Comics: Ten Grand ~ Issue 5: Nothing Interesting Ever Happens In Heaven

Story by: J. Michael Straczynski

Illustrated by: C.P. Smith

Rated: M / Mature

Joe's Comics

Image Comics
(4/5 ★★★★☆)

(Cover by Ben Templesmith)

Previously the story ended with Joe discovering that Laura has been taken away from the place they perceived to be heaven. This prompted him to rush right away to one of the places where the planes of earth and hell nearly overlaps. Rescuing Laura did not only meant he must be quick, but he must also continue to stay alive. For that 5 minute deal with an angel must have already been cut off.

This issue gives us the picture of another popular place that is known as "the one in between." Joe encounters the "Lost", Howlers and his deceased self. A resemblance of Charon, from the Greek mythology, makes an appearance in which he ferries Joe to the other side of the river. A river whose current depends on how adventurous or tame our life has been. After crossing the river, Charon then points to Joe two roads that leads to heaven. The very long road and a very short one in which Joe had picked to go to. This issue ends with him forgetting his prime purpose of crossing this plane that overlaps earth and hell.

There's a cool but weird stuff that was used by Joe in this issue which is called as the "Hand of Glory." It appears to be a hand. However, its fingertips are dozed with either icing or wax based on the illustration. Then its very tips are seen to be in flames. This thing reminds me of the hanaukkah lamp that the Jews use. Of course the difference is that it uses 9 candles and not a hand.

This issue turns out to be the beginning of a change in the art of Ten Grand. Personally, I didn't like the art used in this issue since it reminds me of Samurai Jack, a cartoon series from Cartoon Network. I guess the cool thing that the new illustrator of Ten Grand has done was the splash page depicting a Charon-like figure surfing the boat with Joe on a river in which large waves have crazily appeared.

The story continues to be interesting as small bits of Greek mythology even made its way into this issue. Its only the art that I don't like that much. It just doesn't feel good for me even though the timing of the change in the art style is coincidentally good, since there was a change in the surroundings that the main character is roaming on. We will just have to wait and see for what is in store for us as Joe looks for Laura. Especially now that he has forgotten her. Till then "Surf's Up!"

"Love is the only thing worth dying for. I should know, I've done it plenty of times." - Joe Fitzgerald

More of Ten Grand can be seen at:
Joe's Comics: www.studiojms.com
Image Comics, Inc.: www.imagecomics.com

Events: Experiencing FCBD 2014

Free Comic Book Day, or to make it short FCBD, is a unique experience for me. FCBD started in North America as a way to give back to comic lovers who continue to support comics. It aims to give back to comic book lovers and supporters by giving away free comics every first saturday of May. Last May 3, 2014 is the first FCBD experience that I had. Even though the first time I had known of this event was last year (2013), it was only this year that I had gotten a taste of what this event really feels like. Lines were crazily long outside comic book stores just to get hold of the goodies first before the best ones ran out. Well with comic book stores giving out freebies and conducting sales on their items, you really don't want to miss out on this opportunity.

I only had two destinations for FCBD 2014. They are the Precious Pages' bookstore in Starmall Las Piñas and Comic Odyssey in Alabang Town Center. I can actually make it to 3 stores since the Precious Pages' bookstore in Starmall Alabang is just within my vicinity. However, I only went to those two I mentioned since the weather was too hot to commute any further.

First stop would be the Precious Pages' book store where to my amazement I'm the first in line to get a free Black Ink Comic. So I still had a lot of choices and ended up picking Book 1 of Dark Side. This is one good move that Precious Pages had done in order to further promote Black Ink Comics. I might say that they are really keen on introducing themselves as one of the publishers of komiks in our local bookstores.

The last stop for my FCBD 2014 experience is Comic Odyssey. I was really honored to have been among those who were given the privilege to have the 2014 FCBD sponsored comics be reserved till 6 p.m. for me to be picked up. It was really a treat especially since it includes being able to have 3 comics reserved. Because the Alabang branch of Comic Odyssey entitles only 1 comic to be given away per customer. However, there were two customers who were allowed to get 3 comics since they were the first two guys standing in line at the doors of the Alabang branch of Fully Booked around 7 a.m.

It was around 11 a.m. when I got to Fully Booked and the number of people for the comics were outstanding. It reminds me of Indieket, not much of Komikon due to the number of people that were around. Well the comics left were still plenty but I'm guesing that is the half or a third of whats left during that time. But no one will argue that here in the Philippines that it is at the Fully Booked branch at the Fort who holds the biggest events and caters the largest crowd. It was a crazier one, since the first person in line for that branch was there at 2:36 p.m. one day before the doors will open for the FCBD event. Crazy right? Imagine falling in line for 18 hours before they let you in to get the goodies. Well the things you do for your hobby or passion.

FCBD was really worth experiencing. I could say it is not only a way to give back to comic lovers. But I think more of it as a great marketing strategy to increase the number of readership for comics. No one would back down from a freebie right? Especially if you happen to be lucky and pass by a store that gives away more than 2 free comics and you still are left with titles that interest you.

Here are the things that I got from Free Comic Book Day 2014:

• Dark Side ~ Book 1: 2:00 AM
• Ron Mendoza and Erwin J. Arroza
• Black Ink Comics
• The Ace of Spades
• Chuck Dixon, Jeff McComsey and Steve Becker
• Fubar Press
• Zero Dead Thirty (inside The Ace of Spades)
• Chad Lambert and Jeff McComsey
• Fubar Press
• All You Need Is Kill
• Nick Mamatas and Lee Ferguson
• Haika Soru
• Terra Formars (half comic of All You Need Is Kill)
• Yu Sasuga and Ken-ichi Tachibana
• Haika Soru
• Duel Identity (half comic of Pandora's Blogs)
• Elaine Lee and Francis Nuguit
• Red Giant Entertainment
• Pandora's Blogs
• David Campiti, David Lawrence, Jinky Coronado and Larry Tuazon
• Red Giant Entertainment
• Tesla (half comic of Way Ward Sons)
• Terry Keefe, David Lawrence and Bong Dazo
• Red Giant Entertainment
• Way Ward Sons
• Benn R. Powell
• Red Giant Entertainment

Events: Free Comic Book Day 2014

Aside from the numerous warehouse sale that happens this week, I guess this is another important event for a comic lover like me which is the Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) that occurs yearly.

This is an event that is participated by a lot of comic book stores in many countries wherein comic books are given for free. Well not all are free, the FCBD sponsored ones are among those that are free. Conducted along with this is the sale among the different graphic novels, posters, and other merchandises.