Batcave? Fortress of Solitude? Avengers Mansion? No, Thanks - I'll Hang at the Comic Shop.

Best Part of Wayne Manor? Definitely the Basement.

So, I'm going to deviate from my norm here just a little bit (and apparently slip into '90's slang if my post title is any indication).  Normally, I'd talk about some comics or a graphic novel that I've read lately.  That's coming; I've got a few in mind and might even do one later tonight. However, I was thinking this week and realized that while I've talked comics, I haven't talked about something that's really key to comic culture - the local comic shop.

I realize that not everyone has one.  Some prefer to get comics through mail order or subscription services. Ebay has, literally, millions of comics for sale at any given time.  But I think that there's something to be said for going to the comic shop.

One thing that the Batcave could have used

I remember being a kid (it was a lot like now, but everything was taller and I had slightly less money) and riding my bike to 7/11 to pick up a comic book.  I still have the comics that I bought then - even the copy of Kindred #1 with the scuffed up cover that I was carrying when I fell off my bike (public service announcement: don't read comics and ride).  7/11 was okay, but the one spinning rack wasn't really a comic shop. When I could convince my parents to drive me, Graham Cracker comics in Bloomingdale (long gone - I think it's a Lou Malnati's now) was the first real comic shop that I ever saw.  It wasn't big, but it had racks across all of the walls filled with current comics.  The center of the store had an island of tables with boxes and boxes of back issues.  And, of course, the requisite 25 cent bin.

Potential Gold Mine or Waste of Time?
There is No Right Answer

It's probably been 20 years since I shopped at Graham Cracker.  It wasn't until a few years ago (with a renewed interest in comics) that I found some of the local shops around me.  It's amazing how little has changed.

I still love going to the comic book shop.  There's something about the smell of the newsprint, the shelves filled with colorful covers, and the stacks of old comics to dig through.  Sure, some things are different - there's more emphasis on gaming than I remember, action figures (collectibles) line some of the walls now, but the comics are still the star of the show.  But still, the comic shop is an experience.  And, for many comic book geeks, allows at least some less awkward social interaction.

My favorite shops are both in Schaumburg, so it's a little bit of a time investment for me to get there, but it's well worth it.  If you're looking to check one out, I'd point you toward either one.

Keith's Komix on Roselle Road is my most recent discovery.  Tucked away in a strip mall at the corner of Roselle and Weathersfield, Keith's storefront windows are decorated with lifesize superheroes in the window.  My kids love the opportunity to see the large Hulk and Thor as we walk in.  The set up at Keith's is one of the most spacious comic shops I've seen.  The store is larger than most.  With walls dedicated to comics, graphic novels, and gaming supplies, it seems unlikely that you would be looking for anything they don't carry.  Their back issue collection is also extensive with boxes upon boxes arranged near the back wall of the store.  The staff know their stuff and can help you out with most questions or requests.  I can't say enough good things about Keith's.

Dreamland Comics, on Schaumburg Road, just west of Schaumburg High School, is another favorite of mine, though construction has kept me from going recently.  While smaller, Dreamland is well organized and carries just about as many things as Keith's.  The real draw at Dreamland is the constant sale on graphic novels - typically 20 - 30% off cover price.  Dreamland also offers a great subscription service - 35% off cover price of any comic subscriptions (minimum 5 titles).  I've been using their subscription service on and off for a few years and have had no complaints.

The local comic shop used to be the way to get comics (short of actually setting up a subscription through a publisher).  As more mail order services pop up and digital comics become more prevalent, I'm not sure what the future holds for actual storefronts.  I have to think that they'll still survive.  They'll find a way to adapt.  After all, just as Batman needs the Batcave and the Hulk needs whatever ditch he happens to pass out in before turning back into Bruce Banner, comic readers need the local comic shop.

Am I Evil? - A Closer Look at Supervillainy

Pictured above: Evil?

The perfect setting for supervillainy

This past week I've been in a small cabin on the shore of Lake Superior in northern Minnesota with my wife and kids.  It's a great week to relax and unwind as we watch summer wind down.  However, my wife's extended family also joins us in the neighboring cabins, bringing a wonderful kind of lunacy to the week as well.  I was playing (not necessarily voluntarily) with two of my wife's cousin's children - Teagan (8) and Jace (6) and the idea for this entry is, in part, thanks to them.

Teagan, being an inquisitive 8-year-old, was going from adult to adult asking, "What are you doing?"  Since I enjoy confusing children, I responded with "trying to take over the world."  This, in turn, led to Teagan and Jace spending the next half hour climbing all over me in an effort to thwart my evil plans.  At the end of our time, Teagan asked me, "Why don't you join the good side?"

My reply: "What makes you think I'm not the good side?"  This, of course, was met with a blank stare.

Now that I've shared my brief family anecdote, let me bring this into what you're here for: comic books.

The real stars of the blog

I recently read two graphic novels by Brian Azzarello: Luthor and Joker.  Each of these focuses on a villain from the DC Universe; the archenemies of Superman and Batman, respectively.  What struck me as I read these was the strikingly different portrayals of these two signature villains.

The most frightening man to ever
wear a purple suit.

In reading Joker, it's made clear that the title villain is clearly a sociopath.  There is no greater purpose behind his villainy other than personal gain.  Joker is evil for evil's sake.  Azzarello does a masterful job portraying the controlled chaos that the Joker personifies.  I especially enjoyed the more realistic, less campy version of the Joker that Azzarello brings into his depiction.  This Joker is similar to Heath Ledger's portrayal in The Dark Knight rather than Cesear Romero's slapstick version from the 1960's Batman television show.  Azzarello's Joker is a great character study of one of DC's most prolific and, arguably, most depraved villains that explores the basic nature of the character's evil.  Be forewarned, this novel is intended for more mature readers and does contain somewhat more brutal violence than typical Batman comics.

A study in biased pictures

As much as I enjoyed reading Joker and generally prefer Batman to Superman, Luthor and Azzarello's treatment of Superman's nemesis was, in my opinion, the superior graphic novel.  Lex Luthor is depicted as something more than just a force of evil.  Azzarello focuses on Luthor's intense distrust of the alien that has taken public opinion by storm.  The book is best summarized in Luthor's statement to Superman - "All men are created equal.  You are not a man."

Comics at their best:
Philosophy with pictures

Lex is shown in turns as generous, obsessive, loyal, protective, and evil.  His illegal union busting as he works to complete a construction project stands in stark contrast to his obtaining a scholarship to a prestigious school for a janitor's son.  The nuanced and complex portrayal of Luthor leaves the reader wondering, is Luthor really a villain?  Are his aims truly evil?

So, I'll turn the question to you, what makes a villain?  What draws the line that tells us that Lex Luthor is evil, while Superman is good?  Is there a definite line or, as recent comics and other media suggest, is the line blurring?

Rise of the Reboots - DC's New 52 and Marvel Now!

Pictured Above: Average Comic Fan Response to Change

Avid comic fans know it. The hardest thing about being a dedicated comic reader is having to deal with comic publishers who make seemingly bone-headed decisions and alter their fictional universes on a whim, destroying years of continuity to make things fresh and draw new readers.  Often the backlash can be brutal (nothing rages like a pack of dedicated comic book geeks and yes, I speak from experience).

Number of Times Peter Parker Held a Gun to a Villain's Head: 0
Pictured Above: Not Peter Parker

Most recently, Marvel has seen criticism from their controversial questionable ill-advised downright stupid decision to turn The Amazing Spider-man on its head.  For those of you who aren't following Spider-man, Marvel decided to cut off The Amazing Spider-man at issue 700.  And they ended in spectacular fashion: by killing Peter Parker.  The icing on the cake is that now Dr. Octopus, one of Spider-man's signature villains, arguably second only to the Green Goblin, is now inhabiting Peter Parker's body and living his life as the Superior Spider-man.  Yes, Spider-man fans now get to watch one of his greatest villains - a character they've been trained to hate - play hero on a monthly basis.  This has been going on for about seven months.  I'm fairly certain the flow of death threats mailed/tweeted to Marvel's offices and/or writer Dan Slott has tapered off.

While The Superior Spider-man represents a reboot facing serious criticism, not every reboot is a bad idea. Both Marvel and DC Comics, two of the largest comic publishers in the US, launched large scale reboots of their publications within the last two years.  In 2011, DC launched the New 52 in a series of "waves" as they restarted numbering on all of their popular series at 1.  Marvel followed a similar path in 2012 with its Marvel Now line the restarted several popular storylines, though not every publication that they produce.

While everything has good and bad to it, I've personally found a fair amount to be happy with in both series of reboots.  One of the biggest positives (in my opinion) is the convenient jumping on point that these reboots provide for potential readers.  It's overwhelming to jump into a story that literally has decades of convoluted backstory.  The reboots offer friendly starts for people that don't have the detailed background of a die-hard fan.  And really, at the end of the day, writers and artists want their work to be accessible.  If potential readers are turned off by something, consideration should be made as to how to grow readership.  It can be done while maintaining the integrity of the underlying story.  DC, in my opinion, has done a great job of maintaining the integrity of their characters while going into the rebooted titles (this time around, at least).

Pictured Above: Not maintaining the Integrity of a Character

But now it's time to turn the question on you - what do you think of the concept of the reboot?  Is it acceptable to occasionally "reset" reality to avoid making work inaccessible?  Or does it cheapen the overall integrity of the art/story?

Coming soon: more discussion of specific titles in the New 52 and Marvel Now and that review of Daredevil: End of Days that I promised you about a week ago.  Really.  I promise.