Brian Keene's THE LAST ZOMBIE #1 delayed

IT APPEARS THAT ANY COMIC SHOP SERVICED BY DIAMOND COMICS DISTRIBUTORS OUT OF THE PLATTSBURG, NEW YORK WAREHOUSE DID NOT RECEIVE THEIR COPIES OF Brian Keene's THE LAST ZOMBIE! (The Plattsburg warehouse supplies most comic shops in the Northeast United States.)

This may be due to a truck from the printer being delayed or other event. I have been assured that we will be receiving it NEXT WEEK, just in time for the BRIAN KEENE'S THE LAST ZOMBIE RELEASE PARTY at Comix Connection - York on SATURDAY, JULY 10th!

CLICK HERE for more info on the LAST ZOMBIE RELEASE PARTY!

On the agenda

Lookie what we've got cooking:

On SATURDAY, JULY 10th from Noon until 4PM at Comix Connection - York in the West Manchester Mall, meet acclaimed horror novelist Brian Keene and help us celebrate the release of Brian's new comic book THE LAST ZOMBIE! Grab a copy of THE LAST ZOMBIE #1 and have Brian sign it!

Check out Brian Keene's other novels including THE RISING, TERMINAL (a favorite of mine), CITY OF THE DEAD, THE CONQUEROR WORMS, GHOUL and more! It would also be a perfect time to pick up a copy of Marvel's DEAD OF NIGHT: DEVIL SLAYER, which collects the four-issue mini-series, featuring Comix Connection's own BILL WAHL (it doesn't end well!)

WE WILL BE GATHERING CANNED FOOD DONATIONS FOR THE YORK RESCUE MISSION! FOR EVERY FOOD ITEM YOU DONATE, YOU WILL RECEIVE ONE ENTRY INTO THE PRIZE DRAWING! THE MORE FOOD YOU DONATE, THE MORE CHANCES YOU HAVE OF WINNING A PRIZE! Stay tuned for information about a special contest too.

SPECIAL APPEARANCE BY CONAN ARTIST MIKE HAWTHORNE!

THERE IS ALSO A HUGE day-long sale: ALL COMICS IN THE BACK ISSUE BINS are ONE DOLLAR EACH and all the older books on the back wall are 25% OFF all day!

Come on out and meet Brian Keene, grab some of his work and find some back issue bargains!

(PLEASE NOTE! THIS EVENT AND SALE IS ONLY HAPPENING AT COMIX CONNECTION - YORK!)

Creator Cookout Prize Winners announced!

Here's a rundown of the winners from Saturday's Creator Cookout Prize drawings:

Original Piece of Art from Mike Hawthorne for the largest donation of food by weight: 108lbs - Lori Schaffner

Way to bring it, Lori! You should get bonus points for the awesome cake too! Thanks!

Runners Up each receive a piece from Mike's portfolio:

Brian + Misty Smith for 35 lbs of food
Nikki Graybeal for 35 lbs of food

Thanks, Mike, that's very generous and awesome!

Other prizes, one entry per food item donated:

1.) Turny Burny Uglydoll = John Arminio
2.) FCBD Tote Bag = Matt Blazi
3.) FCBD Deluxe Tote Bag = Joe Schalk
4.) Kid's Summer Pack-O-Fun! = Drew Wood
5.) Watchmen Hardcover = Hobb Fisher
6.) Five Five Dollar Gift Certificates = Pierre-Jean Delaye, Janine Sheaffer, Kevin Foster, Cody Wade, Nathan Filizzi
7.) Ten Marvel Heroic Age Variants = John Broody
8.) Star Wars Invasion #1 Dark Horse 100 Variant Cover = Christian Yother, JR
9.) Spider-Man Visionaries Todd McFarlane Collection TPB = Noah Summers
10.) A T-Shirt - Your Choice! = Andrew Couser

If your name is on the list, expect a phone call, then come on in and grab your prizes! Thanks everyone who donated food items! You guys and gals are just plain great! When you donate, hungry Pennsylvanians win!

(OK, York Comix Connection fans! We'll be doing prize drawings too at the upcoming Brian Keene's THE LAST ZOMBIE Release Party coming up SATURDAY, JULY 10th from Noon until 4PM at Comix Connection - York... let's see what you can do!)

WOW. Just WOW.

Cake by Lori!

Well, that was probably the best time I've EVER had in a parking lot! That was the greatest Creator Cookout at Comix Connection yet!

I can't believe how many of you came out today! Very cool! We ran out of burgers at 11:55, and ran out of Ketchup at 12:30! Crazy!

First off, let me say THANK YOU to Mark and Carol Boyce who "co-hosted" the picnic and kept things running smoothly. They also provided the awning to shade us all from the brutal 94° sunshine! Thanks, Boyces!

THANKS to everyone for donating the HUGE mound of canned goods for the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank! It's definitely a new record for donations! WOOT!

THANKS to all of you who contributed to the munchie pile... the cookies, the grapeleaf-wrapped rice, the chips, the desserts, the cakes and everything else! It was all delicious and greatly appreciated.

THANKS to Mike Hawthorne for creating this awesome event, and thanks to JF Gonzalez and Brian Keene for coming out and mixing it up with the fans. THANKS GUYS!

And THANKS to the staff: Tireless Manager Joe and Comix Connection Counter Monkeys Nicky and Tony! I know you weren't feeling your best Tony... thanks for hanging in there. And thanks Nicky for the Mandalorian dessert you Star Wars weirdo.

If you're on Facebook, HERE is a link to the photos I took... tag yourself and anyone you recognize! Here's some pics:

Brian Keene donates a pile of canned goods to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank!

The parking lot fills up with picnickers.

Mike Hawthorne works his mad grill skills.

Brian Keene approves of the Nathan's Famous.

J. F. Gonzalez (BRAINS shirt) mingles with the fans...

Brian Keene restocks the Brian Keene Section.

Mike Hawthorne and the mountain of food everyone donated! THANK YOU!

BONUS: I forgot to mention that we also collected a whopping $121.38 in CASH DONATIONS to give to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank! THANK YOU FOR DONATING!

I think the Creator Cookout at Comix Connection is my favorite yearly event... what did you think?

TODAY at Comix Connection - Mechanicsburg

1) kabobs, burgers, dogs, etc.

2) horror novelists Brian Keene, J.F. Gonzalez + upcoming CONAN artist Mike Hawthorne

3) all back issue comics in the bins $1.00 each all day

4) all back issue comics on the walls 25% OFF all day

5) canned food donation barrel for the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank - the most food donated by a single person by weight gets an original Mike Hawthorne drawing! Also, for every can of food you donate you get an entry into the prize drawing!

6)

The Creator Cookout 2010!

It doesn't get any more annoying than this

You're welcome.

Just click on the link already

So we can all get this out of our system. CLICK HERE!

Aaaand, we're done.

Thank you.

Original PAC-MAN designs!

I thought this was pretty cool:


The notebook of PAC-MAN designer Toru Iwatani with his original notes and sketches!

Read (if you can read Dutch!) the entire article HERE!

*** THIS JUST IN *** PICNIC UPDATE ***

YES, WE WILL HAVE THE POPULAR "FISH-SHAPED PAPER PLATE HOLDERS" AGAIN THIS YEAR AT THE FABULOUS CREATOR COOKOUT 2010 AT COMIX CONNECTION-MECHANICSBURG THIS SATURDAY so you don't have to bring yours.

That is all.

(CLICK HERE and HERE for more info about the cookout.)

Manager Jared's Weekly Matchup Poll Playoffs #6

One fourth of the FANTASTIC FOUR...or a man who can change into Iron ore?

Online Surveys & Market Research

Things to bring to the Creator Cookout at Comix Connection - Mechanicsburg this Saturday

1) Folding chairs! We have some, but they may all be occupied!
2) Something to get autographed. If you don't have anything the creators will have you covered!
3) CANNED FOOD to donate to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.
a) Whoever brings THE MOST FOOD BY WEIGHT will receive a FREE piece of art by Mike Hawthorne!
b) For EACH CAN OF FOOD YOU DONATE, you will receive ONE ENTRY into our Prize Giveaway, featuring a $25.00 Comix Connection Gift Certificate and MORE!
4) You are strongly encouraged to BRING A FOOD ITEM TO SHARE WITH EVERYONE! This idea was recently suggested to us and we think it's FANTASTIC! If you want to, bring something!
5) Your appetite! Mike Hawthorne knows his way around a grill, let me tell ya.
6) Be prepared to chat with the creators and have fun!
7) YOUR WANT LIST! ALL COMICS IN THE BINS WILL BE A MERE ONE DOLLAR EACH ALL DAY! ALL COMICS ON THE WALL WILL BE A STAGGERING 25% OFF!

CREATOR COOKOUT at Comix Connection - Mechanicsburg is THIS SATURDAY!

Make sure you've cleared your lunch schedule for this coming Saturday at Comix Connection - Mechanicsburg, because we're hosting the Third Annual Creator Cookout from 11AM until 3PM, featuring artist Mike Hawthorne and novelists Brian Keene and J.F. Gonzalez! Meet and chat with the creators in a relaxed outdoor setting, and snag some autographs and stuff while you're at it! It's a picnic in the parking lot with Mike flexing his extraordinary culinary muscles... there will be kabobs, hamburgers and hot dogs plus all the requisite condiments with chips and cold beverages to round things out.


You are encouraged to also bring side dishes or desserts if so inclined! Anything would be greatly appreciated! Come on out and join the fun!


All food and drink is FREE, but we will be accepting cash donations for the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank if you are so inclined!

There will also be a barrel set up all week for canned food donations to directly help hungry Central Pennsylvanians in these strained economic times.


SPECIAL UPDATE: Mike Hawthorne has graciously offered the following: he will reward the person who brings the MOST CANNED FOOD BY WEIGHT with an original drawing! Bring a pile!
Comix Connection will also be holding a prize drawing for a $25.00 Gift Certificate, rare variant-cover comic books and other neat stuff. YOU WILL RECEIVE ONE ENTRY BLANK IN THE PRIZE DRAWING CONTEST FOR EACH CAN OF FOOD YOU DONATE!


Additionally, ALL BACK ISSUES IN THE BINS will be ONE DOLLAR EACH all day and the older back issues on the wall will be an astonishing 25% OFF all day too, so fill your belly and your wantlist at the same time!


So let's recap: Good food, cool creators, great sale, fun contests... sounds like a great day! See you there!


(PLEASE NOTE! THIS EVENT AND SALE IS ONLY HAPPENING AT COMIX CONNECTION - MECHANICSBURG, but don't worry York area fans, on Saturday, July 10th we'll be holding the exclusive Brian Keene's THE LAST ZOMBIE Release Party at Comix Connection - York, where you can meet novelist Brian Keene from NOON - 4PM and have him sign your copy of THE LAST ZOMBIE #1!)

I have nothing better than this:

These guys are amazing.

Want to know what to read at the beach this summer?

Just ask Manager Joe! Or the Governor!

Joseph Hare, manager, Comix Connection
If you saw “Iron Man 2” this summer, it’s well worth the time to check out writer Matt Fraction’s own cinematic ride of a comic with the “Invincible Iron Man Volume 1.” These 19 issues of the series are as fast-paced and action-packed as any summer blockbuster and Fraction delivers a Tony Stark every bit as clever and charismatic as moviegoers have come to appreciate from Robert Downey Jr.

CLICK HERE for the full article at PENNLIVE.COM!

WALKING DEAD VOLUME ONE SALE ENDS SOON!

That's right, only a few short days left in the Comix Connection Super Special Sale - The Walking Dead Volume One edition! From now until this coming SUNDAY, JUNE 20th, Image Comics' WALKING DEAD Volume One is still on sale at both Comix Connection locations for only $5.00 plus tax while supplies last! Six issues of one of the greatest comic books ever in one handy volume for a fraction of the original price! It's unbeatable! Get 'em while you can folks, you won't be disappointed. WALKING DEAD is recommended by over 95% of the Comix Connection Counter Monkey cohort!


And check THIS OUT! The AMC Walking Dead BLOG! WOOO-HOOOOOO! I can't wait to see this TV show. It almost makes me want to spring for more than the basic cable I manage to subsist on...

And now for some not-so-good news

Due to spiraling costs, new and upcoming releases of DC DIRECT action figures will now all be priced at $19.95 each, with full sets of four figures (called an "Inner Case") priced at 10% OFF. We have put off raising the price on these for over ten years now, and we just can't let it go any more. DC raised the net price on all DC Direct figures about three months ago to drastically higher net costs and now we are sadly forced to follow suit. Additionally shipping on bulky action figures is never cheap and shipping costs have also been creeping up. We're very sorry we had to do this but we have no choice. It has become LITERALLY CHEAPER TO NOT CARRY DC DIRECT FIGURES than it is to carry them. Something had to give. Thanks for your understanding.

Anyone who has already placed special preorders with us on ANY upcoming DC Direct action figures is NOT obligated to pick them up at the new price.

Any questions should be directed at the Managers and Ned and Bill. Again, we apologize profusely.

Manager Jared's Weekly Matchup Poll #5

Hex! Shazam!

A cloud of confusion.

Who is standing when it clears?

Online Surveys & Market Research

R.I.P. Al Williamson

Sadly, comic artist supreme Al Williamson has passed away at age 79. Here's a short clip of Al and George Evans from 1990:



More on Al Williamson HERE.

He will be missed.

I'm working on the Diamond Comic orders

for stuff shipping in August, so I got nothing to say here today. See you tomorrow.


My eyes hurt from staring at this screen.

Behold! Behind the scenes of the Mighty Thor!

Entertainment Tonight visited the set of Marvel's upcoming Thor Movie this week and had a chance to chat with lead stars Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman as well as director Kenneth Branagh. There's some interesting first looks at the action, sets, and an Asgardian or two! Enjoy!

I got nuttin'

Except that this kid had the coolest dad in the universe:



That is all.

AAAAH! My haid done asploded!

Well OK then.

Need more zombies?

Then sink your teeth into this:

(Click image to embiggen!)

That's right! On SATURDAY, JULY 10th from Noon until 4PM at Comix Connection - York in the West Manchester Mall, meet acclaimed horror novelist Brian Keene and help us celebrate the release of Brian's new comic book THE LAST ZOMBIE! Grab a copy of THE LAST ZOMBIE #1 and have Brian sign it! Check out Brian Keene's other novels including THE RISING, TERMINAL (a favorite of mine), CITY OF THE DEAD, THE CONQUEROR WORMS, GHOUL and more! It would also be a perfect time to pick up a copy of Marvel's DEAD OF NIGHT: DEVIL SLAYER, which collects the four-issue mini-series, featuring Comix Connection's own BILL WAHL (it doesn't end well!)

WE WILL BE GATHERING CANNED FOOD DONATIONS FOR THE YORK RESCUE MISSION! Stay tuned for information about a special contest.

SPECIAL APPEARANCE BY ARTIST MIKE HAWTHORNE!

THERE IS ALSO A SPECIAL day-long sale: ALL COMICS IN THE BACK ISSUE BINS are ONE DOLLAR EACH and all the older books on the back wall are 25% OFF all day!

Come on out and meet Brian Keene, grab some of his work and find some back issue bargains!

(PLEASE NOTE! THIS EVENT AND SALE IS ONLY HAPPENING AT COMIX CONNECTION - YORK! See previous posts about the exclusive to Comix Connection - Mechanicsburg CREATOR COOKOUT 2010!)

Manager Jared's Weekly Matchup Poll #4

Thor's Abilities:Superhuman strength, speed, durability and longevity (via the golden apples of Idunn)

Abilities via Mjolnir:

* Flight
* Energy absorption & projection
* Weather manipulation
* Dimensional transportation
* Electric manipulation

Supergirl: Superhuman strength, speed & stamina, various extra sensory and vision powers, invulnerability, skilled Martial artist, flight.

Online Surveys & Market Research

Don't forget to tell us why you voted the way you did in the comments section! Its easy, free, and commitment free!

(Descriptions of characters powers retrieved from Wikipedia.)

Super Special WALKING DEAD VOLUME ONE SALE!

STARTING TODAY Monday, June 7th through Sunday June 20th, Comix Connection will be running a Super (No Longer Secret) Special WALKING DEAD Sale!

Here's the deal: WALKING DEAD VOLUME ONE will be on sale for a mere $5.00 (plus tax of course)! That's right! The first SIX issues of the incredibly cool WALKING DEAD series all in one nice volume for a mere $5.00!


If you've never given this series a try, here's your golden opportunity... it won't get any better than this. But beware, author Robert Kirkman isn't afraid to do terrible things to established characters... this isn't your father's Clark Kent. Try the one comic book that for once we all agree on - WALKING DEAD by Robert Kirkman and mood-setting artist Charles Adlard!

Announcing the THIRD ANNUAL CREATOR COOKOUT at Comix Connection - Mechanicsburg!

(Click on image to embiggen!)

Hey all you cool comic book fanatics! Come and meet artist Mike Hawthorne and novelists Brian Keene and J.F. Gonzalez on SATURDAY, June 26th at Comix Connection - Mechanicsburg from 11AM to 3PM when you can partake of the fabulous cookout stylings of acclaimed artist Mike Hawthorne as he works his culinary wizardry while flaunting his expert grilling techniques! I'm sure those of you who attended last year's Creator Cookout remember those awesome kabobs... well, they'll be back and just as delicious as ever! Chat with Brian, Jesus and Mike while filling your belly. All food and drink is FREE, but we will be accepting cash donations for the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank if you are so inclined! There will also be a barrel set up all week for canned food donations to directly help Central Pennsylvanians in these strained economic times.

As a special incentive to get you off the sofa and into our parking lot, we will also be having a giant SALE ON ALL BACK ISSUES IN THE BINS... they will be a measly ONE DOLLAR EACH all day; the older back issues on the wall will be an astonishing 25% OFF all day too, so fill your belly and your wantlist at the same time!

(PLEASE NOTE! THIS EVENT AND SALE IS ONLY HAPPENING AT COMIX CONNECTION - MECHANICSBURG, but don't worry York area fans, on Saturday, July 10th we'll be holding the exclusive Brian Keene's THE LAST ZOMBIE Release Party at Comix Connection - York, where you can meet novelist Brian Keene from NOON - 4PM and have him sign your copy of THE LAST ZOMBIE #1!)

Adidas being silly

Check this out:



You're welcome.

Super Secret Special Announcement!

FROM Monday, June 7th through Sunday June 20th, Comix Connection will be running a Super (No Longer Secret) Special WALKING DEAD Sale!

Here's the deal: WALKING DEAD VOLUME ONE will be on sale for a mere $5.00! That's right! The first SIX issues of the incredibly cool WALKING DEAD series all in one nice volume for a mere $5.00! Here's your chance to see what all the hubbub is before the AMC TV series hits the airwaves (cablewaves?)!

From Wikipedia:

The Walking Dead is centered on Rick Grimes, a small-town police officer from Cynthiana, Kentucky, his family, and a number of other survivors who have banded together in order to survive after the world is overrun with zombies. As the series progresses, the characters become more developed, and their personalities shift under the stress of a zombie apocalypse, most notably Rick's.

In the beginning of the series, Rick and partner Shane are in a firefight and Rick is shot and enters a coma. Upon waking in a hospital, he discovers the undead are in the building and town. Rick returns home and shortly decides to go to Atlanta, where the survivors were told to await help, to find his wife Lori and son Carl. He discovers the city is crowded with zombies and bumps into Glenn, a scavenger for a band of survivors. Following Glenn, Rick discovers Lori and Carl are okay along with Shane, who is less than happy that his former partner has returned. He also meets new survivors.

The group search for a place to call home, settling in several temporary camps, including a prison, which comes to the attention of an insane man calling himself the Governor. The Governor runs his local city, Woodbury, Georgia, like a dictator and tortures Rick and other members of his group, culminating in an assault. After the prison is made unsecure by an attack, Rick and the surviving members encounter cannibals and a township that is enclosed and safe, but holds a secret.

This is a very brief outline which doesn't even begin to touch on the one thing that makes WALKING DEAD so great... the characters. Seriously, it's the ONE comic book I have to read when we open the boxes on delivery day. Each issue ends in a cliffhanger and author Robert Kirkman isn't afraid to have terrible things happen to his main characters... there are no "red Shirt Crewman" here - no one is safe, which adds to the tension.

Buy it, try it, you won't be disappointed.

Six Issues, Five Bucks, WALKING DEAD VOLUME ONE... ask for it by name!

Cool things coming your way this summer from Comix Connection

Hey fangirls and boys! Comix Connection has a bunch of cool things lined up for this summer and beyond... just check out the sidebar!

First up is a Super Secret Special Sale... featuring WALKING DEAD! Soon to be a TV show on AMC, WALKING DEAD comes highly recommended by the Comix Connection staff... and this sale will be a great start for those of you who haven't read WALKING DEAD yet! Stay tuned for more info this week.

Here's a brief look at what else we have planned for 2010:

• Saturday, June 26th -->> CREATOR COOKOUT 2010 at Comix Connection - Mechanicsburg with Mike Hawthorne, Brian Keene, J F Gonzalez + more, 11AM-3PM, Food and FUN!
• Thursday, July 8th -->> X-MEN PARTY at both stores! Stay tuned for details!
• Saturday, July 10th -->> Brian Keene's THE LAST ZOMBIE Release Party at Comix Connection - York, Meet novelist Brian Keene from NOON - 4PM
• Monday, August 9th through Sunday August 22nd -->> Super Secret Special Sale! Stay tuned for details!
• Monday, September 6th through Sunday September 19th -->> Super Secret Special Sale! Stay tuned for details!

Follow this blog, "LIKE" us on Facebook, or keep your eyes peeled for information in the stores... we've got a cool hot summer planned for you!

NO NEW COMICS TODAY

They are delayed until TOMORROW THURSDAY, JUNE 3rd due to the holiday!

But there is good news! I just got the reports from Free Comic Book Day 2010, and I'm happy to announce the following:

Customers at Comix Connection - York donated a total of TWELVE CASES OF CANNED FOOD ITEMS to the York Rescue Mission!

Customers at Comix Connection - Mechanicsburg donated 485 POUNDS OF CANNED FOOD to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank!


Thanks everyone who donated. You are all awesome! Let's hope we helped make some Pennsylvanian's lives a bit easier!

SECRET AVENGERS VARIANT COMIC WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

Here's the list of the folks who won the awesome SECRET AVENGERS #1 VARIANTS that we were holding a drawing for this week:

COMIX CONNECTION-YORK:

Heroic Age Variant Cover Winners:
Jessica Eisenhauer
Matthew Teague
Tom Grob

Marko Djurdjevic Variant Cover Winners:
A&S Collins
Anthony Fulginiti
Jeremy Kunkle

Mike Deodato Variant Cover Winner:
Steven Adelson


COMIX CONNECTION-MECHANICSBURG:

Heroic Age Variant Cover Winners:
Warren Nast
Chester McMillion
Jon Telencio

Marko Djurdjevic Variant Cover Winners:
Eric Morgan
Ivory Ervin
Ryan Schreffler
Clinton Tennis
Daniel Noffsinger

Mike Deodato Variant Cover Winner:
Mark Boyce

There you go! Winners will be contacted by phone or prizes will be safely dropped in your pull/hold boxes until you come in to claim these rare and cool variant cover comics!

DON'T FORGET... if you liked AVENGERS #1 and SECRET AVENGERS #1 (at the fabulous low introductory price of only TWO BUCKS EACH) sign up now for future issues!

Manager Jared's Weekly Matchup Poll

Martian Manhunter: Superhuman strength, speed, durability, longevity, stamina, invisibility, intangibility, senses, intellegence, regeneration, flight. Telepathy, Molecular manipulation, Martian vision.

War Machine's Abilities: Experienced soldier trained in armed and unarmed combat
Pilot and aviation engineer
Powered suit of armor grants:
* Super-strength
* Supersonic flight at Mach 3
* Energy repulsors
* Variety of offensive and defensive weapons including missiles and laser blasters

Online Surveys & Market Research

Don't forget to tell us why you voted the way you did in the comments section! Its easy, free, and commitment free!

(Descriptions of characters powers retrieved from Wikipedia.)