Tuesday, June 10, 2008

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.

Monday, June 9, 2008

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

Friday, June 6, 2008

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.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

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.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

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!"

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

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

Sunday, June 1, 2008

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!