1) Spaceman #2

Fans of Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso’s 100 Bullets might’ve been surprised by the cold, sci-fi vibe of the first issue of their new 9 issue series.  It’s certainly a departure for the acclaimed creative duo, but also indicative of their desire to tell a decidedly different kind of story from 100 Bullets.  Check out Heroes staffer Justin Crouse’s recent review of issue one here to delve deeper into this truly odd and thought-provoking original series.

2) T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents vol. 2 #1

Nick Spencer kicks off the second volume of his acclaimed take on one of DC’s more unique properties.  Aided by artist Wes Craig, Spencer continues to explore the notion of people who accept super powers with the knowledge that they bring a death sentence with them.  Also available this week is the trade paperback collection of the first 10 issues of Spencer’s first volume of the series.

3) Uncanny X-men #2

Kieron Gillen and Carlos Pacheco continue their stories of the Cyclops-led X-men.  Aside from a resurrected Mr. Sinister figuring prominently in this initial story, I’m still curious to see how Gillen and Pacheco will set their book apart from the acclaimed Wolverine and the X-men title.  With a roster featuring more villainous mutants like Magneto, Namor, Danger, and a recently Juggernaut-powered Colossus, it seems like this will be the darker X-title.

4) Avengers Origins: Thor

In a previous spotlight I talked about how surprising the art on these Origins one shots has been.  This one features creators Kathryn Immonen and Al Barrionuevo, and more than that, features the story of a young Thor and how he came to obtain Mjolnir.  These stand alone issues are a smart gift idea for new and existing fans of the Thunder god.

5) Walking Dead Omnibus HC vol. 1

This is a perfect gift for fans of zombies or the popular Walking Dead t.v. show.  Collecting the first 24 issues of the popular Image title, this oversized, slip-cased deluxe collection will undoubtedly be a nice edition to anyone horror aficionado’s library.  Buy a copy and Robert Kirkman will send you a Christmas card!  Okay, he won’t, but I’m sure he’ll still appreciate it!

> Bonus Picks of the Week: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #4, Batman: Odyssey vol. 2 #2,  Wolverine #19, Absolute Batman: Hush HC, FF #12, and B.P.R.D.: Being Human TP, Red Skull #5, and RASL TP vol. 3.

Celebrate the holidays with us THIS WEEKEND on December 3rd from 10 am to 9 pm and December 4th from 1 to 6 pm at our Annual Holiday Sale! Shelton has pulled out all the stops! We will have crazy discounts on back-issues, trades, manga and statues. In addition to that, Seth has been building a massive $1 stock of awesome comics. Plus, all new comics and trades will be at least 10% off! Shelley and the rest of the crew have been tirelessly cleaning and decorating in preparation for our big event and we will be ready to answer questions, help you locate items and give you recommendations. Be sure to stop by the store this weekend to stock up on presents for friends, family and yourself. You are not going to want to miss this sale!

Still not sure what to get that certain someone for Christmas? The holiday sale is a perfect time to pick up your 3-day pass for HeroesCon 2012! Still only $30, it makes a great gift for that hard-to-shop-for comics fan. We will be giving away an exclusive Neal Adams Green Lantern/ Green Arrow print with the purchase of a 3-day pass. We can’t wait to see you Saturday and Sunday!

Also, new comics will arrive Wednesday as usual this week with no holiday delay! Check the new releases list here.

It was a brisk and clear Charlotte Autumn afternoon and a group of eleven met to discuss the comic work of Jaime Hernandez in general and The Girl From Hoppers collection in specific. We were lucky enough to have three local artists along with Craig Fischer from (the recently disbanded) The Panelists amongst our number of LOCAS enthusiasts. The biggest challenge with moderating is that you are always looking for a follow-up question and it is nigh impossible to take any kind of notes that could result in a coherent recap.

But here is the “10,000 Feet Above the Discussion Group” view:

• We took advantage of the artists in residence and discussed Jaime’s drawing technique and how he is able to use all of his skills to enhance the mise-en-scene (see Mom, that 20K you spent on my college education was a good investment!) of each panel.
• We deftly danced around the major events of the most recent L&R story since many in attendance had not read it yet. That was a real drag, but–as per our charter: We focused on how The Death of Speedy affected all subsequent stories in the collection.
• We delved into Jaime’s storytelling and how he is able to jump cut and change narrative focus throughout each story without using any kind of establishing shot and still provide solid, clear storytelling.
• We looked at the absence of Hopey from the Speedy story and how her presence may have altered the events that transpired (transpired!–see previous college note).
• We pondered how Speedy died and whether the ‘How’ was more important than the after-affects of his demise.
• We closely examined the 4 page Tear It Up, Terry Downe and how Jaime said volumes with what he chose to ignore or omit.
• We disagreed strongly on Jaime’s uses of genre trappings– super-heroes, Science fiction and pro-wrestling; were they integral parts of the LOCAS world or were they devices that Jaime outgrew as his talents matured?

In the same light, we discussed Maggie and Hopey’s relationship and sexuality, and how they changed over time as characters.
The conversation was exciting, intelligent and impassioned. I came away from the discussion feeling as though I were a bettter reader; I hope my fellow discussioneers felt the same way.
Regardless, I can’t wait to re-read Wig Wam Bam and the LOCAS II Hardcover.
My thanks to all in attendance; you guys are a joy to talk to.
For December– we are going to kick back and have some super-hero fun by discussing all four volumes of Ellis/Cassaday’s Planetary. We’ll announce a definite date after Thanksgiving and hope to see you there!

photographs provided by Heather Mobley

Happy Thanksgiving week to all our customers, readers, friends, and supporters!  We’re all thankful to be a part of Heroes, and happy to be part of a great comics community.  Here are some of this week’s new books that might help you fight off a potential turkey induced coma.

1) Fantastic Four #600

This is a huge anniversary issue for the FF, and looks to have plenty for fans of all things Fantastic Four.  Rumors are abounding that this one will feature the return of Johnny Storm, but more definite is the fact that Galactus, Annihilus, the Inhumans, and the entire Future Foundation will be on hand for this one hundred page mammoth issue.  Among the creators lending their talents to this milstone are an eclectic lineup of creators including Jonathan Hickman, Steve Epting, Leinil Yu, Carmine Digiandomenico, Farel Dalrymple, and Ming Doyle.

2) Aquaman #3

In their quest to make Aquaman one of the pillars of DC’s superhero elite, Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis have done a lot to not only give the character a fresh start, but have also surprised many readers with their version of the water-based hero.  This issue delves into the origins of the mysterious, violent characters the Trench, and addresses why these monsters have started attacking humans.

3) Milk and Cheese: Dairy Products Gone Bad HC

There are lots of reasons to consider this book. 1) It collects every Milk and Cheese comic from 1989 – 2010 along with extras and supplemental material.  That’s almost 250 pages for only $19.99! 2) In a single volume you can see exactly why so many people have been influenced by creator Evan Dorkin. 3) It’s full of subversive humor and a cornerstone of the underground comics movement.  4) It’s got this endorsement from comics genius David Mazzucchelli (of Asterios Polyp and Batman: Year One): “Evan’s calcium-rich creations are guaranteed to spread lactose intolerance everywhere.”  Do you really need any other reasons to pick this one up?

4) Wolverine and the X-men #2

With issue #1 all kinds of comics readers found an X-men book that had much of the joy they remembered about X-titles from decades past, as well a book that seemed less mired in many of the continuity problems of recent years.  A fresh start, a focused plan, and a fun, energetic comic that could only be brought to us by creators Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo, both of whom really seem to be in top form on this title.

5) Parker Martini Edition HC

Want to have an awe-inspiring book on hand at Thanksgiving to turn some of your family members on to comics?  Darwyn Cooke’s Parker books are ones I’ve frequently lent out or shown to family or friends to show them that comics can be as entertaining for adults as they are for kids.  This deluxe edition from IDW collects Cooke’s first two Parker books The Hunter and The Outfit, and also boasts nearly 70 pages of additional material including lots of artwork and a brand new 8 page story only available here.  While all this is worth the price, the biggest selling point for me is that you get 334 pages of Darwyn Cooke story and art in a 9 x 13 format!

> Bonus Picks of the Week: Mighty Thor #8, Justice League Dark #3, Kick Ass 2 #5, Shade #2, Rocketeer Jetpack Treasury Edition, Dark Horse Presents #6, and Pogo: Complete Syndicated Strips HC vol. 1.

We’re wishing everyone an early Happy Thanksgiving and letting you know that new books will be shipping on schedule this Wednesday. So make sure to drop by the store for your pre-Thanksgiving comic book shopping needs! Check out the New Releases page to see what we’ll have for you (Fantastic Four #600! Wolverine and the X-Men #2!).

We will be closed on Thursday, November 24th for the holiday and the store will open at it’s normal time on Friday at 10 am, and observe its regular hours for the duration of the holiday weekend. If you have some out-of-town family visiting and need to get out of the house, bring them over, we’d love to meet them!

Keep an eye out for details concerning our great BIG holiday sale in December! Seth has been working hard on a brand new dollar stock and more to debut at the sale. We’ll be posting full details here on the blog for you soon!

In 2000, The Comics Journal published a list of the Top 100 American Comics of the 20^th Century.  Coming in at # 24, 22 and 17 are three works by Jaime Hernandez.  Originally published in the Comic Magazine Love and Rockets in tandem with the comics of his superbly talented brother Gilbert, these three selections, Flies on the Ceiling, The Death of Speedy and Wig Wam Bam represent some of the most influential and critically lauded comics of the past few decades.

Plan to join the Heroes Discussion Group on Saturday November 19^th at 1:00pm as we tackle the second Jaime Hernández trade paperback The Girls from H.O.P.P.E.R.S. We will discuss the entire collection but we will concentrate onDeath of Speedy and Flies on the Ceiling. (Wig Wam Bam is in the following volume and we will just have to tackle it another day!)

For those of you who have read Jaime’s work, you know what to expect—wonderful art and rich rewarding story-telling.  In other words, it is sequential art at its best.  For those of you who are reading for the first time, I envy you.  One suggestion—read it slowly.  The fresh, clean line art and simple page construction makes it easy for the reader to fly through each page.  When you catch yourself sailing through, take a step back (or look again), as there is a lot there.  The fact that Jaime makes it seem effortless is part of the comic’s charm.

The Girls from H.O.P.P.E.R.S. is available from Heroes for $14.95 and don’t forget the Heroes Discussion Group 10% Discount—you must notify the clerk about the discount when you check out.

Note:  for anyone reading the stories in the LOCAS HC collection, start with House of Raging Women and continue on through Below My Window Lurks My Head.

See you tomorrow!

Last minute opportunity! We have a few tickets for a screening of The Muppets, starring Jason Segel, Amy Adams and the whole Muppet crew. The screening is tomorrow, Thursday, November 17, so be sure to stop by the store and pick up your pass for two (2) before they all run off!

1) Wonder Woman #3

Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang continue their acclaimed run on this classic hero with this week’s third issue.  Aside from Azzarello’s unique inclusion of darker elements of mythology, it’s really hard to overstate just how good Chiang’s work on this book has been thus far.  If you’ve never read Wonder Woman before, now is a great time to start.

2) Batman #3

Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s Batman has focused on the darkness of Gotham City, as well as Batman in his detective role.  It’s also shaping up to be one of the more well-rounded runs on the book in recent years.  The pair continue to delve into the mystery of the Court of Owls this week, and as in Snyder’s recent Batman: Gates of Gotham miniseries, will be uncovering elements of Gotham’s past as well.

3) Captain America #4

The delayed fourth issue from Ed Brubaker and Steve McNiven finally hits stands this week.  With Steve Rogers back as Captain America, this series has been looking to Cap’s past to help establish a new role for him in the present.  It should be interesting to see how Brubaker’s other upcoming Marvel work will tie into this title.  I’d like to remind everyone again about Fear Itself #7.1 that was released a few weeks ago.  If you’re a Cap fan, you definitely should pick up that stand alone issue that will set up all things Cap leading into 2012.

4) Avengers #19

The cover should give you a clue who will comprise the main Avengers lineup. With the Avengers film hitting theaters next year, it looks as though Marvel may be stabilizing this book and capitalizing on it as a place to build interest in their other potential film options.  Regardless of all those possibilities, longtime fans will be happy to see Black Panther and Vision back in the Avengers picture.  It’s also worth mentioning that Daniel Acuna has been turning out some really nice art over the past two issues.

5) Justice League #3

Geoff Johns and Jim Lee introduce Wonder Woman to the Justice League with this issue.  While Lee has crafted fan favorite runs on Batman and Superman before, he’s never really had the opportunity to illustrate the Amazonian Princess for more than a few issues at a time before now.  It’s a safe bet to assume he’s been looking forward to telling a Wonder Woman story for a while, and this issue might be the start of it.

> Bonus Picks of the Week: Fear Itself #7.3, Paul Grist’s Mudman #1, Who Is Jake Ellis? TP, Nightwing #3, Incredible Hulk #2, John Carter: A Princess of Mars #3, and Bone: One Volume Color 20th Anniversary Sliplcase Edition.

Roger Langridge has been a part of HeroesCon for several years now, and has become one of the anchors of Indie Island.  Roger is a cartoonist who manages to garner respect and enthusiasm from a wide gamut of readers.  Kids love his comics, other cartoonists study his line work, and comics retailers appreciate the accessibility of his books.  He’s also a creator who manages to be as adept at crafting entertaining comics for properties that he didn’t create (The Muppet Show), as he is with characters he did (Fred the Clown).  Above all, if you’re lucky enough to talk to Roger, aside from the fact that he’s a genuinely nice person, you immediately understand that this is a guy who is passionate about comics.  He loves this medium, its history, and the possibility of turning new readers onto the joy of comics.  It is that combination of skill, respect, and enthusiasm that makes Roger such an interesting creator, and I’m happy to share a recent interview I conducted with him on the Heroes Blog.

Seth Peagler: First off, Roger, thanks for talking with me. Since issue #2 of Snarked! recently hit stands, I’d like to start there.  Your previous work on Fred the Clown shows that you have a real affinity for wordplay, but it seems like Snarked! is really giving you a chance to stretch out as a writer alongside your artwork. When it came time to do a new original series, was the idea of bringing Lewis Carroll into comics something that you’ve long considered?

Roger Langridge: Well, I’ve played in the Lewis Carroll sandbox a few times before – I did a Frankenstein meets Shirley Temple minicomic on the subject of Carroll, I’ve done some Carroll-inspired Fred the Clown strips, I did a Gonzo Mad Hatter Tea Party in The Muppet Show Comic, and Scott Gray and I did a Doctor Who story, The Autonomy Bug, which featured robot counterparts to a lot of Carroll characters. I’ve read the Alice books many, many times since I was a kid. So I was very familiar with that world before I started. When I was coming up with Snarked!, I had this idea that it would be a much easier sell if it featured some characters who were already familiar to a general audience, even if those characters had been filtered through my own sensibilities to a large extent. And I love writing comedy double acts. So I sort of started with the Walrus and the Carpenter as the central characters and built outwards from there.

RL: I enjoy throwing rhyme into my comics as an added textual (and textural!) element, I’ve done it extensively in both Fred the Clown and The Muppet Show Comic Book, so I thought, if I’m pillaging the works of Lewis Carroll, I might as well pillage his verse while I’m about it. It was a way of trying not to alienate too many of my existing readers as much as anything! I’ve kind of made myself known as “That Guy Who Puts Rhymes Into His Comics.”

1) Avenging Spider-man #1

Zeb Wells and Joe Madureira are kicking off their new Avengers-centric Spidey title this week.  Marking Madureira’s first major super hero comic work since Ultimates 3, there are plenty of his fans who will want to see him on a big book like this one.  The early promo art looks impressive, and while there might be reasons to dislike art that goes from pencils to digital inking and coloring with no involvement from an actual inker, this book looks much tighter than the Ultimates issues did, so pick it up and give it a try!

2) Green Lantern #3

This week’s issue from Geoff Johns and Doug Mahnke features Hal Jordan and Sinestro teaming up to battle the Sinestro Corps.  While the Johns/Mahnke team is enough to get and keep people reading this title, there is a twist at the end of this issue that might be worth checking out for new readers too.  Also available this week are replacement copies of last week’s Red Lanterns, which were unfortunately damaged in transit.

3) Loose Ends #3

The acclaimed Southern Crime Romance from local creators Jason Latour, Chris Brunner, and Rico Renzi continues this week, with a third issue that should surprise you.  Comics fans, creators, and more are taking note of the series strengths, and it is a book that has more than lived up to its hype.  Latour is proving himself a solid writer in addition to his skills as an artist on other books, and Brunner and Renzi seem to have outdone themselves on this issue.  Check out the promo art to get a glimpse at some of Charlotte’s talented comics creators.

4) Fear Itself #7.2

Last week’s Fear Itself #7.1 set up some major story threads that will  affect Captain America and the Marvel Universe in the coming year.  This issue by Matt Fraction and Adam Kubert focuses on Thor, and what happened to him in the fallout of Fear Itself.  Is he dead? Alive? Going through Ragnarok again?  Perhaps you’ll find out in this issue.

5)Marvel Point One #1

This 64 page one shot from Marvel sets up lots of new titles and storylines.  Aside from the return of fan favorite characters (like maybe a Human Rocket), this one also sets up some big surprises, and even has a rumored cliffhanger that will supposedly get people talking.  With a roster of creators including Jeph Loeb, Brian Bendis, Matt Fraction, Ed McGuinness, Bryan Hitch, and Salvador Larocca, Marvel is definitely putting some of their top talent on this book, and there’s probably a good reason for that.

> Bonus Picks of the Week: Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. #3, Magneto: Not a Hero #1, Batwoman #3, Ultimate Spider-man #4, and the Simon and Kirby Library HC: Crime.