News for the Week of March 18, 2009
Rick’s Writin’s
I had something more important this week to write about other than crying
about how long it took me to get my chicken dinner, but I'm not fully
prepared, so I will need to put that off until a bit later. I'm pleased
to report that the daffodil and other bulbs I planted this winter are
starting to come up. I even have my first daffodil. This is the first
time I've ever planted bulbs so I'm quite happy. It's a pretty mundane
life when a flower blooming is the exciting news of the week. Work, watch
TV, eat, sleep. and again... woo hoo! At least the work part is going
decently. The new system has been less of a pain in the butt than I anticipated
which has been nice. We haven't even tapped all that it can do, but so
far I'm impressed. I'm hopeful that our new tools will work well for you
folks too. I've already been able to do a couple things to help customers
that I couldn't have before, so I think you'll see a difference. One thing
it looks like we'll need from you guys is a bit more input on side or
tie-in series and books, or off shoots of a main title. The pull list
system is quite specific and gives us all the options to pull what you
want, but it's literal or exact. We can't put in all Neil Gaiman or Any
Ed Brubaker, or even just all Spider-Man. We need to know if you want
annuals, or special one-shots or minis and then enter those in. Otherwise,
the pull list generated for you won't catch the odd-ball items. I'll do
my best to watch out, but we're going to try to figure a way to help stay
on top of the ever changing scene that is the comics world. I think it
may come down to a list we ask you to fill out each month, with the new
items we're concerned about. Kind of like the Previews input list we tried,
but now we'll ask you each to fill one out. It'll help us order better
and assure that you won't miss out on the books you want. A couple more
items: There's only three weeks until the Emerald City Comic-Con. We still
have plenty of Two-day, and Sunday only tickets, but if you want Saturday
only tickets, I suggest you pick them up soon. We've already sold half
of what we had, and because of the timing, probably won't get a reload
on those before the show. Remember, you save $5.00 on a two day, and $3.00
on a one day if you buy the tickets in advance instead of at the door.
Also remember, parking on the street downtown is free on Sundays. Just
something to think about. Next, the Watchmen movie: It was dead on to
the feel of the book, the casting was also spot on and though the story
was tweaked a tad, I think it would be extremely difficult to do a better
job than was done turning the Watchmen comic into a movie. I heard a rumor
that a 25 minute LONGER director's cut version was going to be released
to theaters in June. Whether that's true or no (could be false or a DVD
release), even at two hours forty minutes, the time flew. I thought it
was an excellent version of the book. And on to books we go...
If you're not an X-Men fan, the pickings are a bit slim this week, though two Marvel biggies arrive: Dark Avengers (#3), the bad nasty evil bad/good guys team, or "the phenom that is the Dark Avengers" continues, secrets and all. Also, if you haven't forgotten that Marvel is blowing up their Ultimate Universe, the extremely late Ultimatum (#3 of 5) arrives to remind you. Another reminder is the last issue of the Ultimate X-Men (#100), though I don't know if it's truly the final issue. If you're an X fan, you've hit the mother load this week. Counting the Ultimate X-Men book you have eight, count them EIGHT!! X books this week. In this total I'm including Wolverine (#71) as the "Old man Logan" story slowly continues (part 6 of 8), and also Wolverine Origins (#34) which ties into the Dark Reign arc. Every other main X book arrives, including Uncanny X-Men (#507) which, by the Previews blurb has stories going on for every X-man and Woman ever, X-Men Legacy (#222) featuring Professor X and Gambit, X-Force (#13) with a prelude to Messiah War, the cross-over story with X-Force and Cable, X-Factor (#16) featuring those mutant hunters The Sentinels, and the final issue of Young X-Men (#12). Throw in a Deadpool one shot called Games of Death, and you've got a Marvel...ous week.
Not much to write about otherwise: DC seems to be mostly taking the week off, though the "Who is Superwoman" continues in Supergirl (#39), and the new Outsiders (#16) team is still outside. There's some other small items coming, but I'm running out of time to get this to Paula so I'll let you look at the list and see if there's anything on there that intrigues. See you soon..til'next time.
Paula’s Picks
Tear Update: 4
I spent some time yesterday catching up on my Fables comics. I didn’t
realize how far behind I had gotten. They’re getting ready to do
a Fables and Jack of Fables crossover with a new mini-series called The
Literals. I’ve got to catch up on my Jack of Fables before that
one comes out. Issue 81 of Fables got me crying. It was very sad. It does
not count toward the POS tear count since the POS did not cause it. Sorry
guys!
One of the books I’m
going to talk about this week is Air. We’re getting the first trade
paperback this week of the series. To be honest, I didn’t think
it was going to last, but it has surprised me. It’s been selling
really well off the shelf. We’re also getting #7 at a special $1
price for anyone that wants to check it out. It’s about a stewardess
that gets involved with a possible terrorist and anti-terrorist group.
Anyone out there that reads it, let me know what you think of it and why
you like it. I’d love to hear from you!