New Books for 7/2/08

This week looks pretty solid, not as amazing as last weeks though. That week set the bar pretty high (more about that tomorrow, I promise), but this week certainly has its winners. Above all I am pretty excited to read Jonah Hex #33, which features Jonah Hex in Canada, and you know what that means: Darwyn Cooke is doing the art work. Also in this week is the continuation of Batman R.I.P. in Batman #678 and the first issues of Vertigo's Madame Xanadu, DC's Jokers Asylum and Marvels Patsy Walker Hellcat.

In the trade department keep your eyes open for Superman: Last Son and House of M: Avengers. I read House of M: Avengers as it was released and really liked it. Easily my favorite spin-off from the event. Superman: Last Son was something I always wanted to read. Its of course by Geoff Johns along with Richard Donner, but it also has great art by Andy Kubert, but it took forever to come out, and I just forgot about it.

Enjoy the week everyone!

*Edit: Holy crap, I didn't even see Walking Dead #50. A must read.

COMICS

76 #4 (OF 8)
ALL NEW ATOM #25
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #564
AMERICAN DREAM #5 (OF 5)
AMERICAN SPLENDOR SEASON TWO #4 (OF 4)
AMORY WARS II #2 (OF 5)
ANGEL AFTER THE FALL #10
ANGEL REVELATIONS #2 (OF 5)
ASTONISHING X-MEN #25
ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #7
AVENGERS INVADERS #3 (OF 12)
BART SIMPSON COMICS #42
BATMAN #678 RIP
BATMAN VS THE SCARECROW
BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #162
BILLY BATSON AND THE MAGIC OF SHAZAM #1
BLUE BEETLE #28
BOYS #20
BRIT #7
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #16
CABLE #5
CARTOON NETWORK BLOCK PARTY #46
CROSSING MIDNIGHT #19
DARK TOWER END WORLD ALMANAC
DARK TOWER LONG ROAD HOME #5 (OF 5)
DC SPECIAL RAVEN #5 (OF 5)
DC UNIVERSE SPECIAL REIGN IN HELL 80 PAGE GIANT
DNA HACKER CHRONICLES #2 (OF 6)
DOCTOR WHO #5
DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS #8
DYNAMO 5 #14
FABLES #74
FEAR AGENT #22 1 AGAINST 1 (PT 1 OF 6)
FRESHMEN SUMMER VACATION SPECIAL
FX #5 (OF 6)
GHOST WHISPERER #4
GI JOE AMERICAS ELITE #36
GRIMM FAIRY TALES #28
GRIMM FAIRY TALES PIPER #3 (OF 4)
HELLBLAZER PRESENTS CHAS THE KNOWLEDGE #1 (OF 5)
HELLBOY THE CROOKED MAN #1 (OF 3)
HOUSE OF MYSTERY #3
HUNTRESS YEAR ONE #4 (OF 6)
INDIA AUTHENTIC #14 SARASWATI
INFINITY INC #11
JACK OF FABLES #23
JOKERS ASYLUM THE JOKER #1
JONAH HEX #33
JSA CLASSIFIED #39
KOLCHAK TALES NIGHT STALKER O/T LIVING DEAD #2 (OF 3)
LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #43
LOONEY TUNES #164
LORDS OF AVALON SOD #6 (OF 6)
LUCHA LIBRE #5
MADAME XANADU #1
MANHUNTER #32
MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #41
MARVEL ILLUSTRATED THREE MUSKETEERS #2 (OF 6)
NEW BATTLESTAR GALACTICA SEASON ZERO #10
NEW DYNAMIX #4 (OF 5)
NIGHT O/T LIVING DEAD ANNUAL #1
NIGHTWING #146
NOBLE CAUSES #35
NORTHLANDERS #7 (MR)
PATSY WALKER HELLCAT #1 (OF 5)
PROGRAMME #12 (OF 12)
PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL #21
RANN THANAGAR HOLY WAR #3 (OF 8)
ROGUE ANGEL TELLER OF TALES #5
SAVAGE DRAGON #136
SECRET HISTORY THE AUTHORITY HAWKSMOOR #4 (OF 6)
SECRET INVASION FRONT LINE #1 (OF 5)
SIMPSONS SUPER SPECTACULAR #7
SONIC X #34
SQUADRON SUPREME 2 #1
STAND SKETCHBOOK
STAR TREK ASSIGNMENT EARTH #3
STAR TREK MIRROR IMAGES #1
STAR TREK NEW FRONTIER #4
STAR TREK YEAR FOUR ENTERPRISE EXPERIMENT #3
STEPHEN COLBERTS TEK JANSEN #1 (OF 5) NEW PTG
STEPHEN COLBERTS TEK JANSEN #2 (OF 5)
STORMING PARADISE #1 (OF 6)
SUPERGIRL #31
SUPERNATURAL RISING SON #3 (OF 6)
SWORD #9
TALES OF TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #47
TERRY MOORES ECHO #4
TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE RAISING CAIN #3 (OF 3)
TOR #3 (OF 6)
TRANSFORMERS BEST OF UK SPACE PIRATES #5
TRINITY #5
VERONICA #189
VINYL UNDERGROUND #10
WALKING DEAD #50
WAR THAT TIME FORGOT #3 (OF 12)
WASTELAND #18
WULF & BATSY #2 (OF 6)
ZOMBIE TALES #2

GRAPHIC NOVELS

AFTER THE CAPE II TP
ARCHIE AMERICANA SER TP VOL 08 BEST OF 60S BOOK 2
AVENGERS INITIATIVE PREM HC VOL 02 KILLED ACTION
CAPTAIN AMERICA TP OPERATION REBIRTH NEW PTG
COUNTDOWN PRESENTS SEARCH FOR RAY PALMER TP
COUNTER X TP VOL 01 X-FORCE
DEVI TP VOL 04
ESSENTIAL DEFENDERS TP VOL 4
FANTASTIC FOUR PREM HC LOST ADVENTURES STAN LEE
FRANK BELLAMYS ROBIN HOOD GN COMPLETE ADVENTURES
FRUITS BASKET GN VOL 20 (OF 22)
HAMLET GN NO FEAR SHAKESPEARE
HELLBLAZER FEAR MACHINE TP
HOUSE OF M TP AVENGERS
INVADERS CLASSIC TP VOL 2
JUDGE DEATH YOUNG DEATH BOYHOOD OA SUPERFIEND GN
MACBETH GN NO FEAR SHAKESPEARE
MARVEL ATLAS TP
MIGHTY AVENGERS PREM HC VOL 02 VENOM BOMB
NARUTO TP VOL 30
PATH OF THE ASSASSIN TP VOL 12 THREE FOOT BATTLE
ROMEO & JULIET GN NO FEAR SHAKESPEARE
SHOWCASE PRESENTS BATMAN TP VOL 03
SIRE TP
SUPERMAN LAST SON HC
SWORD TP VOL 01
TEEN TITANS TP TITANS OF TOMORROW
TURNING POINTS LITTLE ROCK NINE GN
USAGI YOJIMBO TP VOL 22 TOMOES STORY
WATER BABY
WILDSTORM REVELATIONS TP
WONDERMARK BEARDS OF OUR FOREFATHERS

MICHAEL TURNER: 1971-2008


You Will Be Missed.

The Fantom Presents...

FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS

FEATURING

SHARON CARTER & SIN

-IN-

"MEAN GIRLS II"

A BAHLACTUS PRODUCTION

The Fantom Talks It Out: Writing For The Big Guys

I don't want to sound high and mighty here, but I think things have been going pretty well here at the Fantom Blog. Posts are timely and fun, and plenty of people are dropping by to take a look. All in all: mission accomplished. But yesterday, the Devon Sanders and myself were discussing what would happen if one of the big two asked us to write a book of theirs; which I assure you has not happened. But if they did it would probably look something like this...

DC Comics Guy: Jordan, we love your writing (but you really need an editor) and we want you to take a shot at Batman.

Me: Uh, sure! Wait... um... no.

DC Comics Guy: Wait. What?!

Me: I have like, one Batman story in my head. It would last like three issues, maybe four tops. After that, all out of ideas. One of them is just him wandering about the Wayne manor reminiscing about his life and being sad.

DC Comics Guy: Okay. How about Superman?

Me: Hell no.

You see, it would go on and on like that until they offered me, I don't know, Green Lantern. But not Hal, it would have to be Kyle or the Corps in general. Same thing goes with Marvel:

Marvel Comics Guy: We want you to write Spider-man. We think you're witty, inane, Internet banter would make for a great book.

Me: ARE YOU CRAZY! NO!

Marvel Comics Guy: Ok, How about Iron Fist? Or maybe Nova?

Me: GAH! Fraction and Brubaker should only write Iron Fist! But Nova sounds interesting...

See, it takes HUGE STONES to man-up and write a guy like Superman or Captain America. You have to be the top of your game, and if your not, BEAT IT. The smaller guys, like Nightwing, Moon Knight, Ms. Marvel, Hercules, Supergirl, hell even Thor, these are people who I feel still have A TON of room to tell great stories. They are also respected, but only to a point. A guy like Supes, you write him wrong, KISS YOUR ASS GOODBYE. Captain America? You don't write him handling a situation correctly, you immediately lose all credibility with me. That's why I really respect the Starman series by James Robinson. He set out to tell a great story and when it was over, he was done with the series and the main character, and now, no one dare touch it.

It also boggles my mind how a guy like J. Michael Straczynski could write Amazing Spider-man for as long as he did. I mean, it shows in some parts how stretched the book felt. Even Fables has a tendency to tell stories that don't have to be told, as it often times drifts from the main plot. In fact, if Bill Willingham just told the story he clearly wants to tell, Fables would most likely be over, and be about 6 volumes.

So next time you diss on a guy like Geoff Johns on Superman (I don't think anyone really is) or even a guy like David Hine on Spawn, just think about the balls it takes to write these characters. Lord knows I wouldn't to do it.

New Books for 6/25/08

Whoa.

Huge week this week. Final Crisis, Green Lantern, Conan the Cimmerian, Runaways, Ultimates 3, Iron Fist (Brubaker & Fractions last), Captain America and a new Thor: Ages Of Thunder story called Reign of Blood. My pick of the week goes to Mythos: Captain America. The "mythos" line by Marvel, retells (and retcons a bit) the origins of some companies biggest and best heroes. All the art duties have fallen on Paulo Rivera, an amazing painter, and so far he has handled the Hulk, Spider-Man and the FF4 with amazing skill. I was able to look at the finished pages at the New York Comic Con earlier this year and Paulo told me that the Captain America one is the one he was most proud of. "I told them either give me more time to finish the book the way I want or I dont do it." Thankfully Marvel listened to him. Make sure to check it out.

In the trade department we finally see the arrival of the long awaited eighth volume of the Walking Dead. [Insert joke here about how you thought you would be dead by the time this came out]. This took forever, but I am just as interested as always to see what Robert Kirkman will do. Also All-Star Batman & Robin gets the hardcover treatment this week. Check it out if you want to laugh at Batman and Frank Miller while you drool over amazing Jim Lee artwork. I will most likely be shelling out the dollars for the Green Lantern: Tales of the Sinestro Corps HC to add to my ever growing collection of Green Lantern books. Aaaand, if you've never read Ex Machina, check out the nice hardcover collection coming out this week and get caught up in style.

Enjoy this week, its a killa'!

COMICS
ARCHIE #586
ARCHIE DIGEST #245
AVENGERS FAIRY TALES #3 (OF 4)
AVENGERS INITIATIVE #14
BATMAN GOTHAM AFTER MIDNITE #2 (OF 12)
BEYOND WONDERLAND #0 (OF 6)
BLACK PANTHER #37
BPRD ECTOPLASMIC MAN ONE SHOT
CAPTAIN AMERICA #39
CLOCKWORK GIRL #4 (OF 4)
CONAN THE CIMMERIAN #0
DAREDEVIL #108
FANTASTIC FOUR #558
FINAL CRISIS #2 (OF 7)
GREEN LANTERN #32
HULK #4
IMMORTAL IRON FIST #16
KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE #140
MARVEL 1985 #2 (OF 6)
MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #37
MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS #10
MARVEL ILLUSTRATED MOBY DICK #5 (OF 6)
MIGHTY AVENGERS #15
MS MARVEL #28
MYTHOS CAPTAIN AMERICA
NEW AVENGERS #42
NEW WARRIORS #13
NO HERO #0 (OF 7)
NUMBER OF THE BEAST #6 (OF 8)
PIGEONS FROM HELL #3 (OF 4)
POWER PACK DAY ONE #4 (OF 4)
RUNAWAYS #30
SECRET INVASION RUNAWAYS YOUNG AVENGERS #1 (OF 3)
SHE-HULK 2 #30
STAR WARS DARK TIMES #12
STRANDED #5
SUPERMAN #677
SUPERPOWERS #4 (OF 7)
TEEN TITANS #60
THOR AGES OF THUNDER REIGN OF BLOOD
THUNDERBOLTS #121
TRINITY #4
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #123
ULTIMATES 3 #4 (OF 5)
UNCANNY X-MEN #499
WHAT IF FANTASTIC FOUR TRIBUTE TO MIKE WIERINGO
WOLVERINE FIRST CLASS #4
WOLVERINE ORIGINS #26
WORLDS OF DUNGEONS & DRAGONS #2
X-MEN FIRST CLASS VOL 2 #13
X-MEN LEGACY #213
YOUNG AVENGERS PRESENTS #6 (OF 6)

GRAPHIC NOVELS
ALL STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN THE BOY WONDER HC VOL 01
BATMAN JEKYLL AND HYDE TP
CAPTAIN AMERICA PREM HC CHOSEN
DISCWORLD GN VOL 01 COLOUR OF MAGIC & LIGHT FANTASTIC
EX MACHINA DELUXE EDITION HC VOL 01
GREEN LANTERN TALES OF THE SINESTRO CORPS HC
GROWING OLD WITH BC A CELEBRATION OF JOHNNY HART GN
INDIANA JONES ADVENTURES TP VOL 01
JACK OF FABLES TP VOL 03 THE BAD PRINCE
LOADED BIBLE TP VOL 01
MARVELS PREM HC
OFF HB MARVEL UNIV A TO Z PREM HC VOL 03
SPAWN THE UNDEAD TP
SUPERMAN CAMELOT FALLS TP VOL 01
TANGENT COMICS TP VOL 03
WALKING DEAD TP VOL 08 MADE TO SUFFER

The Fantom Talks It Out: The Comics Apocalypse

I just want to make something very clear:

WE ARE NOT IN A COMICS DEPRESSION, RECESSION, OR IMPENDING APOCALYPSE.

There. I think I said what I needed to say. Now let me run with this, and eventually beat it into the ground.

Recently I have been hearing (or reading rather) a lot of talk about how comics are entering some sort of Dark Age. A time where the stories don't make sense, they aren't fun, the big two are obsessed with money, and mega events threaten doom upon our favorite entertainment medium. This my friends, is a load of crap.

Now I understand as a retailer that I am in a position to tell you that everything is fine. That comics are good and that you are not wasting your money. PLEASE BUY COMICS. PLEASE. But honestly, I read and BUY these things too. Its not like I sit in the store all day and count wads of cash, and call everybody who buys something an idiot (only sometimes). I care, respect, and love comics. From epic battles in space to the everyday journeys of a man in Japan, I love comics, and we, the comic buyer are living in an amazing time for comic books. There are tons of publishers out there offering a load of great stories from all different walks of life. The art ranges greatly, from smaller, independent, personal styles (Jeffery Brown, Rutu Modan) to hand painted, grandiose masterpieces (Alex Ross, Esad Ribic, Gabrielle Del Otto). And the writing, don't even get me started. You have bestselling authors (Brad Meltzer, Orson Scott Card, Gail Simone) and indy masterminds (Bryan Lee O'Malley, Ted Naifeh, Jeff Smith, Kolchaka) coming up with amazing stories that shock, awe, and inspire. If anything, these aren't the trying times for the medium, these are the defining times.

But Look. A lot of stuff comes out every week. Somewhere between 50-70 new titles. It can't all be gold, but they can be fun, and really, enjoyable comics is something different to everyone. Don't beat yourself up because Justice League is terrible, just don't buy it. Read what happened in a comic forum instead and when the book returns with a writer/artist team you like (ala Spider-Man Brand New Day) jump aboard. I hadn't read JLA in forever, but when I saw Ethan Van Sciver aboard for issue #20 I was all over it. And it was great. Something about Wonder Woman convincing the Flash to be more involved in the League. Great Stuff. But I wander.

This all comes about because of a post made on the Second Printing blog, which I frequently check, titled "A Fan's Survival Guide In The Face of Comic Apocalypse" which really rubbed me the wrong way. It provides GREAT tips to break a rut, or "survive" the coming doom. But really tips like "got outside your comfort zone" and "go back in time" are just great things to let all comic readers know of. Like really good things to let them know that they can do. That its in your power to read a series in TPB because its there and you can or that you can add or drop a book to your subscription at any time (at least with us you can) because you can. Or that you can even walk away for a bit... if you really want to. I for one won't be doing that any time soon.

Really what I want to end on is that a lot of this is a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you really think things are getting so bad, THAT YOU HAVE TO WALK AWAY, then you will. If you think that superheroes are played out, but you are unwilling to try anything else. Than you will walk away. Thats why I think our store does a better job than most. I am not content to let someone walk away from comics because DC or Marvel told a story that forced them away. Hell no. Absolutely not. Unacceptable. Shenanigans even. We have a great community, and great employees that pride themselves on helping each other find new comics to read and enjoy. Hell, if you find yourself saying "Hey, this sounds like me," let me know and I would be more than happy to help.

Okay, consider this beaten into the ground. Thanks for your time.

The Fantom Presents...

FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS

FEATURING

"YOU DON'T MESS WITH THE FOGGY"

A BAHLACTUS PRODUCTION

(Daredevil: Born Again. Miller & Mazzucchelli)

The Fantom... CENSORS!

Has any other comic book retailer out there ever gotten an issue of Bomb Queen and just sighed. It was funny the first time, kind of like Garth Ennis's The Pro, but now I think its worn out its welcome. Now call me old fashioned ("Welcome to the 21st century Steve Rogers,") but isn't this a little over the top:

Bomb Queen V #1

The boobs, the blood, the people hanging by nooses, it was just too much for me. So here's what I did to it in order to make my employees, customers and myself more comfortable in the face of such lewdness:

I put the comic in a bag and board, cut a board in half, slipped it in the front, and then taped it shut.

Now this isn't the first time I have self-censored a book before, typically I do the same with most Marvel Max books (Punisher) and lately with Marvel/Soliel's Sky-Doll (Kids think it looks cute, but there is a lot of nudity in it). In the end its never really hurt business, and often times I wonder if people get them BECAUSE they are being sealed and are obviously not for younger audiences.

And by the way it looks, more of the same "censorship" for Bomb Queen V #2. Although, they aren't giving me a lot to work with...
Anyone else out there with thought on the topic of self-censoring comic books that come your stores way?

New Books for 6/18/08

Pretty awesome week coming in, especially in the TBP department. Be sure to check out Wolverine #66, featuring part one of the new "Old Man Logan" storyline, done by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven. Also of note is the collection of the first Atomic Robo story arc as well as the long awaited final volume of Y: The Last Man. Enjoy!

COMICS

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #563
AMERICAN DREAM #4 (OF 5)
ANGEL AFTER THE FALL #9
ANITA BLAKE VH GUILTY PLEASURES #12 (OF 12)
BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #8
BETTY & VERONICA #236
BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #185
BIRDS OF PREY #119
BOMB QUEEN V #2 (OF 6)
BRAVE AND THE BOLD #14
CASEY BLUE BEYOND TOMORROW #2 (OF 6)
CATWOMAN #80
CHECKMATE #27
DC SPECIAL CYBORG #2 (OF 5)
DC WILDSTORM DREAMWAR #3 (OF 6)
DEAD SPACE #4 (OF 6)
DEAN KOONTZS FRANKENSTEIN VOL 01 #2 (OF 5) PRODIGAL SON
DMZ #32
EX MACHINA #37
FALLEN ANGEL IDW #27
FLASH #241
GEORGE R R MARTINS WILD CARDS #3 (OF 6)
GHOST RIDER #24
GOTHAM UNDERGROUND #9 (OF 9)
GRENDEL BEHOLD THE DEVIL #8 (OF 8)
GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #2
HELLBLAZER #245
HUNTRESS YEAR ONE #3 (OF 6)
INCREDIBLE HERCULES #118
IRON MAN DIRECTOR OF SHIELD #30
JUGHEADS DOUBLE DIGEST #141
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #22
MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #25
MARVEL ILLUSTRATED ILIAD #7 (OF 8)
PS238 #32
PUNISHER #58
RAMAYAN 3392 AD RELOADED #6 (OF 7)
RASL #2
SCALPED #18
SCOOBY DOO #133
SECRET INVASION FANTASTIC FOUR #2 (OF 3)
SIMPSONS COMICS #143
SPARKS #1 (OF 8)
SPIRIT #18
STAR WARS KNIGHTS OF OLD REPUBLIC #30

STAR WARS LEGACY #25
STREETS OF GLORY #5 (OF 6)
SUPER FRIENDS #4
SUPERMAN BATMAN #49
TANGENT SUPERMANS REIGN #4 (OF 12)
TEEN TITANS YEAR ONE #5 (OF 6)
TRANSFORMERS MOVIE PREQUEL SPECIAL
TRANSFORMERS SPOTLIGHT CYCLONUS
TRANSFORMERS SPOTLIGHT WHEELIE
TRINITY #3
ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #55
ULTIMATE X-MEN #95
WAR IS HELL FIRST FLIGHT PHANTOM EAGLE MAX #4 (OF 5)
WARHAMMER CONDEMNED BY FIRE #2 (OF 5)
WOLVERINE #66
WORLD OF WARCRAFT #8
X-FACTOR #32
ZORRO #4

GRAPHIC NOVELS/TRADES

ALIENS OMNIBUS TP VOL 04
ASTONISHING X-MEN TP VOL 04 UNSTOPPABLE
ATOMIC ROBO TP VOL 01
CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED HUCKLEBERRY FINN
CONAN BORN ON THE BATTLEFIELD SC
DYNAMO 5 TP VOL 02 MOMENTS OF TRUTH
ETERNALS BY NEIL GAIMAN TP
GREEN LANTERN HC VOL 02 THE SINESTRO CORPS WAR
HULK WWH TP DAMAGE CONTROL
IRON MAN TP HAUNTED
MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS TP VOL 06 MIGHTY DIGEST
POSTAGE STAMP FUNNIES HC
PVP TP VOL 05 PVP TREKS ON
SHADOWPACT TP VOL 03 DARKNESS AND LIGHT
SHOWCASE PRESENTS THE FLASH TP VOL 02
STAR WARS LEGACY TP VOL 03
TERROR INC TP
TURNING POINTS SONS OF LIBERTY GN
ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR TP VOL 10 GHOSTS
WORLDS FINEST DELUXE EDITION HC
Y THE LAST MAN TP VOL 10 WHYS AND WHEREFORES
YOSHITAKA AMANOS MATEKI THE MAGIC FLUTE HC

The Fantom Reviews: The Incredible Hulk

I have a love/hate relationship with the Hulk. Although I respected Ang Lee's efforts with the Green Goliath in his first feature film, the movie was bad. Its predecessor, Louis Leterrier's The Incredible Hulk, is similar, but essentially comes down to this: Its just another Hulk film.

This is were my love turns to "hate".

There really is not a lot you can do with the Hulk, and while individuals like Iron Man and Batman are characters that have "legs" in the story department, Hulk simply has one. Hulk smash. That's how he will solve all his problems, and that is really all you have to look forward to in the film. The smashing looks and sounds amazing, but compared to the first film, its essentially the same with the exception that in the new film, the Hulk has someone to hit (unlike Superman Returns). The battles are well crafted, although telegraphed in a sense. You know the fights are coming and that's what really pushes this movie forward. Not the acting, not the story, just the fighting. One scene after another builds upon each other until just when you think your getting bored, BAM! Hulk smash.

The CGI looks pretty good. People are going to complain that the Hulk looks fake, but come on, hes what, a ten-foot, 600 pound guy? There is no way to make him "look" real. In comparison to the others films, Hulk looks... different. Not better. Just different. I may be alone here, but I really liked the way the other Hulk looked and moved in the first film, especially in the spectacular desert fight scene. He was large and gentle, and retained a lot of Bruce Banner. But when he got pissed he was mean. The new Hulk matches that look and feel, although I don't see Banner as much as I would like in him. Edward Norton (Bruce Banner) channels the feelings well as a man, but as a beast, a lot is lost. Also a lot is lost in the Cloverfield-esque filming.

Ultimately this movie ends as a confusing mess, just like most Hulk comics. Even the appearance of Robert Downey Jr. reprising his role as Tony Stark adds to the confusion, rather then creating some sort of new angle. Let me try to explain this:

• This film, and the rest of the Marvel movies to come, will all be 75% based on the Ultimate Universe, a more adult and modernized vision of the Marvel Universe in the 21st century. In the Ultimate Universe and especially within the Ultimates book, its hard to tell who the heroes really are. Captain America is a bit of jerk, Hank Pym (Giant Man) beats his wife Janet (the Wasp), and Thor may or may not be an absolute lunatic claiming to be the Norse God Of Thunder. The public will be (And I feel is confused) by these portrayals. Adding a scene featuring Iron Man speaking with a General in the Armed Forces about a monster who needs to be stopped adds to this confusion. "Isn't Iron Man a good guy?" they ask themselves. "Why would he want to hurt Hulk? Why would he build weapons for the military to hurt him after they said in the last movie he would stop making weapons?" The common sense answer is "Because the Hulk is guilty of the death of hundreds of people, and millions of dollars in property damage." But for the average movie goer who is new to the "Marvel Experience" they just won't get it, and honestly I'm a bit confused myself.

The Fantom Presents...

FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS

(CLASSIC EDITION)

FEATURING SAM "SNAP" WILSON

IN

SWOOP N' DROP

Always Bet On Bahlactus!

If you couldn't already tell, I really love Captain America, and issue #38 was no exception. Now I understand that this issue is old news comic land. The reviews have come and gone, and we now all hold our collective breaths until the next one, but I'm really surprised that there hasn't been a little bit more of an uproar about what took place in this issue. Sure we got answers about this "fake" Captain America, and yes, there was indeed a fight that took place out in broad daylight. And hell, this Bucky thing is even working after this issue, but what I'm referring to is this:

Oh, can't see that to well. Let me zoom in a bit.

Arnim Zola-bot just called The Falcon "A Black Skinned Meddler". That's pretty saucy for these days. But then again this book is mired with Nazis and fascists, so what can you expect. But I will admit...

It almost entered Scooby-Doo territory.

SEPTEMBER /17/2008

http://funrama.blogspot.com/

The Fantom Talks It Out: The Youth Of A Nation

Yesterday I was in the store catching up on a fat stack of 70's Thor comics that I bought for 5$ on Ebay, when a young gentlemen (perhaps 11-12 years old) came into our Union Station store. He looked around at first, obliviously a bit hesitant to ask what was on his mind. Was he in awe? Was he looking around confused, asking himself, "which one is for me?" Then he finally stood in front of me, rested himself on the counter, and met me in the eyes, and asked: "What is the most expensive comic in the store?"

To be honest, the question devastated me. Its one I hear daily, and every time I do its like a Superboy Prime punch to the heart. I understand the infatuation with the rare comics of ages past, hell I got all giddy when I found a copy of Silver Surfer #4 sitting in our back room, but my issue with this question are the people asking it. Kids. Its always kids.

What we need to do is reverse this thinking. As store managers, customers, fathers, mothers, aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters, we need to teach the younger generation that there is more value to comics than their value. That within their pages their are heroes to love, stories to learn from, and an ownership that no one can "value" but themselves. We need to hand them more copies of Green Lantern, Blue Beetle, Hellboy, Starman, Captain America, Nova, Action Comics, Amazing Spider-Man and Scott Pilgrim (just to name a few). The stories that fill us with hope. That show us that in an uncertain world, heroes still fight to uphold justice and freedom. Books that show us how loss builds growth, and from that growth we can build strength. But most of all, stories that entertain us.

Call it the platinum age, the modern age, whatever you want, but it is clear that we now live in a comic book age like no other. The books are better than HBO, the art could hang in galleries in France and its our responsibility, as those who survived the comics catastrophe of the 1990's, to guide this New Frontier of comics. Hand your nephew a story you love, or read a comic to a kid your babysitting. Young teenager? Hand them Young Avengers. Let them understand that Action Comics #1 is worth what it is because its historic fiction. IT IS THE FIRST APPEARANCE OF THE WORLDS GREATEST SUPERHERO. But explain to them, its boring, and although the events that take place in it are landmark, for a child of the 21st century, there are better superhero stories being written for them.

And then, maybe with that, the questions about equity will turn into questions about whats for me.

New Books for 6/11/08

Store News:

• A man recently came in with his family and looked around the shop for a while. Pretty much nothing out of the ordinary there. The Dad and I talked shop, while his little boy and girl looked around. Then, out of the blue his teenage daughter says, "Aren't there any REAL books here?" to which the father responded with a sigh AND THEN LOOKED AT ME TO ANSWER THE QUESTION. He looked to me to discipline his daughters insolence. So I looked at her and said, "This is a book store like any other. Could you please apologize. I think you hurt my feelings." This was all said in a very adorable way, earning the appropriate, "sorry" from the teenage girl. Then they were off.

Now this isn't the first time this has happened in the stores, and quite frankly I don't really care, but like the incident with the Persian Lock Smith, why would someone say such a thing while I am sitting right there? Why would someone be so intentionally rude. Have they, in a past life been belittled by a comic store owner and therefore come to our to store to have revenge. Did they search the entire nation to find Fantom Comics, the one comic shop that prefers to run itself like a bookstore instead of mom's basement, and then rip on us. I would hope not. But then again, I love these people. Because this is who I'm trying to convert. To show them that there are amazing stories being told in comics, and you know what, often times I'm successful.

COMICS

100 BULLETS #92
ACTION COMICS #866
AMAZING SPIDER-GIRL #21
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #562
ANGEL AFTER THE FALL #8

ARCHIE & FRIENDS #120
BATMAN CONFIDENTIAL #18
BATMAN STRIKES #46
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA ORIGINS #3
BOOSTER GOLD #10
BPRD WAR ON FROGS #1
CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI 13 #2 SI
CARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK #26
CHUCK #1 (OF 6)
CIVIL WAR CHRONICLES #12
CLANDESTINE #5 (OF 5)
DC UNIVERSE SPECIAL SUPERMAN MONGUL
DOKTOR SLEEPLESS #7
ELEPHANTMEN #12
ETERNALS #1
FEAR AGENT #21 HATCHET JOB (PT 5 OF 5)
GENEXT #2 (OF 5)
GOTHAM UNDERGROUND #9 (OF 9)
GREEN ARROW BLACK CANARY #9
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #25
HACK SLASH SERIES #12
HULK RAGING THUNDER
HUNTRESS YEAR ONE #3 (OF 6)
INVINCIBLE #50
IRON MAN LEGACY OF DOOM #3 (OF 4)
LAST DEFENDERS #4 (OF 6)
LEGION OF SUPER HEROES IN THE 31ST CENTURY #15
LOCAL #12 (OF 12)
LOCKE & KEY #5
LOST BOYS REIGN OF FROGS #2 (OF 4)
MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS #9
MAGDALENA DAREDEVIL (ONE SHOT)
MARVEL ADVENTURES HULK #12
MARVEL ILLUSTRATED THREE MUSKETEERS #1 (OF 6)
MOON KNIGHT #19
NARCOPOLIS #3 (OF 4)
NEW EXILES #7
NEWUNIVERSAL SHOCKFRONT #2 (OF 6)
NUMBER OF THE BEAST #5 (OF 8)
PALS N GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #122
PUNISHER MAX LITTLE BLACK BOOK
SALVATION RUN #7 (OF 7)
SECRET INVASION WHO DO YOU TRUST
SIMON DARK #9
SKAAR SON OF HULK #1
SKY DOLL #2 (OF 3)
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #189
SPIDER-MAN WITH GREAT POWER #4 (OF 5)
STAR TREK NEW FRONTIER #3
STAR WARS REBELLION #14 SMALL VICTORIES PART 4 (OF 4)
TINY TITANS #5
TITANS #3
TRINITY #2
TWELVE #6 (OF 12)
UNCLE SCROOGE #376
WALT DISNEYS COMICS & STORIES #691
WONDER WOMAN #21
X-FORCE AINT NO DOG
YOUNG LIARS #4

GRAPHIC NOVELS/TRADES

ABSOLUTE SANDMAN HC VOL 03
BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL TP VOL 19 BADGER HOLE
BURNOUT
CAPTAIN AMERICA TP VOL 01 DEATH OF CAPTAIN AMERICA
CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED THE INVISIBLE MAN
COMPLETE LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE HC VOL 01
FLUFFY HC
INCREDIBLE HERCULES AGAINST WORLD PREM HC
JOKER THE GREATEST STORIES EVER TOLD TP
JUDGE DREDD HENRY FLINT COLLECTION TP
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA HC VOL 03 INJUSTICE LEAGUE
MARVEL ZOMBIES 02 HC
METAMORPHO YEAR ONE TP
PENNY ARCADE TP VOL 05 THE CASE OF THE MUMMYS GOLD
PROGRAMME TP VOL 01
QUESTION THE FIVE BOOKS OF BLOOD HC
RIDE TP VOL 02
ROBOTS GN
SILVER SURFER TP IN THY NAME
UMBRELLA ACADEMY APOCALYPSE SUITE TP
VINYL UNDERGROUND TP VOL 01 WATCHING THE DETECTIVES
WOLVERINE TP ENEMY OF STATE ULTIMATE COLLECTION

The Fantom Presents...

GTFO OA NOOB.

Store News:

• A man came into the store yesterday and since he did not know my name he proceeded to call me a slur of sports related nicknames, the first of which started with MJ and then rolled into LT, TO, OJ, and then ending finally with Stephen Davis. He then asked me how he could "get rich" in comics because he wanted to. After I sadly informed him that "getting rich" in comics is really hard to do and that the only wealthy people in comics could be counted on two hands, he left, calling me a slur of sports related nicknames.

• As I type we are having our locks fixed by the most excitable Persian man I have ever met. He says he loves the job because of the people he gets to meet doing such a random odd job. I guess the feeling is mutual. (UPDATE) He has just asked me "As friends now. Do you actually like all this shit?" To which of course I responded, "Excuse me?! Of course I do." We are now engaging in a debate.

• I recently bought Fables issues 70-74 because I refuse to wait 18 months again for a comic I really love. We have also been trying to get customers to do this (subscribe to the book that is), but I think they are just too excited to get vol. 10 to listen to my yammering.

The Fantom Proclaims!

I WILL PLAY THIS GAME TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF MY CONSTITUTION.

Now there isnt too much known about this game besides the fact that it is based off the amazing Mouse Guard series, that it functions using some sort of gaming engine I've never heard of, and that the book itself will be fully illustrated by David Petersen. BUT, here is something I do know that I will share with you...

IN THIS GAME YOU CAN BE:

Happy Go-Lucky Music Mouse

Washed Up Drunk Warrior Mouse

Old Man Mouse

A Nerd Mouse

Badass Blacksmith Mouse

Well, it's probably close to what you can be. Most likely it will be like warriors and sneeky classes like rogues and hunters. Me? Look for me in the Boba Fett armor.

The Fantom... Is Ashamed: Part 2

Shall we continue with Part 2 of my current run of shameful posting, WITH POSTING THAT SHALL UNASHAME ME!

HELL YES!

• People love All-Star Superman. I mean really, can you blame them. Grant Morrison has taken everything they like about Superman and put it into 11 of the most entertaining comics they [I] have ever read. In All-Star Superman #11 we get Black Metal Luthor, which for me is great because if there is one thing I enjoy most in life, it is the soulful shrieking on an angst ridden Scandinavian. Allow me to site an example:

In the face of execution, Luthor casually harasses a preacher, slams the Lord and then...

THROWS A FLAMING BIBLE OUT OF THE ROOM.

Geez, I don't know. On the "Grimness Scale" where does that one rank Abbath?

• On the other end of the spectrum we had Marvel 1985 #1, which to be honest, I wasn't entirely sure how it would do. It has the "Millar" name tagged onto it, so I guess that adds some "cool" points, and as much as I love Tommy Lee Edwards art, I don't think a lot of our clientel go's for it. Its just, I don't know, unconventional in style and well, change scares people I 'spose. But it did pretty well sales wise, and also got a really good review over at IGN Comics. But really, how can a comic that features "the Dude" as the main characters father not do well? Here take a look:

It also features a great rendering of the Red Skull peering out from the shadows.

CREEPY.

BONUS CONTENT!

"DOOM DESPISES YOUR EARLY 20th CENTURY FURNITURE!"

New Books for 6/4/08

Here's whats coming out this Wednesday. Books of interest are highlighted in red. Enjoy!

ABE SAPIEN THE DROWNING #5 (OF 5)
ALL NEW ATOM #24
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #561
AMERICAN DREAM #3 (OF 5)
AMERICAN SPLENDOR SEASON TWO #3 (OF 4)
AMORY WARS II #1 (OF 5)
ASTONISHING X-MEN SKETCHBOOK
AVENGERS INVADERS #2 (OF 12)
BATMAN DEATH MASK #3 (OF 4)
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA ORIGINS #6
BOYS #19 (MR)
BRIT #6
BUDDHA STORY OF ENLIGHTENMENT #3
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #15
CABLE #4
CRIMINAL 2 #3
DARK TOWER LONG ROAD HOME #4 (OF 5)
DC SPECIAL RAVEN #4 (OF 5)
DETECTIVE COMICS #845
DEVI #20
DOCTOR WHO CLASSICS #7
FX #4 (OF 6)
GRIMM FAIRY TALES #27
HAUNT OF HORROR LOVECRAFT #1 (OF 3)
HOUSE OF MYSTERY #2
INFINITY INC #10
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #2
JONAH HEX #32
JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #46
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #16
KICK ASS #3
LORDS OF AVALON SOD #5 (OF 6)
MANHUNTER #31
MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #40 (OMG! THOR SPIDER-MAN)
MARVEL SPOTLIGHT SECRET INVASION
MIDNIGHTER #20
NEW BATTLESTAR GALACTICA SEASON ZERO #9
NIGHTWING #145
NOBLE CAUSES #34
NOVA #14
OMEGA UNKNOWN #9 (OF 10)
PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL #20
RANN THANAGAR HOLY WAR #2 (OF 8)
RED SONJA #34
ROBIN SPOILER SPECIAL #1
SECRET INVASION #3 (OF 8)
SHONEN JUMP JULY 08
SPAWN #179
STAR TREK ASSIGNMENT EARTH #2
STAR TREK NEW FRONTIER #3
SUPERGIRL #30
TALES OF TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #46
TALL TALES OF VISHNU SHARMA PANCHATANTRA #5 (OF 5)
TANK GIRL VISIONS OF BOOGA #2
TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE RAISING CAIN #2 (OF 3)
TOR #2 (OF 6)
TRINITY #1
ULTIMATE ORIGINS #1 (OF 5)
VINYL UNDERGROUND #9
WAR THAT TIME FORGOT #2 (OF 12)
WOLVERINE DANGEROUS GAME
YOUNG X-MEN #3

GRAPHIC NOVELS

ASTERIX AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES HC
BLEACH TP VOL 23
COMPLETE JACK KIRBY VOL 04 1947B TP
CONAN BORN ON THE BATTLEFIELD HC
CRAWL SPACE TP VOL 01 XXXOMBIES
ESSENTIAL CAPTAIN MARVEL TP VOL 01
FABLES TP VOL 10 THE GOOD PRINCE
GRAPHIC LIBRARY GN EASTMAN & KODAK CAMERA
GRAPHIC LIBRARY GN FARNWORTH & TELEVISION
GRAPHIC LIBRARY GN GUTENBERG & PRINTING PRESS
HEDGE KNIGHT II SWORN SWORD PREM HC
HULK VS THE MARVEL UNIVERSE TP
INDIANA JONES OMNIBUS TP VOL 02
INFINITY INC TP VOL 01 LUTHORS MONSTERS
INVINCIBLE TP VOL 09 OUT OF THIS WORLD
LEGION OF SUPER HEROES 1050 YEARS IN THE FUTURE TP
LOBSTER JOHNSON TP VOL 01 IRON PROMETHEUS
NEW AVENGERS TP VOL 07 TRUST
ONE PIECE TP VOL 18
PATH OF THE ASSASSIN TP VOL 11
PENANCE RELENTLESS TP
POKEMON RISE OF DARKRAI GN
PREDATOR OMNIBUS TP VOL 03
SHOWCASE PRESENTS HAUNTED TANK TP VOL 02
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG ARCHIVES TP VOL 07
STAR WARS OMNIBUS DROIDS TP VOL 01
TELLOS COLOSSAL TP VOL 01
TOM STRONG TP BOOK 06
ZOMBIE SIMON GARTH TP

The Fantom... Is Ashamed: Part 1

I really did try hard to keep up with this blog, but sometimes at the shop you have killer weeks and this was one of 'em. It was a pretty thick week, full of some really high volume books like, Final Crisis #1, All-Star Superman #11, Batman #677, Green Lantern #31, Thor #9, Marvel 1985 #1, New Avengers #41 and Giant Sized Astonishing X-Men. But every week is loaded with great books, the real problems arose with stuff like a broken AC Unit, losing the Internet for two days, and fixing a very corrupted credit card machine. But all of this madness was not for nothing, it got me thinking.

Since there are a lot of comic book bloggers out there, guys like Chris Sims, Kevin Church and the guys over at Second Printing, I thought about who there are not a lot of. Comics retailer bloggers. In fact Mike Sterling is the only one who comes to mind. So that's where I want to take this blog. There will still be reviews of stuff I'm reading (not essentially weekly reviews, but maybe a review of a good TPB or something) but it will mostly be stuff about the store and amusing minutia about comics. Oh and Thor. There will be stuff about Thor. You know what, speaking of Thor...

• This weeks issue of Thor gives us a look in on whats going on in the world of Balder the Brave, and from the looks of it, he's just as dumb as always. And even though Loki is MUCH less attractive in this issue (which is a good thing) Balder still falls for the same ole' Loki shenanigans. But it does feature Oliver Coipel on pencils again, which of course gives us this great scene:

Thor picking up Loki and Balder at a Police Station after they slayed Frost Giants on a highway road in Colorado. If you're going to use your one phone call, I guess the God of Thunder is a good one.

The good news is customers are really enjoying this title. I'm a little bit worried because there is a lot of Norse stuff being thrown around here, and to be honest that's what got this book canceled in the first place, but for now its one of the top sellers.

• In other news Final Crisis #1 came out, totally getting me excited and confused at the same time. I can also sense the skepticism in the readers. We ordered a lot of these, but its not selling anywhere near as fast as Secret Invasion #1 and I have seen a lot of people pick it up, churn the gears, and then put it down. But by far, the best thing to come out of Final Crisis was indeed the caveman showdown in the beginning, which led Employee Pat to make this astute reference:

If you need help getting the joke let me know. Part 2 tomorrow!