Windy City Comicon '09 (Or how i spend my September)

Living in a big city like Chicago, I have the luxury of having not 1 but 2 comic conventions this year (Wizardworld Chicago & Windy City Comicon). Now with Wizardworld Chicago that is a show that is big and sometimes overwhelming but with Windy city Comicon that is more personal and a place that is closer to my heart.

At WCCC you get a real connection with the Creators, you can stand their and talk to them one on one without the feeling of being rushed.
Last year was so much fun and Amazing, I got to meet several creators that I'm a fan of and a lot of new creators that open my eyes to their wonderful work.

The list of creators have increase dramatically (both in Volume & Talent) can't wait to experience the greatness that is Windy City Comicon.

The Guest list is as follows:

David Petersen - Mouse Guard

Tony Atkins - Jack of Fables




Art Baltazar - Tiny Titans




Matt Kindt - Superspy




Jeff Lemire - Essex County Trilogy




Tony Moore - Walking dead, Ghost Rider




Mike Norton - Green Arrow, Blue Beetle, Trinity




Skottie Young - Wonderful Wizard of Oz, New X-men




Jason Howard - The Astounding Wolf-Man




Robbi Rodriguez - Maintenance




Chris Samnee - Queen & Country, Capote in Kansas.




AND MANY MORE. . .
With over 50 guests (check out the rest here) this will be an amazing show that you will not forget

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September Comic Solicitations

It's time for September solicitations,
As we approach the end of the comic convention season a lot of books are being announced or are ending their run and
with all the announcements closely approaching the anticipation of all these books is something that I can't wait.
This are the book I'm most looking forward to for the month of September.

ULTIMATE COMICS ARMOR WARS #1 (of 4)
Written by WARREN ELLIS
Penciled by STEVE KURTH
Cover by BRANDON PETERSON
Villain Variant by CARLOS PACHECO
Special Variant by TBA
Exploding from the ruins of ULTIMATUM, Tony Stark races against time to save his crippled corporation and stop the theft of his armored arsenal! Superstar writer WARREN ELLIS (ULTIMATE HUMAN) teams up with rising talent STEVE KURTH (IRON MAN) to bring you a globe-spanning, high-octane thriller with a blast from Tony’s past that you’ve gotta see to believe!

DARK AVENGERS/UNCANNY X-MEN: EXODUS
Written by MATT FRACTION
Penciled by MIKE DEODATO
Cover by STEVE MCNIVEN
Variant Cover by SIMONE BIANCHI
The climactic conclusion to the crossover event of 2009 is here! This is it, the final battle for the Dark Avengers and the X-Men that will change the status quo for the Marvel Universe. Emma Frost’s betrayal comes home to roost. Cyclops’ plan clicks into place, but is it too late? What can the X-Men do against the Sentry and Ares?




DARK X-MEN: THE CONFESSION
Written by CRAIG KYLE & CHRISTOPHER YOST
Penciled by TBA
Cover by YANICK PAQUETTE
Emma Frost’s secret dealings with the Cabal come to light and her life will never be the same.




RUNAWAYS #14
Written by KATHRYN IMMONEN
Penciled by SARA PICHELLI
Cover by DAVID LAFUENTE
The unbelievable conclusion to “Homeschooling” is here. And someone comes back.




WOLVERINE: OLD MAN LOGAN GIANT-SIZE #1
Written by MARK MILLAR
Pencils & Cover by STEVE MCNIVEN
This is it! The moment you’ve been waiting for! Prepare yourselves for the most brutal battle in the history of comics as Wolverine returns— and unleashes a tidal wave of bloody revenge! It’s Wolverine versus the Hulk Gang to the death! Don’t miss the flesh-rending final chapter to the greatest Wolverine story ever told by the peerless Mark Millar and Steve McNiven! Plus—you won’t be able to tear yourself away from the gallery of covers, background material, behind-the-scenes extras, and all-new pinups that fill out this GIANT-SIZE SPECTACULAR!



SPIDER-WOMAN #1
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Pencils & 50/50 Cover by ALEX MALEEV
50/50 Cover by ALEX ROSS
THE WAIT IS OVER! The explosive Eisner award-winning team of Bendis and Maleev reunite for their first ongoing series since Daredevil! Ripped from the pages of New Avengers and Secret Invasion, watch as the gorgeous and mysterious Jessica Drew reenters a society she did not make...as an AGENT OF S.W.O.R.D. This brand new series is a perfect companion to the dazzling Spider-Woman motion comic. Containing new story and artwork not available in any other format. This is the start of a major chapter in one of the most high profile characters in all of Marvel Comics.




STRANGE TALES #1 (of 3)
Written and Drawn by PAUL POPE, PETER BAGGE, MOLLY CRABAPPLE, JOHN LEAVITT, JUNKO MIZUNO, DASH SHAW, JAMES KOCHALKA, JOHNNY RYAN, MICHAEL KUPPERMAN, NICK BERTOZZI, NICHOLAS GUREWICH & JASON
Cover by PAUL POPE
At long last, the wait is over!! Marvel is proud to present the debut of this hotly anticipated three issue anthology showcasing Marvel’s greatest characters re-imagined by the best and brightest talents working in independent comics today. Don’t miss what’s sure to be one of the most exciting collections of comics short stories ever produced!!! Every issue stars a stunning array of the best, most exciting cartoonists on the planet—showcasing the Marvel Heroes as you’ve never seen them before! Featuring the long-awaited Peter Bagge “Incorrigible Hulk” serialized over all three issues!




CRIMINAL: THE SINNERS #1
By Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
FROM THE CREATORS OF INCOGNITO -- THE AWARD-WINNING SERIES RETURNS!
“THE BEST CRIME COMIC EVER PUBLISHED...” – Comic Book Resources
One of the most award-winning and acclaimed comics series of the last several years returns to the shelves this September with a perfect new jumping-on point for new readers -- or those who’ve gotten hooked on Brubaker and Phillips hit series INCOGNITO and are craving more!
CRIMINAL’s most popular character, TRACY LAWLESS returns in THE SINNERS. It’s been a year since Tracy was forced into working for the bad guys, and now made men are turning up dead all over the city, in what appears to be mob-style hits. But since criminals don’t go to the cops for justice... only Tracy can solve this crime.




CRIMINAL: THE DELUXE EDITION
By Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
This oversized deluxe hardback edition features CRIMINAL books 1 thru 3 -- COWARD, LAWLESS, and THE DEAD AND THE DYING. A fantastically-designed and printed book showcasing the Eisner and Harvey Award-Winning crime comics from the creators of SLEEPER and INCOGNITO.
Also features many extras – including a Criminal short story and the never-before-printed five page “movie trailer in comics form” that Brubaker and Phillips created to announce the series online... illustrations, selected articles, behind the scenes looks, painted covers... and much much more!
A true collector’s edition spectacular from two of the hottest creators in comics, and a must-have for any fan!




SUPERMAN: SECRET ORIGIN #1
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Gary Frank & Jon Sibal
Covers by Gary Frank
Hot on the heels of their acclaimed run on ACTION COMICS, superstars Geoff Johns and Gary Frank reunite to present a 6-issue event that spells out the definitive origin of Superman for the 21st century – and it all starts with a gigantic 48-page issue! Chronicling Clark Kent’s journey from the cornfields of Smallville to the skyscrapers of Metropolis, you'll witness a whole new look at the beginnings of Lex Luthor, the Legion of Super-Heroes, Lois Lane, Metallo, Jimmy Olsen, the Parasite and more! It's a look at the mythic past of the Man of Steel with an eye toward the future!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 10 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Gary Frank), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Gary Frank). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.




THE FLASH: REBIRTH #6
Written by Geoff Johns
Art and covers by Ethan Van Sciver
In a battle along the outskirts of time, the secrets of the Speed Force have been revealed! The new archnemesis of those who ride the lightning is coming for Iris Allen. And the Barry Allen you knew is gone forever...or is he? What change does Wally West face? What destiny will Kid Flash choose? Prepare to meet a Flash Family that's both familiar and different...and get to the starting line for the next epic adventures of the Speed Force!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers. For every 25 copies of the Standard Edition (with a cover by Ethan Van Sciver), retailers may order one copy of the Variant Edition (with a cover by Ethan Van Sciver). Please see the Previews Order Form for more information.




SWEET TOOTH #1
Written by Jeff Lemire
Art and cover by Jeff Lemire
From out of the deep woods and the mind of acclaimed indie cartoonist Jeff Lemire (THE NOBODY, The Essex County Trilogy) comes a new Vertigo monthly ongoing series like no other! After being raised in total isolation, Gus – a boy born with deer-like antlers – is left to survive in an American landscape devastated a decade earlier by an inexplicable pandemic. Even more remarkable is that Gus is part of a rare new breed of human/animal hybrid children who have emerged in its wake, all apparently immune to the infection.
Enter Jepperd, a violent, hulking drifter who soon takes in Gus and promises to lead him to “The Preserve,” a fabled safe-haven for hybrid children. Along the way they’ll have to contend with science militias, deadly scavengers, rival bounty hunters, and hybrid worshipping cultists as they fight to make it to safety and solve the mysteries of this deadly new frontier.
This bizarre and haunting new series is boldly written and illustrated by Eisner-nominated creator Jeff Lemire and elegantly colored by fellow Eisner nominee Jose Villarubia. A little boy with antlers, a big man with guns, a world without hope – SWEET TOOTH #1 ships in September for only $1.00! Plus, don’t miss a free preview of this title in August’s JACK OF FABLES #37!

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Chicago Outdoor Film Festival (or How I will spend my tuesdays)

One of the best things about this wonderful city that I live in is all the wonderful things you can do in the Summer
like Taste of Chicago and The Air & Water Show
but my favorite thing to do in the summer is The Chicago Outdoor Film Festival .

Every Tuesday after sunset from July 14 to August 25
(There are no rain dates or make-up dates.),
they will showing free movies on a 50-foot by 34-foot screen in downtown Grant Park at 100 S. Lake Shore Drive. (It's south of Millennium Park, and north of the Art Institute).

The list of Movies and show times are as follows;

Grant Park Movies - 2009 Schedule:

July 14, 2009 @ 8:58 pm: Sunset Boulevard (1950)

July 21, 2009 @ 8:52 pm: Duck Soup (1933)

July 28, 2009 @ 8:45 pm: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1950)

August 4, 2009 @ 8:37 pm: Born Yesterday (1950)

August 11, 2009 @ 8:27 pm: Psycho (1960)

August 18, 2009 @ 8:17 pm: Young Mr. Lincoln (1939)

August 25, 2009 @ 8:05 pm: Tootsie (1982)

Hope to see you there watching a movie under the stars

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Chicago Comic-con 09' (or how I big of a geek I am)

Comic book Convention is in full effect by the time it hits Chicago in August,But with me living in Chicago it is something that I always look forward to.
So excited to have all these creators coming to Wizardworld Chicago or how it is now called Chicago Comic-con (going back to the name that it had before Wizard purchased them in 1997.)

The list of creators is not as big as previous years, but I really look forward to meeting or even getting a sketch from any of these creators.
(I especially will be hounding Jim Cheung, Mike Choi and Freddie E.Williams II for sketches and find Jason Aaron & Dan Slott and bow to their greatness)

Mark Millar - Guest of Honor
(Kick-Ass, Fantastic Four & Wolverine Writer)

Jason Aaron - Special Guest
Scalped, Ghost Rider, upcoming Wolverine: Weapon X writer)

George Pérez - Special Guest
(Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds artist)
*Courtesy of the Hero Initiative

JG Jones - Special Guest
(Final Crisis Artist)

Brian Azzarello - Special Guest
(100 Bullets, The Joker writer)

Mitch Breitweiser - Special Guest
(Captain America: Theatre of War, Uncanny X-Men Annual artist)

Jim Cheung - Special Guest
(Secret Warriors cover artist, New Avengers, New Avengers:Illuminati artist)

Frank Cho - Special Guest
(Hulk, Jungle Girl artist)

Dan Slott - Special Guest
(Amazing Spider-Man, Mighty Avengers writer)

Craig Rousseau - Special Guest
(Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane, Perhapanauts artist)

Mike Norton - Special Guest
(Green Arrow/Black Canary, Trinity artist)

Mike Choi- Special Guest
(X-force, Uncanny X-men, X-23 artist)

Shane Davis- Special Guest
(Green Lantern, Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lantern artist)

Mike Mckone - Special Guest
(Deadpool, Punisher & Amazing Spider-man Artist)

Sean Mckeever- Special Guest
(Teen Titans, Terror Titans Writer)

Matt Wagner- Special Guest
(Zorro writer)

Billy Tan- Special Guest
(New Avengers Artist)

Mark Texeira- Special Guest
(Moon Knight Artist)

Freddie E.Williams II- Special Guest
(Robin Artist)

Michael Golden- Special Guest
(Cover Artist Extraordinaire)

AND MANY MORE...

The Show starts August 6-9, 2009 @ Donald E. Stephens Convention Center hope you can make it and have as much fun as I will be.

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August Comics Solicitations (or what I'm going to be spending my money on)

The Comic industry is so much different than all other entertainment mediums, for those of us who order our books each month, the ordering system works 2 months ahead to give the companies enough time to see what will be ordered and how much.
So in June we get the solicitations for August and I decided to male a list ofo all the books that I'm really looking forward the most.

Please understand that this is not my TOTAL order( my total number of books for each month usually runs around 25 - 30 books), just the books that will be coming out that I'm excited for.

MARVEL
THE MARVELS PROJECT #1 (of 8)
Written by ED BRUBAKER
Pencils & Cover by STEVE EPTING
The centerpiece of Marvel's 70th Anniversary celebration! Who is the mysterious old man who lies on his deathbed in a hospital in 1939, and how does his passing mark the beginning of the first heroic age of the Marvel Universe — and signal the rise of the superhumans? Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting unveil the defining story of the origin of the Marvel Universe, revealing the hidden connections that unite the earliest costumed champions, and whose reverberations are felt dramatically into the present day! It’s a world on the brink of war, and the race is on to create the world's first super-soldier! Witness the first days of the Human Torch, the Sub-Mariner, and many more-- how they shaped the world to come, and how the future they would create in turn shaped them! The must-read event of the season for any Marvel fan from the Award-Winning creators who redefined Captain America for the modern audience!



MARVEL
ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS #1
Written by MARK MILLAR
Pencils & Cover by CARLOS PACHECO
Guess who’s back!! That’s right, kids, MARK MILLAR (THE ULTIMATES, WOLVERINE: OLD MAN LOGAN) and superstar artist CARLOS PACHECO (AVENGERS FOREVER, X-MEN) blast into the Ultimate Universe for a mind-blowing, heart-pounding and gut-wrenching event of epic proportions! When a highly-classified secret threatens Captain America, only the newly-returned Nick Fury has the tools to bring ‘em in! As the first of a series of blockbuster arcs begins: PROJECT AVENGERS is a go!


MARVEL
ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #1
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Pencils & Cover by DAVID LAFUENTE
Almost ten years ago, Ultimate Spider-Man launched the Ultimate line, a reinvention of the Marvel Universe that defied the odds and every expectation. Today, it happens again: This new chapter in the life of the teenaged webslinger picks up in the aftermath of Ultimatum and completely redefines the status-quo of Spider-Man for the next generation! With a new supporting cast, new villains and maybe even a new Spider-Man, this new chapter will keep you guessing month after month. Join Eisner Award-winning writer BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS in introducing new ongoing artist DAVID LAFUENTE (ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL, PATSY WALKER: HELLCAT)! You have never seen a Spider-Man like this before! Be there!




MARVEL
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #601
Written by MARK WAID
Penciled by MARIO ALBERTI
Cover by J. SCOTT CAMPBELL
Prepare for the All-New, All-Deadly: DARK MARY-JANE!! Oops, sorry, that's the rest of Marvel's solicits...Actually, in this issue "Red-Headed Stranger" begins just after the surprising events of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #600 with Pete's love life taking a turn for the worse just as his old flame Mary Jane returns to New York City. (FINALLY!! Sheesh. What took us so long?!)



MARVEL
DAREDEVIL #500
Written by ED BRUBAKER
Penciled by MICHAEL LARK
Additional Stories by ANN NOCENTI, DAVID AJA & OTHERS
50/50 Gatefold Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC
This is it! The 500th issue of DAREDEVIL! What is the Kingpin's true plan? What do he and Lady Bullseye have in common? What will Matt Murdock do to make things right again? And just how will Ed Brubaker and Michael Lark leave this story for the next creative team to pick it up? Don’t miss the twists and surprises that will have everybody talking! An all-star anniversary issue featuring new stories by Ann Nocenti, David Aja, and others!


MARVEL
FANTASTIC FOUR #570
Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN
Penciled by DALE EAGLESHAM
Cover by ALAN DAVIS
Brand new creative team - Brave new comics experience! Be there as Marvel's newest exciting creator, Jonathan Hickman, teams up with superstar artist, Dale Eaglesham, to give you the Fantastic Four experience you've been waiting for! It's adventure, it's family, it's tough questions in dark times...See what happens when Reed Richards tries to SOLVE EVERYTHING.



MARVEL
WAR OF KINGS #6 (of 6)
Written by DAN ABNETT & ANDY LANNING
Penciled by PAUL PELLETIER
Cover by BRANDON PETERSON
Variant Cover by ADI GRANOV
This is it – the big fight for all the cosmic marbles! Shi'Ar vs. Inhuman! Black Bolt vs. Vulcan! Who will rule? The fate of two intergalactic civilizations teeters on the brink, and the outcome of this conflict will send shockwaves throughout the Marvel Universe! Don’t miss the climactic chapter in what IGN.com calls: "Action-packed but intimate and character driven...this could very well be the textbook definition of how to execute major superhero storylines."


DC COMICS
BATGIRL #1
Written by Bryan Q. Miller
Art by Lee Garbett & Trevor Scott
Cover by Phil Noto
Variant cover by J.G. Jones
In the wake of “Batman R.I.P.” and BATTLE FOR THE COWL, a new heroine has emerged in Gotham City, and as she begins her nocturnal crusade to take back the night, she will truly learn what it means to wear the mantle of the Bat. But who is this young woman, and why has she donned the cape and cowl?



DC COMICS
ADVENTURE COMICS #1
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Francis Manapul, co-feature art by Clayton Henry
Covers by Francis Manapul
It's the return of one of DC Comics' longest running books and one of its greatest modern-day heroes – Conner Kent! In our first heroic issue, Superboy can't wait to jump back into his life – but which life will it be? With a clarity he's never had before, Conner makes a beeline for the greatest place on Earth...Smallville?
Plus, in the wake of FINAL CRISIS: LEGION OF THREE WORLDS, Starman heads off on an all-new mission in the present. And it's one that will not only impact Superboy, but the future of the DC Universe itself. Fortunately, the off-kilter Legionnaire won't be dong it alone! And in the upcoming months of ADVENTURE COMICS look for Lex Luthor! Brainiac! Lightning Lad! Superboy's pal Simple Simon! Sun Boy and Polar Boy! Ultra, the Multi Alien! Wonder Girl! Black Lantern Alexander Luthor! And many, many more new and familiar faces!



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G-MAN: CAPE CRISIS #1 (of 5)
story CHRIS GIARRUSSO
art & cover CHRIS GIARRUSSO
Mini-Marvels creator CHRIS GIARRUSSO returns with a brand new G-Man miniseries! When pieces of G-Man's magic cape fall into the wrong hands, things quickly spin out of control. G-Man and his friends must battle to recover the pieces, and this time the bad guys have the same power as G-Man!



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KING CITY #1
story BRANDON GRAHAM
art & cover BRANDON GRAHAM
Pete falls in love with an alien he's forced to betray...Anna watches her boyfriend literally turn into the drug he's addicted to...and Joe has a cat that can become any tool or weapon.
It's all just another day in King City, where mystery is down every alley...and weirdness is crawling through your window.
From critically acclaimed comics vet BRANDON GRAHAM comes a comic unlike any you have ever read!



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KILLER OF DEMONS TP
story CHRISTOPHER YOST
art & cover SCOTT WEGENER
120 PAGES / FC

Collecting the critically acclaimed mini-series from the writer of Marvel's X-Force and the artist of the Eisner nominated Atomic Robo! Hell has invaded Earth and only one man can stop it... junior account executive Dave Sloan, aka the Killer of Demons! With an angel at his side, Dave can see the demons that have infiltrated our world... and they all have to die! But these 'demons' are mostly Dave's co-workers, or people that annoy Dave in some way, leading him to believe that he's gone totally insane. Or has he? Dave has to fight to survive and find out the truth... is he a whacked out mass murderer, or the last hope the world has against the forces of Hell?

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Comic Suggestions for the female in your life

For those who follow my blog know that I'm a big fanboy and I have said that I can get anyone to truly enjoy comics if I know what they like and they are willing to give it a try .

I have introduced comics to several of my friends and family who have thank me for showing how great comics are.
One of the best things I've done is to introduces my sister and my girlfriend into comics and they both have become big fans of as well.

So I decided since in this month is my anniversary with my girlfriend, I should make a list of all the graphic novels and weekly comics that would be great to introduce to any ladies in your life to see if you can get them interested or to a least to understand the medium.

Runaways - When you were a kid did you ever think that your parents might be evil??
Brian K Vaughan & Adrian Alphona answer that with a wonderful story about a group of kids who after finding out that their parents are super-villains decide to fight back.



Spider-man loves Mary Jane -"you hit the Jackpot"
Sean McKeever & Takeshi Miyazawa takes you back to high school with Mary Jane Watson and her friends deal with teen drama, romance and some action.




Plain Janes + Janes in Love -People Loving Art In Neighborhoods. But can art attacks really save the madness that is high school?
Cecil Castellucci & Jim Rugg bring us 2 great books about a group of outcast who decide to make high school a much better place to be.




Y:The last man - How would you feel if you were the last man on Earth?
Brian K Vaughan & Pia Guerra takes us to a world where in a blink of a eye, Yorick brown and his Capuchin monkey are the only males on earth.




True story swear to god - The meeting at the bus stop that changed the world of two people. This is where it all started.
Tom Beland brings us a auto-biographical account of a once-in-a lifetime chance of meeting your true love and what happens afterward.




Blankets - How does it feels like to sleep next to someone for the first time.
Craig Thompson wrote and drew his memoir telling the story of his childhood in an Evangelical Christian family, his first love, and his early adulthood.




Spiderman:Blue, Daredevil:Yellow - Behind every great Hero, there's an even greater female.
Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale gives us some great stories of what make each of our Heroes be the best, and the one common thread in all stories is that each one is trying to be the best for the special girl in their lives (Gwen Stacy and Karen Page).




And many more titles to chose (Mouse Guard, Bone, Scott Pilgrim, Strangers in Paradise, Fables, Echo, New york Four, Confessions of a blabbermouth, etc)
With this list, anyone can become a fan if they just give it a try.

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