ComicBitsOnline.com

TAKE ANOTHER FUN-FILLED TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANEWITH ARCHIE AND HIS FRIENDS AS THEY RELIVE THE SENSATIONAL SIXTIES!   

Since 1991, the ARCHIE AMERICANA SERIES has provided fans with not only a historical perspective of Archie Comics, but a hysterical one as well! Now, one of the comic industry’s most enduring trade paperback series returns for another round of nostalgic fun as Archie Comics proudly presents THE ARCHIE AMERICANA SERIES: BEST OF THE SIXTIES, BOOK 2!        

By popular demand, we’ve returned to one of the most popular decades ever for America ’s favorite comic book teens.  We’re pleased to serve up this second helping of 1960s fun and frolics for all those readers who enjoyed the original ARCHIE AMERICANA SERIES: BEST OF THE SIXTIES.  We’re sure you’ll be pleased, too!   

Whether getting tangled up in the eternal love triangle or incurring the wrath of Mr. Weatherbee and Mr. Lodge, Archie and his friends scaled new heights of hilarity in the sensational Sixties! 

ARCHIE AMERICANA SERIES: BEST OF THE SIXTIES, VOLUME 2 contains timeless tales with Archie and his friends enduring one outlandish mishap after another and enjoying the fads and fashions of the decade! 

Painstakingly restored from original archival materials and faithfully re-colored, this high-grade paperback edition features a computer-airbrushed cover rendered in 1960s style by Archie fan-favorite, Rex Lindsey. 

So practice your yoga positions, catch up on the latest beatnik beat and join the peace rally with Archie and his friends!  You’re sure to “make the scene” with these comedy classics!   

   ARCHIE AMERICANA SERIES: BEST OF THE SIXTIES BOOK 2,  SCRIPT AND ART: Various.    Shipping Date: June 18th, 2008 

On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: June 25th, 2008 

On Sale on Newsstands: July 1st, 2008   

96-page, full color square-bound paperback,   $10.95 US.   

I know that I’ve said it before but Manga is a regular big hitter on the CBO sites.  Emma Vieceli and Sonia Leong as well as other Sweatdrop Studio creators are getting more hits and Manga news items and reviews are being checked out again.

And,for some reason,I’m getting requests for info on “How to draw Manga” or how Manga effects [letratone?] can be achieved.

16000 hits per week and sometimes I get the feeling I ought to turn the site to “CBO-Manga”!

However,I think we have a good enough mix?  And don’t despair -more Dr Master and Udon reviews coming and I will look into the Manga guides!

HAUS OF DESIGN 

Need your next project / book to look real professional withreasonable rates? Can work with any size publisher, starting, small,indy, self or large. Have many different styles that can fit any needs.  Work for hire: comics to logos, RPG to magazine spots, animation tosuperheroes, covers to interiors, b&w to full color, digital toconventional. Commissions are welcome. hausofdesign@ yahoo.com 

Clientel:

Links http://www.comicspace.com/tpavlet/comics.php?action=gallery&comic_id=13210

http://www.comicspace.com/tpavlet/comics.php?action=gallery&comic_id=7519

http://www.comicspace.com/tpavlet/comics.php?action=gallery&comic_id=7528

http://www.comicspace.com/tpavlet/comics.php?action=gallery&comic_id=8428

http://www.comicspace.com/tpavlet/comics.php?action=gallery&comic_id=7529

http://tpavlet.deviantart.com/gallery/  

Sad news that British comic creator/colourist and author Steve Whitaker died on Thursday.

Whitaker contributed  articles to 1980s publications Fantasy Advertiser and Chain Reaction,was involved in colour work at Marvel UK and even did preliminary work on the later aborted Man-Elf project from Trident [see illo].

As always,Down The Tubes gives an excellent tribute to the man at:

http://downthetubescomics.blogspot.com/2008/02/in-memoriam-steve-whitaker_24.html

CBOs condolences to Steve’s family.

James Ritchey III has been in touch with some good news…  “The Diamond numbers came in last week for issue one, and we donegood–more than enough to guarantee issue two, and possibly the whole,subversive ‘Spark Universe’ imprint from AC. Besides Danny Donovan’stireless effort, and my vociferousness the last four years at cons, I don’t think the incidental cross-promotion with Dynamite and Dark Horse has not hurt, either.  

A GREAT review (the very first on a comics news site in the U.S.–bysomeone who’s actually read it)–from Chuck Moore, at ‘Comic Related’: 

“Upon reading this first issue, I was impressed by the narrative depthof the story. This isn’t a “read it in five minutes then done” kind ofcomic. There is thought and content packed into each of the thirty-twopages. It challenges the reader and jumps back and forth giving youthat same feeling of digging for the truth that Jethro Dumont must beexperiencing as he pieces together the riddle of his life.”

–Chuck Moore 

http://www.comicrelated.com/ review/greenlama .html 

Interesting and I’d certainly like to see and review the book but…at least there’ll be a second issue and it shows that James’ perseverance has paid off at long last.  Congratulations,James.

BROWNER  KNOWLE no.1

A5  24pp  black & white

£3.00 + £1.00 p&h

Cheques payable to Paul Brown 

Available from:15 Wedmore Vale,Bedminster,Bristol BS3 5HQ

Or email :paulashleybrown@googlemail.com 

Nice item turned up in today’s post!Okay,a warning,this item will soon be available from Osnap,who sell Brown’s other titles,Yo-Yo-Buks,featured here recently.  Sales are already high so if you want a Copy grab one soon!   

Famous –or “infamous”?- as the artist for the cult 1980s anthropomorphic VIGILANTE VULTURE,Brown hasconcentrated on what might be called more “legitimate” art in the last decade.  He is also working on a portfolio of work for exhibit.  And,of course,Outlaws 2533 [more anon]. 

What Brown has done here is to scour his sketch-books and art to put together something that shows what might be called “typical 21^st century Britain” but with his own perspective. The drawings and sketches are taken from around Bristol though I suspect,as one who was once exiled there,the main influence is the Knowle area of Bristol [home of music great Tricky and,uh,”Banksy”].

 Things begin with “Imagine” and then we get into “Scenes From Empty Street & The 5-o-clock Café” –and a ramble to make you feel sorry for poor “Lucy”! There are a couple of pages of people moving around and at various angles from the infamous sketch books!  “Quiet Loners” luckily,did not include myself with a sniper’s rifle atop Castle Mead!  “You MUST Leave It Behind!” is a nice piece of Brown madness old stylie.  “The Mumblers”,again,did not include me and the back cover features “Pretty Vagrants”;this is “No.1:Jo”. 

Read through this and you’ll see why Brown moves around nervously!  This could be said to be “AnyTown,UK” but though you might see variations elsewhere this is Bristol.

No computer art or usage just scalpel,cutting board,paste-board and Prit-Stik!  Down to the last 80 so if you want a copy grab it fast! 

“HOW MANY WILL SEE OUR ITEM?” 

And that is a fairly legitimate question,even though Comic Bits Online and its associated sites don’t usually discuss this. 

I checked the hits counter yesterday and 2000 had viewed the main CBO site at 

        www.comicbitsonline.com 

At CBO –Comic Bits Online yesterday there were 1990 hits.  That’s at 

         http://comicbitsonline.multiply.com/journal 

The third main site can get between 1-2000 hits a week but in December reached 3000 per day!  That site is at 

http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-epFXsZ85dKlqC7tDmPACPKTchPEXBA–?cq=1 

So,an item reviewed or interview can be seen by 6000 people a week. 

CBO also has feeds to other sites  and here the CBO items are again high hitters.  Working it out one evening it was clear that 4-5000 could be added to the figure above.   

That’s 6-10,000 per week and it seems that people are using CBO as a reference point when asking for new books or items reviewed/promoted. 

Not bad,heh? 

Keeping up with Manga/Manhua can be a trial,though!  And then there are the requests for info on how to draw Manga or how to acquire the effects found in Manga! 

And I don’t get paid for this,you know! 

Small Pressers or comic publishers or even creators I will continue to feature and promote.  

I will make it clear though that CBO will no longer accept pdf comics –it has to be hard copy.  No hard copy –NO review. 

Figure/game makers –this is not simply a “repeat word-for-word-from Press Release” site.  You want a review and promo then we NEED TO SEE THE GOODS!   

So there,a few facts and an invitation to those interested! 

Have a good 2008! 

Terry Hooper[aka “Mr CBO”] 

More Glimpses Into The Future! 

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #185

“Mogul Rising”: Life’s been good for Sonic and is friends, but as any longtime reader of this series knows, that can’t possibly last for long!  That’s because the once super-powerful villain Mammoth Mogul is threatening to revive the Fearsome Foursome… from behind bars!  Just how can he accomplish that… and how will his plan put Sonic’s closest friends in the greatest danger?  It’s a fistful of mystery and shocking revelations as only Sonic can deliver!   

SCRIPT: Ian Flynn.  ART: Tracy Yardley & Jim Amash.   

COVER: Tracy Yardley & Ben Hunzeker. 

PLUS!: “The Misfit Badniks Salty, Soggy Sequel”: The classic Sonic team of Mike Gallagher and Dave Manak are back for a brand-new, modern-day Sonic classic loaded with some of the most popular classic Sonic villains including the original version of Metal Sonic known as Pseudo-Sonic!   

SCRIPT: Mike Gallagher.  ART: Dave Manak. 

Shipping Date: February 6th, 2008 

On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: February 13th, 2008 

On Sale on Newsstands: February 26th, 2008 

32-page, full color comic 

$2.25 US. 

BETTY & VERONICA SPECTACULAR #81 

   PEURS DU NOIR /[FEAR[S] OF THE DARK] 

Those of you interested in European art/comics,will know of Lorenzo Matotti,who has produced some great comic albums in the past.  Naturally,artist and sometimes contributor to CBO,Paul Ashley Brown,is a big fan, 

So,whilst talking to the temporarily injured Mr Brown [apparently rough-housing once more] by telephone today I was interested to hear that the much referred to Matotti animated feature is being released tomorrow,8^th February. 

Now,you can see a luscious clip over at the PEUR[S] DU NOIR myspace site: 

http://www.myspace.com/peursdunoir 

This looks incredible.  If it shows near you –go see it! If you know nothing about Matotti it really is your loss! 

But you can find out more at the official website: 

http://www.mattotti.com/ 

Check it out,folks!

ORANG UTAN MAKES BABIES GO BOOM!

Baby Boomers is twisted fun in two tiny packages. 

 Richard McAuliffe

Join writer Richard McAuliffe and artist Chad Cicconi as they do their part to convince the next generation of comic readers that perhaps having children might not be the best option to take.  While at the same time reassuring those who have already spawned that things really could be much worse.

 Chad Cicconi

 “As soon as I saw the sample pages I new this was a title that we had to get out there” said Orang Utan Comics founder Peter Rogers.  “No Universe, no continuity, no convoluted backstory. Just two babies fighting with Jerry Bruckheimer producing and John Woo in the director’s chair.  

Baby Boomers is as high concept as it gets and that’s why it works. Simple but never stupid, Baby Boomers is like a classic newspaper humour strip on steroids.”McAuliffe and Cicconi are both relative newcomers and Baby Boomers is their first published work. 

McAuliffe had this to say about the title “I just hope people like it and find it funny (if they do its all in the writing, if not… blame the artist, he won’t mind).  I’d like to thank all the people who saw snippets of this online and gave us so much encouragement to make the move into print.”

“I had a great time working on this book, and I’m excited to see it in print” added artist Chad Cicconi.  “Thanks to Orang Utan Comics for agreeing to publish this crazy thing, and to our friends on the Comic Geek Speak and Geek Syndicate forums for their input and comments, and for giving us their enthusiasm to push forward with this project.” 

Baby Boomers is scheduled to launch at this year’s Web and Mini Comix Thing in

http://ukwebcomixthing.co.uk/ . 

And it will also be available to buy online at the Orang Utan Comics site from March. For more information on Orang Utan Comics and what else they have planned for 2008, visit them online at

www.orangutancomics.co.uk  

Further Information
Orang Utan Comics
Starting life in 2007 as an International Comics Collective Orang Utan Comics has since evolved into a studio and publisher.  Orang Utan Comics publishes anthology series Eleventh Hour and develops ongoing titles for publication with other publishers. For more information about Orang Utan Comics visit www.orangutancomics.co.uk.