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What is Anime?
Author: Rosana Hart

Anime is a word that needs no definition to millions of young people around the world -- but here's a description anyway, since you may be one of the millions who isn't familiar with the term. Anime is Japanese animation, and is hugely popular in Japan, a part of everyday life. The word is used to include quite a variety of animated TV series and films.

Often anime characters are drawn with large eyes and smallish noses. The animation uses sharp lines and may use less detail than Hollywood-style animation. Video games and mangas (Japanese comic books) are drawn in this style as well. Plots are often more complex and mature than Western-style cartoons or comic books, including violence and characters dying. Fantasy adventures and romance are part of the mix as well. There are so many different types of anime that there is something for everyone.

Youth culture cuts across national boundaries more and more nowadays, and anime products are a good example. From Japan to the United States, from China to Sweden, their popularity only increases. There are many fan events going on worldwide. In the U.S. in 2004, over one hundred thousand people attended Katsucon, Otakon, Anime Expo and similar events -- many of them in full costume. Now, anime is being created in places other than Japan.

Of course, not all anime fans are young. People of all ages enjoy this unique art form.

One study of its popularity projected that the worldwide market is approaching $100 billion, in US funds. That's a lot! This includes films, television, DVDs, tshirts, trading cards, and other merchandise.

Anime posters are among the merchandise that is growing in popularity. Inexpensive, easy to ship, and creating an environment in whatever space is available, they offer fans a way to immerse themselves in the realm of imagination.

Rosana Hart writes about many popular poster categories at her website http://www.infoandhelp.com/posters/ " http://www.infoandhelp.com/posters/ and a selection of anime posters can be seen there.

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Comic Books
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Comic Book Collectors; Nerdy Geeks or Shrewd Investors?
Author: Comics Galore
When one says, yeah, I collect comic books, what is the general public response? Oh no, a slightly off the wall geek. Here is someone who has lost touch with reality. Or someone that is in his or her own little world. I think not. Yes, comic book collectors may sometimes march to the beat of a different drummer, but who says we all have to be cut from the same mold. Comic books are big business.

Back in the days of my youth (what, several millennia ago?), I loved reading comic books. And so did a lot of my friends. Whenever we had an extra dime or sometimes a quarter, we could run up to the local small town grocery and spend some very happy times at the comic book rack.

We would even go out and find small odds jobs for pocket change, which was enough then to purchase 2 or 3 good flights of adventure and fantasy. I can even remember crawling under our house to retrieve a cat that had the misfortune of dying there. My Dad couldn't stomach the smell and enticed my friend and I to accomplish the chore for ample pocket change. We braved the spiders and other crawly creatures to retrieve and bury the unfortunate cat. Not long after that, we were the proud owners of yet, several more intriguing comic books. Even the local bully (who was really a pretty good guy) would purchase our worn out or unwanted magazines for far more than they were worth, so we could purchase new ones.

I didn't know much about collecting then. I just liked saving what I enjoyed. I had a large cardboard box that I kept under my bed, filled with all my little treasures. I didn't realize that I had the beginnings of what could have been something very lucrative. In later years when I headed off to college, I dragged my large cardboard box with me. At one point in time, I left most of my belongings in the charge of what I thought were trusted friends. When I returned from my forest firefighting adventures, my box full of magazines were no where to be found. And needless to say, were my trusted friends either. Others had seen the value in what I had and wanted it for themselves. Oh well, live and learn. That limited collection of comic books and other magazines would have been worth a small fortune today.

Are there big bucks in the comic book genre? Just look at what Hollywood has been up to for the last few decades. As far as I can tell, the really big blockbusters started back in 1978 with the release of Superman, The Movie. And since then there has been comic book hero after comic book hero to hit the silver screen. And they all make tons of money. The Hollywood moguls may or may not be "into" the genre, but the can smell large profits. And these kinds of profits aren't harvested from a small out of touch with reality niche. It take large numbers of individuals forking out 5 to 10 dollars a pop, to accumulate the astronomical profits that Hollywood is seeing these days. Individuals who may or may not want to admit their avid interest in comic book characters. I will stand up and say, I enjoy watching these movies and have even started my own collection of comic book character DVDs. Who knows, maybe some day my DVDs will become as valuable as comic books. Probably not.

Although, not every individual's collection has magazines worth thousands of dollars, there are a sizable amount of collections that can be worth hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. These are not people that have lost touch with reality. A while back, the actor, Nicholas Cage, put his comic book collection of about 400 magazines up for auction. Word was that he might have realized a value into seven figures. That ain't chicken feed.

It is not uncommon for single additions to be worth several hundred to several thousand dollars. Some comic books can enter the realm of several hundred thousand dollars for one magazine. Now the owners have to be some pretty rich economically savvy geeks. Are these the types of small niche individuals who have lost touch with reality or don't want to confess they like comic books? So the next time you hear someone profess, yeah I collect comic books, you may want to look inside yourself and say, how do I release my hidden passion and start collecting myself?

Dave Gieber, a former rocket engineer, has decided to take up residency on the Internet. He is the owner and editor of several websites, one of which was built around one of his childhood passions; www.comic-book-collection-made-easy.com . You can visit here to keep up to date on the world of comic books and comic book collecting. Feel free to sign up for my comic book ezine.

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From Yellow Kid To Superman - Pointers For Comic Book Aficionados
Author: Jay Ashley -
In a world where there isn't exactly enough time for all the things people have to do, almost everybody still finds themselves hooked to a certain hobby. Collecting baseball cards or stamps, buttons even, knitting, wood crafting, landscaping, what have you. And in this long list, comic book collection seems to place itself amongst the top.

The popularity of comic books gained momentum during the 1960's. However, comic book enthusiasts would remember the story of the Yellow Kid in Hogans Alley published in two leading newspapers in 1895, now considered as the first ever comic strip in history. From then on, comic characters have risen from the creative minds of writers and illustrators such as Stan Lee and the others.

The idea of comic book collection came out naturally as fanatics developed. While people started out collecting comic books for fun, others collected for profitable interests. This occurred after newspapers featured certain comic books that prove to be of economic value.

However, many a consumer would often than not be misguided on what comic book to collect and how to appropriately collect.

Whether you collect for the hang of it or for profit, here are some pointers that are sure to perk up your collection.

1. Pick a comic book title that interests you and start your collection from there.

Picking the comic book to collect is crucial. Good comic book titles are continually associated to popularity. For novices, titles from DC Comics and Marvel Comics -the two largest comic book publishers- are good to start with.

A collector may also view magazine lists such as the Wizard Magazine for the 100 best-selling comic books.

2. Do not stick to one comic book title. Related titles also become hot pursuits for collectors.

To cite, Spiderman related titles will also do well in the market especially if they were featured as lead characters in the original Spiderman issues.

3. Look for titles that are not popularly known to the public but are considered valuable to collectors.

Famous illustrators have more than one featured work. Their other comic works will also offer good profit for their names, although they may not be famous for many readers.

4. Remember to buy different covers of one comic book issue.

Some publishers release more than one cover for a comic book issue to increase market sales.
5. First issues and first appearances are sure to increase in value over time.

Certain comic book titles such as the Amazing Spiderman offer first appearances of other characters such as the Punisher. The worth of these titles is significantly higher than that of others.

6. Look for comic books worth purchasing in different places and events.

Certain conventions have been held around the globe for comic book collectors. These events offer good deals for certain comic book titles. The most famous of which is the San Diego Comic Convention held in the United States.

Online purchasing may seem less expensive. Collectors on the other hand would have to deal with additional charges such as shipping.

7. Trading is also a good means of expanding your collection, especially when you have more than one copy of a certain issue.

When trading, always check the value of the comic book you are pursuing. The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide is a good source for old comic book titles.

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8. Preserve your comic books very well. The condition of the comic book will also dictate its value.

Comic book conditions will range from Very Poor to New/Mint. Be sure to assess the condition of the comic books very keenly.

Collectors may purchase mylar sleeves or display books to individually preserve their comic books. Comic book boxes are also available in the market for stacking your comic books all-together.

The comic book industry, however, experienced its decline during the 1990s. Collectors since then have become more careful. Reprints of coveted titles such as the original issues of Superman and Captain America have been released in the market, still bearing labels as first editions.

Despite the difficulties in comic book collection, the fun and thrill collectors get from doing it still attracts a considerable number of people. Most still do it not for the money anymore. Most do it to meet people and to have a break from a day of work, just as how a hobby should be. Well, just imagine kids running across their dad's old comic book collection. Now, is that not just plain nice?

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Jay is the webmaster of a website with information on collecting comic books . And if your looking for a student loan he just might have some answers that surprise you!.

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