Thursday, May 31, 2007

Ready for Action!

The past month has been quite memorable for fans of Steve Ditko’s work. First the Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus, and now Action Heroes Archives Volume Two, reprinting Ditko’s later Captain Atom stories for Charlton, as well as his memorable reboot of Blue Beetle and his seminal Question tales that serve as a precursor for Ditko’s post-superhero direction.

The Captain Atom stories featured in here are predominantly the tales that feature the revamped, repowered, recostumed Captain Atom; these stories lack the visual impact of the earlier Ditko tales collected in Action Hero Archives Volume One, but they have a bit more of the feel of Ditko’s late-period Spider-Man stories. Unfortunately, Rocco Mastroserio’s inks flatten Ditko’s pencils a great deal, taking away from the artist’s strengths.

The Blue Beetle stories show more of Ditko’s flair; not only are the stories closer in feel to Ditko’s Spider-Man work, but the distinctive two-toned blue costume rank right up there with Spidey’s togs as one of the five best costume designs in comic book history.

The most fascinating book here is Mysterious Suspense #1, featuring the first full-length Question tale. The opening pages, featuring an argument about art and aesthetics, indicate the direction of Ditko’s future works and the dichotomy that may have contributed to Ditko’s eventual departure from mainstream comics. And again, in the simplicity of a faceless man clad in a trenchcoat and fedora, Ditko created a quintessential hero for the real world.

The bonus items include rarely-seen stories from Charlton fanzines, including several by Ditko and one striking Question tale by Alex Toth. These stories are reproduced in black and white, since they were never offered in color; I wouldn’t have minded seeing DC add color to these tales in keeping with the look of the remainder of the book, but I can understand why, in their desire to keep the Archives true to the source material, they chose to go the black and white route instead.

Dick Giordano’s introduction, in which he offers an insider’s view of Charlton’s operation and explains why he preferred “action heroes” to superheroes, is a must-read. Charlton deserves an entire book, but this introduction at least offers some insight into the Little Comics Company That Tried Hard But Couldn’t.

Grade - A (for the package)/B+ (for the material itself)

Saturday, May 26, 2007

New Arrivals for 5/31/2007

Here's a list of what's coming in on Thursday, May 31st. (Yep, we said Thursday; since there's a Monday UPS/FedEx holiday, books delivery to all comic shops is delayed by 24 hours.) New releases are marked in bold and italics, while reorders and restocks are listed in plain type. Be sure to notice that this week's reorders include some of the comics on DVD-ROM titles that some of you have been asking about!

This week's big item--quite literally--is the long-awaited Mjolnir, The Hammer of Thor Replica. You don't have to worry about being worthy, but you'd better be in pretty good shape if you want to lift this hammer! Orders on this high-quality replica were allocated, and we've already presold a portion of our order, so those of you who want one need to act quickly!

100 BULLETS #83
40 YEARS OF CAPTAIN AMERICA DVD ROM
44 YEARS OF THE FANTASTIC FOUR DVD-ROM COLLECTION
52 VOL 1 TP
ABSOLUTELY MAD 53 YRS OF MAD MAGAZINE DVD ROM
ACTION COMICS #847
ACTION COMICS #850
ADVENTURES OF BARRY WEEN VOL 4 GORILLA WARFARE TP
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN OMNIBUS VOL 1 HC
AMAZONS ATTACK #2 (OF 6)
ANITA BLAKE VAMPIRE HUNTER GUILTY PLEASURES HANDBOOK
ASHLEY WOODS D AIRAIN AVENTURE #2
AVENGERS NEXT REBIRTH TP
AVENGERS YU POSTER
BARRY WINDSOR SMITH OPUS VOL 1
BARRY WINDSOR SMITH OPUS VOL 2
BASTARD SAMURAI VOL I TP
BATMAN DARK KNIGHT RETURNS TP
BATMAN DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN TP
BATMAN IN THE FIFTIES TP
BATMAN NO MANS LAND VOL 4 TP
BATMAN YEAR ONE DELUXE SC
BLACK COAT OR GIVE ME DEATH #1 (OF 4)
BLEACH VOL 19 TP BLUE BEETLE #15 BLUE LINE MANGA PROFESSIONAL B4 108LB COMIC BOOK ART BOARDS BLUE LINE PRO STRATHMORE 300 SMOOTH 12 CT PACK
BONE VOL 1 OUT FROM BONEVILLE COLOR ED SC
BOYS #7 BOYS VOL 1 TP BREATHE CVR A #2 (OF 4) CAIN SAGA VOL 4 PART 2 TP (MR)
CAPTAIN AMERICA & FALCON MADBOMB TP
CAPTAIN AMERICA & FALCON SWINE TP
CHUCKY 2 (OF 5)
CIVIL WAR CAPTAIN AMERICA TP
CIVIL WAR COMPANION TP
CIVIL WAR FRONT LINE BOOK 1 TP
CIVIL WAR X-MEN UNIVERSE TP
CLASSIC MARVEL FIGURINE COLL MAGAZINE #39 MYSTIQUE
COMIC SHOP NEWS #1041
CONAN HALL O/T DEAD & OTHER STORIES VOL 4 HC
COUNTDOWN 48
COUNTDOWN 49
COUNTDOWN POSTER
COURAGEOUS PRINCESS TP
COVER GIRL #2
CRIMSON HERO VOL 5 TP CROSSING MIDNIGHT #7 (MR)
DANGER GIRL BODY SHOTS #2 (OF 4)
DAREDEVIL #97 DARK XENA #2
DEADMAN #10 (MR) DEATHBLOW #5
DEMONWARS THE DEMON AWAKENS #2 (OF 3)
DEMONWARS THE DEMON AWAKENS #3 (OF 3)
DR WHO MAGAZINE #381 (C: 0-1-2)
DR WHO MAGAZINE #382 (C: 0-1-2) DRAGON JUNE 2007 #356 (C: 0-1-2) DRAWING FROM LIFE #1 (MR)
EC ARCHIVES SHOCK SUSPENSTORIES VOL 2 HC
EXALTED VOL 1 TP (RES)
EXILES VOL 11 TIME BREAKERS TP
EXILES VOL 12 WORLD TOUR BOOK 1 TP
EXILES VOL 14 NEW EXILES TP
EYESHIELD 21 VOL 14 TP
FABLES VOL 2 ANIMAL FARM TP
FALL OF CTHULHU #3 FALLEN ANGEL IDW #16 FANTASTIC FOUR THE END PREMIERE HC FEAR AGENT RE-IGNTION VOL 1 TP FEAR AGENT VOL 2 MY WAR TP FINAL GIRL #1 (OF 5)
FRANK MILLER SIN CITY LIBRARY II HC
FRESHMEN VOL 2 #4
FUSHIGI YUGI GENBU KAIDEN VOL 1 TP
FUSHIGI YUGI VOL 1 2ND ED TP PRIESTESS
FUTURAMA VOL 1 O RAMA TP
GARGOYLES #4
GHOST RIDER GHOSTLY HEAD BLK T/S
GIRLS VOL 4 TP (MR) GREEN LANTERN #20 GUNSMITH CATS OMNIBUS VOL 2 TP
HAWKGIRL #64
HELLBOY DARKNESS CALLS #1 (OF 6)
HELLBOY DARKNESS CALLS #2 (OF 6)
HELLBOY VOL 6 STRANGE PLACES TP
HOSHIN ENGI VOL 1 TP
HTDM SKETCHING MANGA STYLE VOL 2
INCREDIBLE HULK 2ND PTG FRANK VAR #106 WWH
JLA VOL 7 TOWER OF BABEL TP
JSA CLASSIFIED #26 JUGHEAD AND FRIENDS DIGEST #20
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #6 JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA POSTER #1
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA VAR ED #6
KINGDOM COME SUPERMAN SYMBOL T/S XL
KISS 4K #1
KISS 4K DESTROYER ED #1
KOLCHAK THE NIGHT STALKER THE LOVECRAFTIAN HORROR
LEGEND OF GRIMJACK VOL 7 TP LEGION OF SUPER HEROES IN THE 31ST CENTURY #2
MAGICIAN APPRENTICE #7 (OF 12)
MANHUNTER VOL 2 TRIAL BY FIRE TP
MARTIAN MANHUNTER 13 INCH DELUXE FIGURE
MARVEL ADVENTURES IRON MAN #1
MARVEL PREVIEWS #46 JUNE 2007
MARVEL KNIGHTS 2099 TP
MARVEL ZOMBIES DEAD WEDDING TAN T/S MARVEL ZOMBIES ROTTEN WOLVERINE BLK T/S MISCELLANEOUS ADVENTURES OF STYKMAN #2
MISS BETTER LIVING THROUGH CRIME TP (MR)
MJOLNIR HAMMER OF THOR PROP REPLICA
MOON KNIGHT #10
MYSTERY IN SPACE #2 (OF 8)
MYSTERY IN SPACE #3 (OF 8)
NANA VOL 6 TP
NARUTO VOL 12 TP
NEGATIVE BURN #11 NEW AVENGERS ILLUMINATI #3 (OF 5)
NEW AVENGERS VOL 2 SENTRY TP
NEW EXCALIBUR #20
NEW X-MEN CHILDHOODS END VOL 4 TP
NEWTYPE ENG ED JUNE 2007
OH MY GODDESS VOL 25 TP
OH MY GODDESS VOL 26 TP
OKKO CYCLE OF WATER #2 (OF 4)
OKKO CYCLE OF WATER #3 (OF 4)
OUR GANG VOL 2 SC
PAINKILLER JANE CONNER SKETCH CVR INCV #1
PALS N GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #112 PENNY ARCADE VOL 4 BIRDS ARE WEIRD TP
PERCY GLOOM HC PHONOGRAM #6 (OF 6)
PREVIEWS VOL XVII #6
PRISON BREAK MAGAZINE PX ED #2
PUNISHER MAX VOL 3 HC PUNISHER PRESENTS BARRACUDA MAX #4 (OF 5)
RAISE THE DEAD #2
RAY HARRYHAUSEN PRESENTS WRATH OF THE TITANS #1 (OF 4)
RED PROPHET TALES OF ALVIN MAKER #7 (OF 12) RIDE DIE VALKYRIE #1 (OF 3)
ROBIN #162
RONIN TP
SCRYE AUG 2007 #110
SEVEN SOLDIERS OF VICTORY VOL 1 TP
SEVEN SOLDIERS OF VICTORY VOL 2 TP
SEVEN SOLDIERS OF VICTORY VOL 3 TP
SEVEN SOLDIERS OF VICTORY VOL 4 TP
SGT ROCK ARCHIVES VOL 1 HC
SHAOLIN COWBOY #7 SILENT WAR #5 (OF 6)
SILVER SURFER OMNIBUS VOL 1 HC
SILVER SURFER REQUIEM #1 (OF 4) SIMPSONS VOL 5 BIG BOUNCY BOOK OF BART SIMPSON TP SONIC X #20
SOULFIRE DYING OF THE LIGHT TP SPAWN GODSLAYER #1 SPIDER-MAN FAIRY TALES #1
SPIDER-MAN MAXIMUM CARNAGE TP
SPIKE ASYLUM TP
ST TOS THE CAGE ENTERPRISE 1701
STAR TREK NEXT GENERATION THE SPACE BETWEEN #5 (OF 6) STAR WARS 30TH ANNIV COLL HC VOL 4 JANGO FETT ZAM WESELL
STAR WARS BOBA FETT VOL 1 TP MAN WITH A MISSION (C: 0-1-2)
STAR WARS DARK EMPIRE 3RD ED TP
STAR WARS DARK TIMES #1 (OF 5)
STAR WARS DARK TIMES #2 (OF 5)
STAR WARS INSIDER #94
STAR WARS KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC #17
STAR WARS LEGACY #4
STAR WARS LEGACY #7
STAR WARS PANEL TO PANEL VOL 2 HC
STAR WARS RITE OF PASSAGE TP
STAR WARS SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE TP
STARSHIP TROOPERS DAMAGED JUSTICE #4 STARSHIP TROOPERS ONGOING #1
SUPERGIRL #15
SUPERMAN #661
SUPERMAN BATMAN #33
SUPERMAN CONFIDENTIAL #4
TAIL OF THE MOON VOL 5 TP TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #44
TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE VOL 4 TP
TEDDY SCARES VOL 1
TEEN TITANS #47
TEEN TITANS GO #43
TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE #5 TICK SOCIETY 2 SIDED T/S TRANSFORMERS ARK COMPENDIUM TRANSFORMERS MODELS
TRANSFORMERS WAR WITHIN IDW VOL 1 TP
TRANSFORMERS WAR WITHIN VOL 2 TP DARK AGES
TRANSMETROPOLITAN VOL 0 TALES OF HUMAN WASTE TP
TRANSMETROPOLITAN VOL 1 BACK ON THE STREET TP
TRANSMETROPOLITAN VOL 2 LUST FOR LIFE TP
ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #42 ULTIMATE GALACTUS TRILOGY HC
ULTIMATE X-MEN VOL 5 HC
UNIQUE #1 (OF 3)
VSS NEMESIS RISING #1 (OF 5)
WALKING DEAD #36 (MR)
WALKING DEAD VOL 6 SORROWFUL LIFE TP
WALLACE AND GROMIT PLOTS IN SPACE SC WALT DISNEYS COMICS & STORIES #681
WARREN ELLIS BLACK GAS 2 #2
WHITE PICKET FENCES #1 (OF 3)
WITCHBLADE #106
WITCHBLADE #105
WITCHBLADE TAKERU MANGA #3
WIZARD MAGAZINE #189
WOLVERINE #54 WOLVERINE BLACK AND WHITE VAR #54
WONDER WOMAN LYNDA CARTER STATUE
WORLD WAR HULK PROLOGUE WORLD BREAKER 2ND PTG RIO VAR WWH X-23 TARGET X #6 (OF 6)
Y THE LAST MAN VOL 6 GIRL ON GIRL TP
Y THE LAST MAN VOL 9 MOTHERLAND TP
YU GI OH DUELIST VOL 21 TP
YURARA VOL 1 TP ZOMBIE POWDER VOL 4 TP

Sunday, May 20, 2007

The Big Three Oh

Didja know that Dr. No's is thirty years old?

That's right--the store has been in business since 1977! The original owner, Artie Decker, opened in the shopping center now occupied by Old Time Pottery and Queen of Hearts Antiques back in 1977; later that year he relocated to Blackwell Square Shopping Center, which was brand new back then. Up until 2004, we were only in the left-hand half of our current space (as you're facing the store from the parking lot); we doubled in size in May of 2004, officially opening the space just in time for Free Comic Book Day that year.

When the shopping center opened, it was also home to the only theater in metro Atlanta that had a full Dolby Surround Sound system in each auditorium. As a result, people came from all over metro Atlanta to experience Star Wars in surround sound in this shopping center. (And speaking of Star Wars, don't talk about Memorial Day being the film's 30th anniversary if you're talking about Atlanta; the film didn't open here in metro Atlanta until mid-June... and I know, because I attended an advance press screening on the evening of June 15th, and have a post-marked press kit to prove it!)

Dr. No's has changed over the years; when it opened, it was primarily a used book and used record store, with a small selection of comics. When Artie found out that I knew a lot about comic books, he hired me to handle his comic book section--placing orders, pricing back issues, etc. I didn't become an owner of the store until 1982, when Artie decided that he hated dealing with the public and wanted to get out of the retail biz.

Over the years, the store has metamorphosed into its current state as metro Atlanta's premiere comics and gaming shop. We were one of the first stores in the area to try to stock a full line of trade paperbacks and hardcovers... and this dates back to a time when every comic book trade/HC in print could fit onto one bookshelf unit!

Thirty years and stronger than ever... not a bad record!

Friday, May 18, 2007

New Arrivals for 5/23/2007

Here's the list of Dr. No's arrivals for Wednesday, May 23rd; new titles are generally highlighted in bold and italics to make it easier for you to spot 'em. The non-bold-and-italicized listings include reorders, special orders, and restock of popular, recently-sold-out items.

52 WEEK #50
A KISS FOR MY PRINCE VOL 2 GN
ABSOLUTE BATMAN HUSH OVERSIZED HC
ACTION COMICS #849
ACTION HEROES ARCHIVES VOL 2 HC
AFTER THE CAPE #3 (OF 3)
AGENTS OF ATLAS PREMIERE HC
ALL NEW ATOM VOL 1 MY LIFE IN MINIATURE TP
AMERICAN VIRGIN #15
ANNIHILATION BOOK 2 HC
ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #179
AVENGERS INITIATIVE #2 CWI
AVENGERS YU POSTER
BACK ISSUE #22
BATGIRL DESTRUCTION'S DAUGHTER TP
BATMAN CHRONICLES VOL 2 TP
BATMAN CHRONICLES VOL 3 TP
BATMAN DARK KNIGHT RETURNS TP
BATMAN IN THE FIFTIES TP
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA #9
BERSERK VOL 17 TP
BIRDS OF PREY #106
BLACK PANTHER CIVIL WAR TP
BLUE LINE PRO COMIC SMOOTH ART BOARDS 24 CT PACK
BRAVE AND THE BOLD #3
BROKEN ANGELS VOL 5 GN (OF 5)
CABLE DEADPOOL #40
CAPTAIN AMERICA #26
CAPTAIN AMERICA 2ND PTG EPTING VAR #25 CW
CAPTAIN AMERICA RED MENACE VOL 1 TP
CAPTAIN AMERICA RED MENACE VOL 2 TP
CARTOON NETWORK BLOCK PARTY #33
CASANOVA VOL 1 LUXURIA HC
CIVIL WAR AMAZING SPIDER-MAN TP
CIVIL WAR CAPTAIN AMERICA TP
CIVIL WAR ROAD TO CIVIL WAR TP
CIVIL WAR TP
CIVIL WAR TP
CLASSIC MARVEL FIGURINE COLL MAG #10 DR DOOM
CLASSIC MARVEL FIGURINE COLL MAG #9 CAPT AMERICA
CLASSIC MARVEL FIGURINE COLL MAGAZINE #38 SHE HULK
CLASSIC MARVEL FIGURINE COLL MAGAZINE #39 MYSTIQUE
COMIC SHOP NEWS #1040
COUNTDOWN 49
COVER GIRL #1
COVER GIRL #2
COYOTE VOL 5 TP
CRIMINAL #6
CSI CASE FILES VOL 2 TP
CTHULHU PLUSH PILLOW 4)
CVO AFRICAN BLOOD #4
DAREDEVIL #91
DAREDEVIL #96
DAREDEVIL VOL 4 UNDERBOSS TP
DC COMICS GUIDE TO WRITING COMICS TP
DECIMATION SON OF M TP
DECIMATION X-MEN THE DAY AFTER TP
DEVI #11
DOC SAVAGE DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 6
DOCTOR STRANGE OATH TP
DRAGONLANCE CHRONICLES VOL 2 DRAGONS OF WINTER NIGHT TP
DYNAMO 5 #3
ELEPHANTMEN #9
EMPOWERED TP
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF COMICBOOK HEROES VOL 1 BATMAN TP
ESSENTIAL SPIDER-MAN VOL 1 TP
ESSENTIAL X-MEN VOL 1 TP
FABLES #58
FABLES VOL 8 WOLVES TP
FALL OF CTHULHU #3
FALLEN SON DEATH OF CAPTAIN AMERICA CAPTAIN AMERICA
FANTASTIC FOUR #546 CWI
FELL VOL 1 FERAL CITY LTD ED HC
FELL VOL 1 FERAL CITY TP
FINAL GIRL #1 (OF 5)
FIVE FISTS OF SCIENCE GN
FOUNTAIN SC
FRANK FRAZETTAS DEATH DEALER #1 NEW PTG
FRANK MILLER SIN CITY LIBRARY I HC
FRANK MILLER SIN CITY LIBRARY II HC
FRANK MILLER SIN CITY VOL 2 DAME TO KILL FOR 2ND TP
FRANK MILLER SIN CITY VOL 5 FAMILY VALUES 2ND TP
FRANK MILLER SIN CITY VOL 6 BOOZE BROADS BULLETS 2ND TP
FRANK MILLER SIN CITY VOL 7 HELL & BACK 2ND TP
FRIDAY THE 13TH #2
FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #1
FUTURAMA COMICS #31
GARGOYLES #1
GEORGE ROMERO NOTLD BEGINNING BAD CALL CVR #1 (OF 3)
GET FUZZY LOSERPALOOZA TP
GI JOE SPECIAL MISSIONS BRAZIL
GI JOE STORM SHADOW PX FOIL CVR B #1
GI JOE VOL 1 REINSTATED TP
GIRLS BRAVO VOL 8 GN (OF 10)
GODLAND #18
GOLD DIGGER #85
GOOD WITCH O/T WEST VOL 3 GN (OF 5)
GOON VOL 0 ROUGH STUFF TP
GOON VOL 1 NOTHIN BUT MISERY DH ED TP
GOON VOL 4 MY VIRTUE & GRIM CONSEQUENCES TP
GOON VOL 5 WICKED INCLINATIONS TP
GREATEST STARS O/T NBA CINEMANGA VOL 10 KOBE BRYANT GN
GREATEST STARS O/T NBA CINEMANGA VOL 9 DR J GN (OF 12)
GUTSVILLE #1 (OF 6)
HARLAN ELLISONS DREAM CORRIDOR VOL 2 TP
HELLBLAZER #232
HELLBOY VOL 3 CHAINED COFFIN AND OTHERS TP
HELLSTORM SON OF SATAN EQUINOX TP
HEROES FOR HIRE #10
HIGHLANDER VAR CVR #3
HOMELESS CHANNEL
HOUSE OF M SPIDER-MAN TP
HOUSE OF M TP
HTDM COSTUME ENCYCLOPEDIA VOL 4
HTDM CREATING STORIES
HUNTERS MOON CVR A #1 (OF 5)
INFINITE CRISIS SER 2 MASTER CASE
IRON MAN HYPERVELOCITY #5 (OF 6)
IRON WOK JAN GN #24
IRREDEEMABLE ANT-MAN #8
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA VAR ED #9
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA POSTER #1
KAMI KAZE VOL 5 GN (OF 7)
KISS 4K DESTROYER ED #1
LEFT ON MISSION #1 (OF 5)
LEGEND OF GRIMJACK VOL 7 TP
LOADED BIBLE 2 BLOOD OF CHRIST (ONE SHOT)
LONE RANGER VAR CVR #4
MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS #1
MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS #2
MARVEL 1602 FANTASTICK FOUR TP
MARVEL ADVENTURES IRON MAN #1
MARVEL MONSTERS HC
MARVEL SELECT GHOST RIDER AF
MARVEL SPOTLIGHT FANTASTIC FOUR SILVER SURFER
MAUS SURVIVORS TALE COMPLETE HC
MEGATOKYO VOL 5
MINISTRY OF SPACE TP
MR PUNCH SC
MR STUFFINS #1 (OF 3)
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION ANGELIC DAYS VOL 5
NEW AVENGERS VOL 1 BREAKOUT TP
NEW AVENGERS VOL 2 SENTRY TP
NEW MANGAVERSE RINGS OF FATE DIGEST TP
NEW THUNDERBOLTS VOL 2 MODERN MARVELS TP
NEW THUNDERBOLTS VOL 3 RIGHT OF POWER TP
NEW X-MEN #37
NEWUNIVERSAL #6
NICOLAS CAGES VOODOO CHILD PREVIEW COMIC
NINJA SCROLL #9
OTHER SIDE TP
OUTER ORBIT #4 (OF 4)
PAINKILLER JANE CONNER SKETCH CVR INCV #1
PENNY ARCADE VOL 1 ATTACK OF THE BACON ROBOTS TP
PENNY ARCADE VOL 2 LEGENDS MAGIC SWORD TP
PLATINUM GARDEN VOL 4 GN (OF 10)
PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL #7
PVP #33
RAVE MASTER VOL 24 GN (OF 35)
RED PROPHET TALES OF ALVIN MAKER #7 (OF 12)
RED SONJA #21
ROBIN #162
RUNAWAYS VOL 2 TEENAGE WASTELAND DIGEST TP
RUNAWAYS VOL 4 TRUE BELIEVERS DIGEST TP
RUNAWAYS VOL 5 ESCAPE TO NEW YORK DIGEST TP
RUNAWAYS VOL 6 PARENTAL GUIDANCE DIGEST TP
SANDMAN VOL 3 DREAM COUNTRY TP
SATANS ##### BABY
SAVAGE DRAGON ARCHIVES VOL 2 TP
SCOOBY DOO VOL 5 SURFS UP
SHADOW DOUBLE NOVEL VOL 7
SHADOWPACT #13
SHANNA THE SHE DEVIL PREMIERE HC
SHE-HULK 2 #18 CWI
SILVER SURFER OMNIBUS VOL 1 HC
SILVER SURFER OMNIBUS VOL 1 HC VAR ED
SNAKEWOMAN SPECIAL COLLECTORS EDITION #0
SPIDER-MAN 3 BLACK MOVIE BUST BANK
SPIDER-MAN LOVES MARY JANE VOL 3 MY SECRET LIFE DIGEST TP
SPIDER-MAN MAXIMUM CARNAGE TP
SPIKE TP
SPIRIT #6
SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS CINEMANGA VOL 12 MISTAKEN ID GN
STAR TREK 40TH ANNIV BLACK STD PHASER
STAR TREK KEY COLLECTION VOL 5 TP
STAR TREK KLINGONS BLOOD WILL TELL # 2 15 COPY VIRGIN INCV
STAR TREK KLINGONS BLOOD WILL TELL #2
STAR TREK KLINGONS BLOOD WILL TELL #2 10 COPY CORRONEY INCV
STAR WARS CLONE WARS ADVENTURES VOL 4 TP
STAR WARS DARK TIMES #2 (OF 5)
STAR WARS EMPIRE VOL 5 TP
STAR WARS EMPIRE VOL 6 FOOTSTEPS OF THEIR FATHERS TP
STAR WARS EMPIRE WRONG SIDE O/T WAR VOL 7 TP
STAR WARS KNIGHTS O/T OLD REPUBLIC COMMENCEMENT VOL 1 TP
STAR WARS LEGACY #12
STAR WARS PANEL TO PANEL FROM THE PAGES OF DH TP
STREET FIGHTER ALPHA VOL 1 GN (OF 2)
SUPERGIRL AND THE LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #30
SUPERMAN #660
SUPERMAN BATMAN #35
SUPERMAN BATMAN VOL 1 PUBLIC ENEMIES TP
SUPERMAN BATMAN VS ALIENS PREDATORS TP
SUPERMAN BIRTHRIGHT TP
SUPERMAN IN THE FIFTIES TP
SUPERNATURAL ORIGINS #1
TAROT CAFE VOL 5 GN (OF 7)
TESTAMENT #18
TRAMPS LIKE US VOL 12 GN (OF 14)
TRANSFORMERS ANIMATED MOVIE ADAPTATION TP
TRANSFORMERS ESCALATION TP
TRANSFORMERS WAR WITHIN VOL 2 TP DARK AGES
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN VOL 2 LEARNING CURVE TP
ULTIMATE SUPERBOY SYMBOL T/S MED
ULTIMATES 2 #13
UNCLE SCROOGE #366
UNIQUE #3 (OF 3)
WALK-IN #6
WARHAMMER 40K DAMNATION CRUSADE #4
WETWORKS #9
WISDOM #6 (OF 6)
WIZARD EXTRA VOL 1 DIRECTORS COMMENTARIES SC
WONDER WOMAN #5
WONDER WOMAN #9
WONDER WOMAN LYNDA CARTER STATUE
WONDER WOMAN METALIX SYMBOL T/S LG
WONDER WOMAN METALIX SYMBOL WOMENS T/S LG
WONDER WOMAN METALIX SYMBOL WOMENS T/S MED
WONDER WOMAN METALIX SYMBOL WOMENS T/S SM
WONDER WOMAN METALIX SYMBOL WOMENS T/S XL
WONDER WOMAN METALIX SYMBOL WOMENS T/S XXL
WORLDS OF AMANO HC
WORMWOOD GENTLEMAN CORPSE #7 SKETCH CVR INCV (NET)
X-MEN #199
X-MEN BLOOD OF APOCALYPSE TP
X-MEN MUTANT MASSACRE TP
X-MEN X-CUTIONERS SONG TP
Y THE LAST MAN VOL 8 KIMONO DRAGONS TP
ZEMBLA VOL 1 TP

Thursday, May 17, 2007

A Great Big Kiss

Kiss fans, here's your chance: There's a new Kiss comic out there, Kiss 4K, and we have the ultra-limited oversized Destroyer Edition. This is one big comic--we're talking about a book that measures two and a half feet tall by a foot and a half wide! And while that sounds like a poster, it's the whole comic. There are very few of these monster comics out there, so our supply is very limited--so Kiss fans need to act now, before this becomes one of those high-priced items that you spend hours trying to track down at record shows and comic conventions!

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

The War Returns!

Great news--we have acquired a limited number of sets of DC's four-part World War III story event that was released four weeks ago to coincide with 52 Week 50. This four-part series, priced at $10 for four full-length comics, greatly expands on the story of the week-long World War III and the battle between Black Adam and the heroes of the DC Universe. Due to a printing problem, a large number of DC's copies were misprinted; as a result, the book immediately went out of print, leaving readers scrambling for copies.

Well, we have 'em! These are the last sets of all four that we know we will be getting, so grab 'em while you can! DC has no plans to reprint the sold-out issues, and it'll be many, many moons before the stories are collected in any other form!

(And don't forget that we also are keeping all 52 issues of the weekly 52 series in stock--so it's not too late to catch up! While DC is eventually collecting the lead stories in trade paperback, the fascinating back-up stories will not be included in the trade editions, so you'll be getting material in the comics that you can't get elsewhere.)

Monday, May 14, 2007

Strongly Favoring Weekly Comics

Five reason why weekly comics like the recently completed 52 and the just-launched Countdown are great things for those of us who enjoy reading comics:

(1) No delays. It's guaranteed! These books will appear every week, no matter what!

(2) These are real graphic novels, just in serialized forms. We're talking about works that total more than a thousand pages when you put the entire year-long run together; that gives the creative teams almost unprecedented opportunity for complex plot structure, character development, and story construction. And the serialized form is always popular with comics fans; it's like a weekly televisions series, only with no reruns and no summer break!

(3) The stories, because of their scope, become centerpieces for the company's line. Countdown, in particular, will be vitally important to the development of the newly-reintroduced DC multiverse, and all of the company's major players will appear in here during the series' year-long run.

(4) The ensemble-cast structure allows popular characters and less-well-known characters to play equally important roles, enabling the lesser-known characters to grow into prominence. Just look at what 52 did for Booster Gold and Animal Man!

(5) The groundwork for other projects can be found in these books. Look at how many changes are rolling out of 52; you can be sure just as many are going to spring from Countdown. New series, new characters, big changes--they're a part of the fun!

Right now, DC is the only company doing weekly comics--but you can be sure that Marvel is already looking at the weekly concept and finding a way to make it work for them!

Halo 3? Come Get Some!

Ready to dip your hand into Halo 3?

Well, starting on Thursday, May 17th, you can come play the third part in one of the best-selling video games of all time. Halo 3 will be available for in-store play only, but you get to experience it on Dr. NO's big screen, giving you a high-definition look at this sure-to-be blockbuster. So come test your mettle, and get an early look at the final chapter in the Halo Trilogy.

Regular in-store game-play costs apply.

Saturday, May 12, 2007

UFS Release Is Almost Here!

Tomorrow's the day! That's right--this Sunday, May 13th, here at Dr. No's--a Street Fighter: Extreme Rivals/ SoulCalibur: Blades of Fury Pre-Release Event!

Registration begins at noon, when the store opens; event play kicks off at 1 p.m. The entry cost of $24.99 scores you six packs of as-yet-unavailable cards, including 3 packs of each set, along with a "Miser" Card and a "Universal Fighter Card." Want even more? Then bring a new player to participate, and you get a "Yun-Seong" card, too!

Last reminder before the event occurs! Don't say we didn't tell you!

An Open & Shut Case

Have you ever gotten tired of moving boxes all over the place to get to a comic book box at the bottom of the stack? Then you should take a look at our Collection Drawer Boxes and Short Comics Drawer Boxes, two storage solutions that may make organizing your collection a whole lot easier. The Collection Drawer Box is a full-sized comic book box with a heavy-duty outer cardboard shell, while the Short Comics Drawer Box is a closet-sized 24" version that does the same thing. Each enables you to pull the comic box out of the surrounding shell like opening a drawer--and that means that you don't have to move everything to get to the bottom box!

Dr. No's keeps both box sizes in stock; check 'em out the next time you're in the store, and see if it'll make collecting a bit less of a workout!

Friday, May 11, 2007

Dr. No's Top 10 (TP/GN)

Here ya go--Dr. No's Top Ten Best-Selling Trade Paperback/Graphic Novels for the past two weeks!

1. Civil War TP
2. Empowered GN
3. Showcase Presents Superman Volume Three TP
4. Walking Dead Volume Six TP
5. The Order of the Stick Volume Two TP
6. The Order of the Stick Volume One TP
7. Order of the Stick Volume Zero TP

8. Showcase Presents The Legion of Super-Heroes Volume One
9. Star Wars--Boba Fett: Man With a Mission TP
10. Amazing Spider-Man: Civil War TP

UFS Pre-Release Minus Two

Just two more days until the pre-release! That's right--this Sunday, May 13th, here at Dr. No's--a Street Fighter: Extreme Rivals/ SoulCalibur: Blades of Fury Pre-Release Event!

Registration begins at noon, when the store opens; event play kicks off at 1 p.m. The entry cost of $24.99 scores you six packs of as-yet-unavailable cards, including 3 packs of each set, along with a "Miser" Card and a "Universal Fighter Card." Want even more? Then bring a new player to participate, and you get a "Yun-Seong" card, too!

Two more days... one more reminder (no reason to remind you on the day it's taking place, is there?).

Incoming--New Arrivals for 5/16/2007

Here's a list of the books scheduled to arrive on Wednesday, May 16th. This list includes both new titles and reorders.

And hey, it's a historic week: not only is the year-in-the-making All Star Batman & Robin, The Boy Wonder #5 coming in, but so is Ultimates 2 #13! Hard to believe, isn't it?

30 DAYS OF NIGHT EBEN & STELLA #1
ACTION COMICS #849
ACTION PHILOSOPHERS #8 SENSELESS VIOLENCE SPECTACULAR
AFTER THE CAPE #3 (OF 3)
ALL NEW ATOM #10
ALL STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN THE BOY WONDER #5
ALL STAR SUPERMAN #6
AMAZING SPIDER-GIRL VOL 1 TP
AP HOW TO DRAW PKT MANGA VOL 1 TP
APOTHECARIUS ARGENTUM VOL 1
AQUAMAN SWORD OF ATLANTIS #52
ARANA VOL 2 IN THE BEGINNING DIGEST TP
ARMY @ LOVE #3
ARMY OF DARKNESS VOL 3 AOD VS REANIMATOR TP
ASHLEY WOODS D AIRAIN AVENTURE #2
AVENGERS YU POSTER
BASTARD SAMURAI VOL I TP NEW PTG
BATMAN #663
BATMAN #665
BATMAN BLACK AND WHITE VOL 3 HC
BATMAN CHRONICLES VOL 3 TP
BATMAN LOGO SILVER RING
BATTLER BRITTON TP
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA #9
BELLADONNA CELTIC BEAUTY CVR #0
BETTIE PAGE BY OLIVIA HC
BLADE UNDEAD AGAIN TP
BOY PRINCESS VOL 7 GN (0F 9)
BPRD GARDEN OF SOULS #3 (OF 5)
BRATZ CINEMANGA GN
BRAVE AND THE BOLD #3
BUZZBOY SIDEKICKS RULE #2
CABLE DEADPOOL #40
CANTARELLA VOL 7 GN
CARTOON NETWORK BLOCK PARTY VOL 3 CAN YOU DIG IT
CATWOMAN #67
CHECKMATE #14
CINDERELLA III CINEMANGA GN
CITY OF HEROES #19
CIVIL WAR FRONT LINE BOOK 1 TP
CIVIL WAR TP
CIVIL WAR WAR CRIMES TP
CIVIL WAR X-MEN UNIVERSE TP
CLIVE BARKERS GREAT & SECRET SHOW #12 (OF 12)
COMIC SHOP NEWS #1039
CONAN #40
COUNTDOWN 50
COURAGEOUS PRINCESS TP
DAREDEVIL BY FRANK MILLER & KLAUS JANSON OMNIBUS VOL 1 HC
DAREDEVIL DEVIL INSIDE AND OUT VOL 1 TP
DAREDEVIL VOL 4 UNDERBOSS TP
DARK TOWER GUNSLINGER BORN 2ND PTG VAR #2 (OF 7)
DARKMAN VS ARMY OF DARKNESS BRADSHAW VAR CVR #2
DARKNESS VOL 5 DEMON INSIDE TP
DEADY VOL 4 BIG IN JAPAN GN
DUNGEON JUNE 2007 #147
DYNAMO 5 #2
EMPOWERED TP
ESSENTIAL PAINKILLER JANE TP
ESSENTIAL THOR VOL 2 TP
ESSENTIAL THOR VOL 3 TP
ESSENTIAL X-MEN VOL 1 TP
EX MACHINA #28
EXILES #94
FABLES #61
FALL OF CTHULHU WALPOLE CVR B #2
FALLEN SON DEATH OF CAPTAIN AMERICA CAPTAIN AMERICA
FALLEN SON DEATH OF CAPTAIN AMERICA SPEC BLANK CVR ED
FEAR AGENT RE-IGNTION VOL 1 TP
FINAL DESTINATION SPRING BREAK #4 (OF 5)
FLASH THE FASTEST MAN ALIVE #12
FRANK FRAZETTAS DEATH DEALER #1 NEW PTG
FRANK FRAZETTAS DEATH DEALER #2 (OF 6)
FROM EROICA WITH LOVE VOL 9
FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST VOL 13 TP
GAMEKEEPER #2
GARGOYLES #4
GARTH ENNIS CHRONICLES OF WORMWOOD WRAP CVR #3 (OF 6)
GENERAL JACK COSMO PRESENTS #1
GET FUZZY LOSERPALOOZA TP
GHOST RIDER TRAIL OF TEARS #1 (OF 6)
GI JOE AMERICAS ELITE #23
GI JOE STORM SHADOW #1
GLOOMY BEAR BLUE WOMENS T/S LG
GOLDEN AGE SANDMAN ARCHIVES VOL 1 HC
GREEN LANTERN LOGO WEB BELT
HACK SLASH SERIES #1
HANAMI INTERNATIONAL LOVE STORY VOL 1
HARDY BOYS VOL 3 MAD HOUSE GN
HELLBLAZER THE DEVIL YOU KNOW TP
HELLBOY DARKNESS CALLS #1 (OF 6)
HELLBOY ODDER JOBS ILLUSTRATED NOVEL
HELLSHOCK DEFINITIVE ED VOL 1 TP
HELLSING OVA ALUCARD WITH GUN WALL SCROLL
HERO BY NIGHT #3 (OF 4)
HERO SQUARED ONGOING #6
HIGHLANDER #7
HUNTERS MOON #1 (OF 5)
INVERLOCH VOL 1 GN
JONAH HEX VOL 2 GUNS OF VENGEANCE TP
JUSTICE #10 (OF 12)
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 POSTER
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #9
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA 2ND PTG #2
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA 4TH PTG #1
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA POSTER #1
KIDS WB JAM PACKED ACTION VOL 1
KISS 4K DESTROYER ED #1
KOLCHAK THE NIGHT STALKER THE LOVECRAFTIAN HORROR
LADY DEATH SHI #1 (OF 2)
LEFT ON MISSION #1 (OF 5)
LEGION OF SUPER HEROES IN THE 31ST CENTURY #2
LET DAI VOL 7 GN (0F 15)
LIFE AND TIMES OF SCROOGE MCDUCK COMPANION TP
LOCAL #9 (OF 12)
LOVE MODE VOL 5 GN (OF 11)
MADAME MIRAGE FIRST LOOK
MAGICIAN APPRENTICE VOL 1 HC
MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #13
MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS VOL 1 HEROES ASSEMBLED DIGEST TP
MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS VOL 2 MISCHIEF DIGEST TP
MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER MAN VOL 1 SINISTER SIX DIGEST
MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN VOL 2 POWER STRUGGLE DIGEST
MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN VOL 4 CONCRETE JUNGLE DIGEST TP
MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN VOL 5 DIGEST TP
MARVEL MASTERWORKS INCREDIBLE HULK VOL 4 HC
MARVEL SELECT GHOST RIDER AF
MAXX BOOK ONE TP
MEGATOKYO VOL 5
MIGHTY AVENGERS #3 CWI
MISERY LOVES COMEDY HC
MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM LOST WAR CHRONICLES VOL 1 GN
MODESTY BLAISE VOL 11 INCA TRAIL TP
MOON KNIGHT #10
MOUSE GUARD VOL 1 FALL 1152 HC
NARUTO COLLECTOR MAGAZINE #3
NARUTO GAARA WALL SCROLL
NARUTO VOL 1 TP
NARUTO VOL 13 TP
NARUTO VOL 14 TP
NEW AVENGERS VOL 2 SENTRY TP
NIGHTWOLF THE PRICE #4 (OF 5)
OCCULT CRIMES TASKFORCE #4 (OF 4)
ORSON SCOTT CARDS WYRMS #4 (OF 6)
OWLY VOL 2 JUST A LITTLE BLUE TP
PAINKILLER JANE #1
PAINKILLER JANE VOL 1 TP (C: 0-1-3)
PLAGUE O/T LIVING DEAD #1 (OF 6)
PLAIN JANES
POWERS #24
RAMAYAN 3392 AD #1
RED PROPHET TALES OF ALVIN MAKER VOL 1 HC
RED SONJA #22
RISING STARS VOL 1 BORN IN FIRE TP
ROB ZOMBIE PRESENTS HAUNTED WORLD OF EL SUPERBEASTO TP
ROUGH STUFF #1
RUNAWAYS VOL 1 PRIDE AND JOY DIGEST TP
RUNAWAYS VOL 2 TEENAGE WASTELAND DIGEST TP
RUNAWAYS VOL 3 HC
SABRINA VOL 1 MAGIC REVISITED TP
SADHU #5
SATANS ##### BABY
SCOOBY DOO #120
SCOTT PILGRIM VOL 3 INFINITE SADNESS GN
SE7EN PRIDE #5 (OF 7)
SECRET HISTORY BOOK TWO
SENSATIONAL SPIDER-MAN 2ND PTG CRAIN VAR #35
SHAZAM METALIX SYMBOL T/S XL
SHOWCASE PRESENTS JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA VOL 1 TP
SHOWCASE PRESENTS THE FLASH VOL 1 TP
SIDEKICK #5 (OF 5)
SIMPSONS COMICS #130
SIMPSONS COMICS VOL 14 JAM PACKED JAMBOREE TP
SMALLVILLE HIGH SCHOOL T/S XL
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #170
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #175
SPAWN #161
SPAWN #162
SPAWN #163
SPAWN MANGA COLLECTION TP
SPIDER-GIRL VOL 6 TOO MANY SPIDERS DIGEST TP
SPIDER-MAN BIRTH OF VENOM TP
SPIDER-MAN KRAVENS LAST HUNT PREMIERE HC
SPIDER-MAN MAXIMUM CARNAGE TP
SPIKE ASYLUM TP
SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS CINEMANGA VOL 2 FRIENDS FOREVER GN
SQUADRON SUPREME HYPERION VS NIGHTHAWK #4 (OF 4)
STAR WARS CLONE WARS ADVENTURES VOL 3 TP
STAR WARS CLONE WARS ADVENTURES VOL 5 TP
STAR WARS CLONE WARS ADVENTURES VOL 7 TP
STAR WARS INFINITIES RETURN OF THE JEDI TP
STAR WARS INFINITIES THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK TP
STAR WARS KNIGHTS O/T OLD REPUBLIC VOL 2 FLASHPOINT TP
STAR WARS REBELLION #6
STAR WARS SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE TP
STAR WARS TALES VOL 5 TP
STREET FIGHTER ULTIMATE ED
SUPERGIRL #17
SUPERGIRL AND THE LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #28
SUPERMAN #659
SUPERMAN COVER TO COVER HC
TALES FROM RIVERDALE DIGEST #20
TALES OF TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #33
TALES OF TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #34
TALES OF THE VAMPIRES TP
TANK GIRL GN APOCALYPSE
TANK GIRL VOL 2 GN
TENSHI JA NAI (IM NO ANGEL) VOL 7 GN
TEZUKAS BUDDHA VOL 7 PRINCE AJATASATTU SC
THE SUPER NATURALS #2
THUNDERBOLTS #114 CWI
TOMARTS ACTION FIGURE DIGEST #154
TOP 10 THE FORTY NINERS SC
TRANSFORMERS WAR WITHIN IDW VOL 1 TP
TRIALS OF SHAZAM #2 (OF 12)
TRIALS OF SHAZAM #3 (OF 12)
TRIALS OF SHAZAM #4 (OF 12)
TRIALS OF SHAZAM #5 (OF 12)
TRIALS OF SHAZAM #6 (OF 12)
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #109
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN ULTIMATE COLLECTION VOL 1 TP
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN VOL 1 POWER & RESPONSIBILITY TP
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN VOL 2 LEARNING CURVE TP
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN VOL 4 LEGACY TP
ULTIMATE X-MEN #82
ULTIMATE X-MEN VOL 16 CABLE TP
ULTIMATES 2 #13
UNCANNY X-MEN #486
UP UP AND OY VEY SC
WALKING DEAD SORROWFUL LIFE VOL 6
WAR ANGEL #0
WARREN ELLIS BLACK GAS 2 #2
WARRIORS VOL 1 LOST WARRIOR GN (OF 3)
WASTELAND #9
WILL EISNERS GRAPHIC STORYTELLING SC
WITCHBLADE #105
WIZARD ANIME INSIDER #45
WIZARD EXTRA VOL 1 DIRECTORS COMMENTARIES SC
WONDER WOMAN #4
WONDER WOMAN SYMBOL II WOMENS T/S XL
WONDER WOMAN THE GREATEST STORIES EVER TOLD TP
WORLD WAR HULK PROLOGUE WORLD BREAKER
WORLD WAR III PART FOUR UNITED WE STAND
WORMWOOD GENTLEMAN CORPSE #7 SKETCH CVR
X-23 INNOCENCE LOST TP
X-FACTOR #19
X-FACTOR MANY LIVES OF MADROX PREMIERE HC
X-MEN DAYS OF FUTURE PAST TP
X-MEN EVOLUTION VOL 1 DIGEST TP
X-MEN FIRST CLASS SPECIAL
XOMBIE #2 (OF 5)
Y THE LAST MAN VOL 3 ONE SMALL STEP TP
Y THE LAST MAN VOL 4 SAFEWORD TP
Y THE LAST MAN VOL 4 SAFEWORD TP
Y THE LAST MAN VOL 5 RING OF TRUTH TP
YIN YARR BLK T/S LG
ZOMBIES ECLIPSE OF THE UNDEAD TP

Thursday, May 10, 2007

UFS Pre-Release Gets Closer!...

Another day, another reminder! Hey, we don't want any potential player to say that they didn't hear about it! This Sunday, May 13th, here at Dr. No's--a Street Fighter: Extreme Rivals/ SoulCalibur: Blades of Fury Pre-Release Event!

Registration begins at noon, when the store opens; event play kicks off at 1 p.m. The entry cost of $24.99 scores you six packs of as-yet-unavailable cards, including 3 packs of each set, along with a "Miser" Card and a "Universal Fighter Card." Want even more? Then bring a new player to participate, and you get a "Yun-Seong" card, too!

That's Sunday, Sunday Sunday!...

FCBD Cross-Section

A customer made an interesting observation yesterday: On Free Comic Book Day, Dr. No's welcomed an artist (Mark Bagley), a writer (Brian Reed), an editor (Joe Pruett), and a publisher (The Dabel Brothers--although Joe Pruett belongs in this group as well, since he's taking his Desperado Publishing out on its own this summer). "It was interesting to get to talk to each of them, since each person has a different approach to comics and a different view on things influenced by what they do." I hadn't considered that until he mentioned it, but it's a good point; each of our guests was able to offer interesting insights based on his experiences in the field, and it was a great way for newcomers and veteran comics readers alike to learn just what goes into creating a comic.

Hope you got a chance to talk to them all--every guest was gracious and eager to meet with fans, and visitor after visitor commented on how informative and engaging they were!

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Countdown to UFS Pre-Release

Yeah, we're going to keep on reminding you day after day after day (until this Sunday, at least!)--there's a Street Fighter: Extreme Rivals/ SoulCalibur: Blades of Fury Pre-Release Event coming up this Sunday, May 13th, with play starting at 1:00 pm, and registration beginning at noon. Entry is $24.99 and includes 3 packs of each set and a "Miser" Card, "Universal Fighter Card" and, for those who bring a new player to participate, a "Yun-Seong" card!

If you miss this, you have no one to blame but yourself!

Watching the Zombies

Didja know that there are two Marvel Zombies books on the stands this week? Sure, there's Marvel Zombies: Dead Days, Robert Kirkman & Sean Phillips' look at the origins of the zombies--but you might not have known that Black Panther #27 also features the Zombies on the final page... and it's the first part of a multi-part Zombies story arc! Apparently, this one took a lot of readers by surprise and the book is selling out all over the country--but we still have copies for those of you who want to keep your Zombies collection complete!

(And I guess, truth be told, there are three Marvel Zombies books, since Marvel has also issued a fourth printing of the Marvel Zombies HC, complete with a new Arthur Suydam cover that zombifies the classic Kirby cover for Avengers #1.)

Monday, May 07, 2007

The Rest of the Story


What makes Marvel's Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus (and last year's Fantastic Four Omnibus) even more appealing than the superlative Marvel Masterworks versions of the same material? The inclusion of letters columns, that's what!

I grew up in the 1960s, and I remember reading not only these comics but the letters columns as well. The letters sometimes reflected my own opinions, sometimes not; they sometimes brought up points I hadn't considered; and they sometimes served as an opportunity for Stan (or whomever was ghosting the responses for him) to present information that I found useful. But most of all, those letters columns, filled with give-and-take between readers and the man behind the stories, created the sense of community that was such a vital part of the early days of the Marvel Universe.

I love being able to read the stories--but being able to read the letters columns as well serves to make the experience more real. It's a fascinating opportunity to see how Marvel fandom developed in the early 1960s... and it's fun to look for familiar names in those letters columns--there are letters here from people who went on to become prominent in comics fandom, in comics retailing, and in comics creations.

Now, if Marvel would only restore the house ads that were also a vital part of the books; it's great to put the whole thing in historical perspective, seeing what else was shipping that month.

In fact, I've often thought that Marvel should do a series of trade paperback called--oh, I don't know, let's start with Marvel 1961-62. In that volume, Marvel would collect, in order by month, all the various Marvel superhero titles, letting us experience vicariously what it was like to shop for Marvel titles each month. By the end of 1962 or early 1963, the volumes would have to become Marvel 1963 Volume One, collecting the first few months of the year; then Volume Two, collecting the next few months, and so on. This could continue until at least 1968-69, when Marvel's expansion was so great that we'd have to have a separate volume for each month.

And of course, these books should include the letters columns and the house ads, just to keep everything in perspective. Should they include the 1960's Western titles as well? Certainly they should, beginning with Stan Lee & Jack Kirby's reinvention of Rawhide Kid as a Western-themed action hero book. I remember feeling like a true Marvel maniac when I began picking up the Westerns as well--it's like I was on to something that the average Marvel fan didn't know about...

Check out the house ad at the top of this entry--it came from Amazing Spider-Man #2. Already Marvel is establishing a "line unity," using the brilliantly-developed corner symbols to make their books stand out. But most of all, the ad reminds us that all of these heroes exist in the same world--and at least subtly hints at their upcoming interaction. These ads are a part of the early Marvelverse, too--and I'd love to see them restored to their rightful place in comics history!

Sunday, May 06, 2007

Superman Silver Age Bonanza!

We recently picked up an amazing Superman collection that includes a large Silver Age run as well as a few Golden Age issues. While the collection is primarily comprised of Superman and Action Comics, there are some Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, Superboy, Adventure (including a complete run of Legion issues), World's Finest, and other books of interest to any Silver Age DC fan. The collector was an avid Superman fan, so the bulk of the collection consists of books that feature Superman, including miniseries like Crisis on Infinite Earths. If you'd like to see what's in the collection, click on this link, or you can paste in the URL

http://www.drnos.com/supermancollection.htm

Sad but True...

It's no secret that I'm a big DC fan--the first comics I read were DC's, because at that time Marvel was only doing monster and sf books. Don't get me wrong--I was one of the original Marvel Maniacs, I was a founding member of the Merry Marvel Marching Society, and I overcame enormous financial and logistical hurdles to assemble a complete collection of Silver Age Marvel books in the late 1960s. Still, I've always been more of a DC guy...

Nevertheless, I have to admit that Marvel has found amazing success in theatres, while DC has for the most part struggled to overcome bad scripts, needless reinvention, and dreary filmmaking. So when I found this short on Youtube (it's one of four, actually), I found myself laughing and nodding...

The Nicest Guy in Comics

Don't let Mark Bagley fool you--he may try to sound gruff, but he can't pull it off. He's just too darn nice!

Every year at Free Comic Book Day, Mark has generously spent most of the day at Dr. No's, signing comics and doing no-charge sketches for fans and newcomers alike. You may not know this, but at most conventions, a sketch from a major-name talent like Mark will cost from $25 to $75--but Mark has never asked anyone to pay him a cent for these in-store sketches. Even when fans come up with unusual requests--such as Green Arrow, Charlie Brown, or Brian Reed (all-around good guy and amazingly talented writer of Ms. Marvel, New Avengers: Illuminati, and upcoming projects at Image and Marvel about which you'll be hearing more soon)--Mark does his artistic magic, all the while chatting with fans and entertaining the audience.

Yesterday, Mark was accompanied by his daughter Angie (hard to believe that I've known Mark since before there was an Angie!) and his granddaughter. Yep, Mark's a grand-dad--and he's pretty proud of it!

Readers of Ultimate Spider-Man know that Mark and writer Brian Bendis have set a record on that title; they have now produced more consecutive issues of a Marvel superhero title by the same creative team than any other writer/artist combo in history. You may not have known, though, that Mark is wrapping up his run on USM with #110 (well, actually, halfway through #111--he's contributing the first part of the story, leading up to Stuart Immonen's debut as the Guy Who Has To Follow Mark Bagley). It's a real "end of an era" moment for me; Brian and Mark have made USM without a doubt the finest Ultimate title that Marvel publishes, and I don't know that any other creative team can capture the gestalt that these two have established.

Mark will be working with Brian again on Mighty Avengers, taking over as artist for the second story arc. So where will he go next? I don't know, but I definitely want to see it!

Saturday, May 05, 2007

Incoming! - 5/9/2007


Here are the new books (bold/italic type) and reorder items (standard type) due to arrive on Wednesday, May 9th. Highlight of the week--Countdown #51, the first installment of a year-long weekly DC series set in current continuity and starring all the big names of the DCU.

52 WEEK #52
ABSOLUTE DC THE NEW FRONTIER HC
ACME NOVELTY LIBRARY HC
ACTION PHILOSOPHERS VOL 2 GIANT SIZED THING TP
ALTER EGO #68
AMAZING SPIDER-GIRL #8
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #540
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN OMNIBUS VOL 1 HC
ANIMAL MAN VOL 1 TP
ANIMAL MAN VOL 2 ORIGIN OF THE SPECIES TP
ANIMAL MAN VOL 3 DEUS EX MACHINA TP
ANNIHILATION SAGA
APHRODITE IX TP
ASTONISHING X-MEN #21
BATMAN HUSH VOL 1 TP
BATMAN HUSH VOL 2 TP
BATMAN STRIKES #33
BATTLE POPE #14
BELLADONNA CELTIC BEAUTY CVR #0
BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #151
BLACK HOLE COLLECTED HC
BLACK PANTHER #27 CWI
BLADE #9
BLOOD NATION #4 (OF 4)
BLUE LINE MANGA DOJINSHI A4 1PLY COMIC BOOK ART BOARDS
BOMB QUEEN III #3 (OF 4)
BOOKS OF FAERIE AUBERONS TALE TP
BOOKS OF MAGIC VOL 2 SUMMONINGS TP
BOOKS OF MAGIC VOL 4 TRANSFORMATIONS TP
BOOKS OF MAGIC VOL 7 DEATH AFTER DEATH TP
BOOKS OF MAGICK LIFE DURING WARTIME BOOK 1 TP
BRATZ CINEMANGA GN
BUCKAROO BANZAI #1 (OF 3)
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #1 50 COPY LITHO CHEN SGN INCV
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #2 NEW PTG
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER VAR CVR NEW PTG #1
CARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK #13
CIVIL WAR #6 (OF 7)
CIVIL WAR FRONT LINE BOOK 2 TP
CIVIL WAR PETER PARKER SPIDER-MAN TP
CIVIL WAR THE CONFESSION 2ND PTG MALEEV VAR
CIVIL WAR TP
CLASSIC MARVEL FIGURINE COLL MAGAZINE #37 LOKI
COFFIN ART OF VAMPIRE HUNTER D SC SLIPCASE EDITION
COMIC SHOP NEWS #1038
COMICS GONE APE SC
COMPLETE DICK TRACY VOL 2 HC
COUNTDOWN #51
COURAGEOUS PRINCESS TP
COVER GIRL #1
CRIMINAL VOL 1 COWARD TP
CVO AFRICAN BLOOD #4
DAREDEVIL BY FRANK MILLER & KLAUS JANSON OMNIBUS VOL 1 HC
DC THE NEW FRONTIER VOL 2 TP
DEGRASSI EXTRA CREDIT VOL 4 SAFETY DANCE GN
DESPERADOES BUFFALO DREAMS #4 (OF 4)
DEVILS PANTIES #11
DINOWARS EXTINCTION FILES #1
DMZ #19
DOCTOR WHO SPECIAL #16 IN THEIR OWN WORDS VOL 3
DR WHO MAGAZINE #381
DRAGONLANCE CHRONICLES VOL 1 DRAGONS OF AUTUMN TWILIGHT TP
EC ARCHIVES WEIRD SCIENCE VOL 1 HC
EMPOWERED TP
ESSENTIAL FANTASTIC FOUR VOL 6 TP
ETERNALS BY NEIL GAIMAN HC
EVIL KEEPS ME YOUNG BLK T/S XL
FABLES VOL 4 MARCH OF THE WOODEN SOLDIERS TP
FABLES VOL 5 THE MEAN SEASONS TP
FABLES VOL 5 THE MEAN SEASONS TP
FANTASTIC FOUR PELLETIER 2ND PTG VAR #544
FORGOTTEN REALMS LEGEND OF DRIZZT VOL 1-3 BOX SET
FRIDAY THE 13TH #6
FUMI YOSHINAGAS LOVERS IN THE NIGHT GN
GAMEKEEPER #2
GARTH ENNIS CHRONICLES OF WORMWOOD WRAP CVR #3 (OF 6)
GEN 13 #8
GHOST RIDER #11
GI JOE DREADNOKS DECLASSIFIED #3 (OF 3)
GOLD DIGGER #84
GREEN ARROW #74
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #12
GREEN LANTERN CORPS VOL 1 TO BE A LANTERN TP
GREEN LANTERN POWER RING SIZE 10
GREEN LANTERN REBIRTH TP
GRIFTER MIDNIGHTER #3 (OF 6)
GRIMM FAIRY TALES #14 (RES)
HACK SLASH ONGOING #1
HACK SLASH VOL 1 FIRST CUT TP
HACK SLASH VS EVIL ERNIE SEELEY CVR A
HEAVY METAL JULY 2007 #111
HULK AND POWER PACK #3 (OF 4)
HUNTERS MOON #1
IMMORTAL IRON FIST #5
INDIA AUTHENTIC GANESHA #1
INVERLOCH VOL 1 GN
INVINCIBLE #41
JACK KIRBY COLLECTOR #48
JACK OF FABLES #10
JLA ANOTHER NAIL TP
JLA CLASSIFIED #38
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA THE NAIL TP
KAFKA TP
KILLER #4 (OF 10)
LIFE AND TIMES OF SCROOGE MCDUCK COMPANION TP
LITTLE LULU VOL 14 QUEEN LULU TP
LOST BOOKS OF EVE #2
LOVELESS VOL 5 GN (OF 7) (TKP)
LUCIFER VOL 10 MORNINGSTAR TP
LUCIFER VOL 2 CHILDREN AND MONSTERS TP
LUCIFER VOL 3 A DALLIANCE WITH THE DAMNED TP
LUCIFER VOL 3 A DALLIANCE WITH THE DAMNED TP
LUCIFER VOL 4 THE DIVINE COMEDY TP
LUCIFER VOL 5 INFERNO TP
LUCIFER VOL 6 MANSIONS OF THE SILENCE TP
LUCIFER VOL 7 EXODUS TP
LUCIFER VOL 8 THE WOLF BENEATH THE TREE TP
LUCIFER VOL 9 CRUX TP
MADAGASCAR CINEMANGA GN
MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR #24
MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN VOL 6 BLACK COSTUME DIGEST TP
MARVEL ILLUSTRATED LAST OF THE MOHICANS #1 (OF 6)
MARVEL ZOMBIES 4TH PTG AVENGERS HC (New cover)
MARVEL ZOMBIES DEAD DAYS
MITCH BYRD SCRIBBLES & SKETCHES VOL 1 SC
MODESTY BLAISE VOL 11 INCA TRAIL TP
MY LITTLE CTHULHU VINYL FIGURE
MYSTERY IN SPACE #8 (OF 8)
NEW AVENGERS #30 CWI
NEW AVENGERS VOL 1 BREAKOUT TP
NEW AVENGERS VOL 2 SENTRY TP
NEW AVENGERS VOL 3 SECRETS AND LIES TP
NEW AVENGERS VOL 4 COLLECTIVE TP
NEW X-MEN #38
NIGHTMARES & FAIRY TALES VOL 1 TP
NIGHTWING #132
NOBLE CAUSES #29
NOVA #2 CWI
OKKO CYCLE OF WATER #3 (OF 4)
OMEGA FLIGHT 2ND PTG KOLINS VAR #1 (OF 5)
OUTSIDERS #47
PEACH GIRL VOL 3 SAES STORY GN (OF 3)
PHONOGRAM #6 (OF 6)
PREACHER VOL 5 DIXIE FRIED TP
PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL #7 CWI
PVP #32
RAISE THE DEAD #2
READ OR DREAM VOL 4 TP
RED SONJA VACANT SHELL ONE SHOT
REX MUNDI DH ED #2
REX MUNDI DH ED #3
REX MUNDI GUARDIAN O/T TEMPLE VOL 1 TP
ROGUE VOL 1 GOING ROGUE TP
ROUGH STUFF #1 NEW PTG
RUNAWAYS VOL 2 TEENAGE WASTELAND DIGEST TP
RUNAWAYS VOL 3 GOOD DIE YOUNG DIGEST TP
SALVADOR #1 (OF 5)
SAMURAI HEAVEN & EARTH VOL 2 #4 (OF 5)
SANDMAN VOL 1 PRELUDES & NOCTURNES TP
SCARFACE SCARRED FOR LIFE #3
SECRET #4 (OF 4)
SECRET HISTORY BOOK TWO
SENSATIONAL SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #1
SHAUN THE SHEEP COMIC #2
SHOJO BEAT JUNE 07 VOL 3 #6
SHOWCASE PRESENTS JONAH HEX VOL 1 TP
SHOWCASE PRESENTS LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES VOL 1 TP
SHOWCASE PRESENTS SUPERMAN VOL 3 TP
SIMON BISLEY ILLUSTRATION FROM THE BIBLE TP NEW PTG
SIMPSONS VOL 6 BIG BEASTLY BOOK OF BART SIMPSON TP
SPARROW KENT WILLIAMS HC
SPAWN NEW PTG #166
SPIDER-GIRL VOL 6 TOO MANY SPIDERS DIGEST TP
SPIDER-MAN AND POWER PACK BIG CITY SUPER HEROES DIGEST TP
SPIDER-MAN BIRTH OF VENOM TP
SPIDER-MAN FANTASTIC FOUR #2 (OF 4)
SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS CINEMANGA VOL 2 FRIENDS FOREVER GN
SPRINGHEELED JACK NEW PRINTING #3 (OF 3)
SQUADRON SUPREME HYPERION VS NIGHTHAWK #4 (OF 4)
STAR WARS CLONE WARS ADVENTURES VOL 3 TP
STAR WARS DARK TIMES #3 (OF 5)
STAR WARS LEGACY #11
STORMWATCH PHD #7
STRANGERS IN PARADISE VOL 1 PKT TP
STRONGARM #3 (OF 5)
SUPERGIRL AND THE LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #28
SUPERMAN GODFALL TP
SUPERNATURAL ORIGINS #1
TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED #8 (OF 8)
TANK GIRL VOL 2 GN
THUNDERBOLTS #114 CWI
TOYFARE HARRY POTTER FANTASTIC FOUR TOYS CVR #119
TRANSFORMERS ANIMATED MOVIE ADAPTATION TP
TRANSFORMERS COVER GALLERY BOOK 2
TRANSFORMERS SPOTLIGHT TARGET 2006 #2
TRANSFORMERS WAR WITHIN VOL 2 TP DARK AGES
TWISTED TOYFARE THEATRE VOL 7 TP
TWO GUNS CVR A #2 (OF 4)
ULTIMATE DAREDEVIL AND ELEKTRA TP
ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR VOL 1 THE FANTASTIC TP
ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR VOL 2 DOOM TP
ULTIMATE POWER #5 (OF 9)
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN VOL 3 DOUBLE TROUBLE TP
WALKING DEAD VOL 1 HC
WAR ANGEL ATTACK CVR #0
WARD O/T STATE #1 (OF 3)
WILL EISNERS GRAPHIC STORYTELLING SC
WIZARD EXTRA VOL 1 DIRECTORS COMMENTARIES SC
WOLVERINE ORIGINS #14
WORLD WAR HULK PROLOGUE WORLD BREAKER
WORLD WAR III PART FOUR UNITED WE STAND
WORMWOOD GENTLEMAN CORPSE #7 SKETCH CVR INCV
WRITE NOW #15
X-23 INNOCENCE LOST TP
Y THE LAST MAN #56
Y THE LAST MAN VOL 2 CYCLES TP
Y THE LAST MAN VOL 3 ONE SMALL STEP TP
Y THE LAST MAN VOL 4 SAFEWORD TP
Y THE LAST MAN VOL 9 MOTHERLAND TP
YOSHITAKA AMANO FAIRIES HC