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Tuesday

Heroes and the Evolution of Comic Books

Heroes came out of nowhere at the beginning of this TV season and has turned into a runaway hit show. This was not entirely unexpected; NBC had a lot of confidence in Heroes from the beginning. However, no one could have legitimately expected Heroes to become the top 15 hit and ratings phenomenon that its become. Why, I suppose, is the question. Why has Heroes become such a great hit? What is the shows appeal?

Heroes is a comic book story, through and through. Regardless of what comic you believe it to be knocked off of, all comic are derivative of something or other, and Heroes certainly has its unique qualities anyway. What Heroes does better than any of the comic book adaptations before it, is actually act like a comic in its execution. Of course, Heroes is the first real comic book story to make its way to prime-time live action TV. Smallville might be considered, certainly now, but that show, from the very beginning, considered itself a teen drama. Only now is it getting deep into DC mythology.

Heroes, on the other hand, is paced like a comic book. Every episode is an epic adventure, serial in nature, that covers a wide array of characters in a methodical manner. The writers are taking their time with the story, allowing the characters and relationships to develop in a way that we haven’t yet seen in comic books.

Why haven’t we seen it, however? Why haven’t there been more attempts to bring the comic book aesthetic to television? Have there been fewer break out comic books in the past ten years? The BuddyTV article examines this question with great insight and precision.

Friday

Comic Book Collector Questions

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. o 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. Sme 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.

Everything you want to know about comic books is at your fingertips from Mike Selvon's portal where a free gift awaits you. Visit us and leave a comment at our cartoons blog.

Comic Book Collector Questions

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. o 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. Sme 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.

Everything you want to know about comic books is at your fingertips from Mike Selvon's portal where a free gift awaits you. Visit us and leave a comment at our cartoons blog.

Thursday

Comic Book Collecting and the Essentials



Where comic book collecting is concerned, in over seven decades the genre of comics has transformed into something much more than children's reading material. Even age lines have become blurred as more adults, either for personal pleasure ore monetary gain, have turned to comic book collecting.


If a foray into cartoon book collecting is something you are interested in, then a general knowledge of periphery items is in order such as a good cartoon book price listing guide and even cartoon book collection software.


Comic books are more than just about collecting and storing in boxes. Many individuals chose to trade and even sell their acquisitions. To do this a current comic book price listing guide is absolutely essential for determining the value for comics in varying conditions.


Even if your end goal is not to sell your collection, it makes for great conversation as well as determining value for such things as home owner's property insurance. A cartoon book collection, emotional significance aside, can turn from a hobby into a monetary gain.


Comic book collecting for some individuals involves the art of selling pieces of their collection. This can be very profitable and is a great influence on the comic book market.


As new comic books are introduced and other older issues become increasingly hard to acquire, the value fluctuates. With collectors studying comic book price listing guides, there is an overall sense of direction where the hot trends will be found and helps other collectors sell their pieces for a good price.


Comic book collection software is almost essential if you want to be a competitive buyer and seller of comic books and merchandise. You can enter thousands of pieces of information into a database that is easily searchable in a matter of seconds.


Comic book collection software can also help you spot trends and prices in the market as well as patterns of particular genres. You can compare prices, time periods and other bits of information to help you make educated decisions with your cartoon book collecting practices.


Whether you are a beginning or an expert collector, this can be one of the most useful comic book collecting tools you will ever buy.


Everything you want to know about comic books is at your fingertips from Mike Selvon's portal. A free gift awaits you along with a lot more information about comic book collecting. Visit us and leave a comment at our cartoons blog.

Friday

Heroes and the Evolution of Comic Books


Heroes came out of nowhere at the beginning of this TV season and has turned into a runaway hit show. This was not entirely unexpected; NBC had a lot of confidence in Heroes from the beginning. However, no one could have legitimately expected Heroes to become the top 15 hit and ratings phenomenon that its become. Why, I suppose, is the question. Why has Heroes become such a great hit? What is the shows appeal?

Heroes is a comic book story, through and through. Regardless of what comic you believe it to be knocked off of, all comic are derivative of something or other, and Heroes certainly has its unique qualities anyway. What Heroes does better than any of the comic book adaptations before it, is actually act like a comic in its execution. Of course, Heroes is the first real comic book story to make its way to prime-time live action TV. Smallville might be considered, certainly now, but that show, from the very beginning, considered itself a teen drama. Only now is it getting deep into DC mythology.

Heroes, on the other hand, is paced like a comic book. Every episode is an epic adventure, serial in nature, that covers a wide array of characters in a methodical manner. The writers are taking their time with the story, allowing the characters and relationships to develop in a way that we haven’t yet seen in comic books.

Why haven’t we seen it, however? Why haven’t there been more attempts to bring the comic book aesthetic to television? Have there been fewer break out comic books in the past ten years? The BuddyTV article examines this question with great insight and precision.

For more resources about Heroes or even about Heroes and the Evolution of Comic Books please review http://www.buddytv.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Groshan_Fabiola

Monday

Tintin and the Broken Ear a Classic Tintin Mystery





The Adventures of Tintin are classics in the world of comics. Tintin is a young reporter who solves mysteries with his faithful side kick the dog Snowy. The character was created by Herge who both wrote and illustrated the albums.



Tintin and the Broken Ear is a classic from the adventure series and is believed to include a political subtext like many of Herge works. The middle part of the adventure is set in a fictitious South American dictatorship of San Theodoros in which the native generals are in a battle for power. The conflict between San Theodoros and Neuvo-Rico in the book is called the “Gran Chapo War” which mirrors the Gran Chaco War of 1932 to 1935 fought between Bolivia and Paraguay for control of the Gran Chaco region falsely believed to be rich in oil.



The story begins when a fetish (an object believed to have supernatural powers) that originally belongs to a tribe of South American Indians is stolen from a museum in the town where Tintin lives. The next day the statue is returned with a note saying it had been a bet. Tintin though ever the hero realises it is a fake because the replacement is complete when the original was missing an ear.



Tintin now obviously want to get to the bottom of the mystery so begins the journey to solve the crime. He finds that a wood carver has recently been killed and deduces that this man Balthazar probably carved the fake so goes in search of the mans parrot in a hope to getting a clue to the killer.



The lead sends him to South America along with two other men who also are following the trail Alfonso Perez and Ramon Bada. They are all trying to outdo each other. Ramon and Alfonso on the journey over by boat kill Roger Tortilla (not very imaginative) who was the man that originally stole the fetish. Tintin who had been in disguise arrest the men on docking in San Theodoros. In a twist the Colonel who greets them lets the men go and it is Tintin who is later arrested and is framed for terrorism and sentenced to death.



As Tintin is about to be killed by the firing squad he is saved by a rebel leader General Alcazar. Tintin who unusually has been drinking heavily swears his allegiance to Alcazar who is now in command of the country and makes Tintin a Colonel.



Tintin new position proves a help and a hindrance as Perez, Ramon and the disgraced General Tortilla try to kill him. It is at this point we are introduced to the “Gran Chapo War”. This war is pushed by two competing oil companies that both want the oil believed to be beneath the earth in the Gran Chapo region.



Tintin escapes another attempt on his life by General Trickler of Great American Oil (one of the competing companies). Tintin eventually finds himself among the people of Arumbaya. He tries to find out why so many people are after the fetish that in monetary value is worthless. Tintin gains information that leads him to believe that there is a valuable diamond belonging to the Arumbaya tribe hidden in the fetish.



Tinin leaves the tribe and comes across Perez and Ramon who have deserted the San Theodoros army. Tintin manage to capture them and learn from a note in Perez’s wallet that Tortilla had in fact placed the diamond in the fetish. How Tortilla is connected to Lopez is not revealed Perez and Ramon later escape from Tintin. Tintin is at a loss and has no leads returns home only to find many replicas of the statues are for sale. He learns that the factory producing them is owned by Balthazar’s brother who found the fetish among his brother’s effects. Balthazar’s brother has sold the fetish to an rich American Samuel Goldbarr, who has left for America. Tintin flies out on a plane to the ship only to discover that Ramon and Perez are already in possession of the fetish and therefore the diamond. There is a confrontation and the fetish breaks revealing the diamond. All three men try to save it but it falls into the ocean and is lost. Tintin is saved by the crew of the ship however Alonso Perez and Ramon Bada are lost at sea. It is typical of a Tintin mystery as they are all easy to follow which was the intention of Herge when creating his masterpieces. There are 23 albums in all and there have been over 200 million books and albums sold worldwide. There is to be a Tintin movie released in 2009 which will bring these books back to the mainstream where they belong.



John Helios has been a big Tintin fan for a number of years. He is very much looking forward to the new Tintin movie directed by Spielberg and Jackson. At his site you can watch Tintin and the Broken Ear in five easy parts.


Collecting and Caring for Comics



Comic books are a big part of popular culture as it combines art and writing. A comic book, also known as a comic strip or comic, is defined as a booklet of words and pictures that are integrated into a printed format. It is both a unique art form and a literary standard that originated in the United States in the late 1800s. The most basic definition is that a comic is a series of words and pictures presented in a sequence and forms a narrative. In comic books, the author uses everyday language placed in dialogue boxes and with a series of pictures portrays a thought quickly and directly. Unlike novels or short stories, the comic books' pictures control the reader's interpretation of the words and they are forced to see the writer's point of view. Comic books allow the reader to examine the minds of the characters through dialogue balloons thus inviting the reader into the make believe world of the writer. These visual sequences of art are mass-produced inexpensively.


Being an immensely influential part of popular culture, comic books are very good collectible items. Collecting comic books is a fun hobby and, if done right, can be very lucrative. The majority of comic book titles center on superhero characters but there are also comic books on comedy, drama, horror, fantasy, science fiction, mystery, for adults, for children, in foreign languages and adaptations. So as you can see, there is a wide variety to choose from, which can result in a huge comic book collection. All well kept comic books will either maintain or grow in value over time. The trick is to choose titles with the highest growth potential.


The very first step in collecting comic books is to buy them. The first step in purchasing a good comic book is to choose a good local comic or specialty store. Most stores have a saver programs or subscriptions that allow you to have the comics of your preferred title set aside for you. Most of the titles are either under Marvel Comics, DC Comics or Image Comics. The minority are under independent titles. Browse the store of choice and look for comic books with solid story lines and excellent illustrations. It will be to your advantage if you can get the earliest release of the issue. Also, because this is primarily a hobby, buy those that interest you and maybe these will increase in value.


For a collector's item to increase in value over the years, it should be in crisp condition. This is true of all collections, but comics call for special treatment. To keep them in mint condition, they must be carefully flipped through while reading. Please refrain from dog-earing and folding the pages. Afterwards place in a Mylar Sleeve. This is like a clear envelope with a pressed-board backing. This sleeve prevents moisture from damping the comic and the board ensures that the comic isn't folded or crumpled. Slide the comic into the sleeve against the treated side (the white side) and the comic cover facing front. If you plan on storing the comic books for more than five years, make sure to use premium quality acid-free backing board and paper. After this, the comics should be stored in a long or short comic box with the comics standing up. Make sure the box has the right fit and it is always helpful to include a list of the comic books stored inside the box in an organized manner according to title, date of release and issue number, to avoid unnecessary skimming and flipping through the comics. These supplies are common in specialty shops because they are really a necessity in comic storage.


Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Comic Books.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell