Author: R.J. Bowman

Why is Batman’s Rogues Gallery the Best in the Business?

Aug. 01 Characters, September War no comments

Why is Batman’s rogues gallery the best out of all of the superheroes? Why is it that one particular character’s list of villains can outshine all the others year after year? As we approach Villain Month, Forever Evil, and the September War, let’s take a look at the strengths of Batman’s rogues gallery.

Why is Batman's rogues gallery the best in the business?

Why is Batman’s rogues gallery the best in the business?

Original Batman TV Series

An easy way to understand why Batman’s rogues gallery is at the top of the rogues’ food chain, is to take a look at the original Batman TV series. This show was very popular in the mid to late 1960s and brought many of the characters villains from the printed pages to the small screen. The Joker, Penguin, The Riddler, and Catwoman all became household names and eventually took their place in American pop culture.

Naming Names in Batman’s Rogues Gallery

If you were to ask a person who does not follow comics for a listing of villains, chances are good that they would not be able to name very many. Mostly, they would be able to name the characters from the recent Marvel and DC Comics movies. The most would be able to be named from Batman’s rogues gallery than from any other because of the pop culture significance. This gallery is the best, because it is the most widely-known.

Insanity vs. Insanity

With the exception of the Penguin, all of the major members of Batman’s rogues gallery are insane. If you take a look at Batman himself, it would be difficult to argue in support of Bruce Wayne’s sanity. Few superheroes could be labeled as being insane, but when you have a man who is hell-bent on revenge, will push everyone away, and will internalize all of his demons until he breaks. Batman’s rogues gallery is full of colorful insane characters which the Batman uses to quench his personal demons. The Dark Knight’s villains are a direct representation of what the main character needs.

They Get Away with Murder

I would not be going out on a limb by saying that there is more murder committed in the pages of Batman family publications than any other major title or line. Sure, The Walking Dead has a ton of death, but nothing compared to what can happen within a few short pages when the Joker shows up in Gotham. The characters in Batman’s rogues gallery get away with more murder than those of other characters. Which other comics can you think of where almost an entire police force can be killed over and over again? Batman’s rogues gallery is the best because it can get away with the most.

They Still Cause Fear

After all these years, the Joke still causes trepidation whenever he shows up in the pages of a Batman comic. I still shudder when Edward E. Nigma rears his head. I find I have to keep a close eye whenever Penguin pops in. Why is this? Batman’s rogues gallery might not kill him, but they always give him a great fight and they often steal more of Bruce Wayne away from Batman. They still eliminate some of his remaining humanity every time they battle him. Batman’s rogues gallery is the best because they are still effective.

Uncle Tom of Mutants – Content vs. Context

Jul. 31 Comics, News no comments

There is going to be hours of talk around comic book stores over the next week about how Cyclops calls Dazzler the “Uncle Tom of mutants” in today’s issue of Uncanny X-Men. People are going to believe the step is too strong in the current push to pacify the word “mutants” and show it as a derogatory term. Is this literary reference too much, is it something to draw the press, or is it to make a strong point? What should we look at with the “Uncle Tom of mutants” line?

I Know I Know…

I do not like to give spoilers, but the “Uncle Tom of mutants” line does not give away the story. Also, it is important to discuss this right now.

Uncle Tom of mutants?

Uncle Tom of mutants?

Who is Uncle Tom?

Uncle Tom’s Cabin or Life Among the Lowly is an anti-slavery novel which was published in 1852 by Harriet Beecher Stowe. It is a book which is banned from many schools because it has course and derogatory language which can be misunderstood if taken out of context. It also deals with a horrible time from our nation’s past which should not be forgotten. Since many of you might not have read the book in school, it makes sense to explain the content behind the “Uncle Tom of mutants” lin.

Uncle Tom is portrayed in the book as a man who is able to hold through his slavery by relying on his religion and hope. In the last few decades, the term “Uncle Tom” and a term which will not be repeated here after “Uncle Tom” have become a derogatory way of stating that an African-American has “sold out” to Caucasians.

In the Uncanny X-Men Context

In the context of how Cyclops used the “Uncle Tom of mutants” reference, he points out how Dazzler, in his opinion, has sold out to the people who are trying to hunt down the mutants and start a war with them. He displays distaste for her, and gives a statement that she is lower than he is. The references is to be disgraceful and shows the prejudice mutants can have for each other in the Marvel Universe.

It was a Wise Move

The words “Uncle Tom of mutants” stuck out on the page for me. I was surprised at first when reading, but realized they fit perfectly in the storyline Marvel is going for. The publishing company is trying to battle hate and separation in the current storyline involving the X-Men and the term fits. I can understand how some might become offended by the term, but the content of the term needs to be overlooked for the context.

The Press

I would not be surprised if some of the major media outlets picked up on the “Uncle Tom of mutants” line. It will be interesting to see if they pick up only on the content, or if some pick up on the context as well.

My Wishlist for The CW DC Universe Interlocking Shows

Jul. 31 News, TV & Movies no comments

With The CW talking about a block of interlocking DC Universe TV shows, starting with Arrow, and then potentially Flash, what other shows would be good for the network? These are my personal favorites which I think would fit the network perfectly.

Justice League Dark #22 is my Pick of the Week!

Justice League Dark #22 is my Pick of the Week!

Suicide Squad

The idea of having a team of criminals working for the government to clean up problems is perfect for TV. Now I am not sure if a character such as King Shark would translate well to TV, but Electrocutioner, Plastique, Cheetah, Deadshot, El Diablo, and many others definitely would. Of course, this would be a perfect opportunity to bring Harley Quinn back to TV as long as she was portrayed better than on Birds of Prey. No Captain Boomerang.

Justice League Dark

Justice League Dark is perfect for The CW since the network has shows which explore the paranormal and horror. Just think about how fit Constantine is fit for TV. Of course, they could bring in Deadman, Madame Zanadu, Zatana, and the rest of the team. Frankenstein might be a stretch, but not when you look at how the network has worked with vampires and werewolves over the years. Of course, this would probably kill the idea of a JLD movie, but I would much rather have a good TV series than a movie anyways.

Wonder Woman

I want to see this curse lifted. I am pushing for a Wonder Woman show. Make the next attempt stick.

The Phantom Stranger

Remember, this is my wish list. You could have the Phantom Stranger helping out new people in danger each week like he did in his original comic. The suggestion would be to not have him be Judas Iscariot on the show. Keep his past a mystery. Too many religious people could get up in arms, and I really don’t like writing about crazed religious people.

Gotham

There has been a rumor batted around about a show which follows the rogues in Gotham. Batman would appear here and there in blurs, but not be the main character of the show. The series would follow the wars of the different gangs. I love the idea. Make it happen The CW.

Katana

Why would I love to see a Katana show on The CW? The same reason I like seeing Katana issues come out every month. DC Comics is trying to make Katana into an important character. They are failing miserably. Sometimes I like to see DC Comics fall down and get humbled. A Katana TV series on The CW would be another instance for me to chuckle.

There you have it my friends. My wish list for the interconnecting shows I want to see come to The CW to fill out the DC Universe block.

Thoughts on New Flash TV Series on The CW

Jul. 31 News, TV & Movies no comments

So The CW is looking at the possibility of having a  new Flash TV series. Barry Allen is going to be introduced this season on Arrow, and will gain his own spin-off if everything goes right. What are my thoughts on a new Flash TV series? [More about that here]

A new Flash TV series? Ok.

A new Flash TV series? Ok.

Haven’t We Done This Before?

Ok, there has been a Flash TV series before, but it should not deter creators from having a new one. I have to admit that I liked the original Flash TV series. There have been multiple Superman shows over the years, but the fact has not prevented future shows from doing well. There have been multiple Batman animated series, but we welcome each new one with open arms. Well, er…not Beware the Batman. Ok, there can be exceptions.

The Greatest Challenge for a New Flash TV Series

I see the greatest challenge in a new Flash TV series is the introduction of his rogue’s gallery. While I think Barry Allen’s Flash is a great character, most of the rogues in his gallery are over-the-top when it comes to shtick. The casual viewer might look at characters such as Captain Cold, Captain Boomerang, and the Weather Wizard and laugh. Of course, a character like Reverse Flash would be awesome for the show, but there can’t simply be one villain.

Second Greatest Challenge for New Flash TV Series

The blur when The Flash is moving quickly is going to be difficult to pull off. Of course this is something easy to do with technology, but pulling it off to where it looks good will be a challenge. If it looks good on the new Flash TV series, it will pay off many times over.

Third Greatest Challenge for the New Flash TV Series

Dominance. Another challenge of a new Flash TV series is going to be dominance of Arrow. There are more fans of The Flash than of the Green Arrow. While The CW is going to want a hit with a new Flash TV series, they don’t want to drown out their other shows. It will be interesting to see how the network deals with these issues.

Flash on Arrow = Jumping the Shark

Jul. 31 News, TV & Movies no comments

Should we officially state that Warner Bros. has confirmed that Arrow will jump the shark this year with the introduction of Barry Allen? If you have been listening to what the creators of Arrow have been saying since before the show officially went on the air, you might be concerned with the introduction of Barry Allen and the Flash in the next season of Arrow.

Arrow on The CW

Arrow on The CW

What was Said

Before the first episode of Arrow aired, Marc Guggenheim, the show’s executive producer, told Blastr that he was not interested in having any of the other major characters from the DC Universe on the show. He explained how his vision was to have a show without super powers, the paranormal, or monsters.

Enter Barry Allen and Flash

Yesterday, HitFix did a live blog of a presentation by The CW’s president Mark Pedowitz about the upcoming season and some of the shows coming out. One of the things he discussed was how The CW plans on having some DC Comics shows in a shared universe. Arrow was the first step, but there will be many more. The next step is that they are going to introduce Barry Allen on Arrow,  give his backstory and have him acquire his powers on the show. So we will see Flash on Arrow. If all goes right, there will be a Flash TV series on The CW shortly.

Jumping the Shark

Typically, when people think about a show jumping the shark, they think about a moment in which a show spiraled out of control and could not be recovered. A variant view is when a show’s creator has to veer so much from the original plan for a show that the show becomes morphed into something which was never intended. Due to the Guggenheim comments, we realize that the introduction of a super power, and the introduction of a main DC Universe character, is a shark jump for Arrow. One season down and the series is already off the intended track.

Mark Waid’s Daredevil #29 is My Pick of the Week!

Jul. 31 Comics, News no comments

With many big issues coming out this week, Daredevil #29 is my Pick of the Week! Batman, Detective Comics, and Flash all have annuals, but paled in comparison. Series such as The Wake, Pandora, and Uncanny X-Men all come out this week, but fell short of what was needed for this week’s Pick of the Week. None could compare with the connection I had with Daredevil #29.

Daredevil #29 is my Pick of the Week!

Daredevil #29 is my Pick of the Week!

When Did Larry Start Reading Daredevil?

For weeks, Steve (from our Detroit area comic book store) has laid little hints and nudges here and there for me to give Daredevil a chance. Over and over again, I told him that I had never been able to connect with Daredevil. There was nothing wrong with the character; I just never had an interest in him. I never made a connection with Daredevil. The fact that Daredevil is being written my Mark Waid finally led me into picking up issue #28. Luckily for me, it appears to be the beginning of an arc.

Larry Likes Mark Waid?

This might come as a shock that I really like the work of one of the greatest proponents of digital comics. I have talked with Mark Waid a few times this year, and disagree with his stance on digital comics, but that does not take away from the fact that I respect his work, and I respect him as a person. I put aside my disagreement with him on this major comic book market topic because his body of work includes many of my favorite storylines. He is a down-to-Earth guy who wants the best for the comic book industry, readers, and collectors.

Sons of the Serpent

Some of you know that I was a big fan of the Defenders when I was a kid. One of the memorable storylines from that title was when they faced the Sons of the Serpent, the Aryan organization which had placed agents in all walks of life. As I got older, I sought out other comics in which the Son of the Serpent were used (The Avengers, Captain America, etc.). I have always liked how Marvel used an Aryan group as an enemy to teach that racism is wrong, but thought they fell short. The problem is that the creators never used them as the long-term menace the group could have become. The Sons of the Serpent would be declared as far-reaching and powerful and then gone in a few issues. The organization ended up not being as powerful as the creators originally suggested, and I felt this was a disservice to the readers who wanted their favorite superheroes to battle the most powerful of foes.

Back to Daredevil #29

If you read Daredevil #28, you know that the Sons of the Serpent are back. The come back in a big way in Daredevil #29, and the organization shows how it can infiltrate society. There is even a reference picture to the Defenders fighting the Sons of the Serpent from their first arc with them many years ago. In this issue we find Daredevil battling against the Sons of the Serpent, and find ourselves asking how powerful the organization really is, and wondering what struggles he will face in attempting to cut the serpent’s head off once and for all. Daredevil #28 and Daredevil #29 appears to be the start of the first Sons of the Serpent storyline in which the organization is shown as a powerful force to be reckoned with.

My Connection

Connecting with a comic is the most important factor in choosing my Pick of the Week. Maybe I connected with Daredevil #29 because of the Defenders reference which took me back to my youth. Maybe it was because it used an evil organization which I always believed Marvel creators came up short with. Either way, the issue kept me turning the pages with anticipation. As I read the last page, I found myself looking forward to the next issue. This is all due to Mark Waid’s writing and the ability he has which I just discovered. Daredevil #29 made me realize Mark Waid has the ability to get me to care about Daredevil for the first time in my three decades of reading comics.

Get the Wonderworld Comics Amazon Coupon Code

Jul. 30 Collector's Corner, Detroit Area Comic Book Store, News no comments

I bet you are here to get the Wonderworld Comics Amazon coupon code. The Amazon coupon code will be active at 4:01AM 7/31 and run through 8/13. All you need to do is enter WONDERCO (case sensitive)when you are going to check out and the 25% discount will apply to all of the Wonderworld Comics Amazon store items in your purchase. This code will not work with items from other company’s stores. You can get to our Amazon store by following this link, or following the ad on the side of this page.

The Wonderworld Comics Amazon Store coupon code is WONDERCO

The Wonderworld Comics Amazon Store coupon code is WONDERCO

Crazy Day

You might not know, but Amazon recently changed many of the screens in the back end where an Amazon store is managed. Also, some of the software changed. The Amazon store-wide sale we were hoping to start today could not happen due to technical difficulties with the new options. We are now offering the Amazon coupon code for the 25% off all of the items in the Wonderworld Comics Amazon store.

You Can Share

The WONDERCO Amazon coupon code can be shared with friends, relatives, neighbors, and enemies. It is my way of saying “Thanks” for helping this site grow so fast. Remember to let everyone know that the Amazon coupon code starts at 4:01am on 7/31 and lasts until 8/13.

Wonderworld Comics Amazon Store

Advanced Tickets Now Available for Detroit Fanfare Comic Con!

Jul. 30 Conventions, News no comments

The advanced tickets sales for Detroit Fanfare Comic Con are now open. To see the official posting, please follow this link. Pricing for tickets is already available. I am told that special packages will become available closer to the show.

The Strengths of Marvel Comics

Jul. 29 Comics, News no comments

There are many reasons why Marvel is sitting at the top of the food chain when it comes to units sold and dollars sold in comic book stores. There are also many reasons why Marvel will continue to be on top. Let’s take a look at the strengths of Marvel and look at some of the new strengths which will be emerging by the end of the year.

Wait…What is This?

Over the next month or so, I am going to be working on a series which introduces you to the strengths of various comic book publishing companies. I spend time every week talking about weaknesses of particular publishing companies, so why not talk about their strengths for once?

I can't get behind Avengers Assemble

I can’t get behind Avengers Assemble

Character Recognition

One of the greatest strengths Marvel has is character recondition. While the average person on the street might not recognize Wrecker or Scarlet Witch, there are many characters the average person can name. Merchandising, marketing, and the movies have helped certain characters become household names. Spider-Man, Captain America, Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, the Fantastic Four, and many of the X-Men are known around the world and continue to bring in money year after year.

Massive Followings

Many smaller comic book publishing companies work hard towards gaining cult followings for their characters and titles. Marvel has been lucky enough to have gained both mass followings and cult followings for particular characters. There are Avengers fans and X-Men fans. There are Captain America fans, Spider-Man fans, and Wolverine fans. On the smaller side, Deadpool, Moon Knight, Black Panther, Doctor Strange, and many others have gained cult followings which will continue to develop for many years.

Marvel Known as Marvel

Not only does Marvel have name recognition through characters, the mainstream audience knows Marvel. The company name is synonymous with comics, superheroes (or as they say super heroes), and major motion pictures. If you talk about some of the smaller comic book publishing companies, the general public might not know what the particular company does. Mention Marvel, and everyone knows which company you are talking about and what that company does.

The Movies

When your company puts out one of the top three highest grossing movies of all time, you have something to brag about. The Avengers was the monetary highlight of Phase 1, but there is so much more to come in Phase 2 and beyond. Who knows how much money the movies will generate when all is said and done?

All-Ages Access

There is a huge push right now towards bringing children into comics, but Marvel has had all-ages access with their characters for years. I remember playing Avengers when I was a little child. My daughter (who is 5) knows many of the Marvel characters through cartoons such as Ultimate Spider-Man which can give humor for an older crowd, but keeps comedy light and straight-forward enough for kids to laugh at. Since one particular show came out before the huge children’s push in comics, couldn’t we say that The Super Hero Squad Show was ahead of its time?

Games

Marvel has also dominated the video game market for many years. Granted, there have been a few turkeys, but many of the Marvel games have become classics over the years. Now, you know that I love Marvel Avengers Alliance, but I still consider Marvel vs. Capcom 2 as the best fighting game ever.

Upcoming

Marvel has many strengths which have not even fully seen the light of day year. Age of Ultron was a huge series, but Infinity and X-Men: War of the Atom are still coming. Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is being predicted as being one of the top shows on TV (at least in viewership) over the next year. If these projects hold to expectations, Marvel is going to stay on top for a very long time.

They Have Learned from Mistakes

I am not going to hold back – The House of Ideas has made mistakes in the past. On the bright side, it is still around. Strengths such as being able to learn from mistakes, the ability to change course when changes happen, and being able to come back from certain death are qualities we look for in superheroes. Marvel has displayed these qualities for many years.

Am I forgetting Something?

If feels like I am forgetting something.  Oh ya…Marvel is owned by Disney which is the biggest marketing giant in the world! Many of us were concerned when that marriage happened and wondered if it was made in Hell. Man, were  we wrong. I could have also added on all of the other types of merch they put out, but I did not want a special section for toy, one for t-shirts, one for lunchboxes. They are the leaders for more reasons than I could list in this space. “Nuff said.

Also See:

The Strengths of Zenescope Entertainment

The Strengths of Archie Comic Publications

What are Key Comic Book Issues?

Jul. 29 Comic Book Collecting no comments

This content is missing.

Special Guest Announced for Saturday’s King Kon!

Jul. 29 Conventions, News no comments

Saturday August 3, 2013 will be the next King Kon, and there is a special guest to announce for the new show.

Talent-CaldwellWho is Coming?

Talent Caldwell is the creator behind the upcoming animated web comic, Superunknown. In the past, he has worked for Top Cop Productions, Marvel, and DC Comics. He was also one of the first employees at Aspen comics. He is noted for his work on Fathom, but he has also worked on such titles as Action Comics, Gen13, Spectacular Spider-Man, and WildC.A.T.S. Caldwell will be selling prints and taking commissions for original work. You can learn more about Superunknown through his website, which can be found by following this link.

Still Tables Available

As of this writing, there are still a few tables available. Contact DLBARGER313@gmail.com for more information about the $40 tables available.

To learn more about King Kon, please follow this link.

25% Off Everything in Wonderworld Comics Amazon Store 7/30-8/13!!!

Jul. 28 Collector's Corner, Comic Book Collecting, Detroit Area Comic Book Store, Gaming Collecting, News, Toy Collecting no comments

Announcing: The Wonderworld Comics Amazon Store Sale! 25% off everything in the Wonderworld Comics Amazon store from 7/30/2013-8/13/2013! Thousands of total products going on sale for two weeks via a special coupon code!

Click picture to be taken to the Wonderworld Comics Amazon store. The sale prices will begin appearing on 7/30.

Click picture to be taken to the Wonderworld Comics Amazon store. The coupon code will appear on 7/30.

What is Going On?

Starting on Tuesday, 7/30/2013, every single item in the Wonderworld Comics Amazon store will be 25% off via coupon code. There are thousands of different products we have listed, and they will all be on sale – no exclusions. The sale will run until Tuesday 8/13/2013. The discount will not apply to required taxes or shipping.

This is Your Chance!

This is the best time to expand your collection – no matter what you collect. Now is the time to search the Wonderworld Comics Amazon store for that back issue you need to finish a run. Now is the time to check around in the Wonderworld Comics Amazon store for that toy you wish you still had from your childhood. Now is the time to increase the power of your deck with cards from past expansions you missed out on. The Wonderworld Comics Amazon Store Sale gives you the opportunity to purchase that rare figurine you have wanted on your mantle for months.

Start a Collection

Have you considered starting to collect a certain item, but prices have been a little out of your reach? Now is the time to take that first step. With the Wonderworld Comics Amazon Store Sale, you can start your collection and learn what joys collecting can bring.

Two Days to Plan

Click the button above to be taken to the Wonderworld Comics Amazon store. While there, search for the items you want and plan your attack. On Tuesday, the coupon code will appear for the Wonderworld Comics Amazon Store Sale. Order up your items early. Many of the rare items might be gone within the first few days (if not hours) of the Wonderworld Comics Amazon Store Sale. What are you waiting for? Get planning!

Bankrupt by Beanies and Collecting Lessons to Learn

Jul. 27 News, Toy Collecting no comments

The front page of Yahoo! highlighted an article about a short film entitled Bankrupt by Beanies which introduces the world to a family who became addicted to purchasing Beanie Babies in the mid-1990s. The family went to great extents to purchase as many Beanie Babies as possible and believed the collectibles would eventually appreciate to a point in which they could pay for the children’s education. There are many lessons to learn from Bankrupt for Beanies.

244838_f520Collecting for Money is a Gamble

If you are collecting items with the intent of selling for more money in the future – you are gambling. In Bankrupt by Beanies, the highlighted family perceived a future value much higher than the current value. They obviously did not perceive how the market might change. We should never assume our collections will pay for future events because nobody can predict all the permutations of a market.

Bankrupt by Beanies and Market Bubbles

Any market can burst. In this case, the Bankrupt by Beanies family did not pay attention to particular signs which point to when a market would burst. This is not necessarily their fault as most collectors don’t pay attention to certain indices such as a constant flood of “special” or “unique” offerings, the emergence of a high number of market speculators, the influx of non-traditional collectors, prices instantly rising on all new releases, and statements from manufacturers on how collectible certain items are. The market bubble burst, and thousands of people were left holding the (bean) bag.

Obsessive Collecting

I am a strong supporter of having goals, and doing what you can to achieve them but there is a line between trying to complete collecting goals, and becoming obsessed with a collection. Bankrupt by Beanies explains how the family in question would recruit neighbors, keep their kids out of school, and go through plans of attack on the days new Beanie Babies came out. This all points to obsessive collecting. When you believe that picking up $5.95 colored bags of  beans are more important than your children’s education – there is something wrong.

Non-Traditional Collectors

I never trust markets which focus on non-traditional collectors. You don’t have to watch Bankrupt by Beanies to know that the Beanie Babies market essentially focused on middle-aged women and the elderly. For many of these people, Beanie Babies were the first collectible they ever “invested” in. Items such as Beanie Babies and Llyadro figurines try to drag in people who are naïve to collecting in order to make as much money in as short of an amount of time as possible. We need to be quick to identify these markets and avoid them.

In the End

Bankrupt by Beanies should be a reminder to all collectors to be cognitive of warning signs in the collector’s market. Don’t get burned like this family did.

 

My Thoughts on Comic Book Kickstarter Projects

Jul. 26 Comics, News 1 comment

“What do you think about comic book Kickstarter projects?” This is a question I have been asked to cover on the website for months. Kickstarter has offered a market for creators to get new projects off the ground, and many people wonder if it is a legitimate form of raising money to get started or to grow in the industry. The problem is, everyone, my jury is still out on comic book Kickstarter projects.

kickstarter-logoGiving More Opportunities than Ever: Positives

Kickstarter is giving more people opportunities than ever before. This is both a good thing and a bad thing. On one hand, comic book Kickstarter projects can give chances to people which never got their start in the industry. It could be that they never got that key interview because they could not get past an editor’s gatekeeper. It could be because a style they work in is something completely different than what is on the market right now. It might be that a creator was just too scared to go before a legend or editor in the first place. Comic book Kickstarter projects can give these deserving people their chances.

Giving More Opportunities than Ever: Negatives

I have noticed a steep incline of comic book Kickstarter projects. In my opinion, most of what I have seen does not deserve print, but I have also seen many exceptions and seen projects which I have pushed for. I worry that the market might become inundated with comic book Kickstarter projects and it could kill that method for struggling creators to get noticed. At the same time, I am concerned by any issue which could potentially damage the comic book industry in any way. If Kickstarter takes off even more than it is, could that shake up the market share?

Finding Funding: Positives

Finding funding is something difficult to do, and even comic book Kickstarter projects typically struggle to get over the hump they need to pass. On one hand, I applaud those with successful comic book Kickstarter projects because they are able to convince the end purchaser to support the project. These creators help to promote their passion by putting their projects online for support or open criticism.

Finding Funding: Negatives

I don’t know if it is because I was raised by parents who were born in the days before WWII, or if it because I have worked hard to get what I have – but the other hand of the funding question for comic book Kickstarter projects leaves a sour taste in my mouth. In a way, Kickstarter can be overly easy to raise money. In fact, many projects raise loads more money that was expected. It is almost like the public is simply handing some people the win. This is not the case with all comic book Kickstarter projects – but the few spoil the rest for me. Maybe, in time, my mood will change on this question, but it is the hardest hump for me to get over.

Don’t Expect All Comics Characters To Translate Well to Film

Jul. 26 TV & Movies no comments

There are just some characters which do not translate well from the printed pages of comics to the screen. Marvel is entering the Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 2, DC Comics is upping movie production, the smaller companies are optioning titles right and left, and more comic book-based TV shows are hitting the small screen. Don’t always expect the characters to look the way you want.

Let’s Look at an Example

One of the biggest complaints I heard about Spider-Man 3 was how horrible Venom looked. The symbiote would not translate correctly to film with current technology, and probably will not for many years. The ever-changing oil slick which surrounds whoever body Venom is controlling would always look half-baked in a movie. Thing and almost all of the non-human characters in Green Lantern also fall into this category.

Super-Sizing

While I liked Vinnie Jones as Juggernaut in the X-Men movie series, there was something missing. He looked too small when compared to how the character is portrayed in comics. Inhuman sizes are also near impossible to pull off in movies. I doubt we will ever see the character in a movie, but Blob from the X-Men would also be next to impossible to pull off.

The Demonic

Are you upset with how Ghost Rider looked on film? How do you think Blackheart would look? Do you think Hollywood could pull off a character such as Swamp Thing and really make him look good? Of course not. Well, at least with modern technology.

Why is This?

Creatures, inhumanly-sized humans, and fantastical characters are easier to draw than they are to translate into film. Granted, we have seen many horrible renditions in comics of some of the aforementioned characters, but we have also seen many fantastic renditions. We cannot expect Hollywood to be able to do everything that comic book creators can do with pencils, ink, and color. Technology has come a long way since Roger Corman’s attempt at the Fantastic Four. Maybe in ten to 15 years things will be different.

My Wishlist for Marvel NOW Two

Jul. 25 Comics, News no comments

During SDCC, Marvel announced Marvel NOW Two which will relaunch comics just like the original Marvel NOW. While I have yet to see anything official as to which comics will be relaunched, there are some which I hope will be. This is my wish list for Marvel NOW Two. Don’t take this as law or as a preview, only my wish list.

MarvelLogo.svgMarvel NOW Two: Doctor Strange #1

Doctor Strange #1 makes sense since it is no secret that Marvel is working on a new movie for the character. Marvel needs to make sure modern comic book readers and collectors know him as much as possible before his movie comes out. One of my favorite characters of all time needs to spread out from the current storylines he is in and into his own title.

Marvel NOW Two: Ant-Man #1

Along with Doctor Strange, Ant-Man also has a movie on the horizon (even though the House of Ideas obviously forgot this idea during SDCC. Why wasn’t the movie mentioned on a regular basis?). Pym was just a main character in the Age of Ultron storyline so it is time to bring him out on his own since modern readers know who he is.

Marvel NOW Two: Power Man and Iron Fist #1

Both characters are highlighted in Ultimate Spider-Man, so why can’t there be a new Power Man and Iron Fist #1? Marvel needs another strong African-American headliner, and can find one in Luke Cage. Sweet Christmas Marvel – Sweet Christmas!

Marvel NOW Two: Werewolf by Night #1

A new Werewolf by Night series would have me popping as this under-appreciated horror comic was one of the best Marvel ever put out. In fact, it is one of my favorite horror comics of all time. If DC Comics can make money with the Dark Universe, Marvel should be able to cash in with Jack Russell.

Marvel NOW Two: Tales of the Zombie #1

Since I am in “Marvel Horror” mode, how about Tales of the Zombie #1? Bringing back the original zombie comic would be a direct slap to The Walking Dead. Tales of the Zombie bridges into DC Dark Universe territory and into battling Image’s biggest seller. This list was not created in any order, but if it was, Tales of the Zombie would be very high.

Marvel NOW Two: Excalibur #1

With Nightcrawler coming back real soon to the Marvel Universe, let’s bring back Excalibur. That gives Marvel the ability to use many of the currently-untapped secondary characters from the series and can help build Captain Britain up once again.

Marvel NOW Two: Alpha Flight #1

I am sure I am starting to lose a few of you, but what is wrong with giving the big Canadian team some love? Sasquatch needs to be brought into the modern day. Simple as that.

Marvel NOW Two: Silver Surfer #1

With Guardians of the Galaxy and the rest of the cosmic storytelling push right now at Marvel, it would make sense to bring in Silver Surfer and give him his own title once again. Just look at how much buzz there was when Dennis sold the Silver Surfer statue to the people at Hardcore Pawn. Push aside the fact that Marvel cannot use the character in a movie and just bring us Silver Surfer #1 in Marvel NOW Two.

Marvel NOW Two: Punisher #1

Don’t worry about making Punisher a Max title; just give him his own regular title once again. I was surprised that Punisher was not part of the initial Marvel NOW launch. Marvel NOW Two is the perfect time to bring him out again.

Marvel NOW Two: Marvel Fanfare #1

Why Marvel Fanfare? It gave the publishing company the chance to highlight a character which has been overlooked or try out a new character which might be introduced in the normal comics in the near future. It was a proving ground for both characters and creators and should be back with the same force it once had.

Marvel NOW Two: Moon Knight #1

Moon Knight is one of the most interesting, and downright coolest of the Marvel characters. Make him hunt the streets once again. Bring him back to win a new generation of fans. You know it will do better than Gambit did.

King Kon is Returning in a Little Over a Week!

Jul. 25 Conventions, News no comments

The calendar is counting down the days until we have the third King Kon of the year. The bulk of con season is winding down, and we continue to get closer to Detroit Fanfare. King Kon is a great show to visit in the interim. King Kon will be at the same location it has been at (Allen Park Key Masonic Lodge) from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm on August 3, 2013. Admission for adults (anyone over 12 years old) is still on $2, and kids still get in free.

Many of you have been to a King Kon over the last year and know it gives a great opportunity to find great deals. If you are looking for comics, you will find great deals. If you are looking for trades, you will find great deals. If you are looking for toys, you will find great deals.

I enjoy working at King Kon as it is a great way to meet many of you and discuss comics, toys, and the website. Also, I end up going home with a handful of items which I have found from dealers. I look forward to seeing many of you there.

If you are a dealer and are interested in a table, there are still a few left. Contact Dennis at DLBARGER313@gmail.com for more information. Tables start as low as $40 for the day.

Our King Kon Page

King Kon on Facebook

Pictures by Amber Palmer

IMG_9539

IMG_9543

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IMG_9546

IMG_9557

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IMG_9557

IMG_4311

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IMG_9519

IMG_4270

Musings of an Early Magic: The Gathering Player

Jul. 25 Gaming Collecting, News no comments

After all these years, I find it interesting how Magic: The Gathering is still a popular game. I remember the early days of the game and have to laugh at what we used to do to play and how naïve the world was about the game and where it would go.

When I First Played

I remember being introduced to the game at Gen Con in 1993 when Magic: The Gathering was only being sold at a handful of locations across the country. I went to try it out in a small room along with other players. I would learn later that the black-bordered cards I was handed (Beta) would be worth money to collectors.

Magic_the_gathering-card_backMy First Thoughts

I remember thinking that the game was fun, but there would be no way that it would grow the way it did. I remember tapping lands during my second game of the day and thinking “gamers will play this during lulls in their Dungeons & Dragons game session.” I thought of it more as an aside game than something major which everyone would soon be playing.

Weeks Later

A few weeks later, the hobby shop near my college got their first shipment of the cards and those of us who had played Magic: The Gathering picked up some packs and helped our gaming friends at school learn how to play. Within a few days, we were all playing the card game and neglecting our traditional gaming sessions.

The Pricing

In the early days, something funky happened with distribution which made some cards more rare in certain areas. While Moxes were rare, many of us in Mid-Michigan were getting them more often than other rares. We even found that gamers in Ohio were not getting very many Lord of the Pit cards. We decided to make some money.

A few months after we all started playing, we went to a card show in Ohio where people were selling Magic: The Gathering cards. Lord of the Pit was going for about $50 which a Mox or Black Lotus was going for about $35-$40! I remember selling a dealer five Lord of the Pit cards for $160. He was happy because he knew he could make $90 off the deal by the end of the day. Too bad I didn’t drop all of that money on the Moxes he had for sale.

Protection

The short order for Legends, which was under-produced, made us realize that some cards could skyrocket in price overnight. Some of us who were fortunate enough to have purchased Legends packs decided it was time to figure out how to protect the cards we were playing with. We looked at sheets from card collecting books to get our answer. We cut up sheets of card sleeves to put our cards in. If we were not using decks with ultra-expensive cards, we would not use the sleeves. Simply pulling out a sleeved deck at the time made people shudder and prepare to lose. When dedicated card sleeves came out, we kicked ourselves for not getting a patent.

SuperGames

We sometimes tried to figure out various ways to play Magic: The Gathering to prevent ourselves from getting bored. I remember when we came up with the SuperGame (done as one screwy word). What you would do is pick one color and make a deck with at least 300 of that particular color. We would start the game with 200 hit points. Sometimes, these games would last until the next day as one of the rules was that you could sacrifice three cards in your hand (at any time) and reshuffle your graveyard into your deck.

Communication

There were not websites dedicated to Magic: The Gathering. There were message boards we could access from the school computers. It might take three minutes for a page to load, but we did not complain. We found checklists which people had posted along with tips for creating new decks. Printed checklists sometimes went for $5.00 at shows since not everyone had Internet access in 1993. The good ol’ days.

Wonder Woman’s Lasso of Truth vs. the Phantom Stranger

Jul. 25 Characters, News no comments

In the pages of Justice League Dark #22, Wonder Woman puts her Lasso of Truth around the neck of the Phantom Stranger. She uses the Lasso of Truth to get him to tell her if he knows who is at the behind the evil which has tainted Superman. He exclaims that he does not know. This act is interesting and leads me to think of some very interesting questions.

Click here to see the full panel run.

Click here to see the full panel run.

Could the Phantom Stranger Have Lied?

The Phantom Stranger states that he does not now know who has tainted Superman, and this does go along with his story so far in the Trinity War and in his own comic. Could he have lied, though? There are two interesting reasons why he might have gotten away with fibbing even with the Lasso of Truth around his neck.

The Void

First off, he is an entity inside of a person’s body and has a soul which could be described as “void.” During Gail Simone’s run at Wonder Woman, she wrote that the characters Lasso of Truth can look into a soul. Granted, that was pre-New 52, but if that holds true, wouldn’t the Lasso of Truth have “short-circuited?” Any character which has ever tried to take a peek into the Phantom Stranger’s soul (in pre-New 52 and New 52), has suffered negative consequences. Is the Lasso of Truth powerful enough to protect Wonder Woman from the power leak which usually happens when someone attempts to touch the Phantom Stranger soul or psyche?

Whose Power is it Anyway?

Secondly, the Phantom Stranger has been granted powers from God. Well, we assume the little dog who talks to the Phantom Stranger, and travels back and forth from Heaven, is God. Would that mean the Lasso of Truth works against the power of God? Would that mean Wonder Woman’s infamous weapon of justice is more powerful than the Judeo-Christian deity? DC Comics has taken a road to quietly discuss the power of God through the Phantom Stranger. Are they backpedaling, or is this an instance of the creators not thinking about the implications of a few panels?

If He Did Lie

Of course, DC Comics could easily state down the road that the Phantom Stranger did know who it was that was behind all of this. An explanation could be given that the Lasso of Truth could not work against the Phantom Stranger due to the void in his soul or because of the powers granted by God. Of course, they would have to figure out a way to make the character have known beforehand without breaking the current chronology. Should we all send messages to DC Comics to find out?

Diamond Getting into Tchochke and Worse (Updated)

Jul. 24 Detroit Area Comic Book Store, News Comments Off on Diamond Getting into Tchochke and Worse (Updated)

Diamond (along with its sister company Diamond Select) held the Diamond Retailers Summit before C2E2 which was was attended by retailers, their workers, and some of the top minds in the comic book industry from every publishing company. I was disturbed by some of the new product which will be hitting the Diamond Previews catalogue in the upcoming months. Here comes the tchotchke.

Happy Man Bottle Opener and Happy Man Bottle Topper from Diamond Select?

Happy Man Bottle Opener and Happy Man Bottle Topper in Diamond Previews?

Diamond Kitchenware: Really?

Diamond is expanding their kitchenware line so get ready for more forks, knives, pizza cutters, and salt shakers emblazoned with the face of your favorite superhero or sci-fi character. The sheer number of characters which could be placed on these items puts a retailer (i.e. comic book store owner) at a disadvantage. You might hear one fret about only having room for one pack of ice trays and not knowing if the space should go towards trays with the likeness of the Tardis or a Stormtrooper or maybe Superman…no, no…Batman…or?

Comic Book Stores the Next Party City?

Diamond Previews will begin carrying party favors just like you would find in the big party stores. You can get Spider-Man paper plates and napkins. I am sure Avengers piñatas will be on the market soon along with Aquaman balloons and Green Lantern whistles. Large chains like Party City are able to purchase these types of products for less due to the number of stores involved and the number of sales. Comic book stores cannot compete with that and would be pushed out of this particular market due to the cost and selection differential.

“Great Kid, Don’t Get Penisy”

The most disturbing point about the possible tchotchke-fication of comic book stores by Diamond comes in the form of the “Happy Man Bottle Opener” and the “Happy Man Bottle Topper.” These little guys have an extra member standing erect between the legs and apparently will be displayed in upcoming issues of Diamond Previews.

New in Diamond Previews from Diamond Select?

New in Diamond Previews?

I, in good conscience, cannot suggest we carry these phallic items in our Detroit area comic book store. I, in good conscience, cannot hand a previews to a child to look at if these phallic items are displayed inside. Should retailers now place an “18 and Over” sign next to Previews so readers know when Diamond is displaying items we don’t agree with? All I can think of are the immortal works of Peter Griffin, “Great Kid, Don’t Get Penisy.”

Please stand with us and send a message to Diamond Previews to drop the “Happy Man” line.

Diamond

UPDATE

The current issue of Diamond Previews (#299) has Happy Man in it. Now, retailers have to make the decision to make the issues available to children or not. We should all be discouraged by the thought that there are some who would wish to turn the all ages comic book stores into Spencer Gifts stores. It is a sad day to think that the publishing companies are trying to be more inviting to children while Diamond is going to try to get stores to sell phallic symbols.

Thoughts on The New 52 Villains Omnibus

Jul. 24 Comics, News no comments

The new issue if Diamond Previews (#299), officially introduces The New 52 Villains Omnibus HC. This gigantic tome includes all 53 of the Villain Month .1 issues. Get ready for some likes, and dislikes.

Forever Evil

Forever Evil

The Announcement about The New 52 Villains Omnibus

Yes, word has gone around for months that DC Comics would be doing this, but I did not expect official word to come so soon. I was expecting the The New 52 Villains Omnibus to come out in January or February and be officially announced after Villain Month had completed. Since readers know they only have to wait for a few short months after Villain Month, how many are going to hold back purchasing all of the titles they might want since the big hardcover is coming out in time for the holidays?

Positive About The New 52 Villains Omnibus

Of course, there is a strong positive here. This gives retailers extra time to put some money aside to order as many of the The New 52 Villains Omnibus issues as they can. It also gives readers a chance to fill out their holiday lists early and save up for the big price associated with the book.

The Price of The New 52 Villains Omnibus

I am sure many of you are going to flip into shock when you hear that the The New 52 Villains Omnibus will be $150.00 when it releases. Don’t worry, let’s break this down for a moment.

There will be 52 issues included in this giant omnibus. If you were to pay for each of the issues separately at $3.99 each (remember, all comics in Villain Month are $3.99), you would be paying $207 before taxes. You are saving over $50 with the hardcover.

The Eventual Price of The New 53 Villains Omnibus

Only the initial print run of the Then New 52 Villains Omnibus will have the motion covers included. That means that the first printing will eventually be worth more the subsequent printings. At the same time, this giant book will be out of reach for many collectors, so a scarcity could easily lead to an increase in value.

On the flip side, DC Comics has given the warning that only the initial print run will have the motion covers. How much do I trust that DC Comics will not come back with another full print run with the motion covers saying that they were hit with an overwhelming demand? Not too much. I will not fully bet on the motion covers only being in the initial print run until I hear that the book is not going to be offered again. Then again, it would not be the first time a publisher has slapped collectors in the faces.

Overall, I like the idea of The New 52 Villains Omnibus. I will most likely be picking up a copy for myself once it hits the shelves. Hopefully, I will be strong enough by then to carry it.

Justice League Dark #22 is My Pick of the Week!

Jul. 24 Comics, News, September War no comments

Justice League Dark #22 is easily my Pick of the Week as it makes me more interested in the Trinity War, and more interested in the characters in the other Justice League teams. There were many other strong offerings I have read for this week, but Justice League Dark #22 works as a great introduction to the team, and is an integral part of the Trinity War story.

Justice League Dark #22 is my Pick of the Week!

Justice League Dark #22 is my Pick of the Week!

Live by the Sword…

If you are a regular reader of this site, you know I do not like to give spoilers. The problem is that there is very little to talk about when it comes to Justice League Dark #22 without giving a spoiler. I can say that it is the first time all three of the Justice League teams are in the same place at the same time. There are a few members who are not part of this “meeting,” but you will learn why in the pages of the issue.

A Goal of the Trinity War

Of course, the Trinity War leads into Villain Month, Forever Evil, and the big DC Comics attacks during the September War, but there is a different goal to the crossover as well. The crew at DC Comics wants to introduce as many people as possible to the Dark Universe. That is way we have Pandora, the Phantom Stranger, The Question, and Justice League Dark playing such important roles in this story. Sure, the sales are padded right now during the Trinity War crossover, but the publisher hopes you will not just pick up Justice League Dark #22, but other issues as well. They want you to become interested in the Phantom Stranger, and Pandora. Of course, we will not know if this part of their plan worked for a few months.

An Interesting Panel in Justice League Dark #22

There is an interesting panel in Justice League Dark #22 that I am going to pick apart tomorrow. There was one particular instance which happened which has me scratching my head and reading into particular implications and statements. Since I don’t like to give spoilers, you will have to wait until tomorrow. Sorry.

Reservations at Adoba Now Being Taken for Detroit Fanfare Comic Con!

Jul. 23 Conventions, News no comments

It was just announced on the Detroit Fanfare Comic Con website that the block of rooms are now available at the Adoba with the special convention rate of $87.00 a night. This information is right off the Detroit Fanfare Comic Con website:

Room reservations are now being taken for Detroit Fanfare Comic Con 2013 at the Adoba Hotel Dearborn/Detroit! There are three ways you can take advantage of the special $87.00 a night rate for a regular room.

  1. You can call the Adoba Hotel Dearborn/Detroit at (313) 592-3622 and let them know you are going to be attending Detroit Fanfare Comic Con and want to reserve your room. Please note, this phone number has changed from the original posting. The incorrect phone number was originally given.
  2. You can go to the Adoba Hotel Dearborn/Detroit website to purchase your room. You can access the website by following this link. The special rate code is FANN (Travelers Group Code).
  3. You can follow this link to go directly to the room reservation section.

Your room does not only give you round-the-clock access to everything going on around the hotel, it also gets you free tickets for two to Detroit Fanfare Comic Con! Wrist bands and lanyards will be given at check-in. That is a value and a half! Secure your room today before they are all gone!

A little bird told me that there will be more special announcements coming tot eh Detroit Fanfare Comic Con website really soon. We will let you know what we know, when we know it!

SDCC Announcements I Wish Would Have Been Made

Jul. 22 Conventions no comments

With all of the announcements made at San Diego Comic-Con this year, I have to say that I am at least a little disappointed that certain items were not announced. This year would have been even better for me if these announcements had been made. Of course, I can still hold out hope for these announcements in the near future.

  • Ok, there were a teases or rumors about a Flash movie and about a Justice League movie. I would have at least liked to hear these addressed.
  • What are some of the titles which are going to be released as part of Marvel NOW Two? Well, at least I can talk now about the titles I would want to see come back.
  • Why wasn’t there any talk about the Ant-Man movie? We still have not heard anything official about a Doctor Strange or Black Panther movie. Well, I can still hold out hope.
  • Has anything gone on with the new version of The Incredible Hulk for ABC?
  • When is the release of Marvel Avengers Alliance Season 2? I understand that they might not be able to give an exact date due to potential programming issues, but a ballpark would have been nice.
  • When can we find out more about the Hoax Hunters movie?
  • Some pages from X-Men: War of the Atom or Forever Evil would have gotten people ready for the September War.
  • AMC could not even give a glimpse at The Governor in the preview for The Walking Dead Season 4?

San Diego Comic-Con Random Thoughts Part III

Jul. 22 Conventions, News no comments

It is time to finish up my series of random thoughts about the San Diego Comic-Con International announcements. You can read the first in the series here, and the second in the series here.

  • There is too much to go over about the Marvel Avengers Alliance announcements, so check this out.
  • Nightcrawler is coming back to Marvel NOW! I had a feeling my favorite blue character would not be dead for long.
  • Michael Jai White is going to join the cast of Arrow. I met him at Detroit Fanfare last year. That is all I am going to say.
  • IDW Publishing is almost done with Dr. Who. I wonder if someone else will pick up the comic or if it will float around in time for ages.
  • There will be another Summer of Valiant next year. Well, since I missed this years, maybe I will check it out next year.
  • George R.R. Martin believes comics are one of the main reasons for his success in TV and film. Not sure about that. I always thought it was because he was such a great writer. I am not saying this to discredit comics…only to give credit where it is truly due.
  • Nice to hear that Bishop will officially be in X-Men: Days of Future Past. It is fitting he will be in the movie.
  • Deadpool vs. Carnage? Not really sure how this one will play out. For some reason, Deadpool has been getting stale for me, but that is just my opinion. We will see how the cross plays out.
  • John Romita Jr. might take on Superman. This one bothers me to no end. I love Romita Jr.’s work, but Superman? Why put him on a title with my least favorite character? Why? DeDiiiiooooo!
  • I should have put this in the first part of this series, but I am very happy to see San Diego Comic-Con International take a zero tolerance approach to harassment of any kind. Good for them. This might help to bring all conventions into line against harassment and with admitting it takes place and realizing it needs to stop.
  • Marvel NOW Two – Marvel is going to relaunch and/or renumber more titles. The first time saw a huge sales increase for the top publisher. Hopefuly, they stick with renumbering and relaunching previous titles and not current ones. I would much rather see a new Excalibur #1, New Mutants #1, or Alpha Flight #1 than a new X-Men #1 or another Superior Spider-Man #1.
  • ComiXology is having a sale this week. Isn’t that the only way they can get people to read digital comics now?
  • So, Hank Pym is not going to be in Avengers: Age of Ultron? Ultron is going to be created by another member? Well, obviously, it would be Tony Stark who would make the android, but I do see this as a loss for the character of Hank Pym. Ultron is an integral part of his character and leads to integral ways of understanding the character. We will just have to see how this plays out.

SDCC Marvel Avengers Alliance Announcements – Thoughts

Jul. 22 News, TV & Movies no comments

Those of us who play Marvel Avengers Alliance on Facebook, and through other means, had some great announcements to find out about from San Diego Comic-Con International. While I was hoping there would be a definitive date for the release of Marvel Avengers Alliance Season 2, I am happy with many of the other announcements made. Here are my thoughts.

130px-Alternate_Cyclops_Marvel.com_ArtChapter Prizes

One of the big changes announced about Marvel Avengers Alliance Season 2 is the fact that variant costumes will now be the ultimate prize in each chapter. Instead of getting a golden weapon, such as in the first season of the game, we will automatically win costumes, so we can save our command points up for a change. New costumes officially slotted so far are Iron Fist’s Heroic Age costume at the end of Marvel Avengers Alliance Season 2 Chapter 1 and Uncanny Cyclops at the end of Chapter 2.

Special Op 12

Even though we are still in the middle of Special Op 11, a little information was given about Special Op 12. It will be entitled Dark Reign and Ares will be the reward hero. I was a little worried that heroes would no longer be the ultimate reward in a Special Op mission, but that worry has been put to rest.

1016873_518861354852608_1004538816_nPvP Season 10

Soon, we are going to be able to create offensive and defensive teams for PvP. I am hoping this will be a part of PvP Season 10, but I have not received confirmation as of this writing. What this means to me is that we will be able to create two PvP teams. One for when we are playing, and one for when players are going against us. I am already coming up with some defensive ideas.

Bishop, who was officially announced this weekend, will be the character awarded to the top players in Marvel Avengers Alliance PvP Season 10.

New Playable Characters

Dr. Voodoo, Moon Knight, and Squirrel Girl will all be characters offered in the store very soon. I am excited by all three of these characters, but Squirrel Girl takes the damn cake.

Electra will be the next Lock Box character, so I am sure there is going to be some type of benefit going along with teaming her with Daredevil.

Baddies

The Circle of 8 will apparently be the main baddies of Marvel Avengers Alliance Season 2. We all know that secondary and lower characters are going to be introduced. Hopefully they will be as fun to play against as the main villains from Season 1. Also, Thanos will play a part in an upcoming Special Ops mission entitled “Infinity.” So much to look forward to.

1004001_518830088189068_1659467679_n

120px-Squirrel_Girl_Full_Artwork

160px-Doctor_Voodoo-(-)_Marvel.com_Art

180px-Moon_Knight-(-)_Marvel.com_Art

Was Warner Bros. Rumor Filtering With Flash and Justice League Movie Announcement?

Jul. 22 News, TV & Movies no comments

On Saturday, word spread like wildfire about a Flash movie and a Justice League movie. This began hours before the Warner Bros. panel at San Diego Comic-Con which eventually released word about the upcoming Batman-Superman movie. DC Comics and Warner Bros. did not end up speaking about movies about the fastest man or the superhero team. While nobody knows exactly what happened at this point, I do have a series possible theories.

Will we ever see a Justice League movie?

Will we ever see a Justice League movie?

What is Rumor Filtering?

There is an upper management tool called rumor filtering. Occasionally, upper management at a company will deliberately start a rumor to see how fast it spreads, determine who spread the rumors, and to gauge some feedback on the rumor. Learning how fast the rumor spreads helps to understand the lines of communication in a company. Determining who spread a rumor can weed out top employees who do not deserve the trust of upper management. If the reaction to the rumor is not as bad as possibly thought, it might be worth making some changes (such as cut-backs, reorganized labor forces, or other things people might look at negatively).

How Could Rumor Filtering Work for Warner Bros.: Communication Channels

It is possible that Warner Bros. and DC Comics might have wanted to see how fast they could get into the papers and online journals with a “major announcement.” If done hours before their panel, they could make sure word travelled quickly enough to be spread within an hour or two.

How would this benefit them? A few hours after the Warner Bros. panel, Marvel took the floor with their movie panel. DC Comics would want to make sure everyone was buzzing about DC Comics and their movies before Marvel took the stage. The “releases” about the Flash and Justice League movies could have been a way to make sure the Batman-Superman movie would be the buzz of the Internet before the Marvel panel got off the ground.

How Could Rumor Filtering Work for Warner Bros.: Weeding

It is possible that Warner Bros. deliberately gave this false information to a website, or to a few reporters, in an attempt to see if they could hold a secret. It could also have been done to discredit a certain website or sites. DC Comics has been dealing with a ton of leaks over the last eight months. The company looks negatively on many sites which publish those leaks.

Let’s say, for the sake of argument, that Site A was given the fake Flash and Justice League movie information. Site A publishes the information as fact and is picked up, with a backlink to the original story, by Sites B – ZZZ. Hundreds, if not thousands, of readers will know within hours that the original story was wrong. Many of those readers might not trust the original site reporting the story.

How Could Rumor Filtering Work for Warner Bros.: Gauge Response

Most of the articles which reported the Flash and Justice League movies as fact had comment sections. Up until the last moments before the Warner Bros. panel, the company had the opportunity to see the comments and enter forums around the Internet. Maybe the Flash and Justice League movie information got out to see what people thought. Maybe those movies are in the works and Warner Bros. needed to know if their panel this weekend was the best time to introduce the information.

How Could Rumor Filtering Work for Warner Bros.: Hide the Truth

One other way rumor filtering might have worked for Warner Bros. this weekend was to hide the truth. By getting everyone talking about Flash and Justice League movies, maybe they would have the chance to sneak in the Batman-Superman movie announcement without an issue. Maybe the shock value would be higher. Maybe, ten years from now, someone at Warner Bros. or DC Comics will write a memoir and talk about what happened with the Flash and Justice League movie announcements.

Avengers: Age of Ultron – Battling Your Negative Notions NOW

Jul. 21 News, TV & Movies no comments

Just hours after DC Comics officially announced the Batman-Superman movie, Marvel fired back with Avengers: Age of Ultron. I have already heard some of the criticism, and am preparing myself to hear even more. Before we go jumping down Marvel’s throat about Avengers: Age of Ultron, there are some issues we need to consider. Lets take a look at some of the potential arguments.

Avengers: Age of Ultron

Avengers: Age of Ultron

Age of Utron is Too New

Where is there a rule written which states that Marvel has to incorporate older stories into the movies? Yes, Loki was the first villain in the Avengers comics, and the first villain in the movies, but that does not mean that Marvel has to follow suit with the next storyline in the comics. While the Space Phantom story from Avengers #2 would be an interesting story to tell, Age of Ultron is a much stronger story.

But, We Don’t Have a Full Enough Cast for Avengers: Age of Ultron

How long should Marvel wait to make Avengers: Age of Ultron? The X-Men, Spider-Man, and the Fantastic Four are all movie properties owned by other companies. If Marvel were to wait to make this movie to ensure all of the players from the comic are involved, Avengers: Age of Ultron might not be made for a decade, if at all.

Also, as Marvel has proven with the Phase 1 movies, they do not have to follow the comics exactly (or barely even loosely) to make blockbusters. The Avengers was one of the top grossing movies of all time. They can pull this movie off without Wolverine, Spider-Man, or Reed.

But, What About Hank Pym?

Here is a bit of an odd one. If Hank Pym is going to be the creator of Ultron in Avengers: Age of Ultron, it means he will be launched in the Marvel cinematic universe before his own movie. Avengers: Age of Ultron is slated for May of 2015, and Ant-Man is slated for November 2015. There is nothing wrong with introducing him in an Avengers movie before his own. In fact, this will help to introduce him to a wider audience before he has his own movie. Please have Wasp, Marvel. Please have Wasp.

Avengers: Age of Ultron Alienates Older Fans

How can anyone say Avengers: Age of Ultron alienates older fans? None of the Marvel movies have followed the original comics exactly. If anything, they have followed the Ultimate Universe closer. Each movie has had enough shout outs to the way “things used to be” to keep older fans and collectors happy. None of the Marvel movies in Phase 1 were flops, and Avengers: Age of Ultron is sure to follow the same formulas used thus far.

Avengers: Age of Ultron is Only to Sell the Newer Comics

The hell it is. The main goals of Avengers: Age of Ultron would be to continue the Marvel/Disney dominance of the comic-book based media market, continue the superhero movie legacy Marvel has created, and to make the other comic book publishing companies stand further back in line. Selling comics is an impact, but not necessarily a goal of the movie franchises Marvel is running with right now in much the same way that selling toys and other merchandise is an impact. Yes, this announcement will get more people in the stores picking up Age of Ultron – but that is not the ultimate goal. The ultimate goal is to keep Marvel on top of the comic book industry for many years to come.

What Impact Will This Have on the Marvel Cinematic Universe Timeline?

Who says that there has to be enough time travel in Avengers: Age of Ultron to disrupt the space-time continuum? Marvel might even know a way to pull off the story without having time travel at all. The movie title might simply be a way to indicate that the Avengers will be battling Ultron. We will not have any clue as to how this will all play out until closer to the release of Avengers: Age of Ultron, or we might have to wait until the first movie or two passes after the next Avengers movie. Only time, and Marvel, will tell.

Batman-Superman Movie: My Thoughts

Jul. 20 News, TV & Movies no comments

Simply put, the upcoming Batman-Superman movie is the biggest announcement up to this point at San Diego Comic-Con International. With the movie official going into production next year, this is going to be the movie we will be talking about for the next few years.

Batman-Vs-Superman-1-TPTIVIRZ0S-1024x768Busting Other’s Bubbles

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., The Walking Dead, and some other stories were supposed to be the biggest talk of the town. DC Comics came to bat (pardon the pun) and knocked it out of the park. How can other companies compete? Granted, many of us were hoping for a Justice League movie announcement, but we will definitely take the Batman-Superman movie as a second place prize.

Comeback?

How will Marvel, Image, IDW Publishing, and the other publishing companies come back from this? How will they save face? How will they make sure DC Comics does not pull off a major coup at San Diego Comic-Con International and be the belle of the ball with the Batman-Superman movie announcement? I don’t think the other companies have much of a chance of pulling an 11th hour lead this year.

Batman-Superman Movie is a Delivery

Fans have wanted a Batman-Superman movie for years. The recent comic crossover reminded fans about how cool it would be (as long as you like both characters) for the two characters to make a movie together. Now, it will apparently become a reality.

How This Hurts Me

The idea of the Batman-Superman movie hurts me. I never want to miss a Batman movie, but I still hate Superman. I have no choice. I will have to go. It also hurts to think about how I am going to report on criticism about whoever DC Comics lines up to play Batman next. You know it will happen. You know. Until then, let’s celebrate the idea of the Batman-Superman movie.

San Diego Comic-Con Random Thoughts Part II

Jul. 20 Conventions, News no comments

Between every breath we take, more news comics out of San Diego Comic-Con International. This is the second part of my series of picking out my favorite news bits from the convention and giving my opinions. To see the first part of this series, please follow this link. Part three can be found here.

  • Batman and Son will come out some time next year and be the animated premiere for Damian. With this being a New 52 continuity movie, I am looking forward to seeing if DC Comics will kill Damian off in an animated format.
  • Congrats to all of the Eisner winners including Challenger Comics in Chicago. I also want to send congrats to Green Brain Comics, since it is based here in Michigan and a friend of this website and our store, for making it so far in the running. We look forward to the day when we win ours.
  • Happy to see Saga claen up at the Eisner’s. The wins were well-deserved.
  • The new My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and Transformers mini-series from IDW Publishing are sure to help the publisher bump up sales and move closer to helping it solidifying its position in the Top 4 for market share.
  • The Walking Dead Season 4 preview is one of the top items at San Diego Comic-Con International. I think it looks awesome, and has me gearing up for the new season. One issue, though. At the end of the preview, some of the survivors are seen in a car and a voice comes over the radio talking about “sanctuary.” I was immediately reminded of the recording coming across the radio talking about Safe Haven in the Deadworld series. Is this something else “borrowed” from Gary Reed’s zombie apocalypse series?
  • Sadly, the Harley Quinn Suicide Squad figure just does not do it for me. I might end up having to pass on it. The original costume black and white figure coming out in 2014, that will be on my list for May.
  • So the Trinity War is the end of Phase 1 of the New 52. How many phases are we going to get? Was this simply an introduction phase?
  • So much talk about Booster Gold, but wasn’t he supposed to have his own show on SyFy? What every happened with that? It might have actually meant there would have been something good on SyFy which didn’t have to do with sharks. If you get the chance one day, stop in the store and ask me why SyFy hates me.
  • Ragnarok from IDW Publishing has me excited. It will be interesting to compare and contrast the use of Norse mythology in that comic and the use of Norse mythology at Marvel.
  • DC Comics is making MAD Magazine and their All Ages comics returnable in from October. Interesting. I have mixed feelings about returnable comics. While it helps the retailers out, why would publishers create products they did not have full faith in? If a product is stupendous, it never has to be returned.
  • J. August Richards will be portraying Slapstick on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Some might be discouraged by this, but at least we don’t have any Howard the Duck.
  • The big battle for interest at San Diego Comic-Con International is between Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., The Walking Dead Season 4, and Villain Month/Forever Evil. Interesting three-way fight. The fight is still too early to declare but it is interesting that there are two fighters on TV and one in the stores.

Harley_Suicide_Squad_figure

No Other Countries on The Walking Dead – Thoughts

Jul. 19 Comics, News no comments

One of the interesting points that Robert Kirkman made during The Walking Dead panel is that we are not going to see what will happen in other countries in the comics, or, presumably, on the show. There is good and bad that goes along with this.

The Walking Dead

Should there be cannibals on The Walking Dead?

Takes a Possible Ending Away

On the negative side, it would have been interesting to end The Walking Dead with the revelation that the dead coming back was something just secluded to the United States or to North America. Maybe the “virus” could have been created by an outside nation to take the U.S. down. China? Russia? The European Union? We will never know because we cannot have that angle.

No Worry About Communication

If the readers and viewers are closed off from the rest of the world, just like the survivors, we gain a sense of unity. Also, for Rick and his friends to learn about what was going on in Europe, there would need to be some type of communication. Hasn’t it pretty much been established that there are no worldly lines of communication left?

Alone

It makes the survivors appear to be more alone in the world if we don’t know what is going on in the rest of the world. This is a good thing from a storytelling perspective since it takes away more hope. Kirkman can’t give those on The Walking Dead too much hope. That would not be much fun now would it?

No Canada?

Too bad that we will not find out what is going on in Canada. Are they dealing any better than the U.S. is? As someone who has Canadian blood, I almost look at the lack of Canada on The Walking Dead as a loss. Ah well.

Don’t Forget the Rules Change

Of course, all of this could be different by the end of The Walking Dead Season 4. We have been made promises (such as Michonne making her first appearance in Season 3 and appearing in the season finale of The Walking Dead Season 2), which were not kept or changed in some way. Why should we look at this any differently?

Amazon Enters Digital Comics Market – Pffft

Jul. 19 Comic Book Collecting, News no comments

Amazon is taking steps to enter the digital comics market and there are many people shaking right now. This is a market Amazon should not even be in right now, and it is not the smartest business move they have made over the years. The buzz might be high right now in San Diego at Comic-Con about Amazon and digital comics, but take a few moments to think this through.

amazon.comThis is Expected

Amazon is like Wal-Mart in the fact that if there is a new market which could potentially be cornered, it will be. The comic book companies have been making noise about digital comics for a few years now, so it would make sense that Amazon would smell the potential blood and attack. I don’t think Amazon did all the homework for this assignment.

Where are the Numbers?

Yes, the comic book industry has been boasting about digital comics, but where are the hard numbers? Why haven’t the Big 2 or ComiXology given us numbers as to how many new release comics are being sold every month as compared to the number which are being illegally downloaded? What is the ratio of digital comics on sale sold to the number of new digital comics sold? Where is the logic behind the idea of digital comics being the end-all-be-all in the industry when after a few years with digital comics, the physical comic book market continues to rise? If the digital comics market was a great one to get in to, why is there so much secrecy about the numbers involved?

Who Should be Worried?

With Amazon entering the digital comics market, I don’t see a long future for ComiXology. How can there be when the largest online seller gets into the market which you believe you had cornered? Amazon will drop countless dollars behind funding the sale of digital comics just to push ComiXology out of the water.

Why Retailers Should Not be Worried

Comic book retailers should not be freaking out right now. Some might say, “Look at what Amazon did to Borders!” What did Amazon do to Borders? The online retailer sure did not put the bookseller out of business. Borders killed Borders.

Long before digital books came out, Borders struggled through a series of bad mistakes – their own and other’s. Borders spent years dealing with trying to find the correct balance between having enough staff to take care of customers and keeping overhead down. The company was years behind other companies which were selling books through their websites. They were late getting to the digital book market and introduced a horrid e-reader. They were bought out by Kmart and struggled until they spun off as another company and struggled to find its place. Borders was plagued by issues for a long time before it closed, and Amazon had little, if anything, to the ending of the company.

Amazon has Been Selling Physical for a Long Time

Amazon has not killed comic book stores at this point have they? If I am correct, there have been more new comic book stores popping up in the last few years than closing. Many comic book stores are expanding and talking about having months where profits are the best they have been in decades. Amazon has been selling physical comics, trades, and hardcovers for years. Don’t you think they would have killed the comic book stores years ago if they could? They can’t.  The comic book industry is kept floating by people who love going each week to their local comic book store and by those who want physical comics to store and wait for increases in value. Digital comics don’t offer either one.

Comments Reopening On WWC!

Jul. 19 Detroit Area Comic Book Store, News no comments

After many requests, much research, and a ton of trail an error – the ability to comment on articles on WonderWorldComics is rolling out once again. Please read this post if you are going to be commenting.

Note, this posting is originally dated 7/19/2013. By the time you are reading this, some of the changes expected to take place should have already happened.

Why We Blocked Comments

We were forced to block the ability to comment on articles because we were inundated with spam comments. I know you don’t want to read through dozens of spam comments to see what people think, so I had to figure out a way to block them.

What You Need To Do

If you are interested in commenting, you are going to have to register with the site. There is no way around that. These are the steps which need to be taken:

  1. Send an email to me at Larry@WonderWorldComics.com entitled “I want to comment” or something along that line.
  2. In the email – I need your name (First and Last), the name you want to go by in the comments (such as a screen name), and a password which is between 7-12 characters. These screen names and passwords will be case sensitive.
  3. At the present time, I am going to have to approve each commentor application manually, so it might take me up to a day to get back to you.
  4. Once you are approved, go to WonderWorldComics.com and post a comment on an article. The comment will not appear right away because I have to manually approve your first comment. After your first comment is approve, you are ready to go.
  5. If you lost your password or screen name, email me and I will send them to you as quickly as I can.

Commenting Rules

This is a PG-13 site. Please don’t swear, harass, make statements against someone’s race, origin, sex, sexual orientation, or religion. It is fine to rip on people such as Dan DiDio.

If I catch you posting spam, harassing, or anything else against the rules, your commenting membership will be revoked.

Right Now

Right now, comments are going to be open for all of the articles I have added in the last few days. The comments sections for older articles will roll out slowly over the next week or so. If there is an older article you really want to comment on, let me know and I will move it up the list.

Future No Comment Articles

You will occasionally see an article which will have a note listed at the end about no comments on the article. There are certain article which will appear which do not require commenting or the comments are closed for some reason. This will be rare, and will be on a case-by-case basis.

San Diego Comic-Con Random Thoughts Part I

Jul. 19 Conventions, News 2 comments

Even though I am not at San Diego Comic-Con International, I still have opinions about what is going on. This is the first part of the series I am running over the next few days in which I will be posting random thoughts about some of the announcements. Some of these items will be featured in their own articles because I have more to say. You will find out which ones when I write them.

See Part II of this series by following this link. Part III can be found here.

  • DC Comics will be releasing a DVD/Bluray entitled “Necessary Evil: Supervillains of DC Comics” in October along with a companion book containing some of the greatest stories surrounding their villains. Yes, both of those sound awesome to me. I love the idea of letting the baddies shine as much as possible.
  • DC will be releasing The Flashpoint Paradox which will bring the animated movies into the New 52 continuity.  I have to say that it is a good idea to pull all arms of DC Entertainment into the New 52 continuity. It adds cohesion and continuity among continuities (or something like that).
  • More Sandman coming from Neil Gaiman? While I am not a fan of the particular character (nothing wrong, just never read the comics), I know that this will invigorate tens of thousands of fans around the world. With Gaiman doing a little work for Marvel right now, this is a major coup for DC Comics.
  • I am happy to hear that Robert Kirkman officially announced that Daryl is not going to be in The Walking Dead comic. I have said for a long time that he should not be.
  • I am also happy about the fact that we will not learn about what is happening in other countries in The Walking Dead. This would force lines of communication which should not be there. On the flip side, though, it means we will never venture into Canada.
  • So there is going to be a crossover between Family Guy and The Simpsons. Yes, I will watch but it will probably be stupid.
  • DC Comics had a digital comics panel. Pffft.
  • There will be a Spider-Man crossover pitting Superior Spider-Man against Venom. I think I am going to have to check this four issue series out.
  • Excited about the idea of Jeff Smith bringing out more Bone. Who could be upset about that? Sure, some might complain that it is coming out through Scholastic, but that just means that kids ordering the books from school will be exposed to comics in school.
  • Detroit filed for bankruptcy. Wait, that has nothing to do with comics and is not a surprise to anyone. Oops.
  • IDW Publishing is expanding the older editions from the Big 2 that they are going to be releasing. I am going to have to get my hands on the Romita Spider-Man book when it comes out.
  • New Hellboy? That is sure to get the girls in our Detroit area comic book store buzzing.
  • If you sign up for the Amazon digital comics newsletter, you will get a free digital copy of Superman #1 from the New 52. What do I think about this? Anyone want to play fill in the blank?
  • I am a little disappointed that Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is not the ultimate talk of the town yet. Of course, there still is three more days for the House of Ideas to get everyone drooling. I am not counting the possibility out yet.
  • There will be a monthly Shazam title coming from DC Comics in 2014. Shazam (Captain Marvel) was one of my favorite characters as a child. I hope he gets all of the room he needs to grow. They can make him a headliner again.
  • Lex Luthor is the mastermind behind Forever Evil. This makes sense to me. He is one of the top 5 villains the company has to offer and Joker is probably still reeling from the end of Death of the Family, so it would be impossible to expect him to come up with a master plan of this magnitude this quickly.

Well, that is it for the first part of my San Diego Comic-Con random thoughts so far. More to come along with expansions on some of the topics presented here.

Why I am Happy I am Not at San Diego Comic-Con International

Jul. 18 Conventions Comments Off on Why I am Happy I am Not at San Diego Comic-Con International

I have to say that I am of the minority when I say that I am happy I am not at San Diego Comic-Con International right now. I will occasionally go to large comic book conventions, but I prefer the smaller ones when they come up.

Comic-Con International

Comic-Con International

I Will be Saving Money

Since I am not going to San Diego Comic-Con International this year, I will be saving money which I can spend at smaller conventions and shows later this year (like King Kon on Auguest 3 and Detroit Fanfare). I don’t have to worry about the ticket price or the airfare. I don’t have to worry about figuring out how I am going to buy everything I might want and still have money left over for food. These worries will be foreign to me when discussing San Diego Comic-Con International.

Not Getting Bumped Around

If you have met me, you know that I am not a big guy. Granted, I am six feet tall, but I am around 175 and get bumped around often at bigger conventions. I prefer the smaller conventions where I can look through long and short boxes or check out booths without drowning in a sea of people while trying to hold my footing on the floor of a convention like San Diego Comic-Con International.

No Lines

There were issues earlier this year when there were conventions plagued with long lines. The funny thing is, this is something which has become expected at San Diego Comic-Con. International. Nope, instead of waiting an hour in line for a hot dog, I can go into the kitchen and make one for myself (at a fraction of the cost).

Yay!

Thoughts on the New Harley Quinn Comic for New 52

Jul. 18 Comics, News no comments

Comic Book Resources broke the news earlier this week about a new Harley Quinn title coming to the New 52 later this year. As a Harley Quinn collector, some of you contacted me this week about the announcement. If it were not for the problems with the server migration yesterday, I would have published this much earlier.

Harley Quinn will have her own New 52 title.

Harley Quinn will have her own New 52 title.

Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti on Harley Quinn

I like the idea of having these two writers on Harley Quinn together. First off, they have done a good (if not great) job in the past when working as a team. At the same time, I really like the idea of having a woman working on Harley Quinn. Also, Amanda Conner is very good at bringing out a female character’s sensuality without having to try to force sexuality.

Bring in Joker?

During the interview with CBR, the creators talked about how there is still going to be a focus on the Joker in Harley Quinn’s life. This gets me going as I would love to see Mistah J. cross into the new title and add more depth to his character in the New 52.

The Suicide Squad and Harley Quinn

One issue which concerns me is that Harley Quinn fans might forget about Suicide Squad now that the character is going to have her own title. I have said for a long time that I believe the only reason why Suicide Squad is in the Top 100 on Diamond’s list is because of everyone’s favorite bad girl. I would not be surprised by a significant sales dip when Harley’s new title comes out. I doubt the team title would last very long after dropping from the Top 100.

The New Costume

Well, I have to say that I like the new costume more than I like her current one or her costume from Arkham Assylum (which is my least favorite). I am not sure if I would place it higher than the nurse costume, but it is an improvement. The only thing is that I look at it and think that she is getting ready for a roller derby. It might take a while for this one to grow on me, but at least it has potential in my eyes.

I am looking forward to the new Harley Quinn title and hope that it is the best that could be offered on the character. Will I pick it up the day it comes out? Yes. Will I pick up all of the variants as well? Probably. Will I purchase a figure with the new costume? Chances are pretty damn good. Ok, they got me.

No Major Emmy Nod for The Walking Dead? Censored

Jul. 18 News, TV & Movies no comments

You are telling me that The Walking Dead did not get any of the top Emmy nominations? You have to be [Censored] kidding me? This was the strongest season yet, with some of the best performances the show has seen up to this point and it can’t get a single major Emmy nomination? Instead, they give a TV show nomination to a show which not even [Censored] on TV?

This content is censored.

This content is censored.

Fans of The Walking Dead should be outraged that the show was overlooked in all of the major categories. Laurie Holden was able to get me interested as Andrea as a character this season and she can’t get [Censored]? David Morrissey struck terror in everyone as The Governor and he can’t get a [Censored] Emmy nod? Daryl is one of the pinnacle characters on TV right now, but Norman Reedus can’t get the respect he [Censored] deserves from the people who voted on the Emmys? It is the most talked about show on TV and a Netflix show gets a nomination? What the [Censored] are the Emmy people thinking?

Most Collectible Role-Playing Games: Top 12

Jul. 18 Gaming Collecting no comments

This content is missing.

The Boss is Gone Sale at Wonderworld Comics!

Jul. 17 Detroit Area Comic Book Store, News no comments

There is a special “The Boss is Gone” sale going on right now at Wonderworld Comics! Dennis is off in San Diego for Comic-Con, so we might as well have a sale to make room for all of the stuff he will bring back with him.

The Boss is Gone Sale

If you buy two modern toys, you will get one free!

Purchase two t-shirts, and get your third one for free!

Pick up two trade paperbacks, get another one for free!

Spend the money to get two hardcovers, spend $0 on the third!

Grab two variants, and we will give you a third one for nothing!

Grab two sets, get another one for nothing more than a smile!

The Boss is Gone Exclusions

There are certain exclusions with this sale. The deals do not apply to collection card games (such as Yu-Gi-Oh and Magic: The Gathering), vintage products (including vintage toys), comics, and CGC comics.

When?

This sale will be going on from today (Wednesday 7/17/2013) until closing on Saturday night (Saturday 7/20/2013). Stop on by as we might have more surprises in store for you!

Server Migration Causing WWC Loading Issues

Jul. 17 Detroit Area Comic Book Store, News Comments Off on Server Migration Causing WWC Loading Issues

If you are reading this, chances are good that you are one of the lucky ones right now. As I stated earlier on the Facebook page, our web service company is migrating to new servers, so this site will be up and down over the next few days. If you get some type of error message when you try to get on the site, don’t worry – we have not gone anywhere.

The time frame given by our server company places full resolution sometime around Friday morning (7/19). Between now and then, I will post when I can as server lags will impact the back end of this site more than the front end. Sorry about any issues this causes, but it is out of our control.

Larry

The X-Files: Season 10 #2 is My Pick of the Week!

Jul. 17 Comics, News no comments

The X-Files: Season 10 #2 is my Pick of the Week for treading down a dangerous path which could turn on or turn off fans of the long-running show. Breaking out of the status quo in the comic book industry comes with taking calculated risks. In The X-Files: Season 10 #2, IDW, Joe Harris, and Chris Carter take a risk which they hope will pay off in escalated sales.

The X-Files: Season 10 #2 is my Pick of the Week!

The X-Files: Season 10 #2 is my Pick of the Week!

Is The X-Files: Season 10 #2 Jumping the Shark?

A simple look at the cover of The X-Files: Season 10 #2 and next month’s #3 cover will show characters which we (fans of the show) thought were dead. The Lone Gunmen are on the cover of this issue, and we were led to believe they died giving their lives to protect the world from bioterrorist biological attack. The episode was entitled “Jump the Shark.” Sadly, I did not have to look this information up as it is locked in my brain.

As you probably know from Diamond Previews, the Cigarette Smoking Man is on the cover of issue #3. You know I don’t like spoilers, but there are a few frames which reveal a man smoking Morley cigarettes. CSM is also a character who is thought to be dead since the pueblo he was hiding in was blown up by a missile strike from a helicopter in the episode couplet entitled “The Truth,” which made up the last two episodes of the final season. Again, I did not need to look this information up. Sorry, I was always a big fan of the show and have seen each episode multiple times.

The Risk Being Taken

The Lone Gunmen and CSM are among the most popular characters on The X-Files. To call them iconic in geek culture would be an understatement. Many fans complained about their apparent deaths, and the way their apparent deaths were handled on the show. In fact, I have heard some of the harshest criticism about the series from fans when talking about these particular instances. By bringing these characters back in The X-Files: Season 10 #2, the old wounds are being reopened and an effort is being made to heal them at the same time.

Will it Work?

It will be interesting to see how the fans react to this poking and prodding of old wounds. I have to admit that I was very leery about ready this week’s issue, but I think the story was pulled off correctly. I look forward to the nostalgia of seeing the Lone Gunmen again in a form of entertainment, and hope this opens the door for them making it into a movie in the future (if another X-Files movie is ever made – hopefully the third one will be the good one).

By the Numbers

The X-Files: Season 10 #1 debuted in June at #94 on Diamond’s Top 100 list. This is very high for IDW which typically will show industry-topping numbers with My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (#66 on the list last month), but that is it. Typical market drop-off will take The X-Files: Season 10 out of the Top 100 this month (not a handful of variants this month and people will often just purchase a #1 of a new series), but the risk could pay off in the next few months. If calculated risks are taken with the franchise, The X-Files: Season 10 #2 could be the start of a move upwards after the typical market drop-off.

Interview with Jordan Hembrough: The Toy Hunter

Jul. 15 News, Toy Collecting no comments

Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with Jordan Hembrough of the Travel Channel’s The Toy Hunter. Since Wonderworld Comics is a big seller of collectible toys, it made sense to interview Jordan Hembrough for this site. Can you think of a better way to officially launch the Toy Collecting section of this site?

Larry Poupard: What is the top item you would love to “discover” on a future episode of The Toy Hunter?

Jordan Hembrough: I am really intrigued right now by the Battlestar Gallactica line. There are some ships that are really rare and if I saw them, I would buy them right there. I would love to have some of those on the show.

Jordan Hembrough, The Toy Hunter

Jordan Hembrough, The Toy Hunter

Larry: Can you give me a few examples of toys you purchased before the show began which you wish could have been featured on the show?

Jordan Hembrough: Oh, sure. I have always been interested in Kenner toys. One day, a gentleman brought me an original wax sculpture of Boba Fett for the toy from Star Wars. It was the only sculpture of its kind in the world. I would have loved to have had the cameras rolling on that one.

Larry: What are your favorite items in your personal collection?

Jordan Hembrough: My vintage Star Wars toys. They are not worth a lot of money, but they are worth a lot to me.

Larry: Other than money, storage, and knowledge, what are the greatest obstacles a new toy collector or flipper is going to face?

Jordan Hembrough: Good question. They are going to need to really want to keep going. There are going to be times where you overpay for a toy or for a collection, but you are going to want to keep going. You are going to make mistakes, but that is just a factor of the game. You just need to keep going and going and going.

Larry: I am sure you have seen the negative press going on with Storage Wars and the insinuations of the placing of items by producers in the attempt to make a show look better.

Jordan Hembrough: (Smiling) Salting

Larry: Yes. Do you believe this type of publicity for Storage Wars will eventually have a negative impact on your show’s ratings?

Jordan Hembrough: That is an interesting question. [After a long pause] First and foremost, I think you need to remember something. This [Storage Wars] is a show, done for entertainment purposes and for educational purposes. Reality in real life is boring. Do you really want someone to look through a storage locker and not find anything? I think that if they were to make a little disclaimer, it might make the show a little easier to understand.

You know, there are times on our show when we don’t find anything, and it does not turn out they way we had expected, so we have to come up with a “Plan B.” This would be times in which we went through an entire questions really quickly or there was just nothing worthy of airtime.

You have to look at it this way. You are doing a show on TV. You are doing this show for entertainment purposes. While youa re not lying to anybody by salting or staging a little now and then, it is OK. The end result, the ultimate result, is entertainment and education. I believe that people as a whole, understand that it is a TV show.

Larry: For The Toy Hunter, would you say that education is more important, entertainment is more important, or is there some type of needed balance between the two?

Jordan Hembrough: They are both combined. They are both combined, because I am reminded every day by the numbers that the Travel Channel caters to a wide audience. While the network caters to a wide audience, we are geared towards a certain demographic. Not all of our fans are die-hard toy collectors. We cater to people who want to be entertained. We have to keep it lively and we have to keep it fun.

I am a die-hard collector. I am a geek. I am a dweeb. I love this. We are not just making a show for the half million to million people out there who are heavy collectors. We are also making a show for five million other people. We balance these two by making a show with both entertainment and education.

Larry: As a collector myself, I have noticed a huge advantage and disadvantage coming within the last few years which I would like to get your opinion on. Would you say that having Internet access on your phone during picks helps you more or hurts you more?

Jordan Hembrough: For the most part, it has helped me in buying because I can research on the fly. The negative with all of the specialized websites and auction sites is that any Tom, Dick, and Harry can go on the Internet anywhere and know what something is selling for or just went for. Generally, that is a good thing, however, they are taking all of this pricing to heart as doctrine. They do not know about all of the other factors of collecting in the world.

Maybe, the one guy in the world who was going to buy a particular item at a really high price just bought it. Maybe there is a huge warehouse find which just happened in the Midwest will flood the market with a certain toy and these toys which are selling for $500 are now only going to be worth $200. It is a double-edged sword, but for the most part, I find it very helpful.

Larry: I used to be a pulp collector but watched the market die when eBay and other sites became flooded with the short story magazines. Pulps which used to sell for $150 now sell for about $10 since there are so many at any given time on eBay. What type of collectible market or submarket, in your opinion, has been damaged the most by online selling?

Jordan Hembrough: That is a great question. I would say that it would probably be vintage Star Wars because now people realize how much there was of it. For so long, whenever I would mention vintage Star Wars, people would say “Oh, those must really be rare.” No, not rare. Now, vintage Star Wars toys are all over the place.

The problem came when people saw one or two items going for a bunch of money online and they went and pulled everything out and exclaimed “This is vintage Star Wars!” People think it is going to be worth millions, but it is not. Definitely, vintage Star Wars was impacted the most by online selling.

Larry: Is there a specific toy or line of toys which you are leery about buying because of the number of fakes out there.

Jordan Hembrough: I would say Transformers because there are many fakes and knock=offs coming out of Japan right now. Now, I don’t know everything there is about the Transformers market, but I have someone who works with me who can point out the bootlegs from Japan. I am often getting people saying they have original Transformers, but I am able to walk away from them. I might have to explain that, “Yes, those came from Japan, but they are not the real Transofrmers.”

Whenever you have a toy that is hot, there are going to be bootlegs and fakes. There will always be in this market. Because of that, Transformers scares the hell out of me right now. There are so many fakes rolling around that it is not a market worth trying.

I found Jordan Hembrough to be knowledgeable and approachable. I hope his show continues to be successful and look forward to seeing him again in the future. You can learn more about Jordan Hembrough, and his show, by following this link.

What Draws Someone to Toy Collecting?

Jul. 15 Toy Collecting no comments

This content is missing.

San Diego Comic-Con International: Our Presence There

Jul. 15 Conventions, Detroit Area Comic Book Store, News Comments Off on San Diego Comic-Con International: Our Presence There

I have received a few emails over the last week asking if I am going to be at San Diego Comic-Con International. Sadly, I will not be this year because of various other plans I have set over the next month. Don’t worry, the website and store will have a presence at the event this year.

IMG_8588Who is Going?

Dennis Barger, co-owner of Wonderworld Comics will be in attendance this year. He will be messaging me with any important information you need to know about and will be taking as many cosplay pictures as he can for our Cosplay Photo Gallery.

Don’t Forget

Wonderworld Comics has the esteemed honor this year of being nominated for a Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award. This honor have gone a step further, and we have been named as one of the 15 finalists for the award. The award will be given at San Diego Comic-Con International and Dennis will be there.

What This Means

The Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award is an international award which means Wonderworld Comics is being considered as one of the best comic book stores in the world. This is not simply a reflection of ownership and the staff. This is also a reflection of the great customers we have and the great friends we have made over the years through the store. Congratulate yourselves as this honor is as equally yours as it is ours.

My Task

I am going to weed through all of the news comic out of San Diego over the next week and give you my opinions on the most important and impactful items which you need to know about. Keep your eyes on this site for the information which will impact you, us, and the comic book industry the most.

The Walking Dead Season 4: More From Comics

Jul. 15 News, TV & Movies Comments Off on The Walking Dead Season 4: More From Comics

Last night, TV Guide posted an interview about The Walking Dead Season 4 with comic creator Robert Kirkman and new showrunner Scott Gimple. One interesting item to pull from this interview (which you are can read here) about The Walking Dead Season 4 is how more scenes and scenarios are pulled directly from the comic. I see this as an interesting move which will help the franchise as a whole.

The Walking Dead

Should there be cannibals on The Walking Dead?

Scenes from the Comics: Refocus Fans

I have heard some fans talking during the third season about how they were discouraged that there was not more pulled from the comics during the season. By pulling more from the comics during The Walking Dead Season 4, Kirkman, Gimple, and the other creators will be able to rope these potentially wayward fans of the comic back into having a deeper interest in the TV series.

Scenes from the Comics: More Readers

If word can filter out strong enough about how The Walking Dead Season 4 will be pulled more from the comics, more readers will pick up the old trades and omnibuses. Since the beginning of The Walking Dead, I have been amazed by how many people who have never read comics want to read the comic to see particular scenes before they play out on TV.

Fans who have not done so at this point, are sure to hit their local comic shop or bookstore to pick up some copies of issues they have missed. I would not be surprised to see a few of the trades hit the Diamond Top 20 trades later this year as fans try to see what happened after the final battle with Woodbury. They will want to know what they have yet to see on The Walking Dead Season 4.

Alex Barger Representing Wonderworld Comics at Yu-Gi-Oh! North American World Championship Qualifier

Jul. 13 Detroit Area Comic Book Store, News Comments Off on Alex Barger Representing Wonderworld Comics at Yu-Gi-Oh! North American World Championship Qualifier

Alexander Barger, son of Wonderworld Comics co-owner Dennis Barger, is representing Wonderworld Comics at the Yu-Gi-Oh! North American World Championship Qualifier in Chicago! The YuGi-Oh! North American World Championship Qualifier is an invite-only event which Alex qualified for by placing third at a qualifying event earlier this year.

For those of you who don't know, Alex is picture second from the left.

For those of you who don’t know, Alex is picture second from the left.

What Could Happen?

If Alex places in one of the top six positions at the Yu-Gi-Oh! North American World Championship Qualifier, he will win travel and accommodations to the Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championships later this year in Las Vegas, Nevada.  If Alex places in 1st place, Alex will be deemed the Yu-Gi-Oh! North American Champion!

Even being invited to the Yu-Gi-Oh! North American World Championship is an extreme honor for the young man. This is sure to be an experience he will remember for the rest of his life.

Want to Compete Against Alex?

Alex gets his practice in the weekly tournaments held at our Detroit area location. You can learn more about our tournaments by checking out the Yu-Gi-Oh! Page on this site.

Our Message

The entire staff of Wonderworld Comics, and those of us at WonderWorldComics.com are all pushing for Alex and hope he does the best he can do!

Dollar Box Finds: Knights of the Dinner Table

Jul. 12 Comic Book Collecting, Gaming Collecting Comments Off on Dollar Box Finds: Knights of the Dinner Table

This content is missing.

Comic Book Dollar Boxes: Negative Preconceived Notions Need to Stop

Jul. 12 Comic Book Collecting Comments Off on Comic Book Dollar Boxes: Negative Preconceived Notions Need to Stop

This content is missing.

Digital Death Part V: Truth About Placing Digital Comics on Sale

Jul. 12 Comic Book Collecting, News Comments Off on Digital Death Part V: Truth About Placing Digital Comics on Sale

Next week at Comic-Con, comic book fans are going to be inundated with news and information about digital comics. I am sure announcements will be made by various companies about digital comic sales and digital comic promotions. Think about the reason for the reasoning for these sales before jumping on the digital bandwagon.

Don't believe the hype over digital comics sales. You can usually find physical comics for less.

Don’t believe the hype over digital comics sales. You can usually find physical comics for less.

Reasons for Digital Comics Sales

Digital comics have been around for a few years now, but the publishing companies still need more customers. I am sure many are surprised by the fact that after a few years of marketing, digital still has not become a more prevalent force in the comic book industry. We know that the reason is because comic book readers traditionally want a physical comic to read, to enjoy, and to store away in the hopes of it gaining value over time. Digital comics do not gain any monetary value at all.

Are Digital Comics Sales Actually a Deal?

A perusal of the digital comics for sale will find thousands (if not tens of thousands) of titles for $0.99. Chances are good that most of these will be traditional items you would find in a dollar box anyways. If you were to walk around a comic book convention, you are sure to find vendors who are going to have sales on their dollar boxes where you can purchase 12 or 15 for $10. You will find other vendors who have some of the same comics you could find on digital comic download sites for $0.50.

Near the end of a convention or show, some dealers will deeply discount dollar boxes so they do not have to take them home. It is not out of the range of thought to see people picking up 50 dollar comics for $30 or less as dealers try to figure out how to repack everything they came with and everything they purchased.

The New Comic Shenanigans

Someone said to me recently that searching dollar boxes at conventions was useless if you are collecting newer comics. WRONG! Many vendors start putting comics in their dollar boxes four to six months after initial release. Not all comics, but ones from lesser lines which are not moving. Some wait a year for titles which do move, but place the slower issues in the dollar boxes.

At Gem City Comic Con, I picked up Suicide Squad #2-#11 in a bundle. It was ten comics for $8. #11 had just come out five months before the convention. At C2E2, I scored a complete run of Frankenstein Agent of SHADE, a complete run of Voodoo, have of the Batman & Robin issues I had missed, and about a third of the Avs.X run. The average price I paid per coming was $0.74 when all was said and done. Much lower than digital comics, and I still had something physical to show for it.

If you happen to be at a convention like Comic-Con international and are enticed by digital comics sales,  walk away and look around the convention. A keen eye will probably find better deals on the physical comics the digital comics market just can’t seem to kill.

The Sidekick at Comic-Con International: Learn About it Now

Jul. 11 News, TV & Movies Comments Off on The Sidekick at Comic-Con International: Learn About it Now

The Sidekick is a short film which will be debut at Comic-Con International. I have seen the trailer (you can see it here), and if the trailer is any indication, the short film will quickly become a cult classic in the superhero genre.

The Sidekick will premiere at Comic-Con International

The Sidekick will premiere at Comic-Con International

The Sidekick: The Plot

The Sidekick short film follows an out-of-work superhero sidekick. The trailer shows how the main character and other sidekicks are shunned by society and struggle to find their place.

Who is in The Sidekick?

The short film stars Rob Benedict from Supernatural, Ron Livingston from Office Space, Jordan Peele, Jason Ritter, and Lizzy Caplan from Cloverfield and Hot Tub Time Machine.

Why You Should Know About The Sidekick

The trailer looks hilarious and there is very little out about the short film right now. Once The Sidekick debuts at Comic-Con International, there is a good chance that the comic book world will go crazy for it. Be the first one on the block to know about this movie before you become the last.

When Can You See The Sidekick?

According to the Hollywood Reporter, The Sidekick will be shown at 3:00pm at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront’s Indigo Ballroom. The stars and creators of the short film will be on hand to discuss it and answer any questions. If I were heading to Comic-Con International this year, it would be one of the stops on my list.

The Sidekick on Facebook