Believe in YOUR Passion - the Comic Life

Is it just me or does it seem like 2014 has taken wings and flew on by!  Looking at a calendar is almost scary now.  I remember a time when hours seemed like decades and now it is the opposite.  We hear all the time that we live in a fast paced world.  What is crazier - is when you live in a fast paced industry.  Would we want it any different? 

 The comic book industry has sprouted its wings and has taken flight as well.  It is "cool" to like comics.  "GEEK" is a household AND acceptable word.  Sister industries are jumping on the comic band wagon, and pop culture is as fruitful as it has ever been.  

It is a good time to love art.  To love great story telling.  It is a good time to WANT to be apart of something bigger.  I can not say anything that has not already been said, but it is a good time to have a passion.  To believe in a cause -or rather YOUR cause.  

Take a moment and think why you are involved in this industry.  Whether you are a creator, a provider, or someone who just love the fruits of comic labors.  Translate this into your daily life.  Live for something.

Stories have been told, however the best stories are yet to come.  Why? Because we live in a daily life that allows us to believe that passion for what we love is "OK"...and that my friends - is a beautiful thing.

So take a bit of advice from those characters we have come to love and allow to be a part of our life:

"It's not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me."

—Batman (Batman Begins)

"The future is worth it. All the pain. All the tears. The future is worth the fight." 

—Martian Manhunter (Martian Manhunter #1,000,000)

"The real crime would be not to finish what we started."

—Doctor Octopus (Spider-Man 2)

"The greatest power on Earth is the magnificent power we all of us possess... the power of the human brain!"

—Professor X (Uncanny X-Men #2)

"But everyone's story begins once upon a time, and it's up to us to cherish the time we're given to ensure we live happily ever after."

—Scarlet Witch (Avengers Fairy Tales)

Marvel Phase 3 Reading

Marvel Phase 3 has just been announced - and that is already old news.  It is curious, that in the comic industry we are constantly bombarded with announcements and "New" that we hardly have time to digest any information we get.   It all flies by so fast.  What is really freaky is that Marvel Phase 3 will be here before we know it.

As I was looking at all the movies that were announced, I noticed a social media question that was posed  - "What is the reading order for Marvel Phase 3?"

I am a huge literacy - lets get those kids reading comics - buff, so I immediately posed the question on my social media.  Not much response. All in all, it is hard to know what angle the movie industry will take with the iconic story lines, however - a story arc is a story arc.  

I believe this is a fantastic opportunity to get some awareness out there.  Get the reading lists in libraries and schools.  Market a movie by marketing the story and the fundamental need to read the story first.

With this being said, I am going to dive into my research.  Alas, I would love some input in this endeavor.  If you have suggestions, please post here or email me at geekselixir@gmail.com

Lets make a list!  Lets get some comics in some kids hands!

Bittersweet Comic Book Love

Bittersweet: sweet with a bitter aftertaste.

This is actually the best word I can think of when I read comic books. I thoroughly love the feeling of getting my hands on a comic that is rich in visual images, flawless in storytelling, and the gutters that pull me even deeper into the story.  

Then - it happens.  The last panel, the last image, the last word balloon...and then the three words I hate: TO BE CONTINUED!

I am suddenly jerked back into reality- and if I am reading a current issue - I momentarily spasm with anticipation for the story to continue.  Being a research fanatic, I immediately scour for updates and issue news all the while mentally willing the next issue to be available.  The feeling of sorrow usually sets in when I realize I have to wait a week, a couple of weeks, or god forbid a MONTH! 

The question I want to pose is WHY?  Why do we do this to ourself?  What is this magical allurement that comic books can have over us?  

For a while I decided to wait for story arcs to play out and then buy the trades as soon as they were available.  Then I would binge read until my eyes were bleary and panels and gutters turned into one full page.

Although this was satisfying my "everything or nothing", "fight or flight" emotions - I still had the same aftertaste of  - really, no more?  

I have come to finally accept that comic books just do it for me.  I love the stories.  Especially the background tales of how subjects came into fruition, the interactions between characters, and how the hero may or may not save the day.  I love the art and how colors can play an impact on an emotion in the story.  I love the idea of lettering and placement of word balloons and how they subtly make or break a comic books flow.  In general, I love the world I get pulled into through a comic book.

We have all experienced that magical feeling as a child when we knew Christmas or a birthday was just around the corner.  The anticipation was relentless.  As an adult, I have like many others, lost that humble innocence of excitement and anticipation during these events.  That feeling of waking up everyday and thinking, "YES only X amount of days left."  I guess in a way, when I read comic books it taps into these long lost emotions.  Because of this, I actually really enjoy the bittersweet words - "to be continued". 

Ludicrous Speed Is How I Roll

It has officially been (1) year since I posted on this blog.  "Holy air tight alibi" - the time has flown by faster than the Flash on coffee.  A lot has happened and I have succeeded at incorporating the comic industry into every nook and cranny of my life! Do not get me wrong, I love this, however when I dream of super hero battles (who would win scenarios) and in a fevered sweat think I see the Green Goblin hovering above me...I may need to re-evaluate my saturation level.

Seriously, the comic industry has made me very happy.  I do travel at times at "ludicrous speed" (thank you Spaceballs for amazing quotable phrases) at many cons however, I would feel as if a part of me was ripped away if I could not be in the thralls of the excitement.

I get asked a lot of questions while I am at cons regarding "comic conventions" and how to market and advertise.  After addressing several questions on a personal level I came to a couple conclusions:

1. I am no expert, however I have seen first hand what works and does not work.

2. What seems obvious to me in marketing and production of comic conventions is NOT obvious to everyone.

3. I have a blog I am not using correctly! 

4. I need a doppelganger.

With these thoughts in mind, I have decided to start adding some tips and tricks that I have found really seem to kick the tires and light the fires in the comic industry.

My hope is to eventually bring world peace, alas I will be happy with a smile and a thank you if my meager knowledge seems to help anyone. 

Look for upcoming regular updates.
Until then know that I am She-Ra in training.

NYCC 2013 - CAPTAIN SHE ZzzZZ

Another year heading to NYCC and already I have been bombarded with "firsts" and it has only begun with trying the infamous red eye plane ride. 

I expect NYCC will be nothing short of spectacular however, a note to self -under all future circumstances I must avoid the "red eye" flights. 

In the wee hours of the night the general public , of ALL nationalities, are awkwardly nosey, grumpy, smell bad, have ridiculously small bladders, and  steal blankets.  Which according to DELTA rules red coveted paper blankets are "delegated only one per seat and if you 'snooze' you loose"...midnight humor by the overly optimist and cosmetically painted pink flight attendee.  (This statement left me stunned and frigid as I hobbled back to my seat in pure amazement.)

In the beginning of time -my career of being a flying patron-my optimum seat choice was the aisle. Easy come and easy go! Bada Bing...you know the rest. 

Not on the red eye. Ohhhh nooooo!

Optimum seat choice my friend is smack dab in the middle of the aisle with a couple of Tylenol PM and a wine spritzer to wash those blue bad boys down apparently!

(I am strictly speaking from first hand observation experience ...real time)

Why the middle? Let me paint the picture. Get rid of the arm rests on both sides. Just lift them up. Bring your own oversized fleece blanket. Wrap yourself in it- then sit down. Put down the tray in front of you and squarely place your elbows in a wing span of 30ft on each side. This secures at LEAST 1/2 of each of your seating partners paid seating. You are a true success now, and a bonefide   sleeping machine - who ironically the flight attendants feel SORRY for because you must be so tired to sleep through all the traipsing up and down the aisles, the horrid midnight bodily order, and turbulence. This is how I came to know of the villain CAPTAIN SHE ZzzZZ!

Now, I am a small woman. A size 2. The cute 20 something girl in the window seat, opposite me, maybe a 0. The look of utter dismay justified we were in similar circumstances on both sides of the CAPTAIN. 

At one point, I noticed across the mass of SHE ZzzZZ that this girl  was so incredibly smashed up against the window she was practically riding wing side. However, I was jolted back into reality when I lost yet another bit of my shoulder and shin to the beverage cart. 

Oh, there was that one time when "wing side" (my pet name for my new comrade)  and I started talking for oh, 5 seconds, about how we had actually met at SLComic Con And what a small world it was. When suddenly our conversation was quickly ended by CAPTAIN SHE ZzzZZ  as she emerged from the fleece and we were both flashed with a face of a thousand terrors and horrors and then hushed in nothing less than that of a serpent spewing venom on its prey - immediate silence insured. 

"Wing side" seemed liked a nice girl. All cozy in that tiny window. That was fun to talk. 

As the flight progressed...for days, we finally started our approach for New York. 

SHE ZzzZZ emerged from her cocoon of hell and odorous smells and summoned the flight attendant for regular Tylenol and water. Hey aren't you supposed to wait for at least 4 hours? 

As soon as the seatbelt sign went on, and we started making our 15 minute decent - 25 people stood up to go to the restroom.  I was in utter awe! Pinky calmly but quickly was on the intercom - "we are approaching our final descent to New York please sit down." No one moved. 

Again.  The announcement.  I guess she just let them go because the traffic in and out went pretty fast. Until there was a Rabbi, a priest, and what I can only assume at this point HAD TO BE A MORMON BISHOP - all standing in line. I looked back and thought life just does not get any better than this at 4am mountain time/6am eastern.

Not a moment too soon did the holy trinity sit down before the plane was about to touch down - when lo and behold  two more people popped up to tinkle. Pinky got on the com quicker than the Tony Stark can create yet another IRON MAN suit, and in her nicest flight attendant don't make me pull this plane over voice , yelled, "SIT DOWN WE ARE LANDING PEOPLE!...thank you for flying delta, and welcome to New York. "

Note to self:

1. Middle seat is where gods sit on red eyes. 
2. Never cross a flight attendant in the middle of the night if your are freezing or you have to pee. 
3. If flying the red eye - grab the first blanket you see and hold onto it like your life depends on it. 
4. Wasn't there a horror movie at one time named red eye? Yeah...it has nothing on this. 

All-in-all, I am excited to be in the big apple to see friends, gather with others who love what I love, and to gorge myself in all things geek. 

NYCC here I come! 

Salt Lake Comic Con is HERE!

JL Flashpoint Paradox is Spittin' Hot Fire Awesome!

I just finished watching, Justice League The Flashpoint Paradox, and let me just take a moment to flip into child mode and speak a million miles too fast and say: 

"whattheheckjusthappenedthatwastotallyamazing-
andihardlytookabreathandwhendidauquamanhaveit-inhimtoeverbeabadguyandhowdidtheyjustgetaway-
withallofthat...andwowohwow!!!!!!"

Whew...ok now back to adult mode. DC animation is in full form with Flashpoint. With a winning production team of Geoff Johns (who wrote the original story), James Krieg (Screenplay), and Andy Kubert (illustration), along with a whole slew of amazing voice talent who you can check out on IMBd, it was bound to be a dang good watch anyway; but I was blown out of the water.  

Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern/Hal Jordan

In other reviews I have read, there have been many negative connotations regarding this animation. The way I feel about it is this - it does stray from the comic story line a bit, and it is a bit more graphic than your average Saturday morning cartoon genre, hence the PG-14 rating, and it is a bit shocking seeing your favorite Super Heroes in a different personality presence.  

But, isn't that what makes a good story?

Isnt that what constitutes as good art?

When something or someone stirs a passion inside of us or challenges something we were accustomed to believing?

I find a lot of times that the fans in the comic book industry are are a little too strong or critical on the very people who make the industry possible.  It is a very strange catch-22, if you ask me. 

I believe it is 100% ok to have an opinion, to have a voice, and to by all means be an individual...however, I do not believe it is ok to invoke those feelings and beliefs so strongly on others - that it influences the sales or purchases of products within an industry that collectively we are all hoping will thrive. 

With this being said, here is a generic review of Flashpoint Paradox:

WARNING SPOILERS not a lot but some...

While visiting his mother's grave, lamenting his inability to save her when she was killed in a home invasion when he was a child, Barry Allen (the super-speed superhero known as the Flash) is alerted to a break-in at the Flash Museum by Captain Cold, Captain Boomerang, Heat Wave, Mirror Master, and Top. Defeating the Rogues, he discovers that they have been hired by his arch-enemy Professor Zoom to lure him in as part of a plan to destroy Central City. With the help of his allies in the Justice League of America, Barry foils Zoom's plot. However, Zoom taunts over the death of Barry's mother. Despite Batman's urging not to let Zoom get to him, Barry runs off.

The next day, Barry awakens to discover that the world has radically changed around him: his powers have disappeared, his mother is alive, his wife Iris is married to someone else, and the Justice League does not exist. In this new timeline, Aquaman and his Atlantean forces have sunk most of Western Europe, while Wonder Woman has led the Amazons in conquering Great Britain. The Atlanteans and the Amazons are at war with one another after a failed attempt at peace resulted in Wonder Woman murdering Aquaman's wife Mera. Government agent Cyborg has put together a team to end the war by taking out the two leaders, and approaches Batman to join them, but he refuses, causing the President to abandon the plan. Instead, pilot Hal Jordan is assigned to fly an alienspacecraft in a bombing run on the Atlanteans.

Aquaman is one mean motha!

Barry visits Wayne Manor, but is attacked by Batman, who he realizes is not Bruce Wayne (who died in this reality) but his father Thomas Wayne. Attempting to explain things to an incredulous Thomas, Barry retrieves his Flash costume from the ring in which it is kept, but Professor Zoom's costumes appears in its place, causing Barry to believe Zoom is responsible for changing history. Convinced to help Barry by the knowledge that Bruce lived in the original timeline, Batman helps him recreate the accident that gave him his Flash powers, only for Barry to wind up being severely burned.

In London, Steve Trevor attempts to exfiltrate undercover reporter Lois Lane, but is discovered by the Amazons and killed. With Trevor's information, the Amazons hunt Lane down, but she is rescued by the local resistance and falls in with them. Meanwhile, amongst the remains of Paris, Deathstroke and Lex Luthor are attacked and killed by Aquaman's forces while tracking the energy trail of Aquaman's new superweapon: a captured and weaponized Captain Atom.

Realizing that his memories of the original timeline are fading, the injured Barry insists Batman recreate the accident again, this time resulting in the successful restoration of his powers. Although he regains his powers back, Barry discovers that he is unable to travel through time himself because there is another super-speedster using Speed Force in this timeline, preventing Flash to gather enough energy to break the time barrier.

Oh, it is just all good and fun and a mix of EVIL on the side.

Flash seeks to recruit more allies instead, beginning with Superman, who in this world is a prisoner of the government after his ship crashed into Metropolis, rather than Smallville. With the aid of Batman and Cyborg, they break into the bunker in which the withered Superman is held and liberate him. Empowered by the yellow sun, Superman holds off the government agents who confront the group, but then flies off in fear and confusion. Flash collapses as his memories continues to alter, and is taken to the home of Billy Batson and his foster siblings to recover. Learning of Jordan's failed attack and the beginning of the final battle between the Atlanteans and the Amazons, Flash convinces Batman to join them in an attempt to stop the war.

On board Batman's jet en route to Britain, Batman shows Flash a message intercepted from Lois Lane of a super-speedster she captured an image of, who Flash identifies as Zoom. As they wonder why Zoom would let Lois live if she saw him, the jet is shot down by the Atlantean fleet, and the battle begins. Batson and his siblings combine into Captain Thunder (the Captain Marvel of this world) to fight Wonder Woman, while Flash, Cyborg and Batman occupy Aquaman only for Batman to be gravely wounded. At this point, Zoom reveals himself to Barry and explains it was not he, but Barry himself who was responsible for changing the timeline when he went back in time to save his mother and caused the fabric of reality to fracture. The battle continues around them with Wonder Woman using her lasso to force Captain Thunder back into Batson and killing him, and Superman arriving too late to save Cyborg from Aquaman (culminating in a wounded Aquaman giving the order to trigger the Captain Atom bomb). As the explosion tears across the landscape, Zoom mocks the Flash, when he is suddenly shot through the head and killed by the injured Batman, leaving Flash to be the only user of Speed Force in this timeline. Before dying, Batman urges Barry to fix everything, giving him a letter addressed to his son, Bruce. Barry races back in time, and stops his earlier self from preventing his mother's death.

Barry reawakens at his desk, and finds that everything is back to normal (although all the heroes in this timeline have their costumes slightly altered because this is now The New 52 timestream). He visits Batman to tell him about everything that occurred and gives him the letter from his father, prompting the tearful Batman to tell him: "You're one helluva messenger."

Bats and Flash having a tender New 52 moment.

Now if you need to read "Flashpoint" again or hhhmmm...for the first time, no fear GEEKSELIXIR is here! and well Instocktrades.  These people are just fantastic.  I purchased the whole flashpoint set ( 6 trade paperbacks) for only $55.59 and the shipping is free because my order was over $50! Yes miracles do happen folks.

To read the Flashpoint series in order you need:

* Flashpoint
* Flashpoint: Batman
* Flashpoint: Wonder Woman
* Flashpoint: Superman
* Flashpoint: Green Lantern
* Flashpoint: The Flash

I will be receiving my order any day now to re-read the series and catch up on the ones I missed. I am giddy with excitement! And check out Flashpoint Paradox, I think you will enjoy it.