Kiss News

by Eleanor Goodman / Team Rock

The first official KISS Expo launched in Tokyo, Japan, last week, and Metal Hammer was invited along to check it out.

An unassuming poster marks the door to the Kiss Expo, which leads into a shopping mall in Harajuku. We take the lift to the fifth floor, walk past some boutiques selling women's knitwear and frilly blouses, and enter a hidden world of Kiss memorabilia. Tellingly, the first item on display is the band's formation contract from 1976, promising each band member 25% of the band's revenue. Then there are gold discs aplenty, a selection of historic and smashed guitars, the infamous Kiss Kasket, a video showing Gene Simmons with X Japan mainman Yoshiki, and studded costumes from throughout the years � though sadly, the mannequins are not anatomically correct. "Kiss are sexy � we need to go to the sausage shop!" jokes Mark Stroman, one of the brains behind the event.

Aside from Gene Simons and Paul Stanley, Japanese music critics Masa Ito and Yuichi Masuda advised on the collection, which has been three years in the making and mainly consists of items donated by fans. The organisers now hope to grow the event and take it to the US and Europe. �There are two sides to this exhibition � one is the history and memorabilia for the diehard fans, and the other is fun experiences for new fans, like virtual reality headsets,� says curator Hana. �We're exploring more ideas, and hoping to have the whole band appear next time!�

Here's what we learned from a walk around...
Gene's basement is batshit crazy

He isn't shy about showing off his home, and the staff give out virtual reality headsets so we can tour his and Paul Stanley's cribs. He points out his branded pinball machine, toilet paper, baby bottles, condoms and other items, while our eyes try to adjust to the floor-to-ceiling Kiss Kaos. Ow.

CLICK HERE to read the rest of the story now!

By Eric Shirey / www.ersink.com

Aside from onstage brandishing their instruments amidst a backdrop of explosions, fire, and smoke, there's no place more appropriate for KISS to be at home than starring in their own comic book. Amy Chu's KISS #1 is proof that there are still creative channels to travel down for Starchild, the Demon, the Spaceman, and the Catman even after several previous comic book adventures through Marvel, Dark Horse, Platinum Image, IDW, and even Archie Comics. Her tale of mysticism and science fiction picks up the perfect amount of momentum in the first issue to keep readers interested in coming back for more.

KISS #1 opens in a futuristic world without sun and a world without heroes. Four young friends embark on a dangerous mission - to uncover the truth about the mysterious Council of Elders and their underground home, the city of Blackwell. But first they need some help from the past...

Amy Chu pens KISS #1. Kewber Baal provides the striking art.

KISS #1 is rated T+ for Teen Plus. I'm really not entirely sure why. There's less here than we see in any of the mainstream DC Comics titles. I guess we'll see how things unfold in issue #2.

KISS #1 is available now in print and digital editions.

The holidays are almost here!

*keep in mind jewelry takes 4-6 weeks to ship.

Get yours today�

http://bit.ly/2ewoDUV

KISS EXPO JAPAN continues through October 31st. Come on out!

http://kissexpo2016.jp/

The two KISS band members help honor veterans and open new restaurant

By MARK MUCKENFUSS / Press Enterprise

Photos by STAN LIM

Some local veterans got brushed by celebrity -- a kiss if you will -- on Tuesday, Oct. 18 at Corona�s new Rock & Brews restaurant.

Kiss band members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, co-founders of the restaurant chain, were on hand to celebrate the grand opening of the restaurant. The event began with a luncheon for veterans that filled nearly every seat in the house. The salute to the military has been a part of every Rock & Brews opening, Simmons said. There are 19 restaurants in the chain.

�Free lunch and free Kiss, are you kidding?� said Mike Ryan, 68, an Air Force, Army and National Guard veteran from Alta Loma. Ryan, who served from 1966 to 1974, stood in a line of about 200 people outside the establishment before the event began.

He said he learned of the event through his local American Legion post.

�This is quite a treat,� he said. �Kiss is a legend, man.�

Dean Madison, 56, of Rancho Cucamonga, was standing with Ryan. Madison spent 28 years in the Air Force, much of it as a reservist at March Air Reserve Base. He said he was excited to meet his childhood idols.

�This was my band in high school,� Madison said. �I had this old Kiss belt buckle. I didn�t know before that they�re all about patriotic stuff.�

Among those gathered for lunch were a number of members of Guitars for Vets, a non-profit organization that teaches veterans to play guitar as a form of therapy. Based in Chicago, the group has had an active chapter at the Loma Linda VA Medical Center since November 2011. James Robledo, 68, of Ontario, heads the chapter.

CLICK HERE to read the rest of the story and to view more photos from the event.

New Dynamite Comics KISS comic was just released yesterday and KISS fan Joseph Ciambelli has 12 of the covers already! 

The KISS ARMY ROCKS!

Story from www.outrightgeekery.com

KISS #1 � Advanced Review

by Tom Guilfoyle � October 14, 2016

Writer: Amy Chu
Artist: Kewber Baal
Colorist: Schinerys Baal
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment

Kiss are back in comic book form with Dynamite comics. Kiss have a long history with comics with their first debut in 1977 with Howard the duck #12. Over the years many publishing houses have produced a Kiss title. These include Marvel, Image, Dark horse. With Dynamite owning the mantle what do they bring to the table?

This series takes place 500 years into the future, centuries after the great war destroyed society and the planets surface. Humanity did survives in a subterranean city of Blackwell, which appears to be regimented. We meet four kids, led by twins Eran and Noa, who are on the edge of conforming to society. Not believing all the stories and in possession of a ancient map. A journey begins with the hopes of learning the truth.

Kewber Baal provides some really solid artwork throughout the issue. He creates a perfectly murky atmosphere for Blackwell while in between Blackwell he creates wonder. Expressions on the kids faces are wonderful, the rendering add alot to there personality. Baal is fantastic at drawing expressions without the need for context, this is something he does here. Kewber�s inclusions of The Elder album is brilliant.

Amy Chu has done a phenomenal job with her writing. This issue has clear evidence that Amy has a passion for the Band. She shows her passion by including Kiss lyrics within the issue. Amy has taken a different approach to her Kiss comic compared to writers before her. She has decided to use Kiss as the secondary in this narrative and make four kids the primary. Amy has cleverly created a narrative that screams Kiss but more Sci-fi. This isn�t a bad thing however as Amy has used this to create an idea that is distinctive and original.

Overall this is a great read. Although nothing spectacular happened and Kiss only made brief cameo like appearances, it however was a fun read that sets the wheels of this series in motion. Amy and Kewber are great in this issue and I hope that continues. This issue is accessible by everyone, Kiss fan or not, that�s the beauty of Amy�s writing.

ART 4/5
WRITING 4/5
OVERALL 4/5

KISS IS EVERYWHERE!

Thanks to Altrincham Unlimited for sharing Gene's pumpkin twin with us! Gene loves it!

The pumpkin is an inspired creation from Dawsons Music for Altrincham's Pumpkin Trail.

Meet Paul Stanley & Gene Simmons at the Grand Opening of Rock & Brews Corona tonight!

CLICK HERE to buy tickets now!