JIM LEE ARTIST BACKPACK

I wasn't able to make it to San Diego for 2019's Comic Con, but HEX shared some geekiness with me so to let me feel a part of the event from my home in Michigan. They sent me one of the Jim Lee Artist Backpacks that I had previously written about to enjoy as a thank you for my ageekdaddy.com write up about these new HEX backpacks. There is a lot to geek out about when it comes to the HEX x Jim Lee Collection.

Any comic book aficionado knows who Jim Lee is. He is the artist + co-author of Marvel's X-MEN #1 (which has been awarded a Guinness World Record for being the best selling comic book issue of all time), a founder of Image Comics (which is currently my favorite comics publisher), and is now Chief Creative Officer for DC Comics. Using his perspective as an artist and comic book industry insider, Jim teamed up with HEX to create a collection of backpacks that would appeal to both people in the business and fans.

The HEX x Jim Lee Artist Backpack brings together all the features that he personally wished for in a travel bag. It is meant to be the perfect bag for artists to travel with. The Jim Lee Artist Backpack it is designed for being able to bring art supplies, artwork, business cards, tech and anything else illustrators would want to carry with them when on the go.

INTERIOR / EXTERIOR

The exterior of the Jim Lee Artist Backpack was made being meant to be used. It is constructed of a durable water resistant 400D Twist Dobby Polyester with PU Coating. Behind the shoulder straps is padding with a DC Comics logo providing some extra comfort when wearing it that also provides a sleeve that serves as a luggage handle pass through to make it easy to combine the backpack with a wheeled bag as a slip on. The interior features custom Batman fabric in association with Lee's connection with the Caped Crusader and DC Comics.

ART SUPPLY ORGANIZER

Zip open one of the compartments of the backpack to find a space for storing brushes and pencils. There is also a waterproof ink pocket in this area of the Jim Lee Artist Backpack to avoid any spills that would damage contents within the backpacks interior or stain the bag itself. There is also a meshed storage area for stashing whatever.

PORTFOLIO

The backpack also includes a removable 11" x 17" artist portfolio that has its own storage compartment. The interior of the portfolio also is lined with that custom Batman fabric. A great way to secure artwork allowing it to stay in pristine condition when being transported to different destinations. Artists who take on commissions at comic cons and other events where they interact with fans will especially appreciate this feature of the Jim Lee Artist Backpack.

OTHER FEATURES

Additional features of the Jim Lee Artist Backpack include faux fur padded lap top/tablet and phone pockets; convenient to access business card holders; an exterior phone holder with charger cable pass through from the bag's interior; and a passport pocket with hidden magnetic closures.

This is a really dandy bag! My son really loves to draw and doodle so I'm going to put this aside for him if he ever decides to aspire towards making his hobby a profession. Though if I ever go to one of the big comic cons, may take this along with me to use myself because it would be awesome for storing artwork, comics, posters and other swag. For more information about this backpack, head over to hexbrand.com 

ULTIMATE COMIC CON BACKPACK

Jim Lee has made a name for himself as an extraordinary creative talent within the comic book publishing industry. Now the Chief Creative Officer for DC Comics has partnered with the fashion accessory brand HEX to create the ultimate backpack for comic con attendees. Available for a limited time on Kickstarter is a backpack designed specifically for comic book collectors which is sporting exclusive Batman artwork by Lee on its front side. This Batman edition of the HEX x Jim Lee comic book collectors backpack will only be available during this Kickstarter campaign.

The backpack was designed with providing convenience for comic con attendees in mind. It features an oversized front pocket just the right size to fit an Overstreet Price Guide plus fleece lined sleeves within the main compartment to segregate and safely store comic books. There is also a space for carrying those pesky poster tubes that hold posters and photographs to be autographed by the actors and artists who attend conventions. An anti-theft zipper lock keeps people from snagging your stuff away from you.

The exterior of the backpack is made from water resistant 600D polyester  with PU coating. The interior has a lining featuring the custom Jim Lee Batman artwork displayed on backpack's front side. This limited edition version of the HEX x Jim Lee comic book collectors backpack also has ' Batarang ' zipper pulls. Comic book fans are sure to be geeked about this super backpack. Head over to the Kickstarter campaign now to get one while you can.

Also available on Kickstarter are non-limited edition comic book collectors backpacks and artists backpacks that will eventually have retail versions available from HEX based upon the success of this campaign.  Both of these have non-descript exteriors compared to the Batman imagery on the limited-edition backpacks. I really like the Batman limited edition variety myself though!

Artists will really appreciate the HEX x Jim Lee art backpack. It features a removable portfolio to safeguard artwork while traveling. Doesn't make sense to transport your art if it gets damaged while you are on the go. This helps alleviate potential troubles.

The backpack also include an art supply organizer and a waterproof interior pocket for storing ink. Don't want to have everything stored inside your backpack ruined by an ink spill! A quick access business card holder makes it easy to get your contact information into people's hands. Lee worked with HEX in designing this bag so that it had features that he personally would utilize as an artist while traveling and he felt were missing in today's travel bags.

These backpacks really stand out! Check them out for yourself over at Kickstarter. The campaign wraps up in July so don't hesitate in heading over to the website to learn more about these impressive HEX x Jim Lee backpacks.

Superman Unchained

I recently read SUPERMAN UNCHAINED: DELUXE EDITION, which is a graphic novel collection of a nine issue comic book mini-series by DC Comics featuring the talents of the publisher's dynamic duo creative team of writer Scott Snyder and illustrator Jim Lee, and was thoroughly impressed.  It was an impressive read with artwork that popped your eyes to the pages bringing the story to life.  Superman Unchained embraced the classic elements of comic books and enhanced them with a modern taste of life to provide an action packed adventure that pits the man of steel versus a like powered adversary, the entire world, and himself. 

From the skies above Metropolis to the four corners of the globe to the star-streaked spaceways beyond, one man is synonymous with the word “hero.” Since his arrival marked the dawn of the superhero age, Superman has waged a never-ending battle for truth and justice, no matter when or where.

But before the dawn came the darkness. When another with incredible power, far more than that of mortal man, fell to the Earth. One who could spell the end for the Man of Steel.

                 DC COMIC'S SUPERMAN UNCHAINED BOOK BACK COVER

When I was a kid Superman's tag line was fighting for "Truth, Justice, and the American Way" and that fit pretty nicely into the geo-political landscape of the time when Christoper Reeve was playing the superhero fighting villains on the big screen while it was the United States versus Russia fighting it out for power and influence every night on the evening news. Times have changed but the theme of "American Way" is a big part of this story...just not involving Superman this time but rather is the focus of a brand new character. Superman Unchained is the story of another alien landing on Earth decades before Superman and being adopted, not by a caring and loving Midwestern farming couple like Kal-El was but rather being discovered by scientists and  soldiers who trained him to be the ultimate tool of military might for the United States.  This alien, named Wraith, becomes the U.S. military's ultimate secret weapon.  Superman Unchained opens with a scene from World War II showing the bombing of Nagasaki but readers notice it isn't an atomic weapon unleashing radiation upon the city...it is the Wraith.  The story reveals how scientists have used Wraith the enhance society's technological advancements during the 20th century and the military utilizes the alien as needed to protect the country's interests.  The Wraith himself believes his ultimate purpose in life is to protect and preserve "The American Way" as he is instructed by his handlers in the military. 

While you may think everyone in the world loves Superman because he always saves the day, a big focus of this story is on how no one trusts the Man of Steel believing that at sometime he is going to turn on the Earth for his own self-interests.  Superman Unchained shows how the Justice League led by Batman has created contingency plans to stop Superman if need be and the U.S. military has developed special weapons to deal with him and has Wraith ready to intervene if they believe the Kryptonian needs to be taken down.  And of course there are people like Lex Luthor who don't trust Superman because the hero stands in their way to power.  The story also delves into how Superman doesn't necessarily trust himself in being able to solve every problem he is faced with and deals with his need for perfection when it comes to saving lives.  In one scene Superman struggles with how can he save every life in a building when it is coming toppling to the ground.  Another scene has Superman distraught because while he was able to save the crew of a space station that is plummeting out of orbit he isn't able to keep all of the space debris from falling on a populated area of the Earth which of course would cause injuries and possibly deaths.

Yet the debris never landed and Superman is perplexed about how that collision was avoided and where it otherwise went to.  Clark Kent begins an investigation that discovers that the space station was brought down by a terrorist group called Ascension that wants to destroy the world's use of technology and take the planet back to a more simplistic existence.  It also leads Clark Kent to discover that someone else secretly intervened to save the space debris from hitting a U.S. military base ... Wraith.  Superman begins searching for Wraith leading him to "the Machine" which is a secret black ops division of the American government that General Lane (Lois Lane's father) was recently promoted to lead and which has been controlling events throughout the world since the 1930s thanks to Wraith who is an alien that may be more powerful than Superman who has been working for the U.S. government for over 70 years.

To go any further describing the story would be filled with spoilers, so we'll just say confrontations and conundrums ensue with Superman finally having to face the question how far will he and can he go to make sure no innocent human life is lost while he is serving as the planet's adopted protector?  Superman Unchained also examines can being too patriotic or passionate about something destroy one's practicality as Wraith's unbridled dedication and passion for the "American Way" leads to some destructive incidents that seem contrary to what he is trying to achieve.  The book also features the ultimate win-win scenario for Lex Luthor that reminds you that some of the most dangerous super villains use their brain power rather than brawn for some of the best confrontations.

You can pick up the SUPERMAN UNCHAINED graphic novel from Amazon.com.  This is a super comic book - check it out!

DISCLAIMER:  I received access to read a digital edition of this comic book from the publisher for this review.  Access to the comic book was concluded at the end of my reading it and a positive review was not required .  I did not receive any financial compensation for this post.  The opinions expressed are my own.

WE CAN BE HEROES – COMICS HELPING CHARITY

A few weeks ago DC COMICS launched a campaign to raise money for charitable relief to address the hunger problems in Africa.  Their campaign, WE CAN BE HEROES, is raising money for several reputable charities including  Save the Children, International Rescue Committee, and Mercy Corps be offering special Batman themed items and promotions to people who make donations.  WE CAN BE HEROES has been very successful exceeding its initial goal of raising $50,000 in donations to have already received more than $139,000 in contributions.  Every dollar counts and can make an impact in the services these charities can provide to those in need so check out their website www.indiegogo.com/projects/dc-entertainment-we-can-be-heroes because there are just a few days left to participate.

The campaign is wrapping up at the end of this week– donations need to be made by 11:59pm EST on Friday, May 10, 2013 – so if you’d like to find out more information or make a donation hurry over to the WE CAN BE HEROES website.  Here are few of their donation perks:

 $10 dollar donation will get you a $9 tax deduction and 5 digital copies of BATMAN comics (Batman #20, Detective Comics #20, The Dark Knight #20, Batman & Red Hood #20 & Batman/Superman #1);

$25 dollar donation will get you a print copy of Batman/Superman #1 with an exclusive WE CAN BE HEROES variant cover by the legendary artist Jim Lee along with a $14 tax deduction.

$30 dollar donation gets you a $10 tax deduction and a year’s digital subscription to your choice of either Batman/Superman, Batman, or Detective Comics.

$40 dollar donation will get you an exclusive WE CAN BE HEROES Batman/Superman t-shirt designed by Jim Lee and only available through this campaign and a $14 tax deduction.

What can the money from this fundraiser do to help people in the Horn of Africa?  If the campaign reaches these goals it can:

There are only a few days left so make sure you check out WE CAN BE HEROES before the end of the day on Friday, May 10^th.