R.J. Bowman | WonderWorldComics

Author: R.J. Bowman

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Rumors Hurt the Show

Jun. 11 News, TV & Movies Comments Off

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. rumors have been circulating for months, but I am nervous that may cause issues for some viewers. I have spoken against rumors before, but the issues are becoming more apparent with this show right now. Hopefully the Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. rumors will die down sometime soon.

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. rumors have to end

Basis of the Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Rumors

As ABC releases more trailers and teasers for the show, the Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. rumors escalate. People speculate about every unannounced character on the show and every piece of technology they see in the background. Speculation points to this character or that and people become excited that speculation points to a favored character. If the speculated-about character never materializes, disappointment usually follows.

Ultimate Killer of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Rumors

Who ever said that Marvel and ABC had to pull characters directly out of the comic books? The House of Ideas can create characters for the show which may or may not make it into the comic book pages later. Marvel can stay one step ahead of the Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. rumors by creating characters we have never seen before with powers we have never imagined.

Remember Back

Remember back to when The Walking Dead first came out and we speculated about the characters and events we would see in the first season. Many people became upset a few episodes into the first season when they realized the show was not following the comic exactly. These people argued about how the show was not “following the script” as if the show was supposed to be an exact transference of the comic. They were wrong and I have a feeling they will with Marvel’s new show.

Worst Case Scenario

I always have to think about the worst possible cases. What happens if the big wigs at ABC get wind of Marvel Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. rumors and interpret them as what all the fans collectively want? They you get too many cooks in the kitchen as the pepole commanding the ABC ship think they can give us what we want. Oh, the horrors of non-comic book people trying to give comic book people what they want.

Tyler Mane Will be at Wonderworld Comics on June 25!

Jun. 10 Detroit Area Comic Book Store, News Comments Off

Tyler Mane, who played Michael Myers in both of Rob Zombie’s remakes of Halloween, will be appearing at Wonderworld Comics in Taylor, MI on June 25, 2013. He will sign autographs from 5:00pm – 7:00pm and will be promoting his upcoming movie entitled Compound Fracture. Proceeds from this autograph session will support the Scares that Care charity.

Tyler Mane will be at Wonderworld Comics on June 25, 2013!

Tyler Mane will star as Michael Wolffsen in the 2013 movie Compound Fracture. The character takes his family to visit his estranged and eccentric father (played by Muse Watson) who is building an unassailable compound to calm his unsetting dementia. As the film progresses, the stars will learn of a ghost named William (played by Derek Mears) which haunts the compound as carnage of the characters begins. Escaping the compound will become as much of a menace as the spirit. To find out more about Compound Fracture, please follow this link to the movie’s official website.

Tyler Mane has also stared as Michael Myers in Rob Zombie’s Halloween and Rob Zombie’s Halloween II. He is also known for his portrayal of Sabretooth in the first X-Men movie and for his portrayal as Ajax in Troy. To learn more about Tyler Mane, please follow this link to his IMDB posting.

Scares that Care is a non-profit organization which utilizes the horror fan base to help various charities. The organization provides money, toys, and other items to help sick children. Scares that Care is also the primary supporter of “Scares for Pairs” which helps women fighting breast cancer and I Helped Kane (partnered with Kane Hodder of Friday the 13th) to help children suffering from serious burns. You can learn more about Scares that Care by following this link to their website.

DC Entertainment Retailer Roadshow is a Bad Joke

Jun. 07 Comic Book Collecting, News Comments Off

DC Entertainment has sent emails out to retailers about a Retail Roadshow. When I first got wind about this Retailer Roadshow a few days ago, I was hoping the schedule was wrong. Come to find out, the schedule I initially heard is correct that that DC Entertainment is ignoring a large majority of the comic book community.

DC’s WTF Certified

Where is the DC Entertainment Retail Roadshow Going?

There will be four dates in which retailers can meet with executives from DC Comics and DC Entertainment. They will be in New York City on Monday, June 17, and in Orlando on Thursday, June 20. They will then fly over the entire middle of the country and have a presentation in Burbank, CA on Saturday, June 22. They will travel up to Portland on Monday, June 24. There will not be any stops in any of the middle portions of the country.

Your Argument is Invalid

Someone might make the argument that those of us in the Midwest had the opportunity to speak with the biggies from DC Comics and DC Entertainment during C2E2 in Chicago. That would be correct. That does not mean retailers in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico, or Colorado had an opportunity to meet with them. When will they have the opportunity for a meeting with the people at DC Entertainment?

Travel Time

On top of that, if the DC Entertainment Retailers Roadshow is important enough to send emails out to all retailers across the country, why isn’t DC Entertainment/Comics allowing all retailers to have the chance to attend? I would like to attend one of the Retailer Roadshows, but two weeks is not enough time to set travel arrangements. Of course, since the people at DC Comics and DC Entertainment have the Warner Bros. money behind them, travel plans can simply be made by a secretary on a moment’s notice. Not so for the average mom and pop comic shop in the country. Budgets would have to be rearranged and store schedules would have to be reset.

If DC Entertainment is going to give an opportunity to some retailers, it should be fair and give the same opportunity to all retailers. In turn, DC Entertainment should give the readers of all retailers the same opportunity to hear about what is coming up next from the owners of the stores they make their weekly purchases from. What I see is DC Entertainment attempting to force the perception of communication while staying as distant as ever.

September War: Why September is So Important

Jun. 07 News, September War Comments Off

Many of you have commented about liking the new September War section on this site, but do you know why September is so important to the comic book industry? I had a long discussion about this topic last night and want to share some of the more important points with you.

The September War is coming!

The September War is Coming

Marvel will be pushing into September with the Age of A.I. and Infinity. DC Comics will wage war with Villain Month and Forever Evil. IDW will make a strong stand as well (more about that here). Image…well, let’s talk about them in a minute.

September from a Business Standpoint

The fourth quarter is possibly the most important quarter of the year for business. No matter how poorly a company is doing during the year, a strong fourth quarter makes investors happy and makes them optimistic about the future. Optimism brings more investor money and more investors. From a retailing perspective, September kicks off the holiday season push and determines if the year’s push was worth every penny or a waste of money. This, though, is not the main reason for the September War in comics.

Let’s Go Back to 2010

During the summer and early fall of 2010, there was only one major piece of comic book industry news which was not cornered by Marvel or DC Comics. Image was in the spotlight because The Walking Dead was going to be making its television debut on AMC at the end of October. Marvel and DC Comics did not like the idea of a “lower company on the totem pole” receiving so much attention. They knew the buzz would be too big during the month of October, so they chose September to steal some of the thunder away and hopefully continue stealing thunder well into October.

The First Shot of the September War

2011 saw the first full shot in the September War when DC Comics launched the New 52. It was one of the boldest moves ever in comics and was geared through the media to take some of the headlines away from Image and The Walking Dead. Most people thought that Marvel was the intended target of the New 52, but it was only a bystander caught in the crossfire with Image.

The September War Today

The Walking Dead reigns supreme on cable and is sure to grab every headline possible throughout the tenth month of the year. Image has grown and is flirting with the 10% mark in market share. DC Comics is scared because it is being threatened by an enemy from the rear. Marvel is afraid because it is better to battle with the enemy you know than the one you never paid attention to because you never felt it was a legitimate threat. IDW Publishing sees an opportunity to strike when the headlines will be on the comic book industry. Image needs to hold its own and wait for the month to pass. It simply needs to sit out the storm and then unleash its own fury.

The September War is the most important event in comics this year. Age of Ultron, Infinity, the deaths of Peter Parker and Damian Wayne, Guardians of the Galaxy, Villain Month, Forever Evil, every new release, every relaunch, Iron Man 3, Man of Steel, and every storyline is secondary to what will happen during September. This single month will make or break the year for each of the top four companies. A loss of market share during the September War will be a disaster for the losers and the greatest of victories for the winners.

The Walking Dead: Are the Zombies Still Important?

Jun. 07 TV & Movies Comments Off

Someone was in the store the other day and asked if zombies were important anymore on The Walking Dead. He believed that the show had spiraled into only being about human relationships and that the walkers were no longer needed or important. I have to disagree.

Should there be cannibals on The Walking Dead?

Reason for the Walkers on The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead is a zombie story because it uses zombies as a catalyst for action. In all honesty, a very similar story could have been told in Season 3 (humans vs. humans) in any type of post-apocalyptic setting. We might have seen The Governor battle Rick in much the same way in a Day-After-Tomorrow type story or in one which secluded people due to a major virus being spread.

Most Important Aspect of The Walking Dead

I have always been surprised by people who believe The Walking Dead is only a zombie story. The same people often complain that there were not enough zombies in a particular episode or season. The most important aspect of The Walking Dead is human interaction during a prolonged stressful event. Zombies are just the causes of the prolonged stressful event. They are not the stars of the show and are not required to have screen time every five minutes.

Actual Need for Zombies on The Walking Dead

Simply put – zombies are hot and continue to be one of the hottest pop culture creations. Would you have watched The Walking Dead if the catalyst was Mad Cow’s Disease? Would the show have gained such a following if it was about how people dealt with a giant snowstorm? Would you have watched if it was simply a show about how people were dealing with all of the electricity being shut off (lol)? The zombies in The Walking Dead got us to turn on, and the story got us to tune in.

The Need Now for Zombies on The Walking Dead

The creators of the show have been able to get away from the crutch of the zombies being the main antagonist. Zombies have gone more into the background and the human story has taken center stage. The zombies still need to be on The Walking Dead to remind us each week about what got the world to this point. They need to remain to stay as a constant reminder about what will become of everyone in the world unless some type of cure is found.

See what Walking Dead items we have for sale on Amazon.

Marvel Avengers Alliance Freebies: No-Cheat Freebies

Jun. 07 TV & Movies Comments Off

Do you how to get Marvel Avengers Alliance freebies? It is one of the most popular games on Facebook, but I have found that few other players know about an easy way to get gold, boosts, Command Points, and Unstable ISOs during Special Ops missions. Don’t worry, you do not have to cheat or worry about getting banned from the game for accepting these Marvel Avengers Alliances freebies.

Note

I put this article in the TV and Movies section because I don’t have a video game section. Let me know if you want more articles on superhero video games.

Marvel Avengers Alliance freebies

Where to Go

Many of you have probably been to the Marvel Avengers Alliance Wiki, but you might not have noticed the special Free section. I have linked the Marvel Avengers Alliance freebies section at the bottom of this article.

How Are They Doing This?

The company which created Marvel Avengers Alliance has created special links to receive free items in the game. These links completely refresh every two weeks for players. These are the same types of links that Marvel Avengers Alliance puts on its Facebook page. Note, once you select one of these Marvel Avengers Alliance freebies, you have to wait 2 weeks to use the same link again.

What Marvel Avengers Alliance Freebies Can You Get?

There is a link for the Screppers Dermoseel Jumpsuit and the El Diablo pistol. The Marvel Avengers Alliance freebies do not end there. There are links for Restoration Packs (10 total), the Lost Page of the Vishanti (11 total), Shwarma (8 total), and EMP Grenade (6 total). You can also receive Small Energy packets (13 total) and one Medium Energy packet. If you are a Player vs. Player fiend, you can grab up to ten Five PvP Battle packs as well. You can receive one Gold bar, 2 Command Points, and 25 S.H.I.E.L.D. points.

The Unstable ISOs

There is a section on the Marvel Avengers Alliance freebies page where you can gain Unstable ISOs. These links are only truly active during periods with Special Ops missions. Error messages will usually come up if you attempt to use these links when there is not a Special Ops mission available.

Remember, you can use these special links for Marvel Avengers Alliance freebies every two weeks.

To find the Marvel Avengers Alliance freebees page, please follow this link.

Milestone For WWC – Next Contest Coming Soon…

Jun. 06 Detroit Area Comic Book Store, News Comments Off

WonderWorldComics.com has passed a major milestone, and I am going to celebrate this victory with you, because this milestone was passed because of you.

Wonderworld Comics

When We Started WonderWorldComics.com

When we first converted WonderWorldComics.com to a comic book news and information site, the site was rated at over 18.8 million in the world and was unranked in the U.S. which means we had a national rank of over 2.5 million. This site ranking (provided by Alexa, which is a website ranking site), meant that there were 18.8 million websites in the world which had more traffic than we did.

The Challenge

Over the years, I have met many online writers and correspond with many of them. They told me that it would be next to impossible to raise a website’s rank up to 100,000 in the U.S. without spending thousands of dollars on advertising.

Where We Stand Now

After a little less than four month of running WonderWorldComics.com as a comic book news and information site, our rankings came in this morning. We are currently ranked at 711,692 in the world and 99,756 in the United States. This site did what many believed was impossible.

Why We Are Here

The growth and increased popularity of WonderWorldComics.com is because of the customers and fans who check it out every day and look forward (for some odd reason or another) to seeing what we have to say. I thank you for this continued growth and look forward to the growth in the future.

The New WonderWorldComics.com Poll

Over the next few days, you will see a poll on the side of the site. Let me know what type of prize you would like to have. I will officially announce the next contest at the Superman Day events.

Superman Day Events at Wonderworld Comics

Jun. 06 Detroit Area Comic Book Store, News Comments Off

The theatrical release of Man of Steel is quickly approaching. Wonderworld Comics is celebrating a special Superman Day on June 12, 2013. Here is an excerpt from the press release about the event.

Man of Steel Day is June 12, 2013!

Wonderworld Comics in Taylor, MI will be celebrating the theatrical release of Man of Steel with Superman Day at the store with special guests, special events, and giveaways.

Jay Towers and Fresh 100.3 will be appearing at the Wonderworld Comics Superman Day events on June 12, 2013. Jay Towers and his crew will be live from 12:00pm until 2:00pm, but the Superman Day events will be going on all day at the Detroit comic shop.

Prizes will be given away at various times throughout the day.

Free Superman comics will be given away.

The day also marks the release of Jim Lee and Scott Snyder’s Superman Unchained #1.

Representatives from the U.S. Army Soldiers of Steel Campaign will be at Wonderworld Comics and hold a push-up contest.

Comic book artists and sketch artists will be on hand selling prints and taking commissions for special artwork.

Customers and visitors are invited to come in costume to celebrate Superman Day with the staff at Wonderworld Comics. Guests are encouraged to wear Superman costumes, or costumes of characters associated with Superman, but it is not mandatory.

September War: IDW Publishing Might Be Surprise Winner

Jun. 06 Comics, News, September War Comments Off

We are all talking about the moves DC Comics should make in the September War with Villain Month and Forever Evil, but what about IDW Publishing? The smaller company has a good chance of picking up some extra percentage points and moving into the third-place spot as Image and Marvel both direct their eyes towards DC Comics. It could be an interesting month indeed.

IDW Publishing in August

August is going to be a big month for IDW Publishing. The month will see the release of T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #1, which Diamond Previews rated as a GEM of the Month. We will also be able to get our hands on Locke & Key: Alpha #1, the second and final issue will follow in September. We will see the suspicious return of the Cigarette Smoking Man in The X-Files: Season 10 #3, the introduction of KISS Kids #1, and another upswing for titles such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, G.I. Joe, and Transformers.

The Holdover

The strong month IDW Publishing has for August should hold into September as new readers become invigorated by the company they just “discovered” and longer-term readers become invigorated by the month IDW Publishing just had.

IDW Publishing is hitting multiple home runs with the new selections coming out of their agreement with Cartoon Network.

The BIG Release in September

If the holdover from August was not enough, the release of The Powerpuff Girls in September is sure to pop IDW Publishing. The cartoon it is based on is not only something fresh for young readers, it also has a strong cult following among readers of older generations who want to introduce their children to a franchise they grew up with. The greatest possible upset for the month of September would be if The Powerpuff Girls did not debut in the Top 100 in the Diamond Industry Statistics.

As of this writing, the release of the Diamond Industry Statistics for May is still a few days off. The Market Unit Share for April showed Marvel with 37.95%, DC Comics with 25.98%, Image Comics with 9.04%, and IDW Publishing with 7.54%. While I do not see IDW taking the lead in September, I would not be surprised at all by it passing Image for the #3 spot in Unit Share. Once the numbers come out in October, I will be very surprised if I am wrong.

The Toy Market and Female Superhero Movies

Jun. 06 News, TV & Movies no comments

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Can Marvel Bounce Back After September?

Jun. 05 Comics, News, September War no comments

On Monday, DC Comics made their lead announcements about DC Comics Villain Month and Forever Evil, but where does that leave Marvel? September will be a huge month for the company holding second place in market share and DC will probably take over the standings that month. What will Marvel do to battle back?

Marvel’s market share is dropping

Could DC Comics Lead for One Month?

There is a good chance that DC Comics will only lead during the month of September and Marvel will simply have to wait until October to take back over. I see this as an unlikely chance, though.

Villain Month Could Be Biggest Month Since the New 52

I see Villain Month being the biggest month for DC Comics since the launch of the New 52. I know that I am going to pick up some extra titles since there are villains I like in comics I don’t traditionally read. Also, since Batman, Batman Detective Comics, and Batman & Robin are on my pull list, I am going to have to pick up extra copies of each since those comics will have multiple .1 issues in September. I have recently been getting into Flash and Justice League of America, so I will have to pick up their multiple issues as well. I am sure many other people will have the same problem. My readership of the comics I regularly follow will expand, and my readership of a few other titles I pick up for the villains may expand as well.

Forever Evil

With Forever Evil following Villain Month, DC Comics has a good chance of holding onto their lead as people try to see what the first major crossover event of the New 52 can offer. I see DC Comics continuing to hold higher market share into October and possibly November.

Is Infinity Enough?

Marvel’s Infinity is launching soon, but will that be enough to pull share from DC Comics and the independents? Realize, major crossovers are the status quo for Marvel and we have seen them pull off major crossovers year-in and year-out. Are people going to become tired of what Marvel gives us every year? Infinity needs to be one of the strongest crossovers in the last five years if Marvel wants a chance of staying on top this year.

Worst Case Scenario

Villain Month and Forever Evil have been rumored about for months. There is a strong chance Marvel has had more than enough time to plan. What makes me nervous is that Marvel is going to try to pull out extra stops in the fourth quarter. Could they make massive changes just to try to stay on top? Could they kill off characters out of desperation to hold the coverage on comic book sites like this during October? Only time will tell.

Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #9 is My Pick of the Week!

Jun. 05 Comic Book Collecting, News Comments Off

Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #9 is my Pick of the Week! I know…I know…some of you are going to wonder about me picking the comic of one of my favorite characters as my pick of the week. In all honesty, this was one of the best issues for the character in his 61 year history.

Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #9 is my Pick of the Week

The Meat of the Story

As you well know, I am not interested in giving spoilers. The meat of Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #9 story is about what we (specifically the Phantom Stranger) will do for those we love. What type of Hell would we put ourselves through? What types of sacrifices would we make? While many storylines have touched up on these age-old questions, Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #9 takes these questions in more of a literal sense than we are used to reading.

The Cameos

There are many cameos in Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #9. Get ready for an issue where you will see Etrigan, Sin-Eater, Justice League Dark, Doctor Thirteen, The Question, The Spectre, and some of the forgotten enemies from past iterations of the Phantom Stranger.

Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #9 Needs This Honor

While my Pick of the Week is a small honor, the issue in question deserves it. Even if you are not a fan of the Phantom Stranger, you will understand the pain he is enduring and the storyline he was put in this month. I am sure that many of the statements made within will be reflected in the upcoming months during the Trinity War and/or Forever Evil. We will have to wait and see.

Have You Seen Wonderworld Comics’ Eisner Nomination Video Yet?

Jun. 05 Detroit Area Comic Book Store, News Comments Off

By now, you might have already seen the Will Eisner Spirit of Retailing Award nomination video from Wonderworld Comics. If you have not, you can see it by following this link.

Wonderworld Comics

The staff at Wonderworld Comics had a ton of fun making this video and are proud to have the opportunity to submit this video in the first place. To me, the Will Eisner Spirit of Retailing Award could be likened to a Comic Book Store Hall of Fame. This an extreme honor not only to the ownership and staff of a comic book store, but to the customers and fans as well.

I was proud of the job my daughter did (Maia – the little girl with glasses). I am also happy that any speaking part I had was edited out of the video. I may not have a problem typing whatever comes to mind, or speaking before crowds, but I have never liked being on camera.

At Wonderworld Comics, we do what we can to make sure your shopping experience is as enjoyable as possible. Many of you have become friends of the store or of particular workers over the years. We thank you because you make the store a living, breathing, and growing entity which is being globally recognized.

What Could Cause Comics to Devalue?

Jun. 03 Comic Book Collecting no comments

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Dan DiDio of DC Comics is a Sick and Twisted [Censored]!

Jun. 03 Collector's Corner, News Comments Off

After reading the announcements about the DC Comics Villain Month and the Forever Evil crossover event, I was reminded about how I think Dan DiDio is a sick and twisted [Censored]. How dare he help to oversee a company which would make me rethink my life-long claim of being a Marvelite? How dare Dan DiDio help make DC Comics a [Censored] company which I am interested in giving my hard-earned money to?

This content is censored.

Before the New 52

When I was young, the first three comics I read were The Defenders, Spider-Man, and The Phantom Stranger. These three comics started off a lifetime of loving comics. Over the years, I expanded to more titles, but found myself expanding more in Marvel because I could connect with those characters better. Sure, DC Comics still gave me Batman, the Phantom Stranger, and Flash – but that was about it. I always thought of DC Comics as a lackey behind Marvel. I expanded more into the independents than I did with DC Comics because the company always left a dry taste in my mouth instead of satiating or creating a hunger like Marvel did.

Dan Didio has Gone Too [Censored] Far!

It was bad enough that Dan DiDio took one of my favorite characters of all time (the Phantom Stranger) and changed him for the New 52. It was even worse when I realized that I liked all of the [Censored] changes he oversaw. Now, that [Censored] is working on two projects (Villain Month and Forever Evil) that I am looking forward to. Dan DiDio has gone too [Censored] far!

Dan DiDio Costs Me Money!

Every month, I find myself going through the racks at our Detroit area comic book store and picking out some different comics to try out. 3 out of 5 times, I find myself floating over to those [Censored] DC Comics titles and giving one a try. My [Censored] pull list is full of those [Censored] DC Comics titles. [Censored] Dan DiDio and his ability to direct a company towards storylines that I enjoy reading! The damn DC Comics titles in my pull outweigh the Marvel ones by an average of 2 to 1!

Don’t Argue With Me!

Some of you might say that some of the blame could be placed on Jim Lee or on the writers or on the artists or on other people at DC Comics. Wrong! Dead [Censored] wrong! Anger is easier to deal with when it is directed at someone you can connect a name or a face with. Anyone who reads comics should [Censored] know that! Everyone needs one arch nemesis. My arch nemesis is Dan DiDio and I will not [Censored] rest until the day he personally apologizes for making a [Censored] product that would pull me away from Marvel!

Update

Dan DiDio has personally apologized to me for making such a good product. I will continue to keep my eye on him, though.

My Opinions on Villain Month and Forever Evil

Jun. 03 Comics, News, September War no comments

So, the announcements were made today about the DC Comics Villain Month and the Forever Evil crossover event. This might come as a surprise, but I have some definite opinions on the announcements made.

DC Comics Villain Month

Note

I am writing this under the assumption that you have read the news statements so far. If you have not, you can read the news about DC Comics Villain Month by following this link, and read the statements about the Forever Evil crossover event by following this link.

My Thoughts on DC Comics Villain Month as a Whole

Personally, I love the idea of DC Comics Villain Month. The company has done a very good job over the years of making memorable characters we shudder over. They have also done a very good job in modernizing many of these characters. Give us the opportunity to look into the heads of these baddies in their updated form. September will remind us that a great superhero story is made up of a great superhero and a great villain. Give the baddies the time to shine.

The 3D Covers for DC Comics Villain Month

During the interview, it was stated that this type of cover has never been done before. Really? I have seen 3D covers before and know that they can either be impressive or annoying. The specific format for creating these covers might be new, but I have 3D covers in my collection from the 1990s. As someone who will usually have a few adult beverages while reading comics in the evening, I am a little nervous that the motion might cause undesired impacts.

The Prices of Comics During September

You might not have noticed this but the cover price on all of the DC Comics Villain Month titles are $3.99. This is a good way to squeeze an extra few dollars out of people during the month. From a retail aspect, I think it is great. From a collector’s stance – I see it as an annoyance. Unless there is a huge push for these covers in the future, I don’t see the price automatically increasing in value over the sort or long term. Obviously, DC Comics wants to reign supreme in all of the possible industry ratings over at Diamond. Too bad that “Drawing the Line at $2.99” was talking about a squiggly line.

The Printing of the Title

When I first started hearing about the possibility of villains taking over the comics during September, I was a little nervous about how the titles would be printed. Take Justice League for example. Would Darkseid’s name be the only title appearing that month, or would DC Comics use another method? I am happy that they are imprinting the name of the villain over the traditional title. This will help retailers and help fans know for sure which comic is for which line. Thanks, DC! You got that part right!

Why So Scared DC Comics?

Notice that there was not an announcement about the titles of DC Comics Villain Month coming out later in some type of trade format. I understand why. It might discourage some collectors from buying as many of the comics as they can carry. Smart move from a corporate aspect, but not from a comic book community aspect. Rumors have circulated about all of the covers being in one book or an omnibus collecting all of the DC Comics Villain Month issues. I don’t see that option as feasible because if each comic was 26 pages long, we would have an omnibus with over 1350 pages. A series of trades might be the most likely.

The Idea of the Forever Evil Crossover Event

I HATE company-wide crossover events that go into dozens of different titles. I hated it when they did it for Secret Wars II, and I still hate it all of these years later. The Trinity War crossover is one thing since it comprises about five titles each month. I am fine with that. I don’t like when companies decide that you car payment should go to them for a few months straight. Some people like it, but it is a Marvelish formula which has turned me off even more in the last few years. I was hoping we would never see it at DC Comics, but my nightmare is now a reality.

The Redeeming Factor of the Forever Evil Crossover Event

The one redeeming factor of the Forever Evil crossover event is that the focus will be placed on the villains of the DC Comics Universe (according to the original interview). I have always been a sucker for villain crossover and issues which take the focus away from the superheroes and give it to the bad guys and gals. I might end up having to start saving money now.

DC Comics Forever Evil Crossover Event is Coming

Jun. 03 Comics, News, September War Comments Off

Buzzfeed posted an interview with Dan DiDio and Jim Lee where the two minds at DC Comics discussed the upcoming Forever Evil crossover event. Some very interesting points were made which you need to know.

This is Big News people!

What is the Forever Evil Crossover Event?

The Forever Evil crossover event will be the first major crossover event of the New 52. DC Comics Villain Month will lead into the Forever Evil crossover event and the event will focus on many (if not most) of the major villains in the DC Comics Universe. Forever Evil will be a seven-issue miniseries. There will be three other major events taking place in other titles which will draw these other titles into direct connection with the Forever Evil crossover event.

Who Will Be in the Forever Evil Crossover Event?

While DC Comics has months to announce the players in the Forever Evil crossover event, Dan DiDio did confirm that Joker and Lex Luthor will be present in the series and that Hush will also be appearing later on the event. I would go on the assumption that many of the villains used in the DC Comics Villain Month would also play some role in the event. The two DC representatives stated that the focus of the series will be on the villains and that some might not make it out alive. At least one major character will be changed forever.

When

While the definitive date for the Forever Evil crossover event has not been officially announced, we do know that it will happen sometime after Villain Month which would put it (at earliest) in the October time frame. We also do not know if the miniseries Forever Evil will be monthly, biweekly, or weekly. My assumption would be that it would either be biweekly or monthly. Only time, and DC Comics will tell.

DC Comics Villain Month is Official

Jun. 03 Comics, News, September War no comments

Dan DiDio and Jim Lee sat down with Buzzfeed and discussed the upcoming DC Comics Villain Month. They confirmed many of the rumors about the month and cleared up many of the points of speculation.

DC Comics Villain Month

DC Comics Villain Month is a Reality

After months of rumors and speculation, it can be confirmed that the DC Comics Villain Month will be coming in September. I received confirmation about the event a few months ago from someone at DC Comics, but was asked not to discuss anything until the official announcement was made. Remember, I am against posting spoilers on this site, so I had to live and die by the sword I wield.

The Focus of DC Comics Villain Month

During September, DC Comics will focus on the motivations and psychological inspections of the villains we have come to know so well. The goal will not be to humanize them (according to the interview) but to give us a deeper understanding of them.

What Will Happen During the DC Comics Villain Month?

Each of the New 52 titles will be taken over by a villain and will be renamed as a #1 issue for that particular character for the month of September. In the lineage of the comic, though, this will be a .1 issue. Hence, Grood #1 will actually be Flash #23.1.

The Interesting Covers of DC Comics Villain Month

The covers of DC Comics Villain Month will all be 3D. Jim Lee explained during the interview that the covers will be two-layer 3D motion covers.

The Titles Announced for DC Comics Villain Month

The titles officially announced so far for DC Comics Villain Month include (regular title in parentheses):

Two Face #1 (Batman & Robin)

Desaad #1 (Earth 2)

Creeper #1 (Justice League Dark)

Darkseid #1 (Justice League)

Ventriloquist #1 (Batman The Dark Knight)

Relik #1 (Green Lantern)

Cyborg Superman #1 (Action Comics)

Bizzaro #1 (Superman)

Grood #1 (Flash)

Poison Ivy #1 (Batman Detective Comics)

DC Comics Villain Month is a Transition

According to the interview, DC Comics Villain Month will be set up by the final events of the Trinity War crossover series. The events of the DC Comics Villain Month will lead into the first major crossover of the New 52 and will be entitled Forever Evil.

Who is Larry Poupard from WonderWorldComics?

Jun. 02 Detroit Area Comic Book Store, News Comments Off

When I published Kelly and JD’s bios, a handful of you sent me messages asking if I was going to publish mine. Well, you wanted a bio for Larry Poupard, now you have it.

Larry Poupard

Larry Poupard, the Writer

Some of you know my history of writing. Prior to joining WonderWorldComics and turning it into a comic book news and information site, I was a freelance writer. My major clients have included Yahoo!, CNN, Dodge, AOL, and Men’s Magazine. I spent time as a travel writer, an event reviewer, a news commentator, movie reviewer, and analyst. My favorite niche was writing about the history and symbolism of the horror industry and comic book industry. These are two areas of which I hold I high level of passion for.

Larry Poupard, the Geek

Where do I start when talking about my geeky life? I am an avid fan of classic Dungeons & Dragons, World of Darkness, and G.U.R.P.S. I have collected classic gaming books for years. It may have been a long time since I played, but I still enjoy reading those old books.

Of course, you know about my passion for comics and comic book history. I love hearing about older storylines people remember and how they interpreted what they read. I think my passion for comics comes from how ten people can read the same comic and all have ten different interpretations of the same characters or story.

Some of you might have known about my passion for horror, but it is almost as equal to the level of passion I have with comics and classic gaming. I have lectured on the history, significance, and symbolism of horror. My favorite writer is easily H.P. Lovecraft followed by many of the other authors who added to the Cthulhu Mythos over the year.

Larry Poupard’s Favorite Reads Right Now

While I have more comics that I read each month, these are my personal favorites. They are not in any particular order:

Batman

Batman and Robin (or whoever in the hell he is teaming with this month)

Hoax Hunters (surprised?)

Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger

Justice League Dark

Suicide Squad

All New X-Men and Uncanny X-Men (two sides of the same story, both sides awesome)

Dislikes:

Superman (surprised?)

Digital comics (oh, you didn’t know about that? Give me an hour)

The perception that digital comics are the end of print comics (not while I can breathe)

The word “slacks”

Crossovers that force me to ready comics I don’t want to buy to get the full story

Unending lines of crossovers

People who think there is something wrong with adults reading comics

People who stand in line for a superhero movie who think they can tell you the entire damn story of a character even though he/she has never read the comic and would not understand the true significance of a character if it were to slap him or her.

Denver Comic Con Lines – Another Convention Plagued With Long Lines

Jun. 01 Conventions, News no comments

News out of Denver is that fans are waiting in very long lines to get into Denver Comic Con. Some reports are placing the wait is up to four hours to get into the convention center. This is a dangerous trend with comic book conventions which needs to be taken care of immediately.

Comic book convention lines. Ain’t nobody got time fo dat! – This is not actually a picture from Denver.

The Recent Past

Both Dallas Comic Con and Motor City Comic Con have made headlines recently due to long lines which have kept fans at bay for hours. With Denver Comic Con having the same issues, how many fans are going to become discouraged about coming to future comic book conventions?

Denver Comic Con Issue

According to Channel 9 News in Denver, the promoters and management of Denver Comic Con were not prepared for the long lines they were experiencing today. While having more guests than you would expect is a good thing, not being prepared for the numbers is something different. Comic books are in an upswing, the top movies each year are typically related to comics in some way, and more people are heading to conventions than ever before. It would be better for conventions to overstaff the front door than to automatically expect the status quo will work year-in and year-out.

The Damage Long Lines at Conventions Can Cause

First off, we have to take a look at the health risks involved with excruciatingly long lines. Issues such as exhaustion, heat exposure (in the summer) and hypothermia (in the winter) are issues which comic book convention promoters have to be concerned about. A comic book convention is supposed to be a happy event and it is the job of the staff to make sure health concerns never come into play.

Another issue is the short-term issue of people turning around and going home disappointed because they did not want to wait in line. This takes money out of the pockets of the convention itself, the vendors, and the guests.

Over the long-term, many fans could easily become discouraged by seeing stories about comic book convention lines and decide to stay home. Instead of taking another huge upswing in attendance, conventions might start losing attendance spikes because fans are too scared about the possibility of standing in line for three or four hours.

Comic book convention promoters and their staffs need to sit down and plan for dealing with lines which would boggle their minds. Comic books are the going thing, and comic book conventions need to make sure they stay high on as many lists as possible. Nipping this problem with long lines is the first step.

Best Type of Marker for Comic Book Dividers

Jun. 01 Comic Book Collecting Comments Off

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Why No Comic Book Spoilers?

Jun. 01 Comics, News Comments Off

Why won’t WonderWorldComics.com publish comic book spoilers? This is a question I am asked on a regular basis by readers who believe we might be missing an opportunity in the comic book market. There are reasons why I refuse to publish comic book spoilers.

One of the Goals of WonderWorldComics.com

At WonderWorldComics.com, we want to make sure you enjoy reading and collecting your comics. Comic book spoilers take much of the wow factor out of reading. Comic book spoilers take out the element of surprise. If I were to publish spoilers, I would take some of the fun away. If you really want spoilers, there are hundreds of other sites out there which will give you all of the information you need.

What I will Do

Sometimes, a story will come along with such a surprise twist, I will decide to tell you about it. Instead of giving comic book spoilers, I will simply suggest you pick up the issue to see what is going on for yourself. From time to time, I will have to give you a little bit of the backstory as a setup, but try to make sure that I do not spoil the big reveal. If you ever think I am giving too much information, let me know.

For the New

If you stumbled across this article while looking for comic book spoilers, I would like you to check out the spoiler-free content on this site. I think it is a breath of fresh air for the industry.

Robert Kirkman Should Be Off the Walking Dead Comic

Jun. 01 Comics, News Comments Off

Many of you are probably going to blast me for saying this, but I do not think that Robert Kirkman should still be writing The Walking Dead comic. The last year and a half have been fairly bland and the comic needs fresh life blown into it.

The Walking Dead Comic

Yawning at The Walking Dead Comic

I remember jumping on to The Walking Dead comic and reading it from the first issue on. Up until the around issue #90, I could not wait to see what Rick and the other survivors would do next. As the issues of The Walking Dead comic progressed through the 90s, I grew less and less satisfied. By issue #100, I had gotten to the point where I was ready to drop it off of my pulls. Instead, I held on for another six months and finally decided to walk away from what had been one of my favorite comics of all time. I have tried a few issues since and found that I just did not care anymore.

What is Wrong with The Walking Dead Comic?

Comics have what you might call a “story life.” This is similar to shelf life for food. Once the story life is over (typically once a story has been completely told), the comic becomes stale. That is where The Walking Dead comic is for me, and for many of the readers I have spoken to in the last few months who have decided to walk away as well.

Robert Kirkman Needs to Step Back

What I think is happening is that Robert Kirkman is spending so much time on the TV show, the comic has become an afterthought. The issues read as if they are written by someone simply going through the motions. Don’t get me wrong, issues #1-#90 tell one of the greatest stories ever in comics. The story should have ended there, but the comic continues to sell and the demand continues to be there.

Questioning the Demand

The Walking Dead is the top show on cable, but has troubles breaking the Top Ten for the Diamond Industry Statistics most months. A large majority of customers that I see who buy The Walking Dead comic, only buy The Walking Dead comic. Many have jumped on with the comic because of their fandom. I would not be going out on a limb by saying these people might not realize how the story has digressed and been elongated over the last twenty issues.

What the Story Needs

Either The Walking Dead needs to have an exit point (read: Final Issue), or Robert Kirkman needs to bring in another writer. He can still be listed on the front page, but most of the work should be given to someone who has the time for the project. There is something wrong when I read a particular issue and said “Oh, Glenn died” instead of “OMG! They just killed Glenn!”

The Wake #1 is My Pick of the Week! – Spoiler Free

May. 30 Comics, News Comments Off

My Pick of the Week returns this week with The Wake #1 which is written by Scott Snyder with art by Sean Murphy. I have a strong feeling this 10-issue series is going to be one we remember for a long time and talk about for years.

The Wake #1

The Opening of The Wake #1

Snyder and Murphy decided to start out The Wake #1 with something which would not be considered as traditional. They started with a prologue 200 years in the future. This adds to the mystery surrounding the story and starts out like many Lovecraftian stories in structure. More on that later.

The Story in The Wake #1

Dr. Archer is a marine biologist specialized in whales. She used to be a government researcher and is approached by a ranking member of the Office of Homeland Security about doing some work for the government. She agrees and follows him to Alaska. There, she meets other people the government has recruited to investigate strange sounds possibly coming from whales in the area. There is an amazing epiphany in the last few pages of the issue which adds to the dread which is built in the previous pages. You know I would never ruin that for you.

The Lovecraftian Aspects of The Wake #1

First off (as you know from previews), The Wake incorporates creatures which dwell under the ocean. While some might say this is automatically a point to H.P. Lovecraft, they would partially be wrong. Granted, Cthulhu, Dagon, and many other gods are associated with water, any creature awakening from the deep is not a nod to Lovecraft.

Instead, a potential nod to Lovecraft comes in the formation and structure of the story. Many Lovecraftian stories begin in the future and recollect the past as a scientist describes how he became insane or an investigator talks about how his life crumbled months before. I could not say for sure if The Wake #1 is definitively a Lovecraftian tale because I would then have to assume the intentions of the creators. Instead, I would say that it is written in the Lovecraftian style.

The story builds an atmosphere of dread from the early pages to build up to each peak at the true evil at work. The last few pages of The Wake #1 just hint at the evil and the final, and true, reveal might not happen for months down the road. A Lovecraftian story builds fear from the very beginning and gives hints here and there that the great reveal will be something so mind-bending that the reader might have to go back and read parts of the story again to fully comprehend what just happened. The writing and the artwork in The Wake #1 both add to the dread and will being me back for the second installment.

Popular Misconceptions About Comic Book Conventions

May. 28 Comic Book Collecting, Conventions Comments Off

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Convention Hotels Need to Treat Us Better

May. 28 Conventions, News Comments Off

Why do convention hotels discount genre convention attendees? I have attended dozens of conventions across the country and in Canada, and have found a similar problem at most of the hotels I have stayed in. As someone who has worked as a travel writer, there are certain aspects of how convention hotels discount their guests which the average person might not ever notice. Even though you might not have noticed these issues, it does not mean they should not be changed.

WTF Certified

The Restaurants

First off, restaurants inside convention hotels will often try to change their menus to “accommodate” conventiongoers. Sometimes this is a good thing as with the time that I covered a convention made up of mostly rabbis who wished to discuss the future of the Jewish faith. The hotel restaurants made sure the food being prepared was kosher. This was an understandable change.

On the flip, we have the Hyatt Regency McCromick Place, where we stayed this year during the Diamond Retailer’s Summit and C2E2. This is a 4-Star restaurant which is known for having delicacies and food which is high above what might be found at other hotels in the city. Why in the hell would they have a buffet made up of cheese nachos, chicken fingers, and pizza? For $13 (the cost of the buffet), I would have rather eaten pizza at one of the pizza joints the city is known for. Why would I want to get cheese nachos at a top-of-the-line hotel restaurant?

While attending the Up in the Aether steampunk convention, I had dinner at the Doubletree Hotel Dearborn/Detroit restaurant. I was told that the chicken in my chicken Caesar salad was prepared fresh. My Grandma was a chef and I can tell the difference between fresh and heated meat. I overheard one of the waitresses say “We can tell them whatever we want. These geeks won’t know the difference.”

The Pool and the Staff

Have you ever noticed that hotels do not have lifeguards on duty at the pool during conventions? You might not know this, but many four and five star hotels pay lifeguards but lay them off or reassign them during weeks of conventions. This is a way they cut their costs to make more money from the conventions. The same goes for many of the other types of members of the staff from room service to front desk moderation. A key area you might notice this is the empty valet parking or coat check rooms during a convention. Now, this is not the case with all upper tier convention hotels, but many of them.

Comped Rooms

I have found it more difficult to receive a comped room due to some type of issue during a convention than during any other time of the year. I went to a horror convention a few years ago and overheard a girl complaining about how there was mold in her shower. She stated that she did not notice it until the morning after she had spent all night in the room. The person at the front desk first told her that he would send someone up to clean her room. I stepped in an pointed out how simply cleaning the room might not remove the mold particles from the air.

The gentleman suggested moving her to another room. I whispered to the guest that she should be comped for the inconvenience and the possible health risk she faced. She spoke up and the person at the desk said he was not authorized to give her a free night and that there was not someone on staff who could authorize that. I stepped up and gave the person behind the desk my card which gave my press and travel writing credentials. Amazingly, the clerk remembered that he was authorized to give her a free stay at the hotel that weekend.

The next time that you stay at any of the convention hotels in the country, remember that you should be allowed the same privileges and should be treated with the same amount of respect as any other guest staying the hotel during the year. Convention hotels need to realize they need to keep us as satisfied as their regular guests. If not, we will not be back in the future.

Review of Up in the Aether Steampunk Convention 2013

May. 28 Conventions, News no comments

I had the opportunity to attend the Up in the Aether steampunk convention at the Doubletree Hotel Southfield/Detroit. What did I think?

Here I was hunting Steampunk fans in their natural environment – Up in the Aether Steampunk Convention 2013

Broken Misconceptions

I went into the Up in the Aether steampunk convention with certain misconceptions about steampunk conventions. Don’t blame me as I had never attended a steampunk convention before. I expected everyone to be talking in strained and feigned European accents and to be in character the entire time. I found this was not the case as there were only a few people who attempted to hold perception of character. The fake accents, though, could not be missed.

The Overall Feel of the Up in the Aether Steampunk Convention

Most of the guests at the Up in the Aether steampunk convention appeared to be having a good time. They were in their element. If you are a steampunk cosplayer, or someone who has a deep love for the genre, I could see you having a blast at the convention. I have been to many different types of conventions and can usually pick those people who are simply there because they have to be or because they believe they need to be to make it through the motions of tradition. I was hard-pressed to find those types of individuals at this convention.

Up in the Aether Steampunk Convention 2013

The Casual Attendee

I am a fan of steampunk literature and media adaptations, but have never considered following the “steampunk lifestyle.” I know this is a genre convention, but I am sad to say that I did not gain the level of excitement at the convention that fans of the “steampunk lifestyle” did. I am not making a suggestion that they make the show more inviting to non-genre fans as that might take from the magic enjoyed by the traditional attendees of a steampunk show. As with most genre-strict conventions, non-genre fans are not catered to and should not expect to be catered to. If you are considering the “steampunk lifestyle,” the Up in the Aether steampunk convention would be a great convention to check out. If you are a casual fan of the literary genre, you might not find very much to do.

The Convention Itself

I have to commend the planners and promoters of the convention for having a constant schedule of events for attendees to participate in. Panels on attire creation, historical classes, and weapons displays filled the roster of events. Live bands, DJs and a marionette animation could also be experienced. There were very few dead times during the convention.

One Area for Improvement

There was only one area where I could say that the promoters and planners of the Up in the Aether steampunk convention needed to improve upon. While this is a hurdle created by the layout of the Doubletree Hotel, it is something the convention’s minds need to figure out.

The hallways on the first floor of the hotel are fairly narrow. If something is going on in one of the hallways, maneuvering around can be very difficult. They had a live mermaid perform, and whenever she would be swimming in the pool, the hallway would fill up with people trying to see her swim. This made it difficult for hotel guests to get to their rooms as they had to pass through that particular hallway. As someone who has covered conventions for years for various sites, areas of congestion are a pet peeve of mine, but still believe they can ruin an event or an evening for conventiongoers.

All-in-all, I would say that the Up in the Aether steampunk convention gave a great showing for the first time out. I wish them many years of success. You can learn more about the convention by following this link.

You can see pictures of the costumes in our Cosplay Photo Gallery.

This is a steampunk stroller – Up in the Aether Steampunk Convention 2013

Up in the Aether Steampunk Convention 2013

Introducing Our New Cosplay Photo Gallery!

May. 24 Detroit Area Comic Book Store, News Comments Off

Introducing the WonderWorldComics Cosplay Gallery! Many of you have asked for a cosplay gallery on the site, so I am happy to oblige!

C2E2 Cosplay

When looking for cosplay pictures, some readers have stated that they do not want to search the site for cosplay pictures WonderWorldComics has taken at various conventions around the country. To bypass this issue, I have created a gallery of cosplay pictures which will be updated with pictures from any convention this site attends.

New pictures will automatically be placed at the top of the page so that you do not have to search the page for something new every time you want to see what pictures we have. Of course, you can always go through the site at your leisure to remind yourself of some of the beautiful costumes (and women and men) we have taken pictures of over the course of our coverage.

WonderWorldComics continues to grow at a lightning pace and is quickly becoming one of the top sources for comic book news and information. Want something else on the site? Let me know. I will do my best to try to work in your requests.

You can view the Cosplay Photo Gallery by selecting the tab above or by following this link.

Why Comics from the 1980s and 1990s Aren’t Worth Much

May. 24 Comic Book Collecting no comments

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Quicksilver in X-Men: Days of Future Past Opinion, Interpretation, Concern

May. 24 News, TV & Movies Comments Off

So we will see Quicksilver in The Avengers 2 and we will see Quicksilver in X-Men: Days of Future Past. I will let that soak in for a moment because it boggles the mind how one character will be in two movies from different ends of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Why yes…I do have an opinion and a few concerns.

Quicksilver in The Avengers 2! Quicksilver in X-Men: Days of Future Past!

What Happened?

Recently, Joss Whedon acknowledged that both Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch would be in The Avengers 2. On Thursday, director [of X-Men: Days of Future Past] Bryan Singer tweeted: “Before he was an #Avenger, he was just a REALLY fast kid. Thrilled to say #EvanPeters is joining #XMen #DaysOfFuturePast as #Quicksilver.”

No Legal Issue

Legally speaking, there is not an issue with this as Fox has the rights to use Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch since they are mutants. The company can also reference the fact that they are Magneto’s children. On the flip, Marvel can use the characters since they are Avengers but cannot reference them as mutants or reference that Magneto is their father. So legally, we can see Quicksilver in The Avengers 2, and we can see Quicksilver in X-Men: Days of Future Past.

Interesting Concerns

Since we will see Quicksilver in The Avengers 2 and see Quicksilver in X-Men: Days of Future Past, we have to be concerned about how he will be portrayed. We should expect fission in the comic book community over how he will be portrayed. We should also be expecting both Marvel and Fox to attempt to outdo the other in his portrayal.

Let’s Say…

Let’s say Marvel expects to use Quicksilver in The Avengers 2 as a background character who simply makes an appearance. Fox will have to answer that by using Quicksilver in X:Men: Days of Future Past as more of a secondary character. Marvel will have to respond by making Quicksilver a primary character. Foxwill have to…

Neither company is going to want to be outdone by the other on the portrayal of the character. Both know they will be fighting for the Quicksilver fans. They know there will be fissure in the comic book community over how Quicksilver is delivered and the companies will want their side of the fissure rooting harder, and as pleased as possible.

Quicksilver in Both Movies is Good

Fissures in the community cause opinions. Opinions cause discussions. Discussions in the comic book community are a good thing. Anything which will keep people talking about our favored form of entertainment is a good thing and it should be encouraged. On the negative side, a battle for attention could hurt both movies if overplayed in the media.

Precedence?

I am wondering if the use of the character in both movies could set some type of crossover precedence. While I highly doubt Fox will allow Wolverine to cross into the Avengers movies without a fight (even though he was an Avenger on many levels, there are slightly smaller X-Men who have been on the team composed of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Could we see Beast in one of the Marvel-made movies? How about Storm, Cannonball, or Rogue? Most importantly – SQUIRREL GIRL!!! Remember, the most powerful mutant ever (she did defeat MODOK, Terrax, and Thanos) was a recruit of the Great Lakes Avengers.

Give us Squirrel Girl!

It will be interesting to see who this whole battle plays out. Will we be talking more about Quicksilver in The Avengers 2? Will we be talking more about Quicksilver in X-Men: Days of Future Past? Who cares? Controversy creates cash and that is all that matters in the end for the industry. Well, that and sustained income – but that is a story for another day.

Voltron: Defender of the Universe Omnibus – Gems of the Warehouse

May. 22 Detroit Area Comic Book Store no comments

The Voltron: Defender of the Universe Omnibus is a hardcover masterpiece which I am happy to have read and wish to declare as the latest of the Gems of the Warehouse. Even if you are not familiar with the series, you are going to like this book. It is a bargain at any price.

Voltron: Defender of the Universe Omnibus

What’s Inside Voltron: Defender of the Universe Omnibus?

The Voltron: Defender of the Universe Omnibus collects the 2003 mini-series of the same name published by Image in 2003. It also collects the issues in the year-long series (of the same name) published the following year by Devil’s Due Publishing. In all, you are going to get over 300 pages of deliciousness.

How is the Art?

Voltron fans are going to want to know about the artwork inside Voltron: Defender of the Universe. Trust me, one look at the artwork and you will remember your childhood. While the artwork was still modern by 2003/4 standards, it still harkened back to the original styles which made Voltron a hit when I was young.

How is the Story?

The story is strong, and you do not have to know about the Voltron universe when you first start reading the Voltron: Defender of the Universe Omnibus. An easy-to-follow backstory is given which makes the universe appear new while still giving points which fans of the original show and toy line can appreciate and relate to.

What Happens?

The story takes place over a thousand years after Voltron was “destroyed” and his parts hidden. Five brave warriors (who are mostly in it for the fame, money, or because they are expendable in society) come forward to reunite the pieces of the Defender of the Universe to defeat the evil empire which enslaves much of the known galaxy.

The Result in Voltron: Defender of the Universe Omnibus?

The result of great artwork and great writing is a book which you should have in your trades collection. I can see myself rereading this collection in the future. Isn’t that the best compliment you can give anything you have just read?

You can find Voltron: Defender of the Universe Omnibus in our Amazon store by following this link.

Man of Steel Day is Coming on June 12

May. 22 News, TV & Movies Comments Off

June 12, 2013 will be Man of Steel Day in comic book stores across the country as the comic book world celebrates the release of the new Superman movie. I think this is a smart move by the comic book publisher and should give DC Comics a strong chance of gaining back some of the market it has lost recently.

Man of Steel Day is June 12, 2013!

What’s the Big Deal with Man of Steel Day?

Of course, many (if not most) of the comic book stores across the country will have free promotional bags to stuff your orders into, they will also have free copies of All-Star Superman #1 Special Edition which will reprint the first chapter of Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s famous tale about Superman. Many comic book stores will also have special posters to promote the movie.

What Else is Going On?

Some comic book stores will have special promotions on Man of Steel Day to promote the movie. Wonderworld Comics is putting on the finishing touches right now and we should have more information posted on this site and on our Facebook page very soon. Keep your eyes open for more information.

The Idea of Man of Steel Day

DC Comics needs to do something outside of the box to increase sales and gain back some of the lost market share. By making Man of Steel Day into as big of an event as possible, the publisher can get fans talking about the movie and about Superman in general. Will Man of Steel Day bring in shoppers who have never been to a comic book store? Not sure. Either way, it should make some news and turn some more heads towards comic book stores in general, towards DC Comics, towards the new movies, and towards Superman.

Uncanny X-Men #6 is My Pick of the Week

May. 22 Comics, News Comments Off

While there are many comics coming out this week, Uncanny X-Men #6 is my Pick of the Week! Sorry that there was not a Pick of the Week last week, but as some of you know, I did not have any pulls last week. It was an odd week when nothing I was reading came out. As per the first Pick of the Week article, this will be free of spoilers.

Uncanny X-Men #6 is my Pick of the Week!

What Initially Excited Me About Uncanny X-Men #6?

As a Doctor Strange fan, the revelation (from Uncanny X-Men #5) that Dormammu would be going after Magik was exciting. Uncanny X-Men #6 finds Cyclops’ team forgetting about the division in the X-Men and takes them away from crossover issues with the team we follow in All New X-Men. The team finds itself face-to-face with one of the most powerful otherworldly entities in the Marvel Universe.

A Little Bit of Information

There is a second story going on in Uncanny X-Men #6. Maria Hill is trying to figure out a way to get into the heads of the mutants. While talking with Agent Coulson, she decides to recruit a mutant to help S.H.I.E.L.D. understand mutants better by understanding the mutant mentality. On the final page of Uncanny X-Men #6, that recruit is revealed.

Not Going to Spoil it for You

I do not like giving spoilers on this site, and I am not going to start now. DC Comics hyped up (and then dropped) their “WTF Month,” but the final page in Uncanny X-Men #6 gave me the biggest WTF moment in months. The mutant S.H.I.E.L.D. recruits is so surprising, I have been trying to figure out why (s)he was picked to be an agent. I have been trying to wrap my head around how Marvel is going to play out using this particular character and what the motives would be to bring her/him back after not using her/him on a regular basis in…well, it might be a spoiler if I tell you how long.

Head out and pick up Uncanny X-Men #6 and see how the story plays out. See if you can wrap your head around the new recruit. You can thank me later.

Comics Alliance About to Rise from the Grave?

May. 20 Comic Book Collecting, News Comments Off

There is a new posting today on Comics Alliance after the site has been closed down for three weeks. Apparently, there is a heartbeat left in the site after all.

The blanket reason for AOL’s elimination of Comics Alliance was a disservice to the writers and to the readers.

What Happened?

An article entitled “Heartbeat,” appeared with a picture of Batman standing over the supposed grave of Batman giving a wink after he hears the Dark Knight’s heartbeat (see it here). Are we getting a glimpse into the future that Comics Alliance might soon rise from the grave?

Why Would Larry Be Happy?

I am sure you are wondering why I would be happy about another comic book news and information site coming back to life after supposedly being closed. While I would prefer you stop by this site for your news commentary and information, I am happy there are other comic book websites out there and hope Comics Alliance comes back online soon. We have worked hard here at WonderWorldComics.com to make our product different from what you would find on other sites, but the fact that you have a choice is important. Think about how boring the comic book industry would be if you only had Marvel or DC to choose from. Also, the stronger presence the comic book industry has online, the stronger it becomes in the physical world.

Avengers Assemble: I Just Can’t Get Behind It

May. 20 TV & Movies no comments

Marvel’s Avengers Assemble is going to be hitting the small screens in a matter of months, but I am not interested in seeing it. I do not have high expectations for the show and do not see the show gaining the cult following like many of the animated superhero shows from over the years have gained. I see Avengers Assemble becoming a footnote quickly.

I can’t get behind Avengers Assemble

Two-Year Shooter

Many of the animated shows from Marvel in the last decade have been little two-year shooters. Most recently, Marvel cancelled Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes after only a run of two years. How can we, as fans, get behind a show when we can see that Marvel’s track record is to cut shows down once they take off?

Avengers Assemble Again?

Going back to Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, the show was fantastic and should not have been cancelled. By merging the old storylines into a new environment, Marvel created one of the best animated series it ever had. The show should only have been replaced by another season of the same offering. If you cancel one of my favorite shows, don’t expect me to fall in line with a new one like Avengers Assemble.

Merchandising?

Note that Ultimate Spider-Man was out for almost two years before the merchandising began. Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes was out for two years and Marvel did not release a toy line from the series. If the company is going to start missing the boat on a regular basis with marketing to children, why should I get behind a new show? It shows lack of faith by the entertainment company.

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Marvel has wanted a foothold in primetime for years. Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and any shows which this potential hit might spawn will toss Avengers Assemble further back. If Marvel can have the cream frosting, why worry about the dry cake going with it?

Justice League Movie: Too Many Hurdles for DC Comics

May. 20 News, TV & Movies Comments Off

We have been hearing about the possibility of a Justice League movie for many years, but with the continued success of the Marvel movies, DC Comics is getting a fire lit “down below” to produce a Justice League movie for the fans and for investors. There are interesting hurdles the company will face with this project which makes for a huge uphill battle which could have been avoided if DC Comics had come out with a Justice League movie four or five years ago.

Will we ever see a Justice League movie?

Coming From Behind

First off, DC Comics has to play catch-up with Marvel since the Marvel movies are consistently becoming the best at the box office when they come out. Movies like those in the Iron Man Series and The Avengers have set records which have raised the bar to such an amazing height that DC Comics would be David against Marvel’s goliath with a Justice League movie.

Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and Green Lantern

DC Comics has hurdles to overcome with four of the characters which would be expected for a Justice League movie. They are going to have to recast the best Batman and recoup the damages after a horrid Green Lantern. Man of Steel looks much better than the first new Superman move, so that character might have been redeemed (as long as the movie is as good as the preview).

A big hurdle for a Justice League movie comes when you look at Wonder Woman. The first recent attempt at creating a new Wonder Woman show was a complete disaster and the second is not putting hope in people’s minds.

The Rumor

I have heard people refer to a rumor that DC Comics will officially announce a Justice League movie in San Diego this summer. If they do not announce a movie, fans will become discouraged and mistake the rumor for being a rumor and take the non-announcement as a broken promise.

The Failing Market Share

I have discussed in other articles about the DC Comics loss of market share in the comic book industry. DC Comics needs a movie, or an actual hit TV show (Arrow is not a hit), to help restore market share. If they cannot deliver on either, I do not see the company having a chance to regain the top spot any time soon.

Note how all of these hurdles could have been avoided if DC Comics had not allowed Marvel such a lead and if they had tried to make a Justice League movie before all of the hurdles got into place.

Motor City Comic Con Facing Horrid Problems This Weekend

May. 18 Conventions, News no comments

Our Detroit area store is receiving phone calls today about severe issues at Motor City Comic Con centered on guests not being processed in time and excruciatingly long lines to get into the event. I made some phone calls to get to the bottom of the issues, and this is what I found out:

Disclaimer

I know that some of you might question this article because this site, and the store it is associated with, are sponsors of Detroit Fanfare Comic Con. Rest assured, my task with this article is to supply you with information about what is going on in the area as it relates to comic books and comic book collecting.

DC’s WTF Certified

What is Going On at Motor City Comic Con?

Callers to our store and people on Facebook have been complaining all morning about excruciatingly long lines to get into Motor City Comic Con. According to the calls and to posts on Motor City Comic Con’s Facebook page, people who purchased advanced tickets online are being forced to stay in the same line with people who are purchasing their tickets on-site. This is causing for lines to get backed up and has apparently caused a lag in processing tickets.

Easily Avoidable Problem

I hate to do this, but the long lines are something which could have been avoided by the Motor City Comic Con staff and by the promoters of the event. Many major conventions have separate lines for on-site ticket purchasers and for those which have already purchased their tickets in advance. For those of you who have read my reviews of conventions on this site and on previous sites that I have written for, will remember how I praised Detroit Fanfare, Motor City Nightmares, and other conventions for splitting the lines to make sure they move faster.

The Fire Marshall Rumor

A rumor began to spread around noon today that the Novi Fire Marshall had closed Motor City Comic Con down or that he had temporarily shut the event down. I contacted the Novi Fire Department to find out if this rumor was true. The representative of the Novi Fire Department told me that the rumor was not true. The Fire Marshall is working with Motor City Comic Con to get the staff to move through processing ticket holders faster to ensure the long lines outside do not become a safety hazard. Already, some people have passed out in line and human safety is a strong concern. Again, this is something which could have been avoided with better planning.

The Parking

The Gridiron Greats Hall of Fame Dinner & Gridiron Greats and Detroit City Sports Autograph Signing & Sports Memorabilia Show is current going on at the Suburban Collection Showplace along with Motor City Comic Con. That event, according to the sources which I have seen, have been offering free admission and free parking. This event is taking parking away from Motor City Comic Con and has forced at least one visitor to park over a mile away at a Kroeger’s and walk for 15 minutes to simply wait in line. It is the responsibility of a convention staff to advise visitors of events going on in the area which might case for backups and other issues such as this.

The story of mishaps and miscommunications at Motor City Comic Con is ongoing and I will update this article as more information becomes available.

(Added)

Both the Detroit Free Press and Bleeding Cool have picked up on this story.

Are you facing issues at Motor City Comic Con? What is your story?

Polybagging Age of Ultron #10 a Smart Move

May. 17 Comics, News no comments

I find it interesting how Marvel will be polybagging all issues of Age of Ultron #10. This is a rare step taken by comic book companies and is only saved for certain events. I think it is a smart move for Marvel to do it now.

Age of Ultron #10

First – A Word from Marvel

THE FINALE!

The biggest secret in comics will be revealed to you! An ending so confidential…even the artists of this book don’t know what lies on the final pages…! A surprise so big that comic book legend Joe Quesada himself returns to the pages of Marvel Comics to draw a sequence that people will be talking about for years.

*All covers of Age Of Ultron #10 will be polybagged

Product Update (4/4/2013): Has a regular cover by Brandon Peterson, not Peterson, Carlos Pacheco, & Joe Quesada, and has art by Bryan Hitch, Brandon Peterson, Carlos Pacheco, Alex Maleev, & Joe Quesada.

Save the Story in Age of Ultron #10

Of course, the most obvious reason for polybagging Age of Ultron #10 would be to prevent people from just sitting in a comic book store to check out the last few pages of the issue. It keeps the air of secrecy which Marvel has been building around the issue. It is a smart move as a marketing tool which continues along with the steps the publisher has taken so far to keep the story in Age of Ultron #10 a secret so far.

Reduce Those Pesky Damaged Issues

If you own a comic book store, one of the inevitable issues you will have to deal with is damaged issues. Even though the great people at Diamond do their best when packing copies of your favorite comics each week, some issues end up getting damaged. As contents shift of boxes fall during shipping, accidents happen. By polybagging Age of Ultron #10, Marvel reduces the number of damaged copies which would not have made it to the shelf for the initial sales day. This helps retailers and it helps the end reader since there will be more on the shelves during the first day of sales.

Will Marvel Move Extra Units?

Marvel will definitely move extra units of Age of Ultron #10 because many people are going to want to have a copy to read and one to save in case the market takes an upswing on the issue in the days following release. Of course, this is going to put extra emphasis on variant covers (such as the Angela cover which is sure to be hot hot hot). Marvel might see a good portion of the market share it lost in recent months (but is gaining back) come back quickly.

Wonder Woman on The CW? I Hope Not!

May. 17 News, TV & Movies Comments Off

One of the top stories in the world of entertainment right now is about a plan to develop a new version of Wonder Woman on The CW. I just can’t get excited about the project right now. DC Comics has partnered in the past before to redevelop the character to be made TV-ready and have failed ever since Linda Carter took off the bracelets. There is no reason to believe the plan to put Wonder Woman on The CW will be any kind of success.

Wonder Woman on The CW? I hope not!

Wonder Woman is Over-Protected

Ever Since the original Wonder Woman show, people have been very picky about how the frontline female comics character is portrayed. For years, I have heard people complain about how Wonder Woman was portrayed in the various animated series she has been part of over the years. I have learned to believe she is a sacred which an incorrect portrayal could defile.

Think about the male psychology for a moment. Most men have had a female in their lives they feel they need to protect. Think of the “little sister” mentality of a female in a guy’s life who he wants to keep safe and wants the best for. On the flipside, you have female psychology. Many women have grown up looking up to one superhero in Wonder Woman. Granted there are other female superheroes, but there is only one pushed strongly on girls from the last forty years. Can women deal with the female which society defines as the main female in comics being represented wrong?

The Magic of the First Series

The 1970s was an interesting time when the creative minds on TV could get away with almost everything. The 1960s and 1970s are a time in which we were supposed to push boundaries and try new things. It was an age of personal exploration and it was fine to look at characters in various ways. This was long before the 1980s and 1990s when the comic book culture realized it could be strict about what they want.

The air of exploration allowed fans to look at the original Wonder Woman TV series with a blind eye to how it might counter the comics. That could not happen today because, as comic book readers and collectors, we have set ideas in our minds as to how characters should be portrayed and will battle against anything new or different. Just think about all of the complaining we did when DC Comics decided to switch to the New 52 storyline. Shortly after we calmed down, we realized there was some good storytelling going on.

Arrow

No matter what The CW and DC Comics tell you, Arrow is not a blockbuster show. It might put in great ratings for the forgotten network, but not for networks as a whole. Wonder Woman on The CW would kill any chances of the show being a hit. The sheer fact of the character being used on a network where she will not be able to gain attention will turn many of us off.

What Really Should Be Done

Marvel has done a great job in taking out worries and making us eat our words through their movies. DC Comics has done a good job through the recent Batman movies. The new Man of Steel movie has me wondering if I should hate Superman so much. If DC Comics wants to promote Wonder Woman in the media, put her in a movie already. Don’t worry about the pennies which can come from TV when the movies can make millions more. Let us suspend our disbelief for a few hours and go home instead of expecting us to suspend for an hour a week for months (if not years). If the movie works well, then bring her to the small screen again.

Taxing Violence in Media is Lazy Way Out

May. 16 Comics, News no comments

Vice President Joe Biden believes there is not a legal restriction to taxing violent media. His statement was made in response to statements by the Reverend Franklin Graham at a summit of religious and political leaders. This violence in media tax could stretch to video games, movies, TV shows, and to comics. This is something we should nip right now before it gets out of hand. We need to band together now to get the point across the politicians that our types of entertainment do not cause violence.

Vice President Joe Biden

When the horrific violence happened in Newtown, many politicians and religious leaders were quick to point figures at who was responsible for the atrocities. In true political fashion, guns, violent video games. and other forms of violent media were pointed to. Instead of pointing to a person who had severe mental issues, society was blamed because politicians find it important to be politically correct when discussing evil. In their minds, there are not evil people in the world…just people who have been influenced by evil in inanimate objects or moving pictures.

Vice President Joe Biden believes there is not a legal restriction to taxing violent media, but we should work together now to make sure there becomes one. Taxes should be based on logic and believing that video games and movies would cause someone to shoot up a theater or a school is not logical. If that were true, this country would have devolved many years ago when the generation after mine grew up on games like Doom.

Yes, the portrayal of violence is getting stronger in video games, in movies, on TV, and in the pages of comic books…but that does not equate to why there is more violence in the world. There are more stresses now with the economy still being in the toilet, people still being out of work, and more threats of wars on foreign soil.

Blaming the violence in media is an easy way out. It gets constituents riled up and gives them a target to go after in witch-hunt formation. This is the same type of riling that went on in the 1950s when politicians blamed comic books for the increase in childhood rabblerousing and crime. Instead, they should have been looking at the psychology of teenagers growing up in a post-war society in which many of the fathers, uncles, and cousins had been killed overseas. Instead of studying the psychology of someone who snaps, politicians want to point to entertainment.

Vice President Joe Biden is a lost cause right now if he cannot come right out and say that taxing violent media is wrong. Instead, contact your representatives in Congress to let them know how you feel about the issue. Send word to the entertainment industry to point out how you will stand with the industry on this issue. We should not have to pay extra taxes because some clown in Washington wants a few extra votes from closed-minded people.

Maggott in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.? – An Exploration

May. 16 News, TV & Movies no comments

Could we see Maggott in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.? Forums are blowing up about the African-American character seen in the previews for Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and many people believe the enigmatic character could be the mutant Maggott. Let’s take a look to see if this would work.

Maggot in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.?

What the Heck Happened?

Jeffrey Bell was asked by IGN if the African-American character in the Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. previews was Luke Cage. While answering the question by confirming that it was not Luke Cage, Bell apparently made an “M” sound and then scoffed at himself for almost stating the actual character’s name. Some fans believe the “M” was a saved statement which would have pointed to Maggott in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Others believe it was Michael Collins as Deathlok. You can read about the possibility of Deathlok on the show by following this link.

Could Maggott in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Have Been Forecasted?

Up until a matter of months ago, we had not heard anything about Maggott in a long time. A few months ago in All New X-Men, the Jean Grey from the past had a mind link with Kitty Pride. We all spent about five minutes reading all of the bubbles around their heads to see what thoughts were racing through. One of the bubbles was about Maggott. Many of us believe this reference could be a statement about how we might see the parasite-emposered character soon in the printed pages. Could it also be a prep for Maggott in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.? Not likely.

Should the Character be Portrayed on TV?

In Maggott, you have a character which has two large parasites which live inside him and come out from time to time. They can eat through any object and then give the character power once they soak back into his stomach. I can’t see how the creators of the show could pull off that type of graphic and keep squeamish viewers.

Could Maggott in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Actually Happen?

Marvel would either have to change the character in some way so that he could not be defined as a mutant. Otherwise, they might have a legal battle with Fox depending on the wording of the contract which grants Fox the rights to the X-Men. This could be a long battle since Fox would not be interested in helping out a show which is on a rival network. I just don’t see Maggott in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. actually becoming a reality.

Deathlok in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.? – An Exploration

May. 16 News, TV & Movies no comments

Comic book forums have been buzzing about the suggestion of Michael Collins as Deathlok in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. The question is; would it make sense to have Deathlok in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.?

Deathlok in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.?

What the Heck Happened?

Jeffrey Bell was asked by IGN if the African-American character in the Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. previews was Luke Cage. While answering the question by confirming that it was not Luke Cage, Bell apparently made an “M” sound and then scoffed at himself for almost stating the actual character’s name. Fans have deduced that the “M” might stand for Michael Collins which would mean that we might see Deathlok in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. There is another potential character which could make for an interesting addition, but I will talk about that in another article which you can read by following this link.

Is There a Setup for Deathlok in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.?

The Michael Collins version of Deathlok could easily be a character in the Marvel Universe since Roxxon Oil is the parent company of Cybertek (the cybernetics company Collins worked for) has been established through all three Iron Man movies and through the one-shot, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor’s Hammer. Not sure about the setups? Read on.

Are You Sure?

The Roxxon logo can be seen in the background of the main fight scene in Iron Man. One of the cars in the Monaco Grand Prix in Iron Man 2 is sponsored by Roxxon. Roxxon Oil is mentioned many times in Iron Man 3 with the accountant who is held captive and killed works for Roxxon. Also, the tanker at the climax is a Roxxon Oil tanker. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor’s Hammer takes place in a Roxon Gas Station. Remember, Marvel has been good so far about mixing in possible future storyline hints into media.

Plausibility of Deathlok in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.?

While anything is possible in the Marvel Universe, it would make sense to have Deathlok in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. The show would promote a character which is rarely used and most people in the general populace do not know about. If people do not know about a character, they can’t have preconceived notions of him. Some might even call Deathlok a “forgotten” character in the Marvel Universe so even long-term readers will have forgotten more than they remember.

Mixing of Man and Machine

S.H.I.E.L.D. brainpower and technology is a great mixture of man and machine. Deathlok in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. would display one of the greatest mixtures of man and machine possible. The team could have a superhero at their back without having to explore the supernatural or superpowers. They would only need to explore technology in the storytelling and it is already estabilished that technology in the Marvel Universe is much better than ours.

I would personally love to see Deathlok in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. We will learn as the months progress if Deathlok in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is something to look forward to or not.

Cannibals on The Walking Dead – Yes or NO?

May. 15 News, TV & Movies no comments

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No Comics Pulls This Week – What to Do?

May. 15 Comic Book Collecting no comments

I am facing a very odd week this week as I do not have a single comic book issue in my pull. As someone who reads over twenty comics on a regular basis, it is a conundrum when I don’t have anything waiting in the pull box at the store. What to do…what to do?

Graphic Novels

I have some graphic novels waiting for me, I can get a jump on some of those since I have a week without comics. If you are like me, you push off graphic novels to weeks when you have nothing else to read, or very little to read. This would be a perfect week to do so.

Organize the Collection

Even though I keep my comic book collection well organized, there are always little things which need to be done. I can go through my database and see if any of my top comings have gone up or down. I could make sure everything is filed and organized.

Back Issues

There are some special back issues in my collection I have not read or have not read in a long time. Weeks like this are always good for pulling out a comic book encyclopedia or a Who’s Who or even an Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe just to brush up on a little useless trivia to pop out on someone in the near future.

Try Something New

I could also try a few new titles I have not looked into yet. Out of three titles, I will usually find at least one to add to my pull list.

Of course, these are suggestions I have to myself. What do you do during weeks when you have few or no pulls?

Detroit Fanfare Comic Con 2013 – What We Know So Far

May. 15 Conventions, News no comments

Detroit Fanfare Comic Con 2013 is still over five months away, but this year’s show is shaping up to be one for the record books. The fourth year for the convention will be one which will open even more eyes to the type of comics-forward convention the Motor City can put on. Here is the information about Detroit Fanfare Comic Con 2013 that we know so far.

When?

Detroit’s Coolest Comic Con will be held from October 25 – October 27, 2013.

Where?

Detroit Fanfare Comic Con 2013 will be held at the Adoba Hotel Dearborn. This hotel used to be known as the Hyatt Regency Dearborn, but the location changed hands just after Detroit Fanfare 2012. Instead of simply having the left half of the first floor and a few rooms on the second floor, Detroit Fanfare Comic Con will not overtake the entire first floor of the Adoba Hotel Dearborn and a portion of the second floor. The convention will also still have full access to the Rotunda room on the top of the tower.

How Much?

Even though the convention is expanding, the promoters and staff are working hard to keep prices low. $15 will get you a one-day pass for the show. Weekend passes are only $20 and will get you in all three days. Children 12 and under will only be $5 on Friday and Saturday and will be free on Sunday. Parking will still be free.

Detroit Fanfare Comic Con 2013 was able to negotiate great rates for those staying this year at the Adoba Hotel Dearborn. The special convention rate will be $87 a night (plus regular taxes and fees). Each room stayed in for the convention will receive two weekend passes (A $40 value)!

Jim Starlin

What is Returning?

The Shel Dorf Awards, the Detroit Fanfare Zombie Walk, and the 24 hour gaming room (in the Rotunda) will all return this year. You will still be able to get an arm-full of comics through Blood 4 Comics and potentially save a life in the process (which isn’t that what being a superhero is all about?). The live Rocky Horror Picture Show viewing will be back along with Speed Painting and the silent auction. Don’t forget about all of the Cosplay events, costume contests, and trick or treating on Sunday for the kids – they will return to this year’s Detroit Fanfare Comic Con as well. A mermaid will be swimming again in the pool. Oh, and the Official Convention Party will be rocking the walls of the Adoba!

Ryan Stegman

What is New for Detroit Fanfare Comic Con 2013?

Even though the calendar reads May (as of this writing), the planning for new activities, events, and surprises is in full swing for October. The biggest (and most noticeable) change will be the expansion of Detroit Fanfare Comic Con within the walls of the Adoba Hotel Dearborn. Crowds will be splitting off in more directions with the addition of the rooms on the right side of the hotel.

This year, the main showroom will focus on vendors which are directly related to comics. You will find the room filled with tons of comics, graphic novels, and comics-related merchandise. A second showroom on the opposite side of the hotel will be called the Bizarre Bazaar and will be the home of people who sell cool items, but are not directly related to comics. Artists Alley and the areas for Media Guests and Comics Guests will also be expanded.

Kid’s Day on Sunday is expanding with the addition of a Monster High Ice Cream Social, the Fairy Princess Training Camp, and the kids will also be able to try a hand at miniature construction with special LEGO building activities.

Brian O’Halloran
Detroit Fanfare Comic Con 2013
Master of Ceremonies Emeritus

Guests?

There are many months to announce guests, but the promoters and staff at Detroit Fanfare Comic Con have already made some big announcements. Brian O’Halloran (Dante from Clerks) will return this year to be the official Master of Ceremonies Emeritus! Comic book guests announce include Jim Starlin, Tim Seeley, Ryan Stegman, Arvell Jones, Keith Pollard, Dirk Manning, and many more. More guests are being added every week, so there will be a full roster to tell everyone about as the months pass.

New Website! 😉

The new website for Detroit Fanfare Comic Con 2013 should be easier to maneuver than in past years. It will be updated on a regular basis to give you all of the information you need to know when you need to know it!

This will be a huge year for Detroit Fanfare Comic Con! Check out the convention’s website and this website for more information as it becomes available. The promoters and staff are looking forward to a record-breaking year which will show why Detroit Fanfare is Detroit’s Coolest Comic Con and why it is the best!

To learn more about Detroit Fanfare Comic Con 2013, please follow this link to the official website!

Updated – Cancelled: Avenging Spider-Man – And That is It!

May. 14 Comic Book Collecting, News no comments

According to the Marvel Subscription Newsletter, three separate Marvel Comics titles are coming to an end (UPDATE BELOW):

Avengers Assemble will be ending soon, and all subscribers will roll over to Avengers written by Marvel superstar Jonathan Hickman. Avenging Spider-Man will be ending, and all subscribers will be switching to the all new Superior Spider-Man Team-Up written by Christopher Yost. Last but not least Marvel Universe Avengers Earth’s Mightiest Heroes will be changing its title to Marvel Universe Avengers Assemble. Be on the lookout for these exciting new titles!

(UPDATE) Since the original posting, Marvel has sent out the following message:

Whoops! Has Kang been messing with the timestream or have we just been getting confused?

The Avengers keep on assembling! Avengers Assemble is not ending, it’s carrying on its merry way, and its loyal subscribers will stay right where they are.

Marvel Universe Avengers Earth’s Mightiest Heroes will also be keeping on track.

We’re so sorry about the confusion! Avengers forever!

It appears that Marvel has taken out an axe similar to the one taken out yesterday by DC Comics (See Here). It will be interesting to see if there are other titles added to the cancellation list within the next few days.

Avenging Spider-Man cancelled by Marvel

Cancelled Comic: A Success for Comic Book Industry

May. 13 Comics, News Comments Off

News is breaking that DC Comics is cancelling Legion of Super-Heroes, Threshold, Dial H for Hero, and Demon Knights in August. We knew about two of these cancellations and suspected the other two. The timing is coincidental since I was just asked by someone this morning if a cancelled comic equals a failure of the creators, a failure of the publication company, or of both. Instead of considering a cancelled comic as a failure, I think people should consider it as a success.

Every one a cancelled comic: Demon Knights, Dial H. for Hero, Legion of Super-Heroes.

Cancelled Comic as a Success?

I guess I try to look at some aspects of the comic book industry with as much optimism as possible. A simple run through of the comics in Overstreet will point out that there have been thousands of comics which have been cancelled over the years. Sometimes these comics have run their course. Sometimes a cancelled comic has lost favor with the fans and they have moved on to something else. At other times, the comic has lost favor with the publisher and it decides it needs to move to greener pastures.

Success from Failures

Yes, comic book publishers do often make the same mistake twice…but they often learn from their mistakes. If a comic needs to be cancelled, a publisher will have made a long and hard decision to end the run. Publishers take many factors into consideration before a cancelled comic is declared. These factors create the lessons which will guide creators and planners in the future.

It’s Better to Recognize

As fans of comic books and the comic book industry, we should all be happy when we hear about a cancelled comic. Sure, we might be upset because a title we liked hit the garbage, but would you rather a publisher spread itself thin with titles people are not buying or focus on the ones people are reading? Would you rather they try to focus on a comic which has failed or on a title which just needs that extra nudge to become great? Would you rather a publisher be held down by its uncertainty or allowed to soar because of the hard decisions it made in the past?

Comic Book Bundles: Issues to Keep In Mind

May. 13 Comic Book Collecting no comments

I have seen more and more comic book stores and vendors at comic book shows and conventions selling comic book bundles. There are certain aspects you should keep in mind when purchasing comic book bundles.

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The Number Run

Some vendors and comic book store owners will place the first numeric issue in their comic book bundles facing one way and the final numeric issue facing the other way to tell you what the spans are of the comic book bundles are that they have for sale. Unless otherwise noted, do not assume all of the issues between those two numbers are present.

An Example

I was at a convention recently and say a vendor with comic book bundles of Batman Adventures. Each bundle had #1 facing one direction and #36 was facing out the other direction in the sleeve. I asked if all of the issues were present in the bundle. He hemmed for a moment and said that most were present. Since the bundles were for sale for $25, I automatically knew #12, which is the first appearance of Harley Quinn in a comic book, must not have been inside. I noticed someone purchasing the package and being very disappointed that the one issue he wanted was not included.

Comic Book Bundles with Number Slips

Some vendors will place number slips on the front of the package. I have found these vendors usually stay true to having all of the issues in the span included. If you are purchasing a four issue series, you should be able to tell if all four are present by counting the spines. With the larger comic book bundles, there is nothing wrong with asking to make sure.

Quality vs. Quantity

If you are looking for reading copies of the comics in the bundles, comic book bundles might be the best way to go since you don’t have to spend hours, weeks, or years trying to find every issue in the run you want to read. Typically, you are not going to find gradable copies in comic book bundles. Placing multiple issues in a sleeve will usually compress at least some of the issues to where they would have spine damage or other types of pressure damage. If you are looking to complete a large run of comics (say all of The Avengers from #100-#300), a buyer might not mind that some of the issues are not up to par with the others.

I have purchased many comic book bundles over the years and have learned that they are a great way for expanding a collection fast and for creating a readable run without effort. As long as you make sure the issues you are going to want are present and remember that (in most cases) and quality of the issues will not be gradable, you should be safe purchasing comic book bundles too.

Difference Between a Comic Book Show and Comic Book Convention

May. 13 Conventions Comments Off

Comic book conventions and comic book shows – these are two terms we use all the time. Did you know that the two descriptions are technically not interchangeable? Do you know what the difference is between the two?

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Comic Book Show

A comic book show is a one-day event which bring collectors together with vendors. Comic book shows are typically held at small venues such as a VFW, a fraternal hall, or even in a school gymnasium. There might be guests signing autographs or comic creators doing sketches, but everyone goes home at the end of the day.

Comic Book Convention

A comic book convention is held over multiple days at a venue or in a series of close venues. Since the conventions are longer than the show, convention promoters will take extra steps to make sure there is more to do so panels, contests, and extra guests are added.

The Main Difference Between Comic Book Shows and Comic Book Conventions

Someone suggested one time that the difference between a comic book show and a comic book convention is that conventions have panels. I have been to little local shows with panels, so that cannot be the difference between the two. The actual difference between the two is the length of time, and nothing else. If the vendors are present for one day, it is a comic book show. If the vendors and guests are there over multiple days, you would call it a comic book convention.

Should You Get a Table at a Comic Book Show?

May. 13 Conventions Comments Off

I have met many comic book collectors and many comic book merchandise collectors who wonder if they should get tables at comic book shows or booths at comic book conventions to sell off parts of their collections. Comic book shows and comic book conventions are great ways to liquidate a collection for little money and little effort.

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The Alternatives

Taking a large collection directly to a comic book store to sell it will most likely not get you the top dollar for your collection. This is the easiest way to move a collection. Selling a collection off in parts will typically make you more money, though, than selling it in one swoop.

Selling parts of a collection, or an entire collection, on a site like Craigslist can be time-consuming and your listing is likely to get lost among thousands of others in your area. Ebay and Amazon both take portions of your money.

A Little Work Goes a Long Way

I am not going to lie to you. Working a booth at a comic book show or comic book convention is sometimes hard. You might get pulled in two or three directions at one time. The payoff can be immense if you want to liquidate a collection. At a show, you might have hundreds of people stop by your booth while a comic book convention can bring thousands by. In many cases, you might make up your money in the first hour or two of the show or convention and everything else is pure profit while you watch the issues you don’t have room to store go home with other collectors.

If you are looking at liquidating your comic book collection or your comic book merchandise collection, I suggest looking at the opting or getting a table at a show or a booth at a comic book convention. You can get rid of tons of issues you can’t store anymore and make the most money doing it.

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Author: R.J. Bowman

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