Adventures in Comic Collecting

2010-08-31T21:18:00.000-07:00

Wow, well over a year since my last post. Picked up a new follower though :)

So in a bit of sad news, after 7ish years of selling people there weekly doses of paneled crack, I will be leaving the shop. Not leaving on bad terms by any means, I've just felt called to move on to other things. Back to school for me. But that doesn't mean I don't have seven years of stories to share. I'll try and get back to writing about some of them. For now though, I leave you with that bit of news. I'm currently on day 15 of 20 (dang co worker getting married), it's 12:30 and tomorrow is an early start. Ah I won't miss the hectic rush of Wednesday...

Release dates...?

2009-04-19T01:49:00.001-07:00

Well it's been awhile since I posted anything. I'm not dead so...Yeah anyways just got back from the most frustrating night of fights ever (UFC) after paying what turned out to be far to much for what I thought were good seats. (They were but seeing crap up close is, well, yeah...). Figured I need to rant a bit.

So all of you publishers of comics out there. WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU. Now don't get me wrong, I love your product, alot. So here's the question, why can't you get your stuff out on time? Now I do understand, occasionally things happened, someone calls in sick, the printer screws up or something similar. But on that many titles, over and over again...Now here follows a couple of thoughts on perhaps solving this.

1- Don't solicit a mini series till it's finished. I don't know what payment agreements you have with you talent, but damn it if they don't deliver on time what does it matter. It's six issues, well then they produce six months of work (I assume that's how long it takes) then you announce it and we buy it. Everyone is happy.

2- Stop hiring superstars. Hey Joe Maduwhatever is a good artist, I enjoyed Battle Chaser's a lot (by the way, where the hell is the ending?) but how did you not realize that a guy who hasn't met a deadline in, well nearly ever? Kevin Smith Blackcat Evil that Men do, Damon Lostguy Ultimate Wolverine vs Hulk. Do I need to keep going? Yup the names sell books, well theoretically if the book NEVER COMES OUT.

Listen, the reader isn't punishing you by not buying your books. People seem to have spoken with their wallet, and they're saying, hey will buy it whenever it comes out, so take your time. Here's he thing though, my friend T, well he has a 2 year old (hope I've remembered his age right). T promised his boy a copy of Johnny Boo v2 for Christmas, a pretty reasonable promise since he'd ordered it I believe 4 months before Christmas. The book came out well after Christmas. It pretty much sucks to be a retailer when you need to explain to a client that the book he promised his 2 year is inexplicably late. How much does that suck? I'm just kind of glad that I wasn't there the day that they came by and his son asked where the book was. So yeah ok he's 2 and probably won't remember or be scared by all of this, but imagin a few year from now when he does remember things. How do we market to the youth of today when we can't provide the next issue in a timely manner. Anyways I'm tired and still a little pissed so off to bed.

Good Friends

2009-02-05T20:13:00.000-08:00

So I started at the shop about 5 years ago. Been ups and downs. I've quit comics 2 or 3 times out of frustration and overdosing. Hey when your surrounded by the damn things all the time and talk about very little else on a daily basis, you can totally burn out. Seen great comics, Criminal and DMZ come to mind. Dealt with stupid comics, I'm looking at you Final Crisis. Not to mention angry clients demanding to know where Civil War is (or Ultimate Wolverine vs Hulk, All Star Batman, anything by Kevin Smith ect ect). But you know what really stands out for me? The friends I've made since working at the store.

Now not to be all sappy about this, but it's been great seeing the same people week in week out and getting to know them. From E who I get to talk UFC with whenever he comes by, or even J who I have quarter bets on fights with (who I'm also concerned about, been away 3 weeks and sent someone else for his books last week). There's A who amazingly always finds those hard to find items I'm looking for, and never lets me pay him back. It's these moments and people that make it all worth it (besides the paycheck).

I met two of my great friends through the store. T who I share a love of old time wrestling with. (Yes Wrestling, if you don't like it "suck it". HEHEHEHE see what I did there?) He drops by for weekly poker games my roomate and I host. Asks how I'm doing when he comes by for his books, and really actually cares enough to listen when I answer.

Not to play favorites (though that's kind of what I'm doing) then there is my buddy JD. He's been going to the store longer than I've been around. He's unable to tell you the names of any of my predacessors cause there was so much turn over. I remember he used to have fliers for his webcomic at the store. I checked it out and emailed about how much I liked it. We talked a bunch until he started to invite me over. (It's now a weekly thing, his wife gets to roll her eyes at our crazy weekend, I'm very grateful she feeds me ever week to). He's been there for me through most of my hard times, when I was working 80 hour weeks (I had to take on a second job for awhile). Plus the worst time of my life, he and his wife where 2 of the most supportive people I had. I take care of their cats when they're away, and am always helping out with their daughters' school fund raisers (wait a minute, you're fleecing me aren't you?)

So all that to say (rather sappily) some times the store is like an episode of Cheers, a place where everyone knows your name.

2009-01-12T17:29:00.000-08:00

So not long ago a friend of mine gifted me with a large run of one of my high school favorites, Darkhawk. I even found some cheap copies at the shop. Exciting. Well for me anyways. (I've since found all but one at the most recent convention, see below for my description of those, and the last one on ebay. Stupid shipping cost me more than the book itself did) It's funny how I just started to try and finish of this collection, Marvel has since decided to try and bring this character back to prominence. I was really happy, at least until I found out they wanted to make him a cosmic character and tie him into their next big crossover. But hey, at least I get one of my favorites back, more than can be said for some.

By the way, have you ever gone back to read those old favorites? I'm working (and I really mean working) my way through the run and well, the writing style changes that have happened since those days is highlighted here. Most modern books will take 5 minutes tops to read. The old ones take more in the range of 10 (now maybe I'm just a slow reader with no real attention span). Funny how the writers apparently thought the artist couldn't adequately portray the action, because it's panel after panel of characters telling us exactly what they are doing. I often complain about how there is almost no reading to do in current comics, but maybe that's not such a bad thing after all...

I felt somewhat justified the other day, as a coustomer came in looking for Darkhawk comics. We spent a fair amount of time discussing the character and just enjoying the fact that we aren't alone in our fandom. After he left though I realized that I now have competition. We're both looking for the same books (I want to collect all of his appearances). Plus he's got a head start on me. Crap...

Things not to ask at a Comic Shop!

2009-01-09T09:24:00.000-08:00

So this time around I thought I'd rant a bit. If you haven't read my 2 other posts, I work in a comic store. We happen to have a vast selection of Grapic Novels and Trades (collected editions). The shelves start pretty much at the front of the store and cover the enter length of the store (a pretty large store) and, if you count Manga (which I do), it continues along the back wall and part way back up the other store. We don't do back issues, recent or old, but if there is an in print GN or TPB you are looking for then we either have it or just sold it and have already reordered it.

Now with all that said one of my biggest pet peeves is when a costumer (usually some one I've never seen before) walks into the store and asks "Do you have any Graphic Novels?" Okay let me reemphasize here. The selection of GNs that we have takes up a large percentage of the store. It is impossible not to see them. Apart from me or my coworker, it's probably the most easily spotted thing in the store. Now I try to be patient and asume they are new to the hobby and I don't want to alienate them. Usually I just point to the wall wave my hand in a motion to point out all that we do have, and politely ask if there is a specific book they are looking for. But seriously, what the hell are you on? Did you not know what you are looking for? A little research before you walk in and make a fool of yourself. "Do you have any Graphic Novels?" Yeah believe it or not, it happens, not a lot, but way to often.

My second, and somewhat similar, peeve is the question "Do you have any (insert random superhero name here)?" Most often they are looking for Superman or Spider-Man. Now do I have to point out the obvious problem here? (Retorical question cause I fully intend to ask anyways. Hey it's my rant...So there...). WHAT DO YOU WANT? We sell toys, comics and books. Not to mention the random assortment of nick nacks and various other types of "Collectibles". Please, be specific. Please. We end walking around showing said person everything we have of whatever character they are looking for, getting really excited about the things we really like, hoping that we may be able to find something they like (hey I do like to make people happy and help them be happy with they'r purchase believe it or not). But in the end what will they end up doing. Either leaving empty handed, or buying the cheap keychain. I kid you not, it's always about the keychain with these people.

Maybe it's just me, but when I shop, I go into a store with an idea in my head of exactly what I want. Often I've thought about the purchase quite a bit before even entering the store and my question to the staff at said store is where the item is located. Even then I only do that when I'm in a rush and don't have time to wonder around trying to find it on my own. I'm in coustomer service, I understand that this is what I deal with, hell I'll even answer with a smile and do my best to help, but why can't you put a little thought into it? PLEASE.

Convention Fun

2008-12-29T17:03:00.000-08:00

Hey hey, day two and I'm still here. Wonder how long before I get bored. Anyways so this will be the first in my happy times at conventions. Nerd gathering, Congregation of Fanboys, oh the scary horror of it all. Well actually they are usually pretty fun.

So when I first moved to the City (yup still be vague, oh and yes I'm a rural kid deep down inside.) I heard that there were conventions every couple of months. Though the snickers and rolling of the eyes usually help to keep me from venturing out to any of them. Lack of any kind of guest also persuaded me that my time would be better spent elsewhere. Not long after I'd started working at the shop these conventions disappeared. Oh well shed a tear and off to the wake.

About a year later a client/friend of mine asked me to go a new convention. Advertised as having a guest (who I'd already meet a year earlier) and a much better location, I gave in and decided to put in an appearance. It helps when You know a few of the dealers personally and they ask as well. So my friend and get up early (well for a Sunday anyways). Stood in line, waited as the advertised opening time quietly marched past us. Why the hell can't dealers be on time? Why do we have to wait cause you couldn't be on time? After about a half hour we finally made our way in. WOW. Uhm...well...so...

Glorified flee market. I wandered around looking politely at all the long boxes on tables wondering what I ought to look for. Said hi to a couple dealer friends, made an actual effort to find something in there bins. Admired the Toy Store that had taken the time to set up and relatively nice booth. About an hour into our "day" of adventure, I was bored and ready to go home.

Oh I haven't mentioned the guests. The main draw was Dale Eaglesham (before he got work on Justice Society). Decent, though as I may have mentioned I'd met him a year earlier. Plus the locals. At the time none of their work interested me. (I must admit a few conventions later the local talent really became fun and impressive). But just so that we don't think that I'm a total stick in the mud, I did find an art dealer and bought my very first Comic Art page. A great Captain America piece by Mike Perkins.

All in all, these shows suck. But on the upside I always do have fun. Plus I always find someway to spend more than I should have. Hey you know what they say about silver lining? (Ok, well maybe slightly rusted copper lining.)

Introductions

2008-12-28T12:16:00.000-08:00

So here I am. What to say? What to say? Well first off I'll point out that this blog is inspired by both the Horror of Comics blog and the CBR article ReTales. They take pretty different looks at the life of comic shop owner/workers but I hope to touch on both sides.

A little about me. I've been employed at a comic store for 5 years now and still enjoy it most of the time. I'm the store "manager", but since there are only three of us, and one is my boss, I'm not sure if that's really as impressive as it sounds. I've also enjoyed some "fame" (snicker) of late having been mentioned in the local paper (major metropolitan) as a "Comic Book Expert". I like to hold this over my co worker's head, it makes me giggle.

I've been a comic fan since I was 7 or 8, I remember going to the corner store with my Grandmother and getting a Starblazer comic. I wish I remember why we went with that one cause I remember hating it when I read it. Should have gone with the Silver Surfer instead. (That's what I remember anyways, it's been a long time so I might just be fabricating it). Now days I collect a bit of everthing. Comics, Gns, toys and (my favorite) Comic Art.

So all in all I hope that people will be entertained a little. I'm a bit lazy and have a lousy attention span, so I have no idea how often I'll post new stuff. I'm looking to tell stories of both my experiences at the comic shop and my own collecting experiences. Shows, other stores and the like. See you all soon.

(By the way I'm keeping this somewhat vague in who I am and where, I like my job and all. Though I think I'll probably avoid talking about regulars at the store.)