Back in October I picked up this book on Amazon, because it was a special for a group I belong to. And fast forward to a few months ago, I interview Jack Wallen about Zombie Radio (his podcast) and mention his I, Zombie series. I was taken aback when I realized some days after the interview that I actually had the book on my Amazon Kindle app.
I started reading the book back around the 4th of July, and due to my dyslexia and A.D.D. I just recently finished it as of this week. I will say it was a totally different take on the whole zombie origin story. It gives it a fresh and up-to-date look. The main character Jacob feels like someone you might know in your real life. And each of the members of the motley crew, not to be confused with the band Motley Crue, has a real human feel to them. I know what you are porbably thinking, "Duh Dave, they are written as humans so why should they not feel like humans?" In some of the books I have read, some authors tend to write people more abstract and in more vague in regards to showing feelings and emotions. Jack Wallen makes these characters come alive in your mind with his details.
The story starts with Jacob and covers his exploits in Germany trying to figure out what happened to the human race and trying to find a cure. He is joined by fellow survivors Susan, Bethany, and Dr. Godwin at first. Then later joined by Sally, and I'm blanking on the name of the train conductor at this moment (mental note to edit the name in. lol)
This story has some humorous moments in it but like any good book has those near tear jerking moments. You are able to connect with these character and relate them to people you know in your own personal life. After reading this book I quickly went and hit Amazon up and picked up every solo book written by Jack Wallen. And can credit him with being in my top 10 favorit authors. So if you are looking for some good books to read, head over to Amazon and pick up I Zombie I, the first book of Jack Wallen's I Zombie series. Paperback is under $12 or Kindle Edition is $3.49. I give this book rave reviews and will be posting a review on Amazon sometime this weekend. After reading this book, I understand why Jack Wallen is called "The Zombie King!"

I will admit that I just got back into reading comics maybe a month or two ago. I have always been a fan and would look at them. But recently I have got back into having a pull list and reading/collecting comics. I was approached by someone on Twitter that asked if I could review his graphic novel. I agreed and was sent an email that contained The CruZader.
I want to start by saying that normally this is not the type of comic that I read, because it is a quasi-historical/modern time period piece. However, it was an addictive read. I started reading it while I was at work and I was just glad we were slow. I was drawn into the book and it surrounded me. The detail to character in the art work was amazing. And in my opinion you could easily read the comic just from the art work, of cource just adding in the actual dialog bubbles.
The graphic novel is broken into six parts, just like most trade paperbacks takes 6-13 single issues to make a collection book. We have a total of 6 different enemies we deal with in the book. The first part the CruZader battles the Ku Klux Klan, as requested by the Pope and the Vatican. In the second part, CruZader battles black magic, Satanism, and exorcism. The third part is the CruZader against aliens. The forth part is the CruZader battling inner demons. The fifth part is the CruZader battling his family history. And the sixth part is the New CruZader (the last CruZader's son) fighting for family, love, and his independence.
This is by far one of the best graphic novels that I have read in some time. These six issues leave opening for a story to be added at either the ending, carring on with the new CruZader and his son and so on. Or it could be a prequel of the CruZader's father, or grandfather, or even going back to the original Knights Templar and the Crusades for the Holy Grail!
So if you are looking for something new to read I strongly suggest you go to your local comic book shop and ask them to order JUL141266 from Diamond Distrubtion. Or keep an eye out on ComiXology. You will not be disappointed. And if you are like me and like autographs, if you order the book from Diamond each book is signed and numbered by Omar (the creator) himself. And if you order them from his personal website you can buy the book and have a personalized message for $20. And that $20 is just for the book, the personalization is FREE!!!

I am a person that is always willing to give different musicians or bands the benefit of the doubt when it comes to music. And most of the time I am right in my gut feeling about the music. Now I will start off by saying I knew NOTHING of Mr. John Barroman other than his role of Captain Jack Harkness on Doctor Who and Tourchwood. I saw on social media that he was releasing a new album and was thinking how it was going to be. So being the questioning type of person I am I bought a few of his other albums that are on iTunes. And I was amazed at the set of pipes he has.
So while I was at the MotorCity Comic Con, standing in line to get John Barrowman's autograph, he mentioned this new album and to pre-order it. So when I got home I did just that. And you got a teaser track, what that means is one track was released early to give you a taste of what was to come. The teaser track was the title track from the album, a cover of Josh Groban's 'You Raise Me Up.' I listened to it and I will honestly say that chills ran over my body. He covered the song to no end and made it his own. This made me want the rest of the album even more.
When the album was finally released I listened to it and was moved by how good the songs were. He covered 'A Thousand Years', 'Listen to the Music', 'Skyscraper', 'Bridge Over Troubled Water', 'This is the Moment', 'That's the Way it is', and the Barry Manilow classic 'Mandy'. These are just some of the songs featured on this ablum. Now I do not want to spend your money. But if you are looking for a new album of pop songs that will make you feel chills, than I strongly