COOL

I thought this was cool:

 and this:

Brazilian designer Butcher Billy re-imagines Siouxsie Sioux, Mark Mothersbaugh, Ian Curtis, John Lydon, Morrissey, Robert Smith and Billy Idol as comic book superheroes. His series is called The Post-Punk / New Wave Super Friends.


CLICK HERE to see the rest!

Angel or Demon? - By Counter Monkey Steve

Marvel's AGE OF ULTRON event ends next month. As revealed through various sources in March, Neil Gaiman is allowing Marvel to include a very special character in their universe:

Angela

Angela debuted in SPAWN # 9 many years ago, and through a long and hard fought battle, it has been revealed that Neil Gaiman owns full rights to the character.

In AGE OF ULTRON # 10, she will make her merry Marvel universe debut in a post credits style sequence.

From there, Angela will be featured on a regular basis in Brian Michael Bendis' fantastic GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY NOW series, beginning with # 5. # 5 begins Sara Pichelli's, of ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN fame, run as the new artist on the title, and Neil Gaiman will also join Bendis as co-writer on the series in that same issue.

Here's a look at her cover for # 5 of GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY NOW # 5:

Will Angela be a friend or a foe to our heroes?

Sign up now to reserve your copy at your local Comix Connection!

Enjoy this Joe Quesada redesign for the character, and prepare for her debut in AGE OF ULTRON # 10, releasing in June!

Wednesday Highlights - 5/22/13

Hey there Sports Racers! Here's your weekly look at just a few of the neat items hitting the shelves at Comix Connection:

-ADVENTURE TIME #16 

-ADVENTURE TIME FIONNA & CAKE #5 (OF 6)

ALLURING ART OF MARGARET BRUNDAGE 

-AQUAMAN #20

ARCHIE'S 1000 PAGE COMICS DIGEST 

-AVENGERS #12 NOW 

-BATMAN INCORPORATED #11 

-BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #20 

-BOUNCE #1 (MR) 

-DEADPOOL #10 NOW2 

-GREEN LANTERN #20 (WRATH) 

-GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #20 (WRATH) 

-GREEN TEAM #1

HALF PAST DANGER #1 (OF 6) 

-HOUSE OF GOLD & BONES #2 (OF 4) 

-JUSTICE LEAGUE #20

LOBSTER JOHNSON SATAN SMELLS A RAT ONE SHOT 

-OCCUPY COMICS #1 

-RED LANTERNS #20 (WRATH) 

-SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #10 NOW 

-UNCANNY AVENGERS #8AU NOW2 

-UNCANNY X-MEN #6 NOW


And much more! C'mon in and see!

To Infinity...and Beyond? - by Comix Connection Counter Monkey Steve

Jonathan Hickman's stories in both Avengers NOW and New Avengers NOW have thus far been leading to this:

Infinity, a 6 issue limited series featuring an all out war fought on two fronts!

Thanos returns with new allies and subordinates to once again prove his love to his fair lady Death.

Expect to see plotlines begun in other Marvel NOW series such as Guardians of the Galaxy NOW, Thanos Rising, and Nova NOW come to a head in this new epic tale, beginning publication in August.

Sign up today at your local Comix Connection. This will be an event that should not be missed!

Introducing: COUNTER MONKEY COMICS!

Check this out! Comix Connection Counter Monkeys Jesse Arnold and Shawn Skvarna are making their own comics... and you can get in on the ground floor! Go HERE and LIKE them on Facebook and then watch as their plans unfold... GO COUNTER MONKEY COMICS!

Sunday is fun day

HAAAAAA!

Preorder this right now

You should get this:

 

The End of the F-ing World (TEOTFW) by local creator Charles Forsman 

from the Fantagraphics website:

TEotFW follows James and Alyssa, two teenagers living a seemingly typical teen experience as they face the fear of coming adulthood. Forsman tells their story through each character's perspective, jumping between points of view with each chapter. But quickly, this somewhat familiar teenage experience takes a more nihilistic turn as James's character exhibits a rapidly forming sociopathy that threatens both of their futures. He harbors violent fantasies and begins to act on them, while Alyssa remains as willfully ignorant for as long as she can, blinded by young love. Forsman's story highlights the disdain, fear and existential search that many teenagers fear, but through a road trip drama that owes as much to Badlands as The Catcher in the Rye. Forsman’s inviting, Charles Schulz-influenced style lends a deadpan quality that underscores the narrative's tension. The End of the F-ing World is certain to be one of the most talked-about graphic novels of 2013. Forsman is arguably the most acclaimed talent to come out of the Center for Cartoon Studies, a school founded in 2004 by graphic novelist James Sturm and educator Michelle Ollie in White River Junction, VT. Forsman graduated in 2008 and is a two-time Ignatz Award-winner for his self-published minicomic, Snake Oil. The End of the F-ing World is his first graphic novel.

You should get this because Forsman's SNAKE OIL is awesome, so this will be too. SUPPORT LOCAL TALENT!

Funny picture time

Behold:

You're welcome.

Counter Monkey Review: Ultimate Comics - All-New Spider-Man #23 by Jesse "The 'Hawk" Arnold

WARNING:  May contain mild spoilers and will contain personal opinions.  (The views and opinions expressed in this review are solely of the individual(s) and are not the views of COMIX CONNECTION, its parent, affiliate, or subsidiary companies.)  I've checked, they don't have any of those.  Still don't have 'em.

All-New Spider-Man #23 - Part 1 of "Spider-Man No More"

as reviewed by Counter Monkey - Jesse "the 'hawk" Arnold

Writing: The Bendis

I'm really enjoying what Bendis is doing in the regular MU with All-New X-Men, and the debatable "regular" universe with Age of Ultron.  Along with that the most recent story arcs in the Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man have been outstanding!

This issue picks up one year after the events of the previous story: Venom War.  Miles, the titular hero (for those who haven't kept up, Ultimate Peter Parker died, and this kid Miles Morales had become the new Spider-Man, with a varied power set!) is dealing with some major issues.

He has given up being Spider-Man.  But is anyone else willing to let him do that?  This is a great jumping on point for new readers.  Bendis is doing some great things with a still new and fresh character that doesn't just feel like retreading the same ground Peter did.

  (interior panel from #23 by Dave Marquez)

Art: Dave Marquez (colors by Justin Ponsor)

Marquez is doing a great job on this series.  One of the main reasons I'm picking up this title is because of his art.  It has a great finish to it, but still carries a lot of action and dynamic energy.

His faces and expressions are equally impressive.  I just love looking at this book.  It's clean, fresh, and carries a slightly illustrated realism.

One of the things I've loved about his work, and this title since it started, is that the artists have consistently made the teenage characters look like teenagers, rather than 30 year olds standing in as teens.

Nice going sir.  Nice.  Going.


RESULTS:  4.5 out of 5   I Smell a Come Back Exclamations!!  

Miles has got miles of styles.

-Jesse "the 'hawk"

Wednesday Highlights - 5/15/13!

Here you go, kids, the weekly look at a few of the cool things hitting the shelves at Comix Connection today:

ADVENTURE TIME ORIGINAL GRAPHIC NOVEL VOLUME 01 PLAYING WITH FIRE 

-AGE OF ULTRON #8 (OF 10) 

-AUTHORITY HARDCOVER BOOK VOLUME 01 

-AVENGERS ENEMY WITHIN #1

BATMAN ARKHAM CITY ESCAPE BOARD GAME 

BATMAN BLACK & WHITE STATUE BY MIKE ALLRED 

BATMAN SYMBOL T-SHIRT 

-BATTLESTAR GALACTICA #1 (MR) 

-COMIC BOOK CREATOR #1

DARK KNIGHT TRILOGY PLAY ARTS KAI BANE, BATMAN ACTION FIGURES

DC COMICS AQUAMAN ARTFX+ STATUE NEW 52

DC HEROCLIX TEEN TITANS BOOSTERS 

-IRON MAN #10 NOW2 

-JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICAS VIBE #4 

-MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC #7

MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC VOLUME 01 

-REGULAR SHOW #1

STAR TREK THE NEXT GENERATION COMMUNICATOR BADGE REPLICA 

SUPERMAN S SYMBOL T-SHIRT  

and so much more!

We're having so much fun on my Facebook page with this

That I thought I'd post it here:

Have at it.

Still working on the May comic orders

But I did make sure the Comix Connection Freezer is stocked and ready to go for summer:

 

 Now if it would just warm up around here.

Busy with the monthly orders

So all I have is this funny picture:

Oh and go give a mom a hug today!

Counter Monkey Review: Ten Grand #1 by Jesse "the Closer" Arnold

WARNING:  May contain mild spoilers and will contain personal opinions.  (The views and opinions expressed in this review are solely of the individual(s) and are not the views of COMIX CONNECTION, its parent, affiliate, or subsidiary companies.)  I've checked, they don't have any of those.  Still don't have 'em.
Writing: J. Michael Straczynski

This guy, this guy knows how to tell a story.  Not saying I'm a die hard fan, but it was his name that got me to even attempt this book.

After reading the first issue, I don't know if it's enough to make me want to keep going.

To be honest, I'm a bit worn out of the basic concept here.  Salty dude who has lost the love of his life is even more salty while set on a case that may be connected to his wife's death.  It's everywhere.  Hitman.  The Mentalist (at least he is kinda fun/upbeat/salty.)  The list could go on.  A lot of Willis and Gibson movies.

The 'heroes' are so dark and haunted that I can hardly imagine them ever being able to smile, let alone have someone in their life that loved them that much.  Maybe I'm just cynical.  Joe is another one of those guys.  He makes grumpy cat look like Happy Smurf.  I mean, can I get a hug here?  It's not cause I feel bad for the guy, fictional though he is, but I just feel like he cranked the depress-o-meter to 11.

Enough on that.  Moving on to the story.  It's a little formulaic thus far.  The only thing that was remotely interesting, and don't take this the wrong way, was when he hexes a stripper to host an angel.  Cause, you know, last place to look for one and all that.

I am completely underwhelmed.

He's now running about all Hellblazerish, to earn his way to a righteous death so he can be with his wife.  But, is he just making things worse?  I don't know.  The other moment I enjoyed was this scene here where he tells Debbie that he, "likes that she doesn't like."  Um, like, ya' know.

(interior art from #1 by Templesmith)

Art: Ben Templesmith (letters by: Troy Peteri)

I've never looked at this guys art before.  There is a unique and originality to it.  It seems to be working for this story. The colors are great.  Very mood setting.  Like a mashed potato however, I don't enjoy it.  Again, this is only one issue.  I might be way off base here.   But for me, it's not something that I want to keep looking at.  I know that might seem harsh, but my time is limited and if the story isn't going to be enough to hold me, the art better be.  Well, I'm not sure this is.

There could be a lot of potential with this book.  I won't totally trash it, despite what it looks like I'm doing here.  I think there are a lot of readers out there who will absolutely love this.  And I hope you do.  Every book needs people to champion it and sing it's praises.  I am not one of those people for this book.

If you are one of those people...let us know!  Leave a comment, or come pick up issue #1 in stores May 1st.

RESULTS:  3 out of 5   I Bet You Can't Say, "J. Michale Straczynski" 5 Times Real Fast  

My attention span isn't what it used to be.  I'll pass.

-Jesse 'the Closer'

The Future is NOW! App review by Jesse "The Closer" Arnold

Today I'm going to review something practical and potentially useful to you, dear readers.

I'm going out on a limb here and thinking a few of you reading this actually collect printed comics.  Yes?  Okay, I see those five hands.  Awesome.  Well, if you're like me, you like keeping them organized.  And sometimes you might try to make a database spreadsheet chronicling your collection of comic goodness.

  Catalog          Browse          Export

What kind of columns and rows do you create?  Where do I start?  Argh I'm already frustrated thinking about numbers!

Well, fret no more.  The folks over at Collectorz.com have made it relatively painless to catalog your collection.  They have a few options that you can choose from.

1: CLZ Comics Mobile  App

2: Comic Collector Connect
3: Comic Collector Free, Standard or Pro Software Editions

1. The Mobile App:

This was the first piece of the resource I used.  Within a few days of getting my iPhone (about a month ago) I downloaded this and started cataloging my collection.  It does cost $9.99 (at least for iPhone.)  It is available for Android phones as well.

The App is great.  It's fairly easy to use and navigate.  There is a lot more potential with what you can do with it than what I will use it for.  You can add comics to your "Collection" or "Wish List."  The app allows you to scan barcodes, search by title, or enter manually all the info.

If scanning or searching, the program fills in all but personalized info.  Issue #, Publisher, issue title, creative team, characters in the issue and more!  For those who are after Variants, it even lets you choose which variant(s) you have, or want to find.

If you don't have a monumental collection in the 10s of thousands, this option could suit you for all your cataloging needs.

I use this for entering my weekly haul.  Get them scanned before bagging and boarding, then just sort them into their respective box.

#2 Comic Collector ConnectI've only had this for about a week now.  I'm still playing with it.  It works pretty much the same as the app, but with a 'cloud' concept.  It's your collection; online.  As long as you can get on the web, and access the website, you can get into your collection.  This will set you back just under $20 a year, or less if you pay for more in advance.

Enter Manually, or by Title.  It has most of the same features as the app, only with out the barcode scanning.

I find this a lot easier for entering my older comics that are in my 20 short boxes.  Say you have a run of 30 issues of Spawn, simply search for "Spawn" and expand the title like you would a folder on a desktop.  Then go through the list and check the boxes for the issues you have.  You can click "Add" individually, or "Add all Selected" at the bottom of that title.

With either option you might want to check the cover art, or just confirm you have what the database tells you that you have.

Practical Usage

Both allow you to personalize each entry.  You can add notes and data about when, where, and from who you purchased.  Or where you found a copy so you can go back and pick it up if it's a pricey one.

Say you're like me and you might have a few copies of the same issue(s).  One set is signed by artist and writer, the other is not.  You can add duplicates and make notes/comments to that effect.

The Wish List is great for when at your local shop, flea markets, or conventions combing through the back issues trying to fill in gaps, or find that first appearance issue that you've always wanted.  Well, that one you probably have memorized, Next Men #21 (first appearance of Hellboy!)

The nice thing about using both of these, as that you can sync them.  Say you added 25 issues via your phone, you can sync up to the on-line version of your database.  The same goes the other way, that you can add stuff on-line, then pull it down into your phone.

I haven't used either version of the software.  And there is lots to still explore in the 2 pieces I do have.  There are even social networking functions, graphs and charts, and more!

Bottom Line: It keeps track of what you have, and what you want.

There were a few Free options from other companies, but I've liked this one the best.  I think the price for the app is a little high.  Especially considering Collectorz.com also offers the same thing for: Music, Movies, Books, Games and more.  I may break down and get the app for the movies and books though.  It helps keep things organized.

I will say this however: they do offer bundling options.  So, don't be like me and dive head first into what you think you want.  Browse the site, explore, and most importantly: READ!  There are some great combo options that may be worth the couple extra moments of reading and discovery.

So, until next time: good luck, and  godspeed.

Don't hate me because I'm beautiful.

-Jesse "the Closer" Arnold