Meet Mark Allen Komikazee Columnist

by: curvezilla January 29 2006

Hi.  Mark Allen, here.  Iâ??ve been asked to provide a regular column for Komikazee, and am only too happy to do so.  I mean, when someone indicates that they want your opinion on the comics industry and any/all related subjects, itâ??s a little too flattering to turn down.

Hi.  Mark Allen, here.  Iâ??ve been asked to provide a regular column for Komikazee, and am only too happy to do so.  I mean, when someone indicates that they want your opinion on the comics industry and any/all related subjects, itâ??s a little too flattering to turn down.
Now, you may ask who I am that I should have such a shot.  Well, truth to tell, I ask that of myself fairly often.  After all, I donâ??t work in the industry, and I only know a few people in it. Well, hereâ??s a little about me…
Iâ??ve been reading and collecting for over 30 years, and studying the history of comics for over 10.  I co-write a syndicated comics review column called Suspended Animation, and I just kind of fell into that almost six years ago.  Specifically, my local comics dealer knew the owner of the column, Michael Vance, had recently received the resignation of his co-writer, and suggested me as a replacement.  I think he hoped that writing such reviews would get it out of my system, thus freeing him from having to hear oral reviews upon my every visit to his store.  Whatever the reason, Michael sampled my writing, gave me the gig and the rest is history.
Writing for S.A. has opened the door for doing interview work for UGO, Digital Webbing, and others.  Then, almost a year ago, I started a blog, which also became the official site for the Oklahoma Cartoonists Collection, due to my working relationship with Michael Vance, who conceived and created the O.C.C.  Again, luck played a hand. 
So, who am I?  Iâ??m a fan who got some lucky breaks.  And, since Komikazee aims to be the top comics, toys, games, and movies community built for fans by fans, I figure this is a pretty good place for me to have a column.
One other thing readers need to know about me is that Iâ??m a conservative.  If that werenâ??t bad enough in the largely-liberal world of comics, Iâ??m a CHRISTIAN conservative.  My outlook colors my reviews, and will no doubt show in this opinion column.  But, I always invite debate, and I never expect everyone to agree with me.  So, donâ??t hold back if you differ in opinion.
Just donâ??t be mean; emotionally, I bruise like a ripe banana. 
Regards,
Mark Allen