Hey everyone and thank you for taking the time to click the link, open the description in your podcast app, or however you came across reading these words.
I APPRECIATE YOU!
As many of you know, for this episode, I was really wanting to have Kevin Smith as my guest. But that ended up not happening. I’ll try him again at a different time. I know he has plenty of irons in various fires.
So for this episode, I’m just getting you caught up on some of what I have been and will be reading. I’ve told my people at Twilight Comics (in Swansea, IL) that I’m going to convert from single issues to trade paperbacks, and to start ordering accordingly for me. The staff there is always thinking of new ways to get people in the doors, and Tuesday night’s “wedding celebration” of Batman and Catwoman was no different. I wasn’t there, but my son had some leftover cake on Wednesday.
So here’s a short list of some books I recommend: Superman/Batman: Finest Worlds, Kwame Hightower and the Man With No Name, and for kicks, anytime you see a Hellboy TPB on your store’s shelves, just buy it and read it.
That’s all for now. You’re great. I thank you for 5+ years of support and listenership and I promise that Episode 200 will be before 2023.
How do you obtain your comics? It’s 2017. You can get comics in lots of different ways. Maybe you go straight to the publisher and subscribe and have them delivered to your door. Maybe you have one of them there newfangled technology applications where you can read digital versions of comics on your mobile device or computer.
But I like to think that most of you still take the time to seek out your local comic book shop, browse the racks and shelves there. Talk with the people in the store, the workers and the other patrons. Pick out the titles you like, and then maybe grab something new.
I do this a lot.
I’ve made no secret that my go-to comic book store is Twilight Comics in Swansea, IL. I have been going there for almost ten years. I’ve had the owner Brian on the podcast a couple times. I even had him on terrestrial radio when I still worked there. Most of the staff knows me and starts getting my pull folder ready after I walk through the door.
But on many of my visits, I ask the question,”what do you recommend?” It has led to this acquisition:
I enjoyed the #1 issue so much that on a later visit I bought Volume 1. (Thanks Tim)
At my last visit, I grabbed this off the shelf and asked Brian what he could tell me about it (it’s the deluxe edition and was wrapped in plastic.
Brian said “it’s depressing.” Boy, he wasn’t kidding. But it’s one I’m enjoying as I go on. Plus, Alex Ross on art. So – it’s visually astounding.
And if there’s something you want that they don’t have in stock, most comic shops will order it for you. Here’s a fun little secret – THEY WANT YOUR BUSINESS!!!
I’ve found comic stores across the country as some of the friendliest and most welcoming places around. But when you find one that you can call “home,” it becomes more than a mere business transaction. You develop relationships with one another.
Now here’s what I want you to do. There have been lots of articles/columns/blogs/videos in the last few months about what’s really hurting local comic book stores. And it’s not the evolution of digital media. It’s people who have a pull list and never go in to claim it. It’s actually something I was guilty of for awhile. There were stretches where I could only get to Twilight Comics once every three or so months. They are paying for your books until you go in and get them. Please – go get ’em. You’ll help your comic book shop and as a bonus, you’ll get your comics.
Then do what I do – ask “what else ya got” and expand your horizons.
I’m facing a great dilemma. I have two versions of Justice League: The New Frontier.
There’s the deluxe version of the trade paperback (it’s deluxe, so it’s the hard cover) and the bluray version. Both are still in their protective plastic. I purchased the book from Twilight Comics, my local brick and mortar in Swansea, IL. I got the bluray from Amazon (Prime…two day free shipping…BOO YAH!)
Anyway, the dilemma is this: Do I read the book first or so I watch the movie?
Here’s the reality of the situation…I love to read, but my schedule recently has not allowed the time to read as much as I’d like. BUT – I do realize that reading the story is usually better than watching it.
Watchmen the book > Watchmen the movie
The DaVinci Code book > The DaVinci Code book
The Green Mile book = The Green Mile movie
Now I say that and acknowledge that I haven’t read some of the most popular works that have been converted to the big or smaller screens, like Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, and even The Walking Dead.
I have, however, read every Percy Jackson book, and found that particularly The Lightning Thief was superior to the movie version. I’d say the same about Sea of Monsters, but I read that one over an 8-hour period non-stop during a power outage and I don’t remember as much about the book itself.
I have recently purchased the Kindle version of A Song of Ice and Fire: A Game of Thrones with all the intention of reading that, but first I want to finish reading The Man in the High Castle, which I’m also currently watching on Amazon Streaming Video. But I’ve heard that Game of Thrones is awfully wordy, and I found that to be the case in the prologue. It took a long time to read the prologue whereas it was about three minutes or so of TV time (I’m watching GoT again because it was fun to watch Bran walk and climb stuff in the first episode and a half).
So while I want to take some time and read Justice League: The New Frontier, there’s a very good chance I’ll end up watching the animated feature first.
I have wanted to watch the movie for a long time, but never took the initiative to get after it. Ever since Darwyn Cooke’s recent passing, I’ve made it my personal goal to get out there and read his award-winning story. There it sat on the shelf behind the counter at Twilight. All by itself…no other copies. We met like this several times…me looking at the book from a small distance. Then recently I finally made the purchase and added this classic to my collection.
Now the question stands…read first or watch?
I’m leaning “read.” But again, time may not allow it. So now I’ll likely watch it sometime this weekend.
But anyway – pick it up yourself. Here’s the trailer for your viewing pleasure.
I love that classic look, and Cooke’s style works hand-in-hand with Bruce Timm’s.
It is finally here! Comics for Beginners is no joke – but there are jokes inside…laughter…tears, and whining from my dog Lucky.
And we have winners and giveaways. My wife did the drawing out of my Green Lantern hat. IT’S A REAL THING! And I explain the mess on the hat in the episode.
Great questions, great answers, except by me. Listen to the end for just a weeeeeeee bit of bonus Nerds United.
One of several variants for the Death of Wolverine #1.
In 1992, DC Comics killed the unkillable. Now in 2014, Marvel is working on the same.
“Suuuuuuuure.”
In this episode, I offer a brief audio montage to Wolverine, audio from the Eulogy at Twilight Comics, and a discussion with Twilight Comics’ Brian Hillier. We just off topic a couple times and even discuss Doctor Who briefly. But this is a Wolverine episode.
And just to make sure you didn’t miss any of the dialogue in the featured image, here it is again:
Fastball Special – usually used by Wolverine and Colossus. But let’s face it – this is much more entertaining.
Thanks as always to everyone who listens and shares. I really appreciate it.
Last time, you heard about MY story with Free Comic Book Day.
This time, we go to my “local” comic book shop. I use quotes because the place
Due to the whole “job” thing, I got there after the big crowds. But still – COMICS!
is about an hour away. But ever since I stepped foot in Twilight Comics in 2009, I have always been treated like family. And I look around and see the same treatment given to everyone else who comes in the door.
So it is my pleasure to talk with Brian Hillier, the owner of Twilight Comics (Shiloh, IL), and a guy I have been fortunate enough to get to know over the years. We talk about his beginnings in comics and, YES, we even discuss the origin of the name Twilight (or as I say, he was “twilight” before twilight was “cool” – and I put quotes on that because those God-awful books somehow became God-awful movies).
A look at some of the work from artist David Carr. Find more at www.artmonkeyworld.com
Then in the second part of the show, I visit with artist David Carr, whose ArtMonkeyWorld paintings really took off when he realized that people like art with a Doctor Who twist.
We have three of David’s prints in our home, and someday, I’ll commission him for a one-of-a-kind piece.
You’ll have to listen to the show to find out what that would be.
As always, if you like Nerds United, share it with your friends. We’ll get on iTunes or some other auto-publisher eventually. I appreciate your patience and your continued support. Like, Share, and comment on Facebook (the only comments I get on here are all spam which I clear out without reading – and I don’t want to miss your thoughts.
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, comic book fans of all ages, an amazing event is upon us. A yearly occurrence that brings millions of die-hards and casual fans to comic book stores…brick-and-mortars, as it were.
I don’t know how it works at your local comic book store, but at my store, Twilight Comics (Shiloh, IL), by mid-March or so, the standard sales bags are replaced by the Free Comic Book Day bags, emblazoned with the logo above.
Free Comic Book Day is (almost) ALWAYS the first Saturday of May. And the first Saturday of May is THIS SATURDAY, May 3.
In honor of this occasion, I was fortunate enough to grab some time with Joe Field, owner/proprietor of Flying Colors Comics, Eisner Award Winner, and the founder of Free Comic Book Day.
WHAT?!?
You heard me…this is the guy you need to thank…personally…while buying stuff from his shop.
As always, enjoy the show, visit me on Facebook and Twitter. It’s just me – no lackies or social media interns. When you see a post or response from Nerds United, that’s me. And I appreciate your feedback.
I have a ton of stuff to give away, but I need your help. Go to the Facebook page, see the picture of “Dug” from Disney/Pixar’s UP and read about the contests currently active.
I’ll be out talking to folks at Twilight Comics Friday night and Saturday afternoon. That will be my next episode.
Cosplayers aplenty at Free Comic Book Day
And remember – many of your local comic book stores are having special giveaways and incentives for customers. Don’t wait! Get out there early. And Enjoy Free Comic Book Day.
