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FOSTER covers - thanks to Brian Buccellato!

While I will terribly miss FOSTER after issue #6 (the last issue “for the time being”), I do have some great sketch covers to share here, thanks to the creator of the FOSTER series, Brian Buccellato.  There is a bit of a story here, though…and it ends very well.

I had ordered a sketch cover for Issue #4 (I have sketch covers for all the regular issues so far), and the Anthology cover that featured work by Hector Collazo and Buccellato.  Unfortunately, there was a mix-up and I got Issue #4 without a sketch and a different cover for the Anthology.  Now, the Anthology still arrived (even if it was a different cover), so that wasn’t such a problem for me…but I really wanted that sketch of Ben for issue #4.

I wrote back and Booch could not have been nicer about the situation.  He wasn’t able to send the new stuff out right away, but later noted on his site that he hoped for our patience…and that he would include a bonus for our willingness to wait.  I wrote back saying that I certainly understood given his very high workload…and received my covers with a bonus today.  Here we go:

First, the sketch cover to Issue #4 with Ben, sketched and autographed by Buccellato.  This goes with my Issue #1 of Eddie Foster quite well (my issue #2 has Barry as the Flash and issue #3 was for Booch’s favorite character growing up, which turned out to be Cyclops).  Anyhow, here’s Ben:

Next was the anthology with the regular cover I originally requested, also autographed:

And, finally the bonus…an Issue #1 with a cover by both Brian Buccellato and Francis Manapul!  This was features Ben with his bio dad and more Dwellers…and if you look at that reflection in one Dweller’s shades you will also see Eddie Foster:

Again, I have truly enjoyed this series so far, and it will be more than a little bittersweet to see it go on hiatus after the first story arc.  But, I will simply add Black Bat to my pull list and will continue to read more by Brian Buccellato.  Thanks to Booch for all the great work, and for coming through with more than I had even anticipated!

FOSTER - great stories continue (for now)

I’m a big fan of FOSTER by Brian Buccellato (who also co-writes and provides the colors for The Flash), as many of you know.  At the end of Issue #5 (on sale now at http://www.brianbooch.com ), Brian writes a letter to his fans promising an “action-packed, 28 pager” that wraps up the current story line…and that issue #6 will be the last issue “for a while”. 

His reasons are completely understandable - there is so much more than anyone can guess to publishing on your own, and the time constraints simply grew to be too much for one person to handle.  Still, he has no regrets - nor should he.  This has been and continues to be an exceptional series, and I’m glad I signed up to buy each issue.

If you haven’t done so yet, you can still buy pdfs of the series for $1.99 each, and they are more than worth the time and effort.  For a little more cash, you can still get some of those issues with convention sketch covers - with sketches on request from Brian.  I highly recommend this series - and while I do understand the need to bring this to a close for now I will miss reading about Eddie, Ben and the Dwellers terribly…and I’ll keep my fingers crossed for their return.  Thanks Brian for an excellent Series!

@brianbooch Can’t wait for FOSTER #4 and FOSTER ANTHOLOGY!

Those of you who check out http://thefastestforumalive.proboards.com know I’ve been talking about this series for quite some time…if you haven’t checked it out you are missing out on a great series that is rapidly becoming a phenomenon.  FOSTER is the brainchild of Brian Buccellato, also known as co-creator on the latest volume of The Flash at DC Comics.  This series is strictly creator-owned and published, however.  Here’s the concept, courtesy of Brian Buccellato’s website, http://www.brianbooch.com

• FOSTER, a haunted war veteran trying to forget the world at the bottom of a bottle, becomes the guardian of a 6 YEAR-OLD BOY who is the offspring of a woman and a PRIMAL RACE OF SUPERNATURAL CREATURES that lurk on the fringes of society and need him to repopulate. In a world where technology is stuck in the analog ’70s and danger lurks around every corner, three rival factions want the half-breed child. Now Foster must navigate the shadow world, twisted scientists and his own past in order to keep the boy safe while winning his trust, nurturing his humanity, and trying to prevent him from giving in to the monster within.

The story started off great in Issue #1 and has just kept getting better with every issue.  It has created quite a stir with on-line sales and with some limited in-store sales.  Diamond has picked up this series for distribution everywhere (talk to your LCS and ask for FOSTER, page 299 in the May PREVIEWS if they will go back and look), with the direct edition Issue #1 available starting this month.  But, if you want more…check out http://www.brianbooch.com for digital copies of Issues #1-2, and hard copies of #3 and #4, along with the upcoming FOSTER ANTHOLOGY.  For some issues, you can pay a little extra and receive a true BONUS - a sketch cover by Brian Booch at your request.  This is a great extra - here’s a quick gallery of the ones I’ve received for Issues #1-3:

Here’s Eddie Foster on the cover of FOSTER #1:

Then Barry Allen on the cover of FOSTER #2:

…And for FOSTER #3, I asked Brian Buccellato to sketch his favorite character from when he first started reading comics….

For FOSTER #4, I’ve asked for a sketch of Ben (the boy Eddie is trying to protect, who is half-human and half-Dweller) - I’ll post that one when it arrives.

As for the anthology…the lineup includes a LOT of heavy hitters from the comics industry…here’s the link to the line-up of stories and creators…

http://www.brianbooch.com/dog-year-store/foster-anthology/

Bottom line is…if you haven’t checked out FOSTER so far, you are truly missing out.  Check it out at brianbooch.com, or (hopefully soon) at an LCS near you!

FOSTER now available for order by your LCBS - make sure they bring this to YOUR town!

The latest May Previews from Diamond has FOSTER available for direct orders.  Please note it’s on pg 19, so don’t let anyone tell you they can’t get this GREAT series!  Talk to your LCBS now!

Here’s a link to the picture from Brian Buccellato’s Twitter account - don’t miss out!

https://twitter.com/#!/BrianBooch/status/195318393996443649/photo/1