The Heroes Pop Swap :: Charlotte’s Pop Culture Swap Meet takes place outside our store on Saturday, October 29th from 10 AM until at least 4 PM. There will be local artists selling their arts and crafts as well as local collectors selling great items from their collections. Available items include original art, comic books, graphic novels, hardcovers, novels, magazines, t-shirts, records & compact discs, video games, Star Wars toys, Transformers, action figures, statues, wooden carvings, and lots of other collectibles! Trick-or-treating and costumes are encouraged!  This is a fun Halloween event for the entire family and a great place to do some early Christmas shopping!

Local Artists in attendance include:

• Dustin Harbin
• Cassie Hart Kelly
• Dan Willner (Spandex Splinters)
• Jared Moraitis (Beast Wreck Shirts & Stuff)
• Bradd Parton
• Brandon Padgett
• Henry Eudy
• Jason Folkes

Free comics to kids in costume while supplies last!

1) Incredible Hulk #1

Marvel continues their wave of relaunches with this new title from Jason Aaron and Marc Silvestri.  Aside from offering an easy jumping on point for new readers, this new series should appeal to longtime Hulk fans because for the first time it features a story where Hulk and Banner are existing as separate beings.  With critically acclaimed work on characters like Wolverine and Ghost Rider, Aaron is a natural choice to write the Hulk.  Silvestri’s involvement is a bit surprising, but it could represent the artist’s desire to raise his profile like fellow Image founder Jim Lee is currently doing at DC.

2) Spaceman #1

There are lots of reasons to pick up this book: 1) It reunites the acclaimed creative team of 100 Bullets, writer Brian Azzarello, artist Eduardo Risso, and cover artist Dave Johnson. 2) Spaceman aims to turn science fiction on its ear the way 100 Bullets offered a new twist on crime fiction. 3) This is only a nine issue series, and this first issue is only $1.00! 4) If you’re not familiar with 100 Bullets, don’t worry! This series focuses on a genetically engineered protagonist, space pirates, and a post apocalyptic, intergalactic scenario, all of which should appeal to lots of sci fi fans.

3) Disney Mickey Mouse HC vol. 2: Treasure Island

Cheers to Fantagraphics for collecting these classic Floyd Gottfredson Mickey Mouse strips.  This second volume collects more of Gottfredson’s work from the thirties, and contains Mickey’s encounters with pirates, mad scientists, and exotic locales like jungles and creepy castles.  These strips also remind us that early Mickey stories were far removed from Disney’s later efforts to make Mickey a primarily youth oriented property.  Gottfredson’s strips are full of action, adventure, and even satire, and easily enjoyable to adults as well as kids.  Also available this week is a 2 volume box set containing both the first two Gottfredson Mickey books.

4) All Star Western #2

Don’t let All Star Western get lost in the new DC 52 shuffle.  Not only does this new series continue the well executed Jonah Hex stories from Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray, but it features some impressive artwork from Moritat.  The creators have also pushed the character into an interesting new direction by having him team up with Amadeus Arkham (of Arkham Asylum fame) to hunt down Gotham City’s first serial killer.  All Star Western is shaping up to be a book that consistently delivers good stories, solid artwork, and a direction that should appeal to fans of Westerns and DC’s tumultuous history.

5) Wolverine and the X-men #1

Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo kick off this new X title that features Wolverine taking several mutants back to the ruins of the old X mansion in Westchester to start up a new school.  Along with classic mutants like Beast, Kitty Pryde, and Iceman, Wolverine’s team also includes the likes of Quentin Quire, Toad, and several younger mutants.  What stands out to me about this new book is that it returns Wolverine to an essential part of his character.  Some might think it odd to see Logan in the role of school headmaster, but he always played the role of mentor to younger mutants like Kitty Pryde and Jubilee, so this seems like a natural progression and return for the character.

> Bonus Picks of the Week: Aquaman #2, Avengers Solo #1, Daredevil #5, Flash #2, Justice League Dark #2, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ongoing #3, Ultimate Comics Ultimates #3, and Walking Dead #90.

1) Fear Itself #7

Marvel’s latest big event wraps up this weekend, as Matt Fraction and Stuart Immonen resolve the heroes’ conflicts with the Serpent, Sin, and the Worthy.  The fallout from this series gets examined in Fear Itself: The Fearless, which also debuts this week.  Marvel is building up to their Shattered Heroes storylines with upcoming Fear Itself issues 7.1, 7.2, and 7.3, each focusing on Captain America, Thor, or Iron Man as they pick up the pieces from Fear Itself, and all of which see print next month.

2) Justice League #2

The book that kicked off DC’s 52 relaunch campaign sees its second issue released this week.  While issue one featured Batman’s first interactions with Green Lantern, this issue features an old fashioned hero battle between Superman and Batman.  Seeing as Jim Lee’s work on both Batman and Superman continues to be popular back issue items, I’m sure lots of people will enjoy his take on both characters in this issue.

3) Batman #2

As big a seller as Justice League #1 was, the first issue of the relaunched Batman actually sold more copies across the country.  A big part of this lies in DC’s wisdom to hire a top notch creative team in writer Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo.  Issue one seemed to suggest that the creators have lots of plans for their time on the book, and while some of the 52 relaunches have already undergone some changes in their creative teams, I think Snyder and Capullo could be around for a while, adding their own mark on the history of the Dark Knight.

4) Avengers #18

The significance of this issues is two-fold. This issue features the debut of new regular series artist Daniel Acuna, who has done some solid work for Marvel in recent years.  Writer Brian Bendis has alluded to the idea that these two have long been wanting to collaborate on a big book for a while, so it looks to be happening here.  The other reason to consider this book is that it features an all new Avengers lineup, which includes some familiar faces like Cap, Iron Man, Spider Woman, Hawkeye, and Wolverine, but also features the return of Black Panther and Vision to the fold, along with some other characters.  We all expect Marvel to have lots of Avengers books on the shelves for the buildup to next year’s movie, but this one looks to be a promising one.

5) Wonder Woman #2

Wonder Woman was widely regarded as one of the best of DC’s relaunched titles.  In writer Brian Azzarello DC found a competent scribe whose considerable range and lack of ties to previous Wonder Woman stories make him ideal to elevate the character to new heights.  Artist Cliff Chiang is one of those artists who always manages to deliver clean, stylistic work and strong visual storytelling on whatever project he happens to illustrate.  As one who has only occasionally read Wonder Woman in the past, I’m intrigued by the new book’s inclusion of some of the more horrific elements of these mythological characters. Let’s hope Azzarello and Chiang produce a long run on this book and make Wonder Woman a book guaranteed to be well written, drawn, and most of all, entertaining.

> Bonus Picks of the Week: Sergio Aragones Funnies #4, the final issue (before the relaunch) of Uncanny X-men #544, Batman Odyssey vol. 2 #1, Superior #6, Nightwing #2,  and John Carter: A Princess of Mars #2.

Heroes Aren’t Hard To Find is seeking to raise $10,000 for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund by sponsoring its Fall Comics Grab Bag! Debuting this weekend at New York Comic-Con, the CBLDF Fall Comics Grab Bag includes 10 comics for a $20 donation, with rare and signed comics guaranteed in every bag!

We have contributed a vast array of rare comics from the Silver, Bronze, and Modern Age to support the Fund. Comics guaranteed to be included in the Fall Comics Grab Bag include Avengers #57 (1st Appearance of the Vision), X-Men #46, X-Men #48, Batman #185, Luke Cage #1, Nick Fury: Agent of Shield #3, Sub-Mariner #5, and dozens more. Signed comics were contributed directly from their artists, including Amanda Conner, Garth Ennis, Neil Gaiman, Jim Lee, Frank Miller, Jill Thompson, Gail Simone, and many more!

“We’re extremely grateful to Shelton and the HeroesCon team for supporting the CBLDF with this fundraiser,” says CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein. “On top of being a great fundraiser, this grab bag is a little taste of what HeroesCon is like, with a fun diversity of great comics from across the decades, autographs from incredible creators, and a pile of great stories you want to take home and read. We’re glad to reward our donors with this cool new item.”

HeroesCon 2012 30th Anniversary show will be June 22 – 24.  A coupon for $10 off a 3-day pass to the show is available in the CBLDF Fall Comics Grab Bag and can be redeemed at Heroes Aren’t Hard To Find’s NYCC booth, #1369.

Get your CBLDF Fall Comics Grab Bag and check out the huge range of donation incentives available from the CBLDF’s Booth #1158 at New York Comic-Con! See you there!

Sandman: Endless Nights

While I was preparing for our 6th Heroes Discussion Group which featured Sandman: Seasons of the Mist, I pondered whether Sandman was the most influential comic book of the last thirty years. Four years and twenty eight discussions later, I believe it to be true.  Do you agree?

For Halloween, please plan to join us for our 35^th Discussion group as we revisit Neil Gaiman’s Sandman series with the stand-alone anthology, Sandman: Endless Nights.

The afternoon will be rather exciting for a number of reasons, namely:

• This will be the first anthology we’ve tackled.
• We will examine the concept of comic book anthologies.
• Which stories worked and which did not.
• The differences (and similarities) between the realms of Despair and Delirium.
• How does Neil Gaiman adjust his storytelling to match the strengths of each artist he employs?
• Does this anthology work as a complete book or is it simply a group of stories about related characters?
• With a generation and a half of influence behind it, have Gaiman’s characters and concepts stood the test of time?

For those of you who have never read Sandman, I believe you are in for a treat.

Many love Gaiman’s comic work; but he has some very strong minded and vocal detractors.

Why not read the book, stop by the store on Saturday October 22^nd at 1:00pm and add your two cents to the mix?  We’d love to see you!

One thing is for certain; I promise you will not be bored.

And remember—just around the corner we have Love & Rockets followed by Planetary.

As usual, Heroes is offering a special 10% Discussion Group discount on Sandman: Endless Nights, but remember to mention it to the store clerk when you check out!

See you there!

1) Daniel Clowes’ Death-Ray HC

Clowes originally published this story in his fabled Eightball #23.  This week Drawn and Quarterly offers up a re-release of that classic story, but newly expanded and produced in a larger hardcover format.  The Death-Ray features Clowes’ take on the superhero genre and costumed vigilantes in a way only he could.  Where else might you see a hero’s origin tied to his first puff of a cigarette?  Aside from the incredible cartooning you always get with Clowes, this book also features some of Clowes smartest writing to date.

2) The Shade #1

Last week fans might’ve noticed a few new miniseries from DC starting up.  In addition to their 52 new ongoing titles they will continue to be produced shorter series, and one of their most anticipated ones hits this week, with this first of twelve issues.  James Robinson is bringing back his popular character from the pages of Starman, and a who’s who list of artists will be on hand to illustrate this story that spreads over several centuries.  Artist Cully Hamner handles the first several issues, with artists like Darwyn Cooke, Jill Thompson, and Gene Ha working on future issues.  For those of us who enjoyed Starman, we’re hoping that The Shade will recapture some of the goodness of that series and also feature Robinson’s return to form.

3) The Great Northern Brotherhood of Canadian Cartoonists HC

If The Death-Ray wasn’t enough for indie fans, this week also sees the newest book from Canadian cartoonist genius, Seth!  The creator behind Palookaville, George Sprott, It’s A Good Life If You Don’t Weaken, and Clyde Fans examines the fictions and facts behind Canda’s comics history.  Seth’s work is so effective largely because the lines between reality and fiction are so blurred.  It’s Seth’s deft use of humor and an authentic writing voice that makes his work so beloved amongst fans of great comics.  This new book should be another great addition to his already impressive catalog.

4) X-men: Regenesis #1

Picking up from the threads of X-men: Schism, Kieron Gillen and Billy Tan deal with the ramification of the rift between Cyclops and Wolverine, and go about setting up the relaunches of the new Uncanny X-men and Wolverine and the X-men.  This one shot should also expand on Schism by delineating where other X-teams like X-factor, New Mutants, Generation Hope, and Uncanny X-force end up in this new direction.

5) Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. #2

With Animal Man, writer Jeff Lemire is elevating his status as one of DC’s top writers.  While that book owes much to the horror genre, Frankenstein reads more like a love letter to classic monster movies.  Featuring new twists on the myths of Frankenstein, the Wolfman, and other monster archetypes, this book seems quite accessible among DC’s new 52 titles.  I should also mention the art of Alberto Ponticelli, whose work on Unknown Soldier might seem vastly different from his work on a monster book.  That’s one of the real draws of the book for me, though, as it seems to represent the artist’s range and ability to work in very different aspects of the horror genre.

> Bonus Picks of the Week: Batgirl #2, 100 Bullets HC Book One, Batwoman #2, Drew Struzan: Oeuvre HC, Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9 #2, Green Lantern #2, Orchid #1, Pope Hats #2, and Uncanny X-force #16.

Have we got a fun announcement for you! Buy! Sell! Trade! Saturday, October 29th 10AM-4PM

Heroes Pop Swap is an idea that I had on the way back from a recent road trip. Before Heroes Convention and the Charlotte Mini-Con and even the Heroes store, local comics fans would gather and trade comics and talk about our hobby. It was usually something like a sidewalk sale put together by a local bookstore and/or newsstand. I remember going to similar events in Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Raleigh and the famous Murray Brothers’ backyard and basement gatherings in Durham during the latter half of the 70’s. None of us “old-timers” were official dealers yet. None of us had stores. We just shared a common interest in collecting as well as buying and selling comic books and related stuff.

Click here to reserve your space today!

We thought we’d try to bring back that feeling from those events with the Heroes Pop Swap: Charlotte’s Pop Culture Swap Meet. For a nominal fee anyone can reserve space and sell items from their personal collection to other fans who are sure to give that item a good home. We are also encouraging local artists and artisans to come and sell their art, pop-culture related crafts and comics.

There will be no professional dealers. Professional will be defined by me personally. If you buy and sell comics regularly either at conventions or online you will be excluded from setting up, but I encourage you to come shop! I anticipate a lot cool items being offered.

We want to limit this event to local creators and comics and pop culture enthusiasts who have interesting items from their personal collections that they are willing to sell and self-produced comics and related products. People who are purchasing space are encouraged not only to bring comics but any items falling under the pop culture umbrella. That could be toys, games, music, movies and more.

Reservations are 1st come, 1st served. Click here for the application.

You can reserve 4 ft ($10)-6 ft ($15)-8 ft ($20) space.

We can provide a limited number of tables, if you have your own table you are encouraged to bring it. You will still be charged for the space.

We will provide chairs if needed while supply lasts and you are welcome to bring your own as well.

Set-up starts at 9am, please plan to stay set up until at least 4 PM but you are welcome to stay later if things are going well for you!

Since this event is so close to Halloween don’t be afraid to come in costume. Trick or treating will be part of our advertising for this event, please consider bringing a treat of some sort for the kids (candy, button, stickers, comics etc..).

We think this will be a fun event for everyone involved and if it is successful we’d like to make it something we do few times a year.

Thanks!I look forward to bringing back some of the “old school!”

Shelton Drum

1) Roger Langridge’s Snarked #1 and The Show Must Go On TP

It’s a great week for new comics if you’re a fan of cartoonist Roger Langridge.  Snarked #1 features Langridge’s take on the Walrus and Carpenter characters from Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass.  This is one of the best all ages comics to hit stands this year, and its humor and fine cartooning should appeal to adults as well.  The Show Must Go On is a collection featuring over 200 pages of Langridge strips over the years, including some of his most popular characters like Mugwhump the Great, Kabuki Kid, and several Frankenstein Meets Shirley Temple strips.  Stay tuned to the Heroes Blog for my upcoming interview with Langridge.

2) Animal Man #2

The first issue of this new DC relaunch surprised a lot of people.  In addition to reading like the book Jeff Lemire has really been wanting to write, there were several truly scary moments.  Lemire and artist Travel Foreman seem like they’re already making a mark on this character, and finding a way to tell a story about a family that also manages to work as a horror story.  I should also use this space to remind you that several second prints of DC first issues are also being released this week.  Check out our full listing of new releases HERE to see what you might’ve missed the first time around.

3) Hark! A Vagrant HC

If industry buzz and the lines at her SPX booth are any indication, this newest collection from cartoonist Kate Beaton is going to be huge.  This 160 page book features Beaton’s distinctive cartooning and humor as she examines history, literature, and even Romance Comics as they might’ve been in the 15th century!  This book is bound to end up on numerous ‘best of the year’ lists, and is well worth a look from you in your comic travels this week.

4) Action Comics #2

It’s not a surprise that the first issue of Grant Morrison and Rags Morales Action Comics met wth lots of acclaim.  The idea that their Superman starts out as a brash, overconfident, naive hero suggests to me that their story will feature the humbling of the character over time.  This isn’t necessarily an original idea, but most people think of Superman as a character who was always fundamentally good from the start.  The thought of a Superman who has to grow into his role, abilities, and status is certainly an interesting one, and might provide opportunity for numerous new stories in the process.

5) X-men Schism #5

I’ve been talking about the merits of writer Jason Aaron for a while now on the spotlight, and if you’re curious to check out his upcoming Wolverine and the X-men series, you owe it to yourself to check out the issues of X-men Schism.  Not only does Schism build up to the philosophical rift between Cyclops and Wolverine, but it lays the groundwork for the upcoming revamped X titles.  This issue also features art from Adam Kubert, who did some solid work with Aaron on last year’s Astonishing Spider-man and Wolverine miniseries.

> Bonus Picks of the Week: Swamp Thing #2, Superior #5, The Huntress #1, Avengers: 1959 #1, FF 1234 HC, American Vampire vol. 1 TP, Casanova: Avaritia #2, Detective Comics #2, and Best American Comics 2011 anthology.