Free Comic Book Day at Magic Comics and Hobbies

Free Comic Book Day is an annual event happening the first Saturday in May for comic book fans and newcomers to gather in comic book stores around the country to get samples of mainstream and independent comic books and plenty of kids comics as well. As a fan of almost every style of comics and art I try to get as many of the offered books as I can and most years I visit multiple stores to see if they may have something different or have a store special and as a rule I will buy something at each store that I get free comic books from because I know that what is Free for me is not free for the comic shop.

This year I spent the day at Magic Comics and Hobbies in Slidell, LA as a guest artist along with Transformers artist Robby Musso and upcoming artist Mark Rhodes who plans to produce comic books in the near future. I only did two sketches but I had fun seeing old friends, talking about comics, video games of yesteryear, and just about everything else under the Geek Sun.

Here's what I drew:

There are a lot of free comics to be found on Free Comic Book Day at Magic Comics and Hobbies and they let you take whichever ones you want. Owner David Strecker does a great job of having a large supply of the comics available and most customers get the comics they were looking for in the program. For me I as I said before I want to get as many as I can (my collector brain loves free stuff) below is a list of comic books that I got this year (A major haul).

What I got :

Sideshow Collectibles Catalog

The Tick: FCBD 2011

Green Lantern Flashpoint Special

Locke & Key FCBD 2011

World's Of Aspen 2011

Young Justice Batman Super Sampler

The Mis-adventures of Adam West/Things To Come . . .

Jake The Dreaming

The Amazing Spider-Man

Elric: The Balance Lost FCBD

Path of the Plainswalker

Mouse Guard/The Dark Crystal

Super Dinosaur: Origin Special!

2000 AD

Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse

Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Predators/Top 10 Deadliest Sharks

Inspector Gadget/Johnny Test

Chip 'N' Dale Rescue Rangers/Darkwing Duck

Geronimo Stilton and The Smurfs

Atomic Robo/Foster Broussard/Moon Girl

John Stanley's Summer Fun!

Pep Comics featuring Betty & Veronica

Rated Free For Everyone!

Witch & Wizard

The Stuff of Legend/The Intrepid Escape Goat

Bongo Free-For-All 2011

Baltimore/Criminal Macabre

Top Shelf Kid's Club

Spontaneous

Captain America and Thor The Mighty Fighting Avengers

Sonic The Hedgehog

Richie Rich in Eruption Disruption!/Kung Fu Panda

Silver Scorpion

Loose Ends/I.C.E. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

The Darkness: Confession

Star Wars: The Clone Wars/Avatar: The Last Airbender

Civil War Adventure

White Lantern Ring

Black lantern Ring

IDW Star Trek Infestation Patch

Sideshow Collectibles Keychain

Green Lantern Hero Clix figure

Ultimate Flame-O (Strange City Heroes) Sketch

I love that there are so many comics and that there is a such a great variety of art styles that makes every comic stand out as a star. I have only read one so far but I keep looking at the pile and am ready to jump in and read things I may never have been exposed to if not for Free Comic Book Day and Magic Comic and Hobbies.

I hope that the tradition of free comic book day continues for years to come because it seems to get bigger and better each and every year.

Another big tradition at comic book events is that the Louisiana Chapter of the 501st Legion Bast Alpha Garrison show up and help bring in the crowds who want to take pictures with official looking replicas of the characters from the Star Wars movies and these guys take it very seriously when it comes to making their costumes look authentic. The 501st Legion has branches all over the world and make appearances at events and raise money for charities of all sorts. Along with the Star Wars characters a beautiful pirate lady showed up and posed for pictures as well.

Free Comic Book Day 2011 was great fun. I'd like to thank David Strecker and the Magic Comics and Hobbies staff Trey and Mikey for allowing me to be a guest in their store and for being such a great place that helps spread the love of comic books. The customers there are also great and there is always a great conversation to be had. If you're in Slidell check them out its an awesome place with an awesome supply of comic books, toys, models, games, statues and action figures (and probably a heck of a lot more.)

Magic Comics & Hobbies LLC
727 Robert Blvd.
Slidell, LA 70458
(985)649-4171

Thanks for reading,
Kevin P. Johnson

Copyright © 2010 Kevin P. Johnson

Thor - The Movie

I just saw the Thor movie and I must say that I think it was really good and I fully enjoyed it. I think that most of comic book fans would agree that this movie was made as an into to the Thor character so that people would know him in the upcoming Avengers movie. This movie was so that Thor already have an established history on the big screen along with Iron Man, Hulk and Captain America (coming this summer). With Marvel leading the way on most of their movies these days Thor worked really well on the big screen.

Without spoiling the movie too badly Thor is to become king of Asgard when there is an attack by the Frost Giants. He takes it upon himself to enact revenge against his father Odin's wishes. Odin finds out about this and banishes a powerless Thor and his hammer Mjolnir to earth and he must find his way back to Asgard if only he can regain his power and lift the hammer.

The movie did a good job of including a fair amount of scenes on Asgard and Jotunheim (home of the Frost Giants) as well as earth to allow us to understand that there are more things out there besides us. The costumes looked great Thor looking like the modern comic book version (with a beard) and a lot of the characters kept a close look to the way that they appear in the comic books. Loki's helmet had the classic bent horns and that was enough comic book reality for me.

I think that they did a real good job of telling the story and it seems to me that it's pretty close to the way things happened in the comics (I haven't read the old stories in a long time). All the characters seemed to be playing the roles they were supposed to and it felt just like a comic book on the screen to me . . . and it had humor sprinkled throughout that kept the movie from being stale.

For those wondering the characters that make an appearance are : Thor, Odin, Loki, Heimdall, Laufey (King of the Frost Giants), Volstagg, Sif, Fandral, Frigga, S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Phil Coulson (from the Iron Man filems) & The Destroyer. Nick Fury also appears after the credits.

My only complaints about the Thor film and they are minor. First Volstagg wasn't fat enough . . . I like the guy that played him I just think he needed a little more belly fat which they could have done with costume effects. Secondly the battle with The Destroyer was pretty cool but wasn't epic enough. I could have used 5 more minutes of the fight to make it more awesome.

Thor worked well, it looked like a comic book, it felt like a comic book it had adventure and fun and built a character for the future of Marvel Comics movies and I'm happy with it.

Thanks for reading,

Kevin P. Johnson

Copyright © 2010 Kevin P. Johnson

Image is copyright © 2011 Marvel Studios and used as a Fair Use Review image only. Image will be removed upon the request of Marvel Studios.

Thor Movie Picture Released.

The first image of Thor has been released I'm hoping this movie will be awesome!

I am happy that they have chosen this costume which seems to be much like the current costume in the mainstream Marvel Universe.

I await the first SMITE!

- Kevin P. Johnson


Image is copyright © 2010 Mark Fellman and Paramount Pictures and used as a Fair Use Review image only. Images will be removed upon the request of Mark Fellman or Paramount Pictures.

Ahhhh Comics Satisfaction - I've been reading a lot this week

Is it me or are comics really good right now?

I've been reading a lot this last week or so and have been totally satisified on almost everything I've read. Comics arejust fun and good these days. I did some catching up on DC's 52 (I'm so far behind) finishing issues 34-39 I really like this series becauise it gives me a chance to read many DC characters that I don't know about and it gives me a little better knowledge of the DCU. One of my favorite comics is Justice League of America for the same reason as 52 there are so many characters running around and although Batman, Wonderwoman and Superman are there there is a great cast that steals the show. In JLA I've heard people complain about Red Tornado and to be honest I had never heard of him until issue #1 and he is now one of my favorite DC characters and after issue #18 & 19 I'm looking forward to what happens in the next year with Red Tornado. Lastly in DC I caught up on Wonder Woman issues #12-18 and Annual #1. I like this title which I never thought I would when it came out. The question is often asked what should a girl read if she is new to comics and wants to try superheroes? I'd definitely suggest Wonder Woman especially since Gail Simone is writing it now.

I also read DMZ book 4 Friendly Fire from Vertigo. I love the art of Riccardo Burchielli on this book and and Brian Wood continues to make this story feel like this could actually happen someday.

Well remember my review of the Pat Lewis comic Abominable well I found the hardcover of The Claws Come Out which includes Abominable, Bad Date, Prowl, Zombie Trouble, & some Bonus Material all hosted by Lily St. Evil a voluptuous "Elvira" type horror hostess that make The Claws Come out a solid dose of Pat Lewis goodness! And its only $19.99 for 152 pages!

The last indie book of this round was Usagi Yojimbo #110 which was just a fun little story that makes me wonder why I ever stopped reading this comic? I gotta go find issues #1 - 104. I love Stan Saki...yes I said it.

Marvel maddness was goodness too. Thor #6-7 wow Thor is becoming what he always needed to be the heir to Odin's throne. This comic makes me happy that I read comics everytime I read a new issue. Mighty Avengers #9-11 are finally making me feel like this book is getting its legs but then a villian like Dr. Doom will do that. I don't like all of these Avengers but I'm sticking with the book for a while. Hulk #2 was interesting but I want to do a post on Hulk so I won't say more on that. Amazing Spider-Man #549-554. Spidey is really good these days even if I don't agree with how we got here its just really good. New villians, old friends and I know that Mary Jane and Pete are going to find their way back together so I'll go for the ride Joe Quesada has decided to put me on. Ms. Marvel #24-25. Carol Danvers has become my favorite female character in the last three years and this book has been fun for me. I don't know all about her past but this book is fun and now that there is a Skrull doppleganger in the mix we might have a chance to see Ms. Marvel beat herself. Ok so Captain America #35-36 are pretty good (I know they are awesome but I have missed most of this series). I like that Bucky is now Cap and that he's learning. I have to do some learning myself and pick up some of the trades so I can truly appreciate this title.

So all that goodness can't go without some bad right? Moon Knight! I read #15-16 and I just have to say Charlie Huston needs to be completely gone from this book. I love the Moon Knight character and I love the way he looks but I really dread reading this comic. I like most of the artwork and would say its all been great with the exception of so many panels of the faceless Bushman...its getting old, really, really old...I think everyone knows that Moon Knight is quite crazy but if this book doesn't get a Bendis makeover or something soon I'm gonna go as crazy as old Marc Spector. I read Moon Knight and I put the book down and I have no idea what I just read...with acception of the Annual #1 I gotta say this series is terrible. I don't want it to be cancelled and I am going to keep on buying it but if anyone can get Moon Knight on the streets fighting crime, fighting a good villian, talking to Khonshu instead of Bushman I would appreciate it.

- Kevin P. Johnson

Copyright ©2008 Kevin P. Johnson