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Last week we had our second official meetup, again at Kings Comics in the heart of Sydney. This time with a lot of prizes including posters and DVDs decided by a highly competitive scissor-paper-rock competition. Thanks to all those who provided prizes inculding FilmInk and Hasbro as well as the guys from Zombie Cities, and of course Kings for hosting us again!

Again discounts were provided on the night by Kings if you are a Curicon member so if you aren’t a member already make sure you register before the next event!

We’ll hopefully be holding another event soon, the best way to watch out for this is to follow our Facebook page and register to the Curicon group on Meetup where we post all our announcements regarding future events.

See you next time! (more photos to come soon)

- Mike Robins

If you’re a fan of the Tarzan story-line from any era, let us direct you to the Edgar Rice Burroughs website. Rice Burroughs was the original writer of the Tarzan stories and he is best-known for the Jungle Lord who was the protector of the jungle, the animals and the weak and oppressed.

Tarzan

Since then, several writes have taken up the Tarzan storyline, making the jungle-dwelling warrior one of the best-loved and most recognisable fictional characters in history.

The most recent Tarzan project is the brainchild of writer Roy Thomas and artist Tom Grind berg, who have collaborated to create the All New Tarzan Comic Sunday Strip which is being hosted over on the Edgar Rice Burroughs website.

Tarzan King of the Jungle

You can log in and see the latest and all archived Tarzan comic strips, plus bonus material. I’d highly recommend a visit. It’s a really great collaboration and well worth a peek!

Stephan (Shadow) from Comics Price Guide recounts his first foray into the world of non-sports trading cards.

It was 1966…I was 12 years old and we were visiting my aunt and uncle’s house and showing off my brand new baby brother. My cousin, Lana, was a couple of years older than me, and while the parents talked and brought each other up to date, I gravitated over to the corner of the room where she was playing with some sort of cards…
As I got closer, I saw she was sorting some trading cards…but they didn’t look like the baseball cards I had been collecting for several years. These had Batman and Robin and other characters! Being a huge Batman fan, I was instantly intrigued…
She was sorting out her duplicates from collection…both Batman cards and some Casper cards she had collected. The Casper cards were from 1960, but she hadn’t put together many of those, and had duplicates of most of them. The Batman cards she had stacks of, and she showed me how she sorted them and put them in numerical order…

We looked at them and worked with them for at least two hours…making stacks and writing down which ones were missing.

We had a great time with them, and when we were done, Lana grabbed a stack of her duplicate Casper cards and a stack of her duplicate Batman cards and gave them to me for helping her. I was in seventh heaven…and to this day she is still one of my favorite cousins.
That started it for me with non-sports trading cards. Decades later, and hundreds of additional sets, boxes and packages of non-sports cards…I still have those original cards. My Batman set is complete a couple of times over now…but I still haven’t finished that Casper set…
Stephan (Shadow)

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ComicsPriceGuide.com has become the world’s largest and most accurate online community for obtaining comic book value information. These guys REALLY know their stuff! You can follow the guys at Comics Price Guide here, and on Facebook and Twitter

Curicon had its first meetup this week at KINGS Comics, we counted about 70 in attendance so thanks to all who came!

Here are some of the photos of the event (others have also been posted on the Curicon Facebook account). If you couldn’t make it or found out too late, don’t fear! We will be holding another similar event hopefully soon in the new year.


Photo credit: Mike Robins

Think about it. Nothing, right?

Wrong.

You may not have heard of them yet but rest assured you will. Matt & Rick Klimenko, of Find Your Collectables,  are the talent behind some of the most amazing costume designs we have ever seen. Covering a (really) wide gamut of cosplays such as Iron Man, Venom and Carnage, along with the aforementioned characters above, these Sydney-based designers are set to raise the bar for designers everywhere.

The most fascinating aspect of their story is that they are completely self-taught. Working from their workshop in Sydney’s Vaucluse, Matt, and his brother Rick, spend their days designing and creating custom costumes for avid cosplayers attending conventions

The Curicon team was lucky enough to bump into them at Supanova Brisbane where they were showcasing some of the amazing costumes they design. Check out our gallery of pictures below and be amazed!

Photos credit: Mike Robins

They can, and will, design almost anything. All you need to do is give them the idea. If you’d like to see some more of their awesome work, check them out on Facebook or email them here for further details








Eaglemoss publications, who are already known for their award winning DC Superhero collection,  recently released a DC Chess Collection which holds massive appeal for any comic book fan.

We were really excited to open the package up when it arrived and take gazillions of photographs, just for you guys! The first special edition included Batman and The Joker, complete with a 16-page magazine detailing Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns

Hand-painted, metallic resin, the pieces are a nice weight and a good size. They’re not too heavy but solid enough that they don’t feel cheap. That being said, I did think the paintwork could have been better. Batman’s crest in particular was lacking in some detail I thought but maybe I’m just being pedantic.

It still wouldn’t stop me from collecting the entire set though. The chess set would be an amazing addition to anybody’s collection, albeit a bit expensive. But when did expense ever weigh on a collector’s mind??  :D

Here, for your viewing pleasure are pictures of the first issue pieces.

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The North End of the World mixes historical, biographical and anthropological elements concerning the changing culture of the Kwakiutl Indian tribe of British Columbia in the early 1900s and one man’s obsession with documenting their way of life at all costs. Yet publishers of The North End of the World, Black Watch Comics are adamant that the graphic novel is not a biography, a history nor an anthropological work. Rather it is the fictionalized account of Edward Sherriff Curtis’ doomed foray into the world of the Kwakiutl Indian tribe of the Queen Charlotte Strait region of the Central Coast of British Colombia.

Curtis, was one of the most famous portrait photographers in North America when he sailed to Fort Rubert, BC, in 1914 to film his groundbreaking silent film “In the Land of the Head Hunters”. The film, although received well by the critics was a commercial failure. Consequently, Curtis never again owned his own home, had much money or kept the fame he had achieved in the early part of his career.

This captivating story, based on the real Edward S. Curtis, is written by Dave Hunsacker and accompanied by absolutely stunning artwork by Christopher Shy. The story stands on it’s own merit as a tale of one man’s journey into the depths of his own soul, however coupled with Shy’s atmospheric art, the result is a tale of epic proportions.

228 pages of Christopher Shy’s stunning artwork is reason alone to own this book. In many ways, it seems less like something that should be contained within a graphic novel and more fitting for an art gallery wall. The artwork sets the tone beautifully for the haunting story detailing the end of Indian culture on Vancouver Island.

Hunsacker’s skill as a storyteller lies in his ability to generate empathy for the characters, in particular Curtis, even if they’re not always likeable. Although the reader may at times struggle to understand Curtis’ determination to find the cannibal at the North End of the World, it’s the eternal tale of man’s struggle with internal and external demons that readers will have the most empathy for.

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Readers can order a copy of The North End of The World directly from www.thenorthendoftheworld.com

“The Ghostbusters are gone, spirited away by some dastardly demons from another dimension! But spectral shenanigans haven’t ceased in the city that never sleeps, meaning a new group will need to step up and don the proton packs”.

IDW and Sony Pictures Consumer Products have just announced the launch of an all-new Ghostbusters ongoing comic book series, picking up where the last ongoing series left off. With a creative team comprised of Erik Burnham and Dan Schoening, along with series colourist Luis Antonio Delgado, this all-new Ghostbusters definitely looks as though it’s worth a look!

Ghostbusters #1 marks the beginning of the new storyline and for the serious fan, will include four covers by Schoening, each featuring one of the New Ghostbusters. Those covers are definitely going into a few wish lists on the Curicon Library!

For subscription box customers, there is a unique variant tribute cover by Schoening. That’s something we’re very excited to see! Unfortunately, we’ll just have to wait for it to be released in February 2013.

It’s always a hassle isn’t it? Friday comes around before you know it and you realise you don’t have any fun crafts lined up for the weekend. If you are the crafty type, may we suggest a home project that should keep you occupied for quite some time AND increase your nerd cred ten-fold!

Behold, the greatest infographic known to man; how to build a light saber!!

Courtesy of the nice guys at Herbert Pocket, who have far too much time on their hands, but are awesome!

For all you vinyl nuts out there, you’ll know that the second annual Designer Toy Awards took place in New York in October. For those of you who couldn’t make it and are still wondering what you missed out on, we have it on good authority that a small handful of  Designer Toy Awards Exclusives are available now on the Clutter marketplace.

Below is a quick sample of the pieces available. Check it out! It would be rude not to… :D

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It’s not often you hear of a comic book that’s gone on tour around the world, even before it’s been published. But Vitriol The Hunter, due for release in February 2013, has done just that.

“This book has travelled everywhere I have on tour over the last few years”, says Good Charlotte guitarist, and writer of Vitriol, Billy Martin. With interior art by Martin and co-writing by Brent Allen, it will be interesting to see what the collaboration has produced.

Billed as a ‘gothic sci-fi adventure’, this six-issue series narrates the journey of Basilika City’s last great hope, Vitriol who stands as the only force who can stop Lord Barthus and his heinous vampire regime from overtaking the city.

As a novel accompaniment to the comic book series, Martin has revealed that he is producing a soundtrack inspired by Vitriol The Hunter. Under the name Villian, he has been vreating remixes, as well as writing and producing music for other artists. This soundtrack is his debut release of original music as Villian and the special soundtrack for Vitriol will be available for free download inside the comic.

Readers of a certain age will recall with nostalgic fondness, the SPUMCO comics by John Kricfalusi. IDW have just announced the publication of JOHN K PRESENTS SPUMCO COMIC BOOK, which will be released on February 27 2013. Raucous, entertaining and off the wall, the collection is lined with the works of Spumco greats such as Jim Smith, Vincent Waller, Mike Fontanelli, Shane Giles, and Rich Pursel.

Long out of print and rendered hideously expensive, the insanity of these comics by the creators of Ren & Stimpy and Sody Pop have been collected into a beautiful, full-colour hardback for the first time. Featuring a never-before published story, Jimmy the Drooling Numbskull in Nutty the Friendly Dump, this 160 page collection sounds like a must-have for comic fans and animation buffs alike.

Queensland-based Dungeons & Dragons fans have a lot to look forward to in the coming weeks, as Fast Break Sports will be hosting Draigcon 2012 Santa’s Revenge from Friday Nov 30 to Sunday Dec 2.

The tournament will consist of 3 days of Dungeons & Dragons with 4th edition RPGA every day, with Pathfinder on the Sunday. Saturday Dec 1 will be an all-day event for almost every level, depending on DMs for the day.

The Battle Interactive is LFR ADCP4-2 “The Lost City of Suldolphor”

The ever-shifting sands of the Calimshan desert have uncovered the ancient city of Suldolphor. The forces of Calimport, Memnon, and Almraiven converge upon the city, each striving to gain a tactical advantage in their ongoing struggle for supremacy. This adventure is a combat-intensive two-round continuous-play Living Forgotten Realms Battle Interactive for characters of the Heroic and Paragon tiers (levels 1-20, but all characters at the table must be able to play at the group’s chosen Adventure Level, and characters from different tiers may not play together). This adventure is connected to the events of SPEC4-3, SPEC4-4, CALI4-1, CALI4-2, and CALI4-3, but all these adventures may be played in any order. It is recommended, but not required, that at least three characters at the table be members of the same Adventuring Company. This adventure may only be run at Wizards Play Network (WPN) Public Play events. It is not sanctioned for Private Play.

To find out more or to register your interest for Draigcon 2012 Santa’s Revenge, check out the website and fill out the registration form. Tell them Curicon sent you!

Whip out the vinyl records, crack open the liquor cabinet and leave your shirt and socks on; Aggressive Comix just announced their new show Secret of the Booze and already we’re hooked (but in a healthy way)!

Hosted by Jimmy Clark, who may or may not be a real bartender, the show details the highs and lows of alcohol’s history. It’s a sobering journey but an educational one.

No it’s not! It’s a cocktail-making show! How awesome is that? We have our doubts about Jimmy’s credentials, sure, but having tried out the iDrink recipe for ourselves, it has to be said the man has a natural talent for awesome drinks. The Steve Jobs of drinks, as it were :D

Check out the episode and subscribe to the Aggressive Comix youtube channel for more awesomeness!

This should go without saying, but we’re going to throw it out there anyway. Don’t drink irresponsibly and don’t drink at all if it’s not legal to do so where you live.

The folks at Lulubell Toys in Arizona kicked off their fourth annual ‘Dia de los Muertos’ gallery show last week. Celebrating the Day of the Dead tradition, the gallery is currently showcasing a variety of media and artists, such as Pablo Luna, Vicki Lázaro, Paul Kaiju, Scott Wilkowski, Brain Ewing, Jason Edmiston, DSKI One, and Mike Egan.

According to the press release, Lulubell fan favorites Scott Wilkowski, Paul Kaiju & DSKI One all sold out immediately. For anybody not living in Arizona and looking to shop online, unsold gallery pieces can be found at Lulubell Toys.

The exhibit can be viewed in Lulubell’s gallery now through Dec. 1st.  Gallery hours are 12-5, Tuesday – Saturday.  128 W. Main Street, Mesa, AZ 85201. In the meantime, check out this slideshow of amazing artwork from the exhibition!

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directly from the Diamond Select press room

To celebrate the upcoming 10th anniversary of their Marvel Minimates line in 2013, Diamond Select Toys recently held a four-part fan poll in partnership with Marvel.com, in which fans could vote on which characters they wanted to see in the line’s 50th consecutive assortment. The characters in each poll were based on fan wish lists, so it was anybody’s guess who would win, and now that the results are final the line-up may shock you! (Note: Spider-Man villain Shocker was not a winner.) This series will only be available at comic shops and specialty stores in summer 2013, so be sure to pre-order with your local comic shop (or your favorite online retailer) when the time comes!

MAIN ASSAULT TEAM
The first poll dealt with the superstars of the Marvel Universe, the A-list heroes everybody knows and loves. The clear winner, with 2,516 votes, was Ghost Rider, in his most recent look as Danny Ketch, complete with blue flame. Second place went to Cyborg Spider-Man, with 1,723 votes, and both characters will be made in Series 50.

SUPPORT TEAM
The second poll was entirely composed of the supporting heroes of the Marvel Universe, those who may occasionally headline a mini-series but are primarily team players. The surprising winner of this poll with 1,719 votes was Thunderbolts member Songbird — one of the few female characters in any of the polls. She will be the sole Support Team member made in Series 50.

PRIMARY TARGETS
The all-villains poll gave us the largest portion of the assortment, with crossover villain and Heroes Reborn instigator Onslaught coming in first place with 1,535 votes. Additionally, the second-place winner was longtime Avengers foe Baron Zemo II, with 1,337 votes. Both will receive figures in the assortment, and Zemo will also receive the rare variant figure in the wave — his father, Baron Zemo I.

CANNON FODDER
The final poll was dedicated to army-builder characters who may not have individual names, but are known to fans for their roles in some of Marvel’s most epic battles. The winner, with 935 votes, was the classic Nova Corps Centurion, who recently played a key role in the War of Kings. A Corpsman will be packaged with Zemo I AND Zemo II, and will include alternate head and hair pieces to represent different characters and races.

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We can’t say this often enough…go to DCon at least once in your lives. Designer Con, which takes place Nov 3 in Pasadena Convention Centre, is a smorgasbord of delight, whether you’re an art toy collector or not. It’s funky, it’s fabulous and it’s full of amazing people. Like the people at Lulubell, for example, who will be chillin’ at booth #317 for the duration of the con. They’ll be showcasing such fabulousness like artists Kill!, Blurble, Rusted Halo & Dski-One.

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Stop by and say hello. While you’re at it, say hello to the Circus Posterus peeps at booth #500

You can add Lulubell toys to your online collection for free on Curicon.

TwoMorrows publishing has announced that Matt Baker: The Art of Glamour will be released November 28. The biography of the fabled “Good Girl” illustrator charts the career of one of the earliest African-American comic book artists to gain recognition for his work.

Featuring a wealth of essays; interviews with Baker’s friends, family and co-workers, the biography details a life cut tragically short at the age of just 38. Ideally suited for fans of 1940′s pinup models, Baker’s style is classic and brings to life the style of a now bygone era. The details of his life are minutely researched by authors Jim Amash and Eric Nolen-Weathington, complemented by a treasure trove of his finest artwork.

Matt baker: The Art of Glamour can be pre-ordered here. and will be in stores on Wednesday, November 28

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