Obama comic

Its probably no big surprise that I've gotten a load of calls this week for the Amazing Spider-Man #583 arriving next Wednesday.What is also not surprising is that the majority of callers have no idea how the comic industry works. This book was ordered some months ago, and roughly 2 weeks ago the final print and shipping orders were finalized. To guarantee getting a copy of this book, a person would have to ask me for a copy 2 WEEKS ago. When questioned "why didn't you just order a ton", well I have to try and get across to these people(without sounding like I've already explained this a dozen times in the last hour), I have to pay for every comic I order. I have a set budget for my orders each month. Taking a chance on ordering extras of one thing, means I have to cut back on something else I already have on order.
This, by the way is the comic I ordered.

Based on this cover image, would you have wanted it?
The cover that is being shown in the news articles is a variant issue that was only orderable after meeting a pre-set order quantity that was established by Marvel based on some arbitrary set of what they think I should order based on sales of previous comics that have nothing to do with this one.(Trust me, it is at least as confusing as I make it sound).
To make a long story short(I know too late right), I have enough copies of Spider-Man #583 arriving next Wednesday to fill requests for everyone that wanted this comic before the media made a big deal out of it.
Standing in line outside the store waiting for me to open next Wednesday will probably not do anyone any good.
I can only suggest that if you desperately need a copy of this comic that you wait for the arrival of the 2nd print issues that will show up in a few weeks, and don't pay some outrageous marked up price for a comic that no one will care about a few months from now.

NEW COMICS WEDNESDAY

Well Christmas has come and gone, I hope everyone got what they wanted. Things went well here and the Boxing Day sale was a lot better attended than I expected.

I just want to mention once again that NEW comics will arrive on Wednesday DEC. 31st as usual. Due to it being New Years Eve, I will be opening an hour early (10:00 a.m.)but closing at 6:00. And I'll be CLOSED on Thursday for New Years Day.

Here's a look at some of the books you'll see on the shelves.

Justice League is the second part of the story introducing the Milestone characters to the DC Universe. Green Lantern continues the story from the Rage of the Red Lanterns as they speed toward the Blackest Night. Justice Society wraps up the Kingdom story with some interior painted pages from Alex Ross.

Captain America #45 is actually a new issue despite the fact the cover looks so familiar.

I guess some genius thought it was clever to do this 3-parter with nearly identical covers to tie them together as an arc. NOT realizing how many people actually "judge a book by its cover". Despite the solid sales of this title since the death of cap story, my sales slipped on the second part. I'm assuming due to the fact that a few people mistakingly thought they'd already bought this one.

Final Crisis Secret Files will try to help people catch up to date on just what's been going on so far. It should be a typical Secret Files format with a couple short stories and the rest encyclopedia style pages featuring characters vital to the story.

Check the website or on-line store for a full list of what will be on the shelves at 10:00 Wednesday morning. And please resist posting comments and spoilers on the web as many fans across Canada and the States will not be getting their books until Friday.

9 Shopping Days Till Christmas

That's right, hard to believe but there are only 9 more shopping days until Christmas. After being closed today (Monday) as usual, I'll be open every day from Tuesday 16th right through to Wednesday the 24th. Aside from opening next Monday, I'll be adding an extra hour to open and closing times SOME days until the 25th, to give you all some extra time to stop in.
SUNDAY DEC. 21ST - 11:00-6:00
MONDAY DEC. 22ND - 12:00-6:00
TUESDAY DEC. 23RD - 10:00- 7:00
WEDNESDAY DEC. 24TH. - 10:00 - 5:00
CLOSED CHRISTMAS DAY
I'll also be closing early on Wednesday DEC. 31st for New Years Eve and I'll be
CLOSED on NEW YEARS DAY
The most important thing to remember(besides the whole goodwill to all men thing), is that
new comics will still arrive on WEDNESDAYS both holiday weeks.
Of course with the closing early both Wednesdays and being closed on the Thursdays for the holidays, its going to be kinda difficult for some of you to get your regular fix until at least Friday (if not later on the weekend). If there is any worry of you missing some of your regular titles, feel free to send me an e-mail, call, or use the links in the sidebar, to get to the on-line store, and send me a list of what you'd like me to put aside for you.
For the first time in a few years now, I will be open on Boxing Day.
The store opens at 10:00 and closes at 6:00 FRIDAY DEC. 26th, for a very simple sale. Everything in the store ( excluding "new" comics) will be 25% off.
No gimmicks ,and the only limit is NO comics or books from that weeks delivery.
The sale is one day only on FRIDAY DECEMBER 26th.

SPOILER WARNING - I'd like to add for everyone who does get a chance pick up their comics on the Wednesdays, not to go spoiling things for those who don't. Many customers ( including all those in the U.S.) won't get a chance to see "new" comics until Friday, so please be considerate, especially considering the time of year.
Thanks , and Happy Holidays to everyone.

SALE NEWS & HOLIDAY HOURS

Well its time to catch up on a few items all at once.
First of all, the backstock sale continues, lots of great stuff moving out at 50-75% off.
ALSO,
The RED TAG EVENT begins Saturday November the 15th, and I'm hauling a ton of stuff up from the basement and re-pricing some of the merchandise already on the main floor. Lots of toys are down to the $3.00 - $5.00 range, and you can get them for FREE with a purchase of $30-$50.00. In fact for every $10.00 you spend on anything in the store(including the backstock sale), you get a dollar towards RED TAG sale items. Some stuff like older Heroclix boosters will be FREE for a purchase as low as $20.00. If you don't see anything you like now, or would like to get something a little bigger, just hold on to your receipt and add your purchases up until you can get what you want. I'll be adding RED TAG stuff to the front and back sale tables right through till December 13th. Wait till you see some of the great DC Direct figures coming in next Wednesday, all under $10.00.
I also need to mention Holiday Hours. Basically the Holidays will not effect shipping this year, so yes that means new comics will arrive on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve.
I plan on closing at 5:00 on December 24th, Closed CHRISTMAS DAY and re-open on the 26th for the start of Boxing weekend sales. I'm not sure what the sale that weekend will be just yet but I'll try to make it a good one.
I'll be closing at 6:00 on December 31st, Closed NEW YEARS DAY, and re-open on Friday the 2nd to start off 2009.

U.S. EXCHANGE

Well the Canadian dollar recovered a fair amount this week, so comics arriving on Wednesday November 12th will only have a 10% exchange added.
Lets hope we'll see it hit at least 90 cents for a couple weeks in a row so I can go back to just using the U.S. cover prices.

Backstock Sale

Hard to believe Halloween is here and gone already. Hopefully you all came out of it without a stomach ache or adding a few cavities.

With the end of 2008 already in sight its time for me to appeal to all you bargain hunters to help me clean out the basement here and grab some deals for yourself.

Starting Saturday November 15th, and ending November 30th, all backstock more than 4 months old will be on sale for 50% off.

Thats all backstock in the center bins of the store, and does not include any books from the back bin or wall books.

To encourage your spending, purchase over $100.00 worth and the discount jumps to 60%..

$200.00 and up gets you a massive 75% discount off our already great backstock prices. (Taxes are charged before discount).

To add to this already fantastic deal, I'll be holding my annual customer appreciation event during this period.

SATURDAY and SUNDAY November 22nd and 23rd, for every $10.00 you spend on anything in the store(including backstock books) you earn a buck off any RED TAG items.

I'll be filling the bargain tables at the front and back of the store with all kinds of crazy sale priced books and goodies, which will be even cheaper when you add in the bonus bucks you earn from anything else you buy those days.

Just think of the potential savings.

Pick out $200.00 in backstock, and you pay only$50.00.

That $50.00 now earns you $5.00 off any RED TAG sale item in the store. That's a potential 85% off backstock.

You can see I'm serious here about moving this product, mainly because I have plans for some remodeling as the year ends that will give me more room for paperbacks and games.

So come on in and pick up some great bargains, save yourself a ton of cash and help me get the store ready for the reno so I can fill the store to capacity with even more of the stuff we all love.

U.S. EXCHANGE

I'm sure it comes as no news to anyone that the Canadian dollar has taken a huge hit the last few weeks. I hate to do it, but beginning with this weeks comics I'll be adding aprox. a 20% exchange to all "new" comics and paperbacks. That's all books on the far back rack where the new releases are set up every Wednesday. Regular issue comics priced at $2.99 U.S. will be $3.50 and $3.99 will come to $4.75.
Paperbacks and hardcovers will have their new prices stickered on.