Holy LouFerrigno! It's Comic-Con time again, Exfanders, and, as usual, neither Nathaniel nor myself are in San Diego to bring you all the exciting news and announcements!
What can I say? It's expensive to fly out there, get a hotel (if you can), and, oh yeah, there's that whole thing about there being 250,000 other folks roaming the streets and convention centers that tend to scare me off.
I do have a few buddies and coworkers who are out there, and I have been covering the event from the safety of the East Coast, though, so I know a few things that are going on. Such as the absolute madness of the show this year. Which, somehow, has managed to multiply since last year.
The madness, I mean.
Apparently there are more people, and they got there earlier than ever, and they grabbed all the exclusive toys and comics and whatever before the actual show even started on Thursday. Yep, that's right. Swag was sold out on Preview Night Wednesday, a trend that I saw firsthand last year at the New York Comic Con.
The good news? People love conventions. The bad news? They don't care as much about the comics as they do about the movies, the swag, and the experience of being at such a pop culture event.
Not to be Chicken Little or anything, but them's just the facts, man.
Still, as I always say around this time of year, it is nice to see and hear so much about geek culture permeating the mainstream. For one week, at least, we are the coolest kids on the block.
Showing posts with label Collecting and Collectables. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Collecting and Collectables. Show all posts
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Coffee and Comics
My mind is officially blown.
I've just found out that there is a coffee shop that displays and sells comics and original comic book art. And it's in my home state, not more than 45 minutes from me. And that ... officially makes my head spin, in a good way.
Well, that's not entirely true, actually.
When I first heard about the place, I was a little bit miffed, mostly because that was, well, that was my idea.
And someone had beaten me to it.
The concept of a coffee shop with comics and comics art as a part of the essence of the place is pretty much my ideal version of a place to go and to hang out in. Throw in a couple bookshelves with lots and lots of books (sans pictures) and put a couple of eReaders on the tables, and--bingo, bango--you've described the joint I'd like to someday own and operate.
It's cool that places like this exist right now, and I hope there's a continued market for them in the future.
I talk a lot about comics being "mainstream" these days, and while it's obviously the case in theaters (especially this summer, with Avengers and Dark Knight Rises), there's still just this tiny little pocket of people who read comics on a weekly basis.
Sure, there are some positive signs with the advent and proliferation of digital comics now available on a wide range of devices, but comic book readers are still a rather small minority of the entertainment-consuming public.
Coffee, on the other hand, is universal. Everyone (except Nathaniel) likes coffee.
So the idea of a coffee/comics shop should work on the basis that you get people in with good coffee, and you keep them there with an interesting and different atmosphere. Using original comic book art, I think, is an exceptionally good idea, as it's something most people don't see very often.
As a buddy of mine said, maybe I shouldn't be so miffed about the fact that "my idea" has been used (successfully) by others ... others who, clearly, never met me, nor ever heard "my" brilliant idea. Instead of being bummed, my buddy just said, "See? At least it's a verification that you're capable of having a good idea every now and then."
Thanks for that, buddy.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Exfanded Universe
There are only three movies I can recall (willingly) seeing in the theaters more than twice: The Matrix Reloaded, Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones, and Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. This should tell you something about my taste in movies. "Yeah, that you've got terrible taste in movies," you might be thinking. At a glance, to the average fan who loved The Matrix and the original Star Wars trilogy (and hated everything after them), that's exactly how it may appear. To Grand Admiral Thrawn, however, it might seem more likely that I had enough spare cash during the first half of the aughts to indulge in the pleasure of repeatedly watching a few of my new favorite big action sequences and big explosions on the big screen.
Up until three weeks ago, I had no idea who Grand Admiral Thrawn was.
I've been a Star Wars fan for years. I've marathoned all six movies in the prequel trilogy and original trilogy. I've seen the Clone Wars animated film, I'm more than halfway through the first season of the spinoff TV series, and I've watched the previous (and, in my opinion, superior) animated TV series as well. I've played Shadows of the Empire and Episode I: Racer and LEGO Star Wars 1-2. I like the Rogue Squadron video game series, love the Jedi Knight computer game series, and have spent more time with Knights of the Old Republic I & II than any other RPG in the post-SNES era. I own posters from the six main films, a handful of Star Wars trade paperback comics, about a dozen different toy lightsabers, about as many Star Wars PEZ dispensers, and nearly the entire line of Galoob Star Wars Micro Machines (and a fair number from their larger Action Fleet line, too). The list could go on, but I think it's clear that I am, in fact, a fan of Star Wars new and old, in all its forms.
Yet liking the prequels and being over the age of five seems to disqualify me from being a legitimate Star Wars fan.
I always marveled at how people could claim to be Star Wars fans when Return of the Jedi received such criticism for being different from Empire Strikes Back, and when people outright refuse to acknowledge the existence of the prequels. Liking only two, maybe three of the six films that form the canonical basis for your fandom doesn't seem to make you much of a fan. I never minded too much when someone said they liked the original trilogy and not the prequels, but it was incomprehensible to me that I might be considered less of a Star Wars fan for liking something produced by the man who created it!
It wasn't until three weeks ago that my heresy began to make sense.
Early last year I'd picked up Timothy Zahn's Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, and The Last Command, the three Star Wars books from the early '90s collectively known as the Thrawn trilogy. I'd read a few Star Wars books before--Tales of the Bounty Hunters, Shadows of the Empire (after playing the video game), the Han Solo trilogy, and possibly one or two other novels that have slipped my mind. While they were entertaining, and helped satisfy my curiosity about this Expanded Universe that Star Wars fans are always talking about, that was about the extent of their influence on me.
Heir to the Empire--the officially sanctioned continuation of the Star Wars saga--was where I first realized how little I understood about diehard Star Wars fans.
Strictly in terms of style--at least, as far as I've read--Timothy Zahn's writing favors function over form, providing only as much information the reader needs to adequately picture the action (with a few descriptions and turns of phrase here and there to add extra flavor, such as time being measured in "a pair of heartbeats"). What is most striking about Zahn's writing is how he seems to truly understand the characters, the Star Wars universe, and how the characters interact with the universe and each other.
I fell in love with Star Trek because of the characters, the universe, and how the characters interact with the universe and each other.
The moment that connection clicked with me was the moment I began to realize that being a Star Wars fan really isn't about the movies at all. The Expanded Universe isn't just an extension of the core fandom--it is the core fandom.
Suddenly, those big action sequences and big explosions on the big screen seemed like a pretty silly reason not to be disappointed by the prequels.
But that's a discussion for Saturday.
Up until three weeks ago, I had no idea who Grand Admiral Thrawn was.
I've been a Star Wars fan for years. I've marathoned all six movies in the prequel trilogy and original trilogy. I've seen the Clone Wars animated film, I'm more than halfway through the first season of the spinoff TV series, and I've watched the previous (and, in my opinion, superior) animated TV series as well. I've played Shadows of the Empire and Episode I: Racer and LEGO Star Wars 1-2. I like the Rogue Squadron video game series, love the Jedi Knight computer game series, and have spent more time with Knights of the Old Republic I & II than any other RPG in the post-SNES era. I own posters from the six main films, a handful of Star Wars trade paperback comics, about a dozen different toy lightsabers, about as many Star Wars PEZ dispensers, and nearly the entire line of Galoob Star Wars Micro Machines (and a fair number from their larger Action Fleet line, too). The list could go on, but I think it's clear that I am, in fact, a fan of Star Wars new and old, in all its forms.
Yet liking the prequels and being over the age of five seems to disqualify me from being a legitimate Star Wars fan.
I always marveled at how people could claim to be Star Wars fans when Return of the Jedi received such criticism for being different from Empire Strikes Back, and when people outright refuse to acknowledge the existence of the prequels. Liking only two, maybe three of the six films that form the canonical basis for your fandom doesn't seem to make you much of a fan. I never minded too much when someone said they liked the original trilogy and not the prequels, but it was incomprehensible to me that I might be considered less of a Star Wars fan for liking something produced by the man who created it!
It wasn't until three weeks ago that my heresy began to make sense.
Early last year I'd picked up Timothy Zahn's Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, and The Last Command, the three Star Wars books from the early '90s collectively known as the Thrawn trilogy. I'd read a few Star Wars books before--Tales of the Bounty Hunters, Shadows of the Empire (after playing the video game), the Han Solo trilogy, and possibly one or two other novels that have slipped my mind. While they were entertaining, and helped satisfy my curiosity about this Expanded Universe that Star Wars fans are always talking about, that was about the extent of their influence on me.
Strictly in terms of style--at least, as far as I've read--Timothy Zahn's writing favors function over form, providing only as much information the reader needs to adequately picture the action (with a few descriptions and turns of phrase here and there to add extra flavor, such as time being measured in "a pair of heartbeats"). What is most striking about Zahn's writing is how he seems to truly understand the characters, the Star Wars universe, and how the characters interact with the universe and each other.
I fell in love with Star Trek because of the characters, the universe, and how the characters interact with the universe and each other.
The moment that connection clicked with me was the moment I began to realize that being a Star Wars fan really isn't about the movies at all. The Expanded Universe isn't just an extension of the core fandom--it is the core fandom.
Suddenly, those big action sequences and big explosions on the big screen seemed like a pretty silly reason not to be disappointed by the prequels.
But that's a discussion for Saturday.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Sunday Spotlight: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan Phaser (Diamond Select Toys)
Since I was a wee lad, I've been collecting Star Trek toys. Action figures, playsets, model starships, replica props, the works. For a number of reasons, my collecting tapered off in the mid-'90s, but I have been known, especially in more recent years, to pick up the occasional Soverign-class vessel to display on top of my computer or, in this case, Type II phaser to fire at my wife.
We're very much in love, I assure you.
On a recent trip to a mall I've never had the chance to explore, she and I happened upon a Local Comics Shop peddling Star Trek merchandise on top of the regular fare of Ultimate Comics Ultimate Crisis Crossover Calamity and 6" statues of naked women with just enough clothing to suggest they're supposed to be dressed as superheroes. Within minutes of entering the store, I had spied the only thing, aside from my wife, I was planning on taking home with me from there: a Diamond Select Toys replica of the style of phaser used in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (and Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, but consider which movie the average fan gets more excited about seeing listed on the side of a box).
In my possession already from the Diamond Select line were a tricorder and Type II phaser from The Original Series. On the one hand, they look and feel authentic, right down to the sound effects and flashing lights. On the other hand, I call into question the technical design, or possibly the craftsmanship: The "on/off" switch for the tricorder is buried inside a compartment within a compartment; the fold-out panel of the outer compartment needs to be popped out of place completely to actually reach anything inside of it, and the panel covering the inner compartment with the switch needs to be pried open.
The phaser features a smaller detachable Type I phaser with a flip-up "targeting grille" (which barely flips up at all) that doesn't lock back into place properly; pulling the trigger on the main body of the Type II phaser actually makes the Type I phaser pop back out, and extensive fiddling only occasionally seems to fix the problem. On top of that, the electronics don't always respond as expected--I know what the buttons and knobs are supposed to do, but sometimes the lights don't light up properly, and sometimes nothing happens at all. And yes, I've checked the batteries.
When they work, however, they're tremendous fun. Even when they don't, it's still neat to have a part of my favorite fandom in a tangible form. The Wrath of Khan phaser suffers from the same kinds of issues as the aforementioned toys, but at the end of the day, it's the most fun with new Star Trek merchandise since the resurgence of Star Trek toys around the release of the 2009 Star Trek film. Plus, my collection is severely lacking in TOS movie-era memorabilia, so I'm always happy to make an addition there.
This phaser is a button-presser's paradise: there's a big, glowy "on" switch, a mode selector that allows you to cycle through the various settings of Tickle, Stun, Kill, and Disintegrate (with pleasantly distracting light-up indicators showing your current setting), a big ol' trigger, and alternate fire buttons on the detachable Type I phaser (yes, it's detachable!). These buttons can be used in conjunction with the mode selector button to trigger a power cell overload that will destroy the phaser and anyone in the vicinity (for pretend, silly) after a short countdown filled with flashing lights and oddly transporter-esque sound effects.
My wife suggested that setting the phaser to self-destruct on the coffee table and then taking cover behind the couch would not, in fact, protect me from the blast.
I appreciate the extra playability that a detachable phaser brings, but as with its TOS counterpart, this little Type I phaser is almost more trouble than it's worth.
While it's incredibly simple to detach and reattach this phaser thanks to a crazy-powerful magnet, there's a crazy-powerful magnet on my electronic device. I saw no warning on the package or instruction manual about it, so I can only assume it's well-shielded, but the force with which the smaller phaser snaps back into place is slightly frightening. The trouble is that (a) it sometimes takes some adjustment to get the electronics to work again once the whole phaser is reassembled (because all the functions of the larger phaser are based on a connection with the smaller one), and (b) the smaller phaser looks kinda dorky.
It's a little awkward to hold, too.
The fact that this detachable action was never seen on-camera also makes this feature feel a little unnecessary. But hey, it's one more feature for the people who want it, and it doesn't affect the use of the Type II phaser for people who don't.
Overall, I'm pleased with my purchase. I am easily enthralled by flashing lights, and I approve of the number of functional buttons. The phaser is sleek, fits comfortably in the hand, and just plain looks good. The only oddity is that holding down the trigger does nothing--the lights and sound effects don't happen until after you release the trigger. Still, that didn't stop my wife from scoring a few good hits on me while I was typing away on the computer. Can't say I didn't deserve it.
Next time she wants a phaser fight, though, I'll be prepared.
We're very much in love, I assure you.
The phaser features a smaller detachable Type I phaser with a flip-up "targeting grille" (which barely flips up at all) that doesn't lock back into place properly; pulling the trigger on the main body of the Type II phaser actually makes the Type I phaser pop back out, and extensive fiddling only occasionally seems to fix the problem. On top of that, the electronics don't always respond as expected--I know what the buttons and knobs are supposed to do, but sometimes the lights don't light up properly, and sometimes nothing happens at all. And yes, I've checked the batteries.
My wife suggested that setting the phaser to self-destruct on the coffee table and then taking cover behind the couch would not, in fact, protect me from the blast.
I appreciate the extra playability that a detachable phaser brings, but as with its TOS counterpart, this little Type I phaser is almost more trouble than it's worth.
The fact that this detachable action was never seen on-camera also makes this feature feel a little unnecessary. But hey, it's one more feature for the people who want it, and it doesn't affect the use of the Type II phaser for people who don't.
Overall, I'm pleased with my purchase. I am easily enthralled by flashing lights, and I approve of the number of functional buttons. The phaser is sleek, fits comfortably in the hand, and just plain looks good. The only oddity is that holding down the trigger does nothing--the lights and sound effects don't happen until after you release the trigger. Still, that didn't stop my wife from scoring a few good hits on me while I was typing away on the computer. Can't say I didn't deserve it.
Next time she wants a phaser fight, though, I'll be prepared.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Exfanding Review: Comic Book Men
So the mid-season premiere of Walking Dead and the premiere of the new reality series, Comic Book Men, have both come and gone.
Walking Dead absolutely (excuse the pun) killed it, ratings-wise, raking in over 8 million viewers on a night that was dominated by the Grammy Awards (which pulled in close to 40 million viewers). For its part, Comic Book Men did quite well following the zombie phenomenon Sunday night with 2 million viewers.
Reviews of the show, however, have been a mixed bag.
That’s to be expected, I’d say, and while I really enjoyed watching the series premiere and I liked the format of the show, there were times when the action dragged a bit.
But as an introductory episode to a new show, I think Sunday night’s premiere served the series well and I think the show is going to pick up from there.
Part Pawn Stars and part Clerks, Comic Book Men is, admittedly, exactly my kind of thing. So I’m biased, and while I can understand some of the critiques I’ve read (“there are no likeable characters”; “it propagates the ‘comic book guy’ stereotype”), I knew what to expect going in.
The guys on the show are funny, and a lot of their humor revolves around making fun of each other—they’re close friends, and, frankly, that’s what close friends do.
In that sense, Comic Book Men is one of the most “real” of the reality shows on TV—you get the feeling that these guys act this way towards each other with or without the cameras running. And, sure, some of the insults can seem mean-spirited, but if you listen to any of the multitude of View Askew podcasts out there, you’ll know that these guys are actually good friends and they spend a lot of time together.
The biggest surprise for me, actually, was just how much they focused on comic books—I honestly thought the store and the comics would be an afterthought, but in the first episode at least, that stuff was right up front in flashing lights.
So much so, in fact, that I’m not sure how much of a mainstream audience this show can bring in.
I applaud the show for going this route, though, and I will definitely be back for next week's episode.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
The Great Comic Book Adventure, 2011 Edition
Today is an epic day, my friends. An epic, excellent day. As I write this (on the epic counter in my kitchen whilst drinking a not-so-epic cup of decaf), I am mentally preparing myself for a day filled with adventure.
As we do every year at this time, Nathaniel, neko-chan, and I go out on a comic book shop quest so spectacular that it often puts even Indiana Jones' most memorable treks to shame.
It seems like we always end embarking upon this quest on the Thursday of the week between Christmas and New Year's, which works out pretty well. You see, two of the shops we'll likely hit up today are running holiday sales.
This trip truly is epic and destined.
In years past, our Great Comic Book Adventure has taken us to many places and we've faced down many challenges. Like traffic, overcrowded restaurants, and (my) complete lack of a sense of direction.
And today? Well, today Nathaniel may very well come in direct contact with the horrible beast known as sushi. We will see how he fares. Plus, it's pretty cold out there this morning. I might need to wear my heavy coat.
Keep us in your thoughts, Exfanders. Things might get a little dangerous.
As we do every year at this time, Nathaniel, neko-chan, and I go out on a comic book shop quest so spectacular that it often puts even Indiana Jones' most memorable treks to shame.
It seems like we always end embarking upon this quest on the Thursday of the week between Christmas and New Year's, which works out pretty well. You see, two of the shops we'll likely hit up today are running holiday sales.
This trip truly is epic and destined.
In years past, our Great Comic Book Adventure has taken us to many places and we've faced down many challenges. Like traffic, overcrowded restaurants, and (my) complete lack of a sense of direction.
And today? Well, today Nathaniel may very well come in direct contact with the horrible beast known as sushi. We will see how he fares. Plus, it's pretty cold out there this morning. I might need to wear my heavy coat.
Keep us in your thoughts, Exfanders. Things might get a little dangerous.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Gifts for Geekettes
Exfanded by Neko-chan
I am a geek. I read Dante for fun, I get excited about fabric samples and craft supplies, I play vintage PC games, I watch any sci-fi show I can get my hands on, I love world history, I have at least five different Green Arrow action figures, and I willingly married Nathaniel Hoover.
I am also a girl. However, I am not particularly “girly” in many of the traditional ways that people expect (i.e. beauty, fashion, gossip, etc). Sure, I dig flowers and chocolate, but I don’t usually wear makeup, I insist that my plaid Doc Martens count as dress shoes, I routinely put my hair up with office supplies and paintbrushes, I’m pretty sure a Kardashian is a type of sweater, and rarely would I choose to own, let alone wear, anything pink.
When I do decide to be girly, it is usually in an over-the-top theatrical way, such as my “Barbie cake” wedding dress that was 6’ in diameter and encrusted with enough sequins and beading to make a Disney princess jealous. My tastes simply tend to be capricious and unpredictable when it comes to anything classified as feminine.
Any of this sounding familiar? Chances are that you have at least one offbeat, unconventional female like me in your life, either at home or at work, whom you will feel obligated to find a present for this year. I understand that it can be stressful trying to choose the right thing; the combination of geekiness and femininity creates a powder keg of problems for any potential gift buyer.
Not only do you have to contend with the usual dilemmas of geek gifting such as “Does she own this already?” and “Am I buying the right character/game/version/edition that she requested?” but now you have to throw into the mix questions like, “By her pretty little bonnet, will she end me if I buy her these bath salts?” It’s always a toss-up whether we’ll react negatively to any of the “safe” gifts marketed towards women, and the whole idea of trying to buy us a decent gift can result in panicked nail-biting and a feeling of playing Russian roulette.
To help you in your quest toward purchasing a gift for someone in this diverse and oft-misunderstood demographic, I have compiled a wealth of ideas and suggestions to make this year’s gifting a bit easier.
Gifts for Geekettes, the Master List
Reading
Does she own more books than shoes? Is she on a first-name basis with her local librarians? Does she make you wait until a chapter break before responding to a question? Instead of jumping on the bandwagon of all this “e-book” hullabaloo, opt instead for a more personal and touching gift.
~ Try finding a rare edition of a book she loves, such as a collector’s edition, a first print, a special edition reprint, a signed copy, or simply a nicely bound hardcover version that will withstand the test of time. I highly recommend looking at Alibris. They have a great selection and some of the best customer service I have ever received.
Music
Does she have more than a terabyte of music on her computer? Does she listen to bands whose names you can’t even pronounce? Can she tell the difference between Baroque and Classical? Chances are that she will either have whatever album you buy her, or will be extra-picky about the types of things she listens to; therefore, try making her a mix tape instead.
~ Fill up a disc with songs that remind you of her, and include a track list with your rationale for each song. It will be like getting a gift and card in one, and she will have fun listening to it and thinking of you even if the songs, themselves, are not her favorite style of music. (Or she may hit you if you choose to be like Nathaniel and put “Tempted by the Fruit of Another” on your first mix tape.)
[Editor's note: Hey! It's a good song!]
Kitchen and Edibles
Can she name more than ten varieties of apples without blinking? Does watching her cook evoke the image of a mad scientist in a lab? Has she ever planned a vacation around the cuisine and restaurants rather than the sight-seeing attractions? Spice up your foodie’s life with some fun and exciting kitchen tech or edible curiosities.
~ Food Fighters Party Picks – Being a hostess is a tough assignment, so let her declare war on boring parties with these culinary commandos, guaranteed to earn her a Medal of Honor for exemplary food service in the line of duty.
~ "Equal Measure" Measuring Cup – Sometimes it can be hard to remember how many teaspoons are in a cup, or how many ounces are in a pound. Kitchen math is tricky. That’s why she needs this measuring cup, which makes life a bit easier by converting kitchen measurements into convenient everyday equivalents, such as the “volume of one human breath” and “one thousand sweet corn kernels.”
~ Combine two of her favorite fandoms by commissioning a cake that reflects her interests, such as an Xbox cake or a World of Warcraft cake. Or get creative by crafting and decorating your own baked confection for her.
~ MoMA Espresso Set – The perfect gift for the heavily caffeinated foodie. This set combines ingenuity with efficiency; with coasters that nest into the serving tray, and spoons that balance effortlessly on top of each cup. It can also double as an impromptu juggling act.
Art/Crafting
Does she sew her own clothes or accessories? Has she ever squeed over a sale on tools? Does she refuse to buy things in stores, insisting that she will find a way to make them herself? If so, try investing in some quality media and gadgets to help her on her journey toward inevitable Crafters Anonymous membership.
~ Laser Guided Scissors – If she is a seamstress, this gadget is the answer to a prayer. Using the power of lasers, these scissors enable her to cut a straight line without having to mark or measure intermediate points on the fabric, which saves both time and effort. Did I mention they come equipped with lasers?
~ Self Healing Cutting Mat – This is a nifty device that is useful for both sewing geeks and papercraft geeks. Not only does it protect her work surface from damage, but the quasi-liquid construction of the material actually reseals itself after use, re-filling in minor cuts and dents and returning to a smooth, clean finish. Yay science!
~ Prat Art Presentation Case – If she needs to transport her art back and forth between home, class, work, or client meetings, she definitely needs one of these. It comes equipped with a hard PVC casing, a carrying handle, zipper-closure, double-backed archival binder sleeves, a storage pocket, and a strap to keep pages from sliding around during travel. This was the most valuable and exciting present I received last Christmas.
~ Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils – If your girl is a developing artist who wants to take her artwork to the next level, treat her to a set of professional media such as these premier colored pencils. They are softer, smoother, and easier to blend than the cheap Crayola or Roseart varieties, allowing her more versatility with her expression. Make sure you also tag on a soft-lead sharpener, though, as normal sharpeners are too harsh for this delicate medium.
Jewelry
Does she gravitate toward anything shiny? Can she correctly say the word “chalcedony”? Does she set off airport security with the amount of metal she adorns herself with? Well, if every kiss begins with Kay’s, then every Ohhhhh Myyyyy! begins with o-riginality. Spoil her with one of these unique gifts this year:
~Handmade Jewelry from Etsy.com - Etsy is the “eBay for crafters,” and there is literally something for every taste. You can browse through thousands of pieces such as a sterling silver Mega Man pendant and an eco-friendly leaf pendant made from cement board, leaves, and guitar wire, or, if you are looking for something specific, many of the sellers will also take custom commissions for one-of-a-kind pieces.
~ThinkGeek.com also offers a small array of jewelry for the technically-minded geekette. Resistance is not futile with their matching earring and necklace set made from 1/4 watt resistors, and you can buy happiness with their serotonin molecule earrings.
~ Homemade Charm Bracelet – Get creative by starting a charm bracelet you can add to each holiday. Instead of buying generic and over-priced charms from a store, make your own by drilling a hole in found objects, such as game pieces or guitar picks, and attaching a clip. It’s a cost-effective, personal gift that shows how well you know her, and can hold a lifetime of memories and memorabilia.
Home Décor
Does she long for binary-patterned curtains? Is her original Labyrinth movie poster still hanging on the wall? Did she need to buy extra shelving in order to display her replica ship collection? Put your gift-giving skills on prominent display with one of these geek-themed décor items:
~ Lightsaber Candlestick – Sometimes it’s nice to just sith down to a fancy candlelit dinner, enjoy some Wol cabasshew salad, and talk about how many rebel fighters you destroyed at work. For those occasions, she’ll need this lightsaber candlestick to properly set the mood.
~ Pac-Man Fleece Blanket – If you’ve ever caught your girl “paku-paku-ing” around the house in search of cherries, she might like this retro-gaming blanket from Perpetual Kid featuring everyone’s favorite ghost-slaying pie-chart.
~ Art Nouveau Firefly Posters – Want to be the best gift-giver in the ‘verse? Head on over to ThinkGeek and pick up both sets, Les Hommes and Les Femmes, of these shiny, shiny new posters.
~ Glow in the Dark Moon Clock – You know the best thing about space? Space! If she is a total space cadet, get her this snazzy moon-shaped clock to decorate her control room, and fuel her intergalactic imagination.
~ 18” Geisha Shoji Lamp - If your girl owns more anime than live-action DVDs, views cosplay as serious business, or owns at least one J-Pop CD, she may appreciate this kawaii hand-painted table lamp inspired by traditional Japanese rice paper screens.
Clothing and Accessories
Does she wear her Call of Duty messenger bag with pride? Has she ever used cable ties to hold up her pants? Are most of her shirts printed with slogans that make Luddites stare wide-eyed in confusion? Help her befuddle and bemuse the hoi polloi with one of these quirky wearable gifts:
~ “She Blinded Me With Library Science” Tote – Now she can express her love of both reading and 80’s pop references while carrying her books to and from the library.
~ Circuit Board Headband – give her the motherboard of all tech-savvy gifts with this circuit board headband so she can hold back her locks in style. And if headbands aren’t her thing, try making her a circuit board belt buckle at home with this handy guide from HGTV.
~ Threadless T-shirts and Hoodies – No matter whether she is a Star Wars fangirl, a retro gamer, an eco-warrior artist, or a foodie, there is a shirt for her at Threadless. Designed by up-and-coming graphic artists, these shirts have character and originality, the perfect compliment to your unique geek.
Hopefully these suggestions have been mildly inspiring in some way, and have left you with the security of knowing that there are plenty of great gifts out there for all the geeky girls in your life. You can choose to ignore my suggestions, though, and brave the malls crowded with foaming, ravenous zomb… holiday shoppers, but don’t blame me when your girl hits you upside the head with that bottle of “artisan bath salts” you were convinced she’d like because it was in a magazine somewhere.
I am a geek. I read Dante for fun, I get excited about fabric samples and craft supplies, I play vintage PC games, I watch any sci-fi show I can get my hands on, I love world history, I have at least five different Green Arrow action figures, and I willingly married Nathaniel Hoover.
I am also a girl. However, I am not particularly “girly” in many of the traditional ways that people expect (i.e. beauty, fashion, gossip, etc). Sure, I dig flowers and chocolate, but I don’t usually wear makeup, I insist that my plaid Doc Martens count as dress shoes, I routinely put my hair up with office supplies and paintbrushes, I’m pretty sure a Kardashian is a type of sweater, and rarely would I choose to own, let alone wear, anything pink.
When I do decide to be girly, it is usually in an over-the-top theatrical way, such as my “Barbie cake” wedding dress that was 6’ in diameter and encrusted with enough sequins and beading to make a Disney princess jealous. My tastes simply tend to be capricious and unpredictable when it comes to anything classified as feminine.
Any of this sounding familiar? Chances are that you have at least one offbeat, unconventional female like me in your life, either at home or at work, whom you will feel obligated to find a present for this year. I understand that it can be stressful trying to choose the right thing; the combination of geekiness and femininity creates a powder keg of problems for any potential gift buyer.Not only do you have to contend with the usual dilemmas of geek gifting such as “Does she own this already?” and “Am I buying the right character/game/version/edition that she requested?” but now you have to throw into the mix questions like, “By her pretty little bonnet, will she end me if I buy her these bath salts?” It’s always a toss-up whether we’ll react negatively to any of the “safe” gifts marketed towards women, and the whole idea of trying to buy us a decent gift can result in panicked nail-biting and a feeling of playing Russian roulette.
To help you in your quest toward purchasing a gift for someone in this diverse and oft-misunderstood demographic, I have compiled a wealth of ideas and suggestions to make this year’s gifting a bit easier.
Gifts for Geekettes, the Master List
Reading
Does she own more books than shoes? Is she on a first-name basis with her local librarians? Does she make you wait until a chapter break before responding to a question? Instead of jumping on the bandwagon of all this “e-book” hullabaloo, opt instead for a more personal and touching gift.
~ Try finding a rare edition of a book she loves, such as a collector’s edition, a first print, a special edition reprint, a signed copy, or simply a nicely bound hardcover version that will withstand the test of time. I highly recommend looking at Alibris. They have a great selection and some of the best customer service I have ever received.Music
Does she have more than a terabyte of music on her computer? Does she listen to bands whose names you can’t even pronounce? Can she tell the difference between Baroque and Classical? Chances are that she will either have whatever album you buy her, or will be extra-picky about the types of things she listens to; therefore, try making her a mix tape instead.
~ Fill up a disc with songs that remind you of her, and include a track list with your rationale for each song. It will be like getting a gift and card in one, and she will have fun listening to it and thinking of you even if the songs, themselves, are not her favorite style of music. (Or she may hit you if you choose to be like Nathaniel and put “Tempted by the Fruit of Another” on your first mix tape.)[Editor's note: Hey! It's a good song!]
Kitchen and Edibles
Can she name more than ten varieties of apples without blinking? Does watching her cook evoke the image of a mad scientist in a lab? Has she ever planned a vacation around the cuisine and restaurants rather than the sight-seeing attractions? Spice up your foodie’s life with some fun and exciting kitchen tech or edible curiosities.
~ Food Fighters Party Picks – Being a hostess is a tough assignment, so let her declare war on boring parties with these culinary commandos, guaranteed to earn her a Medal of Honor for exemplary food service in the line of duty.~ "Equal Measure" Measuring Cup – Sometimes it can be hard to remember how many teaspoons are in a cup, or how many ounces are in a pound. Kitchen math is tricky. That’s why she needs this measuring cup, which makes life a bit easier by converting kitchen measurements into convenient everyday equivalents, such as the “volume of one human breath” and “one thousand sweet corn kernels.”
~ Combine two of her favorite fandoms by commissioning a cake that reflects her interests, such as an Xbox cake or a World of Warcraft cake. Or get creative by crafting and decorating your own baked confection for her.~ MoMA Espresso Set – The perfect gift for the heavily caffeinated foodie. This set combines ingenuity with efficiency; with coasters that nest into the serving tray, and spoons that balance effortlessly on top of each cup. It can also double as an impromptu juggling act.
Art/CraftingDoes she sew her own clothes or accessories? Has she ever squeed over a sale on tools? Does she refuse to buy things in stores, insisting that she will find a way to make them herself? If so, try investing in some quality media and gadgets to help her on her journey toward inevitable Crafters Anonymous membership.
~ Laser Guided Scissors – If she is a seamstress, this gadget is the answer to a prayer. Using the power of lasers, these scissors enable her to cut a straight line without having to mark or measure intermediate points on the fabric, which saves both time and effort. Did I mention they come equipped with lasers?
~ Self Healing Cutting Mat – This is a nifty device that is useful for both sewing geeks and papercraft geeks. Not only does it protect her work surface from damage, but the quasi-liquid construction of the material actually reseals itself after use, re-filling in minor cuts and dents and returning to a smooth, clean finish. Yay science!~ Prat Art Presentation Case – If she needs to transport her art back and forth between home, class, work, or client meetings, she definitely needs one of these. It comes equipped with a hard PVC casing, a carrying handle, zipper-closure, double-backed archival binder sleeves, a storage pocket, and a strap to keep pages from sliding around during travel. This was the most valuable and exciting present I received last Christmas.
~ Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils – If your girl is a developing artist who wants to take her artwork to the next level, treat her to a set of professional media such as these premier colored pencils. They are softer, smoother, and easier to blend than the cheap Crayola or Roseart varieties, allowing her more versatility with her expression. Make sure you also tag on a soft-lead sharpener, though, as normal sharpeners are too harsh for this delicate medium.
JewelryDoes she gravitate toward anything shiny? Can she correctly say the word “chalcedony”? Does she set off airport security with the amount of metal she adorns herself with? Well, if every kiss begins with Kay’s, then every Ohhhhh Myyyyy! begins with o-riginality. Spoil her with one of these unique gifts this year:
~Handmade Jewelry from Etsy.com - Etsy is the “eBay for crafters,” and there is literally something for every taste. You can browse through thousands of pieces such as a sterling silver Mega Man pendant and an eco-friendly leaf pendant made from cement board, leaves, and guitar wire, or, if you are looking for something specific, many of the sellers will also take custom commissions for one-of-a-kind pieces.
~ThinkGeek.com also offers a small array of jewelry for the technically-minded geekette. Resistance is not futile with their matching earring and necklace set made from 1/4 watt resistors, and you can buy happiness with their serotonin molecule earrings.~ Homemade Charm Bracelet – Get creative by starting a charm bracelet you can add to each holiday. Instead of buying generic and over-priced charms from a store, make your own by drilling a hole in found objects, such as game pieces or guitar picks, and attaching a clip. It’s a cost-effective, personal gift that shows how well you know her, and can hold a lifetime of memories and memorabilia.
Home DécorDoes she long for binary-patterned curtains? Is her original Labyrinth movie poster still hanging on the wall? Did she need to buy extra shelving in order to display her replica ship collection? Put your gift-giving skills on prominent display with one of these geek-themed décor items:
~ Lightsaber Candlestick – Sometimes it’s nice to just sith down to a fancy candlelit dinner, enjoy some Wol cabasshew salad, and talk about how many rebel fighters you destroyed at work. For those occasions, she’ll need this lightsaber candlestick to properly set the mood.
~ Pac-Man Fleece Blanket – If you’ve ever caught your girl “paku-paku-ing” around the house in search of cherries, she might like this retro-gaming blanket from Perpetual Kid featuring everyone’s favorite ghost-slaying pie-chart.~ Art Nouveau Firefly Posters – Want to be the best gift-giver in the ‘verse? Head on over to ThinkGeek and pick up both sets, Les Hommes and Les Femmes, of these shiny, shiny new posters.
~ Glow in the Dark Moon Clock – You know the best thing about space? Space! If she is a total space cadet, get her this snazzy moon-shaped clock to decorate her control room, and fuel her intergalactic imagination.~ 18” Geisha Shoji Lamp - If your girl owns more anime than live-action DVDs, views cosplay as serious business, or owns at least one J-Pop CD, she may appreciate this kawaii hand-painted table lamp inspired by traditional Japanese rice paper screens.
Clothing and AccessoriesDoes she wear her Call of Duty messenger bag with pride? Has she ever used cable ties to hold up her pants? Are most of her shirts printed with slogans that make Luddites stare wide-eyed in confusion? Help her befuddle and bemuse the hoi polloi with one of these quirky wearable gifts:
~ “She Blinded Me With Library Science” Tote – Now she can express her love of both reading and 80’s pop references while carrying her books to and from the library.
~ Circuit Board Headband – give her the motherboard of all tech-savvy gifts with this circuit board headband so she can hold back her locks in style. And if headbands aren’t her thing, try making her a circuit board belt buckle at home with this handy guide from HGTV.
~ Threadless T-shirts and Hoodies – No matter whether she is a Star Wars fangirl, a retro gamer, an eco-warrior artist, or a foodie, there is a shirt for her at Threadless. Designed by up-and-coming graphic artists, these shirts have character and originality, the perfect compliment to your unique geek.Hopefully these suggestions have been mildly inspiring in some way, and have left you with the security of knowing that there are plenty of great gifts out there for all the geeky girls in your life. You can choose to ignore my suggestions, though, and brave the malls crowded with foaming, ravenous zomb… holiday shoppers, but don’t blame me when your girl hits you upside the head with that bottle of “artisan bath salts” you were convinced she’d like because it was in a magazine somewhere.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Gifts for Geeks: To Card or Not to Card?
Gift cards.For some, they are the Ultimate Holiday Present, opening up a world of possibility and, quite possibly, getting you closer and closer to that Daredevil, issue one, that's been sitting in the glass case of your favorite comic shop for three years now.
For others, gift cards are the Bane of All Existence, and the symbol of someone who has given up on the entire point of the holidays.
Today, your friendly neighborhood Exfanders debate (not really) the issue of giving and receiving gift cards for the holidays. It'll be like one of those political talk shows, with points and counterpoints. Except, it won't be as funny.
Since I'm a gentleman (not really), I'll allow Nathaniel to go first.
So, what do you think of giving and/or receiving gift cards for a holiday gift?
Nathaniel: I think Alex is totally asking for it.
I actually have gift cards on my standing wish list. I've got no problem giving gift cards, either; as with most things in life, it's not what I do so much as why or how I do it. A Starbucks gift card wrapped up in clever handmade packaging says so much more than, "I heard you like coffee." Handing over a Wii Points card to a gamer isn't a cop-out if you know they've been frequenting the Wii Shop channel to fulfill their Gradius cravings.
While a glow-in-the-dark Rubik's Cube or Tetris pillowcase might satisfy a specifically named need, a gift card covers an unnamed need, giving the recipient the freedom to browse, or the freedom to choose exactly what he or she wants (but can't or won't articulate). Sometimes it's easier for everyone involved to give a gift certificate to the local comics shop than to track down the Zaphod Beeblebrox action figure with the most satisfactory paint apps yourself.
Another benefit to giving a gift card is that you're effectively giving two or more gifts in one. With most presents, there's the initial excitement of opening the gift, followed by an integration of that gift into one's collection (or stomach, if edible). No matter how perfect, practical, and reusable a gift may be, I'd wager that the vast majority of gifts lose that "new gift smell" almost immediately.
Gift cards also yield that initial excitement, and then get tucked away into a drawer, purse, or wallet. Eventually--hours, days, weeks, or even months later--the recipient pulls out the gift card to make a purchase, and whatever he or she buys makes it feel like [insert name of gift-giving occasion] all over again. Especially if there's enough money on that card for multiple purchases (say, a $20 card that's only ever tapped to cover the occasional chocolate-covered donut).
I love gift cards, so long as they're practical and convenient to use--no $50 certificates for a burger chain that doesn't exist in the tri-state area; no Best Buy gift cards that you know I'll use to purchase the two items I specifically requested from Best Buy. Given in the right amounts to the right people for the right places, gift certificates can be every bit as desirable as all but the best surprise gifts...and heck, there's nothing saying that gift certificates can't be a surprise.
Alex: Annnnd I've been completely thrown for a loop. Thanks, Flashman. Never did I think that Nathaniel would make an argument for gift cards. He's all about the personal, well-thought-out gift.
I should know--he's bought me enough of them over the past few years. (Including a Batman bag that I still use pretty much every day.)
But I totally agree with his points above (which kind of obliterates that whole debate I had planned) that a gift card can actually be a personal present for someone.
Before last week, I had no idea that there were things like Playstation Network gift cards (my brother asked for one...also, stop judging me), but to me that makes sense as a really cool gift.
My long-standing belief about Christmas presents is that they should be things that the person wants, rather than needs, and they should be something that he or she probably wouldn't buy on their own.
Either because he needs to save that money for things he needs, or simply because, as much as he might want that Karnak mini-bust, he just can't bring himself to ask for it in a store. You know, with other people watching and all.
And let's face it--there are some people on all of our lists that are just plain hard to shop for. In those cases, gift carding is absolutely acceptable.But let me throw on a quick caveat to that.
I guess as long as the gift card is something specific or focused, it's okay. Like an Amazon or Barnes & Noble card for a big reader, or a gift certificate to Apple for the techie or to Applebee's, even, for the foodie.
What I'm not big on, though, is giving one of those generic American Express (or whatever) gift cards that can be used anywhere. Getting one of those? Great. But giving one? I haven't been able to do that yet.
That, I think, is just too impersonal.
[Editor's note: Unlike our giveaway of four $15 gift cards for Amazon.com, which is completely different and not at all impersonal, mind you.]
So, to wrap up this "debate" (where Nathaniel and I did nothing but agree with and, in my case at least, compliment, each other for 800 words or so), I'll leave you with two things.
First, don't buy that Karnak mini-bust as a gift. Trust me. (Also, don't buy it for yourself.) And second, if you're really stumped when it comes to finding a present, don't be afraid to go the gift card route.
It's Exfanding approved, so you really can't go wrong.*
*Editor's Note: It could very well go wrong, and if it does, Alex and Nathaniel are not liable. For, um. Anything. Especially if you give a gift certificate to a comics shop and your buddy buys a Karnak mini-bust, re-gifts it one year later when he realizes his horrible mistake, and it ends up on your mantel. Especially then. (Thanks, again, Dave.)
Friday, November 18, 2011
Original Art Dealings
Apparently, I'm now an original art dealer.
Yep. Just like that, Yours Truly is a seller of (only the finest) original comic book art.
And, no, before you start worrying about my own financial state, I'm not selling pieces that I own. Instead, I'm helping a friend sell off some of his (staggeringly incredible) collection of art. He simply has too many things, and needs to clear out the old portfolio.
And he's asked me to help.
Which is both exciting and a little depressing. Exciting because, really, we all know that I live vicariously through comic book shop owners and this is (kind of) a step in that direction.
Depressing because I literally want to buy every piece that I'm meant to sell. Not kidding here, folks, this collection--entirely of Batman art--is amazing and some of the pieces that are now in my (temporary) possession are quite stunning.
Full body commissions by some of the biggest names in comics, covers to major Batman books, interiors from some of the best stories ever written. It's all here.
In the coming weeks, I'll post a link to where the pages are to be sold. They're not going to be cheap, but it'll still be worth taking a look at for the sheer...awesomeness...of the art.
For my part, I'm now doing some "market research" and trying to figure out what similar pages and commissions have sold for in the past. I put "market research" in quotes because I don't really consider it research at all. It's just plain fun for me.
Plus, the market shifts on a daily basis.
But I've been collecting this stuff (and following it obsessively online) long enough to have a pretty good grasp of the values of these things.
So wish me luck, Exfanders, and stay tuned for updates.
Yep. Just like that, Yours Truly is a seller of (only the finest) original comic book art.
And, no, before you start worrying about my own financial state, I'm not selling pieces that I own. Instead, I'm helping a friend sell off some of his (staggeringly incredible) collection of art. He simply has too many things, and needs to clear out the old portfolio.
And he's asked me to help.
Which is both exciting and a little depressing. Exciting because, really, we all know that I live vicariously through comic book shop owners and this is (kind of) a step in that direction.
Depressing because I literally want to buy every piece that I'm meant to sell. Not kidding here, folks, this collection--entirely of Batman art--is amazing and some of the pieces that are now in my (temporary) possession are quite stunning.
Full body commissions by some of the biggest names in comics, covers to major Batman books, interiors from some of the best stories ever written. It's all here.
In the coming weeks, I'll post a link to where the pages are to be sold. They're not going to be cheap, but it'll still be worth taking a look at for the sheer...awesomeness...of the art.
For my part, I'm now doing some "market research" and trying to figure out what similar pages and commissions have sold for in the past. I put "market research" in quotes because I don't really consider it research at all. It's just plain fun for me.
Plus, the market shifts on a daily basis.
But I've been collecting this stuff (and following it obsessively online) long enough to have a pretty good grasp of the values of these things.
So wish me luck, Exfanders, and stay tuned for updates.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Waiting for Wednesday, Volume 3, Issue 37
When I was in my Junior year at college, my laptop's background image was, of course, an image of Batman drawn by Jim Lee. The art featured the Dark Knight, standing in the shadows and looking about as bad as can be.
I mention this because, while in my Junior year, I hadn't read a comic book in at least a decade. I had no idea that the image on my laptop was taken from Jim Lee's epic Hush storyline, or that that particular title was taking comics by storm and helping to usher in a new era in the medium.
I also didn't know that, in just over a year or so, I would embark on a mad hunt of every comics shop in my area to track down a copy of Batman, issue 608, which was the beginning of the Hush arc.
I didn't know any of this stuff, and I honestly didn't care.
But, as I've said many times before on the blog, I've always loved Batman, and I've always wanted to be Batman.
What can I say? Some people have Real Person Aspirations, like becoming a doctor, or a lawyer, or a pumpkin salesman in Michigan. For me--and for as long as I can remember--I've just wanted to be Batman.
You know, but without all the tragedy.
For a whole mess of reasons, Batman has been with me since day one, it seems. Some of my earliest memories (granted, I suffered a couple of concussions in college, so these might not be actual memories) revolve around playing with Batman toys (back when they were, in fact, toys, and not action figures), watching reruns of the Adam West Batman show on TV, and listening to an old record that came with a book about Batman and the Scarecrow.
I have no idea why this came as a record--maybe because it was cheaper than a cassette, or easier to pack with a comic book?--but I remember sitting next to my dad's old record player, listening to that same story, over and over again.
The Scarecrow of that particular story was of the not very scary kind, and the whole thing was very clearly aimed at me and my demographic.
In the end, Batman always foiled the Scarecrow and he did it in exactly the same way, but I still hung on every word. I'm willing to bet that record exists somewhere, in a box under a whole lot of other stuff from many years ago.
A few years later--1989, to be exact--another familiar Batman villain did manage to scare me, and he kept me up at night. When Batman hit theaters in that wonderful, Bat symbol-filled summer, I was right there with my parents and my brother.
Before the movie, we went to an IHOP down the street from the theater (today, the IHOP is still there; the theater is not) and had an early dinner. Then we made our way down the block and to the theater.
I don't think it's possible to explain how excited I was for that film. I was going to see Batman--my hero--up on the big screen, and it was going to be the Greatest Thing Ever.
And, honestly, it absolutely was. The Greatest Thing Ever, I mean.
But Nicholson's portrayal of the Joker scared the crap out of me back then, and I remember coming home and checking behind doors to make sure he wasn't there--waiting for me as he waited for Jack Palance in his office.
Looking back on it now, that's probably one of the main reasons I was always drawn to Batman--the fear. Batman himself was scary (even when he was just Michael Keaton in a muscle suit), but Batman's villains were terrifying.
They still are, actually.
That first Tim Burton Batman movie changed things in terms of comic books and their acceptance in "normal" culture.
I didn't realize it at the time, but comics were becoming mainstream. Batman was everywhere, from drinking cups at McDonald's to magazine covers in supermarkets. The Bat Symbol, especially, became the symbol of that summer and of that year.
Meanwhile, completely unknown to me, comics shops across the country were being flooded with new customers and new, edgier work from creators.
After the first film, I remember being very excited for Batman Returns. I still love the look of that movie, even if it's not the best the Bat has ever been. After that, though, I pretty much abandoned comics and Batman.
Sad to say, but true.
Still, Batman managed to pop up here and there. Like in my Junior year of high school when I was being considered for a fairly prestigious peer group. There was a pretty long process to get selected, and the final part was to sit for an interview with the current year's group.
I honestly can't remember any of the questions except for one: Who would win in a fight, Batman or Superman?
I said, quickly, "Superman. He has powers." Then I paused, and thought about it for a moment. "But Batman has that utility belt, and he's way smarter than Superman...so I don't know, actually."
Ah, the ignorance of youth.
Flash forward now to my Junior year in college, me staring at my laptop and doing everything imaginable to avoid writing that paper on Yeats that's due in a few hours. I find myself searching for a new desktop image--because, clearly, that is more important than starting my paper.
I stumble across the DC Comics website, see the latest interpretation of Batman, and grab the wallpaper you see above.
Flash forward a year from that moment and I'm in a comics shop in Connecticut, rifling through back issue bins labeled "B". My heart races every time I reach the Batman section and get to the higher numbers.
600
601
607
613
Nope. Not this time. Next store.
That goes on for a couple of weeks until I finally find a copy of number 608. It was up on the wall of a now-defunct shop (actually, the shop that replaced that one is also gone), sitting behind the most recent issue of the series.
It was in a bag with a board, and the price was $5.00. That day I bought my first back issue.
A year later I have a pretty impressive collection of back issues. I live for Saturday afternoon back issue bin diving like Scrooge McDuck.
A year later and I have all but abandoned back issues to focus on collected editons and graphic novels.
A year later I catch the original art bug.
A year later, I share a blog with this bearded guy at work and we write about fun, geeky, wonderful things.
Three years later we still have that fun, geeky, wonderful blog.
-- -- -- --
Now, I know I've been getting away from what the typical Waiting for is supposed to be like lately, but that should change starting next week. Why? Well, because the books are getting so darn good, that's why.
DC's New 52 launched last week, and I fell for a good number of them, hard, and I'll be buying almost all of their new titles this week as well.
Of particularly high quality were Action, Swamp Thing, and Animal Man. Even Detective, written by Tony Daniel (known more for his outstanding art then for his writing ability), was quite good.
This week, I'm looking forward to Superboy, Frankenstein, Grifter, and Suicide Squad. But the book I'm most excited about is Batwoman, by JH Williams.
If last week was any indication, you might want to get to your store a little earlier today as many of last week's titles sold out before lunch.
DC took a big, bold step, and so far at least, it's paying off.
I mention this because, while in my Junior year, I hadn't read a comic book in at least a decade. I had no idea that the image on my laptop was taken from Jim Lee's epic Hush storyline, or that that particular title was taking comics by storm and helping to usher in a new era in the medium.I also didn't know that, in just over a year or so, I would embark on a mad hunt of every comics shop in my area to track down a copy of Batman, issue 608, which was the beginning of the Hush arc.
I didn't know any of this stuff, and I honestly didn't care.
But, as I've said many times before on the blog, I've always loved Batman, and I've always wanted to be Batman.
What can I say? Some people have Real Person Aspirations, like becoming a doctor, or a lawyer, or a pumpkin salesman in Michigan. For me--and for as long as I can remember--I've just wanted to be Batman.
You know, but without all the tragedy.
For a whole mess of reasons, Batman has been with me since day one, it seems. Some of my earliest memories (granted, I suffered a couple of concussions in college, so these might not be actual memories) revolve around playing with Batman toys (back when they were, in fact, toys, and not action figures), watching reruns of the Adam West Batman show on TV, and listening to an old record that came with a book about Batman and the Scarecrow.
I have no idea why this came as a record--maybe because it was cheaper than a cassette, or easier to pack with a comic book?--but I remember sitting next to my dad's old record player, listening to that same story, over and over again.
The Scarecrow of that particular story was of the not very scary kind, and the whole thing was very clearly aimed at me and my demographic.
In the end, Batman always foiled the Scarecrow and he did it in exactly the same way, but I still hung on every word. I'm willing to bet that record exists somewhere, in a box under a whole lot of other stuff from many years ago.
A few years later--1989, to be exact--another familiar Batman villain did manage to scare me, and he kept me up at night. When Batman hit theaters in that wonderful, Bat symbol-filled summer, I was right there with my parents and my brother.
Before the movie, we went to an IHOP down the street from the theater (today, the IHOP is still there; the theater is not) and had an early dinner. Then we made our way down the block and to the theater.
I don't think it's possible to explain how excited I was for that film. I was going to see Batman--my hero--up on the big screen, and it was going to be the Greatest Thing Ever.
And, honestly, it absolutely was. The Greatest Thing Ever, I mean.
But Nicholson's portrayal of the Joker scared the crap out of me back then, and I remember coming home and checking behind doors to make sure he wasn't there--waiting for me as he waited for Jack Palance in his office.
Looking back on it now, that's probably one of the main reasons I was always drawn to Batman--the fear. Batman himself was scary (even when he was just Michael Keaton in a muscle suit), but Batman's villains were terrifying.
They still are, actually.
That first Tim Burton Batman movie changed things in terms of comic books and their acceptance in "normal" culture.
I didn't realize it at the time, but comics were becoming mainstream. Batman was everywhere, from drinking cups at McDonald's to magazine covers in supermarkets. The Bat Symbol, especially, became the symbol of that summer and of that year.
Meanwhile, completely unknown to me, comics shops across the country were being flooded with new customers and new, edgier work from creators.
After the first film, I remember being very excited for Batman Returns. I still love the look of that movie, even if it's not the best the Bat has ever been. After that, though, I pretty much abandoned comics and Batman.
Sad to say, but true.
Still, Batman managed to pop up here and there. Like in my Junior year of high school when I was being considered for a fairly prestigious peer group. There was a pretty long process to get selected, and the final part was to sit for an interview with the current year's group.
I honestly can't remember any of the questions except for one: Who would win in a fight, Batman or Superman?
I said, quickly, "Superman. He has powers." Then I paused, and thought about it for a moment. "But Batman has that utility belt, and he's way smarter than Superman...so I don't know, actually."
Ah, the ignorance of youth.
Flash forward now to my Junior year in college, me staring at my laptop and doing everything imaginable to avoid writing that paper on Yeats that's due in a few hours. I find myself searching for a new desktop image--because, clearly, that is more important than starting my paper.
I stumble across the DC Comics website, see the latest interpretation of Batman, and grab the wallpaper you see above.
Flash forward a year from that moment and I'm in a comics shop in Connecticut, rifling through back issue bins labeled "B". My heart races every time I reach the Batman section and get to the higher numbers.
600
601
607
613
Nope. Not this time. Next store.
That goes on for a couple of weeks until I finally find a copy of number 608. It was up on the wall of a now-defunct shop (actually, the shop that replaced that one is also gone), sitting behind the most recent issue of the series.
It was in a bag with a board, and the price was $5.00. That day I bought my first back issue.
A year later I have a pretty impressive collection of back issues. I live for Saturday afternoon back issue bin diving like Scrooge McDuck.
A year later and I have all but abandoned back issues to focus on collected editons and graphic novels.
A year later I catch the original art bug.
A year later, I share a blog with this bearded guy at work and we write about fun, geeky, wonderful things.
Three years later we still have that fun, geeky, wonderful blog.
-- -- -- --
Now, I know I've been getting away from what the typical Waiting for is supposed to be like lately, but that should change starting next week. Why? Well, because the books are getting so darn good, that's why.
DC's New 52 launched last week, and I fell for a good number of them, hard, and I'll be buying almost all of their new titles this week as well.
Of particularly high quality were Action, Swamp Thing, and Animal Man. Even Detective, written by Tony Daniel (known more for his outstanding art then for his writing ability), was quite good.
This week, I'm looking forward to Superboy, Frankenstein, Grifter, and Suicide Squad. But the book I'm most excited about is Batwoman, by JH Williams.
If last week was any indication, you might want to get to your store a little earlier today as many of last week's titles sold out before lunch.
DC took a big, bold step, and so far at least, it's paying off.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Wave of the Future
For some collectors, it's a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie card. For others, it's the T-206 Honus Wagner. Maybe for you it's the oft-counterfeited but just as classic 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan. Or the infamous Billy Ripken card with the curse word on it.
All rare, valuable, and in the case of that last one, esoteric to say the least.
But you can have all of those, I say, because my tastes run a bit different when it comes to baseball cards and collecting. Or, more appropriately, they ran a bit different when it came to those things.
Let me explain.
Growing up for me was baseball, baseball, and more baseball. Especially by the time I was in middle school, somewhere around 10 or 11 years old, baseball had become my life and my love.
I played it as often as possible--both on organized teams in leagues and out in the backyard with friends--and I watched it on TV devoutly. Back then, you could only really expect to get the local teams, but that was fine with me.
I went with my cousin and my dad and my uncle to Yankees games a couple of times every summer at the Old Stadium. Down the third baseline, about a dozen rows back, a bag of peanuts in my hands, and we were kings.
My love of the game was just entering its prime years. My bedsheets had Yankees pinstripes, and my bedroom walls were adorned with posters and autographs of favorite players from both my dad's generation and my own.
I remember buying plaques at a local mall one hot summer day--one featured a Don Mattingly autograph, the other a Mickey Mantle. The plaques had photos of the players and were made of hand-carved wood and featured a mini bat and a baseball in a case.
To this day I have no idea if the autographs are real, but the elderly man who ran the booth--and made the plaques--in the center of the mall was very nice to me and my mom and we decided to trust him.
But we're getting off topic a bit here. Back to baseball cards, and Mike Piazza.
Despite the fact that Mike Piazza was a star player for another team--he was Rookie of the Year for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1993 and would go on to hit more home runs than any other catcher in history--he was my favorite player not named Don Mattingly.
This was strange for me.
I'd never rooted for a player who didn't wear Yankees pinstripes before, but a power hitting catcher (my position) who beat the odds and made it to the Big Leagues despite being drafted (by his uncle, Tommy Lasorda) as a favor? And he was Italian?
How could I not root for him?
And so Mike Piazza became my second favorite player, behind the one and only Yankees first baseman and captain, Don Mattingly.
By this point, I had plenty of Mattingly collectibles--action figures (remember Starting Lineups??), cards, even the above mentioned autograph. I needed to shift my collecting attention to this Piazza guy.
Before I get into that, though, let's back up just a moment.
Now don't get me wrong. I wouldn't say no if you handed me any of those cards that I mentioned way up above in this post, but my Greatest Collecting Challenge didn't revolve around the most famous, or the most rare, or the most expensive card out there.
For me, it was and, I suppose, it's always been, the 1993 Flair Wave of the Future Mike Piazza.
Sure, it may not have the simple elegance of the Mantle card, or the historic significance of the Wagner or Jordan, but to me, for an entire summer at least, getting my hands on that weirdly designed blue card was all that mattered.
Flair was a relatively new product in the exploding world of baseball cards--the 90s saw the number of companies and series grow exponentially from the previous decade. Baseball cards were big, big business, and card shops (and comics shops) dotted the landscape of most towns in America.
Baseball cards, especially, were just at the beginning of a boom.
"Insert" cards--rare, limited number single cards randomly inserted in packs at sometimes incredibly tough odds (like, say, 1 in every 500 packs)--were the biggest craze, and opening packs of cards was, quite literally, a treasure hunt.
Flair's product was new and shiny, and their regular cards were high-end, glossy, and quite nice to look at. Pack prices were higher than a normal set, such as the baseline Topps set, and collectors really dug the new brand.
The big insert in that set was the Wave of the Future line, featuring young players (mostly rookies) who looked to make an impact in the Big Leagues.
When I found out that Piazza was in the set, I knew I had to have it. And so the chase began. I'd go with my dad to card shop after card shop--and back then, there were four just in my hometown--searching for that Piazza.
There was the easy way to do this, and then there was the hard way.
Most stores back then (and now, actually) opened packs of cards and if they were lucky enough to get something good, they'd sell it for a premium in one of several fancy display cases. If a store owner pulled a Piazza Wave card, that would assuredly be in his or her case.
Of course, that was just not meant to be.
Store after store had Wave cards, but never the Piazza. So before leaving each place, I'd buy a pack (or three) of Flair cards, hoping to pull that beautiful blue card.
I must have bought a hundred packs that summer. I was able to nearly complete the entire regular set, I had amassed an impressive number of inserts, and I swear I had every Wave card except for the Piazza.
I could always tell if the pack had a Wave in it, too.
The unmistakable blue and white poked out of the pack, like a beacon calling me home. When the pack had a Wave, I'd be sure to save it for last and unveil it after I'd rifled through the rest of the pack.
You know, for the drama.
Of course, each of these little displays of wishful thinking ended in disappointment, as I never managed to pull a single Piazza Wave card from a pack.
This went on all summer. Seriously. Four months of this. My poor parents; I'd drag them to card stores and make any excuse in the world to just pass by a shop, pop in, and grab a pack.
My dad got pretty into it, though, I have to say.
On the ride home, he'd always keep an eye on me as I carefully ripped the wrapper and dove into the pack. At one point, he even bought me a box of Flair--probably two dozen packs--which was not cheap.
Still no Piazza.
As summer winded down (as summers tend to do), my own baseball season was coming to a quick close. One night after a game, my dad was driving a couple of my teammates home and we all got to talking.
It's funny. During the entire season--that whole spring and summer--I'd never mentioned my (insane) Piazza chase to anyone. And then, for whatever reason, our center fielder mentioned that he collects cards and that he had a few Piazzas he thought I'd want to take a look at and possibly trade him for.
I said sure, and half-heartedly asked if one of those Piazzas happened to be a Wave of the Future. I knew the answer already, so I just stared out the window as he said, "Yeah, I've got one of those. You want it?"
My dad hit the brakes.
Not fully, not dangerously, mind you, but he instinctively hit the brakes when my buddy said this. We were both shocked. Dumbfounded. Gobstopped. One more appropriate synonym.
I don't even remember what card it was that I traded the Piazza for. It didn't matter. It could have been a 1952 Mantle, or an '86 Jordan, or my kidney.
When we made the trade the next day at the ballpark and I held that Wave card in my hand, it was the culmination of a 4-month quest. And, when you're 10 years old, 4 months is a long, long time.
But as my favorite stories always do, this one ended well and I had my card.
All rare, valuable, and in the case of that last one, esoteric to say the least.
But you can have all of those, I say, because my tastes run a bit different when it comes to baseball cards and collecting. Or, more appropriately, they ran a bit different when it came to those things.
Let me explain.
Growing up for me was baseball, baseball, and more baseball. Especially by the time I was in middle school, somewhere around 10 or 11 years old, baseball had become my life and my love.
I played it as often as possible--both on organized teams in leagues and out in the backyard with friends--and I watched it on TV devoutly. Back then, you could only really expect to get the local teams, but that was fine with me.
I went with my cousin and my dad and my uncle to Yankees games a couple of times every summer at the Old Stadium. Down the third baseline, about a dozen rows back, a bag of peanuts in my hands, and we were kings.
My love of the game was just entering its prime years. My bedsheets had Yankees pinstripes, and my bedroom walls were adorned with posters and autographs of favorite players from both my dad's generation and my own.
I remember buying plaques at a local mall one hot summer day--one featured a Don Mattingly autograph, the other a Mickey Mantle. The plaques had photos of the players and were made of hand-carved wood and featured a mini bat and a baseball in a case.
To this day I have no idea if the autographs are real, but the elderly man who ran the booth--and made the plaques--in the center of the mall was very nice to me and my mom and we decided to trust him.
But we're getting off topic a bit here. Back to baseball cards, and Mike Piazza.
Despite the fact that Mike Piazza was a star player for another team--he was Rookie of the Year for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1993 and would go on to hit more home runs than any other catcher in history--he was my favorite player not named Don Mattingly.
This was strange for me.
I'd never rooted for a player who didn't wear Yankees pinstripes before, but a power hitting catcher (my position) who beat the odds and made it to the Big Leagues despite being drafted (by his uncle, Tommy Lasorda) as a favor? And he was Italian?
How could I not root for him?
And so Mike Piazza became my second favorite player, behind the one and only Yankees first baseman and captain, Don Mattingly.
By this point, I had plenty of Mattingly collectibles--action figures (remember Starting Lineups??), cards, even the above mentioned autograph. I needed to shift my collecting attention to this Piazza guy.
Before I get into that, though, let's back up just a moment.
Now don't get me wrong. I wouldn't say no if you handed me any of those cards that I mentioned way up above in this post, but my Greatest Collecting Challenge didn't revolve around the most famous, or the most rare, or the most expensive card out there.
For me, it was and, I suppose, it's always been, the 1993 Flair Wave of the Future Mike Piazza.
Sure, it may not have the simple elegance of the Mantle card, or the historic significance of the Wagner or Jordan, but to me, for an entire summer at least, getting my hands on that weirdly designed blue card was all that mattered.Flair was a relatively new product in the exploding world of baseball cards--the 90s saw the number of companies and series grow exponentially from the previous decade. Baseball cards were big, big business, and card shops (and comics shops) dotted the landscape of most towns in America.
Baseball cards, especially, were just at the beginning of a boom.
"Insert" cards--rare, limited number single cards randomly inserted in packs at sometimes incredibly tough odds (like, say, 1 in every 500 packs)--were the biggest craze, and opening packs of cards was, quite literally, a treasure hunt.
Flair's product was new and shiny, and their regular cards were high-end, glossy, and quite nice to look at. Pack prices were higher than a normal set, such as the baseline Topps set, and collectors really dug the new brand.
The big insert in that set was the Wave of the Future line, featuring young players (mostly rookies) who looked to make an impact in the Big Leagues.
When I found out that Piazza was in the set, I knew I had to have it. And so the chase began. I'd go with my dad to card shop after card shop--and back then, there were four just in my hometown--searching for that Piazza.
There was the easy way to do this, and then there was the hard way.
Most stores back then (and now, actually) opened packs of cards and if they were lucky enough to get something good, they'd sell it for a premium in one of several fancy display cases. If a store owner pulled a Piazza Wave card, that would assuredly be in his or her case.
Of course, that was just not meant to be.
Store after store had Wave cards, but never the Piazza. So before leaving each place, I'd buy a pack (or three) of Flair cards, hoping to pull that beautiful blue card.
I must have bought a hundred packs that summer. I was able to nearly complete the entire regular set, I had amassed an impressive number of inserts, and I swear I had every Wave card except for the Piazza.
I could always tell if the pack had a Wave in it, too.
The unmistakable blue and white poked out of the pack, like a beacon calling me home. When the pack had a Wave, I'd be sure to save it for last and unveil it after I'd rifled through the rest of the pack.
You know, for the drama.
Of course, each of these little displays of wishful thinking ended in disappointment, as I never managed to pull a single Piazza Wave card from a pack.
This went on all summer. Seriously. Four months of this. My poor parents; I'd drag them to card stores and make any excuse in the world to just pass by a shop, pop in, and grab a pack.
My dad got pretty into it, though, I have to say.
On the ride home, he'd always keep an eye on me as I carefully ripped the wrapper and dove into the pack. At one point, he even bought me a box of Flair--probably two dozen packs--which was not cheap.
Still no Piazza.
As summer winded down (as summers tend to do), my own baseball season was coming to a quick close. One night after a game, my dad was driving a couple of my teammates home and we all got to talking.
It's funny. During the entire season--that whole spring and summer--I'd never mentioned my (insane) Piazza chase to anyone. And then, for whatever reason, our center fielder mentioned that he collects cards and that he had a few Piazzas he thought I'd want to take a look at and possibly trade him for.
I said sure, and half-heartedly asked if one of those Piazzas happened to be a Wave of the Future. I knew the answer already, so I just stared out the window as he said, "Yeah, I've got one of those. You want it?"
My dad hit the brakes.
Not fully, not dangerously, mind you, but he instinctively hit the brakes when my buddy said this. We were both shocked. Dumbfounded. Gobstopped. One more appropriate synonym.
I don't even remember what card it was that I traded the Piazza for. It didn't matter. It could have been a 1952 Mantle, or an '86 Jordan, or my kidney.
When we made the trade the next day at the ballpark and I held that Wave card in my hand, it was the culmination of a 4-month quest. And, when you're 10 years old, 4 months is a long, long time.
But as my favorite stories always do, this one ended well and I had my card.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Steve Geppi, Diamond, and Bad Art Deals
As a collector of things like comics and original comics art, I try to stay in tune with what's happening on that side of the industry, even if a lot of the news doesn't have even the slightest effect on me or my personal collecting habits.
Like, say, when a milestone issue of a comic book sells for over a million dollars. Or when a previously hidden original art page emerges from a personal collection, hits the market, and breaks all kinds of price records.
Still, those things are fun to read about and I find them thoroughly entertaining.
On that note, enter Steve Geppi, one of the most powerful people in all of comics. As owner of Diamond, Mr. Geppi is clearly a major player in the world of comics, as that particular distributor is the distributor to comics shops and bookstores.
Love it or hate it, Diamond--to a certain extent--controls what gets out there to consumers.
As owner of the (excellent) Geppi's Entertainment Museum in Baltimore, Mr. Geppi has probably the most famous pop culture collection in America.
Like I said, very prominent, and very out there to the public.
So when something like this happens, well, it's pretty big news in the comics collecting world.
Geppi is in some trouble for backing out on a deal to purchase a whole lot of Archie Comics art drawn by Bob Montana--an artist known for not selling his work. Geppi seems to have gone about the acquisition the right way, using a third party expert to determine values on each and every page in a massive collection of original art.
However, when it came time for Geppi's company to sell the pages, they found out that the valuations were way, way off from what collectors were willing to pay. In some instances, by thousands of dollars.
When you've purchased over a millions bucks worth of art, that kind of return is killer.
What I don't get about the whole thing, though, is the third party expert's prices. If you know anything about original art, you know that you just simply cannot put a price on a page. Simply, pages are worth what someone is willing to pay, and more often than not prices are negotiable, even though the biggest art dealers.
And then there's the other factor in all this. Bob Montana art used to command some high prices. Why? Because his estate kept almost every page he ever worked on, thus making the few pages available for sale highly desirable amongst collectors.
Supply and demand, you see.
Anyway, once it became glaringly obvious that this was a Bad Deal, things went south quickly. You can read all about it on the Oh Danny Boy blog--here, here, and here.
Aside from the art sale itself, the most interesting--and the most disconcerting--part of the story is Geppi's alleged worth decrease. The man who is responsible for getting us our comics every week has been taking a financial beating over the past couple of years.
Check out the excellent reporting on Oh Danny Boy's blog, and feel free to chime in down below in the comments section here.
Like, say, when a milestone issue of a comic book sells for over a million dollars. Or when a previously hidden original art page emerges from a personal collection, hits the market, and breaks all kinds of price records.
Still, those things are fun to read about and I find them thoroughly entertaining.
On that note, enter Steve Geppi, one of the most powerful people in all of comics. As owner of Diamond, Mr. Geppi is clearly a major player in the world of comics, as that particular distributor is the distributor to comics shops and bookstores.
Love it or hate it, Diamond--to a certain extent--controls what gets out there to consumers.
As owner of the (excellent) Geppi's Entertainment Museum in Baltimore, Mr. Geppi has probably the most famous pop culture collection in America.
Like I said, very prominent, and very out there to the public.
So when something like this happens, well, it's pretty big news in the comics collecting world.
Geppi is in some trouble for backing out on a deal to purchase a whole lot of Archie Comics art drawn by Bob Montana--an artist known for not selling his work. Geppi seems to have gone about the acquisition the right way, using a third party expert to determine values on each and every page in a massive collection of original art.
However, when it came time for Geppi's company to sell the pages, they found out that the valuations were way, way off from what collectors were willing to pay. In some instances, by thousands of dollars.
When you've purchased over a millions bucks worth of art, that kind of return is killer.
What I don't get about the whole thing, though, is the third party expert's prices. If you know anything about original art, you know that you just simply cannot put a price on a page. Simply, pages are worth what someone is willing to pay, and more often than not prices are negotiable, even though the biggest art dealers.
And then there's the other factor in all this. Bob Montana art used to command some high prices. Why? Because his estate kept almost every page he ever worked on, thus making the few pages available for sale highly desirable amongst collectors.
Supply and demand, you see.
Anyway, once it became glaringly obvious that this was a Bad Deal, things went south quickly. You can read all about it on the Oh Danny Boy blog--here, here, and here.
Aside from the art sale itself, the most interesting--and the most disconcerting--part of the story is Geppi's alleged worth decrease. The man who is responsible for getting us our comics every week has been taking a financial beating over the past couple of years.
Check out the excellent reporting on Oh Danny Boy's blog, and feel free to chime in down below in the comments section here.
Friday, August 5, 2011
My Daily Obsession
I think we've mentioned in the past that before Nathaniel came up with the current (and awesome, thank you) name for this blog (well, "blog" doesn't really reflect the sheer incredibleness of this site, but I'll go with it), we were all set to use another name.
It was going to be called "My Latest Obsession," but there was another blog with either that exact name, or something quite similar, already in existence.
So we scrapped MLO and instead went with EyH, and the rest, as they say, no one cares about. I'm happy we did, though, because I can't decide if MLO sounds more like a skin disease or the name of a Canadian rock band.
Either way, the thought process behind My Latest Obsession pretty much boiled down to my short attention span with things I fall in love with.
Week to week, I have a new favorite book, or comic, or artist, or TV show, or movie. It's just how I am, and I've always been this way. Sometimes old obsessions come back around--now, for example, I'm on a pretty healthy Indiana Jones kick--and sometimes things that I obsessed about a couple of years ago don't even register on my meter.
I'm fickle, mostly, and like I said, I have a short attention span.
But one thing that I'm just realizing has never not been an obsession since I first was exposed to it (don't worry, that sentence makes sense in my head) is the original art website, Comic Art Fans.
I spend more time on that site, by far, than I do in any other corner of the Internet.
I actually keep the site open in a tab on my browser, and I refresh it constantly. Among original art fans, CAF (as it's affectionately known) is the place to be online.
Collectors post their latest acquisitions, sellers post their latest available pieces, artists communicate directly with their fans, and everyone talks comic art. I've actually gotten to know a few fellow collectors through the site, and I'm on a first-name basis with a number of artists, which is pretty cool.
So I wanted to mention it again here, just to give the site a plug. The guys who run CAF do a wonderful job, and they should be commended for their efforts. They've created a great community, and I encourage you all to check it out.
Watch out, though, the art bug is infectious.
It was going to be called "My Latest Obsession," but there was another blog with either that exact name, or something quite similar, already in existence.
So we scrapped MLO and instead went with EyH, and the rest, as they say, no one cares about. I'm happy we did, though, because I can't decide if MLO sounds more like a skin disease or the name of a Canadian rock band.
Either way, the thought process behind My Latest Obsession pretty much boiled down to my short attention span with things I fall in love with.
Week to week, I have a new favorite book, or comic, or artist, or TV show, or movie. It's just how I am, and I've always been this way. Sometimes old obsessions come back around--now, for example, I'm on a pretty healthy Indiana Jones kick--and sometimes things that I obsessed about a couple of years ago don't even register on my meter.
I'm fickle, mostly, and like I said, I have a short attention span.
But one thing that I'm just realizing has never not been an obsession since I first was exposed to it (don't worry, that sentence makes sense in my head) is the original art website, Comic Art Fans.
I spend more time on that site, by far, than I do in any other corner of the Internet.
I actually keep the site open in a tab on my browser, and I refresh it constantly. Among original art fans, CAF (as it's affectionately known) is the place to be online.
Collectors post their latest acquisitions, sellers post their latest available pieces, artists communicate directly with their fans, and everyone talks comic art. I've actually gotten to know a few fellow collectors through the site, and I'm on a first-name basis with a number of artists, which is pretty cool.So I wanted to mention it again here, just to give the site a plug. The guys who run CAF do a wonderful job, and they should be commended for their efforts. They've created a great community, and I encourage you all to check it out.
Watch out, though, the art bug is infectious.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
The Amateur's Guide to Displaying Collectibles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle action figures. Hand-painted Warhammer figurines. A painstakingly assembled model Aston Martin. Kitschy convention knickknacks like a Chrono Trigger keychain and chibi Hellsing stickers. There's no end to tangible displays of geekery--but there's a distinct premium on display space.
Unless you have a dedicated He-Man showroom, showing off your geek swag may require a little bit of creativity. There's a fine line between displaying collectibles and putting collectibles wherever there's a bare surface, so allow me to discuss a few options for displaying your belongings in a manner that is both aesthetically appealing and a practical use of space.
Perhaps the most obvious place to start is with any surface that never, ever gets used in any way. If you've got a setup like I do, there should be plenty of space on top of/just in front of major electronics such as a television, a computer, or a computer monitor. Even the floor can be used for display purposes, provided that a newly placed object won't hamper your movement, be eaten by the dog, or mysteriously disappear after you carelessly vacuum the carpet.
Even places that see regular use can become display areas for your collectibles. People don't necessarily use 100% of their coffee table and kitchen table space. Chances are good that there's a ledge or corner in your bathroom or kitchen that could use a dorky touch. Bookshelves that aren't crammed to the edge provide ample space for objects that are easy to see past/move out of the way when you go for a book.
As a rule, I like to keep anything I might spontaneously play around with in an easily accessible location. If you don't mind your guests playing around with your collectibles, a PEZ dispenser next to the lamp or an oversized Transformer that permanently occupies a seat on the couch can provide entertainment when you're entertaining and spark discussion.
Naturally, fragile and irreplaceable items should be solidly placed out of reach and away from the blast radius of a dropped bowl of soup or the reach of Mother Nature--a good blast of wind or a spatter of rain through an open door or window can easily ruin your day, and your priceless origami Predator.
Along those same lines, anything that's particularly small or easy to knock over should be kept in a place where you can quickly retrieve it if it gets pushed around, and where it won't break or knock over something else if it falls. Seems like obvious advice to me, but sometimes you don't think about these things until your prized plastic dinosaur is face-down in the garbage can next to your desk.
If circumstances permit, consider putting the walls and ceiling to work. Wires and string can be draped over a hook and tied around a Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man that can hover in your kitchen. Plastic army men can dangle from a nail just as well as any calendar. Especially if you throw a few glow-in-the-dark stars up there with them, adhesive putties are great for fastening tiny Star Wars ships from the ceiling, as long as the Millennium Falcon doesn't drop out of orbit and onto your head.
If you've got an item you're less-than-proud to own, or any kind of object that you can't bear to toss but don't want to have in plain view at all times, there's no shame in putting something "on display" inside your closet or desk drawer, provided there's enough space to make it look like it's on display and not in time-out. Surprise your visiting relatives with a scandalous Onegai Teacher statuette next to the box of Froot Loops in your pantry. Guard the bottles of shampoo in your upstairs closet with that Bill Gates snowglobe. The possibilities are endless!
Unless you have a dedicated He-Man showroom, showing off your geek swag may require a little bit of creativity. There's a fine line between displaying collectibles and putting collectibles wherever there's a bare surface, so allow me to discuss a few options for displaying your belongings in a manner that is both aesthetically appealing and a practical use of space.
Perhaps the most obvious place to start is with any surface that never, ever gets used in any way. If you've got a setup like I do, there should be plenty of space on top of/just in front of major electronics such as a television, a computer, or a computer monitor. Even the floor can be used for display purposes, provided that a newly placed object won't hamper your movement, be eaten by the dog, or mysteriously disappear after you carelessly vacuum the carpet.
Even places that see regular use can become display areas for your collectibles. People don't necessarily use 100% of their coffee table and kitchen table space. Chances are good that there's a ledge or corner in your bathroom or kitchen that could use a dorky touch. Bookshelves that aren't crammed to the edge provide ample space for objects that are easy to see past/move out of the way when you go for a book.
As a rule, I like to keep anything I might spontaneously play around with in an easily accessible location. If you don't mind your guests playing around with your collectibles, a PEZ dispenser next to the lamp or an oversized Transformer that permanently occupies a seat on the couch can provide entertainment when you're entertaining and spark discussion.
Naturally, fragile and irreplaceable items should be solidly placed out of reach and away from the blast radius of a dropped bowl of soup or the reach of Mother Nature--a good blast of wind or a spatter of rain through an open door or window can easily ruin your day, and your priceless origami Predator.
Along those same lines, anything that's particularly small or easy to knock over should be kept in a place where you can quickly retrieve it if it gets pushed around, and where it won't break or knock over something else if it falls. Seems like obvious advice to me, but sometimes you don't think about these things until your prized plastic dinosaur is face-down in the garbage can next to your desk.
If circumstances permit, consider putting the walls and ceiling to work. Wires and string can be draped over a hook and tied around a Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man that can hover in your kitchen. Plastic army men can dangle from a nail just as well as any calendar. Especially if you throw a few glow-in-the-dark stars up there with them, adhesive putties are great for fastening tiny Star Wars ships from the ceiling, as long as the Millennium Falcon doesn't drop out of orbit and onto your head.
If you've got an item you're less-than-proud to own, or any kind of object that you can't bear to toss but don't want to have in plain view at all times, there's no shame in putting something "on display" inside your closet or desk drawer, provided there's enough space to make it look like it's on display and not in time-out. Surprise your visiting relatives with a scandalous Onegai Teacher statuette next to the box of Froot Loops in your pantry. Guard the bottles of shampoo in your upstairs closet with that Bill Gates snowglobe. The possibilities are endless!
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Exfanding Radar: Wizard World Digital
Well, after yesterday's full out attack on Eddie Murphy, I figured today I'd bring the positive with a post about the all-new, (kind of) different Wizard Magazine.Or, y'know, whatever the heck it is you call a magazine that's all digital and only offered online.
Wizard has relaunched, officially, and they've been delivering shortened versions of their magazine each week, at their site.
The downloads are absolutely free, and all you need to do to access the content is give an email address and your Zip code.
You can then download the mag in either a PDF that can be read on any computer, or you can download their iPad app (again, for free) and read Wizard that way.
I wish they'd make an app for the iPhone, as I can't access the content from my phone. So I've been reading it, week to week, on my desktop. Which is fine, but because these are typically 25 pages in length, they make perfect reading for sitting in a waiting room or just checking out during lunch.
Content-wise, I think the new material they're delivering is some of their best ever, and because they can post new content every week (as opposed to monthly), the topics covered are relevant and fresh, whereas the print magazine was out of date the moment it hit stands.
We get articles on the latest films, interviews with creators, and much to my delight, quite a bit of coverage of smaller press titles--something that the print version overlooked all too often in favor of catering to (mostly) Marvel.
The other thing that annoyed me about the print version was its propensity towards covering seemingly everything but comics. They had an identity crisis when sites like Newsarama and CBR were beating them at the comics reporting game, and all of a sudden, Wizard wanted to be more like People or US Weekly.
Thankfully, that seems to be in the past, as this new incarnation of Wizard is much more comics-centric.
They've also figured out how to deliver a solid price guide in an age where eBay and auction sales change a book's value literally overnight. Instead of listing everything that's out there, Wizard (E)publishes small, dedicated chunks each week.
So, for example, one week the guide focused on Bronze Age books, and another week it focused on books with appearances by Green Lantern. A good idea, and it makes it fun to see what will be covered each week.
Plus, the potty humor, though still there, occasionally, seems to have died down. Check out the link above to give the new magazine a try. It's certainly worth taking a look, and I'm willing to bet that some of you, like me, will be reading weekly.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
The Original Art Bug
I've talked about my habit of buying (way too much) original comics art in the past, and how I prefer collecting original art to collecting, say, back issues.Collecting original art is rewarding for several reasons, not the least of which being the connection I get to make with the comic(s) that I love. Knowing that there's quite literally only one of each page I buy is pretty cool.
What's more, there's also a connection to the artists whose work I'm purchasing.
In the case of the more independent artists, especially--whom I tend to gravitate towards--they typically sell their own work, either through a website or just at conventions.
And that's a pretty cool thing to be able to exchange emails with people you admire, and really, is there another fandom outside of comics that allows for that?There are also plenty of art dealers out there, and at this point, I've worked with pretty much all of them. The vast majority of dealers and, maybe surprisingly to those not in the know, fellow collectors, in the original art marketplace are incredibly friendly.
Just head over to Comic Art Fans--the place for collectors and dealers to show off their stuff--and check out some of the comments left by collectors to other collectors about the art they've purchased or commissioned.For the most part, collectors are supportive of each other and, sure, there's some friendly jealousy, but there's never that negative vibe that permeates so many fandoms. Comics fandom, in particular. Somehow, that's managed to stay out of the original art community.
And that's really what Comic Art Fans, or CAF, provides--a community for fans of original art.A warning, though.
CAF is the main reason why my little side hobby of buying pages and sketches became more of a...um...not side hobby. I check the site on an hourly basis, and it's where I find leads to new art, and it's where I buy quite a bit of art.
So if you have no interest in possibly being sucked in to an expensive, addictive hobby (that's also incredibly fun and interesting), I'd stay away. If not, though. Check it out. And have fun. But don't say I didn't warn you.
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