------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE COMIC BOOK NET ELECTRONIC MAGAZINE - ISSUE NUMBER #71 Edited by: David LeBlanc [ComicBkNet@aol.com] ________________________________________________________________________ World Wide Web Page------>> http://members.aol.com/ComicBkNet ------------------------------------------------------------------------ o \o/ _ o _| \ / |_ o_ \o/ o /|\ | /\ _\o \o | o/ O/_ /\ | /|\ / \ / \ |\ /) | ( \ /o\ / ) | (\ / | / \ / \ This publication is brought to you by the members of the premiere BBS network for the discussion of comics books and the people who create them, The ComicBook Network!!! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The ComicBook Network was founded by Ed Dukeshire and Mike Imboden ------------------------------------------------------------------------ If you wish to receive each issue automatically through your Email account, please address a message to ComicBkNet@aol.com to be placed on the subscription list. ________________________________________________________________________ T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [1] On the Net ............................ David LeBlanc [2] Letters to the Editor ................. Your Page! TRIVIA CONTEST......................... Guesses & Answers [3] CBN Insider ........................... News, gossip, & rumors [4] Name This Column ...................... Mike Imboden [5] Suspended Animation ................... Michael Vance [6] Review: Dr. Wonder #3 ................. David Leblanc [7] New Comics Shipping 8/14/96 ........... Bobb Waller [A] E-Mag Info: Submissions, Subscriptions, Back Issues, Copyrights [B] How to join ComicBook Network.......... BBS 101 [C] Bulletin Boards Linked into CBN........ CBN node list ________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [1] On the Net by David LeBlanc First my apologies for mistyping Taboux last time around, I forgot the x on the end! TABOUX #1 is out there on the stand folks, check it out. Not your ordinary vampire comic. Second, some sad news from our long time contributor Bobb Waller. His weekly column which he compiles the list of items shipping the following week will cease at the end of the month when he shuts down his BBS. I used this list myself to double check the racks when I go pick up my books. I run it here in the Emag for anyone else who wants it. The reason it fits well here is that Bobb has it out like clockwork every Thursday on the networks so I can include it here and still have the Emag out for the weekend. The only other weekly list I know of is put out on Monday and in the email by Tuesday and I would not want to change my publishing schedule to the day before the comics hit the racks just to include a list of what will be out. The news of the week and my contributing columns are here by Friday and I think people like to have this to browse at their leisure over the weekend. So, unless Bobb can undo what seems inevitable we'll have to do without the What's Shipping list after August. :< On the up side, another member of CBN, Mike Imboden is back with us with what we hope will be an ongoing column. It must have been the CHEEZY PRIZE(tm) that inspired him to once again join the "usual gang of idiots" to quote Mad Magazine. To kick off his triumphant return he has offered his own bag of goodies to the winner of his NAME THIS COLUMN contest. As if I didn't have enough to do, I promise to forward to him all your suggestions, bribes or threats. His old column was called the 25th Hour, I think because that is when he usually wrote it or something. I am kinda curious to see the suggestions, but keep them clean, I am the editor after all. :) A couple of interesting letters this month concerning the Diamond/Capital buy out. I know this sparks a lot of talk, and I have seen much of it on the networks as well as in the comic store. If you feel you want to add a thought or two, well, send in a letter. If it is good enough it just might get featured as a guest column. And that goes for other subjects as well. I know some of you have thoughts about the industry or that favorite comic that just never gets much mention. Well we can't cover it all, but you can help. Look no further than the lines below this text for the address to send that Email to. It is the same as always (except when AOL is down!) David LeBlanc [ComicBkNet@aol.com] Editor The Comic Book Net E-Mag ________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [2] Letters to the Editor If you want to comment on this or any previous issue, want to offer something for us to publish, or just want to shamelessly suck up to the editor to try and get your name in print send Email to: ComicBkNet@aol.com Note: letters of comment, complete with the sender's Email address, may be used in future issues of the CBN E-Mag unless you specifically request us NOT to use them. Email address will be withheld upon request. +++++ First up, a note from Gary Sassaman, creator of the most excellent comic book, Innocent Bystander: From: GSassaman To: ComicBknet David, Hi...I keep enjoying the E-mag every week, but I thought I'd drop you a line at this particularly vexing (for lack of a better word...or education, for that matter) point in the comic book industry. I'm afraid the Diamond-Capital merger sounds the death knell for books like INNOCENT BYSTANDER. I had such miserable sales at Diamond on issue #2, and even though it seems to be catching on critically and making a little of a name for itself, I'm fearful of publishing a third issue. The folks at Diamond have always been very nice to me, but with so much product in a monthly catalogue, I'm afraid I'll just get even more lost. I suppose a solution to that is buying an ad in PREVIEWS, but there are so many ads for so many downright crappy books, I'm afraid, again, it would just get lost in the shuffle, crappy or not. Notice how many times I've used the words afraid or fearful? I've pretty much got IB3 all planned out...and I'd already decided to reduce the print run to 2,000. (I do everything backwards...I set my print run before orders come in, because I know I'd never get a book done in time to make a solicitation date...I know, it's really stupid business-wise, but I never set out to make any money on this.) And I'm pretty sure I'm gonna go ahead with it...I just hope it finds a home with Diamond. Keep up the great work with the E-mag. I look forward to it each week. -Gary. [Truly good work manages to survive, as I am sure yours will. Keep us posted on how to best help and how the loyal readers can be sure to get copies of INNOCENT BYSTANDER.] More on the Diamond thing: comments in brackets[] are mine - D.L. Subj: Diamond *is* a monopoly Date: 96-08-04 20:30:45 EDT From: vandcook@ix.netcom.com (Brad M. Cook) To: ComicBkNet@aol.com Read the latest CBEM and your mention about Diamond being kind of a monopoly (or words to that effect). Actually, if Diamond is controlling 96.5 percent of the market then they *are* a monopoly, and as such their purchase should be checked into by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Do they think that since it's comics no one would care? Well, they should care because monopolies in any industry can be devestating, no matter how out-of-the-way that industry is. [I said that people are speculating about what may happen and are calling the position Diamond is in an *effective* monopoly. You also misquote the statistic, which I credited to Matt High of Antarctic Press, which is that Diamond distributes 96.5% of the NON-MARVEL comics to the direct market. I am sure you are not speaking from any legal expertise to make such basic errors in an argument. I suspect that Diamond's lawyers have looked at the legal ramifications every which way and your accusations, and you are not alone in this layman assessment, do not hold enough legal ground to sweat about. Of course it is not because it is *just* comics, it's because there is not enough legal ground to bother with it, more than likely (that being *my* layman's assessment). If you read the initial press conference when DC went *exclusive* you will see that they DO NOT sell product to Diamond so therefore Diamond is not SELLING DC product to retailers.(I guess that means the percentage that Diamond *controls* is even less) DC could set up their own distribution network very easily I suspect, but why bother when they are paying Diamond to be their agent and they still set their own discounts.] Technically, Diamond could refuse to carry a publisher's books or refuse to sell books to a particular retailer and put that business under that way. Will that happen? Maybe or maybe not. But it *could* [Why would they want to put a customer out of business? Why would they want to drive fans from the hobby? They are not that stupid. Now that they can be heavily involved with *every* retailer out their that buys direct, they will want to help keep the hobby healthy. It is in their own best interests to do so.] happen, and that's what I thought the laws of this country were about: to prevent disasters like this from happening. A monopoly is a monopoly, no matter how benign it may seem (and I don't think there are many in this industry who think that Diamond is benign). [So they should have let Capital wither on the vine, die a slow death, which they surely would have, gone bankrupt and thereby leave lots of small publishers hanging for money they desperately need? IMHO, the writing was on the wall, Capital management knew it, and they at least saved their loyal publishers the pain of being dragged down with them. Right now they have someone who is taking over the distribution, and presumedly they will get paid for what they sell. Some may get dropped at a later date, but then there will always be companies who just don't make it, can't appeal to a broad enough audience to be financially successful. Is it's Diamond's responsibility to carry every single comic made no matter how bad and not matter how little it sells even if it is good stuff? Of course not, but you can bet there will be much gnashing of teeth over every single publisher that they do drop since everyone is ready to paint Diamond as evil incarnate now. Sorta takes the heat off of Marvel, and they started this whole mess.] Hopefully, we will see new distributors rise up in the aftermath of this (after we get more readers into this industry to give it a shot in the arm) and there will be more outlets to distribute material. Otherwise, we are leaving the gates between publishers and retailers in this industry in the control of a small group of people, and that's insane. [What do you mean WE paleface? The industry contracted after the great speculation glut, this is one of the final gasps of that contraction, but WE can't effect that level of the business. We can support the product we like and help promote it and work with our retailers to convince them that diversity in product offering will keep them successful. The smart ones already figured that out. They will get their product from whomever they need to to stay in business, be it two monolithic direct distributors or a coalition of retailers buying directly on some products, whatever the case may be. You want to sick the FTC on somebody, be my guest. Let me know how it turns out.] Brad Cook VandCook@ix.netcom.com Editor, Comic Club [Thanks for writing in Brad] And now .....for something completely different . . . From: Hank Kanalz <71155.2025@CompuServe.COM> Subject: Re: CBEM #70A <> It was DC COMICS PRESENTS, which did feature Superman and Green Lantern. And, [I knew that, honest] boy, do I remember riding my bike down to 7-11 to buy it! Hank But, you've probably already received a lot of posts saying the same thing... [Actually SO many people wrote in to tell me about you riding your bike to the 7-11 I started feeling I had a deprived childhood!] [TRIVIA CONTEST] Last week's question: Name the main characters in the first Marvel/DC crossover! [We got basically two responses, as you will see. Later there will be a lesson on the definition of a comic book cross-over. *8^) ] +++++ Date: 96-08-06 11:41:30 EDT From: desada@edc1.edc.ca Probably way to late to get this in, but I'll take a shot at it. Spiderman and Superman. +++++ From: Don Kirkby I'm not sure, but I seem to remember Spider Man and I'll guess Superman. Not that it matters since the e-mag shipped on Friday night before what was a long weekend here in B.C. and it's now Tuesday. *sigh* Until next week, Don PS Sorry if my response to last week's question was inappropriate. You're the editor, edit! :-) [I try not to alter any letters although I am compulsive when it comes to spelling. If the meaning is still understandable I let them stay as received. Implied profanity is a fine line and a tough call, since it was meant in fun I left it in. Had it been said in anger I probably wouldn't.] +++++ From: bdh@deus.com (William de Haan) Date: Tue, 06 Aug 1996 12:38:25 GMT Deciphering a text in Pig-Dethek from David LeBlanc, we find: Superman/Spiderman, 1979. >already told you about, plus . . .Superman #116, just out this week, has >a free preview of the new TEEN TITANS book. {This seems to be an >tradition as I believe the NEW TEEN TITANS first appeared in a Superman >book as well.} . . . Former Image publisher, Tony Lobito, is launching Not exactly. NTT preview appeared in DC Comics Presents #26; it was a Superman/Green Lantern team up. Unless you meant "a superman book" to mean one that he appeared in, rather than his particular title... [No, I meant a comic with Superman on the cover that Hank Kanalz would ride his bike to 7-11 to buy!] +++++ From: whegdish@Oakland.edu (whegdish) the main characters in the 1st marvel dc crossover were dorothy, the tin man, the scarecrow, the cowerdly lion, and toto. also, i would like to subscribe to your fine emag. love it! [Er, which were DC and which were Marvel characters?] +++++ From: j.secret@ix.netcom.com (Jack Secret) To: comicbknet@aol.com Well, if we're being technical, the answer is Dorothy, Tin Man, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, Toto and all the rest in the Wizard Of Oz. [Huh?] +++++ From: dharris@bluemarble.net (Dennis Harris) To: ComicBkNet@aol.com Superman and Spider-man. +++++ From: GSassaman To: ComicBknet Oops...just read the trivia question...this one even I know! Dorothy Gale, The Tin Woodman, The Cowardly Lion, The Scarecrow (neither the DC or Marvel version), and, of course, THE WIZARD OF OZ. -Gary. [notice that at least they all name the CHARACTERS rather than the title of the book?] +++++ From: De afrikan To: ComicBknet Superman&Spiderman or Batman & Hulk +++++ From: rjp1224@hci.net (Jay Perry) To: ComicBkNet@aol.com The Battle of the Century Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man (1976) +++++ From: Marlous de Neef The answer should be: Superman and Spider-Man (we think). Love your magazine, BTW. Marlous de Neef The Netherlands, Europe [Hope you loved the CHEEZY PRIZE you won as well. +++++ From: jeremy.dennis@lroom.org (Jeremy Dennis) Superman, Spider-Man, Lex Luthor, & Dr. Octipus. I think The Incredible Hulk was in it, too, but wasn't a main character. +++++ From: nexus1@soho.ios.com Subject: Trivia The first Marvel/DC crossover: Superman Vs. Spider-Man (1976) "The Battle of the Century" (Story also featured Luthor and Doc Ock) WRITER: Gerry Conway PENCILS: Ross Andru INKS: Dick Giordano +++++ From: JThomp1@aol.com Date: Fri, 2 Aug 1996 23:57:36 -0400 The answer to the qustion "who were the main characters in the first DC/Marvel crossover?" ^^^^^^^^^^ [Didn't anybody understand this word? :) ] Dorthy Cowardly Lion Scarecrow Tin Man and don't forget Toto. DC and Marvel jointly produced "The Wizard Of OZ" just prior to their first Superman/Spiderman crossover. ^^^^^^^^^ [oh, I guess you did.] Anyhow, have a great week! John Thompson Drippan Comix +++++ Date: 96-08-03 03:14:16 EDT From: garpete@metro.net (Gary Peterson) To: comicbknet@aol.com Name the main characters in the first Marvel/DC crossover! Superman and Spider-man [could have been the winner but someone jumped on it Friday and got it on the first shot. . . ] Date: Fri, 2 Aug 1996 22:21:23 -0800 From: ptully@stocktonet.com (Wild Side) Subject: Re: CBEM #70A Hello, To answer your trivia question, the answer is Super-Man and Spider-Man ( I think) WILDSIDE +++++ I still haven't heard back but if WILDSIDE wants his/her(?) CHEEZY PRIZE(tm) just send me the mailing address! +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION: "Face it, tiger. . .you just hit the jackpot!" was the famous line from Mary Jane Watson when she first met Peter Parker in Amazing Spider-Man #42. The question is: WHERE were they when she said it? IMPORTANT RULES NOTICE: The first correct answer to reach the editor wins the CHEEZY PRIZE(tm). The editor will be the sole judge as to which guess arrived first! Please be sporting and send only one guess at a time. LIMIT: ONE PRIZE PER MONTH PER PERSON! Submit your own trivia and win the CHEEZY PRIZE(tm) if you stump the subscribers! You MUST submit the correct answer with the question. ________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [3] CBN Insider - News, gossip and rumors from around the industry Remember the Batmobile that was bought at auction by magician David Copperfield for $189,500? Remember the flap afterward when he wanted to get his money back because (so he said) it was one of 5 promotional vehicles and not the actual one used in the 1989 movie, "BATMAN", while others said he did not know he would not be allowed to use it in his magic act as a condition of sale? Well Copperfield sued the seller, collector Michael Eisenberg and the suit has been settled and a new buyer will donate the Batmobile to a very appropriate home, at the Words & Pictures Museum of Fine Sequential Art in Northampton, Massachusetts. The buyer was the founder of the museum, Kevin Eastman - YES *that* Eastman of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle fame - and his wife Julie Strain. COWABUNGA dude! +++++ Missed this one from a July 30th (Rueter) article- Golden Books Family Entertainment Inc. is selling $50million of its stock to Hallmark Cards Inc while it undergoes a restructuring, part of which includes acquiring BROADWAY VIDEO ENTERTAINMENT [the parent company of BROADWAY COMICS.] The restructuring is said to be a plan to build a multi-media family entertainment company built on the core Golden Books brand. Golden Books, comic fans, was formerly known as WESTERN PUBLISHING GROUP [beginning to get the picture?] and was acquired itself by some investors in May. $25million of the stock sale to Hallmark is set for September with the balance an option by years end. As part of the restructuring Golden Books will divest its paper and party goods subsidiary, Penn Corp, and discontinue other products. Golden Books said it will also record charges "to resolve outstanding differences with its customers and licensors" with respect to legal matters. [anyone know if Valiant *owns* or just licenses Turok, Magnus and Solar?] The children's book publisher also agreed to acquire the family video library of for $81 million in cash and $10 million in common stock. The deal will serve as the foundation for a new business unit, Golden Books Entertainment Group. This new unit will expand the Golden Books brand name into family-related video, television, film and multimedia, the company said. After the offering and after using $81 million in cash for the Broadway acquisition, Golden Books said it will have about $115 million in cash. +++++ Comic Cafe reports that they have seen an early draft of the Superman Reborn movie. It involves the death of Superman at the hands of Braniac and Doomsday, and his return. Supposedly Braniac needs Kryptonian DNA to survive so he creates Doomsday. Silver Banshee and Parasite also appear in the script. It will be interesting to see if this makes it to the silver screen! . . . Dark Horse plans a Beast Wars-Transformers comic series late this year or early next to coincide with a new syndicated series. The 2 hour pilot ran last spring and supposedly 26 episodes are already in the can. . . Dan Parsons of RAZOR is doing a self published book called The Harpy . . . John Leguizamo will be the Clown in the live action SPAWN movie while Angella Basset and Teresa Randall are rumored as possible Wanda's for the film. . . another rumor is TOP COW may do the Ghost Rider comic for Marvel. +++++ From this week's CSNsider in, er, ah, well I never did get this week's Comic Shop News so let's see what is on their web page . . . They mention the Diamond buy out of Capital ending with their famous line "This should have no affect on comic readers and fans" . . . a nifty rumor is out that Jim Steranko will be doing a Shield limited series for Marvel. . . the Dr. Who movie did good enough for Fox to consider a possible series for mid season next year. . . VIRUS , the Dark Horse comic is being made into a movie by Universal Pictures. . . Motown Animation/Machineworks is out of the comics business for now. . . a new edition of the Marvel Tryout book will be out this fall. . . Gon and Supergirl are going into second printings. . . MAD TV is renewed for a full season next year. . . Batman and Predators meet again next year. ________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [4] NAME THIS COLUMN (and win a prize) -by Mike Imboden I guess I could waste a few paragraphs introducing myself but what would that really accomplish? You'd have a handful of fairly useless facts about a guy you'll probably never meet and will never be questioned about. "I'll take Mike Imboden for $500, Alex." is something you'll never hear, that I can guarantee. So why do I have a column here in the premiere comic related e-mag? I suppose it's one of the perks of having your name listed on the first page as being one of the co-founders of The ComicBook Net. (whoop, there we go, into that shadowy realm of useless facts.) So since my list of credentials is about as long as a Willie Lumpkin mini-series you are probably wondering what to expect from this bit of space, right? (my God, did I just use Willie Lumpkin as a reference?!?) Well, it'll be a little of this and a little of that. I may review a comic or two (although other people do a better job than I) but most likely I'll simply offer some type of commentary on current topic in and around the world of comics. First matter to address is the title of this column. Coming up with a good, catchy name isn't very easy. That's why I've decided to let YOU come up with a good, catchy name. "But," you ask, "what's in it for me?" - well, aside from having your name added to the top as "creator" of the name, I'll send you a box full of goodies. I'd call them "cheezy" but our esteemed editor has already pounced on that descriptive phrase. So we'll just leave it at "goodies" and move on. Send your names to David at the comicbknet@aol.com address and I'll see that he passes them on to me (didn't know you'd be included in this fun, didja Dave?), and I will decide which one wins. The only people not eligible are people I know. Chances are they've, at one point or another, gotten a box of "goodies" from me. Besides, I don't want it to look like the whole damn thing was rigged from the get-go. Second item. (ITEM! Remember that from the Bullpen Bulletin page in old Marvel Comics? ITEM! it would scream, making you think it was something important but it would always wind up being some announcement about who was marrying who or who was having babies with who around the Marvel offices. Which I guess *WAS* important to some folks - but it always made me feel left out. I mean, why couldn't *I* be the one marrying the intern from the advertising department or having the baby of some assistant editor?) Anyway, the second item is, uhm, nothing I guess. So, short but sweet is what this first installment is. In the weeks to come I'll try and tackle a whole host of topics, I already have a few ideas ranging from what makes a good comic store to mindless ramblings that will have you scratching your heads wondering what exactly was in that bowl of cereal I had that morning. In the meantime, you can contact me directly on the "net" at cambot@ix.netcom.com (and if you're really bored you can swing by my home page which hasn't been updated in about a month, at http://www.netcom.com/~cambot. If you prefer writing actual letters you can get hold of me at CBN, c/o Mike Imboden, PO BOX 1423, Frederick, MD 21702-0423. You can even send comics for review or simply as a "try it, you'll like it" pitch. Who knows, I might even send money for more issues if I like it. Until next time, I remain, M!ke Imboden ________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [5] SUSPENDED ANIMATION by Michael Vance There was a time in America when the color of morality was not gray and colorful heroes wore red, yellow and blue spandex and capes. Among these heroes were "The Black Terror", "Phantom Lady", "Mr. Scarlet", "The Avenger", "The Ghost Rider" and "The Heap". They met crime and violence with law and defensive violence. Their adventures were straightforward, uncomplicated and, more often than not, fun. These fictional elements, more often than not, are missing in today's gray comic books. You need miss them no more. These superheroes once called "Mystery Men" are back in a grand collection of reprinted stories from the '40s and '50s, GOLDEN AGE MYSTERY MEN. Undeniably, these heroes are too two-dimensional; without distinctive uniforms and powers, they are interchangeable. Subplots are impossible in brief seven and eight page exploits, and dialog is minimal. Stories are almost plot outlines. But their beliefs were widely shared by the readers who added their imagination between panels. These readers had practice "adding" with radio shows. The art here is both mediocre and brilliant. The best artists of this collection are Jerry Robinson, Mort Meskin and Dick Ayers. Their art differs from today's crop in simpler page designs, a closer wedding of art and story, and less useless detail. Buy this collection for nostalgia, because you're curious about early comics history or because you want to add color to a gray world. Highly recommended. GOLDEN AGE MYSTERY MEN #1/$6.95, 45pgs from AC Comics/various artists and writers/sold in comic shops or by mail. Want to critique the critic? Send $3 for Michael Vance's BLOODTIDE #1 to 1427 S. Delaware Ave., Tulsa, OK, 74104. (Mr. Vance is a professional writer having written for numerous magazines like CBG, Starlog and Comics Interview. His work has appeared in over 500 newspapers and he's had work published by Comico, Renegade, Innovation and Rip Off Press. SUSPENDED ANIMATION appears in 14 publications reaching 214,000 readers in the U.S., Ireland and Portugal.) ________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [6] Review: DR WONDER #3 by David LeBlanc Old Town Publishing - 40 pages B&W, color cover. $2.95 ($3.50 CAN) Story by David Allikas, art by Dick Ayers, cover color - Marie Severin True to their word Old Town had Dr. Wonder #3 in my mail box before it hit the stands this week. If you missed the first 2 issues fear not, they are still available at cover price direct from Old Town, if your local store has sold out. It is not hard to jump right into #3 for starters though as the new reader can follow what is going on rather easily. Old time readers will know that the Web of Evil is out to destroy Dr. Wonder and gain power and wealth for themselves through the creation of powerful beings using technology they stole from the good doctor. As he agonizes over his loss from last issue (that would be telling), Dr.Elliot Wunderbach, accompanies his new assistant Patricia Brooke, and Lionel Bennett to a Grand Jury hearing for two of the evil cartel he captured. We soon learn that a break out is planned using the latest member of the Web, Crucible, who can mix chemicals in his stomach and spray them out of his hands. There is a lot of exposition as we learn the motivations of various characters, more about the arch enemy Gil Bates, and some secrets about the mysterious Patricia Brooke as well. There is a nice mix of story and action and the art is top notch all the way. Even the epilogue has a lead about a future character we had a glimpse of before, Powerhouse. I am liking this comic more with each issue. The little bits of pseudo science thrown in here and there are amusing and add to the flavor I remember from the "good old days" when a awe struck kid like me really believed that such things as vibranium (or isobortium) could exist in the world. There is really not all that much you need to suspend your disbelief over, but it wouldn't be so authentic without some of it, if you catch my drift. Fun story, evil villains, brave heroes and heroines, a few tragic characters blended in make for lots of entertainment. Well worth the cover price considering what else is included beside the superb lead story! The text story is the first by a reader, Steven Shinkaruk. A great pick to start out this feature where anyone can write a story in the style of the sixties text stories - about ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances done in just 1500 words. Steven captured the style nicely with a tale of a man who suspects that his neighbors are being replaced by robots. The tension mounts at just the right pace as we reach the climax with a twist that is the hallmark of the 60's text story. Check this out and if you have any talent in that regard give it a try. Anyone can make a submission, and they will pay you if they use it! The disappointment this issue was the missing Tony Isabella, Irwin Hasen backup story. The upside was that the rest of the issue that was not the main story is jam packed with fun stuff (well there are some ads as well). The Silver 60's Section has Scott Saavedra's Monstrous Marvel chart reprinted from Comic Book Heaven, detailing monsters, their descriptions, and other pertinent details including the titles that reprints their story. There is a challenge with original art by Dick Ayers as the prize for anyone who can name the original appearances of the 7 monsters named. Also in the 60's section is Calamity at the Cocktail Hour by Mr. Silver Age Craig Shutt. It includes a trivia quiz concerning some famous Marvel love birds and full details on the answers. There is an interesting Convention report and 4 pages of letters and news about Old Town Publishing, and of course, a splash about the next issue (and I must say a peculiar change in CAD-MAN!) promising something interesting with the title, "The Once & Future Hero!". I hope you'll join me there after you've grabbed this issue off the rack first. I promise you, it is worth it for any fan of super heroes the way they used to be. ________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [7] New Comics Shipping 8/14/96 by Bobb Waller Well the countdown begins, No not Onslaught! I will be taking my BBS (FIAWOL) down after 10 years & 3 months on August 31, 1996. What does this mean to the lists I post every week. Unless something changes, August 28th will be the last list I post. But we still have three weeks to go! Onto the list of what is scheduled to ship August 14th, 1996: ======================================================================== Acclaim Comics: All New Armed & Dangerous #3 Killer Instinct Special-Brothers Archie Comics: Archie & Friends #20 Betty & Veronica #105 Betty & Veronica Digest #84 Flintstones #15 Sonic The Hedgehog #40 Big Entertainment: Primortals #4 Phage Shadow of Death #5 Chaos! Comics: Purgatori The vampires Myth #1 Comic Shop News Inc.: CSN #478 Crusade Comics: Lethargic Lad #2 Dark Horse Comics: Dark Horse Presents #112 Dominion Conflict 1-No More Noise #6 Ghost #17 Gunsmith Cats The Return of Grey #1 Insider #9 Tongue Lash #1 DC Comics: adventures of Superman #539 Animaniacs #18 Azrael #22 Batman #535 Batman GCPD #3 Bloody Mary #1 DC Vs. Marvel TP Detention Comics #1 Essential Vertigo: Sandman #3 Free Final Night Preview Green Arrow #113 House of Secrets #1 Impulse #18 JLA Annual #10 Kingdom Come #4 Legionnaires #41 Static #40 Supergirl #2 Vertigo Verite Girl #3 Drawn & Quarterly: Optic Nerve #3 Fantagraphics Books: Acme Novelty Library #7 Gemstone Publishing-R. Cochran: Frontline Combat Annual Vol.1 Two-Fisted Tales #17 Vault Of Horror #17 Weird Fantasy 17 High Impact Studios: Double Impact Vol. 2 #1 Image Comics: Backlash #21 (Replacement Copy) Bone #10 Image Printing Cyberforce #26 Deathblow #29 Gen 13 #12 Lady Supreme #2 Prophet Avengelyne #1 Shattered Image #1 TMNT #2 Wetworks #19 Youngblood #10 Marvel Comics: Adventures of The X-Men #7 Amazing Spider-Man #416 Cable/X-Force '96 Carnage:It's a Wonderful Life Fantastic Four: The Legend Generation X #20 Ghost Rider #78 Professor X & The X-Men #12 Kingdom Come Trading Cards Incredible Hulk: Hercules Unleashed Fleer Football Trading Cards Spider-Man:Redemption #2 Thor:Worldengine TP Untold Tales of SPider-Man #14 X-Factor #127 X-Men/Clandestine #1 Maximum Press Comics: Battlestar Galactica Journeys End #1 Slave Labor Graphics: Rouge Satellite #1 Slacker Comics #9 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- see ya in seven, on the spinners! ... Never wear anything in public that panics your cat. Origin: FIAWOL/MSConnections * PP288MT II V.34 * 214-790-6472 * (23:203/4) ________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [A] E-Mag Info: Submissions, Subscriptions, Back Issues, Copyrights The Comic Book Net E-Mag is published by the many participants of The Comic Book Network. This is a compilation of articles and columns which were originally posted in the network's conferences or written specifically for this electronic magazine. Some articles are independent of any connection with CBN and are used with permission. All text contained within is copyrighted to the originating author(s). Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Editor, the Network Administration Team or the members and users of The Comic Book Network. Except where elsewhere noted, The Comic Book Network Electronic Magazine is Copyright 1996 by the Comic Book Network. You may freely distribute or duplicate this file intact without alteration for noncommercial purposes only. Please do not distribute except as the complete file as originally transmitted by The Comic Book Network. THE CBN WEB PAGE http://members.aol.com/ComicBkNet ---------------- If you have access to the World Wide Web, please stop by and visit our web page! On our web page, you can find the latest issue of our E-Mag, as well as an annotated index and all back issues. You'll also find important information on how to join the conversation in the Comic Book Net, and other neat features like newly released comic book graphics, links to lists of Comic Book Company addresses, Comic Professionals Email addresses, and other Comic Book related Web pages! LOCATING THE ISSUES ------------------- The latest issue is always available from all the systems linked into The Comic Book Network. You can also find the back issues at America Online, by going to Keyword: Science Fiction, scrolling to the menu item _Comic Book Forum_ and then going to the _Comics Library_ from there. Most issues should also be available on Compuserve, Genie, Channel1 BBS and Software Creations BBS as well as other non CBN affiliated Bulletin Board Systems. All back issues should be available at the above sites, as well as our World Wide Web page. SUBMISSIONS ----------- To submit an article, review, column, etc to our e-mag, simply post it in any Comic Book Net conference and leave me a message in the CBN: E-Mag conference giving me permission to use the article. If you cannot access the Comic Book Net, submit your articles for consideration to the editor at: ComicBkNet@aol.com Reviews of mainstream books are least likely to get included when submitted from sources outside of CBN, but are not excluded off hand. We give more consideration to reviews of indies and self published material as we feel that material deserves more exposure to the general public. If You write intelligent, coherent, and timely reviews of anything it will almost always be printed so give us a shot. Commentary on the state of the industry, and personal observations and reflections related to comics are *most* likely to be included in our publication. We also accept product for review purposes. Advanced copies of comic books will not be returned but anything sent to us will be reviewed in the ComicBook Net Emag. Send all material to: David L. LeBlanc 84 Heather Circle Jefferson, MA 01522-1419 SUBSCRIPTIONS ------------- If you wish to receive each issue automatically through your Email account, please address a message to ComicBkNet@aol.com to be placed on the subscription list. ________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [B] How to join the COMIC BOOK NETWORK (CBN) You too can enjoy the intelligent conversations and informative threads that occur in the conferences of the Comic Book Net every day! However, many people who read this e-mag aren't familiar with the Local BBS echo-mail system.... Bulletin Board Systems are scattered everywhere across the continent and the world, many of them are free! Chances are, if you have a modem you have the accompanying communications software. Using the Terminal Emulation software that came with your modem, you can dial up one of the many systems linked into CBN (see the listings down a few paragraphs). Most of the boards offer all the message echoes in the Comic Book Network... There are message bases devoted to all the bigger comics publishers, as well as big Small Press and Independent message bases, not to mention sections for general conversation, collecting, gaming and other forms of entertainment. If you are worried about long distance charges, worry no longer! Most if not all the BBS's offer a mail service from which you can download a .QWK packet of recent e-mail to read offline with a program called an offline mail reader. You can read & write messages at your leisure, and then upload your own messages & replies the next time you call your local BBS. There are many .QWK packet readers out there, for every type of computer system. They all give you a better explanation in their documentation than I can. These programs are available all over the Internet and are free to download from most BBS's. I recommend SLMR or OLX-TD for DOS to get started. These "mail runs" (dialing up, downloading the mail packet and uploading replies) generally take less than 5 minutes to accomplish, and at the average after-5pm/weekends/holidays long distance phone rates, that is LESS THAN $.75! See? Even less expensive than many of the commercial information services available! :) So what else can you find on free BBS systems? There are plenty of files for specific types of computers. Some systems also offer other types of message networks ranging from general topics to specific themes like sci-fi, role playing, games, music, etc. And, let's not forget online games. Join into the many different multiplayer games, each system sports different challenges. There's nothing like becoming the most powerful being in a online adventure! And when you _do_ log on, leave a message in The Bullpen conference to ALL, and introduce yourself to us! You're guaranteed to get plenty of replies and all the help you need to join in the fun! ________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [C] BBSes Linked into CBN Here's the most up-to-date node listing for the COMIC BOOK NETWORK F=FIDO Q=QWK B=Both *=Major HUB -- ARKANSAS ------------------------------------------------------------ F* Karate & Comics & ... Russelville AR 501-968-3910 Robert Wood Conway PC Users Conway AR 501-329-7227 Tim Stone -- CALIFORNIA ---------------------------------------------------------- Q Freedom Flight Victorville CA 619-955-6445 Ronald Siodla -- FLORIDA ------------------------------------------------------------- F Never Never Land Melbourne FL 407-253-8754 Wayne Bell F Steel Dog Cafe Destin FL 904-654-1631 Keith Schultz Ghost's Realm Crestview FL 904-689-6664 Kie Dorton Q Oak Street BBS Ft.Wayne Beach FL 904-244-7434 Michael Fischer -- ILLINOIS ------------------------------------------------------------ -- INDIANA ------------------------------------------------------------- F The CyberSpace BBS Indianapolis IN 317-856-9020 Charlie Smith -- KENTUCKY ------------------------------------------------------------ Lex Corp Georgetown KY 502-867-0992 -- MARYLAND ------------------------------------------------------------ F The Vampyre Bar! Frederick MD 301-698-5194 Darryl Pierce F DataStorm Kettering MD 301-390-5243 Tarek Gordan F Bifrost Mount Rainier MD 301-779-9381 Kevin Carlin F Womens World East BBS Silver Spring MD 301-431-0647 Wendy Dumser F Sherata's Realm Mechanicsville MD 301-884-9732 Linda Peek -- MASSACHUSETTS ------------------------------------------------------- F Archives BBS Acushnet MA 508-995-0085 John Viera F Muskrat & Heatwave New Bedford MA 508-984-5321 Dennis Racine B* Keystone BBS Shrewsbury MA 508-753-3767 John Harris F HellFire BBS S. Dartmouth MA 508-979-8930 Brock Cordeiro B Call Again Soon Worcester MA 508-791-1281 Joe Johnson -- MICHIGAN ------------------------------------------------------------ F Intl. Comic Network Dearborn Hgts MI 313-565-8464 Anthony Palacio -- MISSOURI ------------------------------------------------------------ F The Oan Citadel Grandview MO 816-767-1488 Brian J. Stewart -- NEW HAMPSHIRE ------------------------------------------------------- F Venom's World Rollinsford NH 603-743-4188 Ira Locke -- NEW JERSEY ---------------------------------------------------------- Phoenix Modernz Systems Seaside Hts. NJ 908-830-8265 Tal Meta -- NEW YORK ------------------------------------------------------------ B Asgard TW BBS West Islip NY 516-422-4225 Tom Pemberton Interzone BBS Long Is. City NY 718-786-5557 Jim Garvin F Starbase : Red Dwarf Saugerties NY 914-247-9601 John Dragun -- NORTH CAROLINA ------------------------------------------------------ F Electronic Hangover Durham NC 919-286-4542 Richard Lee F Psychotronic Durham NC 919-286-7738 Richard Lee F* TI-Raliegh Maximus Raliegh NC 919-833-3412 Walter Tietjen F Federal Post Spring Lake NC 910-436-2055 Frank Koza -- OKLAHOMA ------------------------------------------------------------ F Beggar's Forum Oklahoma City OK 405-787-2540 Lonnie Johnson Compumate Tulsa OK 918-628-0887 Danny Pelletier F Snart's Dreamland Collinsville OK 918-371-0980 Jeff Bennett F The Dreaming World Broken Arrow OK 918-451-3056 Greg Adkins -- PENNSYLVANIA -------------------------------------------------------- F Comic Book Board Philadelphia PA 215-365-5225 William Horton -- TENNESSEE ----------------------------------------------------------- F The Factory BBS Union City TN 901-885-9647 -- TEXAS --------------------------------------------------------------- B* FIAWOL/MSConnections Irving TX 214-790-6472 Bobb Waller F Star Streams Waxahachie TX 214-938-7115 Michael Rudolf F Orion BBS Odessa TX 915-530-2712 Dennis Brown -- VIRGINIA ------------------------------------------------------------ B Crystal Aerie Arlington VA 703-415-0134 Spencer Greenwald -- WASHINGTON ---------------------------------------------------------- F Longview On-Line! Longview WA 360-577-7358 Jeanne Lejon -- ONTARIO, CANADA ----------------------------------------------------- F Dark Knight BBS London ONT 519-850-9929 Michael Cross F MACH 1 BBS London ONT 519-457-6771 Tomasz Heiber Stargate:Above & Beyond London ONT 519-472-4938 Paul Nicholas -- MEXICO -------------------------------------------------------------- B* The Gate BBS Mexico City 52-5-264-2994 Emilio Karam - From USA, dial international-access 011 then 52-5-264-2994# ________________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ - End of another Issue .. see ya in the funny papers!! All you need do is utter the word . . . KIMOTA!