Grumpy Cat (and Pokey!) Halloween Comic Fest 2016

This 2016 Halloween Comic Fest mini comic was a delight and a half! Pokey wants his brother Grump Cat to go trick-or-treating with him. Of course, GC isn't having any of it. Thinking he can have a peaceful Halloween night, Grumpy challenges his brother to spend the night in a haunted house. Everything seems alright at first until Pokey hears a ghost. Grumpy naturally thinks Pokey is just freakin' out being in the haunted house and with a All Hallow's Eve at home in his sights, Grumpy eggs his sibling on. That is, until Grumpy ends up face-to-face with a ghost cat!

Of the mini comic freebies from last year, this one was my favorite. Grumpy Cat is in many ways like Garfield- only funnier. Way more funnier. Pokey is such a great character and has such great chemistry with Grumpy. Plus Pokey is tons more likable than Garfield's 'nemesis' Nermal, who can be quite arrogant and annoying.

There was a small 2-3 page story about Grumpy and Pokey going to Comic-Con in the back. It had some great art renderings of a bunch of cosplayers. But I didn't really understand the punchline to that episode.

Overall, this was a dynamite Halloween read from the gang at Dynamite. I loved the killer cover of Grumpy Cat as Jason from Friday the 13th! (Yes- pun intended!)

You might have trouble finding a copy of this mini-comic. But just about any comic book shop in America sells the further monthly adventures of Grumpy Cat! Check them out!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

1977: A Madman Turns 40: 2017- Day 203

This is San Diego Comic Con weekend. So, of course, you know I am going to be showing you a glimpse of what the convention was like during the year of my birth, 1977.

The event was held at the El Cortez Hotel from July 20-24th. Over 4,000 guests attended. Being the 10th annual holding of Comic Con, all the stops were pulled out to make it a smash hit!

Heinlein and his wife Virginia arriving at the '77 con.

This con saw the first ever Robert A. Heinlein blood drive. It's a tradition that still continues in San Diego each Comic Con weekend. The event was started by the Heinlein Society, a fan group that seeks to continue the sci-fi writers humanitarian believe to 'pay it forward.'

The '77 event also bore witness to the first ever 'making of Star Wars' panel. A small film about production of the film was shown. Just a year prior, Mark Hamill and some producers did a panel and maybe 100 people showed. A year later, with the film a blockbuster success, the panel had 4x as many attendees. 

Guest tag, illustrated by Scott Shaw!

Several big name guests were in attendance. Jack Kirby, Carl Banks, Alex Nino, and Harvey Kurtzman were some of the now legendary guests in attendance. Man, to have got some of those autographs!

Program Guide Cover by Michael Kaluta.

One thing the San Diego Comic Con had that is doesn't anymore is comic books! Over time, it's getting way too expensive for mom and pop shops to be able to sell comics at the Con. This year's announcement that Mile High Comics from Denver wouldn't be at SDCC 2017 marked the end of back issue selling at the event.

Fans picking through stacks of poorly organized back issues.
Oh, the lack of care just breaks my heart.

Well, that's my look at my favorite year for now. Tune in again sometime soon for more fun as A Madman Turns 40.