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Comicscape March 30, 2005

After two weeks of venom directed at the comic book industry for the resurgence of 1990s marketing gimmicks, this week I'm going to write about something I actually like. Consider this week's COMICSCAPE my love letter to the American comic book shop. For next week, tell me about your comic shop. I wanna hear stories, people! Tell me about the time you found a full run of MIRACLEMAN in the back or when you and the comic shop guy tackled a shoplifter together. Send me some mail either here or use comments@cinescape.com. And before I dive in, know that when I use the word "geek," I mean it endearingly and I include myself.

There's a place I go where everybody knows my name (at least everybody that works there), and it isn't a crappy neighborhood bar frequented by a belligerent fat guy named Norm. More Fun Comics on Oak Street (in New Orleans) is my comic shop, my hangout, my soap box, and often my therapist's couch. I have whiled away more time there than I (or my wife) would care to admit geeking out over unearthed back issues, speculating about storylines, talking about music, laughing about some of the more interesting customers (there are some creepy-ass people that read comics), wheeling and dealing, arguing politics and philosophy, and mulling over personal problems when I thought life would break me in half. Starting about Monday, I start daydreaming about Wednesday afternoon, when I can walk out a little poorer, but a lot happier. But, besides my obligatory mid-week sojourn, I find myself there when ever I've got time to kill and need to be with other comic book readers. That little store on Oak Street is my refuge from the outside world. The store is owned, managed, and tended (respectively) by Steve Thomas, D.C. Harbold, and Mike Heneghan. The first two are talented, stable fixtures in the New Orleans music scene and the third you saw destroying a copy of X-FORCE #1 a few weeks ago. Like the street philosophers that worked the market in ancient Athens, the three stand ready and willing to wax philosophical on the style and substance of the American comic book.

More Fun Comics isn't just any comic shop. It's one of the two types of comic shops I've come across in my life. The first is the "geektopia" comic shop. Some of these places are chains like Things From Another World, and some are independently owned. Geektopias have comics, anime, cards, toys, role playing games, and anything else that the geeks of the world are likely to be interested in. There's nothing wrong with places like this, though the experiences I've had with them have all been kind of impersonal. If you have a great relationship with a place like that, then good for you. I'm not judging you, nor am I saying there shouldn't be places like that. I bought my comics from a place like that during the 1990s boom, and I don't really cherish the memories (maybe it's just a guilt-by-association thing). When I resumed reading comics in high school, I went to a place like that again because it was near my parents' house. And again, it was overpriced and impersonal. I quit going when I moved uptown (no car, quickly tired of taking the bus) and discovered More Fun Comics. I think I also fell out of the aforementioned geektopia's good graces when, after asking the price of Todd McFarlane's Crow action figure, I yelled "$15.99 FOR A FKING ACTION FIGURE!?" in the middle of the store. But, they did have everything a geek could want. I'll give them that. However, in some of those places, the staff's detached, borderline indifferent attitude toward their customers is disconcerting.

If "geektopia" describes those places, I'm not sure what describes holes-in-the-wall like More Fun Comics. These are the deliciously lived-in, independently owned operations fueled by a love of comic books and a demand for authenticity. These are the garage bands of the comic book world (in fact, in the case of More Fun, the employees' bands do practice in the store after hours). When you walk in the doors, college radio is playing in the background and you know everyone working there. Everyone's there not for Yu-Gi-Oh cards, anime, or BUFFY paraphernalia, but comic books. They're there because they love the medium, plain and simple. If you're a regular, the prices are more than fair and while you might not be able to find the newest batch of Magic cards, the benefits in the long run are innumerable. I've walked out with books for which I would've shed blood for or paid out the ass for on E-Bay, having only paid what the shop's owner and manager considered fair for both of us. The day I walked in and Steve showed me a full run of THE TOMB OF DRACULA, my jaw dropped and I spent the next day stressing over how I was going to come up with the cash for it. When I saw him at his band's gig that night, he told me unequivocally, "We'll work something out, man." And we did, and I've never forgotten that kindness or others like it.

Just like Starbucks (I can't believe spell check doesn't flag that) can never duplicate the charm of the local coffee shop, the geektopias that populate the malls and suburbs can never match the independently owned comic shop where the owner's band practices at night and the old ladies come in off Oak Street on hot August days to buy a Coke from the machine in the back and get out of the heat for a minute.

Comic shops like More Fun serve as havens for their customers. Within those walls, everyone will know what you're talking about and you don't have to explain why Jim Lee drawing BATMAN is so cool. Everyone there knows why and is just as excited (or thoroughly disgusted, and will give you an earful why). That's not to say comic book readers don't socialize. If they didn't, we wouldn't have a bunch of people in costume at WizardWorld or San Diego Comic Con. But, comic books (but not licenses, as we've discussed ad nauseam) are still a niche thing. Hell, the top selling books usually don't top 250,000 in a given month (I still can't believe that). When you're at work, can you pour your coffee and say "Hey, did you read DC COUNTDOWN yesterday?" Your coworkers are probably talking about watching THE APPRENTICE the night before, and won't have a clue what you mean. If anything, they probably regard comic books with mild amusement, if not a touch of disdain and a quip like "I read them when I was a kid" or "I think my brother still reads them. He lives in my parents' basement." Walking into places like More Fun is an immense relief, because I know that when I gush about Y: THE LAST MAN or complain about CONSTANTINE, everyone there will more than likely know what I'm talking about and I don't get silence and polite nods.

Comic shops are an integral part of our culture of fandom. Sure, some people get all their books through the Internet (Mile High Comics and a lot of other stores online will pull your folder and mail your books every week), but something is lost. There is something unique and irreplaceable about browsing through a comic shop and finding some of the hidden treasures therein. I can't walk into an online store and know there will always be friends there. I can't haggle over a back issue gem with good friends. I can't swap stories and laugh at the crazy talkin' bastards that come into the store asking for God-knows-what. It's like a bar without the booze, where you can actually hear each other over the music.

DARK HORSE

BPRD THE DEAD #5 (OF 5)$2.99
Kick ass! Another BPRD book! Now where the fk's Hellboy?

CONCRETE HUMAN DILEMMA #4 (OF 6) (MR)$3.50

DAMN NATION #2 (OF 3) (MR)$2.99

GOON VOL 2 MY MURDEROUS CHILDHOOD TP$13.95

RING VOL 0 TP $12.95
I wish I had something mean to say, but I really like the whole Ring franchise. I'll probably pick this up.

STAR WARS EPISODE III REVENGE OF THE SITH #1 $2.99
I don't understand why all the controversy of George Lucas' latest minor tweak to the Star Wars story. It's much nicer if Anakin defeats the dark side and marries Natalie Portman. He was really mean in the other version. Scary, too.

STAR WARS EPISODE III REVENGE OF THE SITH TP $12.95
In case, you like, can't wait.

USAGI YOJIMBO #82$2.99

DC COMICS

BATGIRL #62$2.50

BATMAN #638$2.25
I'm willing to bet money the Red Hood revelation is going to be a letdown, but I'm keeping my hopes alive.

BATMAN DARK VICTORY TP$19.95
Collecting the controversial reinterpretation of the 1939 Bette Davis movie of the same name, featuring Batman as the vivacious but doomed socialite and Superman as his caring doctor. "What we have can't be destroyed. That's our victory over the dark."

BATMAN HUSH VOL 2 TP$12.95
Volume 2: Hush...Seriously, I Mean It, Hush Up Or I'll Turn This Car Around.

DC COUNTDOWN #1$1.00
Al: The fanboys are gonna be really surprised to find out this is just a comic reinterpretation of the Europe song, "The Final Countdown". "We're heading for Venus, Batman!"
Kurt: So, it's a crossover that leads into a crossover? My head hurt. Want go sleep.

DOOM PATROL #10$2.50

EL NINO TP (MR)$17.99
Yeah, because references to 6-year-old weather events are totally sweet. Def Squad sorta beat you to this, guys.

FLASH #220$2.25

INVISIBLES TP #1 SAY YOU WANT A REVOLUTION$19.95

LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #4$2.99
There's something really hot about a girl that can make unlimited copies of herself.

MAJESTIC STRANGE NEW VISITOR TP$14.99

OCEAN #5 (OF 6)$2.99
Get out of my dreams! Get into my techno-futuristic dreamscape! And that makes my second reference to terrible 80's songs this week! I need to find a way to combine writing this with drinking, ASAP.

OTHERWORLD #1 (OF 12) (MR)$2.99

PLANETARY VOL 3 LEAVING THE 20TH CENTURY TP$14.99
I still have no idea what's going on in this series. But I still like it, so what the hell.

RICHARD DRAGON #11$2.50
In this issue: Richard learns he has a love child inexplicably named "Savage"! Family resemblance: questionable.

SUPERMAN FOR TOMORROW VOL 1 HC (RES)$24.99

TEEN TITANS GO #17$2.25
I really wish this book would just go.

IMAGE

AMAZING JOY BUZZARDS #4$2.95

CASEFILES SAM & TWITCH #15 (RES) (MR)$2.50

SEA OF RED #1 (MR)$2.95
A thinly-disguised John Cameron is trapped on a mysterious island with vampires! Well, yeah - has anyone NOT had that idea?

MARVEL

Well, and here it is: the variant cover drinking game! Every time a title appears with the word "Variant" in it, do a shot! You out there are just smiling and laughing nervously right now, but I am actually doing it because I'm that committed to my job. My girlfriend loves me for ideas like this.

ASTONISHING X-MEN #9$2.99

ASTONISHING X-MEN LTD ED VARIANT #7$2.99

ASTONISHING X-MEN LTD ED VARIANT #8$2.99
Al: Off to a good start with two variant covers from the same title! I've barely started and I already want to wax nostalgic about Doug Ramsey.
Kurt: I am sure these will all be valuable collector's items in the future.

DAREDEVIL REDEMPTION #3 (OF 6)$2.99
Al: The question, according to the solicitation: "Will a red devil's appearance in a God-fearing town just make matters worse?" The answer: Duh, dude.
Kurt: He's Daredevil. He can do whatever he wants. He probably doesn't even realize the suit's red anyway. Jeez...cut the guy a break.

DOCTOR SPECTRUM #6 (OF 6) (MR)$2.99

FANTASTIC FOUR #524$2.99
The last issue of Mark Waid's run. Moment of silence.

MADROX MULTIPLE CHOICE TP$13.99
In case you missed this small, doomed noir starring a C-list X-Factor dropout, I don't blame you - but it turns out this was surprisingly awesome. Rumor is that it may spawn a relaunch of the X-FACTOR title as a kind of detective agency thing, and as long as Peter David stays on board, this is good news.

MARVEL KNIGHTS SPIDER-MAN #12$2.99
And the last issue of Mark Millar's run on SPIDER-MAN, which officially renders this title cancellable. Taking over as of next issue: "13 Going on 30" director Gary Winick! Because if they can direct a movie - any movie at all - they can surely write comic books too!

MARVEL MILESTONES IRON MAN$3.99
Al: I don't understand the difference between Milestones, Essential and Classic reprints. I mean, I do, but I don't understand why.
Kurt: You'll have to buy all of them for it to make sense.

PULSE #8$2.99
Al: Proving that if you take the cussing and alcoholism out of ALIAS, it's totally no fun anymore.
Kurt: Frankly, I'm amazed when I even see an issue of this series out. It's always like "Didn't they cancel this six months ago?"

SECRET WAR BOOK FOUR (OF FIVE)$3.99
Al: Finally, this book gets to the point...as the Beyonder finally returns! Don't worry, he's still got those badass jheri curls.
Kurt: Dude, I'm gonna hit you.

SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #26$2.25
In the conclusion of the "Hitting on the prepubescent girl you thought was your daughter" storyline, Peter starts hanging out in chat rooms with the nickname "Daddy_4_spanking".

SPIDER-GIRL VOL 3 AVENGING ALLIES DIGEST TP$7.99

ULTIMATE IRON MAN LTD ED VARIANT #1 (OF 6)$2.99
Al: Here's what I love: origin issues where at the end the guy being originated still hasn't been born. Ultimate decompression! Shot!
Kurt: But it's a limited edition! Limited edition, I tell you!

ULTIMATE SECRET #1 (OF 4) (RES)$2.99
Al: The big secret is finally unveiled, as we meet....Ultimate Beyonder! Don't worry, he's still got those badass jheri curls.
Kurt: What time do you get home from work tonight and which room do you sleep in?

ULTIMATE X-MEN VOL 4 HELLFIRE & BRIMSTONE TP$12.99

X-23 #4 (OF 6)$2.99
Dude, they should call her X-UNDER18. I'm just sayin'.

X-23 LTD ED VARIANT COVER #2 (OF 6) (PP #661)$2.99
Al: Shot! And this gets the least-necessary variant cover of the week award. And the fact that I had to even consider which variant cover was the least necessary....god, it kills my soul just a little bit. We're all riders; riders on the tides of the market. Jeez, give a guy four shots and he gets all emotional.
Kurt: I loved this series once.

X-FORCE CABLE VOL 1 LEGEND RETURNS TP$14.99
The legend needs to be returned.

X-FORCE SHATTERSTAR #2 (OF 3)$2.99
Al: I realize this isn't a variant cover but I did a shot for it anyway. Because it exists.
Kurt: Books like this make me wonder if there really is a God.

X-MEN AGE OF APOCALYPSE #5 (OF 6)$2.99

X-MEN PHOENIX ENDSONG #4 (OF 5)$2.99
Still one of the better X books out there now. Still surprising. Still Greg Pak. Keep it real, boy.

X-MEN PHOENIX ENDSONG LTD ED VARIANT COVER #3 (OF 5)$2.99
And that makes five variant covers in one week, representing - uh...approximately 22% of Marvel's entire shipping schedule. I have no idea if I did the math right on that one, because I suck at math and because I'm amazingly drunk. But I'll tell you this: I am ROYALLY PISSED OFF that they don't have a variant cover for SHATTERSTAR #1 yet. I've got an acid-free mylar just waiting for it.

And with that, I'm going to bed. Happy April Fools Day, everyone.