ComicBitsOnline.com

 I know I must have given this link before?  Hmmm.  Anyway,the only comic strip I had based on the 1960s German TV sci Fi show Raumpatrouille Orion was in Hungarian.

Someone on one of the yahoo SPO groups did a translation using an online translatorso I re-wrote/edited and cleaned things up to present…

…SPACE PATROL ORION:FIRST CONTACT!

The pages here are smaller but you can see the larger pages via a 4Share folder.  The link is:
http://www.4shared. com/file/ 26052035/ 49a15085/ Orion_First_ Contact.html

Very interested in knowing what you think!

Nicole Damon,exotic dancer,model and all-round nice lady,passed along the link to a site where you’ll find artwork to make you drool!

Greg Hildebrandt’s site has all sorts of incredible artwork that makes me jealous -included is art done in conjunction with his brother Tim,who died in 2006.

If you want a treat and to look at REAL art the link is below and,did I mention you can buy art prints?

Enjoy!

http://www.spiderwebart.com

 A surprise for me [I get a lot at my age!]  was the fact that my Raumpatrouille Orion feature got so many hits.  Sadly,the only comic strip I had based on the German TV series was one in Hungarian.

However,having edited a rather odd translation [I guess via computer translator] I can now present all five pages and a cover in English.

The 4Shared link is:

http://www.4shared.com/file/26052035/49a15085/Orion_First_Contact.html

Enjoy and remember:even The Frogs need friends!

 I came across the Gale Force Nine site by chance and as a part time gamer who gets more frustrated with how to make terrain look good in a small space I thought some of the stuff looked cool.

You can check the site out at:

https://www.gf9.com/

And believe me,it is a treat to look through the Galleries on the site and as for the terrain etc…if you are a gamer and have not seen this stuff -hold your breath!

“GF9 is less than one month away from the general release of two new amazing pieces of terrain: The Khador Avalanche Cannon and the Cygnar Storm Research Station!

Many years ago,the last century in fact [yes,Kiddies,Unkie is that old!],I wrote a comic titled Power Women that was intended for AC Comics.  The artist back then was David Gray….the years rolled on.

You can imagine my surprise when,looking in my over-full Bulk file,I saw the name “David Gray” and thought “could it be?”  It was!

What surprised me was that David’s artwork had improved incredibly and I assumed that he must have been published -the 2000 AD based art was so good I thought it had been published in those pages.  So the biggest surprise was when David told me he had been turned down by 2000 AD -as have many high quality artists [and Rebellion wonders why it struggles?!].

So,for you delectation,here are a few sampler illoes and if you are interested in a quality artist [no time wasters,please!] you can contact David via email at:

cylons@hotmail.com

all artwork [c] D. L. Gray 2007 

The Astounding Wolfman has been a favourite of mine since I picked up #1 so let’s start there!

Howard and Kirkman’s latest continues sell-out trend!

Jason Howard and Robert Kirkman’s ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN has once again sold out at the distributor level soon after its September 26th release and is returning with an all-new cover by Ryan Ottley and Kelsey Shannon.

“I can’t be any happier with the overwhelmingly positive reaction from fans and retailers alike,” series writer Robert Kirkman said. “From the moment issue one hit the stands everyone has been very enthusiastic for the book. Launching a new superhero title is never easy so Jason and I highly appreciate the continued support.”

Since its Free Comic Book Debut, WOLF-MAN’s subsequent issues have both sold out. While issue two’s new printing featured a new cover by series artist Jason Howard, Kirkman thought he would turn to two old friends to contribute a gripping image of the titular hero.

Kirkman said, “With Jason plowing away at the next issue of Wolf-Man I thought it would be a real treat for the fans to see INVINCIBLE artist Ryan Ottley’s take on our new hero. We even recruited the talents of BASTARD SAMURAI’s Kelsey Shannon to pretty up the image. They really knocked it out of the park. I think fans will be very pleased.”

ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #3 2nd printing, a 32-page full color comic with an all-new cover by Ryan Ottley and Kelsey Shannon, will be released in stores in October. In addition, ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #2 2nd printing is currently available for reorder.

Walking Dead and Invincible simultaneously sell out!

BERKELEY, CA (September 26th, 2007) - With both titles on the verge of reaching their fiftieth issues the heat behind THE WALKING DEAD and INVINCIBLE has never been hotter as proven by a simultaneous distribution-level sell out.

“People seem to be real psyched for our big milestone,” said series writer Robert Kirkman. “Having THE WALKING DEAD #42 and INVINCIBLE #45 sell out has gotten the entire creative team very fired up. Ryan Ottley’s and Charlie Adlard’s pages get better and better the closer we get to fifty.”

THW WALKING DEAD #42 sets the stage for the upcoming “No One Is Safe” storyline, while INVINCIBLE #45 plants the seeds for its series-altering trilogy. Copies of both issues may still be available at your local retailer for a limited time.

Image Comics Publisher Erik Larsen said, “Ryan, Charlie and Robert personify what Image is all about. Having a creator-owned superhero book and a black and white horror series reach these numbers was unthinkable years ago, but these guys made it happen. I can’t wait to read the next fifty!”

THE WALKING DEAD #43  and INVINCIBLE #46 , both 32-page ongoing series with a price of $2.99, are available for reorder and will arrive in October.

Printing error delays Jamie McKelvie’s eagerly awaited mini-series!

BERKELEY, CA (September 27th, 2007) - Due to a printing error Jamie McKelvie’s SUBURBAN GLAMOUR, his solo follow up to PHONOGRAM, will now be in-stores October 10th.

“Sadly there are some aspects of producing a comic no one can control,” series creator Jamie McKelvie said. “Image has put the book back to press immediately to ensure release as soon as humanly possible. While I’m highly disappointed by the delay I would rather the issue come out the way it was intended to.”

Jamie McKelvie is both writing and drawing SURBURBAN GLAMOUR, with colors by Guy Major. Their work has already garnered advance praise from many sources including FELL writer Warren Ellis, who claims Jamie to be one of the “major new talents of the decade.”

McKelvie said, “I can’t stress enough how much I appreciate the immense amount of support the series has already received and hope fans really enjoy the first issue once it hits stands.”

SUBURBAN GLAMOUR #1, the first of a four issue full-color mini-series with a cover price of $2.99, will arrive in stores October 10th.

Ennis, Connor and Palmiotti’s graphic novel returns to print!

In 2002 Garth Ennis, Amanda Connor and Jimmy Palmiotti introduced the superhero community to the world’s first superhuman prostitute, THE PRO. Since then the graphic novel has been reprinted multiple times with the latest edition immediately selling out at the distribution level.

“THE PRO helped put a spotlight on Amanda and was the first time I was really cut loose on superheroes,” said series writer Garth Ennis. “We’re not entirely surprised by the continued interest in the book given where our careers have taken us since.”

Originally published in prestige format, THE PRO was subsequently published in an oversized hardcover, both of which went out of print until the recent softcover repackaging. Soon after the new edition’s release, the entire run sold through with a reprint already in the works.

THE PRO (JUL071936), a 72-page full color graphic novel with a cover price of $7.99, is currently available for reorder.

Kirby resolicited for early 2008!

BERKELEY, CA (October 1st, 2007) - While Image Comics is set to expand its line of creator-owned Jack Kirby classics with the upcoming CAPTAIN VICTORY hardcover, the decision has been made to hold off its release until a proper restoration can be completed.

“The last thing we want to do is release an inferior version of this material,” Executive Director of Image Comics Eric Stephenson stated. “The more involved we’ve gotten in the restoration process, the more obvious it has become that the files and art we’re working simply aren’t up to par with those used for SILVER STAR. Faced with the decision to either complete a sub-standard edition or do this with the care and fine attention to detail it deserves, we’ve decided to push the book’s release back.”

The choice was simple for Stephenson and company. Image Comics will cancel open orders on CAPTAIN VICTORY and resolicit for first quarter 2008. In addition, Image is putting out a call to all art collectors who in possession of Kirby’s original pages. Anyone with access to original CAPTAIN VICTORY artwork is encouraged to e-mail Image Comics via info@imagecomics.com.

Stephenson explained, “With SILVER STAR, John Morrow at TwoMorrows supplied with near-perfect scans of the original pages. Unfortunately, it’s been much harder to track down everything we need for CAPTAIN VICTORY. Nothing beats the quality of scans of Jack’s untouched work. Anyone with access to those pages can help us ensure this will be the best hardcover possible.”

CAPTAIN VICTORY, a 376-page full-color hardcover priced at $44.99, will be resolicited for an early 2008 release.

1.   HaloClix

2.  Raj Comics [Sept]

3.  Emma Vieceli Interview

4.  Archie Comics

5.  Muthu,Iceberg article

I think that,with [5] we need to up-date!  Sadly,Wizkids features may soon go as we do a lot of publicising but it’s all one-way as we are still not getting the review items promised in July and local shops are finding they are getting no feed-back on promotions or games tournaments.

Seriously,if the company can’t bother why should CBO?

Joe Gordon at the Forbidden Planet blog has commented on the Alan Grant & Cam Kennedy adaption of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Kidnapped: 

“The guys have a second RLS adaptation - this time Jekyll and Hyde - due this coming February, a year on from Kidnapped, which went down very well as part of a literature drive here in Edinburgh.

Alan said at the Edinburgh International Book Festival he had finished the script and Cam is beavering away on the art now. Keep bugging the publisher, hopefully they will have a page or two they will maybe let us show off at some point.”

Sounds interesting and don’t forget to vist FPs blog at:

forbiddenplanet.co.uk/blog

1.   HALOCLIX

2.  CINEBOOK The 9th Art

3.  RAJ Comics [September]

4.  ARCHIE

5.  ZACK COMICS

I still don’t think we get enough comics news in newspapers here in the UK but the Daily Telegraph has been coming up trumps!

NEW LOOK DENNIS THE MENACE RETURNS TO TV

By Richard Alleyne 

Dennis the Menace, the unruly Beano cartoon character, is returning to British television screens, with a modern makeover to take account of our more politically correct times.  

No longer will the naughty schoolboy, and his dog Gnasher, be punished by his father with a slipper.  

   The new-look Dennis will represent old-fashioned fun Instead he will appear on an Oprah-style day time chat show entitled “Help, I Can’t Control My Son!” and be sent off to a “brat camp”. 

It has been a decade since new episodes featuring Dennis, whose comic strip dates back to 1951, have graced our screens but repeats remain popular.  

The latest incarnation, being produced by CBBC, has been designed to appeal to the modern “ipod” generation.  

Benjamin Gray, executive manager of Beano publisher DC Thomson, said: “The storylines are very much influenced by what is going on in the UK now, just as they always has been. 

“Quite a lot has changed over the years. Children now grow up in a world of reality TV, downloads and iPods.  

“We have to take account of that and reflect what kids get up to but things won’t change too much because that unique Dennis charm will still be there. 

“Other things have changed since Dennis first appeared in the comic. We can’t slipper him any more, which his father is very unhappy about! What was socially acceptable then is not acceptable now.” 

But Mr Gray said the new-look Dennis will represent old-fashioned fun.  

“One of our driving ambitions in the comics and animation is to present children with a world where they aren’t so constrained by political correctness or health and safety, where they can enjoy the thrill of being naughty in their imagination through Dennis.”  

Work on the new series has already begun and it will air in autumn 2009, aimed at children aged 5 to ten. 

The last series appeared on the CBBC in 1997 and its repeats have proved hugely popular for the channel.