Comics Shipping February 29th

Sorry for missing out on last week! Here's the new stuff we'll be getting in this week! Only get new comics on Feb. 29th once ever 28 years! It's almost an anniversary of sorts. :)

CATWOMAN 1/4 SCALE MUSEUM QUALITY STATUE

NEW COMICs

• BATMAN BEYOND UNLIMITED #1
• RALPH WIGGUM COMICS #1

TPBs/HCs

• AVENGERS BIG THREE TP
• CARNAGE FAMILY FEUD TP
• EMPOWERED DELUXE ED HC VOL 01
• FEAR ITSELF BLACK PANTHER MAN WITHOUT FEAR PREM HC
• FF BY JONATHAN HICKMAN TP VOL 01
• GANTZ TP VOL 21
• GATE 7 TP VOL 02
• GI JOE YEARBOOK TP
• INVINCIBLE IRON MAN TP VOL 08 UNFIXABLE
• KA-ZAR BY MARK WAID AND ANDY KUBERT TP VOL 02
• MARDOCK SCRAMBLE GN VOL 04
• MEGA MAN TP VOL 02 TIME KEEPS SLIPPING
• MUHAMMAD ALI KING OF THE RING CAMPFIRE GN
• PUNISHER BY GREG RUCKA PREM HC VOL 01
• SAMURAIS BLOOD TP VOL 01
• SAYONARA ZETSUBOU SENSEI GN VOL 13
• SEVEN BROTHERS OMNIBUS (MR)
• SOULLESS MANGA GN VOL 01
• SPACE TIME CONDOMINIUM SEASON ONE TP VOL 01
• SPIDER-MAN FANTASTIC SPIDER-MAN TP
• STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE DIGEST GN BERRY SCARY STORM
• STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE DIGEST GN PINEAPPLE & OTHER
• ULT COMICS ULTIMATES BY HICKMAN PREM HC VOL 01
• UNCANNY X-FORCE DARK ANGEL SAGA PREM HC BOOK 02
• VAMPIRELLA ARCHIVES HC VOL 04
• X-MEN LEGACY NECROSHA TP
• X-MEN PRELUDE TO SCHISM TP
• XXXHOLIC GN VOL 19
• ZEN OF STEVE JOBS GN

COMICs

• AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #680
• ANGEL & FAITH #7 REBEKAH ISAACS VAR CVR
• ANGEL & FAITH #7 STEVE MORRIS CVR
• ASTONISHING X-MEN #47
• AVENGERS #23
• BATMAN ODYSSEY VOL 2 #5 (OF 7)
• DARKNESS #100 CVR A HAUN (MR)
• DARKNESS #100 CVR B MCFARLANE (MR)
• DARKNESS #100 CVR C GOLDEN (MR)
• DARKNESS #100 CVR D BROUSSARD & GHO (MR)
• DC UNIVERSE ONLINE LEGENDS #24
• FF #15
• GAME OF THRONES #6 (MR)
• GEARS OF WAR #22
• GFT MYTHS & LEGENDS #13 A CVR QUALANO (MR)
• GFT MYTHS & LEGENDS #13 B CVR MOLENAAR (MR)
• GI JOE 2 RETALIATION MOVIE PREQUEL #2
• GI JOE A REAL AMERICAN HERO ANNUAL #1
• GREEN HORNET #22
• GREEN WAKE #10 (MR)
• HACK SLASH #13 CVR A SEELEY & PASSALAQUA (MR)
• HACK SLASH #13 CVR B TEMPLESMITH (MR)
• HELLRAISER #11 (MR)
• INFESTATION 2 TEAM UP ONE SHOT #1
• INVINCIBLE #89
• JOE HILL THE CAPE #4 (OF 4)
• JUSTICE LEAGUE #6
• JUSTICE LEAGUE #6 COMBO PACK
• KEVIN SMITH BIONIC MAN #7
• KEY OF Z TP VOL 01 (MR)
• KING CONAN PHOENIX ON THE SWORD #2 (OF 4)
• KIRBY GENESIS DRAGONSBANE #2
• LAST PHANTOM #12
• LEGION SECRET ORIGIN #5 (OF 6)
• LOONEY TUNES #205
• LORD OF THE JUNGLE #2 (MR)
• MAGIC THE GATHERING #2
• MOON KNIGHT #10
• NETHERWORLD #4 (OF 5) (MR)
• NEW AVENGERS #22
• ORC STAIN #7 (MR)
• PHAZER #2
• PHOENIX #5
• PIGS #6 (MR)
• ROBOCOP ROAD TRIP #3 (MR)
• SCALPED #56 (MR)
• SHADE #5 (OF 12)
• SIX GUNS #5 (OF 5)
• SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #234
• SPACEMAN #4 (OF 9) (MR)
• STAR TREK ONGOING #6
• STEED AND MRS PEEL #2 (OF 6)
• TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES MICRO SERIES #3 DONAT
• THE IMMORTAL DEMON I/T BLOOD #3
• THUNDER AGENTS VOL 2 #4 (OF 6)
• TINY TITANS #49
• TWELVE #10 (OF 12)
• ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES #7 WITH DIGITAL CODE
• ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN #8 WITH DIGITAL CODE
• UNCHARTED #4 (OF 6)
• UNWRITTEN #34.5 (MR)
• VENOM #13.4
• VESCELL #6 (MR)
• VOLTRON #3
• WALKING DEAD #94 (MR)
• WORLD OF ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #15
• WULF #5
• XENOHOLICS #5 (MR)

OTHER (tshirts, posters, art books, novels, etc.)

• COMIC SHOP NEWS 90CT BUNDLE #1289
• DC HEROES WAVE 20 NEKRON AF SET
• FUTURAMA TALKING BENDER FIGURE
• MARVEL UNIVERSE 6-IN AF ASST 2012 WAVE 02
• MONSTER BASH #14
• PREVIEWS #282 MARCH 2012

KEY "BACK IN STOCK" ITEMS (or older items in stock for the first time)

• BATMAN ARKHAM CITY SER 1 BATMAN AF
• BLACKEST NIGHT ACTION FIGURE BOX SET
• BRIGHTEST DAY SER 1 AQUAMAN ACTION FIGURE
• BRIGHTEST DAY SER 1 DEADMAN ACTION FIGURE
• BTTF III RAIL READY TIME MACHINE
• DEADPOOL BUST BANK
• DOCTOR WHO PERSONALIZE YOUR SONIC SCREWDRIVER
• MARVEL SELECT ABOMINATION AF
• MASS EFFECT NORMANDY SR2 CERBERUS SHIP REPLICA
• MASS EFFECT SSV NORMANDY SHIP REPLICA

Comics Shipping February 15th

MARVEL THOR BOTTLE OPENER

NEW COMICs

• ARMY OF DARKNESS ONGOING #1
• BPRD HELL ON EARTH LONG DEATH #1 FEGREDO CVR
• GI JOE 2 RETALIATION MOVIE PREQUEL #1
• INFESTATION 2 DUNGEONS & DRAGONS #1 (OF 2)
• MISADVENTURES OF ADAM WEST ONGOING #1
• PETER PANZERFAUST #1 (MR)
• STAR WARS DAWN O/T JEDI FORCE STORM #1 DUURSEMA CV
• STEPHEN KING JOE HILL ROAD RAGE #1 (OF 4)

TPBs/HCs

• ANNIHILATORS TP
• ASTONISHING X-MEN WHEDON CASSADAY ULT COLL TP BOOK
• AVENGERS OMNIBUS HC VOL 01 JRJR CVR
• CAPTAIN AMERICA BY DAN JURGENS TP VOL 03
• CHICO & RITA GN
• DAREDEVIL REBORN TP
• DEADMAN TP VOL 02
• EXPLORER THE MYSTERY BOXES HC
• EXPLORER THE MYSTERY BOXES SC
• FABLES DELUXE EDITION HC VOL 04 (MR)
• FEAR ITSELF DEADPOOL FEARSOME FOUR PREM HC
• GLITZ 2 GO TP (MR)
• HELLBLAZER PHANTOM PAINS TP (MR)
• IS THAT ALL THERE IS HC (MR)
• JACK AVARICE IS THE COURIER TP
• JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA MONUMENT POINT TP
• MADWOMAN O/T SACRED HEART GN (MR)
• MARVEL ZOMBIES SUPREME TP
• NAOKI URASAWA 20TH CENTURY BOYS GN VOL 19
• OLYMPIANS GN VOL 04 HADES LORD OF DEAD
• OTOMEN GN VOL 12
• PIGS TP VOL 01 HELLO CRUEL WORLD (MR)
• POWER GIRL OLD FRIENDS TP
• SONIC UNIVERSE TP VOL 02 30 YEARS LATER
• SPIDER-MAN SPIDER-ISLAND COMPANION HC
• STAND NIGHT HAS COME PREM HC
• STAR TREK CLASSICS TP VOL 2 ENEMY UNSEEN
• THE LAST ZOMBIE INFERNO TP
• TRANSFORMERS TP VOL 06 CHAOS POLICE ACTION
• ULT COMICS SPIDER-MAN BY BENDIS PREM HC VOL 01
• UNCANNY X-FORCE TP VOL 02 DEATHLOK NATION
• WARLORD OF MARS DEJAH THORIS TP VOL 02 PIRATE QUEEN
• WHISPERS IN THE WALLS GN (MR)
• X-FORCE NECROSHA TP
• ZOMBIE RECOGNITION GUIDE GN

COMICS

• ACTIVITY #3
• AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #679.1
• ANITA BLAKE CIRCUS DAMNED SCOUNDREL #4 (OF 5) (MR)
• AVENGERS #22
• AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #4 WITH DIGITAL CODE
• BATMAN #6
• BATMAN #6 COMBO PACK
• BETTY & VERONICA #258
• BIRDS OF PREY #6
• BLUE BEETLE #6
• CAPTAIN ATOM #6
• CARNAGE USA #2 (OF 5) 2ND PTG CRAIN VAR
• CATWOMAN #6
• DAREDEVIL #9
• DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER WAY STATION #3 (OF 5)
• DARKNESS #99 CVR A HAUN (MR)
• DARKNESS #99 CVR B MITCHELL (MR)
• DC UNIVERSE ONLINE LEGENDS #23
• DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS #6
• DUNGEONS & DRAGONS DRIZZT #5 (OF 5)
• END OF NATIONS #4 (OF 4)
• FABLES #114 (MR)
• FEAR ITSELF FEARLESS #9 (OF 12)
• FEMFORCE #158
• FLASH GORDON ZEITGEIST #3
• FORMIC WARS SILENT STRIKE #3 (OF 5)
• GENERATION HOPE #16 XREGB
• GHOSTBUSTERS ONGOING #6
• GLORY #23 CAMPBELL CVR
• GLORY #23 LIEFELD VAR CVR
• GOBS #4 (OF 4)
• GODZILLA KINGDOM OF MONSTERS #12
• GREEN LANTERN CORPS #6
• GRIMM FAIRY TALES THE LIBRARY #4 A CVR PEKAR
• GRIMM FAIRY TALES THE LIBRARY #4 B CVR QUALANO
• HALO FALL OF REACH INVASION #2 (OF 4)
• HELLBLAZER #288 (MR)
• HELLRAISER MASTERPIECES #8 (MR)
• HEROES OF THE NORTH DARK ORIGINS ONE SHOT (MR)
• INFESTATION 2 TRANSFORMERS #2 (OF 2)
• INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #513
• JUGHEADS DOUBLE DIGEST #178
• LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #6
• LIFE WITH ARCHIE #17
• MORIARTY #9
• MY GREATEST ADVENTURE #5 (OF 6)
• NEW AVENGERS #21
• NIGHTWING #6
• PLANET OF THE APES #11
• QUEEN SONJA #27
• RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #6
• RICHIE RICH GEMS #44
• ROBERT JORDAN WHEEL OF TIME EYE O/T WORLD #21
• ROGER LANGRIDGES SNARKED #5
• SCARLET SPIDER #1 2ND PTG STEGMAN VAR
• SIMPSONS COMICS #187
• SONIC UNIVERSE #37
• STAR TREK LEGION OF SUPERHEROES #5 (OF 6)
• SUPER DINOSAUR #8
• SUPERGIRL #6
• THUNDERBOLTS #170
• ULT COMICS X-MEN #7 SILVESTRI VAR WITH DIG CDE
• ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN #7 WITH DIGITAL CODE
• UNCANNY X-MEN #7
• VAMPIRELLA #14
• VENOM #13.2
• VILLAINS FOR HIRE #3 (OF 4)
• WAREHOUSE 13 #4
• WARLORD OF MARS DEJAH THORIS #10 (MR)
• WASTELAND #34 (MR)
• WINTER SOLDIER #2
• WITCHBLADE #153 CVR A CHRISTOPHER
• WITCHBLADE #153 CVR B BERNARD & BENES
• WOLVERINE #301
• WONDER WOMAN #6
• X-FACTOR #232 XREGG
• YOUNG JUSTICE #13

OTHER (tshirts, posters, art books, novels, etc.)

• ARTESIA ADVENTURES IN THE KNOWN WORLD RPG HC (MR)
• BATMAN BLACK & WHITE STATUE BY SERGIO ARAGONES
• COMIC SHOP NEWS 90CT BUNDLE #1287
• DOCTOR WHO CHAR BUILDING TARDIS MINI SET
• FANGORIA #311
• MARVEL UNIVERSE 6-IN AF ASST 2012 WAVE 01
• MARVEL UNIVERSE AF ASST 2011 WAVE 09
• MARVEL UNIVERSE BY NICK BRADSHAW POSTER
• PUNISHER NO SWEAT BLK T/S

KEY "BACK IN STOCK" ITEMS (or older items in stock for the first time)

• AGATHA H AND AIRSHIP CITY A GIRL GENIUS NOVEL HC
• COUNTDOWN 7 DAYS GN VOL 01
• DAVE STEVENS COMPLETE SKETCHBOOK COLL HC
• FEMME FATALES ANNE BONNY PVC STATUE
• FEMME FATALES DAWN SCHOOLGIRL PVC STATUE
• FEYNMAN GN
• INFINITE KUNG FU GN
• METABARONS TP VOL 01 OTHON & HONORATA (MR)
• METABARONS TP VOL 03 STEELHEAD & DONNA V (MR)
• STREET FIGHTER GAIDEN TP VOL 02
• STREET FIGHTER III MANGA TP VOL 01 RYU FINAL
• STREET FIGHTER IV TP VOL 01
• STREET FIGHTER LEGENDS TP VOL 01 SAKURA
• STREET FIGHTER TP VOL 04 BONUS STAGE
• STREET FIGHTER TP VOL 06 FINAL ROUND
• TELLOS COLOSSAL HC VOL 01
• TSUBASA GN VOL 01-28

January Book Club Review

Criminal Macabre

Average Rating - 7.5

Criminal Macabre is one of several stories featuring supernatural detective Cal McDonald. Criminal Macabre follows Cal as he attempts to discover why all the superstitious beliefs regarding the monsters he normally hunts are suddenly coming true.

I See Undead People

The story begins with Cal being questioned by the police, a not uncommon occurrence for the former cop. Since moving to LA Cal has discovered a series of unusual crimes committed by monsters , which isn’t actually the unusual part. All the familiar beasts he is used to hunting have started acting out of character and committing crimes that don’t fall in line with their usual behavior, meeting with humans, robbing museums , and attacking ghouls.

Cal follows the trail only to discover that all the superstitious legends surrounding the monsters he hunts, a wooden stake to heart, silver bullets, holy water and crosses, were all at one time true and now someone is using modern day science to try and bring them all back.

I Don’t Give A #%&*

Is really the only way to describe Cal. He does what he wants when he wants and makes no apologies for any of it. More often than not Cal charges in without a plan gets his ass kicked kills the monster anyway and then tops off the evening with a bottle of whiskey and a random assortment of pills.

“I really liked Cal, sort of a Gregory House MD of monster slaying” - James

Throughout the story we meet several of Cal’s friends, the ghouls, who unlike the rest of the monster world are no threat to humans as they are simply dead bodies with no need for food or motivations for evil. Along with the ghouls Cal also befriends Detective Brueger who initially thinks, like everyone else, that Cal is nuts but quickly changes her mind when a new breed of werewolf rampages through her station.

“Cal is just a big joke and he just doesn’t care, he never has a plan and does what he wants” -Matt

With help from the ghouls and Brueger Cal discovers that once upon a time it really did take more than bullets to take down a monster but that over time their powers dwindled as they were passed on to the next generation. Rather than being worried that his enemies are now bigger, stronger, and much harder to kill, Cal is actually excited for a better fight and charges off with a half-cocked plan to save the world.

“Half way through his job gets infinitely harder and he’s excited about it” - Boutet

Artwork

The artwork was a major hit and miss topic for this book. Although Templesmith’s style is dark, dank, and well suited to the horror genre it left a lot lacking as a medium for story telling.

Some pieces of art found in the book are beautifully done pieces of dark, spooky, blood splattered work.

Others are so hastily scratched out you might think he had scrawled them after a night of binge drinking.

The stylistic approach works in some places but not in others. People for example can be very hard to distinguish from each other as they often appear like lumpy potatoes with teeth and eyes, the one exception being Brueger who is drawn softer and more carefully than Cal or any of the ghouls.

This “i’m not quite sure who that is " effect combined with the often random appearance of things like say a whales tail lead to a lot of “what?!” moments that leave you flipping back a page to try and figure out what the next one is supposed to be depicting, which at the end of the day lead to a lot of poor reviews on the style.

Summary

All for all Criminal Macabre is a great read. Some of us enjoyed the anti-hero Cal and his lets just go kill something attitude while others found him a bit cliche.

“Cal was an off brand Constantine” - Jamie

“ I liked that Cal was a #$&*%^ and he just makes light of it” - Ray

Some of us enjoyed Templesmith’s style while others wanted to slap him and tell him to learn how to draw a damn chin!

“The artwork lacked consistency” - Keenan

“The art was perfect for this kind of story” - Rene

The one thing that everyone could agree on was Steve Niles story telling. It is well paced, engaging, and effortless humorous.

“His pacing has a classic story telling feel “ Remi

“It was really funny, it suited my sense of humor” -Scott

He gives fresh and original takes on the monster world that have scientific rather than supernatural explanations and feature things like harmless monsters that are not often seen in darker horror stories.

“I enjoyed the supernatural theme and the fact that the mythology is explained thoroughly” - Mathieu

“ Its original, dark, yet leaves room for humor” - Gabriel

Ratings Picked the book : Colin - Rating 9

“ Certain scenes were more artistic than others, lots of blood and gore”

Harshest Critic: Rick - Rating 4

“ It looked like he drew the cover pages then went to the bar came home smashed and scribbled the rest”

Besting Rating: Colin/ Scott - Rating 9

Next Months selection : Kingdom Come

Pick up a copy and join us February 29

To celebrate the release of the new Magic: The Gathering set, Dark Ascension, we're happy to annouce a few changes in prices and trade rates.

Starting as of today, our full boxes will be priced at $135 taxes incl (down from $140). This also includes our deal for any 36 packs for those who like to mix and match.

Also, we'll be increasing our trade rate on cards accross the board! Trading is an essential part of our business and we want to make sure we treat those who love to trade cards in as well as possible. As our lists get more and more up to date and our ability to stay current and competitive with our selling prices, we want to make sure that we are as competitive with our trading prices!

A BIG REMINDER

-Dark Ascension officially launches tomorrow (Thursday) night at Midnight. We'll be hosting our regular midnight sale. The boxes will be $125 taxes in at the launch. A box and a fat pack will run you $166 taxes included!

-Don't forget that Saturday will also be the official Dark Ascension release tournament. $40 Sealed + $20 Draft (or $50 for both). Registration starts at 10am and goes till 11:30am. Tournament starts at 12pm sharp.