Monthly Archive for July, 2011

The Week of August 1st

Published on July 31, 2011 in Comics and Events. 1 Comment

Last Week…

I wanted to thank all of you who came out or stopped in and helped in making our X-Mas in July an amazingly successful event.  We raised over $700 in supplies and donations to the shelter which well out does last year.

I wanted to thank a few people specifically.  Kathy Scott was the one up front really running the event.  She does SO much volunteer time with Animal Life Line it is mind boggling.  She is the one most responsible for it having been such a great event.

I also wanted to thank Josh Feathers for bringing out the Kubb sets and all the extra notice to people we got from him.  Des Moines Kubb is a growing, fun group that is going to have a great event coming in a few months that I’ll have more on as we get closer.  If you have played, you loved it and I really think it added a great, if sweaty, addition to the event.

The event was just great, all round.  Thank you.

 

Coming this week…

I’ll get to some DC stuff in a bit, but lately I’ve heard nothing but questions and concerns and complaints about the new DC stuff.  I say, honestly, I don’t know, but if you aren’t sure, pissed off or don’t like it…. Read something that is guaranteed good or excites you.

Well, two books coming this week I have great excitement for.  The first is a new, co-written Scott Snyder Image book called Severed.  The book is set in 1916 and being touted as the Horror book of 2011.  Here is Image’s solicit: “A man haunts the roads; a man with sharp teeth and a hunger for flesh. When 12-year-old Jack Garron runs away from home, he’ll see how quickly the American Dream becomes a nightmare. Be there at the beginning of the series that everyone will be talking about!”

Also, Terry Moore’s Rachael Rising finally arrives.  I have mentioned how great his last comic series, Echo, was.  I’ve read very little in the last few years that was as good as Echo.  Fantastic stuff, but Sci-Fi, what would Terry Moore do with an ongoing horror/thriller?

This is what Moore had to say via twitter:

“This one leans towards horror. And it’s not like gory horror or splatter.  It’s more like, ‘This is not a town where you want to be on the streets at night.’  Rachel is a woman who wakes up one morning in the woods and realizes that she’s sitting on a freshly dug shallow grave.  She freaks out, digs up some of the dirt and realizes the person in the grave is her.  The story goes from there, showing how she goes back into town to figure out what’s going on.  This is a woman who has died, but she’s back.   And she remembers who killed her. That’s the starting point for the first issue.”

Kyle and I can not wait to read this book!  Seriously, if you looking for something good, please, give Rachael Rising a chance this week.

 

Women in Comics…

There was a lot of talk last weekend at DC panels about women in DC comics.  One person in particular would not relent on the subject and by the end of the day Sunday had started to get under the skin of some of DC’s brass and presenters.

The main bone of contention was that female characters were not being represented in the “new” DC in September and that with this new start there had not been substantial work done to hire woman creators.

I had been reading a few pieces on Bleeding Cool and Comic Resources questioning this over the last month or so and had even heard one pretty good argument in the shop about this.  However you feel on the subject, know that DC will listen – if bullied hard enough.  Just this week, the image conscious corporate giant issued a statement reaffirming their commitment to female creators and characters.

This is not just a win for a group of pissed off Stephanie Brown Batgirl fans, this is a win for all comic readers.  If you irritate the holy hell out of a major corporate giant long enough you can see change.  Remember this if you hate the new DC in September.  DC has letter columns, use them.  Write the company a well and strongly worded letter.  Go to cons and bug the sh!t out of them.  Tell me and I can pass it along to my contacts (I have them at Dark Horse, IDW and DC as well as several creators.)  Let you voice be heard.

Here are two articles about the whathaveyou:

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/07/29/dc-comics-announces-committment-to-female-creators-and-characters/

and

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/07/29/dc-comics-listens-to-batgirl-makes-changes/

 

New DC con-fusing con-tinuity and the five year problem…

…and speaking of the new DC.  Urgh, please disregard the part where you talk to ME about the changes coming from DC.  I’ve heard enough.   No, no it is fine, but you are going to start getting my true feelings if you don’t watch out.  (See above recommendations on books coming out this week.  Both new number ones and probably better then all or nearly all of the new DC… stuff.)

I did find a couple of articles you should read, especially after whatever it was DC announced in San Diego.   Heck after Comic Con, we don’t know any more than we did before.  Hell, I think I’m more confused (or is that the normal state I’m in?)

Here you go.  First is an interesting look at what is going on with DC’s free-bee book’s Justice League preview pages that states, “Five Years Ago…”  Yep, it is the biggest problem I have with the whole thing too.  Read and see what you think.

robot6.comicbookresources.com/2011/07/grumpy-old-fan-dc%E2%80%99s-new-five-year-mission/

and another that counts down the 10 nagging questions we all have towards this DC thing:

http://www.newsarama.com/comics/10-lingering-dcnu-questions-110726-1.html

 

Review time… well, almost…

Supergods by Grant Morrison

I have not had much time to get very far into this book.  (No, book book, not comic book.)  I am hoping that sometime this week I can get several hours where I can really devour it.  So far, the introduction and first chapter are absolutely fantastic.

It is a dissection of superheroes.  Where they come from, where they are going and why they are so important again, now.

We still have a few copies in the shop if you want one, but I wouldn’t wait to by it.  We will try to keep it in stock as long as we are able, but with our lovely distributor… yeah.

 

The Week of July 25th

Published on July 24, 2011 in Cons, Events, Reviews-comics, Shop Crap and Wrestling. 0 Comments

There is a very important event this Wednesday.  It is our mid-year charity event for Animal Life Line.  I’ve got details on the event below, but I want to, just quick, mention why this is important to me and my shop.

You may or may not know I am a huge lover of animals.  I am not able to put in time volunteering at the shelter because I couldn’t handle seeing the animals in cages.  So, I do what I can with events.  This goes strongly into what I feel a business should be; a part of the community.  I’m not going to get real long winded with this, ask me sometime and I’ll expound.

I hope you can attend and have a little fun while helping a very worthwhile cause.  Here are the details:

Christmas in July is the 27th…

This week is X-mas in July, our annual event to benefit Animal Life Line, a no kill special needs shelter located here on the south side.  The event will take place on July 27th and start at 5:00.  The concept is simple, bring a gift for the shelter and receive gifts from us.  We will have drink specials, comic deals, special presents and free beer!  Also, the Des Moines Kubb club will be at the shop to toss some lumber.

We had this event planned for several months, but it has become more important after the events of a few weeks back.  Thieves broke into a storage shed sometime Tuesday night and stole over $1600 in special needs dog and cat food, prescriptions and supplies.  Yep, pretty vile and disgusting.

 

The gifts the shelter needs are general supplies, that when donated, is money the not for profit doesn’t have to go and buy.  Things they need in abundance are: Liquid Laundry Soap, Dish Soap, Bleach, Clorox Spray Cleaner, Tall Kitchen Bags, Lawn and Leaf Size Garbage Bags, Zip Lock Storage Bags, Endust Spray, Scrubbers, Copy Machine Paper, Postage Stamps and #10 Envelopes.

 

Also, there are specifics to Dogs and Cats both.  Stuff like Toys, Peanut Butter or Cheese Slices (to help with pills), Catnip or Milkbone Dog Biscuits, Cat Litter, Gift Cards to the typical general needs stores and any monetary donation would be greatly appreciated to help with costs of prescription food and medications.   I full list can be found at the shop or at the Animal Life Line website.

 

I hope you can make it.

 

Also – The event will be the launch party of Tom Finley’s new book Brave Bunny.  Tom has been a friend and customer for many years and I am happy to help in getting his children’s books off the ground.

 

Need something else to do next weekend?

Friday

3X Wrestling…

It is the sixth year anniversary of 3X Wrestling.  Amazing.  Their anniversary party is this Friday on the lower level of All Play downtown.  First Bell is 7:30.

Just some of the great matches you will see include a Canadian Tuxedo Match (No, I don’t know what that is either) between AJ Smooth and Ryan Slade, Women’s wrestling returning to Des Moines and the 3X Heavyweight Championship on the line between Brian Ash and Jeremy Wyatt.  However, probably the best match of the night will be the 3XW Pure Wrestling Championship match.  Zach Thompson, who made a bold heel turn a few months ago, is putting his belt up against easily one of the baddest asses in the Midwest, Mark Sterling.  Should be a great time.

 

Saturday

Dude-a-Rama…

Are you an achiever?  Show it while attending the 3rd annual Dude-a-Rama on Saturday, July 30th at AMF Lanes on NE 14th Street.  The party starts at 7:00 and you can bowl until they kick you out at 1am.  There will be costumes, bowling (obviously), live music, White Russian drinking, Prizes, trivia, and some great seminars.  I can’t tell you what they are about, but I know and I will be attending.

If you would like to bowl with people from the Cup (we already have a couple of people ready to roll) go, pay and get signed up.

For more info go to dude-a-rama.com/

 

Lots from SDCC…

There are a lot of things coming out of San Diego this weekend.  Everything from new comics announced, new collections, new stories, new movies, new action figures… pretty much every piece of news you want about anything, writer or artist you are into.  I’m not even going to get started listing out links to all the stuff I’ve looked at, except… this:

spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2011/07/22/cci-the-walking-dead-gets-premiere-date-epic-new-trailer/ Wow.  Looks all scary and sh!t.  Can’t wait.

And this:

www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=33485 Todd McFarlane’s take on the marketing and mindset behind the DC new 52.  It is VERY worth reading.

The rest, I suggest just going to comicbookresources.com and to their news page.  It is flooded with info.

 

Grant Morrison Interview…

Curt found a great interview with Grant Morrison mostly about his new book Supergods, which is in on Wednesday (we will have copies in), and also about comics, his and other people’s, in general.  It is a good interesting look at one of industry’s best writers.

It can be found here: mindlessones.com/2011/06/30/grant-morrison-supergods-interview-transcript/

I found his comments about comic books and movies interesting.  “The superhero and the comic book were made for one another – my love for them comes through the comics rather than films…  I’m just not into them, my interest in superheroes comes from comic books.”

 

New Podcast…

I and my friend Mike at South Sider Studios are starting another podcast, this is going to be called From The Bargin Bin.  The concept is pretty simple; reading comics.  The idea comes from when I read comics to my best friend’s kid who is five.  This is only our first attempt, Ghost Rider, Vol. 2 #6, second part of a team-up with the Punisher.  We are working out some kinks and I think before long this is going to be a great cast.  You can find it here: feeds.feedburner.com/FromTheBargainBin

 

Facebook and the Future…

So, it is no secret that I’m not much of a social networker.  Just not big on the trend personally; much more of a private person, however, I do understand how it can be used to help a business.  This week we hit a landmark 900 friends.  Now to me this brings an episode of South Park to mind, but also says we are reaching people.

What does it mean for the future?  I don’t know.  There are big changes coming for Cup.  I’m not getting into all of them here, but just know that we hope you are all along for the ride, whatever it might be.

 

Review Time…

Normally I try to do a review of a new of excellent book that you might not be reading or has just come out and might be worth picking up.  This week though I do have one for you, I also have the Eisner awards for you, which in my eyes should be like a shinny beacon for you to find real quality in the fog of modern comics.  Here are the Eisner’s, below is my review of the New Daredevil book, which is very, very good.

 

Eisner Awards…

On Friday night the 2011 Eisner Awards were announced.  I’m not going to go through every category and critique the vote, I will say though that everything honored, is quality of the highest order.  This is a great way, much better than any single review I could do.  Look through this list, I can get in or already have most of these in stock.

A few comments:

Did you notice who won best colorist?  Again!?!  Dave Stewart might be the best colorist in the history of comics.  They just need to rename the award or permanently put his name on it.  You doubt me on this?  Pick up a Hellboy, Goon or BPRD book.  Then pick up any other book.  Compare and see why I’m right.

How many more times do I have to tell people to read Chew?  It has now won the best continuing series.  Please, read this book.  I’ll have more trades to get you caught up.

And did I not predict back when it came out that Wednesday Comics would win an Eisner?  I think I did.  Still one of the best looking collected editions I’ve ever seen…. And the biggest we will ever see.

 

The Awards:

Best Single Issue (or One-Shot)

Hellboy: Double Feature of Evil, by Mike Mignola and Richard Corben (Dark Horse)

 

Best Continuing Series

Chew, by John Layman and Rob Guillory (Image)

 

Best Limited Series

Daytripper, by Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá (Vertigo/DC)

 

Best New Series

American Vampire, by Scott Snyder, Stephen King, and Rafael Albuquerque (Vertigo/DC)

 

Best Publication for Kids

Tiny Titans, by Art Baltazar and Franco (DC)

 

Best Graphic Album—New

Return of the Dapper Men, by Jim McCann and Janet Lee (Archaia)

 

Best Graphic Album—Reprint

Wednesday Comics, edited by Mark Chiarello (DC)

 

Best Adaptation from Another Work

The Marvelous Land of Oz, by L. Frank Baum, adapted by Eric Shanower and Skottie Young (Marvel)

 

Best Writer

Joe Hill, Lock & Key (IDW)

 

Best Writer/Artist

Darwyn Cooke, Richard Stark’s Parker: The Outfit (IDW)

 

Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team

Skottie Young, The Marvelous Land of Oz (Marvel)

 

Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (interior art)

Juanjo Guarnido, Blacksad (Dark Horse)

 

Best Cover Artist

Mike Mignola, Hellboy, Baltimore: The Plague Ships (Dark Horse)

 

Best Coloring

Dave Stewart, Hellboy, BPRD, Baltimore, Let Me In (Dark Horse); Detective Comics (DC); Neil Young’s Greendale, Daytripper, Joe the Barbarian (Vertigo/DC)

 

Best Lettering

Todd Klein, Fables, The Unwritten, Joe the Barbarian, iZombie (Vertigo/DC); Tom Strong and the Robots of Doom (WildStorm/DC); SHIELD (Marvel); Driver for the Dead (Radical)

 

Daredevil #1 by Mark Waid (writer) and Paolo Rivera/Marcos Martin (artists)

Without a doubt the best book that came out this week and probably this entire month.

I have, in my day, read A LOT of Mark Waid comics.  The guy knows his stuff and knows how to write simple, yet interesting and compelling stories.  He doesn’t try to change the medium every time he gets behind a computer he sticks to what he knows.  He knows what makes good comic books.  He does understand continuity and understands how to get out of continuity problems too.  He is a damn good comic book man.

He is perfect for Daredevil, a character that has a long and storied history and a TON of baggage coming with him.  However, Mark Waid isn’t the kind of guy to throw all that out and start over.  No sir, he finds a way to use it and make his stories just more layered.  In this new restart of the book, that is what he is doing, continuing with what has happened in the past, but not putting it at the forefront of the story.  It is needed, because it has happened, but it is NOT the driving force of THIS book.

Think back to the last major “not a re-start” Waid had at Marvel, it was Fantastic Four, some nine years ago and remains one of the best runs that comic will ever see.  It was a bold new direction.  Just like then, Mark Waid is perfect for this “not a re-start” too and that being said, so are Riviera and Martin for art duties too.  They have a similar minimalist style as Mike Weringo had on FF.

Rivera and Martin are the complete opposite to what we have seen on Daredevil for the past decade.  If you don’t know their styles, I can only describe it as Darwin Cooke-esque, which is one of the best compliments I think I can give an artist.  Add in the nice bright color pallet being used, makes for, what I for one, am looking for in comics… The Olden Days!!

The story in this issue is very simple.  It is a stage setter and reminds me so much of the books I used to read as a kid.  Daredevil is back in town after leaving and wondering about to try and “find himself” – something he did all the time in the eighties.  Waid does not do a massive recap of what has transpired in the book in the past, he mentions just a few minor things, but anyone having the most rudimentary knowledge of the character will be good to go.

The “re-set” of story has Matt Murdock back practicing law and most people apprehensive to trust him 100% (and I think this will be the story in issue two as well.)  The developing story comes from a trial he was working on, just like Daredevil stories are supposed to.

Nothing against the Brian Bendis run, I think it is probably some of the best comics Marvel has ever published, but there are times and places for dark and moody.  There are places for this new start too.  I think if you liked Bendis’s run, you can still like this, just know it is not the same, but at the core, the character is.

I think, if you are looking for a fairly simple in overall style comic book without (at least at this point) no crossovers and crap, this is the book for you.  It certainly is for me.

 

The Week of July 18th

Published on July 17, 2011 in Events, Reviews-comics and Tia's Reviews. 1 Comment

Christmas in July is the 27th…

Next week is X-mas in July, our annual event to benefit Animal Lifeline, a no kill special needs shelter located here on the south side.  The event will take place on July 27th and start at 5:00.  The concept is simple, bring a gift for the shelter and receive gifts from us.  We will have drink specials, comic deals, special presents and free beer!  Also, the Des Moines Kubb club will be at the shop to toss some lumber.

We had this event planned for several months, but it has become more important after the events of last week.  Thieves broke into a storage shed sometime Tuesday night and stole over $1600 in special needs dog and cat food, prescriptions and supplies.  Yep, pretty vile and disgusting.

 

The gifts the shelter needs are general supplies, that when donated, is money the not for profit doesn’t have to go and buy.  Things they need in abundance are: Liquid Laundry Soap, Dish Soap, Bleach, Clorox Spray Cleaner, Tall Kitchen Bags, Lawn and Leaf Size Garbage Bags, Zip Lock Storage Bags, Endust Spray, Scrubbers, Copy Machine Paper, Postage Stamps and #10 Envelopes.

 

Also, there are specifics to Dogs and Cats both.  Stuff like Toys, Peanut Butter or Cheese Slices (to help with pills), Catnip or Milkbone Dog Biscuits, Cat Litter, Gift Cards to the typical general needs stores and any monetary donation would be greatly appreciated to help with costs of prescription food and medications.   I full list can be found at the shop or at the Animal Life Line website.

 

I hope you can make it.

 

Also – The event will be the launch party of Tom Finley’s new book Brave Bunny.  Tom has been a friend and customer for many years and I am happy to help in getting his children’s books off the ground.

 

Couple Other Events…

Stand Up Showdown

This is a Midwest/Iowa-Centric Comedy Contest at House of Bricks. This year, the events finals are going to be on July 22 with preliminaries the last couple weeks with one more on Tuesday.  Prizes are pretty huge with $750 going to the winner, the largest comedy prize in the state.   If you need a good laugh, I recommend.

For more info go to undergroundcomedy.org/wordpress/?page_id=11

 

Dude-a-Rama…

Are you an achiever?  Show it while attending the 3rd annual Dude-a-Rama on Saturday, July 30th at AMF Lanes on NE 14th Street.  The party starts at 7:00 and you can bowl until they kick you out at 1am.  There will be costumes, bowling (obviously), live music, White Russian drinking, Prizes, trivia, and some great seminars.  I can’t tell you what they are about, but I know and I will be attending.

If you would like to bowl with people from the Cup (we already have a couple of people ready to roll) go, pay and get signed up.

For more info go to dude-a-rama.com/

 

 

Review Time…

Red Wing #1 by Jonathan Hickman and Nick Pitarra (Review by Matt)

At first glance you might not know what to make of this book, or frankly, what to make of any of Jonathan Hickman’s stuff.

Red Wing is part old school aviary war story (like an Enemy Ace) and part sci-fi action book (like a good Battlestar Galactica book might be.)  It is both and neither, and I think will become something else by stories end.

I say this because the book lays down some interesting story ideas and then you get to the end and wonder what you really know about both plot and the story.  That desire to want more, it seems, is harder for comic writers to do these days.  Red Wing makes you want more.

So, what is it we know?  There are a group of future soldiers fighting a war in time and use cool looking future flying crafts to do so.  You are inserted into a story that has been going (though not in your comics) for some time. You don’t know why this war is being fought and the characters may not know why either.  But it doesn’t matter; Red Wing is just a damn good sci-fi war comic.

I have to admit that I am a very big fan of Jonathan Hickman’s writing.  He is somewhat of a new comer to the field, only putting out a few series through Image in the past few years, but already having one of the best runs on the storied Marvel Franchise, Fantastic Four.  His Nightly News is one of the best independent comics I’ve ever read.  This should be, like Pax Romana, a good stylized ride.

 

X-Men: Schism #1 by Jason Aaron and Carlos Pacheco (Review by Tia)

After weeks of slightly boring Preludes, X-Men Schism #1 finally came out and you know what? It was good.  It was REALLY good, like, Uncanny X-Force good.

I suspect most fans, with barely any information to go on, assumed that we’d start Schism off with… well… a schism of the team, or ideals or some sort of split somewhere.  That however, does not happen in this issue, so, fair warning.

For my part, I definitely expected that the first issue would at least lay the groundwork and give a pretty obvious reason for the split, if not just splitting the team up straight away, but I’m just as confused about WHY the rift happens (eventually?) as I was before this issue!  Wolverine and Scott seemed delightfully normal here, and gave no inkling of a potential rift. Their banter was very character appropriate and perfect for the setting.

The main foil in this issue was that the Sentinels have returned!  Thanks mostly, to a completely random appearance by Quentin Quires – an obscure character best known from Grant Morrison’s run on X-Men. Quires’ public attack on a World Arms Control Conference triggered a world-wide fear campaign, aimed directly at mutants…and executed by the Sentinels.

The very, very old-school theme of “a world that hates and fears us” (the core of all old school X-books) becomes the overall message here, and while it’s been casually used in other X-stories, this is the first time I’ve seen that theme incorporated PERFECTLY into the overall modern X-book themes.  It’s relevant, scary and exceptionally true in this case.  The sentinels are nuclear or biological weapons of mass destruction towards this nation/race of people.

I heartily applaud Jason Aaron for what he’s doing with Schism. He’s managed to understand that it is completely possible to incorporate the original core reason the X-Men exist, and magically make it appropriate to fans of the modern X-books, while keeping it intact and familiar to old-school fans.

I think Aaron created a pretty perfect first issue by keeping his mysteries while setting up a story that looks to be epic, and will be sure to divide fans the way he’ll eventually divide the team.

The stuff with little ‘tyke’ Kilgore was weird, and I can’t imagine how the Hellfire Club is going to incorporate itself into the Schism, but thanks to some brilliant writing, I can’t wait to find out. And, on a last note – the artwork done by Carlos Pacheco was flipping phenomenal! It hearkens back to John Cassady’s work on Astonishing X-Men, which I loved, and Pacheco also took the time to make sure that Wolverine was a proper height.  Next issue is Frank Cho followed by Daniel Acuna, Alan Davis and Adam Davis.

This is definitely a story to keep up on. It can ONLY get better and this was pretty damn good.

 

The Week of July 7th

Published on July 11, 2011 in Comics, Cons and Events. 0 Comments

I’ve spent a goodly part of the weekend working on orders.  This week’s order, which was is very big and the monthly order, which has all the DC 52 issues of retailing fun.  Several of you have asked and YES, you can now put in requests for holds on the New DC stuff.

It won’t be another couple weeks before the order is put in official (and single issue holds are always accepted,) but if you have anything from the July catalog get that order in sooner, rather than later.

As per the NU DC this week… I’m taking a few weeks off from it.  They’ve saturated the market pretty well and, I think, are just hoping for something to grow.

A little less than a month from now I’ll again have to revisit it when final order cut downs are due.  I don’t look forward to that and I will have more info from our side of the counter then.

 

X-Mas in July on the 27th…

This is our summer party designed to help Animal Life Line, the no kill – special needs shelter here on the south side.  The concept is simple, you bring “gifts” for the animals and you get gifts from us.

The gifts the shelter needs are general supplies, that when donated, is money the not for profit doesn’t have to buy.  Things they need in abundance are: Liquid Laundry Soap,  Dish Soap, Bleach, Clorox Spray Cleaner, Tall Kitchen Bags, Lawn and Leaf Size Garbage Bags, Zip Lock Storage Bags, Endust Spray, Scrubbers, Copy Machine Paper, Postage Stamps and #10 Envelopes.

Also, there are specifics to Dogs and Cats both.  Stuff like Toys, Peanut Butter or Cheese Slices (to help with pills), Catnip or Milkbone Dog Biscuits, Cat Litter, Gift Cards to the typical general needs stores and any monetary donation would be greatly appreciated to help with costs of prescription food and medications.   I full list can be found at the shop or at the Animal Life Line website.

Here is the deal, if you give a gift, I will have a gift for you.  We will also have drink specials and some free beer (what, it’s a Cup party, we always have free beer.)  There’ll be X-mas cookies and hopefully cupcakes too.  We are also going to get games going outside too, including a few games of Kubb, an awesome old timey Swedish yard game you will love.

If you don’t know, I am a huge animal lover.  Some say I like animals a heck of a lot more than people.  I say those people are right.  I do these events (X-mas in July and Geeky X-mas) to do anything I can to help.  Last summer’s event was a huge success, so, if you can help make this one even better.

 

Next Week is San Diego Comic Con…

AH, it is really that time of year again already?  Yes, San Diego, the time when a small few go to the “Mecca” of comic conventions and the rest of us sort-of peer in from our computers.  I hear it is like nothing else in all of comics and should be experienced at least once.  As I get older in the tooth at this comic retailing thing, I care less about such things, though, I will admit, every year I get a pang of interest in going.

I think the desire to be there always grows when I see the artist alley guest list and some of the creators that will never come anywhere near a Midwest convention.  Like Jordi Bernet, where the hell you going to see him outside of France?

But then there are all the people, the crowds of insanity and the very high prices for everything.

Yet, I will still be pretty interested to hear a report from those I know will be going.  In the mean time, we can sit back and see the steady stream of unrelenting comic “news” flowing out of San Diego.

 

Heard from a little bird…

Speaking of conventions, I have heard that there are some pretty big names coming to the I-Con this year.  It has been confirmed that writer Tony Bedard and artist Tyler Kirkham are coming to Des Moines.  These two will be working on the post DC Restart Green Lantern book, New Guardians, together.

Bedard has been putting in solid work for DC and Marvel for years and before that was a great contributor at Crossgen.  Recently, he had an under-appreciated run on REBELS, but then Tony might be the most under-appreciated writer DC has.  The guy never writes a bad story.

Kirkham has been working for several years on a bunch of projects for several companies.  Most recently he has been turning in excellent work for DC on Green Lantern Corps.

Not to diminish either of these great talents, but it was the third guest that really blew me away.  The guest of honor at this year’s I-Con will be none other than Denny O’Neil.  If a concise history of DC comics was written, Denny O’Neil would be on nearly every page.  The Batman you have come to recognize was shaped by his direction of those books, as group editor, for years, but it is probably his historic writing of Green Lantern he is, or should be, best known for.

O’Neil was the writer during the landmark Green Lantern/Green Arrow “hard traveling heroes” run in the 1970’s, some of the best that comic books can aspire too.  The run dealt with everything from teenage drug abuse (“My ward is a Junkie,” exclaims Ollie on the cover to issue 85) to racial issues and tensions never touched on in comics to this point.  Though it would be nice to meet Tony Bedard, getting to shake the hand of a living comic legend like O’Neal, will be really something.  This is the best guest we have had at a Des Moines comic convention since James Kirby brought in legend Shelly Moldoff.

This year’s I-Con is scheduled for September 17th at the Adventure Land Inn.

 

Speaking of Denny O’Neal…

He will be writing a couple of the 1970’s DC Retroactive issues that scheduled to come out over the next couple weeks.  These are stories set in the time period they say.  Not necessarily a character’s time period or continuity’s time periods, but real life publishing’s time period.

They are expensive, priced at a whopping $4.99, and containing only one new original story (each issue has a back up re-print from that issue or character’s time period.)

We ordered rather conservative on them because of the price (you don’t want to get stuck with a bunch of five dollar books if your fine customers decide a 1970’s story about pant suit wearing Wonder Woman isn’t for them.)  If we sell out and you want them, let me or someone behind the counter know and I’ll get more in for you.

I have no idea what to expect on these.  They could be the best thing ever or total garbage.  They could be loved by no one or the perfect counter to two massive companywide crossovers.  Just don’t know.

 

Great link from Ronnie…

Where does he find these great links?

Someone at DC seems to think Rob Liefeld is talented enough to give him Hawk and Dove during the Restart.  But, I don’t know a single person who thinks he has even a shred of talent and neither do these fine gents: http://www.letsbefriendsagain.com/2011/07/08/feet-101/

As an added bonus, you can see his crappy Levi’s jean add directed by Spike Lee (?)  Spike, is this why your quality started to suffer?  Wow, have we figured out what happened to the rest of the old Image crew?  Were they all infected?  Totally different kind of horror movie, yet it still starts with a poo flinging creature.

Hawk and Dove is my choice as first book to be late and/or cancelled out of the new 52.  Which one do you think?

 

The Week of July 4th

Published on July 4, 2011 in Comics and Shop Crap. 0 Comments

Happy Fourth of July to you all.  Hope everything has blown up well for you.

Another holiday and, thanks to the new shipping format, no delay this week.  Comics will be on the shelf by 11:00 on Wednesday.

 

No delay this week, however, it seems like some of you have been delaying coming in and getting your books.  Every four to five months I have to put out a “please come in and buy your books” plee.  We have had a few customers hold lists dumped over the last month for failure to come in or communicate.  As Jerry McGwire would say, “Help me, Help you” or something like that.

 

X-Mas in July on the 27th…

This is our summer party designed to help Animal Life Line, the no kill – special needs shelter here on the south side.  The concept is simple, you bring “gifts” for the animals and you get gifts from us.

The gifts the shelter needs are general supplies, that when donated, is money the not for profit doesn’t have to buy.  Things they need in abundance are: Liquid Laundry Soap,  Dish Soap, Bleach, Clorox Spray Cleaner, Tall Kitchen Bags, Lawn and Leaf Size Garbage Bags, Zip Lock Storage Bags, Endust Spray, Scrubbers, Copy Machine Paper, Postage Stamps and #10 Envelopes.

Also, there are specifics to Dogs and Cats both.  Stuff like Toys, Peanut Butter or Cheese Slices (to help with pills), Catnip or Milkbone Dog Biscuits, Cat Litter, Gift Cards to the typical general needs stores and any monetary donation would be greatly appreciated to help with costs of prescription food and medications.   I full list can be found at the shop or at the Animal Life Line website.

Here is the deal, if you give a gift, I will have a gift for you.  We will also have drink specials and some free beer (what, it’s a Cup party, we always have free beer.)  There’ll be X-mas cookies and hopefully cupcakes too.  We are also going to get games going outside too, including a few games of Kubb, an awesome old timey Swedish yard game you will love.

If you don’t know, I am a huge animal lover.  Some say I like animals a heck of a lot more than people.  I say those people are right.  I do these events (X-mas in July and Geeky X-mas) to do anything I can to help.  Last summer’s event was a huge success, so, if you can help make this one even better.

 

Dude-a-Rama is July 30th…

The Des Moines Lebowski fest is just under a month away and I am putting out the call – Let’s get a couple bowling teams together for some White Russian drinking, Lebowski quoting and ball rolling good times.

Trivia, live bands and bowling, pretty simple.  I’m going and already have one team formed.  If you are thinking about this, you need to think harder soon.  Here is the link to the website.  All the other… “what have you…” is there. I’ll have more next week.

 

Continuing News on DC…

It really is the only thing in comics anyone wants to talk about, the re-launch of DC comics and the 52 new number ones.  DC has been talking pretty heavy about it over the last couple weeks, but only in large markets.  All the rest of the retailers, not located in the few big cities DC has gone too, have been left to hunt for info online from these meetings.

Finally, late last week, we got some info.  As a retailer, it is set up as a fairly good deal.  I can say nothing like it has been done, on our end, in the time the Cup has been open, but then that can be said for the reader too.

So, below is some of the info I got from DC, done in a question answer format (some of the questions, I’m sure, came directly from retailers.)  I hope it answers some questions.  If you have more, ask me.  I do not know everything they are doing – and obviously specifics about characters or stories – but I think I can help diminish some fears – if you let me.

 

* Why do it?  There is a lot of speculation out there, are you “rebooting” the titles?

This is an epic and ambitious initiative that ushers in a new generation of comics for DC Comics and will set the tone for storylines and characters for years to come.  With all of the titles starting at #1, our creative teams have the ability to take a more modern approach – not only with each character, but with how the characters interact with one another and the universe as a whole, and focus on the earlier part of the careers of each of our iconic characters.  A time when they didn’t have as much experience defeating all their nemeses.  A time when they weren’t as sure of their abilities.  A time when they haven’t saved the world countless times. It’s this period that is rich with creative opportunity as we show why these characters are so amazing, so iconic and so special.

We think fans will be excited by this approach and The New 52 will provide DC Entertainment an opportunity to aggressively reach the widest possible audience worldwide, through captivating stories and an accessible entry point.  We see great opportunities to tell new, contemporary, cutting edge stories building off the best known, classic stories that make up each of the title’s back histories.

 

* DC Comics has had a number of reboots, what makes this one different?

This is not a reboot, it’s a launch.  This is a historic initiative for DC Entertainment and the DC Comics characters – and a first in the company’s publishing history. This next era of DC Comics characters will see 52 all-new #1 issues of its super hero titles at the same time. In addition to the number changes, our talented creative teams are working behind the scenes to create compelling storylines and new costume designs for many of our iconic DC Comics characters.

 

* Why not call it a reboot?

It’s not a reboot.  A reboot is typically a restart of the story or character that jettisons away everything that happened previously.

This is a new beginning which builds off the best of the past.  For the stories launching as new #1s in September, we have carefully hand-selected the most powerful and pertinent moments in these characters’ lives and stories to remain in the mythology and lore.  And then we’ve asked the best creators in the industry to modernize, update and enhance the books with new and exciting tales.  The result is that we retained the good stuff, and then make it better.

 

* Does The New 52 undo events or continuity that I’ve been reading?

Some yes, some no.  But many of the great stories remain.  For example – Batgirl.  The Killing Joke still happened and she was Oracle.  Now she will go through physical rehabilitation and become a more seasoned and nuanced character because she had these incredible and diverse experiences.

 

* So will all titles be entry points or will you need to know back-story for some?

Each title will read as a #1 issue that will make jumping into the story extremely accessible for all types of readers. The stories are designed in a way that new fans will be able to pick up a book and immediately be drawn into the story, while at the same time existing fans will be engrossed by the new and epic moments that take place.

 

* Do the new #1s mean that the previous stories didn’t take place?

Our creative teams have a firm understanding of the storied heritage of characters and titles. The new #1 issues will introduce readers to a more modern, diverse universe of DC Comics characters, with some character variations in appearance, origin and age. All stories will be grounded in each character’s legend – but will map to real world situations, interactions, tragedies and triumphs.

 

* Might you just introduce a new DC “Ultimate” line and give it the spotlight for a few months, then have the opportunity to bring back the other continuity? Will this all be put back to “normal” after a few months?

No – this is the new universe of DC Comics characters.  This is an epic and ambitious initiative that ushers in the next era of the DC Comics characters and will set the tone for storylines and characters for years to come.  This is not an “event,” because events expire.

 

* Why are you changing the costumes?

DC Entertainment is led by some of the biggest fans of comics out there. We know that if Geoff and Jim are excited about the stories and artwork, we’re on to something big.  While there may be some naysayers, when we thought about starting the entire DC Comics universe line of comics with #1/first issues we looked at the benefits for the long haul, not just a year or two.

 

* Do you not care about your company’s history? If you do this right, what do you want your legacy to be 75 years from now?

The legacy of DC Entertainment, and DC Comics before it, is based on the creativity of our editors and our creative talent, and our commitment to the best storytelling possible.  DC has always been about character development and growth.

Take Batman for example.  In the early days he was a vigilante who brandished a gun.  Then he morphed into a whimsical character and then in the 1960′s he became more of the gritty, grim avenger of the night.  We can all agree that we are glad Batman evolved.

Our goal is to create a watershed moment for DC Entertainment – and the industry as a whole – where fans will remember this as a time of innovation while maintaining DC Entertainment’s commitment to creating entertaining and masterfully created stories.

 

* Specifically why end Action and Detective before they reach their 1,000th issues? Action Comics is the longest running American comic book, followed closely by Detective Comics, the company’s namesake. Isn’t renumbering these series actually a retreat from the love of “comics as comics”?

Our Co-Publishers and editors thought long and hard about this.  It was an extremely important decision that was not taken lightly.  But executing this unprecedented event meant taking creative risks on every level and pushing forward with big, new ideas.  A partial renumbering would not have had the impact we needed to showcase the amazing changes and direction we have planned for the new DC Comics universe of characters.  Counting issue numbers is focusing on the past, not the future.

 

We are kicking things off with our best and brightest characters and what makes them so compelling and great.  Simply because you don’t see a personal favorite in the September launches doesn’t mean your favorites are gone.  This is just the beginning.

 

 

I hope that helped.  If it didn’t, well, it is as honest as they can be about this.  If you are having a hard time putting you mind around it, think Heroes Reborn meets Zero Hour.  It also is a lot closer to Crisis on Infinite Earths then DC wants to admit.  Continuity, per-say, isn’t changing completely, just some.  It will really be tough to judge what is happening for several months.  I think.

 

Last Week…

I’m not going to review any books from last week in depth, because, frankly, I wouldn’t know which ones to review; there were so many good ones.  I do not remember EVER reading that many books all coming out in one week I 100%, absolutely loved.  All these listed were out last week and were books I would have no problem recommending to anyone of you (well, a couple might not get recommended to the younger readers, but you get my point.)

Scalped #50 and American Vampire #16 are both perfect examples of why DC isn’t messing with Vertigo when they do this silly re-launch thing.  They don’t need to change what is good, right and exemplary.

 

Batman Incorporated #7 was close to perfect.  I know not everyone is on board on this, but you should be.  It is great comics. I really, really want a Man of Bats on going… instead we get batwing duck.  Grumble.

 

FF#5 – this book just continues to keep going and now more and more feels like something from the “good old days” of comics.  This is Marvel’s best read right now.

 

Godzilla, Kingdom of Monsters #4 – I never would have guessed one of my favorite books each month would be Godzilla.  Phil Hester on art (though this is his last issue for awhile) does not hurt my enjoyment, but Powell’s storytelling is so great.  Issue four is better than issue one.

 

Rocketeer #2 – Was the Geoff Darrow pin up and the Darwyn Cooke written and drawn short stories not enough?  Well, okay, how about art from Gene Ha and Chris Weston as well.  This is a feast of comic greats each month and seriously we are all spoiled when it comes out.

 

Usagi Yojimbo #138 – This is my favorite title on the self, but you already knew that.  The consistent quality of art and story, ALL done by one man, Stan Sakai, is what makes it so good and this issue, with a bit of a surprise ending, a major samurai fight and some seppuku, is prime example.   Gahd Damn, I love this book.

 

Goon #34 – It is back and as good as ever.  I can easily say this is one of my favorite reads – when it is out.  Why has not been out lately, because Eric Powell has been personally working on the film’s script.  If you do not read The Goon, I truly do not understand why you read comics at all.

 

A Good Man, Super even…

This weekend I was in Norwalk for a good amount of time for a class reunion and part of it was helping refurbish a house some of my classmates have turned into an alternative school.  (For some info on the fantastic ASK Learning Center head over to their website.  If I had kids, they would totally be enrolled here.)  Well, Brandon Routh, you might have heard of him as having played Superman in a recent film, was in town as the Grand Marshall of the Norwalk 4th of July parade.  (You might have also heard he grew up in Norwalk too.)

Brandon was also at the Center yesterday and was having footage shot for a reality show pitch he is making to one of the cable networks that do home improvements and the like.

Normally I wouldn’t mention celebrity stuff, but I felt I needed to because of how nice he was.  He was as sweaty and dirty as anyone else and had not one ounce of pretentiousness at all.  Took time to meet and greet, but was also arm deep in a flower bed weeding too.  A truly class act of a guy and I thought all of you should know that as well.

So, when his new movie Dylan Dog comes out, rent it, and when stupid Warner Brothers goes to do another Superman movie, join with me in NOT seeing it.