After each day of HeroesCon comes to an end the place to be is the Westin. Whether you just want to hang out in the lobby bar or you’re attending our Annual Art Auction the Westin is where it’s at.

Reservations at the Westin Charlotte are now open at the special HeroesCon rate of $119/night! We strongly suggest you reserve your rooms as soon as you can because although we have access to nearly the entire hotel, we sellout and fill the place every year. If you’ve never stayed at the Westin before, get ready for luxury, the place is NICE!

You can go to our Hotels page to see a complete list of area hotels we recommend, including the Westin; or just click right here to go right to the reservation page. If you have any problems, or if particular nights are listed as sold-out, please let us know so we can address that. They group the rooms in blocks so sometimes they’ll show up on the computer as sold-out, but Shelton has a magic wand to wave at that stuff.

As 2011 comes to a close we are gearing up for the 30th Anniversary of Heroes Convention! Thank you guys for a great year! We appreciate all of our customers and every single person who comes to HeroesCon and the Charlotte MiniCon. Without further adieu, our last guest list update for 2011.

• JEREMY BASTIAN – Cursed Pirate Girl, Mouse Gaurd
• CHRIS BRUNNER – Loose Ends, Boondock Saints, Batman: LOTDK
• STEPHANIE BUSCEMA – Something Monstrous, Womanthology
• CLAYTON CRAIN – Carnage U.S.A., Ghost Rider
• KELLY SUE DECONNICK – Osbourne, Supergirl
• MARC DEERING – Supergirl, Adventure Comics, Resident Evil
• TODD DEZAGO – Tellos, Perhapanauts, Casper
• MICHAEL DOONEY – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Gizmo
• MATT FRACTION – Casanova, Iron Man, Fear Itself
• CHRISTOS GAGE – Avengers Academy, X-Men Legacy
• PAUL LEVITZ – Legion of Superheroes, 75 Years of DC Comics: The Art of Modern Mythmaking
• RON MARZ – Witchblade, Shinku, Artifacts
• DAVID PETERSEN – Mouse Guard, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
• CRAIG ROUSSEAU – Perhapanauts, Batman Beyond, Impulse
• TIM SALE – Hulk: Grey, Batman: The Long Halloween
• WAYNE VANSANT – The ‘NAM
• JARRETT WILLIAMS – Super Pro KO, Yo Gabba Gabba!

Our full guest list is here, check back for more updates soon!

2011: What a great year for the Heroes Discussion Group! In one ten month period February to November, we tackled Death of Speedy, Sandman: Endless Nights, Ghost World, Superman Earth One, Parker: The Outfit, Wednesday Comics, Cinderella: From Fabletown with Love, Daytripper and Jimmy Corrigan!  It’s hard for me to to pick a personal favorite discussion but (after review) I am leaning towards the afternoon that Jimmy Corrigan reared his round head.

So, how do we start 2012?  On the weekend of the Feast of the Epiphany, let’s do the those star following Magi one better than Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh by presenting 4 gifts–The entire four volume Planetary by Warren Ellis and John Cassaday.  This is a book that creates some serious division amongst comic readers.

Many love Ellis’ work; many do not.

A large number of readers are intrigued by the conceit behind Planetary; some view it as an attack on some of our beloved superhero archetypes.

But there is more than one way to approach this world that Ellis and Cassaday have carefully constructed?

So, there is only one thing to do–talk about it.  I promise you this; it is an exciting read; even if your feathers get a bit ruffled, Planetary is certainly worth your time.

Serving Suggestion: Perhaps Planetary can be approached as a 20th Century Superhero take on  the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.  (And that incredible art alone is worth the price of admission).  Please plan to join us on Saturday January 7th at 1:00pm as we will tackle all four volumes of Planetary.  After the discussion, we want to hear your recommendations for the 2012 Discussion groups.  All of the Planetary volumes (including the enormous, beautiful omnibi (I know, I know)) are available from Heroes with the 10% Discussion Group Discount.  As usual, be sure to mention the discount to your clerk as they are ringing up your order.

We can’t wait to see you!

1) Avengers: The Children’s Crusade #8

With the recent announcement of Marvel’s big 2012 event being Avengers vs. X-men, look for this 9 issue series to increase its popularity in the coming months.  Aside from the fact that this series features Avengers, X-men, and the Young Avengers, its return of Scarlet Witch to prominence will undoubtedly play a role in next year’s event.  Allen Heinberg and Jimmy Cheung are also apparently killing an Avenger in this issue, which may be yet another instigator in the upcoming conflict between the heroes.

2) Shaky Kane’s Monster Truck GN

I first came across Shaky Kane’s name reading Eddie Campbell’s excellent Alec series.  At that point it was just a name associated with an artist whose work I hadn’t seen.  Then, last year fellow Heroes staffer Justin Crouse recommended a book called the Bulletproof Coffin by David Hine and one Shaky Kane.  To my surprise the art was a strange combination of surreality, psychedelia, and clearly the product of a fan of Silver Age comics.  This week’s Monster Truck is another fine example of this captivating artist.  Spread out over the 50 page continuous single panel are an assortment of American pop culture bits including zombies, killer clowns, car-sized insects, dinosaurs, monsters, and classic cars.  It’s also quite poetic in a strange, quirky way.

3) Justice League Dark #4

There have been quite a few customers who have mentioned how much they’re enjoying this tale of supernatural Justice Leaguers.  For those who might not like the more mainstream of DC’s 52 titles, this one might be a good one for you to pick up.  Following the exploits of darker characters like John Constantine, Deadman, Zatanna, Madame Xanadu, and Shade the Changing Man, this title benefits from veteran Vertigo writer Peter Milligan, as well as the appropriately horror-tinged art of Mikel Janin.  To top it all off, they get a great cover from artist Ryan Sook every issue.

4) X-men: Schism HC

Wisely, Marvel decided to release a collection of this popular minseries before the end of the year.  Teaming writer Jason Aaron with talented artists like Frank Cho, Adam Kubert, Daniel Acuna, and Carlos Pacheco, this hardcover not only collects the entire 5 issue series chronicling the schism between Wolverine and Cyclops, but also contains Generation Hope #10-11, and the X-men: Regenesis one shot that led directly into the new Uncanny X-men and Wolverine and the X-men series.  Plus, you get almost 225 pages in a hardcover format for considerably less than you would if you were to purcase all the single issues contained in this book.

5) Chase TP

Readers over recent years have really responded to the dynamic art of J.H. Williams III.  If you’re only familiar with his work on books like Batwoman, Promethea, and Detective Comics, this week DC collects one of his popular series from the olden days of the 1990s.  This title was interesting in that it focused on a shady government organization that monitored superheroes, while allowing it all to be seen through the eyes of one of the agents who began to develop strange abilities of her own.  In addition to collecting the entire Chase series, included here are also lots of other Chase appearances from that time.  Over 350 pages of comics for under $30!

> Bonus Picks of the Week: Aquaman #4, Captain America # 5 AND 6, Flash #4, Kick Ass 2 #6, Batman: The Dark Knight #4, Walt and Skeezix HC vol. 5, and Spaceman #3.

Thanks for a great year you guys! Have a fun and safe holiday!

It’s not too late to come by the store and pick up something special for the comic lover in your life!

HOLIDAY STORE HOURS

Christmas Eve
Saturday, December 24th:   10am – 6pm
Christmas Day
Sunday, December 25th: CLOSED
New Year’s Eve
Saturday, December 31st: 10am – 6pm
New Year’s Day
Sunday, January 1st: 1pm – 6pm

BOOK SHIPPING SCHEDULE
Completely normal! Books will arrive in the store on Wednesday throughout the holidays!

Big announcements about the 30th Anniversary of HeroesCon coming in early 2012, stay tuned!

It’s Christmas week here at Heroes and we’re all working hard to make sure you have lots of comics to enjoy as we wrap up 2011.  Here are just a few of the books that will hit stands this Wednesday.  All of us at Heroes hope you and yours have a blessed holiday season.

1) Batman Incorporated: Leviathan Strikes #1

This 80 page oneshot from Grant Morrison, Chris Burnham, and Cameron Stewart picks up right where the acclaimed Batman Incorporated series left off.  Not only should this issue answer several unanswered questions left from that series, but it’s said to finally reveal the true identity of the mysterious Leviathan.

2) Wolverine and the X-men #3

This series continues to deliver solid, enjoyable comics that seem to be giving X-men fans lots to be happy with, like an amped up Iceman, fun new characters like a Brood student and Kid Gladiator, and the new Hellfire Club running amok with their very own Wendigo and Sauron!  If you haven’t already, pick up the first three issues this week and you’re guaranteed to have some great comics to read over the holiday weekend.  Kudos to Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo for making the X-men fun again.

3) Wonder Woman #4

Why not talk one more time this year about the comics bliss that is Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang’s Wonder Woman?  Equal parts horror, mythology, and super hero tale, the talented pair have delivered one of the best comics of DC’s 52 relaunch.  Do yourself a favor and get acquainted with the work of Cliff Chiang before you meet him at the Charlotte MiniCon.  Aside from having a broad catalog of comics work, Cliff always delivers quality art on whatever book he illustrates.  Wonder Woman is just another example of that.

4) Tales Designed to Thrizzle #7

Michael Kupperman returns with the latest volume of his hilarious comic.  Riding high off the critical acclaim he received for this year’s Mark Twain’s Autobiography1910-2010, in this issue Kupperman offers up stories like Saint Peter Comics, Hamanimal, Reservoir Dogs 2, and Twain and Einstein.  Kupperman’s one of the best when it comes to solid comics storytelling, nice line work, and abounding humor.

5) Uncanny X-force #19

Rarely do you get a chance to read two new issues of a title two weeks in a row, so if you’re an X-force fan, take advantage of it this week.  Rick Remnder kicks off the next chapter of X-force with a new direction, new members, and the debut of new artist Robbi Rodriguez, who is sure to garner attention for his work on this book.

> Bonus Picks of the Week: Lady Mechanika #3, Tony Millionaire’s 500 Portraits, Activity #1, Fantastic Four #601, Sergio Aragones’ Funnies #6, Batman #4, Jubilee by Robert Kirkman TP, and Art of Joe Jusko HC.

Excitement is building  for the Charlotte MiniCon on SUNDAY, January 22, 2012!  We already told you Cliff Chiang will be there but we didn’t tell you about the sweet poster we’ll be offering! Cliff and local hero Dustin Harbin have teamed up to create this gorgeous poster that will be available at the MiniCon. Did we mention it’s huge? 16 by 24 inches of glorious hand silk screened art on a nice heavy sheet of paper. Wait until you see these things! We will be offering them for a measly 10 bucks a piece! That’s a deal and a half! Get a friend to pick one up for you if you can’t make it to the show!

Besides Cliff Chiang and Dustin Harbin other great guests on hand will include:

• Rich Barrett
• J. Chris Campbell
• Sanford Greene
• Jason Latour
• Eraklis “Herc” Petmezas
• Bridgit Scheide
• Andy Smith
• Budd Root

We’ll take a closer look at all of these great creators (and maybe a couple more!) as we get closer to MiniCon time.

Not only will you find great comic creators at MiniCon, the show will also feature dealers selling comics from the Golden Age through today, along with other great collectibles. If you’ve never been to the MiniCon or enjoyed the nice environment of the Palmer Building before, there’s no better time than this year. Come help us celebrate the 35th anniversary of this classic event, and make sure to bring the whole family! It’s going to be a rockin’ good time!

Charlotte MiniCon
January 22, 2012
11 am to 5 pm
Admission is just $3!
Palmer Building at Fireman’s Hall
2601 E 7th St
Charlotte, NC 28204

Lots of new items are available in our web store. Take a look and see what strikes your fancy! There are Heroes Exclusive comics, HeroesCon T-Shirts, hard to find Loose Ends issues and more! Look for more items in the coming weeks and please let us know if there is anything you would like to see in the store! Click the image to start shopping! Thanks!

So what are the two best comic books on the market today? How the heck should I know? I only read a handful of monthly titles.  However, there are two that are out and about that you may not be reading, but you really, really should!

First up is SNARKED by our good friend from down-under (that’s New Zealand, not Greenville) Roger Langridge. This is an on-it’s-head retelling of the adventures of the Walrus and the Carpenter characters from Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass. In addition to being a well paced, fun, exciting comic adventure–it has something to do with a missing King, an eight year old Queen and of course, a map! Langridge is a master craftsman who is incapable of drawing a panel without adding a ton of funny details. Even the letter page is a hoot-and-a-half.  The Walrus is the best comic scoundrel since J. Wellington Wimpy and believe me, that is saying something! You’ve been hearing us rave about Roger for years. If you missed his version of The Muppets, or his Fin Fang Foom or his vastly underrated Thor the Mighty Avenger, please give SNARKED a try. You won’t be sorry.

As a cartoonist, Langridge is a tough act to follow, but I know of one other cartoonist who can. Sergio Aragonés, the man responsible for MAD Marginals and of course Groo the Wanderer, displays all of his comic talents in the monthly Sergio Aragonés Funnies. This is a great comic artist still in his prime. Each issue is packed with jokes, skits, puzzles and some surprisingly moving stories from his rather picaresque past. Five issues have been published so far and I can’t tell you which is my favorite.  It is a five way tie for first! You can pick up any issue and read it in any order. Please do so, you will be glad you did.

PS–Did I mention that Sergio will be at HeroesCon 2012?? To quote Syndrome (arch enemy of The Incredibles) “Oho man, this is just too good!”

1) Avengers X-Sanction #1

This series not only brings Cable back to the present day Marvel universe, but sets up 2012’s huge Avengers vs. X-men crossover.  Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness helm this four issue limited series that features Cable trying to destroy the Avengers.  If you stop by the store this week make sure to pick up one of our Heroes exclusive variant covers for this issue.  These were printed just for us, and are extremely rare, but you can be sure to find them at Heroes.

2) Jim Henson’s The Storyteller HC

You might not remember the television series of the same name, but if you loved the recent Muppets movie, here’s your chance to delve further into the genius work of Jim Henson.  Archaia brings the t.v. show’s premise of a storyteller and his dog to the comics medium in a logical anthology format with the help of creators like Roger Langridge, Jeff Parker, Ron Marz, Marjorie Liu, Paul Tobin, Craig Rousseau, Tom Fowler, Francesco Francavilla, Janet Lee and more.  Aside from being a great gift idea, this one will undoubtedly be an enjoyable book because you know the contributers all have lots of love and respect for Henson.  That’s bound to show in their work.

3) Uncanny X-force #18

If you haven’t yet given Uncanny X-force a try, you’re missing out on one of the most consistently well done and entertaining X books on the shelves.  This week sees the end of Rick Remender and Jerome Opena’s Dark Angel Saga, and Marvel has hinted that at least one character might meet his/her demise in this issue.  This issue also sets up issue 19’s new creative team of returning writer Remender and new artist Robbi Rodriguez, who is a talented artist deserving more attention for his quality work.

4) Rocketeer Adventures HC

One of 2011’s best anthologies receives hardcover treatment this week.  Paying tribute to the late Dave Stevens, IDW brought together a veritable who’s who of modern comics greats to bring new stories of Steven’s most celebrated creation back to comics.  Among the contributers are Mike Allred, Darwyn Cooke, John Cassaday, Dave Gibbons, John Arcudi, Ryan Sook, Mark Waid, Bruce Timm, Kurt Busiek, Tony Harris, Tommy Lee Edwards, Alex Ross and many others.  Like this week’s The Storyteller, you know the creators involved with this project worked as a labor of love to Stevens and his inimitable contribution to the comics industry. Dig that pin up from the talented Stephanie Buscema!

5) Carnage U.S.A. #1

Zeb Wells and Clayton Crain always do well with their Carnage mini series, and this one should please fans.  This time around the pair send America’s favorite murderous symbiote to America’s heartland, where his violent exploits draw the attention and ire of Spider-man and the Avengers.  While this isn’t exactly a family friendly comic to read with your kids around the Christmas tree, it is something Spidey and Carnage fans should really enjoy.

> Bonus Picks of the Week: Batwoman #4, Fables TP vol. 16, Chuck Jones: Dream That Never Was HC, Green Lantern #4, Red Wing TP, Roger Langridge’s Snarked #3, Shade #3, Batgirl #4, and Witchblade #150.