Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Saturday, June 27, 2015

HELP AMY K - UPDATE 02

[ pic not of Amy's actual collection ]

Do you remember the post I did last June about our fellow comic fan, AMY K, and how her estranged ex maliciously sold Amy's entire comic collection? (orig post HERE)

Over 8,000 comics, collected from Childhood, gone. Amy emotionally recalled how many had sentimental value... her father taking her into town to buy new comics... searching for that 1 missing issue and the thrill of finding it... It's just heartbreaking. And infuriating!!! But unfortunately, what's done is done.

However, being a Comic Fan means you are part of a larger community (whether you know it or not). And we fellow comic fans are helping her rebuild that collection!


Last year when I initially heard of Amy's story, I reached out to her and asked if she could provide a list of what she could recall was lost. Thankfully she did, and I posted it here on JimSmash. Several of you wonderful people rose to the occasion and mailed her boxes of comics, beginning the process of replenishing her collection! You are amazing, and I give you a thousand 'thank yous' from myself and from Amy - it truly meant a lot!!!

I recently touched base with Amy and was able to get an updated list from her. For those who would like to contribute helping Amy, I've posted that updated want list HERE.

And where to send them?  Please email me and we'll go from there (jimsmash@gmail.com).

Thank you all!

------------

* AMY K'S COMIC WANT LIST
* "HELP AMY K" (2014)

Friday, June 26, 2015

Thursday, June 25, 2015

2016 PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS REBRANDED AS DEATH METAL BANDS


more HERE!

SECRET WARS VARIANT COVERS


My 'Secret Wars > Action Figure Variant Cover' mission is finally complete. Yes, there are others, but these are the only covers I was interested in - BEHOLD MY RESTRAINT!!!

Initially, I wasn't going to buy any. But then I saw the Black Costume Spider-Man cover and couldn't resist. But that was going to be the ONLY one. The next week I saw the Brown/Orange Costume Wolverine (my favorite) and suddenly I'm walking out of the store with it in my hand, hating my weakness. But NO MORE after that, Jim! Sigh, the regret of the Wolverine purchase kicked in soon after and I contemplated selling it... OH LOOK - Black Panther! That's cool because they never made a Black Panther figure. Buy. Well, once you have three of something, its officially a collection. And collections need to be fed. And so the insanity took over, including me begging a friend to grab copies at his store when mine sold out (Thanks again for the Miles Morales and Mr Fantastic covers, Timewaster!) and sending my Family to the store a few times when I wasn't able. From there it became simply seeing it through to the end, with Cyclops being my final addition to this collection. Insanity is exhausting.

Look, no one is more disappointed in me than Mrs Smash.

CAT GOES FOR FLYING JOY RIDE

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

HAPPY 60TH BIRTHDAY, DANZIG


HAPPY 60th BIRTHDAY,
GLENN DANZIG ! ! !

And in case you missed it...
last month, Danzig donned the Misfits Skull make-up again!
Its the first time he's worn it since he '79-'80 tour.
Sweet.


ALIEN & FACEHUGGER FRITTERS


Nice!!!!

(via Neatorama)

Thanks, Frank G!


* Nerd Police! The original posting mistakenly refers to the adult alien as a "queen", but in fact it is merely a drone.

___________________________________

Reminds me of that half-eaten donut in 'Aliens', which always gave me the shivers because it seemed like the aliens attacked right when someone was enjoying their breakfast!


* shiver! *

BASIC ARITHMETIC: CONVERGENCE DETECTIVE COMICS


Personally I thought DC's "Convergence" was a train wreck in shitsville. However, one tie-in series caught my eye - Detective Comics.

Len Wein 
+ Denys Cowan 
+ Bill Sienkiewicz 
+ Earth2 Robin (pre-Crisis)
+ Red Son Superman
__________________________________________
= Take my money!

JACK KIRBY'S 'ARGO' PRINTS - IN COLOR FOR THE FIRST TIME

^ I want this one!


via Heavy Metal Magazine:


Before the King of Comics' debut in the pages of our hallowed (and now humbled) magazine, we present this mind-blowing artwork in a series of limited edition blacklight prints!

Barry Geller and Jack Kirby's "LORD OF LIGHT" artwork is set to appear in color for the first time in Heavy Metal #276. And to celebrate, we're giving Comic Con attendees a chance to own a piece of history in bold psychedelic blacklight!

These works of art by Geller and Kirby, mostly unseen before now, are part of American history as they were the artwork used by the CIA for OPERATION: ARGO, which helped free American embassy workers during the Iranian coup in 1979.

This stunning print was produced in an edition of just 50, and we are making a small number available for pre-order! This offer is exclusively for those attending San Diego Comic-Con. All orders can be picked up in person at Comic Con during all hours of the show at the Heavy Metal booth (#1529)

Based on "Lord of Light" by Roger Zelazny, conceived by Barry Geller and Jack Kirby, colored by Mark Englert.


RIP JAMES HORNER


Award-winning composer JAMES HORNER died yesterday in a plane crash. He was 61.

As many of you know, I'm a diehard 'ALIENS' fan and absolutely love the score Horner created for that film, which earned him his first Academy Award Nomination. 'Bishop's Countdown' is a classic and is often reused in other films' trailers.

Horner had an amazing career, writing wonderful scores for  'Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan', 'Krull', 'Commando', 'Coccoon', 'Willow', 'Glory', 'Field of Dreams', 'The Rocketeer', 'Braveheart', 'Apollo 13', 'Titanic', 'Avatar' and more!

Rest in Peace, Mr Horner. And thank you for providing a breathtaking, heart-pounding score to my absolute favorite film of all time!



Monday, June 22, 2015

ALIEN / LINCOLN


LOCKJAW


This is a cool pic of the INHUMANS

But there's one thing that irks me...
LOCKJAW is not giant dog. 
He's a creature that resembles a dog.

Lockjaw in that top pic looks like a photo reference of someone's pet. It's a shame, because the artist knocked the rest of the image out of the park.

ALIENS VS VAMPIRELLA



I'm pretty sure this isn't a joke.... ALIENS VS VAMPIRELLA


Solicit:

Humans have begun to colonize Mars, but something ancient and sinister got there first. Now Vampirella is faced with a mystery only she can solve, and the bloody realization that some monsters should never be awakened. Writer Corinna Bechko says, I've loved Alien since I first saw it as a kid on a crummy old TV in a well-lit room and got scared half to death anyway. Now that I have the chance to add a little corner to that universe I couldn't be happier. And pitting such an implacable horror against Vampirella? That's a meeting that definitely produces very fertile story-telling ground. The Alien franchise has always thrived with strong women in the lead. Smart, self-assured Vampirella is a joy to write for, even when she may have met her match.

Release date: September 2, 2015

Friday, June 19, 2015

FATHER'S DAY IS COMING



(too soon?)


BABYMETAL T-SHIRT: JUDAS PRIEST HOMAGE



Also Happy Birthday, Yuimetal!

NEW IRON MAIDEN ALBUM DATE ANNOUNCED ! ! !


YES!!!! Iron Maiden's 16th Studio DOUBLE Album, "THE BOOK OF SOULS", will be released September 4th, 2015! Check out that killer album art, by Mark Wilkinson!! Eddie hasn't looked this good since 'Seventh Son of a Seventh Son'!  I cannot wait for this album!

UP THE IRONS! \m/

Track listing:
Disc 1
1. If Eternity Should Fail (Dickinson) 8:28
2. Speed Of Light (Smith/ Dickinson) 5:01
3. The Great Unknown (Smith/ Harris) 6:37
4. The Red And The Black (Harris) 13:33
5. When The River Runs Deep (Smith/ Harris) 5:52
6. The Book Of Souls (Gers/ Harris) 10:27

Disc 2
7. Death Or Glory (Smith/ Dickinson) 5:13
8. Shadows Of The Valley (Gers/ Harris) 7:32
9. Tears Of A Clown (Smith/ Harris) 4:59
10. The Man Of Sorrows (Murray/ Harris) 6:28
11. Empire Of The Clouds (Dickinson) 18:01


A few years ago, I did a post overviewing Iron Maiden's discography. A quick "Jim's Guide to Maiden", if you will. You can find that post HERE.

TRANSFORMERS VS GODZILLA


by Matt Frank

* via Casey Hages

SOME NICE WONDER WOMAN IMAGES

Thursday, June 18, 2015

3 COOL TMNT PICS

SNAKE EYES II ACTION FIGURE VARIANT COMIC


I almost bought this Hall of Comics exclusive variant cover to GIJoe #215, because Snake Eyes II is my favorite GIJoe figure and I'm a sucker for these Action Figure variants. But alas, I did not purchase the comic, because it was $14... which was on sale (it's now at the regular price of $20). I decided if I am to spend $14 on a single comic, it will be on a Silver/Bronze Age comic I need in my collection. Love the back cover, though - nice touch!!