Comics Unlimited News and Info

Hi gang! Admittedly, the public access program produced by David W. Johnson named "Stop Watching Me" is not for all people. It's... well, weird. Even Johnson, himself, would concede that. But is it too provocative? That's what Sigecom decided last Spring, when Johnson received a letter from the cable service provider notifying him that it would no longer air anymore episodes of the program on its public access channel after only airing one episode. I have uploaded the banned show's first episode at the link below (Don't worry, there's no bad language, vulgar behavior, and violence... Just weirdness): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GP4BlaaOF7Y Yes, it is really odd. And, certainly, not everyone (even most) people would watch it on a regular basis, if at all. But, should Sigecom have pulled it from the schedule on a public access channel? Public access is a way for members of the community to have a voice for expression and ideas. "Stop Watching Me...

Up 'til now, I've been using my MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/matthawes as a promotional tool for all facets of my life. That is to say that I use it for my shop, COMICS UNLIMITED of Evansville, Indiana ( www.ComicsUnlimited.biz ), and for "The HAPPY SHOW!" ( www.TheHappyShow.net ), and for my artwork, and connecting with other fine people who share my interests. Well, I still plan to use the page for all the above, but there's also another MySpace page that will be used for "The HAPPY SHOW!" This is a page for HAPPY, the show's mostly mute puppet. If you would like, you can go there and see more pictures from "The HAPPY SHOW!," as well as videos that come from the YouTube site ( http://www.youtube.com/thehappyshow ), and more stuff that pertains specifically to the program and HAPPY. This new page is: http://www.myspace.com/thehappyshow So, go ahead and check it out! Make HAPPY your pal! -- Matt

Hi gang! Stephen Colbert of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" issued a challenge to viewers to see who could produce the best fight scene using footage of him flailing and fumbling away with a toy lightsaber. It's the Stephen Colbert Green Screen Challenge! I went ahead and tackled this challenge, giving it "The Happy Show!" treatment. Naturally, it has all the high-tech wizardry you would expect from "The Happy Show!" Ahem. You can view it at YouTube directly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Lfu-UdBQAM Or at the following site: http://www.codebot.org/colbert/ It's towards the bottom of the videos on that site. You can vote for it there, if you'd like. You can also rate it at the YouTube page above. ALSO!!! See the miraculous vision that I saw when I dropped a stack of comic books!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33cO14Vrk34 Thanks and enjoy! -- Matt

It's funny, but I often learn things that have to do with me after the fact from other people. Two cases in point involve the recent hoopla over the delay announcements regarding Marvel's "Civil War" comic series. I had been asked about this matter by the guys at Comic Geek Speak and Vaneta Rogers over at Newsarama. I wasn't sure if anything I wrote would be used, but, apparently both Comic Geek Speak and Newsarama used some of what I had to say on the matter. Oddly enough, I found out about these usages by customers that came into the shop. Very cool, especially, as one customer clearly learned about my shop from the Comic Geek Speak program. You can read a quote from the Newsarama article by Vaneta Rogers at the following link: http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=81444 The Comic Geek Speak podcast on "Civil War" is from August 19, 2006. The episode is downloadable for FREE in MP3 form. You can get it here: http://www.comicgeekspeak.com/episoded...

Hi gang! Say, want to see a cool old silent film about comics ? Bet you didn't think there was ever such a thing! Well, there was! Just go to: http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=MattHawes And there you'll see the video of that great, forgotten silent film comedian, Doofy Dan , and that lost cult classic, "Comic Stripped." Feel free to leave comments about the video (and other videos there, as well)! Enjoy! Matthew HawesCOMICS UNLIMITED www.ComicsUnlimited.biz www.TheHappyShow.net

Hi gang! I was contacted about "THE HAPPY SHOW!" by a nice fellow named Joseph Lahr, the station manager at TV-23 MCAM in Manchester, New Hampshire ( www.mcam.org ). He asked me if I would like to submit episodes of my program to be aired in his city. I went ahead and mailed off some videos, so hopefully the programs will be airing there soon! The show is already put up on the schedule! Check it out: http://www.mcam.org/programs.htm If you know someone who is in Manchester, NH, spread the word! Check out "THE HAPPY SHOW!" clips and more online at: http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=MattHawes Thanks! -- Matt Matthew HawesCOMICS UNLIMITED654-B E. Diamond AvenueEvansville, Indiana 47711 http://www.comicsunlimited.biz

Hi again, gang! With WizardWorld Chicago done and over for another year, I will now be concentrating on working on my spiffy new comic book series. I hope to have it published within the next year. The work will commence in full force soon. 'Course, I have to take care o' business at the shop, and I'm still planning on working on some "HAPPY SHOW!" silliness for YouTube and public access.I'm not ready to reveal details on the series, but hopefully you'll all dig it. Stayed tuned, comics-peoples!

FANS vs. PROS: SLIVER-AGE TRIVIA! This is the PRO-FAN SILVER-AGE TRIVIA CONTEST at WizardWorld Chicago in 2006. The panel was hosted by COMICS BUYER'S GUIDE columnist, Craig Shutt (Mr. Silver-Age). The representative for the comics pros was Mark Waid, who answered questions via cell-phone, as he couldn't make it to Chicago. A panel of comics fans competed against Waid on comics trivia from the Silver-Age of comic books. Nearly the entire contest was filmed by me, but my camera ran out of juice before the final outcome. SPOILER! Mark Waid won. But, see if you get the answers correct, yourself. Part One: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGRYsNlywKk Part Two: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlCQRTkQVmQ Part Three: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhQmhIgiwnM Part Four: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgwjL6LtrIQ Part Five: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2IHDLZP1R8 Part Six: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5PIch-SCFo ---------- Marvel Comics Ultimates Panel at Wizardworld! This is foot...

Check out the following links for footage of my trip to Chicago, and my trip to Wizardworld at Rosemont, in particular: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrKCGPiIkGY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYlAMZNm43Y Enjoy! -- Matt

...Well, nearly ready. The shop will open again on Tuesday, August 8th at regular business hours. I have returned from Chicago with more COOL comics and other fun stuff to show and sell at the shop! The Windy City was fun, as usual, and the show WizardWorld out on was bigger and better than last year's show. I had a great time! Looking forward to seeing all of you at COMICS UNLIMITED! Thanks! --- Matt www.ComicsUnlimited.biz

NOTICE!!!!!!!!! WIZARDWORLD CHICAGO!! I will be attending the WizardWorld Chicago comic book convention on the following dates: AUGUST 3 (Thursday) AUGUST 4 (Friday) AUGUST 5 (Saturday) AUGUST 6 (Sunday) During those dates (plus August 7th, Monday) the shop will be closed. The shop will open again on Tuesday, August 8th at regular business hours (see www.ComicsUnlimited.biz for information) . The shop WILL BE OPEN on Tuesday, August 1st , and Wednesday (new comic day) August 2 , the days before the show, at regular hours! Expect even more COOL stuff when I return! For more info on the show, visit: http://www.wizarduniverse.com Maybe I'll even see you there! Say "hi" if you see me!! -- Matt

Oh good god almighty! How do some YouTubers get Director status, while poor ol' Matthew Hawes of "The HAPPY SHOW!" waits weeks with no word. Where's The justice? Sniff. Feel free to petition YouTube and demand that Matt Hawes be approved for Director Status so he'll shut the hell up already! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyMjC_Z323w That's the web address above that you can go to and view the latest video ramblings of Matt Hawes. Er... enjoy.

I sent this message out to comic book industry trade publications like "Wizard," "Comics Buyer's Guide," etc. I present it here for all of you to see. Agree? Disagree? Feel free to discuss the pro's and con's. Thanks! -- Matt THE SHAPE OF THE FUTURE For years, I have been discussing how the comic book industry seriously needs to look hard at changing the format of comic books with anyone who would listen. In order to get comics in the hands of more readers, and in more retail outlets, I feel some drastic measures must be taken to ensure the market continues to endure in an ever-changing marketplace. This past weekend, I got in a copy of "Wizard" #179, and noted its' change in format, and thought, "They seem to get it!" You see, the publication, up until now, has always been roughly the same dimensions as a Silver-Age comic book. The new format is more like a magazine-size, like "Time." This convinced me that others may b...

Hi gang! Lot'sa other cool new auctions, just about a little bit of everything! Check out what I put up at the link/address below: http://members.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=comicsunlimited There's hundreds and hundreds of manga comics (mentioned in my last post), some cool, old "Superman" comics, Prince and Michael Jackson comics (eep!), and even a zombie comic! --- And MORE! Feel free to bid, or pass along the info if you know somebody who might be interested. Thanks!! -- Matt www.ComicsUnlimited.biz

Hi gang! OK, I saw "Clerks 2," so, officially, my summertime movie viewing is pretty much kaput. I can't think of anything else that precedes Fall that is coming out in the theaters that I have interest in seeing on the big screen (Not since "Ghost Rider" was delayed until Winter, anyway). So, as a closer to my summer of movie viewing, "Clerks 2" was a fun way to wrap up the season. The primary characters from Kevin Smith's 1994 cult classic, "Clerks," return for another rude, crude, and absolutely hilarious outing in this sequel. Many jokes that, as many should expect, will offend a more mainstream or conservative audience, but that those appreciative of potty-mouth vulgarity used in an entertaining, if somewhat provocative manner will have a blast with the film. Pretty much my only real criticism is a dance number that seems oddly out of place in the otherwise more-or-less grounded reality of the "Clerks" films. But, hey, I lo...

Check out my profile page at www.youtube.com : http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=MattHawes There you will find several more segments of "The HAPPY SHOW!" online!

Hey gang! I just uploaded a dozen older, classic comic books on eBay. There's... "Fantastic Four" #5, the 1st appearance of Doctor Doom "Fantastic Four" #48, the first appearances of both the Silver Surfer and Galactus "The Incredible Hulk" #5 (1962) "The Incredible Hulk" #102 (1968, Premiere Issue) "Captain America" #100 (1968, Premiere Issue) "Batman" #110 (1957) "Adventure Comics" #158 (with Superboy, 1950) "Walt Disney's Donald Duck Beach Party" #1 (1965) "The House of Secrets" #92 (1971), 1st Swamp-Thing "Flash Giant Annual" #1 (1963) "The Spectacular Spider-Man" magazine #1 (1968) "The Uncanny X-Men" #94, 1st regular issue with Wolverine, Storm, and friends! If you think you might be interested in bidding, I started out the prices low, and with no reserve! Check the auctions out at the following web address: http://members.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...

Ok, I just posted a better version of "THE HAPPY SHOW!" American Icon segment on the web! This is the parody of "American Idol" that was filmed a short while back. The previous version of the segment was pretty low res, and while the new version is still not crystal clear -- www.youtube.com limits video uploads to 100 megs) -- it's certainly easier to view than the first go-round. I also uploaded another segment from another episode of "THE HAPPY SHOW!" This one parodies those ghost-hunters shows. It's called "Ghost Catchers"! If you want to check out the videos, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3h-gP7pGZ4 and: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAF_JYwutDw Also, check out the official webpage for "THE HAPPY SHOW!" over at: http://www.thehappyshow.net And, you can also stop in over at www.myspace.com and "be my friend": http://www.myspace.com/matthawes Thanks and I hope to C-U at C.U.!! -- Matt

Well, gang, I'm back from the convention in Indy, and I picked up some goodies, as well as having sold a buncha books! I picked up: "Fantastic Four" #5 (volume one) with the very first appearance of Doctor Doom; "Fantastic Four" (volume one) #48 with the very first appearances of the Silver Surfer and Galactus; "House of Secrets" #92, the first appearance of the Swamp Thing; "Captain America" #100 (volume one) - The premiere issue; "The Incredible Hulk" #102 (volume one) - The premiere issue; "Batman" #37 (volume one, 1946) with the Joker; "Red Sonja" #1 (volume one, Marvel, 1977); "Star Wars" #1 (volume one, Marvel, 1977); "Uncanny X-Men" #94 - The first regular issue to feature the then-new X-Men team with Wolverine, Storm, Colossus, and Nightcrawler, among others! -- And more, including the first appearances of Emma Frost and Kitty Pryde, and the Dazzler in "Uncanny X-Men," and...

Jacob Bennett, a writer for the Evansville Courier & Press newspaper is looking to interview some comics fans at my shop. Here's what he writes: "You know anybody who might be good to talk to about the phenomenon of comicbook deaths--characters who don't stay dead for long? I thought I'd tie itinto Superman, Jean Grey and--the rare exception--Gwen Stacy, who are all inmovies this summer.I'm looking for comic readers who might be fun to talk to." I told him to come to my shop around 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 21. I figured that many of my regulars might be stopping in that day to pick up comics, anyway, so it'd be a good time for him to come by and talk with fans. I know you guys out there know your stuff about comics! Invite your friends into comics to come on by and talk comics with the Courier & Press! Stop on in at Evansville, Indiana's COMICS UNLIMITED this Wednesday at 3! Thanks and I hope to C-U at C.U.!! -- Matt