Dear Fanboy Comics Readers:

Over the past several months, the FBC Staff and I have had the immense pleasure to bring you the coolest comic book news from Sea Lion Books, a comic book publishing company that specializes in the adaptation of international, New York Times, and USA bestselling novels into graphic novels.  Sea Lion Books has an extraordinary catalog of authors and titles, including Richelle Mead’s Storm Born series (see our reviews of Issues #1 and #2), Aron Warner's Pariah series (see our reviews of Issue #1 and Issue #2), and Becca Fitzpatrick's Hush, Hush graphic novel (stay tuned for my interview - coming soon!).

In what may be its most exciting news to date, Sea Lion Books has acquired the graphic novel rights to Anne Rice's critically acclaimed novel, Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana.  As fans of Rice's internationally bestselling vampire novels, we are excited to see all that is to come from the new graphic novel adaptation, due in stores in April of 2012.

Dear Fanboy Comics Readers:

It was only a few weeks ago that I had the amazing opportunity to interview Michael Anthony Steele and Scott McFadden, co-creators of the visionary new independent comic book app, Clown Commandos.  The innovative comic book app had a successful launch, and now, the creators want to get CC fans even more involved!

Clown Commandos is giving fans the chance to win an opportunity to add their own sound effects to the comic book app!  Check out the press release below for me details on how to enter for your chance to win!

August 29

The Staff of Fanboy Comics warned you that this day would come.  In fact, we traveled through time on August 4th to tell you about the activation of Skynet.  And now, prepare to welcome our new computer overlords; it is Judgment Day.

Judgment Day, also known as J-Day, refers to the day in the Terminator film that the artificial intelligence Skynet became self aware and started a nuclear strike on America, Russia, and other regions, killing three billion people.  Due to the effects of time travel, as well as several film, TV, and novel adaptations of the Terminator story, the month, day, and year of Judgment Day has varied over the years.

Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) first learned about Judgment Day in 1984 from Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn), a soldier sent from the future to protect her from an assassination by a Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger).

On this special day, we accept that our world will be taken over by a computer-based race of machines.  But, that is no reason to be down in the dumps.  Until the machines arrive, celebrate today's other important occasion: Fanboy Comics Contributor J.C. Ciesielski's birthday!

Happy Birthday, J.C., from all of us at Fanboy Comics!

Sincerely,
Barbra Dillon
Managing Editor, Co-Founder, & Director of Jedi Recruitment

August 28

The Staff of Fanboy Comics would like to wish you and yours a very happy Read Comics in Public* Day!  (*If you live on the East Coast, it is permissible to read comics inside today.)

This special day is as simple as it sounds... go and read comics in public!  Read Comics in Public Day was created by Brian Heater and Sarah Morean of The Daily Cross Hatch in 2010 in an attempt to encourage fans to show their geek pride for all to see.  Over the years, comics and graphic novels have grown in popularity and social acceptance, but we as geeks should always to do our part to encourage that growth.

Nervous to read comics in public by yourself?  Not to worry!  There are groups meeting all over the world to sit quietly and read together.  To find out if there is a group meeting near you, check out The Daily Cross Hatch and ReadComicsInPublic.com.

The FBC Crew will be reading comics in public today at North Hollywood Park.  We hope that you will join us in celebrating this special day!

Sincerely,
Barbra Dillon
Managing Editor, Co-Founder, & Director of Jedi Recruitment

Dear Fanboy Comics Readers:

The Staff of Fanboy Comics was sad to hear that Wizard World's Los Angeles Comic-Con, originally scheduled for September 24-25 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, was postponed and/or cancelled just a few weeks prior to its launch.

But, have no fear, faithful readers!  Our friends at Comikaze Expo have graciously offered to redeem all cancelled Wizard World tickets for Comikaze Expo tickets!  Read more about the ticket replacement process, below, in Comikaze's press release.

Dear Fanboy Comics Readers:

On behalf of the staff at Fanboy Comics, I am very happy to announce that The 36, a five-part graphic novel created by Kristopher White, reached its fundraising goal on Kickstarter and is currently going into production!  Earlier this summer, I interviewed White regarding the project, and I can assure you that this is a graphic novel series that is not to be missed!

Congratulations to Kristopher White (Creator and Writer), George Zapata (Pencils and Ink), and Micki Zurcher (Color) on reaching their goal, and I wish them the best as they continue with The 36!

August 12, 2011

The Staff of Fanboy Comics would like to wish you and yours a very happy IBM PC Day!  Whether you are a Mac or a PC, it is only right to pay your respects on the day that the first available IBM Personal Computer was announced to the world.

On this day in 1981, a very excited set of computer strategists announced the IBM Personal Computer to a press conference at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City.  With a price tag of $1,565, the new IBM PC could process information faster than any earlier PCs and could connect to the home TV set, play games, and process text.  Thankfully, the cost of a personal computer has decreased a bit over the years!

UPDATE: Photos posted from The Hero Girls' Ultimate Summer Costume Party!

The Fanboy Comics Crew had an awesome time at The Hero Girls' Costume Party last night!  The fans in attendance had top-notch geeky costumes, and our hosts provided a fun evening of dancing and merriment!

Be sure to check out all of the great costumes from the party on the Fanboy Comics Facebook page!

Thanks again to The Hero Girls for an amazing night!

Dear Fanboy Comics Readers:

With San Diego Comic-Con behind us and Halloween still months away, many of you may be wondering how to quell your cosplay urge.  Worry no more!

The Hero Girls costume club is hosting The Ultimate Summer Costume Party on Saturday, August 13, at the Marriott Hotel in Burbank, CA.  The party will run from 8:00 p.m. until 1:30 a.m.

This one-night-only event is for fanboys and fangirls who like to COSTUME UP and PARTY DOWN! There will be a DJ, dancing, a cash bar (bring cash, buy drinks!), FREE COMICS for everyone, and hundreds of costumed revelers.

Admission is only $9.00, and tickets will be available at the door.  Please visit their website, www.TheHeroGirls.com, for more details.

The Fanboy Comics crew will be in attendance, and Katniss may be making a return appearance!  Don't miss this awesome opportunity to dress up as your favorite character from comics, movies, TV, anime, books, etc.

I hope to see you there!

Yours geekly,
Barbra J. Dillon
Managing Editor, Co-Founder, & Director of Jedi Recruitment

The following is an interview with Kristopher White, creator and writer of the upcoming graphic novel, The 36.  The story is based on the Kabbalistic belief that there are 36 people in the world upon whom it is saved by their simple existence.  In times of need, these people emerge from anonymity and save us, then fade back into their lives.

Below, White talks to Fanboy Comics Managing Editor Barbra Dillon about the religious basis for The 36, his personal influences from the comic book genre, and how Kickstarter.com can launch the dreams of independent creators.

This interview was conducted on Sunday, July 31st, 2011.

The following is an interview with Michael Anthony Steele and Scott McFadden, co-creators of the visionary new independent comic book app, Clown Commandos.  The story follows a brigade of clowns from an alternate universe where clowns evolved into an elite fighting force that was anything but a joke.  Having made their way into the present day, this humorous, yet deadly, troupe does its best to fight crime while trying to find their way home.  Not only is the premise of the comic exciting, but so is the fact that it was built specifically for iDevices (the iPhone, iPad, and iPodTouch).

Below, Steele and McFadden talk to Fanboy Comics Managing Editor Barbra Dillon about the concept behind Clown Commandos, its broad audience appeal, and what fans can expect from the inventive digital app.

This interview was conducted on Friday, July 22nd, 2011.