Comics Unlimited News and Info

You may recall that I sent out links to my videos on YouTube where I talked about the situation where the media giant, VIACOM, had YouTube removed over 100,000 videos claiming that the videos infringed on copyrights the corporation owned. You may also recall that I fought the removal of my video, which was caught up in the sweep. My video was a parody of reality television and did not infringe on any copyrights. I wrote to Viacom, YouTube, and even the Associated Press, protesting the action by Viacom and YouTube. I was contacted days later by MTV's legal department (MTV is one of Viacom's many cable networks), and they had reviewed my video and found that it was taken down in error. The video was put back up, and the strike I had received against my YouTube account was removed. Well, I was contacted by Catherine Holahan of "Business Week" for an interview for an article for their website. I granted the interview and it was put up today. Here is the link to that inter...

Okay, just for fun I am holding an informal gathering of people from YouTube at my shop, COMICS UNLIMITED, on saturday, March 24, 2007. I don't really know if anyone would actually respond and come to Evansville unless they were already from the area (and probably not even then), but I figure "What the hey?" MATT HAWES'S INFORMAL YOUTUBE GATHERING ! When: Saturday, March 24, 2007 from 12 noon to 7 o'clock P.M. Where: COMICS UNLIMITED 654-B Diamond Avenue Evansville, Indiana 47711 www.ComicsUnlimited.biz So, if you are from YouTube (and even if you aren't), stop on in and say "hi!" And, if you want to peruse the shop and buy from me, I won't complain! :-) Matthew Hawes

Hi gang! Whew! Battling a multi-billion-dollar evil, greedy, corporate media giant can be tiring! Last Friday, February 2, 2007, I received an e-mail from YouTube alerting me that one of my videos, a video that was a parody of reality television, was taken down from the site because Viacom International (the really big media giant that owns several cable networks, CBS, and Paramount) claimed that my video infringed on its' copyright (MTV's "The Real World"). First, it is a parody. Second, there was nothing in the video that infringed on any copyright from Viacom! Well, I e-mailed and wrote letters to Viacom, YouTube, and even the Associated Press complaining about this when I learned that Viacom was taking down over one-hundred thousand videos claiming copyright infringement. Apparently, Viacom couldn't work out a deal with YouTube over users uploading clips from shows like "South Park" (Yep, Viacom owns Comedy Central, too), and so demanded that YouTube...

Hi gang! REAAAAALLLLY Interesting news on the VIACOM vs. "THE HAPPY SHOW!" front! Check out my video for the scoop!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQ933KXvKDs Thank you to all my friends who were so supportive and had such kind and encouraging words for me! It is greatly appreciated! You guys rock! Matthew Hawes COMICS UNLIMITED "THE HAPPY SHOW!" www.TheHappyShow.net

Hi friends! My battle against the unfair removal of my parody video by YouTube under pressure and at the request of Viacom has made news on one website from L.A. already: http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlLA/tangled_web/ Check it out! Thanks to everyone for the great support and encouragement! I really appreciate it! Matthew Hawes http://www.thehappyshow.net/

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16945395/ Basically, because Viacom and YouTube couldn't reach an agreement acceptable to Viacom, it forced YouTube to remove over one hundred thousand videos that it claimed were infringing on their copyrights. One of my videos, a blatant parody, an obvious spoof of reality televison named "The Real Happy Life World" was taken off the site, and I was sent a message from YouTube alerting me to this and informing me that Viacom is (wrongly) stating it infringes on their copyright. Viacom is the parent company that owns the MTV cable television network, which produced a program entitled "The Real World." Now, apparently, the mock logo and/or the use of the words "Real" and "World" were enough that Viacom and YouTube took down my video yesterday. I have written both e-mails and "snail-mail" letters to Viacom, YouTube, and the Associated Press, so far, challenging this action. The message I receiced from YouT...

139 BEATLES CARDS FROM 1964! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290077203581 ELIVIS COLLECTION CARD PACKS! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290077204030 UNCANNY X-MEN #15 (1965, 2nd SENTINELS)! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290077204552 UNCANNY X-MEN #94 (1st regular issue with the then-New team! NOTE: This is a higher-grade copy than the one I put up last week)! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290077204782 VINTAGE VIEW-MASTER with 8 reels! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290077205944 BUGS BUNNY VIEW-MASTER REEL 1951! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290077206541 HOPALONG CASSIDY VIEW-MASTER REEL 1950! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290077208653 LAUGH-IN VIEW-MASTER REEL 1968! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290077209083 TOM and JERRY VIEW-MASTER REEL 1951! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&...

Hi gang! Oh boy!! Whole bunches of spiffy new auctions with COOL comics are now up on eBay, courtesy of COMICS UNLIMITED! X-MEN, Cowboy & Westerns, BUGS BUNNY, Tom & Jerry, and MORE from the Golden-Age, the Silver-Age, and Modern Age of comics! Check 'em out: http://cgi3.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=comicsunlimited And feel free to bid! Yay! Thanks! -- Matt

Hi gang! Whew! I put up a LOT of comics on auction! There's a pretty decent collection of "Uncanny X-Men" listed individually, which also includes a #94 (first regular issue to feature the team with Wolverine, Storm, Colossus and Nightcrawler). There's Star Wars stuff, the original "Wolverine" mini-series, "Avengers" Annual #10 (1st Rogue), and more (even Speedball!)! To check 'em out and bid, go to: http://members.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=comicsunlimited Also, on another note, in addition to "The Happy Show!," my public access TV program, being on YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/thehappyshow and www.youtube.com/user/ahappyshow you can also find it at LiveVideo.com at www.livevideo.com/TheHappyShow ! If you are members at YouTube or LiveVideo, please feel free to subscribe to my videos! I appreciate it! Thanks! Matthew Hawes COMICS UNLIMITED 654-B E. Diamond Avenue Evansville, Indiana 47711 http://www.comicsu...

Hi gang! I love YouTube, despite all the stupid glitches and errors, and I plan to stay on YouTube for as long as I can. That noted, I am also going to be putting up my videos over on LiveVideo. Pretty much, it will be the same videos, unless it's a video that specifically addresses either YouTube or LiveVideo. If you want, subscribe to my channel there, too: http://www.livevideo.com/TheHappyShow If you haven't already done so, subscribe to my videos on YouTube (I have two channels there): http://www.youtube.com/ahappyshow http://members.aol.com/thehappyshow Thanks! Matt Hawes www.TheHappyShow.net www.ComicsUnlimited.biz

I put up a video on YouTube that features the Beatles and their Christmas message recordings for their fan club (with some added bonus audio treasures). Like the videos I produced and edited with Stan Lee and the Marvel fan club recordings, I put visuals to the sound recordings. The sound recordings are also edited, basically featuring the music portions of the messages. And here 'tis: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6pDQ1wNTqM#GU5U2spHI_4 I hope you'll enjoy! Merry Christmas, Happy Crimble, and have a wonderful New Year!

Hi gang! It's been awhile since I last put up some comics on eBay, but I just added some today. It's a mix of old and new comics! Take a look and bid, if you like: http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZcomicsunlimitedQQhtZ-1QQfrppZ50QQfsopZ1QQfsooZ1QQrdZ0 As always, local bidders in the Evansville area who win the auction bid can pay and pick up the items at the shop, saving on shipping costs. Thanks and I hope to C-U at C.U.! -- Matt

Late last month, Dave Cockrum, creator of Storm, Colossus, and Nightcrawler, passed away. Now, sadly, another wonderful person and artist has left us, Martin Nodell. He was 91 years-old. Martin Nodell created Alan Scott, the original Green Lantern, and designed the Pillsbury Doughboy. I have attended the Wizardworld Comic Convention for every year but one since 2001, and I always made it a point to visit Martin Nodell's stand at the show. He was a sweet man who was very kind and appreciative of his fans. I enjoyed several conversations with him, and his late wife, Carrie, an equally lovely person. I was lucky enough to have also seen him in Saint Louis one year. Martin was one of the people responsible for the business and entertainment I love so much. It was his work, along with others, that helped lay the foundations for the comic book industry. He was an elder statesman of comic books that I looked forward to visiting. Rest in peace, Martin. You are missed. -- Matt

I learned the sad news this afternoon that Dave Cockrum, who created Nightcrawler, Storm, and Colossus, and helped to make the Uncanny X-Men Marvel's biggest selling comic book series of all time, has passed away. He had been ill for some time. I met Dave Cockrum personally, and he seemed to be a genuinely kind, warm, down-to-Earth man. He was one of the finest artists to have ever worked for Marvel and DC comics. He also designed and created many characters for DC's "Legion of Super-Heroes." He will be missed.

Hi gang!The 2006 Christmas episode of "The HAPPY SHOW!" is now online! There are many great people who contributed to this year's holiday program, including: ALAN WILLIAMS, CHRISTOPHER ASH, MATTHEW BILLMAN, JOE SLOAN, SAM SLOAN, BEN HENDERSON, TINA HENDERSON, JASMINE HENDERSON, and AVERY PETRIKAS! Thanks to all involved for helping make this the best "HAPPY SHOW" Christmas episode, ever! I hope that everyone will check it out and enjoy it!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKX8d1kP4yE Have a Happy Holiday Season !

The Evolution Of An Artist! First Installment: 1972 - 1989! I have uploaded videos to my YouTube accounts that are part of a series of installments that will be a featured part of "The Happy Show!" and that chronicle my growth as an artist over the years. The first installment covers the years 1972, at age three, through 1989, at age twenty (Yep, I'm old). Go to the address/links below to view these videos. I hope you enjoy them! Thanks! PLAYLIST with ALL PARTS of INSTALLMENT ONE: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=50DC425A8E0BB6EF Individual parts of installment one: PART ONE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHRABQgGlms PART TWO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s2dHJtOQ7Q PART THREE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdYNtokvaT0 Matthew Hawes www.comicsunlimited.biz www.theHappyShow.net

FROM THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2nd THRU SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5th COMICS UNLIMITED WILL BE HAVING A BIG SALE ON ALL DOLLAR COMICS AND PRICED COLLECTOR'S COMICS ON THE SALES FLOOR! WHEN YOU BUY $10 WORTH OF DOLLAR COMICS ON THOSE DATES, EACH DOLLAR COMIC AFTER THE 10th IS HALF PRICE! THAT'S 50 CENTS EACH, NO LIMIT! AND ALL PRICED COLLECTOR'S COMICS ON THE SALES FLOOR IS 25% OFF! MAGAZINES ARE 30% OFF! Sale does not count toward Collector's comics in the display cases or in the wall displays. Trade credit will not count towards sales items. Sales items cannot be placed on hold. Quarter Comics and Value Packs are not included in the sale. SO, SAVE YOU MONEY AND SWING ON BY COMICS UNLIMITED THE FIRST WEEK OF NOVEMBER FOR SOME GREAT SAVINGS!

Hi gang! EEP! How'd I miss this? My letter was printed in the latest "Wizard" (#181), where I discuss why I think the format of comics need to change. I think I also had the same letter printed in "Comics Buyer's Guide," but missed that, too. Yeesh, I'm slipping! ;-) Thanks and I hope to C-U at C.U.!! -- Matt

Hi gang! Please note that I have TWO YouTube accounts. I had some problems with one account when I applied for a "Comedian" account (Yeah, I know...), and it screwed up my "Director" status on my original account. I am using both accounts, but the one with Director status allows me to post longer videos. Here are the web addresses to both accounts' profile pages: http://www.youtube.com/thehappyshow (This is the "MattHawes" account.) http://www.youtube.com/user/TheHappyShow (It's almost the same URL, but this is "TheHappyShow" account.) If you are a member of YouTube, and you haven't already done so, please subscribe and be my pal on both accounts! I just put up a special video about The Beatles and the "Paul Is Dead" rumor on "TheHappyShow" account. Feel free to leave comments and rate the video (and do the same for my other videos)! Say, those of you that are Star Trek fans may enjoy this: http://www.youtube.com/p...

Yay! "The Happy Show!" is back in business! My new account there has Director Status!! http://www.youtube.com/user/thehappyshow If you are a YouTube friend that hasn't subscribed to my videos, I'd appreciate it if you would (I'll do the same for you). If you are a subscriber already, but haven't added me as a friend, please do so. Thank you sincerely to all those that have already went over and made my new account a pal and subscribed! I really do appreciate it!! Matt Hawes"The Happy Show!" www.ComicsUnlimited.biz http://www.thehappyshow.net/