Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Going to have to make some major Pull List Cuts

Going to be cutting my Monthly Pulls to 10 titles.

Lately reading floppies seems more like a chore then an enjoyment, which is NOT a good thing.

This is not easy, but it has to be done.

Monthly Books:

The Walking Dead
SAGA
Mind MGMT
Revival
East Of West
CHEW
Invincible
Rachel Rising
The Sixth Gun
TODD

TPB Reading:

Bedlam
Clone
Five Ghosts
Ghosted
Lazarus
Manhattan Projects
Nowhere Men
Rat Queens
Thief Of Thieves
Think Tank
American Vampire

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

A Beginners Guide: The Ways To Read The Walking Dead Comic Book


With The Walking Dead TV Show getting more popular then ever, i am somewhat surprised how many of the rabid TV Fans have not read the comic.  As good as the TV Show is (and it's real good), the book is just SO much better IMO.  it is not restricted by AMC restrictions, or the restrictions of TV itself.

i have written up a summary of which ways someone that is new to the book can get started and/or caught up on the book:

Floppies/Monthlies:  Starting in October of 2003, Image Comics released The Walking Dead as a monthly release (meaning that it was released one a month, and it has pretty much remained true to that format for each month since then for the last 10 years.)  The floppies feature full color covers, and after each issue a Letters Column where fans write in and discuss/ask questions about the book.  Some floppies also feature sneak
previews of future Image comics.  These issues, while meant to be read, are also highly collectible, making this the most costly way to read the series.  There are currently 156 floppies. There is no "end point" in sight, and i'd expect it to go at least 300 issues.
Cover price is $2.99

Trades/Trade Paper Backs/TPB : These are released about every six months.  Each TPB contains six floppies.  There are no covers or Letter Sections included, and the individual issues are not separated, it reads straight through.  There are no bonus materials included.  There are currently 25 TPBs of TWD. 
Cover Price is $14.99

Hard Cover Trades/HC : The Hard Cover Trades consist of 12 floppies, with the pages being literally a larger format. Essentially, each Hard Cover contains two TPB's.  There are bonus materials included including a collection of the covers in the back of the HC.  The Letter Section is not included, and the individual issues are not separated, it reads straight through.  There are currently 12 HC Collections.
Cover Price is $34.99

Omnibus/Oversized Deluxe : These collections contain 24 floppies each, or four TPBs/Two HC.  These pages are even larger then the HC, and comes with a slip case.  Packaging overall is Very Well done.  There are bonus materials included.  There are currently 5 Omnibus'
Cover Price is $99.99

Compendium : These Collections contain 48 floppies each, or Eight TPB/Four HC/Two Omnibus'  The pages are the same size as the floppies and the TPB.  There are no special features in the Compendiums, strictly 48 floppies from first page to last. Since these contain 48 floppies, they tend to take years to come out between releases,  48 floppies is 4 years of monthly releases, so its a safe bet (there is nothing set in stone) that a
Compendium will come out every few years. UPDATE! Volume 3 is OUT NOW!
Cover price on these is $64.99

i am a monthly floppy reader, have been since issue 98 i think it was.  i know some people that wait for the TPB to come out, but i have no idea how they have that kind of will power! LOL

When re-reading, i prefer the Hard Cover Trades/HC format.  i feel it is just the right right size when held in my hand, the increased page size is nice, and since its a hard cover, it is just an over all better experience imo.

The most economical way to read TWD would be The Compendiums, but keep in mind that these are HEAVY! i think they weigh about 7 pounds each.

Like anything else, do not be afraid to shop around for the best price you can find.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have. i can literally talk about TWD all day.

Mind MGMT By Matt Kindt

This is an independent monthly comic book released by Dark Horse Comics that you probably have never heard of.

it is 24 pages of STORY. there are NO ADVERTS within the front and back covers.  Any ads that are there are there to advance the story, and/or items related to the story. 

i will not tell you what the story is about, because i want you to experience it for yourself.  i will say that for the most part, it is most likely unlike anything else you've ever read when it comes to comic books.  That is especially true if you are strictly a "Big Two" reader, and more-so if you are all about the superheroes (not that there is anything wrong with that)

Matt Kindt writes, draws, colors and letters this book.  That's correct, he does everything that you see when you read Mind MGMT (pronounced Management).  Not only does he color it, but it is colored using water-coloring, pure awesomeness!

Now, his style may not be for everyone, but i for one, love it.  i have so much respect for the fact that he creates all aspects of this book.  That is a pretty rare feat in todays comic book world.

There are three trades out so far, which cover the first 18 issues (plus some neat bonus stuff).  The Trades themselves are a thing of Beauty.  They are both Hard Cover Collections, at Soft Cover pricing.  Not only that, but the paper stock used for the pages within are second to none.  To try to describe it here would be doing them injustice really.

i cannot recommend this book enough.  i want this book to be read by as many people as possible.  if you have any questions, please feel free to ask, as i love talking about this book (and any of the other great books that Matt has done)










Monday, October 14, 2013

2013 NYCC Thoughts, Ramblings ... Recap.

The 2013 NYCC has come to an end.  The sads have already set in, but that is normal, as it always happens to me after attending a big show.

Needless to say, i had a great time. it's really difficult NOT to have a great time when attending the NYCC.  This was my second one, and it was
different then last year.  How? you may ask.  it's hard to explain i suppose.  Last years NYCC was the first comic show that i had ever attended. i
was still so "green" when it comes to collecting comics.  i had a lot to learn. still do. Thankfully we all are always learning some thing new at all
times really.  thats one of the wonderful things about collecting. always learning something new.

This year, there were a handful of artists that were not going to be attending. initially i was a little bummed about this, but i understand that real
life gets in the way sometimes, it happens to everyone, thats the way it is.  But that didnt mean that i wasnt going to make the best of it, it was
NYCC afterall!!!

Well, i think it all worked out for the best because i was able to spend so much time involved in great conversation with those that were there :)
There are bound to be people and things that i will unintentionally leave out of this re-cap. it is not intentional, it just happens.

OK, where to even begin.

The days prior to the show i was having trouble falling asleep due to the excitement of the show approaching.  When it came to the night before
the show, i knew that sleep would not be an option.   i left my house a little after 1am on Thursday morning, hoped on the 1:49 LIRR Train to
Penn Station.  i arrived at Javits at approximately 3:15am.  i was expecting to see people there hanging out when i got there, but i was the first
one there, nobody around.  Still dark, not too cold, and relatively quiet for it being Manhattan and all.  About an hour or so later, a cosplayer
arrived, and we waited around until slowly other people started to show up.  it was about 7am before a bunch of people really started showing up.

They told us that they'd let us into the waiting que at 12 noon.  not a shock that they lied, it was after 12:30.  The show was to start at 3pm. This year
they came up with the "great" idea that all badge holders had to "tap in" to enter the show, and "tap out" to leave the grounds.  Yes, that was as
dumb as it sounds.  Of course, mine didnt "tap in" properly when they finally let us in, so my first in line was more like 30th when they finally got
my badge to work.  i was pissed, but all they could do was say "sorry". ugh.

When the doors opened, we all rushed in like a pack of zombies.  my first stop was the Skybound booth to secure some of the WD #1 B&W
NYCC Exclusive Variants, and to say hello to the staff that ive become friendly with over the year thanks to the twitter.  Mission completed,
and it was then around the corner to the Image Comics side to pick up the East Of West Hardcover NYCC Exclusive, as well as some other
things that people asked me to pick up for them.

Then it was time to check out the main floor where there were corporate booths and dealers and such.  Lots of comics and all types of collectables
to buy.  Of course, lots of high prices on stuff, especially WD floppies! LOL  no shock really. it is what it is.  did that for a while, just to give the
artists that were in Artists Alley time to get set up, and settled in.  Then it was time to head over to AA. 

Last year, Artists Alley (AA) was a complete game changer for me.  i didnt really know what it was all about, and when i learned, i was blown away.

This year, i learned that DC had given up their big fancy main floor booth, in favor of setting up at AA.  that had me completely worried.  i was worried
that DC would fuck up AA and exploit it, like the BigBloatedTwo like to do with everything else that is enjoyable.  Thankfully i was wrong.  DC had
an insignificant representation at AA, all the way in the back.  infact i didnt even realize they were there until late friday, when i made my way all the
way to the back wall.  good riddance.

Those that know me (and anyone reading this, really) know that the two people that i really wanted to meet most this year were Charlie Adlard (who
draws TWD) and Matt Kindt (The amazing Creator, Writer, Drawer, Colorer, Inker, Letterer of Mind MGMT).

Charlie lives in England and is sort of a big deal.  Image brought him over just for this show, so i knew that getting to chat with him was just not going
to be possible.  Turns out that i wasnt completely correct. i got to interact with him a little, but as much as could be expected given the situation.

i knew that Matt wasnt going to be setting up at AA until later in the evening, so it was time to check out who else was there.  Just like last year, there
were PLENTY of people who i had no idea who they were, but thats ok, it happens lol.  There were a lot of people set up and it seemed like there
were more artists set up then last year.  Not a lot of "empty tables" which was nice, since it was Thursday and all.  Speaking of which, this year NYCC
sold individual Thursday passes for the first time.  This meant that there were a LOT of people at the show Thursday, and that was not more evident
then just seeing the crowd at AA.  i will say that there were more people in AA Thursday evening this year, then there were Friday evening last year,
and thats saying something.  i love how packed AA gets, as its all about the artists, and for the most part, smaller artists that are not getting rich from
"Big Two" work.

Last week or so, i came out with an idea of a new collecting focus when it comes to getting commissions that i am a fan of.

As you may or may not know, i am a huge Walking Dead Comic Book fan.  Rick Grimes is my favorite character.  For this Focus, Rick Grimes, i approach
the artist and ask them if they are doing commissions.  if yes, i explain to them what i would like, and if they agree, then we move forward.  Here is what
i require, just three things.

1) No Hat
2) No Hand
3) Grungy/Unkempt looking, facial hair. (Basically Post ZA)

The rest is up to them.  Whatever is in their mind, i'd love for them to translate it onto the blank comic page. if they are up to it, then i give them a
Walking Dead 109 blank, and pick it up when its finished.

The nifty name i came out for this? "The Grimey Grimes Project (GGP)"  heh, i thought it was catchy.

Ok, well now it was time to see if anyone was interested in my GGP.  First person that i recognized while walking around was Ryan Browne.  Ryan
is the current artist for a book i like called "Bedlam".  Ryan and i have talked before on the twitters, and when introducing myself he remembered.
We chatted for a bit and then i asked him about GGP and he said it sounded like a good idea.  (yes!).

Then it was time to talk to other artists and see if they'd be interested in GGP.  Some of the artists i met last year, some this year for the first time. Most
agreed to participate in the GGP, which i thought was awesome!

All in all i was about to add eight pieces to my GGP (one is being completed today and mailed to me)

ok, where was i ..... oh yea, then it was more walking around to see who else was there at AA.  Again, so many, no need to mention them all by name.

Then it was time to see if Matt Kindt had gotten to his table at AA.  indeed he had.  he was all set up with his lovely wife, who was also amazing to chat with.
i love meeting great people in this hobby.  i simply cannot even recall all the amazingness that Matt and i talked about.  over the course of the four days i
would have to say that we chatted for at least two hours. it was so fantastic!   i have so much respect for him, it was a true honor to meet him in person

Then it was time to wrap up day one and head to the LIRR to get home in time to grab literally a few minutes to shower, rest and return for day two.

Friday was day two.  (a lot of what happened during day one was repeated each day, really)  i got to Javits around 6am.  The line wasnt too bad, couldnt
have been more then 200 people or so.  By end of day Friday, i had some of my GGP's back in hand.  Damn they were nice.  i was showing them to friends
and other artists as well.  all enjoyed what they saw.

Friday night i was able to get 80 minutes of sleep before heading into the city for Saturday.  On Saturday i got to Javits at about 5:30 in anticipation of a
very long line.  well, it wasnt. i was almost in the same exact spot as the morning before.

Saturday was, of course, packed.  i was able to spend literally 30 minutes on the sales floor (10:00 - 10:30) before the crowds started POURING in like
blood from a freshly cut wound.  CRAZY times indeed. i spent pretty much all day in AA on Saturday.  Not that that meant that there wasnt anyone there,
because it was packed there as well.  im sure attendance records were set this year.   had to have been.

i was supposed to go to the Zombie Escape Walk on Saturday night, but i was far too tired to even think about it. i was home by 11pm-ish and was able to
get 6+ hours sleep before getting up to go to the last day of the show.

i got to Javits just a little after 10am on Sunday.   LOTS of people awlking from the Penn Station area over to the show.  i was surprised to see that i was
just about able to walk right in without much wait at the gate.   There were already a ton of people inside, so getting around wasnt all that easy.

It was such a good time, it really was.  Sucks that it had to come to an end. i was able to get home around 8pm last night and get ready for TWD Season 4 Premier.

Here are some pickup pics:



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Friday, September 27, 2013

oh look, a post! ha

There was a time where i wrote a LOT more of these! LOL

oh well.  it happens i suppose.

NYCC 2013 is 13 days away.  i AM excited for it, but not as excited as i was a month ago. a lot of artists are not going to be there that were there last year.  Sucks, but it is what it is.

i have a bunch of WD Blanks that i would like to get Rick Grimes Sketches on, but so many artists are not going.

GRRRRR

i'll still make the best of it, and it'll still be awesome, but ya, you know.

i hope you are all doing well,
eric

Monday, August 5, 2013

2013 National Recap - When Quality wins out over Quantity, but doesnt always mean "High" Grade


As i type this, it is nearing 4:00am here in New York. My body is still on Central Time, thinking it's 3:00am. Reason being, this years National was held in Chicago.

Well, THE Show has come to an end. The collectors have gone home, as have the dealers. It's 51 weeks until The 2014 National. Yes, i am pretty sad as i am typing this. Happened to me last year after Day Five was over, and i was back home in New York (it was in Baltimore last year).

Here is my personal 2013 National Experience.

As always, The Show runs from Wednesday through Sunday. Wednesday is "Preview Night" meaning the show runs from 4:00 until 8pm. Friday through Saturday its 10-6, and Sunday is 10-5 VIPs are given access 30 minutes prior to the listed opening times above, which comes in handy if you are into getting in line to grab the many different Promotional Proceeds going on from any number of the Corporate Sponsors.

On Wednesday i arrived early in the day due to travel plans having to work out properly. Met up with my friend and roommate for the week, got checked in, then headed to the show.

This year was different. i didnt have a SOLID Focus going in, but i had an idea of what i would have liked to have started working on. When i hit the show floor for the first time, i did not get that "punch drunk" feeling that i have gotten the last three times ive gone. it was a quiet calm, almost like something in me had changed. For the worse or for the better i suppose will only reveal it's self as time goes by.

Almost immediately i started to see people that i hadn't seen since last years show. as i would meet them, we'd talk to each other like only days had gone by, not an entire year. its kind of surreal really. We are all in a Fraternity, a Cardboard Collecting Fraternity. Its a wonderful thing. Ive met some wonderful people in this hobby over the years, and The National has only strengthened the bond that we all share.

Then it was time to look around. i have pretty much given up on the Leaf Paige, opting for the Bowman instead. Also, i wanted to see if i could pick up nearly perfectly centered graded copies of Pre-War Legends, specifically the First Five Guys that were elected into the HOF. (Cobb, Ruth, Wagner, Johnson, Mathewson), plus possibly some of the other very well know Legends. The "catch" to this Focus is that the card has to be from when they were an active MLB Player first and foremost, there is no exception to that particular rule. The other thing is that i prefer that the players card feature an action shot. When i say "Action" that pretty much means anything other then a portrait, as there are not all that many options for cards of the time. That last rule is not all that strict, and can be changed by myself at anytime, especially if the Portrait looks more like the player (literally) then the "Action" Shot. The last thing, and certainly not the least thing is that the card must have as close to dead centering as possible.

Ok, so a mixture of all the days were spent like this.... Chatting, looking, chatting, looking, meeting new people, looking, chatting, introducing new people to old people, going to Wrigley Field, looking, buying, chatting, looking, resisting the temptation to buy cards that do not fit into my new Focus, especially on the Centering aspect.

The first four days of the show were very well attended, there were a lot of people with all kinds of teams' jerseys, etc on. it was very nice to see a pretty good number of young children not only there, but interested and enjoying the hobby.

After Saturday, all but three of us in the Fraternity had headed home, back to the "real world". i really do miss those sons-of-brilliant people! ;)

Sunday was disappointing as some of the dealers didnt even bother to show up, and most others started to trickle out after a few hours. by 2pm the place was pretty much dead. Shortly thereafter i began to make my final rounds and say goodbye to my dealer friends, wish them safe travels and hope to see them again next year.

Onto my pickups (which im gathering, is the only reason that some people read these posts ;)

i did a LOT of walking around, searching for the cards that would qualify for my new focus. i was unable to find a Paige that was reasonably priced, so that hunt goes on.

Please pardon the large pictures, but i think they are better then no scans at all, eh? :)

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The Gehrig is interesting as a good friend of mine was the one that found it, ON SATURDAY! i know, right? go figure. i looked and looked, and missed it each time. (Also note that it is the #160, which is known to be more "rare" then the #92)

one other thing that i forgot to add. if you are ever in that area, like steak, and are able to eat at Gibson's Steakhouse, i cannot recommend it enough. yes, it is expensive, but WOW it is simply amazing!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my recap. i hope i was able to express and share how enjoyable it was for me, and maybe convince those that have not gone to do so next year? :)

-Eric

Sunday, July 14, 2013

My Pull List, as of July 2013 ...

Here is my current pull list:

Monthly Books i would buy even if released weekly:

The Walking Dead
SAGA
Mind MGMT

The rest in no particular order:

Revival
Bedlam
CHEW
Clone
East Of West
Five Ghosts
Invincible
Lazarus
Manhattan Projects
Nowhere Men
The Sixth Gun
Thief Of Thieves
Think Tank
Todd The Ugliest Kid On Earth
Rachel Rising
American Vampire

This list does not contain mini's for obvious reasons.  If you'd like to discuss any of these books, feel free to contact me.