This past weekend Brett was in Memphis for a ComicsPRO annual get together. Chris couldn't go because his wife is expecting any minute now and I was stuck with school, so Brett got to go all by his lonesome. Brett tortured us with constant text messages and get to hang with Geoff Johns and some high ups at DC, Vertigo, Dark Hose, Image and Marvel. I was so psyched to hear that Geoff Johns reported that Ethan Van Sciver (2 time GraniteCon guest) had very good things to say about the show. The big publishers have some cool things planned and even handed out some exclusive preview books (I got to read the FCBD Green Lantern Blackest Night book... WOW! Can't wait for BN!).
We're also working on some cool stuff for Free Comic Book Day as well as GraniteCon, more on that in the coming weeks.
I saw Wanted this past week (while donating Blood Platlets, I figured if I'm going to watch a 2 hour movie I might as well do something rewarding/productive). Not a bad flick, really only uses the plot of the comic. I preferred the comic myself, it was more superhero-y and less of the same power/different character. It's a good movie on it's on. I'd say 3.5 out of 5 stars.
There's nothing much new that I can report on this week. I'll have more info next week as well as some comic reviews for ya! Stay tuned...
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
What a week...
I started this week still on a Watchmen high. It's started to wear off, but there have been other things to fill the void.
This past Saturday we hosted a kick ass World of Warcraft minis tournament. The main prize was a Spectral Tiger mount which is going for big bucks in game and on eBay. There were some other cool prizes such as a bear mount (called the Red Bearon, clever, no?). Those of you who know me know I don't play WOW and when people come into the store talking about it, well, let's just say my eyes glaze over. We had 28 people in the store to play and I was impressed and disappointed at the same time, here's why:
28 people. Most drove over an hour from Mass. Some came from CT and as far from Albany, NY. There were 0 (that's ZERO) Double Midnighters there. We were one of 47 venues IN THE WORLD to run this event, we promoted it in store to anyone who bought or talked WOW. The bear mount was a door prize (won by 12 year old TJ from Mass.) so anyone who entered had a chance to win. Half the players there had just learned to play that week, so there was no excuse. All the players were very, very cool, there were no prize sharks. Oh well, their loss!
On to more cheery things... DC announced that they'll start having backup stories in Booster Gold and Teen Titans. The prices will go up to $3.99 but we're getting more story. The story page count for BG and TT won't change and we'll get more stories of Blue Beetle and Ravager respectively as BB is getting canned. Marvel's raising their prices for a lot of their books without adding anything. Way to step up DC!
On to some year 2 stories... 2003 was the year we started the Granite State Comic Con, aka GraniteCon. That year there was a small comic/anime/gaming convention at Memorial High School and it hit us... there hadn't been a comic show in Manchester in years. There were times where Chris and I went to the Bedford Mall for a comic show and we were inspired. We put the show together in a few months and we blew the doors off it! It's been getting bigger ever since thanks to New England comics fans!
Finally, Brett's leaving for a few days to attend a comic retailer's get together in Memphis. I want to go sooooo bad. Just thinking of all the BBQ drives me nuts. And it doesn't help that Geoff Johns is going to be there!
We're planning GraniteCon Manchester for May 31st. We're getting ready to announce the GOod guest(s) very soON. Stay tuned...
This past Saturday we hosted a kick ass World of Warcraft minis tournament. The main prize was a Spectral Tiger mount which is going for big bucks in game and on eBay. There were some other cool prizes such as a bear mount (called the Red Bearon, clever, no?). Those of you who know me know I don't play WOW and when people come into the store talking about it, well, let's just say my eyes glaze over. We had 28 people in the store to play and I was impressed and disappointed at the same time, here's why:
28 people. Most drove over an hour from Mass. Some came from CT and as far from Albany, NY. There were 0 (that's ZERO) Double Midnighters there. We were one of 47 venues IN THE WORLD to run this event, we promoted it in store to anyone who bought or talked WOW. The bear mount was a door prize (won by 12 year old TJ from Mass.) so anyone who entered had a chance to win. Half the players there had just learned to play that week, so there was no excuse. All the players were very, very cool, there were no prize sharks. Oh well, their loss!
On to more cheery things... DC announced that they'll start having backup stories in Booster Gold and Teen Titans. The prices will go up to $3.99 but we're getting more story. The story page count for BG and TT won't change and we'll get more stories of Blue Beetle and Ravager respectively as BB is getting canned. Marvel's raising their prices for a lot of their books without adding anything. Way to step up DC!
On to some year 2 stories... 2003 was the year we started the Granite State Comic Con, aka GraniteCon. That year there was a small comic/anime/gaming convention at Memorial High School and it hit us... there hadn't been a comic show in Manchester in years. There were times where Chris and I went to the Bedford Mall for a comic show and we were inspired. We put the show together in a few months and we blew the doors off it! It's been getting bigger ever since thanks to New England comics fans!
Finally, Brett's leaving for a few days to attend a comic retailer's get together in Memphis. I want to go sooooo bad. Just thinking of all the BBQ drives me nuts. And it doesn't help that Geoff Johns is going to be there!
We're planning GraniteCon Manchester for May 31st. We're getting ready to announce the GOod guest(s) very soON. Stay tuned...
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Watchedmen?
So it's been a few days and I've finally digested The Watchmen. I loved it when I left and I still love it now. There's been a lot of negative reviews/comments on the movie and I've had a lot of people questioning me as to if it's good or not. I think a lot of people (non-comic people) went into it thinking it would be another superhero movie (even thought the trailers said "You've Never Seen Superheores Like These"). Watchmen is a very cerebral movie. You have to pay attention, especially the first half.
I think the DVD edition is going to be huge. Through in deleted scenes (and we know there will be a lot), a director's cut ending, as well as the animated Black Freighter story and you have a huge DVD campaign. But that's a while away.
I'd like to check it out in IMAX. I haven't seen an IMAX movie in years (I think the last one I saw was Polar Express...). Like the book I've heard that you get more out of a second viewing, so I'll post my thoughts on the second viewing as soon as I see it again.
On actual comics news, Walking Dead drops today. Man, I love that book. Writer/Creator Robert Kirkman has promised that his books (WD, Invincible and Wolf-Man) will ship on time in 2009. Walking Dead has been plagued by serious delays but was able to catch up towards the end of 2008. I highly recommend this book if you are not already reading it. There are few books that appeal to everyone. This is one that I can safely push to anyone who loves comics (and, well, are over 18 as it is pretty gruesome sometimes, but not as gruesome as Garth Ennis' Crossed series from Avatar, WOW!).
Check back this weekend for some Double Midnight Comics Year 2 ramblings. Stay tuned...
I think the DVD edition is going to be huge. Through in deleted scenes (and we know there will be a lot), a director's cut ending, as well as the animated Black Freighter story and you have a huge DVD campaign. But that's a while away.
I'd like to check it out in IMAX. I haven't seen an IMAX movie in years (I think the last one I saw was Polar Express...). Like the book I've heard that you get more out of a second viewing, so I'll post my thoughts on the second viewing as soon as I see it again.
On actual comics news, Walking Dead drops today. Man, I love that book. Writer/Creator Robert Kirkman has promised that his books (WD, Invincible and Wolf-Man) will ship on time in 2009. Walking Dead has been plagued by serious delays but was able to catch up towards the end of 2008. I highly recommend this book if you are not already reading it. There are few books that appeal to everyone. This is one that I can safely push to anyone who loves comics (and, well, are over 18 as it is pretty gruesome sometimes, but not as gruesome as Garth Ennis' Crossed series from Avatar, WOW!).
Check back this weekend for some Double Midnight Comics Year 2 ramblings. Stay tuned...
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Watching the Watchmen
Ok, that phrase has been beaten to death, but I couldn't think of a better title. This past weekend I re-read The Watchmen in anticipation of the film. Wow. I read the book almost 10 years ago and was a little lazy, skipping over the prose sections and getting to the meat of the book. Now that I'm a little more mature (emphasis on little more) I have a better understanding of it. I also grabbed the soundtrack and after re-reading the book and listening to the soundtrack I am ready. There are a lot of classic songs, Nat King Cole's "Unforgettable", KC & The Sunshine Band's "I'm Your Boogie Man" to Simon & Garfunkel's "The Sound of Silence", Janis Joplin's "Me and Bobby McGee" and of course Jimi Hendrick's "All Along the Watchtower", but the one song that grabbed my attention most was the rendition of "Ride of the Valkyries" by the Budapest Symphony Orchestra.
"Ride of the Valkyries" was mentioned in Hollis Mason's book Under the Hood (shown in excerpts in The Watchmen) and for Zach Snyder to include that on the soundtrack earns serious bonus points for me. The song wasn't part (or integral) of the main story and gives me hope that this will be a great adaptation.
Given that celebrity comic fans like Kevin Smith had seen preliminary edits of the film months ago and praised the film, I am ready. The countdown to The Watchmen film is on (hours now). The most anticipated comic film of all time is upon us. I'll be watching The Watchmen with my fellow Double Midnighters at the O'Neil Theaters in Londonderry at, yup, midnight. I'll have a write up on Friday!
"Ride of the Valkyries" was mentioned in Hollis Mason's book Under the Hood (shown in excerpts in The Watchmen) and for Zach Snyder to include that on the soundtrack earns serious bonus points for me. The song wasn't part (or integral) of the main story and gives me hope that this will be a great adaptation.
Given that celebrity comic fans like Kevin Smith had seen preliminary edits of the film months ago and praised the film, I am ready. The countdown to The Watchmen film is on (hours now). The most anticipated comic film of all time is upon us. I'll be watching The Watchmen with my fellow Double Midnighters at the O'Neil Theaters in Londonderry at, yup, midnight. I'll have a write up on Friday!
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