Strange City Heroes - A Webcomic by me

Hi all just wanted to let you all know that my webcomic Strange City Heroes is up and running. I hope you enjoy. The comic can be found at www.strangedrawingsartgallery.com

- Kevin Johnson

My Current DCBS Order August 2008

I'm a bit late with this I've been working on my website and had to put this blog on hold for a while. So anyway here's the update.

These are the comics I have on order with DCBS for the month of August 2008, feel free to discuss what you are excited about.

Action Comics #870
Amazing Spider-Man #573
Amazing Spider-Man #574
Amazing Spider-Man #575
Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1
Batman #681
Captain America #43
Detective Comics #849
Final Crisis #5 (of 7)
Green Arrow and Black Canary #13
Hulk #7
Justice League of America #26
Justice Society of America #20
Mighty Avengers #19
Monster Size Hulk #1
Moon Knight #23
Ms. Marvel #32
New Avengers #46
Secret Invasion #7 (of 6)
Spawn #185
Terry Moore's Echo #7
Uncanny X-Men #503
Usagi Yojimbo #115
Wonder Woman #25
X-Factor #36
X-Men Legacy #217

Breakdown:
Marvel - 15
DC - 8
Abstract Studio - 1
Dark Horse Comics - 1
Image - 1

2 less comics this month and again Marvel dominates the month holding number 1 spot. As you can tell I mostly "Make Mine Marvel" always have probably always will. I haven't bought anything from Image in a while but with Todd McFarlane back involved with Spawn I thought I'd check it out for a while.

Breakdown as of August 2008:
Marvel Comics - 244
DC Comics - 222
Dark Horse - 6
Abstract Studio - 5
Ape Entertainment - 4
Archaia Studios Press - 3
Boom! Studios - 1
Evil Twin Comics - 1
Image - 1
Super Real Graphics - 1

Marvel Comics now leads with 50% of the comics ordered from DCBS and DC Comics drops to 45.5% all other indie's move up to 4.5%. I really want to see how far ahead Marvel gets over time. I enjoy all brands of comics but Marvel is where my heart is I guess. Someday I'm going to get a complete list of all of my comics and really get an accurate count.

- Kevin P. Johnson
Copyright © 2008 Kevin P. Johnson

Star Wars: the Clone Wars

This image is copyright © 2008 Lucas Film and is used as Fair Use Review images only.
Image will be removed upon request of Lucas Film, ILM or any other official Star Wars copyright owner.

Well Star Wars: The Clone Wars came out today and (drumroll please) IT WAS A OK (cymbal crash). So I went in not really knowing what to expect from this movie and it gave me plenty of the unexpected. I don't know how well this is going to do in theatres because it is kind of a filler movie and it really doesn't advance the story much but with that being said it was a fun, action packed adventure movie and it looked really good.
I'm a huge Star Wars fan and I like all of the movies Episode I - VI as well as the two Clone Wars TV series. The Clone Wars isn't going to be considered the best Star Wars movie but it does give us a great look at some characters that have not had much screen time and a new character Zero The Hutt who is some sort of gay, southern, English speaking, tattooed, Hutt that I nearly peed my pants when I heard him talk.

My only problems with the movie are this:1 - the voices and the movement of lips really didn't match up well and I kept noticing it...I hope they fix that on the DVD.

2 - I kinda wish I had known what the Sub-Story was (SMALL SPOILER ALERT) was because it was a bit weird. Jabba's baby was kinda hokey but I understand where they are going with it because if there is an Episode VII and beyond this character will be important (I think). I guess if I had paid more attention to the trailers and website I'd have know about it but I didn't want to know much so it would be fun and it really was.

I could watch more Star Wars movies like this but I still want more live action if they are going to make more movies.
Here's to George Lucas!!! I don't care what anyone may say I like what you do my friend!

- Kevin P. Johnson
Copyright © 2008 Kevin P. Johnson

Jumping On

So it seems to me that most people who read and collect comic books at some point get behind on their reading and then never seem to catch up. I personally am a professional at this I have years worth of some titles that I buy every month that I am several years behind on reading namely Batman, Action Comics, Detective Comics, Uncanny X-Men & X-Men Legacy and maybe there are a few others. I decided this week that its time to just "Jump On" I did this a few months ago with Spider-Man during the "One More Day" story and its worked out fine. I'm just thinking that I'm wasting money buying stuff that is just sitting here waiting to be read when I have more than enough time to read everything I get in a month but the catching up 50 issues of X-Men seems like it would take forever.

I guess the real question is why do we do this? Why is it so hard to just jump on a title? I don't ever have a problem starting in on a comic I have never read before usually within three months I know what is going on.

The point of this blog....if I buy it I'm reading it the month I get it from now on!

- Kevin Johnson
Copyright © 2008 Kevin P. Johnson

My Current DCBS Order July 2008

These are the comics I have on order with DCBS for the month of July 2008, feel free to discuss what you are excited about. This order includes two back issues that I didn't order in the last two months.

Action Comics #869
Amazing Spider-Man #570
Amazing Spider-Man #571
Amazing Spider-Man #572
Captain America #42
Detective Comics #848
Femme Noir: Dark City Diaries #4 (of 4)
Final Crisis #4 (of 7)
Green Arrow and Black Canary #12
Hulk #6
Justice League of America #25
Justice Society of America #10
Mighty Avengers #18
Moon Knight #22
Ms. Marvel #31
Ms. Marvel Annual #1
New Avengers #45
Patsy Walker: Hellcat #1 (of 6)
Patsy Walker: Hellcat #2 (of 6)
Patsy Walker: Hellcat #3 (of 6)
Secret Invasion #6 (of 6)
Terry Moore's Echo #6
Thor #11
Uncanny X-Men #502
Usagi Yojimbo #114
Wonder Woman #24
X-Factor #35
X-Men Legacy #216

Breakdown:
Marvel - 18
DC - 7
Ape Entertainment - 1
Abstract Studio - 1
Dark Horse Comics - 1


Marvel dominates this month holding number 1 spot overall and pulling away quickly. DC is still falling away from the top.

Breakdown as of July 2008:
Marvel Comics - 229
DC Comics - 214
Dark Horse - 5
Ape Entertainment - 4
Abstract Studio - 4
Archaia Studios Press - 3
Boom! Studios - 1
Evil Twin Comics - 1
Super Real Graphics - 1

Marvel Comics now leads with 49.6% of the comics ordered and DC Comics drops to 46.3% all other indie's move up to 4.1%.

- Kevin P. Johnson
Copyright © 2008 Kevin P. Johnson

HULK SMASH! The Incredible Hulk Movie

This image is copyright © 2008 Marvel Comics and is used as Fair Use Review images only. Image will be removed upon request of Marvel Comics.



So I went in to this movie with no expectations. I had been more interested in seeing the Iron Man connection and how for the first time the Marvel Universe was actually related on the movie screen. I saw it opening weekend at my new favorite even the Saturday Matenee.


This movie was awesome from the start, I decided to go in and forget that I felt the Hulk and Abomination looked like big rubber monsters. (I didn't see the first Hulk movie because of this)

Ed Norton to me looks like Bruce Banner and I'm glad he got the part and I hope he sticks around for another movie even though he's been upset that his preferred cut of the movie was not released.


This movie was action packed and great fun for all the fanboys out there with plenty of Easter Egg moments to enjoy. The best moments, THUNDERCLAP, "Hulk Smash!", Stan Lee, and the fighting.


This is one of the better comic book movies yet it wasn't the best but its a good quality movie that sits well alongside of Spider-Man 1 & 2, Batman Returns, Iron Man, X-Men 2, & Sin City.


4.75 Stars out of 5


- Kevin Johnson
Copyright © 2008 Kevin P. Johnson

Goodbye Michael Turner You Will Be Missed

This image is copyright © 2008 DC Comics and is used as Fair Use Review images only. Image will be removed upon request of DC Comics.

Today I learned that artist Michael Turner passed away. Although I never met him I feel like I lost a friend. I enjoyed Michael's art even if some people criticized it I always loved looking at his covers. Rest in peace Michael you've left us with your art and you will be remembered always.

- Kevin Johnson
Copyright © 2008 Kevin P. Johnson

Final Crisis # 1 & 2

So I just read number 2 and all I can say is What The Fuck? (Yep its in need of the dirty word.) I have no idea what I just read and I gotta say I've totally lost interest...I'll buy the series until the end though and pray it gets better...pray it gets to something I understand. The first two issue have had no effect on my knowledge of the DC universe which is not a whole lot but this should be the series that brings me in...at this point it is not bringing me anywhere.

- Kevin P. Johnson
Copyright © 2008 Kevin P. Johnson