Back Issue comics to consider

Comics worth a read
By Alex Ness
3rd Week of September

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GIANT MONSTERS AND GIANT ROBOT DEFENDERS

One greatly fun theme was one that comic book readers understood without much exposure to comics, sci fi, movies or books, it is "What happens when Giant Monsters fight Robot defenders?" Sometimes the story is sympathetic to the monster, or focused upon the robots, or, somewhat more commonly, the humans guiding the robots, or piloting them if they have humans driving them.

I do have appreciation for them, but I would now have more if I had been allowed to buy the Shogun Warriors that I wanted. But my parents said, you need to save your money. Well from age 12 to age 18 I held jobs. I had enough that while my brother got five dollars a week as an allowance, I was making enough to save and spend. Go Nagai deserves a great deal of credit for his Mazinger Z and other giant robot series.

DEAN MOTTER, MISTER X AND MORE

Dean Motter wrote numerous series about unusual characters and settings. With so much more going on than the reader might know, his works always make one both an appreciator of the protagonist, and wonder what the hell is going on throughout the works. In all of his works I am swept away by the intelligent stories in impossible or fully odd and fictional settings. Perhaps the most appreciated story by others was his work based on the Prisoner intellectual property. I never saw the television series, and only read his adaptation, it was interesting. His works are quite enjoyable.

PAX ROMANA: Time Travel in modern and ancient form

I don't wish to spoil the concept of the series' conceit. The purpose of the events involve time travel or trying to plug a hole in the river of time. It involves the Roman Empire, so if you have read me before, you'll know that is an immediate yes for me. As a comic book story, the writing is tight and well done, and the art well illustrates it. For me, there are few comics this good about such under appreciated subject matter areas and genres.

A 70s celebration of The Great Disaster

The 70s were a moment in our modern media that at last could fully imagine and display the horrors of modernity's technology and poor choices. Jack Kirby was unleashed in many tales. From the One Man Army Corps, last man standing before the Great Disaster, to Kamandi the first hero of the world of the aftermath of apocalyptic end, Kirby invents and adapts, and creates a world some people felt were too weird. DC allowed a variety of series that happened in the end of the world setting, not by Jack Kirby. For me, a kid who couldn't find enough of the stories, it is a perfect setting. 

FINAL

I am grateful for the many people who send me messages here, for those who inquire as to buying my books, and sharing my links. I am honored by your support. Life has become rather difficult for numerous reasons. But now I aiming upon a weekly schedule here.

LINKS

MY POETRY: AlexNessPoetry.Blogspot.Com 
MEDIA:  Poplitiko.Blogspot.Com
My Published Works: HERE

Social Media
https://bsky.app/profile/alexanderness63.bsky.social 
https://x.com/alexnesspoetry

All works shown and/or considered are copyright the respective owners, fair use is the sole means of use asserted.

Katya and Sophie greeting me after I was out side shoveling for an hour. They thought I must have died or something. So different from the world of life and so very loving. They are both gone now, and a hole exists in my heart where they lived. Permanently.

MID SEPTEMBER COMICS AND STUFF TO ENJOY

EXCELLENT COMICS, BOOKS & DIFFERENT IDEAS
By Alex Ness
September 14, 2026

COMICS

By the fours, this collection of comics presents the works of most of my favorite recent comic book creators. I don't think you necessarily would agree with my taste, but you might find comics with brilliant art and worthy writing of stories.

Sometimes finding the works you like will show that you like a type of work. From photo real, to surreal, from anime influenced to Joe Kubert or Moebius influences. (For the record: Erik Larsen, Mike Grell, Timothy Truman, Paul Gulacy, Brian Haberlin, Peter Bergting, Josh Howard, Paul Harmon, Mark Smylie, Tim Bradstreet, Chris Weston, Mike Oeming, Ashley Wood, Tom Mandrake, Jan Duursema, and Jae Lee).

JAPANESE MANGA/ANIME/COMICS

Someone asked me why I separate the Japanese talents from European or North American talents. But I don't tend to do that. I post a great many works and films by Japanese creatives. Manga is the same kind of work as comic books, or sequentially told stories, and uses the conventions of an art form specific to region and audience. But there are wonderful works in my favorites list. Nausicaa, Crying Freeman, Appleseed and Akira to begin with. I like Ultraman from Viz and much much more.  

CAPTAINS IN COMICS

One of the oddities of superhero comics can be found in the use of costume or uniforms, with various heroes choosing the title captain. And think of it, Captain America, we all know and love him, but Admiral America? No. How about Sergeant Britain, nah. Captain has a note of authority while still not stealing honor. Those shown below are culled from Indy sources, and they are all fine to good. But in the modern eye, the concept of heroes in costumes loses some credibility for the fact that if you saw such a hero in reality, you wouldn't likely feel a will to salute. More likely to hold back a giggle.

THE UNPROVEN PAST

I've covered this before but most people think that I am expressing a belief, whereas I am seeking information that might offer a focus upon the past. With so many mysteries that have no answers, I do not necessarily find my questions answered, but I am given information that might have some truth in them.

LINKS:

MY POETRY AlexNessPoetry.Blogspot.Com 
HERE: Poplitiko.Blogspot.Com 
MY PUBLISHED WORKS 

Social Media
https://bsky.app/profile/alexanderness63.bsky.social 
https://x.com/alexnesspoetry

All works shown and/or considered are copyright the respective owners, fair use is the sole means of use asserted.

REBELLION UK Kicks Ass

I have had a love for British works of entertainment, in all sorts of forms. The media has a flavor that is distinct, and dark, if also fun. REBELLION UK is a gaming, comic reading, merchandise source for all things dark and delightful. There is a movie about Rogue Trooper on the way. There are many Judge Dredd works on the way. Which means that REBELLION UK offers a quality adventure of the mind.

REBELLION UK

They also offer merchandise to tempt your wallet. In fact, this kind of product would work well for any upcoming holiday season or birthday.

NEXUS on Kickstarter, Bronze Star on Amazon, Mike Baron Writes!

NEXUS & BRONZE STAR
By Alex Ness
August 26, 2026

THE CREATIVE TEAM: Author Mike Baron, Artist Kelsey Shannon
THE KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN: Found Here

A space faring planet destroyer and three powered children wreak havoc. The world of Nexus is unsolvable, for anyone else, but he makes certain to prevent disaster.

THE KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN: Found Here

BRONZE STAR, A PROSE NOVEL

It is on Amazon right now!

There is a hard copy version. There is an ebook.

Find the ebook HERE
Find the print book HERE

Over the cycles of boom and bust, the remote, the dangerous town Cobb's Gap waits for the next weird thing to hit their town. The sheriff is cursed, the town's people are exhausted, and life goes on, but not in any way one might prefer. The nearby silver mine is spent, and weird and dangerous events plague the town. 

LINKS:
MY POETRY: AlexNessPoetry.Blogspot.Com 
MEDIA:  Poplitiko.Blogspot.Com
My Published Works: HERE

Social Media
https://bsky.app/profile/alexanderness63.bsky.social 
https://x.com/alexnesspoetry

All works shown and/or considered are copyright the respective owners, fair use is the sole means of use asserted.

EXCELLENCE OF ART: Yoshitaka Amano

YOSHITAKA AMANO:
A view of an artist of excellence
By Alex Ness
August 23, 2026

ALL IMAGES SHOWN ARE COPYRIGHT RESERVED TO THEIR CREATOR/OWNER use is to illustrate the artist, and as fair use. No rights asserted.

Click to enlarge each image.

This week I am sharing a look at the magnificent work of Yoshitaka Amano.  His work at one time was thought, in the West, to be anime or gaming art. There was more, he did the illustration for the 57 volume Vampire Hunter D. His work has also made Neil Gaiman's story SANDMAN: Dream Hunters, Elektra and Wolverine with Greg Rucka. His art is exquisite, unique within the style in which it works, and has soft lines, bold colors, and looks classical.

For me the classic works he illustrated, Elegant Spirits, The Tale of Genji, Fairies, and others are the absolute best works of their kind. They are beautiful, clearly tell their story, and impart a spirit of glory in their being. I offer here the works of Yoshitaka Amano

Https://www.yoshitakaamanoinc.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoshitaka_Amano

MONGOOSE PUBLISHING: SIGN UP TO DEFEND THE EARTH

Mongoose News Dark Conspiracy is finally here!

Dark Conspiracy Are you ready to defend our world? Dark Conspiracy is a horror roleplaying game set in our own modern world – or just a few years hence. A terrible threat lurks in the shadows, one utterly unknown by most of humanity. If the world is to be kept safe, this ignorance has to be maintained. A conspiracy of secrecy, ignorance and darkness must be constructed for the greater good of all. And it has just gone live on BackerKit! Help Support the Dark Conspiracy!

Dark Minions There are countless dimensions beyond our own - perhaps an infinite number. Many are barren, devoid of life. A tiny few, like ours, are paradises. Then there are the Dark Dimensions, filled with terrible creatures, entities that hate, lust, and hunger. These dimensions have begun to breach the veil beyond worlds, and humanity is the target. The Dark is corruption.

The Operatives The wider world cannot know about this threat. No one knows the extent to which it has corrupted the power structures of the planet, and the defenders of humanity are simply not ready to take the fight to the enemy – right now, they do not even know the nature of the threat, what its goals are, or just what it is capable of. In Dark Conspiracy, players take the roles of Operatives, skilled individuals recruited by an organisation they know little about, yet it is clearly the last, best hope of humanity's defence.They will be funded, equipped, and directed towards the worst of threats. However, Operatives may soon come to realise that no one really knows anything about the Dark or the dangers it really poses.

Sign Up to Defend the Earth We are looking for good Operatives, of potent skill and bottomless bravery. Their role will be nothing short of being the shield between dimensions, of protecting humanity from the most hideous form of corruption. Can we count on you? Will you stand?

QUOTES to remember

QUOTES FROM PROSE AUTHORS, POETS & CRITICS
By Alex Ness
August 17, 2026

I recommend each writer for the whole of their works. Yet sometimes, it is powerful to be awash in the wisdom of each of the writers

LINKS:

MY POETRY AlexNessPoetry.Blogspot.Com 
HERE: Poplitiko.Blogspot.Com 
MY PUBLISHED WORKS 

Social Media
https://bsky.app/profile/alexanderness63.bsky.social 
https://x.com/alexnesspoetry

All works shown and/or considered are copyright the respective owners, fair use is the sole means of use asserted.