The ORIGINAL Comic Book Coffee House!
Southsider Studios were here with us for Geeky Christmas and put together a montage (’cause everyone needs a montage) of the days events.
You can find it here: www.youtube.com/user/SouthSiderStudios
And stop in Sunday for some special Boxing Day Sales (that is Canadian for day after x-mas sales.)
Thank you all who came out to Geeky X-Mas…
We had a great turnout on Saturday for our annual charity drive. I want to thank Kathy Scott for all her work in getting this event going, promoted and off without a hitch. She deserves all the credit for the event being successful. Thanks is extended to Dawn and Jen for volunteering and Ronnie and Tia for the extra hours and work put in on Saturday.
Overall, numbers were down, but there were a lot of reasons for that, not the least being the really crappy economy. Thing is, the numbers weren’t down all that much from last year. There were more kids and the looks happy faces when the Storm Troopers, Darth Vader and Boba Fetts came in was priceless. There was even a little one who was, though terrified of the Storm Troopers (aren’t we all kid, aren’t we all), was not terrified of the pathetic Santa that showed up (maybe because he was so pathetic.) She was able to give Santa a list for Mom, Dad, her sister and herself, something her Dad said she would NOT do with a Mall Santa. That alone makes the event a good time.
Still want to help…
Shop Locally…
It is that time of year and time for the annual shopping locally sermon. If you don’t want to be yelled at, skip to the next section, if you want a full blown Rant from Hell, continue… you have been warned.
…and now that Geeky Christmas is out of the way I can be the Grinch b*stard I prefer to be this time of year. And why is that? Because, though a small business owner I may be, I hate the “free” market and capitalism and all that crap. I hate materialism and can’t stand what this holiday REALLY is (don’t try and give me all that junk about love of your fellow man, the spirit of the holiday and what have you, it isn’t true.)
“Oh, I’m sad for Matt and his little tiny heart that is three sizes too small. He can’t feel the love and joy of Christmas.” Weep, weep. Crying and sobbing ensue, I’m sure.
Don’t cry for me, Argentina. If you really want to help me, then do this… BUY LOCAL!!
All joking aside – and yes it is true I am a Grinch of the highest order, we have meeting on how to ruin your X-Man day – think of your local businesses this holiday shopping season. Need a book or novel (these are the ones WITHOUT pictures) try The Book Store down town on Locust or Beaverdale Books in, duh, the Beaverdale area. Need a record or CD, ZZZ Records is open and willing to help find that hard to find copy of whatever it is.
What I’m getting at is in an economic recession, it is more important to support the people who ALREADY live in your town and operate small businesses. Guess where that money you waste at Walmart goes? Out of state. Boarders, to some fascist out of state. Best Buy, out of state. Target, Minnesota… seriously, you want to give them anything, let alone your money? And I don’t even what to talk about where you eat. This all adds up and the piles are much higher going out then staying in.
I’m not saying you have to change completely overnight, but if you consider one purchase at a local business rather than one purchase at a big box store, you are starting a big change that would make a huge impact on our city and our state.
Thank you.
The Real S.H.I.E.L.D.?…
Did you hear…. Senator Joe Leiberman (total tool from Connecticut) is actually trying to get S.H.E.I.L.D. started in the U.S. government, no really, but not exactly as we comic fans would think of. So, Joe is pissed off because of the WikiLeaks, which released a bunch of high security documents and showed the total failure in Afghanistan and he wants to make it a federal crime to print, publish such leaks (he also wants you to not play violent video games, read violent books or comics or listen to metal music… but that isn’t part of this bill… yet.)
Thing is his Securing Human Intelligence and Enforcing Lawful Dissemination isn’t nearly as cool as Nick Fury’s. Some would argue this is the US Government trying to lay down the hammer, no not that H.A.M.M.E.R., on some press and foreign interests.
For the full read, and an awesome picture of our world’s Joe Leiberman (patch included) go to BleedingCool.com (additional links there.) Rich also says the bill, still in committee, is sure to have “a series of attachments to the bill, that cover cars with wheels that flip up to fly, and a trillion dollar budget diversion for a helicarrier.”
I think I’m going to go join A.I.M. tomorrow… is it a crime to even joke about joining a fictitious evil scientist group? Hey, who are those jump suited dudes outside my door?
Ronnie’s Reviews…
Sweet Tooth #16 Animal Armies pt. 4 – Jeff Lemire
Quite possibly the best issue yet of this great series.
Jeff Lemire may very well be a master storyteller. His method of scripting this series seems to be a slow boil. Character building is the main point of most issues, as well creating a constantly deepening mystery. Slow describes it, in the best sense of the word.
But, with this issue, the plot moves forward at a fevered pace, about 3 times as fast as any other, slapping you hard at the end with a George Laraque (Matt says this guy was a bad ass) sized upper-cut cliff hanger of an ending. To say the least, the action was huge and explosive, and many plot points jumped ahead.
Jepperd and the ominous animal army have joined forces and are staging an attack on The Reserve to free Gus and the other hybrid kids. The action is intense, and we learn much about Jepperd’s shattered psyche. We spent a few issues digging in his heart, head and past, and now we know why he makes the choices that he does. Him talking about the memories of his late wife is an example of this writers ability to express drama that is so often overdone with a huge side of cheese. (Check out Lemire’s incredible Essex County to see this in even more amazing detail.) We also witness Gus discover his own power and agency, and leave behind his childhood and naivety. Last issue we saw him discover the necessity for brutality, this issue he has begun to draw lines in the sand.
The art, also by Lemire, is very unique. There is a caricature factor, but nothing is silly or takes from the serious tone of the story. The exaggeration in the landscapes and characters tell much of the story. In fact, I believe a different artist would make this a completely different book. There is something to be said about the singular, tight vision when there is only one creator. I would like to see what he could do with a book of just sequential pictures and no text.
There are a lot of similar themes here to the “immortal” Walking Dead, but this issue was everything Walking Dead wished it could be. Everything is better here in Sweet Tooth.
I highly, highly suggest this series to all those that are literate (even moderately) in English.
5 Stars.
(Editor’s Note – I can’t remember an issue making me more mad (at coming to the last page) and more in love with the medium of graphic storytelling. I got to the end of the book and actually looked for more pages. Then re-read the comic. This is the best issue yet and the series is one of the ten best being published right now. I have recommended it, I have pushed it on you, I have nearly forced it into your bag (and charged you for the privilege) and still you read Avengers instead. I’m done with you all. I mean Seriously the main protagonist was an enforcer on a pro-hockey team, the writer, Jeff Lemire, is from the north –the fabled land of milk and honey and health care, Canada (it is a better place then here,) he wrote one of the best books I’ve ever or ever will read, Essex County and Geoff Johns describes the book as Mad Max with antlers. COME ON PEOPLE!!!)
Ronnie’s Ten Reasons NOT To Read Scalped:
There is a special advance screening of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World on Thursday, August 12th at 7:30 and WE HAVE TICKETS!!
Here are the details:
Come into the shop before Wednesday at Noon.
Sign up with name, number and e-mail.
We will than notify you that afternoon and the lucky ones can come get their tickets.
OR, you can be one of first six people to buy one of the Scott Pilgrim Trades we have in the shop (or pre-pay for one to be delivered on Wednesday) and we’ll just give you a ticket right then and there.
Tickets admit two.
Superman’s Birthday Party…
Wednesday is our party for Superman turning 72 and DC turning 75 years old. We will have Punch and Pie (Tell them we’ll have punch and pie, more people will show up.) Prizes and PBR. Party starts at 5:00 and runs till 8:00.
The punch is a special mix Curt is making up for the kids and the pie is a great recipe he found for little Apple Pie bars, Mmmm. DC has been very generous and provided some very nice prizes as well as buttons and tattoos for everyone! As with all of our parties, there will be beer, free beer and what better beer to signify truth, justice and the American way then a red, white and blue can of Pabst Blue Ribbon.
There is going to be some great discounts on DC and Superman comics, so, there should be something for everyone.
Really the point of this party is to showcase just how important Superman is. He was the first and is still the best comic book character in comics. People can argue about Superman’s relevance in today’s society, but they always come back to storytelling. The character still holds all of the amazing quite literally other worldly flair he had in 1938 when he stood for workers rights and fought primarily mob bosses. He was a super Greek strong man who didn’t have all his immunities he has now. The character then, as he does still now stands in the light and defends truth and justice. I don’t see how that is not needed more now than ever before.
It is not and won’t be argued that storytelling has been an issue with Superman of late and over the last few decades. The character’s literal strengths have been written, rather than written around. How do you write someone who can do anything, you write the human side of him.
In years past, the terrible new krypton storyline (possibly one of the worst ever in character’s history) showed the two best sides of Superman are the symbol (never seen, Superman was out of costume the whole time) and Clark Kent (not seen either as he was off world.) These are the core of the character. The hope with new writer J. Michael Straczynski is that we can get back to these. We NEED to see a human side to Superman. Without it he is someone who can do anything and that IS boring.
SO… this party is as much a celebration of the length of the character’s history and series (Issue #700!!) as a hope that the NEW writing crew and direction will be great. We hope you can come and join us and celebrate.
X-Mas in July…
Our next event, Thursday July 8th, will be the a party surrounding the release of X-Men #1, however, we are going to call it X-Mas in July. Those who remember Geeky Christmas will see our design of this party. Most of the event will be designed to benefiting Animal Lifeline, the South Side’s special needs, no kill shelter, but it doesn’t mean we can’t have fun while doing it.
Among the happenings will be a stop in by at least one of the adoptable animals from the shelter, possible appearance by an X-Man, who has told me they might bring along a thin off-season Santa. We will have presents for the kids, discounts on Marvel merch and of course, free beer! We will also be trying to get donations for the shelter, stuff they always need like; laundry detergent, dish soap, clumping litter, tall kitchen trash bags, fancy feast wet cat food and milk bone dog biscuits.
July 4th Hours…
Wanted to get these out to everyone, since they effect three days. Our hours on Sunday the 4th and 5th are going to be 8am to 2pm. If we are busy at or around 2:00 we will be staying open until it dies down. Comics are delayed that week too. So, instead of Wednesday the 7th, there will be Thursday the 8th delivery.
Spider-man, why he sucks… or, Matt’s Rant of the Week!…
I was looking through the internets while mildly paying attention to a wrestling pay per view and found a hint toward continued changes in Amazing Spider-man. Bleeding Cool’s Rich Johnston commented that rumor is saying Dan Slott will take over full time writing chores and the book’s shipping schedule will be reduced down to only twice a month. (You can find the full note here: www.bleedingcool.com/2010/06/17/a-twice-monthly-spider-man-slott/) Though both of these are good for fans, this is another slap to the retailers and, in my opinion is an admittance of failure on the part of Marvel.
Amazing Spider-man, once one of the shops best-selling books, is now among the worst of the top comic properties. It is consistently outsold by Tiny Titans. It used to sell considerably more on a monthly schedule then it does now at three times a month. And I think most damning is the fact no one really enjoys it.
Dan Slott is a great writer, but can he overcome the pile on of failure this character has undergone over the last three years? Let us recap; Spidey reveals his identity to the world (first and biggest dumb move), Gets sucky new costume (remember that?), can’t make up his mind on being an Avenger or fighting against Captain America or Iron Man, makes a deal with the devil, J. Michael Strczynski leaves the book with questionable editor in chief manipulation of final story, entire backstory, continuity and history restarted with convoluted and poor storytelling and not a damn good thing has been done since for nearly a year and half! Oh, and sales plummet, forgot that one.
I spoke above about writing good Superman books. Spider-man is the most human character in comics. It does not take a brain surgeon to write good Spidey stories, so, why can’t Marvel get it right?
I think similar to Superman, too much thought is being put into it. Too much editor (from on high) control is being pushed. Simple is not bad for both of these characters. You can do big stories, but think about the core of the characters. At the end of the day relate them back to the reader, make them human with all our and their foibles and struggles.
I’ll give Marvel credit for trying something new, but they never stuck to their game plan. What was supposed to be Amazing, three times a month and that is it, has become Amazing three times a month with slick gimmicky storytelling and art with no explanation and no real resolution AND a bunch of other books too. Some are $2.99 and some are $3.99, and that goes for Amazing too. The series and character are waterlogged and it has been a long time since Karven’s Last Hunt.
Well, smarty pants, how do you fix it? Make the book $2.99. Stop with variant covers. The one writer idea is a good start, story-wise and then have a resolution to the “one more day” mess. Reset continuity properly by Killing off the 200 year old Aunt May. Due to the mess, you can “annul” the wedding of Mary Jane and Peter pretty easy without offending the delicate sensibilities of Joe Quesada. (Who once said if they would be on the cover of every newspaper if they divorced Spider-man, but doesn’t have a problem with Peter sleeping with anyone and everyone in the book now or having Aunt May do it.) plain and simple: write the character to his strengths and people will buy it.
Something Ronnie found…
Ronnie e-mailed me this, this morning with a link to a Batman fan film he says is great. I haven’t watched it yet, so if it sucks, blame Ronnie. If it is great, remember who sent it to you, ME. Here you go: www.dailymotion.com/Batinthesun
3XWrestling and baseball ticket remeinder…
Quick reminder we still have tickets for the Sunday, July 11th Iowa Cubs game. Proceeds benefit Animal Life line and are only $5.00.
We have advance tickets for 3XWrestling at the shop for the July 9th Five Year Anniversary Event as well. Children are $6 and Adults are only $12 if you purchase in advance. This should be a hell of an event.
I’m going to highlight a match I’m personally looking forward to over the next three weeks. This week I’ll look at the Triple Threat Match between “The Unbreakable Zach Thompson, “The Canadian Sex Icon” Ryan Slade and Brady A. Dezire. This proves to be one of the three real high flying matches of the night. All of these top performers are sitting just with-in reach of the cruiser weight title and a win will, I’m sure see them competing for the big prize in the future. Zach Thompson, face of the match, is one of, if not the, most fearless performers in the organization. I’ve seen him do things no one in Des Moines would or probably should try. They call him Unbreakable, because he may be after several near and not so near carrier threatening injuries.
Ryan is the best showman in 3XW. The evil “Canadian” has one of the best built gimmicks in the federation and uses it to perfection to rile up the crowd. In the last three years, Ryan has really improved his in-ring skills to the point where he should be considered a candidate for a major singles title.
Brady is an old stalwart of 3XW who similar to Ryan, has the ability to push the buttons of the crowd. A perennial heel, at nearly every match you can see a crack in his persona as his one person cheering section always gets a big hug from dad after a win. Brady will take some serious lumps and keep coming back for more making him the endurance fighter in a match that could take awhile to finish.
Personally, I like watching all three of these performers in action. They are some of the best 3XW has to offer and this will be a highlight of the night. I really can’t say who I’m pulling for more.
It is no great secret I don’t have much love for movie adaptations of comics. I have expressed my feelings on this issue plenty. I don’t like Hollywood and I don’t like most of the crap that flows like a river out of it. However, I know that the morons that run that cesspool (Wow, I sort-of sound like Joe Leiberman or Tipper Gore or one of those fascists, but for completely different reasons. Hmmm.) will never stop making my medium into crappy films.
Well, I have a new reason to hate them. Rich Johnston of Bleedingcool.com found a couple of priceless quotes from moron public relations people (yes, I know… it’s redundant) promoting Spartacus: Blood and Sand (some gladiator show on Starz.) You can read his full story at www.bleedingcool.com/2010/01/24/im-spartacus-but-i-am-not-a-graphic-novel/, but the comments that really bore into my skin and the reason for the Johnston article refer to the shows style as “graphic novel” like. Take this quote for example, “We always wanted to tell this story in a very graphic novel way.” They refer to the special effects as “graphic novel” like. Unless it is done with FREAK’N pictures, it isn’t going to be even anywhere close to a graphic novel!!!!
Johnston says the press release for Sherlock Holmes stated the movie was based on a graphic novel – which as far as anyone knows, does not exist.
So, besides being lazy, ignorant and unable to read, what would be the reasons for constantly referring to comics? (Granted I’m sure the *&%#ing idiots do not even have the foggiest idea what an actual graphic novel is and would certainly not know the difference between a comic, a collected edition or collected work and a graphic novel, but like always, I digress.)
I can only come up with the thoughts that comics are so far superior then the absolute &%$# they have been getting from “real” writers over the last few years, that our superior medium must look like it is packed with geniuses galore. Books, having SO many pages and words are just too time consuming and… long or like Steven Spielbergo said a few years ago, before he put out yet another terrible Jones film and after directing Road to Perdition, that he needed to make more films based on graphic storytelling – these are already story boarded.
Now, granted, what happens when the untalented hacks get done failing with film? We let them come and write bad comics – Kevin Smith, Reginald Hudlin, Dick Donner, the list goes on and on – and then over promote their crap, probably saying it is very film like in its storytelling. I quit.
Walking Dead on TV…
So why am I telling you that it looks like The Walking Dead is finally going to be made into a TV series and Frank Darabont might direct the pilot episode? I don’t know. Maybe because I respect Darabont as a creator and The Mist is one of the best horror movies I’ve ever seen. Maybe, I thought you’d care. Here, go read for yourself:
www.shocktillyoudrop.com/news/topnews.php?id=13750
Then ask Robert Kirkman some time, if you see him, about how much his “co-creator” Tony Moore is making off the rights. Do it, I double dog dare you.
Local kid cast as Conan?…
Does this make us all Cimmerian’s? (Pronounced with a hard C, say it like carrot… Ka-marry-anne. Good.) Jason Moma, who grew up In Norwalk (yep, the same home town as Superman) has the part. His biggest roles were in Stargate: Atlantis and Baywatch. Moma is a big guy and certainly looks the part of the barbarian. For his sake though, I hope Iowa Native has a better big movie first casting then Brandon Routh did (and it most certainly wasn’t Routh’s fault in Superman either.)
I don’t know how good this will be. The director is known for the remake of Friday the 13th and they are talking about having Conan’s father in it (to possibly be played by Mickey Rourke.) We don’t need an origin story for a barbarian warrior, we need cleaving of giant flying ape men, an evil sorcerer and mostly naked damsels being in a great degree of distress. Conan is not brain surgery, though it is amazing how much bad Conan has been done – in comic, prose and film.
I hope it is good…. But… I just don’t have faith.
But on to good things, like REAL paper comics…
Switching subjects to good, happy, positive things. So… what is coming out this week? Hmmm, could it be… BATMAN AND FREAK’N ROBIN!!!?!!! Yes, after a month off the title returns and with MUCH better art. Cameron Stewart, the man who worked with Grant Morrison on Sea Guy, will be behind the pencil this arc.
Thank Dio, because was it just me or was Phillip Tan’s art so bad it made you want to skip the pictures and just read the balloons? Double sized bad on it was, the only reason he was on the book was to promote his art chores on the editor in chief’s stint on the then upcoming Outsiders! How bad are you when you need THAT kind of help (writer or artist) or how bad is Outsiders?
I’m going to again mention two, what I would consider, underperforming Marvel books due out this week; Daredevil and Fantastic Four. If you don’t read them and are looking for a solid, well written super-hero stories, give them a try.
If you are reading the Blackest Night series and need a little bit more, I am going to guess the Atom and Hawkman #46 due out this week should be pretty good. Geoff Johns is writing and Ryan Sook is doing art… Yes, that Ryan Sook, we don’t get his art very often, so take advantage. I haven’t read all of the one shots and specials, but the ones I have, have been pretty good. I think overall for a giant universe spanning crossover it has been better than the ones of recent years.
Starman #81, which was also one of those cancelled, now revived DC Blackest Night books, was actually really, really good. It reminds me why I loved that series when it was coming out. James Robinson, when he isn’t writing bad Superman books, can be a good writer.
So, why do those Superman books suck so bad? I think, if you read the Starman issue you see why. Robinson tells a great character driven story. The great revel is slow and deliberate, not the big bang that is, I’m sure, required from the Superman stories. If Robinson was allowed to write a book where we could see Clark Kent on an assignment for the Daily Planet and dealing with his day to day troubles, I’m sure it would be good. However, DC has long taken the character of Clark Kent out of Superman, to the detriment of the character, and the poor writers who have been stuck on the book. But that is just my two cents, I could be wrong.