YOUNG ALL STARS

In case anyone out there does not know I'll quote Wikipedia for you (it's okay -there is no leaked information here so we ought to be safe!

"Young All-Stars was a follow-up to DC's popular Golden Age-themed series All Star Squadron, which Roy Thomas also wrote. The intention was to pick up that series' storyline after the events of the Crisis on Infinite Earths series, which necessitated writing Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman out of the original series' history since their World War II versions now no longer existed. The characters of Iron Munro, Fury, and Flying Fox were meant to essentially replace those heroes in the new continuity. The new series wasn't as popular as the earlier series and was canceled after thirty-one regular issues and one annual."

I've mentioned All Star Squadron here: http://hoopercomicart.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/all-star-squadron-invaders-machine-man.html

There was another post about the DC Showcase Presents All Star Squadron collection but I cannot find that!

The Young All-Stars were created by Roy Thomas and his wife, Dann along with Michael Bair and introduced in Young All-Stars #1, June, 1987.

Arn "Iron" Munro was based on a pulp fiction character of the 1930s and is, to all intents and purposes, the Superman of the YAS.  Flying Fox was quite obviously Batman -a flying 'fox' being...a bat.  And as for their version of Wonder Woman well it was blatantly the Fury.
                                                                   

The first issue saw the Golden Age character TNT killed by Axis Amerika and his side-kick, Dynamite, was rescued by Munro. I really do hate to write this but there is one very big reason WHY this was less than successful.  All Star Squadron had  artists such as Joe Kubert, Jerry Ordway, Don Heck, Carmine Infantino, Don Newton, Rich Buckler,  Wayne Boring and they even roped in Todd McFarlane, George Perez, Tony DeZuniga to work on the series.

The above, final issue cover.  Look at it: cramped and rather messy.  It's all over the place and therein lay the problem.

The stories in this series started out okay even if there was none of the "emotional attachment" to characters.  They were new.  And, like John Byrne did with Alpha Flight rather successfully, one of the newcomers was introduced to fill in their past each issue. Did it work with YAS?  Maybe 50-50.




But then when all the introductions were out of the way you still had to deal with the artwork which at times was too painful to look at.  Anatomy could be out and....well, it just was not good.  And as the series progressed it got worse.

I've just managed to complete my 31 issue run of the title and I thought #30 was badly drawn and the story seemed a mess -I really did check three times to make sure that it was Roy Thomas writing!

Then came the final all-out issue #31. Bad.  The story just seemed to be all over the place. In fact, I have to write that it just plain stank. "I've killed my son, Arn Munro!" Arn Munro appears. "I didn't kill you but I told both sides I did so not to lose face!"  Followed by a few "I really will kill you this time!"  At which point I screamed "WELL KILL THE FECKER THEN!!"

How did they stop the unstoppable super Amazonian type natives?  They caught the common cold and started dying because they had been isolated from the outside world.  But it was so badly written.  And Arn Munro's dad the super man -how did he get defeated?  He didn't. He flew down an industrial chimney that super exploded (of course).  Anyone check?  No.

And the YAS?  Well they got incorporated into the All Star Squadron and there it ended.

 And what did not help was ugly -ugly- art.

I am not kidding.  I loved All Star Squadron (even though you could not abbreviate it as with the JSA or JLA because All Star Squadron....ASS) but YAS started promisingly and ended in a slow nose dive of death into a paper shredder.





Like Marvel Comics, DC hit the 1990s like an acid-tripping hippy in a vat of molasses and bricks.

I have to think that Roy Thomas had seen one of the best comic series he had written -outside of the Avengers - the All Star Squadron ripped out from under him and sinking all the planned stories (yeah, DC apparently promised ASS could continue as it was ) and then he has to rush together a new World War II series but he was not getting the top artists any more that made All Star Squadron so good.  No Ordway.  No Buckler.

Was he so sick of how his title was being treated that toward the end he just said "Who gives a **** any more?!" -he was one of comics best writers/scripters so the mess that YAS became is just...a mystery.

Now, I need to get me round to finishing my Freedom Fighters run -and the Freedom Fighters also guested in JLA (vol. 1) and All Star Squadron with great storylines.

Oh well, I still have the fond memories and read of my ASS collection.

oooo-er!

Well, 'Avengers 3' movie seems to follow 'The Thanos Quest' comic book storyline

At least according to examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/article/avengers-3-movie-seems-to-follow-the-thanos-quest-comic-book-storyline -where you can watch the Thanos clip- who are simply repeating the information everyone else in comicdom is.

Now what did I tell everyone a good ways back when they were being ripped off -price-wise- on anything Sub-Mariner related ("It's the big mystery movie coming up!! Buy the goods now!")?  I wrote, it's there for all to see, that there was no Sub-Mariner movie.

Boo-ya!

But as Marvel movie news far exceeds news and excitement from DC movies....my treat!

 

CF Kritik

According to ComicBook.com on Thursday, there is the speculative notion that Marvel Studios' "Avengers: Infinity Wars" two-part comic book movie and the line-up of other films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe could follow along a similar path as "The Thanos Quest" which was written by Jim Starlin and drawn by Ron Lim. The plot of that story entails Thanos' resurrection by Mistress Death to assist her in accomplishing the mission of exterminating half the universe's population.

Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios and Walt Disney Studios, used with permission

Perhaps this was Death's efficient method of culling the herd, but Thanos' intended to repay death in seeking out the six "Soul" or "Infinity Gems" and them joining them together with the Infinity Gauntlet. "The Thanos Quest" is a two-part series that leads into the three consecutive comic book limited-series of "The Infinity Gauntlet", "Infinity War", and "Infinity Crusade."


Take notice the "Infinity War" comic book title is the same as the Marvel Cinematic Universe's sub-title to "Avengers" third and forth movies. One may speculate that those four comic book titles are being condensed into the two-part Marvel Studios version. The Infinity Gems are known as the Infinity Stones in the theatrical variant.


Right now, Thanos' objective is to collect what would allow him to harness the Mind, Time, Reality, Soul, Space, and Power. This was his objective in "The Thanos Quest" as he embarqed on his journey to acquire them from the cosmic entities that are in current possession of them. The Marvel Cinematic Universe, the locations and the occurrences of the Infinity Stones are as follows:


The Space Gem
 
Is also the Tesseract, the cube shaped artifact first seen in "Captain America: The First Avenger" that was initially acquired by the Red Skull back in World War II. It eventually allowed the Chitauri to invade Earth during The Battle of New York at the hands of Thor's villainous brother, Loki. This gem currently remains in Asgard.


The Reality Gem

Also, known as the Aether in "Thor: The Dark World", this was in a constantly seen as red in color and has made its way through space and time. It can change regular matter into dark matter and had been coveted by the Dark Elves who were born again into the universe from the darkness that King Odin had spoken of. It now is in possession of The Collector, played by Benicio Del Toro, on Planet Knowhere.

The Power Gem

This was the sought after artifact by Peter Jason Quill, a.k.a. Star-Lord in James Gunn's "Guardians of the Galaxy." He had attempted to take it to The Collector on Planet Knowhere and this is where the audience learned of all six "singularities" where he spoke of how even the most powerful of beings who had tried to harness its power, but failed. Ronan the Accuser took possession of it and then later Rocket distracted Ronan while Star-Lord made a break for it to grab the Power Gem. The gem is currently located at the Nova headquarters on Xandar.


The Mind Gem

This is found to be in Loki's scepter. It was given to him to control the minds of those who could manipulate the Tesseract into bringing for the Chitauri during the Battle of New York. With a touch of his sceptor to his victim, he could easily control their free will. This was last scene during the end-tease of "Captain America: The Winter Soldier at Baron Von Strucker's underground Hydra facility along with captives Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver.


This leaves the continuing saga of the Mad Titan Thanos to find and acquire the gems. With the aforementioned mentioned brings for moving forward with Marvel's phase three.


"Captain America: Civil War"
In this film which is thought to lead to Tony Stark and Steve Rogers opposing each other, an Infinity Stone will likely not enter this film. Loki's scepter may come into play and could connect with the "over-arching" "Thanos Quest" storyline. There's a thought that if this scepter is acquired by the Avengers, one could contend that it would stand to reason it would be in this film. This film is scheduled to be released come May 6, 2016.

"Doctor Strange"
This is where it may get interesting. In the comic book storyline, the Sorcerer Supreme plays a key role in Thanos' quest for the Infinity Stones. In this film, where Benedict Cumberbatch is rumored to play the starring role, a new stone could be brought into the mix. There may even be a post-credit end scene with Thanos, who is known to be played by "Goonies'" Josh Brolin, to make an appearance in the tease. This film is slated for Nov. 6, 2016.


"Guardians of the Galaxy 2"
Director Gunn has mentioned he's already working on the story/script and it looks like this film would only make sense for Thanos to appear. Likely to send someone to do his bidding to find the Aether or the Reality Gem after the destruction of The Collector's museum. This comic book movie is scheduled for May 5, 2017.


"Thor: Ragnarok"
This is where there could be a significant impact in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There are a few things to keep in mind here as Ragnarok, also known as Surtur who is a malevolent fire demon, could have wiped out Asgard as told in the comics. It could only be after the destruction of Asgard is where Thanos collects the Infinity Gauntlet as seen in the armory of Asgard in the previous "Thor" movie. This film is scheduled to be released come July 28, 2017.


"Black Panther"
There isn't a frame of thought here where there would be any kind of tie-in to Thanos' quest for the stones. One may wonder there could be just an end tease to this movie entailing Thanos seeking out the final stone. This comic book movie is scheduled for release come Nov. 3, 2017.


"Avengers: Infinity War Part 1"
One could only ascertain at this point, in the first portion of the comic book movie that Thanos acquires all the Infinity Stones. Of course, likely the last and final gem and is has finally put it all together into the Infinity Gauntlet. This was likely seen in the trailer at the Marvel press event last Tuesday showing Thanos wielding the gauntlet with gems blazoned. The start of the two-part "Avengers 3" movie is scheduled for May 4, 2018.

BcP Book Fair and Comic Expo 22nd November

BcP Book Fair and Comic Expo

Panel’s Programme

11.00 – 11.45: ‘Fear and uncertainty and DRM’ (changing from comics

                        to books)

      Chris Lynch

12.15 – 13.15: ‘Breaking into writing’

     Alternative Realities, Matthew Sylvester

13.45 – 14.45: ‘Up close and personal’

                         DeVaughn Lilly

15.00 – 16.00:  Poetry workshop

       Paul Tobin

16.15 – 17.15: ‘The Changing Face of Horror’

      Austin Chambers, Adam Millard and Scott Stanford

 

 

Just a quick note. I'll be at table 35 for the event.  However, having thought about it I will not be taking the Maakika A4 art pieces not the postcard sets to sell.

The reason for this is simply that I do not think that anyone is going to be interested at a book and comic expo.  I don't want to cart a lot of excess items to sell.  No one has shown any interest in buying pieces any way (even though I've received more praise for them than my comic work grrrrrrrrrrrr).

But if you were going to the event to buy pieces then please let me know and I'll take a full set of art and postcards.

To be honest it's going to be hard work selling enough to cover costs at a one day event so I'm gonna hunker down behind a table!!

I should -I have no 100% confirmation yet- be assisted by Darron Northall so if the person behind the table doesn't have a beard and screams at you it's not me!

BcP Book Fair and Comic Expo Floor Plan

 

Number	Exhibitor	Special arrangements
1.	Tony Long – The Comic Man “ “ “
2.
3.
4.
5.	Austin Chambers - author	Panel 5 “ “
6.	Adam Millard - author
7.	Scott Stanford - author
8.	Sophie Sparham - author
9.	Ashley McCook - author
10.	Hannah Collins – Cosmic Anvil
11.	Paul Grist - author
12.	Christine Mcmorran – Paint Can Alley
13.	Simon Williams –artist	Artist in residence
14.
15.	Dave and Wendy Frankcom – Into The Realm “
16.
17.	Chris Lynch – graphic novels and indie books	Panel 1
18.	Grayham Puttock – small press writer
19.	Ian Schofield - artist
20.	Tim Perkins – Wizard’s Keep “
21.
22.	Graham Bleathman
23.	Simon Brett –artist and poublisher
24.	Jennifer Anne Haugan - illustrator
25.	Chloe Hammond - author
26.	Nigel Mably – SF Collectables
27.
28.	Steve Tanner – Time Bomb comics
29.	Victoria Sommer - artist
30.	Nick Gribbon - illustrator
31.	Kris Carter – Lou Scannon books “ -  The Pencil Pirates
32.
33.
34.	Vince Hunt and Daniel Marc Chant - authors
35.	Terry Hooper-Scharf – Black Tower comics
36.	Joanne Hall – author
37.	Rianne Rowlands - illustrator
38.	Michael Clipper – Sloth Junk recyclables
39.	Jamie Lambert – Bearded Skull comics
40.	James Dean – graphic artist
41.	Caroline Loughrey –My Geeky Shop
42.	Ian Matthews – Razarhawk comics
43.	Dave Morris – graphic artist and Paul Tobin - poet	Panel 4
44.	Matthew Sylvester – Alternative Realities and One Dotty Duck	Panel 2
45.	Mark Warner – Hellbound Media “ – Great Escape Books	(5 guests)
46.
47.	Rob Fish – Rob4Fish comics “ – Rob4Fish merchandise
48.
49.	Tony Cooper - author
50.	DeVaughn Lilly - author “ “	Panel 3
51.
52.
53.	Reception desk
54.	In Birch for panels