Baltimore Comic-Con #6: Two Famous Comic-Book Talents and Mysterious Japanese Characters

Neal Adams pic of Spectre, Batman and Deadman

There were many famous folks at the Baltimore Comic-con who had tables and were doing signings of the comics or their artwork.
NEAL ADAMS - One of my all-time favorite artists, Neal Adams was there, and was signing copies of comic book covers he's done since the 1970s. He's amazing. The line was too long, so I couldn't meet him, though. He's drawn many issues of Batman, and my other favorite hero, the Spectre, who you just met in a previous blog.

Art Baltazar sketching for a fan

ART BALTAZAR - Art Baltazar is an American comic book artist and writer who currently works for DC Comics.    He's worked on lots of comics for children including: Tiny Titans (which the two won a 2011 Eisner Award for Best Publication for Kids^,  Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam! and Young Justice. He's also worked on  Deep-sea Duel and Royal Rodent Rescue (both DC Super-Pets!) with our friend John Sazaklis.  We couldn't get close enough to meet him either (line was too long), so we took a picture.

Paul Kupperberg, me as The Green Lantern, Tom R.

PAUL KUPPERBERG TAKES ME BY SURPRISE! - While Tom R. and I were walking around the convention center floor, a gentleman came up and asked for a picture with me (I was dressed as the Green Lantern). It was Paul Kupperberg! He's a former editor for DC Comics, and a prolific writer of comic books and newspaper strips. He told me that he wrote so many issues of Green Lantern that he wanted to have a picture with me. I was so excited!  He's written about 600 stories, and I've read many of them. He told us that one of the Green Lantern Corps members he created was the squirrel-like creature named Ch'p (cross between a squirrel and a chipmunk). He wrote the Flash, Wonder Woman, Crisis on Infinite Earths, and so much more! Now he's writing two new ongoing series for Archie Comics which began in August 2010 in the second issue of Life With Archie: The Married Life, in magazine format.

JAPANESE COMIC CHARACTERS - I don't remember who these guys were dressed up as, but Tom R. did... now I can't remember. If you know, let me know! They were pretty comical, though!

NEXT: TWO BLUE CHARACTERS!

Baltimore Comic-Con #5: Two Mysterious Heroes: The Spectre and Hellboy

The Spectre and Green Lantern

I love mysterious heroes. Maybe it's because I've been able to talk with dead people since I was a teenager. Sometimes now when I get messages, I can actually even draw their faces - and I do. Anyway, I got to meet one of my all-time favorite mysterious heroes at Comic-Con, who is both a ghost and a superhero: The Spectre!



WHO IS THE SPECTRE? - He's one of my ALL-TIME FAVORITE Characters:  A superhero who happens to be a ghost. 

From Adventure Comics #432 Cr: DC Comics

The character first appeared in a next-issue ad in More Fun Comics #51 (Jan. 1940). He was Jim Corrigan, former police detective that was murdered by the mob, encased in cement in the bottom of a river. God had given Corrigan a chance to come back as his "spirit of vengence" and destroy all evil. He would never rest until all of the evil was destroyed from the world (so he'll be around forever).
 - In the 1970s, when I first read the Spectre he killed murderers in gruesome and horrific ways that for some reason, I thought justified and interesting - Like turning a murderous man to wood and then putting the log through a sawmill. That's justice!  Other stories showed  criminals being transformed into everything from broken glass to melting candles.

Hellboy!

  In the 2000s, the Spectre faced complex, morally-ambiguous situations that posed certain ethical questions, one example being: What vengeance should be wrought upon a woman who killed her abusive husband in his sleep?
  The Spectre is a powerful superhero and a ghost. The Spectre has all the abilities a god would have including, but not limited to, manipulation of time and space, control over all matter, invulnerability, and limitless strength.

I also ran into "Hellboy!"
WHO IS HELLBOY?  - You may remember if you saw the two movies (I loved the FIRST MOVIE), is a former demon who renounced hell to save the world against the evil demons.  (for the movie trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ob9J3kCELXE )
A well-meaning demon whose true name is Anung Un Rama ("and upon his brow is set a crown of flame"), Hellboy was summoned from Hell to Earth as an infant on December 23, 1944 (given as his birth date by Mike Mignola) by Nazi occultists (spawning his hatred for them). He was discovered by the Allied Forces; amongst them, Professor Trevor Bruttenholm, who formed the United States Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense (BPRD). In time Hellboy grew to be a large, red-skinned demon with a tail, horns (which he files off, leaving behind the signature circular stumps on his forehead), cloven hooves for feet, and an oversized right hand made of stone.  . Although a bit gruff, he shows none of the malevolence thought to be intrinsic to demons, has a strong sense of humor and works with other strange creatures in the BPRD. This is said to be because of his upbringing under Professor Bruttenholm, who raised him as a normal boy.
Hellboy works for the BPRD, an international non-governmental agency, and himself against dark forces.

NEXT: TWO FAMOUS COMIC BOOK FOLKS AND SOME WEIRD JAPANESE CHARACTERS
--- then in 2 days: TWO BLUE GUYS
--- then in 3 days: MY FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE COMIC-CON

Baltimore Comic-Con #4: Green Lantern Meets The "Batman Family"

LtoR: Nightwing, GL, Red Robin, Robin, Batman, Catwoman

There were plenty of Batman-related characters at the Baltimore Comic-Con.
 WHAT IS THE BATMAN FAMILY? -  For those who don't know, Batman has had four Robins. Of the four Robins, one grew up to become "Nightwing" (Dick Grayson, the original Robin); one became the "Red Hood" (Jason Todd, second Robin murdered by the Joker and resurrected by some merging of multiple universes); "Red Robin" (Tim Drake, a computer savvy teen who deduced Batman's identity); and the last Robin (Damian Wayne, Bruce Wayne's illegitimate son born of a drug-induced night with a female leader of global assassins).  Currently, Batman has no Robin, but that may change. There's also a Batgirl and a Batwoman in current comic lore.
  Being a  HUGE Batman fan, and a HUGE fan of Robin and most of his grown up incantations (except the Red Hood- never liked his personality), I was thrilled to see all of those characters represented by teens who would be the right age!

Red Robin, Robin, Nightwing, Batwoman

 BATGIRL (not pictured) came about as a result of the 1966 Batman TV series when the producers needed a female lead. So, Barbara Gordon debuted in Detective Comics #359 titled, "The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl!" in 1967. Depicted as the daughter of Gotham City police commissioner James Gordon, her civilian identity is given a doctorate in library science. In the past, the Joker shot her in the spine, paralyzing her for 3 years. Barbara regained her mobility after undergoing experimental surgery at a South African clinic.  Although she resumes her work as Batgirl one year after her recovery, she continues to suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder, causing her to hesitate in battle when exposed to gunfire that could result in receiving new spinal damage. The character also exhibits survivor guilt due to the fact she has made a full recovery from her paralysis while others have not. *SO, if you think comics are for children, think again!*

Red Robin and Robin battle Harley Quinn (Center)

BATWOMAN - The "controversial" character - Batwoman is Kate Kane, a former member of the U.S. Army. The modern Batwoman is written as being of Jewish descent and as a lesbian in an effort by DC editorial staff to diversify its publications and better connect to modern-day readership. HARLEY QUINN, VILLAINESS - Harley Quinn is a fictional character, a super villain in the DC Universe. The character was introduced on September 11, 1992, in Batman: The Animated Series.  She is clad in the manner of a traditional harlequin jester. The character is a frequent accomplice/girlfriend of Batman's nemesis the Joker.

Catwoman!

WHERE WAS THE JOKER? - Well he was around, I saw someone who looked like him, but he must've been hidden away plotting something!   
CATWOMAN - Catwoman is Selina Kyle. She first appeared in Batman #1 (Spring 1940) in which she is known as The Cat. She started off as a jewel thief and adversary of Batman. Now, she's a superhero most of the time, and sometimes a thief with a conscience, a member of one of the Justice Leagues, and has romantic interests in Batman. I love the character!

NEXT: TWO MYSTERIOUS HEROES: THE SPECTRE AND HELLBOY

Little Italy Birthday Fun

lunch outside at Gennaro's Restaurant

On Sunday, Sept. 15th we celebrated Tom's mom's birthday a day early and surprised her with an afternoon in Baltimore's Little Italy. We had a great lunch outside on the sidewalk in front of Gennaro's Restaurant (who have amazing grilled chicken sandwiches). Afterward, we walked several blocks to Vaccaro's Italian Bakery Cafe, where we celebrated with dessert. Tom had Gelato, while Mom, (Tom's stepdad) Bob and I enjoyed chocolate hazelnut cake. It was awesome! It's such a pleasure to have such a great family here for me. :)

We loved lunch at Gennaro's in Little Italy, Baltimore!

Getting goofy with the camera

Tom holding up traffic ??  outside of Vaccaro's

The world's best dessert in Vaccaro's!

Baltimore Comic-Con #3: Green Lantern Meets The Flash and his Rogues' Gallery

The Flash... ready to dash!

Today's blog is a continuation of some of the cool characters I had the opportunity to meet at the Baltimore Comic-Con, when I dressed up as the superhero "Green Lantern" and met my friend Tom R.  So, I'll take you on a journey of more interesting characters and tell you who they are!

Flash exudes energy on the run

THE FLASH! - Barry Allen, a police scientist,  gained super-speed when bathed by chemicals after a shelf of them was struck by lightning. He adopted the name The Flash after reading a comic book featuring the Golden Age Flash.

Mirror Master, Green Lantern, Capt. Cold!

Flash possess "super-speed," which includes the ability to run and move extremely fast, use superhuman reflexes and seemingly violate certain laws of physics. In 1990, the Flash came to television and starred John Wesley Shipp.

THE FLASH'S ROGUES GALLERY - I stumbled upon two guys dressed up as two villains that continually harass the Flash. Neither Tom nor I have ever seen anyone dress up as villains in Flash's "Rogues Gallery" so this was a treat.
MIRROR MASTER (left)- Mirror Master is Sam Scudder, a supervillain and recurring foe of the Flash. Scudder was a convict, was determined to learn how to get inside the reflection of a mirror. Stumbling into a hall of mirrors, he experimented and discovered a way to get in his own reflection. He has considerable technical expertise and skills involving the use of mirrors and used this power to become the criminal Mirror Master.

Mirror Master, Green Lantern and Capt. Cold

CAPTAIN COLD - real name Leonard Snart, he's the leader of the rogues. According to DC Comics, Leonard Snart was raised by an abusive father and took refuge with his grandfather, who worked in an ice truck. When his grandfather died, Len grew tired of his father's abuse and set out to start a criminal career. Snart joined up with a group of small-time thieves and in planning out a robbery, each was issued a gun and a visor to protect their eyes against the flashes of gunfire. This visor design would later be adapted by Snart into his trademark costume. In recent years he has added a radio receiver to them which picks up the police band to monitor local law enforcement.


NEXT: MEET THE "BATMAN FAMILY" 

Happy birthday Mom!

Today is Tom's mom's 75th birthday and we've got a special celebration planned in the form of a day out. I thought I'd write the blog today, because Tom's mom, my mother-in-law, is one of the BEST mother-in-laws ever. My own mom is suffering from dementia, and it's hard to have a conversation with her, so having a great mother-in-law is critical for me. Tom's mom, Ruth is caring, considerate, kind-hearted, fun, and always has adventures. She also spoils us and her canine grandkids. In fact, they all love visiting grandma and grandpa and  get all excited when we tell them we're headed for a visit.
    I love calling a couple of times a week and checking in - It's a rare thing to have such a great mother-in-law, and I am SO happy to call her "mom." So, mom, today, not only are YOU celebrating your birthday, but so are we. We love you!

Baltimore Comic-Con #2: Green Lantern Meets Spiderman, Superman and 2 Young Fans

Spiderman, Green Lantern, ???, Superman

There were a lot of great costumed characters at the Baltimore Comic-con, and  I managed to find three of them together for one picture, that included Spiderman, Superman, and a woman I am unfamiliar with. We all decided to pose for a picture.

SPIDERMAN - Spider-Man was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko, he first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15 (August 1962). Once bitten by a radioactive spider he obtained the same "powers" as a spider. As a college student scientist, he created chemical "webbing." Over the years, the Peter Parker character has developed from shy, nerdy high school student to troubled but outgoing college student, to married high school teacher to, in the late 2000s, a single freelance photographer, his most typical adult role.

SUPERMAN - Superman was created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, high school students living in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1933. Superman first appeared in Action Comics #1 (June 1938) - and it's worth 2 million dollars today! Born on Krypton, rocketed to Earth before his home planet exploded, raised by a couple in Kansas, he learned of his superhuman strength, flight, heat vision, cold breath, and has compassion and care for everyone. He's a member of the Justice League with Green Lantern, Batman, Wonder Woman and others.

a little fan and Green Lantern

Little fan and Green Lantern

A LITTLE FAN - While walking down one of the aisles in the convention, I heard a little boy's mother behind me say "Look! There's Green Lantern!" So, I turned around and introduced myself to the little guy and asked if he wanted a picture or two, and his eyes lit up. Here we are posing for a couple of pictures together. 

GL and Black Bolt

BLACK BOLT - The next guy we came across was a superhero I hadn't see in comics for quite awhile, so I had to ask Tom R., who told me he was "Black Bolt." Black Bolt's primary superhuman ability is the power to harness electrons. Black Bolt's most devastating offensive weapon, and one of these phenomena based upon the particle interaction, is his actual voice. A whisper can level a city, cause distant dormant volcanoes to become active once more, shake entire continents apart and generate tremors on the far side of the planet. He can channel energy, and manipulate particles and electrons. He has flight and telepathy and once led a group of superheroes called the "Inhumans."

GL and Black Bolt Spread their wings

IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHO GREEN LANTERN IS... A Green Lantern is basically a "space cop" and there are thousands of them around the cosmos. Each Green Lantern possesses a power ring and green lantern that gives the user great control over the physical world as long as the wielder has sufficient willpower and strength to wield it. The ring is one of the most powerful weapons in the universe and can be very dangerous, that can create constructs by sheer will. I went to Comic-Con as the most famous Green Lantern, Hal Jordan.







NEXT: FLASH'S ROGUES GALLERY AND THE BATMAN FAMILY

Baltimore Comic-Con #1: Green Lantern Meets Robin, Aquaman, Mera and Whiplash

Green Lantern (Rob) and Robin

I (Rob) returned to my favorite convention this year, the Baltimore Comic-Con, with our friend Tom R. Both Tom R. and I are huge comic book/superhero fans and we've been going to the convention together for the last couple of years. Last year I met two other Green Lanterns and participated in the costume contest, and the three of us won second place. This year, I opted not to participate in the contest but walk around as the Green Lantern (Hal Jordan version) and meet other costumed folk and take pictures (while checking out the comics). This is the first installment.

Green Lantern and Robin

ROBIN THE BOY WONDER -  One of my all-time favorite characters is Robin. As I came into the convention center, there was a 10 year old boy, about Robin's age, dressed up in the PERFECT Robin costume, so I had to get a picture with him. Robin is Batman's side-kick (for anyone that lives on another planet).  The character's first incarnation Dick Grayson debuted in Detective Comics #38 (April 1940). Robin grew up and took on the identity of Nightwing, and then Batman took in Jason Todd, who became the second Robin. Todd was killed by the Joker, and then Batman took in Tim Drake as Robin (after Tim actually figured out Batman's identity). Drake grew up and became Red Robin, and then Batman's illegitimate son, Damian took up the Robin mantle. Damian was killed in 2013 in the comics and the Robin role has yet to be re-filled.

AQUAMAN AND MERA - Aquaman is a superhero that I've loved since I was a kid. King of Atlantis with his wife and queen, Mera by his side. I ran into this couple on the comic-con floor and had to get a picture. Both Green Lantern and Aquaman are members of the Justice League of America. The Aquaman character is a lot older than most people think. He's been around since More Fun Comics #73 (November 1941). Aquaman was Arthur Curry, the son of Tom Curry, a lighthouse keeper, and Atlanna, a water-breathing outcast from the lost, underwater city of Atlantis. Due to his heritage, Aquaman discovered as a youth that he possessed various superhuman abilities, including the powers of surviving underwater, communication with sea life, and tremendous swimming prowess. Eventually, Arthur decided to use his talents to become the defender of the Earth's oceans.

WHAT IS MERA'S ABILITIES? -  Mera  has the unique ability to form "hard water" objects, as well as super strength and powers related to her adaptation to live under water. She has been shown to be powerful enough to control, albeit briefly, huge amounts of water, enough to pull an entire army out to sea.

WHIPLASH - If you saw the movie "Iron Man 2," the actor Mickey Rourke played the villain called "Whiplash." I didn't know who the villain is, because I don't read Iron Man, but I learned that he has a "cybernetic battle harness" that allowed him to wield a half a dozen whips at one time.

More on Marvel.com: http://marvel.com/universe/Whiplash_(Mark_Scarlotti)#ixzz2eLrKIddV

Whiplash

NEXT: SPIDERMAN, SUPERMAN AND 2 YOUNG FANS

UK Trip Blog #60: Final Trip Blog: Leaving Langton House B&B

Stained Glass Window at Langton House

Our parting picture outside Langton House B&B

Our last day in the U.K. was Monday, June 24, 2013 and after spending the morning in Windsor and Eaton touring we returned to the Langton House Bed and Breakfast to catch our cab to the airport. We loved staying at Langton House and encourage anyone visiting Windsor to stay there with hosts Paul and Sonja. They're wonderful, warm, personable, accommodating and make great breakfasts! The rooms are decorated nicely and comfy, and the location is perfect for a visit to Windsor - you can walk anywhere!  One of the best parts is that last year we befriended Paul and Sonja, and when we stayed with them, it was like being at home with good friends. We took a picture of one of the cool stained glass windows in the house and took a parting picture outside.
  It was a great vacation filled with castles, history, ghosts and adventures.
We hope you enjoyed reading the trip blog, and if you missed any of it, just go backward and read it!

UK Trip Blog #59: A Ghostly Minister Still Waving To People

Ghostly minister Desmond still greets people at the front of Holy Trinity Church

On our last day in Windsor, England after touring nearby Eaton, we were walking back to the Langton House Bed and Breakfast and passed the Holy Trinity Church.
THE GHOSTLY MINISTER STILL THERE... 
 On our last visit in 2012, I  got my "ghostly" headache and "saw" a minister standing outside on the front stairway of the church who told me his name was "Desmond." He was greeting people and waving to others (there was no one there, of course, but he was waving to people as he did when he was alive). The "people" were residual energy and it seemed like a number of ghostly people walking over from the sidewalk we were standing on, to the church on the other side of the street. He told me he still loves the church and likes to stand on the stairs and welcome people so he continued to do so. He wasn't residual, though, because he was communicating with me. However, the "parishioners" who were passing by were residual energies, like a film playing over and over.

Holy Trinity Church, Windsor, England

CLUES FROM THE GHOSTLY PRIEST -     Last year, Minister Desmond wore a red or dark colored robe with a white collar around the top of the neck. He wore the same again this year, because he's never left. I saw him very clearly as we walked by this year.
  Last year, Minister Desmond told me a date of either 1750 or 1850. After doing a little research in 2012, I learned that the church was "consecrated" or dedicated in 1842, so "Desmond" must have been telling me that he was there around the year 1850, because the church didn't exist in 1750. I also learned that the church was built for Queen Victoria's soldiers. It sits on part of a "spinner's field" given by James Bedborough, a Windsor builder and prominent citizen.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SEE HIM AGAIN? - 
  What this proved was that ghosts who have decided to stay behind on Earth sometimes stay to continue doing what they did in life. They make a choice. It also serves an example of a good person who died and decided to stay on Earth as a ghost. Not all ghosts have bad personalities. Minister Desmond will apparently stay around for a very long time, welcoming the residual energies of long-dead parishioners as well as new, living parishioners or passersby.

NEXT: THE FINAL UK TRIP BLOG: LEAVING LANGDON HOUSE B&B

UK Trip Blog #58: A Brief Video Tour of Downtown Eaton, England

A pretty alleyway in downtown Eaton

Continuing our walk through Eaton, England, we enjoyed walking down the picturesque main street. 

WALK ALONG HIGH STREET - High street is one of the main thoroughfares through the tiny borough of Eaton. It was filled with small shops and beautiful alleyways decorated with hanging plants. Just over the bridge is the "George Inn,"  which served gourmet meals in a building about 300 years old. We didn't go inside, however, because we weren't there around a meal time. We did, however, go into a pet shop where we met the owner's dog - and that made us miss our "kids" even more.

Our final video from our U.K. trip was a short tour of downtown Eaton from High Street, the main street that led over the Bristol and Bath Pathway crossing the Thames River, and leading up to Windsor Castle.


NEXT: A GHOSTLY MINISTER STILL WAVING TO PEOPLE

UK Trip Blog #57: A Walk into Eaton, Eaton College, Thames River

After a walk through Windsor, we decided to walk into the nearby town of Eaton. Eaton was a short walk from Windsor Castle down Thames Street over a bridge (known as the Bristol and Bath Railway path) that spanned the River Thames.

 Eton College school yard

  Most people know Eaton from the famous college there.

WHAT IS EATON COLLEGE? -  Princes William and Harry attended school there. Eton College or Eton is an independent boarding school. It educates over 1,300 pupils, aged between 13 to 18 years and was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor." It's a full boarding school for boys-only, so students live at the school.

Tom says" Here's looking at you!"

SPYGLASS FUN - After a brief walk through some of the shops in downtown Eaton, we needed to return to the Bed and Breakfast to get our cab ride to the airport. We walked back over the Bridge over the Thames known as the Bristol and Bath Railway path and found a magnifying glass that allowed people to get closer looks at whatever boat was moving up or down the Thames, and Tom checked it out for a picture.

We made a short video looking over the Thames River from the Bristol and Bath Railway path bridge:








NEXT: A SHORT VIDEO LOOK AT DOWNTOWN EATON