Comic Books for Christmas

It's almost that time of year again. That's right, Christmas time. With the economy in shambles parents need to be frugal this year. Toys are expensive and soon break after opening, video games are more expensive and get played through and discarded in a matter of days. Clothing is pratical, but unless your kids are fashion conscious teen-agers, they will probably not become very excited.
A creative, family friendly alternative to the usual Christmas fare would be comic books. Comic books are exciting and entertaining for kids, and kind to your wallet. They are also educational, because they encourage reading and increase vocabulary. Of course, you don't need to tell them that they are learning something, all they need to know is that they are fun.
Long after toys and games are put aside, kids will return to a favorite comic book again and again. Comic books transport kids to worlds of wonder that spark their imaginations. Worlds filled with Super Powers, worlds full of magic, and worlds populated by favorite cartoon characters, are all at their finger tips.
Why not introduce your child to all the wondrous worlds that await their eager eyes. Check out the newest and upcoming comic books made just for kids at White Dragon Comics. Find all of our kid friendly comic books at Kids Stuff pages

What I am looking forward to in the DC relaunch

Top of my list is Wonder Woman. I just finished reading the last installment of the current series.  It has been a long road for Diana of Themyscira; she has been through many changes, since shocking everyone by killing Maxwell Lord in front of the whole world. Those were dark days for many of the heroes in the DCU. However, Diana has managed to battle her way back to the light 

SPOILER ALERT!
In her final battle with the goddess Nemesis, Nemesis’s gets what she has really been after all long, final rest. Diana is forced to assume her mantle as the Champion of the unjustly dead. But Diana’s trials, supposed to weaken her, instead only made her stronger, strong enough to overcome the will of the Gods. And she is rewarded for her troubles. But of course, no peace last forever, and Diana can feel great change on the horizon.

http://www.superherocomicbooks.com

Batman 80 page Giant 2011

Following up an age-old tradition, DC serves up a baker’s half-dozen of short tales presented by a host of little known or unknown creators, wrapped in a beautifully painted cover by Dustin Nguyen; this years Batman 80-Page Giant.

First up, “Intervention”, written by Eric Hobbs and art from Ted Naifeh. Hobbs is new to me but I feel like I have seen Naifeh’s work before, one of the most interesting aspects of this particular tale is that Bruce Wayne appears in more panels than his alter ego. While the theme is nothing new this story at least takes a new approach to answering the question why is Batman, Batman? Along the way, we are introduced to yet another street drug derived from the toxins created by some of Batman’s foes. I give this one 4 (out of 5) Bat-a-rangs.

Next, we have “Short Straw”, written by Matt Brady and Troy Brownfield and art by Thomas Nachlik. Here we have the story of a man with a mission told from the point of view of the antagonist. Without filling in very much background, the writers are able to convey that this man has been sent to test a battle suit by pitting himself against Batman. Who designed his armor and sent him on his mission remains unclear, but we witness his confrontation with Batman from his point of view all the way to the inevitable outcome. Solid art and an interesting concept. 4 Bat-a-rangs.

Then follows “Unspoken”, this Catwoman story conceived by David and Jennifer Skelly is told without dialog as the title indicates. With Bill Sienkiewicz as inker, it’s difficult to determine how much of Christina Coronas’ pencils came through, but the art was very evocative. More a vignette than an actual story, this is another page in the rocky “romance” between Batman and Catwoman. 3 ½ Bat-a-rangs.

Next up, “Waterfront”, by writer Guy Major and artist Eric Nguyen. Gotta love a story with Zsasz and the woman who wants to be “Harley” to his “Joker.” To say much more would give it all away. While the art seemed a little rushed, I still enjoyed this one. 3 ½ Bat-a-rangs.

Fifth in line is, “Danger Drive” by Terrance Griep with pencils by Peter Pachoumis and inks by Rodney Ramos. “So the Riddler and the Question walk into a game show…” Hilarious mayhem ensues, and the closest we get to ol’ pointy-ears is a cameo by Commissioner Gordon. “Exclamation points. What was I thinking?” 4 Bat-a-rangs.

In the number, six position writer Kaleb Monroe, penciler Jeoff Shaw and inker Jack Purcell give us “Fearless.” A tale of the rise of what maybe an interesting new foe for Batman. This was my personal favorite. 5 Bat-a-rangs.

Finally we have “One Lock, Many Keys” told by Joe Caramagna drawn by Joe Lalich and inked by Jack Purcell. No Batman anthology would be complete without one tale depicting the positive influence that Batman can have on young lives. This is a story about family and family struggles. It is also a story about hope. 4 ½ Bat-a-rangs.

http://www.superherocomicbooks.com

Fantasy

There is a segment of population in our society that likes to fantasize; they fantasize for a number of reasons, to escape the hardships of everyday life, to be a hero, or even to be a villain. This is the very reason that Comic Books are needed, they supply the perfect fantasy world. The comic book world can lead a reader into a story where they can fly, have super human strength, and are idolized by millions of fans.

Fans can identify with the characters from their favorite comic book because the personalities of the superheroes or villains personify what the reader visualizes or indentifies with. Comic books allow readers to visualize and create new worlds, new scenarios, and alternative outcomes. Comic books allow a fan to see how a confrontation can turn out differently, without the use of violence, profanity, and name-calling. Take a look at Superman for instance, he has been seen as the patriotic symbol of “Truth, Justice, and the American way”, he abhors violence and would never use profanity or name-calling.

Comic books are much better than short novels; they take less time to read and are full of great artwork. They hold your attention from the beginning right through the end. When you are finished, reading you can sit back and dwell on what could have been done, what should have been done and how you would have handled the situation; there is a whole host of different scenarios the comic book fan can play out in his head. You might wonder why this is important. Well, the significance of fantasizing about being a superhero and coming up with new endings produces a great effect; it promotes creativity, inspires imagination, and may even be used in a real life to help diffuse a confrontation. So, if you want to get lost for a short time in fantasy, check out all the latest adventures of your favorite superhero at White Dragon Comics.

http://www.superherocomicbooks.com

Neighborhood Comic Shop Vs On-Line Comic Shop

Comic book readers and comic book collectors agree that one of the draws to the neighborhood comic shop is discussion. The only thing Comic book fans love as much as reading http://www.superherocomicbooks.com/new-comic-bookscomic books, is talking about them with other Comic book fans. The only difference between the two is when talking about your favorite comic in the neighborhood comic shop you talk to few people, at the on-line store you talk to few hundred people (many different points of views). Oh yeah, we can’t forget about speculation; Comic Book fans love to speculate.

On-line shops have a great benefit that neighborhood shops do not; they save you time and money. When you order your comics on-line, they are directly shipped to your front door, saving you money on gas, which is around $4. a gallon, not to mention the wear and tear on your vehicle, the time spent driving there and back that is even if there is one near you.

On-line Comic shops are open all hours of the day and have everything a comic book reader or comic book collector needs. Check out my on-line shop, http://www.superherocomicbooks.com/White Dragon Comics for all your comic needs.

http://www.superherocomicbooks.com

If Super Heroes were Real

Imagine a world where superheroes like Batman, Superman, Thor, and Spider-Man really existed, what an exciting world that would be. Crime would be at an all-time low, people would feel free to walk the streets at night and parents could rest easy knowing their children are safe.

The only criminals that would be a challenge to these superheroes would be their arch enemies the Joker, Lex Luthor, Magneto, and The Green Goblin, just to name a few. We must not forget about the sexy ones too, like Catwoman and Emma Frost, intriguing, beautiful, and deadly.

Instead of turning on our television sets and seeing high-speed chases, we would see exciting brawls between the superheroes and the villains, with the superheroes always winning in some unique, electrifying, and exhilarating way. Good Bye WWE!

In this world, good would triumph over evil every time. Imagine, no more Hitlers or Castros trying to impose their will on the world. Just picture yourself driving down the highway looking at the billboards and there is Spider-man perched atop one, keeping an eye on things. You get a little further in to town and there is Superman playing in the park with children; with a couple of deep breaths, he has all the swings going simultaneously, along with the merry-go-round. Wow! Wouldn’t that be cool!?

Of course, there are no super heroes in our world. They only exist in the two dimensional worlds of comic book pages. But, at least we can read about them, and, if we are willing to give in to our imaginations, fly along side of them, feel their grief for lives lost, and exult in their triumphs. Comic books are a great way to escape the mundane. Begin your adventures with us at White Dragon Comics. Exciting times are ahead! http://www.superherocomicbooks.com