Dinobots Transform

Like most comic publishers I spend rather a lot of time musing about the state of the industry and the way to make it better well, honestly, the best way to make my little corner of it better. After spending a large period of time thinking it over and discussing what everyone perceives to be the main elements leading to the downfall of comics ( the distributor monopoly, as an example ), I realized what the most important problem and killer basically is : the industry. I suspect about all of the Problems that we encounter in the bizz come from the industry itself. First comic firms tend to publish only for those that are in the sector. Comic publishers usually target their promoting towards those that are here and creators have an inclination to make product for those that are familiar in industry.

Almost never does the idea of bringing new readers in truly ever pop up, which is insane. Thatwill be like Hollywood only making films for those that work in film and TV. As wacky as it sounds, this looks to be the mind-set of the industry at large. Mags like Cosmopolitan are fashion mags, but their audience is the average girl ( or girl ) fascinated by fashion and not members of the industry itself. Their advertising stretches beyond fashion industry trade publications and into the traditional itself, where its customers reside. Why short sell your books only to the 50 thousand or so members of the active comic community and not go for millions of folk out there who enjoy action movies? Comic publishers arenot the sole ones to blame , either. Creators themselves are as giant a stumbling block to new readership as anything else. If you would like to know why, have a look at a modern comic vs one from as late as even the mid eighties and youwill see one huge difference. Check out Marvel Comic Shop to see what I mean.

No, I am not talking about paper or printing processes. The art itself is the main issue with comics. Solid, clear storytelling has changed into a thing of the past. Did you know why a large amount of new readers are picking up Manga titles? It is down to the fact they are less difficult to read than US ones. Even with the flipped format, most Manga has straight forward enough storytelling that even the most uninitiated reader can follow what is happening and which panel comes next. This can not be declared about most US titles ( indy or conventional ). The incontrovertible fact that the prevailing trend in the USA is for over rendered, poorly thought out PC coloring, doesn’t help readability in any way. But it does not need to be that way. The public will read comics if you can get yourself out of the industry mind-set and start making comics for readers rather than for a sector more curious about John Byrne’s latest social blunder than in purchasing your books. Some places to think about for your books ( depending on its target market ) are non-chain book stores, new age shops, record stores ( Tower is beginning to have a great choice of indy and little press ‘zines ), libraries, corner markets, mags with an analogous areas of interest, colleges, neighborhood mailer compilations ( like the small discount books you get in the post ), area events ( concerts are a great spot ), swap meets, colonnades or game stores. Become used to it. These are some tips for making your books more accessible to general audiences : one ) promote your books outside of comic-specific areas. Work out who might have an interest in your book and pursue those outlets. I have had success at art holidays, flea markets, record stores, sci fi mags and more. It’s worth the additional effort. Two ) dump full page bleeds on each page. Do not be scared of negative space around your pages. They are also excellent for pacing in your storytelling. It’s muddy and confusing.

Look at animation or places such as Disney journeys for reference on coloring. Most cartoony books are well coloured because they need to ensure the work is swiftly accessible to readers of every age. Not every panel must be a totally digitally painted work of’art.’ five ) think about storytelling. The most significant thing in a comic is that you don’t lose your audience. If at any time your readers get puzzled as to where to read next, then you have failed at your job as a storyteller. And, remember, style is no excuse for poor storytelling ( or poor design generally, but that is a rant for another time ) six ) do not have huge blocks of text or dialogue in each panel.

There’s an old unwritten rule in conventional comics ( and one which has been mostly forgotten or ignored ) : never have more than twenty-six words in any balloon or caption box. Anything more than this and the words will run together, probably causing readers to hop over sections of what’s on the page. Seven ) This one is going to cause any comic collector to cower : shed issue numbers. Or, if you have to have them, put them in the indicia only. Sure you can make them aware there are more stories they can read ( and, which should be available in trade paperback ), but do not make those stories needed reading.

Follow Cosmo’s lead ( or Rich kid’s ) and just have the month and year on each cover. Comics should be entertainment first and most important. More: Marvel Comic Cards

Eight ) Forget the chant, comics are not simply for youngsters anymore. It’s old, played out and is a part of the death sentence of the industry. Without young readers there’s no future in the business. As a 2nd part of this idea, because your comic has adult language, nakedness and graphic violence doesn’t immediately make the book for adults. My heresy will end with this statement : the sole way to save comics could be to let the comic industry, as it exists at the moment, shrivel up and die. The industry isn’t the heart of comics and did not make them, so dare to be different.

Put down the newest issue of the comic industry death watch, Magician . Pay no attention to the party line that an indy book will sell less than 250 copies there’s a world outside the Geppi chokehold.

A little bit of inspiration for you : Clever’s main title, the Cadre, sells over 5000 copies per issue and ninety percent of that’s outside the comic industry.

Not bad for a black and white, conventional style super hero comic. You have to head out and find them. Marvel Comic Shop

Providing children as well as adults with hours upon hours of reading some of the very best dialogue ever to be put on paper, and witnessing some of the best drawings to be sketched, in 1939, a new type of entertainment media is born. This is no doubt the birth of what is to become one of the greatest comic book companies of all time - Marvel Comics.

A young, already very popular Martin Goodman, founded the now ‘Marvel’ in 1939 as ‘Timely Publications’. It was with Timely Publications that we saw comics created which reflected the war, the new way of life, and also when new characters such as Ziggy Pig and Silly seal were born.

Timely Publications continued to pick up momentum and achieve exponential growth all through the 1940’s, then suddenly in 1950, it was branded under the new name ‘Atlas Comics’. This was a smart move on Goodman’s behalf because post-war America was tired of the same old superheroes. They needed something new and fresh. Atlas Comics provided just that. Atlas expanded into new genres such as westerns, drama, humor and espionage to name but a few! Atlas did well despite the fact that they made no attempt at innovation. They instead let popular culture dictate what was to be included in their new material.

Fast forward to 1961 when a new brand of comic books in launched. Marvel Comics is born and with it comes a new comic anthology - ‘Amazing Adventures’ which proves to be a smash! All the while a strong rivalry was created between Marvel and DC Comics. In response to DC Comic’s ‘Justice League of America’, Marvel Comics came forward with the acclaimed ‘The Fantastic 4′ during this time. Back in the spotlight again were some new superheroes and it was time for Marvel to take that spotlight.

During the next few years Marvel began to create the series which would secure it a place as king. These included Spider-man, X-men, The Hulk, Daredevil, Iron Man and so many more.

Why was Marvel such a smashing success? There’s an easy way to explain this and it’s known as humility. Your traditional athletic, handsome, perfect superheroes weren’t being created in the Marvel comic books. Marvel steered away from the defacto standard and revolutionized characterization allowing the readers to relate and therefore make personal connections with the superheroes.

For example, there is Spider-man, who is filled with self doubt and mixed feelings about his powers. Quite frankly it is great stories combined with intricate character build-ups that led to the success and finally top spot as Comic Books kings for Marvel Comics.

Even if you walk into a store today you’ll still see Marvel Comic Books everywhere, and they are as popular as ever. You will even find adults still reading the same comics they did as kids! New series are being printed all of the time in the Marvel Universe. Through perseverance, effort and time, Martin Goodman managed to create the greatest Comic book company ever known and for that and all the great stories along the way - We thank him.

Hail, fellow Foomers! Before I commence with the reviews, I’d like to take a look at the state of the Marvel Universe as it presently stands. Earth 616 of the Marvel U. is currently embroiled in the events of Dark Reign. Norman Osborn is in charge, having emerged from the Secret Invasion triumphant as the man who commanded the Thunderbolts and killed the Skrull Queen. As a result, he was placed in charge of American security, and immediately disbanded S.H.I.E.L.D., the former preeminent peace-keeping force. Tony Stark, former leader of S.H.I.E.L.D. has been accused of having had knowledge that the Skrull Invasion was imminent, and has gone on the run as a result. In the wake of these events, Osborn instituted his own organization, H.A.M.M.E.R. He has his own Illuminati-like team of behind the scenes power players, the Cabal. Osborn’s even had the gall to put together his own team of Dark Avengers, having criminals assume the personas of established heroes. In short, it’s a dangerous time to be on the right side of the law in the current Marvel climate.

Check it: Lots of new hologram, promo cards and other marvel trading cards are available.

Good guys like Spiderman and the New Avengers are in more danger now than they were as unregistered heroes during the Superhuman Registration Act. Some must go underground and avoid being captured for being unregistered, all while villains arrogantly break the law with no fear of repercussions. Critics have carped that the Dark Reign storylines are simply a continuation of what Warren Ellis was doing during his run on Thunderbolts. That’s more or less the truth, but it doesn’t lessen my enjoyment of Dark Reign.

Osborn’s evolution from psychosis-inflicted Green Goblin to National Hero may strain credibility more than a bit, but his interactions with others in power have been a hoot. Dark Avengers is a great title, although it should be said that I haven’t liked Thunderbolts anywhere near as much since Dark reign began. But those are digressions better left to the reviews.

I’ve also enjoyed the machinations of the Cabal and am in eager anticipation of where it will all lead. Cosmically, the Inhumans-led Kree and the Vulcan commanded Shi’ar clash in a War of Kings. Marvel’s cosmic heroes and villains like the Guardians of the Galaxy and Blastaar also abound in this arc. The ramifications of this Cosmic Event should be felt far and wide throughout the Marvel U.

Initially, I hadn’t planned to pick up this series and it’s tie-ins. I’m glad I changed my mind and picked it up. Again, I’ll be reviewing the series as a whole, so that’s all I’ll say about its quality for now. Hopefully, this little over-view will allow those that may have been away for awhile to better understand and enjoy what I’m talking about in my reviews.

See you at the Comics shop…

More: marvel comics reviews

Providing children as well as adults with hours upon hours of reading some of the very best dialogue ever to be put on paper, and witnessing some of the best drawings to be sketched, in 1939, a new type of entertainment media is born. I’m, of course, describing to you, the birth of one of the largest, greatest comic book companies of all time to hit the stands - Marvel Comics.

A young, already very popular Martin Goodman, founded the now ‘Marvel’ in 1939 as ‘Timely Publications’. It was with Timely Publications that we saw comics created which reflected the war, the new way of life, and also when new characters such as Ziggy Pig and Silly seal were born.

All through the 1940’s Timely Publications would continue to grow and gain momentum when suddenly in 1950 the name was changed to Atlas Comics. Being that post war America had enough of the same sort of superheroes, this was a really smart move that Goodman decided to make. Something fresh and new is what they needed. They got exactly that with Atlas Comics. Atlas expanded into new genres such as westerns, drama, humor and espionage to name but a few! Atlas did well despite the fact that they made no attempt at innovation. They instead let popular culture dictate what was to be included in their new material.

Fast forward to 1961 when a new brand of comic books in launched. Marvel Comics launches their first comic anthology ‘Amazing Adventures’ and it proves to be a hit. By this time a strong rivalry had developed between DC comics and Marvel. It was during this time that Marvel released their acclaimed ‘The Fantastic 4′ in response to DC’s ‘Justice League of America’. Superheroes were once again back into the spotlight and it was time for Marvel to steal the spotlight.

Marvel worked on a variety of comic book series which would secure its’ place as Comic Book King. These included Spider-man, X-men, The Hulk, Daredevil, Iron Man and so many more.

Why was Marvel such a smashing success? A simple word to describe their success is the word ‘humility’. Marvel’s superheroes weren’t the handsome, perfect or athletic heroes found in traditional comic books. Marvel steered away from the defacto standard and revolutionized characterization allowing the readers to relate and therefore make personal connections with the superheroes.

Spider-man, for example, has mixed feelings about his super powers and is filled with self doubt making him a very relatable character. It is without doubt, the great character build ups combined with great storylines that topped Marvel Comics as the King of the funny pages.

Even if you walk into a store today you’ll still see Marvel Comic Books everywhere, and they are as popular as ever. You will even find adults still reading the same comics they did as kids! Marvel still continues to print new series after new series. Martin Goodman persevered, stood the test of time, and built the greatest comic book company in existence, sharing great stories and introducing great characters along the way.

Greetings, fellow Zombies! Before I commence with the reviews, I’d like to take a look at the state of the Marvel Universe as it presently stands. Earth 616 of the Marvel U. is currently embroiled in the events of Dark Reign. Norman Osborn is in charge, having emerged from the Secret Invasion triumphant as the man who commanded the Thunderbolts and killed the Skrull Queen. He disbanded S.H.I.E.L.D, sending its former leader, Tony Stark, into exile and instituted his own version of a peacekeeping force, H.A.M.M.E.R. Osborn also belongs to the secret group of shadowy manipulators, the Cabal, a group like the former Illuminati. Osborn’s even had the gall to put together his own team of Dark Avengers, having criminals assume the personas of established heroes. It’s a dubious time to be a good guy in the Marvel U. right now.

Check it: Lots of new hologram, promo cards and other marvel comics trading cards are available.

Heroes like Captain America and the Fantastic Four have to operate under the watchful eye of Osborn, if not secretly. They are in hiding and must act as renegades, while criminals are brazenly running rampant and getting out of jail easily when they DO get caught. Critics have carped that the Dark Reign storylines are simply a continuation of what Warren Ellis was doing during his run on Thunderbolts. That’s more or less the truth, but it doesn’t lessen my enjoyment of Dark Reign.

Osborn’s transformation from a psychopathic Spiderman villain to being in Nick Fury’s shoes may be more than a bit far-fetched, but his abuse of said power and the resulting reactions of others have been hilarious. Dark Avengers is a great title, although it should be said that I haven’t liked Thunderbolts anywhere near as much since Dark reign began. But those are digressions better left to the reviews.

I’ve also enjoyed the machinations of the Cabal and am in eager anticipation of where it will all lead. Far away from Marvel’s Earth, the Kree and their leaders the Inhumans wage war with the Shi’ar and their King Vulcan in a War of Kings. Most of Marvel’s cosmic characters, like Nova and the Starjammers are involved. The ramifications of this Cosmic Event should be felt far and wide throughout the Marvel U.

I wasn’t sure about this series when it began, and in fact planned not to buy it. I’m glad I changed my mind and picked it up. As I said earlier, I’ll be reviewing the series as a whole, so I’ll leave it at that. I’m hoping that this simplistic little summing up will allow those that may have taken a break from Marvel books to be able to follow along with what I’m blathering about. I also hope it wasn’t dumbed down to the point of insult for those in the know.

See you at the Comics shop…

More: marvel reviews

We find ourselves living in one of the most affluent times in history and yet many of us find ourselves to be very stressed and we more and more need ways of making an outlet for our stress. Many have chosen to take out antique books as a way to get away from the stresses and strains of life and to lose themselves in something that they can indulge in. When we find something in our lives that we can focus on which is completely different to our everyday work then we find that our lives can achieve more complete levels of balance and that is best for us and for those around us. There is so much that we can get out of reading comics as we see that at times being able to lose ourselves in a world of fantasy is something that is just what we need in our lives. In Japan we know that their form of comic books is called Manga as it is amazing to see how the seasoned professionals actually can be seen on the train and in various public places indulging and reading their personal copies of Manga & or used books. Reading books and magazines as well as those wonderful comic books is something that people will continue to do.

Whilst some people choose to get away from the stresses and strains of life and read others prefer to sit in front of the television and to see their hours move away in this way. These people take time out to check out the latest plasma television to make sure that they always have the latest technology in their homes which to view on a daily basis. Watching the latest high definition television, plasma television or lcd tv is something that is a priority for many and so we see that as the prices of these pieces of technology continue to fall, more and more people will be able to afford them and have them in their homes to enjoy their favourite DVDs, movies in line with lcd tv.

Considering the options above we see that other look for travel planning so that they can get away from their homes, offices and the people around them and get away form their environment in order to distress and to begin to discover new ways and perspectives of doing this. There are of course many ways to distress and the main thing is for everyone to find out the thing that works the best for them when considering travel destination .

If you ask a child,stuffed animals are more than cuddly little pillows with arms and legs. If you ask a child, that’s not a stuffed animal, that’s Kimbo the lion, and he’s allergic to milk, even though he loves ice cream. To an imaginative child, a stuffed animal is more than something to cuddle, it’s something to love and endear with a unique personality and create a whole history for, something to go on adventures with.



As we’ve seen, this is a popular theme for stories about children. Of course, there’s Calvin and Hobbes, about the rambunctious six year old with a pet tiger. On first reading, the premise seems to be that Hobbes is a stuffed tiger, but a real tiger in Calvin’s imagination. To any long time reader, it becomes apparent that this is not the case. Hobbes is a real tiger, except for when grownups are seeing him. This is a pretty accurate representation. It’s not that stuffed animals aren’t real, it’s that nobody but their owners can see how real they are.



An earlier example is, of course, Winnie the Pooh. Christopher Robin, the only human character we see in A.A. Milne’s original Winnie the Pooh books, has created not only a personality for each of his treasured stuffed friends, but an entire world for them to inhabit, showing how rich a child’s imagination can be when creating a dramatis personae and a story for their stuffed animals.



It may not have been the original stuffed animal, but the Teddy Bear is probably the one seen as the most iconic (as well as being Winnie the Pooh’s particular breed). As most of us know, the Teddy Bear was named for Theodore Roosevelt, inspired by an incident wherein Roosevelt had refused to kill a black bear which his hunting party had tied to a tree, on grounds that slaying a bound quarry would be unsportsmanlike. Originally named “Teddy’s Bear”, the animal has been immortalized as a stuffed animal and attributed with a variety of personalities and histories by just as many children (and even several grown up bear collectors).



After a certain age, most children seem to lose interest in their stuffed animals. The secret we all keep is that these creatures are immensely important to us, and even when your kids become too old to receive stuffed animals as gifts, very few young teenagers would be willing to part with the treasured friends they kept as small children. Even into adulthood, few people are willing to completely part with treasured stuffed animals.



Perhaps one thing that makes stuffed animals so special is that, unlike action figures and such, which come pre-packaged with their own character and stories, a new stuffed animal is usually anonymous and without a story upon arrival. It becomes almost an imperative responsibility for a child to give their new friend an identity.



At the right age, a child will develop a real, honest bond with a stuffed animal. When we’re grown up, people see this kind of thing as eccentric or crazy, but for children, it’s a completely healthy way to empower one’s imagination, to learn about human interaction, and to find comfort and friendship where most people see buttons and stuffing.

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One of the great pleasures reserved for children is being able to go nuts and run amok outdoors. Climbing up and down trees, getting grass stains on all your clothes, collecting bugs. When you grow up, it’s hard to enjoy this kind of thing without being deemed unfit for society, but for kids, it’s not only something to do, it’s a social and personal responsibility.



Sadly, there are more and more excuses for kids to stay indoors these days. There’s nothing wrong with playing inside, of course. Inside is where you learn to read and count, and television and certain video games can be an excellent way to learn basic life skills, but playing outdoors is just as important. Fresh air, sunlight, exercise, a child needs all of these, not only for their physical development, but for mental development and even social development (where else are kids going to meet new friends in the neighbourhood besides outdoors?).



The problem is that playing outdoors isn’t quite as addictive as TV and video games. Many kids need a little extra encouragement to go out and come face to face with the world of fresh air, sunlight, and new friends. An excellent way to get your kids interested in playing outdoors is, of course, with outdoor-only toys.



To know which toys will be most effective in encouraging outdoor play, you’ll need to look for something specific to your kid’s interests. If your kid is a huge fan of Bob the Builder toys, you can provide construction toys like tractors, trucks, bulldozers and things like that to let your kid have fun digging up the dirt and sand outdoors. If your kid is interested in sports, you’re pretty much set. A basketball or a soccer goal will get the job done right away.



Other kids are more into adventure, and luckily, there are plenty of toys to encourage your kids to go on adventures of their own, such as a tent to use as a home base in their backyard expeditions.



For a kid that just can’t put down the video game controller, a remote control car seems like an obvious choice. You can operate most remote control cars indoors safely, but it’s a lot more fun to build obstacle courses and ramps in the front yard than it is to build them in the living room.



Then, of course, there’s ride-on toys, such as scooters and bicycles. For younger kids, companies like Fisher Price and Playskool make safer alternatives to the larger, metal bodied scooters and bikes, such as ride on fire trucks, four wheeled scooters, and even baby car toys. For a grownup, a vehicle is a responsibility. Even if it’s your dream car, there’s rising gas prices and parking tickets to worry about, but for a kid, a pretend car is something carefree and empowering, and it’s kind of hard for any kid to resist that kind of temptation.



We don’t really need to preach about the benefits of playing outdoors for kids, we all know that it’s vital to a kid’s health and development. An excellent idea, though, is to look for toys that will allow you to get out there with your kids and get some fresh air together. With all the responsibilities of adulthood, it can be easy to want to just flop down on the couch with the television for a few hours after work and neglect the need to spend some time just having fun outside, but it’s definitely important to get out there. You’ll live longer, you’ll be healthier and happier, and you’ll get to spend more time with the kids… And then, there are those afternoons where we just want an hour of peace and quiet… Either way, getting your kids outdoors now and then, perhaps with the aid of outdoor toys, is vital to your health!

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Yogee.com.au is a leading Australian online toy store. Visit yogee.com.au for a wide selection of Kids Toys at discounted prices. To save money on your next purchase, please visit Toys.

It’s unfortunate that more people don’t know this, but toys and playing are absolutely vital for a person’s development. This isn’t only true for babies and children, it’s just as true for adults. Yes, even adults need to take some time to goof off and indulge their curiosities now and then if they hope to continue growing and changing as human beings (or have you never spent hours and hours researching random topics on the internet, just for fun?).



With the right developmental toys, playtime can be a whole lot more than something kids do for amusement. With the right toys, playtime can be a productive learning process. Every toy a child might become interested in has some potential to teach, as the child experiments and, well, toys around with it, but some of the best toys are the ones that capitalize on a child’s tendency to experiment and aim to teach valuable life skills.



Most obviously, we all recognize on sight such educational wooden toys for babies and toddlers as the ring tower, which uses circular, wooden rings of various colours and sizes to teach children about, well, colours and sizes. These toys are excellent for babies and young toddlers still learning how to interpret and interact with the world around them on the most basic levels. There are also the traditional wooden shape blocks which can be dropped into a box through the corresponding holes, and various other classic toys used to teach basic interaction skills.



If you’re looking for baby learning toys or toddler learning toys, you may also want to look into baby walking toys to encourage, well, learning to walk. Bath toys are another excellent form of educational baby toys to encourage basic life skills.



For the slightly older child, these kinds of toys are, of course, kind of boring. Once a child becomes interested in learning mathematics or learning to read, it’s kind of hard to find tiny wooden blocks all that amusing anymore.



For the child who has surpassed the need for such basic learning toys, there are, of course, toys like Intellective toy laptops, which teach a variety of reading and mathematic skills, and of course, the classic puzzles and kids games, creative toys, such as Lego sets (check out the Star Wars lego toys if your kid’s a real space nut), Duplos, Mega Bloks, and build-it-yourself castle and doll house play sets. Sorry for the run on sentence, but the list really does go on and on.



For the yet MORE advanced child, who might consider all that stuff to be children’s toys, between the ages of say, 8 and 12 (though each child advances at his own age, so use your own judgement), there are more advanced toys, like model kits and remote control cars toys. Such toys aren’t generally seen as being educational, but they do require a degree of construction and maintenance (which can encourage the kind of habits most of us wish we had when we bought our first used car as a teenager).



It’s important to know what kind of interactive learning toys are right for your child, based on their level of development and their own personal interests. Most toys will have a suggested age group, but that’s all that that really is: A suggestion. Nobody knows your child like you do, so look to provide them with the toys that seem custom built to their specific needs, and remember that, as helpful as playing can be, the best way to nurture a child’s growth is by taking time to help them learn basic life skills and indulging their curiosities.

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Yogee.com.au is a leading Australian online toy store. Visit yogee.com.au for a wide selection of Kids Toys at discounted prices. To save money on your next purchase, please visit Toys.