Tag: Comics

Doldrums

New Comics, Ideas, King of the Nerds & the (Comic) Education of Angela (May Contain Spoilers)

GuillermoLeave a comment

I sit here before laptop as I watch the season finale of King of the Nerds. And I’m pouting. Neither Brian or Katie made it to the final-two showdown. The only two contestants that sparked my interest this season, and neither of them were nerdy enough. So here I sit, pouting. Tears streaming down my face. I care for neither Kayla or Jack (even though he defeated Zack). I can’t let this little slip up ruin my day. I won’t let it. Nope. Moving on.

My Purchases
My Purchases

Yesterday (being Wednesday) was new comic book day. Much to my disappointment, I found myself at work rather at the new comic book table. But I closed with Angela and I prefer closing with Angela than closing without Angela. Something occurred to me during our few hours alone together. (If you can consider a library filled with kids basking in Spring Break glory alone together.) She doesn’t get a lot of my references because they’re comic book related. Angela doesn’t read comic books. In the spirit of evil mastermind, I swiveled in my chair. “I’m going to make you a list,” I said. “A list of the essential comic story arcs you need to have read. It’s okay. I can lend you a lot of these.” I’m starting her off with Batman. I’m starting her off with Year One, The Killing Joke, and The Dark Knight Returns. However, my library lacks two of those titles. Lucky for Angela (and me), Barnes and Noble had both titles. I bought them without a second guess. I took a gander at Knightfall (also on my list), but opted I’m better off not spending the extra $30. (Trades are expensive, yo!) Maybe next week, after I find it for less online.

This is the picture
This is the picture

To make up for missing new comic book day, I ventured out with my family (Shaun in tow) to Myth Adventures. This wasn’t before stopping at some thrift store near by the house first. Now this place bought out the late local comic book store (I forget its name), which closed a while ago. So the comic books I expected to see here were from my youth. And I was right. It broke my heart to see the mishandling of these books. In all fairness, these are books from the 90s. Most of these haven’t risen past cover price in worth. Still, the manhandling of these issues appalled me. Several issues shoved in a single bag. Some lacked proper boarding. And their only copy of The Uncanny X-Men: Day of Future Past (see photo) brought a tear to my eye. The owner further smashed my hopes of owning this book by stating that it wasn’t for sale. “I don’t know how it got there to begin with,” he muttered as he snatched it from my grip. That motherfucker. That mook. That schlump. I did walk out with X-Men issue #80 and Webspinners: Tales of Spider-Man issue #1. If worth anything, the nicks and dings diminish their value. Jay’s Discounter Emporium (not its real name, well, not the last word anyway) lost a costumer with me.

Skipping ahead, I took my niece to Myth Adventures to buy her first comic book. After much attempts to sway her vote toward The Powerpuff Girls, she chose a SpongeBob Square Pants comic. Me? I left with a killing. From IDW, I purchased The X-Files Conspiracy: The Crow, The Crow: Pestilence, and Monster & Madman. From Marvel Now, The Superior Spider-Man #29, Captain Marvel, Avengers Undercover and Secret Avengers. And the lone Antarctic Press book, Steampunk Red Riding Hood. Afterward, we went to Barnes & Noble where I bought The Killing Joke and Year One (the titles missing from my library).

My return to comic books is proving that I need another job. Or rather, a full-time job. Although, the past few days and idea has crawled into my head. Wouldn’t it be nice to open a business of my own? In fact, why not a business that amalgamated the things I treasure the most? An establishment that acts as a safe place for nerd, creative, and book fiend. It’s something that needs some looking into.

I finished Night of the Living Deadpool last night. But I surpassed seven hundred words already and I can feel your eyes growing heavy. Besides, I’m disappointed with the King of the Nerds finale. Not that I disliked the winner (no spoilers here, folks!), it’s neither Katie nor Brian (fuck, that’s a spoiler!). Until tomorrow.

I typed and edited this post with the Hemingway App.

Doldrums

Midtown Comics & More

GuillermoLeave a comment

I mentioned this—I’m sure I mentioned this, anyway. I mentioned in a previous post that I ordered the first three issues of Night of the Living Deadpool (Marvel) from Midtown Comics. For those of you who aren’t aware—because I wasn’t a few weeks ago—Midtown Comics is located in New York City. There’s also a stream of negative online reviews of the comic book establishment when it comes to shipping. I remained hesitant when I stared at my shopping cart before hitting checked out. A few days passed and fear seized my heart. Nightmares of bent shipping envelopes filled my sleep. I tossed. I turned. I woke up in a cold sweat. Shaun gave me a dad-get-a-grip-of-yourself look before turning over and falling back to sleep.

Just as I was getting into the car, the post officer drove up and blocked the drive way. That bastard! He pulled out an Amazon package—marked with Amazon Prime tape to boot. Fear seized me again. This sudden confrontation of having blacked-out-book-shopped gave me realization that I have a problem. Hold up, though. I never renewed my Amazon Prime subscription because I didn’t want to go broke. This is something else. But my name’s on it. So we’ll cross that bridge when we get there because—HOLD UP! WHAT’S THAT?! Another package. This one in cardboard envelope form. An unbent envelope, I must add. “I know what that is!” I shout, my voice thick with glee. The post officer—whose name I never learned even though he’s been our post officer guy for ages now—slammed the gas and sped off. Okay. That part’s a lie.

wpid-IMG_20140312_112635.jpg

I took up the bundle of mail crap because I can’t deal with that now. I took the Amazon package and my Midtown Comics order and headed for work. In the car—I wasn’t driving—I learned of the contents in of the Amazon package. This year Jeanna chose The Nightmare Before Christmas as Shaun’s birthday party theme. This is because our kiddo has taken to the Tim Burton classic. Even though, mind you, Tim Burton didn’t direct the version everyone knows. She shipped the package to my house on accident and forgot to tell me. That’s a load off my chest.

I get to work and open my Midtown Comics package and my Night of the Living Deadpool issues are in perfect condition. Well, near mint condition. That’s Midtown Comics’ description, anyway. Now I’m curious about my Heavy Ink subscription and orders. It’ll be another few weeks until those get shipped my way. I opted for a monthly delivery because I didn’t want to over pay with shipping.

After I complete the four-issue read, I’ll write my review in full. And perhaps, I’ll attempt finishing The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor to review it as well. I know. I’m late on that bandwagon, but I never said I’ll stay current with my reads.

This post was typed and edited using HemingwayApp.

Doldrums

“Except the ones who are dead”

GuillermoLeave a comment

I wanted to start with a Unshelved comic strip, but they muddled the reuse policy with words that I’m far too lazy to read. Instead, you get this little gem, which will change tomorrow and so far and so forth.

There’s nothing to say, really. Shaun turned ten months yesterday. Jyg and I are getting along all right considering the circumstances. I got my friend back. I’m attempting to write again. They removed pest from the department.

Damn, I thought I’d have more to say. Tomorrow. I promise. It’ll be funny.

Books · Writing & Writers

Jervis Tetch

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via: WeHeartIt

 

The writing bug bit me early Saturday morning. I just didn’t know what it wanted me to write about. So I spent the early part of the day reading Star Wars: Death Troopers by Joe Schreiber because it mixes two of my favorite things – Star Wars and the undead (I’m a keeper!). Out of nowhere, I got the urge to read Batman, however. Because I only own one book of Batman – The Dark Knight Returns – I decided that I’d see what was available to me online.

The name Jervis Tetch kept coming back to me, over and over again. For those who don’t know much about the Batman universe, Jervis Tetch is better known as his villain moniker, the Mad Hatter. Based on the Lewis Carroll character, the Mad Hatter is one of those lesser focused on characters due to his goofy features. Like most characters in the Batman world, he’s grown darker with the years. Still, few people think awesome when his name comes up on the roster.

I looked up our friend Jervis Tetch on Wiki (both Wikipedia and DC’s Wikia) and jotted a few titles that might be of my interest. Then I went to the web to see what I could find. During which, I also noted to find a copy of Through The Looking Glass as I already have a copy of Alice in Wonderland sitting on my shelf. However, I couldn’t find a copy on Amazon that wasn’t attached to Alice in Wonderland so I decided to download the free Kindle e-book. Now it’s found a home on my Blackberry Curve.

I don’t know what my sudden fascination with Jervis Tetch means, or if it has any relation to my sudden writing urge – can we all say fanfic? – but at least I got myself a few comic books and an e-book off it (all free, I should add). But who really cares? I’m reading and happy again. I think that’s all that matters. And what will come out of my research? Who knows. I’m just going forward to write some of my thoughts down. And if they bloom into anything of interest, then I’ll be content. If not, then it’s not like I’m losing anything. With the exception, maybe, of my mind.

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