Paint Monk's Library

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  • INTO THE KNIGHT PODCAST

    A great podcast that talks about all things Fist of Khonshu. Worth checking out!

  • Weirded Wonder

    Our friends who host the Conan Podcast! Check out their other podcasts here.

  • COMIC BOOK GRADING

    The Paint Monk uses CBCS to grade all of his key comics. Check out their prices - lower than CGC and just as good.

  • Golden Age Podcast

    A podcast featuring titles from the Golden Age of comics.

  • Robert E. Howard News

    Keep up-to-date on all the comics coming out that are based on the works and worlds of Robert E. Howard!

  • WRITER JIM ZUB’S BLOG

  • ARTIST TIM TRUMAN’S SITE

  • Atlas Comics Archives

    All you ever wanted to know about the short-lived Atlas Comics of the 1970s and its equally short-lived revival in 2011-2013.

  • “Groovy” Comics Blog!

    Our friends at "Diversions of the Groovy Kind" take a look at many different Bronze Age comics! Check them out.

  • THE DEFENDERS FAN SITE

    Do you enjoy Marvel's beloved superhero "non-team?" This is a nice blog for Defenders fans!

  • MARVEL UNLIMITED

    Get Marvel Unlimited - and access to over 20,000 of the best comic books in the industry - for only $9.99 a month!

  • COMIXOLOGY

    Digital INDY comic subscription service with some Marvel and DC Comics, too.

Could the New Moon Knight Series “Fix” the Character?

By WALLY MONK – Paint Monk’s Library Editor When I heard that Moon Knight was being relaunched this summer (followed in a month or two by my favorite Jungle Lord, Ka-Zar), I was filled with excitement but also with much […]

Comics Unlimited Reprints PM Library Glut Interview

My interview with Donald Glut was reprinted in the latest issue of Comics Unlimited! If you haven’t read this new bi-monthly yet, it’s one of the best comic mags I’ve enjoyed since Comics Journal was on the shelves years ago. […]

INTERVIEW: Jim Zub’s Conan #19 Coming Out March 10

(AUTHOR’S NOTE: It has been no secret that I have had issues with Marvel’s relaunch of Robert E. Howard’s Conan. The one bright spot has been the writing of Jim Zub. I was a fan before he took up the […]

EDITORIAL: Ka-Zar’s Death? Sorry, No Apology Is Due

“This editorial is full of spoilers for all three issues of Empyre: Avengers. If you haven’t read them or had your fill of modern comic book plots that have been beaten to death, go read the comics and come back […]

EDITORIAL: Please Don’t Break The Toys in the Sandbox

“As children, we all grew up and played together. Sometimes we even shared our toys, our bicycles, and our skateboards. But the cardinal rule was to take care of the toys or bicycle that you borrowed. Woe unto the kid […]

 
January 21st, 2018 Uncategorized Comments Off on CrossGen – The DC/Marvel Rival That Died

CrossGen – The DC/Marvel Rival That Died

AKA “COMIC COMPANIES, WHY DID YOU LEAVE THE FANS HANGING?” – PART 3 OF 10 

At the turn of the millenia, tech entrepreneur Marc Alessi had laid out the groundwork for a company that might one day equal Marvel or DC in terms of content and quality. He sold his tech corporation in 1999 to Perot Enterprises for stock, which he would use to finance a new company – one with a business model unheard of in the industry until that time.

Where Marvel and DC Comics employed primarily free-lancers, CrossGen would hire many salaried, full-time staff to produce their books and manage editorial responsibilities.

The first few years of the company saw many accomplishments for the CrossGen team. Spearheaded by Barbara Kesel, Mark Waid and Ron Marz, the company had many early successes. Numerous titles and talent were nominated for several Harvey awards. Distribution seemed to

… (Read More)
January 21st, 2018 Uncategorized Comments Off on Check out this weekend’s Comic-Watch articles

Check out this weekend’s Comic-Watch articles

New Blog Page added so you can follow Wally Monk on Comic-Watch

Paint Monk’s Library has taken a back seat this week as I settle in and learn how to format postings on the www.comic-watch.com website. My first two articles were published today, and I’ve added a link to the Library where you can see what’s been written week-to-week.
I’m really excited to be a small part of this new web project, and I hope you’ll follow along. If you haven’t already, please pay them a visit at www.comic-watch.com. There are plenty of good reviewers there as well as comic, movie and pop culture reviews.

As always, I am – Wally (AKA Paint Monk)
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January 19th, 2018 Uncategorized Comments Off on The Paint Monk has been busy this week

The Paint Monk has been busy this week

Wally Monk has to shake the rust off his writing even more for a new site

I’m excited to report that I’ve been accepted as a new reviewer/feature writer at www.comic-watch.com, an upcoming news site for the comic book and pop culture industry. 
Older comics, specifically the Golden/Silver/Bronze age are my first love. The editors there have
graciously agreed to let me prepare some occasional weekend features on older issues, graphic novels and trade paperbacks.
What does this mean for Paint Monk’s Library? Nothing, really. Blog posts will continue here. This blog is not nearly as structured as Comic-Watch, and they have plenty of other talented columnists and authors spending time there already.

This week, I’ll be putting the final touches on two reviews I am writing there, then it will be back to the Library here for some updates on Darkenmarsh, Necromunda, and more painted warbands.

As

… (Read More)
January 15th, 2018 Uncategorized Comments Off on DC Graphic Novels and TPBs on the Cheap

DC Graphic Novels and TPBs on the Cheap

Wholesaler buys $11M worth of DC Graphic Novels to CLEARANCE

I try very hard not to be “spammy” with  Paint Monk’s Library, but there is a time and a place for everything – according to The Byrds, anyway.

A friend alerted me to some fantastic sales going on in the realm of Bargain Bin Comic Books. In the spirit of Christian charity for my fellow collectors, I have absolutely no choice but to share what I know.  One good deed deserves another, and some of you out there might be able to point me in the direction of a great deal one day, too.

Ollie’s Bargain Outlets, with 256 stores in 20 different states, has apparently purchased a whopping $11M in DC Comics trade paperback and graphic novel backstock.

A trip to the local Ollie’s today resulted in three very nice purchases, and many more that I … (Read More)

January 12th, 2018 Uncategorized Comments Off on BREAKING: “Conan” headed back to Marvel

BREAKING: “Conan” headed back to Marvel

What is the future of Robert E. Howard’s most beloved barbarian? 

Conan the Barbarian, it would seem, is headed back to Marvel Comics. News broke from Marvel earlier today that they would begin publishing the well-loved barbarian in comics again, apparently getting the license back from Dark Horse, the company that has been printing Conan books since 2003.
According to the forums over at CBR, Conan’s last Dark Horse comic was released (or solicited) in August 2017. When or how Marvel plans to release Conan is unknown, and the press release indicates that announcements will be made later. The book (or books) are scheduled to debut in 2019.

I just wish I could be more excited.

Conan was one of my introductions to comic books, and the Marvel take on the Cimmerian was fantastic (at least through the 1980s.) Since
… (Read More)
January 12th, 2018 Uncategorized Comments Off on Not a fan of the US Postal Service

Not a fan of the US Postal Service

Six days at the same location…and counting…

If it wouldn’t have been such a great day in the comic book department, I’d be a pretty grumpy fellow right now.

A large group of miniatures that I paid a tidy sum to have professionally painted were shipped to me, and somehow the USPS (despite tracking) has lost the parcel.
For the last six days, the tracking number has shown that the package has arrived at the Bowling Green, KY post office. Today, I stopped there with my information to pick up the parcel.
The best the overworked young postal employee could tell me is “Gee, that’s weird. It should be here.” 
I agree. It should be there. I am not pleased.
Ah well. It’s not the painter’s fault. Heck, the guy even sent me a picture of the scanned label, the USPS showed it picked up,
… (Read More)
January 12th, 2018 Uncategorized Comments Off on Dollar Bin Jackpot – Plus eBay “Bargain” Wins

Dollar Bin Jackpot – Plus eBay “Bargain” Wins

Wrapping up the Bargain Bin search in Southern Kentucky

Comic book shopping on a budget has become sort of a game for me, and I’m pretty happy with what I’ve managed to acquire so far! Today I found myself back in one of my favorite “Dollar Bin” spots – the Great Escape, in Bowling Green. I decided to finish going through the dozen or so bins I didn’t finish last time.

When I got back with my whopping $5.00 worth of treasures, I found that two of my recent eBay bargains had arrived also. Just like my dollar bin expeditions, I search for the same types of deals online.

Score today with the arrival of (Marvel) Thor: Balder the Brave Hardcover, new in shrinkwrap, won for a meager $5.00, and issues #1-5 of the new(ish) Wulf the Barbarian from the once-again-defunct Atlas Comics. … (Read More)

January 8th, 2018 Uncategorized Comments Off on Citadel Miniatures’ Eternal Champion Range

Citadel Miniatures’ Eternal Champion Range

Or “Something Else for Me to Drool Over That I Can’t Afford”

If you’ve ever read heroic fantasy or are a fan of the swords-and-sorcery genre, then you’ve probably heard of author Michael Moorcock’s Eternal Champion stories. The Eternal Champion story line encompasses many iconic characters, from Elric of Melnibone to Jerry Cornelius, Corum and Dorian Hawkmoon.
Up until now, I thought I was fairly knowledgeable about the miniatures industry – but then I stumbled across all of the fantastic (yet out of print) Eternal Champion miniatures produced by Citadel (Games Workshop) in the 1980s.
Sign. Something else to search for on eBay – or perhaps one of my readers would like to make a trade (hint hint)
Look at all of the Eternal Champion goodness in metal below, and make sure you have a paper towel to wipe the drool off your table.

As always, I am – Wally
… (Read More)
January 8th, 2018 Uncategorized Comments Off on A Jungle Lord is a Terrible Character to Waste

A Jungle Lord is a Terrible Character to Waste

AKA “COMIC COMPANIES, WHY DID YOU LEAVE THE FANS HANGING?” – PART 2 OF 10 

Marvel Comics had a really good thing in the 1980s with the relaunch of Ka-Zar the Savage by Bruce Jones and Brent Anderson. In fact, it was the longest comic book run the hero had since his inception in the 1930s as David Rand, published by Atlas/Timely. Unknown to many, Ka-Zar was one of the original Marvel Comics characters in this incarnation – along with the Sub-Mariner and the Human Torch.
Since the 1980s, no one has had any clue how to handle one
of Marvel’s best and oldest characters, Ka-Zar. 
All three of these characters made their debut in the legendary Marvel Comics #1, which is a holy grail of Golden Age and perhaps all comic book collectors.

Ka-Zar was revived in the Silver Age by Stan Lee

… (Read More)
January 6th, 2018 Uncategorized Comments Off on Void Left by Mayerik’s “Indigo” Needs to Be Filled

Void Left by Mayerik’s “Indigo” Needs to Be Filled

AKA “Comic Companies, Why did you leave the fans hanging?” – PART 1 OF 10 

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Every commentator, talk show host, and blogger has a “Top Ten” list of sorts. This is the first in a series of ten posts about comic books and comic projects which have been left incomplete or should have never been cancelled in the first place. Why? Because this monk wants to read them, darn it!)
Ever since the days of Ka-Zar, Lord of the Hidden Jungle, I’ve been a fan of Val Mayerik and his artwork. Since I was conned as a kid into reading an issue of Howard the Duck (“It’s like Donald Duck, Wally, you’ll love it,”) I’ve been a fan of the late writer Steve Gerber. 
Now imagine my excitement when I learned in 1983 that Gerber and Mayerik were teaming up to do a science
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