News for the Week of October 8, 2008
Rick’s Writin’s
When I was a kid I did most of the typical things kids did for money in
those days. I rounded up bottles from the neighbors and took them back
to the store for the deposit (2 cents each for regular size, a nickel
for the large size). I sold seeds and Christmas cards from companies that
placed ads in comics telling kids they'll be rich if they peddle their
goods. (I never tried selling the newspaper GRIT, though I was always
curious about that one). I sold the Turtles candy to help our Little League,
and won a baseball glove that I loved and cherished. It was a Spaulding
(I think) Big 8 glove, complete with eight pictures of the top baseball
stars of the day. I oiled and worked that glove from a light tan to almost
a chocolate brown, and I felt I could catch almost anything with it. Unfortunately,
I forgot it for five minutes once at the park we played at, and though
I went right back, somebody had already stolen it. I was crushed. But,
I digress. I went door to door selling this stuff, and though my parents
helped a bit with the Turtles, I worked very hard at it. The result is
that as an adult I'm a sucker for the Girl Scouts and their cookies, and
Little League or school band fund raising and the like. I'm always good
for a candy bar or a box or two of cookies. Since it isn't safe these
days to go door to door, I'm sure you've seen these fund raising efforts
at your local grocery store. The kids and their parents camped at the
exit waiting to pounce as you leave the store. I know I'm had as soon
as I walk in, so I'm ready for it...I thought. Yesterday, there was a
Cub Scout Troop doing the fund raising, and sure enough they rope me over
as I'm leaving. I'm more than happy to help, until I see my choices. The
kids show me a card of what they're selling and the prices. I was shocked
to see $50 items, $40 items, $30 items and then a couple of $20, $15 items,
and $10 items. The $10 spots were the cheapest (a small tin of either
Kettle popped or caramel corn popcorn). The $15 items were boxes of microwave
popcorn. The higher priced items must have been gold flake dipped popcorn
or something. I know this is fund raising, and I'm not complaining about
what is being offered (popcorn as opposed to candy or whatever). I'm complaining
about the fact that $10 was the cheapest item. I want to help and it's
hard for me to say no. I'm sure many others want to help too, but when
$10 is the cheap option, it eliminates many good Samaritans. It's not
just a couple bucks for a good cause, it's ten. How do you tell a kid
"No, sorry. Your items are too expensive." or "That's too
much, I can't afford it" or "Geez, you're robbing me boy!!"
Whoever the adults are that set these things up should take into account
that people want to help, so give them affordable options to do so. They'll
raise more money that way than hoodwinking the few suckers like me that
can't say no, with high ticket items. Last time I bought, Girl Scout cookies
were only $4-5 a box. I think they sell a whole bunch of those. On to
comics...
It's Stephen King week again as both his Dark Tower: Treachery (#2 of
6) and The Stand: Captain Trips (#2 of 5) arrive. Both these series have
done quite well, even given Dark Tower is on it's third set. In big storyline
land we have Batman's RIP in Detective (#849), with Bruce battling childhood
friend Tommy Elliot (Hush), with dire consequences for both. Also, the
Final Crisis plague, the Anti-Life virus comes to Gotham City in Final
Crisis: Revelations (# 3 of 5) and we get the third Secret Invasion: Inhumans
(#3 of 4) installment. Couple of Trades to note this week: The second
Serenity/Firefly story Better Days is collected for the first time. Grimm
Fairy Tales has it's fourth collection out this week and I'd like to point
out DC Showcase: Blackhawk, a collection of the action/adventure pilot
Blackhawk and his crew's 1950's stories, never before collected. Other
comics: Superman is winding up his confrontation with Braniac in Action
(#870). The next Superman story will involve the Bottle City Kandor, Supergirl
and others with the New Krypton story starting later this month. Marvel
wants to be sure we get enough Deadpool, as #3 arrives this week. The
rumors are true about a Deadpool appearance in the Wolverine: Origins
movie coming in May 2009. It stars Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, with Van
Wilder's Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson/ Deadpool and Liev Schreiber (Grissom's
replacement on CSI last year) as Victor Creed/ Sabretooth. Last, though
I don't know if it will be any good, I wanted to point out the comic “The
Man Who Loved Breasts" just because I like the title.
As the Hawks are getting smoked today, and both the Cougars and Huskies
got stomped yesterday, I think I'll not say much as their play speaks
for itself. Nobody expected much from the college teams, but the Hawks
look like they're in deep doodoo (It's not proper to say s**t). I'm wanting
the Phillies and Jamie Moyer to go to the World Series, maybe against
Tampa Bay, though the TV suits and their ratings wouldn't like that, or
maybe the Phillies could beat the Red Sox and shut those guys up for a
while. The suits are obviously hoping for the Dodgers against the Red
Sox (now that the Cubs are out), for big market ratings. They'll cry if
it ends up being Tampa Bay versus the Milwaukee Brewers, though that could
be a great Series between two underdogs that have never won it all before.
We'll see. 'Til next time..
Paula’s Picks
We’re getting in (one of the last) Minx books this week. It’s
called Emiko Superstar and it’s about a girl changing her identity
over the course of a summer. She’s going from boring to art star!
I’m really looking forward to this one for the artist. Steve Rolston
is one of my favorites! He can (almost) always be found at Emerald City
Comic Con and he’s super nice! He also did a House of Mystery story
a few issues back.
We’ve also got a double dose of Green Lanterns this week! We’re
getting Green Lantern #35 featuring the conclusion to the Secret Origin
story. A new story begins in Green Lantern Corps #39 titled “Sins
of Star Sapphire” that leads into “Blackest Night.”
I’ve been hearing a lot of buzz about the Blackest Night story coming
up, so if you want it, you may want to be sure it’s on your pull
list!
We should also be getting in Terror Titans #1. Someone at Diamond forgot
to put them in our box last week and I know a few of you were looking
for it.
We’ve been getting a lot of fun reactions when people come into
the store with the new layout. It’s kind of like one of those home
decorating shows: “While You Were Out.” The idea is that someone
is gone for a few days and a friend or loved-one has a room re-decorated.
It’s pretty fun! I should set up a video camera and put them up
on YouTube!