All About Books and Comics » News and Events

Ask the Professor #2: Cyber-Comics

Phil — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:59:05 +0000

Question for the Professor:
Hello, Phil!
When I was a lad, back in the ’80s, I had the opportunity to buy a special edition of Iron Man. It was a futuristic comic book and the drawings were made entirely in computer graphic software.
Unfortunately I DIDN’T BUY it (how stupid I am) and now I can’t find it anymore! I looked all over the internet….
I would be very glad if you could help me!
Thanks,
Ed from Brazil

Impressively, I actually knew this one (although I had to do some Googling — and some reading in the Overstreet Price Guide, and online at the Grand Comics Database — to flesh out the details, so maybe it’s not that impressive). The book Ed’s thinking of is a Marvel (well, Epic) graphic novel from 1988, called Iron Man: Crash; it was created by Mike Saenz, and billed as “the first computer generated graphic novel.” It’s set about 30 years in the future, where Tony Stark is still around, long retired from heroing but keeping himself artificially young, and caught up in some industrial-espionage/spy/technowar thing. You can tell that Seanz had been reading a lot of cyberpunk stuff, and the influence of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (which had been published just two years before) is obvious — there’s even one of those patented Miller TV panel-grid info-dump sequences. The art is… primitive, in the same way that early CGI in movies was: pretty good on the special effects, but stiff and unconvincing with the humans, especially the faces. Still, considering that this came out a year before Tim Berners-Lee put the World Wide Web together for the first time, it’s an interesting achievement; if you were 15 years old when it came out, and into computers and comics, you’d have loved it, especially the seven pages in the appendix about how the book was created.

By the way, although Crash is billed as the first computer graphic novel, it’s not the first computer-generated comic. That honor belongs to Saenz too, though: in 1985, he created Shatter, a regular four-color comic book, for First Comics; it was a similar future-type Blade Runneresque story that had a one-shot debut, and then a 14-issue regular-series run (although Saenz left after the first two issues), and is certainly the reason he was able to pitch the Iron Man book to Marvel. As an even earlier attempt, it’s even more primitive in its art, but again it’s remarkable that he created it at all; Shatter and Iron Man: Crash, with their exaggerated pixels and awkward expressions and occasionally-cool colors and designs, will always have a small but significant niche in comics history.

Simpsons Event Pics

Marsha — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:16:20 +0000

A Big thank you to Simpsons Comic Artist Phil Ortiz and His Entourage Matthew and Michael for a wonderful Autograph Party this past weekend. To see a full array of photos from this great event please go to our Facebook Page here (whether you have a Facebook Account or not you can still view the pics).

Deal of The Week 1/24/12

Marsha — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:00:46 +0000

This week’s DEAL OF THE WEEK is 20% off our huge selection of comic packets. Get a run of comics from Marvel, DC or the many Indie publishers at a great price, and this week take 20% off the already reduced price. This offer valid 1/24/12 through 1/30/12. Not valid with any other offer, coupon, discount or bucks.

Deal of The Week 1/17/12

Marsha — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:54:53 +0000

Get a Free Bag and Board with the purchase of any New Comics this week (limit 25). This offer valid 1/17/12 through 1/23 and only if you mention the Deal of The Week. Not valid with any other coupons, discounts or bucks.

Simpsons Comic Artist At All About Books & Comics!

Marsha — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:15:11 +0000

Meet 5 Time Emmy Winner and Simpsons Comic Artist Phil Ortiz. Mr. Ortiz will be at All About Books and Comics signing autographs and sketching personalized Simpsonized Caricatures on Sat. Jan. 21, 2012 from 1 pm to 4 pm.

Mr. Ortiz is currently the lead pencil animator for the majority of Simpsons Comics from Bongo Comics and has worked for Bongo since 1993.

He has done character art and concept illustrations for the Disney Store and Hanna Barbera and worked for Disney Publishing.

Mr. Ortiz is a cartoon originator and 5 time Emmy winner and we are honored to have him at All About Books and Comics. He will sign autographs (we’ll have plenty of Simpsons Comics on hand) and do personalized Simpsons sketches for $25.00.

Phil Ortiz designed many Simpsons characters for Creator Matt Groening. Here are a couple of samples of individual sketches of people who have been Simpsonized!

Don’t miss this opportunity! Bring your family and friends Sat. Jan. 21!

Deal of The Week – 1/10/12

Marsha — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:07:08 +0000

This week’s DEAL OF THE WEEK is 20% off all Absolute or Omnibus Hardback Volumes. If we don’t have the one you want and it is in stock with our distributor you can order it at 20% off as well. Just be sure you mention the DEAL OF THE WEEK and let us know if you saw it on the website, FACEBOOK or Twitter. This offer valid 1/10/12 through 1/16/12 and not valid with any other coupon, discount or bucks.

New Years Day Sale!

Marsha — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 20:15:51 +0000

It’s that time of year again!
Our Annual New Years Day Sale!

25% OFF our Entire Inventory!*

*Including Most Consignment

Sunday, January 1, 2012
11am to 5 pm

Discount Comic Room Comics 49 cents each or Buy 100 for only $29.00!

PLUS- BIG SPENDERS BONUS

Spend $1500.00 and Get 50% off! *

* Maximum Discount on consignment is 25% off

Deal of The Week 12/27/11

Marsha — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 17:47:28 +0000

There are still plenty of Star Wars and Star Trek items left from the recent collection we obtained, although they are going fast. This wall will be changing soon so come in for our DEAL OF THE WEEK and take 20% off everything on the Star Wars/Star Trek wall! This offer is valid Tues. thru Fri. 12/27/11 through 12/30/11 and may not be combined with any other offers, coupons, discounts, or bucks.

DEAL OF THE WEEK 12/20/11

Marsha — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:02:31 +0000

Shopping this week in the malls is a bit overwhelming. If you are tired of going shopping and want to shop from home, you will love this week’s DEAL OF THE WEEK! Get 25% off anything on our online shop. Just use promo code DEALOFTHEWEEK. Pay online and we can ship it to you or your can check off that you want to pick up at the store. This deal valid 12/20/11 through 12/26/11 and only if you use the promo code DEALOFTHEWEEK. Valid online only, but store pick up is no problem. Not valid with any other discount, coupons or bucks.

DEAL OF THE WEEK 12/13/11

Alan — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:09:54 +0000

Check out the new display of Special Back Issue Comics on the South Wall. These gems would make a perfect holiday gift for you or someone you love. This week’s DEAL OF THE WEEK is BUY one from this wall and get the second one for 25% off. This offer is valid 12/13/11 through 12/19/11 and may not be combined with any other discount, coupon, bucks or layaway. Be sure to mention the Deal of the Week to get the discount and let us know if you saw it on the website, Facebook or Twitter.