Waiting for Wednesday, Volume 4, Issue 12

Wednesday again, eh? Didn’t we just do this? Fine, fine. I guess I’ll just have to write something up for today, then. This whole 1:00 posting thing has really saved my butt in terms of getting new content up on the blog, but it's also taught me a lesson about myself.

No matter how much extra time I have to do something, I'm always going to put it off until the last possible moment. I guess it's kind of my thing.

Anyway...

Luckily (for all of us), it’s an uncharacteristically heavy week for me at the comics shop, so instead of a lengthy (and no doubt pithy) introduction, let’s get right to the good stuff. At the top of my list today is the latest issue of Eric Powell’s The Goon.
Today’s issue 38 promises to delve deeper into the back story of Powell’s main character, giving readers a look at the life of Goon’s beloved Aunt Kizzie. As Goon himself has said before, she was the only person who ever cared for him, and her death (not a spoiler, folks, as it happens in issue one) is the inciting incident that puts Goon on his life’s path.

While Powell has given readers glimpses into Kizzie’s life in the past, we haven’t been privy to the whole story, and this issue looks to be a major one in the overarching tale the writer/artist has been telling.

Here's the solicitation information from Dark Horse:

You might have thought you knew everything about Goon's past after Chinatown, but there's more to the story. And most of that story has to do with his aunt. How did he come to be raised by her? How did she wind up as a circus performer? And what is the tragedy that ties them inseparably together?

* Dive deeper into the Goon's origin!

* The Goon is back--and bimonthly!

* "Powell is serious about his craft, turning in gorgeously grotesque artwork that balances the horror and humor of the script remarkably well. Part H.P. Lovecraft, part Harold Gray, Eric Powell is a twisted genius with the talent to compensate for his perversion."--The A.V. Club

It just seems that all is once again right in the world with The Goon now back on a consistent bi-monthly shipping schedule.

Dark Horse has been churning out new editions of all the trades, so keeping up with the series has never been easier for readers looking to jump on at any given time.

And, obviously, I suggest you do so. Right now.

Before you head out to buy up every Goon trade at your local comics shop, however, I have a question—what are you Waiting for?

Waiting for Wednesday, Volume 4, Issue 1

Welcome to the very first Waiting for Wednesday of 2012! To celebrate this column’s fourth (!!!) year of existence, I have something special.

And, by special, I mean, self-promoting. Disgustingly, unabashedly self-promoting.

I mentioned last week that I started a new job at World Wrestling Entertainment, working for their website. My first day at the gig was Monday and since then I’ve had two articles published on the site--both of them dealing with the CM Punk/Dolph Ziggler feud heading into the Royal Rumble.

If you know what the heck all that means, and if you’re so inclined, you can check the pieces out here and here.

I know, I know.

But I did warn you about the self promotion, so you can't be that mad at me. Also, as long as I'm a self-aware self-promoter, I think it's okay. Hang on...lemme check in with Nathaniel on that, though.

Whoops. Actually, he's busy writing an article for GameCola, so he can't answer me right now.

[Editor's Note: Now that's how you burn your blogging buddy! And don't worry, kids. I don' mean nuthin' by it.]

Okay. Let's get this thing back on (some sort of) track. It's Wednesday, as you know, and like I've done (nearly) every Wednesday for the past (nearly) four years, I'd like to talk comics. Specifically, I'd like to talk comics that I'm looking forward to buying when I head to the LCS today (or at some point this week).

There are a number of books that are lighting up the old Exfanding radar today, but because I have quite a bit going on this morning, I'll only cover one of them. it's okay, though, because that one book is a good one.

Let's talk The Goon. Mostly because I like talking about The Goon, but also because, since the title has gone to a bi-monthly shipping schedule, lots of time has to pass before I can get my Eric Powell fix.

But, happily, today is that...um...bi-week...because issue 37 is sitting in your local comics shop right now.
What can we expect from Powell this time around? Madcap adventure? Gangsters fighting zombies? A pie-eating contest with a skunk ape?

Actually...none of those things. Nope, in today's issue, Powell tackles unions rights. No, really. Check out the description of the issue, below.

When several workers die in a girdle-factory fire due to poor safety conditions and an out-of-control taco cart, the union is in an uproar. But when the fat cats bring in a supernatural union buster, there's only one man for the workers to turn to: The Goon.

"The Goon is the product of a contentedly demented mind."-Comic Book Resources

"A great gurgling gumbo of EC Comics horror, Monty Python wit, and 1930s pulp."-EW.com

As always, I'll be first in line to pick up this latest issue of Powell's brilliant and irreverent series. With the new bi-monthly shipping schedule, there's plenty of time for new readers to catch up between issues, so you should go do that. Now.

Speaking of going...

Before I head out, I'll ask it for the first time in 2012. What are you Waiting for?

On Tradition

This has been a weird Yuletide for me. I've spent most of it cycling between bouts of trepidation, bouts of annoyance, and bouts of disappointment, excitement, sadness, and happiness.

Also, there was some gas.

So, yeah, pretty much ran the gamut of emotion these past 30 days or so. Not exactly the way I pictured my holiday (or my vacation), but that's what's fun and infuriating and so great about Life.

After all, it's what happens when you're busy making other plans.

So while my December hasn't exactly been...typical...some things never change. And thank goodness for tradition, I say.

The holidays mean a lot of things. Gatherings with family and friends, exchanging gifts, drinking eggnog, trimming the tree, taking a week off and staring at the wall.

Most of all, though, I think the holidays represent the familiar. For a day or two over the course of the entire year, we can all dive back into things we've done for years, ever since we were kids.

And even if certain things about those traditions have changed--people, places--some things will just always be there.

For me, I'm spending my Christmas morning reading some Goon comics, waiting for company to arrive.

Whatever it is you're doing today, I hope it's fun, and familiar, and just what you wished for.

To all of you, we here at Exfanding wish you the happiest holidays and the Merriest Christmas ever.

Waiting for Alex to Return

Hi, it's Nathaniel again, hijacking Alex's weekly comics/catharsis column once more. Anyone who's been around this blog awhile knows that I'm not terribly up to speed with the latest comics, so I won't pretend I know anything about just how ultimate the Marvel universe is anymore, or who's wearing Batman's cape these days. (Answer: Batman.)

I will, however, take a moment to talk about how heavy trade paperbacks are when you throw them all into a big box and try to lug them up a flight of stairs.

They are very heavy.

I've devoted roughly the same amount of shelf space to my video games and DVDs as I have to my comics, yet the comics weigh twice as much and and provide half the lasting entertainment value, if even that much. I replay my favorite video games from time to time--though far less frequently now that I've got such a massive backlog--and I'm willing to rewatch just about any TV show or movie I like if it means I get to share it with someone else. Comics, though? They're all one-shots to me.

Granted, the oldest comics I have on my shelf are only two years old--that's hardly enough time for nostalgia to set in, and I still remember most of the stories fairly well. It might be fun to dig up and dust off the random single issues I have from when I was much younger, but I don't have any compelling reason to go back in time with Booster Gold to a few months ago when I first read about Booster Gold going back in time. My trades look pretty on the shelf, but it'll be at least another few years before I know whether it's been worth it to lug them around instead of selling them.

The practical side of me is saying that this might be an indication that, at least when it comes to moving your entire collection of comics from one place to another, this trend toward digital comics might not be such a bad thing. The side of me that embraces my collector's mentality is saying that if I wasn't interested in having a collection, I wouldn't have continued to stockpile when I could have easily borrowed just as much from Alex. In some ways, my collection is just as much for me as it is for my family and friends.

A shelf filled with comics becomes a lending library, and a library of your own means you can share what you like with other people. It's not entirely unlike a DVD library, but it's harder to lean over someone's shoulder and read a graphic novel together. Lending out comics typically invites deferred gratification; it isn't until you're arguing over whether The Hulk or The Thing would win in a fight that the satisfaction of sharing your comics library kicks in.

That's one kind of satisfaction I've largely missed out on because I'm not a comics fanboy. I seldom get excited about the books I lend, borrow, or read on my own; I don't have enough of an opinion or comics education to really get into a deep discussion, or debate, or fisticuffs with anyone. Perhaps reading the comics is only part of their entertainment value--the other part is actually talking about them. I think I've been ignoring the social aspect of the comics fandom all this time, for better or for worse, but I'm willing to bring up the subject a little more often.

It's been ages since we've had more than a brief mention of The Goon on this blog, and it doesn't help that I stopped to rest after visiting Chinatown and haven't been back to Lonely Street since. Maybe...just maybe...it's time for me to start asking Alex again for a knife to the eye.

And if none of what I just said made any sense, then maybe it's time you asked Alex for a knife to the eye, too.

Waiting for Wednesday, Volume 3, Issue 26

And here we are--the halfway point of 2011. Wow. 26 weeks in...and it feels a lot like 2010, actually. Comics-wise, though, plenty has changed--and will continue to change--in 2011, but, happily, they're still publishing the funny books and they still come out on Wednesdays.

And they haven't yet gone completely digital. So there's that.

The biggest changes that we'll see in the comics industry for 2011 are yet to come, as DC's relaunch doesn't start up for another couple of months. We'll get a real feel for what that's going to mean for the industry by the tail end of this year.

As for this week, though, there's really only one book that needs talking about, and, really, it's the only book that's going to make my week any good.

So far I've managed to have two days wherein I didn't see the sun (and it's summertime, so that's tough to do), and I have a pretty major deadline looming next week.

So, yeah, not much of a 4th of July weekend for me.

But all that is okay, because today...well, today we get a new issue of Eric Powell's The Goon! Issue 34, to be exact. And this marks the first Goon single issue in...ya know what? I have no idea how long it's been. I think maybe around Thanksgiving of last year an issue came out?

I don't know.

What I do know is that it's been way, way too long since I've visited Franky, Goon, and the rest of the inhabitants of Eric Powell's delightfully insane world of delightfully insane people.
Readers of the blog know that The Goon is to me what Mega Man is to Nathaniel, and it's truly the only comic on the shelves that gets me antsy about getting to the comics shop.

I need my Goon fix and, finally, today I will get it.

Here's the solicitation information from Dark Horse about this week's issue:

The Goon’s been away for a while, and he’s horrified by what’s been passing for horror in his absence!

When a bunch of gothy vampires summon some of the new generation for revenge on the Goon, they discover just how little tolerance he has for sparkliness. The Goon returns to its bimonthly schedule, and nothing beloved by ten-year-old girls is safe!

* The Goon is back--and bimonthly!

* Tired of sparkly vampires? Dark Horse does vampires right!

“The Goon is the product of a contentedly demented mind.” --Comic Book Resources

I'm glad to see that the book is back on a bi-monthly schedule. I know there are some very cool plans for the title this year, including a crossover with Steve Niles' Criminal Macabre series and a collaborative issue featuring the work of Evan Dorkin.

But issue 34 is the launching point, and I suggest that anyone looking to jump on board this title try this week's issue. It looks to be self-contained (as the majority of Goon stories are), and frankly, it looks pretty hysterical.

So, yeah.

That's all you'll get out of me today, on this very special Goon Wednesday. Before I throw on my helmet and get back to work, though, what are you Waiting for?

The Creators Front for Diversity in Comics

I've been meaning to write about the Creators Front for Diversity in Comics (led by Goon creator Eric Powell) for a while now, but my schedule just hasn't afforded me the time to sit down and do so.

Unfortunately, today is no different. Working another weekend means no bloggy for Alex.

Still, I wanted to mention this, and to provide you all with the link, above. (Just a head's up that the video found at that link is NSFW.) For those not interested in clicking, here's part of the Front's message on the current state of the comics industry:

No other entertainment industry is sustained from one genre and 50 year old material. The comic book industry is living off of decades old company owned super hero titles while shoving new original content to the side. The result is the industry has slowly been losing readers for years and alienates anyone who is not interested in reading books about guys in tights.

It's time to change. Support original creator owned comics and diversified content.

Obviously, there's a lot to be said about Eric Powell's efforts to diversify comics, and the way in which he has decided to go about doing so.

And I have plenty to say about it. I just don't have much time to write today.

As anyone who's followed this blog for a while knows, Powell is my favorite comics creator, and The Goon is my favorite book. So, call me biased if you'd like, but when I do get around to writing at length about the subject, I'm going to be in Powell's corner on a lot of things.
As a reader of both mainstream and indie comics--and I mean a LOT of indie comics--I appreciate the need for different types of stories, put out by different creators.

So, even though I can't go in-depth on this at the moment, in the spirit Powell's crusade, I'll say the following. It's Saturday. It's (probably) not snowing where you live. Go out to a comics shop and buy a book you've never heard of, by creators that you've never heard of.

It'll be good for you. And it'll be good for comics.

Comics Cooldown

When I started my foray into comics some two years ago, my plan was to sample a little of everything, starting with as many origin stories and issue #1's that I could find. I started with Marvel and DC, intending get enough of a feel for the characters and histories to read through a few of the pivotal universe-spanning events such as Civil War and Crisis on Multiple Trade Paperbacks. In the beginning, my self-education was quite rapid and effective.

I gobbled up Batman: Year One and consumed one trade after another in single sittings. I already knew I liked Batman, so I eagerly digested Alex's copies of The Long Halloween, Dark Victory, and Hush, and I added a few more of my own purchases to the pile. Around this time, I hopped into the Ultimate Marvel universe--selected for its seemingly easier-to-follow continuity--and slowly plodded through the teen-focused Ultimate X-Men before picking up and burning through a few trades of Ultimate Fantastic Four.

A strange divide began to occur: I collected anything and everything with "Ultimate" in the title, leading to a shelf with complete runs of a few different series; meantime, another shelf was filled with a single Jonah Hex trade next to a single Wonder Woman trade next to a single Eclipso trade. Marvel was for continuing storylines; DC was for trying out new characters. As a result, collecting DC comics became much more interesting and fun.

Very few DC characters had the honor of multiple trades appearing on my shelf (as I refuse to buy single issues except in the case of very specific one-shots). I grabbed a few different Superman comics that showcased the unlikely fact that Lex Luthor is not the only villain in Superman's world. Green Lantern was sci-fi enough to catch my attention. Blue Beetle with Jaime Reyez became an unexpected favorite. Green Arrow will fill up a lot more shelf space as soon as I find a collection of older comics, predating Kevin Smith's Quiver.

On the DC side, I started prepping myself for the first Crisis story by scaling back on the heroes I knew I liked and focusing on the complete strangers. On the Marvel side, I gradually made my way through the Ultimate universe, slowing down whenever things got too angsty or heavy. For a while, especially when the video games I was playing at the time were getting to be frequently frustrating, I sat down to read comics on a regular basis.

Comics pretty much came to a halt when I found some video games that were truly relaxing, and some comics that were difficult to finish. Specifically, Dragon Warrior IV became exactly the blend of strategy and mindless repetition that I had been craving, and JLA: Year One turned into a pseudo-horror story where (minor spoiler) the heroes fought against an army of creatures comprised of other people's stolen body parts. For me, this was a little gross and definitely not what I signed up for when I picked up the book.

That's about when my interest in comics tapered off. Or, more specifically, my interest in superhero comics. I'm still reading through a black-and-white trade of the first several Booster Gold comics, but I missed a big event with Manhunters a few issues back, and all of a sudden things are getting a little more fantastical than I prefer. I was never really interested in the Justice League or any of their equivalents, and the story arc detour I mentioned made the trade even less appealing. Ultimate Spider-Man wasn't helping, either, because I got to the part where there's romantic drama and Peter Parker gets all angsty.

Oh, wait.

Meanwhile, the long-awaited Shepherd Book Serenity comic just came out, and I can't wait to stop writing this and read it. I mean, uh, I'm excited. I recently polished off an Alien trade in preparation for my introductory post on the Alien movies, and it was pretty good. I've picked up a few original Star Trek comics that I'll turn to once I'm done watching the last bit of the original Star Trek that I haven't seen in full (The Animated Series). I'm sure I'll still need my fix; there's no questioning that.

Bottom line? I'm reveling in the sci-fi stories and growing weary of the superhero ones. I've mostly determined which characters and series I want to follow, and most of them aren't with Marvel or DC. I'll still read everything that's on my shelf eventually, but I'll need to return to Ultimate Fantastic Four or crack open The Atom (who endeared himself to me in The Dark Knight Strikes Again) before being enthusiastic about tights again. And capes.

It's not just the superheroes. I've picked up maybe one indie comic that I'd never heard of in the past...ever. I left The Goon in Chinatown, and am still patiently awaiting his grand return when Alex brings me the next installment (hint hint). Yet, I haven't clamored for more; I've just brought it up in passing a few times.

I seem to have lost my enthusiasm for comics as a thing; most of the reason I'm keeping up with comics at all right now is because the continuing voyages of the fandoms I enjoy are available in that medium. The allure of sprawling out on a couch to read comics isn't as strong now that I've been doing that more often with regular books and non-motion-controlled video games. I can't remember the last time I stopped to stare at the artwork.

I had grand plans of being "in the know" with Blackest Night and Secret Invasion, of being able to tell the difference between Brainiac and Krang...but I've already had enough of a comics education to stay afloat in most comics-centric conversations I've heard. One of the reasons I got into comics so quickly was because of how neat it was to be exposed to so many different fandoms in such a short span of time. There's still enjoyment to be found in trying out new comics, but I find myself settling on a few different characters and stories, and paying less attention to my broader mission. For right now, and maybe for the long run, that's good enough for me.

Nathaniel's New Year's Resolutions...

...For Alex.

You see, I returned home from partying with the Dallas Cowboys to discover that Alex had hijacked our blog--OUR BLOG--and written what was supposed to be a joint post of OUR geek resolutions for the New Year.

Well, he came up with resolutions for me, and I think it's about time I repaid the favor.

Except there's no way I could possibly top him.

So I guess I'll just need to dole out retribution instead.

I think it's about time Alex started doing some of the tough work around the blog. That's why he's going to resolve to start writing our Month in Revi--wait. He did that already.

Okay, then. Forget about new resolutions. Let's look back at the resolutions we made for 2009, and then I'll get my revenge by rubbing it in Alex's face how many more of my resolutions were kept than his. Allow me to recap:


Alex's resolutions:

- Buy less comics (single issues) > Success! The recession fixes everything.

- Buy fewer trade paperbacks (and stop buying the single issues as they come out, then buy the trade when that comes out) > Success! The recession fixes everything.

- Never again buy bags and boards > Success! I've been to several comics shops with Alex this year, and I can personally vouch for the fact that he now steals these items.

- Organize my comics collection (this, I promise, will never happen) > Success! There's a nice box of comics that were disorganizing his shelf that will be given away any day now!

- Publish my graphic novel > Succ--oh. Guess we better leave it at that. Bad subject.

- Stop complaining about not understanding anything that's happening in the DC Universe > Success! Now he just makes up his own explanations.

- Watch the remaining Star Wars movies > Success! Alex has now seen A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi, which are the only Star Wars movies that some fans will acknowledge at all.


Nathaniel's resolutions:

- Make a serious effort at finally, finally finishing my homebrew Super Mario World (which hasn't been in development as long as Duke Nukem Forever, but it's getting there) > Failure! I got two beta testers signed up... uh... last week. And I think I moved a Koopa Troopa a few inches to the left somewhere. So... progress?

- Release another level for either Jedi Knight II or III > Failure! I was way too busy working on my homebrew Super Mario World.

- Finish my in-progress Jetpack FAQ > Failure! I released an updated version in May and am halfway to the next update, but... it's still not finished. I was way too busy thinking up level ideas for Jedi Knight II and III.

- Walk away from the upcoming Star Trek movie without being upset in any way > Failure! Uhura ruined everything, including my ability to finish my Jetpack FAQ!

- Read enough comics to tackle Final Crisis and not be hopelessly confused > Failure! But at least I'm just about ready to go into Crisis on Multiple Earths. Writing about the new Star Trek movie got me sidetracked.

- Acquire a Wii and play through Mega Man 9 and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption > Fail--wait, no. This one's actually a success. Huh.

- Get Alex to watch the other Star Wars movies, a bit of Star Trek, and to witness some Mega Man > Failure! Alex claims he's watched my Mega Man videos on YouTube, but I have yet to see a post about them, so I think he's lying.


There you have it. As you can clearly see from the results of our New Year's resolutions for 2009, I... I...

...I could set the building on fire...

VERY WELL, Alex. You win THIS ROUND. But we shall have a REMATCH in ONE YEAR!

Here are the terms:


Nathaniel will:
- Make significant progress on his homebrew Super Mario World
- Release version 1.0 of his Jetpack FAQ
- Read through at least one of DC's Crisis series
- Read enough of the Marvel Ultimate Universe to do a full-blown Exfanding post on it
- Release YouTube videos of Mega Man 5 - 8
- Formally expose Alex to Star Trek
- Formally expose Alex to anime


Alex will:
- Lend Nathaniel all the issues of The Goon that he hasn't read
- Write a real post about Mega Man, and not some fluffy nonsense piece that simply has the words Mega and Man in it
- Learn how to do all the HTML wizardry Nathaniel does with the blog
- Play a video game with Nathaniel
- Play at least one session of Dungeons & Dragons with a group of people
- Join the Facebook Collective
- Open a llama ranch in Argentina


Let's just see who wins next time.

Alex's New Year's Resolutions...

...For Nathaniel.

Yep, you read that right. Since Nathaniel is busy partying with the Dallas Cowboys this New Year's Day (that, or working on side projects--I forget which one he said he was doing), I figured I should play the role of good blogging buddy and make some resolutions on his behalf.

And, boy, does he need to have some things resolutioned.

Um, resolved. Like, fer instance, he needs to read more Goon comics by Eric Powell. I mean, sure, I've been promising to lend him the last three volumes of the series since the summertime, but c'mon!

Show some initiative and just steal them from my home when everyone's asleep and/or partaking in the "wine tasting" tour of my neighborhood!

Jeez. What kind of comics fan are you, anyhow?

On that subject, you need to resolve to buy more of those expensive comic book character statues. I've seen your Dorky Lair, and it is utterly devoid of expensive comic book character statues. Rectify that in the New Year.

(And start with that one, right up there. Lookit that guy's helmet! You need to buy it!)

Oh! And that leads me to my next resolution for Nathaniel.

Be more vocal about hating things. That's what real comics fans do. Let's face it--you've been reading comics for just over a year now. I'd say the time is long overdue for you to join the vocal Internet minority of crazies out there.

You need to get on the Newsarama boards as soon as possible (with some ridiculous handle like I Am Odin's Beard 1984) and start yelling at creators for creating things.

Speaking of beards, it's well past time for you to shave a Bat Symbol on the right cheek and a Superman shield on the left cheek. (And, just so's I'm clear on this, we're talking the face here, people.) Most rabid fanboys would kill for facial hair like that!

And speaking of Grizzly Adams, this is the year when you finally go back in time and kill Grizzly Adams. You invented that look. Not him. And he should pay for that. Just look at that guy! How pompous can he get?! Walking around with a bear all over the place, thinking he's so cool.

There's just no learnin' some people.

Speaking of learnin'...this is the year in which you resolve to make Alex learn how to do all that fancy HTML wizardry you're always doing on the blog. Sure, it looks like black magic, but how else is a guy gonna make snow fall on a blog?

And, finally, this is the year in which you resolve to buy your best buddy Alex a near mint copy of Daredevil, issue one.

Lots of work to do, Flashman. Lots of work to do.

And, with that bit of nonsense out of the way, we here at Exfanding Your Horizons want to wish you all the Happiest New Year ever! Here's to a better 2010!

Waiting for Wednesday, Issue 42

I'm sitting here (possibly in my underwear), listening to U2's "Angel of Harlem" on the old record player (by "record player," I mean "iPhone," unfortunately) possibly one of their most underrated songs. And I have to say, sometimes not having to go to work isn't all that bad.

And then reality sets in, and the amount of open jobs for which I'm qualified that appear on the various jobs posting sites dwindles every day. And the jobs that I do apply for--sometimes five or six a day, sometimes one or two a day, and all of which I am eminently qualified for--seem not to care very much about me at all.

And now the iPhone has jumped to the next track on my playlist, which is, fittingly, "Misery," by Soul Asylum.

Frustrated, Incorporated, indeed.

And now the music has stopped, which means I really need to A.) Put on some pants, and 2.) Get to writing this week's Waiting for. There's a lot of product coming from Marvel and DC today, including Captain America: Reborn, issue 5, Dark Avengers, issue 12, Justice League of America, issue 40 ( a Blackest Night tie-in), and several Batman family titles.

(And, no, I'm not entirely sure what's going on in that picture, either.)

But I want to focus today on the "smaller" publishers (it's in quotes because they aren't exactly printing xeroxes out of their garages, ya know), because there is some really great product shipping from Dark Horse, Dynamite, BOOM!, IDW, and Albatross Exploding Funny Books.

Yes, that's the name. And yes, if you have no idea what an Albatross Exploding Funny Books is, don't worry. I'll get to it in a bit.

First off, the entire first wave of Dark Horse character-themed GelaSkins (previously mentioned in our Gifts for Geeks: Santa's Little Helper post last week) ships to comics shops today.
These are protective covers for iPods, iPhones, and laptops, and they feature some great artwork by Dark Horse's top talent. I'm willing to bet there are some shops that will have ordered at least a few of these, so ask your retailer.

Additionally, there are more characters and titles available on the Dark Horse Web site.

Also from the Horse this week, the softcover edition of Eric Powell's Goon epic, Chinatown and the Mystery of Mr. Wicker, finally sees print. Previously available only in a more expensive hardcover collection, this softcover trade is a must-read story for Goon fans.

So, if you've been waiting for the price to be right in order to pick this story up, then wait no longer. Go forth, dear reader, and buy.

From Dark Horse, we now shift gears to Dynamite, and their latest novel adaptation by Leah Moore and John Reppion. I've praised this writing team before for their comics adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula, which I felt was/is the best graphic adaptation of the source material, ever.

This time out, the pair takes on Lewis Carrol's Alice, and I expect the same high quality, attention to detail storytelling from the duo in their latest effort. Here's the blurb from Dynamite:

"What is the use of a book," thought Alice, "without pictures or conversations!"

Following up on the success of The Complete Dracula, and Sherlock Holmes, Dynamite presents The Complete Alice In Wonderland. For the first time ever Lewis Carroll's classics, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass with "The Wasp in a Wig," the "lost chapter" (from the Looking-Glass) are adapted into one complete tale. In this All Ages adaptation, writers John Reppion and Leah Moore are joined by Erica Awano for a 4 issue adventure down the rabbit hole!

This full color series features a massive 40 pages of story and art per issue, all under covers by John Cassaday, who supplies a unique die-cut design for the first issue that is sure to enthrall young and old. Moore and Reppion also provide bonus material such as script pages, annotations and samplings of the original text by Lewis Carroll.

Now, the only caveat here is the price--each issue is $4.99. And, even though the books are packed with story and extras, this may be a great series to wait for the trade on. Their Complete Dracula was very much the same way, and I personally picked up each issue because the original is so near and dear to my (dark, black) heart.

But these are certainly stories meant to be read as a whole, and the deluxe hardcover editions Dynamite has put out do the books great justice.

Next up, we have the latest offering from BOOM! Studios, Mark Waid's Incorruptible, issue 1. Spawning out of Waid's hit series, Irredeemable, this book looks to go in a different direction.

I'm recommending this title for a couple of reasons. First, it's Mark Waid, so you know you will be getting a quality story. Second, Irredeemable is easily one of the top five best super hero books being published today. And third, if you're still not convinced, go check out a free five page preview over at Boom!

Here's the blurb from the publisher:

Last April BOOM! Studios showed the world that MARK WAID IS EVIL with the smash-hit series IRREDEEMABLE. This December, BOOM! shows the world that Mark Waid is now... INCORRUPTIBLE!

Super villain Max Damage had an epiphany the day The Plutonian destroyed Sky City. When The Plutonian turned his back on humanity, Max Damage decided to step up. Now Max Damage has changed his name to Max Daring and turned from his formerly selfish ways to become...INCORRUPTIBLE.

And, like I said, anything to do with Irredeemable will be a must-read for me. Though the concept of that series isn't anything new--Superman gone bad--the delivery of the story and the effect of the main character on the world at large, and his closest friends, is something special in our little hobby of capes and tights.

If you haven't done so already, I'd suggest checking out Irredemable, volume 1, which you should be able to find at your comics shop, for only $9.99, before diving into this latest series. And if you're still looking for a great gift idea, think about giving someone Irredemable. It's a good "gateway" book, meaning I think it could help ignite an interest in the medium by a "civilian."

Moving right along, we have issue two of the new Locke & Key series from IDW, entitled "Crown of Shadows." This book, written by Joe Hill and with art by the great Gabriel Rodriguez, is another title that you may want to consider going back and finding the trades for. This latest story is the third volume of the title, and the previous two are collected (both in beautiful hardcovers, and in trade paperback form).

I've praised this series since its inception, and I'll continue to do so. This is one of--if not the--premier horror books in all of comicdom. And the first two collections are another great gift idea for the horror hound in your life. As for this new series, "Crown of Shadows," you really need to be caught up with the story as a whole in order to understand what's going on.

If you haven't yet read any of the books, check 'em out in trade and see if they're your kind of thing. And, if you've been reading since the start, well, I don't have to tell you to go and pick this up today.

In any case, here's the blurb from IDW:

Far below Keyhouse lies the Drowning Cave, a place where shadows obscure ancient secrets, and the stones are stained with ancient blood. Kinsey Locke descends into the cavern, looking for answers to her family's troubled past, only to discover that it's easier to get in than it is to get out...

Give it a shot if you haven't already--I think you'll enjoy it.

And, finally, we have the latest offering from the thought-to-be-dead, but still legendary Albatross Exploding Funny Books.

Years ago, Eric Powell left Avatar to self publish this little book called The Goon. So, he started Albatross Exploding Funny Books, which put out five issues of Goon goodness before Powell's creation was picked up by Dark Horse.

Now, Powell returns to Albatross with a book that's been getting some pretty great reviews. From all accounts, you can expect for this book to be severly under-ordered (just like The Goon was, way back when), so they might be tough to find (or non-existent) at your local shop.

I've done a quck check and it appears that a good number of the online retailers have the book up on their sites, so you should be able to snag a copy. So, what's it about, you ask? Well, here's the blurb from the publisher:

Eric Powell, creator of the award winning series The Goon, brings his offbeat humor and distinctive style to his newest creation! A story fit for youngsters, Chimichanga tells the tale of a bearded girl, her less than spectacular traveling circus, and a bizarre creature that turns their lives upside down. Discover Powell's first written and illustrated creator-owned series since The Goon.

As I've said many times (right here, on this very blog!), I will read anything Powell does, so I am very excited about this new book. I have no idea what to expect from it--and that's exactly what an Eric Powell book should be.

Welp, that's all from me today. Sorry for the laundry list style of this post, but I guess with the holidays being here, making lists is becoming second nature. Anyway, what are you Waiting for?

Gifts for Geeks: Comics 2009

As promised, today begins anew a grand Exfanding holiday tradition as we present to you the second annual Gifts for Geeks Week. Last year, as I'm sure you all (fondly) remember, we broke our list of awesome geek gifts down into five parts: Anime, Comics, Comics for the Rest of Us, Random Gift Ideas, and, finally, Gifts to Drool Over.

This year, while we won't break things down exactly as we did last year, we'll still present our gift buying guides in some kind of logical order. Today, for example, I'm going to cover--wait for it--comics, graphic novels, and comics-related merchandise. I know, I know, not much of a stretch.

And, yes, to address the 800-pound gorilla in the room, even though comics and I are not seeing eye-to-eye at the moment, I will be the bigger person in the relationship here and strive to give you all the most objective and awesome list of books and things that I possibly can.

Promise.

Now, while the holidays are about spending time with those we love most, and spreading good will and joy to everyone we meet, we here at EyH Headquarters know the true meaning of the season. And it rhymes with "getting presents that don't suck."

So, let's start right in with the most obvious and, frankly, best choice for the vast majority of comics fans.

--Whether you're trying to figure out what to ask family and friends to get you, or you have a comics reader on your list and you have no idea what a M.O.D.O.K. is, then gift certificates are always a good, safe, and much-appreciated choice.

Let's face it. Handing over a piece of paper to someone you know and/or love is not the most personal thing you can give. However, to a comics fan--a Wednesday Warrior who budgets down to the nickel every week in order to balance rent, food, and comics--gift certificates to his or her local comic book shop mean a little bit more than an iTunes gift card.

So, the first thing you'll need to do is figure out where that comics fan on your list shops, get directions, and make your way over to the store. If it's your first time in a comics shop, don't be intimidated by what you might have heard (or what you might envision in your mind). Comics shops are, by and large, normal retail stores with friendly staff and a semi-normal customer base.

If you've never been to a comics shop, I'd suggest going in on a Tuesday, since new comics won't ship until the following day and there likely won't be a big crowd. It might make your first trip a bit less daunting. Now, once you're inside, head straight for the counter and ask the nice man or woman if they do gift certificates. They'll all say yes, I promise.

And, if you really have no idea where the comics fan shops, and you can't find out by asking his or her friends, then consider giving a gift card to an online comics retailer, such as Midtown Comics or InStockTrades.

Now the only question is, how much to give? Well, anything that fits your spending budget is great, and will be appreciated. However, if you haven't read comics in a few decades, remember that prices for single issues have...um...exploded in recent years. The typical cost of a new book is between $3 and $5 dollars, so I would suggest $10 as a good starting point.

And, if you still can't get over the fact that $10 or $20 bucks to a comics shop is just so...impersonal...remember that comics fans can (and do!) spend anywhere between $10 and $100 A WEEK at the shop, so any little bit will help out. That $10 gift card might pay for half of a trade paperback that maybe would have been put back on the shelf without the extra cash from your gift card.

So, for all you family members of comics fans, don't be afraid to give gift cards. You can never go wrong with them.

--Next up we have something for the discerning comics fan who has everything. Every year at this time, Marvel and DC publish big, oversized books about comics. Over the past couple of years, I've received some very cool books about comics history, such as Spider-Man: The Icon and Marvel Chronicle.

Both titles are huge books, packed with rare photos and some great historical information about the company and its characters and creators. I'd recommend either to any comics fan.

Another cool book idea comes in the form of the "Museum-in-a-Book" series that has covered both Marvel and DC properties. These books are unique and fun, and they feature replicas of important pieces of each company's history--like promotional materials used in the 1930s, for example--that slip out of built-in protective sleeves so the reader can hold.
Last year, I got The DC Vault, and the year before I got The Marvel Vault (shown above), and both books are always fun to pick up and rifle through.

This year, I asked my brother to get me The Batman Vault: A Museum-in-a-Book with Rare Collectibles from the Batcave, which is the latest addition to the "Museum-in-a-Book" library. You can find it at any Borders or Barnes and Noble store, usually on a display table up towards the front, and most often for 20- to 30% off cover price. Of course, they are all on Amazon at reduced prices, as well.

--Next, we'll mix things up a bit. Do you have an older comics fan on your holiday list this year? Maybe someone who stopped reading Marvel Comics in the 1970s or 1980s and still has fond memories of those books? Then I'd suggest Joss Whedon's Astonishing X-Men Omnibus Edition, from Marvel Comics.

I've heard many people say that this series--written by the Buffy creator and with stunning art by John Cassady--is the closest thing they have ever read to the legendary Chris Claremont/John Byrne run on the characters. And, many will agree, Whedon's run is the best run on the characters since the heyday of Claremont and Byrne.

Mixing new school storytelling techniques and hip, realistic dialogue with a nostalgic take on fan-favorite characters like Kitty Pryde, this series took comics by storm (ha!) when it came out several years ago. Now, the entire 24-issue run (plus the giant-sized Annual) is collected in an oversized omnibus. And, while the book is expensive--it retails for $75--Amazon has it for under $50. It might just be the perfect present to ignite a long dormant flame in an old school comics fan's heart.

As a less expensive way to give the gift of old comics, you may want to consider picking up a Marvel Essential or DC Showcase Presents collection, which packs in tons of old stories for a tiny fraction of the cost. These books use newsprint paper (cheap, black and white reprints) to collect twenty or so issues at a time of some of comics' most beloved characters, and the prices range from about $10 to around $18, depending on where you find them. Amazon has tons of them, and your local comics shop will have tons of them, as well.

One caveat, though. Some of the earlier releases--like Amazing Spider-Man: Volume One, for example--are long out of print and finding them might be difficult and expensive. Still, there are literally hundreds of great reads out there, just waiting to be wrapped up and thrown under the tree.

These books collect entire runs, split up into several volumes. Some can't-miss (and usually in-stock) highlights include: Essential Amazing Spider-Man: Volume Three, Essential Fantastic Four: Volume One, DC Showcase Presents House of Secrets: Volume One, and DC Showcase Presents Green Lantern: Volume One.

--Sticking with the whole oversized collections thing, Marvel's Omnibus Editions and DC's Absolute Editions, while not cheap, are always great gifts for even the hardest of the hard core fan.

This year, the big release is Absolute Justice, from DC, featuring stunning Alex Ross art. This bad boy just came out, so the chances that the fanboy/fangirl in your life has it already are slim.

In that same category is the September-released Absolute V for Vendetta, the ultimate version of Alan Moore's and David Lloyd's brilliant examination of power and freedom in modern society. Perfect for the most literary of comics fans on your list.

There are, of course, many more of these editions out there, and some of the older books have become insanely expensive collector's items. But, books like Absolute Kingdom Come and Absolute DC: The New Frontier can usually be found for far below their cover prices.

The series that, I think at least, fourishes under the Absolute Edition line is Neil Gaiman's seminal comics masterpiece Sandman , which is collected into four such tomes. Buying the four book run will be...um...incredibly expensive, and if you're not sure if that Sandman fan has one or more of the books in the series, I would suggest you ask him or her in advance. I know it kills the surprise of the gift, but finishing off (or continuing) someone's Absolute collection is very thoughtful.

Another suggested buy for the Sandman fan is the recently released Absolute Death, by Neil Gaiman. Starring the fan-favorite sister of Dream, this collection compiles every one of Gaiman's Death stories along with about a hundred pages of extras.

Some fans complained that this volume is light--and, comparitively speaking, it is--and that the amount of material doesn't warrant the high price tag. They're probably right, but the stories included are all classics (among them the first appearance of the character from the historic Sandman, issue 8) and the extras make up for the lack of story pages. Plus, it's on Amazon right now for right around $60.

--And now for some comics-related goodness for buyers with both shallow and deep pockets. Comics fans love stuff, and more specifically, comic-related stuff. Like action figures, posters, t-shirts, and statues, for example.

There are, of course, a plethora of all such things out there, and finding the right thing can be difficult. As it always does with a comics fan, finding that one thing he or she doesn't already have can be tricky, but here's a list of some very unique items that should go over quite well.

Oh, and if you're looking to add a few items to your own list to Santa, read on, because there are some doozies.

--First up, we have some awesome products from Graphitti Designs. Green Lantern fans have plenty to be thankful for this year, and they can rejoice this holiday season with a full line of apparel based on all the rings from Blackest Night.

How about a Red Lantern Rage t-shirt?
Or a Blue Lantern hoodie?
And, if you're on the lookout for something completely different, how about a poster of Jay and Silent Bob's blueprint plan to take down Mr. Svenning's game show stage in Kevin Smith's Mallrats?
Graphitti Desogns has all three, and there's plenty more where they came from. I've bought geek-centric gifts from their Web site for years now, and recipients have never been dissapointed. Check out their site, and you'll see what I mean.

--Speaking of Jay and Bob, Kevin Smith's Secret Stash online store has everything (seriously, every. single, thing.) a die-hard Askew-niverse fan needs this holiday season. Signed DVDs, books, comics, posters, and figures fill up the site, and there's something there (at every price point) for every Smith fan.

I've ordered from them in the past--and I've gotten gifts from others who have ordered from them--and I have always been happy with the result. They have a Christmas Sale going on right now, so check it out!

--Next, we have statues, statues, statues. It's a long standing tradition for comics companies to create highly detailed and (sometimes) highly collectable statues based on their most popular properties. Marvel and DC lead the way, and the massive selection of statues available online and in comics shops is staggering.

Plus, it's easy to tell which statues (if any) a comics fan already has, as they tend to be displayed somewhere in a room or apartment. And, if they're not displayed and are instead kept in boxes in a closet somewhere, then any statue will do, really. because, if he or she already has it, it'll be all wrapped up in mint condiditon in said closet, and he or she could always use a "display" copy.

So, here are a few of my own personal favorites, listed by price in increasing order.

Batman: Black and White Series. Based on art by some of comics' greatest creators (including Jim Lee, Neal Adams, Bob Kane, and Tim Sale), these mini-statues are great for desks and bookshelves. Some of the early statues are long sold out--and thus command insane prices online--but the newer pieces are just as cool looking. Take a look at just a small sampling of these little icons!

Matt Wagner:

($60)

David Mazzuchelli:

($80)

Frank Miller:

($65 to $100)

For the Marvel Zombies, some great mini-busts from Bowen Designs.

Bowen Daredevil Orignal Bust (Yellow Costume):

($50)

Bowen makes tons of these things--seriously, there are hundreds of different characters available--and they can be found at local comics shops and online.

As we creep up a bit in price, where would any Gift Guide be without something Goon-related? How about a full-size Goon statue, from Bowen Designs:

($120)

Climbing higher now, here's a classic, full-size statue released earlier this year by DC Direct--Batman Vs. The Joker:

($195)

Bowen and other high end companies such as Hard Hero and Sideshow Collectibles produce amazing full-size statues of characters from different media, and if you're looking to drop some serious cash on that someone special, any of the three companies is a good place to start.

Just as an example, from Sideshow, here's a Wolverine/Shadowcat diorama:

($280)

Okay, enough with the statues. I've got two more comics-related items that I think any comics fan will get a kick out of. First, we have the perfect gift for techies and iPhone users--GelaSkins! They're protective covers for iPhones, laptops, and mp3 players. Brought to you by Dark Horse Comics and GelaSkins, Inc., these artistic renditions are pretty cool. Check out a few examples.


And, finally, the end of the list for today. I'll leave you all with something...um...let's say...for the fan that has absolutely everything.

From Supercapes.com...personalized superhero capes (and a bunch of licsened ones, too). I first read about these on Geoff Johns' Twitter page. These capes are handmade to order, and range from pet sizes to adult sizes. They make great gifts for kids...um...of all ages.

And, well, if you know someone who would like something like this...I really can't think of a better present.

And, with that, I'll leave you to go forth and shop!

We'll be back tomorrow with a Waiting for Wednesday, then on Thursday with more of our Gifts for Geeks Guide.

Waiting for Wednesday, Issue 39

It's a yearly tradition--that day before Thanksgiving gathering at the comics shop. Typically, the store's always a bit more crowded than usual, as many are taking half days from work, or just simply trying to fit in a stop to grab their books while running around buying all the other necessities that are...um...necessary for this week.

Like the last new comics day before Christmas, today is filled with well-wishes from friends linked together by their weekly ritual. And there are usually one or two comics with Thanksgiving-themed covers that ship today.

And, more often than not, the cover artist takes a cue from Norman Rockwell, and rearranges things around the Thanksgiving table to include Superman and Batman and Solomon Grundy.

But, while tomorrow might be about eating as much as is humanly possible, today remains, just like very Wednesday, about comics.

This week, I can honestly say that there are two new books that I'm looking forward to, and they're both from Dark Horse and they both involve Eric Powell.

Looking through this week's (massive) list of new comics from all the publishers, I came to the realization that, if all goes awry and I come to the conclusion that I just don't want to be involved with comics as a fan anymore, I will still pick up and read Powell's The Goon, and pretty much anything else he does.

I'll always be a fan of this title, and it's a book that will always draw me into the comics shop. Maybe it's because I've been reading the title ever since I started reading comics, and I feel like I was an early Goon fan and now people seem to really be getting into the book.

Maybe it's because the subject matter is right up my alley, and the art is some of the best and most unique in all of comics today. All good reasons, though, right? So, yeah, I'll keep reading The Goon, no matter what, until Powell decides to end the title. And I'll be the first in line (with Nathaniel, of course) at the movie theater when the film version makes its debut.

So to say that I'm happy to be able to walk into a comics shop and purchase a new issue of Powell's book is an understatement. This week sees the long-awaited release of The Goon, issue 33, and it is part of Dark Horse's "One Shot Wonders" program, where all of their major titles ship one-and-done stories that can be enjoyed by readers with absolutely no previous knowledge of the characters involved.

And Goon 33 is a bit different than your typical Goon story. Powell has decided to make this a wordless issue, and in lieu of captions and dialogue, Powell uses illustrated thought bubbles to progress the story.

From the description provided by Dark Horse, it's clear that readers can expect a mad-cap, crazy as all get out story where anything is possible.

Here's the blurb:

The Goon goes to the dentist and finds out that the receptionist has been replaced by a sentient manatee! And the Goon hates manatees! So he punches it! The dentist doesn't like that so he kicks Goon out. Leaving him with the dilemma of how to eat candy apples with a sore tooth. Then aliens show up.

Not actual synopsis. (But that is the actual cover, so who the $@#%* knows?)

"If this is your first time [reading The Goon], you are in for a treat -- if not, you already know how lucky you are." -David Fincher, Filmmaker (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Fight Club)

Like I said, mad-cap. And here's the...uh...cover that the blurb hints at.

It's been eight months since the last issue came out, and with a more regular, bi-monthly schedule promised for next year, this week's as good as any other to jump on this book if you haven't already. It's (obviously) going to be a crazy issue, so I'm sure you'll get to experience the avante garde hilarity that Powell is known for.

One thing's for sure--it'll be unlike any other comic you're going to read this week. Check it out!

The other book I'm excited about is Creepy, issue two, featuring a (disturbing) Eric Powell cover. I read issue one of this anthology-style, old school comics horror series when it shipped several months back, and I enjoyed it. There was nothing groundbreaking there, but it was a nice return to form for horror anthologies in comics.

Here's the blurb from Dark Horse:

It’s alive! It’s evil! And it’s coming for you. Horror fans and art fiends, beware -- a new issue of new Creepy is lurking right around the corner. Dark Horse Comics and New Comic Company keep the hellfires burning in October with another evil-engorged 48 pages of short horror stories by established greats and ook-inducing newcomers. This issue, we’re featuring the second mind-bendingly gruesome chapter of “The Curse;” a ghastly shocker from legendary horror writer Joe R. Lansdale; an all-new Loathsome Lore; new work from Jason Shawn Alexander, Dan Braun, and Greg Ruth and much, much gore! Creepy is not only packed with paralyzing tales of fear, it’s a jaw-dropping value, too. With 48 pages packed with content, not advertising, our boo buffet is one hell of a deal!

The price tag is a bit high at $4.99, so I'd recommend flipping through the book in the store to see if it's something you'd be into, and wouldn't mind dropping five dollars on. If you're considering waiting on the trade, be warned that the title ships every four months, so it could be a long wait before the book is actually collected.

Still, for fans of old school horror/morality tales, I'd say to give this a shot and see if you dig it.

Now, in addition to Dark Horse's solid output this week, there's a whole bunch of new product shipping today, including some key DC and Marvel titles that are worth mentioning. It's a busy day for comics shops, so the publishers pull out all the stops.

From DC, issue five of Geoff Johns' epic Green Lantern story, Blackest Night, ships along with issue 48 of the regular GL title. For DC fans, this is must-read stuff, and I'm sure those who have been following along already have this book marked on their to-buy list.

And from Marvel comes Brian Michael Bendis' and Mike Avon Oeming's Powers, volume three, issue one.
Powers mixes great crime/cop drama with classic super hero storytelling, and Bendis and Oeming have created one of the best universes in all of comics. If you've never read the series, this relaunch seems like the best possible place to start.

Some good stuff coming our way this week, but remember what I mentioned at the top about the stores being more crowded than usual today. If tradition holds at my LCS, there will barely be room enough to walk around the store.

If you can't make it to your shop until later on in the afternoon or evening, be sure to give your retailer a call and ask him/her to hold books for you, just in case. Especially the big sellers, like Blackest Night and Powers, as they tend to vanish rather quickly from the shelves.

Well, that's it for me today. What are you Waiting for?