Big news announced today by CGC Comics!

Shelton Drum of Heroes Aren’t Hard to Find in Charlotte, North Carolina, has acquired a comic book collection of more than 40,000 unique books. The collection was amassed by a single collector who resided in the Savannah area.

Last fall, at the age of 95, a life-long comic book collector passed on, leaving behind an incredible collection of more than 40,000 comic books. He started collecting in the 1950s and continued until his recent death. A fan of all genres, he bought everything. Action Comics, Showcase, Brave and the Bold, Batman, G.I. Combat, Our Army at War, X-Men, Daredevil, Amazing Spider-Man, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, Uncle Scrooge, Heart Throbs, Weird Western and literally everything else! Although, with a complete collection of DC, he was clearly a superhero fan.

The collector’s four children were not interested in keeping the collection and sought Shelton’s help in selling it. When he arrived at the collector’s home to inspect the books, Shelton found the comics from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s stored raw on shelves and in plastic storage bins, and the books from the 80s and later bagged and in cases. According to his family, at some point the collector developed a relationship with a local newsstand distributor and was able to pick up new books directly from the warehouse as they arrived. This resulted in a very consistent collection. All of the books are clean, with no stamps or markings.

When asked to sum up his thoughts on the collection, Shelton stated simply, “This collection has all the comics that you dream about as a kid. Every title, every issue, all lined up!”

Every book will be certified by CGC with the Savannah Collection pedigree. Check www.heroesonline.com for updates on this amazing collection as it becomes available to the comic book community.

Shelton Drum has been buying and selling comics since the mid-1970s and opened his store, Heroes Aren’t Hard to Find, in Charlotte, N.C., in January 1980.

We also have a small Indie Island Guest List addition to make today. You better believe that we have lots more announcements to make as the year winds down and as we gear up for HeroesCon 2011!

Paul Maybury is probably best known for his original graphic novel Aqua Leung. His forthcoming book DOGS of Mars, for which he did the art, will be released in 2011. He is also working on an original webcomic called Party Bear which you can read here. On stands now is Strange Tales 2 #2 which features a Spider-Man story by Maybury!

Tom Scioli is an award winning writer, artist and co-creating Godland, along with writer Joe Casey. He is also the writer and artist of the popular series The Myth of 8-Opus and American Barbarian. Currently he is working on Captain America: Hail Hydra which hits stores early next year.

Are you ready for even more additions to the HeroesCon 2011 Guest List? We are churning out guest list adds like they are going out of style! We haven’t even made it to 2011 yet and already our guest list is jam-packed with awesome guests and we keep adding more and more. I don’t know about you but I think that HeroesCon 2011 can’t get here soon enough!

The BPRD brain trust will be in attendance as John Arcudi joins Mike Mignola and Guy Davis on the HeroesCon 2011 Guest List, and we couldn’t be happier!  Arcudi has been a mainstay at Dark Horse since the late 80s and has worked on such popular titles as The Mask, Barb Wire and The Machine. His recent work includes the Superman story in Wednesday Comics and the original graphic novel A God Somewhere.

Richard Case is a well-known penciller and inker who has worked on Vertigo titles such as Doom Patrol, Ghostdancing, Shade The Changing Man and Hunter: The Age of Magic. According to his blog he hasn’t missed a HeroesCon since 1989, which is incredible! We are happy to welcome Case back for another year and help him keep that streak going!

HeadHunta’ Studios had a huge presence this past HeroesCon and it looks like they want to step it up even more for 2011. CBR did a really nice write up about them coming to HeroesCon last year. You can read that article here. Members Chuck Collins, Derrick Fish, John Floyd, Austin Janowsky, Nathan Massengill, Keith Miller and Chris Walker join the already announced Koi Turnbull. They are all ready to represent the Atlanta, GA based studio collective. Be sure to check  them out to see the awesome projects they are working on!

Jamal Igle has run the gamut by working for numerous companies in the comics, toys, gaming, film and television industries. Currently he is an exclusive artist for DC Comics and has worked on such fan-favorite titles as Supergirl, Nightwing, 52 and Superman: War of the Supermen.

Mark McHaley began his career when he was just 19 years old and since then he has illustrated for countless companies. Recently has done a wide array of sketch cards including DC Universe: Legacy, Indiana Jones: Heritage, Star Wars Galaxy 5 and Lord of the Rings: Masterpieces II. Check out some of the many galleries he has created to showcase his artwork!

Bob McLeod has been the artist on some of the biggest and best titles in comics! His career highlights include Conan the Barbarian, Star Wars and Hulk. He also had a long run on Action Comics in the 90s and did the art for the Kraven’s Last Hunt storyline in the Spider-Man titles. He is most famous for co-creating the New Mutants, along with Chris Claremont. Also, he was the editor of Rough Stuff, a magazine released through TwoMorrows Publishing. Most recently he has done a number of children’s books. McLeod is a versatile and talented artist!

Michael Watkins is the founder and owner of Highburn Studios but you may also know him from his art on Sonic The Hedgehog, Femme Noir or his creator owned title, Guardians. In addition to his comic work he designs fabric for Solid Stone Fabrics.

Skottie Young had to cancel at the last minute this past HeroesCon so we are doubly excited to have him confirmed for next year! You may remember seeing his artwork on our badges at HeroesCon 2010. We also used that artwork on our Holiday Sale fliers because we loved it so much! You can currently see Young’s distinctive work on countless covers and in the interiors of Ozma of Oz which is the third Oz mini-series that he has worked on with writer Eric Shanower. The first Oz series, Wonderful Wizard of Oz, won two 2010 Eisner Awards: Best Limited Series or Story Arc and Best Publication for Kids. We are super excited to have him as a guest next year!

Phew! Thanks for sticking around till the very end! It is an exciting time at Heroes and we have got lots of announcements and news coming your way so you better keep it tuned to the Heroes blog!

1) Batgirl #16

I bring this issue to your attention because I’m sure some of you might have missed the debut of artist Dustin Nguyen on the book last month.  With all things Bat-related switching up and changing of late, Nguyen joins writer Bryan Q. Miller on this title in hopes of building up a solid rogues gallery for the character.  The Batman titles are often the most enjoyable from DC every month, and Nguyen’s quality work should encourage some new readership on this book.

2)  Widowmaker #1

Widowmaker is essentially a miniseries that will be standing in place of two struggling, unappreciated titles, Hawkeye and Mockingbird and Black Widow.  What’s most interesting about this project is that it sees the creative teams of the regular titles all working in collaboration.  In talking with Jim McCann for an upcoming interview for our site, he was especially excited about how he and co-writer Duane Swierczynski continually tried to one-up each other with each issue’s cliffhanger.  This series should focus on some of the common espionage threads between the characters, and will introduce a new Ronin in the process.  Plus, this series leads directly into the upcoming Hawkeye: Blindspot miniseries, so fans of the archer should take note.

3) Halcyon #2

Image continues its recent trend of introducing new super hero comics with this second issue from creators Marc Guggenheim, Tara Butters, and Ryan Bodenheim.  Focusing on a world where most evil has already been vanquished, Halcyon proves to be an interesting twist on several classic super hero themes.  Guggenheim and Butters have done frequent work for television shows, and if you’re not familiar with Bodenheim from his work on Jonathan Hickman’s Red Mass for Mars, check out his John Cassaday-esque work in this series.

4) Tiny Titans/Little Archie #3

Without question, the best family friendly offering of the day is this final issue of one of the most unexpected team ups of the year. Regular Tiny Titans creators Art Baltazar and Franco Aureliani bring the magic-based characters Sabrina and Raven into the spotlight in this issue. This series is a great example of comics at their most simple, entertaining, and accessible.

> Bonus Picks of the Week: Batman: The Widening Gyre HC, Lady Mechanika #1, Mystery Society #5, Thor: the Mighty Avenger #7, Thor: the Mighty Avenger TP vol. 1, and Fables #100, the anniversary issue featuring art from Mark Buckingham, Steve Leialoha, Adam Hughes, and Chrissie Zullo, another talented Charlotte-based artist.

Our sale was a huge success and we have all of you to thank! We greatly appreciate your patronage and support. Thank you so much for stopping by and taking advantage of the terrific deals. We had a ton of fun and we hope you did too. All of us at Heroes wish you a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday Season! I took a few pictures and have posted them on our Flickr page. Check them out here! If you missed the sale, fear not! The store is open throughout the month of December for all you present needs (though you will have to pay full price). We are happy to help you find that perfect gift for that special someone.

A sampling from the most recent Previews catalog of what looks like a winner in the month of February! All books are available for pre-order at your local shop (that’s us)!

Witchfinder: Lost and Gone Forever #1 (of 5) – The first mini-series, a spin-off of Hellboy and a distant one at that, from 2009 was a very pleasant surprise.  The occult detective heads from Victorian England to the old west for an adventure by comics legend John Severin. Nobody draws the old west better than Severin and nobody does atmospheric gothic horror like Mike Mignola and John Arcudi.  So we all win here. Pg. 30

Stumptown, Vol 1. HC – Greg Rucka, Matthew Southworth, and Rico Renzi (he works here!) does the P.I. genre a solid with Stumptown.  The modern Detective story has certain beats it needs to hit and this book hits them all with ease.  Rough n’ tumble, down on their luck hero, episodic incidences, characters that bop in and out of the narrative, not explaining who they are with a violent streak.  There should be more comics as rock solid as this. Pg. 288

Marvel .1 Program – It’s the Marvel -1 (remember that?) of the 2010’s!  These issues are designed to be jumping-on points for Amazing Spider-Man, Invincible Iron Man, and Wolverine. So if you’ve been remiss in buying these books, life is giving you a second chance.

Kids Stuff!

Bone: Quest for the Spark Novel Vol. 1- This is a NOVEL, not a comic book or a graphic novel.  Jeff Smith will be providing the spot illustrations throughout and his involvement is a stamp of quality in favor of writer Tom Sniegoski.  A new generation of characters head into The Valley and fun adventure ensues. Pg. 279

Owly & Wormy: Friends All Aflutter! HC – Andy Runton takes the cutest comic in the world and makes it even cutier by doing it in full painted color. Pg. 298

Join us THIS WEEKEND on December 4th from 10 am to 9 pm and December 5th from 1 to 6 pm as we begin the holiday celebration with our widely popular annual holiday sale where we discount nearly everything in the store! 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, brand-new $1 stock loaded up with awesome comics. If you have had the pleasure of digging through our previous dollar stocks you know that we go to great effort to pack them full of quality books. 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 2011! It makes a great gift for that hard-to-shop-for comics fan. We can’t wait to see you Saturday and Sunday!

For the sake of reminding you all one more time, don’t forget that new books ship on Thursday this week due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

1) Shadowland #5

Marvel‘s Daredevil-centric mini series comes to a close with this issue.  The “street-level” heroes team up to take down Daredevil as he attempts to take control of Hell’s Kitchen and all of New York City. Andy Diggle and Billy Tan have told an action-packed story and this issue will surely prove to be even more exciting than its predecessors, especially with Daredevil’s life at stake. Shadowland has featured a wide cast of characters from Daredevil’s long history including Elektra and Typhoid Mary. It will be interesting to see how all of these characters will tie into what could possibly be Matt Murdock’s final chapter. Also worth checking out is Daredevil #512, which is not only a tie-in to Shadowland, but Matt Murdock’s final appearance in the Man Without Fear before the Black Panther takes over the title.

2) Strange Science Fantasy #6

Scott Morse‘s nostalgic series ends with this week’s issue.  With nods to 50’s and 60’s era B-movies, monster movies and car culture, this has been one of most consistently enjoyable mini series of the year.  Morse’s energetic art seems to move at an even quicker pace than usual thanks to the storyboard-like layouts throughout the book. This issue is a nod to Indiana Jones and other adventure stories and it ties together all the previous stories. Also, all issues of Strange Science Fantasy feature an all-new, one-page story by the incomparable Paul Pope. Here’s hoping that Morse gives us more series like this one.

3) Wolverine: The Best There Is #1

Charlie Huston and Jose Juan Ryp are the latest creators to take a stab at Wolverine in this new ongoing series.  Immediately out of the gate, the creators introduce a new villain named Contagion into Wolverine’s rogues gallery who is defended by a  whole team of villains called The Unkillables.  Huston and Ryp intend on telling more dark, violent and fantastical stories about Wolverine and hopefully in the process make him more human and more vulnerable. They want to simultaneously go back to a time when Wolverine wasn’t as powerful and yet move forward into new and different directions. What is most exciting about this book is the villains that they are unearthing from Marvel’s vaults. Huston recently told CBR about his plans to bring some obscure Marvel characters to light.

4) Heroes for Hire #1

At least once every five years or so Marvel brings back the classic Heroes for Hire concept.  This time around it’s spearheaded by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, two writers who are probably more renowned for their space-faring tales.  Artist Brad Walker illustrates this new title, and previously worked with Abnett and Lanning on Guardians of the Galaxy. The new series focuses on the post-Shadowland Marvel universe, and features a rotating cast of characters like Misty Knight, Iron Fist, Ghost Rider, Falcon, Paladin, Elektra, and Moon Knight. The first issue starts as the Falcon and Black Widow accept a call from Control to be Heroes for Hire.

5) Chip N Dale Rescue Rangers #1

Boom! Studios looks to add another hit to their great line of all ages titles.  Darkwing Duck scribe Ian Brill is on board to write this new series which features art by Marvel’s Super Hero Squad‘s Leonel Castellani.  For those who aren’t aware of these characters, they were, along with Darkwing Duck, part of Disney’s late 80’s and early 90’s string of new animated series.  Combining older Disney properties like Chip and Dale with newer characters like Monterey Jack and Gadget, this series owed much to 80’s adventure films like Indiana Jones.

> Bonus Picks of the Week: Rasl #9, Baltimore: the Plague Ships #5, American Vampire #9, Planetary TP vol. 4, Generation Hope #2, and Taskmaster #4