Review of Walkie Talkie 4

A few weeks back Richard of Richard’s Comics and Collectables gave me a copy of Walkie Talkie #4 to review. He said it was sent to him and he gave it a read, but it just wasn’t his genre, so he didn’t feel he could give it a fair shot. It looked right up my alley. Here we go.

I first wondered why someone would send out an issue number 4 to be reviewed. I didn’t see how a book 4 issues in can get a fair shot or give the reviewer a base to build off of. I later found out it was from a mini story inside the run… a number 2 of 2.

Let’s get the basics out of the way. Its written and so far as I can tell drawn by Nate Powell and published by Microcosm Publishing. The book’s physical quality is top notch and consists of many independently run shop ads in the back. This is major points to me because: a.) I tire of seeing low quality printings coming out of Indy publisher and b.) I love supporting Indy run anything.

I actually started reading this issue weeks ago, but had trouble starting through the rest. It felt like starting in the middle of a story. Go figure. To tell you the truth though even after making it all the way to the end I still have no idea what it was about. It was a mesh of plot points and scattered ideas. Something about an injured dog, a break-up, an imaginary friend, and 2 birds. Coming out in the end I don’t know what I was supposed to get, but here’s what I came up with… relationships hurt. I think I liked the art. It was well sketched as stand alone work. I couldn’t tell who was who and couldn’t keep track of a single thing. I’m pretty sure if I just saw a single page with no words I would look at it and think to myself, “I like that.” That’s all I got

After further research I’ve discovered this issue was composed in 2004. Again I ask why send it out now? The letter simply says, “If you like this copy of Walkie Talkie #4 by Nate Powell, check out Sounds or Your Name - it’s the complete collection of Nate’s comics.” I’m assuming that is what this was in support of. After 4 years of working in the industry I’m assuming he’s developed more of a sense of structure.

Interview with Cliff Chiang

Just like the ads say, MySpace really is a place for friends. To keep in touch with old ones, make new ones and to then bug some of them for interviews. This of course brings us to our new friend and incredibly talented artist Cliff Chiang, who was nice enough to take time out of his busy schedule for this interview.

Brian - Do you remember what your introduction to comics was and when you decided that you wanted to work in the industry?

Cliff - I knew about comics, but didn’t really follow them until my older brother started buying them. Mostly Marvel stuff: X-Men, Fantastic Four, etc. We were really into it for a few years but stopped reading when it got harder to track down issues after things went to the direct market system. I got back into comics in college, after reading Sandman and Hellblazer, and that’s when I realized that maybe comics could be a career for me.

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Contraband - An Interview with TJ Behe

Contraband Cover

One of the nice things I have learned about the comic book industry since we started The Dollar Bin is that it is very easy in the internet age to have a real sense of community between everyone involved. Sites like ours, MySpace, Comic Space and countless message boards can help us all make and keep contact and share our enjoyment of comics. It was actually on Comic Space that I first came into contact with writer TJ Behe. Thanks to that just mentioned magic of the web we recently had the chance to talk about his recent project Contraband with artist Phil Elliott being released via Slave Labor Comics. And it goes a little something like this…

Brian - So, how about starting with just a basic introduction for everyone. Who are you and where are you from?

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DB Survey Give-a-way Winners with Reviews

Adult Swim Post Card Book

Not much to review for this one. Some guy at the end of Heroes Con last year started throwing these books at me. It was completely unprovoked. I swear. Anyway, this book is simply a collection of, well, postcards with Adult Swim images on them. They are funny. Well, they’re weird.

Winners: John Gilstrap, Bradd

Mini Comic Collection: Wide Awake 666, Curls Studio Mini, Duane Ballenger Mini

This is an amazing collection of short stories and mini comics. What’s a mini comic you ask. Well, you, my friend, need to check out our panel recording from Heroes Con 2007 on Mini Comics.

Wide Awake 666: This is my introduction to mini comics and I say its a great place to start. It itself is not a mini comic so there is still a comfortable transition into that strange world. Wide Awake Press is a local SC publisher who has been very kind to us. Check out their site and interviews. WA666 is a collection of short horror stories from some of the greatest creators in the small press world. I love this book from cover to cover. Thanks to J Chris Campbell for donating these beauties to the listeners. Each one also consists of original sketches by J Chris Campbell, Duane Ballenger, Justin Gammon, Rob Ullman, and James Ouzts.

Kid Roxy/Curls/Black Magic Tales (The Hit List Baltimore Comic-Con Special): Each of these are mini comics created by Carolyne Belefski and/or Joe Carabeo (Curls Studio). Black Magic Tales is the story Roxy and Dean, superstar criminals. They are kind of a current day Bonnie and Clyde. This issue itself is about how they effect the life of one man. Its a good intro into the world of brain obsessed Carabeo’s humorous Tales. Kid Roxy gives readers of Black Magic Tales a little peak into the back story of Roxy. I always worry about reading a back story before the main line, but after reading The Hit List and Kid Roxy I’m ready for some in between. And finally, to end this huge run on paragraph we have Curls. Curls from what I recall of our Baltimore Con interview with Carolyn and Joe is where it sorta all began. This story will give you a glimpse into the talking toast world of Belefski. And we all know the world needs more talking food.

Duane Ballenger Collection (Toot Sweet, Pox, Haunted Samidge, Short Stack): If the titles don’t say enough then just listen to the interview with Duane and J Chris at the Charlotte Mini-Con or my review of his stuff during one of our shows. I believe the words Brain, Shutdown, and Explode were used.

Winners: Andrew, Rachelle Goguen, Paul, Nicholas Dreyer, Ashley

Cereal and Pajamas: An Ape Entertainment Collection

This is a great collection of comic line beginnings released by Ape Entertainment. The biggest problem I have with Cereal and Pajamas is that the introductions are to short. Each story line (for the most part) almost sucked me right in. Its a great compilation of stuff and it opened me to the world of Ape outside of Black Coat, however I think it lacked enough story to truly suck me in. There is no bad art in this collection and its a good mix of humor, action, and suspense.

Winner: Terry

Little While Mouse: Dream of the Ghosts

First off, I haven’t finished this one yet.  I’m about halfway through it.  This so far has been a pretty sweet book.  Its a story of a girl who gets stuck on a mining rock out in space after her ship to school blows up.  She’s the only survivor and she’s pretty sure her sister’s mind is stuck in the ships data drives.  She’s been on the rock alone for months withonly robots to keep her company and she’s starting to lose it.  I just happened across this book at SPX.  It was tossed to me when I picked up the Vogelein series.  It took me awhile to start it, but I’m glad I have before shipping it off.  I’m really enjoying it.  Its clever and the dialog is fun which is good because I love dialog.

Winner: Brent Smith

Vogelein: Clockwork Faerie and Old Ghosts

I haven’t read these yet, but I did buy my own copies so I’m not tossing out stuff that was thrown to me.   The art is really superb.  Its a book about faeries in everyday life.  Jane Irwin was very nice and helpful at SPX and she sold me on these.  I look forward to them.  Its one of those things where I need to find the time for reading only.

Winner: Joel

Hit me up with your contact info so I can send these out to you (adamatthedollarbindotnet).

or

Commence  bartering between each other… Now!

The Dark Knight Trailer

The anticipation for the biggest movie of 2008 began with the turning of a playing card as 2005’s Batman Begins drew to a close. With that in mind, on December 14th anyone who bought a ticket to I Am Legend was given an early Christmas gift; the first full trailer to the next installment of the big screen rebirth of Batman The Dark Knight.

“It’s all part of the plan…”

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