Big WOW! Comic Fest 2013

Big Wow! Comic Fest is held yearly in San Jose, CA. Hosting one of the biggest Bay Area conventions for all ages. From strollers to walkers, convention goers can enjoy the wide variety this amazing event has going on.

If you're looking to enjoy some informative panels, Big Wow offered a range of topics from drawing without paper to costuming tips! Marvel Comics demigod, Stan Lee, was in the house this year to take photos and answer fan questions. A true legend!

We had a ton of fun and got to meet some exciting people and awesome cosplayers. Take a look!

We meet up with Mat Heagerty, the writer/creator of Just Another Sheep. Baaart had a blast talking all things sheep with this awesome dude. We look forward to having Mat over for a guest post later this year.

Baaart got to hang with the KOFY creepy movie time guys! 

The female version of Daryl Dixon, from the Walking Dead, took Baaart into her squirrel posse.

R2D2 was in the house! My son posed side by side with the lovable bot and his hero, Wolverine! 

Tons of amazing artwork! 

Our best buddy, Baaart! 

They look like twins! 

Even the troops got in on the action

We chatted it up with the outstanding dudes of Plotless Comics who bring the wild and hilarious Sadocat to life!

Thor was in the house to drop his hammer on mini Hulk. Hulk smash! 

The ladies loved R2 (R2 loved the attention)

All in all, it was a fabulous time for everyone! Looking forward to heading back to the convention next year and supporting these local writers and artists. I hope to see you there! 

Comic Review: Five Weapons #3 of 5 by Jimmie Robinson

Five Weapons #3 of 5 by Jimmie Robinson

By:Jimmie Robinson
Price:$3.50

Diamond ID:FEB130444

On Sale:April 24, 2013

Series:Five Weapons

At the annual school festival, Tyler is caught in a battle between the Archery club and the Exotic weapons club, but a new threat emerges from outside the school that could blow his cover and ruin everything

Since the main character, Enrique Garcia, is posing quite effectively as his best friend, Tyler Shainline, while attending the Five Weapons School, I'm just going to refer to him as Shainline. It's ... just easier that way.

Anyway, Five Weapons #2 left off with Shainline challenging the biggest bully on campus (figuratively speaking), Rick the Stick, leader of the Staff Club. And just like he did with the Knife Club's president, Jade the Blade, Shainline handily wins the challenge without the aid of a weapon of his own. But by doing so, he's further drawn the ire of the school's faculty, led by Principal O.

At this point in the series, the middle-grade vibe has basically taken over, with action and dialogue that feels perfectly suited for a Saturday morning cartoon. He's making friends, has a crush on the cute knife-wielding girl, and his enemies are shaking their fists in anger. No one, however, has discovered his true identity though, and that may be at risk when Joon the Loon is tasked with spying on him to learn his weakness.

The cleverness of the series has reached a peak with me at this point, and Shainline's evasiveness and demeanor is starting to come off as smarmy when interacting with his opponents. At least he retains likability during the breaks between action scenes, bantering with his new friends. Where the apt pupil schtick is running a little thin, the intrigue and suspense involving Shainline being found out, and even potentially defeated, is building nicely. And that helps to keep me interested in the rest of the series.

Still not sure why he is attending the school under false pretenses, so I'm hoping the fourth issue clears that up.

review issue #1

review issue #2

3 1/2 Sheep

Guest Reviewer: Gef Fox

Wag The Fox: a den for dark fiction

Author Guest Post: Jessie Lane + Giveaway

Top 5 Things You Should Know About Dating A Wolf Shifter

Advice from Jenna O’Conner

I’ve recently found myself in a pickle of a situation. You see, I’m not human, but neither am I considered ‘normal’ for the supernatural Other community my family comes from. Because of that, they’ve hidden me in a small town away from all Others my entire life. Then I decided to leave that small town before my loving family inadvertently smothered me with their good intentions, and landed the opportunity of my dream job on a big city SWAT team. Problem is, my first day on the job I met this guy, Adam. Maybe calling Adam ‘a guy’ is a joke. He’s more than just some guy. He’s an Alpha wolf shifter of a powerful Pack, who gives a new definition to the words determined and growly. So I’ve decided to put together warning list for all other women who find themselves suddenly the object of obsession by one of these possessive wolves.

1) Shifter males give a new definition to the word possessive. If they could tattoo the word ‘MINE’, or ‘Property of ____’, all over every inch of your skin and get away with it, you better believe they’d do it in a heartbeat. Even if they had to knock you unconscious in order to get it done. Since they can’t do the tattoo thing, they tend to try and make sure you’re claimed with creative ways of covering your body in their scent. There’s also this viscous bite they want to give you that covers your neck, called a mating Mark. At this point, I’m blatantly ignoring the similarities between a Shifter’s possessive behavior and the profiles they taught us about stalker type tendencies in the Police Academy for my sanity’s sake.

2) Something hairy is bound to happen at any moment. Pun intended. No, seriously, beware ladies. These guys can drop their drawers and shift to their beasts at any given moment. So I hope you’re not shy about nudity because it certainly doesn’t bother them. However, it can be a bit embarrassing if they try to get naked in public. Human Police Officers tend to want to arrest them for breaking public indecency laws. This can be annoying.

3) Common misconception humans have about Wolf Shifters, or as they like to call them ‘Werewolves’. Wolf Shifters DO NOT howl at a full moon. However, they do suffer from extreme bouts of whatever emotion they’re feeling. Rage, curiosity, playfulness, or lust. Any of these can lead to roars of rage, temper tantrums of epic proportions, and sporadic shifts that can lead to jubilant howls as they chase their prey. If you get caught in this type of situation, you better hope you’re not the prey. If it’s the surge of lust you get to experience though, enjoy!

4) Whatever you do, do not flirt with another male, no matter the race, while you are in your Wolf’s vicinity. Aggressive species, remember? Especially if your Wolf Shifter hasn’t had the chance to Mark you yet. It could lead to the death of some poor unsuspecting schmuck.

5) Beware their bite! The man wants to gnaw on my neck like it’s a chew toy and he thinks I’ll be okay with it! Can you believe that? Everyone around me says that it’s one of the most sacred things in the Shifter culture, to receive the Mark from your mate. You’re supposed to display it with pride so that everyone in the Other community can see their equivalent of a wedding band. All I can think about is not wanting to look like a used chew toy. What’s wrong with these people?! Of course, if Adam gets his paws on me one more time to lay some of those scorching hot kisses on my lips, I may forget my reservations about that scary sounding bite and let him Mark, Mark, Mark away.

Author Bio:
Jessie Lane is the writing team of Crystal Leo and Melissa Pahl. The two sisters-in-law share a passionate love of naughty romance, cliff hanging suspense, and out-of-this-world characters that demand your attention, or threaten to slap you around until you do pay attention to them. Because really, it is ALL about the characters. (They're kind of megalomaniacs - but don't tell them that we said that.)
Their first YA novel, The Burning Star, was released in May 2012. Big Bad Bite is their second novel, but their first adult paranormal romance, and was released in January 2013. Their third book, Secret Maneuvers, releases on June 15, 2013, and will be the start of a new adult contemporary romance series (Ex Ops Series). They are now working on their next three novels, Walk On The Striped Side (Big Bad Bite Series #2), Stripping Her Defenses (Ex Ops Series #2), and The Frozen Star (YA Star Series #2).
With these projects underway, they are looking forward to showing the rest of the world their crazy stories, heroes and heroines that often plague their minds until written, and hope you will join them on their journey!

Social Websites:

Website: http://jessielanesite.blogspot.com/ 
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessie-Lane/123971541071199 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessieLaneBooks 

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6150577.Jessie_Lane 

Amazon Author Page:http://www.amazon.com/JessieLane/e/B00CN02LZM/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

            

***GIVEAWAY***

One lucky person will win an ebook copy of Big Bad Bite! Leave a comment with the following: 

1. Your Email Address
2. What's the best thing about dating a wolf shifter? 
Contest ends May 25th at midnight! 

Sunday Swag: Allison Pang

Sunday Swag Team!
Riverina Romantics 
 The Jeep Diva I Smell Sheep 
Froggarita's Bookcase Books, Books & More Books 

Now you have 5 chances to get your swagger on

Today's featured author: Allison Pang
(click cover to go to amazon page)

About the Author:

website-FB-twitter-blog-Sad Sausage Dog webcomic-Word Whores blog

A marine biologist in a former life, Allison Pang turned to a life of crime to finance her wild spending habits and need to collect Faberge eggs. A cat thief of notable repute, she spends her days sleeping and nights scaling walls and wooing dancing boys….Well, at least the marine biology part is true. But she was taloned by a hawk once. She also loves Hello Kitty, sparkly shoes, and gorgeous violinists.

She spends her days in Northern Virginia working as a cube grunt and her nights waiting on her kids and cats, punctuated by the occasional husbandly serenade. Sometimes she even manages to write. Mostly she just makes it up as she goes.

I adore these trading cards! I don't really want to part with them, but I'm a giver... and a whiner <G>

artist Darchala

will add some sheep swag too!

Head over to these blogs and win more Swag!

Comic Review: The Mighty Skullkickers #1 (Skullkickers #21) by Jim Zub

The Mighty Skullkickers #1 (Skullkickers #21)
cover A
Story by: Jim Zubkavich

Art By: Edwin Huang

Cover By: Edwin Huang & Jim Zubkavich

Variant Cover by: Chris Stevens
Price: $3.50

Diamond ID: FEB130409

On Sale: April 24, 2013

Series: Skullkickers

Image Comics

MIGHTY SKULLKICKERS: A classic relaunch that blazes a new trail with familiar fan favorite sensibilities. A bold, new direction, a continuing story and a brand new adjective! Our twenty-first issue is brand a new #1! Our B cover is a variant with the original numbering, in case readers want their issue super-duper "old school."

Rex and Kusia have made peace with the tribe of talking apes that were ready to stop their skulls like melons in the last issue. But Rex had to prove his worthiness by passing the test inside the Pool of Great Reflection. Kusia got a free pass, because apparently elves are already in the apes' good books. So, Rex winds up having to duke it out with his doppleganger down in the pool, which comes with its own unique challenges, and ultimately Rex walking away with "Double guns, Baby!"

Meanwhile, their dwarf comrade in arms has finally washed up on shore looking a little green around the gills. On the bright side, at least he doesn't have gills, though the glowing red eyes are a new accessory since getting expelled from Hell.

Cover B

A little less action, but even more humor, is what comprises this Skullkickers issue. And it looks like Rex and Kusia have an army of apes to back them up in their impending battle with Thool. But hard to say how the dwarf fits into the picture, as he has a headstart over them in getting to the fortress that lies at the center of the tropical island of doom.

The least engaging issue for me so far, but considering how phenomenal the previous issues were, the bar is set incredibly high and this is still a darned good book to keep fans of the series salivating for more. And the artistic reference material included at the back of the issue was equally comical. Eagerly anticipating Secret Skullkickers #1 (Skullkickers #22).

4 Sheep

Guest Reviewer: Gef Fox

Wag The Fox: a den for dark fiction