Chapter By Chapter: The Black Stallion’s Ghost ch.11

Chapter by Chapter features me reading one chapter of the selected book at the time and reviewing it as if I were reviewing an episode of a TV show or an issue of a comic. There will be spoilers if you haven’t read to the point I have, and if you’ve read further I ask that you don’t spoil anything further into the book. Think of it as read-along book club.

Chapter By Chapter Black Stallion's Ghost

Maybe it’s me. Maybe I’m just not the audience for this book. It seems to be written well enough, but for a small book aimed at young readers not a lot seems to be happening. The nightmare and the fight were both rather short. Now Alec is lying unconscious on the ground, the Black has panics and ran because the Captain learned not every horse can be forced to do your bidding, and I’m just not as into this as I want to be. Like I said, it’s not bad, just not grabbing my attention. Although I am curious how Alec and the Black are getting out of this, so maybe it has some of my attention?

Chapter 11: The Grassy Sea

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“Yesterday’s” Comic> Transformers Armada #2

Transformers Armada #2

Apparently they thought the last page of last issue was so good they made it this issue’s cover.

Transformers Armada #2

Dreamwave (August, 2002)

WRITER: Chris Sarracini
PENCILER: James Riaz
INKER: Rob Armstrong
BACKGROUNDS: Edwin Garcia
COLORISTS: Alan Wang, Gary Yeung, & Robert Ruffolo
GRAPHIC DESIGN: Paul Villafuerte
FLATS: Henny Li
LETTERING: Dreamer Design
EDITOR: Matt Moylan

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Morning Article Link: Conway Versus DC Update

Fury Of Firestorm #16

ICv2 has the latest report on the disagreements between Gerry Conway and DC Comics, as misunderstandings have been cleaned up when it comes to creator rights at DC.

“Yesterday’s” Comic> Transformers: The War Within Preview

Transformers The War Within Preview

“When is that bus getting here?

Transformers: The War Within Preview

Dreamwave (August, 2002)

If you’re wondering why I’m reviewing the preview AFTER the first issue, it’s because the continuity works better here.

WRITER: Simon Furman
ARTIST: Don Figueroa
COLORS: Dreamwave
GRAPHIC DESIGN: Paul Villafuerte & Kevin Lee

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G3, The Gigantor That Wasn’t

Gigantor #7

Those of us creative types who grew up with giant robots will inevitably try to design our own or update our favorites. I and my friends grew up with the likes of Voltron, Tranzor Z, Frankenstein Jr., and Mighty Orbots. One of my friends created a Voltron-like robot using armored bicycles (we were kids, shut up) and another planed a comic where cyclopic aliens brainwashed a disgruntled Earthling to use a giant robot to attack the Earth. I have Litor, a flying lion-shaped fortress that turned into a robot, but my best creation in this realm were the Crimson 7, seven robots each guarding a continent against alien invasion. (Yes, including Antarctica. They also backed up the other 6.) I’m sure plenty of artists and comic creators have their own stories.

Ben Dunn grew up with Gigantor, the first of the “super robots”.  Released in its native Japan as Tetsujin 28-Go and adapted for the US by Fred Ladd, Gigantor set the stage for the giant robotic protectors that flooded Japanese media and snuck into the US. So I’m sure he was happy to finally work on a Gigantor comic for Antarctic Press. But that wasn’t enough. He also wanted to create his own Gigantor. Why not create his own robot? I don’t know. Maybe he loved Gigantor so much he wanted to update him. While Japan has brought back and updated Tetsujin 28-go after this, Dunn and Antarctic Press created their own update, Gigantor G3, an updated future featuring an update of the robot and three main characters (since AP decided to ignore Bob’s family). It was teased in the back of the final issue of Gigantor, as I mentioned in this afternoon’s review. As a fellow giant robot fan I though I would share and review this attempt at an update that sadly never made it past these penciled art pieces.

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“Yesterday’s” Comic> Gigantor #12

Gigantor #12

Gigantor loves his bath toys.

Gigantor #12

FINAL ISSUE

Antarctic Press (August, 2001)

“Badge Of Danger” part 2
ADAPTATION: David Hutchison
EDITOR: Doug Dlin

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Morning Article Link: More Hollywood Failures Of Geography

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/171800810

Sometimes Hollywood fudges the geography to get the action moving…and sometimes they really screw it up royally. Cracked‘s photoplasty contributors (for a change not just AuntieMeme) break out 16 places the movie industry has really ruined for tourists looking to live their favorite movies scenes.