POST#71: ADMISSION

Hey guys! Today, I went to the movies and saw "Admission", starring Tina Fey and Paul Rudd. Straight-laced Princeton University admissions officer Portia Nathan (Tina Fey) is caught off-guard when she makes a recruiting visit to an alternative high school overseen by her former college classmate, the free-wheeling John Pressman (Paul Rudd). Pressman has surmised that Jeremiah (Nat Wolff), his gifted yet very unconventional student, might well be the son that Portia secretly gave up many years ago. Soon, Portia finds herself bending the rules for Jeremiah, putting at risk the life she thought she always wanted—but in the process finding her way to a surprising and exhilarating life and romance she never dreamed of having. It was a really good movie... I was basically laughing the whole movie... Seriously... And I think it's really good, so I recommend it. In Puerto Rico, you can see it in Fine Arts cinema in the Hato Rey section of San Juan.

Happy weekend!


Maria.

POST#70: PUERTO RICO COMIC CON!!!

Hey guys! Tomorrow is the first day of the Puerto Rico Comic Con. I'm going dressed as Yoda from Star Wars and my dad as Chewbacca (also from Star Wars). It's a convention where comic artists (local and international), people dressed as different characters from the pop culture, etc. gather and celebrate comics. It usually has internationally known comic artists, booths from the convention's sponsors, gaming contests, costume contests, etc. There are also panels (another room where the invited international artists give a conference, answer questions and sign autographs) during the duration of the convention. It's an annual event. It's gonna be so AWESOME!!!!!!!!


Happy weekend!


Maria. 

POST#69: SCHOOL'S OUT!!!!

Hey guys! Today was the last day of school in my school (FINALLY!!!), so that's what we're talking about today. But, one thing threatened to destroy my last day of school.... my sinusitis and allergies {insert "Dracula" music}. I'm gonna tell the whole story (I'll get to the happy parts later). On Wednesday, I suddenly started to cough hard... REALLY HARD, and got a loooot of nasal congestion. Also on the same day, I  started to break out in hives under my eyes, but it turned out to be because I was nervous about my Math exam the same morning (I'm not the best at Math... The fact that I CAN'T STAND IT doesn't help much). The next day, those symptoms returned (except for the hives), but a lot more intense. I was coughing so hard and so often (like, one or two times every two minutes.... no, not joking),  that my mom almost took me to the hospital. While I was sleeping that night, I almost couldn't sleep because I was coughing and moaning all night. So there comes today. I wasn't feeling well this morning, but I refused to NOT go to school (weird, I know) because I had final exams and I couldn't miss them, and also there was going to be a last day of school party in my classroom. I eventually went, took my exams, hung out with my friends at the party, took photos and gave hugs and joked around with my friends, and also exchanged numbers with them to stay in touch. But, all in all, even if I was sick, it was one of the best days EVER because I was with my friends laughing and smiling. And also, I was sad because I wouldn't be seeing my friends every day anymore (at least for two and half months, but still). Any way, all of my exams were pretty easy, except for Math. Word of advice for new fifth graders in the next school year, be careful for what you wish for, 'cause maybe your'e hoping for the next day's exam to be easy, but then it's impossibly hard, and also, good luck next year! And also Iike the last day of school because during the summer I can stay awake 'til one in the morning watching TV and wake up at noon. And also because there's summer camp and vacations by the beach :-). By the way, I'm feeling better... Have a great summer!


Happy weekend!


Maria.

POST#68: THE ART OF TOM BELAND

Hey guys! Today we're talking about the art of Tom Beland. He is the author of lots of comic books like True Story Swear 
To God, Fantastic Four: Island of Death, and his upcoming comic series, Chicacabra. He's a 50-year-old cartoonist from 
Napa Valley, CA who lives in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He's married to puertorrican life coach Lily Garcia. He got his inspiration from his father, who was a cartoonist in his spare time and always wanted to be a cartoonist, but never did. 

 In the 90's he began to publish his autobiographical comic strips True Story, Swear to God (TSSTG) as mini-comics and the turned it into an ongoing comic series published by Image Comics. The True Story Swear To God series has earned six nominations for the Eisner Awards of San Diego, one of the most important awards in the United States, in the categories of “Best Comic of the Year”. Tom was hired by Marvel Comics to write a Spider-Man "Web of Romance" series. This was a big deal for Tom because Spider-Man was his childhood favorite. Tom has also written a series of Marvel one-shots featuring the Fantastic Four and Spider-Man in Puerto Rico.

I've personally met Tom and he's a really cool guy. On the right is a rough sketch he did of me when I was with my Dad on one of his Cartooning Lessons with Tom. Here's a photo of me with Tom at this year's Free Comic Book Day. I've also included a sketch Tom gave me of Lily and him in Paris.

If you're interested in learning more about Tom you can follow his hijinks on these social media sites:

Facebook: facebook.com/tombelandpr
Twitter: @TomBelandTSSTG

Tom is currently offering Cartooning Lessons and you can also find him at this year's PR Comic Con!

Happy weekend!

Maria.

POST#67: FREE COMIC BOOK DAY :-)

Hey! Today we are talking about Free Comic Book Day. Free Comic Book Day is an annual promotional effort by the North American comic book industry to help bring new readers into independent comic book stores. Retailer Joe Field of Flying Colors Comics in California created the event in his writer column in the August 2001 issue of Comics & Games Retailer magazine. The first Free Comic Book Day was held in 2002 and is coordinated by the industry's large distributor, Diamond Comic Distributors. Free Comic Book Day is scheduled on the first Saturday of May. It's usually been tied to the release of a theatrical film adaptation of a well known superhero property. For example, Iron Man 2. On Free Comic Book Day, participating comic book stores give away specially printed copies of free comic books, and some offer cheaper back issues and other things to anyone who visits their stores. However, stores do not receive the issues for free; they pay 12–50 cents per copy for the comics they give away during the event. In addition to comic books, some stores also give away other items, including  posters for live-action superhero movies, keychains, Green Lantern promo rings, etc. This year's FCBD is tomorrow...  It's gonna be AWESOME!!!!!

If you want to go to FCBD in Puerto Rico, go to Metro Comics in San Patricio Plaza (in the South Wing). Some of the artists that will be there are: Tom Beland, Martin Gaudier, Amin Amat, Soda Pop Comics, Tico Jimenez, etc.

Happy weekend!


Maria.