tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1761350793975469212011-07-07T21:08:12.181-05:00Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.comBlogger781100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-62585948677206462512010-02-10T10:55:00.008-06:002010-02-10T12:41:40.033-06:00So I'm perusing the MySpace account I've pretty much left dormant for months now simply because I forget most of these inane social networks. I'm tired of idiots I knew 20-years ago finding me and wanting to "reconnect." I didn't like you then, nor you me, and what has changed in two decades? I've gotten worse if nothing else, but...I digress. Anyway, as most know I'm a lifelong disciple of heavy metal music. For me, it has always been more than a fad, more than a musical persuasion. For true metal music fans it is a way of life. It's not the insipidity one saw on Beavis and Butthead, though the accuracy of some of our more ill-distinguished brethren is uncanny to say the least. Still, heavy metal music is a privilege, not a right. You have a right to cloud your heads and souls with such ridiculousness like Hannah Montana, Britney Spears, this American Idol abortion, what have you. You have to be accepted, welcomed into the metal fray, case closed. We never wanted posers or half-asses in our circle - it dilutes the pool. <br /><br />Supremacy? Possibly. I prefer to call it securing a small chasm of our own in an already over-populated sty. Call it what you will, but metal has always been a thinker's music, for except for classical music metal music is the cerebral fix for music fans that understand it. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CD69c0HEof0/S3LnfxT5DfI/AAAAAAAAADs/vACEdsH7xWc/s1600-h/gorgoroth.jpgking%26gaahl.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 294px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CD69c0HEof0/S3LnfxT5DfI/AAAAAAAAADs/vACEdsH7xWc/s320/gorgoroth.jpgking%26gaahl.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436662233188339186" /></a><br /><br />That said, I was reading a post by two men who call themselves Gaahl and King ov Hell formerly from the Norwegian black metal band <a href="http://www.gorgoroth.info/">Gorgoroth</a>, with King now fronting his new band, Ov Hell. They were informing the fan base of the current developments of an ongoing lawsuit they had with Regain Records, who illegally distributed a live album by the band a couple of years back. Well, to save any long-winded explanations of that showdown, I was reading the comments below from "fans" and saw a few posts denigrating Gaahl and calling him a "faggot," and a host of other manly names issued without care when securely safe behind some monitor screen. Considering <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaahl">Gaahl's past indiscretions</a> and general intolerance for stupid people (a trait we certainly share) safety, however cowardly, was the smartest recourse. <br /><br />Now, while I espouse to any ears willing to listen the virtues and solidarity of metal fans, why does a small "redneck" bunch of walking, talking diseases mar this happy place? Is homophobia such a rampant epidemic? If I wished to label the multitude of musicians that are gay or bisexual your minds might implode. Rob Halford, Melissa Etheridge, Elton John, the late Freddie Mercury, Liberace were and are all amazing performers, all openly gay, and there's a few more "quietly gay" metal men out there you'd certainly love to know, but don't wish to hear about, right? My question is who the flying fuck cares about who's gay or straight? Does it really hinder your love for the musician's music to find out they prefer one sex over another? Does their choice of life partner really diminish the musician's body of work?<br /><br />Sadly, to some metal fans it does.<br /><br />While heavy metal music if the most cerebral music next to classical compositions, it's also the most bigoted and uninformed. I'm not the most liberal guy on the planet, that's for sure, but as long as I've been a Judas Priest fan (dating back to 1980) I had suspicions that Mr. Halford might be gay, but it never bothered me. Who the hell am I to care, and why the hell should he care that I do or don't care? In the realm of metal music, no one genre holds such high values and low tolerance like black metal. In servitude to Satan and all of the trappings associated with such subjugation, this band of renegade fans prides itself on free-thought, pissing on the Christian doctrines and beliefs at any given opportunity, and personal enlightenment. I don't necessarily mind bashing the living entity of weakness known as organized religion, but purporting service to Satan is trading one crutch for another, yes? Again, I digress...As a fan of black metal music myself I know very well the lineage and history of the genre, more so than most of my contemporaries today since I lived through both the original phase from the early 80's with <a href="http://www.venomslegions.com/">Venom</a>, <a href="http://www.covenworldwide.org/">Mercyful Fate</a>, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/bathoryofficial">Bathory</a> and <a href="http://www.celticfrost.com/">Celtic Frost</a> to the current Scandinavian wave of the early 90's with <a href="http://www.thetruemayhem.com/">Mayhem</a>, <a href="http://www.burzum.org/">Burzum</a>, <a href="http://www.emperorhorde.com/">Emperor</a> and <a href="http://www.myspace.com/vinterland">Vinterland</a>. It's a vibrant, fascinating study of the solitude and inner workings of an alternative point of view from some highly astute and educated people. Black metal nowadays is branching itself out into Pagan roots, ambient folk tunes with dark themes and nature as a living entity. The evolution is fascinating and rich in itself. Equally rich is the arrogance and brutality of such narrow-mindedness when it comes to our supposed heroes being "flawed" or having lifestyle choices perceived as flaws.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CD69c0HEof0/S3Lu9vyCYRI/AAAAAAAAAD0/PurtjnvSdVU/s1600-h/Black_Metal_Logos_by_krios3.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CD69c0HEof0/S3Lu9vyCYRI/AAAAAAAAAD0/PurtjnvSdVU/s320/Black_Metal_Logos_by_krios3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436670444755378450" /></a>(Collage made by <a href="http://s561.photobucket.com/albums/ss57/Vregak_666/">Vregak_666</a>) <br /><br />I've never seen such animosity like I've seen in the metal community. So Gaahl is gay, so fucking what? He's still a fine black metal musician, a fine writer of thought-inducing lyrics and an accomplished painter. He also has a family, friends, beliefs, loves, wants, needs and dreams...like all of us! So why is it so imperative that his life partner be one we must accept? Why must we exclude him from the party? He was invited before most of these idiots spreading such nonsense! It's not for us to decide who one person falls in love with or who another prefers as a life mate. The one thing I find necessary to point out to some of our more ignorant and mentally-complacent friends is that being gay does not center only around sex. Why is it that some people cringe when they find out that a person is gay? Because they automatically picture them in bed with a member of the same sex and immediately become disgusted. Being gay does not center around sex, you self-righteous automatons! And if you read about some of the lurid details in the tabloid papers about the sex lives of some of the straight stars you'd cringe just as hard, believe me! Love and feelings are what drives attraction in most people, as does a shared love of certain hobbies and beliefs. The fact that I have had to turn by rant against bigoted metal fans into a crusade for gay rights impedes on my personal time...you select ignorant few should know better! <br /><br />I love my metal brethren, and I am proud and honored to be among the elite few that call this form of music my home and my lifestyle, but for too many years this bigotry and self-serving idealism has been raping the base of its natural intention. Metal music is free-thinking, self-preservation, and protection from the "normalcy" of a world that doesn't understand or accept us. We were and still are shunned, looked down upon, cursed at, ridiculed, unfairly categorized and labeled, ostracized and ignored. For years we stood up and spat in the face of such arrogance and claimed for the gods to hear, "We don't need you...fuck off!" And we did it! And we rose above and exceeded all predictions of our generation wasting away in a haze of dope smoke or suicide. We managed to overcome bigotry and hypocrisy by being simply what we are: metal fans and caring people who guard what we hold dear for all it's worth.<br /><br />Now imagine the metal fan or musician who happens to be gay. <br /><br />He or she suffered right along with us, and he or she is also family by putting in the hours and laborious efforts to keep our genre strong. Who the hell are we to care about their love preferences? <br /><br />Grow up!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-6258594867720646251?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-57203783419951473142009-12-03T18:00:00.001-06:002009-12-03T18:01:44.455-06:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CD69c0HEof0/SxhRYAXOTDI/AAAAAAAAADk/AJ3oWAjGRf0/s1600-h/newstrfrnt.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 290px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CD69c0HEof0/SxhRYAXOTDI/AAAAAAAAADk/AJ3oWAjGRf0/s320/newstrfrnt.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411164425141767218" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.allamericancomicshops.com/">All-American Comics</a> in Evergreen Park, Illinois will be having its annual Christmas sale starting December 5 and running until January 3. Deals galore are there to be had, with all back issues 50% off the sticker price, and all pulps, hardcovers and trades are 20%off (previously marked-down books are an additional 5% off that price).<br /><br />If you're looking for some Gold, a damn fine amount of Silver and Bronze Age, as well as modern books look no further! Carl has the sale going on and it lasts from Saturday, December 5, to January 3. All sales are cash-and-carry, so get in there and grab some stellar books. He has a ton of Silver Age Superboys, Spider-Mans, and Thor, not to mention a hefty number of bronze X-Men, Fantastic Four, Daredevil, Supermans, you name it! <br /><br />The shop is located at 3576 W. 95th St in Evergreen Park, so get in there and buy some comic goodies for the Christmas stocking! Call 708-425-7555 for hours or visit the website linked above! Don't miss out!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-5720378341995147314?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-77492138159810121312009-12-03T17:59:00.001-06:002009-12-03T17:59:47.259-06:00It's that time of the week again for the list of next week's books that arrives in my email and then right into your house! There's a good number of Blackest Night tie-in books coming as well as another Amazing Spidey Gauntlet book, and a Spidey Secret Wars #1. There's also another part to the X-Men Necrosha saga coming in, so get to your LCS and grab 'em up! Don't forget to visit Carl at <a href="http://www.allamericancomicshops.com/">All-American Comics</a> in Evergreen Park for these books...and his sale!<br /><br />MARVEL<br />Amazing Spider-Man #614 gauntlet<br />Black Widow Deadly Origin #2<br />Dark Reign List Punisher One Shot 2nd print<br />Dark Reign the List Wolverine 2nd print<br />Dark X-Men #2<br />Deadpool #18<br />Deathlok #2<br />Enders Game War of Gifts One-Shot<br />Ghost Riders Heavens on Fire #5<br />Incredible Hulk #605<br />Invincible Iron Man #21<br />Marvel 70th Anniversary Frame Art One-shot<br />Marvelous land of Oz #1 2nd print<br />Nation X #1<br />New Avengers Annual #3<br />Punisher Noir #4<br />Punishermax #2<br />Realm of Kings Imperial Guard #2<br />Spider-Man and the Secret Wars #1<br />Sword #2<br />Uncanny X-Men First Class #6<br />War Machine #12<br />Web of Spider-Man #3 gauntlet<br />What If? World War Hulk<br />Wolverine Under the Boardwalk<br />X-Men Forever #13<br />X-Men Noir Mark of Cain #1<br />X-Necrosha The Gathering #1<br /><br />DC<br />Action #884<br />Adventure Comics #5 blackest night<br />Batgirl #5<br />Booster Gold #27 blackest night<br />DCU Holiday Special 2009 #1<br />Doom Patrol #5 blackest night<br />Green Arrow Black Canary #27<br />Magog #4<br />R.E.B.E.L.S. #11 blackest night<br />Red Robin #7<br />Secret Six #16<br />The Shield #4<br />Titans #20<br /><br />DC/VERTIGO<br />Daytripper #1<br />DMZ #48<br />Unwritten #8<br /><br />DC/WILDSTORM<br />Dantes Inferno #1<br />Gen 13 #33<br />Modern Warfare 2 Ghost 2 #2<br />Red Herring #5<br /><br />INDEPENDENT<br />A Very Zombie Christmas<br />Anchor #3<br />Anywhere #1<br />AOD Ash Saves Obama #4<br />Astounding Wolf-Man #20<br />Beyond the Wall #2<br />BPRD War on Frogs #4<br />Citizen Rex #6<br />Complete Dracula #4<br />Days Missing #5<br />Don Bluth Space Ace #4<br />Donatello Brain Thief #3<br />Farscape Dargos Quest #1<br />Ghostbusters Past Present Future One-Shot<br />God Complex #1<br />Groo Hogs of Horder #2<br />Incarnate #3<br />Jon Sable Freelance Ashes of Eden #3<br />Legion Prophets #4<br />Mangalicious Tick #4<br />Phonogram 2 #6<br />Pilot Season Murderer #1<br />Star Trek Alien Spotlight Cardassians<br />Star Wars Clone Wars #11<br />Tank Girl Nuggets One Shot<br />Tarot Witch of the Black Rose #59<br />Terry Moore's Echo #17<br />Vampirella Second Coming #4<br />Walking Dead #68<br /><br />TRADES & HARDCOVERS<br />Batman The Cult TPB New Printing<br />Battlestar Galactica Final Five TPB<br />Booster Gold Blue & Gold TPB<br />Boys Definitive ED HC VOL 2 W/Slipcover<br />Crossing Empty Quarter & Other Stories HC<br />Dark Reign Underside TPB<br />Ex Machina Vol 8 Dirty Tricks TPB<br />Genext United TP<br />House of M HC Spider-Man Fantastic Four X-Men<br />JLA Year One TPB New Printing<br />Kindling James Jean Poster Book<br />Love Buzz GN<br />MMW Golden Age Sub-Mariner HC Vol 3<br />Ms. Marvel Vol 7 Dark Reign TPB<br />Runaways Good Die Young TPB<br />Sky Doll TP Vol 01<br />Spider-Man Red-Headed Stranger HC<br />Superman Supergirl Maelstrom TPB<br />Terra TPB<br />Tomb of Dracula Omnibus HC Vol 02 DM ED<br />Ultimatum March On Ultimatum TPB<br />Ultimatum X-Men Fantastic Four TPB<br />Uncanny X-Men First Class Hated and Feared TPB<br />Vietnam Journal Vol 1 Indian Country TPB<br />What if Classic TP Vol 06<br />X-Factor Overtime Prem HC<br />X-Men Spider-Man TP<br /><br />MAGAZINES<br />Alter Ego #90<br />Comic Shop News<br />DC Superhero Figurine Coll Mag #21 Raven<br />Doctor Who Magazine #415<br />Heavy Metal January 2010<br />Illustration Magazine #28<br />Judge Dredd Megazine #291<br />Lost Magazine #26<br />Toyfare #150 mattel WWE<br />Video Watchdog #153<br /><br />KIDS<br />Archie & Friends #138<br />Cars Radiator Springs #4<br />Marvel Adventures Spider-man Vol 14 Thwip Digest<br />Marvel Adventures Super Heroes #18<br />Mickey Mouse & Friends #298<br />Muppet Show ongoing #0<br />Pals N Gals Double Digest #137<br />Scooby Doo #151<br />Super Friends #22<br />Toy Story #0<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-7749213815981012131?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-57274968660082846252009-11-29T00:44:00.002-06:002009-11-29T00:47:55.657-06:00So I'm pretty happy tonight despite my hockey team blowing the shootout! <a href="http://www.metalpsalter.com/">Metal Psalter</a> has asked me aboard to write for/with them about metal music, my other passion in life! When it comes to heavy metal music I have always said it's the thinker's music, deeply cerebral despite the caveats surrounding it from "concerned" groups over the years. That's not to say I count myself a brilliant man, but a thinker? Hell yes! <br /><br />I'm a pretty happy camper tonight, all things considered.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-5727496866008284625?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-52378372847226380982009-11-28T10:00:00.000-06:002009-11-28T10:01:15.935-06:00With all of the Blackest Night stories running wild, each new book week gets more and more fun, and this week will be no exception! Blackest Night: Wonder Woman and Blackest Night: Flash look to be great, as do the milieu of books below. Be sure to stop by <a href="http://www.allamericancomicshops.com/">All-American Comics</a> in Evergreen Park if you're in the area!<br /><br />MARVEL<br />Anita Blake Laughing Corpse Executioner #2<br />Black Widow and the Marvel Girls #1<br />Captain America Theater of War Prisoners of Duty<br />Dark Avengers Annual #1<br />Dark Tower Battle of Jericho Hill #1<br />Deadpool Team-Up #898<br />Fall of the Hulks Alpha<br />Giant Size Spider-Man Hulk Iron Man<br />Hulk Winter Guard<br />Iron Man Requiem<br />Iron Man VS Whiplash #1<br />Marvels Project #4 epting variant<br />Nova #32<br />Psylocke #2<br />Siege The Cabal<br />Spider-Man Noir Eyes Without a Face #1 calero variant<br />Spin Angels #4<br />Starr the Slayer #4<br />Strange #2<br />Thor #604<br />Torch #4<br />Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #5<br />What If? Secret Invasion<br />X-Babies #3 regular cover<br />X-Force Annual #1<br />X-Men #518<br /><br />DC<br />Batman and Robin #2 4th print<br />Batman Confidential #38<br />Batman the Unseen #5<br />Blackest Night The Flash #1<br />Blackest Night Wonder Woman #1<br />Jonah Hex #50<br />JSA All Stars #1<br />Lobo Highway to Hell #2<br />Mighty #11<br />Red Tornado #4<br />Superman World of New Krypton #10<br />The Great Ten #2<br />Warlord #9<br /><br />DC/VERTIGO<br />Cinderella from Fabletown with Love #2<br />Greek Street #6<br />House of Mystery #20<br />Jack of Fables #40<br />Scalped #33<br />Sweet Tooth #4<br /><br />DC/WILDSTORM<br />Authority #17<br />Free Realms #4<br />North 40 #6<br /><br />INDEPENDENT<br />1001 Arabian Nights Adventures of Sinbad #10<br />28 Days Later #4<br />Absolution #4<br />Aliens #4<br />Athena #3<br />Barack the Barbarian #3<br />Boys #37<br />Dingo #1 cover a<br />Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? #6<br />Doctor Who Classics Series 2 #13<br />Empowered One-Shot<br />Existence 3.0 #1<br />Female Force #8 barbara walters<br />GI Joe #12<br />Glamourpuss #10<br />Grimjack Manx Cat #5<br />Hack Slash The Series #28<br />Haunt #1 3rd print<br />Haunt #3 mcfarlane b&w cover<br />Image United #1 collectors edition<br />Invincible Presents Atom Eve & Rex Splode #2<br />Kill Audio #3<br />King City #3<br />Knights of the Dinner Table #156<br />Legend of Isis #7<br />Legion Prophets #2<br />Legion Prophets #3<br />Mice Templar Destiny #5<br />Phantom Generations #6<br />Political Power #4 ted kennedy<br />Roger Corman Presents Black Scorpion #1<br />Savage Dragon #155<br />Secret History Book 07<br />Starstruck #4<br />Supergod #2<br />Sword #20<br />Talisman Road of Trials #2<br />The Good the Bad the Ugly #6<br />Tom Corbett Space Cadet #3<br />Transformers Best of UK Prey #5<br />Vincent Price Presents #13<br /><br />TRADES & HARDCOVERS<br />365 Samurai & Few Bowls of Rice SC<br />Batman The Cat And The Bat TPB<br />Binky Brown Meets The Holy Virgin Mary GN<br />Bionicle Gn Vol 7 Realm Of Fear TPB<br />Black Panter TP Deadliest of Species<br />Chronicles of Kull TP Vol 01 King Comics Riding<br />Chronicles of Solomn Kane TP Vol 1<br />Doctor Grordbort Presents Victory HC<br />Doctor Who Through Time And Space TPB<br />Electropolis TP<br />Essential X-Factor TP Vol 03<br />Ex Machina Deluxe Edition HC Vol 02<br />Exiles Ultimate Collection TP Book 03<br />Little Lulu Vol 21 Miss Feenys Folly & Stories TPB<br />Myspace Presents Dark Horse TP Vol 05<br />New Mutants Prem HC Return of Legion<br />Popeye HC Vol 04 Plunder Island<br />Rann Thanagar Holy War TP Vol 02<br />Spawn Origins TP Vol 03<br />Star Wars Clone Wars Vol 1 Slaves Of The Republic TPB<br />Star Wars Legacy TO Vol 07 Storms<br />Street Fighter Legends Vol 2 Chun Li TPB<br />Street Fighter Vol 5 Kick Into Turbo TPB<br />Tales from Wonderland TP Vol 02<br />Teen Titans Deathtrap TPB<br />Tick Color Series Complete Works TP Vol 01<br />Transmetropolitan Vol 5 Lonely City New Ed TPB<br />Trojan War Prem HC<br />Unthinkable TP<br />What It Is HC<br />Wolverine Waepon X 100 Project TPB<br />Yoshitaka Amanos Mateki The Magic Flute HC<br /><br />KIDS<br />Archie Double Digest #204<br />Betty #183<br />Cartoon Network Action Pack #44<br />Donald Duck And Friends #348<br />The Incredibles #3<br />Looney Tunes #181<br />Simpsons Winter Wingding #4<br />Sonic the Hedgehog #207<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-5237837284722638098?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-80774347419965370392009-11-24T12:01:00.005-06:002009-11-24T12:30:00.404-06:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CD69c0HEof0/SwwkpPGW1CI/AAAAAAAAADc/WkAyLm3GMcI/s1600/gumo+cd.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 317px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CD69c0HEof0/SwwkpPGW1CI/AAAAAAAAADc/WkAyLm3GMcI/s320/gumo+cd.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407737543411553314" /></a><br /><br />Try to imagine a band that sounds as if they stepped right out of 1980s black/thrash oblivion. Now try to add to that the fact that they don't sound dated or typical (at least not by the current standard) and you've got Gumo Maniacs, a speed/trash/black metal band from the bowels of Germany.<br /><br />The obvious comparisons to <a href="http://www.slayer.net/us/orderwpb">Slayer</a>, <a href="http://www.deathss.com/">Death SS</a> and <a href="http://www.myspace.com/hobbsangelofdeath">Hobbs' Angel of Death</a> aside, Gumo Maniacs is a truly inspired trio that took pages directly from the book of Hell-spawn metal music and captured that raw, hellish 80s sound that I have missed so severely. The CD is called "Priest of Lucifer," which seems to carry with it a typical rolling of the eyes since every damn band on earth seems to be possessed by the Norwegian black metal sound (and doing it badly I might add - the originals are the true pioneers of that sound, leave it alone!). As I said, this CD has the early speedy Slayer elements mixed with some of the more obscure bands from the 80s like <a href="http://rattlehead.netfirms.com/massacre/news.htm">Massacre</a>, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/666possessed">Possessed</a>, early <a href="http://www.deathangel.com/">Death Angel</a>, <a href="http://sodomized.info/">Sodom</a>, Kreator and a host of other worthy bands. While the band has speed elements that are undeniable, they also have a good old-school groove to certain tracks that changes up the tempo nicely when you least expect it. It's easy to see where these guys get their inspiration, and it's quite the book of merit to gather from, that's for sure. Some bands, like the mighty <a href="http://www.venomslegions.com/">Venom</a>, get the concept and work with what limited resources they have or had to create something magical that stands the test of time. Gumo Maniacs combined elements of the best of the best and created...this! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CD69c0HEof0/SwwgO8HPOQI/AAAAAAAAADU/HahA4y40yfE/s1600/gumo+band.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CD69c0HEof0/SwwgO8HPOQI/AAAAAAAAADU/HahA4y40yfE/s320/gumo+band.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407732693591865602" /></a><br /><br />The album is a relentless assault on virgin and harlot ears, giving newbies a real look at the wonderful metal world we had long before rap-rock and "power" metal with the silly Hammerfall-esque sound tainted our history with watered-down sap passing off as real heavy metal. There is no reinvention of the wheel here, but the songs are catchy, the riffs are solid and focused and the vocals are legible, something severely lacking in the post-Mayhem black metal realm. On top of that, the production is clean and precise, retaining just a hint of the old-school feel while applying some of the finer points of modern-day mixing. Song titles include "Invert the Cross," "Kill Again Tonight," "Ashes to Ashes," "Priest of Lucifer," and "Thor." I highly recommend this CD to anyone with a true understanding and interest in the history of speed and black metal music that has absolutely nothing to do with Norway's 15th century churches being burned or band members killing each other for monies owed or power. This is as in-your-face heavy metal as it gets and if you're so inclined check them out at the link below. <br /><br />This CD gets 5/5 for me - classic in the making already! <br /><br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/gumomaniacs">Gumo Manicas MySpace</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-8077434741996537039?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-44048643867492049742009-11-20T16:34:00.001-06:002009-11-20T16:34:23.857-06:00My articles on the Amazing Spider-Man #611 issue have caused a great deal of feedback, both for and against my position, and I'm thankful for that. After all, what's the point of writing these pieces if the public doesn't respond? However, I do feel that I should address a few points I've been "called-out" on in the last couple of days and a couple that I haven't clarified.<br /><br />First, I do not hate Marvel Comics. My favorite character, Spider-Man, is a Marvel creation, as well as Daredevil, Captain America, the Avengers, Thor, Hulk, X-Men, and a host of other characters I've read and enjoyed over the years. That said, I absolutely hate what the current administration is doing to the characters. When dealing with comic books, much like our rival "gamer" crowd, we're very passionate and protective of our characters. We invest time, love, and especially money into them. We grow with them, suffer with them, triumph with them and want the best for them. Do we need lives? Possibly, but you have admire our tenacity, yes? Anyway, Marvel has a wonderful and rich history, but that doesn't mean all of its decisions have been good ones. Yes, the same can be said for DC and the still-clueless Image company, but Marvel has run the gamut on taking exceptional liberties with its stable of creations. I won't get into specific examples, but they are there and they are part of the history, no matter how inept or convoluted the story-lines are to certain origins and lineages. This is not changing with the times or updating the stable for the audience because the core audience, as I've mentioned, is my age (38) or older. That is the demographic that mainly supports the hobby, and that's simply a fact. It's flat irresponsibility on the specific editor's part for allowing these liberties to be taken.<br /><br />Next, I complain about Marvel loudly to anyone that will listen, but yes, I do still buy Daredevil and Spider-Man with the occasional Cap thrown in for good measure (Epting!!). I buy them because I simply cannot give up on a character I have grown up with and loved for most of my life. I know damn well my eight bucks, maybe $11 a month is not keeping Marvel going, but that's part of my point. I am answering Marvel's lack of good creative teams by not buying the books I've loved for years, like Thor, Avengers and the like. I am practicing what I preach by not buying book I feel inferior to what it once might have been, and I'm fine with that. I don't lament about not seeing a good Avengers story anymore (Norman Osborn - head of the U.S. now?? A new Avengers with Bullseye as Hawkeye?? Come on! Okay, I lamented a little.) I'm sorry to not be buying them anymore, but if the book stinks, in my opinion, I quit, case closed. It's a bit of double-talk on my part I'm sure, but I love Spidey and DD and simply want to keep getting them. So when something like the 611 issue pops up, an obviously low-rent, throw-away issue, it offends me because, frankly, I don't want to stop buying the one character that started me on this wondrous road of comics. It's an insult to myself and the thousands of comic fans that don't have time to troll boards and comment on various blogs. We are out there, trust me. I just happen to have both worlds open to me, one for work and on for pleasure. In short, I don't want the last two books I love to fall into a Dark Reign/Siege storyline that infects and pollutes the comic book gene pool. This is more about bad writing/art than anything else. It's just my opinion on what I, as a prolific buyer of books every week, see as wrong with Marvel and why I personally don't buy most of the books anymore.<br /><br />The last thing I want is to see Marvel go under or die. This Disney merger still frightens me because, despite the company's stringent denials of interfering with the books, nothing is set in stone. Do you honestly believe that Disney, a very child-oriented company, is going to allow a Punisher MAX title to remain on shelves? That's simply not going to happen. The first issue alone had multitudinous "F" words throughout, hence my quitting that title that day. I'm far from some prude, but I don't need that shortcut-to-thinking writing in my books. The whole reason Disney has promised not to step into the comics area so far is because they have yet to see exactly what books are out there for consumption. Trust me, nothing is promised when it comes to business. I could very well be wrong, and I hope I am, because the last thing I want is for comics to go the way of Disney's own line of comics, which they've already discontinued and dismissed as "non-factor." <br /><br />The fact is we should all buy comics you like, whether the masses like them or not, and when I mentioned that we should not give up our Spidey book without a fight, the fight can easily be taken to Marvel's editors by way of letters, either snail-mail or email, or by quitting a book that stinks. Let your disdain and praise be heard, whether you've been reading for one year or 40! I simply wish Marvel would pay more attention to its audience that doesn't visit blogs and boards because that's the one that matters. These people buy anywhere from 30-150 books per week! They've been buying and reading since they were kids themselves, and they are the silent majority that should be adhered to weekly. Today's comics, as I've said time and again, are not bought by kids anymore. The target audience Marvel shoots for does not exist anymore; we have hardly any kids come into our LCS, and when they do it's the parents trying to pass along the torch of comicdom to them. today's teenagers, more than likely, will not be buying comics in the next five years. That's not to say that some out there won't, but the overall picture is a bleak one. While comics sales were up last year, in the wake of a recession we need all of the good books we can get stocking the shelves. People are not quitting book at my LCS, but they are dropping titles to fit their budgets and most of them have been Marvels. Some, like myself, held on for dear life, hoping the books would improve and overall, to their personal chagrin, they didn't. No one has tons of cash to dole out for variant covers these days, and that's why I'm laughing out loud that the Image #1 that hits stores next week has, count them, 10 covers! Uh, Image...remember 1996?? <br /><br />All of this aside, I'd like to thank all of the people that left comments on my page, both for and against my position and/or reviews. I stand by what I said, but wanted to clarify a few things before people get the impression I'm an anti-Marvel guy. I'm an anti-crap guy, happily and loudly. So far Marvel has done crappy things with its books and characters.<br /><br />Buy what is good, support what's worth your money<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-4404864386749204974?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-61805541139940959962009-11-20T01:33:00.000-06:002009-11-20T01:34:06.393-06:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CD69c0HEof0/SwZGZn9zWOI/AAAAAAAAADM/N0Wec2s4190/s1600/2_amazing_spider_man_612_granov_50_50_cover_.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CD69c0HEof0/SwZGZn9zWOI/AAAAAAAAADM/N0Wec2s4190/s320/2_amazing_spider_man_612_granov_50_50_cover_.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406085808743733474" /></a><br /><br /><br />Utterly amazing, hence the title.<br /><br />Hot on the heels of one of the more controversial issues of Amazing Spider-Man issues to date comes one of the better ones this longtime fan has read in at least a couple of years. The past, however recent, is the past. A huge editorial mistake was made with #611, so we move on like good comic fans should. This issue has one heck of a storyline in the making, people!<br /><br />Max Dillon, a.k.a. Electro, one of the more underrated rogues in Spider-Man's gallery, has made a smashing return...as a voice for the people! Electro...a hero?! So it seems, folks, and so far I'm really liking where it's going. Void of the typical trappings of "old-villain-resurrection-plots" this storyline sees a bitter Max Dillon lamenting about his lot in life. Feeling shafted by "the man" and the big corporations, Dillon decides to take his plight to the people of New York City with surprising results. You might find yourself confused at the end of the issue as to who to root for, and it's a welcome surprise. It's a real positive after such a negative one-shot last week and I must honestly say this is one of the best Spider-Man books I've read in recent months, hands down.<br /><br />Competently handled by writer Mark Waid and nicely penciled by Paul Azaceta, this arc has historic aspirations, and with the first issue actually living up to its pre-publication noise the last thread on the Marvel sweater has some length left for this writer/fan. I think if you're as disappointed as I am with the last ish of Spidey, I implore you to at least give this one a chance. What's being done with Electro is innovative, original and very appreciated in these times of economic trouble; we have a voice we can all relate to on some level, even if he is an arch villain from 1964. Check out the slideshow below to see Electro through the years. Just when I was ready to thrown in the Marvel towel I'm a little less angry than I was earlier, and even though this is the proverbial deck-chair-off-the-Titanic scenario it at least slows the bleeding a bit.<br /><br />Five of five stars for me so far - give it a shot and try really hard to forget issue 611 exists if you're so inclined. Don't give it up yet...not without a fight!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-6180554113994095996?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-36026314761924740562009-11-20T01:20:00.000-06:002009-11-20T01:21:14.548-06:00Despite the turmoil of this week's Spidey fiasco, the show must go on with more comic goodies for the coming week. Don't forget to stop in and see Carl and the gang at All-American Comics if you're in the Chicago area! Here's what's coming next week:<br /><br /><br />Amazing Spider-Man #613<br />Avengers The Initiative #30<br />Criminal Sinners #2<br />Daredevil #501 2nd print<br />Dark Avengers Ares #2<br />Dark Reign List Hulk One Shot 2nd print<br />Dark Reign List Secret Warriors One Shot 2nd print<br />Dark Tower The Fall of Gilead #6<br />Dark Wolverine #80<br />Deadpool #16 2nd print<br />Enders Shadow Command School #3<br />Fantastic Four #573<br />Guardians of the Galaxy #20<br />Halo Helljumper #5<br />Hulk #17<br />Immortal Weapons #5<br />Incredible Hercules #138<br />Invincible Iron Man #20<br />Models Inc #4<br />Ms. Marvel #47<br />New Avengers #59<br />New Mutants #7 x-necrosha tie-in<br />Powers #1<br />Secret Warriors #10<br />Son of Hulk #17<br />Son of Marvel Reading Chronology<br />Spider-Man Clone Saga #3<br />Thor Defining Moments Giant-Size #1<br />Ultimate Comics Avengers #4<br />Vengeance of Moon Knight #2 2nd print<br />Web of Spider-Man #2<br />Wolverine First Class #21<br />Wolverine Magazine #4<br />X-Men #517<br />X-Men Forever #12<br /><br />DC<br />Arkham Reborn #2<br />Blackest Night #2 3rd print<br />Blackest Night #5<br />Booster Gold #26 2nd print<br />Detective Comics #859<br />Doom Patrol #4 2nd print<br />Gotham City Sirens #6<br />Green Lantern #48<br />Justice League Cry for Justice #5<br />Justice League of America #39<br />Justice Society of America #33<br />R.E.B.E.L.S. #10 2nd print<br />Superman #694<br />Superman Secret Origin #3<br />Teen Titans #77<br />The Web #3<br />Wonder Woman #38<br />Worlds Finest #2<br /><br />DC/VERTIGO<br />Madame Xanadu #17<br />Northlanders #22<br />Unknown Soldier #14<br /><br />DC/WILDSTORM<br />Free Realms #3<br />Starcraft #6<br />Wildcats Worlds End #17<br /> <br />INDEPENDENT<br />Absolution #2<br />Anna Mercury 2 #1<br />Beasts of Burden #3<br />Black Coat or Give Me Death #3<br />Buck Rogers #6<br />Chew #6<br />Chronicles of Wormwood The Last Battle Preview<br />Creepy Comics #2<br />Darkness #81<br />Days Missing #4<br />Die Hard Year One #3<br />Domino Lady #3<br />Emily the Strange 13th Hour #2<br />Galactica 1980 #3<br />Ganges #3<br />GI Joe Origins #9 feister cover<br />Gold Digger #112<br />Gold Digger Tech Manuel #9<br />I Am Legion #6<br />Image United #1<br />Jericho Season 3 #1<br />Last Resort #4<br />Lone Ranger #19<br />Milo Ventimiglia Presents Berserker #3 haun cover<br />No Hero #7 zombies cover<br />President Evil #3 Eat Press<br />Project Superpowers Meet the Bad Guys #4<br />Queen Sonja #2<br />Sky Pirates of Neo Terra #3<br />Spartacus Blood And Sand #2<br />Star Trek Nero #4<br />Star Wars Legacy #42<br />Tales of the TMNT #64<br />Tarot Witch of the Black Rose #59<br />The Goon #33<br />Tick New Series #1<br />TMNT #1 full color one shot<br />Transformers Tales of the Fallen #4<br />Usagi Yojimbo #124<br /><br /><br />TRADES & HARDCOVERS<br />ACME Novelty Library HC #19<br />Archie New Look Series Vol 3 Breakup Blues TPB<br />Astonishing X-Men Vol 5 Ghost Box tpb<br />Avengers Iniative TP Vol 04 Disassembled<br />Berserk TP Vol 32<br />Boys HC Vol 02 LTD ED Get Some<br />Boys Vol 5 Herogasm TPB<br />Captain America Death of Captain America HC<br />Chew vol 1 TPB<br />Dark Reign Elektra TPB<br />Deadpool Classic Vol. 3 TPB<br />Eagle Annual Best of the 1960s Comic HC<br />Flash vs The Rogues TP<br />Immortal Iron Fist TPB Vol 5 escape from eighth city<br />Incognito TPB<br />Justice League International TP Vol. 3<br />MMW Deathlok HC Vol 1<br />MMW Uncanny X-Men TP Vol 01<br />OFF HB Marvel Univ A to Z Prem Vol 11<br />Powers HC Vol 3 Definitive Collection<br />Saga of the Swamp Thing HC Book 02<br />Sgt. Rock The Lost Battalion HC<br />SHADE the Changing Man TP Vol 01 American Scream<br />SHADE the Changing Man TP Vol 02 Edge of Vision TP<br />Simon Bisley Illistration From The Bible TPB<br />Star Comics TP All-Star Collection Vol 01 GN<br />Winter Men TPB<br />X-men Worlds Apart TPB<br /> <br /><br />MAGAZINES<br />2000 AD Pack Oct 2009<br />Comic Shop News<br />Heroes Magazine #12<br />Marvel Previews #76<br />Previews #255<br />Smallville Magazine #34<br />Supernatural Magazine #13<br />Torchwood Magazine #18<br />Wizard the Guide to Comics #219<br /><br />KIDS<br />Archie #603<br />Batman Brave and the Bold #11<br />Betty and Veronica Double Digest #176<br />Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam #10<br />Futurama Comics #46<br />Jughead & Friends Digest #35<br />Marvel Adventures Spider-Man #57<br />Monsters Inc Laugh Factory #3<br />Muppet Peter Pan #3<br />Uncle Scrooge #385<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-3602631476192474056?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-22222389401397414942009-11-19T16:26:00.001-06:002009-11-19T16:27:37.202-06:00It seems the debacle known as Amazing Spider-Man #611 has really picked up momentum over at the Comic Book Resources board. Note the response from Eric Canete, the book's artist, says about it on his blog:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">And I can't tell whether or not the love/hate split for #611 goes right down the middle, but I wonder if there's any way I can cajole Marvel's editorial offices to just alienate the remaining 50% by letting me do just that - 13 issues back to back.<br /><br />Let's ask, shall we?<br /><br />In the mean time, here's 11 pages of the issue in black and white for your viewing pleasure. For the full effect (the AWESOME and HILARIOUS plot by JOE KELLY, word balloons, colors, etc.) *and* in order to support my plight in making every Spiderman fan nervous for a year, please pick up the issue out on your local comic book stores' stands now. Then do me a huge ol' favor and write an e-mail to Marvel's Stephen Wacker telling him how you're part of the progressive/forward thinking 50% and how ecstatic you'd be if I could go on a year-long tear regarding the Sinister Six.<br /><br />And to those who have already bought the issue, thank you SO MUCH for your patronage and for all the kind, supportive, and congratulatory e-mails. I am genuinely appreciative and I owe you folks a ton.<br /><br />Have a great week.<br /><br />PS - Are there really people boycotting the Spiderman books because of some event that's happened like Marvel did a whole rewind on Spiderman's history or Aunt May is now a super-spy? Really?! A boycott?! Wow, you guys are hard core.<br /><br />It also includes eleven pages of black and white art from the issue.</span><br /><br />Well, from his obviously pedestrian response to the "core" audience, I can only say that if Marvel let's this guy do any additional "art" the numbers for this book will sink faster than a lead zeppelin. It seems he simply doesn't get why the "real" audience is upset. I know Marvel doesn't get it, and they haven't for years now, but to flippantly berate the readers in the way this guy did - good luck with him Marvel! Scale pay looks really good right now, I suppose. The fact that these people on his personal blog are rooting him on and chanting to the heavens about "Making mine Marvel" again if he does more issues is utterly laughable. These wandering nomads Marvel covets like nickels and dimes do NOT support your books! They'll support Canetes' art for the 13-issues, then leave the title in the comic book dust that fast! Are you really that concerned with momentary numbers, Marvel Comics? Don't you care about the history of this character being absolutely raped over and over and over and over? Oh, wait, yes, you do only care about numbers, hence the silly zombie books that have far outlived their stay (with issue 1) and 50 variant covers per subpar comic. There's where Marvel's numbers are, folks - that's why they manage to top DC in sales! That's not an opinion, that's a fact!<br /><br />I passionately love these characters and it hurts me when I see what fast-and-loose care is being given to them. We're a floundering medium now, folks - do you really want our books to die a painful, quicker death? Don't we have enough distractions keeping readers away without the books becoming jokes within themselves? My LCS, All-American Comics, has literally had six people drop Spider-Man because of this being the straw that broke a dying camel's back! Sorry, but my buddy Carl shouldn't have to worry about losing more subscribers because Marvel forgot that the little guy exists!<br /><br />I can personally guarantee that if he does a 13-issue arc the resounding noise of drop lists for Spider-Man will deafen the populous! It may not show in the initial run, but watch the numbers after the deluge and see where the sales numbers stand then. What has happened here? This all seems like a large joke over at Marvel. <br /><br />Hey Disney...um, help? Marvel is the proverbial elder care patient that can no longer care for itself.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-2222238940139741494?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-31979271981911146122009-11-16T00:05:00.002-06:002009-11-16T00:07:06.150-06:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CD69c0HEof0/SwDr6hskwuI/AAAAAAAAADE/dZ_7jMj3A40/s1600/asm611021.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CD69c0HEof0/SwDr6hskwuI/AAAAAAAAADE/dZ_7jMj3A40/s320/asm611021.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404578943554863842" /></a><br />I have no idea what to say about this comic.<br /><br />Wait, yes I do. It's unequivocally one of the worst books I've ever seen, on top of one of the worst books I've ever read.<br /><br />I think I can still hear the resounding cries all over the civilian world about the character Deadpool after seeing the Wolverine movie earlier this year and finding out he's not nearly as cool as the movie depicted him. Then again, comic movies never follow the books. In it, Deadpool becomes a very cool villain with a sad and distorted origin, endearing him all the more to the non-comic book fan. He says nothing (due to his mouth being graphed closed) but it doesn't matter because he had very deadly weaponry at his disposal and gave both Sabertooth and Wolvie a run for their respective monies. What's not to like? In the movie he was legitimately awesome! <br /><br />Too bad he's about as cool as H1N1 in the comic books world.<br /><br />There is no more annoying character in the Marvel universe than Deadpool. Hell, he even makes Venom and Carnage look good! What could be a very cool and complex character is nothing but a buffoon who makes low-rent stabs at jokes and basically ruins each and every book he appears in on any given month, and lately he's all over the damn place! This month he ruined Spider-Man so badly that for the first time in my Spidey-loving life I put a book down three pages into it and refused to read it for fear my IQ might actually drop a few points. Why Marvel? What are you thinking by consistently bringing this drivel into the comic stores?<br /><br />Granted, it's not only the character that ruined this book for me; the art should be given equal credit for that as well. If you've followed my articles before you know that while I love my books and am grateful for the art form to still be kicking after some 70+ years this recent Manga craze does nothing but befuddle and infuriate me. Yes, it's a matter of taste; yes, it's a matter of, once again, appealing to the supposed demographic of what the kids are digging these days. I've said it once, I'll say it again - kids are NOT buying these books, Marvel Comics! The demographic you should be aiming for is a median age of about 34, and Manga is far from loved by that huge comic-buying contingency known as "old coots!" We're the ones keeping you in business, Marvel Comics, so you had better begin paying attention to us a little more than just trolling some forums to see what the "buzz" is around the cyberworld. Half of the people on these forums do NOT buy comics, do NOT support the hobby and are therefore rendered useless because they offer no opinion with any merit since they do not actually read and support the books! sorry kiddies, but reading Previews and Marvel Previews does not a comic fan make! We're out here, Marvel...come talk to us sometime!<br /><br />Please, just look at the photo below of this month's Spidey "art" and tell me that Mr. Kirby or Mr. Wood aren't turning in their respective resting spots. I'm sorry, but when "art" like this appears in books I purposely leave them on the shelves because I simply find it annoying and downright insipid. Spider-Man should not have pointed elbows, heads and knees - it's ridiculous. It's ridiculous and not even close to cutting-edge or innovative. Sadly enough, I have a full run of Spider-Man books and he is my favorite character, so I'm handcuffed to keep my collection solid by allowing said trash into my precious comic collection. If there is a desire for this art, that's fine and well! Leave it out of the superhero books, plain and simple. It has its own place with Astro Boy and this Dragonball-Z, so let it stay there and reap whatever benefits it reaps. That's not unreasonable.<br /><br />I had a feeling this issue would be a throw-away issue with the Gauntlet storyline coming in Spidey's book next week, which appears to be a good set of stories including the Rhino and Electro coming back for some much-needed fun. I've read some horrible comics in my day, but this was so mentally-numbing that I simply had to close it. This will literally be the first Amazing Spider-Man issue I will never read. I do not understand the concept of making a book so silly and ridiculous that it is flat-out unreadable, and that's what this issue of Spider-Man was for me this week - utterly unreadable! Deadpool's jargon is not funny, not illuminating, and not even coherent enough to warrant inclusion in Spider-Man's vast catalog (and this is a catalog that features the horrid "Brand New Day" and "Sins Past" storylines.) Of course then Spider-Man's dialogue becomes equally ridiculous and inane, hence a terrible book is burped out like a bad night of frozen pizza. It's like these Deadpool writers sit around in a closet and say, "Hey, I've got another great idea for Deadpool this week...wait'll you see the inane shenanigans he gets into this time that will get another $3.99 from these loyal Marvelites! Let's just keep getting stupider with every week! No one will even notice! It'll be a hoot!" Marvel does like to insult its readers on occasion.<br /><br />And yes, I do happen to have a sense of humor...for things that are funny.<br /><br />For me, this issue was banality at its worst, not even close to artistic and downright stupid. Marvel has hit some low points over its storied career, but if this is what Disney will keep in line with its grand take-over scheme for the coming months I'll leave my hat at the door on my way out. I'll simply resign myself to the fact that the characters I once loved and felt were really cared for by good, competent creative teams is now in the hands of the inmates that have taken over the low-rent asylum. Then again, I've seen this coming for a few years now. What an obituary it's making for itself.<br /><br />Where have you gone, Mr. Ditko? A genre turns its lonely eyes to you....<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-3197927198191114612?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-22656082906976515932009-11-12T18:59:00.001-06:002009-11-12T19:01:17.850-06:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CD69c0HEof0/Svyvz575egI/AAAAAAAAAC8/d0QMjAJmTvU/s1600-h/newstrfrnt.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 290px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CD69c0HEof0/Svyvz575egI/AAAAAAAAAC8/d0QMjAJmTvU/s320/newstrfrnt.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403386959197993474" /></a><br /><br /><br />As usual, the list for next week's comic arrivals is here and there's a sea of interesting titles to ponder when you hit your local LCS. The Spider-Man Dark Reign List is here, as is Black Knight #1, Realm of Kings: Inhumans #1, it's all shaping up to be a solid week of books! Get in, spend some dough, and don't forget to visit my buddy Carl at All-American Comics if you're in the Chicagoland area.<br /><br />MARVEL<br />Amazing Spider-Man #612<br />Black Knight #1<br />Dark Avengers #11<br />Dark Reign List Spider-Man<br />Deadpool Merc with a Mouth #5<br />Dominic Fortune #4<br />Incredible Hulk #604<br />Kookaburra K #1<br />Mighty Avengers #31<br />Nomad Girl Without a World #3<br />Powers Encyclopedia Vol 01<br />Punisher #11<br />Realm of Kings #1<br />Realm of Kings Inhumans #1<br />Spider-Man 1602 #2<br />Spider-Woman #3<br />The Stand Soul Survivors #2<br />Thunderbolts #138<br />War Machine #11<br />Wolverine Origins #42<br />Wolverine Weapon X #7<br />X-Men Legacy #229<br /><br />DC<br />Adventure Comics #4<br />Azrael #2<br />Batman Confidential #37<br />Batman Streets of Gotham #6<br />Batman the Unseen #4<br />Blackest Night Superman #1 3rd print<br />Blackest Night Superman #3 2nd print<br />Brave and the Bold #29<br />Flash Rebirth #5<br />Justice Society of America 80 Page Giant #1<br />Outsiders #24<br />Supergirl #47<br />Superman Batman #66<br />Vigilante #12<br /><br />DC/VERTIGO<br />Air #15<br />Hellblazer #261<br /><br />DC/WILDSTORM<br />Authority The Lost Year #3<br />Victorian Undead #1<br />World of Warcraft #25<br /><br />INDEPENDENT<br />AGon Merc Flipbook<br />Angel Only Human #4<br />Conan the Cimmerian #16<br />Cowboy Ninja Viking #2<br />Cyberforce Hunter Killer #3<br />Deadlocke #1<br />Dr Horrible #1<br />Drone #1<br />Fall Out Toy Works #2<br />Farscape Ongoing #1<br />G-Man Cape Crisis #4<br />Ignition City #5 Signed poster edition<br />Invincible #68<br />Irredeemable #8<br />Legion Prophets #1<br />Luke McBain #1<br />Men of Mystery #80<br />Nola #1<br />Phonogram 2 #5<br />Star Trek The Next Generation Ghosts #1<br />Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic #47<br />Swordsmith Assassin #4<br />Talisman Road of Trials #1<br />Terry Moore's Echo #16<br />Transformers ongoing #1<br />Underground #3<br />Uptight #3<br />Viking #4<br />Zorro #17<br /><br />TRADES/HARDCOVERS<br />24 Omnibus Vol1 TPB<br />Alien Legion Omnibus TP Vol. 1<br />Batman Battle For The Cowl HC<br />Battle Royale Novel 2nd Edition<br />Black Lightning Year One TP<br />Case Closed GN Vol 32<br />Daredevil Noir Prem HC<br />Dark Avengers Vol 1 Assemble TPB<br />Destroyer Prem HC<br />Doctor Who Ultimate Monster Guide HC<br />Driven by Lemons HC<br />Green Lantern Corps Emerald Eclipse HC<br />Hercules Full Circle Prem HC<br />Jane HC Misadventures of Bright Young Thing<br />Jesus Hates Zombies Lincoln Hates Werewolves Vol 3 TPB<br />JSA TP Vol 03 They Kingdom Come Part 2<br />Mighty Avengers TP Earths Mightiest<br />New Avengers TP VOL 11 Search For Sorcerer Supreme<br />Oishinbo Vol 06 Joy of Rice<br />Pictures that Tick TP<br />Punisher Dark Reign TPB<br />Rip Kirby Vol 1 HC<br />Runaways Home Schooling Prem HC<br />Showcase Presents DC Comics Presents TPB Vol 1<br />Tarzan The Jesse Marsh Years HC Vol 04<br />Tezukas Black Jack TP Vol 08<br />The Nam TP Vol 01<br />War of Kings HC<br />Wasteland TP Vol 05 Tales o/t Uninvited<br />Wolverine Origins Romulus Prem HC<br />Wolverine Origins Dark Reign TPB<br />Year of Loving Dangerously HC<br /><br />KIDS BOOKS<br />Archie Digest #259<br />Casper Friendly Ghost 60th Anniversary HC<br />Mickey Mouse & Friends #297<br />Nancy Drew GN Vol 19<br />Simpsons Comics #160<br />Sonic Universe #10<br />Super Friends #21<br />Tiny Titans #22<br />Walt Disneys Comics & Stories #700<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-2265608290697651593?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-53590098035600196022009-11-12T01:51:00.004-06:002009-11-12T01:54:49.185-06:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CD69c0HEof0/Svu-mkZ5gpI/AAAAAAAAAC0/T7c6t8w7Dn8/s1600-h/DSCN5535(1).JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CD69c0HEof0/Svu-mkZ5gpI/AAAAAAAAAC0/T7c6t8w7Dn8/s320/DSCN5535(1).JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403121747777651346" /></a><br />All-American Comics: 3576 W. 95th St. Evergreen Park, Illinois<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">I hope you’ll allow me to backpedal a bit and repost an interview I did with my local comic shop’s owner, Carl Bonasera. He’s the entire reason my comic book collection is what it is today and the knowledge I’ve gained from him is immeasurable!Please make sure to visit him at the link below or call (708) 425-7555.</span><br /><br /><br />All-American Comics is, quite literally, the last refuge for the true comic book reader in Chicago. I may be biased, but I was also spoiled. You see, the shop’s owner, Carl Bonasera, has been both a friend and a comic book salesman to both myself and a loyal contingency of customers that have been subscribers and walk-ins for almost 30-years.<br /><br />I was lucky enough to both hang around the shop and learn and eventually work for Carl, where I correctly learned everything about comic books. I learned how to properly grade comic books from the Golden Age to the modern day, how to deal with the customer and his or her individual wants and needs, how to properly care for my books so as to keep them safe, and, most importantly, I gained an absolute endless well of knowledge about the industry that I can’t thank him enough for today.<br /><br />Carl has this “thing” inside him that keeps him going in an industry that has left more store-carcasses than an investor-period X-Men invasion; it has set him apart from the rest because he managed to make a damn fine living off joke books, a fantasy every boy might have had at one point in his life. The “thing” inside him is his passion; he is, arguably, the last bastion of a true comic book fan that happens to run a store around these parts. I’ll go one-step further: He is the last retailer I know of around my area that still loves comic books, bringing home his own large stack each and every week after he diligently pulls and fills subscription sheets for his aforementioned loyal following with his faithful dog, Buddy, always by his side on a Wednesday! His customers have remained loyal to him because of a mutual respect, both as friends and customers. People know when they have a good thing going and they keep coming back for more.<br /><br />All-American Comics has, unquestionably, the best selection of back issues around the area: Golden, Silver, Modern age, you name it, they have it! Pulps are in abundance, science-fiction novels, collected works, DC Archives, Marvel Masterworks, all are on-hand in the store. The other thing to note about Carl, from personal experience, is that his prices are the absolute fairest you will find! He’s not in the business to overcharge you; he grades and prices accordingly and, if you spend enough, a nice discount might follow! He is happy to see a person excited about finding that rare book that might have been eluding you!<br /><br />I conducted an interview with Mr. Bonasera this week and asked him a series of questions; as a man that has spent considerable time with and around him I can honestly tell you his acumen is very valuable.<br /><br />CP: Hello Carl, thanks for talking with me. How did you first get interested in comic books?<br /><br />CB: My father started buying me Superman and Batman books off the rack when I was about three-years old, before I could read. That made me want to read pretty badly.<br /><br />CP: Nice! Was it easy for you to open your first store way back in 1981?<br /><br />CB: No. The only reason I decided to open the store was I felt this area was being disserviced and I intended this to be nothing more than a hobby; I was still working at the time. I figured I could help both collectors in the area and myself, never intending it to become a full-time occupation.<br /><br />CP: Okay, and I’m assuming since you’re still here in 2009 that you still enjoy the hobby…<br /><br />CB: And I believe I’m the only retailer left that does still enjoy comics.<br /><br />CP: I don’t disagree with that. What are some important things people should know about comic collecting?<br /><br />CB: Comic collecting or comic book reading? Those are two different things.<br /><br />CP: Okay, let’s start with the reading since it’s the emphasis of a lot of my articles.<br /><br />CB: The most fun way to read comics is to follow the monthly comics. That’s the way they were designed some 60-odd years ago and that’s the most fun way, to pick out characters or genres that you enjoy and buy them on a monthly basis. You read the comics you enjoy, so the comics you collect would be the ones you enjoy to read. And if you decide to go backwards and collect back issues or the more expensive books, they should be the ones you enjoy to read.<br /><br />CP: And the collector of comics?<br /><br />CB: As far as collecting to make money, if you buy comics to read them you’ll feel that the money you’re spending on comics is well-spent and for enjoyment of the reading. It’s the fun of collecting; there’s a hunt involved in collecting comics. If you find the ones you need, you’re a very happy guy! Then when you’re on a cane and your beard is gray if your comics are worth a couple of dollars, you’re doing fine too!<br /><br />CP: Since you first started reading comic books, how have comics changed? And then after opening a shop how has the industry changed?<br /><br />CB: Well, the comics have had to grow up with the audience. I started reading comics in the 60s, and back in the 60s I think every kid could still read! When I was five or six-years old and starting to really read comics they were probably aimed at the audience of about six to 13 or 14. That was their main demographic, and as time went on the bottom age got higher and higher because younger kids weren’t reading comics. The kids that grew up reading comics continued to read comics and that top age got higher and higher at the same time. That’s been going on since the 60s and it’s still unfortunately going on today.<br /><br />CP: How has the business changed?<br /><br />CB: When we opened up our first store in ‘81 we were about the ninth comic book shop in the Chicagoland area; there were only nine guys that came before us. At the peak of the industry in ‘93 there were about 75 stores, and at that time we had eight of those 75 because we had eight stores. Now it’s probably back down to about maybe 30, of which we’re just one again. All the growth in the 80s was because more people were reading comics; all the growth in the 90s was because people thought they were going to get rich reading comics, and when they found out they weren’t going to be rich reading comics they deserted the industry so there was a big implosion. Everyone had to survive the downsizing of the industry in the late 90s, and the investor guys went away.<br /><br />CP: Is there a misconception about comic book movies actually helping the comic book industry?<br /><br />CB: The only thing comic book movies do is to help the bottom line of the companies that own the characters. We found that the first Batman movie brought tons of people out of the woodwork back in ‘89. At that point and time we made a point to sell them all a comic rather than a Batman t-shirt or a toy or whatever. We hoped they would read it and come back for more, and we got a lot of new customers and a lot of return customers that came out that hadn’t read comics in 10 or 15-years - they came back out again. All of the ensuing movies have only brought the speculators out that say, “Oh, there’s a new Spider-Man movie. Spider-Man’s gonna be hot!” It brings no new readers.<br /><br />CP: Sad, but true. Where do you see comics as an industry in five years?<br /><br />CB: I pray we have comics as an industry in five years because of your next question! But to digress a little bit we talked about the late 90s when we lost everything. We’ve been slowly rebuilding the industry since the year 2000; every year since the year 2000 comics has had a marginal gain of two, three per-cent a year. This year is the first year we won’t have a gain, and that’s just because of the recession and the state of the country where it is. We haven’t seen a loss of customer or a loss of readers; we’ve seen customers with losses of jobs and available income so they’re spending less. So we’re at a point now where if the comic companies were still just the comic companies they’d be happy with their three to five million dollars profit per-year a company. Now for your next question…<br /><br />CP: Yes. Do the Marvel and DC mergers make you nervous?<br /><br />CB: Yes! Any time a giant corporation like Disney takes over a company like Marvel, the smallest part of the company is going to be the biggest ignored part of the company, and unfortunately the very movies that we enjoy, the success of those movies has made the comic industry a giant business so that the big companies are interested in it, but it hasn’t made comic books a big business. So we’re very afraid that we’re going to be ignored. I don’t think that the move that DC has made into DC Entertainment would have been made at this point and time if they didn’t feel they had to answer the Disney/Marvel merger. So it’s the same on both tokens.<br /><br />CP: Okay, what can the industry do to survive it?<br /><br />CB: Everybody has to kick ass in 2010; every retailer, everybody that sells comics, everybody that buys comics needs to actually purchase comics in the given year and not steal them off the Internet or various other ways. They need to purchase the comics! And especially the two major companies need to put out the best work they’ve put out in a couple of years because I think If they can show an increase in 2010 sales over 2009 sales then the corporations will give us some more time. They might even decide to put a little money into comics. If the arrow is turning upwards they might add money instead of subtract money.<br /><br />CP: Okay, what would make neighborhood people want to stop in All-American Comics as a first choice.<br /><br />CB: Just what you’re writing about right now. I still like comics. We all talk about comics; it’s still the neighborhood meeting place for those interested in them.<br /><br />CP: Your customer base has been 30-years loyal…<br /><br />CB: Yep! I’ve always felt that the comic shop is it; there would be no hits in the comic industry if you’re buying them online or through the mail or anything else. It takes being able to see the book and being able to talk to somebody about the book. There’s nothing that gets anybody excited like a guy with a big stack of comics that’s all excited about his comics, or when he buys an old comic and showing it around to everybody. It’s that atmosphere.<br /><br />CP: Absolutely! Well, thank you, sir!<br /><br />CB: You’re quite welcome, Christopher!<br /><br />Please check out All-American Comics in Evergreen Park, Illinois when you get the chance. The hours are on the webpage above. Stop in and see the guy who still loves the industry and welcomes any and all readers passionate about the funny books that keep us sane and happy! Thank you for reading.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-5359009803560019602?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-19635432341228213342009-11-11T10:23:00.005-06:002009-11-11T11:22:59.736-06:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CD69c0HEof0/SvrpY1-Us5I/AAAAAAAAACo/pfB2UGsT8c8/s1600-h/american-flag.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CD69c0HEof0/SvrpY1-Us5I/AAAAAAAAACo/pfB2UGsT8c8/s320/american-flag.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402887315998946194" /></a><br /><br />Today I'm sitting here thinking about all of the wonderful people we've lost overseas and here at home as of the recent Ft. Hood event. I cannot recall where I got these numbers, but I once read that in all of recorded history there has only been a collective 87 days of world peace.<br /><br />Eighty-seven days. Wow.<br /><br />I'll be honest, I don't think there will ever be peace in the Middle East - it's just too volatile, too much history is out there to settle around some conference table with world leaders looking on, void of objectivity. Everyone out here has his own agenda and affiliation with either side. That said, I'm not going to pontificate any further. This is about our soldiers.<br /><br />Anyone that knows me well knows how I feel about our vets. Sometimes I'm prone to bouts of coldness, rhetorical banter bordering on the insane. In other words, I can be a big mouth with his own agenda and views, but so can we all I'm afraid, and I make no apology for this. However, when it comes to our vets I'm as soft as silly putty. It absolutely enrages me to see Chicago's mayor Richard Daley carelessly spend so much money on a bid to get the damn Olympics here when there are thousands of vets that are homeless. Vets? Hell, there's many more non-vets that are homeless, but I digress. I don't care if they were personal donations; it is fiscal irresponsibility, plain and simple. <br /><br />Our vets served and have no home to go go to, no bed to sleep in, no doctor to help them when they need it, and that flat-out sucks! When Vietnam vets came home they were spat on, kicked, hit, called utterly horrendous names by civilians who were fed news media stories of what went on out there. The fact that some of these YOUNG people came home at all is amazing, let alone the fact that they were abused by the very people they swore to protect. I'm not ignorant enough to say some military people didn't go rogue out there, but most of our soldiers out there went there to serve their country with pride. Where the hell is that damn pride nowadays? That's just it...we have no pride as a nation anymore. It's been replaced with pundit banter we hear and adopt as gospel and self-serving narcissism. In short, we're patriotic when tragedy hits or when some overpaid TV host tells us it's okay. <br /><br />Thank God we have out military that does a little thinking for us.<br /><br />I'm not attempting to talk or feel for anyone else; I'm not in any position to do that, but I will say that if you turn on the nightly news on any given day you'll see a mass confusion that is this world right now. I just want to take this opportunity to say this: <span style="font-weight:bold;">Thank you, servicemen and women, for all you do, will do, and have done for the USA. Mere words alone cannot convey this writer's love and respect for you and I hope you all come home safe and sound.</span> <br /><br />Thank a vet today if you can. No, they won't be offended or uncomfortable, and no, they won't get into some long banter about the government. They will most likely just say "You're welcome" and that's the best thing we can hear today...or any day! <br /><br />Open your mouths a few times today, of all days!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-1963543234122821334?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-23950016034965875982009-11-10T02:15:00.002-06:002009-11-10T02:16:47.550-06:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CD69c0HEof0/SvkhY020eYI/AAAAAAAAACc/EMTmK2ae8Ig/s1600-h/tumblr_ksv7mmoqdl1qa6sc2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 215px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CD69c0HEof0/SvkhY020eYI/AAAAAAAAACc/EMTmK2ae8Ig/s320/tumblr_ksv7mmoqdl1qa6sc2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402385938396772738" /></a><br /><br /><br />Ah, yeah...I'm happy today!<br /><br />My lovely fiancee ordered this book for me a couple of months back and it finally hit my doorstep tonight! It reprints some of the late 70s John Romita Sr. newspaper strips that haven't appeared anywhere since then! I'll be in comic-heaven tonight reading this while the Blackhawks game is on in the background!<br /><br />Thanks Marianne...love of my life! :)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-2395001603496587598?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-27621755767517234722009-11-10T02:04:00.003-06:002009-11-10T02:10:00.403-06:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CD69c0HEof0/Svke-E0BvcI/AAAAAAAAACE/f5RpQpjmr_k/s1600-h/LOS+4+YA.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 178px; height: 220px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CD69c0HEof0/Svke-E0BvcI/AAAAAAAAACE/f5RpQpjmr_k/s320/LOS+4+YA.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402383279800303042" /></a><br /><br />So I'm a metalhead.<br /><br />Well, in the traditional sense of the word I'm a metalhead in that I spent an inordinate amount of my youth banging my head to records and getting slammed into things and people at local gigs. Name the band, chances are I've seen them come through Chicago at last once since 1982. However, my humble beginnings started with the Beatles waaaaay back in about 1976. That was where my desire to become a musician was formed, though it would take years before I'd play an instrument other than my voice. I was in a metal band in Chicago that had drive and talent, but went nowhere for varying reasons (no artistic differences should EVER appear when you're 17, right?). That said, I love all styles of music except rap...just cant get past LL Cool J or Ice-T, sorry. Love the old-school, hate the current (c)rap.<br /><br />So...I download music and have hard drives filled with tunes. One day a few months back I saw The Smiths CD The Queen is Dead sitting there and figured, Hey, I remember these guys from back in the day but never heard them, really...so I was off on a new journey. Plus, the title is damn cool! I knew of Morrissey, and I knew he was the vocalist, but when the opening lines and chords of the title track assaulted my virgin ears - holy mother of God! I was so hooked it's sickening! I'll not forget that moment ever! It was like sex for the first time with me...yes, sad as that is, I value musical conquest over sexual ones. I'm an oddball kind of guy.<br /><br />Being a writer (or at least that's what I tell myself) the written word means a lot to me, so lyrics, of course, are subject to my immediate dismissal if they just flat-out suck! Morrissey is just deep, man. Not deep-deep, like Leonard Cohen-deep, but just that tortured guy that found the outlet to super-size his fears and insecurities - we all have that one outlet, though some of us never find it. With visions of walking through a cemetery and looking at the stones of people gone and wondering aloud where they are now, how can one not want to feel what Morrissey felt writing that? I connected to what Steven was saying on these songs, even at nearly 38-years of age - it sounds silly, but he spoke for me and to me and it felt great! His tongue-in-cheek lyrics about suffering and loss made all cheery-feeling by Johnny Marr's Rickenbacker twangy guitar-sound is not only lightning-in-a-bottle brilliance, but perfection not attained before or since (in my opinion, of course). It's utterly shameful that more people don't recognize brilliance assembled inside scales.<br /><br />I found out that one of the main music rags in the U.K. bumped Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band as the most important British album of all time, replacing it with the Queen is Dead. Beatles fans everywhere were screaming loud enough to wake the dead with the news of that little violation. I love both bands, but the Smiths, for me, have the edge now. I'm older, wiser, and more versed in music than I was, say, ten-years ago. Does anyone really see the same things they saw a decade ago and view them in the same light? For better or worse, everything changes, including feelings, emotions, appearances and tastes. We either adapt or fall victim to our own fears of getting old and cantankerous, pigeon-holing ourselves neatly into a demographic of conformity and habit that we might never escape from as people. That alone is frightening! While the Beatles will never lose their hold on me emotionally and musically, the Smiths may be the band to marry as opposed to the high-school sweetheart that you just can't see yourself growing old with down the road. One is not better than the other; they each have a genre and style all their own, appealing to a different outline of people in differing generations. however, Beatles fans dig Oasis, and their fans dig the Beatles and a good number of Oasis fans are formed from the Smiths fan clubs - it's a fun circle.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CD69c0HEof0/SvkexDfhk7I/AAAAAAAAAB8/8eFe-QAa9_k/s1600-h/Smiths.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 246px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CD69c0HEof0/SvkexDfhk7I/AAAAAAAAAB8/8eFe-QAa9_k/s320/Smiths.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402383056107574194" /></a><br /><br />The indie/alternative movement owes a great debt to Marr, bassist Andy Rourke, drummer Mike Joyce and Steven Morrissey - they created a genre without even knowing it. They are important in that the music created was top-notch and the feeling behind it was sincere and unabashed. Considering, like the Beatles, the band's tenure on this musical plane was short-lived (1982-87) it's amazing how important that are today and how loved and admired they still are by fans and stars alike. Just ask Noel Gallagher what he thinks of the Smiths and you'll get him talking like he never has before!<br /><br />Things I love get me through the rougher days and I relish them ever-so-much. My fiancee understands my love of all things Smiths and when I see old footage of them banging out classics like "This Charming Man," "Hand in Glove," "The Boy with the Thorn in His Side," and "Cemetery Gates" I feel strangely good, though Morrissey's lyrical abandon suggests I shouldn't.<br /><br />Happiness is found in strange spots, folks! Take it and don't ask questions. Thanks for reading.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-2762175576751723472?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-78098787426179129522009-11-10T02:03:00.000-06:002009-11-10T02:04:05.881-06:00<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UcFnCzylMFQ&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UcFnCzylMFQ&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-7809878742617912952?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-56132033105381810742009-11-06T01:45:00.000-06:002009-11-06T01:46:04.690-06:00What are your picks? Read all about it <a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner~y2009m11d6-CBR-blog-wants-your-top-100-comic-storylines">here</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-5613203310538181074?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-29742604165655617152009-11-06T00:47:00.000-06:002009-11-06T00:48:09.750-06:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner~y2009m11d6-New-Comics-Day-November-11-2009">November 11, 2009 new book day!</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-2974260416565561715?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-38282551069005283072009-11-05T12:07:00.001-06:002009-11-05T12:07:55.322-06:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner~y2009m11d5-Comic-book-review--Black-Widow-Deadly-Origin-1-Spolierfree">Black Widow Deadly Origin review</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-3828255106900528307?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-16298256995121324182009-11-03T11:56:00.001-06:002009-11-03T11:56:59.015-06:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner~y2009m11d3-Steve-Ditko-Comicartistenigmasupreme">Steve Ditko</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-1629825699512132418?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-77847127202513033552009-11-01T01:38:00.001-06:002009-11-01T01:38:34.911-06:00Fantagraphics reprints found <a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner~y2009m11d1-Fantagraphics-to-release-six-Golden-Age-collections-in-10">here</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-7784712720251303355?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-31976698955332256762009-10-31T10:22:00.001-06:002009-10-31T10:22:41.302-06:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner~y2009m10d31-IDW-set-to-reprint-collected-Archie-works-in-summer-2010">Collected reprints of Archie for summer, 2010.</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-3197669895533225676?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-72348572936265418552009-10-30T08:52:00.000-06:002009-10-30T08:53:11.055-06:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner~y2009m10d30-New-Comics-Day-November-4-2009">New Books for November 4, 2009</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-7234857293626541855?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-61290353825489692392009-10-29T16:49:00.001-06:002009-10-29T16:49:46.743-06:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner~y2009m10d29-Comic-books-ages-and-eras-What-is-which-and-when">Comic books ages and eras.</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-6129035382548969239?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-46941463273298006082009-10-28T00:03:00.000-06:002009-10-28T00:04:13.610-06:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner~y2009m10d28-Comic-book-review--Brave-and-the-Bold-28">Brave and the Bold #28</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-4694146327329800608?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-85396607807506894662009-10-27T12:36:00.000-06:002009-10-27T12:37:21.247-06:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner~y2009m10d27-Neal-Adams-back-in-the-comics-limelight">Neal Adams making a comic book comeback?</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-8539660780750689466?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-2978806829216278792009-10-26T21:37:00.000-06:002009-10-26T21:38:18.153-06:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner~y2009m10d26-Batman-sans-Bruce-Wayne-Why-it-works">Batman without Bruce Wayne.</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-297880682921627879?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-54956484981997150832009-10-26T10:12:00.001-06:002009-10-26T10:12:28.580-06:00Read all about Bullseye <a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner~y2009m10d26-Comic-Character-Profile-Bullseye">here</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-5495648498199715083?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-33344005643930401482009-10-23T11:47:00.000-05:002009-10-23T11:48:04.392-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner~y2009m10d23-Wonder-Woman-Day-in-New-Jersey-and-Oregon-on-October-25">Wonder Woman day on October 25, 2009</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-3334400564393040148?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-12922084699933845822009-10-23T10:13:00.001-05:002009-10-23T10:13:37.867-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner~y2009m10d23-New-Comics-Day-October-28-2009">New Comics Day - 10/28/09</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-1292208469993384582?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-34146555792322812682009-10-22T01:14:00.001-05:002009-10-22T01:14:30.347-05:00Read about the latest Archie books <a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner~y2009m10d22-Comic-book-review-Archie-Comics-600602">here</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-3414655579232281268?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-64281745839921993592009-10-20T16:44:00.001-05:002009-10-20T16:44:48.663-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner~y2009m10d20-Comic-book-review-Batman-691">Batman #691 reviewed here.</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-6428174583992199359?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-84421878589222841892009-10-20T12:44:00.000-05:002009-10-20T12:45:24.070-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m10d20-DC-Comics-and-Marvel-Comics-2010-solicitations-available">DC Marvel solicitations here. </a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-8442187858922284189?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-3047200447241947762009-10-19T15:13:00.000-05:002009-10-19T15:14:05.343-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m10d19-Cable-and-Hope-mark-a-return-to-the-pages-of-XMen">Cable and Hope return. </a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-304720044724194776?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-67024189313416781222009-10-19T11:39:00.001-05:002009-10-19T11:39:53.924-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m10d19-Comic-Artist-Corner-Nick-Cardy">Nick Cardy</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-6702418931341678122?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-8988046275225250692009-10-17T11:39:00.001-05:002009-10-17T11:39:53.372-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m10d17-DC-Comics-to-resurrect-old-titles-with-original-numbering-in-10">DC Comics resurrects old titles in 2010</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-898804627522525069?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-87523610141840808472009-10-16T23:28:00.000-05:002009-10-16T23:29:03.798-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m10d16-Comic-artist-George-Tuska-passes-away-at-93">George Tuska passes away</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-8752361014184080847?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-24338260222759378792009-10-16T11:00:00.000-05:002009-10-16T11:01:20.212-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m10d16-Past-Pages-Amazing-SpiderMan-477-36">Review of Amazing Spider-Man 9/11 issue</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-2433826022275937879?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-27577827785985043162009-10-16T07:57:00.000-05:002009-10-16T07:58:04.983-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m10d16-New-Comics-Day-October-21-2009">New Comics Day 10/21/09</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-2757782778598504316?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-29231951576355615822009-10-15T00:48:00.001-05:002009-10-15T00:48:41.882-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m10d15-Comic-book-review--Web-of-SpiderMan-1">Web of Spidey #1 review</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-2923195157635561582?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-69940416414285770182009-10-14T00:24:00.001-05:002009-10-14T00:24:39.275-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m10d14-Comic-book-review--Ultimate-SpiderMan-13">Ultimate Spider-Man 1-3 review</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-6994041641428577018?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-18304462359592823352009-10-13T17:02:00.000-05:002009-10-13T17:03:07.421-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m10d13-Comic-book-review--Batman-Unseen-1">Batman Unseen #1</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-1830446235959282335?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-75715236208450232012009-10-13T12:16:00.000-05:002009-10-13T12:17:12.281-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m10d13-SpiderMan-4-movie-is-geared-for-2011-release">Spider-Man 4 movie</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-7571523620845023201?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-34298076621825656222009-10-12T10:30:00.000-05:002009-10-12T10:31:10.574-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m10d12-New-Comics-Day-October-14-2009">New Comics Day - 10/14/09</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-3429807662182565622?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-61793501268366388372009-10-12T10:09:00.001-05:002009-10-12T10:09:32.699-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m10d12-Comic-Artist-Corner-Jim-Aparo">Jim Aparo</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-6179350126836638837?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-42269845226102347612009-10-11T23:05:00.000-05:002009-10-11T23:06:14.238-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m10d11-Comic-book-review--Haunt-1-">Haunt</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-4226984522610234761?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-30638445302936516052009-10-08T16:18:00.000-05:002009-10-08T16:19:11.942-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m10d8-Comic-book-review--Batman-Widening-Gyre">Batman: Widening Gyre</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-3063844530293651605?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-8863929606682262952009-10-08T12:52:00.000-05:002009-10-08T12:53:01.280-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m10d8-Comic-book-review--Doctor-Voodoo-Marvel">Doctor Voodoo</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-886392960668226295?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-71221161206226694022009-10-07T10:16:00.001-05:002009-10-07T10:16:38.959-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m10d7-New-Comics-Day-October-7-2009">October 7, 2009</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-7122116120622669402?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-80639690173931120392009-10-06T15:06:00.000-05:002009-10-06T15:07:01.624-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m10d6-Daredevil-Marvels-underrated-hero">Daredevil</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-8063969017393112039?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-47740196907147700232009-10-05T15:41:00.001-05:002009-10-05T15:41:35.441-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m10d5-Past-Pages-Batman-426429--A-Death-in-the-Family">Death in the Family</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-4774019690714770023?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-19716707881172009092009-10-05T10:50:00.001-05:002009-10-05T10:50:35.714-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m10d5-Comic-book-review--The-Devils-Horn-Twighlight-Uprisings-is-a-virtual-hit">Devil's Horn</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-1971670788117200909?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-40235480294888971892009-10-04T11:19:00.000-05:002009-10-04T11:20:19.569-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m10d4-Comic-book-women-Empowered-or-sex-objects">Comic book women</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-4023548029488897189?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-24023921142611795822009-10-01T11:40:00.000-05:002009-10-01T11:41:01.611-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m10d1-Comic-book-review-SpiderMan-Clone-Saga-1">Clone Saga</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-2402392114261179582?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-55045300256545305842009-10-01T11:07:00.000-05:002009-10-01T11:08:14.732-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m10d1-Marvel-and-DC-reprints-a-musthave-for-comic-collectors">Marvel and DC reprints</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-5504530025654530584?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-7043433569904565472009-09-25T13:51:00.000-05:002009-09-25T13:52:24.978-05:00<h1><a href="http://www.examiner.com/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m9d25-Comic-book-review-Superman-Secret-Origin-1">Comic book review - Superman: Secret Origin #1</a></h1><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-704343356990456547?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-63630556903383418012009-09-24T19:22:00.000-05:002009-09-24T19:23:35.229-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m9d24-John-Romita-Sr-is-a-comic-artist-you-should-know">John Romita Sr. </a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-6363055690338341801?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-41149199726516433652009-09-23T12:12:00.000-05:002009-09-23T12:13:49.300-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m9d23-Comic-book-movies-Why-they-dont-follow-the-books">Comic book movies: Why they don't follow the books</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-4114919972651643365?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-61111416254513448952009-09-22T13:45:00.001-05:002009-09-23T12:21:16.702-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m9d22-Past-Pages-Amazing-SpiderMan-33">Past Pages: Amazing Spider-Man #33</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-6111141625451344895?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-48215675995965376292009-09-22T09:43:00.001-05:002009-09-23T12:21:55.055-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m9d22-Archie-Comics-signs-with-CAA-talent-agency">Archie Comics signs with CAA talent Agency</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-4821567599596537629?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-19240621240357377782009-09-22T00:23:00.000-05:002009-09-23T12:22:32.589-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m9d22-AllAmerican-Comics-is-Chicagos-finest-for-comic-books">All-American Comics is Chicago's finest for comic books</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-1924062124035737778?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-70288420070384779542009-09-21T09:30:00.001-05:002009-09-23T12:23:30.153-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m9d21-Jack-Kirby-heirs-looking-for-dads-share-of-character-rights">Jack Kirby heirs looking for dad's share of comic book character rights</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-7028842007038477954?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-83807823372116791982009-09-20T15:14:00.001-05:002009-09-23T12:24:34.374-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m9d20-EC-Comics-the-undisputed-king-of-horror-comics">EC Comics</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-8380782337211679198?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-41784414729409328952009-09-18T13:47:00.001-05:002009-09-23T12:24:12.110-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m9d18-SpiderMan-comics-a-blueprint-for-life">Spider-Man comics a blueprint for life</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-4178441472940932895?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-62235021680175814892009-09-17T12:42:00.001-05:002009-09-23T12:25:06.393-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m9d17-Wonder-Woman-comics-The-search-is-on">Wonder Woman</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-6223502168017581489?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-70082342191563534712009-09-16T12:08:00.000-05:002009-09-23T12:25:45.980-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m9d16-Comic-Collector-Live-is-the-forum-of-choice-for-the-serious-comic-reader">Comic Collector Live</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-7008234219156353471?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-45844514750117822862009-09-15T10:27:00.000-05:002009-09-23T12:26:16.468-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m9d15-Fantagraphics-Books-a-nice-stop-for-oldtime-comic-book-fans">Fantagraphics Books</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-4584451475011782286?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-27124984953860186532009-09-14T10:53:00.000-05:002009-09-23T12:26:41.201-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m9d14-DCs-Wednesday-Comics-is-a-winner-all-around">Wednesday Comics</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-2712498495386018653?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-70308431344626958682009-09-14T00:49:00.001-05:002009-09-23T12:27:19.165-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m9d14-Comic-books-Condition-over-addition">Condition over addition</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-7030843134462695868?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-35047527171871461932009-09-12T12:56:00.001-05:002009-09-23T12:27:39.041-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m9d12-Comic-book-buying-online-or-the-local-shop">Support local shops</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-3504752717187146193?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-23630789366007577502009-09-12T00:43:00.001-05:002009-09-23T12:28:03.409-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m9d12-The-Marvels-Project-an-early-classic">Marvels Project a winner!</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-2363078936600757750?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-58728455718273389532009-09-11T16:25:00.001-05:002009-09-23T12:28:27.774-05:00<a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner%7Ey2009m9d11-Disney-buys-Marvel-Comics-DC-Comics-now-DC-Ent-What-does-this-mean-for-the-industry">Mergers</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-5872845571827338953?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-46154215882589871282009-09-11T14:11:00.001-05:002009-09-11T14:11:35.462-05:00http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner~y2009m9d11-Comic-book-investors-vs-readers<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-4615421588258987128?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-81854698792431045432009-09-11T12:10:00.001-05:002009-09-11T12:10:46.332-05:00http://www.examiner.com/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner~y2009m9d10-Comic-book-care-is-both-easy-and-necessary<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-8185469879243104543?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-48888643179895799862009-09-11T12:09:00.002-05:002009-09-11T12:10:17.887-05:00http://www.examiner.com/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner~y2009m9d10-Knowing-your-comic-books-helps-to-manage-your-budget<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-4888864317989579986?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-21091972190808694682009-09-11T12:09:00.001-05:002009-09-11T12:09:37.721-05:00http://www.examiner.com/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner~y2009m9d11-Professional-grading-for-comic-books-a-pro-or-a-con<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-2109197219080869468?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176135079397546921.post-19775388965986529682009-09-11T12:06:00.001-05:002009-09-11T12:06:52.474-05:00http://www.examiner.com/x-23390-Chicago-Comic-Books-Examiner<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/176135079397546921-1977538896598652968?l=pratlcomics.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pratl Powerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11150670216188052717noreply@blogger.com0