Blog Changes

As you may have noticed I’ve changed the title of this blog and its description. The main reason is I seem to spend more time on here discussing the store and events than any real ranting. Not that that’s a bad thing, as anyone who has spent more than a few minutes in the store with me knows, I can go off on some real tirades from the slightest provocation. If I want to start being more regular on here however I need to be a little more structured and set down some kind of theme. My current plan is to try and post a monthly list of my picks from the most recent Diamond previews, sort of a hit list of things to watch for. I’ll then update this once a week with a quick list of what’s new next week, sort of an expansion of the short paragraph that tops the shipping list on the website each week. I’d like to think that these advance thoughts will be more useful than a detailed review of something that has probably already sold out by the time you read about it.
I'd also love to see your comments on here too, especially with respect to the fact that I can't give the Previews catalog the full attention it deserves. Quite often I am alerted to some very fine books by my more diligent customers who spot things I miss, either in the catalog itself or from one or another of the on-line sites devoted to comic news. Mouse Guard, Space Pinchy, MPD Psycho and a few others are recent titles I would not have had on the shelves if they had not been brought to my attention by members. Keep up the good work guys.
Tomorrow I should have some thoughts on what’s arriving July 25th.

Store News

I've had more than a few customers mention I need to update my blog more often, and I couldn't agree more. Sometimes its just a matter of finding the time, because I have more than enough to talk about believe me.
First I want to thank everyone who came by on June 23rd for my 20th anniversary sale. In total about 3,000 comics were sold at 20 cents a piece. Some of the kids(adults too) went crazy over the box of 20cent Heroclix and the poster display featured dozens of retro movie and cartoon images at the 20 cent price. There's still quite a selection of the posters available as well some of the discounted paperbacks here right at the front of the store.
I'm planning on putting some tables out front with 20 cent comics on the occasional nice Saturday or Sunday during August. Keep an eye on this site for possible dates.
One thing you can bet on is a midnight sale the weekend of the Taste on the Danforth festival, which this year takes place on Friday August 10th-Sunday August 12th
http://www.toronto.com/tasteofthedanforth
What I did last year was closed at my usual 6:00 on Saturday and reopened at 9:00-midnight, and it was a big hit. The majority of the people coming in were totally new to the comic store experience but were still very receptive to trying out just about anything I could recommend. Many were local residents who since became semi regular customers. Part of the sale will include a "Big-Little" idea I've been tossing around which involves a deal connecting Marvel Essentials and Marvel digests, sort of a Father-Son package where dad gets a big book full of classic stuff for himself and I throw in a small book of adventures for the kids.
I also need to mention I will be at the big August convention again this year http://www.hobbystar.com/ComicConToronto2007/CC_Comic_Home.asp
with lots of great deals on comics and paperbacks.

20 YEARS and COUNTING part -2

Yes, as you've probably noticed from the t-shirts I've been handing out at the store, this June will mark my 20th year in business on the Danforth. The official date is June 23rd and I hope everyone will come by and help me celebrate and take home some incredible bargains at the same time. I'm going to be putting out more than 10,000 backstock comics at the unbelievable price of 20 cents a piece. There will also be boxes full of paperbacks starting as low as $2.00. Various toys, figures, posters and card packs will be priced to move.
You'll also have the chance to enter a couple of great contests for even more cool stuff, including a marquee style Silver Surfer movie poster.
So mark the date SATURDAY JUNE 23RD on your calendar, the sale starts at 10:00 a.m. Bring your friends, your kids, even your neighbours and help me make this an anniversary to remember.

Convention Time

Comics & More will be attending the Paradise Comicon this weekend June 8th-10th.

As a result the store will be closed on Friday to give me time to set up the booth.

If you come to the show, make sure to stop by my booth, remember that your members discount card entitles you to $10.00 off anything you buy from me at the show.

ON the Shelves MAY 16th

Wow, I can't believe that Ultimates2 #13 is finally arriving. I know the delays of Civil War pushed Millar's other projects back, but this things almost a year late. Then again, All-Star Batman #5 is finally showing up, maybe once his arc is finished Jim Lee will get around to Wildcats #2. It still surprises me how many people come in each week asking about Ultimate Wolverine/Hulk.

Can you imagine how messed up other industries would be if they let scheduling slide the way the comic publishers do? When a record company says their new album will be in stores on the 10th of a given month, you can bet its there. Same with the video game market and T.V. shows. What if a million or so people had lined up for Spiderman 3, only to be told it wasn't out yet, come back in a week or two? They keep using the old chestnut that quality takes time, but I' m sure with all the exclusive contracts that have been signed lately, the situation has only worsened. This seems to tell me these creators are so sure of their jobs they don't feel the need to produce to any kind of realistic schedule.

Somehow we need to let them know they are playing with peoples livelihoods out here in the real world.

Delivery Delays

New comic day will be delayed twice this month due to holiday Mondays.
Memorial Day and Victoria Day will change the delivery dates those weeks to:
THURSDAY MAY 24th
and THURSDAY MAY 31st.
Due to this, I will be closing the store early on the Wednesdays prior, to allow me to function properly the next day.

On the Shelves MAY 2nd

Marvel seems to be trying to take advantage of the Buffymania that has developed around the new season eight series from Dark Horse. The regular schedule for Runaways puts it out the same week as Buffy each month, and now this week the oft delayed Astonishing X-men #21 will arrive as well, making it a Joss Whedon heavy week. Many Whedon fans were already picking up Astonishing but I haven't seen many of them express interest in Runaways, YET!.

Probably the biggest book of the week will be the World War Hulk Prologue, Peter David pens the story of Hulks return to earth, as he recollects memories of past run-ins with the heroes of the Marvel Universe, building his anger to epic proportions.

Hellboy Darkness Calls#1 is the latest mini-series from Mignola and Fegredo and is a follow up to the Island from 2005.

The year really flew by didn't it, 52#52 ships this week with an extra sized issue to wrap up as many of the storylines as they can, and lead into the next year long series, Countdown.