Monday, December 28, 2015

Hello, all--

First up, I offer you my TOP TEN COMICS OF 2015 list! A couple of notes: first, I’ve elevated SAGA to HALL OF FAME status. It’s amazing, of course. But it wins every year and I wanted some other books to get a chance to shine. Also, comics had to have at least FOUR issues out this year to qualify. Some contenders like PAPER GIRLS and THE GODDAMNED didn’t quite have enough, but I bet they’ll be appearing next year. Anyhow. Here it is!
10. BIRTHRIGHT (Image) Writer Josh Williamson is proving to be the 2nd best cliffhanger guy in the business, right behind Brian K Vaughan. I never know where this one’s heading next, and I’m loving every page.
9. PREZ (DC) Sad times when DC’s best comic of the year is also their lowest selling. It might not have any Batfolk in it, but what it does have is a timely, hilarious indictment of contemporary politics and its repugnant marriage to corporate interests.
8. THEY’RE NOT LIKE US (Image) Few books come out of the gate as fully realized as this one. It’s a beautiful example of creative synergy, with the three principal creators displaying an impressive hivemind. Putting a new spin on the tropes of teens with powers, and making it feel totally of the moment.
7. RUMBLE (Image) Sometimes not having any plan pays big dividends. James Harren is the best artist in comics you might not have heard of yet. Grab any random issue of this frenetic Gods n’ monsters in current times and you’ll see.
6. ANT-MAN (Marvel) Capturing the tone of the movie perfectly, while still celebrating what makes the comics medium such a unique, fun experience.
5. NAMELESS (Image) A horror comic so alarming you can practically hear screams while you’re reading. Wow.
4. SPIDER-WOMAN (Marvel) Contender for best looking book on the racks, thanks to the lithe fluidity of Javier Rodriguez’ designs, actions, and colors. And writer Dennis Hopeless manages to humanize this decades-old character in a way no one ever has before. Bravo.
3.  DAREDEVIL (Marvel) Mark Waid and Chris Samnee ended their landmark run on DD this year, managing to improve upon what had come before while imbuing the book with a different texture. To say this run hold up against all the other great DD runs is about the biggest compliment a fella could offer, but they nailed it.
Image result for SOUTHERN BASTARDS
2. SOUTHERN BASTARDS (Image) I love how this epic southern crime saga is taking its damn sweet time circling around various characters at its own pace, making us hungrier and hungrier for the plot advancement, knowing that when the $#!& hits the fan it will be glorious.
1. TOKYO GHOST (Image) Hopelessly romantic, gritty, beautiful, and  bleak. Rick Remender’s and Sean Murphy’s new science fiction masterpiece is only 4 issues in, but that was enough to make a visceral impression.
Next week: Rawn’s top picks and my best graphic novels!

REMINDER: We’ll be closing at 5PM on Thursday, December 31, but that’s the only change to our schedule this week. So yes, we’ll be open 10-7 on Friday 1/1/16.

LAST CALL: Our orders lock on the following titles very very soon! Please add stuff you want, subscribers!
AMAZING FOREST (IDW) Great looking new sci-fi anthology from forward thinking talent!
VICTORIE CITY (IDW) Horror noir!
PENCIL HEAD (Image) If you haven’t read any of Ted McKeever’s comics, please know that they’re really 
weird. And quite good!
ADVENTURE TIME: ICE KING (Boom!) That guy.

SHIPPING! Last new comics of the year, out WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30:
ALIENS VAMPIRELLA #5 (OF 6)   3.99
ALL NEW WOLVERINE #3 3.99
ALL NEW WOLVERINE #3 CHOI VAR  PI
ALL NEW WOLVERINE #3 LOPEZ VAR PI
ALL NEW WOLVERINE #3 RANEY MARVEL 92 VAR PI
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #6 3.99
ASTRO BOY OMNIBUS TP VOL 02   19.99
ATTACK ON TITAN BEFORE THE FALL GN VOL 06   10.99
ATTACK ON TITAN JUNIOR HIGH GN VOL 04    16.99
BACK TO THE FUTURE #1 (3RD PTG) 3.99
BATMAN AND ROBIN ETERNAL #13 2.99
BATMAN EUROPA #3 (OF 4) 4.99
BATMAN EUROPA #3 (OF 4) VAR ED  PI
BERSERK TP VOL 35  14.99
BLACK CANARY #6 2.99
BLACK MAGICK #3    3.99
BLOOD C GN VOL 04   12.99
BOBS BURGERS ONGOING #7   3.99
CAPTAIN AMERICA WHITE #5 (OF 5) 3.99
CARNAGE #3 3.99
CARNAGE #3 DEODATO MARVEL 92 VAR  PI
CARNAGE #3 PUTRI VAR  PI
CHEWBACCA #5 (OF 5) 3.99
CLARENCE REST STOPS #1    4.99
CODE PRU #1     3.99
COLDER TOSS THE BONES #4 (OF 5) 3.99
CONAN THE AVENGER #21 3.50
CTHULHU GID BANK  22.99
DC COMICS BLACK CANARY BISHOUJO STATUE  69.99
DEADPOOL AND CABLE SPLIT SECOND #1 (OF 3) 4.99
DEADPOOL AND CABLE SPLIT SECOND #1 (OF 3) ANKA VAR  PI
DEADPOOL AND CABLE SPLIT SECOND #1 (OF 3) LIEFELD PI
DIE WERGELDER GN   19.99
DOCTOR FATE #7 2.99
DRAX #2 3.99
DREAMING EAGLES #1   3.99
DRIVE #3 (OF 4) 3.99
EAST OF WEST #23 3.50
FLASH #47 3.99
GAHAN WILSON OUT THERE TP   29.99
GOD IS DEAD #46     3.99
GREEN ARROW TP VOL 04 BLOOD OF THE DRAGON 17.99
HAIL HYDRA TP 16.99
HARLEY QUINN & POWER GIRL #6 (OF 6) 3.99
HOWARD THE DUCK #3 4.99
HOWARD THE DUCK #3 LIEFELD GWENPOOL VAR   PI
HOWARD THE DUCK #3 RIVERA VAR  PI
HOWLING COMMANDOS OF SHIELD #3 3.99
INFINITE CRISIS FIGHT FOR THE MULTIVERSE TP VOL 02 16.99
INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US YEAR FOUR ANNUAL #1 4.99
JAMES BOND #3   3.99
JEM & THE HOLOGRAMS #10 3.99
JESSICA JONES TP VOL 04 ALIAS     24.99
JUGHEAD #3    3.99
JUSTICE LEAGUE #47 3.99
KUROSAGI CORPSE DELIVERY SERVICE OMNIBUS ED TP  19.99
LAZARUS #21     3.50
LEGEND OF ZELDA LINK SHIELD REPLICA   20.00
LOBSTER JOHNSON GLASS MANTIS ONE SHOT 3.99
MERCURY HEAT #6     3.99
MORNING GLORIES #49     4.99
MU ULT SPIDER-MAN WEB WARRIORS DIGEST TP VOL 03 9.99
MULTIVERSITY #1 & #2 DIRECTORS CUT 7.99
MY LITTLE PONY A CANTERLOT WEDDING TP 7.99
MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO W/LEAF BEAN BAG PLUSH   15.00
NIGHTWING TP VOL 03 FALSE STARTS 19.99
NOVA #3 3.99
OBI-WAN AND ANAKIN #1 (OF 5) 3.99
OBI-WAN AND ANAKIN #1 (OF 5) MOVIE VAR PI
OBI-WAN AND ANAKIN #1 (OF 5) NOWLAN CLASSIC VAR  PI
OBI-WAN AND ANAKIN #1 (OF 5) OUM VAR  PI
OMEGA MEN #7 2.99
ORPHAN BLACK HELSINKI #2 (OF 5) 3.99
PLANET HULK TP WARZONES 17.99
RAGNAROK #7 3.99
RAT QUEENS #14     3.99
REVIVAL TP VOL 06 THY LOYAL SONS & DAUGHTERS     14.99
RINGSIDE #2     3.99
RUMBLE #10     3.50
SAVAGE DRAGON #210 3.99
SPAWN #259      2.99
SPIDER-MAN 2099 #5 3.99
SPIDEY #2 3.99
SPIDEY #2 COIPEL VAR   PI
SQUADRON SUPREME #2 3.99
SQUADRON SUPREME #2 KIRK VAR  PI
SUPERIOR IRON MAN TP VOL 01 INFAMOUS 19.99
SUPERMAN ANNUAL #3 4.99
SUPERMAN DOOMED TP 29.99
SUPERMAN LOIS AND CLARK #3 3.99
SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN #24 3.99
SUPERMAN WONDER WOMAN ANNUAL #2 4.99
TRAIN CALLED LOVE #4 (OF 10)      3.99
TRANSFORMERS SINS OF WRECKERS #2 (OF 5) 3.99
WAR STORIES #15     3.99
WELCOME BACK #4 3.99
WONDER WOMAN #47 3.99
X-MEN AGE OF APOCALYPSE TP VOL 03 OMEGA 34.99

That’s it for now, see you soon!
P/VC

Monday, December 21, 2015

Hello, all--

So, there’re some holidays coming up over the next few weeks-- perhaps you’re aware of them? We will be adjusting our hours just slightly, and I’d like to share with you now what those changes are. I’m a Giver.
Thursday, December 24 is Christmas Eve! We’ll be closing early at 5pm.
Friday, December 25 is Christmas! We will be closed.
Thursday, December 31 is New Year’s Eve, and we’ll be closing at 5.
Friday, January 1 is New Year’s Day, and we’ll be OPEN?!? Whaaa? Regular hours?!? YES WE WILL BE OPEN NEW YEAR’S DAY REGULAR HOURS!
Everything else is business as usual!

Next week: we’ll be offering up our BEST OF THE YEAR lists for your scrutiny!! We’re sorry in advance if your favorite title didn’t make the list, it’s nothing personal, there’s just stuff we liked better. I’m sure it’s really good.

LAST CALL! If you want ‘em, tell us, or risk having a sellout waiting for you when you arrive! Our orders lock on these mid-January shipping titles very very soon:
LEAVING MEGALOPOLIS: SURVIVING MEGALOPOLIS (Dark Horse) Gail Simone’s city populated by jerkface super heroes returns!
GUTTER MAGIC (IDW) A gritty crime comic in a world where magic is everywhere!
LUNA THE VAMPIRE (IDW) IDW is now chasing the Adventure Time crowd with this one. WIll it be good? Too early to predict.
CAPTAIN MARVEL (Marvel) Newly launching, still Carol, with the writers of the Agent Carter tv show!
OLD MAN LOGAN (Marvel) Looking forward to see how this gruff ol’ bastard adapts to life in our time. By Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino!
DEVOLUTION (D.E.) This will be one you might want! Superstar writer RICK REMENDER tackles a world in which the evolutionary clock has been turned back on most or all creatures! Looks amazing!

SHIPPING! Here’s what’s arriving WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23:
ADVENTURE TIME MARCELINE GONE ADRIFT TP   19.99
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #5 3.99
ANGELA QUEEN OF HEL #3 3.99
AQUAMAN #47 3.99
ARCADIA #7 3.99
ART OPS #3    3.99
ASTONISHING ANT-MAN #3 3.99
ASTONISHING ANT-MAN #3 FARINAS VAR  PI
ASTONISHING ANT-MAN #3 HEMBECK VAR  PI
ASTRO CITY #30 3.99
BATMAN 66 MEETS THE MAN FROM UNCLE #1 (OF 6) 2.99
BATMAN AND ROBIN ETERNAL #12 2.99
BATMAN ARKHAM KNIGHT #12 3.99
BLOOD FEUD #3 (OF 5) 3.99
BLOODSHOT REBORN #9   3.99
BPRD HELL ON EARTH TP VOL 12 METAMORPHOSIS    19.99
BTVS SEASON 10 #22    3.99
CAPTAIN AMERICA SAM WILSON #4 3.99
CHEW #53    3.50
CYBORG #6 2.99
DAREDEVIL #2 3.99
DAREDEVIL #2 HEMBECK VAR  PI
DAREDEVIL #2 VAR  PI
DARK KNIGHT III MASTER RACE #2 (OF 8) 5.99 More of this!
DARK KNIGHT III MASTER RACE #2 (OF 8) CHIANG VAR   PI
DARK KNIGHT III MASTER RACE #2 (OF 8) JANSON VAR  PI
DARK KNIGHT III MASTER RACE #2 (OF 8) MILLER VAR   PI
DARK KNIGHT III MASTER RACE #2 (OF 8) RISSO VAR  PI
DARTH VADER #14 VDWN 3.99
DC COMICS BOMBSHELLS #7 3.99
DC COMICS DESIGNER SER 3 TWO FACE AF 24.95
DC ICONS THE FLASH CHAIN LIGHTNING AF 24.95
DEADLY CLASS #17    3.99
DEADPOOL #4 3.99
DEADPOOL #4 KOBLISH SECRET COMIC VAR  PI
DEATHSTROKE #13 2.99
DEATHSTROKE THE TERMINATOR TP VOL 02 SYMPATHY 14.99
DOCTOR WHO 11TH YEAR TWO #4   3.99
DR MIRAGE SECOND LIVES #1 (OF 4)   3.99
ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK #13 3.99
EXTRAORDINARY X-MEN #4 3.99
FATHOM BLUE #6   3.99
FEMME FATALES BATMAN ANIMATED BATGIRL PVC FIGURE   45.00
FEMME FATALES BATMAN TAS HARLEY QUINN PVC FIGURE  45.00
FIGHT CLUB 2 #8    3.99
FIGMENT 2 #4 (OF 5) 3.99
FUTURE IMPERFECT TP WARZONES 17.99
GI JOE A REAL AMERICAN HERO #222 3.99
GOTHAM BY MIDNIGHT #12 2.99
GUIDEBOOK TO MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE MARVEL’S THOR  3.99
HE MAN THE ETERNITY WAR #13 2.99
HELLBREAK #9    3.99
HIP HOP FAMILY TREE #5   3.99
INVISIBLE REPUBLIC #8    2.99
ISLAND #5    7.99
ITTY BITTY HELLBOY SEARCH FOR THE WERE-JAGUAR #2 2.99
JACK KIRBY COLLECTOR #66   10.95
JACKED #2 (OF 6)    3.99
JUPITERS CIRCLE VOL 2 #2     3.50
JUSTICE LEAGUE 3001 #7 2.99
JUSTICE LEAGUE GODS & MONSTERS BATMAN AF 24.95
JUSTICE LEAGUE GODS & MONSTERS SUPERMAN AF 24.95
JUSTICE LEAGUE GODS & MONSTERS WONDER WOMAN AF 24.95
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #6 3.99
KAPTARA TP VOL 01 FEAR NOT TINY ALIEN 9.98 One of the most original books on the racks currently! You owe it to yourself to check it out. Seriously. You deserve good things.
KING CONAN WOLVES BEYOND THE BORDER #1 (OF 4) 3.99
LAST GANG IN TOWN #1 (OF 7)    3.99
MARVEL PREVIEWS #6 JANUARY 2016    1.25
MARVEL UNIVERSE ULT SPIDER-MAN SPIDER-VERSE #2  2.99
MASTER OF KUNG FU TP BATTLEWORLD 15.99  
MEGA MAN #55  3.99
MOON GIRL AND DEVIL DINOSAUR #2 3.99
MOON GIRL AND DEVIL DINOSAUR #2 CAMPION VAR  PI
NAMELESS #6    2.99 Completing just in time for best of the year consideration!
NEW AVENGERS #4 3.99
OUTCAST BY KIRKMAN & AZACETA #14    2.99
OVERSTREET COMIC BK PG SC VOL 45 CAPT AMERICA   29.95
PATSY WALKER AKA HELLCAT #1 3.99
PATSY WALKER AKA HELLCAT #1 CAMPBELL VAR  PI
PATSY WALKER AKA HELLCAT #1 PEREZ VAR  PI
PAYBACKS #4 3.99
PRETTY DEADLY #7    3.50
PREVIEWS #328 JANUARY 2016  3.99
PRINCELESS MAKE YOURSELF #0 3.99
RAI #12   3.99
RICK & MORTY #9   3.99
ROBIN SON OF BATMAN #7 (ROBIN WAR) 3.99
ROCHE LIMIT TP VOL 02 CLANDESTINY    12.99
ROCKETEER AT WAR #1 (OF 4) 4.99
SAGA #32    2.99  Daaawwwww always so good.
SCALPED HC BOOK 03 DELUXE EDITION 29.99
SINESTRO #18 2.99
SPIDER-WOMAN #2 3.99
SPIDER-WOMAN #2 DOYLE VAR  PI
STAR WARS ARTIFACT ED HC    PI
STAR-LORD #2 3.99
SUPERMAN #47 3.99
SUPERMAN ACTION COMICS TP VOL 06 SUPERDOOM 16.99
TECHNOPRIESTS HC    49.95
TEEN DOG TP 19.99
THE INCAL HC NEW PTG    44.95 Just in time for your shopping needs, be it for you or for a loved one! Don’t buy it for an enemy, they don’t deserve it.
TITANS HUNT #3 (OF 12) 3.99
TMNT ONGOING #53    3.99
TRANSFORMERS HOLIDAY SPECIAL 5.99
TRANSFORMERS MORE THAN MEETS EYE #48 3.99
TRANSFORMERS VS GI JOE #10 3.99
TYSON HESSE DIESEL #4 (OF 4) 3.99
VENOM SPACE KNIGHT #2 3.99
VOLTRON FROM THE ASHES #4 (OF 6) 3.99
WHERE MONSTERS DWELL TP PHANTOM EAGLE FLIES SAVAGE 16.99
WILDS END ENEMY WITHIN #4 (OF 4) 3.99
WILL EISNER SPIRIT #6   3.99
X-FILES X-MAS SPECIAL 7.99
X-MEN EPIC COLLECTION TP GIFT 34.99 55.0 15.7455 15.75 Marvel

That’s it for now, see you soon!
P/VC