Comics & More on Youtube

I've heard about this song for a while now and finally got a chance to check it out. Its called T-Ode, and its the third track on Abdominals, Escape From The Pigeon Hole. The song is actually a pretty good testament to the diversity of Toronto. As a resident of the East End, his comic store of choice is yours truly and an image of the storefront appears about 2 minutes in.

Check it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaGDqVKR44Y

SECRET INVASION

SPOILER WARNING!!
ELEMENTS OF RECENT COMICS ARE INVOLVED.


Well the first issue of Marvels big Secret Invasion ships this Wednesday, but we already got a taste of whats to come from last weeks New Avengers #39. The main thing that's bothering me about this storyline(aside from the number of crossover issues involved) is the fact that there doesn't seem to be any rules. From the ad campaign we are asked the question of who do we trust. The implication is that some of the Marvel heroes we've been following for the last few years have secretly been Skrulls. However from the Ms. Marvel #25 story we find that some of the Skrulls are walking around as characters in the stories while the real articles are still in operation. Why ask us which characters are Skrulls and which aren't when obviously the writers are planning on having it both ways at the same time. Also, it was implied from earlier stories that this new breed of Skrull was built to take the place of individual heroes and mimic their powers. But the New Avengers #39 issue shows the one posing as Daredevil using multiple powers at the same time.
The backlash to the recent changes in the Amazing Spider-Man title resulted mainly from the fact that most readers hated the explanation that the Devil(Quesada) can do literally anything regardless of plot lines and development. And yet here Marvel is again giving us a story without any concrete rules. The story can go any way the writers(Bendis) want with the simple explanation that"They are all Skrulls and Skrulls can do anything".
Sounds like another case of lazy writing syndrome.

Superman is such a jerk

Krypto has come back into Superman's life, but is a much older, less stable animal than he was in Superboys time. Earlier in the story Superman had decided to take the poor beast into space and maroon him on some alien planet in the interests of human safety(not exactly the sentimental type is he). Luckily another solution popped up with only a few pages to spare.

So basically Superman has a cure for old age, but rather than share it with the world he only uses it on his pet for fear of his own safety. He's got about as good a grasp on irony as Alanis Morrisette. Superman's not just a jerk, but a coward as well.

HOLIDAY HOURS

Just a quick note that COMICS & MORE will be closed on both GOOD FRIDAY and EASTER SUNDAY.

DOLLAR SALE

Its time to move some more of the excess backstock that's piling up again. So next week I'll be holding a $1.00 backstock sale. 5-6 boxes of fairly recent stuff( the last year or so) will be bagged up and placed out on the bargain table at the back of the store. I'll probably do this about once a month from now thru summer, and on the nicer days, move some tables outside.(assuming it ever stops snowing).

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY

To help dispel the February blahs just open up the Previews magazine and take a look at some of the stuff coming up in April.
Right at the front of the catalog is the list of comics to look forward to on FREE COMIC BOOK DAY on Saturday May 3rd. I can't tell you how excited I get every year at the sight of all those great books I can use to help bring new readers into the store(or entice lapsed readers to return). Make no mistake, this is a huge investment in time and money for me as I try to order enough material not just for FREE COMIC DAY itself but to hold sufficient quantity in stock to use for school and library donations all through the coming year. Any I have left by October get bundled up for Halloween goodie packs. But the cost is more than justified when I see that look on a little ones face as they get a comic in their hands and start into it before even leaving the store.

Archie Comics gives us 2 entries again this year and both are great all ages choices. The Jughead comic is a new story featuring a look at the Geppi Entertainment Museum. I'm not sure if this is Archie's way of sucking up to the boss or not (Steve Geppi owns Diamond Comics, the sole source of all North American comics). Still it sounds like the kind of place I would like to open if I had a million bucks to spend. Their 2nd pick is a reprint of the first Sonic comic which given that the book is quickly approaching the 200th issue mark is quite a piece of history and much older than the majority of its current readers. They are both good choices as anyone who likes what they see can easily find more of the same in the dozens of paperback collections available or the many years worth of older single issues.

Not so good a choice are the selections from DC Comics. Once again they deliver 2 books, both reprint material. The first is, All-Star Superman #1 by Grant Morrison, and while an excellent Silver-Age style comic that is still suitable for younger fans, there isn't really any way for a new reader to follow up on the rest of the story without shelling out $20.00 for the hardcover collection or trying to track down the single issues(probably more than $20.00 if you did).

A better, but annoying choice is the Tiny Titans. A fun all-ages version of the Titans characters many kids will be familair with(although very different in look from the Titans Go cartoon). The problem is their won't be much follow up material for this book either. The Titans Go digest books are a good read for the money but not quite the same as these characters. And I'd hate to see any parent pick up the regular Teen Titans for a little one thinking its all the same thing.

Marvel covers the bases with X-Men for the teens and Marvel Adventures for the kids. The X-men is a new story by Greg Land and Mike Carey that will most likely tie in with Marvels plans for the big X-Men #500 coming in July. The Marvel Adventures issue features Iron Man, Hulk and Spider-Man. With the Iron Man movie coming out the same weekend and the Hulk movie the following month this one is a natural, and with the regular release of the monthly comics for all 3 characters plus the kid sized digest collections, finding enough material for the most avid reader should be no problem.

Speaking of movies, there's no denying the Transformers was a big hit last summer and the new animated adventures should do well also. This comic may be a nice lead in to the cartoon, but whether it will interest kids in reading a monthly comic is another story.

The Bongo entry this year again features the Simpsons and Futurama, but apparently in a digest format this time. I like the idea of making the comic a smaller more portable size, but unless Bongo intends to start collecting material in this format, it may be confusing to customers looking for their next read.

The Disney entry is usually one of the most popular each year, but this time around they are going with one of the less familiar but fun characters Gyro Gearloose. At least Donald and the boys are included on the cover. I almost wish they'd stop doing Disney entries for Free Comic day as there is virtually no support issues available at all as the regular sized monthly comics and digest collections ended over a year ago. Even the square bound deluxe comics seem to be coming in less frequently. Still as I said, its all about that look on their face as they clutch their new possession and the ducks are universally accepted as good for kids.

For more FREE comics and stuff coming SATURDAY MAY 3rd check out the on-line store and keep your eyes on this site as I will be planning some specials to co-incide with the big day.

FEBRUARY SALES

Its that time of year again when the weather(especially this week) has people huddling in their houses instead of out wandering the streets looking for things to add to the clutter at home. Just remember that reading is the perfect thing to kill some time and keep your mind off the snow.
To that effect I am constantly adding to the pile of sale items on the back table at the store.
Marvel has been clearing inventory at incredible prices lately and some more great stuff will be arriving next week(Wednesday Feb.13th). For example Iron Fist vol. 1 hardcover for $10.00 is a great deal and a fantastic series that a lot of people missed out on when it first started.

Or how about Stokers Dracula hardcover by Roy Thomas and Dick Giordano. A beautiful book concluding the stories from Dracula Lives. A great item at regular price but for $3.00 you can pick up a couple for friends to enjoy.
I've also recently decided to get out of the D&D market. The gaming section on the shelves here has been shrinking steadily as I ordered less and less each year, but I really need that space for regular comic paperbacks that I know I can sell. All D&D books and modules etc. are now priced 50% off American cover price. With 4th edition starting soon now is the time for 3rd edition hardcore fans to buy up cheap any pieces they may have passed on first time around due to price.