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[Spike Spiegel]

First, here’s my “Black Friday” tale…

(Times are approximate)

05:00am – Alarm clock goes off. Groggily reach over and turn it off, then go back to sleep.

05:01am – Remember what day it is. Crawl out of bed to let dog out, then get ready.

05:30am – Shaved, showered, brushed, clothed, ready. Stop to eat breakfast and watch news; vandals glued locks shut on dozens of local retailers overnight.

05:50am – In car, and on my way to comic book shop for 7am sale. Will shop there first, then head to Best Buy to watch screaming masses and maybe pick up a deal or two.

06:20am – Arrive at comic book shop 40 minutes early. Only car in entire lot. Get out of car, check sign on door to confirm sale is still on. Get back in car, eat banana brought from home, then wait.

06:50am – Owner opens doors 10 minutes early, motions for myself and ~5 others to come in. Head immediately for the back wall, lined with TPBs priced at 50% off. Move from left to right, scanning shelves and picking out top priorities, then repeat process to pick up other interesting books. Ignore everything else.

07:15am – Standing in line at checkout counter, holding heavy stack of TPBs in my arms. Mostly DC, a handful of Marvel and independents; only one manga. Owner smiles her sweet, motherly smile and applauds my purchases as she rings them up. Total cost: $130. Ouch.

07:18am – Sitting in my car, doing the math in my head. Went slightly overboard at the comic shop, leaving little left in my budget for a trip to Best Buy. Should probably quit now and go home. Decide to head to Best Buy anyway, just to see what’s on sale.

07:30am – Arrive at Best Buy. Not a single parking space to be found; people parking at nearby businesses and mall then walking to store. Decide now’s not the best time to visit Best Buy, will return later. Time to… uh, kill time.

07:32am – Remember that other comic book shop in city, near Best Buy, is having their first “Black Friday” sale ever. Against better judgment, decide to drive there and see what’s on sale.

07:38am – Walk into store, greeted by owner and clerk. Am only customer in entire store, and feel bad for them immediately. Learn that store opened at 6am; initial rush of customers died down to trickle since then. Feel slightly better… but not much. Begin looking around.

07:45am – Oh, look… all back-issue, boxed comics only $0.50 each.

12:40pm – Stack of 200+ comics sits before me. Mostly crap from the late 80s and early/mid- 90s, some more recent, some older. Begin sorting through pile to pick out the ones I really want. The following conversation takes place between myself and clerk:

CLERK: What are you doin’?

ME: Uh… just sorting through these.

CLERK: What for?

ME: Well, there’re a lot of comics here. I’m not going to buy ALL of them, I can’t afford it.

CLERK: Why not?

ME: Come on, there’s over 200 comics sitting here. You can expect me to-

CLERK: Fifty bucks.

ME: What?

CLERK: Fifty bucks and you can have them all. I’ll even give you a box.

ME: ……………

CLERK: Well?

ME: …Fifty bucks, huh? *sigh* All right.

12:50pm – Sitting in my car, forehead resting on the steering wheel. Trunk now contains one long box with 200+ comics, and a few more TPBs. Total cost: $75. Counting purchases from CBS #1, not only over budget by $50, but now have to skip going to Best Buy completely.

01:00pm – Drive home to gorge on remainder of Thanksgiving leftovers and begin sorting comics.

Anyway…

Diamond’s Shipping List for December 1, 2004

OCT040272 SUPERMAN BATMAN #15 (RES) $2.95
OCT041552 HUNTER KILLER #0 $0.25
SEP042883 BATTLE ROYALE VOL 10 GN (MR) $9.99
SEP042884 BATTLE VIXENS VOL 5 GN (MR) $9.99
SEP043014 VAGABOND VOL 17 TP $9.95



$250 spent on comics in a single week…

*hangs self*

 

[BigJonsson]

holy shit you are insane

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

I've done that. Plus I do something similar every year at the con, where TPBs tend to be half-off and rare ones abound-- plus small press (expensive) goodness.

It's not unlike binging on food at Thanksgiving, appropriately.

For me:

Ultimates v2 #1
Y The Last Man
Firestorm
Deadshot
Question

 

[DarienA]

Dammit my Space Ghost #1 reorder better get to the shop today.

DETECTIVE COMICS #801 - A 12-part story? God give me strength....
SUPERMAN BATMAN #15 - While the idea of a country run by Batman/Superman is a bit on the absurd side... the first issue was interesting enough that I'll hang around.
NEW AVENGERS #1 - Train Wreck alert... I just gotta be there.
NEW X-MEN #7 - This book is on its way out for me....
TOMB OF DRACULA #3 - Not quite a Blade a la the movie... but I'm still interested...
UNCANNY X-MEN #453 - The Hellfire Club has IMO always been one of the more interesting groups the X-men have faced from time to time... I'm not sure what to make of this new version...which we really haven't seen in motion yet.
ULTIMATES 2 #1 - Hell forgot all about this.... which probably says alot.... didn't even see it when I looked on the list, my eyes slide right past it.... which again probably says alot.

 

[keiichi]

Find anything good/interesting in that assortment?

Not that much this week:
INTIMATES #2
ULTIMATES 2 #1

Flip Through
NEW AVENGERS #1

Hopefully my LCS will get Walking Dead vol 2 in.

 

[FnordChan]

Nicely done, Spike. You'll be thanking yourself later for bringing home all that loot. Meanwhile, I'm having a slow week:

Y: The Last Man #29 - For all of you who fell off the bandwagon, recent issues of Y have started to delve into the mystery of what happened to all the men. Of course, this could just be a red herring, but so far it's pretty interesting stuff.

The Ultimates, Vol. 2 #1 - Ah, shit. I'm pretty sure I forgot to cancel this, which means I'll probably wind up sticking with the new volume at least through the opening story-arc, which means six issues or so. It's not horrible or anything, it's just that the last few issues (and the endless delays) had annoyed me enough to want to drop it. Eh, we'll see.

And, the highlight of the week:

FnordChan, who will watch the New Avengers trainwreck from a safe distance

 

[BuddyC]

DETECTIVE COMICS #801
Y THE LAST MAN #29

I just realized I forgot Adam Strange #3 at the shop on Saturday, so I'll pick that up as well. Whee!

And by the way Spike, nice binge.

 

[Spike Spiegel]

Find anything good/interesting in that assortment?

Ehh. Like I said, mostly crap. The store doesn't keep valuable comics in the long boxes, so it was mostly overstock and stuff that nobody really wanted (you wouldn't believe how many copies of Turok #1 and Lady Death Lingerie Special #1 were in there). Let's see...

DC: lots of $5-6 prestige format books, dozen issues of Loeb/McGuinness's Superman run, Kelly's Action Comics, Dodson's Harley Quinn, early 80's Batman and Superman, JL Europe and JL International, early issues of Aquaman, etc. etc.

Wildstorm/Vertigo: WildCats (ver. 3.0 and entire "Serial Boxes" story from vol. 2), some issues of Warren's Gen13 run, Alex Ross's U.S., some issues of Preacher and Rifle Brigade, etc. etc.

Marvel: first issues of "Heroes Reborn" reboots (Captain America, FF, Avengers, Iron Man), Dodson's Gen X, some 2004 Handbooks, some late 70's and early 80's comics, etc. etc.

Image: a ton of Savage Dragon issues, some Wetworks, some WildCATs, both issues of CHIX, etc. etc.

Miscellaneous: the entire JLA/Avengers miniseries, couple of Sin City issues from Dark Horse, Monkeyman and O'Brien, Cutey Honey (Studio Ironcat), etc. etc.

Had I known he was going to give me the entire pile for $50, I would've grabbed a few more.

 

[BigJonsson]

My LCS had sets of 15 issues of an older franchise for 5 bucks...

If they have that next time I go i'm gonna buy a few...

 

[evil solrac v3.0]

you are officially bat -shit insane spike.

DEADSHOT #1 (Of 5) *i guess he didnt kill sue...*

DETECTIVE COMICS #801 *even thought it's a 12-part story i believe, i could be wrong, but i believe it is not neccesary to buy all the issues to enjoy the story?

HARD TIME #11

QUESTION #2 (Of 6) *you folks oughtta be buying this book, it's damn good.*

SUPERMAN BATMAN #15 *hopefully superman will bake a pie instead of a person this issue*

Y THE LAST MAN #29 (MR)

maybe pile

OUTSIDERS #18
MONOLITH #10
FIRESTORM #8
JLA ANOTHER NAIL TP

 

[DarienA]

Spike if you've got any of the Dark Horse series X drop me a line. I loved that series missed the ending and would really like to track those books down.

 

[Spike Spiegel]

X? I don't remember picking any up. Most of what I grabbed from Dark Horse was Sin City, Monkeyman & O'Brien, and DHP.

 

[nomoment]

Goddamn. 200 comics for $50. If I were only so lucky. Which trades did you buy, Spike?

--

My grab this week:

DETECTIVE COMICS #801
INTIMATES #2 - Maybe
QUESTION #2 (Of 6)
NEW AVENGERS #1
ULTIMATES 2 #1

Just a reminder, David Lapham's first issue of Detective Comics comes out on Wednesday. As promised, it WILL be the best Batman comic in years. More information can be found here.

 

[nomoment]

And not to rub salt in evil solrac's wounds, but Tom Raney goes Marvel exclusive.

Heh.

 

[Soybean]

Am I completely insane?

Does Marvel's site not say November 24 is the day Astonishing X-Men #7 should be out? And did I not walk into two comic book stores last Wednesday to find NO new Astonishing X-Men?

 

[The Take Out Bandit]

Image: a ton of Savage Dragon issues...

Well, all hope is not lost. Just most of it.

I think you, Erik Larsen thanks you, and I'm sure you'll be thanking yourself once you read the Savage World arc.

Due to the fact I'm so fuckin' poor, I only collect two funnybooks and both of them feature green leads.

I'm thinking of hocking my pamphlet collection via Ebay. Although I'm not certain how people would respond to buying full arcs of Blade of the Immortal and Gunshit Craps as opposed to single issues. Have to give it some thought. :/

 

[jiggle]

Nice Silvestri art. Not liking the two giant heads in the back, but the rest looks great.

 

[nomoment]

Am I completely insane?

Does Marvel's site not say November 24 is the day Astonishing X-Men #7 should be out? And did I not walk into two comic book stores last Wednesday to find NO new Astonishing X-Men?

Marvel doesn't update their website very often. The new release date for Astonishing X-Men #7 is December 22nd, which I presume, will be the first of many delays for the series. Reason being, Joss Whedon is getting behind in his scripts; which doesn't bode well for a slower penciller like Cassaday.

 

[BuddyC]

Joss Whedon is getting behind in his scripts; which doesn't bode well for a slower penciller like Cassaday.

Shit.

On the plus note, it'll be a nice birthday present...assuming it actually makes it out.

 

[BigJonsson]

FUCK!!

Not cool

I'm gonna have to start reading another series in case there are more AXM delays

 

[MASB]

Marvel has energy pervading it? Seems like all that energy goes to retelling the same origin stories over and over again. Seriously, She Hulk will be cancelled in February and brought back in May (because it was 'lost' in all the new series being launched at the same time). But what do I see in the latest Previews? A ton more #1 issues based on XMen, etc. And the same thing seems to be happening every month. Why do I get the feeling She Hulk will get 'lost' again only to be rebooted yet again or cancelled permanently.

To Spike: I only wish I had the spare cash to make such epic purchases. You're a hero to comic book geeks the world over!!

As for AXM being delayed: Something about that just makes me laugh. I don't know why, as I don't really have anything against it (beyond it being yet another trend of inviting writers more for their fame outside comics books than their actual comic book abilities). But it's going to be funny if one's of Marvel's biggest series gets delayed on a regular basis because Master Joss seemingly can't sit down to write scripts. Seriously, writing comic book scripts can be hard work, but if he can't budget his time to do the scripts on time, that's a mark against him as far as I'm concerned (no matter the big Buffy/Angel fan I am).

INTIMATES #2
MONOLITH #10
DONALD DUCK ADVENTURES #9 (the best 128 pages in monthly comics today)

I need to buy this someday:
MICKEY MOUSE IN COLOR DLX ED (O/A) $250.00

They've been selling it for the past 18 years and they still haven't sold out. Same price too, so inflation is on my side.

 

[FnordChan]

But it's going to be funny if one's of Marvel's biggest series gets delayed on a regular basis because Master Joss seemingly can't sit down to write scripts.

Well, Whedon is in the middle of making a Firefly movie right now, so I'm willing to cut him a bit of slack. Should have have taken the AXM commitment when he had a feature film to direct at the same time? Maybe not, but considering a) how much I've enjoyed his AXM run and b) how much I enjoyed Firefly, I'm c) not really inclined to give a damn. More AXM will come out when it comes out. And, hey, look on the bright side - it can't possibly be as late as some of Kevin Smith's Marvel projects.

FnordChan

 

[DaveH]

holy shit you are insane

IAWTP

 

[Father_Brain]

New Avengers #1 spoilers, in case anyone cares (unverified):

Spoiler

A mysterious figure is talking to Electro. He tells him the Avengers have disbanded, and other hero groups are busy, so now is the time to break out all the villians out of Rykers Island.
Luke Cage, Foggy, Matt Murdock, and Jessica Drew are already on the Island to talk to Mr. Reynolds. They explain that each Cell of the Prison, is lined with Adamantium and has many backupsystems. The U-Foes, Carnage, Controller, Bushwacker, Vermin are some of the villians named. Electro shows up, Blasts a giant hole in the island and shuts down the entire city.
Spiderman is hanging with MJ, and hitches a ride to the island via helicopter. Captain America is waiting on the island with some sheild agents. Spiderman doesn't seem to be any different. I though he got some new powers but I can't tell.
Matt Murdock and his crew make it to Mr. Reynolds cell(AKA Sentry), and tell him they need his help.(they were going to talk to him for Reed Richards who says that Sentry may be the most powerful superhero on the planet). Sentry is in prison for killing his wife.
Electro tells all the villians that they owe him. There is a huge spread of all the villians. Armadillo is there with alot of others.
I'm liking this so far. The art is fantastic.


Zeeder

 

[DarienA]

Spoiler

Sentry

redux... interesting.. I've heard about this character from time to time... supposedly he's pretty much... THE most powerful character in the MU? Has he ever had a long running series?

 

[Christoff Yurievich]

I don't usually post in these threads, but this art has me wondering:

wth? just some weird art there, almost a craig mccracken/genndy tartakovsky thing going on there.

 

[Spike Spiegel]

Spoiler

Sentry

redux... interesting.. I've heard about this character from time to time... supposedly he's pretty much... THE most powerful character in the MU? Has he ever had a long running series?

Nope, just a MK miniseries back in 2000 (now available in TPB). IIRC he was something of a hoax; Marvel billed him as this long-lost, forgotten hero from the 60s that they'd revived, but it turned out his history was completely fabricated to generate hype, or something. It worked, because his gimmick in the comic was that he was this great archetypal hero that EVERYONE had forgotten after he vanished.

He's sorta like Superman, if Superman had never caught on as a hero.

 

[Outcast2004]

My pick ups after the VERY disappointing Mid-Ohio con.

Other than the same girl thatalways goes... shes a customer not a porn chick either. Damn was she hot and smelled perfect. My type of woman, hot , big rack, long reddish brown hair and into comics big time. Too bad she has a husband... oh well I'll see her again at he next comic show here. Sorry, got off on a tangent.


SEP048386 GREEN LANTERN REBIRTH #2 (didn't get it last week.. dumb me)

OCT040272 SUPERMAN BATMAN #1

SEP041723 NEW AVENGERS #1

OCT041716 ULTIMATES 2 #1

AUG042692 TRANSFORMERS GENERATION ONE VOL 3 #10

Damn a light week.

 

[DarienA]

Hey folks I'm looking to pick up the entire run of an older Dark Horse series called X if you spot any good number of them in your local comic book store drop me a PM.

 

[evil solrac v3.0]

And not to rub salt in evil solrac's wounds, but Tom Raney goes Marvel exclusive.

Heh.

oh, well. i guess i'll just have to comfort myself by reading GREEN LANTERN: REBIRTH with ethan van sciver!!! AND A LITTLE THING CALLED IDENTITY CRISIS and formerly known as the justice league..... rags morales is still around so i'm not worried. as is carlos pacheco.

 

[DarienA]

Thoughts on this weeks hall, well what I've read so far.

DETECTIVE COMICS #801: Excuse me? A supposed 12 part story and it takes place BEFORE Wargames? What kind dumb planning scheduling shit is that? Anyway I like the narration style but I can't say this first part does anything else for me.


SUPERMAN BATMAN #15: Man Wonder Woman got RAW... and boy did she pay for it... besides that the rest of the issue is a blur....

NEW AVENGERS #1: Now don't get me wrong I personally think that as a character if it wasn't for the dumb costume

Spoiler

Electro

could be played as a character with Magneto-level powers... I mean the guy friggin controls

Spoiler

electricity

for chrissakes. Anyway surprise, surprise pretty much nothing happens in this issue except for initial setup... ZZZzzzzz

NEW X-MEN #7: I shouldn't have picked this up... but I swear if near issue what's his name's sister says I can see dead people... it's DEFINITELY over...

TOMB OF DRACULA #3 - Blade kicks ass...even this version... come on the guy is fighting in the friggin AIR for chrissakes.... I've enjoyed this book... man I wish played would get another regular series as this looks to be a mini.

UNCANNY X-MEN #453 - Meh.... wasn't

Spoiler

Pierce

playing an incredibly lame villian in New X-men a bit back?

 

[Spike Spiegel]

Neither comic shop had Superman/Batman #15, just a slip of paper... I wonder what happened.

 

[BuddyC]

Re: New Avengers #1/Alias

Spoiler

Purple Man escapes, again? This all seems a tad familiar, but then again, I just read the whole of Alias last week.