So for those who don’t know (which I am pretty sure is everyone who looks at my blog), the first Saturday in May is Free Comic Book Day.
Basically, it’s a chance to head to your local comic book store and pick up some free comic books. A lot of publishers put out books for this day, and it’s a good chance to get your feet wet in the comic world without dropping any cash.
So, if you’re out and about on May 5th, take a trip over to Gatekeeper Hobbies. It’s not only the lone comic book store in Topeka; it’s the best one I have ever shopped in. The staff is super friendly and knowledgeable and they are more than willing to help you find a title that will pique your interests, and if you are looking for a certain book, they will go out of their way to get it for you.
So May 5th is not only a great chance to score some free comics, it’s also a great opportunity to support the local economy.
And for those of you who can't find Gatekeeper, here is a handy map courtesy of Google:
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Friday, March 30, 2012
Post 4: Digital vs. Print
It is official…the digital age is upon us and it has been for some time. Just about every consumable for of mass media has went digital.
From music to newspapers, everything someone wants is just a click away.
While it has taken a while, comics have finally gone full
force into the digital age. Though e-comics have been available for quite a while in limited numbers, DC Comics brought digital distribution to the forefront with their “re-launch” last summer. No longer would you have to wait a month or two to find a digital copy of your
favorite book; digital comics would be available the same day as print
editions. Nor would you have to wait for the local comic shop to backorder a title for you that they were out of…you can just snag a copy of it on the internet, load it on your e-reader of
choice, and you’re set…convenience at its best. It’s certainly working as the big two publishers (DC and Marvel) both support that model.
It sounds pretty good, and for some people, I’m sure it is. For some reason, though, I just can’t
get into it. I go digital for just about everything from books to music to games, but for some reason, I still prefer to head to Gatekeeper every Wednesday and pick my books up. I even based my purchase of an e-reader on which one had the best comic book support, but I still buy them at the store every week.
I think it stems from the fact that I like to have a tactile product in my hands. I like being able
to hold my comics as I read them, the mundane ritual of boarding and bagging each issue, and watching my collection grow as they get forever stashed in my white comic box, only to be brought out and read again when the urge hits me. Plus, I like being able to support a local
business by giving them my business on a weekly basis.
Or maybe, just maybe, I’m a hoarder and I don’t even know it.
From music to newspapers, everything someone wants is just a click away.
While it has taken a while, comics have finally gone full
force into the digital age. Though e-comics have been available for quite a while in limited numbers, DC Comics brought digital distribution to the forefront with their “re-launch” last summer. No longer would you have to wait a month or two to find a digital copy of your
favorite book; digital comics would be available the same day as print
editions. Nor would you have to wait for the local comic shop to backorder a title for you that they were out of…you can just snag a copy of it on the internet, load it on your e-reader of
choice, and you’re set…convenience at its best. It’s certainly working as the big two publishers (DC and Marvel) both support that model.
It sounds pretty good, and for some people, I’m sure it is. For some reason, though, I just can’t
get into it. I go digital for just about everything from books to music to games, but for some reason, I still prefer to head to Gatekeeper every Wednesday and pick my books up. I even based my purchase of an e-reader on which one had the best comic book support, but I still buy them at the store every week.
I think it stems from the fact that I like to have a tactile product in my hands. I like being able
to hold my comics as I read them, the mundane ritual of boarding and bagging each issue, and watching my collection grow as they get forever stashed in my white comic box, only to be brought out and read again when the urge hits me. Plus, I like being able to support a local
business by giving them my business on a weekly basis.
Or maybe, just maybe, I’m a hoarder and I don’t even know it.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Post 3, Justice League: Doom
So to change things up this week, I am writing up a review of Justice League: Doom, the new DC animated movie that released this week.
Justice League: Doom is roughly based on the Tower of Babel storyline by Mark Waid that was published in Justice League America issues #43-46 in 2000. The premise of Tower of
Babel is that Batman has developed “fail safes” in case any of the Justice League members go rouge and they need to be brought down. Inadvertently, these plans are stolen and used by Vandal Savage to take out the Justice League while he launches a nefarious plan for world domination.
Justice League: Doom follows the same basic recipe, while not being a carbon copy ofTower of Babel. First off, it is written by the late, great Dwayne McDuffie. He did a fantastic job of adapting and streamlining the storyline for the small screen.
Second, Doom tweaks the cast of the Justice League for this adventure. The Justice League of America in this movie is Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Green Lantern, and
the Martian Manhunter. Also featured is Cyborg, who is not a member of the JLA during the movie, is featured prominently and he eventually joins them at the end which mirrors his status in the new Justice League comic.
As far as the movie itself goes, it holds up great to the level quality that has become standard for DC animated movies. The voice acting is fantastic, the story is great and is fully fleshed out in its 77 minute running time, and the animation is top notch as always. I have to give props to the animators for carrying over character designs from other DC movies as it makes the animated DC Universe feel more cohesive.
Not only does the movie rock, it comes with a whole slew of bonus materials on the disc. It has a “memorium” feature in Dwayne McDuffie that has interviews with friends, family, and colleagues and helps to chronicle his life in comics. Justice League: Doom also features a making of short, a short animated piece about how Batman gathered all of the intel for his failsafe plans, two episodes of the Justice League Unlimited cartoon, and as a nifty little bonus it also includes a digital copy of the JLA storyline, Tower of Babel.
I think Justice League: Doom is a great package for comic fans and anyone who enjoys a good tale about heroes in tights. The movie is a great romp for super hero fans and the added bonuses on the Blu-Ray help to expand on the movie and its backstory. The animation is great, the acting is great, and the story is a blast.
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