________________________________________________________________________
Visit Our Web Page! http://www.cris.com/~Xenozoid/ComicBkNet.html
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    / THE \
  \C O M I C/   Issue #31          This publication is brought to you
   \B O O K/                       by the active participants of
    \N E T/     Sunday             the international center for
     \   /      October 15th,      comic book discussion, the Comic 
    *E-Mag*     1995               Book Net.
      !!!
              - Editor: Ryan Brewster [Xenozoid@cris.com] -

                  CBN Network Administration Team:
                       - Ed Dukeshire -
                       - Mike Imboden -
                       - William Hughes -
                       - Ryan Brewster -
                       - Jacob Greenberg -

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   The Comic Book Net Founding Fathers: Ed Dukeshire and 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 ........................... Ryan Brewster
    [2]  CSNsider #436.......................... W. Batty & C. Biggers
    [3]  Recent Reads & Random Thoughts ........ William Hughes
    [4]  Comic Comments ........................ John Keady
    [5]  Comic Reviews ......................... David Drew
    [6]  Sez Me ................................ Vern Kriske
    [7]  APA Information ....................... Ed Dukeshire
    [8]  New Comics 10/15/95 ................... Bobb Waller
    [9]  Splash Page ........................... Various
    [10] Letters to the Net .................... Various
    [11] CBN Conference Totals ................. Net Admin Team

    [12] Join in the Fun!
    [13] BBSes Linked into CBN 
    [14] E-Mag Info 
________________________________________________________________________
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[1]   The Bullpen by Ryan Brewster

Thirty-one issues already? Wow. Time goes by fast when you're having fun..

Incidentally, some may notice that Comicunications is again missing from
this issue.  Being the author of that newsletter, I accept full blame for
its absence. However, school, this e-mag, WWW page research (we are working
on bringing CBN to the Internet as I type!) and other commitments are
keeping me from fun stuff like that newsletter.  I _am_ looking into
possibilities that could make the newsletter easier to put out on a
steady basis. Until then, it will be as sporadic as it has been. :(

On a more positive note, I think it's important to mention the dawn of
an old age!! :)  That's right, the old CBN Acclaim conference (who wants
to talk about _Acclaim_ these days??!!) has been replaced with a new
conference dedicated to Gold & Silver Age comics!  Should be some
interesting discussions in there.

And that's the news from Lake Wobegone, where all the women are strong,
the men are good looking and the children are above average. >;)

(if you didn't get that, you are a deprived person..)

Best,

--Ry
Editor
The Comic Book Net E-Mag
Xenozoid@cris.com
________________________________________________________________________
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[2] CSNsider #436 by W. Batty and C. Biggers

This is the CSNsider #436, which will be in shops on 10/26/95.
It is reproduced in its entirety with the expressed permission of
COMIC SHOP NEWS!

If you're one of the many fans who've enjoyed the current Nightwing
miniseries, you'll be very happy to hear that Nightwing will star in his
own ongoing series beginning in early '96...

Topps has nabbed the comic book rights for Space: Above & Beyond, the Fox
television series; look for an initial miniseries to begin in early '96...

Correction: a couple of issues back, we reported that when Scott McCloud's
Zot! returned to comics, it'd be coming back in full color; since then,
we've learned that only the issues originally printed in color will be
reprinted in color, while the remainder of the run will be reprinted in
black and white (obviously we gave in to a moment of wishful thinking)...

The distribution side-choosing continues: Diamond has announced that London
Night, publisher of Razor and other comics, will go exclusive with Diamond
beginning with January releases,  while 1000 Editions (a publisher of fine
art prints) and Tohan (a manga-anime-based publisher that controls the
rights to Dragon Ball, among other properties) have both signed exclusive
distribution arrangements with Capital beginning in January.  These
distribution arrangements should have no effect on the availability of
these publications to comic fans, of course...

Graffiti, a new company created by former execs from SkyBox and Topps, is
entering the card biz with a bang with the release of their first card
series, James Bond: Goldeneye; their cards will be exclusively distributed
by Diamond...

And speaking of James Bond, Topps intends to launch an ongoing James Bond
comic book series following the publication of their Goldeneye movie
adaptation...

Richard Hatch, the actor who played Apollo in Battlestar Galactica, has
signed on to write a Galactica miniseries for Maximum Press...

The five-issue Dawn miniseries from Sirius has expanded to six issues, but
the release dates on the fourth and fifth issues have been pushed back a
month...

When Dale Keown begins publishing Pitt under his own Full Bleed Studios
imprint, he'll also call on some pretty high-profile help: Steve Gerber
will write the series, while Dan Panosian will ink Keown's pencils; this
should enable Pitt to stick to a bimonthly schedule...

Donruss cards is entering the nonsports market with Ace Ventura: When
Nature Calls Trading Cards in November...

CSN #436 features Legends of Shadowhawk from Image on the cover as well as
more news and the complete November Checklist. You'd have to buy three
different catalogs to get all the comics listed in our complete November
checklist!

The CSNsider is now available via e-mail! In order to subscribe to CSNsider,
send a message to majordomo@redweb.com, with a single line message saying:

  SUBSCRIBE csnsider

Visit our WWW site!
                    http://www.actwin.com/csn
We post the new CSNsider there each Monday and it will go out via e-mail
each Wednesday or Thursday.  The WWW site is still the first place it will
appear each week, but we wanted to offer it via e-mail as well.

The only way to get Comic Shop News is to visit a shop that carries CSN.
The publication costs the shops just a dime each and is generally free to
customers. If your shop doesn't carry CSN, nag 'em until they do. After
all, isn't your business and satisfaction worth a dime a week?

Ward Batty   wardo@netdepot.com
Cliff Biggers   cliffbig@netdepot.com

(c)1995 CSN, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Transmitted by . . .


 *David LeBlanc>             ComicBkNet@AOL.COM
 david.leblanc@mailtrain.com    RIME->15   FIDO 1:322/743.1
________________________________________________________________________
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[3] Recent Reads & Random Thoughts, by William Hughes

I'm going to open up this weeks column with a rumour from INDY #12.
We've discussed the rumour that Jon Bon Jovi was slated to star in the
sequel to THE CROW, but word on the street is this was a publicity ploy
by Bon Jovi's publicist, and he was never a serious contender for the
film that is slated to begin filming in November.

If Jovi is out, then who _is_ being considered?

On to the books:

STRANGERS IN PARADISE #7             STRAY BULLETS #6
WANDERING STAR #9                    NEW EXILES #infinity
ULTRAFORCE #infinity                 BLACK SEPTEMBER #infinity
X-FORCE #48                          X-FACTOR #116
GENERATION X #9                      EXCALIBUR #91
WOLVERINE #95                        X-MAN #9
X-MEN #46                            VENGEANCE OF BANE II
STARMAN #13                          GREEN LANTERN #68
BATMAN & ROBIN ADVENTURES #1         POWER OF SHAZAM #9
PREACHER #8                          ICON #31
STATIC #29                           LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #74
SUPERMAN: EARTH'S END                WEAPON ZERO #t-1


SMALL PRESS:

Strangers in Paradise #7
Terry Moore
$2.75 (b/w)

What is usually one of my favorite books was somewhat of a
disappointment with this issue.  First, I really don't like it when a
comic shifts from sequential art to prose midstream.  I want to see
Moore tell his story in the comics medium, not in text.  Perhaps he felt
the need to go into a degree of detail for a scene that he didn't think
he could convey with pictures.  Whatever the case, I hope we don't see
it happen again.

Secondly, I'm afraid I don't care for this issues plot-twisting ending a
whit.  While I do like the way the series moves easily from
light-hearted comedy to deadly serious drama, I don't want to see it get
TOO dark, or see characters thrown away for the purpose of a storyline.
I don't want to give too much away, but it seems that one of the main
characters in the book is not what they have seemed.  I admit I find
this twist interesting, but I'm dismayed by it just the same.


STRAY BULLETS #6
David Lapham
$2.95 (b/w)

An interesting turn from the norm in this issue, as this story takes
place not in the recent past, but in the distant future.  A young girl
has a chat with God, (who looks just like Lapham by the way)  and learns
some startling truths about the universe.  These truths are unbearable
to the girl, who completely shuts the world out.  A determined group of
doctors use a "truth machine" on the girl to find out why she's
traumatized, and learn of her talk with God and the universal truths are
revealed.  Then in true Lapham style, the girl promptly wakes up and
goes on a murderous spree- apparently just for kicks.

This issue is like some sort of fairy tale gone awry, and it's a nice
change of pace from previous issues, although it doesn't make a
statement about violence and it's effects on people as much as the
others.  I liked it, but I hope to see a return to the BULLETS in
previous books.


WANDERING STAR #9
Teri S. Wood
$2.50 (b/w)

WANDERING STAR is a sci-fi story told by Cassie, the narrator who is
recounting her exploits during war with a reporter.

I'm a bit behind on the story, as I have only read the first trade
paperback and this is my first regular issue.  Still, some of the
revelations in this issue about Cassie's father and the previous war
with the Bono Kirian Empire are real shockers.

So far I've really enjoyed both Wood's imaginative tale and artwork.
This one has found a home on my pull-list.

UNFORTUNATELY,  it seems Teri is coming out of a rough neck of woods
financially, and needs help to make printing costs _on the very next
issue_!

So, in an attempt to help this title stay afloat, the following offer is
reprinted from the comic:

HELP KEEP PEN & INK COMICS AFLOAT!  Anything you buy goes toward
printing the next issue...

Hand-Drawn & Colored WS button- any character..........$6.00
Pencil Drawing- any WS character......................$10.00
Original Art Page!....................................$75.00

OR: Get a MEGA-SUPPORT PACKAGE! Includes 2 original
art pages and your name in book eleven!..............$125.00

Pages Available:

Bk1: 6,8,11-18 Bk2: 3-7,9-11,13,14  Bk3: 2-7, 9,14,16
Bk4: 1-3,6,8,10,11,14-19 Bk5: 7-11,14,17,20 Bk6: 3-6,8-17
Bk7: 3-7,16-18,20 Bk8: 2-6,8-11,13-22 Bk9: ALL PAGES

Please include your phone number and at least two alternatives with
order and SEND TO:

                  PEN & INK COMICS c/o order department
                  Box 817
                  Banning, CA 92220-0817
========================================================================

Not only will you be helping to keep a quality title on the shelves, but
you'd be adding some great original artwork to your collection at great
prices!  Imagine, a personalized drawing of any Wandering Star
character, FOR ONLY TEN BUCKS!

Also, HIKEEBA COMICS is offering a SMALL PRESS SUPPORT subscription to
WANDERING STAR, subscribe now and get 40% off cover price!  For more
details, drop E-Mail to: william.hughes@f748.n109.z1.fidonet.org

DC COMICS:

BATMAN/ROBIN ADV #1
TWO TIMER
Dini/Templeton/Burchett
$1.75 (color)

BATMAN ADVENTURES was one of the best monthly comics on the stands up
until it ended last month, and BATMAN & ROBIN ADVENTURES has taken it's
place without missing a beat.  This is a well written book from the
animated series continuity, where Robin is still a college-going young
man by the name of Dick Grayson.  This book is every bit as exciting as
any of the other Bat-books put out in normal continuity, without all the
baggage that a character with four or five monthly books brings with
him.

This Batman easily brings with him all the best and most fundamental
aspects of the character.  This Bruce Wayne is just as deeply disturbed
as his regular counterpart, he's just as fixated with stopping crime,
and he's just as deadly.  And yet, somehow it's played off in a much
lighter fashion, without losing his edge.

It's also nice to go back to a simpler time when only one young man had
ever been called Robin, and no one has ever died while calling himself
by that name.

And probably the best thing about this book is that it's suitable for
all ages, without being a complete bore to adults.  In fact, this is one
of the few books that IS suitable for all ages, meaning that adults will
enjoy it just as much as the kids.

This is the first installment of a two parter involving a jealous Harvey
Dent, who thanks to the Joker's meddling believes his fiancee is having
an affair with Bruce Wayne.  How do you think Two-Face will handle a
Two-Timer?

If you only read one Batman book a month, this is the one it should be.
Check it out.

GREEN LANTERN #68
HELLFIRE & ICE
Marz/Pelletier/Tanghal
$1.75 (color)

An UnderWorld Unleashed tie-in, this issue has Darkstar Donna Troy and
Green Lantern going against a souped up Mr. Freeze, and a new villian
called Purgatory.  Purgatory is the handicapped gentleman who Kyle
imbedded with some of his energy to give him new legs.  After he
discovered how important his concentration was to keeping Kyle's gift,
he decided to take up Neron's offer to have even more power in order to
make his legs more permanent.

I found it peculiar that someone as experienced as Donna would look to
Kyle for advice on how to handle these second-string villians, even
though they were souped up.  Also, since both Donna and Lantern are
capable of stellar activity, it's very hard to swallow that Freeze could
have much effect on them at all.  I mean, it's pretty cold in outter
space, right?

This issue had alot of plot holes, but I still enjoyed the book
nonetheless.  I like the characters, so I'm willing to forgive poorly
executed tales once in a while- I just hope Marz doesn't make a habit
out of them.

ICON #31
SPACE IS THE PLACE
McDuffie/Bright/Tanghal

This month's 99cent Readers Choice is ICON.  Rachel convinces Icon to
allow her to travel with him to the planet where Earth stands trial so
that she may defend her home.  She discovers the beauty of her planet
from space, as well as the technology of another world.  Meanwhile, an
alien armada is on it's way to destroy Earth, making the trial a bit
moot.

This is a good solid read, and a great series.  Recommended.

LEGION/SUPERHEROES #74
FUTURE TENSE part 2 of 3
Peyer/McCraw/Moder/Boyd
$2.25 (color)

I had really looked forward to the crossover of the Legion and Superboy
for purely nostalgic reasons, hoping that it would remind me of the old
days, pre-Crisis.  Unfortunately, both Superboy and the modern Legion
have changed too much for that to happen I'm afraid.  It also seems that
Moder can't get a handle on how to draw Superboy, the constantly
changing hair and jawline were a distraction.

Overall, I think this was a pretty weak issue, I hope the final
installment is a drastic improvement.

POWER OF SHAZAM #9
POWER STRUGGLE
Ordway/Krause/Manley
$1.75 (color)

Black Adam returns, Shazam is kidnapped, and the Marvels learn how
dangerous it is to split up the power amongst themselves.

This is a fun book, and I really enjoy it, but I wish they'd take these
characters out of normal DC continuity where they aren't overshadowed by
the likes of Superman and Wonder Woman.  Captain Marvel just pales in
comparison, as do his villians.  I'd like to see a book set in the
forties for these characters.  I think that would be a real page turner.

Anyone else reading this book?  Your thoughts?

PREACHER #8
ALL IN THE FAMILY
Ennis/Dillon
$2.50 (color)

Jesse has a family reunion, of sorts.  He's kidnapped by his
grandmother, and other kinfolk, who somehow can ignore "the word."
Grandma claims it's because she has the Lord on her side, and since she
knows all about Genesis, it may be true.

Jesse's family looks like something out of TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE,
these are some sick puppies, and who knows what they plan for Jesse. In
a sequence of flashbacks we see that they are responsible for Jesse's
father's death.

Interesting beginning to the next story arc.  If you have a strong
stomach for gore and language, check this book out.

STARMAN #13
TED'S DAY: SINS OF THE CHILD pt 2 of 5
Robinson/Harris/Von Grawbadger
$2.25 (color)


Ahhhhh. What was that for?  Well, this is the thirteenth issue of
STARMAN.  The book has been on the shelves for over a year now, with no
guest artists, the same writer every issue, and not one bad issue in the
bunch!  AMAZING!

This is not only one of the most consistant titles on the stands, but
it's also one of the best published month in and month out.  This is
quality stuff.

Robinson gives us a recap of the days events from last issue, this time
from Ted Knight's perspective, leading up to his confrontation with
Doctor Phsphorus, who has been souped up by Neron, and the UnderWorld
Unleashed storyline.  It's nice to see that Ted Knight isn't going to
play the victim to his son's enemies just because he's retired as
Starman.  This guy has been a hero for years, and he's still a hero, and
fully capable of taking care of himself.  This was one of the most
enjoyable books I've read this week.

STATIC #29
RED HANDED
Velez, Jr./Wilfred/Stanisci
$2.50 (color)


After breaking up a drug ring last issue, Static discovered that one of
the dealers was in fact his friend Larry.  Stunned by this revelation,
Static let's Larry escape.  After agonizing over his discovery, he
starts searching for Larry who is now on the run from the law.  Dusk
finds him just as Static does, and attempts to bring him in, just as a
hit is going down on him.

Velez had posted a synopsis of what was supposed to happen in the next
issue, that was apparently rejected.  Man, it was some really heavy
stuff.  I won't go into detail here because I don't want to give this
issue's ending away, but look for this discussion to continue next
month!  Meanwhile, go read this comic!

SUPERMAN: AT EARTH'S END
Veitch/Gomez/Mckie
$4.95 (color)

This is an Elseworld's tale, and apparently it's continued from a
previous tale.  Unfortunately for me, I didn't know that before I bought
it, otherwise I probably would have passed on this one.  I haven't read
the first story arc, so it's like walking into a play during the final
act.

Some aspects of the book I wouldn't have liked even had I read the first
story arc, such as clones of both Hitler and Bruce Wayne as the major
villains.

I typically like the Elseworld tales because the familiar characters in
new settings often reach an ending to the myth, unlike modern day heroes
who never die and are constantly revised.  But this one was a real dud.
Save your money on this one.
VENGEANCE OF BANE II
THE REDEMPTION
Dixon/Nolan/Barreto
$3.95 (color)

First, a minor bone I have to pick with comic book publishers.  It's not
just DC that does this, folks!  The cover claims that this comic is 64
pages.  And, that's true, if you count the ads, WHICH I DON'T.  I don't
mind the ads being there, but I DO mind them being included in the page
count.  Those ads are in there for the publishers benefit, not mine.  By
my count, this book only has 56 pages, plus ads.

So, Bane is off the venom, and has to work really hard for six months to
become fully pumped again.  Hmpph.  What, no side effects from pumping
this chemical directly into his head for so long?  He can simply get on
a health kick, and everything is all better?

I liked the prison sequence where KGBeast kicks the crap out of Bane for
the rep it'll get him to beat the guy who broke the Bat.  Personally
though, I think it would have been more realistic if the Beast had
killed him.  But then this book when have been over quick, eh?

Overall, I didn't care for this one very much.  I don't think Bane is
much of a character as a villian, and it looks like they are planning on
taking this redemption rather seriously.  So we have another two-bit
quasi-hero on our hands, ala Venom and Punisher.  I could have done
without this, myself.

MARVEL COMICS:

EXCALIBUR #91
MUTANTS NIGHT OUT or "BABY I LOVE YOU"
Ellis writes, Williams/Wieringo/Moy & Miller draw
$1.95 (color)

The European X-Men decide it's time to have a little down time, and head
to a local pub to let there hair down.

The musical artists on the book distracted me heavily thru the entire
read.  Some panels were fine, while others were absolutely horrid.

I had hoped the edition of Rahne would be another familiar character to
help me feel more attached to the team, but unfortunately she's going
thru a revision it seems as well.  I don't think there is a character on
this team that's true to my conceptions other than perhaps Kitty and
Kurt.

The most interesting characters on this team are now Kitty Pryde and
Pete Wisdom.  The rest of the team could go on permanent vacation for
all I care.  Thankfully, a new edition makes his first appearance on the
final page of this book, and it's bound to make the Wisdom/Pryde story
all the more interesting.

GENERATION X #9
SOMEPLACE OTHER THAN HERE
Lobdell/Grummett/Buckingham & Milgrom
$1.95 (color)

The Gen Xers continue their adventure in the magical world within  the
walls of Cassidy Keep.  Lot's of trolls. elves and dragons.

This story should have been condensed into one issue.  It wasn't so bad
last month, but this issue seems overly-silly and dragged out, and the
entire tale seems rather pointless.

ULTRAVERSE INFINITY
BLACK SEPTEMBER #infinity
Ulm/De Victoria/Crain/Danko/Mann (concept & writers)
Wyman/Konroy/Butler/Geeko        (artists)
$1.50 (color)

The rebirth of the ultraverse is being played out as a cheap version of
AGE OF APOCOLYPSE.  After the infinity gems were seperated by The Black
Knight, the universe has been altered into something it was never meant
to be, and it's on a one-way road to total destruction, unless someone
finds a way to fix things.

We see characters from the Ultraverse taken out of their normal roles
and put into a completely new reality, where Warstrike has teamed up
with Necromantra to form a dictatorship of the last vestige of mankind.

Even if we hadn't seen this concept played out recently with the X-Men,
this would be a poor tale.  The book lacks the introduction or detail to
make the reader interested in what's going on.  Half the time I wasn't
even aware of who the characters had been in the previous version of
reality.

ULTRAFORCE #infinity
Edginton/Royle/Whiting
$1.50 (color)

The UltraForce chapter is even more confusing, as members of the
Avengers are also thrown into the altered reality, and two different
teams seem to co-exist in two different worlds.  Some events seem
unaltered, while others are blended.  For instance, Alec Swan is a
super-soldier who received a serum to make him so, and Janet Van Dyne is
the vengeful Black Widow.

This book is hard to follow, and doesn't offer much of a jumping on
point for new readers, much less people who are mildly familiar with the
characters.

ALL-NEW EXILES #infinity
Kavanagh/Wyman/LaRosa & Baskerville
$1.50 (color)

In another meshing of the two universes, Marvel characters such as
Juggernaut, Reaper (from the M.L.F) and Sienna Blaze find themselves on
a desolate world with UV characters Shuriken, Warstrike and Amber Hunt.

Even though these are some of the last characters you'd ever believe
would team up for _any_ reason, they find themselves working together,
albeit loosely, to find a way out of their strange predicament.

This one wasn't so bad, even though I find the concept of these
particular characters forming a team a little hard to swallow.  Still,
of them all this was the easiest to follow, therefore more enjoyable.

The one saving grace of ALL these infinity books is the fact that the
$1.50 price for each book.  I had thought this was due to a smart
business move on Marvel's part to get the readers back into the
Ultraverse, but now I see it's because the product just isn't all that
great.

Even so, at this price I'll give these titles a few issues to find their
ground.  I've enjoyed alot of UV books in the past, so I'm hoping once
the universe stabilizes things will get more interesting.  I'll keep you
posted!


WOLVERINE #95
MANHATTAN RHAPSODY
Hama/Kubert/Green & Ryan
$1.95 (color)

More members of Alpha Flight this month, as Vindicator and Guardian
guest star.  Afraid that his feral nature will get the best of him while
in New York City, Vindicator insists on following Wolverine.  Logan has
a run-in with one of New York's millions of mutants, and Vindicator
over-reacts.

Interesting developments concerning Cyber, the group of mutants he's
teamed up with seem to be more interested in him adamantium than any of
his abilities...wonder why? Could it be that we're inching ever closer
to the 100th issue where everyone expects Logan to get some adamantium?
<g>


X-FACTOR #116
HOMECOMINGS
Mackie/Epting/Milgrom
$1.95 (color)

This issue features Northstar, Aurora and Puck from Alpha Flight.
Aurora seeks out WildChild to find out why he deserted her, Northstar
and Puck follow because Aurora is having another breakdown.

Interesting points:  Bishops holographic sister, Shard is in Forge's
hands, as he attempts to fix the holo-matrix for Bishop; and The Dark
Beast sends Random on a mission to kill Alex Summers.

This book has the potential to become my favorite X-title if these
characters are used properly.  The line-up is probably the most
interesting of all the X-books, especially if Shard winds up on the team
somehow.

X-FORCE #48
INTERVENTION
Loeb/Pollina/Pennington & Rubinstein

The team attempts to convince Boomer that she is endangering herself and
others with her secret visits to Sabretooth, to no avail.  Even
Professor Xavier fails to convince her of how dangerous are her actions.

Interesting points in this issue:  hints are given that another
personality is responsible for Bobby's time as Reignfire; the return of
Sebastion Shaw; and Sabretooth begins to show signs of his feral nature.

The new personalities for characters like Boomer, Warpath and Caliban
are still bugging me, but overall this was a decent read.

X-MAN #9
A QUESTION OF POWER
Ostrander/Skroce & Haynes
$1.95 (color)

Nate's first run-in with someone from his own reality, The Dark Beast.
The Beast tries to convince Nate that they must work together in this
reality, but Nate doesn't buy it, and instead mops the floor (actually,
the deck, this story takes place out at sea) with The Beast.

It's nice to see a confused hero fall for the villians manipulations.  I
was very suprised when Nate kept his head and took The Dark Beast down.
Other than the sometimes shaky artwork, this was a pretty good read.

Next month: Nate versus Professor Xavier!

X-MEN #46
THE TOTALLY UNEXPECTED RETURN OF THE X-BABIES or THEY'RE BACK!
Lobdell/Kubert/Smith
$1.95 (color)

Thank God that Marvel hasn't driven the Kubert's away, thanks to Andy I
at least have ONE X-Men title a month that doesn't drive me nutso in the
art department...

This issue features the return of those loveable munchkins from the
mojoverse, the X-Babies!  It seems that the new power in the mojoverse
has a few cancellations in mind, namely the mini-mutants.  So, of course
they come looking for help from the full-size versions.

I've always liked the X-Babies appearances in the past, and I like this
one as well.  A little comedy every once in a while is definitely a good
change of pace for a book like this.

Also this issue: Bishop and Gambit have a talk about the X-Traitor; a
Sentinal Research facility is destroyed by Onslaught; and we see Magneto
has survived the fall to Earth.

IMAGE COMICS:

WEAPON ZERO #t-1
Simonson/Benitez/Cabrera
$2.50 (color)

I was really impressed with the first issue of this series because of
all the different sci-fi & super hero elements it blended together in
one tale.  My interest has slowly waned over the course of the
subsequent issues however, as the book seems to be skimming over details
on the characters and rushing them into a super-team too quickly.  I'd
like to see them on the road of self discovery a bit longer, learning
about themselves and their enemies.

This issue has the cast being recaptured by Lorelei and once more in the
hands of their enemies.  The mini-series will be wrapping up next month,
then followed by the regular series.  I hope that some of the excitement
I felt in the beginning wil return by then.  Don't get me wrong, I like
the series so far, but the first issue really raised my expectations
that this book would be better than the norm, while so far it's been
pretty standard.

Bill Hughes!!

EMail Address:  william.hughes@f748.n109.z1.fidonet.org
________________________________________________________________________
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[4] Comic Comments by John Keady

Detective Comics #691

An UNDERWORLD UNLEASHED tiein. Not too often does an issue suprise me like
this one did with what happened to the Spellbinder. I thought this issue
to be one of the better UU titles I've read and recommend it heartily.
The art work was good and the story itself was what made this one good! B

Fate #13

Funny how this title has survived along with Starman as the only books
to make it after Zero Hour. While this story had a better feel to it
than the #0 issue I read so long ago, I still can't seem to get into it.
Alan Scott's appearance was refreshing as he's the only former GL I
don't really know that much about but all in all this book was a
snoozer!    C

Impulse #8

I don't normally pick this one up but I've heard alot of good things about
the book and it being an Underworld tiein gave me the opprotunity to check
it out again! :) It did not dissapoint! Of all the charged up baddies,
Blockbuster is one of the more interesting ones in my book! It also made
me consider picking this book up more often!   B

JLA #105

THe one complaint that I have with this title is the excess of story in
the time you have to tell it! I prefer a more focused storyline but we
have at least 2 seperate stories trying to vie for the 23 or so pages
and it seems a bit crammed! I'm not saying the story is bad but it could
be better if focused on properly!   C+

Legionnaires #31

The final part of Future Tense was one of the better books I've read in
a while as is the whole story arc. The humor in this title had me
chuckling the entire book and makes me hope that we have another cross
between the 30th century and the kid of Steel!  A

New Gods #2

Orion Vs Darseid and one of em doesn't make it! :) a pretty good issue
though I it's not one of those that generate much thought or
conversation for something that should do so.....  B-

Power of Shazam #9

OK! I'm the first to admit that I am not a Shazam fan. However this
story has made me a little less antigonistic toward the characters as
you can't help but care for Billy & co. While the sugar level in this
book could keep me up all night, I recommend this title for it's
excellent storyline.    B

Shadow of the Bat #44

While I like this title normally, I am not a fan of Barry Kitson. I have the
feeling that this story has a lead in to the upcoming Detective #700 so I'd
get it only for the story value.   C-

The Ray #18

Once again this is one of those books that you need to read much of the
series to understand what's going on!  I have been trying to catch up
here and the more I read, the more I begin to like this title! The only
thing that bugs me is the fact that Ray is about the most dense
individual I have ever seen! :)   C+

UU: Apokolips Drk. Up.

This one shot was pretty forgetable in my book. I am just now getting
used to all the characters involved with New Gods and frankly I'll need
to read some more before I even begin to care about anyone in this book.
Yeah they're all baddies but even bad guys should be interesting!   C

________________________________________________________________________
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[5] Comic Reviews by David Drew

Atomic City Tales Special No. 1             $2.95
Jay "Sin" Stephens                       Black Eye Productions

  The good news is that a new Atomic City Tales came out (about a month
  ago. I'm slow with the reviews, ok?) The bad news: it's the last one
  you'll see in the forseeable future. It won't be a Zongo book as was
  once reported, but Stephens is definitely shopping the series around
  some bigger publishers. And Black Eye Productions will publish a new
  Land of Nod series this spring. Hopefully Paul Pope's Buzz Buzz
  magazine will come out soon, Stephens will have an Atomic City / THB
  crossover in it.

   This is something I can see being as big as Mike Allred's Madman. But
  it has a quirkiness that even Madman has lost. This story
  concentrates on the villians of Atomic City. Between chapters,
  there's a strip where the cartoonist Jay Stephens explains why he's
  doing a strip about the villians instead of Big Bang (the so-called
  hero). Even with the threat that Big Bang would turn him into a swamp
  monster with a bad case of diahhrea, Doc Phantom (one of the baddies)
  follows Stephens everywhere (even to the comic racks, the horror!)
  until he gives in.

  What happens? The villians get bored and decide to go shopping. They
  face dangers, get tailed by their kitty cat, and pull a prank phone
  call on Big Bang. As Z-Girl says, "Hurray for evil!"


   OH THAT MONROE by Sam Henderson
  $6.95     published by Wow Cool



  A couple years back this almost crudely drawn story appeared in Cruel
  and Unusual Punishment (which was a sickly bizarre anthology editted
  by Dennis Worden). This guy Monroe brings in a pile of clothes to be
  laundered. The clerk pilfers through Monroe's clothes to find stained
  undies. He calls a magazine, which we learn is dedicated to
  embarassingly intimate secrets of Monroe Simmons. From this soiled
  underwear, people deduct secrets that even Howard Stern rarely asks
  of his guests. Apparently, this is a worldwide obsession that's
  unbeknownst to Monroe himself. And in this story, the two basic
  elements that are funniest about the Monroe Simmons strips are used.
  First, it seems as if everyone has it in for Monroe Simmons, but also
  the ironic thing is that he often brings these things upon himself.
  And the other being how utterly clueless Simmons is, and the author
  Sam Henderson plays off this well, especially when combined with the
  first element. After the Monroe Simmons magazine is distributed
  worldwide and literally everyone on the street is reading the
  magazine and gossiping about the dupe, he comes back into the
  laundrymat that betrayed his secret in the first place without a clue
  of what's going on.

  What sets Oh That Monroe (which collects some of Henderson's work
  from  1989 to 1993) from other strips with loser protagonists is
  that you don't get a first person sense of the author wallowing in
  self-pity. Simmons is doing this to share a laugh with his audience,
  and his instinct for comedy is great. This is a comic that doesn't
  have to rely on Tex Avery style reactions.

  Like Dan Clowes' parody of so-called autobiographical comics,
  Henderson's "Kids These Days Piss Me Off by Monroe Simmons" is a
  classic though he takes a different approach to it. Henderson pokes
  fun at the readers that think they can do better than autobio
  cartoonists. So he has Monroe show just how easy it can be.
  The finger ink smudges are a great touch to the amateur quality of
  Simmons' comic.

  The two stories that stand out most for me in this collection are
  Monroe Simmons Tries Again (the last few pages are priceless) and
  Night of 100 A - Holes. And yes, he gets 100 of them in a sixteen
  page story.

Strangehaven #2                            $2.95
Gary Spencer Millidge                    Abiogenesis Press

  Here's yet another person that's jumped onto the self-publishing
  bandwagon. While it has a good story and skillfully rendered art, I
  can't think of any publisher that would carry it. And of the ones
  that could pay him to do it, and whose audience it would appeal to,
  Gary Spencer Millidge just isn't well known enough to get published
  there. But Stangehaven is a fine story that deserves an audience.

  Comparisons have been made to David Lynch's Twin Peaks series, and
  while I wouldn't say it's as quirky as a Lynch directed episode and
  doesn't quite have a look that would go with an Angelo Badelimani
  (sp) score, there is a similar interest in mysticism. Like Lynch,
  Millidge story shows there are ancient elements of spiritual beings
  that dwell in the woods. And these forces seemingly influence events
  in Strangehaven. It is the woods that cause Alex Hunter to crash just
  outside the town of Strangehaven, and it is the powers in the forest
  that also keep him from leaving until certain events play themselves
  out.

  In the first issue, bits of a mysterious image appear in the middle
  of scenes. And more of this image is revealed this issue. More is
  revealed about one of the townspeople that was once a tribal shaman
  in the Amazon rainforest. And this ex-shaman reveals a little about
  how great power can be found in nature. And somehow this will tie in
  with what is happening in the woods.

  Millidge uses a very straightforward style of drawing. Like
  surrealists, he tries to base his images in reality so that breaking
  the rules of reality has much more impact. If the characters were
  drawn like they came from a Max Fleisher cartoon, these odd effects
  wouldn't have quite as powerful an impact. So the art isn't special
  in that it shows technical ability, but that it works well for
  effect. The art has improved since the first issue. Issue one relied
  on simpler line drawings since Millidge was hoping to shop this to a
  someone that could afford to publish it in color. But now that he's
  committed to self-publishing a black & white book, he's using line to
  create tone and texture more. Also there are painted pages (in
  gouache, according to the creator) used for the rainforest flashback
  scene. The charmingly painted covers will hopefully attract people
  browsing the racks. I was among those that thought the cover was
  painted in acrylic (it's really gouache), and I love the softer,
  warmer colors as opposed to all the cooler, heavier colored covers
  that were inspired by Olyoptics.

  I found the main characters to be very likable, and the more
  mysterious characters to be charmingly quirky. There's even a secret
  society to spice things up. Their garb really makes them stand out
  from this seemingly low-key village. And realizing that he's going to
  tell comics by installments, he tells enough about the characters and
  the town's secrets to keep the story moving, but also promises more
  to keep you coming back.

   If you can't find any issues, you can also find a Strangehaven short
  story in Negative Burn #24 (which all Paul Pope fans should possess).
  It really isn't part of the main Strangehaven story, but offers a
  taste of the town that might entice you look for more.


Bart Simpson's Treehouse of Horror

   I nearly missed this new Bongo book: Bart Simpson's Treehouse of
  Horror. This one caught my eye because it featured stories by James
  Robinson, Jeff Smith and Mike Allred. It spoofs the old campy horror
  comics as the EC inspired title implies, but it draws on a variety of
  influence in true Simpson style.

  The first story features a Mike Allred written story (he also does
  the inking on this) which is a take-off on Little Shop of Horrors.

  Jeff Smith follows up with a story inspired by the novel he refers to
  most often in his comics: Moby Dick. Lisa looks into the history of
  the Simpson side of the family (who are gross underacheivers compared
  to the Bouviers) and learns that a Simpson once sailed with Captain
  Ahab on that fateful voyage for the white whale. Unfortunately, that
  Simpson was every bit as competent at his job as Homer. Jeff Smith
  also does the page layouts, and does a great job with it.

  James Robinson wraps it up with a story called the Bart People, where
  Simpson children suffer a curse that causes them to morph into
  panthers. Robinson outdoes even Smith with his understanding of the
  Simpson characters, their idiosyncracies, as well as the type of
  storytelling they use on the show.

  Matt Groening provides a cover painting with Bart as a Graham Ingels
  inspired Witch.
________________________________________________________________________
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[6] Sez Me! by Vern Kriske

Between Bill Hughes' and John Keady's reviews, a guy could feel a bit
intimidated about offering his own comments.  So, I'm going to try
something different and focus on an single issue each week.  We'll see if
it works.

First some background.  I don't like muti-book crossovers.  I really don't
like 'em.  Once in a while, and in a few books only, they can be okay.  The
recent run in The Titans, Darkstar and GL worked just fine. Underworld
Unleashed, on the other hand, is everything I don't like about multi-book
crossovers. It could have been done in a few issues.  Get the baddies
together and jazz 'em. Get the good guys together with the baddies and have
a big bruhaha. The jazzed baddies  escape and pop up here and there down
the road.  Instead we get issue after issue of Neron appearing before some
character and offering the same thing.  What's the price?  Your soul!
An exchange of evil glances and into the story.  Yawn.

This isn't a rant, honest! In Catwoman #27, Dixon took the premise, reduced
the Neron exchange to a few panels, and used it to set up a first class
story with Gorilla Grood and Catwoman. The characters rang true, the story
was well paced, the action was great and the ending included a nice twist.
Balent was a the top of his form also.  We saw the best "evil glance" to
date, action scenes that reminded me of the early Ditko Spiderman, and an
eye for background detail that always seemed to advance the story.

If you haven't tried Catwoman yet, pick up this issue and give it a look.
Now, I'll head back to my stack of DC titles.  What's next?  WARRIOR?
Geez, I thought I'd dropped that darn book.
________________________________________________________________________
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[7] APA Information, by Ed Dukeshire

CBN-APA : The APA for online artists and writers!

CENTRAL MAILER: Ed Dukeshire


WHAT IS AN APA?
---------------
It's a amateur publishing group where each member creates their own
section, makes copies, and sends them to the central mailer.  The
central mailer pieces it all together into a magazine to send out to
all the other members.

APA stands for Amateur Press Alliance.  The CBN-APA has no specific
theme, anything comics related can be submitted.  The only
requirement is that the contributor can be reached online via echo
networks (such as Fidonet or ComicBook Net) and/or internet e-mail.

Some folks are sending in pinups, pencil sketches, fully inked work,
fan-fiction, while others are doing completed comics.  Some of the
members are under 18, so we need to keep it clean, no profanity,
nudity, or offensive material please.

HOW IS THE POSTAGE PAID FOR?
----------------------------
When you join, each member sends $5.00 to get their account started.
As each issue gets released, the postage cost to mail you the
completed APA is deducted from your account (guessing around $2.00
per mailing).  Please make sure there is enough money in your account
to receive the mailings, otherwise your copy will sit here waiting
for your money to come in.

HOW OFTEN DOES IT COME OUT?
---------------------------
This APA is released on a bi-monthly schedule.  Current deadlines:

 Issue #2: November 31st, but please send it in sooner!  If everyone
           does, the APA will be shipped ahead of schedule. ;)
 Issue #3: January 31st
 Issue #4: March 31st

HOW THICK DO THE SECTIONS HAVE TO BE?
-------------------------------------
The MINAC (short for MINimum ACtivity) is a 4 page section (that's
2 sheets of paper xeroxed on both sides).  Paper size is 8 1/2 x 11,
this will be the size of the APA.  If you want to produce more pages,
please do so, the more pages the merrier!  Several members find
themselves submitting up to 10 pages.

SOUNDS GREAT! HOW DO I JOIN?
----------------------------
Send $5.00 and 15 stapled and collated copies of your 'zine to the
Central Mailer, along with your name, address and phone number.
Please name your section, think up a wild crazy name if you want.
By naming it, it'll give other members a quick way of recogizing who
does what.  It's always a good idea to have your name and address on
your section somewhere (cover, first page, last page, whatever).

Note: Please xerox on both sides of the paper.  It'll help keep the
postage down.  Only staple your each section once in the upper left
hand corner.

Note: If you're interested in obtaining a copy of issue #1, then
please submit at least a 10 page section.  Otherwise, just make it a
4 page submission to receive the issue it appears in.

FIRST SUBMISSION REQUIREMENT
----------------------------
Please write up something telling everyone about yourself, what your
interests are, etc.  (Toss this on any page in your zine, first
page, last page, whatever).  It'll help every member get familiar
with each other.  This doesn't need to be a book, just a couple
paragraphs is fine.


If you require more info, feel free to write me at
e.dukeshire@genie.com or leave a message on the ComicBook Net in the
"Writers and Artists" conference.  Or -- I can be reached via Fidonet
Netmail at 1:324/134.0

________________________________________________________________________
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[8] New Comics 10/15/95 by Bobb Waller

Here is the list of books scheduled to ship next week (10/15/95!)
============================================================================
Acclaim Comics:
Antiquities War:Magic/Gathering      Bloodshot #44
Eternal Warrior #49                  Fallen Empires:Magic/Gathering
Punx #3                              Samuree #3
Turok:Dinosaur Hunter #39            X-O Manowar #56

Archie Comics:
Archie Digest #138                   Jughead #76
Scooby Doo #4                        Sonic the hedgehog #30
Veronica #49

Chaos! Comics:
Evil Ernie Revenge TP

Comic Shop News:
Comic Shop News #435

Dark Horse Comics:
American Splendor: Windfall #2       Cross #0
Madman Comics #9                     Oktane #3
Star Wars:Tales of the Jedi-Sith War

DC Comics:
Animaniacs #8                        Batman:SOTB #45
Batman: The Ultimate Evil #1         Black Lightning #11
Blood Syndicate #33                  Chiaroscuro: Private Lives #5
Doomsday Annual #1                   Green Lantern #69
Hawkman #27                          Hellblazer #96
Justice League:America #106          Millenium Fever #3
New Gods #3                          New Titans #128
Power of Shazam #10                  Rebels 95 #14
Sandman #73                          Sandman Mystery Theatre #33
Sovereign Seven #6                   Star Trek #78
Star Trek Revisitations TP           Star Trek:TNG Annual #6
Starman #14                          Superman #107
Swamp Thing #161                     Underworld Unleashed:Abyss Hells Sentinel
Vigilante: City Lights Prairie Justice #2

Fantagraphics Books:
Sake Jock

Harris Comics:
Rook #3                              Vengeance of Vampirella #19

Image:
Backlash #12                         Berzerkers #2
Bloodpool #2                         Brigade #22
Chapel Vol. 2 #2                     Crypt #2
Cyberforce #16                       Cyberforce Origins #3-Impact
Deathblow #20                        Glory & Friends Bikini Fest #1
Grifter #5                           Grifter/Badrock #1
Prophet Vol. 2 #2                    Ripclaw #1
Riptide #1                           Shamans Tears #12
Spartan Warrior Spirit #3            Spawn #36
Star #4                              Supreme #30
Team Youngblood #21                  Velocity #1
Wildstorm #2                         Witchblade #1
Zealot #2

Kitchen Sink Press:
From Hell Vol 4

Maximum Comic Press:
Battlestar Galactica #3              Law & Order #2

Planet Lucy Press:
Ragmop #3

Pocket Change Comics:
Assassinette #7                      Assassinette Hardcore #2
Shadow Slasher #6

Slave Labor Graphics:
Action Girl Comics #5                Crime Clinic #2

Tekno Comix:
Xander in Lost universe #?           Mike Danger #6
Mr. Hero The Newmatic Man #?

Topps Comics:
X-File Comics Digest #1

Viz Comics:
Mai The Psychic Girl: Perfect Collection
Ranma 1/2 Part IV #10                Sanctuary Part 4 #3
Viz-In Magazine Vol 7 #10

Warrior Publishing:
Ventura #3
----------------------------------------------------------------------
For some reason they sent me TWO (2) Bone figures from Hero Magazine!

See Ya on the spinners!


bbwaller@iadfw.net  is Bobb Waller Sysop of FIAWOL-BBS
Dedicated to both Fandom and empowering the disABLED
________________________________________________________________________
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[9] Splash Page!

               HYPE -- Portia Prinz of the Glamazons

***************************************
FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION
***************************************

Marlowe & Company is proud to announce the Spring 1996 
publication of "Porita Prinz of the Glamazons," by Richard 
Howell, with an introduction by Kurt Busiek.

Featuring both published and unpublished stories, "Portia 
Prinz of the Glamazons" will be the presentation of the character 
that has been unable to be done until now.

Making her first appearances intermittently between 1977
and 1979, and then briefly in 1986, Portia Prinz has been
hailed as the watershed event in bringing credible female
characters to comics.

"Portia Prinz of the Glamazons" is the latest book in Marlowe &
Company's graphic novel line, which is dedicated to bringing 
the best, and most often overlooked, comics back into print.

Further information is available by contacting Marlowe &
Company via:

E-mail: Ldeneault@aol.com
Phone:  (212) 460-5742
Fax:    (212) 460-5796


                (HYPE) The Cowboy Wally Show

***************************************
FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION
***************************************

Save those body parts, kids!

Marlowe & Company is proud to announce that "The Cowboy Wally
Show," the legendary graphic novel by Kyle Baker, is returning
to print in the Spring of 1996.

'nuff said.

"The Cowboy Wally Show" is the latest book in Marlowe & Company's
graphic novel line, which is dedicated to bringing the best, and 
most often overlooked, comics back into print.

Publication Date: March 1996
Price: $12.95
ISBN: 1-56924-834-6

Further information is available by contacting Marlowe &
Company via:

E-mail: Ldeneault@aol.com
Phone:  (212) 460-5742
Fax:    (212) 460-5796


            Independent Universe Collector Card Set, Series II

PRESS RELEASE 


Dilemma Productions is proud to announce that they will be producing a series
two of of the Independent Universe Collector Card Set.  This is due to an
overwhelming response to the first series, and numerous requests from
publishers who did not appear in the first series.

Publishers interested may send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Dilemma
Productions, P O Box 803, Easthampton, Ma 01027 to receive a copy of the
submissions guidelines.

________________________________________________________________________
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[10] Letters to the Net

From: ian.archer@welcom.gen.nz (Ian Archer)
Subject:  Who's reading CBEM.
To: xenozoid@cris.com

Greetings from downunder.

CBEM is being read in Wellington, New Zealand with great interest.

The only disappointment is the high proportion of comics that are for
USA and Canada - don't these publishers realise there are other people
in the world who have too much money?     :^)

Keep up the good work

Ian Archer      ian.archer@welcom.gen.nz

     Ian,

     Many thanks for the feedback. As for the high proportion of comics
     for US and Canada, I can only say that we write what we know about
     and the majority of us are FROM North America. :)

     However, you will notice that issues 29 and 30 of this publication
     featured fascinating articles by Marc Sparks on the comics scene
     in Africa. Possibly something worth looking into...

     Best,

     --Ry
     Editor

To: XENOZOID@cris.com
Subject: Your e-mail zine
Reply-To: steven.acevedo@chinardr.com (Steven Acevedo)

 I just got a look at your e-mail magazine earlier tonight and have to
 say it looks pretty good. The reviews are concise and well written and
 it shows.

 May you continue with great success with it.

 Steven

From: RF <rh7@evansville.edu>
To: Ryan Brewster <Xenozoid@cris.com>
Subject: Re: The CBN E-Mag, Issue #29!

Dear CBN,

Thanks for sending me the latest issue!  I really do appreciate the
efforts of all involved. 

Last week, you asked for comments from your readers concerning the axing
of weekly lists, and I thought I'd contribute my $0.02 US . . . I found
the "Late Comics Report" to be extremely useful, and I'll miss seeing it
every week.  That list helped me determine whether I had missed the latest
issue of my favorite titles or if the issues had come out late.  I'll
really miss that one! 

Until next week,

Arif Haque
<rh7@spruce.evansville.edu>

     Arif,

     Thanks for your feedback...

     Rest assured that the Late Comics Report has not been _cancelled_,
     per se.  It will simply be listed _monthly_ rather than _weekly_.
     I find the list helpful as well, and I appreciate Alex Toth's
     efforts greatly!  Since it is such a large list, however, and we
     are looking to cut down the byte count, a monthly schedule seems
     more efficient.

     On the other hand, I will see what Alex may think of keeping a
     special section of the CBN web page available to access the
     very latest report.

     Thanks again,

     --Ry
     Editor
________________________________________________________________________
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[11] CBN Conference Totals

 >> CBN Conference Traffic week of 10/07/95 - 10/13/95

 Conference                   Tot    Conference                   Tot
 ---------------------------- ---    ---------------------------- ---
 CBN: Writers/Artists          92    CBN: Fan Fiction              14
 CBN: DC Comics                87    CBN: Cards                    11
 CBN: Marvel Comics            52    CBN: Electronic Mag            7
 CBN: Movies/TV                46    CBN: Dark Horse Comics         6
 CBN: Small Press              45    CBN: Role Playing              6
 CBN: Comic Issues             35    CBN: Video Games               6
 CBN: Bullpen                  33    CBN: SciFi                     5
 CBN: Fanboy                   29    CBN: Splash Page               5
 CBN: Image Comics             27    CBN: Toys/Collectibles         3
 CBN: Editors Office           23    CBN: Acclaim                   2
 CBN: Animation                16    CBN: Manga                     2
 CBN: Independents             15    CBN: Back Issue Bin            1

 >> Total Combined: 568

________________________________________________________________________
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[12] Join in the fun!

You too can enjoy the intelligent conversations and informative threads
that occupy 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 USofA, and
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 (doesn't even have to be about comics!)
conversation. 

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 explaination in
their documentation than I can.   These programs are available all over
the Internet and are downloadable from most BBS's.

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?  Theres 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!

Best,

--Ry, the editor, with assists from Ed Dukeshire.

________________________________________________________________________
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[13] BBSes Linked into CBN

 +----------------------------+
 |  The ComicBook Network !!  |  A message network devoted to Comic
 +----------------------------+  Fans, Collectors, and Professionals!
                                 ----  ----------      -------------
  - Over 20 message echoes for your reading enjoyment!

  - Marvel Comics        - DC Comics               - Image Comics
  - Independents         - Dark Horse Comics       - Small Press
  - Comic Issues         - Fanfic                  - E-Mag
  - Writers/Artists      - Toys and Collectables   - Cards
  - Back Issue Bin       - Video Games             - Bullpen
  - Fanboy               - Animation               - TV/Movies
  - Role Playing         - Splash Page             - SciFi

  - News, info, reviews, and general conversation with other comic
    book fans and professionals.

  - Log onto the systems, check it out and participate.  We'd love to
    have you aboard!

  - Here's a quick rundown of free access BBSes already linked in!
    Most offer a QWK/Bluewave door to pack mail and read offline.
    * = New systems linked in.

    City          St  BBS Number       City          St  BBS Number
    ------------- --  ------------     ------------- --  ------------
    Russelville   AR  501-968-3910     Hector        AR  501-284-5503
    Lakeside      CA  619-561-2961     Victorville   CA  619-955-6445
    Destin        FL  904-654-9385     Ft. Walton    FL  904-244-7434
    Jacksonville  FL  904-363-6347     Melbourne     FL  407-253-0782
    Melbourne     FL  407-253-8754     Tavares       FL  904-343-7272
    Davenport     IA  319-381-2906     Palatine      IL  708-776-2395
    Indianapolis  IN  317-856-9020     La Porte      IN  219-325-3655
    Acushnet      MA  508-995-0085     Agawam        MA  413-789-6533
    Haverhill     MA  508-372-2258   * Haverhill     MA  508-521-6941
    New Bedford   MA  508-984-1212     New Bedford   MA  508-984-5321
  * North Andover MA  508-686-8010     Rochester     MA  508-763-5579
    Shrewsbury    MA  508-753-3767     S. Dartmouth  MA  508-979-8930
    Worcester     MA  508-791-1281     Bishopville   MD  410-352-5754
    Frederick     MD  301-831-8057     Frederick     MD  301-698-5194
    Gaithersburg  MD  301-601-9731   * Kettering     MD  301-390-5243
    Mount Rainier MD  301-779-9381     Walkersville  MD  301-898-4088
  * Silver Spring MD  301-431-0647     Dearborn Hgts MI  313-565-8464
    Kalamazoo     MI  616-349-9438     Durham        NC  919-286-4542
    Durham        NC  919-286-7738     Raliegh       NC  919-833-3412
    Raliegh       NC  919-790-3599   * Atkinson      NH  603-362-4125
  * Exeter        NH  603-778-4662   * Hampstead     NH  603-329-5643
  * Kingston      NH  603-642-5949   * Newton        NH  603-382-0567
  * Raymond       NH  603-895-2393   * Rye Beach     NH  603-964-4760
  * South Hampton NH  603-394-7534   * Fair Lawn     NJ  201-796-7202
    Hillsdale     NJ  201-722-1495   * Little Ferry  NJ  201-440-5499
    Park Ridge    NJ  201-307-9225     Saddle Brook  NJ  201-368-1866
    Astoria       NY  718-204-0159     Poughkeepsie  NY  914-485-5463
  * Rochester     NY  716-647-6960     Saugerties    NY  914-247-9601
    Spring Valley NY  914-426-3029     West Islip    NY  516-422-4225
    Collinsville  OK  918-371-0980     Oklahoma City OK  405-672-0615
    Oklahoma City OK  405-728-7960     Eddystone     PA  610-872-2830
  * Philadelphia  PA  215-365-5225   * Philadelphia  PA  215-342-5384
  * Philadelphia  PA  215-487-7315     Union City    TN  901-885-9647
    Dallas        TX  214-680-2755     Garland       TX  214-494-3702
    Grand Prairie TX  214-641-1136     Houston       TX  713-568-0825
    Irving        TX  214-790-6472     Killeen       TX  817-699-2254
    Missouri City TX  713-835-0965     Odessa        TX  915-530-2712
    Waxahachie    TX  214-938-7115     Arlington     VA  703-415-0134
    Longview      WA  206-577-7358     Gananoque    ONT  613-382-1788
    Niagara Fall ONT  905-371-0736   * London       ONT  519-850-9929
    St.Catharine ONT  905-988-9698     Tecumseh     ONT  519-979-4251
    Mexico City  MEX  52-5-264-2994

  - If you have access to internet mail, you can receive a complete
    listing of bbs systems linked in.  Address your message to
    ComicBkNet@AOL.COM

  - Weekly "Comic Book Electronic Magazine" available on all above
    systems.  Also available on AOL - GOTO: SCIENCE FICTION and select
    Science Fiction Libraries from the main menu.  The files are in:
    ANIME, COMICS, OTHER.  If you don't have an account on AOL, check
    the CompuServe and GEnie libraries, they're uploaded there as well.

  - Sysops: FREQ the latest information packet using the Magic Filename
    COMICS from these Fidonet systems; 1:19/37 in AR, 1:324/134 in MA,
                                       1:109/748 in MD, 1:2201/66 in MI
________________________________________________________________________
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[14] E-Mag Information

The Comic Book Net E-Mag is published weekly 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.

All text contained within are copyrighted to the originating author(s).

Freely distributable for noncommerical purposes only.

THE CBN WEB PAGE
----------------
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 of back issues.  You'll also find
important information on how to join the conversation in the Comic
Book Net, an archive of Comic Book Net fanfic, and other neat features!
The URL address is: http://www.cris.com/~Xenozoid/ComicBkNet.html

LOCATING THE ISSUES
-------------------
The latest issue is always available from all the systems linked into
The Comic Book Network.  Issues may be obtained through several online
pay services as well (ie; AOL, CompuServe, GEnie).  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 news articles (no reviews
accepted at this time...) to the editor: Xenozoid@cris.com.

SUBSCRIPTIONS
-------------
If you wish to receive these issues automatically through your internet
account, please address a message to Xenozoid@cris.com to be placed on
the subscription list.

________________________________________________________________________
------------------------------------------------------------------------
- End of Issue #.. see ya next week!
