How DC Comics Was Invented

Perhaps no one understands the concept of “heroes and villains” or “good versus bad” as well as Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson. Malcolm was born into a highly regarded Portland family who entertained guests such as Teddy Roosevelt and Rudyard Kipling. He found his calling as a young army officer, serving around the world in Japan and Russia. According to Wheeler-Nicholson, he “chased bandits on the Mexican border, fought fevers and played polo in the Philippines, led a battalion of infantry against the Bolsheviki in Siberia, helped straighten out the affairs of the army in France [and] commanded the headquarters cavalry of the American force in the Rhine.” It was only fitting then, that he would go on to found DC Comics, leaving behind a legacy of graphic novels that took a closer look at the struggle between heroes and villains.

Following the “Golden Age of comic books” came the “Silver Age” of the 1950s and 1960s, where DC Comics superheroes became a little more human. The Flash was the first DC character that wasn’t created by supernatural or alien means. He had been human, until a lab accident imbued him with superhero powers. While many more characters would follow this model, particularly by Marvel Comic Books, The Flash was the precursor and inspired an amalgamation of science fiction and superheroes that persists even today.

After “the Silver Age of comic books” of the 1950s and 1960s came “the Bronze Age” of the 1970s and 1980s. The Silver Age had introduced characters who were more “human” and less stereotypical do-gooders. They, like humans, hosted a range of emotions, interacted with other humans and struggled with complex psyches. During the “Bronze Age,” darker and previously-off-limits themes of drug abuse, personal vices, inner conflict and anti-hero character development entered the comic realm. Kids were no longer the only readers, so the business savvy comic book creator had to address more serious themes of society, personality defects and science.

The 1980s began what is known as “the Modern Age of comic books,” which persists today. This “Modern Age” builds off the Bronze Age but delves even further into the darker side of graphic novels, intertwining sex, drugs, vices, psychological struggles, imperfect anti-heroes, cynicism and social critique. During this time, the DC Comics Batman’s The Dark Knight series takes off, X-Men launches into the complex back histories of their characters and the Mutants went to war against the humans, and a number of apocalyptic comics graphic novels came out, threatening the end of the world.

Over the years, the success of DC Comics has owed much to the Radio/TV/Film/Video Game enterprises, which helped catapult the old comic characters back into mainstream intrigue. The adaptation of superheroes has come a long way from the 1980s campy Batman TV series starring Adam West. Today, much care must be taken in creating superhero films that impress, such as “Spiderman” or “Batman’s The Dark Knight,” rather than “Daredevil” or “Catwoman.” There is always the danger of over-saturating the market with superhero films, thus negating the box office appeal of the genre, so comic book creators are generally very guarded about doling out the rights for such projects. When done right, though, the superhero film becomes a blockbuster, profit-driving empire that Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson could have never imagined.

Oscars Fail: They Should have Given it to Mad Mickey Rourke

The Academy Awards have come and gone once again. Most of the awards went according to plan. The British were the big winners on the night, with Slumdog Millionaire scooping, well, nearly everything, and Kate Winslett getting the Oscar at long last. For me though, the thing that disappointed me the most was that Mad Mickey Rourke missed out on the Best Actor Oscar, one he was expected to walk away with. For me though I was really looking forward to seeing Mickey Rourke crazy things up again with yet another slightly insane acceptance speech.

Ultimately it was Sean Penn, not Rourke, who got the gong for his excellent performance as Harvey Milk. Now I’m not saying Penn didn’t deserve it. On the contrary, Milk was a great film and Penn’s role will live long in the memory I suspect. But am I the only one that just loves the crazyness that Mickey brings to the often staged and insincere PR stunt that is the Oscars?

While the female stars on the red carpet can turn up in all kinds of jaw dropping outfits, with men it’s usually the same old black tuxedo for everyone.But Mickey Rourke went against the grain by showing up in a shabby chic white tux with his shirt open. Of course he also wore his trademark designer sunglasses which have become part of his image in the awards season. Nuttiest of all was Rourke’s “Loki the dead chihuahua” necklace in tribute to his recently deceased pet, which he pointed out to every invterviewer he spoke to!

We were due for another wacky and memorable acceptance speech if Mickey Rourke had got the award.  Who knows what he would have come out with on the stage, chihuahua memorial necklace, glasses and all? I’ll never forget his previous antics at the golden globes. And more recently he brought the house down at the independent Spirit awards the night before the Oscars – see the video above.

I wouldn’t be surprised if there was some political manouvering going on behind the scenes that prevented Rourke from winning. Mickey himself had predicted he woudldn’t win because he’s pissed off too many hollywood hotshots in the past. “I stupidly said acting wasn’t a job for a real man. I threatened producers, raged at directors, forgot my agent’s name. I really burned my bridges. And a lot of people have long memories,” was the eerily accurate prediction from Mickey Rourke before the awards.

Sean Penn does deserve bonus points – he’s never a dull guy and his acceptance speech was interesting to say the least. To begin with his thank-you’s were directed at the Academy, whom he referred to as “commie, homo-loving sons of guns”! Penn then pulled out a small scribbled bit of paper, donned his prescription glasses, and after a few thank-yous proceeded with an impassioned plea for equal rights for gays and against the ban on gay marriages. Not quite as entertaining as Mad Mickey would have been – but better than gushing and thanking his mother for bringing him into this wonderful world.

Meanwhile the Mickey Rourke comeback continues!

An Overview Of Marvel Comics History

This year, Marvel Comics battled for supremacy with DC, with “Iron Man” versus “Batman, The Dark Knight.” Suffice to say, the classic Batman franchise won all the box office glory, becoming the second-highest grossing film of all time, after Titanic. However, Iron Man’s success was hardly something to scoff at, seeing as it was the fifth most successful comic book movie hit (grossing $318,223,785). The “Spiderman” movies were Marvel Comic’s cash cows, setting records as the top three Marvel movies ever made, as well as the three most successful films ever produced by Sony/Columbia. The X-Men franchise captivated audiences and critics with its dazzling special effects, costumes, acting and directing, while showcasing how appropriately a comic book series can compliment new advances in film technology.

Marvel Comics began as Timely Publications in 1939, founded by Martin Goodman who started Western, Mystery and Science Fiction pulp magazine in 1933. Graphic novels were becoming the next hottest thing, so publisher Goodman added an editor, managing editor and business manager and moved into an office on West 42nd Street in New York City. The first publication was Marvel Comics # 1 starring the Human Torch (Carl Burgos) and Namor the Sub-Mariner (Bill Everett). Their real blockbuster comic book series was Joe Simon and legendary Jack Kirby’s Captain America (debuting as “Captain America Comics #1″ in March 1941), which sold nearly 1 million copies!

The bulk of the memorable Marvel Comics came out during the 1960s under Stan Lee’s creative direction, featuring the unique illustrating styles of iconoclastic Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko. X-Men, Thor, Iron Man, Spiderman, The Incredible Hulk and Silver Surfer all emerged during this time. Over the next few decades, Marvel attempted to diversify into other lines intended for more mature audiences. Management shifted, cartoons and films were made, trading cards and merchandise were issued; and so the empire began. In 1991, junk bonds were offered by the owners, putting the company in jeopardy of bankruptcy. After narrowly escaping this dire fate, Marvel Comic creators began diversifying with different offshoots again, with “Ultimate Marvel” (to reinvent their old characters for a new generation), “MAX” (for mature readers) and “Marvel Age” (for younger audiences), which has helped them endure over the years. The success of the “Spiderman” and “X-Men” movies has renewed interest in the Marvel comic publications in recent years too.

Marvel Comics publisher Dan Buckley is looking to the future. He hopes that people will continue reading comic books using new formats like motion comics, as well as cell-phone and iPod comics or downloadable issues. He does worry about the loyal little comic book store owner, though. “We don’t want to do anything to hurt anyone in the short term. We’re still quibbling about what the primary form of revenue will be,” Buckley said, relaying that some comics can be found online for free. So far the internet has been a great promotional tool for the comic book industry.

Coke Subliminal Advertisment Review

This is a quick article about the placement of subliminal advertisement pictures by advertisers. Why they do it, and how they work.

If you look across the media you will find countless examples of various subliminal ads from across the decades and across all markets and product types. Everyone from coca cola, to local nightclubs, to bakers are using subliminal suggestions in their ads!

These tyles of adverts are arguably a little manipulative; they basically give an extra depth. Often you are not aware of the hidden suggestion, however it gets registered on an unconscious levelby your brain anyway. Other times you may see an advert wondering what’s the matter with it, or what is not quite right about it – perhaps even being a little mesmerised!

These adverts try to suck you in, to keep your attention for a longer period of time than other adverts, and to firmly lodge the image in your mind. Often the simplest ways to do this is to link the product to sex in the mind of the consumer. This is often as obvious as having a beautiful woman pictured holding the product in some state of undress. But sometimes the message is better hidden, i.e. subliminal.

For instance there is a famous advert from Coca Cola containing a subliminal image of a nude woman. She is not naked in the regular sense, but she is made out of ice. At first look you probably won’t see her, but she will be registered by your subconscious mind – if you look closer at the image you can see the outline of the woman lying down.

In an ever so slight way you are “attracted” to the product, and the brand. It makes Coca Cola a “sexy” product, a lively and energetic product. Perhaps just one advert like this won’t do much. However, when these types of adverts are done all the time and regularly refer to the female form they do start to make an impack and the brand gets linked to the female form, and in a way sex. The final result being that Coca Cola becomes a young and sexy brand, used by beautiful and popular people.

It’s not just Coca Cola using subliminal messages, examples can be seen everywhere. For more subliminal advertisementexamples visit our blog.

Comic Collector – Are You Interested To Become One?

So you want to become a comic collector? Perhaps it’s the vivid colors, clean lines and creativity of the comic book art that draws you in. Or perhaps it’s the compelling story lines, the delving into science fiction fantasy combined with character development that draws you in. Maybe you’re an aspiring artist studying Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko. You go to the comic book convention every year, so why not collect too? Most comic collectors are, in fact, die-hard, devoted fans. Comic book collection values range from a few dollars over face value to six-figures, so the financial side of things depends upon the condition, rarity and issue. If you decide to collect, then you should be in it for pleasure and a sense of community, more than for business.

If you’re a comic collector who already has a decent comic book collection, then you will need methods of preserving your treasures. High humidity, temperature fluctuations, lighting, poor air circulation, pets, dirt and mold can all hurt your precious comics if you’re not careful. Therefore, it is recommended that you store your gems within PET film, polyethylene or polypropylene storage bags. Some collectors prefer corrugated plastic boxes to give added protection against moisture damage. The newest way to protect comics is with submitting your comic books to the Comics Guarantee LLC, where your comic book collection will be inspected for flaws, graded and sealed using Barex, a plastic polymer in a process called “slabbing.” However, acid-free backing boards and mylar sleeves are said to be just as good for storage by many critics. It’s really all up to the individual. To fetch top dollar on your collection, you’ll need to know the rating and condition of your collection, through the CGC.

There are many places where a collector of comic books can buy or sell a comic book collection. Buyers can check comic book stores, the publishers’ websites (Marvel, DC Dark Horse, IDW), www.ebay.com, www.craigslist.org, www.milehighcomics.com, www.g-mart.com, www.comics-db.com, www.mycomicshop.com, www.amazon.com and Barnes & Noble. As can be expected, sellers can also unload their collections at many of these same places. At www.comicshoplocator.com, you can find a place to trade-in your old stash for quick cash, although this isn’t the way to make the best money. Auction houses are sometimes good, particularly if you have a full collection of a comic book series. You can find some at www.comics.heritageauctions.com, www.morphyauctions.com and www.christies.com. However, by far, the best way for a patient and savvy collector to sell is an internet auction like www.ebay.com, where top prices can be commanded.

A comic collector will naturally be curious about what old comic books are worth. Popular and respected guides include The Official Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide, Comics Buyer’s Guide magazine, Wizard Magazine, the Comics Buyer’s Guide Standard Catalog of Comic Books, and the Human Computing’s ComicBase software program. Online, comic collectors can also check out free resources like www.comicbookrealm.com, www.comicspriceguide.com or www.nostomania.com. At www.gpanalysis.com buyers can view price data gathered from online auction houses and private dealer sales, which are updated daily. Leveraging against several sources is usually the best way to determine an old comic’s true value.

Taking A Look At DC Vs Marcel Comic Books

DC Comic books began under different names back in 1935. It was called everything from “National Periodical Publications” and “All-American Comics” to “Detective Comics” and “Action Comics.” Superman came out in 1938, thus putting graphic novels on the map. Soon, Batman followed, as did other characters like Wonder Woman, the Flash and Green Lantern. Over the next few decades, TV series and radio shows would stem from DC comics and most recently, movies have brought a series like “Batman” to a revolutionary realm. Marvel comics, the other major publisher, began in 1938 following a merger between “Timely” and “Atlas Comics.” In the 1940s, Captain America paralleled WWII and gave Americans something to feel proud of. However, much of Marvel’s success is credited to writer Stan Lee, who emerged in the 1960s with his legendary Fantastic Four, Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk and X-Men. Now, movies and online comics keep Marvel fresh and ever-changing.

Motivation, cause and effect are all very important considerations when analyzing the difference between Marvel and DC. Marvel characters often struggle with a myriad of internal forces and mental battles. For instance, the Hulk has struggled with an explosive temper, while Spiderman has always struggled to balance his personal life with the demands of being a superhero. Wolverine also has competing nuances of animalistic urges and human civility.

Once action has been taken, these characters often ponder what has happened and sometimes second-guess themselves. These “very human-like” characters were generally ordinary but gained powers from science accidents, radiation exposure, spider bites, genetic mutation or some other event. The setting for Marvel graphic novels are in real places like New York, Los Angeles or Toronto. Some say Marvel puts a more modern spin on comic books and fulfills a more psychological need for its readers.

There are subtle but noticeable differences between Marvel and DC comic books. DC superheroes are focused on their own lives and purpose, whereas Marvel heroes are being hit with villains and extreme situations at every turn. DC characters are proud of their abilities and strong in their beliefs, often delving into superhero life because they feel tremendous emotional/psychological drives to do what’s right and seek justice. In contrast, Marvel comic characters struggle with the burden of their powers more often than not and long to pursue other ambitions.

There are competing arguments as to who reigns supreme, DC or Marvel. Some say the DC Comic books series will always be at the top because they’ve been around longer and were the first comic book creators to really “wow” the world with their characters. Superman, created in 1938, was the very first “superhero,” which proved to be a major moneymaker. Superman is the most powerful and strongest superhero, with a masterful grasp of his own abilities; super hearing, super strength, super speed, super breath and super sight. While super-villains wielding kryptonite have tried, no one can really top him, comic book fans will say.