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Posted By Dave on January 19, 2012
AVENGERS vs X-MEN is coming.
CBH had to choose sides, and although we like the X-Men, informal polls said we had to side with the AVENGERS! The series is in April, but we have to get pumped up starting now. With that in mind, check out the Avengers movie trailer again.
Remember: we’re in this together now!
Posted By kita on January 18, 2012
It’s your favorite weekly comic news with new streamlined action for better aerodynamics. It’s January and that means New Year’s resolutions so we are working to trim the fat and give you more content. This week – X-Men vs. Avengers, Joe debates Ken’s previous point, Kita gets distracted trying to pass notes to the boss and more!
Language warning! Kita talks like a lady.
What’s your most anticipated comic this week? Bet you can guess mine!
You actually listen to this stuff? Then click this to listen now!
Posted By Dave on January 18, 2012
THIS WEEK’S COMICS HIGHLIGHTS
CBH picks the BIG books plus ones you might miss
Posted By Dave on January 17, 2012
It’s that time! The wait is over! Here it is: my weekly Pull List! Just one more left until this feature switches to my personal Pick of the Week. In the meantime, you lucky folks get to see everything that the guy behind the counter reads.
Click on the covers to get a description of what I’m picking up this week! See everything coming in on Wednesday on our New Comics page.
Posted By paul on January 15, 2012
Whew! I got out of there just in time! From Monday, December 26th to January 2nd, a large contingent of my family and I spent a great week in Key West, Florida. Sunny every day with the temps in the high 70s and a nice breeze, but that was going to change as a cold front was approaching the next day. So good to be back home to single digit wind chills and SNOW!? Yeah, right!
It was surprising to see former Philadelphia Eagles coach and sports commentator, Dick Vermeil, waiting with us at our gate in Philly airport for departure. Even more surprising was seeing him sit right behind us slubbs in economy. I didn’t pester him for an autograph, but did acknowledge him and he shook my hand. Our flight to Miami was smooth and we headed out to Thrifty to pick-up our reserved vehicle. After being told that it would take “a couple of minutes” before they could bring our car around, we were made to wait 54 minutes (our slip was time stamped). We had made the reservation months in advance and confirmed it the day before – sound like a Seinfeld episode? As names were called for people to claim the next car, it became very obvious that my slavic surname was a detriment in this part of the country. Anyway, we were finally on our way to paradise, a mere 160 mile drive on a mostly two-laned road.
Our rental, a 5 bedroom house, with a private pool surrounded by huge palms, was on the end of the famous Duval Street, at the southernmost end. At the other end, about a mile away, is where every night is a party at Mallory Square to watch the sunset and street entertainers and local craftmen and artists. This end is also famous for its bars such as Sloppy Joe’s, The Bull, Hogsbreath, Irish Kevin’s, Schooner Wharf, Rick’s, Cowboy Bill’s (where we caught a ladies’ night bull-riding contest – yes, some wanted to win so…) and many, many more. You hear live music – non-stop – from roughly noon to 4:00 in the morning when the bars close. Of course, there is the obligatory Jimmy Buffett and other island songs, as well as reggae, but mostly classic rock and top 40.
What a great, pleasant surprise it was to walk into Sloppy Joe’s and catch Captain Blue Hen Comic’s own Jason Biel up on the stage! His band, Hyjinx, was the headliner and was booked for the entire week, including the New Year’s weekend! Now that’s impressive – and they deserve it. Do yourself a favor, catch this group when they are in town! Yes, there are other cover bands that have been around longer perhaps, like Captain Kangaroo or whatever, but this is the best of the bunch and… it features a good looking lead singer! No, obviously I’m not talking about Jason, as he is the key-board player and back-up singer, but he did do a solo while we were there and gave Newark, Delaware a shout-out.
New Year’s Day and we had not one, not two, but FOUR iguanas in our back yard! In the morning, we saw one that was at least 4 feet long sunning himself on a branch, high up in one of our trees. He was prehistoric looking with a spiny mane down his back. Later that afternoon, we noticed a smaller (about 12-15″) bright green one hugging the base of one of the palms by the pool and then another one came down that same tree as the big boy and calmly pranced right in front of us to the other side of the yard where we then saw another fairly big one up about head high in another bush. After a while, he pranced back to the original tree. A local claims that there is something called “Iguana Begone” that he uses to keep them away. Hmmm, was he pulling one on us northerners?
For those considering a trip down there, let me share a few thoughts from what I observed and read in a book I bought called “Quit Your Job and Move To Key West“:
The authors of the book suggest that if considering moving there, bring only half of what you think you’ll need, but twice the money. Casual clothes get you in everywhere, but the cost of living is higher.
Best Burger: Our last night, we went to Pat Croce’s (yes, the same Pat Croce from Philadelphia sports and fitness fame) Rum Barrel restaurant. It is a sports bar with TV’s all over the place tuned to different events. It also has an open deck upstairs, but the highlight was their 10 oz. burgers with fries or home-made chips for $10.95! A block off Duval on Front Street.
Cheapest drinks: The Green Parrot! More of a townie bar, but it is famous and should be on any “must see” list. Also, nightly live music.
Most Interactive with the Crowd Bar: Irish Kevin’s. Typically, they have a solo act on stage (starting as early as noon) who tells stories, talks with the customers, has contests, and of course sings. It seems all performers are picked who do this sort of thing. At night, this fairly large place, with several bars is packed. When a group walks in, usually they are asked where they are from. Once the newcomers reveal their home state, the crowd will typically yell out “F – You!” – especially if you’re from New York.
Real Cher
Means of Travel: Bikes and scooters. Parking is at a premium. We had our own driveway and used the mini-van to go to the other side of the island and get provisions at a Publix food store. Otherwise, we walked or took a taxi (flat rate of $3.00 per person) when the night was late. Bike rental for a week ran about $59 and is a nice way to see the entire island – it’s so flat, and the pedaling is easy (sung to “Summertime”). I have visited the cemetery a number of times and have never found the one with the epitaph “I Told You I Was Sick” – but I have seen the postcards of it! Due to its elevation being barely above sea level, the graves are either extremely shallow, many with broken or cracked concrete covers, or above ground.
Diversity: If you are intolerant of those not like you, Key West might not be the place for you. You will see lots of bumper stickers and signs proclaiming “One Human Family” and they practice it in Key West. According to the booklet I purchased, they estimate that about 20-25% of the population is gay. Our group caught a drag queen show New Year’s Eve. It was a riot as the performers exaggerated the stereotypes and lip-synced songs. We saw Cher, Dolly Parton, Joan Crawford and others. During each round, the entertainers would work the crowd for tips, posing for pictures, and “flirt” with the customers. If you’re a homophobe, stay home. At midnight, one of the famous entertainers was dropped in a huge red slipper at midnight.
Free Entertainment: Just walk along the streets! Most bars have open sides and wide doors where you can listen to the live music outside. Of course, there is always people watching and you’ll see all kinds. Don’t forget the Mallory Square enteratiners every night. Then, KW always seems to have any reason to have a parade. We saw a huge bicycle parade, most adorned with Christmas lights. Then we saw a Hannukah parade. There was supposed a “Weiner Dog” parade, which I never caught, but there were loads of dachshunds being walked all over.
Comic Books: Didn’t see a single one anywhere!!! Hmmm… a Captain Blue Hen K.W. wouldn’t have any competition – same as up here! Psych! ‘Til next time.
Posted By Dave on January 14, 2012
From the TOP 300 Graphic Novels list
Based on Diamond Comics and Publisher data.
1. WALKING DEAD TP VOL 15 (MR)
2. FABLES TP VOL 16 SUPER TEAM (MR)
3. WALKING DEAD TP VOL 01 DAYS GONE BYE
4. LAST BATTLE ONE SHOT
5. CRIMINAL TP VOL 06 LAST OF INNOCENT (MR)
6. NARUTO TP VOL 53
7. BRIGHTEST DAY TP VOL 01
8. WALKING DEAD TP VOL 02 MILES BEHIND US
9. X-MEN SCHISM HC
10. ULT COMICS SPIDER-MAN TP VOL 03 DOSM PRELUDE
11. RED WING TP
12. SUPERMAN SECRET ORIGIN TP
13. X-MEN AGE OF X TP
14. BATMAN NOEL DELUXE EDITION HC
15. X-MEN DAYS OF FUTURE PAST TP
16. BATMAN NO MANS LAND TP VOL 01
17. BALTIMORE VOL 01 THE PLAGUE SHIPS TP
18. BLEACH TP VOL 37
19. WALKING DEAD TP VOL 03 SAFETY BEHIND BARS
20. SECRET AVENGERS TP VOL 02 EYES OF DRAGON
Posted By Dave on January 13, 2012
Plus see the New Comics Page where you can click pics for descriptions and previews!
Posted By Dave on January 12, 2012
Diamond Comics Distributors Retailer Website article:
DC Comics has announced via its blog, The Source, that the “Second Wave” of DC Comics – The New 52 will launch in May of 2012 with six new, ongoing series.
“The excitement of the initial launch of DC Comics-The New 52 was in seeing the re-imagining of these classic characters and concepts,” said DC Entertainment Editor-in-Chief Bob Harras. “The ‘Second Wave’ is all about world-building.”
The new books will, according to the blog, “build on the shared universe and bold concepts introduced in September 2011 with the renumbering of DC Comics’ entire line of comic books.” Like the first wave of titles, they will also feature many of the industry’s top creators, including the first ongoing series written by acclaimed author China Miéville (Embassytown, King Rat).
“Second Wave” titles include:
• Batman Incorporated, written by Grant Morrison & illustrated by Chris Burnham, which will present a “fresh take” on the series in which the Batman brand becomes an international franchise in preparation for a major threat. (Shown at right)
• Earth 2, written by James Robinson & illustrated by Nicola Scott, in which the Justice Society battles menaces that will set their parallel Earth at odds with other worlds.
• Worlds’ Finest, written by Paul Levitz & illustrated by George Perez and Kevin Maguire, which follows Huntress and Power Girl as they fight to return from our Earth to Earth 2 in story arcs that will be illustrated alternately by the two artists.
• G.I. Combat, written by J.T. Krul & illustrated by Ariel Olivetti, brings back the DC classic The War That Time Forgot alongside rotating back-up stories and creative teams, including The Unknown Soldier, with writers Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti and artist Dan Panosian; and The Haunted Tank, with writer John Arcudi & artist Scott Kolins.
• The Ravagers, written by Howard Mackie & illustrated by Ian Churchill, a spin-off from Teen Titans and Superboy that tracks four superpowered fugitive teens as they combat the organization that wants to turn them into supervillains.
• Dial H, written by China Miéville & illustrated by Mateus Santoluoco, takes the popular concept and turns it into an examination of the psychological effects on an everyman who accidentally gains powers. (Shown left)
The six new titles will replace six existing books — Blackhawks, Hawk and Dove, Men of War, Mister Terrific, O.M.A.C. and Static Shock – that will end in April with their eighth issues. However, Harras assured that many characters from these titles will appear in the remaining New 52 books “in some very surprising ways. We’re developing stories that reach from cultures around the globe to parallel worlds. We’re just getting started.”
Posted By Dave on January 12, 2012
JUSTICE LEAGUE #4
BATMAN #4
ACTION COMICS #4
GREEN LANTERN #4
AVENGERS X-SANCTION #1
DETECTIVE COMICS #4
DEFENDERS #1
FLASH #4
BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #4
SUPERMAN #4
BATMAN AND ROBIN #4
UNCANNY X-MEN #3
AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #2
AQUAMAN #4
WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #3
WONDER WOMAN #4
AVENGERS #20
UNCANNY X-FORCE #19
TEEN TITANS #4
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #675
Posted By paul on January 11, 2012
Joe Forbes – come on down! You are this year’s winner in our Mensa Bracket Challenge for correctly predicting that The WHEEL would be voted as the Best Invention by the participating members of Mensa. Your major award is awaiting you at the shop! Second place went to Ken Wohner, a mentor at the Tome School. Yours truly and one of my spawns, Hunter, took third and fourth, respectively. All four of us scored a cool Mensa “Zombies Dislike Mensa Brains” tee-shirt. Thank you to all who took the time to enter. Mensa is seeking suggestions for next year’s bracket challenge. If you believe that you have an interesting idea for one, let me know and I’ll pass it on to committee.
In the next day or two, I will be putting up a post I started to write last week but have yet to finish. It revolves around my family trip to Key West at the end of the year. However, upon returning, I had to prepare for a show I did this past Sunday in Timonium, Maryland* and have been processing a large collection I purchased last Saturday. Some of the “keys” are now in the showcases and I plan on swapping out many of the issues that have been in the bins directly acoss from the register with ones from this “fresh to the market” group on Thursday, 1/12. Hundreds of issues that haven’t been in the shop for some time – strong on Marvel titles. Once again, readers of our website are getting the news first!
In the hotel where the comic show was held, there also happened to be a “Psychic Fair.” I found it strange that they needed so many signs on the wall directing people to its location?
Posted By kita on January 11, 2012
Can Walking Dead season 2, part 2 bring the zombie gore Ken needs? Will Marvel top DC more than one month out of this year? And do you enjoy snarky comments at the bottom of your comic pages? All this and more on this weeks episode of From the Booth!
Ken’s stack, Disney XD, Pandora!
From the Booth – we’re reading more. Are you?
Listen here for this weeks comic news!
Posted By Dave on January 11, 2012
THIS WEEK’S COMICS HIGHLIGHTS
CBH picks the BIG books plus ones you might miss
Posted By Dave on January 10, 2012
Everyone’s been waiting for my weekly Pull List, so here it is. At the end of the month, I will switch to my pick of the week. In the meantime, you lucky folks get to see everything that I read. (It’s all part of our new “get to know a Dave” program.) As a customer, you might want to know what the guy behind the counter reads when you ask for recommendations.
Click on the covers to get a description of what I’m picking up this week! See everything coming in on Wednesday on our New Comics page.
Posted By Dave on January 9, 2012
Yesterday the Comic Book Diner podcast guys barnstormed CBH. We had a great visit. Here are some photos taken by reviewer/reporter, Mike Clarke of BC Refugee Blog showing Jamar Nicholas, Rich Faber, and John Gallagher doing their stuff.
