Wizard World Philadelphia: How I love thee

It's Christmas morning 

I wonder what Dorothy would have done if she woke up knowing she was off to see the Wizard! Christmas Day never had the allure or promise of if I behaved then Santa Clause would reward me by climbing down the chimney and putting presents under a tree. We had no chimney. We had no tree.

I wake early, earlier than I have too. Sleep was restless as I tried to slumber but I had comic books on the brain. I went to bed late hoping I would wake up just as late, but suffice to say after three hours sleep and nine hours before the doors open I did what every other pet owner does and fed my cat. He doesn't understand what today actually means.

Normally everyday I grab the cleanest clothes I have and make sure I look presentable, today I acted unlike any other time with the exception of last years Wizard World and thought those alien words strung together of "What should I wear?", which kind of scares me because if I feel this way today, how am I going to feel tomorrow when I meet Stan Lee?...again! 

Wizard World from its inception in Philadelphia has been a three day event until last year when they added a fourth, an opening salvo if you will. I like this first day, but more like a get your feet wet sort of day, its Friday and Saturday that the vastness of what Wizard World has put together sets in. When Sunday arrives I realize how much money I spent and then on Monday I find out I could have spent more. 

As a younger man I disliked spending money at the door. Admission would take away from my comic book fund. As an older man I still do, but I understand. Wizard World charges patrons to get in the door, they charge companies and budding artists a fee to set up tables to either sell their wares or bring attention to their products. Deeply rooted in my mind is "For Zombies". But, what we get in return is a huge amount of things to do. With fifteen pages of panels there is an amazing selection.  Wizard World will continue to bring in money from ticket sales, but this event would not succeed without the throng of fans waiting for the doors to open today and each consecutive day.

With a bit over six hours to go I, for one, cannot wait. Finally, Wizard World Philadelphia is here. Check out #wizardworld , #wizardworldphilly and #WizardWorldPhiladelphia all weekend long.

Thanks for Reading 

Off to see (the) Wizard... World

In younger years this was said on days before we found out the Wizard of Oz would be playing this upcoming Saturday night. This news would be a small blurb in the free TV Week that was given with every Sunday Inquirer. I no longer pay attention to any TV Guide and off to see the Wizard means something slightly different. Wizard World has changed and morphed from a singular comic con to a pop cultural event. No longer is the Philadelphia Convention Center filled with only comic book collectors, but it is now filled with Wrestling fans, Trekkies, Star Wars aficionados, Whovians, Zombie lovers, Cosplayers, Speculators, Spectators, and Autograph hounds.

Wizard World has redefined the convention experience. Only a few years ago after a Texas based Wizard World was cancelled and postponed a Los Angeles show rumors were flying in Philly on the show floor that this year might have been the last year. That rumor was squashed at day’s end when they released the dates of the next year’s show. I started to attend in 2007 and in the past years the convention that was is different than the convention that is. Wizard world has created an event for everyone. They created V.I.P. tickets for the greatest names, or the most beloved. Photo companies swooped in to take pictures of you and your favorite Icon and Meet and Greets were created for a small amount of time with your favorites in separate rooms away from the throngs of fans.

The Wizard World clock is counting and I check out Wizard World everyday to see who is attending, I even cross reference other shows and wish that Alan Davis was also included on the Philadelphia itinerary as he is in Chicago. There are so many movie and TV stars, comic book contributors, and wrestling legends that I have peruse the list multiple times to make sure I didn’t miss anyone. The panel list is currently about fifteen pages long and even after cutting out anything I don’t want to see or partake in, I am still at five pages. Wizard World has even acquired Con Bro Chill to play at the Trocadero, free for V.I.P. pass holders, on Thursday night at 8PM, the first day at the show.

There are two jobs I have, the job I work and the job I love. Writing is what I love and I hope over the next few weeks you will pay attention to me either here on A Shot of Comics, or throughCircuit 42, and check out the pictures that will be posted through Instagram and twitter with the #WizardWorld or #WizardWorldPhilly. Tickets are still available and if one day is all you can spend, I recommend Saturday for anyone looking to see people dress up and Sunday for anyone looking for deals on Comic Books, and as much as I believe every line will seem equally as long…if I were a betting man, I would put my money on Stan Lee as the winner.

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Wizard World Philadelphia: The Countdown Continues

There are fourteen days left to wait before Wizard WorldPhiladelphia can begin. In 2011 this was only a three day event and expanded to four in 2012. The extra day was such a success that once again this year they will be ready for a slew of attendees over this four day period and will open their doors at 3pm, if you have a V.I.P. pass then you get in one half hour earlier. At the moment there are still tickets available. Since of course this is my home town convention, it is easier to get to than others. Although I have heard good things about the Louisiana show, I wish one day to make it to the one in Chicago.

(Billy Dee showed up in 2011)

Not including Philadelphia they have five more shows this year before they begin the convention circuit off again with Portland in January of 2014. Somehow Wizard turned from a small magazine talking about comic books to one of the largest shows of the year. In years past a V.I.P. ticket was maybe for one popular start or another but with so many Wizard catered to the masses. Firefly, Walking Dead, Charmed, and the WWE Triple V.I.P experience which has sold out. Smaller V.I.P. packages include Summer Glau, John Barrowman, and my favorite, Stan Lee.

They have tickets for individual days and a three day pass. All the while a lot of walking will ensure, and lines, let’s face it will grow. One day is not enough for an event this big and I recommend a few necessities. Bottled water is a must. Even the most anti social of people will love to talk about whoever they came to see. And whether you are in line to see William Shatner and can recite line per line of every Star Trek show there was, and maybe a few TJ. Hooker episodes too, a mouth can dry out rather hastily. Comfortable shoes are a next must have. Don't buy shoes the day before the event and feel that you will be fine, you won’t. And the third thing, other than fire safety and knowing your exits, with all the bottled water that you will be drinking…make sure to know where the bathrooms are. And of course the ATM’s too.

Hope to see you there.

Thanks for Reading

The Avengers: A Roundabout Review

NOTE: I’m not dedicating myself to write about any one “Avengers” title, but different titles with Avengers in them. There are mini spoilers ahead. Be wary. 

Who would have thought that there are no less than nine Avengers titles; not including individual character titles. I'm passing on many of them, but have decided to give three of the Avenger titles a decent chance. I chose the Avengers because of Sunspot and Cannonball. I chose the New Avengers because of the Illuminati and then picked Uncanny Avengers because it would be interesting to see the two teams merge and cooperate.

Both Avengers and New Avengers I thought were anti climatic. After only three issues the initial story line had ended, and poorly. I feel like a child struggling to open a package to a chocolate bar only to bite into it and its nougat instead. Uncanny Avengers is at least better in that regard, because at the end of issue three Rick Remender tells me one of my favorite phrases... To Be Continued.

I haven't tried any of the other group titles but I gave Captain America a chance which ended after issue two, Iron Man however, I gave the first story arc too, and after a good solid five issues I decided to drop the book. This decision changed when I was at Fat Jack's Comic Crypt in center city Philadelphia. Entitled the God Killer, Greg Land's enticing artwork on issue #6 made it easier to overturn my previous inclination to stop collecting the title. Issue six was good enough to pull me in for the next two issues when this story ends. And Indestructible Hulk has me salivating over the next release.

The Marvel Universe is my favorite playground to read, but I wonder did the issue #1's bring in enough new readers without any confusion? In Captain America, Steve Rogers is in some distant dimension, in the New Avengers, he just had his mind wiped by his fellow team members, in Uncanny Avengers he is following the leadership of Alex Summers and in Avengers he's leading his biggest Avenger team yet through gigantic space opera's... So tell me how did these four issue #1's make things less confusing? I also think this is the first time Captain America is in more books that Wolverine. I for one have no idea what is first, last, or coinciding. 

I wonder where in the Mighty Marvel Bullpen there is a map on the wall where everyone is. Each Marvel now title seems to be a force into itself and shows no solidarity as a group but an individuality of characters.

/kI recently reread/read Avengers Vol. #1 issues 273-277. I recently did the same thing with the original Superior Spider-Man, but this is about the Avengers. Under Baron Zemo's leader ship, the Wrecking Crew, Goliath, Mr. Hyde, and many others take down the Avengers, brutally. Hercules was beat into a coma, the Black Knight was knocked into unconsciousness, and the bravest Avenger of them all was tortured beyond anything Jarvis has ever been through. This five issue story arc spread out through other titles as well even going back as far as Avengers #14, you know from 1965.

In the eighties when I first started to collect Marvel comics they had these great story notations. If something in the story pertained to something else an (*) would guide you somewhere, not to mention (and yet I am) a few flashback panels to bring a reader up to speed.  In the Masters of Evil five issue story line these symbols appeared eighteen Different times and some of them for different titles; one was even to tell me it was being translated from French. I was never confused and I always had a link to the history if the character or the way the story developed. It also helped comic book shops by making the collector ravish the back issue bins.

I'm not disappointed enough to stop collecting but I really wish the companies would pay attention to what worked and use that, besides if it doesn't work they can always start over...again...for the first time.

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Passing on Books

I was recently at a small convention called Philadelphia Comic–Con. There were two CGC graded comic books I was interested in. The first one I saw was a copy of Eternals #1 Sketch Variant in a Gem Mint. They wanted a $100. The second book (at another booth) was a copy of ASM #119 that was graded a 9.2 which made me lose hope that my ungraded copy of ASM #127 would ever attain such a grade. In fact, my book looked awful in comparison.

I brought my ASM #127 to drop off to Keegan from Comic to Astonish, who I originally met at a previous Philadelphia Comic-Con. I met him some two years ago and have purchased comic books from him ever since. I also purchase from an acquaintance of his (I met them separately, old cliché…small world) and asked if they could bring them to the show. I have had multiple problems with the USPS and this seems to be a satisfactory way for me to get my books. This month, the five I was due to get, never made it due to an unforeseen issue.  

I went to the show anyway so I could drop off a check and a comic book to Comics to Astonish. The check was for two previous signature and grading fees. CGC still has these. This time I wanted John Romita’s signature. The first book I had in mind was my CGC 9.4 SS copy of ASM #129. The problem is once the book was un-slabbed for the process there would be no guarantee that it was Stan Lee who originally signed it, the #127 I have was my next best choice, condition wise anyway. The #86 would have been lucky to get an 8.

That ASM #119 had a $160 price tag to it and I was thinking I would buy that and send that along in addition to the raw #127 I just handed over. I wanted too, I really did but with the NYCC arriving next month I needed to hold off. I already purchased a ticked for Sunday and currently have ten books I want to bring with me to get them signed for the signature series. However, planning ahead I knew the one day would not be enough so I called and e-mailed CGC hoping I can send the books to them in Sarasota, FL. They said yes.

Seven of the books are already graded, six of those have a 9.8 grading. Three are raw. My Marvel Graphic Novel #4 is only a 9.4 but how great would it be to have both Bob Mcleod and Chris Claremont sign those.  Eight of them will be re-administered into my collection while two others I am hoping to be able to sell. The only reason I am even thinking about selling the others is because it would help me reclaim what I am selling. I don’t want to make a living (yet) out of buying comic books just pay off what I am spending.

I was thinking about sending my 9.8 copy of New Mutants #15 but the longer I started at it the more I wondered if it was a true 9.8 or a beautiful 9.6 so I decided to send in my original 4.5 copy instead, a book I hope to have signed by everyone involved. I still have books at CGC, which many of you reading this still do. One set if from the San Diego Comic Con and the other set from The Baltimore convention. Most Likely I will have this next set handed over to CGC before I even get the first set back and I realize if I keep collecting this way I might start to have more yellow Labels than blue ones but only if I keep passing on Books

Thanks for Reading

Tnerb

Running Late

I tend to be very punctual; actually I cannot even remember the last time I was late. In the past forty eight hours my sleep has been minimal. This morning instead of writing I opted to sleep for a few hours before helping my friend move some things. It became “a waste of time” as he puts it. I guess I was a bit more optimistic about it because I just chalked it up as time with my best friend. The situation changed and I came back home for a nap. I woke up, not to the phone ringing “The Devil came down to Georgia”, which is the tune I opted to choose when ring tones first came available but I woke from a dream that I was late for work and rushing to get there.

Although I wasn’t late for work I realized I didn’t get a phone call to come back over to his house to help him out. I went to my phone thinking that I slept through his call when I realized he didn’t call at all. He opted to let me sleep knowing my schedule….well sucks. I should be back in bed now, which I will do after I write this but I checked my e-mail and found out someone else was late. I don’t hold this against him, but tomorrow is a Philadelphia Comic-Con. It is a small one day event that lasts for about six hours. I had planned for someone to drop off some books to someone else who would be there. This is because of my distrust of the USPS.

   

I was looking forward to getting those on Sunday and even though I am upset that I have not, I am not worrying about it. They are mine and they aren’t lost so that is a positive. And I wonder, how do I stay so positive in spite of things going wrong? Is it because I work in a negatively charged environment, is it because I have a supportive father, friends, and cat? I do want these books and even though I cannot get them tomorrow I do want them soon, I guess I will have them shipped to my father’s and have the invoice sent to me at my house this way I don’t hear my Father; “How much did you pay?”

Thanks for reading.

It always seems that when I am hurt I try to do more. Waiting tables with a broken toe is no exception. I did this for a couple hours with horrendous results. If I succeeded I would finally be where I was hoping to be with paying off what I owe my Father. All in all I will at least be able to pay off half of it. I was hoping to get the whole lump sum completed so this way I could borrow yet more money to get some books graded, about fifty of them.

September 18^th is the next comic convention in Philadelphia. It is a small con which happens about ten times a year but I get to find some good deals. I will also buy some bags there so I can bag and board the books I plan to send into get graded. If I am lucky I will be able to sell off what I don’t want and keep the ones I do. The funds from this mini venture should pay off what I borrowed from my father and give me an amount to use for a second grouping of fifty. Not to mention being able to add to my Daredevil collection starting with issue #180.

I don’t want to make a living off this but I do want to be able to purchase larger ticketed items, like a Daredevil #168 in a 9.8, this book averages around $700. I won’t pay above five. But the other numbers surrounding that will cost an average of $100 a piece. I can’t afford that at $2.83 an hour no matter how many extra hours I work, of course I just have to make sure I have no more broken toes.

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Under Locke and Key

As much as CGC changed the way I collect comic books I wouldn't be collecting the way I am if they weren't good. A few months ago on FCBD I picked up a whole bunch of comics, both free and not. One of the books that I decided to try was Locke & Key. As with past FCBD’s the comic books were mostly reprints. This was true for Locke & Key but since I haven’t read it before I was enthralled. I was also skeptical…was it really that good. I read it again. It was a quick and easy read. When I read the original in its trade form I noticed the reprint was also edited (formatted to fit your screen). I read the comic book one more time when I realized I had to get this story.

I found book two in a Barnes and Noble and purchased the book deciding I would wait till I purchased book one. With Wizard World Philadelphia approaching the very next month I decided to wait to read it so I can purchase the trades at the show for a discounted price. Unfortunately the first and third trades were at full price (still a bargain at $24.99) when I bought them and I couldn't wait…. I already read book two. It was after I purchased the other trades that I decided I wanted to get this series in a CGC 9.8 “white pages” or better. I checked out eBay and found a Gem Mint ten. I bartered and bought the copy.

When I got the book in I was thrilled to have my second Gem Mint Book. I was going to check out the registry and add it right away when I saw the person who was in first. His set was amazing. I felt once again how I felt when I first saw Bagofleas in the lead of the New Mutants set, which was pretty much I’ll never be able to get a better set then this guy. I was ready to quit before I even started and didn’t even bother with adding the book. I have been checking out eBay and other sources and decided that it was worth collecting.

I started the New Mutants set not because I wanted to be first, but because I wanted them all. They were (and are) my favorite. So after some thought I decided to collect the Locke & Key books after all but I would on get them if they were a 9.8 SS or better. Something I started to do with the New Mutants. I hope to get no lower than a 9.9 but will settle for the 9.8’s. I knew if I was going to get a set of this series then it would be because I like the series not that I have to be the best. I added my set only recently and then saw the person that had the first place was gone.

I don’t know why he is gone but I wish him well. Many other people who are collecting Locke & Key have purchased books from him. The ones that I have noticed have even mentioned this thanking him. It will be a long time before my collection of this title goes anywhere since I will have to be patient. I have learned patience. I only need a handful more of the New Mutants so I feel comfortable in moving on. There are others I thought I would have enjoyed collecting and I might have before Locke & Key but now I feel like selling them off because if they are not something I want to collect, why should I?

Someone wrote how there are collectors who need to complete the whole series. ….. This is how I am for eighty percent of my CGC collection, okay maybe ninety. There are many DC comic books out there, yes DC that I want to get and have no desire o get anymore. I just want them because of the memories they bring. They are also a bit of money to just get and not have a set. I feel odd buying a book just for the one copy and then using it for points. I have to remind myself I am not using it for points. I am getting it because I like it, which of course is why I am starting with the series Locke & Key.

Thanks for reading

When it's Pouring Down Rain

I hated when it rained on the comic book release date, especially when I was younger. The comic shop of choice at that time was ComicCards. This store is no longer around. It is also the store I base all other stores off of. At the time I walked there, cutting through side streets and a portion of woods called Pennypack Park. These days I would ask my retailer to double bag the comic books just in case. I wish I was smart enough to purchase bags and boards. Maybe if they would have sold them individually like my LCS does today I would have had my comics in better condition.

I would walk home with the double bagged comic books under my shirt. During my walk I would silently curse the rain. This wasn’t because it was raining because I love this aspect of nature. No, this was because I couldn’t read them on the way home. There was a spot I would stop at every week and read at least one or two because I couldn’t wait to get home. I can still read them when I pick up my books from my current LCS because I take public transit to and fro the shop, with a minimum amount of walking.

Since I started going to Fat Jack’s Comiccrypt in Center City Philadelphia I have been fortunate because it hasn’t rained that much on release date Wednesday. Today is the weekend, or a portion of it. The type of day that I was stuck inside and all I wanted to do was go to the comic shop. Days like this I would reread many of my comic books as I would listen to the pitter patter of rain knocking on my window. I am glad that it doesn’t rain as much when I do pick the books up in the first place because I do go through the scenario of what if? What if they get wet? What if I crease them? What if it is so bad I actually have to wait an extra day?

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