Week of June 17th

Published on June 17, 2013 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

I don’t have much to talk about this week, so, I thought I would give some thoughts on…

The Commando of Steel

Or

What I didn’t waste my money on this weekend

So, I went to see a movie this week last.  It might be the best film I’ll see this year.  Yes, there were a lot of options at the googolplex right now and to make a decision as to my quarterly torture at the hands of Whoreywood is something I don’t take lightly.  So, I decided to see Raiders of the Lost Ark and, I was not disappointed.

That is unlike my good friend Kyle (not my business partner) who saw what he would call – his words, not mine – “seriously… the worst movie of any genre I’ve ever seen.  I have never been less engaged by any movie or TV show I’ve ever seen.”  But don’t take his word for it, his wife hated it too.  “My wife generally likes all of the superhero movies even the ones I don’t, and she f@#$ing hated it.  She asked me half way through if we could leave because it was so bad.  She said she would have fallen asleep if the movie wasn’t so loud.”

“Who is this Kyle person,” you might ask.  Well, I consider his opinion on comics impeccable and if he says it is sucked I believe him.  He was so angered by it he wrote up a full review, with some fantastic points to start and then the meat of road kill that was Man of Steel.  It is lengthy, but a GREAT read.  You need to understand, this comes from someone who is a huge Superman fan and understands what makes him the greatest hero our generation has ever seen… well, until now.  Find Kyle’s great review here.

Oh, but you need more proof, fine.  If you have read comics for any amount of time you know who Mark Waid is.  Maybe the greatest comic writer of our generation and he is easily the smartest man in comics.  Currently he writes Indestructible Hulk and the near perfect comic that is Daredevil.  The man knows his superheroes and is a HUGE fan of Superman.  What does he have to say about this movie?  You can find his full review here, but most of it can be summed up in his opening couple lines: “At its emotional climax, at the moment of Superman’s ultimate “victory,” MAN OF STEEL broke my heart.  I mean, absolutely snapped it clean in half.  I went in ready to forgive a lot.  I knew we wouldn’t get much, if any, of the secret identity–“Clark Kent” as we know him, as a reporter in glasses, as in “disguised as…”, appears only in a cute nod, and I’ve said all my adult life that a Superman story without Clark Kent in it never really feels like a Superman story.”

Both reviews echo oddly a statement from the writer David Goyer, that this is NOT the comic book character Superman.  Than who is it?  Can we say the same for whatever the character is who currently flies under the banner of Superman in the comics too?  I think we have seen/found our overarching problem with DC.  (If you’ve seen the film and know of what lies in wait at the end, then you know that this is NOT my SUPERman, but some kind of villain masquerading as a super man.  I can’t explain without giving away the ending, though really, if I did would it keep you from seeing it?  Well, then maybe I should.)

“But what do you really think of this pile of sh!t?  Don’t hold back.  Tell us.”  Ah, someone else already did it for me.  See Stephen Colbert’s take on the Commando of Steel and tell me that isn’t absolutely, perfectly, dead on accurate.

 ….and does anyone else think the new stupidman costume looks like Earth 2 Ultraman’s?  Just wondering.

Liked the True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys – Becky Cloonan’s art was really, really good – and Ronnie loved Six Gun Gorilla.

 

Sorry, that is all I’ve got this week.

The Week of June 11th

Published on June 11, 2013 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

Drink and Draw

Our next Drink and Draw, at Good Sons on Beaver, will be Thursday, June 13th at 8:00pm.

We have been adding an “ingredient” to the event and then drawing and talking about that element at the Drink and Draw.  Most of the time, Carter is the one who gives adds the ingredient and this time is no different.  This is what Carter sent me, “in “honor” of the new Man of Steel movie, what else can they screw up with the Superman mythos?  Ma and Pa Kent are now alpaca ranchers in Colorado.  Lex Luthor is now a streetwise hood.  Supergirl is now Superman’s mom.”  Oh, yeah!!

 

Paul Jenkins on Mainstream Comics

I have a great deal of respect for Paul Jenkins.  The guy has written some great comics over the last decade plus of his time in the industry.  Last week he signed an exclusive deal to work with Boom Studios.  This is a sign of times changing for sure.  When the independent companies start making a legitimate play for top talent (AND pay them properly for their work) the ever shifting landscape my forever have changed.

This week also had Jenkins speaking about HIS experiences at Marvel and especially his time working at DC and dealing with editorial there.  It is well worth the read.  Jenkins lays in to both pretty heavy.

 

(exasperated sigh) DC in September

Several people mentioned the early trickles of information being released about DC’s September previews (we still have over two weeks before June’s previews are put to bed… but I digress.)  The early info being released says they will all be connected to a large scale villain oriented company wide crossover called Forever Evil.  That, in and of itself, doesn’t sound so bad.  It is when you keep reading that it gets much worse.

Each comic will have a 3D cover and each comic will be priced at $3.99.  There will be 52 issues that will run “in place of” SOME of the titles currently being released and will be designated point one, two, three and four.  There will also be a separate seven issue mini-series with some kind of story about villains doing villainous stuff.

So, the problem is with the point books.  See, some of the characters (and books) are getting four books in place of the regular one issue.  For example, Batman, Batman and Robin, Detective and Dark Knight will ALL get four issues each!  Batman is usually a $3.99 book, but the others are only (HA!! Only) $2.99.  Each of these books will have FOUR titles published in September and each named with a different villain and priced at $3.99.  So, Detective Comics #23.1 will be (and I don’t know which villain it will be) The Riddler, issue 23.2 will be Man Bat and so on, but the real kicker is the price.

A normal $2.99 a month purchase of a single copy of Batman and Robin – maybe because you like Pat Gleason’s art, because who doesn’t, and want to read a Bat book – would now cost you… $16!!!

Throw on top of this it being September, the worst month of the year for sales of any comic shop, this is a very scary prospect for retailers.

Kyle and I have only just briefly discussed it and are unsure how we will stock this… event.  There are going to be a lot of people who will not want an additional cost of $13 per book they read per that month.  I have not talked to DC yet as to any opportunities or incentives for this… event.  But there will probably be some kind of sign up or something like that.  We will let you know in a couple weeks.

Personally – I’m numb to the whole thing.  Just another dumb idea brought to us by the brain surgeons at DC, but doesn’t this sound like a terrible idea from the era of 1990’s Marvel?  Well, remember that Bob Harras was the editor and chief of pre-bankrupt Marvel Comics in the late nineties.  Hmmm, makes more sense now doesn’t it.  Anyone remember hologram X-comics?  Urgh, I do.

 

The Week of June 3rd

Published on June 3, 2013 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

Your Weekly E-Mail from Cup o’ Kryptonite.

 

Drink and Draw

Our next Drink and Draw, at Good Sons on Beaver, will be Thursday, June 13th at 8:00pm.

We have been adding an “ingredient” to the event and then drawing and talking about that element at the Drink and Draw.  Most of the time, Carter is the one who gives adds the ingredient and this time is no different.  This is what Carter sent me, “in “honor” of the new Man of Steel movie, what else can they screw up with the Superman mythos?  Ma and Pa Kent are now alpaca ranchers in Colorado.  Lex Luthor is now a streetwise hood.  Supergirl is now Superman’s mom.”  Oh, yeah!!

 

New book in the shop

We got in the new Art Baltazar and Franco book Aw, Yeah Comics in this last week and are nearly sold out.  This is a new all ages read staring Action Cat and Adventure Bug.  They will pit-wits against such villains as Evil Cat, Cell Phone Guy, Ghost Bug, Polarbreath and Marquaid (pronounced Mark Waid.)  It is a great book, especially for younger readers, that has all the joy and pure love of comics that was shown in Superman Family Adventures and Tiny Titans.

We have sold VERY well on our initial shipment and will have more in soon when issue three ships.  (read this as – if you and/or your kid read it and liked it tell me to hold a copy.  This is not a Diamond solicited book – and therefore SO MUCH better – but can not be simply reordered each week.)

And, if you want even more Art and Franco – don’t forget Itty Bitty Hellboy coming in August!  Now that calls for a big – Aw, Yeah!!

 

The Wake

This is the new (and it has been awhile since we said that) Vertigo miniseries (Ten Issues) written by Scott Snyder with art by Sean Murphy.  This is Snyder, who seems to be on just about everything EXCEPT American Vampire, coming back to Vertigo after writing Batman for the last year and a half and this is the first work by Murphy since his extremely successful Punk Rock Jesus.

The book opens in the future (a least 200 years) and is set in a water-logged/destroyed city, but all this is just a snippet and a huge tease as the book quickly fires back to a more current time setting.  What may be our main character is off to help in the arctic after something upset a high ranking governmental organization.

Everything about this book is not want I was expecting.  I thought I was going to be reading a horror book, but instead it felt a lot more like sci-fi.  Well, right up until the ending of this first issue.  I have no idea what to make of the futuristic opening either.  However, it is a very good start and has a similar pacing that Punk Rock Jesus had.  (actually, if I hadn’t known Snyder was writing, I’d be sure this was all Murphy.)

I’d read anything Murphy touches after his PRJ and when he was still putting it out I loved American Vampire, so, of course, I’m in for the long haul on this regardless, but I do give this first issue a very big thumbs up and recommend it whole heartedly.

 

Adventures of Superman

Not liking the crappy angsty-Emmo-non underwear wearing commando masquerading as the Man of Steal?  Me neither.

Want a real hero that doesn’t kill, stands for truth, justice and peace?  Want a Superman story that doesn’t make you want to pour bleach into your eyes – do to either terrible art or writing?

I thought so.  Me too.

Now normally, I don’t give a new DC release more of a look than what it takes to count them coming out of the box, but in this first issue of the new anthology book (three stories per issue) I’ve read it three times.  Though all nice, the Jeff Parker/Chris Samnee story is by far the best.

If you want REAL Superman, this is the only Superman book for you.

Now for the downside – it is digital FIRST!  So, one major step forward with DC and two giant Hulk like leaps backwards.  Seriously, this company hates you, me… maybe they hate comic books?  Oh, well, continue reading below.

 

 

Things I found on the internet

Or

Who am I kidding, I just hate DC Entertainment

If you are like me – someone of taste – and can’t stand what has happened to your beloved DC heroes over the last couple years, you are in for a slew of comic related anti-DC news today.  It isn’t that I hate them – that is a blatant lie – it is that they make it so easy to post this stuff and by they, I mean The Outhousers.com who have some mad-on dislike for DC, but then who doesn’t these days?

First up – The new Batman/Superman book will be late.  You might say, “Shocker” but it is issue #1 that is late. (sound of palm slapping on head)  It looks like it is Lee’s fault.  No, not that Lee.

Second – looks like we are starting to see why Vertigo is getting stripped down and little is being released though that imprint.  Dan Dildio doesn’t like the business plan of Vertigo.  Urgh, how does this idiot keep his job?

Third – I’m not posting a link, you can find plenty on any site right now about what happened in Justice League of America #4 this last week.  URGH!  Seriously?  How dumb is that?

And Finally – Here is a personal reason for dislike.  Besides the repeated lateness and delay of books of the last two months, remember that they said these books would be on time, “Guaranteed,” they are even delaying a promo item we paid for!  This week sees the first non-GeoffJohns Green Lantern issue (#21) and with it (and all the new #21 issues) there was a “buy at a certain level and you can also purchase plastic power rings to promote the books.”  We ordered the Green ones and were set to give them away with the purchase of the book… but the rings will be late.  How do you even do this?  Truly amazing!

Also – Looks like James Robinson might have a job soon – after he left DC two weeks ago – with Marvel and it might be writing a Namor book.

 

Does all that just depress you?  Well, how about a Spanish language trailer for Machete Kills!  Ah, now everything is better right.

 

 

So, Last week I did top ten lists for Ronnie and I and two customers.  Well, one of my slightly more mouthy customers, Chad, called me out on my lack of Bat-titles on any of the lists, and wanted to put forth his ten.  I said you bring it and it was brought-en… here is Chad’s Top 10 titles (now with extra Bat-titles for Matt’s enjoyment):

 

One from the past and one from the future – Punk Rock Jesus (yeah, I know it’s a 2012 book, but it’s still a solid story … wish it would have gone longer than it did) and Infinity (It’s Hickman, it’s not out yet but odds are in favor of it being ridiculously good)

 

10. 47 Ronin – Hands down, my favorite story ever written … the only flaw in this book is that it’s almost done.  It could have easily been 12 issues and Sakai still wouldn’t have enough space for the awesomeness that is this classic story of vengeance in feudal Japan.

 

9. Nightwing – Not the greatest Bat book being written, but the plot (especially since the Court of the Owls crossover) has focused on Dick Grayson’s backstory, how his present was destroyed by the Joker … and finds himself in Chicago.  Definitely going in a direction worth keeping an eye on.

 

8. Blackacre – the first “post-apocalyptic” book on my list … a mesh of future utopia/dystopia, corporate government vs. apparent religious fanaticism.  Blackacre has already shown that nothing is quite what it seems as the story recently wrapped up the first “volume” and is available in trade right now!

 

7. Star Wars – Matt called this one pretty well, pretty much the best thing in the Star Wars’verse since Empire (though the Thrawn trilogy does stand up pretty well in novel form).  A good telling of “what might have happened” in between the movies… a good read from Brian Wood.  He’s giving us a good look into the characters that we don’t get in the movies.

 

6. Peter Panzerfaust – Peter Pan is top 3 or 4 of my favorite stories of all time.  My grandfather told me stories of his time in World War II when I was growing up – making me a bit of a World War II geek.  And then Kurtis Wiebe meshes the two together?!  The artwork of Jenkins has a hard cartoonish edge to it and relays the story brilliantly.  Peter is there, the “Lost Boys” are there, Wendy and her brothers, all the way to Col Haken (the Hook) … a fantasy story set perfectly within WWII France.

 

5. Batman Inc – In spite of the most recent entry (Batman Japan – WTF?!), this has been the most hardcore of Bat titles … and it’s sadly grinding to a climactic end.  I was sold on this book, before issue #1 when I read Grant Morrison was writing.  This is the book that killed Damian Wayne … brutally.  Batman Inc. has been surprisingly savage and equally brilliant written – other books have told 2-3 stories in the time that Morrison has told 1 story.  Masters of their trade.

 

4. The Massive – Post-apocalyptic book #2, Brian Wood #2 … Wood wrote DMZ, which I read after I took a suggestion to read Massive #1.  DMZ (for those who don’t know) is a future timeline of the second  American Civil War… with the war’s DMZ being the island of Manhattan.  Massive follows a similar storytelling feel and style with a big overarching story (the world has collapsed) but the key to the narrative are the smaller 3-part stories about Cal Israel and his dwindling crew on the Kapital.  Charcter driven to the core.

 

3. Manhattan Projects – Jonathan Hickman … complete revisionist history of what happens when we try to perfect the bomb … cannibalism, robot arms, death monks, an FDR computer and Einstein in space… Many things go wrong.  The entire series is one mindtrip after another and each issue gets deeper and deeper into the “what if…” sci-fi scenario presented early on – what if the Manhattan Project(s) wasn’t just about building a bomb to end World War II? What if there was a lot more going on behind the scenes than we ever knew?

 

2. Batman – it started with Gates of Gotham, Scott Snyder delved into previously unknown parts of Gotham’s past and continued with the Nu52 reboot nearly 2 years ago – The Court of the Owls, Batman driven to the brink of sanity, retaking Gotham, only to have to deal with the Joker’s reappearance in Death of the Family.  Now he’s taking us into “Frank Miller’s territory” with the Year Zero storyline … Snyder definitely has the best book in the Nu52 (in my humble opinion.)

 

1. East of West – Hickman has 2 of my top 3 books at the moment (and my anticipated books as well) and it is another piece of revisionist history/dystopia. It is the only series on this list where I have read the first issue multiple times (4) and just reveled at the awesomeness.  To the point I made 2 friends read it as well.  This is shaping up to be one of the best non-cape books in recent history.  Here is the basic premise – The Civil War never ended, a meteor struck the earth (wiping out the Midwest), and the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse ride again?!  What?!?!  Yep, Best sci-fi/western since Serenity!  Hickman is definitely one of the best writers in the industry… and a very busy man!

 

 

 

The Week of May 28th

Published on May 28, 2013 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

Drink and Draw

Our next Drink and Draw will be on June 13th at 8:00.  Of course, it’ll be at Good Sons on Beaver.  I’ll get Carter to pick the “ingredient” – what we are going to draw – and let you know next week.

 

Some shop news

So, a few weeks ago I let you know that we had been robbed.  I can now tell you the police detective assigned to my case is pretty sure they have our man.  It looks like the guy was associated with a LOT of robberies in the city lately.  You can check here for a small news story (about the other robberies he has been arrested for) on the DM Register.  I posted the news article on our Facebook page and the best comment for sure was from Jeff, “Judgment Rookie?  Armed Robbery, Twenty years in an Iso-cube.”

 

Top Ten Lists

This week I’ve got some top ten lists for you.  Hopefully these make you consider some books you have thought about reading and just haven’t picked up.

 

Customer Chris’s 10 Best Books that you should be reading (in no particular order):

 

1.) The Goon – in my opinion this is the best title currently being published.  It has great/silly humor, violence, drinking, and full out debauchery.  Thanks to the good people at Cup o’ Kryptonite for recommending this title to me as I would have never found it on my own.

 

2.) Chew – in my opinion this is the second best story being put out right now.  If you haven’t heard of this book by now, then I…….really don’t know how that is possible.  Anyway, you are missing out.  John Layman’s writing and Rob Guillory’s art are amazing.

 

3.) Hellboy – I was first introduced to the Hellboy Universe by again the good people at Cup o’ Kryptonite.  Hellboy in my opinion is pure magic, as it has some of the best original stories I have ever read.  The other Hellboy Universe titles such as BPRD, Abe Sapien and Lobster Johnson are also top notch reads.

 

4.) Harbinger – I am proud to say that I am a VALIANT fan (past, present and definitely future).  This series is a fresh reboot of the original series and is currently written by Josh Dysart.  The story is about a super-powered teenager (Peter) trying to stay ahead of a government agency that is pursuing him.  When the government agency finally catches up to him, Peter finds help from another super-powered individual, or is he actually an enemy?  Cup o’ Kryptonite has the first issue of this series for $1 and the first TPB (collecting the first four issues) for $10.  It’s a no brainer to check out this series.

 

5.) X-O Manowar – this is my second favorite title that is being put out by VEI right now.  It is about a 5th century Visigoth (Aric) who is stolen from Earth by aliens and forced to be a slave.  Aric’s only hope of escape is to band together with other slaves and steal the aliens’ ultimate weapon (the X-O Manowar armor).  Like Harbinger, Cup o’ Kryptonite has the first issue of the series for $1 and the first TPB (collecting the first four issues) for $10.

 

6.) East of West – Another hit by Jonathon Hickman.  Before I picked up this title I was starting to get into a comic funk and this title it pulled me back in.  East of West is essentially a Sci-Fi Western set in a dystopian alternate timeline America where the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are alive.  Overall we are still not sure of what intentions the Horsemen have for the country/world.  Pick it up.

 

7.) Luther Strode – Luther is a geek that found out he has a one of a kind ability that gives him full control of his body (the ability to heal himself, become stronger, faster, etc).  Throughout history there have been other people with this type of ability, all of which became rulers, murders, and conquerors.  As Luther’s abilities grow, a murder cult of people with his abilities is coming for him.

 

8.) Locke & Key – Since I fell in love with this title, I rarely find people who are reading it.  As of right now the story is about to come to a close with 3 issues left, so it is a good time to get caught up.  The story is about the Locke family who moves into their ancestral home called the Key House.  The Key House is full of magical keys that allow the user(s) to impossible actions such as change gender, erase people’s minds, control shadows, become ghosts, etc.  Like all great stories there is also an enemy (in this case a demon) who wants the Omega key to open to the black door to a demon realm.

 

9.) Rachel Rising – Terry Moore is writing and drawing a great modern horror with a female lead cast (yes, I said Terry Moore so there is no way the lead cast would be male).  This story is great.  Also, the series has just been opted for a TV show, which I am excited to see come to fruition.  Other great stories by Terry Moore are Echo and Strangers in Paradise; all of which are good reads.

 

10.) Conan the Barbarian (written by Brian Wood) – First of all I must say that I hate Brian Wood’s writing, except when he is writing Conan the Barbarian.  Wood takes a fresh look at Conan in his early years as he hooks up with a group of pirates and falls in love the Queen of the Black Coast.  This is the best Conan book I have ever read.

 

Customer John’s Top Ten:

1. Justice League

2. Age of Ultron

3. Daredevil

4. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

5. Fantastic Four

6. Justice League America

7. Bloodshot

8. Superior Spider-Man

9. The Flash

10. Guardians of the Galaxy

 

Ronnie’s Top Ten List:

Of books currently being published

1. The Massive

2. Batman Incorporated

3. BPRD/Hellboy Universe

4. Tank Girl

5. Manhattan Projects

6. Mind MGMT

7. Harbinger

8. Fatale

9. The Sixth Gun

10. Rachel Rising

East of West and 12 Reasons To Die are both off to a strong start, if they keep it up they will be on the list soon.

 

Matt’s list

New Books I love and will make it on the list if they continue the greatness they have started with – Occupy Comics and East of West

Honorable Mentions:

Manhattan Projects – what started as reality is now an amazing puree of history, actual events and a heaping amount of crazy.  I really wish there were more books like this on the market.

Fury Max – Speaking of history, this is Nick Fury wondering through it while working for the CIA.  Under the radar book that is a great joy to read, but I fear is coming to an end soon.

Anything starting Judge Dredd – I am enjoying both of the IDW books immensely, which I really didn’t think I would.  I’ve also started getting 2000AD to try and help my need for justice and have been loving that too.  Seriously, why do we have to suffer with movies like Stuperman and more Avengers when the only one I’ve enjoyed is Dredd!

Legend of Luthor Strode – pure, crazy, unadulterated violence extreme with some great fluid art.  This book doesn’t make any bones – only broken ones – about its self.  Fun and violent, what every growing boy needs.

Thor and Indestructible Hulk – Hulk has been pretty good since being renumbered, but lately Thor has been in the book and drawn by the living legend Walt Simonson!  With Waid’s writing on it as well, it makes it one of my favorite superhero books.  And speaking of Thor, those of you reading Aaron’s amazing God Butcher storyline know just how good this book has been.

10. Hawkeye – Everything about this NOT-a-superhero book is great.  The art (Daniel Aja) and writing (Matt Fraction) are almost a perfect mold for what should be a superhero I do not like.  I guess if shows there are no bad characters, only bad writing.  If you are not reading this book, seriously have your head examined.  Or you can wait until the Eisner Awards tell you to read it.  Either way, whatever Bro.

 

9. Conan – This book remains great and continues to show so much depth to a character historically lacking any.  Oh, and it is written by Brian Wood.

 

7. The Massive – I have had several people say, “is this book going anywhere?” of late.  ARGH!!  It takes every fiber in my being not to scream at you!!  Not every book needs to be written with a giant fight scene in it.  Not every book needs to have flashy costumes.  This is NOT a superhero book.  It is a great developing read that will not have a full pay off for some time.  That is what slow burn books do.  If you do not know Brian Wood’s writing style – see DMZ – then maybe this book is NOT for you.  Fine.  But then please NEVER ask me for a recommendation again.

Seriously one of my favorite books being published.

 

8. Star Wars – This is the Star Wars comic I’ve been waiting for since I was 13.  I have not read a SW comic that I’ve REALLY enjoyed (except maybe some of the early issues of John Ostrander’s Legacy) since I was an early teenager and reading the not really great Marvel-post Return of the Jedi book, but I’m not one to find any joy in that “expanded universe” crap.  I want a Star Wars Comics; then I want Han, Chewie, Luke and Leia… and that is what I’m getting in this amazingly deep character driven book.

MUCH better than anything done in the Star Wars universe since… um… Empire Strikes Back?

Oh, and it is also written by Brian Wood.  Kind of makes me want to read X-Men which starts this Wednesday and… is also written by Brian Wood.  WOW, that guy is busy!

 

6. Rachel Rising – Terry Moore is a machine.  There is no other explanation for his ability to write, draw, ink, letter AND SELF PUBLISH this amazing character driven horror book.  Now into its third arch, this book continues to deliver creepy shivers and continues to develop its characters and story.  Not even close to a step back, if anything the book is better than when it started.  If you read The Walking Dead, you need to throw that horrible book away and pick up a real horror comic.  100% less talking tigers in this book too.

 

5. Harbinger – I have spoken often about my enjoyment of Valiant’s restart of publishing.  By far their best book is Harbinger.  A great superhero book (no really, it just doesn’t feel like one) this is what you want all your Marvel and DC books to be like.  Chris and Ronnie both got me to start reading this book and am very thankful for their prodding.

 

4. BPRD Books – Still steady and strong after all these years.  All three, the regular BPRD series, 1940’s era/Vampire book, Abe Sapien and the fourth if Hellboy comes out again are all some of the best comics being published right now.  There is almost nothing I look forward to more than these books.  Problem, you need some back story to really appreciate them, but I think over the last year they have made the books easier to get into now.  Premise, it is the end of the world and the BPRD is trying to stop it.  Lots of post apocalyptic comics are available none do it as well as Mike Mignola.

 

3. Chew – What hasn’t been a more consistently great issue month in and month out than this book over the last four years.  If you are not reading this book get to that first trade and start.  You will not be sorry.

 

2.  47 Ronin – there is only one more issue left of this fantastic journey though Japanese history.  It started off slow, but that is what a good comic does.  Issue four was one of my favorite of the year and sets for the big honor driven showdown in the finale.  Of course this is near the top of my list, anything Stan Sakai touches is gold.

 

1. Daredevil – This is a near perfect book.  Easily my favorite read – by a lot (with no Usagi Yojimbo coming out) – and with the simple writing of Mark Waid and fantastic art, every issue has an image I would like for a tattoo, by Chris Samnee.

What makes this superhero book SO much better than all the others being put out is simply the humanity that shines through in Matt Murdock and his supporting cast.  Why I don’t like Batman?  Read this book and find out.  A lot of people harp on and on about how great Batman is, but what makes him so horrible to read is that his alter ego practically doesn’t exist and never does anything to further the characters development.  This is the exact opposite when it comes to how Mark Waid is writing Daredevil.  The book is all about the development of the character and he does it though very simple storytelling.

Waid has made this his mark on nearly every book he has ever written.  “Keep it simple stupid.”  A lot of writers could use this motto tattooed on their forehead.  Waid makes you remember what you loved about superhero comics as a kid and writes (and has written) some of the best.  By adding in one of the most under rated artists in the industry… oh, perfect.

 

 

Two great things I found on line

Stupid things politicians say…

A great article written about an insane idea floated by our Vice President to possibly tax violent media.  Of course this at first might “sound great” -and is totally against the first amendment- but presents the idea, “what is taxable and what is not?”  (Which is the problem with explicit material too… do you see where this is going and why it is a TERRIBLE idea?)

What is too violent not to tax and not violent enough too tax?  Just pause for a second and think about comics that are violent enough to tax and after you put the top of your head back on your dome after it blew off (is that to violent to type… should I be taxed if I sold subscriptions to this blog post) think about how much of a waste of time proposed legislation like this is and remember this is the Vice President of the United States..  That should make you fear even more for our future.  Want to read more, the CBLDF has a nice little legal write up.

And crappy Star Trek…

Want to read how I really feel about (without even seeing) the crappy new supposedly called Star Trek film… well, this very funny spoiler ridden “review.”  As one friend said, after reading it, “I would have thought somebody had illegally accessed my computer, stole my review, and posted it for all to see.”  It – not the film – is that awesome.

Week of May 20th

Published on May 20, 2013 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

Shipping Note

Due to the continued inability to read a calendar or make a schedule, we will have a slight delay in getting books out next week.  We normally get and process the shipment on Tuesday.  We will have to do this on Wednesday morning next week.

 

Closed on Memorial Day Monday

There are certainly benefits to not selling coffee, one is being able to close on made-up national holidays designed to give federal employees days off.  But I like days off too and that is what I will be next Monday.

 

Drink and Draw

Our next Drink and Draw will be on June 13th at 8:00.  Of course, it’ll be at Good Sons on Beaver.  I’ll get Carter to pick the “ingredient” – what we are going to draw – and let you know next week.

 

 

Black Mask Studios

The second of the May Black Mask Studio releases is out Wednesday.  Occupy Comics joins Twelve Reasons to Die, which sold very well for us, and will add to the amazing stable of creators working for this great new progressive comic book company.

Occupy Comics promises to be an amazing book.  This is a list of the creators set do work on the political anthology: Alan Moore (Watchmen, V For Vendetta), David Lloyd (V For Vendetta, Aces Weekly), Charlie Adlard (The Walking Dead), Art Spiegelman (Pulitzer-winning Maus), Molly Crabapple (Shell Game), Matt Bors (Pulitzer-nominated political cartoonist), Mike Allred (Madman), Ben Templesmith (30 Days of Night), J.M. DeMatteis (Justice League, Spider-Man), Tyler Crook (Petrograd), Joshua Hale Fialkov (I, Vampire), Joe Infurnari (Mush!), Ales Kot (Wild Children), Dean Haspiel (American Splendor), Douglas Rushkoff (media theorist), Joshua Dysart (Unknown Soldier, Swamp Thing), Matt Miner (Liberator), & the project’s organizational spearhead Matt Pizzolo (Godkiller).

The book plans to use the ideas and spirit of the Occupy movement.  It kind-of encompasses what the company plans with its books too.  They want to see the industry shook up for independent and creator owned books.  This industry is not helpful and/or supportive to creator rights and Black Mask wants to change that.

The company also wants to broaden the market to something other than superheroes.  They have mentioned their desire to see comics become more like film, diverse.  Their thoughts of having a western or a romance book sit on the shelves next to the big two’s poorly executed repetitive superhero storytelling is a welcome breath of fresh, not hot, air.

There is a fantastic interview with the company’s founders Matt Pizzolo and Steve Niles at Punknews.org.  In it they really lay out everything they want to see and hopefully do with their company.  It is not your typical comic interview (hence its release on somewhere other than one of the comic “news” sites) and really highlights many of the glaring problems going on right now.  READ IT!

Now, if you try Occupy or liked the feel and style of Twelve Reasons, please consider Black Mask’s next two releases, Liberator and Ballistic.  If you want more info than Ronnie and I have presented in past weekly e-mails, try their website.

And if you liked Twelve Reasons and would like a little behind the scenes video here you go.  Up on Youtube, the entire creative crew talks about getting the book off the ground.

 

It isn’t just me

So, I take it to DC on a pretty regular basis.  Yes, they deserve it, but I’m not the only one who sees this.  Obviously sales show that, but now there are sites that are posting the latest stupid things done by this failure of a company.

Last week I said it was time for DC Editor in Chief Bob Harras to be fired and I was brought a post from the site Woowhaah.com that said the exact same thing.  It is very much worth the read (‘cause it backs up my position.)

Then there is the latest person to voluntarily leave the company, James Robinson!

Yes, the writer of Earth 2 quit the company this week.  Nothing had been announced by the company, but either issue 15 or 16 will be his last.  He posted two tweets that could be read two different ways, personally, I see them as veiled pot shots.  You can read the tweets here and make up your own mind if they sound as “unhappy” about the move as I read it.