New ROM logo header concept

So look what I just found. I've been mostly leaving links to newly discovered Rom related fan art on my postings but I thought this one would be a good posting because it's especially unique. From a design stand point I think it's pretty damn nice. And that's coming from someone who's done logo design and worked as a commercial graphic artist for 10 years. But as far as a header for the comic book goes I'm not sure it quite makes for an ideal replacement. Maybe it's because I've been seeing the original almost my entire life now or because the original "pops" in a way the more subtle redesign. But just to be clear I do like it I think it has merit for perhaps a house ad or some sort of packaging art.

 How about a little Sabra to go with your ROM posting today folks? And speaking of Jewish superheros from the Marvel Universe.

I recently picked up a copy of Incredible Hulk#319 from a dollar bin at a comic convention I was at

recently. I used to have it back when it first came out in 86 because it had a ROM flash back cameo in it and I wanted to read it again after all these years. It also had a guest appearance by Doc Samson who I didn't learn was a Jewish character (born Leonard Skivorski, Jr.) until after I had made (that fucken figures!) a video for Youtube about Jewish comic book superheroes only about two years ago.

Notice how Samson has long hair? Well in the biblical fable of Samson & Delilah he derived his superhuman strength from his long hair, and when it was cut he became vulnerable. Basically you've got an Achilles Heel sort of analogy. The biblical Samson was also Jewish in case you didn't know or surmise that already. It's kinda ironic also but probably not a coincidence that the gamma ray Samson is a psychiatrist given the amount of Jews in the field of medicine and psychiatry historically. Unfortunately I don't happen to be one of them otherwise I'd be better off these days I bet.

Traveling through the Bronze Age with Rom

I recently came across a tumbler page that contains a series of podcasts of Rom issues 1-7 by a couple of fans. The episodes for issues 1 and 2 are ok but 3 - 7 are more entertaining. Their definitely nice to have as something like back ground music while you're doing some cleaning, working out or maybe to listen to while you're on some public transit. Chances are even if you've read these issues before you'll get some new insight on them from the podcast discussions in edition to a few laughs as well. Another cool thing is you don't need to have an account or sign up for anything just go to the link and find the play bar: http://bronzeagecomics.tumblr.com/

So above we see a photo sent by one of my favorite commentators Bruce from Spain. What he has there is a print of the Toni Infante painting for the Floating Worlds Comics Bill Mantlo benefit auction from what I believe is 2010. I never knew Bruce had purchased anything from any of those auctions but the issue came up after Bruce noticed that I used that piece for my Atari cartridge mock up.
And to the left of you you're looking at something from the letter column of Marvel Age Magazine #22 (1984). I got it as part of a 3 for $1 deal in San Francisco at a comic shop near the Israel In The Gardens Festival I attended. I'm glad to see ROM was part of his pull list back in the day but I wonder if he's still collecting comics today given that he said he would until he dies.

 

And last up, some of you may have seen this already. This is a photo of Sal Buscema that's turned up recently on the internet unfortunately I don't know when it was taken.

So much awesome new stuff to kick off June with!

I'm not really into video games any more these days but back in the day my ATARI 2600 was the shit. Despite the low grade game graphics of the time one of the clever marketing strategies that ATARI used to utilize was to feature some really cool illustrations on the video game cartridges. Among my favorites was Defender, Missile Command, Asteroids, Berserk and Space Invaders. Aside from being well done illustrations they always seemed to tell a story that went well beyond the video game premise. If you need a reminder they're easy enough to see by doing a Google image search. It all makes me wonder what a Rom spaceknight game might have looked like.
This is too advanced for Atari of the 80s but just imagine a Rom  video game with graphics like this latest Rom spaceknight animation video that just turned up on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVpUydd3cjs

Left click to enlarge screen shot image

Perhaps it was just the appearance of some Rom spaceknight issues in a couple of scenes in the original Robocop but for years now I've heard speculations about how Robocop was in part inspired by Rom. I recently came across this fairly recent online article on expertcomics.com that seems to substantiate that rumor. And if that's true how could the original have been anything less then awesome having been inspired by Blade Runner, Judge Dredd and ROM? As for the new one, heh . . we'll see. In the mean time here are some other latest Rom related fan art finds: http://pcweenies.com/tag/rom-spaceknight/
 http://browse.deviantart.com/art/Uncommon-Heroes-151514250
http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=1018523&GSub=117697

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CLASSIC-MARVEL-FIGURINE-COLLECTION-TORPEDO-SPECIAL-CUSTOM-EAGLEMOSS-/121091341503

left click to enlarge

And lastly, know your Sabras! We have four kinds to choose from here. And when I say I wanna get me some of that I'll you can which one of these Sabras I'm talking about here.

Wizard Magazine Calendar May 1998 (Rom, Micronauts, NOVA) 3 of 3

Left click to enlarge

Aside from this awesome final edition of these Wizard Magazine Calendars postings I want to make sure I leave you all with some cool stuff to enjoy for your Memorial Day weekends. First up we have a Podcast re-enactment of Incredible HULK #318 (Bruce Banner & Betty Ross wedding issue) and #319 by Rick "Smash" Hansen: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/16360597/Smash%20Tales%20August%202011.mp3
And if you're also in the mood for some good laughs with "F" bomb comic books reviews of cool shit from the 80s there's a new Youtube video by the one and only Kingofthessaly:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxWk60jcf2c

May 25th Update New Rom related fan art found
 http://kyle7890.deviantart.com/art/ROM-372239743
http://johnmiic.deviantart.com/art/Spaceknight-Terminator-06as-368674363
http://c21.deviantart.com/art/Rom-Space-Knight-366145943

Wizard Magazine December 1997 Calendar (Rom, Dr. Strange, Man -Thing) 2 of 3

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This one here features Rom along with Dr. Strange and The Man-Thing so hopefully Ptor from the Sanctum Sanctorum blog is looking at this. Ironically we also have Swamp Thing present which happens to be one of my favorites from DC back in the good ol days before that atrocious relaunch. The next up, Rom, The Micronauts and NOVA.

Wizard Magazine Calendar Rom appearance June 1997 1 of 3

Left click to enlarge

You all can thank Gary Martin Jr. for the this series of postings of these Wizard Magazine Calendars with art by Brian Ahern. As you'll see from this posting and from the next two Gary's been busting ass doing some serious Rom curating recently. Until Gary sent these to me I had no idea Wizard magazine even had these Marvel Age Magazine like calendars in them.
Gary has reason to believe that issues #67 and #68 come with a Star Wars and/or X-Men-Wildcats poster which have calendars on the back of em that may have a Dire Wraith appearance so if any of you have these issues please step forward. As it stand right now I should be posting these calendars every couple of days till the end of this week.

And by the way here's some links to the latest Rom related fan art that's turned up in just the last few days.
 http://browse.deviantart.com/art/Rom-SketchBook-Mini-372825262
http://browse.deviantart.com/art/Torpedo-371653059
http://browse.deviantart.com/art/ROM-Spaceknight-372559551
http://ryallsfiles.tumblr.com/post/50944049104/lego-rom-spaceknight-a-gift-from-artist-jolyon
ROM featured in the comic book homage cover art blog today: http://ilovecomiccovers.blogspot.com/2013/05/homage-rom-spaceknight-3-mars-attacks.html

Big WOW Comic Con San Jose CA. 2013

http://www.billsienkiewiczart.com/

Of all the great artists that were present yesterday the one I really had something to say to was Bill Sienkiewicz. As one the 80s power house Marvel artists who's art has graced the covers of Rom as well as other Rom related books I would say Sienkiewicz had the most unique style of all of them. As a kid I certainly didn't fully appreciate his slightly impressionistic style of comic book art.
But as I got older I started to see it in a different light and develop a new appreciation for it. I would dare say his style would serve well as a course study in modern art and perhaps even earn some respect from the snobbish art crowd that usually regard comic book art beneath their notice. It was really nice to be able to share that epiphany I've had in recent years about his work and he was quite humble in his appreciation of what I had to say. Bill Sienkiewicz, an all around stand up guy.
Of course I also picked up a number of back issues from some discount bins with issues going for only a dollar and others for as low as 25 cents. I got Fantastic Four # 243 (epic John Byrne Galactus cover), Bug (from the Micronuats) one shot and all 4 issues of the Micronauts/X-Men mini-series for only a quarter each. And then there was Incredible Hulk #319 that I got for a dollar which contains a Rom flash back cameo which I've blogged about before: http://romspaceknightart.blogspot.com/2011/04/rom-spaceknight-cameo-from-hulk-319.html  Plus, it turns out that Fantastic Four# 243 contained a Rom related footnote from when the big G and his asshole herald Terrax got their asses handed to them by both Galador and Wraith World.

And what con would be complete with out some cosplay maidens?

And there was even more cool stuff there but that part of it I uploaded to Youtube for your viewing pleasure http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFlxl0ij-qE&feature=youtu.be