My Adventures as a Hero on Free Comic Book & May the 4th Be With You Day!

Saturday, May 4th was Free Comic Book Day nationwide, and it was Star Wars "May the 4th be with you" day, too. In today's blog, you'll learn about both, and follow me to some of the many events in the city of Rochester, New Hampshire, where I participated in the costume contest as the Green Lantern.

(Photo: Me as Green Lantern, and behind me is a woman dressed as Death with a scythe, and  in the far back is a guy as the Batman from the 1966 TV show)

WHAT IS FREE COMIC BOOK DAY? Free Comic Book Day is an annual promotional effort by the North American comic book industry to attract new readers to independent comic book stores. It usually takes place on the first Saturday of May https://www.freecomicbookday.com/.

ROCHESTER, NH'S HUGE EVENT - In Rochester, NH it's a city-wide event! There were lots of vendors, artists, writers, novelists, toy vendors, comics vendors, food and music. I didn't even get to the comic book store because there was so much near the costume contest.

(Pic: Rob and John. We both participated in the costume contest, started talking and learned we have a lot in common. Credit: R.G.)

THE COSTUME CONTEST!  There had to be about 60-70 people participating in the outside costume contest. Fortunately, it was in the upper 50s, so it kept everyone cool (A little chilly actually). 

GREEN LANTERN FLIES AGAIN - I decided to go as Green Lantern (I've worn the costume before at a previous year comic-con). The character of Hal Jordan, test pilot turned galactic hero, Green Lantern, was created in 1959 by writer John Broome and artist Gil Kane, and first appeared in Showcase #22 and was an update to the original Green Lantern, Alan Scott, of the 1940s.  HOW I CREATED MY COSTUME - It took me about 1 month to put my costume together, but the top part I bought. I had to paint my cowboy boots green, find a bottom of black leggings, find a metal green lantern ring and elbow-length white gloves!

(Photo: One of the contestants dressed as the Sandman (comic book character also in the Netflix series) 

WHO IS THE SANDMAN? - When the Sandman, aka Dream, the cosmic being who controls all dreams, is captured and held prisoner for more than a century, he must journey across different worlds and timelines to fix the chaos his absence has caused.

(Photo: John to the left, and a woman dressed as Raven (right), the mystic from the DC Comics' Teen Titans supergroup - also a streaming show!)

WHO IS RAVEN -  Raven is the daughter of a demon named Trigon. She instead became a hero and joined the Teen Titans (that includes: Nightwing, Wonder Girl, Flash, Tempest, Cyborg and Beast Boy). She has energy projection abilities and uses magic.

(Photo: Two of the costume  contest coordinators)

THE FUN OF MEETING OTHERS - Costume contests are a fun place to meet people of like minds. After the contest, I was talking with John and Jon, two guys who manage the nearby Woodman Museum in Dover, NH. They had a table at the big event. 

JOHN'S AMAZING STAR WARS COSTUME - John created his storm-trooper costume of plastic and material and he said it took him 80 hours. It was incredibly ingenious. He said, "I'ts a suit of Phase II Clone Trooper armor, which appears in the 2000s Star Wars films. Mine is most closely referenced off a show that ran 2008-2013 called Star Wars: The Clone Wars. The pauldron signifies high rank, but I chose not to represent a specific character, rather, develop one of my own."

He also has good taste in comics I learned (what else do you discuss on Free Comics Day?)- Like Nightwing, Batman and Green Arrow- some of my favorites.

(L to R: John in his homemade Stormtrooper costume, a woman as a character I don't recognize, and (left) "Barf" from the movie Spaceballs (John Candy's character). Credit: R.G.)

WHAT IS "MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU DAY"? - Star Wars Day is an informal commemorative day observed annually on May 4 to celebrate the Star Wars media franchise created by filmmaker George Lucas.  Observance of the day spread quickly through media and grassroots celebrations since the franchise began in 1977.  Star Wars has millions of fans who celebrate this day every year. Star Wars is the second largest franchise in the world after Marvel and has the second-largest fan base in the world.

The date originated from the pun "May the Fourth be with you", from the Star Wars catchphrase "May the Force be with you."^[1] Even though the holiday was not created or declared by Lucasfilm, many Star Wars fans have chosen to celebrate the holiday.  It has since been embraced by Lucasfilm and the Walt Disney Company as an annual celebration of Star Wars.

Comics: The BEST Justice League of America Team Over the last 50 Years

    As a comic book fan since the 1970s, one of my favorite comics was the Justice League of America. Superheroes like Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and Flash were mainstays. In the 1970s and 1980s, that group had the BEST line up of members (in my opinion). Since that era ended, it's never been as good, despite 9 other iterations.  If DC Comics looked at the most popular issues, they'd go back to the "Satellite Era." 

   Because they haven't, and DC continues to leave out a lot of characters, I re-read my Six 500 page collections of the Justice League stories from the 70s and 80s . BTW-  This summer, DC Comics is going to launch an 11th iteration of the team, and I hope it's the same group as the "Satellite Era." 

   Here's a summary of that Era from Gamesradar... and if you want to see all the other iterations, click the link to the original article at the bottom of today's blog. 

 Justice League of America: Satellite Era

(Image credit: DC Comics)

From the late '60s through the early '80s, the Justice League wasn't just a team - it was practically an army. An expansive line-up of the DC Universe's greatest heroes, the definitive Justice League called their iconic satellite home, and is still referred to as the 'Satellite League.'

While this wasn't the first iteration of the League, it did set the template for the most popular versions of the team, with members ranging from the top-tier heavy hitters, to mid-card mainstays, and surprising additions. The Satellite League remains the definitive, prototypical version of the League that gave rise to Morrison's Pantheon, the animated league, and more.

Key members: Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), Flash (Barry Allen), Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, Wonder Woman, Atom, Green Arrow (Oliver Queen), Black Canary, Red Tornado, Elongated Man, Firestorm, Zatanna, Superman, Batman, Hawkman (Katar Hol), Hawkgirl (Shayera Hol)

LINK TO ALL JUSTICE LEAGUE ITERATIONS: https://www.gamesradar.com/best-justice-league-line-ups/

Baltimore Comic-Con Pt 2: A Creative Group of Heroes

This is part 2 of my (Rob) trip to Comic-Con over Labor Day weekend with our friends Stacey and Tom R. Stacey went as Batgirl and I went as the Green Lantern. Tom R. didn't dress up, and my Tom doesn't go. In this blog you'll meet a creative bunch of guys who didn't even mind going in drag as a hero!

LtoR: Green Lantern, Green Arrow, Old man, Aquaman Front), Robin, WonderWoman, Batgirl

GROUP #1:   Green Arrow, Old man, Aquaman, Robin, and Wonder Woman 
Although we didn't know who the guy was dressed as an old man with a white beard and hair, we did know the Green Arrow (check his TV show on the CW network), Aquaman, Robin and Wonder Woman were all on the 1970s/80s Super Friends Cartoon show  -and all appear in DC Comic books. 
We thought the guy that was brave enough to dress up as Wonder Woman deserved a special commendation. :) 


GROUP #2 - Superheroes seen on TV Shows on the CW Network!

L to R: GL, Supergirl, Superman, Green Arrow, Black Canary

SUPERGIRL is Superman's cousin from the Planet Krypton. She's younger that Superman. This series aired on CBS last season and introduced great supporting characters, including Jimmy Olsen, Cat Grant, Jonn Jonzz (the Martian Manhunter) and Win Schott (son of Superman's enemy the Toyman) and moved to the CW Network. This season it will also introduce Superman. 
Trailer: https://youtu.be/s3fzzslE4S8

ARROW (Green Arrow) - Green Arrow is a vigilante superhero who fights crime using archery, martial arts and technology. In his secret identity he is Oliver Queen, living in Star City as a wealthy playboy and billionaire industrialist turned outspoken socially-progressive politician.
Created by Mortimer Weisinger and designed by George Papp, he first appeared in More Fun Comics #73 in November 1941. Click for his full bio.
BLACK CANARY - (a character on the TV show Arrow)  -

Black Canary is a superhero vigilante who fights crime using martial arts and a sonic scream attack. She is one of the greatest fighters in the DC Universe, and also a strong tactical mind. Her costume is an attractive black outfit with fishnet stockings and blonde hair, and she is usually seen riding her motorcycle. There have been two Canaries to share the legacy. Dinah Drake was the original during World War II and the Golden Age of heroes. Her daughter Dinah Lance would take the position during the Silver Age when she grew old enough. Green Arrow fights alongside her most often as they are romantically involved. She has been a member of the Justice Society, the Justice League, Team Arrow and the Birds of Prey. Black Canary was created by Robert Kanigher and Carmine Infantino, first appearing in Flash Comics #86. (1947) Her more recognizable daughter was introduced by Roy Thomas in Justice League of America #220. (1983)

Trailer: https://youtu.be/vQMwiKQ2EI8

Baltimore Comic-Con Pt 1: Ghostbusters, Anime, The Flash

Ghostbusters with Stacey as Batgirl and Rob as Green Lantern

On Saturday, September 3, keeping with my (Rob) annual tradition, I went to Comic-Con in Baltimore. This year, my friends Stacey and Tom R. joined me for the fun, and Stacey dressed up as Batgirl, while I went (again) as the Green Lantern (Hal Jordan). This is part 1 of the photos, and I'll explain who the characters are that we posed with.

A creative anime character and rocket bunny

GHOST BUSTERS! - We met a quartet of ghostbusters with some impressive looking mechanical gear).

ANIME CHARACTER- We came across a young woman dressed as an anime character that none of us recognized. She had a cardboard rocket with a big bunny attached to it. If you know who it is, please let me know!  She actually came with a guy dressed as the FLASH, so of course, since the Flash is a superhero I love, I had to get a picture with him.

WHO IS THE FLASH? - If you haven't seen the BEST TV show ever currently on the CW network, get with it! The Flash is now going into season 3. He's been a comic book character since 1940. The first version of the Flash was a man named Jay Garrick who was also a member of the Justice Society of America. In the mid-50s, the character was revised as forensic scientist Barry Allen (1956–1985, 2008–present).

Rob as GL and the Flash!

 (The Flash is one of DC Comics' most popular characters and has been integral to the publisher's many reality-changing "crisis" storylines over the years. The original meeting of the Golden Age Flash Jay Garrick and Silver Age Flash Barry Allen in "Flash of Two Worlds" (1961) introduced the Multiverse storytelling concept to DC readers, which would become the basis for many DC stories in the years to come.)

Here's the trailer to Season 3 of the FLASH on the CW Network- Everything in Barry’s world has changed to become…Flashpoint. The Flash Season 3 premieres Tuesday, October 4th on The CW.
Trailer: https://youtu.be/Pz8JSgMERiQ
 

NEXT: A CREATIVE GROUP OF HEROES

Warner Bros. Announce Upcoming Superhero Movies

As a huge DC Comics superhero fan- this announcement from Warner Brothers is really exciting to me! - Rob

L to R: Aquaman, Green Lantern,Wonder Woman, Superman,Batman, Flash, Cyborg

Warner Bros. Announce Upcoming Superhero Movies

Warner Bros.   announced plans to release 10 D.C. Comics movies between 2016 and 2020. 

“Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” (2016), “Suicide Squad” (2016), Justice League (2017) “The Flash” (2018), Aquaman (2018) and a new “Green Lantern” in 2020. Zack Snyder is slated to direct the The Justice League films, of which there will be two, and the movie will star Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, and Amy Adams. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will star in “Shazam”, to be released in 2019.

If you can handle more excitement, Warner Bros. also announced plans to release three new lego films in the next in the next four years. “The Lego Batman Movie” will be released in 2017 followed by a sequel to the hugely successful “The Lego Movie” in 2018, aptly named “The Lego Movie 2.”
Here are the DC and Marvel Superhero Movies as of 10/20/14
2015:
May 1: Avengers: Age of Ultron
July 17: Ant-Man
August 7: Fantastic Four (Fox)

2016:
February 12: Deadpool (Fox)
March 25: Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice
May 6: Captain America 3 (not official title, reportedly "Civil War")
May 27: X-Men: Apocalypse (Fox) July 8: Untitled Marvel film unofficially widely believed to be Doctor Strange (new addition) August 5: Suicide Squad (new addition)
November 11: Sinister Six (Sony)

2017:
March 3: Untitled Wolverine sequel (Fox)
May 5: Untitled Marvel Film
June 23: Wonder Woman (new addition)
July 14: Fantastic Four 2 (Fox)
July 28: Guardians of the Galaxy 2
November 3: Untitled Marvel film
November 17: Justice League, Part 1 (new addition)
(unspecified date): Untitled Sony female Spider-Man spin-off
(unspecified tentative date): Sony Venom: Carnage Spider-Man spin-off (rumored to be dead)

2018: March 23: The Flash (new addition)
May 4: Untitled Marvel film
July 6: Untitled Marvel film
July 13: Untitled Fox Mystery Marvel film July 27: Aquaman (new addition)
November 2: Untitled Marvel film
(unspecified date): Amazing Spider-Man 3

2019: April 5: Shazam (new addition)
May 3: Untitled Marvel film June 14: Justice League, Part 2 (new addition)

2020: April 3: Cyborg (new addition) June 19: Green Lantern (new addition)

Baltimore Comic-Con: Part 3: Superheroes, a Spirit visit and Scrooge McDuck



Rob and a female GL

There were a lot of cool costumed heroes and villains walking around the Baltimore Comic-con, and here are some pictures that I took with some of them. I was dressed as the superhero Green Lantern again this year. In this final blog, you'll also read about how a special spirit paid me a visit.





L to R: Hawkeye, Venom, Capt. America, Green Lantern (me), Thor

I got to pose for a picture with the "Avengers" from the Marvel Comics series (and movie). From left to right are the characters: Hawkeye, Venom, Captain America, (me as Green Lantern) and Thor, the God of Thunder. 

A SPECIAL SPIRIT VISITS AT COMIC-CON:  You never know when someone who passed is going to be standing beside you, and our friend Ed, who passed in 1996 was with me at the Comic-con today. He used to read Uncle Scrooge comics (even as an adult) and laugh out loud at them. When I was walking around with Stacey and Tom R. we came across Scrooge McDuck's illustrator!   I knew that Ed was standing right there with me and he was as excited as I was!

Saw Don Rosa - Scrooge McDuck's illustrator! 

GOT TO MEET SCROOGE MC DUCK'S ILLUSTRATOR! -  Keno Don Hugo Rosa, known simply as Don Rosa (born June 29, 1951), is an American comic book writer and illustrator known for his stories about Scrooge McDuck, Donald Duck and other Disney characters. 



Scrooge McDuck

Scrooge McDuck is a cartoon character created in 1947 by Carl Barksand licensed by The Walt Disney Company. Scrooge is an elderly Scottish anthropomorphic Pekin Duck with a yellow-thrift, and within the context of the fictional Disney universe, he is the world's richest person.
Named after Ebenezer Scrooge from the 1843 novel A Christmas Carol, Scrooge is a wealthy Scottish business magnate and tycoon.
 

Baltimore Comic-Con Part 2: Cool Costumes

An amazing costume!

 There were a lot of cool costumed heroes and villains walking around the Baltimore Comic-con, and here are some pictures that I took with some of them. I was dressed as the superhero Green Lantern again this year.

L to R: Wonder Woman, Blue Lantern, Rob as GL, Guy Gardner Lantern, a female Green Lantern, and Star Sapphire

woman in a Robin shirt and an angel's behind!

a female Capt. America

Here's when all the Great Superhero TV Shows Start this Fall

There are 4 Television shows about superheroes this fall that we're looking forward to watching. Because they all have different start dates, we thought we'd put them together to make it easier for you!

SEPTEMBER 22, MONDAY: "Gotham" begins on the Fox network
Everyone knows the name Commissioner Gordon. He is one of the crime world's greatest foes, a man whose reputation is synonymous with law and order. But what is known of Gordon's story and his rise from rookie detective to Police Commissioner? What did it take to navigate the multiple layers of corruption that secretly ruled Gotham City, the spawning ground of the world's most iconic villains? And what circumstances created them – the larger-than-life personas who would become Catwoman, The Penguin, The Riddler, Two-Face and The Joker? 
http://www.fox.com/gotham/

OCTOBER 7, TUESDAY: The Flash begins on the CW network
 Barry Allen, a police forensic scientist is struck by lightning. After nine months in a coma, Barry awakens to find his life has changed once again – the accident has given him the power of super speed, granting him the ability to move through Central City like an unseen guardian angel.
www.cwtv.com/shows/the-flash

L: Green Arrow, R: The Flash

OCTOBER 8, WEDNESDAY: Arrow returns on the CW network
After a violent shipwreck, billionaire playboy Oliver Queen was missing and presumed dead for five years before being discovered alive on a remote island in the Pacific  He returned home with incredible fighting and bow and arrow skills that he uses to fight evil in Starling City.  Great characters, lots of family complications, Guest heroes: Black Canary, Huntress
 http://www.cwtv.com/shows/arrow/

OCTOBER 24, FRIDAY: Constantine begins on NBC network
Seasoned demon hunter and master of the occult John Constantine (Matt Ryan, "Criminal Minds") is armed with a ferocious knowledge of the dark arts and a wickedly naughty wit. 

Constantine on NBC

www.nbc.com/Constantine

Wow! Cool Justice League Kia Cars!

The FLASH car - front an center,

I stumbled upon a web page about an auto show in 2012 that featured Kia Rios that had detailing reflective of members of the Justice League (featuring Batman, Flash, Green Lantern, Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman and Cyborg). 

Batman car and Green Lantern car behind it

   Had I known this, I would've considered trading in my pick-up truck!  Just look at these cool cars. 

The justice league was swooping into the 2012 SEMA auto show with these DC Comics superhero-inspired kia models.  

I found the press release about them, too:

The Aquaman car!

LAS VEGAS, October 30, 2012 – Kia Motors America (KMA) and DC Entertainment kicked off the 2012 SEMA Show today in superhero style with five radical machines inspired by the members of the Justice League: The Flash Forte Koup, Aquaman Rio 5-door, Cyborg Forte 5-door, Green Lantern Soul and the previously unveiled Batman Optima.  Built by West Coast Customs, RIDES and Super Street, each of the vehicles feature custom artwork by legendary comic book artist and DC Entertainment Co-Publisher Jim Lee and are intended to raise awareness for DC Entertainment’s “We Can Be Heroes” giving campaign to help fight the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa.  Each Justice League character was assigned to a specific Kia vehicle based on personality and key attributes to create these five iconic works of art on wheels.   

L to R: Aquaman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Superman, Batman, Flash, Cyborg

“Working together with DC Entertainment, West Coast Customs, RIDES and Super Street to create a fleet of superhero-inspired machines has been an incredible collaboration and the end result is five one-of-a-kind Justice League cars that bring each of these legendary comic book superheroes to life,” said Michael Sprague, executive vice president, marketing & communications, KMA.  “We are proud to be raising awareness for the ’We Can Be Heroes’ giving campaign and look forward to unveiling three more crime-fighting Kias at future auto shows and comic conventions as our 10-month partnership with DC Entertainment continues.”

”It was a thrill to see custom cars based upon my Justice League artwork and sketches revealed at SEMA,” stated Jim Lee, co-publisher of DC Entertainment. “I have to tip my hat to the teams at West Coast Customs, RIDES and Super Street on their innovative work creating cars that represent iconic characters like Green Lantern, Cyborg, Aquaman and The Flash – all to benefit a great cause, ‘We Can Be Heroes’, and I’d like to thank Kia Motors America for supporting ‘We Can Be Heroes’.”

DETAILS ABOUT EACH CAR: Click for details on each Superhero Kia!

 

So Cool! THE FLASH comes to TV this fall- (Extended Trailer) !!

As a HUGE DC Comics superhero fan, I am so excited to hear that the CW Network is bringing the world's fastest superhero to TV.  It won't be long before the world learns what Barry Allen has become. Don't miss The Flash, coming Tuesdays on the CW Network.
 - CW remade Green Arrow (ARROW) into one of the best shows on television - and brought so much depth to the character.  Now, they're going to do the same with the Flash.
    Nicknamed the Scarlet Speedster and the "Crimson Comet" all incarnations of the Flash possess "super speed", which includes the ability to run and move extremely fast, use superhuman reflexes and seemingly violate certain laws of physics.  (More about the FLASH: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_%28comics%29)
   (BTW- Remember the FLASH in a live action television series in 1990, starring John Wesley Shipp.? I do! I have them on DVD!!)

 VIDEO LINK http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yj0l7iGKh8g&list=PL6abPzY300GXMqcRUBqRovXSy4Bh8jBIc&feature=share&index=2