This Sunday I’ll be at Wes Tillander’s awesome quarterly comic show in Atlanta. http:// www.atlantacomicconvention. com/

And NEXT weekend it will be time for Lyn Anderson’s long running Raleigh Comic Book Show.

Three of my favorite regional shows, back-to-back-to-back! All of these guys have been working hard, for about 20 years, to consistently bring the best group of vendors with tons of COMIC BOOKS to their shows, and I love supporting them. It is always fun and profitable.

IF YOU LIKE COMICS, THESE ARE THE SHOWS TO GO TO!
Oh, and mine too. -Shelton Drum

This is one of the hardest posts I’ve ever had to write. It is with shock, disbelief and great sadness that I share the news that Jeremy Dale has passed away. Jeremy came to HeroesCon about 10 years ago and promptly won the quick-draw contest. The next year he was a working professional and a regular in artist alley. He and his wife Kelly became part of the extended Heroes family. He was talented, funny, supportive, hard-working and way too young. Linda and I, along with the entire Heroes crew, send love and hugs to Kelly and all of our comic family friends that knew and loved Jeremy. He will be missed. Rest in Peace Jeremy. – Shelton Drum

It’s been almost 2 months since HeroesCon and all of the pressure, excitement and stress that brings to Heroes and to me personally. The volume builds for months before the show every year and takes some time to settle down afterwards. The one aspect of HeroesCon that I regret every year is that I don’t get to spend enough, if any, time behind my table selling and trading comics with attending fans. I love old comics. I love handling and talking about old comics. I love buying and selling old comics.

My long-time friends and associates in the Charlotte comic-collecting community Rick Fortenberry and Dave Hinson are holding their Charlotte Comicon this Sunday at the Crown Plaza Executive Park Hotel (formerly the Marriott) off of Tyvola Rd and I-77. I love this show! I’ll tell you why. I can go set up my stock of comics and spend a whole day immersed in old funnybooks and talking to local collectors. Many customers are old friends and the war stories and tall tales are fun to recount, but I always meet new fans and collectors every time this show is held. This con is like a day off for me and I can’t wait.

Come join us this Sunday for a full day of fun, collecting and reminiscing about the comics and characters we all love.

http://www.charlottecomicon.com/

*photo by Todd Lacey

Back by popular demand!!! “True Believer” passes to meet Stan Lee!

That’s right True Believers, Stan has OK’d another round of special VIP status passes for us to offer to you. Only the “True Believer” level pass is available, and not too many of those. The description and online ticket form is here.

You can still buy autographs and fast pass tickets in advance of the HeroesCon, ala carte from Desert Winds Comics, as well as autographs and photographs at the con itself as long as time allows.

Stan is pretty super, but superhuman is still the stuff of comic books! There are no guarantees how many autographs will be available at the show.

Don’t miss out!
Order those “True Believer” passes and advance autograph tickets right now!

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

We are happy to announce that Rico Renzi is the new Creative Director of Heroes Aren’t Hard To Find. He has been working here for the past several months now so it is about time that we officially announce him as an employee. As Creative Director, Rico is responsible for designing our promotional materials and creating the graphics for our website and blog. You have already seen his handiwork on our most recent mailer and in the sidebar of our site. We are thrilled to have his keen eye and dynamic aesthetic to help strengthen and guide the visual presence of Heroes.

(Shelton doesn’t look “thrilled”-rico)

Rico has been in the comics industry for years now as a working colorist. His most recent work includes coloring Chris Brunner‘s covers on Boondock Saints and NOLA (left). They have been working together professionally since 2003 when they did a five-issue story arc on Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight.  Be on the look out for Brunner and Renzi’s upcoming book Loose Ends, which was written by another talented local creator, Jason Latour. Loose Ends, which is slated for release later this year, is a southern crime comic from 12 Gauge Comics
that should appeal to fans of classic crime and noir fiction, comics, and films. Last year, Rico did several projects for Oni, including Stumptown, Frenemy of the State (covers), and a poster that came with Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Boxset (right).

While Rico will be working full time at Heroes, he doesn’t have any plans to stop coloring comics. Hopefully his work at Heroes will help fuel his art and vice versa for years to come.

Eric Shanower and Skottie Young have been doing an incredible job of adapting L. Frank Baum’s Oz books. I love the way that they’ve re-imagined the characters making them fresh. Despite the numerous adaptations of the Oz characters, Wonderful Wizard of Oz and Marvelous Land of Oz were full of joy and imagination making them delightfully fun books to read.

I think I am more excited about reading Ozma of Oz than I was the previous two stories. I have a particular fondness for this story because of the movie Return to Oz. I rented this a million times from the local video store when I was younger. I watched it recently and it really holds up. Mombi and the Wheelers still freak me out after all these years.

Ozma of Oz #1 started off strong and I know that this book won’t let me down despite my ridiculously high expectations. Young’s art is dynamic and expressive. The characters are bubbling over with life. Shanower’s dialogue and pacing is perfect. This is an impeccably created comic book that is great for old Oz fans or those new to Baum’s world.

Ever since I first read Sandman TP vol 1 Preludes and Nocturnes I was hooked. Some years later I still consider myself a huge fan and have been slowly amassing a substantial Sandman collection. I have all the trades, all the Absolutes (including Absolute Death) and now I am going back and picking up the single issues along with tie-ins. So naturally when I found out that Death would be in Action Comics #894 I knew I had to have it.

Death is one of my favorite of the Endless from Sandman. For those of you not familiar, the Endless are the siblings of Dream (the main character of Sandman): Death, Destruction, Desire, Delirium (formerly Delight), Destiny and Despair. Each is a physical embodiment of the idea its name represents. Death literally is death. As a character, Death is the perfect antithesis of your expectations. She is certainly no Grim Reaper. She is a cheery, cute goth chick who you want to usher you to the other side. A lot of people relate to her because she feels so approachable and empathetic. She is a complex and lovely character.

Before we delve deeper into the review I would like to warn readers of the possibilities of spoilers. If you have read the issue or don’t mind spoilers please read away; otherwise, read ahead at your own risk.

I was really pleased with the way this issue turned out. Paul Cornell and Pete Woods did an excellent job writing and illustrating this issue. I felt that Death was used thoughtfully and meaningfully. Her appearance did not feel like a gimmick or a publicity stunt. She felt very much “in character” and like the Death from Sandman. She provided an interesting juxtaposition to Lex Luthor and helped to reveal Luthor’s thoughts on life, death and God. The interactions between them were brilliant, especially the “nose touch scene” that was in the back of many of DC books for the week of October 27. Most of the issue was a philosophical conversation between Death and Luthor. It is a fascinating and thought-provoking conversation about Luthor’s drives and motivations. It shed new light onto Luthor for me.

It would have been easy for the dialogue to feel very forced given the situation they were in, yet Cornell made it feel natural. Cornell is able to believably put Luthor into a rare state of vulnerability. All the while Death is joking and being playful trying to calm Luthor and make him more comfortable. According to Bleeding Cool, Cornell has credited much of Death’s dialogue to Sandman writer Neil Gaiman. Gaiman is not given writing credits in this issue, though he is given a special thanks. So, some of the success of this issue needs to be given to Gaiman though most goes to Cornell’s writing and Woods’s illustrating.

Woods was able to keep the story visually engaging despite the lack of action. Death’s depiction was spot on. She is tender and sweet as she takes Luthor on a existential journey. Most of the story depends on facial expressions and Luthor’s are great. You can see that he is going through the five stages of grief. You can see the denial, anger and bargaining. It can even be argued that he reached the final stage of acceptance.

As expected this issue isn’t about what you think it is about. The twist ending definitely left me wanting more and asking myself lots of questions. What does this mean for Luthor and for the rest of the DCU? Will Death make more appearances? Are other Vertigo characters going to begin crossing into the mainstream DCU? With the Vertigo imprint changing and some of the characters moving to the DC banner one can only wonder if this is a sign of things to come. Given the success of this issue, I hope that this isn’t the last time we see Death in the DC Universe. I also hope that this means we will see more from other Vertigo characters in mainstream DC comics.

The Jimmy Olsen second feature is a nice compliment to the main Lex Luthor story in Action Comics. This is part two of Jimmy Olsen’s big week which sees the introduction of Chloe Sullivan into main DC continuity. You may know Chloe from the television show Smallville. Here she is Jimmy’s ex-girlfriend. Nick Spenser and RB Silva are excellent at telling a huge story very concisely. A lot of things happen in only eight pages. Plus, I dig the way the story is a throw-back to the more fantastical Superman stories from the Silver Age. I look forward to the continued adventures of Jimmy Olsen as he deals with a possibly alien invasion.

Last night as I sat down to read Drew Weing’s first graphic novel, Set to Sea, I didn’t realize what an impression it would leave on me. It is so much more than a hauntingly inspiring story about a poet who ends up on a sea vessel. It is so much more than page after page of highly-detailed illustrations. It feels like a small precious art book full of engravings or paintings on each page or an old illustrated maritime novel. Weing has even said that he wanted the book to be reminiscent of old gilded novels from the romantic period and that really comes across, especially with the faux-gilt lettering and embellishments on the cover and the title page.

The story reveals itself with one panel per page and with the sparse use of words, I flew through the book. I regret reading it at such a quick pace and I intend to go back and re-read it (multiple times) to more thoroughly absorb and appreciate the detailed illustrations. Weing’s art is mesmerizing. You could stare at one page for hours. Each page is carefully planned and crafted to maximize its storytelling ability and it is easy to see the love and effort that went into each line and crosshatch.

It would be easy to compare this to Sammy Harkham’s Poor Sailor or Chris Schweizer’s Crogan’s Vengeance. These books are loosely tied together with similar themes and artistic choice but Poor Sailor and Crogan’s Vengeance feel modern in their interpretation of the past. The tone and aesthetic of Set to Sea hearken back to a time long ago. It is as if we have discovered a long-lost relic. Furthermore, Set to Sea is a little more life-affirming than Poor Sailor. Poor Sailor is a heartbreakingly sad story that leaves you feeling morose. Although they both have circular stories that end where they begin you feel like the poet in Set to Sea has lived a happy and fulfilled life. Also, Set to Sea isn’t a kid-friendly boy adventure like Crogan’s Vengeance. There is action and adventure but it is a more character-driven story than an action-driven story. That is a long way of saying, if you enjoyed those two books then I feel certain that you will enjoy Set to Sea. It will have familiar elements but it won’t be the same read.

I don’t want to write a long and exhaustive review of this book to somehow convince you to purchase it. I just want you to pick it up and look at it. Once you do, the art will do the rest.

We’re pleased to announce that we will be hosting Jonathan Hickman and Steve Epting on Wednesday, September 22 from 3-7 pm for the debut of their new collaboration on Fantastic Four #583. 3 starts here. The much talked about new storyline begins and Jonathan and Steve will be here talking about the much hyped mystery.

Relative newcomer Jonathan Hickman, after his early success with Nightly News, has become an important architect for the development of the greater Marvel Universe. With such titles as Secret Warriors and SHIELD gaining acclaim throughout the comics industry he has helped successfully transition Marvel out of it’s Civil War and into a new Heroic Age. And with his old school sensibilities Jonathan has guided Fantastic Four back to it’s rightful place as the worlds greatest comic magazine. And with super-stud artist Steve Epting joining him, the sky is the limit. Steve is one of our oldest buddies. From his run on the Avengers 20 years ago to his award-winning runs with Ed Brubaker on Captain America and Marvels Project Steve has established himself as one of the most consistent and essential pencillers in Marvel‘s long history. We are thrilled to host these two marvels for a special New Comics Day release party for FF #583. The beginning of yet another amazing epic from these talented noggins.

Stop by and get your copy of Fantastic Four #583 signed on Wednesday, September 22! They’ll be in the store from 3 to 7 pm so, be sure to plan YOUR New Comics Day shopping trip to include a moment with Jonathan and Steve. And don’t forget that these two powerhouses have deep catalogues of great work still in print. And if it’s in print, we’ve got it in stock! So look for the massive in-store display and get caught up on all the marvelous stories Jonathan and Steve have given us!