everyone! This year the All Star Artist Alley will be returning to the stunning and opulent surroundings of the 333 Collins St Walkway.

Entry to the Walkway can be found on either Collins St or Flinders Lane and has ramp access on both sides for ease of prams and wheelchairs. It really is a beautiful space and we couldn't be more honoured to be able to present to you this incredible group of talented folks there on the day!

ALL STAR YOUNG ARTIST SUPERSTARS!

One of the main reasons this aspect of FCBD is so important to us is the opportunity to spotlight and showcase just a small example of both new and established local creators, while highlighting the range of styles and skills from Melbourne's comic scene.

We realise it's not enough to bring you talent of today, as we also see the importance of trying to foster the new and upcoming talents of future comic book storytellers.

So we are greatly honoured to announce that we'll have the creative mind behind The Fabulous Tree Frog, artist/writer Ned appearing in Artist Alley from 2:30pm-4pm. Also appearing alongside Ned will be James, who inspired by Ned's and local creators like Matt Kyme's work, is now working on his own characters and comics.

We are super excited to give you the chance to meet these two talented gents and walk away with an original piece of art from some of Melbourne's next comic book greats!

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY LINDSAY WALKER TRIBUTE AND BEYOND BLUE TIP JARS CHARITY FUND RAISING

Last year thanks to the generosity of folks like yourself attending our event, we collected $2000 for the Kick Brain Cancer group, paying tribute to the memory of friend and Artist Alley collaborator, Mike Bradshaw.

In the last 12 months the local comic community suffered another great loss with the passing of the extremely talented Lindsay Walker. A loving mother and partner, funny, feisty and a insanely gifted artist, we lost Lindsay far too young to the effects of depression.

Paying tribute to the life and talents of Lindsay we'll be collecting donations for BEYOND BLUE charity in the form of "Tips" at the All Star Artist Alley. The sketches are still very much for free but if you care to donate to this worthy cause to help to raise funds and awareness of the importance good mental health and dealing with depression with the BEYOND BLUE TIP JARS that would be amazing!

And finally the moment you've been waiting for...

THE ALL STAR ARTIST ALLEY TIMETABLE

10am-11:30am 90 minute slot
ANDREW FITZGERALD
SCOTT TRIFFLE
CASSANDRA JAMES
CHRIS MCQUINLAN
JEFFREY CRUZ
LUKE ANDREW
MAARTEN BOUW
MANUEL BOUW
ANDREW ISAAC
HEATH MC GREGOR
CRAIG BRUYN
NATH STONES
GRANGE WALLIS
BRAD VIRGO

11:30am-1pm 90 minute slot
BRENDAN HALYDAY
JENNIFER WU
SARAH HOWELL
SCOTT REID
TIM MOLLOY
TREV WOOD
FRANK CANDILORO
IVE SOROCUK
ALEX CLARK
BOBBY N

1pm-2:30pm 90 minute slot
ANDREW ZILE
CHRIS MUNRO
EVAN JONES
JULIAN DE LIO
MATTY TAYLOR
DAVID BLUMENSTEIN
THOMAS TUNG
ANGIE SPICE
DAN PURCELL
DARREN CLOSE

2:30pm-4pm 90 minute slot
ADELE K THOMAS
ERIN HUNTING
SACHA BRYNING
LILY MCDONNELL
DAMIAN SMART
MARK SHEARD
KT HOLLYWOOD

SPECIAL GUESTS
YOUNG ARTIST SUPERSTARS!
NED
JAMES

MICHAEL BRADSHAW HOUR OF POWER!
4pm-5pm 60 minute slot
ASELA DE SILVA
HENRY POP
MAX PLUMLEY
SIMON WRIGHT
KAI LYNK
TOM GARDEN
MATT KYME

That’s OVER 50 fantastic artists offering up their time to draw for you!

AMAZING and we couldn't be more thankfully for their time and effort.

SPECIAL NOTES FOR ARTIST ALLEY ETIQETTE. PLEASE READ!

-Please keep in mind that when you ask for your sketch that you might need some reference for the artist to draw from, so keep those smart phones handy!

-Please to not take advantage of the artists good and generous nature when getting sketches. Obviously one or two sketches for anyone coming on the day is more than fine but please remember that the event hasn’t been created to grow your original art collection and there will most likely be others there on the day that have yet to get one sketch.

-To assist in moderating the quantity of sketches, any adult attendees of the All Star Free Comic Book Day Artist Alley will be invited to get 2 FREE sketches if they wish, any children attendees are invited to get 4 FREE sketches if they are keen.

-Also again in the spirit of the day if you are waiting for a sketch and a younger fan is waiting behind you for one too, it would be amazing if you can let them in front of you.

It goes without saying that this again is one of the most impressive line ups of artists outside a major convention. Again a massive thank you to the lovely folks at 333 Collins Street and of course none of this would of been possible without the time and skills of all the artists involved. We can not thank this fine folk nearly enough and we hope you enjoy the day and the art they provide for you!

The ALL STAR CREW

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY ALL STAR COSTUME CONTEST 2017

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY is nearly here again, so it's time to dust off the spandex and get ready to dress in your Saturday Superhero bests!

It's always a buzz for us to see the effort people go to dressing up for the day to help liven our celebrations, so this is our way of saying thank you and a chance to reward your hard work!

Due to the sheer number of costumed characters on the day we found it best to have an All Ages Division, along with a Kids Division (for entries under 12 years old)!

The rules are simple and the same as last year:

Anyone in costume can enter.

Anyone over 12 will be entered in ALL AGES contest, anyone under 12 will be included in our KIDS Contest.

All you need to do is find our in-house photographer, who this year will be taking the costume contest photos instore, on the ground floor in front of the New Release Trade Paperback Wall.

If you can't find our photographer there, just ask for your photo to be taken by someone at the front counter.

MUHAMMAD I, Resident Photographer

Just strike your best character pose and then tag yourself in your photo once we get the pictures up on our Facebook page.

Once you are tagged the public can vote for you along with your friends and family.

The entries with the five highest counts of "likes" at the end of the week after we post the photos up will be our finalists, then a panel of All Star Staff will pick the 3 best costumes!

This year we'll have a $100 All Star Gift Voucher for 1st place, $75 All Star Gift Voucher for 2nd and $50 All Star Gift Voucher for 3rd.

The KIDS contest will have a $50 All Star Gift Voucher for 1st place, $30 All Star Gift Voucher for 2nd place and a $25 All Star Gift Voucher for 3rd place.

Of course we are super keen to see what you guys have planned and can't wait to see you bring some costumed comic justice to the streets of Melbourne while celebrating the best comic event in the world, FREE COMIC BOOK DAY!

MAY THE BEST COSTUME WIN!

The ALL STAR CREW

ALL STAR COMICS MELBOURNE'S FREE COMIC BOOK DAY COMIC SELECTION 2017!

FREE COMICS!!!

Thousands of FREE COMICS!

The idea alone is exciting but once you are in the presence of a FREE COMIC BOOK DAY EVENT, you'll think it's Christmas...or any other event where you get free stuff!

But exactly which titles will be on offer for FREE and what are the store details on the day?
It really helps make the process of waiting for your turn to pick go faster if you arm yourself with the greatest free gift of them all, KNOWLEDGE!

If you want to find out more about the books just click the links to check them out.

Firstly let's look over the KIDS SELECTION that we'll have on the day.
The Kids Selection will be available in two ways.
The All Star Kids Showbag featuring a great choice of kid friendly reads from this year to help take the stress out of making the hard decisions on the day.
Also there is the Kids Picks, a small list of titles to make sure the young ones still feel involved in the "Making a choice" aspect of the day!

THE ALL STAR KIDS SHOWBAG

ANIMAL JAM

BAD MACHINERY

BARBIE

BONGO COMICS FREE-FOR-ALL

BOOM STUDIOS SUMMER BLAST

DARK HORSE ALL AGES BUFFY HIGH SCHOOL/PLANTS VS ZOMBIES

DC SUPER HERO GIRLS SUMMER OLYMPUS PREVIEW

GRAPHIX SPOTLIGHT TIME SHIFTERS

HILDAS BACK

KID SAVAGE

MIRACULOUS ILLUS TALES LADY BUG & CAT NOIR

MONSTER HIGH

The All Star Kids Showbag is limited to one per family with kids under 12.
The Showbag contains the listed and pictured above 12 TITLES!

Since we only have a limited number of the showbags, to be fair it will only be available to families that come in on the day with kids under 12 with a limit of one showbag per family.
Both kids and adults can choose a title from the list of Kids Picks as well, which are listed and shown below.

THE KIDS PICKS
DISNEY DESCENDANTS DCOM #1

DRAGON BALL SUPER & BORUTO

SPONGEBOB FREESTYLE FUNNIES

Next up is the main collection of books,
the All AGES AND MATURE READERS SELECTION pictured and listed below.

We strongly recommend that you have an idea of what titles you want to pick up on the day. Click the links, see what you like and write a list. Doing this we can help cut down your time in line and give you more time to look around the store or get a sketch from one of the artists we'll be hosting at our Artist Alley on the day.

Again we'll be handing out a All Star FCBD Check List to the line, along with a guide of all the books covers to help you make and remember your choices as easy as possible!

PLEASE NOTE:

Judging from FCBD in the past, there most likely will be lines. Possibly a line to first get into the store, then a line once you are in the store for the comics. The day has only gotten bigger and bigger and we will be doing our best to get you your FREE COMICS as quickly as possible. One way you can help is by making a list of the titles you might want to check out and hopefully it will help keep lines moving quickly on the day. Please be mindful that there could be a wait but rest assure there will be something for everyone!

FAMILY ONLY FIRST HOUR: 9AM-10AM

The idea here is families with kids under 12 get the chance to get in early while the store is still somewhat more relaxed. Hopefully this we will make younger fans more comfortable, while parents can also grab some free books for themselves without needing to wait in line for ages. This also gives us the chance to get out from behind the counter and take a few more photos with folks if they are after them!

REGULAR TRADING HOURS: 10AM-5PM

After the Family Only First Hour, the store will be open for regular trading to the general public 10am-5pm.

At this time we will have representatives downstairs to let a limited amount of people into the store at once as a way to control the crowds so it makes for an easier browsing experience. Although this might create a line outside the store , we'll be doing our very best to get FREE COMICS into your hands as soon as possible.

FREE COMIC BOOK STOCK AND STORE LAYOUT:

The all ages and mature reads tables will be located on the first floor, in front of the vintage toy cabinets, while the KIDS SELECTION table will be found on the ground floor, easily accessible for families just to the side of the New Trades display wall.

The idea here is to make it as easy as possible for people that might be coming in especially with kids and aren’t wanting to wait around in line for too long

If you have any other questions don't hesitate to ask us via our social media platforms or look for a marked staff member on the day but most of all have an amazing FREE COMIC BOOK DAY!

The All Star Crew.

Friday, April 28, 2017

New Comics For Wednesday 3rd of May

This Saturday, the 6th of May, it's happening. FREE COMIC BOOK DAY! We are almost ready with our plans for the day, all that's left is for you let us know your coming on our event page and working through this week's shipment, which to can read about right here!

A brand new adventure has begun in TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES UNIVERSE TP VOL 01. The turtles are forced to save Baxter Stockman when a mysterious new mutant hits the streets. Also did we forget to mention a brand new back up story by Turtles co creator Kevin Eastman.

Just in time for the new movie. This ALL NEW GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #1 brings in a new era of comic adventure twice monthly.

Also we absolutely love the art of books for Marvel movies. Behind the scenes photos, sketches and concept art galore for the extra vibrant, MARVELS GUARDIANS GALAXY ART OF MOVIE SLIPCASE HC VOL 02.

In his first solo series Black Bolt finds himself imprisoned and in a death match against cell mate the absorbing man in the stunning, BLACK BOLT #1.

It's finally here, the new ongoing Jean Grey series by All new X-Men writer Dennis Hopeless. With Jean finally moving forward with her life, her worst fears become a reality when it seems the Phoenix is back in JEAN GREY #1.

Steve Rogers finally openly declares his allegiance to Hydra leaving the heroes of the Marvel Universe (and a lot of us in our Universe) in despair in SECRET EMPIRE #1 (OF 9).

The man that pushed Batman to his breaking point is now at the mercy of his original creators in this new 12 part series, BANE CONQUEST #1 (OF 12) that will see Bane now pushed to his.

So whatever happened to all of those Smiley Face badges from the 80's. This there so mass grave of them buried out in the desert like the Atari ET video game? Well with DC's finest on the case continuing in BATMAN #22 VAR ED (THE BUTTON) you can bet the answer will not remain a mystery for much longer.

After years of waiting, the new Injustice 2 game is nearly here and along with that is the return of local talent, Tom Taylor to the book that made him a comic household name in INJUSTICE 2 #1. Cross your fingers for the return of Galaxor too!

Then old mate, Tommy T also has ALL NEW WOLVERINE TP VOL 03 ENEMY OF STATE II out this week too. Laura has been running from her true purpose for years but after a terrible accident she has been left with a lot of innocent blood on her hands.

Watch with wonderment as the hunter become the huntED, when the toughest humans in the world take on Predators. Poor little aliens better keep their eyes peeled in the aptly named PREDATOR HUNTERS #1.

For all you Funko Pop collectors out there your time has come!
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES FUNKO UNIVERSE is out this week and it's a Turtles Adventure but in the style of Pops! Wowzers! Better make sure there are no head bobbers though or Cazz will go off her nana!

The creators of Alex + Ada are back with a fantasy epic in the vein of Game Of Thrones called ETERNAL EMPIRE #1. Within a brutal empire's workforce a young woman has started having strange visions that lead her to freedom.

YOUNGBLOOD #1. Yes, YOUNGBLOOD #1. Rob Liefeld's YOUNGBLOOD #1.
YOUNGBLOOD #1.

A new team consisting of Viv Vision, Ms Marvel, Nova, Hulk and Spider Man, trying to change their world in their own way of not just fighting bad guys by fighting the way people think in Mark Waid's CHAMPIONS TP VOL 01 CHANGE WORLD.

Catch up with your old friend Little Bo Peep in an all new tale
EVERAFTER FROM THE PAGES OF FABLES TP VOL 01 PANDORA .

A bloodthirty power of evil has started stealing little girls and it goes by the name of the Black Flame. No character in the Mignola universe has caused this much damage and now we get to see his beginnings in RISE OF BLACK FLAME TP.

With the powers of Superman, Lois Lane now has a whole lot more responsibility than just reporting the news and just how long will it keep her out of trouble in
SUPERWOMAN TP VOL 01 WHO KILLED SUPERWOMAN (REBIRTH).

From the super star team of Greg Rucka and Nicola Scott comes the definitive tale of Wonder Woman's first year on earth. Do not miss picking up
WONDER WOMAN TP VOL 02 YEAR ONE (REBIRTH).

Peter is a boy on a quest to win Sword Quest, the Atari challenge. But when the final game is never released Peter is heartbroken and as an adult things aren't going well. Will Peter's Sword Quest obsession finally pay off 30 years later? Only SWORDQUEST #0 holds the answers!

Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt return after the end of Sixth Gun with a story from prohibition era, where a demonic prince is pulling the strings on the underworld here on earth and below. A fantastic new series with issue 1 only costing a $1 US, you absolutely must pick up DAMNED #1.

In a future where a vaccination can expand your life hundreds of years, a young man named Reil is fighting the corporate powers who control the vaccine in AB IRATO #1 (OF 6).

Missing astronaut David Powell has now resurfaced and finds himself a man on the run from his past in CATALYST PRIME NOBLE #1.

What if the black plague was actually Zombies? Dark, scary times ahead in Aftershock's newest title, PESTILENCE #1.

5 mysterious beacons must be lit in order to save the universe. In this charming new graphic novel we meet Oona the clumsiest student at the academy up for this challenge in 5 WORLDS GN VOL 01 SAND WARRIOR.

An troubling dark and profoundly honest look into the mind of a high school shooting killer with

DO IT GN.

Goku is bored with life on earth after defeating all the biggest bad guys and only wants to train hard for his next challenge in the continuing chapter in the manga classic,

DRAGON BALL SUPER GN VOL 01.

Our band of very special heroes have traveled across the globe all the way to India in JOJOS BIZARRE ADV STARDUST CRUSADERS HC VOL 03.

After a UFO crashes in a desert, Samantha and her friend Mike (Who happens to be a gorilla) win the heart of the little green pilot in Terry Moore's fun new adventure, MOTOR GIRL TP VOL 01 REAL LIFE.

A stay at home dad gets a knock at the door revealing his estranged brother's husband on the other side. From one of Japan's most notable comic creators comes a tale of discovery, acceptance and love in MY BROTHERS HUSBAND GN VOL 01 (OF 2).

Yum yum yum, people's bodies in my tum tum tum. Yep it's as unsettling as it sounds in the final, NAILBITER TP VOL 06 BLOODY TRUTH.

Jimmy's favourite book that reminds him a little of Avatar The Last Airbender.

Adventure galore in NAMELESS CITY GN VOL 02 (OF 3) STONE HEART.

Celebrate Christmas in May with DESIGNER SERIES CONNER HOLIDAY HARLEY QUINN AF. Or perhaps you prefer superheroes with Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No it's DESIGNER SERIES CONNER SUPERHERO HARLEY QUINN AF.

This GREMLINS ULTIMATE GIZMO 7IN SCALE AF comes with 4 facial expressions, red bandanna, Santa hat, candy cane, trumpet, bow and pencil arrow. It's just a really great figure. No silly "Don't get it wet" or "don't feed him after midnight" gags here! But do keep it out of direct sunlight because that will definitely damage it.

Have you seen the MARVEL SPIDER-GWEN ARTFX+ STATUE? You probably should take a look because it's really awesome.

Choose from 3 different Rick and Morty pals, Meeseeks as well as your very own Mr Poopy Butthole with the RICK & MORTY GALACTIC PLUSHIES.

And there you have it. A monster shipment before a monster event! If you are keen for any extra's from this list be sure to let us know before Wednesday morning to get it sorted for you.

Until we see you next, have a great day and awesome week and here is too FCBD 2017!

MARVEL

ALL NEW GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #1

BLACK BOLT #1

BULLSEYE #4 (OF 5)

CHAMPIONS #8

GUARDIANS OF GALAXY MISSION BREAKOUT #1

GUARDIANS OF GALAXY MOTHER ENTROPY #1 (OF 5)

HAWKEYE #6

IRON FIST #3

JEAN GREY #1

JESSICA JONES #8

MARVEL UNIVERSE AVENGERS ULTRON REVOLUTION #10

NOVA #6

SECRET EMPIRE #1 (OF 9)

SLAPSTICK #6

SPIDER-GWEN #19

SPIDER-MAN #16

SPIDER-MAN 2099 #23

SPIDER-MAN DEADPOOL #17

STAR WARS POE DAMERON #14

STAR WARS ROGUE ONE ADAPTATION #2 (OF 6)

UNSTOPPABLE WASP #5

X-MEN GOLD #3

DC COMICS

AQUAMAN #22

BANE CONQUEST #1 (OF 12)

BATMAN #22 (THE BUTTON)

CYBORG #12

DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS #26

DEATHSTROKE #18

FALL AND RISE OF CAPTAIN ATOM #5 (OF 6)

FLINTSTONES #11

GREEN ARROW #22

GREEN LANTERNS #22

HARLEY QUINN #19

INJUSTICE 2 #1

JUSTICE LEAGUE #20

NIGHTWING #20

SUPERMAN #22

VERTIGO

EVERAFTER FROM THE PAGES OF FABLES #9

SAVAGE THINGS #3 (OF 8)

BOOM

AMORY WARS GOOD APOLLO #2 (OF 12)

BRAVE CHEF BRIANNA #3

GIANT DAYS #26

GOLDIE VANCE #12

REGULAR SHOW 2017 SPECIAL #1

STEVEN UNIVERSE ONGOING #3

WOODS #32

DARK HORSE

BALTIMORE THE RED KINGDOM #4

EMPOWERED SOLDIER OF LOVE #3

PREDATOR HUNTERS #1

DYNAMITE

JAMES BOND #3

PROJECT SUPERPOWERS HERO KILLERS #1

SWORDQUEST #0

IDW

ANGRY BIRDS COMICS GAME PLAY #3

BACK TO THE FUTURE BIFF TO THE FUTURE #4 (OF 6)

BOX OFFICE POISON COLOR COMICS #5

GHOSTBUSTERS 101 #2

GI JOE (2016) #5

GUMBALLS #2

HELENA CRASH #3 (OF 4)

MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC #53

STARSTRUCK OLD PROLDIERS NEVER DIE #4 (OF 6)

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES FUNKO UNIVERSE

TMNT ONGOING #69

TRANSFORMERS TILL ALL ARE ONE #9

UNCLE SCROOGE #26

WYNONNA EARP LEGENDS EARP SISTERS #4 (OF 4)

IMAGE

ETERNAL EMPIRE #1

EXTREMITY #3

MANIFEST DESTINY #28

OUTCAST BY KIRKMAN & AZACETA #27

PAPER GIRLS #14

PLANETOID PRAXIS #4 (OF 6)

POSTAL #20

WALKING DEAD #167

YOUNGBLOOD #1

ONI

DAMNED #1

VALIANT

FAITH (ONGOING) #11

MISC

AB IRATO #1 (OF 6)

BLOOD BLISTER #2

CATALYST PRIME NOBLE #1

CEREBUS IN HELL #3

CRICKETS #6

DREGS #3

PENNY DREADFUL #2

PESTILENCE #1

REGGIE AND ME #5 (OF 5)

RIVERDALE (ONGOING) #2

SHIPWRECK #4

SIMPSONS COMICS #238

SPOOKHOUSE #4

STAINED #1 (OF 5)

WAR STORIES #23

TRADES

5 WORLDS GN VOL 01 SAND WARRIOR

ABSOLUTE PREACHER HC VOL 02

ADVENTURES IN CARTOONING CHARACTERS IN ACTION NEW

ALL NEW WOLVERINE TP VOL 03 ENEMY OF STATE II

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN EPIC COLLECTION TP GOBLINS LAST

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN HC CLONE CONSPIRACY

AMELIA RULES TP VOL 05 TWEENAGE GUIDE NEW PTG

AMERICAN BARBARIAN COMPLETE SERIES TP

CHAMPIONS TP VOL 01 CHANGE WORLD

CHIMERA BRIGADE TP

DISNEY TANGLED BEFORE AFTER CINESTORY TP

DIVINITY III STALINVERSE TP

DO IT GN

DOCTOR FATE TP VOL 03 FATEFUL THREADS

DRAGON BALL SUPER GN VOL 01

EVERAFTER FROM THE PAGES OF FABLES TP VOL 01 PANDO

FLINTSTONES AND JETSONS TP VOL 01

GLADSTONES SCHOOL FOR WORLD CONQUERORS HC VOL 01

GLADSTONES SCHOOL FOR WORLD CONQUERORS HC VOL 02

GOLDIE VANCE TP VOL 02

HAPPINESS GN VOL 04

JOJOS BIZARRE ADV STARDUST CRUSADERS HC VOL 03

LADY MECHANIKA TP VOL 03 LOST BOYS OF WEST ABBEY

MARVELS GUARDIANS GALAXY ART OF MOVIE SLIPCASE HC

MOTOR GIRL TP VOL 01 REAL LIFE

MY BROTHERS HUSBAND GN VOL 01 (OF 2)

NAILBITER TP VOL 06 BLOODY TRUTH

NAMELESS CITY GN VOL 02 (OF 3) STONE HEART

NEW AVENGERS BY BENDIS COMPLETE COLLECTION TP VOL 4

ONE PIECE GN VOL 82

PIX TP VOL 02 TOO SUPER FOR SCHOOL

PURGATORY GN

RAVINA THE WITCH GN

REGULAR SHOW TP VOL 08

RISE OF BLACK FLAME TP

STRAIN MISTER QUINLAN VAMPIRE HUNTER TP

STRANGE FRUIT HC

SUPERWOMAN TP VOL 01 WHO KILLED SUPERWOMAN (REBIRT

TARZAN ON PLANET OF APES TP

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES UNIVERSE TP VOL 01

TMNT GHOSTBUSTERS DLX ED HC

UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL HC VOL 02

WONDER WOMAN TP VOL 02 YEAR ONE (REBIRTH)

ZOMBIES BRIEF HISTORY DECAY GN

MERCH

DESIGNER SERIES CONNER HOLIDAY HARLEY QUINN AF

DESIGNER SERIES CONNER SUPERHERO HARLEY QUINN AF

GREMLINS ULTIMATE GIZMO 7IN SCALE AF

MARVEL SPIDER-GWEN ARTFX+ STATUE

RICK & MORTY GALACTIC PLUSHIES 9PC PLUSH DISP

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

ALIEN : COVENANT PREVIEW DOUBLE PASS GIVEAWAY!

Ridley Scott returns to the universe he created, with ALIEN: COVENANT, a new chapter in his ground-breaking ALIEN franchise. The crew of the colony ship Covenant, bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, discovers what they think is an uncharted paradise, but is actually a dark, dangerous world. When they uncover a threat beyond their imagination, they must attempt a harrowing escape.

Thanks to the terrifically terrifying team behind ALIEN : COVENANT IN CINEMAS MAY 11, we're giving you the chance to be some of the first to see the film by giving away 1 double pass to a Special Preview Screening on the evening of Monday May 8th in Melbourne.

To go into the draw for your chance to win all you need to do is tell us,
"Even with ______ as my artificial space companion, I don't think we'd stand a chance against an Alien" filling the blank with the tag of the person you can see yourself screaming in space with and you will be entered in the draw.

SPECIAL NOTE:

As this prize is for a specific time and date, please only enter if you are free that evening.

Terms and Conditions:

-Only entries made via the comments on the Facebook post will be included in the draw.

-All entries will go into the All Star Barrel and winners will be drawn at random.

-Entries close 6pm Monday the 1st of May and winners will be announced Tuesday the 2nd and notified soon after as to how to collect their tickets.

A huge thanks again to ALIEN :COVENANT IN CINEMAS MAY 11

Friday, April 21, 2017

New Comics For Wednesday 26th of April

Free Comic Book Day...we can hear in the distance. Not long now until Saturday, May 6th but before we get there, you'll need the latest from this week.

Everybody loves a bit of controversy and one of the most controversial characters in Marvel history Scarlet Spider is back in a new ongoing series, BEN REILLY SCARLET SPIDER #1 spotting his timeless midriff sweat top.

A modern noir Batman teaming up with a classic Golden Age hero, The Shadow with a story by Scott Snyder and a brand new never before seen villain? What a magical week to be a Batman fan BATMAN THE SHADOW #1 (OF 6)...or a fan of Alec Baldwin.

Batman and Flash join forces to solve the biggest mystery in the DC Universe, that bloody Watchman button in FLASH #21 (THE BUTTON).

It's the official Aliens week (we aren't lying, look it up) and to celebrate Dark Horse are releasing a new series by artist/writer surpreme, James Stokoe. An engineering officer must survive an attack from the deadliest creature known to earth using only his utility belt (kinda sounds like Batman) in ALIENS DEAD ORBIT #1.

Living the life we all wish we had the guts too. A group of teens are going out at night and fighting crime and taking down mobsters in IDW's NIGHT OWL SOCIETY #1 (OF 3).

Finally a new issue of Bitch Planet. Kelly Sue, welcome back!
BITCH PLANET #10.

Fire Lord Zuko and Earth King Kuei have arrived in the Southern Water Tribe. With leaders holding council over unification plans there is a lot at stake in AVATAR LAST AIRBENDER TP VOL 15 NORTH SOUTH PART 3.

Batman has returned to Gotham City with former foe Two-Face running the show while he was away. Everything seems fine and dandy until a slew of murders rocks the city in one of the best modern Two Face tales, BATMAN TWO FACE FACE THE FACE DLX ED HC.

With Natasha now in possession of a unique set of skills thanks to the Weeping Lion, it's time to destroy the Red Room's reincarnation in BLACK WIDOW TP VOL 02 NO MORE SECRETS.

Remember when you got volume one of Mark Waid's incredible run in trade and you read it so quick and were like "Dang It! I wish I could read more of this"?
Well now you can continue this classic run with FLASH BY MARK WAID TP BOOK 02.

It's the late 90's all over again, with DC biggest heroes facing a villain that has hacked their internets. FEAR TECHNOLOGY in JUSTICE LEAGUE TP VOL 02 OUTBREAK (REBIRTH).

Seems Jason Todd has crossed over to the dark side in RED HOOD & THE OUTLAWS TP VOL 01 DARK TRINITY(REBIRTH) to take down the underworld from the inside. So badass!

The Teen Titans of the mid 90's when by a different name. The YOUNG JUSTICE TP BOOK 01 collects the much loved and hard to find first issues of the original series!

The Phantom Lantern has come to full power and is teaching our Green Lanterns to overcome their greatest fears in GREEN LANTERNS TP VOL 02 PHANTOM LANTERN (REBIRTH)

A young man is drafted into the Vietnam War who also happens to be a werewolf in NAMWOLF #1. If the concept wasn't enough to sell you the art by Logan Faerber should.

Things go sideways for social media obsessed Reno when she attends a party for the LOLZ but turns out it's actually an occult ritual. Oops! New series from Black Mask THERES NOTHING THERE #1.

A brand new range Dr Who story in the style of a Mr Men book? Choose from your favourite doctors DR ELEVENTH, DR FIRST, DR FOURTH and DR TWELFTH.

Award winning cartoonist Guy Delisle tells us he story of Doctors Without Borders administrator Christophe André who was kidnapped by armed men and held hostage for 3 months in 1997.

HOSTAGE HC

In the next installment from this amazing mash up of OZ meet Godzilla, what's happening on the other side of the wall can be a whole lot worse than what you hold inside. And in the case of KAIJUMAX SEASON TWO TP any inhabitants who have fallen through the cracks of the system find themselves running for their lives.

On their first trip to their new home, the first family of space misses a turn (Damn google maps) and finds themselves on a dangerous alien planet in Joe Kelly's new all ages graphic novel,
KID SAVAGE TP VOL 01.

For all you keen beans that want the best that money can buy the SAGA DLX ED HC VOL 02 not only has 18 issues of the award winning series but a never before scene artist gallery. Insert surprised emoticon here.

Jesse's is dealing with a lot. The school dance is this Friday and she doesn't want to go alone as well as having problems with her fists flying at people's faces in
STREET ANGEL AFTER SCHOOL KUNG FU SPEC HC.

In a world where an antibiotic apocalypse has rocked the earth, one person is willing to stand up for those forgotten by the system in Image's SURGEON X TP VOL 01 PATH OF MOST RESISTANCE.

Look out behind you! It's Cheryl Blossom and believe me when I tell you she will stab you in the front OR the back any chance she gets in ARCHIE TP VOL 03.

What a winner. It's likely there is something else you are after this week, so just be sure to let us know before Wednesday morning and we'll get you fixed up! Until we see you next, have an awesome week!

MARVEL

BEN REILLY SCARLET SPIDER #1

BLACK PANTHER #13

DEADPOOL VS PUNISHER #2 (OF 5)

ELEKTRA #3

GREAT LAKES AVENGERS #7

HULK #5

INFAMOUS IRON MAN #7

MAN-THING #3 (OF 5)

MIGHTY CAPTAIN MARVEL #4

MIGHTY THOR #18

MOON GIRL AND DEVIL DINOSAUR #18

OCCUPY AVENGERS #6

OLD MAN LOGAN #22

PATSY WALKER AKA HELLCAT #17

ROCKET RACCOON #5

STAR WARS DARTH MAUL #3 (OF 5)

THANOS #6

ULTIMATES 2 #6

WEAPON X #2

X-MEN BLUE #2

X-MEN GOLD #2

DC COMICS

ACTION COMICS #978

BATGIRL #10

BATMAN 66 MEETS WONDER WOMAN 77 #4 (OF 6)

BATMAN BEYOND #7

BATMAN THE SHADOW #1 (OF 6)

BLUE BEETLE #8

DETECTIVE COMICS #955

DOOM PATROL #6

FLASH #21 INTERNATIONAL EDITION (THE BUTTON)

HAL JORDAN AND THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS #19

HELLBLAZER #9

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #5

KAMANDI CHALLENGE #4 (OF 12)

MOTHER PANIC #6

SCOOBY DOO TEAM UP #25

SUICIDE SQUAD #16

SUPERGIRL BEING SUPER #3 (OF 4)

TEEN TITANS #7

TEEN TITANS GO #21

WONDER WOMAN #21

VERTIGO

CLEAN ROOM #18

UNFOLLOW #18

BOOM

ADVENTURE TIME COMICS #10

JOYRIDE #12

LADYCASTLE #3

LUMBERJANES #37

WWE #4

DARK HORSE

ALIENS DEAD ORBIT #1

ALIENS DEFIANCE #11

CONAN THE SLAYER #8

LOBSTER JOHNSON PIRATES GHOST #2

PROMETHEUS LIFE & DEATH ONE SHOT

REBELS THESE FREE & INDEPENDENT STATES #2

VISITOR HOW AND WHY HE STAYED #3 (OF 5)

IDW

24 LEGACY RULES OF ENGAGEMENT #1 (OF 5)

ARCHANGEL #4 (OF 5)

D4VEOCRACY #3

DIRK GENTLY SALMON OF DOUBT #7

JEM THE MISFITS #4

JUDGE DREDD BLESSED EARTH #1

KILL SHAKESPEARE PAST IS PROLOGUE JULIET #2 (OF 4)

MICRONAUTS WRATH OF KARZA #1 (OF 5)

NIGHT OWL SOCIETY #1 (OF 3)

OPTIMUS PRIME #6

ORPHAN BLACK DEVIATIONS #2 (OF 6)

REAL SCIENCE ADVENTURES #1 (OF 6)

SATELLITE FALLING #4

TMNT UNIVERSE #9

IMAGE

BITCH PLANET #10

BLACK MONDAY MURDERS #5

BLACK ROAD #9

HADRIANS WALL #6 (OF 8)

IMAGE GIANT-SIZED ARTISTS PROOF ED RENATO JONES

KILL OR BE KILLED #8

LOOSE ENDS #4 (OF 4)

MAGDALENA #2

OLD GUARD #3

SAVAGE DRAGON #223

SPLITTING IMAGE 80-PAGE GIANT

STRAY BULLETS SUNSHINE & ROSES #23

UNDERWINTER #2

ONI

RICK & MORTY #25

VALIANT

BRITANNIA WE WHO #1 (OF 4)

X-O MANOWAR (2017) #2

MISC

ARCHIE COMICS ANNUAL DIGEST #278

BIG MOOSE ONE SHOT

BLACK EYED KIDS #12

GRAVE LILIES #2

HILLBILLY #6

JACKPOT #5

NAMWOLF #1

NO WORLD #1

QUANTUM TEENS ARE GO #3

RIFT #4 (OF 4)

THERES NOTHING THERE #1

ZOMBEN #1 (OF 4)

MAGAZINES

IMAGE PLUS #13 (WALKING DEAD HERES NEGAN PT 13)

MARVEL PREVIEWS #22 MAY 2017

PREVIEWS #344 MAY 2017

TRADES

ALIENS ORIGINAL COMICS SERIES HC VOL 02

ARCHIE TP VOL 03

AVATAR LAST AIRBENDER TP VOL 15 NORTH SOUTH PART 3

AVENGERS EPIC COLLECTION TP MASTERS OF EVIL

BATMAN TWO FACE FACE THE FACE DLX ED HC

BILL & TED GO TO HELL TP

BLACK WIDOW TP VOL 02 NO MORE SECRETS

BLOODSHOT USA TP

BOOK OF CHAOS HC

CAPTAIN AMERICA TP VOL 02 MARVEL KNIGHTS

CARNAGE TP VOL 03 WHAT DWELLS BENEATH

CLARENCE ORIGINAL GN VOL 02 GETTING GILBEN

COMPLETE PHONOGRAM HC

CONAN THE SLAYER TP VOL 01 BLOOD IN HIS WAKE

DARK TOWER DRAWING OF THREE TP SAILOR

DEADPOOL MERCS FOR MONEYTP VOL 02 IVX

DEADPOOL WORLDS GREATEST TP VOL 06 PATIENCE: ZERO

DISNEY DARKWING DUCK COMICS COLL TP VOL 02

DR ELEVENTH

DR FIRST

DR FOURTH

DR TWELFTH

FLASH BY MARK WAID TP BOOK 02
GREEN LANTERNS TP VOL 02 PHANTOM LANTERN (REBIRTH)

HER BARK & HER BITE TP

HOSTAGE HC

INVISIBLE REPUBLIC TP VOL 03

JONESY TP VOL 02

JOYRIDE TP VOL 02

JUSTICE LEAGUE TP VOL 02 OUTBREAK (REBIRTH)

JUSTICE LEAGUE UNWRAPPED BY JIM LEE HC

KAIJUMAX SEASON TWO TP

KID SAVAGE TP VOL 01

KISS THE ELDER TP VOL 01 WORLD WITHOUT SUN

MOSAIC TP VOL 01 KING OF WORLD

REALIST ORIGINAL GN HC PLUG PLAY

RED HOOD & THE OUTLAWS TP VOL 01 DARK TRINITY (REB

REGULAR SHOW ORIGINAL GN VOL 03 CLASH OF CONSOLES

ROAD TO RIVERDALE TP VOL 02

SAGA DLX ED HC VOL 02

SECRET EMPIRE PRELUDE TP

SMALL FAVORS GN

SQUARRIORS TP VOL 01 SPRING (NEW PRINTING)

STAR WARS BIG GOLDEN BOOK NEW HOPE

STREET ANGEL AFTER SCHOOL KUNG FU SPEC HC

SURGEON X TP VOL 01 PATH OF MOST RESISTANCE

TOPPU GP GN VOL 01

WONDER WOMAN WHO IS WONDER WOMAN TP NEW ED

X-FILES (2016) TP VOL 02 COME BACK HAUNTED

X-MEN ORIGINS TP FIRESTAR

YOUNG JUSTICE TP BOOK 01

MERCH

HARLEY QUINN RED WHITE & BLACK STATUE BY JIM LEE

HARLEY QUINN RED WHITE & BLACK STATUE INJUSTICE 2

BACK IN STOCK

JIM HENSON POWER OF DARK CRYSTAL #2 (OF 12)

X-O MANOWAR (2017) #1 2ND PTG

Monday, April 17, 2017

ALL STAR RECOMMENDS FOR APRIL 18TH

Afternoon,

It's rare for the webcomic portion of this column to really be the stand out but if you, like me, have never heard of Golden Age artist Joe Maneely and his tragic end before now, I encourage you to read beyond this week's feature book, my rambling review of which we shall get to right now.

COMIC OF THE WEEK : THE MARQUIS OF ANAON: THE CHAMBER OF CHEOPS

By Fabien Vehlmann & Matthieu Bonhomme

Published By Cinebook

A perennial favourite of this column, The Marquis of Anaon series returns with Jean-Baptiste Poulain's fifth and sadly final adventure, "The Chamber of Cheops."

I've made much of the excellent character development writer Fabien Vehlmann and artist Matthieu Bonhomme have given their protagonist over the course of Poulain's previous adventures. From the opening page of "The Chamber of Cheops," Poulain has really stepped into his skin, completing the journey from children's tutor thrust into a possibly supernatural murder plot ("The Isle of Brac"), to almost reluctant, bumbling mystery solver surviving on an unearned near-mythical reputation and a nickname given as insult ("The Black Virgin" ), to anti-aristocratic, self-educated healer and journeyman ("The Providence"), to actual hands-on proactive adventurer walking into a harrowing do-or-die survivalist struggle ( "The Beast").

And it's not just the clever story structure Vehlmann gave each subsequent volume, pushing the reluctant, frequently bumbling hero further and further out on a limb. Visually, Poulain is a different man from the first time we met him. Gone is the slightly portly, soft, would-be gentleman wide-eyed and naive to the ways of the greater world and the cruelty that lies behind the smiles of the pampered aristocrats of the "civilised" world. Volume after volume, Bonhomme has slowly shorn this man down to lean sinew and bone, metamorphosing Poulain into a rumpled, dishevelled gypsy, a man happily shunned by the polite society he was always on the outskirts of. The pretence, the "mask" is gone, revealing, finally, the authentic Poulain. Poulain, now relaxed in his own skin, acts with confidence and smiles more in the first ten pages of "The Chamber of Cheops" than in the previous four volumes combined. There's a swagger to his step. The hero's journey is now complete.

"The Chamber of Cheops" opens with Poulain discovering that he has mysteriously inherited a large sum of money from man he never met, one Umberto Leone. Leone met his end chewed between the jaws of three crocodiles in Egypt. It's this kind of tall-tale demise that's perfect to pique Poulain's curiosity and he begins investigating his new mysterious benefactor. Leone was a man who made his fortune in beaver pelts but who had a passion for Egypt. Believing The Chamber of Cheops held a great treasure, Leone headed off to Cairo to find it.

Clearly a man after Poulain's own heart, its only natural that our hero should follow suit. Driven to learn of Leone's fate, Poulain goes to Cairo to mingle with Leone's fellow French ex-pats, tangle with local militias, find a surprising new love interest and, finally, make his way into Cheops' Chamber, where something other than fame and fortune awaits.

Bonhomme's work is once again masterful. From crowded Egyptian streets, to images of hands emerging from back alley darkness to snatch at our hero, to the sun setting beautifully over Cairo, the world in which Poulain inhabits feels authentically 18th century, simultaneously as romantic as a fable from The Arabian Nights and as grubby as it really was. Vehlmann, of course, gives his artist so much to work with, from fascinating characters - the lovely Dieneba, the seedy Delambre - to again giving Bonhomme room to make the most out of his scenery. "The Chamber of Cheops" does lack the intense intrigue of previous volumes but it is still a ripping adventure.

The only problem, and it's one I've only just managed to put my finger on in writing this, is that "The Chamber of Cheops" does not feel like the epilogue to the series that the book inevitably is. If anything it almost feels like prelude, the beginning of a new cycle of adventures with a newly confident protagonist at the helm. However, it's been ten years since this volume came out in France and "The Chamber of Cheops" remains Vehlmann and Bonhomme's unfortunate farewell to the series. It's unfair of me to be slightly disappointed in such a well-constructed and lovely piece of comics but in the wider context of the series as whole, a series that has built so exceptionally on each preceding volume, it's a bit of a misfire. However, as a stand-alone, "The Chamber of Cheops" is absolutely terrific and, really, that's probably the most important thing.

All in all, perhaps it's actually fitting we don't get that final swan song, that epic goodbye. We end with a strong story by exceptional creators and our mysterious protagonist simply disappears into comic book limbo, his future and final fate as mysterious as that of someone he would investigate. If you haven't picked these books up yet, do so. "The Chamber of Cheops" functions as a bonus adventure, the cherry on top of a cycle of four near-perfect comics that do not get anywhere near the admiration they so deserve.

WEBCOMIC OF THE WEEK : THE UGLY MAN

By Stan Lee & Joe Maneely

Who are you, Joe Maneely and where have you been all my life?

From 1952's Atlas Comics release, Suspense #23 comes this short shocker written by none other than Stan Lee (surprisingly making his debut, I believe, in this column after all this time). "The Ugly Man" sees a kind of prototypical mad scientist character that Lee would later litter dozens of early Marvel scripts with but gives him a way more stripped back motivation than any Fantastic Four baddie.

Ignatz is the titular Ugly Man, a crazed genius capable of creating all manner of unholy monsters but who is unable to interact with the normal world because of the disgust his physical appearance causes in those who meets him. Things come to a head when a beautiful woman spurns his advances. She suggests that she wouldn't be with Ignatz if he were the last man on Earth.

This is not the kind of challenge one lays down to a mad scientist.

Lee's script is really great but the draw here is the aforementioned Maneely, who I had somehow never heard of before stumbling upon this strip. Creating work that looks like all your favourite EC artists rolled into one, there's even a hint of what would become Underground/Alternative Comics here as well. From the deep furrows on Ignatz's brow to his basement-cooked monsters, to his lighting, Maneely's work is just terrific.

A quick Wikipedia check has this quote from Lee on his "The Ugly Man" collaborator, "Joe Maneely to me would have been the next Jack Kirby. He also could draw anything, make anything look exciting, and I actually think he was even faster than Jack."

What happened here? Where did Maneely disappear to? Tragically, he died in 1958 not too long before Atlas became Marvel and the rest became history. Maneely lost his glasses and, apparently struggling to see properly, fell between the cars of a moving train. He was only 32 when he died. He was found still clutching his portfolio.

If you're somehow not convinced by Maneely's work on "The Ugly Man," do a quick image search with his name. It's really not that hard to imagine an Early sixties Marvel with not just Kirby and Ditko at the forefront, but Joe Maneely as well. A tragedy.

https://pappysgoldenage.blogspot.com.au/2017/03/number-2030-pretty-ugly.html

COMICS VIDEO OF THE WEEK : THOR RAGNAROK OFFICAL TRAILER

The Kirby Krackle abounds in the titles for this, the third and surely greatest of the solo Thor films. You've all seen it by now, I'm sure, but let's just think about what this appears to be: a pretty seamless mix of Kirby with Walt Simonson's unmatched run (Skurge!!) with Greg Pak's Planet Hulk story with the ever-unfolding Marvel Cinematic Universe. Director Taika Waititi's comedic fingerprints are all over this, welcomely so, and how about Cate Blanchett as Hela? Good lord. Breaking viewing records, the trailer for Thor: Ragnarok proves the comic book movie craze is a loooooong way from dead. Can't wait.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OctRQoCodVw

See you next week. Love your comics.

Cameron Ashley spends a lot of time writing comics and other things you'll likely never read. He's the chief editor and co-publisher of Crime Factory (www.thecrimefactory.com). You can reach him @cjamesashley on Twitter.