Category Archives: JP/Japer
The Year Of Wonder Continues With “Wonder Woman: The True Amazon” On The Wednesday Run
It’s been quite a year for Wonder Woman, one of the world’s greatest and most recognized pop culture icons!
Created in 1941 by the psychologist and writer, William Moulton Marston, the greatest of the Amazons has seen both regular publication and acclaim in comic books, books, television, video games, board games, toys and film, for seventy-five years. It’s a true testament to her inherent characteristics, chiefly that of being timely and important to any age.
During her 75th year, Biff Bam Pop! has celebrated and highlighted various publications from DC Comics featuring Wonder Woman from the first issue of her new monthy series, to her inclusion in the Earth One graphic novel series with the release of (finally) her own book.
We even got super excited, along with millions of other fans, when the trailer to her first feature film debut (due to hit theatres early next year) dropped.
Today, DC Comics continues to celebrate the character with another, beautiful, standalone graphic novel, Wonder Woman: The True Amazon!
Now Is The Time For “Seven To Eternity #1” On The Wednesday Run
As regularly occurs at least once or twice a year, last week I began sifting though my collection of old comic book sci-fi and fantasy magazines published in the early 1980’s. I’m talking about issues of Heavy Metal and Epic Illustrated.
I love those periodicals! During those days, I already had an affinity for Batman and the Justice League, but it was in those monthly and quarterly magazines that I got my first taste of the visual representations of otherworldly planets, aliens, future tech and sword and sorcery. It’s where I first read Dredstar by Jim Starlin, Marada the She-Wolf by Chris Claremont and John Bolton, Ken Steacy’s The Sacred and the Profane, and the works of Richard Corben, William Kaluta, Kent Williams, Jon J. Muth and Jeffrey jones amongst so many others.
The stories and art in those magazines led to reading monthly comics like Alien Legion by Carl Potts, Alan Zelenetz, Frank Cirocco and Terry Austin, and Six From Sirius by Doug Moench and Paul Gulacy and, more recently (and more to the point) Black Science from Rick Remender and Matteo Scalera.
Why “more to the point”?
Because acclaimed writer Rick Remender is behind this week’s must-have Wednesday Run: Seven To Eternity #1!
It’s Time For The Crazy Necessity Of “Doom Patrol #1” On The Wednesday Run
A funny thing happened on the way to the Vertigo Comics section of the comic book stand: It wasn’t there anymore.
Well, it hasn’t been there for some time, really. We’ve been talking about it in semi-regular columns over the years here at Biff Bam Pop! The DC Comics “sophisticated” and “dark” imprint that gave us mature readings of Sandman, John Constantine: Hellblazer, Swamp Thing, Animal Man, Shade the Changing Man, Fables, Lucifer, etc., etc., etc., etc.
There are so many. One of your all-time comic book favourites from any publisher is either on that list or should be.
But Vertigo, due to some neglect, some strategic misdirection, and a lot of parent-company interference, withered on the vine’s edge. Currently, the imprint is trying to reestablish itself with creator-owned properties, in the vein of Image Comics, and publishing critically acclaimed series like Sheriff of Babylon and Astro City among others. But it’s a long way from where it once was, when it released mature takes on DC superhero properties.
Today sees the first release of a new, mature, weird, and decidedly Vertigo-esque take on a DC Comics property…but under the umbrella of a new imprint.
Today sees the release of Doom Patrol #1!
It’s A Cat, It’s A Bird, It’s “Angel Catbird Volume 1” On The Wednesday Run
If you’ve been reading Biff Bam Pop! regularly over the last few days, you’ll know that this past weekend in Toronto was a busy one:
Fan Expo Canada happened over four days in the city, as it does every year at the end of the summer, and all was good.
One of the major highlights during the convention happened on Saturday, September 4th, with the worldwide release of the first volume of the Angel Catbird graphic novel series, written by acclaimed Canadian novelist, Margaret Atwood.
You may know her works through high school, college, or university course readings, or you may have simply read her for pleasure: The Handmaid’s Tale, Alias Grace, The Blind Assassin, and many others.
Today sees the worldwide release of the novelist’s first graphic novel, Angel Catbird!
BBP! Fan Expo Canada: Day 4 Guide (Sunday)
Today is the last day of the 2016 version of Fan Expo Canada. Hopefully your body has held up because there’s still a lot to do today.
With it being a long weekend, many have set aside this day to bring their kids. And of course, the cos-players are still out in full effect at the convention, and those that thought they had enough yesterday are coming back today because they’ve realized that do want that one last thing, after all.
That makes Sunday, the fourth day, a pretty busy day inside the hallways and room of the Metropolitan Convention Centre.
Me? I’ve done my scouting over the last few days. And now I’m looking to hit some of the vintage vendors for some old time comics and graphic novels. Things that tickle my fancy, things to add to my collection.
So, from 10 AM to 5 PM today, here’s what Biff Bam Pop! thinks you should be checking out on Fan Expo Canada Day 4:
BBP! Fan Expo Canada: Day 3 Guide (Saturday)
It’s not a sprint. It’s a marathon.
And today’s marathon lasts from 10 AM to 7 PM and it will have you shoulder to shoulder with thousands – THOUSANDS – of other pop culture participants!
Saturday, Day 3 of Fan Expo Canada, is the busiest of the three days. And although that might mean some longer line-ups, it also means amazing atmosphere. The cos-players are out in full force today, so you’ll be seeing every character from comic book and Star Wars lore to video games, anime and manga. Needless to day, it makes for fantastic visuals!
Best of all, if you’re a shopper, you should start to see the beginnings of discounted items later this afternoon. Regardless, haggle anyway. Believe me, you’ll be successful in bringing a price down!
Besides the shopping and the sightseeing, here’s what Biff Bam Pop! thinks you should be checking out on Fan Expo Canada Day 3:
BBP! Fan Expo Canada: Day 2 Guide (Friday)
Like an appetizer at a grand feast, yesterday was tasty – but a taste was all it was!
How are your feet? Wearing comfortable shoes? Good. How’s your back? Is the strap on your pack strong enough to carry a heavy load of books, toys and other weighty paraphernalia? Excellent. You’re very nearly prepped.
Today begins Day 2 of Fan Expo Canada – and it’s the first of the two longest days of the pop culture convention operation, starting at 10:00 AM and running until 7:00 PM.
If you didn’t get a chance to make a run to those exclusives tables, make sure you do it first thing this morning – they’re not going to be around much longer. And if you want original art from some of your favourite pencillers and painters in Artist Alley, take it from me and do it now.
Here’s what Biff Bam Pop! thinks you should be checking out on Fan Expo Canada Day 2:
BBP! Fan Expo Canada: Day 1 Guide (Thursday)
Huzzah! You made it through the last sleep!
Today begins your personal hero’s journey into pop culture nirvana (and mayhem) with Day 1 of the four-day Fan Expo Canada convention!
Yesterday, we gave you a high-level view of some of the things you need to see and/or experience at the 2016 installment of Fan Expo Canada. You can read that piece right here.
Admittedly, there’s a lot to do. Hopefully, you’ve spent the requisite time reviewing the Fan Expo Canada website with this year’s guests, scheduling and general happenings. If you haven’t, go there now. Don’t worry. We’ll be waiting for you here when you get back.
Good. Now, hopefully you’ve got your ticket. If you don’t, what are you waiting for?
Open from 4 PM to 9 PM, Thursday is a good day for scanning the booths, getting your bearings, and figuring out prices at Fan Expo Canada. But if you know what you want, and you know it’s in limited supply, it’s also a good day to be strategic and get that stuff first. Beat the hordes coming in the next few days!
Here’s what you should be checking out on Fan Expo Canada Day 1:
Online Goes Hardcopy BOOM With “World of Tanks” #1 On The Wednesday Run
I’ve played my share of video games, both in the mature privacy of my home console (Skyrim) and in the shared online world against a bunch of kids who relentlessly kick my ass and call me names (Call of Duty).
It’s no great secret that video games, like comic books before them, have become fertile grounds to cross-pollinate into other mediums: chiefly film and television and even books. In fact, video games themselves have become bigger business than even Hollywood could ever dream – and Hollywood dreams big!
Once in a while, a video game makes the jump to the printed medium – and comic books are a particularly fertile ground to continue stories, expand on created artwork, and indoctrinate new or lapsed players into video-gaming.
Today is one of those days.
Today we get the MMOG online war game-turned-comic book mini-series: World of Tanks #1!
BBP! Previews: Fan Expo Canada 2016
If you live in and around the Toronto area, or enjoy travelling to the city, there are two certainties that the summer is very nearly over:
The Canadian National Exhibition opens its doors for two weeks and pop culture fans everywhere lose sleep in anticipation for the annual extravaganza that is Fan Expo Canada!
Celebrating its 22nd year, this year’s version of Fan Expo Canada looks to be the biggest and greatest one yet – and that’s truly saying something! Currently the third largest pop culture event in North America, the ever-growing 4-day celebration aims to host over 140,000 convention goers ambling through a sprawling 750,000 square feet of floor space at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, chock full of pop culture exhibitors, symposiums, industry talks, fans and stars!
That’s right.
Comic books. Movies. Television. Sci fi. Horror. Gaming. Anime. Art. Crafts. Costumes. And much, much more. Toronto comes alive with pop culture this coming weekend, and we here at Biff Bam Pop! couldn’t be happier!
Here are a few things we’re looking forward to between Thursday, September 1 and Sunday, September 4. Come on out and join us in pop culture nirvana – it’s just one more sleep away!
