1) Are You My Mother? HC

Alison Bechdel’s last book Fun Home brought her lots of acclaim among comics and literary circles.  While Fun Home primarily focused on Bechdel’s relationship with her father, Are You My Mother? deals, as you might expect, with her relationship with her mother.  Among the ever-increasing number of comics memoirists, Bechdel’s work is always worth reading.  She uses comics to dig through her past and come to better understand her family and herself in a way that still manages to be entertaining.

2) Hardcore #1

This latest offering from Image brings together Robert Kirkman, Marc Silvestri and Brian Stelfreeze for a comic that examines assassins.  The catch with this one is that technology is developed that allows an assassin to take control of just about any one at any time for the purposes of acting as a mind-controlled puppet.  Any new offering from Kirkman is going to attract new readers, but it’s even more exciting to see some new comics work from the great Brian Stelfreeze.

3) X-O Manowar #1

While it’s worth noting the return of Valiant Comics, it’s even more worth mentioning the quality creators they have on some of their titles.  This newly updated X-O Manowar series features the acclaimed creative team of Robert Venditti and Cary Nord.  You might remember Venditti as the writer of such books as The Surrogates (which later became a movie) and The Homeland Directive, and Nord left his mark on a great stretch of Conan stories a few years back.  With creators like this in place, you can expect some solid comics to result.

4) Coldest City HC

This latest graphic novel from Oni is custom made for fans of espionage comics.  Writer Antony Johnston and artist Sam Hart tell a story of tumultuous late eighties Europe, when both the Berlin Wall and Communism were on their way out.  Amid that environment, a list comprimising numerous agents is stolen, and one agent has to find it before the people on the list are assassinated.

5) Crogan’s Loyalty HC

The third installment of the Crogan Adventures is a top pick for younger fans of all ages comics, or older fans of great cartooning.  Creator Chris Schweizer always does a ton of research before starting each book, and if you’re unfamiliar with the Crogan books, they feature generations of a family living through various historical events.  This week’s new book focuses on the Revolutionary War, and finds two Crogan brothers on opposing sides of the battle.  Schweizer always ensures that historical comics can still be full of adventure and entertainment for readers of any age.

>Bonus Picks of the Week: Avengers vs. X-men #4, AVX VS. #2, Justice League #9, Adventure Time #4, Saga #3, Wonder Woman #9, Dancer #1, Daredevil #13, Secret Service #2, Venom #18, Batwoman #9, Hulk Smash Avengers #3, Manhattan Projects #3 and Shade #8.

You smell that? It’s another great guest list update!

MICHAEL EURY – Writer/Editor: Back Issue, The Batcave Companion, Captain Action: The Original Super-Hero Figure

GARY FRIEDRICH – Writer: Ghost Rider, X-Men, Iron Man, Sgt. Fury, Not Brand Echh

RON GARNEY – Artist: Fantastic Four, Wolverine, Captain America, JLA, Amazing Spider-Man

JERRY GAYLORD – Artist: Zombies VS Fanboys, The Brotherhood of Fighters

BRYAN JL GLASS – Writer: Mice Templar, Quixote, Ship of Fools, Thor & Valkyrie

CHRIS MORENO – Artist: Sidekick, Toy Story, The Minions of Ka

TIM RICKARD – Cartoonist: Brewster Rockit, Space Guy!

VAL STAPLES – Colorist: Suicide Squad, Venom, Criminal

ROY THOMAS – Writer: Conan the Barbarian, The Mighty Thor, Uncanny X-Men

Get your 3-day passes today! Stan Lee VIP tickets are now available!

Last week we announced that Stan Lee would be attending HeroesCon 2012, June 22-24, 2012. Please note that anyone who attends the show will be able to meet Stan and purchase an autograph or a photograph with Stan the Man. Stan will also be featured on a panel one of the days that he is here which all convention guests are welcome to attend. But, if you want to guarantee you get an autograph, photo and more from Stan and you don’t want to wait in what we’re sure will be long lines for this living legend we are making two levels of VIP access available to you!

You can purchase “True Believer” and “Excelsior” passes now by clicking here.

• The “True Believer” pass will allow the holder to one photo with Stan, one certified autograph, express lane for photos and autographs and priority seating at Stan’s panel.

• The “Excelsior!” pass will provide all of the above as well as admission to an intimate “meet and greet” cocktail party with Stan Lee.

• In addition to the guaranteed access, one lucky “True Believer” or”EXCELSIOR” pass holder will be chosen at random to be in Stan’s entourage all day Saturday. That lucky winner will be with Mr. Lee all day as he signs autographs, poses with fans for photos, walks with Stan to his panel discussion and will be included in a very exclusive lunch with Stan on Saturday!

We’re so excited Stan Lee is coming back to Charlotte to help us celebrate our 30th Anniversary and we know you are too! Don’t miss your opportunity to meet this legendary creator!

Please note: There are 2 different versions of the Stan Lee ticket on the site. One pair is an upgrade if you already have already purchased your 3-day pass and the others include 3-day admission plus the Stan related upgrades!

It’s guest list update time again and HeroesCon is just a little more than one month away!

Ed McGuinness will be back again this June! Just look for the line wrapped around the aisles and you’ll find Ed at his table signing comics and drawing sketches for fans. If you need a reminder, Ed is known for illustrating titles like Avengers: X-Sanction, Deadpool, Hulk and Superman/Batman among others.  He’s truly one of the nicest guys in the biz so make sure you stop by his table and say hello!

Also returning this year is Fables writer Bill Willingham! Maybe you’ve been a fan of Bill since his Elementals days, or maybe you liked Ironwood. Bill also did some great art for TSR’s Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, look it up! Bill went on to write several things for DC Comics like Robin and Shadowpact before Fables really took off for him. Writing Fables and its various spin offs seem to take up most of his time these days. We’re happy to welcome him back for our 30th Anniversary!

The CreatureBox guys, Greg Baldwin and Dave Guertin will be joining us again this year. Last year’s 9 Lives, Spider Island tie-in was off-the-charts awesome! They’ll be doing some cool digital art demos with the folks from Autodesk, makers of Sketchbook Pro so be sure to check that out.
Also added in today’s update:

Tom Fleming – Painter: KULL, Elektra, Vampirella, Heavy Metal, Magic: The Gathering
Karl Kesel – Writer & Artist: Captain America: The 1940s Newspaper Strips, Writer: Captain America:Patriot, Inker: Spider-Man: Season One
Tula Lotay – Organizer of Thought Bubble Comic Art Festival
Andy Price – Artist: Word Girl, sketch cards
Nei Ruffino – Artist: Grimm Fairy Tales Covers, Colorist: Green Lantern: New Guardians, Blackest Night: Batman
Louis Small Jr. – Artist: Vampirella, Lady Death, Codename: Knockout
JK Woodward – Artist: Doctor Who/Star Trek, Fallen Angel, X-Men: Origins

First off, thanks to the huge crowd of folks who were on hand Saturday to help us celebrate Free Comic Book Day!  We hope you had as much fun as we did.  Thanks also to all of our guest artists who offered up their time and skills to make it a memorable event.  Don’t forget that HeroesCon’s 30th Anniversary is only a little over a month away, so make sure to purchase your tickets soon.  Now on to the week’s new releases!

1) Frankenstein Alive Alive #1

Steve Niles and Bernie Wrightson helm this new series that picks up right where Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein novel ends.  Wrightson’s work on adapting that classic novel is one of the true hallmarks of comics horror, and Niles is a writer who not only reveres that work, but classic horror in general.  If you haven’t read horror comics in a while, this is the place to get back into them.  Also, don’t forget that both Niles and Wrightson will be returning to HeroesCon next month!

2) Silver Surfer: Parable HC

This classic story from Stan Lee and Moebius receives a new hardcover treatment this week.  Aside from being a classic Silver Surfer story, this is probably where many of us who came of age in the eighties first saw the artwork of the late, great Moebius.  If you’ve always wanted to find a story to introduce yourself to the work of this genius, here’s a great place to start.

3) Lobster Johnson: The Burning Hand #5

The pulp hero from the pages of Hellboy and B.P.R.D. sees another great miniseries come to a close this week.  The collective works of Mike Mignola, John Arcudi and cover artist Dave Johnson are nothing if not reliable.  While they are all their usual entertaining selves, this series really benefitted from the work of artist Tonci Zonjic, who made a name for himself on last year’s Who Is Jake Ellis? series.  With Lobster Johnson, Zonjic really showed his skill at interpreting the adventures of a past pulp hero in a way that still feels new and exciting.  Here’s hoping he’ll do some more work in the Mignola-verse down the line.

4) Avenging Spider-Man #7

In the vast Marvel Universe, where do you turn if you just want to read a single, stand alone issue featuring your favorite wall-crawling superhero?  Look no further than Avenging Spider-Man, where over short arcs (many times no longer than a single issue), you can see Spidey team up with his Avenger pals for no nonsense, action packed stories.  This issue features the creative team of Kathryn and Stuart Immonen teaming Spidey up with She Hulk.  Expect plenty of action, humor and charm from arguably the best husband/wife creative team around.  Don’t forget, you can meet them both next month at HeroesCon!

5) Captain America and Hawkeye #630

For those who haven’t noticed, the long running Captain America title has become something of a team up book.  In short arcs you’ll see Cap team up with various characters in self contained stories.  This is also a good series to pick up if you haven’t been reading any Avengers titles, but saw the movie and want to find a good place to start.  This is the second issue to feature Cap and Hawkeye, and has the pair fighting some mutated dinosaurs underground.  Along with this title, writer Cullen Bunn wrote this week’s Wolverine #306 and the Spider-man Season One HC, showing that he’s quickly becoming one of Marvel’s go-to writers.

> Bonus Picks of the Week: Fairest #3, Fatale #5, Batman #9, Essential Black Panther vol. 1 TP, Takio #1, Spider-man Season One HC, Hulk Smash Avengers #2, Wolverine and the X-men #10, Uncanny X-force #25 and Walking Dead #97.

Heroes Convention 2012 Welcomes Stan Lee!

Shelton Drum is honored and excited to welcome comics legend Stan Lee back to Charlotte as a featured guest of Heroes Convention’s 30th anniversary. Stan last attended HeroesCon in 1984 and his return this summer will be the crown jewel in the show’s 30th Anniversary celebrations.
Stan will be on hand signing autographs and posing for photographs during HeroesCon. He will also be featured on a panel discussion. All attendees of the convention will be welcomed to Stan’s panel, photo opportunities and autograph sessions. Details of our VIP ticket packages will be announced next Friday, May 10th! Sign up for our mailing list to get the news first!

Stan Lee is known to millions as the man whose superheroes propelled Marvel to its preeminent position in the comic book industry, Stan’s co-creations include Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, X-Men, The Fantastic Four, IronMan, as well as hundreds of others. He introduced Spider-Man as a syndicated newspaper strip that became the most successful of all syndicated adventure strips and has appeared in more than 500 newspapers worldwide.Stan currently remains Chairman Emeritus of Marvel, as well as a member ofthe Editorial Board of Marvel Comics. Stan is currently the Chairman & Chief Creative Officer of POW!

“Stan Lee has been the face and the voice of Marvel Comics since the debut of The Fantastic Four in 1961 and has in recent years become the same for comics and superheroes in general to most fans. I’m very excited and proud that Stan will be helping Heroes celebrate HeroesCon’s 30th anniversary!” said convention organizer and comics retailer Shelton Drum.

This year’s Heroes Convention takes place June 22-24, 2012 at the Charlotte Convention Center.

You need a program if you want to know all the players! Here’s your guide to the FREE COMICS we’ll have on hand this Saturday, May 5th at our FCBD event! Doors open at 10AM; get here early to make sure you get the books you want! Our creator signings begin at 1PM, more info on that here. We’ll see you Saturday!

*Please be respectful of others when making your selections, supplies are limited and we want make sure as many people as possible get the comics they want. Taking multiple copies of one title is not nice! Be nice and we will all have a great time!

FCBD :: THE COMICS:

Kalman Andrasofszky got his start doing illustration for roleplaying games. In 2003 Kalman co-created and illustrated the comic book series iCandy for DC. From there he has gone on to freelance extensively for Marvel, DC, Image Comics, Top Cow and BOOM! Studios. He’s produced art and covers for such titles as Spider-man, Action Comics, X-Men, Captain America, Dazzler, NYX, Tomb of Dracula, Checkmate, and GI Joe. He just finished a great run as cover artist on X-23 for Marvel.

Paul Azaceta has lent his gorgeous artwork to titles such as Amazing Spider-man, B.P.R.D.: 1946, and Daredevil. He’s currently illustrating the genre-bending Graveyard of Empires with his Grounded collaborator, Mark Sable. Pick up that Grounded trade paperback if you see it, it’s good comics!

We’d like to welcome back our pal Ivan Brandon to HeroesCon, it’s been a while since he’s been able to attend the show and we’re happy to have him back! Ivan is a writer with a resume to be reckoned with! You know him from his work on NYC Mech, his 24Seven anthologies, Viking, and his recently completed run on Men of War. Look for his work on Wolverine #309 in July featuring art by our friend and HeroesCon guest Jason Latour!

Becky Cloonan had such a great time at her 1st HeroesCon last year (thanks to all you great fans!) that she had to come back! It’s pretty amazing how many comics she’s made since last year! Becky is currently working on Conan the Barbarian with Brian Wood, and just finished up some great B.P.R.D. covers.  Hopefully she’ll have copies of her new comic The Mire (a follow-up to last year’s Wolves) at the show, get to her table early!

Patrick Dean and Robert Newsome are the organizers of Fluke, a mini-comic and zine show down in Athens Georgia. They’ll be here promoting that awesome show and selling their own minis and zines, so make sure you pay them a visit in Indie Island.

Josh Latta and Brad McGinty will also be hanging out in Indie Island. These are two of the funniest and most creative guys you will meet at our show. Make sure you stop by their tables and check out their great variety of hilarious and beautifully illustrated mini-comics. Non-Comics Bonus- Behold the genius of Brad McGinty!

Did you happen to see the most beautiful book of 2011, Jim Henson’s Tale of Sand? Well the guy who adapted Tale of Sand into a lush treat for the eyes is Ramón Pérez and we’re happy to say he is coming to Charlotte for his first HeroesCon! Ramón is no rookie though, he’s been making great comic for years. Check out his webcomics, Kukuburi and ButternutSquash.

Drew Weing’s Set to Sea continues to attract new readers.  He is also known for his mini-comics and webcomics including Blar, Pup and The Journal Comic. He is an incredibly talented creator and we are thrilled to have him back in Indie Island for another year!

Heroes Aren’t Hard to Find would like to congratulate Mike Powell and Michael Jolly, the winners of our “Avengers Movie Tickets” Contest!

Mike and Michael have each won two passes to see “The Avengers” at midnight on Thursday at Regal Cinemas Stonecrest, as well as an Avengers logo hat, movie poster and other movie memorabilia.

Mike and Michael, you will need to stop by Heroes Aren’t Hard to Find, located at 1957 E. 7th Street, Charlotte, sometime today (Wednesday, May 2) or tomorrow (Thursday, May 3) to pick up your passes! If you can’t make it by the store, you can arrange to pick up your passes and prizes at Stonecrest on Thursday night at the Heroes table!

Just remember, your tickets will get you into the movie, but seating will still be on a first come basis. Be sure to get there a little early to make sure you and your guests get a good seat!

Congratulations!

Contest winner, Michael Jolly, with his prizes.

Don’t forget that this Saturday is Free Comic Book Day!  It’s one of our biggest annual events, and we hope you’ll make a point to stop by, pick up some free books, and welcome the creators who will be on hand for sketching and signing.  You can remind yourself of our full guest list HERE.  Now on to the week’s new books!

1) Dial H #1

It’s a big week for DC as they start the second wave of additions to their new 52 books.  Dial H takes the classic concept of a dial that grants the dialer a new superpower with every new dialing, and updates it for a new era.  Novelist China Mieville and Mateus Santolouco handle the writing and art, while Brian Bolland provides covers.  There are some weird new characters (like Chimney Boy!) who will be introduced in this series, and it should be a natural fit alongside books like Animal Man and Swamp Thing.

2)Fury Max #1

Imagine Nick Fury in the ’60′s, a somewhat grizzled S.H.I.E.L.D. agent in Post-World War II America, trying to find his place in the world.  Former Punisher Max collaborators Garth Ennis and Goran Parlov are telling this story, and it looks to be a good one.  The fact that Dave Johnson is providing covers is just one more reason to give this book a try.

3) Earth 2 #1

James Robinson and Nicola Scott kick off the equivalent of the new 52′s version of the Justice Society with this debut issue.  Characters like the Jay Garrick Flash, Alan Scott Green Lantern and Al Pratt Atom will all play heavily into this series that explores younger, updated versions of these Golden Age characters.  This is a book people have been anticipating for several months, so this week’s your chance to pick it up.

4) G.I. Combat #1

Another of DC’s second wave of the new 52 is this new series that offers two stories per issue.  The War That Time Forgot by J.T. Krul and Ariel Olivetti features soldiers making their way through a lost world full of assorted dangers like dinosaurs.  The Unknown Soldier also gets an update from Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray and Dan Panosian, and this time around focuses on a solider in Afghanistan.  Also look for a new John Arcudi and Scott Kolins version of The Haunted Tank to appear in this series.

5) World’s Finest #1

Paul Levitz teams with George Perez and Kevin Maguire to tell stories of Earth 2 versions of Huntress and Power Girl.  While this might be considered a companion book to Earth 2, expect to see some very different versions of Huntress and Power Girl than you might be used to seeing.  Plus, with the two heroes trying to find a way off the present Earth back to their home of Earth 2, there’s plenty of potential for crossovers with some of the new 52′s biggest titles.

> Bonus Picks of the Week: Avengers vs. X-men #3, Hulk Smash Avengers #1, Justice League HC vol. 1, Mind the Gap #1, Action Comics #9, Animal Man #9, Animal Man vol. 1 TP, Marvel’s Exiled #1, Roger Langridge’s Snarked vol. 1 TP, Daredevil #12, The Spider #1 and Avengers X-sanction HC.