Avengers AND Free Comic Book Day? Nerd Weekend Achieved

In case you live in a cave (sans box of scraps), this is your friendly reminder that Avengers: Age of Ultron drops May 1st. And, on a lesser known front, Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) is on May 2nd!

Think you're ready for this nerd-ified weekend? Just to make sure, here are some pointers to get the best use out of your time (time travelers need not continue reading).

1. Check movie theaters for early releases.

It seems midnight releases are growing less popular. Apparently, folks are realizing that older audiences, the most likely to be paying for a midnight release, don't actually like going to work on Friday feeling like their hungover, even if they didn't drink anything.

The new fad, if you would, is to have "Midnight Releases" start as early as 7:00pm in some places. That's right, you can see Avengers: Age of Ultron, in its entirety, on April 30th. And still make it home for a reasonable bedtime.

I'll personally being seeing a 10:00pm showing in Randolph, MA, and am pretty damn excited about it!

2. Catch up on Agents of SHIELD.

I've been avoiding Avengers spoilers as much as humanly possible, but some of the brief comments that have made it past my defenses mention that the movie starts rather abruptly.

It is my belief that tomorrow night's (4/28) Agents of SHIELD will have a minimal tie-in to the Avenger's opening. It won't be much, but even a bit of a setup will make the universe feel connected, which is nice. Already, there are some names bouncing back and forth on SHIELD that should be seen in Avengers.

In general, Agents of SHIELD has been fairly interesting this season, with some greater Marvel Tie-Ins that I'm looking forward to in future films.

3. For FCBD, know your local shop's rules.

Last year, I wrote a post explaining FCBD. One important take away is that not all shops treat the day the same. Some have restrictions to how many comics you can get. Others have additional events or sales. Figure out your local shop's deal by asking an owner/associate, and then determine if you should be making a longer trip for a more ideal setup.

I'll be at my local show, Rubber Chicken Comics, because they don't restrict free comics AND have decent sales.

4. Know what issues are free!

This one isn't a major issue, because most shops will keep all the free issues in a centralized location, but that doesn't mean you can't get a sneak peak at what you can grab the day of. Here is the link to freecomicbookday.com's list of all the free comics that will be available. I'm definitely looking forward to Fight Club, Secret Wars, and 2000 AD.

Marvel's Star Wars: Off to a Bad Start?

Props for the Skottie Young variant!

A post in which I am over critical of a universe, medium, and company I love:

Star Wars #1 by Marvel Comics.

This comic embodies everything I hate in a movie based comic series, and something that is especially glaring, coming from a universe we've had expansive experience with in the medium.

1. The setting. This series takes place between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back. Uhg. This has been Donne to death. Yes, all of the previous material has been branded "Legends," aka non-canon, but the first comic from Marvel's newly acquired license should NOT be such an overdone time frame that the most recent Dark Horse run ALSO used! Especially if the writing is going to be WORSE!

2. The characters. This is a more serious offense. We have the characters as we left them in A New Hope and how they'll be in The Empire Strikes Back. They should not vary from those points, at least not much. This issue has the following discrepancies:

Han Solo: why does he talk like a country hick? Why are they making him a bumbling romantic, when he's usually shown as a bit aloof? Yes, there is some room to play with the romance, but stay in character, people!

Princess Leia: we witness her punch an Imperial Officer into unconsciousness, with one blow. Yes, she has every right to be mad at the Empire, but she probably didn't take up martial arts and then forget martial arts between the two movies -- she's not shown as having any physical strength in A New Hope, and she very ineffectively attempts to overcome Han Solo's embrace in The Empire Strikes Back (yes, there is obviously romantic attraction there, but she at no point shows any hint of strength or combat training). Leia is a badass, don't get me wrong, but she's not Chuck Norris. Giver her a blaster and she'll cut down folks in cold blood (he said STUN, damn it!), but she really shouldn't be handing out knuckle-sandwiches (that is unintentionally sexist, but I'm leaving it).

C-3PO: Threepio is and always shall be a pessimist. And yet, we have him being awkwardly hopeful for a high-tension mission that should normally have him telling the odds of invading a high-importance Imperial base, especially without the help of any trained professionals. And, might I add, completely reasonably.

[Millennium] Falcon PUNCH!

Vader: we have never before seen Vader using Stormtroopers as living shields. It seems to be an almost petty level of evil for a once-honorable man to do so (though it was pretty badass). Yes, he's murdered children. But that was after direct orders that served a practical purpose. Otherwise, he only seems to eliminate Imperials when they've been incompetent {again, practical). There's no reason why he couldn't use his saber to block those blasts.

And, honestly, we don't need to see Darth Vader in every freaking comic. Give him a break. And stop reducing the impact of when characters meet him in the films (if done well, this last complaint is nil).

The Empire: they've apparently removed any sense of being a functional, somewhat professional governing body. Now, they follow every given order with a threat of "obliteration." Because that's not excessive. None of the Imperials act like this in the films, but I guess they need to act like complete dicks in case we forgot they're the bad guys.

3. The plot. Why exactly are Luke, Han, Leia, Chewie, Threepio, and R2 acting as a strike team? Without any Rebel support at all? If the mission is so important, they'd have backup, or be the backup of a commando group. But no, they'll do it all because they have plot armor, I guess. That's one of the worst things movie comics flail around. They throw our heroes at impossible odds because they cannot die. And, for some reason, they insist on mortally wounding them at one point (has t happened in the comic, yet), as if it will have any emotional impact for us at all.

There are a couple of good things to say, such as Chewie being a badass, Artoo using some of his prequel abilities, and the overall art, but, all in all, I really disliked this comic and will probably not be adding it to my pull list. Even if the new lightsaber motion scenes are pretty neat. Maybe I'll give it a another issue before I pass final judgement...

Some of this is partially coming from the fact that a lot of good Star Wars storylines were killed off due to the company switch. Dark Horse had a lot of good titles running, even if they'd now be considered "Legends." To trade them for this offends me (though it now makes my collection of the Legacy series 100% complete...).

And I thought there was a team to make sure ALL new Star Wars media, across all mediums, would create one coherent canon. It's already looking to me that the comics are going to suffer from "Super Hero Mag" syndrome.

And I was so hopeful, too.

The Nerd Reviews EVERYTHING!

Ok, that's a bit over dramatic. But there was a lot I wanted to talk about, and I don't ever seem to be able to set aside them time. Or, when I do, I fall asleep.

... 4 months of fatherhood will do that to you.

So I'm going to give a quick comment on things I've been meaning to touch base on, with the promise of a longer review for the super mysterious last item, that I won't reveal until... well, you've scrolled down the bottom of the page, I guess.

Saga #24

This issue was full of win. It's a story about making The Will better. We learn some things about him, his sister meets up with Lying Cat and Co., and the final panel, featuring Marko and Prince Robot IV, is freaking perfect.

Spider-Verse Event

The event has been going strong. I'm liking it, for the most part. I dislike the villains being stupid strong for no apparent reason, and there are a lot of deus ex machina moments, but the writing is decent and some of the alternate Spiders are really interesting. They have killed off some Spiders that I'd rather they didn't, the pacing in general is so-so, and the fights really inconsistent, but it's entertaining enough on the surface. All the artists have been solid as well, and I'm getting a Ben Reilly kicking around for awhile.

Until they invariably kill him, too :/

New Star Wars Trailer

I dislike the name of the movie, the new lightsaber is dumb, everything else looks pretty damn good. Really hoping Finn's story (the guy in stormtrooper armor in the opening shot) is awesome and actually stormtrooper related -- I'd like to see one of the movies follow characters on both sides of the fence.

TV

I don't have time to watch TV, what is this?

But I have rewatched Firefly... twice... in the past week. Dammit Fox.

Speaking of Firefly...

 

Firefly the Game

I picked this up and was able to play a solo game and a three player game. I've picked up a couple expansions and am looking forward to playing again. When I do, I'll do a full review on the game, with it's own post and everything. Shiny.

Review preview: I'm loving it!

Current Events with Spider-Man

The "Spider-verse" prelude began last Wednesday, in Superior Spider-Man 32.

Wait. Wasn't Superior Spider-Man finished, and Amazing Spider-Man (with the real Peter Parker returned) already started?

Yes, yes it was.

Superior Spider-Man takes place while Doc Ock (as Peter Parker and Spider-Man) was displaced in time at the Horizon Labs explosion (in Superior Spider-Man #19, I believe). Apparently it wasn't just a quick jaunt through time -- he wound up in the year 2099, and we're finally seeing what happened.

When he attempted to make his way back home, he kept encountering alternate universe... all of which featured recently murdered Spider-Men, all of which were killed by the same dual-forked weapon. It's not clear if these are all Spider-Men we've met in different dimensions (we see the Armored Spider-Man, which was an alternate costume to 616 Peter and ALSO an alternate dimension where Peter was wealthy instead of poor. It could have been another altogether, however...)

You know, this guy.

In this rather expansive issue, Doc Ock decides that the menace must be faced and that the best way to do so would be to recruit as big an army of Spider-Men as possible, from across all the dimensions. Not, you know, an army of Hulks or something. But whatever. The end of the issues shows him having already begun his army, which will prove to be interesting...

I'm excited for this event, though this one issues seems to have covered a ton of ground, and it's only a prelude! It was a good read, though, and I like the idea that Superior Spider-Man may meet the revived 616 Amazing Spider-Man due to this time/dimension hopping. It may even give more insight as to why Ock makes the sacrifice in the "last" issue of Superior.

Also, as a side note on why I love the issue, I've recently been getting into the Skottie Young Variant covers, which depict marvel characters as babies. I have a few already, though mostly by accident, but now that I have a little girl, it's a great way to bring nerd-dom into her room. I grabbed two copies of this variant, which is only half of the Skottie Young Spider-verse spread, the second of which will come with Amazing Spider-Man #9. I want one set for my daughter's wall and one for my basement!

Love this!

Now, back in the current Amazing Spider-Man issues, I'm not liking the story much at all. I dislike that Black Cat will be a villain (I've said this before), and I really don't enjoy the backstory they're giving Silk, the new female spider-character (this one having been bit at the same spider that bit Peter). It was a bit too easy and includes her actively being locked away for years and years, the secret of her location only being found due to a story element from the Original Sin event.

... Also, the... relationship between Silk and Spider-Man doesn't really have any background for where they immediately go with it, but I suppose this isn't the first time Spidey's run on instinct. The issue itself seemed poorly written, however, where elements were repeated so much that I pictured the writer speaking to a two year old when actually planning this issue. Meh. I've really not been impressed with the return of Amazing Spider-Man, yet managed to love the most recent issue of Superior. Wonder if they're purposefully trying to tank the main title and character.

Oh well.

Still looking forward to seeing "every Spider-Man ever" during the Spider-verse event! It's yet another opportunity where they could, possibly, bring back Ben Reilly! ...I've said this before, haven't I?

Bring Ben Back!

What IS Free Comic Book Day?

Free Comic Book Day is Saturday, May 3rd (right before Star Wars Day, May the Fourth [be with you]).

Maybe you've seen the signs or heard the title tossed around, but do you really know what Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) actually is? You should -- it always happens the first Saturday in May, and has since 2002.

In case you were wondering, this isn't a day when stores give away any random comic away for free. It is a day when participating comic book stores offer brand new issues that are made special for the day (you can find participating stores here, its a good amount!). Many companies publish special issues for FCBD, including the Big Two (Marvel, DC) and smaller companies. These are generally promotional in nature -- you'll get a special Spider-Man story that isn't set in whatever current storyline Spidey's in, or maybe you'll find an prequel issue to an upcoming comic series. Or whatever a company wants to publish. Find the full list for 2014's FCBD here!

^That's the easy part. Now the trick is to figure out how your Local Comic Shop (LCS) handles giving out these free comics:

-The best allow you to get one of each FCBD issue.
--My current LCS, Rubber Chicken Comics (Bellingham, MA), has done this in the past.

-Others will pre-package the comics and give them away in targeted groups.
--Joker's Child (Fair Lawn, NJ) offered a 'kids' pack and a 'regular' pack last year. You didn't necessarily get every comic this way, but you were generally able to avoid getting issues you really, really wouldn't care to read anyway.
---If you want all the comics anyway, just bring a friend who isn't particularly interested in comics, or at least not the issues you want. They can get whatever pack you don't and trade after. I'm fortunate enough to have The Wife. She loves me enough to attend events like FCBD but has zero interest in comics. Perfect!

-Some set a specific limit of FCBD comics per customer.
--Comically Speaking (Reading, MA), while one of my all-time favorite stores, only allowed customers to get two select comics from the FCBD selection. A restriction such as this could be especially hindering if you want more (which I always do). Technically, this would promote you to visit another store, I suppose, but that's not what I'm interested in.
---The only way around this would be to bring along folks who don't mind grabbing the other issues for you. Or, you know, find another store to finish your set.

The table setup is popular, if potentially a bit messy. Make a list of what you want beforehand!

Stores determine individually how/when they give out the FCBD issues. Some just leave 'em on the stacks or a table that you can choose from at any time. Others, like Joker's Child (mentioned above), create a path through the store that allows your to to browse the store as you wait for your turn to pick up the FCBD items on your way out. Feel free to ask an associate if you're not sure. Also, if you're stuck in a big line (Joker's Child, again, had a line that would circle outside of the not-particularly-small store), ask a fellow nerd! You'll find some folks that are old hats at FCBD or a similarly new attendee you can rely on for moral support.

Alright, that's the general run down. I do love me a good FCBD for several reasons. The first one is the books! You'll be surprised how many interesting books get the free treatment. Next up is the unrivaled livelihood in the store. Sure, it may be crowded, but that almost never happens in comic stores, so enjoy the novelty! You're surrounded by experienced and inexperienced folks who are interested in many of the same things you are. The last is the business FCBD brings to the stores. Many don't stop at the FCBD offerings and pull non-free titles or items from the shelves.

I myself will be looking for these titles from the FCDB list:
 Futures End - it may be missing an apostrophe, but it sounds ominous and awesome for Batman Beyond.
Guardians of the Galaxy - I haven't been keeping up with the NOW group after the first couple issues, but FCBD issues are generally don't punish you for being out of the loop.
Rise of the Magi - No clue what this is, but the cover looks interesting. Probably a tie in with other Top Cow lines, but that's ok!
2000 AD Special - I've been dying to get into the Judge Dredd comics, this may be a good place to see what's good in current times.
All You Need is Kill - No clue, got me on the title.
Armor Hunters Special - Same, title has me interested.
Entropy - Cover is interesting.
Grimm Fairy Tales - Never read anything from this series, but would like to give it a shot.
Archaia Hardcover Anthology - It's free AND hardcover, and also has some Farscape in it. Oh yeah.
Showa History of Japan - Yes! Been looking for some historical Japanese comics!
Steam Wars - Steam Punk Star Wars? Yes yes yes.
V-Wars - *Shrug* A vampire war comic? Why not?

... As you can see, I'll have a hard time with any stores that set a limit. Fortunately, my town is supported by two shops: Rubber Chicken Comics (mentioned above) and Friendly Neighborhood Comics.

The Nerd's 5 steps to a great FCBD:

1. Call your LCS to see what their process is for FCBD. Also ask if they have any limits or additional sales.

They are all here for the same reason as you!

2. Bring a friend or more. There's never a better day to try and get someone interested in comics, so feel free to invite friends who would normally never go to your LCS with you. Also, if you're a parent, bring your kids! A lot of the FCBD titles are marketed towards them and it is a very friendly atmosphere.
3. Arrive early. This will help avoid any lines. Depending on how popular your store is, arriving an hour before opening will be your best bet.
4. DON'T PANIC! There will be PLENTY of FCBD books. I've never heard of a store running out.
5. If you DO get stuck in line, enjoy it! You're surrounded by fellow nerds or nerds-in-the-making. Ask folks what they're coming for, or how many FCBDs they've attended.

Beyond that, enjoy it! You can make it a short or a long trip, you can hit multiple stores or just the one closest to home. It's a good day to be a (comic) nerd!

To Read and Not to Read

Popping in here with an unusual Suggested Reading post, mainly because it's including something I decidedly don't suggest!

Before we get to that, let's start positive.

The cover also makes me
want to see the movie...

I recently read Cloud Atlas and was pleasantly surprised. I hadn't heard about the book until the movie was coming out and, while the movie looked interesting, the reviews were harsh enough that I skipped it. Then, some months later, I found a copy in a library's recycle bin (don't judge me, they were giving books away that hadn't sold at their book sale). Being a mild horder, especially of books, I grabbed it. With my long commute and sporadic downtime at work, I've had a lot of time to read, and Cloud Atlas happened to jump out at me during one day's glance at the book shelf for something new.

It is a series of stories set in different times and, potentially, different worlds that are all connected in some way. This relation is in certain story references, but never anything overt or drastic. Instead, there's a running theme that is executed very, very well across time periods spanning from the Californian Gold Rush (not set there, but same time period) to a Post-Apocalyptic future that takes place in Hawaii.

For all stories, there is an incredible attention to detail, a lovely level of awareness throughout the book, and characters that are unique, interesting, and unusually tied together.

That's about as much as I want to say without delving into spoilers. Pick it up, give it a read, and come back to let me know what you think. I personally give it an 8 out of 10, and that's only because I really would have loved to see a couple of these stories drawn out more, possibly into their own books (which is the problem I have with any "short" story, though this book is more of a complete novel and story collection).

---

The bad kind of breaks my heart. The new comic book series Serenity: Leaves on the Wind is the first comic in the Firefly universe to be a direct sequel to the show. About nine months have passed and we're still seeing the fallout from the 'verse-wide revelations made in the film Serenity, as well as what's come of the crew.

I love that something more is being done, and I'm even happy it's in comic format, but two things have irked me so far, enough that I can't really suggest it, even to Firefly fans. First, not much as actually changed in the 'verse after Serenity. There are some talking heads, done almost in a Dark Knight Returns style, that argue back and forth about the truth of the broadcasts. The main result seems to be a "New Resistance" that has popped up (apparently among disenfranchised kids). This has some merit, but not quite as much as one might hope after the tumultuous film the broadcasts originated in.

That middle panel is River, Mal, and Inara.
Supposedly, anyway. Uhg.

The second problem, and this one is glaring, is the art! Holy cow, I don't believe the artists has ever even SEEN any of the source material, much less pictures of the actors they're supposedly depicting. I'm all for an artist having their own style, but this is not what's going on. A capable, dedicated, or mildly aware artist could still get awesome renditions with the ability this artist has, yet the characters do NOT look anything like themselves. Moreover, they all look alike! I couldn't tell that River WASN'T Kaylee until three pages after she was introduced (some of that may have been on purpose, but it wasn't done well). The worst part isn't even that they don't look like the actors... they simply look bad. The faces are inconstant and ugly. This is the same reason (well, main reason) I stopped reading Red Hood and the Outlaws.

And, yes, there are some issues with the nine month time jump. Things like characters no longer on the crew or other crew members already being in the advanced stages of romantic relationships. These are stories we wanted to see, not have forced on us. But, and this is why I'm not actually adding it as a gripe, we may very well see flashbacks. That'd at least sit well with a Firefly story. But we'll see.

Very, very sad I didn't love this. Or even mildly like it. I'll stick on for another issue, maybe two, but that's probably more abject laziness than actual hope it might get better.

You can't take the sky from me, but I'll be damned if they aren't tryin'.


EDIT: Oh crap. I just realized that the artist here is also responsible for the Buffy Season 8 and 9 comic series. I haven't read them yet, but assume I'm bound to have my heart broken again, just as soon as I finish the show and move on to the comics... Seriously, this guy needs to stop working with beloved characters. I won't say he's without talent, but this is NOT where his abilities lie.

Lyco's Back

You can’t keep a good bastich down for long. Here to  rant, rave, and foam at the mouth with outdated updates for your Pop Culture fix. Here to spike your veins for comics, TV, food (WTF), and games along with me is Special Guest Star, the ever lovable Lobo! As sassy Peter Parker's Aunt May would proclaim, he's a real pussy willow! Stan Lee's favorite DC character... Alzheimer's is a serious issue facing our world. For more information please the Main Man at your own peril after the jump.

Day 4: Current Events

For the actual events going on right now, I'm actual in bed and typing this up on my phone. I want to stick with the "Month of The Nerd," so I'll post this tonight and then add the appropriate links/images and such when I wake up.

For the actual news I wanted to discuss, I'm already unhappy (if unsurprised) with Disney and their decisions with Star Wars.

For those who don't already know, Disney will be taking the Star Wars comic license from Dark Horse and giving it to Marvel. 

If you've ever read my blog, my love for Marvel should be readily apparent. My issues arises from the fact that Dark Horse has been the driving force behind Star Wars' Extended Universe via comics for over two decades. Marvel may have introduced Star Wars to comics, but it was Dark Horse that has crafted the best stories and introduced the most interesting characters.

I don't know for sure what this will mean for current titles, but I assume they will all be cancelled and anything Marvel releases will be focusing on the upcoming movies -- I believe there was talk that these movies won't be following established EU canon, meaning that these comics will (more than likely) be a completely new universe from the rest of the comic series, and this means the recent rich titles will be left in the dust. The biggest impact for me would be the canceling of Legacy -- again! And no chance for more Zayne with Knights of the Old Republic. And more.

I'm not saying that Marvel's comics will be bad, they just won't be the same. And that's not nostalgia. They won't be the same characters or stories or potentially even in the same universe, and they won't have the past years and years building the intricate EU that has changed the face of Star Wars so many times today.

Bah humbug.

Day 2: Time Travel, Different Dimensions, and Free Love

Tonight (running a bit late but if I don't go to sleep, I'm counting it as the same day) I wanted to pop by and mention what I've been reading.

Working out of Boston gives me a bit of train time for reading, and I've been focused on getting through Robert Heinlein's works. For those who are unfamiliar with Heinlein, he's a speculative fiction author who frequently pushes the bounds of understanding with his glib pseudo-science rooted in actual science. He passes off time travel and dimensional travel almost as if they were a common commodity to the characters that could otherwise be based in current times (well, current for Heinlein, anyway, who wrote the last entry in 1987). I've focused on his books featuring Lazarus Long, know as his "Future History" series:

I might have started calling my cat "Pixel"

Time Enough for Love: Technically I read this years ago, but it was my introduction to the series and was a solid introduction to Lazarus long and the peculiar future in which one man is the ancestor to most of the wayward human race across time and space.

The Cat Who Walks Through Walls: A fast paced book that doesn't care if you understand what's going on as the characters are pushed or pulled from one direction to another. It's been compared to The Hitchhiker's Guide but I think that's rubbish. Maybe if you made the Guide a touch more serious with hyper-intelligent characters, humorous wordplay, and an excessive amount of *ahem* free love, maybe I could see it. But it's not quirky so much as intense.

To Sail Beyond the Sunset: In which we learn about Lazarus' immoral mother and her extensive back-story (most of which is spent in a timeline slightly different than our own but set in a similar time frame that includes World War I and II. It's Heinlein's last published work but makes a very solid introduction to his writing -- it spends a lot more time explaining how all of the characters become so hyper-intelligent and accepting of things such as incest and open (loving) infidelity. Also, the writing is just a touch more polished than other entries in the series, which could be beneficial to someone trying to get a handle on Heinlein's writing style. Also references some short stories of Heinlein's that can be found in his book Expanded Universe, which was a nice touch.

The Number of the Beast: I tried reading this one some time ago but couldn't get past the absurd speed in which the characters approached things such as marriage or other things I'd never seen done so brazenly. Entire novels could be spent around the moral dilemmas Heinlein's characters analyze and overcome in seconds. Not to mention they're all able to get fabulously wealthy and have expansive back stories before we ever meet them. This book delves a bit more into the dimensional and time travel, however, and doesn't hold back in regards to the idea of "the world as myth." The characters may or may not visit Oz. Yeah. Yellow Brick Road and all.

Don't mind the ship's name...

There are a couple more I haven't gotten to, but I'll get to them eventually. For those interested in the series, start with Time Enough for Love. It introduces Lazarus the best and, once you've accepted him and his tales, everything is a bit easier to take. Just remember, if you're left in the dust with the facts and sciences being thrown at you, roll with the punches!

In comics, I have been focusing all of my intention on Fables, which I am not up the 9th trade paper back. That's a bit more than fifty single issues. Most series I've collected for this long tend to fluctuate in quality or general interest (ie, Star Wars: Legacy or Knights of the Old Republic). Fables has, if anything, gotten better with every set of stories. They've even leapt the hurdle of revealing the big bad known as the Adversary and STILL keeping the Homeland plot interesting. If this were a TV show, they'd have to kill him off or defeat him seriously in the first season. With Fables, appropriate time is being taken to really appreciate the villains of this story, while still building individual lives for the Fable-folk set in modern day New York City.

Loving this series more and more.

The series also has my favorite romance in a comic series. I've never wanted two characters to come together quite as badly as I've wanted to see Bigby and Snow White hit it off. And Fables does it while still spanning years in mere issues.

I'm very pleased with the series and look forward to someday catching up.

Only other comic news to report, then, is that Saga still proves to be awesome, it's just coming out too damn slow for my preference.

This Week and Tumblr

So. I started a Tumblr. I'm hoping it's another way to get the blog out there. For the most part, there won't be much that goes on there that isn't here or coming here, but I may choose to post some of my shorter, more errant thoughts over there... Meaning you should probably follow me for your Nerd fill:

http://arbitrarynerd.tumblr.com/

You'll notice that I've got two posts about upcoming content on here: expect to see reviews of/thoughts on Thor: God of Thunder and Superior Spider-Man this week, as well as the new and improved (well, expedited, at least) Pull List Review.

If my posting seems to be coming a bit slower than normal, bare with me! The MFA coursework has been picking up.

Comic Tour to the Capitol

Hi All,

Just wanted to post that you can find the Twitter recap of our trip to Washington, DC here: #comicsandcapitol.

Stay tuned for some PLRs soon and possibly some news on another social media front. I'm playing around with the idea of incorporating a Tumblr into this mess...

Highlights from the trip:

Day 1 Haul

I picked up a bunch of Ultimate X-Men, including at least 30 consecutive issues that I can start reading now, which will bring me up to issue 69 (I have some later issues, but refuse to read series out of order).

I was able to find a good amount of Exiles comics for cheap, including the first 10 or so issues, meaning I can start reading the series.

DASH RENDAR ACTION FIGURE! YES!

I found some sets I didn't know I wanted, completed a few sets I've been hunting for for awhile, and found a few random series that look worth following up on.

Biggest finds for me were probably the random issues of Y the Last Man, Wasteland, and Preacher. They are all somewhat difficult to find series that, up until this trip, I'd not had a single issue of. And I managed to find all these in $1 or 50 cent bins.

Speaking of bins, the best comic shop from the trip would have to be Main Street Comics in Milltown, NJ. It was relatively small, but 90% of their back issues were in ORGANIZED $1 bins. Normally, cheap bins are disorganized messes that you dig through for hours and HOPE to find an issue or two you're looking for. I was able to pick up a ton of good stuff here and will hopefully find time to swing by again before moving back to MA.

Honorary mention to Captain Blue Bird Comics and Stormwatch Comics, the last two stops on our trips that I also really enjoyed and sported a good selection of cheap bins.

Oh, also, DC was a lot of fun. It was cold and windy, which made it like an adventure (at one point it even seemed like a Post Apocalyptic adventure). My favorite part would have to be the Dinosaur Exhibit in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Not only do I love dinosaurs, the Wife does too!

Rare sighting of the elusive Nerd...

Ok, that's all for now.

Extra! Extra! Star Wars Comics Edition

Sorry this is a bit late!

This post is about the best Star Wars comic series. Don't forget about the coveted 5th slot, the (supposedly) best of the selected five (... the other four are arbitrarily placed).

Jedi vs Sith This run embodies what Star Wars is to a lot of people: simply put, Jedi fighting Sith. Fortunately, there is plenty of that, though there are a few narratives worked into the story. It is the end of the New Sith Wars, which takes place on the war torn planet of Ruusan. The most interesting, to me, was the story of Darth Bane. While it doesn't completely mesh, it does reflect the ending of the first Darth Bane novel, Path of Destruction, which is one of the better Star Wars novels (... which I might just talk about in a week or two!). This end of this battle is when the Sith "Rule of Two" is instituted. I rate the series a 7/10. Issues: 1-6
Legacy I love this series, even if it isn't always stellar. The setting is during the "Legacy" era, several generations removed from the films. The protagonist is a spice addicted bounty hunter, Cade Skywalker, the last remaining relative of Luke Skywalker. It is an interesting setting -- the galaxy is at war again. The Sith (following the new Rule of One) have taken over the galaxy from the Empire (a nicer-ish Empire than the movies) and is now trying to wipe them off the face of the galaxy. The Jedi, once again, are on the brink of extinction. The focus shifts from several characters, all of which are interesting and unique. The series sometimes flags from uninteresting arcs, but they are short enough. Other times, too many characters are juggled, leaving some not as fleshed out. Even so, it is an interesting read at the least. I've almost finished the series, but I'm willing to rate it an 8/10 as it stands. Issues: 1-50, War 1-6
Shadows of the Empire I know Shadows of the Empire came up last week, but this specific comic book is interesting because it does NOT tell the same story as either the novel or the game. Instead, it follows what other characters, specifically Boba Fett and the other bounty hunters, are doing during the same time frame. In conjunction with the novel (and game, if you can stomach it -- it's hard!), the story is very fleshed out and gives a really interesting looks at some of the less seen characters in the Star Wars movies. The sequel, Shadows of the Empire: Evolution, mainly follows Guri. It's not as interesting, but does expand on a few Extended Universe (aka Non-Movie) characters. This series gets an 8/10, though it is lent some support from the other projects. Issues: 1-6
Dark Empire II Let me first note that this is a nostalgia piece for me, and that I have yet to read Dark Empire I. This is the series that first introduced me to the Star Wars Extended Universe and showed me worlds and characters outside of the films. The story follows Luke recruiting some of the first new Jedi, Hand and Leia going having their third child, and the reborn Emperor Palpatine (the old guys spirit in a new clone body) generally trying to screw all this up. These events are after the movies, but the Empire isn't down and out just yet. Its an interesting story with interesting art, though the story would probably be better served by reading the first arc... 7/10 as it stands. Issues: 1-6
Knights of the Old Republic A comic series based on one of my favorite video games!!! Well, not quite. These issues take place before (and a little during) the war that permeates the Knights of the Old Republic games (1 and 2, NOT the MMO). These stories follow the worst Jedi apprentice (and all around unlucky guy) Zayne Carrick. The major arc that kicks things off comes from Zayne walking in on his Jedi Masters killing all their Padawans. He flees, but the becomes a wanted criminal when he is framed. He has to find out why these things have happened, clear his name, and then avenge his friends... And that's just the beginning. The supporting cast in the series is, for the most part, really well done. Towards the end, I feel that they dropped the ball with a few characters and giving us appropriate closure, but it's an interesting read all the way through. My major complaint would be the inconsistent art, which tends to bother me in any series that switches up artists a lot. If you can get past that, however, you'll find that you begin to really enjoy the cast themselves, major plots be damned! The series gets an 8/10 for me, and is my favorite Star Wars series to date. Issues: 1-50, War 1-5 (Note: The 5 War issues were pretty bad... Skippable bad, actually)

There are a TON of Star Wars comics that I will eventually get around to reading, though I have to be honest -- some are really... well, dis-interesting to me. Anything set during the prequel trilogy doesn't thrill me, and none of the MMO era series have been worth reading (from what I've read) either. The older stuff, however, I do intend to eventually hunt down.

For next week, I might do best Star Wars novels, though if things are getting too Star Wars-y, I'll hold off.

I'm still taking suggestions!!

Spider-Man vs Batman

This is one of the coolest videos I have ever seen -- the awesomeness starts at 6:06.


I'm on the side saying that Spidey would win this as a straight out fight. With planning, though, Batman can beat anyone (including the entire Justice League). These two are probably my favorite characters from the two major companies, and I thought the fight scene depicted in this video was incredibly well done, even if it ends in a death, which neither character would allow.

Extra! Extra! Trade Paper Back Edition

Before we start this weeks rendition of "Extra! Extra!", I wanted to introduce the Nerd! He's swung his way onto the banner (in his Scarlet Nerd outfit) and will be popping up in a few other places as well (like my Twitter icon).

I'm contemplating adding a supporting cast to the blog, but I'm not 100% sure what that'd look like. More on this later!

Alright, onto the reading! The five Trade Paper Backs (which I defined at the end of this post, for those getting in late in the game) listed below can probably be found as single issues, I just personally find that they are better collected as one volume.

Note: These are all DC and Marvel, simply because I haven't collected much else in TPB form. As I work more alternative companies into my collection, I will consider making an Independent TPB list.

Kingdom ComeThis story is set in a bleak future in the DC Universe, as imagined by Alex Ross and Mark Waid. It is about a decade since Superman and most of the other current super heroes retired. They were replaced by the next generation of Metahumans, a sizable population of super-powered individuals who have no qualms about killing their enemies and have no regard for civilian casualties. The story is told from the perspective of Norman McCay, a minister who has begun to receive visions from Wesley Dodds that show the end of the world. Dodds meets The Spectre, who takes Dodds on a trip to watch the apocalyptic events unfold. The story really picks up when a major disaster is caused by the new Matahuman community and Wonder Woman tries to convince Superman to come out of retirement and help teach the new generation how to be heroes. The heroes of the past have to reunite and overcome the new generation of heroes, the past generation of villains, and, more importantly, themselves. This book gets an 8/10 from me, mostly because I love dystopian/apocalyptic/darker future settings. The artwork isn't my favorite but it is solid throughout. Collects issues #1-4
Earth XNot to be left out, Marvel has their own bleak future (based on notes from Alex Ross, no less). This story takes place about a decade after the end of the "Heroic Age" and is set in a dystopian world where every normal human has gained super powers (thanks to Black Bolt and the Terrigen Mists), making the original heroes obsolete. This tale is seen from the eyes of X-51 (Machine Man), who has been brought to the Moon by Uatu to replace him as the new Watcher. X-51 watches from above as the world begins to tear itself apart, unaware of the impending doom coming in the form of the Celestials. Without spoiling anything, we see the future of many prominent characters, and none of them are good: Spider-Man has been replaced by her daughter (the current wearer of the Venom symbiote), Captain America has quite the Avengers, considering himself unfit after killing the Red Skull, the Hulk and Banner have split but chosen to stick together for reasons quickly made obvious, and Iron Man is the last remaining human. That's just a small selection covered in this grand tale, which spans 12 numbered issues and several specials. This book gets another 8/10 for me. I enjoyed seeing the alternate futures shown and the story kept me interested throughout. I dislike the art for the most part, but it is at least consistent. So far I have read half of the first sequel, Universe X, but have not enjoyed it as much. I've heard that the third chapter in the trilogy, Paradise X, isn't any better. Collects issues #0-12, as well as #X
Spider-Man NoirThis is another version of a popular hero -- Spider-Man Noir is set during the great depression and thus features a very different kind of Spider-Man. The story is darker to fit the Noir title, as are the villains and other characters seen. Peter becomes a pupil of Ben Urich, a reporter who also has a secret network of informants under the persona "The Spider". Peter gains his powers after intercepting one of these tips and becoming bitten by a spider that came from an antique spider statue being smuggled into the city by Norman Osborn's gang. His powers are similar but different than normal Spidey's: he can't cling to walls and gains organic webbing that doesn't form into web-lines and is therefore useless for travel. Peter decides to use his new powers to take down Osborn and his gang, who were responsible for the grisly murder of his social activist uncle, Ben Parker. The dark setting and story as well as the different images of the prominent characters make this story stick out. The art is dark and gritty and fits a Noir style well, getting an 8/10 for me. It's a bit short, unfortunately, and therefore a bit rushed. There is a sequel, titled Eyes Without a Face, but I have yet to pick it up. Collects issues #1-4
The Mighty Avengers: Venom BombThis is the first regular collection on this list! Yay! I normally don't read much that involved the Avengers, and almost nothing under the title "The Mighty Avengers", but this features a Venom-Virus that runs rampant through New York City, causing its inhabitants to turn into symbiote-like monsters. The Avengers have to fight them off without turning themselves. Then they have to find out who's responsible and stop them as well -- but who in their right mind would create a virus based off of Venom? You get an internet cookie if you guess without peeking! This gets another 8/10 from me (which, if you haven't gathered, is a pretty good rating). I appreciate the inclusion of symbiotes being taken on by someone other than Spidey. The writing is done well and the story overall is interesting. I don't rate it higher simply because I don't care for The Mighty Avengers and this trade makes up all the issues I own with them. Collects issues #7-11
Batman: KnightfallThis title makes it on here over other excellent Batman trades for two reasons: first, Knightfall is the story arc that The Dark Knight Rises was based on (link brings you to my movie review!) and second, it is MASSIVE! If you can find this cheap (check Amazon!), you're getting a huge bang for your buck. This is the first of three installments that make up the "KnightSaga", and this particular collection features Bane's now-famous breaking of Batman -- although that comes after Bane releases the prisoners from Arkham Asylum, causing some of Batman's most dangerous enemies to be set on Gotham. The Bat has his work cut out for him, and it won't end well. The next to installments feature story elements you didn't see in the movies and turns this story into an epic. I won't rate this one only because I have yet to complete it. That being said, it is definitely one of the best values listed simply because of the amount of issues that are collected within, and the story has definitely become a classic. I plan on doing a more in-depth review once I've finished the entire Saga, and I will put my review score there. Collected issues Batman: Vengeance of Bane Special #1, Batman #491-500, Detective Comics #659-660, Showcase '93 #7 and 8 and Batman: Shadow of the Bat #17-18

That was a little difficult -- I didn't want to cover anything previously seen. Stories like Old Man Logan and Maximum Carnage could have been up here just as easily, though I'm still happy with the above list.

Next Week: X-Men! This will be interesting because I'm not overly familiar with X-Men. I'll keep it to what I know and can actually suggest, but I'd love suggestions on any of these posts for further reading of my own!

Working on the Nerd-Cave

Finally back in our apartment, and I decided to throw up some comics! I've got a few more frames left, but I need to find some non-Spidey/Venom/Carnage stuff to hang up -- I just love their covers though!

And, before you ask, yes, this WAS pretty much my first time using a hammer and nails and it WAS the first time I've ever hung pictures and YES, they are crooked as hell.

Oh well!

I also need to find a large shelving unit of some kind to hold my seven (at the moment) long boxes of comic books. I don't want them stacked like they are now, it makes getting to the bottom boxes a pain. Maybe a trip to IKEA is in order...

My Comic Catalog

Phew. Just finished taking the pictures of the last of my comics (found a missing box and picked up a bunch of issues from a cheap bin). I've reorganized my long boxes (and devoted one completely to The Amazing Spider-Man).

Now I just have to upload the new pictures to my computer, organize all the pictures into folders based on series/runs, then name the individual images.

Oh, and I have just under 2000 comics, not counting doubles (... or triples...).

I'm not sure if I'll be pleased when the catalog is finished or disappointed at how anticlimactic it will be. Either way, I'll post some screen shots of what the final(ish) product looks like (you know, because pictures of folders are so exciting).



I subtitle this post, "Much Ado About Parentheses".

Getting in to Comics? (Part 1 of 2)

Howdy Folks,

This post is for anyone who is looking for tips on getting into comics (and some tips if you just want to expand your collection).

Terms I use:
Run - A collection of issues that are connected in sequential order. Example: Iron-Man issues 50, 51, and 52. NOT: Iron-Man 3, 36, and 200.
Series - Comic books with the same title. Note: Spider-Man, Amazing Spider-Man, and The Avenging Spider-Man are all separate series and are numbered differently.
Set - A collection of issues related by story, usually marked by a sub-title. Example: Spider-Man: Maximum Carnage. These are NOT always from the same series.

First off DON'T PANIC! Ok, now for the first two steps!

Comics can be found anywhere.

Step One: How to get comics.

Here are a few tips on how to find comic books, whether you just want a few issues or are looking to seriously upgrade your collection:

1. Find a close (AND DECENT) comic book shop. It doesn't have to be a big or popular store, but it does need to get current issues you are interested in and it has to be well organized -- if a comic shop can't keep its "new arrivals" wall organized and neat, avoid it! It will confuse and frustrate you! If you can find a shop with a helpful staff, that would be amazing -- it's not mandatory though. What you want to do at your comic shop is to set up a "Pull List", a list of new titles you want to have set aside for you every time they come out. Say you want to start following the current issues of Scarlet Spider -- ask the shop employee to set up a Pull List and then add Scarlet Spider to it. Every time a Scarlet Spider issues comes out, they will set it aside for you so you don't have to worry about it selling out or being hard to find later. You simply go into the store and ask to pick up your pull list -- all the titles you want will be set aside in this way. Note: some comic shops offer discounts if you have a Pull List, others require you to have a certain amount of comics on the list, etc... Each store is different, find one that works for you!

A. Shop Bonuses: If you can find a shop that has a lot of back issues, that can be useful for when you get into a series and want to pick up some earlier issues. If a shop has a cheap bin/section, this can be the perfect way to build up your collection -- some shops have areas that range from 25 cents to 1 dollar an issue. Comically Speaking, in Reading, MA, has a large section of cheap comics -- they buy large comic lots from random sellers and are able to keep the cheap bins well stocked (over stocked, I've never made it through every bin in a single trip). Don't think that these bins are full of crap! They are a great way to fill in a collection and you can be really surprised at what you find -- most of my Ultimate Spider-Man collection came from those bins!

B. Some shops put together runs/series or rare issues on their wall. Sometimes it is nice to find a set that interests you and being able to get them all as a set -- usually it is cheaper than paying cover price as well.

C. Pull List Note: Some shop employees/staffs are able to be really fluid with their Pull Lists -- My current Pull List (at Joker's Child in Fair Lawn, NJ) not only has series, like Amazing Spider-Man, but it also requests and issue where Carnage pops up. This way, whenever a Carnage limited series comes out, the staff knows to add it to my list without me requesting it. If Carnage was to fight the X-Men in an issue just released, that would also be put aside for me. Don't be afraid to ask what the staff can do for you -- they want repeat customers!

2. Go to comic conventions! Yes, it may be nerdy, and yes, you may see a lot of people who are dressed really strangely, but that doesn't mean it isn't still about the comics! A lot of local and not-so-local stores are represented at conventions. They bring rare issues, collected sets, and back issues, and they want to sell! You can always find awesome cheap bins ($.25, $.50, $1, etc...) and a great selection of other issues you might be interested in. One of my favorite things is to find tables that offer $5 sets -- sometimes you can find a really awesome set of issues for that price, simply because the store wants to sell them quickly. I have the entire series of Gen 13 Bootleg that I paid $5 for. I think the series is about 20 issues long... I'm not good at math, but that's a damn good price!

A. I personally suggest conventions (cons) that are in smaller cities or towns. I've done several cons in towns around MA, and they are small but decent. I have done Boston Comic Con several times and love it -- a lot of vendors are present and it is more focused on the books. I've done New York Comic Con once, and will probably not go again -- there are still some vendors, but they are NOT the focus of the event. If you want to meet writers/artists/etc... or learn about new things nerdy, or dress up in your favorite costume, NYCCC is for you. I'm all about the books and was underwhelmed in that department -- great event, just not great sales.

B. Your first convention will be overwhelming. Depending on the size, there are tables, comic books, and people everywhere. And no roadmap. That's ok! Take your time, do a circuit of the room(s) before you even stop at a booth/section. When you feel like you know what's going on a little better, then dive in!

C. If you're buying collections/expensive issues at a con, make sure you've checked other tables! A friend went with me to BCC and spent $25 on a Batman run. About 20 minutes later, we found the same one for $5. Well, ok, I don't remember exact prices, but I remember he paid a lot more for the first item and was unhappy finding it for MUCH cheaper.

3. To the internet, Batman! There is no reason why you can't use the resources at your fingertips!! Want to bulk up your collection fast? Type "comic collection" or "comic books" or some general terms into Craigslist or eBay. Find a price that suits you -- trust me, you can get some amazing steals online like this. It also works if you know what you're looking for. Spider-Man 300 might be a bit expensive, but you can find it online. Or "Spider-Man Comics" will have people potentially selling stacks of Spider-Man. Usually this isn't as cheap as the other two methods, and it isn't as fun, but it can be the most effective way if you're struggling to find a specific issue (Damn it Thunderbolts 78, why does no one have you in store!).

4. Find a yard/garage sale on the weekend! You can use the newspaper/classified/Craigslist to find local options. Some will even mention they are selling comics, others you might just find some fun stuff. Make sure you bring cash!! These can be complete busts, but it is also possible to get the most luck here -- most people selling the comics have no idea what their value is. The above mentioned Spider-Man 300 is worth $100 and up (depending on printing/condition). I have no doubt some lucky sap has paid a buck for it at a yard sale at one point. I don't have any cool stories about this yet, only because it seems to rain any time I try to attend a sale...

5. Free Comic Book Day! It really exists! The first weekend in May, most comic shops participate in an event where they give certain issues of comics away to anyone who comes buy. Each store has their own deal with FCBD -- you can find out if they participate by checking online at FreeComicBookDay.comand then ask the staff how they run the event.

Ok! Moving on!

Step Two: What to Buy.

Comic books have been around for a long time and there are a ton of issues for every character/series out there. It can be hard to just jump in. Here are my tips on what you can do:

1. Find a series to read. It only takes one to start you off, but finding one can be difficult. If you know of a character you like from a movie, television, video games, or people talking about them, see if they have a series. Most things have been turned into comic books. Did you love Firefly and are sad the show is gone? Fear not, you can pick up the continued adventures in comic book format (in fact, the most recent FCBD featured an issue of Serenity!). I'd personally suggest starting with a basic character everyone knows -- Spider-Man, Wolverine, Superman, Batman, etc... If they're popular, there's generally a reason for it. From there, you can meet obscure characters, learn about their villains, and branch out from there. If you're not into the Super-Hero thing, there are still comics out there for you. I could list suggestions for pages, but this is already going to be a giant post. If you're not sure what you'd like to read, feel free to ask some questions in the comment section, I'd be happy to help. List your tastes, maybe a favorite movie or book or genre, and we can go from there.

A. You DO NOT need to start at issue 1!!!!!! Most comic books make a point of trying to be easy(ish) to understand as you go along. If, after finding a series you enjoy, absolutely try and find some back issues. That doesn't mean you can't start reading Amazing Spider-Man at issue 686 -- it would be nuts to try and read them all first!

B. Some series have tricky numbering -- sometimes there are different volumes (meaning they restart numbering at 1 even though they keep the same title). Other series try to renumber themselves midway to commemorate an event. Sometimes this sticks and sometimes this doesn't. Ultimate Spider-Man goes like this: 1-133, Requiem 1 and 2, 1-15, 150-160, 1-Current issues. It can be confusing! I suggest using website like ComicVine to help you sort things out.

2. Buy in bulk at first. Using one of the Step One methods, try to get a continuous run of books to read. As mentioned above, it doesn't matter if you start at one. If you can get a continuous set of 25-50 issues, you'll be golden. I paid something like $40-50 I think on my first bulk order from eBay and The Thunderbolts are what started me writing this blog way back when!

A. Also, consider looking into Trade Paper Backs. These are sets of comics bound together within either a hardcover or thick paper cover. If you can find them cheap, they can be an awesome way to fill out a story you want to read. These usually tell you what story arc is inside as well as what issues those would be in the series. Unfortunately, these can be expensive -- I prefer single issues myself.

3. Go to Free Comic Book Day! The whole purpose of FCBD is for publishers to offer a wide variety of their products for free to get people reading something different. You'll find major titles like Spider-Man there, but you can also find new series coming out or mostly unknown series that might be worth reading.

Ok, that's the end of step two unless I come back and edit this as I get inspired again!

Step 3: Collecting, will come in a future post, keep an eye out for the tag "Beginner's Guide" please!

Night!

Dustin's Weekend

Howdy!

This weekend, since I am stuck being on call for work and my wife is away at the in-laws (in MA), I finally decided I had time to organize my comic book collection.

I haven't been collecting forever -- as a kid I always had comics, but I never took care of them. During high school/college, I didn't have the time, money or local shop for comic books.

I randomly got back into them in my Senior year of college -- I was getting reading material for a flight to Florida and noticed a comic book rack and Barnes and Noble. I happened to idly browse through it and, on a complete whim, bought a few issues of Venom: Dark Origin (not that good) and the first issue of The Dark Avengers (which I enjoyed). After graduation, I moved in to my to-be-wife's apartment, which just so happened to be within walking distance (not that I ever walked...) to one brand new comic book store and (a little farther down the road) a comic book store that had been in the area for years.

I timidly set up my first Pull List at Rubber Chicken Comics in Franklin, MA and have been happily collecting ever since. My favorite way to pick up back copies is to go to conventions and find cheap bins or collected sets/runs at discounted prices. Also, finding a comic book store with 25 cent bins during the summers worked too (Comically Speaking in Reading, MA is awesome for this).

Now, I've got a little over four long boxes of single issues and one box full of TPBs. I prefer singles but grab trades when they are cheaper.

That's not a lot of comic books, compared to any hardcore collector. I have, however, only organized them in the most basic of ways, which is to say I tried to keep the same titles in the same boxes. Being that I'm more of a reader than a collector, I often got this mixed up between a "read" box and an "unread" box. And the "misc" box that gets all the odd stuff that I pick up on a whim.

As of this weekend, however, that will all change.

I have emptied all my boxes and piled my comics on the floor, taking up the entire living room. The cat and I have to jump from room to room.

I'm going to make a digital catalog of all my comic books. I'm organizing them into series (alphabetically) and then taking pictures of every single issue. So far, I have TPBs and Complete Sets/Runs (issues that either aren't from a series or aren't from a series I want beyond the run). Now I have to work on the comic series that I collect, and that looks like it will take a very long time.

That being said, I'm enjoying the work. If I find a way to make a functional database that I can even link online, I think it'd be interesting for me to do so. Otherwise, I'll just label the pictures and organize them into folders, which, while time consuming, should be pretty easy.


... I might not take pictures of the misc box. If they migrate to a series a follow, maybe. Otherwise... Well, they can wait!


Does anyone else do something like this? Is there a program that would be extra easy to use? I'm sure I could use Microsoft Access, I just haven't used it since high school and don't know how well it will take/display hundreds of images...

Well, we'll see. And, before I use any more ellipsis in this post, goodnight!

...

P.S. The wife is two episodes in to Doctor Who and not hating it! Success, we'll have another convert soon, I'm sure of it.

The Lightbulb

Blogging is supposed to be a good tool to use for writers. I'd like to write in my life, and eventually getting published would be nice.

So here starts my first blog. It's theme will revolve around the Marvel Comics "Thunderbolts" series. I should be getting #1-58 tomorrow; they should be stewing in a mailbox somewhere. If possible I'd like to relate life and the future to these comics as I get them. I like the idea of a team of villains acting as superheroes, and I like even more that each character has their own agenda. We'll see how it pans out when relating to life, either mine or in general.

As to posting; I don't plan on posting every day, but at the very least I should update every week. This won't be a journal, but more a collection of themed writing by none other than myself. I'm uncertain if I should develop a Blog Identity or keep the one I was born with. It might fit with a masked vigilante theme... But I am just writing. That's for the future. For now I'll end this opening unmasked.