It's ALL About Time and Bloggers Time Travelling!

Apart from Blogger stats not being accurate -most people seem to agree on that- there is "Unknown Region" which, with CBO, provides some high views.

There is a lot of chat about what "Unknown Region" actually is. For CBO I notice that with Unknown Region there comes renewed interest in Chinese language posts (you can just use the translate button here but if you are scouring the net in your own language...).  BUT China does not show up on the stats map because of various political shennanigans in the US and at Google/Blogger.

I really do not care where you are from. CBO is about comics and comic related stuff. NO politics.

The Blogger stats map is a pain because its a good visual guide of where your audience is. But Russia has provided almost 400 views today...the stats map of Russia is a dull grey and not green as it should be so looking you think "Russia doesn't love me any more!"

Ukraine does not show green but almost matches the number of Russian views.

The regular, high views countries have remained the same

China (though not showing since blogger/Google blocked it) so it is mentioned here as at the last proper count it had provided 1,128,600 views.

So regular noted countries:

1. United States

2. China

3.  United Kingdom -views have picked up in recent months so for all time the views are 209683

4. France

5. Russia

6. Ukraine

7. Poland

8. Bulgaria

9. Rumania

10  Germany

Looking at this week's views in order of country (1-10):

United States

Russia

Ukraine

United Kingdom

Unknown Region

Germany

Canada

South Korea

Portugal

Egypt

So narrowing it down to views up to 2130hrs (BST) today we see:

United States

Germany

Russia

Ukraine

Egypt

Unknown Region

United Kingdom

Canada

Italy

South Korea

How about narrowing it down to right now -2140hrs BST?

United States

South Korea

Italy

Unknown Region

Russia

Argentina

Brazil

Germany

United Kingdom

Poland

The mix can get quite heady with Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and various African countries. This, again, if you are a stat watcher can cause problems. I tend not to be bothered with numbers of views but more with countries viewing the blog (FAR more interesting).

You see, I post during the afternoon on Monday but some viewers will see it as a new post next say on a Monday..or a Sunday. International datelines are hard to keep up with but if you are a novice blogger you look at the stats for, say, Monday. Not impressive but you check stats Tuesday and find views are higher, lower or the same.  Then you go crazy asking what you have done wrong! :-)

Thing is posting at 2152 hrs UK time  but...

And then it can get crazier so you have to remember that not everyone is going to see your post on the day (in your country) that you post it!

MaidstoneFri 21:52:39

New YorkFri 16:52:39

LondonFri 21:52:39

Tokyo

Sat 05:52:

It is the crazy thing about blogging which is why it helps that you can see which are the top ten most viewed posts. Friday in the UK, Saturday in Japan and in other countries it is Thursday.

There are two kinds of 12 hour offsets from GMT: those that are 12 hours behind, and those that are 12 hours ahead.

Baker Island and Howler Island, two uninhabited islands belonging to the United States are 12 hours behind GMT

There are a number of habited places that are 12 hours ahead. That is to say, the time-of-day is the same as 12 hours behind, but the date is a full day ahead.

Some parts of Russia - particularly Kamchatka - are 12 hours ahead of GMT.

Some pacific islands - particularly Kiribati, Nauru, and Tuvalu - are also 12 hours ahead of GMT.

New Zealand is 12 hours ahead in the Winter (their winter, not ours), but not in the Summer as they move to their Daylight Savings time.

Mentioning New Zealand raises another matter: neither it or Australia has ever appeared on CBO stats (I'm wrong -I think Australia has appeared once since 2011).  The thing is that I KNOW people in those areas check out CBO because of my Yahoo groups and members from there. 

 I have no idea why  neither appears -why don't I ask Blogger? Well, if you ask that question I guess you never use Blogger! They hold a 100% record of not answering queries and even when they tell you your blog now has a copyright strike against you (for using your own characters/books) and you appeal they just reverse the decision but WILL NOT directly contact you.

I do feel a little guilty that I have never touched on comics from some of those countries listed but having been ripped off on purchases in the past and not having the cash to buy in comics to look at....I'm sort of in a corner unless someone sends me copies of books.

So, this is what I do with my Friday nights.

I need to get a life

Meine Comic-Einkaufsliste Folge 84 | Was ich vor der Kölner Comic-Messe ...

SWAMP THING : HORREUR CHEZ DC COMICS

Nerdzig Inside/Comics 006 – Zwischen den Welten

Cinebook Ltd Newsletter 137 - May 2019

Dear Reader,
First, we'd like to offer a huge thank you to everyone who stopped by our stand at the Toronto Comic Arts Festival this month. It was a lot of fun - and we hope you enjoyed what you saw! Now - is the news bringing you down? Is the state of the world too much to handle at times? Do you need something to let you escape for a little while - a good pick me up? Well, then, we have exactly what you need! Starting with a new collection of tremendously funny disasters caused by everyone's favourite loafer/inventor. The office, the holidays, air traffic ... No one is safe! Enjoy as Gomer Goof reaches new heights in goofiness! Yoko Tsuno, on the other hand, bids you come along as she dives deep below the surface of Vinea's oceans. There's a mystery there, a vanished city, missing children ... There are also people, including some with strange abilities - some even say 'supernatural'. Who are the angels, and who are the demons? Finally, our old friend Thorgal returns in a tale that reads like the end of a saga. The reluctant Viking is in bad shape, his family at the end of their rope; and while they still have friends in high places, they also have enemies higher still. It may be time for Jolan to step up and save his father ... May with Cinebook: up or down, here we go!
On May 18, Lucky Luke's new writer Jul was invited to the opening of the brand new Statue of Liberty Museum in New York City. Jul wrote A Cowboy in Paris (as well as The Promised Land - volumes 71 and 66 respectively), which revolves around Lady Liberty's trials on both sides of the Atlantic - a connection that earned the book a place in the permanent exhibition, and Jul an evening with stars!

Gomer Goof 4  Franquin The Goof is Out There Nothing is ever simple with Gomer. Between his deplorable sense of timing, his absent-mindedness and his never-ending quest for new ways to avoid work, he causes a lot of fuses to blow ... Read more

Thorgal 21  Rosinski & Van Hamme The Sacrifice Thorgal's family is once again reunited, but the future is bleak. The hero is unconscious, dying, and his wife and children are exhausted and starving. Aaricia's prayers bring her some hope: the goddess Frigg is willing to save Thorgal... Read more

Yoko Tsuno 14  Leloup The Archangels of Vinea When a suspended animation pod with a child inside washes ashore on an isolated island of Vinea, Khany is dispatched to investigate - and takes Yoko along with her. The trail leads to a strange tower that emerges from the water at regular intervals, and on which Khany lands. But by the time Yoko follows suit, Khany has disappeared... Read more

Lucky Luke The Complete Collection 2

North-American readers, to locate a comic book shop near you that stocks or can order these titles and many more, us this handy Read more

Or, if you're a retailer yourself, please go to: Read more

Lucky Luke 72 Marcel Dalton

Story Without a Hero

Twenty Years Later

The Cheapest Scatter Terrain for D&D - Goblin Encampment (Tabletop Terra...

Titan Books GODZILLA: KING OF MONSTERS

Prepare for the ultimate battle between monsters, but will the king win this time?

the official movie novelization of the highly anticipated GODZILLA: KING OF MONSTERS movie feature will be releasing 31st May 2019!

Mass Market Paperback!& eBook

£7.99

304pp

ISBN 9781789090925

Godzilla: King of the Monsters follows the heroic efforts of the cryptozoological agency Monarch as its members face off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and its ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah. When these ancient super-species – thought to be mere myths – rise again, they all vie for supremacy, leaving humanity’s very existence hanging in the balance.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters – The Official Movie Novelization allows fans to delve further into the world of the movie with the official novelization of the action from the New York Times bestselling author of the novels The Waterborn, The Blackgod, plus the Age of Unreason tetralogy. Keyes is also known for his critically acclaimed franchise fiction work, which includes novels set in popular fan-favourite worlds, including Star Wars, Elder Scrolls, Planet of the Apes, and many more. 

Checking out the Black Tower Face Book page ?

If you are not checking out the Black Tower Face Book page then you are missing out on a lot of extra info as well as posts.

The link is on the blog roll to the right.

Visit!

195 images and one "Awesome"

Instagram has not disappointed me.

195 images and one "Awesome" comment and another of two words last week.

Lots of likes but that's it.

I have this theory that people are so fecking thick (as proven in elections) that they think a "like" or just looking at your art earns you money. If it did I would be a VERY happy man. 

And rich.

Maybe I ought to get my tits and ass out to get patreon support...or is that only for female cosplayers?

Maakika Art and the Book!

Whenever I try to explain to someone the origins of The Maakika I get odd looks. I have no idea why, unless the people I'm explaining this to have no artistic minds and have never known a fevered mind!

However, the story I told on the original Maakika Art site in 2008 is factual. These pieces have been called some of the best work I've done -my comic work getting swiftly dismissed! I'm also told, though I never saw it that way myself until I went through all the pieces again, that the pieces seem to form a type of mythology or at least hint at one.  I'll let YOU decide.
The Origins "What is Maakika Art?"  I get asked that a great deal and to be honest it is a very brief story!
In 2006 I had a serious respiratory infection.  It came and went but,in 2007,it came back with a vengeance over several months and with complications I thought it would see me shift this mortal coil -and I am NOT joking!

Around May, 2007, it got really bad.  Then, suddenly,pouring with sweat, while seated on a bus, my mind started getting a rush of images -maybe 50-60.  I got home exhausted but I sat down and began to draw.  Honestly, at 50 years of age I had drawn many things but these new images were so out of my usual frame of image reference that I was stumped.
I drew a few, sat back and thought "What the bloody hell have I drawn?!" Almost instantly the word "Maakika" [pronounced "Mah-kee-kah"] came into my head.  At the same time I got the definition "solid black and white art under guidance from the Maakika".  

Ahh, a fevered mind -and no drugs involved!

I've searched the word on the internet, in books and anywhere else I can but it seems not to exist. I cannot find anything similar.

And with each came a title or description.

So,a divine gift from the Maakika pantheon seems credible!

And lucky.

The original images are all 21x29cms and though I've not parted with the first "inspired" drawings which look crude to my eye, several were sold for between £150-£300 each.
I still have the original images in my mind [they won't shift!] but I've been inspired to work on larger images [60x42cms]. 

So,if you have any questions or comments get in touch! The best email address to use is:
hoopercomicsuk@yahoo.com

And remember:only one person does Maakika art -me (and I have absolutely no idea what's coming next!)
The Maakika Art

Maakika Band -The Makinii

 

The Maakika hatchlings played under the watchful Mother Tree Timipu

 

Kathassi knew the time was coming

 Tinikia knew that the egg was special

 

The Divine Beholder

 

Falaasoo the Radical

 

Idembo The World Shaker was angry

Mabwaanaa shouldered the burden

The Waltz Was Sweet -The Makini

Paperback,
 A4
32 Pages 
Price: £10.00 (excl. VAT)
Prints in 3-5 business days
http://www.lulu.com/shop/terry-hooper-scharf/maakika-art/paperback/product-21849434.html

According to  one review:
By J Stransky
"Unique and eye catching. It is equal parts disturbing and wonderful. I've cut a few out and put them in frames on the wall in my work room. They are, I tell you, really quite though provoking. Recommended to someone with an interest in primitive art or hypnosis-state painting. Look at these images deeply for a while, they will seep into your soul."Can you resist?

Please Bookmark THIS URL.

When you need to contact me or see updates in news you will need to go to the Black Tower Comics & Books Face Book page as nothing will be appearing here.

A few hundred comic covers, art pages, book and merchandise info are on the page AND you can chat with me.

See you there...I hope!

https://www.facebook.com/pg/Black-Tower-Comics-Books-136656043030326/posts/?ref=page_internal

Prepare To Be Astonished and CBO May well Vanish

Just saying

CBOs First Post!

On the 1st November, 2010, the first post was published on Blogger on what was then the "back-up" CBO site.  Too many views on WordPress had resulted in the site crashing a few times and WP insisted that I somehow stop people reading the blog in such high numbers! :-)

This was that post:

Merriwether [Vol.1] Pages

Three pages from the above titled book published in 2009 and up-dated and published in a second edition this year.
I ought to address a few questions about the Good Reverend.

Firstly, how did I go about creating him? Well,I once lived next to a church and on one occasion saw a group of clergymen of all shapes and sizes. However,one was at least 6.5 feet tall-that’s about 1.82m. He had greased back hair and rounded spectacles. Thing was this Reverend was also skinny. I thought “If he had some muscle on him he’d look impressive!”

When I decided that I needed back-up strips for Black Tower Adventure in 1992 I thought that a demon-thumping Christian would be great. However,I wanted to avoid the cliche of a Roman Catholic priest and thought “Why not a Church of England vicar?” Yes,the soppy, liberal Church of England was going to become hardcore (and we're not talking mucky videos here!).

So I beefed up (is everything sounding like a double entendre?) the tall vicar and immediately his name came to me.
The series was to have been much longer with the warning given in “The Horror Of Hobb street” coming to pass [buy the book and see what I mean]. Vampires,werewolves,a village of demons and then I thought to myself that the series needed to end quickly (for personal reasons I'll not go into here). And so,the Very Reverend Merriwether confronted the ultimate evil -Satan himself!

And if you’ve bought the book you’ll see how that ends.

After drawing this I was given a batch of old videoes which included End Of Days starring the 20th Century's greatest action hero -Arnold Schwarzenegger. Ahh,luckily I’d not seen the film before that final Merriwether strip was drawn!

That said, Arnie is too short to be Merriwether.
                                                            *********
Just how much about that vicar is true I have no idea. In my "previous occupation" I met a lot of clergy. I think I was mostly typing to get a new blog established and then get back to the real one -I think it had 4 million(?) views at the time.  Then, of course, it was sold from under me. So, it was quite lucky that I started this blog with 0 views!

The next post looked at Stan Lee's Airwalker character at Archie Comics and then Archie's introduction of 50 new pupils in its Riverdale High. That was back when Archie was still loyal to those who continued to push their books before they got "cool" and then dropped their old supporters.  Comics, heh?

It is interesting to find that I mentioned in 2010 how different Blogger was to WordPress.  With WP I was getting comments daily -sometimes 4-10 or more but with Blogger....zero.  Still -comics, heh?

The other thing that surprised me was how many times I offered Black Tower titles for free and got not one single response! In fact, twice I was given books by other companies to give away "first come....first gets" as promotions and got zero response!! For that reason I declined later company offers. But, comics, heh?

There must be a real life out there waiting for me.....right?