 No matter what your taste in music, there is no denying the legacy and influence of the Ramones!
The Ramones emerged as part of the New York Punk movement of the 1970's but became more than just your average punk band.
"For me growing up, the Ramones were my bridge band," remembers Matman. "When my sister first introduced me to them around 1979, not only did I discover and love punk, but I went back and discovered much of the music that influenced them."
In 1978 The Ramones, in need of a drummer, added Marky Ramone and the classic line up of music's 'first family' was born. But Marky's life and career didn't slow down when the band broke up. In fact Marky is probably busier than he ever was.
Marky Ramone's Punk Rock Blitzkrieg can be heard on SiriusXM Faction Ch. 41 on Tuesdays from 8:00 PM - 11: 00 PM EST.
Musically he can be seen (and heard) laying down the beat for his own band Marky Ramone’s Blitzkrieg, which includes ex - Misfits Michale Graves on vocals.
This weekend at Boston Comic Con you will be able to meet and chat with a true music legend. But if you want a more personal time than click the link below to find out about the Image Personalized Autograph Experience. This event is happening the night before the show on April 19th.
For information click here:
http://www.imagemeetandgreet.com/events/201304/MarkyRamone/#.UW3yWld3fD4
To find out more about Marky's amazing career, hectic schedule and cool stuff including PASTA SAUCE, head over to www.markyramone.com
 Next Saturday (a week from today) some craziness is going down at Comicazi in Somerville, MA.
Join Secret Identity's very own Matman as he talks to fans about Secret Identity and sells copies of his book 'Pow-Bam-Sell: The Guide To Comic Book Marketing'.
But Matt (and possibly Brian) isn't the only reason to go. Appearing with Matt will be the following...
Chris Giarrusso - amazing creator of G - Man!
Jason May - Robot and LEGO artist!
John Cimino and Keith Gleason of Hero Envy / Swass Cast!
Alan and Chris Hebert from HB Comics, home of Lazerman!
And just added--Aaron Wood, who is one of the most talked about Social Media Propaganda artists who will be selling his book 'They Wanted A War So I Made It A War!'
"One of the things you may notice," Matman says, "is that everyone appearing at this signing has not only been a guest of Secret Identity, but are some of mine and Brian's closest friends."
The signing will be happening from 11AM to 2 PM at
Comicazi
407 Highland Ave.
Somerville, MA
by Brian LeTendreToday, Wizards of the Coast and our friends at Drive Thru RPG announced the launch of DnDClassics.com, an online store that will sell PDF versions of materials from every edition of Dungeons & Dragons.
This is fantastic news, as so many of the materials from earlier editions have been out of print for years now. I've spent hundreds of dollars filling in my collection from eBay auctions, and there's still plenty of supplements that I don't have on my shelf. Being able to get a nice clean copy of Keep on the Borderlands to play with my kids is awesome.
If you've never played D&D, or you've been out of it for years, you definitely should head over and check out DnDClassics.com. as there is a good amount of free products including quickstart rules and intro adventures, that can introduce you, your friends and your kids to the game of D&D.Here is the official press release from Wizards of the Coast, and you can read the FAQ about the new site here. Press ReleaaseToday, Wizards of the Coast together with DriveThruRPG, is thrilled to announce the official launch of Dungeons & Dragons Classics, a new online PDF store containing classic content from every edition of D&D, including fan-favorite supplement materials and iconic adventures. A one-stop-shop for classic D&D content, DnDClassics.com offers an easy way to access and download favorite titles electronically by computer, mobile phone, or tablet (including iPads). How does it work? It’s easy! Simply create an account* and instantly gain access to a wealth of D&D titles. There are 80 titles available at launch, with smaller batches of additional titles being released on a rolling basis starting in early February. Favorite titles can be downloaded to an online Library or saved to a “Wish List” for purchase later. Most titles can also be printed. Settings can also be customized and users can opt to get email alerts whenever favorite publishers or topics get new items (*Users can also sign-in using their DriveThruRPG.com or RPGNow.com login). We encourage you to share this exciting news with your readers. For more information, check-out DnDClassics.com or visit Wizards.com.
 by Matman
Because the first book signing was so much fun, the gang is planning another one... this time we are bringing more friends!
On February 2nd, join myself and the following creators at Comicazi, located at 407 Highland Avenue in Sommerville, MA (near Cambridge)...
*Keith Gleason and John Cimino from Hero Envy / Swass Cast
*Alan and Chris Hebert from HB Comics
*Jason May (www.jaymay.com)
*Chris Giarrusso (www.chrisgcomics.com)
*Brian LeTendre (tentative) from the Secret Identity as well as author and webcomic creator (www.seebrianwrite.com)
This is an amazing group of creators as well as some of our best friends so this event is guaranteed to be a literal ton of fun!
I will be there selling copies of my book (Pow-Bam-Sell: The Guide To Comic Book Marketing), talking about the Secret Identity podcast and anything else anyone wants to talk about.
The signing will take place from 11 AM to 2 PM and we hope to see some old friends there as well as meet some new ones.
For more information you can reach out to me at matmancomics@yahoo.com!
 Our friends Keith Gleason and John Cimino are back with another 'Swass Cast'. This time the boys are joined by the Matman as they spend time talking James Bond! Here they are to tell you about it...
The Swass-Cast returns with a brand new episode for a brand new year! This time we are joined again by the Matman from the "Secret Identity Podcast". In this episode we are talking about the most famous spy in the world "James Bond". We discuss all the aspects that make this character great, along with all the gadgets, and of course the Bond Women. So join us for a Vodka Martini and a few laughs! Also Remember to pick up the new "Secret Identity" books! "Pow! Bam! Sell! the Guide to Comic Book Marketing" by Matt Herring and "Courting the King in Yellow" by Brian Letendre. Always remember recent episodes of the "Swass-Cast" are available in Video and Audio format on Itunes / Podomatic and you can always enjoy on You Tube!
To check out all the insanity just click the link below
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjugL6G4C3A
by Brian LeTendre
I have to admit, sitting down to watch The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, there was a small part of me that was worried it wouldn’t live up to my expectations. For starters, it had been almost ten years since we last saw Peter Jackson and company’s vision of Tolkien's Middle-Earth on the big screen. On top of that, this was the beginning of a prequel trilogy, taking a much smaller work (and some supplemental material) and stretching it out over three movies.
Turns out I had nothing to worry about. An Unexpected Journey is every bit the return trip to Middle-Earth I was hoping for. As soon as I saw the Shire again, it was like putting on an old pair of slippers, or wrapping your favorite blanket around you while you read a great book. I never realized how much I missed seeing that world until it was up on the screen in front of me again.
But this trip to Middle-Earth was different, of course, and that’s a great thing. While the Lord of the Rings trilogy was very dark, punctuated by spots of brightness, The Hobbit is the opposite. And the first chapter, An Unexpected Journey, is a colorful, almost giddy celebration of the wonderful world of Middle-Earth. It’s almost as if Jackson and everyone else who worked on the film are saying “I know! We’re so excited to be back here too!”
Not that there isn’t plenty of action mind you, and some scary moments as well.
[MINOR SPOILERS]
The movie begins with an older Bilbo Baggins (played once again by Ian Holm), penning a memoir of his greatest adventure from his younger days. We also get to see Frodo (Elijah Wood), and are reminded of how innocent he was prior to the events of The Lord of the Rings. In fact, the framing sequence at the beginning of the film takes place just prior to the big party that began The Fellowship of the Ring.
Which brings me to one of the aspects of An Unexpected Journey that I loved the most--how it foreshadows The Lord of the Rings. From the framing sequence at the beginning, to the subplot of a great evil returning to the land, Jackson and company did an excellent job of making this a prequel movie that stands on its own, but certainly sets the table for what is to come. And that’s no easy task, because at face value, the stakes in The Hobbit are much lower than in The Lord of the Rings. While all of Middle-Earth is at stake in The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit is about Bilbo Baggins trying to help a group of determined Dwarves take their home back from a dragon.
It would be easy for this film to feel small compared to The Lord of the Rings, and the fact that it doesn’t basically boils down to three things in my opinion:
The World
As I mentioned earlier, Middle-Earth is an amazing, fantastical place. This time around, we get to see it in all its colorful, beautiful glory. The Shire, Rivendell--all of it brought to the screen a world so immersive, I just want to stay there and visit with the characters forever.
The Tone
The combination of a sense of adventure, whimsy and humor make this visit to Middle-Earth fun. Sure, there are scary things, and sure, there is danger, but much of this movie is about a solitary Hobbit who goes on an exciting quest and sees the world for the first time.
The Cast
I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that Martin Freeman should be nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Bilbo Baggins. Having seen him own this role, I can’t imagine anyone doing a better job with it. He carries the first half of the movie, when things are a bit slow, and we see how Bilbo is sucked into the big adventure by Gandalf and the Dwarves.
And the Dwarves? Everything I’d hoped for. Of all the fantasy races, Dwarves have always been my favorite, and these Dwarves are a combination of what you saw with Gimli in The Lord of the Rings, and what we grew up seeing in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. As an ensemble, they run the spectrum of stalwart warriors to bumbling buffoons. But they all have heart, and as a group they’re great. My personal favorite was James Nesbitt’s Bofur. In this movie he is the one who connects the most with Bilbo, and their relationship is a joy to watch.
Of course, Ian McKellan is wonderful as Gandalf, and Hugo Weaving and Cate Blanchett make great returns as well. And Andy Serkis? Add him to the Oscar nomination list.
I don’t want to get into spoiler territory, so I will leave specific plot details out. Needless to say, I was very happy with the story, and I’m glad it will be a trilogy. That just means more time for us as viewers to spend in this wonderful world.
As a parent, I am still contemplating whether or not to take the kids to see this one. There are some scary parts, and more than a little violence, but nowhere near the level of a movie like The Avengers. And so much of the rest of the movie has an all-ages appeal to it, I’m inclined to say that if your kids have seen any superhero movies lately, they will probably be fine seeing this.
In any case, I can’t recommend The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey enough. I will be seeing many more times.
5 out of 5 It’s Great to Be Backs
 As we've been mentioning on the stie and in the podcast over the past few weeks, we are looking people interested in submitting work for an anthology project. The project will be a combination of prose, black & white artwork and short black & white comics.The theme of this project will be in line with old books like Amazing Stories, Weird Fantasy, Eerie, etc. The theme for this collection will be "Tales of Vengeance."If you are interested in being part of the project, here's some guidelines:All stories, comics and artwork have to be original--no use of licensed properties (Star Wars, licensed suepr heroes, etc.)Short stories should be between 3,000 and 5,000 wordsShort comics should be 6 pages or lessIf you are an artist and want to contribute art to someone else's story (or the cover), that is awesome, and we will team you up with someone.Anyone interested in being a part of the project needs to email me at sipodcast@comcast.net by FRIDAY NOVEMBER 9TH. Put "SI Anthology Project" in the header.Submissions will likely be due by the end of December. Of course, there is no money involved, but everyone will keep the rights to whatever they create, and if we do find a way to sell copies, they will be cheap. Anything made would go to cover costs, and then anything else would go to cover bandwidth for the podcast.So, let us know if you're interested. This is a great community project that offers a chance for people to get their work out there!
by Brian LeTendreIT"S HERE!
Courting the King in Yellow is now available on Drive Thru Fiction! A Halloween horror story involving elder beings, cultists and shady corporations, Courting the King in Yellow is my homage to the horror stories and movies I grew up with. Robert W. Chambers, H.P. Lovecraft, Clive Barker and John Carpenter are all influences that horror fans will see in this tale of terror.
Courting the King in Yellow is available in multiple formats--PDF, Epub (for Nook and most other eReaders) and Mobi (Kindle). When you buy the book, you get all three formats, so you can read it on whatever device you'd like.
Best of all, Courting the King in Yellow is only $4.99 for a limited time right now!
You can get it right here. You can also check out a free preview on the product page as well.
To whet your appetite, here's the back cover copy:
When Melotte Pharmaceutical moved into the struggling city of Springfield, residents saw it as a godsend. But while the city’s fortunes appear to be turning around, something sinister is brewing within its homeless population.
Four newfound friends stumble onto a horrific plan for the city, and their lives will never be the same again. Because on Halloween night, a new horror will be coming to Springfield, and they are the only ones who can stop it.
And here's a quick teaser trailer I made for the book: Hope you enjoy the book, and thanks for the support!
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