I’m supposed to be writing something here and all I can focus on is how much my eyes are burning from allergies. I haven’t even read anything recently. Of course, I’ve been busy first with preparing for the Boston Comic Con that’s now been rescheduled for August 3rd and 4th, and more recently, Free Comic Book Day. We had a great time for FCBD. One of the local artists never showed up but that didn’t dampen the spirits in the least as the weather couldn’t have been more cooperative and Mark Masztal and Scott Hanna drew to the delight of their fans. Everybody was very pleased. As a comic book event it was a blast. As a business opportunity it bombed. I spent a big amount out of pocket for only three people who weren’t already customers to come through the door. I have a pile of FCBD books left and that’s depressing all in itself because even though the books come very cheap, the retailers you visit have to pay for them and let me tell you, that blanket account with UPS? The shipping costs hurt. I’ve tried a couple of times to see if I can have my books sent with the Postal Service but Diamond doesn’t want to hear from that. “But I digress…” The bottom line is everyone had a good time and I’m working on planning another event, unpromoted, to reward my customers. We’ve got a great community that I’m very proud of and it’s all good!
As for what I think might be good this week? DC Comics has got Batman #20, $3.99, by Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, Alex Maleev, and Greg Capullo. A strange visitor comes to Gotham City when tragedy delivers the team-up DC says we've been asking for since the start of The New 52. I don’t think this has anything to do with the new origin arc but Batman’s been steady good all along…
Peter J. Tomasi and Fernando Pasarin are solicited as concluding their epic run with Green Lantern Corps #20, $2.99. Scott Hanna inks and Andy Kubert illustrates the cover as Guy Gardner, John Stewart and the other survivors of the battle with the First Lantern and the Guardians try to put the Corps back together, or decide if there should even BE a Corps anymore…
I’m very excited for the new Star Trek movie and IDW’s been publishing trek for a while now as Star Trek #20, $2.99, arrives this week with the final issue of the origin stories. This month features the origins of Sulu and Chekov as we witness their first meeting at Starfleet Academy. Overseen by Trek writer/producer Roberto Orci, this issue sets the stage for Sulu and Chekov's new adventures in the blockbuster film sequel…
Marvel Comics has done a lot to turn me away yet Wolverine #3, $3.99, by Paul Cornell and Alan Davis is a stunning crown jewel. The last page appearance of the Watcher last month was mind boggling!...
ST. Martins Press has got Red Handed Fine Art Strange Crimes HC, $26.99, by Matt Kindt (Mind MGMT) and as solicited, I thought this looked pretty interesting; “Welcome to the city of Red Wheelbarrow, where the world's greatest detective has yet to meet the crime he can't solve - every criminal in Red Wheelbarrow is caught and convicted thanks to Detective Gould's brilliant mind and cutting-edge spy technology. But lately there has been a rash of crimes so eccentric and random that even Detective Gould is stumped. Will he discover the connection between the compulsive chair thief, the novelist who uses purloined street signs to write her magnum opus, and the photographer who secretly documents peoples' most anguished personal moments? Or has Detective Gould finally meet his match?”…
As a Postman myself, I’m not sure how I feel about Abrams’ Raven Girl HC, $19.95, by Audrey Niffenegger. “Once there was a Postman who fell in love with a Raven. So begins the tale of a postman who encounters a fledgling raven while on the edge of his route and decides to bring her home. The unlikely couple falls in love and conceives a child - an extraordinary raven girl trapped in a human body. The raven girl feels imprisoned by her arms and legs and covets wings and the ability to fly. Betwixt and between, she reluctantly grows into a young woman, until one day she meets an unorthodox doctor who is willing to change her.” OK, let’s put aside the whole Postman thing. This is either going to be an extremely compelling story or something we’ll wish we’d never heard of. To be fair, I’ve read Eisner Award winners that have left me scratching my head as to how they ever became nominated, never mind won…
Grimm #1, $3.99, written by David Greenwalt with art by Jose Malaga and a cover illustration by Alex Ross and published by Dynamite Entertainment is bringing the smash NBC series to the comic book pages. I love the TV show. Love it! There’s so much to do here. This one I’m very excited about…
This week could have been a repeat of last week’s exploration. There are quite a few books that weren’t listed that I seriously had to sit here and think about. For a more complete list, feel free to visit your local comic store or favorite site. If you’re interested in more of what I think, follow me on Twitter at Mycomicstore001 or like my Facebook page.
Michael R. Murray is a full time Letter Carrier for the United States Postal Service who’s now going to take his sinus swollen head to bed and he won’t be getting any reading done tonight, either. It’s much too early to go to bed but sadly much later than he wanted to go.