We’ve announced our first 10 HeroesCon 2015 guests! It’s only 234 days away! Get your 3 day passes today. More great guests will be announced soon!

HEATHER’S PICK :: RASPUTIN #1: There were so many points in Russian history that I found absolutely fascinating when I was in school.  The Romanovs in particular were very interesting, especially in light of their association with Grigori Rasputin, rumored mystic and faith healer and adviser to the Tsar.  Rasputin’s rise in the Russian aristocracy has all the makings of a modern day soap opera: alleged affairs with the Tsarina and other princesses, the close friendship with the Tsar who brushes off all allegations, the seemingly miraculous healing of a sick and adored child, and multiple conspiracies to commit murder.  Even Rasputin’s death is still shrouded in mystery as who ultimately killed him and how. Poisoned, shot, stabbed, beaten, drowned, or all of the above? Was this mystical figure really that hard to kill?

I can’t wait to see this story brought to life in a comic.  Image has found excellent footing in the genre comics section with sound exploration outside of the tights and capes that many non-comics readers expect.  Writer Alex Grecian and artist Riley Rossmo sound like they have done their research into the convoluted world of Rasputin and it looks like they will have a twisted tale to share and I look forward to following along.

Join us for our 3rd Annual Heroes Pop Swap, this Saturday, October 25th 10AM-4PM at our store. Whether you have things to sell, are shopping for treasure, or you just want to give your Halloween costume a test run, the Pop Swap is sure to be a great place for it!

This event is FREE to attend but you’ll want to have some cash on hand for the great treasures you’ll find! We’ll have some free comics on hand to celebrate Halloween Comic Fest! Costumes encouraged!

The Batman Files is a BIG book–308  13×10 pages!- crammed full of every bit of information known about the Dark Knight Detective. This clever reference book is presented in the form of a scrapbook or journal that details every known aspect of the Caped Crusader as if it had been compiled by Bruce Wayne himself. The author–Matthew Manning in concert with hundreds of artists have done a splendid job. The Batman Files offers hundreds of fun tidbits and delivers the Intel in a way that is both dramatic and personal. This is a must for all Bat-fans. And remember November 1st we will be spotlighting the Batman at the triumphant return of the Heroes Discussion Group.

HEATHER’S  PICK :: ARKHAM MANOR #1: Maybe it’s Halloween approaching that has me in the mood to read some creepy Batman comics or maybe’s the pairing of Gerry Duggan and Shawn Crystal on a new (no prior history needed) Batman title.  Either way, Arkham Manor #1 is on this week’s pull list for me.  In events currently unknown to me, but apparently explained in the first few pages, Arkham Asylum has been destroyed and the inmates, Dr. Arkham and his orderlies have moved to Wayne Manor while a new facility is being build.

Duggan has made me a current Deadpool reader so I am looking forward to his turn in the Batverse.  While not designed to be a comedy, I am hopeful that Duggan’s sense of humor will have moments to shine in the halls of Wayne Manor.   Crystal’s art looks appropriately dark and moody and I can’t wait to see his rendering his of Duggan’s vision.

Another huge week for the Classic Comics Commandos (what we call ourselves to impress the babes!) Action Philosophers collects all the issues Fred Van Lente and Ryan Dunlavey  cartoon history of Philosophy from Socrates (the old dude in the bedsheet from Bill and Ted!) to Jacques Derrida (Dream and Death’s younger brother Deconstruction)! Good stuff Maynard (Keynes!) With HELLBLAZER TP VOL 09 CRITICAL MASS  the John Constantine Library continues its classic reprint run with issues #84-96 featuring stories by Jamie Delano, Sean Phillips as well as the beginning of the long run by Paul Jenkins. PLUS– 3 stories written by EDDIE CAMPBELL!! But if you can only afford one classic reprint this week it has to be WALT DISNEY UNCLE SCROOGE HC VOL 02 SEVEN CITIES GOLD. It’s Carl Barks at his prime. Even sub-prime Barks is better than 95% of all other cartoonists. Prime Barks is not just essential, it’s required!!!  Enjoy!!!

HEATHER’S PICK :: MS MARVEL VOLUME ONE: If you haven’t been reading one of my favorite comics, this week is an excellent opportunity to start.  Written by G. Willow Wilson and drawn by Adrian Alphona, Ms. Marvel tells the story of Kamala Khan, an American teen that assumes the form (at least temporarily) of Ms. Marvel.  It’s both well written and well illustrated and it belongs in the hands of as many readers as possible.

There’s a lot of debate about women in comics as characters and creators.  Ms. Marvel is an example of a book full of role models for young women in the pages and behind the creation of those pages.

Bonus Pick: If you’re current with the series, #9 is also out tomorrow with one of my favorite four legged Marvel characters appearing!

RICO’S PICK :: EDGE OF SPIDER-VERSE #5:  Have you read Umbrella Academy? If not, go do that, it’s great and more than enough to make one take note anytime writer Gerard Way writes a new comic book. The majority of Marvel’s Edge of Spider-Verse has been an exercise in what I consider the best style of comic book editing. That is, select a creative team you trust, give them a broad idea of what you need/want, let them create. For EOSV #5, Way is joined by artist Jake Wyatt whose recent work on  Ms. Marvel and Indestructible Hulk is noteworthy. The pair of creators have re-imagined Spider Man as a futuristic mech-operating hero, think Neon Genesis Evangelion Spider-hero. I can’t wait to read lose myself in the new world they’ve created. There’s a small preview here.

We’re back and we’re ready to make a few monthly deep dives into terrific comics. We appreciate your patience as we went on hiatus, but it is time to start reading again and get back into the fray.

Join us on Saturday November 1^st at 1:00pm. As tradition demands, we will meet at the store and then repair to a local watering-hole for a couple of hours of great discussion along with food, drink (if you’re hungry or thirsty). It is a lot of fun to sit around and talk comics with a group of comic fans. Everyone’s opinion is welcome, we just ask that you read the books and bring an open mind.

We hope you will consider joining us for this fun and exciting afternoon. As we’ve mentioned before, you do not need to participate; if you just want to come by and listen, we’d love to see you!

We hope you’ll join us for the big return and what is bigger topic than Batman? How about 3 Graphic novels featured in The Batman 75^th Anniversary Box Set which includes…

The Dark Knight Returns is a 1986 four-issue comic book mini-series starring Batman and set some 20 years in the future of continuity, written and illustrated by Frank Miller with Inks by Klaus Janson and colored by Lynn Varley. This is one of the most influential super-hero comics of all time.

Batman: Hush was published 2002-2003 in monthly installments in Batman #608-619 and was written by Jeph Loeb penciled by Jim Lee, inked by Scott Williams and colored by Alex Sinclair. A perennial best seller!

Batman: The Court of Owls was published in Batman Volume 2 #1-7 written by Scott Snyder and illustrated by Greg Capullo and Jonathan Glapion. Certainly one of the most popular story line from the last few years.

(NOTE: If you already own one or more of these GNs, you are good to go but if find yourself Dark Knight Deficient, the 75^th Anniversary box set is a beauty!)

And as usual Heroes will offer the special 10% discount on either the box set or any other editions of Returns, Hush and Court of Owls—but remember to mention the discount at check out!!

Suggested Topics for the afternoon? Okay how about…

• The three visions of the same characters.
• How did the series influence each other?
• The challenge (or necessity?) for continuity
• Batman himself—what draws generations of readers to this odd, angry anti-social (but popular) character?
• What other Batman storylines/GN deserve to be in the same company
• And that is just the tip of the cowl ladies and gentlemen.

And what you may ask, do we have planned for the months ahead?

Late November— Fables –and we will let you folks choose which collection we will spotlight. Watch this space for further details!!

Down the road….

Hawkeye

The Best Comics of the Year Anthology

The Complete Bone–(if you don’t already own this masterpiece, it is a perfect Holiday gift request!)

Gilbert Hernandez -we let you folks choose– Marble Season? Julio’s Day? Human Diastrophism? just to name 3.

A Comic strip showcase: Pogo, Peanuts or Barnaby—and again–you will make the call.

And just before HeroesCon we will finally feature….. Miracleman (assuming Marvel stays on schedule # 1 thru 15 should all be available)

We hope to see you on November 1^st at 1:00pm and if you enjoy the afternoon—believe us—you will!!!—plan to join us for more scheduled Discussion Groups down the road!