BEST and WORST Youtube CHANNELS OF THE Week!

BEST:

• EARL GREY

• SILVER AGE DAVE

• REGGIE COLLECTS

• POP CULTURE PHILOSOPHERS- energetic current comic book reviews

• COMIC TOM 101- Closest the Youtube comic community comes to really great investigative reporting. Excellent channel.

WORST:

WE LOVE COMICS- This channel has some very informative videos, and is very big to call out other channels on what they are or aren’t doing, but his recent blinders on defense of grading company PGX and spinning that conversation away from the latest PGX issue, the claim they were pressuring graders to grade books high, so they could sell such books through a shill account, is completely ignored and instead he attacks the claimant, going so far as to hint at said claimant being let go for drug reasons. An inference that both PGX and WE LOVE COMICS backed away from when questioned on it by COMIC TOM101. 

WE LOVE COMICS, as a YouTube channel, is quick to give lip service to integrity, but I find the whole relationship and shilling for PGX (given, story after story of alarming business practices by this company… ie the WALKING DEAD comic certifying fiasco), paints WE LOVE COMICS in a very disingenuous and untrustworthy light. I would love this channel to step up and be as impartial as it claims to be in regards to PGX, but the host’s failure to ask the obvious question, when he goes on about how he speaks directly to the president of PGX, speaks volumes.

************

What else is on my worst list?

Any comic channel that has an issue with Social Justice Warriors – the history of comics from Superman to Captain America is about Social Justice Warrior characters.

These characters in their origins are demonstrably Social Justice Warriors writ large, those who are there to protect the populace against the predatory and venal. So if you don’t like Social Justice Warriors maybe superhero comics is not the medium for you.

And if you are subscribed to these disingenuously named channels (the name of the channel is in complete opposition to their very negative postings and stance, such as DIVERSITY IN COMICS and COMICSPRO and CAPN CUMMINGS) I would say consider un-subscribing from them IMMEDIATELY and subscribing to one of the other channels I mention. The fact that any of those channels has more subscribers than EARL GREY, who in my opinion anyone who is a comic fan should be subscribed to, highlights the fact we live in an age where some people actually voted for Trump. 🙂

If the channel uses the acronym SJW, and are too lazy to write out the word Social Justice Warrior, it is because they want to make the short hand a meaningless curse, rather than a valid concrete idea. It is like the people who use PC as basically a curse word, realizing that if you replace ‘political correctness’ with its synonym ‘respect’, you would understand better what such people are are really arguing against.

So yeah guys, lets remove the attention and the subscriptions from the clickbait crowd and give the attention and numbers to some of the great channels I list above.

 

 

 

Advertisements

Thursday’s Thoughts! Vol 1 Issue 1

dvd, bluray

‘ “Heart jim, Heart! The whole world’s crying out for a little bit of heart!”

— DETECTIVE STORY

RECOMMENDED DVD/BLU-RAY PURCHASE OF THE DAY

 

DETECTIVE STORY (1951) – Detective Story released in 1951, a time before most of your grand parents were born is a surprisingly timeless and always ahead of its time film. To call it the best film of its type is to damn it with faint praise, directed by William Wyler, a director”s director, and starring true powerhouse actors, it is a film, that in an age of streaming, an age of digital, it is a film that it is a crime not to own in physical format, as DVD. Leaving such a movie to the whims of content providers, or broadband access or licensing deals, for when or if it is available… criminal.

It is a movie that now 70 years after every TV show and every movie has ripped it off, should strike modern audiences as formulaic, but it doesn’t. Because here is where the formula was born, and here is where it remains the most staggering and damning.

The cover to the Spanish Blursy, hints at the smouldering intensity that Kirk Douglas and Eleanor Parker as his wife deliver, captive cogs in a city and a time and a place. Eleanor Parker is absolutely devastating in her performance, her reaction shots to a Kirk Douglas far beyond the edge, it is what people mean when they say star power.

You can say that of the whole cast. Ensemble acting in a time when that was not even a concept.

Watch it via streaming if you can; but then buy the DVD or BluRay. It deserves like most of William Wyler’s movies a place on your book shelf. It is art at 24 frames a minute.

 

What I’m Listening to:

I’m on the third audio book of the 8 book men’s adventure series from the 1970s BLACK SAMURAI. I pop the cd in on my way to from work, and it is SO FRIGGING GOOD! Each book is a writer, the late, great Matc Olden just at the height of his gifts. As a fan of all these men’s adventure books of the 70s, from BOND, to NICK CARTER, to THD EXECUTIONER MAC BOLAN to REMO WILLIAMS THE DESTROYER, Olden’s BLACK SAMURAI  is just more riveting.

An outgrowth of the pulps of the 20s and 30s, married to the pulp fiction and roman noir fiction of the 40s and 50s, the men’s adventures of the 60s and 70s would add a globe hopping sense of scale, mired in the cultural, sexual and idealogical battle grounds of the times. In terms of just great writing, this series is the tops. And that is coming from one of the biggest fans of Warren Murphy’s excellent DESTROYER SERIES.

Pick up the recently released MP3 CD Collections, fantastic performances by audio actor Kevin Kenerly, and all eight of the original 1970 Signet Paperbacks. The original paperbacks are works of art and should be in any bibliophile’s collection.

See my earlier posts for An interview with Diane Crafford, Mark Olden’s partner who the books are dedicated to and who even shows up in one of the books

And I hope to bring you a new interview here on the 44th Aniversary of the series, and since the Marc Olden properties have all heated up of late, with names like Common and Idris Elba attached to them, it is a timely follow-up.

 

What I’m wztching:

Youtube.

I am watching a lot of great Youtube channels. I watch, via Roku, Youtube on my big screen. The Youtube shows are overall more interesting than regular TV.

This week’s standouts are:

FENSTHESPOOK – The quote at the top of this post about having heart, this guy has heart. I like his humanity, his acknowledgement of the fact that the hobby of comic book collecting, is a calling, and an honor. And his reminisces about those who have passed, I find touching.

Silver-Age Dave – one of my favorite Youtubers week in and week out. I have spent a lot of money recently on treasury books, because watching his collection reminded me how much I enjoyed these older treasuries as a kid.

Regie Collects – Always informative, as well as fun haul stories.

Mind Smash – Great channel that breaks down some of the best fighters current and past.

Earl Grey – Great coverage of European and Indie comics and books

Ok that’s it for this installment. Nearly 3am and have to be at work early.

Leave a comment or like if you enjoy this THURSDAY’S THOUGHTS!!!

 

 

 

Best Western COMIC BOOK Covers! LONE RANGER! Gold Key Series!

 

 

Buy your copies here:

https://www.mycomicshop.com/search?TID=192141&AffID=200301P01

 

The first 20 issues of the 1964 GOLD KEY Lone Ranger series reprints select issues of the early, largely unavailable, long running Dell series (1948-1962). Including the magnificent covers. The last eight issues of the GOLD KEY series sports new stories and art, but unfortunately lack the great Dell covers. Still well worth the hunting down.

20 Best Youtube COMIC BOOK Channels! Week ending 2 June 2018!

While relatively new to the Youtube Comic Book watching scene, I’ve been a collector for a very long time.

I’m listening and watching these Youtube videos/channels on Comic Books, and these channels are fantastic!

I watch them courtesy of Roku on my Big Screen TV, and I spend more time watching these YouTube channels, than regular TV most days. Much to the chagrin of my better half, who has seen more of these videos than she would like. 🙂

It is just great to see collectors of various ages and backgrounds sharing their passion and finds and tips, on a hobby I also get a lot of enjoyment out of it.

Without further ado, this is this week’s 15 Favorite Channels!(You can find any of the channels just by searching for their name on Youtube. Tell them HT sent ya!)

• SILVER AGED DAVE (best comic book room tours, and essential info on insurance, budgeting, preserving your books, and generally enjoying your collection, along with great hauls)
• SADDLE CITY COMICS – nice coverage of mostly new comics presented by company
• TheKMN1971- Simply has some of the best hauls of bronze age books. Always costs me money when I see his videos. As i’m inspired to go looking for many of the books he shows off.  🙂
• EARL GREY (best coverage of European comics, as well as deep dives into select creators and genres)
• MERCENAUT (very informative, and great selection of books to be on the lookout for)
• GEM MINT (great coverage on Omibus and collected editions)
• REGIE IFBBPRO (great hauls and stories, and passion for this hobby)
• LEEKIRBYDITKO (hands down the best golden age coverage on Youtube, and recently become very interested in Golden Age)

• THULE (Another great Golden Age channel)
• JERNO’S COMICS & POP CULTURE – Recent find. Very informative. I like his recent project, cashing out his Starbuck’s stock (Long before this most recent news issue, I had no interest in Starbuck’s. Like KFC amd Shell Gas they are on my list of companies to not do business with) and putting it into comic books, and making a greater rate of return on comics than with his Starbuck’s stock.
• BOOK ROAST – This one has more to do with Gift Boxes and Harry Potter but it is a nice peacekeeper when you need to break up your comic book watching for your better half 🙂 Also while not a Harry Potter fan, I like this channel as well. Her coverage of different Gift Boxes is interesting, and informative; and her Scottish accent doesn’t hurt. 🙂
• AFTA COMICS –  Love listening to this guy. He sounds like the late, great Adam West. May he rest in peace. So yeah, I listen to him tell his stories in his Adam West voice, and I’m entertained, and reminded of the late great Adam West. Really like this channel. Covers great Westerns.
• CHYCHO – I like his laid back, ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response, a belief that sound can soothe, and in addition create states in the listener where information is more readily absorbed) delivery. Nice coverage of everything from Golden Age to moderns. And his overview and understanding of economic systems, reinforced some things I knew, and really opened my eyes on some other things. His post PERSONAL FINANCE:CURRENCY,MONEY,ECONOMY,P2:GOLD should really be required viewing, by pretty much everyone.

• LUTHER MANNING – Like his CGC hauls
• ALEX THE COMIC HOARDER- like his upbeat coverage of hauls
• WINDY CITY COMIC BOOKS (great coverage of classic comic book magazines)
• GORE VIDAL- Great coverage of Independents, magazines, and hardcovers, with a love for the Spanish and Italian artists. His multi-episode coverage on Dark Horse’s CREPAX is essential viewing. He stopped broadcasting a bit mysteriously a month ago, anyone with his contact info just let us know he is alright.

 

• GABE INFINITY WATCH – I like his coverage of IDW Artist’s Edition.
• ISLORD372 – New discovery , I really like his collection coverage video.
• SUPERJOE – Nice selection of various comics from various eras. And some books I had not seen before.

Honorable mentions:

 

• COMIC BOOK FANATICS – Shout out to Ray Jr, who left to do a tour in Afghanistan. Stay safe over there,.
• FOOLKILLER5150 – Appears to be an abandoned channel, but lots of good content still out there.

 

And this installment’s Public Service Announcement – To everyone out there who has an issue with Social Justice Warriors, first learn to use the whole word and not the acronym, second you may want to choose a different medium if you don’t like Social justice Warriors. Because if you are reading Superhero Comics, the first social justice warrior is Superman. Followed quickly by Batman, Shazam, and all the others. The whole of Superhero Comics built on this bedrock of vigilantes, sticking up for the little guy, and taking it to the fat cats, and the corrupt, system. Social Justice Warrior defined.

 

Give love to the channels I mention and be wary of cleaning and pressing a comic. If your comic book is a 4.5, It is a 4.5. The attempt to make it a 5.5 in the short term, can be speeding up the process of making it a 1 in the long term.

Ending this on a positive note you 17 channels are always showing me your hauls and recommends, which I greatly thank you for. You’ve put some great books on my radar. Wanted to return the favor. Below is my list of must own comic books, that I think are WAY undervalued and you can still buy incredibly cheaply and will only go up.

Enjoy!!!

 

 

DAREDEVIL 126 & 127 – One of the best two parters of all time. I read this back in the day and it still stands up as one of my favorite non-Frank Miller DAREDEVIL comics. TORPEDO is a great bronze age character, and this is him at his best. Sporting great Gil kane covers, and a story by Marv Wolfman (who was also Executive Editor at the time, and art by Bob Brown and Klaus Janson. Wonderful visuals.

THE UNTAMED – Is a beautiful sword and sorcery graphic novel by Sebastian A. Jones and Peter Bergting and Darrell May. From STRANGER COMICS. A quality and very little known collected edition.

DEFENDERS 52- Best Gil Kane Cover. Best done in one story. Best Hulk vs Sub-Mariner fight. One of the Best Keith Giffen and David Kraft co-scripts. From about issue 42 to 52, these guys were on FIRE! Best depiction of the Hulk. Best depiction of Sub-Mariner. Done, done, and done.

ADVENTURE COMICS 431-440 -Michael Fleisher’s stories starring the Spectre, with Jim Aparo art have quite frankly never been surpassed. They are for me, the definitive take on the Spectre as a vengeful Wrath of God, with a more than demented sense of perverse punishments. A lurid and legendary series.

THE SINISTER HOUSE OF SECRET LOVE #1- Dark Shadows meets the House of Mystery? How do you not love that title and that cover. A must own.

I SPY 1-6 – The 60s pushed the envelope in terms of entertainment, writing and scope. Bringing globe trotting adventures into our living room. I SPY along with DANGER MAN/SECRET AGENT MAN and MAN WITH A SUITCASE were some of the best TV shows of the period. to have that great Cosby and Culp series, also as a comic book is a must own. Great photo-covers.

You can get any of the books listed, using the link below. And using the link earns this blog a few pennies to keep the lights on.

Buy comic books here!
Hope you enjoyed this post. if you did, spread the word.

 

 

Today’s Comic Book and Book Recommendation of the Day! BLACK COMIX RETURNS

I’ve already said that THE SIGNATURE ART OF BRIAN STELFREEZE by Boom Studios was my favorite art book of 2017. Just a stunning, masterpiece of a tome in terms of content and book design.

Today I received an early contender for best Artbook of 2018, from LION FORGE and THE MAGNETIC COLLECTION I received Damian Duffy and John Jennings BLACK COMIX RETURNS.

I didn’t know much about this book going into it, except it was edited by the prolific John Jennings, and after seeing this creator interviewed on Youtube,I was on a mission to pick up his work. BLACK COMIX RETURNS is a ten year old followup to the sold out first volume (which iI delayed picking up, and is now out of print, and the copies that are availabl;e are selling for 3 figures).

I was eager to get this volume, and finally received today, it is stunning. I didn’t know what to expect, what I got was a curated overview of the creators who are putting out some great and very individual works. Similar to David Roach’s MASTERS OF SPANISH COMIC BOOK ART, but where that is a look back, BLACK COMIX RETURNS is a look at creators who are currently redefining the medium, one passion project at a time.

Get any of the books recommended in this post at the links below:

https://amzn.to/2Grs4GK

https://amzn.to/2uwPlFq

https://amzn.to/2GoYXaX

https://amzn.to/2IkuqYa

Also this book, like that aforementioned Brian Stelfreeze artbook, is simply massive and gorgeous. A lot of collectors today concentrate on variants and rarity, I like to call it manufactured rarity, and I tend to not have a use for it. I remember the bubble of the 90s, and much of that had to do with variants and speculation of value, the illusion of scarcity and value, and when the music stopped people had paid lots of money for books that no one wanted, and were now worthless.

BLACK COMIX RETURNS should firstly be bought because it is a fantastic and informative and  stellar addition to anyone’s library (showcasing fantastic artists such as Paris Alleyne, Gregory Anderson Elysee, Dawud Anyabwile, Eric Battle, to name a few) , however it should also be bought because it is a map to true, underground, and often scare and underseen comics and their diverse and talented creators.

And as the first BLACK COMIX shows it should thirdly be bought because quality hardcover artbooks,  particularly regarding populations of color, tend to go out of print, and become in themselves… rsrities.

For all these reasons BLACK COMIX RETURNS is my book of the day!

https://amzn.to/2uwPlFq

 

YouTube Channel of the Day goes to SILVER-AGED DAVE for their post ‘What if your Comic Book Collection is not insured!’

UPDATE: Unfortunately it appears the video has been pulled.

In the interim you may want to try the following links:

https://collectinsure.com/what-we-insure/comics

https://americancollectors.com/plans/collectibles/collectible-resources/collector-chronicles/collector-insurance-how-it-will-protect-your-comic-book-collection/

https://www.insurancequotes.com/home/home-insurance-rider

 

This applies to anyone who has any collection of value. Whether that be coins, golf clubs, statues, comics, baseballs, comic books, etc.

Most of you reading this are paying without fail homeowners or renters insurance, should the worst happen. Well this video highlights that you might literally be paying for nothing, if you do not have the correct coverage for the collection you have.

It is something I have been thinking about for a little bit but this video by Silver-Aged Dave really spurs me to take control of this, possibly expensive and unfortunate, loophole.

Thanks Silver-Aged Dave and keep those videos and tips coming.

 

See more of Silver Aged Dave’s content here:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaH_FN9f9_hp-0ThhekxcBw

And tell him, Heroic Times sent ya!

Best Captain America Comic Book Covers! 2018 1st Quarter Edition! Bronze Age Issues!