Events: End of June 2014 National Book Store's Warehouse Sale

Looks like National Book Store won't end this month without a great sale. Some of them had already started but will still go on for a few more days. You know the drill. Just check out which among them are near your area to be able to satisfy that craving to get yourself some new books for a cheaper price. New books are nice to read especially now that Winter the Rainy Season is coming!

 

More information about National Book Store can be seen at:

Facebook Page: "National Book Store"

http://www.nationalbookstore.com.ph

Comics: Dark Side ~ Book 1: 2:00 AM

BIC0027
Story by: Ron Mendoza

Illustrated by: Erwin J. Arroza

Black Ink Comics
(4/5 ★★★★☆)

"Whenever a case that

seemingly involves

supernatural reaches NBI,

it is automatically assigned

to Agents Roddy, Nick,

and Janet. Cases from the

Dark Side, they call them.

And the three were known

as "The Shadowcatchers"

because they chase suspects

that, just like shadows, could

not be arrested."

This is one of the goodies that I got from FCBD 2014. I like this comic book as a whole, most especially its layout. Comic books that requires its pages to be spread out in order for the texts to be read is a pain for me. As a collector of worth-reading books, I like the spine of my books to be in good condition and each pages still attached to it.

The Dark Side is a story about NBI agents that handles paranormal cases. There are three agents namely; Roddy, Nick and Janet who are part of the team and often are called as the Shadowcatchers. Here in book 1, the case revolves around the death of a vampire's fiancee. Dave, the vampire, called up Roddy at 2:00 a.m., hence the title, to seek help. He called for the agents' aid to restrain him from looking for the killer of his beloved and unleash a vampire nightmare to that person. He says that his vampiric powers remains inactive unless he gets a taste of human blood, in which he does not wishes to do so. The case is solved with a neat twist that involves an apparition of the soul of a vampire.

Once again, Ron Mendoza amazes me with the nice stories he comes up for Black Ink Comics. He always gives us an interesting new twist to old and familiar elements that we have been accustomed to. Although this may be compared to the ongoing Trese series, which also has a paranormal investigation theme, I would still be looking for more stories from this series. Another thing that makes this worth collecting is the nice art cover made by Erwin Arroza. The cover is a plus in attracting the attention of anyone into this genre. The image depicting Roddy surrounded by supernatural entities is also a nice art from him that can be found on two pages of this book.

Overall, I'd say that this is another keeper from Black Ink Comics. It is a series that I'll surely be putting on display in my bookshelf.

More of Black Ink Comics can be seen at:

Facebook Page: "Black Ink Comics"

Twitter: @BlackInkComics

Comics: Afterlife with Archie ~ Issue 2 (Cover Review)

Cover A: Francesco Francavilla

Cover B (Variant): Tim Seeley

Cover C (2nd Printing Variant): Francesco Francavilla

(Cover A, B and C)

Story by: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa

Illustrated by: Francesco Francavilla

Rated: Teen+, Violence and Mature Content

Archie Comics

Yes I'm a fan of this series that's why I decided to collect the different variants of every singles of Afterlife with Archie. As long as they are not more than $10 or Php. 500 for each variant cover. The first two covers for Afterlife with Archie #2 were sold last November 20, 2013. The 2nd printing was released shortly on January 1, 2014.

The covers made by Francavilla, cover A and C, were nice. Interestingly they both have Jughead say EEAARRCHIEE!

The variant cover, cover B, made by Seeley is the best one for this issue. It shows a chest view of Archie in which most of the colors were just plainly gray scale colors with splatters of orange-colored blood in some areas.

If you are keen on following this series but without any interest in collecting all the different variants, I suggest that the variant cover made by Seeley, cover B, is the best choice to have as a single. It just gives a more silent thought on the story for this issue. I guess I may prefer it that way unless they make another variant cover in which the scene that involves an apple is the one drawn.

"This Is How The End Of The World Begins..."

More of Afterlife with Archie can be seen at:

www.afterlifewitharchie.com

Events: Independence Day 2014 Warehouse Sale

Well you know what these pictures mean. It is going to be a nice way to end the week after the Philippine's 116th Independence Day. National Book Store will be conducting their sale at the SM Las Piñas and Robinsons Imus branches from June 12 - 15, 2014. Be sure not to miss this event.

More information about National Book Store can be seen at:
Facebook Page: "National Book Store"
http://www.nationalbookstore.com.ph

Events: June 2014 First Weekend Events of Comic Odyssey

School is about to start for most of the students. But that doesn't stop Comic Odyssey from conducting sales on two of their branches this first weekend of June 2014. It will occur at the Comic Odyssey branches of Robinsons Galleria and Alabang Town Center.

There will be a 1-day signing event sale at the Robinsons Galleria branch of Comic Odyssey on June 7, 2014. This is due to the book signing of Rodski Patotski Ang Dalagang Baby by Gerry Alanguilan and Arnold Arre. The signing event will occur at 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Alongside with this, they will have 50% off on graphic novels, trade paperbacks and hardcovers. 10 to 50% off on complete comic sets and variants. 10 to 20% off on action figures, statues, and collectibles. On the other hand, all back issues in the bins will be sold at Php. 50 each. A raffle draw will also be conducted at 4 p.m. 1 raffle ticket is given for every purchase of Rodski Patotski and for every Php. 500 worth of purchase. Winners must be present to claim the prizes during the raffle draw.

On Alabang Town Center, "Year One" sale will be conducted in observance of their 1st anniversary. They will have 30% off on all variants. 20% off on complete comic sets. 10% off on all vintage and premium comics, all action figures, statues and collectibles. On the other hand, all back issues in the bins will be sold at Php. 100 each. In observance of this, Fully Booked of the Alabang Town Center branch will also be having 20% off on all of their graphic novels both tradepaperbacks and hardcovers.

I guess shopping for school supplies will be a little tricky if your near this Comic Odyssey branches.

More information about Comic Odyssey can be seen at:

Facebook Page: "Comic Odyssey"

Comics: Free Comic Book Day: FUBAR 2014

(3/5 ★★★☆☆)

This is just one among the 2014 Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) sponsored comics that I had gotten. Its interesting plot of the involvement of zombies that the U.S. had encountered in their action of killing Osama Bin Laden is definitely a head turner for this comic. It contains two stories namely The Ace of Spades and Zero Dead Thirty.

The Ace of Spades

Story by: Chuck Dixon

Illustrated by: Jeff McComsey and Steve Becker

Rated: Mature Content

FUBAR Press

This story tells of the two operations done in pursuit of Sadam Hussein. Operation Urgent Surprise and Operation Red Dawn were carried out in Adwan, Iraq under the leadership of Captain Kuber. The search was done on one of Sadam's Palaces. Mike, one of the U.S. soldiers on board for the operation uses a deck of cards to identify important individuals surrounding Sadam, who was assigned to the ace of spades card. He had captured Doctor Ahmet Hafeez, a nine of hearts for the deck, who was identified to be involved in the creation of bio weapons. Little do they know that they will set loose all hell in that palace.

The first story is a good introduction on how zombies could have come about in this fictional accounts of the steps undergone in the occurrence of Sadam's death. It includes the use of biological weapons in the event that a palace is suddenly seized by the U.S. military forces. It strikes a thought on the possibility that zombies might have been included in their development of biological weapons since that idea would never reach the top officials. Thus, in return would create an exchange of little or none of the existence of such absurd weaponry that would be briefed to the military.

Zero Dead Thirty

Story by: Chad Lambert

Illustrated by: Jeff McComsey

Rated: Mature Content

FUBAR Press

The second story is a shorter one compared to the first. This time it involves the pursuit of Osama bin Laden. He is codenamed as Geronimo in Operation Neptune Spear that was conducted in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The search for every room was done until it ended with a man in a turban being killed. Identified by a woman and a child in the same room that the guy that was just killed is Osama, the U.S. navy seals reported back that Geronimo is K.I.A. However, after a few moments, a reanimation occurred that lead to one of the U.S. seals to decapitate the body of Osama. Thus, reporting back that Geronimo is K.I.A. again. This story ends with a speech from the U.S. President Barrack Obama.

I could say that I got lost in some of the dialogues here whenever someones asks about Osama. The initials repeatedly used to ask if Osama is the one dead on the floor or where is his head is often U.B.L. I just don't get the letter U. Well anyways, it gives a literal perspective from a piece of the speech delivered by Pres. Obama by saying that they had cut off their enemy's head.

This FCBD 2014 comic from FUBAR Press is an enjoyable one. From what I've learned from the contents of this comic is that FUBAR mostly creates fictional histories that involves zombies. Well that concept fitted nicely in this event in our history. Mostly the things that got me confused was from the second story. There's a strange thing that I've noticed with regards to the ones worn on the eyes by these U.S. pursuit team. They have these four ocular lenses that I really can't place on what the two additional oculars are for since the human body only has two eyes. Well aside from those stuffs from the second story, everything was an enjoyable read for me.

It is still a good thing that these are just fictional accounts of our history. If these accounts had indeed happened, it might have been FUBAR for us if zombies are now used as a biological weapon.

More of FUBAR Press can be seen at:

Facebook Page: "Zombie FUBAR"

Twitter: @fubarpress

www.fubarpress.com