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Category: Collector’s Corner
Big Hero 6 is the Big Dollar Comics Find
It is time to start combing dollar comics boxes across the country for issues of Sunfire and Big Hero 6, Big Hero 6, and Alpha Flight #17 from Marvel. I have already seen a kick up in interest in this comic and believe it would be a great investment now. Big Hero 6 is about to become the talk of the town and you have the opportunity to be in-the-know before anyone else.
If you see a comic associated with Big Hero 6, buy it
What is Big Hero 6?
Big Hero 6 was originally a superhero team comprised of Hiro Takachiho, Honey Lemon, GoGo Tomago, Baymax, Wasabi-No-Ginger [which sounds tasty], Fred, Ebon Samurai, Silver Samurai, Sunfire, and Sunpyre.
The Oddity of the Premiere
Alpha Fight #17 was supposed to be the team’s first appearance in the Marvel Universe, but a scheduling snafu caused Sunfire and Big Hero 6 #1 to appear on shelves before Alpha Flight #17. So, they had their own title before they were actually formally introduced into the continuity of the Marvel Universe. The team later went on to have their own miniseries without Sunfire.
Why the Interest in Big Hero 6?
Disney is making an animated Big Hero 6 movie which is set to premiere in November 2014. I have confirmed sources which have told me that Disney has already begun purchasing issues of the Big Hero 6 comics for their archives, so there are some issues which are dropping out of circulation. I have no clue how many issues Disney is purchasing, but don’t expect the archived ones to hit the market again.
The Differences
Don’t expect Sunfire or Silver Samurai to be in the Big Hero 6 movie as the main stars are going to be Hiro Hamada and his robot Baymax. The film will have oriental influences as the story takes place in San Fransokoyo (San Francisco and Tokyo). In case you have been living under a rock for your entire life, you know that Disney is the greatest marketing giant of all time and turns almost everything it touches to gold. Turn that gold into a dollar comics box find to remember.
Extra Comic Book Storage Supplies: Always Have Them Ready
I am a firm believer in always having more comic book storage supplies than you currently need. I always have one empty short box I am not using, extra bags and boards waiting to be used, and extra tape. You never know when you will need them.
You Never Know
I was driving down Gratiot with my family one day and saw that a vacant shop had temporarily been turned into an estate sale. There were tons of antiques which I passed by, but my eyes caught a table with comics on it. While there were not many, my $8.00 purchase was for a few hundred dollars in comics. If I did not have extra comic book storage supplies, something might have happened to these issues between the purchase and when I could get to a store to purchase protection.
There have been times I have been called on the fly by friends and family about garage sales with comics. These instances can come up at any time, and I do not want to be caught with my pants down without enough supplies.
Not All Comic Book Stores are the Same
If you have been into Wonderworld Comics, you know that all of our comics are bagged and boarded. Most comic book stores do not do this. Since I travel around to various stores to see what they sell to improve my collection, I need extra comic book storage supplies on hand at all times.
What Could Happen?
If you do not have enough comic book storage supplies around the house, something could happen to your newly-purchased comics. Life happens. Stacks get knocked over. Drinks get spilled. Kids get excited and grab. These are some of the events comic book storage supplies attempt to protect you from. If you have been collecting for a long time, you can count at least a dozen times when you waited too long to protect your comics.
The Absolute Worst Mistake a Collector Can Make
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On Having Exceptionally Expensive Items at a Convention
Someone mentioned to me the other day that they did not like seeing exceptionally expensive items at comic book conventions. He said that dealers should know that people are not going to have “thousands of dollars to bring to a show to drop on an item that costs more than the average person makes in a month.” Ahh, but there are reasons why dealers bring exceptionally expensive items to conventions.
What are Exceptionally Expensive Items?
I am not going to be talking about items which are a few hundred dollars in this article. Instead, I am going to be talking about items such as a high graded copy of Avengers #4, pre-#100 issues of Batman, or some of the rarest in toy collectibles.
Exceptionally Expensive Items Create a Buzz
Typically, dealers will bring these items in just to grab attention. These items are sometimes called “honey pots” as they will bring people in like bees. In many cases, it will be the first or only time a collector might see a prized item and is a reminded that big prizes and finds are always out there. The more people around a particular booth, the higher the chance of making a sale.
Exceptionally Expensive Items Intimidate
Sometimes, dealers like to intimidate each other. They like to brag about what items they have found and the deals they were able to take advantage of. If I was a dealer sitting across from one with a key expensive issue on display, I might be a little jealous. Every little chance to knock the competition off should be taken.
Exceptionally Expensive Items Sometimes Sell
I have been at many conventions where I have heard about items selling for in the four to five figure range. While these are rare, a dealer with an expensive item has every chance while dealers who keep the expensive items back don’t have any chance. Maybe…today will be the day that…
Are Double Cover Comics Worth More?
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Why the Collectibles Market Continues to Grow Right Now
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How WE Will Prevent a Comic Book Market Bubble Burst
Is there a comic book market bubble? The comic book market has grown considerably in the last few years, and there is typically a burst when markets or types of products grow too fast. Should we be concerned?
The crowds at C2E2 would be much smaller after a comic book market decline. Let’s make sure that does not ever happen.
Traditional Market Bubble
Usually when we talk about a market bubble, we are talking about a market which has skyrocketed in recent years which is either new or saw unchecked exponential growth. The Beenie Baby market bubbled and burst because people simply realized the babies were not holding their value and were not a viable short-term or long-term investment. The sports card market bubble burst when production was much greater than demand and interested waned.
There Have Been Bursts in the Past
I will be the first to agree that a comic book market bubble is not impossible. We have seen near collapses of the entire industry a few times in the past when the bubbles burst. Overproduction, an unconditional push towards collectability, and drops in the importance of quality in exchange for quantity have all plagued the comic book market in the past. The problem was that these issues had gone unchecked and drove the market down.
Unchecked Changes are Now Impossible
There is a huge difference between today’s comic book market, and the comic book markets of the past. The Internet is something which can save the comic book market from a bubble burst. Sure, there were comic book industry magazines and fanzines in the past – but they could not compete with the speed or distribution of the Internet. In the old days of magazines and fanzines, a writer could write an article about an issue with the comic book industry – but it might takes months before it saw print, Even after it saw print, it might only be read by a few hundred people.
Today, a comic book market commentary can be out for the masses within minutes. Social media can be used to make the topic go viral and get thousands of fans riled up. Gone are the days when comic book shop talk is the fastest and most effective way to pass information about what is going on. Today, those discussions have gone online in article comment sections and forums.
Empowerment of Comic Book Store Owners, Fans, and Collectors
Comic book store owners, fans, and collectors have more of a voice today than they did even five or ten years ago. Store owners realize they can speak up, as do fans and collectors. This empowerment bore this site in particular. We have stated in the past that WonderWorldComics.com is a megaphone for your voice in the comic book industry because it is read by many movers and shakers in the industry and helps in a small way to keep the market in check.
Market Share Mentality
One other aspect which helps to keep comic book market in check is the continuing push in business to be so concerned about market share. While this was always a concern in business, the concern has grown more in the last few decades, and in the last ten years especially. The focus on driving market share forces publishing companies to take risks, but not to flood the market in any way. In a way, the market checks itself.
No Comic Book Market Bubble, But…
Since the days in which the publishers could work unchecked are over. Even though we might not have a comic book market bubble burst, we could easily have a decline. In fact, that decline could be pretty steep. Certain market issues such as the lack of communication from some companies, the push towards digital, the apparent dissing of collectors (which digital comics are since you can’t collect and sell them), the illegal downloading of comics, and other issues mentioned on this site could cause the market to decline. The items just mentioned in this paragraph are areas which this site has hounded on and we are still waiting for the comic book publishers to realize could hamper the market.
Moving Forward
We have to stay diligent. I love the comic book market and want to see it continue on for generations. The only way to ensure that is to make sure that every aspect of the market is checked by someone. We need to self-regulate it to make sure there is not a comic book market bubble burst ever. We all have to stay strong and remember that we have as much power as, if not more power than, the publishers.
Tips for Selling/Trading a Comic Book Collection at a Convention
Many people believe comic book conventions are a great place to sell-off or trade their collections or particular parts of their comic book, gaming, or toy collections. While this is viable in certain cases, there are some potential issues you should take into consideration.
Don’t Assume
Don’t automatically assume vendors are going to be interested in purchasing or trading for your product. They have product of their own they are trying to move. In most cases, their primary concern will be taking care of the shoppers at their booths. They might not be interested in looking at what you have when they have to make sales and make sure people are not walking off with product.
Respect the Vendors
Some vendors are just not interested in buying or trading at a convention. Respect that and move on to another table. Don’t try to sell your item to a person who does not want to buy.
Worst Times to Try
Don’t run up to a vendor to attempt to sell or trade right when the doors first open at a convention. He or she is waiting to be overwhelmed with guests and will be making sure everything is in order and in place. Let alone the fact that the vendor might not have any extra cash on hand since nothing has sold for the day.
Don’t go up to a booth at a comic book convention to sell or trade items when there are excess customers shopping. The vendor is going to be more concerned at that point with protecting product and making money.
Don’t try to sell or trade at a comic book convention when a vendor is eating. At some conventions, vendors have to eat when and where they can. This might be the only five to ten minutes he or she has to relax and recharge before the next rush comes in.
Best Times to Try
All comic book conventions have slow times. Try at the end of a day or during the first few hours on Sunday. These are typically the slowest times and vendors will have extra cash as long as the convention has been successful.
Why Cash is Still the Best Option at Comic Book Conventions
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Villain Month Allocation Timeline, Questions, Results, and Outcomes
Anger is raging across the comic book community due to the Villain Month allocation by DC Comics. A few days ago, I gave a few theories about what could have caused the Villain Month allocation. Let’s take a look at the Villain Month allocation timeline, take a look at the problem, and delve into some of the possible outcomes the market may/will face.
Villain Month Allocation Timeline
The real villains of Villain Month?
The Initial Announcement: June 17 – June24
DC Comics made the initial (and official) announcement about Villain Month at the DC Comics Road Show. Remember, that was the road show to meet with retailers but bypassed most of the retailers in the country…but I digress. At the time, DC Comics pushed Villain Month as one of the hottest events of the year and shed light on the 3D motion covers which would drive collectors crazy with anticipation.
Come Comic Con: July 18 – July 21
At the Retailer Lunch at San Diego Comic Con International, DC Comics Senior Vice President: Sales, Bob Wayne announced that the DC Comics orders for the 3D motions covers had gone out the week before and for retailers to get their orders in as soon as possible. He encouraged retailers to “up” their orders. He also announced that “slight allocations might occur” during Villain Month. This was the first hint at a Villain Month allocation. Dennis, the co-owner of Wonderworld Comics, was at the Retailer Lunch and stated that he had “total faith that Bob Wayne would not under order and that Wayne would know to increase orders to equal demand”
Boston ComicCon: August 3 – August 4
Dan DiDio (Co-Publisher at DC Comics) reportedly told some retailers that there would be a Villain Month allocation and that it could be between 10-40% for certain titles. At this point, there was not an official announcement which went out to retailers, only stories quoting DiDio on select websites.
Last Day for FOC: August 5
FOC is an ordering term which relates to the last Monday retailers can adjust their orders for a particular upcoming week. Monday August 5, 2013 was the last day retailers had to adjust their orders for the first week of Villain Month. While there were rumors about a Villain Month allocation, nothing was officially released from DC Comics about any changes.
2D Covers on the Way: August 6
On August 6, retailers, readers, and collectors officially learned that there would be 2D covers for the Villain Month comics. At the time, I believed that the $2.99 cover-priced-issues were becoming available for those readers who did not want the motion covers or for those of us who wanted to read the story inside without potentially damaging the issue.
Villain Month Allocation Confirmed: August 9
In the late afternoon on Friday, August 9, retailers across the country received an email confirming the Villain Month allocation. They were told that they only had until Monday, August 12, to get their orders in for the 2D covers they wanted to fill in the gap from the allocated 3D covers.
Retailers Scramble: August 9 – August 11
Over the next weekend, retailers scrambled to try to figure out what to do about the Villain Month allocation. Retailers only had a matter of days to review and reformulate the Villain Month plans they had worked on over the summer. More on the problems this caused and the potential outcomes this could cause in a few moments.
Final FOC: August 12
This past Monday, the FOC went out and retailers had to confirm the number of 2D covers they will be ordering in replacement of the 3D covers they were expecting. DC Comics announced that retailers can order as many 2D covers as they want as they will be fully returnable. DC Comics also begins letting retailers know that the Villain Month allocation is happening because of a production issue caused by the lack of materials for the 3D covers.
Questions
- If DC Comics hyped the Villain Month covers so much, why didn’t they make sure there were enough materials to make the tens upon tens of thousands of covers which we would be asking for?
- If the Villain Month allocation was caused by a lack of materials from another company, why did DC Comics wait until Monday to tell retailers the reason? Standard operating procedure in business is to shift the blame as soon as possible. Why didn’t this go out in the initial email to retailers last Friday? Why were they not officially told something by DC Comics days before the FOC happened for the first week of Villain Month?
- Did DC Comics scramble over the weekend to come up with a plausible reason for the Villain Month allocation?
- If it comes out that too few were ordered in the first place, does that mean that Bob Wayne will be tossed under the bus?
- Did the allocation hit all stores equally or did it only hit particular stores hard?
Problems
- The first problem is that most readers and collectors who want the 3D Villain Month covers will not get them. Supply is nowhere close to the hyped demand brought on by DC Comics earlier in the summer.
- From what I have seen by talking with various comic book store owners and by looking at the Villain Month allocation numbers for Wonderworld Comics – the allocation is actually lower in most cases than normal orders. Without boring you with a bunch of numbers, in many cases, we will be getting less 3D Villain Month covers than we would normal covers during a regular month. For example, we will receive less Joker #1 3D covers than we sell of regular Batman issues in a basic month.
- Retailers are stressed out right now and are already worried about having to deal with angry customers for a problem out of their control.
- Ebay is already becoming filled with orders for Villain Month covers selling at 5-10 times cover price. More on this in a moment.
- Since retailers had a limited time to rethink their Villain Month plans, mistakes are bound to have happened.
- A major problem is that there is a complete collapse of communication between DC Comics and retailers. DC Comics should have had a better contingency plan and should have had a better communication plan. Retailers are being left out to dry.
- Forums and blogs are going crazy right now and shedding a ton of negative light on DC Comics. This does not bode well for the comic book industry as a whole when the #2 company in market share is being rocked. The theories about what actually happened, though, are interesting to read.
Possible Solutions?
Of course, the 2D covers are a fix for the Villain Month allocation, but not a significant fix. DC still has weeks before the third and fourth weeks of Villain Month covers have to be shipped. Other possible solutions include finding another company to make the 3D covers or figure out a solutions such as postponing certain shipments until orders can be fulfilled.
Potential and Plausible Outcomes
- In most stores, only certain customers will get the 3D covers. Each store will work this out on their own. Some will probably only give the special covers to pull customers or their top customers. Others will sell on a first-come-first-serve basis. The responsibility falls on collectors and readers to contact their local stores to find out the particular policy. Right now, we are working on a plan on how we will work around the Villain Month allocation. More on that in the next few days.
- Trust in DC Comics is being eroded. How will readers, collectors, and retailers trust the hype coming out from DC Comics about future special events? The Villain Month allocation is something which will be remembered for many years.
- You know as well as I do that there are many fans and collectors who do not read about comic book news online. Retailers will have to deal with customers who blame them for the shortage. This can lead to the wholesale loss of customers for some retailers.
- I can see security and theft being an issue at some stores due to the Villain Month allocation. Certain titles are already selling online for 10 times cover price, so this will bring out the thieves and the collectors who will push their way through the store in the hopes of turning a quick profit. This will not only happen the first week of Villain Month, but during each week of the month. This is an entire week of headaches.
- Some retailers might not even put the Villain Month 3D covers out for purchase. Some retailers will hold onto their 3D covers since they know they can get more money for them online or at conventions. I would not be surprised if certain covers topped $50 within the coming months and I am sure that speculating store owners see the same potential to increase profits.
- The execs at Marvel are probably getting better sleep than they have in months.
- Fans, collectors, and retailers are going to backlash against DC Comics. We have to hope the rest of the industry is not caught up in the crossfire. I would hate to look back years from now and think that DC Comics harmed the entire comic book industry with the Villain Month allocation.
Conclusion
The Villain Month allocation is not only the biggest comic book news story of this month or this year. This is one of the biggest upsets and catastrophes in the history of the comic book industry. DC Comics wanted to make waves with Villain Month. The Titanic made a lot of waves too when it hit the iceberg. One day we will look back on the Villain Month allocation and say “That was when DC…”
Kelly Explores: Do I Wait for the Trade, or Read Single Issues? A Newcomer’s Perspective
As a comics noob, I’ve run into a few walls here and there in finding things that I enjoy reading. I’m enjoying the current run of Captain America in all of its weirdness, and I was able to pick it up from the first issue. I’ve also picked up the current run of X-Men, Avengers Arena, and Red Sonja, from the first issues. I’m sure most of the readers on this site aren’t comic noobs, but you can read this for the sheer factor of watching a new comic reader blossom and learn as she goes.
I read the current run of Hawkeye in the first volume of the trade that Marvel released, and I loved it. I wasn’t sure if I should continue by picking up additional issues, or if I should just wait for the next trade. This was problematic because 1.) I couldn’t remember which issue ended volume one, and 2.) I didn’t know when the next trade would be released. Obviously, this is information you can get from your friendly comic book store proprietors. And the Internet. But I’m sometimes lazy.
I ended up waiting for the second volume of Hawkeye to come out, and I’m glad I did. I like the feel of a trade better than single issues, and I like the lack of advertising. I hate advertisements with the passion of a thousand fires. But I also like Hawkeye enough to now switch to the single issues, because if I have to wait six more months to find out what happens, I may literally rip my hair out. So, single issues it is. Same for Saga. I. Cannot. Wait. For. More.
On the other hand, I’m also reading Morning Glories, which I enjoy, but I’m not hugely engaged with it. It’s a nice sort of side-read. I don’t mind waiting for trades for Morning Glories because if I were to get the single issues, I’d just have to go back and read the three issues before the current one to remember what the hell was happening.
My cousin wants to start collecting The Walking Dead single issues, numbers 1 through 100, simply to say he has them. He just wants that collection to hold on to. He’s really passionate about it, and I almost feel bad for him because it’s going to cost him a fortune in time and money to find what he’s looking for. So, if you’re a collector or you like the satisfaction of having an intact collection, definitely go for single issues. My cousin is really annoyed with himself that he didn’t start his collection from the beginning, so I guess it’s nice to have that foresight going into a series.
I think I’ll be glad I have the single issues of Captain America. Not for actual monetary value, assuming they ever have any, but because I can look at my collection and have a little smile and think to myself, “Hey, this is what you started out with. Remember?” So here’s how I’ve decided to tackle my own comic collecting:
1.) Always pick up the first issue if it’s a series you think you’ll love.
I’ll give a series 3-5 issues. If I’m not feeling it after 5 issues, but still want to read, I’ll wait for the trades from there on out. It’s less costly and I obviously don’t enjoy the series or the run of the series enough to want each issue as it comes out.
2.) If you just have to see the letters pages, pick up any single issues you can.
There are no advertisements splitting up the action in trades, but there are also no letters pages, which can sometimes be disappointing, depending on what you’re reading. And when those letters pages can have sketches from fans and really insightful info, you’re missing out.
3.) If it’s an older story, just get the trade.
Seriously, who has the time or money to get every single issue of Preacher? I sure as hell don’t, and I love the story. Trades it is.
Do you have your own way to decide between single issues and trades? Any tips or tricks for the comics newcomer? Leave it in a comment!
Tips for Collecting Dragon Magazine and Dungeon Magazine
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The Phantom Stranger #11 is My Pick of the Week!
Nothing (including vacation) could keep me from declaring Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #11 as my Pick of the Week! As with a few previous picks, there is something I need to discuss in greater detail, but I will save that article until tomorrow as to not spoil it for anyone. There are many points, though, that I can hint to without giving the story away.
Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #11 is my Pick of the Week!
Who is in the Story?
As you can see on the cover of The Phantom Stranger #11, the main players in this story include the Phantom Stranger, Batman, Katana, and Deadman. Don’t worry, the focus of the issue is shared between all four characters.
The Basis of The Phantom Stranger #11
The foursome travels into Heaven in order to find clues as to what is happening to Superman. It is interesting to see the New 52 version of Heavern (well, versions).
What Makes The Phantom Stranger #11 My Pick of the Week?
This single issue makes one of the most interesting single issue shots I have read this year. It explores some new aspects of secondary characters such as Katana and Deadman. At the same time, it gives a glimpse into Batman’s psyche which is sure to be discussed and referenced for many years. The issue also shows why the Phantom Stranger is more important of a character than many give him credit for. If you are a Batman fan, you should pick up this issue for the interesting glimpse into the character’s soul.
Tomorrow
There is a question which is posed in The Phantom Stranger #11 which needs to be explored on multiple levels. Since I am writing this on New Comic Day, I will save my exploration until tomorrow. It is important enough to be added onto tomorrow’s plate. Just don’t tell my wife I am hiding away writing while on vacation.
Who Are the Giant Books Best For?
For some reason, the comic book market is becoming inundated with giant books! They are taking over and have the chance of clogging shelves across the country! Who are these books best for??
WTF Certified
What Are You Talking About?
There is a new omnibus for this comic, and a new “master collection” for that one. There is a new “complete collection” for this comics, and a new “giant-sized essential” for that one. From Chew to Villain Month, to Grimm Fairy Tales, the giant books with 500-1,400 pages are taking over.
Now for Tester Readers
Outside of the giant Villain Month book coming out by Christmas, the giant books don’t appear to be the best purchase for new readers. You know what you are getting into with the Villain Month book, but what about with comes you have not read yet? Let’s say you want to give a particular comic title a try. Let’s say all of your friends are saying that you are going to love it. You should fight the temptation are try it out with a few issues or with a smaller trade than investing $50-$150 off the start. If you drop all of that money and don’t like the comic, how many times are you going to drop a ton of money on one book in the future?
Not for New Readers
By new readers, I am talking about people who are just starting out in comics. They might be on their first trip or second trip to a comic book store. Dropping $100 or more for one book is a little silly to me. Many people will disagree on this with me, but hear me out for a second. If new readers drop $100 or more on a book and don’t like it, why would they come back to comics? A huge hit like this might discourage them in the future.
Who These Books are For
These books are perfect for readers who want to eliminate a hefty number of books from their collections. These are also for people who know a particular title and are comfortable with it. Would I purchase one of these giant books if it were for Batman? Probably. Would I purchase one of these books for a character I just began to follow? Probably not.
Interesting Future
These giant books are not going to go into huge production, so some might see a decent increase in value. Also, since they are so big, they are going to take excess damage over time. This could drive up the collector’s market on them. How many copies are going to look like they are in mint condition after two or three years? Very few.
Get the Wonderworld Comics Amazon Coupon Code
I bet you are here to get the Wonderworld Comics Amazon coupon code. The Amazon coupon code will be active at 4:01AM 7/31 and run through 8/13. All you need to do is enter WONDERCO (case sensitive)when you are going to check out and the 25% discount will apply to all of the Wonderworld Comics Amazon store items in your purchase. This code will not work with items from other company’s stores. You can get to our Amazon store by following this link, or following the ad on the side of this page.
The Wonderworld Comics Amazon Store coupon code is WONDERCO
Crazy Day
You might not know, but Amazon recently changed many of the screens in the back end where an Amazon store is managed. Also, some of the software changed. The Amazon store-wide sale we were hoping to start today could not happen due to technical difficulties with the new options. We are now offering the Amazon coupon code for the 25% off all of the items in the Wonderworld Comics Amazon store.
You Can Share
The WONDERCO Amazon coupon code can be shared with friends, relatives, neighbors, and enemies. It is my way of saying “Thanks” for helping this site grow so fast. Remember to let everyone know that the Amazon coupon code starts at 4:01am on 7/31 and lasts until 8/13.
Advanced Tickets Now Available for Detroit Fanfare Comic Con!
The advanced tickets sales for Detroit Fanfare Comic Con are now open. To see the official posting, please follow this link. Pricing for tickets is already available. I am told that special packages will become available closer to the show.
What are Key Comic Book Issues?
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Special Guest Announced for Saturday’s King Kon!
Saturday August 3, 2013 will be the next King Kon, and there is a special guest to announce for the new show.
Who is Coming?
Talent Caldwell is the creator behind the upcoming animated web comic, Superunknown. In the past, he has worked for Top Cop Productions, Marvel, and DC Comics. He was also one of the first employees at Aspen comics. He is noted for his work on Fathom, but he has also worked on such titles as Action Comics, Gen13, Spectacular Spider-Man, and WildC.A.T.S. Caldwell will be selling prints and taking commissions for original work. You can learn more about Superunknown through his website, which can be found by following this link.
Still Tables Available
As of this writing, there are still a few tables available. Contact DLBARGER313@gmail.com for more information about the $40 tables available.
To learn more about King Kon, please follow this link.
25% Off Everything in Wonderworld Comics Amazon Store 7/30-8/13!!!
Announcing: The Wonderworld Comics Amazon Store Sale! 25% off everything in the Wonderworld Comics Amazon store from 7/30/2013-8/13/2013! Thousands of total products going on sale for two weeks via a special coupon code!
Click picture to be taken to the Wonderworld Comics Amazon store. The coupon code will appear on 7/30.
What is Going On?
Starting on Tuesday, 7/30/2013, every single item in the Wonderworld Comics Amazon store will be 25% off via coupon code. There are thousands of different products we have listed, and they will all be on sale – no exclusions. The sale will run until Tuesday 8/13/2013. The discount will not apply to required taxes or shipping.
This is Your Chance!
This is the best time to expand your collection – no matter what you collect. Now is the time to search the Wonderworld Comics Amazon store for that back issue you need to finish a run. Now is the time to check around in the Wonderworld Comics Amazon store for that toy you wish you still had from your childhood. Now is the time to increase the power of your deck with cards from past expansions you missed out on. The Wonderworld Comics Amazon Store Sale gives you the opportunity to purchase that rare figurine you have wanted on your mantle for months.
Start a Collection
Have you considered starting to collect a certain item, but prices have been a little out of your reach? Now is the time to take that first step. With the Wonderworld Comics Amazon Store Sale, you can start your collection and learn what joys collecting can bring.
Two Days to Plan
Click the button above to be taken to the Wonderworld Comics Amazon store. While there, search for the items you want and plan your attack. On Tuesday, the coupon code will appear for the Wonderworld Comics Amazon Store Sale. Order up your items early. Many of the rare items might be gone within the first few days (if not hours) of the Wonderworld Comics Amazon Store Sale. What are you waiting for? Get planning!
Bankrupt by Beanies and Collecting Lessons to Learn
The front page of Yahoo! highlighted an article about a short film entitled Bankrupt by Beanies which introduces the world to a family who became addicted to purchasing Beanie Babies in the mid-1990s. The family went to great extents to purchase as many Beanie Babies as possible and believed the collectibles would eventually appreciate to a point in which they could pay for the children’s education. There are many lessons to learn from Bankrupt for Beanies.
Collecting for Money is a Gamble
If you are collecting items with the intent of selling for more money in the future – you are gambling. In Bankrupt by Beanies, the highlighted family perceived a future value much higher than the current value. They obviously did not perceive how the market might change. We should never assume our collections will pay for future events because nobody can predict all the permutations of a market.
Bankrupt by Beanies and Market Bubbles
Any market can burst. In this case, the Bankrupt by Beanies family did not pay attention to particular signs which point to when a market would burst. This is not necessarily their fault as most collectors don’t pay attention to certain indices such as a constant flood of “special” or “unique” offerings, the emergence of a high number of market speculators, the influx of non-traditional collectors, prices instantly rising on all new releases, and statements from manufacturers on how collectible certain items are. The market bubble burst, and thousands of people were left holding the (bean) bag.
Obsessive Collecting
I am a strong supporter of having goals, and doing what you can to achieve them but there is a line between trying to complete collecting goals, and becoming obsessed with a collection. Bankrupt by Beanies explains how the family in question would recruit neighbors, keep their kids out of school, and go through plans of attack on the days new Beanie Babies came out. This all points to obsessive collecting. When you believe that picking up $5.95 colored bags of beans are more important than your children’s education – there is something wrong.
Non-Traditional Collectors
I never trust markets which focus on non-traditional collectors. You don’t have to watch Bankrupt by Beanies to know that the Beanie Babies market essentially focused on middle-aged women and the elderly. For many of these people, Beanie Babies were the first collectible they ever “invested” in. Items such as Beanie Babies and Llyadro figurines try to drag in people who are naïve to collecting in order to make as much money in as short of an amount of time as possible. We need to be quick to identify these markets and avoid them.
In the End
Bankrupt by Beanies should be a reminder to all collectors to be cognitive of warning signs in the collector’s market. Don’t get burned like this family did.
King Kon is Returning in a Little Over a Week!
The calendar is counting down the days until we have the third King Kon of the year. The bulk of con season is winding down, and we continue to get closer to Detroit Fanfare. King Kon is a great show to visit in the interim. King Kon will be at the same location it has been at (Allen Park Key Masonic Lodge) from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm on August 3, 2013. Admission for adults (anyone over 12 years old) is still on $2, and kids still get in free.
Many of you have been to a King Kon over the last year and know it gives a great opportunity to find great deals. If you are looking for comics, you will find great deals. If you are looking for trades, you will find great deals. If you are looking for toys, you will find great deals.
I enjoy working at King Kon as it is a great way to meet many of you and discuss comics, toys, and the website. Also, I end up going home with a handful of items which I have found from dealers. I look forward to seeing many of you there.
If you are a dealer and are interested in a table, there are still a few left. Contact Dennis at DLBARGER313@gmail.com for more information. Tables start as low as $40 for the day.
Pictures by Amber Palmer
Musings of an Early Magic: The Gathering Player
After all these years, I find it interesting how Magic: The Gathering is still a popular game. I remember the early days of the game and have to laugh at what we used to do to play and how naïve the world was about the game and where it would go.
When I First Played
I remember being introduced to the game at Gen Con in 1993 when Magic: The Gathering was only being sold at a handful of locations across the country. I went to try it out in a small room along with other players. I would learn later that the black-bordered cards I was handed (Beta) would be worth money to collectors.
My First Thoughts
I remember thinking that the game was fun, but there would be no way that it would grow the way it did. I remember tapping lands during my second game of the day and thinking “gamers will play this during lulls in their Dungeons & Dragons game session.” I thought of it more as an aside game than something major which everyone would soon be playing.
Weeks Later
A few weeks later, the hobby shop near my college got their first shipment of the cards and those of us who had played Magic: The Gathering picked up some packs and helped our gaming friends at school learn how to play. Within a few days, we were all playing the card game and neglecting our traditional gaming sessions.
The Pricing
In the early days, something funky happened with distribution which made some cards more rare in certain areas. While Moxes were rare, many of us in Mid-Michigan were getting them more often than other rares. We even found that gamers in Ohio were not getting very many Lord of the Pit cards. We decided to make some money.
A few months after we all started playing, we went to a card show in Ohio where people were selling Magic: The Gathering cards. Lord of the Pit was going for about $50 which a Mox or Black Lotus was going for about $35-$40! I remember selling a dealer five Lord of the Pit cards for $160. He was happy because he knew he could make $90 off the deal by the end of the day. Too bad I didn’t drop all of that money on the Moxes he had for sale.
Protection
The short order for Legends, which was under-produced, made us realize that some cards could skyrocket in price overnight. Some of us who were fortunate enough to have purchased Legends packs decided it was time to figure out how to protect the cards we were playing with. We looked at sheets from card collecting books to get our answer. We cut up sheets of card sleeves to put our cards in. If we were not using decks with ultra-expensive cards, we would not use the sleeves. Simply pulling out a sleeved deck at the time made people shudder and prepare to lose. When dedicated card sleeves came out, we kicked ourselves for not getting a patent.
SuperGames
We sometimes tried to figure out various ways to play Magic: The Gathering to prevent ourselves from getting bored. I remember when we came up with the SuperGame (done as one screwy word). What you would do is pick one color and make a deck with at least 300 of that particular color. We would start the game with 200 hit points. Sometimes, these games would last until the next day as one of the rules was that you could sacrifice three cards in your hand (at any time) and reshuffle your graveyard into your deck.
Communication
There were not websites dedicated to Magic: The Gathering. There were message boards we could access from the school computers. It might take three minutes for a page to load, but we did not complain. We found checklists which people had posted along with tips for creating new decks. Printed checklists sometimes went for $5.00 at shows since not everyone had Internet access in 1993. The good ol’ days.
Reservations at Adoba Now Being Taken for Detroit Fanfare Comic Con!
It was just announced on the Detroit Fanfare Comic Con website that the block of rooms are now available at the Adoba with the special convention rate of $87.00 a night. This information is right off the Detroit Fanfare Comic Con website:
Room reservations are now being taken for Detroit Fanfare Comic Con 2013 at the Adoba Hotel Dearborn/Detroit! There are three ways you can take advantage of the special $87.00 a night rate for a regular room.
- You can call the Adoba Hotel Dearborn/Detroit at (313) 592-3622 and let them know you are going to be attending Detroit Fanfare Comic Con and want to reserve your room. Please note, this phone number has changed from the original posting. The incorrect phone number was originally given.
- You can go to the Adoba Hotel Dearborn/Detroit website to purchase your room. You can access the website by following this link. The special rate code is FANN (Travelers Group Code).
- You can follow this link to go directly to the room reservation section.
Your room does not only give you round-the-clock access to everything going on around the hotel, it also gets you free tickets for two to Detroit Fanfare Comic Con! Wrist bands and lanyards will be given at check-in. That is a value and a half! Secure your room today before they are all gone!
A little bird told me that there will be more special announcements coming tot eh Detroit Fanfare Comic Con website really soon. We will let you know what we know, when we know it!
SDCC Announcements I Wish Would Have Been Made
With all of the announcements made at San Diego Comic-Con this year, I have to say that I am at least a little disappointed that certain items were not announced. This year would have been even better for me if these announcements had been made. Of course, I can still hold out hope for these announcements in the near future.
- Ok, there were a teases or rumors about a Flash movie and about a Justice League movie. I would have at least liked to hear these addressed.
- What are some of the titles which are going to be released as part of Marvel NOW Two? Well, at least I can talk now about the titles I would want to see come back.
- Why wasn’t there any talk about the Ant-Man movie? We still have not heard anything official about a Doctor Strange or Black Panther movie. Well, I can still hold out hope.
- Has anything gone on with the new version of The Incredible Hulk for ABC?
- When is the release of Marvel Avengers Alliance Season 2? I understand that they might not be able to give an exact date due to potential programming issues, but a ballpark would have been nice.
- When can we find out more about the Hoax Hunters movie?
- Some pages from X-Men: War of the Atom or Forever Evil would have gotten people ready for the September War.
- AMC could not even give a glimpse at The Governor in the preview for The Walking Dead Season 4?
San Diego Comic-Con Random Thoughts Part III
It is time to finish up my series of random thoughts about the San Diego Comic-Con International announcements. You can read the first in the series here, and the second in the series here.
- There is too much to go over about the Marvel Avengers Alliance announcements, so check this out.
- Nightcrawler is coming back to Marvel NOW! I had a feeling my favorite blue character would not be dead for long.
- Michael Jai White is going to join the cast of Arrow. I met him at Detroit Fanfare last year. That is all I am going to say.
- IDW Publishing is almost done with Dr. Who. I wonder if someone else will pick up the comic or if it will float around in time for ages.
- There will be another Summer of Valiant next year. Well, since I missed this years, maybe I will check it out next year.
- George R.R. Martin believes comics are one of the main reasons for his success in TV and film. Not sure about that. I always thought it was because he was such a great writer. I am not saying this to discredit comics…only to give credit where it is truly due.
- Nice to hear that Bishop will officially be in X-Men: Days of Future Past. It is fitting he will be in the movie.
- Deadpool vs. Carnage? Not really sure how this one will play out. For some reason, Deadpool has been getting stale for me, but that is just my opinion. We will see how the cross plays out.
- John Romita Jr. might take on Superman. This one bothers me to no end. I love Romita Jr.’s work, but Superman? Why put him on a title with my least favorite character? Why? DeDiiiiooooo!
- I should have put this in the first part of this series, but I am very happy to see San Diego Comic-Con International take a zero tolerance approach to harassment of any kind. Good for them. This might help to bring all conventions into line against harassment and with admitting it takes place and realizing it needs to stop.
- Marvel NOW Two – Marvel is going to relaunch and/or renumber more titles. The first time saw a huge sales increase for the top publisher. Hopefuly, they stick with renumbering and relaunching previous titles and not current ones. I would much rather see a new Excalibur #1, New Mutants #1, or Alpha Flight #1 than a new X-Men #1 or another Superior Spider-Man #1.
- ComiXology is having a sale this week. Isn’t that the only way they can get people to read digital comics now?
- So, Hank Pym is not going to be in Avengers: Age of Ultron? Ultron is going to be created by another member? Well, obviously, it would be Tony Stark who would make the android, but I do see this as a loss for the character of Hank Pym. Ultron is an integral part of his character and leads to integral ways of understanding the character. We will just have to see how this plays out.
San Diego Comic-Con Random Thoughts Part II
Between every breath we take, more news comics out of San Diego Comic-Con International. This is the second part of my series of picking out my favorite news bits from the convention and giving my opinions. To see the first part of this series, please follow this link. Part three can be found here.
- Batman and Son will come out some time next year and be the animated premiere for Damian. With this being a New 52 continuity movie, I am looking forward to seeing if DC Comics will kill Damian off in an animated format.
- Congrats to all of the Eisner winners including Challenger Comics in Chicago. I also want to send congrats to Green Brain Comics, since it is based here in Michigan and a friend of this website and our store, for making it so far in the running. We look forward to the day when we win ours.
- Happy to see Saga claen up at the Eisner’s. The wins were well-deserved.
- The new My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and Transformers mini-series from IDW Publishing are sure to help the publisher bump up sales and move closer to helping it solidifying its position in the Top 4 for market share.
- The Walking Dead Season 4 preview is one of the top items at San Diego Comic-Con International. I think it looks awesome, and has me gearing up for the new season. One issue, though. At the end of the preview, some of the survivors are seen in a car and a voice comes over the radio talking about “sanctuary.” I was immediately reminded of the recording coming across the radio talking about Safe Haven in the Deadworld series. Is this something else “borrowed” from Gary Reed’s zombie apocalypse series?
- Sadly, the Harley Quinn Suicide Squad figure just does not do it for me. I might end up having to pass on it. The original costume black and white figure coming out in 2014, that will be on my list for May.
- So the Trinity War is the end of Phase 1 of the New 52. How many phases are we going to get? Was this simply an introduction phase?
- So much talk about Booster Gold, but wasn’t he supposed to have his own show on SyFy? What every happened with that? It might have actually meant there would have been something good on SyFy which didn’t have to do with sharks. If you get the chance one day, stop in the store and ask me why SyFy hates me.
- Ragnarok from IDW Publishing has me excited. It will be interesting to compare and contrast the use of Norse mythology in that comic and the use of Norse mythology at Marvel.
- DC Comics is making MAD Magazine and their All Ages comics returnable in from October. Interesting. I have mixed feelings about returnable comics. While it helps the retailers out, why would publishers create products they did not have full faith in? If a product is stupendous, it never has to be returned.
- J. August Richards will be portraying Slapstick on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Some might be discouraged by this, but at least we don’t have any Howard the Duck.
- The big battle for interest at San Diego Comic-Con International is between Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., The Walking Dead Season 4, and Villain Month/Forever Evil. Interesting three-way fight. The fight is still too early to declare but it is interesting that there are two fighters on TV and one in the stores.
Amazon Enters Digital Comics Market – Pffft
Amazon is taking steps to enter the digital comics market and there are many people shaking right now. This is a market Amazon should not even be in right now, and it is not the smartest business move they have made over the years. The buzz might be high right now in San Diego at Comic-Con about Amazon and digital comics, but take a few moments to think this through.
This is Expected
Amazon is like Wal-Mart in the fact that if there is a new market which could potentially be cornered, it will be. The comic book companies have been making noise about digital comics for a few years now, so it would make sense that Amazon would smell the potential blood and attack. I don’t think Amazon did all the homework for this assignment.
Where are the Numbers?
Yes, the comic book industry has been boasting about digital comics, but where are the hard numbers? Why haven’t the Big 2 or ComiXology given us numbers as to how many new release comics are being sold every month as compared to the number which are being illegally downloaded? What is the ratio of digital comics on sale sold to the number of new digital comics sold? Where is the logic behind the idea of digital comics being the end-all-be-all in the industry when after a few years with digital comics, the physical comic book market continues to rise? If the digital comics market was a great one to get in to, why is there so much secrecy about the numbers involved?
Who Should be Worried?
With Amazon entering the digital comics market, I don’t see a long future for ComiXology. How can there be when the largest online seller gets into the market which you believe you had cornered? Amazon will drop countless dollars behind funding the sale of digital comics just to push ComiXology out of the water.
Why Retailers Should Not be Worried
Comic book retailers should not be freaking out right now. Some might say, “Look at what Amazon did to Borders!” What did Amazon do to Borders? The online retailer sure did not put the bookseller out of business. Borders killed Borders.
Long before digital books came out, Borders struggled through a series of bad mistakes – their own and other’s. Borders spent years dealing with trying to find the correct balance between having enough staff to take care of customers and keeping overhead down. The company was years behind other companies which were selling books through their websites. They were late getting to the digital book market and introduced a horrid e-reader. They were bought out by Kmart and struggled until they spun off as another company and struggled to find its place. Borders was plagued by issues for a long time before it closed, and Amazon had little, if anything, to the ending of the company.
Amazon has Been Selling Physical for a Long Time
Amazon has not killed comic book stores at this point have they? If I am correct, there have been more new comic book stores popping up in the last few years than closing. Many comic book stores are expanding and talking about having months where profits are the best they have been in decades. Amazon has been selling physical comics, trades, and hardcovers for years. Don’t you think they would have killed the comic book stores years ago if they could? They can’t. The comic book industry is kept floating by people who love going each week to their local comic book store and by those who want physical comics to store and wait for increases in value. Digital comics don’t offer either one.
San Diego Comic-Con Random Thoughts Part I
Even though I am not at San Diego Comic-Con International, I still have opinions about what is going on. This is the first part of the series I am running over the next few days in which I will be posting random thoughts about some of the announcements. Some of these items will be featured in their own articles because I have more to say. You will find out which ones when I write them.
See Part II of this series by following this link. Part III can be found here.
- DC Comics will be releasing a DVD/Bluray entitled “Necessary Evil: Supervillains of DC Comics” in October along with a companion book containing some of the greatest stories surrounding their villains. Yes, both of those sound awesome to me. I love the idea of letting the baddies shine as much as possible.
- DC will be releasing The Flashpoint Paradox which will bring the animated movies into the New 52 continuity. I have to say that it is a good idea to pull all arms of DC Entertainment into the New 52 continuity. It adds cohesion and continuity among continuities (or something like that).
- More Sandman coming from Neil Gaiman? While I am not a fan of the particular character (nothing wrong, just never read the comics), I know that this will invigorate tens of thousands of fans around the world. With Gaiman doing a little work for Marvel right now, this is a major coup for DC Comics.
- I am happy to hear that Robert Kirkman officially announced that Daryl is not going to be in The Walking Dead comic. I have said for a long time that he should not be.
- I am also happy about the fact that we will not learn about what is happening in other countries in The Walking Dead. This would force lines of communication which should not be there. On the flip side, though, it means we will never venture into Canada.
- So there is going to be a crossover between Family Guy and The Simpsons. Yes, I will watch but it will probably be stupid.
- DC Comics had a digital comics panel. Pffft.
- There will be a Spider-Man crossover pitting Superior Spider-Man against Venom. I think I am going to have to check this four issue series out.
- Excited about the idea of Jeff Smith bringing out more Bone. Who could be upset about that? Sure, some might complain that it is coming out through Scholastic, but that just means that kids ordering the books from school will be exposed to comics in school.
- Detroit filed for bankruptcy. Wait, that has nothing to do with comics and is not a surprise to anyone. Oops.
- IDW Publishing is expanding the older editions from the Big 2 that they are going to be releasing. I am going to have to get my hands on the Romita Spider-Man book when it comes out.
- New Hellboy? That is sure to get the girls in our Detroit area comic book store buzzing.
- If you sign up for the Amazon digital comics newsletter, you will get a free digital copy of Superman #1 from the New 52. What do I think about this? Anyone want to play fill in the blank?
- I am a little disappointed that Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is not the ultimate talk of the town yet. Of course, there still is three more days for the House of Ideas to get everyone drooling. I am not counting the possibility out yet.
- There will be a monthly Shazam title coming from DC Comics in 2014. Shazam (Captain Marvel) was one of my favorite characters as a child. I hope he gets all of the room he needs to grow. They can make him a headliner again.
- Lex Luthor is the mastermind behind Forever Evil. This makes sense to me. He is one of the top 5 villains the company has to offer and Joker is probably still reeling from the end of Death of the Family, so it would be impossible to expect him to come up with a master plan of this magnitude this quickly.
Well, that is it for the first part of my San Diego Comic-Con random thoughts so far. More to come along with expansions on some of the topics presented here.
Why I am Happy I am Not at San Diego Comic-Con International
I have to say that I am of the minority when I say that I am happy I am not at San Diego Comic-Con International right now. I will occasionally go to large comic book conventions, but I prefer the smaller ones when they come up.
Comic-Con International
I Will be Saving Money
Since I am not going to San Diego Comic-Con International this year, I will be saving money which I can spend at smaller conventions and shows later this year (like King Kon on Auguest 3 and Detroit Fanfare). I don’t have to worry about the ticket price or the airfare. I don’t have to worry about figuring out how I am going to buy everything I might want and still have money left over for food. These worries will be foreign to me when discussing San Diego Comic-Con International.
Not Getting Bumped Around
If you have met me, you know that I am not a big guy. Granted, I am six feet tall, but I am around 175 and get bumped around often at bigger conventions. I prefer the smaller conventions where I can look through long and short boxes or check out booths without drowning in a sea of people while trying to hold my footing on the floor of a convention like San Diego Comic-Con International.
No Lines
There were issues earlier this year when there were conventions plagued with long lines. The funny thing is, this is something which has become expected at San Diego Comic-Con. International. Nope, instead of waiting an hour in line for a hot dog, I can go into the kitchen and make one for myself (at a fraction of the cost).
Yay!
Interview with Jordan Hembrough: The Toy Hunter
Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with Jordan Hembrough of the Travel Channel’s The Toy Hunter. Since Wonderworld Comics is a big seller of collectible toys, it made sense to interview Jordan Hembrough for this site. Can you think of a better way to officially launch the Toy Collecting section of this site?
Larry Poupard: What is the top item you would love to “discover” on a future episode of The Toy Hunter?
Jordan Hembrough: I am really intrigued right now by the Battlestar Gallactica line. There are some ships that are really rare and if I saw them, I would buy them right there. I would love to have some of those on the show.
Jordan Hembrough, The Toy Hunter
Larry: Can you give me a few examples of toys you purchased before the show began which you wish could have been featured on the show?
Jordan Hembrough: Oh, sure. I have always been interested in Kenner toys. One day, a gentleman brought me an original wax sculpture of Boba Fett for the toy from Star Wars. It was the only sculpture of its kind in the world. I would have loved to have had the cameras rolling on that one.
Larry: What are your favorite items in your personal collection?
Jordan Hembrough: My vintage Star Wars toys. They are not worth a lot of money, but they are worth a lot to me.
Larry: Other than money, storage, and knowledge, what are the greatest obstacles a new toy collector or flipper is going to face?
Jordan Hembrough: Good question. They are going to need to really want to keep going. There are going to be times where you overpay for a toy or for a collection, but you are going to want to keep going. You are going to make mistakes, but that is just a factor of the game. You just need to keep going and going and going.
Larry: I am sure you have seen the negative press going on with Storage Wars and the insinuations of the placing of items by producers in the attempt to make a show look better.
Jordan Hembrough: (Smiling) Salting
Larry: Yes. Do you believe this type of publicity for Storage Wars will eventually have a negative impact on your show’s ratings?
Jordan Hembrough: That is an interesting question. [After a long pause] First and foremost, I think you need to remember something. This [Storage Wars] is a show, done for entertainment purposes and for educational purposes. Reality in real life is boring. Do you really want someone to look through a storage locker and not find anything? I think that if they were to make a little disclaimer, it might make the show a little easier to understand.
You know, there are times on our show when we don’t find anything, and it does not turn out they way we had expected, so we have to come up with a “Plan B.” This would be times in which we went through an entire questions really quickly or there was just nothing worthy of airtime.
You have to look at it this way. You are doing a show on TV. You are doing this show for entertainment purposes. While youa re not lying to anybody by salting or staging a little now and then, it is OK. The end result, the ultimate result, is entertainment and education. I believe that people as a whole, understand that it is a TV show.
Larry: For The Toy Hunter, would you say that education is more important, entertainment is more important, or is there some type of needed balance between the two?
Jordan Hembrough: They are both combined. They are both combined, because I am reminded every day by the numbers that the Travel Channel caters to a wide audience. While the network caters to a wide audience, we are geared towards a certain demographic. Not all of our fans are die-hard toy collectors. We cater to people who want to be entertained. We have to keep it lively and we have to keep it fun.
I am a die-hard collector. I am a geek. I am a dweeb. I love this. We are not just making a show for the half million to million people out there who are heavy collectors. We are also making a show for five million other people. We balance these two by making a show with both entertainment and education.
Larry: As a collector myself, I have noticed a huge advantage and disadvantage coming within the last few years which I would like to get your opinion on. Would you say that having Internet access on your phone during picks helps you more or hurts you more?
Jordan Hembrough: For the most part, it has helped me in buying because I can research on the fly. The negative with all of the specialized websites and auction sites is that any Tom, Dick, and Harry can go on the Internet anywhere and know what something is selling for or just went for. Generally, that is a good thing, however, they are taking all of this pricing to heart as doctrine. They do not know about all of the other factors of collecting in the world.
Maybe, the one guy in the world who was going to buy a particular item at a really high price just bought it. Maybe there is a huge warehouse find which just happened in the Midwest will flood the market with a certain toy and these toys which are selling for $500 are now only going to be worth $200. It is a double-edged sword, but for the most part, I find it very helpful.
Larry: I used to be a pulp collector but watched the market die when eBay and other sites became flooded with the short story magazines. Pulps which used to sell for $150 now sell for about $10 since there are so many at any given time on eBay. What type of collectible market or submarket, in your opinion, has been damaged the most by online selling?
Jordan Hembrough: That is a great question. I would say that it would probably be vintage Star Wars because now people realize how much there was of it. For so long, whenever I would mention vintage Star Wars, people would say “Oh, those must really be rare.” No, not rare. Now, vintage Star Wars toys are all over the place.
The problem came when people saw one or two items going for a bunch of money online and they went and pulled everything out and exclaimed “This is vintage Star Wars!” People think it is going to be worth millions, but it is not. Definitely, vintage Star Wars was impacted the most by online selling.
Larry: Is there a specific toy or line of toys which you are leery about buying because of the number of fakes out there.
Jordan Hembrough: I would say Transformers because there are many fakes and knock=offs coming out of Japan right now. Now, I don’t know everything there is about the Transformers market, but I have someone who works with me who can point out the bootlegs from Japan. I am often getting people saying they have original Transformers, but I am able to walk away from them. I might have to explain that, “Yes, those came from Japan, but they are not the real Transofrmers.”
Whenever you have a toy that is hot, there are going to be bootlegs and fakes. There will always be in this market. Because of that, Transformers scares the hell out of me right now. There are so many fakes rolling around that it is not a market worth trying.
I found Jordan Hembrough to be knowledgeable and approachable. I hope his show continues to be successful and look forward to seeing him again in the future. You can learn more about Jordan Hembrough, and his show, by following this link.
What Draws Someone to Toy Collecting?
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San Diego Comic-Con International: Our Presence There
I have received a few emails over the last week asking if I am going to be at San Diego Comic-Con International. Sadly, I will not be this year because of various other plans I have set over the next month. Don’t worry, the website and store will have a presence at the event this year.
Who is Going?
Dennis Barger, co-owner of Wonderworld Comics will be in attendance this year. He will be messaging me with any important information you need to know about and will be taking as many cosplay pictures as he can for our Cosplay Photo Gallery.
Don’t Forget
Wonderworld Comics has the esteemed honor this year of being nominated for a Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award. This honor have gone a step further, and we have been named as one of the 15 finalists for the award. The award will be given at San Diego Comic-Con International and Dennis will be there.
What This Means
The Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award is an international award which means Wonderworld Comics is being considered as one of the best comic book stores in the world. This is not simply a reflection of ownership and the staff. This is also a reflection of the great customers we have and the great friends we have made over the years through the store. Congratulate yourselves as this honor is as equally yours as it is ours.
My Task
I am going to weed through all of the news comic out of San Diego over the next week and give you my opinions on the most important and impactful items which you need to know about. Keep your eyes on this site for the information which will impact you, us, and the comic book industry the most.
Dollar Box Finds: Knights of the Dinner Table
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Comic Book Dollar Boxes: Negative Preconceived Notions Need to Stop
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Digital Death Part V: Truth About Placing Digital Comics on Sale
Next week at Comic-Con, comic book fans are going to be inundated with news and information about digital comics. I am sure announcements will be made by various companies about digital comic sales and digital comic promotions. Think about the reason for the reasoning for these sales before jumping on the digital bandwagon.
Don’t believe the hype over digital comics sales. You can usually find physical comics for less.
Reasons for Digital Comics Sales
Digital comics have been around for a few years now, but the publishing companies still need more customers. I am sure many are surprised by the fact that after a few years of marketing, digital still has not become a more prevalent force in the comic book industry. We know that the reason is because comic book readers traditionally want a physical comic to read, to enjoy, and to store away in the hopes of it gaining value over time. Digital comics do not gain any monetary value at all.
Are Digital Comics Sales Actually a Deal?
A perusal of the digital comics for sale will find thousands (if not tens of thousands) of titles for $0.99. Chances are good that most of these will be traditional items you would find in a dollar box anyways. If you were to walk around a comic book convention, you are sure to find vendors who are going to have sales on their dollar boxes where you can purchase 12 or 15 for $10. You will find other vendors who have some of the same comics you could find on digital comic download sites for $0.50.
Near the end of a convention or show, some dealers will deeply discount dollar boxes so they do not have to take them home. It is not out of the range of thought to see people picking up 50 dollar comics for $30 or less as dealers try to figure out how to repack everything they came with and everything they purchased.
The New Comic Shenanigans
Someone said to me recently that searching dollar boxes at conventions was useless if you are collecting newer comics. WRONG! Many vendors start putting comics in their dollar boxes four to six months after initial release. Not all comics, but ones from lesser lines which are not moving. Some wait a year for titles which do move, but place the slower issues in the dollar boxes.
At Gem City Comic Con, I picked up Suicide Squad #2-#11 in a bundle. It was ten comics for $8. #11 had just come out five months before the convention. At C2E2, I scored a complete run of Frankenstein Agent of SHADE, a complete run of Voodoo, have of the Batman & Robin issues I had missed, and about a third of the Avs.X run. The average price I paid per coming was $0.74 when all was said and done. Much lower than digital comics, and I still had something physical to show for it.
If you happen to be at a convention like Comic-Con international and are enticed by digital comics sales, walk away and look around the convention. A keen eye will probably find better deals on the physical comics the digital comics market just can’t seem to kill.
My Wishlist for Comic-Con International 2013
With Comic-Con International in San Diego quickly approaching, a handful of items are coming to mind which I hope comic book publishers shed more light upon. This is my wish list for Comic-Con International.
Comic-Con International
Marvel
Marvel has added a few new dates to their calendar for movies. While I am sure they will announce both movies at Comic-Con International, I am hoping one of them will be the Doctor Strange movie. The Sorcerer Supreme’s fans have waited too long for this moment.
I have stated before, but I should state again that Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. needs to dominate Comic-Con International. I would love to see longer videos of the show and at least hints to who some of the superheroes and supervillains are that we will see on the show.
The September War is quickly approaching, and one of the upcoming highlights is X-Men: Battle of the Atom. It would behoove Marvel to highlight this major crossover to show how it will bring the big guns out to battle DC Comics in the war for market share.
DC Comics
I am sure a ton of time will be spent on Villain Month, Forever Evil, and Trinity War, but DC Comics needs to place a focus on the media entertainment arm of the company. We need to hear about some movies in the works and get some answers to the questions and rumors we have heard about potential movies coming from DC Comics. Comic-Con International would be the best time to set things straight.
Also, DC Comics needs to use some of its time at Comic-Con International to highlight Arrow. The show keeps getting swept under the rug and is the one show which DC Comics has to make an impact with. Why spend all of the money making the movie if the entertainment side of DC is not going to promote it with all their might?
Image
I know that Comic-Con International will be used to exploit Image’s ace in The Walking Dead. I am sure some new characters and teasers will come from the company. I am hoping for more, though. Image has a great lineup of comics right now and they should be pushed equally to The Walking Dead. Image wants to take the next step ever since it took the #3 spot in market share. Comic-Con International is the place to do it.
IDW
IDW made major waves at the Diamond Retailers Summit and C2E2 by officially announcing its new Cartoon Network comics, the finalization of Locke & Key, and other projects in the works. I would love to see the guys and gals over at IDW Publishing get a huge burst due to a huge announcement. I hope they are able to make major waves this year.
Dark Horse
I would like to see Dark Horse prove it is a company of more than just Star Wars comics. While the line has made the company a competitor for many years, with the Disney takeover of Star Wars, the current deal to produce the comics might be the final one the company sees. Just in case, Dark Horse needs to highlight why its other comics deserve as much attention as the company hopes they will get.
The Smaller Companies
Maybe this will be the year that a 1%er makes a major coup. I would clap if the headlines about Comic-Con International focused on a smaller company which does not get enough respect. Do I have any companies I am personally pushing for? Yes, but I would never tell.
Dragon*Con Boycott Officially Called Off – Developing
According to the Facebook page of the Dragon*Con boycott, the boycott has officially been called off. Dragon*Con has become a new company, Dragon*Con Inc. and has completely cut Ed Kramer out of the picture. The site is also reporting that Ed Kramer’s attorney has stated that he will sue Dragon*Con, so there is sure to be more to this story in the days and weeks to come.
Draon*Con – Ed Kramer
If you are unfamiliar with this story, I suggest reading Kelly’s take on Ed Kramer, Dragon*Con, and the Dragon*Con boycott. I will have more information as it becomes available.
Gaming, Toys, and Conventions Now Part of Collector’s Corner
You might have noticed that the Collector’s Corner section on WonderWorldComics.com has moved slightly. You also might have noticed that Collector’s Corner is now split into multiple sections. This is a website project I have been devising and working on over the last few days. Why did I do it?
New Collector’s Corner sections!
The New Collector’s Corner Sections
Instead of simply being one general area for Collector’s Corner, the category has been broken into four separate subcategories. The subcategories are Comic Book Collecting, Toy Collecting, Gaming Collecting, and Conventions. You will see an arrow next to the words “Collector’s Corner” in the top menu on the front page. Hovering over the tab will show the new sections. I have spent much of the day moving the old articles from Collector’s Corner into the appropriate subcategories.
Why Did Wonderworld Comics Do This?
Not only does Wonderworld Comics specialize in comic books, the company also specializes in collectible toys, collectible gaming (card and tabletop), and in many other areas as well. Since our store is so diversified, I felt it was time for the website to become more diversified as well.
No Worries
Don’t worry about the site being overrun with articles about everything other than comics. The main focus on the site will be on comics, comic book collecting, and comic book news. One of the new sections is labeled Conventions, but there have been convention articles since the beginning of content on this site. Those convention articles did not overwhelm, so don’t worry about toy and gaming articles taking over.
The Plans
I have some interesting ideas for the Gaming Collecting subcategory. I have been playing role-playing games for almost three decades and have been collecting gaming books for about 15 years. I have various types of gaming collecting articles lined up, even some which would interest people who have never gamed before.
The Toy Collecting section could be expansive, and might be one day. For now, I am going to keep the articles general, but will focus on some various lines of toys such as LEGO, GI Joe, Masters of the Universe, Transformers, and some of the other classics.
Now that all of the behind-the-scenes planning and implementing of these sections from the last few days is out of the way, I can get back to doing what I really love to do – delivering content which you will not find anywhere else.
Speak Up Against the Bastardization of Comic Book Conventions
Over the years, most comic book conventions have been bastardized to the point that even comic book fans have forgotten about the base these comic book conventions have in the comic book industry. While there are glimmers of hope on the comic book convention scene, such as comics-forward conventions like Detroit Fanfare Comic Con, Gem City Comic-Con, Baltimore Comic Con, Heroes Con, the Midwest Comic Book Association, and the conventions and shows which place comic book fans first – I see major changes in the future for comic book conventions which are inevitable unless WE speak up.
Dropping the Comic-Con
I would not be surprised if major comic book conventions begin dropping the tags of “Comic-Con” or “Comic Con” from their titles. I can see the conventions becoming so wrapped up in the media guests that they try to “rebrand” themselves as either media shows or as some other type of “all inclusive” show or convention. In true name, the conventions would become so bastardized that they would literally forget their parenting force.
Taking the Comics Out of Comic Book Conventions
Right now, the comic book industry is seeing better numbers than it has in over a generation. What will happen to the industry if it is essentially limited to only comics-forward conventions? How will sales sag? As these bastardized conventions spend more money, time, and effort focusing on media events and guests, why would they even be interested in signing comic book creators and vendors? Most cities do not have comics-forward conventions to begin with, so average fans would not have conventions and shows to go to that would be their own in their own areas.
What WE Need To Do
Notice, I am saying that WE need to do something. This fight is not something this website can do on its own. Every single comic book reader, creator, and collector should send some type of message to the bastardized comic book conventions about how the tide has changed and how our conventions have been stolen from us in the favor of trying to appeal to a larger audience. We should let convention promoters and planners know that they should not forget the market which put them on the map in the first place. We need to get together and fight for our conventions before they are won over by the Starbucks-sipping d-bags who care more about a current trend than one of the longest lasting forms of entertainment on the market today.
Comic Book Industry Awards: Eisner Awards, Harvey Awards, and Shel Dorf Awards
There are many comic book industry awards, but there are three which stand out from the rest. They stand out from others for various reasons. When talking about comic book industry awards, though, what are the differences between the Eisner Awards, the Harvey Awards, and the Shel Dorf Awards?
Comic Book Industry Awards: The Eisner Awards
The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards are given each year at Comic-Con International in San Diego. The award was first instituted in 1988 and named after Will Eisner. The Eisner Award is typically considered the pinnacle award in the comic book industry as it awards creative achievement. Nominees and winners are decided through secret ballot by a panel of judges.
Comic Book Industry Awards: The Harvey Awards
The Harvey Awards are named after Harvey Kurtzman and are the successor of the Kirby Awards which had been around since 1985. The nominees and winners are selected through open-ballot. Only comic book industry creators can nominate or vote for Harvey awards. This makes the Harvey Awards special for many creators because they have been nominate or voted on by their peers. Currently, the Harvey Awards are held each year at Baltimore Comic-Con.
Comic Book Industry Awards: The Shel Dorf Awards
The Shel Dorf Awards are the newest of the awards on this list as they were established in 2010 at the first Detroit Fanfare. The awards are still held each year at Detroit Fanfare Comic Con. The unique aspect of this particular series of comic book industry awards is that they are nominated and voted upon by fans. Some creators look at the Shel Dorf Awards as being significant in a different way from the Harvey Awards and the Eisner Awards since they show the support of the fans.
Three different comic book industry awards with different qualities and types of significance. Even though they might award creators in the same types of categories, the way the awards are decided upon are quite different.
Ed Kramer and the Dragon*Con Boycott: An Academic Look
[I asked Kelly to look into, and comment on, the situation with Ed Kramer, the allegations against him, and the proposed Dragon*Con boycott. As you might know, she is an academic. What you might not know is that one of her areas of specialty is rape culture. I believed she would see this situation differently than most writers I could assign the task to. Many of us have been to Dragon*Con, and this situation can set precedence for all types of conventions across the country. (Larry)]
Draon*Con – Ed Kramer
My primary research area is literature. My secondary research area is rape culture. This is why I’ve been approached to write an article regarding the recent boycott of Dragon*Con started by Nancy Collins, and to discuss the widespread implications of the discussion surrounding the boycott and the founder and co-owner of the Con, Ed Kramer. This article will include discussion on subjects such as child molestation, rape, and other emotionally triggering topics.
Let me start by saying that I’ve never been to Dragon*Con, and I’m only technically familiar with the Con tangentially; one of my favorite authors is a long-time attendant and has regularly encouraged her fans to be part of the parade and festivities every year. I’ve never really had the desire to travel to Atlanta for any reason, even for the Con, so I’ve never bothered to go, although I’m aware that it exists. It’s just never really been on my radar.
But I understand that Dragon*Con (that all Cons, really) provides a safe space for fans of the sci-fi/fantasy genre, a place where fans can truly be themselves and dress in cosplay and have a great time without risking the judgment, stares, or jeers. I fully support safe spaces and I always will.
However, it has recently come to my attention that Ed Kramer stands accused of multiple counts of child molestation, none of which he’s officially stood trial for, and that he continues to hold stock in Dragon*Con and continues to make money from the Con every year. That being said, Nancy Collins has recently led a growing group of people who have started a Facebook page promoting a boycott of Dragon*Con for the very reason that the continued income Kramer receives allows for him to continue to pay legal fees that allow for him to put off trial and sentencing indefinitely.
I could write pages detailing why Ed Kramer’s financial success is part of the issue and why the American justice system is also part of the issue. Both of these things are problems and both of them are very broad subjects. But what I want to focus on is the discussion revolving around Kramer and those who claim that he’s innocent and that Dragon*Con should not suffer a boycott.
Regardless of Ed Kramer’s guilt or innocence in these allegations, he has the right to a trial by jury. To survivors of sexual assault, he has the responsibility to accept trial by jury. If he’s truly innocent, what does he have to hide? The largest problem with the dialect of this case is that Dragon*Con supporters and Kramer supporters are calling the alleged victims liars, claiming that they’re out for attention, money, etc.
Stop. Stop right there. You should never, under any circumstance, naturally assume that a victim of sexual assault is lying. Do false accusations happen? Yes, but their occurrence is right around 0.6%. This makes them statistically null and void. False allegations in sexual assault happen so rarely, they don’t even make up one single percent of accusations. So the suggestion that the victims are lying is just a continued perpetuation of a culture where we protect rapists instead of protecting the victims whose lives they’ve effectively ruined.
When talking about rape and child molestation accusations, any time you cry out that “They must be lying for attention or for money!!”, you effectively silence the victim. I cannot stress enough the importance of keeping that thought to yourself. When you accuse victims of lying, you further the psychological torture they’re already attempting to endure, and you astronomically heighten the chance that they will start engaging in damaging behaviors (i.e. self-mutilation, compulsive behaviors, etc.) and even commit suicide.
Rape is an act of power, not pleasure. And when one person rapes another, they are doing so because they know that they have the power in that situation, and they know that their victim is weaker than they are, be it physically, mentally, or a combination of the two. When a child is raped, and then silenced because they must be “false allegations,” you have essentially taken any power that they had by reporting the assault and you’ve put them right back where they were before: in a position of subordination wherein they are fully aware they have no power, and wherein the only way out is through extreme measures.
I don’t care who is being accused of rape or molestation; that person must stand trial. And if that person is able to slither out of trial by a number of legal loopholes and thanks to his/her extensive bank account, that’s a big problem. If Ed Kramer is innocent, he has the right to seek restitution from his accusers. But that is one very large if. Remember: only 0.6% of allegations are false.
If Ed Kramer is guilty, he is guilty of far more than just molestation; he’s guilty of wringing what he wants out of the legal system, he’s guilty of a massive cover-up which he used his own fortune to do, and he’s guilty of lying to millions of people and ruining the lives of a handful of children who are now grown and will never be the same. But the only thing he can technically go to jail for is the molestation.
I can’t say I fully support a boycott of Dragon*Con. In an ideal world, the other stakeholders would be able to cut Kramer off from the funds and continue on with the Con as they have been. But considering the fact that kicking Ed Kramer out isn’t likely to happen, maybe a boycott is the only way to convince Ed Kramer that:
1.) We stand with the victims,
2.) We’re sick of his endless leaps through loopholes to avoid trial, and
3.) We don’t want our money going to his legal circus.
Regardless of your stance on the boycott, it’s glaringly obvious that something must be done about this situation. If you’re as outraged as I was to discover Ed Kramer’s past, there are a number of things you can do to let Dragon*Con know that you don’t want your money going into his pockets.
Write them a letter, call them out on Youtube, call them out on Facebook and Twitter and Tumblr. Get a group together to raise awareness of this situation and stand peacefully outside of Dragon*Con with signs letting the Con-goers know what the founder of their Con is being accused of, and let them know that their money is supporting him. Boycott if you want to. But the most important thing in this case is to raise awareness of the allegations against Kramer and to lend your support to the survivors. Let the survivors know that we believe them, and we stand with them. And let Ed Kramer know that, too.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please report the crime and get help.
What To Do With Those Scrap Comics – Don’t Toss Them
A comic book collector asked me the other day about what he should do with scrap comics in his collection. He wondered if it was worth keeping them, or if he should simply toss them out. I suggested other options to tossing them.
Scrap comics
Use Scrap Comics for Crafts
If you have young children around to give you scrap comics to, you have done something better than simply tossing the scrap comics out. I remember doing different crafts with scrap comics when I was a kid. Of course, if you do not have children to give them to, or children in the neighborhood or your family to give them to, consider donating them to a school district. They can put the scrap comics to good use through a school project.
Donate to a Military Group
Some military groups will be happy to send your unwanted comics to our service men and women overseas. A friend of mine served in Afghanistan and he talks about the scrap comics someone sent over to his platoon. The comics were a simple distraction from the fighting and he told me that reading them invigorated him because he was able to return to his childhood for about twenty minutes a day.
If you have scrap comics laying around the house, think about interesting ways to use them. Don’t simply toss them as someone else might gain enjoyment from them.
New Green Lantern Replica Rings Do Not Measure Up
I was excited when I found out that DC Comics was going to reissue the plastic Green Lantern replica rings because these are good sellers in the store and many fans have tried to collect each color for their shelves are mantles. When we opened the packages of the reissued Green Lantern replica rings, we noticed that something was very wrong. These are not reissues. These rings are different.
Green Lantern replica rings
What is a Reissue?
Typically, when you are talking about a product being reissued, you are talking about a product which is going back into production using the same molds and dyes. Sometimes, the packaging is slightly different (such as when a second print run happens in a comics), but that should be the only difference.
The Differences in the Green Lantern Replica Rings
In the picture, I placed one of the new Green Lantern replica rings next to an old one. The one on the left is darker and has a glossy finish. This makes the ring appear to be some type of metallic alloy instead of simply plastic unless you are very close to it. Because of the crisp appearance, it is a bargain at the low price point they are sold at.
The one on the right is the new Green Lantern replica ring. Notice that it is a light color of green and has a matte finish. You can tell right away that this is a plastic piece of costume jewelry from across the room.
This is Not a Reissue
The new Green Lantern replica rings are not a reissue of the popular collectible many stores have sold out of. It is a cheap knockoff of the original and should not be passed off by DC Comics as anything but. This is the sad second place replacement for those Green Lantern fans who were not quick enough to pick up the original.
Always Keep Lids on Your Comic Book Storage Boxes
Someone asked me the other day if lids were actually necessary for comic book storage boxes. There are many reasons why you should always have a lid on your comic book storage boxes.
Comic Book Storage
Keep Everything Out
First off, lids on comic book storage boxes help to keep everything out. This includes insects, and dust. Over time, these can do damage to the bags you store your comics in.
Keep Everything In
No matter how careful we are when we are moving comic book storage boxes, we can sometimes tip boxes. While the lids are not tight to the boxes, they will at least give some support in keeping the items inside from slipping out.
Stacking
If you are going to stack your comic book storage boxes, they need to have lids. The lids help to spread out the weight of upper boxes. This will help the boxes on the bottom to last longer. The longer a bottom box lasts, the less chance there is for collapse and the loss of a collection.
King Kon is Just in Time for Father’s Day
King Kon is only a few days away and it is fitting how this quarter’s show falls on Father’s Day weekend. Saturday will be a fitting day to visit King Kon.
As a Father
Silver Age comics
As a father, I love when my daughter finds enjoyment in something I like. Sometimes that comes in the form of looking in my rearview mirror while driving and seeing that she is singing along to a song I have enjoyed for twenty years or more. Other times, I might get a warm feeling when I am reading her a story I grew up with. One special bond we share, though, is a love of superheroes. Shows like King Kon can give a father and child the opportunity to share their love of a particular character or superhero series without dealing with the hustle and bustle of a major convention.
Sharing the Memories
Some of my favorite moments in our Detroit area comic book store come when I see a father pointing out toys in the store he grew up with. Kids are often amazed how their parents played with the “old” toys we have on our shelves. The youngest generation wonders how we managed to get enjoyment out of these little action figures or vehicles which did not have automatic parts or controllers. They must think we lived in a simpler time (well, we did…but that is another article). I am looking forward to seeing those moments this weekend at King Kon.
What Might You Find?
You might be surprised by some of the items you find. Maybe you can find that old board game you and your father used to play with years ago. Maybe you will find a copy of a comic your dad picked up for you during a quick run for milk. You might find a toy you used to play with as he read the paper. You might even find a gift for Father’s Day at King Kon for the old man or even for yourself.
For more information about King Kon, please follow this link.
Importance of the Shel Dorf Awards
The 2013 Shel Dorf Award Nominations are now open. The Shel Dorf Awards are special to me and I want to share a little bit about them with you. You can nominate your favorites by following this link, but I encourage you to read about the importance of the awards first.
Nominations for the 2013 Shel Dorf Awards now being accepted!
The Difference of the Shel Dorf Awards
Most award nomination processes are run by guys with suits who nominate based on sales, potential future deals, or on perceived popularity. This is true from the Oscars down to many of the “industry awards” granted in various industries. Not so with the Shel Dorf Awards. The nominations and eventual votes are completely determined by the fans.
The Importance of the Shel Dorf Awards
Since the nominations and votes for the Shel Dorf Awards are cast by fans, the creators involved are given an extra confidence push they might not receive from other awards. They know that it was the fans that got them where they are, and not just some dealmakers in a smoke-filled room. Creators realize the fans like what they are doing and that the fans are pledging to continue to support them in the future.
I Remember…
I remember being at the first Shel Dorf Awards at the first Detroit Fanfare in 2010. There was talk at the ceremony about there being a revolution coming where Detroit Fanfare and the fans of the convention would take back comic book conventions. This movement would grow and that the industry would have to realize that we (the fans) wanted comic book conventions that were about comic books, comic book creators, and comic book fans and not about forgotten sitcom stars, wrestlers, and porn stars. I remember becoming invigorated and determined to pay close attention to the progression of this movement and to the growth of Detroit Fanfare.
The Movement of the Shel Dorf Awards
The following year, all of the Shel Dorf Award nominees were determined by the fans. We were not given a long list of people to choose from which were determined by someone. We were given the opportunity to choose who we wanted to win a Shel Dorf Award and who should be given the “fan’s recognition.” So too was the process in 2012 and so too is the process for the 2013 Shel Dorf Awards.
Symbolism of the Shel Dorf Awards
Note, the awards are named after Shel Dorf who was the founder of the Detroit Triple FanFair. He realized that it was time for someone to create a show for the fans where we could come and hang out with other people like ourselves and have the chance to meet some of the creators who gave us joy through our favored form of media. He gave the fans what they wanted and it is through his legacy that we show who we believe deserves recognition at the Shel Dorf Awards.
Particular Connection
I was honored to be nominated for the Comic Book Blogger of the Year award at the 2012 Shel Dorf Awards due to my work in following the industry for Yahoo!. That nomination (even though I did not win) is one of the highlights of my writing career. Hopefully, that opportunity will come again sometime in the future (hint hint hint).
The Shel Dorf Awards is not a stuffy ceremony with awards decided upon by a select few. It is determined by you, and me, and anyone else who decides to vote. This is our comic book awards and we should take every opportunity we can to promote it and to encourage our friends to have their voices heard as well.
DC Entertainment Retailer Roadshow is a Bad Joke
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.
