Virtual Comic Con XXIII is this weekend over at the CGC Messageboards!

This weekend I will be setup in Booth #7, my 10th time setting up at this virtual convention. If you haven't sited a virtual convention format it is such a great idea.  I have made deals with collectors all over the world, all while sitting at my desk in just a few hours over the weekend. The dealers are trustworthy and friendly, take a look!

VCC HOURS:

• Saturday, October 20, 2012: 12 PM EST - Midnight EDT (soft close)


• Sunday, October 21, 2012: 4 PM EST - 10 PM EDT.

In addition to the various comics and comic-related offerings, there are usually VCC Charity Auctions with proceeds going to the charity of the buyer's choice. (Usually comic-related charities like the Hero Initiative or the CBLDF.) This show will also feature the second VCC Costume Contest.

Hope to see you there! If you would like to be notified of future VCC events,  please Sign Up for our VCC Mailing List!

Visit Virtual Comic Con Now!

Convention Wrap Up: Baltimore Comic-Con 2012

The convention floor

This convention has it all!

If you are a Fan of comic books and have never been to the Baltimore Comi-Con you need to change that. Now! Well, not right now, but next year.

Whether you are a collector, a reader, an artist or a writer, this convention has something for you. There are rows and rows of comic creators, comic retailers and memorabilia dealers. If you collect older comics or if you prefer modern comics you can find them here. Guaranteed. Digital comics were represented as well, Comixology was promoting their comics reader app.

Before I jump into what I did at the show I wanted to say one more great thing about the con. This an extremely kid friendly show and a great opportunity to grow interest in the medium with younger children. There was a whole "kids love comics" section as well as costume contests and so much more. Take your kids, they will love it!

What did I do at this years event?

Poison Ivy loved the glass with her namesake!

I worked at the 'Toon tumblers booth helping my buddy Paul. He sells fantastic collectible pint glasses. The quality is great and the selection ranges from Marvel and DC to Looney Toons and Archie. I picked up a new Space Ghost Tumbler and this fantastic Spider-Man glass signed by the man, John Romita Sr.

There were many good events and sessions during the convention. I attended a fantastic panel session, of former Kubert School students, focused on the legacy of Joe Kubert. It was great to hear these talented creators share some very personal stories of their experiences at the Kubert School.

How about some actual comics.

I only bought a few comics but one of them was a 2012 goal comic. From Bob Storms at HighGrade Comics I picked up a CGC 9.2 Amazing Spider-Man 129.

I also managed to find a very pretty looking Thrilling Comics 69 and a CGC 9.8 Wolverine 1.

Next year I'll have more time to look at the dealer selection at greater length.

Other things to do at the con

If you didn't know Stan Lee was at the show for both days. Stan is such a great spirit and some day I need to meet him and get an autograph.

Herb Trimpe was also at the show, in fact he was directly across from the 'Toon Tumbler booth for a while doing sketches. It would be cool to get a Wolverine versus Hulk sketch from him.

Herb Trimpe doing his thing!

There were some other really good sessions and if I didn't put in the extra hours selling glasses I would have attended them. The discussion on Marvel Now seemed like it would be good and there was also an interesting panel with Ron Marz and Jamal Igle. Finally the Kickstarter session was likely full of good ideas on getting a project started and managing it well.

One final goal for next year is to buy some original art. If original art is your thing Baltimore Comic Con is a great place to search. At least 3 dealers had very large selections. Many smaller collections could also be found on the floor.

What did you do at the con?

Share some comments about your time at the con or let me know what comics, sketches, signatures or art you picked up.

Movie Review: The Avengers is a Huge Hit

Well, this isn't a big surprise is it? Actually it is surprising just how big it is. I had expected Iron Man 2 type of numbers to be reported but Avengers is now the 6th highest grossing domestic film. This is only the third weekend the movie has been playing.

This is great for comic book fans right?

As a comic collector I am super excited for this hit movie. Along with other comic book films of the past decade Avengers is spiking peoples interest in comics. I know a few of my friends that collected in the early 1990's are coming back to read comics again. I just hope this trend continues.

My review of the movie

I can't say this is my favorite comic book movie of all time but it is close to the top. There was a great sense of timing in this movie. It was over 2 hours long but I hardly noticed. The story kicked into place right away and the action really kept flowing. Each character had some great lines and played a big part in the movies success. I will admit I was hoping for more than Loki. If you stayed until the end of the credits you know there was more but that is a spoiler (read below.)

I actually ran into a comic collector friend when my wife and I went to see the film. That made the experience even better, chatting beforehand and then during the end credits about how cool the movie was.

Would I watch it again?

I actually did, I went to see it the second weekend it was out with a good friend. This time, because I heard great reviews, I saw it on IMAX 3D. It was incredibly well done for post-production 3D effects and well worth the extra money. I can't wait for this movie on Blu-Ray in the fall.

SPOILERS

Is there really anyone left who hasn't seen this movie? So, there were 2 extra scenes added to the end of the movie during and after the credits. The first scene hinted that Thanos, the Mad Titan, would be a villain in a coming sequel. The second scene was even better. The Avengers were just sitting around eating Shawarma. It was perfect.

So, about that spoiler and getting comic collectors excited. Sales of Iron Man 55, the first appearance of Thanos, are going through the roof. This comic is now pricing near the first appearance of Wolverine. I don't expect that to continue but got to think some of these buyers are collectors coming back to the hobby as many collectors have this issue as one of their keys already and the price is pretty high.

What did you think of the movie?

Free Comic Book Day 2012

Sorry for the delay in this post I intended to write it sooner but was at a conference. May 5th was free comic book day for 2012. I only visited one store this year, Alliance Comics. This is my local shop, only a few short blocks away. The shop had a small line for the 10AM opening. 3 free comics per person was the limit, which was perfect for me. Alliance Comics also ran a sale in the entire store for the day which was excellent to entice more new readers. I grabbed the following 3 comics:

• Mouse Guard Hardcover, from Archaia Entertainment


• Transformers 80.5, from IDW


• The Guild, from Dark Horse Comics

The Mouse Guard book is very nicely done and I was amazed it was available as a free comic. There were multiple stories and art included in this hardcover. Even a great short by Jeremy Bastion of Cursed Pirate Girl. Transformers 85.5 was also the follow on to the comic series from Marvel comics that ended with issue number 85. The Guild free comic wasn't really what I was expecting. I should have picked up the Atomic Robo comic which is always funny.

So, what did you get? Did you miss free comic book day? If so, check with your retailer, they may have some left over. You can also check out the comixology app in the itunes store. Many of the FCBD books are available there and look great on your iPad.

Virtual Comic Con is this Weekend!

Virtual Comic Con XXI is this weekend over at the CGC Messageboards!

I will be setup in Booth #11, my 9th time setting up at this virtual convention. The virtual convention format is such a great idea,  I have made deals with collectors all over the world. All while working from my desk in just a few hours over the weekend. The dealers are trustworthy and friendly, take a look!

VCC HOURS:

• Saturday, February 25, 2012: 12 PM EST - Midnight EDT (soft close)


• Sunday, February 26, 2012: 4 PM EST - 10 PM EDT.

In addition to the various comics and comic-related offerings, there are usually VCC Charity Auctions with proceeds going to the charity of the buyer's choice. (Usually comic-related charities like the Hero Initiative or the CBLDF.)

Hope to see you there! If you would like to be notified of future VCC events,  please Sign Up for our VCC Mailing List!

Visit Virtual Comic Con XXI Now!

Short Review: The Avengers Super Bowl Ad

I'll keep this review short and sweet. The Avengers ad from the Super Bowl was really good. I love the pacing of the entire trailer to the reveal of the Hulk in the circle of Avengers at the end of the ad.

Nick Fury's ominous dialog really sets the tone and helps to build the excitement. Of course I sort of think back to Samuel L Jackson's speech in Deep Blue Sea. We all know how that turned out for him, huh?

This team, while not the exact team I would expect, provides some really great opportunities for comedy, drama, and of course all-out action.

Probably the only thing that bothered me a little is Cap's costume. I think it will grow on me but for some reason it just didn't look right during the commercial last night.

Here is the extended version of the trailer. I love the line, "We have a Hulk."

May 4th can not come soon enough!

Comic Related Movies You Must See in 2012

There are a number of decent movies coming out this year for the comic book enthusiast to enjoy. I love watching my favorite comic book characters come to life but I have to admit that I don't typically see every one of these movies in the theaters.

If the movie just doesn't look good, or is focused on a character that I just don't follow (Green Lantern for example), I will likely wait to see it on Blu-Ray. I actually find I can enjoy a movie much more in my home (less ambient noise = more focus on the movie) than at the theater so the movies I may not have liked as much in the theater turn out to be some of my favorites later on. If only I could recreate the Pretzel Bites experience at home also...

So what movies do I think most comic book fans will love in 2012?

1. The Amazing Spider-Man


2. The Avengers


3. The Dark Knight Rises

The Amazing Spider-Man

Over the July 4th weekend, July 3rd to be exact, we will be treated to another reboot of the Spider-Man mythos. I am not really a fan of constant reboots but I didn't have a good feeling about Spider-Man 3 anyway. So, I am looking forward to a new series of films with new actors and a new spin on the Spider-Man origin.

I like Kirsten Dunst but the part of MJ just wasn't her best role - she just seemed too whiny too me. I did however, love Tobey Maguire and J.K. Simmons as Peter Parker and J. Jonah Jameson, so those will be tough shoes to fill. Particularly since I haven't even seen any mention of the owner of the Daily Bugle in any credits, which is very odd. An added bonus for me will be an appearance by Dennis Leary as George Stacy.

The teaser theater poster doesn't impress me much but I have faith that the movie itself will not let me down. After all, it is Spider-Man right?

The Avengers

This is a project that I really didn't think would happen and I have to really give credit to all of the players being committed and pulling this movie together.

Many of the actors are some big name stars, or became big name stars leading up to this film from their previous roles as Thor and Captain America. I imagine keeping these folks eyes all together on this one goal must have been a bit challenging and the director, Joss Whedon, appears to have done a fantastic job.

The early teaser trailer looks really cool. Hopefully this movie will be a major smash hit and more sequels will follow. May 4th will come faster than you think, get ready for The Avengers!

The Dark Knight Rises

I have to admit that I have not watched this trailer yet and I don't aim to anytime soon. This will be a movie I go into as blind as possible. So, how can I recommend that you must see this movie if I haven't even seen the preview? Easy!

If you have already watched the first 2 installments of Christopher Nolan's Batman films you have an idea of just how awesome this film will be. The dark and gritty nature of the previous films appears to be continuing in this latest film. All of the photos that I have seen and the rumors I have heard lead me to believe we can expect some serious drama and action in TDKR.

Even the posters for this movie look incredible!

What movies are in your top 3 to see this year?

Comics I Want In 2012

Obviously I have too many comics, hence the name of the site. That does not mean my collection is complete though. There are still a lot of really cool comic books I'd like to add to my collection.

I will focus on just a few comics this year so that I might actually achieve my goal of getting all of these comics. So, without further ado, here is my list:

X-men 11 in CGC grade of 9.0 or higher

I have a decent copy of this book to read but would like to add a nice graded copy to my collection.

In 2011 I completed my graded collection from 1-10 and might start to expand that collection to 1-20 graded if I can find this book in 2012.

Exciting Comics 57, 60, 61, or 66

I would be happy to add any of these issues to my collection. The covers are all fantastic Alex Schomburg art, and would compliment a few of my Jumbo Comics Sheena covers.

As I had mentioned earlier I only recently (in 2011) added my first golden age comics to my collection and really like some of these early good girl art covers. Schomburg was one of the creators that caught my eye early but the issues are harder to find in mid-grade at a price I am comfortable with.

Regarding the grade of the issues I'd like I would be happy with anything in the 4.0 (very good) or higher range. A presentable lower grade with a nice front cover might work for me as well.

Amazing Spider-Man 129 in CGC grade of 9.2 or higher

As one of the most popular issues of Spider-man I feel I should finally add this issue to my collection.

Spider-man is not really a character I collect, well not since the Todd McFarlane issues in the late 80's, so I never picked up this issue.

Collectors of course know that this is the first appearance of the Punisher. As a teenager this issue was always on my need list and thinking back I am surprised I still have never owned a copy.

I aim to change that in 2012. This issue is very "available" so I will just need to budget accordingly and select a copy that I really like.

What comic books are on your pick-up list for 2012?

Post a comment here or on Facebook to let me know what great back issues you have your eye on.