• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Crimebuster

Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    4,564

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Journal Entries posted by Crimebuster

  1. Crimebuster

    Wonder Woman!

    By Crimebuster,

    In my latest video, I show off the first part of my complete bronze Age Wonder Woman run - this one covers the I-Ching New Look era, as well as the 12 Labors era, with issues #178-227:
     
  2. Crimebuster
    It's been a little while since I posted an update, because I've been too busy doing stuff to talk about the stuff I've been doing!
    Since this is the CGC forum, I'll start with a video I made about the process of trying to submit my own comic, The Crimebusters, to CGC. Let's just say it's been very confusing, to the point where multiple CGC reps have seemed almost as confused as I am.
    The main point of confusion seems to be that CGC has divided their services into two totally separate areas - the Signature Series books are handled by a totally different branch of the company than regula rbooks. This is fine if you're just sending one or the other, but since I am sending in both, nobody quite seemed sure how I'm supposed to submit the books. 
    Adding to the confusion is the fact that I am a creator acting as my own witness for the SS books, but in addition to my Artist Account, I also have a personal CGC account with $150 credit that I want applied to my submissions. It seems as though I can't get the Artist rate on SS submissions if I use my own personal account credit, which basically means I'll have to pay twice as much if I use that credit as I would if I used the Artists Account and paid that way instead.
    Anyway, I eventually did my best and sent it in - 4 copies of my book for regular encapsulation, and one cover sketched and signed by myself to the Signature Series. I included a long letter explaining what I am trying to do here, but I'm expecting a phone call from them some time this week asking for clarification, because honestly. This doesn't seem like it should be so complicated!
    Here's the video I made about this - when I get the books back, I'll do an unboxing so I can rant about how they aren't graded as high as they should be:
     
     
     
    I also did a slew of other videos in the last week, but for the sake of not swamping this journal, I've just picked a few that I think you'll find most itneresting.
    Here's a comparison of Marvel and DC's bicentennial treasuries:
     
    Here's a way-too-in-depth breakdown of Adventure Comics #427:
     
     
    And here's another deep dive into a box of comics - this time they are war and horror books:
     
     
    ALSO!!!
     
    the final two episodes of my 6-part podcast series discussing Marvel's Star Wars have both finally dropped!
    Here's part 5, covering issues #81-94 and more!
    Here's part 6, covering issues #95-107!
  3. Crimebuster
    Here's my latest batch of YouTube videos!
     
    In this one, I go through a box of miscellaneous back issues I've picked up over the years for no real reason:
     
     
    Here's a look at some foreign comics I have picked up as souvenirs on my travels:
     
     
    In this one, I go through my run of Avengers #101-150:
     
     
    And here's my latest group of new purchases:
     
     
  4. Crimebuster
    Hello, friends! I've made a couple new videos I thought you might enjoy.
     
    First, here's a look at the revolutionary storyline science fiction grandmaster Samuel R. Delany had planned for Wonder Woman, and how it got abruptly cancelled by DC after just one issue thanks to some very unexpected and highly ironic political interference:
     
    And here's a look at some of the back issues I've been buying as retail therapy during the quarantine. This is part one of what looks like could be an infinite part series, as I've got a ton of other books still en route from ebay and the boards here:
     
  5. Crimebuster
    I've been making a bunch of videos for my YouTube channel, so here they are if you've missed any of them.
     
    In this one, I found a whole shortbox of Silver Age Superman comics I forgot I owned, so I recorded myself rediscovering what the heck they are:
     
     
    In this one, I discuss the how and why I cosplay as Wonder Woman:
     
     
    In my first test Livestream, I show off my small collection of unopened multi-packs
     
    In this one, I look at a book with worldwide cultural impact that I think is really undervalued:
     
     
    And in this one, I show off another batch of new comics, some of which are nicer than others:
     
  6. Crimebuster
    Hello there, friends! I am currently toiling away on The Crimebusters #3 and wanted to show you the regular cover. I have some cleanup work to do on the logo, but otherwise, this is it!
     

     
    I also wanted to announce that I will be "appearing" at this weekends virtual comic con, Stay At Home Con. I have a virtual booth set up at the show, which is mainly just links to my website. But on Sunday morning at 10:30 ET, I'll be doing a livestream event to chat with "convention goers" so feel free to stop in. Here's the link:
     
     
  7. Crimebuster
    I'm back with three more videos from my YouTube channel.
     
    First up, a look at some of my books about comics:
     
    Next, it's an Ask Me Anything, where I answer viewer-submitted questions about everything under the sun, but mostly comics:
     
     
    And finally, another back issue haul video, with some more new acquisitions, including a batch of Archie books purchased here on the boards! Plus: the thumbnail image is an homage to Gil Kane!!
     
  8. Crimebuster
    Hey everyone! 
    I'm just about done sending out the rewards to everyone who backed The Crimebusters #2 on Kickstarter — I'm hoping to get the last rewards shipped out this week — so I've finally returned to the drawing board to begin drawing issue #3.
    Here's a look at the Kickstarter exclusive legacy number variant cover for the third issue (#122 in this case with the numbering continued from Boy Comics), which is an homage to the work of Alphonse Mucha:
     

  9. Crimebuster
    Hey there, friends!
    I made another YouTube video that I thought might be of interest to some of you. Since I started working on my self-published comic The Crimebusters a couple years ago, I've had a lot of questions about the process. I know many comic fans dream of making their own comics! So I decided to make a video that goes into as much detail as I could think of about every step of the creative process, from just being a fan, to unboxing the latest completed issue. 
    It's very long, but there are time stamps in the video description that point to specific topics if there's some particular area of interest or question you have. I hope this is of interest and helps some of you who may be considering taking the leap into making comics!
     
  13. Crimebuster
    Everyone these days seem to be about key issues, but while I like those as well, at heart I'm a full run guy. I know completists are out of fashion these days, but it's in my blood. So I decided to sit down and do a video showcasing the centerpiece of my collection, Avengers #1-100. 
    I have a full run of all 502 issues plus annuals, but just the first 100 issues resulted in a video that's almost two hours long! But if people like it I might do a follow up with, say, issues #101-150 and annuals and crossovers or something. 
    Thanks for watching!
     
  14. Crimebuster
    A couple weeks ago now, I was inspired by a thread in the Comics General section to do a video for YouTube showing off the Top 50 comics in my collection. To my surprise, I discovered I really enjoyed making the video — and some people actually watched it!
    So I've decided to make some more YouTube videos about comics and comic collecting. I'm hoping to just post like one video a week, and every so often I'll share those videos here.
    Here's the link to my channel:
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbNBYQo08Ebr9kD_7HS44mA
    and here are some videos!
     
     
  15. Crimebuster
    Well, it took me a full year to edit this episode, due both to major real life concerns as well as some messed up audio problems with the recordings. But I've finally got part 3 of my discussion of Marvel's classic Star Wars series ready. 
    this was originally supposed to be part 3 of 4, but now it's part 3 of 5, because there's still hours and hours of raw audio left to edit from this conversation!
    This episode discusses Star Wars #39-63:
    https://classiccomics.podbean.com/e/classic-comics-forum-podcast-23-star-wars-by-marvel-comics-part-3/
  16. Crimebuster
    The Kickstarter for The Crimebusters #2 is over, and we successfully funded thanks to all your support!
    It really means a lot to me. I am humbled and grateful and I hope everyone enjoys reading it as much as I have enjoyed creating it.
    I'm still putting the finishing touches on issue #2, but I am nearly done and expect to send it to the printer by the end of the month, and I expect to also send out the digital version by the end of the month as well. And then I can get to work on issue #3! I'm really excited to share some of the concept art for issue #3... once I have time to actually draw it. But suffice to say I've been looking forward to doing #3 from the time I laid out the series arc, and it's going to feature cameos and guest appearance by several Golden Age characters, including one of my favorites whom I have updated and redesigned, and who will play a major role in the series going forward. Can't wait to share it!
    But first, I have to finish up issue #2. So, back to work. And, again, thank you all so much!

  17. Crimebuster
    Hey, comic book friends! First, thanks so much for all your support with this project, it really means a lot to me. 
    I wanted to let you know that the Kickstarter for The Crimebusters #2 is about to end. There are less than 36 hours left until it ends at midnight ET tomorrow night. I'm not one to do any kind of hard sell, but I did want to remind people who might have been waiting to decide, especially because the number of Kickstarter pledges I get determines how many copies of each variant cover I end up printing. For instance, I have now sold out of all three variant covers for issue #1 - the Boy Comics #120 variant, the Trixie's Mysteries Book One variant, and the Kickstarter Exclusive variant. All gone! So if you do happen to want one of the variants for issue #2, it's a good idea to let me know now through a pledge so I make sure to order enough — and so you are sure to receive one. 
    Here's the link again - I can't embed it because the forums automatically turn it into a video instead of a link, which defeats the purpose. 
     
    For those who missed out on the first issue variants, I have come up with a solution — I've begun working on 2nd Print Variants. This way, people who have the 1st print variant covers still get their exclusive collectibility - there are only 25 copies of the Boy Comics #120 1st print variant in existence — and people who missed it can still get a copy. I know how collectors work — some people won't want to get the Boy Comics #121 variant if they can't also get a #120. I get it, I'm a collector! So the 1st print variant (which was an homahge to Captain America Comics #3) will never be reprinted, but people new to the series can get the 2nd Print Variant instead in order to still get that sweet, sweet Boy Comics logo on their book. 
    These 2nd print variants really are more Reprint Variants, because these covers I will reprint again in a 3rd or 4th edition if that ever becomes necessary. But the 1st print version, that's it, once they are gone, they're gone. 
    For the 2nd print variants, I am doing more homages to classic covers - the Trixie's Mysteries 2nd Print Varant is an homage to Matt Baker's cover from Amazing Ghost Stories #16, while the Boy Comics #120 2nd Print Variant is an homage to Charles Biro's classic cover from Boy Comics #10. I've only begun the initial linework on these, so they are very much works in progress, but both will be done soon and will be available as add-ons through the Kickstarter campaign:

     
    I can't wait to be done with this so I can start issue #3! Issue #3 is going to feature cameos and guest appearances from several Golden Age characters now in the public domain, and I'm really excited to show you some of that stuff! But first, I gotta finish this. 
    Thanks again!
  18. Crimebuster
    Whew. It's been a really long, hard week for me. Just feel like I'm sick all the time, and it was also the anniversary of my mother's death, which always leads to health issues for me. 
    But, on the bright side, the Kickstarter campaign to publish issue #2 of The Crimebusters is going really well! So, thank you for all your support. 
    We've hit a couple of big milestones, which means it's also time to announce the next round of big stretch goals. So check it out when you have a chance!
    Thanks!
  19. Crimebuster
    Well, my Kickstarter campaign for The Crimebusters #2 has entered what they call "the dead zone," which is the time between the first week of the launch and the last three days of the campaign. You tend to get most of your backers either at the beginning or the end, and very little in between. It can be a real drag to be working hard on the comic, and working hard plugging it, and not see any immediate response. But it's just part of the deal!
    In the meantime, I'm still hard at work. We hit the first stretch goal, meaning two free prints for all physical backers, and I have revealed the second stretch goal - a set of trading cards based on the Lev Gleason trading card sets from 1951. Hey, if we can't do geeky stuff like this, why do it at all, right?

     
    For comparison, here's one of the original cards from 1951:
     

     
     
    I've also just posted an interview with Heather Farrington, the artist who drew the Trixie's Mysteries variant cover for issue #2. I love the cover she did! If you want to learn more, check it out. 
     

  21. Crimebuster
    I'm excited to announce that after just 48 hours, the second issue of The Crimebusters is now fully funded! Hurray!
    The campaign still has 29 days left to go, though, which means stretch goals! These are cool bonus rewards that are unlocked when we hit higher goal levels. 
    The question is, what kind of rewards do you guys want to get? The first will likely be some free prints, and later on I may do more trading cards, because I want those for myself! But if anyone has any ideas about cool stuff you want to see as rewards, please let me know! If it's something I can pull off logistically, I'll do it!
    Thanks again for all the support!
    Here's the link again for those who missed it before: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thecrimebusters/the-crimebusters-1-2-supernatural-mystery-adventure-awaits/
     
  22. Crimebuster
    I'm happy to report we're at 90% funded after 36 hours! So that's great, and I really appreciate everyone's support very much. 
    One odd thing this time is that the project has seemed to stall out almost immediately. Last time things died off after day three, but this time all 90% of the funding came within the first 18 hours. Since noon yesterday, there hasn't been a single backer. It's kind of unusual in my limited experience — there's always a "dead zone" in the middle of a Kickstarter campaign, but it usually doesn't hit this fast. I wouldn't have expected things to completely die off until the weekend.
    Still, we're close to goal, and there's a lot of time left in the campaign! So I'm going to keep plugging away.
    I'm also in the process of figuring out just what the stretch goals are going to be. What sort of thing do you all feel would add value to your experience? Is there any bonus you'd like to receive along with your comic that would enhance the experience? Or any other rewards you'd like to buy that I am currently not offering - merchandise, whatever?
    Let me know! And thanks so much to everyone who has backed, I really appreciate the support very much!
  23. Crimebuster
    It's finally time!
    The Crimebusters #2 is now LIVE on Kickstarter!
    I'm super excited to finally have a chance to share this with everyone. It's been a really difficult process for me thanks to a bunch of massive life events over the past few months, but the book is (nearly) complete now and by the time the money comes in from Kickstarter, it will be ready to go to the printer. I'm super excited to continue the story of Chuck Chandler, Trixie Trouble, and friends!
    This time around, they investigate a haunted house. But when the trail goes cold, there's only one way to find out the truth: time travel?!
    This issue also guest stars my updated version of the Golden Age character Yankee Longago, who co-starred alongside Crimebuster in Boy Comics!
    Here's another look at the covers:

    Regular cover

     
    Boy Comics #121 Variant co-starring Yankee Longago, and homaging Simon and Kirby's cover for Adventure Comics #74

     
    Kickstarter Exclusive Variant featuring the Legacy Numbering, and an homage to the cover of Planet Comics #71 by Maurice Whitman

     
    Trixie's Mysteries Variant by guest cover artist Heather Farrington

     
    Super Avery Variant cover by neurodiverse comic creator Avery Houle

     
    Thanks so much to everyone who has supported me, and I hope if you decide to back this project, that you enjoy reading this issue as much as I have enjoyed creating it!
  24. Crimebuster
    Well, issue #2 is aunching on Tuesday, and I've been a busy man. 
    First, here's the first media interview I've done about The Crimebusters, so that's pretty exciting!
     
    Secondly, I just finished the back cover for issue #2:

     
     
    I've also received my first guest cover artwork! Heather Farrington is another indie creator with an Archie-esque style — her book Juvenile Diversion is a coming-of-age stroy aout a group of teens in the 1980's. I think she did a bang-up job on the Trixie's Mysteries variant cover for issue #2:

     
    I've also just done a sci-fi convention, and have a comic show this weekend before launch! Now I just need to find the time to actually finish the comic! I'm pretty sure I'll have it done by the time the Kickstarter money arrives at least, so we're still on track. Here's the link again to the Kickstarter pre-launch page; just click the "Notify me on launch" button to get an email reminder as soon as it goes live:
     
    https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thecrimebusters/the-crimebusters-1-2-supernatural-mystery-adventure-awaits/
     
  25. Crimebuster
    Howdy! I'm excited to share with you the link for the Kickstarter campaign for The Crimebusters #2, which will be live on January 28. And don't worry, if you missed #1, that's available as well. 
    Kickstarter has a groovy new feature called the "Notify me on launch" button. Click on that, and as soon as the project is live, you'll automatically receive an email notification the moment the project is live.
    I'm super excited to share this issue with everyone. Thanks for all the support over these trying months, it means a lot to me.
    Adventure awaits!
    https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thecrimebusters/the-crimebusters-1-2-supernatural-mystery-adventure-awaits