Everything’s coming up Swamp Thing.

Here are a handful of Links of Note that I’ve other come across or have been sent to me by you, the kind-hearted and generous readers:

See more of Seymour!

So, in just a couple of days, Seymour-Mania will be sweeping the nation!


The unsung hero of Watchmen, the moral center of the story, the steadfast witness to history, the indefatigable champion of the common man, unbowed even in an unpleasant work environment, undefeated even in the face of disaster. SEYMOUR ENDURES.

Seymour Fever! Catch it!


Also, this is allegedly going to be in our Diamond shipment today:


I’m not going to believe it until I’m actually holding it in my hands. And maybe not even then. I may just chalk it up to some delusion induced by consuming too many Diet Cokes.

When I went looking for a pic of the cover, I saw this on the official Marvel Comics site:


Heh.

And yeah, yeah, I know, you don’t need to explain banner ad placement details to me. Just enjoy it for what it is. Reminds me a bit of when you used to see some toy or candy ads with DC heroes in a Marvel comic, or vice versa.

Or maybe it reminds me a little of the greatest Pizzazz cover of all time. Well, okay, it really didn’t remind me of that, but I’m always looking for an excuse to bring up that cover again.

I think I’m just gonna lay low today…

…and enjoy the continuing mayhem from this weekend from afar. However, I did come across these classified ads in Comics Journal #64 (July 1981) that I wanted to share.

I wonder if this person actually did find that job:

“WANTED: A FULL-TIME JOB in a Cleveland, Ohio area comic book store. Have had previous bookstore experience. Am willing to move to Cleveland from Mansfield to get this job! This is not a dream, not a hoax, not an imaginary want ad!”

This next one has me thinking:

“ARTISTS-WRITERS WANTED!! for teenage super-hero work (heroes of my own and What-If? variations on others). If you like it when the villain vs. hero outcome isn’t predictable, this is for you!”

“Not predictable” – oh, so the villains win. Or maybe both the villain and the hero lose to a greater menace. Or they’re fighting in the street and get hit by a UPS truck, killing them both. Or they just sorta mutually decide that it’s a draw and go their separate ways. The outcome could be any of these things or something else entirely! UNPREDICTABLE!

This is a subscription ad for a comic collecting magazine:

“MONEY! OLD COMIC BOOKS are an investment as good as gold! Let us show you how and what to buy.”

“Invest heavily in Howard the Duck. Surely nothing will affect future sales on this hot comic!”

“NOW AVAILABLE: COMPLETE CHECKLIST of comics used in ‘Seduction of the Innocent.’ Also available, complete checklist of comics used in ‘Parade of Pleasure.’ Each list includes illustrations. Each list $1.00 which includes postage and printing costs.”

Saves you the trouble of pulling them out of the Overstreet guide, I guess (if it even listed them all at the time…I don’t know). But there were (and still are) people looking for these, so I guess the seller was hoping people would buy his lists and use ’em as checklists as they wander around the convention floor looking for that one comic where Dr. Wertham thought he saw a vagina in the shadowed muscles of some character’s arm or shoulder.

Er, anyway.

So I’m crawling back into my bunker. Let me know when the shooting stops, please.

Inside UFO 54-40 was just mean, man.

Scans_Daily, the long-running LiveJournal community dedicated to providing scanned pages of comics new and old with varying levels of “fair use” (ranging from “well within” to “not even in the slightest”) was taken down the other day. Johanna has a sympathetic take on the situation, whereas Kevin gives ’em an extra kick in the rear out the door (URL may not be safe for work). EDIT: And Lisa drops in some solid commentary about the situation, which I’m sure will result in the sort of reasoned, rational response the internet is known for.


I keep meaning to mention an odd coincidence involving once-former-now-current-again-employee Kid Chris. His home phone number is one digit off from the store’s phone number. And he once received a call that went a little something…like this:

(phone rings)

Kid Chris: “Hello?”

Guy on phone: “Is this Ralph’s Comic Corner?”

Kid Chris: “No, you have the wrong number…but I work at Ralph’s Comic Corner. Can I help you with something?”

Guy on phone: “…What?”

Then there’s the fact that Kid Chris’ address is similar enough to the address of one of our longtime regular customers that the customer’s Wizard subscription is often delivered to KC’s house. But that’s a story for another time. Er, except I just told the whole story. Never mind.


Seriously, there are moments when I think “they didn’t really actually make a Watchmen movie, did they?” and then I realize we’re less than a week away from it opening and it just blows my mind, man.

Sure, it’s probably not any good, but just that it exists is enough to mess with me.


Because internet pal Dave is awesome, he made this for me:


Nearly all the endings result in some horrible death, except for the one that ends with you becoming manager of a comic shop, which in some ways is even more terrifying.

A few quick Friday notes.

  • Well, I think this comment on my post about the effect of text pieces in Watchmen is bit of a gross mischaracterization. I’m not calling (or being just short of calling) anyone a “dumbass” by telling them to skip the text pieces. It was a matter of the story’s pacing being affected by supplementary material when presented in collected form, not comprehension of the actual text pieces themselves, that I was discussing. If you think the text pieces are adversely affecting the enjoyment of the narrative, particularly when you’ve got the whole thing under one cover just sitting in front of you waiting to be read…hell, just skip the back-ups, come back to them later. No big whoop.

    I’m not going to repeat my entire discussion (you can just reread the original post), but I just wanted to emphasize no one was calling anyone else stupid here. I was just making an observation based on customer feedback, not standing in judgment of lesser beings. I save that for those puny, misguided mortals who don’t like All Star Batman.

  • Pal Dorian wants to know just why, exactly, you think Aquaman is lame…if in fact that’s what you think about him.

    Dor and I have talked discussed this once or twice at the shop, and I even brought it up here when talking about characters to revamp. Not that we’re talking about how lame Aquaman is, just that there’s nothing specifically wrong with the core concept. Anyway, don’t tell me about it, tell Dor.

  • Happy ninth anniversary to Neilalien, the greatest comics blogger of them all, and the one that blazed the trail for all the rest of us who followed. Thanks, Neilalien, for all those years of great writing, solid linkblogging, and wonderfully obsessive Doctor Strange content. Here’s to many more years of your insight and wit!

Progressive Ruin presents…the End of Civilization.

So it’s come to this…the 49th installment of the End of Civilization, not to mention post #2600 on this site. Either way, that’s a lot of typing. And here’s more typing to add to the pile, so whip open your copy of the March 2009 Previews and follow along!

p. 179 – Marvel Minimates Wolverine Through the Ages Set:


I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a Minimate figure with quite that terrifying of a visage before. “Oh my God, my hands, my hands…they’re smooth, hideous clamps!”

p. 213 – Liongate Films Leprechaun #1:


C’mon, how’re you guys gonna top this previous adaptation?

Which reminds me…reader John T. answered my unintended plea from that post way back when, and I never got around sharing what he sent he with the rest of you. UNTIL TODAY. Presenting to you some bonus Progressive Ruin content, courtesy John T. — Leprenopoly!


CLICK TO MAKE LEPRECHAUNIER

p. 233 – The Boys: Herogasm #1:


Well I know I certainly can’t wait to have that cover on display on our “New Arrivals” rack.

p. 312 – The Classic Marvel Figurine Collection Magazine – Gladiator & Morbius:


“Darn you kids! Quit making fun of my awesome Mohawk!”


“Blah! I’m a vampire! Bl — ah, forget it, I’m just not feeling it.”

p. 354 – Blacula 12-inch Collector Action Figure:


Just thought I’d let a little cool in here.

p. 368 – Friday the 13th – Jason’s Machete Replica:

v

“This metal and wood reproduction of Jason’s iconic weapon is 3 feet in length and has the real weight and feel of an actual machete.”

For $179, which I imagine could also buy you a real machete or three. Not that I’ve been doing any machete pricing lately.

p. 370 – Hydra Mini-Bust 3-Pack:


“The Wave!”

p. 372 – Mr. Sinister Statue:


Man, this guy’s totally hogging the dance floor. “‘Ain’t no mountain high enough?’ Ain’t no dance floor big enough!” (Joke courtesy late ’80s Dennis Miller.)

p. 376 – Rock Iconz Rush “Starman” Statue:


So..revealed at last, once people get their hands on this thing…the face of Starman? (Or has it been shown before…I like Rush an’ all, but I’m no expert on Rush trivia.)

p. 376 – Star Wars “Hoth” Han Solo Mini-Bust:


“Oh, man, I thought these new extra-long antennas would work, but my remote control snowspeeder still flew out of range! Guess I’d better upgrade to Wookiee-length.”

p. 388 – Marvel Comics Fine Art Theatre – The Infinity Gauntlet:


Man, looks like they had a mold explosion in the statue factory. “Do you suffer the heartbreak of…Silver Surfer armpit? Do Heralds of Galactus dangle uncomfortably from your body?”

By the way, I have to call shenanigans on their description of this statue being a “fine art” piece, since there is no LED lighting function mentioned in the solicitation. And, as we learned a couple of months back, it ain’t art without LEDs.

p. 394 – Michael Jackson “Thriller” Vinyl Figures:

I’m having a hard time deciding which is more terrifying:


Though I suppose this face gives the “zombie” figure the edge:


But still not as frightening as the real thing.

Yes, I went for the easy joke. I’m not proud.

p. 399 – Watchmen Movie Nite Owl Costume:

How fans wanted Nite Owl to look in the film:


And how Nite Owl does look in the film:


p. 399 – Watchmen Movie Rorschach Accessories:


Oh, I don’t know that this is something we’d want to encourage.

p. 400 – Watchmen Movie Silk Spectre Costume:


Employee Aaron: “Wow…do you think male comic fans are going to try to get their girlfriends to dress up like Silk Spectre?”

Me: “I suspect there’ll be some dressing up with these costumes, but not by their girlfriends.”

Employee Aaron: “Huh?”

Me: “I’ll explain when you’re older.”

p. 400 – Watchmen Movie Dr. Manhattan Mask & Hands:


Employee Aaron: “Why do the rest of the characters have full costumes, and Dr. Manhattan just had a mask and those gloves?”

Me: “Presumably you’d use blue body paint to complete the effect.”

Employee Aaron: “Ewwwww.”

Me: “I’m gonna guess that the costumes at the San Diego Con are going to be a lot of fun this year.”

p. 402 – Wolverine Origins Deluxe Adult Costume:

“The costume recreates perfectly the costume worn by actor Hugh Jackman….”

Oh, for the sake of the movie, I hope not.

p. 402 – Thor Deluxe Adult Helmet:


Included simply to present the single great costume model ever presented in the pages of this catalog. In fact, if there were some way to make a mold of that face and make it part of the helmet….

p. 405 – Wolverine Extreme Green Large Journal:


“Dear Journal – Scott was mean to me again today. Jean won’t notice me. Ran out of beer and cigars. Someone scratched my Book of Love album. They’d better not cancel Dollhouse. My life sucks. I’m gonna polish my claws and avoid everyone for the rest of the day. Yrs – L.”

p. 420 – Watchmen Original Soundtrack Limited Edition 12-Inch Picture Disc Record:


From the blurb at the beginning of this section of the catalog:

“My Chemical Romance’s cover of Bob Dylan’s ‘Prison Flight’ is available on vinyl, just as it would have been in Watchmen’s alternate 1985!”

Okay, sure, however you want to justify it. And apparently there’s no escape from My Chemical Romance or Bob Dylan, even in an alternate reality. (EDIT: I know they messed up this particular blurb.)

Marvel Previews p. 106 – Marvel Saga Astonishing X-Men, Squadron Supreme, Runaways GN – TP:


So this is a trade paperback reprinting of those “catch-up” comics that condensed down several months’ worth of issues into one-shots that covered most of the plot points via select reprinted pages and summary text.

I suspect Marvel may have been better served printing up cheap sampler issues for the series featured here, each with a single issue, or “chapter,” taken from one of the trade paperbacks (like what DC is doing with their “After Watchmen” comics).

But I suspect this book does fill the “too busy to devote the time to read an entire narrative/not enough money to buy all the books” niche market, so I can’t blame Marvel for finding ways to get everyone’s money.

Still…c’mon, seriously?

“…Rorschach goes berserk!”

After making a joking “next issue blurb” for Watchmen in yesterday’s post, I thought I’d dig into the Vast Mikester Archives and find the actual blurbs DC used in their editorial pages. I pulled these from the Deluxe Checklists that appeared in DC’s direct sales only Baxter-paper books from late ’86 through late ’87.

There may be some minor SPOILERS ahead, in case you haven’t read the comic yet:

WATCHMEN #1:
Who watches the Watchmen? Beginning a maxi-series unlike all others about super-heroes in the real world, as told by Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons.

WATCHMEN #2:
Rorschach continues his hunt for the hero-killer, and we get to learn more about the Watchmen and their predecessors, courtesy of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons.

WATCHMEN #3:
All the facts about Doctor Manhattan are spelled out and they will stun you! Plus more excerpts from Hollis Mason’s book. All by Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons!

WATCHMEN #4:
The maxi-series continues with the origin of Dr. Manhattan … as the mystery deepens! A book-lengther by Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons.

WATCHMEN #5:
The tension builds, the mystery deepens, and the hero killer strikes again as Rorschach goes berserk! A classic by Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons.

WATCHMEN #6:
Revealed at last! The life story of Rorschach! A classic tale from Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons.

WATCHMEN #7:
The mystery of the mask-killer grows! Nite Owl and the Silk Spectre go out on patrol for the first time since the Keene Act! Another instant classic by Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons!

WATCHMEN #8:
As war approaches, Nite Owl and the Silk Spectre spring Rorschach from prison. A must-read from Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons.

WATCHMEN #9:
Silk Spectre reveals her origin as she tries to convince Dr. Manhattan to come home. From Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons.

WATCHMEN #10:
The countdown to nuclear armageddon continues as Rorschach and Nite Owl reunite! Must reading from Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons.

WATCHMEN #11:
Revealed at last! The origin of Ozymandias in the series’ penultimate issue! Another classic from Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons.

WATCHMEN #12:
Thirty-two pages of story conclude this blockbuster series as you’ll finally get the answer to ‘Who Watches the Watchmen?’ An instant classic from Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons.

A couple of notes:

Issue #4 notes that the story is a “book-lengther,” implying that no back-up feature was expected to follow the three-part “Under the Hood” series from the first three issues, making room for the letters pages that (as I was corrected about by a couple of readers yesterday) were to occupy the back pages of the comic. Obviously that turned out not to be the case, but thought it was interesting that the original plans for the series still slipped into the next issue blurb.

The other comment is more general, in that it’s somewhat amusing to read these blurbs which boil down one of the most significant comic books ever published to something that doesn’t sound any different from any of the other comics being blurbed on the same page. Right next to the blurb for Watchmen #5 was this entry for Vigilante #37:

“The Vigilante is out for blood – and being stalked by the Peacemaker! By Paul Kupperberg, Tod Smith & Rick Magyar. Plus: A Mike Grell cover!

Or this one for New Teen Titans #27:

“It’s the search for Nightwing and Raven as the Titans face the Church of Brother Blood and the girl known as Twister! A must-read from Marv Wolfman, Kerry Gammill & Romeo Tanghal.”

Let’s do a little switcheroo here:

“Nite Owl is out for blood – and being stalked by Rorschach! By Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. Plus: A Mike Grell cover!”

I didn’t change the Grell bit, if only because I pictured what that would be like and it was awesome. Anyway, I hope you see what I’m getting at here, about how the Watchmen blurbs look in context with DC’s other more traditional super-books. Of course, what was I expecting?

“The life of Rorschach revealed, showing why you violent fantasy prone fanboys idolizing him and similar characters are demonstrably wrong. Another instant classic by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons!”

“Revealed at last! Symbolism you won’t get! Text pages you’ll only skim! Our company’s bread-and-butter superhero genre entirely undermined in Watchmen‘s most subversive issue yet! By Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons.”

Yeah, that might not have gone over as well.