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• Hey, Thursday at the shop I finally had someone inquire about the “Archie Gets Married” thing that’ll be out in about three months. Woo hoo! Way to go, mainstream media attention!
• Oh, and on Wednesday Greg Burgas from Comics Should Be Good stopped by our shop and said hello. He was a nice, friendly guy, and we had a good chat about comics retailing. Plus, he spent lots of money, and thus bought his way into my affections. ‘Course, if any of you also wish to spend your way into my good graces, I happily accept PayPal.

  Seriously, though, it was very kind of him to drop in just to see me and our store. And it’s always great to be able to put faces to names familiar to me from my online travels. Thanks for coming by, Greg!

• So Batman and Robin #1 by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely came out this week, and it was, as expected, a choice comics-reading experience. Now, I pretty much skipped the whole “Who’ll Be the New Batman” hoo-har…the last Batman story I read was Morrison’s last issue before this one, and I was able to jump into this new series just fine. The circumstances re: the new Batman and new Robin are explained, situations are set up, and personalities clearly defined…can’t wait to read more.

  In fact, the line-wide revamp of the Bat-titles seems to be generating some excitement among our customers. And even for me, a person who generally doesn’t read Batman comics unless something unusual grabs my attention (like, say, getting Morrison to write it), I’m finding myself interested in the run of Batwoman stories that’ll be in Detective. A soft-reboot of the franchise like this is good for revitalizing the books…for something like Batman, a concept that’s been around about 70 years, polishing off a bit of the rust isn’t a bad idea once in a while.

  Of course, once Bruce! Wayne! Returns! in some big ol’ multi-part crossover prior to the release of the next Batman movie, and the Bat-status quo is forced back upon the books, I’m sure a lot of that excitement will dissipate when we’re back in the same ol’ same ol’. Then again, the excitement will have died down a bit already, most likely, since it appears this New Batman/New Robin storyline will be going on for at least a year or so. But if it turns out these new revamped characters and titles and storylines are remarkably popular, how much disappointment will there be when the old status quo returns, as it must? (Well, I’m sure that anything in any of these books that’s popular at all when Original Batman returns will be spun off into its own book.)

  Mostly, I just want to keep reading the adventures of you-know-who trying to fill the Bat-shoes, and the other you-know-who as a troublesome Robin, but it’s hard to ignore the (as yet unknown) expiration date on this particular take on the franchise, and its eventual reversion to Just Another Monthly Batman Title. Though admittedly, it’d be nice to have something actually called Batman and Robin on the stands, regardless of who’s starring in the title roles or who’s writing or drawing, just to have to sell to kids and/or parents looking for comics with Batman and Robin in them.

• Related: here’s what it would take to get Kevin Church to watch a particular reality show.
• Pal Dorian reveals his least favorite comic book character, and announces the winner of his contest. Personally, I guessed Kitty Pryde.
• So, remember that Popeye and Environmental Careers comic I posted panels from a few days back? Well, let’s pretend you do. Anyway, Dr. Polite Scott examines another Popeye career comic from the same series. (I wonder if any of the comics offered up “sailor” as a career choice? You know, what with Popeye an’ all.)
• Tim O’Neil looks at a few recent Marvel books (plus one DC), and in the process articulates my own feelings about Mark Millar’s work on Wolverine and Fantastic Four much better than I would have.
• New from Action Age Comics, it’s Monster Plus #1, available for free readin’, either via the website or via download. Full-on monster-fight action, in the mighty Action Age manner!
• It’s an ill wind that blows no one on eBay any good: the David Carradine Tribute Button.

from Vic Verity #3 (March 1946)

• Mr. Garfield asks
  

  “Is that Cracky the Parrot or Cracky, Jr., Mike? Or am I mixing the Golden Magazine mascot up with some sort of Toucan Sam, Parrot Detective character?”

  Mr. Garfield is referring to the sidebar pic, and that is in fact Cracky, from The Wacky Adventures of Cracky, a title that can elicit a bit of a cynical giggle along the lines of “HA! That parrot is on the crack!” because, you know, “Cracky.”

  Which reminds me of that one time I had copies of Crack Comics and Speed Comics which I displayed together in our store’s glass case, because who doesn’t love drug humor? Also, I’m pretty sure I’ve related that story here on the site before, but I don’t care because I’m old and entitled to repeat myself.

• GQ asks
  

  “…What do you make of this whole Captain-America-shipping-on-a-Monday thing that has some people so worked up?”

  Frankly, I’ve been trying not to think about it…I’ve got other things to worry about. (In short: Marvel is offering to release Captain America to retailers a couple of days earlier than the standard new comics day to take advantage of supposed media coverage re: Cap about the same time.) I know my sharp-dressed fellow funnybook slinger James Sime isn’t thrilled about this is being handled, and you can read there for more details about it.

  Like I said the other day, I’m not really expecting a huge media-caused bump on this comic, since a character (presumably) returning isn’t quite the draw that knocking off a character is, but we’ll see. I’m not going to lose any sleep over it, and I don’t think we’re going to bother with the early release.

• I linked to this gentleman’s Swamp Thing pic the other day, and he was good enough to let me know that he has the initial pencils for a Man-Thing drawing up. Not just Man-Thing…but Man-Thing Versus The Vision! The battle you demanded! Looks good so far, and am looking forward to the finished piece.

Taken from a beat-up copy of All-American Comics #27…you can see the browning of the paper from the tape “repair” along the edges. Don’t use tape on your comics, kids…it’ll only lead to heartbreak and broken homes.

But, man, wouldn’t you like to have seen a rack with all these original Golden Age books on it, starring “Super Man,” “Bat Man,” “Star Man,” and “Green Lan Tern?” Brings a tear to your eye, it does.

• So the other day, in my most recent End of Civilization post I noted the forthcoming “someone’s a’gettin’ married” event forthcoming in the Archie comics, and I mentioned something about the possibility of this getting real-world news coverage. Well, I didn’t realize this (having divested myself of cable television at the house recently), but this event is getting real-world news coverage, apparently.

  Yes, that’s right, it’s getting covered right now, a full three months before these comics even hit the stands. Usually when a comic gets its media push when it’s solicited, versus when it’s about to be released, we’ll get a number of people pop into the shop looking for the item in question, and we have to explain ordering lead times and such. Well, okay, maybe we just say “it’s not out yet..they’ve jumped the gun a bit.”

  I don’t think I’ve had anyone ask about this new Archie wedding thing. Maybe the news coverage mentioned the three-month lead time and all those potential customers actually listened. I mean, there’s always a first time, I suppose. And it’s not as if we won’t sell them…we’re one of the, what, ten?* direct market stores to carry any kind of Archie comic stock in depth, so we do have a clientele for it. But I’m not holding my breath for any kind of massive turnout for this particular stunt.

• Speaking of which, there’s still this whole Reborn thing coming from Marvel, which is maybe the beginning of the return of the currently assumed dead Captain America or something like that. And, we’re supposed to be getting some kind of solicitation information at some point in the near future, since so far all we have is the creative team, all-black cover “images,” and a promo shot of who I think is the female Bucky from that “Heroes Reborn” event from a few years back. Oh, and there’s supposed to be “extensive media coverage” for this series in a couple of weeks, we’re being told.

  Now, if it is the return of Cap, I can see this being like the Adventures of Superman #500, which was the beginning of the return of Superman following the enormous-selling “Death of Superman” storyline. Everybody bumped up orders, hoping for “Death of Superman” sales numbers…and they didn’t materialize. And now you can find that comic in bargain bins pretty much everywhere. Not saying this is going to be the fate of Reborn, but…well, death sells, life not so much. Not sure anyone in the real world is going to care a whole lot about this…even assuming they get exposed to the promised media coverage, if it actually happens.

  So again…we’ll order based on what we think we can sell, and not based on potential fluke media-driven sales which may or may not materialize. Assuming we ever get any more solicitation info.

• Follow-up to my Swamp Thing links post…you know that one sketch I linked to, the one I compared to Mike Mignola’s work? Have a colored version, why don’t you? Very nice.
• Pal Dorian is giving away a copy of the most-excellent Boody trade paperback, reprinting bizarrely wonderful comic stories by Boody Rogers, and all you have to do is tell him which character he hates more than Spider-Man, and why. Deadline’s in a couple of days, so hurry up. And don’t bother asking me for hints…I told him my guess, and he told me I was wrong. OH THE SHAME.
• And now…Swamp Thing Jokes. Please don’t shoot the messenger.

* I’m exaggerating. But not much, I think.

Sorry about that. But have some Swamp Thing links. Everyone loves Swamp Thing links:

• Ditko Stories presents the 1954 story “Doom in the Air” which, it is noted, has some coincidental similarity to a later Swamp Thing story by Alan Moore, Steve Bissette and John Totleben.
• This person has a 17% chance of being seduced by Swamp Thing. Well, sure, who doesn’t?
• Well, come to think of it, Abby has about, oh, I don’t know, an 80 to 100% chance, as seen in this page by Rick Veitch, as presented in Seduction of the Innocent Revisited. I’d forgotten that Seduction of the Innocent Revisited was even a thing. I bet it’s awesome.
• Monster Portraits brings you you know who as a pencil drawing on wood. I like it…that’s not an expression you see Swampy make very often. (Not that you see him make any expressions, since his book’s canceled, but I’M NOT BITTER.)
• Another nice Swamp Thing sketch, a little moodier than the last. This one has bit of a Mike Mignola feel to it.
• Okay, this isn’t Swamp Thing, but it is a swamp creature, and it’s a story by Basil Wolverton, and people have been mailing me the link, so here you go. Guaranteed great!

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from Hell-Rider #1 (August 1971) by Gary Friedrich, Ross Andru & Mike Esposito

• The first new Aliens comic in a while is coming from Dark Horse this week, and I’m wondering if it’s been off the shelves long enough to make the heart grow fonder, or for people to simply not care about Aliens comics anymore. My feeling is more the former, if only judging by the positive reaction from several people to the Free Comic Book Day Aliens/Predator flipbook.
• DC Library: Roots of the Swamp Thing hardcover – reprints the first thirteen issues of the original Swamp Thing series, plus the initial installment from House of Secrets #92. This would be the twelfth version of the story from #92 that I would own. Also, I believe this is the first time we’ve had a reprint of issues #11-#13, which are post-Bernie Wrightson’s run, but are the last three issues of co-creator Len Wein’s original run on the title. Those last three issues feature some great Nestor Redondo art, and I hope someday we’ll get a good reprinting of the rest of the issues in this series. Not holding my breath, really.
• Final Crisis Aftermath: Ink #1 – The only one of these Final Crisis follow-ups I’ve really liked so far is Run, though I have to admit that I didn’t much of a chance to do more than glance through Dance which I’m being told is a good’un too. They’ve all been selling reasonably well at the shop so far.
• Glamourpuss #7 – I’m still getting this, I’m still reading it, I’m still not quite sure what to make of it…but it’s still keeping my interest, so there you go.
• Mouse Guard Winter 1152 #6 – Wow, it seemed like this series was red hot for a while there, and now we can barely move any copies. Is everyone just waiting for the eventual trade collection, or was that early heightened interest in the series just being driven by its then-skyrocketing, and much hyped by the collector’s market, back issue prices?
• Ah, at last…the 2nd print of Muppet Show #1 is out this week, so I can finally get my own copy. (I gave up my copy of the first print to a customer, because I’m all selfless and sacrificing like that.) If you didn’t get a chance to see this comic the first time around, give it a peek this time…cartoonist Roger Langridge created a spot-on recreation of the Muppet experience in comics form, and well worth your attention.

  Also, Muppet Robin Hood #1 is coming out this week as well. Looking forward to this one, too.

  Yeah, so I like the Muppets. What of it?

• Stephen King’s The Stand: American Nightmares #3 – Okay, so we’ve had one five-issue mini-series already, and we’re three issues in on this series, and we’re up to, what, page 12 of the novel? I don’t think I’m going to live long enough to see this thing completed.

  Okay, I’m exaggerating a bit…but not much.

• Trinity #52 wraps up DC’s third weekly series, with the next weekly series appearing to be the 12-issue Wednesday Comics. Overall, I’ve…liked the Trinity series, but it’s felt a bit like a quart of story poured into a 20 gallon barrel. I’d read an issue and feel like I’d just read the same story the previous week. Or two. Perhaps a reread is in order once the series is done, just to see if perhaps it holds up a bit more, but I’ve been meaning to reread the previous weeklies, 52 and Countdown, for a while now and I’ve never got around to those. Maybe someday.
• Ultimate Wolverine Vs. Hulk #6 wraps up this way over-delayed mini-series, over three years after it began. I forget who pointed out that in that time, an animated Hulk Vs. Wolverine movie was produced and released, but…yeah, that.

  Anyway, a three year delay between issues of a mini-series is just plain stupid, and inexcusable. But at least the series finished (cough Daredevil: The Target cough). I’m still probably going to continue celebrating “Ultimate Wolverine Vs. Hulk Day” just out of spite.

A brief exchange on the Twitter yesterday, starring pal Dorian, Kevin Church, Mark Hale, Chris Sims, Bully the Little Stuffed Bull, and yours truly:

mikesterling Totally caught a guy switching back issue bags on us. Threw the son of a bitch out. FEAR MY WRATH.

beaucoupkevin Got kicked out of @mikesterling’s shop because I was switching bags on his overpriced Valiant issues. Dick.

mikesterling @BeaucoupKevin: I’ll have you know those issues of Archer & Armstrong are RARE AND HOT.

chaosmonkey @mikesterling: You just wait until Barry Windsor Smith dies! Then you’ll eat your words!

dorianwright I wonder if @mikesterling found those fake ARCHER & ARMSTRONG issues I snuck into inventory?

theisb I hope Kevin gets here with those ARCHER & ARMSTRONG back issues soon. What’s taking him so long?

bullytheLSB: When will @theisb ship me those ARCHER & ARMSTRONG issues I ordered from him?!?

Oh, those cards. Mark gets bonus cool points for referring to this.

So anyway, yeah, we caught some guy just blatantly opening up bagged back issues and swapping the bags around, trying to turn, for example, that $4.00 back issue comic from the ’70s into a 1989 $1.00 comic. (Most of our back issues are marked with year and grade information on the tags, you see.) Once I determined he was doing this deliberately, and not accidentally, I politely invited him to get the hell out…and since everyone at the shop knows who the guy is, that made it a lot easier to let the employees know that he’s totally banned. You know, as in “hey, [CUSTOMER’S NAME] isn’t allowed back in the shop,” rather than “so, that one guy, you know, with the hair…no, not him, that other guy, who bought that one comic….”

It’s a drag, to be sure. I mean, kicking out someone who needs kicking out is fine. He had it coming, so I don’t feel bad about that. But it’s the fact that someone was trying to steal from us…a customer that we knew by name…that’s depressing. Especially over something so trivial as only three or four dollars. It’s not as if any of us are getting rich doing this, and with the economy the way it is, small business is already a struggle without someone trying to nibble away what little profit we’re making.

99% of our customers are great. I love our customers. I’ve watched many of them grow up, get married, have kids…I’ve good relationships with most of them. They share good news with me, I’m a sounding board for their plans or ideas, I’m a sympathetic ear when they’re down, and sometimes I even sell them comics.

So what I’m saying is that our relationship with our customers is, I like to think, a strong and friendly one. And when someone comes in and takes advantage, undermining that relationship by attempting to steal from us…that feels like a betrayal.

I’m taking this too personally, I realize. But it’s hard not to. Part of the problem is thinking of this person as a customer, since he clearly wasn’t.

Anyway, that all sounds like I’m taking this a lot harder than I really am. I’ve done the retail thing for a long time…dealing with shoplifters and other thieves is just part of the job, unfortunately. I try not to let these rare incidents get me down, and remain grateful for the vast majority of my customers who are good, decent people.

…And the customers of mine who also read this site are going to give me all kinds of crap about this post, I just know it. (“So, you looooooove me, Mike?” “No, you’re in that 1% I don’t like.”)

Wow…aim high, pal. But I’m sorry, Vic ol’ buddy, but one man has already set the standard for masculine beauty, and THIS IS THAT MAN.

I do like the detail on wall decorations, here…I suppose once Doom starts going face-commando maybe he’d want all the masked representations of himself changed accordingly. I could totally see Doom making his put-upon servants bust out the ladders and the hammers and the chisels to recarve all of these:

As a special Progressive Ruin flashback, here’s an officially licensed product that features a representation of Doom’s skyclad face, both with nose and without. And here’s what Jack Kirby his own self thought Doom looked like under the mask.

…

Anyway, as an apology for inflicting the always-inappropriate term “face-commando” on you, please enjoy this bonus Dr. Doom panel, with a great pose:

‘Course, he was interrupted while playing the piano, but still…DRAMATIC DOOM IS GO.

images from Fantastic Four #85 (April 1969) & #87 (June 1969) by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby & Joe Sinnott