Archive for: March 2013

WTF Certified – DC Comics Dropped the Ball

Mar. 30 Comics no comments

I remember a time, only a short time ago, when we were being bombarded with information about the DC Comics WTF Certified events. Speculation ran rampant online and in our Detroit comic book store about what might be going on in our favorite titles and what might happen to draw us to the titles we have neglected. We are now entering the WTF Certified period, and DC Comics has dropped the ball on marketing.

DC’s WTF Certified

WTF Certified is a Big Event?

By looking through the Diamond Previews last month, almost every page about DC Comics had something about WTF Certified. Where are the inserts for comic book stores to place inside bags to get customers excited? Where are the banners and window hangs to invite customers in? Where are the special imprinted bags with the DC Comics WTF Certified logos? Where is the WTF Certified swag? As of this writing, DC does not even have a headline or the slightest of teasers about WTF Certified on their website.

Marvel Off and Running

Did you happen to know that Marvel is in the Age of Ultron? Chances are good that you might have given a little chuckle reading the previous line. We have bag inserts, swag, window hangers, and Marvel has been talking about the crossover event nonstop. I have even heard the publisher is running ads on Serius Radio over the last few weeks. This is the type of marketing DC Comics should have embraced with WTF Certified.

What DC Needs to Do

DC Comics would love to reassume the top spot in the market, but the bronze ring is just out of reach. WTF Certified marketing is a perfect example of what DC could have done to prove tot eh fans and the market that it knows what it takes to reach for the ring. Sadly, this was not meant to be as DC forgot that sometimes you need to inundate readers with information to get them excited. Instead of being excited, I am asking “WTF DC?” And that, my friends, is certified.

The Most Important Moment in Modern Comics

Mar. 29 Comics no comments

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All Superheroes are Failures for a Reason

Mar. 29 Characters no comments

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A Comic Book Convention Map is More Important Than You Think

Mar. 28 Conventions no comments

If you knew how important a comic book convention map can be, you would carry one with you the from the moment the con opened until the last minute. There are many benefits to carrying a comic book convention map that you never thought about. It will save you time, possibly save you money, and might even make you a little more popular with other convention attendees.

Shameless plug – Never forget your comic book convention map.

How a Comic Book Convention Map Saves You Time

How many times have you had to ask for directions at a comic book convention? How many times have you been around the entire floor three times trying to find a particular dealer or your favorite comic creator? By carrying a comic book convention map, you can save yourself that wasted time. You can know exactly where the next panel is being held that you want to see and where the next big event is taking place.

How a Comic Book Convention Map Can Save You Money

While at C2E2 this year, I will be looking for a few specific items. As I stroll around the convention, I will be marking off certain vendors’ booths on my map to remind me where they are located. These marks will signify who is selling the items I am looking for. I might also mark the dollar amount the items are listed for. This will save me from buying the most expensive versions of the items I want and will cue me in to where I can get the best deals.

How a Comic Book Convention Map Can Make You Popular

If people notice you are carrying around a comic book convention map, they are going to ask you for directions. While this might be annoying at times, what happens when the sexy cosplayer asks you for directions? You already have your icebreaker. What happens when a comic creator asks for your help? What types of quick conversations will you strike up? I have even seen people at bars near a convention hall pop out a map to help weary convention attendees and gotten invited for a beer. The possibilities are endless.

But I Don’t Have Room for a Comic Book Convention Map

Really? Seriously? You can carry around a stack of thirty comics but don’t have room for one piece of paper? I did not say you needed to carry around the program. Rip the map out of the booklet and fold it up nicely and put it in your pocket. Problem solved.

The Governor on The Walking Dead Stole the Show

Mar. 28 TV & Movies Comments Off

While many fans will disagree with me, I have to declare The Governor on The Walking Dead as my favorite character during Season 3. Daryl, Rick, Merle, Michonne, and Andrea were all strong in some way, but The Governor stole the show. There is one episode left in the season, as of this writing, and chances are good he is going to die. Let’s take a look at why David Morrissey’s portrayal of the character was so damn awesome.

The Governor on The Walking Dead

Before it Began

I have to admit, I was on the bandwagon of people who were turned off by the decision of Morrissey as The Governor on The Walking Dead. As the season progressed, though, I realized he not only was the right man of the job, he put his own spin on the character and became the character he recreated.

The Quirks of The Governor on The Walking Dead

I took acting and film classes when I was in college to gain a better understanding of movies and characterization. My professors instilled the idea of creating quirks to set a character aside from others in definition. From Columbo’s head touching when he was formulating a question to Kolchak’s stutter when he raised his voice, quirks help to define a character.

So too with The Governor on The Walking Dead. Think about how Morrisey would give a sharp toothy smile when someone stated something he felt uncomfortable with. Notice how his walking stride always changes by his mood. Note how his eye twitches when he is staring at someone with anger or distrust. These quirks help to make the character more believable. Anyone can recite lines but it takes a masterful actor to create and keep believable quirks.

The Darkness

When comparing both versions of The Governor the fans know, we are comparing a sociopath to a psychopath. The comic book version of character is someone who feeds off of the society around himself. While the same can be said about The Governor on The Walking Dead, Morrissey’s version is more of a psychopath who gains some type of dark pleasure from inflicting pain. The Governor in The Walking Dead would kill to prove a point where as The Governor on The Walking Dead appears to enjoy killing as signified by (another quirk) his whistling while he “works.” The Governor on The Walking Dead is much darker and much more inherently evil than his comic book counterpart.

Character Focus Shift

Did you happen to notice that Rick is not the main character of the show anymore? While I would love to see a minute by minute comparison, I would venture to say that The Governor was on screen more often than Rick. Of course, Daryl and Michonne stepped up as Rick’s sanity fell. The main spot this season was given to The Governor. How many other characters could have robbed Rick of his top spot?

The Governor on The Walking Dead made the season for me. I fully expect him to die in the season finale, which will be a loss. That loss is needed, but it will be a loss nonetheless.

Visit our Walking Dead page on Amazon.

March Madness Tournament Review

Mar. 28 Detroit Area Comic Book Store, News no comments

The WonderWorldComics.com March Madness Contest has come to a close! The Legend of Oz: Wicked West won a tough battle at the end with The Walking Dead, but there is more to discuss about this tournament.

March Madness Champion

The Numbers

37,759 total votes were cast from 1,872 unique visitor locations. These votes represented 32 different countries. Votes poured in from every state except for Wyoming and Vermont. I never liked those states much anyways. Outside of Michigan, the states with the most voters were (in order) Illinois, California, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Legend of OZ: Wicked West vs. Batman in the Final Four Round was the most contested matchup with an amazing 9,953 votes being cast!

Biggest Bracket Upset

Of course, The Legend of OZ: Wicked West winning it all is an upset, but focus needs to be placed on another title for a moment. The Marvel and DC brackets were the most difficult with all of the titles represented being in the Top 100 sellers. Young Avengers was the lowest seller in the Marvel bracket and was able to overcome such titles as Deadpool (a tourney favorite), the New Avengers, and Iron Man on the road to winning the bracket section. A newer title beat out some of the heaviest hitters Marvel publishes and the fans should be commended for propelling this upset.

The Championship

The fight was dominated early by The Legend of OZ: Wicked West with the margin being as high as 88% to 12% at one point. Fans of The Walking Dead began to come out in the early evening and put up a huge fight in order to catch up. Going into the final few hours, the number of votes coming in was so fast and furious that the failsafe in the system shut the poll down a handful of times to keep the site stable. In the end, the fans of Big Dog Ink were able to stave off the attack from the fans of Image comics and help the title which has yet to break into the Top 100 beat the title which is typically in the Top 10 and is backed by one of the hottest shows on TV!

What Won March Madness?

The ability to drum up fan support won March Madness. Creators of various titles rallied their fans throughout the tournament and were able to swing votes in their favor. Big Dog Ink was able to master this technique early on. I have heard people from all over the industry talking about the March Madness Contest. At Gem City Comic Con, I realized that this contest opened people’s eyes to what can happen with fan support. What will happen next year when the bigger companies find themselves forced to rally their fans in a popular contest?

Next Year

Very soon, we will be reaching out to you to see what you thought about this tournament. We will ask you to tell us what you liked, and what you would like to see changed in the future. Keep your eyes on the site, and on the Facebook page for our invitation for critique. What other site gives you the opportunity to be heard by the industry?

Thank you all for your support. YOU helped to make the first WonderWorldComics.com contest a major success. We will have more contests in the near future and I look forward to announcing them. With your continued support, the voice which this site gives fans will continue to grow louder.

Term ‘Mutant’ Being Eliminated by Marvel In Uncanny Avengers #5?

Mar. 27 Comics, News no comments

An interesting move is made in Uncanny Avengers #5 and Marvel might be veering from the term “mutant.” As you read the comic this week, you might pass over the statement, but it is very important, and shows a step by Marvel to teach people to be more inclusive and accepting of others. While I have been critical of Marvel in the past, I have to give them special mention for this move.

Is Marvel getting away from using the term “mutant?”

Mutant Term

Without giving a spoiler, the suggestion is made in Uncanny Avengers #5 about doing away with the term “mutant.” At the same time, we should include the terms “mutie” and “genefreak” which have been used in the pages of Marvel Comics. In the comic, it is suggested that the term “mutant” is derogatory as it separates mutants from other humans.

Marvel Inclusion Through Mutant Statement

In the Marvel Universe, “mutant” may be on its way to becoming a term which is not politically correct. If the publisher is admitting the term separates and degrades a type of human, it is acknowledging all of the terms we have which separate types of humans from others. I am not going to go through a lineage of demeaning terms as examples, but you should know what types of terms will force people to feel different or excluded from society or a particular group.

Statement to Fans

If Marvel is eliminating the term “mutant” from the Marvel Universe vocabulary, it is a statement to all of us to eliminate demeaning terms from our own vocabulary. The business world has come down hard on people who do not understand the need for inclusive language, and now Marvel is stepping up to show its support of inclusion. Over the years, our the government and private organizations have tried to make a better place. Now it is time for Marvel to make the needed changes towards practicing what it preaches.

Thank You Marvel

Marvel has stepped up to the plate to take a swing at drugs, racism, homophobia, general hate, the oppression of women, and dozens of other social issues. By taking steps to suggest that the term “mutant” not be used in the future is a step towards eliminating hate speech which would make the world a better place to live. Good job Marvel. You reminded me why I have stayed a dedicated reader for so many years.

WWC March Madness Finals Are Set!

Mar. 27 Detroit Area Comic Book Store, News no comments

The votes have been cast and the Final Four Round in the WonderWorldComics.com March Madness Contest has ended. It was a heavy day for voting. If yesterday is any indication of how today will turn out – it will be epic!

The Finals are set in the WonderWorldComics.com March Madness Contest

March Madness Final Four Match 1: Young Avengers vs. The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead 63% Winner

Young Avengers 37% Loser

The Marvel bracket went head-to-head with the 5%ers, and Image Comics’ The Walking Dead was able to pull out the victory in the March Madness Final Four Round. This was one of the most contested matches of the tournament. Young Avengers had the early lead, but fans of the zombie thriller were able to come back and rally in the last half of the day. Marvelites tried to pour it on in the last few hours, but stalwart fans of Rick and his crew stayed online until the bitter end to fend off the attack.

March Madness Final Four Match 2: The Legend of OZ: Wicked West vs. Batman

The Legend of OZ: Wicked West 60% Winner

Batman 40% Loser

This matchup pitted the winner of the DC bracket against the winner of the Independent bracket. Batman was the favored winner as many people had the headlining title making it to the Championship. Big Dog Ink fans declared that scenario was not meant to be as they were rallied by the publisher throughout the day. The Legend of OZ: Wicked West has had one upset victory after another and ended up winning the most contested matchup – there were 9,500 votes cast in this matchup alone. Sorry Batman, but it is time to return to the Batcave because Big Dog Ink made you it’s bichon!

The Walking Dead vs. The Legend of OZ: Wicked West

Voting is open for the Championship Round and fans of The Walking Dead are at war with the fans of The Legend of OZ: Wicked West. Will today’s voting cast a shadow on the record set yesterday? Will Big Dog Ink continue to rile their fans until the bitter end? Will Image rile their fans in an attempt to have their headlining title win it all? Will Cinderella be eaten by zombies before the clock strikes 12? Will the power of OZ be too much for Rick and his companions?

The Discount

For making it to the March Madness Championship Round, The Legend of OZ: Wicked West and The Walking Dead will both receive a 25% discount on 3/27/2013. The winner of the final matchup will be granted a 25% discount for the next week!

The Bracket Winner

Tomorrow (Thursday), I will go through the large stack of brackets to tabulate the winner. I should have an announcement sometime tomorrow evening about which bracket posted the most points and who won the Wonderworld gift card!

Comic Book Convention Hotels: Stay at the Main

Mar. 26 Conventions no comments

As someone who has not only attended conventions, but covered conventions for major media outlets, it is always best to stay at main comic book convention hotels. While the cost is typically higher than staying at a satellite hotel, the benefits pay off considerably.

Cosplayers at 2011 Detroit Fanfare

What Are Main Comic Book Convention Hotels?

Comic book conventions will typically make deals with various surrounding hotels. There will be one hotel, though, which the convention will house the celebrities and top artists who are appearing at the show. This is usually the nicest hotel in the area, or the closest starred hotel to the convention hall. In the cases of a convention which is held at a hotel convention center, the main hotel is the hosting facility.

The Celebrity Opportunities at Main Comic Book Convention Hotels

Chances are good that you are going to stand in a line to meet your favorite celebrity or comic book creator. You might be paying a dear penny for a signature, sketch, or a picture with whoever you came to see. What would you pay to sit down and have a drink that that person? What would you give to have the opportunity for a private conversation with the celebrity or comic book creator? Staying at main comic book convention hotels offers some these opportunities.

Opportunities with Vendors at Main Comic Book Convention Hotels

Instead of speaking with a celebrity or comic book creator, you might find yourself speaking with a vendor who has a booth set up at the convention. Many of the dealers try to stay at main comic book convention hotels for various reasons ranging from wanting to see celebrities themselves to wanting to schmooze with those which can afford to stay where they want. Sitting down with a vendor might open a door for a discount the next day at the booth or you might find a dealer who has a specific issue you are looking for.

Main Comic Book Convention Hotels Which are Hosting

If you are staying at a hosting hotel, you are making the right move. In this these cases, the main comic book hotels are the properties hosting. Sometimes, conventions give deals to those staying at the hotel. Even if they do not, you are still going to have the opportunity to sit down with celebrities and creators and vendors and anyone else who happens by if you are outgoing enough. Plus, you have the opportunity of dropping off your purchases in your room if they are getting bulky or stop in to take a quick nap or shower. The possibilities are endless.

Comic Book Convention Deals Will be Back Eventually

Mar. 26 Conventions no comments

Where have the comic book convention deals gone in the last few years? Do you remember the day (not too long ago) when we could find graphic novels for $2-$3 at comic book conventions? Do you remember being able to pick up a short box full of comics for less than the price of con admission? Let me take a moment to explain why those days are now gone – but will come back in the future.

2010 Detroit Fanfare comic book convention

Comic Book Convention Deals: The Way it Was

A few short years ago, there were fewer shows around the country and comic book conventions deals were easy to come by. Local dealers might be at a show and not have another one for a few months. Instead of hauling all of their stock back to a store or warehouse, many dealers would do everything they could to dump product to make room for new product. This need to rotate stock caused the great comic book convention deals we remember.

Comic Book Convention Deals: Why it Was

A few years ago, the comic book convention market was becoming dominated by Wizard World shows. Various companies were doing what they could to buy up smaller conventions in the hopes of opening solitary conventions in various markets. The attempted expansion and contraction of the market caused for Wizard World to have to cut the number of shows they produced and put other convention promotion companies out of business. With less shows to potentially make money at, dealers tried to rotate stock as much as possible and were willing to give greater deals.

Comic Book Convention Deals: NOW

The number of cons skyrocketed last year, and is doing the same this year. Instead of con season typically being about 7 months long, it is almost 12 months. I am just waiting for someone to schedule a con during the week between Christmas and New Year’s. With another show always around the corner, dealers do not have enough time to rotate stock. Much of what they have at the current show will have to be brought to the next show to fill up the tables.

Comic Book Convention Deals: Will They Return?

I have a feeling we will see the return of the infamous comic book convention deals sooner than later. The comic book convention market will eventually thin as smaller shows fall to the side of larger shows and competition leads to attrition. As the number of shows decreases, the number of comic book convention deals will increase as dealers find they need to turn stock again.

Review of Gem City Comic Con 2013

Mar. 25 Conventions, News Comments Off

Gem City Comic Con 2013 has come to a close and I have to admit that I enjoyed myself. I am already looking forward to attending next year.

Gem City Comic Con

The Location

Gem City Comic Con 2013 was held at the Nutter Center at Wright State University. The stadium in which the convention was held was large enough to fit all of the dealers, signers, and other events without having too much room (which might create dead spaces). The aisles were spaced well and allowed for full movement. Even guests with strollers or wheelchairs found the conventions floor easily-accessible.

There were other events going on in the Nutter Center, such as cheerleading practice and practices for some of the basketball teams participating in the NCAA Tournament games being held nearby. The other events being held in the center did not apparently conflict in any way with Gem City Comic Con, and a nod should be given to Wright State University for proper event and logistics planning. I could not complain about the fact that there was free W-Fi in the building.

The Deals

While there were many deals to be had, I felt that some of the dealers were holding back. This could be because of how C2E2 in Chicago is only weeks away. Other dealers were almost giving product away in order to clear out their storage for the stock coming in for the big con next month. I was happy to find some deals, but they had to be searched for as they were not jumping out at you. $5 or 40% off graphic novels could be found at many dealer’s tables along with standard retail prices on many of the key issues typically found at cons. Just make sure to keep your eyes open for the deals.

Gaming

A corner of the convention was filled with Magic players. Their event did not conflict in any way (that I noticed) with the main con. I like to see cons which invite fans of other genres in order to increase foot traffic.

Food

I might always be harsh on conventions about their food offerings. The only food in the convention hall for general guests was from a center food booth. I picked up a pack of Reece’s Pieces and a 20oz pop for $6.75. People were eating the food from there out of desperation. Some workers did deliver food to artists and vendors, so at least there was another option for some onsite. Since the event was held on a college campus, outside food options were plenty as chains love to build by colleges. I just wish there were other options inside the event.

Staff

I have always said that if a staff member does not know the answer to a question, he or she should know where to get the answer in a prompt fashion. While this should be the norm, it typically is not for comic book conventions. The staff at Gem City Comic Con, though, had most of the answers and were not afraid to ask someone else if they did not know. I have to compliment the con organizers for taking the important step of making sure the staff was informed and had lines of communication open.

Gem City Comic Con Cosplay

Cosplay

There were cosplayers, and many were dressed to impress. You can see more of the cosplay pictures from Gem City Comic Con by following this link.

Traffic

As more and more comic book convention move towards stocking their celebrity list with washed-up actors, former pro wrestlers, and ex-Playboy models, someone might think a comics-forward convention like Gem City Comic Con might not have much traffic. This could not be further from the truth. Traffic on Saturday was strong with dealers have few chances to sit down early in the day. Sunday was much lighter, but I would venture to say that the impending snowstorm had more to do with the decreased traffic than any other factor.

As I stated before, I am looking forward to Gem City Comic Con 2014. If you have the chance to head down to Dayton next year, I would suggest making the trip. You are going to have fun and you are going to be glad you came.

On one final note, if you are in the area, stop at One Eyed Jacks. The bar has some good local beer and great food. Anyone who is a regular reader of this site knows how much I love a beer. The Thai peanut wings were among the best wings I have ever had in my life! If I had known about this place when I was a travel writer, I might have written an entire article just on the wings.

Cosplay at Gem City Comic Con

Mar. 25 Conventions Comments Off

These are pictures of some of the cosplayers at Gem City Comic Con 2013.

Gem City Comic Con Cosplay

March Madness Final Four is Set!

Mar. 22 Detroit Area Comic Book Store no comments

The Elite 8 Round of the WonderWorldComics.com March Madness Contest has come to a close and three of the matches appeared one-sided. All of the winners will receive a 20% discount in the store on 3/22/2013. The Final Four Round will commence in the wee hours on Tuesday, so be ready to vote for your favorites.

March Madness Final Four!

Match 1: Savage Wolverine vs. Young Avengers

Young Avengers 52% Winner: Marvel Comics Division Champion!

Savage Wolverine 48% Loser

With a 4% difference in the voting, this was our closest matchup of the day. At times, Savage Wolverine was taking it to Young Avengers while other times of the day saw Young Avengers giving it right back. In the final half hour, Young Avengers fans came out in droves and left their favored title standing tall.

Young Avengers was considered one of the underdogs in the Marvel bracket. Mind the fact that top Marvel Comics titles such as Superior-Spider-Man, All New X-Men, and The Avengers have all fallen in the tournament. Young Avengers has pulled off a major coup. Even if the title does not make it past the Final Four, it should be commended for surprising everyone to become the Marvel Comics Division Champion.

Match 2: The Walking Dead vs. Star Wars

The Walking Dead 79% Winner: 5%ers Division Champion!

Star Wars 21% Loser

Star Wars fans came out early and padded their title in the early goings. By the evening, The Walking Dead fans came out and continued to vote for their title even with a huge lead determined. In the final minutes, Star Wars fans tried to battle back, but there was nothing they could do.

The Walking Dead is a title which many people believe will go all the way. Nobody should be surprised by the success of the tile in the March Madness Contest. It has made way into the Final Four and is ready to take the game to the next level. Will fans whose titles lost vote against The Walking Dead simply to eliminate it?

Match 3: Batman vs. Batgirl

Batman 89% Winner: DC Comics Division Champion!

Batgirl 11% Loser

I was fully expecting this matchup to be close. In the early goings, Batman was only winning by a slight margin. Batgirl was not able to keep up with the pace in the last half of the day when Batman fans wanted to make sure Batgirl fans could not have a chance to come back.

Batman is another title which most people have going all the way. The Prince of the New 52 has left all other DC titles in his dust and is ready to take on his next opponent. Will his fans strike early, or will they wait for the final hours?

Match 4: The Legend of OZ: Wicked West vs. Neonomicon

The Legend of OZ: Wicked West 99% Winner: Independent Publishers’ Division Champion!

Neonomicon 1% Loser

In all of Neonomicon’s previous matchups, the title was able to come back at some point. It was not surprising to see the title come back from a 30% deficit. That never happened here. Legend of OZ fans came out in the early hours of voting and did everything they could to build up the title from Big Dog Ink. Neonomicon only received 10 votes in this matchup, and my inside sources tell me that at least 6 of those votes were simply pity votes.

If you look over the records for margin of win in this tournament, The Legend of OZ: Wicked West holds them all! It keeps setting records, and breaking them the next round. Fans of Big Dog Ink have catapulted The Legend of OZ to the top spot in the division. Is there any doubting the chance of the title walking away with the championship?

Neil Gaiman to Marvel and Our Thoughts!

Mar. 21 Comics, News no comments

Breaking News: Neil Gaiman will be returning to Marvel and it appears he is bringing Angela over from Spawn to flourish as a new character in the Marvel Universe. This is in response to the win Gaiman had in court last year which allows him to have control and profits from the character [Edited as more news about topic came in]. Gaiman will collaborate with Brian Michael Bendis on the final issue of Age of Ultron and will also be working on Guardians of the Galaxy #5.

This is Big News people!

Over at WonderWorldComics.com, we don’t just tell you what is going on – we also give our opinions. Sit down and buckle up.

Neil Gaiman to Marvel

Some of Neil Gaiman’s fans might be distraught by the idea of the author heading back to work with Marvel. This is Neil Gaiman people! Few are worthy enough to question his motives.

Actually, I think it is a good move for him and for the company. He has proven how he likes to dabble in comics from time to time and Marvel can give him the widest range of possibilities. In Age of Ultron and Guardians of the Galaxy, Gaiman is allowed to take the helm in one of the most important Marvel events of the year. Marvel’s return to cosmic storytelling is a major event which will reach far (even into the movies) and it is fitting to have one of the best writers alive today as a part of it.

Anyways – Marvel is making huge movies right now. Why would Neil Gaiman pass on getting his character in a movie?

Neil Gaiman’s Angela

I like the idea of bringing Angela to Marvel. Spawn does not have the pull it had a decade ago on the market and creators love to see their characters grow over the years. She has the greatest opportunity to grow right now in the Marvel Universe. DC Comics is mostly focused on the families (Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, Justice League), where as Marvel is also working on increasing the sales of other titles which are either family spin-offs or solo titles. Neil Gaiman has the opportunity to watch his “daughter” flourish for many years.

Neil Gaiman’s return to Marvel is a win/win situation and should make fans of both the creator and of the publisher pop.

Digital Death Part III: Digital Comics and Collecting

Mar. 21 Comic Book Collecting, News Comments Off

My fellow comic book collectors – we are being devalued by Marvel and DC Comics in their push to increase sales of digital comics. Not only will digital comics eventually decrease the comic book market, the push for digital comics proves the Big 2 could care less about our passion for their products. How long will we stand for this [Censored] insolence? How long will we allow digital comics to survive?

The death of the comic book industry will be caused by digitally downloading comic books.

How Easily Marvel and DC Comics Forget

There are two types of backs in which the comic book market has been built. Initially, it was built upon the backs of comic book readers who stood in line to pay a matter of cents for the newest issue of Action Comics. In my lifetime, the backs of comic book collectors were tapped as the Big 2 realized many of us were keeping boxes of comics to preserve them for the ages and that the values of back issues were climbing.

The Early [Censored] Ups

Marvel and DC Comics caused crashes in the past by trying to exploit either the reader’s market or the collector’s market. The comic book publishers [Censored] the market in the 1990s by trying to produce as many crappy titles as possible to exploit readers and put special covers on every issue in an attempt to exploit the collectors. Their greed made our favored market a [Censored] joke and the future was in jeopardy. Since the market is currently up in a big way, those greedy [Censored] are trying to figure out another way to exploit. They are looking for another back of support.

Who They are Going After

You could speculate about Marvel and DC Comics going after current readers with the push to digital comics, but you would be dead wrong. You know that [Censored] hipster douche you see sitting at Starbucks every morning who thinks the world should revolve around him? The world of comics is moving to revolve around him. Digital comics, Marvel AR, and whatever piece of [Censored] DC shovels out to compete with it, are all geared at the grab-a-trend hipster bastard who will drop money on the latest trend. The biggest problem with grab-a-trend hipsters is they do not stay around long. Wake the [Censored] Marvel and DC, we have been around for years and you are turning your backs on us!

This content is censored.

What Will Happen

The issue of Spider-Man you have been keeping safe in order to pass on to your kids one day – it is going to be worthless if digital comics completely take over as everyone will have read it and there is no draw to hold the original. All that money you spent to have your comic graded will be lost as people scoff at physical comics as they will be passé. All of the time you spent collecting will have been wasted as people could give a [Censored] about your collection.

What Can We Do?

Don’t you think for a [Censored] minute that there is nothing you can do. Support your local comic book stores instead of digitally downloading comics. When Marvel and DC Comics tell you to check out the latest digital download, raise your voices and tell them to go [Censored] themselves. If you are sitting at a comic book convention panel, make sure your voice is heard. Tell other comic book collectors to do the same. The only way we can keep our collections valued, and keep ourselves valued by the Big 2, is to tell them that we are mad as hell, and we are not going to take it anymore!

March Madness Elite 8 Round is Set!

Mar. 21 Detroit Area Comic Book Store no comments

The Sweet 16 Round of the WonderWorldComics.com March Madness Contest has come to a close. Another round has ended with some surprises. Let’s take a look at what happened.

March Madness Elite 8 Round!

Match 1: Avengers vs. Savage Wolverine

Savage Wolverine 75% Winner

Avengers 25% Loser

This was a matchup which justified my posting who has the lead. Avengers stayed strong throughout most of the day, but whenever a post would come to the page about how Savage Wolverine was losing, votes would pour in. So too was it in the last half an hour when Wolvy fans said “Enough is Enough” and voted with power.

Match 2: Iron Man vs. Young Avengers

Young Avengers 53% Winner

Iron Man 42% Loser

Apparently, Iron Man hit the sauce in the last hour of this one. His boosters sputtered and the Young Avengers were able to move ahead. Young Avengers is moving on and Iron Man is moving out.

Match 3: The Walking Dead vs. G.I. Joe vs. Transformers

The Walking Dead 60% Winner

G.I. Joe 39% Loser

Transformers 1% Loser

I have to hand it to the fans of The Walking Dead. They temporarily locked up the website in the previous round and almost did it this round (Luckily I installed a failsafe. Rick and his crew held off two threats and survive another day.

Match 4: Star Wars vs. Chew

Star Wars 74% Winner

Chew 26% Loser

Star Wars had an early lead and this one and Chew could not battle with the power of the force. The Star Wars line has gotten this far. Can its popularity hold up for the long haul?

Match 5: Batman vs. Nightwing

Batman 68% Winner

Nightwing 32% Loser

This one was turning out to be one of the biggest upsets of the March Madness Contest. Nightwing fans continued to push for their favorite throughout the day and did not let up until the Batman fans came out and turn the tides to The Big Black Bat’s favor. Many people have Batman going all the way. Will he?

Match 6: Justice League vs. Batgirl

Batgirl 76% Winner

Justice League 24% Loser

Batgirl kept her momentum going from the last round and made minced meat out of the entire Justice League. Now, she faces Batman in the greatest battle of her life.

Match 7: Mega Man vs. Legend of OZ: Wicked West

Legend of Oz: Wicked West 95% Winner

Mega Man 5% Loser

The Big Dog Ink fans came out early and were able to easily clean up another victory. This title has already made it do the Elite 8. How much higher can it go?

Match 8: Neonomicon vs. Harbinger

Neonomicon 61% Winner

Harbinger 39% Loser

Harbinger led for the entire day until the last half hour of voting when the Cult of Dagon appeared and gave the win to Neonomicon. “That is not dead which can eternal lie. And with strange aeons even death may die.”

All titles entering the Elite 8 will receive a 20% discount on 3/21/2013. Who will make the Final Four next week?

Round 2 Results are Officially In!

Mar. 20 Detroit Area Comic Book Store Comments Off

Voting was heavy for Round 2 with many fans hoping their favored comics would move on to Round 3. I am so tired right now from watching the results come in and trying to figure out Match 3 that I am not even going to spend the time to italicize the comic book names. Here are the breakdowns for Round 2 of the WonderWorldComics.com March Madness Contest:

Results after Round 2

Match 1: Superior Spider-Man vs. The Avengers

The Avengers 62% Winner

Superior Spider-Man 38% Loser

This was a hard-faught battle from the start with Superior Spider-Man taking an early lead. The fans of The Avengers came out in the last few hour of voting and overtook Doc Oc/Peter Parker. We can declare, with absolute certainty, Gwen Stacy will not be back in this competition.

Match 2: Thor vs. Iron Man

Iron Man 63% Winner

Thor 37% Loser

Iron Man led through most of the day until the final hours of voting when Thor fans drank some coffee and got their game faces on. Iron Man fans rallied back in the last half hour to take back the lead. [Edited because I gave the wrong results here – everything is right now]

Match 3: The Walking Dead vs. G.I. Joe

The Walking Dead ??%

G.I. Joe ??%

There were so many votes coming in over the last few minutes that I cannot tell who the winner of The Walking Dead vs. G.I. Joe is. The site began lagging as I was closing the polls and as the site was about to crash, the polling went into a loop so votes were counting as extra. There were so many votes coming in so fast that our system was having multiple issues in trying to process the information. I had to force the site to shut down just so that I could close out the polls. In the end, the looping caused The Walking Dead to gain a huge margin in the final seconds. The only fair thing to do was to create the three-way match pitting The Walking Dead vs. G.I. Joe vs. Transformers!

Most of the other polls were closed when this issue happened. I have to manually close the polls, but the other two polls which were still open during the crash were not impacted with loops since nobody was actively voting in those polls in the final few moments. We are working hard today to make sure the site does not face this type of issue in the future. We are very sorry for any confusion or stress this situation might have caused.

Match 4: Transformers vs. Hellboy in Hell

Transformers 61% Winner

Hellboy in Hell 39% Loser

It looked like Hellboy in Hell might take this until the last 20 minutes of voting when a few Transformers fans were able to rally the troops and give marching orders to our site. Hellboy has been sent to Hell while Transformers has been sent to the Sweet 16 Round.

Match 5: Batman vs. Green Lantern

Batman 76% Winner

Green Lantern 24% Loser

Ya, Green Lantern never had a chance in this one. Batman simply crushed him and moved on to the next round.

Match 6: Detective Comics Vs. Nightwing

Nightwing 59% Winner

Detective Comics 41% Loser

Detective Comics took an early lead, but could not hold on at the end. Nightwing fans came out and did their hero proud by voting him past the secondary Batman title.

Match 7: Red Hood vs. Batgirl

Batgirl 56% Winner

Red Hood 44% Loser

This was an interesting match. It ran close for hours until Red Hood pulled ahead in the early afternoon. Batgirl fans were riled up in the late afternoon and put a huge margin into effect. Red Hood fans tried, but were not successful in closing the gap.

Match 8: Adventure Time vs. Mega Man

Mega Man 54% Winner

Adventure Time 46% Loser

Adventure Time kept the lead throughout the day. In the last twenty minutes, Mega Man fans decided they wanted their character to move on and caught the Adventure Time fans napping. The forrest has been burned to the ground.

Match 9: Game of Thrones vs. Legend of OZ: Wicked West

Legend of OZ 93% Winner

Game of Thrones 7% Winner

I talking about a possible Cinderella story earlier with Legend of OZ, and it might be coming through. Big Dog Ink has done a great job in rallying their minions and releasing the hounds. Was Game of Thrones just another victim on the way to complete domination of the bracket? Legend of OZ already won the most contested match in during March Madness and has won its second round by the greatest margin. Reconrds are being set people!

Match 10: Sonic vs. Neonomicon

Neonomicon 56% Winner

Sonic 44% Loser

Speed means nothing when facing the true power of the Neonomicon!

Match 11: Savage Wolverine vs. Hawkeye

Savage Wolverine 59% Winner

Hawkeye 41% Loser

Hawkeye was leading throughout the day until the early evening when Savage Wolverine fans came out to play. Hawkeye fans battled back, but there was nothing they could do. I guess he is just a guy with a bow and arrows.

Match 12: Young Avengers vs. New Avengers

Young Avengers 59% Winner

New Avengers 41% Loser

The up-and-comers vs. The Illuminati. In this matchup, youth won over experience. With many young voters in these games, maybe they went with the characters they could relate to. Either way, Young Avengers moves on and New Avengers goes away.

Match 13: Saga vs. Star Wars

Star Wars 64% Winner

Saga 36% Loser

Anything…and I mean anything, can happen in the WWC March Madness Contest. Saga, which is one of the highest-earning 5%er titles was defeated by Star Wars. The underdog created one of the bigger upsets of the bracket so far.

Match 14: Dr. Who vs. Chew

Chew 70% Winner

Dr. Who 30% Loser

Where did all the Whovians go? Chew trounced Dr. Who and has moved on to take on Star Wars. What will be the outcome in that matchup? Could we have a reversal of fortune?

Match 15: Justice League vs. Batman The Dark Knight

Justice League 59% Winner

Batman The Dark Knight 41% Loser

Another Batman Family title falls in the Second Round as Justice League Defeated Batman The Dark Knight. Batfans never woke up in this one and Justice League won an easy victory.

Match 16: Masks vs. Harbinger

Harbinger 71% Winner

Masks 29% Loser

I am not even going to try to speak this one up. Harbinger won. Now it faces the Neonomicon in the bottom section of the Sweet 16 East.

All winners receive a 15% discount in the store today. Have you voted in the Sweet 16 yet?

Rogue As Ultimate Symbol of Mutants

Mar. 20 Characters Comments Off

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3/20/2013 Star Wars Legacy #1 Phantom Variant Special

Mar. 19 Detroit Area Comic Book Store Comments Off

Phantom Variant covers will be arriving at our Detroit Comic book store on Wednesday 3/20/2013. These variants are typically priced higher than the normal comics on our racks because of the limited print runs these comics see and the limited number of stores in the country which carry these variants. To help to introduce our customers to the Phantom Variant Group, we are running a special deal only on Wednesday, 3/20/2013 on the Star Wars Legacy #1 Floating World Phantom Variant.

What Variant Comics Are Coming In?

Five Ghosts Haunting of Fabian Gray #1 Phantom Variant (Image)

Revival #8 Phantom Variant (Image)

Star Wars Legacy #1 Floating World Phantom Variant (Dark Horse)

Variant Pricing and Deal

Both the Revival #8 Phantom Variant and the Five Ghosts Haunting of Fabian Gray #1 Phantom Variant will be sold at the regular Phantom Variant price of $9.99. We are reducing the price of Star Wars Legacy #1 Floating World Phantom Variant to $5.99 on 3/20/2013. Any which are left in stock on Thursday morning will go up to the normal price of $9.99.

Variant Collectors

There are many comic book collectors which go out of their way to grab any variant covers they come across. Limited print runs and typically higher prices can keep the average collector away from the market. On the flip-side, though, this can also keep timid collectors away from the rewards which variant covers can bring down the road. Prices can skyrocket on some variant covers while prices ascend slower on other variants. In the end, a variant cover will usually retail higher than the average non-variant back issue of the same comic.

If you are a variant collector, this is a deal for you as you can pick up a variant cover and another comic for the price you would usually drop for a variant. If you have considered collecting variant covers, but the prices have been out of reach, this is a great opportunity for you as well. One look at any of these covers will explain quickly why the PVG covers are in such high demand.

You can learn more about the Phantom Variant Group by clicking on the image below:

We are a Phantom Variant retailer!

New Robin in Harper Row? Good and Bad

Mar. 19 Characters no comments

One of the hot topics in our Detroit comic book store is about the possibility of Harper Row becoming the new Robin in the upcoming months. While this is pure speculation, the amount of time dedicated to the character in Batman #18 could easily lead readers to suspect more from Harpo very soon. Is the character as the new Robin a good thing, or a bad thing?

Harper Row as New Robin?

Damian Fans and Harper Row

I could understand how Damian’s fans might automatically turn down the idea of Harper Row filling the boots left behind by Batman’s deceased son. Many are holding out hope that Damian will be tossed in the Pits and rejuvenated. This might still happen, but as we know from the upcoming changing titles of Batman & Robin – this is not going to happen right away. I believe DC Comics might have learned a lesson from the backlash Marvel received after bringing back the “deceased” Johnny Storm so soon after they made a big deal over his apparent death a few years back.

Harper Row as New Robin: Negatives

Is one issue enough to develop the store of the girl who might become Robin and headline one of the top DC Comics titles with Batman? Could DC Comic simply be trying to gain another pip in the press by assigning a female Robin? Even though Bruce Wayne is typically able to keep his emotions in check, can Batman move past the death of his own son so quickly?

Harper Row as New Robin: Positives

If Harper Row were to become the new Robin, she would give the female characters at DC Comics even more strength. This adds more inclusion as female readers (and potential readers) decide to give the character a chance. I don’t like the idea of rotating partners with Batman right now since it might harm the contiguous storyline so I am accepting of allowing for a new Robin in the coming months and see nothing wrong with making that character Harper Row as long as they are able to develop the character effectively.

Harper Row as New Robin: Needed Progress

As stated above, Scott Snyder needs to develop the character of Harper Row over the next few months. She needs to be toughened-up and she needs to be able to prove herself not only to Batman, but to the fans as well. She needs to spread out from the pages of Batman to other titles to give her more exposure and make her someone the fans can respect and accept as the new Robin.

Down the Road

When it is time to move on away from Harpo, DC Comics can resurrect Damian if they want to. Let the new girl have a run as the new Robin, if the powers-that-be see fit to grant her the mantle. Sometimes, change can be good and this is a transfer which I can get behind if Harper Row can be developed quickly enough.

Round 1 Block 4 Results!

Mar. 19 Detroit Area Comic Book Store no comments

With the ending of Block 4 voting, Round 1 of the WonderWorldComics.com March Madness Contest has come to a close. As per usual, voting picked up in the last few hours and leads changed hands. Here is how it played out:

March Madness Round 1 Complete

Match 26: Indestructible Hulk vs. New Avengers

New Avengers 59% Winner

Indestructible Hulk 41% Loser

Apparently, Indestructible Hulk is destructible when facing the power of the Illuminati. New Avengers took the lead early and held on until the bitter end. This was one of only a few matchups in Block 4 which stayed the same throughout the voting.

Match 27: Justice League vs. Wonder Woman

Justice League 50% Winner

Wonder Woman 50% Loser

When all was said and done, Justice League and Wonder Woman had a tie. The votes for each were an exact match. If you remember, when a tie happens, the winner is determined by overall sales in the previous month. Justice League beat Wonder Woman due to the tiebreaker rule.

Match 28: Action Comics vs. Batman The Dark Knight

Batman The Dark Knight 55% Winner

Action Comics 45% Loser

Action Comics never had a chance in this matchup. Batman The Dark Knight took an early commanding lead, and it was only narrowed slightly in the final minutes of voting. Another Batman title moves on.

Match 29: Star Wars vs. The Massive

Star Wars 59% Winner

The Massive 41% Loser

The Massive was winning this match until the last few hours when the Star Wars fans put down their lightsabers and grabbed their computers. With the force still be with Star Wars in the second round? Only your votes will determine.

Match 30: Chew vs. Invincible

Chew 50% Winner

Invincible 50% Loser

On the surface, Chew and Invincible look like they were tied. In the end, Chew ending up gaining one more vote than Invincible. This matchup ended up coming down to the last second of voting. The cult favorite Chew posts a major upset against one of the top 5%er titles on the market.

Match 31: Grimm Fairy Tales vs. Masks

Masks 59% Winner

Grimm Fairy Tales 41% Loser

Grimm Fairy Tales had the lead through most of the voting until fans of Masks came out in force during the last hour. With this matchup, Zenescope has been sent packing from the competition. Many of you had this company’s titles going deep, but neither title made it past the first round.

Match 32: Crossed: Badlands vs. Harbinger

Harbinger 54% Winner

Crossed: Badlands 46% Loser

I was expecting the Crossed fans to come out in force due to the strong push for the title in recent weeks. Crossed: Badlands set the pace early, but could not hold on in the end. Harbinger pulled off the late victory and moves in to Round 2.

All of the winners from these matchups will receive a 10% discount in our Detroit area comic book store today.

Scare Bears Exclusively at Wonderworld Comics!

Mar. 18 Detroit Area Comic Book Store Comments Off

Scare Bears have arrived at Wonderworld Comics and the way you look at teddy bears will never be the same. Scare Bears creator Jay Langley recently finalized a deal with our store to be the exclusive brick and mortar in the area for his devilish bears. Head down to our Detroit comic book store today to see what all the buzz is about.

Scare Bears at our Detroit comic book store

Jay’s Scare Bears were the talk of King Kon and will soon be showcased on a nationally-televised TV show which is based in Detroit. When he brought them into the store this past Saturday, some of the horrific cuddlers didn’t even make it to the shelves as they were snatched up by customers who wanted to be among the first to own one of these mini monstrosities.

The Scare Bears in the store will be priced between $20 and $80, and are each individually named and inspired. If teddy bears are the carriers of sweet dreams to children, these hand-crafted creatures are the carriers of nightmares. They are non-toxic, but starring at one long enough might melt your very soul!

You will see the Scare Bears in the front window at our Detroit comic book store and in a display case on the counter. Phase 1 critters are out now with more arriving in the near future. Placing one of these fiends on display in your house will spark countless conversations as people look on with envy, disgust, or both. These dark creations mix teddy bears (which are always in fashion) and the zombies and corpses which are today’s craze.

Scare Bears would make great gifts for any fan of “The Walking Dead,” horror movies, or those who love to make others ask “WTF?”

You can learn more about Scare Bears at our store, or at the Scare Bears website (click here). You can also follow Scare Bears on Facebook (click here).

Warning:

WonderWorldComics.com and Wonderworld Comics refuse to make any guarantee that Scare Bears will not animate in the middle of the night and plot evil as you sleep. We also do not know if these items are harbingers of Hastur The Unspeakable One, one of the many masks of Nyarlathotep, or are the heralds of some other eldritch evil which man (and woman) was not meant to know. Ia!

Gem City Comic Con 2013 Preview

Mar. 18 Conventions, News Comments Off

My want list is ready, my bags are ready to be packed, my passes are in order, and I am ready to head to Gem City Comic Con! As of this writing, Gem City Comic Con is only days away (March 23-24, 2013), and I could not be more excited about the show. It will be a great start to my con season.

Gem City Comic Con

What Makes Gem City Comic Con Different?

As a comics-forward comic book convention, the guest list is made up of comic book creators and not the former pro-wrestlers, ex-Playboy models, and washed-up actors you might find at other shows which consider themselves as comic book conventions. Instead of the focus being on the media, the focus is placed on the fans who live, eat, and sleep comic books.

The Gem City Comic Con Guests

The Gem City Comic Con 2013 guest list includes over 20 comic book creators including Howard V. Chaykin, Stan Sakai, Tim Seeley, Joe Staton, Joe Corroney, Dan Parent and Angel Medina. Pheonix Kasai, the cosplay specialist, will also be on hand with over 30 up-and-coming creators in artist’s alley.

Will There Be Events at Gem City Comic Con?

The promoters of Gem City Comic Con have scheduled dozens of panels, discussions, and other events to give you an opportunity to rest your weary con-floor-worn feet. There will also be a charity auction and cosplay costume contest. Regular readers – I will do everything I can to get you some great cosplay pictures from the show.

I know Dayton, Ohio is a hike from the Detroit area, but I suggest you take a look at the show if you are free this coming weekend. I am looking forward to seeing many of my friends from the con circuit and making new ones as well. Of course, I am going to be scouring the tables to find the deals dreams are made of. I hope to see you there.

You can learn more about Gem City Comic Con by visiting their webpage through this link.

Comic Book Dollar Boxes and Uncanny X-Men #317

Mar. 17 Comic Book Collecting Comments Off

This article is the first in a series which explores the hidden gems in comic book dollar boxes. Comic book conventions and many comic book stores will fill tables with comic book dollar boxes to lighten stockroom loads. There are many hidden gems to be found inside if you know what to look for. This edition will take a look at Uncanny X-Men #317.

Uncanny X-Men #317

Comic Book Dollar Boxes: Phalanx

One of the most popular X-Men storylines of the mid-1990s involved the attempt by the Phalanx (Phalanx Covenant) to assimilate mutants into their cyber-organic collective. Theoretically, success would have made the Phalanx the most powerful collective body in the multiverse. The storyline began in Uncanny X-Men #305, but the importance of #317 will be mentioned in a moment. I have seen times in which an entire run of the Phalanx storyline can be completed by perusing one comic book dollar box.

Comic Book Dollar Boxes: Skin

Comic book fans have an affinity for issues which introduce characters. Skin, a mutant, is introduced in Uncanny X-Men #317. His real name is Angelo Espinoza, and he was one of four mutants who were kidnapped by the Phalanx for testing. He had over six feet of extra skin on his body which he could manipulate into various forms at will. M, Husk, and the mutant mentioned next were the other characters abducted in the issue.

Read Skin’s bio on Marvel’s website

Comic Book Dollar Boxes: Blink

Blink (Clarice Ferguson) is the other character introduced for the first time in Uncanny X-Men #317 as an abductee of the Phalanx, but she has gone on to greater heights in the Marvel Universe than Skin. She has the ability to teleport herself, or large groups, at a moment’s notice. Her unusual look which includes lilac skin and pupil-less eyes, and pink “beauty marks,” have made her a favored character of some collectors. She has been a part of many of the major Marvel crossovers throughout the years since her introduction.

Read Blink’s bio on Marvel’s website

Comic Book Dollar Boxes: Current Importance

It was recently announced that the beautiful actress Fan Bingbing will portray Blink in “X-Men: Days of Future Past.” The movie is sure to raise more interest in the character as the movie gets closer. Once the movie hits, I am sure there will be few issues of Uncanny X-Men #317 left in any of the comic book dollar boxes in the country. If you find Uncanny X-Men #317 while looking through comic book dollar boxes – buy it.

The lesson to be learned is to never pass up on comic book dollar boxes because you never know what you might find.

Round 1 Block 3 Matchup Winners!

Mar. 17 Detroit Area Comic Book Store Comments Off

The third block of voting in Round 1 of the WonderWorldComics.com March Madness Contest has come to a close. Some of the winners in this block won by wide margins. Here are the results:

Updated March Madness 2013 Bracket

Match 17: Savage Wolverine vs. Uncanny Avengers

Savage Wolverine 51% Winner

Uncanny Avengers 49% Loser

Voting was going on in this matchup up until the last seconds of the poll being open. Fans of both books came out in the final moments with the tally going back and forth between Savage Wolverine and Uncanny Avengers. In the end, the solo book was victorious.

Match 18: All New X-Men vs. Thor

Thor 65% Winner

All New X-Men 35% Loser

All New X-Men kept the lead until the last ten minutes of voting when Thor fans were able to claim victory. One of the hottest titles in the Marvel NOW library has been sent packing. What might have happened if fans of the title had stuck around in the final hour?

Match 19: Batman vs. Earth 2

Batman 88% Winner

Earth 2 12% Loser

This matchup set a new WWC March Madness Contest tournament record. The 76 percentage points separating these two titles set a high bar for another matchup to attempt to beat. Batman took the early lead and defeated Earth 2. No matter what reality you are in, The Big Black Bat took out an entire alternate reality by himself.

Match 20: Batgirl vs. Teen Titans

Batgirl 79% Winner

Teen Titans 21% Loser

Teen Titans never had a chance in this one as Batgirl fans hit early. Teen Titans is out of the competition as another member of the Batman Family moves on to the second round with momentum.

Match 21: Saga vs. Angel and Faith

Saga 78% Winner

Angel and Faith 22% Loser

Angel and Faith fans must not have paid attention to their calendars as to which day their comic was having a matchup. Saga fans came out, voted, and went home knowing their favorite title would be moving out to faceoff again next week.

Match 22: Dr. Who vs. Star Trek

Dr. Who 72% Winner

Star Trek 28% Loser

I really thought this matchup was going to be closer as sci-fi fans battled for their favorite characters. In the end, Star Trek fans must have been floating in space. Maybe, Dr. Who fans just went back in time and made their opponents forget about voting.

Match 23: X-O Manowar vs. Sonic

Sonic 57% Winner

X-O Manowar 43% Loser

Simply put, this was one of the biggest upsets of the competition so far. Maybe voters thought I had pitted the fast food restaurant against X-O Manowar. Maybe there are that many Sonic fans out there. We will know for sure in Round 2.

Match 24: Archie vs. Neonomicon

Neonomicon 65% Winner

Archie 35% Loser

In the oddball matchup of the day, fans of Neonomicon knocked out one of the oldest titles in the competition. Many of us grew up reading Archie, but that does not matter in the WWC March Madness Contest. Only the final result truly matters.

All of the winners of the block will receive a 10% discount on Sunday 3/17/2013 in our Detroit comic book store.

Round 1 Block 2 Matchup Winners!

Mar. 15 Detroit Area Comic Book Store no comments

Block 2 of the Round 1 matchups in the WonderWorldComics.com March Madness Contest is now over and there were some interesting matchups with unpredicted outcomes.

March Madness 2013 Bracket after Block 2

Match 9: The Avengers vs. Captain America

The Avengers 79% Winner

Captain America 21% Loser

Maybe there is something with the first slot in the contest which curses one of the competitors. Iron Man and The Fantastic Four were in the first slot during Block 1 and the Golden Avengers beat Reed’s team by 60 percentage points. This time, The Avengers whipped Captain America by 58. Earth’s Mightiest Heroes took the lead early, and Ol’ Cap never had a chance.

Match 10: Deadpool vs. Young Avengers

Young Avengers 54% Winner

Deadpool 46% Loser

Fans of the Merc with a Mouth and the Up-and-Comers put up a hard fight which went all the way until the moment the polls closed in our most-contested matchup of Block 2. In the end, The Young Avengers had more voters in the eleventh hour than Deadpool did and a favored son of the brackets has lost in upset.

Match 11: Detective Comics vs. Superman

Detective Comics 68% Winner

Superman 32% Loser

The Darkness vs. The Light. The Protector of Gotham vs. The Protector of Metropolis. Whatever you call them, Superman still lost. The Man of Steel was only ahead (from what I saw) for about 20 minutes in the middle of the first day. Detective Comics stayed ahead the rest of the time and proved once again, Batman should be the poster boy for DC and not Superman.

Match 12: Batman & Robin vs. Red Hood

Red Hood 58% Winner

Batman & Robin 42% Loser

Another major upset happened in this match as Red Hood took out the Caped Crusaders. Maybe the anger about the upcoming name changes to Batman & Robin upset voters here, but I am not sure. The Dynamic Duo had an early lead, but fans of Red Hood came out with force on the second day of voting.

Match 13: Transformers vs. Mind MGMT

Transformers 68% Winner

Mind MGMT 32% Loser

Mind MGMT never had a chance here. Transformers went ahead at the beginning of voting and Mind MGMT never had a chance to recover. It should be interesting to see how the Transformers take on Hellboy in Hell in the next round.

Match 14: Hoax Hunters vs. Hellboy in Hell

Hellboy in Hell 53% Winner

Hoax Hunters 47% Loser

Hoax Hunters led throughout the entire voting period up until the last hour. Hellboy’s fans waited in the bushes for the Hoax Hunters to exit for the night and struck with a vengeance. There was about a 25% change within the last hour of voting and the Hoax Hunters were sent packing.

Match 15: Dejah Thores vs. Mega Man

Mega Man 62% Winner

Dejah Thores 38% Loser

Ok, this one surprised me. While neither comic is a blockbuster, I would have figured voters would be more excited about casting for the sexy comic instead of for the throwback comic. I guess I was wrong. Dejah Thores had a lead through most of the matchup, but the Mega Man fans did not let up in the last six hours of voting.

Match 16: Game of Thrones vs. The Simpsons

Game of Thrones 59% Winner

The Simpsons 41% Loser

Talk about an oddball battle? Yes, I was drinking when I came up with this pairing and the Block 3 pairing of Archie vs. Neonomicon. This battle pit two comics with popular shows attached to their franchises. Again, The Simpsons had the lead throughout most of the competition until the last few hours when the Game of Thrones fans woke up for the evening.

So it appears that The Avengers, Young Avengers, Detective Comics, Red Hood, Transformers, Hellboy in Hell, Mega Man, and Game of Thrones will all be getting a 10% discount on 3/15/2012!

Agent Coulson Should Not Appear in Iron Man 3

Mar. 14 News, TV & Movies no comments

As opening day for “Iron Man 3” nears, more and more fans are talking about the possibility of Agent Coulson appearing in the movie. Marvel has stated that Tony Stark does not know Agent Coulson is still alive, and I do not see it as time for the multi-billionaire character to find out. There are better times for Clark Gregg’s character to return to the media version of the Marvel Universe.

Agent Coulson on “S.H.I.E.L.D.”

Agent Coulson will be on Marvel’s “S.H.I.E.L.D.” show if/when it appears on TV. The first episode would be the perfect time to bring the character back before the masses. Maybe when he appears on screen, one of the characters can point to the belief of his death at the hands of Loki. A colored rectangle could appear at the bottom of the screen reading “*See ‘The Avengers’ Secretive Stan,” and give a nod to the little editor memos in comics. His reintroduction on the show would help to drive ratings for Marvel’s return to live-action TV shows. If Agent Coulson appeared in “Iron Man 3,” it would cheapen his introduction on the show.

Agent Coulson “Guardians of the Galaxy”

There is a variant possibility for the reintroduction of Agent Coulson. Why not put him in “Guardians of the Galaxy?” That movie is going to need an extra push since the public at-large is not familiar with the team. Even though there is a bigger push right now for the team with their new comic coming out within weeks (see the Detroit area variant of the first issue here), most people do not go into comic book stores, so they will not understand the importance of the team in the overall scope of the Marvel Universe. Agent Coulson might help to tie the movie in with the rest in the Marvel Universe.

Agent Coulson in “The Avengers 2”

How about Agent Coulson being kept off the big screen until “The Avengers 2?” Maybe he could be a secret member or leader of the TV team and only be reintroduced on the big screen in the next Avengers movie. They could continue to use his death as a rally call until then.

The Pop

The reintroduction of Agent Coulson will lead to one of the biggest pops the media side of Marvel has seen. The company needs to plan for this pop and set it for the time which will give the company the biggest boost. “Iron Man 3” is not the best time to place the pop. We already know the movie will be a blockbuster. It does not need the extra pop to help out.

Hidden Gems of the Warehouse: Pin-Up Girls

Mar. 14 Detroit Area Comic Book Store no comments

This article brings a new regular column to WonderWorldComics.com entitled “Hidden Gems of the Warehouse.” It will explore some of the gems we have in our warehouse you might not know about. In this first edition, we will take a look at “Metal Hurlant Proudly Presents Pin-Up Girls from Around the World.”

Metal Hurlant Proudly Presents Pin-Up Girls from Around the World

Fred Beltran is an artist who gained fame in the pages of Playboy for his pin-up art. This book explores some of his pin-up art. Each page introduces you to a new piece of artwork which represents women portrayed in pin-up style based on clothing or trends from other countries at the time.

Metal Hurlant Proudly Presents Pin-Up Girls from Around the World

Originally published in 2002, “Metal Hurlant Proudly Presents Pin-Up Girls from Around the World” includes an interview with the artist and over fifty pages of artwork which any pin-up enthusiast or comic book lover will enjoy.

Among the art, you will find a resemblance to Wonder Woman, a crewperson from the Starship Enterprise, alcohol ad-inspired art, and pin-up girls in costumes from all over Europe and Asia. “Metal Hurlant Proudly Presents Pin-Up Girls from Around the World” gives a wide-range of pictures to entice even the strictest pin-up enthusiast.

Metal Hurlant Proudly Presents Pin-Up Girls from Around the World

It is a hardcover book and would be a great book to display on a coffee table to get conversations started. I have one my my collection and suggest you take a look at “Metal Hurlant Proudly Presents Pin-Up Girls from Around the World” as well.

Metal Hurlant Proudly Presents Pin-Up Girls from Around the World

You can find “Metal Hurlant Proudly Presents Pin-Up Girls from Around the World” in our Amazon store by following this link.

Comic Book Collector’s Guide to Travelling

Mar. 14 Comic Book Collecting no comments

Comic book collectors look forward to trips to their local comic book store for new gems to add to their collections, but what about when they are on vacation? During my time as a writer, I have worked as a travel writer and found myself all over the country. There are certain tips I have for any comic book collector going on vacation.

Silver Age comics

Localized Market

While travelling around the country, I have figured out a few secrets of the industry. What is hot and what is not in the comic book market can sometimes depend on where you are in the country. Comics which are retailing for $50 in Detroit comic book stores might only be retailing for $10 in Las Vegas or in Florida. I always hit the stores in other cities to see which issues I can pick up for less.

Local Gems

When comic book publishing companies are starting out, they find they have an uphill battle in getting their titles on the racks of retailers across the country. They often start out by getting their titles on the racks of their local comic book stores. You might have the chance of picking up an issue created by an out-of-town publisher which could increase in value as word of the title crosses the country.

Signatures

Some comic book collectors will go out of their way to get a copy of their favorite comic signed by one of the creators. The signature market is odd because what has high value in one market might have vary little importance in another part of the country. Sometimes, signatures of local creators sell for less in their hometown than in other parts of the country. Other creators see their signatures go for a premium around the city where they grew up. The only way to see for sure is to head into a comic book store while you are travelling.

What I Bring

I always check to see where the local comic book stores are when I am traveling. I keep some bags and boards in my suitcase so I have them if I visit a shop which does not take the extra care with their issues. Depending on how many shops I will hit while on vacation, I will take between three and ten bags and boards to make sure I am prepared.

Comic book collectors are a strange bunch, but we should always be prepared for what we might find while out on the road.

DC Comics On Wrong Path Already This Year?

Mar. 14 Comics no comments

Bleeding Cool is reporting a rumor that DC Comics’ big September event will result in 16 titles being eliminated with four weekly titles which will feature the four main company “families.” Speculation is sure to run rampant in the upcoming months about which titles will get the axe, but this article is not meant to speculate. It is meant to poke DC Comics in the ribs a few times and maybe cause them to wake the [Censored] up and smell the [Censored] coffee.

This content is censored.

WTF is DC Comics Doing Now?

According to the rumors in the report, the sixteen titles will be replaced by four weekly titles with one each revolving around the families in the Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, and Justice League lines. The issues will have revolving creative casts. To make room, DC Comics will eliminate 16 titles, mostly from the bottom of the barrel and some (potentially) from the middle of the barrel.

Let’s Do Math

If DC Comics is going to eliminate 16 titles and replace them with four weekly titles, what the Hell are we gonna call it? The Newer 40? Note we are subtracting 16 from 52 to equal 36. When we add 4 more titles, we arrive at 40. Some company execs might be reading this and execs often prove they don’t know [Censored] about math.

Gravitational Pull

Does DC Comics honestly believe people are going to want to fill their pulls with weekly comics? The story style and artwork will be different with each issue, so there is little for fans to latch onto outside of the characters involved. Comic book readers gravitate towards comics which have creators they like and have become familiar with. This was proven years ago by such teams as Stan Lee and Jack [Censored] Kirby! One week, a strong team might be placed on the comic and a horrible one the next.

Market Stability

You cannot secure a place in the market if your purchase rate is going to go up and down week after week. Wake up! The market needs stability right now – not more ups and downs. DC Comics (Marvel you should listen up too), do you remember the up and down spikes in the 1990s? What happened to the [Censored] market when people got tired of the purchasing spikes? I kinda remember a market which got inundated with [Censored] and schlock which can’t even sell in $0.25 boxes today. Don’t do that to the market again.

What DC Needs to Do

Instead of simply axing sixteen comics, figure the[Censored] out why those comics are failing and breathe new life into them. National Allied Publications was founded in 1934 and was later rebranded as DC Comics. In almost 80 [Censored] years, the company has not learned how to resurrect a comic? Instead of shifting around the lines, DC should be focusing on getting readers involved again in their comics. I spent my entire life as a Marvelite, but the New 52 has won me over with most of my weekly pulls coming from DC instead of Marvel. Hey DC, if you can win me over, you can win over anyone if you just [Censored] try hard enough.

My Hope

I hope the elimination of titles and the introduction of weekly revolving comics is a rumor. Of course, nothing has come out from DC as contradicting it, so I am stuck being [Censored] [Censored] off about DC Comics going in the wrong direction. I just hope the rumors are wrong and DC Comics does not drop the [Censored] ball again.

Round 1 Block 1 Matchup Winners!

Mar. 13 Detroit Area Comic Book Store no comments

The turnout for the first block of voting for the WonderWorldComics.com March Madness Contest was absolutely amazing. Thousands of votes were cast from all over the Metro Detroit area, the country, and the world. Votes came in from 39 different states and 16 different countries. In total, 6,851 votes were cast on which comics would move on. Here is how the matchups played out:

Official Bracket. Click to enlarge.

Match 1: Iron Man vs The Fantastic Four

Iron Man 80% Winner

The Fantastic Four 20% Loser

Iron Man took the early lead in this one and held on until the bitter end. The 60% margin of victory was the largest span in the competition. I would have never thought that The Fantastic Four would do so poorly in this competition. Maybe the buzz over the upcoming Iron Man movie got the voters excited in this matchup.

Match 2: Green Lantern vs. Aquaman

Green Lantern 52% Winner

Aquaman 48% Loser

Aquaman had an early lead on Monday but was overtaken by the Green Lantern in the early afternoon. By Tuesday afternoon, Fishboy was getting crushed by the power of the ring. In the late evening, Aquaman’s fans battled back and put him in the lead. In the end, though, The Lantern was able to pull out the narrow victory.

Match 3: Superior Spider-Man vs. Cable and the X-Force

Superior Spider-Man 51% Winner

Cable and the X-Force 49% Loser

Superior Spider-Man squeeked out the narrowest victory in the first block of voting and won by only 7 votes! Cable got a jump on the web-slinger, but the combined minds of Doc Oc and Peter Parker (or the fans) brought this to completion. Looking at the brackets cast, Superior-Spiderman is favored to go deep in the competition. What will this narrow win mean in the next round?

Match 4: The Walking Dead vs. Buffy

The Walking Dead 58% Winner

Buffy 42% Loser

Talk about going down to the wire…The Walking Dead held a commanding lead through the first day of competition with the Buffy fans coming out in droves on the second day. This was the second most contested matchup and The Walking Dead was losing at 11pm on Tuesday night. Even though Buffy lost, I have to commend her fans for coming out so strong for their favored character. Will they come back for revenge in the second round?

If this had been a crossover comic, Rick would have snapped and the survivors would have faced a swift death from Buffy’s team. Someone (Andrea, Michonne, Carl, Glenn’s ghost) would have brought Rick around in the last moments to save the day. Either way, TWD moves on.

Match 5: G.I. Joe vs. Hack/Slash

G.I. Joe 59% Winner

Hack/Slash 41% Loser

Hack/Slash lost a narrow lead over G.I. Joe a few hours into voting and was never able to catch up. Larry Hama’s baby dominated its first round opponent. I can’t wait to see if the Joe team can dominate again in the voting and be a middle-seed victor.

Match 6: Nightwing vs. Batman Incorporated

Nightwing 69% Winner

Batman Incorporated 31% Loser

Batman Incorporated never had a chance in this one. Nightwing took a commanding lead early on and at one point, Batman’s team of crusaders only had 10% of the vote. The team was able to battle back, but could not come close to touching Grayson. Will this strength stay with Nightwing in the second round?

Match 7: Legend of OZ: Wicked West vs. Wonderland

Legend of OZ: Wicked West 52% Winner

Wonderland 48% Loser

Simply put – this was the most contested first round matchup. Big Dog Ink and Zenescope were able to rally their troops into a battle which will be discussed in Wonderworld for years. A little over 1/3rd of the overall votes cast in the first block were cast in this matchup. Legend of OZ: Wicked West and Wonderland went back and forth for hours until a huge outpouring came from the Zenescope camp. This was reciprocated by an even greater outpouring from Big Dog Ink. Zenescope had a huge push at the end, but it was not enough to catch up. There is a Cinderella Story to be told here. Big Dog Ink could take this comic far. Zenescope has another chance with Grimm Fairy Tales on Sunday. Let’s see how they do.

Match 8: Adventure Time vs. Bloodshot

Adventure Time 65% Winner

Bloodshot 35% Loser

Bloodshot had an early lead until this matchup began going back and forth on the first day. Tuesday morning saw an influx of votes for Adventure Time and then an influx for Bloodshot. It went back and forth throughout the day until the fans of the show had enough and just brought the BOOM! Many fans have Adventure Time going far in their brackets. They should be interesting to watch.

Remember, all winning comics will receive a 10% discount in the store on March 13, 2013!

Each win you correctly chose in your bracket will gain you 1 point in the contest.

Happy voting!

Digital Death Part II: Dark Reason Behind Digital Comics

Mar. 12 Comic Book Collecting, News no comments

In Digital Death Part I: Illegally Downloading Comic Books, we discussed the dangers of downloading comics and the negative impacts on the publishing companies (especially the smaller ones), the distributors, and the comic book stores. In this installment, we will look at another side of digital comics and the negative impact on the market. We will look at the secret intent of digital comics which Marvel and DC don’t want you to think about and what this intent will lead to.

The death of the comic book industry will be caused by digitally downloading comic books.

What If Digital Comics Took Over?

What if we all switched tomorrow to digital comics? Where would that leave the comic book stores and distributors like Diamond? There would not be a need for them in the end. There would not be a need for the printed pages since they were all digitally rendered. Marvel and DC would love to have the opportunity to cut out levels of distribution and eventually sell directly to the consumer. The Big 2 need their profits and if it means they would put over two thousand small businesses out of business, what do they care? What do they care if digital comics could cause for tens of thousands of people being added to the unemployment lines if they (Marvel and DC) can make more money?

Price and Cost of Digital Comics

Think about the profits Marvel and DC would gain if they did not have to give a piece of the action to the comic book stores and to the distributors. You might be saying “Well, the digital comics I have been buying are only $0.99. Marvel and DC can’t be making that much money.” Do you really think the Big 2 would leave the price of digital comics at $0.99 if the other levels of distribution were eliminated? Once the levels of distribution were eliminated, the price of the digital comics would go up to the price of printed versions, or higher.

Where Does this Leave Comixology?

Of course, Comixology and other digital distributors of comics are making some money now, but what is going to happen if Marvel and DC are able to eliminate physical distributors and comic book stores? Digital distributors would be next as the Big Two march towards complete domination of the market and sell the digital comics to you directly through their websites and apps.

Where Does this Leave Smaller Publishers?

Smaller publishers fight to get as much of the market as possible. Most of their push comes in the comic book stores as workers introduce you to titles from smaller companies you did not consider. Business also comes from Previews, which is published by Diamond. How long with Previews be around if Diamond was forced to go belly-up because of the domination of digital comics? The smaller companies would be casualties of the digital comics war between Marvel and DC.

Illegal Downloads

Again, we have to revert back to illegally downloading comics. With more digital comics out on the market, the downloaders would take their piece of the pie. The stage could be set for a battle where Marvel would have to team with DC to ensure the illegal downloaders did not completely kill the market. Funny, the Big Two would have to fight to keep the market they are killing alive.

Gone!

Gone would be the days of walking into a comic book store to peruse the shelves for new titles. Gone would be the discussions with comic book store workers about their suggestions. Gone would be the physical locations where you would go to talk about comics with other comic book fans. Gone would be the excitement of going through a long box at a store to see what hidden gems you can get for cheap.

Gone would be the experience of looking at a stack of new comics and trying to decide which to look at first. Gone would be the smell of a new comic and feeling the glossy pages on your fingers as you open it to see what the creators had in store. Gone would be the experience of reading a comic book…just so Marvel and DC could make a few extra dollars an issue.

The future of the industry is yours to decide. Will you stand there and do nothing like the Watcher, or will you jump in and say “I’m as mad as Hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore!?”

Views on Marvel’s SXSW Announcements

Mar. 12 Comic Book Collecting, News no comments

With all the action associated with the WonderWorldComics March Madness Contest, I have not had time to discuss Marvel’s announcements at SXSW over the weekend. There are four videos which have the comic book community talking. Follow this link to see the videos.

Captain America’s Shield

Marvel Infinite Comics

Marvel is introducing a new type of digital comics which you peruse by swiping on a digital device. According to the video, it appears that you progress the frames or add images to the frames to progress the comic by swiping. My EX Level (Excitement Level) is at about a 2 out of ten on this one.

What bothers me most about this is when the one presenter in the video states “I usually buy my comics at the store…” Marvel is finally making a statement about the hidden goal of digital comics. Why does Marvel want to introduce another alternative to purchasing comics in the stores? Read Digital Death Part II to find out why.

Marvel’s Project Gamma

The next Marvel announcement at SXSW was Project Gamma. Adaptive audio for comic books? Really? In the first two announcements, Marvel is introducing or hinting at two types of shtick to get people to read digital comics? I don’t need adaptive audio to immerse myself in a comic book. I need a good comic book. I need strong writing and beautiful artwork which portrays characters I care about. Why don’t comic book companies ever remember this? Marvel’s Project Gamma has my EX Level at about a -4 out of 10.

Marvel AR

Ok, Marvel AR appears to be interesting as it will give you behind the scenes interviews and information about the week’s comics. My Ex Level is at about 5 on this one. As long as they don’t revert to endless skits here, it should be fine. Interviews about inspiration and what the creators wanted to deliver with the comics could increase readership of certain comics as readers gain extra knowledge about titles they had not considered. If Marvel does not drop the ball in the first few episodes or offerings (which companies have the tendency to do), this could be pretty damn awesome.

Marvel’s Earth’s Mightiest Show

If you say the name Blair Butler, my Ex Level automatically goes to a 9. Sorry, I have a nerd crush on her and have for a long time. The comedian, and comic book geek, will host a show which will explore the Marvel universe through interviews and comedy. I have followed her career since her early days as a correspondent on G4 and hope Marvel can make this work. I will be watching this – even if it is horrible – simply because I like Blair Butler. Her style of comedy might turn some viewers off. Her comedy is clean, but it can be a little unusual. This was my favorite announcement of the weekend.

The Governor on The Walking Dead Needs to Die in Season 3

Mar. 08 TV & Movies no comments

I overheard a discussion the other day between two fans of the Walking Dead franchise which quickly turned into an argument about The Governor. One fans believed The Governor and the residents of Woodbury should be carried over into Season 4 of “The Walking Dead” while the other fan believed the character should be killed off at the end of the current season. To follow along the lines of the show so far, The Governor needs to die in Season 3.

The Governor on “The Walking Dead”

New Locations for “The Walking Dead”

Each season of “The Walking Dead” has presented new challenges for Rick and the survivors and a new location. Remember, the first season took place mostly in the camp while the second season focused on life on the farm. Season 3 of “The Walking Dead” put them in the jail. To keep cohesion in the show, the survivors need to be forced out of the jail somewhere at the end of the season. If the survivors are no longer at the jail, it should pose for closure in the storylines with The Governor as well.

New Challenges

The first season was about Rick finding his family and proving to them that he would keep them safe. It was an opening season in which Grimes tried to figure out what was going on and her put his game face on for the first time. The second season was about trying to find a home and return to some type of normalcy. Instead of the struggles being physical, most of the struggles were mental as Rick tried to straighten himself out with Lori and take command of the group from Shane. Shane became a greater obstacle for Rick than the walkers and Shane was taken care of permanently as the season was coming to a close. So too should it be with The Governor as he represents a change into the survivors having to worry more about people than about the dead.

The Stale Argument

Some fans of The Walking Dead in comic book form might argue that The Governor has to die to keep cohesion with the comic. The creators of the show do not have to follow the same rules as the comic, but they should follow the same rules that have been set in previous seasons. It is time to close the book on Woodbury and The Governor and move on to another volume in the life or Rick Grimes and in the lives of the survivors he takes care of. The Governor needs to die sometime in the next few weeks, and before the final credits roll on Season 3 of “The Walking Dead.”

Round 1 Schedule of WWC March Madness Contest

Mar. 08 Detroit Area Comic Book Store no comments

Below is the opening round schedule for the WonderWorldComics.com March Madness Contest. I have a few things to tell you first:

Voting for each of these matchups will begin between 8:00am and 9:00am on the scheduled morning. Voting on each matchup will continue until midnight the following night. You will have around 40 hours to vote on the matchups before a break for the following matchups.
Each correctly chosen matchup will award one (1) point to your total score.
You may vote once per visit in the store and can vote unlimited times on the website. After voting on the website, all you have to do is submit and refresh your browser or visit another page to vote again.
Any comic receiving a win in the first round will be eligible for a 10% discount the following day after the matchup. You get to determine the sales in our Detroit area comic book store!
The winners of the previous day will be listed on the website around the same time as voting begins for the following matchups.
It was originally stated that there would be five matchups each day and that there would be 24 hours to vote on each. The changes here supersedes the original rules
To see the original announcement and rules, please follow this link.
To see tips on making the selections in your bracket, please follow this link.
Completed forms must be into the store or emailed to Larry@WonderWorldComics.com no later than midnight on Sunday, March 10, 2013. They can also be dropped off at the Wonderworld booth at King Kon on March 9, 2013.

Round 1 Schedule:

Monday, March 11, 2013 – Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Superior Spider-Man vs. Cable and X-Force

Iron Man vs. Fantastic Four

Green Lantern vs. Aquaman

Batman Incorporated vs. Nightwing

Walking Dead vs. Buffy

Hack/Slash vs. G.I. Joe

The Legend of Oz: Wicked West* vs. Wonderland

Adventure Time vs. Bloodshot

Wednesday, March 13, 2013 – Thursday, March 14, 2013

Avengers vs. Captain America

Deadpool vs. Young Avengers

Detective Comics vs. Superman

Batman & Robin vs. Red Hood

Transformers vs. Mind MGMT

Hoax Hunters vs. Hellboy in Hell

Dejah Thores vs. Mega Man

Game of Thrones vs. The Simpsons

Friday, March 15, 2013 – Saturday, March 16, 2013

Savage Wolverine vs. Uncanny Avengers

All New X-Men vs. Thor

Batman vs. Earth 2

Batgirl vs. Teen Titans

Saga vs. Angel and Faith

Dr. Who vs. Star Trek

X-O Manowar vs. Sonic

Archie vs. Neonomicon

Sunday, March 17, 2013 – Monday, March 18, 2013

Hawkeye vs. Uncanny X-Force

Indestructible Hulk vs. Ne w Avengers

Justice League vs. Wonder Woman

Action Comics vs. Batman The Dark Knight

Star Wars vs. The Massive

Chew vs. Invincible

Grimm Fairy Tales vs. Masks

Crossed Badlands vs. Harbinger

*Accidently entered as OZ Wild Wild West on ballot. Sorry BDI.

Official Bracket. Click to enlarge.

Hulk Rumors: I Don’t Want Another Hulk Movie…Ever

Mar. 07 TV & Movies no comments

If you are hoping for another Hulk movie, today is a bad day for you. Bleeding Cool is reporting that Mark Ruffalo has tweeted that fans should not expect to see him as the Hulk again until “Avengers 2.” Rumors have floated around for weeks about a potential Planet Hulk or World War Hulk movie. I am happy those Hulk rumors are being put to rest because I don’t want another Hulk movie.

The Hulk

Finding the Balance

Quite frankly, I don’t think there should ever be another Hulk movie because it is almost impossible to make a strong movie around the character. To do so, the creators of a Hulk movie have to find a perfect balance between showing the Hulk and Dr. Banner. The original TV show found a successful timing formula in only showing Ol’ Greenie for about ten minutes an episode. With the Marvel movie market, that would equate to about 25 minutes of the Hulk in a two hour movie. Fans would not go for it.

The Boredom Factor of a Hulk Movie

In “The Avengers,” Whedon found a great 50/50 balance for the Hulk and Banner, but that might be too much smashing over two hours of his own movie. Even though I am a fan of the Hulk, I found myself bored during the first two modern-day attempts at a Hulk movie because you can only watch a creature smash stuff for so long before you want to walk away. That is probably why the levels were so short in the Rampage arcade game. I paid money to be bored by too much smashing and I am not about to do it again.

Supporting Characters

The Hulk is better as a supporting character in “The Avengers 2” or in another Marvel movie. Thor, Captain America, and Iron Man can all headline their own movies but would you really want to see a Black Widow movie? Ok, I would as long as Marvel broke their own rules and gave us a Scarlett Johansson nude scene – but that ain’t gonna happen. Hawkeye could have a decent movie but Marvel movie creators don’t apparently care about the character since they have refused to develop him so far. I digress.

The Hulk is a strong secondary character to bring out when major muscle is needed. Remember, the original show “The Incredible Hulk” was more of an exploration into the Banner character than the Hulk. Leave it that way. Let Ruffalo continue to be play the supporting character everyone is going to talk about. Too bad, though, that we won’t see him until “The Avengers 2.” He would have had great cameo potential. Just please, Marvel, don’t make any of us ever sit through another Hulk movie again.

Why Expensive Comics Should Fit Into Your Comic Book Collection

Mar. 07 Comic Book Collecting no comments

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Comic Book Reprint vs. Second Print Run

Mar. 07 Comic Book Collecting no comments

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Digital Death Part I: Illegally Downloading Comic Books

Mar. 06 Comic Book Collecting, News Comments Off

As a comic book fan and as a fan of the comic book industry, nothing scares me more about the future of the industry than hearing about people downloading digital comics. This post begins a series which will continue over the coming weeks about why you should be nervous about digital comics as well. This first article covers the how illegally downloading comic books really hurts the comic book industry.

The death of the comic book industry will be caused by digitally downloading comic books.

Marvel and DC Comics and Illegally Downloading Comic Books

The Big 2 will be the first to cry about illegally downloading comic books. They argue about how their bottom line is harmed by people plugging into torrent and other file sharing sites. One day, they might join with music and movie companies and try to stamp out all illegal downloads. In the end, even with people illegally downloading comics, both Marvel and DC have huge companies behind them in Disney and Warner Bros. They will have the money to pull out of this pit.

The 5%ers and Illegally Downloading Comic Books

The companies such as Image, Dark Horse, and IDW will have a much harder time battling people who are illegally downloading comic books. They do not have the money holding them up that the Big 2 do. I can easily see a day in which these companies, and their titles, could become a thing of the past because of people who would rather steel a digital copy of a comic than spend $2.99 on it. Their bottom lines are hurt more than those at Marvel or DC.

The Independents and Illegally Downloading Comic Books

The first companies which would succumb to the digital death of the comic book industry would be the smaller independent publishers. While the argument might be made that a downloader might be more willing to download a Marvel title than one by Big Dog Ink might work in some circumstances, it would not work in end. Again, Marvel and DC have more money holding them up and a company which holds 1% of the market or less needs every sale to make the company work. In the grand scheme of the market, illegally downloading one or two comics from an independent company could have the same impact as downloading tens of thousands of comics from Marvel or DC.

The Creators and Illegally Downloading Comic Books

WHEN the smaller companies succumb to the digital death of comics, what will happen to all of the creators? Artists, inkers, colorists, writers, and editors will all have to look for work. With less smaller companies out there, there will be more creators looking for work. More of a supply or workers and less of a demand for creators will eventually equal out to creators making less money and finding it hard to support their families. See what type of hell “just a few downloads” could equal?

The Distributors and Illegally Downloading Comic Books

As the market shifts more towards digital comics, there becomes less of a need for distributors. By illegally downloading comic books, you are putting the jobs of workers at Diamond and other distributors at risk. You are taking a few links out of the supply chain when visiting a torrent site. Is someone downloading a few comics really setting someone up for losing a job?

The Comic Book Stores and Illegally Downloading Comic Books

The next time you are in a comic book store, look at the workers for a moment. As you are looking around the room, think about the conversations you have started up with them in the past. Did one of them suggest a comic you ended up loving? Did one ever help you find a rare comic or point out a sale you might have missed? Illegally downloading comic books will put these people out of a job. They will ultimately be the first people to succumb to the digital death of the industry.

The cute girl who everyone thinks they might have a chance with

The guy who could tell you everything you need to know about a particular character

The girl who can tell you about all of the hot new comics coming out next week

The guy who always reminds you about how much you love comic books

They would all be out of a job due to illegally downloading comic books.

What You Can Do About People Illegally Downloading Comic Books

First off, don’t illegally download comic books. Every copy you put on your computer gives a chance of someone ultimately losing a job. What you might think is a few dollars here and there adds up with the few dollars other people are stealing.

If you have a friend who is illegally downloading comic books, point out how OUR favorite industry will shrink and eventually die by their actions. If you can help to discourage the downloading of comics, these scenarios could be overcome and become alternative histories which could have happened instead of marks in history which did happen.

Batman & Robin Name Changes and My Mixed Feelings

Mar. 06 Comics, News no comments

So Bleeding Cool is reporting that upcoming issues of Batman & Robin will go under different names as other members of the family are rotated into team-ups with Batman in the wake of Robin’s death. I have mixed feelings about this.

Batman Incorporated

Schedule

Batman & Red Robin #19

Batman & Red Hood #20

Batman & Batgirl #21

Batman & Catwoman #22

Batman & Nightwing #23

The Positives

On the positive side, readers of Batman & Robin will be exposed to more members of the Bat Family and there is a potential to increase sales slightly among the other titles. Maybe someone will read #21 and gain a better understanding of Batgirl and decide to start reading her title.

The Speculation

We have to agree that speculation is one of the fun aspects of comic book reading. The change each month will help to keep the title fresh as DC Comics transitions with the title. Over the next few months, we are sure to speculate about how the title will change. Will Damian somehow come back to the Bat’s side? Will the title become a team-up title with Batman taking different allies in each issue?

The Negatives

First off, I feel sorry for anyone on the store level who is going to have to figure out how this is going to work in a database which keeps track of pulls. Remembering that the team-ups are the same as Batman & Robin might be easy for a reader to remember, but this is another hurdle which someone who has to keep tabs on hundreds of titles has to keep in mind.

How many fans who do not read online stories about comic books are going to become confused by the Batman & Robin name changes? Someone might simply walk by the Batman & Red Hood issue and think it is a title they had not heard of. While many fans keep up with the machinations of the comic book industry, we cannot assume everyone does.

Variables of WWC March Madness Contest

Mar. 05 Detroit Area Comic Book Store no comments

Many people have been talking about the WonderWorldComics March Madness Contest and have asked for tips on picking a strong bracket. Instead of telling you who you should pick to win, I can open your eyes to some of the factors and variables you might not have considered. In actuality, I don’t have any more clue than you on which comics will win in the end.

Official Bracket. Click to enlarge.

Style of Selection

Are you going to pick winners based on your favorite comics or are you going to choose winners based on which comics would logically win each matchup in the WonderWorldComics.com March Madness Contest? These factors should influence your decisions.

Voting

Remember, anyone can vote in the WonderWorldComics March Madness Contest. It does not matter if they entered the contest themselves. Many creators and publishers know about this contest and I am expecting that at least some of them will tell their fans to vote for specific titles. A smaller publication could make a major upset.

Number of Votes

Remember that you can vote in either the store or online. Voting online is unlimited whereas voting in the store is on a once-per-day basis. Will one of the creators encourage his or her fans to overwhelm the voting? Only time will tell.

Ties

Remember that if there is a tie during a matchup, the winner will be determined by the most recent sales totals. Should you select your winners by sales just in case there is a tie?

The Winner

Are you going to hold out for your favorite title in the finals to make sure your favorite title gains the 25% discount for a week? Are you going to try to vote for an unpopular title in the matchup to make the sales appear odd?

What other variables in the WonderWorldComics.com March Madness Contest can you think of?

Follow this link for the official announcement and rules

Pre-New 52 Reversion a Possibility for DC Comics?

Mar. 05 Comics, News no comments

Ever since DC Comics brought their characters in the New 52, fans have worried about a reversion back to the pre-New 52 days. Any little “disturbance” which comes along gets fans wondering. Fans need some kind of guarantee from DC Comics that the company will not revert back to the pre-New 52 storylines.

DC’s WTF

One of the rumors I have seen floating around is that somehow DC’s WTF will hint at a possible reversion back to the pre-New 52 days. Maybe the reintroduction of Booster Gold will place some type of break in the new reality. We know that a team will disappear, but where will they disappear to? Could this simply something pointing to how Justice League Dark is trapped in another reality, or something more?

The War of the Trinity of Sin

War is brewing between the three members of the Trinity of Sin. The Question, Pandora, and the Phantom Strange could destroy reality in their upcoming battle. Could that send the comics back into the pre-New 52 era?

What DC Needs to Do

I would love DC to make some type of symbolic move to state once and for all that the New 52 is here to stay. They can state their intentions to keep the New 52 as the status quo, but there will still be rumors. Fans need a definitive action from the company to ensure the rumors or a pre-New 52 reversion finally die once and for all.

Why DC Need to Do It

I spoke with a customer recently who is leery about continuing with titles in the New 52 because of his worry about a reversion. He worries his collection might become worthless if the publishing company reverts back to where the storylines were a few years ago. For every one fan like this I talk to, I can almost guarantee there are hundreds more out there with the same concern. The concern will continue to grow until the pre-New 52 DC Universe is gone.

How DC Could Do It

May, during the war among the Trinity of Sin, the Trinity could open up a portal to the pre-New 52 era. Somehow, they would need to destroy it or completely lock it off. Either way, fans need to know that “door” is closed for good.

Superman and Batman: Views on Humanity

Mar. 05 Characters no comments

Superman and Batman are as opposite as two crime fighters could possibly be. This series has explored some of the various ways in which the two characters differ in their perspectives on life. This article continues the series by exploring Superman’s view of humanity and comparing it to Batman’s view.

Superman and Batman

Superman’s View of Humanity

Kal-El believes humanity is a state of purity in the universe. He fights crime in order to preserve the innocence and ideal of humanity. His love for humanity has progressed to the point in which he has wished himself to be human. There have been a few instances in which he has obtained humanity for a short time only to realize his place in the universe is to preserve and to save humanity and not to every fully become part of it.

Batman’s View of Humanity

Batman tries to hide his own humanity under the caul of his batsuit. Humanness is a sign of weakness since humans feel pain and other emotions which get in the way of any goal. A bat does not feel love or sadness, it survives. Bruce Wayne pushes others aside because he does not want to intertwine with someone else’s humanity. It has been said that the night is not the place for a person. He strives in an environment which average people would shun. The darkness symbolizes a lack of humanity so it is the perfect place for the Dark Knight.

Superman sees humanity and humanness as a strength and as something which should be preserved for as long as possible. Batman sees humanity and humanness as something which should be shunned and avoided as much as possible. Complete opposites for sure. We should all expect this difference to be exploited in Batman/Superman when it comes out later this year.

Batman/Superman: Differences in Fighting Crime

Batman and Superman: DC’s Yin and Yang

MODOK: Symbolism of Pure Evil of Science

Mar. 05 Characters Comments Off

MODOK is an interesting character as he is overflowing in symbolism. Have you ever taken a moment to think about the deeper meanings behind the character? Did you realize MODOK is more than just a giant head floating around?

MODOK

MODOK Symbolizes Dangers of Science

When MODOK first hit the scene in 1967, science fiction writers were returning to the sub-genre of sci-fi which warned about what could happen if technology went unchecked. With MODOK, we see a program which went unchecked and ran amok to the point in which it overwhelmed its creators and turned towards evil. Could our “thinking” appliances emerging on the market right now become sentient and attempt to control us?

MODOK Symbolizes Dangers of Mixing Man with Machine

MODOK is a classic example about what might go wrong if we were to intermingle man directly with a machine. Cyborg technology was a long way off in the late 1960s (and it still is today), but could the technology do more harm than good? Good the direct intermingling of man and machine cause the human side to lose the connections with humanity?

The Perfect Weapon

Over the centuries, counties have attempted to dehumanize the enemy. Adolf Hitler tried to portray non-Aryans as sub-quality humans. The Japanese portrayed Americans as people that would overwhelm the country with the sole purpose of raping the women, torturing the men, and enslaving the children. On the flip-side, the American government portrayed all Germans, Italians, and Japanese (not just their leaders) as soulless people who only cared about world domination.

Be separating humanity from a villain, the character becomes a symbol of pure evil. Without a grasp on humanity, a character appears as an agent of unwavering evil and infallible to any discussion. Essentially, our governments revert to the medieval technique of comparing anything evil to Satan or the demonic. Since MODOK is devoid of any emotion other than hate, he does not have a hold on humanity and would be a perfect representation of the demonic – which makes him even scarier.

Marvel.com Listing

When Should Marvel Phase 4 Movies Be Announced?

Mar. 05 TV & Movies no comments

Marvel Phase 2 movies will kick-off with “Iron Man 3” and we already know Phase 3 will at least be populated with movies about Doctor Strange and Ant-Man. With the success of the Marvel Phase 1 movies, it makes sense to plan as far ahead as possible. When, though, should be begin talking about Phase 4?

Phase 3 Timing

Note, the first official announcement about the Phase 3 movies began in the months leading up to the beginning of Phase 2. Within the last handful of weeks, we finally received the confirmation about “Ant-Man” and “Doctor Strange.” While rumors have circulated about these projects for years, the official word was held closer to the beginning of Phase 2.

Phase 4 Announcement

I do not believe we should hear anything official about Phase 4 until we are about to begin Phase 3. Marvel should hold with the tradition and keep people guessing for as long as possible. The timing was perfect with the Marvel Phase 3 announcements, and should carry over.

The One Kicker

If Marvel makes an official announcement on any movie, and cannot deliver on time, they are going to have to rethink their announcement schedule. So far they are spot-on, but they have to make sure all of their ducks are in a row. Fans (especially comic book fans) rarely forget mistakes and can hold them against a company for a very long time.

Penguin: Differences With Rest of Batman’s Rogues Gallery

Mar. 03 Characters no comments

There were many changes made to characters in the transition to DC’s New 52, but certain basic points about the Penguin remained the same. While all of the members of Batman’s Rogue’s Gallery are original, there are certain aspects of the Penguin’s character which completely separate him from the other members of the group.

Penguin

Funding

Have you ever wondered how members of Batman’s Rogues Gallery make money? Of course, they all have budding schemes, but how do they afford their henchmen? For the most part, DC avoids the issue by saying Joker has a cult-like following or different baddies have “secret investors.” Usually, the question is completely avoided and we just jump right into the story.

The original Penguin, Burgess Meridith’s portrayal on the 1960’s TV show, and the New 52 version are all businessmen. He is one of the few members of Batman’s Rogues Gallery which makes his own money through a network of nefarious businesses. He might make money from an umbrella company in Gotham or he might make money off of the stock market. Either way, he does not need to commit crime to be rich. Only to become unbelievably rich.

Penguin’s Drive Towards Crime

Two-Face’s ambition to commit crimes is typically driven by revenge for what happened to him in the past. The Joker’s crimes usually revolve around getting at Batman or making money so that he can bring the Big Black Bat down. Harley Quinn was usually driven towards committing crimes to profess her love for Joker while Catwoman pretty much only knew a life of crime.

Penquin is different from the other members of Batman’s Rogues Gallery in the fact that he is driven towards crime out of greed. Sure, he finds he sometimes has to gain revenge against the other members of the gallery (as we see in Arkham Asylum) but the majority of his crimes are performed in the hope of gaining more territory in Gotham or for making him as rich as possible. We could say that his drive is one of the cleanest of all in the gallery.

Penguin’s Sanity

Try to name a member of Batman’s Rogues Gallery which is sane other than Penguin? Joker and Harley are completely insane and could not even be considered as remotely sane. The argument could be made that Bane and Killer Croc can’t be considered as insane or sane since they both simply refer to animal-like instincts. Two-Face, Riddler, and the Mad Hatter are well out of the realm of sanity as are Scarecrow and Poison Ivy. Penguin is the only sane one of the bunch.

The next time you read a story about Penguin, think about how he differs from the other members of Batman’s Rogues Gallery. Instead of being a criminal driven by insane goals, he just wants to make as much money as possible. Batman is not always a target, but is always in the way of Penguin’s next score.

Pulp Collecting: How Ebay Killed the Market

Mar. 03 Comic Book Collecting no comments

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Fan Fiction vs. Property-Based Comic Books

Mar. 03 Comics no comments

I found myself in a conversation yesterday in the store about comics which are based on TV shows or movies and fan fiction. The customer believed comics such as Dr. Who, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Star Wars were nothing more than glorified fan fiction. I explained how this could not be further from the truth.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

What is Fan Fiction?

Fan fiction is comprised of stories which the fans of a show or movie have written in the hope of bringing themselves and readers closer to the characters. Typically, fan fiction does not have the approval of the original creators of the characters and typically do not make money. A simple search of Google will turn up thousands of fan sites for everything from “Firefly” to “Dr. Who” to “Bladerunner.” I do not wish to talk down about fan fiction, but most of it is pretty bad. You can find a diamond here and there, but most of the fanboys and fangirls who write fan fiction have no experience whatsoever.

Difference of Comics Based on Established Products

The comic books on the market based on established properties from outside of the typical realm of comics, such as Star Wars and Buffy have the blessings of the original creators. While the content might not be considered as complete canon law when it comes to the characters being portrayed, don’t you think Disney would speak up if Dark Horse took an established character from the Star Wars Universe down the wrong path? If Yoda became an alcoholic or Ben Kenobi was portrayed as a pedophile, there would be major disruptions in the force and potentially in court.

Sometimes, the original creator of a property gets directly involved in the comic book based off of his or her property. Just think about how the Firefly comic might be different if Joss Whedon had not taken the lead on the title.

The storylines in these comics are developed over months and have the input of many different creators. Fan fiction is usually the work of one person who does not have the blessings of anyone involved in the original project. If you ever hear someone making an analogy between fan fiction and comics, make sure you set him or her on the right path.

WWC March Madness Contest

Mar. 01 Comics, Detroit Area Comic Book Store Comments Off

WonderWorldComics.com March Madness Contest

In a Nutshell

The WonderWorldComics.com March Madness Contest is officially underway! We are pitting 64 comics in the store in a tournament fight to the death! Well, maybe not to the death – but you get the picture. Read on for an explanation, rules and the brackets!

Between now and March 10, 2013, you can stop by the store and fill out a tournament bracket. You can also edit the bracket pictures here and email them to me at Larry@WonderWorldComics.com to be eligible. Points will be awarded for each winning selection with the player with the most points at the end of the contest winning a $50 Wonderworld Comics gift card! If anyone has a perfect bracket (all winners on all sides chosen), he or she will win a $100 Wonderworld Comics gift card! See the rules below about what would happen if there are ties or multiple winners.

During the days of the contest, matchups will be listed in the store and on the website. Visitors to the store or to the website can vote for who they think should win each matchup. Any comic winning a matchup will go on sale the next day in the store! Even if you did not fill out a bracket form, you can still vote and you can still receive the discount as long as you make the purchase on the appropriate day!

• Winning comics making it to the second round will receive a 10% discount in the store the day after the winning matchup.

• Winning comics making it to the Sweet Sixteen round will receive a 10% discount in the store the day after the winning matchup.

• Winning comics making it to the Elite Eight round will receive a 15% discount in the store the day after the winning matchup.

• Winning comics making it to the Final Four will receive a 15% discount in the store the day after the winning matchup.

• Winning comics making it to the WWC Championship round will receive a 20% discount in the store the day after the winning matchup.

• The WWC Champion comic will receive a 25% discount in the store for the seven days following the contest.

In other words, one of the matchups will be Batman vs. Earth 2. If Batman wins, Batman comics in the store will go on sale the next day (and only the next day) for 10% off. Let’s say Batman wins against Nightwing a few rounds later, Batman comics will then receive a 15% discount the following day! The WWC Champion will go on sale for the seven days following the tournament at a $25 discount.

Note, the discount only applies to comics. If Star Wars wins a round do not expect a discount on the classic ships we have in stock. Merchandise outside of comics does not apply. Of course, if you win a Wonderworld Comics gift card, you can spend it on anything in the store.

If you have any questions, ask the workers in the store or leave a comment for me below. Have fun! Matchups begin on March 11 so get your bracket filled out already!

Official Rules and Stuff

How to Play

Anyone can play the WonderWorldComics.com March Madness Contest by filling out an official bracket sheet in the Detroit location, or by emailing a completed form to Larry@WonderWorldComics.com. All bracket forms must be complete for consideration and must be received in the store or online by midnight on March 10, 2013. Only one form may be filled out per player.

Official Bracket. Click to enlarge.

The Matchups

The winner of each matchup will be determined by voters in the store or through WonderWorldComics.com. A listing of the day’s matchups will be listed in the store for voting. Matchups will also be listed in the right sidebar of the website for convenient voting. You can vote once per visit per visit in the store. You may vote once per visit to the website. You can visit both the store and the website multiple times during a day. Even if you did not complete a WonderWorldComics.com March Madness Contest form, you may still vote on the matchups.

Marvel Bracket. Click to enlarge.

Points

Those who have filled out WonderWorldComics.com March Madness Contest forms will receive one point for each winning selection made for the first round. Three points will be awarded for each correct selection in the second round. Five points will be given for each correct selection in Sweet Sixteen round. 8 points will be awarded for each correct selection in the Elite 8 round. Each selection you have correct for the Final Four will grant 11 points. Correct selections making it into the Championship round will equal 15 points. Twenty-five points will be awarded for correctly selecting the champion.

DC Comics Bracket. Click to enlarge.

Prizes

The player with the highest number of accumulated points at the end of the tournament will win a $50 Wonderworld Comics gift certificate. In the case of a tie, the winner will be randomly selected.

If a player picks the winners of all of the matchups in the tournament, (s)he will win a $100 Wonderworld Comics gift certificate.

Any comic which wins a matchup will be approved for a discount the following business day. The WWC Champion comic will be approved for a discount for the following week of business.

5% Bracket. Click to enlarge.

Discounts

Winning comics making it to the second round will receive a 10% discount in the store the day after the winning matchup.
Winning comics making it to the Sweet Sixteen round will receive a 10% discount in the store the day after the winning matchup.
Winning comics making it to the Elite Eight round will receive a 15% discount in the store the day after the winning matchup.
Winning comics making it to the Final Four will receive a 15% discount in the store the day after the winning matchup.
Winning comics making it to the WWC Championship round will receive a 20% discount in the store the day after the winning matchup.
The WWC Champion comic will receive a 25% discount in the store for the seven days following the contest.

Announcement of Matchup Winners

A list will be in the store by noon each day of the previous day’s matchup winners. A listing will also be provided on the WonderWorldComics.com website. There will also be a small blurb about what happened during the matchup.

Independent Bracket. Click to enlarge.

The Quickies

Employees of Wonderworld Comics or WonderWorldComics.com and their immediate families may play in the Contest and/or vote, but are not eligible for prizes.

In the case of a voting tie during a matchup, the comic with higher unit sales in the previous month will win.

There is no purchase necessary for participating in the Contest or voting in the WonderWorldComics.com March Madness Contest.

Anyone filling out a WonderWorldComics.com March Madness Contest form is required to provide a valid phone number for contact upon potential winning. The phone number will be destroyed after prizes are claimed and will not be used for any other purpose.

Winners of prizes will be determined by Wonderworld Comics and no alternative prizes will be awarded than those listed.

Wonderworld Comics and WonderWorldComics.com reserves the right to change the rules to include any wording or qualifiers overlooked during initial planning.

Your Comic Collection Connection

Archive for: March 2013

WTF Certified is a Big Event?

Marvel Off and Running

What DC Needs to Do

How a Comic Book Convention Map Saves You Time

How a Comic Book Convention Map Can Save You Money

How a Comic Book Convention Map Can Make You Popular

But I Don’t Have Room for a Comic Book Convention Map

Before it Began

The Quirks of The Governor on The Walking Dead

The Darkness

Character Focus Shift

The Numbers

Biggest Bracket Upset

The Championship

What Won March Madness?

Next Year

Mutant Term

Marvel Inclusion Through Mutant Statement

Statement to Fans

Thank You Marvel

March Madness Final Four Match 1: Young Avengers vs. The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead 63% Winner

Young Avengers 37% Loser

March Madness Final Four Match 2: The Legend of OZ: Wicked West vs. Batman

The Legend of OZ: Wicked West 60% Winner

Batman 40% Loser

The Walking Dead vs. The Legend of OZ: Wicked West

The Discount

The Bracket Winner

What Are Main Comic Book Convention Hotels?

The Celebrity Opportunities at Main Comic Book Convention Hotels

Opportunities with Vendors at Main Comic Book Convention Hotels

Main Comic Book Convention Hotels Which are Hosting

Comic Book Convention Deals: The Way it Was

Comic Book Convention Deals: Why it Was

Comic Book Convention Deals: NOW

Comic Book Convention Deals: Will They Return?

The Location

The Deals

Gaming

Food

Staff

Cosplay

Traffic

Match 1: Savage Wolverine vs. Young Avengers

Young Avengers 52% Winner: Marvel Comics Division Champion!

Savage Wolverine 48% Loser

Match 2: The Walking Dead vs. Star Wars

The Walking Dead 79% Winner: 5%ers Division Champion!

Star Wars 21% Loser

Match 3: Batman vs. Batgirl

Batman 89% Winner: DC Comics Division Champion!

Batgirl 11% Loser

Match 4: The Legend of OZ: Wicked West vs. Neonomicon

The Legend of OZ: Wicked West 99% Winner: Independent Publishers’ Division Champion!

Neonomicon 1% Loser

Neil Gaiman to Marvel

Neil Gaiman’s Angela

How Easily Marvel and DC Comics Forget

The Early [Censored] Ups

Who They are Going After

What Will Happen

What Can We Do?

Match 1: Avengers vs. Savage Wolverine

Savage Wolverine 75% Winner

Avengers 25% Loser

Match 2: Iron Man vs. Young Avengers

Young Avengers 53% Winner

Iron Man 42% Loser

Match 3: The Walking Dead vs. G.I. Joe vs. Transformers

The Walking Dead 60% Winner

G.I. Joe 39% Loser

Transformers 1% Loser

Match 4: Star Wars vs. Chew

Star Wars 74% Winner

Chew 26% Loser

Match 5: Batman vs. Nightwing

Batman 68% Winner