
                   " C O M I C   B O O K   E - M A G "
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                   Issue 3 - Volume 1 - April 23, 1995

     "Brought to you from the fine folks at the COMIC BOOK Network!"

                   Editors: Ed Dukeshire & Mike Imboden
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                    T A B L E   O F   C O N T E N T S
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       [-1-] The Bullpen ........................ Ed Dukeshire
       [-2-] The 25th Hour ...................... Mike Imboden
       [-3-] Reviews
              CREED #2 .......................... William Hughes
              X-O MANOWAR #46 ................... William Hughes
       [-4-] CSNsider ........................... David Leblanc
       [-5-] Feedback ........................... Our Address
       [-6-] BBSes Linked into CBN .............. CBN Staff

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/--[-1-]--/  THE BULLPEN  /----------------------------------------------/

 The Bullpen
 by Ed Dukeshire


   Well, I was going to skip this week's issue but Mike's piece just
 came in and I felt I had to run it.  'nuff said.

   -- ed

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/--[-2-]--/  THE 25TH HOUR  /--------------------------------------------/

 The 25th Hour
 by Mike Imboden
 
  I was all set to whine and complain about my BBS going belly-up
when something a little more important happened. It didn't happen
to me personally, nor did it affect anyone that I know. In fact,
it happened a handful of hundreds of miles away.

  By now most everyone is aware of what happened in Oklahoma City
on Wednesday, April 19th - a bomb literally ripped apart a building
killing, at last glance, at least 36 people with "dozens and dozens"
more expected to be removed from the rubble also dead. A large
number of those killed were children, from babies to toddlers and
pre-schoolers. Out of 40 kids in a daycare center located in the
building 20 of them are unaccounted for. Of the 20 located, over
half are dead. While the FBI has suspects, (again, as I write this),
they are not positive WHO is to blame.

  What's this have to do with comics? 

  It's no big secret that today's heroes are "grimmer and grittier"
than they were a few years ago and are certainly more so that they
were ten or 15 years ago, (and beyond).

  Do I blame THIS as a factor in the bombing? Of course not. But it
does make one more readily aware of the evil that is out there. It
also makes one's beliefs in the good guys come under scrutiny. Aside
from those misanthropic individuals out there, our society is one
that is deep rooted in hereos. From the "Tall Tales" of Pecos Bill
and Davey Crockett to real life "heroes" such as Babe Ruth, Rocky
Marciano and Michael Jordan. Everyone has a hero, some more low key
than others but no less a hero. Maybe it's a father or some other
relative, maybe it's a policeman or fireman. Maybe it's even a super-
hero from a comic book. 

  Obviously it's the latter I want to focus on here. As a kid and 
up until not to long ago my hero was always Spider-Man. But in the
last year or so he's become less of the HERO and more of just a 
"hero" - it being used merely as a label, much like calling Jack
Kirby an "artist". It's just the most basic and base label that could
be used. We all know the "King" was more than just an artist and to
call him "just an artist" does him injustice. As for Spidey, well,
calling him a "hero" isn't exactly right. As a base label it's fine,
that's what you might file him under if you were building a database
or something. But as a true HERO, well, the Web Slinger falls short.
How many heroes would make a deal with a known mass murderer? How many
would let not just one but TWO mass murderers walk away when he or she
was fully capable at one point or another to take them in to face the
authorities, (at least)? Well, thanks to our wall crawling "hero" we
have Venom and Frank Castle roaming around. 

  Mr. Parker is in pretty good company, though. When Superman picked
up a gun, (of course it was HUGE), in REIGN OF THE SUPERMEN he lost
a couple notches in my book. Yeah, ok, he was weak and powerless but
shouldn't our Superman, our HERO, try to find another way to T.C.B.?
Batman lets Azrael walk away and then eventually bank rolls the poor 
slob so he can "find himself". Hal Jordan flips out and tries to wipe
out the entire universe. A handful of Avengers, after getting a taste
of what it's like to kill, break away from Captain America's strict
code of ethics and form a no-nonsense team. The list goes on and on
with once proud heroes sinking down to the level of those they battle
on a daily basis. I can almost buy the line of thought that says that
they are only evolving and adjusting to today's criminal element which
is tougher, meaner and more psyhchotic than yesterday's, but not 
quite. These are HEROES darn it, they shouldn't have to sink down to
a lower level.

  In the wake of Wednesday's cowardly terrorist attack on innocent 
people, (I'm sure they knew that daycare center was in the building),
I find myself looking once again for a hero, a true HERO, to believe
in. It's times like these that we ALL need to look up to our heroes and
realize that there IS good out there. The firemen and rescue personnel
working through the night in Oklahoma City are heroes. That cop with
a jelly-filled glazed donut is a hero even if he doesn't look the part.
Heroes come in all shapes and sizes - you might even be someone's hero.
What I'm trying to say is that, even if our childhood heroes no longer
fit the shoes of a hero in our eyes we're never too old to have them.
The trick is to find them.


-M!ke !mboden

 
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/--[-3-]--/  REVIEWS  /--------------------------------------------------/

    Title: CREED #2
Review by: William Hughes

I wasn't as impressed with this second issue as I was with the first.
The story seemed a bit muddled and confusing, and the artwork in places
as well. I suspect the announcement that CREED has been snapped up by
LIGHTNING COMICS may have something to do with it. Yep, after just one
issue, high school senior Trent Kaniuga has garnered some attention from
a bigger company. The title will be getting a fresh start with a new
number one from that company, IN FULL COLOR!! That is going to be a nice
touch. Even though I expected better after such a great debut in number
one, this issue didn't sour me on the book enough that I won't pick up
the new series in September.

The following is the press release on the publisher change, found in the
back of the second issue:

--

                        SNAPPED UP BY LIGHTNING

"Lightning Comics is pleased to announce it has been granted future
publication rights for CREED," says a Lightning statement. Lightning
will "retell" the CREED #1-2 mini-series from Hall of Heroes in its own
CREED #1. Lightning's 48-page CREED #1 will be exactly the same as Hall
of Heroes CREED #1-2, with a various tweakes and changes.

In the Lightning version, the books will be prfoessionally re-lettered
(Hall of Heroes lettering leaves a bit to be desired), there'll be
all-new covers, an artisit's sketch book, perhaps some pages replaced,
higher paper quality, and much of the artwork tightened up. Trent feels
he was a little rushed the first time around and he is looking forward
to imporcing upon his already impressive work.

The ongoing series launches in September under the sage title, TRENT
KANIUGA'S CREED.


--


For those of you who missed my Random Thoughts on the first issue, I
really enjoyed it. The storyline reminded me a bit of a more mature
CALVIN AND HOBBES, with a touch of LORD OF THE RINGS thrown in. The
artwork is very nice, and I don't think there's another book like it on
the market today. I encourage everyone to check out the "new" first
issue from Lightning Comics in September.

Bill Hughes!!
Email Address: william.hughes@p3.f744.n109.z1.fidonet.org.

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    Title: X-O MANOWAR #46
Review by: William Hughes

Well, I've seen the Bart Sears issues, and I was seriously impressed.
The artwork was great, and the story looks really promising. But the
final test is in this very issue.

Since Valiant is determined to put this book out bi-weekly, something
had to be done to help out Sears. The solution is to have him alternate
with another artist. My main fear about this is that it would ruin the
"feel" of the story arcs, jumping from one artistic expression to
another, let alone overall style. We all hate it when a guest artist
takes over a book on a fave title, how would we feel to see it happen
every other issue?

Well, Andy Smith's first issue is out, and although he's no Bart Sears,
it's acceptable. He mimmicks the overall tone that Sears set up in
previous issues so that you don't feel a change in the "mood" of the
story. While I don't feel his artwork measures up to Sear's work, it is
not so far away that I'll complain. I'd prefer Sears to do the book
bi-weekly. If I can't have that, I'd gladly accept having the book be a
monthly title done by Sears alone. But if they simply must have the book
bi-weekly, and Sears can only product one book a month, Smith is a
suitable alternate.

Now, on to the story. Yipes! Marz is really shaking up the world of this
barbarian! His corporation has been invaded, his friends tortured and
his girl-friend slaughtered. Do you think Aric is going to take this
kind of abuse? I didn't think so! This tale is really heating up, and is
sure to change the life of everyone's favorite armored visigoth forever!
If you haven't picked up X-O in a while, NOW is the time to come on
back!!


Bill Hughes!!
Email Address: william.hughes@p3.f744.n109.z1.fidonet.org.


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/--[-4-]--/  CSNsider  /-------------------------------------------------/

 CSNsider
 by David Leblanc


This is the CSNsider from CSN #411, which will be in shops on 5/3/95.
It is reproduced in its entirety with the expressed permission of
COMIC SHOP NEWS!
 
James Robinson fans will be thrilled to hear that a trade paperback of the
acclaimed miniseries The Golden Age by Robinson and Paul Smith is on DC's
schedule for July release...
 
At least one Marvel hero will die in the Black September Marvel/Malibu
crossover...
 
A new GI Joe comic series is in the works; and this one will feature the
classic 1980's Joes, not the Sgt. Savage line that was such a flop in toy
shops...
 
The first James Bond collectible card game series will be GoldenEye, based
on the upcoming James Bond film...
 
Marvel plans to hone its line to seventy or eighty titles over the next
several months in response to fans who complained that they couldn't
afford to keep up with all their favorites...
 
In light of the excitement that X-Files has inspired, is it possible that
the Challengers of the Unknown are preparing to begin investigating
unusual phenomena over at DC?...
 
Word has it that when Wizards of the Coast issues their Magic: The
Gathering Fourth Edition series, there will be no land in the booster
packs, making starter sets a necessity for beginning players...
 
And speaking of trading card series, Marvel and Fleer plan to unveil
Marvel OverPower, the Marvel Universe collectible card game, in August;
the series will feature original illustrations, all computer colored and
packed in 55-card starter decks and ten card booster packs...
 
Warner Books has reported that Batman: The Ultimate Evil, the Andrew
Vachhs Batman novel first slated for summer release, has been pushed back
to the fall...
 
Pulp Fiction comes to pulp paper: is it possible that acclaimed director,
writer, and actor Quentin Tarrantino may venture into the comics world in
the foreseeable future, either licensing his own creations or writing
something original for the medium?...
 
Fox is monkeying around with plans for a Planet of the Apes animated
series...
 
Malibu has an unusual pin-up book in the works that will feature full-page
illustrations of Malibu heroes standing side-by-side with the creations of
a variety of independent artists; look for it in July...
 
Fleer's next X-Men trading card series will be an all-chromium set drawn
by the Adam, Andy, and Joe Kubert; look for 'em in October...
 
Taboo is making its return from Kitchen Sink in May, although it'll no
longer serve as the home for Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell's From Hell
tales...
 
Is the Silver Surfer set to join the X-Men, Spider-Man, the Fantastic
Four, and Iron Man as an animation star?  Could be!...
 
Marvel has scheduled a no-Marvel-Comics skip week for the first week of
June as they fine-tune their plans to begin self-distribution in July;
according to Marvel, this skip week will enable Marvel to maintain their
weekly release schedule from then on...
 
Warrior Nun Areala sold out so quickly that many fans missed the hit Ben
Dunn series from Antarctic; and that's why Antarctic is releasing a Warrior
Nun Areala Trade Paperback in mid-June, complete with an affordable $9.95
price tag...
 
Fleer hopes to make waves with its Fleer Ultra Waterworld Trading Cards, a
150-card set scheduled for July release; the cards are priced at $2 per
pack...
 
CSN #411 features a cover feature on Sovereign Seven from DC, as well as
more news and the May Hot Picks.
 
The only way to get Comic Shop News is to visit a shop that carries CSN.
The publication costs the shops just $.10 each and is generally free to
customers. If you shop doesn't carry CSN, nag 'em until they do. After
all, isn't your business and satisfaction worth a dime a week?
 
Visit our WWW site!
http://www.actwin.com/csn
 
Ward Batty   wardo@jupiter.netdepot.com
Cliff Biggers   cliffbig@jupiter.netdepot.com
 
(c)1995 CSN, Inc.
 
 *David LeBlanc>             ComicBkNet@AOL.COM
 david.leblanc@gaquatic.iii.net  RIME->5179  FIDO 1:322/518
 
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/--[-5-]--/  FEEDBACK  /-------------------------------------------------/


 Send feedback to:

               Internet .......... ComicBkNet@aol.com
               Fidonet ........... ComicBkNet at 1:324/134.0
               Comic Book Net .... ComicBkNet at 23:402/2.0

 PLEASE NOTE: Your comments may be included in future issues, unless you
              specifically request to the contrary.

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/--[-6-]--/  BULLETIN BOARDS LINKED INTO THE COMICBOOK NETWORK  /--------/

 +----------------------------+
 |  The ComicBook Network !!  |  A message network devoted to Comic
 +----------------------------+  Fans, Collectors, and Professionals!
                                 ----  ----------      -------------

  Here's the most up-to-date node listing for the COMICBOOK NETWORK

 - 4 new systems have linked in since the last issue!

           F=FIDO    Q=QWK    B=Both     *=Major HUB

 Q  Way Out There          Dallas        TX  214-680-2755  Justin Pasher
 F  X-Mansion BBS          Astoria       NY  718-204-0159  Benny Powell
 F  Steel Dog Cafe'        Destin        FL  904-654-9385  Keith Schultz
 F  Brand X BBS            Burlington    VT  802-863-1591  Earl Benway

 F* Longview On-Line!      Longview      WA  206-577-7358  Jeanne Lejon
 F  House Atreides         Garland       TX  214-494-3702  Wayne LeMonds
 B* FIAWOL/MSConnections   Irving        TX  214-790-6472  Bobb Waller
 F  Star Streams           Waxahachie    TX  214-938-7115  Michael Rudolf
 F  Comic Book Board       Philadelphia  PA  215-535-3055  William Horton
 B  The Dog's House        Gaithersburg  MD  301-216-0637  Andrew Ohnstad
 Q  Highlander's Inn       Brandywine    MD  301-579-2776  Eric Moon
 B  Zoneland BBS           Gaithersburg  MD  301-601-9731  Bob Hair
 B* The Daily Planet BBS   Frederick     MD  301-831-8057  Mike Imboden
 Q  Megabyte BBS           Gaithersburg  MD  301-977-0791  Matt Abrams
 F  Intl. Comic Network    Dearborn Hgts MI  313-565-8464  Anthony Palacio
 F  The Agency BBS         Davenport     IA  319-381-2906  Bill Liebbe
 F  Lets PC BBS            Oklahoma City OK  405-672-0615  Hyun Nam
 F* The Black Hole BBS     Oklahoma City OK  405-728-7960  Craig Smith
 F  Flamingo               Melbourne     FL  407-253-0782  Genie Bohn
 Q  DJ Dave's Domain       Agawam        MA  413-789-6533  David Scarpa
 F  The Gravity Guild      Etobicoke    ONT  416-778-6652  Gord Davis
 F* Karate & Comics & ...  Russelville   AR  501-968-3910  Robert Wood
 F  Rrydean                Cottage Grove OR  503-942-4561  Rory Dschaak
 F* Arkham Asylum          Haverhill     MA  508-372-2258  Ed Dukeshire
 F  Performance Plus       Methuen       MA  508-688-5209  Brian Morison
 B  Keystone BBS           Shrewsbury    MA  508-753-3767  John Harris
 F  Viper BBS              Freetown      MA  508-763-2027  Matthew Reynolds
 F  Enigma BBS             Rochester     MA  508-763-5579  Chris Ferreira
 B  Call Again Soon        Worcester     MA  508-791-1281  Joe Johnson
 F  Global Aquatics BBS    Worcester     MA  508-798-5647  John Murphy
 F  HellFire BBS           S. Dartmouth  MA  508-979-8930  Brock Cordeiro
 B  U.S.S. Saratoga BBS    New Bedford   MA  508-984-1212  Justin Campeau
 F  Muskrat & Heatwave     New Bedford   MA  508-984-5321  Dennis Racine
 F  Metropolis BBS         New Bedford   MA  508-994-4687  Bob Racine
 F  Archives BBS           Acushnet      MA  508-995-0085  John Viera
 B  Asgard.TW BBS          West Islip    NY  516-422-4225  Tom Pemberton
 B  The Trading Post ][    Windsor      ONT  519-974-2976  Gary Ranchuk
 Q  Medics Meeting House   Hinsdale      NH  603-256-6931  Doug Munson
 F  Venom's World          Rollinsford   NH  603-743-4188  Ira Locke
 F  Gananoque System's BBS Gananoque    ONT  613-382-1788  Mike Serson
 F* The Menagerie          Kalamazoo     MI  616-349-9438  Rick O'Dell
 B  Crystal Aerie          Arlington     VA  703-415-0134  Spencer Greenwald
 F  Wall Street Pub        Houston       TX  713-398-9260  C. Lawrence Heath
 F* The RASTER Line        Houston       TX  713-568-0825  Jeff Watts
 F  The Downward Spiral    Burlington    VT  802-860-2948  Jason Little
 B  The Lost Realm         Williston     VT  802-864-7021  Joe Kanfer
 F  Montmorenci Express    Montmorenci   SC  803-641-9090  Lloyd Vanfossen
 F  Young Blood            Killeen       TX  817-699-2254  T.J. Gohl
 Q  Oak Street BBS         Ft. Walton    FL  904-244-7434  Michael Fischer
 Q  Extreme Online         Jacksonville  FL  904-363-6347  Eric Cohen
 F  Nature Coast BBS       Weeki Watchee FL  904-596-6234  Kim Breckenridge
 F  Starbase : Red Dwarf   Saugerties    NY  914-247-9601  John Dragun
 B  Gotham City BBS        Spring Valley NY  914-426-3029  Gerald Schranz
 F  Orion BBS              Odessa        TX  915-530-2712  Dennis Brown
 F  Snart's Dreamland      Collinsville  OK  918-371-0980  Jeff Bennett
 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 Tietjan
 F  Crystal Winds          Raliegh       NC  919-870-9785  Mike Gurkin
 F* Allied Group           Kresgeville   PA  *MAIL ONLY!*  Robert Zellers


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DISCLAIMER: This electronic magazine may be freely distributed in this
current unmodified form only.  All articles contained within are written
and copyrighted to their authors.
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-EOF-

