Big John Buscema: A Life in Sketches

One of the great new releases tomorrow is new book called "BUSCEMA: A Life in Sketches" by Emilio Soltero, a compilation of artist John Buscema's preliminary sketches and page/panel layouts. It's very cool look into the mind and talent of one of this industry's classically styled pencillers. Particularly when looking at Soltero's book and these sketches, one sees that Big John was influenced by Alex Raymond, John Allen St. John, Hal Foster and other earlier 20th century illustrators. John Buscema is probably best known for his long run on Marvel's CONAN the BARBARIAN title of the early '70s, taking over for Barry Smith (now known more as Barry Windsor-Smith) after Smith's seminal early run on the Robert E. Howard character. Big John was a more than an able successor to Smith. He refined and defined the look of Conan comics starting in the early '70s.

My first encounter with John Buscema's art was in 1967 when he pencilled Marvel's AVENGERS. From that time on, he was always one of my favorites, so I was very happy years ago to acquire some of his original pages, mostly from another of my favorite comic artists, Jim Mooney, who inked Big John's work on Marvel's FANTASTIC FOUR for an issue or two. I own several pages from FF #117, from 1971--- excellent pages featuring the Human Torch, the Thing and Crystal, along with Diablo and Lockjaw. When I bought the pages from Jim Mooney, I didn't expect to find some bonus sketches by Buscema on the backs of each page. Some of his most interesting work was done on the back of his original art pages. Jim Mooney wrote me a blue-pencil note on the back of one of the FF pages "These sketches are the greatest. I really hate to part with them." Who knew John Buscema also fooled around doing Harvey Comics-styled characters?


Buscema really made no bones about the fact that he didn't much care for drawing super-hero stories, though he was among the best in the field for most of his career. John Buscema was not only a master of comic art, these sketches and the ones in Soltero's new book prove that he was an avid practitioner of his craft.

Today's comic art students could sure take a lesson from John Buscema and the artists of John's generation. The best constantly work to hone their skills and improve the facility of their art. The two barbarian pages here, both inked by Buscema's long-time Conan collaborator Ernie Chan, are from the backs of pages from CONAN #149 & 150. All the others are from the backs of pages from FF #117. Enjoy! Peace 'n' Buscema-beautiful art! FlyCoJoe

New & Cool Arriving Wednesday August 13, 2008

A quick preview of some of the new releases arriving in FLYING COLORS on Wednesday August 11---


CREEPY ARCHIVES Volume 1. Featuring work by such incredible and talented comic masters as Joe Orlando, Al Williamson, Alex Toth, and Frank Frazetta!

CREEPY magazine, along with EERIE and VAMPIRELLA from Warren Publishing were the heir to EC Comics' throne.

Dark Horse Comics is publishing these great comics in hardocver with excellent art reproduction and attention to detail that these quality comics warrant.

Also on tap: ATOMIC ROBO: Dogs of War #1. Jump on now for another thrill ride brought to you by the fine folks at Red 5 Comics.

Don't miss these other highlights among this week's New Releases---

ABSOLUTE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN THE BLACK DOSSIER Hard Cover
ACTION COMICS #868
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #567
ANGEL AFTER THE FALL #11
ASTONISHING X-MEN #26
BOYS OF STEEL THE CREATORS OF SUPERMAN Young Readers HardCover
BROKEN TRINITY DARKNESS One-Shot
FRANK FRAZETTAS DRACULA MEETS THE WOLF-MAN
GALAXY QUEST GLOBAL WARNING #1 (Based on the hilarious Tim Allen movie)
GOLLY #1
HALO UPRISING #3
HARLEY QUINN 1/6 SCALE COLLECTOR FIGURE
JOHN BUSCEMA LIFE IN SKETCHES Softcover
JOKER LAST LAUGH BY BAKER BLK T-Shirt M, L, XL, XXL
MERCY SPARX #0
MODERN MASTERS SC VOL 17 LEE WEEKS
NIGHTMARES & FAIRY TALES TP VOL 04
PUNISHER KILLS MARVEL UNIVERSE (SKRULL cover!)
REST #0 (from Milo Ventimiglia of HEROES fame)
SECRET INVASION #5
SECRET INVASION INHUMANS #1
SECRET INVASION THOR #1
SECRET INVASION X-MEN #1
TRINITY #11
TRINITY #9
WALKING DEAD #51 (MR)

And that ain't even half of it!
Be here for the buzz of New & Cool most every Wednesday at FLYING COLORS!

Peace!

FlyCoJoe

Post-San Diego Post

Time has really slipped away from me since returning from Comic-Con International: San Diego, the lovable behemoth of comic book conventions.

I've been asked for my thoughts about the con dozens of times since I returned to Flying Colors. Truth is, I didn't see much of the craziness of the convention this year.

I was so jammed with meetings with publishers and other retailers, Libby and I wound up having only about three measly hours to see the 500,000 square feet of exhibit hall space. No way we could we even make a dent in all the pop culture eye candy that awaits at every turn in the convention center.

When we walked by the DC Comics set-up, though, I took the photo you see here of some cos-players doing their renditions of mostly recognizable characters. Although, as I told NPR's "Marketplace" host Kai Ryssdal, costumers only make up a very small percentage of con-goers, they are a very visible minority. I think it's great these folks have an outlet for their costuming skills, if not their acting abilities.

Friday at the San Diego Con was one long day! It started with a meeting at 7:45AM, which melted into retailer programming that lasted until 6PM, which was followed by the Eisner Awards ceremony at 7PM and we didn't get out of there until 1:30AM (there was short after-party). At the Eisners, I gave a tribute speech for my fallen friend, Rory Root of Berkeley's Comic Relief .

Make no mistake about it, the job done by the San Diego Comic-Con organizers is nothing short of herculean. Take 125,000 fans, add something along the number of 20,000 "professional guests", another 3000 media reps, maybe 2000 total "exhibitors" and you've got a recipe for one huge log-jam. That said, I had no troubles getting to where i wanted, other than the pleasant diversions created along the way by running into friends and colleagues I see only once or twice a year.

As for all the talk about Comic-Con moving to another city, don't believe it. San Diego is the only city in the U.S. that could host this convention as well as it does.
Sure, there's the possibility of having more events away from the main convention center, like last year's viewing of the "300" movie at the Padres' Petco Park. And there are lots of meeting spaces in nearby hotels that could work for some programming. But to think of moving this great event to ---where? Vegas? In late July? Anaheim? During Disneyland's busiest time of the year? Los Angeles? To that less than adequate convention center with stifling traffic all around?

No, no, no, no, no.

It's San Diego for the long term. And that's really how it should be. Temperate weather, nice people, a Comic-Con staff that is mostly from San Diego, a very good facility (even if it needs even more expansion!), proximity to Hollywood.

Look, the bottom line is that there have been comic-cons grow into pop culture media cons all over the country, but none have ever come close to all that San Diego delivers.

Congratulations to the Comic-Con staff on another stellar year!

Peace!

FlyCoJoe

Read 'em & Reap!

Here's a look at this week's Picks for good reading from the Retailing Brigade at Flying Colors!

This is also Jazmine's last week on staff. She'll soon be leaving for college and new adventures in Seattle. Her final shift here is from 3pm-7pm on Friday August 8 (that's 8-8-08 for you numerologists).

So thank for the memories, Jaz! Here's to many wonderful things happening in your life in the coming weeks and years!

Peace!

FlyCoJoe

Picks & Grins

Another week, another bunch of great suggestions for cool summer reading.

I'm in full prep mode for the monster of all comic conventions--- Comic-Con International: San Diego is next week--- and I'll be there scouting our more New & Cool stuff for FLYING COLORS' Faithful, as well as doing a bunch of behind-the-scenes business.

In my role as president of the retailer trade organization ComicsPRO, my Friday at Comic-Con will be spent here. I know a number of Bay Area comic and pop culture fans head to San Diego for this huge event---so if you see me there, make sure to stop and say hello!
As for the grins, here are FlyCo staffers Jazmine and Melissa enjoying another tough day on the job!

Peace 'n' Smiles!

FlyCoJoe

Limited Sale Items!

Just a couple of quick notes as we head into Wednesday's NEW RELEASES' DAY---
From the pix here, I wantt o alert you to the fact that FLYING COLORS has some very special prices on select in-stock items right now, including Series 17 McFarlane National Hockey League action figures.

The deal here is that I blew it when I ordered these. Plain and simple. So my goof is your gain. Instead of the regular price of $13-$15 each, these hockey figures are $6.99 each. And the more you buy, the cheaper they get---buy foru or more and get them for only $2.99 each! Way below cost!

We've also marked down, for a limited time and only on these in-stock items, a selection of statues and busts, including the ones you see here--- with sale prics that are well below original wholesale cost. Grab these deals while you can!
Finally for today, a tip of the FlyCo fedora to Mike Fantastic for the work he does in preparing our Weekly Staff Picks board. He carefully reproduces the logo lettering for each of the staff picks---and it's this Weekly Staff Picks board that becomes a starter for lots of comic talk here in the store.

Be here for the buzz of New & Cool tomorrow on NEW RELEASES DAY!

Peace!

FlyCoJoe

Flying Colors Retailing Brigade Staff Picks of the Week!

Every week at FLYING COLORS, we post the Staff Picks of the Week. What you see here is this week's edition, hand-lettered on white-erase board every week by Mike Fantastic.
Hope you like this feature and we'd appreciate your comments!

Peace!

FlyCoJoe

New Comics on THURSDAY July 10

Just a quick reminder that our NEW RELEASES' Day this week will be on Thursday July 10, a one-day delay due to last Friday's 4th of July holiday.

We are open 11AM-7PM through Saturday this week, but with new comics & other cool stuff hitting the racks, we will stay open an extra hour until 8PM on Thursday.

Lots of good stuff is being released this week, including the Skrull-laden SECRET INVASION #4.

Peace 'n' Comics!

FlyCoJoe

Open on July 4th!

FLYING COLORS Comics & Other Cool Stuff will be open on Friday July 4, from Noon-5PM.

FlyCo Retailing Brigade stalwarts Andy and Marty will be here to satisfy your four-color hunger and to generally kibitz with you about all the cool stuff in today's comics. Be here!

Peace 'n' God Bless America!

FlyCoJoe

COOL STUFF Contest Winners!

Pictured here a some of the recent winners in the ongoing FLYING COLORS "Cool Stuff" Contest. Congratulations!

And if you'd like to enter, simply fill out an entry form next time you visit FLYING COLORS Comics & Other Cool Stuff!

Peace!

FlyCoJoe