Thursday, August 18, 2011

JOIN THE UFO

THE UFO CHECKLIST

The UNITED FANZINE ORGANIZATION (UFO) is a co-op of small-press publishers dedicated to

setting a higher standard of quality in independent and alternative press. The members mutually aid one another in the promotion and production of their own publications. Any small press creator who is interested in membership in the UFO should contact the Chairman, Steve Shipley, 1825 Eastgate Road, Toledo, OH 43614, or email him at steveshipley7@gmail.com You can find the Official UFO website athttp://www.unitedfanzineorganization.weebly.com ______________________________________________________________________________

TETRAGRAMMATON FRAGMENTS #218 (The UFO Newsletter): The latest issue of The

UFO Newsletter which is the central forum for members, containing columns and artistic work

that cannot be found anywhere else. Available for $2.00 postpaid in the USA from Steve

Shipley (address above).

BOONDOGGLE #1: A brand-new release with comic strips, cartoons and art bySteve Shipley! This 28-page B&W digest (with a beautiful full color cover) is only $2.00 postpaid.

Contact Steve at the address above, or visit him online at

http://www.budgetcomicsandcartoons.weebly.com

CONVICT #1: A 36-page digest-size B&W comic exploring new and exciting ways of graphic

storytelling! Larry DuCheny is an exciting new talent and proves it with his first UFO comic.

To order a copy, email newworldimagingcomics@yahoo.com or visit

http://www.angelfire.com/art3/newworldimaging

CRUSADER: An impressive 6-page superhero tale by Keith Royster & Darrell Goza,

originally done as a tryout for DC's new talent program.

Available at http://scriptgraphics.weebly.com/crusader.html

DITKOMANIA #85: The latest issue of this fanzine devoted to comics artist Steve Ditko

features a long article about his 1960s Warren work. This 32-page B&W digest is available for

$2.50 postpaid in the USA from Rob Imes, 13510 Cambridge #307, Southgate, MI

48195. Email robimes@yahoo.com or visit www.ditko-fever.com/dmreturns.html for

more info.

FANTASY THEATER #21: J. Kevin Carrier's popular barbarian heroine Glorianna stars in a

suspenseful and fast moving full-length adventure. A highly entertaining 36-page B&W digest

comic for only $2.00 postpaid from J. Kevin Carrier, 1800 Leven Lane, Milford, OH

45250. You can email him at JKCarrier@aol.com or visit him on the web at

http://jkcarrier.livejournal.com Also, check out his webcomic at

http://www.webcomicsnation.com/jkcarrier/ladyspectra/series.php

HERO CENTRAL UNIVERSE #3: Jason Bullock presents another installment of HCU in a high

quality comic filled with action and drama. This B&W digest (with color cover) is $3.00 postpaid

from Jason Bullock, P.O. Box 2684, Loganville, GA 30052. You can email him at

jasonb@girafnetwork for more info. Check out his webcomic at

http://www.drunkduck.com/hero_central_universe

HERO TRIBUTE #1: Darrell Goza offers an innovative mini-comic using previously unpublished

works. A mere 75 cents from Darrell Goza, 1715 E. Cambridge, Allentown, PA 18109.

Email him at nightray2002@yahoo.com for more info, or visit online at

http://scriptgraphics.com

I, CLARIFY!...: 20-page B&W digest-size text publication by Darrell Goza, subtitled "My Final

Commentary on the UFO Digital vs. Print debate." Darrell's essay details his position on the

place of digital publications in the UFO. Contact Darrell at the address above for more details.

*PPFSZT! #31: Standard-size 56-page B&W anthology comic (with beautiful color covers)

featuring strips by Brien Wayne Powell, Al & Rick Limacher, Nate Corrigan, Steve Shipley, Steve

Keeter & more! Available for $7.00 postpaid from Jim Main, 13 Valley View Rd.,

Brookfield, CT 06804. Email Jim at jmain44@aol.com or visit him on the web at

http://mainenterprises.ecrater.com for more info.

TALES OF FANTASY #54: This issue contains a suspenseful Lew Brown adventure, an SF prose

tale about Bart Rover, a lively (9-page!) lettercol, and a Space Cat strip. This 44-page B&W

digest-size comic (with gorgeous color covers) is $3.00 postpaid from Larry Johnson, 31

Greenbrook Rd., Hyde Park, MA 03136. Email him atLewBrown75@yahoo.com or see

http://LarryJohnsonartist.tripod.com for more.

Wednesday, August 03, 2011

GIANTS Comics--Dan Burke editor


It's Collossal and Titanic, It's GIANTS Comics. Magazine size, full color, 32 pages, $10 cover price.
Art and stories by Dan Burke, Chris Wisnia and Rock Baker.

Giants is a throw back to the comics of the 60's/70's....or more likely a parody of those times. It's a fun frolicking blast of adventure and color and comedy. Dan Burke has gone wild editing up this great book. The cover has something from all the stories represented, plus the screening of the color, the checkerboard pattern, and the rectangular box in the upper left corner, all take us back to an earlier time in comics past. The inside cover which carries over to the first page of the book sets the tone. Everything is BIG, and this book is going to be funny!

The first story is "The Green Giantess" by Rock Baker. This story is also like a flashback to the comics of the past, like an issue of Strange Tales. Not sure why all the lettering is so huge but that seems to be a trend in this book. Excellent coloring on this story-not sure who did the coloring here-- but it also reminds me of the silver age comics and how they were handled. This story ends pretty abruptly, seems there was more to come here. Continued in the next issue? Maybe.

The next story is "Fear of the Blue Giants" by Dan Burke. This story is directly inspired by the first story in the book. Not sure I've ever seen this done before. Wait, this is Dan continuing the first story! This is very interesting.....Dan expands on the simple first story giving us a "what if" continuation. Very well done. Does the lead character turn in to Duke Nukem? HA. Dan can sure pack a lot into one page as he does here in this last page of this 4 page story.

The next story "Gabba Gabba Hey!" is not credited but I'm pretty sure is by Dan Burke. He lets it all loose in this one, unleashing a monster of destruction. From the surprise start to the destruction to follow.....Dan is on fire here. I see such improvement in Dan's story telling here. His panel to panel action is easier to follow and he has developed his own style. I love the way he shows the action on pages 6-8 of this story. (and his use of blacks in the art shading.) I also like the way the ending brings us back to what happened at the start. Excellent work here, love it.

Next is "Doris Danger Giant Monster Adventures: Poo-Twah!" Now we are really taken back to the early issues of Strange Tales with the man-urned-into-monster story and even the art looks like Jack Kirby, though from his DC comics of the 70's style. I'm guessing this story is by Chris Wisnia as it is not credited though his name is on the credits, page 1. The art seems taken right out of some Kirby comics, or very inspired by them, but the story is a very funny take on those early tales. Great fun! I love all the little editorial mentioning of earlier issues like Stan used to do in the Marvel books! Oh, yes, Chris has his name in the last panel advertising more to come at: www.slgcomic.com

The last story in the book is "Giantia the Mistress of Bigness Battles.....Giant Gia" by Dan Burke. Wow, Dan put in a lot of work for this book. A labor of love here. This story is another (3rd in this issue?) story of two very giant girls. They start fighting and destroying an oil rig out in the ocean. We are introduced to "Deep Sea Diver-Chum Bukler" Ha! Great stuff here. This one has a funny twist ending only Dan could come up with!

There is a page of comic reviews, mentioning books by Larry Johnson, and Jim Main's Main Publications!

Last but not least a beautiful page with 6 Marvel parody covers.....I love this stuff! Fantastic Fools, The Assemblers, and Bulk to name a few......Dan could do a full Burke Age of comics! And he should!

I have no choice but to give this book 5 stars out of 5 as it is very entertaining, funny, and well worth $10.

Get the book from Dan Burke at: www.attackearth.com
See more work of Christ Wisnia at http://www.tabloia.com